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RM Hershey 2015 Preview – 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe

This feels timely. But is outre and fabulous on its own, even without Dawn intro…! This 1950s Cloud is just lovely. It shows how far Rolls-Royce has come, but the luxury standard continuing uninterrupted. In example? A giant air conditioner unit up front in this ragtop, plus rear table trays in matching burl walnut. 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe RM London 2015 London 7 September 2015 Lot 160 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead CoupĂ© Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold for ÂŁ218,400 Chassis no. SNH14 Engine no. SN139 Body no. 6213 …

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RM London 2015 - 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 6

RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 Is Ultimate Soapbox Fantasy Racecar

If the debate between Huracan and Miura might be clearly won by the new model, the same is not true for track cars. Imagine actually driving a snorting, rorting racecar to your local track, racing a few hot laps til afternoon, then rumbling home. The design and ultra-short wheelbase of this 1974 Abarth 2000 SE makes it pin-prick accurate. And fiesty. 280-horsepower from a LM-spec four-cylinder? Yep. Rearing to go! RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 RM London 7 September 2015 Lot 127 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold …

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VOS CARS BMW M4-6

2015 BMW M4 by VOS-CARS.de Adds 120HP, Clubsport KW Chassis and Akrapovic Exhaust

Another stunner from the German custom car scene! 2015 BMW M4 by VOS-CARS.de BMW-M4-PROJECT by VOS The word might have spread that the term standard is missing from the vocabulary of VOS company seated in Neckarwestheim. Even for assumingly perfect vehicles of euphonic names the Baden-WĂĽrttembergers and their head Michael KELLER do have improvements at hand, may it be regarding the casing or the engine. Perfection is always priority in Neckarwestheim without restricting road capability in any way. This time the VOS-team picked a BMW M4 to let it shine with all its qualities with their VOS-Performance. First there is …

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2016 Optima SXL

2016 Kia Optima Is Wider With New Tech, Fresh Style and Mid-Spec Turbo DCT

The 2016 Optima is arriving in showrooms this month featuring fresh style, tech and mechanicals. Despite initially very-familiar looks for this wider and longer-wheelbased model, the design is new. Organic flow to the body surfacing and even the trademark roof accents is now more flowing and less choppy. The angular look with sharp edges has been smoothed out nicely. Example? Check out the clean doors and sills. Just pure and impressive lines. The proportions are enhanced via a new-look rear quarter window and dark roof on the loaded SX and SXL models.  The overall effect helps the Optima look rear-drive …

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2017 Bentley BENTAYGA Colors and Options Configurator + Sexy Black Brightware Specification

The Bentayga just launched last night, so its full configurator going live at the same time is a big deal! All is there… minus one detail at the end: the price. Even so, among the hundreds of custom options lie some very tempting choices to really make it roar in your style. We’ve spent wayyy too long in there today so will pop out and show you a smattering of the fabulousness via 50 or so color samples, a wheels guide/visualizer, and even a look at the accessories and options. But first: a nugget of smile-inducing info about the Bentayga? …

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

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

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

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

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2016 Toyota PRIUS 9

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

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

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

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

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4.0s, 187MPH 2017 Bentley BENTAYGA Is Official! Full Launch Details, Video and Tech Specs

Welcome to the most luxurious SUV ever made. The new Bentley BENTAYGA has been many years in the making, but the results look worth every minute of effort. This Q7 and Cayenne-derived vehicle will join the Lamborghini LM002 from the 1980s in the hall of fame books. Why? 12 giant cylinders in front. Stonking power, balanced foot-down handling and cloud-like air suspension all join forces to make the BENTAYGA a fascinating look into the future of super-trucks. The huge engine and worlds-fastest top speed for an SUV will help set the Bentaya apart from its siblings, and also the most …

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Update1 – 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out

Updated 9.8.15 With 101 Real-Life Photos The all-new Lexus RX is here and stunning! As Lexus’ all-star sales champ, the RX redesign for 2016 is an all-important step in keeping the Big L’s sales and market share near the top of the luxury brand ranks. To fend of new competition from all sides in this five-seat crossover segment, the RX is dramatically redone in almost every way. First off, the style. DESIGN ANALYSIS Wearing Lexus’s new design brief and its interesting, unique and captivating creases and angles, the RX is far more exciting to look at than it has been …

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2017 Rolls-Royce DAWN Is Sleek New Wraith Cabrio – Updated With Configurator Details

Updated 9.8.15 With 55 New Images, Inspired Collection and Configurator Link Huge news at Rolls-Royce today: the all-new Dawn cabriolet debuted at a star-studded Goodwood reveal. This new Roller is quite a special development for the world’s finest carmaker: a Wraith convertible positions Rolls to capture a far younger and far hipper buyer than the traditional owner base. Elegant and subtle in design while being a grand event of a machine, the Dawn will compete with the Bentley Mulsanne and GTC ragtops, the new S-Class Cabriolet and super-exotics like Ferrari’s and McLarens. Of course, its half-million estimated price also competes …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery Part Three 50

SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Part Three

  Updated 9.7.15 with 111 New Photos   Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN, DBX and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars came close. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, Cali T and Tailor Made F12? Or how …

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2016 BMW 750Li Stars in Massive New Photoshoot

Updated 9.7.15 The new 7 Series is here! This is a major update — firmly on the ‘revolution’ side of the typical BMW model evolution. Not a piece of exterior shared with the current range, this new 750 headlines with 250-pounds of weight loss via the new carbon/steel/aluminum platform. Is this new ‘carbonium’ a woven mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber? Something out of CyberDyne Systems? Almost. This new carbon-fiber is industrially-produced using large-scale methods of the BMW i3 and i8, Boeing tech partnership and Toray Industries materials expertise. The passenger cell sides and doorframes appear to be the primary recipients …

