Wealth Dreams -- 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer Seeks New Home -- My Home 6

Wealth Dreams — 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer Seeks New Home — My Home!

So, if you were in the audience or bidding online during RM Auctions’ Paris 2014 event, what would you pick to drive home? Let’s have an imaginary budget of $150,000 — which is plenty — where would your dollars go? For me, it is this 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer. It speaks to me. I think about it often. It is like a lover I will never have, or a friend I’ll never lose. Four doors, low roof, drama from all angles — yep. This is just my style. It is still seeking a new ‘forever home’ since not …

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RM Auctions Paris Feb 2014 - 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype 13

Update2 — RM Auctions Paris Gala Brings Out the Global Jet Set… But Also High Reserves

RM is a real class act. This Blenheim, Ontario-based automotive specialist auction house took the best possible route to the European collector’s market via a glittering February 5th, 2014 Gala in Paris. For a relative new-comer in the seven-figure classic car world, RM is making all the right moves. Did they arrive in Paris with a variety of old Mustangs and Corvettes? Nope — not a single yank tank is in the top-thirty list from this event. The hand-crafted list of cars includes a number of unique and special pieces with extra relevance to France and European racing history. Names …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Six-Door Landaulet - RM Auctions Paris 2014 - 7

1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet — *Just* $731,000 at RM Auctions Paris 2014

Just $731,000? That is still a huge sum of money, right? In today’s world, for a six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet, this is an absolute bargain. First off: most of these cars have never left the banana republics they originally called home. Many are still in active service all over the world. Secondly, this car might look rough cosmetically, but let me assure you: the Mercedes-Benz 600 (and all their pre-1989 cars, for that matter) are unbelievably strong automobiles.     I know this for a fact because I spent three weeks a few years ago dis-assembling the interior of …

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Swoopy 1955 D-type JAGUAR Tops All Comers with $5M Total in Fabulous RM Auctions Paris Gala 3

Swoopy 1955 D-type JAGUAR Tops All Comers with $5M Total in Fabulous RM Auctions Paris Gala

Both my gorgeous French Racing Blue favorites could not approach the total earned by this BRG stunner from Jaguar the other week in Paris. RM Auctions delivered a possible world-record Jaguar total with the sale of this flawless 1955 D-type for just over $5 million on February 5th, 2014. Stay tuned for more details in the next few minutes via an upcoming article. But wanted to highlight the exceptional nature of this D-type Jaguar. Well bought and well sold — a rare combination. Photos courtesy of RM Auctions. Thankyou!

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Update1 – 2015 Lamborghini Huracan – Exclusive Color Visualizer + Latest Close-up, High-Res Images

[Orig Published on: Dec 25, 2013 @ 20:32] One of the best parts of owning and cherishing a Lamborghini is a custom color and style. The options are almost limitless in terms of color and flamboyance – the Huracan is one of a small group of hypercars that is even cooler when painted a shocking orange, bright green, or Lamborghini yellow. Much as Lamborghini knows flawless custom colors and mods for customer cars – the initial images from the launch last week show a bizarre dark yellow that is popular in Europe at the moment (see recent mega galleries Huracan …

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2015 Lincoln MKC ‘Spinning Around’ with Kylie in Nine Sexy Colors

How about this for all-new, extremely fresh car news? The new Lincoln MKC promises huge growth for Lincoln by appealing to far more fashion customers than ever before. ‘Fashion’ is a bit of a code word for TheLaydaies!!! And pretty girls love to spin around to a great Kylie Minogue dance track. So leave this video playing while watching the MKC dance in seven colors. (The base images are huge, multi-angle photo collages available on Lincoln.com as the right-click view background image) Next challenge for me? Somehow syncing the beat of music to the animations. Cue to Tom Burkart scratching …

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WOW! 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC Coupe — High-Speed, High-Fashion 2-Door Glam Shuttle

The S-Class Coupe debuted this morning to rapturous praise from thisguy! It looks stunning and will hit showrooms virtually unaltered from the shockingly-attractive S-Class Coupe Concept from Frankfurt. Today may indeed mark the start of the Bentley Continental GT’s long, slow decline. As the market-makers tire of that bloated and understeering hog of a machine: both the Rolls-Royce Wraith and this new S550 4Matic Coupe are eager for their attention. Please enjoy these official images and debut details from Mercedes-Benz ahead of the S550 4Matic Coupe’s arrival to U.S. showrooms in Fall 2014. Exteriors   Interiors Official Details below from …

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Cool! 2015 Honda Vezel Hybrid Previews Spring 2014 Civic CUV36

Cool! Honda Vezel Hybrid Previews (Possible) 2015 Civic CUV

Finally, Honda is back! The Vezel looks so good, it could proudly wear a red Type R badge. Honda proved itself in Tokyo this week, with the debut of the charming and on-trend Vezel compact crossover. With a roofline racier than any Honda model to date and a sensible, handsome and refined style: the Vezel will be climbing the U.S. sales charts starting in Spring 2014. The Tokyo debut is a RHD hybrid variant, indicating a name change may even be possible before this little Juke-fighter arrives. CR-V… CR-Z…CR-Y… CR-X? Nothing comes to mind. I like Vezel, and hopefully it …

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New Range Rover Sport HSE in 30 Real-Life Photos 7

New Range Rover Sport HSE in 30 Real-Life Photos (and 20 Fake-Life Photos) + Tech Specs — HSE V6 Priced from $64k

The all-new 2014 Range Rover Sport has arrived! The first few boatloads of this hot new luxury truck are unloading as we speak — but demand is still far outstripping supply. So how does the new RRS look in person? Very nice and modern, thank-you-very-much. Sidebar: Starting to think I did not win the #IamDriven contest, by the way. These latest photos already appear to be from Carmel, California. Sad panda – worked hard on these entries=] On second glance, these California-based photos appear to be… cleverly inserted onto the PCH digitally. A glimmer of hope remains! Even in the …

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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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2014 Maserati Ghibli Looking, Sounding Marvelous -- 40+ All-New, High-Res Photos -- Available Now from $67k 4

