CAR SHOPPING

Discovcery Virgin Galactic GIF

Land Rover LR4 Discovery Concept Inks Deal as Ground-Based Virgin Galactic Shuttle Service

by

Foolish follies with the Discovery Vision Concept? Never! This truck appears to be the real deal, arriving first as the Discovery Sport with a presumed five seats and off-road ability akin to the legendary Defender. It will then arrive as the presumed seven-seat LR4. The first of this new-gen model set (or trio!) is promised to be on sale some time in 2015. Virgin Galactic is certainly going places. Far away places! The Discovery marks the announcement of more glad-handed sponsorships — as the ground-based shuttle service of Virgin Galactic’s interstellar flights… some time in the future. But once at …

Keep reading

2015 Chrysler 200 Aims For the Middle, But Design and Cabin Undeniably Much-Improved

by

By Special Contributor Anthony Alaniz   There is little doubt that the forthcoming 2015 Chrysler 200 is important. The mid-sized car segment has been virtually void of any credible Chrysler product for some time—lest we forget about Eminem and that commercial. As maligned the Chrysler 200 is, it is hard to forget the 200 first appeared on showroom floors just a few years ago as a 2010 model, replacing the worst-car-on-the-market Sebring sedan. See a pattern here? For 2015, Chrysler has finally found the fire necessary to produce something competitive, or at least inoffensive and of a quality high enough …

Keep reading

Subaru Outback header GIF

2015 Subaru Outback Is All-New with Better MPG and Refinement – Turbo XT or Non-CVT Both Missing

by

In most business segments, the term “all-new” is actually a highly regulated figure of speech intended to convey 100-percent new content. The car business is an exception to this marketing rule – obviously. All-New? Ummmm… ‘Facelifted’ is probably more accurate, Subaru, but let’s move on. Definite improvements in efficiency for the four-cylinder and CVT combo, but the rest of the additions to tech and refinement are not exactly Earth-shattering. Blind-spot warning, touchscreen navigation and a quieter cabin are all mandatory safety features that the Outback lacked altogether until the 2014 model year. The car is more attractive, with less of …

Keep reading

Shelby Header GIF

SHELBY COBRA – How These Two Words Ultimately Killed the Ford Takeover of Ferrari in 1963

by

No series of articles about the GT40 can begin without a look at how the car came to exist. A battle of spite between Ferrari and Ford? Yes. But also a battle to establish Ford as a racing powerhouse – which was a new opportunity to regain face as Chevrolet and General Motors dominated the coolest car news via Motorama shows and Corvettes in the 1950s. FROM DE-FACTO BANS ON BOTH RACING CARS AND RACY MOVIES… Racing was also heavily discouraged by the United States government of the time – until the case was made that racing improved the breed. …

Keep reading

GT40 Mk II Header GIF

VIDEO: Olthoff Racing Factory – Superformance GT40 Mark II – Specs, History + High-Res Photo Comparison Vs. GT40 Mark I

by

Is there beauty in functionality? That is the question to ask when debating a GT40 Mark I versus its successor, the GT40 Mark II. Is authenticity of the actual 1-2-3 1966 7.0-liter Mark II race win better than the clean lines and simple aesthetic of the Mark I — which was actually a trouble-prone testing bed for the losing 1964 and 1965 seasons? The 24 Hours of LeMans is widely known as the most grueling durability and endurance test ever fathomed, let alone run annually with a field of more than sixty cars across four racing categories: LMP1, LMP2, GT2 …

Keep reading

VW Beijing 2014 Header GIF

Volkswagen Debuts Striking Jetta CC Concept in Beijing – Dubbed New Midsize Coupe + Golf 400R and New Touareg

by

Signs of life from Volkswagen? Glad to see someone in the Wolfsburg Emergency Room is yelling “Clear!” before brandishing the defibrillator paddles. Just in time too: Volkswagen of America’s sales hit a brick wall last summer and have been in double-digit free-fall ever since. The range is a mess of unwanted and ancient models. Great stuff from Volkswagen in Beijing today – including a Golf 400R and the latest Touareg refresh. But the really striking news? A Jetta-sized CC model that is a low-roof four-door sedan they are calling the New Midsize Coupe. But we will likely pronounce it “2016 …

Keep reading

BMW Beijing 2014 Future Luxury Concept GIF header

BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept for Beijing 2014 – Previews Low-Roof 8 Series Gran Coupe?

by

This BMW Concept limousine for Beijing just broke cover, and is a huge and desirable rolling art form – a sculpture on wheels. This is what will set BMW’s future luxury sedans apart from the more ubiquitous and less-exclusive competing brands — all of whom are clamoring for Chinese and global limo shoppers. But volume and cache are mutually exclusive in most areas of the ultra-lux market. Anything that is mass-market is immediately disqualified – even the S-Class might share a bit too much with the the C-Class for these types of high-fashion clients. Coach doors are hinged at the …

Keep reading

2015 Expediton Ruby Red Header GIF998

2015 Expedition COLORS and Animated Turntables

by

2015 Expedition COLORS and Animated Turntables Updated with real-life photography as well as the latest colorizer and a few animated spinners of Green Gem and Ruby Red via Ford.com’s visualizer tool. In truth, the latest Expedition fails to excite me very much. But the upgraded cabin and suspension tech are very welcome for this big truck, especially when paired with the latest EcoBoost V6 — which will be a welcome addition versus the old 4.6 and 5.4-liter V8s that were previously still the Expedition’s only offering. Overall, however, it is brand loyalty that will sway most shoppers toward the Expedition …

Keep reading

HEADER FINAL 999 GIF1

2015 FORD F-150 Trims, Colors and Tech Features – LED vs Halogen Headlights

by

LED TECH DETAILS The LED low and high-beam headlights of this Platinum model are quite refreshing, especially when parked next to the also-new 2015 Expedition and its projector beams. The latest lighting of the F-150 instantly makes everything else seem very outmoded — when when the lights are not switched on. When they are, forget-about-it… Competing for style or energy efficiency via halogen or even HID lamps will be impossible. The LED theme continues in the blinker setup as well, with that subtle outline illuminating for turn indicators. In an ultra-cool touch, the amber portion is only colored when the …

Keep reading

2015 Ford F-150 Platinum Is Disruptively Attractive in Real Life at Mustang 50th Event

by

The 2015 F-150 looks as incredibly new, high-tech and desirable in the flesh as it did on the auto show stands! It is set up to be a major sales disruption in a market segment it already owns with a 2:1 sales advantage over any other brand. The new F-150 is not a sure thing, but it appears to have it all via such a perfect storm of new equipment, new efficiency, new comfort and new style. Why upset a market that already earns, we reported in January, a cool $14-billion in revenue every single year based on slice/dicing of …

Keep reading

anigif53641

Update1 Meet the Nissan Frontier Baja 1000 Upgrade from Fiberwerx – Best $1400 Nose and Fender Mods Ever?

by

Update from Josh Campbell, owner of this beast! Shipping and painting were both about $500 each, and the install was done by him in about one day. This requires some heavy/huge wrenches, as well as knowledge about bodywork repair — but can theoretically be done on a DIY basis for most guys. He said the most time was spent fabricating mounts for the new Titan headlamps as well as the hood mounting pins. Great results overall! A new high in lifted trucks? A new low in my automotive writing career? We saw this amazing Nissan Frontier on the way home …

Keep reading

TLX black nose fixed GIF

Fixing the Acura Woodchuck Nose Is Easy – Speculative Design Renderings Without Shield Nose Piece

by

It is not fun to review a car that … is … not living up to its potential. Many cars that should be good are not. Design is important from my vantage because I have not been wined/dined on some swanky launch event. Those types of personal relationships with the people behind the car tend to water down most of the harsh critiques. But your humble scribe must share these views on behalf of you, the little guy! Little guy? C’mon now. Big Boss Hog is more like it! Car buyers make or break any brand — not the writing …

