hp Topic Hub

BMW Motorcycles Evolution Since 1923 – Animated Timeline Via 20 Iconic Bikes

The history of BMW Motorrad is actually the story of the evolution of the motorcycle in general. Giant leaps of innovation are clear to see about every dozen years, but the BMW innovation throughout keeps moving the two-wheel world forward at warp speed. For a non-bikes guy like me and perhaps you, the names and styles are all a bit perplexing. We have labelled all the main bike photos to help make it all a bit clearer. The pre-war bikes in particular are hard to distinguish at first without the labels. So which is your favorite? We’d pick the …

Dec 19, 2017 Read more

367HP, ~4.4s 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Coupe

AMG is taking no chances with its hot C-Classes. That is a hard plural — there are many. C450 AMG, C43, C63 and C63 S are all set to be offered in two or four-door guises. As well as some wagons and cabriolets in the near future too! This 367HP C43 Coupe looks like a sweet spot. A nine-speed automatic with ‘double declutched’ paddle downshifts sounds fun, as does the default 31-percent front, 69-percent rear torque split for the standard 4MATIC drivetrain. The 100-kph run is promised at 4.7-seconds, and should creep down to the 4.4s ballpark to the shorter 60-mph …

Feb 24, 2016 Read more

2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA – LA Debut + Realistic Analysis: Model May Fail at US Relaunch Mission

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia debuted in North America this week — wowing LA showgoers with its extreme, high-performance exterior and interior. Still a bit light on actual details in terms of USA arrivals, or whether sales will be handled via Maserati showrooms, as on the exotic 8C Competizione from a few years ago. Below we discuss the new model’s stout performance in the original Euro debut article. But even all these months later, the GIULIA still faces an uphill climb in the US market. Reasons for this: — huge expectations for base Giulia models based on this ultra-high-performance Quadrifoglio …

Nov 20, 2015 Read more

2016 Honda CIVIC Coupe Reveal – Big Style, Power from First-Ever Turbo Engine Option

First look today at the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe! Very impressive and sexy new form language, design elements and a gorgeous, coupe-exclusive tail make this the hottest 10th-gen Civic shown so far. Power is up across both LX and EX trims, with a fairly potent new 1.5-liter turbo four making 174 horsepower, an improvement of 31 ponies versus the equivalent engine last year. Joining the Civic sedan, the Coupe is the second reveal in a broad Civic assault over the next year. The first-ever US-market Civic 5-door is coming along soon, followed by Si versions of at least the Coupe …

Nov 18, 2015 Read more

2017 Cadillac XT5 Tech Specs, Cabin Details Reveal New 8-Speed Auto, Giant Backseat + Turbo for China

Cadillac Arabia just revealed the XT5 at the Dubai auto show — the region’s first global debut for the expanding marque. The XT5 is fresh for 2017 with a quieter and smoother ride, extremely lavish cabin materials and design, plus a big leap up the roominess charts. This makes sense: the two-row luxury crossover market is all about the kings in the second row. An extra 3.2-inches of legroom are welcome in the new reclining and sliding second row of the XT5. The style of the XT5 outside is both fresh and slightly familiar: the nose and tail look very …

Nov 10, 2015 Read more

4.0s ZENDER Alfa Romeo 4C is Hardcore Style and Speed Upgrade

Holy Dino, Batman! Zender just released details on its Alfa Romeo 4C upgrades — and they are ridiculously sexy and desirable. But first: have you seen a 4C up close yet? The 4C Coupe and Spider are ridiculously hot and exotic in the flesh. With the new LEDs and headlamps up front, the design is even more fantastic than this 2015 4C Coupe from Italy. The 4C is so intense and a true Ferrari cousin in the flesh because of its mid-engine proportions, obscenely low rood and comical overall width. The 4C feels dramatically lower, shorter but MUCH wider than …

Sep 28, 2015 Read more

MINI Goes HUGE! Just-Revealed 2016 CLUBMAN is Foot Longer, Much Wider than MINI 4-Door Hardtop

The MINI range is in the midst of a full rebirth. New tech, swanky and posh cabin materials, plus fresh looks outside. The big plus is that the driving playfulness of the standard hatch applies to any body style, or even SUV. But the downside is that they all look pretty similar. Don’t let this reveal miss your radar, though, because the new Clubman might be the ideal and long-sought-after fast wagon variant of your dreams! First off, the dimensions. The Clubman is 10.6 inches longer than the new 4-Door Hardtop (aka the 5-Door in UK). The Clubman is also …

Sep 19, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Sep 16, 2015 Read more

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

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. …

Sep 14, 2015 Read more

2.8s, 450HP 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Nearing 7-min Nurburgring Laptime + Evora 400R Now Shipping!

Lotus just completed a 1200-mile testing session at the Nurburgring Nordeschleife, and the stopwatch is promising some fantastic pace! As the lightest and most-powerful Lotus ever made, this new 3-Eleven has high hopes for the brand at toppling the Radicals, BAC Mono, various Caterhams and numerous other track specials. After all, a lightweight track machine is Lotus’s core identity! Who are these upstarts carving global sales from Hethel!? Even taking the 3-Eleven to the Nurburgring is huge news: most Lotus handling and performance R&D is handled on the firm’s headquarters test tracks. Jaguar and Aston share that track too at …

Sep 09, 2015 Read more

Update1 – 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out

Updated 9.8.15 With 101 Real-Life Photos The all-new Lexus RX is here and stunning! As Lexus’ all-star sales champ, the RX redesign for 2016 is an all-important step in keeping the Big L’s sales and market share near the top of the luxury brand ranks. To fend of new competition from all sides in this five-seat crossover segment, the RX is dramatically redone in almost every way. First off, the style. DESIGN ANALYSIS Wearing Lexus’s new design brief and its interesting, unique and captivating creases and angles, the RX is far more exciting to look at than it has been …

