Luxury Limos

2016 Lexus GS200t 10

2016 Lexus GS Refresh Adds GS200t Turbo, More GS350 HP and 4WS on F Sport!

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The 2016 Lexus GS made a glamorous oceanfront debut tonight at Pebble Beach! A GS-F-inspired refresh outside includes standard bi-LED lighting and a fresh face for all six variants of the 5-series-fighter. New styling outside is only a part of the equation, though. The GS450h, GS350 and GS350 AWD are joined by a new engine choice: the GS200t with the 241-pony turbo four from the NX200t. Eight-speed automatics all around make the most of the power: even the entry-level turbo sprints to 60-mph in just 7.2 seconds. The GS350 does the benchmark launch in just 5.5 seconds for 2016, thanks …

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Update1 – 2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select Bows At Pebble Beach With Black Chrome Details

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Despite the name ‘Premium Select’ sounding like a chicken fingers value meal at McDonalds… the new Q70 Premium Select Edition is actually a very cool style option for the 2016 full-size sports sedan. 20-inch dark alloys and dark brightwork complete the makeover outside… with some unique touches to update the cabin as well. It is just enough to create some buzz about the very handsome Q70 sedan flagship.    2016 INFINITI Q70 Premium Select 2016 INFINITI Q70 PREMIUM SELECT EDITION DEBUTS AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE 12/08/15   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Infiniti today announced that the new 2016 Infiniti …

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2015 SPOFEC Rolls-Royce Ghost II 1

709HP 2015 SPOFEC Rolls-Royce Ghost II Is Blackedout Special on Gold 22s

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SPOFEC is bringing its Novitec Group skills to the Ghost II today in a new Black One special edition. This showcase for the firm’s exterior upgrades is as stunning as ever: the gold 22-inch wheels, body kit, lowering suspension and ECU modules complete a major wishlist for anyone wanting a super cool Roller. The full exterior de-chrome is perhaps even more noticeable than the bodykit: but SPOFEC — meaning Spirit of Ecstasy — leaves one surface its original polished finish: the leading lady herself atop that Parthenon grille. Whether unable or unwilling to make this themselves in Goodwood, the SPOFEC …

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2015 Lexus ES350 with Ken Glassman 2

Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus ES350 with Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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2015 Lexus ES350 Review By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman Lexus has been making fine luxury cars for decades now. It’s what they are known for, and why the brand has been remarkably successful. They put high quality materials in their car’s interiors, and a long list of optional amenities to add to cabin comfort and entertainment. They provide smooth, quiet, soft, comfortable ride qualities, and smooth engines and transmissions. The big car magazine and web site journalists think they were Formula 1 drivers in a past life, so while they give Lexus props for those qualities, they always seem to temper …

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Quickest-Ever 2016 Audi S8 Plus Hits 62 in 3.8s With Vmax of 189MPH – Calls Out Haters

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Audi just revealed its saloon-car flagship for 2016: the S8 Plus. Not exactly sure when it happened, but we hate the Audi A8 lately. Despite this (clearly super-influential:) opinion, the A8 is actually performing exceptionally well in the sales charts. Only the S-Class beats it for American-market full-size luxury sedan market share. As if sensing our disdain from afar, this superlimo wants to re-earn some of the cool points of the Ronin or Transporter S8 years. Then, the blacked-out S8 variant of all-aluminum flagship was a quirky but rapid AWD alternative to the big dogs from BMW and AMG. That …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 INFINITI QX80 Limited AWD

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In the global Renault-Nissan portfolio, the QX80 Limited lives among greats like the R35 GT-R or RenaultSport Megane Trophy. Being such an event car and flagship has always been a core part of the massive truck’s appeal among owners. With all the class of a Range Rover, but all the guts of a Denali — the QX80 is famous worldwide for its bomb-proof chassis toughness married to a standard 400HP V8. The QX80 is fresh for 2015 with new nose detailing, LEDs and an extra-swanky new Limited option pack. Fabulous opulence inside this cabin rivals any superlux mark worldwide, and …

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2016 Lexus ES350 and ES300h Revealed In US-Spec With Fresh Nose, Tail + Updated Wheels, Paints and Cabins

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Updated 7.15.15 With Latest 41 US-Spec ES Photos 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 …

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PRIOR DESIGN Makes MB S-Class Into Cold-Blooded Apex Predator Inside and Out

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We’re becoming pretty big fans of Prior Design. The custom bodykit house brings a unique style to each of its models, without getting caught in some of the fairly tired ruts of the BRABUS or Mansory style. This S-Class might not be the firm’s trademark widebody style — but it still packs a wallop of visual aggression and exclusivity. Prior Design excels at fairly affordable upgrades that are some of the first-to-market for new exotic cars. Their preference for a composite duraflex material also means they can complete orders in a tenth the time of the carbon-fiber alternatives. Despite that …

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2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3.8 AWD Is Impossibly Good

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2015 Hyundai GENESIS Review   The 2015 Hyundai Genesis sets a skyhigh bar for luxury sedan excellence. This V6 AWD version is the best-driving and most joyful four-door we’ve driven in years. Why? The Genesis feels inherently right behind the wheel, diving into and out of corners, and singing up to its redline. There is a terrific analog feel to the Genesis at speed — you instantly trust the car implicitly and fall head over heels. We’d even wager most performance sedan owners would prefer the Genesis to the new 535i or E350. Versus the A6 or Cadillac CTS?! No …

