Fun Cars

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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2017 INFINITI Q60 3

2017 INFINITI Q60 3.0t Premium – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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The all-new Infiniti Q60 has a heck of a fight on its hands, and we don’t envy it. The premium coupe segment is where manufacturers like to work your endorphins to peak frenzy to get you to buy, buy, buy their latest sweethearts. And they have been offering up some tasty temptations. Tempting to swoon the 2-door dollars out of your wallet are the handsome and proven BMW 4-series, surprisingly good upstart Cadillac ATS, stunning Lexus RC, Mercedes’ rounded C-Class coupe, and just-introduced Audi A5. And if that’s not enough to get your head spinning, just about every manufacturer now offers …

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Fisker VLF F1 V10 Roadster Makes 745HP Shanghai Debut

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The VLF Roadster is finally here!  Now this stunning machine offers two huge upgrades unavailable on any of its donor-chassis Vipers:  an automatic transmission and an open-air convertible! Despite Viper instantly meaning roadster to many people, the current gen snake has been all hardtops since the 2000s.  That staves you of the teacup drive mood of a high-doored supercar PLUS the endless headroom of going topless.   VLF F1 V10 Roadster at Automechanica Shanghai! My favorite part is the low front windscreen & sexy rear hips! pic.twitter.com/0sWqOW7qKF — Henrik Fisker (@FiskerOfficial) April 23, 2017 The conversion here now only swaps …

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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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2017 W Motors FENYR SuperSport 10

2017 W Motors FENYR SuperSport In Near-Production Form for Shanghai

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W Motors sophomore supercar is almost on the road! This Fenyr SuperSport is a more attainable, yet still hyper-exotic, followup to the legendary Lykan Hypersport. The Fenyr will be W Motors big break – its chance to leverage its stunning launch success with the Lykan into commercial success.  Scale, in this sense, is relative.  Anything more than the dozen or so HyperSports made will be an increase for W Motors.  The team hopes to sell around 200 of these Fenyr SuperSports per year, with production eventually localized to the Dubai HQ.  At this time, the W Motors lineup is still …

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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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3.5s, 180MPH 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT TRACKHAWK – 25-Photo Debut w/ Video

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Dodge brought some world-shaking POWER to New York this year.  The 840HP Challenger Demon is honestly one of the most insane production cars of all time. And now this.  Which, before Demon arrived, would certainly have been near the top of the “insane” list. Ladies and gentleman, please welcome: the most powerful SUV in the world. The 3.5-second, 707HP Cherokee TrackHawk. Bow down. Where did SRT hide the ram-air intake for this Hellcat 4×4?  One of the lower foglamp areas is a direct line to supercharged heaven/hell. The GC looks similar to how we know and love it, but the …

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2018 Lexus LS500 F Sport – Air-Ride, Active 4WS + Live NYIAS Photos

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  There is some kerfuffle that the new LS500 F Sport sticks with the 415HP V6TT from the standard car – versus bringing extra ponies like a proper F model might.  But that misses the point of F Sport entirely. Here is a style and handling upgrade that costs little and delivers big dividends.  Outside, the unique look is dechromed and diipped in a sexy gloss black.  More aggressive fascias, wheels and sill details complement the sharp new brakes.  A BBK Big Brake Kit wishes it was as cool as these Lexus clamps. A true performance mod for F-Sport are …

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2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Special Bows in NYC, In Dealers By May

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The Z-car is an engineering showpiece that has always had radical updates between model generations.  Big changes are on the horizon for the 370Z for 2019, we expect, so this new Heritage Edition is a crown on the generation in total. For those who demand naturally aspirated, high-rev power and the current steering/transmission setup?   Now is the time to pounce. The 370Z Heritage comes in yellow or black with yellow accents.  Black wheels and black stripe graphics set it apart on the road… but the yellow model does risk risk Bumble-Z nicknames.   2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Special 2018 …

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HyperGallery – 2017 KOENIGSEGG Regera in 33 New Photos

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Koenigsegg is rolling deeeeep lately!  Showing up to Geneva auto show with nearly a half-dozen exotics is mighty impressive.  And we hope it means their new lightning-fast Regera flagship is selling brisky! Two examples here, with both an exposed-weave carbon fiber, tinted and glossed to perfection in red/black and green.  The red Regera has chrome-red paintwork to contrast the carbon up the middle. All Koenigsegg’s are targa tops — two cars in one! — and the look is distinct with top up or off.  Off, this is a brutally rounded/chopped speedster.  Top on, and this becomes clearly a 300MPH aero …

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2017 Honda CIVIC Si Coupe and Sedan Rock 205HP Turbos, In Stores Next Month

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It has been a long time coming, Honda fans!  We’ve been holding our collective breath hoping for greatness in the future Civic Type R. AND.. SCORE! Honda delivered and is on an unbelievable hot streak. FLASHBACK:  Here we rendered some dreams of a euro civic in USA. That was back in 2014.  Three years later: New Accord Sport, Civic Sport are world-class excellent once again.  Perhaps not causal… but certainly correlated!?  This new Si looks fairly similar to the Civic Sport from up front — which is to say, amazing.  Around back, new spoilers and exhausts speak volumes about what’s …

