drive

First Drive Review – 2016 Lexus RX350 FWD Luxury Package + Pricing and 100 New Photos

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  The 2016 RX is huge news: an ultra-modern makeover adds style, tech and efficiency to the all-star crossover from Lexus. We had a chance to drive all five trimlines last week, and have some great news to report about the handling crispness, exterior design and cabin comfort. But also some fairly important gripes about the performance and style execution of the new RX — which can leave you slightly confused versus the BMW X5. Let’s start with the highest-volume model: the RX350 front-wheel-drive. As we can see in the pricing charts below, this $42k base price is the most …

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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander 3

HD First Drive Video + Photoshoot – 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC

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  The new Outlander is arriving and looks outstanding!  The Mitsubishi seven-seater wears all-new and very premium styling for its loaded 3.0 GT trimline, including some very flashy nose chrome, LED DRLs and even quad-LED low-beam projectors. The contrast versus the fairly humdrum 2015 Outlander is striking in the flesh— particularly from the nose and tail. In profile and from a few quarter angles, the Outlander still shows some massive overhangs and slightly underwhelming design elements. But overall — a massive improvement and one that will help the Outlander to deliver its three-row space to buyers who’d only get two …

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BTR Veloster Turbo

Blood Type Racing Makes 500HP Hyundai VELOSTER Turbo R-Spec for SEMA 2015

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Blood Type Racing delivered a Best of SEMA concept last year in its 800HP Genesis Coupe (photo gallery below). Stunning ideas and execution made that hemoglobin-hued showcar so special, we’d be scared to drive it on the highway — let alone sideways on a racetrack! BTR earned a pretty high honor for its incredible 2014 efforts: another slot in the Hyundai official SEMA customs roster. This year brought a pretty big challenge, however, for the Blood Type hoons: a Veloster Turbo R-Spec as the starting point. The Veloster is a challenging tuner platform for a variety of reasons, but none …

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First Drive Videos! 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h F Sport

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Huge drive day with the all-new 2016 Lexus RX lineup!  Very, very impressive design upgrades create a sexy and macho look, while the chiseled panels and floating glasshouse make the new RX look dramatically lower and wider than ever before. The new masculinity of the RX outside is reflected inside and on full throttle as well. Huge batch of photos and observations to share in the full reviews — but these three videos and 20 preview images are cool enough to share on the same day!  Near realtime media coverage! =] The drive videos below include a drive of the …

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HD Track Drive Review – 2016 Cadillac CTS-V is BOSS – PDR + Exhaust Note Videos

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Speechless. Muttering “ermahgerd” over and over as the 2016 CTS-V whipped into the pits of Autobahn Country Club following a five-pack of fast lead-follow laps. Smile plastered on, hands tingling and throttle foot twitching involuntary for more. This is a super-sedan of the absolute first order. M5, E63 and CTS-V are now as closely matched as any three assassins in history. 640HP from the CTS-V comes on strong, of course, but it is how clean and balanced the Cadillac is on power that really sticks with you. The CTS-V’s massive engine upgrade to a supercharged V8 has done nothing to …

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2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe – V. Cool, V. FAST! HD Track Drive + 120-Photo Flyaround

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This is one of those cars that absolutely craves abuse!  Absolutely savage is the best way to describe the 464-horsepower V6TT in the new ATS-V coupe. The test car wore a very-subtle Phantom Grey and standard painted alloys — but those Q-car looks hide a beast of an upgrade. The most enticing and perhaps ideal Cadillac V-Series powertrain, optional eight-speed auto, plus the choice of four doors or two!? That hotness shines through even the Armani-style relaxed color outside. Firing the ATS-V around the first few corners is like getting past third base for the first time. It is a …

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2016 Ford Focus ST Kona Blue ST1 Flyaround in 120 Pics + HD Video

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    Really had a ball flogging the Focus ST on track the other week. GoPro video came back as a photo-set by accident, so left with *just* these gorgeous 120 photos of the new slugger. Kona Blue is the color, with minimal options and an as-tested price very close to the $25k base. Versus the $36k of the RS, the ST really earned its keep out there in the twisties. Strong brakes, awesome front diff grip that felt totally understeer-proof, plus a snorty throttle intake and shouty new exhaust. The stick is as feelsome and snicky as ever — …

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First Drive – 2016 RAM REBEL – An Air-Ride Raptor?

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The new RAM Rebel is the latest slayer to join the Dodge trucks lineup — this time with its radar locked onto the Ford F-150 Raptor. The Rebel wears unique bodywork for the giant power-dome hood and special, new-shape Rebel grille up front. Most of the numerous other body features are rock-proof black plastic accents — the fender flares, badges and all brightwork is swapped for matte black. This includes the GIANT script on the tailgate. Color options include a few with a black lower body paint look across the doors and bed too, looking hot and functional-yet-macho. Silver is …

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Track Drive Video – 2015 Chevrolet SS 6-Speed is Rare, Special and Features Dual-Mode Exhaust for 2016

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The Chevy SS is SERIOUSLY rare! This Australian-built performance sedan was always destined to appeal to a slim audience: those seeking Camaro or Corvette powertrains, plus four doors and rear-drive. A stick or automatic is nearly the only spec choice to make for this everything-standard flagship for Chevrolet — and a three-lap blast of the Autobahn  Country Club racetrack showed the purity and fun of driving such a macho-man sedan. This test car seen in the video above is the 2015 model, lacking the (virtually imperceptible) nose/grille revamps for the 2016 model year, as well as the updated infotainment and …

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Track Drive Review – 2016 Buick Regal GS – Flypaper Handling Is Now $3k Cheaper!

