Sport Compacts

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RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1955 Porsche 356 OUTLAW Pre-A Emory Special Coupe

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The Porsche Outlaws from SoCal’s Emory family/Valley Customs are well-known in the coolest vintage 356 circles. We spotted a matte black example in Amelia Island and fell hard. The Outlaw Porsches are similar to Singer 911’s — rest0-modded originals that become something altogether more special, unique and fun to drive and own. This Pre-A 356 Coupe is even more enhanced — with a serious racing upgrade for the chassis, engine, exteroir design and cabin. It is truly easy on the eyes and a joy to drive. We envy its future owner! 1955 Porsche 356 OUTLAW   RM Auctions Arizona 15 …

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2016 Aston Martin DB10 for 007 in SPECTRE + 10 Street Cars Available

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Bond is back in a new film, Spectre, in November of 2015 about a year from now. To equip the world’s favorite tinker-tailor/soldier-spy, Aston and EON productions just revealed the very tasty new DB10. The name is confusing for a few reasons, and we only have a single official photo of the car so far. But here is the skinny: Based on the V12 Vantage chassis, perhaps running new turbo AMG engines underneith. Wider and lower grille opening may indicate intercooler breathing room, plus a taller hood for packaging reasons? Unknown as of now. The car will be sold to …

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RM Paris 2015 Preview – 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale Directly Influenced F40, 959 and GT-R

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The Lancia 037 is a legend to the core. The rally version and its AWD traction were a benchmark for Audi, Ferrari and Porsche when those firms were designing cars as legendary as the Sport Quattro, F40 and 959. No small praise! The “zero-three-seven” innovated up and down its chassis – with the tech specs below reading like a hypercar must-have list for the 1990s, far after this car was retired from sale for road use. Gas shocks, supercharged four-cylinder engine, ZF box slung out behind the mid-mounted powerplant, dry-sump-lubrication, kevlar-reinforced fiberglass panels, dual fuel tanks, magnesium and titanium components, …

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Concept Flashback – 2011 Chevrolet Miray Roadster Was Chevy Europe Halo Sportster

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Chevy Europe! Eeek. Remember that adventure? The ManU jerseys are definitely bow-tie-blazing this year, thanks to a huge a executive media marketing decision that costs General Motors more than half a billion dollars. During that rush of launching Chevrolet as a global brand — including Europe — the Opel Germany teams were suddenly tasked with a variety of extremely mundane projects. One extra sexy spinoff project slipped through the net for Frankfurt 2011, however. It was called Miray and is a breathtaking roadster vision. Designed in the same zeitgeist as the BMW i8 Roadster and Porsche 918 Spyder, the Miray …

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AC Schnitzer Brings Hot BMW 4-series Gran Coupe and M235i to Essen

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The 428i and 435i Gran Coupes are just about the biggest rule-book-shredders in the automotive game. A four-door coupe based on an actual coupe seems more logical than the CLA and A7, no matter how swoopy their rooflines might be. Its closest competitor is the A5 Sportback, which is not imported to the USA for fear that our tiny brains would explode at the options. We are glad BMW gives shoppers more credit than that. AC Schnitzer’s 435i M Sport GC becomes the next-best-thing to a four-door M4 – with the Laguna Blue of this demo model especially striking and …

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Concept Debrief – 2010 Citroen SURVOLT – Design Analysis in 110 Electrifying Photos

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What makes the 2010 Citroen Survolt such an achievement in sports-car design? Consider that its proportions almost perfectly mirror those of the Lotus Exige — but the curb appeal of the vehicle tells the brain to expect pricing in the $200,000 ballpark versus the Lotus at $75,000. In terms of the Survolt’s mission as a concept car, we can think of the car in the same league as the Ranult DeZir. Part tech showcase and EV R&D tool, part brand roadmap and design superstar. The Survolt found a joyous receptionin 2010 – and four years have done nothing to dull …

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2014 Scion iM Concept Heading for US Showrooms in 2015 to Battle GTI and Focus ST

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Scion is looking to expand its model range in calendar 2015 with two new models: one based on the Mazda2 sedan, and the other being this remarkably cool 5-door hatch shown in LA as the iM concept. You might be asking yourself if the production iM, set to be revealed in NY in April 2015, overlaps with the xB and xD. We certainly were. But we believe the answer is that the iM production car will be more advanced in the chassis department and more powerful than Scion’s box-car twins. This means a more-modern automatic transmission than the four-speeds in …

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2016 Honda HR-V LA Debut With 50 New US-Spec Photos Inside and Out

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 Updated 11.21.14   As cool as the new Honda HR-V looks outside, a bit of really surprising news lives in the cabin of this Civic-based crossover. It is simply far more premium, stylish and modern than anything currently in the Honda stable. The floating console and fabric or leather-wrapped dash elements create a real sense of maturity lacking in the current Civic. The touchscreen tech solutions for HondaLink also appear to be very mature in the 2016 HR-V — meaning they are fast-reacting, easy to learn, and easy to use in day-to-day driving. The new HR-V is arriving into a …

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2016 Mazda2 Sedan Revealed in Thailand + Gorgeous White MX-5

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Mazda is killing it lately — in a good way! It is hard not to feel a bit of pride in their achievements, even as an outsider. The brand is a loveable underdog. The new CX-3 is amazing, while the exceptionally-competent Mazda6 and CX-5 are also updated for 2016 with cooler LED style details, tech updates and on-trend dark wheels. Just when you thought Thanksgiving could not possibly have any more to offer from Mazda, here comes the dapper new Mazda2 in four-door sedan form. This car was revealed in Thailand where it will be sold from early 2015 onward. …

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2016 Acura ILX Adds Power, Excellent 8-Speed Twin-Clutch Automatic and Classy LED Headlamps

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   After a quick spin in the new TLX 2.4-liter with Acura’s outstanding new eight-speed twin-clutch automatic, we fell hard and fast for the often-chastised Honda luxury brand. The TLX is a revolution in funtionality, style and performance dynamics — and hopes to shine some of its new skills on the ILX sedan forming the entry to the Acura range. For 2016, we have a finessed ILX lineup that no longer includes a hybrid but does bring a standard jump of 50 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torqye versus the previous cars. The 201-horsepower total might not win many headlines …

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2015 Toyota Prius C Is Fresh With New Cabin Tech + Revised Nose/Tail LED Lighting

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 Officially one of the most LED-intensive compact vehicles on the market for 2015, the new Prius C is becoming quite a looker in its own light. The big news is all about the bright new design themes in front and inside with a huge new Entune touchpanel inside. Wild colors are part of the section for 2015 for this ultra-economical Prius hatchback. But the biggest news perhaps? The C in Prius C now officially stands for City versus Compact. 2015 Toyota Prius C 2015 Toyota Prius c: Light, Tight, Bright and the Highest City Fuel Economy of Any Vehicle Without …

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Iconic Classics - 1955 Aston Martin DB3S Earned $3

Iconic Classics – 1955 Aston Martin DB3S Earned $3.7M At RM Monterey 2012

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Aston Martin classic buyers come in similar taste preference buckets as new Aston buyers: either conservative Silver and Green rule the mind, or wild shades and racing liveries. This fire orange example of a pristine DB3S falls into the latter camp very spectacularly. Emblematic of Aston’s resurgent post-war mission to take on the world’s best in racing, the DB3S is best known today as one of the most beautiful racing roadsters of all time. 1955 Aston Martin DB3S RM Auctions Monterey 17 – 18 August 2012   Lot 214 1955 Aston Martin DB3S Sports Racing Car To be auctioned on …

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Toyota Rally Racing Hall of Fame – 101 AMAZING and RARE Photos!

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Of all the any forms of motor racing, rallying has been Toyota’s true center of excellence. This hall of fame showcase extends back to the 1957 Toyopet Crown in the Australian Rally – when is a deep set of roots. From there, the Celica, Supra and Celica GT-Four have all been world-beating rally cars in their decades. By the late 1990s, Toyota’s Corolla GT-4 rally machines were so dominant that they ran Mitsubishi and later even Subaru out of the World Rally Championship. Rallying in this sense has a broad definition, one that definitely includes the Paris-Dakar and dozens of …

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2015 Toyota GT86 CS-R3 Rally Car in 1080P Video + 80 Photos

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   You have the hear this amazing works-prepped racer at full chat!  Click the above video to HD for maximum effect…. How ironic — or at least mildly amusing — that Toyota would take the GT86 rallying before Subaru and its BRZ. But then you realize: Subaru has their all-star WRX rally hero already in place. For Toyota, the GT86 and Scion FR-S program is not just an amazing rear-drive sportscar for a new generation of drivers. It is a platform for all aspects of fun and racing, including Rallye Deutschland. Prepared by TMG and available for sale to other …

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2016 Toyota Mirai FCV Gets Race-Prepped As Japanese Rally Championship PreRunner

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  The world’s first hydrogen racecar? Not exactly. But certainly one of the first hydrogen rally cars — that is a sure thing. As the course pre-runner for the Japanese Rally Championship in Shinsiro, this TMG-tuned Mirai is a fresh take on the Prius EV and hybrid theme. So, if the Mirai did not actually compete, what is the point? The point is that the Mirai is absolutely ready for primetime. It has been exhaustively crash-tested and this rough-course racing environment is a huge vote of confidence from Toyota in the Mirai FCV’s essential Toyota-ness: the core tenets of Quality, …

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Concept Flashback – 2010 Renault DeZir Was Anti-Furai With Lusty, Sexualized Curves

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  Designers are like all other artists: their work evolves but also can take sweeping and abrupt changes. A designer’s cars might take unique shapes in certain years, only to go wild in the other direction right afterwards. Such is the 2010 Renault DeZir concept — designed when Laurens van den Acker was freshly recruited away from Mazda. Van den Acker’s ‘Nagare’ themes at Mazda were all about sharp creases formed out of a wind-swept surface. He designed a half-dozen Mazda’s with this theme intact – and it is perhaps epitomized best in the Furai concept hypercar. If the Furai …

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2014 Renault-Dacia DUSTER OROCH Shows 4WD Pickup-Truck Potential For Value Brand

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  Dacia’s line-up of cheap but sturdy models is expanding rapidly. Sure, you know the Logan sedan and the Duster SUV — but there lineup is much deeper than just two cars. The variations on these models mean Dacia now offers its unique brand of low-cost and hardy mechanicals in no less than ten passenger-car models and three light commercial vehicles. Dacia (pronounced “Da-Cha”) models are sold in select markets as Renaults — hence the badges on this car for Sao Paolo. Dacia Logan Pickup The Duster Oroch is a logical extension of the Duster platform — with a short-box …

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Update1 – 220 High-Res Photos – SEMA 2014 – CARS Gallery

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Updated 11.17.14 with 120 New Photos SEMA 2014 – CARS Gallery    

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2014 Scion iM Concept Car Takes Shape as WRX-ified 5-Door Hatch!?

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Updated 11.16.14   Something about the fat rear tires and floating wide-body fenders of this Scion iM concept just screams WRX, does it not? In all likelihood, this is just a sportified version of a future Scion xD — reborn from the bones of the Toyota Matrix. But how sweet would a Scion WRX hatchback be…..! We thought it was a tC previously… so why not go for being wrong twice =]   2014 Scion iM Concept PREVIOUS First look this morning at the very promising Scion iM concept car for Los Angeles! The ‘iM’ name of this hot new …

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Tuner Showcase – Chevrolet Spark by KBR Motorsport

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If this one doesn’t make you smile… you may have a heart of stone. =] Chevrolet Spark by KBR Motorsport     SPARK by KBR Motorsport Developed in Europe and having been manufactured since 2010 in Asia by General Motors Korea, subsidiary of General Motors, former Daewoo, two years ago the Chevrolet Spark replaced the Matiz. Since the small- and microcars are getting more popular, prominent tuning services sometimes also have to deal with such “babies” to tune them up. The same happened with KBR Motorsport located in Erftstadt. Let us start with tires and wheels. The Spark got in …

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Concept Flashback – 2013 VW Design Vision GTI Wants To Eat Your Babies

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This is the meanest-looking Golf GTI… ever.   Wow. Very impressive design ideas inside and out. Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Exterior Gallery Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Interior Gallery Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Animated Gallery

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Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200 Limited Is ThisClose To Being Great

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What keeps the Chrysler 200 Limited from really seeming like a good car – one to crack the top five of the best mid-size sedan ranks? When we picked up this rented 200 from Enterprise in Chicago last month, the initial impressions were very good indeed. There is almost nothing carry-over inside — which is a huge relief after years of every Chrysler product reminding this author of his family’s 1996 Town & Country. We know the 200 looks very good – but you just expect it to be the same heap of garbage on the road as every Chrysler …

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AC Schnitzer BMW 128i and 135i Upgrades Gallery – E82 Coupe and E88 Cabrio

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The BMW 128i and 135i are rare and amazing gems – and now are some of the most affordable performance bargains on the market. In the US from 2009 to 2013, the 128i and 135i are eager for more of a performance stance and focus — and AC Schnitzer is happy to oblige. AC Schnitzer BMW 128i and 135i E82 Coupe AC Schnitzer BMW 135i E82 M Coupe AC Schnitzer BMW 128i and 135i E88 Cabrio

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AC Schnitzer BMW 228i and 235i Parts Now Available For Global Shipping!

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Engine power kits, exhaust systems, strings, body kits and interior goodies are all part of the AC Schnitzer BMW 2 series upgrade catalog — but the lowering springs really make the most visual difference in the overall stance of this awesome sports coupe. For performance and intensity on throttle, the new ACS exhaust sounds outstanding too.   AC Schnitzer BMW 2 series F22 Wheels (18″ to 20″ available)   AC Schnitzer BMW 228i and 235i   http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/products-models/2-series/f22-coupe-since-2014/engineering/

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Concept Flashback – 2005 Volvo 3CC Was Ultra-Efficient PHEV That Influenced Volt and VW XL1

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A few things come to mind when reviewing the Volvo 3CC concept nearly a decade after its debut in Detroit in 2005 — but the resemblence of the design to the current VW XL1 is the most striking. How similar are these two! Especially in the extreme taper of the rear glasshouse – they could be kissing cousins. Of course, there are huge differences in the VW that materialized five years later: the VW is not a PHEV like the Volvo, nor is it nearly as wide or as practical as a city car. The Volvo shares much of the …

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Photo Poll! SCION Tuner Challenge 2014 Picks Speedhunters FR-S Widebody As Best, Do You Agree?

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Which is your favorite among these three awesome custom FR-S Scions? The Speedhunters is in white, with GT Channel in grey and Super Street in yellow. We especially love the winning white FR-S for a few of its really subtle but very cool details — things like the vintage JDM mirrors far up the hood, and the paintwork that recalls the legendary MCI sponsor livery of many old Toyota Baja trucks. The colors have outlasted MCI as a company and are now firmly a part of the Toyota Racing Development lore and culture. Great to see them applied here.   …

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JAGUAR Confirms AWD F-Type + New Bloodhound SSC Partnership

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  We *love* the F-Type R Coupe after some time at the wheel last month — and are happy to share that this range-topper will now offer AWD traction. Truly a stunning machine with the best soundtrack since………  Top Gun? I dont know about that, but Jaguar also announced a partnership with the very-boring-indeed Bloodhound SSC world record project that has not delivered a single actual run in seven years. We are so sick of reading about Bloodhound that we even tweeted to the SSC crew that it was starting to seem like vaporware. But things are progressing, and the …

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Best of SEMA 2014 – 800HP Hyundai Genesis Coupe by BloodType Racing in 35 High-Res Photos

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It is easy to drum up excitement around a new model like the Ford Mustang or the Lexus RC — but bringing an existing vehicle to the top echelons of tuner vehicles takes much more work, creativity and quality execution. A fantastic example of a long-term plan to make a Supra and NSX-stalking night racer is this Genesis Coupe from Blood Type Racing. An amazing widebody, front and rear wings larger than surfboards, and even custom LED lighting comes together to make the Genesis Coupe a star of SEMA 2014. The performance upgrade is far deeper than this candy red …

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2016 MazdaSpeed MX-5 Racecar Revealed Ahead of Global Racing Series

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How incredible does the new MX-5 look in a tracksuit?! This car is a precursor to the 2015 MX-5 Cup – a global racing series for the 2015 MX-5 to battle it out for milliseconds on racetracks all over the world. Of course, the new MX-5 racer will be very relevant to current MX-5 owners. The MX-5 is the most-raced car model of all time in SCCA and track day events across the US. 2016 MazdaSpeed MX-5 Racecar   MAZDA WAVES GREEN FLAG ON 2016 GLOBAL MX-5 CUP RACING SERIES 05/11/14 November 4, 2014 (LAS VEGAS) – The Mazda MX-5 …

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1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Is Most-Valuable Post-War Pug?

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$251,000 for the Peugeot from the 1980s? A sale price in this realm is by far the most for any post-war Peugeot that was not a LeMans prototype. This result shows the immense passion behind this legendary vehicle – which was hand-assembled and carries the same tubular steel monocoque as the T16 rally cars. The primary difference is in engine power, with this Turbo 16 putting out a relatively paltry 196-horsepower. But at the time, in the mid-1980s, power outputs like that in a mid-engine subcompact was still enough to provide a shocking level of thrust.   1984 Peugeot 205 …

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Best of SEMA – 2015 Lexus RC F by Gordon Ting in 27 High-Res Photos!

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Dear all other carmakers: this is how you launch a SEMA concept. Upgrade specs and 20-plus gorgeous photos! This year’s SEMA concept crop has been mostly awful renderings… which are barely credible versus a gorgeous photo set like this! 2015 Lexus RC F by Gordon Ting 2014 SEMA: 2015 Lexus RC F by Gordon Ting/ Beyond Marketing Fact Sheet   November 03, 2014 BODY: Custom Evasive Motorsports carbon fiber front lip and splitter and side diffusers WHEELS/TIRES: Yokohama Advan Wheels, AVS F50 Yokohama Advan Sport Front 255/30-20 Rear 285/30-20 BRAKES: Brembo Performance Front 6 piston monoblock calipers with 2-piece 405 …

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GEMBALLA GT Spider Is Perfect Update For McLaren 12C Spider

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As exclusive as the high-dollar tuning packages for supercars are, would you actually consider one if you owned the car? They are typically unresolved and will not age with the same grace as an OEM model. But every once and a while, there is one that is astoundingly sexy and premium. Such is the Gemballa GT Spider upgrade — with is a full revamp to the nose and nail of the 12C Spider from McLaren. More painted surfaces along with giant twin ducts in each bumper corner are stellar. Looking outstanding on the Gemballa G-Forged-One wheels, these upgrades are an …

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Hypercar Halloween! 202MPH 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Pack in 110 Scary-Sexy Wallpapers

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Trick or treat! Criteria for being a Halloween Hypercar? Amazing performance, stunning design, delicious details and exclusivity for the ages. What meets these criteria in spades? The 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package — an orange stunner with V10 legs for miles and a bite to sate even the sweetest tooth. Enjoy these photos – we have never seen many of them published in their full glory, and they are worth considering in detail. Interspersed are the LFA’s official specs from Lexus.com. Overall, the Nurburgring pack brought a fixed rear wing, an extra 10-horsepower, firmer and remapped suspension and transmission, and …

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SCION Thrills With Concept FR-S TARGA TURBO + xB Camper Conversion

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  Great ideas from Scion for SEMA! In a huge Vegas pavilion filled with unreal concepts and one-offs that you might (or might not…) even want to own, here comes Scion. The Cartel Customs Targa FR-S is brilliant and seems feasible both for current owners to pursue as well as for the company itself. The convertible FT86 Open concept looks to have been shelved for now, so why not the next best way to get wind in your hair? The xB conversion camper is also deeply charming throughout. Check out the cabin details and those plush leather seats!  Reminds us …

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Pristine Porsche 924 Martini Rally Car Up For Grabs In New UK Sweepstakes!

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  Imagine driving not just a rally car every day, but a Martini Racing rally car from the heyday of high-speed gravel pace. Not just a Martini Racing rally car… but a Porsche too! The dream is real with a new sweeps from UK firm Classic Car Win. Entries are via text for about $7 each — with details below. http://www.classiccarwin.co.uk/ For those outside the UK, the photos are still a visual feast. This 924 is flawless. Porsche 924 Martini Rally Car     CLASSIC CAR WIN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST COMPETITION WITH A PORSCHE! 29/10/14 CLASSIC CAR WIN is giving …

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2015 Scion tC Release Series 9.0 Brings Showcar Style To Showrooms From $24k

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Scion’s Release Series cars are convincing upgrades to standard models – showing what is possible in a full stage one makeover outside and in. The FR-S RS1 and this new tC RS9 stand out as some of the best factory customs on the market – and certainly in this price range. 2000 copies of this lowered and blacked-out Scion tC will reach showrooms around February of 2015 — with cool accents like black wheels, lowering springs and even a milled central exhaust outlet. Very cool upgrades all around from Cartel Customs. 2015 Scion tC Release Series 9.0 Scion tC Release …

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RM London Highlights – 1920 Bugatti Type 23 Was First Rally Supercar + RARE Archive Photos

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When racing in a straight line, the key attributes you want are a long wheelbase and huge power. But when racing up tight mountain roads, with switchbacks every few hundred metres, you want the shortest wheelbase possible. Still with the huge power, but in a nimbler and pointer package. Bugatti has always chased the extremes of performance, and this Type 23 is no different. Chopped short like a Sport Quattro — this Type 23 is hilarious at first. We can see in these extremely rare archive photos a T11 racer and an the enclosed-shell Bugatti T32 ‘Tank’ sharing this same …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Yaris SE 5-Door Is A Hipsters Delight!

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 2015 Toyota Yaris Review Quick: name the only Toyota (or Lexus) that is imported to the US from Europe? Any guesses? The header here is a solid clue. It is indeed the 2015 Yaris. Designed and built in Europe, the land of hot hatch excellence and cheap/cheerful mini cars, the Yaris embodies all the frisky spirit of the Fiat 500 or the MINI Cooper — but with a giant discount. The 2015 Yaris hopes to sell on more the efficiency and low entry pricing, however. It brings a full suspension redesign, a cabin upgrade and even funky LED lighting on …

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Best of Paris 2014 – Citroen Divine DS Concept

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Updated 10.23.14       The DS premium brand spin-off is a HUGE, huge success — sales and margins on the line are better than even Citroen could have imagined five years ago. This gorgeous concept hatchback is relatively practical by French concept standards — it runs a standard THP 1.6-liter turbo engine (with a non-standard 270-horsepower) and a compact four-door hatchback shell. Most logically, this machine would slot in above the DS3 and below the DS5. So will the DS4 be this gorgeous as a production car? Fingers crossed that the nose makes it intact, as well as the …

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2015 Exige S Automatic Is Quickest LOTUS Streetcar EVER! 3.8s 60mph Sprint, Race Modes and Coming to USA

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Lotus has just announced details on the quickest production car ever — the new Exige S Automatic. We cannot think of another street-ready and USA-legal Lotus that has ever been so quick — with nearly all of Lotus’s hottest technology, biggest powerplant and raciest equipment, all on the most-hardcore and lightest model. The latest Exige S is really a king-maker on any racetrack, but also a delight on the roads there and back. It is 50-state legal and priced from about $75,000. In terms of thrills per buck, the Exige S will make a Porsche 911 look like a giant …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Is Sophisticated But Trumped By New WRX

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The GTI seems like a city car for people who actually want a BMW. The tricky thing about the latest GTI is that it overlaps with the base BMW 228 and even the $33,000 320i sedan. This is a big problem for Volkswagen — but it is not the worst problem. The competitiveness of the 2015 WRX is definitely causing wrinkled foreheads in Wolfsburg. The Subaru is now as refined as the GTI when cruising, but far more fun and much quicker at all times. Bright red seems to be the GTI’s signature color. After driving the new GTI a …

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LA Teasers! Scion iM Concept Car Previews New tC + 2016 Acura ILX + Prius V Facelifts

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First look this morning at the very promising Scion iM concept car for Los Angeles! The ‘iM’ name of this hot new Scion prototupe is a reference to the brand’s new Driven campaign, with fans and Scion drivers encouraged to tweet with the #iMdriven hashtag to show some love. (Not to be confused with Range Rover’s #IamDriven contest .. which we did not win. A skydiver from ‘ellay’ won the trip to Carmel.) So what is this Scion iM concept? It appears to be a hotter and more-aggressive sports car. The deep scoops and lighting elements are heavily FR-S-influenced, as …

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400HP, 4.1s 2015 BRABUS Mercedes-Benz GLA Hunkers Low on 21s + Aero Kit

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  The strangest part of the GLA-Class and other small crossovers lately is how low they actually are. Is it an SUV? The OEM plastic shields on the fenders say yes, but the mind is not so sure. It has taken 20 years then for the world to catch up to the classic Subaru Legacy —> Outback conversion. Taller springs, chunkier rubber and an Eddie Bauer package outside is all you need to sell thousands of cars a year! Just kidding. (JK BFR = just kidding, but for real.) How to stay ahead of trends and planted in corners with …

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Quail Classics – 1950 Healey Silverstone Roadster Is Race-Optimized Aerolithe

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We need an article to put together while my pulse comes down after totally breaking this website a few hours ago. Learning to be a webmaster on the fly is fraught with peril. Would Healey have said the same thing about his much-wider Silverstone roadster for 1950? This ‘E-Type’ Healey was widened by more than a foot versus the D-Type of 1949, which was initially planned as an affordable vehicle to slide under a $4,000 cap at which new car taxes doubled from 33-percent to 66-percent. The plan was to put Jaguar and Alfa-Romeo and Maserati power and tech into …

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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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2016 Honda HR-V Is Official! Will Debut in LA Next Month With On-Sale Dates In Early 2015

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Believe it or not, this below Honda Vezel article is the most popular piece on Car-Revs-Daily.com over the past 12 months. By a huge margin. People are excited about this vehicle. It is great to see the predictions come true in a USA model of this cool and stylish small crossover – even if the name and the headlights are toned down versus some of the European and Concept models a bit. We also lose a bit of body-color trim on the outside in favor of grey plastic, but such is life. The USA-spec HR-V still looks fresh and really …

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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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2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Performance Pack Adds LSD and Dual-Mode Exhaust For Last-Ever Atmo V8

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Turbo world domination is in hyperdrive with the AMG range. Will the SLK55 be the last of the atmospherically-combusted AMG V8s? With the SLS bowing out and the C63 AMG and C63 S new for 2015 with turbocharged 4.0-liter V8s, the list of unboosted AMG models is now down to just a handful. Sure, the CLK63 is technically on the books – but we would be surprised to see this old girl renewed for 2015. On the other hand, a new SLK is still more than a year out. The SL-Class is most likely to benefit from an AMG-GT-style makeover …

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Concept Flashback – 2004 Toyota MTRC – Off-Road EV Racer With Adjustable Ground Clearance

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Any huge fans of radio-controlled cars out there? Yep, that is what we thought. Almost all of us! The baja racer design of many off-road cars and trucks makes them fast over almost any surface, indestructible and, above all, fun! How to bring that joyful rally racing function to a life-sized prototype? One that can have a wild body shape, self-lifting suspension and a smooth underbody (and big splitters) to maximize downforce? The Toyota MTRC stands for Motor Triathlon Race Car — and employs a variety of very smart techniques for making a life-size RC car. Tandem seating and in-wheel …

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Update1 – Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Fiesta ST Is Freaky Fast, Freaky Good

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 Updated 10.18.14 With New Videos Performance Specials. They are the cream of the crop. They are the CTS-V’s of the world, the M5s and the Lancer Evo’s. They are freaky specials that are the product of pure driving joy, allowed to slip into showrooms every now and then. For car guys, they are the holy grail. Rare. Special. Excellent. From the moment you sit in the Ford Fiesta ST, you know that it is going to be a hugely fun drive. The seats are packed with support bolsters and the engine start button kicks the Fiesta into life with a …

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Spec Rendering – 2016 Subaru WRX STi RS500 Coupe

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Just a bit of fun for this Friday afternoon – a potential WRX STi Coupe. We have called it the RS500 in a nod to the previous Impreza RS Coupe of the 1990s, with the 500 a power ooutput of this rally-prepped turbo engine. The exterior changes are extensive, but we aimed for production feasibility over other-worldly style. To this end, the windshield rake stays almost exactly the same, as do the front doors and other hard points up front. Obviously cut out the rear doors, and shortened the wheelbase by five inches to make the RS500 Coupe pivot a …

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2015 Audi Sport TT Cup Is Customer Racing Series Alongside DTM – Now Taking 18 Driver Applications!

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12 races over the 2015 DTM season will see dozens of normal guys train with Audi Sport and head out for intense 30-minute TT Cup races with a truly world-class engineering and racing support team at their disposal. The Audi Sport TT Cup is a customer racing program that will run these 30-minute races of 24 cars each before six major DTM races in the 2015 season. The price is sure to be high for those who want to join, but the rewards will be high too. This is a fully race-prepped TT with 310-horsepower, roll cage, lightweighting and flypaper …

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Track Drive Review – 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO RS Manual Is Hard Work, But Good Fun Chasing Supercars

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The Nissan Juke NISMO is one of our favorite small performance cars. It even won the 2013 Best of Award for Turbo Sportscars Under $25,000 here, so we are clearly big fans of its ninja crossover style. After discovering V-spec in the Drive Mode selector, the Juke NISMO opens up its bag of tricks with huge boost and playful AWD handling. And all this praise was heaped on the CVT AWD NISMO Juke, not the more powerful front-drive Juke NISMO RS shown here. To say that it delivers more of a good thing is an understatement. The manual-transmission Juke NISMO …

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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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2014 Nissan Sentra NISMO Concept + Altima NISMO Rendering with V6, Six-Speed Manual, LSD and Nismo Tuning

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Updated 10.11.14 With 35 Photos and Altima NISMO Renderings We love the NISMO strategy at Nissan. The sporty overhaul of conventional models has always been a secret weapon of the German premium brands, and Nissan appears to be taking this niche strategy to the broader market via the $21,000 Juke NISMO and hopefully this Sentra NISMO in the future. A 2016 Maxima NISMO has been teased and is virtually a sure thing when the hot future Maxima debuts this winter at one of the big auto shows.   But let’s step back a moment and think closely about the potential …

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2015 MINI Cooper 5-Door in Postcard-Worthy Trip Around The City of Light

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A moveable feast with a big back seat? Yep! Table for five, please. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Metro, the Seine and the Arc de Triumph — all in an afternoon with this big new MINI! Any of these charming photos would look nice on an old-fashion paper postcard, or even an Instagram to your friends back home. The 5-door SD shown here is the hot Diesel engine for Europe, but the looks are identical to the Cooper and Cooper S engines we will see in the US. This means a base turbo triple and a turbo …

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Meet BharatBenz – India’s Locally-Made Trucks Seeing Huge Growth Via Combo of Low-Cost + High-Quality

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  Familiar with the American FUBU apparel line? The name stands for ‘For Us, By Us.’ Think of BharatBenz as the ‘FIBI’ of big trucks. For India, By India. Heavy trucks may not be huge business by volume, but for Daimler, they are some of the most profitable. Among the truck lines owned by Mercedes’ parent company are big names like Mitsubishi Fuso, Wester Star, Thomas Bus Lines, Freightliner and Setra. The newest kid on the block? BharatBenz — a locally-made and locally-tailored line of trucks both from and for India. Mercedes engineering and safety foundations are a great shared …

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2015 KTM X-Bow RR Is 400HP of Race-Ready Track Speed

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The HTM X-Bow RR is a custom-created version of the X-Bow GT and X-Bow R designed to beat all others in the one-make ‘Crossbow’ Battle. The one-make racing series puts the KTM dash-board mantra into action — you must be Ready To Race! Sure, the RR is not the best-looking of the X-Bow line. Its extra aero kit and crash structures like roll bars and crash protection is purely functional. This makes sense when you see the list of huge track-attack upgrades that are fitted to this racing special. For buyers outside of Europe, where the X-Bow will be a …

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Paris Debuts – 2014 Nissan Pulsar NISMO Concept

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Here is a good-looking upgrade to the new Nissan Pulsar hatchback! About the same size as the VW Golf and Ford Focus, the Pulsar complements the smash-hit Qashqai crossover in the Nissan European range. Why go back to the segment? Nissan is following buyer preferences – which in many Euro markets prefer the hatch shape to a small CUV. THe Pulsar adds a DIG-T 190-horsepower engine in its production guise, so this NISMO model is likely to run the 215-horsepower engine from the Juke NISMO RS. The Pulsar NISMO shares much of the Juke NISMO’s cabin, meaning a powertrain sharing …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R Concept Two Makes Paris Debut

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UPDATED 10.4.14 Production concept is more sexy than WTCC car? Oh yes.   2015 Honda Civic Type R Concept Two Paris Debut     PREVIOUS   276 horsepower is now the floor for Honda Type R models – this latest 2.0-liter turbocharged engine shows that Honda is diving in head-first into the world of turbochargers. Which definitely makes sense – Honda is, after all, supplying the McLaren Formula One team with its engines for 2015 and beyond. So you can be sure that the engine lab is glowing red-hot with huge boost! So what will change between now and the …

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Update1 With 30 New Photos – 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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Updated 10.3.14 This crossover concept shows some fascinating ideas for a next generation of small Toyota crossovers. While there are very interesting and sexy ideas in the layered and floating designs of the roof and taillamps, the nose is far less successful. But overall, the detailing in the surface lines makes it all worthwhile. We tinted the color purple just for fun, as shown on the first image below. PREVIOUS It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, …

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Best of Awards: Track Drive Video – 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Is A Racecar With License Plates

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  Nailing apexes in this Camaro Z/28 was the most fun this driver has ever had on a racetrack. The car is absolutely surreal in its power and performance in all dimensions. Brakes and road-holding via those Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are unreal, while the power delivery from the 7.0-liter, 505HP V8 is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Skip to minute two of the above video to see the Z28 in track bliss with cars like the Hellcat, 2015 Mustang GT, Nissan GT-R, Lexus RCF and BMW M4….! One thought? We would recommend speccing the optional A/C on the …

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2014 Volkswagen XL Sport Concept Makes One Seriously Sexy BMW i8 Competitor

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Here is an interesting machine! The eco-friendly supercar segment established by the BMW i8 could find a competitor in the VW XL Sport concept, which takes all the ideas and tech from the XL1 high-mileage, low-volume special and sends it to the racetrack. Much wider, lower, leaner and meaner: the XL Sport is still wholly unconventional in its style and presence. This makes it not unlike the i8 in many ways. They both certainly have stopping power: heads will turn to catch this wild machine zing past. But the carbon-ceramix brakes of the the XL Sport will surely provide actual …

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Concept Flashback – 1972 Maserati Boomerang Was Production-Ready Wedge Hypercar

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  The wedge. This design mantra took over the minds of the world’s top stylists collectively around 1970 – as the Ferrari 512 S Module and the Lancia Stratos HF Zero concepts swept everyone to accept the shape. The design was the ultimate expression of mid-engine hypercar engineering of the time. In wind tunnels of the day, the goal was to have as little front surface area as possible. Something like a rocket for the road. Ferrari 512 S Modulo at Atlanta Dream Cars exhibit http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/06/10/dream-cars-1970-ferrari-512s-modulo-pininfarina/     Lancia Stratos HF Zero at Atlanta Dream Cars exhibit http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/06/10/dream-cars-1970-lancia-stratos-hf-zero-by-bertone/ Wind tunnels …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R Previewed By Crisp and Clean New Paris Concept

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276 horsepower is now the floor for Honda Type R models – this latest 2.0-liter turbocharged engine shows that Honda is diving in head-first into the world of turbochargers. Which definitely makes sense – Honda is, after all, supplying the McLaren Formula One team with its engines for 2015 and beyond. So you can be sure that the engine lab is glowing red-hot with huge boost! So what will change between now and the production model set for Spring 2015 in the UK? Mostly the headlights and the wheels. They will both be slightly more production-feasible. But otherwise, this is …

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Concept Debrief – 1969 BMW 2800 Spicup Was Bertone Spider-Coupe Prototype

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Named for its dual purpose, the Spicup is a contraction of ‘Spider’ and ‘Coupe’ into one word. This one was a joint effort and actually led with Bertone proposing the idea of a spider coupe with a retractable hardtop to BMW. A 2.8-liter straight six lives up front and the one-off Spicup BMW opened the door to more Bertone-BMW collaboration later in the 1970s. The machine is certainly unique and eye-popping today: imagine it today as some form of BMW Z4 variant: a cabrio two-door built off a traditional sedan platform. More accurately, considering the roof and semi-popup headlamps, was …

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2013 Kia CUB Concept Is Retro-Futurist Hatch With Surfacing and Stance To Best Even MINI Cooper

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  Here is a real charmer of a concept – one that shows what the aesthetic of the Soul might look like in a traditional five-door hatchback. The retro portion of the design is in the low hood and steep windshield glass, while the futurist element comes with the lack of gaudy chrome detailing or a big grille up front. Rounding takes over in the front corner vents and the smooth flow of the rear canopy and hatch region. A shark-fin element appears in three-dimensional relief in the front door panel, while the rear glass incorporates a CHMSL LED as …

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2015 Subaru Impreza Brings Fresh Nose Design, New Lighting and Refined Interior Details

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America’s most winterized and adventurous compact car range is slightly freshened for 2015! This brings a new nose to include the grille, front bumper and headlamps, while out back the hatchback gets a new spoiler and the sedan switched to LED lighting for its CHMSL. Subtle changes, but effective at keeping the Impreza clean and stylish versus its powerful WRX siblings.   2015 SUBARU IMPREZA® GETS NEW LOOK, NEW REFINEMENTS AND NOW OFFERS EYESIGHT® DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY Revised front styling with new headlights, grille and bumper Enhancements make cabin quieter New infotainment systems and features Upgraded interior trim Improved mileage …

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2015 Audi TT and TTS Roadster Revealed Before Paris Show

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   Official details below from Audi. 2015 Audi TTS Roadster     Early airing for all-new Audi TT Roadster ahead of Paris show world debut Open-top version of all-new Audi sports car retains classic roadster format but sets new class standards for agility, efficiency and in-car technology All-new TT Roadster and TTS Roadster models to make their World debut at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (October 4 to 14) TT Roadster models available to order in the UK from mid-November priced from £31,955 OTR to £37,555 OTR – first deliveries in March 2015 310PS TTS Roadster available to order …

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2015 Honda Civic Sport is New for UK with Type-R Styling Accents!

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How fantastic does this Euro Civic Sport look! Enjoy it, our UK pals. We are envious here in the States! 2015 Honda Civic Sport     Honda UK Ltd 24 September 2014 New design, new technology and a new Sport derivative for the Swindon-built Civic range   New sporty exterior and interior styling upgrades for Honda Civic and Civic Tourer models Introduction of new Civic Sport with visual links to forthcoming Type R New in-car entertainment and technology system introduced across the line-up New automatic low-speed braking system applied as standard across the range Class-leading boot space of 477 (Civic) …

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Part Two: 2011 Audi Urban Concept SPYDER is 2-Seater for Scooter-Phobes

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PART TWO: Showcasing through a few favorite concept cars ahead of the Paris Motor Show! This  2010 Urban Concept from Audi is a battery EV design to be ultra-light and ultra-efficiency, while also packing the maneuverable of a scooter. Okay, that would be one large scooter… but still. It is easy to pilot around and the enclosed cockpit promises far more safety and security than anything on two wheels. A standard steering wheel and pedals make this a perfect machine for those who would never feel safe on a motorcycle, but do not require anything as huge as a Smartcar. …

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2011 Audi Urban Concept is 2-Seat Commuter EV For Stylish Yuppies

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Showcasing through a few favorite concept cars ahead of the Paris Motor Show! This  2010 Urban Concept from Audi is a battery EV design to be ultra-light and ultra-efficiency, while also packing the maneuverable of a scooter. Okay, that would be one large scooter… but still. It is easy to pilot around and the enclosed cockpit promises far more safety and security than anything on two wheels. A standard steering wheel and pedals make this a perfect machine for those who would never feel safe on a motorcycle, but do not require anything as huge as a Smartcar. It is …

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2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, which will slot in below the RAV4 and compete with the new Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and Nissan Juke — among others. 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept  

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2012 Chevrolet Code 130R Is Rear-Drive, 1.4L Turbo Coupe That Will Never Exist

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Never exist? That is a bit harsh, no? The fact of the matter is, the Code 130R was always a longshot. The potential price range of the model would need to base around $16,000 and max at about $24,000, where the Camaro starts with no options. Sharing a Camaro chassis is certainly possible, but this again would bring prices far above the current Korean-engineered compact and subcompact cars in the General Motors portfolio. As enticing as a car like this is, its chances of ever seeing production are extremely slim. The non-existent overhangs and proportions would compete nicely with the …

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2012 Kia Trackster Concept Is Widebody Soul Coupe with 250HP

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Since driving a Kia Soul around Monterey Bay in August for the concours week, we have a real fondness for this boxy profile. The car is a real joy on the roads – with perky handling and a zingy engine and autobox combo that is far more fun than any econobox in its segment. Lively handling was a huge part of that fun, along with a great road view and headroom to spare. This 2012 Trackster concept takes care of some of that space with a roof chop, a bump in horsepower up to 250, and a widebody coupe conversion …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Fiesta ST Is JJ Fantastic: Freaky Fast, Freaky Good! Even Better than BR-Z and FR-S

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Performance Specials. They are the cream of the crop. They are the CTS-V’s of the world, the M5s and the Lancer Evo’s. They are freaky specials that are the product of pure driving joy, allowed to slip into showrooms every now and then. For car guys, they are the holy grail. Rare. Special. Excellent. From the moment you sit in the Ford Fiesta ST, you know that it is going to be a hugely fun drive. The seats are packed with support bolsters and the engine start button kicks the Fiesta into life with a snort from up front and …

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Concept Flashback – 2011 Nissan Esflow Showed Potential EV Mini-Z

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Once upon a time… As recently as the 2011 Tokyo auto show… Nissan was more excited about its EV technology’s prospects, and less terrified by the scale of the huge EV investment that is still not working as we enter 2015. The possibilities in 2011 seemed endless for new packaging and new powertrain layouts. No longer enslaved to front-drive or rear-drive platforms by engine location, the battery EV revolution was indeed promising. But how to inject a little fun into the extremely dull and practical sales appeal of the Leaf EV. Enter the ESFLOW concept. With proportions and detailing like …

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2015 BMW 228i and M235i Convertibles Make Tail-Out, Top-Down World Debut

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    Official details on the new 2 series convertibles for 2015! The 228i kicks things off from $38,000 – up to $40,000 for the 228i xDrive and more still for the 235i and M235i Convertibles. Arrival time-frames are very soon — early 2015 is the promise from BMW. 2015 BMW M235i Convertible   The New BMW 2 Series Convertible Style and dynamics of the acclaimed BMW 2 Series Coupe combined with open-air driving Available in the US as 228i and M235i All-wheel drive 228i xDrive available from launch Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 9, 2014 6:00pm EDT/3:00pm PDT . …

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4.4s 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C USA Priced from $54k in 200 New Photos

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UPDATED 9.8.14 With Official USA details and 160 new photos. Who knews when one might need this many amazing photos of the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe — but here they are! The official pricing is mid-way down the photo showcase. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C       PREVIOUS We’ve been pretty bearish on the Alfa 4C’s prospects in the United States – until seeing one in the flesh this week at Road America. This $66,000 sports coupe is deliciously wide, low and sexy from all sides. New USA features include a refined set of bumpers to fit our license …

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Citroen Divine DS Concept for Paris 2014 Shows Way for 2016 DS4

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The DS premium brand spin-off is a HUGE, huge success — sales and margins on the line are better than even Citroen could have imagined five years ago. This gorgeous concept hatchback is relatively practical by French concept standards — it runs a standard THP 1.6-liter turbo engine (with a non-standard 270-horsepower) and a compact four-door hatchback shell. Most logically, this machine would slot in above the DS3 and below the DS5. So will the DS4 be this gorgeous as a production car? Fingers crossed that the nose makes it intact, as well as the impressive panel slashes from the …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Colorizer Shows Roadster Look In 26 New Paints

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UPDATE2 How frustrating to have so few high-quality photos of the new Miata… For the time being, what else can we do to see the new MX-5’s potential? COLORS! 2016 Mazda MX-5 Colorizer         Great to see this car in the flesh – where the nose comes to life and is fantastic. This is great news — it looked a little pinched in the preview renderings. Overall, the new aesthetic appears to chop the surfaces anywhere that the previous-gen Miata was rounded. This is especially visible in the new drop-nose design and the hood’s strong leading edge …

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1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Zagato vs. 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C SS Spider

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This silver Alfa-Romeo is pretty sneaky: dirty = dollars! Being filthy dirty and in barn-find condition actually may have doubled the sale price of $1.02-million. That and the cars only-recent discovery and arrival on the market. Or its racing pedigree and Zagato coachwork. Or all of the above.  The 1955 1900C SS Zagato Coupe earned a whopping million-dollar sale price at Gooding & Co.’s Pebble Beach auctions in August. That is almost $200,000 more than this fantasy 1929 6C SS Spider brought in…! 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Spider   1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe By Zagato GOODING …

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2014 Honda CR-Z Buyers Guide: Colors, Prices, Specs and HPD Options

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While putting together the below HPD Supercharger option, the amazing value and fresh style of the 2014 CR-Z caught my eye. When did the CR-Z become so sexy? Included below are the full CR-Z Specs, Pricing and Color guides!   2014 Honda CR-Z – COLORS     HPD CR-Z That headline pace? Estimated at a fantastic 6.5-seconds from 0-60-mph. That is down from the latest, upgraded 2013-2014 CR-Z’s 9.0-seconds with the manual six-speed and 130-horsepower. The 2013 cars also jumped in battery strength from 10-kW to 15-kW — so the CR-Z is already much quicker than it ever was in …

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2014 Honda CR-Z HPD Supercharged Hits 197HP and Sprints 2.5s Quicker to 60MPH

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  That headline pace? Estimated at a fantastic 6.5-seconds from 0-60-mph. That is down from the latest, upgraded 2013-2014 CR-Z’s 9.0-seconds with the manual six-speed and 130-horsepower. The 2013 cars also jumped in battery strength from 10-kW to 15-kW — so the CR-Z is already much quicker than it ever was in its first-gen series. This latest power jump from HPD is fully-authorized by Honda and is only for manual-transmission cars. The engine internals and intercooler bring this balaced sport compact the power it has always dreamed of, with the battery in back providing a hugely entertaining and flexible handling …

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1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ by Zagato Crosses Million Mark At Gooding PB 2014

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Great results for this little “Julia” rally special from Alfa Romeo. The Zagato provenance, racing livery and fantastic interior all certainly contributed to the final price, as performance will be pretty mellow by modern supercar standards. 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ   GOODING & Co. 2014 PEBBLE BEACH Estimate: $1,250,000 – $1,500,000 SOLD: $1,023,000 Chassis: 10511AR750099   CAR HIGHLIGHTS Among the Most Successful Competition Cars of the 1960s A Wonderfully Presented Example of an Italian Masterpiece An Incredibly Capable Touring or Vintage Racing Car One of 112 TZs Built Between 1963 and 1967 Well-Documented History of Caring Stewardship TECHNICAL SPECS …

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1938 Tatra T97 Aerodynamic Sedan at Pebble Beach 2014 Concours – 54 Gorgeous Photos

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Snapping a full round of this red Tatra T97 Aero was a rare treat on Pebble Beach Concours Sunday. Very early in the morning, the sun was shining bright for the first time of the week. Tatra was a special marque invite for the 2014 Concours – in a mission to seek more variety and representation from unconventional marques. We know very little about the Tatra T97, in truth, but adore it almost instantly. Perhaps it is the long-running Volkswagen Beetle passion, or its flare for the aerodynamic… but the Tatra T97 is very charming. In many ways, the Tatra …

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First 2014 BMW i8 Owners Take Delivery in Posh Pebble Beach Experience

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Some big names in the below five-pack of the first deliveries of the BMW i8 at Pebble Beach! They include racing moguls Roger Penske and Rick Hendrick, among other luminaries. We would vote heavily in favor of the black finish — which is simply amazing, as we can see here. Well ordered, Thomas Keller! It is interesting that Chef Thomas Keller also appears to be providing dinner for the guests at this event, which is nicely symbiotic from BMW. i8 Passion Runs High As the $825,000 total from the charity i8 Pebble Beach Edition shows — the i8 is much …

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USA Debut and $825,000 Auction Grand Slam – 2014 BMW i8 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Edition

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In what is certainly a feel-great moment for the BMW as well as the Pebble Beach Foundation charity — the one-off BMW i8 Pebble Beach Concours edition racked up a stunning $825,000 sale price at the Gooding & Co. 2014 auction. The price multiple of 6.11X over the BMW i8’s $135,000 retail total is surely not just from the custom-fitted Louis Vuitton luggage or dark-matte grey paint. It also accounts for instant access to what is easily one of the hottest new cars at any price. In the flesh, the i8 PB Concours Edition is quite magnificent. Its low, lean …

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1955 Aston Martin DB3S Earns $5.5M At Gooding Pebble Beach 2014

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$5.5-million is a very high tally for any Aston Martin, but this 1955 DB3S is surely a deserving specimen. As both a show car and a racecar, the DB3S is a stunning beauty and a timecapsule of design in the 1950s. The chassis design was completed by a famed Austrian engineer with experience designing Auto Union racers in the 1930s, while the exterior design by Frank Feeley is perhaps Mr. Feeley’s finest-ever work. Feeley was a Lagonda man until joining Aston with Lagonda’s buyout in 1947, where his ultra-luxury model focus was shifted to racecars. One amazing element of the …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Is Quietly Excellent, More Iso-Tank Than Eco-Warrior

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INTRO: Here is the scene: you are in traffic. It is a work-day and you are behind a dawdling Prius. ‘How the **** is that car going so slowly!? Oh, this guy is coasting up to red lights now!?’ Cue the inpatient passing maneuver/lane change or silent sulking while looking at the familiar Prius tail shape. Has this ever happened to you? We bet it has. The difference for sports-car drivers – or drivers who push every machine like a sports-car? Slight annoyance gives way to murderous rage after a few stoplights like this. And not just hatred for the …

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1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Alfieri Barchetta by Fantuzzi

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Widely known as one of the most influential racecars of the early 1950s, this delicate little A6GCS influenced future icons like the Jaguar C-Type, Ferrari 250 and the AC Ace — among many others. The straight-size layout delivered just 168-horsepower from its 2.0-liter displacement, but lightweight aircraft aluminum in the chassis and bodyshell delivered some stunning specs all the same. The 60-mph sprint is just 6.3-seconds, while the top speed is a frankly-terrifying 148-mph. The beauty and grace of the design is perhaps this Alfieri GCS MM’s legacy. The A6 in the name stands for Alfieri, by the way, and …

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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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Road Test Review – 2014 Honda Civic EX-L Coupe Is Sharp-Looking Two-Door With Great Tech and Handling!

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  Racy coupe bodies are about as hot as it gets up and down the automotive spectrum. A two-door tells the world you are unattached – and unburdened by kids or carpools. You are single and ready to mingle! The Honda Civic Coupe is one of the most adored nameplates in the youth car culture scene. Last year’s 2013 Civic Coupe has lost is austere nose from 2013 and come back stronger, better, faster and cooler for 2014. This brings an all-new nose design with some aggressive profiling and chrome-accented foglamps, a dark grille slash in semi-gloss black widening the …

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2015 Honda Fit Buyers Guide and Pricing: Cute and Edgy New Style, Latest HondaLink Touchscreen and 41MPG

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The 2015 Honda Fit is updated with a subtle but attractive redesign, vastly more comfortable cabin, and tech like the latest (and very good) HondaLink touchscreen controls. Paired with the Fit’s exceptional usefulness as a city car with the trunk size of a SUV — and the economy of a supermini — the 2015 Fit from about $16,000 is an exceptional little machine. Most shoppers will go for the EX-L or the EX-L with Navigation thanks to the top trims standard automatic transmission. The auto is a CVT unit, however, so sporty people might like the light and slick six-speed …

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TECHART for Boxster and Cayman Deliver A Huge Shot of Adrenaline to Porsche’s Mid-Engine Heartthrobs

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You know the adage about Porsche limiting the Boxster and Cayman so the 911 Carrera is protected? That applies in all aspects of the cars, regretfully, even the hottest new GTS models for 2015. The Cayman and Boxster’s mid-engine layout and exotic proportions are just a tweak or two away from drawing huge crowds and stares on the road. From the factory, they are often just a bit too subtle and classy for their own good. So to inject some of the hottest 918 or Carrera GT flair? TECHART to the rescue! A comprehensive set of upgrade options are offered …

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3.4s Radical SR3 SL Startup Video and 70 High-Res Photos at Atlanta Motorsports Park

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Any Radical in the USA is fantastic to experience up close, especially in its native environment: the racetrack. The Radical SR3 SL here is the only two-seat model in the United States – so it is: a) the quickest car around almost any racetrack — including the Nurburgring, where Radical has long held an unbeat-ably quick pace in the 6.44-second SR8. The SR3 SL is no slouch either: its roughly 7:00-second Nordeshleiffe lap is still in the top 20 for any kind of car, racers included. b) one of the only street-legal track cars of this caliber of performance c) …

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Charleston Cars and Coffee Mini Gallery – 2011 TESLA Roadster

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It is really, really easy to hate Tesla Motors. As a VC-backed startup that has made a successful ‘exit’ into the stock market, they are a hero to many in the Silicon Valley area. They also have a tangible, physical product sold in an established and very competitive industry. But even so, Tesla is immensely irritating to observe. The owner of this Roadster was definitely smelling her own smug farts early and often. Luckily, Tesla’s cars are actually pretty good. Only a handful of photos of this lovely 2011 Tesla Roadster, but it is definitely still a rare machine. And …

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Charleston Cars and Coffee – 1955 Porsche 356 1500S Speedster

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The thing that really strikes you when seeing the 1955 Porsche Speedster up close is its absolutely tiny scale. It is dwarfed by the Cayman sitting next to it, as well as any modern-sized human. This ultra-small and ultra-smooth style earned Porsche quite the following among those who rejected the two-ton ideal of American cars of the era. In fact, the light and lean mantra became a turning point in defining all sportscars in the post-war era. The aesthetic of hyper-curved panels is not just for beauty or aero sleekness, either. Such huge and deeply-stamped bodywork gave the 356 extra …

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