Sport Compacts

2017 MINI RAGTOP Bares All Ahead of March 2016 USA Arrival

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The new MINI ragtop is here and vastly improved!  An all-new and wider platform houses two new engines, an all-new cabin and some sweet new tech and style options. The Cooper and Cooper S both run turbo engines for the next-gen model, with standard six-speed manuals or six-speed automatics available. But there is a big difference for the S in this generation: a whole extra cylinder!  That;s right, the base MINI runs a 1.5-liter triple!  This new modular engine series powers all future BMW’s; the 340i just revealed its 3.0-liter version of the same engine, but as a six-cylinder. A …

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2016 Ford Focus ST Kona Blue ST1 Flyaround in 120 Pics + HD Video

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    Really had a ball flogging the Focus ST on track the other week. GoPro video came back as a photo-set by accident, so left with *just* these gorgeous 120 photos of the new slugger. Kona Blue is the color, with minimal options and an as-tested price very close to the $25k base. Versus the $36k of the RS, the ST really earned its keep out there in the twisties. Strong brakes, awesome front diff grip that felt totally understeer-proof, plus a snorty throttle intake and shouty new exhaust. The stick is as feelsome and snicky as ever — …

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1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe 5

1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe – RM Arizona 2016 Preview

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Smooth. Seductive. Tuscan? Look at this stunning 1962 Porsche heading for auction at the RM Arizona 2016 event. Rally-perfect bumper with sunken 901/911 proportions, this machine is a stunning bespoke prototype from APAL studio in 1962. No estimate or description is yet available for the1600 GT Coupe, but it will go without reserve. We’d bring at least $350,000, and perhaps significantly more. 1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe   Photo Credit: David Gooley ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sothebys

FUTURE-SPEC – Mazda MX-5 and CX-3 Platforms Reborn as Scion S-FR and Scion iD

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A few months ago, Toyota and Mazda announced a major partnership in vehicle development and production. The Mazda2’s conversion into the US-exclusive four-door Scion iA is a huge hit, and the two Japanese rivals seemed eager to deepen the bond. There may have been an equity swap to even seal their newly-strong link. But details on the ground were — and are — very secret. What are they working on together? PART ONE:  The S-FR As the months pass, we have a much clearer idea: specific Toyota variants of Mazda platforms. The S-FR sports coupe for the Tokyo auto show …

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Track Drive Review – 2016 Buick Regal GS – Flypaper Handling Is Now $3k Cheaper!

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Autobahn Country Club might be my “Happy Place.” Recalling this track’s frisky bends, howling tires and full-throttle straightaways brings a smile instantly. Buick invited us to flog their performance flagship, the 2016 Regal GS, around the Illinois track and autocross to show off the machine’s latest updates: new colors and a price that is much more approachable. How approachable!?  A cool $3,300 off the base price for the GS takes the entry level to $35k versus near $38k before.  Three drivetrains continue for 2016: FWD auto, FWD manual and AWD automatic. The GS AWD we tested out still comes in …

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2016 BMW M2 11

2016 BMW M2 Is Official! Speed and Stance Make M4 GTS Look Silly

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Vaya vaya!  [Get Out!!] When BMW goes for performance glory, everyone else best stand back or be blown clear in jetwash. The new ~$130k M4 GTS reveal is being followed closely by a shadow that maintains nearly 99-percent of the big brothers’ track pace, but with a far more agile turn-in and — critically — a more affordable price. Will the estimated $55k total be too much for such a pocket rocket? We’d say NO!!! Take a look at those all-new fenders front and rear. Wide enough to slip into a DTM race, and hiding wheels with giant contact patches …

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2016 Mitsubishi LANCER GT 21

2016 Mitsubishi LANCER GT Leads Fresh Range: AWD and New Transmissions from $18k

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  The Mitsubishi Lancer is fresh for 2016! Mitsu just revealed the facelift, pricing and new features ahead of showroom arrivals in the next few weeks. Big changes to the look of the nose, fresh LEDs and wheels around back, plus a sporty Evo-lite look for the loaded Lancer GT models. Evo-ish is a good look for the new Lancer GT — especially as the Evo proper will not be joining the 2016 lineup. This facelift will likely hold for two years or so, when an all-new Evo and Lancer will arrive for the 2018 or 2019 model-year. Part-hybrid drive …

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4.0s ZENDER Alfa Romeo 4C is Hardcore Style and Speed Upgrade

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Holy Dino, Batman! Zender just released details on its Alfa Romeo 4C upgrades — and they are ridiculously sexy and desirable. But first: have you seen a 4C up close yet? The 4C Coupe and Spider are ridiculously hot and exotic in the flesh. With the new LEDs and headlamps up front, the design is even more fantastic than this 2015 4C Coupe from Italy. The 4C is so intense and a true Ferrari cousin in the flesh because of its mid-engine proportions, obscenely low rood and comical overall width. The 4C feels dramatically lower, shorter but MUCH wider than …

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2015 Scion xB 686 Parklan Edition Closes Boxcar Books with Apres-Ski Special

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 Mark my words… we are going to miss the Scion xB in a few years. Square vehicle always seem out of step and in need of replacement with something sleeker, but the results have almost always caused a backswing in hipster tastes. Look at the VW Vanagon, original Jeep Cherokee or even the new Honda Pilot. Boxy is foxy. This xB takes the look to a fantastic style peak in a final special: the 686 Parklan Edition. A unique cocoa bean exterior is a deep metallic brown, accented by gloss black for the wheels and trims outside. Slight red-lined accents …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 FIAT 500X Trekking is Bei Bei-Cute but Drives Euro-Sharp

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INTRO Really wanted to incorporate Best of Awards  into the headline for this new Fiat 500X — but just ran out of space. What a stellar machine! With a drive experience recalling BMW’s and Audi’s, plus a cabin with fantastic Euro feel, the 2016 500X is an absolute gem from its $20k base price. Over a week of flogging the 500X Trekking in full sport mode glory, we fell hard for the 500X’s charms. To the point that even the design of the nose started to feel familiar and cute! As cute as Bei Bei the Panda cub at the …

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Janis Joplin 1964 Porsche 356C 4

Janis Joplin’s Winky 1964 Porsche 356C Heading to Auction for First Time at RM New York 2015

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Never-before sold at auction, Janis Joplin’s acid-trip Porsche 356C is headed to the RM Sotheby’s 2015 sale in NYC this December. Janis was a consummate scene-ster and party girl — living and defining the Haight/Ashbury scene in San Francisco throughout the 1960s while performing at tiny coffee-shop type venues. The tiny gigs often paid not in cash, but just free drinks. The bay area 1960s ideals of peace and love went national and eventually global by the end of the decade, by which time Janis was finally enjoying commercial success for her unhinged and anti-establishment sound. That success came fast …

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HD Track Drive Review – 2016 Mazda MX-5 Is INCREDIBLE!

