Chrysler has been a prolific concept-car machine since the late 1980s. Many of these star show cars led to hit production models, but this Super8 was a bit far-fetched even for a clean-sleet large sedan. It was meant to recall the glory days of American rear-drive luxury cars: with a bench seat, inverted A-pillars and wrap-around windshield glass and that giant cross-hair grille. 2001 Dodge Super8 HEMI
Buick was keen to have an open-topped car in the early 2000s. How do we know this? Three near-consecutive concepts explored the possibility of a Buick convertible: with the final being the best. We start with the 2000 Buick Regal Cielo — an innovative retracting targa that stacks the split roof panels into the trunk. This left the main pillars and side glass intact, but likely added hundreds of pounds and may have absorbed most of the trunk’s volume. 2000 Buick Regal Cielo In 2001, we have a sexy and slinky Bengal cabrio concept with sharp and smooth surfaces and …
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Review A great luxury sports coupe needs a few critical areas of excellence. In the second page of this article, we show the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe in a 150-photo mega gallery showing the style and sexiness of its two-door shape. Cool LEDs all around, a great stance, proportions to envy — the ATS Coupe has style for days. In this full review, we’ll cover two other critical successes of the ATS Coupe: Its cabin luxury and incredibly fun, tactile and playful power and handling. Included are three drive videos. The outline of this article is: …
The Corvette Moray is a slippery one — in many senses of the word! Named after the shimmery Moray eel and styled to glide through this world without disturbing the air, the Moray Corvette from ItalDesign in 2003 is interesting for a few reasons. First off, though, let’s discuss what it is under these sleek new panels and triple glass bubble canopy. It is a C5 underneath — so the guys had their work cut out for them in making it special and respected at Pebble Beach and in Geneva. It is a full reskin from tip to tail, …
The above 45-second CTS-V promo video is heaven. The super-sedan category has a very potent new entry in the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Revealed today online ahead of its public showing in Detroit in two weeks, the new CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2.-liter V8 making a stonking 640-horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Let’s repeat those numbers. 640HP, 630 Ft/LB. That is a cool 100 over the BMW M5 and 60-plus more than the E63 AMG S-Model. The rear-drive sedan has a limited-slip diff in back along with the latest eight-speed automatic from the Corvette Z06. The one …
We’ve been pouring through the Mitsubishi back catalog today for a few Concept Flashback articles. The real all-star of the Mitsu lineup of show cars in the last three decades? It is this – the 1989 HSR II. HSR stands for Highly Sophisticated-transport Research and was a follow-up to a 1987 concept of the same name. The HSR II is far more beautiful, however, and also more innovative. Sure, as a 1989 Japanese exotic, the HSR II is packing a twin-turbo V6 along with 4-wheel-steering and 4-wheel-drive. This goes well with its ABS brakes, independent suspension and electronically-adjustable dampers all …
Up-and-coming design students are a fascinating group to watch. Their ideas can go from senior thesis to luxury or exotic brands in less than five years time, and onto nearly all mainstream cars a few years after that. There are a few really exceptional breeding grounds for this ultra-elite school of designers. The Royal College of Art in England, IED Torino in Italy, or the Art Center College of Design in Pasedena, California all are top-of-mind. Ondrej Jirec attends the California entry in our shortlist — and is very busy indeed these days. His 2013 internship was with General Motors, …
Celebrating 100 years means looking far back into a company’s roots and foundation. Zagato chose to honor the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ. This fastback racer homage is built on the chassis of the Alfa 8C, itself a reskinned Maserati GranTurismo. Even as a third-hand rehash of another car — the TZ3 is quite compelling. Most surprising element? There are strong AMG GT flavors in the front three-quarter angle of the TZ3 — a full four years before Mercedes adopted these ultra-flowing and curved panel surfaces. NOSE PROFILE TAIL 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ 2010 Zagato …
It is hard to believe that the austere and perennially grumpy Europe we know today was once the largest market for supercars like this 1969 Daytona. This car may have itself marked a tipping point – when American sales of Ferrari and Lamborghini exotics would overtake the Continent for the first time. There was plenty of cash in American buyer hands, but the distribution of exotic imports was extremely limited until the mid-1960s. Unless you lived in Greenwich, CT or Malibu — there simply was no place to buy and service most European supercars. Rapid distribution expansion by Ferrari followed …
The KTM X-Bow is easily one of the most interesting and coolest track car designs to appear in the last 15 years. But major critiques of the car have arisen regardless. Its carbon tub and frame make the car’s handling, some say, too benign and its power delivery too inert. For these hardcore drivers, the X-Bow GT and X-Bow RR need a final push to enter the true supercar level of track pace. Enter Germany’s WIMMER RST — a racing company that will also prep you a road car. The X-Bow GT shown here with the new windshield option bumps …
How would Zagato do with a modern Fiat 500? Regretfully, the Double Bubble Zagato 500 concept from 2011 is remarkably normal and flair-free. The intersecting side and rear glass is present and correct, as is the bubble hardtop. But… somehow we have lost most of the depth in the bubbles seen on the 1958 750GT, as well as missing trunk humps. The most joyful part of this design is the flip of the ducktail spoiler. 2011 Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato 01 MAR 2011 World Premier: 500 Coupé Zagato One of the most iconic names in automotive design, …
