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'55 Mercedes Gullwing racer expected to sell for $6 million

RM Sotheby's has a Gullwing up for auction. Not just any Gullwing, but one of just four prepared by the factory for racing. And it's expected to fetch $6,000,000, (give or take a million) when it crosses the auction block next month in New York. Chassis number 5500640 is billed as "the rarest and most desirable W198 Gullwing ever presented for public auction," and it's not hard to see why. It was used for both racing and testing purposes, including an entry in the notoriously grueling Tour de France by none other than Sir Stirling Moss. He placed it second only to the Marquis de Portago in his Ferrari 250 GT TdF, often outperforming the Ferrari in stages of the event. It was in the possession of one owner since 1966, who stored it for 40 years before passing it on to his son in 2008, who in turn underwrote a comprehensive three-year restoration project and has now put it up for auction. Gullwings are invariably the most sought-after post-war production Mercedes when they come up for auction. The highest price one has ever garnered, according to the records at Sports Car Market, was $4.62 million paid in early 2012 at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale auction. This example, however, stands to far surpass that amount to set a new record. It's just one of several notable lots consigned for the Driven By Disruption event, set to take place on December 10 in New York. Alongside it, RM has the Lamborghini Concept S (valued at over $2.4 million), a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (over $16m), and a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM driven by Juan Manuel Fangio ($28m). In short, it ought to be a significant sale, and we'll report the results once they're in.

My year in EVs: 8 electrics that are changing the car industry

The year 2021 will go down as an inflection point in the auto industry’s transition to electric vehicles. It's when many much-anticipated models became reality. No longer sketches or sketchy prototypes, electric vehicles appeared from all corners with everything from the Lucid Air to Ford Mustang Mach-E changing how we think about transportation. I managed to drive a lot of them, and as I went through my notes, I realized IÂ’ve got a mini memoir of the seminal EVs of 2021. HereÂ’s my take on eight of them. Hummer EV Easily the most over-the-top EV I tested this year. The 1,000-hp super truck lived up to the hype with its domineering presence, stupendous power and simply being a reincarnated Hummer. I took it for a short spin on- and off-road at the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Mich., and was impressed with the airy cabin, removable sky panels and expansive touchscreens. Yes, I crab walked, which felt like steering a pontoon boat, though I can see why it would be useful. Lucid Air Dream Performance The most beautiful sedan I tested all year, EV or otherwise. Unlike the futuristic Mercedes EQS — which is quite attractive — LucidÂ’s car is a blend of mid-century modern interior aesthetics and classic European exterior styling. When I walked up for my test drive, someone who IÂ’m pretty sure was comedian Jon Lovitz was sitting inside and taking it all in. As it sat in the valet of a hotel in a wealthy suburban enclave north of Detroit, the Lucid drew more attention than any of the Mercedes, Cadillacs or Lexus models passing by. The driving experience was enveloping. Starting at $169,000 for the Performance model (reservations are closed), the Lucid I sampled packed 1,111 hp and 471 miles of range. From the precise steering to the comfortable suspension, the dynamics were spot-on. It's a formidable product, and all the more impressive given itÂ’s LucidÂ’s first. Chevy Bolt EV The Bolt was the most pleasant surprise for me. It handled well, offered low-to-the-ground hot hatch dynamics and the steering was dialed-in. Adding a crossover variant for the new generation was a smart play. On a summer morning where I went to a first drive of the Ford Bronco at an off-road course, my hour-long commute in the Bolt was an enjoyable appetizer.  The Bolt was also my biggest disappointment due to its extensive recalls for fire risk. Ironically, I had the Bolt in my driveway when the initial recall went out for the previous generation (2017-19).

Brabus rockets the Mercedes S65 to 900 horsepower

Some people you just can't please. They take a look at a vehicle with 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque on tap – one of the most powerful cars money can buy – and say that's still not enough. Fortunately there are companies like Brabus that cater to just such individuals. The Mercedes tuner extraordinaire brought the Rocket 900 to the Geneva Motor Show this year. It's based on the S65 AMG – yeah, the one with the twin-turbo V12 – but takes it a step or ten further. For starters, Brabus has bored the engine out to 6.3 liters and hooked up new turbochargers, exhaust, intake and more – cranking output up to 887 hp and a mind-bending 1,106 lb-ft of torque. Of course it didn't stop there, revising everything from the limited slip differential and air suspension to aero kit and interior. The result? Try 0-62 in 3.7 seconds, a 217-mile-per-hour top speed and a price tag approaching $400,000. Related Video: Featured Gallery Brabus Rocket 900: Geneva 2015 View 16 Photos Related Gallery Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Brabus Rocket 900 View 30 Photos Related Gallery 2015 Geneva Motor Show Videos View 25 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Aftermarket Geneva Motor Show Mercedes-Benz Luxury Performance Sedan 2015 Geneva Motor Show Brabus mercedes s65 amg brabus rocket 900