Keep reading

TLX header gif

How Much More Wood Can The Acura Woodchuck Chuck? 2015 Acura TLX Is Most-Important Launch This Year for Ailing Lux Honda Arm

by

The 2015 TLX is so important to Acura’s proclaimed renaissance that its importance is hard to overstate. While thew latest dullard RLX fails to wow just about anyone, its new ad campaign proclaims that “Yes, We Are There Yet.” We Are? That is a concern on many levels because there is a distinctly hollow and untrue ring to that slogan. The RLX suffers from lackluster appeal due to its inexplicable failings next to the Honda Accord, of all unlikely competitors. THe Accord is generally larger in all interior dimensions, and even a bit quicker in the sprint via a V6 …

Keep reading

2015 Q70L GIF header

LWB Q70L Glides Into Place! 2015 INFINITI Q70 3.7 and 5.6 Are DEFT Punk – Smarter, Better, Faster, Stronger

by

Deft Punk? Do I not meant Daft Punk? With my ridiculous series of errors yesterday — thinking the new QX70 SUV was arriving today versus the Q70 sedan, spending time in the Photoshop to render a possible QX70L, publishing said renderings… — I would be skeptical of my accuracy at the moment as well. In fact, I am a harsh critic of myself already. For this reason, I am eager to share the official Q70 and Q70L for 2015 here just moments after the release arrived in my inbox! Overall, it is a light nip/tuck but effective at updating the …

Keep reading

Shelby Asia header 1111GIF

GT40 vs Cobra Track Battle VIDEOS! Superformance Brings American Racecar Glory Global via Shelby Asia

by

Superformance Ford GT40 – in-car track cam Editor’s Intro: Can you tell I am getting excited to visit Olthoff Racing tomorrow in Charlotte, NC?   Have you ever wished you could just wake up tomorrow day inside Gran Turismo?  Or even better, in the pit lane of Daytona circa 1965 ? Well beyond 3D — and into 4D of not just SSM (sight, sound and motion) but SSMTSFG — Sight, Sound, Motion, Touch, Smell, Fear and Glory? Well, for a modest amount of cash and enough skill – Superformance racecar recreations can do just that. These two videos demonstrate the …

Keep reading

Legacy GT versus Outback GIF header

The Case for a 2016 Legacy GT – Latest Outback is Full 8 Inches Taller, Hurting Planted Stance and Handling Dramatically

by

Less of a case as a visual and performance appeal. The benefits of ground clearance are many, and the Outback does still handle with a far more hunkered-down feel than any SUV or crossover out there. But nothing compares with the look and road feel of a road-hugging stance, to thisguy at least. For reference, this is the 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited versus the 2014 Subaru Outback. 2005 Legacy is on stock Bilstein suspension but +1 18-inch wheels and a roof rack delete, which really helps sink the car visually.  

2016 Land Rover Discovery COncept GIF header122

Land Rover Discovery Concept – Design is Boldy Futuristic – But 5 Years Late and Still 2 Years Away

by

The Discovery LR4 replacement is five years late, and still (at least) two years from even hitting the US market as a likely 2016 model. It is hard to be bullish on such a foolish folly.   Jaguar Land Rover gets so excited about every new design… that it becomes hard to keep a lid on all the news. It boiled over on this Discovery Concept in a similar way as the Jaguar CX-17 (SUV) from Frankfurt, but this time: at least Land Rover followed up with a full release. The trouble-some scenario for the Jaguar leak actually being credible …

Keep reading

CarRevsDaily

Bentley Boys, Roller Gents – Building My #RollsRoyceinColour Ghost SWB V-Specification

by

Orig Published on: Jan 8, 2014 @ 22:21 The Rolls-Royce Ghost is absolutely spectacular on all levels, in all colors and even considering the cost. Experiencing Ghost up close only makes the configuration options of the new V-Spec even more enticing.   The new-for-2014 Ghost V-Specification is welcome because even though a Ghost could be made to look like this in the aftermarket, it is nice to see some of the wild old spirit of the founding gentlemen back in action. Before we dive in: Rolls-Royce refers to their vehicles as simply Ghost and Wraith, not The Ghost and the …

Keep reading

NSX header GIF

The NSX Effect — Own One, And You Will Never Sell It — Black NSX Series I and Red NSX-R Series II

by

I have met more than a few NSX guys recently — and they all have two things in common: — undying devotion to the machine — unwillingness to even consider parting ways with it This is exceptionally rare for supercars — or any car, for that matter. But as the years pass, the NSX’s charms grow stronger for almost every owner. It is a captivating machine in the flesh even today, to be sure. Our investigation continues on the NSX’s chokehold over its owners — wish updates as soon as we know more this summer with the next car’s (expected) …

Keep reading

Diablo VT GIF

VIDEO: 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT at Charleston Cars & Coffee — Still Crazy After All These Years

by

Crazy cool… but also crazy compromised? It took a three-point-turn for this “FARM” license-plated thoroughbred to squeeze its way into this generous parking space…! The FARM plate might be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Lambo’s origins making giant tractor engines… but the car is from Lake Forrest, Illinois!  My old stomping ground… As far as curb appeal and stopping power to draw stares, little can compete with the Diablo VT.

Mini Musclecar Is Ready To Boogie! 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger at Charleston, SC Cars and Coffee 31

Mini Musclecar Is Ready To Boogie! 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger at Charleston, SC Cars & Coffee

by

Mini? The 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger — yes, that is its official special edition — is definitely not a mini car by any means. But when standing next to the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird… it looks like Danny Devito vs Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1988 classic Twins.  

Zl1 GIF header22

2014 Camaro ZL1 Convertible Blasts Off in Wild Sprint Starts — 2 In-Car and 1 HD GoPro Hood-mounted Video

by

These videos really speak for themselves, do they not? They speak in a language of burnt rubber, supercharger hum and exhaust bellow — but the message is loud and clear: the ZL1 is a huge monster of a machine and a dream muscle car without a doubt. Even with an automatic… this car is a heat-seeking missile! In-Car Video of Same Launch Above First Corner…   Bonus! the Z06 Convertible is front and center in the new Chevrolet performance lineup images released today. Our United States Navy pal’s 2014 ZL1 Convertible  

SPec Rendering QX70L Drafts

Rendered Speculation — 2015 INFINITI Q70L Coming to New York Show with Revised Q70 and QX80

by

Update: My own errors never cease to amaze me. The Q70 Sedan will debut tomorrow with a Q70L version. Big news this week from Infiniti, which will debut revised versions of the QX70 Q70 and QX80 SUVs, formerly known as the FX M and QX. The look is highly likely to reflect the latest QX60 and Q50 styles — but there is a nugget of interesting info here as well. The new QX70 Q70 will debut a LWB version promising five extra inches of legroom in back!  This will make it very commodious versus the pinched-glass version today. So, in …

Keep reading

MURANO HEADER GIF

2015 Nissan Murano Brings a Hypercar-inspired Restyle! Flowing Surfaces Accented With Macho Wheel Flares and Low Roof

by

The new 2015 Murano is here and looking very stylish! It wears a very similar style to that previewed by the Detroit 2014 Sport Sedan Concept — but where the car-like forms of the Maxima are soft, the Murano’s are much crisper and more masculine. Another distinction? This is the real deal. Not a concept. The Murano will make its public debut on Wednesday in New York before hitting showrooms in November of 2014. Favorite angles abound on this five-seat crossover — from the “outta my way” nose aggressiveness, to the blacked-out pillar treatment for the floating roof, to my …

