New Tech

New Tech

2016 Opel GT Concept 9

2016 Opel GT Concept – RWD Turbo Triple Under Sexy, Blown-Glass Exterior Design

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Opel is trying to get its mojo back.   The German firm and its Vauxhall twin have taken a pounding in the last few years in terms of desirability and brand affinity. This Opel GT aims to realign the firm with modern Euro values and driving ideals. Best place to start? A lightweight purist’s special! This Opel GT’s design is what will make a big splash, but we like what is underneath even better. A front-mid mount for the turbo 1.0-liter triple sends power to the back wheels.  Simple pleasures! A six-speed sequential manual and 8.0-second sprint to 60-mph are …

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2016 Dodge VIPER ACR - Bondurant Black 4

2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – Bondurant Black Mamba

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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 …

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2016 Bell & Ross BR03 Desert Type 5

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

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  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 …

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

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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 — …

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2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special 21

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

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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 …

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TopCar Carbon Stinger 3

TOPCAR Shows Full Carbon STINGER Reskin for Porsche 911 Turbo

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  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 …

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

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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 …

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

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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 …

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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

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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 …

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2017 Chrysler PACIFICA 23

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

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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 …

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2017-Chevrolet-CruzeHatch-002

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

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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 …

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

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  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 …

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

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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 …

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2017 Jannarelly Design JD1 is All-New, Rear-Engine Exotic from Talent Behind LYKAN HyperSport and Zarooq Sandracer

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WHat happens when two of the most skilled talents in bespoke supercars come together?  Fusing design vision, carbon-fiber production and a bit of marketing magic? The JD1 from Jannarelly Design! This is a fantastic bit of absolutely breaking news: Anthony Jannarelly is a clear favorite of ours since obsessing over his crisp, layered aesthetic as seen on the W Motors Lykan and Fenyr, plus the recently-revealed Zarooq SandRacer. This new venture pairs Jannarelly with Frederic Juillot, lead at Equation Composite, to make their own supercar vision a reality. A look behind the curtain of the two Frenchmen’s lives shows that their …

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2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport 9

2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport – Updated w/ Tech Specs, Video and Latest Photos

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  World premiere of a screaming new hypercar: the Fenyr Supersport from W Motors! Following the incredible LYKAN in production form, the new FENYR is more compact, more wicked and even more exotic. Power comes in mid-engine RUF boxer form; the FENYR runs a 900-horsepower, 1100-foot-pound 4.0-liter twin turbo. Porsche basis, but remade by RUF to an extreme degree. That giant-killing motor is mounted inches above the ground in the mid-rear of the full carbon monocoque.  The FENYR drives the rear wheels alone through a new 7-speed PDK and limited-slip differential. Quoted performance figures so far are 2.7-seconds to 100-kph, …

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Concept Flashback - 2009 RINSPEED iChange 34

Concept Flashback – 2009 RINSPEED iChange

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How about an awesome Rinspeed concept to help forget the X-Trem from 1999? Flash forward ten years later, and we have the 2009 iChange — an ultra-low, sleek and sexy single-seat sports car — with a twist. At the touch of a button, the track-attack looks and functionality of the iChange into a chic three-seater with bubble glass canopy.  How?  The entire glasshouse shifts upward and forward, with its rear section base extending a few inches upward to give more headroom in back.   (It is subtle)  Very subtle.  So the name is iChange, but might be better billed as the …

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1999 RINSPEED X-Trem 1

Concept Debrief – 1999 RINSPEED X-Trem M.U.V.

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Flashbacks can be good…. and they can be bad. The one thing both have in common:  a livid, full-color reminder of something you otherwise never think about. Livid and vivid certainly describes the Rinspeed X-Trem MUV from 1999. The firm was embracing a bit of Americana in the late 90s, and this monstrosity was the ultimate expression of the bright, loud and obnoxious USA, at least as seen from new Geneva.  Less an expression of actual American wants/needs for trucks, and much more a reflection of SoCal life as seen on tv and movies.  The whole machine attempts to embrace …

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ESCORT Max360 Radar Detector – Test Review + HD Videos!

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This post brought to you by Escort Radar + Laser Detectors. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Car-Revs-Daily.com. HD Review – ESCORT Max360 Radar Detector Escort 360 Welcome to the future of driving! After spending a few weeks with the MAX360 radar detector, we are deeply sold on its features and benefits for all drivers.  To the point where normal driving without the Max360 now feels strangely brazen and risky?!  And that is the surprising theme throughout the Max360: intelligent tech and features give Max360 drivers a trove of otherwise nonexistent situational data on highways and city …

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All-New V6TT 2016 INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400 Tops New Four-Engine Range!

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HUGE news on the Infiniti front today: An all-new pair of twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6s join the new 2.0-liter turbo four and 360HP hybrid. Dubbed the VR-series engines, the top output is the headline 400HP and 350-pound-feet of torque unit. This stump-puller will be offered in rear or AWD, with its torque starting a long plateau from just 1600-rpm. Kicking things off right is a limited-run model with giant alloys and sport cabin under the guise of Red Sport 400. This badge steps in for Eau Rouge nicely! No word on sprint pace, but the time should be comfortably in the …

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2017-Jaguar-Formula-E-36fas

JAGUAR Joins Formula E to Perfect Electric Skills and Thrills

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Pretty cool news today from Jaguar!  The firm has officially signed on to race in FIA Formula E for the 2017 season. This means the team will have almost a full year to perfect their car and study the second season of the series for competitive insights. The Formula E teams all share a dedicated power unit supplied by McLaren, so the effort here is about power management, smart charging and overall racing strategy. Jaguar hopes to transfer much of their new EV track learnings back onto the road — but in a manner that matches the firm’s new Art …

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2016 RINSPEED Etos Concept – Self-Driving, Drone-Launching Technical Tour de Force

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The RINSPEED concept for 2016 is out, with highly advanced digital-car tech of the future taking a front seat for nearly every technical element of the machine. And if there were a back seat in the Etos, the two occupants could both chill back there while the self-driving tech takes over, sinks the steering wheel into the dashboard, and performs fully autonomous self-driving. A basis on the BMW i8 platform means that style, to some extent, has taken a back seat to tech this year.  This means the BMW kidney grilles are replaced up front by ultralight plastics and 3D-effect …

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Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile)

2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA – Extreme Teardrop Drips Elegance for New Photoshoot

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 This concept IAA is the best-looking among the trio of piloted-drive, alternative-propulsion concepts from big Benz this year. But how to love its active rear flange and sleek roofline, when the nose hits you like a punch in the cheek? Seeing the machine out in the wilds of natural light*, the integrated lighting up front creates a nicer glow. With so much solid white OLED in the grille slat edges, the inner portion resembles a more traditional V-shaped element. Even if it is just a matter of distance or movement, the IAA is undoubtedly stunning in these new photos —- …

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2017 Genesis G90 World Premiere – Tech Specs and 100 Images Inside and Out

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The first official Genesis model is out!  Dubbed the G90, this giant limo will replace the EQUUS in the US market, above the current Hyundai Genesis lineup in pricing and size. First things first: — the car is huge! — the looks are unique, if derivative of very-recent global superlux cars like the Mercedes-Maybach S600. — do not prejudge its looks too much: these are Korean-market trims and details, with changes probable for US cars (trims, wheels, etc.) — tech and cabin luxury take a huge leap forward from the already-impressive Genesis sedans — powertrains and pricing are finalized for …

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Next-Gen Traffic Ticket Prevention? ESCORT Max360 Ups Ante With Cloud-Linked Intel

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 ESCORT Max360 This post brought to you by Escort Radar + Laser Detectors. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Car-Revs-Daily.com. Traffic tickets lately are going from an annoying nuisance to a serious problem in 2015 — especially for safe drivers. While the days of aircraft-based highway speed monitoring are long gone with huge jet fuel prices, every highway and urban area these days is swamped with a new menace: Automated ticket writers for speed cameras, red-light cameras and even congestion-zone tracking. Mass data collection on any driver the system flags These two new threats make even the dreaded …

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SRT Tomahawk 2

FCA 2016 #DriveforDesign Contest Seeks Teen Input on 2025 Dodge SRT Hellcat!

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On the heels of Ferrari’s very promising design challenge for 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles just launched its multi-playform FCA Drive for Design contest. The objective for all entries is to envision a 2025 Dodge SRT Hellcat — and is limited to high school students in grades 10-12, sophomores to seniors.  The goal is to see what tomorrow’s design talent would do with the 2025 Hellcat in a no-limits world of the future. Will it be an open-wheeled racecar with tandem double cockpit? Or a mid-engine exotic like the SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo? 2015 SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo Or …

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Ferrari Design Challenge 2015 – Vote Your Future Hypercar Style!

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Ferrari has been crowd-sourcing design ideas and talent since at least 2005 — with many of the ideas for the eventual LaFerrari sharing at least something with the design-student scale models and renders. This was after Ferrari pulled the marquee hypercar design contract back in-house from Pininfarina. ‘Crowd-sourcing’ is not really a fair description of this Design Challenge effort, though. Why? These entries are not ‘loser-generated-content’ from the public — but near-finished and highly thought-through prototypes.  So more of a creative shootout than simply hive-mind idea cultivation. For the 2015 contest, Ferrari switched the script in a few ways. Ferrari …

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TrendWatch – Stenciled Tires Escape Racetrack, Sex Up Ferrari and Porsche Road Cars

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Here is a trend that looks set to expand bigtime in the next few years:  race-branded tire sidewalls! This trend is really in the early stages of the curve — like dark wheels were in 2007 or 2008. The only production car we can think of featuring loud tire letters and colors so far is the Lamborghini Aventador Pirelli Edition, but more are surely on the way from OEM supercar brands and tire companies alike. Until then, the real tastemakers are taking matters into their own hands. These two stunning white exotics are extensively customized by GT Auto Concepts of …

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Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Carbon Forgé Leads New Lightweight Timepiece Collection

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A new dream-watch just launched!  The Bell & Ross BR-X1 is named to honor the Bell X-1 supersonic test plane from 1947 — and employs tech just as advanced for 2015 watchmaking. Four initial styles of the BR-X1 are part of a very limited-release initial collection. The favorite of ours is the Carbon Forge model — as it has a very unique marbled finish, tinted sapphire crystal, and should be much lighter than the typical BR watches. Milled from single pieces of alloy, the heft of their watches makes you feel important. But does take time to get comfortable with …

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2017 Volvo S90 Reveals Slinky New Limo Shape, 400HP T8 PHEV Drivetrain

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Volvo is on a huge roll!  The new XC90 led a 26-percent sales gain for the month of November 2015, and the momentum is just getting started. The next step is this all-new S90 luxury sedan.  All-new and competing with A6 and even A8, this new Volvo limo is an exceptionally promising replacement of the aged S80. The new S90 runs all-new chassis, exterior, interior and powertrain — making it a near clean-sheet approach to the next generation of large Volvos.  The powertrains and much else is shared with the exceptional new XC90: this includes the standard T6 turbo engine …

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2016 Lexus RX450h F Sport AWD 93

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Lexus RX450h F Sport AWD – A Plush Rush?!

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The new Lexus RX is one of the most eagerly-anticipated new SUVs for 2016.  This redesign proves the RX can be a style leader even while outselling entire luxury brands like Volvo and Jaguar in the USA. So far, the RX has been so ubiquitous on the roads that any sense of chic sexiness was seriously diluted.  The 2016 model wears all-new styles and new trimlines to bring variety to the efficiency, lux ride comfort and versatility its 2-million owners love so much. The upgrades for 2016 are extensive — with the entire cabin, exterior and some drivetrain parts refreshed …

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BAC MONO Sweeping Hong Kong! New Showroom Sells 8 Cars on First Day

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Alternative headline? MONO-nucleolus outbreak in Far East! =] Yea. Too alarmist. Moving on… BAC just opened their second Asian showroom in as many months — with Hong Kong a natural follow-up to the new Japanese dealer recently established. Demand is clearly strong globally for this one-seat supercar, but showrooms nearby is the best way to really ramp up volume. Sure, there might be one or two MONO’s in Hong Kong already, but the eight just sold would likely never have happened without buyer’s knowing where to service and maintain the cars.  The MONO is the perfect stepping-stone between sportscars in …

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RingBrothers Carbon Fiber Mustang GT-R on HRE Wheels Hits Airbase for GORGEOUS Photoshoot

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This is the most stunning thing you will see all day! The ‘ESPIONAGE Mustang: a full carbon-fiber Mustang running gorgeous retro-mod HRE wheels in polished gunmetal grey. It is a stunning car — and the process of making it real is almost more fascinating than the end product!  Almost. RingBrothers Carbon Fiber Mustang GT-R on HRE Wheels   Construction Process – RingBrothers   Cabin    

Audi TTRS Clubsport by HPerformance.de

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  PART TWO: The Clubsport. HPerformance took its major engine-upgrade skills to make this TTRS Clubsport a 510-horsepower track missle. Upgrades outside are awesome – especially the spats up front! Audi TTRS Clubsport by HPerformance.de PREVIOUS Wow!  750 horsepower from a 2.5-liter five-cylinder!? Not easy to achieve — and something that took almost a total redesign of the TTRS engine from all sides.  New turbo, fuel system race tech, MTR tune, custom downpipe and exhaust system…. the list literally goes on and on. The results shout for themselves, however, rocketing this TT to 60-mph in an estimated ~3.3-seconds and on …

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Audi TTRS Black Hawk by HPerformance

3.3s, 750HP Audi TTRS Black Hawk by HPerformance.de

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Wow!  750 horsepower from a 2.5-liter five-cylinder!? Not easy to achieve — and something that took almost a total redesign of the TTRS engine from all sides.  New turbo, fuel system race tech, MTR tune, custom downpipe and exhaust system…. the list literally goes on and on. The results shout for themselves, however, rocketing this TT to 60-mph in an estimated ~3.3-seconds and on to a gear-limited ~178-mph? INtense! You have been warned.  If you see an HPerformance charge cooler graphic in your rearview mirror on the autobahn, get right.   Clear the way, slowpokes! The whole 750HP shebang is priced …

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300MPH 2018 BUGATTI Spyshots, Renderings and Design Analysis

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The Bugatti Veyron took more than 10 years and ~10-billion dollars to make real for its 2005 debut. The vehicle development started with the VW W12 NARDO/SYNCHRO prototypes before taking on a life of its own via stratospheric performance dictates from the very top of the Volkswagen Group. 1000-horsepower and 250-mph. Great in theory, surpassed in practice!   The next-generation Bugatti supercar has a great running start by using many components and skills long-honed for the first Veyron and its SuperSport and Vitesse models since the launch spec. Even so…. this long intro is basically a warning: do not get …

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2017 Lincoln MKZ – 400HP V6TT, New TVD AWD + Drivers Pack

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Check out the new Lincoln MKZ! This extensive facelift and refresh is one of the most extensive in recent memory, especially versus the exceptionally light touches on the 2016 Focus or Explorer and 2017 Escape. The entire nose of the MKZ is all-new and all-different. Its controversial dual waterfall grille design and pointy face is swapped for a posh, flowing and organic new flow. A large oval grille lives in the center of the nose, wearing a fresh interlocking mesh look. All-new headlights are absolutely mesmerizing!  Love them. Single beams line up horizontally for the low and high-beams, while LED …

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2016 Dodge VIPER ACR 8

2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – First Real-Life Photos Show Insane Aerokit

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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 PREVIOUS   Welcome to the fastest road-legal Viper of …

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LARTE DESIGN 2016 Infiniti QX80 Missuro is Whitehot in New Image Set + Animated LED Demo

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The QX80 has been a favorite of Larte Design (and ours!) for years. LARTE has been designing aero kits for the 400HP supertruck in many forms since 2011 or so. This is their baby. So of course, when the 2015 model debuted in Pebble Beach with a plush QX80 Limited pack and new LED lighting, the LARTE folks were quick to take note. Since those first QX80s started turning heads in Monaco with wild styling mods, Larte has expanded globally — with Cali and German offices doing great tunes on the Lexus LX570, Merc GL, Tesla Model S, QX60, QX70 …

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Huracan580

2017 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 is New Rear-Drive BALBONI! Full Tech Specs

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Check out the new hotness from Lambo for the LA show this week!  A rear-drive Lambo is always exciting, and this one is one of the friskiest yet: The Huracan 580. Sprint pace is 3.4-seconds to 100-kph, which is only a tenth or so behind the standard AWD model, despite lacking all that grip from the front axle. Vmax is 320-kph and the overall package is down about 70 pounds versus the LP610-4. 580HP from the dry-sumped V10 engine in back have custom-tailored drive modes, redone for 2016 as well as for this rear-drive Huracan specifically. Outside, the LP580-2 wears …

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Hands-On Review – 2015 WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vac – 5HP, 5-Gal Portable Wallmount

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Unique WORKSHOP Portable Vac Pairs Big HP with Easy-Carry Square Shape! This WORKSHOP 5HP wet/dry vac is incredible!  Replaced old R2D2 garage shopvac with this smaller model, which still has 5HP but a more-compact square drum. No wheels but EASY handle and carrying. It is pretty light, too, and small enough to use inside a car.  Very handy not to worry about dragging vacuum across driveway, but still have the power of a full-size wet dry vac and blower.  The blower and the nozzle attachments work great in between seats and for audio buttons — moving and dislodging gunk before …

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2017 Honda CLARITY FUEL CELL 2

Honda’s New Car Can Power Your House for a Week? Introducing Jamie Hanninen

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Honda has been working on hydrogen-fueled cars for several decades now, but hadn’t settled on a design they felt was worthy of releasing to the public until now. The Clarity Fuel Cell was just unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, and it packs an amazing punch, even though it looks like a standard four-door sedan. It Emits Only Water Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are so clean that the only thing that flows from the tailpipe is water. The cars rely on basic chemistry to convert hydrogen into power. The hydrogen enters the chamber, and is introduced to an anode. Its …

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900HP, 250MPH 2016 W Motors FENYR SuperSport World Debut

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World premiere of a screaming new hypercar: the Fenyr Supersport from W Motors! Following the incredible LYKAN in production form, the new FENYR is more compact, more wicked and even more exotic.   LYKAN Power comes in mid-engine RUF boxer form; the FENYR runs a 900-horsepower, 1100-foot-pound 4.0-liter twin turbo. Porsche basis, but remade by RUF to an extreme degree. That giant-killing motor is mounted inches above the ground in the mid-rear of the full carbon monocoque.  The FENYR drives the rear wheels alone through a new 7-speed PDK. Quoted performance figures so far are 2.7-seconds to 100-kph, plus a …

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985HP MANSORY S63 Black Edition Coupe – Upgrades Detail + 20 New Photos

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MANSORY is getting pumped for its home auto show: the IAA in Frankfurt next week. The big reveal this year will be a Black Edition S63 AMG Coupe. This blacked-out stunner has dramatic exterior and interior changes from every angle. In addition to the expected new bumper and intakes up front, new fender slashes behind the lead axle promise functional cooling benefits as well as the massive style they bring. A full de-chrome for the windowline and glasshouse is dramatic and effective, as are the rear wheel brake cooling ducts. Around back, a dark carbon-fiber finish for the diffuser meets …

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BMW Launches M2 and M4 Performance Parts – Coming Spring 2016

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  The new BMW M2 is barely on the radar of most supercoupe shoppers just a month after its official reveal, but BMW is not waiting around to juice its new baby with M Performance Parts. The M2 and M4 wearing swish new design upgrades were the centerpieces of the SEMA 2015 show: gloss-black detailing, M color body decals, and even a carbon-fiber spoiler and exhaust system for the M4. The M2’s mods so far are purely aesthetic, and we have not seen the full car yet — just glimpses of its black kidney grilles so far. The M4 Performance …

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Car of the Year Review – 2015 Lexus RC-F

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The RC-F was a true highlight among all the cars tested in 2015. And in the weeks since the Lexus sports flagship spent time in my garage, the deep longing and feelings for the car have not subsided. The first week was deep mourning at its absense, and the other seven stages of grief have passed over the CRD team like the eye of a hurricane. Finally, a bit of a light at the end of this tunnel: we must crown the RC-F the Car of the Year. In doing so, we honor its incredible strengths and the legacy it …

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LARTE DESIGN 2016 Infiniti QX80 Missuro Debuts New Dual-Mode Exhaust + Rotora 8-Piston Brakes

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The QX80 has been a favorite of Larte Design (and ours!) for years. LARTE has been designing aero kits for the 400HP supertruck in many forms since 2011 or so. This is their baby. So of course, when the 2015 model debuted in Pebble Beach with a plush QX80 Limited pack and new LED lighting, the LARTE folks were quick to take note. Since those first QX80s started turning heads in Monaco with wild styling mods, Larte has expanded globally — with Cali and German offices doing great tunes on the Lexus LX570, Merc GL, Tesla Model S, QX60, QX70 …

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BTR Veloster Turbo

Blood Type Racing Makes 500HP Hyundai VELOSTER Turbo R-Spec for SEMA 2015

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Blood Type Racing delivered a Best of SEMA concept last year in its 800HP Genesis Coupe (photo gallery below). Stunning ideas and execution made that hemoglobin-hued showcar so special, we’d be scared to drive it on the highway — let alone sideways on a racetrack! BTR earned a pretty high honor for its incredible 2014 efforts: another slot in the Hyundai official SEMA customs roster. This year brought a pretty big challenge, however, for the Blood Type hoons: a Veloster Turbo R-Spec as the starting point. The Veloster is a challenging tuner platform for a variety of reasons, but none …

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Hyundai SEMA 2015 – Genesis Coupes From ARK and TJIN Are 1200HP of Sideways Bliss

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Two Genesis Coupes are among the six-pack of official customs from Hyundai for the 2015 SEMA show. While the results from ARK Performance and TJIN are quite distinct, interesting similarities are present and notable between the two.  Most critically, the standard-equipment 3.8-liter, 350HP V6 is boosted up to quite extreme power levels via supercharged induction. TJIN runs a Vortex V4 supercharger with Bisimoto ECU tune, but few other mechanical mods to the engine internals. A ballpark output from this conversion is around 475 horsepower. Clearly enough to make the Genesis Coupe a powerhouse, of course, and one that looks divine …

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SEMA 2015 - Showfloor Mega Gallery in 288 Photos 186

SEMA 2015 – Showfloor Mega Gallery in 288 Photos

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SEMA is wrapping up today after a wild showcase of the current aftermarket car business.  Highlights are too numerous to mention, but the Ford GT in yellow is my personal favorite sighting. The new MX-5 concepts are pretty fantastic as well.   SEMA 2015 – Showfloor Mega Gallery in 288 Photos

PlayStation GT SPORT Stills 24

Meet Gran Turismo SPORT – FIA-Blessed PlayStation Spinoff Starts Private Alpha in Paris

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Here is a brilliant idea that took two decades to achieve! Another Gran Turismo. One of the most potent profit engines in the PlayStation empire, the exclusive console arrangement has been a golden goose for parent Sony. But the development of the game by Polyphony Digital is so exhaustive that a spin-off game was long thought just a drain on resources. Fans were already waiting rabidly for the mid-decade updates of Gran Turismo since its launch, now up to GT6 as the latest and greatest. What started as a vaguely frontier investment in gaming for Sony in the late 1980s …

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2017 Acura NSX - 040

573HP, 191MPH 2017 Acura NSX Tech Specs Are Official!

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A huge leap in NSX production news!  The 2017 supercar’s tech specs are official today, and they are enough to flood your brain’s pleasure centers.  573-horsepower, 9-speed DCT with eAWD, and a top speed of a screaming 191-mph. Power for the gasoline V6TT comes in at 500-horsepower, with a stellar 406-pound-feet of torque from just 2000-rpm. Along with the wide spread of gear ratios in the dual-clutch automatic, the NSX will be an absolute rocketship. Based on the initial buzz about drives at Togichi and Sonoma raceway, the hashtag is #scaryFast. Is this a good thing overall? Abvsolutely!  But with …

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HD Track Drive Review – 2016 Cadillac CTS-V is BOSS – PDR + Exhaust Note Videos

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Speechless. Muttering “ermahgerd” over and over as the 2016 CTS-V whipped into the pits of Autobahn Country Club following a five-pack of fast lead-follow laps. Smile plastered on, hands tingling and throttle foot twitching involuntary for more. This is a super-sedan of the absolute first order. M5, E63 and CTS-V are now as closely matched as any three assassins in history. 640HP from the CTS-V comes on strong, of course, but it is how clean and balanced the Cadillac is on power that really sticks with you. The CTS-V’s massive engine upgrade to a supercharged V8 has done nothing to …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo 7

2015 Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo is Yuppy-Chic Hydrogen PHEV

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Tokyo has long been the global auto show to see some weird, wild and wacky stuff. Futuristic dreams on four wheels, usually with brightly lit color-schemes and adaptive video screens to boot. The show this year is still tech-rich, but a bit more somber than previous years. A firm production focus appears to be the concept-car focus so far. But here glides in an unlikely hero for wild and crazy concept cars, none other than Mercedes-Benz!? The Vision Tokyo is a funky style wagon aimed at chic yuppies stuck in traffic. As opposed to chic oldies in the back of …

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2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO N-Attack Package

Nissan GT-R NISMO N Attack Package – Upgrade Details and Pricing

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Not sure how this even-hotter-than-ever NISMO GT-R slid by us when it was announced in August of this year, but we are all over it now! The new N Attack Package is a major overhaul of the factory NISMO GT-R — letting any OEM driver have the exact specification that delivered a Nurburgring production track record earlier in the year. In Japan, the assembly of the N Attack pack is handled in-house by NISMO, but in the USA (and worldwide) the distributor and official installation partner is long-time Nissan guru STILLEN. This upgrade is massively involved. We have the full …

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Design Analysis – 2015 Renault COUPE CORBUSIER Is All-New Flagship Concept

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Shades of brutalism, yet light on the inside and accented with with fantasy curves. The description of the iconic Villa Savoye country house in France neatly applies to almost all Le Corbusier’s creations. The architect is a legend in modernism, a movement that prioritized livable interiors, created with advanced industrial construction methods leaning heavily on steel and concrete. The idea of Villa Savoye being a legendary cabin in France just epitomizes the era of its design. Cold-war emotions were running hot, while WWII and its mass destruction of France inspired a clean break in the national mood.   Villa Savoye, …

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Renaultsport RS01 6

2015 RenaultSport RS01 Blasts Around Jerez Circuit in New Video and Photoset

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Fresh videos and photos of the Renault RS01 racecars blasting around Circuit Jerez this week in Spain! And crucially, a look under the hood of this mid-engine stunner — confirming the well-known rumors that the 3.8-liter engine under that back canopy has GT-R origins. [Actually, Renault confirmed this right from the start: see tech specs included below video.] What a prospect. Imagine not just a true mid-engine racing GT-R, but actually a pure speed-demon with bespoke CF chassis and bodywork, racing suspension and all that power to just the back wheels! Just the thought of such a machine is enough …

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2016 Nissan Patrol NISMO Storms Dubai with 30HP Bump + Bilsteins, Rays 22s and Custom Exterior

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  Here is an exciting truck that is certainly not headed stateside in its current form: the 2016 Nissan Patrol NISMO for the Middle Eastern market. The upgrades are actually pretty awesome, despite just a jump to 428-ponies from the stock 400 even. The 5.6-liter V8 is absolutely a gem in 400HP form, so with freer intakes and exhaust, the engine is eager to deliver even more smiles-per-gallon via this new NISMO tune. Chassis changes are fairly extensive, with a custom handling setup, Bilstein gas shocks and new Rays 22-inch forged alloys on the options list. Custom exterior with all-new …

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2015 Nissan TEATRO for DAYZ 13

2015 Nissan TEATRO for DAYZ Concept is Next-Gen Stoner Streamer

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Some trends have a strong basis in real-life, timeless buyer preferences. Boot-cut jeans fit a huge range of bodytypes in a flattering way. Ugg boots are actually ridiculously comfy and easy to wear all day. Workout clothes are comfiest when you are not working out. Same goes for urban yoofs of the world. Young-person culture adores the idea of a boxy social pod on wheels — as the Scion xD/xB and Nissan Cube took global. The hotness of the box shape never really went out of style in Japan. But is definitely in need of a connected-services and design-ethos refresh. …

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Track Drive Review – 2016 Buick Regal GS – Flypaper Handling Is Now $3k Cheaper!

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Autobahn Country Club might be my “Happy Place.” Recalling this track’s frisky bends, howling tires and full-throttle straightaways brings a smile instantly. Buick invited us to flog their performance flagship, the 2016 Regal GS, around the Illinois track and autocross to show off the machine’s latest updates: new colors and a price that is much more approachable. How approachable!?  A cool $3,300 off the base price for the GS takes the entry level to $35k versus near $38k before.  Three drivetrains continue for 2016: FWD auto, FWD manual and AWD automatic. The GS AWD we tested out still comes in …

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2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – Video Blast-Off and 130 New Photos

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707-horsepower really brightens your day. As the first dry-weather drive of the Challenger Hellcat, we could hardly help the ear-to-ear grin in the video below. Blasting out of the parking lot and up to highway speed is a near-religious experience in the SRT Challenger. Until you try a 30-to-80-mph passing move — as we do shortly into the brief GoPro vid here. There are no words for the sublime, stomach-turning power of this musclecar BSD. Another acronym?   Oh yes.  But this one is totally NSFW… and stands for Big Swinging D***! The Challenger SRT is one of the most joyful …

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Waylens Prototype 2

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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BMW Stunt G310 Is Hyper-Agile Bike Concept for Sao Paolo

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BMW Motorrad has been balls-out this year with concepts in bike segments where the brand does not currently compete. This is a broad look into the future of the BMW two-wheeled range — with the engineers, designers and customers all taking the journey together. Where will the spinning top land, and which among the 2015 BMW bike concepts might make production? So far this year, we’ve seen a cruiser in the Concept 101.   Plus a dirt/sand/street Scrambler in the Path 22. And now an ultra-playful trick bike in the form of the Stunt G 310. We’d honestly vote for all …

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2016 Aston Martin VULCAN meets Avro VULCAN Bomber 6

2016 Aston Martin VULCAN Meets Legendary Avro Vulcan Namesake

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More than a few days late on this news, but it is too good to skip! Aston Martin’s ultra-high-performance flagship just had a meet and greet with its namesake, the Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber!  The Vulcan of the RAF has kept Britain and the world safe from the threat of nuclear weapons for the last 50 years, but will retire this month to the annals of history. And in doing so, this nuclear deterrent will enter the hall of fame for long-range strategic bombers. The beauty of the aircraft and its innovative, ahead-of-its-time delta wing design are icons for all …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

500HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Is Hottest-Ever Bimmer Track Special, But Road-Legal and Coming to USA!

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Some seriously hardcore upgrades for the new BMW M4 GTS! Not only does the GTS pack an all-new and water-cooled turbo system pushing 500-horsepower and 441 pound-feet of torque, but the machine is fully optimized via lightweighting and active aero features rarely seen outside of pure supercars. Favorites right off the bat? The industry-first OLED taillamps and the power-operated front splitter. A Clubsport pack will make the 700-unit M4 GTS truly track-ready via an acid orange roll cage and a full six-point harness for the racing seats. Outside the US, that is. In the states, the Clubsport will include the …

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HD Road Test Review - 2015 Lincoln NAVIGATOR 4x4 Reserve 25

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lincoln NAVIGATOR 4×4 Reserve – Best Full-Size SUV?

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We’ve loved the new Navigator since a brief drive back-to-back with an Escalade. The design might not be as flashy as the new GM trucks, but initial comparisons leaned heavily in favor of the Lincoln for ride, handling and performance. After many miles in Yukons, Suburbans and Escalades since that first drive, there is clearly much to love about their utility and V8 power. The new eight-speed automatics for the 6.2-liter V8s in Escalade and Denali are particularly impressive. But do they beat the anytime surge of turbo torque in the Navigator? Or the easy cabin tech controls? Same scenario …

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2016-Tesla-Model-X-Production-SuperSUV-21

2016 Tesla Model X – Mouth-Watering Tech and Speed; Sleeker Nose for $140k 7-Seater

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Watch this on The Scene. WIRED drive video embed alpha Tesla unveiled the Model X last night with some seriously impressive tech specs, cabin features and range estimates. But first: the nose. This is the biggest and most dramatic change versus the near-production models previewed at SEMA and elsewhere over the last three years. Replacing the gloss-black grille shell is a smooth one-piece painted bumper. Just a sliver of black grille remains up at the hood edge. This black grille houses the sharp Tesla T badge, making a point into the bodycolored bumper below. EXTERIOR The look is quite unique …

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RENNtech 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 SPEC

Concept Flashback – RENNtech 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 SPEC.R Hybrid Pikes Peak

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Renntech won the Mercedes SEMA 2010 tuner challenge, and was awarded a little present as a result! Another iteration of the concept — but this time as a real rally car! All the enhanced aero is needed when climbing up to 14,000-feet at Pikes Peak International Hillclimb — when the KW springs and new NITTO grip setup are also helpful. The powertrain is a RENNtech-tuned V6 pushing 350HP, an increase of around 80 ponies versus the atmospheric petrol. Non-turbo at Pikes Peak is challenging, so the SPEC.R Hybrid adds a jumbo PHEV battery under the rear floor. Finally, custom graphics …

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2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO 12

2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO Brings Lux LED Upgrades, 8-Speed Auto for 5.3L V8

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First good look today at the 2016 Silverado! The truck is making a real-life debut in Dallas, where it will be vying for attention with the new 2017 Ford Super Duty range. Both are a bold and futuristic milestone in the evolution of trucks. The two designs feel both quite different, as ever, but share a similar organic brutalism in their bodywork. The Chevy leaves its main fender boxes and glasshouse alone for the 2016 update, but swaps the hood and bumpers on both ends for new, sleeker units. That hood in particular has some awesome sharp inward shaping toward …

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2016-Peugeot-DKR16-Rally-Racer-10

Peugeot DKR16 Gets Floored Redesign: Group B Fury in 200 New Images + Tech Specs and Dirty Video!

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Reviewing this nearly all-new 2016 Peugeot Dakar racer almost brings tears to a racer’s eye! And the blatt of the V6TT making 800Nm of torque is just the immersion to make your month. Will this make Peugeot and Red Bull’s year down in Chile in January? You’d be a fool to bet against this breathtaking prototype from the far future. Check out this animated evolution in GIF form showing the huge change in scale, proportions and stance for the newly-renamed Peugeot 2008 DKR16 racer. As we scroll through the past year, the original 2015 spec became the 2015+ configuration for …

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Industry Insider: Auto Body Parts Suppliers

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  The automotive industry is huge. Accordingly, there are a great number of suppliers for every aspect of modern automobiles, from the most crucial engine parts to the most superficial body parts. However, not all auto body parts suppliers are created equally. It isn’t a matter of finding which supplier is the best, but rather which is the best for your individual needs. Different parts suppliers have different specialties, and these are what you need to look for. The first thing to consider in a parts supplier’s list of specialties is the materials they use. For instance, some auto parts …

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TechArt 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Powerkit 5

TechArt Launches 700HP 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Powerkit

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  The 2016 Cayenne update is about the get TechArted! The first step in the well-known MAGNUM widebody upgrades is now avaiulable: a ridiculously potent powerkit to up the Cayenne Turbo to a bonkers 700-horsepower. The full madness via extreme aero changes, new fenders and fresh bumpers as the next-gen Magnum is set to arrive later in 2015. Until then, however, how does a bump of 180 ponies sound?! Fan-f-ing-tastic is how the TechArt Cayenne will sound in Sport mode — which unleashes the full beans versus a cooking 640HP in standard mode. The free-flowing intake and exhaust system is …

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Watch the Adaptive Bodywork of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA Via New Animations

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 Updated with 55 New Photos from Mercedes-Benz Frankfurt IAA 2015 A few of Mercedes-Benz’s most advanced projects and engineering specialties come together for this all-new Concept IAA. The Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile proves that the self-driving tech shown at CES last year can be applied to a sportier shape than the rolling lounge concept. Secondly, this Concept IAA proves that the billion-dollar new wind tunnel in Sindelfingen is paying dividends. Beyond the obvious crown jewel of a constructor and driver championship in F1, of course! The proportions of the 0.22-cD Concept IAA are mouthwatering in profile and around back. The nose …

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VW Diesels Face Massive EPA Fraud Allegation – TDI Stop Sale Notice Is Days Away

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Very unsettling news today that casts a dark shadow on Volkswagen TDI “Clean Diesel” engines sold in the United States since 2008. The EPA’s legal “notice of violation” to Volkswagen of America is deathly serious. And, as we predict below, will lead to TDI models being pulled from US showrooms almost immediately — as soon as this coming week. Unlike recall notices to fix even serious safety issues, a willful violation of the Clean Air Act would incur significantly higher monetary damages than a typical recall. Even the Takata airbag scandal is not this alarming. Max fines per vehicle sold …

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Mazda KODO Design Wins 3 Automotive Brand Awards from German Design Council

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      Mazda just had a very eventful week in Frankfurt: three Automotive Brand Contest awards for the CX-3, KODO Bike Concept, and grand prize for the KODO Design language. Very impressive results. It looks like the Mazda Design ‘Car as Art’ installation at Milan design week this Spring left quite the impression on the German Design Council, the award sponsors. Held in Frankfurt, the awards capped off an eventful week in Deutschland: they unveiled an all-new concept car. The Koeru concept reveal shows upmarket ambitions as a full-size SUV with gorgeous lines and sporty handling. Along with the …

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2016 BRABUS 850 4x4 Coupe is GLE63 1

2016 BRABUS 850 4×4 Coupe is GLE63 Pumped Up to 850HP

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Holy shiz! Look at this machine. Somehow, the full customization upgrade from BRABUS rocket sedans is even more intense on the SUVs. The new GLE63 Coupe is a perfect starting point. A launchpad, if you will. And stand back when this sucker blasts off! 3.8-seconds to 62-mph is the new pace, nearly a half-second quicker than the stock truck and its ~573HP.  Not just induction or electronics tweaks here. Nor just fortified engine internals. Nope, this 850 “6.0” has that name for a reason: the whole displacement of the motor is upped from 5.5-liters to 6.0L. This is a perfect …

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Update1 with 25 New Photos – 2015 Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept is Sexy but Pointless EV SUV

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Updated with 25 Live Frankfurt PhotosThis is the latest Audi fantasy concept. And it is not named Prologue. Yay! But it is just as exhausting to behold. The E-Tron Quattro is a 100-percent electric SUV concept promising 310 miles of range and AWD traction. In truth, though, the idea of an EV SUV is the most ridiculous thing we can even fathom. Electric vehicles and SUV adventures are anathema. They do not mix. Imagine going skiing from Denver to Vail or Breckenridge, a three hour mountain drive climbing thousands of feet on steep mountain roads. It is snowing, with fresh …

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Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile)

2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA Is Active Aero Longtail SuperCoupe

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  A few of Mercedes-Benz’s most advanced projects and engineering specialities come together for this all-new Concept IAA. The Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile proves that the self-driving tech shown at CES last year can be applied to a sportier shape than the rolling lounge concept. Secondly, this Concept IAA proves that the billion-dollar new wind tunnel in Sindelfingen is paying dividends. Beyond the obvious crown jewel of a constructor and driver championship in F1, of course! The proportions of the 0.22-cD Concept IAA are mouthwatering in profile and around back. The nose is spooky, but not a big deal. Must work …

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2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit V-8 AWD

2016 Dodge Charger PURSUIT Debuts new 12-inch Touchscreen with PnP Police Computer Systems

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Dodge just updated its 2016 Charger Pursuit LEO model with some never-before-available tech: a giant portrait touchscreen that is custom-designed to be the main display and control for law enforcement officers in daily duties. Until now, the preferred method of departments to put computers into squad cars has been a floor-mounted Panasonic Toughbook. Yes, the laptop was theoretically portable, but not as mounted on its giant metal arm. Bolted down under the seat, this arm let officers move the laptop over the center console, angled toward them a bit. But still extremely awkward, and using an touchpad / nub thing …

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2016 Nissan Leaf 4

2016 Nissan LEAF Scores Big EV Range Bump With New Li-ion Battery and Touchscreens

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  The Nissan Leaf is a cult hit. Like Tesla zealots or early Prius adopters, LEAF-ers absolutely love the machine. Up and down the west coast, Atlanta and DC — the Leaf is as common a sight as an Altima. These cities and regions have pushed hard to roll out charging infrastructure in their city centers and beyond, with helpful tax incentives to buyers also part of the mix. But since the Leaf went on sale in 2010, there has not been a huge incentive for these loyal ‘silent mafia’ of EV drivers to upgrade to the new Leaf. A …

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2016 Toyota PRIUS 9

2016 Toyota PRIUS Intros Future-Tech Design, Sharper Handling and 10% Efficiency Bump

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New new Prius made a splashy debut last night in Las Vegas — marking a new phase in hybrid-electric cars right in a desert city that neon and AC made possible. Is this fun-loving mission a disconnect for the ultra-responsible Prius? Not at all: the new Prius adds efficiency and new tech to the classic Prius merits, but injects a healthy share of fun and style for the first time in 2016. What does this mean? Let’s break it down into three buckets: tech, fun and style. TECH The basics are that the new Prius is 2.4-inches longer, 0.6-inches wider …

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2016 BMW 750Li Stars in Massive New Photoshoot

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Updated 9.7.15 The new 7 Series is here! This is a major update — firmly on the ‘revolution’ side of the typical BMW model evolution. Not a piece of exterior shared with the current range, this new 750 headlines with 250-pounds of weight loss via the new carbon/steel/aluminum platform. Is this new ‘carbonium’ a woven mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber? Something out of CyberDyne Systems? Almost. This new carbon-fiber is industrially-produced using large-scale methods of the BMW i3 and i8, Boeing tech partnership and Toray Industries materials expertise. The passenger cell sides and doorframes appear to be the primary recipients …

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985HP MANSORY Black Edition S63 Coupe Debuts Before Frankfurt with Giant Rear Wing!

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  MANSORY is getting pumped for its home auto show: the IAA in Frankfurt next week. The big reveal this year will be a Black Edition S63 AMG Coupe. This blacked-out stunner has dramatic exterior and interior changes from every angle. In addition to the expected new bumper and intakes up front, new fender slashes behind the lead axle promise functional cooling benefits as well as the massive style they bring. A full de-chrome for the windowline and glasshouse is dramatic and effective, as are the rear wheel brake cooling ducts. Around back, a dark carbon-fiber finish for the diffuser …

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3.7s BRABUS C600 Rockets to 186MPH Via ECU Module + New Active Exhaust

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Imagine getting a UPS package about the size of a textbook arriving on your doorstep. Head to the garage, and within a half hour, your new machine could be making an extra 100 horsepower! That is the idea with the first set of power modules from BRABUS for the new C63-S. Power is the Geneva show-car spec is up to 591-horsepower from the stock 510 thanks to the BRABUS ECU re-flash but also a new exhaust system. Extra downpipe and muffler capacity is a must to max out a turbo engine tune, so all this works together. The new exhaust …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Ford F-150 XLT 4×4 SuperCab 2.7L EcoBoost – Goldilocks Lost

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      The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is a truck we have gushed over and raved about since the moment it rolled on stage at the Detroit show in 2014. Our drive opportunities so far have confirmed this future-tech masterclass is the most advanced pickup truck ever made. Loaded spec levels, LED lighting galore and prices above $50k have been our taste of the truck to date — so it was fantastic to spend a week of intensive driving the most-popular XLT with the mid-range 2.7-liter EcoBoost. What we found left us scratching our foreheads. There are a few …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan JUKE Nismo RS Manual

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Imagine a core group of Nissan GT-R engineers, drivers and designers set loose on the Nissan Juke NISMO. Task? Take the quickest and most performance-focused crossover, and make it truly track-tight in every way. That is how the Juke Nismo RS came into this world — with astounding results. The speed, style and drive experience of the Nismo RS is absolutely incredible versus its $28k competitors — and even versus pricier cars like the AMG GLA45, WRX or Mustang EcoBoost. The Juke Nismo RS is incredibly focused from first sitting in its racing Recaro hard-back bucket seats. A pair of …

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Concept Flashback – 2012 Toyota FT-Bh Envisioned 135-MPG SuperPrius

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    Yes yes, it is easy to focus on amazing concept cars for the flashback pieces. But what about the functional stuff? The wild and hideous? EOE coverage here… with a look back at the 2012 Toyota FT-Bh from Geneva of that year. As a sculptural piece, and an achievement in aerodynamics… the FT-Bh is clearly impressive. It is a large wagon variant about the length of the current Prius V, but much lower and wider. What we saw in the FT-Bh was the next step in Toyota hybrid aero styling. By comparison, the Mirai fuel cell production car …

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2016 Lotus Exige 360 Cup 10

2016 Lotus EXIGE 360 Cup Packs Upgraded Race Tech, Sport Exhaust and Lightweight Louvered Hoods

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Louvered hoods! And not the stick-on kind, either. We are using that hoods term as broadly as possible… for the new matte-black front end, roof, and rear engine cover might all be technically called hoods. These aluminum upgrades help the new Exige 360 Cup stand proud among even its V6 Cup siblings… despite the 360 packing just an extra 10 ponies over the standard Exige V6 Cup. Those extra horses are present thanks to a shouty new sports exhaust with a freer flow than before. The bellow is getting more soulful every iteration for Lotus and their crate motor from …

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2016 Lexus LX570 2

2016 Lexus LX570 Debuts Stunning New Cabin and Escalade-Proof Exterior Flash!

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The 2016 Lexus is now as stunning inside as a Range Rover!  This is big news for the unstoppable seven-seat SUV in the face of big competition from the new Escalade, Navigator and even the fresh QX80 Limited. Cabin tech and giant flatscreens look ready for South Beach and beyond inside the new LX570, which packs a host of new safety tech as well. The compact new steering wheel and fabulous finishes are perhaps the best ever seen from Lexus — befitting its place at the top of the Lexus lineup with the LS600h. The LX570 pricing is likely to …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

~540HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Concept Is Real-Deal Production Car with Innovative Hydro Turbo Boost Chiller

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Here is a confusing ‘concept’ production car… the Concept M4 GTS is actually well on its way to first US owners next Springtime. The big tech change beside lightweighting and aero upgrades is a new water-cooled turbo system. Shared with the M4 MotoGP car, this feature is an innovative way to make huge boost that can sustain hours of track abuse without losing power. The cooled charge is very different from a more basic intercooler spray. Where a spray is helpful, the cooling all happens outside the closed boost and turbo system. BMW’s charge cooler actually atomizes water into the …

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2016 McLaren 570S Orange 16

2016 McLaren 570S Production Begins – $184k Base Price + 24 New Pics

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  Updated 8.12.15 The McLaren 570S configurator is up – with nearly 75 option choices, numerous wheels and a dozen interior pre-selections to help you part with $180,000 the fast way! Super-fast, in fact. The configurator’s last step actually reveals a bit of unknown info: the giant MSO carbon-fiber pieces that go way above and beyond the standard 20 exterior CF choices. These three choices are a full carbon-fiber nose, full CF rear and exposed weave for the roof panel as well. These autoclaved CF upgrades are such gigantic pieces of the material, they are bound to reduce mass versus the …

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2016 Honda Accord Sedan Touring

2016 Honda Accord SPORT in 120 New Pics + Animated CarPlay and Android Auto Demos

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Updated 8.11.15 The Accord Sport is where it’s at for anyone who loves driving. The Sport trim level adds the Coupe’s suspension tune and powertrain tweaks to the standard bodystyle with impressive results. We have a mega pack of new photos to share, primarily of this fire-engine-red Accord Sport cruising around some scenic mountain roads. On this mid-priced example, the lack of the new LED lamps on the loaded Touring line speaks to the low entry prices of the Sport overall. Versus the much more luxury-focused other variants, the Sport is by far the most entertaining steer. The Sport appears …

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2016 Honda Accord Coupe Touring

2016 Honda Accord COUPE Shows its Fresh, Sexy Design in 50 New Photos

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Updated 8.11.15 The Coupe joins the Accord reveal today! Did you do a double take on first sight?? We did… perhaps for the first time in years for an Accord Coupe. Shown in the top-spec V6 Touring trim level, the new Accord Coupe is vastly more attractive than the frisky and fast — but dull-looking — existing model. The Coupe looks really striking with all its new LEDs and styling upgrades – especially up front, where it is far more serious with black chrome in place of the sedan’s normal brightwork. The nose look is similar to the Accord Sport …

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RENAULT SPORT R

2015 RenaultSport R.S. 01 Racecar Headlines World Series Renault at Silverstone Next Month

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Renaultsport is revving up its fanbase this month ahead of the World Series of Renault race weekend extravaganza at Silverstone in early September. F1 cars, Clio Cup cars and 115 years of Renaultsport racing legends will be proudly attending this petrolhead woodstock. The UK debut of the RS01 racecar is perhaps the most exciting new detail for this fun event: the global racing series is part branding, part driver development and part technical R&D. The RS01 features in 30 or so new photos ahead of the big race — shown below along with details on the $12 tickets to join …

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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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See VOSSEN Design and Build VPS-306 Alloys for Mercedes-AMG GT S in 180-Pic Photo Essay

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  Here’s a really cool look behind the scenes at Vossen wheels. How are custom wheels designed and tested for an all-new model like the AMG GT? This photo essay takes us on a step-by-step trip through the process of upgrading the factory rims. How shockingly tiny do the factory wheels in comparison with the end results?! The engineering and laser measurements of the inner wheel wells and axle hubs are the most critical bits of knowledge for Vossen’s CAD-CAM designers. Once these parameters are set, the firm can custom-cut any design or style of wheels to fit any AMG …

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2016 Scion iA Review – Best Compact Sedan… Ever? 55 Pics + HD Drive Video

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Quick: what are the biggest issues with compact cars? — They are typically a total snooze outside — And alarmingly depressing to drive Is that just an unbreakable curse, or can Scion engineer and design its way to greatness on its first attempt? INTRO Scion has a double threat of new compacts for 2016: the all-new iA sedan and iM hatchback take over for the discontinued iQ, xD and xB. After years of wild niche models, Scion is refocusing its mission to speak to 2015 buyer wants and needs via far more traditional body styles. The iM is a tC-based …

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2015 Lexus RCF Saatchi BPM Concept Debuts Stunning Biometric Paint

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rcf bpm video crop PART TWO: RCF BPM You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right.   RCF BPM The second upgrade is far more cosmetic, but just as exotic. This Australian creation displays a dynamic paint finish based on the driver’s heart rate. As his or her beats-per-minute go up, the electro-luminescent paintwork outside glows in unique cascading patterns. From 100-bpm upward, the …

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2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept Drops 900Lbs For Pikes Peak 11

2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept Drops 900Lbs For Pikes Peak

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You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right. The first? An all-new 2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept, which raced up to 14,500 feet the other week at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Billed as a true development prototype, the RCF GT is a race-ready lightweighting exercise. From the factory curb weight for the RCF at 4048-pounds, the RCF GT drops almost 1000 pounds to …

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2016 Honda Accord

2016 Honda Accord Bringing Tech-Tastic LED and Infotainment Updates

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The 2016 Accord refresh is out and looking fantastic! Shown here on the loaded V6 Touring trim, the 2016 Accord is quite a looker with its new 19-inch alloys, standard LED taillights and a very fresh face up front. Packing LED foglights and LED DRLs on Sport or Touring trims, these special Acura-like lighting designs will really set the loaded Accord apart on the roads. The Touring flagship trim is now available on the Coupe, which also packs LED headlamps for the first time. The engines specs are not yet out, but the 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 are set …

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