Euro Cars

Volkswagen Teases 2019 Jetta Ahead of NAIAS

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When we last met the Volkswagen Jetta, it was a sedan in desperate need of newfound vigor and passion. The current generation was Volkswagen’s attempt to better compete with U.S. and Japanese entries, but its bland styling and downgraded interior materials caused it to get a lukewarm reception from customers, especially in North America. With the sedan segment as a whole still reeling from strong CUV sales, the 2019 Jetta aims to regain its lost luster, while also doubling down on its quest to redefine the four door sedan segment at the same time. The teaser sketches Volkswagen released don’t …

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4.6s 2018 BMW i8 Roadster Is No-Brainer Ragtop

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The i8 is amazing to drive!  In Sport+ this machine opens up its full 374HP and rockets forward with glee.  Triple turbo thrumming behind you and popping out racy noises from the exhausts. But the i8 has a problem.  It is so light because of all that carbon fiber.  Which is expensive. And intrudes on the doorsill in a major way.  This makes i8’s beautiful swan wing doors make sense.  They are very-much needed to help get in and out.  With a low roof on the coupe, this has been a barrier to the car’s wider success. This Roadster hopes …

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2018 INFINITI QX30 Sport – Road Test Review w/ Performance Drive Video!

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 We start the drive video review asking a serious question: does this Euro Infiniti QX30 belong in the USA? This baby Infiniti has two variants on sale in America: the crossover-ish QX30 and QX30 AWD.  Then there is the wild cousin: the QX30 Sport.  Lowered ride height.  Performance mods and gloss black finishes galore.  Stance to make the most of the double-clutch automatic and turbo motor from Mercedes-Benz. Premium compact five-doors are big business on the continent.  Instead of trading up to a sedan after the Golf/Focus class, owners will shell out big cash to get into the A3, 1 …

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2018 DALLARA Stradale Roadster – Make the World Your Racetrack! [99 Photos]

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  This beautiful new supercar starts life with no doors and no windshield or upright cowl whatsoever.  Just a sleek, wide disk shooting around a circuit! A windshield option makes this a Dallara Stradale Roadster, and a bubble glass hardtop makes it into a Dallara Stradale Targa. Loving them all is easy.  A few reasons: — This is a right-now production car.  First delivery happened last week and production is in full swing. — Dallara is a name known on racetracks worldwide.  They make the carbon chassis tubs for everyone.  Seriously. So they have carbon-fiber at scale.  And wind tunnels …

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Aston Martin Reinvents Its Sporting Pedigree With 2018 Vantage Coupe

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With a new era being ushered in thanks to a partnership with Mercedes Benz, the newly re-energized Aston Martin is keen on reinventing itself, and has followed up on the recent unveiling of the DB11 with perhaps the most important offering yet, the 2018 Aston Martin Vantage. The previous generation Vantage was a lingering spectre of the old Aston Martin with an aging platform, V8 engine, and a fussy semi-automated manual relegating the otherwise handsome Vantage to the back of the sports car line. In short, it was like a hipster wearing Abercrombie and Fitch in a sea of Ralph …

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2017 VW Passat 1.8T R-Line – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Hankering for a sporty European performance sedan, but stunned by the high prices? Never fear – we’ve found a sweet sedan that ticks all the right boxes and even surprised us with its sensible pricing: the 2017 VW Passat. Now you have to be a smart shopper, or you could get carried away and end up dropping a fair amount of loot on some maxed-out model. You have to know the magic word. The magic word is R-Line. VW actually serves up 6 different models, but the R-Line gives you a nice dollop of sporty goodness in its second-to-lowest priced …

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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Base Automatic – Road Test Review + 2 Videos

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There are cars that are simply better than they have to be. They go beyond just beating their obvious rivals and into another level of long-term partnership potential for their drivers. Such is the case with the five-door Hyundai Elantra GT.  This variant of the best-selling sedan shares much of its drivetrain cabin, but none of its exterior or platform design. It enters a market segment that has more strong rivals than ever.  Focus and Cruze hatchback might be easy to beat.  But how about the new Civic Sport 5-door, Mazda3 and VW Golf?  Those are some seriously good global …

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2017 VW Golf Alltrack S w/ 4Motion – HD Road Test Review

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Wagons are back! Have you heard? Small families and bachelors alike are rediscovering how easy, smooth and practical they are versus the endless line of mini SUVs.  Wagons have better mileage, handling and — sometimes — even long-roof style. There are places where the Golf Sportwagen’s low ride height is simply not ideal — even with that car’s optional 4Motion AWD system.  For mountain states like Colorado or Vermont, there can never be enough tall, 4×4 wagons to choose from. Subaru has had this market on lock for decades now with their big Outback and smaller Crosstrek wagons. VW is …

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2017 Fiat 500C 1.4L Auto – Road Test Review

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Is “hilarious” a helpful car description?  What about uproarious laughter at redline on the video review? Not really.  You migtht think the guy is laughing at the the car when he is actually laughing along with it. Either way, a serious case of the giggles comes standard on the Fiat 500C. The $17k 500 Cabrio is actually the cheapest way into a softtop in the USA for 2017 and 2018.  But with hard metal roof pillars, some might say this isn’t an all-the-way cabriolet. It might not be a full ragtop but it is delightfully sunny in the little Fiat …

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Road Test Review – 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti (RWD) – By Carl Malek

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Alfa Romeo has seen its fair share of ups and downs since it made its most recent effort at returning to the U.S. luxury car market. For starters, instead of choosing to start its new-found U.S. adventure with a mass market oriented model, the proudly Italian sports car maker chose to unleash two borderline supercars on the market. The first was the limited production Alfa Romeo 8C which featured a delightfully good Ferrari sourced V8, stylish bodywork, and a six figure price tag. Next was the Alfa Romeo 4C an equally stylish four cylinder two seat sports car that helped …

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2017 VW Golf R w/ DCC & Nav – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Most car makers have “halo” cars.  You know, special products (usually at nosebleed prices) to show off the best of what they can do, and to make you feel better about the garden-variety products that most of us end up buying. Think Nissan GT-R, Corvette Z06, Acura NSX. VW has a halo vehicle, too. And while the family parts bin of Audi goodness could probably have given them some ridiculous $80,000 über Passat or something, they did something very cool. They made a VW Golf their showpiece. So, is the VW Golf R a hatch that super-enthusiasts can really get …

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Concept Flashback – 1990 Renault Laguna Roadster

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Concept cars serve a variety of purposes in the auto business.  They can be helpful as a grand pronouncement of new ideas — even if those are years away from the showrooms of real life.  They can also be a grand distraction.  Or a grand way to bring halo hotness to a dull lineup. And most of all, they are perfect as blank canvasses for designers to express themselves.  Take a simple idea, like a two-seat cabrio, and take it to its wildest brainstorm conclusion.  In the case of the ultra-curvy Laguna concept, this meant a mid-engine turbo four driving …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – SEAT, VW, Opel, Mini and Renault

