Compact Cars

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1955 Aston Martin DB3S Earns $5.5M At Gooding Pebble Beach 2014

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$5.5-million is a very high tally for any Aston Martin, but this 1955 DB3S is surely a deserving specimen. As both a show car and a racecar, the DB3S is a stunning beauty and a timecapsule of design in the 1950s. The chassis design was completed by a famed Austrian engineer with experience designing Auto Union racers in the 1930s, while the exterior design by Frank Feeley is perhaps Mr. Feeley’s finest-ever work. Feeley was a Lagonda man until joining Aston with Lagonda’s buyout in 1947, where his ultra-luxury model focus was shifted to racecars. One amazing element of the …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Is Quietly Excellent, More Iso-Tank Than Eco-Warrior

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INTRO: Here is the scene: you are in traffic. It is a work-day and you are behind a dawdling Prius. ‘How the **** is that car going so slowly!? Oh, this guy is coasting up to red lights now!?’ Cue the inpatient passing maneuver/lane change or silent sulking while looking at the familiar Prius tail shape. Has this ever happened to you? We bet it has. The difference for sports-car drivers – or drivers who push every machine like a sports-car? Slight annoyance gives way to murderous rage after a few stoplights like this. And not just hatred for the …

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1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Alfieri Barchetta by Fantuzzi

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Widely known as one of the most influential racecars of the early 1950s, this delicate little A6GCS influenced future icons like the Jaguar C-Type, Ferrari 250 and the AC Ace — among many others. The straight-size layout delivered just 168-horsepower from its 2.0-liter displacement, but lightweight aircraft aluminum in the chassis and bodyshell delivered some stunning specs all the same. The 60-mph sprint is just 6.3-seconds, while the top speed is a frankly-terrifying 148-mph. The beauty and grace of the design is perhaps this Alfieri GCS MM’s legacy. The A6 in the name stands for Alfieri, by the way, and …

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Updated with 20 Sexy New Photos – Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI

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Updated 8.13.14 Is this white over black wheels and trim STI the sexiest thing you have ever seen from Subaru since the 555 WR Blue racers from the 1990s? Yes, yes it is. Hopefully this latest vogue style does not become a fad or something that dates all 2014/2015 cars in the future. For now, however, there is nothing hotter on the world’s expressways and racetracks.   LATEST PHOTOS             The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojourn up north to Road …

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Updated With 44 Real-Life Photos – 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Includes Overboost and 5.6s 0-60 Sprint.. As a 2.0T!

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Updated With 44 Real-Life Photos Talk about a huge letdown. The ATS Coupe packs an unbelievable amount of dullness into a two-door shape. What a snooze this car is. The latest media drive photos only confirm our earlier assertion: http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/07/03/op_ed-2015-cadillac-ats-coupe-is-boring/ Cadillac really dropped the ball on every single CTS and ATS trim and style decision. This car looks about as cool as a rented Impala Classic. 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe One of the most promising elements of the Cadillac ATS Coupe is that it adds platform rigidity and performance focus to this new contender in the hotshot exec coupe segment. …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Honda Civic EX-L Coupe Is Sharp-Looking Two-Door With Great Tech and Handling!

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  Racy coupe bodies are about as hot as it gets up and down the automotive spectrum. A two-door tells the world you are unattached – and unburdened by kids or carpools. You are single and ready to mingle! The Honda Civic Coupe is one of the most adored nameplates in the youth car culture scene. Last year’s 2013 Civic Coupe has lost is austere nose from 2013 and come back stronger, better, faster and cooler for 2014. This brings an all-new nose design with some aggressive profiling and chrome-accented foglamps, a dark grille slash in semi-gloss black widening the …

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2015 Honda Fit Buyers Guide and Pricing: Cute and Edgy New Style, Latest HondaLink Touchscreen and 41MPG

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The 2015 Honda Fit is updated with a subtle but attractive redesign, vastly more comfortable cabin, and tech like the latest (and very good) HondaLink touchscreen controls. Paired with the Fit’s exceptional usefulness as a city car with the trunk size of a SUV — and the economy of a supermini — the 2015 Fit from about $16,000 is an exceptional little machine. Most shoppers will go for the EX-L or the EX-L with Navigation thanks to the top trims standard automatic transmission. The auto is a CVT unit, however, so sporty people might like the light and slick six-speed …

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2015 Audi Q3 Is Arriving Now From $33k-$42k Packing Standard 200HP Turbo for U.S.

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The Audi Q3 looks so much better in the flesh than it did in Audi’s teaser sketches from last month – what a relief! While the car does show a bit less aggression in its proportions versus the long-hood Q7, there is enough family similarity for the Q3 to rub shoulders with BMW and Mercedes-Benz SUVs costing much, much more. The Q3 is part of a broad new 2015 Audi A3 family of models coming to the U.S. in the next six to eight months: — A3 four-door sedan — S3 four-door sedan — A3 Cabriolet — 2015 A3 e-tron …

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3.4s Radical SR3 SL Startup Video and 70 High-Res Photos at Atlanta Motorsports Park

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Any Radical in the USA is fantastic to experience up close, especially in its native environment: the racetrack. The Radical SR3 SL here is the only two-seat model in the United States – so it is: a) the quickest car around almost any racetrack — including the Nurburgring, where Radical has long held an unbeat-ably quick pace in the 6.44-second SR8. The SR3 SL is no slouch either: its roughly 7:00-second Nordeshleiffe lap is still in the top 20 for any kind of car, racers included. b) one of the only street-legal track cars of this caliber of performance c) …

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Charleston Cars and Coffee Mini Gallery – 2011 TESLA Roadster

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It is really, really easy to hate Tesla Motors. As a VC-backed startup that has made a successful ‘exit’ into the stock market, they are a hero to many in the Silicon Valley area. They also have a tangible, physical product sold in an established and very competitive industry. But even so, Tesla is immensely irritating to observe. The owner of this Roadster was definitely smelling her own smug farts early and often. Luckily, Tesla’s cars are actually pretty good. Only a handful of photos of this lovely 2011 Tesla Roadster, but it is definitely still a rare machine. And …

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Charleston Cars and Coffee – 1955 Porsche 356 1500S Speedster

