2018

2019 Lamborghini URUS – World Premiere of SSUV – Son of a Rambo Lambo

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The idea of a supercar Lambo SUV is not that far-fetched.  The firm is at pains to show its provenance in this arena by dusting off its LM002 Lambo Rambo from the storage vault.  Even the LM002 Cheetah variant is joining the URUS debut party! LM002 and LM002 Cheetah variant While the first Lambo SUV was a giant bruiser that crushed scales at above 5000 pounds, this new ~650HP URUS is actually pretty tiny.  Its four doors and extremely racy roofline actually wrap a Macan or Q5 sized platform.  But this time with absolutely gigantic rubber and AWD system almost right …

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2018 Genesis G80 Sport 3.3T RWD – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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If you were asked to name luxury automobile manufacturers today, your answers would be somewhat different based upon your age. Those of you above the age of 45 would most likely include names like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus Cadillac, and Lincoln among the top brands. One brand you wouldn’t likely think of would be Genesis, or the brand that spawned it, Hyundai. But if you were under 45, I’d bet you’d have those two brands in the mix, and near the top. The reason is that so many younger drivers have grown up with, and have enjoyed, the ownership experience …

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

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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

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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  

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2018 Hyundai KONA – Arrives February to Clamoring US Shoppers

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The Kona is a pretty big deal for Hyundai.  It will be expected to shift more than 100,000 units a year, we estimate, to be considered a success for the brand’s SUV mission. In a perfect world, this machine might even kiss 200,000 units in 2019!?   Can you imagine? Hilarious. Or is it? When you think of the future as seen in movies, Kona’s design will fit right in.  It is a post-apocalyptic surivor — navigating the ruins of cities with enough ground clearance not to scrape.  Or to have those pesky gravel cuts in the paint — thanks to …

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4.6s 2018 BMW i8 Roadster Is No-Brainer Ragtop

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The i8 is amazing to drive!  In Sport+ this machine opens up its full 374HP and rockets forward with glee.  Triple turbo thrumming behind you and popping out racy noises from the exhausts. But the i8 has a problem.  It is so light because of all that carbon fiber.  Which is expensive. And intrudes on the doorsill in a major way.  This makes i8’s beautiful swan wing doors make sense.  They are very-much needed to help get in and out.  With a low roof on the coupe, this has been a barrier to the car’s wider success. This Roadster hopes …

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RM Paris 2018 – 2005 Maserati MC12

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The MC12 is such a special hypercar that it rarely hangs out with mere supercars. This example is flawlessly original and expects to collect at least two million Euros when sold by RM Sotheby’s Paris auction in early 2018. The MC12 was not originally intended as a road car at all.  This is what let Maserati get away with such wild wings and bodywork atop a humble Enzo Ferrari basis. MC12 took a different, high-speed aero approach to the longtail design of a midengine exotic, with less drag than the Enzo.  A bit less downforce as well, in theory, and a …

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2018 GENESIS G80 Sport AWD 3.3T – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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BMW, Audi and Mercedes: better check your mirrors. There’s a new brand breathing down your neck. Hyundai. Yes, Hyundai (hey wasn’t that their ad campaign a while ago?) In this case, it’s the Korean automaker’s luxury division, Genesis. From the get-go, Genesis has taken serious aim at the luxury market, and while early cars where Hyundai Genesis models like the Coupe, it has slowly divested itself from the mothership, and become a stand-alone luxury brand. Well.. sort of, they don’t have stand-alone dealerships yet, so the lavish love you get from The Europeans, Lexus, and others is sadly missing. That …

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

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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]

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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]

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  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 – Official Configurator GIFs + Q Palette Neons

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Time for a follow–up to the fantasy colorizer.  This launch for Vantage was well planned indeed! The car is showing up in special events across the globe in person – despite just coming online officially days ago.  Fittingly, the cofnigurator is fully live and the Vantage is rumored to be sold out for first year already! Favorites include the Lime Essence launch color, a few of the Aston Designer Pre-Specced models and the new Q Palette.  Shades so wild they need their own brave champion to drive! One of these is Kermit green, which we landed on through the detailed …

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2018 Aston Martin VANTAGE – Fantasy Colorizer in 50 Candy Paints

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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

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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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Road Test Review – 2018 Lexus LC 500 – By Carl Malek [HD Videos]

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The 2018 Lexus LC 500 has always had a way of allowing people to relive their inner most fantasies. When we last met the LC 500, it allowed fellow Car-Revs-Daily writer Ben Lewis to channel his inner Bond Villain while proving itself as an excellent grand touring coupe. But how does the LC 500 measure up against its elite competition? and is the LC 500 capable of taking its impeccable elegance to other locales? To find out we took the LC 500 to our Metro Detroit outpost to see if a change of scenery allowed it to blossom to its full …

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

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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

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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

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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

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  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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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Base Automatic – Road Test Review + 2 Videos

