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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Buyers Guide to Specs, Pricing and Equipment

      Here are some road testing videos I took near Autobahn Country Club in Illinois last September. This car is surprisingly-awesome Some full-throttle sprints are included in the last two videos. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com

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Car Museums Showcase – 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Sidecar Motorcycle

The 1937 BMW 328 is a little-seen roadster gem from BMW that was, perhaps, the firm’s most advanced and sophisticated achievement outside of aircraft engines at the time. 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Bike in Spartanburg, SC Seeing one so close in the flesh really rings home how advanced this 328 was versus its contemporaries from Aston-Martin and Jaguar — two much-better-known sports-car innovators (and competitive benchmarks) of the time.   Where those cars both still wore giant flat fenders, the 328 is completely smooth in all areas. This aero-led thinking was surely a testament to BMW’s aeronautic history until …

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2014 Bell & Ross B-ROCKET Watch Is Inspired By Fantastic Jet-Engine Motorcycle Concept

When it comes to watches, there is such a huge span of pricing and individual preference — there truly is no ‘one-size-fits-all.’ That applies not only in price but in all the other aspects of a wear-able fashion item: is it comfortable,  is it easy-to-use, does it enhance my sense of cool? From a $5 digital to the million-dollar excesses – the price span really makes it a challenge to find the right “fit” in every sense of the word. Bell & Ross aspires to not just be your timepiece, but a new cornerstone in your entire aesthetic. Best-known for …

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3.6s 2015 Bentley GT3-R Street Car Has Arrived! Exclusive V8TT With 40:60 AWD and Rear Torque Vectoring

The day has come for the Bentley Continental GT3 racecar to hit dealerships! We have all been relatively amused by the sight of the big Conti GT on racetracks, but the knowledge of this prototype racer’s rear-drive chassis makes it clear right away that it shares very little with the road-going Continental GT – even the new V8 S and the W12 Speed models. The current-gen road car is fairly locked into the AWD layout ahead of the next-gen car receiving a Panamera-based platform for true rear-drive offerings for 2017, we estimate. But even with the AWD layout, there is …

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Update1 New Photos – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Facelift Brings New Grille, Bumpers and LED Headlights

Official: New generation CLS with the future’s high-resolution precision LED technology: Leading the way with better light Stuttgart Jun 16, 2014   Stuttgart – In the new generation of the CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz is using the new technology of MULTIBEAM LED headlamps for the first time. High-resolution precision LED modules, each with 24 individually controlled high-performance LEDs, automatically illuminate the road with a hitherto unsurpassed, precision-controlled distribution of exceptionally bright light – without dazzling other road users. A camera positioned behind the windscreen delivers the information with which four control units the ideal light pattern 100 times per second. The anticipatory …

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Updated with 37 High-Res Photos – Track Review – 2015 Subaru WRX Automatic

Updated with 37 High-Res Photos – Track Review – 2015 Subaru WRX Automatic The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more rigid chassis, same awesome handling, but now much better-looking and far more liveable on a daily basis. The regular WRX is also darn close to the STI in the official sprint times: 5.2s for the WRX plays about 4.8-seconds for the STI. This test car is the automatic, which is a CVT this year with six-speed or eight-speed paddle-shifter settings available. Unfortunately, the automatic WRX did not feel quite as peppy as the manual cars’ times …

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V8 Bellow of 2014 Maserati Corsa Stradale Gran Turismo Twins Will Melt Your Heart

HD Exhaust Howl V8 Bellow of 2014 Maserati Corsa Stradale Gran Turismo Twins Will Melt Your Heart These two extremely limited-production racing specials are truly sublime. Every exterior detail is massaged, including the deep carbon-fiber left unpainted in some close-ups ofmthe MC Stradale GranTurismo. The cabrio in white is even more erotic, almost. Updates for 2014 include the rear seat available as an option, which is a fantastic benefit for the Maserati super-coupes. The back seat size is far closer to the Bentley Continental GT’s than the tiny parcel shelves in the Porsche 911 or the Aston Martin Vanquish. Enjoy …

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Iconic Classic – 1925/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I – Round Door Aero Coupe

This Phantom Series I Rolls-Royce V12 rumbled out the factory doors in 1925, but did not add these gorgeous stream-liner panels until its coachwork was complete in 1934. There is much to learn from this Jonkheere Aerodynamique Coupe – even today. The grille treatment is remarkably swept-back, but maintains the classic proportions very artfully. It is very hard to imagine these designs being fabricated by hand, but that was the only way to achieve results like this in the early 1930s. CAD-CAM has come a long way since the Round Door Coupe – but very few of this car’s contemporaries …

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2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo

2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo Update1 – June 16, 2014 The details are out! But they are not complete yet – no specs accompany this brief. Stay tuned. Last week’s teaser image created quite a media buzz, with everyone speculating left and right about this machine as ‘the next GT-R’ in headlines. It is tempting to do! These ideas are seriously fresh,and these three more high-res angles confirm it is a front-midship design. That was not certain from the front three-quarter teaser last week. DESIGN BRIEF Low-drag but high-downforce. The design is so aero-focused …

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Configuring Your Supercar Hero – 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Visual Buyers Guide

  With the previous post showing the Porsche 911 GT3 in all its high-res glory, now is time to make some choices. Tough choices – like what color your new Porsche lover will take, how much leather is in the cabin, and how posh you want your GT3’s headlights to be. My choices are outlined explicitly below, and view-able the Porsche configurator. You can work backward from these choices to make it your own, or start from scratch. Here are the six most critical options to select, in my opinion: — Fanciest LED headlight option (This is open to debate. …

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2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Technical Specs + 50 High-Res Wallpapers

    Included below are the full specs of the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3, pricing for which starts at $130,000. Also, more than 50 high-resolution wallpapers of this 9000-RPM boxer barn-stormer. The 911 GT3 is masterful track car that can moonlight as a classy way to take a date for a night on the town. The thrills will start before you even make it back to bedroom! 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Technical Specs Engine PDK Engine layout Rear engine Cylinder layout / number of cylinders Horizontally Opposed / 6 Displacement 3.8 l Horsepower 475 hp @ rpm 8250 rpm Torque …

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Future Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Racer Pairs Open Wheels with Closed Cockpit

Renderings done by students are sometimes the most exciting new ideas out there. Phil Berger is one such visionary first-year mechanical engineering student. He is an active participant in the Local Motors Forge project, which is a co-creation community and a bit of a gathering place for dreamers. Mechanical dreamers! The tricky part of student, or any renderings, for that matter: brand names and logos. All this company IP is fiercely protected, especially in a bold new age of shameless counterfeiting. But there are other concerns besides factories running mystery “ghost shifts,” or the adage of a complete twin factory …

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Concept Flashback – 2004 Chrysler ME Four Twelve is Quad-Turbo V12 Hypercar Excess

It is hard to go wrong with mid-engine hypercar concepts, and this one is no exception. There are really interesting and lavish details throughout, the success of which led to the long-running hood strakes in many production Chrysler models. Little else from this quad-turbocharged V12 concept made it to the roads, but the ME Four Twelve concept capped a record number of concept cars for Chrysler under Daimler. The company released at least three wild concepts ever year between 1999 and 2004, but none are as desirable as this car. Or, in fact, the 2005 Chrysler 300C that would be …

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Update1 – 2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans In Detail + 80 Photos

Ask and ye shall receive? Only last week, we lamented the lack of angles of the ZEOD RC versus the flawless 29 angles of the car’s potent 1.5-liter, 400HP turbo triple, which both propels the car and charges the batteries (we think.) 2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans Well, the strip-tease continues for the ZEOD RC. The latest batch of info from Nissan’s UK-based Le Mans operation shows the real-life racer in much more detail. (Just kidding — looks like we just did not look hard enough for images. This release is tagged October 21st, 2013.) Nissan’s hybrid-electric Garage56 experimental entry …

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Update1 – 2014 BMW M4 Coupe and M3 Sedan Technical Video + 100 Photos

Update1: Here is the car looking dashing in black.   INTRO Clarification: This article was originally written when the M4 and M3 had leaked ahead of their official debut. What to do in a time like this? One of the most exciting cars of 2014 sneaks onto the web, without BMW’s official blessings. The best thing we know is to add value to the news, and cite the source. BimmerBoost.com is sure to have its biggest traffic, ever, this week! While the images in all their glory are astounding, there is far more to the M4’s turbocharged howl than just …

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W Motors Lykan HyperSport in 4 Color Turntables + Interior and Mechanical Detail Photos

  W Motors Lykan HyperSport Hopefully the animations are a helpful and fun part of CarRevsDaily. I love them because they are auto-play, relatively small download-able GIF files, and cross-platform friendly. They are new. I have not seen anything like what CarRevsDaily offers – outside this site that is. There is a real art to creating — often from lousy images — flawless spinning turntables, dynamic motion simulations and all the others. It is really difficult, and a matter of major trial/error over a years-long learning process. Sometimes, though… when the moon is just right…   There is some real …

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Cool 2015 BMW i8 Animations + Live Visualizer Links

The 2015 BMW i8 is beautiful. Make no mistake about it: this will instantly be the most-exciting car on the roads from the second half of next year. BMW i Visualizer – see this exact i8 and change the colors, wheels, leathers… It is significantly more challenging to grasp the i8’s performance potential in advance, like we can for most new sports cars and even hypercars from the big names. But while the i3 might be a bit funky, the i8 is stunning. Low roof, scorching pace, style for days: this i8 is hot. It also brings forth never-before-executed concepts …

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Atlanta Dream Cars – 1955 Chrysler Streamline X Gilda by GHIA is Turbine Aero Ideal

Man, when your iPhone comes home with better photos than your Nikon — you know you were in the wrong settings. Very, very strict photo protocols were in place at the Atlanta High Museum of Art’s Dream Cars installation — which is a shame, really. It turns out, after speaking with the very kind, smart and helpful media liaison upon my return to Charleston Monday morning — that the concern was not about photos of the cars at all. No one told he gestapo of hourly blue-coats, however, who were incredibly irritating. In fact, the entire photo ban was to …

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Maria Sharapova Rocking Gorgeous White 2014 Porsche Panamera GTS

The tennis star is quite glamorous off the courts! Maria Sharapova’s latest Porsche Panamera GTS shows she is a keen driver with great taste in cars. Maria Sharapova Porsche Panamera GTS   She definitely picked some of the coolest wheels in the broad Panamera catalog. Maria Sharapova Rocking Gorgeous White 2014 Porsche Panamera GTS

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Concept Flashback: 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force

The Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-force concept from Los Angeles 2012 deserves a fresh look, despite its ridiculous name. As part of the annual LA design challenge, the Ener-G truck seemed a bit too whimsical to ever see production. But could times be changing? The Galendewagen must be made until 2017 (I believe) based on a supply agreement with the German government. While keeping production lines open, the luxury G63 AMG is a consistent superstar for the brand. Even if only a few hundred are sold per year – the margins on a $150,000 SUV offer plenty of leverage to keep G-wagon fans …

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Concept Flashback – 2013 Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro

How did this one slide past me? Not only do I not really recall seeing this October 2013 concept, but I have not even heard of the movie in which it was featured! Ender’s Game is the title – came out on November 1, 2013?? It may be a German-language film, which would make sense as to why Americans might not have been the target market for the film, or the concept car. So what is this thing? It is a low and long sedan, much in the same style as the A7 Sportback. Does it matter? Yes. Maybe. Yes, …

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2015 McLaren P1 GTR Renderings

2015 McLaren P1 GTR Renderings McLaren today confirmed that the P1 hypercar will go into extra innings once its 375-unit production run is completed in early 2015. The next chapter will take McLaren back to the world’s GT racetracks, including Le Mans – where the very impressive F1 GTR won its class. McLaren only released a few teasers, so it was up to us to fill in the gaps.               Here is an exclusive rendering of how the 2015 McLaren P1 may look, with the changes detailed below. WHEELS/TIRES These are directly from the …

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Hypercar Hall of Fame – 2003 Enzo Ferrari in 77 Original Maranello Launch Photos

A: These photos … are so old…. B: How old are they…? A:These photos are so old… that they appear to have been snapped on film.   Fujifilm 35-mm film! My, how the times are moving fast. But even though the original photos have aged, the car is as gracefully brutal as it was when Tiff Needell first took it around a few hot laps of the Fiorano circuit. Here he is, in fact. Remember this exact car? The one with the Ferrari partner/supplier stickers on the side air ducts? One for old souls, perhaps. Or at least people who …

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2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale Is Glorious In Full Sight, Sound and Motion + 58 High-Res Action Photos

Sight sound and motion is a code-word in advertising for video or television. In this case, it might be SSM + I — with the I standing for information. The full launch announcement as well as complete technical specifications are well below. The photos are pretty intoxicating in themselves, but there is also an engine audio clip toward the bottom as well. The 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale is available now at Ferrari dealerships worldwide, or you can build your own with the new Ferrari.com configurator at the link below. http://car-configurator.ferrari.com/458speciale/?lang=EN#config/1|40400|18024400|11800000|40||240532|2a180000||||||||ffe7040 See my ideal specification over in this other article as …

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RM Auctions Monterey 2014 Preview – 1953 Lancia Aurelia PF200C Spider by Pinin Farina