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The thing that really strikes you when seeing the 1955 Porsche Speedster up close is its absolutely tiny scale. It is dwarfed by the Cayman sitting next to it, as well as any modern-sized human. This ultra-small and ultra-smooth style earned Porsche quite the following among those who rejected the two-ton ideal of American cars of the era. In fact, the light and lean mantra became a turning point in defining all sportscars in the post-war era. The aesthetic of hyper-curved panels is not just for beauty or aero sleekness, either. Such huge and deeply-stamped bodywork gave the 356 extra …

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205HP 2014 Honda Civic Si Sedan Is FU-Cool from $23k + Visual Buyers Guide

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Ever since the 2002 Subaru WRX and the Lancer Evolution arrived in the US – the Honda Civic has always taken a firm third place in the cool compact ranks. Honda is serious about winning car guys back. The 2014 Honda Civic Si is packing a huge wing, turbo-style polished allous with gloss black accents, and a wing to make the WRX blush. This is a car that is seriously cool. Curb appeal of the 2014 Civic Si now trumps the latest WRX and is up to WRX STI levels of aggression. The powertrain of the Si is still optimized …

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2015 Hyundai Elantra Sedan Brings Classy LED and Tech Updates – Features, Photos and Pricing

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Fresh off its JD Power Initial QUality Study victory, the Hyundai Elantra Sedan is updated for 2015 with some refined and classy LED additions front and rear, plus a tech suite upgrade inside. The Elantra’s fluidic sculpture design of the Elantra is still one of the best in the compact segment – along with the Mazda3 and Dodge Dart as perhaps the other two coolest compact sedans available. Making a small sedan sporty, low and wide on the road is not an easy thing. Just take a look at the Ford Focus or Fiesta sedans for evidence of the unpleasant …

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4.4s 2014 LOTUS Evora and Evora S – USA Buyers Guide – Specs, Colors and Options

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    Calling all USA and global sports-car fans! Lotus is indeed open for business – and it is your time to hop into your very own low-slung supercar. This article started out as a piece about how the Evora was no longer offered for sale in the US – but great news! A quick internet search shows numerous 2014 models available in the US at this very moment, with pricing from about $75,000. The confusion about the current Evora’s on-sale satus perhaps comes from the Sport Racer custom version of the Evora. This black/red model is indeed a European-only …

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999Motorsports USA SuperSport Mk1 is 400HP Mid-Engine Track Attack Special – Mk2 Available to Order Now!

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 999Motorsports USA SuperSport Mk1 is 400HP Mid-Engine Track Attack Special – Mk2 Available to Order Now! Think that the open-cockpit Ariels, Radicals or Caterhams are the best-value, quickest and most-thrilling track day cars on the planet? For serious racers with Porsche 911 Supercups and RSR’s all around – there is one American track special that can beat the legend: the SuperSport999. 999 Motorsports USA is the local development and engineering center for this quick lap demon that has swept Asia and France already since 2012. The 14 cars built so far are absolutely purpose-built racers with a mid-engine layout plus …

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2015 Toyota Yaris Adds LED Style and Standard Touchscreen Audio!

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Big news for these small-car twins! By the looks and extra content of the 2015 three and five-door Yaris line, Toyota must not be pleased to lose an inch of its compact car dominance to upstarts Chevrolet and Hyundai-Kia! Toyota has owned the small car sales charts for two decades with its Corolla and various other models, but the littlest member of the family has sat out many rounds of updates by competing brands. Chevrolet’s Cruze, Sonic and Spark lines are making waves in the segment, while the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa are also play hardball on price. So …

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Concept Flashback – 2010 Ford Start – Supermini Previews Potential 2017 Ka

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“Start, g-damn-it!” Imagine yelling that as the starter churns your lifeless engine — ‘rruururrrruuu.’ “Start, Ford, Start!” Brummmmm! The engine fires to life. Hooray! The 2010 Ford Start might not be the best car name idea out there, but it must be better than the Ford Flex in conveying some kind of new idea. In fact, the Start is a rich bed of ideas for the next-gen Ford supermini – something to replace the unloved current Ka in Europe and global markets. While the original Ka was loved for its funky/premium exterior, the current model is lost in the shadow …

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DP Motorsports Porsche 964 Classic S and Classic RS are Better-Than-Original Classic 911s

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We all know the amazing work from Singer in California – rebuilding old Porsche 911’s with such meticulous care that the cars are absolutely perfect upon delivery to their new owners. A vintage car – perfectly remade and optimized. Sounds divine! The tradeoff for many is the prohibitive cost and level of personalization available when commissioning a custom Singer Porsche. The $500,000 cost is a barrier as well. =] For German and global customers who might want to order a pre-setup classic Porsche 911 that requires about half the cash and half the time spent worrying about the setup? For …

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2015 Chevy Sonic RS Sedan COLORS and Buyers Guide Info

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Update1 – With Colors!           The Chevy Sonic RS is by far the coolest and sportiest in the Sonic compact lineup from Chevy. A relatively unexpected hit with buyers, the Sonic line from about $15,000 comes as standard with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter engine. Uplevel trims bring the much quicker, much more tune-able and slightly more powerful on-paper 1.4-liter Turbocharged engine upgrade. With the RS package, the Sonic Sedan now benefits from the RS Hatchback’s exclusive style, handling and equipment enhancements. All good news – and great to see the sedan benefit from some cool style. This …

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2015 Chevy Sonic RS Sedan and LTZ Dusk Join Cool RS Hatch With Dark Rims, Body Kit and Sporty Handling Tune

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The Chevy Sonic RS is by far the coolest and sportiest in the Sonic compact lineup from Chevy. A relatively unexpected hit with buyers, the Sonic line from about $15,000 comes as standard with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter engine. Uplevel trims bring the much quicker, much more tune-able and slightly more powerful on-paper 1.4-liter Turbocharged engine upgrade. With the RS package, the Sonic Sedan now benefits from the RS Hatchback’s exclusive style, handling and equipment enhancements. All good news – and great to see the sedan benefit from some cool style. This is an area where the Ford Fiesta sedan is …

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2011 Peugeot EX1 is Part EV Quad-Bike and Part Track-Day Supercar

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As part of our continuing delve into the latest Peugeot design renaissance, the EX1 is exciting for a few reasons. It is gorgeous and fresh and extremely interesting from a design perspective, fast as all hell in a straight line with a 62-mph sprint in 3.5-seconds, and also quicker than anything else from France around the Nurburgring. The design itself is perhaps the most critical element for the EX1’s lasting importance: it shows a completely fresh idea on form sculpting, a new nose, and new layered surfacing techniques not seen before from PSA, the parent company. The idea of a …

