The Collection News | Ugo Colombo | The Collection

20 Apr

Maserati and Aston Martin Headlining 2016 Auto Expo

Italian carmaker Maserati, and its British competitor Aston Martin, are expected to headline the 2016 Auto Expo next year. The expo is to take place February 5-9^th, and according to many industry sources, this is the first time either brands have approached expo organizers about participating. Sources at India’s flagship automobile show say “Aston Martin, Maserati and Bentley have shown interest to take part in the Auto Expo and if they do it will be the first time that they will be taking part.”

The luxury vehicle market in India has been growing substantially over the last few years, with an estimated 30,000 units a year. German automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz hold most units, with a respectable 10,000 units each. Companies like BMW are also looking to expand their presence, as the sports luxury segment has grown rapidly in the last year.

The expo is held by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), CII and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), and it will be a 2 day event, as it was in 2014. The motor portion of the show will be held at India Expo Mart at Greater Noida, and the component portion will be held at Pragati Maidan in the Capital.

02 Apr

Whispers of the Audi RS Q7

Audi has released its plans for the 2016 Q7 for the North American Market, and it is exciting news! A substantial weight cut of 716lbs, 156.5lb from the body alone; makes the 2016 Q7 poised for speed. There have also been whispers that sources at Audi confirmed: the new SUV will get a wild RS version.

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The source was reported by TopGear, and although they did not specifically name where the information came from, it is believed to be coming from a trusted place. TopGear asked its Audi source about a performance-based version of the SUV, the source responded that the “upgraded Q7 will be built in traditional “Audi style.” TopGear read this as the source saying there will be an RS version.

According to the publication, the source went on to discuss different drivetrains, and briefly mentioned the chances of a high-output TDI engine. If Audi did release a diesel Q7, it would most likely take years for the vehicle to be released in the United States, and the US has shown little interest in diesel vehicles. The source also said that if the RS were to be diesel, that it would not be using the V-12 TDI, as that engine would be too heavy for a small vehicle like the Q7. The best candidate would be the current 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, which creates 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque in the existing RS 7. The current engine allows the RS 7 to go from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds, and would most likely get the SUV to the same speed in about 4 seconds. If Audi wanted to compete with its competitor, the Porsche Cayenne, it would need to get that time to less than 4 seconds, which would mean they would need to up their game a bit!

The source sounded confident that the RS Q7 was coming, but it would be a while before we would see it hit the US market.

15 Mar

THE COLLECTION Celebrates Achievements with The Voice’s Damien Lawson

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Photography by Tyler Loy

THE COLLECTION held their annual manager’s dinner earlier this year to toast the previous year’s success. THE COLLECTION, which is owned by Ugo Colombo, held this extra special event that celebrated Ken’s 20 years at the helm as President of THE COLLECTION.

The celebratory night took place at The Thompson and Seagrape, with a custom-created menu by Michelle Bernstein. Following the lavish dinner party, guests enjoyed The Voice’s Damien Lawson during an incredible, surprise post-dinner concert.

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Photography by Tyler Loy

Read more about this exciting celebration for Ugo Colombo, Ken Gorin, and THE COLLECTION team – and view more spectacular photos from World Redeye at
http://worldredeye.com/2015/01/the-collections-annual-managers-dinner-at-thompson-miami-beach/

01 Mar

Miami Art Basel: A Celebration of Art, Automobiles, and Beauty

Art Basel is an event held three times a year in three locations, Miami, Basel, and Hong Kong. It is a display of the most noted modern and contemporary artists from around the world and the collections on display are enough to make anyone stop and think. Often, the canvas used can be art in itself and the recent Miami Art Basel event used canvas of the automotive variety.

Artists Alec Monopoly, Alex Mijares, Rich B. Caliente, and Mr. Brainwash called for canvases of Maseratis, Bentleys, Lamborghinis, and Ferraris and the attendees of Art Basel soon discovered an additional layer of creativity among these automobiles already craft by a perfect combination between aerodynamic abilities, engineering, comfort, and….beauty.

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The Miami Art Basel event also showcased another beauty! THE COLLECTION Ferrari made its annual appearance. Co-sponsored by Hublot and located at the waterfront estate of Loren and J.R. RIdinger on Miami Beach, guests were instantly welcomed by our Ferrari California T, which gleamed from every angle and caught the eye of every passerby.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Bentley Continental and Ferrari 458 by Alec Monopoly

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Lamborghini Aventador by Alex Mijares

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Lamborghini Huracán by Rich. B Caliente

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Maserati by Mr. Brainwash

19 Feb

Jack – The Self Driving Audi

Last year Audi attempted a ride along a freeway in Las Vegas. The system failed during that attempt, and the driver had to take over. Audi must feel as though they have made great improvement in the last year, because they are doing it again! An A7 has been fitted with self-driving gear, and will be attempting to make a 550-mile round trip journey from San Francisco to Las Vegas. Audi has been making significant advances in recent years with their “Piloted Driving” technology, and claims that the sensors being used in test car, “Jack,” are ready for immediate production.

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“Jack” is equipped with Audi’s standard long-range forward radar, as well as two rear-facing and side-facing radar sensors. A laser scanner behind the grille of the car helps with solid object detection, and several cameras have been placed on the front of the vehicle, as well as the front and rear corners. These sensors in combination with a GPS locator feed to an onboard computer, which controls the car’s steering, acceleration, and braking.

