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Design Talent Showcase – 2025 McLaren Monaco – Front-Engine GT By Nathan Malinick

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On the eve of McLaren’s latest road car reveal at Villa d’Este tomorrow — here is a masters-thesis design project from a rising star of the car business. Its premise? A front-engine GT car from McLaren.  Named the Monaco, nearby where Macca will unveil their cushiest road car yet. But this concept is no strategic counterpoint. This design was finalized last year so it is just a delightful convergence of ideas in the motor universe.  From the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, to Woking, and back. “I finished this project before the release of the McLaren Speedtail last fall …

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Update1 – 2017 Lamborghini Terzo Millennio

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Updated with high-res photos. Lambo just whipped the wraps off the newest, hottest Lambo yet: the Terzo Millennio.  This third wave hypercar aims to make electric exotic.  And make it sexy. Tough ask! The new Lambo TM aims to revolutionize materials and packaging to go even more mid-engined than Aventador or Centenario.  Cab farther forward.  More extreme rakes to all glass.  And extreme aero taking more precedence than beauty.  We see Lambo’s wild pipedream of what their flagship might be in 2025. Only fairly lousy images and no tech specs available yet.  Watch this space for better materials when available. …

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2017 Honda CIVIC Si Now In Showrooms from $24k

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UPDATE 5.12.17 The new Si twins from Honda go on sale across the USA tomorrow!  Pretty exciting stuff, even though the new 205HP turbo motor matches the previous Si outputs.  Why?  Because of the new surge in low-end torque that will shave nearly a second off real-world 0-60-mph sprints. The turbo engine also presents an extremely easy tuning roadmap.  Juicing 300 ponies out of here might cost $4k for ECU reflash plus big downpipe/intake/exhaust.  Getting to 300 from the naturally aspirated engine would cost at least double that and be frankly quite challenging without a full race rebuild of the …

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2017 Honda CIVIC Si Coupe and Sedan Rock 205HP Turbos, In Stores Next Month

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It has been a long time coming, Honda fans!  We’ve been holding our collective breath hoping for greatness in the future Civic Type R. AND.. SCORE! Honda delivered and is on an unbelievable hot streak. FLASHBACK:  Here we rendered some dreams of a euro civic in USA. That was back in 2014.  Three years later: New Accord Sport, Civic Sport are world-class excellent once again.  Perhaps not causal… but certainly correlated!?  This new Si looks fairly similar to the Civic Sport from up front — which is to say, amazing.  Around back, new spoilers and exhausts speak volumes about what’s …

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1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype Speedster at Amelia Island Concours [28 Photos]

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    A barchetta speedster as a racecar!?  This car is inspired by the top can-am spyder style LMP1 racecars of its era — all giant wings and scoops galore.  A simple rollbar and twin plexiglass cowls instead of a windshield means this is a helmets-on affair at speed.  The pure definition of street speedster cool! This flowing and curvy design style was the anti-wedge.  Counter-programming versus the sharp Countach and Esprit look, perhaps.  Curvy panel surfaces like these would take decades to go mainstream.   1971 Bizzarrini 128P Prototype

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267MPH 1987 Oldsmobile AeroTech at Amelia Island Concours [36 Photos]

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What the Oldsmobile AeroTech lacks now and arguably lacked then?  Brand appeal. But what it brings today 30 years after its rollout and stunning 250-mph plus top speed runs?  Importance. This is an important machine.  An extreme aerodynamics, tire and engine prototype, the AeroTech showed the world what it would take to cross into seriously dangerous speeds.  Its tires, brakes, cooling and streamlined underbody taught General Motors important lessons.  Most significant?  The move to shrouded lighting, smooth surfaces and wind tunnel testing. Beyond just showing off as a very ambitious GM prototype, the AeroTech has now even outlived its Oldsmobile …

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2017 Mazda RT24-P Revealed Ahead of Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona

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I love endurance prototype racecars. They take truly concept-level ingenuity in aero and grip to the streets. Well, to the road courses and banked ovals of the racing circuits!  This new RT24-P from Mazda is a pretty magnificent specimen for blending on-brand design cues with the mandates of any race class. The RT24-P is designed to dominate the top class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship — a new class called DPi, for Daytona Prototype International. Certainly not quick or catchy names in this new series.  But hey, it is an endurance challenge! The RT24-P name itself means the “Road …

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1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi – RM Monterey 2016 Highlight

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One of the first-ever midengine Ferrari racers went across the block in Cali this August. Looks like it was a no-sale, curiously. A high bar was surely set: we’d estimating the reserve was around $25-million.  Perhaps 35. So it is still seeking a new home.  Home for its freaky beauty, snarky nose intakes and special-prototype LMP1 provenance. Sold or not, we’re elated to see this 1962 268SP in the sunlight in all its glory. RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 Lot 240 1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi Chassis no. 0798 Engine no. 0798 Gearbox no. 6 Estimate Available Upon Request Please note that Internet …

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1961 Chaparral 1 Prototype – RM Sothebys Monterey 2016 Highlight

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Here is a car that might be one of the most important American racers of all time.  Not for its winning record or legendary value… but simply for its rarity and inspired engineering clarity. This was Chaparral’s answer to the Shelby Cobra, but faster and lighter and far more aerodynamic. Looks like the Chaparral Prototype 1 was a no-sale in Monterey/Pebble Beach auctions this year, for unknown reasons. Perhaps just too much of an insiders-only type of machine versus the sure-to-appreciate vehicles who are able to successfully command a million plus. Check out the official RM bio of the car …

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Best of Geneva – 2016 Abarth 124 Rally Prototype – 300HP Kicks Off 2017 Abarth Racing Revival

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  In case the hot new Abarth Fiat 124 Spider were not enough to get your heart revving, Abarth Racing has brought along an even hotter version! A rear-drive rally racecar that started life as a ragtop!?  Sounds like a winner to us.  And it definitely looks like a winner too. A slightly raised ride height, boosted engine putting down 300Hp, plus a locking rear differential promise exciting, tail-out action to rally fans next year. Custom fender extensions, sill extensions and brake air vents behind the back axle speak to this car’s gravel-slinging dreams.  As does its gigantic, fire-spitting single …

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Classic Icons Gallery – 1971 RANGE ROVER and 1970 RR Prototype – On Safari in Morocco

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While shamelessly photoshopping the life out of (and in to) numerous vehicles… it is good to get a sense of our roots. Range Rover SuperSport   Classic Icons Gallery – 1971 RANGE ROVER and 1970 RR Prototype – On Safari in Morocco

Top 10 SUPRA-Tastic Design Details – Toyota FT-1 Concept + 88 NEW Photos

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NEW FT-1 photos?  Yes ALL NEW…? Sortof. We posted these originally on laptop in Santa Cruz, and the results were iffy.  So we went back to the originals, starting again and bringing the FT-1’s details to high-res glory! The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing. A stunning car. Let’s appreciate its top 10 design details from up close. The design of the FT-1 is visibly alive.  Functional ventwort in a dozen places around all side brings the wild, swooping fenders and hood into sharp relief.  The aero cuts and ground-effect details make …

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1961 Chevrolet Corphibian – One and Only Original GM Prototype Heading to Mecum Kissimmee 2016

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    “Rare” does not do this Corphibian justice. Never will anyone you encounter on water or land know what they are seeing, nor are they likely to see it again! The Corphibian was the single prototype comissioned by General Motors, based on the Corvair 95 Rampside Pickup truck production model. Along with the Corvair Greenbriar van, these two rounded out a now very expansive family of rear-engined, air-cooled models from GM. These were designed largely in response to the booming success of the very-cheap VW Beetle, introduced to the US officially in the mid 1950s but well-known in engineering …

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2017 ZAROOQ SandRacer – Pricing, Tech Specs and 50 Pics of New Emirati Off-Roader

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Zarooq just held its launch press conference! Very cool premier of an exceptionally promising rear-engine rally race truck — the SandRacer 300.   Teased since last summer, this new project is a partnership between global racing legends, skilled engineers and marketing savvy. All built and optimized for us in Zarooq’s back yard: the massive dunes of Arabia. The latest details make us even more excited about the project: rear-drive with a 3.5-liter V6 mounted in the mid-rear, the SandRacer is priced from about $100k at launch and will be road legal in the Middle East. The Zarooq’s otherworldly design outside …

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

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

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HONDA PROJECT 2&4 POWERED BY RC213V AT FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2015

Best of Frankfurt 2015 – Honda Project 2&4 Concept – Floating Seats Promise Surreal Track Pleasure

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Updated 9.16.15 With 35 New Photos Check out the Honda Project 2&4 up close and in detail!  This is one of the most outrageous concepts from Honda in years. Not just Honda, any manufacturer, really. And this is not just some track car, either, as we surmised below. By engineering the 2&4 with outboard seating, the drive experience should also blend the joy of two-wheeling. But with the cornering pace of a four-wheeled vehicle. Not having any panels, doors or bodywork anywhere to your left shoulder, hip or pedals will be a revolution on the road. Far more exposed than …

