Tom Burkart

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine. He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank. Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.

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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2017 RAM Sport Night Edition EXTERIORS 2

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

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

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Meet the Original 1964 Ford GT40 Concept and 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype 11

Concept Flashback – 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype

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The GT40 was actually a pretty derivative design – with a chassis and overall structure partially borrowed from Lola. But the GT40 as it came from Lola was not a winner right away. While the Mark I GT40 is a bit more pure, and a lot more beautiful by many eyes — it was not a race-winner. The GT40 started winning races with the Mark II GT40 with its huge air scoops, front sill spats, and other aero mutations to the overall design. But still – it is hard to argue with the clean beauty of these initial concept prototypes. …

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3.6s, 626HP 2019 Bentley Continental GT Revealed!

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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 the long-rumored, Porsche-derived platform with the engine located much farther back than before.  The new layout also makes room for the latest in double-clutch tech.  And eight-speed PDK variant here maximizes all that power from the W12TT up front.  The raw figures of 3.6s and 207MPH as a 60-mph sprint and top speed are good, if not world-shattering improvements over the predecessors. But the dynamics of …

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Concept Flashback – 1978 Jaguar XJ Spider by Pininfarina

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How advanced is this Pininfarina concept for Jaguar? It is hard to believe there is an XK under these swoopy panels, which predated anything else curvy by more than eight years. Of course, Jaguar had been rocking serious curves since the 1940s.  This Pininfarina exercise re-introduced a swoopy, flowing shape that was markedly different from the boxy production XK. Very, very impressive level of production value for a 1978 concept.  Although not adapted for sale, some vindication for the designers came when this basic surfacing template was a huge hit for the Aston Martin DB7 and even the Jaguar XK …

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2017 Donkervoort D8 GTO RS Bare Naked Carbon Edition

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

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

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

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2017 Ford F-150 RAPTOR 4x4 3

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

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

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Concept Flashback - 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Porsche 911 with Clear Bubble Hardtop 54

Concept Flashback – 2006 RINSPEED ZaZen is Bubble Hard 911

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This concept from RINSPEED in 2006 is actually quite magnificent. A clear polycarbonate hardtop and a variety of innovative supplier solutions round out what is a very intriguing concept car from RINSPEED. The rear fenders and nose treatment with Ferrari 612 lighting elements are very interesting, but the RINSPEED ZaZen is absolutely hideous from the pure nose and tail angles. An unusual and sloppy mess of amateurish block shapes. Other lighting by the huge list of experimental parts suppliers are more special.  Diamond-cut glass for the brake lights is intricate, beautiful and very special.  The LED laserlight CHMSL is notably …

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2017 MANSORY BENTAYGA Introduces Forged-Carbon Widebody

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

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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 Mansory GRONOS 6×6 G-Wagen

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

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Monterey Car Week 2017 GALLERY By Anthony DAquisto 60

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

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

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Updated w/ 33 Real-Life Photos – 2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

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  Here is a car absolutely perfect for the Pebble Beach concepts lawn. Ultra low.  Ground-hugging panels and exotic, exaggerated proportions.  A level of exotic eroticism unseen on 99.999-percent of all the world’s cars. This is no ordinary car.  It is a look at what a Merc rival to Bugatti might look like.  Pricing north of two mill a pop will keep them rare, while massive top speed performance potential is clear from the machine’s very shape. We have a few dozen real-life photos of the car to share, from the Mercedes House at Pebble Beach and the Concept Lawn …

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

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

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2017 Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta – Pebble Beach Debut

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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 Ford Escape Titanium – Road Test Review

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How time flies! Ford launched this platform for the Escape around 2012 and it was a revelation for the compact crossover segment.  Handling and engine shared with the Range Rover Evoque, but with pricing $20k less?  Sign us up. Five years later and this newly-refreshed 2017 model is not nearly as appealing.  Is this lightest-of-light refreshes for 2017 enough to keep Escape competitive with its arch-rivals RAV4 and CR-V?  How about the dozens of other new CUVs with the same $25-$40k pricerange? We spent a week with the new Escape Titanium EcoBoost 4WD – the tippy top drivetrain and trim …

