Design Analysis

???????????????????????????????

SuperSedan Debrief – 1993 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

by

The Lotus Carlton was not just a hero because of its massive turbocharged engine and rear-drive handling balance. Not just an icon because of its Lotus-honed grip and track prowess. Not just a stylish executive saloon that suddenly competied with Audi and BMW thanks to its sweet wide fenders and aerokit. Not just a British national champion because it was created by Vauxhall and Lotus, and built there too. Little Opel input was needed for asked-for, nor help from General Motors across the Atlantic. Nor simply an extremely-rapid autobahn missile with a Vmax of more than 180-mph. The real reason …

Keep reading

Houston Tuner Showcase - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft

Houston Tuner Showcase – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design Bodykit

by

Prior Design, Featuring Modesta Advanced Liquid Glass Coatings? What is this, a rap battle downloaded from your dorm-neighbor via 2001’s Napster?! No, no it is not. These Modesta coatings are the highlight here. The Prior Design bodykits are just stage dressing. Despite the oddly OOF photos, the glass coatings in the paint are truly seductive and special. They make any paintwork feel three-feet-deep. 2015 Mercedes S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design

Hypercar Heroes! 2015 Pagani Huayra Up Close and Personal 10

Hypercar Heroes! 2015 Pagani Huayra Up Close and Personal

by

  In the hypercar class of 2015, the Pagani Huayra is one for true drivers. Brutal power plus exquisite beauty. The Huayra is so rare that Ferrari and McLaren will have made 10X the number of LaFerrari’s and P1’s by the end of 2015. Among the five total dealerships in the United States, we’re thrilled that Pagani of Dallas brought two cars to the recent Houston Auto Show. One customer car shown in blue and yellow for the show itself, and the bare-carbon demo car for display outside one of Houston’s glitziest hotels. The Huayra is easy to fall in …

Keep reading

2015 BMW M4 Fire Orange 2

2015 BMW M4 Colors and Wheels Guide – Animated Turntables + Individual Fire Orange

by

We were really excited to find this Fire Orange M4 in Houston. We thought it meant that BMW was expanding the very lackluster color range available. But that is not really the case. This Fire Orange is a $5,000 option via BMW Individual. The most fantastic shade on the standard palette is Sakhir Orange, which is a semi-matte finish that is dark and yummy, and very distinctive.   2015 BMW M4 Sakhir Orange Besides those, we’d vote only for Black Sapphire or non-Metallic Alpine White. Bonus for Alpine white? It saves you $2,000. The manual transmission is a good decision, …

Keep reading

??????????????????

2016 Nissan Maxima #WithDad Commercial – Creative Strategy Analysis

by

  This 90-second Nissan ad is a huge, huge overall branding push – with a (negotiated) price of about $10-million just for the media, it needs to connect a lot of dots and hit the right notes to earn its worth. It is admittedly pretty touching, and themes such as bonding with a distant father are highly universal. The scenes are also uniquely Nissan. You could not switch out the brand or product easily, which is a sign of good creative. The same cannot be said for Kia Motors Pierce Brosnan ad, or even the touching Jeep Renegade spot. When …

Keep reading

Houston Auto Show Curio - Porsche 356 Art Car Is Janis Joplin Homage 8

Houston Auto Show Curio – Porsche 356 Art Car Is Janis Joplin Homage

by

Janis Joplin’s very famous Porsche 356C lives today in the North Carolina Art Museum, where it sits in a rock & roll showcase with its top up and musky, phsychodelic cabin sealed from onlookers. THe rag-top Porsche was a big part of Janet’s rise to stardom, and one of her first gifts to herself when she started making money in the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s. This is where the real birth of the hippie movement happened, starting as early as 1955 and only going national a dozen years later. Janet was a riddle herself: poor and loving …

Keep reading

Houston Auto Show Customs - Top 10 LIFTED TRUCKS 21

Houston Auto Show Customs – Top 10 LIFTED TRUCKS!

by

If there is one memory of the Houston Auto Show that really sticks with you, it is the dominance of lifted trucks. Tuners, custom shops and even new-car dealerships all are deeply into the custom truck business. We have little idea who the tuning companies are who created all these beasts, so we’ll just label them by the base machine they started as from the factories when tuner branding is not available. 1. RAM 2500 Bolt Locks If the challenge is to be tallest, this Ram definitely won. Seeing its handler come down from the cabin was shocking. He literally …

Keep reading

2015-Lexus-LF-LC-GT-Vision-Gran-Turismo-18ADSA

2015 Lexus LF-LC GT Vision Gran Turismo Is Race-Ready With Fantasy Gound-Effect Aero

by

  There are obviously a few routes a brand cane take with their Vision Gran Turismo prototype racers, and this makes sense. When you play GT6 (or any GT) the cars are classified by power to weight ratio, drivetrain layouts, and myriad other classifications. So it is not as if all these VGT cars just end up on a track together. With that in mind, the new Lexus LF-LC GT falls into a much more practical category that hyper-futuristic ideas like the Chevrolet Chaparral or the most recent Renault Alpine. This LF-LC GT is a down-to-earth look that is very, …

Keep reading

1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II by Sam Foose 2 - Copy

Mecum Florida 2015 – 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II by Sam Foose

by

Our photos of this stunning custom Lincoln Continental Mark II are not terrific. Inside the warehouse, packed tightly among other cars and people…. is just a tough way to shoot an amazing vehicle like this. We’re eager to share the car anyway, however, because it is just so damn cool. Dubbed ‘Pro Heavy’ in custom classic circles, the machine has appeared in numerous magazines and car shows since its creation in the early 1990s. The look of this Sam Foose creation is almost the ideal streamlined aesthetic that Lincoln might have wanted for the production car. Sans its original chrome …

Keep reading

Houston-Auto-Show---2015-Dodge-Charger-13sd

Houston Auto Show – 2015 Dodge Charger R/T vs Charger SXT

by

The 2015 Dodge Charger is really growing on me. After scoffing at its pretty basic exterior facelift when revealed last spring, we now really admire its slinky LED signature up front and unmistakeable ‘racetrack’ of LEDs in back. The real achievement in design of the new Charger is that all trim levels look good. As anyone knows, a BMW M3 is going to look nearly 10X as cool as a base 320i. The base-effect applies for nearly all cars and SUV types. The coolest models, of course, are at the top of the price chart. At times, you would not …

Keep reading

??????????????????????????????????????????????

