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Best of Awards – 2015 Nissan GT-R Premium in 4K Track Drive Reviews

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 TRACK DRIVE VIDEO – 4K Quality The Midwest Auto Media Association’s Fall Rally in 2013 was my first-ever taste of the mighty Nissan GT-R. Last year, the Nissan USA guys brought a seriously menacing Track Edition model for quick laps around the Autobahn Country Club racetrack. We arrived on the scene in a press loan Nissan JUKE Nismo so it was a love-fest overall for the Nissan performance lineup. But a late arrival meant we skipped the track in 2013 in favor of mild street drives instead. Or so we thought. In Race/Race/Race settings, the GT-R threw my iPhone camera …

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Gen-6 Toyota Camry NASCAR Revealed Ahead of 2015 Season

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The NASCAR ‘Car of Tomorrow’ is now in its sixth generation after barely as many years roaring round the nation’s speedways. Luckily, this latest design rulebook allows the cars to look much less generic, and more like their actual namesake road car models. The first out of the gates for the 2015 season of the Sprint Cup and 2015 Xfinity (formerly Nationwide) racing series is the new Camry. It really does look like the production car! ANIMATED OVERLAY ANALYSIS: Camry v ‘NASCamry’ In this transparency of the production Camry XSE versus the NASCAR Camry, we can see how similar these …

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MANSORY Customs for McLaren 12C Up the Bling Quotient of First-Gen Supercar Dramatically

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Bling? Does anyone say that anymore?  Probably not – but the sentiment definitely holds for anything that comes out of the Mansory dream factory. Three years since the release of the MP4-12C — pre-name-change, and before McLaren Special Operations started doing factory customs — there are a large amount of second-hand supercars on the market. All they truly need to have the presence and curb appeal of the latest 650S is a little pizzazz outside and in! For cities like Miami, Monte Carlo or Macau – a factory supercar is a dime a dozen. Being unique is all about expressing …

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2015 MINI Cooper 5-Door in Postcard-Worthy Trip Around The City of Light

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A moveable feast with a big back seat? Yep! Table for five, please. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Metro, the Seine and the Arc de Triumph — all in an afternoon with this big new MINI! Any of these charming photos would look nice on an old-fashion paper postcard, or even an Instagram to your friends back home. The 5-door SD shown here is the hot Diesel engine for Europe, but the looks are identical to the Cooper and Cooper S engines we will see in the US. This means a base turbo triple and a turbo …

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Track Test Drive – 2015 Ford Interceptor Utility at Atlanta Motor Speedway

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 2015 Ford Interceptor Utility Review The irony of driving a 2015 Ford Interceptor Utility hard on an autocross track near Atlanta? Someone we know… recently paid a ridiculously high-priced speeding ticket to the City of Atlanta. But was it an Explorer police truck that pulled that person over? Nope. A motorcycle cop. Which is rare in 2014. Ford notes that more than 60-percent of new police vehicles solid this year were Interceptor Utilities. The Explorer Police upfit is simply the most popular cop car around — and this includes the Dodge Charger and even the Charger V8 AWD. The Interceptor …

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Best of Awards – 2015 Ford Transit Connect Cargo 1.6L EcoBoost – 4K Track Test Drive Video

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Proof that a turbo engine can make any car or van a hoot? The Ford Transit Connect Cargo with the optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine! Check out the brief autocross video to see a preview of every busy delivery driver near the end of his shift. The TCC (Transit Connect Cargo) is comfortable and sporty with a low center-of-gravity but an elevated view forward. It is a bit like a tall Focus or a slammed Escape — but hooning a cargo van makes it all the more enjoyable. With the MyFord Touch and Navigation, the TCC makes almost no sacrifices for …

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2015 Mercedes-AMG GT Edition 1 Packs Dark Style and Huge Rear Wing + 60 New Photos

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Updated 10.10.14   The wraps have come off the AMG GT’s Edition 1 package! 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT Edition 1     PREVIOUS The relationship between PlayStation and Mercedes-Benz has been very strong since the AMG SLS was the cover car for GranTurismo 5. That relationship is a three-way affair: among AMG, Polyphony Digital as the GT game developers, and Sony itself in extending the reach of PS4. The new DRIVECLUB game seeks to be a new type of social racing experience — where friends battle one another for track glory both in real-time and as part of championship leagues. Sony …

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510HP, 3.9s 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Makes Paris Debut With Red-Lipped Styling Accents

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The new C63 is here! In UK  trim at first, but with key details now clear ahead of the US announcement. In an unusual move, Mercedes-Benz is now Mercedes-AMG for the hottest models in its range. This slight name change drops the Benz and moves the AMG portion ahead of the model nomenclature. Aside from the detail OEM change, the rest of the car is far more exciting. Huge power from the 476-horsepower engine is also available in an XXL power guise: the S Model simply becomes the C63 S. One distinct piece for the C63 versus the E63 and …

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3.2s 2015 Tesla Model D Arriving in February With AWD and AutoPilot in 60D, 85D and 85D Performance Trims

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Pretty exciting news last night from Tesla! The Model S is now available with a dual-mode AWD system that boosts mileage by 10-percent and is a $4,500 option on all three battery sizes of the Model S. Few changes outside except a small radar box in the lower nose of the Model D, along with new badges out back. Inside, updated systems integrate a new AutoPilot automated drive mode — but we are still awaiting official details from Tesla on the functionality of the system. Overall, we expect lane-keeping assist, full-speed cruise control with city braking as new convenience and …

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3.1s 2015 Ferrari F60 America Is 10-Copy F12 Spyder Celebrating 60 Years of Ferrari in USA

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    Welcome to the soft-top F12 Ferrari! We called this pretty convincingly a month ago with the below article… but it is still magnificent to see the car’s details up close. There is a bikini top for the roof of the new F60 America – but it is limited to about 70-mph — far slower than the 202-mph-plus top speed of the amazing F12 Coupe. But for the brave or helmeted, the F60 America’s huge V12 engine will hit the double ton with ease. Only ten of the F60 America Ferrari’s will be made — and all ten are …

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Speculative Renderings – 2016 Volvo S80 and 2017 Volvo S60

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The new Volvo XC90’s style is being very warmly received across almost all of the seven-seat SUVs major markets. This all-new platform brings a stunningly-luxurious cabin and a high-tech PHEV hybrid drivetrain with T6 and T8 engine choices. But the secret behind those badges and the T8 moniker? They are both turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with varying levels of electric assistance. So how will the new XC90 influence the rest of the Volvo lineup, both under the skin and in the exterior designs? The answer to both, we predict, is heavily. The tech of this new chassis is set to roll …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz and DKR Prototype Top Paris Concept Reveals

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  Updated 10.9.14 With Debut Video and 20 New Photos! Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not …

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European-Market 2015 Volkswagen Passat Is Luxury Sedan For Contract Killers on a Budget

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Updated 10.9.14 We had some seriously scathing things to say about this new 2015 Passat for European markets when it debuted the other month online. Overall, the new Passat is not nearly as dull and lifeless as it seemed in VW’s initial renderings. In real life, the detail in the new design is pretty fresh up front and in back. A new-to-VW LED style is seen in both the head and taillamps, and is the most successful part of the design. Overall, the wagon is far more appealing in its quest to bring some of the low-roof / long-hood look …