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There are cars that are simply better than they have to be. They go beyond just beating their obvious rivals and into another level of long-term partnership potential for their drivers. Such is the case with the five-door Hyundai Elantra GT.  This variant of the best-selling sedan shares much of its drivetrain cabin, but none of its exterior or platform design. It enters a market segment that has more strong rivals than ever.  Focus and Cruze hatchback might be easy to beat.  But how about the new Civic Sport 5-door, Mazda3 and VW Golf?  Those are some seriously good global …

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

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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

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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

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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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2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6 – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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We like cars that shake things up. That take what you thought you knew, and lead you in a whole new direction. One of the biggest surprises this year is Toyota’s venerable family sedan. From the sharp creased lines, to the sharply-creased performance, it’s got a lot of people asking the same question. That’s a Camry? Yep. But first, some housekeeping. The rumor of the family sedan being dead is a bit overstated. Yes, crossovers are big business, but there are a lot of buyers out there who are just as happy with a solid, sensible, four-door sedan. And they …

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

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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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220mph Breadvan! NOVITEC Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

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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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2018 Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster – Japan 50th Anniversary Specials

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The idea of Lambos in congested Japanese city centers seems awful!  But then recall that this mountainous country has some of the most demanding roads in the world.  All flawlessly smooth tarmac, of course, but with wicked elevation changes, wild cambers and snakey ess curves. To celebrate 50 years of Lamborghini in Japan, the marque will sell five customized Japan 50th Anniversary specials.  Each is to have its own livery — with a Captain Planet theme of fire, wind, water.. and other forces at the core of the themes. This blue to black transition-painted model is the Water theme.  Its …

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

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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

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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 Rezvani TANK – 500HP Designer Assassin – 15 New Pics

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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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2018 Nissan 370Z Roadster Touring Sport 7 A/T – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Although summer is a memory in the rearview mirror for most of us, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy a roadster – in fact, cooler weather and leaves changing color make fall one of the joys of owning a drop top. And if you’re looking for joy in a roadster, look here. The 370Z is getting to be a senior citizen in the sports car world. The coupe appearing in 2009, the roadster in 2010. Mind you, there have been updates, including a facelift – but the basic vehicle is pretty much the same, even as its approaching it’s …

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Mercedes-Benz Media Night am Vorabend der IAA Frankfurt 2017

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

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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 Dodge Charger Daytona 392 – HD Road Test Review

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

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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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2018 Bell & Ross BELLYTANKER Inspired By Bonneville vMax Racers

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Achieving top speeds with piston engines is almost all about aero.  Yes, thrust is key to get you above 100-mph.  And stability is critical for being able to comfortably reach 150-mph over the flat, but actually pretty choppy, salt flats of Bonneville.  Anything over 200-mph takes a seriously slippery shape.  The drag forces rise to exponentially with each extra MPH at that point.  You really need to be in as slippery a shape as possible. During the post-war maverick days of the late 1940s and 1950s, the engineers involved had to find the most sleek, ultra teardrop shape imaginable. Military …

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174MPH 2018 Audi RS4 Avant Is Frankfurts Designated Badass Wagon

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Audi has long preferred to put their highest-performing RS handiwork into wagons.  The RS6 and now this RS4 can reach such high speeds, the thought is, that the longer roof aids their overall stability and aero. Whatever gets more people to buy wagons, right? This new RS4 Avant promises a giant upgrade in thrust thanks to a V6TT making 125 pound-feet of torque more than the previous model.  This means the 100-kph sprint time of 4.1 seconds really is just amuse bouche.   This RS4 is all about spine-shredding G-force around corners and through its eight-speed tiptronic’s gears.  The bodywork …

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

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

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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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2018 Audi A5 Coupe 2.0T Quattro S Tronic – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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If we’ve learned anything from Hollywood, it’s that the sequel is treacherous territory. While famous follow-ups like Godfather 2 and even Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, come to mind, the 2.0 movie has a bad reputation – and it boils down to where do we go from here? And if you look at the first-run Audi A5 Coupe, (some say coo-pay) you’ve got to feel for the folks at Audi. Penned by famed designer Walter de Silva, he called it “the most beautiful car I have ever built”. And you can see his point. It was stunning – and …

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2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid – Road Test Review

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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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Brabus STARTECH Land Rover DISCOVERY is Hottest Disco Since 54

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In the flesh, the 2018 Land Rover Discovery has an unforgettably futuristic look.  The design is incredibly stunning but is a challenge to capture in photos.  Trust me. So when StarTech launches their bodykit and tuning mods, it takes a sexy truck even further into the future. Deep and chiseled new nose details and lower splitter, dark contrast hood and mirror caps and side sills make up the big changes up front.  All is gloss black with not a touch of chrome to interrupt the look. Around back is where things go particularly bonkers: huge square pipes at each corner …

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STARTECH Murders Out the Bentley BENTAYGA

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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

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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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2018 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited Sedan – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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When people ask us what’s “in” this year, we have an answer: Premium. It seems like these things cycle through. One year, it’s performance, the next – gadgets. Safety and autonomous tech are going to be with us now for the foreseeable future. But this year – especially in smaller vehicles – carmakers are pumping up the quietness, the tech, and the high quality goods. And with so many buyers fleeing to small crossovers, this makes sense. If you can’t compete with the versatility, you compete with feel-good of an upscale drive. And next in line for the primo treatment …

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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport 6MT – First Drive Review

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Hyundai is perfecting its performance-car credentials.  The latest pack of redesigns go as hard at their tech/ style as they do at full turbo boost and fast corners. This handling skill and steering feel are creating a new impression of the brand as a whole. You need a preface like this to absorb the impressions of how sweet a drive the Elantra GT Sport was the other day.  This is Hyundai’s Scirocco rival for Europe and GTI-fighter for the USA — with a slinky low roof, five-door layout and lively powertrain.  How alive is GT?  It forms the basis for …

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2017 Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta – Pebble Beach Debut

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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

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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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700HP 2018 Porsche 911 GT2RS – First Look at The Quail in 30 Photos

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All intercoolers and carbon bodywork, this one! The carbon-fiber extends to the bodywork and even the front fender vents on this turbo, rear-drive track special. JC got a close look at this wildest-911 ever at the Quail over the weekend, and even mugs for a selfie midway through the roll! Pricing for the insanely potent GT2RS starts from $293k. 2018 Porsche 911 GT2RS  

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART THREE

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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

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2017 BMW Z4 Concept In 44-Photo Exclusive

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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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2017 BMW Concept Z4 – Design Analysis

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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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2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Gets Triple ZAGATO Gifts! Speedster + Shooting Brake

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A hot trio of new ZAGATO Aston Martin models just hit the web ahead of their concept lawn debuts at Pebble Beach Concours! The Vanquish Zagato Volante takes the DB-Z coupe looks to new heights.  Those taillights alone are worth their design weight in gold!  But wait, there is more.  More of Zagato’s trademark Double Bubbles in the Vanquish Volante Speedster!  Twin helmet cowls on the rear decklid add a racy touch indeed.  Just 28 of the Speedsters will be made, versus 99 of the cabrio and 99 coupes. A production run of 325 leaves another 100 cars somewhere.  And …

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2018 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – First Drive Review w/ Video

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This heavily revised Sonata arrives in the nick of time. Its two core rivals in Camry and Accord have just undergone dramatic redesigns – bringing the latest tech, style and efficiency to their legions of devoted owners. Staying competitive on the design front means every panel besides the doors and roof of Sonata are fresh for 2018.  All wear a very Genesis-like ‘cascading’ front grille for the first time, as well as a brand new tail with longer and sharper detailing. It really works in the flesh.  Pulling the visuals of the car’s nose downward and the tail further back …

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3.7s 2017 Lotus Evora GT430 Scores 6MT, Track Aero and LSD

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Here is the kind of facelift that really brings an existing car to life.  Big boost in power, new bodywork on all sides and increased performance all around?  What is not to love? The style of the hottest Evora ever is certainly noteworthy.  Its air-channeled front and rear bumpers are brand new and track-ready.  The front splitter is even more intense than ever.  And of course, a tall rear wing really means business. The louvered hood and carved front sill also speak to functional performance upgrades.  A new exhaust, stick-only configuration and a limited-slip differential make this Evora the most …

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2018 Toyota C-HR – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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There’s a lot of talk lately that the small car is on its last legs. And you-know-who is to blame…the crossover. It started quite a while ago with SUVs swaying the public, with their rugged looks, great versatility, and comfy, tall seating position. Then came the small SUV wave, and it’s become a Tsunami – the Nissan Rogue is currently the best selling non-pickup vehicle (full-size pickups are still big business) in the country, with a passel of CR-V’s, RAV4’s, and CX-5’s and more not far behind. Still, the smallest of the small cars felt safe until recently, when the …

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Is Aston Martin VULCAN AMR Pro the End of an Era?

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The Aston Martin Vulcan is an icon already.  24 examples in total exist worldwide and they are getting rarer by the day.  Why?  Because to make a Vulcan AMR Pro, you need to supply the Vulcan. This might be a dying breed of exotic.  A track-only hypercar that is front-engine and naturally aspirated?  Indeed.  This machine might be peak balls in terms of an English or global salute to this layout.  The most trusty around corners, but lacking some of the final corner speed of the mid-engine template.  A front-engine car also means the bodywork cannot be as extreme as …

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2018 Rolls-Royce PHANTOM 8 Revealed – Video and 30-Photo Debut

