So, so much hotness in here. Aston Martin DB11, Huayra BC, Apollo Arrow, Remac Concept One, Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, new Spyker and Zenvo’s….! Our favorite is split between the new Apollo and the DS E-Tense. Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part Two
Revised Ram Powerwagon, the new Explorer XLT Sport Pack, Ridgeline and Silverados make up the big action in Chicago for trucks. We have a new RAV4 SE to show, plus soon-renamed Scion C-HR concept and the new Tacoma TRD Pro. The Kia Telluride concept, revised Hyundai Sante Fe and Sante Fe Sport, fresh 2017 Chevrolet Trax…. Don’t forget the new Kia Niro mini-ute, and more, too! Part Two: The TRUCKS – 2016 Chicago Auto Show – MEGA GALLERY
SEMA is wrapping up today after a wild showcase of the current aftermarket car business. Highlights are too numerous to mention, but the Ford GT in yellow is my personal favorite sighting. The new MX-5 concepts are pretty fantastic as well. SEMA 2015 – Showfloor Mega Gallery in 288 Photos
Considering that the Lexus LX570 is the ride of choice for VIPs worldwide, the exterior of the truck is remarkably demure. Yes, the updated 2014 factory LEDs and grille design help distinguish the LX570 a bit from its Land Cruiser cousin — but where is the visual punch, the sex appeal and pure aggression of the hottest Cayennes, QX80s and Mercedes SUVs? For an LX570 that will take you (*and your family!) safely into and out of hot zones around the world — while looking exotic, exclusive and even more expensive than ever — the Larte Design ‘Alligator’ pack …
PART FIVE Here is why we are revisiting this mega-show: there are 400 photos in our Geneva 2015 file folder that have not been published yet. Some of the cars are cool, some are curious, and some are normal economy hatchbacks. A dozen of the big reveals are in individual articles — viewable at the Geneva category page over here. But for whatever reason, these fine machines did not make it into solo posts. Not fair, right? All photos deserve to see the light of day! The cars could use some sun, too. The Geneva auto show generally …
PART FOUR When we found photos of this classic turd named Borgward, we naturally assumed from its hideous design, nauseating paint and unusual presence at a new-car show that it was French. It is actually German Belgian. Sarray. The Borgward design feels like a Karmann Ghia pretending to be a Buick, but less appealing than either. The Bakelite two-tone pastels are never a good idea. Only white with pink details would be worse. What is this? A white and pink Citroen van concept! Home run, chaps. Time for a white-wine lunch? Moving on… So, why Geneva photos a week …
PART THREE Here is why we are revisiting this mega-show: there are 400 photos in our Geneva 2015 file folder that have not been published yet. Some of the cars are cool, some are curious, and some are normal economy hatchbacks. A dozen of the big reveals are in individual articles — viewable at the Geneva category page over here. But for whatever reason, these fine machines did not make it into solo posts. Not fair, right? All photos deserve to see the light of day! The cars could use some sun, too. The Geneva auto show generally delivers …
PART TWO Geneva? Wasn’t that huge swarm of media intros and press conferences almost 10 days ago? Yes, yes it was. The Geneva Motor Show is currently open to the public and the Palexpo center is packed wall-to-wall with the world’s hottest exotica. Here is why we are revisiting this mega-show: there are 400 photos in our Geneva 2015 file folder that have not been published yet. Some of the cars are cool, some are curious, and some are normal economy hatchbacks. A dozen of the big reveals are in individual articles — viewable at the Geneva category page over …
Geneva? Wasn’t that huge swarm of media intros and press conferences almost 10 days ago? Yes, yes it was. The Geneva Motor Show is currently open to the public and the Palexpo center is packed wall-to-wall with the world’s hottest exotica. Here is why we are revisiting this mega-show: there are 400 photos in our Geneva 2015 file folder that have not been published yet. Some of the cars are cool, some are curious, and some are normal economy hatchbacks. A dozen of the big reveals are in individual articles — viewable at the Geneva category page over here. But …
The Peugeot DKR prototype currently blasting through the Chilean sahara on the 2015 Dakar rally has been a bit of a wallflower before the race. Few official photos of the truck have been seen. The mid-engine, rear-drive off-roader is an evolution of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak car, but raised dramatically for its new Dakar mission. The same team that created the LeMans 908 HDi FAP cars have created both of these latest racing Pugs, and all have shared the primary super-diesel engine power. This 3.0-liter twin turbo-diesel is a total torque monster: it pushes out 590 pound-feet of …
