If you read any tech blogs, you’re familiar with the whole "unboxing" thing. Now, I thought Apple had everyone beat in the trick packaging department, but this clip demonstrates that Samsung totally rules the school. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Apparently, if you want to get work done on your car in the UK, you don’t have to pay the mechanic. Just agree on a price when you drop off the vehicle, and when you come to pick it up, call the cops. They’ll arrest the mechanic and give you your car back. Sunday Sun via Autoblog
• Hyundai is looking to sell 50,000 of its new Genesis series per year in the United States. But you know what’s more exciting than that? A Genesis sedan should be arriving at CarDomain headquarters in two hours! Stay tuned! Automotive News
• The General’s Camaro might not drop until 2010, but full sales brochure has already hit the web. One cool piece of info? If you select the automatic tranny with the V8, the engine mated to it doesn’t have all the grunt of the one paired with the manual. Viva la stick shift! World Car Fans
• First, it was the Ferrari California, and now it looks like Maserati’s GranTurismo is going to get a retractable hardtop. While I think all that heavy equipment makes more sense on a GT car than on a Prancing Horse, I still don’t like how Modena has been inclined to add those fancy systems to its stallions of late. CarScoop

Most of the time, picking my Showroom Showdown favorite takes about as determining whether I’m ready for a cold one, which is approximately 0.03 nano seconds. But I was actually a little conflicted on this one. I went with the Aston, but not after considering the Maser for a—very, very brief—moment. Well, the votes are in, and I’m pleased to say the Vantage stomped the Maser, winning by a 3-to-1 margin. 007 was an oft-cited reason for the decision, along with the manual option and the Brit’s drop-dead good looks. Thanks to everyone who voted. Stay tuned for the next Showroom Showdown!

If you’re crazy rich and are looking for a good daily driver, these cars seem like pretty good candidates. Both rides are quite exclusive, look amazing and pack potent V8s. The new GranTurismo only comes with an automatic, but you get a small back seat for the kids. And they both come in right around $110k–hey, that’s chump change! So which would you choose, the Aston Martin or the Maserati?

Thanks to our reader Hamzah from Saudi Arabia for sending me these photos. Hamzah, much like myself, immediately recognized the tragedy that is the "Burberry Maserati Quattroporte." I’d classify this as food for the haters AKA Hater Fodder. Feast on this (says Dirk Diggler). More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "Hater Fodder: Even Worse Than The Chrome Ferrari 599" »

Ferrari is keeping its lips sealed about the newest addition to its stable—code named F149—but some footage of it on the track has made its way to the web. The thoroughbred is slated to be a replacement for the Dino, and signs suggest it will be a 2+2, sport a V8, and feature a retractable hardtop. Specs aside, in this video, it sounds pretty dope. Enjoy. YouTube via Autoblog

My grandmother loved to drive. Way back in the ’20s, she was the first woman on her street to get a license. But when she decided she wasn’t safe behind the wheel, she sold her Buick, and everyone in the family was really proud of her. So I have to hand it to this English chap who just made the same decision.  You have to admit, 76 years without an accident is pretty impressive. And the wreck which prompted his retirement? Well, that was pretty impressive too. Here’s the news:

• Oil is now $113 a barrel, which is a new record. Of course, the rising prices don’t have as much to do with oil production as they do with the fact that the dollar is in the toilet. Auto Observer
• Ma Mopar is in talks with Fiat—which owns Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati—to produce Alfa-branded cars in US factories. So I know a cheap, Italian-designed, RWD, 2+2 is out of the question, but I that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop begging for one. Automotive News
• In other Italian news, Ferrari race cars will no longer wear Marlborough livery, as it turns out there are only three countries—Bahrain, Monaco and China—that still allow tobacco ads on race cars. I have to wonder, how long will it be before tobacco companies become invisible? AutoWeek
• John McCain wants the Big Three to take care of themselves. If he becomes president, there won’t be any bailout. Strange… it’d seem like someone so eager to go to war would want to keep some heavy industry Stateside. Detroit News
• The folks at Tesla are busy trying to shake the perception that the Roadster is vaporware—for the record, I think it’s not—but that hasn’t stopped them from suing Henrik Fisker. They say his ultra-gorgeous Karma is a direct competitor to the sedan he designed for the California company. Wired

In the absence of context, it’s a little hard to tell exactly what’s going on here. It looks like a stupid prank gone terribly… stupider. Good luck explaining it to the insurance company!

There isn’t a four-door sedan on the road right now—sorry Jag—that’s as sexy as Maserati’s Quatroporte. But if BMW actually brings this CS Concept to market, Maser is won’t be king of the hill anymore. While it’s irritating the company is calling it a "four-door coupe"—coupes have four doors!—the CS Concept looks incredibly sleek, and its presence in showrooms would probably send most of their competitors back to the drawing board. Just check out how awesome it looks when the cover comes off! Come on BMW, bring back the 8-Series and make this your flagship!

The Melbourne Motor Show didn’t disappoint. Along with this wicked Holden Coupe 60, there were a ton of killer exotics on hand. This classic Maserati racer drew a bunch of attention, as did this electric-green drop-top Gallardo. And there was even a Veyron on display! Head over to the events section and check out all our photos!

If you love Italian cars, live in the North East, have some garage space and a spare $5,000, I’ve got a great car for you. Yeah, it doesn’t run, parts will be scarce, and it’s got a bunch of oddball Citron stuff, but still–think how cool it would be to have a red Maserati parked in your garage. No one expects these to run anyway, and it would be nice to be able to go out and stare at those beautiful Giugiaro lines from time to time.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Merak, I found a nice little writeup here.