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Audi Q8 Confirmed for 2019 Modelyear [22 New Photos]

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We love the designs of both Q8 concepts seen so far: the original in blue at Detroit and this new Q8 Sport Concept from Geneva and NY auto shows.  The bodycolor intake flares in front are gorgeous, the new nose and tail are shockingly cool and fender flares always win friends.  We only dislike its slightly nerdy roofline in profile. After the deeply dull A4/A5 and Q5/Q7 refreshes lately, Audi is showing some design elan with their new Q8 concepts.  This four-seat plugin hybrid (Q8) promises supreme comfort for four.  A platform share with the Q7 moves the back seat …

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3.7s, 450HP 2018 Audi RS5 Scores Snarling New V6TT, Tech and Style

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The 2018 RS5 is official and packs a huge wallop of visual impact in person.  In photos, it looks like a forgettable facelift of a car that’s been on the roads since 2010.  But it really evolves in the flesh into a stellar supercoupe. Design analysis quicktake? This new nose does rely on a lot of misdirection, however, to keep you interested.  It is a buffet of intake scoops, layered spoilers, contrasting trim finishes and embossed branding/badges.  We count 1) bodycolor 2) gloss black 3) brushed alloy and 4)carbon-fiber, to name four such finishes.  (Look for black pack on blue …

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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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2017 GEMBALLA Avalanche – Widebody, Active-Aero 911 Turbo

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This car’s badge and its massively wide stance speaks volumes.  The giant exhaust drums in back are rifled like structural pieces.  Like a fine, if giant, musical instrument! The DRS system in back can vary the downforce to nil — as ever, this Gemballa is after real 200-mph-plus action.  The central roof scoop intake and rear vertical tailfin are formed from a single piece of carbon-fiber.  Spectacular.   2017 GEMBALLA Avalanche With the GEMBALLA AVALANCHE, based on the Porsche 991 Turbo, the Leonberg finishing manufactory is presenting its unrivalled performance in the individualisation of supercars again at the Geneva Motor …

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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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2017 Jaguar XF 35t AWD R-Sport 57

2017 Jaguar XF 35t AWD R-Sport – HD Road Test Review w/ 2 Videos

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Shhh.  The Jaguar XF does not know it’s a sedan!  With a big back seat and giant trunk! You won’t realize that either when driving.  This is a sports sedan that puts the SPORT proudly FIRST. Here is a car that doesn’t need the (optional) leaper cat emblem.  Why? Because a supercharged pop off the line delivers 5.1-second sprints to 60-mph — no matter what. This AWD variant is a tenth quicker than the rear-drive model.  So it aims to be just as quick rain, snow or shine. We took the XF by the scruff of the neck for an HD …

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3.2s 2017 Renault ZOE e-SPORT Concept Is Geneva Highlight

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RenaultSport has found itself at the apex between F1 and Formula E in 2017.  They also produce one of the biggest range of EVs available.  No one is better prepared to take track-fast electrics to the street. The new Zoe e-Sport promises just that.  With a widebody style like the iconic Renault rally rockets, and a matte blue paintwork that happily recalls past Clio V6s. 460HP is the power allowed for this hatch smaller than a Ford Fiesta.  With almost a third of the total vehicle weight as batteries, this ZOE e-Sport might even have some midengine dynamics to add …

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2.9s, 201MPH 2017 Lamborghini Huracan PERFORMANTE – Launch Gallery

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640HP from dry-sump, atmospheric V10 are the appetizer for the hottest Huracan ever.  The main course is its laptime pace.  The car has undergone a hardcore race diet — with aluminum swapped for ‘forged composite’ materials that are lighter and stronger.  Revised aero and downforce are critical for the car’s 6:52-second run around the Nordesleife — a world record for production supercars. Design-wise, the new nose is defined by body-color intake fangs near the outer edge of the bumper.  A three-level splitter/intake unit shows how serious the car is at track times from up close.  The tail is far more …

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Gallery: 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus on VOSSEN Gold Forged Wheels

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This car’s matte green factory paintwork looks HOT over these Vossen HC-1 alloys!  The rich yellowy color and dewy, wet finish are the perfect counter-visual. Only the R8 V10 Plus comes in this Camo Green Matte exterior color from Audi.  Now it pops extra hard! Running 20s in front and 21×12-inch drums out back. This exact car may be for sale, with the sticker reading a crisp $203k in the Vossen galleries linked below.   2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus on VOSSEN Gold Forged Wheels   AUDI R8 VOSSEN FORGED HC SERIES: HC-1 Wheel Size: Front: 20×9 Rear: 21×12 2017 Audi …

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2017 Audi R8 V10 Spyder by FOSTLA.de