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Insignia GSi causes a major double-take to get things started on the euro mass-market showfloor gallery.  A brand-new Cupra R and Megane RS are headed to buyers very soon and look dynamite.  The Mini JCW GP Concept is even cooler in real life than it was in its preshow photos.  And finally VW’s soft-skinned ID Crozz Concept is red and happy to be in the world.  Like an electric puppy. 2018 Open Insignia GSi 2018 Renault Megane R.S. 2018 SEAT Leon Cupra R 2017 MINI Cooper GP Concept 2017 VW I.D. Crozz Concept, 2018 VW T-Roc

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174MPH 2018 Audi RS4 Avant Is Frankfurts Designated Badass Wagon

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Audi has long preferred to put their highest-performing RS handiwork into wagons.  The RS6 and now this RS4 can reach such high speeds, the thought is, that the longer roof aids their overall stability and aero. Whatever gets more people to buy wagons, right? This new RS4 Avant promises a giant upgrade in thrust thanks to a V6TT making 125 pound-feet of torque more than the previous model.  This means the 100-kph sprint time of 4.1 seconds really is just amuse bouche.   This RS4 is all about spine-shredding G-force around corners and through its eight-speed tiptronic’s gears.  The bodywork …

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2017 Renault SYMBIOZ Concept Car (and House!) – Holistic 2030 Nature-Mobile

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You know we love a good Renault concept around here.  They generally present a future design language on a wild, unrealistic bodystyle. But the advent of electric cars can be really freeing.  SYMBIOZ envisions a car that perfectly fits into its environment and makes a showpiece of everything that passes by these glass windows and roof.  The flatpack battery is Tesla-style and lets the front end be cut to nothing, the overall height radically low and the width stretched to the extreme.  Advanced ultra-strong materials mean SYMBIOZ can pass crash tests even without typical crumple zones.  And with all the …

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2011 Morgan AeroMax LHD Tall-Boy Special – RM London 2017

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Just 100 of these AeroMaxes were produced for sale!  Seems a small quantity compared to the outsized reputation this machine has for its Top Gear and UK car-mag popularity.  The AeroMax is sure to be collectible thanks to its well-known teardrop hardtop design, split rear window and somewhat cross-eyed appearance from certain angles. This edition to be sold by RM Sotheby’s London sale this week is a delicious metallic blue over lipstick red inside.  It has less than 2000 miles from new and was originally sold to a member of the British royal family. A coupe special features of this …

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2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet – RM London Preview

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This CLK DTM is a rarer version of the ultra-rare DTM hardtop.  Just 80 copies of this stunning ragtop were produced — and this racing widebody is extra WILD with no roof. Fabric folding top also makes the tall rear wing seem to stand even prouder than it does on the coupe!  The full carbon tonneau cover, and seating all around adds a nice bit if racing flair to a lux hotrod for the street. When new, this machine cost near $350k and was only pre-sold to a select few in Europe. The current owner is seeking about the same …

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Concept Debrief – 2011 SAAB PhoeniX was Dead on Arrival

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  The only thing we really recalled about the final SAAB concept car was its tail. With backlit red lighting through a screen mesh, the PhoeniX reminded us of a nasty reborn Pontiac Bonneville SSEi.  Cheap body cladding and all, unfortunately. Reviewing the PhoeniX design today four years later, the look of this sports coupe is no more appealing. Put simply, this car would have flopped like a pancake on the market. Imagine comparing this with a $50k BMW 435i? It is not just the detailing that is overwrought, but all the surfaces and even the proportions. This thing is …

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Marketplace Comparisons – 2017 Genesis G90 Ultimate (RWD) – By Carl Malek

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Remember when the flagship luxury car segment used to be solely defined by the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7-Series, and the Audi A8? Granted, there were also entries like the Jaguar XJ, Maserati Quattroporte, as well as the Lexus LS, but each of these entries only offered a small slice of the broader all round package that is demanded by elite buyers. The past few years have seen an explosion of choices with these familiar names being joined by new entries such as the Volvo S90, Lincoln Continental, Cadillac CT6, and the subject of this installment of Marketplace Comparisons, the 2017 …

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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. Of course, Jaguar had been rocking serious curves since the 1940s.  This Pininfarina exercise re-introduced a swoopy, flowing shape that was markedly different from the boxy production XK. Very, very impressive level of production value for a 1978 concept.  Although not adapted for sale, some vindication for the designers came when this basic surfacing template was a huge hit for the Aston Martin DB7 and even the Jaguar XK …

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2017 Donkervoort D8 GTO RS Bare Naked Carbon Edition

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Just 15 of these outrageous machines are set for production.  Donkervoort sold out the initial run of D8 RS models in record time.  This makes sense: the machine offers a sensory hypercar experience unlike any other. Imagine the ultra-low and precise drive position of a Morgan.  The rigidity of a Pagani and the thrust like a McLaren. You land somewhere close to the D8 GTO RS. Power comes from a tuned 2.5-liter Audi five-cylinder making about 450HP.  With a curb weight of just 1600 pounds and massive traction from the wide back rubber, the GTO RS sprints to 60-mph in …

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

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Bubble Hard 911

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

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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport 6MT – First Drive Review

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Hyundai is perfecting its performance-car credentials.  The latest pack of redesigns go as hard at their tech/ style as they do at full turbo boost and fast corners. This handling skill and steering feel are creating a new impression of the brand as a whole. You need a preface like this to absorb the impressions of how sweet a drive the Elantra GT Sport was the other day.  This is Hyundai’s Scirocco rival for Europe and GTI-fighter for the USA — with a slinky low roof, five-door layout and lively powertrain.  How alive is GT?  It forms the basis for …

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Concept Flashback – 1994 Renault Espace F1 [38 Photos]

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The coolest minivan of all time? A rolling, four-seat example of an F1 team doing their work joyfully? And an eclipse wall of yellow metallic …. coming in fast! The visuals of a van but the sound and speed of an F1 car do not register right in the brain.  It is cognitive dissonance at its best. Play ten seconds of the below and tell me you disagree!       Here are 38 remastered photos of the Espace F1 from its launch in 1994. 1994 Renault Espace F1

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2018 Jaguar E-Pace – 300HP CUV Pricing and USA Launch Details!

