StickerCity 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car 5-horz

Tuner Showcase – StickerCity Creates 2015 McLaren P1 Black Chrome Art Car

Auto wraps have officially gone high-brow! No longer is a simple color change enough to entertain hypercar owners. Full custom multi-layer wraps are the new vogue. StickerCity of California did this one-off McLaren P1 for a special client — with the results a mesmerizing swirl of color, plus silver and gold flashes of reflectivity. It is very seducitve and original, as we’re sure you will agree. All in a days work at this hot Cali custom shop. This design was a custom creation from one of their in-house designers. But it is not just the look; skilled application is needed …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Rogue SV FWD 7-Seater

Some cars take a steep learning curve to learn their tech and driving merits. Modes and settings and menus can unlock driving modes and goodies that make the vehicle feel more in-tune with expectations and performance needs. The Nissan Rogue excels by being just perfect right out of the box. The Rogue is simply a solid, stylish and useful crossover that is well-priced and well-done from the first time you slip it into Drive. But if it is right from moment one, how does it feel after a week at the wheel? Let’s dive in to the full review of …

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2015 RIMAC Concept_One EV Hypercar 4

1088HP RIMAC Concept_One eHypercar Nearing Production + Now Raceable in DRIVECLUB

Three massive tech leaps have lowered the barriers to hypercar creation dramatically: — affordable cad-cam and engineering software — small-batch carbon fiber chassis and panel creation — electric propulsion to deliver the power of race-car gasoline engines, but with all companies essentially starting from the same block. Years of experience are no longer (as big of…) an advantage for EV supercars Without any of the above, designing and creating a car from scratch easily required banks of computer servers and million-dollar industrial panel stampers. Therefore, the time is right for startup tech companies all over the world to take the …

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New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera 8

New LED Foglamps for 2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera

Updated 5.23.15 The Berlinetta Lusso made its concours debut this weekend at Villa d’Este sporting a new grille design integrating twin round LED foglamps. These are a triple LED setup, and look stunning lit with the headlamp’s white DRL accent. Touring Superleggera has pulled back the silk on its latest masterpiece: the Berlinetta Lusso. The Lusso is a full redesign of the Ferrari F12’s exterior, adding a level of timeless sophistication to go with the mechanical brutality of the F12 on full throttle. You may have noted that the latest Ferrari range lacks a super-lux flagship: the place of the …

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2015 ZAGATO Mostro Is Custom Carbon Supercar Aimed at GT3 Drivers

  A very exciting reveal this weekend in Lake Cuomo! Zagato has graced the Villa d’Este COncours with their latest creation: the Mostro powered by Maserati. Honoring ten decades of Maserati Zagato specials and the 1957 ‘Monster’ in particular, this exotic supercar design is being produced and sold to five pre-selected customers. The car is built on a carbon tub with a front-mounted Maserati V8 engine, believed to be the 4.7-liter, dry-sumped screamer from the GranTurismo lineup. Power is sent to the back wheels via a rear-mounted six-speed transaxle. Double wishbones and 19-inch wheels round out the simplistic and race-car-like …

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Shock M6 Concept! 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage – Design Analysis + Rendered Colorizer

  Brace yourself! BMW’s new concept is going to knock you off your feet. This 2015 BMW CSL Hommage takes the incredible aggression and aero add-on feel of the classic BMW racecars, then integrates much of the layered and detailed look via its swirling CFRP panels. The Hommage is a simply stunning look at the future of BMW’s large coupe — with the track embellishments and GT-R-style machoness almost dripping off the Golf Yellow paintwork. No powertrain details are given, as the focus is really on design for the Concours.   Design Analysis NOSE The nose will dominate many conversations …

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AMG SLS Widebody 900GT By Prior Design Is Radical Design Upgrade

Holy hell! Get a load of the latest badass bodykit for the AMG SLS: the Prior Design 900GT Widebody. The kit comes in around $30k and consists of two dozen new body pieces — which come ready to paint as standard, with CF available. the four-part front bumper including the four lateral gills the six-part front wings, the two-part bonnet with air inlets the likewise two-part side skirts including blade the four-part rear wings the two-part rear bumper including diffuser the five-part rear valve spoiler As you can see, the effect is almost unreal on the SLS as a 2015 …

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VOS Tuning for Lamborghini Huracan Brings New Carbon Aero + Shouty Akrapovic Exhaust

  The main critique people have of the new Lamborghini Huracan is that it is (a bit) boring. Not boring like a normal hatchback, mind you. This is still an explosive supercar with performance to shade the hottest Gallardo. But boring to look at, not very interesting to hear and certainly not terrifying enough to live up to its Lambo roots. Is the Huracan’s maturity just progress at making objectively better cars? Or subjectivity clouding the skies of the new Lambo in the face of new competition from McLaren and others? We cannot be certain. Luckily for all, there is …

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2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S Review 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S with Ken Glassman

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S Review By Ken Glassman   Set your way-back machine to 1983. Volkswagen introduces a new car that is designed for “drivers”, not just people who drive cars. The Golf GTI was meant to be a small, stylish (which was debatable) car that had good power, combined with excellent handling, a slick gearbox, basic interior appointments, and would still get excellent gas mileage. It had to fit four people (albeit a bit tight) and have the flexibility of a hatchback, which has always been popular in Europe. But built into everyone was the most important feature: …

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2013 Aston Martin ZAGATO DB9 Centennial Spyder 26

2015 RM Monterey Preview – 2013 Aston Martin ZAGATO DB9 Centennial Spyder

There have been many attempts to drastically alter and update the style of Aston Martin DB9 supercars — many by Aston designers themselves. The most unrecognizable by far, however, was from Zagato. A DBS Centennial Coupe introduced the shockingly blocky redesign from Zagato, showcasing a full-width vertical grille unlike any production Aston. Not a single panel is shared with the production models, with all-new and uber-formal lines changing the proportions and stance of the Aston from a supercar GT into a super-lux cabrio perfect for Monaco. The tail of the Zagato DBS Centennial is even more appealing in its unique …

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435i Coupe ZHP Edition

2016 BMW 435i ZHP Edition Is Factory M Performance Special

BMW has one of the deepest factory-approved performance catalogs in the car business. Everything from coffee mugs to ECU chips, wheels to suspensions and exhausts are available via M Performance Parts. But for the most part, these upgrades are all a post-sale affair. They can be ordered and fitted at any BMW dealership, and they keep the warranty of the car intact while increasing performance — sometimes dramatically. For buyers seeking a truly unique performance special right out of the box, there is a new choice: the 2016 435i ZHP. This special-edition model adds nearly a dozen highly desirable M …

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2015 Lamborghini Aventador SV USA Reveal 36

