Next week, all attention turns to Paris for the Retromobile show and the associated auctions. Bonhams will stage their annual Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris. Headlining the sale is one of these great marques in the form of this Bugatti Type 55 Vanvooren Cabriolet. The Type 55 was effectively a Grand Prix car for the road and the consigned example is one of just six clothed by Vanvooren with Cabriolet body. Of these, the chassis 55217 is understood to be the most complete survivor. It is expected to sell for over €3 million.
Also consigned is a FIA GT race winning Dodge Viper GTS-R. Originally campaigned by Carsport Holland, it won three races and also qualified on pole position for the 2001 Spa 24 Hours.
The latest addition to the BMW M3 line-up is the CS model. The high-performance version of the M3 has more power and a more poised chassis. The 543 bhp M3 CS will be built in limited numbers from March of 2023.
German manufacturer Porsche will celebrate the company's 75th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the Stuttgart designers created the Vision 357 show car. It is not all show as the retro-styled machine is based on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.
The next in a series of Audi all-electric concepts is this Actisphere. The high performance cross-over is aimed at active customers and accommodate several bicycles or skis. The Actisphere features two electric motors and has a 600 km range on a single charge.

The international auction season will kick off on Wednesday with the annual RM Sotheby's Arizona sale. It is headlined by a lovely selection of 1960s and early 1970s sports cars. Among them is this AC Shelby Cobra 427 Competition, which is one of just 19 built. This one served as a factory press car and also featured in the Elvis Presley movie Spinout. It was subsequently raced extensively and has been owned by the current custodian twice. Chassis CSX3011 is now expected to sell for $3 - $3.6 million.
A similar pre-sale estimate is given for this Ferrari 275 GTB/4. It was in the same collection for 45 years between 1971 and 2016. Although recommissioned, chassis 10325 has survived in lovely original condition.
Also attributed a $3 - $3.5 million estimate is the Lamborghini Miura SV in the sale. It was originally fitted with a split-sump lubrication system and has benefited from a complete restoration at the hands of the Bobileff Motorcar Company and Bob Wallace.
The rarest of the bunch is this Chevrolet Corvette ZL1. It is understood to be one of just two Convertibles fitted with the Can-Am derived big-block ZL1 engine. No ZL1 has been offered for sale in three decades and this Corvette could sell for $2.6 - $3 million.

Today we have taken a closer look at three Porsche Group C racers. The most sophisticated is this 962C GTi, which was built around a stronger honeycomb aluminium monocoque chassis designed by Nigel Stroud. The featured RLR-200 was the second of five built and raced extensively between 1988 and 1990. Beautifully restored by Katana ltd., it was raced at last year's Spa Classic.
A regular of recent Spa Classics was this 962C, which was originally sold to Japan. Raced only twice in period, 962-166 has been raced more extensively by its current, Dutch owner. It has now been consigned to next month's Artcurial Retromobile sale with a €900,000 - €1,200,000 estimate.
The earliest of the trio is this ex-John Fitzpatrick Racing 956. Built to the later 'B' specifications, it was raced extensively in period and is today painted in the striking Skoal Bandit colours.
Aston Martin is rounding up DBS production with the limited edition DBS 770 Ultimate. Only 499 examples will be built; 300 Coupes and 199 Volantes. As the name suggests, the V12 fitted produces a staggering 770 hp. All DBS 770 Ultimates have reportedly already been spoken for.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Corvette, Chevrolet created the E-Ray; the first electrified version of the American sports car. The drivetrain consists of the familiar naturally aspirated LT2 V8 and a front-mounted electric motor. Interestingly, the batteries can be charged while driving and there is no option to charge the car off the grid. The maximum system output is a startling 878 bhp and thanks to the electric all-wheel drive system, the E-Ray can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 2.5 seconds. Due to be sold as a 2024 model, the E-Ray is available as both a Coupe and Convertible body.
French manufacturer Renault expanded the rally line up with a new Clio Rally3. It is the first ever four-wheel drive Clio rally car. The Clio Rally3 is powered by a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder engine that produces 260 hp with the mandatory restrictor fitted. Once homologated, the four-wheel drive Clio will be eligible for rally championships all around the world.

The start of the auction season is traditionally in Scottsdale, Arizona where international companies Bonhams and RM Sotheby's will hold a sale. Headlining the two auctions are a pair of V12-engined Italian supercars. Due to cross the block at Bonhams on January 27 is this Maserati MC12 Corsa. One of twelve Versione Corsa track-only examples built, the example consigned is effectively brand-new. Rarely consigned to an auction, Bonhams gives no estimate for this mighty Maserati.
A day earlier, Anglo-Canadian auctioneer RM Sotheby's will offer this Ferrari LaFerrari. Finished in a unique colour combination, this particular example was ordered new by noted collector Greg Whitten. The metallic blue LaFerrari is estimated to sell for over $4 million.
Renault SPort will conclude production of the hard-core Mégane with this R.S. Ultime edition. Just 1,976 examples will be built before the Alpine brand takes over the role held by Renault Sport. The well-specced Mégane R.S. Ultime uses the same 300 hp, turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the Trophy model.

The year has barely got under way but we have already learned of quite a lot to look forward to. This includes the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution. This is a track-oriented version of the 1,817 bhp Venom F5. It features a more aggressive downforce package but is also lighter than the road car. Hennessey plans to build a limited run of just 24 Venom F5 Revolutions.
British specialist racing car manufacturer Radical has introduced a revised SR3. Dubbed the SR3 XXR, it is slightly more powerful than the outgoing model. Deliveries of the SR3 XXR will start in February of 2023.
At last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Peugeot debuted the Inception Concept. Powered by a pair of electric motors, it represents a preview of future Peugeot production models. The combined output of the Inception Concept is a hefty 670 bhp, which allows the sedan to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than three seconds.
AC Cars is due to launch the all-new Cobra GT Roadster in the coming year. It features a bespoke aluminium spaceframe chassis and will be powered by a V8 engine that produces 654 bhp. The Cobra GT Roadster will be fitted with a six-speed manual or an optional ten-speed automatic gearbox.