The only real challenge the system may face is the condition of the lane lines, which the car uses to stay on course.

04 Feb

2016 Maserati Alfieri

The Maserati concept car Alfieri is about to make the jump to showroom. Harald Wester, the CEO of Meser, said the Coupe will be virtually unchanged when it is launched in 2016. The 2016 release will be followed up by the release of a soft-topped convertible in 2017; the cars are a tribute to Alfieri Maserati, who began making sports cars 100 years ago.

The Alfieri was designed to rival the current stars like the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type. It will be offered as a 2+2 coupe, with identical rear wheel drive architecture as the Ghibli, or as 4 wheel drive. A turbocharged V8 engine boasts around 404bhp in the base model, and Wester says Maserati is working on a new hybrid plug-in system for range. An auxiliary 48V electrical system and plug-in are in the works; this will add a boost of speed, as well as enough power to feed the AC and suspension.

20 Jan

Aston Martin DB10 to Star in the Latest James Bond Film

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An Aston Martin will again be featured in the upcoming James Bond film, “Spectre.” The secret agent will be getting something considerably newer than the DB5 used in “Skyfall.” The Gaydon-based company – and EON Productions – revealed the new Aston Martin DB10 at the 007 stage recently at Pinewood Studios.

Aston is celebrating 50 years with the 007 franchise, the DB10 was developed specifically for the film, and it was built in-house by the company.. Aston’s chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, worked closely with film director, Sam Mendes, “to create the ultimate car for the world’s most famous spy.” Production of the DB10 will be limited to 10 cars, all for the movie and the DB10’s lines preview the next round of production Astons.

06 Jan

Exploring the McLaren 650S

ugo-colombo-mclaren-650S The McLaren 650S is distancing itself from its forerunner, the MP4-12C. This car is streets ahead in design, power and technology. Some would suggest there is no other car on the market quite like it. While the brand-new Lamborghini Gallardo has a top speed of 202mph, the 650S tops out at 207mph. While the Ferrari 458 has 562bhp, the 650S has 641bhp. This stat alone sets the McLaren way apart from its rivals. The McLaren 650S can do 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and a scorching 0-100mph in 5.8 seconds.

All of this performance is experienced in amazing comfort. Previous supercars of this size eventually begin to make the driver’s body ache where the 650S’s suspension works in such a way that, if one wheel hits a bump, the other three wheels have the ability to cover for their mate and you end up not noticing. The headroom in the 650S is immense and the touchscreen control system is quite superior. The 650S is aesthetically pleasing to look at. The car is drop dead gorgeous with the roof down.

08 Dec

The Jaguar Performance Driving Academy Comes to Miami

ugo-colombo-jaguar-performance-academy The Jaguar Performance Driving Academy will be at the Homestead-Miami Speedway between December 10th and December 14th. All current Jaguar owners are invited to participate in this event where drivers can expect to tap into the full performance potential of a Jaguar in a controlled, yet thrilling, track environment.

Three course levels will be offered. Level 1 is complimentary to U.S. Jaguar owners who have purchased a new XFR, XFR-S, XKR (Coupe or Convertible), XKR-S (Coupe or Convertible), XKR-S GT, XJR, XJ Supersport, XJL Supersport, XJL Ultimate or F-TYPE R Coupe within the past 12 months. Level 1 is also available on a fee basis to all U.S. or Canadian licensed drivers age 21 and over who want to experience the exhilaration of Jaguar performance.

Participation in Levels 2 and 3 are designed for those who have already completed Level 1. Your spot in Levels 2 and 3 can also be secured for a fee. Jaguar includes the cars, instructors, track amenities and safety equipment (including helmets), and an evening reception in return for this fee.

Below are the dates and levels for the Jaguar Performance Driving Academy at Homestead Miami Speedway:

Level 1: December 10th and 12th
Level 2: December 11th and 13th
Level 3: December 14th

Aside from sheer pleasure, the Jaguar Performance Driving Academy sets its sights to transform Jaguar owners into more confident drivers. Those in attendance will learn the skills to respond more appropriately to unexpected real-world driving situations. This event is equally enjoyable and educational.

To RSVP for the Jaguar Performance Academy, visit https://www.rsvpjaguar.com/academy/welcome.aspx?_ga=1.121521160.1206232113.1418056100. For further assistance, call the Jaguar Performance Driving Academy Concierge at (866) 513-7200 or visit http://www.jaguarusa.com/news-and-events/jaguar-performance-driving-academy/overview.html

THE COLLECTION encourages all of our Jaguar owners to attend this enlightening and exciting affair available in our very own backyard!

25 Nov

Hamilton Takes it All in Abu Dhabi

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The 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 23rd 2014. It was the 19th and final round of the 2014 season, the 916th World Championship race, and it marked the 6th running of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Double points were awarded for the first time at this race. This change to the points system was not universally well received in the months leading up to the race. The Telegraph reported Hamilton had his own doubts and said he “wouldn’t perhaps advise it [using the double point system] for the following years” after his win at the 2014 United States Grand Prix. This race nonetheless determined the World Drivers’ Championship between Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, with Hamilton winning both the race and the title.