2015 Lamborghini Aventador SV Joins Hypercar Big League With New Sub-7-Minute Nurburgring Lap

Updated 5.19.15 with 20 New Photos + Nurburging Fast Lap Video The new Aventador SV just locked in a seriously impressive Nurburgring fast lap: a time of “under 7 minutes” makes it very close to the 2010 Pagani Zonda R and its 6:47 laptime — yet this Aventador SV is fully road-legal! Also included below are a dozen fresh photos from the car’s USA reveal the other month in Amelia Island, Florida. The cabin is quite something — with the carbon-fiber seats a particularly pleasant surprise for their grip on the body, rigidity on the move and their overall design …

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ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

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2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

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BMW ALPINA B4 BITURBO

ALPINA B4 Mods Available for USA BMW 4 series Owners

PART TWO of FOUR The Alpina 4 series The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and …

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ALPINA B5 Mods Available for USA BMW 5 series Owners

PART ONE of FOUR The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and install them over time. …

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2014 Pagani Zonda Revolucion 21

2014 Pagani Zonda Revolucion Adds DRS Dynamic Downforce + 50HP for Ultimate Time-Attack Prowess

If the 2009-2010 Pagani Zonda R is shocking in its depth of changes versus the ‘regular’ Zonda, this R-EVO model honors the near-perfection of the original model. Even so, the ‘Evo’ version of any supercar is generally far better. Benefiting from real-world tuning and production tweaks, the Zonda Revolucion is no exception to this rule. Power from the AMG V12 is up to 800 ponies, while the on-track dynamics are massively enhanced by a new Drag Reduction System out back. Controlled via a steering-wheel button, DRS can selectively engage as needed on track, or a two-second push of the button …

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2015 IVECO Vision Concept Van 6

2015 IVECO Vision PHEV Concept Shows Futuristic Design + Cabin Tech Innovations

Your packages have never traveled in such comfort and style! The 2015 IVECO Vision Concept finally brings a cool sci-fi, Hollywood-ready look to a full-size van. Its surfacing and proportions take a bold look into the future of IVECO van designs — pairing brutal and aggressive lighting and nose to friendly, flowing forms to van roof-lines that are usually far boxier. But before we look at the cool design and tech of the IVECO Vision, there is one thing to note first thing: the IVECO Vision is absolutely gigantic. From some angles, the concept appears to be only slightly larger …

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1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SuperSport Teardrop Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

Most people will instantly think of the Bugatti Type 57 Atlantique or (Aerolithe) when asked about a gorgeous, art-deck teardrop coupe. But this Talbot-Lago is arguably far more beautiful than even that legendary Bugatti. Named the T150 Competition SuperSport, the car is clearly more than a static showpiece. Eleven of this “New York” body were hand-made by legendary coachbuilders and designers Figoni and Falaschi. So, is it the sexiest Teardrop Coupe ever made? We say yes. Three key reasons for the Talbot-Lago’s lasting and sumptuous beauty topping the Bugatti: — that last, artful bit of finesse in body shaping of …

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2009 PAGANI Zonda R 62 copy

Hypercar Heroes – 750HP, 2.7s 2010 PAGANI Zonda R is 7 Minutes in Heaven

No study of hypercar heroes would be complete without the phenomenal Pagani Zonda R from 2009 to 2010. Just 15 examples of this hardcore track machine were produced, with pricing of around $2.5-million each. With typical Pagani thoroughness, the Zonda R’s creation is far more that a set of slick tires and lightweight carpet. As you can see from almost every angle, the Zonda R employs an all-new aerodynamic setup. Giant lower intake scoops and splitter could cut off a pedestrian at the ankles, with the sharp wedge of a carbon-fiber nose an effective cleaver to finish that dark job. …

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2015 Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace – 125-Photo Preview with LaFerrari, Koenigsegg, P1 and 918 Spyder

  Salon Prive is still a few months out, but excitement is already starting to build for the tenth-anniversary of the supercar gala. Think of it as a mix of rolling car show, concours and outdoor festival for those who sweat petrol. A new location at Blenheim Palace is huge news for the car show: this gorgeous castle of a country estate is 300-years of baroque history — living and breathing healthily into 2015. A preview kickoff event recently brought ten extra-special 2015 Salon Prive showcars together to explore the new digs. Thankfully for us far away, a simply *stunning* …

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2016 Chevy Camaro Unveiled At Employee Event

455HP, 4.2s 2016 Chevrolet CAMARO – Official Debut in 150 Images + Tech Specs

This is it! The 2016 Camaro Six is official today with a huge debut in Belle Island, Detroit. Headline numbers are a curb weight drop by more than 200 pounds, plus a top-level (for now) engine making 455-horsepower via 6.2-liters. A new turbo engine joins the Camaro RS and SS models, with outputs of the four estimated at 275-horsepower, up to 335-hp for the 3.6-liter V6 of the RS.   Other major things to know right off the bat are: — all-new exterior design with a far more scultped and creased bodywork, giving the classic Camaro shape a highly interesting …

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2015 Porsche 911 GT3 R vs. GT3 Cup vs. GT3 RSR – Visual and Specs Comparison

Porsche has three core racing 911’s for 2015: the brand-new GT3 R, the GT3 Cup and works racing 9911 RSR. All three are now on the 991 platform now that the GT3 R is updated from its previous 2013-2014 iteration. Only the GT3 R and GT3 Cup are offered for sale, with pricing ratcheting up to multiples of the traditional Carrera GT3 road car. The Cup comes in around $250,00 while the new GT3 R is priced for customer racing teams at euro $430,000. If the RSR were for sale today, it would likely come in around $800,000. In terms …

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2016 Koenigsegg REGERA – Rendered Colorizer in 100 Images from 2 Angles

These colorizers are pretty hard work. It is very tricky to accomplish a new car color with anything near photo-real results. Plus, every image requires some unique steps and fiddling. But we are thrilled to present the results here: the incredible new Koenigsegg Regera in 100 never-before-seen colors. As we suspected, the mellow silver/blue of the show car is one of its weak points. As you can see in these eye-popping shades, there is a stunning design under there. Enjoy the below visuals. Everything from Dubai-style flashes of yellow to London greys and St. Tropez tans help the new Regera …

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2016 Koenigsegg REGERA – 175 New Images + Every Angle in Animated Flyaround

REGERA 3D Model – Animated Flyaround The Koenigsegg Regera was one of the most buzzworthy Geneva 2015 launches. The global debut earned reams of headlines around the world — with collective amazement at the new design and ultra-potent new e-boost powertrain. Definitely worth revisiting the car for a closer look ahead of its expected first deliveries in early 2016. But first: some great news on how to actually get your hands on one! New USA Showroom Koenigsegg just signed its second US dealership agreement with Lake Forest Motorcars in the glitziest Chicago suburb. Think Westchester County, but on a gorgeous …

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2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept 2

