FUTURE FANTASY RACE CAR - 1:18 SCALE X2010 SPEEDSTER FROM AUTOART

Sony PlayStation drivers will love this diecast future-machine, one of the star cars in the record-breaking Gran Turismo 5 video game. This one is now leaving the screen, to arrive as a real-life 1:18 scale diecast model from Hong Kong-based Autoart.

Autoart are producing a whole series of vehicles in various markings, of which the one in current World Champion Sebastian Vettel (below) markings is probably most interesting.

In Red Bull markings, the X2010 really ought to be the one he drives in Formula 1, as it looks just great. Still, if we can’t have that, here’s the next best thing.

Cockpit details
Fit and finish look absolutely excellent in these Autart pix, with top marks going to the simulated carbon-fibre and cockpit detailing. The HUD (head-up display) looks pretty cool too.

More to come
The Red Bull edition in Sebastian Vettel markings is due April, with others in the series to follow, finished in white, red, and orange, plus one in a prototype scheme.

X2010 in white is on the Autoart website, and expected in retail channels soon.

X2010 is available to order from HobbyLink Japan.

Other Autoart diecasts here.

*** Mr J note: Talking of HUDs, I had a Citroen DS5 on test drive last weekend. It was packed with high-tech gadgets, and even had a HUD speed display at the windscreen base. I was dubious at first, but it was fun watching it rising into place, and actually quite useful when driving. I was less amused by the slit-like windows all round, which made reverse-parking mostly a no-no, even with the included rear-view camera. Note to Citroen designers - get the basics right first.

BUGATTI VEYRON COUPE PRODUCTION FINISHED - BUT PLENTY OF GS MODELS TO COME

SMN report:

Seven years after the first Bugatti Veyron Coupe was purchased by a car freak equipped with a brain-meltingly large wallet, the final one rolled off the dedicated production line at Bugatti just a few weeks ago.

Artoart Veyron about as good as metal-casting technology allows.

In total, 300 of the 987bhp hypercar were made by the time production stopped on June 27, so if you are after one now you are going to have to go to one of the existing owners and make them a decent offer - or maybe an offer they can’t refuse.

Neat detail and removable parts mark the Autoart Veyron.

End of an era

The final Bugatti Veyron was ordered by an unnamed European customer, marking an end to the triumphant reign of this supercar, making it a worthy successor to classic Bugattis of old, and definitely one of the most valuable cars ever created.

Retro-era two-tone paintwork a mark of the Veyron, real or miniature. 

Production continues

Still, the Veyron story isn’t over yet, as the Grand Sport GS convertible remains in production. So if you want to drive at 360 km/h (224 mph) with the wind streaming past your ears, now’s your chance, as Bugatti won’t stop making them until the 150-car sales target is reached.

Wide choice

In the model world, there is no similar shortage of availability - Veyrons are, if not exactly a dime a dozen, then not too pricey for most pockets either. Even so, the choice lies in the diecast arena, rather than with kits, and prices range from as high as $1000USD (£560GBP), all the way down to an easy on the pocket $4.90USD (£2.99GBP) for a finger-length Siku offering in black/red or silver/blue. 

Superdetail Veyron

That top-price Veyron is an Artoart 1:12 scale model, finished in a very handsome pearl and ice blue colour scheme. There are 518 components, including all the usual details such as photo-etch sections, wiring loom, extending air brake, exposed engine, plus various opening sections including the twin doors. As you might expect at this price, interior detail is truly excellent. Regarding that price, don’t forget to shop around, as there are cheaper suppliers out there. 

We featured the Veyron GS two summers ago here.

Autoart makes various diecast models of the Veyron, and in different scales too. Have a look here.

And a garage-full of choice from various makers here.

CLASSIC CORVETTE STINGRAY AUCTION AND MODELS

The Chevrolet Corvette has a passionate following, which makes the Mecum Corvette auction today and tomorrow a magnet for any 'Vette fan with money. And the real star of the sale is Harley Earl's personal runabout, a blue Stingray convertible (top picture).

Earl was a powerhouse of mid-20th century US car design and to thank him for his efforts, General Motors presented him with this unique 'Vette in 1963. It had special metallic blue and white-stripe paint, with matching blue leather inside. The engine was a 300-horsepower unit, with massive four-into-two exhausts running down either side.

Earl sold the car after a couple of years, and it has changed hands several times since. But the car is now fully restored, and the quality of the restoration is likely to be reflected in the price achieved at auction, even in these recessional times.

In the model world Corvettes abound, especially diecasts, though SMN hasn’t tracked down a model of this particular car - let us know if you know of one. There are plenty of others though, including several nicely produced 'Vette varieties from Autoart in big 1:18 scale. Three are shown here, representing (top to bottom) Corvettes from 1959, 1969 and 2005.

The Mecum auction Corvette Stingray is here.

Autoart's Corvettes are here.

ASTON-MARTIN TO RACE IN FORMULA 1

There’s winning news for Aston-Martin fans today - the company is planning to enter Formula One (F1) racing from 2012. It’s exciting too for SMN, as Aston-Martin is based at Gaydon, not too far from the SMN workbench, near Oxford, UK.

A-M is already into sportscar racing in a big way, and this will continue, with preparation by top racing outfit Prodrive. In fact, A-M cars will be running in F1 from 2010 under the Prodrive label, before changing to the fully-fledged Aston-Martin F1 name two years later.

For Aston-Martin model fans, there's plenty of choice out there, and one of the nicest diecasts around is the big 1:18 scale Autoart DBR9 in Le Mans racing finish (top picture). It’s a jewel-like production, packed with detail, and just made for display. In 1:43 scale, an attractive James Bond DB5 from the movie Goldfinger (lower pictures) was offered with an Italian partwork that has since included a whole range of well-known and not-so-well-known vehicles from the Bond movies - from a Lotus submarine-car to a Citroen 2CV.

These come up from time to time on eBay, so it’s worth keeping an eye open. Dozens of Bond vehicles have already been released so it’s probably a bit late to subscribe to the whole series.

Details of the Aston-Martin’s F1 ambitions are at Autocar magazine’s website here.

Autoart’s Aston-Martin racers can be viewed here.