All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Tuning

Liberty Walk Turns a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Into a $344K Statement

Leave a comment

In the collector-car universe, rarity usually means restraint. But every once in a while, a machine shows up that proves excess can be just as bankable. Case in point: a heavily modified 2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 that recently traded hands for a staggering $344,000—despite wearing one of the wildest aftermarket makeovers this side of a Tokyo Auto Salon fever dream.

Values for Murciélagos have been climbing steadily, especially for cars fitted with the coveted gated six-speed manual. This one? Not quite. It’s equipped with the less-loved e-gear automated manual, and yet it still commanded serious money. Originality, it turns out, isn’t the only path to collector relevance—sometimes spectacle works just fine.

Originally delivered new in the United States, the LP640 made its way to Japan in 2012, where it fell into the hands of Liberty Walk, a tuner known for treating subtlety like an optional extra. The result is a Silhouette Works GT Evo body kit that transforms the already outrageous Murciélago into something that looks ready to chase hypercars down the Mulsanne Straight—or audition for a superhero reboot.

The front end alone is enough to stop traffic. A redesigned bumper, additional running lights, custom headlights, and a reshaped hood give the car a vaguely Reventón-inspired face, though with more visual drama. The signature bolt-on wide arches stretch the Murciélago’s stance to comic-book proportions, while sculpted side skirts exaggerate the low-slung silhouette. There’s even a large sunroof—its functionality uncertain, but its visual impact undeniable.

If the front is theatrical, the rear is full-on avant-garde. A custom bumper, aggressive diffuser, towering wing, and bespoke taillights combine into a look that’s equal parts GT racer and rolling art installation. It’s the kind of design that splits opinions instantly—and that’s precisely the point.

Underneath the visual fireworks, the upgrades continue. The car rides on 18- and 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires, paired with an Ideal Air Max air suspension setup that allows adjustable ride height and front-axle lift. That means the Murciélago can go from slammed show car to speed-bump survivor at the push of a button—practicality, Liberty Walk style.

Inside, things calm down slightly. The cabin remains largely stock, aside from a digital rearview mirror and a Pioneer head unit. It’s a reminder that beneath the Batmobile aesthetics lies a recognizable LP640, complete with its naturally aspirated V-12 theatrics.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the story isn’t the styling—it’s the price. A modified Murciélago with an automated manual transmission might have been expected to polarize buyers. Instead, someone stepped up and paid supercar money, likely helped by the car’s relatively modest 32,000 kilometers.

The takeaway? In today’s collector market, originality may be king—but bold individuality can still write its own check.

Source: Liberty Walk

News

The last produced Mercedes E 500 is the star of the show

Leave a comment

In the pantheon of stealth performance sedans, few loom as large as the Mercedes-Benz E500—a car that perfected the art of looking like a company car while moving like something far more sinister. Now, one of the most pristine survivors has resurfaced, taking center stage at Mercedes-Benz’s “Youngtimer” exhibition in Stuttgart. And this one hasn’t just aged gracefully—it’s practically frozen in time, showing a scarcely believable 422 kilometers on the odometer.

This particular example represents the final chapter of one of the most fascinating collaborations in German performance lore: the unlikely but brilliant partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Long before AMG became the in-house powerhouse we know today, Mercedes needed a rapid response to the second-generation BMW M5 (E34). The solution? Outsource the muscle—and some of the magic—to Stuttgart’s other sports-car icon.

The story reads like an automotive relay race. Standard W124 bodies began life at Mercedes before being shipped across town to Porsche’s Zuffenhausen facility. There, technicians widened the fenders by hand, reinforced the chassis, and reworked the suspension to handle what was coming next. The reason for the detour wasn’t romantic—it was practical. Mercedes’ Sindelfingen plant simply didn’t have the space to perform the modifications on its own assembly lines. So the shells traveled back to Mercedes for paint, then returned yet again to Porsche for final assembly. It was a logistical ballet that took 18 days to complete a single car.

What justified the effort sat under the hood: Mercedes’ 5.0-liter naturally aspirated M119 V8, massaged with Porsche’s input and good for 320 horsepower and 470 Nm of torque. Power flowed through a four-speed automatic to the rear wheels, launching the discreet sedan from 0–100 km/h in 6.1 seconds—serious speed for the early ’90s—and on to an electronically limited 250 km/h. Not bad for something that looked ready to pick up groceries.

The result was the ultimate “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Aside from subtly flared arches and a slightly more purposeful stance, the 500 E—later renamed E500—blended seamlessly into traffic. But those who knew, knew. And those who didn’t were left staring at taillights.

Production ran from 1991 to spring 1995, yielding just 10,479 examples. Today, even well-kept cars command around €60,000, but a virtually untouched final-year example like this? That’s more museum artifact than used car. It’s a reminder of a time when two rival German giants joined forces to build a super sedan the hard way—by hand, across town, and with just enough subtlety to keep things interesting.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

CONCEPT CARS

Tesla TIME Concept: When the Journey Becomes the Destination

While Elon Musk obsesses over production ramps, software stacks, and autonomy milestones, a team of transport-design students from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Turin decided to tackle a different question: What happens to the car when nobody needs to drive anymore? Their answer arrives in the form of the TIME concept—a rolling living space that reframes mobility as downtime, workspace, and lounge all rolled into one.

The exterior doesn’t shout; it barely whispers. Gone are the creases, fake vents, and aggression that dominate today’s concept-car arms race. Instead, the TIME reads as a single, uninterrupted volume—a monolithic capsule where roof, glass, and tail melt into one continuous gesture. Even the wheels appear swallowed by the form, tucked neatly into the silhouette to improve aero efficiency and underline the idea that speed isn’t the headline here. Serenity is.

Lighting follows the same philosophy. Thin geometric strips at the front and rear sit nearly invisible when powered down, refusing the theatrical LED signatures that modern cars use as visual megaphones. It’s design that doesn’t try to prove anything—because in a fully autonomous future, the stopwatch loses relevance.

A Cabin Built for Autonomy

Step inside, and the TIME flips its personality. The restrained exterior gives way to something closer to a modern coworking lounge than a vehicle interior. Warm tones, soft textures, and flexible seating create a space meant for living rather than operating. Passengers can reconfigure the layout to work, relax, read, or simply do nothing at all—arguably the most radical feature in a productivity-obsessed world.

Technology is present but politely steps into the background. There are no oversized, dashboard-dominating displays screaming for attention. Interfaces remain hidden until needed, emerging seamlessly from surfaces. It’s the automotive equivalent of quiet luxury—comfort first, spectacle last.

More Than a Design Exercise

This isn’t just a digital fantasy. A full-scale model of the Tesla TIME concept is currently displayed at Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (MAUTO), showcasing the entire design journey—from early sketches to the finished prototype. The exhibit highlights how the project evolved not just as styling, but as a broader rethink of mobility itself.

The TIME concept positions the car as infrastructure rather than machine—a space that integrates into daily life instead of interrupting it. In this vision, commuting becomes flexible time, road trips become retreats, and mobility becomes less about getting somewhere and more about what you do along the way.

It’s a bold idea, and maybe an optimistic one. But if autonomy really does arrive in the way Tesla and others promise, the TIME concept suggests that the biggest transformation won’t be under the hood—it’ll be inside the cabin, where the steering wheel disappears and the road finally gives your time back.

Source: Automotive News