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Jumping for joy! This new Jaguar E-Pace compact SUV is the perfect model for Jag right now.  Hot on the heels of the F-Pace SUV’s knockout launch, this E-Pace is firmly on the way for the 2018 model-year — and even has USA pricing in full included below!  Spoiler alert: it runs from $39k to about $55k. While the I-Pace name has been linked to a full EV concept from the big cat, this new E-Pace is a close relative.  Sharing a platform and much design and tech, they are both starting assembly in the next six months. Jaguar is …

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2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Walkaround Highlights Gallery in 130 Photos

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  CRD pal and all-around bon vivante James Crabtree is back from an amazing visit to the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed! All four days meant JC snapped nearly 1000 photos and 100 videos from the epic motoring event.  And best news of all?  He was gracious enough to share them here with us. We selected about 130 of our favorites from his extensive Goodwood experience.  Everything from Lego racers and racecars, to four-seat Morgans, EuroFighter Typhoons, vintage icons and future concepts.  And of course, not two steps without tripping over some high-dollar supercar. The 570S Spider, Aventador S and …

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2017 Volvo S90 T6 – Road Test Review + Best of 2017 Award-Winner

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We all knew the brand-new Volvo S90 sedan would be a quantum leap ahead of its S60 and S80 predecessors in the luxury segment.  We knew this new S90 is the second Volvo since XC90 to be a real class-best achievement in style and safety. But knowing all this still offers no prep for how absolutely phenomenal the new S90 is inside and on the road.  It is so magnificently high-tech, yet grounded in light Swedish leathers and a open-pore walnut woods. It drives with lightness and agility unlike anything you might expect from a 5 series or E-Class rival. …

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1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi – RM Villa Erba Highlight

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Here is a stunning example of peak car design. Timeless and enchanting lines from every angle.  Unbelievable finesse and shape to every panel — courtesy of the era’s best coachwork masters. But special even before that point.  This short-wheelbase, competition model has the lightweight sports-racing chassis and race engine.  It is also one of only two worldwide with fully enclosed front fenders. These were a difficult feat then and are similarly hard to achieve now.  Certainly they are impossible for any volume-produced machine.  The idea that they would help with aerodynamics is charming considering the top speeds of this car …

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2017 BMW M760i – Launch Starts Video + 71 Photos

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The new M760 is an instant icon and forever flagship. Here is a car that defies all physics with its speed.  6.6 chugging liters fed by massive twin turbos.  Both nestled within the perfect V12. The results on this BMW’s power delivery are breathtaking.  A ripping snort on throttle and a rich, layered bellow from the pipes out back.  601 horsepower and standard LWB spec for the USA market also bring dual silver-bullet technologies. Tech to make the chassis as long as a yacht, but corner like a gyro.  This comes in the form of xDrive and super-adaptive M suspension. …

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First Drive – 2018 Audi A5 2.0T S-Line Quattro Coupe

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  Is Audi doing a greatest-hits album? You might have asked yourself that upon seeing the new A4/Q5 generations.  In the presale renders, the new cars barely look new. Then you land them in the flesh.  Deep chisel for the bathtub beltline?  Integrated shut/cut lines and sharper edges all around?  Sharky hoodline and wide, low singleframe.  Even visible open aero channels in the bumper edges. Yep.  This exec coupe looks hot.  And looks the business for taking on 430i and new Q60. This test A5 wears the incredibly helpful S-line package with unique bumpers, sills, wheels, cabin and suspension.  This …

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Porsche 911 RS 3.5 Red Evolution by DP-Motorsport

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What has this blog devolved into?  Just a fantasy wetdream of the cars we’d love to own? YES! That is mostly what it has been all along. This 911 Red Evolution by DP-Motorsport.de out of Deutschland is something exceptionally unique and special.  One to be cherished, raced, and cherished further. And perhaps snuck onto the streets to catch the world’s rapt attention? Perhaps! A racer for the road, with an aircooled and barely muffled race engine to boot. Details of this very special 911 are included below the gallery.  Favorite details have to be the seamless widebody, insane grip and …

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790HP 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Estate by Wimmer RST

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At what point do supertune’s start getting depressing?  Take this new C63-S Estate by Germany’s Wimmer RennSport Technik.  This humble family hauled goes from a monstrous 500HP to a sheerly obscene 790! That is adding almost 300 horsepower — more than many performance cars deliver in total! Granted, the full Wimmer RST mod shown here is also priced at 30k Euro — enough to afford a nice WRX Sti if you wanted 300HP (and a whole car) attached. Will any STi deliver G-forces like this killer C63-S longroof? Nope. The results of 790HP to the back wheels are predictably shocking. …

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2017 BMW 540i M Sport – First Drive Review + 50-Photo Flyaround

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We stopped flogging the 540i on its first drive only for a few moments.  A few fleeting flashbulb pops. Then back on the road and back hard on throttle. The new 5 series is an incredible machine and one that is New Game versus any one before.  More nimble, more feelsome and fast as f***!  But also serene and triple-rubber-damped. The M Sport with Dynamic Handling Pack comes alive in Sport and Sport plus modes.  Here you have a true thhhummppp on the instant upshifts and pop on overrun.  Engine is ferocious and mad for horizons. Traction actually seemed stellar in …

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2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Thinking that if you want a European Sport Sedan, It’s got to be a Bimmer, Benz, Audi or Jag? Maybe taking a chance with an Alfa? You might be missing out on something very cool.  The Volvo S90 T6. Yes, Volvo. Most people think they’re mostly a maker of SUV’s (they make a couple of excellent ones) or don’t even know they’re still in business. So sure, they look great loaded up outside IKEA with your latest FINNBY Bookcase (who comes up with these names?), but does it have the credibility on the streets with the big boys from Bavaria? …

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Road Test Review – 2017 Volkswagen GTI Sport (6MT) – By Carl Malek

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Volkswagen’s venerable GTI hatchback has always been an iconic and almost quintessential part of the greater hot hatch segment. From its handsome styling, to its punchy lineup of engines, the GTI certainly has the blueprints to be the perfect performance value. But, could it also serve as a glimpse into an alternate future? That was the very question that this author faced when our Tornado Red GTI Sport tester arrived to spend some time at our humble Michigan outpost. You see, I almost purchased a GTI several years ago when the current generation Mk7 model was first unveiled to the …

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Top 11 Hot Hatchbacks in the USA for 2017

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This spring has been a renaissance for hot hatch testing here at Car-Revs-Daily.  We’ve had the great pleasure of flogging the two reigning champs: the Focus RS and Golf R — and realized these pocket rockets are a speedfreak’s dream come true.  So tight and nimble.  So ferocious on throttle.  And so affordable versus a big V8 in Camaro  or Mustang!  Affordable to buy and also to insure and own. They make spouses less furious  than an impractical two-seat coupe.  And they are actually useful at transporting big things via their fold-down back seats. The market for hot hatchbacks has …

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Road Test Review 2017 Audi A4 2.0 T quattro S tronic – By Carl Malek

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At Audi, the phrase “Vorspung durch Technik” (Advancement through Technology) has played a pivotal role in the company’s marketing and direction in recent years. This technology first initiative has resulted in some of Audi’s most revered models including the Audi A8 as well as the R8 supercar. For 2017, the A4 sport sedan aims to fully embrace this mantra with new-found vigor. But can it still maintain the top notch driving experience that many buyers have come to expect? or has it been lost in the quest for progress?   The exterior styling of the A4 has always been known for being …

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2017 Honda Civic Type R – Nurburgring Record Video & Photos

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The new CIvic Type R is on full boost now.  Its US launch is two months out and production is in full swing.  This must mean the first shipment is already on a giant boat headed stateside! Excitement for the most-powerful Honda Civic of all time is palpable lately, especially with the Si  launch just last week. To prove that AWD is not necessary to take on the Focus RS and Golf R, Honda took the new Civic to break some records on track.  This is now the quickest front-driver of all time around with a 7:43:80 time.  Watch the …