2014 Maserati Ghibli Looking, Sounding Marvelous — 40+ All-New, High-Res Photos — Available Now from $67k

Took a bit of time to meet the all-new, 410-horsepower Maserati Ghibli S Q4 in person today in Charleston, South Carolina.   I’m pretty smitten with this sexy twin-turbocharged sports sedan — even more so after some time up close! The excellent Maserati Super Bowl commercial sets the tone for this bellowing Italian stallion. The Ghibli is available in two trims: standard from about $67,000 and the Ghibli S Q4, which carried a sticker of $94,000. Please enjoy these images ahead of a more thorough test-drive video in the coming weeks – and this quick slideshow featuring the Ghibli’s rich …

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Chicago to Cabo! The Land Route — All-New PRO SERIES from Toyota Racing Dev — High-Speed TRD PRO Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runners

Chicago is feeling some big Toyota love with the all-new TRD Pro Series, a special option pack for 4×4 Tacomas, Tundras and 4Runners that will be available to buy from October 2014. The all-new cars from the Chi-town auto show — which is the most-attended auto show on Earth by foot traffic — are making some huge headlines. Toyota is best known as a serious, responsible and trust-worthy company. But any firm that is as big, as successful or as bank-able as Toyota will always be staffed by hundreds, if not thousands, of guys born and bred on high-power automotive …

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2015 Nissan Versa Note SR is Ultra-Chic for Chicago Auto Show — Dark Hipster Style on Low Budget + 40MPG Highway!

So, let’s imagine you are young and trendy and super-cool. You have not hit 37 years old yet, nor added the extra 37 pounds that comes standard with that anniversary (…for most people.) You are cool as F***! Seriously, you guys. How f****** cool are you in those tight dark denims? But what new cars reflect your fashion sense… as well as budget, performance and reliability standards? For brand-new cars with a full factory warranty, the 2015 Versa Note SR is about as cool as it gets. Friends might not mistake its profile for a GT-R or the hot future …

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Polestar Brings BTCC 850R Style to America! 2014 Volvo S60 and V60 Wagon — Chicago Debut — 4.7s to 60MPH — Summer Arrival

The Volvo renaissance just hit max boost before squealing all four tires on its full-throttle launch back to greatness. The Volvo racing legend grows for 2014 with the American debut of the S60 and V60 Polestar today in Chicago.   As with many blue-sky dream sessions among Volvo R wagon lovers, the enhancements to the S60 and V60 are deceptively simple. Huge boost via giant new turbocharger, new high-capacity boost cooler Styling overhaul outside and in 3.5-inch exhaust drums in back Brembo brakes large enough to stop a Bentley in heat and Ohlins dampers all around The stats are very …

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2014 MX-5 Club (32)

2014 Mazda MX-5 Club Brings New Colors, Dark Wheels, Gloss Black Accents and Power Hardtop Option from $26,000

The next MX-5 is in the home stretch of development in Japan ahead of an expected debut some time in 2014 or early 2015, with deliveries to America set to start shortly afterward. The next MX-5 will spawn an Alfa Romeo Spider twin, with both built to quality standards Fiat could not dream of achieving without Mazda’s Hiroshima-based talent. Development of the MX-5 is the cornerstone of Mazda’s sports car teams these days – and for good reason! The MX-5 is the ultimate track-day thriller: with enough power to feel the rush but also enough playfulness to really test your …

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CarRevsDaily - 2014 Toyota Highlander Exterior Photo39

Buyers Guide to the 2014 Toyota Highlander with Specs, Pricing and 88 Photos

[Orig Published on: Dec 29, 2013 @ 15:30] The 2014 Highlander is finally looking like a classy option versus its sibling, the wildly-popular Lexus RX crossover. But while the RX has always made its rich appearance a selling point, the previous Highlander was best described as “forgettable.” No more. This new series really cleans up the styling, while keeping the same fundamental proportions and $29,000 base pricing. On that side of the three-engine range, the Highlander runs a front-drive 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 24 MPG on the highway. Buyers who need AWD can choose between the V6 gasoline …

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#ZeroCompetition True for 2014 Nissan GT-R: Bentley GT Too Big, Porsche 911 Turbo Too $$, But Lambo Huracan Gunning for R35

In terms of #ZeroCompetition – The GT-R’s performance really does stack up amazingly well versus almost any other hypercar. To have an Audi R8 that can really compete takes the V10 Plus S-tronic AWD – and a $180k price. Similar story with the Porsche 911 Turbo – which bases for around $150,000, but is easy to spec up to $180k once all is said and done. The only surprise listing? The Jaguar F-Type V8 S – which is quoted by ChromeData as delivering a cool 495-horsepower in U.S. spec. This bodes well for a 600HP R-S eventually from Jag! Amazing. …

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YUKON XL COLORS

2015 GMC Yukon XL – Super Bowl Shuffle via Animated Turntables – 9 Color Choices

The 2015 Yukon XL is arriving in the next few weeks at GMC dealers nationwide. Just in time for the Super Bowl! The Yukon’s extra four inches of front legroom will certainly be appreciated by NFL players — even more so because the old Yukon was already a tall-guy favorite. The Yukon XL is offered in nine colors from launch.   Detail Images Turntables (Denali Shown) Onyx Black Summit White Quicksilver Metallic Champagne Silver Metallic Iridium Metallic Crystal Red Tintcoat White Diamond Tricoat — Denali Only   Bronze Alloy Metallic Midnight Amethyst Metallic

M Performance Catalog Offers Hundreds of Ways to Up the Drama and Road Presence of 335i, 535i, M3 and even the X5 and X6 50

X5 and X6 M Become Dreamy Racing SUVs with BMW M Performance Makeovers

How great do these M Performance cars look in Alpine white? The color contrast with dark carbon-fiber pieces is very intense and serious. But the best news of all? Any carbon-fiber exterior pieces will not need to be paint-matched on the car. This saves time and serious money for owners seeking M Performance style. The X5 M and X6 M are already very tough trucks, and fast enough to dust off most sports cars in stoplight drag-races. The snappy BMW automatic and turbo power feel unstoppable on full throttle. Like a runaway train coming down a mountain! But the X5 …

