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Meet the Original Black Swan: The McLaren M1

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Wow. There is a reason you have not seen or heard many of these killer McLaren racecars.  The original McLaren origin story as a driver who starts his own race shop, and sells a few chips of genius to other enthusiasts and race crews. Refined and stiffened over the M1A, the B is one of the most sought-after of its era. Just 28 of these M1B Can-Am cars were sold to be raced in the Can-Am racing series. The North American market was obviously the focus of these races, so the fact that just 28 were ever sold makes this …

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2016 MANSORY Lamborghini Huracan TOROFEO 7

1250HP, 211MPH 2016 MANSORY Lamborghini Huracan TOROFEO Is Full CF Reskin + Screaming V10TT

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  Lambo power games are back – bigtime! After years of enormous power upgrades for the Gallardo, the Mansory team had a good playbook when taking on the new engine. The vast majority of the critical moving components have been strengthened, optimized and honed to ridiclous strength levels. All this is very, very needed. Because once this beast starts howling, two big additions make themselves known. Doubletime! Bespoke twin turbochargers with water to water intercooling crank the factory power output off the scale. Stock 610PS becomes 1250HP. Gulp. Torque is limited in the all-wheel-drive Huracan to 1000-nm in low gears, …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe Revealed – Arrives Stateside in March 2016 With High-Fashion Style

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It is an exciting time to be a two-door in the Mercedes range. After years of CLK and CL doldrums, the new S-Class Coupe now has an equally stylish kid brother. The new C300 and C300 4Matic are just the start for this C-Class Coupe: a C450 AMG and C63 AMG are also virtually guaranteed shortly after the main models roll out next Spring. A cabrio variant is also en route for 2018. The design is actually remarkably appealing, considering it is almost a direct mashup of the new C-Class and the S-Class Coupe. The proportions really work — even …

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2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition 13

2.6s 2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition Cuts 200Lbs from Chop-Top Track Rocket

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Imagine a supercar with the fundamental proportions and track manners of a Lotus Seven, but thoroughly updated in every way except altering that wild wheelbase. Yes, keep the twin bucket seats virtually atop the back axle, and keep the mid-mounted engine behind the front axle as far as possible. But swap the floppy frame rails for a lightwieght and super strong chromoly racing frame. And lose those steel panels and retro lighting completely. While we’re at it, add a 380-hp Audi 2.5-liter turbo Ur-Quattro engine descendent. A full exterior redesign and gangster stance thanks to a big jump in width …

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2016 Scion iM 105

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

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

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1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage 5

RM London 2015 Preview – 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage

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What to say about this extra-special DB2 Vantage — with its stunning primer whitewash and flat black spokes screaming 2015 loud and clear! 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage RM Sotheby’s London 7 September 2015 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Chassis no. LML/50/19 Engine no. LB6V/50/240 Photo Credit: Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s 125 bhp, 2,580 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine, twin SU HV6 carburettors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with trailing link, coil springs and Armstrong lever dampers, live Salisbury rear axle with coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2,515 mm. The very first Aston …

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ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

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PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

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ALPINA B3 Wheel Colorizer 18

2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

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PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

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BMW ALPINA B4 BITURBO

ALPINA B4 Mods Available for USA BMW 4 series Owners

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PART TWO of FOUR The Alpina 4 series The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and …

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ALPINA B5 Mods Available for USA BMW 5 series Owners

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PART ONE of FOUR The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and install them over time. …

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1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 2

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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1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12 17

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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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SLS Racing + Exclusive SLS-R Speedster Renderings

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This is a cool one. As you may know, Mercedes had a spotty record of hanging on to rare classics among the hundreds of models the company has produced. This applies double for the racecars – which are often either lost to track damage or to privateer teams. Either way, gone from the safety of the MB Museum. Such was the case for a pair of American-commissioned racing overhauls to a pair of 1957 300 SL’s. While Mercedes retired from racing for 1956-forward, the SL was still a plum basis for a race-winning track car. A priciple named Jim O’Shea …

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NOVITEC ROSSO Ferrari California RACE 606 Is Supercharged Menace!

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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 …

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1968 Porsche 908K Short-Tail Coupe 9

Amelia Island 2015 – 1968 Porsche 908K Short-Tail Coupe Is One of Two Survivors

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This Le Mans racer from Porsche is part of a 200-mph dream: Fast cars, evolving in hyperspeed. The 908 was an adapted version of the 907 – but altered to fit an all-new 3.0-liter boxer eight-cylinder engine. We believe this is chassis 908-019 (or perhaps 908-011) – which is thought to be one of two surviving short-tail 908 Coupes outside the Porsche Museum. The 908K stands for short-tail, which was ideal for tighter tracks versus the long-tail for the Le Sarthe LeMans track itself. This machine was a transition phase for the Porsche race crew. A rule change for 1969’s …

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2015 Nissan Juke NISMO RSnow Trax Concept Reignites Juke-R Halo Effect

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We recently gave the Juke-R concept from 2012 a hall of fame write-up – extolling the incredible global awareness the GT-R/Juke hybrid created. The next step? A new Juke RSnow Trax – highlighting the new Juke LED boomerang lamps and new projector-beam lights up front, which are fresh for the 2015 model-year. This machine was created as a support car for an ice-driving school, with the tires replaced by individual tank-like treads. The rubber and steel-spiked treads spin in sync with the new hubs up top, controlling a contact patch that is 50X larger than four tires. This upgrade can …

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VATH SLS AMG Roadster

VATH Blacks-Out SLS AMG Roadster With 700HP Supercharger and Slammed Stance

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VATH SLS AMG Roadster   702 PS SLS ROADSTER by VÄTH Automobiltechnik Since November 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS Roadster is the first vehicle independently developed by AMG for sale. In a relatively short time many prospective customers have given in to the magical charm of Swabian sports car, which program is Sport Leicht Super (the short form being SLS). Such a tidbit in the best sense needs no correction, or does it? Increase in efficiency in everything that company works with is one of many special spheres of VÄTH Company in Bavarian Hösbach. As for the here represented SLS Roadster, a …

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gt350

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350

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RM Auctions is looking at a really stellar group of cars for the Arizona auctions in mid-January. It is a funky mix of exotics and Americana that will surely draw a wide swath of car collectors — all salivating at the prospect of driving one of these beauties home. Surprise for your author? Strongly preferring the 1970 Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am racecar to the production 1966 Shelby GT350 and (upcoming article) 1959 GT500 Convertible. The 1966 is still the true icon in the trio mentioned above, but seems a bit hokey these days. Actual performance by modern standards, for …

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AC Schnitzer Range Rover Sport S gif

AC Schnitzer Range Rover Sport S Is Seductive Style and Performance Makeover

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Have performance parts, will travel long distances at high speeds! The AC Schnitzer upgrade program for the Range Rover Sport is a dapper and subtle way to make the factory truck far more intense looking, sounding and feeling around corners. The various exhaust options let you pick the style that is just right for your RRSS. The key holder inside a cupholder insert of this and other AC Schnitzers is handy, but would be cooler there was somewhere on on the gearknob to mount the key. AC Schnitzer Range Rover Sport S