2015 VW Golf GTE Sport Concept + 2016 GTI Clubsport Production Reveal at Worthersee

Volkswagen has delivered a half-dozen Golf and GTI concepts in the last 12 months — so you are forgiven for thinking that the GTE looks too familiar to be all-new. With the Design Vision GTI, the GTI SuperSport and GTI speedster (both for Gran Turismo), the GTI thinktank is in full swing in Wolfsburg. This new GTE concept takes much of the intensely aggressive and dominating style of the SuperSport and adds a production-feasible e-AWD system. This li-ion PHEV setup adds a giant wallop of on-demand torque to the rear axle for nearly 400-hp in total. We have an all-new …

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2005 Pagani Zonda S Roadster 1

Hypercar Heroes – 2005 Pagani Zonda S Roadster

Name a car from 2005 that is more desirable today than this Pagani Roadster! This car is one of 25 Zonda Roadsters ever produced, and features a sweet combination: the ultra-rare manual gearbox option and the updated and quicker-revving 7.3-liter V12. Packing more displacement but a lighter weight than the original 7.0-liter AMG units, the Zonda F is still an icon of performance, design and artful beauty ten years after it was first sold. This very car earned about $750,000 when last sold by RM Auctions in London in 2010, but we suspect it might even go for more than …

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TOPCAR Stinger GTR 911 Turbo 7

TopCar Stinger GTR for Porsche 991 Turbo Delivers All-New CF Widebody + Whale Tail!

  PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom of the door-frames are instantly …

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Porsche 991 Stinger by TopCar Now Available for All 911 Carrera Models and Bodystyles 73 copy copy

Porsche 991 Stinger by TopCar Now Available for All 911 Carrera Models and Bodystyles

A stock supercar is quickly becoming passe in many circles. To really draw admiring stares among the exotic-car cognoscenti, you need to step up to make your car one-of-a-kind.  There are many ways to approach customizing your machine — but typically, this is the road map of tuning steps we would follow: — rolling stock enhancements via wheels/tires — power tweaks via ECU reflashes or engine upgrades — exhaust harmonic changes — a dramatic exterior makeover via custom aero pieces — every angle should show unique aggression versus factory models — stance enhancements via track extension with hub spacers — …

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2016 Acura ILX Graphite Luster 71

Fast Drive Video Review – 2016 Acura ILX Is Shockingly Fun and Fast With New 8-Sp DCT

2016 Acura ILX Review HD Drive Video We’d wager that no auto writer has been harder on Acura over the years than Car-Revs-Daily.com. A headline for some TLX renders last year wondered aloud: “How Much More Wood Can Acura Woodchuck Chuck.” That is seriously harsh. But as the TLX was revealed with the same much-hated shield grille… we could not help but vent some frustration. Fast forward to driving the TLX and its new ILX kid brother. We have to correct the record. Acura is on a mission, folks. Its two latest cars introduce exceptional new drivetrain tech and the …

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Standaufnahme

2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo – Sounds Freaky as Electric Boost Spools Up to Ultra-High RPM

2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Sound Updated 5.13.15 With 20 New Photos and 2 Videos Despite the outrageous and super-cool exterior and interior overhaul of this TT Clubsport concept, it is really all about the engine. This is some revolutionary innovation that, if proven successful, could revolutionize forced induction. What is going on under that hood? As detailed below, a 48-volt electrical system spins up an e-compressor on this five-cylinder beast to help the main turbo deliver 600-hp overall. What does it sound like on e-boost? That is the million-dollar question. In theory, the e-boost can be preemptive and avoid …

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2015 Range Rover Supercharged LWB 5

Road Test Review – 2015 RANGE ROVER Supercharged LWB – Royal Plush on HD Video + 75 Photos

2015 Range Rover Supercharged LWB Review       As we discuss in the video above, there is a grand tradition in long-wheelbase Range Rovers making the shorties obsolete. Once the first-gen Range Rover Vogue LWB was included in the US lineup for 1993, it was quickly curtains for the standard-length ‘County’ models. The big jump in length on that first-gen truck helped balance the looks nicely, with almost no downsides to the performance or price of the truck. In fact, there was only upside to be had. More rear legroom, a less pinched ingress and egress process, and an …

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2016 Ford Mustang GT

2016 Ford Mustang GT Launching Black Pack, New Cali Special and GT Performance Pack

  If the current 2015 Mustang GT has not hooked you yet with its sublime redesign, the 2016 is likely to close the deal. The most striking exterior change are the new hood vents in the GT. These are contrast-black on the California Special, shown here as a white convertible. They are body-colored on the new Mustang GT Black Pack, which wears gloss-black alloys, badging and other trim elements. A new hood vent design pulls more hot air from under the hood and also houses LED amber blinkers. These serve as side marker repeaters and are highly visible on the …

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Vorsteiner Aventador-V Introduces Zaragoza Active Aero Mods

Vorsteiner has just added two sweet new carbon-fiber upgrades to its deep Aventador-V upgrades deck. Along with wheels and interior carbon-fiber mods, the Vorsteiner Aventador goes wild outside with a half-dozen carbon-fiber aero mods. All this helps the standard Aventador feel far more special, unique and hypercar-like in its street presence. A custom Lambo Aventador just became almost required for current owners now that the SV has upped the ante for exterior aggression. A pair of new pieces from Vorsteiner might be the best yet: the Zaragosa front spoiler and Zaragosa rear wing. But first, what the heck does Zaragoza …

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AC Schnitzer BMW i8 8

AC Schnitzer Transforms BMW i8 into Supercar M8 of Your Dreams!

  Sure, the BMW i8 may have a highly advanced and unconventional powertrain, but this is a pure supercar through and through. In the flesh, the i8 is almost unbelievably unique and special. Its low roof and CFRP bodywork offer bodywork swirls and layers unlike any other supercar — at any price. But the i8 is crying out for an M-style makeover. For corporate political reasons, a proper M8 from BMW is not likely any time soon. Similarly, the i8 has been deeply underserved by the aftermarket community so far, but thanks to AC Schnitzer, this dream M8 can now …

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NOVITEC ROSSO Launches 3.3s, 201MPH Ferrari California Turbo Upgrades Catalog

The Ferrari California T just took a huge leap up the performance spectrum — with custom-developed engine, exhaust, suspension, interior and aero mods just launched by Novitec Rosso. The biggest draw for many will be the plug-and-play ECU modules to release an extra 86 horsepower and a meatier, lower torque peak for the brand-new 3.8-liter V8TT engine up front. Performance goes from great to gigantic — with the Novitec Cali T able to hit 62-mph in just 3.3-seconds before hitting a much-higher top speed of 201-mph. The N-TRONIC modules are nice because they can be shipped anywhere in days and …