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2017 BMW M4 CS Special Edition Bows in Shanghai

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BMW just rolled out a middle ground between the M4 competition package and the top-flight GTS road racer.  It is called the ClubSport and this CS nomenclature will serve on future hardcore M models as well.  Atop the CS badge is a CS Special Edition, the most limited-release specials with all the performance goodies standard. Performance will be incredible, for what its worth.  460HP is the stat, which does seem low for a $120k price estimate in the USA, but its delivery will be the event.  The car has standard sport exhaust and nearly all the GTS upgrades, like CFRP …

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540HP BMW M2 ClubSport by Dähler Brings S55 M4 Engine Swap

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The main gripe that purists have with the M2 is that its engine is not, technically, a BMW Motorsport spec engine.  It still makes monster power but is less able to cope with sustained high G forces than the M4’s S55-series motor. Daehler (or Dahler) of Switzerland now has a three-pack of custom M2s as showcases of their tuning skills.  The standard coupe, an M2 Convertible (!) and now this M2 Clubsport.  With the S55, it is the “CS competitionline.” Parts can be shipped worldwide for local installation, or they will happily sell you a complete vehicle as well.  That might …

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2018 Citroen C5 AIRCROSS On Sale Late Summer

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Vague headline alert! On sale where, exactly?  The best-looking and biggest Citroen SUV ever brings hydaulic suspension for that ultra smooth ride.  Part of why the Citroen DS was so legendary was its hydraulic ride.  Same for the MB 600 Pullman and all modern McLarens. Good tech peers for hydraulics, then. And brands the C5 Aircross will meet when it hits showrooms in Europe around November of 2017.  The model will bow in China a few months earlier, though the production location is unknown at this time. The C5 Aircross really appeals with a bluff, tall hood edge but a …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz Concept A – Debuts Fresh Design in Shanghai

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This new Mercedes-Benz concept feels a bit disingenuous.  On the one hand, we have a clear look at the next CLA-Class compact sedan.   But on the other, we have a heavy-handed effort to link this piglet with the 4-door AMG GT Concept.  Aka, the full hog. AMG GT CONCEPT Actually, we take most of that back.  The look of this Concept A is endlessly charming.  Its new LeMans-type grille with vertical slats meets ultra slimline LED headlights.  Wide intakes below leave no doubt as to how turbocharged and speedy MB’s always are. Could the LEDs up front be even …

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4.0s, 400HP Jaguar I-PACE Concept – Design Analysis: Is It Sexy?

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The Jaguar I-Pace has a hard name to overcome.  And when it was first shown in silver, it had a mountain to climb for good style, too. Too generic EV, they said. FastForward two months and the I-Pace is back in striking red paint with dark details.  More fitting, perhaps, for the first credible Model X rival. Going full electric for the i-pace means the proportions are radically rethought.  Yes, this is crossover territory, but with a chopped (and hard to digest) nose and nonexistent overhangs.  A lower roof and much lower ride height than F-Pace.  But looking wide as XJ and …

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2017 Ford Focus RS – HD Road Test Review

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From the moment the Focus RS fires up with pops from its race exhaust system, you know you are in for something special. How could a normal car, one that is practical and affordable, be so hilariously fast, playful and potent? 350HP to all four wheels makes this a hyperhatch.  Or maybe a boiling hot hatchback.  This is car on that can sprint to 60-mph in the 4’s and have WRX STi levels of grip as its flung around corners.  Yet one whose Drift Mode and ultra-hightech rear axle also give you tail-out adjustability like a stunt car. Now that …

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2017 Honda Civic Type R – 20-Photo USA Debut Gallery w/Video

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Check out the most intriguing hyper-hatch in ages!  Here is a 306HP turbo to the front wheels — making it the fastest Honda of all time! The engineering upgrades list to manage that power is long….  but majors on grip and adjustability.  Drive modes and adjustable suspension will give supreme control.  We absolutely crave its exterior design.  It is so massively aggressive.  So carefully modified for the track.  You can sense that none of this body addenda — like the giant front splitter or artful rear wing — is there for looks alone.  This is a purposeful car that came to …

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2018 VW Golfs Debut USA Facelift For Six-Strong Model Line

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The new Golf is bringing the global model upgrades to the USA at last!  In fact, the lead time/delay between the Euro debut and the USA arrival is actually much shorter than before.  [It took almost three years for the Golf 7 to arrive in USA.] The six-strong 2018 Golf lineup arrives stateside around September of 2017 as 2018 models.  The e-Golf is on a slightly different timetable but also adds these revisions. The freshening includes standard LED DRLs, full LED tail lights new wheels and upgraded cabin infotainment.  The Golf R brings a fresh 7-speed DSG versus the current …

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2017 VW Jetta GLI DSG Automatic – HD Road Test Review

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The Jetta GLI is the ultimate humble brag. For those in the know, the GLI is clearly a joyous drive and a frisky friend. A car that majors in FUN while never really showing much effort.  But as you pull up to stoplights, it will take a car-guy/gal to appreciate that this a sweet sports car.  Wrapped in mild-mannered and supremely practical four-door form. We spent a week with the throttle floored to learn if GLI’s charm can make up for its extremely subtle design and brand worries. Two videos and 60 photos accompany section headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance and …

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Chronology: TECHART 30th Anniversary in 30 Perfect Porsches

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  It is spring anniversary season in the German tuning universe!   AC Shnitzer and TechArt both trace themselves to 1987.  A time when fast cars were going global — and Germany made the fastest of all.  But what about that last bit extra? Sometimes it makes all the difference in the world. Here is the TechArt timeline of major milestones, along with a huge photo pack.   30th anniversary of TECHART – a look back.   Since 1987, TECHART is known for a unrivaled range of individualization options at highest quality standards. For increased emotionality and pure passion. For any …

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Gallery: AC Schnitzer 30th Anniversary in 200 Photos

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Anniversaries are a nice vote of confidence in any company.  But when the total years is less than 30 or so, the business is usually still pretty new.  Recordkeeping was usually poor and the products sometimes laughable in hindsight. You better believe this last bit applies to the tuned car business.  AC Schnitzer is one of the best – broadening from their first M3 and 635CSi offerings into MINI, Range Rover and every fast BMW since.  But the company did keep records, and it does celebrate its weirder achievements.  3 series X-Road wagon in 2001?  Or the 2003 Topster Z3 …

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3.7s 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63-S – Ready To Stomp Macan?

