Rain, rain, go away!

If you’ve managed to work your way to the upper echelons of society and have enough money to spend on a Rolls Royce, we’re happy for you. But please, a car of that status, engineering, and craftsmanship deserves to be treated well, not literally left out in the rain.

An owner of a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe down under in Glenelg, Australia, left his convertible parked outside with the top down. Normally, there’s nothing wrong with that, except for when you forget to check the weather report or fail to observe the dark clouds in the sky.

Unfortunately, the roughly $450,000 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe was left to weather the storm without its convertible deployed to protect it. Bystanders were unable to rescue the car from the rain and the owner was nowhere to be found. All those hand-stitched hides, polished veneers, and modern electronics! Ruined!

According to John Barsoumian, owner of Car Interior Plus in Sydney, “It could cost up to $100,000 if everything was damaged.” That’s quite a hefty price tag to pay for not putting the convertible top up.

So please kids, take care of your automobiles and listen to the weatherman, even if he is wrong 60 percent of the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCg5kJqOMCg

[Sources: MSN Finance, YouTube]

What do you think of the rain-soaked Rolls Royce? Leave a comment and let us know!

The everyday sports car since 1963.

In 1963 the Porsche introduced the first 911 to replace the 356. Originally the car was supposed to be called the “901”, but because Peugeot protest claiming they had naming rights to cars with three letters and a zero in the middle, the name was changed to the 911. And history was made.

The Porsche 911 has made a name for itself as being an everyday sports car. Since 1963 it has become the face of a company and an automotive icon. The 911 has spanned seven generations and more than 700,000 have been produced with all sorts of special and performance editions mixed in throughout.

In 2011, the seventh generation of the 911 was introduced and met with high praise. To welcome the new Porsche 991 to the family, the Porsche museum in Stuttgart will be unveiling a special exhibition called “Porsche 911 Identity”.

The new exhibit will feature all seven generations of the 911 up to the 991. Each decade will be represented by a special backdrop that gives visitors a peek at the history of the model. Exciting technical exhibits and cutaway models that show the engineering and mechanics of the 911 will be displayed throughout the Porsche 911 Identity presentation. Special racing models such as the historic Carrera RS 2.7 “Safari” and modern 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be shown alongside steering wheels and rims from the past to present day. Also, for the first time ever, never before seen documents will be showcased to give visitors an insider’s look at the 911.

The Porsche 911 Identity exhibit will run from January 31st to May 20th, 2012 at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Visitors can also register for a special one-hour guided tour to learn more about the iconic sports car.

Porsche 911 Identity Exhibition Gallery

Porsche Museum Porsche 911 Identity Exhibit

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Porsche Museum Porsche 911 Identity Exhibit

[Source: Porsche]

What was your favorite generation of Porsche 911? Leave a comment and let us know!

Two V10’s square off.

Here at MotoringExposure, we love super car drag races, which is why the latest MTM Audi RS6 vs Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante is a real treat.

Both cars are powered by V-10 engines, with the Audi using forced induction and the Lamborghini producing naturally aspirated power. The Lamborghini Gallardo uses a 5.2-lite r V-10 engine and produces 570 horsepower, launching the Spyder to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 201 mph.

The MTM Audi RS6 on the other hand, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V-10 engine that puts out 571 bhp stock. After some MTM tuning, the RS6 produces a whopping 730 horsepower and can accelerate to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph.

The two lined up for battle on an empty airstrip for two head-to-head races. We won’t give away who wins, but we will say that weight is a big factor.

[Source: M5boarddotcom YouTube Channel]

Which of the two cars would you pick to drive? Leave a comment and let us know!

Seeing crashed super cars can be a hard thing to look at sometimes. Pieces of beauty and power wrecked, mangled, and totaled bring tears to our eyes. Alas, the first Lexus LFA crash has surfaced and looks to be an expensive fix.

The Lexus LFA and its 552 horsepower V-10 have not been out on the market for an extended period of time and we’re guessing many still have yet to break the 1,000 mile mark on their odometers. The white Lexus LFA saw only 635 miles before it was wrecked pretty badly from a front-end collision. While the details of the Lexus LFA crash are unknown, it reportedly happened October 8th of 2011 in Orlando, FL. The super car was not totaled, but will clearly need some new body work.

Since the accident, the car was put up for auction and quickly sold on January 3rd at Expo Motor Cars in Houston, Texas. No word yet on if the car has been fixed or its future plans. If we spot a bumper-less Lexus LFA driving around in the US, we’ll be sure to let you know!

Lexus LFA Crash Gallery

Lexus LFA Crash

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Lexus LFA Crash

[Source: ClubLexus, Howard Brown & Sons Auto]

What do you think caused the accident? Leave a comment and let us know!

A large amount of websites shut down for the day on January 18th in protest of the recent SOPA and PIPA. The protest was seen and heard around the world, and got the attention of many government officials.

