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Negotiation 101: Your Guide to Buying Below Asking Price

Negotiations can seem intimidating—especially for first-timers. You want to act confident but not overly brass, principled but not too stubborn… it’s a fine line to walk. But whether you’re buying a new car or a used car, the fact remains the same: there is plenty of room for negotiation left on the table. The seller will always try to get their top dollar, usually by setting the initial asking price well above market value under the assumption that the buyer will later negotiate a lower price tag. If you don’t at least try to get them to come down in …

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2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Expected to Earn $8 Mil at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2019

1500 miles and the value of this machine has more than doubled since originally delivered less than two years ago.   It’s as if the universe is paying you to own and drive these hypercars, and not the other way around! The Aperta is clearly the LaFerrari to own.  Its electronic roof panel flips and tucks so discreetly that there would be no reason now to even go for the coupe.  That is perhaps a slight down-side to the Aperta versus other ultra-exotics that have popped their tops — notably any from Pagani — and have a totally different style and appeal …

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2017 VW E-Golf SEL Premium – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

OK, we’re a little late to the EV game. We recently tested the Soul EV, and came away charmed by the unique driving experience, and the way Kia made the electric Soul feel special and unique – like driving a car of the future. Which is a great counterpoint to the VW Golf EV. While the Kia celebrates its EV-ness, the Golf plays it the other way – it completely feels like any other Golf, the only difference is that it has a different way of fueling up. For someone with EV anxiety, or who just wants to go electric …

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Review: 2017.5 Mazda6 Delights With Handling, Styling and Features – By Tim Esterdahl

Admittedly, I’m not much a mid-size car guy. I like pickups and SUVs with 4×4. However, driving around in the 2017.5 Mazda6 Grand Touring edition, it didn’t take me long to understand why I keep hearing good things about this car. The 2017.5 Mazda6 is one of two cars Mazda offers with the Mazda3 being the smaller of the two. It competes with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and other mid-size cars. Mazda offers the 6 in three models: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring and all the models share a 2.5L 184 horsepower inline-four engine. This model year is also …

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2017 Toyota AVALON Hybrid Limited – Road Test Review – By Tim Esterdahl

The 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited is a very stylish car loaded with safety equipment and great fuel economy. It’s only blemish is simply bad timing with the ultra-hot truck and SUV market seeing customers buying other types of vehicles at a startling pace. After receiving a facelift in 2015 and now with a new 2019 model on the way, the 2017 model should represent a bargain for consumers. Here’s why. On the outside, the Avalon represents the older way of designing Toyota vehicles with a more muted front-end and blended style from front to rear. Newer Toyota styling has …

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2017 Lexus RC-F – Road Test Review – Introducing Jesus R. Garcia

I’m Thankful for Sports Cars Having a two-door luxury sports coupe for Thanksgiving can give anyone a lot to be thankful for. Especially when the coupe in question is the 2017 Lexus RC F; a V8 powered Japanese GT car with some serious attitude underneath its sleek and professional exterior. I had two weeks to get well acquainted with this car. Compared to the last Lexus vehicle I tested, 2017 Lexus IS 200t, this was the other end of the spectrum. Interior This was the first car I drove that had carbon fiber, suede, and leather surrounding the interior. Thanks …

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2017 Kia NIRO Touring – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

The Deep Cerulean blue Kia Niro was waiting for me and the wife at the Ft. Lauderdale airport parking lot, and it was a welcome sight after a long day of airline travel. We dropped the rear seatbacks down, and the generous 54.5 cubic feet cargo area swallowed up two huge suitcases, that in a bygone era would have been labeled “steamer trunks”. A set of golf clubs, and the carry-on bags were added easily. As we eased into the front seats, we basked in the glory of comfortable perforated leather seats, with all the leg room we could want.  …

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2017 A Year In Review – Best and Worst Cars We Drove This Year – Michigan Edition

As the end of the year quickly approaches our rear view mirror, We wanted to take a look back, and highlight what surprises 2017 brought to Car-Revs-Daily. This year proved to be a very busy one, with a swarm of new vehicles visiting our offices, as well as several key automotive events that occurred throughout the year. With old man winter firmly entrenched at our Metro Detroit outpost, here’s a look at some of the best and not so best vehicles that visited the Michigan office during 2017.   Best: 2018 Lexus LC500 It’s only fitting that we start this …

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2017 Ford Mustang SHELBY GT350 – Review w/ 5 HD Videos

Why? Because Racecar! Spending a week in the Shelby GT350 is one of the highlights of my life so far.  Nothing else has come close to this level of animal aggression on the road.  The GT350’s $60k pricetag feels like the bargain of the century.  For a Mustang so special that it’s the 911 GT3 RS of muscle-cars. A car this tight and taut feels like it’s doing 170-mph even at idle.  No other Mustang gets anywhere near this power-on brilliance.  High revs, high power peaks and few shifts are the way to rock GT350 around a racetrack fast. This …

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Road Test Review – 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD – By Carl Malek

With ample cargo room, a healthy suite of features, as well as purposeful styling, it’s no secret that the 2017 Toyota Highlander has emerged as a key family focused entry for the Japanese auto giant. When we last met the Highlander, we gave it high marks for interior room, and the flexibility provided by its sizable cargo area. However, a key weakness that emerged during that encounter was the Highlander’s low fuel mileage. Toyota aimed to try and correct this flaw with the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, but does it stand out as a must have option for Highlander fans? …

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2017 Jeep COMPASS Trailhawk 4×4 – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

If you like small crossover/SUV’s, you’re living in the golden age. Where most manufacturers were once happy to offer one model, it seems like many are doubling – or tripling – down, to give you your own perfect blend of goodness. And that includes Jeep. Here we have an all-new Jeep Compass. Originally introduced in 2007, the Compass was sort of a slapped-together version based on the Dodge Caliber. More tall wagon than true ‘ute, it still proved to be very popular with buyers, but kind of felt out of place with the Jeep Brand. Fast forward 10 years, and …

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2018 Lexus LC500 – Supercar of the Year – Road Test Review

No test car here at CRD has created more of a stir than this Lexus LC500. Long-lost pals sought out rides. The Cars ‘n Coffee crowd was enchanted LC even stirred wild thumbs-ups from other drivers on the road. Nobody loved this next-generation Lexus supercar more than its driver, though. This all-new platform started life on a mission to sink the engine lower and much more mid-ship than any Lexus before.  The results not only lighten the handling mood dramatically, but they also sharpen the turn-in radically. A new 10-speed automatic joins the thrilling 5.0-liter V8 from the GS-F and …

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2017 Nissan ROGUE SPORT SV AWD – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Over the years there have been plenty of words used to keep certain brand names high on the sales charts, and to use the halo of well-earned reputations to promote the latest and greatest. Think Grand Cherokee, Camry Solara, Mustang II. Some more successful than others. And now we have a spinoff of Nissan’s exceptionally popular Rogue. The Nissan Rogue Sport. What’s up, Sport? Sport fits the smaller, more aggressive looking Rogue, being a good foot shorter than its big brother. Designed to compete against such city funsters as Mazda’s CX-3, Honda HR-V, and Toyota’s CH-R, it’s still a handy …

