Not sure about everyone else, but when we hear the phrase "global recession" we pretty much assume that all world markets are taking some kind of hit, no? Well, according to Rolls-Royce sales in 2011, such isn't necessarily the case for luxury car sales, in fact, the company reported its most successful year to date! The infamous makers of the Phantom sold a whopping 3,538 vehicles last year, 391 more vehicles than their last record year in 1978. It's also highly relevant to note that sales growth in worldwide markets had much to do with the feat. The company reports a 47-percent increase in the Asian Pacific region, 17 in North America, 23 in the Middle East, and a 30-percent growth at home in the UK. Astonishing. Further proof that while things may be globally awry, upper class spending's got more than a healthy pulse!

Bronx native and internationally-revered songstress/actress, Jennifer Lopez, is under major scrutiny for a recent Fiat commercial that she appears in. First, the ad was criticized when it was discovered that J. Lo's parts were actually shot in Los Angeles and not the New York City streets that the producers would actually have you believe (Brooklyn Bridge and the elevated 6 Train). Now, the ad is under more fire as a copyrighted graffiti mural (I Heart The Bronx) by the infamous Tats Cru was used without permission. Ms. Lopez and Co. can definitely expect a call from their lawyer. Yikes!

As Electronic Arts gears up for the November 15th release of it's latest installment in the Need For Speed franchise--The Run--we managed to snag up a minute with Black Box Senior Producer, Steve Anthony. Not only did the Vancouver native give us a breakdown of The Run, he also gave us a little insight on how cool it is to work for one of the biggest video game companies around! Check out that and more in :60 Seconds with Steve Anthony:

Fans can watch the official Need For Speed: The Run trailer here:

And pre-order the game here: http://bit.ly/oQIUao

Produced by: Rainey Cruz
Lensed by: [ r2:studios ]

The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) and Epic EV have announced the 2013 release of an all-electric DMC-12. That's right, the car that captured the hearts of Back To The Future fans from all over the world, is ready for an electric-powered comeback! Early reports claim that the vehicle will have a maximum speed of 125MPH, run 260 horses, and retail for about $100,000 USD. Very neat!

The latest episode of Hypebeast TV original series, Depth of Speed, profiles an often overlooked element of automotive culture--camaraderie. While racing may be synonymous with competition, the historic Bonneville Salt Flats scene is known for adding a real communal twist to the notion. Feel the love!

Yes, we all know them, the fancy and often-abbreviated names of luxury automobiles; BMW, Aston Martin, SAAB, Alfa Romeo, etc., but do we know the origin of those names? Or even what they mean? Enter brand identity designer, David Airey, and his concise pieces on the etymology behind some of the most world-renown automobile companies. You can check out the entire list here.

 

Land Rover recently teamed up with the Bulgarian-based customizers of Vilner to create a special edition of the Defender. Here's what they came up with--contrast leather seating, an in-cab entertainment system, and sleek black paint job! Whoa. No mention of pricing, however. We've got a feeling you'll have to specifically "call in" for this one...

Baby need a new set of wheels? Try the Porsche Design P’4911 stroller, built with carbon-fiber-toughness and the sleekness of aluminum and ball-bearing wheels. All that and it's still able to fold right into the Porsche trunk! Baby might need his or her own set of keys for this one...

Although not quite the futuristic Jetsons model that we may have exepected, the flying car has officially arrived! Say hello to the Terrafugia Transition, an automobile with foldable wings that allow it to take off like a plane. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) classifies the vehicle as a "roadable aircraft," meaning that its wheels are road safe and its windshield, made up of polycarbonate materials, are air safe. Best of both worlds, no?

[via Geekologie]

BMW has released a series of pictures and a video for its 2012 MINI Coupe, a sports car version of the popular MINI Cooper. Capitalizing on the success of the series, but getting back to its racing roots, BMW hopes to captivate the style and speed aficionados, a strategy that has success written all over it!

[via Highsnobiety]