A pair of these very-rare Aston Martin Zagato specials are set for RM Auctions big sale in Arizona Janaury 15th and 16th. Somewhat surprising? The cabrio is estimated to earn near $100,000 less than the coupe. It looks like after this auction we’ll know the true value of the famous Zagato double bubble roof…. even if the Roadster is arguably more stylish with its flowing hardcover tonneau. 2003 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato RM Auctions Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 Lot 216 2003 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato $300,000 – $375,000 Chassis no. SCFAE12383K700040 Engine no. 00416 Production no. …
A pair of these very-rare Aston Martin Zagato specials are set for RM Auctions big sale in Arizona Janaury 15th and 16th. Somewhat surprising? The cabrio is estimated to earn near $100,000 less than the coupe. It looks like after this auction we’ll know the true value of the famous Zagato double bubble roof…. even if the Roadster is arguably more stylish with its flowing hardcover tonneau. 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 by Zagato RM Auctions Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 Lot 217 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 by Zagato $200,000 – $250,000 Chassis no. SCFAE62303K800002 Engine no. …
Proof of how much easier it is to criticize than to create? The 2007 Maserati GSZ was a bespoke design of a fastback Grand Sport atop the factory Maserati Coupe’s shell. There are a few angles on this GSZ that really work and are elegant, pure and stylish. But Zagato’s trademark double bubble roofline and intersecting rear canopy do not sit very happily on the ultra-short Maserati’s frame. Moreover, the additional rounding of the glass surfaces is less-than-athletic. But compared with the classic A6G Zagato Maserati which inspired the design, the round and overinflated roofline is a good match. From …
We were not alone in speculating about a future Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. The one hint from the CTS-V release a few days ago is that the photos were all labelled “Sedan.” This is usually a dead giveaway that a coupe or cabrio version of a car is coming. MonaroSS from GM Inside News is well-known for his Elmiraj-based sedan renderings from last Fall. We’re happy to see his latest renders on this superlux Cadillac theme. His idea for a CTS-RS is easily the most enticing… but the cabriolets and coupes are interesting to see as well. Reactions seem positive over …
Updated 12.25.14 The BMW 6 Series wears perhaps the most unnoticeable facelift for what we believe will be the 2016 model-year. That does not diminish how cool and exclusive the B6 xDrive GranCoupe is. Nor does it dampen the huge, HUGE sprint and top-end pace of this AWD super-sedan. PREVIOUS Meet the first (and only) Alpina B6 in the United States at the moment. This blue stunner is, in fact, the quickest BMW ever made. The addition of AWD and a huge jump in twin-turbo V8 power means the Alpina B6 is more rapid to 60-mph than any other BMW. …
What if the CC100 was amazing, you thought, but the retro colors were a turnoff? We’ve tweaked the accent and main shade here to show three new finishes, complete with flawless 360-degree turntables for each. Enjoy! CC100 Magenta CC100 Green CC100 Red CC100 Magenta
The amazing CC100 Speedster makes the Jaguar Project 7 look like a silly branded parka. A complete conversion from the softtop Vantage into the CC100 sees completely unique carbon-fiber bodywork all around, mini door-tops with open and exposed airflow elements at hip-height for both passengers, and a fantastic shrouded cabin. A complete lack of windshield glass means helmets would definitely need chinstraps on tight for high-speed driving, but the overall effect on the CC100’s style makes it worthwhile. Double head-height roll spikes are a stylistic delight, and even include extra roll-over protection in the form of ram-actuated extra roll …
The Mansory G-Couture is an absolutely brutal upgrade of the already-militant G-Class — with a huge new bumper and lower body upgrade that is wider, stronger and meaner than ever. The G63 “Soft” kit is a bit more comfort and style-oriented, and is where the latest Bentley-style LEDs debut their new embedded light elements. Beside these new round lamps are three horizontal white LED strakes behind a new glass shroud. It’s a nice update for the Galendewagen’s well-known style — and matches the lower bumper LEDs and roof LEDs very nicely! The upgrades lists are very, very extensive. See the …
Even without the four-figure package price of the Aston Ice Drive event, we can all enjoy these amazing photos of the latest English supercars — all seriously sideways! Aston Martin Ice Drive 2015 COLD COMFORT: ASTON MARTIN ON ICE PROMISES BESPOKE LUXURY 22/12/14 Aston Martin ice drive event returns to exclusive Colorado resort Custom-designed tracks are purpose-built over 250 man hours Strictly limited availability for exclusive three-day drive program Irvine, CA, 22 December 2014: Aston Martin is again offering adventurous drivers the chance to experience the power and performance of its great British luxury sports cars in one of the …
A Gulf livery is one of the most popular racing paintjobs of all time. It looks just as stunning on a Ford GT as on a Ferrari, Porsche — or even a McLaren. This P1 by MSO shows just how versatile and sexy these pale blue and orange are on nearly any supercar shape, past present and future! Zero2Turbo spotted this one-off being delivered recently to its new home in Miami. McLaren P1 Gulf
The super-sedan category has a very potent new entry in the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Revealed today online ahead of its public showing in Detroit in two weeks, the new CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2.-liter V8 making a stonking 640-horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Let’s repeat those numbers. 640HP, 630 Ft/LB. That is a cool 100 over the BMW M5 and 60-plus more than the E63 AMG S-Model. The rear-drive sedan has a limited-slip diff in back along with the latest eight-speed automatic from the Corvette Z06. The one that is .4-seconds-quicker to 60-mph than even the …