Sep 08, 2015 Read more

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera Goes TURBO! +20HP and -0.2s For New H6TT Standard Engines

This is a pretty interesting bit of news! The standard Porsche 911 Carrera will go turbocharged from the 2017 model-year. All-new boxer six engines in 3.0-liter displacements run standard twin turbochargers. Outputs are up 20-horsepower for both Carrera and C2S models: 370 plays 420 in the Carrera S. The new engines deliver a 62-mph sprint that is down 0.2-seconds for both models. For the first time, the PDF Carrera S will scorch up to 100-kph in just 3.9-seconds. But what about the iconic sound of the 911? Will this mark another degradation in harmonics, a la the 993 –> 996 …

Sep 06, 2015 Read more

2016 BMW 340i M Sport and 330d xDrive in 150 New Photos

A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

Sep 02, 2015 Read more

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG in Satin Red Chrome Wrap by FOLIEN EXPERTE

WOOOWWW! This is one of the best-looking wraps we have seen in years. What started as a semi-DIY matte black wrapping trend has evolved rapidly in the last decade. The latest wraps use super sophisticated, multi-later materials to create a satin, shimmery effect that is virtually impossible to do with paint. For the rich, lustrous red to pop so well on the A45 AMG is testament to the new materails scientists at 3M, but also to the skilled industry wrapping has spawned. Where the original wraps were tough to apply with flawless, OEM-level production values — the technique could …

Aug 26, 2015 Read more

BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance Is Shockingly Sexy Custom Crossover

Here is a striking look at how sexy the new BMW X4 can be! With a suspension drop, full frozen grey wrap and 21-inch alloys… this X4 is clearly one bada** mo-fo. The engine featured here is the xDrive35i bumped up to 365 ponies via an ECU module and free-flowing quad pipes in back. The results speak for themselves, and make it clear that an M variant of the X4 is sorely missed from the BMW range. BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance BMW X4 BY LIGHTWEIGHT This time, the subject is X4, BMW crossover-SUV. The LIGHTWEIGHT-team under the lead management …

Aug 18, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus GS Refresh Adds GS200t Turbo, More GS350 HP and 4WS on F Sport!

The 2016 Lexus GS made a glamorous oceanfront debut tonight at Pebble Beach! A GS-F-inspired refresh outside includes standard bi-LED lighting and a fresh face for all six variants of the 5-series-fighter. New styling outside is only a part of the equation, though. The GS450h, GS350 and GS350 AWD are joined by a new engine choice: the GS200t with the 241-pony turbo four from the NX200t. Eight-speed automatics all around make the most of the power: even the entry-level turbo sprints to 60-mph in just 7.2 seconds. The GS350 does the benchmark launch in just 5.5 seconds for 2016, thanks …

Aug 13, 2015 Read more

709HP 2015 SPOFEC Rolls-Royce Ghost II Is Blackedout Special on Gold 22s

SPOFEC is bringing its Novitec Group skills to the Ghost II today in a new Black One special edition. This showcase for the firm’s exterior upgrades is as stunning as ever: the gold 22-inch wheels, body kit, lowering suspension and ECU modules complete a major wishlist for anyone wanting a super cool Roller. The full exterior de-chrome is perhaps even more noticeable than the bodykit: but SPOFEC — meaning Spirit of Ecstasy — leaves one surface its original polished finish: the leading lady herself atop that Parthenon grille. Whether unable or unwilling to make this themselves in Goodwood, the SPOFEC …

Aug 11, 2015 Read more

2016 Acura RDX COLORS – Every Shade In Flawless Animated Flyarounds

Acura has a pretty swanky consumer-facing website these days — part of the overall brand renaissance along with sharp LED style and fun handling. After years in the doldrums, Acura’s latest ILX and TLX are seriously good. They are focused and playful, fun and well-equipped. Nearly any sense of Honda sharing among platforms and tech is now banished as the brand doubles down on its shield grille. Somehow, even the much-maligned grille detail looks better in the context of the new NSX supercar. The RDX is a big grower for Acura: its sales have ramped up month over month, even …

Aug 07, 2015 Read more

2016 Acura RDX Refresh Adds Power, Tech and Style – 40 New Photos + Pricing by Trim

The quick and nimble Acura RDX is fresh for 2016 with new LED lighting front and rear, a server of new active safety technology and a redesigned cabin control stack. Now majoring on touchscreens and simplified settings, the 2016 RDX’s standard 3.5-liter V6 will compete even more effectively with the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes GLK and a half-dozen other five-seat, semi-compact SUVs and crossovers. This segment is definitely not the small or compact SUV norm– these luxury models are big and wide, with roomy rear seats. They are small enough for city duty and most travel, but …

Aug 07, 2015 Read more

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 …

Aug 06, 2015 Read more

SuperTune! Blue Silk FOSTLA.DE Mirror Wrap for Hamann BMW M6 F13

The massive widebody on this Hamann-tuned M6 is not afraid of any car on the road. But with this new blue mirror wrap from Fostla.de, the car is practically begging for a race. Wrapping such a unique custom widebody is extra challenging, and we love the quality workmanship and skill shown here. Just think of the angles around those fenders! A contrast exposed black carbon-fiber for the hood will keep the glare to a minumum while also scaring slowpokes out of the autobahn fast lane! Blue Silk FOSTLA.DE Mirror Wrap for Hamann BMW M6 F13 Hamann BMW M6 F13 Mirr6r …

Jul 17, 2015 Read more

McChip-DKR Boost Maps for AMG GT and GT-S Deliver PnP 590HP

Welcome to one of the first upgrades for both the AMG GT and its new 4.0-liter V8TT. Two outputs from the factory are currently 462HP an d 510HP for the GT-S upgrade. Both are flashed up to 590 ponies via this new McChip-DKR module. Pricing is extremely friendly, especially at current exhanges rates. The upgrade of at least 80 horsepower is shipping now from around $2300. 2015 McChip-DKR AMG GT and GT-S MERCEDES-AMG GT and GT S with still more power thanks to MCCHIP-DKR The mcchip-dkr company from Mechernich at the gates of the Eifel mountains is well known …

