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2017 Lexus RC-F – Road Test Review – Introducing Jesus R. Garcia

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I’m Thankful for Sports Cars Having a two-door luxury sports coupe for Thanksgiving can give anyone a lot to be thankful for. Especially when the coupe in question is the 2017 Lexus RC F; a V8 powered Japanese GT car with some serious attitude underneath its sleek and professional exterior. I had two weeks to get well acquainted with this car. Compared to the last Lexus vehicle I tested, 2017 Lexus IS 200t, this was the other end of the spectrum. Interior This was the first car I drove that had carbon fiber, suede, and leather surrounding the interior. Thanks …

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2018 BMW M550i – HD Road Test Review

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What if one of the most comfortable cars you’ve ever driven … is also one of the fastest? A big sedan that pivots like a track star? How has BMW defied physics?  Yes. The M550i is a revelation on the road.  After a week of flogging this beauty for kicks – and the cameras – we came away absolutely in love with BMW’s fastest ever 5 series. The 3.9s sprints to 60-mph from the almost-violent launch control are enough to make up for its lack of M5 sounds from the V8TT.  The hyper-adaptive suspension and standard xDrive turn a soft car …

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Meet the Original 1964 Ford GT40 Concept and 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype 11

Concept Flashback – 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype

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The GT40 was actually a pretty derivative design – with a chassis and overall structure partially borrowed from Lola. But the GT40 as it came from Lola was not a winner right away. While the Mark I GT40 is a bit more pure, and a lot more beautiful by many eyes — it was not a race-winner. The GT40 started winning races with the Mark II GT40 with its huge air scoops, front sill spats, and other aero mutations to the overall design. But still – it is hard to argue with the clean beauty of these initial concept prototypes. …

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Concept Flashback - 1978 JAGUAR XJ Spider by Pininfarina 3

Concept Flashback – 1978 Jaguar XJ Spider by Pininfarina

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How advanced is this Pininfarina concept for Jaguar? It is hard to believe there is an XK under these swoopy panels, which predated anything else curvy by more than eight years. Of course, Jaguar had been rocking serious curves since the 1940s.  This Pininfarina exercise re-introduced a swoopy, flowing shape that was markedly different from the boxy production XK. Very, very impressive level of production value for a 1978 concept.  Although not adapted for sale, some vindication for the designers came when this basic surfacing template was a huge hit for the Aston Martin DB7 and even the Jaguar XK …

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Concept Flashback - 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Porsche 911 with Clear Bubble Hardtop 54

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Bubble Hard 911

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This concept from RINSPEED in 2006 is actually quite magnificent. A clear polycarbonate hardtop and a variety of innovative supplier solutions round out what is a very intriguing concept car from RINSPEED. The rear fenders and nose treatment with Ferrari 612 lighting elements are very interesting, but the RINSPEED ZaZen is absolutely hideous from the pure nose and tail angles. An unusual and sloppy mess of amateurish block shapes. Other lighting by the huge list of experimental parts suppliers are more special.  Diamond-cut glass for the brake lights is intricate, beautiful and very special.  The LED laserlight CHMSL is notably …

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2017 PAGANI Huayra Roadster – Official Debut

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  Pagani’s latest creations always shake the Earth a little bit for hypercar fans.  This is a machine that makes a 918 Spyder feel like a Boxster. And so it is for the most beautiful Pagani yet: the Huayra Roadster. Twin rooves come standard: a glass targa panel and a soft-top kit for the frunk. Both promise an easy way to enjoy the AMG V12’s 770HP right over your ear. Added bonus for the Huayra Roadster?  You have a much better view of the rear wings and their g-force reactive moves around corners.  These slim planes of carbon create active …

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FOSTLA.de 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus – Sunflower Matte Metallic + Self-Healing XPEL

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The new R8 is available in a comically small palette of factory colors.  About the hottest one is a dark army green… and that is saying something.  Yes, the blue and red and yellow shades are on the R8 builder, but they definitely lack that last bit of supercar punch. Enter the wrapping boutique Fostla.de — forever experimenting with the latest mirrored and color films for their chic clientelle. This new look is a stunner: sunflower matte metallic vinyl wrap, protected by a layer of XPEL film all around.  This keeps the finish perfect and also adds a bit of …

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HD Road Test Review - 2016 Lincoln MKX 20

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Lincoln MKX EcoBoost AWD – Best of Awards

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Who makes the best sport SUVs? ‘Ze Germans! It is the Germans, without a doubt. The Germans have really defined the genre with their excellent Macan Turbos and X550i’s — with little serious competition from Japan or the US.  At least since the Infiniti FX and original, RWD Cadillac SRX faded. Something about an SUV cargo area, megalux cabin, corner-hungry handling and shouty 5-second sprints to 60-mph!  The combo is magic. There is a new hotshot on the block.  Just moved in. Named MKX. The 2016 Lincoln MKX EcoBoost AWD. I know, I know.  I understand your incredulousness. A truck as fast and …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Hyundai SONATA SPORT 2.0T (+Drive Video)

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The new Sonata generation has not been universally loved.  It largely abandons the previous swirling design and CLS-style low roof in favor of a longer wheelbase and larger rump.  Backseaters will be thrilled: it is now truly jumbo back there and in the trunk. The benefit of this move is a much larger, and technically full-size, cabin versus its mid-size rivals.  What was lost, however, was the near-premium appeal of the Sonata on the roads versus identical Accords and Camrys. We’re into the second year of this new Sonata generation, and the range is filling out to meet many buyer …

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2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S – First Drive in MIAMI BLUE! (+Videos and Color Visualizer)

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It is quite unusual for a new-gen 911 with an all-new engine, freshness up front and an all-new tail to be upstaged by a simple paint color. But that is the effect Miami Blue has in the flesh! This $4k optional shade joins the new Lava Orange as the brightest, sexiest shades Porsche has offered in years.  Even the standard, no-charge colors are quite becoming on this new Carrera S, however.  The Guard Red is as traditional a color as ever, yet looks fan-tas-tic up close in the flesh.  Various dark or light headlight trims and many finishes for the …

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2017 Ford GT - Digital Color Visualizer 17

2017 Ford GT – Rendered COLORS Visualizer in 20 New Shades

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Updated 4.6.16 with New Photos and Digitally-Rendered Images Instead of the hundreds of custom shades and multiple angles, we only have a handful of digitally-rendered color options for the exciting Ford GT supercar. Why? It has been a long week of many frantic Detroit reveals, and Photoshop prefers to crash right when you are in the middle of something great. =] We are still trying to perfect a color—> black or color —> white transformation, but it is not easy to accomplish with respectable results. But was it a total loss? Not at all! Many of the new colors are …

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Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI 5

Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI!

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I have met the bright red devil today! And he is quite friendly. =] But private, as you might imagine. He is mobbed wherever he goes in this 900HP masterpiece. The Mustang GT Convertible California Special is a lovely chase car… even with just half the horsepower.     Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI!