2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR When overall power is capped by a racing series of technical limits of the engine, you have a few other routes to more speed. These include a drop in weight and an increase in grip. But what can you do if max weight and tire setups are also regulated by racing rules? The last summit to climb is then aerodynamics and downforce. Subaru has embraced this fourth route to greatness in its two new racers: the BRZ GT300 and WRX STI NBR Challenge. The splitters up front add nearly a foot of extra …
Frankfurt to Los Angeles — direct — is a long, long flight. 11-hours and 10-minutes, to be precise. The list price for a human is $4,000 on Lufthansa, and 10X that for a vehicle. Equipment? 777ER. Or more likely, the trusty 747-400. The trip feels especially lengthy when you are in the chilly cargo bay of a jumbo jet — which often has precious cargo in its below bay. Lufthansa is one of the only world airlines that flies cargo and humans on the same flights, at the same time. But the humans are kept warmer. At 35,000 feet over …
Updated 11.17.14 with 120 New Photos SEMA 2014 – CARS Gallery
Paris was especially lovely this year in the booth babes department! It helps that Paris fashion week is the week prior to the auto show… so many simply stick around for a bit of extra contract work. And their job is indeed work. 10-hour-days. Heels. Smiling at basement-dwelling auto journalists? Not for amateurs! Enjoy. Paris 2014 Motor Show Girls
Not a sleeper king for catching your ZZzzz’s, but one for catching other drivers napping! This is so cool. Great job Toyota. In the driver’s seat of this amazing Camry Dragster, the new Toyota tagline might need to be… ‘Let’s Show O-faces!’ 2015 Toyota Camry Dragster Toyota Surprises SEMA with 850-Horsepower Camry Dragster Sleeper Camry Set to Shock Racing Fans Nationwide November 04, 2014 TORRANCE, Calif. Nov. 4, 2014 — In drag racing terms, a “sleeper” is a car that looks as innocuous as possible, but has the means to blow the doors off the competition. The attendees at …
Check out the latest from Ford below! Sorry for the watermarks — Ford press photos are either gigantic or tiny. Extang 2015 F-150 Extang’s Ultimate Work themed F-150 was built by the Custom Cars and Concepts student class at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI. The truck was transformed by a very custom BASF supplied paint scheme designed by KEG Digital Garage. Modifications include Extang’s latest hard folding tonneau cover, Ford Accessory step tubes, Sportliner by BedRug, all-weather floor mats, and a subwoofer upgrade. Bushwacker supplied the truck’s wheel flares, driving lights and headache …
Lambo Rambo… in Portuguese… is Samba Rambo? This amazing concept from Fiat is called the FCC4 and looks to be about the size of the Jeep Cherokee, but wearing giant rock-crawling rubber and a bad-ass pickup-truck bodystyle. Fresh ideas and designs abound, including the floating C-pillar and wrap-around brightwork of the glasshouse. Inside the roof and bed structure, we see some of the organic bracing seen from Bertone lately — all good stuff. Looks fantastic, and opens new doors to what the Fiat brand can be in the large Brazilian market. Fiat FCC4 Concept
MOPAR GOES ALL-IN WITH FLEET OF CUSTOMIZED SEMA SHOW RIDES 24/10/14 The 15,000-square-foot Mopar Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show display will feature Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brand vehicles personalized with Mopar products Hundreds of existing and prototype Mopar parts and accessories also will be showcased at the Las Vegas Convention Center Dodge brings a high-powered collection of concepts and production performance vehicles, including the Dodge Viper ACR Concept, Dodge Dart R/T Concept and Dodge Challenger T/A Concept, as well as the new 2015 Dodge Charger Scat Pack powered by the 6.4-liter 392 HEMI® and the 707-horsepower …
The P1 GTR is having its full goodies exposed now – in what we are calling the pappening! It started with upskirt photos in Pebble Beach, and has now led to this spread-eagle display of its most private areas for the world to see. The giant exhaust cans and rear spoiler are visibly erect at all times – definitely prepared for racing scenarios lasting more than four hours. Thoughts on the latest skin pics from between the P1 GTR’s legs – aka, the cockpit? It is remarkably bare down there. There is not a scrap of Alcantara comfort fuzz …
