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Monterey 2010: Morgan EvaGT makes debut at Pebble Beach

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Luxury

Morgan EvaGT – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Morgan Motor Company has been making new cars all along, but some people seem to have forgotten that fact as most of their “new” models looked a heckuva lot like their old models. That started to change with the introduction of their Aero cars a few years ago – and we predict the name “Morgan” will be a little more common once their latest concept hits showrooms. The company took the wraps off their new EvaGT in Pebble Beach on Sunday, right in front of the Pebble Beach Lodge on the concept lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We had seen a partial sketch a few weeks ago, but holy wow is this car stunning in person. There’s a full press release after the jump and a gallery of high-res pics for you too, but the basic stats are these: It uses a 3.0-liter BMW straight six that produces 306 horsepower, a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, weighs just 2,755 pounds, gets 40 miles per gallon (Imperial) and can scoot from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Morgan EvaGT Live

[Source: The Morgan Motor Company]

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Monterey 2010: Morgan EvaGT makes debut at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Bugatti GP cars swarm The Quail [Video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos, Bugatti, Racing

Bugatti GP cars at The Quail – Click above to watch video after the jump

Monterey’s classic car week means a long days of big events, with Concorso Italiano and The Quail anchoring our Friday schedule. We’ve brought you a sampling of those shows already, but the parade of race cars from Laguna Seca over to the Quail cries out for a little video. The cars come in, the owners take a little break, and then the whole parade heads back to the track. The cars selected for the side trip are usually chosen to match the theme of the year’s Quail gathering.

This year, organizers went with a group of cars that were being featured at the track as well. Bugatti had a particularly large turnout at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, bolstered in part by the presence of the new Veyron Super Sport, which made its first track appearance in the U.S. About three dozen Bugs were entered in class 4A, and most made the trek over to Quail Lodge. As the video demonstrates, they sounded fantastic. Take a look and listen after the jump.

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Monterey 2010: Bugatti GP cars swarm The Quail [Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Carroll Shelby tribute at The Quail

Filed under: Classics

Carroll Shelby Tribute at the Quail – Click above for high-res image gallery

Every year, the Quail Motorsports Gathering selects a few major automotive themes to celebrate. Carroll Shelby is a 2010 honoree in recognition of his contributions to American motorsports. “Carroll Shelby is one of America’s great success stories. He has been a World War II aviator, a champion racecar driver, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans amongst other races and a legendary automobile designer,” said show co-founder Gordon McCall about The Quail’s decision to feature Shelby. “It is important to celebrate his passion and ingenuity that is an inspiration for Americans and motorsports enthusiasts alike.”

Several significant Shelby automobiles were on display, perhaps none more so than the first Shelby Cobra ever built. There were also multiple GT350 R models, including the first one produced, plus the very first 1965 GT350, a 1965 GT350 drag car (one of three made), the one-off 1967 GT500 SS, a 1966 GT350 Convertible (one of four made) and many more pristine Cobras and Mustangs. You can see all of the Shelbys at the Quail Motorsports Gathering in the high-res gallery below. Keep visiting Autoblog throughout the day for more ongoing coverage from Monterey.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Carroll Shelby Tribute

Monterey 2010: Carroll Shelby tribute at The Quail originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 shines in silver

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

Chromed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

That image above speaks for itself. All you really need to know is that this isn’t Dubai, Russia or even Germany – it’s right here in Monterey for classic car week. You can probably identify the Mercedes-Benz inside that shiny wrapper on your own, but just in case you’ve recently taken an amnesia-inducing blow to the head, it’s the SLS AMG GT3 – the race version of the company’s new gullwing sports car. There’s something to be said for having a mirror with you wherever you go, but this is a bit extreme. No matter, we think it looks amazing, even if it is just a wrap and not a polished car that’s been stripped of its white paint to shed precious ounces before a race. Click on any image to see our full high-res gallery.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Monterey 2010: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 shines in silver originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Celebrities

2010 Quail Motorsports Gathering – Click above for high-res image gallery

Every event staged during Monterey week has a unique flavor. The Concorso Italiano was populated with new money and regular folks just plain enamored with la belle macchine. The Quail, on the other hand, is a bit more formal, a lot more exclusive and always full of surprises.