2014 Superformance LOLA MkII Can-Am Spyder at Olthoff Racing12

Dream Garage – Superformance LOLA MkIII Can-Am Spyders

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Lola racecars are extremely special for their value-for-money today, racing pedigree, and also their incredibly timeless grace and beauty. This was a racing team directly formed in the late 1950s with one goal: build a car from scratch to win LeMans. The resulting semi-monocoque chassis design – now known as a unibody – was revolutionary at the time of frame-based racers from nearly every other racing company and nearly every single road car. A semi-monocoque? Oh yes. The other part is also pretty advanced for the time: a steel spaceframe for the engine and rear suspension cradle. In fact, the …

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Concept Flashback – 2013 Lamborghini EGOISTA

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As we prepare to be awed by the new Lamborghini Centario concept this week, how about a look back to three years ago.  Same place, same buzz of excitement around a new raging bull of a supercar. The Egoista certainly shocked crowds as it rumbled onstage.  Otherworldly angles on all sides, a monopisto cockpit layout with jet-fighter orange canopy, and a nose defined by three spikes where cars have always had a flat bumper plane. The idea of the Egoista was to make the fighter-jet link even more explicit than ever.  Lambo’s sharp angles have long claimed inspiration from stealth-y …

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2016 Ferrari 488 Spider – London Launch Party + V8TT Sound Samples

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Updated 2.26.16 with 30 new photos from the car’s London launch party.  The nose looks far better in real life than it did on the initial renders and autoshow photos.   Gorgeous reveals by the dozen in Frankfurt this week, with only Aston and McLaren declining to launch something new and fairly important. Superlux EVs might be the defining show theme, but supercar rivalries are a close second. Lamborghini’s new Huracan Spyder, the McLaren 650S Spider and this brand-new 488 Spider are all viciously competitve with one another. Performance is roughly the same for all three as well: 3.0-second launches to …

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2.8s, 670HP 2017 ICONA Vulcano Titanium – New Video, Specs and 35 Photos Ahead of Top Marques Monaco

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Icona is prepping the Vulcano Titanium for Top Marques Monaco — and has shared a new video about the trials and tribulation of creating a titanium-bodied hypercar. We must say, despite the very enchanting design and clear purpose — challenging the Ferrari F12 — the Vulcano was quite a curious sight on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn in 2015. Why? It is mostly the exposed titanium finish!  It is distracting, hard to photograph, and presents pretty poorly versus the ultra-high-gloss paintwork of the others with which it shared the practise putting green. But that incredible bodywork is also part of the …

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2018 Lexus LC500 Cabrio Rendering

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Full details on the new LC500h from Lexus! Very interesting advancements… conforming to few of the hypotheticals we initially posed below. For example, would it be a PHEV?  Would it run a V8? No and no on those fronts. But fear not: a new Li-ion battery system and four-speed EV transaxle in back complements the3.5-liter V6 up front to deliver a ballparked 4.7-second 4.2s sprint to 60-mph.  That is deeply impressive for a machine that also offers a new Hybrid manual gear-shift mode and far less CVT drone than possible before.  Lexus’s explicit promise of “well under 5 seconds to 100-kph” …

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2010 BERTONE Pandion for Alfa-Romeo Is Next-Level Brilliance Inside and Out 30

Hall of Fame – 2010 Alfa Romeo Pandion by BERTONE

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We obviously cover a lot of concepts and dream cars here, but rarely does one captivate the eye and mind more than the 2010 Bertone Pandion. BERTONE: COMPANY SITUATION ANALYSIS First things first: Bertone (pronounced ‘Bear Tony’) is currently restructuring after some lean years in the Italian car business drained its corporate accounts to breaking point. Is this any way indicative of the quality of the firm’s design work? Absolutely, positively not. In fact, it is because of Bertone’s amazing ideas that the firm branched back into actual car factories versus just dreamy, steamy concept cars and prototypes. Full-scale production …

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2016 ALPINE Vision Concept – 99% Production-Ready with Stunning Beauty, Race Dynamics

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We’re getting very, very close to the first mass-market, mid-engine French sports car in decades!  Excluding the Bugatti Veyron and a few race specials, the Clio V6 has been the closest thing to a locally-made track car in ages. Why is this?  And how will Renault’s relaunch of the ALPINE brand enhance the firm’s strategic goals, profitability and sales of the Kadjar in China? All that remains a bit fuzzy. But the actual car is now in stark focus — and looks spectacular!   Beautiful rebirth of the original Alpine proportions, flowing rear end, and quad-lit nose right off the …

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Top 10 SUPRA-Tastic Design Details – Toyota FT-1 Concept + 88 NEW Photos

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NEW FT-1 photos?  Yes ALL NEW…? Sortof. We posted these originally on laptop in Santa Cruz, and the results were iffy.  So we went back to the originals, starting again and bringing the FT-1’s details to high-res glory! The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing. A stunning car. Let’s appreciate its top 10 design details from up close. The design of the FT-1 is visibly alive.  Functional ventwort in a dozen places around all side brings the wild, swooping fenders and hood into sharp relief.  The aero cuts and ground-effect details make …

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2017 FORD F-150 RAPTOR – 2016 Event Schedule + 33 New Race-Spec GIFs!

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Check out the 10-speed turbonator in ‘factory stock’ race spec! You can here, and see it do its debut jumps at the below race dates.  Check out the latest 60 pics of the production 2017 Raptor in the lower gallery too. First deliveries?  By December first is the rumor…. =] Dates and locations to catch F-150 Raptor racing events this year are as follows: Parker 425, Parker, Arizona, Feb. 4-7           Mint 400, Las Vegas, March 10-14 Laughlin Desert Classic, Laughlin, Nevada, May 5 Vegas to Reno, Nevada, Aug. 17-20 Bluewater Challenge, Parker, Arizona, Sept. 10-Oct. 6 Pahrump Nugget 250, Pahrump, …

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First 2016 Ferrari F60 America Delivered + F60 Speedster Renderings

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Ferrari just delivered its first F60 America in Palm Beach.  This 10-unit special edition celebrates Ferrari USA in the best way possible — a future collector classic! The F60 America is a fully redesigned F12 custom — sharing no bodywork with the hardcore V12 hero coupes. Nor does it share the roof of its sibling — this F60 is a pure spyder meant for sunny days only. The F60 America is a double-edged sword as a loyalty perk to its ten most loyal clients.  Sharp on one side from its devastating beauty and all-new design elements in front and back. …

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4.0s, 350HP 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster S Revealed – All-Turbo Pair Boast Huge Power Bumps

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Update: Sorry to beta test a new GIF technique in this post.  These new gif-movies are very large files.  They make the slideshow GIFs I make look like little newborns by comparison!  Why GIFs?  they are endlessly animated, natural loading and auto-playing videos.  Without the awfulness of autoplay audio.  And no need to click ‘play,’ which few will do nowadays.  Practise will make perfect, one hopes.  Porsche just dropped some very exciting news: the Boxster and Boxster S are rebranded and re-designed for 2017. Now dubbed the 718 Boxster, the twins boast massive power upgrades at both trim levels — …

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Hypercar Heroes – Lamborghini DIABLO Evolution – VT to SE, Jota to SV, SVR and Roadster, then GTR and 6.0

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The Lamborghini Diablo is a true icon in the supercar business. And despite all the sideways hooning and 200MPH bragging rights, it is indeed a business. As the Diablo launch in 1990 seems farther and farther in the past, let’s look at how this car saw off challenges from all sides of the hypercar world.  And how the Diablo and Lamborghini’s clever reinventions helped the car evolve from an 80s throwback of a drive into an ultra-modern GTR and 6.0VT near the end of production in 2001. Think about that: 11 years.  Staying in production is an achievement in its …

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2017 Lexus LC500 COLORS Visualizer + Black Chrome Looks [150 Shades]

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This post goes out to the bastards at Comcast Xfinity! Why? It was the ongoing eight-hour LAN outage today that spurred a moment of creativity in photoshop.  With whom? Our new favorite subject: the 2017 Lexus LC500! After many hours and nearly 150 shades of future super-Lexus… we are thrilled by the idea of a possible BMW collaboration under these delicious panels. The cabio also seems only a snip and slice away!  The floating roof and minimal pillars all around the back glass of the LC500 make clear this machine was designed.  HARD! The tumblehome — or that area between …

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Mecum 2016 Favorite – 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special Is Mid-Engine Vette!

