2015

RC F BPM7

2015 Lexus RCF Saatchi BPM Concept Debuts Stunning Biometric Paint

by

rcf bpm video crop PART TWO: RCF BPM You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right.   RCF BPM The second upgrade is far more cosmetic, but just as exotic. This Australian creation displays a dynamic paint finish based on the driver’s heart rate. As his or her beats-per-minute go up, the electro-luminescent paintwork outside glows in unique cascading patterns. From 100-bpm upward, the …

Keep reading

2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept Drops 900Lbs For Pikes Peak 11

2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept Drops 900Lbs For Pikes Peak

by

You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right. The first? An all-new 2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept, which raced up to 14,500 feet the other week at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Billed as a true development prototype, the RCF GT is a race-ready lightweighting exercise. From the factory curb weight for the RCF at 4048-pounds, the RCF GT drops almost 1000 pounds to …

Keep reading

1971 Abarth Scorpione Prototipo 5

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

by

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

Keep reading

1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C 3

RM Monterey 2015 – 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C

by

Very special Aston Martin to see on the market! This Speed C streamliner was engineered and built as a LM-ready race prototype. Just eight of this C spec were produced, with this exact car thought to be the last Aston delivered before WWII.  Army green paintwork is fitting, then, and quite fetching on the exotic shapes of the speedster fenders and bobtail trunk. 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C $750,000 – $950,000 Chassis no. G40/718/U 125 bhp, 1,949 cc SOHC inline four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors, …

Keep reading

Apollo Edition 2015 Mustang

627HP 2015 Ford Mustang APOLLO EDITION Wears CF Bodykit + Forgiato 21s

by

Before you get too excited… this Apollo Edition Mustang is a one-off custom — not one coming to showrooms to rival the 2016 GT350. Created for this week’s Experimental Aircraft Association show in Oshkosh, Wisconin, the Apollo Mustang will be sold to benefit EAA AirVenture and youth engineering programs. The Apollo Mustang wears a variety of off-the-shelf Ford Performance parts, custom details, and designer features like the Forgiato wheels. The carbon-fiber body kit is beautiful with its functional strut supports looking great on the Apollo’s slammed stance. 2015 Ford Mustang APOLLO EDITION     FORD ANNOUNCES APOLLO EDITION MUSTANG TO …

Keep reading

2015-INFINITI-QX80-Limited-AWD-30

HD Road Test Review – 2015 INFINITI QX80 Limited AWD

by

In the global Renault-Nissan portfolio, the QX80 Limited lives among greats like the R35 GT-R or RenaultSport Megane Trophy. Being such an event car and flagship has always been a core part of the massive truck’s appeal among owners. With all the class of a Range Rover, but all the guts of a Denali — the QX80 is famous worldwide for its bomb-proof chassis toughness married to a standard 400HP V8. The QX80 is fresh for 2015 with new nose detailing, LEDs and an extra-swanky new Limited option pack. Fabulous opulence inside this cabin rivals any superlux mark worldwide, and …

Keep reading

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Is Lime Green Dream for RM Monterey 2015

by

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Is Lime Green Dream for RM Monterey 2015 RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe Without Reserve $300,000 – $375,000 Chassis no. 9114600447 Engine no. 6640620 Gearbox no. 344215  210 bhp, 2,681 cc SOHC air-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, five-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with torsion bars, McPherson struts, and an anti-roll bar, independent rear suspension with torsion bars, trailing arms, tubular shock absorbers, and an anti-roll bar, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 89.4 in. Matching-numbers example Fully restored by marque experts; striking color …

Keep reading

1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster 1

1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster – RM Monterey 2015 Preview

by

 If there is one 1960s hypercar style we love best, it is the rare mid-engine speedster. This mid-engine exotic aimed to be a true racecar prototype for the roads — with a mid-mounted Chevrolet V8 under a louvered back deck. The design is nicely functional yet playful all around, with shared details from the 5300 Strada sitting nicely with the all-new slimline upper half and interesting inverted tail details. RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 1967 Bizzarrini P538 Speedster 1967 Bizzarrini P538

RM Monterey 2015 - 1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine 7

RM Monterey 2015 – 1938 Adler Trumpf RennLimousine – LM ‘Racing Sedan’ with Airship Aero

by

The fantastic convergence of aerospace and supercars has a glorious history! This Adler Trumpf Rennlimo from 1938 represented a fascinating view of automotive aerodynamics in a time before effective wind tunnels or computer simulations. The learnings and design principles of aerodynamics were far more theoretical in the pre-jet age. Yet Adler designers brought great insights from airship and Zeppelin design into the car world to great results. This ‘racing sedan,’ as the Rennlimo translates, was the first closed-cockpit racer to take on LeMans. Just six were produced for sale, all with unique spindle and wing tweaks to the bodywork. The …

Keep reading

2016 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

2016 Cadillac CTS-V in 50 New Pics + Colors, Wheels, Options and Pricing

by

Updated 7.20.15 With 40 New Photos + Option Details Cadillac’s new performance superhero is very close to buyer hands!  The firm just released a beautiful new image set from Milwaukee Art Museum and Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We also have a full look at the configurator and options for this 3.7-second M5-fighter. A base price of $84,000 can bump up to $102k with the big option packs like the carbon fiber upgrades for $5k, Recaro race seats and PDR recorder for a few thousand each. We’re surprised by the six total colors available, but happy to report …

Keep reading

2015 Lamborghini Huracan by NOVITEC TORADO 22

2015 Lamborghini Huracan by NOVITEC TORADO Launches Aero, Spring and Exhaust Upgrades

by

  Let’s face it: when you see a tuned Lambo you want some crazy topline stats. So many 1200HP Gallardo’s in the world have dulled the senses. So the power upgrade was the first thing we check on the new Novitec Torado Huracan. This all-new engine is clearly complex and its ECU optimizations are not yet hitting the markets. So the focus is on stage one kit: wheels, springs, aero upgrades and exhaust choices. Sport setups with and without remote flaps may liberate a few ponies along with a shoutier scream up the tach. But for jawdropping power outputs in …

Keep reading

2015 Polaris SlingShot SL 41

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 VUHL 05 Photos 69

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 Porsche MACAN TURBO Review Photos 52