The stock BMW 5 series has all the makings of an amazing sports sedan – one with outstanding performance, luxury and room inside for every situation. But from the factory, even the 550i M Sport lacks a bit of visual aggression. How to better project its unique performance cred on the outside? Fostla.de not only wrapped this F10 in a subtle satin-finish “grey olive matte metallic” foil, color-matches the new 21-inch Yido wheels, and accents the design with another shade of bright tan. The foil wrap delivers real visual punch by being subtle and also quite special and flashy …
These are seriously freaky in their modernity – and a snippet of Hollywood magic coming to GoPro owners in the future. These two videos of the new AMG GT S on a racetrack can be watched from numerous 360-degree perspectives. Theoretically, each has full HD picture and sound. (In practice, it is not exactly high-definition.) A quick three -step instruction will help you get the most out of these films without a VR headset: — Bursor movement on the playing video changes the perspective — Bottom right globe button makes it super-wide-angle. (Avoid!) — A three-camera selector at the …
What is glamour? A combination of style, luxury and sex appeal is how we define it in the car world. We are on hour three of editing the 250-plus photos taken of the stellar 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 2.0T Performance from the other week. Something crosses the mind during this mental prep and planning time for the big road test review: style and desirability are critical to any coupe’s success in the marketplace. To drum up some of the passion we felt behind the wheel, here is a preview gallery showing 75 photos of the ATS Coupe in an old-grown …
If you had told me a year ago that I would like any Mercedes SLR McLaren, I would have spit out my drink in shock. The same goes for Mansory, if I am being honest. But we’re indeed quite fond of Mansory’s work these days, and even admire their SLR Renovatio. MANSORY Renovatio
1978 Ferrari 308 GTB Group B Rally Car Paris 4 February 2015 1978 Ferrari 308 GTB Group B Chassis no. 24783 Engine no. 01070
1952 Jaguar C-Type Le Mans Aero XK120-based Recreation Paris 4 February 2015 1952 Jaguar C-Type Aerodynamic Recreation Chassis no. 667255 Engine no. F 2454-8
1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Paris 4 February 2015 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Chassis no. 904-026 Engine no. 99 099
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …
If anyone can make tires into a must-have fashion item, it would be a collaboration between Lamborghini and Pirelli. This new special-edition 2015 Aventador wears red stripes all over its new two-tone paintwork — and giant red-rimmed Pirelli rubber down below, too. A variety of contrast color sets are available to set off the Aventador Pirelli edition’s style, with choices among glossy and satin-matte for either section. Red accents are all over the car’s interior as well, but the coolest color scheme? The Rosso Mars exterior bags yellow trimming for all the pinstripes and those sweet P-Zero tires. Very cool! …
The Mansory Monster! That has kindof a nice ring to it =] In reality, Mansory makes cars that are overhauled so well, and so thoroughly, that you would only call it a monster with a smile on your face. The latest S63 AMG goes under the microscope at Mansory and comes out wider, lower, meaner and leaner. There are numerous body upgrades to enjoy outside, ultra-soft leather inside with unique patterns and an unlimited palatte, but leather-wrapping of virtually every cabin element. Everything. Do upgrade an S-Class so thoroughly is really, really difficult. They basically have to disassemble entire sections …
Switching it up briefly — this fly-yellow Buick GSX stunner also lived in the Wellborn stables… A note here about “badge engineering.” Sure, badge engineering got a bad reputation and still has one in the auto business. But it was not always about shameless profit-seeking. It was about dealerships demanding a cool their-brand version of whatever popular car came out of these companies. This stemmed ultimately from buyer’s outcry for the same thing. In a time of fierce brand loyalties among whole families, they were much less likely to jump ship to a Dodge if they had traditionally owned Buicks. …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …
The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered for …
McLaren is running a series of teasers dubbed #BlackSwanMoments ahead of the arrival of the newest, and cheapest, sportscar some time in 2015. We are on number 5 of 13 moments so far. They all touch on the magic of how McLaren came to be, what the company is proudest to have achieved, and how these impactful, breakthrough moments have inspired the new 2016 Sport Series of cars. It is a dark and relatively moody look back at history, racing, innovation and Bruce McLaren himself. It’s deep. Number 5 #BlackSwanMoment is our cherished 1969 McLaren M6GT, a car intended to …
After really hating the Audi Prologue, we are eager to balance those sharp opinions on Audi design. The expanded TT range via two concepts this year shows huge promise and great potential. A TT sedan! So simple an idea, and one that would be a sharp competitor for the BMW 1 Series sedan in 2016 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The TT Offroad shows the same potential. Both have an approachable and modern-but-fun design, great proportions, and a style that will pull sales. 2014 Audi TT Sportback Concept 2014 Audi TT Offroad Concept
This FXX Evo needs no intro. Fantastic. The one downside of buying this car will be the temptation to drive it on the roads in the USA, where it is not street-legal until 2030. A possible single-type exception might be possible depending on the state where you reside — but this one is likely to head overseas, where rules tend to be more flexible. 2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione 2005 Ferrari FXX Evo RM Auctions Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 Lot 253 2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione $1,600,000 – $1,900,000 860 bhp, 6,262 cc rear-mounted longitudinal 65-degree V-12 engine …