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Freshly back from a track drive with the 2016 MX-5 Experience tour — and have some serious vehicular brilliance to report! As you might know already, or simply expect, this latest MX-5 is an absolutely breathtaking evolution on the light/rear-drive roadster theme. Improving upon a genre the Miata defines conclusively? Not easy to do — especially with firm price and power caps limiting headline performance numbers. Yet the latest engineering, style and handling excellence from Mazda has done wonders for the MX-5. After all, if Mazda can make the CX-5 into a lively steer, the SkyActiv mantra should really make …

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MINI Goes HUGE! Just-Revealed 2016 CLUBMAN is Foot Longer, Much Wider than MINI 4-Door Hardtop

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The MINI range is in the midst of a full rebirth. New tech, swanky and posh cabin materials, plus fresh looks outside. The big plus is that the driving playfulness of the standard hatch applies to any body style, or even SUV. But the downside is that they all look pretty similar. Don’t let this reveal miss your radar, though, because the new Clubman might be the ideal and long-sought-after fast wagon variant of your dreams! First off, the dimensions. The Clubman is 10.6 inches longer than the new 4-Door Hardtop (aka the 5-Door in UK). The Clubman is also …

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2015 Peugeot FRACTAL Franfurt 2

2015 Peugeot FRACTAL Concept – EVCC Explores 3D-Printed Materials

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Updated with Official Details and Photos 9.17.15 Here is a gorgeous bit of unsanctioned, uncaptioned news!  All 25 photos of Peugeot’s upcoming Frankfurt concept car are live a bit early this morning. And they show some sweet, sexy new angles for next-gen Pugs! The Fractal concept is the first near-production application of the blocky, angular and geometric new design ethos seen on the Exalt concept, 2008 DKR racer and a few other concepts recently, including the Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo hypercar. An ultra-wide but very low and lean design, the shape is unlike anything else on the market — and …

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2016 Honda Civic Sedan 61

2016 Honda CIVIC Sedan – 70-Image Reveal of Lux New Look + 1.5L Turbo

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Honda’s live YouTube concert and Civic reveal is streaming the world debut of the all-new sedan tonight — with shockingly advanced design, tech and cabin luxury upgrades. The all-new look is quite distinctive and very sexy, particularly versus the current Civic. An all-new platform brings a lower hoodline, a more rear-mounted windshield, plus flying C-pillars out back that plunge into the trunk nicely. Out back, an aero-optimized octagon forms the main trunk and bumper shape, wearing striking LED light pipes around the top edges. Those lights are a great complement to the LED headlights, turn signals and DRLs in the …

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HONDA PROJECT 2&4 POWERED BY RC213V AT FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2015

Best of Frankfurt 2015 – Honda Project 2&4 Concept – Floating Seats Promise Surreal Track Pleasure

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Updated 9.16.15 With 35 New Photos Check out the Honda Project 2&4 up close and in detail!  This is one of the most outrageous concepts from Honda in years. Not just Honda, any manufacturer, really. And this is not just some track car, either, as we surmised below. By engineering the 2&4 with outboard seating, the drive experience should also blend the joy of two-wheeling. But with the cornering pace of a four-wheeled vehicle. Not having any panels, doors or bodywork anywhere to your left shoulder, hip or pedals will be a revolution on the road. Far more exposed than …

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2015 Toyota C-HR Concept 4-Door 5

2015 Toyota C-HR Concept Updated as 4-Door, Production Model En Route for 2017

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Toyota’s baby SUV is almost ready for primetime! The second variant on the C-HR theme since Geneva in March of 2015, this new version is a rich metallic silver with production-intent proportions. Versus the original purple C-HR, this latest concept adds a pair of rear doors versus being a soft-road coupe. Mind you, the doors are well-hidden behind an interesting upward bulge of metal in the side surfaces. Other big tweaks to the shape of the body take the C-HR design from completely one-off to production-ready. We saw a similar evolution of the Lexus NX via various concepts, eventually leading …

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Nissan Gripz Concept

Updated1 with 50 New Pics – 2015 Nissan GRIPZ Concept Rally Racer

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This Nissan GRIPZ Concept is out and stunning!  Bold and sculptural lines take on a new level of layered surfacing, unique spoilers and evolved design themes. There is good news and not-so-good news to share, however. The good is that this compact crossover is gorgeous and previews a next generation of Nissan SUVs and crossovers. Everything from the next Frontier to the next Armada may wear designs influenced by the GRIPZ. Nissan calls this new form language ’emotionalgeometry.’ The not-great news is that this concept does not, after all, run a twin-turbo V6 — as we speculated last week. No, …

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2016 INFINITI Q30 Makes Global Debut Ahead of January Arrival to USA Showrooms

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This is a big year for Infiniti. A bevy of new products hope to invigorate the range in its core US market, but also establish a foothold in the premium compact markets of Europe and China. To that end, the new Q30 is a big next chapter for the firm. It joins the new 2.0-liter turbo engine option on the 2016 Q50 and a production-spec Q60 (coupe) coming in January. The Q30 comes in two flavors stateside: the base, Premium and Sport. The Q30S wears a unique nose clip with beautiful swirls around its lower grille/jawline. Special wheels, boxed twin …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Track Drive Dates! Fun, Free …and in Your City?

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Mazda’s new MX-5 looks stellar. We cannot wait one minute longer to try it out. Is that how you feel too? You might be in luck!  There are five or so dates left on the initial MX-5 Experience tour: Atlanta today Sept 11 and tomorrow Sept 12, followed by more dates in New Jersey, Texas and Arizona.  There is no RSVP list and no $2k fee, a la Jaguar and Lamborghini. First come first served!  Looks like the stations to try out the MX-5 are autocross, braking and hot track lap.  Mmmmm! Seriously debating the six-hour drive to Atlanta…. forgive …

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2015 Nissan GRIPZ Concept 3

2015 Nissan GRIPZ Concept – Off-Road Z Car With V6TT!?

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Our second teaser look today at the new Nissan Frankfurt concept: GRIPZ. Inspired by two wildly diverse race vehicles, the GRIPZ may or may not preview a next-gen Juke: a rally racing Datsun 240Z and a Specialized road racing bicycle. We initially thought it was definitely a preview of next juke, but now believe (hope?) this GRIPZ might be an off-road Z car. Would this even be possible!? Oh yes. As the original Infiniti FX showed, the Nissan front-midship reardrive platform is exceptionally flexible. Everything from the 350Z to the G35 was built of these all-star bones — so the …

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2016 Nissan Leaf 4

2016 Nissan LEAF Scores Big EV Range Bump With New Li-ion Battery and Touchscreens

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  The Nissan Leaf is a cult hit. Like Tesla zealots or early Prius adopters, LEAF-ers absolutely love the machine. Up and down the west coast, Atlanta and DC — the Leaf is as common a sight as an Altima. These cities and regions have pushed hard to roll out charging infrastructure in their city centers and beyond, with helpful tax incentives to buyers also part of the mix. But since the Leaf went on sale in 2010, there has not been a huge incentive for these loyal ‘silent mafia’ of EV drivers to upgrade to the new Leaf. A …

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2.8s, 450HP 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Nearing 7-min Nurburgring Laptime + Evora 400R Now Shipping!

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Lotus just completed a 1200-mile testing session at the Nurburgring Nordeschleife, and the stopwatch is promising some fantastic pace! As the lightest and most-powerful Lotus ever made, this new 3-Eleven has high hopes for the brand at toppling the Radicals, BAC Mono, various Caterhams and numerous other track specials. After all, a lightweight track machine is Lotus’s core identity!  Who are these upstarts carving global sales from Hethel!? Even taking the 3-Eleven to the Nurburgring is huge news: most Lotus handling and performance R&D is handled on the firm’s headquarters test tracks. Jaguar and Aston share that track too at …

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2016 Volkswagen GTI Clubsport Anniversary Edition Packs New Aero Kit + 290HP Overboost

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  VW just revealed one of its Frankfurt specials: the new GTI Clubsport Anniversary. This hot model bumps up the output from the previous Euro-only Clubsport by 35 horsepower. The baseline power is 265 ponies through a six-speed manual and or optional DSG. Sprint pace is down to 6.0-seconds for the stick, or 5.9 for the DSG. A massive jump in overall power comes via overboost tech in the engine programming. For around 15 seconds, the Clubsport Anniversary can deliver 290 horsepower — enough for a massive jump in acceleration forces. Outside, the Clubsport Anniversary wears a fresh set of …

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2016 Toyota PRIUS 9

2016 Toyota PRIUS Intros Future-Tech Design, Sharper Handling and 10% Efficiency Bump

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New new Prius made a splashy debut last night in Las Vegas — marking a new phase in hybrid-electric cars right in a desert city that neon and AC made possible. Is this fun-loving mission a disconnect for the ultra-responsible Prius? Not at all: the new Prius adds efficiency and new tech to the classic Prius merits, but injects a healthy share of fun and style for the first time in 2016. What does this mean? Let’s break it down into three buckets: tech, fun and style. TECH The basics are that the new Prius is 2.4-inches longer, 0.6-inches wider …

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2015 Honda Project 2&4 Concept – World Premiere of 14000-RPM Baby NSX

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  Much as the world (and especially Japanese K-car buyers) love the S660 roadster, the sports potential of that mid-engine roadster is limited. Limited by power caps, safety rules and exhange rates — the S660 is not a global halo car, and definitely not a mini-NSX. What about the latest in Honda engine tech, paired with an open-wheeled racing design fresh from 2025? Now that would be something! Running the ultra-potent RC213V MotoGP bike engine, the Project 2&4 is ultra light and ultra simple. Ultra fresh sci-fi looks are just part of its charm, however. The real thrills will come …

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2016 Renault MEGANE GT Leads All-New Model Launch – I See You Baby?

