Porsche

The prestigious Le Mans race was rather creative and forward thinking this year, hosting an event called “Le Mans into the future” prior to the 78th annual event. 
 

The event highlighted unfolding eco-friendly concepts, hybrids and luxury technology.  Eco vehicles made demonstration laps during the event, including the following models and brands:

1.    Andros electric racecar
2.    Audi R8 e-Tron concept
3.    BMW Hydrogen 7
4.    Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE
5.    Peugeot RCZ Hybrid4
6.    Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid
7.    Secma F16 Electrique
8.    Tesla Roadster
9.    Volkswagen Scirrocco Natural Gas

If you are a luxury car enthusiast, you may also love luxury car memorabilia.  For the Porsche lovers, German luxury publisher tenuous is about to unleash a limited edition book on the famous brand accompanied by a signed and numbered photographic print.  All of this can be yours, for the bargain price of $3,000. 

Only 50 copies of The Porsche Book collector’s edition will be released and it boasts some of the most stunning Porsche images captured in the world.  Some of the images were taken by designer Frank M. Orel, and others were selected by him, but all have passed his critical expert eye and made it into the book.   Orel collaborated with the Porsche Museum team in Stuttgart, Germany on the luxury masterpiece of memorabilia, both adding their passion and perspective to the project.

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. 

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I like to scan your website for stories and information on awesome cars.  My birthday is coming up soon, and I think I want to rent a luxury car for the first time.  The problem is that I am overwhelmed by the options, can you recommend a good first time luxury car rental? 

After checking out all of your cars, I have only narrowed it down to the fact that I prefer a convertible, and not a luxury SUV rental this time. 

Any input is appreciated greatly, and I am really excited to try this out.
 

Thanks,
Toby, Miami, FL
 

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

It seems that lately all I hear about are new hybrids, hybrid technology, or carbon fiber.  While all of these are innovative and interesting, it is also refreshing to know that some brands are opting to maintain their identity, at least for now.

Porsche CEO Michael Macht has reportedly expressed his sentiment that hybrids lack excitement for the curve junkie, and that the luxury brand has no real need for them.  The brand has tweaked some of their SUVs with hybrid technology, like the hybrid Cayenne and Panamera, but is not in a rush to do the same to their sports cars.  Hybrids do not exactly hit mach speeds, eh Macht?

I have covered police issued supercars in the past, but it is typically a special car per force.  In Seoul, Korea, the crime fighters can brag about having not just a supercar, but three impressive supercars at their disposal!

And what luxury supercars exactly do they have on their force?  A Ferrari F360, a Porsche 911 and a Lamborghini Gallardo.  That is an exotic arsenal at its finest, I will consider them Seoul’s finest.  So why does Seoul need such a sophisticated fleet of luxury patrol cars to take out the indigenous Daewoos, Kias and Rickshaws?

I like to think it is an intimidation tactic.  The poor souls of Seoul gripping the wheel of their four-cylinder Euro-style autos know damn well they have zero chance of escape once they sink there eyes into a Ferrari with tacky police lights fixed to the top.  

I can almost picture them cranking up the A/C in efforts to calm down, beads of sweat forming on their brows.  Offending motorists may as well hang their heads and admit instant defeat while that A/C sucks the last of the power from their diminutive daily drivers.

I also have an inkling that the police officers behind the wheels of these luxury cop cars are in high demand by the ladies (and gents should their be a female officer on the force).  I know if I were pulled over, I would roll out the red carpet and likely want a photo op, although I am not certain how well that would go over with the officer on duty.

 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.

The most expensive Porsche model remains the Carrera GT, which you can expect to decrease your bank account by around $440,000.  While this is certainly not the million or two damage a Bugatti would inflict, it is still on the high side for exotic and luxury cars.

So why the high price tag for this particular Porsche?  Power my friends, that would be power and prestige.  The Porsche Carrera GT can hit speeds of up to 205 miles per hour, possibly more depending on track and driver experience. 

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

For the Lamborghini fans out there, brace yourselves for the upcoming 2012 Estoque.  After years of casting around for a third model, the luxury car brand has decided that Manfred Fitzgerald, head of branding and design, has discovered a winner.

It is being coined as “the world’s first super sedan”, and it is dramatic. In its current concept form, it maintains the sleek lines Lamborghini is known for, but adds another set of doors.  It was revealed at the Paris Auto Show, and can certainly compete with exotic cars like the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera, or Ferrari F430 Spider. 

In the very recent past, performance hybrid systems have not had the best record for generating strong sales.  That trend seems to be shifting gears, with green being the new black, and luxury carmakers jumping on the bandwagon, so to speak!  Porsche is even joining the ranks of luxury hybrids, with its new 2011 Porsche Cayenne S hybrid.

Porsche evidently feels that the luxury hybrid market is the key to the future, and rightfully so.  With new fuel economy standards being adopted in the United States and other countries, even the luxury carmakers are preparing for a green future.  It is a good business move that has the double bonus of being good for the environment, which is in turn good for everyone.

Porsche has done far more than please with its latest concept to production model, the 2011 911 GT2 RS.  This is the most powerful, street legal Porsche to date.

Ripping out 620 twin-turbocharged horses from its 3.6-liter engine, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS also provides the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio along with increased fuel economy, for all you greenies out there.  I am impressed, and green with envy.  Let’s examine the specs.

If you travel frequently, or even for that special vacation, and are tiring of the same mundane car rental process, perhaps you should consider kicking it up about 345 horsepower with a Porsche 911 rental.  Revisiting a classic luxury convertible may be just what you need to add that special thrill to your next trip!

Be careful with what you agree to do with your luxury car, it could come back to bite you.  Such seems to be the case with former racecar driver Reginald “Don” Whittington, who allegedly lent his Porsche 935 K3 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, did so on a handshake.  The museum, however, claims Whittington gave the Porsche to them.