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Audi A4 2

2017 Audi A4 Arrives to USA in March – Updated With 150 New Images

Updated 9.7.15 With 150 New Images We’ve been scouring the web for a closer look at some real-life photos of the next A4. The initial renderings left much to be desired, both in terms of style and believeability. This next batch is a mixture of photos, new official renders, and stills from the launch video. Overall, there is definitely a fresh stance to the new model — especially so thanks to the new double check of LED DRLS in front, plus low/light LED pipes in back. The lamps then are pretty sexy. But what about the rest? Nothing great to …

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2016 Dacia Duster AltaĂŻ Green 6

2016 Dacia Duster Adds Easy-R Automatic + AltaĂŻ Green and Urban Explorer Specials

  As you know, Renault’s budget brand Dacia has been a surprise hit in developed, rich-world markets in the last few years. European buyers like the large size of the vehicle, its basic running-gear and cheap configurations. Even loaded, the Duster SUV is priced around 20-percent less than a Nissan Qashqai’s base price. Along with Dacia’s growing global popularity comes a new Oroch pickup model next year, plus some jazzed-up Dusters with new tech and special-edition trim levels. The new tech is an automated-manual transmission dubbed Easy-R — which may be the first time a self-shifter has been in the …

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985HP MANSORY Black Edition S63 Coupe Debuts Before Frankfurt with Giant Rear Wing!

  MANSORY is getting pumped for its home auto show: the IAA in Frankfurt next week. The big reveal this year will be a Black Edition S63 AMG Coupe. This blacked-out stunner has dramatic exterior and interior changes from every angle. In addition to the expected new bumper and intakes up front, new fender slashes behind the lead axle promise functional cooling benefits as well as the massive style they bring. A full de-chrome for the windowline and glasshouse is dramatic and effective, as are the rear wheel brake cooling ducts. Around back, a dark carbon-fiber finish for the diffuser …

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

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

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2016 Range Rover SENTINEL 1

2016 Range Rover SENTINEL Is New SVO Armored Upgrade

Special Vehicle Operations at JLR is delivering some very cool specials lately — in the form of the Project 7 F-Type speedster and RRS SVR. Both coming from an all-new side factory in Oxford specifically created to produce JLR’s most exclusive vehicles. But this armored Range Rover Sentinel takes the cake as a hugely upgraded, hugely customized vehicle. The fortification is a chassis-up job incorporating the original engineering teams and blueprints. Alloy for the chassis and bodywork is now wrapped above massive steel plating on all sides. The armor promises protection up to 7.6MM armor-piercing bullets, up to 15KG of …

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2017 Porsche 911 Carrera Goes TURBO! +20HP and -0.2s For New H6TT Standard Engines

This is a pretty interesting bit of news!  The standard Porsche 911 Carrera will go turbocharged from the 2017 model-year. All-new boxer six engines in 3.0-liter displacements run standard twin turbochargers. Outputs are up 20-horsepower for both Carrera and C2S models: 370 plays 420 in the Carrera S. The new engines deliver a 62-mph sprint that is down 0.2-seconds for both models. For the first time, the PDF Carrera S will scorch up to 100-kph in just 3.9-seconds. But what about the iconic sound of the 911? Will this mark another degradation in harmonics, a la the 993 –> 996 …

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Ferrari Cavalcade 2015 Galleries + LaFerrari FXX K in Fly Yellow!

Ferrari’s whirlwind summer is still booming  – with more global activities and launches than ever before this year. The IPO of Ferrari could come any day this Fall. We’ll have around a week’s notice, per NYSE schedules. The media site is full of gorgeous snapshots into the fast life of Ferrari owners lately — including the week-long International Cavalcade, visit to the Green Hell, and even a special birthday gift: an FXX K in Giallo Modena for an American buyer. She started hitting Fiorano hard right after the presentation ceremony — achieving a 1-min, 20-second lap that is close to …

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1972 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Shooting Brake 6

One-Off 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake from Hexagon Classics

Here is a very special machine — an estate-car variant of the legendary Ferrari Daytona. Originally commissioned in 1972, the car headed from Modena to England for its retrofit to custom wagon bodywork. When completed nearly two years later, the bespoke creation headed to its forever-home in Florida — where it was the only Ferrari to fit two people and two golf bags at the same time! Loading those clubs might have been tricky, however. Butterfly glass canopies on each side of the shooting brake rear end were the only access to the newly huge trunk, despite the giant glass …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Part Two in 168 New Photos

  Updated 9.6.15 with 168 New Photos   Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN, DBX and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars came close. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, Cali T and Tailor Made F12? Or how …

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SALON PRIVE 2015 Mega Gallery – Aston VULCAN, LaFerrari FXX K and McLaren P1 GTR Headline Massive Hypercar Haul

Wowwwww! Every car who is any kind of supercar was at Salon Prive this week. Blenheim palace is rarely upstaged, but LaFerrari, LaFerrari FXX K, McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin VULCAN and DB10, Koenigseggs, Zenvo ST1, Pagani Huayra and a bevy of other hypercars sure tried their hardest. The bubble-top Jaguar won Best-in-Show, but the votes cast obviously skew retro for Concours awards. For hypercar fanatics, the new metal does not come more exotic and exclusive than the 200-plus vehicles on display. Did we mention 2017 Ford GT, GTA Spano, Tramontana, Toroidion, Porsche 918 Spyder, RIMAC concept one, Ferrari’s 488, …

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

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

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4K Drive Video 4-Pack – 2015 Lexus RC-F Hits State Park Twisties HARD!

