Best of Auto Car: February 2014

Here's a proposal from this year's Frankfurt Show that somehow managed to escape our radar. Supposedly a concept study, the Infiniti FX50 S Limited Edition was created by Car Research and Development or CRD for short, a subsidiary of the Brabus Group that works directly with automakers and their national importers. Among other cars, CRD was responsible (...) for the creation of the Dodge Avenger-based Startech Starster that appeared at the 2007 Frankfurt Show.

The Infiniti FX50 S Limited Edition show car gets a set of bespoke 21-inch turbine-design light-alloy wheels in a grey finish, while the front grille, side air inlets in the front fenders and the roof bars are also painted grey.

The luxury SUV's cabin is upholstered in high-quality leather with contrasting light brown stitching while the carbon-fiber trim in a dark brown finish and the alcantara trim on the headliner and pillars round off the interior upgrades. And yes, we too are wondering why Brabus / CRD even bothered to call this creation a concept study.

Infiniti FX50 S

Infiniti FX50 S

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Schloss Bensberg Classics Concours d'Elegance and Historic Rally: Over 100 High-Res Photos

This past weekend (September 25-27, 2009) marked the premiere of the first Schloss Bensberg Classics automobile show, which took place in Cologne, Germany at the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, an 18th century castle that has been converted into a luxury hotel since 2000. The three day event, which was sponsored among others by the Volkswagen Group, included a Concours d'Elegance competition day for classic cars and concept models as well as a Historic Rally along the roads of the Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia for vehicles built up until 1979.

The 1st Schloss Bensberg Classics Concours d'Elégance saw an array of production and prototype models making their way to Germany spanning from pre-war models such as the Bugatti 57SC Atlantic to 1960s and 1970s exotics and concept cars like the Lancia HF Stratos and Italdesign's 1973 Audi Karmann Asso Di Picche coupe that's pictured above as well as more modern prototypes including the Lamborghini Estoque and Cadillac Sixteen (V16).

Photos copyright UP / VW