Aston Martin

A 64-year-old Newport Coast resident was killed and his wife injured in a traffic collision last night that Newport Beach police believed to have been alcohol-related. Michael Aung Sein, a radiologist at Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana, was parked at a red light at MacArthur Boulevard and Jamboree Road shortly before midnight Friday when his Aston Martin was rear-ended by another car. Sein was taken to Hoag Hospital and died of his injuries soon after. Sein’s wife, who was in the car, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Police arrested the driver of the other car, Elijah L. Ferguson, 21, of Santa Ana, who was also transported to Western Medical Center after the collision.

A 21-year-old U.S. Marine is scheduled to be arraigned next month on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving without a license after a car crash that killed a Newport Coast resident and well-known radiologist. Michael Aung Sein, 64, a radiologist at Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana, was parked at a red light at MacArthur Boulevard and Jamboree Road shortly before midnight Friday when his Aston Martin was rear-ended by a Dodge Caliber driven by Elijah L. Ferguson, a U.S. marine, police said.

Ever wonder how much James Bond would pay for that Aston Martin he drives around? Or, if you're not exactly the secret-agent type and can more accurately be described as a "NASCAR Dad," ever wonder how much it would cost to get a refrigerator put into the back of your SUV? South Coast Plaza is offering the chance for people to find out more about the world of luxury cars with "Luxury by Design," an event designed to give consumers a glimpse of what's on the cutting edge of stylish automobiles.

Land Rover Newport Beach to expand its inventory Land Rover Newport Beach plans to remodel its facility on Jamboree Road and expand its inventory next year, adding Aston Martins and Jaguars to its luxury selection. The dealership, which sells exclusively Land Rovers, began remodeling in December 2006 and expects to have its new showroom completed the first week of January, with a grand opening set to follow in March. The renovated showroom will feature four 50-inch flat-screen televisions, coffee bars and a children?

The 5-month-old black-and-white kitten that we call Aston is named after James Bond's favorite car — Aston Martin. He and his siblings, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and Beamer were all rescued from an auto repair business. All the kittens are active, but Aston is more gentle and calm than the others. However, when he gets serious about play he chooses his sister Mercedes (black and white). They would make a nice pair. Unlike many others animals, the "car" kittens are command trained to come when they are called and have been fed a superior high protein "no-grain" diet.

The Speech and Language Development Center for neurologically handicapped children sponsored a fine wine auction at South Coast Plaza Village attracting a large contingent of the local crowd for a Sunday evening soiree. Antonello Ristorante hosted the wine affair starring Vince Ferragamo and co-chair Dennis Foley. Foley is a respected fine wine auctioneer who handled the formal festivities. Wine lovers with paddles bid for exclusive bottles of the fruit of the vine, raising money for the Speech and Language Development Center's capital campaign to repair its Orange County campus.

IRVINE — Not many people can say that they've had the experience of being pulled over because the officer wanted a personal photo with the car. That happened to Newport Beach resident Gus Doppes — not once, but multiple times — across 10 European countries in seven days as he drove in the much-ballyhooed Gumball 3000. Doppes, founder and CEO of California Scents, an Irvine-based air freshener business, plans on leaving the hot-pink, neon-green and orange temporary plastic wrap he placed on his 2009 hard-top convertible Ferrari California for a few weeks as a memento of the recently completed race.

FRIDAY 'Dig Pink' The Irvine Valley College women's volleyball team will play Golden West College in "Dig Pink," an Orange Empire Conference match for a good cause. Proceeds from the 6 p.m. match at Irvine Valley College, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, will go toward breast cancer research. A $5-donation will get you a pink T-shirt and a pink spray cleaner. Shabbat Service Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach, will have a Friday Night Shabbat Service at 6 p.m. in the Sonenshine Sanctuary.

Hot off the press! Aston-Benz project means more than shared engines: Rumors of a Mercedes-Benz alliance with Aston Martin first surfaced two months ago. However, the Sleuth hears talks are progressing quickly with farther-reaching partnerships now being discussed at the highest levels. The word is that the tie-up will be worth at least US $400 million. The first project could hit the road by 2010, sources said. That’s the same year Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, will refresh its Maybach line, a project that has now been handed over to Aston Martin.

“Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine. Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389 .” Ronnie and the Daytonas “GTO,” 1964 Although the economy has been rough, the 24th annual HB Concours automobile and motorcycle show will go on as planned this weekend in Huntington Beach’s Central Park — including a planned Pontiac showcase that now will pay tribute to the recently discontinued brand....

