Mid-Size Luxury Sedans

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AC Schnitzer Upgrades Gallery for BMW 3 series F30

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  The BMW 3 series and 5 series are really the core competency of AC Schnitzer. These upgrades center on six key areas: – body styling – wheels – springs – engine mods – exhaust mods – interior decor The monoblock five-spoke wheels are particularly cool. These in a dark finish easily make anything from the 320i to 328i and 335i have the menacing stance of an M car — for far less money. All these pieces can be ordered individually from around the world via the AC Schnitzer website. http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/   AC Schnitzer BMW 3 series F30 http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/  

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Concept to Reality – 2011 Kia GT Was Stunning; Too Bad About The K900

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Looking over the details of the gorgeous 2011 Frankfurt concept from Kia, the GT, really triggers frustration. Sure, some of these ideas like the C-pillar and roof accent made it into the latest Optima — but the most desirable rear-drive nature was lost on that front-drive model. Lost forever? One would think — until the K900 flagship debuted this year with pricing from $60,000, rear-drive, and a V8 engine. But where the GT concept is artful in its form, the K900 is a blob of vaguely-melted shapes, like a plus-size model who is not afraid to show some skin. The …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited Is Nipping Camry and Mazda6 Heels

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Rave review first-drive here on the new Subaru Legacy! Along with three dozen all-new photos of this newly-competitive mid-size car. It looks like the drive video we shot did not survive its GoPro upload to the computer, so we will write this one up the old-fashioned way! EXTERIOR The new Legacy’s design is shown in its best light with the 2.5i Limited, which wears the latest LED accents and projector-beam lighting from the 3.6R top-line model. As equipped, this 2.5i is actually very handsome and premium. Why the surprise? Well, let’s face it: the base Legacy has been seriously nerdy …

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RM Hershey Highlights – 1905 FIAT 60HP Five-Passenger Tourer by Quinby & Co.

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A top earner at the Hershey, Pennsylvania event from RM Auctions earlier this month? This 1905 Fiat Tourer with a whopping 60-horsepower. 60HP is double what anything else offered in 1905 — with huge power like this making it the Rolls-Royce and Bentley of its era. The Fiat packs triple the 20-hp that the Ford Model T’s “L-head” four-cylinder delivered from from 1910 to 1930. A wheel and triple-pedal setup on the floor also predates nearly any other car with this now-standard control layout. This very car was originally owned by August Anheuser Busch Senior — to give a sense …

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2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Metropolitan Collection Is Bespoke Tastemaker + Berlin Lightshow

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  An unexpected challenge when commissioning a Rolls-Royce? The thousands of options for the exterior and interior can be slightly overwhelming. What if an ultimate tastemaker could select and deliver the ultimate in 2015 mood — with just the click of a button? Such is the new Phantom Metropolitan Collection – a subtle but ultra-stylish member of the Phantom family – available in a limited-run of two dozen copies. The Metropolitan Collection celebrates the greatest parts of city life with a subtle satin grey/blue outside over a lovely ivory cabin with custom woodwork and detailing. The Phantom Metropolitan is a …

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Update1 – 2015 Ford Mondeo Brings New LED Headlights + Hybrid Option

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 Updated 10.28.14 with 20 new photos Ford’s new Mondeo is heading to European dealers by the end of this year! Revised LED lighting, tech and redesigned steering/suspension round out the changes. The Mondeo Hybrid will also be new to the European and UK market. Might these updates show the direction of Ford’s hot-selling Fusion here in the US? Time will tell! Despite lots of moves toward global models, the Mondeo vs Fusion name difference is slightly helpful in making different update cycles by market a bit easier to swallow. This is in sharp contrast to the Euro VW Passat versus …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry XSE Is FAST and QUIET!

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  Fast and Quiet? Yep. A variation on Fast ‘n’ Loud is what most sedan shoppers actually prefer in their daily drivers, and the Camry XSE nails these benchmarks better than any other mid-size sedan. INTRO Can you imagine how tough the Camry is on competing cars like the Accord and Fusion? As far as we see it, the Camry gets better and better every year — without one slot in the armor of this best-seller to sneak an arrow through? The only area where the previous Camry let its competition get some ideas was with the overall exterior design, …

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Best of Awards – 2015 Lexus RC-F Review in 3 Videos, 170 Photos and 467 Reasons It Beats BMW M4

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TRACK DRIVE VIDEO     The downside of being the first guy in the seat of the amazing Lexus RC-F last month at a big track drive event in Chicago? We were part of the first laps around the track – barely scratching the surface of the RC-F’s abilities. But the upside? Driving one of the hottest and most-anticipated supercoupes in years. We absolutely love the RC-F and find it is a huge leap from the IS-F before in almost every way. Included here are: track drive video, pit lane intro video, an exhaust/startup video 30 all-new photos from Autobahn …

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2012 Cadillac CTS-V with Satin White Wrap by CAMSHAFT vs 2015 CTS-V Coupe Midnight

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Tastes are changing fast. In the latest Corvette C7 sales breakout for 2014, gloss black wheels took nearly half of the sales on the top Z51 trim level. Old staples like silver and chrome are now battling for the remainder of sales. This makes sense. Supercars and hypercars as far back as 2005 and 2006 started to appear with black wheels. This is a great top-down was to make a trend go mainstream. Similarly, brightwork is out. Chrome trims on the windows have long been ditched on M Sport BMWs, but it takes a custom touch to update your own …

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2015 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 ZEGNA EDITION In Exclusive Blue with Silk-Lined Cabin

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Talk about a meeting of the unpronounce-ables! The new Ghibli (ghee-blee) Zegna (Xen-yaa) Edition is the second partnership between Maserati and the famed Italian fashion house. Outside, the Ghibli Zegna wears exclusive shades for its rich light-blue paint and liquid-silver wheels, but the real action is inside. The leather-edged seats and dash and doors now have a silk seating area with hand-woven chevron patterns.Even the headliner is now wrapped in gorgeous and touchable Zegna fabrics. The Ghibli Zegna’s swanky cabin promises to be as soft as the exact yarns in Zegna’s suits and sweaters — of which a certain Fiat …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mazda3 S Grand Touring 5-Door Drives Like BMW!

