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These are the top 10 highest-grossing auctions of Scottsdale 2015

Scottsdale always brings some pretty high-value metal across the auction block, but this year saw a particularly pricey array of classics trade hands. In fact, Hagerty reports that, with over $292 million in total sales from the various auction houses present, this past holiday weekend saw an 18 percent increase over last year – the second-highest year-to-year increase in Arizona automobile auction history. The Pratte Collection auction handled by Barrett-Jackson sold to the tune of $35.5 million, accounting for a large portion of overall sales, but even without that staggering array of classics, there was still an enviable array of machinery on the block this year. The highest-value lot not only of this year's event but of any year prior was the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM that RM Auctions sold for $9.6 million. And as you might have guessed, Ferraris accounted for the lion's share of the top ten results this year – including the first, second, third, fifth, seventh, eighth and both the lots that tied for tenth place on the list. In fact, three out of the top ten were Ferrari 275s. Coming in second place was the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione that Bonhams sold for $9.4 million, which – like the 250 LM – was also raced by Scuderia Filipinetti. It was followed by a '59 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder sold by Gooding & Company for $7.7 million. Barrett-Jackson sold a '66 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake for over $5M, Gooding handled a '62 Ferrari 400 Superamerica ($4M), and Barrett-Jackson's 1950 GM Futurliner brought in another $4M for charity. The remaining top ten was filled out by a '67 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 ($3.6M – RM), a '73 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder ($3.3M – RM), and a '54 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama concept ($3.3M – BJ), with a '66 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 Longnose and an '84 Ferrari 288 GTO tying for tenth place at $2.75M apiece by RM. Featured Gallery Top 10 at Scottsdale 2015 View 11 Photos News Source: Hagerty Ferrari Auctions Classics bonhams rm gooding hagerty

Weekly Recap: Aston Martin to add another sports car, new Lagonda sedan, EVs

Aston Martin will revamp and expand its lineup as part of a five-year plan laid out by the company's new executives. If it succeeds, the strategy will position Aston for growth as an independent automaker with a more stable future in its second century. Aston will replace all of the cars in its current lineup and add a fourth sports car to its stable. It currently has three: the DB9, Vanquish and Vantage. The unnamed sports car will be joined by a production version of the DBX concept – an all-wheel-drive electric car that treads near crossover territory – that was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Aston's electric strategy also includes a potential electric-powered Rapide. Eventually, Aston plans to build a new four-door Lagonda. Though Aston will diversify its portfolio and the range could expand to seven vehicles, it will limit production to around 7,000 units annually, said Aston Martin marketing and communications director Simon Sproule, who described the company's strategy in an interview with Autoblog. CEO Andy Palmer, who joined Aston last year from Infiniti, has also spoken recently about remaking the company for the future. EVs are a major part of Aston's future, Sproule stressed, because they allow the automaker to "balance" its portfolio. Aston is studying the feasibility of an electric Rapide and is working with an undisclosed engineering firm. It's likely to use a plug-in setup and would cost $200,000 to $250,000 or more. It could use either a rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configuration. View 14 Photos "It's a study, but we're serious about it," Sproule said. He added for emphasis: "If not this, there will be an electric Aston Martin in the future." Aston has taken note of what Tesla has done with the brisk-driving Model S and decided that's the dynamic it wants for some of its own cars. Even though EVs don't emit the same sonorous note as a V12 – they're better than the alternative, Sproule said. "The sound of silence is much more preferable than the sound of a four-cylinder whining away under the hood of an Aston Martin," he said. Speaking of V12s, they're not going away. Aston will continue to make its own V12 engine, but will source its V8 from Mercedes-AMG (whose parent, Daimler, owns a small stake in Aston). While the V12 is sure to please the faithful, Aston admits EVs and the crossover-like DBX will rankle many. Sproule argues those are the moves that will keep Aston relevant.

Ferrari 458 Speciale A trots out its 597 sun-drenched ponies [w/video]

To say that Ferrari has made some powerful drop-tops over the years would be like saying the Pope has been known to make a couple of blessings here and there. There was the F50, the 575 Superamerica and the 599 SA Aperta, to name just a few. But this is the most powerful Spider it has ever made. Taking its curtain call at the Paris Motor Show today is the new Ferrari 458 Speciale A – successor to the F430-based 16M Scuderia Spider and lovechild of the 458 Spider and 458 Speciale. That means it's got the same 4.5-liter V8 – all 597 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of it – as the Speciale coupe, but with the folding aluminum roof from the Spider. Best of both worlds, as they say - especially with a 0-62 time quoted at three seconds flat. But since Maranello will only produce less than 500 of them, you'd better check it out in our gallery of live shots above. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.