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Updated with 80 New Photos – 585HP, 3.9s 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 and S65 AMG Coupe

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Updated 10.9.14 with 80 New Photos A handful of photos of the forthcoming S65 AMG Coupe from Pebble Beach, along with a big set of new photos showing the UK model of the S63 two-door. The design is wholly transformative versus any CL-Class that has come before it. But is it unique enough versus the S550 Coupe? But first, a charmer of a 300SL. 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Coupe   PREVIOUS The S63 AMG Coupe builds on the hottest new Mercedes-Benz strategies of supercar pace/luxury-car comfort — and keeps building, and building, and building!   A true skyscraper of a …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Sport is Smooth, Sexy and Classy

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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is moving up in both desirability and style for 2015. The 2015 C300 and C400 models both pack turbocharged engines and 4Matic AWD as standard for the US market, and the pricing moves up the scale noticeably as well. But as a quick spin in the C300 4Matic Sport with the LED Lighting and Airmatic suspension packages shows, this is a Benz that is the best of all worlds. In many ways, the new C-Class goes back to the roots of Mercedes brand strengths. It is fast but ultra-luxurious. It ride like a dream but can hold …

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Travel Adventures – Aviation Hall of Fame – U2 Spy Plane and D-21 Recon Drone

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PART TWO – The U2 and D-21. In the days before satellite imagery, broadband and digital photography — it was all about actual aerial photographs in the military planning and intelligence worlds. The Blackbird program was accelerated and approved for use largely as a result of a U-2 being shot down and its pilot captured in the USSR. The U-2 was designed to fly higher than any Soviet missile could reach. It moved slowly, like today’s surveilance drones, because the thinking was that its altitude would protect it from any attack. Flying slower also allowed the Kodak large-format camera systems …

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Travel Adventures – Aviation Hall of Fame – 2,193MPH Lockheed SR-71A and SR-71B Blackbirds

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PART TWO – The Blackbirds. Has there ever been a plane more enigmatic and also enchanting in its design and capabilities? The Lockheed Blackbird is a true icon for the ages. Included below are two of the only SR-71 Blackbirds that are viewable by the public – anywhere on Earth. The first is the world aviation speed record-holder, and the second the SR-71B double cockpit model. They are both housed inside giant museum buildings, making photographs tricky. The lighting is atrocious, but their impact up close is unforgettable. Why inside? Well, despite having their engines removed and on display, these …

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Travel Adventures – Robins AFB Aviation Hall of Fame – B1 Bomber

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PART ONE – B1 Bomber There are a few signs you see on a road trip that are usually worth taking the next exit. One of those is an AFB Museum. Without any prior planning or knowledge of the Robins Air Force Base Museum on my way to Atlanta today, we pulled off the highway ASAP and set the navigation with this new destination. 24 minutes off the highway, and we are staring head-on with a B1-B Lancer and a Warthog A10 out front. This is the second amazing detour for an AFB museum — the other being in Kalamazoo, …

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4.3s, 400HP 2015 VENTURI America EV SUV Reaches Limited-Production!

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Exciting news from Venturi in Paris this week! The well-resolved America dune-buggy has a redesigned powertrain and will now grow past concept and prototype stages. Limited-production of the EV off-roader begins in early 2015 — but there is a catch. Only 25 initial copies of this innovative and stylish crossover will be made. Performance stats are looking very impressive, however, and the carbon-kevlar tub will make this thing unstoppable on the rough stuff. And likely a fun canyon-carver on hard surfaces or, gasp, tarmac! TECHNICAL MASTERPIECE   (Sorry for the watermark.) SPECIFICATIONS Like the Local Motors Rally Fighter and many …

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Update2 – Road Test Review – 2015 Lincoln Navigator Driven Back-to-Back with Escalade ESV = Surprise Winner!

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UPDATED 10.9.14 Corrections to the suspension specs of the Navigator Select trim, as well as the name of the LWB Escalade from EXT to its actual name, the ESV. It has been hard to take the new Navigator and Expedition seriously in the face of the newer-seeming Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade. The Navigator seemed to be the slightest of light refreshes versus those all-new models from across town. But after time at the wheel of both the Navigator and the new Escalade ESV — we were strongly leaning toward the Navigator. This surprised no one more than your humble scribe. …

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Update1 – Wow! 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S

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Update1 – Wow! 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S   Photos from Paris confirm it: the new Mitsubishi Outlander looks absolutely fantastic. Hard the believe how much more desirable the new car is than the current Outlander, which is lost in a sea of rounded corners. 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S       PREVIOUS Are you getting pumped for Paris? Kicking off the 2014/2015 auto show season in high-fashion style, the debuts are set to come fast and furious… ahem. Pre-empting the big debuts of the new Infiniti Q80 flagship, Lamborghini SUV and many, many more is the new Mitsubishi …

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Chevy Introduces Suburban and Tahoe Texas Editions to Complement Silverado UT Special

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  Looking pretty good! Texans will love the standard features on offer via these special editions. The University of Texas Silverado is particularly special — thanks to that perfectly color-matched exterior and the longhorn styling accents. Tahoe/Suburban Texas Editions Salute the Lone Star State Special package mirrors Silverado model for the largest Chevy truck market 2014-09-25 DALLAS – Deep in the heart of Texas, Chevrolet sells more Tahoe and Suburban models than in any other state and all-new Texas Editions of the SUVs celebrate the Lone Star State’s love for Chevy trucks. The 2015 Tahoe and Suburban Texas Editions go …

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Update2 – 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda Production Debut – Exclusively Available in Middle East

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Updated 10.5.14 New photos and production details of the new Lagonda limo — including a cabin that is breathtakingly posh. Regretfully for some, the Lagonda will only be available to buyers in the Middle East. As a low-volume model like the One-77, the Lagonda is sure to be one of the rarest of all luxury four-doors. 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda             PREVIOUS Lagonda lives! Breaking news with a confirmation from Aston-Martin on the 2015 Bespoke Super Saloon project – which is officially the new Lagonda saloon car. 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda     Inspiration for …

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#NameThatCamaro! 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS Emerald Green SEMA Special Needs A Name

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  Well here is something interestin: A Chevy #NameThatCamaro challenge ahead of the SEMA show! We can’t help but feel slightly honored, as this crowd-sourced contest shares some similarities with out long-running #NameThatCar and #NameThatConcept postings on  the Car Revs Daily  Facebook page. But hey, Camaro fans might all think alike =] The special edition SS will be on sale soon after the SEMA show under the working name of Spring Special Edition (new name is TBD of course), so get those name ideas tagged and tweeted before November! NameThatCamaro 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS         Make History …

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2016 JAGUAR XE Configurator Is Live! Buyers Guide To Colors, Wheels, Options and Trims

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Updated 10.5.14   We’ve spent a few hours with the all-new Jaguar XE configurator today, and are blown away by the amount of customization available on this hot new executive sedan. Far below are are prices for the various trim levels, and included here are the major configurations for Colors, Wheels, Exterior Options, Interior Options and cool accessories. Most of the features are organized into tiled Tallpapers or animations, but the base images are included mid-way down. My final XE R Sport with the 240-horsepower turbo four is viewable at this link – where you can work backwords and change …