The website Megaupload, was shut down on January 19th by the FBI and is accused of hosting pirated media that resulted is $500 million of revenue lost. Seven of the company’s employees were also arrested. Then anonymous, the internet hacking/activist group, shut down the FBI’s website along with a number of others.

After shutting Megaupload down, the FBI then turned to the founder, Kim “Dotcom” Schlitz and seized his possessions, including his large car collection at him home in New Zealand.

Now, regardless of where you stand in the SOPA/PIPA protests and Megaupload drama, it’s always fun to see car collections of the super rich. Elliott Kember was in New Zealand when this all went down and was able to snap quite a few pictures of Kim “Dotcom” Schlitz’s collection.

Megaupload Kim “Dotcom” Schlitz Gallery

Megaupload Car Collection Seizure

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Megaupload Car Collection Seizure

[Source: Elliot Kember]

What was your favorite car in the collection? Leave a comment and let us know!

with a starting price of $4300.00 a set it’s sure worth giving a shot!

The Jaguar XJ220 first hit the automotive world in the 1980s in motor shows as a future competitor to the likes of the Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40. After the incredible amount of interest the car received, Jaguar decided to put the car into production creating an incredible buzz. Jaguar intended to only take 350 orders for the super car, but ended up receiving 1,500. Out of the original 1,500, nine were given to Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Three of these cars were made into the XJ220C for racing, and the remaining six were made into the high-performance XJ220S.

The six Jaguar XJ220S models were given a number of performance-oriented modifications to make them even more exciting. The entire aluminum body except the door skins was replaced with lightweight carbon fiber to bring weight down to just 2,379 lbs. A number of aerodynamic body upgrades such as a front splitter, adjustable rear spoiler, and wider sills were also added. The original 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 that powered the Jaguar XJ220S was modified to produce 680 horsepower and 526 lb-ft. of torque, up from the standard 542 hp/476 lb-ft..

At the RM Auctions’ Arizona auction in Phoenix, the Jaguar XJ220S chassis number 784 will be auctioned off. The current owner of eight years has put forth a great deal of effort to upgrade the XJ220S and keep it in superb condition. A special titanium performance exhaust from Tom Walkinshaw Racing was ordered and installed by an expert flown in from Spain. The expert also serviced the super car by replacing all belts, cleaning the injectors, updated the computer software, and servicing the brakes and clutch. After the upgraded exhaust and servicing, the Jaguar XJ220S produces approximately 700 horsepower. In the eight years of ownership, the seller had repainted the body Lamborghini Reventon Gray, refurbished the leather interior, installed Infiniti projector headlights, refinished the original magnesium wheels, and fitted new tires.

Only 1,200 miles have been added to the car since the early 2000s by the current seller. The Jaguar XJ220S chassis no. 784 also made appearances at major auto shows throughout the United States, and won a number of awards at SEMA.

The Jaguar XJ220S chassis number 784 will be auctioned at the RM Auctions’ Arizona auction on January 19th, 2012. It is estimated that the super car will sell for $225,000-$300,000 USD.

Jaguar XJ220S Specifications

Engine:
Displacement: 3.5-liters
Number of Cylinders: V-6
Aspiration: Twin-turbocharged
Maximum Horsepower: approx. 700
-Tom Walkinshaw Racing titanium performance exhaust
-Updated ECU
-Full engine servicing

Transmission:
Type: Five-speed manual
Drive: Rear-wheel

Exterior:
-Carbon fiber bodywork
-Carbon fiber front splitter
-Carbon fiber adjustable rear spoiler
-Carbon fiber wide sills
-Infiniti projector headlights
-Refurbished magnesium wheels (original)
-Lamborghini Reventon Gray (non-original)

Interior:
-Refurbished leather interior

Jaguar XJ220S Gallery

1993 Jaguar XJ220S Chassis Number 784

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1993 Jaguar XJ220S Chassis Number 784

[Source: RM Auctions]

How much would you pay for the XJ220S chassis no. 784? Leave a comment and let us know!

While winter is snowing and blowing for everyone in the northern hemisphere of the globe, Porsche Design has unveiled their new 2012 Men’s Summer Fashion line. The new line was created with a purist and functional design in mind while preserving comfort for the warm summer months.

Much of the classic Porsche Design summer fashion pieces are included in the newest summer line such as the P’1160 Roadster Blouson leather jacket. The selection of premium jeans and P’1700 shoes has also been expanded to accommodate the newest additions to the 2012 Summer Collection. To match the P’1160 Roadster Blouson, Porsche has designed a new P’1160 AirTec Blouson.

The new P’1160 AirTech Blouson is designed to be comfortable while still retaining a masculine look. The entire jacket is made from nappa lambskin leather with each shoulder featuring perforated leather for comfort. The P’1160 Airtech Blouson is also extremely lightweight for those looking for a sporty jacket with comfort.