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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

2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN – PART TWO

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

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2017 Pebble Beach Concours – CONCEPT LAWN

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

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2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series 13

Werkswagen! 2.8s, 205MPH 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series [28 Photos]

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The dawn of the $260k 911 is here and glorious.  All the performance.  All the luxury. All the power! The works.  Or Werks? 607 ponies to be exact. This shade is Golden Yellow Metallic and is one of just three on the Exclusive Series Turbo S for 2018. Favorite detail photo photographer James Crabtree?  The carbon front fender slices!  [Whoops, those are GT2RS]  In fact, all the air vents and addenda on this beauty are bare carbon to contrast the paintwork.  But no front fender slashes here. The engine cover with CF intake snorkel is a delightfully exclusive touch indeed …

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In Pictures: First USA Bugatti CHIRON Delivered!

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

McLaren VIP Event [118 Photos] M6GT, M7A, 570S Spider, 720S + Longtails

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  This is basically the most McLarens per square mile on Earth.  Pebble Beach in general, yes.  But this exclusive mansion in particular!  Enjoy this mega set of gorgeous Macca’s from CRD pal JC, who is on site for the boostfest! If you get far enough in the gallery below you will even see these badass supercars lined up politely for test drives.  Yes please~! 2017 Pebble Beach – McLaren VIP Villa

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

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

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2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

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  Here is a car absolutely perfect for the Pebble Beach concepts lawn. Ultra low.  Ground-hugging panels and exotic, exaggerated proportions.  A level of exotic eroticism unseen on 99.999-percent of all the world’s cars. This is no ordinary car.  It is a look at what a Merc rival to Bugatti might look like.  Pricing north of two mill a pop will keep them rare, while massive top speed performance potential is clear from the machine’s very shape. 2017 Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet

2017 BMW Z4 Concept By James Crabtree 42

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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2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast 3

In Pictures: Pebble Beach 2017 – Welcome to CASA FERRARI

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

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2017 Rolls-Royce DAWN in FUXIA Celebrates Michael Fux

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

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2018 Acura ARX-05 Endurance Racer Bringing V6TT To Track

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

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

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

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FUX FUCHSIA McLaren 720S by MSO Whips Heads at The Quail

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The car causing some serious neck problems in NorCal this week? The MSO 720S in a bespoke Fux Fuchsia paint scheme over stealth grey carbon trim and opal white leather. The car is at the Quail for these photos.  Do some neck rolls now so you don’t hurt yourself when you see it. The owner is my new hero.  But he needs to get to the window tinter pronto after the show! FUX FUCHSIA McLaren 720S by McLaren Special Operations McLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS PRESENTS UNIQUE McLAREN 720S CUSTOMER COMMISSION AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Bespoke McLaren 720S by McLaren Special …

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

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

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Monterey Car Week 2017 GALLERY By Anthony DAquisto 89

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

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

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Concept Flashback – 1994 Renault Espace F1 [38 Photos]

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The coolest minivan of all time? A rolling, four-seat example of an F1 team doing their work joyfully? And an eclipse wall of yellow metallic …. coming in fast! The visuals of a van but the sound and speed of an F1 car do not register right in the brain.  It is cognitive dissonance at its best. Play ten seconds of the below and tell me you disagree!       Here are 38 remastered photos of the Espace F1 from its launch in 1994. 1994 Renault Espace F1

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1957 Arnott-Climax 1100 GT – Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach 2017 Preview

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  Have you ever laid eyes on a more beautiful teardrop racer? Competing with the likes of the Porsche 356 and other micro-lights was a tough game in the late 1950s.   Competitiveness in this era meant this Coventry Climax ran just a shouting 96-horsepower four, with all its weight mid-center ahead of the driver.  This played out on track nicely versus the rear-engined Porsches of the era.  Totally different but both very pure track setups. Granted, this little bugger might have had its gullwing doors blown off by a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racer of the same era, whose big …

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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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Own the 007 Spectre 2014 Land Rover Defender SVX!