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2015 KTM X-Bow RR Is 400HP of Race-Ready Track Speed

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The HTM X-Bow RR is a custom-created version of the X-Bow GT and X-Bow R designed to beat all others in the one-make ‘Crossbow’ Battle. The one-make racing series puts the KTM dash-board mantra into action — you must be Ready To Race! Sure, the RR is not the best-looking of the X-Bow line. Its extra aero kit and crash structures like roll bars and crash protection is purely functional. This makes sense when you see the list of huge track-attack upgrades that are fitted to this racing special. For buyers outside of Europe, where the X-Bow will be a …

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2015 BMW LW M4 by LightWeight Performance Packs 520HP and GTS-Previewing Chassis and Aero

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The 2015 BMW M4 is stunning and packs 425-horsepower from the factory. But is there room for a more track-focused version? BMW M certainly thinks so — the upcoming M4 GTS model is nearly complete after running extensive testing around the Nurburgring. Lightweight Performance of Germany has beat them to the punch, however, with its new LW M4 upgrade. This includes nearly the whole catalog of LW upgrades, including engine tuning, wheels/tires, suspension mods and exhaust changes. The combination results in 520-horsepower and a far more focused look on the outside. Aero upgrades are comprehsive and include a racing-spec rear …

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Paris Debuts – 2014 Nissan Pulsar NISMO Concept

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Here is a good-looking upgrade to the new Nissan Pulsar hatchback! About the same size as the VW Golf and Ford Focus, the Pulsar complements the smash-hit Qashqai crossover in the Nissan European range. Why go back to the segment? Nissan is following buyer preferences – which in many Euro markets prefer the hatch shape to a small CUV. THe Pulsar adds a DIG-T 190-horsepower engine in its production guise, so this NISMO model is likely to run the 215-horsepower engine from the Juke NISMO RS. The Pulsar NISMO shares much of the Juke NISMO’s cabin, meaning a powertrain sharing …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R Concept Two Makes Paris Debut

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UPDATED 10.4.14 Production concept is more sexy than WTCC car? Oh yes.   2015 Honda Civic Type R Concept Two Paris Debut     PREVIOUS   276 horsepower is now the floor for Honda Type R models – this latest 2.0-liter turbocharged engine shows that Honda is diving in head-first into the world of turbochargers. Which definitely makes sense – Honda is, after all, supplying the McLaren Formula One team with its engines for 2015 and beyond. So you can be sure that the engine lab is glowing red-hot with huge boost! So what will change between now and the …

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Best of Awards – Most Fun SuperCoupe Street Racer – 2015 JAGUAR F-Type R Coupe

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UPDATED 10.4.14 With Two 4K Drive Videos and 30 High-Res Photos   Our solid and bankable reco if you can afford it? The R! 2015 JAGUAR F-Type R Coupe   PREVIOUS The new F-Type Coupe is hot as the summer sun these days – but which is best? And among the standard, S and R — which fits your budget and performance criteria? Here is a quick walk through the JaguarUSA.com online configurator, where I built a $77,000 F-Type S Coupe and racked up a $92,000 total in the process. There are many tempting options, including the poshest 20-inch wheels …

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Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Lamborghini Minotauro by Andrei Avarvarii

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This Lamborghini Minotauro can really catch your eye in all the right ways. Designed as part of a student portfolio by Andrei Avarvarii of Spain, this is not merely a Photochop like many of the renderings seen online. Avarvarii designed out the electric EV prototype five phases, with detailed planning for the interior and exterior volumes, with a level of mechanical engineering thoroughness built in as well. The prototype is was set to explore a softer, rounder Lamborghini for the 2020 model year.   In-wheel motor/generators allow an unusual amount of freedom in the proportions of the Minotauro,and the car …

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Update1 With 30 New Photos – 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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Updated 10.3.14 This crossover concept shows some fascinating ideas for a next generation of small Toyota crossovers. While there are very interesting and sexy ideas in the layered and floating designs of the roof and taillamps, the nose is far less successful. But overall, the detailing in the surface lines makes it all worthwhile. We tinted the color purple just for fun, as shown on the first image below. PREVIOUS It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, …

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2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Quick Drive Shows Lively and Very Handsome Mid-Size Truck

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Enjoyed a chance to meet the 2015 Colorado Z71 this week, and it is really handsome and macho in real life. Initially, the GMC Canyon seemed like the better-looking of the two, but side by side, the Chevy was my clear preference. A lack of LED lighting in the nose of the Colorado is the only demerit that comes to mind. Otherwise, the wide style and fender flares are rough and ready to get muddy. To be fair, the Colorado Z71 and Canyon All Terrain we compared are the most loaded versions of each – so base models will not …

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2014 Volkswagen XL Sport Concept Makes One Seriously Sexy BMW i8 Competitor

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Here is an interesting machine! The eco-friendly supercar segment established by the BMW i8 could find a competitor in the VW XL Sport concept, which takes all the ideas and tech from the XL1 high-mileage, low-volume special and sends it to the racetrack. Much wider, lower, leaner and meaner: the XL Sport is still wholly unconventional in its style and presence. This makes it not unlike the i8 in many ways. They both certainly have stopping power: heads will turn to catch this wild machine zing past. But the carbon-ceramix brakes of the the XL Sport will surely provide actual …

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2014 Audi TT Sportback Concept Is a Stylish Escape From Current Audi Styling Funk

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Audi design is in a major funk. After a full 15 years of making BMW and Mercedes seem old and tired and boring, Audi lost the plot some time around 2010. We are not sure what exactly happened, but the magic seemed gone. The cars started to look like cheap copies of earlier Audi ideas – with the current A6 and new TT perhaps exemplifying this major design problem best. Sure, its proportions are cleaner than ever in 2015, and its new lighting is very dapper indeed. But what the heck? It looks like a 1999 model. This is a …

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2016 JAGUAR XE – Models, Specs and Prices + 75 New Photos!

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It appears that the Jaguar XE sedan is very, very close to production! So close that the car is available for UK orders from today, October 2. This points to a US arrival around April of 2015 as a 2016 model. We are likely to receive a base 2.0-liter turbo making 240-horsepower with available AWD and a base price of around $40,000. At launch, the XE will also offer a variety of diesels in Europe, but the up-market model will be the supercharged V6 XE S with 380-horsepower and a sprint time of under 4.9-seconds. The XE S is also …

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Updated With 42 New Photos – INFINITI Q80 Inspiration Concept Flagship

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Updated 10.2.14 One popular design cliche is to describe the panel shapes of a model as ‘like flowing silk.’ The idea is to be lighter than air, and always in motion with ripples and elegant movement at all times. Far beyond cliche, the new Q80 Inspiration makes the idea real.A rare achievement, to be sure, and very exciting. Freeze that wind-swept silk in time, and it carries the beauty of motion even as a static piece. That is how we would describe the latest panel shaping theme shown in the new Q80 Inspiration, which is officially set to become a …

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Concept Flashback – 1972 Maserati Boomerang Was Production-Ready Wedge Hypercar

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  The wedge. This design mantra took over the minds of the world’s top stylists collectively around 1970 – as the Ferrari 512 S Module and the Lancia Stratos HF Zero concepts swept everyone to accept the shape. The design was the ultimate expression of mid-engine hypercar engineering of the time. In wind tunnels of the day, the goal was to have as little front surface area as possible. Something like a rocket for the road. Ferrari 512 S Modulo at Atlanta Dream Cars exhibit http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/06/10/dream-cars-1970-ferrari-512s-modulo-pininfarina/     Lancia Stratos HF Zero at Atlanta Dream Cars exhibit http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/06/10/dream-cars-1970-lancia-stratos-hf-zero-by-bertone/ Wind tunnels …

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2015 Hyundai Tucson COLORS Guide in 9 Animated Turntables and 295 Photos!