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Who’s got two thumbs and an evolving supercar dream ride? This-guy!  For my dream daily, the vision has gone from a four-door coupe to a proper fast wagon over my 20s as a car enthusiast.  Into my 30s, the evolved dream knows a CUV of some kind is right.  Something F-Pace ish that will fit my dogs in the back seat, and tolerate brief soft-roading. The temptation to offroad my old and very-low Subaru Legacy GT wagon led to countless new wheels and body damage.  I am a guy who loves a fast gravel path to anywhere. I also really …

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1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype Speedster at Amelia Island Concours [28 Photos]

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    A barchetta speedster as a racecar!?  This car is inspired by the top can-am spyder style LMP1 racecars of its era — all giant wings and scoops galore.  A simple rollbar and twin plexiglass cowls instead of a windshield means this is a helmets-on affair at speed.  The pure definition of street speedster cool! This flowing and curvy design style was the anti-wedge.  Counter-programming versus the sharp Countach and Esprit look, perhaps.  Curvy panel surfaces like these would take decades to go mainstream.   1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype

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1957 Fiat-Stanguellini 1200 SPIDER AMERICA [24 Photos]

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  I promise you have never tripped over something so lovely.  This TINY Fiat Stanguellini is even tinier than a doorstop.  Its ultra rounded nosecone/intake is a joyous production version of the rocket/jetage themes in high auto design of the era.  1957 but conceived in the hearts and minds of the world’s car-designers together about 1953.  Tailfins, streamlined aero and UFO-like body shaping. Without advanced CAD-CAM there was no way to know what truly worked in wind tunnels.  So if it looked right, it would fly right was the old adage. This 1200 Spider America flies right.  A bite-sized dream. Is …

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1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Streamliner at Amelia Island Concours [40 Photos]

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  The 540K Streamliner is always a delight to see and photograph.  A few things to note: the machine is HUGE! It is truly enormous by all dimensions, including its width.  A massive scale for a road car. The next is that this machine was as otherworldly and advanced in 1938 as it seems today.  Nothing approaching such a streamlined design was ever applied to a closed, luxury grand tourer of a car.  This machine excelled at a core MB trait: extreme high speed and extreme luxury.  Their hotrod limos and perhaps the S-Class Coupe still embody most of the …

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2017 VW Golf R 6-Speed Manual – HD Road Test Review

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How does the Golf R’s halo/hero status match up with reality in your garage? Well, it scores huge with 5-second sprints and a $36,475 price right off the bat.  Then you get Golf R into its race mode and HANG ON for its throaty brummm up redline/supralegal speed. It’s been a thrilling few months of hot hatch and performance car reviews around here – so we feel well-placed to judge this hot hatch king.  Focus RS will be the main competitor for comparisons, but also feedback on how Audi S3 differs too.  Longtime Subaru WRX fan/owner helps to appreciate Golf …

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2017 Maserati LEVANTE 4

2017 Maserati LEVANTE at Amelia Island Concours [22 Photos]

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The new Levante in Blu Emozione paintwork is gorgeous and quite unique in its design.  We love its serious, toothy nose and sharky hood/grille edge.  Not as sure about the rear three-quarter angle or the slightly narrow-looking rubber. The truck is even more special on the inside, where it is lined with Zegna cashmere, leathers and suedes from roof to floor.  Quite pretty.  Not a huge back seat but decent trunk room versus F-Pace or the Cayenne/Macan. The Levante starts from $74k  with 350HP while the S kicks off from $84k with a tuned V6TT making 424 ponies.  2017 Maserati …

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2.5s, 1020HP 2019 Artega SCALO SuperElletra By Touring Superleggera

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Here is a surprise for the 2017 Geneva show!  A full-electric supercar that is headed for production — and hell-bent on beating the Tesla Model S P100D’s acceleration. Tesla loves to take their jumbo hatchback sedan to dragstrips to make fools out of the hottest gas-powered metal anyone can find.  And with its very-annoying Ludacris mode much ballyhooed as a unique Tesla trait. But what about a real EV supercar that is designed from the start as a speed demon? Enter the latest project from Touring SuperLeggera and German supercar startup Artega. They call it the SCALO SuperElletra.  The showcar …

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Aston Martin Unveils VALKYRIE, Rapide AMR and Vantage AMR Pro [Video + 60 Pics]

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When Aston Martin first unveiled its new hypercar to the world, we were big fans of nearly everything about it. From the slick styling to the promise of impressive performance numbers, everything seemed to align perfectly. That is, except the AM-RB 001 moniker which was reminiscent of a typical part code at your local Autozone store. Thankfully, Aston Martin has rectified this error with an all new moniker. Dubbed “Valkyrie,” this beast was created in a joint effort between Aston Martin and Red Bull with the Valkyrie showcasing Red Bull’s advanced vehicle technologies, as well as subtly previewing a new …

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2017 Citroen DS7 Crossback – Yay or Nay?

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And now… for something completely different! Citroen is a favorite around here thanks to its wild designs, brave vision and often-odd product lineups.  Long a hero of urban France, the brand actually has great reach into central/south America and much of Asia.  One place in Asia, in particular.  No prizes for knowing it! The CHinese market has embraced Citroen’s designer flair and euro drive manners.  Especially its upscale DS brand. This new DS7 Crossback is the closest thing to a globally-competitive flagship SUV from any of the French brands.  This five-seater is stunningly luxurious, high-tech and high-style. A 300HP plugin-hybrid …

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2017 Audi S3 Quattro S-tronic – HD Road Test Review

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This big question you have for yourself when spending near $50k for a compact exec car is:  does the performance upgrade make up for its lack of scale? For the same money as the revised 2017 S3, you can find yourself in a (small-engined) fullsize luxury car like Genesis G80 or even Audi’s own A6. While that is a rational thoughtline for your brain, it all goes out the window in real life. The money spent upgrading an A3 to this S3 quattro sedan with S-tronic all goes directly to your cheeks.  To help you smile bigger, and laugh harder! …

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2018 Range Rover VELAR World Debut w/Video

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Hey handsome! Check out the latest and greatest Range Rover in history: the new VELAR!  The RR Velar is another genius product that fits the five-seat super-sport SUV niche.  Yes, there was open space for new customers above the Evoque bu below the seven-sear Range Rover Sport. This Velar is set to hoover them up.  Next-gen powertrains and tech abound – but there’ll be time for all that later.  First things first: how gorgeous is it? VERY!     An ultra-streamlined new aesthetic for the bodywork hugs the ground like no Land Rover before.  The ultra wide track appears straight …

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2017 VW Golf TSI SEL (Wolfsburg Edition) – Road Test Review w/ Video

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Three tentpole themes define the VW Golf SEL for 2017:  its discreetly sporty drive manners, its intense build quality, and how the SEL might be sweet spot of the Golf line.  Some clarity into the SEL vs Wolfsburg trims, too. This post is centered on the very-good performance drive video below.  We start outside the car and hop in to floor it down some country roads.  Then a right turn into one of the twistiest roads we have here by the Atlantic Ocean here in South Carolina.   Fun to Drive There we find the Golf’s mid-spec 1.8-liter turbo plays very nicely …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC By VAETH – Not Quite GLC500 But Style Is Hot

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Slammed stance, great grip and pipes… annnnd it’s a diesel.  Wham.  Slight disappointment but an interesting look regardless. For example, why not remove the 220d from the trunk?  And why with this deeply lowered suspension… are there running boards?  The hood is definitely open in these pics, by the way. Oh well.  The power bump is modest but also well-priced for an ECU reflash. 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC By VAETH VÄTH LAUNCHED A GLC Photos: Jordi Miranda VÄTH in Hösbach near Aschaffenburg gained worldwide recognition with their two business segments, automobile technology and engine technology. Vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and AMG are …