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Autobahn Country Club might be my “Happy Place.” Recalling this track’s frisky bends, howling tires and full-throttle straightaways brings a smile instantly. Buick invited us to flog their performance flagship, the 2016 Regal GS, around the Illinois track and autocross to show off the machine’s latest updates: new colors and a price that is much more approachable. How approachable!?  A cool $3,300 off the base price for the GS takes the entry level to $35k versus near $38k before.  Three drivetrains continue for 2016: FWD auto, FWD manual and AWD automatic. The GS AWD we tested out still comes in …

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WAYLENS Is GoPro-Killer with Dual Mics + PDR-Like Data Overlays for Seamless UHD Drive Videos

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As someone who shoots a lot of drive videos, I certainly have a list of gripes about camera tech. It took many garbage recordings to finally go name-brand and get a GoPro. Which shoots well but has many of its own quirky irritants. Examples? The best drive videos (in the world! :) are often cut short by my GoPro Hero 3+ because of micro-SD formatting issues.  Audio quality is a constant irritant, as is the clunky GoPro UX design that hides numerous settings in a cryptic dot-matrix menu. And then once the perfect mounting place is found, the videos often …

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2016 Tesla Model X – Mouth-Watering Tech and Speed; Sleeker Nose for $140k 7-Seater

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Watch this on The Scene. WIRED drive video embed alpha Tesla unveiled the Model X last night with some seriously impressive tech specs, cabin features and range estimates. But first: the nose. This is the biggest and most dramatic change versus the near-production models previewed at SEMA and elsewhere over the last three years. Replacing the gloss-black grille shell is a smooth one-piece painted bumper. Just a sliver of black grille remains up at the hood edge. This black grille houses the sharp Tesla T badge, making a point into the bodycolored bumper below. EXTERIOR The look is quite unique …

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HD Track Drive Review – 2016 Mazda MX-5 Is INCREDIBLE!

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Freshly back from a track drive with the 2016 MX-5 Experience tour — and have some serious vehicular brilliance to report! As you might know already, or simply expect, this latest MX-5 is an absolutely breathtaking evolution on the light/rear-drive roadster theme. Improving upon a genre the Miata defines conclusively? Not easy to do — especially with firm price and power caps limiting headline performance numbers. Yet the latest engineering, style and handling excellence from Mazda has done wonders for the MX-5. After all, if Mazda can make the CX-5 into a lively steer, the SkyActiv mantra should really make …

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2015 Porsche Mission E – See Under Its Pajun-Previewing Panels Via 88 New Images and Animations

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Updated 9.16.15 We absolutely crave this machine. Ultra low, wide and expressive — the design is absolutely breathtaking. The engineering and tech down below is arguably even more impressive, however. The flat battery pack below the entire floorplan offers a suite of challenges versus a normal monocoque, but also presents some fascinating new opportunities. And Porsche is clearly relishing the new-found freedom of not finding room for an big engine at either end, or in the middle. The compact drive system allows most of the rulebook on safety, production feasibility and passenger comfort to be torn up. Rewritten for a …

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Update1 with 25 New Photos – 2015 Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept is Sexy but Pointless EV SUV

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Updated with 25 Live Frankfurt PhotosThis is the latest Audi fantasy concept. And it is not named Prologue. Yay! But it is just as exhausting to behold. The E-Tron Quattro is a 100-percent electric SUV concept promising 310 miles of range and AWD traction. In truth, though, the idea of an EV SUV is the most ridiculous thing we can even fathom. Electric vehicles and SUV adventures are anathema. They do not mix. Imagine going skiing from Denver to Vail or Breckenridge, a three hour mountain drive climbing thousands of feet on steep mountain roads. It is snowing, with fresh …

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3.5s 2015 Porsche Mission E – 600HP Concept Is 4-Door Battery Boxster!?

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  A fascinating look inside the future Porsche lineup today via Frankfurt’s IAA. The just-revealed Mission E is absolutely breathtaking. Reviewing the images, my mouth was wide open in giddy shock and delight. Imagine the smooth and flowing bathtub Porsche silhouette, with curves like a 550 Spyder and stance like a super Cayman. The put in a beautifully minimal overhang at either end and four doors under an ultra low and lean roof. The look has every bit of the original Boxster concept’s star power. Running an all-new battery electric powertrain, the vehicle promises great things for future supercoupe buyers. …

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2017 Volkswagen TIGUAN Is Truly All New in R-Line or Standard Style + Concept GTE PHEV

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NOTE: VW clarifies that this the European-market Tiguan. The US model may differ with a caveat like that — a la Passat USA vs Passat EU. Oh my. The only word we can think of? FINALLY. Volkswagen has been in USA reboot mode since 2012. But the results on the showroom floor are exceptionally underwhelming, so far. The boring and tired model range is designed so conservatively, and launch so slowly (1.5-years after Euro rollouts, 2.5-years after concept debut at times), that they feel old upon arrival. And ancient shortly after that.   2015 Volkswagen Golf R and Golf Sportwagen …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Track Drive Dates! Fun, Free …and in Your City?

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Mazda’s new MX-5 looks stellar. We cannot wait one minute longer to try it out. Is that how you feel too? You might be in luck!  There are five or so dates left on the initial MX-5 Experience tour: Atlanta today Sept 11 and tomorrow Sept 12, followed by more dates in New Jersey, Texas and Arizona.  There is no RSVP list and no $2k fee, a la Jaguar and Lamborghini. First come first served!  Looks like the stations to try out the MX-5 are autocross, braking and hot track lap.  Mmmmm! Seriously debating the six-hour drive to Atlanta…. forgive …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick ENCORE – Drives Like an Audi, Priced Like a Kia?

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Compact crossovers could not be hotter right now. They avoid the depressing drive experience of small sedans, no matter how tight they might be inside. The flipside is that carmakers can be tempted to overprice the mini-SUVs — with options taking the ultra small machines deep into real SUV territory.  This is certainly the case with the $48k BMW X1 sDrive28i we tested last year. Or how about the $67k AMG GLA45? Clearly the temptation of luxury features, equipment and options is powerful for both the brands and to buyers, though. The compact SUV is therefore quite perplexing at times: …

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2017 Rolls-Royce DAWN Is Sleek New Wraith Cabrio – Updated With Configurator Details

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Updated 9.8.15 With 55 New Images, Inspired Collection and Configurator Link Huge news at Rolls-Royce today: the all-new Dawn cabriolet debuted at a star-studded Goodwood reveal. This new Roller is quite a special development for the world’s finest carmaker: a Wraith convertible positions Rolls to capture a far younger and far hipper buyer than the traditional owner base. Elegant and subtle in design while being a grand event of a machine, the Dawn will compete with the Bentley Mulsanne and GTC ragtops, the new S-Class Cabriolet and super-exotics like Ferrari’s and McLarens. Of course, its half-million estimated price also competes …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Automatic is 5.5-Second Hero!

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Fantastic speed has never felt so bittersweet. Guard Green with the standard 18-inch alloys help the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost blend into traffic nicely. Humming along the highway with 32-mpg, you might forget what a honed sportscar the new Mustang is. But when alone with an endless stretch of road ahead of you, this Mustang turbo delivers excellent results. A 5.5-second sprint to 60-mph was a hugely gratifying time. Keep it nailed and the EcoBoost Mustang roars ahead at speeds to make the WRX and Scion FR-S blush with embarrassment. Why all about that pace? It proves the 2.3-liter, 310-horsepower EcoBoost …

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4K Drive Video 4-Pack – 2015 Lexus RC-F Hits State Park Twisties HARD!