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The Renault Megane became a cultural touchstone with its first-gen lines. All geometric choppiness plus an architectural, vogue set of curves? The body language of the car was a massive hit — and became one of the best-selling models in recent Renault history. In its best years in the early 2000s, the Megane was often neck and neck with the VW Golf for UK sales. A dance-pop ad campaign made the most of the Megane’s funky trunk lines, all set to Groove Armada’s “See You Baby, Shakin’ That A**.” This author recalls the first time he saw one in the …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Automatic is 5.5-Second Hero!

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Fantastic speed has never felt so bittersweet. Guard Green with the standard 18-inch alloys help the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost blend into traffic nicely. Humming along the highway with 32-mpg, you might forget what a honed sportscar the new Mustang is. But when alone with an endless stretch of road ahead of you, this Mustang turbo delivers excellent results. A 5.5-second sprint to 60-mph was a hugely gratifying time. Keep it nailed and the EcoBoost Mustang roars ahead at speeds to make the WRX and Scion FR-S blush with embarrassment. Why all about that pace? It proves the 2.3-liter, 310-horsepower EcoBoost …

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2017 Fiat 500 and 500C Facelift – 120 New Pics Show Sleeker Nose with Wraith-Style LEDS?!

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The refreshed Fiat 500 just went on sale in Europe featuring fresh style, updated engines and new cabin touchscreens. While a very light facelift overall, the results outhit their weight via an all-new nose and fresh LED lighting front and back. A more premium lower grille wears metallic mesh innards for the 2017 model-year, with a slight chrome garnish off each bumper edge. A cleaner middle grille element and much tighter headlights complete the makeover up front. The ‘after’ pictures are very, very impressive. From the current 500 looking slightly gob-eyed when viewed straight on, the new 500 has a …

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2015 Peugeot FRACTAL Concept 18

2015 Peugeot FRACTAL Concept – Modular Cabrio Previews 2017 209 and RC-Z Replacement

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Here is a gorgeous bit of unsanctioned, uncaptioned news!  All 25 photos of Peugeot’s upcoming Frankfurt concept car are live a bit early this morning. And they show some sweet, sexy new angles for next-gen Pugs! The Fractal concept is the first near-production application of the blocky, angular and geometric new design ethos seen on the Exalt concept, 2008 DKR racer and a few other concepts recently, including the Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo hypercar. An ultra-wide but very low and lean design, the shape is unlike anything else on the market — and is beautifully executed to help the lion …

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2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DÄHLER Design & Technik 3

390HP, 4.0s 2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DÄHLER Design & Technik

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The Swiss have a wild reputation for custom cars — one that is totally at odds with the national psyche of quiet, law-abiding mountain folk. When the need for a custom-tuned machine from BMW or Weismann is in your sights, Daehler is a smart choice for holistic upgrades to power, stance, grip and overall performance. The M235i Convertible is a fantastic upgrade to the massively fun and massively fast M235i Convertible. But this time with an extra 90 or so horsepower, a thrumming sports exhaust, and exterior design tweaks to turn up the car’s aggression beyond M Sport. With all …

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smart fortwo cabrio 2015

2017 Smart ForTwo Cabrio Revealed Ahead of US Arrival In Summer 2016

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The 2017 Smart Cabrio is official ahead of its public debut in Frankfurt next month, with the first confirmed timeframe for its US arrival. The overall rollout has been extremely slow so far, but US Smart showrooms are finally close to clearing their inventory of the existing — and deeply unpopular — model. Why bother bringing Smart back at all ?  And why start with this cabrio? Smart is coming back mainly thanks to a new four-door variant of the rear-engine city car. The larger model is expected to eventually compete with the Fiat 500 and base MINI Coopers, in …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Spec Secret + Prices, Colors and Options Guide

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The new MX-5 is in your area!  The launch is in full swing – so a perfect time to explore the trims, prices, colors and options! The configurator is almost a two-click affair. Just a few key choices to make it yours from $25k: transmission, trim and cabin color. (All these prices include the $820 delivery charge, by the way.) Sport kicks things off, followed by Club, and up to the top-line GT. With an automatic and every option checked, the new MX-5 GT is almost $33,000 exactly. A Club with the Brembo/BBS pack is within a few hundred bucks, …

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Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG in Satin Red Chrome Wrap by FOLIEN EXPERTE 6

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG in Satin Red Chrome Wrap by FOLIEN EXPERTE

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  WOOOWWW! This is one of the best-looking wraps we have seen in years. What started as a semi-DIY matte black wrapping trend has evolved rapidly in the last decade. The latest wraps use super sophisticated, multi-later materials to create a satin, shimmery effect that is virtually impossible to do with paint. For the rich, lustrous red to pop so well on the A45 AMG is testament to the new materails scientists at 3M, but also to the skilled industry wrapping has spawned. Where the original wraps were tough to apply with flawless, OEM-level production values — the technique could …

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2011 BMW 1M Coupe by OK-Chiptuning

2011 BMW 1M Coupe Adds 111HP Via OK-Chiptuning.de Re-Flash + Racing Intake, Intercooler, Downpipe and Exhaust

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  Upon first glance at these photos, we were fairly sure that this German rocket wore a custom widebody. But no! Just lowering springs, a new wheel/tire setup and a giant dragon of a turbo under the hood. From the stock 340HP, the OK-Chiptuning crew has liberated a full 111 more ponies for a 451 count. A gigantic torque plateau hits like a sledge hammer from just 2500 rpm— making this short-wheelbase 1M into the M1 it always dreamed of…! The N54 engine series was a fairly short run for BMW. It proved to be a bit delicate and trouble-prone …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan JUKE Nismo RS Manual

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Imagine a core group of Nissan GT-R engineers, drivers and designers set loose on the Nissan Juke NISMO. Task? Take the quickest and most performance-focused crossover, and make it truly track-tight in every way. That is how the Juke Nismo RS came into this world — with astounding results. The speed, style and drive experience of the Nismo RS is absolutely incredible versus its $28k competitors — and even versus pricier cars like the AMG GLA45, WRX or Mustang EcoBoost. The Juke Nismo RS is incredibly focused from first sitting in its racing Recaro hard-back bucket seats. A pair of …

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2015 Lexus IS250 76

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus IS250 Nails Apex-Carver Fundamentals

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  The 2015 Lexus IS250 nails the sport-sedan fundamentals so hard, you forget all about mainstream mid-size cars after a block in the driver’s seat. That is a fact. A pure-cornering, rev-loving fact. Drive position in the Daytona GTB/4-style tan seats is instantly flawless, as are the major pedal anc control inputs. Crank up the SXM, rotate to sport mode…. and never look back. 4K Drive Video – 2015 Lexus IS250 Review INTRO The 2015 IS250 is such a fantastic sports sedan that we wanted to drive a 320i right afterward to confirm the RWD love for this Lexus was …