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He who has the gold makes the rules Sure, this R8 V10 Spyder is striking in chrome-matte gold over gloss black details.  A matte gold R8 was clearly this owner’s dream machine. Who are we to judge? A remote exhaust and powerchip from PP-Performance join the gloss-black alloys and tinted glass – rounding out a very nice stage-one custom. And as a wrap, gold will be swappable in a few years to a new shade.  Full details after the gallery.     2017 Audi R8 V10 Spyder by FOSTLA.de Fostla.de in Hannover has an established reputation for the elevation of …

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2018 Nissan GT-R Track Edition Adds Nismo Grip, Widebody Fenders and Racier Cabin

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What is the most unforgettable supercar you’ve ever driven, Tom? Certainly the Nissan GT-R. Every Altima review we write has a glimmer of GT-R excitement behind it.  Maybe if I am just clever enough with words or camera… one will come my way for a week!? It has not happened yet.  Our only experience with the GT-R was the previous-gen Track pack back in 2013.  We spent 30 boneriffic minutes behind the wheel and will never forget it. So much power, so much sheer violence in its delivery!  The only car you can four-wheel drift around a simple turn! So …

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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 Porsche Panamera TURBO – Startup/Exhaust Video + 44 Photos

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  The new Panamera Turbo is all about headline numbers versus the rest of the range. 3.4-seconds to 60-mph. 190-mph top speed. All-new 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 with 550HP and a snarl worthy of the Porsche crest. The exterior is indeed very evolutionary from up front.  New PDLS+ and LED matrix lighting sets the car apart as the new model, as do the new intercoolers behind every nose hole.  Intercooler as fashion statement!  They are bright silver so definitely stand out to the eye — in the best way.   Around the side and rear end, the car looks much …

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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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2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S – Autocross Drive Video

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The new 718 Cayman and Cayman S certainly are not baby Porsches any more!  These are proper track stars in any configuration.  The price gap between the Cayman and 911 is now pretty wide — about $75k ($54k base) plays about $90k and up for the big brother. As ever, most of the goodies you will really want are optional and can take the price of the 911 in particular easily into the 130s for a Carrera 2S. So Cayman seems like a viable, smart choice. Power from the new 718 Cayman S comes from a turbo four for the …

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2017 Porsche 911 GT3RS – 180MPH Ride Along

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  Hearing and feeling the 911 GT3 RS pull a smooth-yet-violent launch start followed by savage fullthrottle all the way to 180-mph was a life highlight we got to enjoy this weekend. Granted, the queasy stomach feeling from all the launch and acceleration G-force did ruin me for mere mortal vehicles. Even Focus RS felt a but slow getting out of this Porsche. The other most memorable element?  The ring in your ears from the boxer six at full chat.  Not sure if it is the fuel pumps or the simple engine harmonics — but this is a heavenly sound …

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2017 Mercedes-AMG C63S Cabriolet at Amelia Island [25 Photos]

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Even parked up between the V12TT SL65 and S65 AMGs… this new C63 Cab has real style and presence.  Massive wheels and fenders are overflowing with performance and aggression from all sides. The C63’s active exhaust and Sport+ mode engage a deep, ripping bark from the exhaust was enough to draw a crowd of hooray’s from the Ritz parking area.  Its cabin impressed too.  Far better looking than new SL… The C43 starts at $61k while the C63 is priced from $73k in the USA. 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63S Cabriolet  

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267MPH 1987 Oldsmobile AeroTech at Amelia Island Concours [36 Photos]

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What the Oldsmobile AeroTech lacks now and arguably lacked then?  Brand appeal. But what it brings today 30 years after its rollout and stunning 250-mph plus top speed runs?  Importance. This is an important machine.  An extreme aerodynamics, tire and engine prototype, the AeroTech showed the world what it would take to cross into seriously dangerous speeds.  Its tires, brakes, cooling and streamlined underbody taught General Motors important lessons.  Most significant?  The move to shrouded lighting, smooth surfaces and wind tunnel testing. Beyond just showing off as a very ambitious GM prototype, the AeroTech has now even outlived its Oldsmobile …

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2018 Lexus LC500h at Amelia Island Concours [44 Photos]

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Kicking off the slew of posts we have to write from the always-fun Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Amelia Island’s tight layout in the Ritz Carlton hotel in northeast Florida makes for a thrilling sensory overload.  Every step means a one-off car you’ve never seen, never imagined.  Needless to say, you can’t believe your eyes — so much HOT metal! Amelia excels in new-car promotions as well as the pre-war etc Concours categories.  After all, 10k rabid car fans in one place?  Oh, and they are wealthy!?  Let’s do a ride-and-drive! Alfa, Rolls, McLaren, Porsche, Infiniti and Jaguar were the stands. …

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2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Is the new Sentra NISMO heir to the SE-R throne? That depends on who you ask. And really, ask the right person. Why? Well there’s a lot of snobbery, and it seems to come from people who haven’t taken the trouble to even drive the car. And they’re missing out. From the enthusiast camp, the issue seems to be the expectations based on the NISMO name – that you should expect BMW M Division, Mercedes AMG level commitment to performance. While we think that’s true in the GT-R NISMO and 370Z NISMO, when it comes to models like the Sentra …