Lexus has not specified exactly what new F model is coming to Detroit – preferring to leave a bit of mystery in the two teasers just revealed. We have a hunch it is the long-rumored GS-F in production form, arriving to Lexus showrooms in Summer 2015 as a 2016 model. But it could be a new IS-F, or perhaps even the expected LS revamp. We believe it is the GS-F from a close look at the front fenders, the hood length, and the fact that the GS would greatly benefit from the latest nose shown in the IS and RC. …
The Infiniti Vision Gran Turismo is here and absolutely stellar! What an exciting design, with dozens of all-new details for future production Infiniti’s to emulate. A 4.5-liter, naturally aspirated V8 mounted mid-ship with one electric motor to extra shove — all shooting the Infiniti VGT out of corners sideways and on full blast. The Infiniti Vision GT shows a strong resemblance to the Infinti Essence concept from a few years ago, but evolves the nose dramatically to evoke the more-recent Q80 Inspiration. All of these design ideas are hopefully to be fed into the production 2016 Q60 Coupe, which is …
In less than one month, we will see and hear the all-new production Acura NSX at the Detroit show! Check out the four teaser images below for a look at this exciting new supercar. We have run the teaser images through Photoshop to see all the hidden details — and it is mighty enticing. Watch this space for all the latest NSX news. 2016 Acura NSX Acura NSX production model to make world debut at 2015 North American International Auto Show The production version of the highly anticipated Acura NSX supercar, successor to the legendary original NSX, will make its …
Jim Rockford’s hero car from The Rockford Files!? Yessir. These three Firebirds are about as nice as it gets – truly stunning. James Garner was the ultimate 1970s detective, in a broadcast schedule lousy with imitators that could never compare with his steely delivery and shrewd crime-solving skills. This Firebird Formula was painted gold to match the first Firebird Espirit from the series’ early seasons, and was Rockford’s main ride for the 1978-1980 seasons of the show. Garner disliked the 1979 restyle of the Firebird, so this kid stayed in the picture. Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files Lot …
Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. This Y88 Gold Special Edition was a one-year release and includes all the great three-letter model codes of the era: W72 6.6-liter V8, Y88 trim and WS6 Performance Pack. The gold leaf paint and glass T-Tops are a special accent, while the 16,000 original miles make this one barely broken in – 35 years later. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition Lot R204// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan …
Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Do you also like Mustaches and wild burnouts? If so, you are doubly fortunate with this Trans Am. This Firebird is none other than Burt Reynold’s personal Pontiac Trans Am. Not a movie car — his actual daily driver for a few years. The Starlight Black* paint glows just as deeply today as it ever did, and the design of this Firebird is aging very gracefully. The C/B radio is …
We’re big fans of the BMW 228i, 235i and M235i — and are thrilled that these sporty coupes are available with xDrive AWD for 2015. These official M Performance upgrades below are a great way to up the factory car’s power, sounds and style. They are pricey, but maintain all BMW warranties and are sure to last the lifetime of the vehicle. This is incontrast to many aftermarket parts. Below are a few of the 100-plus upgrades in the M Performance catalog for the 2 Series, plus high-res photos from BMW showing an M235i decked out with all these cool …
Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the muscle car era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it certainly applies to the owners of this astounding 1969 Dodge Hemi 4-speed Daytona, which has been driven an amazing 6,435 …
Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Kicking things off is this triple black Chevelle SS. We think of the Chevelle as the Camaro’s stronger and meaner older brother — so clearly not one to mess with at the lights. The 454 badges show and tell the power of this machine loud and clear, as does its bellowing V8 roar on hard throttle. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Engine 454/450 HP Trans …
Concept cars can feel a little like X-rated movies. They are mostly a single-shot affair. One year on the circuit, and they are gone. With so much variety out there, why bother diving deep into an old one? But every once in a while… there comes a concept car so legendary, you could watch it every day and be a happy camper. The 1986 Peugeot Proxima is that concept car. Part LeMans racer, part Sci-Fi fantasy, part Batmobile Tumbler — the Promixa is a stunning piece of design and engineering even 30 years later. It was powered by a twin-turbocharged …
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback Lot R223// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback Unrestored with 4,770 Miles, Well Documented Photos by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions Engine 429/375 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Blue Interior White This 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429, Kar Kraft number 2097, is another incredible treasure from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alexander City, Alabama. According to renowned Boss 429 specialist Ed Meyer, this well-documented 4,770-mile example is one of the top most original 1970 Boss 429 Mustangs in existence, and one of the most unique. The 1970 Boss 429’s defining elements …
You can really tell when a classic car up for auction soon is a real pride and joy of its owner. In the case of this 1963 Mercedes 300SL, the love really jumps from the photos intact. It is especially amazing to see such loving photos of a silver/red 300SL because the color set is popular enough to be cliche. So for it to be so amazingly represented here is a big deal. We wish this SL Roadster the best at Mecum Auction’s Kissimmee, Florida event in mid-January 2015 — and might even head down there to attend it in …