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2016 BAC Mono 2

2016 BAC Mono Scores Prime Placement on Concept Lawn + Configurator

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  Updated with Pebble Beach 2015 Photos The BAC Mono had prime placement on the Concept Lawn of Pebble Beach!  The corner spot is cherished thanks to the resort walkway layout. On concours sunday, tens of thousands will see the BAC Mono’s stealthy racecar stance!  Ready to pounce… Same deal for its showing at the Quail. Just a few new photos to share, but worthwhile to see the new 2016 any way possible. Also pumped to share the actual BAC Mono configurator link. After a rendered color post… good to see that wild greens and yellows can be made real. …

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2016 Ford Focus RS

2016 Ford Focus RS Pricing Leaked – Here’s What You Need To Know

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    2016 Ford Focus RS Pricing — Here’s What You Need to Know The Internet is a great place for car lovers. Not only do we get seemingly up-to-the-minute, behind-the-scenes updates about cars that are coming down the pipeline — it seems like we get leaked prices, too. It took Ford long enough to reveal the specs of the upcoming 2016 Focus RS. As such, it seemed like it was going to take forever for the American carmaker to unveil the new model’s pricing. But thanks to a digital mishap, the pricing for the new car leaked online late …

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2016 Lotus Exige 360 Cup 10

2016 Lotus EXIGE 360 Cup Packs Upgraded Race Tech, Sport Exhaust and Lightweight Louvered Hoods

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Louvered hoods! And not the stick-on kind, either. We are using that hoods term as broadly as possible… for the new matte-black front end, roof, and rear engine cover might all be technically called hoods. These aluminum upgrades help the new Exige 360 Cup stand proud among even its V6 Cup siblings… despite the 360 packing just an extra 10 ponies over the standard Exige V6 Cup. Those extra horses are present thanks to a shouty new sports exhaust with a freer flow than before. The bellow is getting more soulful every iteration for Lotus and their crate motor from …

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2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition 13

2.6s 2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition Cuts 200Lbs from Chop-Top Track Rocket

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Imagine a supercar with the fundamental proportions and track manners of a Lotus Seven, but thoroughly updated in every way except altering that wild wheelbase. Yes, keep the twin bucket seats virtually atop the back axle, and keep the mid-mounted engine behind the front axle as far as possible. But swap the floppy frame rails for a lightwieght and super strong chromoly racing frame. And lose those steel panels and retro lighting completely. While we’re at it, add a 380-hp Audi 2.5-liter turbo Ur-Quattro engine descendent. A full exterior redesign and gangster stance thanks to a big jump in width …

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2016 BAC Mono – Digital Color Visualizer + TallPapers

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  2016 BAC Mono – Digital Color Visualizer + TallPapers Ahh, our English sports-car chums have it so good. Yes, you can buy the monoposto 2016 BAC Mono from anywhere in the world. But it is a rare place that will slap license plates on both ends and let you play F1 hero on public roads. The 2016 model year brings big changes for the stunning Mono, showcased in a fiery new red paintwork at Goodwood 2015. Along with some super-sticky Kumho tires, the new 305-horsepower drivetrain delivered big-time at the rolling motor show. 2.5-liter Mountune Ford power with drive-by-wire …

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2016 BAC Mono 23

305HP 2016 BAC Mono – Watch New Turbo Powertrain Nail 2nd-Quickest Goodwood Hillclimb!

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    Ahh, our English sports-car chums have it so good. Yes, you can buy the monoposto 2016 BAC Mono from anywhere in the world. But it is a rare place that will slap license plates on both ends and let you play F1 hero on public roads. The 2016 model year brings big changes for the stunning Mono, showcased in a fiery new red paintwork at Goodwood 2015. Along with some super-sticky Kumho tires, the new 305-horsepower drivetrain delivered big-time at the rolling motor show. 2.5-liter Mountune Ford power with drive-by-wire throttle replaces the previous 2.3-liter unit. The bump …

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1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato 1

RM London 2015 – 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato is Foxy/Boxy Icon

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  We’re pretty bummed not to be attending Pebble Beach this year. But still paying for last year’s $5k work trip at 14-percent interest… so will be sitting this one out. Even so, the classic car auctions of rare and classic vehicles come fast and furious year-round. Next month, this Alfa RZ Zagato will cross the block in London. A perfect embodiment of the late 1980s/early 1990s in high fashion, the RZ will be a foxy/boxy icon for decades to come. 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato RM London 7 September 2015 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato Without Reserve …

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2016 Scion iM 105

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Scion iM Is Sporty and Uber-Practical New Focus-Fighter

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The all-new 2016 Scion iM is part of a big new-product push from Scion: the iM hatchback and much smaller iA sedan replace the boxy xD and xB. Why so normal and conventional from Toyota’s youth brand this year? Following buyer trends, of course!  Extensive research on how to resonate with today’s 35-and-under car shoppers shows a big shift in preferences. Perhaps feeling the crunch of a slower global economy on their hipster jeans, first-time new car buyers want a car with more evergreen appeal than the once-trendy Scion box cars. The iM hopes to ace the 2016 buyer mood …

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WIMMER RST 2015 KTM X-Bow Dubai Gold Edition 3

WIMMER RST Creates One-Off 2015 KTM X-Bow Dubai Gold Edition

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    The KTM X-Bow still has a massive amount of potential: this carbon-fiber speedster layout is likely to be the next big format for track cars over the coming decades. Retiring the floppy old chassis rails of Caterhams is not an instant hit, though. It turns out some of the driving fun and pleasure may have been derived from all that flex under your bum around fast corners. So the X-Bow (said: ‘crossbow’) has an uphill climb to win over purists. To the uninitated, the KTM X-Bow can feel too anodyne, too sure-footed and too grippy for traditional UK …

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2016 Scion iA Review – Best Compact Sedan… Ever? 55 Pics + HD Drive Video

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Quick: what are the biggest issues with compact cars? — They are typically a total snooze outside — And alarmingly depressing to drive Is that just an unbreakable curse, or can Scion engineer and design its way to greatness on its first attempt? INTRO Scion has a double threat of new compacts for 2016: the all-new iA sedan and iM hatchback take over for the discontinued iQ, xD and xB. After years of wild niche models, Scion is refocusing its mission to speak to 2015 buyer wants and needs via far more traditional body styles. The iM is a tC-based …

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1971 Abarth Scorpione Prototipo 5

1971 ABARTH Scorpione Prototipo is Rear-Engine Rallycar for RM London 2015

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    Abarth built a series of fascinating race concepts between the 1950s and the mid 1970s, usually somehow based on a Fiat 500 but often completely redesigned. This Scorpione Prototipo was a very contemporary take on a quasi-factory rally car. The glasshouse and overall proportions of the vehicle are far more advanced than any Cinquecento, with a complete repackaging into a two-seat GT car with its engine in the trunk. Theoretical competition in racing would come from cars like the Alpine A110 or the Lancia Fulvia. The Abarth 1300 badge in back next to the circular punch-drilled ventwork is …

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New ŠKODA Octavia Scout

Top 5 UK Family Cars of All Time! Sam Dickson and Tilsun Group Rank Their Faves

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Guest Post By Sam Dickson   Top 5 Family Cars When it comes to buying a family car, there are certain factors that need to be considered: Will it be big enough? What are the safety features? Will the car be suitable for my children when they reach their teenage years? With questions like this and much more, it’s hugely important to do some thorough research to ensure you choose the perfect car for you and your family. As a vastly competitive market in the car world, you’ll come across a large range of family cars that showcase features designed …