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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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2.8s 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Concept – LIVE Geneva Debut in 40 Pics

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Does this car live up to its preshow hype!?  YES! A four-door fastback supercar with the space of Panamera but the speed of 911 Turbo? Quite a potent blend. The concept wears much body adornment and even a hybrid ERS powertrain teaser.  But this shape is certainly en route to buyers VERY SOON with the standard (!) turbo V8s we have come to know and love from AMG. Look for pricing around 200k when this car makes its way to showrooms about a year from today. Worst thing about it so far?  The name?  This is the AMG GT … …

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2017 Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept – Geneva Debut w/ Video

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We can’t wait for the next generation of ‘small’ Bentleys to start arriving!  No longer saddled with its Audi and VW platform, the Bentley range is set to take a big leap up the performance charts. The revolution started with the Speed 6 concept and now continues with this hybrid Speed 6e cabriolet. Its beauty is nothing short of a stunning!  Still a high bathtub shape in profile, but look closer.  Intricate details like the lower sills and even the hood are carved out, scultped for aero and cleanly proportioned like no recently Flying B. The cabin of this two-seater …

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2017 INFINITI Q60 Black S Concept

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Buckle up, bros! THe hottest-ever Infiniti just debuted with the Black S badge.  This race-ready M4 GTS rival is packing ERS hybrid tech to rocket the machine out of corners — even faster than stock!   The Red Sport 400 — aka the red S in the Q60S badge — is already a hero over here.  Adore.  SuperCoupe of the Year. SO this variant with its extreme aero, grip and powertrain upgrades? Nothing short of elation. More details to follow. 2017 INFINITI Q60 Project Black S Concept     Mar 3, 2017 Introducing Project Black S – an exploration of …

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2017 Audi S3 – Photo Slideshow + 50 Extra Pics!

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  50 pics of the new S3 that didn’t make it into the review — but too pretty not to share! In addition, a video slideshow of the review pics (not these..) for those who want to just lean back and soak it in. That mansion in some of the pics is Drayton Hall, a home completed in 1742.  This makes it one of the oldest surviving structures in the United States. 2017 Audi S3 Quattro S-tronic – HD Road Test Review       2017 Audi S3   2017 Audi S3 Quattro S-tronic – HD Road Test Review

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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2017 KIA Soul Turbo – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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Kia sells a full lineup of excellent vehicles, from small economy sedans and crossovers, to mid and full size sedans and Suv’s . They even build a luxury sedan rivaling some of the best from Japan and Europe.  They have many hybrid models, and even a fully electric car.  But their best-selling model is the Soul. This compact crossover is designed to appeal to the young Millennial generation, but even this old greybeard find it an engaging vehicle that provides a lot of features, roomy interior, gas mileage economy in a fun package. For 2017, Kia has upped the fun …

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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 INFINITI Q60 Red Sport 400 – HD Road Test Review

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The Infiniti Q60 is a rolling climax.  This is a car whose excellence is the stuff of dreams.  Made real, this design and powertrain come together to become the stuff of legends. One week with the car is far too short.  We can still hear its ultra-smooth twin-turbo surge toward its redline.  Still feel its back wheels break traction in the smoothest, most nonchalant drifts and burnouts ever.  And still see its stunning beauty as it becomes more special, more breathtaking from each angle. With pricing from $51k but power that nearly matches the BMW M4 costing $25k more, the …

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USA-Bound 2017 Lotus Exclusive EVORA 410 Honors Submersible Bond Esprit

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Two pieces of cool news in this new Lotus Exclusives special:  a salute to one of the coolest movie cars of all time AND news that a US-legal version of the Evora 410 is headed to the USA around May of 2017. The Lotus Exclusive team rebodied parts of the Evora Sport 410’s nose and tail to make it a true homage to the 1970s Lotus Esprit S1 that James Bond used so deftly to escape the bad guys on a mountain road… before driving off a cliff! Oh no! But wait: in one of the greatest Bond (and action …

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Widescreen Gallery - 2016 Dodge Challenger 23

Widescreen Gallery – 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack – 33 New Photos!