The 2015 Lexus RC350 is arriving in showrooms now – with AWD available on both the standard and the F Sport cars, plus four wheel styles and a half-dozen colors. We’ve included the pricing of the various trim levels below, plus a full colors guide and visualizer. The key thing to know is that the F Sport trim brings different wheels in a single style plus three additional colors that are not available on the base trim: Ultra White, Molten Orange and Ultrasonic Blue Mica. While there are LED foglamps on the options list of RC350 and RC350 F …
With every tuner and their mom jumping on the new M3 and M4 with upgrades, a buyer might be very tempted to go aftermarket right away. But what about factory-approved BMW M Performance goodies first? These maintain an OEM feel to the car, as well as ensuring the pieces are perfect fits that will last the life of the car in perfect condition. Our favorite pieces are the black grilles and the M racing stripes! 2015 BMW M3 and M4 M Performance Parts http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PERFORMANCE/BMW-M-PERFORMANCE/
Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars. 1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …
Updated 12.15.14 Here are some crude renderings of a potential 2016 i8 Spyder. These might seem silly, but it is helpful to blend the roofless style of the 2012 concept with the production nose and door detailing of the 2014 i8 Coupe. The 2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder was a stunning showcase of the latest BMW flagship. Now that the production i8 Coupe is a huge hit around the world — and won TopGear’s Car of the Year to prove it — we’re taking another look at the drop-top version. In theory, the carbon-fiber chassis and central portion of the …
The 2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder was a stunning showcase of the latest BMW flagship. Now that the production i8 Coupe is a huge hit around the world — and won TopGear’s Car of the Year to prove it — we’re taking another look at the drop-top version. In theory, the carbon-fiber chassis and central portion of the i8 lends itself to the cabrio conversion very nicely. Due to how close the i8 concepts were to the production model, we believe a Spyder is not only feasible — but firmly on the radar. A few rough renderings show what …
The new M6 triplets are fresh this year with revised LED headlamps, black chrome detailing, and a new trunk design. The rear end is perhaps easier to spot than the nose — where the LED indicators are the biggest clue. These are now mounted above the headlamps versus below on the previous car. In back, the trunk has an extra bustle form in its lower leading edge. This is the line closest to the badge on the vertical trunk face, as opposed to the one right below the new spoiler. New LED optics inside the lamps are also fresh for …
In a nod to past Audi heroes, the latest RS3 Sportback is turning up the wick — and burning it from both ends. Quattro all-wheel-drive legend’s are claimed to be alive in this latest Audi RS3 , with performance that is certainly eye-catching! And it needs to be: this mini-supercar segment is becoming not just a prestige battle for halo consumers buying cheaper trims, but a grudge match between the big German luxury brands. The CLA and A45 AMG vs the BMW M235i vs the RS3! Audi is stacking the deck in their favor by fielding not just this RS3 …
First look at the upcoming Infiniti entry to GT6’s Vision Gran Turismo concept collection – and it is quite a stunning piece! The two teaser images so far show a strong resemblance to the Infinti Essence concept from a few years ago, but a likely to evolve the nose dramatically to evoke the more-recent Q80 Inspiration. All of these design ideas are hopefully to be fed into the production 2016 Q60 Coupe, which is strongly rumored for a reveal this winter in Detroit or Chicago. INFINITI Vision Gran Turismo Concept INFINITI Q80 Inspiration INFINITI Essence INFINITI CONCEPT Vision …
After highlighting two of Peugeot’s less-impressive achievements from 2006 in the 907 and 908 RC, we are eager to show how the brand turned its style page — to a far better step in the right direction. The 2008 RC HYbrid4 takes some of the initial sketches from the 908 RC to fruition, but is not burdened by a giant mid-engine package in its proportions. In addition to showing a promising and crisp new style, the HYbrid4 was a showcase for Peugeot’s then-new hybrid AWD powertrain. Running a unique electric motor and battery on the back axle but a normal …
We are hesitant to post this Shelby Series One due to lack of high-resolution photos, but the car is so rare and special it really deserves a quick post. Headed for the block at this Friday and Saturday’s first-ever Mecum Auction in Austin, Texas, the Shelby Series One is a rare chance to buy into a selective club of Shelby owners. As rare as many GT350 and GT500 Mustang models seem, they are a dime a dozen compared with the 1998-2003 Series One. Quoted at 320-horsepower from its 4.0-liter V8, the Series One rockets to 60-mph in a claimed 3.2-seconds. …
The new MINI JCW is here! Revealed online ahead of its global showing in Detroit next month, the next-gen JCW is a pretty stout upgrade over an already-intense predecessor. Power is up 10-percent to 228-horsepower, while torque is up 14-percent to 236-pound-feet from an all-new turbo four. The big news with this engine is its giant jump in displacement: up 25-percent over the previous engine. That means the power is easier to achieve without huge throttle needed. Good on the track, but even better for real-world road power and responsiveness. The six-speed manual sprints to 60-mph now in 6.1-seconds, …
There are old cars, and then there are classic cars. A third group is the absolutely flawless show car — with every inch of the car looking arguably better than it did the day it rolled off the assembly line. This stunning 1955 Chrysler C-300 is in that third group. Sure, the chrome and paint outside is stunning. But wait until you open the hood. Your jaw will hit the grille with the condition of the engine compartment. The cabin is another huge achievement in originality, expert restoration and preserving the complete originality of the vehicle. It is great to …
