1906 Cadillac

Last weekend there was a classic car show in São Paulo, Brazil. Although it was little known, the show was interesting and had some great automobiles to demonstrate how cars have changed through time!

Big contrast: the great Cadillac tailfin!

From VW Beetles to Rolls-Royce, passing through Mercedes, Jaguar and some American classics, all vehicles exposed were quite remarkable. The oldest one was the 1906 Cadillac.

De Soto

Rolls-Royce Phantom

This 1949 Rolls-Royce came from New York

Luxury standards in 1949

1958 MG

MG V8, hatchback style

1981 Bentley Corniche

One of the most beautiful in this show!

Wood and leather luxury trim!

1977 Ferrari 308 GTB

Had a 3.0 V8 engine with  255hp (0 to 60 in 6,5 seg.)

1965 Ferrari 330GT V12

Only 1.054 were ever made

1971 Lamborghini Bertone

My favorites were the impeccable Bentley Corniche, the classic Jaguar E-Type and the rarities from design studios like Bertone and Pininfarina.

1965 VW Bug made in Germany for South Africa!

The 1968 JK was the Brazilian Alfa Romeo

1958 Ford 

1957 Ford Thunderbird

1963 Corvette Stingray

1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 S 1954

I missed the presence of a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, probably the most beautiful car ever made. Nonetheless, this was a very impressive show for Brazilian standards.

1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupé

Jaguar XF: when charm triumphs over reason!

Jaguar XF V8

The Jaguar XF was the first model to drastically change the cat brand design. At the time it was released, I admit I didn’t quit like it, but now I thing it is one of the most beautiful and elegant sedans out there.

LEDs taillights as well as daytime running lights in front

Without using the key, one can climb in and press the start/stop button. That is when the show begins: the round transmission knob rises to your palm and the air conditioning vents open automatically. The finishing’s are impressive, as they should be, with leather covering seats, doors and dashboard, plus real wood trim and lots of aluminum.

Aluminum trim + wood + leather 

Simple, practical and easy

All commands are easy to reach and, most importantly, easy to read. Basic air conditioning, sound system and cruise control buttons are in hand. All the rest is managed through a color 7-inch touch screen. At night, the ambient light in a bluish tone brings extra charm to the controls.

Details are very nice

The tested model had a somewhat dated V6 engine that only has 240hp, combined with a six-gear automatic transmission. However, a 2.0-liter Turbo with the same horsepower displacement and an eight-gear automatic will soon be available in 2013, with much more torque and less gas consumption. The 5.0 V8 should stay in line together with the outstanding supercharged R version that has 510hp to play with.

The gear knob and air vents are closed when the engine is off

The 3.0 V6 is still a good option if you are not in a hurry. And you won’t need to worry about a turbine problem in the future. It is smooth and driving it fits like a glove. The ride is absolutely magnificent, with excellent handling and above average comfort, specially helped by the suspension.

XF 3.0 V6

This Jaguar is still a huge sports sedan, but parking is no trouble if you opt for the rearview camera and all the parking assistance signals that can also be viewed at the screen – available for front and rear.

Whoever rides in the back will not love the experience, however, since there is nothing out of the ordinary or even good enough legroom. They’ll also be disappointed because the driving pleasure of the XF is just so exquisite.

18" wheels help to keep the ride comfortable

Once you decide the show should end, just press start/stop again and watch the vents close and the transmission handle disappear. The spectacle should be charming at least for a month or so!

“Skyfall” – James Bond is back and brings with him the classic DB5!

Aston Martin DB5 from 1964

The latest 007 film – to be released on Nov 09^th in the US – is by far the best one from the Daniel Craig era. Together with “Casino Royal” and “Quantum of Solace,” Mr. Craig’s has his third performance as a secret service agent for MI6. “Skyfall” shows an even more humane and macho Bond, with almost no gadgets and a lot of stamina.

As the movie moves on, the viewer gets to see many different vehicles and transportation means: starting with a Land Rover Defender that will go up against anything before being left alone; going through an outstandingly beautiful and luxurious Jaguar XJ limo that moves around the top agents of the British secret service; a Mercedes S-Class; a few motorcycles; and a most elegant sail yacht that will lead the audience to a very appalling (and yet also very human) villain played by Javier Barden.

Aston Martin interior

It will take lots of muscles and energy for Mr. Bond to put an end to this 007 adventure, where he will also have to face his past. For that, he will use the help of the forever-classic Aston Martin DB5!

