Honda CIvic Type R COncept GIF 2

Update1 — Honda Civic Type R Concept is 5-Door, 280HP Turbo Track Monster with LEDs To Die For and Racing Rear Wing!

Sorry for the lack of text in this article before. I was actually locked out of my website until 6a, which led to posting the Civic Type R Concept on the http://www.facebook.com/carrevsdaily when the initial release hit my inbox at 3:58a. Regardless: a dozen or so extra images inlcuded now, plus the official details on the WTCC-inspired Civic concept. Official Details from Honda below. Racing Car for the Road – Civic Type R Concept  Bold and Aggressive, Styled to Reflect Performance Honda’s appearance at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show will lead with the worldwide reveal of the Civic Type R …

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Concept to Reality -- 2006 SAAB Aero-X HEADER GIF

Concept to Reality – 2006 SAAB Aero-X to 2013 SAAB 9-5 Turbo6 Aero XWD

Concept to Reality – 2006 SAAB Aero-X to 2013 SAAB 9-5 Need a reason to save SAAB? Here it is: the 2006 Aero-X concept — which presented a number of jaw-dropping ideas for a potential Swedish GT supercar. This template and aesthetic was the guiding light for the production 9-5 that never quite made it to volume production. So how close is the Aero-X to the doomed 9-5? You be the judge — but we’d say: very, very close. Front Angles Front Three-Quarter Angles Side Profiles INTERIORS Rear Three-Quarter Angles Rear Angles  

Best of SEMA 2013 -- Lexus IS350 F Sport Widebody GIF header

Best of SEMA 2013 — Lexus IS350 F Sport Widebody by DeviantART Is Sexy Engineering Co**Tease

Oh widebody cars, why do you rule my heart and head(s)? Widebodies are amazingly-attractive for a number of reasons: — they allow a massive change in vehicle proportions — there are almost no limits to how wide is too-wide — their grip principles are grounded in racing conversions, adding authenticity to street cars But oh widebodies — why are most of you so utterly un-functional as to actually impair performance? Poorly-created and designed widebody conversions add hundreds of pounds exactly where a race driver would never put it: on the outermost corners of the vehicle. Widebody styling — when done …

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TechArt Showing 13 Mad Porsche Customs in Geneva + Exclusive 911 Noselift System for Tall Driveways

Geneva supercars? Again? Oh yes. TechArt is one of my favorite technical upgrade shops because their focus is primarily under the hood. Yes, they embellish their models with lurid body kits and wild colors: but that is only to show off the amazing power and grip solutions TechArt has done in the oily parts of these Porsches. A few all-stars are present and accounted-for in the TechArt Geneva lineup, with much focus these days on the Cayenne and Panamera. The 911 is not left out: TechArt’s upgraded 911’s also look good enough to kiss on the badge. TECHART unveils numerous …

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2014 Ford Mustang Official Homestead Pace Car NFS GIF

Young Henry Ford Lookin’ Gangster! 2014 Mustang Widebody + 2015 Mustang Starring in Need For Speed Movie — 20 HQ Photos

I am not sure if you will agree, but, to me: the NFS trailer from summer 2013 made this movie seem like a pretty lackluster effort. Luckily, that no longer seems to be the case. Production values are especially-important to movie-goers. Many of these fans can spot crappy CGI effects from 10,000 miles away. Jump-cuts and sloppy slow-mo? You just lost all M13-34. I only got four seconds into summer’s teaser trailer before an (involuntary) Big Eye-roll. So, among this audience: it is critical to have the action feel, sound and look as authentic as possible. The Ford Mustang is this movie’s …

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2014 Skoda Superb Outdoor and VisionC Concept for Geneva Causing Some Angular Euro Style Envy…

Skoda is becoming a real asset for the Volkswagen Group. Bought for a song as the Czech firm was failing in the 1980s — Skoda now commands a quite sizable market share in Europe’s most profitable markets. Skoda’s core selling points have really been popular among anti-fashion consumers. People who (claim to) value a vehicle for its merits, value and durability versus a fleeting style. Skoda is also a surprise, run-away success story in China. The latest cars from Skoda seem to take the next step in the brand’s evolution: a cheaper, more avant-garde ethos than even Audi can manage …

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Concept Estate Confirms It! Volvo’s New Design Lead Th. Ingenlath Should Be Sweden’s Man of the Year!

Go Volvo Go! I love an underdog, and have thrown my continued support behind Volvo since the VCC debuted in Frankfurt in September. Sidebar: Did I love Volvo before? Yes, as a brand. But not the cars. Only one year ago — almost exactly — I wrote an op-ed for a defunct media outlet that debated Acura versus Volvo in the battle for the Worst Luxury Brand In America. Scathing barely does that one justice. Seeing the Concept Estate makes me glad that article is not still online, and that the original Word doc is long gone as well. Such …

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VIDEO + Renders of 8 Future Hot-Rods From German Special Customs — Which Is Your Favorite?

GSC is broadening their scope. They are now applying their trademark upgrade style to brands beyond the Mercedes-Benz star. The latest future projects from German Special Customs work in a hot-to-trot new Range Rover and even an Aventador-from-Hell called the Estatura GXX. Using the names of brands by GSC is a bit touchy, so GSC has these future mock-ups under simplified working titles. Estatura GXX   McLaren P1 Night Glow by German Special Customs   Which do you like best? My choice is probably the E-Class, but I am open to debate! Hey, if you’re not having fun on the …

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2014 Vauxhall VXR EXTREME Geneva Concept GIF Stretch

Vauxhall Astra Hits 300HP In VXR-topping Extreme Spec — A Production-Ready Front-Drive Z/28?

The latest Astra from Opel in Europe and Vauxhall in England is a really handsome machine. Surprisingly, it pips even the latest Focus on style, even in hum-drum TopGear “Star in a reasonably Priced Car” trim. The LEDs (at night) are far better than anything out of Woking, so far, glowing a bright white around Dunsfold on the rainiest, grayest days of this never-ending winter. The upgrade here adds 30 horsepower, a huge carbon-fiber overhall outside for racing aero, and a very impressive grip setup. I was trying to think of what race series this car seems from — and …

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2015 MINI Clubman Concept GIF

Sing-song Status — Geeeen-ee-vahh Is the Place To Be… 2015 Focus + MINI Clubman Join A-list Cast

As you may note, I am getting really stir crazy in my new digs down in South Carolina.   Even while I lived in the suburbs for the last six months of my time Chicago from 2005 to 2013 — I am really a pretty urban person. I moved from Wrigleyville to suburbs to be closer to the auto fleet offices. So, I just moved again!  To Charleston!  What is up with that? My family is here. Car-Revs-Daily.com is way ahead of schedule in terms of the broad launch flowcharts detailed December (post-kickstarter-flop). So. Big changes in my home office …

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The Bruce McLaren Origin Story: How A Brilliant Visionary Still Inspires the Auto World

Orig Published on: Dec 30, 2013 @ 10:50 Really understanding McLaren today requires more information on the firm’s dynamic founding individual: Bruce. A face to go with the myth is helpful, but just a face is no justice to the legacy of Bruce McLaren. Bruce McLaren’s influence continues today, with those who knew him able to recall this man as all things to all men: engineer, a racing driver, a great friend and teacher, businessman, and, ultimately, hero. From his arrival in Europe in 1958: The Auckland-born Bruce McLaren’s skilled feet, eyes and arms took the racing world by storm. …

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Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Gunning for BMW M5 — High-Res Glory + Geneva Video Teases GT-R-like Engine Howl