Hall of Fame – 2012 Nissan JUKE-R – Branded Marketing Halo Worth Weight in Gold

by

The 2012 Nissan Juke-R broke all the rules of concept cars, branding and supercar manufacturing. ‘Broke the rules’ is an absolute marketing cliche in this day and age, with every brand and their mom trying to play the rebel and bad-boy, all in search of that most elusive of demographics: the male 13-34. The reason this freakish creation with a Juke body atop a shortened Nissan GT-R platform was ostensibly just to showcase the GT-R’s amazing skills, perhaps living under the skin of normal and affordable Nissan models. In the JUKE-R’s case, the resemblence was far more that a branding …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai Equus 3

2015 Hyundai Equus on Hyperdrive Evolution in Chase for S-Class Clients

by

Any student of Darwin, or perhaps Pavlov, will know that the secret to exceptionally rapid evolution is simple: short generation gaps. As the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has evolved since 1910, Hyundai had serious ground to make up with the Equus in 2009 or whenever it launched in the US. This type of goverment limo has always been popular domestically in Asian markets — but bringing the Equus abroad was always going to be big news for Hyundai. This Equus for 2015 is perhaps the fourth or fifth generation of updates since the basic bones launches on the previous Genesis chassis a …

Keep reading

1966 Sunbeam Tiger V8 1

Mecum Florida 2015 – 1966 Sunbeam Tiger 4.7L V8 Signed by Carroll Shelby

by

The Sunbeam Tiger was quite a few cars in one. First off, it was the classic transplant of a tiny English roadster now powered by a big American V8. This ethos gave these lightweight and delicate sportscars huge power they were never designed to handle. The result was a playful and wild handling demeanor on the roads, and even more on the track. Secondly, it was the second project of Carroll Shelby after the Cobra. Shelby wanted to build the car in the US, but Sunbeam decided to keep assembly in Blighty. Shelby was incensed, and the Sunbeam Tiger V8 …

Keep reading

Fantasy Supercar Renderings - RUF Porsche 993 Turbo RS 14

Fantasy Supercar Renderings – RUF Porsche 993 Turbo RS

by

Yes, Porsche made a 993 Turbo S, and RUF made a Turbo R (below)… but what about something altogether wilder? Here we present a fantasy digital rendering three-pack of the Porsche 993 RUF 911 of our dreams: what we’re calling the Turbo RS. Much change went into the look of this car, but it started out with simple updates: darker wheels and perhaps a RUF graphic on the side? But after driving into the renders, we decided to lower the front spoiler and make it wider, chop the roof, extend the side sills downward to hug the wheels better, and …

Keep reading

1997 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo R Yellowbird 46

Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites – 1997 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo R Yellowbird

by

Among all the Porsche 911’s ever made, the 993 is easily the most sought-after generation. This despite the car already being on sale for three decades up to that point… And among the 993 series, the 911 Turbo is a mega-star among minor bit players. Add in a RUF-massaged engine, interior, chassis and paintwork in trademark Yellowbird with monoblock wheels and the RUF big brake kit? The end result is many people’s ideal Porsche, right here, idling calmly. This RUF 911 Turbo benefits from nearly all the modern tech and style of a current-generation Porsche, plus the legendary speed of …

Keep reading

Renault ALPINE Vision Gran Turismo 65

Renault ALPINE Vision Gran Turismo Racer on Video and 70 Photos!

by

Welcome to the future of racing, courtesy of the racing boffins at Renault ALPINE and Gran Turismo! Sony’s PlayStation GT6 just got a bit more exciting today, with a mid-mounted, 4.5-liter V8 pushing this new prototype to a Vmax of 199-mph. We have two versions of the Alpine Vision GT here, one with the dual boattail venturi tail and one with a LeMans-style rear wing. On both, there is a cool active aero air-brake functionality in the sides of the rear end. These square-shaped flaps snap open to keep the rear end planted under braking, and slow the vehicle by …

Keep reading

Houston Auto Show - 2015 BMW X5 M 17

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW X5 M Looks Mean, But Logos Nearly Invisible

by

Perhaps this is the new BMW M strategy for M trucks – small badges. Whatever the case, it is increasingly difficult to know which car is the X5 M and which is the X5 xDrive50i M Sport. Even so, the performance is the main selling point of this hot new muscle-truck. The giant footwear and unique chinstrap bumper design are the clearest signs that this is the X5 M versus an M Sport X5. That and the ridiculous pace, of course. 2015 BMW X5 M        

2015 BMW X6 xDrive50i 26

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW X6 xDrive50i – LEDetails Front and Rear in 50 New Photos

by

The first-gen BMW X6 seemed like a huge joke, if we’re honest. All the impracticality of a tiny rear seat, plus barely half the total luggage volume of the X5. But the new X6 really does make a convincing style argument for itself versus the very-practical new X5 shape. The X6 also wears the new wide-spaced LED headlamp signature only visible on the X5M. The base X5’s have an indicator in the corner of the lamps, and tighter and smaller angel eyes inside. The M Sport model shown here does a very impressive M truck impression, despite being just the …

Keep reading

2015 Scion tC Release Series 9

Updated With Real-Life Photos! 2015 Scion tC RS9 – Showcar Style In Showrooms From $24k

by

Updated 1.27.15 with 18 New Photos Scion’s Release Series cars are convincing upgrades to standard models – showing what is possible in a full stage one makeover outside and in. The FR-S RS1 and this new tC RS9 stand out as some of the best factory customs on the market – and certainly in this price range. 2000 copies of this lowered and blacked-out Scion tC will reach showrooms around February of 2015 — with cool accents like black wheels, lowering springs and even a milled central exhaust outlet. Very cool upgrades all around from Cartel Customs. 2015 Scion tC …

Keep reading

2015 MINI 4-Door Hardtop 11

Houston Auto Show – 2015 MINI 4-Door Hardtop Inside and Out in 25 New Photos

by

The new MINI does look pretty fresh in person, despite the extremely subtle workover for this full redesign. Considering that the car has an all-new, BMW-designed chassis and all-new engines — you might expect the design to be a lot fresher than it is. The three-door without these cool puppy-eyed LED rings (which are optional) is a pretty familiar sight indeed. It looks just a bit freakier and more bizarre in its details, like the oversized rear lamps that are comically huge. But the game must move on, and car companies need new models to keep the sales engine chugging. …

Keep reading

2015 BMW M4 by IKON Wraps 16

Houston Tuner Highlights – 2015 BMW M4 by IKON Wraps

by

It is not so much the color of this yummy M4 wrap, but the quality of the execution and how nicely this satin wrap brings the M4 design to life. Surprisingly, the M4’s color options are actually a serious, serious weak point of the vehicle. A total of seven shades are offered, and a few are simply grotesque. Step in, Austin Yellow Metallic! When Dodge can paint a Ram 56 shades, and a Viper 8000 colors — BMW has a major competitive weakness with the lame and hideous colors offered on the new M4 and M3. So while this Easter-egg …

Keep reading

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Black Pack 5

Houston Auto Show Debuts – 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Black Pack

by

The new Camaro Z/28 is one of the most intense and accomplished musclecars of all time. On a three-lap track blast in October, we fell hard for its deep lungs and unstoppable grip. But this Houston Camaro is something else entirely — taking all the Z/28’s incredible aero tweaks and spoilers and dipping them all in a sexy black paintwork. The only pieces of this car that are not jet-black are the slight fender extension pieces and the carbon-fiber reverse scoops in the hood. Ducktail and front splitter?! Black as night. In 50 years time, this Camaro Z/28 will be …

Keep reading

Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX 17

Best of Houston Auto Show – Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX

by

Let’s say you love the hottest and wildest customs from Germany, like the outrageous GTRS4 by Vorsteiner for the new BMW M4. But you do not live in Germany or near a Vorsteiner installer. What to do? You have to find a local customs shop with major bodywork and custom fabrication expertise. Elite Customs and Collision in China Bay, Texas is a go-to place for flawless execution of a major supercar upgrade like shown here. The parts arrive from Germany unpainted and without full instructions, so you want some proof that a shop can handle a job this big and …

Keep reading

Houston Auto Show - 2015 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition 1