The 2015 BMW 6 Series Coupe, GranCoupe and Convertible are freshened for the 2015 model year, with a new look for the nose, upgraded trims and cabin tech, and a few tweaks to the performance setup. Arriving from around February to showrooms, the new 640i, 650i and M6 have a few meaningful design tweaks that go a long way. The most noticeable element is admittedly pretty subtle, but is a new, larger and sharper twin kidney grille. This new look fixes some of the awkwardness of the previous car’s grille and hood intersection, where there was some uncomfortable overlap between …
Your chance to own not just an incredibly upgraded Mustang GT500 with custom widebody, aero pieces and mechanical improvements throughout — but a famous movie hero as well? This Mustang GT500 is one of three driven by the stars in the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds. Yes, that means Angelina Jolie will have driven your car! The Mecum Austin auction is the first-ever event for the powerhourse auction specialist. More than 600 cars are set to be sold this weekend, December 12th and 13th, starting on Friday — just two days from today! 1967 SHELBY GT500 Eleanor Mustang …
We have a thing called #namethatconcept on the facebook page of this website, where we post a few photos of a long-forgotten concept car and survey the group for info and answers. Some are much, much easier than others to decipher. It is a way to remind us that the old-school car mags showing one image of a concept years ago might not have been enough to appreciate and remember its intricate details. Before posting the photos of these concepts, we usually know the answer to what they are. But sometimes… we do not. The photos are often downloaded by …
The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …
How did we miss this!? It has been about two weeks since the amazing Subaru Viziv GT concept was revealed for Gran Turismo 6 – but seeing its details up close still quickens the pulse. We absolutely love these chiseled and chopped lines, the proportions of an ultra-low shooting brake, and the detailing throughout. It is a stunning interpretation of the ultimate Subaru track car. The tech details are a turbo 2.0-liter boxer in front, supplemented by twin electric motors in back and a single electric motor in front. The combination delivers 591-horsepower and 593 pound-feet of …
This is the second GT-R from RM Auctions recently — with the 1972 H/T coupe earning an impressive $242,000 at RM’s Monterey 2014 auction. That car is its two-door profile is more in line with the eventual GT-R lineage, but looks less like a Bond henchman’s ride than this G-man special. This Skyline GT-R sedan may find fewer general-interest fanboys, but among the cult of the Nissan 4DSC, it is the one to have. Nissan is eagerly cultivating the Hakosuka’s US descent’s return to 4-Door Sports Car glory with the 2016 Maxima, widely expected to debut in Detroit in January …
Now here is a company with some genius ideas, and the brilliance to bring them to a street near you. The Shinari is gorgeous, and the Mazda6 is too. Well done. Concept to Reality – 2010 Mazda Shinari to 2013 Mazda6 2016 Mazda6 2013 Mazda6 2010 Mazda SHINARI Concept
The new S63 AMG Coupe is quite a stunner right from the factory. As a first step to making it a true supercoupe, IMSA of Germany is done a hat-trick of excellent first upgrades to this white knight. The air suspension module electronically allows the car’s air suspension to crouch a bit closer to the pavement, a new exhaust X-pipe system makes it shouty and the new wheels do wonders for the big coupe’s grip and stance. The results speak for themselves. Very sexy. Makes us forget all about the CL-Class! 2015 Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe by IMSA GmbH MOBILE INDIVIDUALITY …
The Chevrolet SS is what happens when a Camaro SS meets the full-size Impala. It has the performance chops to drift with the best muscle-cars, but also to blend smoothly into fastlane traffic anonymously. Perhaps a bit too well? The SS is handicapped only a year after its launch by looks that fail to excite and vaguely recall the previous-generation Impala, to some eyes. These facts make its amazing performance and 415-horsepower V8 the car’s main selling points. The new magnetic ride control and no-cost six-speed manual will definitely help the SS appeal to its core buyer segments — and …
If there is one supercar we have covered more than the Z06 this year, we’d be very surprised. The Corvette Stingray is simply so amazing that an upgraded version that is faster, cooler and louder seems like the perfect Ferrari and Porsche-killer. There is not one Gallardo owner who would be disappointed with the Z06’s performance and sex appeal. The latest 30 photos from Chevy show a truly amazing palette of colors to choose from in some nice action shots on the ractrack. No real insights from these photos — aside from the first look at a Z06 without the …
Cadillac in 2002 was just, just starting to reclaim its place in the luxury car ranks. Long blighted by horribly-engineered boats that failed every objective and subjective comparison with any true luxury brand, Cadillac was finally committing to rear-drive and actual merits as a corporate philoshophy. The new Art & Science tagline for the brand’s style — coined by Leo Burnett Chicago — needed an exemplar. People were thrilled by the Catera-replacing CTS but the brand needed a real shove upmarket. And fast. Enter stage left: the 2002 Cadillac Ciel concept running a mid-engine XV12 Northstar of 7.5-liters. It was …
FOREWORD: We wrote this whole article below before realizing that the new, six-copy Ferrari Sergio is altered significantly verse the 2013 concept. Therefore, check the next article shortly for the full 70-photo extravaganza of the Pininfarina Sergio. The production car is, regretfully, extremely lame. It carries almost all the worst parts of the Sergio concept, and none of the best. At least the headlamps are not the nasty reflector-beams from the concept. But the entire exposed cockpit is gone, the windshield is directly from the 458 and the overall grey plastic still dominates in a fug nasty way. We call …