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By Special Contributor Ken Glassman Mazda has been making some great cars for a long time. And Mazda has been setting themselves apart from the crowd by dialing in more driving excitement. You can always count on a Mazda to offer outstanding handling and excellent performance into all their models. And the 3 series Grand Touring is no exception.  EXTERIOR The styling of this 5-door hatchback is slick and unique. Hatchbacks are not nearly as popular in the US as they are everywhere else in the world, but this one may change how Americans look at a hatchback, and see …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Lexus GS350 AWD Is Quick And Balanced with Killer 835W Audio System

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By Special Contributor Ken Glassman Photos Include the 2015 GS350 F Sport Crafted Line EXTERIOR Refreshed in 2013, the Lexus GS350 remains about the same for the 2014 model year. For whatever reason, the mid-size Lexus has never been a great selling model, maybe because it goes up against some stiff competition from the European models like the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, BMW’s 5-Series, and even the excellent Cadillac CTS. But the GS350 and its GS hybrid cousin are still very fine automobiles, and should appeal to anyone looking for a mid-size luxury car.     The power comes from …

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Audi LA Concept Teaser May Be Upcoming Q4 Crossover

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Audi’s cryptic teaser image of its upcoming Los Angeles showcar creates many more questions than it answers. On the one hand, the overhead view is enticing and definitely exciting. The flowing surfaces and glasshouse bulge out into the fenders and overall nose and tail shape enticingly. But what the heck is it? Audi has already shown two coupe-style concepts this year in the form of the TT OffRoad concept in Beijing (yellow) and the TT sedan in red below. Audi also has a variety of models that are overdue for the next model to come out, including the Q7 and …

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INFINITI Q50 Parachutes into 2015 BTCC BAttle! OEM Racing Program To Benefit British Army Paratroopers

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Proof that the Infiniti Q50 is ripe for more performance than even the Eau Rouge concept? The new BTCC Q50! Wearing an awesome widebody with menacing aero vents and scoops, the Infiniti Q50 BTCC entry is low and lean and mean. The program’s headline sponsor is Infiniti itself – with the car wearing a satin grey finish and giant Infiniti logos on both sides. In addition to building brand awareness in the UK, the team will raise money for a newly-formed Paratrooper Regiment charity for the British Army. The new “Support Our Paras” foundation is a combined entity for the …

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Chevrolet SEMA Cars Lineup Includes Blacked-Out Impala, SS, Cruze and Sonic Sedans

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Okay now! After being seriously unimpressed by the SEMA Colorado and Silverado concepts from Chevy, we are pleased to share a better sedans lineup. Everything from the SS to the Impala to the Cruze and Sonic benefits from a cool personalization. The performance of the cars will stay the same, but the desirability and ‘want’ factor is clearly increased dramatically on all four cars. The lack of a Malibu here hints that a Malibu performance concept may still be forthcoming from Chevy before SEMA next month. Our favorite among this group is the Impala Blackout — which is likely to …

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

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

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First Drive Review – 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 3.6 AWD Drives Well, But Lacks Sex Appeal at $55,000 Price

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            The new ATS Coupe from Cadillac would appear to have all the right stuff – on paper. But as we griped in an Op-Ed article this summer, the results in the real world are less than thrilling. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/07/03/op_ed-2015-cadillac-ats-coupe-is-boring/ How can a new executive coupe be so terminally dull? Ultimately, we struggle greatly about what benefits the Coupe has over the better-looking sedan. As noted in the video above, the ATS Coupe is theoretically stiffer in the chassis department — and perhaps a bit sportier in its handling tune. 2014 Cadillac ATS Sedan But it …

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Speculative Renderings – 2016 Volvo S80 and 2017 Volvo S60

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Updated With 42 New Photos – INFINITI Q80 Inspiration Concept Flagship

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

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

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

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PARIS DEBUTS – 2016 Volkswagen Passat GTE Plug-In Hybrid To Arrive in Europe October 2015

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Okay folks, lets brace ourselves for perhaps three dozen amazing new car reveals in Paris! We will try to focus on whether the car is a concept or a production model – and detail production cars’ arrival timeframes and markets in which it will be sold! To that end, the 2015 VW Passat GTE is an all-new production car for the European markets, with first arrivals in October 2015 to showrooms. It is the first plug-in VW hybrid and will be offered as the normal sedan or the practical estate shape. The Passat GTE powertrain is very promising for the …

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

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

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INFINITI Q80 Inspiration Previews Gorgeous and Fascinating S-Class Competitor

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

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

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

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2015 Lexus RX350 CRAFTED LINE – Pebble Beach Debut In Detail

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The RX350 Crafted Line is the most subtle of the tweaks that are also offered on the IS, ES, GS and LS. Where the others have a deep and rich obsidian finish to many surfaces, the RX350 Crafted Line has graphite wheels and a less-thorough grille overhaul. Even so, this RX350 is clean and extremely handsome in real life. The latest Ultra White paint shade from all the Crafted Line cars is outstanding — with a rich white finish that is extremely bright even in low lights. The undertones are tan versus lavender for many whites — but the extreme …

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2015 Lexus ES350 CRAFTED LINE – Arriving in November from $42,500

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After such a smooth and relaxing experience with the 2015 ES300h this month, we are excited to introduce the latest and greatest ES: the Crafted Line. New for 2015 with a variety of sexy gloss black accents over Ultra White bodywork, the ES Crafted Line is quite a glamorous upgrade for this imminently practical luxury car. Check of the Pebble Beach launch photos below, plus the official details from Lexus below. 2015 Lexus ES350 CRAFTED LINE The Crafted Line by Lexus Debuts at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with Exclusive TUMI Luggage Set LS 460, GS 350, IS 250, …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus ES300h Delivers Industry-Best Value, Efficiency and Cabin Comfort

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The ES is by far the most-successful Lexus nameplate since the brand launched in 1989. These days, the ES is outsold only by the crossover king RX350 and RH Hybrid, so the ES flame is still burning bright in Lexus showrooms worldwide. The ES300h Hybrid is just about the opposite of the car most performance-sedan fans might pick for themselves, but the fact of the matter is: we absolutely adored the ES300h after spending a week together.   Intro: ES Bias? From an outsider perspective, one might write off the ES350 and ES300h as legacy models — cars sold to …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200C AWD Is Solid Drive with Potent V6 and Swanky Cockpit

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  By Ken Glassman A few months ago, I had the chance to spend about 20 minutes in the new Chrysler 200C, and I liked it very much. Now after spending a week with the car, I can confidently say that it will be my choice for Car of the Year. And I suspect that it will garner many votes from journalists for that title. It’s that good. The first generation of 200 sedans was offered in 2011, and were a good improvement over the Sebring models it replaced. But these new 200 sedans, labeled as 2015 models, takes the …

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VOLKER SCHMIDT 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Is Low and Lean With New Springs and Wheels

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It has been more than a few years since a C-Class Mercedes was a real pin-up beauty. And for a C220 to look as good as the original C36 AMG!? That is some achievement without changing one body panel or aero piece. These Volker Shmidt Revolution wheels come with a ride height drop courtesey of coil-over springs all around. This might not be our choice — the newly-available AirMatic ride in the forthcoming US-market C400 and C300 is hard to beat! But it would look a hell of a lot better with these hot wheels. VOLKER SCHMIDT 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class …

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2016 Audi A6 LED and Trim Refresh Previewed by UK Updates

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The Audi A6 is looking fresh in the UK this month, with a new LED design for the head and taillights. The latest look shows a solid horizontal bar diverging at the outer ends. No word on then these or the new A7 lights will be coming to the US market, but as a 2015.5 or 2016 seems highly likely. 2016 Audi A6  

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4.9s 2016 Jaguar XE Makes London Debut with 340HP and Rear-Drive Dynamics

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  Before you get too excited… The XE will not come to the USA until calendar 2016…     Official details below!  2016 Jaguar XE   WORLD PREMIER OF JAGUAR XE AT LONDON’S EARLS COURT First showing of the performance-orientated Jaguar XE S The Jaguar XE S features a 340hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph1 Front engine, longitudinal rear wheel drive layout, with capability of accepting all-wheel drive Highly aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd Two new and intuitive Jaguar InControl® infotainment …

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2015 BRABUS C-Class Offers Intense Aero Kit, Wheels and Turbo Chips

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How fantastic does this Brabus sport upgrade look on the new W205 C-Class! The performance kit for the gasoline C300 and C400 4Matic coming to the US are not on the chip list yet, but stay tuned. The current tune adds 41-horsepower to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, so we can expect double that for the US-market turbo V6 engines.       2015 BRABUS C-Class BRABUS NEWS RELEASE     Brand-new: The BRABUS refinement program for the new C-Class The new Mercedes C-Class opens the next chapter in the success story of those that came before. BRABUS offers an exclusive refinement …

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2015 Lexus IS250 F Sport CRAFTED LINE in 32 All-New, High-Res Photos

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This might be the first-ever IS250 F Sport Crafted line in the world! Shown in the Lexus booth at Pebble Beach, the Crafted Line is fantastic on the IS. It brings the sporty F Sport grille in a rich gloss black versus the standard matte grey finishes available. The Crafted Line special-release IS250 F Sport will arrive in October-November to Lexus dealers nationwide, with two pieces of matching Tumi luggage already right in the trunk. 2015 Lexus IS250 F Sport CRAFTED LINE        

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NOVITEC TRIDENTE Maserati GranTurismo MC Supercharged Is Low, Fast and Loud

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UPDATED FOR GranTurismo MC Stradale Coupe Fast, low, loud… and VERY yellow! One thing we love about Novitec is that they generally make the cars the stars. It is less about a huge branding endeavor and there are barely any exterior Novitec identifiers. This makes the quality of the upgrades seem even more appealing and very OEM. PREVIOUS If there is one thing the Maserati MC Stradale wants more than anything, it is to be taken seriously in the company of the hottest Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche supercars. Even with the stock model’s fantastic low-slung style and high-strung atmospheric V8 …

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NOVITEC TRIDENTE Maserati GranCabrio MC Supercharged to 646HP with 3.7s to 60-MPH

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If there is one thing the Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale wants more than anything, it is to be taken seriously in the company of the hottest Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche supercars. Even with the stock model’s fantastic low-slung style and high-strung atmospheric V8 engine note, many guys are still going to scoff at the GC as too-soft and too-practical for full cool points. Four seats and everyday usability? Get lost, poser!  No more. The full style boot camp is joined this time out by a supercharger for that huge 4.7-liter V8 engine. As we have seen on the SRT Challenger …

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NOVITEC TRIDENTE Maserati Quattroporte Is Quicker and Far Sexier Than Ever!