Keep reading

GENESIS COUPE Wheel COlorizer GIF

Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec – Wheel Colors Visualizer! Plasti-Dip Fantastic Voyage

by

The Genesis Coupe is well-loved among the auto tuning community –for good reason! It is a wonderful canvas. But is tuning just a left-coast thing? This group in the Southeastern US seems just as passionate as our pals in SoCal. Evidence? This Plasti-dip wheel respray was the second or third color choice our pal’s GC had worn. He loves wheel color! Said he developed a taste for it after adding a 9PSI turbocharger to his previous Toyota Yaris — bringing its total power tally of more than double what it was from the factory. A hooner’s delight in its 13-inch …

Keep reading

2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3

2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.6 R-Spec at Cars & Coffee – Wearing Custom Lime Green Wheels!

by

  Colors like this custom Plasti-Dip shade can be ordered as a special formulation from Plasti-Dip website. My solution was much jankier when doing my wheels in anthracite grey — a quick blast of color into the wet black Plasti-dip that was the only variety I could find in Chicago. But color is harder than adding a grey flash. These most likely start with a white Plasti-dip base and add color from there. The effect on the Genesis Coupe is definitely striking in person, but also the right amount of mature — these green wheels are actually pretty subtle versus …

Keep reading

Header Lykan HyperSport 343GIF

W Motors LYKAN HyperSport Makes Production Debut in Monaco This Week – Racecar In Pipeline?

by

      Since winning 2013’s Best New Exotic car award here on Car-Revs-Daily.com,  the W Motors team has been anything but idle. The Lykan HyperSport’s whirlwind tour continues this spring with its European debut in Monaco April 17th through the 20th. Despite not exactly being street-legal in Europe and the United States yet — that is not likely to be a problem for this hypercar’s ~ten total owners. Not street legal there? Here is how the buyer conversations might go… “Let’s have the Lykan as our Paul Ricard HTTT track car, or maybe we should just order it shipped …

Keep reading

M6 header

VIDEO: 2014 BMW M6 Coupe — Before / After M Performance Upgrades — Exhaust Roars Like A ScramJet

by

      Did you watch this video!  You must!  It is 40 seconds of shrieking roar. This M6 sounds absolutely ferocious. Far rougher and meaner than a jet engine. It sounds like a solid-state rocket… The M6 is available as a two-door hard or soft-top, or my choice: for four-door Gran Coupe. The key style differences in the three cars below concerns the grille finish: from totally blacked-out on the M Performance upgraded car, to the (my prefererence) chrome vertical clats on the the indoor cars, to the standard M6 coupe bringing up the bottom set of images. All …

Keep reading

2015 VW Golf TDI SportWagen Animated GIF Header

AWD TDI Golf SportWagen to Join GTI, TSI and TDI — But Not Until 2015 Calendar Year With Est $36k Price

by

  The American-market Mark7 2015 Golf line is only about three years late, but finally looks like it is not missing some critical members this time. Scratch that: the Golf Plus and Golf Sportvan are still nowhere to be found, along with the long-promised/never-delivered e-Golf. The e-Golf is now on sale only in Europe, and has been teased in the US since at least 2008. As many VW people know very well, the GTI has always been the star pupil of the group — both due to its performance and it vastly superior build quality and materials versus the Pueblo-built …

Keep reading

240Z

Classic Sports Cars — Datsun 240Z at Cars & Coffee — Immaculate in 30 Glowing Orange Photos

by

Cars and Coffee in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina was a huge success yesterday!  Over 250 cars were in attendence — with everything from Lamborghini Diablo’s to 1950s Jaguars to 2014 Camaro ZL1s — and nearly everything in between. I enjoyed my visited very much, and encourage car guys everywhere to do a five-minute look for a similar event in their areas. In general, I thought Cars & Coffee was a small phenomenon occurring in just a handful of large cities. I could not have been more wrong!  Not only is there one in my small city of Charleston, SC — …

Keep reading

Versa Sedan

2015 Nissan Versa Sedan Debuts Ahead of NY Show — Priced from $12k And On Sale April 16th — Same Day As Debut!

by

Well, this is innovative! Very rarely can an auto show launch be synced with the availability of the actual road cars. The rare exception is when deposits are taken by executives — and even then, usually only in cases where the public floods the auto show stands with checks in hand. Even these cash buyers have to wait months to actually take delivery. And even in the deposit or cash-sale scenario, it is exceptionally rare. The Citroen DS in 1955. The Ford Mustang in Queens, New York at the World’s Fair 50 years ago exactly. A few Ferrari and Lamborghini …

Keep reading

CORVETTE z06 CONVERTIBLE

625HP 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible – SURPRISE OFFICIAL REVEAL

by

Here I am, farting around and debating a nap instead of writing up the 2015 Golf Sportwagen, which will replace the hideous and hated Jetta SportWagen, and ding goes my iPhone! **VERY** fresh email. Unlike the hundreds and hundreds of firewall attack alerts I have received all day long since yesterday, this is HUGE NEWS! HUGE NEWS! Only two weeks ago, we published some disgracefully-shoddy Speedster and Spyder renderings, one of which included a Z06 drop-top. In that article, we outlined how there are “two types” of Corvette buyers — which is a polite way of saying the drop-tops were …

Keep reading

Wranglers MOAB 2014 Concepts GIF header

Jeep Wrangler MOAB Concepts Are All Do-Able Via Latest MOPAR Upgrades + Cool Option Animations

by

Part two of the Jeep Moab 2014 Concept series! These trucks can all be built with the help of MOPAR Jeep Performance Parts — via my heavy-handed hyperlinking far below… If you are shopping for a new Wrangler, definitely worth checking out the Car-Revs-Daily.com animated buyers guide and full article as well. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/02/22/buyers-guide-2014-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-trims-tops-options-colors-visualized/ Jeep Wrangler Level Red is a nod to the most challenging off-road trails Jeep Wrangler MOJO gets Wrangler Level Red off-road gear, with 37-inch tires, shortened bumpers, winch and higher-clearance fenders Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance created for hard-core enthusiasts who seek the ultimate in power and capability …

Keep reading

anigif header lexus culture

Lexus International Is High-Culture Exemplar – Design Awards + Swarm – Coding Motion is Elegant Technology at its Best

by

Lexus is getting very clever.   Showroom experiences have broadened from just a warm dealer with leather chairs and dough-nuts. The brand is fully immersed in the art, media, fashion and culture segments. One stunning piece of this Lexus culture mission is the below “Swarm” video link from Lexus International. In addition to its obvious high-art appeal, the Swarm projects applications are tantalizing. The Swarm theme and arching mission? Find a snack for the hungry museum residents — T-Rex’s and other long-deceased creatures. It speaks to technology looking forward, anticipating an orgnaism’s needs, and even wishes. But the humor in …

Keep reading

Lexus LS Animated GIF1111

Easiest Luxury Limo – 2014 Lexus LS460 – F Sport and AWD vs RWD + Pandora.com Cavallo Point Flashbacks

by

Orig Published on: Jan 25, 2014 @ 12:46 Back to work! After some side projects recently, it is time to get back to action. The Lexus LS is the perfect car for “getting down to business.” So let’s dive in. When shopping for a new luxury limousine, the question most car magazines ask is: “Which is Best?” But does this miss the point of a limo entirely? Which is easiest seems the most on-target for many shoppers in this segment. Sidebar: As I get more experienced with auto news and reviews, I am starting to recognize many of the photo …

Keep reading

NX GIF animation 2 header

Update1 – 2015 Lexus NX300h and NX200t F Sport Revealed! Expected Fall Arrival To US From $29,900

by

 The eagerly-awaited Lexus NX compact crossover is here! With the NX300h and a brand-new turbo option called the NX200t F Sport, the NX is shaping up to be a fine addition to the Lexus global model line. Its compact five-seater dimensions will also make room above it for the RX to grow in size, perhaps even adding a third row of seating in some form of a length stretch — a la the BMW X7. Yes, Lexus currently has a broad SUV and crossover lineup with the GX460 and LX470 models at the very top of the ladder. These cars …