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If you ever wondered why Chevy flirts with a mid-engine Corvette so regularly… here is proof positive. The concept works. The concept works. The sum of stock Corvette parts flipped to mid-engine is a race-winning car right out of the box. Fast barely begins to capture the experience. This 2013 GTM Special is the car we most wanted to rip away from the Mecum auction lineup for 2016! 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special   Mecum Auctions Lot F276// Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 2012 Factory Five GTM LS3/480 HP, 5-Speed   Engine LS3/480 HP Trans 5-Speed Color Red Interior …

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2014 SEAT Ibiza CUPSTER 23

Design Analysis – 2014 SEAT Ibiza CUPSTER

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The 2014 GTI Wörthersee event brought out a few exciting concept reveals: including this very playful Ibiza. If any car’s namesake location points to its mission, it would be this concept!  Why?  Ibiza (say: eeee-beee-thhaaa) is the Cancun of Europe. Sunny party people flock to this semi-trashy island resort to escape the grey, rainy winters across Europe.  They dance to all the latest club bangers, contract some STDs (worth it!), then march home — back to the real world. Would this CUPSTER make sense in just resort mode, or in real life? It does not really matter: the car is …

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2016 Acura Precision Concept – Teases Next-Gen RLX with Cali-Penned Fastback Coupe

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  Just a single teaser sketch so far of the upcoming Acura Precision Concept, but it is a promising one! The design overtly previews upcoming sports sedan models from the resurgent luxury arm of Honda, with a design direction expected to diverge from the current Acura design direction.  Not much to learn from the teaser image about that look, but we can see impressively enhanced proportions. The long-hood and short front overhang is unlike current RL sedans or even the new TLX, as is the plunging roofline and curt tail — evoking a bit of Audi A7 or BMW 650i …

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2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport 9

2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport – Updated w/ Tech Specs, Video and Latest Photos

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  World premiere of a screaming new hypercar: the Fenyr Supersport from W Motors! Following the incredible LYKAN in production form, the new FENYR is more compact, more wicked and even more exotic. Power comes in mid-engine RUF boxer form; the FENYR runs a 900-horsepower, 1100-foot-pound 4.0-liter twin turbo. Porsche basis, but remade by RUF to an extreme degree. That giant-killing motor is mounted inches above the ground in the mid-rear of the full carbon monocoque.  The FENYR drives the rear wheels alone through a new 7-speed PDK and limited-slip differential. Quoted performance figures so far are 2.7-seconds to 100-kph, …

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2017 Bentley Continental R-Type - Renderings 6

2017 Bentley Continental R-Type – Renderings, Rationale and Analysis

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The previous Bentley R-Type 1952 meetup with the 2016 GT Speed started a snowballing effort in photoshop. While Bentley certainly focuses on selling their current W12 Speed — especially versus its incredibly good V8S sibling — we are focused on the future! The Panamera basis for the next Continental GT platform is well-known and virtually confirmed in the car business, and has been for years.  But will it be a Panamera clone? Absolutely not. Not one bit of cabin, engines or design anywhere will be in common among the two. Key changes versus the current Conti range are expected to …

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Spec Renderings – 500HP 2018 Volvo XC80 Polestar

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It has been quite a while since a new Volvo stirred as much excitement as the 2016 XC90. The truck is absolutely miraculous, and an exciting new corporate re-alignment will see most of the XC90’s style and PHEV tech filter down throughout the range. The new S90 limo kicks things off, followed by (we predict) a lightly facelifted XC60 mid-size crossover. Beyond that, we have new S60/S70 models on the mid-term horizon — with the first Charleston, SC-built sedans set for a summer 2017 arrival as 2018 model-years. But if we were Volvo… what is the first possible thing to …

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2016 Audi R8 LMS – New Open-Aero Design Analysis, Specs and Pricing

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The new R8 is big news, of course, for supercar shoppers. Three models are set for the US range: the R8, R8 V10 and R8 V10 Plus. All sport AWD as standard and curb weights of 3500- and 3600-pounds. America will miss out on the limited-release R8 E-Tron but we will definitely see the fifth family member: the nearly unbeatable 2016 R8 LMS. This factory racecar is already outselling the existing model among dozens of top-tier sportscar racing teams. The reasons are simple: it is faster than ever thanks to cunning new aero and mechanicals. The biggest changes versus the …

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South African RED BULL Concept Truck is Defender 130 APC

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  Stealthy? Not to our eyes!  This futuristic armored personnel carrier is a really sleek bit of design, even if its radar signature is huge. The truck is a bit mysterious at the moment. It appeared online about a week ago in a few obscure spots, but has since been removed from at least one official Red Bull channel… RedBull.co.za in South Africa.  Nada from LR or RB press people about it, nor even a name beyond “Armored Event Vehicle.” The only thing we know is the chassis underneath: a Land Rover Defender 130 donated its LWB rails to this …

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BAC MONO Sweeping Hong Kong! New Showroom Sells 8 Cars on First Day

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Alternative headline? MONO-nucleolus outbreak in Far East! =] Yea. Too alarmist. Moving on… BAC just opened their second Asian showroom in as many months — with Hong Kong a natural follow-up to the new Japanese dealer recently established. Demand is clearly strong globally for this one-seat supercar, but showrooms nearby is the best way to really ramp up volume. Sure, there might be one or two MONO’s in Hong Kong already, but the eight just sold would likely never have happened without buyer’s knowing where to service and maintain the cars.  The MONO is the perfect stepping-stone between sportscars in …

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300MPH 2018 BUGATTI Spyshots, Renderings and Design Analysis

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The Bugatti Veyron took more than 10 years and ~10-billion dollars to make real for its 2005 debut. The vehicle development started with the VW W12 NARDO/SYNCHRO prototypes before taking on a life of its own via stratospheric performance dictates from the very top of the Volkswagen Group. 1000-horsepower and 250-mph. Great in theory, surpassed in practice!   The next-generation Bugatti supercar has a great running start by using many components and skills long-honed for the first Veyron and its SuperSport and Vitesse models since the launch spec. Even so…. this long intro is basically a warning: do not get …

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Hottest LA Debuts - 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio 3

2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA – LA Debut + Realistic Analysis: Model May Fail at US Relaunch Mission

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The new Alfa Romeo Giulia debuted in North America this week — wowing LA showgoers with its extreme, high-performance exterior and interior. Still a bit light on actual details in terms of USA arrivals, or whether sales will be handled via Maserati showrooms, as on the exotic 8C Competizione from a few years ago. Below we discuss the new model’s stout performance in the original Euro debut article. But even all these months later, the GIULIA still faces an uphill climb in the US market. Reasons for this: — huge expectations for base Giulia models based on this ultra-high-performance Quadrifoglio …

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2015 Scion C-HR Concept Teases Upcoming Production Crossover – $24k Pricing, Hybrid Option Predicted