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While writing the big 2014 Quattroporte buyers guide the other day, we regretted how few cool wheel and performance options are available on the Maserati flagship lately.   Novitec Tridente, the trident branch of Novitec Rosso and Torado, has come to the rescue with sets of gorgeous wheels in four finishes, ECU upgrades to the twin-turbocharged engines, and a delicious exterior upgrades menu. The matte-effect paint protection wrap and black-tinted elements for all the factory brightwork are amazing, but even the subtle trunk spoiler and lower aero kit work wonders. A fantastic machine made even more exciting with these brand-new …

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2015 Cadillac CTS Updated With New Badges, LED Brake Lights, Exhaust Details and Cabin Tech

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Light updates and upgrades for the 2015 CTS, detailed below. Mechanically, the cars stay exactly the same as the 2014 models. But there are tweaks front and rear to the style, 4G LTE and active safety upgrades inside, and a new satin-effect for the window brightwork that replaces the previous chrome. Out back, the exhaust finishers are altered slightly, as is the central high-mounted LED brake light. Based on thee images and the lack of the 2015 CTS in Pebble Beach last week, we specualate that the 2015 CTS is still about a month away from dealerships. Ballpark a late …

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2015 Infiniti Q40 is G37 Continuation with $33,000 Base Price

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The well-regarded Infiniti G37 sedan and G37 AWD are back to life as the 2015 Q40! This will be welcome news for those seeking a rear-drive luxury car at pricing that overlaps with top-end Ford Fusions and Hyundai Sonata’s. Say what one might about the Q40’s tenure on the market at this point — the car is clearly in a different dynamic and performance league than any front-drive mid-size car. Two handsome dealer-installed options update the G37’s style nicely: the black grille/rear spoiler package for $700 and the LED DRL’s for about $700 as well. 2015 Infiniti Q40     …

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Update1 New Photos – 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Black Series Rendered by VirtualModels.org

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  Updated 8.27.14   1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC at Pebble Beach 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Black Series This first one is a group effort … with the side profile by Sebastian Motsch and the front three-quarter angle by Car-Revs-Daily.com VirtualModels.org Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S (W188) – Style Update Germany’s Sebastian Motsch is a very talented individual – a guy who loves cars so much that he spends some of his free time imagining the impossible cars we all dream about. The quality of his renders puts most magazines or websites to shame. These cars of his …

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2015 Lexus LS460 F Sport Crafted Line – Pebble Beach Debut in 30 New Photos

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Updated 8.27.14 The LS is perhaps the most enhanced by Lexus’s 2015 Crafted Line enhancements, but this is an entirely subjective assessment. In fact, every Lexus bar the CT200h and the new NX crossover are greatly benefitting from these new style upgrades. The LS benefits both in practice with the new grille and black wheels looking stellar on this luxury limo flagship, but also in theory. The Lexus LS has simply lost much of its top-three luxury car awareness in recent years to the resurgent S-Class and ever-popular Audi A8. The solution is not exactly easy to see for Lexus …

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2015 Infiniti Q60S Reveals its Sexy Gloss-Black Accents at Pebble Beach

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Updated 8.26.14 The Q60S revealed its gloss-black self at Pebble Beach — and it is definitely a sexy special edition package for this sweet-sounding coupe. 2015 Infiniti Q60S   The hotshot executive sport coupe market is always fun: the Lexus RC F and BMW M4 are already stars of the Detroit show – months and months ahead of their arrival to buyers. The Lexus RC F in production form this week in Detroit ups the ante quite a bit. So what’s missing?   Well, the Cadillac ATS Coupe – which is coming tomorrow – has room under than hood for …

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INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge in 40 New Photos From Pebble Beach + Vettel Track Video At Spa

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With a 180-mph speedometer clearly visible on the production-ready cabin of the Q50 Eau Rouge shown at the Quail last week, the hottest-ever Infiniti is almost as fast at the top end as Sebastian Vettel’s F1 car! But Seb has AWD and 560-horsepower from a turbocharged V6 with this concept as he blasts around the Eau Rouge’s namesake corner at Spa Francorchamps…! INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge  

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2015 Lexus GS350 Crafted Line Aces Style Mood in Bright White Over Gloss Black – 37 New Photos

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The GS350 F Spot Crafted Line is really dynamic and attractive in real life — with the custom two TUMI luggage pieces that are included a nice addition. Gorgeous news from Lexus for five lucky 2015 models! The Crafted Line by Lexus introduces a dark ultra-white/gloss-black glamor to the LS 460, GS 350, IS 250, ES 350 and RX 350. The Ultra White shade shared by all five cars is the latest and extremely amazing shade that was launched for 2014. The Crafted Line cars all vamp up with glossy dark wheels, trims, grilles and mirrors to match the stunning …

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2014 Lexus IS-F Review – Part Three – 170MPH 4-Door Supercar Is Future Classic: The Ideal Luxury Racecar

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2014 IS-F REVIEW – PART THREE of THREE   Simply put: the Lexus IS-F is one of the very best cars this author has ever driven. It is virtually flawless in its performance appeal — and addictive in its power delivery and handling eagerness. When cars like the E63 AMG and BMW M5 are in the competitive set, the IS-F feels every bit as special, and instantly more intoxicating. For drivers who want supercar power with velvet-glove luxury in a four-door, the IS-F will be your favorite car too. A future classic – one that beats its competition today and …

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540HP, 3.7s 2015 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe Available in USA! Quickest BMW Ever Made?

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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. Ever. This includes the M6, 1980 M1, 2015 M5 Jahre 30, i8, M4, M3…. Everything else is slower. THE PRIVATE DEBUT As well as the USA reveal of the Vision Future Luxury concept and M5 30th Anniversary, BMW’s Pebble Beach villa was packed with all the hottest metal in the …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Acura TLX 2.4L Is Seriously Good Fun: Quick, Lux and Nimble

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Just like delivering a compliment is easy and second-nature, writing a good car’s review is remarkably easy and refreshing. It feels great to give praise, and the words come flowing out. Alternatively – delivering bad news tactfully in a car review requires much more graceful delivery. You must plan your points carefully so they are constructive and helpful. The 2015 Acura TLX firmly falls into the easy compliment category. Say what you will — and what I have written — about the Acura nose in the last few years: this 2015 TLX absolutely blew me away with its amazing combination …

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2014 Lexus IS-F Review – Part Two – 416HP 5.0L V8 Is Ferocious, Fast and Fun… Even on Rainy Day!