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2015 Polaris SlingShot SL 41

2015 Polaris Slingshot SL LE – Open-Air Speedster Thrills From $25k!

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There are many compelling ways to get around a racetrack quicker than a factory supercar. As the VUHL 05, Lotus 3-Eleven and Caterham Seven chase this race-helmet owner group, Americans have a very compelling alternative to consider. And this one is road-legal and costs just a slice of the price. Running on three wheels makes the Slingshot a motorcycle — but that is only the start of the intrigue. From the design outside, people will be shocked by the sci-fi beauty and exposed chassis first. Only on third or fourth glance will they not see a stunning, Lambo-meets-Batman mashup. Polaris …

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2015 VUHL 05 Carbon Track Racer – Full Specs, Pricing and Configurator Details

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A refreshed VUHL 05 is now available for global trackday aces with pricing from around $100k for this cross between a Lotus and Radical. The UK sportscar industry is not only an inspiration for this trackday special, but also a target for its dual-use configuration. VUHL hopes to have certification for English roads in the near future. But even though road and track are both viable in a VUHL… one is far more heavily emphasized. A completely smooth underbody is race-ready, as is the doorless racing frame below the skin. You can guess how fast the 3.7-second VUHL is on …

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2015 Jeep RENEGADE Trailhawk Review 87

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Jeep RENEGADE Trailhawk Is Fun, Stylish and Smart!?

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    INTRO – 2016 Jeep RENEGADE Trailhawk Review HD Off-Road Drive Video 1 Nearly everyone has a great Jeep Wrangler memory from their youth. You were thin and gorgeous, laughing and loving the top-down lifestyle. Hanging a foot out the doorframe on a sunny afternoon. Tunes were playing, and exploring the world around you took on new meaning. Or you were discovering the huge straight-six torque that defined the truck for decades. Or just pining from the sidewalk at your sexy crush driving away. That collective memory is a core element of the brand’s appeal — and always has …

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2015 Mazda LM55 Vision GT Tops Goodwood With 787B LeMans Legend + GT6 Updates

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  Twin glory spires at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year are capped by the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B and the 2015 Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo — two kindred spirits together in the metal publicly for the first time. This is a huge year for Mazda. The lineup is stronger than ever, while the new MX-5 and all-new CX-3 compact SUV are creating more buzz than ever for the Japanese sportscar brand. The Central Sculpture and OEM title sponsorship for Mazda at Goodwood is a big vote of confidence in their growth strategy. Typically this high-dollar placement has gone …

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1971 Mazda COSMO Sport 18

1971 Mazda COSMO Sport – 130HP/Liter Flyweight Laid Roots for MX-5 and Wankel RX-7

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As you might know, we get really excited to find any Japanese car in the high-dollar auction world. The Monterey sale is the Super Bowl for car collectors. Tens of thousands of wealthy individuals descend on Pebble Beach and Carmel for a week-long extravaganza of past, present and future exotics. This makes the atmosphere fairly competitive even outside the fast-talking auctions. Polish up your current ride and eyeball what might become your next? A few Datsun roadsters, Skyline’s and Toyota 2000GT’s are the only regular attendees of the oceanfront Cali spectacular — but are joined this year by an exceptionally …

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2016 Subaru Series-horz-vert

2016 Subaru Series.HyperBlue Editions Brighten Up WRX and BRZ With Sexy Details

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Just a few hundred of these gorgeous new Subaru specials will be produced for 2016 — with the Hyperblue shade a stunning addition for Subaru fans. Just the WRX STi will have a Series.Hyperblue versus sharing it with the base WRX, but the BRZ fills the lower-priced void in stunning fashion. 2016 Subaru Series.HyperBlue Editions   SUBARU TO OFFER LIMITED EDITION SERIES.HYPERBLUE BRZ AND WRX STI MODELS 01/07/15 Limited to 700 WRX STI & 500 BRZ BRZ receives upgraded SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia Rear Vision Camera now standard on BRZ Exclusive Hyper Blue exterior paint and interior trims Cherry Hill, N.J. –  …

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2015 Divergent BLADE Concept 9

700HP, 2.2s 2015 Divergent BLADE Concept – The Tesla of Small-Batch Supercars?

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Verrrry interesting new supercar concept to share! Meet the 2015 Divergent Microfactories Blade. The product of a Palo Alto-based tech startup, the Blade highlights the rapidly falling barriers to entering the automotive business. One-time giant fixed costs like factories and industrial presses are on the outs thanks to innovations in material science. While billed by many as the 3D-printed supercar, that does not strictly seem to be the case. Yes, many components in the Blade are produced in an unconventional fashion — but are the truly 3D printed pieces on display, or mostly hidden details? The main chassis evolves from …

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2016 Chevrolet CRUZE RS Premier 14

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Is All-New With Standard Turbo, 2.5in Length Stretch and 80-Lb Weight Loss

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Wowwwww!! Now this is an extremely promising new Chevrolet. Since the hits started coming with the new Impala and 2016 Malibu, Chevrolet is going from strength to strength. Nowhere is Chevy’s new skill more apparent than in compact cars. The Cruze, Sonic and Spark take the highest market share for any one manufacturer across their segments — which is a huge achievement for a relatively new player in supermini’s and subcompacts. This new Cruze may look slightly familiar — as it shares many key design elements with the 2016 Volt. Where the Volt features a solid shield grille and chrome …

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Road Test Review – 2015 BMW 228i Convertible with Ken Glassman

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  2015 BMW 228i Convertible Review By Ken Glassman The 2015 BMW 228i convertible replaces the 1-Series as the company’s entry level rag top. This version has a 1.2-inch-longer wheelbase, has 2.5 inches of additional length, and extra inch of width. And that helps to make it less stubby looking than the 1-Series cars. The better proportions, along with sharp character lines along the sides, and sleek front end, means that this 2-Series is a great looking car. It is also a really fun car to drive. The 228i is powered by a 2-liter, TwinPower Turbo inline 4, direct fuel …

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Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse (W 176) 2015

2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Refreshed With New LEDs, Fascias and Adjustable Drive Modes

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Mercedes-Benz revealed the fresh A-Class this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed — showing off the new AMG A45 among its brothers like the new G500 4×4-squared and the AMG GT-S. This refresh for the A-Class updates the nose and tail designs with fresh fascias and LEDs. It is particularly convincing from the back — where even the entry-level A180 and A250 have a much sleeker appearance. The look blends the best of hot-hatch proportions with the fast and low-roof wagon style we always love. A big mechanical change for the nw A-Class are adaptive and adjustable dampers, controlled …

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Next-Generation NSX: The 93rd Pikes Peak International Hill Clim

2015 Acura NSX Pikes Peak Pacecar Headlines Dozen Honda Cloud-Chasers!

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Honda and Acura have continued their title sponsorship of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in 2015 with a variety of cool tech innovations on and off the 14,000-foot mountain of a racetrack. Climbing 1000 feet a minute while hitting 180-degree corners every few hundred yards is no small achievement for any car — and Pikes Peak in recent years has become true global racing highlight for many brands. Knocking seconds off the climb times is increasingly challenging and requires ultra-high-performance machinery to achieve. Peugeot nailed a track record last year, and Honda was aiming for quickest-ever glory in 2015 with its …

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2016 Lotus 3-Eleven 3

2.8s, 450HP 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Is Gorgeous New Track-Attack Flagship

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  Lotus founder Colin Chapman always preached about the benefits of ‘adding lightness’ to achieve the quickest possible laptimes. But what if you could add lightness actively and passively. Passively, you could strip away the entire windshield and roof of an Exige V6. ‘Active lightness’ is a fairly new idea for Lotus track cars, but one that will make this new 3-Eleven the quickest production model ever to leave Hethel. The stripped-down track focus for the 3-Eleven is paired with a 450-horsepower supercharged V6 and wild, expressive concept-car slashes in the all-new profile and tail designs. But the power will …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R European Dynamic Launch 12