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Hey good lookin’! Your eyes are not deciving you: this new Scion concept might look very familiar. If so, it is because we have seen it at Geneva and Frankfurt in Toyota guise. The purple and grey C-HR concepts shown so far are exact clones of this Scion for good reason: all tease the same upcoming compact crossover. Priced below the RAV4 and tipped to offer a hybrid engine option, the C-HR is a handsome and on-trend statement of intent for Toyota and its Scion offshoot. This concept is not in the slightest bit production feasible, however, with wild shapes …

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RM NYC 2015 - 1986 Ford RS200 - Final Road-Legal Group B Rally Star 21

Group B Debrief – 1986 Ford RS200 – Road-Legal Rally Legend Up For Sale

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Imagine if suddenly all the power-cap rules for a major racing series were abolished overnight. A mad rush of skunkworks projects would be fast-tracked, with racecars zinging out their red-hot turbochargers through the World Rally Championship stages just 18-months later. Porsche, Ferrari, Lancia, Ford, and Audi all dove into the Group B program with both feet. The results on track were mixed for many of these cars: the lack of power cap rules meant that intagibles like chassis control, visibility and reliability were paramount for winning rallies in the short Group B time on the global stage. The excitement of …

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1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II 6

RM NYC 2015 – 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II May Be Most-Valuable BMW with $3M Highball Estimate

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If this absolutely magnificent BMW 507 clears its pre-sale estimate of between 2.3 and 2.6 million, it will become one of — if not the — most valuable BMW of all time. The top five list from premier auction house RM Sotheby’s is exclusively 507 Roadsters, with the top sale earning $2.42M at Amelia Island 2014. With the presentation and provenance of this rare cabrio, we’d be surprised if the total sale was under $3-million.      Top 5 BMWs of all Time from RM Auctions Lot 152 | 2014 – Amelia Island – The Pray Collection 1958 BMW 507 …

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RM NYC 2015 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Sportabteilung Gullwing Seeks $7M

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One of the rarest Gullwings in the world?  One of only four race-prepped W198 300SLs, featuring the upgraded NSL engine with 240HP? A surviving competition car that placed second in the 1956 Tour de France, and driven by Sir Striling Moss? Oh yes. For the first time in more than 25 years, an authentic ‘Sports Department’  Sportabteilung seeks a new home. RM Sotheby’s will sell the special Merc at their December event in Manhattan. No internet bids, riffraff! 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Sportabteilung Gullwing RM Sotheby’s New York – Driven By Disruption 10 December 2015 Lot 223 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL …

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900HP, 250MPH 2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport World Debut

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World premiere of a screaming new hypercar: the Fenyr Supersport from W Motors! Following the incredible LYKAN in production form, the new FENYR is more compact, more wicked and even more exotic.   LYKAN Power comes in mid-engine RUF boxer form; the FENYR runs a 900-horsepower, 1100-foot-pound 4.0-liter twin turbo. Porsche basis, but remade by RUF to an extreme degree. That giant-killing motor is mounted inches above the ground in the mid-rear of the full carbon monocoque.  The FENYR drives the rear wheels alone through a new 7-speed PDK. Quoted performance figures so far are 2.7-seconds to 100-kph, plus a …

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2016 McLaren 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 by MSO 10

2016 McLaren 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 by MSO is White Gold Custom for Dubai Auto Show

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McLaren Special Operations does a fantastic job of creating a sense of exclusivity and urgency with their custom models. Unlike the deeply unimpressive special Wraiths or Astons lately, MSO models appear to justify their time, effort and extra expense — to buyers and the wider car world alike.  Even though we know a 675LT Spider is coming next year, this 650S Al Sahara 79 makes clear that it is the hottest sub-P1 model in the lineup for the time being. This may explain the huge take rate for their services — especially in the Middle East. Nearly one in four …

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Car of the Year Review – 2015 Lexus RC-F

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The RC-F was a true highlight among all the cars tested in 2015. And in the weeks since the Lexus sports flagship spent time in my garage, the deep longing and feelings for the car have not subsided. The first week was deep mourning at its absense, and the other seven stages of grief have passed over the CRD team like the eye of a hurricane. Finally, a bit of a light at the end of this tunnel: we must crown the RC-F the Car of the Year. In doing so, we honor its incredible strengths and the legacy it …

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2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe 15

2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe – V. Cool, V. FAST! HD Track Drive + 120-Photo Flyaround

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This is one of those cars that absolutely craves abuse!  Absolutely savage is the best way to describe the 464-horsepower V6TT in the new ATS-V coupe. The test car wore a very-subtle Phantom Grey and standard painted alloys — but those Q-car looks hide a beast of an upgrade. The most enticing and perhaps ideal Cadillac V-Series powertrain, optional eight-speed auto, plus the choice of four doors or two!? That hotness shines through even the Armani-style relaxed color outside. Firing the ATS-V around the first few corners is like getting past third base for the first time. It is a …

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2016 Ford Focus ST Kona Blue ST1 Flyaround in 120 Pics + HD Video

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    Really had a ball flogging the Focus ST on track the other week. GoPro video came back as a photo-set by accident, so left with *just* these gorgeous 120 photos of the new slugger. Kona Blue is the color, with minimal options and an as-tested price very close to the $25k base. Versus the $36k of the RS, the ST really earned its keep out there in the twisties. Strong brakes, awesome front diff grip that felt totally understeer-proof, plus a snorty throttle intake and shouty new exhaust. The stick is as feelsome and snicky as ever — …

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2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO N-Attack Package

Nissan GT-R NISMO N Attack Package – Upgrade Details and Pricing

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Not sure how this even-hotter-than-ever NISMO GT-R slid by us when it was announced in August of this year, but we are all over it now! The new N Attack Package is a major overhaul of the factory NISMO GT-R — letting any OEM driver have the exact specification that delivered a Nurburgring production track record earlier in the year. In Japan, the assembly of the N Attack pack is handled in-house by NISMO, but in the USA (and worldwide) the distributor and official installation partner is long-time Nissan guru STILLEN. This upgrade is massively involved. We have the full …

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Design Analysis – 2015 Renault COUPE CORBUSIER Is All-New Flagship Concept

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Shades of brutalism, yet light on the inside and accented with with fantasy curves. The description of the iconic Villa Savoye country house in France neatly applies to almost all Le Corbusier’s creations. The architect is a legend in modernism, a movement that prioritized livable interiors, created with advanced industrial construction methods leaning heavily on steel and concrete. The idea of Villa Savoye being a legendary cabin in France just epitomizes the era of its design. Cold-war emotions were running hot, while WWII and its mass destruction of France inspired a clean break in the national mood.   Villa Savoye, …

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2015 RenaultSport RS01 Blasts Around Jerez Circuit in New Video and Photoset

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Fresh videos and photos of the Renault RS01 racecars blasting around Circuit Jerez this week in Spain! And crucially, a look under the hood of this mid-engine stunner — confirming the well-known rumors that the 3.8-liter engine under that back canopy has GT-R origins. [Actually, Renault confirmed this right from the start: see tech specs included below video.] What a prospect. Imagine not just a true mid-engine racing GT-R, but actually a pure speed-demon with bespoke CF chassis and bodywork, racing suspension and all that power to just the back wheels! Just the thought of such a machine is enough …

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Subaru Tokyo 2015 – All-New VIZIV Future Concept and Impreza 5-Door Concept

