Evolved Elegance - Automotive history often remembers the cars that reached production, yet some of the most meaningful design breakthroughs come from concepts that were allowed to evolve rather than succeed instantly. In the 1970s, when luxury sedans were still defined by tradition and restraint, Maserati briefly explored a more experimental path. That exploration took shape through a single concept car that would be shown to the world twice, transformed by criticism, persistence, and vision: the Maserati Medici.
The 1974 Maserati Medici I by ItalDesign. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
The Medici project began in 1974 under the direction of Giorgetto Giugiaro and his Turin-based design firm, Italdesign. At the time, Giugiaro was already a dominant force in automotive design, having shaped celebrated Maserati models such asthe Ghibli, Bora, and Merak. His goal was ambitious—to imagine a four-door Maserati that could rival the presence and comfort of American luxury limousines while retaining Italian performance character. The concept was also a response to the contemporary Quattroporte II, whose limited power failed to reflect Maserati’s sporting heritage.
The 1974 Maserati Medici I by ItalDesign. (Picture from: CarThrottle)
Named after the influential Medici family of Florence, renowned since the 14th century for their wealth, power, and patronage of the arts, the car was meant to embody authority and cultural prestige. The original version, later referred to asMedici I, used an existing Maserati Indychassis and replaced the standard V6 with a far more imposing V8 engine of nearly five liters, mounted longitudinally. This mechanical choice aligned the concept with Maserati’s performance identity while setting the foundation for a true executive flagship.
The 1974 Maserati Medici I by ItalDesign. (Picture from: CarThrottle)
Inside, Medici Iwas unapologetically unconventional. The cabin featured six seats arranged to resemble a private lounge rather than a traditional sedan. Four rear seats faced each other in a “living room” configuration, wrapped in velour upholstery to enhance comfort and intimacy. The idea was to transform the car into a moving salon, prioritizing conversation and relaxation over driving involvement—an unusual but deliberate statement in the context of 1970s luxury.
The 1976 Maserati Medici II by ItalDesign. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Stylistically, Giugiaro pursued clean geometry and balance, drawing inspiration fromhis Audi Asso di Picche concept. The two-box silhouette was sharp and modern, yet when Medici I debuted at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, its proportions drew criticism. The bonnet sat noticeably low compared to the roofline, giving the car an awkward visual stance that clashed with Giugiaro’s otherwise disciplined design language. Even Italdesign later acknowledged that the execution did not meet expectations, an honest reflection of the project’s shortcomings.
The 1976 Maserati Medici II by ItalDesign. (Picture from: CarStylingru)
Rather than abandoning the idea, Giugiaro chose to rework it entirely. The same car was brought back into the Italdesign workshop and subjected to a comprehensive redesign that touched nearly every visible surface. The revised version, unveiled in 1976 and known asMedici II, corrected the proportions by raising the bonnet line, replacing the pop-up headlights with four rectangular units, and adding a more formal chrome-framed grille. The result was less sporty but far more elegant, aligning the car with executive luxury rather than experimental futurism.
The 1976 Maserati Medici II by ItalDesign. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
The interior transformation was just as significant. The six-seat lounge concept was replaced with a four-seat executive layout. Rear-facing seats were removed and substituted with custom cabinets housing a minibar, refrigerator, writing desk, and document storage. Individual rear armchairs replaced the bench seating, while leather and briarwood supplanted velour. Advanced features for the era, including a television and a radio telephone, reinforced Medici II’s role as a mobile office designed for high-ranking occupants. | YcyON_teCGE | etDzQWd3clk |
Medici II debuted at the 1976 Paris Motor Show to widespread acclaim, a stark contrast to the mixed reception of its earlier form. Its appeal extended beyond the exhibition hall when it was acquired in 1977 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Persia. More importantly, its design language influenced Maserati’s future, particularly the Quattroporte III, which achieved the commercial and institutional success that the Medici itself never sought. Today, preserved at the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, the Medicistands as a single car with two identities—an evolving experiment that demonstrated how refinement, humility, and persistence can turn early misjudgment into lasting influence. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ITALDESIGN.IT | LOUWMANMUSEUM | STORY-CARS | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCARS.NET | ALLCARINDEX | CARTHROTTLE | WIKIPEDIA ]
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Mechanical Farewell - The modern hypercar world moves at an unforgiving pace, yet every so often it pauses to look back at an idea that changed everything. Bugatti has chosen such a moment to reflect on the legacy of the Veyron by unveiling the F.K.P. Hommage, a one-off creation that reconnects today’s cutting-edge engineering with a dream first imagined two decades ago. More than a nostalgic exercise, this car arrives as a meaningful bridge between the brand’s past dominance and a future already taking shape without the iconic W16 engine.
The Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage marks the end of the W16 era with a modern Veyron tribute. (Picture from: CarBuzz)
At the heart of the F.K.P. Hommage lies the vision of Ferdinand Karl Piëch, the Volkswagen Group leader whose fascination with extreme engineering led to the birth ofthe Veyron EB 16.4. His concept of a quad-turbocharged W16 engine—essentially two narrow-angle VR8 units fused together—was radical even by supercar standards. That engine not only powered the original Veyron to unprecedented performance levels but later evolved through the Super Sport, Grand Sport Vitesse, and eventually the Chiron, growing from just under 1,000 horsepower to well beyond 1,500. For this tribute, Bugatti selected the 1,580-horsepower configuration fromthe Chiron Super Sport 300+, the first production Bugatti to realize Piëch’s long-standing ambition of approaching the 300-mph barrier.
The Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage refines the Veyron’s design with larger wagon-spoke wheels and a precisely milled aluminum horseshoe grille that integrates more cleanly into the front end.(Picture from: CarBuzz)
Visually, the F.K.P. Hommage revisits the Veyron’s once-controversial design language and reframes it through a modern lens. The familiar two-tone layout returns, but now benefits from advances in materials and paint technology, creating deeper reflections and more complex surfaces. An aluminum-based paint beneath a red-tinted clearcoat gives the body an almost liquid glow, while exposed carbon fiber replaces traditional black paint at the rear, subtly darkened with pigment in the clear finish. The proportions, slightly broader and more planted thanks to the newer platform beneath, allow classic elements like the drooping headlights and rearward stance to feel more resolved and confident.
The Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage carries the cabin back to the original Veyron era with a symmetrical layout, metal-rich finishes, fabric-trimmed seats in warm tones, and a bespoke Audemars Piguet tourbillon clock crowning the dashboard.(Picture from: CarBuzz)
The exterior details reinforce that sense of careful evolution rather than imitation. Larger wheels preserve the original wagon-spoke style while filling the arches more assertively, and a newly milled aluminum horseshoe grille integrates more seamlessly into the nose. Bugatti retained the roof-mounted air intakes that once defined the Veyron’s silhouette, anchoring the car firmly in its heritage. Every surface feels intentional, shaped through multiple refinements to create what Bugatti’s designers consider the most complete expression of the Veyron idea.
The Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage revisits the Veyron’s once-controversial design
language through a modern lens, enhancing its iconic two-tone form with
advanced materials and richer, more expressive finishes.(Picture from: CarBuzz)
Step inside, and the atmosphere deliberately turns back the clock. Instead of the Chiron’s dramatic central spine, the cabin mirrors the Veyron’s more symmetrical layout, finished with engine-turned aluminum and brushed alloy across the center console. Fabric-trimmed seats recall early Veyron interiors, paired with a warm brown palette and subtle EB insignia. The centerpiece is a bespoke Audemars Piguet tourbillon clock mounted high on the dashboard, blending traditional watchmaking artistry with the mechanical bravado that defines the car itself. | U-3ISfFfVGs |
As a single, bespoke creation from Bugatti’s Programme Solitaire, the F.K.P. Hommagequietly marks the end of an era. With the company now transitioning to a hybridized, naturally aspirated V16 for its next generation, the thunderous W16 takes its final bow here. The result is not a farewell speech, but a living reminder of how one audacious idea reshaped the automotive landscape—and why, even as technology moves on, its influence still resonates today. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARBUZZ | BLACKXPERIENCE ]
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Heritage Reimagined - Sometimes the most unexpected stories in the automotive world begin not on a racetrack, but under bright show lights where ambition quietly takes shape. Long before trophies, lap times, and global recognition, there was a single moment when Ford decided to challenge convention and redefine what an American performance car could be. That bold decision now finds a modern echo in the Ford GT 64 Prototype Heritage Edition, a machine designed to reconnect today’s supercar era with a pivotal chapter that started more than half a century ago.