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2016 Renault Talisman 14

2016 Renault TALISMAN Is All-New French Flagship Saloon

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Welcome to the top of the Renault range: the new Talisman sedan. This fresh D-segment saloon is a larger and more plush big brother to the awkward Laguna — promising world-class comfort, design, luxury and technology. All with a completely fresh design and dimensions to compete with the BMW 5 series. A total length of 4.85-metres is fairly gigantic for a front-drive luxury sedan in France. As the segment’s built-in government and livery driver pool looks to Germany for their fleets, the large car market in France is fairly depressed and likely to continue deteriorating. As the Citroen C6 and …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 Black Pack Renderings + Animated COLORS Visualizer

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Updated 6.30.15 With Color Visualizer and Rendered Black Pack Cadillac is keeping the CT6 momentum building ahead of the car’s arrival near the end of 2015 as a 2016 model-year. The brand just revealed the color choices buyers will have outside, and the two inside. These interior renders are preliminary, with additional woods and leathers likely to complement the tan and black shown so far. The nine colors are all Hamptons-ready classic shades — with a subdued and wealthy palette right out of the Brooks Brothers swatch book. Our favorite by far? The new green! Dubbed Dark Emerald Metallic, this …

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Road Test Review - 2015 Hyundai AZERA Limited 102

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai AZERA Limited Vastly Outhandles and Outcomforts Avalon, LaCrosse + 300

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Few automotive market segments have such a tightly defined target market as full-size sedans. And unlike minivans, SUVs and even musclecars, the real-life buyer profile of large cars is almost always this core set of consumers. The full-size sedan buyer is in their mid-50s, seeks limo-large back-seat space, and wants the latest premium tech. All with a price cap of $40,000. For their cash, full-size sedans typically deliver a huge bump in roominess versus their mid-size siblings, but sometimes with unintended consequences. After all, it is extremely tough for even the best carmakers to pack S-Class tech into a half-price …

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2016 Jaguar XJ 13

2016 Jaguar XJ Updated With New LEDs, Cabin Infotainment, R-Sport and Black Packs

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The 2016 Jaguar XJ update is official! Full LED headlamps with a new ‘double J-blade’ of LED DRLs are the most striking change outside for the trad trim levels, but a host of new style enhancements now give the mean and badass look of the XJR to its smaller-engined brothers. These tweaks come from a new-f0r-2016 R-Sport package and a similarly fresh Black Package. We only have a glimpse of the XJ Autobiography and XJR as of now, but the tweaks and the special aesthetic upgrades are helpful in keeping the big cat on pace with the S-Class and A8, …

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900HP, 3.6s 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS – A Dictators Delight!

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How do you make a presidential motorcade reach 220-mph — a top speed quicker than any F1 car? You add the Brabus 900 V12TT to the new Maybach! For the working rich, a much more humble 80HP upgrade is also available for the Maybach S500. Revamped styling outside, giant wheels and a ghastly cabin makeover round out the upgrades to this new fatcat bahn-stormer. 2016 Mercedes-Maybach by BRABUS BRABUS refines the new Mercedes-Maybach 662 kW / 900 HP, 1,500 Nm, top speed 350 km/h plus,    high-tech forged wheels, sporty-elegant design and even more luxurious BRABUS fine leather interiors   The …

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2016 BMW 7 Series – Limo Revolution With Carbonium Chassis And FutureTech Galore

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Updated 6.11.15 The new 7 Series is here! This is a major update — firmly on the ‘revolution’ side of the typical BMW model evolution. Not a piece of exterior shared with the current range, this new 750 headlines with 250-pounds of weight loss via the new carbon/steel/aluminum platform. Is this new ‘carbonium’ a woven mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber? Something out of CyberDyne Systems? Almost. This new carbon-fiber is industrially-produced using large-scale methods of the BMW i3 and i8, Boeing tech partnership and Toray Industries materials expertise. The passenger cell sides and doorframes appear to be the primary recipients …

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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

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

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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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1952 Mercedes-Benz 170VA Panel Wagon 5-tile

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

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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 ÂŁ40,320 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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1933 Mercedes-Benz 290 Pullman 1

Fast Wagon Classics – 1933 Mercedes-Benz 290 Pullman Limousine

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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 ÂŁ28,000

1939 Mercedes-Benz 320 Pullman Limousine 16

Fast Wagon Classics – 1939 Mercedes-Benz 320 Pullman Limousine

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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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2015 Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept 17

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

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

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

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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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2006 Aston Martin Rapide Concept 14

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

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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 Volkswagen C Concept GTE 20

2015 Volkswagen C Coupé GTE Previews Phaeton Replacement

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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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2015 Bentley Mulsanne Speed BLUE TRAIN By Mulliner

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Bentley just rolled out a new Mulliner Limited Edition — the Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train.’ Honoring one of the most famous Bentleys of all time, a 1930 Speed Six that beat the high-speed Calais-MediterranĂ©e Express train  to its destination — something most thought could not be done by any car. Featuring a one-off chop-top coupe style, the Blue Train is such a legend that a few reproductions have even been created — including the RM Amelia Island car below.  The 2015 Mulsanne Speed Blue Train is debuting today at the Techno Classica auto show in Germany. The car features a few …

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230MPH BRABUS Rocket 900 Is FASTEST 4-Door EVER!

