2006

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Renault Nepta

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You can always count on the French manufacturers to bring some real concept heat.  Perhaps it is the rotation between Frankfurt and Paris.  Whenever it is back in Paris, the brands really go all-out to pack the house. These concepts generally run the gamut of production-unlikliness.  From never-ever to never in a million years. So with no limits but the need to define a next-gen surface language and design theme, what kind of car would you use?  A grand cabriolet, of course! Four giant seats but just two butterfly doors.  These bring the entire bodyside up from central hinges on …

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Concept Flashback - 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Porsche 911 with Clear Bubble Hardtop 54

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Bubble Hard 911

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This concept from RINSPEED in 2006 is actually quite magnificent. A clear polycarbonate hardtop and a variety of innovative supplier solutions round out what is a very intriguing concept car from RINSPEED. The rear fenders and nose treatment with Ferrari 612 lighting elements are very interesting, but the RINSPEED ZaZen is absolutely hideous from the pure nose and tail angles. An unusual and sloppy mess of amateurish block shapes. Other lighting by the huge list of experimental parts suppliers are more special.  Diamond-cut glass for the brake lights is intricate, beautiful and very special.  The LED laserlight CHMSL is notably …

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1955 Carlo Mollino Record Car Model by Stola 7

1955 Carlo Mollino Record Car Model by Stola S.p.A., 2006

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Really an exceptional group of vehicles heading to auction at RM Sotheby’s New York event next month. Lots of 1950s icons to share, but this is one of the highlights. A few reasons. First, this exotic streamliner prototype flashes both back and forward in time: these aero ideals applied to vehicles for the first time in the mid-century, when aeronautics took massive leaps forward thanks to the atrocious WWII battle needs. Engineers swapping back to the car business brought their knowledge with them. Wind tunnels were a new piece of tech, yet complex simulations were still decades away from determining …

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Citroen C-METISSE

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Concept cars do not come more glamorous and futuristic than the 2006 C-Metisse! As the trend in the mainstraeam car business moves to ‘expectation-management’ and production-intent concepts only,the car-loving public is somewhat starved of truly fresh ideas. Proportions and technology that is 10, 20 or maybe even 30 years out. That is something that few thinly-veiled preview concepts cannot, by definition, preview. This makes sense on the one hand. You do not want car shoppers to have a huge sense of disappointment at the production model versus a concept. On the other hand, where is the awe? Where is the …

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One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S - RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview 7

One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S – RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview

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What a special surprise! The incredibly sexy 2006 Lamborghini Concept S will soon be auctioned off the the highest bidder! This gorgeous design vision was the original Gallardo Spyder preview car — with this stunning, dual-cowl speedster then diving for the archives. The one-off details on this car make it one for the ages. The Concept S is leading the RM Sotheby’s New York auction in November 2015. Ballpark estimates? Well, it is a concept from the show circuit. But also fully functional down below.  This is pure Gallardo V10. Helmets recommended. Road legal? In sum, we’d expect nothing less …

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2005 Pagani Zonda S Roadster 1

Hypercar Heroes – 2005 Pagani Zonda S Roadster

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Name a car from 2005 that is more desirable today than this Pagani Roadster! This car is one of 25 Zonda Roadsters ever produced, and features a sweet combination: the ultra-rare manual gearbox option and the updated and quicker-revving 7.3-liter V12. Packing more displacement but a lighter weight than the original 7.0-liter AMG units, the Zonda F is still an icon of performance, design and artful beauty ten years after it was first sold. This very car earned about $750,000 when last sold by RM Auctions in London in 2010, but we suspect it might even go for more than …

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2006 Aston Martin Rapide Concept 14

Concept Debrief – 2006 Aston Martin Rapide – Murdered by Lehman Brothers?