Best of Awards – 2015 Porsche MACAN TURBO – 4K Videos + 200 New Pics

by

Love at first drive! The Macan Turbo is your humble scribe’s ideal new machine in a fantasy 2015 new-car hunt. Everything to all men and women, the 400HP V6TT, AWD, 7-Speed DSG are a solid base for a German GT-R SUV. But then we add PTV, Sport Chrono and PASM Air Suspension… 21-inch Turbo alloys and all the carbon options available? You land sideways, grinning your face off around corners, and loving the unstoppable torque rush at all times. The Yays As the videos show, the Macan Turbo covers ground like a low-flying jet fighter. This is a truck that …

Keep reading

2015 Jeep RENEGADE Trailhawk Review 87

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

by

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

Keep reading

One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S - RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview 7

One-Off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S – RM NYC 2015 Auction Preview

by

What a special surprise! The incredibly sexy 2006 Lamborghini Concept S will soon be auctioned off the the highest bidder! This gorgeous design vision was the original Gallardo Spyder preview car — with this stunning, dual-cowl speedster then diving for the archives. The one-off details on this car make it one for the ages. The Concept S is leading the RM Sotheby’s New York auction in November 2015. Ballpark estimates? Well, it is a concept from the show circuit. But also fully functional down below.  This is pure Gallardo V10. Helmets recommended. Road legal? In sum, we’d expect nothing less …

Keep reading

dsc9446

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 G-Class 26

2016 Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4-Squared Priced from $265k, Arriving In December

by

  The incredibly cool and macho new G500 4×4-Squared is officially available! Orders are open now for this new flagship, with pricing from $230k Euros and 422 horsepower via a new twin-turbo powertrain. The 4.0TT is shared with the AMG GT and delivers better power, efficiency and torque profiles than ever before. This engine is standard on the 4×4-squared as well as the standard G500 for this year, hitting 60-mph in just 5.9-seconds for the normal truck and up to 7.4-seconds as the 4×4-squared. The Squared’s biggest change mechanically is the addition of portal axles. Shared with the AMG 6×6, …

Keep reading

S114_1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback Calypso Coral 15

Mecum July 2015 – Four Flawless Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500KR Fastbacks

by

Humble Harrisburg, Pennslyvannia is ready to feel some Ford V8 rumble this July 30th! These four Mustangs are a highlight of the sale: a gorgeous black GT500KR, lovable red 1969 Mach 1, and a pair of 1970 Mach 1’s in eye-popping Calypso Coral paintwork. The orange twins are a highlight — but can be confusing to tell apart. They have different cabin colors — but adding the auction code prefix just for clarity among prospective owners. They’ll be Mustang experts, of course, and know that one is packing 335HP versus the other at 300HP. Which is which?  It is confusing… …

Keep reading

PRIOR-DESIGN-S-Class-8-tilehdc

PRIOR DESIGN Makes MB S-Class Into Cold-Blooded Apex Predator Inside and Out

by

We’re becoming pretty big fans of Prior Design. The custom bodykit house brings a unique style to each of its models, without getting caught in some of the fairly tired ruts of the BRABUS or Mansory style. This S-Class might not be the firm’s trademark widebody style — but it still packs a wallop of visual aggression and exclusivity. Prior Design excels at fairly affordable upgrades that are some of the first-to-market for new exotic cars. Their preference for a composite duraflex material also means they can complete orders in a tenth the time of the carbon-fiber alternatives. Despite that …

Keep reading

Mecum Miami Vice Testarossa 9

Miami Vice Ferrari 512 TestaRossa Bringing Coked-Up 80s Cool to Mecum 2015 Monterey Auctions

by

What was the epitome of South Beach chic in the 1980s? White. White car, white house. White blazer and belt. A white “carphone” to match. All bought with an empire of white powder. To fit the profile, the detectives in Miami Vice had to live the part of druglords as their undercover personas. Fast cars and fast women… all wrapped up nicely with a solved case at the end of the hour. Perhaps even more iconic than the art deco beachfronts and rampant turquoise from the show? The Ferrari 512 TR hero car of the show. Unlike Hawaii 5-0 Magnum …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3.8 AWD Is Impossibly Good

by

2015 Hyundai GENESIS Review   The 2015 Hyundai Genesis sets a skyhigh bar for luxury sedan excellence. This V6 AWD version is the best-driving and most joyful four-door we’ve driven in years. Why? The Genesis feels inherently right behind the wheel, diving into and out of corners, and singing up to its redline. There is a terrific analog feel to the Genesis at speed — you instantly trust the car implicitly and fall head over heels. We’d even wager most performance sedan owners would prefer the Genesis to the new 535i or E350. Versus the A6 or Cadillac CTS?! No …

Keep reading

2015 Nissan MURANO SL 42

4K Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Murano SL – Ultra-Modern Crossover Is World’s Smoothest SUV?

by

The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano takes the five-seat crossover market to a luxurious and stylish new peak. Among mainstream brands, the Murano’s $30k-$40k price range is typically occupied by either loaded compact crossovers like the CR-V and RAV4, or even tinier premium vehicles like the new Mercedes-Benz GLA and fresh 2016 BMW X1. Moving up a price class generally adds seven seats among mainstream brands (see Ford Explorer or Toyota Highlander.) The Pathfinder owns this family space quite nicely for Nissan, leaving the Murano with a meaty slice of buyer wants all to itself.  What about versus two-row SUVs like …

Keep reading

2015 Divergent BLADE Concept 9

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

by

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

Keep reading

The Nissan JUKE-R gets an exciting upgrade: Introducing the JUKE-R 2

2015 Nissan JUKE-R 2.0 Updated to GT-R NISMO Mechanicals + New Style for Goodwood

by

Two must-watch videos to show off the incredible, gravity-defying performance of the 2015 Juke-R 2.0! The upper video embed is the Juke-R 2.0 flying up Goodwood hill, while the below video is the Juke-R flat-out around the fabled TopGear test track. The Juke-R sequel doubles the airflow to the GT-R NISMO’s 600HP engine up front via an all-new carbon-fiber bumper, widebody fenders, and diffuser element out back. Still utterly sideways on command, the Juke-R 2.0 also shows off the latest 2015 model-year Juke nose, lighting and panels.  JUKE-R 2.0 Dunsfold Track Testing Video 2015 Nissan JUKE-R 2.0 THE NISSAN JUKE-R …