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Below, we established that the Hyundai Tucson is the objective car shopper’s dream. It really has it all, including available AWD and a modern design with LEDs front and back. Inside, try to find a feature this crossover does not have. Very good mini truck. Sure, it is not that speedy or sporty. But neither are most shoppers! So let’s dive into a colors guide, shall we? Sidebar: how do we do this amazing technical wizardry? How do we do any of this website stuff!? The better question is Why: and the answer is… to bring unique value and visuals …

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2015 Hyundai Tucson is Trendy Crossover With Loaded Pricing Under $30,000

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When it comes to model pricing, manufacturers seem to have a few strategies across brands and model lines. We’ve observed two concrete patterns: — at the low end, pricing pushes the limits of profitability to have that headline-grabbing base price — at the top end, things get seriously ambitious. Any chop in the margins of the base car is nearly doubled up top. This makes sense. A low base price can help people to jump a price bracket on the hope that they can afford a larger or better car for their limited cash. But with options and a good …

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Hyundai SEMA Showstopper: ARK Performance AR550 Genesis Is E63-Hunter With Supercharged 5.0L V8!

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What the what! Looking for specs on the 2015 Tucson on Hyundai Media, and what is staring me in the face on the homepage but an extremely tuned Genesis! Have you ever seen a SEMA concept so well-executed and well-timed? The new Genesis is absolutely killing it on the sales charts: the combination of 7 series proportions and 3 series pricing is really a huge, huge hit with shoppers. But how to convince the skeptical? How about a performance upgrade to shade even the M5 and E63? Enter, Ark Performance and the AR550 Genesis. Damn. Sexy. Hyundai?     ARK …

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2015 Honda CR-V Revealed With More Torque, More Tech and New Touring Trim!

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    The new CR-V is here and looks darn sexy, perhaps for the first time ever! The enhanced styling is really quite premium and desirable for an SUV with a base price in the $23,000 range. A new nose brings a slimmer grille and more premium headlights. Those LED accents are standard on EX trim and above, while the EX-L and new Touring trim actually pack projector-beam lamps inside for the low-beams for the first time. All good news, especially as the CR-V’s RAV4 arch-rival and Ford Escape chase car are looking mighty dull and cheap these days. It …

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Ford Advanced Design Sketches Show Direction of 2016 Taurus Redesign

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The 2016 Taurus is rumored to ditch its jumbo Volvo-based platform in favor of an enlarged Fusion chassis. The current Fusion has been a total savior for Ford as rival Chevy Malibu and Chrysler 200 have nose-dived in recent years. Originally designed for the Mazda6, this platform is lighter and has been heavily tweaked to meet all the latest crash and emission standards. These updates continue for 2016, as the Taurus is markedly larger in every dimension than the mid-size models. So what will the new Taurus look like? Today’s reveal of the updated European-market Mondeo also includes a variety …

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2015 Ford Mondeo Brings New LED Headlights + Redesigned Steering and Suspension

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  Ford’s new Mondeo is heading to European dealers by the end of this year! Revised LED lighting, tech and redesigned steering/suspension round out the changes. The Mondeo Hybrid will also be new to the European and UK market. Might these updates show the direction of Ford’s hot-selling Fusion here in the US? Time will tell! Despite lots of moves toward global models, the Mondeo vs Fusion name difference is slightly helpful in making different update cycles by market a bit easier to swallow. This is in sharp contrast to the Euro VW Passat versus the US Passat, for example, …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Lincoln MKZ 3.7 AWD Is Stylish, Sporty and Futuristic!

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The Lincoln MKZ is easily the best Lincoln this author has ever driven. Outstanding design and technology features make the MKZ stand apart from anything else coming out of Detroit this decade, and getting to know the new Lincoln over a week was endlessly surprising. This car handles with a fantastic AWD balance of my personal Subaru Legacy GT, carries a charming and unique design that is cutting-edge and futuristic unlike anything else on the road. Dozens of preconceptions went out the ultra-sleek moonroof as we cruised to Atlanta with the Active Cruise engaged, the massage seats on full blast, …

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70 New Photos! 2016 Kia Sorento Debuts in Paris With Jaguar-Baiting Style at Ford Prices

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Updated 9.29.14 with 70 official (Euro-spec) 2016 Sorento photos!   The updated Sorento is likely to arrive in the US market some time in the spring of calendar 2015 as a 2016 model. The 2015 Sorento is already available at dealers, which is why we speculate about the 2016 model year. Kia calls this the third-gen Sorento, as Europe is less concerned with model years than we are in the USA. Overall, the styling update is a big success. It is paired with a new refinement on the road, an all-new cabin, and a much larger third row of seats …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R Previewed By Crisp and Clean New Paris Concept

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276 horsepower is now the floor for Honda Type R models – this latest 2.0-liter turbocharged engine shows that Honda is diving in head-first into the world of turbochargers. Which definitely makes sense – Honda is, after all, supplying the McLaren Formula One team with its engines for 2015 and beyond. So you can be sure that the engine lab is glowing red-hot with huge boost! So what will change between now and the production model set for Spring 2015 in the UK? Mostly the headlights and the wheels. They will both be slightly more production-feasible. But otherwise, this is …

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

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

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Concept Debrief – 1969 BMW 2800 Spicup Was Bertone Spider-Coupe Prototype

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Named for its dual purpose, the Spicup is a contraction of ‘Spider’ and ‘Coupe’ into one word. This one was a joint effort and actually led with Bertone proposing the idea of a spider coupe with a retractable hardtop to BMW. A 2.8-liter straight six lives up front and the one-off Spicup BMW opened the door to more Bertone-BMW collaboration later in the 1970s. The machine is certainly unique and eye-popping today: imagine it today as some form of BMW Z4 variant: a cabrio two-door built off a traditional sedan platform. More accurately, considering the roof and semi-popup headlamps, was …

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Mercedes-Benz FT2025 Is New Daimler Trucks Flagship

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Why care about the brand-new Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2015 concept shown in Hanover this week for the first time? A few reasons: — The vast majority of S-Class-level active safety and automated driving tech is all-new to the long-haul truck segment — Daimler Trucks is the top-selling medium and heavy truck supplier worldwide, so these ideas will populate everything from future Unimogs to the new Damiler India brand BharatBenz in the coming years — Germans take concepts seriously: these ideas are all totally feasible and likely already headed to full production in the next five years — The active safety …