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A Defender pro-mod by Q himself!  Or was this the villain car in that Alpine chase.  Oh yes.  Bond is actually driving a crashed plane at the time. This SVX machine will let its new owner be a Bond hero daily.   2014 Land Rover Defender SVX “Spectre”

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1985 Mazda RX-7 Evo Group B Works Rally Car – RM London 2017

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 Never. Been. Raced! Seeking $250k. Will make your rally dreams come true. 1985 Mazda RX-7 Evo Group B Works RM Sotheby’s London 2017 Lot 123 1985 Mazda RX-7 Evo Group B Works To be auctioned on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 £170,000 – £190,000 Photo Credit: Rowan Horncastle ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Concept Flashback – 1999 DeTomaso Nuova Pantera 2000 Prototype

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Here is a detailed look at one of 1999’s most intriguing and perhaps promising concept cars.  Ultimately, this design was not enough to spring DeTomaso back to competitiveness with Lamborghini and Ferrari. As a design time capsule, this Pantera 2000 has true pedigree.  It was presented by De Tomaso himself and designed by legendary Countach (and original Pantera) man Marcello Gandini. The result is interesting, if not quite timeless.  A mid-engined GT car with wide, rounded nose and flying buttress roofline.  The proportions of the old car are laid onto a taller, blander car with no defining lowness or wedge. …

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In Pictures: 2016 Aston Martin VULCAN Details – By James Crabtree

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The Vulcan is beyond intense in person.  Lower than anything and wider than a Hummer! With nearly seamless doors and windshield showing the extreme, race-ready aero of this machine in stark contrast with all production cars.  Not even a slight bump between windshield and roof!  Meanwhile, the tail wears wings and diffuser that cost more than most whole cars. The opaque orange brakelights are spikes of material extending a half foot behind the back fenders. The hood opened forward also offers an interesting look and the Multimatic inboard suspension and the all-carbon intake manifolds. Photo credits: Thanks to James Crabtree …

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2017 Monterey Car Week REVEALS List – Pebble Beach, The Quail & Concorso Italiano

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This is crunchtime for car writers and news junkies alike! America’s Goodwood, aka Pebble Beach, has gone from a concours to an all-out supercar auto show extravaganza.  What we learned on a trip to the event in 2014 is that Monterey Car Week is actually a full week of performance joy!  The classics and icons are peppered throughout the experience, of course, but mainly take center stage on the oceanfront fairway only on Concours Sunday. Until then, there are ride/drive events, VIP receptions, press events and media previews galore at the Quail, Concorso Italiano, RM Sotheby’s in downtown Monterey.. and …

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2000 Lamborghini Diablo GTR – RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017

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

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2014 Pagani Huayra Tempesta – RM Sotheby’s 2017 Preview

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

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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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2017 Jannarelly Design-1 Heads to First Owners!

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A great startup launch story for Jannarelly Automotive this year.  From prototype to production in just a matter of months is a huge achievement. The first ever JD1 is now in its happy owners hands in France, but the second is headed to NY!  The US distributor Vandouble is handling orders for the machines stateside, with around a six-month delivery timeframe.  Production is sold out until February 2018, Jannarelly tells us, so get your order in soon to be among the first owners. As a recap, we have a mid-mounted V6 driving the back wheels and flyweight carbon construction to make the …

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1955 Ferrari 121LM Spider by Scaglietti – RM Sotheby’s Monterey Preview

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Only in Monterey would crummy roadside motels be filled with Ferrari’s and Lambo’s! And even around the corner from Pebble Beach, these special cars (and people!) only come out once a year. RM Sotheby’s auction this week will be action-packed.  A favorite presale machine that deserves all the spotligght in the car world? This 1955 Ferrari 121LM Spider. It is the third of four ever made.  It is a shrouded-cockpit, single-seat racer in iconic French Blue.  A shrouded roll hoop behind the RHD steering setup is glamourous, as is the tiny perspex wind deflector.  Helmet or at least goggles definitely …

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2017 INFINITI Prototype 9 Makes Retro Pebble Beach Debut