Keep reading

STUDIO 480 Animation GIF header12

Exclusive! Caterham Seven — USA Buyers Guide — LHD, Street-Legal Superformance From $38k! — 5 Engines: 160, 280, 360, 480 and 620R

by

The only questions to ask yourself when ordering a Caterham from Superformance are remarkably basic: — How quickly would you like to have a huge grin on your face via monster performance and uber-tactile handling? — Will 2.8-seconds to 60-mph be worth an extra $30,000 or so versus the devastatingly-rapid Seven 480’s 3.4-second sprint? Or is 4.9-seconds in the affordable Seven 280 acceptable? — How wild do you prefer to be with color and style — as this can ratchet up all the below pricing dramatically. Easy, right? The Superformance distribution deal with Caterham finally allows these hilarious machines to …

Keep reading

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

MOPAR Adding Huge JEEP Upgrade Options — Cherokee Adventurer, Cherokee Dakar and Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior

by

Jeep just debuted a six-pack of new concepts for next week’s Moab off-road rally — which annually gathers thousands of Jeeps and Jeepers together for adventures out on the rocky desert trails. And more than a little fun back at base camp, too! This annual event is a huge part of Jeep culture — and is surely one of the biggest off-road extravaganza’s anywhere in the world. The new Cherokee adds Adventurer and Dakar spec levels via the MOPAR upgrades, while the Grand Cherokee is now upfit as a Trail Warrior in EcoDiesel spec. A diesel is perfect for off-roading …

Keep reading

HEADER Silverado 2015 High Country

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD Arriving Now To Dealers Nationwide — High Country Edition Tops The Range in Style

by

The first Silverado HD trucks are rolling into dealers nationwide this month — with the High Country topping things nicely via a monochrome exterior and a Denali-level cabin overhaul. The 2015 Sierra HD will offer a Denali pack — which, if we’re not mistaken, is a new flagship equipment level for GM’s 2500HD and 3500HD rigs.   The Silverado HD’s updates are actually much deeper than a facelift, with the largest changes coming from the way the truck body is mounted to the chassis. Chevrolet is using a new type of welding process that is claimed to bring large increases …

Keep reading

Puegeot 509 Sexy proportions GIF header

Annotated Design Analysis — Peugeot EXALT — How To Make the 2016 Peogeot 509 Sexy — Mazda6 vs Ford Fusion Examples

by

Ed’s Note: This article is feeling condescending as I review and ready it for publishing, and I regret that tone. Nobody likes being spoken down to. That is not my intention. Just to explain it all, as best I can, to someone for whom car design might not a passion area. How to make a front-drive car sexy and stylish — while keeping it primarily front-drive? Not an easy task, and one that has taken many years to get anywhere near resultion. The clearest example of the ideas and design analyses explored below is the latest Mazda6, which is far …

Keep reading

EXACT GIF header

WOW! 2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept — Onyx 4-Door GT — Raw Alloy Body with Sharkskin Textile Wrap + 340HP HYbrid4 Power

by

One has to admire the resilient spirit of Peugeot Citroen. Budgets too tight to stay in LeMans? Take the powertrain up Pikes Peak in the new 208’s body shell!  And then keep rocking that super-diesel at the 2015 Dakar rally’s of Chile! A similar feat today with the just-revealed Exalt concept for Beijing. It carries forward many of the ideas first explored on the bare-metal Onyx hypercar concept, but this time with the gorgeous proportions of a RWD four-door coupe. That cab-backward layout is something French engineers and the buying public have been clamoring for since the demise of the …

Keep reading

SL550 Header gif2

Wealth Dreams: Powered by the Evergreen Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

by

Orig Published on: Dec 30, 2013 @ 9:08 There are some cars whose optional engines and trim levels are really ‘make-or-break’ items, but the evergreen Mercedes-Benz SL roadster is not one of them. Put simply: there is no bad option, only excellent and beyond excellent. The SL550 is a real dream-boat of a machine. A three-season athlete of a cabrio – one that even looks chic and fast with its hard-top up. That is not something that can be said of many other hardtop convertibles. Enjoy this exterior love-fest, featuring the gorgeous SL550, SL63 AMG and the scary-fast SL65 AMG. …

Keep reading

Sorento SX-L Header gif999

DRIVEN REVIEW: 2014 Kia Sorento SX-L Feels Lux Inside, But Steering Is Very Unusual

by

Orig Published on: Dec 4, 2013 @ 10:18 My Snow White Kia Sorento SX-L loaner from the other week has been very perplexing. On the one hand, I was downright smitten with the interior quality and materials. As my first press loan from Kia, I started the week very eager to impress the company’s California-based team as well as the executive bosses at HQ in Korea.   But my time with the Sorento was not a love-fest. With recent driving impressions of the very impressive Ford Explorer Sport and Nissan Pathfinder 4×4 Platinum, the Sorento had competition in the seven-seat …

Keep reading

Street parker header

VIDEO — Andy Stella’s Top 5 Cars to Street Park in Chicago, Year-round! Wrangler, MINI… Jaguar XJ?

by

By Special Contributor Andy Stella Spring is almost here in Chicago, and you know what that means: people forget that they just spent six months acting surprised every time it snowed. With snow comes decreased street width, huge banks plowed against our cars, and mounds of Honda Fit-sized snow piles taking up precious parking space. Once the snow clears, we must not forget to let some practicality guide our summer car shopping! What is my experience, you ask? Well, before I lived in Chicago, I endured even colder, snowier winters in Minnesota while attending college, and before that, I was …

Keep reading

FOCUS header

FORD Debuts 2015 US-Spec Focus Sedan — Style Update Brings Chic Dark Trims, Plus Enhanced Tech — But No HIDs…?

by

Hot off the presses!  Initial thoughts? Much improved! The dark trims really make the sedan’s nose much more appealing. This dark trim will no-doubt be available on the five-door as well.   The Good News: The tail of the hatch is also much cleaner in its appearance from directly behind, while the production-spec Focus Electric goes from the looker of the bunch to a bit eco-wimpy. The dark grille of the sedan is by far the best and biggest single improvement. The Not-So-Good News: The latest US Focus does still appear to lack the bi-xenon + LED lighting from the …

Keep reading

750Li head gif 9999 bg

MEGA Buyers Guide — 2015 BMW 740Ld Forms 11-Strong Model Range — Pricing, Diesel Build-Out, Tech Specs and Must-Have Options

by

The previous article here on Car-Revs-Daily.com slammed the BMW 7 Series for its loss of focus since the wretched third-gen car stole my hope and courage and aspirations with its vile redesign. This is now the fifth-gen car, introduced in 2012. Is is all better? No. Is it much better? Yes. But let’s get a bit more real for this one. Is it or was it ever a bad car, or just one that is trying to change with the times? Change is hard. It really is. That is why I cannot stop over-sharing, try as I might to keep …

Keep reading

HEADER 750Li

2014 BMW 750Li Definitely Not Beautiful or Focused (Yet) — But Less Adrift as 750i M Sport + Squared-Off LED Lights Option

by

The BMW 7 series was long my favorite executive sedan — until 2003. Along with everyone on Earth, I was appalled by the redesign of this crisp and solid-handling machine into a lardy boat of Avalon-ian proportions. Things have barely improved in the ten years since this disaster of a redesign ruined every shred of ethos or cred this car had going for it versus the S-Class. Various steps have been taken to improve the tactile responsiveness of this giant barge, but the exterior style is still well past its PSI inflation rating. Regretfully, even the 2014 model looks so …