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Part Two: 2013 Giugiaro PARCOUR ROADSTER in 50 High-Res Photos

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  PART TWO: The Roadster When off-roading, why not have the wind in your hair and a bit of breeze above your head? All the better to see the amazing terrain this XGT could sail through… This Roadster evolved from one of the best-received concepts of all time from ItalDesign Giugiaro: an off-road Gallardo called the Parcour. Very rarely is the crossover and SUV trend so elegantly bottled into a super-high-performance package like this. With a completely fresh design, the Parcour looks truly ready to bounce off rocks down any rally track tomorrow. In fact, the machine was so thoroughly …

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2013 Giugiaro PARCOUR in 100 Photos: V10 SUV Set Tone For Upcoming Lambo 4×4 and Audi Nanuk

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This beast was one of the best-received concepts of all time from ItalDesign Giugiaro: an off-road Gallardo called the Parcour. Very rarely is the crossover and SUV trend so elegantly bottled into a super-high-performance package like this. With a completely fresh design, the Parcour looks truly ready to bounce off rocks down any rally track tomorrow. In fact, the machine was so thoroughly engineered that the hardtop Parcour was sold at Pebble Beach last year by Giugiaro for about $600,000. Its mechanical package is rock-solid, primarily because it shares the mid-engine chassis, transmission and AWD system of the well-proven Gallardo …

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2015 McLaren 625C Is Asia-Focused Model With Super-Smooth PACC Suspension

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  Here is an interesting bit of news! McLaren has launched the new 625C with features custom-tailored to the exploding Asian market. New tuning and settings for the ProActive Chassis Control lets the hydraulic suspension of the 650S become boulevard-smooth in its comfort setting – far cushier than anything with the McLaren badge to date. This is news because the 650S is already one of the smoothest-riding supercars ever made. That hydaulic suspension lets the car flow and breathe over bumps like a Citroen DS, but is adjustable in two further modes to make it track-hard. Below you can see …

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Financial Windfall? Dow 17,000 Car Shopping? Porsche 911 Carrera C4S

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What a year! As the world turns, 2014 has been a doozy on almost all counts. In any other market, bonuses doled out in early January would be modest at best. Typical golden handcuffs of some kind… like future equity, etc. But not this year. Not with a stock market more bullish than — cue the announcer voice-over and drumroll — Your Very Own, ChicagoBULLS! So in this year, hopefully your numbers are moving in the right direction. 2014 is set to be a major global comeback period, with big bets already placed. Who are we betting in? The last …

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2015 Ford Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle First of Dozens of Commercial Specials

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The number of custom-fit Ford Transit models is set to explode over the next year – so do not go on a crime bender every time you see a new variation. If so, you might end up in this Transit Police Transport Vehicle…! 2015 Ford Transit PTV ONLY PEOPLE NOT THRILLED ABOUT RIDING IN ALL-NEW FORD TRANSIT? PRISONERS 23/09/14 Ford adds to its Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicle lineup with new prisoner transport concept based on 2015 Ford Transit full-size van line 2015 Ford Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle, or Transit PTV, offers space to carry as many as 12 …

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Lamborghini Paris Launch Rumored To Be All-New 2016 URUS Super-SUV

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Lamborghini’s SUV ambitions are well-documented. In addition to the LM002 ‘Lambo Rambo’ truck from the 1980s, the Urus SUV concept from 2012 let its intentions be shouted to the rooftops. The latest bit of news comes from the Lamborghini media preview invite for October 2: a profile showing a short and tall model unlike anything mid-engined. So what will it be? The production URUS is widely believed to be what is coming. A 600-horsepower four-seat crossover based on the Macan? Pricing from $120,000 and arrival in May 2015 as a 2016 model? Yes, that is our prediction — but time …

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Update2 New Photos – 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelifted With New LED DRLs, Box-Design Beams and Tweaked Cabin Tech

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My passion for great LED lighting is spiraling out of control. It seems, lately, that a new headlight design with some flashy LEDs is enough to win my favor. But am I alone? LED lighting and headlights are by far the easiest piece of a car for the manufacturers to update — no new sheetmetal is required at all in many cases. But the impact on the 30-percent of the time spent driving in the dark or dusk? A totally transformed car. This new 508 is more than an LED refresh – and includes various new shapes for the grille …

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2014 Evanta Barchetta Makes Goodwood Debut With Modern 450HP V8 Engine + Classic Style

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The continued prominence of the English sportscar business is no accident – the country’s road laws allow small-batch sports cars to be exempt from most EU emissions and safety rules. This is how cars like the Ariel Atom and others can wear UK license plates, but are track-only specials in (most of) the rest of the world. Evanta Motor Cars is leveraging that unique government flexibility to make its next car a relatively big seller. The Evanta Barchetta runs a custom-frabricated tubular alloy frame and vintage-inspired panels alongside a huge General Motors-sourced V8 engine. The combination means light weight and …

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2015 Toyota TUNDRA Bass Pro Shops Off-Road Edition Debuts – Available in Gulf States Only

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Long-time readers of this site may recall how much we hated the Ram Mossy Oak Edition. It seemed overtly hateful with its camo-print exterior and hunting theme. A bit less animosity today toward the new Tundra Bass Pro Shops Off-Road Edition, which could seem as close-minded as the Mossy Oak. After all, Bass Pro Shops is a regional retailer with a heavily partisan corporate stance. But instead of Ram’s shameless Mossy Oak edition, the Tundra BPS Off-Road Edition actually proves its value in extra equipment: cool wheels, off-road tires, fender flares and jumbo exhaust pipes. Ram Trucks response to our …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Lexus IS350C F Sport – Convertible Coupe Perfection?

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The market for cabrios hit the skids hard during the financial crisis, when any wind in your hair seemed suddenly too-lavish, and too-decadent. Even luxury shoppers pulled back during that unprecedented stock market decline. This makes sense: those in the market were the most exposed to big on-paper losses. As such, it was a pretty inopportune time for Lexus to launch its best-ever convertible: the ISC. This amazing machine entered a soft market with competition from the all-star BMW 3 (and now 4 series) droptop, as well as the better-sounding Infiniti G37 (now Q60) Convertible. So what has Lexus done? …

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Chevrolet SEMA Truck Concepts Suck: COLORADO SPORT and SILVERADO ‘Toughnology’

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It is almost SEMA time of year again – when  OEMs can roll out the models they wish they had on their showroom floors, highlight future trends, and showcase accessory collections. A little bit of all three with the just-announced Colorado Sport and Silverado Toughnology. These truck concepts are pretty lame and more than a little disappointing, to be honest. They are transparent marketing exercises for the base models, and not the cool upgrade shown by even SCA and the Lingenfelter Reaper. Chevy trucks should be ashamed of themselves. What a pathetic lack of effort, bordering on incompetence, to call …

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SCA Lingenfelter REAPER Silverado Upgrade Now Available At Some Chevy Dealers

