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Andy Warhol BMW Art Car live at the German F1 Grand Prix

Posted: 18 Jul 2008 10:04 AM CDT

During the German Formula 1 Grand Prix, BMW will be paying very special homage to the legendary pop artist Andy Warhol. To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1 and also to celebrate the reival of the Procar, Warhol’s BMW Art Car (1979) will again be taking to the starting grid. Both on 19th and 20th July 2008, ten of these cars will be on the starting grid in Hockenheim. Jochen Neerpasch, former head of BMW Motorsport GmbH and initiator of BMW M1 development, will take Andy Warhol’s Art Car round the track on a few of laps of honour.

During this ride, the co-pilot will be Frank Stella, one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, and also an enthusiastic racing car driver, which designed the BMW 3.0 CSL that raced at Le Mans in 1976. Warhol himself was just as enthusiastic as usual: “I love that car. It has turned out better than the artwork”. Instead of first designing a scale model and leaving the final completion to his assistants as his predecessors did, the pop art legend painted the BMW M1 from the beginning to the end himself - and signed on the wet paint using his fingers. “If a car is really fast, all contours and colours will
become blurred”.

With Warhol’s car and Frank Stella driving it, the event is also a token of gratitude to all art lovers and should be very interesting to watch.

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Lamborghini delivers the first Gallardo LP560-4 in the US

Posted: 18 Jul 2008 09:32 AM CDT

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 United States

Benny Caiola Jr. is the lucky owner of the first Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 delivered in the United States. The car was delivered this week, after Mr. Caiola placed the winning bid at the East Side House Settlement charity auction during the 2008 New York International Auto Show. He is an Italian car enthusiat, his car collection including other Lamborghinis, such as the Countach, Diablo, Espada, Jalpa or the Miura. “Lamborghini was the first to garner my passion for automobiles […] I’ve loved Lamborghinis my entire life and have owned nearly every model”, he added.

For the rest of the customers, the rest of the LP560-4 (which have a six month wainting list) will start arriving later this summer.

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Renault Clio ‘Rip Curl 2008′ edition

Posted: 18 Jul 2008 09:23 AM CDT

Buoyed by the sale of 30,000 Clio by Rip Curls in more than 20 countries in 2007, Renault continues its partnership with the surfing and snowboarding brand Rip Curl with the release of Renault Clio by Rip Curl 2008. The model will be available in three- and five-door versions and will feature a set of specific equipment tailored for those who enjoy winter and water sports.

The exterior features a range of customization packages featuring striking graphics (’Rock’, ‘Girly’, ‘Planète’), while the interior, revisited by Rip Curl has new upholstery sporting the Rip Curl logo, a chrome centre console, exclusive Rip Curl sills and specific rubber floor mats, as well as a sand- and snow-proof compartmented stowage box in the boot.

The Clio by Rip Curl is powered by the 1.5 dCi 85hp engine, which emits only 117g of CO2 per km, while combined cycle fuel consumption is just 4.4 litres/100km. The 1.5 dCi 70hp and 85hp engines both qualify for the €700 ‘eco bonus’ in operation in France.

Princing for this limited edition starts at 15,450 Euros and represent a saving of €500 compared with the equivalent Clio III Dynamique.

More photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Renault Clio Rip Curl 2008