Wouldn’t you have love to meet the Farina clan? They are to Italian creativity what the Agnelli’s are to Italian heavy industry. Shrewd, forward-looking, mad as hatters, and always great with the chalk/charcoal — here is a firm founded in 1930 by Battista Farina and carried in the family through Sergio and later Andrea, until the latter’s untimely death in 2008. Many, many family fortunes are totally gone by the third generation. The second generation runs the company fairly well, under the continued tutelage of the master founder — aka, ‘grandpa.’ The second-gen is usually a prodigy of some kind …

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RM Auctions Monterey 2014 Preview – 1936 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster Is First American Supercar

1936 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster So, if the Chrysler Airflow Eight from the previous article is a delightful curio in the evolution of the modern family car, this Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster will definitely get us back-on-track for sportscars. Supercars, even! This machine was one of the most powerful and rapid American cars ever made, and perhaps one of the best-handling as well. This was well before any Corvettes or even any Mustangs. Decades beforehand. Until this point, the most sporting cars were some mini Duesenburg’s all the way to giant Packard’s and Hudson’s. This Auburn split the difference in …

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Future Car Rendering – 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Ready for A1A and Ocean Drive

Remember the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive Concept? It was a lightly-veiled look at the S-Class refresh for the following year, but there were serious rumblings that Mercedes loved the buyer response. So much that they started suggesting a four-door cabrio S-Class might be possible in the future. But those clever executives. They knew the S-Class Coupe would be replacing the bulbous CL-Class as the top of the Mercedes-Benz luxury line — so their hints about Ocean Drive now make much more sense. Why not a four-seat cabrio? Two words: rigidity and safety. A four-door drop-top is almost never produced because …

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2014 Lexus GS350 vs F Sport vs GS450h – Buyers Guide Info and Model Comparisons

Something about the GS is quite special on the roads. This car looks wide, brand-new, and clearly a flagship Lexus. But it is not immediately clear which: none look this good, this rear-drive and wide. Relatively clutter-free taillamps help plant the GS from the back, where this base-model GS350 looks more than worth the price. But how to tell them apart! GS350 versus the GS350 F Sport versus GS450h? Very subtle differences to the untrained eye, but the F Sport adds some intrigue to the nose and grille that is only clear up close. In addition to the wind slashes, …

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Rare Look Inside The 2014 Nissan GT-R Engine, Transmission and Suspension with Honorable Takumi Masters

How strong is the 2014 Nissan GT-R’s engine and powertrain setup? So strong… it does not even need a chassis to hold its shape! The carbon propshaft is strong enough to hold the GT-R and 545 men up at the same time! Just kidding. But it is very strong and very miraculous on the roads, when paired with the GT-R chassis of course. The R35 generation of GT-R is the most widely sold model in the three letters’ history, so maintaining excellence in the highly complex powertrain and suspension was always set to be a challenge for Nissan. Luckily, the …

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Vision GT Concept Car Teasers – What Is Left? Subaru, Lexus, Honda, Tesla, Aston, Ford, GM…

Oh yes! Were you growing a bit fatigued with the GranTurismo VisionGT concepts? Well, brace yourself! We are only about 20-percent of the way through the major manufacturer releases – only Mercedes-Benz AMG, VW GTI Roadster, Mitsu XR-PHEV and a handful of others have been seen so far.   This leaves the vast majority still to come, in a drip feed about once monthly over the next year or more. Why this slow trickle? It is to provide space for each car to be driven by people in the game, and room to breath around the other announcements. Here are …

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Vision GranTurismo Scores a Super Evo Crossover! Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution

What to make of the latest VisionGT concept? This is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution – a futuristic look at both the Mitsubishi racing effort and the future of the Evo itself. Is the styling really possible? It does resemble the latest Mitsubishi concept cars from 2013 and 2014 – but this is not necessarily a great bit of news. Mitsubishi is going in some unusual styling directions – but the performance of the XR-PHEV Evolution is sure to be ridiculously quick. It leverages both the S-AWC all-wheel-drive of the Evolution as well as the EV tech shown in the latest …

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Nissan and GranTurismo Evolution Detailed – 150+ Nissans Drive-able in GT6

Did you see the teaser photo Nissan just released of the NC2020 GT1?! I will include it here… due to the huge excitement I feel at this moment! You are surely wondering: is this the next GT-R? The answer is likely a “No, but….” No, this Vision GT6 concept is not the real thing coming as the R36 generation of the legendary GT-R Nissan. But it will influence the real thing – particularly with what looks like some kind of e-Boost or hybrid technology in the powertrain package. We are just speculating based on the appearance of the wheels in …

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2014 Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo Concept? Mysterious Teaser Shows Hypercar Proto

Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo What is this high-performance creature!? I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this photo on Nissan’s press site today. The car could be dubbed the GT1 or perhaps the NC2020 — short for Nissan Concept 2020, we imagine. Nothing is certain. The only word is that Nissan will tell us more next Monday, June 16th. Our hunch is that this might be the next installment of the Vision GranTurismo concept car series – liket he VW Vision GTI Roadster and dozens of other custom machines made for GT6 drivers. This would make sense …

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Hypercar Evolution – 1969 McLaren M6GT vs. 1995 McLaren F1 vs. 2014 McLaren P1

  Only one of these LT1-powered road cars was officially made by McLaren. At the time, “by McLaren” literally meant that Bruce’s racing crew had created a road car for the boss. The saying goes that the original M6GT was his daily driver: attending events and developing the production plans of this racing prototype for the road. His plan was for a run of 250 cars, but only three more were created by Trojan, a fellow racing shop with the ability to complete the street-legal fiberglass bodywork, doors, and all the other trimmings like wipers and blinkers. It was a …

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2014 Ferrari F12 Sound, Style and Speed Will Break Your Heart + All Official Colors Gallery

The 2014 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is one of the most completely intoxicating cars on the roads. With a huge atmospheric V12 under the hood, the sonic pleasure the F12 brings to the driver — and all on the street or beside a circuit — is only the icing on the cake. Truly crushing performance is on offer with the front-engine F12, with its tail balance perhaps the most special aspect of the car for prospective owners who might also debate the new 458 Speciale. Where the 458’s mid-engine balance has never been better, it will still snap away harder than …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina

As wild as Ferrari production cars are – you might notice that the brand releases almost no pure concept cars. Why? Because people want to buy them off the auto show floor! And so Ferrari must be exceptionally careful about what they show the public, especially if the car itself is too wild to ever be sold. One of the great concept Ferrari’s of all time is the 512 S Modulo. It takes the same ultra-aerodynamic goals as the Lancia Stratos HF Zero to an altogether different conclusion. But while the Lancia Stratos HF Zero looked vaguely production-feasible, this 512 …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone

1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone The Dream Cars exhibit this summer at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a thrilling ride through automotive history that every car lover will adore. The collection might be far smaller than most auto shows, but the impact of every car will leave your feet cemented to the floor. And your jaw? It will often be on the floor as well. How to rewrite that introduction? It certainly applies to this next car: the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF by Bertone. Sitting beside the 1970 Ferrari Pininfarina 512 S Modulo, these cars …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Estate is 3.6-Second Wagon!