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Sportscar Legacies: Then and Now – 2012 Renault Alpine A110-50 Is A Blend of 1964 M64 and A110 Berlinette

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Just a few days after Bastille Day lit up France with fireworks, we honor of the Alpine M64 article yesterday and now the Alpine A110-50 Concept? We, monsieur. This 2012 concept is still on the road to limited production – but Renault will go it alone versus its previous joint-venture with Caterham. It is such a small-volume project that the cars will be largely hand-assembled halo supercars anyway, so the RenaultSport team is more than capable of finalizing it solo. The design of this 2012 concept is a nicely blend of the M64 and the A110, in fact, but is …

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2015 Smart Fortwo and Forfour Bring New Dual-Clutch Automatic + 2 and 4-Door Options

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If there is one thing the first generations of Smartcars have needed (besides a lot of extra size), it is a second set of doors and seats. Against all odds, the machine is still on sale in the United States in 2014, which finally makes sense when you see the new models. This pair of cars might actually have a chance in challenging Mini and the Fiat 500, so perhaps it is good that the Smart section of Mercedes-Benz showrooms has been retained in the US. Overall, sales of the car have been strongest in Italy and Germany, where the …

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2016 Mazda2 First Photos! Upmarket New Grille and Cabin Highlight Changes

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The Mazda2 is one of the best small cars available in the US – or anywhere – with playful dynamics and first-rate quality that shames the Mitsubishi Mirage in many ways. But the current car has largely missed the hot style wave of the latest Lazda6 and Mazda3. That is set to change with the just-revealed 2016 model. It is a sure thing for the US market, but its arrival timetable is not yet known. We would bet on the first few months of 2015 as a 2016 model, but it could be here as soon as this Fall. The …

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2015 Lexus IS250 and IS350 Still Gorgeous – Now With LED Foglamps and Heated Steering Wheel for AWD Models

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Is the Lexus IS one of the best-looking, best-made and best-sounding luxury cars on the market? Yes, yes it is. The BMW 320i is competing hard on price with the entry-level IS250 this year, as the Audi A3 is nosing into the fray as well. But none look quite as sexy or dynamic is this rear-drive Lexus. Below are photos from a quick spin in the Fall with the IS350 AWD, plus 60 official press shots — with the car looking outstanding in nearly all of them! Below are the full details on the 2015 update – which does not …

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1973 Porsche 911 Lightweight Carbon Widebody by DP Motorsport – 310HP for Only 2,000-lbs!

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Designed as (something of a) cross between a 964 911 Turbo and the Porsche 959 Aero prototype – this one-off by DP Motorsports is absolutely exquisite. Called the “Consistent Lightweight,” the car has been completely overhauled into a gorgeous track racer with nearly double its factory power, but hundreds of pounds less weight. Nearly all the steel bodywork of the original car is replaced by carbon-fiber, with mechanical upgrades in the suspension, grip and brake departments to keep the pace with the newly-potent boxer engine in back. From any concours to any pit lane … anywhere on Earth  — this …

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2015 Volkswagen Scirocco R and R-Line – Dynamic Launch Galleries

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Sure, the Scirocco is not coming to the United States. So why write about it? Why not? Maybe you would like to see what the new one is like? Maybe you like torturing yourself – or “VW cars we don’t get“‘ is one of your fetishes. That’s fine!  No people judgments here – so your particularly unusual fantasies are safe. We only judge cars. By that measure, the new Scirocco is mighty attractive and desirable. 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco R

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4.9s 2015 VW Golf R Officially Coming to USA in January – With At Least 290HP!

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How about some good news from Volkswagen on this site lately? We are pretty hard on the old VeeDub over here, which is ironic because my first-ever car was a 1975 SuperBeetle named Walter. This was in 1997, mind you, so he was already old enough to drink when I was 16. After a bump on the nose in 2002. 2015 VW Golf R USA Back to VW USA. Pining and wishing and griping will never make the new Scirocco come to the USA – so let’s celebrate what we are getting: the new GTI and the new Golf R! …

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OP_ED: Latest Mitsubishi Exterior Designs Are Bizarre and Alarming

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Mitsubishi is doing great on a few fronts, and simply keeping its head above water on other fronts. In the realm of PHEV and battery-electric vehicles, the firm is on a great trajectory. The iMiEV has been a pretty large global seller over the last five years by EV standards, and the new Outlander is fully prepped for a PHEV drivetrain that is already on sale in Japan and the UK, along with a few other markets. The SUV and pickup truck model ranges are still relatively robust sellers, with modern diesel engines and a butch appeal in their style. …

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BMW M235i RS by TUNINGWERK Making 400+ HP – Performance Mod Items Available for USA and Global Buyers

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The BMW M235i is easily one of the best, most complete sports-cars in the last decade. So fast, so agile and so fun. There really is not much else with this triple threat of track prowess along with smooth and luxurious commuter capabilities. But what if you want to go even more hardcore? To take this incredible engineering package and light the wick with a blowtorch?   To make your own GT-R-killer ready for any performance challenge — and delivering a huge grin all the way there and back — look no further than the below catalog from German car …

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2015 Chevrolet Trax USA Arrival In September To Battle Juke, Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade Mini SUVs

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Can you blame Chevrolet for bringing the Trax to the US market? Of course not! There is no bigger growth segment in the car market than the mini SUV. This one shares most of its platform and running gear with the Sonic and other little guys in the Chevy portfolio, but will command a $3,000 premium just for sitting a bit higher up and having some SUV body cladding. This model is required to slot in below the ever-larger and very dated Equinox and very-old-indeed Captiva Sport that is a fleet-only model. Chevrolet and GM have been rightly lambasted for …

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Concept Flashback – 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog vs 2014 Aston Martin DP-100 Vision GranTurismo

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Concept Flashback – 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog vs 2014 Aston Martin DP-100 Vision GranTurismo Aston took its future vision and threw it into fast-forward by the mid-1970s and early 1980s. The model range at the time was a mix of the Vantage and the Lagonda sedan – one looking and feeling like it was frozen in 1969, the other, 1999. So one very antiquated, and one ahead of its time. The 1980 Bulldog concept was ostensibly a range-topper; something to leapfrog the competition and bring the Vantage and supercar customer base into a bold and futuristic new decade. Alas, the …