The prospect of the Eau Rouge Infiniti Q50 just became much, much more tantalizing.  @TheRealAutoblog has discovered a brilliant tidbit of information: this car sounds turbocharged. This is news because no Q50 sedans are currently turbocharged. In fact, I do not think Infiniti has ever implemented turbo engines (so far). Aside from the Q45 and its well-known 278-horsepower V8, the first 1990-92 M30’s were V6-powered, as was 1993-1998 J30… and so on. The Q50 Eau Rouge does not just sound turbocharged. It sounds GT-R turbocharged. The GT-R has a particularly gruff but high-strung appeal to its engine and exhaust harmonies. …

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2015 Audi TT Sketches tile

All-New 2015 Audi TT Set for Geneva Debut — Design Sketches Show Evolutionary Approach + Butch Stance

  The latest Audi concepts are a bit dazzling — but often for all the wrong reasons. But even while the Sport Quattro loses appeal on its exterior, the interiors of this next-gen set of Audi sports cars might be the real news. A totally clean-sheet layout revamp brings an ultra-low and minimal front dashboard that is simply divine. Allroad Shooting Brake – 2014 Concept Interior: CES 2014 – SQ Concept Interior Will the TT be able to proudly join the Audi sports car family in this generation? Despite is alloy-intensive construction in the current generation of TT and TTS …

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AMG Miami Boat Shows Long Dongs — Mercedes-Benz Extenzzzes Vision GranTurismo Ethos to New 50-ft Racing Boat

Whip ’em out! Just kidding. Please do not. There is something inherently phallic about cigarette boats, named for their extreme length but thin berth on the water. These are the vessels you need to outrun any other sea-faring vessel that might give chase. In fact, with the big AMG engines rumbling at peak power levels — this AMG Vision GT boat is likely to outrun most helicopters as well. How would it look in Coast Guard orange? Or air-force white? The U.S. Navy has a new squid-like camo sheath that literally makes anything in water disappear from physical and sonar …

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1968 Corvette ASTRO and ASTRO II Concepts at the National Corvette Museum + Ferrari and Bugatti-style Concepts 8

1968 Corvette ASTRO and ASTRO II Concepts at the National Corvette Museum

The Corvette Museum is fantastic. So much so that reviewing my visit’s 350+ photos is a bit mind-boggling. Organizing the coverage into topic chunks seems most logical versus one massive article. The below video highlights these Astro concepts briefly… before my iPhone conked out of battery life mid-filming. Good times. Let’s dive in to these exceptional concept Corvettes in the Engineering and Prototype room. The Astro and Astro II are both from 1968, and show the deep divide over where to take the Corvette C3 in its 1970’s iteration. They show a wild expression of streamlined principles across the board, …

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Concept Volkswagen Taigun Debuts in Delhi – But Set to Battle Nissan Rogue (*or Juke) and Mitsu Outlander Sport in U.S. From 2015

The Taigun and the Tiguan. Not a good combination for dyslexics – but VW’s mini SUV concept does show great progress in refining the brand’s chiseled future SUV look. It is also hugely important because of its size. Typically, VW has not imported its smallest cars to America because they would all price themselves out of consideration for most shoppers. The Euro-only Up! is just adorable and would sell like ice-cold water bottles at Burning Man — but importing this Euro-made mini-car ould push prices past $20,000. Not a good set of options, then, to increase sales volume for VW …

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1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum18

Iconic Classic Car: 1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum

Only at the Mullin Automotive Museum could a car as brilliant, unique and influential as this Type 165 Cabriolet be summed up as “Car 30.” Amid the world’s finest collection of all-things pre-war and coach-built, the Oxnard, California Mullin Museum is a must-visit for all car fans. Those with a special passion for classics will find none other than 90-plus completely one-off models in the astounding collection. Housed in a glamorous stage-type museum building, the mood is right for period flashbacks with a recreated LeMans pit area real enough to be a fire hazard. Everything is magnificent about the museum, …

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Future Maxima Concept -- 3

Future Nissan Maxima Concept — 3.5-in Lower Roof — 2.1-in Wider Stance — Official Debut

Update1: Just updated this article with all the 2015 4DSC concept photos; sans the previous burnt photo error =] i think all the designers use Macs — and all the rest of us use PCs… ? ANYWAY Next Maxima is set to be just 0.3-inches taller than the GT-R. But will a manual box join the fun? With the Z06 hitting eight cogs as a manual, or the GT-R running its precious-metals DCT ….. might the next Maxima get a six-speed manual? I think it would help get people in the doors — even if they ultimately buy the V-spec …

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Volvo XC Coupe Concept Looking Ready for Summit County, Colorado 3

Volvo XC Coupe Concept Looking Ready for Summit County, Colorado!

There are a few must-have items when traveling up from Denver to the main ski resorts of Colorado: – 4wd or lockable AWD – ground clearance encouraged – huge surplus of power for high-grade passing needs – great road-holding and high-speed stability — especially on the descent. The XC Coupe looks ready for all that and more. Time for afternoon cookies at Beaver Creek! The XC will look right at home in the resort’s famous enclosed valet parking… snow or shine. Live Reveal Official Images Galleries      

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KIA GT4 STINGER Concept — Track Thrills — RWD Layout — 315HP Turbo — Lightweight Aero Shell

This KIA GT4 Stinger Concept headline took many tries to get right! Here are the key details: – Superlightweight and low proportions – Rear-drive, 315-horsepower turbo 2.0-liter – Sleek shape with black-frame glasshouse and very sexy nose – Concept. – Subaru BR-Z dynamics we all want – But far more speed: 115 extra horsepower versus 2.0-liter atmospheric boxer in BR-Z I like the styling from most angles, and think it will be extremely cool in black. THe rear end seems a bit too streamlined for my tastes, but does have a big hatchback cargo area versus the BRZ’s tiny, tiny …

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Toyota Pacific Design CALTY teams 1978 and 2014 GIF

Toyota CALTY Design Teams – Then with 1978 Celica and Now with 2014 FT1 Concept

I was going to add these charming images from Toyota to the FT1 article from earlier today – but decided to feature this talented team in a stand-alone article.   The below image shows the CALTY team with one of their first full projects, the hugely-successful 1978 Celica. This Celica eventually became the Celica Supra, and then the Supra we all know and love.   The Celica was a surprise global hit outside its core US market, providing Toyota the platform to affordable high-performance sports cars. The 2000GT, for all its brilliant alloy panels and optional automatic gearbox – was …

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Surprise! Drop-Dead Sexy Toyota Supercar Playable in GT6 and Previewing SUPRA 5

Surprise! Drop-Dead Sexy Toyota FT-1 Supra Joins Greatest Car Show on Earth

When any Toyota bumps the Porsche 911 Targa down a notch in my cue, you know it must be something amazing.   The new Supra. This concept is tagged the FT-1, and billed as the ultimate two-seat racing coupe. The FT1 is simply breathtaking. Wow. All those renderings look like absolute childs play compared with the final vision from Toyota.     Huge swooping panels almost recall the TVR Tuscan in their flowing symmetry. A ducktail forms part of a thin top trunk outline in a gorgeous way that also helps aero. An active spoiler is featured as well. The …

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Audi Sport Quattro – Design Analysis – Deconstructed Headlight Styles

Audi’s latest concepts might feel familiar, but actually bring a slew of new ideas to maintain sales momentum as the firm enters more new segments than ever. New shapes of crossovers and hybrids are critical to maintain momentum for the company, which achieved a best-ever 1,455,123 units sold globally in calendar 2013. Also impressive: Audi is active in 100-plus countries – which is about double the footprint of most luxury brands. While many tout the success of Lexus and other luxury new-comers, Audi is really the comeback king. There were years in the late 1980s when Audi of America could …

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Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept – Previewing Both 2015 A4 and Q2 e-tron?