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2014 IS-F REVIEW – PART TWO of THREE     Falling hard and fast for a press loan car is an occupational hazard for car journalists – but that would never happen to me! Ha! Can you imagine? Being so thoroughly obsessed with a machine that I would turn over my personal 2005 Subaru Legacy GT wagon in a hearbeat!? Never going to happen to This Guy! But…  then it did. Like falling in love with a stripper – the end is never easy on a humble John when his time is up. IS-F PRECONCEPTIONS — Never loved the IS-F’s …

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Aston Martin RAPIDE VOLANTE Possible from Newport Convertible Engineering

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Newport Convertible Engineering almost wrote the entire book on factory hard –> soft-top conversions. Often completed on a one-off basis — the NCE process has been making almost anything into sunny cabrios for decades. This includes SUVs and various other unlikely candidates, like the $30,000 Tesla Model S Cabriolet conversion shown below. But what many of these fantasy builds do not have is the existing Vanquish Volante drop-top sharing similar bones to the Rapide. This would seem to make the Rapide an amazing candidate for a high-fashion, four-door cabriolet. Something like the Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive concept. Or, for that matter, …

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2015 Lexus Crafted Line Debuts at Pebble Beach with Five TUMI-Styled Production Models

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  Gorgeous news from Lexus for five lucky 2015 models! The Crafted Line by Lexus introduces a dark ultra-white/gloss-black glamor to the LS 460, GS 350, IS 250, ES 350 and RX 350. The Ultra White shade shared by all five cars is the latest and extremely amazing shade that was launched for 2014. The Crafted Line cars all vamp up with glossy dark wheels, trims, grilles and mirrors to match the stunning new accent color. Bang-on the style that the most fashionable shoppers crave for 2014 and 2015 – the Crafted Line also includes an interior glam session and …

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2015 Acura TLX Media Launch Brings 100 New Photos, Pricing, Colors and Specs – $31k Base Price

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The 2015 TLX is off to a roaring start! Eventually replacing both the current TL and the TSX sedan, the new TLX has three powertrains to entice shoppers away from the Lexus IS, BMW 320i, Mercedes-Benz CLA250 and Audi A3/A4. The base pricing looks extremely reasonably for such a swoopy and aggressive sedan design. From just $31,000 for the front-drive four-cylinder, to $about $35,000 for the front-drive V6, and up to a base of $41,450 for the loaded SH-AWD TLX V6 with its standar Tech package. Style-wise, the four-cylinder and V6 TLX’s both look low and sharp and all-new – …

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Updated With 188 New Images – Road Test Review – 2013 BMW 535i M Sport – Animated Visual Buyers Guide

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Updated 7.29.14 with 188 new images Update info: BMW GLOBAL The BMW 5 series is incredibly trim-sensitive. It can obviously look amazing in full M5 track apparel, but looks very lonesome and humdrum in the low-range 528i and even 535i without the M Sport package. As a strong indication that this four-year-old model range is on the way out next year — there are hardly any new BMW press photos of the car since 2011. So we turned to the BMW.com global site configurators to try and make an amazing-looking 535i or, even better, a 550i. Even *more* recent update! …

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2014 Lexus ISF Looking Sublime for Sunset Photo Shoot on the Bayou

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Very eager to share my newest supercar crush! If the 1997 Lexus GS400’s ad tagline was ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes,’ then the IS-F’s should be: “Once bitten, forever smitten…” I have been taking photos and video almost all day since the IS-F arrived in the driveway! An instant bond with the Lexus IS-F has lured me out to the driveway thrice to run ‘errands’ over and over. Such is the instant bond with this intense flood of brute Lexus power that we even ventured out to do a risque sunset photo shoot. Nighttime photos are a serious challenge for …

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2014 Buick Regal Turbo and GS AWD – Inside and Out in 50 High-Res Photos

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We still have yet to drive the Buick Regal, but the car is very handsome for 2014 in both the base eAssist or Turbo trims — and definitely int he sexy GS package. The GS is the OPC/VXR version from across the pond – with everything the European cars have to increase the sportiness of the handling, performance and cabin feel. Our GS trades the twin-turbo V6 of the Euro cars for a turbo four – which is the biggest change overall besides the new Buick badges everywhere. The lighter engine up front actually dramatically enhances road feel and how …

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Buick OnStar 4GLTE As Standard Is A Game-Changer for In-Car Mobile Broadband

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Spent some time today with the latest Regal and Lacrosse sedans from Buick – a surprising leader in the tech segment of the car business. Standard 4G LTE in all 2015 Buicks (except the Enclave, which makes it for 2016) will make the first three months of owning car car true heaven. That is the length of the trial period of in-car 4GLTE services with Onstar. I say this with a bit of a smirk because the sign-up rate will be amazingly high. The pricing, already-installed access and friendliness of the sign-in for up to seven devices is a miracle …

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JAGUAR Special Ops F-Type Coupe and XFR-S SportBrake for Team Sky Tour de France Cyclists

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Say what you might about all other sports physicality, strength and stamina requirements – but know that none is really as grueling a challenge as the Tour de France. A bike race that whittles its winners down to rail-skinny, crying fools. Emotional, physical and spiritual battering come with every stage of the race. Evidence? There are few other athletes who would keep charging forward when their scrotum has been rubbed raw and blood-red by constant seat pressure/chafing. It makes this first-ever bike under the English Channel seem like a cakewalk. But the Tour de France is not just won by …

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Charleston Cars and Coffee Gallery – 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth is For Sale!

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A rare car in great condition – seeking a new owner! Of the 2,000 or so imported 190E’s that came to the US market between 1989-1990, there are less than 400 left in this excellent original condition. Interested buyers can email ads (at) car-revs-daily.com to be connected with the seller – who is flexible on price but shooting for $8,900 for this 1989 example. The car was previously owned by the lead mechanic at European Autowerks in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Therefore, it runs flawlessly and comes equipped with a new dashboard, new wheels and pristine service history. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E …

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

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

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RENDERED RUMORS: Bugatti Galibier Back in Pipeline – As 2017 Super SUV!