The Ford GT 64 Prototype Heritage Edition introduced in 2021 for the 2022 model year, and arrived as part of Ford’s limited Heritage Series, created to mark the end of the current GT’s production run with purpose. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
Introduced in 2021 for the 2022 model year, the GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Editionarrived as part ofFord’s limited Heritage Series, created to mark the end ofthe current GT’sproduction run with purpose. Its roots trace directly to the original GT40 prototype revealed at the 1964 New York Auto Show, a car that represented Ford’s first serious step into international endurance racing. Of the five GT40 prototypes ever built, history left only fragments behind—two were scrapped after testing, two are preserved at the Shelby Museum in Boulder, Colorado, and just one survives today wearing its correct original livery. This scarcity gives the heritage edition its emotional weight.
The Ford GT 64 Prototype Heritage Edition rides along with its ancestor the original GT40 prototype. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
Visually, the car channels that history with striking precision. The Wimbledon White exterior is paired with Antimatter Blue graphics and triple racing stripes that stretch across the roof, a clear nod to the 1964 prototype’s unmistakable look. Exposed carbon fiber plays a dominant role, appearing on the 20-inch wheels, front splitter, side sills, mirror stalks, engine louvers, and the gloss-finished rear diffuser. Silver-lacquered Brembo brake calipers with black graphics complete the package, blending motorsport intent with contemporary craftsmanship.
The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition channels its heritage with precision through a Wimbledon White finish, Antimatter Blue graphics, and triple roof stripes inspired by the 1964 prototype. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
Inside the cabin, the design continues to prioritize lightness and focus. Carbon fiber forms the structure of the doors, A-pillars, and lower console, reinforcing the GT’s performance-driven character. The seats are wrapped in Lightspeed Blue Alcantara with silver carbon fiber stitching, while GT logos are embedded into the seating surfaces and headrests. Ebony leather adds contrast across the instrument panel, door bezels, and X-shaped seat bolsters, balancing race-inspired minimalism with subtle refinement. A black Alcantara steering wheel, matched with polished shifters and paddles, brings a tactile sense of control to the driving experience. | e6T_Q0qGtgU |
What ultimately gives the Ford GT 64 Prototype Heritage Edition its lasting relevance is the story it carries forward. After extensive development led by Carroll Shelby and his engineering team, the GT program delivered a historic achievement—making Ford the only American manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times, from 1966 to 1969, and again in 2016 withthe modern GT. This heritage editiondoes not simply recall past victories; it reframes them for the present, reminding a new generation that innovation often begins with a single daring prototype and the confidence to let history guide the future. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BLACKXPERIENCE | ROADANDTRACK ]
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Raw Excess - Dream machines often live short lives as sketches, prototypes, or auto show spectacles, dazzling crowds before quietly fading into history. Every once in a while, though, an idea refuses to stay hypothetical. That is where the Millyard Viper V10 enters the conversation—a motorcycle that turns the legendary Dodge Tomahawk concept into something tangible, ridable, and startlingly real, bridging the gap between automotive fantasy and mechanical determination.