INTERIOR GoPro Review Info – Part One   When it comes to the rarest of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars and trucks, the S-Models are the absolute top of the pops. But the E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Estate? Perhaps the ultimate in rare supercars – the S-Model Estate is certainly up there with the most-exclusive cars available. By our estimates, fewer than 200 total S-Model E63 AMGs will come to the United States per year, which is a crying shame. The E63 Estate is just one click slower to 60-mph than the S-Model sedan. That makes this the 3.6-second wagon king. The …

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Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI Is Brilliantly Fast, Grippy and Fun on Autocross

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojern up north to Road America last month. The STI is certainly in my Greatest Hits column. It feels punchy, fast, vocally boxer and turbocharged, eager to turn in and happy to muscle its way out of any corner. As such, the STI was swamped with wanna-be rally heroes for its big laps of the main Road America circuit. But there was time for some on-camera bonding via the smaller Go-Kart track that we set up as a timed Autocross. …

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Jenson Button Wraith-ing To WIN! Official Rolls-Royce Partnership for Summer 2014 F1 Calendar

Jenson is not in an official McLaren machine when he is off the track? No sir, not this year! World champion with the number 22 for Brawn GP — as the hat I wore (still wear…) very often to this day, Jenson has signed up with another hometown hero from England: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. When not in the track at the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal, Jenson will move about town in a 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost and Rolls-Royce Wraith. He is especially excited to get behind the wheel of Wraith — the most youthful and sporting Roller in ages. …

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Track Drive Review – 2014 BMW M235i Is Best Junior Supercar… EVER!

INTRO Favorite car? Best sports-car? I am running out of superlative awards here – but the points made in the above video are all certainly still felt by me today. The above film is actually pretty watch-able, with some great insights after hopping right in the M235i and doing a lap of Road America right after doing the same in the 2014 M5. Truth be told, for a relative new-comer to the huge-power BMW and sportscar arena, the M235i felt a little more my speed. It was more forgiving on the track, and at the same time friskier and more …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic Sedan Is Speedboat From Heaven

Have you ever driven a car that was so incredibly outstanding that it made you want to weep? Made you spring out of bed, head into work early — and stay late? Study harder, analyze better, deliver results and achieve excellence among your peers? It is easy to slip into fatalism — saying, “I will never have enough money to own a car like that.” Or, “Without X, Y or Z — owning a car like that is simply an impossible dream, for me.” I am here today with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG to slap your silly face. The …

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Building My 2015 JAGUAR F-Type S Coupe – Options, Exteriors and Interior Colors Detailed

The new F-Type Coupe is hot as the summer sun these days – but which is best? And among the standard, S and R — which fits your budget and performance criteria? Here is a quick walk through the JaguarUSA.com online configurator, where I built a $77,000 F-Type S Coupe and racked up a $92,000 total in the process. There are many tempting options, including the poshest 20-inch wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes kit — but overall there are a few things to select to make the most villainous impact for your British pounds. Base, S or R? The S packs …

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Track Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG at Road America

Hmmm, despite my grand ambitions to film every car I had the chance to drive at the MAMA Spring Rally this year for auto journalists – the exterior videos are pretty dull. Without the time and motivation to cut the interior and exterior videos together, the exteriors are best with the camera near th exhaust pipe — so there is at least some exhaust noise drama to make things watch-able. The CLA45 AMG is certainly not short of exhaust noise drama! While it never quite sounds as good as you might think and AMG should, it does have character versus …

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2014 Bentley GT Speed W12 Easily Wins Fastest, Most-Sideways Award at Road America

How can an all-wheel-drive supercoupe be ‘most sideways,’ you ask? The Conti GT Speed was giving demo rides with none other than Bentley Works GT3 driver Jamie Morrow at the helm. This polite and dapper gentleman turns into a car-hurling beast on the track — with lurid Scandinavian flicks rocking the car off-balance and the huge, huge W12 Speed’s engine power pulling around corners in a perma-drift heaven. It was absolutely magnificent. A man in a Breitling watch and an official Bentley pay stub can certainly push the car he knows so well to the limits — better than a …

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2014 Ford Focus ST Is Most Ferocious and Grippy Car at Road America Autocross

Like every journalist everywhere who has written unexpected results: we can only revert to an old stand-by defense. “…We don’t make the news, we just report it…!” It is this situation now, reporting that the Focus ST indeed felt the most ferocious and grippy around the Go-Kart track of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Perhaps because this mini road course is so similar to many proving grounds in the UK where the Focus ST honed its skills? The Focus ST could even be caught briefly doing the old cover-shot classic pose: with its rear inner tire off the ground …

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Future SUV Rendering – 2016 GMC Denali VIP Concept – Black Trim, Wheels + Extra LED Lighting

If you read the glowing review of the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali this morning, you know we are big fans of this big truck. It is everything the Tahoe has, and almost everything the Escalade brings to the table — but with extra under-the-radar coolness as standard. The Escalade is a pop-culture phenom at this point – which is great news for resurgent Cadillac. But the Escalade being the ride of choice for young Hollywood does not universally enhance its appeal.What about those seeking ultimate style without the Cadillac badge? Is the Denali the price ceiling for GMC? Our hunch …

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2015 Porsche Macan Turbo Is Fast, Athletic and Nimble in 50+ Real-Life Photos

  I’ve been a huge fan of the Macan since first seeing the finished show cars last Fall. With Macan S and Macan Turbo variants in the USA launch line-up — it seems like it is hard to go wrong with this latest — and sportiest-so-far — Porsche crossover. But how does its $49,900 base price feel in real life? Is that a bit steep considering the Cayenne also carries that same base price for 2014? The base pricing, as many Porsche owners know, is really just a starting point. Finding a car without a single option would be like …

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Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Is 6.2-Second, 6.2L V8 Dream SUV

The GMC Yukon Denali has been a pet project of mine since the trio of next-gen GM SUVs debuted in September of 2013. I went from auto writer to fan-boy: creating color turn-tables, pouring over the equipment lists, and generally fawning over the machine. Some seat time only confirmed my strong desire for the Denali as the sweet-spot of the Tahoe/Suburban/Escalade line-up. I deeply enjoyed the Denali’s plush leather and interior mood, while relishing the benefits both the Tahoe and Yukon bring to the table for 2015. Let’s dive in with the usual categories: Exterior, Interior, Driving Experience and Summary. …

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1914 Mercedes-Benz GranPrix Race Car in 25 Original, High-Res Photos

INTRO: Did I regale you yet with stories of how unbelievably cunty the official Amelia Island Concours people were this year? I was chased off the lawn numerous times during what they claimed were “private” photo shoots. Typically, having three media badges around your neck is enough — unless you are in slummy, run-down Jacksonville, Florida-adjacent. Was mostly a lovely time, but repeatedly ruined by the Ritz-Carlton Residences retirees (volunteers I now dub: the ‘colostomy bag hags’) who were running the show with an entitled arrogance of unbelievable proportion. One such run-in with the old guard was taking some lovely …

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2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS Stars in Our Most-Watched Driving Video: 50,000 Views!