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It might make you chuckle on first thought: a Bugatti SUV. But take a step back and think about sales trends and Buagtti’s next steps. Sure, a SUperVeyron is very likely in 2016 or so as the current model finishes production by January 2015. And sure, a limo with a front-engine setup would be a logical next step. But here is the thing with limo’s versus SUVs and supercars: they are a hard sell. The car would have to be something quite spectacular indeed for people to stump up about 5X the $500,000 cost of a new Rolls-Royce Phantom. Similarly, …

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JAGUAR XF by 2M Designs Shows How To Personalize a Jag With Class

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So many German tuners lately! Ahh!!! In honor of the World Cup, perhaps? Yes, let’s go with that. But you must admit: these German tuner cars are pretty outstanding. Versus the small-time DIY efforts that most local shops in America and elsewhere offer – these are relatively holitics ideas for how to make any car a bad-ass beast on the autobahn. The approach leaves no area unaltered, it can seem sometimes. Wheels, engine, interior, paint wraps, springs, tires, brakes, lights, foil designs…. Seeing a before/after of these cars would be even more shocking than even ProActiv would put in their …

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MEGA Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata Is Like A Value-Added Audi A6 – Choice Between Lux or Sport Dynamics

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MEGA Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata Is Like A Value-Added Audi A6 – Choice Between Lux or Sport Dynamics   If you are keeping track, this is perhaps the fifth article in a series covering the 2015 Sonata’s launch. We were fortunate enough to attend the big event the other week and have been working up to this: the definitive review! After much consideration, the new Sonata reminds me most of the Audi A6 2.0T – in size, what it offers buyers, and in overall appeal. Shocking, right? Especially with the Sonata’s base pricing in the $20,000’s that …

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2011 Peugeot HX1 Concept Shows Sumptuous Detailing and Scale, But Front-Drive Proportions

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A low, long and and wide super-wagon! YES! Is there anything not to like? Very little, in the case of the gorgeous HX1 concept from Frankfurt 2011. The car is part of a numerous series of concepts exploring and fleshing out the latest Peugeot design themes – ideas that are in a final point of production-readiness via the latest 508 RXC and 508 Estate. But while the exterior panels of the crash-safety-obsessed French car brands can easily be re-stamped in sexier shapes, the underlying platforms will require a much bigger overhaul. Therefore, even the fantasy HX1 rides with a far …

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QOROS Design Analysis – Qoros9 and Flagship Concepts Preview Exciting Future Models

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QOROS is the German-led Chinese car firm that could change global perceptions about Chinese vehicles through sheer strength of engineering. The firm aims to deliver the best of European safety, handling, styling and quality standards to an affordable-produced model for the first time. Headed by Gert Hildebrand as design chief, Qoros is on firm footing to bring his MINI Cooper design expertise to all sorts of new segments. Here is Hildebrand with the Qoros Flagship model discussed below. QOROS Design Analysis – Qoros9 and Flagship Concepts Preview Exciting Future Models After many false starts by other brands, the Qoros 3 …

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Update1 – Exec Shuffle Analysis – Infiniti QQX Rebadge Architech Johan de Nysschen Joins Cadillac

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Updated with Infiniti USA sales figures below. Uh oh! All signs indicate that Carlos Ghosn is furious today. Another key executive is gone just 10 months after the wacky Carlos Tavares was booted from Renault. Former Audi and Infiniti executive Johan De Nysschen has just been announced as the new Cadillac global leader. This is an unusually sudden departure from Renault-Nissan – and an odd hire for Cadillac as well. It is not yet clear if De Nysschen was terminated or recruited away from Infiniti, but his efforts there have been a nightmare overall. Cadillac’s global ambitions are well-known, and …

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2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Updated With New Grille, LEDs Front and Rear – Specs, Features and Pricing

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The Kia Optima is a run-away success for the brand: since its latest design debuted, sales of the model are nearly double what the nameplate has ever achieved before. To keep this momentum and address buyer priorities, the Hybrid model has rounded out the base and turbo engine options. For the current model-year, the Hybrid brings a few updates both outside and in. The LED accents in the nose are a Hybrid exclusive, as are the lower double fog-lamp elements. These are not nearly as cool as the quad-LED setup in the SX-L trim, but are still pretty nice elements …

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Past and Future Perfect – Rolls-Royce Is Evergreen in 111 RARE Photos + 2017 RR ALPINE RENDERING

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Past and Future Perfect – Rolls-Royce Is Evergreen – 111 RARE Photos Celebrate 111-Year History FUTURE PERFECT? Yes, this tense in language certainly applies to Rolls-Royce in the coming years. Here is (one of) Lutz Valdeig‘s artist renderings of a 2017 Rolls-Royce Alpine SUV – with a name borrowed from RR’s Apline Trial glory.   Rolls-Royce is more successful than anyone might have guessed 15 or 30 years ago. At that time, the whisper was that The Best Car in the World might be losing its touch with modern times. BMW’s guiding principles of quality and advanced driving characteristics have …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Honda Accord Coupe V6 is Family Sports Coupe of the Year

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As you can see from this first video – taken moments after I first sat down in the Accord Coupe – the car is really fun and fast. That is the key take-away if you read nothing else below! INTRO I thoroughly enjoyed the 2014 Honda Accord V6 Coupe that spent a few weeks here this summer. Two previous articles followed the Accord Coupe’s adventures here in the Carolinas, with… — a mega photo shoot from historic Charleston — as well as the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway up toward Tennessee. And this really hones in …

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Concept Flashback – 2008 Lamborghini Estoque – Binned In Favor of SUV, But Design Influences Huracan Dramatically