Jul 13, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus ES350 and ES300h Revealed In US-Spec With Fresh Nose, Tail + Updated Wheels, Paints and Cabins

Updated 7.15.15 With Latest 41 US-Spec ES Photos The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and …

Jul 12, 2015 Read more

2016 Cadillac CT6 Black Pack Renderings + Animated COLORS Visualizer

Updated 6.30.15 With Color Visualizer and Rendered Black Pack Cadillac is keeping the CT6 momentum building ahead of the car’s arrival near the end of 2015 as a 2016 model-year. The brand just revealed the color choices buyers will have outside, and the two inside. These interior renders are preliminary, with additional woods and leathers likely to complement the tan and black shown so far. The nine colors are all Hamptons-ready classic shades — with a subdued and wealthy palette right out of the Brooks Brothers swatch book. Our favorite by far? The new green! Dubbed Dark Emerald Metallic, this …

Jun 30, 2015 Read more

2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Refreshed With New LEDs, Fascias and Adjustable Drive Modes

Mercedes-Benz revealed the fresh A-Class this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed — showing off the new AMG A45 among its brothers like the new G500 4×4-squared and the AMG GT-S. This refresh for the A-Class updates the nose and tail designs with fresh fascias and LEDs. It is particularly convincing from the back — where even the entry-level A180 and A250 have a much sleeker appearance. The look blends the best of hot-hatch proportions with the fast and low-roof wagon style we always love. A big mechanical change for the nw A-Class are adaptive and adjustable dampers, controlled …

Jun 29, 2015 Read more

Update1 – 3.9s, 510HP 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio Sounds Sublime On Track!

Update1 – Rendered Color TestWOW! First look at the new Alfa Giulia today leaves us floored! On-Stage Debut Romeo & Juliet appear to be in fine form these days — running sideways around 90-mph corners at the fantasy Verona racetrack! The numbers and initial details for this production-spec GIULIA (proniunced ‘Julia’) Qaudrifoglio are mouth-watering. 510 horsepower via a twin-turbocharged V6. Rear or AWD. Torque vectoring and active aero. Style to make you weak in the knees from up front. Fresh LED designs and a wide V have a sporty feel that vaguely recalls the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, but …

Jun 26, 2015 Read more

2.8s, 450HP 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Is Gorgeous New Track-Attack Flagship

Lotus founder Colin Chapman always preached about the benefits of ‘adding lightness’ to achieve the quickest possible laptimes. But what if you could add lightness actively and passively. Passively, you could strip away the entire windshield and roof of an Exige V6. ‘Active lightness’ is a fairly new idea for Lotus track cars, but one that will make this new 3-Eleven the quickest production model ever to leave Hethel. The stripped-down track focus for the 3-Eleven is paired with a 450-horsepower supercharged V6 and wild, expressive concept-car slashes in the all-new profile and tail designs. But the power will …

Jun 26, 2015 Read more

900HP, 3.6s 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS – A Dictators Delight!

How do you make a presidential motorcade reach 220-mph — a top speed quicker than any F1 car? You add the Brabus 900 V12TT to the new Maybach! For the working rich, a much more humble 80HP upgrade is also available for the Maybach S500. Revamped styling outside, giant wheels and a ghastly cabin makeover round out the upgrades to this new fatcat bahn-stormer. 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS BRABUS refines the new Mercedes-Maybach 662 kW / 900 HP, 1,500 Nm, top speed 350 km/h plus, high-tech forged wheels, sporty-elegant design and even more luxurious BRABUS fine leather interiors The …

Jun 12, 2015 Read more

GEIGER Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Adds 110HP To MuscleCar Track Legend

Yes, the new 2016 Camaro is on its way. And yes, it will be quicker and more fun than ever before. But the RS and SS 2016 Camaro’s are fairly tame compared with the hardcore 2015 Z/28 — for which no replacement has been confirmed. Geiger Cars of Germany is part tuner and part showroom — giving European buyers access to many of the fastest and most exciting American cars on the market. Geiger brings over cars that are not imported to Europe whatsoever, including the Z/28. A $16,000 engine upgrade from Geiger is the only tweak on this stunning …

Jun 01, 2015 Read more

2015 MANSORY S63 Widebody Coupe Launches New 710HP Power Level for Gorgeous CF Restyle

Mansory just came out with its second S63 AMG Coupe — wearing the stunning carbon-fiber widebody and now offering a very-modest 710 horsepower option. This is down more than 180 ponies from the bonkers Diamond Edition shown below in blue, but is still enough to wipe the floor with most supercars in a pure drag race. These power upgrades are far more than electronic: the Mansory engine overhaul upgrades a dozen key components under the hood to make the block stronger and faster-revving, plus able to cope with the astounding levels of peak torque. Previous limiting factors on overall power …

May 27, 2015 Read more

AMG SLS Widebody 900GT By Prior Design Is Radical Design Upgrade

Holy hell! Get a load of the latest badass bodykit for the AMG SLS: the Prior Design 900GT Widebody. The kit comes in around $30k and consists of two dozen new body pieces — which come ready to paint as standard, with CF available. the four-part front bumper including the four lateral gills the six-part front wings, the two-part bonnet with air inlets the likewise two-part side skirts including blade the four-part rear wings the two-part rear bumper including diffuser the five-part rear valve spoiler As you can see, the effect is almost unreal on the SLS as a 2015 …

May 22, 2015 Read more

2014 Pagani Zonda Revolucion Adds DRS Dynamic Downforce + 50HP for Ultimate Time-Attack Prowess

If the 2009-2010 Pagani Zonda R is shocking in its depth of changes versus the ‘regular’ Zonda, this R-EVO model honors the near-perfection of the original model. Even so, the ‘Evo’ version of any supercar is generally far better. Benefiting from real-world tuning and production tweaks, the Zonda Revolucion is no exception to this rule. Power from the AMG V12 is up to 800 ponies, while the on-track dynamics are massively enhanced by a new Drag Reduction System out back. Controlled via a steering-wheel button, DRS can selectively engage as needed on track, or a two-second push of the button …

May 18, 2015 Read more

Hypercar Heroes – 750HP, 2.7s 2010 PAGANI Zonda R is 7 Minutes in Heaven

No study of hypercar heroes would be complete without the phenomenal Pagani Zonda R from 2009 to 2010. Just 15 examples of this hardcore track machine were produced, with pricing of around $2.5-million each. With typical Pagani thoroughness, the Zonda R’s creation is far more that a set of slick tires and lightweight carpet. As you can see from almost every angle, the Zonda R employs an all-new aerodynamic setup. Giant lower intake scoops and splitter could cut off a pedestrian at the ankles, with the sharp wedge of a carbon-fiber nose an effective cleaver to finish that dark job. …

May 18, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

May 13, 2015 Read more

4.6s 2016 BMW 340i xDrive and new Plug-in 330e Lead Refreshed Range

A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

May 09, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

May 08, 2015 Read more

Mecum Indy 2015 – 1993 Toyota Supra Official Fast Furious Movie Car Seeking $150k+

Movie cars sometimes have a hard life after the filming stops. They have sometimes been abused to the point of no return – with only one or two of the original six-pack of action stars making it to the premiere on four wheels. This 1993 Toyota Supra is the exception. Thanks to fairly gentle use in The Fast and The Furious, this Paul Walker whip survives today in perfect condition. One of one, this Supra is a perfect slice-of-life from the early 2000’s SoCal car scene. The time is right for a big-money sale in 2015, 14 years after the …

May 06, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Apr 27, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus ES Makes Shanghai Debut With Fresh Details + RX200t F Sport

The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and therefore handling and NVH smoothness. A pair of …

Apr 20, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Apr 17, 2015 Read more

NOVITEC ROSSO Ferrari California RACE 606 Is Supercharged Menace!

If there is one Ferrari that is primed and ready for hardcore upgrades, it might be the firm’s softest model: the California. Introduced to mixed reviews but huge sales, the California is now approaching four years old and is being replaced by the new-engine California T. But one tuner solved for the massive power increase in the California already: Novitec Rosso. Instead of the turbo and small-displacement V8 in the new Cali T, the Novitec Rosso RACE 606 adds a supercharged to the original 4.3-liter Ferrari V8. Power is up massively as a result: from 460 to 606 horsepower at …

Apr 16, 2015 Read more

230MPH BRABUS Rocket 900 Is FASTEST 4-Door EVER!

When you have a supercar-fast S65 overhauled by Brabus, the overall Vmax leaps from its factory limiter from 186-mph into the stratosphere. 900 horsepower from the V12TT is thanks to an aggressive new intake, boost and exhaust management system and a jump in displacement from 5.5-liters to 6.3-liters. Standard rear-drive makes the Brabus Rocket 900 actually faster above 200-mph than the standard 4Matic in other S-Class Mercedes-AMG limos for 2015, but it will take a brave driver indeed to test this car’s outright potential. The Rocket 900 is generally tire-limited to 217-mph, but can reach a theoretical 230-mph based on …

Apr 14, 2015 Read more

MANSORY Huracan Now Available in Brutal 838HP Turbo + Extreme 1250HP Twin-Turbo Varieties!

As one-off customs chosen by someone else, naturally most of Mansory’s fully customized machines are shocking to the eye at first. The colors, the insane carbon-fiber, the cabins — all truly insane at times. But what about the POWERRRR! Taking the performance of an all-new supercar like the Lamborghini Huracan to the same level on a track as Mansory does aesthetically!? What will the results be? The firm’s latest duo is a pair of upgraded Huracan with all the usual flash all around, but real bang under the carbon-louvred engine covers. A single turbo for the 5.2-liter V10 now …

Apr 03, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out in 84 Images!

The all-new Lexus RX is here and stunning! As Lexus’ all-star sales champ, the RX redesign for 2016 is an all-important step in keeping the Big L’s sales and market share near the top of the luxury brand ranks. To fend of new competition from all sides in this five-seat crossover segment, the RX is dramatically redone in almost every way. First off, the style. DESIGN ANALYSIS Wearing Lexus’s new design brief and its interesting, unique and captivating creases and angles, the RX is far more exciting to look at than it has been in years. The noses are characterized …

Apr 01, 2015 Read more

2016 Cadillac CT6 – $75k Flagship World Premiere 60 Images From Brooklyn

The new Cadillac CT6 is official! As the top-flight limo in the newly invigorated Cadillac range, the CT6 has some huge shoes to fill. The hype and fish-eye lense videos proclaim to Dare Greatly, so how does the car live up to all this scene-setting? To convince BMW and Mercedes drivers to consider Cadillac, the CT6 needs to be far, far more than a stretched CTS. Far more than a modern STS. Based on the initial information provided by Cadillac, we are highly skeptical. Granted, the car does feel significantly wider and longer than any Caddy in years — …

Mar 31, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Mar 26, 2015 Read more

2015 MANSORY S63 Coupe Is Garish At First, But Actually Fantastic Widebody

Okay, okay…. We hear you. “This thing is hideous inside and out.” “Matte paint and matte wraps are so 2011.” “The interior looks like a not-great way to spend $100k.” But step back from the details of this one-off Diamond Edition, and the MANSORY S63 Coupe is actually a sweet set of mods. By the way, those formica-looking black accents are carbon-fiber with flecks of jewels and crystals inside. Fancy. But the real benefits to the appearance of the Mansory S63 Coupe are more subtle. A new lower bumper is far more intense, aggressive and open. Unique lower bumper flaps …

Mar 05, 2015 Read more

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

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, …

Mar 03, 2015 Read more

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

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, …

Feb 26, 2015 Read more

400HP, 4.1s 2016 Lotus Evora 400 Is Leaner and Meaner 2+2 With Designed-In Downforce

First look tonight at the new Lotus Evora 400 — a tweaked and updated version of the promising sports-car with mid-mounted V6 power, a supercharger with 50 extra horsepower to deliver 4.1-second sprints to 60-mph, and even an available IPS automatic transmission. The big news of the Evora 400 is its cooler style, better aero slipperiness combined with almost double the downforce of the existing Evora S. Inside, the new Evora 400 is far more advanced with new controls and new tech throughout. The center stack is incredibly modern and delivers Porsche-beating design details for things as everyday as the …

Feb 17, 2015 Read more

2016 Skoda Superb Revealed in Prague With Audi A8-Rivaling Roominess and Superior Design?!

Skoda is very proud of the Superb, their flagship of the line and packing a gigantic back seat that is in the same league as the standard-wheelbase A8 limousine. How and why is this possible in a car that is priced under the VW Passat? How comes down to the mass-market MQB chassis componentry and lack of an aluminum-spaceframe chassis or alloy bodywork. Front-drive is the name of the game, but this is also a side benefit. The trunk is bigger than any Audi sedan. Why? That is a bit more complicated. Think of the Superb as the Phaeton of …

Feb 17, 2015 Read more

2015 Acura RDX Refreshed With New Tech, LED Lighting and Chassis Refinement

The quick and nimble Acura RDX is fresh for 2016 with new LED lighting front and rear, a server of new active safety technology and a redesigned cabin control stack. Now majoring on touchscreens and simplified settings, the 2016 RDX’s standard 3.5-liter V6 will compete even more effectively with the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes GLK and a half-dozen other five-seat, semi-compact SUVs and crossovers. This segment is definitely not the small or compact SUV norm– these luxury models are big and wide, with roomy rear seats. They are small enough for city duty and most travel, but …

Feb 12, 2015 Read more

Watch the PP-Performance Porsche 911 Turbo Slam a 9.8s Quarter Mile!

Talk about bang for the buck! Or maybe a better phrase? G-forces for your G’s? 2.5G of acceleration pushing you into the 911 Turbo’s seat twice as hard as stock, for just 15G’s of your cash. This PP-911 Turbo upgrade creates a stonking 150 extra horsepower for just 12,000 Euros. Roughly exchanged to dollars, this is a very reasonable $100 per pony. The results of this giant torque and horsepower expansion take the 911 Turbo to a new league of performance. 2.5-seconds to 60-mph, and a blistering 9.8-second 1/4-mile sprint. Stellar numbers, both. Finely honed on the PP-Performance dyno’s and …

Feb 12, 2015 Read more

3.6s 2016 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe Updated With Latest 6-Series Tech and Style

We really wondered about the just-released-in-the-US Alpina B6 for 2015. How would this sync with the overall 635i, 650i and M6 Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe that are all packing barely-noticeable updates? Luckily, the Aplina B6 benefits from these ultra-subtle tweaks for 2016. We recently spotted (what the owner said) was the first B6 GC on the East Coast, after falling hard for the first USA B6 GC at a BMW event in Pebble Beach. 2015 BMW Alpina B6 (current model) The biggest change to spot is that the current car has its LED indicator elements below the main …

Feb 11, 2015 Read more

INFINITI QX70 Larte LR3 Widebody from AHG-Sports

Larte Design is making some waves in tuner-loving Germany! The wildest of the three upgrade kits, dubbed LR3, is fitted here to the QX70 by AHG-Sports, who also completes a comprehensive dechroming and black-on-black styling overhaul. The results speak for themselves! INFINITI QX70 Larte LR3 Widebody from AHG-Sports INFINITI QX70 LR3-WIDE BODY from AHG-SPORTS Since five years AHG-Sports has been extremely positively talked about as in-house tuning department of the car dealer Günther, which is represented four times in Hamburg especially with cars of the precious Nissan-offshoot Infiniti. And cooperation agreement recently reached with LARTE Design resulted in additional opportunities …

Feb 11, 2015 Read more

Update1 70 New Pics – 2015 Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS Feature Ripping Exhaust!

BIG news about the new 981 Porsche Cayman and Boxster GTS! They feature a roaring, stonking and rip-snorting exhaust note. In perhaps the least-kept-secret of the last year, the Cayman and Boxster are officially available with a new top-level GTS trim level. In addition to more focused dynamics and style all around, the GTS models pack 340-horsepower each. (Edit: the Boxster appears to have ten fewer ponies than the hardtop Cayman.) Even so, this is a pretty substantial leap for the 911’s siblings, which until now have been capped well below this total — even in the Boxster and Cayman …

Feb 02, 2015 Read more

Mecum Florida 2015 Hero – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Brings $900k

Stunning total sale prices for the star of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection: this flawlessly original 1969 Daytona Charger. HD Video walkaround below, plus 30 new photos of the car in person. Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the …

Jan 30, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Jan 16, 2015 Read more

3.8s 2015 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Is Quickest SUV EVER!

Here is the scenario: two amazing Porsches. Which to do first? Our first article definitely led with the new Targa GTS — until we looked at the spec sheets. The PDK Targa GTS sprints to 60-mph in a very-respectable 4.1-seconds with the PDK pack. But brace yourself for some real heat with the new Cayenne Turbo S. This $160,000 super-truck is now the quickest SUV of all time: 3.8-seconds to 60-mph. Apologies for the lack of formatting in the specs below. Screenshots of the full specs PDF included, however, as proof of this unbelievably quick new Cayenne Turbo S. …

Jan 14, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Jan 12, 2015 Read more

Porsche 911 GT2 by OK-ChipTuning Adds 150HP in 90 Minutes

It is raining GT2 Porsche’s today! For any turbo, no mod is more cost and time-efficient than an ECU reflash. Imagine adding at least 50-horsepower in the time it takes to get an oil change. Too good to be true, right? Yes. The best turbo tunes will not just work the electronics: you definitely benefit most from a more open exhaust setup. And to sustain that performance under hard driving, a chipped turbo also demands a bigger intercooler with more capacity. If the turbo is glowing red-hot from hard driving, it will lose progressively more and more power — until …

Jan 09, 2015 Read more

1006HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS MusclePlay by WIMMER Shows Bonkers 242MPH Vmax

If the racing Wimmer GT2 RS previously shown was track-optimized with a jump in 80-horsepower, this one is simply for the bonkers power-fiend. The twin-turbo Porsche now puts out an astounding 1006-horsepower. The output is so immense that we actually needed to convert the metric PS 1020 measurement to US horsepower. The difference is usually negigible, but when you hit the stratosphere…. obviously what is a rounding error on the Honda becomes a difference of 16 ponies. The indicated V-max of this MusclePlay RS is 242-mph — but it would be a brave soul who explores past 220 or so! …

Jan 09, 2015 Read more

221MPH, 703HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS by WIMMER

We car-guys are becoming a bit desensitized to power outputs hitting absolutely huge heights. But any Porsche 911 with a horsepower figure starting in the 700’s is still a shocking thing. This Wimmer GT2 RS was designed to go racing from day one, and the car is a model of brutality and knife-edged speed even more than the stock ‘widow-maker.’ Along with the 83-horsepower increase over the factory model’s 620-horsepower comes an even bigger jump in top speed: to a frankly shocking 221-mph. As Porsche prepares to launch its own RS 911 model soon, it is good to see that …

Jan 09, 2015 Read more

Volvo S60 XC Marks Return of the SUS!

The SUS lives! Sport Utility Sedans are a rare breed indeed. Only a few hundred of the original Subaru Outback Sedan were made and sold in core Subie markets like Vermont and Colorado in the late 1990s. Volvo’s new S60 XC entry will head to Detroit and then nationwide as a fun niche model for the brand. The Cross Country style actually looks amazing on the S60 sedan shell – and we’re eager to spot the rare and elusive SUS Volvo in the wild later in 2015…! Volvo S60 XC Volvo takes Cross Country brand into sedan territory Volvo Cars …

Jan 08, 2015 Read more

KTM X-Bow GT By WIMMER Is Nearly Unbeatable With 485HP

The KTM X-Bow is easily one of the most interesting and coolest track car designs to appear in the last 15 years. But major critiques of the car have arisen regardless. Its carbon tub and frame make the car’s handling, some say, too benign and its power delivery too inert. For these hardcore drivers, the X-Bow GT and X-Bow RR need a final push to enter the true supercar level of track pace. Enter Germany’s WIMMER RST — a racing company that will also prep you a road car. The X-Bow GT shown here with the new windshield option bumps …

Dec 27, 2014 Read more

3.3s MANSORY Zapico Is The Pagani of Motorcycles

The design and construction of this masterful Mansory motorcycle debut is second to no manufacturer in the world. Short of Pagani, perhaps! You can see how nearly every single part of the Mansory Zapico is custom-milled from alloy billet or hand-laid in carbon-fiber. The design itself is delightfully long-wheelbase and menacing, with a huge scale and 160-horsepower engine all kept low and ultra-cool. This is definitely a man’s bike — it is huge. But that does not stop the custom S&S V-twin engine from shooting the Zapico to 60-mph in just 3.3-seconds. Looks like that giant 285-section rear tire is …

Dec 21, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1996 Dodge Viper GTS

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger RT – Lot R216

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee – Lot R212

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Buick GSX

Switching it up briefly — this fly-yellow Buick GSX stunner also lived in the Wellborn stables… A note here about “badge engineering.” Sure, badge engineering got a bad reputation and still has one in the auto business. But it was not always about shameless profit-seeking. It was about dealerships demanding a cool their-brand version of whatever popular car came out of these companies. This stemmed ultimately from buyer’s outcry for the same thing. In a time of fierce brand loyalties among whole families, they were much less likely to jump ship to a Dodge if they had traditionally owned Buicks. …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Dodge Challenger TA

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered for …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

BMW Motorcycles Evolution Since 1923 – Animated Timeline Via 20 Iconic Bikes

The history of BMW Motorrad is actually the story of the evolution of the motorcycle in general. Giant leaps of innovation are clear to see about every dozen years, but the BMW innovation throughout keeps moving the two-wheel world forward at warp speed. For a non-bikes guy like me and perhaps you, the names and styles are all a bit perplexing. We have labelled all the main bike photos to help make it all a bit clearer. The pre-war bikes in particular are hard to distinguish at first without the labels. So which is your favorite? We’d pick …

Dec 18, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files

Jim Rockford’s hero car from The Rockford Files!? Yessir. These three Firebirds are about as nice as it gets – truly stunning. James Garner was the ultimate 1970s detective, in a broadcast schedule lousy with imitators that could never compare with his steely delivery and shrewd crime-solving skills. This Firebird Formula was painted gold to match the first Firebird Espirit from the series’ early seasons, and was Rockford’s main ride for the 1978-1980 seasons of the show. Garner disliked the 1979 restyle of the Firebird, so this kid stayed in the picture. Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files Lot …

Dec 16, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition

Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. This Y88 Gold Special Edition was a one-year release and includes all the great three-letter model codes of the era: W72 6.6-liter V8, Y88 trim and WS6 Performance Pack. The gold leaf paint and glass T-Tops are a special accent, while the 16,000 original miles make this one barely broken in – 35 years later. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition Lot R204// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan …

Dec 16, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1978 Pontiac Trans Am – Owned by Burt Reynolds

Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Do you also like Mustaches and wild burnouts? If so, you are doubly fortunate with this Trans Am. This Firebird is none other than Burt Reynold’s personal Pontiac Trans Am. Not a movie car — his actual daily driver for a few years. The Starlight Black* paint glows just as deeply today as it ever did, and the design of this Firebird is aging very gracefully. The C/B radio is …

Dec 16, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Has Just 6k Original Miles

Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the muscle car era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it certainly applies to the owners of this astounding 1969 Dodge Hemi 4-speed Daytona, which has been driven an amazing 6,435 …

Dec 16, 2014 Read more

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport

Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Kicking things off is this triple black Chevelle SS. We think of the Chevelle as the Camaro’s stronger and meaner older brother — so clearly not one to mess with at the lights. The 454 badges show and tell the power of this machine loud and clear, as does its bellowing V8 roar on hard throttle. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Engine 454/450 HP Trans …

Dec 16, 2014 Read more

1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II: Wankel vs V8 Proved Piston-Engine Dominance

Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars. 1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …

Dec 15, 2014 Read more

201MPH 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel World Speed Record Car

The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …

Dec 09, 2014 Read more

Updated With 50 New Photos – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 and CLS63 AMG Refreshed With Standard 4Matic

Updated 10.19.14 Well, would you look what we have here! See, it really does pay to crop photos extra tight (sometimes). You never really know what you will find. Such was my excitement to see the facelifted 2015 CLS63 AMG in the second Mercedes-Benz release about the new 24-LED-per-side MultiBeam headlights. These replace the previous block/bar of lighting in the CLS, which was unique but not exactly welcoming, warm or desirable. The new layout is much like the E63 AMG, but with only a single LED band up the top of the lamp shape. Of …

Oct 19, 2014 Read more

Zero to Hero in the 2015 Chevrolet Impala CNG SuperCruise

The Chevrolet Impala is a critical test-bed for two future GM technologies in 2015: a bi-fuel CNG option and the forthcoming SuperCruise automated highway driving system. We caught up with a 2015 Impala LTZ featuring the shield grille that comes on LTZ cars with the Safety tech option package – and this is still the best-looking full-size sedan from Chevy in decades. The current setup does not yet incorporate lane-keeping and automatic steering, but that is certainly in the pipeline. The Cadillac CT6 is tipped to debut a true SuperCruise functionality next year — with on-ramp to off-ramp highway driving …

Oct 14, 2014 Read more

Updated with 30 New Photos – 2015 MINI 5-Door Answers the Call of Back-Seaters Everywhere!

Updated 9.23.14 What is the back-seaters’ call? “Let us out!” ? That is not exactly the MINI Cooper’s fun-loving style! Back-seat whiners have typically just wanted to stretch their legs a little bit, but been stuck until one of the fancy front-seaters will move their tush and let the seat slide up to an open slice of door. The 2015 MINI five-door hatch promises modest solutions to both problems via an extra set of rear doors on the silly-fun urban classic. The latest MINI model is far more approachable in every way, with its turbocharged standard triple delivering more MPG …

Sep 23, 2014 Read more

98 New Photos – 2015 BMW M4 Convertible – Pricing, Colors, Options and Specs

Updated 8.31.14 Pricing from $72,500 climbs a $10,000 with the quicker-to-60-mph M-DCT automatic and carbon-ceramix brakes, but besides that the M4 is absolutely perfect right out of the box. Especially if a stick-shift and regular M Brakes will be fine! In that case, the only upgrades you need are the 19-inch black-accent wheels, upgraded audio for $875. This leaves change to add a special M Performance exhaust and a few other goodies. The top-down audio is one of the new M4 Cabrio’s highlights with the new turbo inline-six ripping to redline. Hundreds of new real-life photos of the M4 …

Aug 31, 2014 Read more

World Debut: 2.5s, 200+MPH 2014 KEPLER Motion Is All-New, Twin-Turbo Hybrid Hypercar

Hypercar performance for a supercar price? Yes please! What the Kepler Motion lacks in name recognition, it more than makes up for with beautiful proportions and the promise of extreme performance. The car runs a 550-horsepower, 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost V6 midship and a 250-horsepower electric motor up front. The layout is similar to that employed in the Porsche 918 Spyder and the forthcoming Acura NSX — delivering a crushing 2.5-second sprint to 60-mph and a 200-plus top speed flat out. The power and carbon-fiber construction yields and ultra-stiff machine that is strong enough to make serious progress around any racetrack, …

Aug 26, 2014 Read more

Charleston Cars and Coffee – 1955 Porsche 356 1500S Speedster

The thing that really strikes you when seeing the 1955 Porsche Speedster up close is its absolutely tiny scale. It is dwarfed by the Cayman sitting next to it, as well as any modern-sized human. This ultra-small and ultra-smooth style earned Porsche quite the following among those who rejected the two-ton ideal of American cars of the era. In fact, the light and lean mantra became a turning point in defining all sportscars in the post-war era. The aesthetic of hyper-curved panels is not just for beauty or aero sleekness, either. Such huge and deeply-stamped bodywork gave the 356 extra …

Aug 01, 2014 Read more

BMW M235i RS by TUNINGWERK Making 400+ HP – Performance Mod Items Available for USA and Global Buyers

The BMW M235i is easily one of the best, most complete sports-cars in the last decade. So fast, so agile and so fun. There really is not much else with this triple threat of track prowess along with smooth and luxurious commuter capabilities. But what if you want to go even more hardcore? To take this incredible engineering package and light the wick with a blowtorch? To make your own GT-R-killer ready for any performance challenge — and delivering a huge grin all the way there and back — look no further than the below catalog from German car …