Houston Auto Show – 2015 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition in 20 New Photos + Pricing From $35k

by

  Updated 1.23.15 With Pricing and 20 New Photos The Sierra Elevation Edition is one cool black 1500 on the Houston Auto Show floor! Just as we snapped these 35 new photos, GMC revealed the pricing of this new factory custom– with an enticing $34,865 base for the rear-drive V6. It is great to see the double-decker LED lights as standard on the Sierra Elevation, despite them not being lit in these photos. 2015 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition Pricing: 4.3L 2WD: $34,865 4.3L 4WD: $38,795 5.3L 2WD: $35,960 5.3L 4WD: $39,890   2015 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition     PREVIOUS …

Keep reading

DSC_6009 copy

Houston Auto Show Debuts – 2015 Mazda3 Ti Edition Rocks Gloss-Black Body Styling

by

The new Mazda3 Ti Edition joins a revised Mazda6 and CX-5 on Mazda showroom floors early this year, but had an advanced outing at the Houston Auto Show. This fall, the Mazda range gets really thrilling: the new 2016 MX-5 and hot CX-3 will join in the Zoom-Zoom fun. Production-ready with a window sticker, this new Mazda3 Ti Edition jazzes up the exceptional Mazda3 with some really cool style additions: titanium metallic wheels are joined by a sweet body kit all around in contrast gloss-black. The lower splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all a pure and silky dark …

Keep reading

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package with XPEL Paint Protection 15

Houston Aftermarket Highlights – 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package with XPEL Paint Protection

by

The Houston Auto Show has a tuner and aftermarket section to melt even the coldest hearts: exotica galore and customs as wide as a Texas Mile. This Porsche 918 Spyder looks amazing in yellow with the optional Weissach Package – consisting of the huge fixed-wing rear spoiler, gloss-black side spats and other delicious detailing. To keep all this pricey paintwork safe from stones and chips, this car features XPEL Paint Protection film – a self-healing wrap that is completely transparent. The XPEL wrap over yellow here creates a really stunning and deep finish for the paintwork. It all comes together …

Keep reading

2015 Jeep Renegade 42

Houston Auto Show – 2015 Jeep Renegade Inside and Out in 45 New Photos

by

The Renegade is the second Jeep we have absolutely hated upon first sight, but really warmed up to as the style sunk in and was seen in the flesh. Visiting the Jeep stand at the Houston Auto Show this week confirms the cool and chunky stance of the Renegade, as a right-sized compact SUV. The ultra-traditional tall windshield and functional upper bodywork maximize cabin and storage space, with the Jeep heritage styling cues at once both very modern but also classic. If the new Cherokee is almost Cayenne-like in its swoopiness from the rear three-quarter angle, the new Renegade harks …

Keep reading

2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe 10

2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe Scores Widebody + SportDesign Package

by

The risk with so many special editions of one car is major buyer and auto journalist fatigue. See Aston Martin for a prime example. But Porsche seems to really excel when it comes to special editions that actually do feel special. This latest 911 GTS Club Coupe celebrates 60 years of the Porsche Club of America — and builds in C4S styling and wide hips, the SportDesign ducktail spoiler, and a handful of other goodies as standard. 60 cars will be made, with a base price of $136,000. 2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe GTS CLUB COUPE REVEALED IN THE …

Keep reading

2015 Noble M600 Speedster 12

225MPH 2015 Noble M600 Speedster Beats Hypercar Elite to Open-Air Thrills

by

The Noble M600 is a worthy competitor to the latest class of hypercars: the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari. With the latest M600 Speedster, Noble joins an elite set of vehicles that can top 200-mph with the top down. The Koenigsegg Agera and Porsche 918 Spyder are the only other members of the club so far, but Pagani is widely rumored to have a Huayra Spider in the works, as does Ferrari with their top model. So what are the downsides of the M600 Speedster versus the standard car? Virtually nothing. With a carbon-fiber-intensive chassis that is already virtually unbendable, the …

Keep reading

????????????????????

Concept Flashback – 2012 MINI Rocketman 1 and 2

by

  The 2011 and 2012 MINI Rocketman concepts took a look at an even more micro MINI city car. As the new model Hardtop three-door grows far larger and wider than ever, there is a strong desire to return to the car’s barely-there dimensions. This is in sharp contrast to the overall MINI range, which has blown outward in all directions to a total of nine models at this point. Even MINI feels this has gotten out-of-control, with the Paceman (2-door offroader) and Coupe set for the chopping block in the near future. The problem with an even smaller MINI …

Keep reading

M Performance Parts for the BMW 2 Series Convertible 1 - Copy

New M Performance Parts Add Power, Stance and Style to BMW 2 Series Convertible

by

The 2 Series is one of the most fun BMWs to ever wear the roudel badge. Three engines for 2015: the 220i, 228 and 235i are all a laugh riot of lightweight, rear-drive playfulness. Incredible balance, joyful steering and a driving position from heaven! But how to up the intensity? M Performance offers a full line of 2 Series upgrades, ranging from mild like the black kidney grilles, to big wheels, side sills and sport exhausts and ECU powerkits. These anthracite wheels are particularly sculpted and handsome, and are nicely accented by M Sport gloss-black body graphics. The big advantage …

Keep reading

2015 vs 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid - LMP1 Racers Compared 5

2015 vs 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid – LMP1 Racers Compared

by

Porsche just rolled out its 2015 model-year LeMans P1 car for initial track testing at Yas Marina today, and we see a continuation on most aspects of the 2014 racer. Porsche is characteristically tight-lipped about what has changed since last year, but has confirmed that the turbo V4 powertrain will continue, along with three electric boosters. But while the 2015 car looks very similar to the 2014 contender, you can be sure that there have been extensive studies and engineering under the skin. It takes more than a quick look to find any clear changes outside, but we have identified …

Keep reading

Super Sedans 2016 design shootout2

Super Sedan Design Shootout – 2016 Lexus GS-F vs. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V vs. E63 AMG vs. M5

by

  INTRO: How freaky does that sliced image montage look above!?  Despite the four car’s here not quite matching up in the photos we have at hand, they all share a great deal of buyer and market appeal. For shoppers needing supercar pace with room for five people, there have never been more choices. Very exciting times in the super-sedan business! In a segment that the BMW M5 once owned all to itself, the current M5 Jahre 30 Edition is a run-out special for 2015 that feels ancient versus the latest AMG, Cadillac and Lexus four-doors. To save the M5 …

Keep reading

2016-McLaren-P1-GTR-Pebble-Beach-World-Debut-4

2016 McLaren P1 GTR Shakedown Testing Ahead of March Production Debut

by

The new P1 GTR is getting very close to production, with the style and design of the prototype shown in Pebble Beach now roaring around racetracks for hot-weather testing. And does it ever roar — The video below offers a quick glimpse into the P1 GTR test program – with the GTR sounding as loud as a top-fuel dragster as it makes a flying pass around 1:20-seconds below. The P1 GTR program will function similar to Ferrari XX Corsa Clienti – with drivers enjoying numerous on-track driving sessions at global racetracks, and also participating in a one-make series like no …