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Road Test Review: 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Club (6MT) – By Carl Malek

When we last met the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF, we praised the fastback for offering a hardtop alternative to the venerable soft top variant, as well as giving customers better protection from the elements. However, the one thing we missed was the doses of sporty character that other MX-5’s are known for (mainly due to our tester being a luxury oriented Grand Touring model.) To find out if the wait was indeed worth it, we spent some time with the MX-5 Club to see if it could stand out in any discernible way from its slightly more sedate cousin.   …

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2017 Nissan Maxima SR – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Recently we tested the all-new 2018 Camry. Ours was the sportiest V6, XSE and it managed to clear the $40,000 hurdle with optional equipment. It’s certainly a great evolution in Camry-dom, but it had us thinking, for 40-large you’re treading on some well-established toes. Including the self-proclaimed 4-Door Sports Car, the Nissan Maxima. So, is the Maxima still the sport/luxury sedan of choice for value conscious buyers? Well, it’s certainly aging well. While competitors like the Camry are handsome, the Maxima still lives in a league above. It looks long, low, and wide, full of serious intent. Also tying in …

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2018 Hyundai SONATA Limited 2.0T – Road Test Review w/ Video!

The 2018 Sonata is quite a looker on the roads!  There is no lag time in the Genesis G80 Sport’s design trickle-down: both wear very similar shield grilles, darkened with glossy mesh and black chrome for a sinister and sexy style. Usually it takes a few years for the 7 series M Sport style to make it to a 3 series (for example), so Hyundai is definitely plugged into style trends. This review comes from a man whose middle name might be Sonata this fall.  We started with the Sport 2.0T and now are in the Limited 2.0T, which has …

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Top 4 Hardcore Off-Road Debuts – Los Angeles 2017 Auto Showfloor

LA is lousy with soft-roaders this year.  There are at least a half dozen softroad compacts all the way to plush 7-seaters.  But that is not our goal here. Here we will tease out the top four serious off-road vehicles to make their debuts or appearances at LA Automobility 2017. Special shoutouts to the very-cool foot porthole in the door of the Wrangler.  The flat floor and full front trunk of the Bollinger is also pretty special. 2018 Jeep Wrangler 2018 Bollinger B1 EV-SUV 2018 Ford Expedition Baja Concept 2018 Land Rover Discovery SVX  

2017 Shelby 427 DAYTONA Secret Weapon COUPE CSX2605 [70 Photos!]

A big block motor was a highly experimental concept in 1964 and Carroll Shelby kept it in his back pocket. The lengthened, re-engined monster was Shelby’s Secret Weapon for the 1964 LeMans 24 Hours. “”..it could have topped 200 miles per hour at Le Mans. Weighing about 2,200 pounds with world class aerodynamics and the power of a big block, the car had tremendous performance potential. However, destiny intervened. The truck carrying CSX2286 to Le Mans was involved in an accident that damaged the Shelby too much to be repaired in time for the race. It never ran a lap …

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OP_ED: KIA Taking Major Risks with STINGER Launch Rollout

The 2018 Kia Stinger is amazingly cool in the flesh.  Low, wide and longer than any KIA you’ve ever imagined.  It is shaping up to be a real Audi A7 rival, but with pricing that starts in the low 30s for the cheapest models.  Closer in pricing are the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 series GranCoupe — both of which kick off their pricing near where the Stinger tops out around $50k. We’re all for this new sporty KIA.  The initial drive reviews are coming back amazingly positive, and there is real buzz as the first cars arrive at …

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215MPH, 2.2s 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Steals LA Auto Show

Performance on the ZR1 is so insane that not even Chevy knows how fast it is yet.  210MPH+ is all they will say on record.  755HP makes this ZR1 earn its racing spats, sills and wings. Is it angel or demon in the US car business these days!? Check out the latest photos of the Convertible, which will carry a $124k sticker that’s about five grand more than the hardtop.  Both have the giant wing and Sebring Orange designer package available! More details to follow.  Gallery and official tech specs below. 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 GM-EST. FUEL ECONOMY City 15 …

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2017 Toyota Yaris iA – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

While it’s great to test the latest hi-tech, hi-buck vehicles, we really enjoy when a manufacturer makes an inexpensive car something special. Especially when it’s not only good, but also a surprisingly good drive.  And this is one of those vehicles. Yaris, I am your father… OK, the Yaris has a confused parentage going on here. Until last year, the iA was a Scion. And when Toyota got rid of that brand, it adopted the little sedan. Hence the funny iA name – clearly a remnant from Scion. But of course, that’s only half the story, because the iA is actually …

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2018 Bugatti CHIRON Headlines RM Sotheby’s 2017 New York Icons [33 Photos]

Imagine having a Chiron. Not in 18 months.  Or even three months. Now.  This week! That is how the new owner of this never-register Bugatti Chiron will feel in NYC at Rm Sotheby’s 2017 Icons auction. No word on who this original orderer was.  The Chiron’s exact color shades are not shared, but it is black on black with red accents.  The red stripe wraps the C-shaped door intake and then sweeps around the nose. The vehicle comes with an extra rear bumper in crate that meets US road specs.  Fitted is the slightly slimmer world-export-spec rear bumper. Pricing is …

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2018 DALLARA Stradale Roadster – Make the World Your Racetrack! [99 Photos]

  This beautiful new supercar starts life with no doors and no windshield or upright cowl whatsoever.  Just a sleek, wide disk shooting around a circuit! A windshield option makes this a Dallara Stradale Roadster, and a bubble glass hardtop makes it into a Dallara Stradale Targa. Loving them all is easy.  A few reasons: — This is a right-now production car.  First delivery happened last week and production is in full swing. — Dallara is a name known on racetracks worldwide.  They make the carbon chassis tubs for everyone.  Seriously. So they have carbon-fiber at scale.  And wind tunnels …

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2018 Aston Martin VANTAGE – Fantasy Colorizer in 50 Candy Paints

One of 2018’s sexiest new cars has landed.  The new Aston Martin Vantage takes a quantum explosion into the future.  V8TT, tight and lithe chassis, and sparing design that relishes drama.  Here is a shark on the autobahn.  An MX-5 GT500 some might joke. But here this Vantage is so, so painfully beautiful that it makes the 911 seem trad and old.  Onward to the future of Aston. The reveal Vantage wears a very familiar Lime Essence paintwork that does what I always do.  Try to find that elusive perfect yellow-green. As Vantage strides into the future, we take a …

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2017 INFINITI Q60 Red Sport 400 – Road Test Review + Drive Videos

Power over everything! There is a specific subset of hot coupe shoppers who place speed at the top of their list. Then there are the people drawn in by the beauty and elegance of a two-door.  Then once on the test drive, they realize what true torque and big turbo boost feels like. For both groups, there is no going back. This is the 400HP threshold we’re talking about.  And for many, it opens a new world of driving pleasure. The first outing with Q60 RS400 was filled with raw shock at its performance capabilities and sensual beauty. Our second …

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2017 Mazda CX-5 GT Premium AWD – HD Road Test Review

The compact crossover segment has a ‘masculinity gap.’  There are more than a dozen of these cute utes on the market, but none of them really looks or drives manly.  Yes, the Audi Q3 and Honda CR-V are good cars. But do they increase or decrease their driver’s sex appeal? Among the dudes of the world coming up from econoboxes and blah mid-size sedans, CUVs are theoretically perfect machines.  A bit of all-weather ability here, a dash of extra practicality there. Like it or not, people buy cars based on strange psychology.  Men and women are usually both fine with …

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SPOFEC OVERDOSE for the Rolls-Royce Dawn – 700HP Widebody Ragtop

How do you turn an ultimate luxury cabriolet into a bad-ass gangster musclecar? Enlist the experts at SPOFEC by Novitec. Extra boost for the V12TT joins a widebody makeover with ground-effect aero and a grip package of your dreams.  Electronically dropping the suspension and electronic flaps for the big new exhaust complete the makeover nicely. Only the hood, doors and trunklid escape a full redesign.  One of the nicest details of the SPOFEC Overdose is how seamless the aero package is.  No tacky shutlines and panel gaps here! All naughty for this new Dawn Overdose, though, make no mistake!   …

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2017 VW Passat 1.8T R-Line – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Hankering for a sporty European performance sedan, but stunned by the high prices? Never fear – we’ve found a sweet sedan that ticks all the right boxes and even surprised us with its sensible pricing: the 2017 VW Passat. Now you have to be a smart shopper, or you could get carried away and end up dropping a fair amount of loot on some maxed-out model. You have to know the magic word. The magic word is R-Line. VW actually serves up 6 different models, but the R-Line gives you a nice dollop of sporty goodness in its second-to-lowest priced …

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2017 Toyota AVALON Hybrid XLE Premium – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

  When it comes to hybrid vehicles, Toyota knows their stuff.  The Prius has been around for decades now, and have constantly improved them with each new makeover.  It is the best-selling hybrid of all time.  So as the company expanded their hybrid offerings to many of their other models, customers can feel comfortable enough to buy these larger vehicles in hybrid form.  I couldn’t wait to see how their full size Avalon, which I enjoyed in its gasoline version, would stack up.  The verdict?  It’s a wonderful hybrid car too. We tested the 2017 Avalon XLE Premium, which slots …

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2017 Dodge Challenger T/A – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Some cars just take you back. And the 2017 Dodge Challenger is one of them. Sure, it’s loaded with modern technology and conveniences, but once you fire up that awesome Hemi V8, and just listen to it whump, whump, whump – it becomes a time machine that transports you back to when driving was almost everything you could think about. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s positively bad-ass. What’s not to love? The design is familiar, the Challenger hasn’t changed much since it was re-introduced 2008. And they were smart – the proportions, the stance, the swagger – it’s all true …

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Old vs New – 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2017 Chevrolet Equinox – By Carl Malek

When an automobile is extensively redesigned and or updated for the new model year, it really makes you wonder if it can indeed be better than the model it replaced? That question compelled us to take a closer look at one of Chevrolet’s strongest selling crossover entries, the venerable Chevrolet Equinox. When the second generation model was introduced in time for the 2010 model year, it proved to be popular with a wide swath of buyers, and as a result, they are a common sight on the roads of Metro Detroit. The 2018 model aims to continue this tradition of …

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2018 BMW M550i – HD Road Test Review

What if one of the most comfortable cars you’ve ever driven … is also one of the fastest? A big sedan that pivots like a track star? How has BMW defied physics?  Yes. The M550i is a revelation on the road.  After a week of flogging this beauty for kicks – and the cameras – we came away absolutely in love with BMW’s fastest ever 5 series. The 3.9s sprints to 60-mph from the almost-violent launch control are enough to make up for its lack of M5 sounds from the V8TT.  The hyper-adaptive suspension and standard xDrive turn a soft car …

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Update1 – 1600HP, 301MPH 2018 Hennessey Venom F5 Revealed

Hennessey has been in a two-pony race with Bugatti for the world’s fastest production car for about a decade now.  Their Venom GT easily smashed 270MPH at the NASA runway a few years ago — so we know more pace is certain for the GT’s successor. That car arrived today with a huge gasp at SEMA 2017.  The Venom F5 is fully redesigned with lighter, sleeker and stronger carbon-fiber bodywork.  It promises even less overall drag while also providing race levels of downforce. The quoted figures for power and performance are nothing short of amazing, if they are proven in …

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SEMA 2017 – Showfloor Gallery in 120 Photos!

Autodom’s own madness convention is in full swing out in Las Vegas this week.  Nearly every manufacturer is bringing their coolest performance vehicles, concepts and parts catalogs.  A big new addition in the last few years is TRUCKS!  No longer just a show for low-riders and supertuned Civics, that is for sure. Domestic brands are all over 2017 with a giant Ford area and nearly as many GM and Mopar specials around.  These big-budget heroes share space with every aftermarket part under the sun. Here is a virtual walkthrough outside and in of SEMA 2017’s wildest showcars. SEMA 2017 – …

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2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo – 1035HP Special with Track Attack Aero

The hottest ever Ferrari just tripled its downforce and slashed its drag.  The full makeover outside brings new ductwork and streamlining — best seen from its giant real wing and central spine.  Three massive uprights are actually horizontal stabilizers for its Corso Clienti gentleman racers.  The outermost corners of the car are intense: like a shark fin slicing through the air! It is safe to assume all the aero learnings of this FXX-K Evo will go right into the next-gen LaFerrari.  For now, we can just marvel at its skills on track — there is no road version. This new …

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Worst of Tokyo – 2017 ZAGATO IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo Sport

Not one to brag about my automotive skills, mostly.  But I can see a Corvette reskin from about five miles away.  And I certainly know what cutting-edge design does and does not look like. Zagato’s New IsoRevolta IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo is fairly hideous on first inspection.  It is a dated example of surfacing with little to no aerodynamic engineering to justify its many wings. The carved bodywork and pseudo floating fenders are interesting.  How could a giant Chevy V8 fit under a hood even lower than the stock Corvette?! This VGT Sport concept is ostensibly available to buy.  Not sure who would want …

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2017 TOKYO Motor Show LIVE – Top Ten Sexiest Debuts

Tokyo is full of EVs and stand-tall vans per usual.  But this year the eco flavor has a lot more speed and outdoorsiness.  Cars like the Nissan IMx — a preview of a Juke replacement running 400+ electric ponies.  Taller ride height and gravel-busting looks are part of the Subaru VISIV concept’s rallytough looks. We even love the new Mitsubishi Mazda is on a roll with its gorgeous Vision Coupe concept — a light teaser of where the humble Mazda6 is going in the future.  Same for the sexy shrink-wrapped KAI Concept for its 2019 Mazda3 flavors. Cars like the …

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2017 Mazda VISION COUPE and KAI Concepts Bow in Tokyo

You know I really wanted this scoop because all these came from Mazda’s Japanese media site! The new Vision Coupe is a breathtaking, cab-backward look at a future Mazda sedan.  Its sharky nose and pert tail are almost like an MX-5 saloon car!  In the best ways. The KAI is a look at the upcoming Mazda3 refresh.  It takes sleek, slinky curves to a new level.  A fully shrink-wrapped package with sport stance like a Golf R.  But with half the roof. Both stunning.  Watch this space for updates and real photos once the cars debut on stage at the …

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220mph Breadvan! NOVITEC Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

The breadvan spettacolare! This most-practical Ferrari can still be as boss as the rest. This comprehensive upgrade from Novitec includes the bodywork accents on all sides, Novitec NF4 custom 21/22-inch wheels, lowering springs and a shouty variety of Iconel exhaust choices.  The plug-n-play ECU mod adds a cool 99HP electronically and can return the car to stock as needed. The pack looks sexy and subtle — ready for a roof rack and some Vmax adventures! Top end for the stock model is 208 and we’d be surprised if 220-mph was as high as this beauty will go.   NOVITEC Ferrari GTC4Lusso NOVITEC …

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2017 Jeep Compass 4×4 Limited – HD Road Test Review

Guess who does not love compact crossovers, generally, for their woeful speed and handling?  This guy. So the 2017 Compass really had its work cut out for it when it came to CRD for a review.  We were pre-biased and would’ve been tossed from a jury trial for inability to be impartial. Our personal disdain for micro-SUVs is dead wrong based on vehicle sales charts, though. Mini crossovers are the hottest segment of the car business these days.  They are replacing huge chunks of traditional compact and midsize car sales – through their combination of coolness and capability. Jeep is …

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2018 Lexus LC500 – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Most times, I’m an auto journalist. Testing and writing about the latest and greatest from manufacturers, and hoping to give you the info you need to know. But today, I’m a Bond villain. Well at least I feel that way. I’m in the new Lexus LC500, and it makes such a definitive statement, and takes the brand in a bold new direction. And it does make you feel evil. In a good way. For your eyes, only…. Let’s start with the looks. While James Bond started with Astons, got sidetracked with Lotus and BMW’s along the way (and the occasional …

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2018 Genesis G80 Sport AWD – HD Road Test Review

Imagine you really love a new luxury sedan for its stellar platform, proportions and sporting potential.   This car is genuinely large versus its mid-size rivals in the $40k-60k segment. But you have specific high-performance needs for every inch of the vehicle. Your rocket-limo must be blacked-out and badass from all angles. Especially the driver’s seat. Genesis G80 is that luxury car, and the G80 Sport is the performance special of our dreams. This machine is a thorough answer to a wishlist we had for more power and glamour from Genesis. G80 Sport proved its awesomeness in a week of THRUSTING …

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2018 Rezvani TANK – 500HP Designer Assassin – 15 New Pics

You’d be shocked how fast you can throw $50k at a custom Jeep.  And probably shocked that you can actually spend $50k on a stock, factory Wrangler right from a dealership floor. When you add those two totals, you’re already past $100k without even a toe in the sand. Rezvani has made it easier to have the ULTIMATE off-road supercar right from the start.  No fiddling with settings, stance and lifts.  The Dodge 392 6.4-liter V8 upgrade alone is worth about $30k on a factory machine. Rezvani has gone far, far beyond an engine swap and customized bodywork, though.  The …

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What Do We Know About the Mercedes-Benz AMG Project One Hypercar? – Scott Huntington

Mercedes has a long history of motorsports success. Lest you should you forget that this is a marque with the pedigree to win Formula One races and produce feats of engineering like the CLK-GTR, here’s a reminder. It’s called the Project One. It has been compared to Mercedes’ Vision Gran Tourismo concept, but unlike that car, the Project One is very real. In building it, Mercedes has delivered on their promise to create a new competitor for the “holy trinity,” of P1, 918, and LaFerrari. For $2.7 million, frankly, it had better. A Racecar for the Road Media fanboys kick …

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2017 VW Golf Alltrack S w/ 4Motion – HD Road Test Review

Wagons are back! Have you heard? Small families and bachelors alike are rediscovering how easy, smooth and practical they are versus the endless line of mini SUVs.  Wagons have better mileage, handling and — sometimes — even long-roof style. There are places where the Golf Sportwagen’s low ride height is simply not ideal — even with that car’s optional 4Motion AWD system.  For mountain states like Colorado or Vermont, there can never be enough tall, 4×4 wagons to choose from. Subaru has had this market on lock for decades now with their big Outback and smaller Crosstrek wagons. VW is …

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2017 Toyota GR HV SPORTS Concept Bows in Tokyo

Toyota is eager to transition its hybrid tech into fun-to-drive machines.  Of course, the CVT automatic is a big buzzkill.  As is the front-drive layout of any Prius variant. SO how about making a rear-drive, part-manual hybrid sports car!? Seems genius, and here we are.  The GR HV Sports is Gazoo Racing (the inhouse Toyota race team)’s take on a next-gen sport Hybrid Vehicle. To up the fun quotient, the autobox can be truly shifted like an auto-stick.  It has a standard PRND button setup on the dash – But pop the M button on dash from Drive to manual.  …

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2017 Fiat 500C 1.4L Auto – Road Test Review

Is “hilarious” a helpful car description?  What about uproarious laughter at redline on the video review? Not really.  You migtht think the guy is laughing at the the car when he is actually laughing along with it. Either way, a serious case of the giggles comes standard on the Fiat 500C. The $17k 500 Cabrio is actually the cheapest way into a softtop in the USA for 2017 and 2018.  But with hard metal roof pillars, some might say this isn’t an all-the-way cabriolet. It might not be a full ragtop but it is delightfully sunny in the little Fiat …

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Road Test Review – 2017 Ford F-450 King Ranch Super Duty – By Carl Malek

When it comes to pickup trucks, the old adage “Bigger is better” still dominates the segment. While light duty models like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will represent the bulk of pickup truck sales, customers in need of a heavy duty workhorse will no doubt be drawn to their heavy duty counterparts. With their beefy hardware, massive size, and immense towing and hauling capabilities, these big beasts are always distinctive sights out on the open road. But can they still function as daily drivers while delivering the capability customers demand? or is this an imperfect …

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VIDEO – 2017 Jeep Compass Limited 4×4 Finds Bomb-Crater Lake

    How awful are those posts on sites that just open to a video.  No words really, just a giant play button.  And you never really want to watch the video that second, right? We try to spare you those posts here.  But there are exceptions. When a video production approaches true The Grand Tour production values.  When a drone-cam tracks your Jeep romping in tall grass and from over water.  When dual GoPro’s with different cabin angles was ridiculous but still tolerated by the talent. When you’ve found a peachy dirt road to mimic rally speeds around corners — tail …

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2017 VW Golf R w/ DCC & Nav – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Most car makers have “halo” cars.  You know, special products (usually at nosebleed prices) to show off the best of what they can do, and to make you feel better about the garden-variety products that most of us end up buying. Think Nissan GT-R, Corvette Z06, Acura NSX. VW has a halo vehicle, too. And while the family parts bin of Audi goodness could probably have given them some ridiculous $80,000 über Passat or something, they did something very cool. They made a VW Golf their showpiece. So, is the VW Golf R a hatch that super-enthusiasts can really get …

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2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 392 – HD Road Test Review

The Dodge Charger has always made big, loud speed its reason for being.  Even the simple R/T V8 runs a shouty HEMI and gets close to 5 seconds on the 60-mph sprint.  Simply heroic thrust on the road.  All with pricing that is a damn bargain versus any hot Camaro or Mustang, let alone anything else with a V8 and four doors.  (Rare breed indeed, lately). So now we have this Daytona edition with its Hellcat-alike bodywork and sexy black details.  Atop the Daytona kit you can add a three-number code that shouts POWERRR from the heavens:  the 392. Now …

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2017 McLaren Ultimate Vision GT for PS4 Gran Turismo Sport is GO

Always exciting to see a Vision Gran Turismo concept car come to life!  This one is official and is McLaren’s first virtual racer.  It enters the GT Sport universe as a ferocious AWD hybrid hypercar. V8TT to the back wheels and in-hub electric motors at the front channel a max of 1150HP and 1275 pound-feet of torque.  The trick power delivery and aero were specifically designed to ace a set of racing physics parameters — and will make this a hero car for those who race it in the game. The McLaren Ultimate VGT has a few unique design elements …

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2017 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4×4 – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

A long time ago, the SUV was a truck. In fact, many of our SUV-owning friends used to call them trucks. It was a badge of pride. Tough, no-nonsense. Go anywhere. The anti-Minivan in every sense of the word. But we got seduced. Today, nearly everyone wants car-like comfort, luxuries, swank styling. Rugged capability? Who cares. Well, if you’ve seen the weather lately, or watch the hot TV shows, you know, it might not be such a bad idea to have a little go-anywhere in your garage. Which leads us to today’s question: What vehicle do you want when the …

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2017 Nissan TITAN SL 4×4 – Road Test Review

Trucks are all about strength.  Why not have more towing, hauling and running power than you might need?  There is huge peace of mind in knowing you have so much excess capability. At some point, though, that extra muscle makes life more difficult.  That point is arguably between 1500 and 2500 pickups.  Yes, the 2500s have even more giant motors and higher tow ratings.  The new Nissan Titan bridges this gap and aims for 1500 ease of use but near 2500 size and stats. The Titan XD straddles that gap perfectly and the XD option comes standard with the 5.0-liter …

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Marketplace Comparision – 2017 Lexus IS350 F-Sport – By Carl Malek

In an ever-evolving automotive world, the one segment that has always remained a hotly contested battleground (even in the current resurgence of SUV/CUV sales) is the entry level luxury sports sedan segment. It used to be a kingdom long ruled by the benchmark BMW 3-Series, but over the past few years outright anarchy has taken place, with more automakers making sport sedan entries that either match up to the venerable 3, or in a few instances, outclass it in a truly compelling challenge to the sales throne. Lexus has traditionally played second fiddle to the 3-Series with its contender, the …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – SEAT, VW, Opel, Mini and Renault

Insignia GSi causes a major double-take to get things started on the euro mass-market showfloor gallery.  A brand-new Cupra R and Megane RS are headed to buyers very soon and look dynamite.  The Mini JCW GP Concept is even cooler in real life than it was in its preshow photos.  And finally VW’s soft-skinned ID Crozz Concept is red and happy to be in the world.  Like an electric puppy. 2018 Open Insignia GSi 2018 Renault Megane R.S. 2018 SEAT Leon Cupra R 2017 MINI Cooper GP Concept 2017 VW I.D. Crozz Concept, 2018 VW T-Roc

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – MASERATI and FERRARI Showfloor Gallery

Ferrari and Maserati had packed stands at Frankfurt this year!  The expansion into Maserati SUVs with the Levante will probably single-handedly be able to lift trident sales massively in its first year.  Maserati is rolling out semi-refreshed Ghibli and GranTurismo models for 2018.  But they are pretty light facelifts to the grilles outside and the infotainment systems inside.  Ghibli also bags new LEDs for the headlamps — something the MC Stradale needs pretty urgently too. Meanwhile, Ferrari has high hopes for its new Portofino V8 convertible-coupe to replace the unloved California T.  The Cali T had one of the shortest …

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Part Two – 2017 Porsche 908 RSR Vision GT Hommage Meets 919 and 917K

Part Two: The RSR!   The crew behind the gorgeous longtail 908 VGT design have a new beast for 2017’s fantasy-cars daydream. A skilled group of professional car designers has been working on a side project after work hours for the last few years.  When not designing vehicles for a Chinese car brand, this group led by Alan Derosier has created magic in the form of not one — but two Vision Gran Turismo fantasy concepts.  They took the VGT idea to heart and applied it to one of the most storied brands in racing history: Porsche.  For licensing and …

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Porsche 908-04 Longtail – Vision GT Hommage (Part One)

A skilled group of professional car designers has been working on a side project after work hours for the last few years.  When not designing vehicles for a Chinese car brand, this group led by Alan Derosier has created magic in the form of not one — but two Vision Gran Turismo fantasy concepts.  They took the VGT idea to heart and applied it to one of the most storied brands in racing history: Porsche.  For licensing and rights reasons, Porsche does not appear anywhere in the SONY Polyphony Digital Gran Turismo game series.  As such, they were not one …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – PORSCHE Showfloor Gallery – Cayenne Turbo + GT3 Touring

It is shocking how many things can be fixed in this world by the sheer presence of the Rothmans rally racing 959.  The new Cayenne Turbo continues the grand tradition of Porkers looking best from the back.  The nose is hard to judge in photos … but certainly looks ravenous. The GT3 Touring Package is a new issue with all the GT3 handling but less giant wing out back.  It looks stellar from both ends. We also have our first look at the 2018 Cayenne S. This seems rather plain in the presence of the Turbo but will surely bring …

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2019 Bentley Continental GT Flaunts Stunning New Stance, Cabin at IAA

The new Continental is a smash hit.  The live debut in Frankfurt shows a car even more stunning than the photos suggested.  Slinky lowness for the hood and a chopped overhang blend flawlessly with butched-up fenders and squatter rear end.  The whole machine seems just compressed downward — in the best ways.  The cabin is also shockingly sexy and opulent. [Updated 9.13.17 with 14 new photos] This is it ladies and gentleman! The big one! Bentley’s all-new Conti GT platform is ready for primetime and will make its first appearance in a few weeks at the Frankfurt IAA.  This is …

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2017 Renault SYMBIOZ Concept Car (and House!) – Holistic 2030 Nature-Mobile

You know we love a good Renault concept around here.  They generally present a future design language on a wild, unrealistic bodystyle. But the advent of electric cars can be really freeing.  SYMBIOZ envisions a car that perfectly fits into its environment and makes a showpiece of everything that passes by these glass windows and roof.  The flatpack battery is Tesla-style and lets the front end be cut to nothing, the overall height radically low and the width stretched to the extreme.  Advanced ultra-strong materials mean SYMBIOZ can pass crash tests even without typical crumple zones.  And with all the …

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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – Mercedes-Benz, AMG + Smart – Showfloor Gallery [81 Photos]

A full dozen new machines from Mercedes for the Frankfurt auto show this year.  X-Class pickup and AMG Project One hypercar are taking a lot of headlines.  But the Maybach Vision 6 and G650 are in the house.  Plus the new EQ A electric suppository and the EQ crossover EV as well. Frankfurt IAA 2017 – Mercedes-Benz, AMG + Smart 2017 Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar 2018 Mercedes-Maybach G650 2017 Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Sedan Concept 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Truck 2018 Mercedes-AMG G-Class Exclusive 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT and C63 Racecars 2018 S-Class Coupe and Convertible 2017 Mercedes-Benz …

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2017 KIA Proceed Concept Brings Hot-Wagon Style to Frankfurt

KIA is really movin’ on up in this world.  Their Stinger GT AWD promises some real grand touring luxury and speed when it arrives in showrooms next month.  And their Euro lineup is stronger than ever thanks to extensive tuning at the Nurburgring.  And thanks to a giant crew of German engineers poached from the top carmakers in the world. So this Proceed concept’s fast-wagon nature is not too far from reality.  Simply GORGEOUS flowing lines, great long-roof proportions and a chopped front overhang make for the stuff of dreams.  This bodystyle is headed for production, Kia strongly hints, as …

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Launch Party – 2017 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE [51 Photos]

We shouyld have taken Mercedes more seriously when they said their new hypercar concept would be an F1 car for the road.  The cliche is so tired as to barely raise an eyebrow in 2017. But here we are: with a screaming 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged beyond all sense to deliver its 1000 ponies.  And electrified with a bombastic KERS hybrid system. The looks are right off a racetrack and promise a car vastly less practical than any 911, but much more than most racecars.  A deep, McLaren-style door opening brings the entire lower sill up and away from  the bodywork …

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2017 Bugatti CHIRON Breaks Records – 0-250MPH-0 In 42 Seconds + Under 2 Miles

400kph is a messianic number for auto engineers.  It is a point few road cars can even contemplate, let alone attempt in a hot blast of full throttle then full braking. The Chiron just set the world record for this insane benchmark of a test.  42 seconds and just 1.92 miles are all that Chiron needed to make auto history forever. Among the rare few other cars that could even attempt this test, Chiron proves how fearsome its total power package really is.  Yes, Pagani and Koenigsegg are faster than ever these days.  But they are not — as of …

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Autocross Class of 2017! Which Pocket Rocket Is Quickest?

Imagine the best kart track ever – inside the amazing Road America racetrack itself.  Then swap the karts for real cars.  And race them against the stopwatch in rapid-fire rotations of drivers! It was an squeely good time with the class of 2017’s new and special pocket rockets.   A big variety in power, drivetrain layout and body style: everything from the Abarth 500C to MX-5 RF and 370Z Heritage Edition.  Hyundai’s new Elantra Sport joined the fun, as did a ragtop Miata, 124 Abarth, Toyota 86 and VW Golf R.     They were all a laugh riot around …

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2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid – Road Test Review

Ioniq is really a charmer on the road.  This is a car that can out-eco a Prius and yet also sling itself around corners like a balanced Lotus. 50 mpg has never been so easy, or fun!  No plugs needed and no range anxiety.  Ioniq is good enough to make you really rethink the logic of a full EV.  This just seems so much smarter and more versatile.  It is a seamless normal-car replacement.  Smoother than a normal sedan’s drivetrain and just as easy to own. We spent a week testing the Ioniq’s limits in a high-performance drive video.  And …

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2017 Jaguar Future-Type Concept + E-Type ZERO Revealed

By now you have surely read that JLR is electirifying all its 2020-and-beyond car launches.  This makes sense with the latest hybrid tech that makes a e-assist as easy as a jumbo torque-converter for the the autoboxes. Jaguar is clearly going well beyond that level for its future plans, however.  To a full EV and fully autonomous future. So we have a pair of concepts to show their EV motivation: one a remake and one a wild future vision. The E-Type Zero is perhaps more enticing for its rear-drive layout and maintained weight distribtion.  Apparently the EV pack is around …

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2017 MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept – Design Analysis

MINI fatigue is undeniable lately as an enthusiast and for car shoppers alike.  The improvements are so substantive, but the design and image seems frozen in time.  Most of the time. Then rumbles up a track-attack prototype so extreme that even it hates being a hatchback.  It hates that its breadvan shape lacks the low nose of a supercar or the mid-engined silhouette. So this JCW GP concept rejects its limitations.  It says: i will create extreme downforce and aero — hatchback shape and all.  It does not accept that front-drive is a demerit on the Nordschleife. Floating external fenders …

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F70! 2017 Ferrari 70 Anni Collection at Pebble Beach Concours [150 photos]

Ferrari made a huge splash with new cars at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours.  There were LaFerrari Apertas underfoot at almost every step.  None more special perhaps than this one-off Tailor Made model for the 70th anniversary collection. This set of specialized cars included the soft-top LaFerrari, 488 Spider and F12 Berlinetta.  Each with personalized details and F70 badges on the flanks. Sitting nearby were many of the inspiration liveries for this F70 collection.  All-stars include many Testa Rossas and a dozen significant 250’s.  Favorites include the 250 California bodystyle of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fame and the vented, beastly …

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STARTECH Murders Out the Bentley BENTAYGA

Updated 9.1.17 with two additional examples of the StarTech Brabus program for the Bentayga. Finally, a tuned Bentayga that will not embarrass the hell out of its driver!  We highly recommend the monochrome finish versus two-tone.    A very nice stage one mod pack for the new Bentayga just arrived!  Brabus’s StarTech division is leading the effort with custom carbon exterior upgrades, giant 23s and a remote-operated sport exhaust that bellows far louder than stock. The engine output appears to stay the same on this first upgrade.  The press release below discusses the V12 at length… but of course, the …

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217MPH BRABUS Rocket 900 Cabriolet Is Ultimate Blowout

A hair dryer? Really? No, this car is far more than just follicle removal at warp speeds. The V12TT fettled by Brabus boffins now absolutely pegs the car against its 217MPH top speed.  This top end may or may not even be governed electronically for tire/client preservation purposes. That 217 figure is significant as it equals 350kph — a time when all but the most specialized, perfect rubber will shred itself to pieces. But this Rocket 900 doesn’t gasp or even struggle at this pace.  Unrestricted and with cats removed, you are looking at a potential McLaren F1-beater of close …

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2017 RAM Sport Night Edition 5.7L 4×2 – Road Test Review

The pickup market is more competive than ever lately.  With massive new Titan, ultra-modern Silverado and alloy F-150 in the last few years, you might’ve expected big changes in market share. In fact, the biggest gainer over the last few years is the familiar Ram 1500. We spent a week finding out why RAM goes all-caps and size 1500 font for its new badges in back.  This is a machine with a bold soul! Our rear-drive tester is the amazing Night Edition with fully blacked-out details and monochrome paintwork all around.  Glossy black for the giant cross-hair grille is a …

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2017 Donkervoort D8 GTO RS Bare Naked Carbon Edition

Just 15 of these outrageous machines are set for production.  Donkervoort sold out the initial run of D8 RS models in record time.  This makes sense: the machine offers a sensory hypercar experience unlike any other. Imagine the ultra-low and precise drive position of a Morgan.  The rigidity of a Pagani and the thrust like a McLaren. You land somewhere close to the D8 GTO RS. Power comes from a tuned 2.5-liter Audi five-cylinder making about 450HP.  With a curb weight of just 1600 pounds and massive traction from the wide back rubber, the GTO RS sprints to 60-mph in …

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ALFA-ROMEO Wine & Cheese at Folktale Winery – Monterey Car Week 2017

Does Pebble Beach feel like eons ago?  Less than a week since $300-million in cars were sold at auction.  And about the same value of collectibles driving all around town. Alfa Romeo had a strong presence at 2017 Monterey Car Week.  Always a favorite on the lawn on Sunday, the brand is now heavily promoting their new Stelvio SUV and Giulia sport sedan. Both have pricing from about $50k and look a million times more special than their BMW rivals. Here are a few dozen of our favorite Alfa Romeos from Pebble Beach and beyond.  Special access to a Stelvio …

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2017 Ford F-150 RAPTOR 4×4 Supercab – First Drive Review

When Ford gives you Raptor keys, there is an instant rush of blood to the brain.  Me!? Yes! The truck is absolutely gigantic even in shortie Supercab setup here.  A half-foot wider and big step taller than any stock F-150 around.  The cabin is the tiniest part of the huge widebody fenders, wide-track racing suspension and jumbo offroad tires. It is quite an event — even just parked calmly in subtle magnetic grey. What’s the first thing you do with a Raptor?   For me, it is Go find mud!  A rock quarry with greenlight from the dudes working?  YES! …

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2017 MANSORY BENTAYGA Introduces Forged-Carbon Widebody

Mansory has a huge variety of customization options for the first-evert Bentley SUV.  They split it into the main kit and the ‘soft kit,’ with the softie just upgrading the lower splitters and bodywork details. The full fat Mansory makeover brings a totally new set of bumpers front/back, a reverse-scooped hood and some seriously wide fender extensions.  Hard to say whether the new Lambo-like forged exposed carbon, standard exposed-weave carbon or painted carbon panels are the sexiest.  They all dramatically up the visual drama of a three-ton Flying B. The x-piped sport exhaust and sport lowering suspension are highly recommended …

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2017 Mansory GRONOS 6×6 G-Wagen

The Mansory Gronos G-Class goes right into the “Because.. Of Course” folder. The design upgrades are fairly deep with an all-new face and fresh rear bumper as well.  Much more modern than the factory G-CLass.  But nothing compares with the raw curb appeal. A truck whose fenders are at eye level needs little upgrade.  And of course, this 6×6 version is an even more capable forebearer to the trendy 4×4-squared.  WIth an extra locking diff there is a big traction advantage in the 6×6.  Its external pickup bed is also a favorite feature among its Falcon-loving owners. Here are three …

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217mph LUCID Alpha Speed Car + 2018 LUCID Air at Pebble Beach

One of The most promising Tesla-killer of the next year is Lucid Motors. This beauty is packing up to 1000 horsepower and in its top trim, and a base price of $55k at the bottom. It is a dead-on hit at the Tesla Model S, but upgraded to sci-fi limo spec. Fittingly, Lucid brought out their production prototype as well as this road rocket: the Alpha Speed Car. Wearing wrapped and de-mirrored bodywork and a giant clear plexiglass wing in back, the Lucid Alpha Speed was officially clocked at 217MPH. This is one fast forward to the future!  The below …

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4.5s 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 – First Drive Video + 50 Photos

  Every SUV with a sprint time near the 6’s feels monster fast. Being up that high amplifies G-forces, making even Escalade and a few other big SUVs feel fairly quick. But what about a 4.5-second time?  Even BETTER! This GLC43’s major advantages over rivals are its air-ride suspension with varying levels of firmness.  From pillow soft to fudgey firm – the GLC43 has impeccable ride qualities.  The handling balance of this SUV is also notable.  It really just takes to corners like a fast wagon more than a proper truck. But this silhouyette looks amazingly practical, and the cabin …

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2017 Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta – Pebble Beach Debut

It has a name!  We knew this car was special on sight.  Next to the Huayra BC and Huayra Roadster… the Barchetta only somewhat fits in. This is a more brutal, hard-edged design in the front and rear.  Zonda lights also look like nothing else. Yet what is this?  Chopped windshield glass?  Snorkel intake and BC-like tall wing?!  Did we render something like this last summer?  [Yes=] And the coup de grace?  Shrouded rear wheels and extreme underbody aero and rear splitter.  Stunning. Here is Huayra Roadster in front of Barchetta, plus Zonda Cinque which is similar apart from the …

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2017 Guntherwerks 400R is Pro-Tuned 993 for 25-Unit 2018 Production Run

The last air-cooled 911 is going down in history as the most-desirable, collectable and unattainable of all the rear-engined Porsches of modern times. What if Porsche kept working on the 993 without the concerns about noise, emissions or safety?  That pocket-rocket size machine before it grew new crash structures, heavier chassis details and feel-dulling insulation throughout? The result might be something like the new Guntherwerks 400R.  This concept debuted at the Quail to raves among the most hardcore car enthusiasts in the world.  Guys who have a half-dozen supercars in their collections at any one time. They absolutely love it. …

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART THREE

Concept lawn adjacent? Here we find the 2018 Porsche 911 RSR, 2018 Rolls-Royce DAWN Black Badge (World Soft Launch), and 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante by ZAGATO. Check out parts one and two for the full class of 2017 concept lawn stars. 2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART THREE 2018 Porsche 911 RSR 2018 Rolls-Royce DAWN Black Badge 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante by ZAGATO

2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART TWO

We’re back with another round of simply gorgeous photos fresh from The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Seems our previous “all 12 cars” headline really came back to bite in the ass?! We forgot some notables. More pics of the Fux 720s, VW ID Buzz, the Italdesign Zerouno, Pagani Zonda Roadster Exclusive Evo, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, and last but not least, the Infiniti Q60 Project Black S. A few more glamor shots of the Prototype 9 and Vision 6 included for good measure. Bonus points if you can spot Horacio Pagani (aka the Head Dude at Pagani) and Gorden Wagener, the …

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN

Wish you could take a slow walk around this practice putting green at the Pebble Beach Ritz? You are not alone! We have a terrific class of 2017 to show — including a few world premieres!  The Infiniti Prototype 9 and the Maybach Vision 6 are quite something to behold in the flesh. The Concept Z4 is also popular, as is the Fux pink McLaren 720S we’ve been featuring all weekend. A pair of Ford GT and GT40 Le Mans racers bring some real grit to the show, and set the tone for the Acrua ARX-05 racer nicely. Bentley’s gorgeous …

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In Pictures: First USA Bugatti CHIRON Delivered!

Morning honey-bee! This gorgeous two-tone Bugatti is officially the first ever car delivered to America.  The key handoff took place in Pebble Beach (where else?) but it is presumed the $3-mil was not in cash.  That would be too large a briefcase for one man to carry. Generously, the total price already includes tax and shipping. CHeck out the beautiful specimen via the seaside photoset below. 2017 Bugatti CHIRON

In 150 Pictures: Exotics at Cannery Row 2017 – Monterey Car Week

Welcome to an all-you-can-eat supercar extravaganza! In this gallery by Anthony D’Acquisto from Exotics on Cannery Row yesterday in Monterey, you will find not only 100+ cool, high-res pics how the event’s hottest cars. Not only a video with more than 20 of those machines in motion. Just 150 photos of the rarest of the rare supercars in real life. Newness captured includes the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato in dark red, the VW e-Bus concept and the brand-new 2018 Bentley SuperSports.  Nice to meet the USSV Rhino XT in wild too!  (The Bentleys and the Fux Rolls Royces are actually …

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2017 BMW Z4 Concept In 44-Photo Exclusive

The recent design analysis we wrote up over here about the Z4 yesterday is growing.  Today handling some photo edits for JC I found a bevy of new details in the Z4. Things like the lower slash in front fender are as retro as it gets.  THe rest is sheer modern roadster.  It seems so much wider and shorter than the current Z4 in some photos.  But really this is just a product of all-new overhangs and level of rounded corner on both ends.  It is a softer shape.  But marked by a precious few design lines.  These bring the …

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In Pictures: Pebble Beach 2017 – Welcome to CASA FERRARI

Ferrari’s 70th anniversary celebration at Pebble Beach this year means the place is wall-to-wall Italian stallions. At the Casa Ferrari house on the concours grounds, Ferrari has a few tasty appetizers on display.  Multiple LaFerrari Aperta’s are almost hard to spot. The combination of painted hard side pillar with cloth on the inner roof top is the way to spot the open-topped special. Along for the trip is the very rare Ferrari Sergio, designed to honor Sergio Pininfarina by his team at the design boutique.  It is so out-there and unique as to be a bit puzzling. No challenges with …

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2017 Rolls-Royce DAWN in FUXIA Celebrates Michael Fux

The owner of the Fux Fuchsia McLaren 720S is the illustrious Michael Fux! A prolific collector and ultra-VIP client with a very bold personality streak. Mr. Fux took delivery today of his 11th bespoke Rolls-Royce: a Dawn finished in this year’s Fux Fuchsia paintwork.  This color is the most eye-popping candy metallic you have ever seen.  It makes other, normal hues look like matte construction paper. The unique shimmery metallic is part of a power group of colors from the same family, each reserved for Mr Fux and unavailable to other buyers.  Non-Fux-ers will have to find something within the …

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2018 Acura ARX-05 Endurance Racer Bringing V6TT To Track

  Acura racer… coming in hot! This new ARX-05 will race in 2018 for Team Penske in the DPi class of endurance racers — some of the fiercest competitors on US tracks. Acura’s motorsport V6TT serves here and will power the car for its Rolex 24 race premiere in Daytona. On to the design!~ It is mean.  Mean and fast. This nose tells cars in front: You’re About To Get Passed.   2017 Acura ARX-05   Acura Reveals Striking ARX-05 Prototype Race Car in Monterey; Debut Set for Daytona Aug 18, 2017 – MONTEREY, Calif. Acura to take on top …

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2017 OKUYAMA Kode 0 – Tech Specs + World Premiere at The Quail

Here is a true dreamcar if there ever was one.  A modern expression of the Gandini wedge design ethos that ruled the supercar world for decades. But leaner, cleaner and more functional under Okuyama’s pen. This machine is ostensibly a one-off created by Ken Okuyama Cars, but a micro-batch of customer cars are possible with style like a Stratos Zero or Ferraro Modulo! It is a masterpiece of linearity.  But with nice overlapping layers that give depth to the front bumper, lower windowline and multi-material tail.  Part of this square rump is notably decorated with chrome brightwork, while the edges …

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Best of Pebble Beach – 2017 INFINITI Prototype 9 in 33 New Photos

Updated 8.22.17 How can we give a Best Of Award already?   The Concours has not even begun yet! In terms of modern OEM exotics and concepts, the Infiniti Prototype 9 is already one of the most memorable and high-impact designs.   Absolutely stunning. High-impact but low volume!  The Prototype 9’s main drawback might be its lack of period combustion engine note….!     A 1940s racer for modern day?  How about one with an all-electric driveline and single-seater cabin? The perfect fit for the world’s most prestigious concours: Pebble Beach. Infiniti just whipped the silk capes off their Prototype …

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Monterey Car Week 2017 GALLERY By Anthony DAquisto 89

Monterey Car Week 2017 GALLERY – Thursday Carmel & Spanish Bay – By Anthony DAquisto

Brace yourself for high-dollar, high-performance supercars galore!  Monterey Car Week 2017 is in full swing.  Centenario’s are like Corolla’s here. In the middle of August, Pebble Beach is indeed the center of the automotive universe. CRD pal Anthony D’Acquisto from Newport Beach has 100 photos of his sightings yesterday.  Glowing indigo 720s?  Check.   One-of-six Ferrari Sergio?   LaFerrari Apertas?  Yep.   New TdF and original Ferrar Tour de France specials?  You know it! The brand-new Bentley SuperSports and Black Packs?  Oh yes! A favorite has to be the shimmery silver RUF Porsche. A huge thanks to Anthony for sharing …

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2017 BMW Concept Z4 – Design Analysis

Well well well! The i8 Spyder rumors are unfounded as of now!  BMW just unveiled the brand-new Concept Z4 — and enticing look at the next generation of this F-Type fighter. What is that?  No longer just the Boxster and SLC in the Z4’s competitive set.  The new model aims to move significantly upmarket — and up in performance — via the unloved current model. The most radical view into the production 2018 Z4 model from this concept is its design language.  First off, a much more aggressive level of slashes and overlapping  surfaces is prominent.  Also new — for …

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2000 Lamborghini Diablo GTR – RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017

Diablo GTR is an incredible example of Lambo previewing the future.  We’ve seen the Countach evolve radically as the template.  But as Diablo became Murcielago, and Murci became Aventador… there is always a VERY special run-out model. Think Reventon and Centenario for this generation.   These bridge the design and performance gap with the next-gen model – milking the last year of production for max profits. A good formula! GTR is so special that RM Sotheby’s expects at least $600k when it sells this week in Monterey, California.  This is the same price as a brand-new Aventador SV Roadster, coincidentally! …

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2014 Pagani Huayra Tempesta – RM Sotheby’s 2017 Preview

It is easy to lump the Huayra into the LaFerrari and McLaren P1 competitive set.  But in actuality, the only vehicle with a similar price/performance quotient is the Bugatti Chiron.  (As well as Koenigsegg and perhaps W Motors if we’re generous.) Pricing for Pagani’s never leaves much change from a $3-million cashier’s check.  While its delivery timeframes are easily 18 months or longer. So whenever one comes up for sale, particularly a US-legal model, it is newsworthy. This Huayra Tempesta was the first-ever customer car in the states and one of only 100 made in total.  It is equipped with …

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