The Millyard Viper V10, a motorcycle that turns the legendary Dodge Tomahawk concept into something tangible, ridable, and startlingly real, bridging the gap between automotive fantasy and mechanical determination. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
At first glance, the Millyard Viper V10 looks less like a conventional motorcycle and more like an exposed engineering statement. The massive V10 engine dominates the silhouette, leaving no room for visual subtlety. Its long wheelbase, stretched proportions, and muscular stance reflect the sheer physical presence of the 8.0-liter Dodge Viper GTS engine at its heart. There is no traditional fairing to hide complexity; instead, the machine wears its raw metal proudly, with visible mechanical components forming much of its visual character. Controls are minimal and functional, reinforcing the idea that this is a tool built to move, not a sculpture meant to sit still.
The Millyard Viper V10 while sat on display at the Essen Motor Show 2010. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
The mind behind this improbable machine is Allen Millyard, a British motorcycle engineer known for turning ambitious ideas into functioning reality. Inspired byDodge’s V10-powered Tomahawk concept from 2003, Millyard began his own interpretation in 2009, working by hand in his UK workshop. Rather than chasing mass production or headlines, he focused on solving practical problems—balance, strength, and usability—approaching the build as a working motorcycle rather than a show-only replica.
Allen Milyard posed along with its creation motorcycle, the Millyard Viper V10. (Picture from: CarScoops)
Engineering solutions definethe Millyard Viper V10 as much as its engine does. The V10 alone weighs around 750 pounds, more than half the total motorcycle weight of approximately 1,389 pounds. A standard motorcycle frame simply could not accommodate such mass, so Millyard designed twin subframes mounted directly to the front and rear of the engine, effectively making the engine a structural core. With no space for a conventional gearbox, the bike relies on the V10’s immense torque, eliminating the need for multiple gears altogether.
The Millyard Viper V10, at first glance, resembles less a conventional motorcycle than an exposed engineering statement, dominated by its massive 8.0-liter Dodge Viper GTS V10, long wheelbase, stretched proportions, and unapologetically muscular stance. (Picture from: MotorcycleSpecs.co.za)
Despite its extreme nature, the motorcycle is far from fragile. It has passed the mandatory UK vehicle inspection and is used regularly on public roads, not hidden away as a garage curiosity. The odometer reading of over 9,000 miles reinforces that point. Performance figures only add to its legend: by swapping rear sprockets, top speed can be tuned anywhere between 160 mph and a theoretical 270 mph. During testing at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, the bike exceeded 200 mph, a moment documented by motorcycle journalist Bruce Dunn.
The Millyard Viper V10 set a Guinness-ratified tandem speed record of 183.50 mph on 25 May 2023 with Allen Millyard and Henry Cole aboard. (Picture from: MoparInsiders)
On 25 May 2023, Allen Millyard and his passenger, television presenter Henry Cole, set a new world motorcycle speed record. Riding tandem on Millyard’s hand-built, road-legal machine, the pair reached 183.50 mph (295.31 km/h), a feat later ratified by Guinness World Records. Their run surpassed the previous record—held by an American couple for more than a decade—by two mph. The record attempt took place on the 9,800-foot (3,000-meter) runway at Elvington Airfield in North Yorkshire, England. | yU54Iyg9UB8 | UbUrIwA9jVE |
Today, the Millyard Viper V10 stands as a rare example of what happens when passion overrides convention. It carries the spirit of early-2000s excess into a modern era increasingly shaped by efficiency and restraint, reminding enthusiasts that innovation is not always about following trends. Sometimes, it comes from a single builder, a daring idea, and the refusal to accept that a wild concept should remain unreal.
Racing Heritage - In an era where modern performance cars are often shaped by algorithms and market trends, a few machines still manage to feel personal and deeply intentional. The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR arrives as one of those rare creations. Unveiled alongside the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, this limited-edition hot hatch reflects a philosophy rooted in hands-on racing experience rather than abstract engineering targets, bridging everyday usability with the raw lessons learned on the track.
The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR emerges as a rare creation, unveiled at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon and shaped by hands-on racing experience that seamlessly connects everyday usability with hard-earned track lessons. (Picture from: KompasOtomotif)
This special variant was developed in close collaboration with Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation and an active racing driver known as “Morizo.”His involvement was far more than symbolic. The car draws directly from Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing’s participation in the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours, where Toyoda competed as a driver. At the wheel ofthe No. 109 GR Yaris, he faced one of the world’s most punishing circuits, gaining first-hand insight into how the car behaved under relentless stress and long-duration driving.