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2015 Vauxhall Corsa Brings Adam Opel-style Nose, Better Engines and Cabin Refinement

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Official Details are out for the next Opel/Vauxhall Corsa – which is by far the division’s greatest seller around the world. 370,000 units per year is nothing to sneeze at, especially as these buyers are in the highly-desirable under-40 age segment. While that might not seem like a cool or hip demo, it is actually pretty low by industry averages. 2015 Vauxhall Corsa     Vauxhall reveals fourth-generation Corsa First official pictures of New Corsa ahead of late-2014 launch New engines, transmissions and engine technology New interior with IntelliLink Set for unveil at Paris Show, October 4-19 Luton – These are …

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1935 Bugatti Aerolithe – Digital Colorizer

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Q: How color sensitive are the iconic shapes of the Bugatti Aerolithe? A: Very! Something about the wildly flexed panel shapes of the Bugatti’s fenders, combined with the sheer flat surfaces of the body-sides and the edges of the hood, combined with the riveted panels… A trilemma of surfaces for any paint to master! The original pistacchio green is accurate and lovely for the period, but how would the car look in other shades? Would its deep recesses and sunken cab melt away from the eye, or become even more prominent? You can be the judge for yourself… via the …

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Atlanta Dream Cars – 1935 Bugatti 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe Wears Gorgeous Elektron Magnesium Panels

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This Bugatti’s name really rolls off the tongue quite nicely – even without much car for the accents and the pronunciation. Perhaps that is because the principles of speed competitions, swoopy two-doors and lightweight, low-drag machines are so important today. Those last two really nail the brilliance of this one home. Light and smooth was the goal of this shape, in an era when most cars (and drivers!) would be terrified above 30-mph. This car could easily double that, and perhaps go on to about 75-mph before the tires and brakes became a serious liability. My apologies that these photos …

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Atlanta Dream Cars – 1951 General Motors LeSabre XP-8 Struck Gold With Yank Tank Ethos of 1950s

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I usually formulate a rough outline of what I want to say about a car while cropping and straightening out the photos beforehand. In the case of this 1951 LeSabre, I wish you could have seen my face recoil in horror at all the tacky, gaudy details on this car up close. Thus, my theory was initially that the LeSabre showed General Motors the good and the bad of design. The good is that it can excite you in ways that will open wallets and checkbooks by the millions. The bad is that certain elements would need to be explained …

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Design Talent Showcase – ElTony Brings Sensual, Elemental Fire and Water to YOUR Car Wallpapers

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Design Talent Showcase – El-Tony.com Wallpapers Few things on Earth are as powerful as Fire and Water. Together with Earth and Wind — they can even combine forces to make…. Captain Planet! But back down in the real world, El-Tony.com brings the heat and the rain the virtually any image. His designs are somewhat tribal, somewhat fantasy, and something geometric all in one. By adding these amazing graphics, Tony Kokhan‘s art can make any photo or image explode off your wall – and into your dreams. Cars are any easy and pleasurable bit of eye-candy, but anything is possible for …

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Concept Flashback – 2007 Nissan Round Box Is Leaf/Cube/iQ Roadster Mashup

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Here is a fun one! Back in 2007, this little city run-about might have earned a photo or two in a small concepts section of our car magazines. At least, this is what I tell myself to justify not remembering it at all! The design is actually pretty appealing in its interpretation of a Scion iQ or Smart Fortwo competitor. The best aspect of the squat aesthetic and wide proportions, which become much slimmer moving from the wheel areas and up into the glasshouse. One element slid through to production almost intact on the Nissan Leaf EV — the headlights! …

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OP_ED – 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Coupe Has Right Platform But Boring, Old-Man Style and No Visual Impact

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Cadillac churns through chief executives and ad agencies like you would not believe. Everyone is tasked with increasing sales and lowering the demo. Everyone for the last ten years has failed to deliver on these goals for any meaningful amount of time. The 2015 ATS Coupe has all the right stuff to be popular, but it looks like the entire “Cool Coupe” mission is lost on Cadillac. This really is not an old-man brand anymore. But sadly, it is definitely run by losers. Not losers in life, mind you. They must be smart and successful – but they are definitely, …

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PART TWO: 2016 Audi S Q3 Rendering – Future 4.9-second Sport Compact Crossover

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 2016 Audi S Q3 PART TWO… Mercedes-Benz seems relatively confident with the GLA45 AMG as the one engine upgrade to the GLA250 series, and the GLA45 AMG will make its way well past $55,000 with a few options packages. So what is the Audi of America counter-strategy? Not the full-blown RS Q3, but a car with nearly all the affordable performance and speed enhancements, but with the S Q3 label instead. This is a great alternative. Simply boosting the power levels of the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the top Q3 and adding standard quattro AWD will work wonders for the …

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PART ONE: 4.5-second 2015 Audi RS Q3 Priced Out of Compact SUV Market in USA

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2015 Audi RS Q3 The Audi RS Q3 is not coming abroad to the United States market – on what has been deemed cost grounds. This makes sense if you start adding up what the showroom sticker would be for Audi of America. With the new Q3 priced in the $35,000 to $45,000 range with options and the upgraded 2.0-liter turbo engine, there is little headroom for the price premium that Quattro GmbH models command. Based on the RS5 versus the S5, we are talking a full $10 to $15,000 price bump – which would lead the RS Q3 perilously …

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3.8s 2014 LOTUS Exige LF1 – Formula One Black/Gold Special – 50 High-Res Photos

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Lotus is still not really recovered from its latest bout of trouble. Money trouble, talent trouble, mechanical trouble. But hey, Lotus is always in a bit of a pickle — so why should now be any different? High-level management stuff has never dulled the brilliance of the new Exige S sports-car range – and this thing is absolutely brutal on tracks. It delivers times that Porsche owners would take five years of practise to approach. But the Lotus Exige can do it on its first lap out there. It is just so, so quick with the supercharged V6 in back. …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1972 Nissan Skyline H/T 2000 GT-R Hakosuka

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All I could think as I came across this 1972 Skyline GT-R in the 2014 RM Auctions Monterey preview was…. “Awww yeahhh!!”   It seems, dear friends, that our day has finally come! Skyline GT-Rs in Monterey, rubbing shoulders with some of the most prestigious vehicles ever created. As the boomer generation starts to finally take a back seat to guys under 65 years old, the auction world changes with them. It is a huge relief to see less emphasis on Packard’s and other brands we have never come across in our lives – in favor of car with modern-day …