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Bonus time!  Here are 40 extra photos of the car that didn’t make it into our glowing review of the Challenger last week.   Enjoy!  We certainly did.  =]   2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack HD Road Test Review – 2016 Dodge CHALLENGER R/T Scat Pack        

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Dodge CHALLENGER R/T Scat Pack

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What is the best part of driving a near-500-horsepower car every day? Is it the thunderclap of this 6.4-liter V8 on startup that makes you feel as powerful as Thor?  Or might it be the savage ingear power on the highway? Or is it the sheer bloodlust feeling of all that HEMI power beneath you?  Knowing that a floored throttle — or anywhere close — will create a riotous crackle of engine, exhaust and squeeling tires is quite intoxicating. For us mere mortals, driving a car with such godlike power and pricing of about $40k is the absolute dream come …

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2017 Ford Fusion Sport AWD – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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  Ford launched the Fusion back in 2006, slotting in between the smaller Focus sedan and the larger Taurus. It was an excellent offering in the crowded mid-size sedan marketplace and it was well received by the press community, and buying public. The second generation came along in 2013, with improvements and more model options, and sales got even stronger.  For 2017, a mid-cycle update brings a new model to the Ford table with the Fusion Sport. Unlike the Lexus F-Sport designations, which mainly consist of a lot of badging, and styling modifications, Ford has really put the extra money …

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2017 Honda CIVIC Sport 6MT Hatchback – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Civic loyalists, your car is back! If you’ve wanted a performance Civic hatch, it’s been a long wait.  The last one was in 2003! In Si form, that Civic five-door was a neat little car.  We especially liked the rally-style shifter mounted high on the center console, the sport bucket seats, and the large (for Honda) 2.0-liter with i-VTEC. And while not a nose-bleed revver like the smaller Civics, it was still fun to drive hard. But that was 14 years ago! And while we’ve had plenty of enjoyable Civics to drive, they’ve only been offered in Coupe and Sedan …

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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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2016 BMW Z4 M Sport sDrive35i – HD Walkaround, Obituary and Photo Gallery

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BMW Z3/Z4: 1993-2016. Soon gone, but never forgotten!   As the last few Z4s are sold to customers, we mark the end of the line for the plucky and stylish BMW Z roadster.  It ceased production in August. The BMW Z3/Z4 used to be a huge tentpole for the brand.  In the 1990s the Z3’s arrival in stores was the most hotly anticipated arrival in the marque’s history.   A big lead time between when the Goldeneye Bond film gave us the first look at the car helped build excitement.  The fact that it would be made stateside was also huge …

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471HP, ~3.8s 2018 Lexus LC500 Pricing and Options Announced

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The stunning new LC500 has a pricetag and options list!! The car is making its first appearances at Lexus corporate offices this week ahead of its showroom arrival around April or May of 2017 as a 2018 model. Two variants: the Lc500 making 471 ponies and the LC500h making 354HP for its full hybrid drivetrain are priced from $93k and $97k, respectively. A handful of very desirable options are not to be forgotten when pricing out this hot supercoupe: the Touring pack at four grand and the Sport packages at a few grand more. The Sport pack includes a limited-slip differential …

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2018 KIA Stinger GT – 365HP Turbo Fastback Bows in Detroit

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All turbo engines, all designed and honed in Germany, and on its way from KIA!? Get used to a very upgraded Kia in the coming years as it makes a name for itself rivaling BMW.  And Audi, and Alfa-Romeo.  And Mercedes-AMG?! At least, that is the goal. A rear-drive stance and four-door-coupe looks are standard on the new Stinger, even if it is actually front-drive with AWD available. The cabin is very Benz-like in look and feel, while the exterior blends much of the hyper-rounded but aggressive detailing of the new Alfa Guilia Quadifolio. The width of the machine and …

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2017 BMW M4 Competition Pack Convertible – First Drive Photos/Video

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Inviting some hate with this string of VERY hot and desirable cars! While rocking the absolutely astounding 2017 Q60S Red Sport 400 from Infiniti as my test car, I found myself behind the wheel of a car costing $18k more.  And wearing bright Alpine White over gloss black of the BMW M4 Competition Package. Added bonus?  This is the folding hardtop! Such a joyful drive.  With the top down, you can really immerse yourself in the popping and snarking quad pipes of the race exhaust.  The spider-spoke alloys off the M4 GTS looks impossibly large in the M4’s flared, flexing …

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2018 Genesis G80 Sport Shows Gorgeous New Style, V6TT Upgrade

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There might not be any bigger Genesis fans than the good folks here at Car-Revs-Daily.com.  Just check out the love-fest of reviews at this link if you are skeptical! But what have we wished for?  More grip and sportier style.  And of course, a 20-percent bump on horsepower is always invited! The G80 Sport addresses all these wishes and more.  Under the sexy new hood, the new 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 puts out a stout 365HP and oodles of low-end torque.  Rear or AWD are set to be offered on the G80 Sport when it arrives midyear as a 2018 model in …

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2017 KIA SOUL! Turbo DCT – HD Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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The Kia Soul has been one of the most successful small ‘utes in history.  Those engaging Hamster commercials did a great job of renting some space in our minds. When the Soul was redesigned, we saw the hamsters hit the gym, slim down, and start dressing like Daniel Craig in the Bond films. But what happens when the carmaker introduces the turbo, double-clutch 2017 Kia Soul! (pronounced “exclamation”)? Hamsters on steroids! And we have to give Kia credit for putting the loveable Soul on the juice, because they could probably sell every one they make already. It’s a great little …

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2.5s, 830HP 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabrio By Wimmer RST