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A 1940s racer for modern day?  How about one with an all-electric driveline and single-seater cabin? The perfect fit for the world’s most prestigious concours: Pebble Beach. Infiniti just whipped the silk capes off their Prototype 9.  And boy will it stop you in your tracks. Even the ‘endless road’ Infiniti badge is expressed artfully.  It now stands proud atop the hood edge like a radiator cap.  The waterfall front grille is slightly tacky on first glance but does make sense.  When viewed directly head-on, the shape of this sunken grille matches the wide jawline of the Q60 sports coupe, …

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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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2017 Lincoln Continental 3.0T AWD Black Label – Road Test Review

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Welcome to a future where the Lincoln Continental has the grace of a Bentley.  It has cabin comfort worthy of a private jet and a backseat to shame most Mercedes. Impressive?  That barely does the Continental’s first impression justice. We spent a week getting to know the machine inside and out.  Learning the delights of cooled and massaged comfort in all four corners of the machine.  And flinging the Continental out of corners with unreal speed thanks to the Focus RS-style torque vectoring AWD system.  Of course, the whole time, surfing full throttle of 400HP/400 pound-feet of torque from the …

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2017 ItalDesign x Airbus Pop

2017 ItalDesign x Airbus Pop.Up – Concept Debrief

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Maybe all those ‘flying car’ dreamers and visionaries were just too smart – by half. What if a self-piloted EV road module was left behind when your drone-copter arrives?  That self-driving EV skateboard could drive itself home or to meet you later at the office.  Meanwhile, your transport pod will be under the eight counter-rotating blades of the quad-copter above you? Pretty intense in how real this fantasy traffic-avoider feels.  Thrilled to have the big brains of Giugiaro and Airbus working together to flesh out the idea. Here is a crude animation of how this will work. The insight is rock solid: …

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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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2017 GMC Canyon Denali 4x4 SWB Crew 9

In Pictures: 2017 GMC Canyon Denali 4×4 SWB Crew

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Hard to hide the disappointment we had with the 2017 Canyon Denali.  This was a delayed-release flagship for GMC’s midsize trucks.  Denali models usually have everything standard and are a big, big upgrade in luxury style and amenities. This Canyon Denali does have a huge standard equipment list and a new grille to its credit.  But overall, the amount of Denali badges is the biggest change you will notice. Underwhelming on the off-road course with these low, low running boards.  Not thrilled that the GMC Canyon’s LED light accents are not actually DRLs.  And bummed to find regular halogen reflectors …

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6 Ways the 2019 Aston Martin VALKYRIE Is Next-Gen Bonkers

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Whisper it, but Aston is on a serious roll lately. The launch sales of DB11 are strong and Vanquish is holding its own versus Bentley and Porsche.  All two dozen copies of the halo 2016 Vulcan track star sold out in days, and the future of the DBX SUV is on track for arrival in summer 2018 to stores worldwide.  From a brand new factory in Wales, of all places! Sure, Rapide and Vantage are showing some age, but will be rejuvenated fairly soon with new AMG turbo powertrains. And then we have this masterpiece.  The collab with Red Bull …

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3.0s, 646HP 2017 McLaren 570GT By Novitec

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A light mod and tune this week from Novitec on the McLaren 570GT.  This glassback version of the 570 is the most practical Macca ever.  Its side-hinged rear window is barely on the radar with this stance and sound on offer, however! Power jumps to nearly 650 while an Iconel titanium exhaust brings the reverb and shout to this turbo V8.  A racy set of 21-inch alloys and carbon addenda make this daily McLaren as sexy as its track siblings. Favorite detail?  Has to be the wild carbon intake scoop on the doors!  This goes from a sliver of NACA-style …

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2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty 6.7L Platinum – Road Test Review w/ Videos

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Where to start?  Super Duty is stronger than before, yes. But you are not prepared for how much stronger it is.  Ford quotes the strength of the (high-strength steel) boxed ladder frame as being 20X more rigid than before.  2000 percent! Ford added hundreds of pounds to this frame to blow away its rivals in max towing. All bodywork and the bed of the truck make the swap to aluminum for 2017 at the same time.  So if the new frame added 300 pounds, the alloy bodywork subtracts 700 from the total.  All in all, the new F-250 is a full …

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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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DAHLER Tunes Up New BMW 5-Series Touring – ECU, Remote Exhaust, Wheels and Bodykit

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The new BMW 5 series is a huge game-change of a car for the roundel brand.  It is so, so new in how it drives, feels and… looks? The new 530, 540 and 550 in the USA definitely look new.  It is just that they look, at first glance, to be exactly the same in traffic as the 7 series. This is probably a good thing, as it harks back to the long-successful BMW strategy: one bratwurst, three lengths. But what about those who want hot street style to go with that fab new interior and steering feel? Switzerland’s Dahler …

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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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2017 Rolls-Royce DAWN – First Drive Review + Video

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Imagine being tossed the keys to this beauty! All 400 grand cruises like a parade float for the first block.  Impossibly smooth.  Riding high off the ground somehow, but with a low cowl and incredible visibility to the front and sides.  With the top down, the horizons really open an endless sky above. Something strange happens driving a convertible so large and so plush.  You’re almost swept away with emotion as you greet walkers on the road.  They will stop, turn, stare and wave almost involuntarily.  Not sure who they are expecting — but surely a big somebody.  This car is …

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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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2017 KIA Soul Turbo – HD Road Test Review + Video

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The Kia Soul is a runaway  success. It is the best-selling global Kia vehicle in the brand’s history.  And it has outlasted its Nissan Cube or the Scion xB box-car rivals in the marketplace by being better. This acclaim is perhaps why the Soul still wears its original sheetmetal — albeit revamped slightly for the exterior of this latest iteration.  Fresh LEDs, bumpers and trim details are all this car needs to be fresh in 2017. If the core package was so right-sized and right-priced, it does make sense to keep it humming along nicely with the same look. Beneath …

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Meet MrOwl – Your Personalized Interests, News and Imagination Engine

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A free new curator that holds all your interests in one place?  Then expands and grows with help from millions of like-minded web-surfers? MrOwl is promising just that with its roll-out of a system for storing and discovering hyper-specialized interest areas.  Collaborative topic branches intend to make MrOwl into the best of forums and visual discovery engines. We took the leap and tried it out this week with a few new @Car_Revs_Daily branches.  We started with the idea of a luxury sedans ranking, but realized the better way to organize might be by car brand. What does all this mean?  …

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2017 Lexus GS350 RWD Luxury – Road Test Review + Drive Video!

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The GS slides into 2017 with great stance, racy handling and serious value. The Lexus transformation into a performance-car brand is firmly ON TRACK with this new GS.  So smooth and easy… but handles and hustles in Sport+? Even without the F Sport package, our tester drew stares like the GS-F during its week in the speed fleet. We thoroughly enjoyed its performance and luxury, with a special nod to some amazing options that make a good car into a great car. Standard article headings and a quick drive video of the fresh-faced Lexus GS here to share. HD Drive …

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2018 Jaguar E-Pace – 300HP CUV Pricing and USA Launch Details!

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Jumping for joy! This new Jaguar E-Pace compact SUV is the perfect model for Jag right now.  Hot on the heels of the F-Pace SUV’s knockout launch, this E-Pace is firmly on the way for the 2018 model-year — and even has USA pricing in full included below!  Spoiler alert: it runs from $39k to about $55k. While the I-Pace name has been linked to a full EV concept from the big cat, this new E-Pace is a close relative.  Sharing a platform and much design and tech, they are both starting assembly in the next six months. Jaguar is …

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Novitec Debuts Tesla Model X Stage One Bodykit, Vossen 22s and CCBs

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Welcome to Hell! Electric cars heading to the supertuning boutique? Yes, the day has come, folks. Just kidding. The Tesla X is already over $100k easily and rips to 100-mph like a stabbed rat.  So why not upgrade its style and stance to match? If you’re like us, you loathe the Tesla roofline and bloated surfaces.  But realize: the looks outside, and the glasshouse in particular, are basically just there to create ridiculously airy cabins.  The same reason there is a double-height windshield — to make the X feel like a legit spaceship.  Once you accept that — and know …

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2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Walkaround Highlights Gallery in 130 Photos