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600HP MiEV Evolution III Mitsubishi Zaps Pikes Peak Clouds with 9-min, 8-sec One-Two Finish

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600HP MiEV Evolution III Mitsubishi Zaps Pikes Peak Clouds Last year Mitsubishi had high hopes for the current-gen MiEV Evo to scorch the competition in the international Pikes Peak hillclimb, but left a bit disappointed. Knowing their intensive engineering focus as a company, we bet the team started to refine the car even further on the plane ride home. Enhancements began immediately and are actually remarkably comprehensive. They come down to two general areas of improvement: Mechanical changes seeking grip – increased grip more than ~60-percent with tires that went from 260-series widths all around to 330-series widths – better …

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Rally Legends – 1983 Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 1982 Lancia 037 at Goodwood 2014

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These Lancia rally cars from 1983 and 1984 really defined and propelled Group B’s creation – and perhaps the unlimited performance class’s ultimate demise. They were rally cars only in tire and suspension settings. For all other intents and purposes, these were the hardest-core sports racers in decades. They leveraged new innovations in tech heavily – things like electronic fuel injection, carbon-fiber chassis construction, and turbocharging – to wild effect. The Martin colors are just icing on the cake, really. But while Group B might have taken these cars with them to history, the legacy lives on proudly today in …

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Track Test Review – 2014 Mazda MX-5 Club Hardtop at Road America Autocross

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Track Test Review – 2014 Mazda MX-5 Club Hardtop at Road America Autocross The next MX-5 is in the home stretch of development in Japan ahead of an expected debut some time in 2014 or early 2015, with deliveries to America set to start shortly afterward. The next MX-5 will spawn an Alfa Romeo Spider twin, with both built to quality standards Fiat could not dream of achieving without Mazda’s Hiroshima-based talent. Development of the MX-5 is the cornerstone of Mazda’s sports car teams these days – and for good reason! The MX-5 is the ultimate track-day thriller: with enough …

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2014 Superformance Shelby Cobra Mark III in 50 High-Res Photos at Olthoff Racing

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2014 Superformance Shelby Cobra Mark III in 50 High-Res Photos at Olthoff Racing The Superformance Shelby Cobra Mark III is the only recreation in the world that can proudly wear Shelby American badges. That really says it all, doesn’t it? If not, here is 50,000 words via these 50 amazing photos in the North Carolina sunshine. And if that is still not enough, the Gadsden flag on the back of this one is pretty succinct. =]

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Concept Flashback – 1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro by ItalDesign

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A gullwing wedge sportscar for the masses! Before the 914, the closeness of the VW and Porsche teams was evolving fast. To think of the VW name on a futuristic design like this is unreal in 1970 — when the Beetle was just coming down from its all-time sales highs of the 1960s. Porsche was similarly retro at this time, with the 1966 911 being so modern that the 356 was kept in production for a few months to make sure the 911 was well-liked.   1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Is Rocket Nose and Tailfin Bliss

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This 1959 Cadillac Cyclone is really a light-hearted take on the dream cars ethos. Here is a car with giant nose cones like a rocket, tail fins as well as aileron side stabilizers out back. Hidden lamps are so far from prominence that they slink under the hood nearly a foot behind the black rocket-bra-like protrusions ahead of the machine itself. Sexiness was key to this shape, which also has tail-lamps in a bright machined shroud — looking like they could also blast out hot propellent as they light up red under braking. 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Of course, there …

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2015 Subaru WRX STI in Full-Length FLAT OUT Isle of Man TT Record Run

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Some feats of bravery are almost as scary to watch from afar as they are up close. Subaru’s new-record run of the Isle of Man TT course in the all-new WRX STI is definitely one where the viewer can get a little shakey watching the speeds of the rally road car. Imagine piloting your car through a mountain town at 150-mph?! Any blink or twitch would be game over. Car in wall, you on stretcher. So a big part of the WRX STI’s achievement here is instilling so much driver confidence that he feels close to comfortable attempting what you …

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2016 BMW Z4 Rendering – Vision Car_Revs_Daily Future-Proofs 328 Hommage Concept

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PART FOUR! How to Make the Next BMW Z4 As Sexy As It Should Be. What a chain of articles… This is the last segment in this BMW Z4 Concept series – one that shows below how many more people like the modern Vision ConnectedDrive more than they like the 328 Hommage. The X-ed out lights do the 328 Hommage no favors, nor does the brown carbon-fiber. But regardless, they both have issues. So we took to photoshop to blend the best elements of both with a dash of future spice for good measure. This seems alot easier than it …

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Updated With 12 New Photos – 2015 Ford Focus ST to Make Dynamic Debut at Goodwood FoS

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  Newsbrief from Ford today announcing the 2015 Ford Focus ST! This hot hatch is highly anticipated and the first glimpse of the new model will be Friday June 27th at the Goodwood Festival of Speed — when the ST will head up the hill in a real-time race versus players driving the 2015 ST in Gran Turismo 6. Pretty cool! UPDATE- The latest Focus ST photos show an evolutionary design outside, with subtle tweaks like a thinner grille and even a thinner ST badge lettering putting the emphasis on refined and lightweight dynamics. Inside, the 2015 ST shows a …

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2015 Ford Focus ST to Debut at Goodwood This Friday! Exclusive LED DRL + Headlights Rendering

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  Newsbrief from Ford today announcing the 2015 Ford Focus ST! This hot hatch is highly anticipated and the first glimpse of the new model will be Friday June 27th at the Goodwood Festival of Speed — when the ST will head up the hill in a real-time race versus players driving the 2015 ST in Gran Turismo 6. Pretty cool! The latest Focus ST has similar LED headlight accents as the regular Focus, and they are illuminated here in an exclusive rendering. 2015 Ford Focus ST LED Jun 23, 2014 | GOODWOOD, U.K. New Ford Focus ST Global Reveal …

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Update1 – 2015 Ford Focus Tech and Design Refresh Adds 8-Inch Nav, EcoBoost Triple + LED Accents