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How do you go from about 550 horsepower to well past 800?  Carefully! Wimmer RennSportTechnik has spent months developing their latest engine magic for the latest 911 Turbo S.  A wholesale revamp of the engine electronics, breathing and even mechanicals was required to have such Bugatti-like boost flowing through the H6TT motor. The results are quite shocking: the sprint pace is shockingly rapid.  Even more than the factory car, which is no slouch.  The overall vMax is stunning too: this machine can do a confirmed 226-mph!   2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabrio By Wimmer RST ONE OF A KIND …

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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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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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Rear-Drive Ragtop! 2017 Lamborghini Huracan LP580 SPYDER

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The Huracan Spyder is so beautiful in person… you might just wet yourself in giddy excitement as the V10 wakes your inner eardrums from their slumber. The latest variant promises to be one of the best of the best, then.  And one of the cheapest!  What is this messiah on four wheels?! The rear-drive LP580 model is now available as a soft-top. One-paper power outputs are down slightly versus the standard AWD Huracan, but this will not immaterial in the real world. What you get in exchange for rear-drive? A MUCH lighter nose for more incisive turn-in, a more alive wheel …

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2018 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback – 4-Door Coupes Coming to USA!

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Terrific news from Audi!  The list of cars not offered in the USA is now slimmer than ever from Audi.  The coveted A5/S5 Sportbacks are the latest pair to join the American sales lists. These two are billed as 2018 models and are set for their first USA arrivals around May of 2017.  They will go head to head with the BMW 430i/440i Gran Coupes and the yet-to-be-revealed Mercedes-Benz CLC four-door-coupes. They both promise pretty outstanding performance.  The A5 with a turbo four scoots to 60-mph in just 5.7-seconds, while the S5 with its supercharged six drops that down to …

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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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2017 Fiat 124 SPIDER – Road Test Review + HD Drive Video

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It is 124 Spider week here on CRD! Carl Malek got the joy of hooning the Abarth 124 around Monticello, New York while we were flinging the 124 Lusso around Charleston, SC. Both cars are absolute heroes.  Is any 124 Spider one of those rare cars that you’d love to drive 1000 miles at the drop of a hat? Yes, yes it is. His Abarth slid in with pricing in the mid-30s, while our midspec model with automatic transmission kissed 32k out the door with a few options. For these prices, there is nothing else on the road that will bring …

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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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2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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When one hears the name Grand Sport and Corvette used together, you know that something special is in store for those that are lucky enough to experience it. This was true of the first Grand Sport which arrived on the scene as a ferocious racing machine back in 1963 and fulfilled Zora Duntov’s vision of creating a race car thanks to its lightweight dimensions as well as its 377 cubic inch aluminium V8. The vaunted nameplate would make its return in 1996 when it ushered in the debut of the new at the time LT4 small block V8 before returning …

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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 Ford Focus RS – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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When Ford first unleashed the Focus RS back in 2002, it was a very tempting piece of forbidden fruit that was exclusive to European roads. 212 horsepower out of a highly-modified turbo Cosworth four ensured a firecracker of a car. The strong demand for this variant prompted Ford to launch a sequel in 2009 that made use of a Volvo designed 2.5 liter turbocharged five cylinder engine to produce just over 300 horsepower in a wrapper that was bolder and more aggressive looking than ever before. Unfortunately it remained out of reach for U.S. buyers who had to make do …

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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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Hardtop Jannarelly JD1 Headlines Upcoming RISE: Race The Future Console Game

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  Our lovefest with the Jannarelly JD1 continues today with a look at the car as a hardtop racer versus a street-legal roadster.  Similar to how the car would be specced for an FIA GT3 or GT4 race class, this preview is of both the car and the game!  RISE: Race The Future is set for release in a few months. Now, the only question is… shall we call this the JD2?  Or JD1 Hardtop?  JD1 Daytona?!     2017 Jannarelly JD1 Hardtop   RISE: Race The Future is the upcoming video game from the studio VD-DEV renown for their …

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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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2017 Jannarelly JD1 Arrives in USA! Rear-Engine and Road-Legal from $90k

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Very exciting news today! The shockingly beautiful mid-engine Jannarelly JD1 is now in low-volume production, and coming to not just USA tracks near you… but also the roads there and back! This marks a big difference between Radical, Ariel and a few other boutique supercars.  The US market is both a holy grail and a huge barrier-to-entry in the supercar business.  If your car can’t be sold in the US, you have to cut volume projections in half. Thrilling news then that Jannarelly has a new US distributor established in VanDouble.  This Bedford Hills, New York firm promises hands-on help …

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2017 Jaguar F-PACE – SUV of the Year Review + Video

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The Jaguar F-Pace absolutely rocks our world.  This SUV is a masterclass whose strength will power the brand’s rapid evolution.  New market segments and new sales records will keep coming rapidly with cars as strong as the F-Pace in the big cat range. How could Jag’s first-ever SUV out-do the premium entries from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus right out of the gate? It comes down to driver engagement, value and style.  We’ll continue to touch on these themes throughout this HD Review and its standard headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance and Price. Kicking things off is this very speedy HD video …