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The Lamborghini Estoque from Paris 2008 created a flurry of media attention and even compelled some eager buyers to put down deposits on the car during the great auto show. Over the next year and a half, Lamborghini evaluated the concept’s production feasibility in detail – bouncing volume and pricing business plans back and forth to the Volkswagen Group board, exploring Panamera collaborations for the platform, and even building out a long-term front-engine GT car plan to accompany this gorgeous four-door to Lamborghini dealerships. This last bit – with a front-engine coupe and cabrio joining the business plan – made …

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

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

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HOT DAMN! 707HP 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Power Figures Are INCREDIBLE

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600-horsepower from the new Challenger SRT’s supercharged Hellcat engine — all fired up and ready to roar into the record books with deliveries starting in late Summer 2014! Scratch that. The official tally is an incredible 707 horsepower from the 2015 SRT Challenger! Full details updated below from Dodge, as well as 98 new photos of the 2015 SRT Hellcat. ENGINE START-UP AND REVS VIDEO The coolest aspects of the new Challenger SRT are the Viper-inspired hood with extra breathing and venting ports, plus the hollow driver-side highbeam lamp – which delivers air right into the airbox of the Hellcat. …

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2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante In the Flesh! ThisClose To Test Drive, But…

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Thinking and writing about Aston Martin makes me kick myself in the tits again today for missing a chance to drive the 2014 Vanquish Volante last month at Road America. Alas, it was late in the day and the Vanquish had been very occupied by the 100 other journalists on hand. There was only one test drive left, and another hack got his paws on it first. Maybe next year…. Is what I have been saying since I saw my first DB7 at a resort in Michigan in 1995. I will get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. Not …

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Aston Martin Zings Up Goodwood Hill (to its AMG Future) in Vantage S, Rapide S and Vanquish

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Aston Martin is on firm footing for the first time in over a decade: with the Mercedes-Benz AMG partnership signed and sealed, the company is poised for an exciting next chapter. We are thrilled to see the resulting sportscars – they will bring the best of both worlds to Aston showrooms very soon indeed. It is a mutually-beneficial gig all around – this is no charity write-off for Mercedes-Benz. First and foremost, it will allow Daimler to increase its average transaction price overnight – which is a somewhat silly metric for success that is nonetheless highly considered by the influential …

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MASERATI Goes All-In At 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed with Alfieri, MC12 and A6GCS Berlinetta

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The big guns were out in force from Maserati in England this weekend! Compared with the Trident – who has been visiting Goodwood since the track was on the official world racing calendar – all other OEMs might rightly be called ‘johnny-come-lately’s. The MC12 is wearing a special Centennial paintjob in dark grey with airbrushed heroes past in the paintwork, while the ever-popular A6GCS captures the collective mood of 2014 very, very well indeed. MASERATI HIGHLIGHTS AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2014 30/06/14 Maserati Alfieri Concept takes centre stage in the Stable Yard for Maserati’s centenary Maserati A6GCS named ‘best …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata – INTERIOR Focus – 2.4L Limited vs 2.0T Sport

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  Thrilled to report that the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is an outstanding drive and a very compelling entry into the mid-size sedan marketplace. Midsize? It is huge in here! Yes, mid-size in price but a Large Car by EPA cabin volume — where the new Sonata is comfortably close to the scale of large luxury cars. Over the next few days, we will cover the 2015 Sonata extensively – but segmented out by theme and topic due to the extensive first-hand impressions driving the Eco, 2.4L Limited and the Sport 2.0T trim levels. There are noticeable differences between the trims …

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VirtualModels.org Before/After Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special

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This first one is a group effort … with the side profile by Sebastian Motsch and the front three-quarter angle by Car-Revs-Daily.com VirtualModels.org Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S (W188) – Style Update Germany’s Sebastian Motsch is a very talented individual – a guy who loves cars so much that he spends some of his free time imagining the impossible cars we all dream about. The quality of his renders puts most magazines or websites to shame. These cars of his look like OEM vehicles that could be for sale tomorrow in dealer forecourts. All the …

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Maserati 100th Anniversary Celebrations in Italy! Museo Enzo Ferrari is Maser Mania All Summer

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Maserati 100th Anniversary One thing is certain in the history of exotic cars: Maserati has made dozens of the best of the best. The firm is celebrating 100 years in 2014 and has a lovely exhibit in the Museo Enzo Ferrari all summer ahead of a grand gala in September. The reservations for attending the many events is today!  Ahh! Sorry for lack of notice to those who might want to attend. But even if you are not planning to bring your Maserati all the way to Italy for the homecoming – there are still dozens of fun things on …

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VirtualModels.org Makes Ferrari 412i Shooting Brake and Ferrari Pinin Concept Wagon!

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Germany’s Sebastian Motsch is a very talented individual – a guy who loves cars so much that he spends some of his free time imagining the impossible cars we all dream about. The quality of his renders puts most magazines or websites to shame. These cars of his look like OEM vehicles that could be for sale tomorrow in dealer forecourts. All the photoshop conversions on his site, VirtualModels.org, take a basic car design and rev it to 10,000-rpm. Citroën CX Shooting Break Gullwing He likes off-roaders, streamliners, custom racers… you name it. There is even a Plymouth Voyager custom …

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2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport – Buyers Guide to All Nine Colors + Animated 360-Degree Turntables

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New Sonata fever is heating up today! Here is a very cool and exclusive color guide to the 2015 Sonata Sport trim level. Shown here is the 2.0T Sport – the upgraded turbo engine model – but the Sport trim is also offered on the base 2.4-liter GDI engine. We highly recommend the Sport trim for the style upgrades outside and in the cabin. Color wise, in person my favorite colors were Phantom Black, Quartz White and Venetian Red. While Urban Sunset orange is a Sport exclusive, it is not a real winner to these eyes… The 2015 Sonata is …

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Creating The Porsche Sedan – 1988 Porsche 989 Panamera, 1991 Porsche 932, 1987 928 Studie and 1968 911 4-Door

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Did the Panamera just pop out of thin air? Far from it. Porsche has been flirting with a four-door sedan for ages — going back to the first Auto Union P52 designs by Ferdinand Porsche, in fact, that had a central driving position and twin seats beside him. In later studies, the rear-engine design would be the biggest difficulty in bringing a four-door sedan to market. So when the 928 and its front-engine setup was present, the idea seemed like a natural fit. In fact, the 1988 Panamera concept that came a year later was a strong hint at future …

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2014 Mercedes-Benz E400 BlueTec Hybrid – Gibraltar to Goodwood… In One Tank of Diesel?