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M-Performance-Catalog-Offers-Hundreds-of-Ways-to-Up-the-Drama-and-Road-Presence-of-335i-535i-M3-and-even-the-X5-and-X6-3

M Performance Doubles the Drama and Road Presence of 335i, 535i and M3 With Huge Upgrades List

BMW’s M Performance team definitely has a style all its own. Centered around dark-grey carbon-fiber racing enhancements – the upgrades go all the way under the hood, in the cabin and even out back with the performance exhausts heard below. This is a comparison between the standard 535i exhaust note, versus the M Performance 535i’s exhaust note. Very convincing evidence, I must say. Hopefully the file plays for you.   Here’s a showcase of some of the parts available from M Performance. Despite the emphasis on the 335i and only the M versions of the SUVs —- the vast majority …

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2014 Porsche 911 Targa4 and Targa4S - Roof Animations of 400HP Surf 'n Turf Supercar 3

2014 Porsche 911 Targa4 and Targa4S – Roof Animations of 400HP Surf ‘n Turf Supercar

Any readers recall the flip-book from Mitsubishi when launching the 3000GT Spyder in 1995? Such a simple idea: 100 pages of roof in sequence while retracting. But that little red flipbook made the 3000GT Spyder the star of the year’s auto shows. If there were ever a car whose features would benefit from a CarRevsDaily animation, it must be the new 911 Targa. The 911 Targa and Porsche’s 360-degree spinners are perfect inspirations for a modern-day “moving picture” of the Targa’s showpiece. Far more than just the elaborate moonroof of the most recent previous-gen Targa models — this is a …

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Vogue Your LR4 Discovery with the Latest KAHN Style

Kahn styling can really turn a standard LR4 Discovery into a very sexy and butch truck. Here are a few full vehicles Kahn is selling in their UK home market. They show the potential in bringing many 2005-current Land Rovers and Range Rover Sports up-to-date with the latest high street fashion. Here are some of the awesome results from KAHN upgrades to the Discovery and previous RRS.     Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TDV6 Twin Turbo XS – RS300   Land Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6 – RS300 Cosworth

2014 Audi SQ5 Brings 350-plus HP - Buyers Guide Colors - Q-car Appeal 2

2014 Audi SQ5 – The Best of All Worlds? Big Power, Lux Cab, High Fashion

The Audi Q5 is heating up! Since its light refresh last year, this capable, superfast and classy crossover is passing many established players on the sales charts. This is no fluke: the Q5 is perhaps the ultimate all-season, all-cargo sports car these days. Imagine the pace and cabin of the RS7 — but in a deceptively stylish crossover shell. The SQ5 might not have that last 10-percent of track-day flair versus its upcoming Macan sibling, but Audi is competing to win. Even within the Volkswagen Group, where the teams genuinely respect and collaborate across brands and specialties, competitiveness is only …

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Toyota FT-1 Concept – GT6 Action Teases Ducted Aero Fans and 184MPH?

The GranTurismo6 platform is getting seriously newsworthy — even for non-gamers. While some might have fantasy football, this is like fantasy supercars. We are only on perhaps number two or three of the official reveals — among perhaps 30 manufacturers with concept racers in the game. It looks like the rights arguments or all that can take a GoPro to the bumper in GT6. Similarly, the over-wrought Citroen GT5 Concept is suddenly looking quite dated. While all the cars in the game, at least in this OEM showcase, just want the best possible performance — there is more reality in …

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

2015 Z06 – Official Debut in 40 Super High Resolution Images + Tech Specs: 8-sp Manual or Optional Auto

Holy NAIAS, Batman – look at the production 2015 Corvette Z06! Last week, we highlighted a number of details from the Gran Turismo 6 Corvette concept that seemed to show the way forward for the Z06.       The best part for me was that the GT6 concept sat in the PlayStation section of CES, with barely a second glance given to it by passers-by. The GT6 concept now appears to have been a “work in progress” — because the real-life Z06 is far more hardcore in almost every way. One fantasy element has made it to the Z06 …

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2014 Q60 IPL Convertible

2014 Infiniti Q60 IPL Coupe and Cabrio – Specs, Pricing and Trim Details

The hotshot executive sport coupe market is always fun: the Lexus RC F and BMW M4 are already stars of the Detroit show – months and months ahead of their arrival to buyers. The Lexus RC F in production form this week in Detroit ups the ante quite a bit. So what’s missing?   Well, the Cadillac ATS Coupe – which is coming tomorrow – has room under than hood for some huge power, as well as a rear-drive platform that is already very performance-focused.   What else? The Infiniti Q60 IPL is absolutely worth considering when in the $40,000-plus …

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Standaufnahme    Farbe: Plasmarot

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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Audi RS5 Taming U.S. Racetracks with New Colors and Black Ops from $70k

The Audi RS5 is a truly astounding car. With so much atmospheric power from this racing V8 and the Audi’s class-best dynamics in the wet: the RS5 even seems like a supercoupe that could be driven hard in bad weather. Not something most summer-tired supercars would attempt. Dan Neil noted some traction issues when reviewing the twin-turbo RS7 last month in his Wall Street Journal column – which might be related to RS7’s big-boost layout versus the RS5’s naturally-aspirated engine. For the time being, the Lexus RC F and BMW M4 appear to keep their rear-drive layouts. But AWD is …

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Tahoe Police concept

140MPH+ Chevy Tahoe PPV Coming as 2015 Model With Optional 4×4 and Far Better Cabin

The funny thing about the Chevy Tahoe police cruiser’s tenure on the market is that it only recently started to offer four-wheel-drive to these LEO customers. Fuel economy and high-speed pace were the initial reasons – with even the 2012 5.3-liter Tahoe PPVs able to hit 139 mph. Four-wheel-drive is a mandatory feature this time of year in many places. Example? My hometown typically runs Tahoe PPV models and Crown Victoria Fords – but during the recent blizzard, switched to their personal 4×4’s to keep the peace. And keep the grip on snow and ice. Rear-drive Tahoe’s are very stable, …