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  CRD pal and all-around bon vivante James Crabtree is back from an amazing visit to the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed! All four days meant JC snapped nearly 1000 photos and 100 videos from the epic motoring event.  And best news of all?  He was gracious enough to share them here with us. We selected about 130 of our favorites from his extensive Goodwood experience.  Everything from Lego racers and racecars, to four-seat Morgans, EuroFighter Typhoons, vintage icons and future concepts.  And of course, not two steps without tripping over some high-dollar supercar. The 570S Spider, Aventador S and …

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Supercar for Civic Cash? Meet the $22k Daytona Coupe

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What’s the catch? How can this 390HP, mid-front V8 powered legend be so cheap and so clean? If an original racing Shelby Daytona Coupe, this machine would be one of a handful of survivors and carry a price into the millions.  This core design’s handling brilliance, speed and reliability are what won it its Daytona nickname, after all. So this raspberry beret is a replica. So what? The advantage of being a good, semi-authorized replica is that it is (nearly) brand new.  And built by Factory Five versus an individual kitter. Imagine rumbling up to your local cars n’ coffee …

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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 Volvo S90 T6 – Road Test Review + Best of 2017 Award-Winner

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We all knew the brand-new Volvo S90 sedan would be a quantum leap ahead of its S60 and S80 predecessors in the luxury segment.  We knew this new S90 is the second Volvo since XC90 to be a real class-best achievement in style and safety. But knowing all this still offers no prep for how absolutely phenomenal the new S90 is inside and on the road.  It is so magnificently high-tech, yet grounded in light Swedish leathers and a open-pore walnut woods. It drives with lightness and agility unlike anything you might expect from a 5 series or E-Class rival. …

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1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi – RM Villa Erba Highlight

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Here is a stunning example of peak car design. Timeless and enchanting lines from every angle.  Unbelievable finesse and shape to every panel — courtesy of the era’s best coachwork masters. But special even before that point.  This short-wheelbase, competition model has the lightweight sports-racing chassis and race engine.  It is also one of only two worldwide with fully enclosed front fenders. These were a difficult feat then and are similarly hard to achieve now.  Certainly they are impossible for any volume-produced machine.  The idea that they would help with aerodynamics is charming considering the top speeds of this car …

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1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S – RM Monterey 2017 Preview

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Here is one near and dear to the heart.  The red dream crosses the block this August at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey, California auctions.  These take place the week of the nearby Pebble Beach concours. This tiny but ferocious 911 has no reserve and could fetch around $350k for its cleanliness, originality and, of course, 993 desirability. Would love to rumble up to the Ritz valet in this on Concours sunday! 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S RM Sotheby’s 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Chassis no. WP0AC2997VS375758 Photo Credit: Karissa Hosek ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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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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Goodwood 2017 Festival of Speed – Hillclimb Mega Gallery in 200 Photos

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Goodwood is as glorious as ever this year! It seems like every supercar that matters is at Lord March’s estate – along with thousands of adoring fans. The clear stars of the show are the glorious Ford GT and the Bugatti Chiron. And of course the Lamborghini Centenario and the Aston Martin Vulcan.   Don’t forget the new Pagani Huayra BC. And clearly the McLaren 720S and world-premiere 570S cabrio are worth seeing in action. Don’t forget the fresh-facelifted Maserati GranTurismo or a back-to-back look at the Panamera’s new choice of sedan or wagon bodystyles.  They’re all represented here! Watching …

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2017 Dodge Charger DAYTONA 6

2017 Dodge Charger DAYTONA – First Drive w/ Active Exhaust + 44 Photos

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The new Charger Daytona brings the looks of the Hellcat, sound of the SRT392 and price of a loaded R/T. A fantastic combination, no? From $39k, we cannot think of a cooler or more fun big sedan.  Check out the video below to get a sense of the new Sport-mode’s louder exhaust – and check out the photo flyaround below that! The Daytona pack brings a huge list of upgrades inside and out.  The monroney sticker for the car is included below but is slightly out of focus.  Go drive this car to have the full HEMI immersion — at …

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200MPH 2017 Vanda Dendrobrium Joins Goodwood FoS Lineup

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  Geneva was filthy with million-dollar exoptics this year.  And at least half of those were from new brands with electric propulsion. The Vanda Electrics entry is one of the most compelling, visually, for its modern and carved track appeal.  A no-fluff machine clearly designed for laptimes!   Ground-effect aero, power doors and canopy and floating wheels?  Dreamy! Concept hypercars have a bad reputation for not being real, however.  And Dendrobrium’s lack of tech specs makes one worry a bit.   The targets are simple enough for any EV hypercar: 3.0-seconds to 60-mph, 200-mph top speed and a range of …

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2017 KIA Cadenza Limited – Road Test Review + 2 Videos

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There is real buzz around the brand-new 2017 Kia Cadenza. Car reviewers near and far have been shocked by its lux feel and right-priced tech. Are they right? We spent a week in the loaded Cadenza Limited to find out.  Hard on throttle and chucking it around corners… and honestly expecting the worst.  After all, it is a hard time for near-luxury sedans.  Cars like the Maxima, Avalon, Lacrosse or Chrysler 300 are suffering from low sales and a crowded marketplace.  Meanwhile, the deeply unfun Lexus ES still hoovers up sales for reasons no one truly understands. How can Cadenza …

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2017 Lexus IS350 F Sport RWD – Road Test Review + Performance Drive Video

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The IS350 was a perfect way to hit the roads of CHicago and Wisconsin ahead of a track event the other week. Here is a fun, fast and tactile sport sedan for the ages! Fun because it loves revs and Gs. Fast as its F-Sport induction harmonics encourage floored throttle all the time. Tactile because its steering is alive in your hands.  IS350 F-Sport steering feel has heft like a great sports car, but also a sharp and eagerness to change direction any time.  Any place.  This IS350 pivots like a boss. Just a big soppy lovefest for this car, …

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2017 BMW M760i – Launch Starts Video + 71 Photos

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The new M760 is an instant icon and forever flagship. Here is a car that defies all physics with its speed.  6.6 chugging liters fed by massive twin turbos.  Both nestled within the perfect V12. The results on this BMW’s power delivery are breathtaking.  A ripping snort on throttle and a rich, layered bellow from the pipes out back.  601 horsepower and standard LWB spec for the USA market also bring dual silver-bullet technologies. Tech to make the chassis as long as a yacht, but corner like a gyro.  This comes in the form of xDrive and super-adaptive M suspension. …

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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 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder N-LARGO Widebody by NOVITEC

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Lamborghini’s trademark sculpture and linear designs lend themselves to endless customization.  The smooth elements look nearly flat across most of the panels of this Huracan SPyder.  But looks are deceiving.  There is actually intense 3D bulging — linked with creases and lines — across the entire factory look of the car. Novitec’s N-LARGO then had a bit of a challenge to out-wild the wildest bull in the pen. Their finished product speaks – and charges — all for itself.  Nearly a half-foot wider and sharing barely any bodywork with the stock machine, this latest N-Largo has to be the coolest …

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Porsche 911 RS 3.5 Red Evolution by DP-Motorsport

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What has this blog devolved into?  Just a fantasy wetdream of the cars we’d love to own? YES! That is mostly what it has been all along. This 911 Red Evolution by DP-Motorsport.de out of Deutschland is something exceptionally unique and special.  One to be cherished, raced, and cherished further. And perhaps snuck onto the streets to catch the world’s rapt attention? Perhaps! A racer for the road, with an aircooled and barely muffled race engine to boot. Details of this very special 911 are included below the gallery.  Favorite details have to be the seamless widebody, insane grip and …

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790HP 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Estate by Wimmer RST

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At what point do supertune’s start getting depressing?  Take this new C63-S Estate by Germany’s Wimmer RennSport Technik.  This humble family hauled goes from a monstrous 500HP to a sheerly obscene 790! That is adding almost 300 horsepower — more than many performance cars deliver in total! Granted, the full Wimmer RST mod shown here is also priced at 30k Euro — enough to afford a nice WRX Sti if you wanted 300HP (and a whole car) attached. Will any STi deliver G-forces like this killer C63-S longroof? Nope. The results of 790HP to the back wheels are predictably shocking. …