FOREWORD: We wrote this whole article below before realizing that the new, six-copy Ferrari Sergio is altered significantly verse the 2013 concept. Therefore, check the next article shortly for the full 70-photo extravaganza of the Pininfarina Sergio. The production car is, regretfully, extremely lame. It carries almost all the worst parts of the Sergio concept, and none of the best. At least the headlamps are not the nasty reflector-beams from the concept. But the entire exposed cockpit is gone, the windshield is directly from the 458 and the overall grey plastic still dominates in a fug nasty way. We call …
The Porsche Outlaws from SoCal’s Emory family/Valley Customs are well-known in the coolest vintage 356 circles. We spotted a matte black example in Amelia Island and fell hard. The Outlaw Porsches are similar to Singer 911’s — rest0-modded originals that become something altogether more special, unique and fun to drive and own. This Pre-A 356 Coupe is even more enhanced — with a serious racing upgrade for the chassis, engine, exteroir design and cabin. It is truly easy on the eyes and a joy to drive. We envy its future owner! 1955 Porsche 356 OUTLAW RM Auctions Arizona 15 …
Updated 12.5.14 Well, big day for Aston Martin! The new DB10 was front and center for the SPECTRE cast announcements, with director Sam Mendez pulling back the silk cloth on Aston’s future sportscar. Not a moment too soon!? Aston has been endlessly jabbed for their reheated styles in the last few years. But what we all may have forgotten is that we *love* that current style. But time moves onward and so does Aston. The new DB10 makes much more sense in the context of the limited-release Lagonda by Q Branch for 2014. This car is absolutely intense from many …
Bond is back in a new film, Spectre, in November of 2015 about a year from now. To equip the world’s favorite tinker-tailor/soldier-spy, Aston and EON productions just revealed the very tasty new DB10. The name is confusing for a few reasons, and we only have a single official photo of the car so far. But here is the skinny: Based on the V12 Vantage chassis, perhaps running new turbo AMG engines underneith. Wider and lower grille opening may indicate intercooler breathing room, plus a taller hood for packaging reasons? Unknown as of now. The car will be sold to …
Updated 12.4.14 with 22 new photos. As you may or may not have noticed, Mercedes and BMW seem to have given the LA show this week a big middle finger. Neither revealed anything significant (Maybach S600 aside) and have both been relatively quiet on the overall announcement front. Detroit and New York are generally the German’s favorite North American shows to make a splash – but here is one curio. The CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake revealed online just moments ago. Would this car not have made a good Los Angeles debut? If it were coming to the US, it …
A coup on the tracks of F1 this season! Nothing short of remarkable — Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg duelling it out for the podium in every race while Ferrari, McLaren and even Red Bull suck fumes mid-pack. Is it their driver genius? Yes…. But it is also the new aeroacoustic wind tunnel at Sindelfingen. We predicted this with the launch of this amazing facility last fall. Where is our SL63?! =] http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/04/07/wind-tunnels-part-1-mercedes-benz-opens-aeroacoustics-test-center/ 2015 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG World Championship Edition Mercedes-Benz “World Championship 2014 Collector’s Edition” – Unique: SL 63 AMG dedicated to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg …
Chevy Europe! Eeek. Remember that adventure? The ManU jerseys are definitely bow-tie-blazing this year, thanks to a huge a executive media marketing decision that costs General Motors more than half a billion dollars. During that rush of launching Chevrolet as a global brand — including Europe — the Opel Germany teams were suddenly tasked with a variety of extremely mundane projects. One extra sexy spinoff project slipped through the net for Frankfurt 2011, however. It was called Miray and is a breathtaking roadster vision. Designed in the same zeitgeist as the BMW i8 Roadster and Porsche 918 Spyder, the Miray …
HD Track Drive Review – 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Updated 12.3.14 With Additional Photos We were slightly embarrassed to come back from Chicago the other month with zero in-focus photos of the Challenger R/T we took for hot track laps. Luckily, another chance presented itself. Certainly a cool machine in the flesh — but the R/T is a luxury car without the sharp handling of the latest Mustangs and Camaro’s. It takes a few ticks toward the Hellcat for the Challenger to add suspension composure to this menacing muscle-coupe style. PREVIOUS We were thrilled to get in the new Challenger …
What better way to beat the winter blues than a stunning TechArt Targa4?! TechArt Porsche 911 Targa4 Leonberg, December 2014 – Closed roof – open driving pleasure. TECHART Automobildesign sharpens the character of the seventh Porsche 911 Targa 4 generation. Using the right mixture of restraint and emphasis the TECHART Aerodynamic Kit transfers the sportive TECHART design language to the unmistakable lines of the four-wheel drive sports car. TECHART Formula IV light-alloy wheels in 21-inch communicate aesthetic innovative capacity all around. Interior refinement specialists of the TECHART in-house saddlery use precise handiwork to translate the exterior design elements …
The MSO X-1 customer car from 2012 was a grand intro to MSO at Pebble Beach in 2012 — and boy was it a shocking coming out party. Many were rightly flabbergasted by its design – as though George Jetson had won the powerball. But while the X-1 will certainly not go down in history as one of the most beautiful cars, it did its job of showcasing MSO’s talents very well indeed. Not a panel from the MPF-12C remained on the X-1 — which also has totally unique proportions and a heavy-handed style all its own. The nose is …