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World Debut – 2016 GLM G4 is Four-Door HyperEV Out of Japan

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One of the most stunning vehicles at the Paris motor show?  This unknown entry from a Japanese startup called GLM. Their debut model is dubbed the G4, an all-electric supersedan with stellar performance and untouchable style. Think of the size of a Lamborghini Huracan or Gallardo, but stretched lengthwise and integrating four doors.  Still an ultra-low roof and brutal, mid-engine proportions… but expressed for a new era.  This is a car that competes with the Tesla Model S, but is a cool half-foot shorter and far more extreme overall. The closest spritual predecessor of this model is surely the Fisker/VLF …

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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 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 – Paris Debut GALLERY + Render

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I love this car.  I love its viciously post-modern take on a low-drag monstercar. The design is quite spectacular, if overshadowed by its final finishing.  Imagine this machine without red wheels, blasting by you in the fastlane… just a lightbar *flash* and it’s gone from view in front.  2016 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 – Paris Debut GALLERY Study of an ultra-stylish luxury-class coupé: The ultimate in luxury: Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Stuttgart/Pebble Beach. Every August classic car fans from around the world converge on Pebble Beach in California for a very special beauty contest. This gathering of magnificent classic cars is the perfect …

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2017 LaFerrari APERTA Goes Topless in Paris

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First live look at the hottest topless Ferrari in decades! A softtop and carbon hardtop panel are both provided to the very select owners of this new LaFerrari Aperta.  Chassis stiffness and aero upgrades ensure the same performance as the hardtop variant… but now with added aural pleasure included — gratis. The exclusivity of the model will also provide some added value to its buyers.  No production cap is cited yet by Ferrari, but is likely to be less than a tenth of the 500-plus production run of the LaFerrari so far.  A one-model-year offering is a sure thing, just …

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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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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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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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FOSTLA.de 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus – Sunflower Matte Metallic + Self-Healing XPEL

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The new R8 is available in a comically small palette of factory colors.  About the hottest one is a dark army green… and that is saying something.  Yes, the blue and red and yellow shades are on the R8 builder, but they definitely lack that last bit of supercar punch. Enter the wrapping boutique Fostla.de — forever experimenting with the latest mirrored and color films for their chic clientelle. This new look is a stunner: sunflower matte metallic vinyl wrap, protected by a layer of XPEL film all around.  This keeps the finish perfect and also adds a bit of …

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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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2016 Audi TT Coupe 2.0T Quattro S-Tronic – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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The Audi TT has always been a bit of a head scratcher for us enthusiasts. When it first launched in the mid 1990’s, it was a visual stunner. And in many ways, it was the birth of the Audi cool that we have today. But there was a problem. As stylish and trendsetting as the TT was, it was not a sports car. And in the world of Porsche Boxsters and BMW Z4s, the TT was odd man out. When the second-gen TT bowed in 2006, it lost some of the groundbreaking style, but was well on the way to …

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2016 VW Beetle DUNE – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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You might not be a big fan of VW right now. Diesel has once again become a dirty word, and while the automaker struggles to make things right with the government and the buying public, the brand has been getting the stink eye in a lot of ways. We’re going to look past the diesel models, because there’s also a lot of goodness in the VW lineup, and we think there are an awful lot of folks who design, make, and sell the brand that had nothing to do with the problems going on. Right now, VW needs a new …

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2016 INFINITI Q70L 5.6 – HD Road Test Review

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How far can you get in life with a giant V8 and a hot body? That was the question we kept asking ourselves after a week  behind the wheel of this 4.7-second rocket-limo. The car is refreshingly innovative in its long-wheelbase variation — bringing what is the best-selling global choice in luxury cars to the United States for the first time.  What is this choice? Best-selling?  Allow me to explain. The long-wheelbase variants of the A6/E-Class/5 series are easily the best sellers in the Chinese car market these days.  For the most part, however, the LWB limos that luxury brands …

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2016 Toyota PRIUS Four Touring – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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When Toyota first revealed the 2016 Prius, it signaled a drastic evolution for the hybrid that helped define the green vehicle segment and also established Toyota as a prominent force in green vehicle technology. But has its latest evolution helped the Prius maintain its prominent place in the green vehicle hierarchy? Or has it lost a step or two to an ever evolving suite of green contenders? The exterior styling of our “Hypersonic Red” tester is the latest example of Toyota’s philosophy that the Prius shouldn’t look like a conventional car. While the last generation’s lines could be best described …

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Just How Much Does it Cost to Own a Supercar? Scott Huntington Finds Out