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Feast your eyes on the all-new Rolls-Royce flagship!  The new Phantom joins a royal lineage eight generations long.  This latest update might be the most radical remake since the gen-7. An all-new alloy chassis, all-new 563HP, 6.75-litre V12TT and fresh comfort goodies throughout. Here is a five-minute video flyaround of the all-new exterior details, along with the launch photoset. Stunning new modernity for the Phantom’s design softens many of the detail elements and lines.  Yet pairs this softer, more-streamlined look with a chiseled face and even-wilder proportions.  Sharp corner edges contrast nicely up front with a raised central hood that …

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2018 Land Rover DISCOVERY – Off-Road First Drive

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When the truck that gets stuck — metal to rock — in front of you on an offroad course is a 2017 Raptor, you start to wonder if your truck will make it through the same obstacle. Except when it is a Land Rover? We found out just how incredible the 2018 Disco was offroad the other week.  And documented the experience thoroughly! Not totally fair to call this a review of any sort.  Seat time was less than an hour, while we never touched pavement.  So these observations are nearly static impressions. But here goes. WOW! The most ultramodern …

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3.3s, 193MPH 2016 Mercedes-AMG E63S Estate By Fostla.de

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This E63S wagon has wrapped up my heart!  Politely tuned, lowered and loved by Fostla.de, this is a 3.3-second hero.  With a shotgun blast exhaust bellow from stock.  Now amplified with new downpipe and catback exhaust. Plus a racing cold air intake for good measure. A cool detail you might note in photos below? The badges are recreated as flat, lightweight graphics instead of metal hardware.   FOSTLA Mercedes-AMG E63S Estate SPECTACULAR FAMILY-FRIENDLY AMG by FOSTLA.DE Photos: fostla.de concepts The “bread & butter” of fostla.de in Hannover is to apply dazzling “skins” to vehicles, a process which is usually associated …

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2018 Toyota CAMRY – First Drives of LE, XLE and XSE – By Zeid Nasser

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[Parts of this post originally appeared on TheIntelligentDriver.com] Toyota knows how valuable the Camry is. It’s known as one of the most reliable, efficient and safe vehicles on today’s roadways. But times are changing, and many of today’s vehicles ace those hallmark Camry qualities. Toyota wants to keep their customers happy and maintain their sales lead with emotional design, leading tech and an engaging (gasp) driving experience. Did they accomplish it? Well, first some background info. Back in 2006 when I earned my license, I convinced my mother that the newest generation 2007 Camry was the way to go. I …

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Honda Unveils 2018 Accord, Promises New Levels Of Refinement And Performance

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With the Honda Accord entering its 10th generation, Honda engineers had a big challenge when it came to updating the venerable sedan. They had to achieve it in a way that would make the Accord embrace the future, but without alienating the basic virtues that have made the company’s bread and butter model a household name among car buyers. With the unveiling of the 2018 Honda Accord earlier today in Detroit, Michigan (following on the heels of a prior teaser sketch,) it appears that Honda is pulling out all the stops to achieve this lofty goal.     It all …

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2018 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD – First Drive Video + 42-Photo Flyaround

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The new TLX A-Spec is the first affordable Acura to share the NSX’s halo coolness.  And this sport special is certainly macho in the flesh. The dark grey grille is menacing and its unique A-spec internals are fresh.  New LEDs up front bring LED indicators in a lit amber setting as normal plus LED fogs for good measure.  This A-Spec’s lower bumper is all-new and unique with a swirl of body-color intake above the contrasting front splitter.  Dark alloys and A-spec badges are cool, as is the dechromed exterior in general. The stance of the SH-AWD TLX is incredibly low …

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2017 TOPCAR Porsche Panamera 971 Stingray GTR Edition

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  Never shy about modding a hot Porsche! Larte Design has a menacing makeover in store for the new-gen Panamera 971 series. This dramatic exterior makeover from the crew who make the incredible 911 STINGER is called something similar: the STINGRAY. This widebody spectacular shares nearly no panels with the stock Panamera.  The smoothly slowing fender extensions and reverse breather vents make the Stingray GTR into a super touring car!  With four doors and 24K gold interior detailing, of course. The bodywork is all available as bare or painted carbon and the kit comes in just below $30k in total. …

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First Drive – 2018 Audi A5 2.0T S-Line Quattro Coupe

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  Is Audi doing a greatest-hits album? You might have asked yourself that upon seeing the new A4/Q5 generations.  In the presale renders, the new cars barely look new. Then you land them in the flesh.  Deep chisel for the bathtub beltline?  Integrated shut/cut lines and sharper edges all around?  Sharky hoodline and wide, low singleframe.  Even visible open aero channels in the bumper edges. Yep.  This exec coupe looks hot.  And looks the business for taking on 430i and new Q60. This test A5 wears the incredibly helpful S-line package with unique bumpers, sills, wheels, cabin and suspension.  This …

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2017 Kia NIRO Touring Hybrid – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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As auto journalists, we’re constantly asked about what’s new, what we like, what we’re driving. So, it’s surprising that the vehicle we’re talking a bunch about lately is the exciting Kia Niro hybrid. Kia? Hybrid? Exciting? Yes, Yes, and really… Yes. And we’re just as surprised as you. We were expecting a decent little vehicle – probably more of a penalty box – in the pursuit of all elusive high mpg numbers, at the expense of everything else. But it ain’t so. The Niro is a stylish, well-equipped, little hatch/crossover that happens to be great fun to drive. And fun …

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2018 Lexus LC500 Performance Pack – First Photos

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We’ve seen it static.  We’ve seen it dynamic.  And we’ve heard it from 200-yards away beside the racetrack. The momentum is building. Crescendo soon! Visually, the LC500 actually becomes even more beautiful in motion.  Its delicate proportions and lithe elegance are LF-A reborn. Build yours in this Nightfall Mica over here. 2018 Lexus LC500 – Performance Pack Nightfall Mica

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2017 BMW 540i M Sport – First Drive Review + 50-Photo Flyaround

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We stopped flogging the 540i on its first drive only for a few moments.  A few fleeting flashbulb pops. Then back on the road and back hard on throttle. The new 5 series is an incredible machine and one that is New Game versus any one before.  More nimble, more feelsome and fast as f***!  But also serene and triple-rubber-damped. The M Sport with Dynamic Handling Pack comes alive in Sport and Sport plus modes.  Here you have a true thhhummppp on the instant upshifts and pop on overrun.  Engine is ferocious and mad for horizons. Traction actually seemed stellar in …

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2017 Toyota LAND CRUISER – HD Road Test Review + 3 Videos

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Driving the incredible Land Cruiser for a week is a major dream-come-true for any car reviewer. So legendary!  So rare! Practically speaking, Land Cruiser is also a test of skills to describe – and do this unique machine justice.  But all the while?  A huge grin on my face and a major thrill to accept this challenge. What makes Land Cruiser so special?  For one, it sits proudly atop the Toyota hierarchy in terms of pricing.  This is the most expensive Big T by far. Continuous production since 1951 is evidence of enduring appeal. And sure, Land Cruiser’s worldwide acclaim …

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2018 KIA Stinger GT AWD – 4.8s, 167MPH Stats Confirmed – 31 Photos

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The Stinger GT from KIA is the dream on wheels.  Four-door fastback with a rear-drive chassis and huge twin-turbo power.  So many dreams, in fact, that the car’s giant trunk will actually come in handy right away.  In what is a clear confirmation of the car’s production-ready status, the power operation of the liftgate up or down is Panamera-esque.  Audi A7 and the A5 Sportback also form strong core templates for the Stinger.  This German-designed and German-engineered machine headed to KIA showrooms for under $50k in the next six months. Black chrome laces the bottle-nose front fenders and the extremely …

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2018 Dodge DEMON and SRT Durango – Startup, Revs and Exhaust Note VIDEOS

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Dodge brought out the big guns for the recent Midwest Auto Media event at Road America racetrack. Their two new sluggers left the crowd in awe!  The SRT Durango was a surprising arrival — considering it has never been seen in real life to date.  The huge news with this monster-V8 SUV is that its tires are simply massive.  Taller than you might expect and wider than most true performance cars — these Pirellis are critical for putting so much power to the ground.  Dodge promises performance to wallop the Yukon Denali and even out-handle the SRT Grand Cherokee. But the …

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2017 Honda CIVIC Si Now In Showrooms from $24k

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

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Gallery – TOPCAR 911 Turbo STINGER GTR Gen2

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Three Stingers in this swarm!  The second-gen TopCar GTR takes the 911 Turbo up a few big notches in the supercar world.  In terms of unique curb appeal, these TopCar mods are hard to beat. New leathers inside, Capristo titanium exhausts, ADV.1 wheels, and an engine powerkit round out the upgrade. TOPCAR 911 Turbo STINGER GTR Gen2

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2017 BMW M4 CS Special Edition Bows in Shanghai

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BMW just rolled out a middle ground between the M4 competition package and the top-flight GTS road racer.  It is called the ClubSport and this CS nomenclature will serve on future hardcore M models as well.  Atop the CS badge is a CS Special Edition, the most limited-release specials with all the performance goodies standard. Performance will be incredible, for what its worth.  460HP is the stat, which does seem low for a $120k price estimate in the USA, but its delivery will be the event.  The car has standard sport exhaust and nearly all the GTS upgrades, like CFRP …

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2018 Chevrolet EQUINOX Premier – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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Car manufacturers apparently do not use the same calendar as the rest of the world. I know this because I found myself in Asheville, North Carolina last month — before the end of the first quarter of 2017 — road testing the new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. I’m not sure why they time-shift like this, but I guess the folks at Chevy thought this new groundup re-make was so good, they just couldn’t wait to get it into customer’s garages.  And after spending the day with the new Equinox, I can say that they’ll have a lot of happy customers. In 2016, compact crossover …

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New TECHART Panamera GRAND GT Looks Like 911 Widebody!

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It is actually fairly easy to forget about the Panamera as a tunercar platform.  Mostly because Porsche themselves make so many stonking-fast variants themselves! But if the new Turbo is too demure on the outside for your tastes?  If the limo-lux shell doesn’t broadcast its low-3’s sprint to 60 and 220-mph potential loud enough? TECHART solves for that with the Grand GT. This obscene Panamera is the king of the TechArt range and is as shockingly new inside as outside. The new Panamera is keen on the mods, too. It might look familiar up front but big action lives around …

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2018 Citroen C5 AIRCROSS On Sale Late Summer

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Vague headline alert! On sale where, exactly?  The best-looking and biggest Citroen SUV ever brings hydaulic suspension for that ultra smooth ride.  Part of why the Citroen DS was so legendary was its hydraulic ride.  Same for the MB 600 Pullman and all modern McLarens. Good tech peers for hydraulics, then. And brands the C5 Aircross will meet when it hits showrooms in Europe around November of 2017.  The model will bow in China a few months earlier, though the production location is unknown at this time. The C5 Aircross really appeals with a bluff, tall hood edge but a …

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3.4s, 186MPH 2018 Mercedes-AMG S63 Scores Full Drivetrain Makeover

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The revised S-Class is out today in Shanghai and the S63 is leading the pack!  The stunning musclecar of a limo gains a new engine, new wet-clutch-launch nine speed automatic and a newly engaging AWD system.  Power is up about to 603 ponies for the S63, while the S65 LWB model sticks at 621HP. The name of the game for the new S63 is POWER.  The 3.4-second number is official for the USA run to 60-mph and is virtually fightin’ words versus Audi and BMW.  How did AMG get the time down even lower? The autobox now has a clever …

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4.0s, 400HP Jaguar I-PACE Concept – Design Analysis: Is It Sexy?

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The Jaguar I-Pace has a hard name to overcome.  And when it was first shown in silver, it had a mountain to climb for good style, too. Too generic EV, they said. FastForward two months and the I-Pace is back in striking red paint with dark details.  More fitting, perhaps, for the first credible Model X rival. Going full electric for the i-pace means the proportions are radically rethought.  Yes, this is crossover territory, but with a chopped (and hard to digest) nose and nonexistent overhangs.  A lower roof and much lower ride height than F-Pace.  But looking wide as XJ and …

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2017 Ford Focus RS – HD Road Test Review

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From the moment the Focus RS fires up with pops from its race exhaust system, you know you are in for something special. How could a normal car, one that is practical and affordable, be so hilariously fast, playful and potent? 350HP to all four wheels makes this a hyperhatch.  Or maybe a boiling hot hatchback.  This is car on that can sprint to 60-mph in the 4’s and have WRX STi levels of grip as its flung around corners.  Yet one whose Drift Mode and ultra-hightech rear axle also give you tail-out adjustability like a stunt car. Now that …

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2017 Nissan ROGUE ONE Star Wars Edition – Review By Ben Lewis

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  We had mixed feelings about testing the 2017 Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition Rogue. Nissan has made some notable improvements on its popular crossover, and we were looking forward to testing it. Then they announced the Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition model. Since they both had the name “Rogue” it kind of smacked of opportunism. Cue rolling of eyes. So, the question becomes, is The Force with the new Rogue, or just the farce? Well, since we don’t want to spoil the ending, let’s start with what’s new for Rogue. Already a crisp design, we have a …

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2018 LUCID AIR – $60k EV Limo Is Dream Tesla Rival

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Pretty fascinating new make at the NY auto show this year.  Lucid out of California, a startup set to take on Tesla.  How will they succeed where others failed?  Similar talent pools help, while Tesla’s current market cap makes an investment in Lucid seem genius.  What can take down a killer startup?  An even more-killer startup. Lucid is making big promises and is taking reservations for their launch model now.  This is a real-deal car versus a one-off concept.  But still, production remains some time off into the future.  Likely about a year from now. Let’s focus elsewhere: the powertrain with three …

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2017 Genesis GV80 SUV Concept Makes Surprise NY Debut

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Genesis is engineering a fleet of SUVs to rival the best in the world.   This is our first look at their vision for a $50k midsize SUV about the size of an X5. The GV80 is mostly a design study and showcase of what is coming to the realworld.  For that purpose, its design outside … needs further study.  We can’t get a sense of its details in these preview renderings.  What is clear is that the truck has an awesome, F-Pace-ish stance and low roofline.  The bodysides show interesting firmness and strong lines.  This also shows up in …

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3.5s, 180MPH 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT TRACKHAWK – 25-Photo Debut w/ Video