This off-road hybrid concept is a promising step from Audi, and likely a bold preview of the 2015 A4’s styling updates. This two-door crossover shape could also wear a variety of other badges: Q2 e-tron seems like the most accurate. The official name of this NAIAS Detroit concept from Audi is the Allroad Shooting Brake. The powertrain and interior are the most innovative aspects of this new Audi Allroad style, with the full details from Audi below ahead of the car’s debut tomorrow in Detroit. Exterior     Interior Crossover in a compact package: The Audi allroad shooting brake show …

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2015 Volvo XC90 Closely Previewed by New XC Coupe Concept for Detroit 10

2015 Volvo XC90 Closely Previewed by New XC Coupe Concept for Detroit

Volvo is on a roll. After winning the ‘most improved style direction’ award here at CarRevsDaily last month for the Frankfurt VCC two-door, the Swedish team’s new style looks even closer to reality on the latest XC concept. The redesigned Volvo XC90 is so important to the future well-being of Sweden’s auto industry: it is hard to overstate how much is riding on the shoulders of this summer’s newest seven-seat crossover. The XC90 is currently a fantastic truck with good dynamics, a great ride, and everything from four-cylinder diesels to the smooth Yamaha V8 engine. The XC Coupe is obviously …

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CarRevsDaily

Honda Jade and Concept M from Shanghai 2013 Likely No-Shows in Detroit

The media side of the global auto industry is getting confusing. Any business needs to create structure in their marketing. Marketing, in this sense, is everything from concept cars to TV ads to post-sale warranty/service needs. This is often handled by region, especially for the semi-autonomous groups in the American market – the most valuable in terms of sales by a huge margin. But this segmentation strategy does not always work in a new age of digital media. Not only are international auto magazines available instantly via iPad editions, but they are far more affordable that way as well. Not …

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Corvette GT6 markup

2014 Corvette C7.R and Z06 – Stingray Gran Turismo Concept Offers Best Clues Yet

The Corvette C7.R and the new Z06 will make their debuts together next week at the first press conference of the first press day in Detroit. 2014 C7.R Monterey Rollout – (Pebble Beach, August 2013) Chevy is in just about the finest pre-show condition it has been in years: the model lines are almost all fresh or forthcoming, and the new arrivals to Chevy dealers in calendar year 2014 mean this Detroit show needs to do its job. Forecast calls for massive press blitz for all the latest new models from General Motors: – 2015 Suburban/Yukon/Escalade – 2015 Silverado and …

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Concept Flashback - 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans 5

Concept Flashback – 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans

There are numerous elements of the 2011 Citroen Tubik concept that are inspiring. The nose itself is very chic, and sets the tone for the Tub’s wild, semi-spherical curving panels. White gloss effect acrylic forms the entire nose and tail of the machine, but the central section is a floating layer of stainless steel. The idea has aero principles, recalls Apple’s best product designs, and is a fresh take on the corrugated steel panels of the original Type H vans from the 1930s. The interior, like many French concepts, completely drops the ball. It is far too space-age, with silly …

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Concept Flashback - 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans 5

Concept Flashback – 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans

There are numerous elements of the 2011 Citroen Tubik concept that are inspiring. The nose itself is very chic, and sets the tone for the Tub’s wild, semi-spherical curving panels. White gloss effect acrylic forms the entire nose and tail of the machine, but the central section is a floating layer of stainless steel. The idea has aero principles, recalls Apple’s best product designs, and is a fresh take on the corrugated steel panels of the original Type H vans from the 1930s. The interior, like many French concepts, completely drops the ball. It is far too space-age, with silly …