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At one point declaring the RC-F the 2015 Car-Revs-Daily.com Car of the Year… these videos are dynamic evidence of a terrific car. And it speaks for itself more than ever. Direct correlation between YouTube video likes and less narration from your scribe?!  Perhaps! But works best when hanging the tail out on this 4.4-second stallion. Or running 0-100-mph sprints on desolate state park roads. Just you, the car and a GoPro! Watch this space for the full RC-F drive review in the coming weeks. Until then, the car does a mighty fine job making a case for a $73k Lexus …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Ford F-150 XLT 4×4 SuperCab 2.7L EcoBoost – Goldilocks Lost

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      The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is a truck we have gushed over and raved about since the moment it rolled on stage at the Detroit show in 2014. Our drive opportunities so far have confirmed this future-tech masterclass is the most advanced pickup truck ever made. Loaded spec levels, LED lighting galore and prices above $50k have been our taste of the truck to date — so it was fantastic to spend a week of intensive driving the most-popular XLT with the mid-range 2.7-liter EcoBoost. What we found left us scratching our foreheads. There are a few …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus IS250 Nails Apex-Carver Fundamentals

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  The 2015 Lexus IS250 nails the sport-sedan fundamentals so hard, you forget all about mainstream mid-size cars after a block in the driver’s seat. That is a fact. A pure-cornering, rev-loving fact. Drive position in the Daytona GTB/4-style tan seats is instantly flawless, as are the major pedal anc control inputs. Crank up the SXM, rotate to sport mode…. and never look back. 4K Drive Video – 2015 Lexus IS250 Review INTRO The 2015 IS250 is such a fantastic sports sedan that we wanted to drive a 320i right afterward to confirm the RWD love for this Lexus was …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD

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Hot Buicks are some of the most adored American cars of all time. So when Buick decided to bring over the European Opel/Vauxhall Insignia to the US market for the first time, the excitement over receiving their OPC/VXR performance variant was palpable. Confirmation that the big brushed-alloy fangs would make it across the pond to US buyers for the first time brought many GNX rumbles to the surface. Would this hot Buick be able to inherit the Banker’s Hotrod legacy? A turbo engine and all the autobahn-ready handling seemed like a perfect statement of intent for Buick at the time. …

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4K Road Test Review – 2015 Dodge CHARGER R/T Is Four-Door Musclecar Dream From $34k

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The 2015 Dodge Charger is a real favorite. So much so… that it might have ruined me for other cars. Since balling around Charleston this summer in the Redline Red HEMI R/T, it has been hard to get back into my normal groove of turbo stickshifts. Why? 370HP for 37k. That is a power and price combo that can’t be beat from any manufacturer, nor are others close to the excellence of the eight-speed ZF auto. Or the cabin comfort, room and tech. Or the style outside — which is eye-poppingly cool. Driving the Charger R/T redefines effortless speed, and …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Scion iM Is Sporty and Uber-Practical New Focus-Fighter

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The all-new 2016 Scion iM is part of a big new-product push from Scion: the iM hatchback and much smaller iA sedan replace the boxy xD and xB. Why so normal and conventional from Toyota’s youth brand this year? Following buyer trends, of course!  Extensive research on how to resonate with today’s 35-and-under car shoppers shows a big shift in preferences. Perhaps feeling the crunch of a slower global economy on their hipster jeans, first-time new car buyers want a car with more evergreen appeal than the once-trendy Scion box cars. The iM hopes to ace the 2016 buyer mood …

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1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford 1

Left-Hand Drive 1967 Aston Martin Wagon!? DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford – RM Monterey 2015

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One of four DB6 Mk 1 Shooting Brakes by coachbuilder Radford will cross the auction block next week in California. This one is even left-hand-drive, making it a dream come true for the right new owner to shoot south down the PCH. 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 Lot 360 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake by Radford To be auctioned on Saturday, August 15, 2015 $550,000 – $650,000 Chassis no. DB6/S/2688/L Engine no. 400/2613 282 bhp, 3,995 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine with triple SU side-draft carburetors, three-speed …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali XL 4×4 with New 8-Speed Automatic

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Denali lovers have never had it so good: this swanky trimline now extends beyond the Yukon and into the full range from GMC. But for many shoppers, the sweet spot of the General Motors truck range is the Denali XL. Nearly all the tech and luxury of the Escalade, with a less shouty overall presence on the roads. This paradox of the Denali being more humble, yet costing similar to the Caddy is plain for all to see. The idea is that everyone knows the Denali is Caddy-plush, and costs about as much, too. For a big swath of buyers, …

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2016 Scion iA Review – Best Compact Sedan… Ever? 55 Pics + HD Drive Video

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Quick: what are the biggest issues with compact cars? — They are typically a total snooze outside — And alarmingly depressing to drive Is that just an unbreakable curse, or can Scion engineer and design its way to greatness on its first attempt? INTRO Scion has a double threat of new compacts for 2016: the all-new iA sedan and iM hatchback take over for the discontinued iQ, xD and xB. After years of wild niche models, Scion is refocusing its mission to speak to 2015 buyer wants and needs via far more traditional body styles. The iM is a tC-based …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 INFINITI QX80 Limited AWD

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

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2015 Porsche MACAN TURBO Review Photos 52

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

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

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2015 Jeep RENEGADE Trailhawk Review 87

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

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

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

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

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2015 Divergent BLADE Concept 9

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

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

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HD Drive Review Video - 2016 Mazda6 Grand Touring 20

4K HD Drive Review – 2016 Mazda6 GT is FANTASTIC! (90 Pics)

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The best-looking and best-driving midsize sedan in the world? The 2016 Mazda6! The new programming for the transmission and Sport drive modes resolves our only previous concern about the Mazda6: that it should be quicker. But now– we have no weaknesses to report. The GT trim here with its gorgeous anthracite 19-inch alloys is a masterpiece of design appeal, only reinforced by the newly-luxurious cabin materials and playful road manners. Please enjoy the below 4K drive video, plus 90 photos of this 4K HD Drive Review Video – 2016 Mazda6 Grand Touring 2016 Mazda6 Grand Touring INTERIOR 2016 Mazda6 Grand …

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2015 Lexus RCF #RseaF SEMA Showcar 2

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

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

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2015 Hyundai Sonata ECO Review 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Mazda CX-5 – Colors Guide – All 8 Shades From Every Angle!

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  2016 Mazda CX-5 Colors   Crystal White   Titanium Flash Soul Red Jet Black Meteor Grey Blue Reflex Crystal Blue Sonic Silver        

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Best of Awards – 2016 Mazda CX-5 GT Is Real-Deal BMW X1 and Audi Q3 Competitor

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Love at first drive … in the Mazda CX-5! First things first: what are the Best of Awards? That is our highlight for cars and trucks of the year – but given out as-needed whenever we get behind the wheel of a truly fantastic new vehicle. The Mazda3 won this acclaim last year, and the 2016 Mazda6 is on track to nab one as well. In order to rise up to the title, a car needs to be so excellent that it really knocks your socks off outside, inside and on the road. But mostly on the road, at full …

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2015 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Supercrew Review 34

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

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

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

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

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2015 Porsche 911 GT3 R vs. GT3 Cup vs. GT3 RSR – Visual and Specs Comparison

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Porsche has three core racing 911’s for 2015: the brand-new GT3 R, the GT3 Cup and works racing 9911 RSR. All three are now on the 991 platform now that the GT3 R is updated from its previous 2013-2014 iteration. Only the GT3 R and GT3 Cup are offered for sale, with pricing ratcheting up to multiples of the traditional Carrera GT3 road car. The Cup comes in around $250,00 while the new GT3 R is priced for customer racing teams at euro $430,000. If the RSR were for sale today, it would likely come in around $800,000. In terms …

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2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept 2

2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept + 2016 GTI Clubsport Production Reveal at Worthersee

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Volkswagen has delivered a half-dozen Golf and GTI concepts in the last 12 months — so you are forgiven for thinking that the GTE looks too familiar to be all-new. With the Design Vision GTI, the GTI SuperSport and GTI speedster (both for Gran Turismo), the GTI thinktank is in full swing in Wolfsburg. This new GTE concept takes much of the intensely aggressive and dominating style of the SuperSport and adds a production-feasible e-AWD system. This li-ion PHEV setup adds a giant wallop of on-demand torque to the rear axle for nearly 400-hp in total. We have an all-new …

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Fast Drive Video Review – 2016 Acura ILX Is Shockingly Fun and Fast With New 8-Sp DCT

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2016 Acura ILX Review HD Drive Video We’d wager that no auto writer has been harder on Acura over the years than Car-Revs-Daily.com. A headline for some TLX renders last year wondered aloud: “How Much More Wood Can Acura Woodchuck Chuck.” That is seriously harsh. But as the TLX was revealed with the same much-hated shield grille… we could not help but vent some frustration. Fast forward to driving the TLX and its new ILX kid brother. We have to correct the record. Acura is on a mission, folks. Its two latest cars introduce exceptional new drivetrain tech and the …

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo – Sounds Freaky as Electric Boost Spools Up to Ultra-High RPM

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2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Sound Updated 5.13.15 With 20 New Photos and 2 Videos Despite the outrageous and super-cool exterior and interior overhaul of this TT Clubsport concept, it is really all about the engine. This is some revolutionary innovation that, if proven successful, could revolutionize forced induction. What is going on under that hood? As detailed below, a 48-volt electrical system spins up an e-compressor on this five-cylinder beast to help the main turbo deliver 600-hp overall. What does it sound like on e-boost? That is the million-dollar question. In theory, the e-boost can be preemptive and avoid …

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2015 Chevrolet Trax LT 74

Road Test Review – 2015 Chevrolet Trax LT on HD Video + Colors, Wheels and Pricing

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  As you move up in the world, there are certain luxuries in life that are total game-changers. Things that make it impossible to go back once you have experienced their brilliance. As a young buck moving from the college dorms into a small first apartment, you have a hard gig in life overall. You might not even have a dishwasher or a washer and dryer in your unit. Typing this now in my 30’s, the idea of living without such modern conveniences is almost unfathomable. Going back to a laundromat two blocks away or a musty basement of half-functional …

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2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E 5

Road Test Review – 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E With Ken Glassman

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2015 Volvo S60 T6 Review By Ken Glassman A Hooligan Volvo Sedan? Yes, but . . . Ever since the 1960’s Volvo’s built their reputation by being a boxy (homely?) vehicle that was reliable, fuel efficient, roomy, and most of all . . . a very safe vehicle. It sold safety, when American cars were selling big engines and style, and Japan was selling cheap cost. College professors, wearing tweed sport coats with patches on the elbows, and young conservative families interested in safety seemed like the average buyers. But in the last 20 years or so, all car companies …

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600HP, 3.6s 2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept Runs 48V E-Compressor

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Here is a fantastic new concept from Audi ahead of the annual Wörthersee Festival! A racing widebody and extreme aero kit are needed thanks to the five-cylinder engine’s massive dual-compressor technology. A standard exhaust-gas turbocharger is joined by an all-new electric turbocharger– promising a huge rush of instant-on torque at any throttle shove. This latest turbo tech innovation is tough to introduce. BMW has also been researching electrically-spun turbo’s, but this Audi is the first to take it near production feasibility. Think of the tech like a super-Dyson blower inside the intake tract of the car. Typically, the limit has …

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1972 Lamborghini Miura SV 21

RM Amelia Island 2015 – Top 10 Most-Valuable Auction Cars in 80 New Photos

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Started this article to share an update on RM Auctions — which you may have noticed is now co-branded as RM Sotheby’s. Just before the Amelia Island 2015 event in March, Sotheby’s announced a 25-percent equity share purchase of RM, based in Blenheim, Ontario. Sotheby’s is in the big three of global auction companies, so their interest in RM makes sense to broaden and co-mingle both buyer groups. RM is certainly a powerhouse of an auction company, with its car sales generating massive interest among collectors and fans alike. Amelia Island 2015 was no different: $60-million in sales in just …

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Rainy First Drive Review – 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT on HD Video!