2015 Honda Civic Type R – European Launch Gallery in 104 Gorgeous Photos

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  Are you sitting down? Get ready to be absolutely floored with adrenaline via the all-new 2015 Honda Civic Type R’s intense design and visual fury at speed. On sale now in European markets, this is not a total ****tease for US and global Honda fans. The turbocharged engine under the hood of this Euro-exclusive Civic Type R is just the first salvo for Honda’s resurgent performance. Honda of America is visibly excited about turbo power energizing its upcoming range. Davis Adams of Honda PR is freshly home from the Slovakia track launch of the 2015 Euro Type R, and …

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Morgan EV 3 Wheeler 12

2017 Morgan EV3 – Electric 3 Wheeler Is Streamliner Heaven

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Exciting first look full reveal from Morgan today ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed: the iconic Three-Wheeler in electric form! Dubbed the EV3, this prototype is on the way to production with a weight loss of nearly 200-pounds versus the gasoline model, plus a much sportier handling balance. Why such a change in dynamics versus the normal 3 Wheeler? That model’s highly unusual engine placement ahead of the front axle creates some quite extreme forces on the chassis in hard driving. That huge polar movement around bends is part of what makes the 3 Wheeler such a joy to …

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BMW - I8 - VPS-301 - VPS-304 - Port of Miami - © Vossen Wheels 20151157

Update1 – VOSSEN BMW i8 Trio On 22s At Port of Miami – 200-Pic Mega Gallery

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  Wonderful collection of photos to share here. Three styles of Vossen 22-inch forged alloys showcased here — with all creating very unique and distinct moods for the BMW supercar. These giant wheels work wonders for the i8’s street presence and curb appeal. They are just the final twist of exotic flavor needed to help the i8 fit in with the Ferrari, Lambo and McLaren crowds of South Beach. Before the main event of shimmery crimson wheels over white bodywork… a moody mountain set of the i8 on Vossen VPS-309 forged alloys. VOSSEN BMW i8 – VPS-309 Wheels VOSSEN BMW …

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2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept 18

2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept – Mid-Engine 2016 TT-Fighter in HD LeMans Lap

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Surprise reveal for the next chapter in Alpine sportscars! This 2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept is a mid-engine prototype that represents the first look at the brand’s move to a stand-alone marque in the RenaultSport fleet. Initiated as a collaboration with Caterham a few years ago, the plan was to acquire a low-cost and proven sports-car chassis from the English. Custom bodywork and RenaultSport engines would provide authentic French zing for the machine – which would become a halo sportscar for the entire Renault/Dacia lineup — worldwide. HD Le Mans Lap Renault ran into major troubles synchronizing its big-company safety, reliability …

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Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack In 30 New Photos

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 Updated 6.11.15 With 30 New Photos This Alltrack Golf SportWagen makes so much sense, it is hard to believe it took this long tomake real. Subaru is still riding the giant wave of Outback sales that started with its lifted, AWD wagons in 1995. The Alltrack is set to arrive in the US in 2016, and VW seems eager to follow up on the demand for its Golf SportWagen TDI and TSI. If you wish hard enough, we might even see the bad-ass older brother of the VW wagon family: the Golf R SportWagen. Or at least a GTI Variant! …

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2016 BMW Z4 M Sport Estoril Blue 38

2016 BMW Z4 Adds Sexy Estoril Blue to Three-Model Range From $50k

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The Z4 vs. Boxster battle was won by Porsche decisively in the early 2000s — with the Porsche feeling sportier and more special with only a five-percent price premium. But as the Z4 retreated from Spartanburg to be made back in Germany, a unique turnabout has taken place. The Boxster is slow and boring in 2015, with its dull and ubiquitous design inspiring not one ounce of excitement. The Z4’s sales today are a tenth of what they were at the model’s peak — while the design is now fabulously wide, low and eye-catching out in the wild. Trust me: …

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First Look: 2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Debuts New Performance Design and Fresh Cabin Tech

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  The Jetta GLI is new for 2016, with a design that actually looks (kinda) new! Hooray! The current Jetta is a bit of a joke in the car-enthusiast community. On sale since the beginning of time immortal, the vehicle is stale and dorky and nerdy. Not even a default “hot chick” car at this point. It is more like a jumbo Corolla — but with atrocious mechanical and electronic gremlins present from day one. It is heavily, heavily decontented to achieve a base price point of around $20,000, and this overall de-cool-ification unfortunately drowns out the fresh 1.8-liter turbo …

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HD First Drive Review – 2015 VW Golf SportWagen TDI SE 6-Speed Manual

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Listen to that TDI growl through the gears!   A first drive of VW’s new Golf Sportwagen TDI shows that this new vehicle brings all the Euro manners you could imagine — all at a great price. What? About a Volkswagen!? Yes, the VW Golf range is all pretty fantastic, but pricing can feel ambitious on the GTI and Golf R. At first sight, we worried the Golf Sportwagen would kill its appeal with a $38,000 price. Nope. $28k base with $1000 lighting pack and $700 driver assist pack takes us to just $30,505. True value-oriented pricing on the six-speed …

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2016 Honda HR-V Looks Damn Good in 88 New Photos

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  Updated 5.26.15 With 88 New Photos We struggled for a minute on this headline — but there is no mistaking the meaning: the 2016 HR-V’s design looks sublime in this new photo set. Even in its dark Steel Grey, the swoopy lines and stance of the HR-V are clear winners. We see LED lighting out back, but none up front. Even so, the nose of the HR-V is one of its coolest angles. The deep grille with its dark crossbar up top is very convincing. A sport grille is available, as are some cool multi-spoke alloys – as shown …

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2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S Review 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S with Ken Glassman

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2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S Review By Ken Glassman   Set your way-back machine to 1983. Volkswagen introduces a new car that is designed for “drivers”, not just people who drive cars. The Golf GTI was meant to be a small, stylish (which was debatable) car that had good power, combined with excellent handling, a slick gearbox, basic interior appointments, and would still get excellent gas mileage. It had to fit four people (albeit a bit tight) and have the flexibility of a hatchback, which has always been popular in Europe. But built into everyone was the most important feature: …

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2016 Chevy Camaro Unveiled At Employee Event

455HP, 4.2s 2016 Chevrolet CAMARO – Official Debut in 150 Images + Tech Specs

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This is it! The 2016 Camaro Six is official today with a huge debut in Belle Island, Detroit. Headline numbers are a curb weight drop by more than 200 pounds, plus a top-level (for now) engine making 455-horsepower via 6.2-liters. A new turbo engine joins the Camaro RS and SS models, with outputs of the four estimated at 275-horsepower, up to 335-hp for the 3.6-liter V6 of the RS.   Other major things to know right off the bat are: — all-new exterior design with a far more scultped and creased bodywork, giving the classic Camaro shape a highly interesting …

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2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept 2

2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept + 2016 GTI Clubsport Production Reveal at Worthersee

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Volkswagen has delivered a half-dozen Golf and GTI concepts in the last 12 months — so you are forgiven for thinking that the GTE looks too familiar to be all-new. With the Design Vision GTI, the GTI SuperSport and GTI speedster (both for Gran Turismo), the GTI thinktank is in full swing in Wolfsburg. This new GTE concept takes much of the intensely aggressive and dominating style of the SuperSport and adds a production-feasible e-AWD system. This li-ion PHEV setup adds a giant wallop of on-demand torque to the rear axle for nearly 400-hp in total. We have an all-new …

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2016 Acura ILX Graphite Luster 71

Fast Drive Video Review – 2016 Acura ILX Is Shockingly Fun and Fast With New 8-Sp DCT

