UgoColombo | Ugo Colombo | The Collection

17 Sep

Meet the Maserati Ghibli S Q4

maserati fhibli s q4 ugo colombo the collection

Source: Sport360.com

The name, Maserati conjures up expectations of Italian passion, a racing heritage, performance, and iconic style. The modern Maserati now has a strong foothold in the luxury market after an impressive comeback.

Maserati’s Ghibli is a fabulous mid-size luxury four-door sedan which made an instant impact when the modern incarnation of a Maserati first seen in 1967 was introduced to the world in 2013.

Ghibli is everything a prestigious executive sedan should be. It looks great, has an aggressive attitude, makes all the right noises, offers high-end luxury inside, is compact and when needed can go like the wind it is named after.

It’s as good as most of its German rivals in an extremely competitive market and now it is even better as it comes equipped with all-wheel-drive in the form of the Ghibli S Q4.

To look at this Ghibli is not different from its stablemates. It has powerful aesthetics, the signature Maserati concave front grille sporting the Trident logo, sleek side appearance and classy rear with twin exhausts, all adding up to a very sophisticated aura.

The interior is what you would expect from Maserati, with lashings of posh leather, polished metals, and carbon fiber trim. The instrument cluster is simply but classic and there is a very good infotainment system with 7-inch TFT screen.

The real genius of this Ghibli is the Q4 system itself which has been designed to maximize traction when road conditions get a little hazardous. In normal driving conditions the system puts all the power down via the rear wheels, thus retaining the traditional Maserati transmission. In just 150 milliseconds the Q4 system is capable of altering the torque split from 100 per cent rear wheels to 50-50 between front and back wheels and will retain AWD while conditions require maximum grip, only returning to RWD when things are back to regular.

All this, of course, is linked to the rather impressive 3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine built by Ferrari which powers this machine through an equally good eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. This new-generation engine is a real beauty with 410bhp and huge portions of torque at 550nm.

Learn more about the Maserati Ghibli S Q4 on Sport360.com

08 Sep

Introducing the Jaguar XF 2.0

2015 Jaguar XF 2.0D Ugo Colombo The Collection

Source: Auto Week (photo by Jaguar)

The second-generation XF goes on sale this autumn, launching with rear- and all-wheel drive. The same platform sits beneath the upcoming F-Pace SUV and features double-wishbone front suspension, an Integral Link multi-link rear and a 75/25 percent split of aluminum/steel.

At launch, you’ll choose from the F-Type’s 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 335 or 375 hp. Less familiar are the new-generation 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium engines, both gas and diesel.

At first glance, you’d guess the XF was longer than its all-steel predecessor. At 195 inches, it’s actually 3/4 of an inch shorter, the roofline 1/10 of a millimeter lower. If you’ve ever sat in the back of the first XF some say it’s short on head and legroom compared with rivals. Jaguar claims class-leading legroom, there’s plenty of headroom and the entire rear-seat experience is airier, less claustrophobic. That’s partly down to the six-light glasshouse, but it’s also the packaging opportunities afforded by a 2-inch-longer wheelbase compared with the old model. The only thing that doesn’t grow is the trunk; it still holds the same 19 cubic feet.

Read more about the Jaguar XF 2.0 on Auto Week

01 Sep

Casa Ferrari Carmel at the Monterey Car Week

Source: Cavallino.com

Ferrari debuted “Casa Ferrari Carmel” during California’s Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last month. Injecting Maranello flavor and history to Monterey Car Week, Casa Ferrari Carmel marked the epicenter of the Prancing Horse for the long weekend.

Serving as home base for everything Ferrari related, Casa Ferrari Carmel was modeled after Enzo Ferrari’s house at the marque’s Fiorano Circuit racetrack in Maranello, Italy. Attendance was free and open to the general public. Vintage favorites, such as a 250 Monza and the 250 LM, were on display alongside all of Ferrari’s current models, including the FF and the new Ferrari 488 GTB. Visitors were able to buy select merchandise and enjoy treats like Grom gelato and Italian espresso.

Learn more about the Monterey Car Week

24 Aug

The Aston Martin DB11 Rumors

2017 Aston Martin DB9 Successor picture - doc636791

Source: Top Speed

It has been rumored that the 2017 Aston Martin DB9 successor will arrive in late 2016 with a turbocharged, 4.0-liter V-8 developed by AMG. Some are now suggesting that the grand tourer will borrow more from Mercedes-Benz. According to one source. the DB11 (name not yet official) will feature 2014 Mercedes S-Class -sourced instrument dials, a rotary controller for the infotainment system, as well as switches for the air conditioning system.

Some believe the pictures of the interior are proof that Aston Martin is getting plenty of electronics from its new partner in Stuttgart. Until further details surface one way or another, all we know is the DB9’s successor will get both V-8 and V-12 powerplants, with some rumors claiming Gaydon will turbocharge the V-12 as well in order to reduce the brand’s carbon footprint. As previously mentioned, the DB11 will also ride on a new platform and feature new styling, likely based on that of the 2015 Aston Martin DB10 movie car built for the upcoming James Bond “Spectre” film.

12 Aug

Introducing the McLaren 675LT

Source: Auto Blog

McLaren has officially started production of the new 675LT. It was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show and some suggest it is the ultimate expression of the company’s essential Super Series.

The McLaren 675LT is based on the same underpinnings as the 650S that forms the core of the McLaren range, but upgrades with a more powerful version of the company’s ubiquitous 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, now producing 666 horsepower and breathing through a titanium exhaust system. As a result, 0-62 is now quoted at a scant 2.9 seconds, with a top speed pegged at 205 miles per hour. It’s also got revised bodywork inspired by the Longtail version of the legendary McLaren F1, offering improved aerodynamics and its LT designation, along with a more hardcore, track-focused setup.

McLaren will only make 500 examples of the 675LT. With assembly now kicking off at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England, those 500 fortunate customers will soon be getting their hands on their new toys.

Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION Named Best Auto Dealership

Best of Miami 2015 The Collection Ugo Colombo

Source: Miami New Times

THE COLLECTION is proud to be named the Best Auto Dealership for the fourth consecutive year in the Miami New Times’ “Best of Miami” list.

THE COLLECTION was selected as a reader’s choice and we are honored by all loyal clients and fans. Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION will continue to strive for the best and to always treat our clients as invited guests in our home.

Read the full 2015 Best of Reader’s Choice List

14 Jul

Sneak Peak: 2017 Audi R8

Source: Digital Trends

Introducing the 2017 Audi R8! It’s everything you loved about the car before, just better. The second generation Audi R8 sports car keeps things simple: lighter, faster, and more powerful. Audi drops the V8 option and the six-speed manual transmission and now offers just a 5.2-liter mid-mounted V10 engine. This generates 540 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque in the standard iteration or 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque in the lighter, carbon-fibery V10 plus version. Both engines are married to a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission which routes power to Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

Audi took a conservative approach to the R8’s exterior design, updating the sports car with a sharper, more angular look that refreshes a design which actually still holds up in comparison to modern contemporaries. The front face now has a more hexagonal grill that follows the design DNA seen across the automaker’s current vehicle lineup. Its distinct pair of air vents are updated with vertical blades replacing the slats they sported previously.

The Collections’ Holds First Ever Porsche Scavenger Hunt

Passion….Philanthropy….Porsche!

Porsches seized the streets of Miami this past March for the first ever technology-enabled and social media-driven #PorscheScavengerHunt. They event was co-hosted by Martini Media and Ugo Colombo’s The Collection.

The invite-only Porsche Scavenger Hunt included teams of prominent Miami enthusiasts and they competed for a $5,000 donation to their charity of choice. Invitees took the streets in the most notable Porsche vehicles, which included the highly sought-after Macan S, Cayman, Boxster, Targa 4S, Panamera Turbo S , Boxster GTS, 911, and Cayenne Turbo,. Some of Miami’s most influential business leaders, journalists and VIPs attended the event including real estate developer Gil Dezer, Haute Living’s Hadley Henriette, TheDaisyColumn.com editor Daisy Olivera, Miami.com Editor Fred Gonzalez, Million Dollar Listing’s Chad Carroll, Vixen Workout Founder Janet Jones, “The Wordy Girl” Maria Tettamanti, Tara Ink’s Nick D’Annunzio and Latin recording artist Fantine.

After completing six clues and two bonus clues, the winner of the 2015 Ultimate Porsche Scavenger Hunt was Janet Jones. Jones donated the $5000 winnings to Live Like Bella Foundation whose vision is “to make pediatric cancer a curable and treatable disease.”

19 May

Aston Martin CEO, Andy Palmer, Visits with The Collection

On Saturday, March 28th, Aston Martin clients from Ugo Colombo’s The Collection were invited to attend an meet-and-greet dinner with Aston Martin’s newly-appointed CEO, Andy Palmer. The dinner occurred at Jean-George’s Matador Room at The Miami Beach Edition and Palmer mixed and mingled at the 4-course dinner. He later joined guests for cocktails and bowling at the Edition’s Basement.

Dr. “Andy” Palmer, is a seasoned auto exec with 35 years of industry experience. He joins Aston Martin from Nissan Motor Corporation where he served as their Chief Planning Officer. Palmer started his professional career at the ripe age of 16 (he was an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited in the United Kingdom). In 1986, Palmer joined Austin Rover to eventually become Transmissions Chief Engineer of Rover Group. Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 and was based in Japan for the past 13 years. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Vice President of the entire group and Infiniti’s Chairman.

11 May

Ugo Colombo and The Collection Celebrate 2015 Ferrari Challenge

The Ferrari Challenge made its way back to Miami earlier this year – and after a 2 year hiatus. The event was action-packed, from start to finish! THE COLLECTION family and Ferrari enthusiasts came together to enjoy a weekend filled with everything Ferrari.

Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION, and Ferrari North America, co-hosted the annual Ferrari Challenge weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway from Friday, March 6th through Sunday, March 8th. Guests and Ferrari owners that attended the events had the opportunity to drive their Ferraris on the track, enjoy Ferrari’s world-famous hospitality, enjoy an up close and personal look at the paddock and Challenge garages and enjoy the all-new Fan Zone complete with a new winner’s podium, on-site boutique and Ferrari go karts for the kids.

On Saturday, March 7th, THE COLLECTION held their now-famous breakfast and rally. Upon completion of the breakfast, attendees departed on a 70+ Ferrari-only caravan and were escorted by the police. Once the fleet from the rally arrived at the track, the remainder of the day consisted of Dealer Lapping sessions for our devoted clients, as well as the Ferrari Challenge races and unprecedented access to THE COLLECTION’s Ferrari Challenge trailer.

Ferrari North America kicked off the weekend with an invitation-only cocktail event at Cipriani Miami Downtown on Friday night. The event served as a launching pad to the weekend’s Ferrari Challenge races and event. Guests were treated to an unveiling of the all-new Sergio Ferrari, one of only six in the world. Several VIPs, executives, and celebrities were in attendance, including Ferrari North America’s new President and CEO, Edwin Fenech, professional dancer Kym Johnson, and TV star Carson Kressley.

Watch a video about the 2015 Ferrari Challenge event from The Collection below: