CLASSICS

Bentley at Frankfurt motor showPhoto: James Lipman

Frankfurt IAA 2015 – Showfloor Mega Gallery in 450 Photos

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Yes, auto shows are an incredible rush for car lovers: a deluge of new and never-before-seen metal. Scooping even the online mavens, the Porsche Mission E and Mercedes-Benz IAA Concept stayed completely under wraps until their stage reveals. All-new ideas, names and previews of the future will always be a highlight of the shows for the attendees. But for a car hack, covering auto shows is a thankless task. The press days move 400-or-so journalists in lock step between press conferences. Spaced in about 15-minute intervals, the conferences are DULL but suck up 90-percent of your time in pre-show days. …

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HONDA PROJECT 2&4 POWERED BY RC213V AT FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2015

Best of Frankfurt 2015 – Honda Project 2&4 Concept – Floating Seats Promise Surreal Track Pleasure

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Updated 9.16.15 With 35 New Photos Check out the Honda Project 2&4 up close and in detail!  This is one of the most outrageous concepts from Honda in years. Not just Honda, any manufacturer, really. And this is not just some track car, either, as we surmised below. By engineering the 2&4 with outboard seating, the drive experience should also blend the joy of two-wheeling. But with the cornering pace of a four-wheeled vehicle. Not having any panels, doors or bodywork anywhere to your left shoulder, hip or pedals will be a revolution on the road. Far more exposed than …

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2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is Ready to Race

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The thrill of leading a race is a core Bugatti trait. Along with stratospheric pricing for any Bugatti new or old, the firm has always built itself on being the fastest. The best. The ultimate in automotive engineering, design and haute couture is about to have a new rival. An in-house rival for the Veyron glory, world records and completed production run. All 450 Veyrons have been configured, customized, personalized and delivered to owners around the world, however. So what is next? This concept Vision Gran Turismo debut today in Frankfurt shows the core speed fundamentals underneath the showcar. This …

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007 SPECTRE Bond Cars – Jaguar CX-75, Defender and RRS in Mouthwatering 99-Photo Closeups

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Balls-to-wall action in this new SPECTRE trailer! JLR is clearly featured throughout the film, coming this October, but these three cars are particularly integral to the plot. Which we can now see includes a madcap car chase through Rome: DB10 evading CX-75. But also waist-deep powder in the mountain scenes! A perfect showcase for craftily Q-ed special Jags and Landies. A particularly proud moment, this film, in the Bond franchise already. For the first time in ages, the film is really ‘coming home’ in terms of UK car stars. Which all three of these certainly are. Enjoy a few custom …

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2015 Bugatti Vision GT in 60 Stunning Images – RWD Atmospheric W16 for LeMans 2016?

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The thrill of leading a race is a core Bugatti trait. Along with stratospheric pricing for any Bugatti new or old, the firm has always built itself on being the fastest. The best. The ultimate in automotive engineering, design and haute couture is about to have a new rival. An in-house rival for the Veyron glory, world records and completed production run. All 450 Veyrons have been configured, customized, personalized and delivered to owners around the world, however. So what is next? This concept Vision Gran Turismo debut today in Frankfurt shows the core speed fundamentals underneath the showcar. This …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Track Drive Dates! Fun, Free …and in Your City?

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Mazda’s new MX-5 looks stellar. We cannot wait one minute longer to try it out. Is that how you feel too? You might be in luck!  There are five or so dates left on the initial MX-5 Experience tour: Atlanta today Sept 11 and tomorrow Sept 12, followed by more dates in New Jersey, Texas and Arizona.  There is no RSVP list and no $2k fee, a la Jaguar and Lamborghini. First come first served!  Looks like the stations to try out the MX-5 are autocross, braking and hot track lap.  Mmmmm! Seriously debating the six-hour drive to Atlanta…. forgive …

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1937 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood Limousine 1

Joe Kennedy Special Order! 1937 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood Limousine – RM Hershey 2015 Preview

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Any V16 will have a ridiculous front end. And the Cadillac Sixteens defined the genre for its entirety. The gorgeous and clearly ultra-plush proportions of the Cadillac V16 are best on the LWB 7-seater limo. The shorter cars are gorgeous and huge too, but just not as lovely and cartoon-y (in a good way). The provenance of this particular car as a Special Body Order is a good clue to its famous owner: Joseph Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy and Hollywood tycoon. So not just a glitzy limo with scale to make you pale… but this very car …

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RM Hershey 2015 Preview – 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe

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This feels timely. But is outre and fabulous on its own, even without Dawn intro…! This 1950s Cloud is just lovely. It shows how far Rolls-Royce has come, but the luxury standard continuing uninterrupted. In example? A giant air conditioner unit up front in this ragtop, plus rear table trays in matching burl walnut. 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe RM London 2015 London 7 September 2015 Lot 160 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupé Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold for £218,400 Chassis no. SNH14 Engine no. SN139 Body no. 6213 …

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RM London 2015 - 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 6

RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 Is Ultimate Soapbox Fantasy Racecar

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If the debate between Huracan and Miura might be clearly won by the new model, the same is not true for track cars. Imagine actually driving a snorting, rorting racecar to your local track, racing a few hot laps til afternoon, then rumbling home. The design and ultra-short wheelbase of this 1974 Abarth 2000 SE makes it pin-prick accurate. And fiesty. 280-horsepower from a LM-spec four-cylinder? Yep. Rearing to go! RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 RM London 7 September 2015 Lot 127 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold …

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2015 Honda Project 2&4 Concept – World Premiere of 14000-RPM Baby NSX

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  Much as the world (and especially Japanese K-car buyers) love the S660 roadster, the sports potential of that mid-engine roadster is limited. Limited by power caps, safety rules and exhange rates — the S660 is not a global halo car, and definitely not a mini-NSX. What about the latest in Honda engine tech, paired with an open-wheeled racing design fresh from 2025? Now that would be something! Running the ultra-potent RC213V MotoGP bike engine, the Project 2&4 is ultra light and ultra simple. Ultra fresh sci-fi looks are just part of its charm, however. The real thrills will come …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery Part Three 50

SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Part Three

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  Updated 9.7.15 with 111 New Photos   Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN, DBX and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars came close. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, Cali T and Tailor Made F12? Or how …

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Ferrari Cavalcade 2015 Galleries + LaFerrari FXX K in Fly Yellow!