  My most popular YouTube driving reviews ever? I’m glad you asked! Without a doubt – it is the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS 2LT and its dual-mode exhaust — slinging around the Chicago suburbs on a rainy Tuesday morning. Just goes to show me… that I cannot anticipate which videos will be popular, and which will not! But a hot car and a heavy right foot seem to be requirements overall. =] Getting seat time in the new Camaro V6 dispelled most of my previous assumptions about Camaro owners: who I once said were (usually) either “Murder Victims” or “Murderers.” …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 60 High-Res Photos + Video Walk-Around

The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO is incredible value at just above $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery      

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2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR – Video Reviews and High-Res Photo Gallery

One of the downsides of starting a site from scratch is that the formats and the site layouts are bound to change over time. Those changes often are compatible with the old setup, but sometimes are not. So here is a repost of last fall’s dream press loaner: the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR — on video and in numerous high-res photos. VIDEO PART ONE VIDEO PART TWO

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2014 McLaren 650S Spider – Buyers Guide + Color Visualizer and Build-Out in Mantis Green

EDITOR’S INTRO: This article almost broke the internet. Seriously…   If there is one color I could get on-board with for a new dream McLaren — beyond my preference for white paint/dark wheels — it would either be McLaren Orange or Talocca Orange, which is a new and slightly lighter shade than the current MO color. But when presented with Mantis Green, who could say no? It is an outlandish color, and one that truly comes alive in the sun. The rest of the options for the McLaren 650S are actually pretty easy – especially versus the Ferrari configurator for …

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato – Future Classic Showcase in 5 Flawless Color Turntables

THE WHO Like many small British brands who shall not be named, Aston can feel a victim to its own design success, at times. The DB7 kick-started this modern styling vogue, which led smoothly to the 2000s Vanquish and DB9 and the modern range. But sometimes what is needed is not evolution, but revolution. This latest safe-design kick is the blowback from Aston-Martin’s aggressive design flirtations in the 1970s and 1980s — cars like the Lagonda sedan and the Bulldog wedge concept were so ‘out there’ that they nearly bankrupted the company of customers and ideas. All while making the …

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See + Hear My Ideal 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale in All-New Ferrari.com Car Configurator

Car configurators are no silly thing these days: this is serious high-commerce. Not an Amazon.com purchase, either: people are far more demanding of the experience presented to them from before the moment they step into a car showroom these days. For companies like Ferrari and McLaren — the configurator wars are ground zero for a battle to win these high-dollar clients. But isn’t a test drive critical, you might ask? Yes and no. Buyers like this often own a car for such a short period of time that the delivered model must prove itself to earn more than a three-month …

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2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S – Road Test Review of AMG and BMW’s New Daddy

Does anyone else recall the Fox TV network’s endless promo’s many years ago for that crappy show called Wife Swap? “Meet your new mommy!” the announcer crowed over video of the horrified children — shocked that their parents would sign up for this reality-show charade? That is my face now as I say to myself, “Wow, meet the new luxury supercar ‘Daddy.’” The Bentley Continental GT has faced many harsh critiques over the years it has dominated its market segment – criticized even while selling so many that it defined what a modern, successful Bentley Cars Ltd should be in …

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Travel Adventures – 2014 Honda Accord Coupe V6 in the Mountains of the Blue Ridge Parkway

  Okay!  Let’s dive in! Part of the delay in writing up this Travel Adventures piece on the Accord Coupe is the surplus of photos. Seriously! We arrived home with 386 photos from various “Parkway” spots along my adventure on some of America’s finest driving roads. But here is the thing: the photos all look identical! =] So to make matters relatively simple, about 200 of them are animated in seven GIFs here – with 70 or so of the best in a gallery at the bottom. Also included here are three videos from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park …

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2014 C63 AMG Edition 507 Sedan and Coupe Going Out With V8 Flash-Bang!

Extra power and extra menace for the final year on the market before new models arrive? Yes please! The stonking 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine is one of the best powerplants available at any price — even this priced by GE, Westinghouse or the other nuclear turbine providers of the world. This thing is a rip-snorting firework that you set off with your right foot. In the lightweight and compact C-Class sedan and coupe, this translates into some of the most extreme passing speeds of any car, anywhere. That includes Ferrari’s and the like, by the way. Where the current Edition …

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2014 BMW 435i Cabrio Track Tested at Road America – Best All-Around Drop-Top Ever?

The BMW 435i Convertible is just about the sweetest companion you could imagine: all the power and poise of the best BMW’s ever made: plus a bit of extra wind in your hair. What is not to like? The 435i and cheaper 428i compete most directly with the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabrio’s these days, so BMW does not really have the segment of four-seat convertibles all to itself these days. But it does command the most market share — largely thanks to the legacy this car has since defining the 90210-chic as far back as the 1989 325i …

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Block-Chic Zagato Aston Martin DBS Centennial Hits Concours Circuit at Villa d’Este

The artful styling direction at Zagato typically ebbs and flows between two extremes: curved softness and sharp brutality. Things appear to be swinging back to the sharp side of the ruler lately, with the DBS Centennial by Zagato implementing creases and a blocky nose and rear form that is much more 1980s than we have seen from Aston or anyone else, since that decade, perhaps. The Alfa-Romeo SZ and even many Astons from this era whole-heartedly embraced crisp graphics: just recall the Aston-Martin Lagonda saloon car for reference. Curves and flow are not totally out of the picture for the …

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2014 McLaren 650S Is Devastatingly Gorgeous in 150 New Photos in 4 Colors

This is some rough stuff for those of us without a few hundred grand in our checking accounts. The latest photos of the 2014 McLaren 650S Coupe and Spider… Are. Gorgeous. This is not some flight-of-fancy. Not some floozy in a dim bar. This is sell-your-house beauty. Sell-your-kidneys sex appeal on wheels. Wow. Stunning stuff. Don’t say we didn’t warn you beforehand…! 2014 McLaren 650S – MANTIS GREEN 2014 McLaren 650S Is Devastatingly Gorgeous in 150 New Photos in 4 Colors   2014 McLaren 650S – WHITE 2014 McLaren 650S – ORANGE 2014 McLaren 650S – BLUE

