Shut Up And Drive - Luxury Cars in 2008

  You can’t deny it; there’s something about pistons, engines and wheels that get us guys all hot under the collar. Ever since we saw The Fast & The Furious, our relationship with cars has bordered on the obsessive. In fact, it was probably before then – just after Nicholas Cage climbed into an extremely rare 1969 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird in Gone in 60 Seconds. Whether we’re using them as getaway vehicles, love machines or our very own status symbols, we all love hopping in a shiny new motor and taking it for a 100 km/h joyride. Read on and check out the newest mean machines to hit the production line. Roll on 2008 - it’s the year of the automobile…

2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia
  Ok, so the name of this red beast may not immediately scream sex on wheels, but just look at its bodywork and try and stop yourself from drooling across its sleek bonnet. Joining the V8 line-up alongside the F480 Coupe and the F430 Spider, the 430 Scuderia is a high-performance two-seater berlinetta that shows how Ferrari’s Formula One technology can be carried across to production models. And boy, can this thing ride. Thankfully, the 430 Scuderia boasts fantastic performance both on-and off the track, meaning those of us who haven’t been blessed with Fernando Alonso’s driving skills can still enjoy cruising the freeway in one. However, there’s no denying that his car is geared towards Ferrari’s more highly-strung, sport-orientated drivers, with a 4.3-liter engine that generates 510 hp at 8500 rpm, a lightweight chassis and as few trimmings as possible to ensure that it cuts through the air like a knife. Strap yourself in – this ain’t no ordinary Black Horse.
Unveiled September 2007

2008 Porsche 911 GT2
  All Porsches look alike, right? Maybe, but that’s not to say that they don’t deserve our undivided attention. The new 911 GT2 is one of the foxiest-looking things to emerge from the German manufacturer in recent years and – when it is launched - will be the most powerful 911 so far, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in a blistering 3.7 seconds. Aside from its striking design – large front air intakes, titanium tailpipes and signature rear wing, to name just a few of its jaw-dropping features - the 911 GT2 has a 3.6-liter boxer 6 engine that can rip along the tarmac at 329 km/h, is available with rear-wheel drive and comes with a manual six-speed gearbox. Generating 530 hp at 6500 rmp, there’s nothing posh about this Porsche – so hop in and ride baby, ride.
Available November 2007

2008 Aston Martin Rapide
  It’s not hard to see why James Bond favours Aston Martins; drive down the street in one of these and you too will have half-naked girls climbing across the bonnet just to get a piece of you. Originally unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006 as a concept car, what is now known as the Aston Martin Rapide is set to have girls begging those who drive one to fine-tune them. The second four-door Aston to be created under the Ford umbrella, the coupe boasts a 6-liter V12 engine and goes 0 to 60 in an impressive 5 seconds. Because this kind of car will always be better suited to the showroom than the road, it comes packed with gadgets and gizmos, too; power-folding rear seatbacks; collapsible chessboard; interior materials that include matte poplar accents, blue sharkskin and green-beige saddle leather; the cherry on top, however, has to be the limo-style bar complete with crystal Champagne flutes. Start her up, she’s asking for it.
Available late 2008

2008 Jaguar XF
  Many petrol-heads say that Jaguar stopped designing new sedans back in the 1960s. Not anymore. In fact, Jaguar’s about to catch up and overtake its contemporaries. Enter the 2008 Jaguar XF, a pussycat with real bite. Head of Design Ian Callum says that the new XF – which will replace the S-type – will be “twenty per cent exaggerated”, with a particularly low roofline, unusually wide track and pumped-up details. Although the XF features the same size 114-inch wheelbase as the S-type, the XF is significantly taller than its predecessor, and wider than an XJ to boot. With a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine capable of 420 hp, this cat means business.
Available spring 2008

2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe
  Now known for their high turnover, the slightly lazy manufacturers at Infiniti have finally got their act together and designed the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe – and judging by the sneaky snapshots released so far, it’s been well worth the wait. Despite teetering on Lexus territory, the G37 Coupe is stuffed with a 3.7-liter V6 engine producing 330 hp and 270 lb-feet of torque and boasts a refined chassis with advanced 4-Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) for ultra-smooth handling. Inside, the G37 Coupe is even better, with touch-screen navigation system, 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive, rear view monitor and 11-speaker Bose audio system, perfect for blaring out those tunes for yours hip-hop-style. Who’d have thought this luxury machine had any connection with Nissan? Oops, did I just let the cat out of the bag?
Available late 2007

2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed
  Set to overtake its predecessor – the 2007 Bentley Continental GT – as the fastest car on the road, the 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed is so hot it might actually melt into the tarmac. Able to move at a pace of 203 mph, the Continental GT Speed’s twin-turbo 12-cyclinder engine is capable of generating 602 hp at 6,000 rpm – that’s an eye-watering increase of 50 hp on the original. Thankfully, the 2008 model also features the largest disk brakes found on a passenger car today - ensuring that you come to a complete stop even if you have been tearing up the road. So what’s changed since 2007? Well, for a start, the 2008 model boasts a more upright grille to allow increased airflow, recalibrated ECU and lighter connecting rods, all meaning that the all-new Continental GTC Speed can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Looks-wise, the 2008 model is inspired by Bentley’s ‘Speed’ models of the 1920s, with 20-inch Pirelli wheels, harder-edges and diamond-quilted hide seats. No doubt Paris Hilton will snap this baby up and look just as ridiculous in it as she did in the original model – before she lost it in a game of poker, of course.
Available to order now

2008 Lamborghini LP640 Murciélago Roadster
  Half a year ago Lamborghini launched the hardtop Murciélago LP640 – now, praise the lord, they’ve come to their senses and produced a roadster version that embraces purity, spottiness and functionality. With an aggressive if-looks-could-kill appearance, this is no pushover soft-top; the bumpers have been given a drastic overhaul, the back features a nasty-but-nice rear diffuser in which the exhaust is combined with the tailpipe; the sides are strangely asymmetrical, but it works; and the distinct taillights make this bad boy recognisable any time of the day. Inside, the Murciélago LP640 Roaster is blessed beyond belief, with perforated leather seat cushions, a Kenwood car radio with 6.5-inch widescreen monitor and reader for DVD, MP3 and WMA, and a much-needed navigation system to guide you through those rough neighbourhoods where vest-clad gang members may want to beat your ride with a baseball bat out of sheer jealousy. Finishing the Murciélago LP640 off nicely is the 6.5-liter 12-cyclinder V-engine, capable of burning up 330 km/h (compared to the hardtop, which can ‘only’ achieve 320 km/h). What’s not to love?

About the author:

  Nick studied at Sussex University and graduated with a degree in English Literature and Media Studies. When he’s not writing – which isn’t often – he enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching movies, downloading music, eating out and travelling as much as he possibly can; Marbella, Miami, London and Phuket are his favourite places in the world.

  Nick has worked on a number of newspapers, magazines and websites – including Caché, Colures and AskMen.com - and specialises in popular culture, luxury and travel. He particularly enjoys writing about all that is beautiful in the world, including luxury hotels, trendy restaurants andthe latest gadgetry for the home. If it’s hip and gorgeous, Nick will have something to say about it.

  He is currently working on his first children’s book, which hasgenerated interest from a number of London-based publishers, and runs his own online magazine at www.gunpowder-magazine.com.