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2015 Chevrolet Trax LT 74

Road Test Review – 2015 Chevrolet Trax LT on HD Video + Colors, Wheels and Pricing

  As you move up in the world, there are certain luxuries in life that are total game-changers. Things that make it impossible to go back once you have experienced their brilliance. As a young buck moving from the college dorms into a small first apartment, you have a hard gig in life overall. You might not even have a dishwasher or a washer and dryer in your unit. Typing this now in my 30’s, the idea of living without such modern conveniences is almost unfathomable. Going back to a laundromat two blocks away or a musty basement of half-functional …

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2016 Aston Martin VULCAN in 40 New Photos from Dubai and Manhattan

Updated 5.10.15 The 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan has been a real showstopper since its surprise reveal in Geneva. Replacing the One-77 as the ultra-fast brand flagship, the Vulcan will be a track-only wonder when it arrives to its 25 ultra-wealthy owners. But boy is this car hard to photograph in auto show environments! Its gloss-black lower aero treatment is delicious and highly advanced, but washes out in most indoor light. So in-person viewing will be extra important to clinch prized deposits. To that end, the Vulcan swooped into Dubai recently to be the local showroom’s electro-magnet… drawing in the great …

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1968 Alfa Romeo T33-2 Daytona 17

Racing Icons Series – 1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 Daytona Is Legendary Bubble-Top Targa

Part Five of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Welcome to one of the most beautiful racecars of all time: the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Daytona. Wearing the fabulous bubble glass windshield of the Periscopo T33, but a long-tail aero treatment and even a targa top — the Daytona is like a dream come true for vintage racecar aficionados. One interesting T33 detail is that the car has none of the imposing and heavy-roof feel of the Porsche 917 or Ford GT40. Where those cars are all giant A-pillars and letterbox visibility, the Alfa is chopped like a speedster …

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1969 Alfa Romeo T33 Sports Racer 28

Racing Icons Series – 1969 Alfa Romeo T33 Sports Racer

Part Four of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Proof that beauty and open-air thrills are critical elements of a million-dollar sale? Yes indeed! Even with pure-bred racecars like this Sports Racer Tipo 33 from Alfa Romeo, the most important details are often obvious to classic-car shoppers and spectators alike. Even though this Sports Racer was not one of the quickest T33 Alfa’s on the world’s racetracks, it is clearly the most desirable today versus its younger siblings — and arguably more visually sublime than its fabulous hard-top older brothers. The reason for this is clear: there is still …

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1970 Alfa Romeo TT3 Spider 9

Racing Icons Series – 1970 Alfa Romeo TT3 Spider Was Lightweight Short-Tail Special

Part Three of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series   1970 saw the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 Spider evolve into a much shorter and much more brutal track attacker. Switchable noses include the lamp-free style shown here. A fairly brutal and chopped style appears at the front and rear of this Alfa racecar, with less of the glamourous design of the Sports Racer 33 that came before it. The changes worked on the racing circuit – with this Spider earning numerous race wins and ranking between Porsche and Ferrari in the top three points for the Le Mans season. …

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1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 2

Racing Icons Series – 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 Wears Stunning Batmobile Tailfins

Part Two of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series   Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s. This open-topped TT3 from 1972 shows a really battle-hardened racing hero. Still wearing its striking Autodelta racing livery and …

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1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12 17

Racing Icons Series – 1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Made 500HP at 11k RPM!

  Part One of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s, adapting to new racing rules and new tech innovations to make one of the quickest Alfa Romeo racecars of …

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2016 Volvo XC90R 8

Volvo Announces $500M Factory in Charleston, South Carolina – First USA-Made Volvo Cars in 2018

Volvo made its big factory announcement this morning — right in my backyard!  Yes, Volvo is coming to Charleston to be closer to car-revs-daily!? Just kidding. Volvo chose this Southeastern Atlantic state for a number of reasons — all related to the firm’s ambitious goal of making up to 200,000 cars a year here by around 2020. The first Volvo plant anywhere in North America, Volvo is clearly seeking the strategic and financial advantages that come with building its cars close to their intended market. Why South Carolina? Every state is willing to kick big tax incentives to manufacturers these …

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2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E 5

Road Test Review – 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E With Ken Glassman

2015 Volvo S60 T6 Review By Ken Glassman A Hooligan Volvo Sedan? Yes, but . . . Ever since the 1960’s Volvo’s built their reputation by being a boxy (homely?) vehicle that was reliable, fuel efficient, roomy, and most of all . . . a very safe vehicle. It sold safety, when American cars were selling big engines and style, and Japan was selling cheap cost. College professors, wearing tweed sport coats with patches on the elbows, and young conservative families interested in safety seemed like the average buyers. But in the last 20 years or so, all car companies …

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2015 Rolls-Royce WRAITH Inspired By Fashion Edition Is Two-Tone White With Color Pinstripe

The English factory floor has never looked so good, or so bright! The new Wraith Inspired By Fashion Edition is a tasty new Haute Couture supercoupe. Created with a two-tone white exterior bisected by a choice of Jasmine (yellow), Tailored Purple or Mugello Red, the Wraith Fashion is understated yet instantly special. The effect of a slightly darker Andalucian White white on the fenders is interesting with the ultra-bright Arctic shade on the hood. We wish the wheels were gloss black to really match the formalwear feel of the cabin, but that is easily handled post-sale. Overall, the Wraith Fashion …

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4.6s 2016 BMW 340i xDrive and new Plug-in 330e Lead Refreshed Range

A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

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2016 Dodge Viper ACR

2016 Dodge Viper ACR Brings Extreme Aero, 3-inch Ride Height Adjustment + New Carbon Brakes

Welcome to the fastest road-legal Viper of all time!  The  2016 Viper ACR debuts a major chassis upfit with new adjustable Bilstein dampers, Carbon brakes, a new Extreme Aero kit, lightweight cabin and specially formulated Kumho rubber. The combination creates a potent machine with flypaper grip around corners and nearly 1-ton of downforce near its top speed. The available Extreme Aero kit wears a huge and dramatic adjustable splitter, multi-wing spats and a giant lightweight wing. Integral brake ducts and vents are also beefed up for the ACR, with the visible fender slices a seriously cool detail. The shocks are …

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600HP, 3.6s 2015 Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept Runs 48V E-Compressor

Here is a fantastic new concept from Audi ahead of the annual Wörthersee Festival! A racing widebody and extreme aero kit are needed thanks to the five-cylinder engine’s massive dual-compressor technology. A standard exhaust-gas turbocharger is joined by an all-new electric turbocharger– promising a huge rush of instant-on torque at any throttle shove. This latest turbo tech innovation is tough to introduce. BMW has also been researching electrically-spun turbo’s, but this Audi is the first to take it near production feasibility. Think of the tech like a super-Dyson blower inside the intake tract of the car. Typically, the limit has …

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RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 1973 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Kenmeri

Succeeding the first-gen Hakosuka Skyline GT-R was this iconic Ken & Mary (or ‘Kenmeri’ for short) two-door. With a far more workmanlike profile than the same-year 240Z, the 2000 GT-R did all it could mechanically to be a legitimate sports-car. The legend of this upswept C-pillar shape speaks for itself, with this Skyline one of the best-loved Japanese cars ever made. Do not let the completely-original stance fool you into thinking this is just some retro nerd-mobile. With a lowered stance, this Skyline GT-R is instantly recognizable from 1000 paces as a supercar hero.  1973 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Kenmeri   …

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1968 Ford GT40 Gulf Mirage Lightweight LM Racecar – Most Valuable American Car Of All Time?

When it comes to racing greats and the all-time automotive hall of fame, this Gulf GT40 is certainly in the top ten. This exact car was the first to win a race wearing the now-legendary Gulf racing livery. Until this GT40 crossed the finish line in first place at Spa, these iconic powder blue and marigold colors were just another racing stripe. This GT40 is also the most valuable American car ever sold at auction, and likely ever made. It is unlikely that any other American car has changed hands privately for a bigger sum. (But is the GT40 even …

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875HP, 1.7s 2015 Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo Is LMP1 Contender With Hypercar Beauty

As you already know if you have played Gran Turismo, the most intense parts of the game have to be earned. You have to build your skills and trade up from little nothing-powered Miata’s up the power and speed ladder. Toward the top of the performance spectrum, you are racing in LMP1 cars and beyond. The vast majority of concepts seen so far in the Vision GT collection fall into two categories: a racing-upfit version of a normal production car (ie the VW GTI SS) and a pure fantasy take on future racing (ie Chevrolet 2X Chaparral VGT). The latest …

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Rainy First Drive Review – 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT on HD Video!

  The spooky thing about the 475-horsepower Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is not its deep rumble from the twin pipes in back. Nor is it the 4.8-second sprint to 60-mph and a 0-30-mph pace to rival a 911 Turbo. Not even the heavily upgraded exterior and loaded, sport-seat-equipped cabin. Nope, the thing that really sticks with you after driving the Grand Cherokee SRT is that it changes direction like a shark on the hunt. This is a machine that will seriously pivot and dive toward corners like a track car. The steering has a real biting precision that lets you …

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Mecum Indy 2015 – 1993 Toyota Supra Official Fast Furious Movie Car Seeking $150k+

Movie cars sometimes have a hard life after the filming stops. They have sometimes been abused to the point of no return – with only one or two of the original six-pack of action stars making it to the premiere on four wheels. This 1993 Toyota Supra is the exception. Thanks to fairly gentle use in The Fast and The Furious, this Paul Walker whip survives today in perfect condition. One of one, this Supra is a perfect slice-of-life from the early 2000’s SoCal car scene. The time is right for a big-money sale in 2015, 14 years after the …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Takes Monaco in 73 New Pics

Updated 5.5.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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2015 Lexus RCF on VOSSEN VPS311 Forged Alloys – Customized by InstaBuilt VIP Auto Salon

Updated 5.5.15 With 40 New Photos Thrilled to find a stunning photo set of the Vossen Lexus RCF customized by InstaBuilt and VIP Auto Salon. Even six months after the debut of this hot custom at SEMA 2014, the custom bodywork and Vossen VPS 311 wheels are still a visual thrill-ride.   2015 Lexus RCF on Vossen VPS 311 Forged Alloys   PREVIOUS Sometimes we really do not understand the tuner world. Here is a car created with Lexus and crowd suggestions across the last month and a half — but now that the vehicle is finished, there are exactly …

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Tesla Model S by LARTE Design – Gorgeous Exterior Makeover in 60 Photos!

When you drive a $100,000 car, you have dozens of fantastic options — supercars, limo’s, SUVs, you name it. But once you are hooked on the spooky-fast Tesla Model S, it is hard to go back to a regular 911 or AMG. But how to update the Model S details to match the coolness of other cars that can hit 60-mph in under four seconds? The Model S just needs a few tweaks to dramatically up its style and road stance. Larte Design’s new bodykit elements create a fairly stunning transformation via just a dozen pieces. The front bumper is …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited – Great Box, So-So Rack

The Chrysler 300 is fresh for 2015 with more than half of its parts either all-new or redesigned. The upgrade list is massive — and even includes the American full-size icon’s exterior. But the changes outside are far more subtle than those under the skin and in the cabin. Chrysler is keeping the original 300 style alive for 2015 — hoping to ignite the same huge swell of passion that surrounded the original 2005 model. What a launch that was. Makes you smile to recall the full-size American car reclaiming its former glory as gigantic, affordable wheels. This segment of …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4 with Ken Glassman

2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4 By Ken Glassman   The Jeep came into existence during World War II, when the US Government needed a small agile 4-wheel drive vehicle that could get through mud, snow, and sand, and carry 4 soldiers, crawl up and down hills, ford small streams, tow a light artillery piece, and be reliable and easy to service. Millions of them were built, and they saw action in the forests of Europe, and the sands and jungles of Asia in World War II, as well as Korea, and even Viet Nam. And millions of soldiers drove …

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SLS Racing + Exclusive SLS-R Speedster Renderings

This is a cool one. As you may know, Mercedes had a spotty record of hanging on to rare classics among the hundreds of models the company has produced. This applies double for the racecars – which are often either lost to track damage or to privateer teams. Either way, gone from the safety of the MB Museum. Such was the case for a pair of American-commissioned racing overhauls to a pair of 1957 300 SL’s. While Mercedes retired from racing for 1956-forward, the SL was still a plum basis for a race-winning track car. A priciple named Jim O’Shea …

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Worlds First Supercar – 1909 Benz 35-60PS Speedster Ran 9-Liter Four-Cylinder!

Betting directionally on the value of supercars is tougher than the stock or art or commodities markets. Where the natural trend for the above indices is to scale upward, most classic cars are generally never going to appreciate over time. This makes car collecting more of a passion play than the normal art auction scene. Long story short: we’re obviously not going to go all in one way or another on future car values. But come on! This car. One of the world’s first supercars, with triple the power and speed of a contemporary Model T? Yes, as Ford rolled …

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Concept Flashback – 2009 Mazda MX-5 Superlight in 88 Photos!

Racers worldwide have made lightening Mazda MX-5’s more than an art or craft: there is a science to shedding grams and gaining pace. This 2009 concept from Mazda’s European R&D center is a serious and comprehensive speedster conversion and custom strip-out. Once totally bare, the full MX-5 Superlight was resprayed in a Japanese Racing white pearl. The color and the contrast details for the hood and double bubble rollbars make the MX-5 Superlight’s proportions even more intensely rear-drive. A favorite detail is the brake light LED lining those integrated roll hoops. 2009 Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept …

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1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder Was Racing Streamliner with Tailfins!

A surviving 1947 Mille Miglia racecar, one of three works vehicles raced that season? Yep. One of less than ten cars in the MOMA New York permanent collection? Yessir. Tail-fins more than a decade before this look would sweep automobile-dom? Mhmm. Stunning. 28 total Nuvolari Spyders are thought to have been produced, so collecting any at less than half a million is a shrewd move. 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder   Villa Erba 25 May 2013 Lot 110 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM ‘Nuvolari’ Spyder by Carrozzeria Garella To be auctioned on Saturday, May 25, 2013 Sold for €425.600 Chassis …

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1929 Bugatti Type 44 Grand Sport Is Straight-8 GP Racer as 4-Seat Ragtop!

Imagine a current F1 car stretched three feet in wheelbase, then fitted with a rudimentary canopy of a roof. Then flash back to 1929. Bugatti 44 Grand Sport. As you can probably tell, we pour over the auction lists of rare and special cars. A list of priceless classics, all sold by the pound and to the mood of the moment. Seeing a 1920’s Bugatti headline is almost a cliche in this rarefied world. Stunning racecar evolution, open-wheeled and potent by the end of the decade. The dream of fans was coming true as well — a LWB chassis with …

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2016 Corvette Z06 Adds New C7.R Edition + Two Custom Color Specials

Chevy is making the link racecar/roadcar link explicit for 2016.  Corvette racecars and the top-line Z06 for 2016 now share an even more striking similarity via the limited-run C7.R Edition. This special model debuts the new carbon-fiber hood and new wheel option, along with the new yellow tintcoat paint color. The similarity to the racecar is incredible – that Corvette Racing yellow is one of the longest-running liveries in current motorsports. It is a Compuware sponsorship sticker away from making all other road traffic believe you have escaped a nearby racetrack. Two other themed trip packages are also joining the …

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Fast Wagon Classics – 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170VA Panel Wagon and 1954 170SV Ambulance

Finishing out this quick/quirky series of classic wagons with a pair of Mercedes-Benz commercial cars. One a panel van 1952 170VA Station Wagon and the other a LWB 170S-V Ambulance. The 5-door brought in around $75,000 at the RM Auctions London 2013 sale, where the panel van around $60,000.   1952 Mercedes-Benz 170VA Panel Wagon         8-9 September 2013 Lot 126 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170 Va Station Wagon To be auctioned on Sunday, September 8, 2013 Without Reserve Sold for £40,320 Chassis no. 136.074.01413/52 Engine no. 136.923.01602/52   1954 Mercedes-Benz 170SV Ambulance 1954 Mercedes-Benz 170 S-V Ambulance RM …

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Fast Wagon Classics – 1933 Mercedes-Benz 290 Pullman Limousine

If the previous Pullman was a bit too Bond-villain for you in its black on black, here is another really cool example: a SWB 290 Pullman from six years before. This tasty blue example only sold for a third of the price of its LWB cousin: just $50k for this makes it well-bought. 1933 Mercedes-Benz 290 Pullman Limousine London 8-9 September 2013 Lot 173 1933 Mercedes-Benz 290 Pullman Limousine To be auctioned on Sunday, September 8, 2013 Without Reserve Sold for £28,000

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Fast Wagon Classics – 1939 Mercedes-Benz 320 Pullman Limousine

Mercedes-Benz has made many fantastic wagons in its long history, but they hit a sweet spot in the 1930s in terms of perfecting the wagon as a long-distance limo. This black/black LWB Pullman has a huge lounge back seat and even a cloth sunroof to let in the breeze! This car ran a straight six through a four-speed manual transmission, so despite just 77-horsepower the Pullman was happy to cruise up to 85-mph or so — very quick for the time. 1939 Mercedes-Benz 320 Pullman Limousine RM Auctions London 8-9 September 2013 Lot 150 1939 Mercedes-Benz 320 Pullman Limousine To …

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Fast Wagons! 2009 Maserati Bellagio Fastback by Touring Superleggera

The fast wagon is the ultimate in car-guy and car-girl coolness. A low and sleek wagon silhouette is instantly cooler than any SUV, yet still looks the part in the mountains with skis on the roof. As part of a series of articles, we’ll highlight all the coolest estate cars at the train station. Call them what you want. Tourers, Estates, Fastbacks or Station Wagons — they are the ultimate Q-cars. This Maserati Quattroporte was reborn as a wagon via Touring Superleggera in Milan. Four total vehicles were produced, with this one including a special interior with twin adjustable seats, …

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2015 AMG GT-S in 163 Most Gorgeous Photos Yet

Hot off the lenses of MB UK snappers, here are the concrete proof that the new AMG GT is the most gorgeous new supercar of 2015. So hugely wide, so low, so front-engined… with detailing a nose to adore. 2015 AMG GT-S Grey Carbon Package 2015 AMG GT-S Yellow

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Chevrolet Impala Midnight Edition – $1k Blackout Upgrade Arriving Summer 2015

  One for the full-size sedan fans out there!  Chevy just announced that the Impala Midnight Edition is coming to showrooms this summer virtually identical to the SEMA 2014 show car. The upgrade is a full gloss black dip for many design details, the grille and surround, tail and rear spoiler. The 19-inch wheels are polished on the edges but gloss black on the insides – best of all worlds.  Even the bow-ties front and rear go dark. Unusually, the black-out style option is not set to be offered on other colors. We think this setup would look just as …

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2016 Ferrari 488GTB – All Colors + Animated Visualizer in 300 Images!

The new Ferrari 488 GTB configurator is live and stunning! Fantastic new design details in the 458 –> 488 update are visible in these 3D animated visuals. Two dozen colors, six wheel styles, brakes and carbon upgrades galore. The builder is actually a new setup as well, with streamlined options that let you fly through the process or customize every element, based on your preferences. (Some previous Ferrari builders have been a ‘next’ ‘next’ type of affair in your browser, while this one lets you scroll down to new menu elements.) Favorite design elements of the new mid-engine hotness? 1. …

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INFINITI Vision GT Makes Real-Life Debut – Headed to Pebble Beach 2015?

Here is some great news from Infiniti! The brand’s Gran Turismo Vision GT car just debuted in Shanghai — at an art museum, naturally. But first: Everyone knows most concept cars never get “made.” They will not reach production, sure. But with these VGT cars — some of them literally never materialize. They are 100-percent digital fantasies. Sure, the design studio might have a clay styling buck – but rarely a concept roller ready for the global show circuit. Since revealing this stunning flagship GT study in December, Infiniti has indeed completed a real-world concept car. Although shown in China …

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First Drive Mega Gallery – 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT HELLCAT in 67 All-New Photos

Lots of incredible Hellcat Challenger coverage on the site lately, including this black/black stunner from the Houston Auto show, plus a Charger Hellcat drive review over here. There are no words to describe the power available to your right foot in the Challenger. On a rainy day like this, the 707HP of America’s most-powerful car spins away in split-second torrents of wheelspin. Trying, and failing, to be able to hit full throttle in the Hellcat is like a never-ending game. That drivetrain will make a grown man giggle! We love the Hellcat Challenger with a stickshift not offered to Charger …

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2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 4-Door – HD First Drive Video + 150 Photos

With a base price of $25,000, the 2015 MINI Cooper S 4-Door Hardtop overlaps closely with an unlikely competitor: the new Focus ST. Both are fun-running favorites with a cultlike following, and both achieve 60-mph in the low 6.0-second range through six-speed manuals. Though the Cooper S is down 65 horsepower versus the Focus ST, the MINI’s Cooper S upgrade is more important than ever for 2015. As with the MINI hardtop, the base Cooper runs a three-cylinder to the Cooper S’s turbo four. Power is up from 134 horsepower in the Cooper to 184 in the Cooper S, a …

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LEDetails – 2015 Lexus NX300h – Up Close with the Triple-Beam LED Lights

Met up with another sexy black Lexus NX recently, and spent some time starting deep into its LED eyeballs! Just kidding. Nothing weird here. The Lexus style has just taken a huge leap with these ultra-cool triple LED headlamp style. It is stunning on the roads as an option on the new RC and NX, as well as the upcoming RX replacement. Here is a very close look at the lights in real life. The interplay between the actual light output and my Nikon’s sensors is fairly interesting. The Nikon goes dark when the Lexus lights are shining right into …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Ford Focus ST in HD Video + 150 Photos!

Loved meeting the 2015 Focus ST in the flesh recently for a fast blast around Texas Motor Speedway. Not high in the banked oval, unfortunately. Just a bit of on-camera hooning in the roads nearby. The town name of “No Limits” seemed applicable to flying past dozens of vacant track parking lots. The changes for the 252-horsepower 2015 model are perfect updates. A new nose with a low and mean style, standard LED headlight accent blades, HID headlights for the ST2 and ST3 trim packs, and standard Rado Grey wheels. The tail is also revised with a new rear window …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport FWD 2.0T Ultimate

INTRO – 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Review Think of the new Hyundai Santa Fe siblings like the Nissan Murano/Pathfinder. The Santa Fe Sport is a five-seater with a wheelbase five inches shorter than the big seven-seat Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe deviate from the Nissan offering with custom powertrains by vehicle size: the Sport’s uplevel engine is a 2.0-liter turbo, while the jumbo Santa Fe offers a V6 powertrain as a step up from the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Spending time in both SUVs helps shed light on the differences the Sport’s new engine and chassis …

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Spec Renderings – 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC400 Is Upcoming Q5-Fighter

The new GLC Coupe Concept from Shanghai shows how the Mercedes SUV range is evolving rapidly. The new naming strategy and product plans from the GLE and GLE Coupe show the way forward for Merc trucks — and that pattern is likely on this smaller GLC as well. As the China concept is the GLC Coupe, it is logical to think that the coupe is the X4-fighter, while a standard GLC-Class will tackle the X3 and Q5. To recap, the Mercedes SUV range is currently: GLA GLK (now actually called GLC…) GLE GLE Coupe GLS G-Class The ML-replacing GLE-Class is …

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Preview Mercedes-Benz Concept GLC Coupé, Shanghai 2015

Updated with 35 Shanghai Photos – 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe Concept

  This new China-designed Mercedes SUV concept is an extremely close look at the upcoming production model of the same name: the GLC300 and GLC400 Coupes. The new Mercedes SUV name strategy is worth repeating at this point: the ML is out, replaced by the GLE and GLE Coupes. The “E” corresponds with the similar size and price to the E-Class. The same strategy will change the GL-Class to the GLS-Class at the top of the range, and the GLC at the lower middle part of the curve. Above the GLA in size and price, the GLC Coupe shown here …

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2015 Nissan Lannia Revealed in Shanghai With Funky Rump

Nissan’s new global design language is definitely fresh and unique — from the 2016 Maxima to this Chinese-market Lannia sedan, there is a real shared DNA visible in the panels. Defined by a deep swoosh and flow of metal over the front fenders that swings down into the door surfacing, the Nissan style might catch a few eyes. But there is something amiss. The concept to reality transition is wiping out nearly 90-percent of the original design appeal. It appears to be the limitations of production panel stamps that is watering down almost all the flavor of the original concept …

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Digital Colorizer – Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso in 25 Fantastic New Hues!

If you are among the five lucky individuals to own a Berlinetta Lusso from Touring Superleggera, you have some choices to make ASAP! Colors inside and out are obviously completely open to customization — the car being hand-built by one of the most famous Italian carrozzeria’s in the world. Here are 25 new shades via photoshop to start the creative juices flowing! Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso Colors            

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Updated With 18 New Photos – 2015 Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

Updated 4.21.15 With 18 New Photos VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are …

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Real-life Photos Show Sexier 2015 Audi Prologue Allroad Than Preview Renders

Okay, this is just getting ridiculous now. After the Prologue in LA and La Vegas, plus Prologue Avant in Detroit, we thoroughly get the point of this concept car. The second frustrating thing about the Prologue concept series is that the Audi A4 needs to be replaced. Urgently. Where is it? This latest Prologue Allroad is as expected – a high-riding version of the Avant, but this time powered by a giant V8 hybrid as with the first Prologue Coupe. The Avant was a diesel-electric hybrid if we are not mistaken. So where the F is the new A4? After …

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2015 Berlinetta Lusso by Touring SuperLeggera Is F12 In a Tuxedo!

  Touring Superleggera has pulled back the silk on its latest masterpiece: the Berlinetta Lusso. The Lusso is a full redesign of the Ferrari F12’s exterior, adding a level of timeless sophistication to go with the mechanical brutality of the F12 on full throttle. You may have noted that the latest Ferrari range lacks a super-lux flagship: the place of the 456 and 612 is now a far more shouty and hardcore proposition. Touring Superleggera has given the F12 the classy formality of many timeless supercars from years past — including the 375MM made specially for Ingrid Bergman and many …

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2015 Ferrari California T by Tailor Made Evokes Hollywood Royalty of ‘Grigio Ingrid’ 375MM

There is a timeless elegance associated with Hollywood and the global jetset enjoying 1950s Italy. Thanks to commercial aviation — the world’s elite could now, for the first time in history, vacation in far more exotic locales efficiently and without any month-long boatrides there and back. This magical era of big-budget Hollywood movies also was the first time films would be distributed globally as well, thanks to advances in projector and film reel affordability. Upon arrival in Capri or St. Tropez, the stars of the day fell hard for all the accoutrements of the Italian luxury lifestyle — including Ferrari’s. …

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2015 INFINITI Q70L Bespoke Edition Is Ultra-Posh Flagship Limo – Bested By Taurus on Tech?