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Ferrari’s whirlwind summer is still booming  – with more global activities and launches than ever before this year. The IPO of Ferrari could come any day this Fall. We’ll have around a week’s notice, per NYSE schedules. The media site is full of gorgeous snapshots into the fast life of Ferrari owners lately — including the week-long International Cavalcade, visit to the Green Hell, and even a special birthday gift: an FXX K in Giallo Modena for an American buyer. She started hitting Fiorano hard right after the presentation ceremony — achieving a 1-min, 20-second lap that is close to …

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1972 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Shooting Brake 6

One-Off 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake from Hexagon Classics

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Here is a very special machine — an estate-car variant of the legendary Ferrari Daytona. Originally commissioned in 1972, the car headed from Modena to England for its retrofit to custom wagon bodywork. When completed nearly two years later, the bespoke creation headed to its forever-home in Florida — where it was the only Ferrari to fit two people and two golf bags at the same time! Loading those clubs might have been tricky, however. Butterfly glass canopies on each side of the shooting brake rear end were the only access to the newly huge trunk, despite the giant glass …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Part Two in 168 New Photos

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  Updated 9.6.15 with 168 New Photos   Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN, DBX and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars came close. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, Cali T and Tailor Made F12? Or how …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Aston VULCAN, LaFerrari FXX K and McLaren P1 GTR Headline Massive Hypercar Haul

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Wowwwww! Every car who is any kind of supercar was at Salon Prive this week. Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars sure tried their hardest. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, …

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Vision G Coupe Concept

2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe STUNS In New Photo Set

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Updated With 35 New Photos Second time we’ve totally come around to a Hyundai Genesis lately? Yep! This design is really warming up in the latest photos. 2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe PREVIOUS   Pebble Beach Concours is a huge draw for the wealthiest car lovers worldwide. As such, it is a pretty intense marketing spectacle for selling new cars along with all the best classics on display. But this crowd is seriously snooty, at times. Last year, a KIA K900 display manned with fresh drinks sought to lure people into test drives of the flagship luxury sedan. Over …

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2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition – 150-Unit Special Wears SPECTRE Silver, Custom 007 Touches

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Aston just rolled out a new special to celebrate the new James Bond film, SPECTRE, debuting this fall. For all the shared cache among Bond and Aston, we cannot recall another specifically badged Aston model with the Bond name. This is likely down to simple licensing costs, or brand covetousness within Sony pictures. An Aston Martin wearing 007 James Bond badges will always have a huge built-in fanbase, though, and the time is right to co-brand. A far cry from the DB10 prototype in the film, the DB9 GT Bond Edition is still fairly special in its own right. A …

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2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo World Premiere – 300MPH Fantasy LM Racer Is Close To Reality

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The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo bowed this morning — as a stunning masterpiece, of course! The full-scale prototype will be on the Frankfurt show stand mid-month, where this racing-focused redesign of the Veyron SS Vitesse will fill in for a next-generation Bugatti reveal. A Veyron-shaped machine is currently in hot and cold weather testing at the moment — quashing rumors of a Bugatti SUV or limousine as the Veyron replacement. This shared overall mid-engine look is all that we know from the test cars dubbed Chiron in some auto mags. In this regard, the currently-testing Bugatti is likely to be …

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Triple Hit! 3 Gorgeous 2015 Porsche 918 Spyders on HRE P101 Forged Centerlock Wheels

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One of the best ways to know if a new style of alloys is a good fit is how OEM they look. They should be credibly high-quality to match the overall hypercar ethos. But just a touch cooler, a touch more exclusive. The HRE P101 in Brushed Dark Clear centerlocks have just that dark and sexy glam element. But still look Weissach-ready. Here are the 22 finish swatches for the HRE P101 — with that last one representing a custom color. A few 918’s prefer HRE wheels — and the HRE Flickr feed has some incredible shots of Graham Rahal’s …

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4.0s, 641HP 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Coupe – 65 New USA Photos + Tech Specs and Color Visualizer

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While the new AMG GT-S is clearly the sportiest supercar in the Merc lineup, and various G-Class SUVs can top the S65’s overall price… this model is the spiritual flagship of Mercedes. It epitomizes everything Mercedes-Benz aspires to be — the sum of all its learnings as the inventor of the automobile. As such, a base price of $234k is a cool hundred grand above the quicker and much more exciting GT-S two-door. In addition, the S-Class Coupe packs a gigantic four-seat cabin. The back seat with 43 inches of legroom is limo-large. Only a chopped 10-cubic-foot trunk capacity — …

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Revised Peugeot DKR 2015+ Battle-Testing New Engine/Suspension Setups Ahead of Dakar 2016

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No person (or rally race) should be treated like ‘a means to an end.’ But when that ultimate goal looms larger than anything else in sight, you tend to focus on the main event. All others are just prep work. And so it is for the refreshed Peugeot 2008 DKR 2015+ racecar. That 2015+ coding is the internal tag for the heavy upgrade work done by the racing boffins at Peugeot Sport. The DKR was our clear favorite to win the Dakar rally in 2015, but lost out to the brutally fast MINI Countryman race squad, who are shooting for …

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Renault Emblem Evolution – 117 Years Crowned with Fresh 2015 Motif

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  The evolution of a brand’s logo can be fascinating, especially when you see that the icons we all know by heart are actually fairly new creations. The Renault diamond logo is certainly one of the most long-running in history, even though it did not make an appearance on a Renault until 25 years after the company began operations in 1898. The diamond badge replaced a short-lived round emblem from 1923 onward — with its sharper angles better suited to the sharp nose creases of the era’s cars. While not quite as zany as the round badge (that was actually …

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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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Pebble Beach 2015 – Concours Best in Show Winners & Highlights in 77 Photos

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What a fantastic group of machines! Scrolling through the photos takes you to another place and time, with each more delightful than the last. We’ve gathered the full list of winners by category, as well as some gorgeous photos of many winners. And smartly, this year created a key with each photo’s details! You’ll be lost in pleasure seeing them all basking in classic-car nirvana. Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners   Isotta Fraschini Named Best of Show at 65th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance   2015 Charitable Donations Top $1.8 Million   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August …

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2016 BAC Mono 2

2016 BAC Mono Scores Prime Placement on Concept Lawn + Configurator

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  Updated with Pebble Beach 2015 Photos The BAC Mono had prime placement on the Concept Lawn of Pebble Beach!  The corner spot is cherished thanks to the resort walkway layout. On concours sunday, tens of thousands will see the BAC Mono’s stealthy racecar stance!  Ready to pounce… Same deal for its showing at the Quail. Just a few new photos to share, but worthwhile to see the new 2016 any way possible. Also pumped to share the actual BAC Mono configurator link. After a rendered color post… good to see that wild greens and yellows can be made real. …

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Ferrari Pebble Beach 2015 – Record-Breaking Classics + New Cali T Special, Sergio and 488GTB!