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When you have a supercar-fast S65 overhauled by Brabus, the overall Vmax leaps from its factory limiter from 186-mph into the stratosphere. 900 horsepower from the V12TT is thanks to an aggressive new intake, boost and exhaust management system and a jump in displacement from 5.5-liters to 6.3-liters. Standard rear-drive makes the Brabus Rocket 900 actually faster above 200-mph than the standard 4Matic in other S-Class Mercedes-AMG limos for 2015, but it will take a brave driver indeed to test this car’s outright potential. The Rocket 900 is generally tire-limited to 217-mph, but can reach a theoretical 230-mph based on …

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Collecti-Bangers Faceoff! 1977 Lincoln vs 1975 Jaguar XJ12C

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PHOTO POLL BELOW! The vast majority of all cars are not collectable. They will not appreciate past a certain nostalgia point, no matter how rare or how cool they are. Usually, these cars just finish out their days in quite, affluent dignity before being junked or liquidated at low-ball auctions. But every once and a while, these cars are included in a big-money sale like RM Sotheby’s. Usually in the catalogs because they are part of a large estate of more desirable vehicles, they shimmy their way across the auction block with little hope of a big score from buyers. These …

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1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi 1

RM Monterey 2015 – 1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi

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If there is one car that truly defies what we call the “Lambo GT curse,” it would be this stunning 400GT Islero S. Somehow escaping the frumpy style decisions of the earlier 350GT and too-large 1970s GT cars, the 400GT is a fantastic coupe style statement with V12 power up front and a leather-wrapped 2+2 cabin with real trunk out back. You can tell that the 400GT Islero S is a real timeless classic because its style almost directly previews the designs of 1980s sports coupes from around the world. The Ferrari 400i and 412i from the early 1980s would …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe 99

First Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe in HD Video + 99 Photos!

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The amount of beauty and glamour in the 2015 S-Class Coupe is almost unreal. Sharing a name and much of its style with the S550, the new Coupe totally banishes all thought of the CL-Class — immediately and permanently on first sight. We’ve been very eager to try out this new high-fashion two-door for months now. But pouring rain means many of the photos are not up to the normal high standards we keep here at Car-Revs-Daily.com. Luckily, GoPro video in the cabin for our full-throttle drive was recording in full HD glory! Check out the video for a a …

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Hall of Fame – 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster by Carrosserie J. Saoutchik

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Everyone loves Ferrari’s, but why do red stunners seem to be the main vehicles pulling seven-figure totals at auction? This Mercedes-Benz was a flagship for the newly-merged Daimler-Benz corporation — a way to show that the interwar reconstruction effort did not dull the engineering brilliance of the country. Mercedes looked to Jacques Saoutchik of Paris to handle coachwork on a few showcase vehicles — cars that would go on to star in branding ad campaigns around the world, and live in the record books for their massive speeds. 120-mph in the 1920s was an insane pace for the few owners who were …

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2017 Rolls-Royce SUV – ‘Project CULLINAN’ Suspension and AWD Test Mules Rolling

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Any fan of the marque knows that Rolls Royce Motor Cars does not approach challenges lightly. These are serious engineering geniuses with a laser focus on delivering the best cars in the world. As such, the SUV project is a daunting one for the company. It will require completely new solutions for AWD grip and high ground clearance while delivering on the iconic brand traits of magic-carpet smoothness, ISO-tank silence and overall excellence at all times. #EffortlessEverywhere was the launch hashtag for this huge step in the Rolls-Royce evolution — and they intend to make sure the SUV disappoints no stakeholders. …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 – $75k Flagship World Premiere 60 Images From Brooklyn

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  The new Cadillac CT6 is official! As the top-flight limo in the newly invigorated Cadillac range, the CT6 has some huge shoes to fill. The hype and fish-eye lense videos proclaim to Dare Greatly, so how does the car live up to all this scene-setting? To convince BMW and Mercedes drivers to consider Cadillac, the CT6 needs to be far, far more than a stretched CTS. Far more than a modern STS. Based on the initial information provided by Cadillac, we are highly skeptical. Granted, the car does feel significantly wider and longer than any Caddy in years — …

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Lincoln Continental Concept 65

2015 Lincoln Continental Concept Paves Way for SuperLux 2017 MKS Variant

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Lincoln is re-earning its stripes car by car these days — with excellence but a bit of inconsistency. One segment it still owns almost completely even after the Town Car bowed out in 2012 is the livery market. The MKS and MKT are still the default choice for limo companies across the US. How to springboard this luxury reputation into continued US comfort plus the brand’s biggest opportunity in decades: China. The Chinese love the Town Car and feel affinity toward the Lincoln brand in general. It has deep roots, back-seat panache and classiness of a premium brand. To hit …

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Best of Awards – 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack in B5 Blue Is Goliath Giant-Killer

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The 2015 Dodge Charger is a focused update and improvement — maintaining the giant cabin, huge power options and enhancing it up and down the nine-model range. The SRT Hellcat and its 707HP supercharged HEMI is hoovering up most of the headlines so far, buttwo questions before lusting after just the Hellcat: — Is that engine the biggest upgrade in creating such a comfortable and tech-savvy new full-size car? — And more importantly, is the Hellcat and its $64,000 base price, 204-mph Vmax and 3.7-second sprint to 60-mph the true sweet spot of the range? First, the biggest advantage of …

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2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS 30

2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS Wows Amelia Island With Gloss-Black Detailing

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  UPDATED 3.21.15 The GTS is great to see in the flesh. Finally captures a bit of the QP panache in this new LWB chassis. Would still definitely benefit from less chrome and a blacked-out look for all the wheels and tail brightwork in addition to the grille. 2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS   Is the Maserati Quattroporte still the sexiest limo on the market in this latest sixth-gen model? For many eyes, nothing beats Italian glamour in a leathery four-door sedan. The rarity of the idea is itself pretty tittilating versus the dry and cold German alternatives, or the lush …

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2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 79

Porsche E-Mobility Push Feeling Odd, Despite New Cayenne S E-Hybrid At Amelia Island

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Porsche is diving head-first into the vat of battery acid these days – with the Panamera S E-Hybrid refreshed with quad-LEDs in the headlamp ring and the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid sharing the square-LED quad DRL setup of the top-line Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne Turbo S. Proudly on display alongside the 918 Spyder and a few Porsche PHEV plug-in stations on the lawns of Amelia Island Concours, the E-Mobility Porsches are promising and smoother, quieter and more serene than anything else to wear the Porsche crest. This is largely thanks to softer suspension tuning in standard drive modes, alongside a …

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2015 Mercedes-Maybach S600 8

2015 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Inside and Out from Amelia Island

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Updated 3.16.15 We are starting to see the logic behind Mercedes-Maybach. The second rebirth of this brand is now a much more subtle affair. That goes for the sales experience as well as the curb appeal of the car. The biggest change for the new Maybach versus the previous generation or the Rolls-Royce Phantom/Bentley Mulsanne competition is all about subtly. Like it or not, from afar this is just a blend-in S-Class limo. It takes time up close to see its unique grille detailing, polished-alloy window surrounds, or gigantic saucer wheel designs. These are all nice touches, but pale in …

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2015 Buick Avenir Concept with Y-Job in Amelia Island 27

2015 Buick Avenir Concept with 1938 Y-Job in Amelia Island

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You can tell Buick is excited about the Avenir Concept when it is joined by the famous Y-Job from 1938! The Cascada ragtop also greeted Amelia Island 2015 guests — and for the first time, the brand felt right at home with the best cars in the world. 2015 Buick Avenir Concept Amelia Island 1938 Buick Y-Job Concept

2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY 6 - Copy

Updated With 15 New Photos – 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY Is Silky-Soft Bespoke Limo

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Updated 3.7.15 With 15 New Photos   Full reveal of a Rolls-Royce Geneva highlight: this Bespoke ‘Serenity’ limousine. Fabulous silk-blossom headlining in a pistachio green is paired with mother-of-pearl marquetry woodworking. The primary wood is a smoked cherry, which also lines the front of the lounge in back. Silk-edged carpeting and silk-woven headrests bring the opulence of the world’s purest and softest fabric to the occupants most-important touch-points. We have a strong hunch the Serenity is a Phantom Extended-Wheelbase, but this is not yet confirmed. We also speculate that the car is headed to an Asian client after it stars …

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2015 ItalDesign Giugiaro GEA Concept 19

2015 ItalDesign Giugiaro GEA Concept Shows Automated-Driving Limo Ideas

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  When considering Italian design boutique concepts, you have to suspend your disbelief and any reality-based concerns in order to see the true purpose of the designs. In many ways, ItalDesign concepts are like the ‘haute couture’ of the car world, versus the ready-to-wear from mainstream manufacturer concepts. This GEA concept is an interesting look to the future of automated limousines tech, design and user experience. Sharing some of the insights launched on the Mercedes-Benz F015 concept, the GEA also has exterior lamps that shift to blue front and rear when the vehicle is being driven by computer. Sidebar: This …

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Geneva 2015 Gallery - Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V + Euro-Spec Escalade Platinum 1-tile

Geneva 2015 Gallery – Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V + Euro-Spec Escalade Platinum

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The new ATS-V and CTS-V look better and better to these eyes every time we see them! Two proper super-saloon cars for a specialized group of clients in the European market. Yes, Cadillac has always had trouble gaining traction in the UK and France, but the brand has devoted fans across many other Euro-group countries. Interesting to see the Escalade Platinum in its Euro-spec look, which takes some of our wishlist and makes it real. The brushed-alloy brightwork for the grille and details all around is now a nice dark grey, while the headlamps are now tinted a dark shade …

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2016 Audi R8 e-tron 2

2016 Audi R8 e-tron Revealed In Geneva – 3.9s EV Is Only Rear-Drive R8

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The new R8 e-tron is indeed a real thing! After the last model was cancelled in near-production form — despite years of testing and R&D — the R8 e-tron was never a sure thing for this generation. Audi is indeed selling this new R8 EV to customers — with orders taken later this year. Performance is quite slow versus the Tesla Model S. The R8 e-tron hums its way to 62-mph in 3.9-seconds before hitting a Vmax of just 153-mph. Overall range when driven gently is more than 250 miles. The design is massaged nicely with a grille inset in …

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2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY 18

2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY Is Silky-Soft Bespoke Limo

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Full reveal of a Rolls-Royce Geneva highlight: this Bespoke ‘Serenity’ limousine. Fabulous silk-blossom headlining in a pistachio green is paired with mother-of-pearl marquetry woodworking. The primary wood is a smoked cherry, which also lines the front of the lounge in back. Silk-edged carpeting and silk-woven headrests bring the opulence of the world’s purest and softest fabric to the occupants most-important touch-points. We have a strong hunch the Serenity is a Phantom Extended-Wheelbase, but this is not yet confirmed. We also speculate that the car is headed to an Asian client after it stars at the Geneva motor show in early …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus ES350 – Still Quietly Excellent

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2015 Lexus ES350 Review     The Lexus ES350 is one of the brand’s all-time sales heroes. Over the last 20 years, the ES has been a staple on the best-selling, most-loved and best-resale-value ranks of all luxury cars. Since the most recent refresh of the ES350 in 2012, the car has averaged around 72,000 sales a year — which is a mighty impressive total that averages out to 25-percent of overall 2013 and 2014 Lexus brand sales. Year Lexus Brand Lexus ES ES Share of Total Lexus Sales U.S. Sales U.S. Sales U.S. Sales 2002      234,109        71,450 31% 2003      …

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Cadillac Dare Greatly CT6 Teasers 1-tile

OP_ED Part 2 – Cadillac #DAREGREATLY Campaign Previews 2016 CT6 Limo + de Nysschen Progress Report

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  It is so irritating when writers quote themselves. Drives me nuts. But this one is very, very relevant. On July 3rd, 2014 – we jotted out the below Editor’s Opinion article attempting to diagnose what was making Cadillac feel so ill. We scathed… This really is not an old-man brand anymore. But sadly, it is definitely run by losers. Not losers in life, mind you. They must be smart and successful – but they are definitely, definitely not cool people. They live in Michigan and are sheltered C- and D-county (aka, rural) people who have never even stood on …

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Mercedes-Maybach Pullman (VV 222) 2015

2015 Mercedes-Maybach PULLMAN Limousine Previewed With Quad Rear Thrones + HUGE Sense of Entitlement

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  Royal families have it so tough. Every step is seemingly an exhausting endeavor. Even waving to their subjects when en route between photo-ops can be emotionally and physically exhausting for this sensitive group. They are constantly pulled one way or another, with no time to just relax and mellow out. I mean, it is Gstaad skiing this week and then RIGHT to St. Barts for some beach thing. No break. Double vacations can be so tiring, right? Just getting from private chalet to private jet can be a taxing experience. These poor, pampered beings are never happy. But they …

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2016 Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur Boast More W12 Power + Revised Designs

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Not content playing second fiddle to the very warmly-received Bentley twin-turbo V8 in the Conti GT family, the W12 engine is back for 2016 with a vengeance! Big power boosts, enhanced efficiency and slight tweaks outside and in are enough to bring the W12 entries bang up-to-date. The Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur Mulliner Spec now boast an impressive 600-plus horsepower each, along with some yummy new colors for the exterior and the leathers inside. Less touted but just as significant, the W12 Continental GT is likely to adopt much of the handling and chassis changes that have made …

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2015 Lincoln MKS 8

2015 Lincoln MKS Wears Secret Trim Updates for Houston Auto Show

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It took a few minutes to realize what exactly was new about the 2015 MKS versus the previous refresh – introduced in the 2012 model-year. But are any of these changes outlined below in the press release, per usual? Not exactly. As far as Lincoln Media and Lincoln.com are concerned, the 2015 MKS does not exist yet. Even so, here is a slightly updated model in Houston last month. The key detail change? New LINCOLN badging across the trunk-lid, right above a new chrome handle hiding the backup camera lens. 2014 MKS 2015 MKS Is that it? Well, we also …

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First Drive Review - 2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 42

First Drive Review – 2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

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After driving the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, we have finally realized where this fast and ultra-efficient plug-in fits in the Panamera lineup. It might not have the extra roominess of the Executive long-wheelbase Turbo and Turbo S, but the secret sauce of the E-Hybrid is its total smoothness and relaxing driving mood. This is in contrast to the drive mood of even the base V6 Panamera. All other Panamera models are designed to thrill, and they are mechanical, heavy-feeling and serious. The PDK seven-speed automatic is swapped in the S E-Hybrid for an eight-speed automatic. This torque-converter unit totally changes …

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2016 Toyota Avalon Brings New Suspension Tuning, LED + Tech Upgrades and Top-line Touring Trim

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  The 2016 Toyota Avalon is refreshed for Chicago including a number of tweaks to the current style and trim levels, plus a loaded Touring trim to top the model line with sporty dark-grey wheels and grille. All 2016 Avalons benefit from enhanced chassis tuning — with the suspension now delivering a better sport and comfort ride compromise than the current model. Shifted a bit too far toward sporty springs in its 2012 refresh, the Avalon in this generation was never too happy either cruising or handling tight bends at speed. We hope the new model addresses this unhappy handling …

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2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY 4

Exclusive Preview – 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom SERENITY Is Latest Bespoke Creation

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First preview of a Rolls-Royce Geneva highlight: this Bespoke ‘Serenity’ limousine. Fabulous silk-blossom headlining in a pistachio green is paired with mother-of-pearl marquetry woodworking. The primary wood is a smoked cherry, which also lines the front of the lounge in back. Silk-edged carpeting and silk-woven headrests bring the opulence of the world’s purest and softest fabric to the occupants most-important touch-points. We have a strong hunch the Serenity is a Phantom Extended-Wheelbase, but this is not yet confirmed. We also speculate that the car is headed to an Asian client after it stars at the Geneva motor show in early …

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2015 Chrysler 300C – Houston Auto Show Gallery – Space, Grace and Pace To Chomp A Jag

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The new 300C is now the luxury flagship of the Chrysler brand – both objectively as the largest and most powerful, and subjectively as a conscious luxury crusier. The entry of the 300S makes room for the 300C to focus on rear-drive American luxury at its finest: roomy, zoomy and full of …… you-my? Overall, the new 300C makes the existing package 3X as good, especially in the base V6 version. Yes, the AWD models still ride pretty high off the ground, and the leathers are cheap. Yes, the new LED styles up front look the same at first, but …

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Houston Tuner Showcase - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft

Houston Tuner Showcase – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design Bodykit

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Prior Design, Featuring Modesta Advanced Liquid Glass Coatings? What is this, a rap battle downloaded from your dorm-neighbor via 2001’s Napster?! No, no it is not. These Modesta coatings are the highlight here. The Prior Design bodykits are just stage dressing. Despite the oddly OOF photos, the glass coatings in the paint are truly seductive and special. They make any paintwork feel three-feet-deep. 2015 Mercedes S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design

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2015 Hyundai Equus on Hyperdrive Evolution in Chase for S-Class Clients

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Any student of Darwin, or perhaps Pavlov, will know that the secret to exceptionally rapid evolution is simple: short generation gaps. As the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has evolved since 1910, Hyundai had serious ground to make up with the Equus in 2009 or whenever it launched in the US. This type of goverment limo has always been popular domestically in Asian markets — but bringing the Equus abroad was always going to be big news for Hyundai. This Equus for 2015 is perhaps the fourth or fifth generation of updates since the basic bones launches on the previous Genesis chassis a …

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2015 Hyundai Azera – LEDetails Front and Rear + Cabin Feels Very Lux!?

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Hyundai is really learning the luxury ropes very, very convincingly. The speed of the Hyundai Evolution is so quick that this new Azera totally shames the flagship Equus in classiness of design, materials and touchability. Outside, the style is still pretty blah, but the LEDs are extremely striking. Not quite sure if the impact the nose delivers is a good thing or a bad thing for the retiree target clientele — but we love the gatling-gun look on any headlamp. Complementing these striking LED lights up top as DRLs are the primary HID projector low-beams and halogen reflector high-beams. The …

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Houston Auto Show – 2016 Lincoln MKX Really Impresses in 27 New, High-Res Photos

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Like us, you might have been slightly underwhelmed by the design of the brand-new, 2016 Lincoln MKX when it was revealed in Detroit just two weeks ago. It seemed new, yes — but virtually identical to the MKC crossover!? In the flesh, there are dramatic family resemblences between Lincoln’s two new crossovers, but the MKX does impress with its own premium details and much-larger overall profile. The MKC is bite-size next to this luxury cruiser. They both seat five, but the MKX will have much happier occupants in the posh second row of seats, and more luggage room in back …

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Houston Auto Show – 2015 Chrysler 300S Reveal + LED Detail Shots Front and Rear

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The new Chrysler 300S is the real pick of the range. With V6 and Hemi V8 power offered, the 300S is sporty in all ways: suspension tuning and handling feel, but also exterior style and cabin ambiance. The most impressive part of the 300S is plain to see: stunning gloss-black details and a full de-chrome of the exterior. The 2015 Chrysler 300 feels familiar, but updated and very nicely refined in all ways. We love the cool technical detailing of the 300S grilles up front, the flush-mounted exhaust finishers in back, and the subtle but convincing rear end with pert …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 A No-Show in Detroit, but CTS-V Heals All Wounds

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How excited were we to see the new Cadillac CT6 flagship at the Detroit auto show press conference? *Very* We have been refreshing the Cadillac media website throughout the CTS-V introduction, hoping the new flagship photos would be live momentarily. After all, Cadillac announced months ago that the CT6 would make a Detroit reveal. But all that might have been before new Caddy President Johan de Nysschen (far right in below photo) took the reins of the brand. Our hunch is that he had some last-minute tweaks to the CT6 that are still being implemented. We hope one of them …

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buick avenir

2015 Buick Avenir Concept Shows Design of Future RWD Flagship Limo

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This is a tricky design to love at first sight. The sketches whisper ‘chic’ the real car’s nose and profile shouts ‘eek.’ Even so, it is a promising look at a future Buick flagship limo.    2015 Buick Avenir Concept         Avenir’s Design-driven Global Collaboration Buick concept developed via collaboration of GM’s Australia, Michigan studios 2015-01-11 DETROIT – The Buick Avenir concept announced today ahead of the North American International Auto Show represents a collaboration of General Motors’ global designers and fabricators, who worked between studios in Australia and the United States to develop the striking design …

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BRABUS Mercedes-Benz CLS Mega Gallery – Upgrades From Mild to Wild!

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The CLS is ripe for more power and style from the factory, and Brabus is happy to indulge. From wheels and exhausts, to ECU tunes, to full engine upgrades — the CLS catalog is one of the deepest in the Brabus range. Featured here are six of their coolest CLS upgrades, starting with the king of the range: the 850.   BRABUS 850 6.0 Biturbo based on the Mercedes CLS 63 BRABUS 730 B63S NEWS RELEASE World debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show 2013: 730 hp for the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG The BRABUS B63S – 730 with 537 …

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Bugatti SUV Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec

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In the original article toward the bottom of this page, we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti Veyron-style SUV, plus created our own janky lift of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti. But neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its EB logos attached. College of Art Center of Design student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for a Bugatti SUV. Grand style, grand pace, and the name? The Grand Colombier. A nod to the explorer Cristobol Colon — who we Americans know as Christopher Columbus — …

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Mercedes-Benz F015 Concept Hits the Vegas Strip in 55 New Photos

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  Updated 1.9.15 with 55 New Photos Seeing a concept on stage and seeing it in the real world are two totally different scenarios. The F015 on the streets of Vegas drives home just how freskishly advanced and high-tech the concept looks versus today’s latest cars. Most notable in its S-Class-plus scale is the super-long wheelbase. This makes the whole machine feel even lower than its 1-inch-lower stats seem compared with today’s S550. The headlamps and illuminated star badge in white tell us that a human is driving in the photos…. PREVIOUS Here is a truly futuristic look at the …

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Mercedes-Benz F 015 Concept

Mercedes-Benz F015 Wows CES in Vegas With Autonomous Limo Concept

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  Here is a truly futuristic look at the world of limousines in the mid-term future: the new Mercedes F015 concept for CES in Vegas. Wider than the S-Class but otherwise very similar in dimensions, the F015 takes a look at what luxury transport will be like within 5 to 10 years. Standard driver-operated modes have the lights outside shining white, and the front seats facing forward with the steering wheel and pedals as normal. Switch to autonomous driving mode, and the lights outside flick to blue, the steering-wheel sinks into the dash, and the four seats become a conversation …

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HD Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model

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Updated 1.5.2015 With 63 New Photos   When it comes to the rarest of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars and trucks, the S-Models are the absolute top of the pops. And the E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Estate? The ultimate in rare supercars – the S-Model Estate is certainly up there with the most-exclusive cars available. By our estimates, fewer than 200 total S-Model E63 AMGs will come to the United States per year, but even one is a huge blessing.   The E63 Estate is just one click slower to 60-mph than the S-Model sedan. That makes this the 3.6-second wagon king. …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Kia K900 V8 – By Ken Glassman

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  2015 Kia K900 Review By Ken Glassman For 2015 Kia has jumped into the high end luxury sedan market with the K900, just as their sister company Hyundai has done with the Equus. In fact, both cars share the same basic platform, and mission statement. That is – to build a high quality automobile, stuff it with a long list of standard safety, and luxury appointments and amenities, and offer it at a price that is thousands of dollars less than similarly equipped German, Japanese, and even American luxury brands. Under the long hood, you’ll find a muscular 5.0 …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in 44 High-Res Photos

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For a race car to become an icon, it typically needs to achieve much more on the track than this 1971 300 SEL. A single second-place trophy at Spa racing against Ford Capri’s and Chevy Camaro’s? That is the win that this first-ever AMG model has in its quiver. So disposable that the original car was even sold off – and never to be seen again? It is true. This is the sole Mercedes-Benz replica created in 2005 to celebrate AMG joining the official Daimler Benz family. So what does it represent today, beyond an amazing sample of a Merc …

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2015 Mercedes S63 AMG ChopTop Renderings

Fantasy ChopTop Renders – 2015 Mercedes S63 AMG is BOSS

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For the S63, we explored a few cab-backward ideas as well as a simple roofline cut. But could this be yours on the aftermarket, even with a big-bucks upgrade like the Mansory seen in the profile images? A chop-top conversion is one of the hardest to handle with OEM quality. A widebody is almost exclusively an exterior upgrade, but a chopped roofline requires some serious changes. Roll cages, electronics, cabin trims, doors, doorframes and glass all need to be redone. Not exactly something you can eyeball along the way, or carbon-fiber your way out of CAD-CAM studies in advance. But …

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3.1s, 1000HP Mercedes-AMG S63 Is Latest MANSORY Monster

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The Mansory Monster! That has kindof a nice ring to it =] In reality, Mansory makes cars that are overhauled so well, and so thoroughly, that you would only call it a monster with a smile on your face. The latest S63 AMG goes under the microscope at Mansory and comes out wider, lower, meaner and leaner. There are numerous body upgrades to enjoy outside, ultra-soft leather inside with unique patterns and an unlimited palatte, but leather-wrapping of virtually every cabin element. Everything. Do upgrade an S-Class so thoroughly is really, really difficult. They basically have to disassemble entire sections …

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RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1937 Lincoln Model K Two-Window V12 Sedan

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  We have a bit of a budding infatuation with the Lincoln back catalog and current model range lately. This 1937 Model K really shows how special the brand is. Things like the greyhound leaper badge, the elegant art deco V12 grille plaque and the shrouded lamps of this streamlined nose. Things like the doors ringed in rosewood layers, or the square faces of the dials and gauges. All so quietly elegant and world-class. 1937 Lincoln Model K Two-Window V12 Sedan   RM Auctions Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 Lot 215 1937 Lincoln Model K Two-Window Sedan $70,000 – …

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Concept Flashback – 2006 Peugeot 908 RC Was Rear-Engine V12 Diesel Limo

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Peugeot is one of the most prolific OEMs when it comes to fantastic halo concepts. These very rarely are the lightly dressed-up versions of future production cars that other manufacturers trot out these days. They are pure and simple fantasy looks into the future. Often, though, these concepts are a fun and lavish way to preview actual design themes and styles that will make it to the brand’s mini hatchbacks in the coming years. And so it was with this 908 RC. Running the powertrain of the 908 HDi FAP Le Mans car, the 908 RC shows some slinky style …

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Concept Flashback – 2008 Mercedes-Benz F700 Was Aggressively Ugly Eco-Limo

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After scathing critiques of Audi’s Prologue concept for LA 2014 and a few other recent machines, we want to balance things out. An equal-opportunity offender here! But the Prologue is just a major disappointment. It is not something that makes you want to gouge your eyes out with a red-hot iron spike. When thinking of other truly fug-nasty concept cars, the F700 leaps to mind instantly. What were they thinking? The low-nose and cab-forward style as a future S-Class-plus limo is hard enough to swallow, but then we have gobsmacking bug-eye lamps, a deeply plunging windowline into the front doors, …

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Design Analysis – 2012 Pininfarina Cambiano – Why So Lifeless, Bland and Generic?