At one point declaring the RC-F the 2015 Car-Revs-Daily.com Car of the Year… these videos are dynamic evidence of a terrific car. And it speaks for itself more than ever. Direct correlation between YouTube video likes and less narration from your scribe?!  Perhaps! But works best when hanging the tail out on this 4.4-second stallion. Or running 0-100-mph sprints on desolate state park roads. Just you, the car and a GoPro! Watch this space for the full RC-F drive review in the coming weeks. Until then, the car does a mighty fine job making a case for a $73k Lexus …

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2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé Edition 1 + 2016 DTM Racecar 1

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé Edition 1 + 2016 DTM Racecar Preview

Can you tell that the Mercedes-AMG racing team has been eager for a new C-Class Coupe!? Just days after the reveal of the new C63-S Coupe, we have our first look at the 2016 DTM racecar. Even without being a fan of this hardcore German touring car series, you know that the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Merc CLK are locked in a three-way battle for checkered flags, flashbulbs and column inches. The new C63 DTM car is almost a perfect mirror image of a custom C63 Coupe Edition 1 model to be produced in limited numbers, and only …

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2015 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Z71 4WD Custom Sport Edition 9

Road Test Review – 2015 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Z71 4WD Custom Sport Edition

Imagine a grinning face with a smile so big it put dimples on my cheeks. It was an August Wednesday — my change day for press drive vehicles — and I learned it would be a double week. And not just two polar-opposites; this week would be a head-to-head battle between a bright blue 2015 F-150 and a Diamond White Silverado. You might think you know what to expect of a different trim level of a car you’ve driven before. A Camry is a Camry is a Camry, right? But these trucks are different. Exponentially large configuration choices in the …

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JAGUAR 2016 Model-Year: Big Price Cuts + $35k Base for New XE25t Rear-Drive Sedan

Jaguar’s transition to aluminum has been a godsend for playful and fun handling. Even the big XJ can be thrown around with verve. The flipside of the lightweight alloy? Price, of course. Luckily, Jaguar is adjusting its 2016 USA lineup’s pricing. Big chops in list prices are not really in the calculus — the max cut is around $3k — but better standard equipment will take much of the sting out of the options list. Aluminum is currently at six-year price lows as the global commodities slump takes hold — so this is not pure altruism on Jaguar’s part. Jaguar …

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RECON MC8 By Potter and Rich 17

RECON MC8 Is 1000HP Audi R8 V10 Plus with LMS Carbon Reskin and GT3 Aero

  This is our first intro to English supercar boutique Potter and Rich — but they are making a strong impression even across an ocean! The latest P&R custom is dubbed the RECON MC8 — and is a wildly ugraded Audi R8 V10 Plus. Ten are planned for sale to customers, with a laundry list of racing upgrades and custom details. Most importantly … the RECON MC8 is a racecar for the road!  Anyone with eyes or ears will know that as the beast rumbles past. A supercharged and strengthened V10 engine comes from McChip-DKR in Germany, while the shouty …

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3.7s BRABUS C600 Rockets to 186MPH Via ECU Module + New Active Exhaust

Imagine getting a UPS package about the size of a textbook arriving on your doorstep. Head to the garage, and within a half hour, your new machine could be making an extra 100 horsepower! That is the idea with the first set of power modules from BRABUS for the new C63-S. Power is the Geneva show-car spec is up to 591-horsepower from the stock 510 thanks to the BRABUS ECU re-flash but also a new exhaust system. Extra downpipe and muffler capacity is a must to max out a turbo engine tune, so all this works together. The new exhaust …

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

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

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2015 Renault ALASKAN 17

2015 Renault ALASKAN Concept Previews Upcoming Mid-Size Pickup Truck

Renault just revealed a pretty exciting Frankfurt concept — without a shred of coyness, either. The ALASKAN pickup truck concept is an overt preview of an upcoming Renault to be sold globally. The firm hopes to firm up its market-leading position in the light commercial vehicle segment, which is exploding with dual-use buyers in the UK and dozens of other markets. Tax advantages and the huge functionality of pickup trucks meets modern style, efficiency and tech for these buyers. This idea is nothing new, of course, for the 3-million US pickup sales annually. The vast majority of those trucks are …

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2016 BMW 340i 32

2016 BMW 340i M Sport and 330d xDrive in 150 New Photos

A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

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Vision G Coupe Concept

2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe STUNS In New Photo Set

Updated With 35 New Photos Second time we’ve totally come around to a Hyundai Genesis lately? Yep! This design is really warming up in the latest photos. 2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe PREVIOUS   Pebble Beach Concours is a huge draw for the wealthiest car lovers worldwide. As such, it is a pretty intense marketing spectacle for selling new cars along with all the best classics on display. But this crowd is seriously snooty, at times. Last year, a KIA K900 display manned with fresh drinks sought to lure people into test drives of the flagship luxury sedan. Over …

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PD800GT Widebody & nonWB Aerodynamik-Kit for Mercedes AMG GTS6

Mercedes-AMG GT by PRIOR DESIGN – PD800GT Widebody Aero Upgrades Include Ducktail Rear Wing!

Brace yourself: this new Prior Design AMG GT-S is one of the most intriguing supercar upgrades available at any price. The brand-new AMG GT and GT-S are clearly a huge achievement over the SLS. More beautiful, more fun to drive and of course, much faster… the new AMG GT also broadens the appeal of the SLS supercar via a 50-percent price cut. A base price for this ultra wide and low supercar from just $135k for the US GT-S throws the car right in the middle of Porsche 911 Turbo and Bentley Continental GT V8S lineups. But the intensity of …

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2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition – 150-Unit Special Wears SPECTRE Silver, Custom 007 Touches

Aston just rolled out a new special to celebrate the new James Bond film, SPECTRE, debuting this fall. For all the shared cache among Bond and Aston, we cannot recall another specifically badged Aston model with the Bond name. This is likely down to simple licensing costs, or brand covetousness within Sony pictures. An Aston Martin wearing 007 James Bond badges will always have a huge built-in fanbase, though, and the time is right to co-brand. A far cry from the DB10 prototype in the film, the DB9 GT Bond Edition is still fairly special in its own right. A …

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2015 Citroen Cactus M Concept – Jolly Surf Special Runs Inflatable AirFrame Soft-Top

  French makes, and Citroen in particular, have a strange and unjustified fascination with surf cars. Think of these as part Fiat Jolli with its wicker seats, and part Jeep Wrangler. But with Euro6 emissions and zero practicality. We saw this in the Pluriel and numerous Cacti concepts over the years. The new Cactus M is a far more practical fantasy, if that is possible. Real doors and even a roof! The convertible crossover has fixed A and D-pillars in a sexy woodgrain wrap. The contrast between these organic pillars and the bright Hawaiian blue of the body is certainly …