Keep reading

INFINITI q30 animation header 9999

Concept Flashback — INFINITI Q30 from Frankfurt 2013 — Design Previews 2015’s Sexiest Compact Crossover

by

The Infiniti Q30 concept is coming very soon — likely by this year some time as a 2015 production model. This is great news — the Q30 is gorgeous and very slinky and sexy versus the similarly-named, similarly-priced and similarly-sized Audi Q3. The Audi ends up looking a bit stubby and awkward by direct comparison… 2015 AUDI Q3 INFINITI Q30 Concept  

AUDI SUV Showcase GIF header

Audi SUV and Crossover Showcase — 600-Photo Galleries of Q3, Q5 hybrid, SQ5, and Q7 TDI S-Line Plus

by

Between 1994 and 2004, Audi’s biggest barrier to more US sales was a pretty limited number of model choices. In 2014, that is definitely no longer an issue: Audi’s American model range is huge. Disregarding the many, many engines available in each model, as well as S and RS cars — Audi is now packing at least 30 body styles. Add five more with the A3 and Q3 family for 2015, and keep adding five extra mystery machines for at least the next four years. Overall, plenty to choose from — with pricing that starts at $30,000 for the crossovers …

Keep reading

Andy Stella first car history GIF 2

Introducing Special Contributor Andy Stella — How to Trade Up from a 1995 Buick Skylark to a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic

by

Ed’s Intro: Please welcome Andy Stella! A car-minded guy with some hilarious insights to share in this two-pack of intro articles. Coming up next is his Top 5 Cars to Street-Park in Chicago — but his personal car history had me rolling on the floor with lulz. Enjoy. By: Special Contributor Andy Stella       From Car Hell to Car Bliss… in Only Six Easy Steps!   My first car was a 1995 Buick Skylark that I bought from my mom. That poor thing endured driver’s ED for my older brother and I, many trips into/out of the snowbanks …

Keep reading

CarRevsDaily

Best Wind Tunnels – Mercedes-Benz Opens New 165MPH AeroAcoustics Test Center

by

Orig Published on: Jan 3, 2014 @ 15:33 Welcome to part one of the CarRevsDaily Wind Tunnel series. What is the mystery X factor for anything moving at high speeds? Air. Always changing density, direction, humidity and speed: defeating wind is a real black art. How do I know this? Indoor skydiving: seems easy – jump from platform into the chamber, whose floor is 60-feet below. Flex your body to control your lift and position.   Sounds easy, is actually incredibly difficult and chaotic. Wind tunnels are nothing new: they go back more than 100 years and are critical for …

Keep reading

HEADER IDx NISMO Heritage Influecnes 999GIF

Nissan Taps Skyline Bloodlines for Future IDx Rear-Drive Compact Range

by

Originally: Published on: Dec 31, 2013 @ 21:39     All hail, the IDx NISMO Concept. Along with its Freeflow sibling, these twins reclaim some of Nissan’s proudest – and most stylish – historical moments. Just a brief thumb through the Nissan Heritage archives shows the huge strides made by Nissan between 1965 and 1975. The cars went from down-sized, durable and cute bubbles into sedan shapes with much blockier lines. The BMW M Division, AMG or NISMO strategy is long-established with the Skyline range, which has come in all flavors: from luke-warm four-doors all the way to extreme fastback …

Keep reading

IMG_2538-800x600

Car Basics: How To Jumpstart A Dead Car… in less than 10 Words

by

Jumpstarting Reminder: Red to Red, Black to Black With the good car running: Red to red, black to black.     Step-by-step guide from GEICO’s Dawn McCaslin: Start by protecting your clothes and your hands with protective clothing or a blanket on the ground and gloves. Open the hood to your car. Sometimes when you “pop” the hood, you need to also release the latch. This can be found by running your fingers under the slightly open hood until you find a little lever to push on. Use the stick to prop the hood open while you work. Locate the …

Keep reading

header option 2

2015 Ford Transit Is Nearly Here! Summer 2014 Arrival — Work Van Revolution Via RWD Diesel and EcoBoost V6 Plus Decent Cabin

by

Cargo van, passenger van, cut-away or chassis cab: Three wheelbases. Three roof heights. Three engines: 2.5-liter turbodiesel, 3.7-liter V6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost. Rear drive. Six-speed automatic. The 2015 Ford Transit is nothing short of a revolution. This is perhaps my fifth time through the configurations and specs since the first teasers emerged about this time last year — and certainly my third or fourth total article on how important this new truck is. Building it in Kansas City is not small achievement for this once-European model, now honed and up-fit for American truck buyer needs. The second challenge? Ford has been …

Keep reading

Header Venom GT

2014 Hennessey Venom GT Worlds Fastest Edition- 270 Stunning Photos of 270MPH Venom GT Spyder

by

The Venom GT is a major success story that keeps building momentum with every aerodynamic tweak and trip to the Kennedy Space Center! This video below is pretty awesome. Great intro via a  great JFK speech, HPE! Pretty outstanding results, too =] The latest WFE reached the long-held ideal of one kilogram of weight per horsepower, with both totaling 1244 thanks to the latest tweaks to the Hennessey twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The Hennessey team notes that not only is the Venom GT now the world’s fastest car, it is also the quickest. A 2.7-second sprint to 60-mph only increases in …

Keep reading

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

2015 Escalade ESV Standard, Premium and Luxury – Buyers Guide and Pricing from $72k

by

The 2015 Escalade is easily the hottest full-size truck of the year. Its arrival is still forthcoming, but the first Tahoe’s and Yukon’s are already starting to trickle onto dealer lots. Extra attention to the Escalade’s cabin and driving experience explain why the Cadillac is not shipping first. But better late and perfect than early and unfinished. For most buyers in the market for an Escalade-sized truck, there would be a few solid preference to keep in mind: — ESV length versus the shortie would be a no-brainer for me — the price increase is only $3,000 but the increased …

Keep reading

Header white Cadillac CTS-V Wagon222

2014 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V Wagons — Cult Classics — 3.6-liter V6 Offering Dark Vsport Grille via New Touring Package

by

The Cadillac CTS Wagon is a plum machine, and one so rare you may never pass yourself going the other way on any road, worldwide. Available with a rear-drive 3.0-liter V6, or the upgraded 3.6-liter in rear-drive or AWD, this is a massively practical car that just happens to be gorgeous. It would be my pick in a heartbeat over the CTS Coupe, but versus the new sedan? That is a toss-up. What the Wagon does bring is that intangible sense of coolness that every fast wagon driver will know and love. What does that actually earn you? Nods of …

Keep reading

ESCALADE V-Series GIF Header

Speculative Renderings – 2016 Cadillac Escalade V – How Does 650HP ZR1 Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 Sound?

by

Guess who does not like renderings one bit? Manufacturers….!  A great Escalade buyers guide article is in final draft form, and coming soon to actually drive sales versus just unique visitors to this news website. But as long as I’m burning bridges shore to shore… A Cadillac Escalade V-Series? The idea is a bit tough to fathom or accept at first, but is a firm fit with buyer wants in this segment. One look at the aftermarket or even the GL63 AMG shows that once cost is no object, buyers often simply want it all. Light off-road ability plus a …

Keep reading

Q50 Engines Header GIF

INFINITI Q50 Upping Pressure on BMW With Aggressive New Turbo Engines — 2.0L Turbo for Europe … or 560HP GT-R V6 for US!

by

Okay, that is not super fair. The European market is also a sure thing for the Q50 Eau Rouge, which runs a 560-horsepower twin turbocharged engine that is closely related, if not the exact same, as what powers the upgraded 2014 Nissan GT-R. But the bigger news may be down at the lower end of the range: Europe is the first market to benefit from a new sharing deal with Mercedes-Benz. Infiniti will borrow the brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is seeing duty, or will soon see action, in everything from the CLA250 to the E250. So, the Infiniti Q50 …