The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR carries its race-derived character into the cabin through refined details, highlighted by Morizo’s signature yellow accents on interior stitching and brake calipers. (Picture from: KompasOtomotif)
One of the most influential outcomes of that endurance race was the validation of a newly developed direct-drive 8-speed automatic transmission. Despite the Nürburgring’s extreme demands, Toyoda completed more laps than scheduled, later expressing strong confidence in both the car’s balance and the transmission’s performance. This feedback became a cornerstone of the GR Yaris Morizo RR, transforming racing experience into concrete improvements that emphasize reliability, driver confidence, and mechanical honesty.
The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR features a Nürburgring-developed carbon fiber rear wing that delivers purposeful downforce with restrained, race-driven intent. (Picture from: KompasOtomotif)
Visually, the GR Yaris Morizo RR communicates its purpose with restraint and clarity. A carbon fiber rear wing—developed through Nürburgring competition—works in harmony with revised suspension tuning to generate usable downforce while maintaining composure over uneven surfaces. Additional exterior elements such as a carbon fiber hood, front spoiler, and side skirts reinforce its motorsport DNA. Finished in an exclusive “Gravel Khaki” color favored by Morizo, the car is further distinguished by a piano black grille and matte bronze wheels, creating a low-slung, grounded presence rather than a flashy one.
The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR expresses its intent with restrained clarity, pairing a Nürburgring-developed carbon fiber rear wing with revised suspension tuning to deliver usable downforce and composure over uneven surfaces. (Picture from: KompasOtomotif)
Insidethe cabin, the Morizo RR continues its race-derived narrative with thoughtful refinements. Yellow accents, Morizo’s signature color, appear on interior stitching and brake calipers, adding subtle identity without excess. The suede-wrapped steering wheel features a slightly smaller diameter for sharper response, while redesigned paddle shifters and steering wheel buttons are inspired by those used inthe GR Yaris Rally2. These controls were shaped by real competition feedback, prioritizing instinctive operation during demanding driving situations. Each car also carries an exclusive “MORIZO RR” serial number plate, reinforcing its limited nature. | lwOn13WGZgg |
With production capped at 100 units for Japan and another 100 for Europe, the GR Yaris Morizo RRexists outside conventional ownership norms, distributed through a lottery system via Toyota’s official GR app. More than a rare collectible, it represents a moment where corporate leadership, motorsport commitment, and modern performance engineering converge. In today’s automotive landscape, the Morizo RR stands as a quiet reminder that the most meaningful cars are often born not from trends, but from experience earned the hard way. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS.OTOMOTIF ]
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Silent Provocation - The 1960s were a decade when the future felt negotiable, especially in automotive design. Beyond the major manufacturers and famous Italian studios, a quieter movement was taking place—driven by young, independent designers who used one-off concepts to test ideas without compromise. One of the most intriguing outcomes of this era was the Fiat 1500 Gamma Concept, a car that did not seek mass production or commercial success, but instead embodied a personal vision shaped by ambition, experimentation, and strategic collaboration.
The 1964 Fiat 1500 Gamma Concept designed in 1964 by Austrian stylist Werner Hölbl, and was built on the Fiat 1500 platform and conceived as a 2+2 coupé with deliberately bold proportions. (Picture from:ThatCarNeverMadeItEtc in Tumblr)
Designed in 1964 by Austrian stylist Werner Hölbl, the Fiat 1500 Gammawas built on the Fiat 1500 platform and conceived as a 2+2 coupé with deliberately bold proportions. Hölbl had already gained attention with his earlier Adria TS, but the Gamma marked a clear step forward in scale and confidence. This time, the car was never meant to evolve into a series model. It functioned purely as a design statement—an exploration of contrast between sharp geometry and restrained curvature, reflecting Hölbl’s desire to define a new stylistic language on his own terms.