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MEGA Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8 CrewMax Limited

INTRO   Ahh, the joys of moving from a little car to a giant truck. Can they ever truly be overstated? The first few minutes, you are simply in awe at how large a vehicle you are piloting. The steering can feel a bit slow, and the width takes getting used to. But after less than a mile, you start to “get it.” You get the big view forward and to all sides. You get the sense that the roominess of the Tundra’s cabin goes on for miles and miles. And you get the sense, most importantly, that you are …

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VIDEO: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is Most Fun at Road America Autocross Track

Do you ever want to reach into TopGear magazine sometimes and shake them by the collar, yelling: “YES, We know the Fiesta ST is fun. Next topic!” Oh, that is just me? Whatever then! I have gotten really fatigued with Fiesta ST rave reviews. It just didn’t seem relevant. Until the first peel-out. On the go-kart-track turned Autocross of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the Fiesta ST comes alive. I finally get it. Finally. Finally! The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST really is a hoot. It is How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It is the g-spot in Octopussy. …

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2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Review + All Colors and Wheels Visualizer

Panamera desire but also confusion? Such is life in the fast lane. This hugely-successful model has bloomed into an eight-strong fleet this year. What is new? The Turbo S, Panamera LWB, Diesel and even this all-new plug-in e-Hybrid. (Versions outlined and pricing comparisons here in previous article.) The Panamera S e-Hybrid slides in between the Panamera S and the Panamera 4S on price. Surely, luxury limo’s are passe company cars for those with more dollars than actual eco guilt? No longer. The Panamera S e-Hybrid is the first-ever plug-in luxury car in existence. Doubtful? Count them down. 1. Tesla = …

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2015 Subaru WRX Colors – All 7 Shades in Animated Turntables + Track Testing Videos

The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more rigid chassis, same awesome handling, but now much better-looking and far more liveable on a daily basis. The regular WRX is also darn close to the STI in the official sprint times: 5.2s for the WRX plays about 4.8-seconds for the STI. This test car is the automatic, which is a CVT this year with six-speed or eight-speed paddle-shifter settings available. Unfortunately, the automatic WRX did not feel quite as peppy as the manual cars’ times suggest above: we estimate this automatic WRX to hit 60-mph in about 6.2 …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale

This Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale looks good enough to eat! Adorable lines shown here, in a style that is a dead ringer for the Ferrari road cars of this year as well. Monterey 15 – 16 August 2014 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale Chassis no. MI 0139154 MI Engine no. SL0215   Entrant at the 1954 and 1955 Mille Miglias; One-off, custom-built Italian competition coupe; Extensive restoration by the current owner; Shown at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance  

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1961 Aston-Martin DB4 Superleggera – Lost by Castrol Ltd, Found By You

This sentence originally closed the article, but must be bumped to the front: This is a Superleggera car — with an alloy bodyshell! HIGHLY DESIRABLE…! Carrozzeria Touring handled these few cars, if we are not mistaken… This DB4 was originally delivered to Castrol in the United Kingdom, forty years before Castrol motor oils officially became part of British Petroleum in the year 2000. For trivia buffs, CC Wakefield and Company became Castrol in 1960, before being purchased by Burmah Oil in 1966. But this has nothing to do with this outstandingly-authentic DB4, which is in true “Barn-Find” condition. Somehow, the …

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1963 JAGUAR E-Type Series 1 Classes Up Kiawah Island Cars and Coffee

Classes up? Kiawah is already pretty darn fancy, including this faux village of a town square. The mini town is dubbed Fresh Fields, by the way, in charming faux-thenti-city. But the presence of any genuine Jaguar E-Type Series I instantly adds charm to any venue. Even when painted a color I dubbed “Swedish Racing Purple.” No, it does not make sense. Yes, this English charmer is painted what is claimed to be a factory color. But still, this deep lilac metallic pearl (?) is pretty far from the dark greens that most E-Types wore out the factory doors… 1963 JAGUAR …

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Scoots Around Go-Kart Autocross at Road America

Alternative headlines? “GSR Aims at Autocross Target, Misses.” “Beetle GSR Drives Like It Has Gorilla On Roof.” The Beetle GSR is supposedly tailor-made for racing and timed laps – it even includes a chronometer stopwatch right in the central dashboard and racing stripes outside. Unfortunately, all who drove it at Road America last week came away with various harsh critiques. Brakes were spongy and non-existent, the tires washed out all sense of grip, it felt pokey, and most damning of all: it handled extremely poorly. My critique that it felt like a gorilla was on the roof was echoed by …

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Volkswagen Vision GTI Roadster for GT6 Scores 4Motion and 500HP Twin-Turbo VR6

The GranTurismo Vision concept series is still in roll-out mode – there are perhaps 20 more special concept cars still to come from all sorts of brands, including Lexus, Subaru Alfa-Romeo and more. Subaru’s looks very tasty – stay tuned for more details on Subie’s fast wagon prototype. For today, however, all eyes are on the VW #VisionGTI – a deliciously chopped-top roadster that is also packing huge four-wheel-drive power. Tallies are nearly 500-horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque to the 4Motion drivetrain. A seven-speed DSG is also in the mix – ensuring this little GTI will be running hot …

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2015 Kia K900 Potential Revealed in Flesh: LED Low, High and Brake Lighting Photos

2015 Kia K900 LED Lighting Photos   We are in major fence-mending mode at the moment with Kia after learning the extremely displeased reaction the company has had to some of the previus coverage written on this keyboard. A thoughtful and well-prepared brief on the K900 luxury sedan accompanied part of last week’s big rally at Road America – and it does make one believe that there is a market for this car, albeit small. The K900 will appeal to self-made men and women of all stripes. They will be successful and define success based on their own metrics, less …

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2015 Audi A7 and S7 Refresh Brings New LEDs, Detail Tweaks and New Wheels

The Audi A7 and S7 are clear winners – they are so attractive and so fast that they make a strong case for themselves versus everything from the BMW 5 and 6 series all the way to the S-Class and even the Audi A8. The biggest competition for the glamourous Audi A7, S7 and RS7 really comes from the Porsche Panamera, in my opinion. So the keep the trendiest and most fashionable clients in the business happy, the A7 and S7 gain new LED lighting solutions front and rear for 2015. These images show the UK spec cars, with no …

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Travel Adventures – 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE Visits USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier

PART TWO OF FOUR: 2014 Toyota Highlander TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES We’re still preparing the full review of the outstandingly smooth, easy and relaxing 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE. But there is a slight problem! Far too many great photos! =] Granted, it is a good problem to have. Especially for a new and sleek machine like this Highlander. The 2014 Highlander might be a bread/butter crossover model to many people, but to owners: it is a godsend. Small(ish) on the outside, huge on the inside. The new Highlander is extremely affordable but luxurious – and even really hustles on the roads with the XLE’s standard 270-horsepower …

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VIDEO: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – Exhaust Note, Interior and Performance Upgrades Debut

600-horsepower from the new Challenger SRT’s supercharged Hellcat engine — all fired up and ready to roar into the record books with deliveries starting in late Summer 2014! ENGINE START-UP AND REVS VIDEO The coolest aspects of the new Challenger SRT are the Viper-inspired hood with extra breathing and venting ports, plus the hollow driver-side highbeam lamp – which delivers air right into the airbox of the Hellcat. The interior is completely redesigned, with a much more comfortable-looking seating arrangement for the big SRT racing thrones. The infotainment is also far better, as are the new bi-xenon lights that run …

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Track Lap and Road Test Review – 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 3LT Z51

INTRO I am the biggest Corvette Stingray “convert” for this C7 generation – I am a true believer. This is coming from someone who has long scoffed at the Corvette, even as the ZR-1 blazed back to reality in recent years. I just was stuck with the old thoughts of perves driving the 1980s cars, or old fat men driving the 1990s cars. But then I got some time behind the wheel of the coupe in October 2013, and it all changed. I was like a man who had found sportscar God. Eager to tell friends and strangers alike how …

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This 1974 Triumph TR6 Is Track-Prepped and Rally-Ready in Flat Black

Any car with X’s over the headlights is an instant favorite. It is a sign that the car is ready to play — and play hard. This Triumph TR6 from ~1974 at Kiawah Island Cars and Coffee definitely looks ready to run itself with the gas pedal pinned to the floorboards. The paint-job is a bit heat-collecting for the hot South Carolina summers; at least top-down air will keep you cool once on the move. Overall, the lower rally lights and good body panels make this car a chic and fun option versus a modern roadster. All the thrills, but hopefully …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype

Ahh, the joy of discovery. Discovery? Is that the right word for ‘finding’ something that many knew about before, and which has existed for the last 50 years? Hm… Nevertheless, imagine my surprise and delight upon seeing this GT40 Roadster Prototype on the RM Auctions website today. Less than a month ago we asked ourselves a hypothetical question: what if there had been a GT40 Can-Am Spyder? It is great to see that not only is there one, there were 12 made in all. This one has an all-star owner and driver list that includes none other than Carroll Shelby …

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1966 Toyota 2000GT Targa – Bond Movie Car Idea Realized, But Earned Only $200k in RM Auctions London 2010

In the 1960s, the 2000GT was best known from the line… “Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond.” In 2014? “Welcome to Monte Carlo, Mr. Toyoda.”   This is the closing of the previous 2000GT article here on Car-Revs-Daily.com — so what is more appropriate than talking about Bond cars in this next article!? After it was discovered that the rather tall Sean Connery did not fit inside the 2000GT hardtop, Toyota was in a pickle. Eager to participate in the film, the company presented two ideas to the Bond producers: a targa or a cabriolet. Both would need to be made in …

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RM Auctions Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1968 Toyota 2000GT Joins Million-Plus Japanese Car Club

Rare is the key word for any Asian car to crest the million dollar mark — only two or three other 2000GT’s can claim membership, and only since 2013. Even referring to the group as “Asian” cars is quite a misnomer – no other car from South Korea or China is anywhere near this mark in classic car values. Values for the ultimate 1960s Japanese supercar are firmly on the ascent, with buyers eager to own its delicate curves and precision inline-six engine. Outright power is not really part of the appeal with only 150-horsepower available from the Yamaha-partnership engine …

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2014 MINI Superleggera Concept is Dreamy Roofless Speedster With Corvette, Porsche, Aston and Jag Influences

As shown by the Car-Revs-Daily.com exclusive renders of a possible GT40 Can-Am Spyder, Corvette Stingray Speedster and the GT-R Spider — you know we are huge fans of roofless cars. Most of these are not quite “cabriolets” in the ‘convertible’ sense – there is only one setting.   They are strictly fair-weather friends. But the lack of a roof mechanism frees the designers to go wild, and the results are nearly always miraculously beautiful. Clear influences for this MINI Superleggera come from the Jaguar D-Type (and Project 7…), as well as the Porsche 718 RSK Spyder and even a handful of …

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2014 BMW M5 Track Tested at Road America in 1080P HD Video

Have you ever dreamed about something for so long that you start to lose hope about ever doing it in real life? That is the BMW M5 for me. But I drove this dream. Not just drove it around a parking lot, either: we hit 130-mph at Road America. Afterward, the M5 asked me to remind you…: “Dream Big.” The BMW M5 is the hottest woman, the biggest house, and the best job all rolled into one super saloon car. I have longed for the car – felt the ache in my loins to get behind the wheel every morning …

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Gorgeous 2015 Alfa-Romeo 4C Revealed in Full USA Trim + New Headlights!

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 plates and the latest headlamps from the 4C Spider concept. Trust me on this: the car is absolutely divine in person, with proportions and style to make your heart ache. The new lights feature shrouded projector-beams flanked by four white LED daytime-running-lights above the main beam. It is subtle …

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RM Auctions Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1973 DeTomaso Pantera Rally Special Is Low-Brow Heaven

See!? Just when you think DeTomaso will start bringing some serious loot for his supercars, along comes this Pantera Rally Special – earning just under $80,000 total. The Pantera took the Mangusta design to the next epoch of supercar style, with a slant-nose and hidden lamps that were all the rage by 1973. But the Pantera is really a victim of its own popularity and success — the name alone has less cache now than it deserves. This is mostly due to the volume of cars imported to America, and the owners being a less-than-classy bunch. This is like the rockstar …

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Brings $367k of Supercar Hedonism

Oh, this is a great total to see. Overall, DeTomaso machines typically do not deliver the value they should when you consider their beauty and hand-made Italian designs. The shortcut of using an American engine has never been kind to the values of classics, with even the Face Vega’s of Paris and many others really not delivering the stratospheric sales prices of Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s of the same provenance and era. This Mangusta is quite a sinfully delicious design, with a brutality to its nose that was and is a nice counterpoint to the streamlined Daytona Ferrari, pin-sharp Maserati Ghibli …

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RM Auctions Monaco 2014 – Ferrari Enzo Stuns in Yellow over Black

  2003! That is eleven years ago. But even today, you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful and crave-able hypercar. At least until LaFerrari starts its march to greatness…! Official Details and Photo Credit below to RM Auctions. 2003 Ferrari Enzo To be auctioned on Saturday, May 10, 2014 Sold for €868.000 Chassis no. ZFF CZ5 6B0 0013 3512 660 bhp, 5,998 cc DOHC 65-degree V-12 engine with Bosch Motronic engine management and electronic fuel injection, six-speed electro-hydraulic computer-controlled sequential F1 gearbox, limited-slip differential and traction control, front and rear pushrod-actuated double wishbones with horizontal external reservoir coil-spring damper …