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Ferrari really went all-out for the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours. The marque was specially honored and featured for classics and concours events this year, which is actually a fairly new phenom in the concours circuit. Think of it as perhaps evolving from such a pre-war focus. Along with cars on the lawn and a smashing auction results list, Ferrari brought out its big guns in terms of new metal. Everything but the FXX K and upcoming 488 Spider made an appearance via official displays. (This is in contrast to McLaren mania last year.) The big reveal was a Tailor Made …

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Galpin Fisker Rocket Convertible - Rear 3Q copy

2016 Galpin Fisker ROCKET Speedster Roars Onto Pebble Beach Concept Lawn

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The Fisker Rocket makes a big entrance for itself no matter the venue. But the concept lawn at Pebble Beach Concours!? That is a big test of the car’s supercar style, futuristic appeal and up-close inspection of its details! Luckily, the carbon-fiber stunner of a Rocket looks stellar next to priceless hypercars and one-off design bucks. Half the cars on the concept lawn are rollers only, with some moved about atop dollies below fixed wheels and tires! So the conpetition for hearts, eyes and minds is steep. The Rocket Speedster is not just a chop-top of the coupe, to ensure …

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2015 Pebble Beach TOUR d’Elegance Gallery – Rolling Millions Standard, Breakdowns Optional!

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The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance is one of the coolest events in an action-packed week. Why? Because it is a delight for owners and spectators alike! In contrast with many of the static displays, the 17-mile route shows priceless classics in action. They snort, they howl, and some even growl!  However your Ferrari or Mercedes or any mark sounds, the senses of its design and beauty are greatly enhanced on the road. Winding around the gorgeous Pebble Beach entry roads, the pace is usually… intermittent, shall we say? Waking these slumbering giants of auto history is not always easy. Frequent …

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2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster Premiere + Colorizer

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The new SV Roadster broke cover yesterday at the Quail — with the special bodywork, cabin and mechanical upgrades even more stunning on the open variant! The SV sports new carbon-fiber aero vanes and special venting details on all sides.  As it stands even next to the new Pirelli Aventador in white for the bearded announcement, the SV is a comprehensive makeover for the design of the Aventador. The big question for an SV Roadster was how Lambo would handle the unique SV engine cover design for the targa. The results are better than ever imagined: structural and artful painted …

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Acura NSX at The Quail 2015

Update1 – 2016 Acura NSX Shows Carbon Options at The Quail! But Production Delayed Until Springtime

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Updated with a dozen new photos 8.16.15 Any sighting of the upcoming Acura NSX is more than welcome — especially when showcasing a bunch of sexy exterior options to make the style even more intense. But this Quail visit is a mixed blessing. Undoubtedly planned when Acura thought the car would be closer to production… the Quail showing comes as we learn that the car is delayed until Spring 2016. And that is when production is set to start. Unfortunately to report, this means cars may not be in first buyer hands until next summer. As tough as that news …

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2016 Lexus LX570 Debuts Stunning New Cabin and Escalade-Proof Exterior Flash!

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The 2016 Lexus is now as stunning inside as a Range Rover!  This is big news for the unstoppable seven-seat SUV in the face of big competition from the new Escalade, Navigator and even the fresh QX80 Limited. Cabin tech and giant flatscreens look ready for South Beach and beyond inside the new LX570, which packs a host of new safety tech as well. The compact new steering wheel and fabulous finishes are perhaps the best ever seen from Lexus — befitting its place at the top of the Lexus lineup with the LS600h. The LX570 pricing is likely to …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

~540HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Concept Is Real-Deal Production Car with Innovative Hydro Turbo Boost Chiller

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Here is a confusing ‘concept’ production car… the Concept M4 GTS is actually well on its way to first US owners next Springtime. The big tech change beside lightweighting and aero upgrades is a new water-cooled turbo system. Shared with the M4 MotoGP car, this feature is an innovative way to make huge boost that can sustain hours of track abuse without losing power. The cooled charge is very different from a more basic intercooler spray. Where a spray is helpful, the cooling all happens outside the closed boost and turbo system. BMW’s charge cooler actually atomizes water into the …

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2015 BMW 3

Update1 – 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Makes Race-Ready Debut at Pebble Beach

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Updated 8.16.15 with 22 new photos At this very hour last year, we were limping away from the BMW Pebble Beach mansion after a party celebrating the M5 Jahre 30 Edition and Vision Future Luxury. A day of roaming the Pebble Beach grounds left our feet blistered and bloody — but the Nikon SD card full of fantastic photos. This year, we are covering the events from afar — feet intact and dress shoes safely stowed in closet. It is cars like this new Hommage R concept that make us wish were spending $1000 a day to not drive any …

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2016 Dodge Challenger 392 HEMI® Scat Pack Shaker

Dodge Courting Collectors With Limited-Run PLUM CRAZY 2016 Charger and Challenger

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Dodge just released two 2016 special editions in the brand’s famous Plum Crazy paint color. This special-order hue will be offered on all engines and trims, up to and including the thunderous Hellcats. While the Charger is our pick hands-down among the two, the Challenger two-door will always be far more valuable as a collector classic. This is the general rule in classics: two-doors always sell for more than four-doors on the classic auction market. This is doubly true for musclecars. Dodge makes a convincing case for Plum Crazy via some never-before-released production numbers for the limited-production and special edition …

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2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe – A Genesis SuperCoupe to Wow Pebble Beach?

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Pebble Beach Concours is a huge draw for the wealthiest car lovers worldwide. As such, it is a pretty intense marketing spectacle for selling new cars along with all the best classics on display. But this crowd is seriously snooty, at times. Last year, a KIA K900 display manned with fresh drinks sought to lure people into test drives of the flagship luxury sedan. Over four days, we saw no one take them up on the offer of a drive. The line of K900’s sat optimistic, like pound puppies, with no one claiming them. Hyundai is taking a different tack …

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2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition 13

2.6s 2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition Cuts 200Lbs from Chop-Top Track Rocket

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Imagine a supercar with the fundamental proportions and track manners of a Lotus Seven, but thoroughly updated in every way except altering that wild wheelbase. Yes, keep the twin bucket seats virtually atop the back axle, and keep the mid-mounted engine behind the front axle as far as possible. But swap the floppy frame rails for a lightwieght and super strong chromoly racing frame. And lose those steel panels and retro lighting completely. While we’re at it, add a 380-hp Audi 2.5-liter turbo Ur-Quattro engine descendent. A full exterior redesign and gangster stance thanks to a big jump in width …

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2016 BAC Mono – Digital Color Visualizer + TallPapers

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  2016 BAC Mono – Digital Color Visualizer + TallPapers Ahh, our English sports-car chums have it so good. Yes, you can buy the monoposto 2016 BAC Mono from anywhere in the world. But it is a rare place that will slap license plates on both ends and let you play F1 hero on public roads. The 2016 model year brings big changes for the stunning Mono, showcased in a fiery new red paintwork at Goodwood 2015. Along with some super-sticky Kumho tires, the new 305-horsepower drivetrain delivered big-time at the rolling motor show. 2.5-liter Mountune Ford power with drive-by-wire …

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305HP 2016 BAC Mono – Watch New Turbo Powertrain Nail 2nd-Quickest Goodwood Hillclimb!

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    Ahh, our English sports-car chums have it so good. Yes, you can buy the monoposto 2016 BAC Mono from anywhere in the world. But it is a rare place that will slap license plates on both ends and let you play F1 hero on public roads. The 2016 model year brings big changes for the stunning Mono, showcased in a fiery new red paintwork at Goodwood 2015. Along with some super-sticky Kumho tires, the new 305-horsepower drivetrain delivered big-time at the rolling motor show. 2.5-liter Mountune Ford power with drive-by-wire throttle replaces the previous 2.3-liter unit. The bump …

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1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet – Saoutchik Opus Seeking $2M-Plus At Monterey Auctions

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Any of the lavish, shouty luxury cars by Jacques Saoutchik are highly cyclical vehicles in terms of their desirability and value. In the boom times, there is no vehicle more iconic than and hand-made mid-century creation from this grand master. But in lean times, they are a lightning rod for the wrong kind of attention. Depending on where your finances are this year, the GS Cab might scream for your checkbook or make you run for the hills. Either way, the chance to buy an original, authentic Saoutchik is quite rare. And among the bon vivants for whom there is …

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1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato 1

RM London 2015 – 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato is Foxy/Boxy Icon

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  We’re pretty bummed not to be attending Pebble Beach this year. But still paying for last year’s $5k work trip at 14-percent interest… so will be sitting this one out. Even so, the classic car auctions of rare and classic vehicles come fast and furious year-round. Next month, this Alfa RZ Zagato will cross the block in London. A perfect embodiment of the late 1980s/early 1990s in high fashion, the RZ will be a foxy/boxy icon for decades to come. 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato RM London 7 September 2015 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato Without Reserve …

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©2015 Sam Cobb

2001 BMW M3 GTR Race and Road Cars Attending Autobahn Concours in Monterey

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BMW is mining some fairly recent greatest hits for the Autobahn Concours in Monterey this week. As you probably know, Pebble Beach Concours often dominates the headlines of the Monterey Bay’s automotive week, but it is just one of more than a dozen locales and events throughout Carmel and the town of Monterey itself. The M3 GTR racecar in stars and stripes livery has just completed a wheels-up restoration, and is a proud member of the BMW racing legacy. The road variant of this killer racecar will also be in attendance. What might these cars signal for the future BMW …

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One-Off MSO McLaren 570S Debuts Ahead of Pebble Beach Concours

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McLaren is loading up its precious cargo ahead of Pebble Beach concours week with more than one special model to show stateside for the first time. The latest is the 2016 570S by MSO, a one-off custom showcasing the bespoke design and engineering of the McLaren Special Operations division. Painted a moody purple color called Mauvine Blue, the MSO 570S also includes a special cabin treatment as well. This color combination shows the infinite palette available to McLaren buyers. MSO also has a new ready-to-wear line to showcase with a Ventura Orange 570S for the concept lawn. Wearing a variety …

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1925 Henderson De Luxe with Goulding Sidecar 1

RM Hershey 2015 Preview – 1925 Henderson De Luxe with Goulding Sidecar

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This beautiful bike grabs the eye and imagination together. The streamlined, art deco shape of fenders and body cowling is mirrored nicely in the luxurious and very roomy-looking sidecar. A patina-filled cobalt/turquoise finish is the perfect showcase of this very rare and innovative motorcycle.   1925 Henderson De Luxe with Goulding Sidecar  RM Hershey 8-9 October 2015 1925 Henderson De Luxe with Goulding Sidecar

1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford 1

Left-Hand Drive 1967 Aston Martin Wagon!? DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford – RM Monterey 2015

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One of four DB6 Mk 1 Shooting Brakes by coachbuilder Radford will cross the auction block next week in California. This one is even left-hand-drive, making it a dream come true for the right new owner to shoot south down the PCH. 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 Lot 360 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford To be auctioned on Saturday, August 15, 2015 $550,000 – $650,000 Chassis no. DB6/S/2688/L Engine no. 400/2613 282 bhp, 3,995 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine with triple SU side-draft carburetors, three-speed …

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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-Class Coupe 14

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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3.2s, 216MPH 1995 Bugatti EB110 SS in Famous Schumi Livery – RM London 2015 Preview

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Thought we had a real scoop here: Michael Schumacher famously bought one of these hypercar heroes in so-called ‘p***y magnet yellow’ in 1994, but this exact car is not his, nor was it ever. The EB110 registry confirms that his chassis number ends in 39020, while this car was built 18 units later as 39038. The performance stats of the EB110 SuperSport are still competitive today, which is a testament to its performance benchmark 20 years ago. This SS is far more than a production “unit” in terms of most vehicle factories. This car sunk more bucks into R&D that …

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WIMMER RST 2015 KTM X-Bow Dubai Gold Edition 3

WIMMER RST Creates One-Off 2015 KTM X-Bow Dubai Gold Edition

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    The KTM X-Bow still has a massive amount of potential: this carbon-fiber speedster layout is likely to be the next big format for track cars over the coming decades. Retiring the floppy old chassis rails of Caterhams is not an instant hit, though. It turns out some of the driving fun and pleasure may have been derived from all that flex under your bum around fast corners. So the X-Bow (said: ‘crossbow’) has an uphill climb to win over purists. To the uninitated, the KTM X-Bow can feel too anodyne, too sure-footed and too grippy for traditional UK …

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2015 GMC Yukon DENALI XL 40

HD Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali XL 4×4 with New 8-Speed Automatic

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Denali lovers have never had it so good: this swanky trimline now extends beyond the Yukon and into the full range from GMC. But for many shoppers, the sweet spot of the General Motors truck range is the Denali XL. Nearly all the tech and luxury of the Escalade, with a less shouty overall presence on the roads. This paradox of the Denali being more humble, yet costing similar to the Caddy is plain for all to see. The idea is that everyone knows the Denali is Caddy-plush, and costs about as much, too. For a big swath of buyers, …