The Steyr Puch Adria TS by Werner Hölbl, while sat on display on the André Chardonnet stand at the 1962 Paris Auto Show. (Picture from: eBay.com.au)
The exterior made that intention immediately clear. The front end featured retractable headlights and a distinctive grille that gave the car a futuristic, almost experimental character. From the side, the Gamma displayed clean, taut lines that emphasized balance rather than ornament, while the rear design incorporated a large lift-up rear window, subtly blending practicality with visual clarity. The result was a car that looked forward-thinking without relying on excess, standing apart from contemporary Fiat production models and even from many Italian concept cars of the same period.
The 1964 Fiat 1500 Gamma Concept presents a side profile defined by clean, taut lines that emphasize balance and proportion over decorative excess. (Picture from:ThatCarNeverMadeItEtc in Tumblr)
Inside, the Gammareinforced its modern identity through a carefully considered cockpit. Deep, enveloping bucket seats provided both comfort and a sense of intimacy, trimmed in materials that matched the seriousness of the exterior design. The dashboard followed emerging trends of the era, with integrated air vents, a centralized instrument cluster, and a short gear lever positioned for easy reach. This was not a symbolic interior created solely for display, but a functional environment that suggested the car was meant to be driven, not merely admired.
A crucial and often misunderstood part ofthe Gamma’sstory lies in its construction. Although Werner Hölbl came from a family of coachbuilders—his father Otto Hölbl ran a respected workshop in Austria—he chose not to buildthe Gammathere. Instead, the body was constructed by Radford, the English coachbuilder known for high-quality fuoriserie projects. The decision reflected both technical and strategic thinking: the Gamma’slarger size, angular panels, and retractable headlight mechanisms demanded advanced facilities and experience, while collaboration with Radford positioned Hölbl as an independent European designer rather than a continuation of a family business. This separation was essential to how the project was perceived at the time.
The 1964 Fiat 1500 Gamma Concept features a rear design defined by a large lift-up window that blends functional intent with a clean, visually restrained aesthetic. (Picture from:ThatCarNeverMadeItEtc in Tumblr)
For years, the fate ofthe Fiat 1500 Gammaremained unclear, contributing to its near-mythical status. However, its appearance in a mid-2010s listing on AutoBelleit provided rare confirmation that the car survived beyond its concept years. Described as a unique, one-off vehicle designed by Werner Hölbl and built by Radford, the listing showed the Gamma in unrestored condition, offered to collectors rather than institutions. While its current whereabouts remain undocumented publicly, this evidence places the car firmly in the real world, not just in photographs and period articles. The Gamma endures as a reminder that some of the most compelling automotive ideas were created not to be sold or mass-produced, but simply to prove that another design path was possible. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOBELLE.IT | CARS THAT NEVER MADE IT ETC IN TUMBLR ]
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The Medici project began in 1974 under the direction of Giorgetto Giugiaro and his Turin-based design firm, Italdesign. At the time, Giugiaro was already a dominant force in automotive design, having shaped celebrated Maserati models such as the Ghibli, Bora, and Merak. His goal was ambitious—to imagine a four-door Maserati that could rival the presence and comfort of American luxury limousines while retaining Italian performance character. The concept was also a response to the contemporary Quattroporte II, whose limited power failed to reflect Maserati’s sporting heritage. 
Medici II debuted at the 1976 Paris Motor Show to widespread acclaim, a stark contrast to the mixed reception of its earlier form. Its appeal extended beyond the exhibition hall when it was acquired in 1977 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Persia. More importantly, its design language influenced Maserati’s future, particularly the Quattroporte III, which achieved the commercial and institutional success that the Medici itself never sought. Today, preserved at the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, the Medici stands as a single car with two identities—an evolving experiment that demonstrated how refinement, humility, and persistence can turn early misjudgment into lasting influence. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ITALDESIGN.IT | LOUWMANMUSEUM | STORY-CARS | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCARS.NET | ALLCARINDEX | CARTHROTTLE | WIKIPEDIA ]