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Lexus RC F GIF

Boom! Lexus RC F Goes Supersonic in 41 Images – LEDs, Interior, Air Scoops, Active Aero…

The hottest Lexus since the LFA has just landed in America: the RC F coupe takes all the race-ready V8 power and rear-drive performance from the previous IS F, and absolutely cranks the knob off. We’re preparing an article on the Lexus RC F’s styling versus its two key rivals: the BMW M4 and Audi RS5. In doing so, we’ve gathered a number of additional screenshots from Lexus’s B-roll video in order to show the coolest unseen parts of the RC F: the sports coupe’s brand-new LED lighting, hood venting, and active rear spoiler! This car looks intense from almost …

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2014-01-10_154217

Boom! Lexus RC F Goes Supersonic in 41 Images – LEDs, Interior, Air Scoops, Active Aero…

The hottest Lexus since the LFA has just landed in America: the RC F coupe takes all the race-ready V8 power and rear-drive performance from the previous IS F, and absolutely cranks the knob off. We’re preparing an article on the Lexus RC F’s styling versus its two key rivals: the BMW M4 and Audi RS5. In doing so, we’ve gathered a number of additional screenshots from Lexus’s B-roll video in order to show the coolest unseen parts of the RC F: the sports coupe’s brand-new LED lighting, hood venting, and active rear spoiler! This car looks intense from almost …

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2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Spec Adds Power + Dark Glamour to SWB and LWB 4-Doors 3

2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Spec Adds Power + Dark Glamour to SWB and LWB 4-Doors

There almost are no words to properly convey the quality and luxury of every single detail in the 2014 Rolls-Royce model lineup versus normal cars. Speed and handling during my Wraith press drive in November was very, very impressive – this platform has fantastic poise, but enough movement and sway when being pushed hard to remind you about the speedometer. Wraith’s fun-to-flog nature is important because Many of the fastback’s sportier elements are introduced for the first time on Ghost V-Spec cars.   I am smiling at my desk as I type. While many fast cars make it seem “easy” …

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CarRevsDaily

BMW 328d and 328i Wagons Back in U.S. for 2014 – Buyers Guide

Fast wagons are cooler than ever in 2014. Even a lowly Jetta Sportwagen on dark steel winter wheels can cause a double-take. They are rare, and achieve a low-roof profile that all the sportiest SUVs envy. Even better? Sweeping on-ramps and highway curves can be confidently driven fast, on throttle, with family and kids in the back. Try the same thing in many SUVs, and there will be much more body roll and potential life partner jabs to ribs. Slow down!     But the low, low center of gravity is like a gift that keeps on giving with the …

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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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Low-Volume Specials – Buick Regal Country Tourer Could Be Yours… At A Price

When a long-term product plan from GM was released a few years ago by a disgruntled employee to a German newspaper, the revelations about what exactly lay ahead for Opel were quickly silenced. Luckily, it was not the Guardian who received the documents. The one thing I recall before all the news … went away … was the Country Tourer name for a potential Vectra replacement wagon.   An all-road-style option for families who not only need AWD, but need some extra ground clearance and gravel resistance on the lower panels as well. These are not some kind of “country” …

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CarRevsDaily

2014 Porsche 911 Racers Compared: 991 RSR vs 991 GT3 Cup vs 997 GT3 R

The latest 2014 Porsche 911 RSR looks quite different from its most recent relatives in the 911 racing side of the Porsche family tree. This roundup shows three of the most hardcore 911 racers that will contest the 2014 seasons across various series around the world. Yes, the rules from all these racing groups will be very different in how much enhancement is allowed: from the road-car side of the spectrum in the 991 GT3 Cup, all the way to the pure prototype RSR model. The RSR is a seriously hardcore racing machine that will howl its boxer six bellow …

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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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2014 Camaro Z/28

2014 Camaro Z/28 Engineering Upgrades and Specs Detailed

If the old BMW adage was “one bratwurst, three lengths…” — the new Camaro is selling Nurburgring stamina by the pound like ground chuck. As the aero animation above shows, this was a global project on a huge, long-term scale. Aero studies like these are mesmerizing to behold – but are only the beginning of the Z/28 Camaro story. The Z/28 is a really stunning piece of machinery. It follows all paths toward achieving its 7:37.447 lap time – in the rain – in October 2013.   Italian Trofeo R tires are a Camaro first, as are Brembo carbon brakes …

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Iconic Classic Supercars: 1965 Bizzarrini Strada Alloy 5300GT One of Most Influential Cars, Ever

Ever the tornado of creativity and speed, Ferrari was quite volatile in the early 1960s. For every race they won, it seems like a failed buyout from Ford and the epic ‘palace revolution’resulted in a big brain drain for Maranello. Competing hot-shot engineers would form nearly a dozen competing supercar marques, including Lamborghini, De Tomaso, Iso, ATS, ASA and Bizzarrini. Each led by a mastermind engineer, stylist, machinist or visionary, only Lamborghini’s brand was strong enough to make it to the 1970s and beyond. The Ferrari exodus left all these talented men with huge ideas, but less of a real …

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2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

Mea Culpa: 2014 Jeep Cherokee Not "Fug Nasty" – Looks Great in Trailhawk Trim

The Jeep Cherokee’s styling hit me like a kick from a horse when first glimpsed earlier this year.   I took to Twitter to say some less-than-encouraging things about its new appearance. Luckily, using Twitter is like throwing effort into a well – hopefully no one noticed… I’m actually very relieved to report four things about the 2014 Cherokee: – Optional 271-horsepower V6 engine with nine-speed auto and available 4WD promises a fun and powerful truck – Nose looks good on highways and in real life, LEDs visually widen car. The red trailhawk tow hooks are awesome. – The profile …

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WSarg

Daimler Running Big Trucks in Tr4 via 2014 Freightliner Argosy (Villain) vs Western Star (Hero)

Big trucks, be nice! If there was ever a bad-guy in the truck world, it is a cab-over semi truck with a maniacal driver just inches behind the front bumper. The Cab-Over style seems absurd from basic aero principles, but does offer big benefits in such tight turning radii. But Transformers 4 comes out in just a few months, on 6.27.14. Did they miss the coolest new Daimler truck? The Freightliner Revolution is the best looking of the bunch, in my opinion. In addition, Transformers 4 shows a slow progression by Michael Bay and Co. toward reclaiming the original styles …

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CarRevsDaily

Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

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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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2015 VW Golf TSI 3dr Joins TDI and GTI in Brooklyn en Route to Detroit Show 20

2015 VW Golf TSI 3dr Joins TDI and GTI in Brooklyn en Route to Detroit Show

This is the first real-life photo set of the 2015 Golf from Volkswagen, which appears in these official images as both a three-door and a five-door. A two-door in the American market is new versus the 2014 Golf line-up. The interior also shows a nice range of trim choices. No time frame on the production 2015 Golf’s arrival, but by May of 2014 to American VW showrooms seems likely. 2015 North American Volkswagen GTI 2015 North American Volkswagen Golf

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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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2014 VW Beetle Turbo, TDI and Cabrio – Buyers Guide and Photo Galleries

It’s VW Saturday here at CarRevsDaily! After sharing my first car stories in the previous VW ads article, I’m almost back on board with the 2014 Beetle. Three engines are available, and a fourth with the tuned power of the 2014 GSR. 2014 Beetle Coupe – Exteriors 2014 Beetle Coupe – Fender Edition 2014 Beetle Cabrio – Exteriors 2014 Beetle Cabrio – Interiors

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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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How Plucky Visual Humor and Lavish Color Saved the VW Beetle in America (100+ Images)

I’ve been really hard on VW lately, and passed up an opportunity to test drive the 2014 Beetle GSR this summer – which I strongly regret! A few background items: — My first car was a 1975 SuperBeetle, which was the final and best evolution of the design with a curved windshield, hand-crank sunroof, L-Jetronic Fuel Injection and a new MacPherson strut front suspension design. I drove Walter, as he was named before joining our garage, throughout high school until year 2000, and for much of college until 2005. I miss him on winter days like this. — Silverado out …

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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

Audi LeMans R18: Laser Light = Smoke and Mirrors? 2014 e-tron quattro Actually Hiding Big Changes in Back

Guess who really likes winning Le Mans? Everyone! Every single person who has ever competed there cherishes a single win with the passion of an Oscar winner. But guess who has really, really developed a taste for winning Le Mans, after more than a decade as the front-runner? The serious gentlemen over at Audi Motorsport. Is this an odd introduction for an article about new laser lighting shown at CES this week? The new “laser” lighting joins a long list of other Audi names for its headlights, including Matrix and Swarm. AUTO LIGHTING TECH – 2014 and Beyond But why …

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2014 CLS45 AMG

Race Start Video: 2014 CLA45 AMG Shows Impressive Launch Drama + 4.5s to 60mph

Mercedes-Benz is evolving its marketing and product positioning drastically. Executive rumblings from a few years ago indicated the brand was making serious changes to lower its perceived demographic – but it all just seemed like lip service at the time. Well, the arrival of the CLA-Class surely confirms that they were very serious. Serious… about getting playful. The CLA is launching in the American market as the front-drive CLA250 and the all-wheel-drive CLA45 AMG. Both run a highly advanced new platform, engine, transmission and electronic architecture. What perhaps previously took 0.002 milliseconds to transfer info from rear ABS sensors on …

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CarRevsDaily

New Supercar or Vintage Racecar: The Case for Recreations + Quiz: Which is the Fake?

Here is the case for exotic, hand-crafted replica vintage racecars: They Exist. They did not hit the walls, or churn tires through bodywork, or reek of urine. They start the first time, and can be titled and driven on the roads. At Motor Classic & Competition in Westchester County, New York — the all-time best hero racecars come back to life, rumble onto 2014 streets, and perhaps even find a home in your garage. Most race-winning examples of anything need to be treasured and preserved; maintained and respected. To put it in plain language: the GT40s in this article are …

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2013 GLK350 4MATIC

GLK250 Diesel Joins GLK350 from $37,000 – Buyers Guide to AMG Sport trims

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a cool little truck. The really great thing about this package versus other crossovers is how agile and fun it is to toss around. The low proportions and general handling excellence really shame the Acura RDX and even the Range Rover Evoque. The GLK makes no apologies for its macho lines, and really looks exclusive on city streets. The GLK is rear-drive as standard, making this one of the most balanced in its segment for fast drivers. That segment is growing fast, with the GLA250 also joining the U.S. price books for 2014, and the BMW …

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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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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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Caterham Coming to America!  620R to be sold by Superformance (Without An Engine

Caterham Coming to America! 620R to be sold by Superformance (Without An Engine…)

Caterham just announced a U.S. distribution deal for its track-only car line via Irvine-based Superformance. Superformance is best known for its amazing Le Mans GT40 re-creations and other exotic sports cars, so the Caterham deal seems like a good fit to add some lightweight track racers to its customer brochures. The sales of rolling Seven 480 and 620R models will not include an engine, but Superformance retailers or their teams are likely to complete most assemblies for customers after the car is sold and titled. How great would a small-block Chevy V8 be in this tiny machine!  A Shelby Cobra …

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Voracious 12C Spider Demand Propels McLaren to Add 5 New Dealerships

Updates for the 2014 McLaren 12C Spider include a wider variety of Special Ops customization choices, a new Android operating system for infotainment, and dealerships a bit closer to home. McLaren is hot on the heels of Ferrari in the battle to monetize their racing pedigree with high-dollar sports car purchases. This track battle is much less about lap times – and more about huge cash flow. McLaren recently announced the addition of five more official retailers, taking the total to 20 dealers across Canada and the U.S. by mid 2014. This is still much less than Ferrari’s 49 total …

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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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BBM 330D and BMW M135i by Tuningwerk GIF2

180MPH? Custom Wagons – BBM 330d Touring and BMW M135i by Tuningwerk

The M135i two-door will soon be coming to America as the 228i and 235i, but this body style is really the epitome of fast wagon stance. A power jump is only half the results achieved here by both fast wagons from the local speed shops: Tuningwerk and BBM. The BBM 330d Touring shows what can be done with careful ECU boost enhancement – but this car also wears a one-off reflective matte red exterior that is very unique. BMW M135i by Tuningwerk BMW 330d Touring by BBM  

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New Maxima 4DSC Heading to Detroit as GT-R-Style Concept Sports Sedan

Exciting news from Nissan today: the announcement of a new Concept Sports Sedan for the Detroit NAIAS from mid-January. The teaser concept is widely believed to be the next Maxima. The dark red/auburn colored image is the only official teaser from the Nissan – all others are speculative renders exclusive to CarRevsDaily.com Nissan has avoided a nameplate for the concept car, but this shape is likely to be in stores by Summer 2014 – perhaps even with a NISMO model alongside at launch. Nissan does reference the recent IDx and IDx NISMO concepts in this teaser release – which shows …

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2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe

2014 Civic Si Coupe – First Night Sighting: Great-Looking LEDs

Spotted my first white 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe on the road tonight near Chicago, and it looked really confident and sporty. While we sliced and diced in traffic, it was almost as if the Civic knew the horrible things I have written (and printed) about the Honda Civic … in the past. Ahh!    While Honda and I do not always agree, we have a few important things in common. Honda also loves my fair Sweet Home Chicago, with the night-time visualizer on Honda.com showing the world-famous Wacker Drive on that rare, blissfully-traffic-free time of night. The 360-degree visualizer …

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CarRevsDaily Best Wheels - A Kahn Design - Cosworth Wheels 47

Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. — Much slimmer tire sizes, especially on luxury …

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GSC - G-Class 33

G-Class Widebody Options by GSC Look Ready For Terminator 5

As if the G-Class needed any more curb appeal. This is an amazing truck – capable of far more than its most-photographed duties: grocery shopping in Brentwood. German Special Customs agrees – and has a variety of wide-body conversions of the G-Class in their fleet. Yes, taste is subjective —  but all are sure to scare just about anyone out of the fast lane in front of you. Gold – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC Silver – Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG by GSC Red – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC  

Iconic Classic – 1925/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I – Round Door Aero Coupe

This Phantom Series I Rolls-Royce V12 rumbled out the factory doors in 1925, but did not add these gorgeous stream-liner panels until its coachwork was complete in 1934. There is much to learn from this Jonkheere Aerodynamique Coupe – even today. The grille treatment is remarkably swept-back, but maintains the classic proportions very artfully. It is very hard to imagine these designs being fabricated by hand, but that was the only way to achieve results like this in the early 1930s. CAD-CAM has come a long way since the Round Door Coupe – but very few of this car’s contemporaries …

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Best of Awards – Zero to Hero in the 2014 Chevrolet Impala

The 2014 Impala looks amazing in the flesh and on the streets. One might even say it is… “really, really, really ridiculously good-looking.” Even its base trims are very cool and dark up front, with a really solid appearance that is unique and very attractive. Yes, on a Chevy Impala!   The 2014 Impala comes in three engine options, from the eAssist 2.4-liter up to the 3.6-liter V6 that should be a must for anyone reading this. The headlights are even quite interesting, which is special at this price point. HID bi-xenons are optional, with LEDs ringing the main beams …

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Nissan NV Spy vs Spy

Best of Awards – Spy Van – Nissan NV Cargo Van – 2500 HD High Roof in Super Black

Imagine two identical Nissan NV Cargo work vans.   One is white, with normal windows that show a hard-working, bearded and husky guy in a tan Carthartt jacket. If we had X-ray vision, we might see a cargo area loaded with miter saws, ladders, plywood, and other tools of his trade. The other Nissan NV is black. This one has a high roof, a 5.6-liter V8 engine, and a dark tint to the front windows. Two clean-shaven and physically fit young men pilot this van, with two more guys working in the back. With X-ray vision, inside the black van …

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Hero Racecars - 1970 Alfa-Romeo Tipo 33-4 TASMAN 15

Racing Evolution 1968-1970 – Alfa Romeo T33 Mugello, T33/2 LeMans + T33/4 Tasman

This is part two of the Alfa Romeo endurance racer showcase. These long-tail machinesdirectly evolved from the original Tipo 33 Periscopo and Stradale prototypes – but made huge changes. Far less glass lowers the center of mass, while aerodynamic ground effects became a critical part of racing. This put an end to the smooth flowing surfaces of the curvy 1967 T33 Stradale and its siblings. The Tipo 33 series diverged in 1969 in anticipation of rule changes in the 1970s that would prefer an open cockpit layout. Yes, for trivia buffs, Le Mans has alternated between open and closed cars …

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Hero Racecars – 1967-1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

Okay, the Tipo 33 Stradale is not quite a street-legal supercar: this is a racing prototype that competed in some of the fiercest LeMans racing battles ever seen. Among its six-plus variants in body style, length, and mechanical package: the Tipo 33 was considered to be among the top three contenders for the late-60’s golden age of endurance racing. Ultimately: the Tipo 33 proved slower than Ford and Porsche, but ahead of McLaren, Ferrari, and the numerous other LMP1 teams. Was the Tipo 33 not a race-winner? Does being spanked by Ford every year it competed mean it is a …

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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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2014 Kia Forte Koup Spooling Up! New Turbo Power for Slinky 2-Door

The bright red Kia Forte Koup is new for 2014 – and just started arriving in dealers this week. What is so new about this Forte? Well, it now brings all the latest style and tech from its Forte5 and Forte sedan siblings – just in a far cooler profile. Along with its standard LED accents up front, the $2,000 turbo SX trim option brings LED lights for the lower fogs and brake lights as well. The opening price for the Forte Koup is $18,600 with a six-speed manual and the base 2.4-liter engine making 173 horsepower. From $20,600, the …

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Shock! Toyota Corolla Looking Pretty Good – But Where Is The Power?