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2015 Honda Project 2&4 Concept – World Premiere of 14000-RPM Baby NSX

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  Much as the world (and especially Japanese K-car buyers) love the S660 roadster, the sports potential of that mid-engine roadster is limited. Limited by power caps, safety rules and exhange rates — the S660 is not a global halo car, and definitely not a mini-NSX. What about the latest in Honda engine tech, paired with an open-wheeled racing design fresh from 2025? Now that would be something! Running the ultra-potent RC213V MotoGP bike engine, the Project 2&4 is ultra light and ultra simple. Ultra fresh sci-fi looks are just part of its charm, however. The real thrills will come …

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2015 Lexus Hoverboard – Liq Nitro Cryostat MagLev Prototype – New Film at Barcelona Hoverpark Is Must-See

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Okay, you have probably seen the same headlines since the teaser of the Lexus Hoverboard concept a few weeks back. Well, this is the full reveal with award-winning film and much more technical explanation. And let me tell you, this is quite a project. Lexus developed this magnetic levitating skateboard to not be an April fools jest, or even a Popular Science look into the future. This is the future, and it is hovering around a custom skate park in Barcelona as we speak. So what were the goals? — Real rideability and fun — but sans friction and rolling …

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RM Monterey 2015 – 1960 Chevrolet CERV I – Zora’s F1 Dream Prototype

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If there were two words more taboo than ‘racing’ at General Motors in the 1950s, they would be: open-wheeled and mid-engine. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the world’s largest automaker was a big prude when it came to racecars and production exotics. Safety pressure from DC was woven into the product planning and board rooms with an iron lock. But the late 1950s opened many doors. A total ban on racing sponsorship or factory participation was fading fast. Moral leaders and crazy think-tanks of the day were losing their grip on culture thanks to mass media and tectonic advancements …

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2017 Morgan EV3 – Electric 3 Wheeler Is Streamliner Heaven

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Exciting first look full reveal from Morgan today ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed: the iconic Three-Wheeler in electric form! Dubbed the EV3, this prototype is on the way to production with a weight loss of nearly 200-pounds versus the gasoline model, plus a much sportier handling balance. Why such a change in dynamics versus the normal 3 Wheeler? That model’s highly unusual engine placement ahead of the front axle creates some quite extreme forces on the chassis in hard driving. That huge polar movement around bends is part of what makes the 3 Wheeler such a joy to …

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Racing Icons Series – 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 Wears Stunning Batmobile Tailfins

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Part Two of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series   Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s. This open-topped TT3 from 1972 shows a really battle-hardened racing hero. Still wearing its striking Autodelta racing livery and …

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Racing Icons Series – 1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Made 500HP at 11k RPM!

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  Part One of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s, adapting to new racing rules and new tech innovations to make one of the quickest Alfa Romeo racecars of …

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MINI Augmented Vision Concept Preview Future SuperTech Driving Possibilities

MINI Augmented Vision Concept Previews FutureTech Driving Possibilities

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  Augmented Reality has now become Augmented Vision — both derivatives of the hot VR technology that is sweeping certain corners of the venture-capital-backed startup industry. AR takes real-world visuals and is able to annotate, animate or ‘bring to life’ static displays. The easiest way to understand it is: see a shark billboard, view billboard through AR apps or glasses, and shark starts snapping and moving in 3D. Normal world in background, just added excitement via AR.  Firms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft have put huge investments in place under the belief that AR and VR will become primary user …

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1956 Maserati 200SI by Fantuzzi – Longnose Factory Race Team Prototype

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The first-ever Maserati 200 SI made, a works development prototype and raced by a dozen of the biggest names in 1950s racing? Yes, yes and yes! This 200 ‘Sport Internazionale’ is one of the most special cars ever to wear the Maserati trident. The one-of-a-kind works racer is most distinctive due to its unpainted exterior. The aluminum and alloy panelwork is on proud display, along with racing history from every angle. Chassis #2401 did not meet its (unknown) reserve price in the 2015 Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction. Rumored to bring more than $5-million, it looks like the bidding …

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

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

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

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2015 Peugeot 2008 DKR Rally Racer – Tech Specs and Pre-Dakar Photos

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The Peugeot DKR prototype currently blasting through the Chilean sahara on the 2015 Dakar rally has been a bit of a wallflower before the race. Few official photos of the truck have been seen. The mid-engine, rear-drive off-roader is an evolution of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak car, but raised dramatically for its new Dakar mission. The same team that created the LeMans 908 HDi FAP cars have created both of these latest racing Pugs, and all have shared the primary super-diesel engine power. This 3.0-liter twin turbo-diesel is a total torque monster: it pushes out 590 pound-feet of …

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Concept Flashback – 2001 Nissan GT-R Prototype

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People gave Lexus a hard time for spending so many years developing the LF-A, the Honda for the endless parade of concepts leading to the current 2016 NSX just revealed in production form in Detroit. But Nissan was part of this long-running tradition of slow perfectionism when it comes to a brand’s sports-car flagship. The first look at what the R35 Nissan GT-R would become seven years later? The 2001 Tokyo auto show, with this static styling and aero buck. The next concept in 2005, the GT-R Proto, was much closer to the eventual production model — but both were …

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Lotus Motorcycles C-01 Aiming for Late 2015 Production Start

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      Lotus Motorcycles C-01 Lotus Motorcycle C-01 Road Ready Following two years of careful planning and intense development, Kodewa is delighted to announce that the prototype of the world’s first motorcycle to bear the legendary Lotus marque is now road registered and ready for action. Kodewa has been granted a license to produce the motorcycle by Group Lotus plc, the world renowned sportscar manufacturer and engineering consultancy. The C-01 combines ample power via a V-twin engine with a distinctive body designed by Daniel Simon integrating carbon fibre, titanium and aerospace quality steel. The C-01 motorcycle is not designed, …

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2014 Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Unveiled in Dubai with DB10-Influencing Nose

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Updated 12.5.14 Well, big day for Aston Martin! The new DB10 was front and center for the SPECTRE cast announcements, with director Sam Mendez pulling back the silk cloth on Aston’s future sportscar. Not a moment too soon!? Aston has been endlessly jabbed for their reheated styles in the last few years. But what we all may have forgotten is that we *love* that current style. But time moves onward and so does Aston. The new DB10 makes much more sense in the context of the limited-release Lagonda by Q Branch for 2014. This car is absolutely intense from many …

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Best of 2014 Awards – Toyota FT-1 Concept Is Stunning Design Triumph

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Update 3 11.27.14 Has there been another concept with the impact of the FT-1? We cannot think of another vehicle this year that has created more buzz. Of course, the FT-1 is just the leading edge of what many hope will become a showroom supercar in the next few years under the vaulted Supra badge. Toyota’s collaboration with BMW on a future sports-car appears to indicate the eventual Supra will be based of a version of the BMW Z4’s chassis, albeit highly modified for a possible production debut of a hybrid-R electric boost setup. Primary power is expected to come …

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Hero Racecars – 2001 Bentley Speed 8 LMP1 Winner Laid Bedrock for Modern Flying B

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  You have to hand it to the Volkswagen Group for their skillful rebirth of the Bentley brand in the early 2000s. Long mired in Rolls-Royce’s shadow with shakey engineering expertise and wobblier cars, Bentley sought greatness by going back to its roots in grand style. This meant competing in LeMans – where Bentley had dominated for a few years in the 1920s with its supercharged Speed 8 models — innovative technology that delivered crushing pace when the blowers were attached to such enormous engines. Specific output in this era was barely 10-percent of what it is today; with a …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz and DKR Prototype Top Paris Concept Reveals

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  Updated 10.9.14 With Debut Video and 20 New Photos! Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not …

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Update2 – 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda Production Debut – Exclusively Available in Middle East

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Updated 10.5.14 New photos and production details of the new Lagonda limo — including a cabin that is breathtakingly posh. Regretfully for some, the Lagonda will only be available to buyers in the Middle East. As a low-volume model like the One-77, the Lagonda is sure to be one of the rarest of all luxury four-doors. 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda             PREVIOUS Lagonda lives! Breaking news with a confirmation from Aston-Martin on the 2015 Bespoke Super Saloon project – which is officially the new Lagonda saloon car. 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda     Inspiration for …

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Concept Debrief – 1969 BMW 2800 Spicup Was Bertone Spider-Coupe Prototype