Jul 13, 2014 Read more

FOSTLA.de Foliation Designs A Wild Mercedes-Benz CLS in Metallic Gold Matte

FOSTLA.de Foliation Designs A Wild Mercedes-Benz CLS in Metallic Gold Matte Learned a new word today… foliation Definition: the art of foil wrapping a surface, object or cherished Mercedes-Benz CLS. Etym: new Engdeutsch. The below description and intro for Fostla.de’s Porsche GT3 certainly applies to this incredibly intense CLS. It is on air-ride lowering springs and has a few other customizations noted below — but by far the most mind-warping element is the Bond Gold Matte Metallic wrap by Fostla. This is paired very tastefully with tinted lamps and a red accent bar in the fascias front and rear. The …

Jul 11, 2014 Read more

2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Updated With New Grille, LEDs Front and Rear – Specs, Features and Pricing

The Kia Optima is a run-away success for the brand: since its latest design debuted, sales of the model are nearly double what the nameplate has ever achieved before. To keep this momentum and address buyer priorities, the Hybrid model has rounded out the base and turbo engine options. For the current model-year, the Hybrid brings a few updates both outside and in. The LED accents in the nose are a Hybrid exclusive, as are the lower double fog-lamp elements. These are not nearly as cool as the quad-LED setup in the SX-L trim, but are still pretty nice elements …

Jul 11, 2014 Read more

2014 Mercedes-Benz E400 BlueTec Hybrid – Gibraltar to Goodwood… In One Tank of Diesel?

Is EU Immigration reform debate stymied by classy and comfortable luxury cars!? It seems the E-Class Mercedes-Benz is as good as any passport for slipping from Africa up to the UK on just one tank of fuel… Of course, the Diesel-electric energy solution has long been the preferred method for locomotives – but thought too expensive for cars until Mercedes-Benz and a few French OEMs built them both into one car. It seems to be the best of all worlds – except for Mr. Frnakel’s bladder! 2014 Mercedes-Benz E400 BlueTec Hybrid Official Details below from Mercedes-Benz UK. 1,223-MILES: E-CLASS TRAVELS …

Jun 27, 2014 Read more

2014 BRABUS 700G 6×6 Is A Bond Villain’s Dream Truck

A bit of visual and intellectual candy to start this Friday morning – from the fun-loving minds of Brabus in Germany. The 700G 6×6 takes the already-bonkers G63 AMG 6×6 and really goes wild. There is not one angle or touch point that has not been fully overhauled – and the result makes a regular G550 look like a Corolla by comparison. The huge width and track stretch is perhaps the most notable element on first inspection – and it also bodes well for the 700G’s ability to handle all this new power in the corners. Versus the standard G-wagen …

Jun 20, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2012 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

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

Jun 19, 2014 Read more

2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer Shows Potential of Crisp, Lean and Aggressive Design in 40 Colors

2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer Shows Potential of Crisp, Lean and Aggressive Design in 40 Colors We’re huge fans of the ZENVO ST1 here at Car-Revs-Daily. The ST1’s design is amazing – clean and pure but quite aggressive and obviously exotic from all angles. With pricing at or above a million dollars, the ZENVO team is of course open to custom orders. With that in mind, we took to Photoshop to imagine the ST1 in some classic and ultra-modern hypercar colors. It really looks outstanding in all the yellows and a few of the neon greens. 2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer …

Jun 19, 2014 Read more

Update1 – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shows Revamped Nose + Adds Standard 4Matic for USA

Well, would you look what we have here! See, it really does pay to crop photos extra tight (sometimes). You never really know what you will find. Such was my excitement to see the facelifted 2015 CLS63 AMG in the second Mercedes-Benz release about the new 24-LED-per-side MultiBeam headlights. These replace the previous block/bar of lighting in the CLS, which was unique but not exactly welcoming, warm or desirable. The new layout is much like the E63 AMG, but with only a single LED band up the top of the lamp shape. Of course, the blue “Hello You” lighting is …

Jun 18, 2014 Read more

Powerkit for Porsche 911 Carrera S Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust

Powerkit And Aero Upgrades for Porsche 911 Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust For many Porsche 911 owners, the rumble from out back becomes one of the car’s most loved and central features. Far more than a gimmick, the 911 breathes directly from the wind ‘backflow’ at the rear of the car at high speeds. Ideally, the Carrera S Powerkit will sound much like the Sport Classic below: Like it’s own pressure chamber, the spoiler’s effectiveness is required to channel that cold air directly into this once-air-cooled engine setup. 430HP is on tap, a jump from 400. Classic 911 …

Jun 18, 2014 Read more

2.9s, 233MPH 2014 ZENVO ST1 Lands in USA With Stunning Design and Huge Power

One of the most desirable and shockingly raw hypercars of 2014? Definitely the Zenvo ST1 – with its huge mid-mounted V8 both turbocharged and supercharged to deliver 650-horsepower in Wet settings, 850-HP in Sport and the full 1104 horsepower in the Race settings. All to just the back wheels. No hybrid power assistance like the big 3 hypercars of this year – just raw adrenaline through a seven-speed paddle-shift automatic. Out back traction is managed by racing-wide tires and a locking Torsen limited-slip-differential. This is a car for people tired of the washed-out and watered-down class of hybrid hypercar. People …

Jun 17, 2014 Read more

Update1 – KAMAZ 4911 Dominates 2014 DAKAR Rally For 12th Truck Class Win

Update 1 June 17, 2014 Okay, so this race was in January 2014. Which makes this is bit of a late update… So you like the Ford Raptor and that feeling of being unstoppable on any terrain? Try the Kamaz-4911 on for size: – 17.2-liter, mid-mounted TD V8 engine – 730 horsepower @ 2500 rpm – 1991 pound-feet of torque @ 1300 rpm – Maximum Speed – 102.5 MPH Trust me, I had to check those numbers thrice myself. A 17-liter V8 is cool, but only the start of the fun for this multi-purpose truck platform. Initially designed with six …

Jun 17, 2014 Read more