Keep reading

AZ15_r142_005ad

Style Icons – 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider vs 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

by

Upon catching the new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider in Giallo yellow for the Detroit auto show, the realization of a modern-day Dino hits you like a ton of bricks. To prove our intuition correct, we’ve lined up the 2015 4C Spider with two exceptional Dino Ferrari’s from RM Auctions — in Paris for the 1970, and Arizona 2015 for the 1974 GTS. We’ve lined up the two side-by-side in numerous angles below. They really are kindred spirits. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider vs 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS NOSE    FRONT THREE_QUARTER ANGLE PROFILE   REAR THREE_QUARTER ANGLE   …

Keep reading

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

2015 Peugeot 2008 DKR Rally Racer – Tech Specs and Pre-Dakar Photos

by

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 …

Keep reading

Ford GT Colors 12

2017 Ford GT – Digital Colorizer in 22 Shades

by

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 sexy. And …

Keep reading

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

2015 Dakar Rally – Peugeot 2008 DKR – 100-Photo Action Gallery

by

In the previous Dakar article today about the MINI Countryman All4 team, we noted how their action photos from the event took the cake for sharing the race excitement with the rest of us. After a bit of digging, we’ve found a real treasure-trove. Photos and videos so amazing they make MINI’s effort look a little silly and amateurish. Who could deliver this? None other than the racing powerhouse Red Bull. Videos, photos, interviews – all numbering in the hundreds. All with production values that are ready for 4K HDTV. Most of the MINI team is powered by Monster Energy, …

Keep reading

2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV 14 - Copy

Design Analysis – 2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV

by

When Mitsubishi rolled out its latest trio of design concepts in Geneva last March, we were slightly horrified and very shocked. The designs are quite ‘advanced,’ — which is another way of saying they are freakishly ‘out there’ and not exactly attractive on first glance. But after seeing how this look filtered down to the 2016 Outlander, we are determined to give the new Mitsubishi design style a chance. And clearly, Mitsubishi believes it is on to something here. The XR-PHEV here became the firm’s Vision Gran Turismo car as an ‘Evolution’ version of this design, so you cannot say …

Keep reading

2001 gtr

Concept Flashback – 2001 Nissan GT-R Prototype

by

People gave Lexus a hard time for spending so many years developing the LF-A, the Honda for the endless parade of concepts leading to the current 2016 NSX just revealed in production form in Detroit. But Nissan was part of this long-running tradition of slow perfectionism when it comes to a brand’s sports-car flagship. The first look at what the R35 Nissan GT-R would become seven years later? The 2001 Tokyo auto show, with this static styling and aero buck. The next concept in 2005, the GT-R Proto, was much closer to the eventual production model — but both were …

Keep reading

ctsv

2016 Cadillac CT6 A No-Show in Detroit, but CTS-V Heals All Wounds

by

How excited were we to see the new Cadillac CT6 flagship at the Detroit auto show press conference? *Very* We have been refreshing the Cadillac media website throughout the CTS-V introduction, hoping the new flagship photos would be live momentarily. After all, Cadillac announced months ago that the CT6 would make a Detroit reveal. But all that might have been before new Caddy President Johan de Nysschen (far right in below photo) took the reins of the brand. Our hunch is that he had some last-minute tweaks to the CT6 that are still being implemented. We hope one of them …

Keep reading

xc90r

2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

by

When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

Keep reading

hyundai santa cruz concept

2015 Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept Explores SUV Pickup Crossover

by

  What is this Hyundai Santa Cruz? A pickup/SUV? Think of it like a Honda Ridgeline, but perhaps tilted a bit more toward the SUV side of things versus the pickup truck? The Hyundai Santa Cruz concept revealed minutes ago in Detroit is certainly a headscratcher.Not least because the Honda Ridgeline has been a bit of a dud, despite a new model coming for 2016 for Honda. The best way to think of the concept is a look at Hyundai entering new truck segments in the future, as well as a snapshot of the brand’s latest design ideas in the …

Keep reading

4c spider

4.1s 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is Modern Dino Ferrari

by

 Not sure why it took so long to come to this realization, but better late than never. The best way to think about the new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is as a modern Dino Ferrari. When the Dino was launched, it was the least-powerful and by far the most affordable Ferrari ever made. It was ostensibly created to give Enzo’s son the joy of mid-engine performance in a package that wouldn’t overwhelm the young driver with too much power. But the Dino was barely slower than many of Ferrari’s finest cars of the 1960s, despite packing half the cylinders of …

Keep reading

2017 Ford Raptor Is EcoBEAST! Cool New Style, Much Quicker and Even More Bad-Ass

by

It is very rare to have a truck’s front suspension A-arms be a styling detail that lights up your eyes from the front, but the 2017 Raptor proves the exception. The truck shows off its tough and rough off-road equipment and suspension from all sides, especially dead-on from the nose. Here we see the Raptor’s trademark honeycomb grille and giant FORD letters writ large, paired with the super-cool new LED lighting from the top F-150 Platinum trims. Here the lamps are exposed and free of a clear shell — the better to show off the box-LED style and also to …

Keep reading

ford gt

Update1 – 2017 Ford GT Supercar Coming NEXT YEAR with ~700HP EcoBoost!

by

Holy **** folks, Ford just rocked Detroit with three of the biggest-news cars of the show so far: the new GT350R, 2017 Raptor and this, the stunning new Ford GT supercar. Have you ever seen something so gorgeous, innovative and hypercar-esque out of Dearborn? We have not. LaFerrari and P1-chasing style and tech are firmly in the equation, with the car a showcase for EcoBoost and carbon-fiber innovations in the Ford Motor Company. Watch this space for updated photos and videos shortly. 2016 Ford GT Supercar   Jan 12, 2015 | Detroit Ford Redefines Innovation in Aerodynamics, EcoBoost and Light-Weighting …

Keep reading

chevy bolt

2015 Chevrolet BOLT Concept Previews All-New EV 5-Door Arriving Within a Year

by

We are big bears on EV adoption overall, and love seeing Elon Musk squirm. In that regard, the Bolt is a fun new entry to the rapidly-irrelevant EV model niche. The Bolt is a relatively exciting surprise from Chevrolet: the new five-door EV concept that is a lightly-veiled production model arriving within a year to Chevy showrooms. The new Bolt EV concept shows the potential of a utility and family-friendly package with EV underpinnings. No pricing has been quoted, but expect this package to sticker from about $35,000 before tax incentives bring its costs to about $30,000. It is most …

Keep reading

buick avenir

2015 Buick Avenir Concept Shows Design of Future RWD Flagship Limo

by

This is a tricky design to love at first sight. The sketches whisper ‘chic’ the real car’s nose and profile shouts ‘eek.’ Even so, it is a promising look at a future Buick flagship limo.    2015 Buick Avenir Concept         Avenir’s Design-driven Global Collaboration Buick concept developed via collaboration of GM’s Australia, Michigan studios 2015-01-11 DETROIT – The Buick Avenir concept announced today ahead of the North American International Auto Show represents a collaboration of General Motors’ global designers and fabricators, who worked between studios in Australia and the United States to develop the striking design …

Keep reading

2015 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE

Update2 – 360HP Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Is Sporty PHEV Crossover Concept

by

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE has arrived today with sporty looks and a five-passenger cabin that is about the size of the BMW X6 inside and out. The concept runs a 3.6-liter V6 plus a large hybrid power unit with EV-driving ability. Its style is an important preview of the production CrossBlue, a Passat-based seven-seater set for assembly in Tennessee beside its sedan cousin. We are likely to see this style replicated near-exactly on the large CrossBlue, but in a larger and blockier roofline layout. This design is production-ready in almost all ways, with the actual Cross Coupe a possibility …