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Named for its dual purpose, the Spicup is a contraction of ‘Spider’ and ‘Coupe’ into one word. This one was a joint effort and actually led with Bertone proposing the idea of a spider coupe with a retractable hardtop to BMW. A 2.8-liter straight six lives up front and the one-off Spicup BMW opened the door to more Bertone-BMW collaboration later in the 1970s. The machine is certainly unique and eye-popping today: imagine it today as some form of BMW Z4 variant: a cabrio two-door built off a traditional sedan platform. More accurately, considering the roof and semi-popup headlamps, was …

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Toyota FT-1 Vision GT Now Playable in Gran Turismo! 100 New Dynamic Photos

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Updated 9.16.14 Art Imitates Life. Life Imitates Art. Such a truism is very valid in the case of the FT-1 – which Toyota has just teased in its next form as a hard-core (virtual) racing special. The FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo differs from the road-going version of the car in many standard race-ready ways. Starting from the front: there is a much deeper aero package and chin spoiler, easy-off hood panels with racing latches, upgrades brakes and tires and huge fender-top slats to reduce any trapped air from the wheels. These slats drastically reduce under-hood temps as well as being …

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2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Arriving Now – Priced From $31K

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

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2015 Aston Martin Lagonda in 27 New Hot Weather Testing Photos

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Lagonda lives! Breaking news with a confirmation from Aston-Martin on the 2015 Bespoke Super Saloon project – which is officially the new Lagonda saloon car. 2015 Aston Martin Lagonda   Aston   Inspiration for the design is said to tie directly to the 1976 Lagonda saloon below in original and VirtualModels.org’s dragster prototype. Most likely reference points in the bespoke 2015 Lagonda are the D-pillar shape and glasshouse, which is more faithful a revamp than the current Rapide S. A chopped and simplified vertical grille and nose bring the light elements low and part of the front face, versus on …

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Toyota FT-1 Concept Version Two – World Debut at Pebble Beach in 99 High-Res Photos

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UPDATED with 99 high-res, real-life photos 8.17.14 The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing. The headlight units themselves are exposed LED laser lenses, while the lower radiator fans are event more prominent on version two of the car versus version one. Another striking observation that we missed on the red Detroit debut car? The FT-1 is a 2+2!  There are rear seats and a rear strut-tower brace visible on this Pebble Beach car — which is one of the most popular on the concept lawns that also …

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Toyota FT-1 Version Two Brings Sexy Gloss Grey, Aero Tweaks and Near-Production Cabin

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Just when the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo is building buzz – Toyota has doubled down on the future Supra joy with version two of this miraculous concept. The new color makes it much easier to enjoy and appreciate the FT-1;s huge panel swoops and shaping – with extra tweaks to the design from extensive time in the wind tunnels. All this bodes very, very well for the next Supra road car – which is widely believed to be in development with the FT-1 detailing at perhaps 95-percent of the final product. One thing…. ? We can’t help but notice that …

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Toyota FT-1 Vision GT is Hardcore Racing Upgrade of Road-Going FT-1 Concept

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Art Imitates Life. Life Imitates Art. Such a truism is very valid in the case of the FT-1 – which Toyota has just teased in its next form as a hard-core (virtual) racing special. The FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo differs from the road-going version of the car in many standard race-ready ways. Starting from the front: there is a much deeper aero package and chin spoiler, easy-off hood panels with racing latches, upgrades brakes and tires and huge fender-top slats to reduce any trapped air from the wheels. These slats drastically reduce under-hood temps as well as being a serious …

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1973 Porsche 911 Lightweight Carbon Widebody by DP Motorsport – 310HP for Only 2,000-lbs!

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Designed as (something of a) cross between a 964 911 Turbo and the Porsche 959 Aero prototype – this one-off by DP Motorsports is absolutely exquisite. Called the “Consistent Lightweight,” the car has been completely overhauled into a gorgeous track racer with nearly double its factory power, but hundreds of pounds less weight. Nearly all the steel bodywork of the original car is replaced by carbon-fiber, with mechanical upgrades in the suspension, grip and brake departments to keep the pace with the newly-potent boxer engine in back. From any concours to any pit lane … anywhere on Earth  — this …

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Goodwood 2014 Galleries – PORSCHE Macan Turbo, Panamera S E-Hybrid, RS Spyder, 962 and 917

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My huge crush on the Macan is an open secret. Great to see how wonderful it looks being pushed to the edge up the hill! Also including a cool photo I found recently of the 917 doing a jump test, plus that monster 16-cylinder 917 prototype from last week… 917 MACAN TURBO PANAMERA S E-HYBRID RS SPYDER GT1 LM Check out the tarts in the right of this photo testing the Lola Aston Martin… 962 and 935