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C by Scaglietti Brings $7.8M

Such a high total makes perfect sense for this daring 1966 Ferrari – one of the last of the dominating 250-derived models to actually see and win races. One of the other 12 cars like this actually took first place at LeMans in its class in 1965, proving beyond any doubt that there was something quite special in the car’s mystique. A three-pack of reasons are most logical for explaining the Monaco-topping $7.8-million earned by this immaculate example, and they go beyond rarity. — Alloy panels were an exotic prospect then and now versus the typical steel-bodied racers, and on …

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National Corvette Museum Racecars! 1963 Z06 Excited For New NCM Race Track

There are more than a few hundred stop-and-stare Chevrolets at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.   But isn’t the NCM all closed up following a natural disaster the other week? No sir. The museum itself consists of six or seven distinct buildings, 90% of which are still open to the public. Every day, all year long. Business as usual for this all-star local attraction. This is a big summer for NCM already: the 20th anniversary celebrations fill the summer calendar here. This article focuses on two things: — introducing the soon-completed NCM Motorsports park directly across the …

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Low-Volume Specials – Buick Regal Country Tourer Could Be Yours… At A Price

When a long-term product plan from GM was released a few years ago by a disgruntled employee CMO to a German newspaper, the revelations about what exactly lay ahead for Opel were quickly silenced. Luckily, it was not the Guardian who received the documents. The one thing I recall before all the news … went away … was the Country Tourer name for a potential Vectra replacement wagon.   An all-road-style option for families who not only need AWD, but need some extra ground clearance and gravel resistance on the lower panels as well. These are not some kind of …

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Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is DeltaWing MX-5

Nissan today revealed an exciting new prototype sports car that blends the best thinking in racing ev tech, track-day lightness, and Z-car purity. As a pinched nose design, the BladeGlider is most similar, in negineering terms, to the Nissan-backed 2012 DeltaWing experimental LeMans entry. Sharing key rear-axle torque vectoring should allow the BladeGlider to have the precision and incredible pace of the DelaWing — but the affordable pricing and market potential of a Mazda MX-5 competitor. Interesting. Confusing. Exciting.  

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Track-Prepped 1985 Porsche 911 Whale Tale Is Mighty Desirable Machine

Maybe it is the lack 5-mph bumpers. Or maybe it is the whale tale. Or maybe the headlight shrouds and the racing seats. Or maybe the roll cage. But this 911 looks fun and daring in a very modern way, even nearly 30 years since its production date in the mid-1980s…   Track-Prepped 1985 Porsche 911 Whale Tale Is Mighty Desirable Machine – GALLERY  

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2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith First Drive – A Fleeting Fantasma

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith First Drive – A Fleeting Fantasma Since being swept away on a huge wave of new-found enthusiasm for the Double-R, Wraith has never been more than a few thoughts away. As fun and posh and unforgettable as the ride in a *brand new* Phantom Series II was – the time spent inside Wraith is most tingly. I should mention this now: the name of the vehicle is simply “Wraith” – without anything in front. It might be a bit formal at first, but if not for a 624-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-12 coupe.. when? Some of the colors that …

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2016 USA Honda Civic Type R Renderings + Strategic Rationale

YAY… HONDA MOJO IS BACK! After guest editor Chris May’s article this week, the Honda sportscar fan owner situation feels very real. His main message was one of frustration and confusion about the lack of a US Type R akin to the outstanding concept and real-life model that is heading to Japan, Europe and the UK within the next year or so as a production car. Spy Shots photo credit: MotorAuthority.com Finally. Finally! A turbo engine in a Honda Civic that is promised to deliver “at least” 280 horsepower. And a lean and mean pocket-rocket bodystyle that packs five doors …

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Concept Flashback – 1997 Nissan Trail Runner – Inspired Peugeot’s 2015 DAKAR Entry?

Definitely ahead of its time, this 1997 Trail Runner concept. Nissan was ahead of Jeep and many others who started sensing this small/fast off-roader trend by the early 2000s. Other big guys threw more production muscle to make sketches like this car a real thing, but the results were shockingly-bad from Pontiac and Jeep. Yes, both the Pontiac Aztek and Jeep Compass were, in fact, really cool sketches and designs at first. But they were both D.O.A. in production thanks to tiny tires and no engine power to match the compact off-road racer premise. Time has finally come for these …

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2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO Facelift Arrives In July With New LED Nose and New Recaros

The lack of LED lighting in the 370Z Nismo really struck me as odd when briefly testing the 2014 model in October of last year. Here is a car that is too-cool-for-school in almost every other way, but still lacking one of the most sought-after pieces of aesthetic technology? That is rectified for 2015, with the new 370Z NISMO not just tacking on some Pep Boys mods: the entire front clip and nose aerodynamics have been redesigned. The red accent on the chin spoiler is sinfully delicious, as are the aforementioned LEDs themselves. 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO Facelift Other tweaks …

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype in Bright White Earns $653k

The Porsche 959 is my ultimate dream-car, and has been for almost my entire life. This surviving prototype was one of the first cars ever made, and is flawless in its originality. This includes Denloc racing wheels, cloth interior and bright white paint. Dreamy barely does this one justice, even with some panel gap issues in the hood and elsewhere. Re-discovered my RM Auctions media credentials, so here is the 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype in all is mega-high-res glory.   1985 Porsche 959 Prototype To be auctioned on Saturday, May 10, 2014 Sold for €476.000 Chassis no. WPOZZZ93ZFS010067 Code no. …

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1993 Bugatti EB110 GT Brings $384k of Rapid Hypercar Class

That is great value for this sure-to-appreciate asset. Originally priced in the $450,000 ballpark even back in 1993, this rare Verde Scuro (dark green) EB110 GT is the epitome of the aristocrat’s hypercar. Not yellow and not even Bugatti Blue – this is one for cruising under the radar. But cruising at warp speeds. The original quad-turbo engine was plenty to scoot this incredible machine to 60-mph in 3.7-seconds before ultimately reaching a top speed of more 213 mph. This is in completely stock transmission and tire settings, by the way — which cannot be said for the 240-mph Vmax …

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1969 Lamborghini Miura S Jota

Flip lamps or flush lamps? The eternal supercar question plays out with this 1969 Lamborghini Miura S, which includes the Jota-specification flush lamps. The overall appearance is far more modern than the original Miura’s oval and black-shrouded flip-up headlights, and likely much sleeker through the air with them on as well. The Miura S models banished much of the front-end lift at high speeds for which the original Miura was criticized, but, we wonder: are those flip-up headlights also a factor? They would act like a wall of air in the nose, causing inevitable weighting onto the back of the …

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