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2017 VW Golf SportWagen S 4Motion – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Is the Golf Wagen 4Mo the cure for Diesel-departum depression? If you’re a VW fan, you know by now that the diesel (TDI to the faithful) is a goner. And that’s a big bummer to Wagon fans. We know a lot of VW Wagon owners who just looooove the great fuel economy of the TDI – making it an especially adept long range cruiser, and a great alternative to a small crossover. While you can’t get that TDI Wagen (or is it wagon?) anymore, for 2017, VW is sweetening the deal by offering the Golf SportWagen for the first time …

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2017 VW Jetta 1.4T SE Manual – HD Road Test Review

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The Jetta has been the target of scorn for many years here at Car-Revs-Daily.  We quietly laughed at each redesign on the Jetta’s descent into bland hell over the last decade. All the while, longing for the cool little sedan of our memories.  The one from the clever “Synchronicity” ads with the windshield wipers/world timed to the beat.  The one almost as big and nice-driving as a base BMW.  The one with an unpretentious exterior and surprisingly high-quality cabin. The 2017 Jetta is well on its way back to greatness.  Three levels of turbo gasoline power are available, and we’re …

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British Upstart Eadon Green Aims For Morgan With Black Cuillin Coupe

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These days, many startup automotive companies are created to build and craft a futuristic vehicle filled to the gills with technology aimed at disrupting the established order. However, the folks at Eadon Green are doing the opposite, and are determined to bring fierce competition to the benchmark leader of the modern classic genre, Morgan Motors. Unlike Morgan which has a pedigree dating back to the early 1900’s, you will not find Eadon Green in the dusty pages of a history book. But that is not stopping the London based company from bringing a car to the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed …

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4.0s 2018 BMW M4 CARBON Leads 4 Series Refresh

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The 4 series will bring some updates to its style, tech and powertrains for the 2018 model year.  Some news out of the UK market this morning offers a first look at the refreshed M4, 430i and 440i Coupes, Gran Coupes and Convertibles. Detail tweaks to the lighting — adding a more boxed element to the LED DRLs, primarily — in what BMW calls its new Icon Adaptive LED lighting will now be available on the M4.  The M4 Carbon is a fresh option package that pulls some of its race-ready pieces from the $130k M4 GTS.   The new M4 Competition …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class by BRABUS – First Look

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Well that didn’t take long!  Brabus has revealed their first steps at refining the W213 E-Class today, with upgrades to the aero, styling, power and sound.  Mostly plug-and-play modules for the ride height and the engine power mods — which is great for overseas clients to do themselves.  Also some design upgrades and added aggression via a new performance exhaust.   2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class by BRABUS Red-hot:  Exclusive BRABUS refinement for the new E-Class Mercedes-Benz continues the long success story of the E-Class with the W 213 model series, and BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 …

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2016 VW Golf R – Road Test Review – By Lyndon Johnson

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You read the headline correctly: This is a review of a 2016 VW Golf R — not a 2017. Why are we just now getting to review this model? Because when a car is this good, every media outlet wants to drive it. Luck of the draw meant we got this Lapiz Blue example of the 2016 Golf R late in the calendar year. That’s how it goes sometimes. The Golf R is now available as a 2017 model, with an MSRP starting a little bit north of $35K and topping out at $40,475. We hear you saying it: “Forty-large …

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CES 2017 – Top 10 Big Reveals + Showfloor Gallery

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Many semi-cool reveals at CES this year.  And thankfully, they are not all wearing the same shade of Apple-knockoff white plastic for bodywork! Oh wait, all the cars are the same silver this year?  Delightful. This biggest headlines were undoubtedly for the Faraday Future FF91, a Tesla Model X rival that actually seems super smart and innovative.  If not exactly sexy, the design is certainly unique and practical.  This FF91 flagship is production-bound with a direct-to-consumer sales model that also takes great inspiration from Tesla. The Toyota Concept I is silly fun, while the Chrysler Portal is slightly more serious.  The …

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2017 BMW i Inside Future Sculpture Previews HoloActive Gesture Controls

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Has BMW i just gone off the deep end entirely?  The iPerformance range in the 3 series (330e) and X5 40e is smooth and creamy — literally — on the road.  Yet the plugin hybrid electrics do drive like normal, high-speed BMWs. But my word.  Getting past the clutter of the “BMW i” language and descriptors, not to mention their designs and prices, mean these new innovations are definitely still in their infancy. Case in point? The below press release, which is virtually unintelligible.  It is so up its own a** that you have a hard time knowing the CARS …

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2017 BMW M2 Convertible!?! Dahler GmbH Makes Dream Real

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  In the BMW order books, the M2 is always described as the “M2 Coupe.”  This is a strong indication that a cabrio may be in route.  Otherwise, why specify? Dahler Teknik of Deutschland has beaten BMW to the punch with the first-ever M2 Convertible. How did they achieve this?  By upgrading the bodywork and mechanicals of an M235i (now M240i) or chopping the top off an existing, and genuine, M2 Coupe? We do not know the exact answer to this. But what a specimen to behold regardless. If BMW wasn’t sure about the potential for an M2 Convertible… this …

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2016 Fiat 500L Trekking – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Are you taking things too seriously? Been following politics? Fighting holiday crowds? Dreading a New Year’s resolution? We have a cure for you. The Fiat 500L. While it is a real SUV, capable of meeting your daily needs, there’s just enough slightly wacky, off-the-beaten-path, Euro-quirkiness to help take you out of the doldrums and put a smile on your face. It started out with the cute as a bug’s ear 500. Enthusiasts rejoiced when the brand added the Mighty Mouse 500 Abarth. And we have many frugal friends enjoying the super-green 500e electric vehicle (especially at the $99/month lease!). For those …

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Road Test Review – 2017 Volvo V60 Cross Country Platinum – By Carl Malek

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In an age where SUVs and CUVs have virtually pushed the formal car based station wagon to the brink of extinction, the entries in this once thriving segment have largely been relegated to select brands that still offer them to customers looking for that hidden gem for their driveway. Volvo is one of these brands, and has offered customers Cross Country versions of some of its models since 1997 when the original V70 XC thundered its way onto dealer lots. The V60 Cross Country is the latest recipient of Volvo’s proven formula of taking a car or station wagon, and …

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2016 Volkswagen TIGUAN R-Line 4Motion – Road Test Review – By Tom Burkart       

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Our reviews here on Car-Revs-Daily.com generally try to be upbeat and playfully informative.  With insightful observations galore and a few critiques along the way. It is usually because the cars manufacturers send our way are all fairly loveable, newsworthy and generally pretty fresh on the market.  We put ourselves in the position of the buyers in that market segment for a week.  A week of driving later.. we’re usually gushing with some form of praise. This Tiguan review will have many of those characteristics, but with a darker edge. The 2016 Tiguan is woefully outclassed by nearly any compact crossover …

