Month: September 2017

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

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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

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    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

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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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1926 Ford Model T Speedster – 2017 RM Sotheby’s Hershey PA

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So much nostalgia today. But hey, this is a street tuning origin story! Stripped-down, shorn of bodywork and back seats.  Even doors take a pass for this open cockpit road racer.  The drum fuel tank is upsized for cross-country treks – and mounted alarmingly close to the passenger’s ears!   “T for Two” is an appropriate little name for this cutie. The T Speedster is updated with a three-speed manual and slightly modded motor details (Rajo cylinder head?) to keep it humming hard in 2017 and beyond. With a Speedster like this, the typical top speed of the Model T would …

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1937 Ford Yellowstone Park Tour Bus by Bender – 2017 RM Hershey Curio

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Nothing beats a ragtop vintage tourbus for kitsch appeal!  Sentimentality galore imagining so many thousands of happy families exploring the US National Park System for the first time.  Yellowstone was the first park to be designated — and is enormous to behold.  Great to have such roomy seating, big windows and of course that open roof.  Open to big blue skies all day and starry heavens at night.  And the doors!  The entire passenger side of the bus opens with quadruple limo exits. The delightfully Art Deco touches of this bus’s design are what make it a real showstopper.  Here’s …

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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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Concept Flashback – 1990 Renault Laguna Roadster

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Concept cars serve a variety of purposes in the auto business.  They can be helpful as a grand pronouncement of new ideas — even if those are years away from the showrooms of real life.  They can also be a grand distraction.  Or a grand way to bring halo hotness to a dull lineup. And most of all, they are perfect as blank canvasses for designers to express themselves.  Take a simple idea, like a two-seat cabrio, and take it to its wildest brainstorm conclusion.  In the case of the ultra-curvy Laguna concept, this meant a mid-engine turbo four driving …

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How to set up an autocross event – Scott Huntington

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Autocross events are the perfect way to bring your local car community together, but they don’t always take place in areas that are convenient for you. The solution to this is obvious — host your own local autocross event! If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips to help you get started. Find Your Location You can set up an autocross event anywhere that there is sufficient flat pavement that’s not already populated by other cars. Parking lots, empty tracks and even undeveloped but paved lots are all be good options. You will likely need to check …

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

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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

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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

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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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How to Get Your Car Ready for Colder Weather – Scott Huntington

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Fall is fast approaching, and with it comes cooler weather. While we might all welcome a respite from the heat, the best time to prepare your car for cooler temperatures is before it starts to get really cold. What do you need to do to get your car ready for winter? Do Your Maintenance Hopefully you’re keeping up with your regular maintenance, but a round of fluid replacements and other inspections should be your first step for cold-weather preparation. Start with: Fluids — Check all your fluids. Top them off if they’re low, or change them if they’re looking dirty …

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

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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

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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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Frankfurt IAA 2017 – MASERATI and FERRARI Showfloor Gallery

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

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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)

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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

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

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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

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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]

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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 KIA Proceed Concept Brings Hot-Wagon Style to Frankfurt

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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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Situation Analysis: Can 2017 i Vision Dynamics Concept Save BMW?

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Sometimes I just want to shake BMW like a British nanny. What are you thinking, bad BMW baby!!!!? The X7 Concept, Z4 Concept and 8 Series concepts are all fairly new design ideas for the IAA BMW stand in Frankfurt this year.  A new M5 and X3 are the production cars with some fresh excitement around them.  A new BMW i3S looks slightly less hideous from the front and will be quicker than the base model.  None of these models is the silver bullet BMW needs to get back to brand health.  And sales growth. The X7’s design is shockingly …

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Is It Safe to Leave Your Car At the Airport? – Scott Huntington

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Flying overseas or to another part of the country can be exciting and fun. It can also be quite stressful and unpredictable. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, it takes many legs of your journey to finally be sitting in your plane seat. It’s an adventure of its own just getting there. You might be waiting for a taxi or a shuttle to pick you up. A friend might run late trying to do you this favor. Perhaps you have to drive, only to have a bus or subway take you to the airport. It’s so much easier …

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

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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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Meet The Devils G-Wagen – 888HP, 3.9s BRABUS 900 G65

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  Any mortal senses when something just isn’t right in this world.  Mutant formations, though, can sometimes pack superpowers beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. This Brabus 900 is an unholy abonination.  In perhaps the most insane special-ops offroad supercar form ever. The G65 Widestar here is called the One of Ten and delivers absolutely ungodly thrust and speed.  V12TT stoked with gold-lined shields, bored-out cylinders and red-hot turbo boost.  8-piston calipers and 23-inch rubber help stick 1106 pound-feet of torque to the ground.  And will happily drift unlike any other Galendewagen in the world!  [Except maybe this one we rendered a …

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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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Autocross Class of 2017! Which Pocket Rocket Is Quickest?

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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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Is Keyless Entry Safe? – Scott Huntington

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Almost every new car nowadays comes with a keyless entry system — a battery-powered key fob that, at its most basic, allows you to lock and unlock your car from a distance. Others may include alarm controls, truck openers and even buttons that unlock and open the hatch on a van, depending on the car model. While keyless entry is the height of convenience, some skeptics have argued that it might be unsafe. Is keyless entry actually safe, or should we return to old-school lock-and-key techniques? Keyless Entries — a Risk Factor? Keyless entry has made the news in recent …

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Renault Nepta

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You can always count on the French manufacturers to bring some real concept heat.  Perhaps it is the rotation between Frankfurt and Paris.  Whenever it is back in Paris, the brands really go all-out to pack the house. These concepts generally run the gamut of production-unlikliness.  From never-ever to never in a million years. So with no limits but the need to define a next-gen surface language and design theme, what kind of car would you use?  A grand cabriolet, of course! Four giant seats but just two butterfly doors.  These bring the entire bodyside up from central hinges on …

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2018 TVR Griffith – Gordon Murray Carbon Supercar Is REAL!

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The moment is here.  Rebirth of the famous Blackpool fiberglass wizards TVR. The brand lives on even if the old steel chassis designs and all legacy engines are dropped.  Production takes a massive leap into the future with Gordon Murray’s iStream process for fast and affordable carbon fiber.  Murrary’s GMD company has shopped this tech for a few years now so it is a double thrill for it to make its debut alongside the Griffith. The roster of other UK supercar suppliers continues to Cosworth for the 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 sending power exclusively to the back wheels.  0-60 is promised …

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

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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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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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Road Test Review – 2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature – By Carl Malek

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When it comes to sporty driving, the folks at Mazda have always had a knack for balancing sporty virtues with enough value and style to make their vehicles a compelling choice for budget minded enthusiasts. For a while, that tradition didn’t necessarily apply to their SUV/CUV offerings. But with the recently revamped CX-5 and CX-3 blowing a blast of fresh air into this segment, it was only fitting that the CX-9 would embrace this wind of change with vigor. Does the 2017 CX-9 gain some new tricks from its suite of updates, or does this people hauler lose out against …

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2017 MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept – Design Analysis

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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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1971 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Cabriolet by Frua

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We have hilarious convertibles on the brain since shooting a giggly 500C review video today. What is sillier or more absurd as a ragtop than a four-door Rolls-Royce Phantom! This 1971 All-Weather Cabriolet by Frua is famously special.  One-off design details and executions extend far beyond the giant cashmere roof.  This car has basically no miles and is as-new condition, so perhaps not the ideal beach car from the RR. But certainly one that would delight anyone in the Hamptons or other luxury seaside enclaves. This beaut sold for $390k at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 auctions the other week. 1971 …

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2011 Morgan AeroMax LHD Tall-Boy Special – RM London 2017

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Just 100 of these AeroMaxes were produced for sale!  Seems a small quantity compared to the outsized reputation this machine has for its Top Gear and UK car-mag popularity.  The AeroMax is sure to be collectible thanks to its well-known teardrop hardtop design, split rear window and somewhat cross-eyed appearance from certain angles. This edition to be sold by RM Sotheby’s London sale this week is a delicious metallic blue over lipstick red inside.  It has less than 2000 miles from new and was originally sold to a member of the British royal family. A coupe special features of this …

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2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet – RM London Preview

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This CLK DTM is a rarer version of the ultra-rare DTM hardtop.  Just 80 copies of this stunning ragtop were produced — and this racing widebody is extra WILD with no roof. Fabric folding top also makes the tall rear wing seem to stand even prouder than it does on the coupe!  The full carbon tonneau cover, and seating all around adds a nice bit if racing flair to a lux hotrod for the street. When new, this machine cost near $350k and was only pre-sold to a select few in Europe. The current owner is seeking about the same …

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Concept Debrief – 2011 SAAB PhoeniX was Dead on Arrival

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

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1986 GEMBALLA Slantnose 911 Twins Join RM London 2017

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What becomes of high-dollar custom exotics 30 years after they meet the world? Most are not in nearly the flawless, as-new condition as these two. That is a sure thing. Nor are there many box-fresh 911s of any kind from that era.  Let alone with completely outrageous bodywork and spoilers? These two are almost twins – the white Avalanche a hardtop and the red Cyrrus a ragtop. Although they are twins in many ways, they each actually wear totally unique executions for their nose and whale tail designs.  The straked intakes along the doors and into the rear axle were …

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

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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

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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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