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You have the money, and the idea is slowly forming in your head — you want to buy a supercar. It doesn’t matter if it’s new or used, you just want to look amazing behind the wheel of a powerful machine. Don’t get stuck in daydream mode, though. Before you buy any supercar, you must make sure you can cover all the costs of ownership. That means oil changes, plugs, belts, clutches and the heavy hitter — insurance. Unfortunately, supercar maintenance is not too easy on the wallet. Have a look at what it costs to maintain three of the …

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2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition (6MT) – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek   

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EVO = “the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.” That definition best describes the Lancer Evolution, a car that originally started out life as the mediocre Lancer compact sedan, but would gradually transform into a performance car bargain thanks to the efforts of Mitsubishi engineers. Its rivalry with its Asian arch nemesis the Subaru WRX rewrote the performance car genre, and inspired other automakers to follow suit with entries such as the Dodge Neon SRT-4 (and its horrible follow up the Caliber SRT-4) the Ford Focus ST, and the Volkswagen Golf R. Sometimes …

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Widescreen Gallery – 2016 Lexus GS-F Meets 1700s Carolina Angel Oaks

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The spidery shadows of the Angel Oak Trees lining the Carolina coastline make for a cool respite from 330 sunny days a year.  That was their purpose, of course, when planted in neat rows on the major plantation driveways around Charleston. Bursting with leaves year-round, these trees even wear a layer of Spanish Moss to keep things cool — centuries before AC made this climate live-able for a Chicagoan like myself. The GS-F is quite a sight under the speckles of sunrays that can break through. The intricate grille detailing, purity of surfaces and absolutely perfect proportions on the wide-body …

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Road Test Review – 2016 Lincoln MKX AWD – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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Ford has been producing Lincoln vehicles for 98 years, but I’m sure Henry Ford never envisioned making a crossover as great as this one. There is a lot of competition in this luxury crossover space, and this MKX is right up there with the best of them, from Japan, Europe, and cross-state rival Cadillac. It’s obvious that Lincoln is shooting to make a new name for itself as being a company that builds vehicles that can pamper its customers in luxury, and also make their customers smile with invigorating performance and handling.   The standard engine in the MKX is a …

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Drive Review – 2016 Lexus GS-F – By Ben Lewis in Los Angeles

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  Not Godzilla. More like T-Rex. To paraphrase Sally Field, “Lexus likes us. They really, really like us!” At least enough to let us spend some more time in the GS F. But we have some different perspective here, as this time, your humble scribe spent a week partaking in the GS here in sunny LA-LA land. And it ends up netting some mixed results. First, a quick rehash of the technical pleasantries. Like BMW’s M division, with models ranging between M235i’s and M2,3,4, and 5, there are F-Sport cars, and then there are F-Sport cars. F-sport is Lexus’ catch-all …

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Road Test Review – 2016 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring – By Carl Malek

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The CUV sales boom is in full force. Many automakers are revamping their product plans to take advantage of this renewed level of demand. Mazda is one of these companies and has invested large amounts of money and effort into revitalizing its CUV lineup. The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is the first fruit of this renewed effort, and promises to bring Mazda’s trademark levels of sportiness and vigor to the compact CUV segment. But has this focus on driving perfection blunted its capabilities in the process? The exterior styling of the CX-3 incorporates many of the cues that made their debut …

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2016 Lexus GS-F – HD Road Test Review – F*** YES!

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Nothing prepares you for the GS-F. Even after weeks of heated anticipation, the GS-F’s arrival out front dropped jaws. And whipped heads around with its sonics for anyone within a mile radius of the highest-performance Lexus four-door of all time. The GS-F introduction for the 2016 modelyear joins a comprehensive GS revamp of the tech, style and powertrains up and down the lineup. A new turbo four kicks off a nine-strong model range as the GS200t, while and this monster 467HP V8 tops the broad new GS offering.  F Sport upgrades for the GS200t, GS350 and GS450h are all available, with the middle …

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Double Drive Review! 2016 MINI Cooper S CLUBMAN – 8sp Automatic versus 6sp Stick

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  For years now, the number of manual transmissions has been dropping in favor of the automatic transmissions. True car enthusiasts have bemoaned the loss of the stick while automakers pander to growing consumer demand for automatics (plus, many drivers can’t drive a manual). However, with the Mini Cooper Clubman, the manual vs. automatic debate is at the heart of the car. Is a Mini Cooper, well, a Mini Cooper without a stick? Nope. A few weeks ago, I reviewed a 2016 MINI Cooper Clubman S manual and enjoyed all of its quirkiness including the thrill of getting off the …

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Drive Review – 2016 Honda CIVIC COUPE – By Ben Lewis

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    Is the new Civic a great little coupe, or the end of the automobile as we know it? A bit over-dramatic? Maybe not. We’ll get there. But first…   Honda recently introduced and all-new Civic Sedan that marked the 10th generation of feel-good affordable Honda sedans. And over the years, the Civic has had its ups and downs, but it’s always been pretty good and sometimes brilliant. The new one gets a very, very, very good rating from us. And like before, there’s a Coupe version on offer as well. In this case, we prefer the Coupe. To …

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