This year was no exception, as a string of about thirty Bugatti Grand Prix cars thundered in from the nearby Laguna Seca racetrack. The drivers noshed, checked out some of the cars on display, said hello to some old friends and were back underway in a puff of blue smoke. What they left behind was an array of cars that the only event formally known as The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering can pull together. Rare and legendary race cars – as well as sports cars from automakers that cut their teeth in racing ( think Porsche, Ferrari, Bentley, Jaguar, etc.) – are the norm.

Along with all the Series I Pinin Farina Cabs and 275 GTCs, Ferrari even had a couple of new models on hand for the crowd to check out. One was a stunning blue 458 Italia, another was was the drop-dead awesome 599 GTO. Porsche didn’t bring its new 918 Spyder, unfortunately, but it did haul out the GT3 Hybrid. Bugatti had some blue carbon fiber thing on hand, and several other manufacturers rolled out their shiniest new models as well. The old cars are really the stars, though, because almost every one of them has a backstory that would keep you enthralled for hours.

For instance, Carroll Shelby was honored at The Quail this year, and there were about thirty Shelby Cobras, Mustangs and GT40s there that Ol’ Shel’ had personally laid hands on, like the very first Shelby GT350 Mustang ever made. The very first Cobra was there, too – serial number 2000 – one lower than the first production Cobra, which is a past best-of-show winner here.

That’s the magic of The Quail. Along with all the “free” food and drink (tickets are $400 after all, if you can get one), the motoring icons and the cars that made them legends are right there in front of you, ready to be adored. It’s a spectacular event, and those of you who couldn’t be there can check out our massive gallery of images by clicking below.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering

Monterey 2010: The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo centenary celebrated con brio

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Alfa Romeo

2010 Concorso Italiano celebrates Alfa Romeo centenery – Click above for high-res image gallery

The year 2010 marks the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo, the great Italian automaker that has given us some of the most lust-worthy road and race cars of, well, the last century. It was fitting, therefore, that Concorso Italiano celebrated the occasion with gusto. They even let the Alfas spell out the annual message to the heavens: a simple “100.” It would have been interesting to see them try to use 100 cars to do so; goodness knows there were at least that many Alfas on hand.

Check out the gallery and you’ll see a small sampling of the great variety of Alfas on display. As much as we like the new 8C Competizione, we have to say our favorite Alfa Romeo at Concorso was probably John Shirley’s 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B. Just take a look at that rear!

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo 100th birthday at Concorso Italiano

Alfa Romeo 100th birthday at Concorso Italiano

Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo centenary celebrated con brio originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Ferrari F40 birthday bash at Concorso

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari F40 birthday celebration

Ferrari F40s at the 2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery

Concorso Italiano threw a party for the legendary Ferrari F40, and the turnout was, well, almost as good as the car itself. Thousands of show attendees were treated to more than a dozen examples of Enzo Ferrari’s final project.

As you probably know, the F40 was named to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, and the celebration at Concorso honored the 20th anniversary of the car’s 1990 arrival here in the States. (Let’s not quibble over the fact that Ferrari the company was actually born in 1947, meaning the F40 should have actually arrived in 1987. The show car was first unveiled in 1987 and that’s good enough for us.)

The late arrival of what some still view as the ultimate supercar did nothing to dampen the spirits of the men and boys who fell in love with it at first sight and still carry a torch for it today. The F40 celebration was one great reason to go to Concorso Italiano this year. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend in person, hit the gallery below to see how the lineup of F40s looked at one of Monterey week’s biggest exhibitions.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: F40 reunion at Concorso Italiano

Ferrari F40

Monterey 2010: Ferrari F40 birthday bash at Concorso originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Fioravanti SP1 makes sole U.S. appearance

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Specialty, Design/Style

2008 Fioravanti SP1 at the 2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery

Concorso Italiano is always fun. Every car has a story behind it, and this year, the organizers pulled off something of a coup.

