Category Archives: Celebrity Auto News

Ashton Kutcher tries to save marriage with $100K Lexus

Most men have tried to persuade their significant other to stay with them through a grand gesture, but "Two and a Half Men" star Ashton Kutcher recently put everyone else to shame in a last-ditch effort to stay married to wife Demi Moore. Sources close to the actor say he bought Moore a 2012 Lexus 600h about two weeks before she announced they were getting divorced, celebrity gossip website TMZ.com reports.

The lavish present was for Demi's birthday and turned out to be a gift that fell flat. It's an impressive car nonetheless. The hybrid Lexus is not only a top-of-the-line luxury car but it gets about 22 miles per gallon around the city, which is no small feat for the powerful ride.

Although Kutcher is the latest celebrity to give an extravagant ride as a gift, he certainly is not the only one. Luxury cars are often one of the most popular presents that celebrity couples choose to give each other – though maybe for better reasons than trying to save a marriage.

According to MSN Cars, one of the most impressive vehicles given as a gift lately was the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport that Beyonce gave husband Jay-Z for his 41st birthday in 2010. The convertible, often regarded as one of the best sports cars in the world, cost an estimated $1.8 million.

Of course, it's not always couples bestowing lavish rides on each other. Adam Sandler gave David Spade, Chris Rock, Kevin James and Rob Schneider each a Maserati Quattroporte for their work on his movie "Grown Ups."

Celebrity car watchers should be on the lookout in the coming weeks as the holiday season will likely see some big gifts. 

Justin Bieber adds custom Range Rover to ever-growing fleet

Justin Bieber is quickly rising up the ranks as one of the most car-obsessed celebrities. Just weeks after receiving a personalized Cadillac CTS-V from West Coast Customs, the 17-year-old "Never Say Never" star has added another impressive ride to his growing collection. According to The Sun, Bieber is now the proud owner of a customized Range Rover that cost him more than $159,000.

Included in the long-list of features in the SUV is a stereo system worth upwards of $79,000. But there is much more than just an impressive stereo. Among the other highlights are a high-performance Cosworth engine, custom paint job and a leather interior. The finished product is the work of Project Kahn, which has also customized cars for stars such as Wayne Rooney and Katie Price.

"Justin loves his motors even though he's barely old enough to drive," a source close to the situation told the newspaper. "His girlfriend Selena Gomez will be well impressed with his latest. It's the business."

Although Bieber has an ever-growing collection of impressive cars, including a Ferrari F430, he still has a long way to go to catch some of the celebrities with the biggest fleets. Perhaps the most famous car enthusiast in Hollywood right now is Jay Leno. The venerable talk show host even has a 17,000 square foot garage that houses vehicles ranging from a 1906 Baker electric car to a powerful 2006 Corvette.

Bieber may be far behind Leno, but he certainly is well on his way. His burgeoning fleet is especially impressive when one takes into consideration that he has only been on the road for little over a year.

Justin Bieber riding around in custom made ‘Batmobile’

Although he's only been able to drive for just over a year, Justin Bieber has already earned a reputation for being a car enthusiast, and his latest endeavor won't do anything to change the perception. The "Somebody To Love" singer recently had his Cadillac CTS-V coupe customized – and it is truly a sight to behold, Yahoo! Autos reports.

Already an impressive ride to begin with, Bieber's CTS-V got special treatment from world-renowned autobody shop West Coast Customs. In addition to a matte-black paint job and 22-inch wheels, the car was outfitted with suicide doors – which can be opened simply by touching a customized badge on the dashboard.

The sleek back car, which also includes a purple interior and LED headlamps, was decked out with its new features for West Coast Customs' TV show on the Velocity network. The vehicle, which has earned the nickname the Batmobile, is a point of pride for Ryan Friedlinghaus, the CEO of the autobody shop.

"When he came in with so much positivity, creativeness, talent and direction, I knew this would be a great build," Friedlinghaus said. "Together, we created something that Justin didn't have…the sickest CTS-V on Earth, that even exceeded Justin's expectations."

This certainly isn't the first time that Bieber has made the news for his taste in automobiles, however one of his most recent forays into the headlines was probably not something he wanted. According to TMZ.com, the singer was recently pulled over by police while out driving his newly-designed CTS-V after he cut off an officer who was trying to pull out. Luckily for him, the teen sensation was let off with a warning.

Amber Heard cruises in ’68 Mustang

Most people are aware of the love that Jay Leno has for his classic cars, and George Clooney also has a famous collection, but there is one actress out there who has an affinity for automobiles that might surprise some people. Amber Heard, best known for her roles in Pineapple Express and the short-lived NBC series The Playboy Club, recently told USA Today that one of her most prized possessions is her 1968 Ford Mustang.

"Some people have pictures of their dog," she told the publication about her ride. "But here's my baby."

In the upcoming film The Rum Diary, Heard gets to ride alongside star Johnny Depp in a classic Corvette (which was eventually gifted to Depp after filming ended), and it would not go too far surmise that it is one of her favorite scenes.

Though her current favorite car is the '68 Mustang, she is no stranger to driving classic vehicles. In fact, she used to drive a Checker Cab for a spell, and was also behind the wheel of a 1962 Mercedes – and she doesn't plan on change her attitude toward cars anytime soon.

"It has to be vintage," she told the publication's Drive On blog. "There's a grace to things that come from that period."

Johnny Depp given ’59 Corvette for work on The Rum Diary

Johnny Depp has long been one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood, and most people wouldn't argue if you said he's got it pretty good. It looks like that life just got a little bit better. As a thank you for the work he did on his upcoming movie The Rum Diary, Depp received a classic 1959 Corvette convertible, USA Today reports.