FRIDAY 'Dig Pink' The Irvine Valley College women's volleyball team will play Golden West College in "Dig Pink," an Orange Empire Conference match for a good cause. Proceeds from the 6 p.m. match at Irvine Valley College, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, will go toward breast cancer research. A $5-donation will get you a pink T-shirt and a pink spray cleaner. Shabbat Service Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach, will have a Friday Night Shabbat Service at 6 p.m. in the Sonenshine Sanctuary.

IRVINE — Not many people can say that they've had the experience of being pulled over because the officer wanted a personal photo with the car. That happened to Newport Beach resident Gus Doppes — not once, but multiple times — across 10 European countries in seven days as he drove in the much-ballyhooed Gumball 3000. Doppes, founder and CEO of California Scents, an Irvine-based air freshener business, plans on leaving the hot-pink, neon-green and orange temporary plastic wrap he placed on his 2009 hard-top convertible Ferrari California for a few weeks as a memento of the recently completed race.

The 5-month-old black-and-white kitten that we call Aston is named after James Bond's favorite car — Aston Martin. He and his siblings, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and Beamer were all rescued from an auto repair business. All the kittens are active, but Aston is more gentle and calm than the others. However, when he gets serious about play he chooses his sister Mercedes (black and white). They would make a nice pair. Unlike many others animals, the "car" kittens are command trained to come when they are called and have been fed a superior high protein "no-grain" diet.

Forget the bottled water and mints on the pillow. When Jeff Bootz of Scottsdale, Arizona recently checked into the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, the hotel?s General Manager Shaun Robinson flipped him the keys to a sleek 2010 Aston Martin Vantage convertible sports car that was adorning the hotel lobby. To his delight, Bootz learned that the hotel had arranged for him to enjoy the use of the car along with a complimentary weekend stay at the hotel on June 25-27 when the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company brings ?

“Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine. Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389 .” Ronnie and the Daytonas “GTO,” 1964 Although the economy has been rough, the 24th annual HB Concours automobile and motorcycle show will go on as planned this weekend in Huntington Beach’s Central Park — including a planned Pontiac showcase that now will pay tribute to the recently discontinued brand....

Hot off the press! Aston-Benz project means more than shared engines: Rumors of a Mercedes-Benz alliance with Aston Martin first surfaced two months ago. However, the Sleuth hears talks are progressing quickly with farther-reaching partnerships now being discussed at the highest levels. The word is that the tie-up will be worth at least US $400 million. The first project could hit the road by 2010, sources said. That’s the same year Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, will refresh its Maybach line, a project that has now been handed over to Aston Martin.

As one of the leaders on the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, Kobe Bryant plans to use the same line he does with the Lakers when times get rough. The line he told reporters recently in Las Vegas he would use was “get your [butt] in gear.” For Bryant’s sake, he has the players around him capable of getting out of ruts, unlike his Lakers teammates showed in the NBA Finals. Team USA is counting on Bryant to help the country reclaim its global dominance in a sport it invented more than 100 years ago. The Newport Coast resident admits it won’t be easy next month at the Beijing Games.

A 21-year-old U.S. Marine is scheduled to be arraigned next month on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving without a license after a car crash that killed a Newport Coast resident and well-known radiologist. Michael Aung Sein, 64, a radiologist at Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana, was parked at a red light at MacArthur Boulevard and Jamboree Road shortly before midnight Friday when his Aston Martin was rear-ended by a Dodge Caliber driven by Elijah L. Ferguson, a U.S. marine, police said.

A 64-year-old Newport Coast resident was killed and his wife injured in a traffic collision last night that Newport Beach police believed to have been alcohol-related. Michael Aung Sein, a radiologist at Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana, was parked at a red light at MacArthur Boulevard and Jamboree Road shortly before midnight Friday when his Aston Martin was rear-ended by another car. Sein was taken to Hoag Hospital and died of his injuries soon after. Sein’s wife, who was in the car, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Police arrested the driver of the other car, Elijah L. Ferguson, 21, of Santa Ana, who was also transported to Western Medical Center after the collision.

Wheelbase Communications Is this what the new small Hummer will look like?: This General Motors division, which has staked a reputation as the builder of the largest off-road vehicles on the planet, has released several different design sketches of its HX Concept — the smallest Hummer — ahead of the vehicle’s Detroit Auto Show debut in early January. Designed for serious off-roading, the E85-capable HX (85 percent ethanol mixed with 15 percent gasoline) will offer removable roof panels, both front and rear.