Supercar news blast today! In addition to a first look at the Ferrari FXX K, McLaren is adding to the drama with its latest MSO announcement. This is largely a tech nical and organizational change – broadening the reach and brand of MSO to better match McLaren client needs. MSO will become: — MSO Defined (general upgrades catalog) — MSO Bespoke (you dream it, they make it real) — MSO Limited (MSO releases like the MSO 650S shown below) — MSO Heritage (classics, custom restorations and maintenance) — MSO Programmes (racing, events, P1 GTR track days, etc) …
More power, more exclusivity and more visual impact on the stunning Rolls-Royce Wraith? Yes please! SPOFEC is the latest marque-specific offering from Germany’s Novitec Group. What is the name? It means SPirit OF ECstacy — and this is the second model after the Ghost to benefit from these cool and functional overhauls. Our favorite elements? The engine power chip, air suspension controls to lower the car on command, and an exhaust sportifier to do the same with the 7170horsepower, 986-pound-feet of torque from the pipes in back. We love the styling upgrades as well. The dark wheels and full gloss-black …
Great to see a power upgrade reflash for the BMW M4 from AC Schnitzer – with a jump up to 510-horsepower feeling like it was aching to break free from the factory M4 from day one. The second excellent upgrade from AC Schnitzer to the powertrain? A variety of sport exhausts to make the M4’s turbocharged six really howl at the moon like a 24-hour Nurburgring racecar. The rear wing is a love-or-hate type of thing, but closely matches the production 2016 M4 GTS aero kit BMW is likely to apply to the rumored track version of this hot …
Update 3 11.27.14 Has there been another concept with the impact of the FT-1? We cannot think of another vehicle this year that has created more buzz. Of course, the FT-1 is just the leading edge of what many hope will become a showroom supercar in the next few years under the vaulted Supra badge. Toyota’s collaboration with BMW on a future sports-car appears to indicate the eventual Supra will be based of a version of the BMW Z4’s chassis, albeit highly modified for a possible production debut of a hybrid-R electric boost setup. Primary power is expected to come …
New products from Brabus for the 2015 C-Class today: wheels and aerodynamic addtions for the ‘Sport’ trims of the new C-Class. For the US market, this is the C300 Sport and C400 Sport. The Sport style option replaced the previous AM Sport and comes from the factory with different bumper and grille detailing versus the standard car. Great to see Brabus making special products to be exact-fits to whichever Mercedes you own. This set of upgrades is extremely subtle – replacing the black chrome lower splitter in the front bumper with a grey carbon-fiber element, changing the grille bars …
As you may or may not have noticed, Mercedes and BMW seem to have given the LA show this week a big middle finger. Neither revealed anything significant (Maybach S600 aside) and have both been relatively quiet on the overall announcement front. Detroit and New York are generally the German’s favorite North American shows to make a splash – but here is one curio. The CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake revealed online just moments ago. Would this car not have made a good Los Angeles debut? If it were coming to the US, it would have indeed. But we believe the …
Just for Euro markets? We do not know that for sure at this point – and we give the CLA250 Shooting Brake a 50/50 chance of being sold here in the US as well. The fifth member of the new Mercedes compact range, after the GLA-Class, A-Class, CLA-Class and B-Class, the new Shooting Brake promises a huge leap in rear-seat headroom, plus all the versatility of a wagon’s fold-down seats. There is no doubting how amazing the car looks – with the surfboard scallop shape in the door panels mirrored very nicely by the low and arcing roofline. It is …
Okay, we admit defeat! Usually, the main gripe when new cars launch is that there are far too few photos of the vehicle. Or they are not photos at all: but digital renderings that often do not show the car in real-world detail. But with the latest BMW X6 photo batch, we raise the white flag. 350 photos is too many for any editor to process. But in the name of completeness, we have faithfully included them all here. The car looks most amazing in M Sport trims versus the xLine, which has a somewhat busier lower nose, more chrome …
The GTRS4 below is a fantastic showcase for Vorsteiner’s carbon-fiber skills. But most owners will prefer something much more subtle — and perhaps the flexibility to fit the M3 as well as the M4 coupe. Vorsteiner’s GTS has a few upgrades in the catalog so far: wheels, exhaust finishers, and fantastic front and rear CF aero additions. Check out the photos below in white to see the Vorsteiner GTS! Vorsteiner M4 and M3 GTS A SEMA show car for the road? And one that any M4 owner can add to his or her prized supercoupe? Enter, the Vorsteiner M4 GTRS4 …
A SEMA show car for the road? And one that any M4 owner can add to his or her prized supercoupe? Enter, the Vorsteiner M4 GTRS4 Widebody — a carbon-fiber kit so outrageous and sexy, the rear wheels look like steamrollers. Fenders so huge that this looks more like an M4 dually? Hell yes! Overall, the GTRS4 is 3.5-inches wider on both sides in back, and 2-inches wider per side in front. Overall, the performance enhancement offered by the GTRS4 is a huge upgrade in the grip available. Most rubber widths are constrained by the overall size and clearance of …
The lightly race-prepped TRD Pro Tundra is back from Baja — with a win! The TRD Pro Tundra jumped and roared its giant V8 the 1200 miles to the finish line in first place, then cruised home the 1000 miles back to the start line for good measure. Was it showroom-fresh upon arrival back to Toyota headquarters in Torrance? Not exactly! A huge gash in the sheetmetal and rear fender shows the fury of racing. But the fact that the TRD Pro Tundra continued on its mission is impressive. A solid achievement and vote of confidence in the new TRD …