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Hot off the presses!  Initial thoughts? Much improved! The dark trims really make the sedan’s nose much more appealing. This dark trim is available on the five-door as well – in either SE Appearance package or the SE Sport (or the SE EcoBoost!) pack, which goes even darker for the wheels to gloss black. The specs are below.   2015 Ford Focus – TIRES AND WHEELS S  15-in. steel wi th silver painted cover, 195/65R15 all-season BSW SE  16-in. painted al uminum, 215/55R16 all-season BSW SE SFE Package  16-in. painted al uminum, 215/55R16 LRR all-season BSW SE Sport Package SE …

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Hyundai Genesis, Elantra and Accent Score Segment-Best Initial Quality Awards from JD Power

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Great news for Hyundai owners and those considering swapping to Hyundai from another nameplate: the JD Power Initial Quality Awards rankings show the Genesis, Elantra and Accent as the best in the classes. This is a great result for the Genesis as the second-best car in the entire JD Power study, but even more so for the smaller and much cheaper Accent and Elantra. (2015 Genesis shown below.)     2014 Hyundai Elantra GT shown below.   Hyundai Genesis, Elantra and Accent Score Segment-Best Initial Quality Awards from JD Power In the compact segment, the biggest sales gains lately have …

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Photo Polls VOTE For Your Favorite BMW Roadster Design – 328 Hommage versus Vision CD

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PART THREE: How to Make the Next BMW Z4 As Sexy As It Should Be. Okay now! We’ve decided in the previous Concept Flashback articles that both these 2011 BMW concept cars have some unusual bits. They are harder to love than they should be. These are not four-door sedans, or even hot SUVs. These are pure-bred sports cars. Two-seat, rear-drive roadsters. Remember how you felt when the 1994 BMW Z3 came out? That is what we are going for here. An immediately craving. ON TO THE VOTING… Here are two photo polls of the BMW concept roadsters. Including each …

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Concept Flashback, Part Two – 2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive is Future-Themed 2016 BMW Z4 Testbed

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PART TWO: First Part is here. And also included at bottom of page below. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/06/20/2011-bmw-328-hommage/ 2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive In the previous 328 Hommage article, we outlined all the reasons the current Z4 is struggling to find a sexy new direction for its next-gen model, expected in 2015 or 2016. This pair of concepts from 2011 explore two different paths to luring buyers back into the two-door BMW roadster fold. Let us begin on a positive note: we love the tail of both cars, and like the doors in the Vision Connected Drive. We animated them here sinking into the …

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Concept Flashback – 2011 BMW 328 Hommage is Retro-Themed 2016 Z4 Teaser

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BMW has some awesome concept cars. This is beyond a doubt. Even if they seem totally bonkers when they are revealed – cars like the ~2001 X-Coupe – the logic behind their creation and display often makes sense in the decade that follows. So what to make of the 2013 BMW 328 Hommage? A car created with an overt nod to the BMW 328 roadster and coupe racecar in the 1930s — but with a decidedly unusual and future-looking appearance. After preparing articles about both the 328 Hommage and the 2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive — much new information has come …

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Prediction: Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaro Gone After Transformers 4 RoboTrumble + Info About 1967 Z/28 and Nicola Peltz

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Who would have thought that Bumblebee would outlast almost all the other actors, cars, trucks and bots in the Transformers films when the first move debuted the new Camaro to global excitement in 2007? Transformers 4: Age of Extinction is in theaters on June 27th – starring not one Camaro, but two. Both the revised and upgraded 2014 Camaro concept as well as a a 1967 Camaro Z/28 will appear in the film, which stars Mark Wahlberg (catchphrase: ‘huh!? wha? what’s happening?’ or ‘say hi to your mother for me.’) and a new roster of supporting actors that includes neither …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class in 40 New Photos – C300 and C400 Both 4Matic As Standard

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Update 6.20.14 The new C-Class is looking very sharp in these photos from London and the English countryside! Please disregard the engine badges and driving position of these photos – our American-market launch cars are the C300 4Matic and C400 4Matic — both with standard all-wheel-drive to start. Down the road there is likely to be a rear-drive C250 model as well. The C400 4Matic is set to be one of the year’s best cars – it brings air suspension to the mid-size luxury class for the first time ever. Air springs are heavenly on the latest crop of Mercedes …

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Porsche 911 Carrera 4S in Gorgeous Photo Shoot with Original Porsche 911 2.0-liter

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While the Porsche love-fest continues, here is a set of photos that will make grown men weak in the knees. It will make kids eager to be grown-ups, and grown-ups long for a slice of child-like wonder again. This is the Porsche 911. Porsche 911 Carrera 4S in Gorgeous Photo Shoot with Original Porsche 911 2.0-liter

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2014 BMW M235i Wearing Art Car Warpaint for Upcoming Nurburgring 24H Race

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Art Car Warpaint? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Perhaps. But the Art Cars all had a purpose to their wacky designs – many of which were colored and imagined to enhance the sense of speed, cause envy in pedestrians, or generally dazzle the eye. The M235i certainly brings all three of those Art Car themes to the track this weekend – with a new livery that is quite astounding, very unique, and visually jarring at first. Most of the BMW Art Cars were racers themselves, with a few exceptions toward the late 80s and early 1990s, when production models became the …

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2014 Ford Fiesta Red Edition and Fiesta Black Edition for UK – With Aston-Style Painted Lips!

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INTRO: Ooooh, Aston Martin must be fuming today. The new Fiesta Red and Fiesta Black Editions don some accent-color around their grilles in a way that directly recalls Aston racecars, or the new N430 special Vantage below… What is the downside of being the UK’s best-selling car for more than a decade? It can be a bit hard to stand out in a crowd. Highways in London must feel like Fiesta bumper cars — with all the colors muted tans, silvers, greens and light greys, scratches and fender benders do not even transfer any new paint onto your Fiesta! That …

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Euro Supermini Cars – 2014 Toyota Aygo is Furious With You. Yes, You. Who Else?!

