Car Chick

Ralph Lauren Classic Car Collection in Paris

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is best known for the popular Polo Ralph Lauren clothing line of casual and semi-formal wear for men and women, featuring clean lines and classic silhouettes. He brings this same sense of style to his lines of accessories, fragrances, home (bedding and towels) and housewares. Passionate about style and the search for beauty, Lauren is also an automobile collector. He owns more than 70, some of which are extremely rare.

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris is currently hosting an exhibit, The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection, featuring 17 of the most extraordinary vehicles in the history of automobiles. This includes two of the world's most expensive vehicles: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe, both reportedly worth an estimated $30-$40 million each.

“Racing is what unites these vehicles, each containing an impressive number of innovations. They reveal different approaches to design, some more reasoned and less intuitive than others, but they all illustrate the search for maximum efficiency resulting in beauty: not only beauty of line, but also of details and the mechanical body, the design of which is every bit as meticulous as the curves of their coachwork,” states the exhibit program.

If you're in Paris, this exhibition is well worth a visit. These machines are truly works of art with the most exquisite lines and attention to detail, and represent Lauren’s passion for style and beauty.

The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
Exhibit ends August 28, 2011

Pictured: Jaguar XKD, 1955 (green) and Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille Miglia, 1938 (red)

Danica Patrick at the Honda Indy Toronto

Of the three women in the 26 car field of the Honda Indy Toronto this weekend, July 8-10, Danica Patrick is by far the best known. The “Go Daddy Girl” has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is the face of the Danica Patrick Collection of exquisite Tissot watches, has been nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the Choice Female Athlete category, and much more.

In 2008 she earned her place in motorsport history as the first woman to win an IndyCar race, finishing first in Motegi, Japan.

But whether modelling, making public appearances or speeding around a racetrack, there is no question: Danica makes it all look good.

Although I knew she was petite at 5’ 2” and 100 lbs., when she walked into the press conference at the Honda Indy Toronto this afternoon, she looked tiny –- a huge talent in a small package! Wearing jeans, an Indy t-shirt and colourful running shoes, she was the vision of poise and confidence as she answered media questions.

What is your strategy for winning? Staying on track, not making mistakes, and being smart. I hope to start higher so any improvements I make during the race will be even better.

How do you feel about coming to Toronto and the Toronto fans? We need to race in places where people want to come out to see racing, and Toronto has a core set of fans. We race in new locations, but after a couple of years, the newness wears off. The Toronto Indy is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and it is one of the best road courses. We go to where the fans want us to go, and they want us here.

With two 6th place finishes in Toronto, what is your strategy? Qualifying is a point of weakness for me. I don't get on well with the red tires [for qualifying], but feel fine when I get on the blacks. I want to qualify well and race well.

Her best advice? Drive like you have something to prove…every time.

And her favourite singer? Canadian rocker Alanis Morissette.

Ford Fiesta's Colourful Car Customization

We have all seen the various fun, cool and colourful accessories out there to customize and personalize cellphones, computers and other devices. Now Ford has taken customization to the next level with new personalization options for the Ford Fiesta.

In an article on the website The College Driver, Zeid Nasser reports that "the small car style Ford Fiesta delivers is expanding for 2012 with three new packages to give customers even more options for personalizing". Here is an excerpt from the article.

The new packages build on the success of the current personalization choices Fiesta customers enjoy today, with nearly 40 percent purchasing at least one accessory. To date, more than 26,000 Ford Custom Accessories items have been purchased by Fiesta owners.

"The Fiesta customer loves accessories and personalization. These packages extend the desire the customer has to make the car more tailored to his or her own personal tastes," said Lew Echlin, Global Car marketing manager. "Personalization has been key since the Fiesta launched, and with the new packages we're featuring the latest design trends so customers can do even more with their car."

A recent study by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) found that accessories drive sales, with the availability of accessories influencing more than 1 million new vehicle sales each year.

"The appeal of accessories reflects on other trends in society, including the desire to personalize phones, computers and clothing," said Sheryl Connelly, manager of Ford Global Trends and Futuring. "People don't customize to stand out from the crowd; they do it to create a more meaningful connection...."

Read the entire article…

Add a wink of style to your car with "Carlashes"

The “eyes” have it! Now you can make your ride more ravishing with eyelashes and crystal eyeliner. 

Carlashes.com invites you to “dress up your headlights with a touch of fashion and a twinkle of crystal!”

For $24.99 U.S. you can purchase a set of eyelashes for your car. These accessories are applied with double-sided tape and designed to fit different shapes of headlights. The patent is pending for these products.

Carlashes are sold by Turbo Style Products, a Utah, U.S. based company. This new company formed in January 2010 to supply automotive aftermarket products that appeal to the female driver.

So what do you think? Worth a closer look...or raising eyebrows?

“Objects in Mirror are Closer than They Appear”

When I attended a BMW launch event last May with Nishad Kassim, Car Broker at www.cars4u.com, I enjoyed seeing some of the incredible functionality found in cars today. One in particular, the Parking Assistant option that allows you to check the size of the space you’re attempting to parallel park in, would be helpful for so many people.

Nishad then told me about the option available in a Lexus that enables the vehicle to parallel park by itself. There is a video that shows this feature in action -- have you seen it? If not, you can view it here on YouTube.

So that made me wonder…if engineers can build a car that parks itself, how come they can’t create a passenger side mirror in which objects are exactly where they appear to be?