Keep reading

lotus c-01

Lotus Motorcycles C-01 Aiming for Late 2015 Production Start

by

      Lotus Motorcycles C-01 Lotus Motorcycle C-01 Road Ready Following two years of careful planning and intense development, Kodewa is delighted to announce that the prototype of the world’s first motorcycle to bear the legendary Lotus marque is now road registered and ready for action. Kodewa has been granted a license to produce the motorcycle by Group Lotus plc, the world renowned sportscar manufacturer and engineering consultancy. The C-01 combines ample power via a V-twin engine with a distinctive body designed by Daniel Simon integrating carbon fibre, titanium and aerospace quality steel. The C-01 motorcycle is not designed, …

Keep reading

alpha-t

Concept Flashback – 2001 Nissan Alpha-T

by

Nissan is giving journalists a first look at the 2016 Titan pickup today in Detroit at a football viewing party, and we wish we were there to see it! To set the stage, it seems timely and relevant to share Nissan’s first full-size pickup truck concept: the 2001 Alpha-T. Definitely a product of its moment in time, but also a bit stylish and adventure-bound in its style — even almost 15 years since. 2001 Nissan Alpha-T Jan. 8, 2001 Nissan Explores New Territory with Radical aT Concept – First Foray Into Full-Size Truck Market Makes ‘Big’ Statement     Nissan …

Keep reading

cascada

2016 Buick Cascada Convertible Is Official! 75 Images + Tech Specs

by

Buick revealed a surprise production car today ahead of its live debut at the Detroit auto show tomorrow: the very sexy Cascada convertible. The Cascada is a surprise only in part: the car is a clone of its European Vauxhall and Opel Cascada twins, and arrives as a Buick production model to dealers in early in the 2016 calendar year. So while the car might not be a total shock, seeing Buick integrate it into the US lineup is relatively big news. It joins the current Regal as a fully autobahn-ready Buick with premium cabin, performance and handling. This sexy …

Keep reading

mustang mach 1

Future Car Renderings – 2017 Ford Mustang Mach 1

by

  Doing a photochop of the new 2015 Mustang GT might seem almost sacrilegious these days. The car is a huge, huge hit already and is set to be the most popular pony-car in decades. We’ve see dozens of custom Mustangs so far at SEMA and now the Shelby GT350 ups the ante dramatically. But what about a truly futuristic fantasy Mustang? Something almost unreal in its stunning proportions? The ideas shown here follow the original Ford Mach 1 sketches in 1966 — they read almost like an instruction manual for a step-by-step Mustang Mach 1 for 2017. Let’s disregard …

Keep reading

mustang concepts

Concept Flashbacks – 1966 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Allegro II and Mustang Milano

by

When you style and produce a car as successful as the Mustang in 1964, you have to start thinking next steps almost immediately. How to evolve, and how to keep up the excitement of the original, but with the thrill of the new. Ford explored a variety of wild ideas for the future of the Mustang. From the short-wheelbase, to the Ranchero — Ford was open to nearly any and all ideas. But the enthusiast vision shined brightest. How to make the Mustang even cooler, and even more hardcore as a sports-car. In this folder lives the 1966 Mustang Mach …

Keep reading

Bugatti-SUV-Grand-Colombier-by-Ondrej-Jirec

Bugatti SUV Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec

by

In the original article toward the bottom of this page, we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti Veyron-style SUV, plus created our own janky lift of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti. But neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its EB logos attached. College of Art Center of Design student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for a Bugatti SUV. Grand style, grand pace, and the name? The Grand Colombier. A nod to the explorer Cristobol Colon — who we Americans know as Christopher Columbus — …

Keep reading

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR Racers Pack Wild Aero Ugrades

by

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 …

Keep reading

f015

Mercedes-Benz F015 Concept Hits the Vegas Strip in 55 New Photos

by

  Updated 1.9.15 with 55 New Photos Seeing a concept on stage and seeing it in the real world are two totally different scenarios. The F015 on the streets of Vegas drives home just how freskishly advanced and high-tech the concept looks versus today’s latest cars. Most notable in its S-Class-plus scale is the super-long wheelbase. This makes the whole machine feel even lower than its 1-inch-lower stats seem compared with today’s S550. The headlamps and illuminated star badge in white tell us that a human is driving in the photos…. PREVIOUS Here is a truly futuristic look at the …

Keep reading

legacy b4 blitzen

2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept Debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon

by

As a current Legacy GT owner, you can bet we were floored to see how sweet this sixth-gen Legacy B4 Blitzen concept looks!  It is a luxury sports styling concept – with the standard 175-horsepower boxer engine. But the all-new front and rear fascias are very convincing, as are the carbon-fiber accents in the sills, wheels and rear spoiler. Favorite details are the gloss-glack mesh grille and the integrated LED styling accents in the outer bumpers. 2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept   In third-generation and fourth generation Legacy, has been planned and developed as a special specification car ‘BLITZEN’  …

Keep reading

gullwings

The Evolution of Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Supercars in 9 Cars Since 1952

by

As the SLS AMG bows out to be replaced by the new AMG GT as the Mercedes supercar, many people are unemotional about the change from gullwing to traditional hinged doors. In this regard, the gullwing doors of the SLS are so iconic that they have become a bit passe as a result. But the special magic of twin, central-hinged doors opening upward and meeting mid-roof is truly a cultural touchstone in the car business. Much as Lamborghini defines scissor doors, Mercedes gullwing doors are a huge part of the 300SL legend — and therefore the Mercedes legend — since …

Keep reading

s60 xc

Volvo S60 XC Marks Return of the SUS!

by

The SUS lives! Sport Utility Sedans are a rare breed indeed. Only a few hundred of the original Subaru Outback Sedan were made and sold in core Subie markets like Vermont and Colorado in the late 1990s. Volvo’s new S60 XC entry will head to Detroit and then nationwide as a fun niche model for the brand. The Cross Country style actually looks amazing on the S60 sedan shell – and we’re eager to spot the rare and elusive SUS Volvo in the wild later in 2015…! Volvo S60 XC Volvo takes Cross Country brand into sedan territory Volvo Cars …

Keep reading

f800

Concept Flashback – 2009 Mercedes-Benz F800

by

If you want a solid starting point for the latest sexy Mercedes designs, you might start at the first-gen CLS in 2005. But those proportions needed work, and the surfacing left much to be desired. Between the CLS and this 2009 F800 Style lived the ghastly F700 and the notorious bionic fish van concept. F700 This 2009 F800 Style Research Concept really set the tone for a new Mercedes aesthetic. This slinky design was followed by the Style Coupe concept in 2012 — wearing lines that are even closer to what is now the CLA-Class. 2012 Style Coupe Concept There …

Keep reading

1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

Iconic Classics – 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

by

If I were any grumpier today, my head would explode.  But this Delahaye by Figoni and Falaschi might help brighten the mood =] Sold by RM Auctions in 2013’s Arizona event for $1.54-million, this Delahaye 135 MS Coupe is the ultimate anti-depressant in creme white. This one-off even flies French-flag colors in the grille and red leather inside for a perfectly Parisian mood. Every inch of the bodywork, the rear-hinged coach doors and slip-stream rear end was all created by master craftsmens’ hands. The result is one of the most beautiful cars of all time.   1938 Delahaye 135 MS …