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Subaru has a new flagship design concept for the Tokyo Auto Show in early November. And despite its familiar VIZIV name, this masculine and high-tech design theme is very fresh. This third VIZIV Concept Future is an interesting preview of a future LWB Outback with seven seats. The powertrain and seating layout are much more Forester size for this sporty concept car, but the intention is a three-row variant of the large Outback platform, versus the smaller Impreza/Forester footprint.  Or perhaps just a super-lux future Forester. The cabin is shockingly advanced, as is the powertrain. A next-generation hybrid is paired …

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2016 BMW X1 Alpine White 3

2016 BMW X1 xDrive28i Arrives in November with Pricing from $35k – Colors + Real-Life Photos

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The new X1 is in the wild, but you might not know it from first glance. It is a majorly convincing upgrade from the fairly low-slung and diminutive model. Sure, we loved the way the BMW X1 M Sport handled a track day. But it was quite low-slung and a bit too wagonlike, apparently, for mass consumption. The cab-backward look continues for 2016 in this second-gen model, but the entire visage grows up, out and across. The new X1 will still carve canyon tarmac, but now looks much more comfortable in rusty trails. The new model is basically a super-chunky …

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Animated Builder – 2016 BMW M6 Convertible – San Merino Blue w/ Forged Black M Double Spokes

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The new 2016 BMW M6 face is pretty hot in the flesh, even with its sleek new switchback LEDs off. This new color is San Merino Blue and the wheels are optional Forged Black 20-inch M beauties. Continue this exact build from its $120k price via the below link. http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/BYO/SharedBuild.aspx?CMId=cwldx4pn   2016 BMW M6 Convertible

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1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato May Fetch $20M at RM NY 2015 Auction

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1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato RM Sotheby’s NEW YORK, NEW YORK | An exclusive exhibition and sale located on Sotheby’s 10th floor gallery 10 December 2015 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato Chassis no. DB4GT/0186/R Engine no. 370/0186/GT Photo Credit: Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s In the early 1960s, Aston Martin and Ferrari were in a heated battle for supremacy in the World Sports Car Championship. It seemed as if every season brought about a new, race-ready vehicle to ensure each company’s victory, and the teams were consistently fighting each other for first place. Competition was just …

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Nissan NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo Debuts New Nose, Color and Wheels

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The NC2020 will star at Nissan’s packed exhibit for the Tokyo Auto Show starting in late October — with a few all-new details to captivate showgoers. An all-new satin red finish is the clearest change from the original Goodwood concept in its smokey silver. This shade is called Fire Knight and is a deeper and more sinister shade than the Nissan LMP1 in its GT-R race red. Other tweaks versus the first outing for the NC2020? Dark wheels with a sharper blade look to its five spokes, plus a cleaned-up nose with more sculptural and prominent V-motion grille bar. This …

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BMW Stunt G310 Is Hyper-Agile Bike Concept for Sao Paolo

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BMW Motorrad has been balls-out this year with concepts in bike segments where the brand does not currently compete. This is a broad look into the future of the BMW two-wheeled range — with the engineers, designers and customers all taking the journey together. Where will the spinning top land, and which among the 2015 BMW bike concepts might make production? So far this year, we’ve seen a cruiser in the Concept 101.   Plus a dirt/sand/street Scrambler in the Path 22. And now an ultra-playful trick bike in the form of the Stunt G 310. We’d honestly vote for all …

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4.0s ZENDER Alfa Romeo 4C is Hardcore Style and Speed Upgrade

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Holy Dino, Batman! Zender just released details on its Alfa Romeo 4C upgrades — and they are ridiculously sexy and desirable. But first: have you seen a 4C up close yet? The 4C Coupe and Spider are ridiculously hot and exotic in the flesh. With the new LEDs and headlamps up front, the design is even more fantastic than this 2015 4C Coupe from Italy. The 4C is so intense and a true Ferrari cousin in the flesh because of its mid-engine proportions, obscenely low rood and comical overall width. The 4C feels dramatically lower, shorter but MUCH wider than …

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Concept Flashback – 1969 Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina

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This photoshoot recalls Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous to me, but the car under her is not half bad either.  The Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina explored a doorless wedge design with forward-hinged full glass canopy. Shrouded and integrated lamps in front were also fairly revolutionary for the time — and a cue that would be adopted by supercars by the mid-1970s.     1969 Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina

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2.9s, 203MPH 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider – Frankfurt Gallery + Engine Audio MP3s

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Gorgeous reveals by the dozen in Frankfurt this week, with only Aston and McLaren declining to launch something new and fairly important. Superlux EVs might be the defining show theme, but supercar rivalries are a close second. Lamborghini’s new Huracan Spyder, the McLaren 650S Spider and this brand-new 488 Spider are all viciously competitve with one another. Performance is roughly the same for all three as well: 3.0-second launches to 60-mph and top speeds just above 200-mph. Pricing is also in the same glitzy neighborhood: not much change from $300k for each. So if performance, pricing and capability in normal …

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600HP 2016 BMW M6 Competition Coupe Salutes Hardcore GT3 Racecar + Coming to USA!

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Almost all the curb appeal, but a fifth of the price? Yep, the new M6 Competition Edition is a faithful recreation of the all-new GT3 racer. No word on US availability of this machine, but pricing around $110k will be a snip versus the half-mil for the privateer racecar. Actually, the embossed cabin emblems prove that the M6 Comp Coupe will be coming to America. 2016 BMW M6 Competition Edition   BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition. The new BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition to be presented by BMW M GmbH at the 66th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) from 17 – 27 September 2015 raises …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick ENCORE – Drives Like an Audi, Priced Like a Kia?

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Compact crossovers could not be hotter right now. They avoid the depressing drive experience of small sedans, no matter how tight they might be inside. The flipside is that carmakers can be tempted to overprice the mini-SUVs — with options taking the ultra small machines deep into real SUV territory.  This is certainly the case with the $48k BMW X1 sDrive28i we tested last year. Or how about the $67k AMG GLA45? Clearly the temptation of luxury features, equipment and options is powerful for both the brands and to buyers, though. The compact SUV is therefore quite perplexing at times: …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan JUKE Nismo RS Manual

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Imagine a core group of Nissan GT-R engineers, drivers and designers set loose on the Nissan Juke NISMO. Task? Take the quickest and most performance-focused crossover, and make it truly track-tight in every way. That is how the Juke Nismo RS came into this world — with astounding results. The speed, style and drive experience of the Nismo RS is absolutely incredible versus its $28k competitors — and even versus pricier cars like the AMG GLA45, WRX or Mustang EcoBoost. The Juke Nismo RS is incredibly focused from first sitting in its racing Recaro hard-back bucket seats. A pair of …

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2016 McLaren 570S Production Begins – $184k Base Price + 24 New Pics

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  Updated 8.12.15 The McLaren 570S configurator is up – with nearly 75 option choices, numerous wheels and a dozen interior pre-selections to help you part with $180,000 the fast way! Super-fast, in fact. The configurator’s last step actually reveals a bit of unknown info: the giant MSO carbon-fiber pieces that go way above and beyond the standard 20 exterior CF choices. These three choices are a full carbon-fiber nose, full CF rear and exposed weave for the roof panel as well. These autoclaved CF upgrades are such gigantic pieces of the material, they are bound to reduce mass versus the …

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2015 Dodge CHARGER RT 45

4K Road Test Review – 2015 Dodge CHARGER R/T Is Four-Door Musclecar Dream From $34k