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2017 Nissan GT-R Premium – First Drive Review w/ Video + 77 Photos

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Let me invite you behind the scenes for a moment.  Reviewing the photos that come back from my Nikon is an exercise in Deletion.  Usually every third photo will be wonky.  Either out of focus, framed wrong or perhaps with just one LED lit.  Taking 100 photos then leaves us with about 60. Not so with this Nissan GT-R.   We’re finding focus and beauty in almost every frame! A lot like the drive, in fact.  This car in a downpour outside Road America racetrack in Wisconsin was 40 minutes in heaven.  The roads were slick, wound through the woods …

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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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LARTE Design Launches Carbon Kit for MASERATI LEVANTE

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Larte Design has a new set of carbon-fiber goodies to dress up one of the world’s hottest new trucks: the Maserati Levante. These make perfect gifts – even to yourself! — for DIY car guys and gals.  Why?  No heavy lifting here or intense bodyshop skills needed to mount these properly. The extra CF bits and bobs (about nine in all) extend the factory spoilers just a touch deeper for added sporty coolness.Sounding like a fanboy here but nobody does stick-on carbon fiber as nicely as Larte Design.  The chin spoiler, side spats and mirror caps are elegant and appear …

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2017 NOVITEC N-Largo Ferrari 488 Widebody

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If you ever email us here at CRD and really want your message read… here is a shortcut and sure-fire way to make it happen. Include the phrase N-LARGO somewhere in the subject header!  I would spit out my coffee and run to a desktop to see the latest Novitec widebody in highres detail. This latest example based on the Ferrari 488 and 488 Spider is certainly no exception.  This new 488 N Largo is a full 5.5 inches wider than the stock 488 at the back fenders. Slightly less extreme up front — but still shockingly different in appearance …

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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 8

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 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe6 copy

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63-S Coupe – Edition One – USA Photoset

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What supercoupe has the curb appeal of a true racecar?  That would have to be this new C63 S in its Edition One livery.  These launch specials all share their frozen grey over bright yellow paintwork.  The effect in person is polarizing, sure.  And will this be a gracefully maturing look in ten years? Who cares! For now, this is the best — and only?  — way to enjoy the hottest AMG V8TT in a rear-drive layout.  Well, aside from the C-Class sedan and SLC.  And SL proper, actually. As great and still-awesome as the 4Matic cars are… nothing can …

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NOVITEC ESTESO Pic21

Novitec ESTESO is Designer Widebody Maserati LEVANTE

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What to do when the latest Cayenne tunes no longer give you a tingle in your loins? When the widest widebody Macan no longer makes your pulse race? How about trying on this stunning new Novitec custom based on the Maserati Levante S.  Novitec is calling this the Esteso and it includes the full gamut of their tuning expertise.  Engine, suspension, exhaust, cabin and exterior all get a heavy makeover. The results are so badass they are sure to make your pants tent once again. Check out the stunning machine in its full detail below — and order the finished …

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2017 RenaultSport RS2027 Concept – Photo Comparo with F1 and e.dams

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Updated 5.13.17 RenaultSport had center stage for the mainstream Renault range in Shanghai this year.  The dancers and sense of occassion certainly made the new purple Espace’s debut a bit cooler. No mind.  The star of the show soon rolled on stage.  World debut of the RS2027 Vision concept.  A look at what ultimate racecars will look like in a decade. Who is RenaultSport to make the prediction? THey are the only manufacturer with top billing in F1 and Formula E, as far as we can recall.  The convergence of shouty gas turbos and buzzy electrics seems unavoidable in ten …

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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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Top 11 Hot Hatchbacks in the USA for 2017

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This spring has been a renaissance for hot hatch testing here at Car-Revs-Daily.  We’ve had the great pleasure of flogging the two reigning champs: the Focus RS and Golf R — and realized these pocket rockets are a speedfreak’s dream come true.  So tight and nimble.  So ferocious on throttle.  And so affordable versus a big V8 in Camaro  or Mustang!  Affordable to buy and also to insure and own. They make spouses less furious  than an impractical two-seat coupe.  And they are actually useful at transporting big things via their fold-down back seats. The market for hot hatchbacks has …

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