Back in ’08, a mystery Ferrari prototype was spied at Fiorano. Once initial speculation settled down, the prevailing wisdom suggested that the car in question was a one-off coachbuilt special designed by former Pininfarina (and now independent) stylist Fioravanti for a wealthy customer. Those reports wound up being true, and yesterday that very car was on display at Concorso Italiano.

Dubbed SP1 (for Sport Prototype 1) the Ferrari F430-based machine was commissioned by a prominent Ferrari collector in Japan. It was the first product out of Maranello’s Portfolio program – an initiative that lets the extremely wealthy collaborate with various Italian design houses (including Fioravanti, Pininfarina and Zagato) with full factory support on custom, unique vehicles. While most of these clients prefer anonymity, it’s hard to keep a low profile when you’re driving a custom Ferrari.

Making its only U.S. appearance, the Fioravanti SP1 was one of Concorso’s centerpieces, parked next to the F40 gathering and a stone’s throw from the stage. Photos can’t do the car justice. Looking at the SP1’s creases and curves, you see influences from a variety of cars in the Ferrari family. It’s so cohesive, yet it’s difficult to accurately convey the sheer presence that this car exudes in person. We did our best to capture it, however. Take a gander at the image gallery below, and maybe you’ll feel the vibe as well.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Ferrari F430 special Fioravanti SP1 at Concorso Italiano

Ferrari F430 special Fioravanti SP1

Monterey 2010: Fioravanti SP1 makes sole U.S. appearance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Perana Z-One makes U.S. debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style, Luxury

Perana Z-One – Click above for high-res image gallery

Monterey has seen its share of debuts and this year stays true to form. We’ve already seen the unveilings of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the new Boss 302 Mustang, the Infiniti G25, Jaguar XKR175, and McLaren MP4-12C. It doesn’t end there, either. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.

It’s beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The styling is definitely that of a European GT, a shape that holds its own in the company of an Alfa Romeo 8C, Aston Martin or a Ferrari 599. With that Corvette engine under its long nose, however, it’s reminiscent of classic Italian/Amercan collaborative sports car efforts from companies like DeTomaso, Iso and Bizzarrini.

We weren’t alone in being smitten by this new $100,000 sports car either. It was mobbed all day, even amidst the dazzling variety from the likes of Lamborghini and Maserati. We’re hoping to arrange some seat time on the Perana Z-One, but for moment, feast your eyes on the gallery below and you’ll understand why we see big things in this vehicle’s future.

Gallery: Perana Z-One

Monterey 2010: Perana Z-One makes U.S. debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Concorso Italiano celebrates all things Italia

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Design/Style, Lancia

2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery

Monterey coverage continues with one of Friday’s staples. Concorso Italiano has been one of Monterey’s largest gatherings of primarily Italian vehicles for years. Laguna Seca Golf Ranch played the hospitable host, giving throngs of Italian-car lovers the opportunity to get up close and personal with hundreds of le belle macchine.

Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, DeTomaso and Ferrari, were well represented – long lines of each marque appearing almost mirage-like down the fairways of Laguna. You know those shots you’ve seen of exotic cars lined up outside the factory? Multiply those by ten. It is absolutely crazy. Special gatherings honored the Ferrari F40, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of U.S. citizenship. The Italians were never really that great at dates, as the F40 was originally intended to be a 40th anniversary treat for Enzo himself to celebrate the company’s 1947 birth. Unfortunately, it appeared around 1990 instead. Don’t even get us started on the F50.

Concorso has hosted several smaller manufacturers over the years as well. Not just the oddball makes that few people have ever heard of, but also fledgling companies that have sometimes risen to prominence – or fallen infamously. This year, Superformance showed off the new Zagato-penned Perana Z-One. The European GT styling combined with Corvette power reminds us of the classic Italo-Amercan mashups from DeTomaso, Iso, Bizzarrini and the like. The Z-One is gorgeous, and we were blown away by its build quality. We’re negotiating some seat time to give you the full rundown, but for now, check out the gallery and you’ll see why Concorso Italiano has become one of the world’s greatest events for lovers of Italian machinery.

Gallery: 2010 Concorso Italiano

2010 Italiano Concorso Concorso Italiano Ferraris

Monterey 2010: Concorso Italiano celebrates all things Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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