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Reviewing this 2006 Aston Martin Rapide concept, it is almost unreal how closely the eventual 2010 production car is to its original inspiration. As you may know, the Rapide has been a major drain on Aston’s resources since sales of the four-door are only a quarter of originally anticipated. In its debut, the Rapide created a huge volume of excitement in the enthusiast community. It seemed at the time like a perfect sports-sedan with all the coolness of an Aston and a back seat and trunk that were truly practical. This excitement led to hundreds of eager deposit-makers — people …

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Mitsubishi Evolander

Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EvoLander

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Proof that the Lancer Evolution component set is pure gold where-ever it lives? The 2006 EvoLander concept from Mitsubishi for the 2006 SEMA show. You might think it would be simple or low-budget to complete an upgrade like this. Swap the engine, driveline, brakes, wheels and tires – then slap on some fender extensions and lower the ride height 4 inches. Not the Mitsubishi way. This EvoLander actually runs a turbocharged V6 MIVEC engine and a custom widebody kit with no seams or stick-on mounting points. These are all-new, one-off panels all around — and are extra stunning as a …

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2016 Nissan TITAN XD in 35 New Photos

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You know that the Nissan Titan is the sixth-ranked truck in US sales, and has been for years. But we’d wager you did not know exactly how far the Titan lags behind the top-five trucks: the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, RAM 1500, GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra. Per The Wall Street Journal’s report today, the 2014 calendar sales of the Nissan Titan were less than 15,000 units. In total. For the whole year. Versus the Ford F-150’s 750,000 2014 sales, the Titan made up just 2-percent with its paltry 15,000-unit tally. The Titan peaked around 2006 with around 80,000 sales …

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2016 Nissan TITAN Hopes to Quadruple Sales With HD Style and 5.0L Cummins Diesel

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You know that the Nissan Titan is the sixth-ranked truck in US sales, and has been for years. But we’d wager you did not know exactly how far the Titan lags behind the top-five trucks: the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, RAM 1500, GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra. Per The Wall Street Journal’s report today, the 2014 calendar sales of the Nissan Titan were less than 15,000 units. In total. For the whole year. Versus the Ford F-150’s 750,000 2014 sales, the Titan made up just 2-percent with its paltry 15,000-unit tally. The Titan peaked around 2006 with around 80,000 sales …

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2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT

2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT Was Sexy Widebody Hatchback

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It is really difficult to design a hatchback city car with the stance of a rear-drive performance car. The bluff nose and and widebody fenders of a supercar help make this 2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT a memorable design study, with its twisting and rising beltline an ultramodern flourish. The CT’s rounded but bluff and streamlined nose and windshield are relatively simple – and really highlight the cool and low feel of the Concept CT design. 2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT  

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EZ MiEV

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  If the Concept D5 Mitsubishi van represents a hard and blocky view of the future, this EZ MiEV is a much softer look into next-gen van style and tech.With its ultra-rounded and white pearlescent exterior features, the resemblence of this concept to the iPod from Apple is intentional. But things in this bubble van are just getting started with the exterior design and wrap-around glass. With a flat-battery platform an in-wheel electric motors, the EZ MiEV takes cabin versatility to a whole new level. The seats fold to form a full eight-foot bed with room for two adults. The …

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mitsubishi concept d5

Concept to Reality – 2006 Mitsubishi D5 to 5th-Gen Delica

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When we think of cars from the future, the aesthetic is generally minimalist and slightly brutal with its form language. This can be typical normal shapes like hatchbacks and pickups and mid-size sedans — but all designed with a lean and crisp look that eschews frivolous bulging and chrome in favor of minimalism. Will this be what cars in the future actually look like? Probably not. Just like we do not dress in spandex StarTrek outfits or one-piece tracksuits in 2015. But those are still the most popular uniform for most hyper-futuristic hollywood movie. Cars that would fit in that …

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maserati zagato 2007

Concept Flashback – 2007 Maserati GS ZAGATO

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Proof of how much easier it is to criticize than to create? The 2007 Maserati GSZ was a bespoke design of a fastback Grand Sport atop the factory Maserati Coupe’s shell. There are a few angles on this GSZ that really work and are elegant, pure and stylish. But Zagato’s trademark double bubble roofline and intersecting rear canopy do not sit very happily on the ultra-short Maserati’s frame. Moreover, the additional rounding of the glass surfaces is less-than-athletic. But compared with the classic A6G Zagato Maserati which inspired the design, the round and overinflated roofline is a good match. From …

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chevelle ss

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport

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Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Kicking things off is this triple black Chevelle SS. We think of the Chevelle as the Camaro’s stronger and meaner older brother — so clearly not one to mess with at the lights. The 454 badges show and tell the power of this machine loud and clear, as does its bellowing V8 roar on hard throttle. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Engine 454/450 HP Trans …