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CarRevsDaily

Future VW SuperBeetle Options May Finally Entice More Dudes

A fifth and sixth Beetle featured on CarRevsDaily today? The 2012 SEMA SuperBeetle Concept, and the 2013 Beetle R Concept. 2012 SEMA – VWVortex.com SuperBeetle Concept 2013 Beetle R Concept A seventh Beetle featured on CarRevsDaily? Yes, the seventh is an extremely tough Dude Beetle, if there ever was one:the ABT Sportsline. 2011-2014 Volkswagen Beetle by ABT Sportsline – Exterior Upgrades —  ABT BEETLE: FRONT SPOILER —  ABT BEETLE: HEADLIGHT COVERS —  ABT BEETLE: REAR SKIRT SET —  ABT BEETLE: LICENCE PLATE INSERT —  ABT BEETLE: TAIL LIGHT COVERS —  ABT BEETLE: VALVE CAPS —  ABT BEETLE: SUSPENSION SPRINGS   …

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2015 VW e-Golf a Snooze, But its EV Tech Also Powers Very Cute e-Up Lite and EcoMotion Van

The Volkswagen e-Golf, e-Up! and Up Lite will join the Detroit auto show festivities, with the Golf BEV debuting its all-new battery and powertrains in 2015 production form. Featured in the cover image is the Frankfurt e-Co-Motion van concept. The newest is the Up! Lite, which appears to bring some of the cool tech and style of the XL1 exotic prototype. I called it the e-Up! Lite before by mistake, the up!Lite appears to be a PHEV of some kind. The 2015 VW e-Golf is a fully electric vehicle, evolving and refining some of the components previewed under the Blue-e-motion concept …

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport from $19,470! Interior Updates, Galleries and Models

Mitsubishi’s biggest seller brings a number of updates for 2014 to increase refinement, style and interior technology.   2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – New or Updated Features —  Audio system head unit (ES model) —  Engine balancer shaft (all models) —  Newly designed steering wheel with audio controls (all models) —  Improved sound insulation (all models) —  HD Radio (SE model) —  6.1-in. touchscreen display audio system with rearview camera (SE model) —  MMCS navigation system with 7-in. high definition touch panel, voice command, 3D mapping, point-of-interest information, real-time traffic and Mapcare (with SE Touring Package) —  Black leather seating …

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CarRevsDaily

Update1 – Teaser Images Only – KIA GT4 Stinger Coupe to Pack 315HP Turbo

Update1: This article has been updated to remove some amateur renderings of the rear-drive coupe ahead of its show debut today. The real thing looks AMAZING! Kia is building buzz around the debut of its first RWD performance coupe with a new teaser image and an official name: the GT4 Stinger. That is an aggressive badge, and one that leaves room for this car to compete with the Ford Mustang or Subaru BRZ at one end, or perhaps even the BMW M6 on the top end. The Stinger GT4 is more likely to hit the market with a $32,000 price …

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CarRevsDaily

Update1 – Teaser Images Only – KIA GT4 Stinger Coupe to Pack 315HP Turbo

Update1: This article has been updated to remove some amateur renderings of the rear-drive coupe ahead of its show debut today. The real thing looks AMAZING! Kia is building buzz around the debut of its first RWD performance coupe with a new teaser image and an official name: the GT4 Stinger. That is an aggressive badge, and one that leaves room for this car to compete with the Ford Mustang or Subaru BRZ at one end, or perhaps even the BMW M6 on the top end. The Stinger GT4 is more likely to hit the market with a $32,000 price …

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Best of Awards – 2013 Cadillac Elmiraj – Most Provocative Concept

What else to say about the Elmiraj? It speaks for itself.   In my opinion, the real achievement of the Elmiraj is how faithfully its wild design is brought to the road. Anything can be rendered on CAD-CAM screens, but rarely does the finished product surpass the original idea. In this case, Cadillac has aced the test. Full house. Even if this exact car does not appear, the techniques on the interior, and especially the exterior style, surely sees the road right now as the stunning Cadillac CTS4.   Interior Gallery – Cadillac Elmiraj Concept Exterior Gallery – Cadillac Elmiraj …

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Exclusive Scion xB and xD Roof-Chop Renderings –> Gangster Look

Here is the fruit of a few hours in PhotoChop. Would such small windows ever offer enough outward vision? Perhaps – with camera assistance and active safety systems. CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof BONUS: this one did not turn out very well, but shows a speculative preview of Kia’s upcoming 2+2 sports car via a chopped and re-imagined Forte Koup. The concept is set to debut at Detroit in January, and promises genuine driver thrills.