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The 2015 Dodge Charger is a real favorite. So much so… that it might have ruined me for other cars. Since balling around Charleston this summer in the Redline Red HEMI R/T, it has been hard to get back into my normal groove of turbo stickshifts. Why? 370HP for 37k. That is a power and price combo that can’t be beat from any manufacturer, nor are others close to the excellence of the eight-speed ZF auto. Or the cabin comfort, room and tech. Or the style outside — which is eye-poppingly cool. Driving the Charger R/T redefines effortless speed, and …

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RENAULT SPORT R

2015 RenaultSport R.S. 01 Racecar Headlines World Series Renault at Silverstone Next Month

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Renaultsport is revving up its fanbase this month ahead of the World Series of Renault race weekend extravaganza at Silverstone in early September. F1 cars, Clio Cup cars and 115 years of Renaultsport racing legends will be proudly attending this petrolhead woodstock. The UK debut of the RS01 racecar is perhaps the most exciting new detail for this fun event: the global racing series is part branding, part driver development and part technical R&D. The RS01 features in 30 or so new photos ahead of the big race — shown below along with details on the $12 tickets to join …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe in 40 New Photos – Previews GLE400 Twin Turbo

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Updated 8.6.15 The GLE-Class and GLE-Class Coupe are the freshest entries to the Mercedes SUV lineup this Fall. They are both set to duke it out with the BMW X6, RRS, plus the upcoming Maserati Levante and Jaguar F-PACE Suvs. The racier profile on the GLE Coupe is exceptionally fresh. The low and sporty look is one advantage, but there are other big ones too. Namely, the GLE-Class proper has the same glasshouse and profile look as the outgoing ML-Class.  Same goes for the tail of the non-coupe GLE. The GLE Coupe has exceptionally fresh design in the entire rear …

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2.9s, 203MPH 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider To Be Fastest Open Ferrari of All Time

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Ferrari just dropped some big news! The new 488 Spider is official ahead of its reveal at Frankfurt in September. This upgrade over the 458 Spyder is largely defined by its all-new twin-turbo V8, but also features all new styling front, side and rear. The new double-plane intakes on the side are quite ferocious, while the tail and its red LED rings are bang up to date as well. Performance will be scorching, per usual, but with even more savage midrange grunt than ever before. This added pace at all speeds is a key compensatory move by Ferrari — letting …

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ARES Modena Renders 4-Pack of 2019 Megabuck SUVS: RR Ghost II, Mulsanne and Spur SUV + G63 Vision

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ARES Modena just opened a flagship showroom in London to showcase their fabulous custom supercar upgrades. Nearly a dozen vehicles are in the current atelier customs catalog — fully revamped inside and out. A deeper look at the firm uncovers some serious design talent that goes above and beyond the typical wheels and bodykits of many premium tuners. Flawless and intriguing Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-AMG SUV concepts show the depth of skill in the ARES toolbox. They are some of the best looks into the future of these sure-thing SUVs based on the Ghost II and Bentley Flying Spur. The …

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2016 Scion iA Review – Best Compact Sedan… Ever? 55 Pics + HD Drive Video

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Quick: what are the biggest issues with compact cars? — They are typically a total snooze outside — And alarmingly depressing to drive Is that just an unbreakable curse, or can Scion engineer and design its way to greatness on its first attempt? INTRO Scion has a double threat of new compacts for 2016: the all-new iA sedan and iM hatchback take over for the discontinued iQ, xD and xB. After years of wild niche models, Scion is refocusing its mission to speak to 2015 buyer wants and needs via far more traditional body styles. The iM is a tC-based …

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2015 Polaris SlingShot SL 41

2015 Polaris Slingshot SL LE – Open-Air Speedster Thrills From $25k!

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There are many compelling ways to get around a racetrack quicker than a factory supercar. As the VUHL 05, Lotus 3-Eleven and Caterham Seven chase this race-helmet owner group, Americans have a very compelling alternative to consider. And this one is road-legal and costs just a slice of the price. Running on three wheels makes the Slingshot a motorcycle — but that is only the start of the intrigue. From the design outside, people will be shocked by the sci-fi beauty and exposed chassis first. Only on third or fourth glance will they not see a stunning, Lambo-meets-Batman mashup. Polaris …

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Prior Design G-Class Aero Kit 14

Prior Design G-Class Aero Kit Now Offered as a Widebody

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 Sometimes it seems like there are more customization programs for the G-wagen than there are actual G63’s in the world. Why is this such a popular model for posh custom overhauls outside and in? Our theory is that the type of owner is naturally a wild extrovert already – so giant wheels, bumpers, hood, fenders and LEDs all fit the personalit type nicely. They are also generally super wealthy, too, which always helps sell merch. Secondly, the G-Class is a fantastic starting point for customizers. Its block-chic design and frozen bodywork make it the perfect candidate for sporty bumpers, extra-wide …

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Ferrari California T N Largo by NOVITEC ROSSO 15

NOVITEC ROSSO N Largo Is Man-Eating California T Widebody

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The only sweeter words than Novitec Rosso for a custom Ferrari? N Largo! A designation that turns any production supercar into a muscle-bound autobahn monster, N Largo designation is now bestowed on the 2015 Ferrari California T. Dramatic new designs for the nose and widebody wings all around create a vehicle with all the visual intensity you could dream of for the droptop Ferrari supercar. Just compare the N Largo with Novitec Rosso’s other Cali T to see how cool the widebody is. Performance upgrades take the sprint pace of the Novitec Cali T down to just 3.3-seconds, with the …

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Hypercar Heroes – 2013 Lamborghini VENENO Coupe in 44 Photos

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We just had some fairly disparaging things to day about the Veneno’s design appeal in a previous article.  The words ‘unnecessarily aggressive’ seemed fitting in the moment. But what will come of this 2013 Geneva showcar, of which a handful of production variants were made? Will it go down in history as one of the all-time most exotic hypercars of all time? In person and behind the wheel — the answer is YES! Nothing packs the cut-throat visceral beauty of the Veneno coupe, in truth, even two years later in 2015. The LaFerrari FXX K is stunning, while the P1 …

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Update1 – 3.9s, 510HP 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio Sounds Sublime On Track!

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Update1 – Rendered Color TestWOW! First look at the new Alfa Giulia today leaves us floored! On-Stage Debut Romeo & Juliet appear to be in fine form these days — running sideways around 90-mph corners at the fantasy Verona racetrack! The numbers and initial details for this production-spec GIULIA (proniunced ‘Julia’) Qaudrifoglio are mouth-watering. 510 horsepower via a twin-turbocharged V6. Rear or AWD. Torque vectoring and active aero. Style to make you weak in the knees from up front. Fresh LED designs and a wide V have a sporty feel that vaguely recalls the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, but …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R – European Launch Gallery in 104 Gorgeous Photos

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  Are you sitting down? Get ready to be absolutely floored with adrenaline via the all-new 2015 Honda Civic Type R’s intense design and visual fury at speed. On sale now in European markets, this is not a total ****tease for US and global Honda fans. The turbocharged engine under the hood of this Euro-exclusive Civic Type R is just the first salvo for Honda’s resurgent performance. Honda of America is visibly excited about turbo power energizing its upcoming range. Davis Adams of Honda PR is freshly home from the Slovakia track launch of the 2015 Euro Type R, and …

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2015 Chrysler 200C V6 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Is Quickest Mid-Size Sedan!