Keep reading

prologue tech12

Updated with Tech Video – Audi Prologue Hybrid Piloted Drive to Vegas

by

We were active haters of the Prologue concept when it was revealed for Los Angeles in late November. The low and clean style of the future A8 this car previews is growing better with time, but still seems a bit dull. The change of color to a dark grey with new five-spoke alloys are a huge improvement. They let the design breathe and feel a bit more interesting, with the lower bodywork and sill extensions coming to life in ways they didn’t in silver. The concave rear glass is still bizarre, and the nose and tail detailing still seem awkward. …

Keep reading

glk sema

Concept Flashbacks – 2010 SEMA Mercedes-Benz GLK Tuner Cars

by

Shocked and appalled by hideous custom Mercedes-Benzes prowling the world’s roads? Wish there were an upgrade kit that fits the refined aesthetic of the Merc brand? If only Mercedes would commission a few tuner custom show cars of its own, it would have control and be able to yay/nay any questionable elements. For the US launch of the GLK in 2010, MB-USA did just that: four custom GLK’s for the SEMA show in Vegas. Unfortunately for those who do not like loud, brash designs…. what resulted are four of the wildest, silliest concept GLK’s ever seen. Removing the constraint of …

Keep reading

nomad colors

2015 ARIEL Nomad – Exclusive Digital COLORIZER

by

This Ariel Nomad is a very cool piece of news – even as CES is in full swing and Detroit is starting to build momentum ahead of press parties starting on Sunday. We’ve spent a bit of time in photoshop to create an exclusive color visualizer for the new Nomad — with our skills obviously best able to create bright, Skittles-style shades. We’ve also lightened and darkened the wheels for a few ideas of what the gloss-black optional rims might look like. This car seems like it is *perfect* for the X-raid class of rallying, and as such there are …

Keep reading

ariel nomad

3.3s 2015 ARIEL Nomad – Tech Specs, Options and Full-Throttle Testing Video!

by

Updated 1.6.2015 If anything, the real-life Ariel Nomad is even cooler than last week’s teaser renders indicated. Power is a stout 235-ponies, the Yokohama 35-inch mud tires are insane, and the options list will make you start drooling onto your touchscreen. Is there any downside to the ultra-light yet super-strong Ariel Atom chassis concept being applied to an off-roader? Not that we can think of. A heated windshield is even offered. The rear-engine playfulness and handling joy seem to apply themselves perfectly to the Nomad’s off-road mission — as well as guaranteeing traction for sprints and heavy braking. The 100-kph …

Keep reading

q60 concept new

Update3 – INFINITI Q60 Concept – 30 Photos

by

Updated 1.6.2015 Second update today with 22 more photos. These appear to be some kind of leak. A few more photos of the upcoming Q60 Concept have appeared online, but not officially from Infiniti yet. Usually, with a massive leak like this, a car will then debut online shortly afterward. It hurts a brand to have people deciding on its style merits based on extremely low-quality digital renderings like these. So, is this concept the real-deal 2016 Q60 arriving in late summer 2015? Yes. Excluding a few tiny details like the glass roof and the inner bumper details, this is …

Keep reading

Mercedes-Benz F 015 Concept

Mercedes-Benz F015 Wows CES in Vegas With Autonomous Limo Concept

by

  Here is a truly futuristic look at the world of limousines in the mid-term future: the new Mercedes F015 concept for CES in Vegas. Wider than the S-Class but otherwise very similar in dimensions, the F015 takes a look at what luxury transport will be like within 5 to 10 years. Standard driver-operated modes have the lights outside shining white, and the front seats facing forward with the steering wheel and pedals as normal. Switch to autonomous driving mode, and the lights outside flick to blue, the steering-wheel sinks into the dash, and the four seats become a conversation …

Keep reading

VATH SLS AMG Roadster

VATH Blacks-Out SLS AMG Roadster With 700HP Supercharger and Slammed Stance

by

VATH SLS AMG Roadster   702 PS SLS ROADSTER by VÄTH Automobiltechnik Since November 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS Roadster is the first vehicle independently developed by AMG for sale. In a relatively short time many prospective customers have given in to the magical charm of Swabian sports car, which program is Sport Leicht Super (the short form being SLS). Such a tidbit in the best sense needs no correction, or does it? Increase in efficiency in everything that company works with is one of many special spheres of VÄTH Company in Bavarian Hösbach. As for the here represented SLS Roadster, a …

Keep reading

q60 concept

Update1 – INFINITI Q60 Concept Previews Striking New 2016 Sports Coupe

by

  Updated 1.5.2015 with second teaser image. When it rains, it pours! Infiniti just teased a gorgeous new Gran Turismo prototype and now is showing some ankle on its new Q60 Coupe. This concept is headed for Detroit and is said to be nearly 98-percent of what the real-life Q60 Coupe will be when introduced in August as a 2016 model. The most action is of course around the doors and glasshouse, where the Q60 has a far more expressive and aggressive roofline and C-pillar treatment versus its sibling, the Q50 sedan. The lower front wheel-arch also shows a dramatic …

Keep reading

2002 Dodge M80 Concept

2002 Dodge M80 Concept Was Faithful Remake of 1940s Power Wagons

by

  Remakes and retro redesigns were all the rage in the early 2000s – and Dodge had a whopper in its back catalog eager for a modern restyle. The Dodge Power Wagons of the 1940s became quite a symbol of American might both domestically and abroad thanks to their plentiful presence in the US Army ranks. This remake is a little less jokey than the Chevrolet HHR or SSR, but still feels relatively more than 12 years after its debut. That is the Catch 22 of retro designs, as any New Beetle owner can explain thoroughly. 2002 Dodge M80 Concept …

Keep reading

me412

Update1 – 2004 Chrysler ME 4/12 Was Quad-Turbo V12 Hypercar

by

Updated 1.5.15 With 30 Extra Photos It is hard to go wrong with mid-engine hypercar concepts, and this one is no exception. There are really interesting and lavish details throughout, the success of which led to the long-running hood strakes in many production Chrysler models. Little else from this quad-turbocharged V12 concept made it to the roads, but the ME Four Twelve concept capped a record number of concept cars for Chrysler under Daimler. The company released at least three wild concepts ever year between 1999 and 2004, but none are as desirable as this car. Or, in fact, the …

Keep reading

2008 Dodge ZEO

Concept Flashback – 2008 Dodge ZEO Was EV Tesla-Fighter

by

The 2008 Dodge ZEO was conceived in a world of $150-per-barrel oil in 2006 and 2007, when the full electrification of the car seemed inevitable. The freedom to run a flat-pack of Li-Ion batteries in the floor of the vehicle offered Dodge a chance to break out of typical packaging constraints. We see some great elements in the ZEO, including its finished four-seat cabin and spectacular doors. But the design is a bit busier than the Dodge ideal, especially around the nose. Lack of air intakes means the ZEO and its crossbar grille just seem a bit scrunched and silly …

Keep reading

2007 VADHO BMW by ItalDesign Giugiaro

Concept Flashback – 2007 ItalDesign VADHO Ran BMW Hydrogen V12

by

A hydrogen V12? That is not exactly true. The VADHO indeed runs a BMW Hydrogen fuel cell, but this produces power for a hybrid-electric drivetrain — like all hydrogen cars. The V12 is likely to be conventionally-powered. So why the tandem seating arrangement? Ostensibly, this bubble canopy housing a single passenger behind the driver’s seat is to allow for the powertrain’s massive scale and the required gas tank for the Hydrogen powertrain. These tanks generally are only available in one cylindrical shape — and housing a massive one that can avoid exploding in a crash is deeply challenging for car …

Keep reading

larte rrs

LARTE Design Launches Flashy New Range Rover Sport Upgrades

by

There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and an F1-inspired rear central brake light shines bright red from the lower bumper. The new three-pod grille insert is a fresh take on the RRS style – and is one of …

Keep reading

carrera gtz

Porsche Carrera GTZ by Zagato Wears Much-Sexier Double Bubble Roof

by

  Along with recreating this long-lost 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster for the modern era, Zagato highlights their subtle Carrera GTZ mod as well. You will really need a sharp eye to note the difference between the Carrera GTZ and its factory base, the stupendous Carrera GT. But once you note the differences — you will almost-definitely like the Zagato better. It is all about the roof and rear canopy. Where the targa-roofed stock Carrera GT has a sharp drop-off behind the rear glass, the GTZ has smooth double bubbles flowing back in a very artful fashion. The GTZ is much, …

Keep reading

356 zagato

1958 Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster Is Worlds Only Aluminum-Bodied Example

by

Zagato Classic has recreated their first-ever Porsche project here: a 356 Speedster that was lightened and made quicker for a racing customer in Paris. The tailfins are particularly delightful as functional and style-enhancing elements, as is the lower and lighter windshield. If you are thinking: hey, this Zagato 356 Speedster actually looks much more like the 550 Spyder — you are correct. The commission of a new aluminum body for the steel-skinned 356 meant Zagato could make the car as streamlined as Porsche’s most-successful racer ever (at the time): the 550. Shown below on the grass, you can see the …

Keep reading

jeep renegade

2008 Jeep Renegade Concept Was Off-Road EV Speedster

by

The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles concept parade continues unabated! Here we have the 2008 Jeep Renegade concept — which was a brave look at what a wider, lower and EV-powered Wrangler might look like. The exposed doors and organic surfaces, along with integrated fenders, meld well with the chopped windshield glass. Overall, the Renegade concept showed a modern form language whose lighting elements are seen on the upcoming 2015 Renegade small crossover. 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept

lambo perdigon

Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Lamborghini Perdigon by Ondrej Jirec

by

The Cadillac Estill design vision from last week is not the only incredible future exotic designed by Ondrej Jirec recently. While in his final years as a student at the Art College of Design in Pasadena, Jirec has also been dreaming of future Lamborghini’s. But his dreams turn out far better than any study-hall doodle we could ever achieve… that is for sure. This Gallardo-sized Lamborghini looks fairly traditional from the nose, but is actually a mean and deconstructed beast with ultra-short overhands, complex leading edges, and a full glass canopy. The first thing that hits your eye is the …

Keep reading

2003 Dodge Tomahawk V10

2003 Dodge Tomahawk V10 Was Superbike Fantasy Concept

by

A concept vehicle should have a big impact, be memorable and help define a brand’s identity. By those metrics, the 2003 Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle is certainly a huge success. Sure, there are practical things to worry about when putting an 8.4-liter V10 onto a motorcycle — but Dodge did not get bogged down with boring details. What the Tomahawk showed was a wild spirit, raw design appeal, and a futuristic fantasy where your brain’s fear center has a lower top-speed than this Dodge.   2003 Dodge Tomahawk V10

1968 Dodge Charger III Concept

Concept Flashback – 1968 Dodge Charger III

by

  Yes, the 1999 Dodge Charger shown below is amazingly sleek and sexy. But when it comes to its inspirations, the 1968 Charger III is the grand-daddy of all sleek Dodges. This ultra-low and streamlined 1968 concept was a stunning look into the future of musclecars. Some very cool features? A full canopy clamshell is the main door — The steering column lifts to let the driver slide into the ultra-reclined driving positon — Triple rear air brakes were a strong sign of performance tech, and also showed how powerful the engine up front must have been to need them. …

Keep reading

1999 Dodge Charger Concept

Concept Flashback – 1999 Dodge Charger R/T

by

This 1999 Charger concept was the very first thing Dodge created when given access to Mercedes-Benz rear-drive sedan platform. It shows where the brand wanted to go and what it wanted to be, even while the production Dodge car lineup of the time was all front-drive and had been for two decades. This concept is really gorgeous, even today. The nose is a bit unpleasant with that grille and the oversized lamps of the day, but the proportions are to-die-for. Low and lean, in profile it looks like a real coupe on first and second glance. It is only when …

Keep reading

jeep hurricane

Concept Flashback – 2005 Jeep Hurricane Was Twin-HEMI Warthog-Fighter?

by

As the Jeep Hurricane started spinning in its own wheelbase length on the stage of the 2005 Detroit show, the crowd nearly forgot all about the truck’s real trump card. Or pair of Kings. A giant HEMI V8 at each end of the Hurricane promised otherworldly off-road power and movement precision. Sure, this vaguely recalls the Peugeot Hoggar from a few years before, but much more closely resembled the HALO video-game machine known as the Warthog. As the Halo game franchise has evolved, the Warthog has too. In 2010, the military machine fantasy even earned a spot in Forza Motorsport …

Keep reading

2012 AC 378GT by ZAGATO visualizer front67

2012 AC 378GT by ZAGATO – Animated Visualizer of 25 Custom, Race-Inspired Liveries

by

The Zagato design of the AC 378GT is actually remarkably sexy and fresh, even five years since it was first previewed in 2009. To add buzz and sales momentum to the AC Cars branding, the Italian design boutique created 25 stunning liveries to inspire supercar buyers. There are some really sexy ideas for paint and trims in here. Sure, it might not have been make-or-break in the car’s (very) limited production run, but they are cool to see in one of our animated visualizers. These two animations below are extra cool because they are synced up – with each of …

Keep reading

2005 Chrysler Firepower

Concept Flashback – 2005 Chrysler Firepower Was HEMI Viper With An Automatic

by

As we wrote that headline, it seemed to come across as a scoffing sacrilege to have a Viper chassis with a V8 and automatic. But truly, the opposite is true. The Firepower’s time has come. Three reasons: — Corvette sales this generation have been split 70/30 in favor of the automatic transmission. —-> Viper does not offer an automatic — For nearly all owners, a 6.1-liter V8 would be more than plenty to give true supercar performance —-> The Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 is a major cost center for the vehicle, which in this generation stickers from $100,000 and up. — …

Keep reading

ats black

Rendering a DIY Black Pack for the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

by

We mentioned a few times that customizing the excellent 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe would be a quick and simple job as an owner. We’ve digitally envisioned this $500 upgrade from a few angles — and are stunned with the coolness of the results. The rules are simple: no aftermarket parts of upgrades. Just trim tweaks: dipping the wheels in anthracite grey, tinting the windows to 20-percent, and changing the brushed-alloy brightwork into a black chrome or gloss black. The hardest part of this upgrade, and perhaps the only one that would require a body-shop’s assistance for OEM results, is the …