Keep reading

GMC 2500HD and 3500HD Denali Sierra Animation header

Latest GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali and 3500HD Bring Class-Exclusive LEDs and Very Premium Designs

by

The 2015 GMC Sierra HD is quite an appealing machine. Its chunky fender arches and butch panels are at once both very stylish as well as very functional.   The LED addition in the headlamps of the Sierra HD are a treat, and a segment-exclusive item for the time being. They really help the Sierra line feel new and unique versus the latest Silverado line, which lack this element and can feel a bit stale visually by comparison. The Chevrolet HD trucks are more distinctive in being new versus the 1500, but all the Chevy trucks are less revamped than …

Keep reading

DS 5LS R gif header

Citroen DS Brings Parisian Street Style to Beijing with DS 5LS — 5LS R Version Packing 300HP!

by

Citroen and Peugeot are hugely popular brands in China. But so far, the cars on offer have not achieved the market share to go along with all that admiration. Step forward, Citroen’s high-fashion DS brand. With a logo that looks like French designer couture, the exteriors and interiors of many current Citroen models become far more stylish and appealing. The 5LS sedan is a great example of Citroen’s re-alignment toward not only having a fashionable brand, but selling hundreds of thousands of that car in China’s extremely competitive market. WIth every brand on Earth trying to tap the same “Cuppies” …

Keep reading

Lexus NX Beijing TEaser GIF

Lexus NX to Debut in Beijing This Month — 2015 NX250? NX200 Turbo? Based on Fascinating LF-NX Turbo Concept

by

Lexus just revealed the production face of the Lexus NX crossover, which is widely expected as a 2015 model to slot under the RX in the brand’s lineup. The NX willl debut in Beijing on April 20th, with styling that is quite fresh and unique — if not as sharp-sided as the LF-NX Concept car. Either way, it is a very promising step into the future of Lexus design. Teaser of production car is just these top four images. Orig Published on: Dec 1, 2013 @ 10:53 The Lexus LF-NX Turbo is the second iteration of the concept shown in …

Keep reading

Intro New NSX GIF NEW header2

2015 Acura NSX Set for Goodwood Debut — REAL Pre-Production Model — Plus! Dream Colorizer — 150 Shades of Hybrid Supercar

by

The NSX Concept is still making the rounds in near-production form — but there is big news on near-term horizon. Our prediction? The New NSX will debut in production form this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in England in late June of this year. While the debut is only confirmed so far as the “prototype,” we have reason to believe this prototype is actually the real pre-production car. Why is this our prediction? Some inside info or a hot tip? I wish. No — we are working on a hunch. Informed by just historical data, careful analysis of the wording …

Keep reading

HEADER m4

4.2s, 425HP 2015 BMW M4 Convertible! Full Details + 39 Photos of Wide-Track Menace — Arrival to US Buyers by Late August 2014

by

Sierra Denali HD? Acura NSX Goodwood 2014 debut? Both articles bumped. Dinner skipped. The 2015 BMW M4 Convertible has arrived. Looking amazingly athletic and aggressive from every angle, the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible just popped up in our inbox ahead of its first public outing at the New York Auto Show in just two weeks time. First stats are remarkably impressive: — manual six-speed or seven-speed M-DCT transmissions, with 4.4-second and 4.2-second sprint times, respectively — Bigger trunk than before, new three-piece folding hardtop that drops cruising cabin noise levels by 2-decibels — Incredible agility and a characterful howl from …

Keep reading

2015 Kia Sedona GIF header

Update1 – 2015 Kia Sedona, Is That You? KIA Previews NY Debut of Sharp New Van

by

KIA just send out a curious teaser — but we have a strong hunch this is the next Sedona van! That, or a swanky crossover with sliding doors? That seemed silly to type, but why do no SUV models have sliding rear doors?     The nose design looks to closely mirror the very handsome Sportage. All will be revealed in a few weeks.   KIA 2014 NYIAS TEASER Kia will unveil an all-new midsize multi-purpose vehicle at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in two weeks. This global debut will challenge the segment and will offer the functionality …

Keep reading

anigif

Sexy Embedded Photo Polls — Round One — Color Showdown! 2014 Corvette Stingray Colors in Tournament Brackets

by

With color a critical choice for loving any car long-term, care to see what others prefer on the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible? Winners from each bracket will move on in the tournament, while losers will face immediate knockout — until only one color is left standing! Instructions: vote for each color you prefer, the next bracket will come up automatically.     Stay tuned for the results next week, and feast your eyes on all the colors via the images below.  

GM MLC life worth gif

Op-Ed — Is Motors Liquidation Corp (Old GM)’s Rotten Culture Actually Gone? Refusal To Provide Safe Loaner Cars Is Shameful

by

I hate politics. Rarely will you catch an article on here about NHTSA’s ridiculous, farcical witch-hunts around recalls. If you think this stuff is not political, think again. Do not get me started on the useless, fleabag vote-mongers in both houses of congress, from both sides of the aisle. Counterpoint: Or the NHTSA’s actual customer assistance in ensuring recall work is fulfilled by manufacturers? “Send them a letter” is not sufficient, @NHTSA — when you are steamrolling billions of company value from the books with these opportunistic investigations. A disgusting disgrace for the agency, and one that will not go …

Keep reading

Hisashi Saito GIF1 header

Automotive Artist Showcase — Hisashi Saito — 3D Mechanical Illustrator with Heart — 30 Stunning See-Through Honda Designs

by

Have you ever wondered how the technical illustrations in the best car magazines are created? Is there some kind of giant automotive X-ray scanner like Border Patrol and the Ports Authority use to see inside 40-foot shipping containers? The answer is no. These are generally done by skilled artists who are able to know a car’s design and mechanical details so thoroughly that they can peel away the bodywork for the eye to see inside. Hisashi Saito is one such talented artist. His work has earned him worldwide recognition and numerous awards — but his drawings for Honda are some …

Keep reading

2015 Nissan GT-R Debut - Animated GIF

2014 GT-R + 2015 GT-R NISMO Now Far More Beautiful, Luxurious… and EVEN FASTER!

by

Orig Published on: Nov 22, 2013 @ 11:33 The next GT-R just debuted in Tokyo, and boy, is it magnificent. A beautiful vision in anthracite grey. Hugely redesigned surfaces appear all over the exterior, with the nose and grille graphic perhaps the most enhanced versus the current car. All-new LED lighting is featured throughout, finally bringing the GT-R’s styling up to the same caliber as its world-beating performance. The evolution of the 2015 GT-R brings much of the revised technical solutions from the brand-new 2014 Nissan GT-R NISMO — but wraps the enhancements in that far prettier exterior and now, …

Keep reading

Spinasround Z51 GIF header

Update1 -3.8s 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 in 78 Original First-Drive Photos

by

Update — Originally published in November, when I foolishly included over 350MB of images on one web page. That leads to a lousy user experience, shockingly! With slow pages, browser crashes and other issues. We are learning, however, and improving. The compressed images do not lose too too much quality when shrunk from 5MB each down to 1MB each — but you will like them better because it will not crash the entire Internet. =] The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 3LT is poised to be the absolute hottest sports car for 2014: pricing just below $70,000, carbon-fiber galore, and even …

Keep reading

CAr-Revs-Daily

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — Animated Evolution in Polo White

by

Ever since the debut of the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban in September 2013, General Motors seems to — finally — be a far more forward-thinking company. The irony was not lost on anyone during the 1980s and 1990s: the largest and most successful industrial entity of the 20th Century, and  perhaps all of American history, was rapidly in decline and risking it all via short-sighted management strategies that equaled awful cars.   Part of looking forward is knowing where you came from, of course. Good (but often not-so-good) skeletons of cars in the closet would no longer be swept under the …