Keep reading

DSCN2668

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

by

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

Keep reading

Goodwood-Festival-of-Speed-2015---DAY-TWO-Gallery-+-Action-GIFS-76

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – DAY TWO Gallery + Action GIFS

by

Updated 6.28.15 — Now With More Action GIFS! Weekend complete for Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. …

Keep reading

Goodwood-Festival-of-Speed-2szxd015---New-Cars-25

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – New Cars Mega Gallery in 188 Pics

by

Day one complete at a glorious and very sunny 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. Leading off? …

Keep reading

Road Test Review - 2015 Hyundai AZERA Limited 102

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai AZERA Limited Vastly Outhandles and Outcomforts Avalon, LaCrosse + 300

by

Few automotive market segments have such a tightly defined target market as full-size sedans. And unlike minivans, SUVs and even musclecars, the real-life buyer profile of large cars is almost always this core set of consumers. The full-size sedan buyer is in their mid-50s, seeks limo-large back-seat space, and wants the latest premium tech. All with a price cap of $40,000. For their cash, full-size sedans typically deliver a huge bump in roominess versus their mid-size siblings, but sometimes with unintended consequences. After all, it is extremely tough for even the best carmakers to pack S-Class tech into a half-price …

Keep reading

Aston-Martin-VULCAN-1sgfxb

Goodwood 2015 Preview – Aston Martin VULCAN vs McLaren P1 Prost Moment MSO Special

by

McLaren is pulling rabbits out of hats in terms of esablishing historical provenance for the new P1 and P1 GTR, while Aston Martin is tearing up the glossy brochure and trying to relight the brand wildfire. Two contrasting strategies on full, proud display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The wildcard in this slugfest is the McLaren F1 GT Longtail — which bridges a link between then and now, plus P1 and the sold-out 2015 675LT. All will be revving hard up Goodwood hill. But they wont be alone. LaFerrari’s and even the FXX K will be vying for HDR …

Keep reading

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

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 Lexus RCF #RseaF SEMA Showcar 2

2015 Lexus RC Playdate Includes Vossen SEMA Showcar and APEX Radio-Controlled Drifters!

by

  Two things you must drive ASAP to push the limits of your smile muscles? The 2015 Lexus RC Coupe and the matching Team Associated RCF radio-controlled car! A quick meeting with the rockstar team of the Lexus Southern region this week offers definitive proof that the RC marks a seachange for Lexus overall. The playful new mood of the Japanese luxury juggernaut is clear from first approach: five RC coupes to test drive, joined by a handful of the ultra-rapid RCF radio-controlled cars. The ‘RC-RCF’ is another stark reminder that your drive memory for Lexus (and all radio-controlled cars) …

Keep reading

2016 Maxima SR Midnight

2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight Is Official! Revealed At BET Experience Festival

by

Updated 6.26.15 The 2015 Maxima black pack is official! The entire upgrade detailed below can now be ordered as the Maxima SR Midnight edition. Launched at the BET Experience, the key difference between the Maxima SR Midnight and a DIY black pack via Nissan accessories is that the Midnight comes exclusively in Super Black exterior paintwork. However you get to these 19-inch black alloys and sport bodywork upgrades, the results speak for themselves! 2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is …

Keep reading

2015 Honda Civic Type R European Dynamic Launch 12

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 Honda CR-V Touring AWD Review 56

Road Test Review – 2015 Honda CR-V Touring AWD is Stylish Top Trim

by

The best-selling Honda CR-V is many things. Efficient, roomy, practical and safe are traits all closely linked to Honda’s mid-size SUV. Stylish and luxurious, though? The 2015 CR-V Touring is the best-looking and most premium CR-V Honda has ever made. EXTERIOR   You will see the new CR-V coming from afar. Gorgeous LED lighting up front glows for miles with a ribbon of white light around the headlamp edges, with the lower edge extra bright for LED DRL functionality. These LEDs are standard for EX, EX-L and Touring trims. Only the base LX with its $24k price and steel wheels …

Keep reading

2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 4WD White Diamond Tricoat 73

2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 1/2 Ton 4WD Review

by

    American brand icons do not come much more glorious than Chevy. In the automotive realm, Chevrolet has been a constant throughout the last 100 years. A powerhouse in the General Motors stable, Chevrolet has seen off dozens of business lines and market segments. Divested in favor of keeping Chevy healthy, GM left the heavy trucks business altogether and dropped half its brand portfolio in the last ten years. Thus, the recent history of the firm has been shaken up more this century than the ten preceding decades. But the results speak for themselves. Never in my lifetime has …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai Sonata ECO Review 2

HD Video Drive Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata ECO Introduces 1.6T and 7-Sp DCT

by

The 2015 Sonata ECO is the perfect blend of the base Sonata and the loaded Sonata Sport 2.oT. With styling inside and out that is darker and sexier than the base model, the Sonata ECO wears a tasty black chrome for its grille that really moves the car’s look upmarket. At least from the front. From the side and in profile, the ECO is a bit more humble. 17-inch low-rolling resistance tires look a bit silly and undersized, while a single exhaust pipe out back is down by half versus the Sonata Sport 2.0T. But where the ECO really pulls …

Keep reading

2015 Dodge Durango Citadel V6 AWD 29

4K Video Drive Review – 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel V6 AWD (77 Photos)

by

   A few animated flyarounds of this sexy and low Durango to go along with the 4K drive vid.   4K Video Drive Review – 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel V6 AWD 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel V6 AWD    

Morgan EV 3 Wheeler 12

2017 Morgan EV3 – Electric 3 Wheeler Is Streamliner Heaven

by

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

Keep reading

2015-Nissan-Maxima-SR-Black-Sport-Parts-37

2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Black Pack Details, Track Test Video and 99 New Photos

by

The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is going all-out to rev up excitement among loyalists. Nissan just revealed its sport styling parts, and they are right up our alley. Gloss-black 19-inch wheels with matching black diffuser and trunk spoiler are deeply cool. The side sills are a contrast metallic grey and really help deliver some concept-car stance to the sportiest Maximas. Pricing from $32k to around $39k is detailed in the animated configurator mid-way down the page, along with colors and tech specs.   2016 …

Keep reading

2015-Bell-&-Ross-BR-03-RAFALE-21

2015 Bell & Ross BR 03 RAFALE Is Ceramic Special With Fighter-Jet Tech Transfer

by

Welcome to the latest Bell & Ross showpiece: the BR 03 Rafale. Revealed at this year’s Basel World convention, this 500-unit run takes the Bell & Ross aesthetic and identity well into the future via all-new style and military technology transfer. The most striking element of this $6,200 watch is its case, which eschews the typical milled alloys and stainless steel of most watches from this hot French marque. By swapping metal for ceramic, the Rafale promises to be a real featherweight on the wrist. The big-watch trend takes some time to get used to on your wrist. You learn …