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Alternative headlines? 2014 Toyota AYGO’s New Face Says… “AYGO-nna Kill Yo’ Ass!!” Or maybe the 2014 Toyota Aygo is saying…. “I Gonna Run You Over Now!” We are not sure, but the new Aygo seems very, very unhappy about something. Will the Aygo’s scowl inspire the Hyundai “Uhoh” ? As in,“Uhoh you guys. Here comes Aygo. And she looks pissed…” Maybe the Aygo is just frustrated after working so closely with Peugeot Citroen on this collaborative project? Whatever the reason, I’m sure Aygo will make pedestrians think twice about jaywalking. Euro Supermini Cars – 2014 Toyota Aygo

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Powerkit for Porsche 911 Carrera S Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust

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    Powerkit And Aero Upgrades for Porsche 911 Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust For many Porsche 911 owners, the rumble from out back becomes one of the car’s most loved and central features. Far more than a gimmick, the 911 breathes directly from the wind ‘backflow’ at the rear of the car at high speeds. Ideally, the Carrera S Powerkit will sound much like the Sport Classic below: Like it’s own pressure chamber, the spoiler’s effectiveness is required to channel that cold air directly into this once-air-cooled engine setup. 430HP is on tap, a jump from 400. Classic 911 …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Is Aero Convertible Coupe

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I can hear your thoughts right now, saying… “How is that giant brick of a car an aero coupe?” It really is. Versus its contemporaries, the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt was quite innovative in many ways — mostly having to do with shrouding and aero-smoothing any turbulence-inducing surfaces. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt – INNOVATIONS — This meant the entire front grille of the 1930s Chrysler Airflow had to go, in favor of a mouth-breather setup wherein the engine gets its cooling air from below the front bumper. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt — Shrouding also extended to the headlamps, where were one of the …

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Road Test Review – 2014 KIA Soul Exclaim is Funky/Practical – With A Dash Of Cool and Calm

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Written by Special Contributor Ken Glassman   When the Kia Soul first came out in 2010, I was fairly ambivalent about their boxy little Tonka Toy. It was an efficient use of interior space and a ho-hum performing little econobox. But for 2014 the Soul has been re-done and greatly improved. And model I tested was the Soul !. (the exclamation point after Soul is designated as the “Exclaim” trim level – the most upscale model they offer.) The Soul + (called the “Plus” trim level sits in the middle above the Base model) And this 2014 Exclaim model has …

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2015 BMW i3 Is Ugliest Car Since The Isetta – Makes Prius V Look Sexy and Pontiac Aztek Look Fun

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I want to like the BMW i3. I really do. But this little pumpkin just doesn’t light my jack-0-lantern. It is so unbelievably fugly that it makes the Prius look sexy. Hell, the i3 makes the Prius V look sexy. Here are all the stats and 199 photos of the violently repugnant 2015 BMW i3. If this car is anywhere near as successful as BMW hopes it will be, I will eat a rotten pumpkin whole. There is just no way people will pay $50,000 to drive this hideous turd. Yes, the dashboard is nice. But that is the only …

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2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Revamped with Cool LED Running Lights, Extra MPGs and Quieter Cabin

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 Quick! Name a mini crossover that is fun, cheap, sporty and reliable!? Did you get any? My immediate answer to those criteria would be the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. This chuck-able little crossover is just about the coolest way to enter the stylish AWD SUV segment on a compact-car budget. The tradeoffs are less than ever this year for the 2015 model, which adds miles-per-gallon stats to its roster via a new automatic transmission. The exterior is now offered in this shiny metallic blue paint, which goes well with the SE model’s new LED daytime running lights in the lower corners. …

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Vision GranTurismo Scores a Super Evo Crossover! Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution

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What to make of the latest VisionGT concept? This is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution – a futuristic look at both the Mitsubishi racing effort and the future of the Evo itself. Is the styling really possible? It does resemble the latest Mitsubishi concept cars from 2013 and 2014 – but this is not necessarily a great bit of news. Mitsubishi is going in some unusual styling directions – but the performance of the XR-PHEV Evolution is sure to be ridiculously quick. It leverages both the S-AWC all-wheel-drive of the Evolution as well as the EV tech shown in the latest …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina

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As wild as Ferrari production cars are – you might notice that the brand releases almost no pure concept cars. Why? Because people want to buy them off the auto show floor! And so Ferrari must be exceptionally careful about what they show the public, especially if the car itself is too wild to ever be sold. One of the great concept Ferrari’s of all time is the 512 S Modulo. It takes the same ultra-aerodynamic goals as the Lancia Stratos HF Zero to an altogether different conclusion. But while the Lancia Stratos HF Zero looked vaguely production-feasible, this 512 …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone

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1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone The Dream Cars exhibit this summer at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a thrilling ride through automotive history that every car lover will adore. The collection might be far smaller than most auto shows, but the impact of every car will leave your feet cemented to the floor. And your jaw? It will often be on the floor as well. How to rewrite that introduction? It certainly applies to this next car: the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF by Bertone. Sitting beside the 1970 Ferrari Pininfarina 512 S Modulo, these cars …

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Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI Is Brilliantly Fast, Grippy and Fun on Autocross

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The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojern up north to Road America last month. The STI is certainly in my Greatest Hits column. It feels punchy, fast, vocally boxer and turbocharged, eager to turn in and happy to muscle its way out of any corner. As such, the STI was swamped with wanna-be rally heroes for its big laps of the main Road America circuit. But there was time for some on-camera bonding via the smaller Go-Kart track that we set up as a timed Autocross. …

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Track Drive Review – 2014 BMW M235i Is Best Junior Supercar… EVER!

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INTRO Favorite car? Best sports-car? I am running out of superlative awards here – but the points made in the above video are all certainly still felt by me today. The above film is actually pretty watch-able, with some great insights after hopping right in the M235i and doing a lap of Road America right after doing the same in the 2014 M5. Truth be told, for a relative new-comer to the huge-power BMW and sportscar arena, the M235i felt a little more my speed. It was more forgiving on the track, and at the same time friskier and more …

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Track Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG at Road America

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Hmmm, despite my grand ambitions to film every car I had the chance to drive at the MAMA Spring Rally this year for auto journalists – the exterior videos are pretty dull. Without the time and motivation to cut the interior and exterior videos together, the exteriors are best with the camera near th exhaust pipe — so there is at least some exhaust noise drama to make things watch-able. The CLA45 AMG is certainly not short of exhaust noise drama! While it never quite sounds as good as you might think and AMG should, it does have character versus …

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Off-Road Test Review – 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid is Surprisingly Silent + Very Capable

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As shown by the Toyota 4Runner off-roading article earlier this week, we know I am a total wimp when it comes to off-roading. Despite my grand ambitions to be a Bowler Wildcat-running mudder in my own 2005 Subaru Legacy GT — all efforts to date have seriously damaged the car. I am on my fourth set of wheels, for example. But what would even lead me to take my beloved Subie off-road? One word: grip. The Subaru AWD system is seriously unflappable. In wintertime this year, I was fortunate enough to have a 2WD Chevy Silverado press loaner in my …

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192HP, 6.8-Second 2015 MINI 5-Door Answers the Call of Back-Seaters Everywhere

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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 and also …

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2014 Ford Focus ST Is Most Ferocious and Grippy Car at Road America Autocross

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Like every journalist everywhere who has written unexpected results: we can only revert to an old stand-by defense. “…We don’t make the news, we just report it…!” It is this situation now, reporting that the Focus ST indeed felt the most ferocious and grippy around the Go-Kart track of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Perhaps because this mini road course is so similar to many proving grounds in the UK where the Focus ST honed its skills? The Focus ST could even be caught briefly doing the old cover-shot classic pose: with its rear inner tire off the ground …

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2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS Stars in Our Most-Watched Driving Video: 50,000 Views!