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Mansory-fighter ARES DESIGN MODENA Makes #77Picadilly UK Home for Wild Superlux Customs

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We obviously cover the best of the best customs and tuners here. Sometimes too much? In the world of $300k monthly spending, too much is never enough. ARES design of Modena, Italy just celebrated that fact with a fresh showroom in the heart of London prime: 77 Picadilly. The launch cars are the ARES range of Wraith, Conti GT, Rapide S, Rangie, G63 and more. A brand-new ARES Huracan premiered at this five-diamond launch affair — but thats are only the beginning! This boutique design studio appears to have some serious talent and resources. The cabins are jaw-dropping. The exteriors …

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1960 Chevrolet CERV I Prototype 1

RM Monterey 2015 – 1960 Chevrolet CERV I – Zora’s F1 Dream Prototype

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If there were two words more taboo than ‘racing’ at General Motors in the 1950s, they would be: open-wheeled and mid-engine. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the world’s largest automaker was a big prude when it came to racecars and production exotics. Safety pressure from DC was woven into the product planning and board rooms with an iron lock. But the late 1950s opened many doors. A total ban on racing sponsorship or factory participation was fading fast. Moral leaders and crazy think-tanks of the day were losing their grip on culture thanks to mass media and tectonic advancements …

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1971 ABARTH Scorpione Prototipo is Rear-Engine Rallycar for RM London 2015

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    Abarth built a series of fascinating race concepts between the 1950s and the mid 1970s, usually somehow based on a Fiat 500 but often completely redesigned. This Scorpione Prototipo was a very contemporary take on a quasi-factory rally car. The glasshouse and overall proportions of the vehicle are far more advanced than any Cinquecento, with a complete repackaging into a two-seat GT car with its engine in the trunk. Theoretical competition in racing would come from cars like the Alpine A110 or the Lancia Fulvia. The Abarth 1300 badge in back next to the circular punch-drilled ventwork is …

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1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C 3

RM Monterey 2015 – 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C

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Very special Aston Martin to see on the market! This Speed C streamliner was engineered and built as a LM-ready race prototype. Just eight of this C spec were produced, with this exact car thought to be the last Aston delivered before WWII.  Army green paintwork is fitting, then, and quite fetching on the exotic shapes of the speedster fenders and bobtail trunk. 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C $750,000 – $950,000 Chassis no. G40/718/U 125 bhp, 1,949 cc SOHC inline four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors, …

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Apollo Edition 2015 Mustang

627HP 2015 Ford Mustang APOLLO EDITION Wears CF Bodykit + Forgiato 21s

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Before you get too excited… this Apollo Edition Mustang is a one-off custom — not one coming to showrooms to rival the 2016 GT350. Created for this week’s Experimental Aircraft Association show in Oshkosh, Wisconin, the Apollo Mustang will be sold to benefit EAA AirVenture and youth engineering programs. The Apollo Mustang wears a variety of off-the-shelf Ford Performance parts, custom details, and designer features like the Forgiato wheels. The carbon-fiber body kit is beautiful with its functional strut supports looking great on the Apollo’s slammed stance. 2015 Ford Mustang APOLLO EDITION     FORD ANNOUNCES APOLLO EDITION MUSTANG TO …

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1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Is Lime Green Dream for RM Monterey 2015

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1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Is Lime Green Dream for RM Monterey 2015 RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe Without Reserve $300,000 – $375,000 Chassis no. 9114600447 Engine no. 6640620 Gearbox no. 344215  210 bhp, 2,681 cc SOHC air-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, five-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with torsion bars, McPherson struts, and an anti-roll bar, independent rear suspension with torsion bars, trailing arms, tubular shock absorbers, and an anti-roll bar, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 89.4 in. Matching-numbers example Fully restored by marque experts; striking color …

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1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster 1

1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster – RM Monterey 2015 Preview

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 If there is one 1960s hypercar style we love best, it is the rare mid-engine speedster. This mid-engine exotic aimed to be a true racecar prototype for the roads — with a mid-mounted Chevrolet V8 under a louvered back deck. The design is nicely functional yet playful all around, with shared details from the 5300 Strada sitting nicely with the all-new slimline upper half and interesting inverted tail details. RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster 1967 Bizzarrini P538

RM Monterey 2015 - 1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine 7

RM Monterey 2015 – 1938 Adler Trumpf RennLimousine – LM ‘Racing Sedan’ with Airship Aero

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The fantastic convergence of aerospace and supercars has a glorious history! This Adler Trumpf Rennlimo from 1938 represented a fascinating view of automotive aerodynamics in a time before effective wind tunnels or computer simulations. The learnings and design principles of aerodynamics were far more theoretical in the pre-jet age. Yet Adler designers brought great insights from airship and Zeppelin design into the car world to great results. This ‘racing sedan,’ as the Rennlimo translates, was the first closed-cockpit racer to take on LeMans. Just six were produced for sale, all with unique spindle and wing tweaks to the bodywork. The …

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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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One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S - RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview 7

One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S – RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview

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What a special surprise! The incredibly sexy 2006 Lamborghini Concept S will soon be auctioned off the the highest bidder! This gorgeous design vision was the original Gallardo Spyder preview car — with this stunning, dual-cowl speedster then diving for the archives. The one-off details on this car make it one for the ages. The Concept S is leading the RM Sotheby’s New York auction in November 2015. Ballpark estimates? Well, it is a concept from the show circuit. But also fully functional down below.  This is pure Gallardo V10. Helmets recommended. Road legal? In sum, we’d expect nothing less …

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2015 Mazda LM55 Vision GT Tops Goodwood With 787B LeMans Legend + GT6 Updates

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  Twin glory spires at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year are capped by the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B and the 2015 Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo — two kindred spirits together in the metal publicly for the first time. This is a huge year for Mazda. The lineup is stronger than ever, while the new MX-5 and all-new CX-3 compact SUV are creating more buzz than ever for the Japanese sportscar brand. The Central Sculpture and OEM title sponsorship for Mazda at Goodwood is a big vote of confidence in their growth strategy. Typically this high-dollar placement has gone …

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1971 Mazda COSMO Sport 18

1971 Mazda COSMO Sport – 130HP/Liter Flyweight Laid Roots for MX-5 and Wankel RX-7

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As you might know, we get really excited to find any Japanese car in the high-dollar auction world. The Monterey sale is the Super Bowl for car collectors. Tens of thousands of wealthy individuals descend on Pebble Beach and Carmel for a week-long extravaganza of past, present and future exotics. This makes the atmosphere fairly competitive even outside the fast-talking auctions. Polish up your current ride and eyeball what might become your next? A few Datsun roadsters, Skyline’s and Toyota 2000GT’s are the only regular attendees of the oceanfront Cali spectacular — but are joined this year by an exceptionally …

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1952 Jaguar XK120 SuperSonic by Ghia 33-horz

Jet-Age 1952 Jaguar XK120 SuperSonic by Ghia to Cross Block at RM Monterey 2015

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Here is a vehicle that would have fit right in to the Atlanta High Museum of Art’s ‘Dream Cars’ exhibit along with the Stratos HF Lancia, Ferrari 512 Modulo, GM rocket cars, and nearly a dozen others. The XK120 SuperSonic was Ghia’s special application of their design aesthetic atop a Jaguar. Freed from the limits of mass production, the panels of the SuperSonic could be as wild as imaginable. Just three were ever completed — and helped inform the eventual look of the E-Type by the end of the 1950s — where they apply some of these ideas in a …

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Mecum July 2015 – Four Flawless Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500KR Fastbacks

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Humble Harrisburg, Pennslyvannia is ready to feel some Ford V8 rumble this July 30th! These four Mustangs are a highlight of the sale: a gorgeous black GT500KR, lovable red 1969 Mach 1, and a pair of 1970 Mach 1’s in eye-popping Calypso Coral paintwork. The orange twins are a highlight — but can be confusing to tell apart. They have different cabin colors — but adding the auction code prefix just for clarity among prospective owners. They’ll be Mustang experts, of course, and know that one is packing 335HP versus the other at 300HP. Which is which?  It is confusing… …

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1962 Western Pacific 40-Foot AIRSTREAM Earns $200k at Mecum Denver Auction

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AirStream popularized the towed-home vacation for Americans in the middle of the 20th century. Roomy cabins with the mod-cons of home, the AirStream phenom really took off after WWII as the interstate highway system grew in the 1950s. These light but relatively strong streamliners were and are constructed of high-grade polished aluminum — which was good for looking cool and staying rigid over thousands of miles. But it was less good for overall comfort inside. Small windows were the only option for designers and engineers, limiting cool breezes inside. If parked in the hot sun of a national park all …

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Miami Vice Ferrari 512 TestaRossa Bringing Coked-Up 80s Cool to Mecum 2015 Monterey Auctions

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What was the epitome of South Beach chic in the 1980s? White. White car, white house. White blazer and belt. A white “carphone” to match. All bought with an empire of white powder. To fit the profile, the detectives in Miami Vice had to live the part of druglords as their undercover personas. Fast cars and fast women… all wrapped up nicely with a solved case at the end of the hour. Perhaps even more iconic than the art deco beachfronts and rampant turquoise from the show? The Ferrari 512 TR hero car of the show. Unlike Hawaii 5-0 Magnum …

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2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed BREITLING JET TEAM Special

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Bentley and Breitling have one of the most durable brand partnerships in the car business. There just seems to be never-ending relevance among Bentley owners and Breitling wearers. Seven examples of this Breitling jet team special will be produced – with polished alloy for the hood and roof, grounded by a bright cyan lower bodykit and interior detailing. The car will debut at the end of July at the Boeing air show in Washington state, with order books to open (and then close:) as fast as a control-tower flyby of seven top guns! 2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed BREITLING JET …

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2015 Divergent BLADE Concept 9

700HP, 2.2s 2015 Divergent BLADE Concept – The Tesla of Small-Batch Supercars?

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Verrrry interesting new supercar concept to share! Meet the 2015 Divergent Microfactories Blade. The product of a Palo Alto-based tech startup, the Blade highlights the rapidly falling barriers to entering the automotive business. One-time giant fixed costs like factories and industrial presses are on the outs thanks to innovations in material science. While billed by many as the 3D-printed supercar, that does not strictly seem to be the case. Yes, many components in the Blade are produced in an unconventional fashion — but are the truly 3D printed pieces on display, or mostly hidden details? The main chassis evolves from …

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Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – DAY TWO Gallery + Action GIFS

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Updated 6.28.15 — Now With More Action GIFS! Weekend complete for Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. …

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Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – New Cars Mega Gallery in 188 Pics

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Day one complete at a glorious and very sunny 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. Leading off? …

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Goodwood 2015 Preview – Aston Martin VULCAN vs McLaren P1 Prost Moment MSO Special

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McLaren is pulling rabbits out of hats in terms of esablishing historical provenance for the new P1 and P1 GTR, while Aston Martin is tearing up the glossy brochure and trying to relight the brand wildfire. Two contrasting strategies on full, proud display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The wildcard in this slugfest is the McLaren F1 GT Longtail — which bridges a link between then and now, plus P1 and the sold-out 2015 675LT. All will be revving hard up Goodwood hill. But they wont be alone. LaFerrari’s and even the FXX K will be vying for HDR …

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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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Next-Generation NSX: The 93rd Pikes Peak International Hill Clim

2015 Acura NSX Pikes Peak Pacecar Headlines Dozen Honda Cloud-Chasers!

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Honda and Acura have continued their title sponsorship of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in 2015 with a variety of cool tech innovations on and off the 14,000-foot mountain of a racetrack. Climbing 1000 feet a minute while hitting 180-degree corners every few hundred yards is no small achievement for any car — and Pikes Peak in recent years has become true global racing highlight for many brands. Knocking seconds off the climb times is increasingly challenging and requires ultra-high-performance machinery to achieve. Peugeot nailed a track record last year, and Honda was aiming for quickest-ever glory in 2015 with its …

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2015 Lexus RCF #RseaF SEMA Showcar 2

2015 Lexus RC Playdate Includes Vossen SEMA Showcar and APEX Radio-Controlled Drifters!

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  Two things you must drive ASAP to push the limits of your smile muscles? The 2015 Lexus RC Coupe and the matching Team Associated RCF radio-controlled car! A quick meeting with the rockstar team of the Lexus Southern region this week offers definitive proof that the RC marks a seachange for Lexus overall. The playful new mood of the Japanese luxury juggernaut is clear from first approach: five RC coupes to test drive, joined by a handful of the ultra-rapid RCF radio-controlled cars. The ‘RC-RCF’ is another stark reminder that your drive memory for Lexus (and all radio-controlled cars) …

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2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 4WD White Diamond Tricoat 73

2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 1/2 Ton 4WD Review

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    American brand icons do not come much more glorious than Chevy. In the automotive realm, Chevrolet has been a constant throughout the last 100 years. A powerhouse in the General Motors stable, Chevrolet has seen off dozens of business lines and market segments. Divested in favor of keeping Chevy healthy, GM left the heavy trucks business altogether and dropped half its brand portfolio in the last ten years. Thus, the recent history of the firm has been shaken up more this century than the ten preceding decades. But the results speak for themselves. Never in my lifetime has …

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2017 Morgan EV3 – Electric 3 Wheeler Is Streamliner Heaven

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Exciting first look full reveal from Morgan today ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed: the iconic Three-Wheeler in electric form! Dubbed the EV3, this prototype is on the way to production with a weight loss of nearly 200-pounds versus the gasoline model, plus a much sportier handling balance. Why such a change in dynamics versus the normal 3 Wheeler? That model’s highly unusual engine placement ahead of the front axle creates some quite extreme forces on the chassis in hard driving. That huge polar movement around bends is part of what makes the 3 Wheeler such a joy to …

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2015 Bell & Ross BR 03 RAFALE Is Ceramic Special With Fighter-Jet Tech Transfer

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Welcome to the latest Bell & Ross showpiece: the BR 03 Rafale. Revealed at this year’s Basel World convention, this 500-unit run takes the Bell & Ross aesthetic and identity well into the future via all-new style and military technology transfer. The most striking element of this $6,200 watch is its case, which eschews the typical milled alloys and stainless steel of most watches from this hot French marque. By swapping metal for ceramic, the Rafale promises to be a real featherweight on the wrist. The big-watch trend takes some time to get used to on your wrist. You learn …

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2015 UP Design Mole Construzione Artigianale 12

2015 UP Design MOLE Construzione Artigianale – World Debut in 45 Photos!

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Welcome to Umberto Palermo’s latest exotic: the Mole Construzione Artigianale. Quite a mouthful of a name, and one that must be pronounced with Italian flair to feel its impact! Molè (Mo-lay) Cunstruzione (Cahhn-struuu-zzi-oh-nay) Artigianale (aharr-ti-zi-ohh-nah-lay). How are those for phoenetics! Molè references a local building in Turin, while Construzione Artigianale loosely translates to bespoke creation. Long intro! But the mood of this new hypercar needs no words. Stunning from all sides. It is a deconstructed and deeply sexy take on the modern high-performance ethos — but adds the joy of creation via details unlike anything else on the road. A …

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2015 Torino Design WildTwelve Concept 3

2015 Torino Design WildTwelve Concept Debuts at Parco Valentino

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Exciting supercars galore at this week’s Parco Valentino Gran Premio. A blend of design expo, luxury showcase and car show — this ‘Goodwood South’ just wrapped up a fun week at Turin’s magnificent Valentino Castle. Torino Design revealed a very interesting new concept, the WildTwelve Concept. This is a carbon-chassis exotic with bespoke design and engineering inside and out. A hybrid V12 lives behind the cockpit, yet this machine is in the same size class as the Huracan or Ferrari 488. Primarily a design showcase, the Torino Design WildTwelve is not headed for production any time soon. But it is …

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TOPCAR Classics 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GT 4

TOPCAR Classic Restorations Showcase – Lamborghini Diablo GT + DeTomaso Pantera

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Lest you think mega-tuner TopCar.ru is all about swapping new German metal for carbon-fiber, here are two restoration projects to showcase the diverse skills on offer. These TopCar resto-updates create two of the cleanest and most flawless examples of Italian classics: the ultra-rare Diablo GT plus a DeTomaso Pantera. The rests speak for themselves — with the Diablo GT especially impressive inside and out. TOPCAR Classics Lamborghini Diablo GT   TOPCAR Classic Restorations Showcase – Lamborghini Diablo GT + DeTomaso Pantera   TOPCAR Classics DeTomaso Pantera   http://en.top-car.ru/

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2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept – Mid-Engine 2016 TT-Fighter in HD LeMans Lap

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Surprise reveal for the next chapter in Alpine sportscars! This 2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept is a mid-engine prototype that represents the first look at the brand’s move to a stand-alone marque in the RenaultSport fleet. Initiated as a collaboration with Caterham a few years ago, the plan was to acquire a low-cost and proven sports-car chassis from the English. Custom bodywork and RenaultSport engines would provide authentic French zing for the machine – which would become a halo sportscar for the entire Renault/Dacia lineup — worldwide. HD Le Mans Lap Renault ran into major troubles synchronizing its big-company safety, reliability …

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LeMans Legends from Porsche – Sweet 16 Becomes Magnificent 17 With New 919 Win

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        Porsche just swept LeMans, crowning its 17th racecar with the most-coveted trophy on the auto racing circuit. What cars came before? Porsche has competed and succeeded at Le Mans since the early 1950s, but only entered the highest echelons of competition in the mid-1960s. Shut out of victory by the Ford GT40 Mark II’s winning streak from 1966-1969, Porsche did the impossible with its massive 1970 victory. Let’s take a walk back through Porsche LeMans Winners, starting from the most recent in 1998. But first, the all-star group and the people behind these wins. Porsche LeMans …

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Porsche LeMans 2015 Victory 9

LeMans 2015 Video: Porsche 919 Hybrid Takes One-Two Victory!

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  Ladies and gentleman, the day has come! Porsche reclaimed overall LeMans victory 45 years since its first in 1970 and last in 1998. The 919 Hybrid was so fast it passed even LMP2 cars (and more than a few LMP1 cars) like they were standing still on the track. A stunning feat of brilliant engineering, driving and motorsports — together pushing the 919 to a decisive victory in first and second place.   2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid   One-two for the Porsche 919 Hybrids in Le Mans Stuttgart. Mission accomplished: Porsche has achieved its 17th overall Le Mans victory …

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2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Scrambler 4

2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Previews Production Scrambler at Biarritz Bike Fest

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  BMW Motorrad is on a concept bender lately! Fantastic Villa d’Este glimpses into the future have come into focus over the last few years, with the R NineT a particularly tempting design statement among riders worldwide. But how to take all the futuristic materials into production, and what bike market to aim for? This 2015 Concept Path 22 gives us a clear answer: BMW is exploring a Scrambler for the first time. As described by BMW below, the fun and sporty genre of motorcycles is a bit of a hybrid: with street-bike features and performance, but much meatier tire …

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2015 Torino Design WildTwelve Concept

SHOCK! 2017 Ford GT Will Race LeMans 2016 – HD Track Test Video + 75 Photos

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Alternative headline grabbers?   FTW! New Vmax Bomber! Shock & Awesome! Stormin’ Normandy! Ford Libs LeMans for 6th Time in 2016? Now on to this heartwarming news: the 2017 Ford GT supercar will race in Le Mans next year, the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT’s first win in 1966. Since 1944, we add 1967, 68 and 69 to reach five overall American trips to Le Mans, France. Le Sarthe for Ford means nothing less than agony, ecstasy and a lasting legacy. The 2016 24-hour race one year from tomorrow will mark a high water mark in Ford Performance’s return …

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1976 Porsche 930 Turbo – Steve McQueen Special on Video + 150 Photos

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    Here is a fantastic way to kick off LeMans weekend: with a fabulous inside look at Steve McQueen’s last special-order Porsche. This 1976 930 Turbo was one of the very first forced-air 911 Carrera’s ever made — and was at least partially put into series production at the urging of the acting and racing badboy. Like McQueen himself, the 911 Turbo would become far more than just a badge or a nameplate. It has come to represent the ultimate in man over nature; speed against all odds, and the joys of being a badass. How badass? McQueen had …

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2016 Honda RC213V-S USA 10

2016 Honda RC213V-S MotoGP Champ Coming to Select USA Owners By Year-End!

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It is very, very rare that a pure racer of any kind is offered to the public for sale. Heck, for most racing teams, even divulging key mechanical specs can be an act of high treason. But after two MotoGP World Championships, the impossible is now confirmed: Honda will sell the bike in the US market. Ever-so-slighty tweaked to add license plate brackets, the looser safety rules for two-wheelers make this a genius move by Honda. This is beyond performance flagship or halo model. The RC213V-S is a knockout blow to all other superbikes.  Pricing and availability are not yet …

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LeMans 2015 Spotters Guide to All Racecars c/o Nissan GT-R LM Nismo – Truly Innovative Excitement?

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Innovation That Excites. Sound familiar? Of course it does. This Nissan tagline raises half an eyebrow when attached to cars like the Altima or Versa. Arguably neither innovative nor exciting, it is almost like calling Taco Bell haute cuisine. It just is not in any way. Categorical denial of tagline principles! But the new 2015 LMP1 car from Nissan is actually hugely innovative and hugely exciting. It is the newest entrant in the top class to compete with the Ultra-boring Audi Sport R19s, Porsche 919 and somewhat dull Toyota Gazoo TS040. The GT-R LM NISMO is also a total wildcard …

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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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2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta 1

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta Doubles Price at RM Villa Erba Auction

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Here is a curious one! A 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta crossed the block the other week at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Villa Erba, Italy — earning its first owner a handy 90-percent profit margin along the way. True story. The 458 SA is available to order now with pricing from $330,000. Yet this barely-driven 2015 model just raked in $580k at auction. What is the deal? Should we all get in the supercar speculation business? Get rich quick, drive quick cars?! Sounds perf. But there is a reason this is so unusual: new supercars are not frequently seen …

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Musclecar Origin Story – 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe

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There is some debate as to what was the first American Musclecar. The Mustang certainly takes most of the glory in launching this new segment, but a few important machines paved that road first with big, affordable power. The Bonneville launched in 1958 but really became unique and special in 1959 and 1960 – with a wide-track design that stood apart from similar cars from the GM R&D trenches. And though it looks huge today, this 1960 is actually a drastic lightweight-ing of the previous models, like this 1958 example below. In fact, the Bonneville became the blue-collar hero of …

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RM London 2015 Preview – 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage

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What to say about this extra-special DB2 Vantage — with its stunning primer whitewash and flat black spokes screaming 2015 loud and clear! 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage RM Sotheby’s London 7 September 2015 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Chassis no. LML/50/19 Engine no. LB6V/50/240 Photo Credit: Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s 125 bhp, 2,580 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine, twin SU HV6 carburettors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with trailing link, coil springs and Armstrong lever dampers, live Salisbury rear axle with coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2,515 mm. The very first Aston …

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SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Off-Road Course Mega Gallery

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PART THREE – The Millbrook Off-Road Course The dirtiest truck in the lot at the end of the day? Not the Unimog or Defender… but the lowly Dacia Duster! Makes sense – off-roading can be perilous. Second dirtiest? A mud-spattered Skoda Outdoor Estate. Definitely looks like a fun day of testing.     Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a …

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SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook High-Speed Bowl – Mega Photo Gallery

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PART TWO: Intro and High-Speed Bowl Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche Cayenne GTS, AMG GT’s and SL65 World Championship Edition, the latest F-Type S AWD and manual-transmission, Clio RS, Audi RS7 and RS6, BMW X5M, RCF Carbon Pack…. the list goes on and on! Seeing the vehicles at speed around Millbrook’s challenging alpine hill course gives a great view into the …

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SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Alpine Course – Dynamic Photos Mega Gallery

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Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a few AMG GT’s, the SL65 World Championship Edition, the latest F-Type S AWD and manual-transmission, Clio RS, Audi RS7 and RS6, BMW X5M, RCF Carbon Pack…. the list goes on and on! Seeing the vehicles at speed around Millbrook’s challenging alpine hill course gives a great view into the dynamics of these new …

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2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione 1

RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione

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Ferrari Challenge cars are brutal, hardcore and seriously extreme. If your senses have been dulled by supercars as daily drivers, these cars are a harsh wakeup call to the terror and glory of a true racecar. It is extremely rare to see one with the most current technology come up for sale, and this 458 Challenge Evo is basically brand new. It just returned to the US from Maranello, where it was upgraded to the quickest ‘Evo’ form with new mechanicals and aero updates via all-new nose and tail. Before that voyage, it only had a few hours of total …

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RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio: Up Close With 21 Exotic-Car Icons

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Get ready to move some funds around! RM Sotheby’s just revealed a new entry into the 2015 Monterey classic auction: the Pinnacle Portfolio. 20 of the most desirable and collectible modern and classic supercars. Maserati MC12, McLaren F1 LM Road Car, Ferrari F40 LM and regular, 250GT’s, CCXR Koenigsegg…. the list really is drool-worthy. Each is likely to draw a unique type of buyer, despite them all coming from one very large home before. Check out the high-res preview photos of 21 Pinnacle cars below. RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio 2015 – Monterey – The Pinnacle Portfolio 1994 Ferrari …

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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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Ferrari Bringing FXX-K + 488GTB and More to 2015 Goodwood FOS in New Concours Strategy

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Ferrari is the most-collectible car brand of all time. Vehicles from the company’s storied past have owned the top-ten vehicle value charts for at least the last 20 years — with that dominance set to continue indefinitely. Especially considering the brilliance of the current range! As the dominant force in supercars, racing and exotics — Ferrari can be choosy about the events it attends officially, and the coolness of the cars they bring along to show. Case in point? The FXX K has not been seen again in public since its debut at Yas Marina the other month. The F12 …

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