Keep reading

2015 Discovery Sport KAHN Design Exterior 14

KAHN Design Works Magic on New 2015 Land Rover DISCOVERY SPORT

by

Before the all-new Disco Sport even arrives in the USA, the style gurus at KAHN Design have already worked their magic on the seven-seater inside and out! The cabin is possibly more impressive than the metal outside on this first tuner upgrade of the hotly-anticipated new Land Rover — with a full wrap in natty red alcantara for the touch points of steering wheel, door cards and dash console. A matching tomato-red leather refitting brings quality and panache to this cabin that the family-oriented factory truck can’t dream of matching. Outside, the tweaks for the KAHN Design Disco Sport are …

Keep reading

2015 UP Design Mole Construzione Artigianale 12

2015 UP Design MOLE Construzione Artigianale – World Debut in 45 Photos!

by

Welcome to Umberto Palermo’s latest exotic: the Mole Construzione Artigianale. Quite a mouthful of a name, and one that must be pronounced with Italian flair to feel its impact! Molè (Mo-lay) Cunstruzione (Cahhn-struuu-zzi-oh-nay) Artigianale (aharr-ti-zi-ohh-nah-lay). How are those for phoenetics! Molè references a local building in Turin, while Construzione Artigianale loosely translates to bespoke creation. Long intro! But the mood of this new hypercar needs no words. Stunning from all sides. It is a deconstructed and deeply sexy take on the modern high-performance ethos — but adds the joy of creation via details unlike anything else on the road. A …

Keep reading

2015 Torino Design WildTwelve Concept 3

2015 Torino Design WildTwelve Concept Debuts at Parco Valentino

by

Exciting supercars galore at this week’s Parco Valentino Gran Premio. A blend of design expo, luxury showcase and car show — this ‘Goodwood South’ just wrapped up a fun week at Turin’s magnificent Valentino Castle. Torino Design revealed a very interesting new concept, the WildTwelve Concept. This is a carbon-chassis exotic with bespoke design and engineering inside and out. A hybrid V12 lives behind the cockpit, yet this machine is in the same size class as the Huracan or Ferrari 488. Primarily a design showcase, the Torino Design WildTwelve is not headed for production any time soon. But it is …

Keep reading

mfc-jltv-photo-03-h

2015 Lockheed Martin JLTV Looks Set to Win High-Tech US Military Truck Contract

by

We speculated in the previous AM General BRV-O article that the three-way race for the US military’s new JLTV looks pretty clear-cut. That being said… nothing with government work and billion-dollar deals is straightforward or very transparent, so we are just basing these predictions on what we would do if sitting in the Pentagon. With Oshkosh Defense already drowning in orders, a strike-out for this hot ground-transport maker looks more likely in JLTVs than ever before. One of the military RFPs is for high-volume JLTV manufacturing, likely replacing many behind-the-lines Humvees. In this case, AM General’s proven high-volume manufacturing may …

Keep reading

2015 AM General BRV-O 11

2015 AM General BRV-O Gunning Hard for Latest Military JLTV Contracts

by

AM General basically owned US military ground troop transport for 25 years with its ever-present Humvee. This $220,000 machine is still a staple for 50+ global armies and has played a huge role in every armed conflict since the late 1980s. But shifting war theatres ushered the Humvee, and AM General, to the back of the pack in the last decade in favor of specially-designed blast-proof trucks. The South Bend, Indiana firm went from cock of the walk to national disgrace with every IED casualty. The huge MRAPs and alphabet soup of FMTVs, MTVRs, LSVs and ASVs have rolled out …

Keep reading

RR_Sport_SV-R_Santorini_Black_041_(109367)

2015 Range Rover Sport SVR – Track Video at Monticello + 140 New Photos

by

UPDATED 6.15.15 Fresh video and a huge photo set of the new RRS SVR around Monticello Country Club! The truck sounds fantastic and displays very little body roll in this five-tenths track drive — which bodes very well for the sportiest Range Rover of all time. Will it be able to cut it with the deeply impressive Grand Cherokee SRT, X5M and Porsche Cayenne? What about the new GLE63 AMG — which will come in both standard SUV shape and a new X6-like GLE Coupe? That remains an open question. The 162-mph Vmax and 4.5-second official 60-mph sprint times are …

Keep reading

2015 Chrysler 200S Ceramic Blue 2

2015 Chrysler 200S Brings Exclusive Ceramic Blue Paint, Dark Alloys and Sport Seats

by

As you know from the giddy 200C review just published, the Chrysler 200 V6 is a must-drive vehicle for all mid-size sedan shoppers. It is fast, premium and tech-savvy like no other sedan in its price range, with base modes from $21,000 up to the V6 base price in the $28,000 ballpark. But one of the gripes we had is that the 200C looks very, very similar to the base models — even as a loaded V6 with AWD and the 19-inch wheels. Chrysler has an answer for folks who want an ultra-modern and chic aesthetic on their 200: the …

Keep reading

2015 Chrysler 200C V6 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Is Quickest Mid-Size Sedan!

by

INTRO – 2015 Chrysler 200C V6 Review This is likely not the first Chrysler 200 review you have read. And in fact, it is not the first we have written. But keep reading, because this 200C is a completely transformed machine with the optional 3.6-liter V6. The top trim level with the top engine, the 200C we tested lacked only the dual-pane moonroof and AWD from the options list. Besides those two elements, this 200C is a match for the Maserati Ghibli feature-for-feature. The Maserati comparison rings true many more times during a week of driving and a road trip …

Keep reading

2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept 18

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

by

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

Keep reading

Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat

2015 Ford F-150 HALO Sandcat Revealed At E3 Convention

by

Pretty cool new concept today from Ford to promote HALO 5: a new Sandcat F-150. Designed as a fantasy military vehicle for Xbox and 343 Industries, the actual machine was created by Galpin Auto Sports. The vast majority of the exterior upgrades are thanks to Addictive Desert Designs’ Baja XTR body kit and fender flares, plus a suspension lift and some trick axle tech for extra grip. A custom wrap, wheels and built-in game system in the car round out the upgrades for the Sandcat — but overall it is enough to feel some in-game excitement out in the real …