  That is not nice, but the Corolla S has never before looked this confident. Will it look good in a few years? Who knows. But I’ll be thrilled to never suffer the previous Corolla S model’s hideous body kit. Onto the good news: the new Corolla brings better style, standard LED lighting,and a bit more knee room in back than before. No, it is not huge suddenly – something seems wrong with Toyota’s measurements. The Corolla claims better legroom in back versus the Dart, but the Dart packs 10 extra inches of rear hip room. Something perhaps not realistic …

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Update1 – 2014 Dodge Dart is Low and Wide + Engines Eager for Better HP Via Tuning – SCAT Pack Concept Shows How

Update1: A pretty glaring fact error in this article, but kindly pointed out by a loyal reader. The error surrounds the Tigershark engines versus the MultiAir engines – only the smallest 1.4-liter is a turbocharged unit. The larger 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Tigershark engines are naturally aspirated – meaning any horsepower gains will be more than just an ECU re-flash away. Even so, a cold-air intake and a less-restrictive exhaust setup are sure to liberate an extra 15 ponies each – along with this engine’s true shriek! Orig Published Dec 23, 2013 @ 13:04 The Dodge Dart GT is the sportiest …

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2014 4Runner Offers Third Row and Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles 45

2014 4Runner Offers Third Row + Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles

The 2014 4Runner is all-new from Toyota, bringing a comprehensive restyle outside and a tech overhaul inside. The best parts of the 4Runner package remain: hardy suspension and locking diff options, off-road prowess that goes beyond electronic settings, and of course that roll-down back glass. In place of the old tailgate bench is a new slide-out parcel floor that can hold serious weight. Most critically: a third row of seating is a $1,400 option – and money well spent. It folds out of the way when not needed, but will come in handy eventually. The crimson Trail Premium 4Runner’s photos …

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2014 4Runner Offers Third Row and Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles 45

2014 4Runner Offers Third Row + Very Cool SR5 and Limited Styles

The 2014 4Runner is all-new from Toyota, bringing a comprehensive restyle outside and a tech overhaul inside. The best parts of the 4Runner package remain: hardy suspension and locking diff options, off-road prowess that goes beyond electronic settings, and of course that roll-down back glass. In place of the old tailgate bench is a new slide-out parcel floor that can hold serious weight. Most critically: a third row of seating is a $1,400 option – and money well spent. It folds out of the way when not needed, but will come in handy eventually. The crimson Trail Premium 4Runner’s photos …

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Financial Windfall? Dow 16,000 Car Shopping? Porsche 911 Carrera C4S

What a year! As the world turns, 2013 has been a doozy on almost all counts. In any other market, bonuses doled out in early January would be modest at best. Typical golden handcuffs of some kind… like future equity, etc. But not this year. Not with a stock market more bullish than — cue the announcer voice-over and drumroll — Your Very Own, ChicagoBULLS! So in this year, hopefully your numbers are moving in the right direction. 2014 is set to be a major global comeback period, with big bets already placed. Who are we betting in? The last …

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New Kia Soul LED Coolness Hookah Bar  32

New Kia Soul Scores on LED Coolness – A Hookah Bar on Wheels!

The 2014 Kia Soul is hugely revised for 2014, with helpful updates throughout to enhance comfort and style. Many people do not understand these boxy compacts. Allow me to illustrate the ideal target market: teens whose nights out might include much more “cruising around” than actual destinations. For these aimless but high-mile young drivers: an upright seating position, thumping audio, and fresh style are the key buying metrics. Pace? Not really mandatory. A multi-hose hookah pipe might be a popular option, if offered, however… or would have been with my pals back in the day. With pricing from just $15,000, …

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Scion vs Scion

A Tale of Two Scions: Why Is Factory Scion FR-S So Lame?

This is a tough opinion to voice, but one that might resonate with some readers who share this frustration. Here are the key points: — The Scion FR-S arguably looks better than the Subaru BRZ inside and out. — Even more, it is almost shockingly gorgeous with a 3D Carbon body kit and some aftermarket wheels — Scion is a bit cheaper, far easier to find and buy (and service) than the Subaru — But where are all the factory mods the Scion supposedly “stands for” ? — A purchase and re-badge would be my plan due to lack of …

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2014-Scion-iQ-Glams-Up

2014 Scion iQ Glams Up With Two-Tone Styles. But Base Looks Best

The Scion iQ is still not a frequent sight in urban centers, two years since its arrival for American buyers. Why is this? For the new year, all iQ’s bring toughscreen controls for the center console. Overall, the iQ at $15,000 new is still a very ingenious package versus the much pricier, worse-driving and far less fashionable Smart Fortwo. The key difference for the iQ is width: this is as wide as any normal Corolla on the roads – which does wonders for driver confidence even on the U.S. highways. The 2014 iQ gets a tasty new grey paint finish …

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Peugeot 208 T16 and 205 T16 Group B 49

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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Update1 – LAMBO Rides Eye of the Storm: All-New HURACAN in 144 Photos, Specs, Colors

It is official!  The Lamborghini Gallardo’s replacement debuted this morning with an all-new V10 engine, a 3.2-second sprint to 60 mph, and styling that closely replicates the Aventador.   Scissor doors are about the only missing element versus the V12-powered older brother of the Lamborghini range. The Huracan brings huge intake ductwork all over the body sides, promising aero excellence without the use of a large spoiler or other gimmicks. The Huracan’s styling outside is extremely clean and aerodynamically streamlined. In fact, this nose looks so low — it might be able to ace Sweden’s Elk test… by sliding under …

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Buyers Guide to Audi RS5 Cabriolet for 2014 12

Buyers Guide: 2014 Audi RS5 Cabrio Sets Phasers to SUN!

Joining the R8 and the new RS7, the RS5 Cabriolet brings enough horsepower and visual aggression to break glass with just one stare. The metallic honeycomb grille is gigantic and looks capable of deflecting a whole family of birds at its 174 mph top speed. The atmospheric V-8 produces 450 horsepower via an optional sports exhaust and Black Optics package hiding the twin coffee-can oval exhaust outlets under the diffuser panel.These cans are so large that they define the lower rear graphic of the RS5, and look really incredible with the sharp bumper corners up top. Dark wheels bring standard …

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Buyers Guide to Audi RS5 Cabriolet for 2014 12

Buyers Guide: 2014 Audi RS5 Cabrio Sets Phasers to SUN!