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Group B Forever! Peugeot 208 T16 and 205 T16 in 108 Photos

What a premise for a world-beating rally car: your LeMans-winning prototypes are gathering dust, while the motorsport engineers see all their hard work tossed aside. Powertrain? An Audi-beating, red-glowing turbocharger, and all the right stuff to put the power down. Wheelbase? Chopped nearly in half versus the endurance HDI FAP cars. Enjoy this showcase of the Pikes Peak-conquerer: The Peugeot T16, then and now.   2013 208 T16 – Prototype Spec 2013 208 T16 – Pikes Peak 2013 208 T16 – GT 1985 205 T16 Images credits for 1985 205 T16 c/o AllRacingCars.com Awesome site, with a great collection of …

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Concept Flashback – 2012 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

The Panamera Sport Turismo Concept is still quite miraculous, even more than a year since its initial debut. Widely believed to preview the 2014 Panamera facelift, the Sport Turismo has had an even larger impact on a different model altogether: the Macan. Much of the creamy and smooth surfacing, huge rear arch bulges, and the nose treatment all directly previewed the handsome new Macan S and Macan Turbo models. From the start of the Sport Turismo’s media tour, Porsche insisted that this model could appear as a new body style for the second-gen Panamera. It was hard to believe at …

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2014 Ford Transit Connect – Hot Wheels Concept Shows Widebody Style, Cool New Nose

The SEMA show is not my favorite. In a bit of an rough mood this morning, and not holding back much. Imagine walking around a normal auto show, like Chicago or Detroit, but instead of perhaps 70 brand displays, there are 70,000. Such is SEMA. You might like a car, never know what it was or where it came from, and never see it again. So many tuners and OEMs descend on the Vegas strip every November — it can be hard to keep track, let alone care. But then there is that one… The 2014 Ford Transit Connect is …

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Latest Toyota FCV Concept Shows Design of Future SuperPrius

The Toyota FCV runs on Hydrogen-powered batteries, but looks like it could also convert squirrels or road debris into energy via its lower air scoops… This car has some really, really awkward angles. Even as a concept only, the FCV’s styling and design leaves much to be desired. From the initial sketches, this car loses the plot completely – with another tall roof and seriously unattractive nose. Perhaps for aerodynamic reasons, the fender tops do not quite reach the hood of the FCV. For style, aero, or cooling? It is believable that the latest water-operated fuel cell design could have …

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2015 MINI Cooper JCW Concept Brushed-Alloy Paints Hot Bod 12

MINI Cooper JCW Concept Debuts Brushed-Alloy Paints on Hot New Bod

The all-new MINI John Cooper Works is taking shape! After the recent debut of the all-new 2014 Mini Cooper and Cooper S, the hottest member of the MINI clan is closing fast in the rear-view mirror.   Even as a concept, the huge body revisions are visible from almost every angle versus its 2014 MINI siblings. Up front, the JCW brings nearly double the square footage of air intakes, and a far more menacing lower chin style. Expected to run a turbocharged four-cylinder versus the top Cooper S model’s turbo triple, the JCW will be able to really push the …

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Concept Flashback - 2006 BMW Mille Miglia 9

Concept Flashback – 2006 BMW Mille Miglia

New cars can be tiring to write about. These concepts are my diversion before the real work begins. Many concepts these days roll onto the stage with tight-lipped executives – who will say it only points toward a potential future design, etc. If the exec in question is standing in front of a mono-pod spaceport of some kind, it is easy to trust him. But more than ever before, concept cars are a lightly veiled launch platform for the real-deal production car about 8 months later. Cynical? Me? Never. Some concepts have barely a chance in hell of seeing volume …

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The Most Stylish 4-Door Never Made? 1980 Ferrari Pinin Still Brilliant