Keep reading

LeMans Legends from Porsche 65

LeMans Legends from Porsche – Sweet 16 Becomes Magnificent 17 With New 919 Win

by

        Porsche just swept LeMans, crowning its 17th racecar with the most-coveted trophy on the auto racing circuit. What cars came before? Porsche has competed and succeeded at Le Mans since the early 1950s, but only entered the highest echelons of competition in the mid-1960s. Shut out of victory by the Ford GT40 Mark II’s winning streak from 1966-1969, Porsche did the impossible with its massive 1970 victory. Let’s take a walk back through Porsche LeMans Winners, starting from the most recent in 1998. But first, the all-star group and the people behind these wins. Porsche LeMans …

Keep reading

Porsche LeMans 2015 Victory 9

LeMans 2015 Video: Porsche 919 Hybrid Takes One-Two Victory!

by

  Ladies and gentleman, the day has come! Porsche reclaimed overall LeMans victory 45 years since its first in 1970 and last in 1998. The 919 Hybrid was so fast it passed even LMP2 cars (and more than a few LMP1 cars) like they were standing still on the track. A stunning feat of brilliant engineering, driving and motorsports — together pushing the 919 to a decisive victory in first and second place.   2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid   One-two for the Porsche 919 Hybrids in Le Mans Stuttgart. Mission accomplished: Porsche has achieved its 17th overall Le Mans victory …

Keep reading

2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Scrambler 4

2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Previews Production Scrambler at Biarritz Bike Fest

by

  BMW Motorrad is on a concept bender lately! Fantastic Villa d’Este glimpses into the future have come into focus over the last few years, with the R NineT a particularly tempting design statement among riders worldwide. But how to take all the futuristic materials into production, and what bike market to aim for? This 2015 Concept Path 22 gives us a clear answer: BMW is exploring a Scrambler for the first time. As described by BMW below, the fun and sporty genre of motorcycles is a bit of a hybrid: with street-bike features and performance, but much meatier tire …

Keep reading

2016-Mercedes-Maybach-by-BRABUS-8sdf

900HP, 3.6s 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS – A Dictators Delight!

by

How do you make a presidential motorcade reach 220-mph — a top speed quicker than any F1 car? You add the Brabus 900 V12TT to the new Maybach! For the working rich, a much more humble 80HP upgrade is also available for the Maybach S500. Revamped styling outside, giant wheels and a ghastly cabin makeover round out the upgrades to this new fatcat bahn-stormer. 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS BRABUS refines the new Mercedes-Maybach 662 kW / 900 HP, 1,500 Nm, top speed 350 km/h plus,    high-tech forged wheels, sporty-elegant design and even more luxurious BRABUS fine leather interiors   The …

Keep reading

2017 Ford GT Blue New 6

2017 Ford GT – Latest 200 Photos + Digital Colors Visualizer

by

Updated 6.12.15 Instead of the hundreds of custom shades and multiple angles, we only have a handful of digitally-rendered color options for the exciting Ford GT supercar. Why? It has been a long week of many frantic Detroit reveals, and Photoshop prefers to crash right when you are in the middle of something great. =] We are still trying to perfect a color—> black or color —> white transformation, but it is not easy to accomplish with respectable results. But was it a total loss? Not at all! Many of the new colors are very bold and shimmery; slinky and …

Keep reading

2016 Honda RC213V-S USA 10

2016 Honda RC213V-S MotoGP Champ Coming to Select USA Owners By Year-End!

by

It is very, very rare that a pure racer of any kind is offered to the public for sale. Heck, for most racing teams, even divulging key mechanical specs can be an act of high treason. But after two MotoGP World Championships, the impossible is now confirmed: Honda will sell the bike in the US market. Ever-so-slighty tweaked to add license plate brackets, the looser safety rules for two-wheelers make this a genius move by Honda. This is beyond performance flagship or halo model. The RC213V-S is a knockout blow to all other superbikes.  Pricing and availability are not yet …

Keep reading

2015-Nissan-GT-R-LM-Nismo-22info

LeMans 2015 Spotters Guide to All Racecars c/o Nissan GT-R LM Nismo – Truly Innovative Excitement?

by

Innovation That Excites. Sound familiar? Of course it does. This Nissan tagline raises half an eyebrow when attached to cars like the Altima or Versa. Arguably neither innovative nor exciting, it is almost like calling Taco Bell haute cuisine. It just is not in any way. Categorical denial of tagline principles! But the new 2015 LMP1 car from Nissan is actually hugely innovative and hugely exciting. It is the newest entrant in the top class to compete with the Ultra-boring Audi Sport R19s, Porsche 919 and somewhat dull Toyota Gazoo TS040. The GT-R LM NISMO is also a total wildcard …

Keep reading

?????????????????????????????????????

2015 W Motors Lykan Hypersport – Animated Turntables Gallery

by

  Longtime readers know we adore the W Motors Lykan HyperSport. We created some super-cool and exclusive animated turntables of the four official rendered colors — and are still patting ourselves on the back for their mezmerizing beauty! But after hundreds of rounds of image optimizations and uploads, many of these prized GIFs became de-animated. Static panda! Some great news, sad pandas: just re-uploaded the color spinners in all their moving glory. I think the timing varies among these, but we’ll see together momentarily. And if you think the 3MB-per-file is a big large, just know that these are drastically …

Keep reading

Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack In 30 New Photos

by

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

Keep reading

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta 1

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta Doubles Price at RM Villa Erba Auction

by

Here is a curious one! A 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta crossed the block the other week at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Villa Erba, Italy — earning its first owner a handy 90-percent profit margin along the way. True story. The 458 SA is available to order now with pricing from $330,000. Yet this barely-driven 2015 model just raked in $580k at auction. What is the deal? Should we all get in the supercar speculation business? Get rich quick, drive quick cars?! Sounds perf. But there is a reason this is so unusual: new supercars are not frequently seen …

Keep reading

SJ15_r103_005

Musclecar Origin Story – 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe

by

There is some debate as to what was the first American Musclecar. The Mustang certainly takes most of the glory in launching this new segment, but a few important machines paved that road first with big, affordable power. The Bonneville launched in 1958 but really became unique and special in 1959 and 1960 – with a wide-track design that stood apart from similar cars from the GM R&D trenches. And though it looks huge today, this 1960 is actually a drastic lightweight-ing of the previous models, like this 1958 example below. In fact, the Bonneville became the blue-collar hero of …