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  The spooky thing about the 475-horsepower Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is not its deep rumble from the twin pipes in back. Nor is it the 4.8-second sprint to 60-mph and a 0-30-mph pace to rival a 911 Turbo. Not even the heavily upgraded exterior and loaded, sport-seat-equipped cabin. Nope, the thing that really sticks with you after driving the Grand Cherokee SRT is that it changes direction like a shark on the hunt. This is a machine that will seriously pivot and dive toward corners like a track car. The steering has a real biting precision that lets you …

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2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 4-Door – HD First Drive Video + 150 Photos

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With a base price of $25,000, the 2015 MINI Cooper S 4-Door Hardtop overlaps closely with an unlikely competitor: the new Focus ST. Both are fun-running favorites with a cultlike following, and both achieve 60-mph in the low 6.0-second range through six-speed manuals. Though the Cooper S is down 65 horsepower versus the Focus ST, the MINI’s Cooper S upgrade is more important than ever for 2015. As with the MINI hardtop, the base Cooper runs a three-cylinder to the Cooper S’s turbo four. Power is up from 134 horsepower in the Cooper to 184 in the Cooper S, a …

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LEDetails – 2015 Lexus NX300h – Up Close with the Triple-Beam LED Lights

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Met up with another sexy black Lexus NX recently, and spent some time starting deep into its LED eyeballs! Just kidding. Nothing weird here. The Lexus style has just taken a huge leap with these ultra-cool triple LED headlamp style. It is stunning on the roads as an option on the new RC and NX, as well as the upcoming RX replacement. Here is a very close look at the lights in real life. The interplay between the actual light output and my Nikon’s sensors is fairly interesting. The Nikon goes dark when the Lexus lights are shining right into …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Ford Focus ST in HD Video + 150 Photos!

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Loved meeting the 2015 Focus ST in the flesh recently for a fast blast around Texas Motor Speedway. Not high in the banked oval, unfortunately. Just a bit of on-camera hooning in the roads nearby. The town name of “No Limits” seemed applicable to flying past dozens of vacant track parking lots. The changes for the 252-horsepower 2015 model are perfect updates. A new nose with a low and mean style, standard LED headlight accent blades, HID headlights for the ST2 and ST3 trim packs, and standard Rado Grey wheels. The tail is also revised with a new rear window …

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2015 Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept 17

Updated With 18 New Photos – 2015 Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

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Updated 4.21.15 With 18 New Photos VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are …

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Real-life Photos Show Sexier 2015 Audi Prologue Allroad Than Preview Renders

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Okay, this is just getting ridiculous now. After the Prologue in LA and La Vegas, plus Prologue Avant in Detroit, we thoroughly get the point of this concept car. The second frustrating thing about the Prologue concept series is that the Audi A4 needs to be replaced. Urgently. Where is it? This latest Prologue Allroad is as expected – a high-riding version of the Avant, but this time powered by a giant V8 hybrid as with the first Prologue Coupe. The Avant was a diesel-electric hybrid if we are not mistaken. So where the F is the new A4? After …

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2015 QOROS 2 PHEV Concept 4

Update1 – 2015 QOROS 2 SUV PHEV Concept Previews Upcoming Juke-Fighter

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Updated 4.21.15 with 10 Real-Life Photos Qoros is by far our favorite Chinese car brand — plucking exceptional talent from the UK car scene like Gerte Hildebrand of MINI fame and Jamie Barrett from the RCA design program. The goal is to bring global car safety, design and equipment standards to China-made vehicles. This is more than lip-service: QOROS has the only Chinese vehicles to pass the tough EuroNCAP crash tests and on sale across the highly competitive European car market. Qoros recognizes the opportunity for new brands in the crossover and SUV space — with this latest Qoros 2 SUV …

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2015 Volkswagen C Concept GTE 20

2015 Volkswagen C Coupé GTE Previews Phaeton Replacement

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VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are too large and draw massive VAT …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz MARCO POLO Glampers Primed For Lux Travel Adventures

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  Mercedes-Benz globally has three core businesses: trucks/buses, vans and cars. The US market has been almost exclusively focused on just one of these divisions, with the launch of the M-B Sprinter lineup 12 years ago one of the first times Americans have seen the three-pointed star on a truck of any kind. Everywhere else in the world, Mercedes logos bigger than your head are everywhere in cities, construction sites, farm tracts and anywhere in between. Part of the Mercedes-Benz USA focus on cars is now eroding — to the great benefit of shoppers able to buy some of the best …

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2015 Audi Prologue AllRoad Makes High-Riding Shanghai Debut

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Okay, this is just getting ridiculous now. After the Prologue in LA and La Vegas, plus Prologue Avant in Detroit, we thoroughly get the point of this concept car. The second frustrating thing about the Prologue concept series is that the Audi A4 needs to be replaced. Urgently. Where is it? This latest Prologue Allroad is as expected – a high-riding version of the Avant, but this time powered by a giant V8 hybrid as with the first Prologue Coupe. The Avant was a diesel-electric hybrid if we are not mistaken. So where the F is the new A4? After …

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2016 Ford Focus RS

2016 Ford Focus RS Escapes Auto Show Cage to See NYC Sights

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Updated 4.14.15 With 22 New Photos Great to see the new Focus RS in the wild — with its Nitrous Blue paintwork far lighter and brighter than the traditional RS shade of navy blue. Car looks stunning – with performance to match when it arrives in US showrooms in Spring 2016. 2016 Ford Focus RS PREVIOUS       Ford Performance is rolling deep into Manhattan next week – with a broad range of high-performance models. A threatening gang indeed — with the Nitrous Blue signature color atop the 2017 Ford GT concept, the 2017 Ford Raptor and the 2016 …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe 99

First Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe in HD Video + 99 Photos!

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The amount of beauty and glamour in the 2015 S-Class Coupe is almost unreal. Sharing a name and much of its style with the S550, the new Coupe totally banishes all thought of the CL-Class — immediately and permanently on first sight. We’ve been very eager to try out this new high-fashion two-door for months now. But pouring rain means many of the photos are not up to the normal high standards we keep here at Car-Revs-Daily.com. Luckily, GoPro video in the cabin for our full-throttle drive was recording in full HD glory! Check out the video for a a …

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All-New 2016 Scion iA Poised to be Best Subcompact 4-Door With Sporty Chassis and Upscale Cabin

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Scion’s littlest car in history is also set to be one of its most chuckable and sporty handlers!  This new four-door compact sedan will be priced around $16,000 with just one well-speced trim level and choice between six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The 106-horsepower four-cylinder sedan is closely related to the new 2016 Mazda2, but offers a sedan bodystyle not available on the Mazda. The style is quite fresh from nose and profile angles, with shapely creases and an overall lean and sporty look. The roof is fairly low, which is refreshing versus the too-tall Ford Fiesta and Chevy Spark. …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 80

First Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 Is Tiny, Fugly and Massively Overpriced