The beautiful ride was given to him by Graham King and was driven by Depp in the movie. While it might seem like a gaudy gift for such an accomplished actor, King said that it was well-earned on Depp's part. Still, the Pirates of the Caribbean star was shocked when he received the 'Vette.

"He worked so hard on the film and why not?" King told the publication. "He was pretty blown away by it."

Director Bruce Robinson told USA Today that he was extremely jealous of the gift, adding that he got to drive the car and was surprised by how powerful it was. Corvette fans can look for the vehicle when the movie comes out October 28.

The 1959 Corvette is one of the most classic versions of the iconic sports car, and it featured an especially powerful engine and its unique design set the tone for the following decades.

Celebrities dominate the week in car news

The week in auto news was slow in terms of any development regarding the latest models or sales figures, but there was plenty of celebrity news to go around. From the passing of Steve Jobs, who had a pretty unique collection of cars, to socialite Kim Kardashian adding a new ride to hers, the rides of the rich and famous were prominently on display.

• The tech world mourned the loss of Apple founder Steve Jobs on Wednesday, who lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer. Many people focused on his innovative contributions to the music and computer industry, but a few pointed out his unique ride, a 2007 Mercedes Benz SL5 AMG, which had the distinction of having a CPU barcode instead of a license plate, the auto blog RushLane.com reports. Nobody's quite sure why he had the faux-plates, and there's no indication that he was ever ticketed for it.

• At the opposite end of the spectrum is Kim Kardashian, who turned heads this week for reasons other than what she's used to. The reality TV star added a tricked out Ferrari 458 Italia to her garage, costing her about $325,000. TMZ.com reports that it's just the latest in her impressive collection, which also includes a rare Rolls Royce Ghost as well as a super-charged $115,000 Range Rover.

• Fans of country legend Willie Nelson may be able to get behind the wheel of one of his famous rides, but it certainly will not come cheap. The "On The Road Again" singer is putting his tour bus up for sale on October 22 and it comes with some pretty impressive bells and whistles. In addition to six bunks and a full bathroom, the bus also features a stunning mural on the back with the Texas flag and a pair of cowboy boots, USA Today reports.
 

Sheryl Crow to auction classic Corvette for tornado relief

In an effort to raise money to help the citizens of Joplin, Missouri, Sheryl Crow is auctioning off one of her most impressive cars. (this sentence is a bit winding)The "Soak up the Sun" songstress is set to sell her 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL for the cause, USA Today reports.

Crow was especially motivated to help out Joplin since she grew up in Kennett, Missouri. The vehicle, which was completely restored in 2005, features a new interior with black leather upholstery to contrast its white paint job and white hard top.

The classic car will hit the auction block on August 21, and all the proceeds from the sale will go to help rebuild the Joplin schools. Experts believe that the car could fetch as much as $80,000 for the cause.

"This is a very heartfelt donation to auction an item that has such special meaning to Sheryl and her family," Community Foundation of the Ozarks President Brian Fogle told the news source. "We very much appreciate how committed she is to her Missouri roots."

The Joplin tornado struck on May 22 and killed 158 people in the small town, and caused as much as $3 billion in damage.

Kate Middleton’s former car up for auction

Those who can't get enough of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may now have the opportunity to get closer to them than ever before. Fox News reports that Kate Middleton's former car is up for sale on eBay, and may fetch as much as £30,000 (around $48,000).

The price tag is not too shabby given that Kate purchased the car, a Volkswagen Golf, back in 2001 for about $17,000. She put on about 60,000 miles before it was sold to Sonny Brazil, the son of a used car dealer in Reading.

According to the U.K.'s Daily Mail, Brazil has not put many more miles on the vehicle (only about 2,500 miles), and he admitted to becoming especially protective over the royal blue car.

"I became quite precious about it and wouldn't let anyone else drive it, even parking it in a locked garage away from the house in case anyone tried to nick it," he told the news source.

Of course, not everyone can get behind the wheel of such a regal car, but if one is looking for a different used Volkswagen at an affordable price, New Jersey Auto Auction offers plenty of options. 

Jay Leno tests 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Jay Leno is almost as famous for his affinity for cars as he is for his run as host of the Tonight Show. So it comes as no surprise that he was recently chosen to be among the first to drive the latest Volkswagen Beetle.

The venerable comedian was offered the opportunity to fly to Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, and test drive not only the 2012 Beetle, but also the oldest known version of the iconic car, a mint-condition 1938 model.

Though the antique Beetle was certainly a treat, it was the new one that really made an impression with Leno. Volkswagen recently unveiled the updated design, which is much sleeker than in previous years. It also has a model available with a new turbocharged engine.

"The thing that astounds me about this car is how sophisticated and how much power it has," Leno said of the 2012 variety.

Drivers who want to pick up a reliable used Volkswagen may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.

John Dillinger’s car making the rounds

One of the most famous cars of the early 20th century is set to go on display at Richmond, Virginia, convention center. USA Today reports the getaway car of iconic gangster John Dillinger, the 1933 Essex Terraplane, is currently on the move across the country in honor of the 77th anniversary of his death.

The car is usually housed at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, D.C., but it has since been making several stops, including the Baltimore airport. Dillinger is perhaps most famous for deftly eluding police during his legendary crime spree, eventually being killed by law enforcement in Chicago on July 22, 1934.

According to the publication, the car is valued at about $150,000 and is one of several famous getaway cars that have made their way into the annals of history, including the iconic Ford driven by Bonnie and Clyde in which they were gunned down after being cornered by police in 1934.

In fact, the news source reports that Clyde wrote Henry Ford himself to tell him what a reliable car he made, saying it was perfect for "sustained speed and freedom from trouble."