Keep reading

2015 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Supercrew Review 34

HD Video Review + Walkaround – 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum 4×4 Supercrew

by

Two HD drive videos, three animated flyarounds and 110 photos of the new F-150 Platinum! This truck is incredible in every way. It is easier to focus on areas where the Platinum F-150 does not feel as special or sporty as a Range Rover Sport. From behind the wheel, any similarity with that sweet super-truck is a huge asset for the full-size 4×4 market. The Platinum is really convincing in its design and tech upgrades outside, if a bit less so inside. The tacky wood accents are a low point, as is the lack of lateral support in the somewhat …

Keep reading

SMMT-Test-Days-2015---Millbrook-Off-Road-Course-1

SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Off-Road Course Mega Gallery

by

PART THREE – The Millbrook Off-Road Course The dirtiest truck in the lot at the end of the day? Not the Unimog or Defender… but the lowly Dacia Duster! Makes sense – off-roading can be perilous. Second dirtiest? A mud-spattered Skoda Outdoor Estate. Definitely looks like a fun day of testing.     Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a …

Keep reading

SMMT-Test-Days-2015-75

SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook High-Speed Bowl – Mega Photo Gallery

by

PART TWO: Intro and High-Speed Bowl Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche Cayenne GTS, AMG GT’s and SL65 World Championship Edition, the latest F-Type S AWD and manual-transmission, Clio RS, Audi RS7 and RS6, BMW X5M, RCF Carbon Pack…. the list goes on and on! Seeing the vehicles at speed around Millbrook’s challenging alpine hill course gives a great view into the …

Keep reading

SMMT Test Days 2015 Alpine Hill Course 178

SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Alpine Course – Dynamic Photos Mega Gallery

by

Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a few AMG GT’s, the SL65 World Championship Edition, the latest F-Type S AWD and manual-transmission, Clio RS, Audi RS7 and RS6, BMW X5M, RCF Carbon Pack…. the list goes on and on! Seeing the vehicles at speed around Millbrook’s challenging alpine hill course gives a great view into the dynamics of these new …

Keep reading

2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione 1

RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione

by

Ferrari Challenge cars are brutal, hardcore and seriously extreme. If your senses have been dulled by supercars as daily drivers, these cars are a harsh wakeup call to the terror and glory of a true racecar. It is extremely rare to see one with the most current technology come up for sale, and this 458 Challenge Evo is basically brand new. It just returned to the US from Maranello, where it was upgraded to the quickest ‘Evo’ form with new mechanicals and aero updates via all-new nose and tail. Before that voyage, it only had a few hours of total …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD 1

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD With Ken Glassman

by

    2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD Review By Ken Glassman These days, it seems like everyone loves the sport utility vehicle, and it’s the most hotly contested segment in the car market. Whether it’s the compact, midsize, or large version, the family hauler is now usually some form of SUV. And Hyundai’s Santa Fe models are serious players in that segment. For those looking for a smaller midsize SUV, the Santa Fe Sport is Hyundai’s entry ticket. It seats five adults and their cargo comfortably and offers a choice of two different 4-cyclindar gas engines — a 2.4 …

Keep reading

2015-Lexus-NX-Turbo-2

Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus NX200t F Sport AWD With Ken Glassman

by

2015 Lexus NX200t F Sport AWD Review By Ken Glassman Lexus is breaking ground by introducing their first compact SUV crossover, and by putting their first turbocharged engine in it. And with engine technology improving, and stricter gas mileage rules fast approaching, I’m sure we’ll see a lot more turbos in the Lexus lineup soon. Lexus is certainly no stranger to SUV’s. Their landmark RX mid-size is the best selling luxury vehicle in the country with over 100,000 units sold each year. Only time will tell if the NX 200 will be able to match that, and if it does, …

Keep reading

2015-VW-Golf-Sportwagen-TDI-SE-25

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

by

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

Keep reading

SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo 42

404MPH via 2590HP! SRT Tomahawk X Tops Raceable Trio of S, GTS-R and X Models

by

Stunning reveal today for the SRT Tomahawk Vision GT car for Gran Turismo. The details are as great as the sweeping airfoils all around the Tomahawk’s graphene glass and bodywork. Three variants of this ultra-futuristic supercar prototype are engineered and raceable at different levels of the game. All with record-setting levels of theoretical performance! A mid-mounted, wide-block V10 engine provides primary thrust, with the front axle on-demand AWD. Performance will be obscene. All run a combination of wide-block V10 plus hydaulic AWD and active aero. The Tomahawk S comes in with 1007-horsepower, while the GTS-R is race-optimized throughout. The white …

Keep reading

World Endurance Championship

LeMans 2015 – Toyota TS040 Hybrid Gets New Nose, More Power and New Suspension Setup

by

  What the TS040 lacks in outright drama, it clearly makes up for with outstanding engineering and bulletproof reliability. Le Mans 2014 was one of the three World Endurance Championship races that the TS040 Hybrid did not win — but the team cleaned up by going 5 in 8 overall during the 2014 season. This dominance was enough to score Toyota the World Championship titles for the car as well as its drivers — which is certainly an impressive feat. The newly-renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing team wants to keep the winning glory in this 2015 season with the ultimate crowning …

Keep reading

CN015_005SRbvlatofp2880iv5ul8gbfg2i1t

2015 SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo Teases Extreme Mid-Engine Hypercar

by

  First look at the upcoming 2015 SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo! This latest installment of the VGT series is a fantasy concept created and engineered for racing in Gran Turismo on PlayStation — but is also a solid look into the dream wishlist of the SRT performance and design teams. Only a few official images so far, but what we see is a stunning track car that features adaptive aerodynamics with a massive rear wing, side flap air brakes, and numerous other delicious details. Five giant exhaust pipes in the center of the Tomahawk’s tail hint at some kind …

Keep reading

Nissan GT-R LM NISMO Testing in Sebring

LeMans 2015 – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO Stuns On Track With Vacuum Aero!

by

Update: Observers of the GTR-LM at NCM Motorsports Park in Kentucky have confirmed the sound of high-power electric vans at speed around the track — answering a fundamental question posed below. __ Well, I’ll be damned! The shocking design and tech solutions of the all-new Nissan LMP1 car continue to mystify in the runup to LeMans 2015. The tech specs are out and included here, along with a fascinating video revealing one of the GT-R LM NISMO’s big secret weapons: vacuum aero. Nissan shows these full-length channels in the design in the below video, describing how the full-length piping helps …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB Ultimate 7