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2016 Acura ILX Review HD Drive Video We’d wager that no auto writer has been harder on Acura over the years than Car-Revs-Daily.com. A headline for some TLX renders last year wondered aloud: “How Much More Wood Can Acura Woodchuck Chuck.” That is seriously harsh. But as the TLX was revealed with the same much-hated shield grille… we could not help but vent some frustration. Fast forward to driving the TLX and its new ILX kid brother. We have to correct the record. Acura is on a mission, folks. Its two latest cars introduce exceptional new drivetrain tech and the …

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo – Sounds Freaky as Electric Boost Spools Up to Ultra-High RPM

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Sound Updated 5.13.15 With 20 New Photos and 2 Videos Despite the outrageous and super-cool exterior and interior overhaul of this TT Clubsport concept, it is really all about the engine. This is some revolutionary innovation that, if proven successful, could revolutionize forced induction. What is going on under that hood? As detailed below, a 48-volt electrical system spins up an e-compressor on this five-cylinder beast to help the main turbo deliver 600-hp overall. What does it sound like on e-boost? That is the million-dollar question. In theory, the e-boost can be preemptive and avoid …

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600HP, 3.6s 2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept Runs 48V E-Compressor

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Here is a fantastic new concept from Audi ahead of the annual Wörthersee Festival! A racing widebody and extreme aero kit are needed thanks to the five-cylinder engine’s massive dual-compressor technology. A standard exhaust-gas turbocharger is joined by an all-new electric turbocharger– promising a huge rush of instant-on torque at any throttle shove. This latest turbo tech innovation is tough to introduce. BMW has also been researching electrically-spun turbo’s, but this Audi is the first to take it near production feasibility. Think of the tech like a super-Dyson blower inside the intake tract of the car. Typically, the limit has …

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1973 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Kenmeri 5

RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 1973 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Kenmeri

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Succeeding the first-gen Hakosuka Skyline GT-R was this iconic Ken & Mary (or ‘Kenmeri’ for short) two-door. With a far more workmanlike profile than the same-year 240Z, the 2000 GT-R did all it could mechanically to be a legitimate sports-car. The legend of this upswept C-pillar shape speaks for itself, with this Skyline one of the best-loved Japanese cars ever made. Do not let the completely-original stance fool you into thinking this is just some retro nerd-mobile. With a lowered stance, this Skyline GT-R is instantly recognizable from 1000 paces as a supercar hero.  1973 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Kenmeri   …

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1909 Benz 35-60PS Speedster 1

Worlds First Supercar – 1909 Benz 35-60PS Speedster Ran 9-Liter Four-Cylinder!

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Betting directionally on the value of supercars is tougher than the stock or art or commodities markets. Where the natural trend for the above indices is to scale upward, most classic cars are generally never going to appreciate over time. This makes car collecting more of a passion play than the normal art auction scene. Long story short: we’re obviously not going to go all in one way or another on future car values. But come on! This car. One of the world’s first supercars, with triple the power and speed of a contemporary Model T? Yes, as Ford rolled …

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Concept Flashback – 2009 Mazda MX-5 Superlight in 88 Photos!

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Racers worldwide have made lightening Mazda MX-5’s more than an art or craft: there is a science to shedding grams and gaining pace. This 2009 concept from Mazda’s European R&D center is a serious and comprehensive speedster conversion and custom strip-out. Once totally bare, the full MX-5 Superlight was resprayed in a Japanese Racing white pearl. The color and the contrast details for the hood and double bubble rollbars make the MX-5 Superlight’s proportions even more intensely rear-drive. A favorite detail is the brake light LED lining those integrated roll hoops. 2009 Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept …

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1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder 2

1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder Was Racing Streamliner with Tailfins!

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A surviving 1947 Mille Miglia racecar, one of three works vehicles raced that season? Yep. One of less than ten cars in the MOMA New York permanent collection? Yessir. Tail-fins more than a decade before this look would sweep automobile-dom? Mhmm. Stunning. 28 total Nuvolari Spyders are thought to have been produced, so collecting any at less than half a million is a shrewd move. 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder   Villa Erba 25 May 2013 Lot 110 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM ‘Nuvolari’ Spyder by Carrozzeria Garella To be auctioned on Saturday, May 25, 2013 Sold for €425.600 Chassis …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Ford Focus ST in HD Video + 150 Photos!

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Loved meeting the 2015 Focus ST in the flesh recently for a fast blast around Texas Motor Speedway. Not high in the banked oval, unfortunately. Just a bit of on-camera hooning in the roads nearby. The town name of “No Limits” seemed applicable to flying past dozens of vacant track parking lots. The changes for the 252-horsepower 2015 model are perfect updates. A new nose with a low and mean style, standard LED headlight accent blades, HID headlights for the ST2 and ST3 trim packs, and standard Rado Grey wheels. The tail is also revised with a new rear window …

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2015 Nissan Lannia Revealed in Shanghai With Funky Rump

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Nissan’s new global design language is definitely fresh and unique — from the 2016 Maxima to this Chinese-market Lannia sedan, there is a real shared DNA visible in the panels. Defined by a deep swoosh and flow of metal over the front fenders that swings down into the door surfacing, the Nissan style might catch a few eyes. But there is something amiss. The concept to reality transition is wiping out nearly 90-percent of the original design appeal. It appears to be the limitations of production panel stamps that is watering down almost all the flavor of the original concept …

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2015 Peugeot GT Line Is Glossy Black/White Style Upgrade for 7 Models

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Big Peugeot day today =] An all-new style and desirability push for the brand is now coming to fruition with better designs outside and in. To drive the point home, a new GT Line offers damn sexy and very on-trend trim choices for almost a dozen Peugeot models. The GT Line is a top-flight equipment and design upgrade and can be specced with a variety of engine and transmission choices for the RCZ, 208, 308 and the new 508 models.  Consisting of glacier white exterior paints with gloss-black detailing, the GT Line really looks fantastic. Dark wheels and dark headlight …

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2010 Peugeot SR1 Concept 23

Concept Flashback – 2010 Peugeot SR1 Roadster Brought Beauty Back to Lion

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French auto giant Peugeot has made some real stinkers over the years — especially years starting in two-thousand. The face of the brand from around 2005 to around 2012 was a horrifying ghoul of a scream mask. Looking like it wanted to eat anything that got within its gaping maw, there was real shock among auto buyers at how amazingly fugly Pugs had become. Paired with notoriously long front overhangs, the grille graphic was the last etch on the Peugeot design coffin. The SR1 Concept roadster from 2010 was a firm pivot away from that hideous look.  It was a …

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2015 Peugeot 308R HYbrid Concept 1

Update1 – 500HP, 3.8s 2015 Peugeot 308R HYbrid Concept Adopts QUARTZ Details

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Here is an exciting debut for Auto Shanghai in a few days — the Peugeot 308R HYbrid Concept. The design is a fantastic look at how the latest Pug concept styles can join the production range. The Quartz and Exalt concepts are some of the best design from any manufacturer lately, with crisp proportions and functional bulges along with a organic and flowing surface treatment. The Quartz SUV concept is actually back for the Shanghai show, where it will accompany this hot 308 with matching French Racing Blue paintwork, box-weave grilles and lower intake brightwork. Both show a contrast-black matte tail …

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2016 Cadillac ELR Much Quicker and $10k Cheaper! 2014 Models Like a $50k BMW i8 at i3 Prices?