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2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo World Premiere – 300MPH Fantasy LM Racer Is Close To Reality

The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo bowed this morning — as a stunning masterpiece, of course! The full-scale prototype will be on the Frankfurt show stand mid-month, where this racing-focused redesign of the Veyron SS Vitesse will fill in for a next-generation Bugatti reveal. A Veyron-shaped machine is currently in hot and cold weather testing at the moment — quashing rumors of a Bugatti SUV or limousine as the Veyron replacement. This shared overall mid-engine look is all that we know from the test cars dubbed Chiron in some auto mags. In this regard, the currently-testing Bugatti is likely to be …

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet (A 217) 2015

2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic Cabriolet Leads All-New S-Class Ragtop Range

  World premiere season is starting to really deliver!  Just a week ahead of the reveal of the new Rolls-Royce Dawn — a Wraith Cabrio — Mercedes has rolled out its ultimate superlux ragtop. The new S550 and S63 Cabriolets are a new era for a six-strong S-Class bodystyle range. And for the first time in decades, the S-Class Coupe is special enough to justify an open-air version. This new S-Class Cabrio looks exceptionally promising: huge cabin, absolutely divine cabin with fresh design, and panache to easily match the Bentley Conti GTC. Two versions are promised for stateside buyers: both …

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Prior Design Turns Audi A5/S5/RS5 Into Credible Sport Quattro via PDA500 Widebody Aero Kit

  One more gorgeous widebody special to get the Citroen DS4 out of our systems… =]   Now that we have seen the 2016/2017 A4 , it is clear that the Audi mid-size models will be around in the current style for years to come. This is hugely disappointing for a variety of reasons.   Audi Sport Quattro But current owners of the A5/S5 and RS5 should not despair — there is actually a painless way to get the Sport Quattro Coupe Concept design cues today, The A5 PDA500WB conversion is one of the more stunning we have seen in …

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2015 TOPCAR Porsche Cayenne 5

2015 Porsche Cayenne Vantage and Vantage GTS by TOPCAR

Check out the latest stunning custom upgrades from TopCar: the Porsche Cayenne Vantage 2015. The GTS widebody version looks even better in real life than it did in the hot renders. The giant flares and carbon-fiber vented hood are some of the meanest on any SUV. More than two dozen exterior mods on all sides make the sleek new Cayenne every inch the super-truck. Available a la carte or as a package, the TopCar Cayenne parts are gorgeous in exposed carbon-fiber — but can also be ordered in any paint shade to match your Cayenne’s color code perfectly – right …

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2016 Citroen DS4 and DS4 Crossback 13

2016 Citroen DS4 and DS4 Crossback Revealed

  2016 Citroen DS4 Crossback   2016 Citroen DS4 NEW DS 4 AND DS 4 CROSSBACK: DS TAKES THE OFFENSIVE IN THE COMPACT VEHICLE SEGMENT One model, two distinct body styles and a new front end. A unique style featuring elements strongly emblematic of the DS style. Even more advanced technology, and extreme refinement still visible in every detail… Introducing New DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback. Sold in 115,000 examples since launch, DS 4 is gaining new impetus with the arrival of two complementary models: New DS 4, a dynamic and elegant hatchback for customers looking for feelings and …

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2016 BMW i8 FIA Formula E Pacecar – Wireless Charging + M8 Mods Roadmap?

BMW has re-signed as the official safety and medical car provider for the second-ever Formula E race series! The 2015/2016 series will feature a number of electric BMW’s on track for assistance and support duties, including bikes and an X5 eDrive. The i3 will be a medical support vehicle as well. But the really fast laps demand a fast safety and pacecar, of course! And here is the perfect machine, the PHEV BMW i8. And not just any i8, either. A few interesting tidbits about this pacecar are extremely promising. Wireless charging and a huge chassis upgrade that may point …

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2015 Peugeot FRACTAL Concept 18

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

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

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Triple Hit! 3 Gorgeous 2015 Porsche 918 Spyders on HRE P101 Forged Centerlock Wheels

One of the best ways to know if a new style of alloys is a good fit is how OEM they look. They should be credibly high-quality to match the overall hypercar ethos. But just a touch cooler, a touch more exclusive. The HRE P101 in Brushed Dark Clear centerlocks have just that dark and sexy glam element. But still look Weissach-ready. Here are the 22 finish swatches for the HRE P101 — with that last one representing a custom color. A few 918’s prefer HRE wheels — and the HRE Flickr feed has some incredible shots of Graham Rahal’s …

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2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DĂ„HLER Design & Technik 3

390HP, 4.0s 2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DĂ„HLER Design & Technik

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

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Koenigsegg Agera R ADV5

Custom Showcase – 2015 Koenigsegg Agera R on ADV1 Centerlock Alloys

  Upgrading hypercar wheels is a complex process at times. But not for the team at ADV1 wheels. The variety and customization choices from this exclusive wheel manufacturer is what makes ADV1 one of the most popular customizers for supercars and exotics. Walk-ins do not come much more exotic than a 2015 Koenigsegg Agera R! The Agera was fitted for ADV5.2 wheels in M.V1 cut, with the CS centerlock option. Among those many selections, you also have a dozen wheel finishes or limitless custom colors. This set of one-piece alloys is a mux of brushed aluminum for the spokes, with …

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2015 Mercedes-AMG GT S – Colors, Wheels and Options Visualizer

Considering how obsessed we are with the new AMG GT, it is somewhat surprising not to have explored the configurator yet. First observations: they are all gorgeous! Barely a bad style combo to be found — and some excellent ones hiding in the styling pack options. Semi surprising is that the AMG GT-S is the base model. No regular GT is available stateside, just the top power model. Base pricing is from $129,000 — which feels like exceptional value for such a super-wide and ultra-low machine. Whatever combo you pick among the six wheels, eleven colors and numerous options… you …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD with Ken Glassman

2015 Lincoln MKC AWD Review by Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman The Lincoln brand has been trying to find itself and find its place in the market for years now. They have produced some fine vehicles, but their focus has been a bit blurry. They need to appeal to younger buyers who for years have only considered German or Japanese luxury brands as being the real deal. But this compact crossover may be just the vehicle to boost the Lincoln cachet, and puts the brand on a path to growth and prosperity. The MKC has handsome, sophisticated exterior styling, performs well , …

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4.0s, 641HP 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Coupe – 65 New USA Photos + Tech Specs and Color Visualizer

While the new AMG GT-S is clearly the sportiest supercar in the Merc lineup, and various G-Class SUVs can top the S65’s overall price… this model is the spiritual flagship of Mercedes. It epitomizes everything Mercedes-Benz aspires to be — the sum of all its learnings as the inventor of the automobile. As such, a base price of $234k is a cool hundred grand above the quicker and much more exciting GT-S two-door. In addition, the S-Class Coupe packs a gigantic four-seat cabin. The back seat with 43 inches of legroom is limo-large. Only a chopped 10-cubic-foot trunk capacity — …

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smart fortwo cabrio 2015

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

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

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2016 SHELBY Mustang GT350 vs GT350R Track Duel in 80 Gorgeous Action Shots and Shrieking Video

Here is a perfect Friday happy-hour: a HOT video of the new GT350 and GT350R rocking out on track.  The flat-plane crank of two GT350R’s around the same corner is nothing short of racing nirvana. Grattan Raceway in Michigan hosted the GT350R launch drive, while the GT350 cranked at the corkscrew of Laguna Seca. Fast way to tell them apart? The GT350R wears the red Shelby badges versus a polished alloy finish for the GT350 Shelby emblems. A good thing to note at this point is that none of these cars is even a Shelby Cobra…. so there is still …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Ford F-150 XLT 4×4 SuperCab 2.7L EcoBoost – Goldilocks Lost

      The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is a truck we have gushed over and raved about since the moment it rolled on stage at the Detroit show in 2014. Our drive opportunities so far have confirmed this future-tech masterclass is the most advanced pickup truck ever made. Loaded spec levels, LED lighting galore and prices above $50k have been our taste of the truck to date — so it was fantastic to spend a week of intensive driving the most-popular XLT with the mid-range 2.7-liter EcoBoost. What we found left us scratching our foreheads. There are a few …

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

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

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2017 Jaguar F-PACE Preview: F-Type Chassis + AWD SUV Stance = Ruthless Macan-Hunter

Grace, space and pace is the promise of the new Jaguar F-PACE SUV. The 2017 model will go on sale in 2016, per JLR below, after its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in a few weeks. The truck is looking better and better to our eyes. A slinky and slim glasshouse marries a swoopy SUV shape to the long-hood, chopped-tail appearance of the F-Type two-seater. The combo sounds weird but looks incredible — even covered in various climate testing camo. Most crucially for a Jaguar that seems back in its styling rut with the firm’s three new sedans, the …

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2017 KIA Sportage 1

2017 KIA Sportage First Look: GT Line Quad LEDs + Euro Handling Focus

KIA’s push to excel globally is ramping up nicely. Frankfurt, California and Korea-based teams are now aligned to make the most of each area’s strengths. Korea as the lead manufacturing hub/supplier base, Cali as a tech and design center of excellence, and the European R&D division taking a much bigger role in vehicle development. It is a smart foundation for KIA’s move to become Hyundai’s sportier cousin. As it stands, the Kia range is broad but lacks a cohesive, defining nature. The firm has their eyes on BMW. If they can engineer cars to be sold world-wide in one chassis …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Highlander AWD Limited – Fave Family Truckster Is Tahoe-Tough but Lexus-Smooth

2015 Toyota Highlander AWD Limited Review There is a huge rationality shake-out in the large SUV segment. Buyers are no longer willing to shoulder enormous fuel bills and big-rig parking manners in order to seat seven. Nor are they up for joining the minivan clan — typically using the AWD or all-weather argument to avoid that blatant admission of parenthood. The 2015 Highlander is right at the center of a new SUV ideal for millions of post-van, post-SUV buyers. Why can’t there be a car-based crossover with jumbo cabin space, but AWD and enough ground clearance to glide over gravel …

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2016 Renault Talisman Estate Runs New Tech and Style To Battle Euro Wagon All-Stars

The full-size car market in Europe is one of the lifebloods of the industry. Renault cites sales of D-segment cars totaling more than a million units annually. Of that, wagons make up 54-percent! That is a shocking total, but it makes great sense. Room for families, dogs, skis, bikes and everything else… but the handling and luxury ride of a posh limo? That is the fast-wagon promise. The new Talisman will deliver thanks to a giant new trunk and even a big bump in rear headroom. Just seating for five and front-drive would limit the Talisman’s potential if sold off …

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

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

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

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Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo Shedding Silk Ahead of Frankfurt Reveal

  Well good morning, gorgeous! Hyundai just dropped four teaser images of its upcoming supercar concept: the N 2025 VGT. Smartly using the Gran Turismo concept platform to make an actual, real-world prototype! It is surprising that a few of the Vision GT concepts do not appear more on auto show circuits, or even outside their CAD-CAM design files in some cases. Locking the concepts in the game seems like a missed opportunity for real branding, right? The Hyundai fantasy hypercar will feel very real in the flesh thanks to a spearheading the “N” brand launch. Hyundai’s “N” is set …

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2011 BMW 1M Coupe by OK-Chiptuning

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

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

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Revised Peugeot DKR 2015+ Battle-Testing New Engine/Suspension Setups Ahead of Dakar 2016

No person (or rally race) should be treated like ‘a means to an end.’ But when that ultimate goal looms larger than anything else in sight, you tend to focus on the main event. All others are just prep work. And so it is for the refreshed Peugeot 2008 DKR 2015+ racecar. That 2015+ coding is the internal tag for the heavy upgrade work done by the racing boffins at Peugeot Sport. The DKR was our clear favorite to win the Dakar rally in 2015, but lost out to the brutally fast MINI Countryman race squad, who are shooting for …

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2016 TESLA Model X 11

2016 TESLA Model X – Fug EV SUV May Carry $150k Sticker As Gas Falls Below 2 Bucks

  The Model X SUV is big news for Tesla — a reminder that the company actually makes cars versus headlines. Amid the inventions and novel solutions for the first seven-seat, AWD EV SUV lurks a pair of big concerns for Tesla and car lovers alike: the Model X’s awkward design and expected obese pricetag. Morbidly obese pricetag? Perhaps…. INTRO The Tesla hype machine can be seriously exhausting. The company relies on fairly gratuitous financial PR outreach — juicing NASDAQ:TSLA with every snippet of info rehashed by analysts ad nauseam. The entire operation starts to feel like a boilerroom pump …

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Renault Emblem Evolution – 117 Years Crowned with Fresh 2015 Motif

  The evolution of a brand’s logo can be fascinating, especially when you see that the icons we all know by heart are actually fairly new creations. The Renault diamond logo is certainly one of the most long-running in history, even though it did not make an appearance on a Renault until 25 years after the company began operations in 1898. The diamond badge replaced a short-lived round emblem from 1923 onward — with its sharper angles better suited to the sharp nose creases of the era’s cars. While not quite as zany as the round badge (that was actually …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan JUKE Nismo RS Manual

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

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2016 Chevrolet Camaro Pricing + Animated Colors and Wheels Visualizer

Chevy just rolled out the 2016 Camaro colorizer, and the car is looking sharp! 10 colors and eight wheels for the SS Convertible and Coupe are damn sexy. Black or LED-lit bowtie and dark-tinted LED taillamps are just a few of the fun accessories. The full price list is not available yet but, we know the SS V8 base price will be $37,295 — up from the Coupe base price of $26,695 for the 1LT turbo. Budget an extra $3k above both coupes for the ragtop variant, by the way. So a bit pricey at first type here… but faster …

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Jaguar ACCD Finals 4

Jaguar Design Talent Shootout – ACCD Finalists Show Fresh Big-Cat Ideas

The first styling bucks are in from Jaguar’s new California design partnerships. Art Center College of Design (ACCD) and Academy of  Art University in San Francisco (AAU) design internships will give these future car-designers great executive critique, plus contacts. Typically near the end of a design masters, the ideas shown here as the ACCD Finals will end up on the road. Not intact… but the ideas and aesthetic these designers show will inform 2020-2025 models. That being said, we are usually mystified by design bucks…. But none here really screams ‘winner’ and future Jag. Yet. But with time and tweaks… …

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2015 Lexus IS250 76

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

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

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2016 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Coupe 12

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Coupe Revealed! 510HP Widebody V8TT With RWD LSD

The new Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupes just debuted online — and have rocketed from the bottom of the AMG desirability charts to bang near the top. The very ancient-feeling CLK has been run into the hills; the villagers are too distracted by its icky design to appreciate even the Clarkson-approved Black Series lately. Even the CLK name betrayed its old-Merc place in the product lineup. So the biggest new update is a full name change: Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG becomes the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe. And that just starts a massive mudslide of changes for the all-new platform, powertrain and tech suite. The …

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Pebble Beach 2015 – Concours Best in Show Winners & Highlights in 77 Photos

What a fantastic group of machines! Scrolling through the photos takes you to another place and time, with each more delightful than the last. We’ve gathered the full list of winners by category, as well as some gorgeous photos of many winners. And smartly, this year created a key with each photo’s details! You’ll be lost in pleasure seeing them all basking in classic-car nirvana. Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners   Isotta Fraschini Named Best of Show at 65th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance   2015 Charitable Donations Top $1.8 Million   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August …

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2016 BAC Mono 2

2016 BAC Mono Scores Prime Placement on Concept Lawn + Configurator

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

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2016 Toyota TACOMA Pricing and Tech Specs Ahead of Mid-October Showroom Arrival

  The new Tacoma just got back from a muddy romp around its namesake town in Washington state. Now time to shower up and hit showrooms nationwide as the best-selling mid-size pickup truck for 10 years running! The 2016 update is a big revamp by Tacoma standards, but is very light versus a normal Toyota mid-cycle refresh. It just so happens that the truck’s already-long product cycle was effectively frozen for a few years during the financial crisis. But buyer demands, CAFE requirements and, most of all, fresh competition has spurred Toyota to take its Tacoma into the workshop. Out …

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2016 Ford Focus RS

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

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

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Ferrari Pebble Beach 2015 – Record-Breaking Classics + New Cali T Special, Sergio and 488GTB!

Ferrari really went all-out for the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours. The marque was specially honored and featured for classics and concours events this year, which is actually a fairly new phenom in the concours circuit. Think of it as perhaps evolving from such a pre-war focus. Along with cars on the lawn and a smashing auction results list, Ferrari brought out its big guns in terms of new metal. Everything but the FXX K and upcoming 488 Spider made an appearance via official displays. (This is in contrast to McLaren mania last year.) The big reveal was a Tailor Made …

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2016 JAGUAR XE USA Launch Details: XE35t Making 340HP or XE20d Ingenium Diesel

  The XE is looking very sharp in the latest photos from Spain. But when is it coming to America, and which will we get? Jaguar USA has the details for us down toward the bottom of this massive configurator demo post…. But here is the skinny: US launch cars will arrive in Spring 2016 as the XE 20d or the XE 35t with the 340HP V6 from the F-Type. The other engine is set to be a diesel! Fantastic news. We we’re sure if JLR would bring it over in a Jag as well as the new Land Rovers …

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2016 Toyota LAND CRUISER Sports Fresh Design and Big Tech Upgrades

  Toyota’s loveable Land Cruiser is fresh for 2016 with a variety of cool updates to the style, performance and luxury inside! The Land Cruiser is all new from the A-pillars forward, with a much larger and truckier grille than the current model. The two-piece intake element now includes thick chrome bars extending into the headlamps. It is clearly a much more butch appearance all around, thanks to that grille and the new domed hood. The upper hood now wears a deep rounded edge between the engine cover and the fenders. A dip in the middle of the hood flows …

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Galpin Fisker Rocket Convertible - Rear 3Q copy

2016 Galpin Fisker ROCKET Speedster Roars Onto Pebble Beach Concept Lawn

The Fisker Rocket makes a big entrance for itself no matter the venue. But the concept lawn at Pebble Beach Concours!? That is a big test of the car’s supercar style, futuristic appeal and up-close inspection of its details! Luckily, the carbon-fiber stunner of a Rocket looks stellar next to priceless hypercars and one-off design bucks. Half the cars on the concept lawn are rollers only, with some moved about atop dollies below fixed wheels and tires! So the conpetition for hearts, eyes and minds is steep. The Rocket Speedster is not just a chop-top of the coupe, to ensure …

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BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance Is Shockingly Sexy Custom Crossover

Here is a striking look at how sexy the new BMW X4 can be! With a suspension drop, full frozen grey wrap and 21-inch alloys… this X4 is clearly one bada** mo-fo. The engine featured here is the xDrive35i bumped up to 365 ponies via an ECU module and free-flowing quad pipes in back. The results speak for themselves, and make it clear that an M variant of the X4 is sorely missed from the BMW range. BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance BMW X4 BY LIGHTWEIGHT This time, the subject is X4, BMW crossover-SUV. The LIGHTWEIGHT-team under the lead management …

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2016 Jaguar XF R-Sport and 380HP XF-S: Prices, Options, Colors and Wheels

The 2016 range will be Jaguar USA’s freshest ever! The all-new XE, fresh XF and tweaked XJ will finally align nicely against BMW. The XE is certainly an exciting contender, and XJ LED updates more than welcome. Atop all that slinky style and hotness? The 2017 F-PACE crossover that should arrive mid-year for autumn 2016! The real volume player, we predict, will continue to be the XF. And this vehicle is massively new for 2016. There’s barely a part carried over, despite the familiar look. Headlining the changes is a partial swap to aluminum for key underbody sections, with a …

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2015 Pebble Beach TOUR d’Elegance Gallery – Rolling Millions Standard, Breakdowns Optional!

The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance is one of the coolest events in an action-packed week. Why? Because it is a delight for owners and spectators alike! In contrast with many of the static displays, the 17-mile route shows priceless classics in action. They snort, they howl, and some even growl!  However your Ferrari or Mercedes or any mark sounds, the senses of its design and beauty are greatly enhanced on the road. Winding around the gorgeous Pebble Beach entry roads, the pace is usually… intermittent, shall we say? Waking these slumbering giants of auto history is not always easy. Frequent …

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Concept Flashback – 2012 Toyota FT-Bh Envisioned 135-MPG SuperPrius

    Yes yes, it is easy to focus on amazing concept cars for the flashback pieces. But what about the functional stuff? The wild and hideous? EOE coverage here… with a look back at the 2012 Toyota FT-Bh from Geneva of that year. As a sculptural piece, and an achievement in aerodynamics… the FT-Bh is clearly impressive. It is a large wagon variant about the length of the current Prius V, but much lower and wider. What we saw in the FT-Bh was the next step in Toyota hybrid aero styling. By comparison, the Mirai fuel cell production car …

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2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster Premiere + Colorizer

The new SV Roadster broke cover yesterday at the Quail — with the special bodywork, cabin and mechanical upgrades even more stunning on the open variant! The SV sports new carbon-fiber aero vanes and special venting details on all sides.  As it stands even next to the new Pirelli Aventador in white for the bearded announcement, the SV is a comprehensive makeover for the design of the Aventador. The big question for an SV Roadster was how Lambo would handle the unique SV engine cover design for the targa. The results are better than ever imagined: structural and artful painted …

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Acura NSX at The Quail 2015

Update1 – 2016 Acura NSX Shows Carbon Options at The Quail! But Production Delayed Until Springtime

Updated with a dozen new photos 8.16.15 Any sighting of the upcoming Acura NSX is more than welcome — especially when showcasing a bunch of sexy exterior options to make the style even more intense. But this Quail visit is a mixed blessing. Undoubtedly planned when Acura thought the car would be closer to production… the Quail showing comes as we learn that the car is delayed until Spring 2016. And that is when production is set to start. Unfortunately to report, this means cars may not be in first buyer hands until next summer. As tough as that news …

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2016 Lotus Exige 360 Cup 10

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

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

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2016 Lexus LX570 Debuts Stunning New Cabin and Escalade-Proof Exterior Flash!

The 2016 Lexus is now as stunning inside as a Range Rover!  This is big news for the unstoppable seven-seat SUV in the face of big competition from the new Escalade, Navigator and even the fresh QX80 Limited. Cabin tech and giant flatscreens look ready for South Beach and beyond inside the new LX570, which packs a host of new safety tech as well. The compact new steering wheel and fabulous finishes are perhaps the best ever seen from Lexus — befitting its place at the top of the Lexus lineup with the LS600h. The LX570 pricing is likely to …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

~540HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Concept Is Real-Deal Production Car with Innovative Hydro Turbo Boost Chiller

Here is a confusing ‘concept’ production car… the Concept M4 GTS is actually well on its way to first US owners next Springtime. The big tech change beside lightweighting and aero upgrades is a new water-cooled turbo system. Shared with the M4 MotoGP car, this feature is an innovative way to make huge boost that can sustain hours of track abuse without losing power. The cooled charge is very different from a more basic intercooler spray. Where a spray is helpful, the cooling all happens outside the closed boost and turbo system. BMW’s charge cooler actually atomizes water into the …

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2016 Lexus GS Refresh Adds GS200t Turbo, More GS350 HP and 4WS on F Sport!