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB Ultimate

by

The seven-seat crossover market is a cut-throat place for carmakers. These fairly wealthy families are the bulls-eye for more than three dozen unique SUV models in 2015 — and earning big sales and market share is extremely difficult for even the best new machines. With so many choices, three-row SUVs have become the new wild west of the car biz. Explorer vs Highlander becomes the modern equivalent of a pistol duel at high noon. As such, Hyundai threw a huge amount of resources at its redesigned 2015 Santa Fe — thinking through every step of the consideration and ownership process …

Keep reading

eb1zm3h0

Ferrari Bringing FXX-K + 488GTB and More to 2015 Goodwood FOS in New Concours Strategy

by

Ferrari is the most-collectible car brand of all time. Vehicles from the company’s storied past have owned the top-ten vehicle value charts for at least the last 20 years — with that dominance set to continue indefinitely. Especially considering the brilliance of the current range! As the dominant force in supercars, racing and exotics — Ferrari can be choosy about the events it attends officially, and the coolness of the cars they bring along to show. Case in point? The FXX K has not been seen again in public since its debut at Yas Marina the other month. The F12 …

Keep reading

dneef7m9dgfzv

Refreshed 2015 BMW 6 Series – USA Pricing for All 16 Models + 150 New Photos

by

The new BMW 6 series is official! The full range is now priced and build-able for USA shoppers — who can choose among 13 unique models of coupes, cabrios and Gran Coupes. Up that total to 16 if you include the M6 in each bodystyle. Overall, the M Sport package is the must-have choice, but there is a Black Pack for the regular trimlines this year. This flips the chrome C-shapes in the bumpers and on other trims to gloss black, as shown in the below UK image of red cabrio nose. As before, the four-doors are the sweet spot …

Keep reading

2016-Honda-HR-V-Exterior-54

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

by

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

Keep reading

2015 MANSORY S63 Coupe Widebody 8

2015 MANSORY S63 Widebody Coupe Launches New 710HP Power Level for Gorgeous CF Restyle

by

Mansory just came out with its second S63 AMG Coupe — wearing the stunning carbon-fiber widebody and now offering a very-modest 710 horsepower option. This is down more than 180 ponies from the bonkers Diamond Edition shown below in blue, but is still enough to wipe the floor with most supercars in a pure drag race. These power upgrades are far more than electronic: the Mansory engine overhaul upgrades a dozen key components under the hood to make the block stronger and faster-revving, plus able to cope with the astounding levels of peak torque. Previous limiting factors on overall power …

Keep reading

_P9Q8319_DG2_LR copy

Toyota Tundra Summer Camp C/O Bass Pro Shops! Late June – Late July In Texas

by

The Toyota Tundra Bass Pro Shops Edition is a cool exclusive for Gulf states truck shoppers — pairing much of the TRD Pro’s off-road ability with a classy and exclusive exterior sytle all its own. The BPS Tundra is headed camping this summer with its namesake brand: offering workshops and campsites at a special Bass Pro Shops camp location from late June to late July. The Tundra BPS off-road experience also has events with Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept through the summer — letting camping fans, families and adventurers enjoy great mini-breaks from urban life. The Bass Pro Shops Tundra …

Keep reading

BMW Art Car Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fresh Museum Display + World Tour (125 Photos) 117

BMW Art Car Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fresh Museum Display + World Tour (125 Photos)

by

Who would have thought that a custom CSL in 1975 would become such a core element of the BMW legacy. 17 models so far have been made over in the BMW Art Car program, with the majority pure racecars — but not all. In fact, each car’s birth is quite a story in itself. The inspirations and visions of the artists involved are as varied as the subjects themselves. But as each car is unique, along with each artist — one core theme comes through from at least half the artists: speed whipping the paint back and up the lines …

Keep reading

2015-Porsche-919-Hybrid-2sdsxdf

2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid Adds Black and Red LeMans Liveries in 917K Salute

by

Porsche is extremely eager to show how fast and reliable its 2015 919 Hybrid is in the marquee endurance race of the year: LeMans. Just 18 days from now, a trio of Porsche 919s will battle a mad pack of Audi R19 racecars, the secretive 2015 Toyota LMP1 update, and an all-new contender: the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. This front-drive Nissan is a real wildcard in the tech blueprint adopted by the other big three: rear-mid-engine with electric front-axle AWD. The Porsche 919 Hybrid looks extremely similar to last year’s car, but features dramatic updates under the skin. The core …

Keep reading

HAMANN-2015-BMW-M4-Art-Cars-16a

HAMANN Presents Dueling Good/Evil 2015 BMW M4 Art Cars

by

  Good and evil?! That is a stretch — they are both beyond good. The first HAMANN Art Car 2015 M4 is the white-base example, with the second a dark base. Timo Wuerz handled the design of the dark car, with its brush-strokes all swept back by the wind of a racetrack. An explosion of reds and yellow flame tones emerge from the BMW roundel up front, contrasted with the dark blues and black swipes of the clean edges. They are both quite striking, to say the least. The white car employs a friendlier color palatte with or ribbon-like flowing …

Keep reading

StickerCity 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car 5-horz

Tuner Showcase – StickerCity Creates 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car

by

Auto wraps have officially gone high-brow! No longer is a simple color change enough to entertain hypercar owners. Full custom multi-layer wraps are the new vogue. StickerCity of California did this one-off McLaren P1 for a special client — with the results a mesmerizing swirl of color, plus silver and gold flashes of reflectivity. It is very seducitve and original, as we’re sure you will agree. All in a days work at this hot Cali custom shop. This design was a custom creation from one of their in-house designers. But it is not just the look; skilled application is needed …

Keep reading

2015-Nissan-Rogue-SV-21s

Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Rogue SV FWD 7-Seater

by

Some cars take a steep learning curve to learn their tech and driving merits. Modes and settings and menus can unlock driving modes and goodies that make the vehicle feel more in-tune with expectations and performance needs. The Nissan Rogue excels by being just perfect right out of the box. The Rogue is simply a solid, stylish and useful crossover that is well-priced and well-done from the first time you slip it into Drive. But if it is right from moment one, how does it feel after a week at the wheel? Let’s dive in to the full review of …