Keep reading

anigif

Okay Now! European JUKE Nismo RS Features Matching LEDs Above and Below The New Round HID Lamps

by

The recent European Nissan JUKE article spent a faintly absurd amount of words and on the color choice of the show car, as well as the LED lighting functionality of the JUKE Nismo. Hiding on my desktop is another Geneva debut I have yet to cover: The JUKE Nismo RS with the solution to both the LED and icky color problems! This photo of the JUKE Nismo RS for Europe confirms: all three lighting elements can now be used simultaneously.     Perhaps a trivial distinction, but one that American JUKE Nismo owners will understand. The JUKE Nismo RS in …

Keep reading

HCD14 versus Genesis header

Concept to Reality — Design Analysis — Hyundai HCD-14 to the All-New 2015 Genesis — Plus US Pricing and Equipment

by

Last week we explored the fresh and innovative appearances of the Hyundai Intrado concept SUV, HCD-9 Coupe concept and the PassoCorto sports car concept — with generous praise for the ideas and execution shown in all three.   Will that gravy train keep rolling with the new Genesis? Unfortunately, after comparing the two side-by-side and in detail: the answer is a firm “No.”   Overall, the transition from HCD-14 to Genesis loses all of the concept’s unique surfaces, elegance,  and all semblance of premium appeal. The artful and contemporary sweeping shapes of the HCD-14 are all completely gone; replaced by …

Keep reading

COrvette Spyder renders gif222

Speculative Renderings – Future Corvette Z51 Speedster and Z06 Spyder

by

INTRODUCTORY CAVEAT: I hope these do not irk General Motors too much. They are all labeled as ‘speculative renderings’ — in case the dismal quality of these Photo”Chops” did not make that clear already to everyone. It is harder than it seems to achieve anything like photo-real results. To avoid any confusion among buyers is my goal in labeling everything as renders, but also to explore these ideas visually. A separate (and amazing!) article coming in a few hours will be a thorough, real-life buyers guide to the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible’s trims, wheels, colors and options later this afternoon. …

Keep reading

MDX Ext Glam GIF header

2014 Acura MDX Colors, Options + Wheels Guide From $43k

by

Let’s say you are on a road trip. But you are in the back seat! Ahhh! You are not just a grown-up like Tom Hanks in BIG. You are just a large, tired human. Best stretch-out-comfy cabin this side of Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class? The Acura MDX. New for this year, the MDX really excels in its smooth, confident and quiet luxury crossover mission. This is a car for people who need to feel fewer jabs in the ribs in general — let alone paying the a German SUV to bounce you around choppy pavement. For these shoppers, the …

Keep reading

GTR new header34

2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition – Drake the Akita

by

UPDATE: Drake is home from surgery and doing well. It is this April Fool’s birthday tomorrow and my best friend, Drake Burkart the Akita Labrador, is in surgery right now overnight for a torn ACL.   The TPLO procedure is hopefully not life-threatening, but I am very upset anyway to see him in such pain. Therefore, is a very emotional day for me, so I am going back to some all-time favorites for car-news comfort. Here is Drake. As an American Akita breed, he is something like the GT-R in many ways. Akitas in the US were generally bred with …

Keep reading

BMW Z1 header gif

1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price

by

1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price A bit less to say about the Z1, which is unusual for me.  For many, many years the Z1 was my all-time favorite car. I saw one in Germany as a young child and was instantly smitten by its power-sinking doors and ultra-refined aero profile. To me, it was everything a BMW sports car should be. Versus the large and imposing 635CSi and 750iL of the time, it was nothing short of a revelation for BMW lovers worldwide. Even today, its shapely panels are quite bewitching. The Z1 was …

Keep reading

1937 BMW 328 GIF header

Car Museums Showcase – 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Bike in Spartanburg, SC

by

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

Keep reading

Ferrari California 30 Edition GIF high HEADER5

2014 Ferrari California 30 Edition – Blu Mirabeau – 60-Angle Sunny Photo Shoot

by

With the California T coming in September as a 2015 model car, the sonorous atmospheric V8 is becoming even more desirable. Yes, the turbo will surely still sound lovely. But any turbo engine sounds far more muffled than a natural breather. This final 30 Edition model weighs 60-pounds less overall, and has a sharper performance focus to all its moves.     Lastly, pretty sure this is Blu Mirabeau, but it might be Azzurro California. Cruise over to Ferrari.com to configure and order your own!        

MODEL S HEADER 1 GIF

HD Road Test Review – 2014 TESLA Model S 85 – Smooth Power, Great Dynamics, Unequivocal EV Brilliance

by

 2014 TESLA Model S 85 Review After a scathing Op-Ed the other week about Tesla Motors’ many (perceived) shenanigans on Wall Street and in Washington: I decided it was time to get behind the wheel to experience the car itself. I registered my interest in the Model S at TeslaMotors.com and promptly received a nice phone call from Silicon Valley to help arrange things. But the nearest Tesla dealers were at least five hours away from me, so I put a pin in the Tesla test drive and went back to work on normal vehicle reviews/ keeping the website up/ …

Keep reading

euroJUKE gif

European Nissan JUKE Previews Deeply Cool LED Designs Front and Rear — Securing High-Style Kudos After Dark

by

The updated Nissan JUKE debuted in Geneva this month, with only a light refresh visible outside. Until it gets dark, that is! The LED updates now place V-Motion swish marks in the top indicator lamps up front, bi-xenon LEDs for the main round beams below, and some refreshed lower trim styling that now includes painted areas inside the lower grille region. The main front blinkers are still in the top lamps on the hood — just as much smaller amber LED units, we expect. This remains unknown as of now. The overall appearance is greatly enhanced by these revisions, and …

Keep reading

e550 cab gif header1

Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet + Specs, Pricing and Options

by

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

2014-----03-29_134414-tile

Road Test Review – 2014 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL – Great Handling, Refinement, Efficiency and Cargo Space

by

2014 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL Review Looks like I shaved before taking video two (in blue shirt), which always helps to look less like a mountain man…! Second video is directly below and is a bit more interesting overall. These are from last Fall, but went unpublished due to my then-editor rejecting the story topic. This was pre-GoPro — which just proves how much easier it is to make quality content when you have a week with the car versus twenty minutes. Sadly, my long-form original review and photos of this machine were shredded via a previous Toshiba laptop. My …

Keep reading

ESCALADE header gif 3

2015 Cadillac Escalade Colors, Leathers and Specs Preview

by

2015 Cadillac Escalade Colors, Leathers and Specs Preview Introducing the 2015 Escalade. The 2015 Escalade is looking pretty desirable as the winds change and snow starts falling in Chicagoland. The full line of codename “K2XX” SUV’s are all vastly improved for 2015, with Tahoe’s starting in the high $30,000’s at the low end. At the high end is the latest Escalade, which repositions itself as the true flagship of Cadillac. And, perhaps, General Motors. Starting with prices about at the same level as previous models, the Escalade is scheduled for an early Spring 2014 roll-out to dealers nationwide.   Exterior …

Keep reading

Spartanburg Factory Animation2

BMW X3 and X4 Spartanburg Factory Tour in 111 Photos!

by

BMW Spartanburg Factory Tour During this factory tour of the X3 and X4 assembly line, I could not help but to keep looking around for the rest of the facility. The loud parts., The hot parts. Places where workers are wearing the typical combo of HazMat + X-Ray lead vests for safety. But in fact, these areas were nowhere to be found. This is partly due to the extremely cutting-edge processes employed in Spartanburg, but also because some key components are handled off-site: including engines from Germany and stampings from Magna Steyr’s facility just down the road. This model factory’s …