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Elegance Rebooted – 2017 Aston Martin DB11 First Look – By Carl Malek

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When Aston Martin first unveiled the 2017 DB11 coupe, it represented a monumental shift for the British supercar maker. Aston Martin has always been known for its unique heritage, but lacked a versatile stable of fresh product to truly standout against supercar benchmarks like Lamborgini and Ferrari. The 2017 DB11 looks to change all that thanks to its revamped styling, performance and technology. This special car heralds a promising future for the brand, but will all of its new tricks help it cement a spot in the hearts and wallets of Aston loyalists? Or does it miss the mark?     …

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3.5s, 178MPH 2017 Lotus EXIGE SPORT 380 is Fastest Flyweight Yet

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Standard carbon aero and a boost up to 375HP are enough to make this latest Lotus special into quite the slayer.  Its on-paper figures are outstanding and up there with a very rarified competitive set. The difference?  This Exige Sport 380 is also pretty light on the wallet!  It is priced at just 90k Euros and is aimed at the UK, German and Japanese markets. No official word on its US potential… but all this kit is certainly available for US Exige clients!  Just not bundled together right out of the factory. But hey, longing for Lotuses that are not …

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505HP, 3.9s 2018 Alfa Romeo STELVIO – High-Performance SUV Wows LA, World

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Very big day today out in elle-lay! The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the latest big debut for the left coast — and it is a doosey! Meet the new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio: the range-topping, 505-horsepower SUV that delivers some seriously stonking numbers right out of the gate.  It is named after the knotted Stelvio Pass mountain road made so famous from Top Gear.  And that means Alfa are more than confident about how well this machine can corner! The Stelvio will rival the Maserati Levante, Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe up and down the range.  Starting at the …

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Gangster Glam! 2017 Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet

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How to describe the overall mood of this machine? A smiling villain?  With a cackle of a laugh as he switches his rifle to full automatic — and wails on his enemies? Or perhaps old money royals seeking the ultimate in rolling cash. And certainly a handful of loaded Chinese individuals.  Maybe even a William Morris or CAA agent on the top of his or her game, too. Just 300 units of the S650 will be made, and they sticker at a whopping $300k.  Nice round numbers to go with this artful balloon of a machine?  It is only in …

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Volkswagen Unveils Updated 2018 Golf Lineup

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Volkswagen has pulled the veil off of the updated 2018 Golf model lineup which represents the first major suite of updates for the current generation Golf as it seeks to stay relevant against rivals such as the Ford Focus as well as the recently unveiled Chevrolet Cruze hatchback.   The exterior styling of the 2018 model carries over from the current Golf, and as a result observers will be hard pressed to spot the various updates at first glance. However, a closer look reveals lightly tweaked front and rear bumpers, as well as full LED taillights that steal a page out …

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2017 VW Beetle DUNE Cabriolet – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Is the Beetle Dune ragtop just what the doctor ordered? Back in September, we tested a VW Beetle Dune, and decided it could be the answer to VW’s Diesel-inspired tummy troubles. While the folks at VW may (still) be reaching for a Super Gulp-size Pepto, we found a much better choice for quick relief. The 2017 VW Beetle DUNE Cabrio. The recipe for the convertible is pretty similar to the Dune hardtop. Based as an homage to the Baja Bugs of yore, all Dune models get a notable bump in the macho department, with a slightly taller ride height (half …

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2016 VW Golf TSI SE – HD Road Test Review + Video

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Where does the Golf fit in VW’s great comeback? The Golf has long been the most intellectual, well-travelled and worldly compact hatch.  Despite pricing from the low 20s, the Golf is clearly a classy machine.  A car for those who recoil at the idea of driving just another Corolla or Focus. VW as a ‘cognoscenti special’ in the Golf was badly bruised by the dieselgate scandal.  That much is clear. But there is no TDI badge on the back of this car.  The TSI emblem in back confirms this is a high-tech gasoline turbo engine. Revisions for 2016 now bring …

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2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion – Road Test Review – By Lyndon Johnson

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The Volkswagen Tiguan was early to the party of compact crossovers, debuting in 2006 during a period of high gas prices. One would think it was great timing to introduce a small SUV to consumers concerned with conserving fuel. But in fact, by the time it got here in 2009, the gasser Tiguan was rated at 19 MPG city, 26 MPG highway by EPA. That didn’t get MPG-conscious consumers beating down the doors of their nearest VW dealer, and falling gas prices did little to boost Tiguan sales. Fact is, the VW Tiguan has stayed right there at an EPA …

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2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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Its no secret that we are big fans of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider and its compelling blend of retro Italian charm and its Mazda based underpinnings. Fiat has big ambitions for this model, and hopes that it can help reverse its fortunes here in the U.S. However we never had the chance to sample its spicier sibling, the 2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider which supposedly brings more performance and aggression to the 124’s elegant lines. But has Abarth’s interpretation of performance created a potent roadster offering that adds depth to the 124 lineup? To find out we spent sometime with …

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Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concepts Preview 2017 Production Pickups!

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An ultra-strong ladder frame, big straight-six engines and Mercedes drive manners? Mercedes today previews its future ‘crossover’ and first-ever pickup with the Concept X-Class.  This will be less of a crossover but a smart combination of MB’s truck and car resources.  Those Unimog genes and grip… now in a $70k luxury size! Two models are shown: a posh AMG-style look in shimmery white.  Low suspension and performance stance are hot.  The nose is actually pretty sexy, but has nothing on its gorgeous LED tail.  A swirlly ribbon of red LED is the brake light in back. THe other truck is …

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2016 VW Golf GTI Autobahn Performance Pack – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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  It’s easy to love sports cars. They’re usually a ball to drive, fun to look at, and exist solely to make you happy. Who wouldn’t like that? Well, except that a sports car is a selfish thing. They usually seat only two. Or the rear seats are torture devices. They can ride harsh. They can be loud. Trunk space? Ha! As an only car, a sports car is best for the young and unencumbered. Otherwise you’ll need a second car. On roads clogged full of Sports Cars, Sedans, SUVs, CUVs and Trucks… …is a GTI the only vehicle you’ll ever need?The …

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2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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With the dust still settling on our review of the 2017 McLaren 570GT, it brings up a compelling question in our minds, is there such a thing as an “affordable” exotic car? The 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider aims to be one of these cars, while also serving as the face of Alfa Romeo’s anticipated and often times delayed resurrection in the U.S. market. The 4C certainly has the bold styling, and Italian inspired flair that one expects out of an Alfa Romeo badged offering, but can it really succeed as an affordable alternative to the pricier established exotic car …

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2017 McLaren 570GT- Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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VOLUME PLAY When McLaren first unleashed its “sports” series of automobiles several years ago, they not only represented the British supercar company’s push to add higher levels of drivability and “day to day usability” to its potent vehicle offerings, but also the firm’s desire to greatly increase its sales volume over the next few years. The 570S has certainly done a great job carving a niche for itself when compared to the pricier, and much-angrier 650S, thanks to its newfound levels of practicality as well as its lower pricing. However McLaren is always striving to constantly outdo itself, and has …