Keep reading

2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 13

2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 Is Lux Cruiser

by

BMW Motorrad’s sales are on an absolute tear in the US and worldwide in recent years. Where to take the brand that dominates the desirability of the entire two-wheeled world? Upward and onward! The highest-margin area of the motorcycle market is for large cruisers. This new Concept 101 takes the BMW riding-pleasure mantra into this huge new area. A bike that surely makes many German minimalists cringe, the Concept 101 is a firm statement of intent. The machine debuted this weekend at the BMW-sponsored Villa d’Este Concours. It is a long-range cruiser with hardshell luggage cases, a relaxed riding position …

Keep reading

2015 RIMAC Concept_One EV Hypercar 4

1088HP RIMAC Concept_One eHypercar Nearing Production + Now Raceable in DRIVECLUB

by

Three massive tech leaps have lowered the barriers to hypercar creation dramatically: — affordable cad-cam and engineering software — small-batch carbon fiber chassis and panel creation — electric propulsion to deliver the power of race-car gasoline engines, but with all companies essentially starting from the same block. Years of experience are no longer (as big of…) an advantage for EV supercars Without any of the above, designing and creating a car from scratch easily required banks of computer servers and million-dollar industrial panel stampers. Therefore, the time is right for startup tech companies all over the world to take the …

Keep reading

New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera 8

New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera

by

Updated 5.23.15 The Berlinetta Lusso made its concours debut this weekend at Villa d’Este sporting a new grille design integrating twin round LED foglamps. These are a triple LED setup, and look stunning lit with the headlamp’s white DRL accent. Touring Superleggera has pulled back the silk on its latest masterpiece: the Berlinetta Lusso. The Lusso is a full redesign of the Ferrari F12’s exterior, adding a level of timeless sophistication to go with the mechanical brutality of the F12 on full throttle. You may have noted that the latest Ferrari range lacks a super-lux flagship: the place of the …

Keep reading

Quattroroute 2015 Zagato Mostro photos 10

2015 ZAGATO Mostro Is Custom Carbon Supercar Aimed at GT3 Drivers

by

  A very exciting reveal this weekend in Lake Cuomo! Zagato has graced the Villa d’Este COncours with their latest creation: the Mostro powered by Maserati. Honoring ten decades of Maserati Zagato specials and the 1957 ‘Monster’ in particular, this exotic supercar design is being produced and sold to five pre-selected customers. The car is built on a carbon tub with a front-mounted Maserati V8 engine, believed to be the 4.7-liter, dry-sumped screamer from the GranTurismo lineup. Power is sent to the back wheels via a rear-mounted six-speed transaxle. Double wishbones and 19-inch wheels round out the simplistic and race-car-like …

Keep reading

2015-BMW-CSL-Hommage-18dssf

Shock M6 Concept! 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage – Design Analysis + Rendered Colorizer

by

  Brace yourself! BMW’s new concept is going to knock you off your feet. This 2015 BMW CSL Hommage takes the incredible aggression and aero add-on feel of the classic BMW racecars, then integrates much of the layered and detailed look via its swirling CFRP panels. The Hommage is a simply stunning look at the future of BMW’s large coupe — with the track embellishments and GT-R-style machoness almost dripping off the Golf Yellow paintwork. No powertrain details are given, as the focus is really on design for the Concours.   Design Analysis NOSE The nose will dominate many conversations …

Keep reading

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S Review 3

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

by

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

Keep reading

2013 Aston Martin ZAGATO DB9 Centennial Spyder 26

2015 RM Monterey Preview – 2013 Aston Martin ZAGATO DB9 Centennial Spyder

by

There have been many attempts to drastically alter and update the style of Aston Martin DB9 supercars — many by Aston designers themselves. The most unrecognizable by far, however, was from Zagato. A DBS Centennial Coupe introduced the shockingly blocky redesign from Zagato, showcasing a full-width vertical grille unlike any production Aston. Not a single panel is shared with the production models, with all-new and uber-formal lines changing the proportions and stance of the Aston from a supercar GT into a super-lux cabrio perfect for Monaco. The tail of the Zagato DBS Centennial is even more appealing in its unique …

Keep reading

jurassic-world-mercedes-heade3r

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, G63 6×6 and Unimog U5023 Star in Jurassic World

by

Update1 – With Selected Photo Credits to Baptiste Coudert It has been almost 20 years since the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class made a silver-screen debut in Jurassic Park 2 in 1997 — best known for spinning all four wheels in reverse while trying to pull a research trailer back from the edge of a cliff. The Mercedes SUV product-placement offensive has continued in the X-Men films and a few other since then, but never with the same action-packed, memorable drama as the ML320 in Jurassic Park: The Lost World. The fact of the matter is that the Mercedes SUVs in movies have …

Keep reading

2015 Lamborghini Aventador SV USA Reveal 36

2015 Lamborghini Aventador SV Joins Hypercar Big League With New Sub-7-Minute Nurburgring Lap

by

Updated 5.19.15 with 20 New Photos + Nurburging Fast Lap Video The new Aventador SV just locked in a seriously impressive Nurburgring fast lap: a time of “under 7 minutes” makes it very close to the 2010 Pagani Zonda R and its 6:47 laptime — yet this Aventador SV is fully road-legal! Also included below are a dozen fresh photos from the car’s USA reveal the other month in Amelia Island, Florida. The cabin is quite something — with the carbon-fiber seats a particularly pleasant surprise for their grip on the body, rigidity on the move and their overall design …

Keep reading

BMW_ALPINA_XD3_BITURBO_01(1)

ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

by

PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

Keep reading

ALPINA B3 Wheel Colorizer 18

2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

by

PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

Keep reading

2015 IVECO Vision Concept Van 6

2015 IVECO Vision PHEV Concept Shows Futuristic Design + Cabin Tech Innovations

by

Your packages have never traveled in such comfort and style! The 2015 IVECO Vision Concept finally brings a cool sci-fi, Hollywood-ready look to a full-size van. Its surfacing and proportions take a bold look into the future of IVECO van designs — pairing brutal and aggressive lighting and nose to friendly, flowing forms to van roof-lines that are usually far boxier. But before we look at the cool design and tech of the IVECO Vision, there is one thing to note first thing: the IVECO Vision is absolutely gigantic. From some angles, the concept appears to be only slightly larger …

Keep reading