1964 SHELBY COBRA DAYTONA 78

1964 SHELBY COBRA DAYTONA 24H Coupe – Reborn from 1965 Bonneville World Speed Record-Holder

Few better ways to kick off the 2016 Daytona 24-Hour race this weekend than to meet one of the all-time greats! The Shelby Cobra Coupe had no official name when it took the grid for this grueling 1964 race — then the fastest in the world.  But being designed and prepped for this track earned the Daytona Coupe its forever name the moment it started leading the race. This car is *exactly* like the Shelby that took the green flag around Daytona, but bowed out after an engine fire. That Daytona Coupe no longer wears the medium blue metallic over …

Keep reading

Daytona Icons - Jaegermeister 1979 Porsche 935 K3 Kremer  11

Daytona Icons – Jaegermeister 1979 Porsche 935 K3 Kremer

  I don’t care how many racecars or exotics you have driven or loved. Nothing in this universe can prepare you for the Kremer 935 K3 Porsche. The fire-spitting widebody raced at the Daytona 24-hour in 1981 after two years of fine-tuning in German race series. There, the original 911 under all the bespoke bodywork became virtually unrecognizable. Drilled lightweighting, massive widebody additions, ground-effect aero, slatted and active aero vents across the entire slantnose.  And that is just the front! Around back, the flared fenders with their integrated winglets on top come into view.  Or the magnesium-alloy BBS wheels with …

Keep reading

2016 Dodge VIPER ACR - Bondurant Black 4

2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – Bondurant Black Mamba

Updated 1.31.16 Just drove the 2016 Viper GT on track and am still in V10 nirvana. But there is a new king in the Viper range: the road-legal American Club Racer. Seeing the car in person is a jaw-dropping experience — this exterior is the coolest supercar since the TVR Sagaris! Huge new fender vent slashes, a underbody fully shrouded with air channels, and a nose and tail treatment more aggressive than even the wildest tuners can make real. Let alone make for sale as a $20k option! 2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – Bondurant Black 2016 Dodge VIPER ACR PREVIOUS …

Keep reading

2016 Lamborghini HURACAN – Squadra Corse Villain Prays on R8 (Video)

As any Zoobooks will confirm, the female praying mantis murders its mate after conception… This seems relevant to the Lambo vs Audi R8 battle that might rage among shoppers. Yes, the Huracan is far more special and beautiful than the R8.  And yes, it sounds much better at all times too.  Where the Huracan is staccato and bellowy, popping on downshifts with exhaust back-pressure… the R8 sounds much more muffled on launch and deceleration.  Yes, the R8 V10 starts to sing up its rev range…. but not at the start.  Only once past around 5000-rpm does the R8 confirm its …

Keep reading

2017 Audi R8 V10 – USA Pricing, Colors and Spec Secrets + 40-Photo Flyaround

Fun meet/greet with the 2017 Audi R8 V10 yesterday at the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours! Fantastic to see the car out in the sun here in the USA fairly quickly since its reveal in mid-2015.  We’re seeing the car arrive to first buyers around the same time as in Europe — by the end of March in some cases.  No big lag in crossing the Atlantic, in other words. The new R8 is mysterious in person. You really have to know cars to note that this is the new model, first of all. Second of all, its new design details …

Keep reading

RM Arizona 2016 - 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra DRAGONSNAKE  20

RM Arizona 2016 – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra DRAGONSNAKE

Quite a few gorgeous classics included in a row.  These are a bit of a niche interest among readers… we know you guys prefer 2016-2020 models far more than these oldie foldies. Here is one to get you young bucks back onboard: the most successful dragracing Shelby Cobra of all time! Certainly, the Cobra is best known for its circuit racing and international endurance racing prowess. But it turns of the delicate-looking original 289 Cobra was also a world-beater on the dragstrips of the USA. So light, so grippy and so powerful…. literally nothing could keep up with this fuchsia …

Keep reading

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special 1

12-Million-Dollar Merc? 1937 540K Special Is Longtail, Highdoor Roadster with 7k Original Miles

Mercedes Benz 540K’s are some of the most-collectible cars in history.  They are one of the few non-Ferrari marques to clear the $10-million hurdle nearly every time they come up for auction air. This example will be one of the all-time greats for RM Sotheby’s. A long-tail, high-door configuration with left-hand-drive and virtually no miles…. the car is a dream in red silk. What will really seal the obscene price estimates for this car?  Its condition and originality.  Not a re-do — this is the original item.  Proof is just the 7k total miles ever travelled in this straight-eight stunner. …

Keep reading

1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Torpedo Sports by Barker 1

RM Arizona 2016 – 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Torpedo Sports by Barker

What a lovely theme running through the auction list of RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale — happening today the 29th of January. Boat-tail roadsters from the 1930s are certainly a niche genre — but one that has significant value. Their rarity and beauty and hand-made nature makes these shapes all the more special. The shrouded rear fenders of this Phantom Torpedo are definitely something to write home about. The ultra-tall tires make the design flourish extra complex — but lead to a gorgeous trunkline design as a result.  A tall teardrop element forms the upper edge of the Torpedo’s tail — …

Keep reading

RM Arizona 2016 – 1932 Ford Model 18 Edsel Ford Speedster

You can really tell that RM photographer Darin Schnabel fell in love with this steel grey speedster. We did too after seeing is incredible teardrop shape, aero-sculpted fenders and smoothly rounded nose. Favorite element of the design must be the leather inner fenders.  So ingenious and pragmatic — they are touchable pieces of automotive history. 1932 Ford Model 18 Edsel Ford Speedster RM Sotheby’s Arizona 28-29 January 2016 1932 Ford Model 18 Edsel Ford Speedster   Photo Credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sothebys 85 bhp, 221 cu. in. Ford flathead V-8 engine with a Stromberg 81 two-barrel carburetor, …

Keep reading

1939 JAGUAR SS100 2½-Litre Roadster by Van den Plas 6

RM Arizona 2016 – 1939 JAGUAR SS100 Roadster by Van den Plas

Long before it was shorthanded to the VDP option package, Van den Plas was making their name with stunning vehicles like this SS100. Favorite details in this gorgeous, closed-body art deco coachwork?  How about the insanely ballooned fenders, edged in a thick sheath of chrome all around the lower bodyside. Or that fabulous grille and blinding lights. But the all-time coolest detail?  The almost-nonexistent windshield — presented with no top edge and at an ultra raked angle — for 1939 or today! 1939 JAGUAR SS100 Roadster by Van den Plas RM Sotheby’s Arizona 28-29 January 2016 1939 SS 100 Jaguar …

Keep reading

1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV 13

RM Arizona 2016 – 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV

This Miura SuperVeloce is the epitome of cool — and also in crisply clean condition all around. Check out this cabin and the lovely black badges and grilles in back! 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV RM Sotheby’s Arizona 28-29 January 2016 Lot 132 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone To be auctioned on Thursday, January 28, 2016 $2,000,000 – $2,400,000 Chassis no. 4912 Engine no. 30673 Photo Credit: Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s 385 bhp, 3,929 cc DOHC transverse mid-mounted alloy V-12 engine with four Weber twin-choke carburetors, five-speed manual transmission, independent front and rear suspension with …

Keep reading

Roding Roadster R1-5

2016 Roding Roadster R1 by DAEHLER Competition Line

  This is a really curious one.  The Roding Roadster is a bespoke carbon-fiber sportscar running a mid-engine BMW M twin-turbo six-cylinder.  Its factory output of about 320 ponies is stocked higher via Daehler Competition.  Output is now up to 450Hp — and put down to the pavement via a tweaked grip and suspension setup. The looks are a bit hit and miss — but are a clear expression of ultra-low-volume carbon fiber production methods. 2016 Roding Roadster R1 by DAEHLER Competition Line PRESS RELEASE January 2016 Roding Roadster R1 as exclusive Daehler competition line     Based upon long …

Keep reading

KTM X-Bow GT_Wimmer_1

2016 KTM X-Bow GT Delivers Helmet-Free Thrills Thanks to WIMMER RST

Germany’s Wimmer is not just a tuning and car mod company: they also run the KTM automotive sales operation in much of Germany. And they do it very well! The X-Bow GT is the closest this carbon-chassised racecar gets to being usable in daily driving — sans race helmet.  The new safety-glass windshield element features clear heating elements to melt off any ice, as well as wiper/washer functionality like a boring road car. Also nice wrap-around side windows to complete the chic decapotable look. But these features can be sorely missed when absent! The X-Box GT is a rare and …

Keep reading

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio by WIMMER RST  4

Black Gold! 840HP, 226MPH Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio by WIMMER RST

Supercars just passing their fifth birthdays often experience chills or thrills.  Chills certainly on being traded in unceremoniously for the latest hotness. Or thrills in the form of massive power and style mods! This new WIMMER RennSportTechnik Turbo showcases the second path. Its engine is upgraded to a stunning 840HP, with commensurate increases in pace.  Is it twice as fast as the 480HP stock model? Almost…! 10.1-seconds to 120-mph puts it firmly in McLaren-beating territory, as does its 225+ mph top speed. The gold and gloss black exterior refresh is just as enticing….!     Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio by …

Keep reading

Print Tech LAMBORGHINI HURACAN TRICOLORE 11

2016 PrintTech.de Lamborghini HURACAN TRICOLORE in Brushed Chrome Flames

The world of wraps is getting very artful!  The hundreds of all-new surface finishes present opportunities to customize your car that were impossible until now.  Or at least cost prohibitive! This Print Tech GmbH creation shows the state of the art: a tricolore flag motif that skins the nose in green, the mid-section in white and the tail in red.  These chrome flame finishes are crowns by a brushed-alloy look as the protective topcoat layer. That’s not all: there are literal brushstrokes visible on these patterns.  The whole effect looks like $75k in customization… but only costs a tenth of …

Keep reading

2016 GMC SIERRA All Terrain X – Black Ops Hero Doubles Down on LEDs +10HP Sport Exhaust

Dreams really can come true! Especially if they are blacked-out GMC pickups! =] Just a few weeks after we dechromed a Sierra HD All Terrain in photoshop, along comes this stunning new 2016 Sierra ATX. GMC Yukon Denali – VIP Rendering GMC Sierra HD – Black pack Renderings     The newest Sierra 1500 club-member is is concept-cool take on the outdoorsman pickup theme. This time, the truck is seriously specced up for black ops.  New 18-inch wheels, mud rubber, custom side steps, bed box with LED-ready setup for off-road spotlights and LED main headlights. These are above and beyond …

Keep reading

3.5s, 200MPH 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR – 60 New Images, Tech Specs + Performance Mods

  Just when I am grieving the loss of my F-Type R AWD Coupe and its astounding brilliance… along comes an even hotter F-Type! The new SVR range-topper delivers a 25HP bump in horsepower to 575, a new titanium exhaust system drops weight and adds sound, while advanced new aero details grace all sides of this quickest-ever Jaguar supercar.  And short of the XJ220 without its catalytic converters… this new SVR is also the fastest production Jaguar of all time. Bottom line?  JAG is OFF THE CHAIN! Clear the area people, this could get very dangerous!  Do not provoke the …

Keep reading

First 2016 Ferrari F60 America Delivered + F60 Speedster Renderings

Ferrari just delivered its first F60 America in Palm Beach.  This 10-unit special edition celebrates Ferrari USA in the best way possible — a future collector classic! The F60 America is a fully redesigned F12 custom — sharing no bodywork with the hardcore V12 hero coupes. Nor does it share the roof of its sibling — this F60 is a pure spyder meant for sunny days only. The F60 America is a double-edged sword as a loyalty perk to its ten most loyal clients.  Sharp on one side from its devastating beauty and all-new design elements in front and back. …

Keep reading

2016 Bell & Ross BR03 Desert Type 5

Bell & Ross Debuts BR03-94 DESERT TYPE – Haute Chronos in Gunmetal Ceramic/Tan Calfskin

  Baselworld 2016 is ramping up! A who’s who of the timepiece world is converging in Basel, Switzerland from mid-March to show their new haute chronos. Bell & Ross unboxed a trio of adventurous new flavors on their well-loved design theme: the Desert Type. Intended as vaguely military, vaguely fashion-focused item, the pieces also celebrate an adventurous traveller’s life in general. A BR03-94 with the classic BR face style is the entry model of the Desert Type collection, and moves up to a full chronograph option of the same 42-MM size. A smaller 39MM BR03-92 rounds out the range with a slightly lighter and more unisex …

Keep reading

4.0s, 350HP 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster S Revealed – All-Turbo Pair Boast Huge Power Bumps

Update: Sorry to beta test a new GIF technique in this post.  These new gif-movies are very large files.  They make the slideshow GIFs I make look like little newborns by comparison!  Why GIFs?  they are endlessly animated, natural loading and auto-playing videos.  Without the awfulness of autoplay audio.  And no need to click ‘play,’ which few will do nowadays.  Practise will make perfect, one hopes.  Porsche just dropped some very exciting news: the Boxster and Boxster S are rebranded and re-designed for 2017. Now dubbed the 718 Boxster, the twins boast massive power upgrades at both trim levels — …

Keep reading

~3.4s, 196MPH 2016 Ferrari CALI Turbo – New Handling Speciale Pack Sharpens Pace, Looks

Ferrari just unveiled one of its Geneva show debuts: the new Handling Speciale pack on the California Turbo. This promises quicker responses and more intense track settings. This is the first honing of the Cali since its refresh and new engine for 2015.  Upgrades are said to be pretty noticeable on the road — with the transmission and throttle maps now better matched for the V8TT’s power delivery. A shoutier quartet of pipes out back help too. Outside, the HS pack brings a few new elements in a matching matte finish. Grille bars, exhausts, diffuser and ventwork is all darkened. …

Keep reading

Hypercar Heroes – Lamborghini DIABLO Evolution – VT to SE, Jota to SV, SVR and Roadster, then GTR and 6.0

The Lamborghini Diablo is a true icon in the supercar business. And despite all the sideways hooning and 200MPH bragging rights, it is indeed a business. As the Diablo launch in 1990 seems farther and farther in the past, let’s look at how this car saw off challenges from all sides of the hypercar world.  And how the Diablo and Lamborghini’s clever reinventions helped the car evolve from an 80s throwback of a drive into an ultra-modern GTR and 6.0VT near the end of production in 2001. Think about that: 11 years.  Staying in production is an achievement in its …

Keep reading

2017 Lexus LC500 COLORS Visualizer + Black Chrome Looks [150 Shades]

This post goes out to the bastards at Comcast Xfinity! Why? It was the ongoing eight-hour LAN outage today that spurred a moment of creativity in photoshop.  With whom? Our new favorite subject: the 2017 Lexus LC500! After many hours and nearly 150 shades of future super-Lexus… we are thrilled by the idea of a possible BMW collaboration under these delicious panels. The cabio also seems only a snip and slice away!  The floating roof and minimal pillars all around the back glass of the LC500 make clear this machine was designed.  HARD! The tumblehome — or that area between …

Keep reading

2005 SALEEN S7 Twin Turbo Competition Package  22

3.3s, 850HP 2005 SALEEN S7 Twin Turbo Competition Package – RM Arizona 2016

The S7 is a strange bird. One the one hand, it has little to no hypercar brand prestige beside a Bugatti, McLaren, Ferrari or Pagani. On the other hand, it is road-legal in the USA — where it was designed and assembled as well.  And it is also far better-finished and more reliable than most racecars adapted for the road. Overall, the S7 promises a rare guilty pleasure for owners. Almost all the speed of any hypercar in the world, but none of the baggage.  The S7 is RAPID, by the way. It leaves its contemporary rival, the 2005 Ford …

Keep reading

Concept Debrief – 2004 Kia KCV III – Glass-Roof CC Showed Newfound Design/Execution Skills

In a few short years at the turn of the millennium, Kia’s concepts went from reskinned and rebadged Lotus Elan’s to purely bespoke creations, designed with near-Italian flair.  And constructed with credible, world-class production values! This KCV III was an important mark in the sand for Kia’s evolution from niche budget brand to mainstream heavy-hitter. Today, the giant headlights are alarmingly out of style, but there is goodness shining through even there. Check out the bright white LED DRLs in the bottom of those giant lamps! And the full-frame grille set vertically into the bumper?  Finished in non-chrome grey, no …

Keep reading

2016-Ducati-Draxter-Concept-6-tilesfsf

2016 DUCATI Concept Quartet! DRAXTER Racer & ARTIKA Are Dream HyperBikes

A gorgeous intro the the new dragracing Ducati tonight! Just a few official photos of the exotic prototype — but its fat-tire and launch control seem plausible in the near future. THe Artika is the rally race side of the new Ducati concept group — with electric neon paintwork and exposed contrast framework. Stunning!  They look amazingly fun. The other two new hotties are the Peace62 and the Revolution Scrambler. 2016 DUCATI DraXter Concept   2016 DUCATI Artika Concept       DUCATI SCRAMBLER UNVEILS THREE NEW SPECIALS AT THE MOTOR BIKE EXPO OF VERONA The Ducati Scrambler Land of Joy will …

Keep reading

Exclusive! TopCar Teases New Mercedes-AMG GLE Inferno Coupe

TopCar is taking its Porsche love to new heights in 2016: a major stand at the Geneva show set the brand on level footing with other supertuners like Brabus, KAHN Design and Novitec Group.   TopCar is focused on all Porsche models, clearly, but also now with great new upgrades for Range Rover, BMW and Mercedes SUVs. The latest creation?  An AMG GLE dubbed the INFERNO! Bold names are not something TopCar needs help with, clearly.  =] This new take on the GLE Coupe looks quite striking. Major changes in mood and style are visible from even 1000-paces thanks to contrast-carbon …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Buick REGAL GS

  We want to love the Regal GS. Its looks are crisply European, as is its dashing corner grip and unflappable high-speed poise.  But remember the old Pirelli slogan “Power is nothing without Control” ? Well, the Regal GS inspires a flip in that phrase: Control is nothing without powerrrrr. Since writing up our first test impressions of the 2015 Regal GS with “Deeply Disappointing” in the headline, we have had more than ample chances to change our tune. An invite to a Buick Regal GS track day appeared out of thin air, and then a fresh 2016 model for …

Keep reading

231HP, ~6.3s 2016 MINI JCW Convertible – Legacy Looks, Speed Shortage = Wandering Eyes

Do you remember the will-they/won’t-they drama around the first JCW Convertible?  People wondered if such a hotted-up MINI could handle being roofless.  Would its front-drive chassis just fall apart around corners? That was certainly not the case for the eventual ragtop JCW — but the buzz and enthusiast excitement is relatively interesting.  Why?  It is not present whatsoever for this general of MINI Cooper S JCW. The extreme continuity of the looks for this third-gen new MINI generation are doing the new-gen Coopers no favors.  Despite being an all-new chassis with all-new engines and virtually zero carryover from the second-gen MINIs…. …

Keep reading

2016 MINI Clubman ALL4 Is New AWD, LWB Cooper S 66

2017 MINI Clubman ALL4 Is New AWD, LWB Cooper S

MINI’s new Clubman is the most desirable model in the revamped lineup.  Why?  Not just because it is HUGE versus the others, but now for its added capability with its All4 AWD system. The core platform is shared with the MINI Cooper 4-Door, but dramatically wider and longer. How much wider and longer than the 4-Door Hardtop?  About a half foot stretch to the sides, and nearly a fool foot of extra length.  Most of that bounty heads right to the back seats and cargo areas — making the new Clubman All4 a serious rival to the Countryman. But lower …

Keep reading

1987 Toyota BJ-74 Land Cruiser RHD TURBO Automatic with White FRP TOP 15

1987 Toyota BJ-74 Land Cruiser RHD TURBO Automatic with White FRP TOP

Not clear what kind of strange mood your snapper was in during the Mecum walkthrough.  Whatever it was, we came home with some curious finds! This certainly fits the bill! Freshly restored to as-new condition outside, the truck looks stellar with its white details over shiny blue-black metallic paint. The cabin is a delightful throwback — also looking absolutely crisp and clean.     1987 Toyota BJ-74 Land Cruiser RHD TURBO Automatic Mecum Auctions Lot S168.1 // Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 1987 Toyota BJ-74 Land Cruiser Trans Automatic HIGHLIGHTS – From the Unique Collectibles Collection – Turbo Diesel engine – …

Keep reading

2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special 21

Mecum 2016 Favorite – 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special Is Mid-Engine Vette!

If you ever wondered why Chevy flirts with a mid-engine Corvette so regularly… here is proof positive. The concept works. The concept works. The sum of stock Corvette parts flipped to mid-engine is a race-winning car right out of the box. Fast barely begins to capture the experience. This 2013 GTM Special is the car we most wanted to rip away from the Mecum auction lineup for 2016! 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special   Mecum Auctions Lot F276// Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 2012 Factory Five GTM LS3/480 HP, 5-Speed   Engine LS3/480 HP Trans 5-Speed Color Red Interior …

Keep reading

1987 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S 6

Updated with Live Photos – 1987 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S

Updated 1.23.16 Still the best Pantera we have ever seen!  But it could certainly use some love in the paint shop. The contrast between the shimmery gloss black of the bodywork still clashes pretty sharply with the black plastic nose-cone, and flat-black rear bumperlet. ORIGINAL Think what you may about the DeTomaso Pantera from the 1970s. This machine is a totally different beast. Where time and special-edition hell really destroyed the original Countach elegance, the Pantera appears fully revitalized. The car has the presence of a F40, the nose elegance of the Lotus Esprit, yet rear-drive, naturally-aspirated purity to shade …

Keep reading

1979 Ferrari 512BB Koenig Special 7

1979 Ferrari 512BB Koenig Special Is Disco Cokedream

Reserving judgement as much as possible on this coked-out disco supercar. A factory upgrade to one-off widebody, ram-air tail — the Koenig Special was meant as a real Countach challenger — both on track and on the high street. Think what you may about its garish style mods, they are official from the Modena factory. Our new Nikon DSLR hated the car, it should be noted.  Often refusing to focus at all… it might have the best eye among us.   1979 Ferrari 512BB Koenig Special

1989 Lamborghini COUNTACH 25th Anniversary Edition  9

455HP 1989 Lamborghini COUNTACH 25th Anniversary Edition

You know what they say… don’t meet your heroes. We say… don’t meet your hero cars unless you can also drive them! As a static piece, this very special 1989 Countach sits awkwardly among giant 60s musclecars. It is tiny in the flesh.  Much, much smaller than you would imagine.  At least two feet narrower in back than the DIablo or Murcielago, let alone the fairly gigantic Aventador. And you’ve all heard the cabin is impossible to enter or exit. This is true. We weren’t expecting to be SO, SO SMASHED inside once in though.  Butt down, then legs in… …

Keep reading

TopCar Carbon Stinger 3

TOPCAR Shows Full Carbon STINGER Reskin for Porsche 911 Turbo

  Updated 1.23.16 What better way to drive home how exotic the TopCar Stinger GTR is than to see its all-new carbon bodywork make up that iconic 911 shape — even without the Porsche underneath to distract the eye. This custom upgraded exterior looks exceptionally high-quality in its raw form.  Yet also featherlight and dropping the OEM curb weight by around 200 pounds.  Along with the menu of power and handling mods, the Stinger GTR definitely packs a strong punch.  Like a prize fighter in carbon-kevlar, nothing it getting past these TopCar turbos! The full carbon Stinger GTR is set for …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Toyota Camry XSE

2016 Toyota Camry XSE Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman For decades now, The Toyota Camry has been one of the best-selling family sedans in America.  It isn’t because it does everything better than the competition, but rather it does everything well, and has built up a reputation for reliability, quality, and value.  For folks who have a hard time making a decision because they’re fearful of making a bad one, the Camry is always going to be a safe choice and one that won’t foster buyer’s remorse. It’s always easy for journalists to forget that the vast majority of the …

Keep reading

b16aa0001

4.4s, 174MPH BRABUS C450 AMG Bumps Power to 410HP Via Now-Warrantied ECU Reflash

BRABUS is waist-deep in new C-Class upgrades!  This makes great sense: many of the mods fit not just the sedan but also the upcoming C-Class Coupe and the Euro wagons.  So there is clearly a big group of owners who can benefit from big power and style mods. From the C600 at the top of the flight list, we now have the C450 AMG sliding in above the Brabus C300 and C400 Sport. The C450 AMG is the lightly-sportified production model below the C63.  As such, it is already seriously rapid. But it does lack that last bit of exterior menace, and …

Keep reading

2016-Camaro-SS-with-Chevrolet-Performance-Parts-17-tildgfve

2016 CAMARO by Chevrolet Performance: Brembos, Springs, Cold-Air Intake + Sport Exhausts!

Great to see the new Camaro out in the wild, even if it is all locked up and can’t be driven. This Camaro SS wears a variety of extra-special goodies outside and under the skin.  The black taillamps, front splitter and color accents are nice to set a high-po mood. A Brembo brake upgrade front and rear, lowering sport springs and upgrades breathing promise more control and even more speed.  The $500 cone air intake will make a huge difference to the sonics of the car, but no more than the HUGE sport exhausts available for both V6 and V8 …

Keep reading

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series 21

Mecum 2016 – 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

If you can get past the LED-free nose of this 2009 SL65 AMG Black Series, the machine is still one of the fastest Merc’s to ever make production. In the flesh, this car really brings major heat. Its widebody fenders front and rear, all-new bumpers on both ends, and active aero details all set it far above a standard SL — even an SL65. The new hood with reverse vents cutting deep are a highlight too.  The fixed hardtop is slightly disappointing — but the extra rigidity it delivers versus a folding unit is part of what makes the SL65 …

Keep reading

1953* Chevrolet Corvette with Bubble Hardtop – Featuring A Nasty Surprise

Replicas are tricky. That is why they work on some people: they trick the brain into a false recognition. We like this ‘Corvette’ nonetheless. You see very few first-gen Corvettes out in the real world, and none with this level of finish. Bright chrome and even a contrast-white bubble hardtop?  Lovely! But there were clues, in retrospect, that this car was a replica. The cabin cupholders and Pep Boys steering wheel, for one. Another is a total lack of badges outside. The modern rear-window weatherstripping is also a giveaway, as is the fuel door. The most damning evidence of all, now that …

Keep reading

Own the ONLY 2016 Aston Martin DB10 – SPECTRE Hero, Vulcan, DBX and DP-100 All Slightly Awful, Though

The DB10 is finally available to buy! But not for you.  =] Just ten of the bespoke 007 rides were created ahead of the film. It was not immediately clear if that ten included the movie stunt cars, or how the ten DB10’s would be sold. We now know.  Eight were used to film the movie, while two stayed in pristine and brand-new condition. Aston is keeping one of the new cars for itself to enjoy.  And that last one? Up for grabs!  Christie’s auction house is selling the DB10 on February 24th to benefit MSF, or Doctors Without Borders …

Keep reading

1987 Buick GNX by ASC McLaren – Detail Photo Flyaround Inside and Out

The GNX left a sweet mark on the brand and perhaps the car business in general.  It was the announcement of POWER and speed — rejoining mainstream car lines after more than a decade of downsizing, Cimmarons and K-cars. The heart and soul of the GNX is of course its McLaren-upgraded V6 engine. The 3.8-liter, intercooled turbo was a revolution at the time. Its output bested most V8s and its power delivery was the best part. Through the also-racier standard automatic transmission in the GNX, the giant lump of turbo torque made the most of its lag. Momentary boost-up for …

Keep reading

1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 in Raven Black 28

Mecum 2016 Florida Favorites – 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 in Raven Black

This Mustang Boss 429 was the top ponycar of its year: fast, loud and even slightly luxurious! This example is a four-speed manual (v desirable) with period Magnum 500 wheels.  An alloy intake and rumble hood scoop complete the Boss appeal when static.  When rolling, this thunderclap of a car is happiest on a tire-shredding launch start. The mean style, wide and large new dimensions, plus rear-window louvres and spoiler would set the tone for 70s supercars and even superminis. 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429

1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera 12

Mecum 2016 – 1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera Customs

This amazing one-off Bronco has a special ops / Lambo Rambo vibe in all the best ways. That’s no accident: this beaut by Chimera Customs was made to taise money for the Armed Forces FOundation. ANd did it deliver! A cool half-mill bought this desert jackal in 2013. The 2016 estimate is a snip then, at just $125k. Mecum 2016 – 1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera Customs Lot T205// Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 1969 Ford Bronco Built by Chimera Customs   Engine 406 CI Trans 5-Speed Color Black Interior Black ESTIMATE: $100,000 – $125,000 Chimera Customs of North Palm …

Keep reading

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Hyundai Veloster RALLY Turbo 6-Speed Manual

Welcome to the hottest Hyundai Veloster ever! Huge news for the 2016 model brings an all-new handling tune and available twin-clutch automatic option for the R-Spec, Turbo and Veloster Rally like our test car. And the changes are SERIOUSLY good!  After a week of grins and hooning at full throttle, the Veloster Rally Edition even moves up an entire competitive class in our eyes.  From before battling the Ford Fiesta ST or Nissan Juke NISMO, and up to being a credible threat to the VW GTI, Ford Focus ST and even Subaru WRX. Seriously?  How!? The 2016 Veloster is not perfect …

Keep reading

2013 Custom 24-inch Caddy Chopper  21

2013 Custom 24-inch Caddy Chopper by Rods & Rides Motorcycle Company

Love this bike. Hard to stress enough how fabulously low and artful it is in the flesh.  Hopefully these photos do it some justice!  The creation is out of Missouri-based Rods & Rides.  Pop them a like on the faceplace link below. https://www.facebook.com/rodsandridesmotorcyclecompany/ This one-off bike goes under the auction block at Mecum’s Kissimmee Florida event this Saturday.     2013 Custom 24-inch Caddy Chopper by Rods & Rides Motorcycle Company

2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO Black Out Edition is $35k and Dripping Wet Gloss!

First time catching the new 2016 Silverado Black Out Edition in the wild! The truck looks so amazing in the flesh.  Every last detail is gloss black — right down to the blackwall tires and black bow-tie badges front and rear.  The big impacts come via the dark grille, headlights and 20-inch five-spoke wheels. The finish?  Gloss black, of course! These photos are with all the lights/LEDs off.  That white glow of the LED DRL is just its white glow shell.  Needless to say: the impact of the sinister 2016 Chevy look is even more striking with them on. Why is that …

Keep reading

1961 Dodge POWER WAGON WM300 Pickup 7

1961 Dodge POWER WAGON WM300 Pickup – An American Hero: As-New, In Box

What makes this Power Wagon special?  Few in person will need concrete reasons to love it: the pre-war curves to the roof, fenders and hood all speak to the design charm of extreme utility. The truck is an icon worldwide as one of the US Army’s main troop transports and 3/4-ton haulers. Back at home, few Power Wagons stood the test of time after less than half returned from foreign theaters of WWII. Sold off as army/navy surplus and widely adopted for farm and mining use, the Power Wagon legacy literally went to dusty rust with the introduction of salted roads and …

Keep reading

1978 Pontiac Trans Am Pro Touring 15

1978 Pontiac Trans Am Pro Touring – Track-Attack Showcar Is Also Road Legal

I defy you to find a faster, meaner and more intense second-gen Firebird Trans Am! No. Not even ‘find.’ I defy you to imagine a more hardcore upgrade of this iconic F-body. Nearly every detail under the skin, the carbon-fiber hood and bespoke racing cabin is all-new and all-modern.  Only the custom Forgeline alloys with a massive tire bite betray the original looks outside this stunner, however. That combination of old and new makes this a real dreamweaver of a machine.  The estimate of this Pro Touring custom is about $120k — for which you will have a showcar, track car …

Keep reading

Mecum Florida Faves – 2014 Maserati Quattroporte – Hate at First Drive, or As-New for Half Off?

How did this new QP end up between a Camaro IROC-Z and a violently impotent custom Wrangler? One of the great parts of the week-long Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is the ‘come-as-you-are’ vibe about the place. They make a carnival atmosphere of these 3000-plus cars finding new homes — and it is truly a fun way to see many curious cars up close and personal.  In fact, they are all unlocked and ready for close-up inspection — so it is a bit like an ‘all-you-can-sit’ sampling of various exotic cars. Wish it were all-you-can-drive… but that’s okay. One very curious find? …

Keep reading

1963 Maserati 3500GTi Superleggera Coupe 25

Mecum Florida Favorites – 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Superleggera Coupe Is Ultimate Old-Money Villain

Part of the joy of owning and driving a vintage exotic is how rich they make you look.  Of course, a modern supercar leaves few doubts about your large account balance, sure. But for a real old-money glamour among those who have seen and done it all?  A vintage exotic has few peers — it is so inherently extra, superfluous and special. This breathtaking 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi certainly impresses at all times. More than external vainty, though, the 3500GT makes you feel quite special inside. That gorgeous oval grille with oversized Trident badge as large as a dinner plate. The …

Keep reading

1959 Chevrolet APACHE Pickup Custom 20

Mecum FL 2016 – 1959 Chevrolet APACHE Pickup Custom 6.0L LQ9

From the solid steelies and lowered suspension, to the unpretentious cabin and that fabulous custom-airbrushing?  This truck is a dream for the eyes — but also packs a modern V8 to move and shout like no ’59 Chevy truck should!  The engine is a 6.0-liter LQ9 LS motor with a six-speed automatic and custom axles. Big brake kit and full redo of the steering, brakes and suspension mean this Apache will drive very fast and modern. The exterior is a lovely baby-blue powdercoat, with one-off copper accents to recreate that perfect Death Valley style. This truck crosses the block on …

Keep reading

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4MATIC

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 – Air-Sprung Crossover In US Dealers Now! $45k Pricing, RWD or 4Matic + 9-Sp Auto

The new GLC just started arriving to Mercedes dealerships here in the USA — and seems like an outstanding all-new SUV for the brand.  The GLK and its boxy look is exiting the lineup of a half-dozen ‘Benz jeeps’ this year, making room for everything from the baby GLA to this GLC, up through the GLE and GLE Coupe and the top GLS for 2017. The GLC, as its name implies, is aligned in shape and tech with the C-Class. This brings a massive set of benefits for performance drivers — particularly in its standard rear-drive setup. Just one engine and …

Keep reading

5.1s 2017 JAGUAR F-Pace SUV – USA Photos, Colors/Wheels Visualizer and Pricing – From $42k!

In case you hadn’t heard: Jaguar is on a villainous quest for growth in the USA. From 2016, the lineup includes the all-new XE sedans, now-alloy XF and facelifted XJ.  F-Types hard or soft. And by summertime, the coup de grace. The F-PACE SUV! Looking as wild as a concept, as pricey and posh as a Cayenne Turbo, and with a cabin so delicious you will want to move in? Plus SERIOUS speed.  That ‘Pace, Grace and Space’ adage definitely applies to the aluminum feline crossover.  The slowest V6, for example, makes 340HP but shoots the F-Pace to 60-mph in an official …

Keep reading

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe 27

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe – Posh AMG Sport Style for C300 and C400 USA Twins

    Mercedes has a half-dozen all-new models revealed so far for 2016 and 2017.  The GLE, GLE Coupe, GLS, GLC for the SUV family are all fresh or all-new. SLC, SL, S-Class Cabrio, E-Class and many more.  So they are forgiven for meting out the excitement in auto show season.  The Deeetroit show for MB focuses on the SLC and S63 ragtop. But there is MUCH excitement in terms of new models revealed online, but as-yet unseen or driven. The new C-Class Coupe is near the top of the list!   This fresh set of 61 new photos of …

Keep reading

2017 VLF FORCE 1 V10 – FULL Launch Details, Price and Auto Option for 218MPH American Beauty

A new supercar is always a welcome surprise — and this one is like a gift that keeps on giving! The Force 1 V10 is the second launch model of rapidly-expanding VLF Automotive — a collabo and evolution on the VL Destino plans revealed in 2012. That car is now available for sale to owners as a Fisker Karma with an LS9 V8 engine swap instead of its previous turbo EREV powertrain.  A new nose and tail — now with quad square exhaust pipes — now tops out at 200-mph and delivers a 3.9-second sprint to 60-mph.  The unreal lowness of the four-seat …

Keep reading

Custom Showcase – Porsche 991 Turbo S on Gloss-Black HRE RC100s

Totally different but no less appealing makeover of this fly yellow 911 Turbo S. The multi-spoke RC100 wheel style from HRE in gloss black is a nice, modern take on the classic BBS racing alloy.  It looks dripping-wet at all times, and disappears into a whir at speed. All perfect upgrades to the gloss-black whale tail, roof and mirror caps of this Cali-plated Turbo S. Custom Showcase – Porsche 991 Turbo S on Gloss-Black HRE RC100s Porsche 991 Turbo S with HRE RC100 in Gloss Black – Grubbs Photography http://www.hrewheels.com/ HRE Wheels Follow

Porsche-991-GT3-with-PCCB-and-19-inch-HRE-R101_23699464123_o

Custom Showcase – Porsche 991 GT3 on HRE R101s in Satin Black

Satin black is really the right shade of custom wheel for 2016. It flicks enough light to enhance any wheel design — while feeling brighter in low light than a glossy finish.  The HRE R101 wheel style is quite cool too: the spokes feel super strong despite their thin size. Much 3D shaping for those uprights — their sharp creases making a nice contrast to the soft/smooth GT3 bodywork. Despite being just 19s, these are clearly an integral part of this custom GT3’s curb appeal. Custom Showcase – Porsche 991 GT3 on HRE R101s in Satin Black Porsche 991 GT3 with …

Keep reading

2017 Jaguar XF-S V6 - USA Media Drive 58

5.0s, 380HP 2017 Jaguar XF-S V6 – USA Media Drive Gallery + Visualizer

Check out this stunning new design via 100 media drive photos from Sedona, Arizona. The best part of the new design?  Bringing the XF-R’s visual heat to all four engines in the US lineup. Yep: two V6 tunes and even a brand-new turbodiesel for 2017. The 2.0-liter turbo four is expected back in the USA offering for 2017, sliding a few grand cheaper than the $52k base of the new 2016 XF V6s. Both the XF 35t with 330HP and the XF-S with 380 are available with rear or AWD.  All scream to 60-mph in 5.2-seconds or quicker, too.  Mighty impressive.  The …

Keep reading

Part 2 – NAIAS 2016 Showfloor MEGA Gallery – 110 All-New Photos

Some real hotties in here! The first pics of the all-new VFL Force 1 concept by Henrik Fisker are a highlight. As are the Nissan TITAN Warrior Concept and the Raptor Supercrew in frozen white. Also nice to see more angles of the Acura Precision Concept, a car whose design is really expressive and deep in real-life photos versus the initial renders.  The beak is still rough, but there is promise here. Part 2 – NAIAS 2016 Showfloor MEGA Gallery  

Best of NAIAS – 2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL – No-Apologies Flagship = Limo Heaven!

Lincoln Motor Company is still best known for its long-running Town Car — that darling of the global limo business for decades. The Town Car on its rear-drive, Falcon-based frame has been out of production since 2012 — with the time since spent working doubly hard to prove that the MKC and MKZ are viable global luxury cars. Sporty, modern and elegant have been the core tenets of the new Lincoln recently, but a moment of genius has now swept through the brand’s strategy. The insight?  Being modern and stylish is possible … even while embracing the legacy of the brand. …

Keep reading

2017 GMC ACADIA Shows Radical Redesign: 700Lb Weight Loss, New All Terrain Spec

My my, what have we here! A very sexy makeover for the well-liked GMC Acadia? This three-row crossover has been winning friends for years with its Yukon-like cabin room, but easier parking manners and comfier ride quality. The 2017 model builds on these strengths… but does it drop some capability along the way? Surely, something MUST have fallen by the wayside for the 2017 Acadia to be a massive 700 pounds lighter than the current model.  No swap to aluminum a la the Range Rover or new Q7.  High-strength steel can only do so much, right? It turns out what …

Keep reading

BMWM2coupe2

NAIAS 2016 – Showfloor MEGA Gallery – Day One in 180 Photos

Uh oh!  Detroit’s NAIAS is so intense for 2016, we are well past our peak of effective coverage.  What comes next?  Deep hand and forearm soreness from so much typing.  And… alas… into just outright bitchiness about some of the more questionable model reveals.  Cough… Acura, cough-cough… But we will power through!   Resist the snark! Part of that is sharing the latest showfloor photos… en masse. =] Here are 180 images from press preview day one at the Detroit North American International Auto Show.   NAIAS 2016 – Showfloor MEGA Gallery    

Worst of NAIAS - 2016 Acura Precision Concept 3

Update1 – 2016 Acura Precision Concept – Design Reboot Ruined By Another Fugly Nose

Updated with real-life photos. Good to see more angles of the Acura Precision Concept, a car whose design is really expressive and deep in real-life photos versus the initial renders.  The beak is still rough, but there is promise here. Acura is still having trouble rebuilding its sales since a brief peak in the early 2000s with the TL and MDX. More recently, the sales velocity for the brand is in terminal decline. A big part of the problem has been the dogged persistence with the ‘shield’ grille since at least 2007.  This is a look that no one really likes, …

Keep reading

2017 Honda RIDGELINE – Challenges Mid-Size Roughriders with Smooth, Plush and Efficient Pickup Solution

At first look, the new Honda Ridgeline seems like even more of an open-bed Pilot than ever before. And in many senses, that is exactly what it is. Then you zoom out a bit, and consider the growing mid-size pickup truck market. The new Colorado, Canyon, Tacoma and upcoming Frontier refresh will make a totally reinvented truck class. And within that group, the general theme is full-size ability — now in a fun travel size. For a large swath of buyers, the refinement and road manners of the Ridgeline make it a unique offering. With nearly all the towing and …

Keep reading

KiaTelluride8

2016 Kia TELLURIDE Concept – LWB SUV Brings 7-Seat Chalet Cachet

The face of this all-new KIA Telluride concept hit me like a sucker punch in thumbnail form.  What is that, a Lada Bentley? But after a closer look, we have nothing but praise the this Telluride’s bluff yet rounded design themes. The core basics are all there: short front overhang, awesome long and level hood, plus a steep windshield rake like a future G-wagen. It all really works for the Telluride, especially in profile. Here the elegant, techy and innovative glasshouse wears a signature brightwork wrap-around.  In the tail, we have more clean lines and vertical forms. Yet all smooth …

Keep reading

InfinitiG609

~4.8s, 400HP 2017 INFINITI Q60 – 3 Engines and Sexy Design Swagger To Top 435i

The production Q60 is here and GORGEOUS! A full lineup met the press today at NAIAS, but the one we lust after most is the top 400-horsepower, AWD Q60! Pushing all that power to the back axle at a 0:100 ratio until slip occurs, the Q60 3.0t looks set to be a barnstormer of a two-door — with pace and grace to easily rival the BMW 435i and Cadillac ATS Coupes. That $55k stunner will only make up a part of the new Q60 offering, though. Standard rear-drive and three engine choices also neatly match the new C400 Coupe and …

Keep reading

LexusLC5005

Best of NAIAS – 2017 Lexus LC500 World Debut! ~$88k 911-Fighter Also Stalking Corvette, SL63 AMG

We knew Lexus was bringing some kind of supercoupe to the Detroit show, but had no idea the LC500 would be SO DAMN SEXY! Far from a GS two-door as some have imagined, the new LC500 is actually an all-new supercar flagship for the marque. Seating is 2+2 in layout, while the roof looks ready for a cabrio conversion, the LC500 is far lower, meaner and more intense than even the cherished RC-F — our 2015 Car of the Year here at Car-Revs-Daily.com. What makes the new LC500 so special?  Forceful power from every angle: this machine is leaner, lighter …

Keep reading

325HP, V6TT 2017 Ford FUSION SPORT Leads Refreshed Midsize Sedan Lineup

A fresh look and new tech throughout the Fusion for 2017! Three EcoBoost engines, a new V6 Sport powertrain is the most powerful midsize Ford sedan in ages — delivering its 325-horsepower and 350-pound-feet of torque through an AWD chassis. All in search of a ~5.5-second sprint to 60-mph — a class-quickest sprint speed! This is huge news versus the previous 240-horsepower EcoBoost that tops out the current Fusion lineup. New nose and tail designs integrate the latest LEDs for a fairly chic look on all sides — if a bit too Focus-like up front in these initial teasers. Very cool …

Keep reading

Best of NAIAS – 2016 Nissan TITAN Warrior Concept – Nightclub Cool + Baja-Tough Mods for Raptor-Killer

Update: We’re slightly confused now about the Titan Warrior Concept.  All the below still applies… but the Warrior is so different from the production truck. Much more-so than the Raptor is than the standard F-150.  So perhaps the Warrior is more of a dream-truck than a realistic Raptor hunter/killer.  It is still cool as fahk regardless., though. =] The Ford F-150 Raptor is so hot that no other brand can resist trying to beat its baja chicness on showroom floors. A solid basis for a real Raptor-killer from Nissan?  The 2016 TITAN XD — a full-size pickup so strong that it makes …

Keep reading

Audi A4 allroad quattro

2017 Audi A4 Allroad – $50k Ski Wagon Set for Fall 2016 USA Arrival – Blah Exterior, but Hoorah Interior

  The A4 Allroad has carved a nice little niche for itself in the US market, where it replaced the standard A4 Avant among most shoppers seeking a low and sporty wagon.  The current Allroad will gain all the new tech and style of the A4 sedan, but wears a more butch stance all around.  A very macho nose redesign brings vertical grille slats, some rough-rough fender flares and even a brushed-alloy chin spoiler in the nose. We are trying to get on-board with this next-gen A4 appearance.  Really trying. And the Allroad has generally been a great showcase of …

Keep reading

2016 Audi h-Tron Quattro Concept 27

2016 Audi h-Tron Quattro Concept – Hypercomplex Tech Showcase Headed for Sale as $100k Tesla Rival as 2018 Q6

Audi’s big news for the Detroit show?  The new 2017 A4 and Q7 — which are set for arrivals to US showrooms in the next few months. Alongside those dull-looking production cars come massive cabin tech enhancements, efficiency boosts and all-new powertrains. A bit more exciting on the appearance front?  This new h-Tron Quattro Concept. Roughly previewing the size of an upcoming Q6 crossover, this latest prototype shows a production-intent hydrogen-electric SUV.  And boy is is complex: multiple tanks of hydrogen power advanced electrics for a range of nearly 400 miles, a 0-60-mph sprint under 7-seconds, and AWD grip just …

Keep reading

2017 Chrysler PACIFICA 23

2017 Chrysler PACIFICA Is All-New Minivan – PHEV Hybrid, Luxury and Tech to Leapfrog Sienna/Odyssey

Welcome to the next Town & Country: the all-new Pacifica! This name-swap is quite justified when you take a peek at the seriously all-new platform, drivetrain, interior and exterior of the next-gen Chrysler minivan. The impressive details abound from every seat: the seven-seater has a stunningly advanced offering for families from July of this year when the new vans hit showrooms. What is the big deal, beyond a very swish new exterior design? Where to begin!  The biggest news is the first-ever plug-in hybrid offering in the van segment. Dubbed simply the Pacifica Hybrid, the EV tech is quite sophisticated. Not …

Keep reading

2016 Buick Envision Driving Front

2016 Buick ENVISION Is New 5-Seat Crossover – Standard Turbo to Rival Audi Q5 – Arrives in April

The 2016 Buick Envision is a pretty huge part of an upcoming Buick product onslaught: the 2017 LaCrosse and Cascada cabrio are the other hotties new to the showroom floor. New to the brand ethos in general? A sexy expectation of future products like an AWD, V6TT variant on the Cadillac ATS Coupe/Chevy Camaro platform like the AVISTA concept. The dreamers among us noted right away: the AVISTA looks like an ideal basis for a next-gen GNX around 2019.  The Envision hopes to make its Chinese-import status an afterthought for US shoppers — through the sheer strength of its luxury …

Keep reading

2016-Mercedes-AMG-S63-4MATIC-Cabriolet-Edition-130-12312

3.7s, 585HP 2016 Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic Cabriolet Edition 130 Is Ultimate Patent Wagen!

Upon driving or even seeing the new S63 AMG cabrio, few would need much of a special reason to celebrate it!  The machine is gorgeous, plush and rapid like no other full-size cabrio in ages. Mercedes-AMG is upping the glam on this highest-fashion machine with an Edition 130 model with unique details at the 2016 Detroit auto show. We’ve come a long way from the original Benz patent wagen: this new S63 4Matic Cabriolet delivers a ravishing 0-100-kph run in just 3.9-seconds.  Quite a way to travel! 2016 Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic Cabriolet Edition 130 Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet “Edition 130”: …

Keep reading

Mercedes-Benz New Year´s Reception, Detroit 2016

Update1 – 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class – Official Debut of Ultra-Posh New Cabin, All-New Exterior

This is it!  The 2017 E-Class in all its official glory. A few variants shown here in this official launch packette: from the most trad to the ultra-mod AMG Sport in bright red. A frozen grey E400 quatromattico GDM model is the wildest shown so far, but points strongly toward the new E63’s menace on the roads. The revamp outside is exceptionally sleek and organic; new flowing lines for the glasshouse and every nose and tail element replace some carry-over elements on the current car. All-new is the slightly more formal C-pillar angle than previously shown: a nice nod to …

Keep reading

2016 Buick AVISTA Concept – SuperCoupe As First Glimpse of Next GNX

Imagine a Camaro GT-R, with huge V6TT power and four-paw traction.  Brutal shout + pace to outrace an RS5 and C2S? THe Buick Avista is a first glimpse into the future of the triple-shield marque.     2016 Buick AVISTA Concept   For Release: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, 7 p.m. EST       Buick Introduces Avista Concept Design elegance, performance heritage conveyed in turbocharged 2+2 coupe   DETROIT – Ahead of its public debut at the North American International Auto Show, Buick today revealed the Avista concept – a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic …

Keep reading

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept – 7-Seat Option + 20 EV Miles for 2017 USA Arrival

We’ve been exceptionally hard on VW USA over the years, even before the ongoing trainwreck that is their emissions scandal. If there is one glaring hole in the lineup, it is the SUV range. Tiguan and Touareg have been eagerly anticipating a CrossBlue SUV to slide between them. With a Passat basis and seven seats, the CrossBlue (name TBD) is actually firmly on the way. Hiring and Chatanooga production-floor mods are readied for this summer, with production penciled in to start September 2016.  The showroom arrival, as we all know, cannot come soon enough. December of 2016 as a 2017 …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8

2016 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8 Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman   With a major makeover in 2015, the second generation Hyundai Genesis continued it ascension in the ranks of luxury cars.  While there are few changes to the 2016 model year, the Genesis continues to amaze with its price, content, and quality. The sedan is quickly distancing itself from luxury models coming out of Japan and Germany, which it rightly rivals, in the “bang for the buck” category. Simply put, you can’t find another car in the marketplace that has the features and performance of the Genesis and not have …

Keep reading

Concept Flashbacks – 2001 SEAT TANGO Trio – Cabrio, Roadster and Coupe Made Racy, Avante-Garde Superminis

Here is the next evolution of the SEAT cabrio design concepts from around the turn of the century: the 2001 Tango twins. The Tango itself is a sexy expression of ultra-modern, flowing and intersecting surfaces. There is almost an abstract artistry to the hyper-curved elements of the Tango’s nose and hood. A nice aero strake is also a trademark part of the design theme shown here. The rounded hood and front arch then flows back and downward toward the rear axle. It is a nice look and one that translated directly to a generation of SEAT production cars very nicely. …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback - 1999 SEAT Formula Roadster 3

Concept Flashback – 1999 SEAT Formula Roadster

The 1999 SEAT Formula helped transition the brand into a new-millenium design mood. This was actually a really exciting time for the brand: the Leon Cupra was starting the earn buyers from previous GTI and Focus devotees as a five-door sportscar, while the Toledo and Ibiza were quite popular as well. This Formula concept was a mid-engined chassis layout with an alloy spaceframe chassis and bodywork, ensuring with the aim of delivering Boxster-like thrills on the road, but at prices below the Audi TT. The design themes shown on this car its main production impact, however, for the SEAT brand.   …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Kia Optima SX Turbo

2016 Kia Optima SX Turbo Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Midsize family sedans are a huge segment of the automobile business, and it’s a hotly contested space.  The Kia Optima is a strong player, and getting stronger each year, with improvements and even more standard content.  It has to keep improving in order to compete with the likes of a Toyota Camry & Avalon, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Mazda 6, or Nissan’s Altima. The 2016 Optima has been redesigned inside and out, and the result is an outstanding automobile, that ranks right up there with the best in the class. …

Keep reading

Chevrolet Unveils 2017 Bolt EV at CES

Barra Delivers! 2017 Chevrolet BOLT EV – $30k Price and 200+ Mile Range Should Worry i3, Leaf and Prius PHEV

Disbelief?  Awe?  Wonder? Trying to find the right description to pick my jaw up off my desk. The new Chevy Bolt EV is almost surreal at its CES reveal this week.  Just a year ago, the Bolt concept wowed Detroit with its big range promises, practical shape and interesting cabin tech.  Few people — this author included — ever expected a production car to be so close on the horizon. But here it is, folks!  The massive promises from General Motors about their future electric product plans were not just hot air! The 2017 Bolt EV promises a 200-mile-plus battery range …

Keep reading

2017-Chevrolet-CruzeHatch-002

2017 Chevrolet CRUZE HATCH Reveals Unique 5-Door Design, Massive Trunk Ahead of Fall Arrival

Here is a nice surprise reveal from Chevy: the upcoming Cruze Hatch. This new bodystyle builds on the massive improvements of the 2016 Cruze sedan with unique styling for the nose and tail, a giant cargo area of 18.5-cubic-feet with the seats up, and wagon-like utility with them folded down.  How big with the seats down? Nearly 50 cubes!  That is SUV-big. It is great to see Chevy offering this variant in the home US market.  Favorite details?  The bumper designs front and rear — with their swirl of painted surface forming claw-like accents to the black lower bumpers. The …

Keep reading

2017 BMW i8 Spyder Teased Via BMW i Vision Future Interaction + ConnectedRide HUD Cycle Helmets

  BMW debuted a half-dozen new tech innovations at CES this year, including gesture control and mirror-less exteriors. But the real eye-catcher?  The BMW i Vision Future Interaction — a near-production 2017 BMW i8 Spyder. Sans two critical pieces, of course. Yes, the production car will have doors.  At first we thought the BMW i VFI Concept hid its doors in the side sills, a la the BMW Technik Z1 model sold in Europe briefly in the early 1990s. Alas, the lack of doors is just to give full view of the new cockpit controls and layouts.  This new user …

Keep reading

OP_ED: Meet the $25B Microbus – 2016 Volkswagen Budd-E – EV Van Concept Begs Sympathy for Poor, Mistreated VW

Here is the seventh Volkswagen concept trying to re-invent the microbus. The difference?  This microvan may actually be produced for limited sale in EV-heavy markets like the US west coast, Atlanta and Washington DC. Really? Not for profits, but as a knee-jerk reaction to being caught lying/cheating.  So yes, the Budd-E might make it to US showrooms in some decontented form. Perhaps as soon as 2019 for the 2020 model year.  But don’t bet on it. Typically, Volkswagen has claimed a reborn van was a non-starter because it was impossible to make its bluff original face with a front-engine layout.  (They …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2016 Lexus RX350 F Sport AWD

2016 Lexus RX 350AWD F Sport Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman   Sixteen years ago Lexus introduced us to the RX – a midsize luxury SUV that seated 5 people, had a very usable rear cargo area, and was based on a car chassis, so it drove more like a car than a truck.  It had a pleasant ovoid or jelly bean shape, and was reasonably priced.  It struck a chord with the buying public, and quickly became Lexus’ best-selling vehicle, and it has remains their top selling vehicle as it now launches the fourth generation for 2016.  The RX …

Keep reading

2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept 10

2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept Throws Down Gauntlet – Now or Never, Laggards

Well, this is it!  Nearly 24 hours after the leaks began, and a full 12 since the press conference in Vegas last night, the Faraday Future concept car for CES is now in clear focus. Before you get too excited about a full reveal — with the normal specs, pricing and a production roadmap —it is best to temper expectations. This fantasy concept from Faraday Future is not headed for the road. Nor is it really headed for any race series. But racetracks? That is another story.  The quad-motor, AWD EV promises 1000+ horsepower and a 200-mph-plus top speed.  The electric motors are …

Keep reading

Concept Debrief – 2011 SAAB PhoeniX was DOA

  The only thing we really recalled about the final SAAB concept car was its tail. With backlit red lighting through a screen mesh, the PhoeniX reminded us of a nasty reborn Pontiac Bonneville SSEi.  Cheap body cladding and all, unfortunately. Reviewing the PhoeniX design today four years later, the look of this sports coupe is no more appealing. Put simply, this car would have flopped like a pancake on the market. Imagine comparing this with a $50k BMW 435i? It is not just the detailing that is overwrought, but all the surfaces and even the proportions. This thing is …

Keep reading

2016-Jaguar-F-TYPE-British-Design-Edition-17a

2016 Jaguar F-TYPE British Design Edition is UK-Only Sport Special

  Pretty hot new pack of Jags on the prowl for UK shoppers: the 2016 British Design Edition.  Wearing all the sexiest options and four special colors, the BDE is offered in hard or soft-top form, exclusively in the 380HP AWD with the new eight-speed automatic paddle-shifter.   2016 Jaguar F-TYPE British Design Edition JAGUAR LAUNCHES F-TYPE BRITISH DESIGN EDITION 05/01/16   IN BRIEF Exclusive F-TYPE British Design Edition based on the 380PS V6 S enhances the F-TYPE’s multi award-winning design and features a wealth of additional equipment as standard Coupé and Convertible body styles Available in four colours: Caldera …

Keep reading

2000 Lancia Stratos S81 Stola 3

Concept Flashback – 2000 Lancia STRATOS S81 by Stola

  We have a couple really cool concepts in the pipe from CES for later tonight and tomorrow, but a bit of a lull at moment. What better time to showcase a very influential concept car from Stola for Lancia at the Turin motorshow of the year 2000. Dubbed the Stratos S81, the machine updated the original proportions and design elements of the Lancia Stratos rally hero — but three decades later. WHat really strikes you about the S81 in 2016 is how influential is details ended up being, albeit long after its retirement. Most cloned details?  The boomerrang of …

Keep reading

HD Road Test Review – 2016 GMC Terrain DENALI AWD V6 – Swanky Refresh for Right-Sized SUV

GMC’s best-seller has been tearing up the sales rulebooks since its launch in 2009. We’ve admired its huge back seat and very affordable $24k base price from afar, but never from behind the wheel. The GMC Terrain welcomes a light refresh for 2016: new styling outside and new tech in the cabin helps the family favorite be even more competitive in the mid-size SUV class. And while the upgrades outside are fairly light for most trims, the new LED DRLs up front do wonders for the truck’s appeal on the road. The biggest news for the 2016 Terrain is the …

Keep reading