Aston Martin Blows the Top Off New $300,000 Vanquish Volante Convertible [Photos & Video]

If you like the new Vanquish and have $300,000 to spare (actually, a little less at $297,995, to be precise - just as long as you avoid the temptation of ticking any option boxes) and prefer to see the sun instead of the coupe's headliner, Aston Martin has just presented the open top version dubbed Volante.

Among the many features highlighted by Aston Martin is the fact that the new Vanquish Volante is the first fully carbon fibre-skinned and simultaneously, stiffest convertible model in the brand’s 100-year history. The full height windscreens is another first for an open top Aston.

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How Many Quarter-Mile Races Can the Tesla Model S Do On One Charge?

Fears regarding the Tesla Model S’ one-charge range don’t only concern the more eco-minded drivers who are set to achieve the maximum range out of it, because those with a faster driving style who also happen to like racing the classic quarter mile also have to be catered for.

Now, the crew over at DragTimes wanted to know how many 400-meter drag races can be performed with a full battery and good weather conditions.

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Audi Announces Prices and Specs for UK Market A3 Saloon

The first ever sedan interpretation of the A3 series is now available for order from Audi's UK network with first deliveries in September. The new A3 Saloon is offered with an initial range of three powerplants with on-the-road prices starting from £24,275 for the base 2.0 TDI Sport and topping out at £28,105 for the 1.8 TFSI S Line.

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Sutcliffe Tests Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, Finds it Competent but Not Sharp Enough

After releasing their test of the A45 AMG a few days ago, Autocar has now also tried out the sedan variant built on the same front axle-biased all-wheel drive platform, and powered by the same turbocharged engine.

Mercedes-Benz claims identical acceleration and top speed figures, even though the CLA 45 AMG is some 30 kg (66 lbs) heavier than the A-Class, but reviewer Steve Sutcliffe says the sedan does not feel as edgy to drive as the hatch, getting a more dulled down throttle response.

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Chrysler Caves in to NHTSA Demands and Issues Recall for Fire Risk on Jeeps

So much for the Chrysler Group's tough stance against the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after the agency recommended the recall of some 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty because the rear-mounted fuel tanks performed poorly in rear-end collisions.

On June 4, the Detroit carmaker issued a statement, in which it said: "The company [Chrysler Group] does not agree with NHTSA’s conclusions and does not intend to recall the vehicles cited in the investigation. The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective."

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They Don’t Make Them Like They Used to: Man Nears 3 Million Mile Mark in 1966 Volvo P1800

This is a story that will change your perception of reliability in a car. A man from Long Island called Irv Gordon (you probably remember him from a story we wrote a while ago) will soon reach 3,000,000 miles (4,828,032 km) in the same car, a 1966 Volvo P1800.

Gordon bought the car new in 1966 and the red Volvo has been his companion ever since. "It's not about getting to the three million miles; it's about the trips that got me to the three million miles," Gordon explains. "I never had a goal to get to one million, to two million. I just enjoyed driving and experiencing life through my Volvo,” he added.

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NSFW Traffic Distraction and NSFW Way to Clean a Toyota with No Hands

We said it twice in the title and we'll say it one more time; the following two videos from HGHT, which stands for "Hot Girls Hot Things", are not suitable for work (NSFW). If you don't mind that, then by all means, jump through the break to check them out.

The first clip you'll find is called the "Bikini Bangarang" and per the description, "The hot girls of HGHT take over Hollywood and Highland and BANGARANG in nothing but bikinis and a smile". We'll have to assume that few, if any drivers, had objections to the girls temporarily blocking one of the lanes.

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Renault Releases UK Pricing Information for Refreshed Scenic and Scenic XMOD

Renault’s popular Scenic (4.3 million sold in total since 1996 introduction), which has been recently refreshed, has just received its official pricing information for the UK market where it retails from £17,955.

Strangely, the cheapest model in the range is the newly-introduced XMOD, which is perfect for those buyers unsure if they want a crossover or an MPV, because it slots somewhere between the two.

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Aussie BMW Dealership Transforms First-Gen X5 Into a Ute / Pick-Up

There are quite a few documented cases of people taking every-day vehicles and turning them into pick-up trucks, or utes, as they are called in Australia where they have just done it again, this time with a first-gen BMW X5 SUV.

While some of the similar projects we’ve seen varied in terms of quality of the finished product, I think this X5, which was done by a BMW dealership from Queensland, is one of the better ones I’ve seen.

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Scoop: Is This the Successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo, the New Cabrera?

It was only this week that we learned about Lamborghini's plans to preview a replacement for the 10 year old (!) and very successful with more than 10,000 examples built to date, Gallardo, at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in the beginning of September with a concept, reportedly named Carbrera.

Now, we have a set of scoops shots that are said to be of a prototype of that supercar and which were brought to our attention (and hosted) by the Italian site Carpassion.

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