Mercedes-Benz

This luxury SUV appears to have been based on a simple cardboard box…just replace the cardboard with carbon fiber.  Oh, and slap on a price tag of $1 million smackeroos.  Meet the Mercedes G-Couture.

This SUV is not only an eyesore; it makes no logical sense, yet there it is.  Yet, it does please me greatly that companies are willing to add luxurious carbon fiber to SUVs, it will not only look great, but lighten the gas-guzzling load and lower environmental impact. 

In my humble opinion, the G-Class SUV still bears too much of a resemblance to its original tank-ish beginnings.  Now it is a tank with a luxury badge, and demands a heavy wallet.  Now let’s get down to specs!
 

Engine:  5.7-liter supercharged (I love that word)
Power/Torque:  700 bhp
Top Speed:  158 miles per hour
0-60 Mark:  4.3 seconds
Fuel Economy:  Don’t ask
Competition:  Lunar Shuttle, Brabus G-Wagon, TechArt Magnum, Chuck Norris
 

Attention Steve McQueen and Porsche fans, a rare 1970’s Porsche racecar just destroyed the auction block, fetching a stunning $3,965,000 million at Bonhams & Butterfield’s in Monterey.  This also shatters the world-record for the most expensive Porsche ever sold at auction.  Let’s find out why.

The Porsche is actually a historic and rare ex-Jurgen, similar to the one sported by Steve McQueen in Le Mans.  It is a 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Porsche Interserie Spyder, so try saying that three times fast.  Racecars generally boast lengthy names, in efforts to give credit to various people or innovation. 

People love luxury cars.  When you are walking down the street your head always turns when a nice exotic sports car parked on side of the road.  Some people stare and other love to take a picture to capture the moment.  Imagine Lifestyles have found some interesting shots of people posing in front of luxury and exotic cars. 

Check out our fleet of exotic rental cars. 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Can you guess?  According to a study of 16 different hybrid automobiles, only one can claim to actually cost less to purchase and operate on its gasoline counterpart.  For those of you thinking Prius, think again amigos.

What?  It isn’t the Prius?  The hybrid car most associated with the word hybrid?  Shocker.  It has historically been a complaint that there is essentially no payback for purchasing a hybrid car, that they are more expensive to buy and cost just as much in fuel.  I mean, shouldn’t a hybrid return the initial cost of investment in fuel savings? 

So which one can claim the opposite?  Drumroll please.  The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid gets that title.  A Benz beat the quintessential Prius in this department?  The Prius hybrid that sold over a million units?  Heads will roll.

 Who doesn’t turn their head when a nice car goes by?  If you live in Miami or LA than it might be more typical to see a luxury car rolling down the street.   I guarantee no matter where you live or how many exotic and luxury cars you see, you will appreciate the pictures below.  Imagine Lifestyles has complied 20 interesting pictures of luxury cars, some in very odd places. Enjoy the pictures below.

Imagine Lifestyles Chicago recently upgraded the rims on its Mercedes S550 rental car.  As all you car lovers know, a new set of rims is a very important piece to each of your vehicles.  While walking through the shop looking for the perfect set for our Mercedes, we stumbled upon the world’s most expensive set of rims.

Asanti’s diamond-encrusted 22-inch wheels are one of the most unique rims you will ever see.  If diamonds are not your thing, just let Asanti know and they will put on rubies or sapphires instead.  Price tag on these bad boys will run you $1 Million dollars so make sure you pick the right jewel to match the color of your car.  

 Not only are these rims $1 Million, they come with a Bentley GT Coupe.  So for the small cost of $1 Million, you get a set of rims and a Bentley.  Worried about walking out to your car and finding your rims gone?  Asanti will also throw in a 24-hour security guard to watch your rims for the first year.  

 Although Imagine Lifestyles Chicago will not be outfitting any of their luxury rental cars with these rims just yet, all you need is a cool million and you can have the rims and the Bentley.  Good luck explaining that credit card receipt to your accountant.

Check out our fleet of exotic rental cars Chicago and luxury rental cars Miami.

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

We recently set out to determine what luxury cars Chicago residents are driving these days.  It is always helpful for us to observe what people are driving and what people think is the next great luxury car as we continue to grow our fleet.  There was no scientific formula used but I think most locals would agree that the following five cars are the most common in the city. 