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Hall of Shame – 2006 Peugeot 907 V12 Was Mortifying Reskin of Jaguar XKR

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  Okay! Not lingering on this eyesore for long. But after cropping and prepping these photos, we are 100-percent sure that the 907 is a total, shameless fake. Intended to be a GT supercar competitor in the vane of the McLaren Mercedes SLR, the 907 is nothing more that a over-body of anothr manufacturer’s rear-drive chassis. Of course, a major OEM using another chassis as the basis of a concept is bad enough. But just adding plastic skin atop existing sheetmetal is a real low point in all of automobile-dom. The clues are everywhere: the giant overhang in front that …

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Toyota F3R Directly Previewed Swagger Wagon Sienna

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When it comes to making a seriously sexy minivan, you have to bring every design vision in the book to life. In many ways, the proportions of a giant van make the goal of stylish and sporty themes harder to deliver than any other type of car or truck. So many ideas have been tried over the years – from the Pontiac TransPort Montana to the Ford Aerostar and then Windstar — the cool minivan can be a time-suck extrordiaire. It is just a black hole for resources, in many ways. This is partially why the unique and egg-shaped Nissan …

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2006 Giugiaro Ford Mustang Concept Was Ringer vs In-House Ford Designs

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Surprisingly few new ideas in this Giugiaro Mustang concept, which brings scissor doors, a glass roof and hideous cabin to the style of the venerable pony-car legend. The tail is perhaps the most interesting element, with a unique flush-fit three-pack of brake lights in each corner. A sharp fender peak is one throwback styling element that has not yet been seen on a modern iteration of the car. By contracting the car with Giugiaro, Ford used a bit of failsafe strategic vision testing. Would the Giugiaro car be far better than anything Ford could do in-house? As this car shows, …

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2006 Ferrari 575 SuperAmerica Previews F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos giuf

Ferrari 575 and 599 SuperAmerica Preview F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos

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Right before Luca Di Montezemolo was canned at Ferrari last week, he let it slip that an exclusive new model would be coming to the LA auto show in November. That car is widely believed to be some sort of droptop F12 — very likely a Targa or rotating glass SuperAmerica variant. A full cabrio version with a hardtop is seen as unnecessary with the full convertible California model in the range. We have seen this innovative idea before on a few concepts before 559 models were made for sale in 2005 and 2006 near the end of the 550/575 …

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This 2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa Is Only Street-Legal MC12 Racer In The World

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The 2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa is a direct evolution of the FIA GT-winning MC12 series that started racing in 2005 — and won the series for five years running until 2009. 12 customer track specials of the GT1 car were produced for high-value Maserati clients — with the $1.7-million machine dubbed the MC12 Corsa. Of the 12 made, none were ever intended to be used anywhere outside of a closed racetrack. But this one, solitary car slipped through the net, snagged New York license plates, and has been “whippin’ on the freeway the NYC way” ever since. We are thrilled …

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RINSPEED ZaZen GIF

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Porsche 911 with Clear Bubble Hardtop

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This concept from RINSPEED in 2006 is actually quite magnificent. A clear polycarbonate hardtop and a variety of innovative supplier solutions round out what is a very intriguing concept car from RINSPEED. The rear fenders and nose treatment with Ferrari 612 lighting elements is interestings, but the RINSPEED ZaZen is absolutely hideous from the pure nose and tail angles. An unusual and sloppy mess of amateurish block shapes.   2006 RINSPEED ZaZen     Rinspeed “zaZen” Rinspeed and Bayer MaterialScience jointly develop new concept car “zaZen” – Automotive enlightenment on four wheels – Revolutionary lighting technique and transparent hardtop at …

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RM Monterey Preview – 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione Will Make You Ferrari Owners Club VIP

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An FXX coming to Pebble Beach is pretty special. It will do exceptionally well among this high-rolling bidder pool. Typically, exotic prototypes are known to seal many orders from Pebble Beach as one of the best concours and car shows on the annual calendar. Therefore, the FXX Evo will be a sort of Top Trumps among ‘who bought what’ recaps. The Ferrari FXX is special for simply being a hardcore Corse Clienti model already – but also upgraded to the latest racing spec. This is quicker than even the Ferrari 458 Evo on the CC circuit this year. It is …

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