Keep reading

tbirds 2001

RM Texas 2014 Highlights – 2001 Ford Thunderbird and 2003 Ford Thunderbird Supercharged Concepts

by

The RM Auctions Texas 2014 sale in 2014 centered on Sam Pack’s amazing collection of 100-plus amazing American icons. Of all the marques in the world, Mr. Pack loved Ford best. And as far as Ford models, the Thunderbird was his all-time favorite. This is readily apparent looking through the catalog – with at least 10 Thunderbirds of all eras included in pristine, flawless condition. These two are part of a rare Ford sale of the original auto show concept cars from the 2000s. The 2001 Thunderbird Sports Roadster concept was widely liked when it debuted, and production was fast-tracked. …

Keep reading

2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI

Concept Flashback – 2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI

by

Chrysler has been a prolific concept-car machine since the late 1980s. Many of these star show cars led to hit production models, but this Super8 was a bit far-fetched even for a clean-sleet large sedan. It was meant to recall the glory days of American rear-drive luxury cars: with a bench seat, inverted A-pillars and wrap-around windshield glass and that giant cross-hair grille. 2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI    

buick velite

Droptop Dreams – 2004 Buick Velite Cabriolet, 2001 Buick Bengal and 2000 Buick Regal Cielo

by

Buick was keen to have an open-topped car in the early 2000s. How do we know this? Three near-consecutive concepts explored the possibility of a Buick convertible: with the final being the best. We start with the 2000 Buick Regal Cielo — an innovative retracting targa that stacks the split roof panels into the trunk. This left the main pillars and side glass intact, but likely added hundreds of pounds and may have absorbed most of the trunk’s volume. 2000 Buick Regal Cielo In 2001, we have a sexy and slinky Bengal cabrio concept with sharp and smooth surfaces and …

Keep reading

ats coupe2

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 2.0T Performance

by

 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Review A great luxury sports coupe needs a few critical areas of excellence. In the second page of this article, we show the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe in a 150-photo mega gallery showing the style and sexiness of its two-door shape. Cool LEDs all around, a great stance, proportions to envy — the ATS Coupe has style for days. In this full review, we’ll cover two other critical successes of the ATS Coupe: Its  cabin luxury and incredibly fun, tactile and playful power and handling. Included are three drive videos. The outline of this article is: …

Keep reading

2003 ItalDesign Moray Corvette By Giugiaro

Concept Flashback – 2003 ItalDesign Moray Corvette By Giugiaro

by

  The Corvette Moray is a slippery one — in many senses of the word! Named after the shimmery Moray eel and styled to glide through this world without disturbing the air, the Moray Corvette from ItalDesign in 2003 is interesting for a few reasons. First off, though, let’s discuss what it is under these sleek new panels and triple glass bubble canopy. It is a C5 underneath — so the guys had their work cut out for them in making it special and respected at Pebble Beach and in Geneva. It is a full reskin from tip to tail, …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback - 1989 Mitsubishi HSR II Innovates With Six Active Aero Wings

Concept Flashback – 1989 Mitsubishi HSR II Innovates With Six Active Aero Wings

by

We’ve been pouring through the Mitsubishi back catalog today for a few Concept Flashback articles. The real all-star of the Mitsu lineup of show cars in the last three decades? It is this – the 1989 HSR II. HSR stands for Highly Sophisticated-transport Research and was a follow-up to a 1987 concept of the same name. The HSR II is far more beautiful, however, and also more innovative. Sure, as a 1989 Japanese exotic, the HSR II is packing a twin-turbo V6 along with 4-wheel-steering and 4-wheel-drive. This goes well with its ABS brakes, independent suspension and electronically-adjustable dampers all …

Keep reading

ez miev

Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EZ MiEV

by

  If the Concept D5 Mitsubishi van represents a hard and blocky view of the future, this EZ MiEV is a much softer look into next-gen van style and tech.With its ultra-rounded and white pearlescent exterior features, the resemblence of this concept to the iPod from Apple is intentional. But things in this bubble van are just getting started with the exterior design and wrap-around glass. With a flat-battery platform an in-wheel electric motors, the EZ MiEV takes cabin versatility to a whole new level. The seats fold to form a full eight-foot bed with room for two adults. The …

Keep reading

mitsubishi concept d5

Concept to Reality – 2006 Mitsubishi D5 to 5th-Gen Delica

by

When we think of cars from the future, the aesthetic is generally minimalist and slightly brutal with its form language. This can be typical normal shapes like hatchbacks and pickups and mid-size sedans — but all designed with a lean and crisp look that eschews frivolous bulging and chrome in favor of minimalism. Will this be what cars in the future actually look like? Probably not. Just like we do not dress in spandex StarTrek outfits or one-piece tracksuits in 2015. But those are still the most popular uniform for most hyper-futuristic hollywood movie. Cars that would fit in that …

Keep reading

Cadillac ESTILL 1

Design Talent Showcase – Ondrej Jirec Styles Cadillac Supercar of Your Dreams

by

Up-and-coming design students are a fascinating group to watch. Their ideas can go from senior thesis to luxury or exotic brands in less than five years time, and onto nearly all mainstream cars a few years after that. There are a few really exceptional breeding grounds for this ultra-elite school of designers. The Royal College of Art in England, IED Torino in Italy, or the Art Center College of Design in Pasedena, California all are top-of-mind. Ondrej Jirec attends the California entry in our shortlist — and is very busy indeed these days. His 2013 internship was with General Motors, …

Keep reading

ariel nomad

2015 ARIEL Nomad is Off-Roader With ATOMic Lightness and Speed!

by

Thrilled to see the latest move from Ariel Motors in the UK: an off-road version of its legendary Atom sports car! This new variant is called the Nomad and is based on the latest Atom 3 running gear — but with a totally new roll-cage/chassis combination, a huge suspension upfit and giant dune-munching tires. A windshield is also in the mix on the teaser shots. This will be helpful for keeping the mud and sand out of your face! 200-horsepower is the output from the rear-engine Nomad, with rear-drive keeping things just a few hundred pounds up on the flyweight …

Keep reading

zagato tz and tz3

Supercars Now and Then – 2010 Zagato TZ3 Corsa vs. 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

by

  Celebrating 100 years means looking far back into a company’s roots and foundation. Zagato chose to honor the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ. This fastback racer homage is built on the chassis of the Alfa 8C, itself a reskinned Maserati GranTurismo. Even as a third-hand rehash of another car — the TZ3 is quite compelling. Most surprising element? There are strong AMG GT flavors in the front three-quarter angle of the TZ3 — a full four years before Mercedes adopted these ultra-flowing and curved panel surfaces. NOSE   PROFILE TAIL     1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ 2010 Zagato …

Keep reading

500 zagato

Concept Flashback – 2011 Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato

by

  How would Zagato do with a modern Fiat 500? Regretfully, the Double Bubble Zagato 500 concept from 2011 is remarkably normal and flair-free. The intersecting side and rear glass is present and correct, as is the bubble hardtop. But… somehow we have lost most of the depth in the bubbles seen on the 1958 750GT, as well as missing trunk humps.  The most joyful part of this design is the flip of the ducktail spoiler.   2011 Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato 01 MAR 2011 World Premier: 500 Coupé Zagato   One of the most iconic names in automotive design, …

Keep reading