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The Raptor F-150 has been the single-biggest bit of brand lifting for the current Ford trucks line, so it is no surprise to see other companies following Ford’s lead — in the aftermarket, at least. The latest move to recreate the cool and functional aspects of the Ford Raptor is the new Southern Comfort Automotive REAPER package for the Chevrolet Silverado. Developed with Lingenfelter’s assistance under the hood, the REAPER brings a new look up front, functional LED lighting in the foglamp area, new shocks with a 3-inch lift, and a few other optional tweaks. The supertruck offroad segment is …

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1998 Volkswagen W12 Roadster Is Best-of-Group Hypercar R&D Exercise

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Part three of the VW W12 saga: the W12 Roadster. Gorgeous and finely resolved, the W12 Roadster finally solved the quadry of the ugly rear engine cover and funky side window issues of the coupes. 1998 Volkswagen W12 Roadster   Recapping the VW W12 concept saga has been extremely perplexing, with numerous mistakes and edits in the first article below. In fact, the yellow W12 SYNCHRO was the first of the three W12 concept cars. This example, designed by ItalDesign Giugiaro, is actually far more thoroughly engineered on a production design level than the final W12 NARDO Coupe in orange. …

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1997 Volkswagen W12 SYNCHRO Coupe Concept Is Giugiaro Masterpiece

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Recapping the VW W12 concept saga has been extremely perplexing, with numerous mistakes and edits in the first article below. In fact, the yellow W12 SYNCHRO was the first of the three W12 concept cars. This example, designed by ItalDesign Giugiaro, is actually far more thoroughly engineered on a production design level than the final W12 NARDO Coupe in orange. This can be seen in the actual production body panels, which were eliminated in the one-piece shell of the orange record-holder car. Other details are also up to Volkswagen Piech standards, leading one to think the car could actually see …

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2001 Volkswagen W12 NARDO Coupe Concept Slams 217MPH Vmax

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The first of three W12 Volkswagen supercars is clearly the least-impressive — both in terms of its design and overall levels of finish. The messiest portion of the design is the back glass, which VW designers struggle to make elegant or look like a hypercar should. The huge size of the new W12 engine is obviously a challenge in its packaging, despite taking only a bit more room in a front-engine car than a normal V8. But the ethos of a giant Passat-infused hypercar is nonetheless very striking to showgoers who have seen nothing as low, wide or fast as …

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510HP, 3.9s 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Joins New C63 – Without the Benz Name!

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The new C63 is here! In UK  trim at first, but with key details now clear ahead of the US announcement. In an unusual move, Mercedes-Benz is now Mercedes-AMG for the hottest models in its range. This slight name change drops the Benz and moves the AMG portion ahead of the model nomenclature. Aside from the detail OEM change, the rest of the car is far more exciting. Huge power from the 476-horsepower engine is also available in an XXL power guise: the S Model simply becomes the C63 S. One distinct piece for the C63 versus the E63 and …

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2015 Audi TT and TTS Roadster Revealed Before Paris Show

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   Official details below from Audi. 2015 Audi TTS Roadster     Early airing for all-new Audi TT Roadster ahead of Paris show world debut Open-top version of all-new Audi sports car retains classic roadster format but sets new class standards for agility, efficiency and in-car technology All-new TT Roadster and TTS Roadster models to make their World debut at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (October 4 to 14) TT Roadster models available to order in the UK from mid-November priced from £31,955 OTR to £37,555 OTR – first deliveries in March 2015 310PS TTS Roadster available to order …

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Concept Flashback – 1978 JAGUAR XJ Spider by Pininfarina

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How advanced is this Pininfarina concept for Jaguar? It is hard to believe there is an XK under these swoopy panels, which predated anything else curvy by more than eight years. Very, very impressive for 1978 — especially considering that this basic template was a huge hit for the Aston Martin DB7 and even the Jaguar XK from 1996. 1978 JAGUAR XJ Spider by Pininfarina

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2015 Honda Civic Sport is New for UK with Type-R Styling Accents!

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How fantastic does this Euro Civic Sport look! Enjoy it, our UK pals. We are envious here in the States! 2015 Honda Civic Sport     Honda UK Ltd 24 September 2014 New design, new technology and a new Sport derivative for the Swindon-built Civic range   New sporty exterior and interior styling upgrades for Honda Civic and Civic Tourer models Introduction of new Civic Sport with visual links to forthcoming Type R New in-car entertainment and technology system introduced across the line-up New automatic low-speed braking system applied as standard across the range Class-leading boot space of 477 (Civic) …

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2006 Giugiaro Ford Mustang Concept Was Ringer vs In-House Ford Designs

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Surprisingly few new ideas in this Giugiaro Mustang concept, which brings scissor doors, a glass roof and hideous cabin to the style of the venerable pony-car legend. The tail is perhaps the most interesting element, with a unique flush-fit three-pack of brake lights in each corner. A sharp fender peak is one throwback styling element that has not yet been seen on a modern iteration of the car. By contracting the car with Giugiaro, Ford used a bit of failsafe strategic vision testing. Would the Giugiaro car be far better than anything Ford could do in-house? As this car shows, …

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2012 ItalDesign Giugiaro BRIVIDO Concept is GT With Ultra-Modern Cabin and Apex Windows

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  No batter hits a home run on every swing, and the same is true for high-concept design houses. ItalDesign Giugiaro has been at the center of the advanced design universe for decades, and its greatest-hits list only contains the dozens of cars it can publicly take credit for. Many more of ItalDesign’s brilliant ideas are white-labelled and the manufacturer simply takes the credit. So the provenance from which the Brivido emerges is without question. Powered by a 360-horsepower turbo 3.0-liter V6, the Brivido’s most striking elements are its somewhat retro surfacing to the hood and bodysides, with a dark …

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INFINITI Q80 Inspiration Previews Gorgeous and Fascinating S-Class Competitor

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One popular design cliche is to describe the panel shapes of a model as ‘like flowing silk.’ The idea is to be lighter than air, and always in motion with ripples and elegant movement at all times. Far beyond cliche, the new Q80 Inspiration makes the idea real.A rare achievement, to be sure, and very exciting. Freeze that wind-swept silk in time, and it carries the beauty of motion even as a static piece. That is how we would describe the latest panel shaping theme shown in the new Q80 Inspiration, which is officially set to become a production model …

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2012 Giugiaro BRIVIDO Martini Racing Honors Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 037

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In the world of iconic racing liveries, Martini Racing is right up there with Golf Oil as the most-loved in history. What better way to salute the long collaborative partnership between ItalDesign Giugiaro than to dress their sexy Brivido GT concept in fast red and blue stripes on a white base. In the case of the Brivido Martini Racing, the homage is more than paint-deep. With a semi-exposed rear diffuser and and long, low nose splitter, the Brivido is close in spirit to the legendary 037 and Beta Montecarlo racecars. These wild turbo rally specials were so fast and wild …

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Introducing Novitec SPOFEC for the Rolls-Royce Ghost: More Style and Power + Lower Ride and Dual-Mode Exhaust!

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SPOFEC!? That is short for SPirit OF ECstacy. Get it? It is like a super-acronym. Using a similar strategy of unique branding by marque, the Novitec Group is rolling out hits left and right these days. Just a few weeks since the debut of the Novitec Torado (Lamborghini) and Novitec Tridente (Maserati) specials, here we have a SPOFEC Ghost that has everything hip buyers might want. This includes 22-inch wheels, a new controller module for the air-ride suspension to lower the car at speed or on demand, a dual-model exhaust to hear the V12 sing, an aero upgrade kit and …

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Updated with 30 New Photos – 2015 MINI 5-Door Answers the Call of Back-Seaters Everywhere!