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Putting together these turntables just now offered a chance to see the ELR in 360-degrees across its four colors. Mid-way through the black ELR, we have a revelation: this car is gorgeous! Even the 2014 model of the spinners is quite a dashing and sexy shape from all sides, with a mid-engine exotic feel to the profile especially. The 2016 ELR takes this design to the next level: a new Performance Pack brings bigger five-spoke alloys and trim tweaks to go along with its new Caddy crest badges front and rear. The 2016 refresh has some other delights in store, …

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2016 Ford Focus RS

2016 Ford Focus RS Escapes Auto Show Cage to See NYC Sights

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Updated 4.14.15 With 22 New Photos Great to see the new Focus RS in the wild — with its Nitrous Blue paintwork far lighter and brighter than the traditional RS shade of navy blue. Car looks stunning – with performance to match when it arrives in US showrooms in Spring 2016. 2016 Ford Focus RS PREVIOUS       Ford Performance is rolling deep into Manhattan next week – with a broad range of high-performance models. A threatening gang indeed — with the Nitrous Blue signature color atop the 2017 Ford GT concept, the 2017 Ford Raptor and the 2016 …

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6.5s, 143MPH 2015 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arriving In May Priced From 18k

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The new Corsa VXR is priced and on its way to showrooms in just two weeks time. The base Corsa VXR comes in at £18k with standard Recaro seats, a 202-horsepower turbo engine and performance topline stats of 6.5-seconds to 60 and a 143-mph top speed. Overall, the biggest changes to the Corsa VXR versus the previous model are up front and from the driver’s seat. The nose is now all-new versus both the previous Corsa VXR and the base Corsa range, with a deep lower bumper, forward-facing grille in a low snout area, and a new integrated air intake duct …

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2015 Volkswagen GTI SuperSport 43

3.6s, 503HP 2015 Volkswagen GTI SuperSport Concept in 50 Photos + Video!

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  Amid the growing kerfluffle between VW Group Chairman Ferdinand Piëch and VW Group President Martin Winterkorn — VW has just launched a digital concept to ignite extra passion around the GTI sub-brand. No one will want to “distance” themselves from this latest concept for GT6! With a 503-horsepower VR6 TSI and a thumping shove of torque, this AWD scorcher promises a virtual sprint to 60-mph of just 3.6-seconds. The GTI SuperSport is the car’s name, and it is available to download after updating to the game version 1.18. Four color choices are available on this baby AMG-killer of a …

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MINI Augmented Vision Concept Preview Future SuperTech Driving Possibilities

MINI Augmented Vision Concept Previews FutureTech Driving Possibilities

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  Augmented Reality has now become Augmented Vision — both derivatives of the hot VR technology that is sweeping certain corners of the venture-capital-backed startup industry. AR takes real-world visuals and is able to annotate, animate or ‘bring to life’ static displays. The easiest way to understand it is: see a shark billboard, view billboard through AR apps or glasses, and shark starts snapping and moving in 3D. Normal world in background, just added excitement via AR.  Firms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft have put huge investments in place under the belief that AR and VR will become primary user …

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1986 Toyota Celica IMSA GTO 1

Racing Hero – 1986 Toyota Celica IMSA GTO Is a Rear-Drive Boost-Monster

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There is something about this purpose-built Celica racecar that feels like the best of all worlds: rear-drive with a rear-mounted transaxle, a 2.0-liter Toyota “T” turbo engine detuned from 600HP to 450HP, and a grip setup to shame any other race series. This beautiful carbon-skinned racecar is hiding tires wider than a NASCAR racer, yet is as low as any modern hypercar. We just love its relative simplicity versus the tech-overloaded racecars of today. One purpose: be faster than anything else ever made… but only with the right driver aboard. This car earned $242,000 when sold in 2014. 1986 Toyota …

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2015 Volkswagen #VisionGTI Concept 4

VW Teasing Second #VisionGTI Concept for Gran Turismo

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Volkswagen’s Vision GTI roadster from a year ago was a fantastic entry into the GT6 racing world — but obviously the speedster is less than a practical look at what a GTI could be. VW is releasing a second VGT concept, however, with much more real-world sharing with the GTI — at least in theory. We only have a handful of images of the vehicle so far, but they are enough to be very exciting! The engine note alone is a fantastic tease of what a racing tune would sound like on the VW’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. Visually, the upcoming …

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Road Test Review - 2015 Scion tC 6-Speed With TRD Performance Parts 49

Road Test Review – 2015 Scion tC 6-Speed + TRD Performance Parts

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The Scion tC has been on the market for quite a while now – but there is a reason! It is a solid performance platform with chic styling, a two-door profile and a very roomy back seat with fold-down seats for wagon-like space. 2015 Scion tC Review Video   Coming well-equipped with just a few options, the main choice is between a light and snicky six-speed manual and a conventional automatic. The stick is the clear choice for performance drivers, delivering a 7.8-second sprint to 60-mph and a joyful feel to the whole drive. The ultra-light clutch and shift action …

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Original 1932 Ford Roadster Is 'Dry Lakes' Bonneville Speed Racer 3

Original 1932 Ford Roadster Is ‘Dry Lakes’ Bonneville Speed Racer

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It is hard to emphasize how rare it is to find a surviving, unrestored race-car from the glory days of dry-lake hotrod racing. This primer-grey example is a documented example with fantastic speed parts intact and a charming contrast orange look for its minimal roll bars and frame rails. Completely open-wheel and sans hood, this ’32 Ford has was a hero then for its massive speed, and is a hero today for making it six decades intact, unchanged from its pre-1950 state. The Roadster earned $180,000 at the Gooding Amelia Island auction, which was well below its estimate but likely …

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2009 Citroen REVOLTe 86

Concept Flashback – 2009 Citroen REVOLTe Was PHEV Deux Chevaux Redux

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  If there are two cars that will forever define Citroen over the 20th century, they are the DS and the 2CV. One an advanced luxury car with front-drive and a hydraulic suspension for eerie smoothness over cobblestone Parisian streets. The other a basic post-war mobility solution whose 2CV name translates as “Two Steam Horses.” Redesigning those icons for today is an immediate and instant testbed for future Citroen design ideas. Many, many designers have tried this “New Beetle” styling exercise on the 2CV — with largely hideous results. So for the REVOLTe to be instantly attractive and appealing is …

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2015 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan 5

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan Is Stylish, Quiet and Smooth with 37MPG

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In the compact segment, buyers want a brand-new car with all the tech, safety and reliability of a mid-size, but the efficiency and low entry price of around $15,000. The Accent is lightly refreshed for 2015 with many more premium features than is the norm for the segment, plus added interior refinement and some top-line trim details that are truly stylish. Available in as the GLS sedan or two levels of five-door, the Accent is one of the most grown-up cars in its class. Real sedan style is even possible – which is not something many would say about the …

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2015 Honda S660 31

2015 Honda S660 Is JDM Mid-Engine Targa With Turbo Triple Engine + 6-Speed Manual

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Honda’s renaissance in sporty cars might be topped by the NSX supercar, but the effects of a sporty focus runs up and down the range. This K-car is a very positive step forward for Honda, even if it is primarily aimed at the Japanese Domestic Market. With style and LEDs like much pricier and more powerful sports cars, the S660 is the most affordable way into a mid-engine, open-top thrills. Weight distribution is 45-percent front, 55-percent rear, promising much of the light nose and nimble thrills of the Porsche Boxster for perhaps a quarter of the price. Power comes from …

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2016 Chevrolet Spark 44

2016 Chevrolet Spark Brings New Turbo Engine + Lower, Sportier Style and Handling

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Chevrolet is not likely to admit this, but the Spark’s success in the US market has been a huge surprise. 2014 Calendar Year sales topped 39,000, making the Spark the best-selling subcompact in the US. It dominates the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mazda2 and Kia Rio easily. Combined with its Sonic big brother, the Spark has made Chevy the main player in minicar sales since its launch in 2012. The latest Spark will continue this trend with a more refined and tech-infused cabin, a new turbo 1.4-liter engine, and a sportier driving position. This lower feel from the drivers seat comes with …

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