ClassicInside - The Classic Driver Newsletter

Editorial

You couldn’t get much better a curtain-raiser to next week’s Geneva Salon than spending a long weekend behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vanquish S. The weather gods shined (for most of the time) on your correspondent exercising most of Newport Pagnell’s 520 finest horsepower, while keeping a steady hand on the tiller of course, and enjoying the best aural experience this side of the Franco-Italian border.

It is one hell of a car, and whatever the great British company may have up its sleeve for us in months to come, this will be a big act to follow.

Which leads us back to Geneva and the forthcoming ‘reveal’ of the Ferrari 599 GTB. This promises to be ‘the’ supercar of the year, with mind-blowing performance from a forrard-mounted V12 engine from the Enzo. Lamborghini have made a ‘spoiler’ in the form of the Murciélago LP640 that will also see the light of day next week, and we have the first details below.

It’s a personal choice which one you’d choose, both stratospherically expensive and likely to be much in demand.

Me? Well I’ve grown rather used to having a big rear-wheel-drive V12 outside over the last few days and I’d have to go for the car from Maranello.

Anyway, I’ll be viewing both at Geneva on Tuesday and we’ll have all the news for you next week in Classic Inside – but don’t forget to check classicdriver.com during the week for the latest news.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor
sw@classicdriver.com

*THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER*
	Aston Martin Vanquish S Red Alert The fastest production model ever to be built by the company, the Vanquish S is still hand-crafted in Newport Pagnell, and if anyone asks the question "How can you justify the extra money over the excellent DB9?", a few days behind the wheel will soon reveal the answer... read more...
	Coys in London - 28th February 2006 - Preview Coys first London sale of 2006 brings together nearly 50 entries under the collective title ‘Continental Sporting Motor Cars’. None fits this description better than the 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 (4 cam), estimated at £60,000 - 75,000... read more...
	Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Revised 6.5 litre engine produces 640HP Lamborghini have updated and improved their flagship model to even greater heights of performance. The latest car, that features both mechanical and styling changes, will be seen for the first time at Geneva... read more...
	Pagani Zonda Roadster F "It is the fastest, most powerful, most exclusive and most expensive open sports car in the world" - so says Horacio Pagani of his latest creation. With a 7.3 litre AMG V12 producing 650 HP and 780Nm of torque, he may well be right... read more...
	The New Lotus Europa S Lotus will officially launch what they describe as a "GT-inspired coupe" at this year's Geneva Salon. The car will feature the usual Lotus attributes of high power to weight, as well as a more refined interior, and practicality that includes a larger luggage compartment and easier cabin access... read more...
	Le Mans Classic 2006 Run biennially, the Le Mans Classic is one of the best events on the worldwide historic motor racing calendar. The entries are already coming in, and it's time to make plans for a summer visit to the famous circuit of 'La Sarthe'... read more...
	Mercedes CLS 63 AMG and CLK 63 AMG The 76th Geneva International Motor Show, the venue for so many debuts over the years, will see Mercedes-Benz officially launch its 'Saugmotor' AMG 6.3 litre V8 in the CLS, and CLK Coupé and Cabriolet model ranges... read more...
	Audi RS 4 now also in Avant and Cabriolet versions Audi will be completing the RS4 line-up this summer with estate and cabrio versions fo the highly-regarded 420 HP 4wd super saloon based on the A4... read more...
	Brabus at Geneva - the S V12 S 730 HP - 6.3 litre biturbo Electronically limited - to 340 km/h - the latest Brabus Mercedes-Benz S-Class makes another claim to be the fastest saloon in the world... read more...