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Updated 9.23.14 What is the back-seaters’ call? “Let us out!” ? That is not exactly the MINI Cooper’s fun-loving style! Back-seat whiners have typically just wanted to stretch their legs a little bit, but been stuck until one of the fancy front-seaters will move their tush and let the seat slide up to an open slice of door. The 2015 MINI five-door hatch promises modest solutions to both problems via an extra set of rear doors on the silly-fun urban classic. The latest MINI model is far more approachable in every way, with its turbocharged standard triple delivering more MPG …

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Citroen C1 Urban Ride Concept Adds Crossover Height and Style Atop Supermini Chassis

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Crossover mania is sweeping France and the wider world this year! Citroen is joining the fun with a butched-up suupermini concept called the C1 Urban Ride concept. With a taller ride height and chunky bumpers and sills, it promises to be tougher than a standard C1 for light off-roading. It will also be unstoppable across any parking lot of pot-holes — with the extra ride height making speedbumps a non-event! The fabric roof rolls back to give those in back an al-fresco safari experience; all the better for going wild down the main streets of Paris! Citroen C1 Urban Ride …

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Concept Flashback – 1985 Nissan Cue-X Inspired Original Infiniti Q45 Flagship and Future Q80

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  As we prepare for the upcoming Infiniti Q80 Inspiration concept’s debut in Paris, how about a look back at the springboard ideas that led to the first flagship, the Q45 of 1990. The 1985 Cue-X concept from Nissan shares clear details with what became the Q45 from all angles, but especially in profile. This low and lean shape was far less formal than the competition from Lexus in the LS400, as well as the established players like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. It is fascinating to see the inspiration for the original Q, and the low and flowing style shown by …

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2013 Kia Niro Concept Packs Gullwing Doors, Brushed-Alloy Finishes and Quad-Beam LEDs

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The Kia Niro concept from 2013 uses almost every youthful design trick in the book — but falls flat to these eyes. Dark wheels, blushed-alloy surfaces, a coupe bodystyle, and quad-beam LEDs all say ‘hip’ and ‘sexy’ sub-Sportage crossover. But what is going on with the blob-like nose, obese hood bulges and minivan windshield angle? Ick! 2013 Kia Niro

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Part Two: 2011 Audi Urban Concept SPYDER is 2-Seater for Scooter-Phobes

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PART TWO: Showcasing through a few favorite concept cars ahead of the Paris Motor Show! This  2010 Urban Concept from Audi is a battery EV design to be ultra-light and ultra-efficiency, while also packing the maneuverable of a scooter. Okay, that would be one large scooter… but still. It is easy to pilot around and the enclosed cockpit promises far more safety and security than anything on two wheels. A standard steering wheel and pedals make this a perfect machine for those who would never feel safe on a motorcycle, but do not require anything as huge as a Smartcar. …

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2011 Audi Urban Concept is 2-Seat Commuter EV For Stylish Yuppies

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Showcasing through a few favorite concept cars ahead of the Paris Motor Show! This  2010 Urban Concept from Audi is a battery EV design to be ultra-light and ultra-efficiency, while also packing the maneuverable of a scooter. Okay, that would be one large scooter… but still. It is easy to pilot around and the enclosed cockpit promises far more safety and security than anything on two wheels. A standard steering wheel and pedals make this a perfect machine for those who would never feel safe on a motorcycle, but do not require anything as huge as a Smartcar. It is …

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Concept Debrief – 2010 Audi e-tron and e-tron Spyder

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The e-tron and e-tron Spyder were the ultimate in concept teases. They two stylish two-door models were once thought to preview a possible R4 or R5 line of sportscars to slot in below the R8 and its $100,000 base price. But after being evaluated, the business case was deemed to be a non-starter: the $50,000 pricing of these hypothetical sportsters was deemed too close to the topline TT and TTS roadster models. In addition, electric engines and the proposed 100-percent battery EV would easily double the proposed prices — delivering a totally unfeasible solution to Audi’s sporty ambitions. So after …

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2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, which will slot in below the RAV4 and compete with the new Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and Nissan Juke — among others. 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept  

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2015 Honda CR-V Refreshed Inside and Out – On Sale October 1st

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Just a first look at this one – but the launch timing is approaching fast! The new CR-V will go on sale in the US in just a week’s time, on October 1st, 2014. Full details are promised from Honda on September 30th. Overall, the new nose eliminates some of the grin from the current car, with an updated nose and LED lighting to bring a classier appearance to this best-selling crossover. The 2014 model carries a base price of $23,500 — which is the ballpark of the new model as well. Looking sharp! 2015 Honda CR-V     HONDA …

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Wow! 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Facelift previewed By Very Stylish Outlander PHEV Concept-S

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Are you getting pumped for Paris? Kicking off the 2014/2015 auto show season in high-fashion style, the debuts are set to come fast and furious… ahem. Pre-empting the big debuts of the new Infiniti Q80 flagship, Lamborghini SUV and many, many more is the new Mitsubishi outlander PHEV Concept S. This tasteful refresh brings a more angular and sophisticated appeal to Mitsu’s hot-selling seven-seat crossover.       MITSUBISHI MOTORS LINEUP AT 2014 PARIS MOTORSHOW WORLD PREMIERE OF THE OUTLANDER PHEV CONCEPT-S 22/09/14 Tokyo, September 22 2014 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will present the world debut of the Outlander …

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2012 Chevrolet Code 130R Is Rear-Drive, 1.4L Turbo Coupe That Will Never Exist

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Never exist? That is a bit harsh, no? The fact of the matter is, the Code 130R was always a longshot. The potential price range of the model would need to base around $16,000 and max at about $24,000, where the Camaro starts with no options. Sharing a Camaro chassis is certainly possible, but this again would bring prices far above the current Korean-engineered compact and subcompact cars in the General Motors portfolio. As enticing as a car like this is, its chances of ever seeing production are extremely slim. The non-existent overhangs and proportions would compete nicely with the …

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2010 Audi Quattro Concept in 50 High-Res Photos and LED Animations

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Where did Audi’s design mojo go? We are not sure — but it is gone. This concept is the purest and cleanest style any future RS5 could hope for, but after four years since its 2010 debut, we have seen nothing similar anywhere near production. The 2013 Sport Quattro concept that succeeded this short-wheelbase special is a mess of melted surfaces and creepy detailing. 2010 Audi Quattro Concept Headlamp Animation 2010 Audi Quattro Concept Taillamp Animation

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2012 Kia Trackster Concept Is Widebody Soul Coupe with 250HP

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Since driving a Kia Soul around Monterey Bay in August for the concours week, we have a real fondness for this boxy profile. The car is a real joy on the roads – with perky handling and a zingy engine and autobox combo that is far more fun than any econobox in its segment. Lively handling was a huge part of that fun, along with a great road view and headroom to spare. This 2012 Trackster concept takes care of some of that space with a roof chop, a bump in horsepower up to 250, and a widebody coupe conversion …