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INTRO – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Review This is likely not the first Chrysler 200 review you have read. And in fact, it is not the first we have written. But keep reading, because this 200C is a completely transformed machine with the optional 3.6-liter V6. The top trim level with the top engine, the 200C we tested lacked only the dual-pane moonroof and AWD from the options list. Besides those two elements, this 200C is a match for the Maserati Ghibli feature-for-feature. The Maserati comparison rings true many more times during a week of driving and a road trip …

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2017 Ford GT Blue New 6

2017 Ford GT – Latest 200 Photos + Digital Colors Visualizer

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Updated 6.12.15 Instead of the hundreds of custom shades and multiple angles, we only have a handful of digitally-rendered color options for the exciting Ford GT supercar. Why? It has been a long week of many frantic Detroit reveals, and Photoshop prefers to crash right when you are in the middle of something great. =] We are still trying to perfect a color—> black or color —> white transformation, but it is not easy to accomplish with respectable results. But was it a total loss? Not at all! Many of the new colors are very bold and shimmery; slinky and …

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2015 W Motors Lykan Hypersport – Animated Turntables Gallery

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  Longtime readers know we adore the W Motors Lykan HyperSport. We created some super-cool and exclusive animated turntables of the four official rendered colors — and are still patting ourselves on the back for their mezmerizing beauty! But after hundreds of rounds of image optimizations and uploads, many of these prized GIFs became de-animated. Static panda! Some great news, sad pandas: just re-uploaded the color spinners in all their moving glory. I think the timing varies among these, but we’ll see together momentarily. And if you think the 3MB-per-file is a big large, just know that these are drastically …

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Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack In 30 New Photos

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 Updated 6.11.15 With 30 New Photos This Alltrack Golf SportWagen makes so much sense, it is hard to believe it took this long tomake real. Subaru is still riding the giant wave of Outback sales that started with its lifted, AWD wagons in 1995. The Alltrack is set to arrive in the US in 2016, and VW seems eager to follow up on the demand for its Golf SportWagen TDI and TSI. If you wish hard enough, we might even see the bad-ass older brother of the VW wagon family: the Golf R SportWagen. Or at least a GTI Variant! …

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TVR Inks New Sportscar Deal with Gordon Murray and Cosworth – 2018 Launch Possible!

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If there are two better names than Gordon Murray and Cosworth to attach to the TVR rebirth, we cannot imagine them. All are icons of English performance — and together promise great things. A new sportscar announcement today includes no new sketches or even outlines of the upcoming new TVR, but it does signal work behind the scenes. The car will be designed and produced using iStream from GMD and engine mechanicals via Cosworth. iStream is intended to be a highly robotized assembly system using the latest in 3D printing and materials to give low-weight and high-strength components. The iStream …

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VAETH V50RS MB E-Class 5

VAETH V50RS Makes MB E-Class V8 into Hidden Hammer

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  There are plenty of tuners willing to go completely bonkers on any Mercedes model. Brabus comes to mind with its ultra-fast model range that wears its aggression for all to see. There are more subtle ways to up the performance of an E-Class, however. VAETH tuning of Germany has a new kit called the V50RS based on the E500/E550 that is intensely focused under the metal. Power jumps from 408PS to 550PS via new ECU programming, a new intercooler and fresh exhaust system (behind the back axle.) A big brake kit, giant wheels and a new AirMatic module drop …

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World Endurance Championship

LeMans 2015 – Toyota TS040 Hybrid Gets New Nose, More Power and New Suspension Setup

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  What the TS040 lacks in outright drama, it clearly makes up for with outstanding engineering and bulletproof reliability. Le Mans 2014 was one of the three World Endurance Championship races that the TS040 Hybrid did not win — but the team cleaned up by going 5 in 8 overall during the 2014 season. This dominance was enough to score Toyota the World Championship titles for the car as well as its drivers — which is certainly an impressive feat. The newly-renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing team wants to keep the winning glory in this 2015 season with the ultimate crowning …

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Refreshed 2015 BMW 6 Series – USA Pricing for All 16 Models + 150 New Photos

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The new BMW 6 series is official! The full range is now priced and build-able for USA shoppers — who can choose among 13 unique models of coupes, cabrios and Gran Coupes. Up that total to 16 if you include the M6 in each bodystyle. Overall, the M Sport package is the must-have choice, but there is a Black Pack for the regular trimlines this year. This flips the chrome C-shapes in the bumpers and on other trims to gloss black, as shown in the below UK image of red cabrio nose. As before, the four-doors are the sweet spot …

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2016 Honda HR-V - Modern Steel Metallic 12_001-horz

$20k 2016 Honda HR-V Arriving Now! Trims, Pricing + All Colors in Animated Turntables

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Welcome to the ultimate Honda HR-V colors guide! 300-plus images, eight turntable animations and even the full pricing and trims list. The first HR-V’s are rolling into dealerships this week, but will be snapped up almost instantly by other eager shoppers. Why? Great style and design, posh cabin with cool new tech, plus pricing from a base of just $19,000 for the LX model. The EX-L Navi with AWD and an automatic transmission tops out the model range around $27,000. Our pick? The most-loaded manual transmission model in EX FWD form. With the cool available machined alloys and the Sport …

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HAMANN Presents Dueling Good/Evil 2015 BMW M4 Art Cars

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  Good and evil?! That is a stretch — they are both beyond good. The first HAMANN Art Car 2015 M4 is the white-base example, with the second a dark base. Timo Wuerz handled the design of the dark car, with its brush-strokes all swept back by the wind of a racetrack. An explosion of reds and yellow flame tones emerge from the BMW roundel up front, contrasted with the dark blues and black swipes of the clean edges. They are both quite striking, to say the least. The white car employs a friendlier color palatte with or ribbon-like flowing …

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StickerCity 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car 5-horz

Tuner Showcase – StickerCity Creates 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car

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Auto wraps have officially gone high-brow! No longer is a simple color change enough to entertain hypercar owners. Full custom multi-layer wraps are the new vogue. StickerCity of California did this one-off McLaren P1 for a special client — with the results a mesmerizing swirl of color, plus silver and gold flashes of reflectivity. It is very seducitve and original, as we’re sure you will agree. All in a days work at this hot Cali custom shop. This design was a custom creation from one of their in-house designers. But it is not just the look; skilled application is needed …

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2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 13

2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 Is Lux Cruiser

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BMW Motorrad’s sales are on an absolute tear in the US and worldwide in recent years. Where to take the brand that dominates the desirability of the entire two-wheeled world? Upward and onward! The highest-margin area of the motorcycle market is for large cruisers. This new Concept 101 takes the BMW riding-pleasure mantra into this huge new area. A bike that surely makes many German minimalists cringe, the Concept 101 is a firm statement of intent. The machine debuted this weekend at the BMW-sponsored Villa d’Este Concours. It is a long-range cruiser with hardshell luggage cases, a relaxed riding position …

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New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera 8

New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera

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Updated 5.23.15 The Berlinetta Lusso made its concours debut this weekend at Villa d’Este sporting a new grille design integrating twin round LED foglamps. These are a triple LED setup, and look stunning lit with the headlamp’s white DRL accent. Touring Superleggera has pulled back the silk on its latest masterpiece: the Berlinetta Lusso. The Lusso is a full redesign of the Ferrari F12’s exterior, adding a level of timeless sophistication to go with the mechanical brutality of the F12 on full throttle. You may have noted that the latest Ferrari range lacks a super-lux flagship: the place of the …