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Lots of excellent cars driven and reviewed lately. Even if they are not a match for my personal budget or priorities, they almost all have true redeeming qualities for their intended target markets. The happy train really stops on this GLA45 AMG. This is very unusual. We have been huge Merc fans since their latest brand renaissance starting from around 2012. The cars are incredibly sexy, comfortable, fast and cool. If any machine should epitomize the new young-and-fun Mercedes appeal, it should be this GLA45 AMG. After all, this is the brand’s smallest and most-affordable new platform, paired with an …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Volkswagen Golf R Feels Like 400HP Heaven

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  What makes a so-called “cult classic” ? Without looking up any textbook definitions, we can easily define it by a photo of the 2015 VW Golf R. How? It is a car that will appeal to only a single-digit percentage of car shoppers seeing a 4.9-second sports-car for around $40,000. For the other 95-percent of car shoppers, the VW Golf R’s very demure exterior makeover, similar turbo four engine to all other USA Golfs and fairly dull curb appeal will rule it out of the consideration set. After all, a BMW 235i, 4 series or Lexus IS350 are all …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Bentley Continental GT V8S - White Satin 34

First Drive VIDEO Review – 2015 Bentley Continental GT V8S Convertible – Mulliner Spec in White Satin

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The Bentley Continental GT V8S is the real sweet-spot of the range – with monster power in the form of 528-horsepower to an optimized and sportified chassis re-engineer. There are just no words to describe the nimble, light and resolutely rear-drive feel of this twin-turbo V8. Yet there is grip for days and the ability to drive hard, rain or shine, with pace to make supercars blush. Nothing else with 502-pound-feet of torque is this race-able in a complete downpour, including the Continental’s new nemesis: the Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic. The Bentley somehow feels small and accurate in its typical size …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Revealed – Six Engines + New Style and Tech To Replace ML-Class SUV

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   Meet the next Mercedes ML-Class SUV — which is packing an all-new style up front, a six-pack of new engines and vastly improved technology in the cabin. The most striking change might be the badge itself, however. Called the GLE-Class, this change reflects the new naming strategy across the board for Merc SUVs. GLA, GLK, GLE, GLE Coupe and GLS at the top of the range. The hardy G-Class SUV sticks to its single-letter nomenclature, but its AMG models are now ‘Mercedes-AMG G63’ versus the ‘G63 AMG.’ The nose is a fantastic upgrade to the fairly tired style of …

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Nitrous Blue 2016 Ford Focus RS Coming to NYC Next Week! USA Showrooms Next Year

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Ford Performance is rolling deep into Manhattan next week – with a broad range of high-performance models. A threatening gang indeed — with the Nitrous Blue signature color atop the 2017 Ford GT concept, the 2017 Ford Raptor and the 2016 Ford Mustang GT350R. But one of the most exciting vehicles to wear this scorching blue hue? One of the first to arrive in showrooms, too — the 340-horsepower 2016 Ford Focus RS. With all-wheel-drive and dynamic torque vectoring at the back for a drift-mode plaything, the Focus RS is set to be the hottest Ford hatch ever made. Competing …

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2015 Lexus NX200t F Sport Review 8

Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus NX200t F Sport Is Best New Crossover

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2015 Lexus NX200t F Sport Review INTRO The all-new Lexus NX is one of the best-looking new crossovers in the segment, and we’ve been big fans of its edgy and cool design since it was first shown as a concept last year. As the sportiest F Sport turbo model arrived for a week-long test, the excitement was writ large across my face. The F Sport styling upgrade makes the NX feel like a year 2020 concept sketch. Its hypercar creases across the entire bodyside of the truck makes this the most advanced, futuristic SUV ever made — yet it is …

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2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS 30

2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS Wows Amelia Island With Gloss-Black Detailing

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  UPDATED 3.21.15 The GTS is great to see in the flesh. Finally captures a bit of the QP panache in this new LWB chassis. Would still definitely benefit from less chrome and a blacked-out look for all the wheels and tail brightwork in addition to the grille. 2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS   Is the Maserati Quattroporte still the sexiest limo on the market in this latest sixth-gen model? For many eyes, nothing beats Italian glamour in a leathery four-door sedan. The rarity of the idea is itself pretty tittilating versus the dry and cold German alternatives, or the lush …

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2015 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Review 36

First Drive Review – 2015 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT!

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  As you can see from the photos here, the stage was set for a full-throttle day. Charger Hellcat. Texas Motor Speedway private access. Racing helmets fitted; GoPro and Nikon batteries bursting with energy. Also bursting with energy? The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 under the hood of the dramatically enhanced 2015 Charger. A lumpy cam on idle as the car warms up is joined by one of the deepest baritone exhaust notes ever put in a sedan. Eight-speed automatic and extremely comfy, quiet and refined cabin suddenly gurgling with anticipation of big throttle. The Hellcat V8 engine makes 707 horsepower, which …

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2016 Audi R8 V10 8

2016 Audi R8 V10 Headlines Geneva Show With New R8 LMS GT3 Racecar

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The 2016 Audi R8 V10 is official today ahead of its Geneva debut next week! Packing a totally redesigned chassis, cabin and exterior — the R8 hopes to keep its place as the modest and comfortable supercar in a world filled with moody McLarens and finicky Ferrari’s. The 5.20-liter V10 of the R8 V10 in blue here is only slightly tweaked from before, as it also is in the orange and red V10 Plus R8 models with their extra spoilers and TopGear-lap track mods. Inside, the design is quite fantastic and now includes all the latest and greatest Audi tech, …

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2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus 20

3.0s, 610HP 2016 Audi R8 V10 and R8 V10 Plus Are Official! HD Video + 30 Images

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The 2016 Audi R8 V10 is official today ahead of its Geneva debut next week! Packing a totally redesigned chassis, cabin and exterior — the R8 hopes to keep its place as the modest and comfortable supercar in a world filled with moody McLarens and finicky Ferrari’s. The 5.20-liter V10 of the R8 V10 in blue here is only slightly tweaked from before, as it also is in the orange and red V10 Plus R8 models with their extra spoilers and TopGear-lap track mods. Inside, the design is quite fantastic and now includes all the latest and greatest Audi tech, …

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Hypercar Heroes - 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR - Restored By Reiter Engineering 22

Hypercar Heroes – 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR – Restored By Reiter Engineering

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The 1999 Diablo GTR was the ultimate Lambo from the 20th century — with power from its V12 up 50 from the SVR and now belting out 590 ponies, the GTR was a shock to the system. Custom-built in a run of just 30 cars, the Diablo GTR was a track-day special and dominated in the one-make SuperTrophy series. This fantastic example is completely restored to as-new condition by the current SquadraCorsa race partners of Lambo, Reiter Engineering. Despite being replaced by the Murcielago shortly after the GTR arrived, this Diablo is arguably more enticing these days than its successor. …