Joining the R8 and the new RS7, the RS5 Cabriolet brings enough horsepower and visual aggression to break glass with just one stare. The metallic honeycomb grille is gigantic and looks capable of deflecting a whole family of birds at its 174 mph top speed. The atmospheric V-8 produces 450 horsepower via an optional sports exhaust and Black Optics package hiding the twin coffee-can oval exhaust outlets under the diffuser panel.These cans are so large that they define the lower rear graphic of the RS5, and look really incredible with the sharp bumper corners up top. Dark wheels bring standard …

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2014 Fiat 500L

Phew! Latest Real-Life Photos Show a Much Cuter 2014 Fiat 500L

The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L is exploring its new home in America! A cute couple guides us on this scenic photo shoot through seaport towns, cities, and the countryside. It is a relief to see the 500L looking cute – because that is a critical part of its selling proposition. Hip moms, cool dads, and bright colors are all in the 500L playbook. But even parents have a sense of style! And the first few sets of digital renderings really made the 500L look strange. Yes, it is still the same design – but now it is an adorable odd …

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Best of Awards – Coolest SUV Stance – Dodge Durango Rallye and Blacktop

The new Durango is a completely different machine from the first two generations of large SUVs from Dodge. Where those rigs really drove like trucks, with graunchy diffs and a stiff ride, the new Durango feels just as butch – but now far more nimble and polite in town. There is no harshness whatsoever from the RWD or optional AWD setups, and this is still one of the only rear-drive-based, seven seat crossovers on the market. Yes, there is the Tahoe, but that really moves the trucks up a size (and garage) class too far, for some. Tow ratings and …

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The FIAT brand partners with Condé Nast for the limited-edition Fiat 500c GQ Edition

Best of Awards – Most Playful Sport Compact – Fiat 500C Abarth

Hey, can you pop that top off? Ahh, being yelled at in Italiano. Is there anything sexier? Charming and sexy, a fast-talker who never breaks eye contact. If that seductress with the Abarth Scorpion tattoo does not prove it conclusively: this car is a little slice of Italy. Sweet and nice, but ready to give some kiss bites. And like most hot Italian romances, all this might happen in public! Whatever happens, the Abarth 500C is always packing a body by Speedo, and ready for a dip to cool off. Oops, you forgot your bathing suit? That’s okay.   2014 …

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2014 X5 with and without M Performance Parts

2014 BMW X5 – Before and After M Performance Upgrades

The BMW X5 is hotter than ever before. In December 3rd’s WSJ, BMW even cites huge international X5 demand as one of the reasons BMW may lose the number one U.S. luxury sales rank to Mercedes-Benz for 2013. Fun fact: the BMW Spartanburg plant is the largest exporter of American-made cars. In the whole country. Beating all the U.S. brands!  (These are official BMW cargo ships, by the way, not grey-market exports.) It seems this America-focused truck is far hotter than BMW ever expected in even its most traditional markets. The draw of seven seats and the latest BMW  style …

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1961 MINI Drops 54 Years in 60 Seconds

Timelapse Video: 1961 MINI Drops 54 Years at Past/Future Dutch MINI Factory

A charming, *exclusive* time-lapse of a 1961 model’s rebirth from MINI, just as the firm debuts its hottest 2014 JCW Concept and the all-new Hardtops are officially official. Long pre-amble: Short video. Enjoy this ’61 Mini’s rebirth. This 1961 Austin Seven was originally built in the Netherlands after Mini fever swept Britain and wider Europe by storm. Similar tides these days, as Mini has signed up to build cars again in the Netherlands starting in Summer 2014. While this is not a fully Mini plant, the Dutch crew is giving it all of their love. A team of – no …

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Best of 2013 Awards – Tail-Out, Balls-Out Supercar – $70,000 Lotus Exige S

What a pivot for Lotus Cars in 2013. While still reeling from ownership changes and a variety of management re-alignments, Lotus Cars shines its green and gold flags through any fog. This is a racing company at its core, and the Exige S arrives to American buyers with all the power, prestige and class of true exotic cars. While sharing a vaguely familiar silhouette with the Elise and previous-gen Exige, the looks are very modern and fresh up close. All the race-ready Exige S styling elements really work together with its ultra-low, ultra-wide footprint.     Where the previous Exige …

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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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2015 K900 Kia New RWD Flagship 16

2015 Kia K900 Revealed in RWD V6 and V8 Options, But Looks Dreadful Inside and Out

Kia has been signalling its upmarket intentions for years now, and is really acting on that ambition in a pretty remarkable way. The upcoming flagship Kia K900 is not priced yet, but is set to arrive in spring 2014 across the U.S. with rear-drive and the choice between a 310-horsepower V6 engine or the 5.0-liter V8 from the Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. But what is Kia’s real ambition in the executive limo market? The company is realistic about the challenges in luring conquest sales from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus. The K900 is a long-term vision for the company, asserted with …

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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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gt3rs

Snapper Showcase: ItzKirb Captures the Wild Graphics of this Porsche 911 GT3 RS

ItzKirb Photography strikes again! These GT3 RS photos are dazzling, and will warm the hearts of car lovers everywhere on this chilly Monday morning. Be sure to check out ItzKirb’s Facebook page for all his latest exotic cars and exotic babes – of which he seems to have an endless supply of both! https://www.facebook.com/itzkirb There is even on of the artist himself, pondering his subject. Thanks Kirby! Tallpapers

Superformance Ford GT40 Showcase 9

Tempted? Superformance 1966 Ford GT40's Are Virtually Flawless

These two devils play a wicked trick on the brain at first sight. Their unique blend of original and modern Ford GT cues really sets them apart on the roads – even when that giant V8 is not howling away. Priced from $150,000 each, these are recreations of Ford GT40 LeMans-winners. But these cars have a few aces up their sleeve to make up for their lack of pure vintage credibility: speed, presence, and ease of use. They are also easier to drive on the street, with updated emissions and other helpful concessions to road use. The sense of occasion …

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1980 Ferrari Pinin ANIMATED GIF99

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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