GOLDFINGER: Sean Connery with his DB5

Seen for the first time on a Bond movie in 1964 with “Goldfinger,” starring Sean Connery, the DB5, filled with gadgets prepared by “Q”, made a huge impression on audiences. The same Aston Martin reappeared on a dazzling sequence in “GoldenEye” – a terrific race against a Ferrari 355 – and way too quickly on “Tomorrow Never Dies” (both starring Pierce Brosnan).

“Skyfall” shows the Aston back at its best form, seen from all the angles and even some interior details. Thus, the newest 007 should make a massive success. Don’t be too shaken by all the final twists. Just enjoy the stirring around!

Premium Shopping Mall shows its vehicles!

Inside the most recent mall to open in São Paulo, Brazil – the 10^th most expensive city in the world – is a collection of premium brands located only in exclusive addresses, as 5^th Avenue – NYC, Rodeo Drive – Beverly Hills and Avenue Montaigne – Paris. Within this luxurious space, up and coming Brazilians find labels never seen in this developing country before: Nicole Miller, Bottega Veneta, Coach, Sephora, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Van Cleef & Arpels are just some of these new-comers.

During a quick stroll through the JK Iguatemi mall, as it was named, I was confronted by several exquisite pieces of machinery as well: Batman’s motorcycle, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Performante and the new BMW 328 sedan.

Right next to the state-of-the-art 4D movie theaters is Batman’s bike, promoting the new movie The Dark Night Rises. Christopher Nolan, the director, wanted to make Batman’s gear as real and plausible as possible, so he brought into his production designers and engineers to build this motorcycle and a special professional pilot to ride it. It was not easy gaining control of the bike, especially because the driver has to be lying down in a horizontal posture.

On another level, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Performante was calling attention. The convertible all-wheel drive could even be fit as a Bat mobile if it hadn’t been painted in yellow. The previous Batman movie actually had a Lamborghini in it, but it was Bruce Wayne’s choice to use it only during daytime appearances. Anyway, this supercar goes beyond its beauty. The body is made of Aluminum with thermoplastic “hang-on” parts and diffuse use of Carbon Fiber. The 5.2-liter V10 engine has an output of 570hp and 540Nm of torque, taking the car from 0 to 60 in only 3.9 seconds and enabling it to reach a top speed of 201 MPH.

After that, I had my first contact with the newest version of the 3-Series. Only the 328 is being imported into Brazil right now. This dark blue tone made the sedan look beautiful, yet discreet. The interior has an almost perfect combination of sportiness and luxury. The leather power-seats are more comfortable than the ones of a Mercedes’ C-Class and the finishing is impeccable. The BMW 328 has a 4-cylinder turbo engine with 245hp. The price in Brazil? Starting at about 85 thousand American dollars, which helps to understand what makes São Paulo one of the world’s most expensive cities… However, I wouldn’t mind if Mr. Wayne wanted to give me one of these!

Audi A1: the mini audi

For those of you who like a very compact car, as in Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 or Smart, you’ll enjoy meeting the little Audi A1.

Audi’s smallest car is still an Audi and that seems to be what makes the entry-level German special! The exterior is cute, although with a somewhat weird arch that can come in different colors. All external lights are LEDs, making it look modern and up-to-date with its bigger brothers.

Inside, it is very comfortable if you are just a couple. The front leather bucket seats are good. The back seat is not terrible but I can’t say an adult will be comfortable there. The trunk is also quite small – only 9.5 cubic feet. Luckily the back seats are retractable, transforming the total luggage space into 32 cu-ft.

Audi says the little petrol 1.4-liter engine and the double-clutch 7-gear automatic can get the car to 60 in only 8.9 seconds. It has 120hp and 200 Nm of torque! And it is suppose to be very fuel-efficient. All very interesting for an Audi.

European stick-gear interior shown.

The Brand-New Lexus ES 350

The new EX 350 has a grille that should unite the look of Lexus.

The Lexus ES has just been completely reformulated and has grown to be a prettier car inside and out.

Internally, it reminds me of the newest GS version, but less luxurious. Nonetheless, the ES 350 is elegant and has a lot of new gadgets, including the newest version of Lexus’ board computer and “mouse” system that are extremely easy to operate.

The new is modern and elegant.

The anatomic "mouse" is easy to use.

In a nutshell, this Camry that went through an extreme makeover and was born a Lexus, has proven to be extremely comfortable, with its soft leather power seats, multifunctional steering wheel and great space and comfort also for backseat passengers.

The gauges are easy to read and the wood trim is pretty.

The new finishing is quite impressive.

The EX 350 has a 306hp V6 engine combined with a 6-gear automatic transmission. Only the bigger LS models have the 8-gear automatic box. I was never much of a Lexus fan, but the new finishing and good looks are more attractive this time.

The rear resembles the Camry's that go to Latin America.