The 1980 Ferrari Pinin concept shares much of the low-slung beauty of the 400i models, but none of their affordability. This one-off concept is being sold by Museo Ferrari for $1.2 million. Before you write off this design and its gob-smaking egg-crate grille, take a few minutes to twirl it around with 30 years perspective since its debut. Yes, the nose is messy, and the clamshell hood shows some panel fit issues in some of the photos.   But Enzo Ferrari himself is also sitting in the car for some of the photos, evaluating it around Fiorano on a nice …

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Speculative Rendering – 2015 Volkswagen Passat R

  Some big changes at Volkswagen of America this week, with executive leadership heads rolling to account for the current VW sales slump and steep down-trend. This is unfortunate, but just a cost of doing business. The previous acting chief doubled sales in 24 months, which is pretty astounding until you realize how low VW of America’s sales actually were. But what is the root cause? They are many and varied – but it comes down to the dated, extremely boring and overpriced US product portfolio. As many of you may know, I like to play with car configurators online. …

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RM Acutions 64 Hemi Charger Mont2011

Concept Flashback: 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger – Speedster Prototype

Can you guess who hates Camaro and Mustang news? Dodge. This one-off concept’s HEMI engine gurgles and rocks the car as it revs with indignity at the 2.3-liter turbo four heading to the 2015 Mustang. No cubes = no pubes, the Hemi Charger growls to itself. Packing a 7.0-liter V8 engine with a quoted 600 horsepower, the Hemi Charger concept is part Batmobile part race-car and part street fantasy The proportions of this machine are hilariously retro. Clearly converted from a much longer sedan platform, the back deck of the Hemi Charger is a few feet longer than even the …

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CarRevsDaily 2010 Caparo T1 Showcase 13

What Happened to Caparo? Brilliant T1 Seemingly Doomed from the Start

You remember Caparo. Their breakout T1 model from 2008 was huge news for any car lover. It takes the track-attack ethos of similar English charms like the Lotus 2-Eleven, Ariel Atom and others, then fast-forwards the technology by 100 years. While the legendary 1950s-designed Lotus Seven continues forward with even more new Caterham models for 2014, it seems that the actual future of these race cars is in a rut. A deep rut, followed by a speedbump in the road. Too low to pass over it, the Caparo T1 now appears to be stuck. Here is a mini timeline of …

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CarRevsDaily-Concept-FLashback-2007-BMW-CS-6

Concept Flashback: 2007 BMW CS

This design is still really stunning. Much of the purity from this nose, in particular, seems long gone from the latest 6-series and 7-series. Then again, many great ideas were instantly frozen between 2007 and the present, so these themes may crop up again in the future. At least one aspect of this design seems to have been embraced by many non-BMW brands: the rear arch strike line. In various forms, it populates many other cars after six years since this concept’s debut. None bring quite the elegance and relaxed attitude of this show car, however, to these eyes.

Nissan BladeGlider

WOW! Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is Stunning – But Confusing

WOW! Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is Stunning – But Confusing Nissan today revealed an exciting new prototype sports car that blends the best thinking in racing EV tech, track-day lightness, and Z-car purity. As a pinched nose design, the BladeGlider is most similar, in negineering terms, to the Nissan-backed 2012 DeltaWing experimental LeMans entry. Sharing key rear-axle torque vectoring should allow the BladeGlider to have the precision and incredible pace of the DelaWing — but the affordable pricing and market potential of a Mazda MX-5 competitor. Interesting. Confusing. Exciting.  

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Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia

Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia If it seems like we have an unhealthy fascination for the Mullin Automotive Museum, you might be right. The cars inside this collection just… write their own stories. I have a dozen more that I would like to feature, but we must start at the true nexus – or “Xenia” perhaps – of the art of French coach-building by Jacques Saoutchik and his contemporaries. How all these cars got to sunny California is no accident. In many cases – the cars in the collection were painstakingly built – sometimes from only drawings – …

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