1) Range Rover HSE
2) BMW 750
3) Mercedes S550
4) Audi A6
5) Porsche Cayenne

Mercedes has been busy being fabulous; take for example the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec.  This is a luxury hybrid SUV that is part of the transition from off-roaders to on-roaders.

What does that mean?  The death of large gas-guzzling SUVs has long been predicted, and it is being reinforced by new laws and standards for a greener future.  Drivers do not want to pay the high fuel costs or harm the environment, yet they love the higher vantage point provided by an SUV.  So what is occurring is a shift to a lighter, car-based chassis yet not away from a high-riding vehicle.  Fuel economy is improved, emissions are reduced, and all are happy.

The headline stealing ponzi scheme of disbarred Florida attorney Scott Rothstein has climaxed today, with his coveted luxury cars, yachts and toys auctioned off in efforts to pay back those he ripped off.  The auction held today fetched a lofty $5.8 million dollars, to be funneled back to the investors he wronged.  Imagine Lifestyles was there to witness history.

In just over one hour, the luxury auction unloaded 11 exotic cars, 4 yachts and 2 wave runners scored $5.8 million.  This is not much compared to his estimated $1.4 billion dollar investment fraud, but hey, every little million helps.

For those of you who have been following the case of Florida attorney Scott Rothstein’s ponzi scheme, the latest is the auction that will be held to sell his fleet of luxury cars and yachts.  Might I mention that the inventory is quite shocking, in fact, it is jaw-dropping.

You will not see a luxury helicopter like the EC145 parked alongside an available E-Class at your local dealer (conceal your disappointment), but you should be aware that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is expanding its talents into other arenas.  These arenas include luxury yacht and luxury helicopter interior designs.

Mercedes-Benz just got a little bit cooler…if that was possible.  The luxury company has joined forces with Eurocopter and presented upon the world a luxury helicopter of grand proportions!

This is truly exciting news for luxury fans worldwide.  It is the first product by Eurocopter in the new Mercedes-Benz style range.  The companies jointly unveiled the EC145 luxury helicopter May 4th at the European Business Aviation Convention in Geneva. 

All luxury car fans recognize the winged badge on the nose of any Aston Martin, but would you recognize it on the nose of say, a much more diminutive Aston?  Let’s revisit the Aston Martin Cygnet.

This is a teeny member of the luxury car family, measuring in at barely 10 feet from nose to tail.  Look at the photo to the right, now try to picture James Bond behind the wheel…amused yet?  I am!

This is a unique 3-door hatchback, quite futuristic and ideal for city living.  Originally the Cygnet was billed as a sort of sidekick, or the equivalent of a tender to a luxury yacht.  It seems the concept has re-emerged to fit the role as a luxury smartcar, and the timing could not be better, and is in-tune with current global realities and the worldwide auto industry’s decidedly green future.

What is more exciting is that Aston Martin is not the only company betting there is a market for downsized luxury cars.  To compliment new emission regulations in Europe and North America geared toward improving fuel economy, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and Audi have all chimed in with their own downsized but upscale additions to their luxury fleets.

Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed success with its Smart brand, and BMW has succeeded across the board, from its large SUVs to its Mini brand.  It certainly seems all brands are interested in placing their unique take on the luxury hybrid market via their own downsized models.  It will be a little interesting to see how large of an impact these auto bits will have!

For more on exotic automobiles, luxury hybrids, Aston Martin rentals and more, follow links.

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals
 

For those of you who “live under a rock” as the old saying goes, Mercedes-Benz has been busily developing its exclusive new CLS-Series, set to serve as their new standard in luxury cars.  What is more exciting is that the model has been spied while being tested!  Yes, exotic and luxury cars have their own slew of paparazzi to contend with, and nothing is kept hidden from us for too long!

Could it be?  Is Mercedes adding a new wolf to its CLK wolf pack?  (Shameless reference to the movie “The Hangover”) The exotic auto rumor-mill is churning up talk of a new version of the C-Series Mercedes coupe, one that is quite shapely and sexy!  Of course, this has always been an attractive four-seater coupe option from the luxury company, but this makeover is smokin’ hot, if the talk is true.