The 2016 Lexus GS made a glamorous oceanfront debut tonight at Pebble Beach! A GS-F-inspired refresh outside includes standard bi-LED lighting and a fresh face for all six variants of the 5-series-fighter. New styling outside is only a part of the equation, though. The GS450h, GS350 and GS350 AWD are joined by a new engine choice: the GS200t with the 241-pony turbo four from the NX200t. Eight-speed automatics all around make the most of the power: even the entry-level turbo sprints to 60-mph in just 7.2 seconds. The GS350 does the benchmark launch in just 5.5 seconds for 2016, thanks …

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2015 BMW 3

Update1 – 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Makes Race-Ready Debut at Pebble Beach

Updated 8.16.15 with 22 new photos At this very hour last year, we were limping away from the BMW Pebble Beach mansion after a party celebrating the M5 Jahre 30 Edition and Vision Future Luxury. A day of roaming the Pebble Beach grounds left our feet blistered and bloody — but the Nikon SD card full of fantastic photos. This year, we are covering the events from afar — feet intact and dress shoes safely stowed in closet. It is cars like this new Hommage R concept that make us wish were spending $1000 a day to not drive any …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe Revealed – Arrives Stateside in March 2016 With High-Fashion Style

It is an exciting time to be a two-door in the Mercedes range. After years of CLK and CL doldrums, the new S-Class Coupe now has an equally stylish kid brother. The new C300 and C300 4Matic are just the start for this C-Class Coupe: a C450 AMG and C63 AMG are also virtually guaranteed shortly after the main models roll out next Spring. A cabrio variant is also en route for 2018. The design is actually remarkably appealing, considering it is almost a direct mashup of the new C-Class and the S-Class Coupe. The proportions really work — even …

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Update1 – 2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select Bows At Pebble Beach With Black Chrome Details

Despite the name ‘Premium Select’ sounding like a chicken fingers value meal at McDonalds… the new Q70 Premium Select Edition is actually a very cool style option for the 2016 full-size sports sedan. 20-inch dark alloys and dark brightwork complete the makeover outside… with some unique touches to update the cabin as well. It is just enough to create some buzz about the very handsome Q70 sedan flagship.    2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select 2016 INFINITI Q70 PREMIUM SELECT EDITION DEBUTS AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE 12/08/15   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Infiniti today announced that the new 2016 Infiniti …

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2016 SHELBY Ford Mustang GT350R – Colors and Racing Stripes Visualizer

  Scroll to the right of the standard Mustangs over here at the Ford configurator, and the all-new 2016 SHELBY GT350 and GT350R suddenly pop into view! We played around in the builder sandbox for a while to get a sense of the optional features and color combos available. A new light grey called Avalanche appears to be the only new color choice, but the seven others all look extra fantastic on the GT350R racing style. There are your standard red, blue, yellow, dark grey, light grey, white and black — with all available with a black-painted roof that looks …

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2016 McLaren 570S Orange 16

2016 McLaren 570S Production Begins – $184k Base Price + 24 New Pics

  Updated 8.12.15 The McLaren 570S configurator is up – with nearly 75 option choices, numerous wheels and a dozen interior pre-selections to help you part with $180,000 the fast way! Super-fast, in fact. The configurator’s last step actually reveals a bit of unknown info: the giant MSO carbon-fiber pieces that go way above and beyond the standard 20 exterior CF choices. These three choices are a full carbon-fiber nose, full CF rear and exposed weave for the roof panel as well. These autoclaved CF upgrades are such gigantic pieces of the material, they are bound to reduce mass versus the …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD

Hot Buicks are some of the most adored American cars of all time. So when Buick decided to bring over the European Opel/Vauxhall Insignia to the US market for the first time, the excitement over receiving their OPC/VXR performance variant was palpable. Confirmation that the big brushed-alloy fangs would make it across the pond to US buyers for the first time brought many GNX rumbles to the surface. Would this hot Buick be able to inherit the Banker’s Hotrod legacy? A turbo engine and all the autobahn-ready handling seemed like a perfect statement of intent for Buick at the time. …

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2015 Dodge CHARGER RT 45

4K Road Test Review – 2015 Dodge CHARGER R/T Is Four-Door Musclecar Dream From $34k

The 2015 Dodge Charger is a real favorite. So much so… that it might have ruined me for other cars. Since balling around Charleston this summer in the Redline Red HEMI R/T, it has been hard to get back into my normal groove of turbo stickshifts. Why? 370HP for 37k. That is a power and price combo that can’t be beat from any manufacturer, nor are others close to the excellence of the eight-speed ZF auto. Or the cabin comfort, room and tech. Or the style outside — which is eye-poppingly cool. Driving the Charger R/T redefines effortless speed, and …

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2016 Dodge Challenger 392 HEMI® Scat Pack Shaker

Dodge Courting Collectors With Limited-Run PLUM CRAZY 2016 Charger and Challenger

Dodge just released two 2016 special editions in the brand’s famous Plum Crazy paint color. This special-order hue will be offered on all engines and trims, up to and including the thunderous Hellcats. While the Charger is our pick hands-down among the two, the Challenger two-door will always be far more valuable as a collector classic. This is the general rule in classics: two-doors always sell for more than four-doors on the classic auction market. This is doubly true for musclecars. Dodge makes a convincing case for Plum Crazy via some never-before-released production numbers for the limited-production and special edition …

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2015 Hyundai Vision G Concept Coupe – A Genesis SuperCoupe to Wow Pebble Beach?

Pebble Beach Concours is a huge draw for the wealthiest car lovers worldwide. As such, it is a pretty intense marketing spectacle for selling new cars along with all the best classics on display. But this crowd is seriously snooty, at times. Last year, a KIA K900 display manned with fresh drinks sought to lure people into test drives of the flagship luxury sedan. Over four days, we saw no one take them up on the offer of a drive. The line of K900’s sat optimistic, like pound puppies, with no one claiming them. Hyundai is taking a different tack …

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