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Dodge brought some world-shaking POWER to New York this year.  The 840HP Challenger Demon is honestly one of the most insane production cars of all time. And now this.  Which, before Demon arrived, would certainly have been near the top of the “insane” list. Ladies and gentleman, please welcome: the most powerful SUV in the world. The 3.5-second, 707HP Cherokee TrackHawk. Bow down. Where did SRT hide the ram-air intake for this Hellcat 4×4?  One of the lower foglamp areas is a direct line to supercharged heaven/hell. The GC looks similar to how we know and love it, but the …

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Best of NYIAS – 2018 Lincoln NAVIGATOR – 450HP, 10-Speed

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There have been three or four times in my lifetime when Lincoln Motor Company seemed like it was really on to something.  It had a lot to prove: we only knew it as the Town Car company.  Certainly not a credible luxury contender. The Jag-look Continental of the late 1990s had us doing double takes, even if it was a total boat and deeply FWD from behind the wheel.  Or when the first Nav arrived. Then when the LS sedans came out.  A luxed-up, 4-door Mustang for Lincoln sounded great! But these moments for Lincoln were one-offs. Flukes, almost, in …

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2018 Lexus LS500 F Sport – Air-Ride, Active 4WS + Live NYIAS Photos

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  There is some kerfuffle that the new LS500 F Sport sticks with the 415HP V6TT from the standard car – versus bringing extra ponies like a proper F model might.  But that misses the point of F Sport entirely. Here is a style and handling upgrade that costs little and delivers big dividends.  Outside, the unique look is dechromed and diipped in a sexy gloss black.  More aggressive fascias, wheels and sill details complement the sharp new brakes.  A BBK Big Brake Kit wishes it was as cool as these Lexus clamps. A true performance mod for F-Sport are …

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Best of NYIAS – 2017 Toyota FT-4X Concept

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Welcome to Toyota getting hip with the kids! Since Scion was politely folded into the Big T proper, there are many products in the pipeline that still embody that wacky Scion spirit. The FT-4X is one of those, and looks set for arrival to showrooms within about a year at the most.  This machine is a heavily redesigned and off-road-optimized version of the sexy new C-HR subcompact crossover.  The FT-4X is far more than just a tall-roof variant.  (Although that is its core nature). From a tread perspective, the FT-4X rides far higher, with grippier rubber and longer-travel suspension.  Likely-standard …

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2017 Subaru ASCENT Concept is Jumbo, 7-Seater Outback Headed to Showrooms Next Year

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Subaru has been hinting and teasing its 3-row intentions for years now.  Since the Tribeca bowed out gracefully, in fact, we’ve seen VIZIV concepts galore.  We lost track. Maybe six concepts on that Viziv badge.  Refining what a seven-seat Subaru might be. A new approach was needed, and we now have a 98-percent look at the finished, production product.  The high roofline adds nearly a half-foot of air inside the cabin versus the 5-seat Outback.   An all-new platform drops the floor dramatically in the second row too, giving what looks like amble wayback access and big captains chairs for …

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2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Special Bows in NYC, In Dealers By May

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The Z-car is an engineering showpiece that has always had radical updates between model generations.  Big changes are on the horizon for the 370Z for 2019, we expect, so this new Heritage Edition is a crown on the generation in total. For those who demand naturally aspirated, high-rev power and the current steering/transmission setup?   Now is the time to pounce. The 370Z Heritage comes in yellow or black with yellow accents.  Black wheels and black stripe graphics set it apart on the road… but the yellow model does risk risk Bumble-Z nicknames.   2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Special 2018 …

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HyperGallery – 2017 KOENIGSEGG Regera in 33 New Photos

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Koenigsegg is rolling deeeeep lately!  Showing up to Geneva auto show with nearly a half-dozen exotics is mighty impressive.  And we hope it means their new lightning-fast Regera flagship is selling brisky! Two examples here, with both an exposed-weave carbon fiber, tinted and glossed to perfection in red/black and green.  The red Regera has chrome-red paintwork to contrast the carbon up the middle. All Koenigsegg’s are targa tops — two cars in one! — and the look is distinct with top up or off.  Off, this is a brutally rounded/chopped speedster.  Top on, and this becomes clearly a 300MPH aero …

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

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

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Audi Q8 Confirmed for 2019 Modelyear [22 New Photos]

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We love the designs of both Q8 concepts seen so far: the original in blue at Detroit and this new Q8 Sport Concept from Geneva and NY auto shows.  The bodycolor intake flares in front are gorgeous, the new nose and tail are shockingly cool and fender flares always win friends.  We only dislike its slightly nerdy roofline in profile. After the deeply dull A4/A5 and Q5/Q7 refreshes lately, Audi is showing some design elan with their new Q8 concepts.  This four-seat plugin hybrid (Q8) promises supreme comfort for four.  A platform share with the Q7 moves the back seat …

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3.7s, 450HP 2018 Audi RS5 Scores Snarling New V6TT, Tech and Style

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The 2018 RS5 is official and packs a huge wallop of visual impact in person.  In photos, it looks like a forgettable facelift of a car that’s been on the roads since 2010.  But it really evolves in the flesh into a stellar supercoupe. Design analysis quicktake? This new nose does rely on a lot of misdirection, however, to keep you interested.  It is a buffet of intake scoops, layered spoilers, contrasting trim finishes and embossed branding/badges.  We count 1) bodycolor 2) gloss black 3) brushed alloy and 4)carbon-fiber, to name four such finishes.  (Look for black pack on blue …

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2018 VW Golfs Debut USA Facelift For Six-Strong Model Line

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The new Golf is bringing the global model upgrades to the USA at last!  In fact, the lead time/delay between the Euro debut and the USA arrival is actually much shorter than before.  [It took almost three years for the Golf 7 to arrive in USA.] The six-strong 2018 Golf lineup arrives stateside around September of 2017 as 2018 models.  The e-Golf is on a slightly different timetable but also adds these revisions. The freshening includes standard LED DRLs, full LED tail lights new wheels and upgraded cabin infotainment.  The Golf R brings a fresh 7-speed DSG versus the current …

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2017 Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate RWD – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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The hunt for the elusive Luxury buyer is on with the all-new Genesis division. We recently tested the G80 sedan, and came away mightily impressed – a dynamic, stylish, beautifully-equipped competitor to the BMW 5 series. But for the price of a lowly turbo 4-cylinder Bavarian, the G80 had 5.0-liters of rip snorting V8 muscle. While Genesis is on safari for luxury brand competitors, it doesn’t stop at the G80, because with the larger G90, the brand is taking on the big game – Lexus LS, BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-Class. So, does it come home with a trophy, or …

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2017 Nissan ARMADA Platinum – Road Test Review – By Tim Esterdahl

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In a segment long dominated by the Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon, the 2017 Nissan Armada arrives to take them both head on. With a huge interior and plenty of horsepower under the hood along with a very unique style, it is bold challenger, yet does it truly measure up? Yes and it might just surprise many large SUV buyers. Fresh off a one-year hiatus, the 2017 Armada is back with new looks, improved V8 and loads of safety and security tech. It continues Nissan’s push to be more than a low-budget volume seller and instead be a major …

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2017 Porsche Panamera TURBO Exterior 19

2017 Porsche Panamera TURBO – Startup/Exhaust Video + 44 Photos

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  The new Panamera Turbo is all about headline numbers versus the rest of the range. 3.4-seconds to 60-mph. 190-mph top speed. All-new 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 with 550HP and a snarl worthy of the Porsche crest. The exterior is indeed very evolutionary from up front.  New PDLS+ and LED matrix lighting sets the car apart as the new model, as do the new intercoolers behind every nose hole.  Intercooler as fashion statement!  They are bright silver so definitely stand out to the eye — in the best way.   Around the side and rear end, the car looks much …

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2018 Lexus LS500 6

Design Analysis: 2018 Lexus LS500 at Amelia Island Concours [23 Photos]

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A car whose in-person effect was knee-weakening? This new LS500. So, so new and so revolutionary for the Lexus icon.  Wait until you see this car’s unreal side sculpting and ultra-LWB, fastback-like proportions.  Its nose wears a next-gen level of sculpting throughout the bumper and hood.  The grille almost takes a back seat to the intensely low, long and muscular fenders and slim LED headlights.  The new DRL’s little lashes are intriguing too. The LS and its ultra low new nose and long hood lead the eye to the windshield.  Check out the rake angle!  This is seriously streamlined and likely …

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2018 Lexus LC500h Exterior Amelia 14

2018 Lexus LC500h at Amelia Island Concours [44 Photos]

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Kicking off the slew of posts we have to write from the always-fun Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Amelia Island’s tight layout in the Ritz Carlton hotel in northeast Florida makes for a thrilling sensory overload.  Every step means a one-off car you’ve never seen, never imagined.  Needless to say, you can’t believe your eyes — so much HOT metal! Amelia excels in new-car promotions as well as the pre-war etc Concours categories.  After all, 10k rabid car fans in one place?  Oh, and they are wealthy!?  Let’s do a ride-and-drive! Alfa, Rolls, McLaren, Porsche, Infiniti and Jaguar were the stands. …

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2018 Alfa Romeo STELVIO – 70 Dynamic Pics On Namesake Road

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Feeling like every day there is a brand-new SUV from a luxury brand? You’re right.  Bentayga and Levante join F-Pace and even a Maybach G-Class for 2017. The class of 2018 includes this stunner: the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The big press launch just took place in Europe and offers a great look at the truck in the wild. Certainly a wild look! Ultra rounded fenders, nose and hood lead to a very-low and bubbly hardtop shape.  Big wheels and fenders enforce the machine’s performance credentials — if the giant Alfa V grille didn’t do it! The top model matches the …

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