2016

2017 Acura NSX GT3 – V6TT, RWD Racecar is FIA-Ready (+Video)

by

Acura just ripped the covers off its fully race-ready NSX GT3 racecar in New York. And the most intriguing elements of the machine?  Perhaps the total drivetrain revamp versus the AWD, triple-motor SH-AWD production model. FIA GT3 rules do not have a hybrid slot yet, so this NSX GT3 swaps its clever electric motors for pure turbocharged thrust. The main engine is the same as the production NSX, but the rear-drive conversion brings in a sequential six-speed paddle-shifter and likely some very clever racing differential tech. Acura plans to race this car in FIA GT3 classes starting in fall 2016, …

Keep reading

2017 Audi R8 Spyder V10 – World Debut in NYC

by

The new R8 Spyder is here and packing even more potent performance, luxury and a huge leap in chassis rigidity.  The strength of the new R8 means there will be virtually no difference between the softtop and the hardtop in terms of sheer pace and drive feel. The cabin is all-new, of course, with some of the most advanced design and user-experience technology of any make worldwide. These changes are all more-than-welcome, of course. But they will have to really deliver a great first impression in Audi showrooms. Why? Because the design outside is even more subtle than the coupe’s …

Keep reading

Lincoln-Navigator_SKV_0067 copy

2016 Lincoln NAVIGATOR Concept (+Video and Live Photos)

by

  First look this morning at a *stunning* vision for the future Lincoln Navigator. Innovative and super-posh throughout, as you would expect, but also extremely elegant outside and in.  The most striking element at first sight is the clean and all-new styling for the nose, tail, glasshouse and panel surfaces.  Most elements of the truck-based model are banished in favor of a million-mile first class airline experience.  This extends to the giant showcar gullwing doors, of course, but also to the lower panels and the design in total.  As though a Range Rover and Bentayga met in a bar and …

Keep reading

Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI 5

Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI!

by

I have met the bright red devil today! And he is quite friendly. =] But private, as you might imagine. He is mobbed wherever he goes in this 900HP masterpiece. The Mustang GT Convertible California Special is a lovely chase car… even with just half the horsepower.     Speed Fleet! 2016 Ford Mustang GT Cali Special + LaFERRARI!

Hawkeye Drives - 2016 Acura MDX Review 1

Hawkeye Drives – 2016 Acura MDX Review

by

Hawkeye Drives – 2016 Acura MDX Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman The 2016 Acura MDX is a luxury crossover with seating options for up to seven people, and can be had in front wheel drive, or all-wheel-drive, like the test car. The MDX is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out a hefty 290 horsepower, and 267 ft. lb. of torque.  Power gets to the pavement via a 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.  That 9-speed is designed to increase gas mileage, which comes in at 19 City and 26 highway (which includes the engine start/stop features).  Our real …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Nissan Altima SL – Fresh Face for World’s-Smoothest Sedan

by

One of comedian Amy Schumer’s bits comes to mind as we sit down to write up this Altima review. “You’d bang me, but you wouldn’t blog about it…” The Altima is fresh for 2016 with a mini nip/tuck front and rear, updated tech and even more efficiency for the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This update is a light refresh, and is part of the new automaker strategy of lowering product cycle times from around five years before to less than three now.  Technology and style trends are moving so rapidly that a four-year-old car is easily one of the most …

Keep reading

First Drive Review – 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4MATIC

by

By Anthony Fongaro The quintessential hatchback-on-stilts. As luxury automakers continue to make their vehicles bigger and bigger, smaller and cheaper models are created to fill the gap. Case-in-point: the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4MATIC. Not only is it the smallest crossover in Mercedes-Benz’s lineup but it’s one of the least expensive. But there’s an immediate problem: it’s basically a tall hatchback. It’s weird to have a vehicle that looks like a hatchback but higher up. That, however; may not be a bad thing. The usability of a hatchback but with AWD and being higher up could prove to be great come …

Keep reading

2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 17

2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43

by

The new GLC43 AMG just made its online debut ahead of the big reveal in NYC next week.  And it looks just about perfect! Low roof, long hood, air springs, and 367HP V6TT through a nine-speed auto?! Mighty enticing indeed! The car is set for a US arrival as soon as June of 2016 as a 2017 model-year. 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 The new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC: First mid-size SUV from Affalterbach Affalterbach Affalterbach. The mid-size SUV model series gains a particularly dynamic addition in the form of the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC.The 270 kW (367 hp) 3.0-litre V6 …

Keep reading

Update2 – Road Test Review – 2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription

by

Update1 – Additional info from Volvo Cars US in Performance article section.  Update2 – Clarifies that S60 Inscription is the new LWB model, and the only one imported from China.   Solid experience in any business can make you a bit cocky.  You know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats intimately. A brilliant skillset for any field. One that helps you achieve results faster and better than others. In the car reviews business, that often means you think you know a car pretty well… without even driving it.  From other models in the brand’s lineup, from previous generations and from reviews you have read.. …

Keep reading

2017 SPYKER C8 Preliator – Sharp 3rd-Gen Exotic is Coming to America!

by

The world’s most curious supercar made a glittery debut in Geneva and is now on the way to the New York auto show! This return to the USA for Spyker is a pretty big deal.  As we all know, this market can be make-or-break for low-volume manufacturers.  Spyker’s new Coventry factory puts in in great company: Morgan, Aston Martin, McLaren and Jaguar are fairly closeby. Hopefully this localization helps Spyker navigate its way back onto US roads as well as our auto shows! On to the main event: the new PRELIATOR! This means warrior in Latin and marks the third …

Keep reading

570S GT4-5 1900 copy

2016 McLaren 570S GT4 and Sprint Unleash Extreme Aero, De-Luxed Cabins

by

McLaren just revealed its racecar versions of the new 570S: the FIA-approved GT4 model that is ready to go racing worldwide right from the factory.  And the real star?  The 570S Sprint~! The Sprint is our favorite because it is so pure.  The GT4 car’s aero upgrades, de-restricted engine and exhausts, Pirelli slicks and beefed-up race suspension…. but without the GT4’s standard roll cage, fire extinguisher and other mandatory elements.  Such things like power restrictors are needed for the GT4 class… but not in the 570S Sprint!   That means less weight for trackday individuals versus race teams.   Estimated weight …

Keep reading

700HP, 2.5s 2017 REZVANI Beast X – Wild Carbon Wings, Monster Boost for Street-Legal Racecar

by

You are being hunted. The Rezvani Beast X is out for blood.  That much is clear from its 2.5-second 60-mph sprint and tail-out track action! This upgraded model is debuting in Dallas this week with a shockingly sexy carbon-fiber aero kit, a new engine and even optional paddle-shift for the 2017 modelyear. The California team will build just five of these X Beasts for sale worldwide, with pricing from $325k and the order books open now.  (The Beast Speedster is the car pictured here in grey, while the X is previewed in a few of the red photos — but not all …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Ferrari California T

by

Any chance to drive an all-new Ferrari is enough for an epic day off.  What fantastic fortune! The 2016 California T is the facelifted and engine-swapped update of Modena’s only 2+2 cabrio.  Its $205k base price actually makes it the cheapest model in the 488, F12 and GTC4Lusso range. The numbers and noise coming from the twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8’s quad central pipes are definitely not entry-level, however! The new turbo drivetrain definitely delivers warp speed… but in a slightly delayed way that betrays this car’s split soul. Love-at-first-drive in the Ferrari California T? Sadly, no. Let’s find out why this car’s conflicted …

Keep reading

2016 Ford EDGE AWD Titanium 7

Hawkeye Drives! 2016 Ford EDGE Titanium AWD Review

by

By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman The Edge was dropped off at my house just after a little snowstorm, which made for some unflattering photos because of the street salt residue all over it, but I was fortunate to be able to test the all wheel drive vehicle in the slippery stuff. The first thing I noticed was that the brakes were very touchy and grabby right from the top of the pedal travel.  In fact it caused the ABS to kick in when on my driveway merely rolling it back to park, and when inching forward to leave the driveway.  Naturally, …

Keep reading

TECHART Magnum for Porsche Cayenne 10

Must-Hear Monster! 700HP TECHART Magnum in 35 New Photos, Engine MP3s

by

In the TechArt world, Magnum is shorthand for every Cayenne upgrade in the catalog!  The team has been finalizing their style,. performance and tech upgrades for this third-generation Cayenne MAGNUM over the last few months — and the results are pretty intense! The exterior upgrades fit all 2015-current Cayenne models, while the optional suspension and exhaust mods also enhance everything from the Cayenne S Diesel to the full-fat Turbo. An extra 120 horsepower come from all-new turbochargers, engine breathing and cooling on the Turbo — with 640HP available at all times, and the massive 700HP coming on steam with the …

Keep reading

CN016_015JPetu6l4livmu40ppdm7srburclm

7 New JEEP Concepts Hiding Among Easter Jeep Safari Madhouse! +30 Live Photos

by

There is alot of love and alot of great tradition on display for this year’s seven-pack of all-new concept vehicles for the MOAB Safari. One in bright green will be churning up much of the excitement… and that is the Trailcat! An ultra-intense race truck aimed at the glacier-climbers of Iceland… this off-roader really does pack the engine of the Hellcat.  707-horsepower through a stickshift will make quite the entrance wherever it goes! In terms of production feasibility… this dusty desert party of Jeeps also has some clear winners beyong the Trailcat.  The Crew CHief 715 is the clearest production …

Keep reading

2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery

by

Extension of the glowing review just published:  all these stunning photos (and crazy-fun launch videos!) all by themselves. The photos below are still a gallery lightbox on click, but using a single column layout to give you a close look without any clicking.  Cheers. Thanks Dodge.  May I please have some more? =] Drive Video 1       Drive Video 2 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery http://www.dodge.com/en/  

HD Road Test Review - 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 16

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Balls Deep in the 4.2s ThunderCat!

by

World Class FAST! The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 is a life-changing machine. Normal drives become the highlight of your day.  The remote start is a thunderous event in itself!  Waking the 6.4-liter, 485-horsepower HEMI V8 happens with pure raging fury. Hence, our loving ThunderCat nickname! The 2016 Charger is an instant Best-of Award winner.  A week in this car is enough to make anyone feel like a man’s man.  Women included.  It puts hair on your chest and a baritone in your throat. Full review here with standard headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance, Pricing and Summary.  Two HD drive videos …

Keep reading

First Drive Review – 2015 Mitsubishi MIRAGE ES

by

When cheap doesn’t equal cheerful. Light and nimble city cars – what they lack in power they joyously make up for with quirky styling, low price tags, and interior accommodations. Enter Mitsubishi. Previously, the smallest car in Mitsubishi’s lineup was the mid-size Lancer, but in 2014 they rolled out a small car priced around $13,000. On paper, the 2015 Mirage seemed like it could it be a decent city car. Then you take a look at it and the mirage vanishes (pun intended). Without even giving away any stats about the Mirage, you look at it and straight away shake …

Keep reading

2016 KTM X-Bow GT Black Carbon 11

2016 KTM X-Bow GT Black Carbon

by

The world’s favorite KTM car pro’s have a new special for us! The X-BOW GT Black Edition is an all-black, all-carbon flagship of the street-going KTM ‘Crossbow’ lineup. Wimmer RST has this gorgeous new special on display in Geneva this week along with the championship-winning X-BOW GT4 racecar. The new X-BOW Black Carbon is even upgraded versus that racecar, however. In addition to the CF tub, the new Wimmer special integrates carbon fiber for dozens of other components.  The entire undertray is a new carbon-fiber execution delivering race levels of grip on the road.  Exposed-weave carbon fiber now takes the …

Keep reading

Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part Two 102

850HP 2017 Zenvo TS1 Scores New Cabin, Track-Attack Aero

by

Zenvo has flipped the script on their marquee hypercar! ST1 becomes TS1 for 2017. Aero treats up front include a huge new splitter with side and sill spats shown in contrast-carbon. Out back, a bigger duck-flip of a spoiler promises better aero and more stares. If that were possible! The TS1’s 5.9-liter, twin-supercharged V8 rumbles like a monster truck. We wish the lighting package were updated in the nose with something more fresh. But as always, a very dramatic hypercar statement. 2017 Zenvo TS1     2017 Zenvo TS1 – Tech Specs   Body 2-door 2-seater. The Body is made …

Keep reading

Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part Two 111-tile

Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part Two

by

So, so much hotness in here. Aston Martin DB11, Huayra BC, Apollo Arrow, Remac Concept One, Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, new Spyker and Zenvo’s….! Our favorite is split between the new Apollo and the DS E-Tense.   Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part Two      

2017 Abarth 124 Spider 10s

2017 Abarth 124 Spider – Boosted Turbo, Shouty Exhaust and Butch Body Mods

by

Stunning new Fiat from Abarth at Geneva this year — proving the in-house tuner is still a big asset in the brand’s expansion worldwide.  The Mirafiori speed demons have wasted no time upgrading the design, performance and panache of the adorable baby Fiat: the new 124 Spider. From its cute looks emerges yet another harsh, focused look at what Abarth does best.  The scorpion logo makes sense the first time you fire up one of their specials: pops and brummy exhaust and engine notes that recall Maserati much more than Mazda. Then you turn to see… and are shocked that …

Keep reading

2016 Abarth 124 Rally Prototype 5

Best of Geneva – 2016 Abarth 124 Rally Prototype – 300HP Kicks Off 2017 Abarth Racing Revival

by

  In case the hot new Abarth Fiat 124 Spider were not enough to get your heart revving, Abarth Racing has brought along an even hotter version! A rear-drive rally racecar that started life as a ragtop!?  Sounds like a winner to us.  And it definitely looks like a winner too. A slightly raised ride height, boosted engine putting down 300Hp, plus a locking rear differential promise exciting, tail-out action to rally fans next year. Custom fender extensions, sill extensions and brake air vents behind the back axle speak to this car’s gravel-slinging dreams.  As does its gigantic, fire-spitting single …

Keep reading

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Nissan Maxima SR – Bonneville GT-R is Ace

by

We had a pet name for the Maxima SR during its awesome week in the speed fleet. But like some nicknames are, it is hauntingly accurate and also slightly insulting… Resisting it in this review created major writer’s block.  How to clear the logjam? Tell you our nickname for the 2016 Maxima SR, and then explain why it is actually a loving salute to the car’s awesome, Dodge Charger-rivalling handling and machismo on the road. So what is it? We referred to the Maxima SR as… The Bonneville GT-R. Now, that might not sound too bad.  But among car enthusiasts, any mention of …

Keep reading

2016 FERRARI California T Blue3

First Drive Photos + Video! 2016 FERRARI California T

by

Feast your eyes and ears on the new Cali Turbo! We have some incredible insights from the drive, to be published tomorrow. =] Until then, prepare to be blasted by the quad pipes in the below video.  Plus a rather obscene 200 photos of the 2+2 hardtop cabriolet. Power from the new twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 comes in at a stout 560HP and 552-pound-feet.  The engine still loves revs through the seven-speed paddle-shift to make its most ferocious power — but there is big-boost torque throughout the midrange too.  At full chat, the new engine lights up the Cali T like …

Keep reading

Hawkeye Drives - 2016 Dodge Journey Review 14

Hawkeye Drives – 2016 Dodge Journey Crossroad Plus AWD Review

by

The Dodge Journey is mostly unchanged from the previous year’s model. In fact, it’s little changed since its introduction back in 2009. There was a refresh in 2011, but that was mostly cosmetic. Beneath the skin, it shows its age a bit as the other competitors in its class, like the Nissan Rogue, Honda CRV, Toyota Rav 4, or the Kia Sorento, have out classed it over the years. The Journey just isn’t as sophisticated as the others, and feels a bit dated. That’s not to say that the Journey doesn’t have some positive attributes. Unlike the Honda, Toyota, and …

Keep reading

Design Analysis – 2017 Lamborghini CENTENARIO + 20 Astounding Geneva Closeups

by

  This might be the most outrageous Lamborghini of all time. And that is saying something — there have been some real wild childs’ in the back catalog! The Centenario is a 40-unit special Aventador with all-new styling and 770HP.  Half coupes and half roadsters, they are all pre-sold. The big innovations over the Aventador include rear-wheel steering and a new carbon-fiber chassis tub.  Much part sharing for boring things (like glass and suspension details) with the Aventador, yet cutting out a large bit of mass by replacing its aluminum spaceframe with a CF tub wherever possible.  This is likely …

Keep reading

Design Analysis – 2016 Pininfarina H2 Speed and Sigma Grand Prix

by

This is one of the first times someone has dusted off the idea of a hydrogen FCEV supercar in quite a while.  The most notable effort was likely from BMW more than a decade ago. There is certainly promise in a 180-second refill from a hydrogen station, then all the benefits of a full-EV drivetrain. Namely, SPEED! The H2 Speed is quoted at some quite impressive figures.  100-kph flashes by in a 3.4-second whir, and on to a max speed of 186-mph. DESIGN ANALYSIS All this is wrapped in the purest snow white panelwork you’ve ever seen.  The bubble-like nose …

Keep reading

2016-ItalDesign-Giugiaro-GTZero--1d

2016 ItalDesign Giugiaro GTZero

by

  Official debut details below on a very intriguing prototype from ItalDesign. Now that Giugiaro’s design boutique is integrated in the VW Group, and Audi in particular, their projects have taken on extra relevance.  Perhaps predicting the future of some kind of Audi or Lambo?  Or perhaps just reflecting the new mood toward shooting brake supercars…? Our theory is that the GTZero may have been a Lambo proposal that didn’t get the green light for production.  But got the go-ahead for a redesign to showcase ItalDesign’s skills. Either way, the three-door model is a 2+2 with a finished cabin and …

Keep reading

Geneva Auto Show 2016 - Mega Gallery 317

Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part One

by

Highlights in the gigantic, 250-photo gallery below?  Definitely the W Motors Lykan Hypersport!  Painted to match the Furious 7 hero and attending Geneva for the first time. Others definitely include the Opel GT Concept, VW T-Cross Breeze, Arash AF10 (perhaps), Honda Civic hatchback concept, 2017 VW Up!, SEAT Alteca, Peugeot Traveller and many more! The new Smart Fortwo cabrio is looking sharp in bright baby blue, as are the new C-Class twins in C400 and C43 Cabriolet. Geneva 2016 – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part One

2017 Aston Martin DB11 Exterior 18

200MPH, 3.7s 2017 Aston Martin DB11 – All-New V12TT, Design and Tech

by

  This is it! In all its official glory: the 2017 Aston Martin DB11. The huge news is of course the DB11 design outside — which is a radical advancement over the similar-looking models in DB9 era.   A new floating roof and C-pillar forms a functional aeroblade in the back of the roofline — in very sexy fashion.  A wider, deeper Aston single-frame grille is more true to the original DB shapes from the 1960s, and is deeply modern and elegant.  And more crucially: brand-new from even 100 paces! THe brand-new details continue under the skin and inside the …

Keep reading

Geneva Debuts – 2016 Subaru XV Concept – Less Hideous, More Production-Ready

by

Subaru has been bringing shockingly ugly concept cars to Europe for the big auto shows as long as anyone can remember. We’re equally unimpressed by this concept’s detailing, style and design decisions. As we were with the Viziv before.  Less repugnant… is still repugnant though. The difference is, this new XV Concept model is actually very, very close to production form.  Strip away the fug-nasty orange trims, fake honeycomb LEDs and the pricey paintwork, and we could be looking at the next-gen XV Crosstrek.  Of course, we will also see door handles and a frumpier roofline. The best angle is from the back, …

Keep reading

Update1 – 500HP 2017 Porsche 911R – Purist Special Drops 100Lbs vs GT3 RS

by

The new 911R is our ideal Porsche.  A classic — even after just debuting a few hours ago. All the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS’s shrieking, shrill thrills from a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter boxer six making 500HP.  But now without the additional bodywork addenda and packing carbon-fiber fenders. Even a magnesium roof! All this purity and the lack of PDK drops weight from the machine fairly dramatically: a full 50kg less than the hardest-core GT3 RS. Performance will be a full-body sensory immersion. In the best hands, Porsche promises the 100-kph sprint in 3.8-seconds.  Perhaps not a headline figure, but your …

Keep reading

blacbadge-header

2017 Rolls-Royce BLACK BADGE Ghost and Wraith – Best of Geneva 2016

by

  Hell yes! After griping about Rolls-Royce descending into Miata and Aston special-edition hell a few months ago, we’re thrilled to report the latest exclusives from Rolls are — in fact — cool as fahk. The Black Badge launch appeals to modern trendsetters in a way that no recent Roller has. How? Dark, mean, sinister and effortlessly chic.  The first two models to benefit are the Ghost and the Wraith — which drop all brightwork in favor of satin black for the grilles, trims and even flying lady up front!  The standard triple-dipped brightwork around the pillars and door-handles is …

Keep reading

2016 TechRules AT96 TREV Supercar Concept 1

2016 TechRules AT96 TREV Supercar Concept

by

Very promising debut from TechRules today!  The AT96 is the supercar startup’s launch prototype, making its big-league entrance in Geneva after a round of testing at Silverstone and years of development in China. The core premise is to introduce a revolutionary new turbine-recharged EV powertrain — and make it viable as a hypercar! Of course, keen readers will recall the many turbine misadventures in automobiledom, from the Chrysler Turbine cars to the original powertrain of the canceled Jaguar C-X17 prototype. The idea of turbines to deliver an EV charge makes perfect sense.  Military vehicles have employed this tech for decades. Functionally, the …

Keep reading

MANSORY_Mercedes_AMG_GLE63_1fsd

MANSORY Geneva 2016 – AMG GLE63, Range Rover Sport and Bentley Flying Spur

by

Roundup of the stragglers from Mansory’s Geneva showstand: the new GLE63, RRS and Bentley Flying Spur. Mercedes-AMG GLE63 by MANSORY WORLD PREMIERE at the 2016 Geneva Int. Motor Show     Sporty Power SUV ­– MANSORY refines the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 to a masculine wide body   All over the world the name MANSORY is synonymous with the refinement of luxury cars. With the new programme for the Mercedes AMG GLE 63 the company in Brand, Bavaria, once again recommends itself as the top address for sporty accessories, powerful increases in performance and an exciting body design.   Sporty elegance characterises the …

Keep reading

MANSORY_MercedesAMG_GTS_03 - Copy

Geneva Debuts – 2016 AMG GT-S by MANSORY

by

  Another half-debut, half-preview from Mansory.  The cars definitely exist — as their real-life cabins show — but these outdoor renders are very obviously images vs photos. Even so, the incredible new reverse ducted wings of the Mansory GTS make themselves very well-known!     2016 MANSORY AMG GT-S WORLD PREMIERE at the 2016 Geneva Int. Motor Show     MANSORY rocks the Mercedes-AMG GT S   Refining super cars is more than just a business for MANSORY. The attention to detail and the love of all that is special and unique is what drives us to produce out-of-the-ordinary automobiles. …

Keep reading

MANSORY_4XX_SIRACUSA_2 - Copy

Geneva Debuts – 2016 MANSORY 4XX Siracusa Ferrari

by

Official details and some very detailed preview images of the new Siracusa package from Mansory.  Now fully redesigned for the 488 GTB!   2016 MANSORY 4XX Siracusa Ferrari         PRESS RELEASE March 2016   WORLD PREMIERE at the 2016 Geneva Int. Motor Show     MANSORY 4XX SIRACUSA – spectacular mid-engined sports car with Italian roots   With the 4XX MANSORY now presents the second generation of the super sports car SIRACUSA. The first model was based on the Ferrari 458, the successor, the Ferrari 488, has now been given a complete makeover. Centrepiece of the complete customisation …

Keep reading

2.7s, 830HP 2016 MANSORY Aventador Superveloce J.S.1 Edition – James Stunt Special

by

An almost insane amount of carbon went into the special for London playboy James Stunt. Every single piece– in matching Mansory carbon.   The effect is fairly interesting.  Almost like a Magic Eye poster! Of course, all that new bodywork wears dozens of new aero slits and slats — adding ferocity to the already-feral LP750 SuperVeloce.   2016 MANSORY Aventador Superveloce J.S.1 Edition  J.S.1 Edition – MANSORY builds one-off-super-sports car on behalf of James Stunt.    When it comes to the hyper-elegant one-of-a-kind MANSORY J.S. 1 Edition based on the Lamborghini Aventador 750-4 Superveloce, it’s not just about the look. …

Keep reading

Geneva Debuts – 2016 Koenigsegg AGERA RS and AGERA Finale

by

The fun never runs out with the ultra-light and USA-legal Agera! These last specials of the RS and Agera Final, and Agera One of 1 are all pre-sold.  THey are still a fantastic showcase of a marque-defining hypercar. They may also mark the end of an era to a certain extent, with the new Regera range-topper already in production.       The Agera Final models are promised for a late 2017 delivery. Even so, we see great things in the future for any Koenigsegg! 2016 Koenigsegg AGERA   Koenigsegg Agera ‘Final’ Koenigsegg Automotive AB is pleased to announce the …

Keep reading

Geneva Debuts – 2016 SAIC Volkswagen PHIDEON – China-Only Super-Passat

by

VW just revealed its next-gen flagship  super-Passat: the Phideon. Riding on a next-gen premium platform, the Phideon is a long-wheelbase sedan the size of the S-Class, but with a lower roof that VW refers to as a four-door coupe. On that note, one of the Phideon’s best initial impressions is its premium proportions.  A long-looking hood, improved dash-to-axle length and fairly short front overhang all send the right signals loud and clear.  That being said, it is not as rear-drive in appearance as even the Hyundai Genesis. The design itself is familiar, if a bit angle-sensitive as shown on these preview images. …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

2016 Rolls-Royce PHANTOM – Books Closing on Best-Ever RR Model Family

by

This would be a curious announcement from anyone but Rolls-Royce. Basically, below they celebrate the Phantom VII and its production run from 2003-2011, then as the Phantom II from 2012 to 2016.  Its four variants (EWB, DHC, Coupe and Sedan) are unquestionably the most iconic super-lux limousines in the world.  And this really does deserve a champagne-pop for every occasion to celebrate. After all, the Phantom’s success under BMW was certainly never guaranteed.  In the Chronology of Phantoms, what we know as a Phantom I (mid-2000s) was actually the seventh in a long line of Rollers.  Anyone noting the timeline’s …

Keep reading

2017 Bugatti CHIRON Black Dynamic 4

2017 Bugatti CHIRON – Dynamic Onyx + Grand Palais Photosets

by

Update1 – Including photos of the new Chiron in a gorgeous onyx black out on the roads and high-speed test track.  Plus a set of this hypercar hero in rare static form at the Grand Palais.   2017 Bugatti CHIRON – Dynamic Photos Every hypercar in the world just found out it was no messiah. But rather, just a false prophet. Imagine the shame!  Being so slow, so unremarkable and so inferior? Bugatti’s live-streamed press conference starts tonight at 3:45AM EST — so imagine our THRILL at the full release!  Full photoset!  Full specs!  Get me a Kleenex! The details …

Keep reading

04_CHIRON_Molsheim_front_WEB

~2.1s, 1500HP 2017 Bugatti CHIRON is 261MPH Hypercar GOD!

by

Every hypercar in the world just found out it was no messiah. But rather, just a false prophet. Imagine the shame!  Being so slow, so unremarkable and so inferior? Bugatti’s live-streamed press conference starts tonight at 3:45AM EST — so imagine our THRILL at the full release!  Full photoset!  Full specs!  Get me a Kleenex! The details are absolutely shocking.  1500HP, 261-mph restricted Vmax for road use, and a sprint to 62-mph guaranteed to be well below 2.5-seconds. This is achieved through a 25-percent boost in power from the 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W16 engine.  New turbo designs boost power radically, and …

Keep reading

2016 Ferrari California T – Deserto Rosso

by

Ferrari presents a new video and photo tribute to the vast mountains of sand in the Middle East with this glamourous new Cali Turbo video! It is a stark reminder of the natural beauty of the landscape, and its unique nature versus anywhere else on Earth. And also a great reminder of the new California’s beauty and potent performance…! These cars may or may not include the new Handling Speciale package, but look like they are having a ball outside Dubai regardless!     https://youtu.be/xzOQpOGD1YU   2016 Ferrari California T – Deserto Rosso Ferrari Reveals Deserto Rosso Ferrari Pays Tribute …

Keep reading

Geneva Debuts – 2016 Volvo XC90 EXCELLENCE – Quad-Throne PHEV Limo for Davos Crowd

by

  Not just Rangies… but S-Classes and Audi A8’s too! The superlux livery market just found a new favorite: the XC90 T8 Excellence. Plugin-hybrid to ease your (guilty) conscience?  Check. SUV-easy entry and exit, plus jumbo cargo bay?  Check. Individual, 787-first-class seats in back with a full-length console and nap-ready headrests? Check. 4×4 grip for ski holidays or slushy commutes home?  Check. Subtle to the point of almost disappearing behind the bright window-edges and deep-tinted glass all around?  Check. The new XC90 Excellence certainly looks great on paper as the next favorite limousine for the Davos crowd. The Excellence order …

Keep reading

2016 BRABUS ROCKET 900 Coupe 8

Geneva Debuts – 2016 BRABUS ROCKET 900 S65 V12TT Coupe

by

Brace yourself for a big week of new exotics! Let’s kick things off with the insanely powerful, yet quite suble, Brabus Rocket 900. Based on the rear-drive S65 Coupe, this Rocket 900 upgrade bumps displacement from the V12TT up to 6.3-liters.  A full engine makeovertakes power up to 887HP and a stonking 1100-plus pound-feet of torque. Accordingly, the performance of this car above 100-mph is in Veyron-like territory.  Yet also packing four giant thrones and a pretty big trunk. Even better?  This Brabus 900 pack is set to be offered on the ragtop too!     2016 BRABUS ROCKET 900 …

Keep reading

2014 Pagani Huayra 11

2014 Pagani Huayra – Ex-Auto Show Star – RM Amelia 2016 Preview

by

We know this car!  It is Pagani’s auto show star — touring the country and wowing crowds at every stop. RM Auctions Amelia Island 2016 Lot 164 2014 Pagani Huayra To be auctioned on Saturday, March 12, 2016 $1,900,000 – $2,200,000   Photo Credit: Pepper Yandell ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s 720 bhp, 5,980 cc Mercedes-AMG V-12 engine with twin turbochargers, seven-speed automated manual transmission, front and rear independent suspension with double wishbones and fully adjustable coil-over shocks, and four-wheel carbon ceramic brakes. Wheelbase: 110 in. Less than 400 miles from new Over $260,000 in options, including $20,000 seven-piece luggage …

Keep reading

1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France 45

1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France – RM Amelia 2016 Preview

by

Leading a massive haul of Amelia Island stunners for RM Sotheby’s? This magnificent specimen!  An estimate so high that it is available only on request? That smacks of $30-million plus to us. The vehicle certainly seems like a contender for the most-beautiful Ferrari of all time.      1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France RM Amelia Island 2016 Lot 174 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ To be auctioned on Saturday, March 12, 2016   Photo Credit: Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sothebys 260 bhp, 2,953 SOHC V-12 engine with three Weber 36 DCL3 …

Keep reading

2016 Chevrolet Silverado eAssist – 500-Unit Hybrid V8 Cali Special

by

Here is a very smart addition to the world of trucks: a state-of-the-art mild hybrid.  The latest li-ion system from GM promises a 15-percent bump in fuel efficiency for just $500 more than the standard 5.3-liter V8. The system is built into the new eight-speed automatic transmission to add electric drive for 13HP and 44-pound-feet of torque.  Along with an eager stop-start, cylinder-deaction and re-generative braking…. the Silverado 1500 eAssist seems like the way forward in a fuel-savvy world. The system is just set to be offered on the 5.3-liter V8 and not the base V6, and for 2016 will …

Keep reading

2017 Acura NSX WTF 15

@Acura: $200k NSX Is WTF, Dickslap Sticker Shock

by

Are you f***ing shi****** me? Talk about bait and switch. This new NSX just doubled in price somehow, overnight. What was widely thought to be an $80k PHEV supercar is suddenly carrying a $168k base price. And that is slightly stripped out. Painted wheels?  $1500.  SiriusXM carbon roof?  $6k.  CCM brakes?  $11k.  CF exterior?  $10k. It goes on and on, until the bombshell $200k total gives you a dickslap at the Summary screen. These options read like someone literally did a “times 2” excel function for the original prices.  Then pasted it down the entire column. Shocked. The colors, by …

Keep reading

2016 BMW X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer 21

Best of Geneva – 2016 BMW X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer

by

  ACS has gone to town on their new X6 Falcon flagship! The engine kit is available for both the 35i and 50i models, bumping horsepower a cool 75 for the top-flight 650HP output of the showcar. It is the tasteful and hi-viz exterior makeover that really catches the eye, though.  Quite an X6 Evo…. and definitely with more visual intrigue than the X6M.     2016 BMW X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer Powerful, fast and impressive The X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer  It flexes its wings, applies the gas and shoots towards its prey like a torpedo. The latest exceptional …

Keep reading

Slow-Motion ActionGIFs of 2017 Lambo LP580-2 Sideways Around Doha!

by

Lamborghini’s going sideways at full throttle!? Ahhh!  Run for your lives! Cue the screams and tire shrieks? Yes, but this time in that mid-drift orgasm.  Not some AWD beast off its leash. The LP580-2 is the first rear-drive Lamborghini since the Gallardo Balboni, and is re-engineered to be extra playful.  Frisky, sideways and thrilled about it… Despite standard AWD across the range, Lambo is not out of practise on rear-drive models.  The GT3 cars are all rear-drive and guided the new front suspension development.  We personally like the looks of the 580’s nose a bit better than the Huracan LP610-4. …

Keep reading

1280_MHowell_488Spider_F34_No

2016 Ferrari 488 Spider – London Launch Party + V8TT Sound Samples

by

Updated 2.26.16 with 30 new photos from the car’s London launch party.  The nose looks far better in real life than it did on the initial renders and autoshow photos.   Gorgeous reveals by the dozen in Frankfurt this week, with only Aston and McLaren declining to launch something new and fairly important. Superlux EVs might be the defining show theme, but supercar rivalries are a close second. Lamborghini’s new Huracan Spyder, the McLaren 650S Spider and this brand-new 488 Spider are all viciously competitve with one another. Performance is roughly the same for all three as well: 3.0-second launches to …

Keep reading

2016 DS E-TENSE – Fantasy Color Visualizer of FULL-BALLS Supercar

by

2016’s confluence of new-car technology is great news for HOT supercars and concepts. Carbon Fiber for the the chassis can be the smallest of all batches: just one. And next, the freedom of an EV to package the batteries and drive motors relatively easily anywhere in the tubs.  This opens a lot of possibilities for fairly feasible ‘dream cars’ … following that dream road down from the Geneva showstand and into your garage! On that note, the 2016 DS E-TENSE is a perfect look at the R8-hunting, Tesla-scalping low-volume models that could come from the double innovations of CF and …

Keep reading

GeigerCars.de 2016 Ford Mustang SHELBY GT350 – Nurburgring-Ready, and Now Adjacent!

by

One of Europe’s biggest US supercar sources just landed a quartet of title fighters — some of the best American iron ever put on four wheels. By handling the shipping and acting as a retailer, Geiger offers a no-fuss way to rock a non-imported machine down the autobahn. That is… if you can resist asking them to customize and mod it for you right off the bat! Which would you pick?  The air-freight containers include this Mustang GT350, a new 2016 Viper ACR, blue-streak Z06 and a monster RAM Rebel…. vote below to see live results of this fourgy of horsepower! …

Keep reading

2016 RAM REBEL by GeigerCars

2016 RAM REBEL by GeigerCars.de

by

  Which would you pick?  The air-freight containers include this Mustang GT350, a new 2016 Viper ACR, blue-streak Z06 and a monster RAM Rebel…. One of Europe’s biggest US supercar sources just landed a quartet of title fighters — some of the best American iron ever put on four wheels. By handling the shipping and acting as a retailer, Geiger offers a no-fuss way to rock a non-imported machine down the autobahn. That is… if you can resist asking them to customize and mod it for you right off the bat! Vote below to see live results of this fourgy of …

Keep reading

GeigerCars

GeigerCars.de 2016 Chevrolet CORVETTE Z06

by

One of Europe’s biggest US supercar sources just landed a quartet of title fighters — some of the best American iron ever put on four wheels. By handling the shipping and acting as a retailer, Geiger offers a no-fuss way to rock a non-imported machine down the autobahn. That is… if you can resist asking them to customize and mod it for you right off the bat! Which would you pick?  The air-freight containers include this Mustang GT350, a new 2016 Viper ACR, blue-streak Z06 and a monster RAM Rebel…. vote below to see live results of this fourgy of horsepower! …

Keep reading

GeigerCars

GeigerCars.de 2016 Dodge VIPER American Club Racer

by

One of Europe’s biggest US supercar sources just landed a quartet of title fighters — some of the best American iron ever put on four wheels. By handling the shipping and acting as a retailer, Geiger offers a no-fuss way to rock a non-imported machine down the autobahn. That is… if you can resist asking them to customize and mod it for you right off the bat! Which would you pick?  The air-freight containers include this Mustang GT350, a new 2016 Viper ACR, blue-streak Z06 and a monster RAM Rebel…. vote below to see live results of this fourgy of horsepower! …

Keep reading

3.9s, 186MPH 2017 LOTUS Evora Sport 410 – USA-Bound Carbon Special Cuts 150Lbs

by

There is a an even hotter variant of the new Evora 400 — and it packs more of a punch than its Sport 4110 badge might boast. A massive light-weighting program swaps the front splitter, front trunklid, roof and rear end to exposed-weave carbon fiber and drops a full dude’s weight in the process! New CF seats make up the rest of the weight savings.  All complemented by a sportier chassis tune and a bump in power. Sounds heavenly — and there is great news for US buyers too — a North American version will join the lineup too for …

Keep reading

2017 MINI Cooper Convertible 2

2017 MINI Cooper Convertible – 80 New Photos of Ragtop

by

Updated 2.24.16 with 77 new photosThe new MINI ragtop is here and vastly improved!  An all-new and wider platform houses two new engines, an all-new cabin and some sweet new tech and style options. The Cooper and Cooper S both run turbo engines for the next-gen model, with standard six-speed manuals or six-speed automatics available. But there is a big difference for the S in this generation: a whole extra cylinder!  That;s right, the base MINI runs a 1.5-liter triple!  This new modular engine series powers all future BMW’s; the 340i just revealed its 3.0-liter version of the same engine, …

Keep reading

2.8s, 670HP 2017 ICONA Vulcano Titanium – New Video, Specs and 35 Photos Ahead of Top Marques Monaco

by

Icona is prepping the Vulcano Titanium for Top Marques Monaco — and has shared a new video about the trials and tribulation of creating a titanium-bodied hypercar. We must say, despite the very enchanting design and clear purpose — challenging the Ferrari F12 — the Vulcano was quite a curious sight on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn in 2015. Why? It is mostly the exposed titanium finish!  It is distracting, hard to photograph, and presents pretty poorly versus the ultra-high-gloss paintwork of the others with which it shared the practise putting green. But that incredible bodywork is also part of the …

Keep reading

2017 McLaren 570GT – Glassback Triples Luggage Capacity

by

McLaren’s blazing launch rollout is now past year five — and they (may have) really have cracked the supercar code. Always something new and hot, with model cycles that are down to about a third of the six-year average from Ferrari or ten-year lifespan of most Lambo models. But with so, so many new McLarens ….. it can get exhausting to witness.  When this 570GT press release hit our inbox, it was met with excitement at the sender… but an eye-roll at the initial details. After all, the 570S is brand-new, as is its China-focused 540C cousin. So a new …

Keep reading

2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe 7

367HP, ~4.4s 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Coupe

by

AMG is taking no chances with its hot C-Classes.  That is a hard plural — there are many. C450 AMG, C43, C63 and C63 S are all set to be offered in two or four-door guises.  As well as some wagons and cabriolets in the near future too! This 367HP C43 Coupe looks like a sweet spot. A nine-speed automatic with ‘double declutched’ paddle downshifts sounds fun, as does the default 31-percent front, 69-percent rear torque split for the standard 4MATIC drivetrain. The 100-kph run is promised at 4.7-seconds, and should creep down to the 4.4s ballpark to the shorter 60-mph …

Keep reading

Lexus_LC_500h_031_DF3E4CC325B03493E83D741xfhbv6FD734gbfsv1DCChgfcbv2A6A563

2018 Lexus LC500 Cabrio Rendering

by

Full details on the new LC500h from Lexus! Very interesting advancements… conforming to few of the hypotheticals we initially posed below. For example, would it be a PHEV?  Would it run a V8? No and no on those fronts. But fear not: a new Li-ion battery system and four-speed EV transaxle in back complements the3.5-liter V6 up front to deliver a ballparked 4.7-second 4.2s sprint to 60-mph.  That is deeply impressive for a machine that also offers a new Hybrid manual gear-shift mode and far less CVT drone than possible before.  Lexus’s explicit promise of “well under 5 seconds to 100-kph” …

Keep reading

2016 Citroen C4 CACTUS Rip Curl Edition – Dark Detailing, GripControl + Glass Roof for Surfer Special

by

Here is a pretty cool special-edition that Citroen is bringing to Geneva 2016: the C4 Cactus Rip Curl Edition. This light cosmetic makeover darkens the looks of this funky lifestyle-mobile, adds some funky graphics to the bodysides, and includes the best standard-equipment like a panoramic glass roof and other goodies. But how, one might ask, will a front-drive crossover be the right vehicle for a surf trip? Well, even without AWD or 4×4, the C4 Cactus Rip Curl hopes to park comfortably right on the beach.  Standard mud/snow tires join forces with a new GripControl ESP system that enables more slip …

Keep reading

2017-BMW-R-nineT-Scrambler-82gfdv

3.3s 2017 BMW R nineT Scrambler – Air-Cooled Boxer ThrillRide! USA Arrival + Specs

by

All you need to know? Aircooled boxer engine, race-bike fast — but wearing any tires across any terrain you’re brave enough to ride!  A two-in-one exhaust cannon is said to really shout out like a racebike on full throttle…. ThruuuMmmm… Brummm!  110HP is the top R90 output, and 124-mph the Vmax. The new R nineT is set for a USA arrival around August of 2016 as a 2017 model-year bike. To kick off the excitement, here are a few animations of the various looks and modes of the bike…. plus a cool 90 pics of this butch new BMW bike. …

Keep reading

2016 Hyundai Tucson Review 1

Hawkeye Drives – 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited 1.6T Review

by

2016 Hyundai Tucson Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Two years ago, I needed to replace the wife’s aging Hyundai Santa Fe.  Since the new Santa Fe models had grown considerably in size, and she still wanted a small SUV, I went to the dealer to buy the Tucson.  We were a Hyundai family, as both daughters and a son-in-law owned Hyundai various models, and everyone was happy with their vehicles.  But I found the generation II Tucson was the first Hyundai I had ever been disappointed in.  So disappointed, we wound up with a Nissan Rogue, which we’ve been happy …

Keep reading

2016 BMW M3 - M Livery 4

2016 BMW M3 – M Livery Photos from Daytona Speedway BMW Performance Driving School

by

BMW is on our shitlist lately, so these photos are fairly raw and uninteresting.  But hey, sitting on a pack of   high-res photos of the 2016 M3 in tricolor M livery is impossible for any real car nut! These cars are pure street cars, despite their gorgeous M Performance Parts upgrading the kidneys to gloss black and the spoilers to exposed-weave carbon fiber. The M livery is a godsend.  Why?  Because the car’s standard colors suck. 2016 BMW M3 Motorsport Livery

Lexus_LC_500h_039_3F3467DFCD9464CFC1039D4C9A7AB672AA8FBB8D

2017 Lexus LC500h – Next-Gen Hybrid Is V6 Li-ion with 4-Speed eTransaxle

by

Full details on the new LC500h from Lexus! Very interesting advancements… conforming to few of the hypotheticals we initially posed below. For example, would it be a PHEV?  Would it run a V8? No and no on those fronts. But fear not: a new Li-ion battery system and four-speed EV transaxle in back complements the3.5-liter V6 up front to deliver a ballparked 4.7-second sprint to 60-mph.  That is deeply impressive for a machine that also offers a new Hybrid manual gear-shift mode and far less CVT drone than possible before.  Lexus’s explicit promise of “well under 5 seconds to 100-kph” is …

Keep reading

2016 Infiniti QX50 Review 34

Road Test Review – 2016 Infiniti QX50

by

The QX50 is a crossover that every single carmaker in the world would love to have in their lineup. Just think about its core package: a standard 3.7-liter V6 making 325HP, to the back wheels, through a 7-speed automatic. A balanced chassis, and roaring Z-car-like performance from a base price of just under $35k!  Sign me up. Is the QX50’s rare offering the one you want leading your fleet, though?  Let’s find out… The QX50 is the kind of anti-minivan, performance SUV that typically carries pricing in the 50s as a BMW X4, Mercedes GLC or perhaps Dodge Durango R/T.  What else can be purely rear-drive and …

Keep reading

2016 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE Complements V12 Racecars; Dismal Results Expected

by

  Oh, poor Aston. Just after the DB11 leaked online the other day, we have a fresh look at the factory race team’s 2016 endurance racing competitor: a heavily revised V8 Vantage GTE.  This new entry complements a pair of V12 Vantages that are already on the docket for the Nurburgring 24H race later this Springtime. But woe is me.  This car just can’t seem to catch a break. Long ago, other race teams would have packed it in, headed home and nursed their wounds.  Only to return once ready to compete. Not Aston.  They have stayed in the racing circuit …

Keep reading

2016 Nissan FRONTIER Pro-4X V6 AWD 72

HD Road Test Review + Videos – 2016 Nissan FRONTIER Pro-4X V6 4×4 Automatic

by

Is newer better? That is the fundamental question many car shoppers ask themselves, and roundly find that Yes is the answer. But for truck owners, newer is far less likely to be automatically better. For the 2016 Nissan Frontier, the proven mechanicals, extra-tough frame and V6 4×4 setup is as trusty as your best friend. And luckily, it is almost as fun! We threw the Frontier into a few wild off-road donuts just minutes after its arrival… and came out that cloud of dust and dirt with rekindled love for the Nissan mid-size truck in 2016. Yes, even more than …

Keep reading

2017 Volvo V90 Debuts – 400HP T8 Engine, Low-Roof Look Marks Return to Form

by

Huge, lux and low are the name of the game for the new 2017 Volvo V90 wagon! Sharing its new platform and powertrains with the wildly-successfully 2016 XC90 SUV and upcoming S90 limo, the new V90 is a major step back into Volvo’s core groove. The looks of the machine are actually far more successful than the S90 sedan, which has some seriously curious tail styling marring excitement about its arrival later this year to US showrooms. 2017 Volvo S90 Where the S90 looks a bit funky, however, the V90 relishes its long-hood, low-roof ethos.  Even the back glass is …

Keep reading

2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR 12

Off The Chain! 3.5s, 200MPH 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR – 60 New Images, Tech Specs and Pricing Revealed

by

  Just when I am grieving the loss of my F-Type R AWD Coupe and its astounding brilliance… along comes an even hotter F-Type! The new SVR range-topper delivers a 25HP bump in horsepower to 575, a new titanium exhaust system drops weight and adds sound, while advanced new aero details grace all sides of this quickest-ever Jaguar supercar.  And short of the XJ220 without its catalytic converters… this new SVR is also the fastest production Jaguar of all time. Bottom line?  JAG is OFF THE CHAIN! Clear the area people, this could get very dangerous!  Do not provoke the …

Keep reading

2017 EAGLE Spyder GT – Third Bespoke E-Type Creation – Much Faster than Speedster, Plus First-Ever Ragtop!

by

The Eagle Speedster and Low Drag GT are two of the most-desirable restomods in the history of the genre. And that label barely does these 100-percent unique creations — reborn of aircraft-grade alloy throughout. Its deliciously widened, streamlined bodywork is shaped lovingly, by hand, in the true old-world master craftsmen tradition. Eagle Speedster and Eagle Low Drag GT Since the roofless Speedster made such a splash on Top Gear, and the Low Drag GT brought its mouthwatering appeal to just a single-digit number of total owners….. we are now in the third part of the Eagle ‘trilogy.’ This new Spyder GT …

Keep reading

2017-Bentley-Flying-Spur-V8S-8sdf

521HP, 4.6s 2017 Bentley Flying Spur V8S Is Sweet-Spot Limo with Gloss-Black Details

by

The moment you drive the Continental V8 S lineup, you really have to think hard about the W12 variants — as well as the base V8 configuration. An extra 21 horsepower joins forces with revised drive programs and 502 pound-feet of torque from 1700-rpm.  The end result is a fairly rapid 4.6-second run to the benchmark 60-mph.  That is 0.3s quicker than the Flying Spur V8.  But a cool second off the pace of its similarly-priced rivals: the S63 AMG, S8 Plus and the new Alpina B7/BMW M760i. A new look for the grille, trims and diffuser dips all the …

Keep reading

BMW X4 M40i

355HP, 4.7s 2016 BMW X4 M40i in 78 New Photos from Monterey Press Drive

by

This might be one M car you have to drive and hear to appreciate. The looks aren’t really doing it for me at the moment…. Power takes a big leap up to 355-ponies and 343 pound-feet of torque. Through the standard eight-speed auto and new M-calibrated xDrive, the X4 M40i shoots to 60-mph in just 4.7-seconds. That is about a half-second quicker than the existing range-topper, the X4 xDrive35i M Sport with its $50k base price. We expect the M40i X4 to come in around $55k with its light tweaks to the style outside, grey detailing all around, and custom …

Keep reading

2016-BMW-M2-Laguna-Seca-15fdafad

2016 BMW M2 – Laguna Seca Photoset – Jaw like Popeye, Shoulders like BRUTO!

by

18 photos have never packed such a punch! Look. At. This. Beast! Around Laguna Seca for the international press launch, this ridiculously fast and fun supercoupe dramatically ups the ante to Audi and AMG.  The closest you can get to this speed from outside Europe?  Definitely a pony-car killer, this M2! 2016 BMW M 2 – Laguna Seca     When BMW goes for performance glory, everyone else best stand back or be blown clear in jetwash. The new ~$130k M4 GTS reveal is being followed closely by a shadow that maintains nearly 99-percent of the big brothers’ track pace, …

Keep reading

2016 ALPINE Vision Concept – 99% Production-Ready with Stunning Beauty, Race Dynamics

by

We’re getting very, very close to the first mass-market, mid-engine French sports car in decades!  Excluding the Bugatti Veyron and a few race specials, the Clio V6 has been the closest thing to a locally-made track car in ages. Why is this?  And how will Renault’s relaunch of the ALPINE brand enhance the firm’s strategic goals, profitability and sales of the Kadjar in China? All that remains a bit fuzzy. But the actual car is now in stark focus — and looks spectacular!   Beautiful rebirth of the original Alpine proportions, flowing rear end, and quad-lit nose right off the …

Keep reading

2016 SEAT Leon CUPRA 290 – GTI-Beating Coupe, Hatch and Wagon Gain New Sport Exhaust and Power Bump

by

A new sport exhaust for the five-door and SC Cupras for 2016 opens up a shouty new bellow on throttle — and ramps up max power by about 10 ponies. The wagon appears to miss out on the new sport exhaust — but is bumped up to 290 all the same.  Vmax?  156MPH!  0-60?  5.7-seconds on its best day, and 6.2-ish like clockwork on other days.  Both are a half-second beyond what the fastest GTI can deliver. As before on the Cupra 280, this wagon/coupe/hatch family is the quickest front-drive production car to ever lap the Nurburgring.  Standard LED lighting all …

Keep reading

2016 MINI JCW Hardtop - USA 22

2016 MINI JCW Hardtop – USA First Look – Sweet New LEDs, Wider Stance Mark Out New $31k Bulldog

by

Updated 2.15.16 with first USA photos from Daytona Cool to see and hear the new MINI sports flagship at Daytona the other week.  It might have lagged the BMW M-livery M5 and M3s off the line for the IMSA Hot Lap Experience shown in the below video…. but it definitely looked like it was enjoying every second on that high-speed racetrack! The new look is most recognizable thanks to the new full-moon LED DRLs, LED fogs and smart bi-xenon projector beam main lamps in front. We even hate the tail less than before: in JCW guise, the too-large rear lamps shrink into …

Keep reading

3453043_911_gt3_r_30_hour_endurance_test_sebring_north_ameridhtgbca_2015_porsche_ag

2016 Porsche 911 GT3 R – Road Car, Daytona Racer + Christophorus ‘Black Magic’ Sebring Test Feature

by

The official Porsche magazine Christophorus has a terrific piece in their latest issue about the shakedown testing of the heavily-revised 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 R around the hot, humid Sebring racetrack in Florida.  Dubbed ‘Black Magic,’ the article follows the Porsche customer racing team through a marathon 30-hour race test late in calendar 2015 — ahead of the car’s entry into numerous race series worldwide in 2016. We’re excited to share the unpainted test car in its raw glory — but also some extra cool perspective on the 2016 GT3 R endurance racecar. What is that?  A few snaps of the …

Keep reading

2016 Acura ILX Review 5

Road Test Review – 2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus – Hawkeye Drives!

by

  2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Acura describes the ILX as a “Gateway” product that allows a customer to enter the world of Acura at a lower price point, in the hopes that more expensive move-up models will be in their future.  Perhaps that will prove true, but there is a lot of competition in the “Near Luxury” segment, loosely defined by sticker prices in the low to mid $30,000 range, and cars like the Buick Verano, or Audi A3 might be better choices, among others. The 2016 ILX is a mid-cycle updated vehicle, with …

Keep reading

2017 Lexus LC500h 3

2017 Lexus LC500h Joins Geneva Roster with Next-Gen Performance Hybrid System

by

  Lexus just released its big Geneva news: the 2017 LC500h! This super-sports variant introduces a next-gen hybrid that Lexus calls the Multi Stage Hybrid System. No details on what this entails as of yet, but the new hybrid system promises a big boost in actual sportiness versus just extra efficiency. How will they achieve that ? There are more than a few ways.  First off, Lithium-Ion batteries are expected — which may be their first excursion in the Lexus production hybrid.  Until now, Lexus has stuck to the proven nickel-metal-hydride battery packs so well-known from the Prius and Lexus …

Keep reading

2016 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Meets Its Rivals 10-vert

2016 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Meets Its Rivals: Porsche 911 GTS and Aston Martin V8 Vantage

by

The Jaguar F-Type has a broad competitive set.  As a new two-seater in the Jag range, the car aims to snag buyers from everyone from the Porsche 911 to the Mercedes-Benz SL. In this R AWD Coupe guide, the closest rivals to the F-Type’s performance are easily the 911 Turbo and Nissan GT-R. But in most of its trim lines, with pricing from about $80k, the F-Type aims to lure 911 C2S and perhaps even Aston Martin V8 Vantage owners into the big-cat den. We came across a few of these fierce rivals this week while relishing every startup and …

Keep reading

HD Pre-Review! 550HP, 3.5s 2016 JAGUAR F-Type R AWD – First 120 Photos + 3 HD Drive Videos

by

It’s happening again! The moment I get my paws on a seriously stellar machine, I spend the week moving from photo location to photo location.  Running psuedo-errands like I just got my license. And a shooting rush of serotonin at every M16-rifle blast of exhaust noise and 1.5-G of pressure to my internal accelerometer. Fighting a smile is impossible.  Muffling a laugh is always a challenge too, for this, my favorite machine of all time. BEST.  CAR.   EVER. Already in quotes saying the F-Type R AWD Coupe is “the fastest, most beautiful vehicle I’ve ever driven…” And that feeling …

Keep reading

2016 Chicago Auto Show – MEGA GALLERY – PART ONE – The Cars

by

Some great live photos of many new Chicago debuts here!  THe Ford GT stuns in semi-gloss white, while the new Camaro 1LEs look the business, for sure. The new Prius and Subaru Impreza 5-Door concepts are also cool to see in real-life photos. As is the R8 V10 Plus! And the Fiat 124… but just one pic of that cutie here. Best car in the flesh?  Perhaps the Genesis Coupe Concept. Most underwhelming?  The Buick Avista. Somehow, the design elegance is not visible here.  Very reminiscent of a Tesla Model S — a car begging for a facelift itself.     …

Keep reading

2017 SEAT Alteca SUV 16

2017 SEAT Alteca – Sharp Spanish Marque’s First SUV is a No-Brainer

by

  Despite the name: this is no Aztek!~ More and more lately, SUV reveals make you think only one thing:  what took so long? It started most recently with the Bentley Bentayga, but the theme runs frothy through even the most unlikely brands.  Jag F-Type?  Will be a HUGE seller?  Again.  One thinks: what took so long! Of course, $1-a-gallon gasoline certainly helps spike the SUV mood worldwide.  But this new ALTECA is prepped for a variety of futures.  Big engines, small engines, mini diesels, hybrids… all package-protected and ready to roll out in the coming years. This ALTCA crossover …

Keep reading

2016 Toyota RAV4 SE Launches Silver-Accented Style, New RALLY RACECAR!

by

Famed race driver Ryan Millen has adopted a hell of a challenge for 2016!  Race to win in a front-wheel-drive RAV4 SE using a bone-stock 2.5-liter four-cylinder making just 176 horsepower. Millen and his co-pilot (fiancé Christine!) seem like the perfect ambassadors for a Rav4 racing adventure.  He will man the controls as she co-drives with extremely detailed trail notes all along the way.  Such limited power and traction in the 2WD-Open Class take much of the mechanical innovations out of the normal WRC race calculus.  The races then become much more about driver skill, unbreakable reliability and extreme co-driver directions. …

Keep reading

2017 Nissan ARMADA Swaps From Truck Basis To Bomb-Proof Global PATROL Models

by

  This 2017 Nissan Armada is a go!  You’re forgiven for recognizing this exact vehicle as the international Patrol model, or the US Infiniti QX80.  That makes sense — they are all on the same next-gen platform that is stiffer, more refined and just as gigantic as the current truck-based Armada. The new Armada majors on active safety along with its extreme, go-anywhere capability.  The drivetrain of the new Armada loses only 10 horsepower versus its very-potent QX80 sibling: 390HP. All through a seven-speed automatic with available 4WD.     2017 Nissan ARMADA ALL-NEW 2017 NISSAN ARMADA DESIGNED FOR FULL-SIZE …

Keep reading

2017 Ford Explorer XLT Sport Appearance Package

2017 Ford Explorer XLT Sport Pack Is High-Impact Styling Upgrade with Blacked-Out Trims, New LED Fogs!

by

  Everyone wants their new Explorer to look cool and mean, like some kind of crosso between a Raptor and a Range Rover Sport. But not everyone is willing to pay for the Explorer Sport and its V6TT engine. Solution? XLT Sport Appearance Package! Despite the awful name, the results of this very-sexy upgrade to 20-inch dark grey wheels, dark grey or black trims all around, and semi-suede sport seats are clear to see.  Still stuck with this ghastly halogen foglights, but that is a quick DIY bulb swap to LEDs if you want. I stand corrected — the XLT …

Keep reading

Opel-Mokka-X-299140f

2016 OPEL Mokka X Previews Upcoming Buick Encore Refresh

by

  Fantastic updates for the Opel Mokka X are set for a Geneva debut next month, and they bode extremely well for its American twin, the Buick Encore! We really like the Encore. It’s punchy turbo engine delivers admirable thrust for the segment, while its very good Quiet-Tuned refinement is a huge step up from the Chevy Trax or Jeep Renegade. This refresh brings an all-new nose, LEDs front and rear, and a total redesign of the cabin tech. The center stack — long the Encore’s sore point — is fresh with a giant new touchscreen and streamlined climate/audio controls. …

Keep reading

BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive

~3.4s, 193MPH 2017 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive + Silver or Gold Deco Body Stencils

by

There is a new boss BMW in town! The 2017 B7 just came online ahead of its first showing in Geneva next month.  A round 600HP is the new entre, with the 100-kph sprint promised at a 3.7-seconds. This may be conservative, with ideal conditions likely to see the new LWB, AWD sedan hit the mid 3s to 60-mph. The Vmax at the top end is 193-mph, with pricing in Germany from 148k Euros. As a nod to Alpinas past, the B7 is offered with an very shouty Deco Kit — with bright ALPINA front letters and a flowing criss-cross …

Keep reading

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Audi A6 2.0T Quattro – 5.8s, 550-Mile Time-Traveler

by

No scoffing at my 2.0T badge! It only takes a block of driving to know: this Audi is a time machine. It takes us into a future of downsized, forced-induction engines that hold their own beside V8s.   And cruise onward while others take the exit ramp to refuel. Power, speed, efficiency and value come standard on the 2016 A6 2.0T.  There are a few option boxes omitted on the test car that we think you will enjoy, however. And one bombshell performance secret to why the 32-MPG A6 quattro is a *must* over the 35-MPG A6 2.0T in its $46k, front-drive guise. The …

Keep reading

Road Test Review - 2016 Subaru Legacy 3

Road Test Review – 2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

by

2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman   In the late 60’s Subaru came to the United States.  Like other Japanese brands at the time, Subaru’s were small, oddly styled, and considered quirky, compared to US autos.  In the early 1970’s Subaru chose to set themselves apart by introducing all-wheel-drive.  And while they didn’t invent AWD, but at that time, if a customer wanted a vehicle with all-wheel-drive, they were pretty much limited to Jeep products, or truck models.   By offering all-wheel-drive and introducing economical, small displacement boxer-style engines, Subaru cars appealed to an audience interested in …

Keep reading

Top 10 SUPRA-Tastic Design Details – Toyota FT-1 Concept + 88 NEW Photos

by

NEW FT-1 photos?  Yes ALL NEW…? Sortof. We posted these originally on laptop in Santa Cruz, and the results were iffy.  So we went back to the originals, starting again and bringing the FT-1’s details to high-res glory! The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing. A stunning car. Let’s appreciate its top 10 design details from up close. The design of the FT-1 is visibly alive.  Functional ventwort in a dozen places around all side brings the wild, swooping fenders and hood into sharp relief.  The aero cuts and ground-effect details make …

Keep reading