Any huge fans of radio-controlled cars out there? Yep, that is what we thought. Almost all of us! The baja racer design of many off-road cars and trucks makes them fast over almost any surface, indestructible and, above all, fun! How to bring that joyful rally racing function to a life-sized prototype? One that can have a wild body shape, self-lifting suspension and a smooth underbody (and big splitters) to maximize downforce? The Toyota MTRC stands for Motor Triathlon Race Car — and employs a variety of very smart techniques for making a life-size RC car. Tandem seating and in-wheel …
Concept cars are a helpful thermometer for showing the Chinese car market’s rapid progress recently. Sure, Chinese joint-ventures and domestic car brands can contract with the same European or American dream fabricators to make a stunning concept — and they have many times in the past. But as the home-grown industry evolves and matures, we are seeing much fresher local ideas than ever before. Local designs and local execution has been shown at the most recent Beijing and Guangzhou auto shows — with a heavy focus on SUVs and crossovers since 2013. That is the year when Chinese law changes …
Updated 10.9.14 With Debut Video and 20 New Photos! Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not …
The Lexus LX570 just joined the cool fleet over at Larte Design in California and Germany! This monster-truck makeover sees the family/luxury SUV become saomething altogether darker, more sinister and more exclusive. The trademark Larte Design style is present up front, where the makeover is the most significant with matte-effect dark trims and a newly-chiseled lower bumper. The Larte Design LX570 program is dubbed “Alligator” and just debuted this week at the Moscow auto show — where buyers give a first-hand look at this stylish upgrade for Lexus LX570 owners. LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator LARTE DESIGN INTRODUCES “ALLIGATOR” TUNING …
A few fashion photos set the mood nicely below for a true event. The amazing Bugatti Legends collection in full. All six Veyron Legends together for their grand society entrance at Pebble Beach 2014. An intriguing collection of inspirations and honors in the group, with drivers, designers, engineers and, in fact, previous cars as the inspiration for the six Legends of Bugatti. Which is your favorite? Or do you have other ideas? Here is the Veyron Vitesse configurator link to add color your Veyron GS Vitesse dreams… http://www.bugatti.com/en/vitesse/configurator.html Bugatti Lifestyle Collection Black Bess …
If there is one color I could get on-board with for a new dream McLaren — beyond my preference for white paint/dark wheels — it would either be McLaren Orange or Talocca Orange, which is a new and slightly lighter shade than the current MO color. But when presented with Mantis Green, who could say no? It is an outlandish color, and one that truly comes alive in the sun. The rest of the options for the McLaren 650S are actually pretty easy – especially versus the Ferrari configurator for the F12, which is a long process of interior …
Like talking smack about a heavyweight titlist — any rumors about the Aventador’s potency these days are sure to be whispered in private. The Aventador is the heir apparent to a huge well of passion around the previous Countach, Diablo and Murcielago flagships. Those are mid-engine exotics that have stayed wild, stayed loud, and stayed around for four decades of shifting hypercar sands. But in 2010 and beyond — the market is becoming extremely crowded. The Aventador somehow is no longer the title-holder of a generation’s car poster pin-ups. It is nowhere near as fast as the Bugatti Veyron or …
The alternating Paris and Frankfurt auto shows were recently described to me as, “Paris = Fun, Frankfurt = Not.” Does this extend to the female eye candy that is well-known for making almost any car look better and sexier as they stand nearby? Are Paris’s booth babes hotter than Frankfurt’s, or Geneva’s? Here is a quick look back at some favorites from Frankfurt 2013 – many of whom look about as happy as a rehab meeting, and worse lit. Booth Babes Showcase – Frankfurt 2013
The alternating Paris and Frankfurt auto shows were recently described to me as, “Paris = Fun, Frankfurt = Not.” Does this extend to the female eye candy that is well-known for making almost any car look better and sexier as they stand nearby? Are Paris’s booth babes hotter than Frankfurt’s, or Geneva’s? Here is a quick look back at some favorites from Paris 2012. Booth Babes Showcase – Paris 2012