Porsche Design’s advanced RawTech line was expanded to include new leather jackets, blazers, and hoodys. Pieces in the RawTech line feature an innovative purist and timeless design. Full-grain lambskin leather with a nappa finish is used, nullifying the need to have an inner lining. Craftsmanship is also a priority, as the leather is laid seam on seam, stitched in a jagged design, then mated together with a special tape to create a lightweight and clean finish. Porsche Design also offers a P’1140 Hoody and Blazer in the RawTech line.

The entire Porsche Design Summer Collection features a special sketch inside the linings of jackets and bags. The first contribution to Porsche Design in 1977 was a sketch detailing the “Exclusive Sunglasses” with interchangeable lens. To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the sketch, Porsche Design includes a replica of the sketch inside its new summer fashion collection.

The entire 2012 Men’s Summer Collection from Porsche Design is currently available throughout the world. Pricing for each piece varies by country.

Porsche Design Men’s Summer Collection 2012 Gallery

Porsche Design 2012 Summer Mens Collection

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Porsche Design 2012 Summer Mens Collection

[Source: Porsche Design]

What is your favorite piece in the Porsche Design Summer Collection? Leave a comment and let us know!

The older we get, the quicker time seems to go by, doesn’t it? This past year flew right past us, mostly because of all the fun we were having bringing you the latest in sports cars, aftermarket tuning programs, watches, and the motoring lifestyle.

First off, we’d like to thank you for coming along for the ride. Yes, going for a drive in a super car is fun by yourself, but it’s even better when someone’s there to share the moment with. Thank you for burning some rubber with us! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular articles of 2011, shall we?

Sports Cars

The new 2012 Porsche 991 911 Carrera Exposed – The seventh generation of an icon.

Aston Martin One-77 Delivery – The 750-horsepower supercar meets its new owner.

Nissan GT-R w/ D2Forged Xtream Deep Concave CV2s – Godzilla’s new shoes.

Specialized Performance 2009 GT-R Tuning Exposed – What’s scarier than Godzilla? When he has 800+ horsepower of course!

Chevy introduces the new Transformers Camaro Bumblebee Edition – Now you can have an Autobot of your own!

wheelsandmore tunes the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG – Burning rubber before the new AMG even hits the streets.

Anderson Germany Aston Martin DBS Superior Black Edition Exposed – Semi-gloss British performance.

Mercedes gives the new 2012 SLK 55 AMG a pair of Testicles – This isn’t your rich housewife’s SLK.

Anderson Germany Ferrari 458 Italia Carbon Black Edition Exposed – Who said Red was the best color for a Ferrari?

The Top 10 High-End Douchebag Cars – Pop your collar and get ready to fist pump!

Wednesday Watch

The New Rolex Explorer II Review – Rolex introduces the new Explorer II timepiece

The Breitling Navitimer Caliber 01 – Breitling’s Navitimer is probably the most popular pilot’s watch since its launch in 1952.

The big surprise of 2011 – The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time

Life Is About Moments – The new timepiece from Maison d’Horlogerie

Some Tips For Safe Watch Collecting – Wednesday Watch

Motoring Lifestyle

Dine in Style at the new Bentley Room at Mosiman’s – British luxury at its finest.

Porsche Design unveils the Bike S and Bike RS for true enthusiasts – Two-wheeled Porsche performance.

Car App Review: The new Porsche 991 911 iPhone App – A new 911 test drive in the palm of your hand.

Thrustmaster goes pedal to the metal with the new 458 Italia Ferrari Racing Wheel – Get behind the wheel of a 458 Italia.

The new Porsche Design P’9981 Blackberry Mobile Phone – Porsche style at your fingertips.

Events

The 2011 Gold Coast Concours Exposed – Cars, sun, fun, and charity. Does it get any better?

SNT Motorsports Development at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill – This is what racing is all about.

Bring a Friend… Leave a Memory – The Continental Autosports Fall Meet & Greet

Car Videos

The great 11 Supercar Drag Race Video – 1.5 million dollars worth of cars and an airfield.

Watch a tuned Ferrari Enzo crash into the water at Targa Newfoundland – Oh the humanity!

Bugatti Veyron vs Nissan GT-R Drag Race – Two all-wheel drive heavyweights slug it out on the streets.

Angry Lamborghini Owner Says “Stop… Hammertime!” – [Insert Italian reliability joke here]

Audi TT-RS vs BMW 1 Series M on the Track Video – The Audi TT-RS and BMW 1 Series M settle their differences on the track.

Looks like everyone had some good taste in automobiles and watches in 2011! As we enter the new year, we look forward to all of the new cars, events, videos, and timepieces set to make their debut. Thank you for making 2011 an enjoyable year for us at MotoringExposure, and we promise to make 2012 even better!

Happy New Year from all of us at MotoringExposure!

What was your favorite article from 2011? Leave a comment and let us know!