  LIMOUSINES FOR ALL? The chase for Chinese limo buyers is almost becoming a caricature. Based on all the attention lavished on this tiny segment of China’s 10-million-unit auto market, you might think that everyone’s first car there is a LWB limo with individual thrones in back and a chauffeur up front. That is emphatically not the case. Most Chinese car sales are humdrum little sedans made of sawdust and hope, powered by smog and costing a pretty penny for the privilege. LIMOUSINES FOR SOME! But there is a logic in snagging limo buyers. First off, the profit margins are …

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Update1 – 2015 QOROS 2 SUV PHEV Concept Previews Upcoming Juke-Fighter

Updated 4.21.15 with 10 Real-Life Photos Qoros is by far our favorite Chinese car brand — plucking exceptional talent from the UK car scene like Gerte Hildebrand of MINI fame and Jamie Barrett from the RCA design program. The goal is to bring global car safety, design and equipment standards to China-made vehicles. This is more than lip-service: QOROS has the only Chinese vehicles to pass the tough EuroNCAP crash tests and on sale across the highly competitive European car market. Qoros recognizes the opportunity for new brands in the crossover and SUV space — with this latest Qoros 2 SUV …

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2016 Lexus ES Makes Shanghai Debut With Fresh Details + RX200t F Sport

The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and therefore handling and NVH smoothness. A pair of …

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Best of Shanghai – 2015 Chevrolet FNR Concept Is First Self-Driver For Cool People

Finally!  A high-tech and super-advanced autonomous concept that is not just aimed at super-nerds! Even though Shanghai is only just getting into its swing of new car reveals, we can be sure that the Chevrolet FNR will be one of the most memorable and intriguing vehicles on display. The new Chevrolet FNR Concept just bowed in Shanghai to stunned crowds and camera-phone flashbulbs exploding in a cascade of light. A sinewy mix of glass capsule and integrated chassis materials is a fascinating look at the future of car design. The FNR features some intense dragonfly double doors which side upward …

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2016 McLaren 540C Is New Smoothie Supercar With Road-Friendly Torque

McLaren just revealed its second model in the new entry-level range: the 540C. Along with the 570S, the McLaren Sport Series hopes to take a huge bite out of Porsche 911 Turbo sales with its advanced tech and hypercar brand. The 540C is a lightly tweaked version of the 570S with new nose detailing and a subtly tweaked diffuser around back. The main difference in the two cars is that the 540C will be slightly cheaper, and much more comfortable in everyday traffic. This comes from slightly more friendly tuning to the suspension and a remapped twin-turbo engine. This latest …

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2015 Toroidion 1MW Concept 1

Toroidion Reveals 1340HP, Quad-Motor EV Hypercar Prototype in Monaco

The holy grail for EV hypercars is more motors. Just look at the huge leap in performance with the new Tesla P85D AWD model — boasting nearly 700-horsepower and able to blast to 60-mph quicker than ever before. But with more motors comes more complexity — particularly when it comes to the power delivery in anything but a straight line. The system needs to be a virtual supercomputer to handle fairly typical torque-vectoring needs. Toroidion is a startup supercar company from Finland that hopes its LeMans racing technology can create one of the quickest hypercars of all time. Designed with …

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2006 Aston Martin Rapide Concept  14

Concept Debrief – 2006 Aston Martin Rapide – Murdered by Lehman Brothers?

Reviewing this 2006 Aston Martin Rapide concept, it is almost unreal how closely the eventual 2010 production car is to its original inspiration. As you may know, the Rapide has been a major drain on Aston’s resources since sales of the four-door are only a quarter of originally anticipated. In its debut, the Rapide created a huge volume of excitement in the enthusiast community. It seemed at the time like a perfect sports-sedan with all the coolness of an Aston and a back seat and trunk that were truly practical. This excitement led to hundreds of eager deposit-makers — people …

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2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 17

HD Exhaust Note Video! 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Z07 Convertible in the Wild

Parked between a Ferrari 360 Modena and a custom Camaro SS — both literally and figuratively — lives the 3.0-second 2015 Corvette Z06. Not just one but a pair of Corvette Z06s in the wild at Charleston Cars & Coffee this weekend. NICE! Both manuals, both Z07-package-equipped, and both pulling in many drooling car-guys up close. Snapped a video of the Convertible revving to the heavens. Sounds SOOO GOOD! HD Exhaust Note Video – 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Both owners had just taken delivery within the last week, so definitely confirms that Z06 production is up to full volume. Wait …

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Mercedes-Benz Concept GLC Coupé

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe Concept is *ThisClose* To 2017 GLC400 4Matic Coupe

  This new China-designed Mercedes SUV concept is an extremely close look at the upcoming production model of the same name: the GLC300 and GLC400 Coupes. The new Mercedes SUV name strategy is worth repeating at this point: the ML is out, replaced by the GLE and GLE Coupes. The “E” corresponds with the similar size and price to the E-Class. The same strategy will change the GL-Class to the GLS-Class at the top of the range, and the GLC at the lower middle part of the curve. Above the GLA in size and price, the GLC Coupe shown here …

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2015 Volkswagen C Concept GTE 20

2015 Volkswagen C Coupé GTE Previews Phaeton Replacement

VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are too large and draw massive VAT …

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2016-Ford-Taurus-China-2

2016 Ford Taurus Revealed in Shanghai – USA Model Likely Near-Identical

First look at the 2016 Taurus today — from perhaps the most unlikely of places: Shanghai. This most-American of full-size sedans is making its debut in Shanghai on Monday in specific China-market shape, with localized details for the entire exterior and interior. The back seat brings a full limousine-like infotainment setup to the rear armrest – as customers in this segment and market are known to prefer. The China-market-Taurus also reveals a new configuration of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine first seen in the F-150. With twin turbochargers and close to 300 horsepower, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost is likely the top …

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Vorsteiner Huracan Verona Edizione Ft

Vorsteiner Huracan Verona Edizione Ft. Gooseneck CF Rear Wing

The Huracan is still so new that any tweat is really pretty impactful. This Vorsteiner Huracan features just two major upgrades to look this good: VSE-003 Forged Monoblock wheels in 20″ up front and 21″ out back. The other big addition is a gooseneck carbon-fiber rear wing that really ups the drama of the Huracan’s very-mature style. This tall rear wing sits on CNC milled aluminum uprights and leans back far from the tail of the car for a longtail look. It is a hot look on the back of the Huracan. The other tweak? A racing stripe up the …

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