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Paris Debut – 2018 Porsche PANAMERA 4 E-Hybrid

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Official details today on the all-new Porsche plugin: the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.  Quite striking how much the style of this new Panamera reflects the long-term vision shown in the firm’s latest concept Mission E. Still firmly room for a gasoline motor in this production iteration, but the cab-backward — yet forward-looking — style of all Porsches since day one appears more than intact for 2018. NEW HYBRID PANAMERA MODEL UNVEILED 08/09/16   Sustainability and performance – no contradiction for Porsche ATLANTA, Sept. 8, 2016 — The Paris Motor Show will see Porsche unveil the next model in the all-new Panamera line: the …

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2017 FIAT 124 Spider – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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From 1966 through 1978 the Fiat 124 Spider roamed the streets of America, and Europe, and became an icon of a classic, affordable, Pininfarina designed Italian two-seat roadster.  Light and agile, with decent performance, the car appealed to iconoclastic drivers who wanted something different than the heavy muscle cars of the era, and when most Japanese cars looked like the boxes that their parts came in. On the downside, they were much like their British counterparts of the time, like MG’s and Triumphs, in that they weren’t very reliable.  In those days, it was joked that Fiat stood for “Fix …

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Update1 – Audi Pulls No Punches With 400HP RS3 Sedan

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It’s no secret that we love the Audi A3 here at this site, in fact we even had the chance to review the A3 for ourselves recently and loved it. But while the S3 is a tempting treat in its own right, it’s always made us wonder what would happen if Audi took it to the next level? The company has answered this all important question by unveiling the next evolution of the A3, the all new RS3. The headline snatching feature of this tiny track terror is what lies under the hood, with the RS3 packing the same 400 …

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2016 Volkswagen ID Concept

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This is it! A near-production EV platform that VW will take global in three dozen flavors. Promising tech and ambition for a company still neck-deep in trouble. Some elements of the ID are more production-ready than others.  Details like the shrouded mirror-cams and roof sensor pods are actually farther out than the core architecture. The ID EV runs a flatpack battery and spaceframe chassis, a la tesla, but with a price that is hopefully a bit more Model 3 than Model S. The cabin is now enormously roomy for a Golf-length car.  Slightly formless elements of the design are aero-dynamic …

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EQ Concept Mercedes-Benz – Paris Launch Party

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Zaps? Zips? Forgive the silly electric-themed headline!  This EV concept is no laughing matter.  A serious, Mercedes-Benz style take on a full EV performance SUV. With sizing around the new GLC, the GLE, if a bit wider, the EQ concept promises big power and big range.  Will big speed be in the mix?  We hope so! The looks are fairly chic and intriguing from all but the nose angle.  A bit hard to look dead in the eyes, this EQ. But the inductive charging capability and its broad, sexy shoulder chisels?  Bring it on!   2016 Mercedes-Benz EQ Concept Paris/Stuttgart. With “Generation …

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2016 Audi A3 2.0T Quattro – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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When gas prices jumped a few years ago, a new breed of luxury car immediately came to the forefront of automotive buyers. Dubbed the “compact luxury car” these vehicles promised to offer their owners a long list of equipment, performance, and luxury in a decidedly smaller package. The 2016 Audi A3 aims to stand out against rivals such as the BMW 2-Series and the Mercedes CLA in this hotly contested segment, but has its push for sales diluted the very traits that have defined recent Audi models?   The exterior styling of our Monsoon Gray Metallic tester is a compelling …

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2016 BMW M2 By Lightweight – 690 Pound-Feet, 185MPH!

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„LW M2“ by LIGHTWEIGHT Photos: Jordi Miranda LIGHTWEIGHT in Mittenaar is deeply committed to the slogan „Innovations are generated from passion rather than satisfaction“. The company’s name portrays their program, because weight reduction – for example by a titanium exhaust system in combination with a performance upgrade – provides minimal weight and maximum performance. The LIGHTWEIGHT team led by Managing Director Marc MÜLLER chose a BMW M2 in order to optimize its weight and performance. For starters, the original version of this vehicle already comes with a mighty engine. As of now the dynamic BMW – referred to as LW …

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Mountain Drive! 2017 FIAT 124 Spider – By Anthony Fongaro

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Colorado is an amazing place to drive! While visiting this great state, I was lucky enough to attend RMDE, or the Rocky Mountain Driving Event. This event had different vehicles from various manufacturers. Part of this event included driving 90 minutes, or 3,000 feet up a mountain. If you couldn’t guess, the car that I drove was a little black Fiat convertible. The car in question was a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso. Before the drive, I put down the manual convertible top and let the beautiful scenery of Colorado surround me. Then I put the car into gear. And …

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Lux American Trucks Are Going Global – By Charles Partos + 200 Pics!

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    Over the years, the face of luxury was normally tied to many different types of expensive cars. In fact, if someone wanted to drive in style to a prom, a wedding, a reception or other popular occasions, they may even rent a car from a luxury car dealer in their local area. Today, as many things are changing industries all over the glove, the definition of luxury has changed dramatically. Specifically, because of the new style of luxury that has entered the market, which are the American Pickup Trucks.   That being said, it is important to know …

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3-Second VW? OCT Tuning Liberates 450HP from GOLF 7 R

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The new Golf R is so fast and hilarious in Race mode that we noted many times how strong its engine felt in the first-drive video below. If it “felt like 400HP” with just its stock 300 ponies, imagine how it must feel with a full 150 extra??!     450HP and 405-pound-feet of torque are confirmed from the dyno-honed outputs secured by German tuning boss OCT. 2016 OCT Tuning GOLF R   A MUSCLED BEAST powered by O.CT TUNING – THE GOLF VII R Photos: O.CT Oberscheider Tuning GmbH Since 1994 O.CT Tuning operates as its own department within …

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2017 Audi A4 Quattro – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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  We recently read a comment that the Audi A4 has become so refined and smooth – perhaps overly so – that why not just pocket the cash and get a Toyota Camry? This is a shopping decision that faces us in many places in modern life. Is that fancy artisanal sprouted bread really worth three times the price of the generic loaf at the local grocery? The freshly barista-poured Peaberry better than smudgy carafe of regular at the neighborhood donut house? And now we have an all-new Audi A4. Are we buying? Well, this may not be as easy …

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Paris Preview – 2018 Porsche PANAMERA 4 E-Hybrid

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Official details today on the all-new Porsche plugin: the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.  Quite striking how much the style of this new Panamera reflects the long-term vision shown in the firm’s latest concept Mission E. Still firmly room for a gasoline motor in this production iteration, but the cab-backward — yet forward-looking — style of all Porsches since day one appears more than intact for 2018. NEW HYBRID PANAMERA MODEL UNVEILED 08/09/16 Sustainability and performance – no contradiction for Porsche ATLANTA, Sept. 8, 2016 — The Paris Motor Show will see Porsche unveil the next model in the all-new Panamera line: the Panamera …

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