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2015 Audi Prologue Avant Concept Shows 4-Door, Fast-Wagon Style Ahead of Geneva Show

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We have seen two iterations of the Prologue concept so far from Audi: both coupes with the scale and presence to compete between the BMW 6 series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupes. With a design that harks back to the low and lean appearance of the Audi 5000 from the late 1980s, the Prologue design does feel much better as a deeply-sloping wagon silhouette. More naturally Audi, but still a bit blah for our tastes. It engenders little to no visual passion or excitement, despite being a clean and pure design. This latest Prologue Avant dramatically decorates the exterior details …

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Digital Renderings - 2017 Mitsubishi MiEVO 2

Digital Renderings – 2017 Mitsubishi MiEVO – Doubles Power, Adds Grip and New Widebody Stance

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We know that the i-MiEV powertrain from Mitsubishi is fully modular. The units can simply be stacked or added to a new drive axle for a precise doubling or tripling of the power. This knowledge comes from the MiEV Evolution III Pikes Peak racer, which juices up to an impressive 600-horsepower via AWD. How would this huge dose of new speed fare on the $16k i-MiEV from Mitsu — the cheapest-ever electric car ever sold in the US? It would easily overwhelm the 15-inch wheels and pizza-cutter tires as stock. So a giant rubber upgrade to 18-inches and double the …

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Racing Icons – 1954 Mercedes-Benz ‘Blue Wonder’ Race Transporter in 69 RARE Photos

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Part publicity stunt, part engineering exercise — and all fun and playful. The 1950s Mercedes-Benz Racing Division needed a rapid transport vehicle to supplement the big trucks with closed canopies that typically moved racecars and teams among the European circuits. Lower, faster and far more nimble than the big trucks, the Blue Wonder could navigate under any bridge or within any narrow city streets — areas typically off-limits for a heavy heauler. Powered by a race-ready engine from the 300SL and plopped into Mercedes sedan chassis, the ‘Blue Wonder’ was billed as the fastest transporter in the world. A top …

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Mercedes-Maybach Pullman (VV 222) 2015

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

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

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2015 Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² Debuts Hardcore Off-Road Kit, New 4.0L V8TT and LWB Options

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A concept only in name, the new G500 4×4² does what it says on the tin: four-by-four — squared. A giant wide-track design and 37-inch tires run much of the hardcore offroad tech from the AMG G63 6×6, but under the skin of the standard G-Class. This G500 runs the latest 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the AMG GT, but retuned to have rock-crushing torque at all times versus peaky high-rev horsepower. Even so, 422 ponies is plenty when riding this high off the earth below! Mercedes calls this a concept, but the G500 4×4-squared is almost a sure-thing for limited-production …

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2015 Toyota Camry Retraces NASCAR Roots with a Drive on Daytona Beach

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No NASCAR crash course would be truly immersive at Daytona without a drive on the original NASCAR track – this pristine stretch of flawless Atlantic beach. First off, an intro. Why would driving on sand at speeds topping 140-mph have ever seemed like a good idea? When you put yourself in the driver’s seat 65 years ago, running high-powered and highly dangerous racecars on Daytona Beach actually seems really reasonable. Daytona Beach has three qualities that make it extremely desirable for high-speed runs: it is smooth, flat and nearly endless. Those same criteria are exactly what the  Bugatti Veyron La …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 42

First Drive Review – 2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

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After driving the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, we have finally realized where this fast and ultra-efficient plug-in fits in the Panamera lineup. It might not have the extra roominess of the Executive long-wheelbase Turbo and Turbo S, but the secret sauce of the E-Hybrid is its total smoothness and relaxing driving mood. This is in contrast to the drive mood of even the base V6 Panamera. All other Panamera models are designed to thrill, and they are mechanical, heavy-feeling and serious. The PDK seven-speed automatic is swapped in the S E-Hybrid for an eight-speed automatic. This torque-converter unit totally changes …

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2015 KIA Trail’Ster Concept Previews Upcoming Soul Refresh + All-New Interior

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The Kia Soul is easily our favorite model in the Kia range – with actual sportiness in the handling and impressive power, there is no other car on the market with such a flexible crossover package. Best of all? The Soul is priced like an economy car, and has almost double the power of the Scion xD and xB. But how to make it a real SUV instead of just a fun and light-hearted crossover? For that, you need all-wheel-drive. KIA has gone theRX450h route here — powering the rear axle with hybrid electric motors. Efficient, compact, and lacking any …

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2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale – Worlds Wildest Superbike in 300 Photos!

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When it comes to luxury products worldwide, there are two king countries: France and Italy. But in the world of mechanical perfection, thrilling speed and racing glory, Italy obviously trumps France in almost every realm. Small volumes, extreme passion, engineering focus all help to deliver a quicker pulse, guaranteed. Ducati is the latest masterpiece to wear this two-wheeled-Ferrari crown thanks to the race-fast 1299 Panigale, plus its two bad-ass siblings, the 899 Panigale and 1299 Panigale S. With pricing from $25,000 for the Panigale S, there is no better way to enter the Italian mechanical exotica club than this new …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Lexus NX300h Is Swanky, Ultra-Smooth, 35MPG+ SUV!?

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2015 Lexus NX300h Review Is the Lexus NX the most impressive new luxury crossover with a base price under $40,000? After a week with the plucky and quick NX200t F Sport, we whole-heartedly say YES!! But even quick spin in the NX300h shows that the incredible (seriously otherworldly) smoothness and efficiency of the NX300h is not to be dismissed out of hand. With effiiency figures that are up about 10 on the turbo on city and highway to the mid-30s overall, the NX300h is seriously desirable as well. With 200-pounds of battery under the back seat, the NX300h handles with …

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~340HP 2016 Ford Focus RS Runs AWD and DTV! Official Debut + Drift Video

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  The new Ford Focus RS is official, and officially stunning! With a new 2.3-liter turbo engine and an extreme new AWD setup, the wildest part of the new Focus RS might be under the metal. But that metal is also pretty intense: wide-body fenders, a giant splitter up front, deeper sills and a rear end to honor the Ford RS legacy. That means a giant Rallycross wing and huge coffee-can exhausts mounted inboard for max visual and aural impact. Best news of all? This new Focus RS is coming to America! Check out the video below to see and …

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2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI 29

Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Feels Light, Quick and Lux

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 Video First Drive Review: 2015 VW Touareg TDI Clean Diesel INTRO Few people have been more scathing in their assessment of the new Touareg’s extremely light exterior refresh than us. But think about it: when a person gets a facelift, they do not want to be some shocking cat-lady whose new face is shocking from 100 yards away. You want it to be exceptionally subtle. You want to look 2X as fresh and young and modern, but without causing too much attention or interest in exactly how you achieved this fountain of youth. So goes the new Touareg’s refresh for …

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2015 Hyundai Equus 3

2015 Hyundai Equus on Hyperdrive Evolution in Chase for S-Class Clients

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Any student of Darwin, or perhaps Pavlov, will know that the secret to exceptionally rapid evolution is simple: short generation gaps. As the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has evolved since 1910, Hyundai had serious ground to make up with the Equus in 2009 or whenever it launched in the US. This type of goverment limo has always been popular domestically in Asian markets — but bringing the Equus abroad was always going to be big news for Hyundai. This Equus for 2015 is perhaps the fourth or fifth generation of updates since the basic bones launches on the previous Genesis chassis a …

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Houston Auto Show - 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim 3

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim

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The new 228i Convertible joins the 235i in the BMW range as the smallest and most affordable ragtop BMWs since the first-gen Z3 of the 1990s. We’re excited to report that the style of the new 2 series convertible really looks fantastic. The car’s distinctive nose and new kidney design is ultra subtle, but very new actually versus cars like the current 5 series. As evidence of BMW’s utter brilliance in product variations: this new ragtop even offers xDrive AWD. No demerits in ride height, either. Clever stuff — and the xDrive 228i has an extra 60 pound-feet of torque …

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Houston Auto Show – Camp JEEP – Animated Action Sequences!

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The Houston Auto Show brought some really cool drive experiences inside the convention center this year: with Camp Jeep a real highlight and crowd-pleaser. It might not seem realistic to simulate off-roading with ultra-steep ramps, buck-board surfaces and steeply tilted later angles. But based on the screams and smiles of drivers sampling Jeep hill-descent-controls and off-road prowess, we’d say the internal thrills and G-forces are authentic! Enjoy these two brief sequences of the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee making their ways down a 45-degree ridge. Smooth and under control, like true off-road pros. Houston Auto Show – Camp JEEP – Animated …

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Houston Auto Show - 2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Is Damn Sexy In Real-Life 3

Houston Auto Show – 2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Is Damn Sexy In Real Life!

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The Scion FR-S Release Series 1.0 is almost a direct production version of the TRD project car shown this Spring with the Lexus LFA around Scion’s Epic marketing campaign events. The prototype TRD Project Car and the production model are almost exactly the same outside, but the TRD project car wears wider rubber on different wheels, has a front-mounted intercooler of some kind, and a racing-prepped cabin.   2015 Scion FR-S RS1 TRD Project Car The production RS1 looks just as good, and is amazing news for buyers looking for a showroom racer – modded and looking mean right from …

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4.5s, 326HP 2015 BMW M135i xDrive Gives Supercar Thrills for VW Golf Bills

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The new BMW 1-Series just came out, and it is a really cool evolution of the rear-drive compact hatch. The premise is the same as before: sports-car thrills, VW Golf bills. The new model range is a three-door and five-door hatch to start, with a future four-door sedan headed to the US market. We are unlikely to see either of the hatchback styles, but the five-door might theoretically be in the cards for the US market as well. Engines start with the 116d, and extend up to the 118, 120, 125 and finally the 135i at the top of the …

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4.9s, 362HP 2015 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic Sportier, Faster than C400

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The new C450 AMG Mercedes revealed at Detroit this week will be the sixth in the new C-Class range in the USA, and is perhaps the sweet spot of them all: the C63, C63 S-Model, C400, C350 Hybrid and C300 4Matic. With 362-horsepower, the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 in the C450 makes room for itself in the line as a second line of AMG sports models. With standard 4Matic AWD that is not offered on the V8 C63, the new C450 will also be the go-to choice among people in snowy climates. A sportier setup for the Airmatic suspension, sports exhaust, …

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2017 Ford Raptor Is EcoBEAST! Cool New Style, Much Quicker and Even More Bad-Ass

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It is very rare to have a truck’s front suspension A-arms be a styling detail that lights up your eyes from the front, but the 2017 Raptor proves the exception. The truck shows off its tough and rough off-road equipment and suspension from all sides, especially dead-on from the nose. Here we see the Raptor’s trademark honeycomb grille and giant FORD letters writ large, paired with the super-cool new LED lighting from the top F-150 Platinum trims. Here the lamps are exposed and free of a clear shell — the better to show off the box-LED style and also to …

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2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupé S-Model Storms The D With 585HP

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The new GLE63 Coupe is official!  It is the flagship model above the AMG GLE450 Coupe, and packs a huge wallop from its twin-turbo V8: from 557HP in the normal truck to the 585HP in the S-Model. Stunning performance is a sure thing: we could be looking here at the quickest-sprinting SUV of all time via pace of 4.0-seconds to 60-mph.   2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe   The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupé 4MATIC: Driving performance reinterpreted Affalterbach/Detroit Jan 12, 2015   Affalterbach/Detroit.  With the new GLE 63 Coupé, Mercedes-AMG is in highly dynamic mood as it enters the 2015 …

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q7 tech

2016 Audi Q7 Shows New MMI Touch, Audi Connect and MIB Tablet Interfaces by Nvidia

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The new Audi Q7 will debut not just a much lighter chassis and all-new styling outside, but a cabin that is fresh from the carpet upward and absolutely packed with tech goodies. Where to start? The latest Virtual Cockpit design uses a 12.3-inch TFT panel in the main guage cluster, able to show 3D instruments, full Google-Earth navigation and maps, and a dozen other custom displays as needed. These are operated by voice, redundant knobs and buttons on the wheel and dash, or by the new MMI Touch control panel with multi-touch capabilities (ahead of the shifter). On the road, …

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Updated with Tech Video – Audi Prologue Hybrid Piloted Drive to Vegas

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We were active haters of the Prologue concept when it was revealed for Los Angeles in late November. The low and clean style of the future A8 this car previews is growing better with time, but still seems a bit dull. The change of color to a dark grey with new five-spoke alloys are a huge improvement. They let the design breathe and feel a bit more interesting, with the lower bodywork and sill extensions coming to life in ways they didn’t in silver. The concave rear glass is still bizarre, and the nose and tail detailing still seem awkward. …

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