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Digital Renderings Fix the 2009 Aston Martin LAGONDA SUV Concept

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 This is a light update to the previous LAGONDA article, but one that is best as a distinct piece to avoid confusion. As identified below, the nose and tail of the Lagonda SUV concept were its biggest problems. The make it hard to love. FIXED NOSE RENDERINGS The grille is far too large and far too bright. During a few hours in Photoshop, we have identified the eggcrate grille design as the true fault up front. It makes this Lagonda look like a Chrysler Sebring — which is not a flattering comparison for a superlux SUV. We have made the …

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Concept Debrief – 2009 Aston Martin LAGONDA SUV Concept

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  The Aston Martin  Lagonda SUV was easily the most-hated SUV concept of 2009 when it debuted. People absolutely hated it. They hated the design mostly, but fell back on SUV hate for extra emphasis. The only other concept whose design has been so roundly hated was the Bentley EXP-9F — which required a full redesign, led to the re-assignment of the CEO who approved it, and ultimately pushed the production Bentley SUV debut back at least three years. What do these two hated SUVs have in common? — Long-history sports-car brands’ first attempts to move into the crossover market …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Fiesta ST Is JJ Fantastic: Freaky Fast, Freaky Good! Even Better than BR-Z and FR-S

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Performance Specials. They are the cream of the crop. They are the CTS-V’s of the world, the M5s and the Lancer Evo’s. They are freaky specials that are the product of pure driving joy, allowed to slip into showrooms every now and then. For car guys, they are the holy grail. Rare. Special. Excellent. From the moment you sit in the Ford Fiesta ST, you know that it is going to be a hugely fun drive. The seats are packed with support bolsters and the engine start button kicks the Fiesta into life with a snort from up front and …

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Update1 Racing Heritage: the Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz (100+ Rare Photos)

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Imagine a combination of all forms of racing – off-road to high-speed – done by one core chassis design.   During the 1930s, the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were storming every type of racing one could imagine: both competitively in Formula races and for world record attempts outside the circuit. This sent the Silver Arrows up hillclimb events, on ultimate Vmax runs, and even a few winter setups that included a dually rear wheel and a closed shell cockpit at one point.   All these variants were highly ingenious engineering achievements around one core chassis design. The open-wheel profile of any …

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Concept Flashback – 2013 Toyota FT86 Open Concept is Stunning Ragtop

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Is the long-rumored GT86 and BR-Z cabrio dead in the water? That is the strong rumor — which is very unfortunate when reviewing how fantastic the design looks as a soft-top. Shown in Geneva and Tokyo in 2013, the FT86 Open Concept would have some hills to climb as a production car. Pricing would likely top $30,000, which would be a cool $8,000 above the MX-5 at most levels. Additionally, the chassis bracing required would add nearly 200 pounds to the already-slow sportscar. 2013 Toyota FT86 Open Concept  

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Audi Sexes Up 48-Volt Conversion With New Electric Turbo RS5 TDI

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The 12-volt automotive electrical architecture has long been a weak link in the further electrification of the automobile. Audi is taking big steps to quadruple the system voltage, which might be a dull topic. Step in, the new RS5 TDI and A6 TDI concepts. Running diesel engines with this more-powerful 48-volt system allows a new type of forced induction: the electric turbocharger. Similar to a super-powerful electric leaf-blower, the possibilities are pretty interesting. No exhaust gasses are needed for this electric turbo, which can also offer anti-lag traits by zinging up to max boost before the throttle is floored — …

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AMG GT Starring in New PS4 Racing Game DRIVECLUB from October 8th

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  The relationship between PlayStation and Mercedes-Benz has been very strong since the AMG SLS was the cover car for GranTurismo 5. That relationship is a three-way affair: among AMG, Polyphony Digital as the GT game developers, and Sony itself in extending the reach of PS4. The new DRIVECLUB game seeks to be a new type of social racing experience — where friends battle one another for track glory both in real-time and as part of championship leagues. Sony hopes to leverage the PS4’s social features in ways that many GT6 drivers do not prioritize. So the AMG GT being …

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2015 GMC Sierra ELEVATION and CARBON Editions Bring Top-Flight LEDs and Stylish Black Wheels

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Two great options announced today from GMC for those without the $40,000-plus for the Denali: the 2015 Elevation Edition and 2015 Carbon 20 and Carbon 22 Editions. Available on the entry-level engine or the 5.3-liter V8, the Elevation Edition offers GMC Sierra shoppers much of the clean and contemporary style of the F-150 Lariat Sport. This means a largely chrome-free exterior, with body-color grilles, bumpers, mirrors, door handles and other detailing. Pricing for the Carbon 20 Edition starts from $34,000, while the Carbon 22 Edition starts closer to $40,000. Pricing for the Elevation Edition is not yet available, but is …

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2006 Ferrari 575 SuperAmerica Previews F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos giuf

Ferrari 575 and 599 SuperAmerica Preview F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos

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Right before Luca Di Montezemolo was canned at Ferrari last week, he let it slip that an exclusive new model would be coming to the LA auto show in November. That car is widely believed to be some sort of droptop F12 — very likely a Targa or rotating glass SuperAmerica variant. A full cabrio version with a hardtop is seen as unnecessary with the full convertible California model in the range. We have seen this innovative idea before on a few concepts before 559 models were made for sale in 2005 and 2006 near the end of the 550/575 …

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Concept Flashback – 2009 Audi R8 TDI V12 Shows Great Engineering Potential, But Limited Market

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Audi seems to have no trouble winning LeMans with its ultra-sophisticated R18 models in the last decade — but has struggled mightily trying to translate racing tech to the road. Even today, there is no clear link between Audi racing glory and the cars sold by Audi dealerships. Sure, there is anecdotal evidence hat motorsport success has fueled Audi’s continued sales rise — but it is a tenuous link. Upon the arrival of Audis’ first supercar, the R8, this finally looked set to change. At last — a way to show how LeMans racing improves the breed in general! The …

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Concept Flashback – 2008 Mazda Furai is 450HP, Rotary LMP2 Car That Met Two Tragic Ends

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What were the two tragic ends that met the Furai concept? One: Laurens van den Acker leaves Mazda to take the top design job at Renault, where he delivered the Clio 4 and cars like the Twizy — and has imprinted his influence on ever product since 2010. The tragedy for Mazda’s NAGARE design philosophy is that it was hard to continue van den Acker’s ‘Flow’ themes without the true creator’s presence. So, despite being globally celebrated after its launch in late December 2007, the Furai was fairly doomed from the start. Designed first, and engineered second — the fantastic …

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Hypercar Heroes – 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Stirling Moss

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How time flies! The calendar seems to be moving faster than ever in 2014 — only five years since the 75 hand-made SLR McLaren models left Woking in 722 Stirling Moss trim. A speedster without a windshield or any attempt at a convertible top, the stunning machine could reach a true 219-mph. Only the brave need apply — which is the perfect homage to Sir Stirling Moss’s racing achivements during his career. These include winning the Mille Miglia for Mercedes-Benz — but Moss also raced for Maserati and Porsche during his reign. The inspiration and celebration of Stirling Moss is, …

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