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Is EU Immigration reform debate stymied by classy and comfortable luxury cars!? It seems the E-Class Mercedes-Benz is as good as any passport for slipping from Africa up to the UK on just one tank of fuel… Of course, the Diesel-electric energy solution has long been the preferred method for locomotives – but thought too expensive for cars until Mercedes-Benz and a few French OEMs built them both into one car. It seems to be the best of all worlds – except for Mr. Frnakel’s bladder! 2014 Mercedes-Benz E400 BlueTec Hybrid Official Details below from Mercedes-Benz UK. 1,223-MILES: E-CLASS TRAVELS …

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Iconic Classic – 1959 JAGUAR Mark IX Is Blue-Blood Royalty With Most Lux Cabin of the 1950s

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A lofty statement? The best cabin in all the 1950s?  Really? Perhaps this Jaguar Mark IX would be outdone by a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley from that wonderful decade – but we highly doubt it. Of course, the modern gauges and CD player spoil the period mood – but only slightly. This car has AC, after all, which is a mod worth adding! This Jaguar Mark IX preceded the 1965 Jaguar Mark X featured in a previous ‘Fatcat Chic’ article, comparing it with today’s XJL in matching photo angles. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/04/27/1965-jaguar-mark-10-and-e-type-coupe/ 1965 JAGUAR Mark X   All three cars are flagship …

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2015 SEAT Leon X-Perience Is Gravel-Ready 4×4 Estate Coming to European Dealers In November

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If car company product planners got their way, there might be a new SUV or all-wheel-drive model arriving fresh every year right as the weather turns cold and snowy. The same folks would love a cabrio for the showrooms every June — but that is not really how the car business works. Or is it!? SEAT today revealed the production-specification Leon X-PERIENCE — which is an Outback-type of upgrade to the normal Leon Estate. As a huge fan of the Leon 5-door as well as the Estate — this new model makes perfect sense! We estimate the arrival in SEAT …

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100 New Photos – 2015 BMW 428i and 435i Gran Coupes Are Segment-Busting AWD 4-Doors – M Sport vs Luxury Trim Lines

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Update1 New Photos – 6.22.14 These segment-busting coupes arrive in July or August to US dealers, with pricing from $43,000 as the 428i sDrive. The M Sport pack adds about $4,000 to the total – but is well worthwhile. In the M Sport versus Luxury trim battle, M Sport wins the day for me – hands-down. It offers a far crisper exterior aesthetic, as well as better seats and generally a sportier steering wheel and better handling. It also ditches some of the standard wood trims for a more modern feel. Win, Win, Win. 2015 BMW 428i and 435i Gran …

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2017 Aston Martin ELV8 Crossover, SUV and AWD Sedan Renderings

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 2017 Aston Martin ELV8 Crossover, SUV and AWD Sedan Renderings SUV adaptions by Car-Revs-Daily.com staff Original Artwork by Lutz Valdeig – Atelier Valdeig PART TWO: ASTON GOES AWD All the previous article applies to this SUV idea even more. Aston Martin could sell alot of SUVs or crossovers with access to the 4Matic-ready platforms of Mercedes-Benz. 2017 Aston Martin CROSSOVER RENDERING 2017 Aston Martin SUV 4×4 RENDERING   2017 Aston Martin AWD SEDAN RENDERING ASTON MARTIN REACHES INFLECTION POINT   Big changes at Aston Martin – 2013 and 2014 have finally seen the big apex point in the company’s resurgent …

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

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

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180MPH? Custom Wagons – BBM 330d Touring and BMW M135i by Tuningwerk

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The M135i two-door will soon be coming to America as the 228i and 235i, but this body style is really the epitome of fast wagon stance. A power jump is only half the results achieved here by both fast wagons from the local speed shops: Tuningwerk and BBM. The BBM 330d Touring shows what can be done with careful ECU boost enhancement – but this car also wears a one-off reflective matte red exterior that is very unique. BMW M135i by Tuningwerk BMW 330d Touring by BBM  

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The Most Stylish 4-Door Never Made? 1980 Ferrari Pinin Still Brilliant

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The 1980 Ferrari Pinin concept shares much of the low-slung beauty of the 400i models, but none of their affordability. This one-off concept is being sold by Museo Ferrari for $1.2 million. Before you write off this design and its gob-smaking egg-crate grille, take a few minutes to twirl it around with 30 years perspective since its debut. Yes, the nose is messy, and the clamshell hood shows some panel fit issues in some of the photos.   But Enzo Ferrari himself is also sitting in the car for some of the photos, evaluating it around Fiorano on a nice …

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Best of 2013 Awards: Coolest 4-Door – BMW 640i GranCoupe

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Until the new M4 arrives, the BMW 6-series Gran Coupe is by far my favorite current BMW. While all brands like to tout their new cars as longer, lower and wider than before: usually the changes are fractions of an inch (or some other meaningless millimeter measurements!). The 640i GC is a full three inches lower than the 5-series, rocks almost a 117-inch wheelbase, and looks wider than a Hummer H1 on the highway. The whole car is designed to emphasize width, power and stance from all angles. The glasshouse is far more inward of the car’s shoulder-line than any …

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CarRevsDaily - 2015 Audi S3 Exterior 12

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

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

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