Keep reading

BMW 228i M Sport GIF

2014 BMW 228i M Sport in 36 All-New, High-Res Photos

by

How is it in the flesh? Very new, very low, very wide. The ideal BMW Coupe! The proportions are dead-accurate to the desirable long-hood appearance BMW coupes have long delivered their loyal fans (and fan-boys alike). The is the car I would order versus the pricier 235i — the 228i in M Sport trim. The other options are a bit tamer outside without this front bumper and other sport enhancements. Stay tuned for the big first drive article soon — plus photos of the 228i Luxury that sat beside this M Sport car. Overall — a great entry into rear-drive …

Keep reading

Best of Awards - 1000 miles at 100MPH - 2014 M Sport BMW 335i GT 55

Best of Awards – 2014 BMW 335i GT M Sport – 1000 miles at 100MPH… In One Day?

by

Orig Published on: Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:37 What car would you pick for the ultimate day of dawn-to-dusk road tripping? Great style, pace and space in back will become far more important than previously thought. The 2014 BMW 328i xDrive GT and 335i xDrive GT are looking better and better to these eyes. Even while prepping the 328d and 328x Touring articles last week: I could not help but liking the 3GT from most angles versus its low-roof-wagon sibling. The nose is really the clinch-point for a car’s style, and the 3GT is arguably more handsome and well-resolved than …

Keep reading

1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster -- Leaves Me Cold GIF

Amelia Island Time Capsules: $903k 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster — Leaves Me Cold — Find Out Why?

by

Plowing through my gigantic Amelia Island photo folders. =] Not only do I rarely meet a Bugatti I do not like — I think the Amelia Island 2014 event was the first time I have ever touched any Bugatti, whatsoever! Therefore, you can imagine my internal surprise at my blase feelings toward this magnificent 1939 57C — which were less than positive. I just didn’t like it. The color seemed off, the coachwork overwrought, and certainly not nearly as stunning, genuine and authentically-desirable as the racecars across the room. I blamed poor lighting on day one due to the car …

Keep reading

Porsche PDLS Header animations

2014 911 Targa4 and Carrera S Featuring PDLS LED System

by

After yesterday’s article on all my failed LED headlight attempted, my admiration for the Panamera Turbo and Cayenne Turbo’s quad-point LED setup is very clear. Sidebar: Posting so many of my hideous DIY failures is really mortifying. But at least a break from the 600-or-so Amelia Island photos I am still sitting on?! Here is a 360-degree spin from one of the beach-walk decks in front of the Ritz-Carlton. This is a point of view panarama — versus a subject-focused turntable like many of my fly-arounds that center on an automobile. It was grey, overcast and raining that day, which …

Keep reading

anigif

2014 INFINITI QX80 Review – Specs, Options, Pricing, Colors + 30 Real-Life Photos

by

When planning this article, I cannot help but think of the QX80 is a ‘reliable Range Rover,’ a smoother and better-handling Land Cruiser, or an Escalade with actual class. But throwing sand never wins any points in life. So let’s stick to the high road with this newly-renamed QX56 model for 2014. A few extra packages enter the fray for 2014, including a huge number of laser/radar and sonar-based active safety elements as standard — and even more with the optional Tech Package. 400-horsepower through a seven-speed automatic continues with this chain-driven marvel of a V8 — and the big …

Keep reading

600 morph new

Evolution of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class from 1904 to Present

by

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Evolution When Mercedes-Benz launches a new S-Class, the lead-up coverage is remarkably similar each time. Safety innovations, luxury, tech, style to make Lexus and Jaguar weep. But there is more to the story than just the 1960s forward. In fact, the first in this bloodline dates to 1904 in a hilarious red jalopy of a stagecoach. Hilarious in retrospect only! This was no joke at the time – the peak height of class and luxury travel. This red magic stagecoach did not require horses out front to move its occupants along in comfort and manure-free bliss. And so, …

Keep reading

2.8s QUANT e-SportLimo – Design Shootout vs Porsche 918

by

2.8s QUANT e-SportLimo – Design Shootout vs Porsche 918 Why so curious about this car’s origin and vision? A few things seem a bit unusual. Let’s dive into the salty blue of QUANT together.     We knew suspected from first seeing this car’s badge that it comes with a large beer-mug of Bavarian heritage: the Quandt (with a D) family is a major controlling shareholder in the BMW Group. Along with the Porsche’s and the Piech’s — these are some of the most revered industrial dynasties in Germany. And also some of the most shielded and private. But is …

Keep reading

CLIPPER gif header

2014 ItalDesign Clipper Crossover by Giugiaro – A Mad Six-Person Golf Variant?

by

ItalDesign’s Clipper Crossover by Giugiaro – A Mad Six-Person Golf Variant? The thing with VW owning Giugiaro these days is that many of the concepts have much more production-possibility than ever before. Take the Parcour SUV — many of its ideas are flowing directly into a future Lamborghini model. The style and themes shown on this Clipper van most directly relate to Volkswagen’s newly-clean aesthetic — but take the block forms and flat surfacing to a very interesting place. Is it beautiful? Oh no. But might it be after refinement into a production vision? Perhaps. Additions like a brand-specific element …

Keep reading

Header Aston Martin 15-98 Roadster RM PHOTOS GIF

Amelia Island 2014 – 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 ans DB4 SuperLeggera

by

 Amelia Island 2014 – 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 ans DB4 SuperLeggera Before we dive into this incredibly delicate but very powerful 15/98 shortie roadster — here is a selfie of your humble scribe with a touchably-smooth (caressably-soft?) 1960 DB4. Smooth, but definitely not soft. This DB4 wears the cherished SuperLeggera badge — indicating its body was made of aluminum-alloy versus steel.Aston-Martin worked with Milan’s Carrozzeria Touring on a number of projects in this era. Estimated weight saving with alloy? 250-pounds or more. This DB4 sold for $462,000 by RM Auctions on March 8th, 2014. Adding $150,000 to that total takes …

Keep reading

SEAT Leon Cupra in First OEM Embedded Spin GIF

2014 SEAT Leon Cupra Scores First OEM Embedded Spin-Table! Plus 3 Reasons The Leon Cupra Spanks Renaultsport Megane (…and VW GTI)

by

The most unlikely fan of SEAT? Any American! While our LED obsession is well-documented — it is not just the available full LED headlights that are big turn-ons for the Leon. We love the latest SEAT car style, value proposition and brand statement. Any favorites in the ten-strong SEAT range? We are huge Leon admirers especially. Why? Check out the (mid-range) Sports FR Kit below and tell me it is not incredibly sexy. Three reasons to crave the SEAT Leon: 1.) — Value: Versus the VW GTI, the Leon is significantly more affordable for new-car shoppers, both in actual transaction …

Keep reading

BUGATTI Marque Showcase -- Geneva, Salon Prive and Pebble Beach -- Veyron Vitesse and GS Rembrandt -- Plus GIF

BUGATTI Marque Showcase — Geneva, Salon Prive and Pebble Beach — Veyron Vitesse and GS Rembrandt — Plus Venet, Jean Bugatti, L’Or Blanc and GS Vitesse

by

So many Bugatti’s, so little time!   Just kidding. It really is the opposite, in fact, with a production run closing in on the final 75 units pretty soon on the horizon in 2015. But when your car costs as much as these magnificent specimens, who wouldn’t want a custom theme and livery? Quick shorthand: GS signifies the targa cars, while the Vitesse models are the fastest and newest of the all. The Vitesse wears significant updates and shaping to the entire nose, with a mid-wing in the air ducts that is not present on the earlier cars. Geneva 2014 …

Keep reading