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FT-1 Digital Colorizer – 150 Shades of 2016 TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO

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Toyota FT-1 Digital Colorizer The FT-1 Concept is the next Supra. It just is. Toyota has commissioned a second prototype in a new color, so we’ve helped render the stunning Detroit 2014 FT-1 concept in 100-plus other shades to help them pick. Sure, some are better than others. But totally changing the color of a car is not an easy thing to do! Nor is it a standard set of commands, even. Every photo is different in its needs. Surprising is the black – which looks amazing!  This is the color most of the final-gen Supra’s ended up after years …

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600HP MiEV Evolution III Mitsubishi Zaps Pikes Peak Clouds with 9-min, 8-sec One-Two Finish

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600HP MiEV Evolution III Mitsubishi Zaps Pikes Peak Clouds Last year Mitsubishi had high hopes for the current-gen MiEV Evo to scorch the competition in the international Pikes Peak hillclimb, but left a bit disappointed. Knowing their intensive engineering focus as a company, we bet the team started to refine the car even further on the plane ride home. Enhancements began immediately and are actually remarkably comprehensive. They come down to two general areas of improvement: Mechanical changes seeking grip – increased grip more than ~60-percent with tires that went from 260-series widths all around to 330-series widths – better …

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

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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   …

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Updated with 36 New Photos – 1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC

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A bit less to say about the Z1, which is unusual for me.  For many, many years the Z1 was my all-time favorite car. I saw one in Germany as a young child and was instantly smitten by its power-sinking doors and ultra-refined aero profile. To me, it was everything a BMW sports car should be. Versus the large and imposing 635CSi and 750iL of the time, it was nothing short of a revelation for BMW lovers worldwide. Even today, its shapely panels are quite bewitching. The Z1 was originally a concept that met rapturous demand from the market, so …

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Concept to Reality – Acura TLX Prototype vs. TLX GT Racer vs Real 2015 TLX Production Car

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Updated June 18, 2014 Yes, yes — the real TLX is out already so this preview concept is not very relevant anymore. But it is very attractive and desirable, in a way that bodes really well for the upcoming production TLX as a 2015 model from Acura. We have compared the two in detail (prototype versus real thing) and the sheetmetal is (almost) all shared between the two road cars. The shaping of the rear fender strake in profile is less artful in the production model. The TLX GT takes a wide-body fender treatment and has pronounced air vent cut-outs …

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

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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 …

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Volkswagen Vision GTI Roadster for GT6 Scores 4Motion and 500HP Twin-Turbo VR6

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The GranTurismo Vision concept series is still in roll-out mode – there are perhaps 20 more special concept cars still to come from all sorts of brands, including Lexus, Subaru Alfa-Romeo and more. Subaru’s looks very tasty – stay tuned for more details on Subie’s fast wagon prototype. For today, however, all eyes are on the VW #VisionGTI – a deliciously chopped-top roadster that is also packing huge four-wheel-drive power. Tallies are nearly 500-horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque to the 4Motion drivetrain. A seven-speed DSG is also in the mix – ensuring this little GTI will be running hot …

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Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is DeltaWing MX-5

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

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RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype in Bright White Earns $653k

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The Porsche 959 is my ultimate dream-car, and has been for almost my entire life. This surviving prototype was one of the first cars ever made, and is flawless in its originality. This includes Denloc racing wheels, cloth interior and bright white paint. Dreamy barely does this one justice, even with some panel gap issues in the hood and elsewhere. Re-discovered my RM Auctions media credentials, so here is the 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype in all is mega-high-res glory.   1985 Porsche 959 Prototype To be auctioned on Saturday, May 10, 2014 Sold for €476.000 Chassis no. WPOZZZ93ZFS010067 Code no. …

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2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Packs Hot TRD Performance Parts As Standard, Kicks Off 2015 Updates

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

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WHATIF… There Were a Nissan GT-R Spyder? Speculative Renderings of Godzilla Ragtop

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This one is pretty self-explanatory. What if there were a GT-R cabrio? Here are a few renderings exploring the possibility – albeit rare – of there being a cabriolet version of the R35 Nissan GT-R. Car-Revs-Daily.com Renderings – Nissan GT-R Spyder Is this the wildest rendering done from my Autobahn Country Club photos from October 2013? Ummm, not exactly! http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/04/14/nissan-gt-r-dakar-rally-prototype-most-absurd-renderings-ever/

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SHOCK! Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Banned NASCAR Mustang Prototype… Actually Looks Like a Mustang

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Confession time: I have not been an active NASCAR fan in more than 20 years. But I am definitely a fan of the cars’ outright speed, power and the bravery needed to take one to victory over near-identical others on the grid. This extremely homogenized approach to racing rules is epitomized outside by what NASCAR calls the “Car of Tomorrow” bodyshell. It makes all the cars the exact same shape, excluding stickers. This seems like a huge error in judgment versus what fans want to see: actual rivalries among not just drivers, but the car manufacturers’ racing technology and expertise. …

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Update1 Meet the Nissan Frontier Baja 1000 Upgrade from Fiberwerx – Best $1400 Nose and Fender Mods Ever?

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Update from Josh Campbell, owner of this beast! Shipping and painting were both about $500 each, and the install was done by him in about one day. This requires some heavy/huge wrenches, as well as knowledge about bodywork repair — but can theoretically be done on a DIY basis for most guys. He said the most time was spent fabricating mounts for the new Titan headlamps as well as the hood mounting pins. Great results overall! A new high in lifted trucks? A new low in my automotive writing career? We saw this amazing Nissan Frontier on the way home …

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Jeep Wrangler MOAB Concepts Are All Do-Able Via Latest MOPAR Upgrades + Cool Option Animations

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Part two of the Jeep Moab 2014 Concept series! These trucks can all be built with the help of MOPAR Jeep Performance Parts — via my heavy-handed hyperlinking far below… If you are shopping for a new Wrangler, definitely worth checking out the Car-Revs-Daily.com animated buyers guide and full article as well. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/02/22/buyers-guide-2014-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-trims-tops-options-colors-visualized/ Jeep Wrangler Level Red is a nod to the most challenging off-road trails Jeep Wrangler MOJO gets Wrangler Level Red off-road gear, with 37-inch tires, shortened bumpers, winch and higher-clearance fenders Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance created for hard-core enthusiasts who seek the ultimate in power and capability …

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MOPAR Adding Huge JEEP Upgrade Options — Cherokee Adventurer, Cherokee Dakar and Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior

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Jeep just debuted a six-pack of new concepts for next week’s Moab off-road rally — which annually gathers thousands of Jeeps and Jeepers together for adventures out on the rocky desert trails. And more than a little fun back at base camp, too! This annual event is a huge part of Jeep culture — and is surely one of the biggest off-road extravaganza’s anywhere in the world. The new Cherokee adds Adventurer and Dakar spec levels via the MOPAR upgrades, while the Grand Cherokee is now upfit as a Trail Warrior in EcoDiesel spec. A diesel is perfect for off-roading …

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2015 Acura NSX Set for Goodwood Debut — REAL Pre-Production Model — Plus! Dream Colorizer — 150 Shades of Hybrid Supercar

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The NSX Concept is still making the rounds in near-production form — but there is big news on near-term horizon. Our prediction? The New NSX will debut in production form this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in England in late June of this year. While the debut is only confirmed so far as the “prototype,” we have reason to believe this prototype is actually the real pre-production car. Why is this our prediction? Some inside info or a hot tip? I wish. No — we are working on a hunch. Informed by just historical data, careful analysis of the wording …

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1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price

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1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price A bit less to say about the Z1, which is unusual for me.  For many, many years the Z1 was my all-time favorite car. I saw one in Germany as a young child and was instantly smitten by its power-sinking doors and ultra-refined aero profile. To me, it was everything a BMW sports car should be. Versus the large and imposing 635CSi and 750iL of the time, it was nothing short of a revelation for BMW lovers worldwide. Even today, its shapely panels are quite bewitching. The Z1 was …

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Legendary Racecars — 1983 March Porsche 83G-4 — Still Seeking New Home after Gooding Amelia 2014

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Alarming fact error on this one, guys. Our sincere apologies for any confusion, and a thankyou to Wayne at Pelican Parts for pointing out the issue. This is, in fact, a 1983 March Porsche 83G-4 — a BMW prototype racer retrofitted with a flat six from Porsche. Hearing the March Porsche 83G-4 fire up immediately brought droves of people up close and personal to fawn over its details, including your humble scribe. My video of the car firing up is missing somewhere in the archives, but the photos are intact! NOTABLE ELEMENTS: — In fact, Kreepy Krawly is a brand …

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Porsche LMP1 Car Snags 919 Nameplate for Geneva Reveal — A Huge Vote of Confidence from Past Heroes in Future Glory

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The Porsche Motorsport story for 2014 is moving ahead at the usual blisteringly-rapid Porsche pace. No one knows what it under most of the 919’s racecar livery – but expect these photos of the 919 at Geneva to be some of the best. Once racing, the 919 this car will be moving fast enough to seem blurry – even when in focus.   Past Glories Porsche 2014 Drivers & Key Personnel 2014 Porsche 911 RSR It was the news that motorsport fans around the world had been waiting for: Porsche returns to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours and the …

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

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

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2014 XTS4 Vsport Platinum — First-Drive Videos and New Cadillac Showroom Concept

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Despite big desire for better videos and (some) effort from me, these are perhaps the worst quality of any of mine yet. Shockingly bad, even for my third final GoPro knock-off camera. Time to upgrade my tech package to the real thing… Edit — removed driving video. In addition to poor quality, the audio is out of sync. Too embarrassing to discuss further. The XTS4 Vsport is also a huge upgrade versus the previous-generation STS models and even the first few flavors of XTS to hit the market. In performance, rigidity, quality, competitiveness and durability — the old STS was …

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2015 FELINO cB7 Official Debut - High-Res Images 13

All-New $100k Supercar – 2015 FELINO cB7 Looks Delicate, Actually Feral: 2500Lbs + 525HP 6.2L V8!

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This track-attack two-seater might look like a teardrop, but it is ready with explosive V8 power at the flick of a claw. First things first, however: this prototype is wearing composite glass — a testament to the racing pedigree of A.Bessette, the founding gent. That is why the mounting and glare characteristics are like a race car. But if ever in a hard crunch, plexi is always safer. And much lighter. The prototype FELINO has a top-hinged windshield. Founding spirit, I tell you! Alfresco options too… but I digress. FELINO is living the dream. When this FELINO initially came across …

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Update1 – MINI Takes DAKAR Three-Peat with All4 Countryman Squad

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Update 1 June 17, 2014 Okay, so this race was in January 2014. Which makes this is bit of a late update. But here is the short version: MINI dominated the 2014 Dakar Rally, winning its third title in three years. I’d be willing to wager that when the MINI crossover was born and christened a few years ago, it thought the Countryman name meant things like hiking, biking, rafting or just being near the woods. But now: Countryman has become “What Country Are We In?” via the long-range Dakar rally in South America starting January 5th, 2014. This is …

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Hero Racecars – 1967-1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

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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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Concept Flashback – 2006 BMW Mille Miglia

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

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Concept Flashback: 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger – Speedster Prototype

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

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Ferrari 599XX Heading to Paris for RM Auctions in Feb 2014

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Buckle up. Tighten belts. Hang on! It looks like the day has finally come: one of Ferrari’s ultra-exclusive Corse Clienti XX models is set for public sale by RM Auctions this February in Paris. Widely believed to be pushing out nearly 800 horsepower through its Enzo-plus V12 engine, all of the typical street weight is stripped out. A full carbon-fiber aero redesign nearly doubles downforce (and grip) versus the 599 road cars, and weight is a very private figure – assumed to be at least 800 pounds lighter than anything with a license plate. Type approvals and imports will be …

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Nissan Taps Skyline Bloodlines for Future IDx Rear-Drive Compact Range

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All hail, the IDx NISMO Concept. Along with its Freeflow sibling, these twins reclaim some of Nissan’s proudest – and most stylish – historical moments. Just a brief thumb through the Nissan Heritage archives shows the huge strides made by Nissan between 1965 and 1975. The cars went from down-sized, durable and cute bubbles into sedan shapes with much blockier lines. The BMW M Division, AMG or NISMO strategy is long-established with the Skyline range, which has come in all flavors: from luke-warm four-doors all the way to extreme fastback coupes. But in the Nissan back catalog, there is a …

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New Tech: Graphene Replaces Carbotanium as Ultimate Automotive Material

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Graphene is new on the scene but exploding with promise. It makes carbon-fiber look like a wool sweater from the 1800s. Graphene is two-dimensional sheet of honeycomb lattice molecules just one atom thick, but stronger than any other substance on earth. As a sheet, it’s carbon. As a stack, the material is graphite. The applications are tantalizingly endless, as the material is super-lightweight and even has conductive properties to relay electricity better like a circuitboard. In the car world, the 2D sheets will be layered and stacked to create 3D panels that are customizable in strength as needed. Future applications …

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Nissan BladeGlider

WOW! Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is Stunning – But Confusing

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