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2018 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback – 4-Door Coupes Coming to USA!

Terrific news from Audi!  The list of cars not offered in the USA is now slimmer than ever from Audi.  The coveted A5/S5 Sportbacks are the latest pair to join the American sales lists. These two are billed as 2018 models and are set for their first USA arrivals around May of 2017.  They will go head to head with the BMW 430i/440i Gran Coupes and the yet-to-be-revealed Mercedes-Benz CLC four-door-coupes. They both promise pretty outstanding performance.  The A5 with a turbo four scoots to 60-mph in just 5.7-seconds, while the S5 with its supercharged six drops that down to …

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2017 Toyota PRIUS – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

  When Toyota brought the first Prius to the US back in 2000, you knew it was a hybrid by driving it, and even just looking at it.  It was an awkward looking thing that seemed to scream cheap sub-compact.  Inside, it wasn’t much better, with cheap looking and feeling materials, and it didn’t offer many amenities.  It was a purpose-built machine incorporating as many weight saving ideas built into it so that it could deliver outstanding gas mileage.  If that meant Spartan interiors and few features, so be it.  If it meant that the car wasn’t fun to drive, …

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2016 Toyota Prius Four Touring 7

2016 Toyota Prius Four Touring – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

The Toyota Prius hasn’t really been on the radar of auto enthusiasts. Oh sure, it’s been technically interesting – and with hybrid powertrains showing up in many supercars these days, you have to give a tip of the hat to Toyota for spearheading the effort. Of course, if you’re a diesel fan, you might not feel so warm and tingly. Where the Europeans have long felt that diesel was the way to get performance with miserly fuel economy, Americans bought into Hybrids in a big way. So big, in fact, that it forced many of the Europeans to develop both …

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2016 Lexus GS200t – By Ben Lewis

    If you read our recent preview, or saw Tom’s video of the new Lexus GS-F, you know that Lexus is going after the German ‘Bahnstormers in a big way. How big?  A 5.0-liter V8 that pumps out 467 hp at a zinging 7,100 rpm, backed up by a chassis that could easily handle a good amount more. It’s an amazing machine. But allow me to play the devil’s advocate here. If you want the most German of the GS models, go for the entry level GS200t.  Yep, the one with the turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder. Allow me to explain. …

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

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

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry XSE 2.5L – Sportier Handling + Surprising Four-Cylinder Pace

2015 Toyota Camry XSE 2.5L Review America’s sweetheart is heavily redesigned inside and out for 2015, so you are forgiven for missing a few trim-level additions for this year: an XSE four-cylinder and even an SE Hybrid. What’s the rationale behind Toyota’s move to bring flagship style and handling upgrades to all powertrains? — pretty low take rate for the V6 dramatically limited the previous V6 SE’s possible market share. This also cut the number of people who benefited from its crisper steering, handling and design outside — the new XSE upgrades outside, in the suspension/tire setup and cabin are …

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S114_1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback Calypso Coral 15

Mecum July 2015 – Four Flawless Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500KR Fastbacks

Humble Harrisburg, Pennslyvannia is ready to feel some Ford V8 rumble this July 30th! These four Mustangs are a highlight of the sale: a gorgeous black GT500KR, lovable red 1969 Mach 1, and a pair of 1970 Mach 1’s in eye-popping Calypso Coral paintwork. The orange twins are a highlight — but can be confusing to tell apart. They have different cabin colors — but adding the auction code prefix just for clarity among prospective owners. They’ll be Mustang experts, of course, and know that one is packing 335HP versus the other at 300HP. Which is which?  It is confusing… …

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1909 Benz 35-60PS Speedster 1

Worlds First Supercar – 1909 Benz 35-60PS Speedster Ran 9-Liter Four-Cylinder!

Betting directionally on the value of supercars is tougher than the stock or art or commodities markets. Where the natural trend for the above indices is to scale upward, most classic cars are generally never going to appreciate over time. This makes car collecting more of a passion play than the normal art auction scene. Long story short: we’re obviously not going to go all in one way or another on future car values. But come on! This car. One of the world’s first supercars, with triple the power and speed of a contemporary Model T? Yes, as Ford rolled …

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