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2015 ZAGATO Mostro Is Custom Carbon Supercar Aimed at GT3 Drivers

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  A very exciting reveal this weekend in Lake Cuomo! Zagato has graced the Villa d’Este COncours with their latest creation: the Mostro powered by Maserati. Honoring ten decades of Maserati Zagato specials and the 1957 ‘Monster’ in particular, this exotic supercar design is being produced and sold to five pre-selected customers. The car is built on a carbon tub with a front-mounted Maserati V8 engine, believed to be the 4.7-liter, dry-sumped screamer from the GranTurismo lineup. Power is sent to the back wheels via a rear-mounted six-speed transaxle. Double wishbones and 19-inch wheels round out the simplistic and race-car-like …

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2016 Chevy Camaro Unveiled At Employee Event

455HP, 4.2s 2016 Chevrolet CAMARO – Official Debut in 150 Images + Tech Specs

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This is it! The 2016 Camaro Six is official today with a huge debut in Belle Island, Detroit. Headline numbers are a curb weight drop by more than 200 pounds, plus a top-level (for now) engine making 455-horsepower via 6.2-liters. A new turbo engine joins the Camaro RS and SS models, with outputs of the four estimated at 275-horsepower, up to 335-hp for the 3.6-liter V6 of the RS.   Other major things to know right off the bat are: — all-new exterior design with a far more scultped and creased bodywork, giving the classic Camaro shape a highly interesting …

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2016 Koenigsegg REGERA – 175 New Images + Every Angle in Animated Flyaround

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REGERA 3D Model – Animated Flyaround The Koenigsegg Regera was one of the most buzzworthy Geneva 2015 launches. The global debut earned reams of headlines around the world — with collective amazement at the new design and ultra-potent new e-boost powertrain. Definitely worth revisiting the car for a closer look ahead of its expected first deliveries in early 2016. But first: some great news on how to actually get your hands on one! New USA Showroom Koenigsegg just signed its second US dealership agreement with Lake Forest Motorcars in the glitziest Chicago suburb. Think Westchester County, but on a gorgeous …

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo – Sounds Freaky as Electric Boost Spools Up to Ultra-High RPM

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Sound Updated 5.13.15 With 20 New Photos and 2 Videos Despite the outrageous and super-cool exterior and interior overhaul of this TT Clubsport concept, it is really all about the engine. This is some revolutionary innovation that, if proven successful, could revolutionize forced induction. What is going on under that hood? As detailed below, a 48-volt electrical system spins up an e-compressor on this five-cylinder beast to help the main turbo deliver 600-hp overall. What does it sound like on e-boost? That is the million-dollar question. In theory, the e-boost can be preemptive and avoid …

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NOVITEC ROSSO Launches 3.3s, 201MPH Ferrari California Turbo Upgrades Catalog

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The Ferrari California T just took a huge leap up the performance spectrum — with custom-developed engine, exhaust, suspension, interior and aero mods just launched by Novitec Rosso. The biggest draw for many will be the plug-and-play ECU modules to release an extra 86 horsepower and a meatier, lower torque peak for the brand-new 3.8-liter V8TT engine up front. Performance goes from great to gigantic — with the Novitec Cali T able to hit 62-mph in just 3.3-seconds before hitting a much-higher top speed of 201-mph. The N-TRONIC modules are nice because they can be shipped anywhere in days and …

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1969 Alfa Romeo T33 Sports Racer 28

Racing Icons Series – 1969 Alfa Romeo T33 Sports Racer

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Part Four of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Proof that beauty and open-air thrills are critical elements of a million-dollar sale? Yes indeed! Even with pure-bred racecars like this Sports Racer Tipo 33 from Alfa Romeo, the most important details are often obvious to classic-car shoppers and spectators alike. Even though this Sports Racer was not one of the quickest T33 Alfa’s on the world’s racetracks, it is clearly the most desirable today versus its younger siblings — and arguably more visually sublime than its fabulous hard-top older brothers. The reason for this is clear: there is still …

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1970 Alfa Romeo TT3 Spider 9

Racing Icons Series – 1970 Alfa Romeo TT3 Spider Was Lightweight Short-Tail Special

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Part Three of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series   1970 saw the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 Spider evolve into a much shorter and much more brutal track attacker. Switchable noses include the lamp-free style shown here. A fairly brutal and chopped style appears at the front and rear of this Alfa racecar, with less of the glamourous design of the Sports Racer 33 that came before it. The changes worked on the racing circuit – with this Spider earning numerous race wins and ranking between Porsche and Ferrari in the top three points for the Le Mans season. …

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Racing Icons Series – 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 Wears Stunning Batmobile Tailfins

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Part Two of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series   Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s. This open-topped TT3 from 1972 shows a really battle-hardened racing hero. Still wearing its striking Autodelta racing livery and …

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1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12 17

Racing Icons Series – 1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Made 500HP at 11k RPM!

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  Part One of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s, adapting to new racing rules and new tech innovations to make one of the quickest Alfa Romeo racecars of …

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600HP, 3.6s 2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept Runs 48V E-Compressor

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Here is a fantastic new concept from Audi ahead of the annual Wörthersee Festival! A racing widebody and extreme aero kit are needed thanks to the five-cylinder engine’s massive dual-compressor technology. A standard exhaust-gas turbocharger is joined by an all-new electric turbocharger– promising a huge rush of instant-on torque at any throttle shove. This latest turbo tech innovation is tough to introduce. BMW has also been researching electrically-spun turbo’s, but this Audi is the first to take it near production feasibility. Think of the tech like a super-Dyson blower inside the intake tract of the car. Typically, the limit has …

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Chevrolet Impala Midnight Edition – $1k Blackout Upgrade Arriving Summer 2015

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  One for the full-size sedan fans out there!  Chevy just announced that the Impala Midnight Edition is coming to showrooms this summer virtually identical to the SEMA 2014 show car. The upgrade is a full gloss black dip for many design details, the grille and surround, tail and rear spoiler. The 19-inch wheels are polished on the edges but gloss black on the insides – best of all worlds.  Even the bow-ties front and rear go dark. Unusually, the black-out style option is not set to be offered on other colors. We think this setup would look just as …

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2016 Ferrari 488GTB – All Colors + Animated Visualizer in 300 Images!

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The new Ferrari 488 GTB configurator is live and stunning! Fantastic new design details in the 458 –> 488 update are visible in these 3D animated visuals. Two dozen colors, six wheel styles, brakes and carbon upgrades galore. The builder is actually a new setup as well, with streamlined options that let you fly through the process or customize every element, based on your preferences. (Some previous Ferrari builders have been a ‘next’ ‘next’ type of affair in your browser, while this one lets you scroll down to new menu elements.) Favorite design elements of the new mid-engine hotness? 1. …

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INFINITI Vision GT Makes Real-Life Debut – Headed to Pebble Beach 2015?

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Here is some great news from Infiniti! The brand’s Gran Turismo Vision GT car just debuted in Shanghai — at an art museum, naturally. But first: Everyone knows most concept cars never get “made.” They will not reach production, sure. But with these VGT cars — some of them literally never materialize. They are 100-percent digital fantasies. Sure, the design studio might have a clay styling buck – but rarely a concept roller ready for the global show circuit. Since revealing this stunning flagship GT study in December, Infiniti has indeed completed a real-world concept car. Although shown in China …

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