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  My most popular YouTube driving reviews ever? I’m glad you asked! Without a doubt – it is the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS 2LT and its dual-mode exhaust — slinging around the Chicago suburbs on a rainy Tuesday morning. Just goes to show me… that I cannot anticipate which videos will be popular, and which will not! But a hot car and a heavy right foot seem to be requirements overall. =] Getting seat time in the new Camaro V6 dispelled most of my previous assumptions about Camaro owners: who I once said were (usually) either “Murder Victims” or “Murderers.” …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 60 High-Res Photos + Video Walk-Around

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The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO is incredible value at just above $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery      

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2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR – Video Reviews and High-Res Photo Gallery

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One of the downsides of starting a site from scratch is that the formats and the site layouts are bound to change over time. Those changes often are compatible with the old setup, but sometimes are not. So here is a repost of last fall’s dream press loaner: the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR — on video and in numerous high-res photos. VIDEO PART ONE VIDEO PART TWO

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2014 Hyundai Veloster REFLEX Brings Exclusive White Finish, Turbo LEDs and DCT Auto for $22k

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  The special Veloster Hyundai debuted in Chicago has now arrived in dealers nationwide! The Veloster RE:FLEX is a shortcut way to get the hottest-spec and best-equipped Veloster model available — with standard automatic transmission and all the Turbo’s LED style for only $21,650 before delivery charges of about $800. The interior is offered in red or black leather, along with the latest mobile device connectivity and even the giant glass moonroof as standard. The white and chrome finishes are a nice touch to the Veloster RE:FLEX — and are a sure way to have an exclusive and premium-feeling sports …

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2014 Fiat Abarth 500C Wins Hottest Exhaust Note on Autocross Track

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 Listen to this gurgling little slugger! The 500C Abarth was perhaps the closest kindred spirit to the Fiesta ST we crowned as Most Fun around the Road America Go-Kart Autocross track. And while the Fiesta ST’s induction path in the front of the car definitely sounds good, it really cannot compete with the amazing aurals out back from the Fiat. The Abarth 500C’s drop-top is a welcome piece of kit for the fun little machine – operating smoothly and in a power-operated fashion that makes losing the whole roof panel as easy as opening a normal car’s moonroof. Where the …

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2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8L V6 – Road Test Review of FAST and FUN RWD Sportscar

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Does something or someone become more beautiful the more you love it? I think we all know that the answer is: Yes. Such were my feelings after driving the 2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8. Coming home, I find some of the most stunning photos and time-consuming angles of any car in recent memory – and the car is looking stellar. Sporty, lightweight, expensive and fast – but most of all, bright red. Was I so smitten that I kept snapping away long after I had the basics for a road test review? It would clearly seem that way. After all, …

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VIDEO: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is Most Fun at Road America Autocross Track

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Do you ever want to reach into TopGear magazine sometimes and shake them by the collar, yelling: “YES, We know the Fiesta ST is fun. Next topic!” Oh, that is just me? Whatever then! I have gotten really fatigued with Fiesta ST rave reviews. It just didn’t seem relevant. Until the first peel-out. On the go-kart-track turned Autocross of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the Fiesta ST comes alive. I finally get it. Finally. Finally! The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST really is a hoot. It is How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It is the g-spot in Octopussy. …

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2015 Subaru BRZ Series.Blue Limited-Edition Brings STI Goodies

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2015 Subaru BRZ Series Blue …. Also Available in White. No joke. 500 copies of the World Rally Blue color and 500 copies of Crystal White are the only choices for the top-spec Series.Blue limited edition coming this summer to Subaru BRZ fans. A minimal makeover of the 2015 BRZ will kick off the second-generation cars’ market tenure: underbody aero panels smooth the drag coefficient, STI wheels and body accessories add drama outside, while larger exhaust tips and a shark-fin radio antenna also join the fun for 2015. The cars are also likely to include a bit more NVH material …

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Scoots Around Go-Kart Autocross at Road America

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Alternative headlines? “GSR Aims at Autocross Target, Misses.” “Beetle GSR Drives Like It Has Gorilla On Roof.” The Beetle GSR is supposedly tailor-made for racing and timed laps – it even includes a chronometer stopwatch right in the central dashboard and racing stripes outside. Unfortunately, all who drove it at Road America last week came away with various harsh critiques. Brakes were spongy and non-existent, the tires washed out all sense of grip, it felt pokey, and most damning of all: it handled extremely poorly. My critique that it felt like a gorilla was on the roof was echoed by …

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Hottest LA Debuts: 2015 Audi A3 and S3 Spell Trouble For Subaru, Lexus, Ford, Acura…

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The $29,000-plus luxury compact market just got very hot under the collar. Audi revealed the 2015 A3 line-up in LA this week, and it is a direct hit for stylish urban executives. Coming in two sedans (the A3 and S3), a PHEV Sportback, and also a cute A3 cabrio —- the A3 is poised to take sales off the books of the WRX, Lexus IS250, Ford Focus ST, and many others. Pricing an arrival time estimates vary, but by summer 2014 seems like a safe bet. 2015 Audi S3 Sedan – Exterior Gallery 2015 Audi S3 Sedan – Interior Gallery …

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Subaru BRZ Color Fight – World Rally Blue or Light Silver?

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Subaru BRZ Color Fight – World Rally Blue – Downloadable GIF Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – World Rally Blue – Exterior Gallery   Subaru BRZ – Interior Gallery Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – Light Silver – Downloadable GIF  Subaru BRZ Colors Showdown – Light Silver – Exterior Gallery

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans.   Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery