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2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 12

Kiawah 2016 Highlights – 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 – Photo Flyaround

February 13, 2019, 4 pmApril 16, 2016, 9 pm by Tom Burkart

We wouldn’t normally include a midsize crossover in the mix of concours hits out of Kiawah Island 2016. But the GLC is a real fave: real-drive, low-roof stance and air suspension available. This fairly mainstream trimline runs a 2.0-liter turbo four making 241HP and 273 pound-feet of torque to the back wheels. A nine-speed auto and a $39k base price make this a very tempting new option for buyers. No LED headlights or posh DRLs for this $47k example with its 19-inch wheels and other options, though. Kiawah 2016 Highlights – 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 – Photo Flyaround

2016 Mercedes-Maybach PULLMAN Limo 2

2016 Mercedes-Maybach PULLMAN Limo – Noblesse Oblige

February 13, 2019, 4 pmFebruary 2, 2016, 9 am by Tom Burkart

Updated 2.2.16 with 30 new photos from Dubai Royals have it so tough. Every step? An exhausting endeavor. Even waving to their subjects when en route between photo-ops can be emotionally and physically draining for this sensitive group. They are constantly pulled one way or another, with no time to just relax and mellow out. I mean, it is Gstaad skiing this week and then RIGHT to St. Barts for some beach thing. No break. Double vacations can be so tiring, right? Just getting from private chalet to private jet can be a taxing experience. These poor, pampered beings are never …

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TOPCAR Shows Full Carbon STINGER Reskin for Porsche 911 Turbo

February 13, 2019, 4 pmJanuary 23, 2016, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

Updated 1.23.16 What better way to drive home how exotic the TopCar Stinger GTR is than to see its all-new carbon bodywork make up that iconic 911 shape — even without the Porsche underneath to distract the eye. This custom upgraded exterior looks exceptionally high-quality in its raw form. Yet also featherlight and dropping the OEM curb weight by around 200 pounds. Along with the menu of power and handling mods, the Stinger GTR definitely packs a strong punch. Like a prize fighter in carbon-kevlar, nothing it getting past these TopCar turbos! The full carbon Stinger GTR is set for …

Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus NX300h – Future-Proof Cruiser

February 13, 2019, 4 pmDecember 11, 2015, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

By now you have definitely done a double-take on seeing the 2015 Lexus NX on the road. At first, another of the RX cavalry. Then new creases, new LED graphics and a sleek and low roofline make clear this is no RX. With the lean and chic nose look off the RC and IS, the NX is a deeply stylish crossover in all three of its trimlines: NS200t, NX F Sport and the NX300h tested here. Both the base turbo four and this uplevel Hybrid model share their appearances, with only the F Sport getting the aggressive front chin spoiler, …

2017 ZAROOQ SandRacer – Pricing, Tech Specs and 50 Pics of New Emirati Off-Roader

February 13, 2019, 4 pmNovember 28, 2015, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

Zarooq just held its launch press conference! Very cool premier of an exceptionally promising rear-engine rally race truck — the SandRacer 300. Teased since last summer, this new project is a partnership between global racing legends, skilled engineers and marketing savvy. All built and optimized for us in Zarooq’s back yard: the massive dunes of Arabia. The latest details make us even more excited about the project: rear-drive with a 3.5-liter V6 mounted in the mid-rear, the SandRacer is priced from about $100k at launch and will be road legal in the Middle East. The Zarooq’s otherworldly design outside …

2016 Honda Pilot Elite AWD – Photo Flyaround Shows Classy LEDs, All-New Look

February 13, 2019, 4 pmOctober 18, 2015, 7 pm by Tom Burkart

Updated 10.18.15 with 37 New Photos The 2016 Pilot is nearly unrecognizable. It is completely new from all sides, with the next-gen Honda face and LEDs brightly glowing front and rear. While the silhouette of the new Pilot’s nose, windshield and glasshouse is extremely rakish now, the dimensions also appear to have grown quite a bit. The second row and rear overhang are particularly jumbo in this new design from the exterior. Inside, of course, you get the benefits of that large and in-charge profile. The new 2016 Honda Pilot is here! With a striking new design that …

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

February 13, 2019, 4 pmSeptember 8, 2015, 7 pm by Tom Burkart

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

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

February 13, 2019, 4 pmAugust 19, 2015, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

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

Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5SL is a Serene, Mile-Munching Machine!

February 13, 2019, 4 pmAugust 9, 2015, 12 pm by Tom Burkart

Midsize sedans might not be the sexiest or most desirable segment of the new car market, but they are the gasoline for the American automobile market’s engine. Taken together with pickup trucks, these two body styles of vehicle make up more than a third of all sales annually. The Altima is a big player in this mix: ranking number three behind the Camry and Accord for a whopping 2014 total of 335,000 sold. However you slice it, that is a huge chunk of influence, and a car that many will consider when seeking their next ride. And to wrap up …

TopCar Stinger 911 Turbo GTR 3

TopCar Stinger 911 Turbo GTR Is Sexy and Mean In Onyx Black

February 17, 2019, 7 pmJune 15, 2015, 4 pm by Tom Burkart

Updated 6.16.15 With Latest Stinger GTR PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom …

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RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio: Up Close With 21 Exotic-Car Icons

February 17, 2019, 7 pmJune 4, 2015, 10 am by Tom Burkart

Get ready to move some funds around! RM Sotheby’s just revealed a new entry into the 2015 Monterey classic auction: the Pinnacle Portfolio. 20 of the most desirable and collectible modern and classic supercars. Maserati MC12, McLaren F1 LM Road Car, Ferrari F40 LM and regular, 250GT’s, CCXR Koenigsegg…. the list really is drool-worthy. Each is likely to draw a unique type of buyer, despite them all coming from one very large home before. Check out the high-res preview photos of 21 Pinnacle cars below. RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio 2015 – Monterey – The Pinnacle Portfolio 1994 Ferrari …

TOPCAR Stinger GTR 911 Turbo 7

TopCar Stinger GTR for Porsche 991 Turbo Delivers All-New CF Widebody + Whale Tail!

February 17, 2019, 7 pmMay 14, 2015, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom of the door-frames are instantly …

Porsche 991 Stinger by TopCar Now Available for All 911 Carrera Models and Bodystyles 73 copy copy

Porsche 991 Stinger by TopCar Now Available for All 911 Carrera Models and Bodystyles

February 17, 2019, 7 pmMay 14, 2015, 1 pm by Tom Burkart

A stock supercar is quickly becoming passe in many circles. To really draw admiring stares among the exotic-car cognoscenti, you need to step up to make your car one-of-a-kind. There are many ways to approach customizing your machine — but typically, this is the road map of tuning steps we would follow: — rolling stock enhancements via wheels/tires — power tweaks via ECU reflashes or engine upgrades — exhaust harmonic changes — a dramatic exterior makeover via custom aero pieces — every angle should show unique aggression versus factory models — stance enhancements via track extension with hub spacers — …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited – Great Box, So-So Rack

February 17, 2019, 7 pmMay 4, 2015, 6 pm by Tom Burkart

The Chrysler 300 is fresh for 2015 with more than half of its parts either all-new or redesigned. The upgrade list is massive — and even includes the American full-size icon’s exterior. But the changes outside are far more subtle than those under the skin and in the cabin. Chrysler is keeping the original 300 style alive for 2015 — hoping to ignite the same huge swell of passion that surrounded the original 2005 model. What a launch that was. Makes you smile to recall the full-size American car reclaiming its former glory as gigantic, affordable wheels. This segment of …

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2016 Ferrari 488GTB – All Colors + Animated Visualizer in 300 Images!

February 17, 2019, 7 pmApril 29, 2015, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

The new Ferrari 488 GTB configurator is live and stunning! Fantastic new design details in the 458 –> 488 update are visible in these 3D animated visuals. Two dozen colors, six wheel styles, brakes and carbon upgrades galore. The builder is actually a new setup as well, with streamlined options that let you fly through the process or customize every element, based on your preferences. (Some previous Ferrari builders have been a ‘next’ ‘next’ type of affair in your browser, while this one lets you scroll down to new menu elements.) Favorite design elements of the new mid-engine hotness? 1. …

LeMans Homologation Specials - 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR SuperSport 30

LeMans Homologation Specials – 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR SuperSport

February 17, 2019, 7 pmApril 14, 2015, 8 pm by Tom Burkart

The CLK GTR has an altogether less impressive record than the McLaren F1 GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 it was designed to beat. The CLK GTR was the most eagerly-sought road model, however, with 300 buyers trying to own one of the 25 road cars to be produced by AMG and the re-established M-B factory racing team. Re-established? Mercedes took the ultimate in gentlemen’s intermissions from LeMans after the tragic accident of 1955 killed dozens of spectators. A car out of control and taking flight before a huge crash was too similar to the 1930s Silver Arrows accidents, wherein famous …

2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out in 84 Images!

February 17, 2019, 7 pmApril 1, 2015, 10 am by Tom Burkart

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

RM Amelia Island 2015 - 1953 Chevrolet Corvette 21

RM Amelia Island 2015 – 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Is Rare, Flawless First-Year Example

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 25, 2015, 5 pm by Tom Burkart

The power of the model-year in full effect with this 1953 Corvette, which is ballparked at $350,000 when it goes up for auction in March. This is triple the estimate of the identical 1954 model. But the 1954 is far less exclusive. The first year of Corvette production was actually fraught with peril and assembly issues. The never-before-used fiberglass bodywork proved extremely challenging to produce accurately, let alone assemble. A new setup wherein the complete bodywork was lowered onto the frame helped make 1954 a massive production year. They are both special, but obviously the collector value of the …

Mercedes-Maybach Pullman (VV 222) 2015

2015 Mercedes-Maybach PULLMAN Limousine Previewed With Quad Rear Thrones + HUGE Sense of Entitlement

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 23, 2015, 5 pm by Tom Burkart

Royal families have it so tough. Every step is seemingly an exhausting endeavor. Even waving to their subjects when en route between photo-ops can be emotionally and physically exhausting for this sensitive group. They are constantly pulled one way or another, with no time to just relax and mellow out. I mean, it is Gstaad skiing this week and then RIGHT to St. Barts for some beach thing. No break. Double vacations can be so tiring, right? Just getting from private chalet to private jet can be a taxing experience. These poor, pampered beings are never happy. But they …

Last Bugatti VEYRON ‘La Finale’ To Take Bow in Geneva

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 23, 2015, 8 am by Tom Burkart

The time has come, ladies and gentleman. After ten years of production and 450 units, La Finale is indeed upon us. This final Veyron caps off perhaps the most-successful hypercar program of all time. Still the ultimate king of speed, the Veyron is the pride of the Volkswagen Group — and also the entire automotive industry, in some ways. We can only smile imagining what barriers the next Bugatti models will break through, what records smashed and fantasies ignited. 2015 Bugatti VEYRON Grand Sport Vitesse La Finale 2015 Bugatti VEYRON Grand Sport Vitesse La Finale Bugatti sells …

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Update2 – 2016 Honda Pilot Is All-New With 9-Speed Automatic, New AWD and Vastly Superior Cabin

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 12, 2015, 11 am by Tom Burkart

The new 2016 Honda Pilot is here! With a striking new design that moves away from the blocky look of the current model, this eight-seater promises improvements in almost every single way. The biggest news for drivers is an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission for top trims, plus a redesigned AWD system that can move more torque to either axle than before. Inside, a total redesign makes things far smoother, quiter and safer than before. Upgraded entertainment and touch-screen nav and climate controls are welcome, as are the advanced safety systems to be offered on the 2016. In this family-dominated segment, …

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2015 Honda FCV Concept + Year of Honda Turbo VTEC and Turbofan HondaJet Arrival

February 17, 2019, 7 pmJanuary 13, 2015, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

Honda is very re-energized lately. It will take time for the actual products to catch up with the mood inside the halls of America Honda these days, but when they arrive, they should be terrific. After years of a relatively glum and forlorn outlook, there is a palpable sense of future potential in Honda today. The FCV concept is still in its production-engineering mode, as Honda is keen to perfect every detail before the global rollout. This sense slightly delayed the new Acura NSX as well, but we now see it was worth the wait. Honda is diving head-first into …

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in 44 High-Res Photos

February 17, 2019, 7 pmJanuary 1, 2015, 9 pm by Tom Burkart

For a race car to become an icon, it typically needs to achieve much more on the track than this 1971 300 SEL. A single second-place trophy at Spa racing against Ford Capri’s and Chevy Camaro’s? That is the win that this first-ever AMG model has in its quiver. So disposable that the original car was even sold off – and never to be seen again? It is true. This is the sole Mercedes-Benz replica created in 2005 to celebrate AMG joining the official Daimler Benz family. So what does it represent today, beyond an amazing sample of a Merc …

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KTM X-Bow GT By WIMMER Is Nearly Unbeatable With 485HP

February 17, 2019, 7 pmDecember 27, 2014, 8 am by Tom Burkart

The KTM X-Bow is easily one of the most interesting and coolest track car designs to appear in the last 15 years. But major critiques of the car have arisen regardless. Its carbon tub and frame make the car’s handling, some say, too benign and its power delivery too inert. For these hardcore drivers, the X-Bow GT and X-Bow RR need a final push to enter the true supercar level of track pace. Enter Germany’s WIMMER RST — a racing company that will also prep you a road car. The X-Bow GT shown here with the new windshield option bumps …

1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II: Wankel vs V8 Proved Piston-Engine Dominance

February 17, 2019, 7 pmDecember 15, 2014, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars. 1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …

201MPH 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel World Speed Record Car

February 17, 2019, 7 pmDecember 9, 2014, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …

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2015 Chrysler 300C and 300S Bring Stylish and Functional Improvements (120 Photos!)

February 17, 2019, 7 pmNovember 20, 2014, 10 am by Tom Burkart

How to refine an icon? Porsche has struggled with this for more than 50 years of 911’s at this point – and Chrysler is learning the fine art with its bold and butch 300 sedan. As a real touchstone vehicle for Chrysler since its reveal in 2005, the rear-drive, 120-inch-wheelbase of the Chrysler 300 has languished a bit in recent years while the auto world has rapidly progressed around it. This changes for 2015 – with updates to the cabin and powertrain that bring the 300C and 300S bang up-to-date with the latest from Cadillac in the CTS, Hyundai …