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We feel a bit guilty for absolutely skewering the Pininfarina/Ferrari Sergio the other day.  After all, they may have had no control over the lame production-friendly changes done by Ferrari. Let’s take another look at some of Pininfarina’s other recent work to balance things out, shall we? The 2012 Pininfarina Cambiano concept was an expression of a clean, EV sedan in the mold of the Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma or the Quant e-Sport Limousine. The vehicle has two doors on the passenger side, and one longer coupe door on the driver side. The trouble is: it is super boring …

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Concept Flashback – 2003 Cadillac Sixteen Hoped to Join $100k+ Limo Segment

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The Cadillac Sixteen created a huge, huge stir around the world after its reveal in early 2003. This was shortly after the Rolls-Royce Phantom had been reborn in its ultra-long and cab-backward style, and the world was even more gaga for the Sixteen. Cadillac trotted the car around the world at least thrice to attend every major auto show you could ever name. Fashion and lifestyle agazines wrote about it. Famous photographers snapped it in famous places. All this love came out of left field, to be honest. No one in the $100,000-plus luxury car market of 2003 would ever, …

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2014 Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Unveiled in Dubai with DB10-Influencing Nose

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Updated 12.5.14 Well, big day for Aston Martin! The new DB10 was front and center for the SPECTRE cast announcements, with director Sam Mendez pulling back the silk cloth on Aston’s future sportscar. Not a moment too soon!? Aston has been endlessly jabbed for their reheated styles in the last few years. But what we all may have forgotten is that we *love* that current style. But time moves onward and so does Aston. The new DB10 makes much more sense in the context of the limited-release Lagonda by Q Branch for 2014. This car is absolutely intense from many …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Buick LaCrosse V6 Premium Is Deceptively Sporty and Extremely Luxurious

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Quick: name the best large sedan on the market for less than $50,000? Requirements for consideration are a huge back seat, width to never touch elbows with front passengers and all-day cruising comfort. Because you are a keen driver and love a great curving road, let’s add mountain road poise to the list. We are not considering luxury cars like the BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz C or E-Classes — they are too small in the back seat. The immediate group of competitors with these prerequisites are: the Hyundai Azera, Lincoln MKS, Toyota Avalon, Kia Cadenza and perhaps …

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2015 BMW X6 M Sport vs xLine in 350 New Photos

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Okay, we admit defeat! Usually, the main gripe when new cars launch is that there are far too few photos of the vehicle. Or they are not photos at all: but digital renderings that often do not show the car in real-world detail. But with the latest BMW X6 photo batch, we raise the white flag. 350 photos is too many for any editor to process. But in the name of completeness, we have faithfully included them all here. The car looks most amazing in M Sport trims versus the xLine, which has a somewhat busier lower nose, more chrome …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Cadillac Escalade Luxury AWD – Long Live The King

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INTRO   The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is the ultimate in look-good, feel-good luxury SUVs. After a week driving the Escalade around Georgia and the Carolinas, we really came to love the big truck and never ceased to be amazing by its performance and tech achievements in this fourth-generation model. For many years of the first three generations of Escalade, SUV buyers seemed to bow down to the king Caddy for its prestige appeal — with the actual changes and upgrades from the Denali seeming less-than-complete. The risk of paying the Cadillac premium is that car-guys might see through the blingy …

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Update1 – 2015 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Brings Royal Upgrades to New Super-LWB S-Class

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 Updated 11.21.14 The “Mystery of the C-pillar” has now been solved! When the long-rumored Mercedes-Benz S-Class ‘Pullman’ was running around this year, it wore only the slightest camouflage disguise, and on one of the places you would least expect it: behind the rear doorframe. What could be so special in that region as to require a disguise, yet let the rest of the car run camo-free? We now know that it is a subtle change in the arc of the S-Class roofline that marks out the new Mercedes-Maybach S500 and S600 limousines. This brings a much softer and curved chrome …

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2016 Toyota Mirai FCV Gets Race-Prepped As Japanese Rally Championship PreRunner

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  The world’s first hydrogen racecar? Not exactly. But certainly one of the first hydrogen rally cars — that is a sure thing. As the course pre-runner for the Japanese Rally Championship in Shinsiro, this TMG-tuned Mirai is a fresh take on the Prius EV and hybrid theme. So, if the Mirai did not actually compete, what is the point? The point is that the Mirai is absolutely ready for primetime. It has been exhaustively crash-tested and this rough-course racing environment is a huge vote of confidence from Toyota in the Mirai FCV’s essential Toyota-ness: the core tenets of Quality, …

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2015 Hyundai Genesis 5

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 RWD

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2015 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 Review By Ken Glassman   If you got behind the wheel of the new Hyundai Genesis 5.0 and didn’t know who manufactured the car, you’d swear you were driving a German luxury car, like the E-class Mercedes, or 5-Series BMW, or Audi A6. Only after looking at the price tag would you know that it couldn’t be one of those European makes, because a similarly equipped German sedan would cost at least 6 to 10 grand more. The Genesis is both an outstanding car in its own right, and an outstanding value. V-8 engines are becoming …

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Updated With 70 New Photos – 2016 Audi A6 USA Debut in LA

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The Audi A6 and A7 are fresh this Spring with enhanced trims, newly-available engines and upgraded LED lighting all around. Here is a first-look at the USA trim levels, plus the previously-announced European models in a few extra images toward the bottom. The changes to the A7 are not too drastic outside of those sexy new headlamps — with more power for the supercharged V6 engine and a new turbo four-cylinder to lower the cost of entry. Despite the Avant and A6 Allroad shown below, those variants will not be coming stateside for 2016.   PREVIOUS The Audi A6 is …

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Iconic Classics – 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham 4-Door Coupe

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This four-door coupe is truly a style and design icon. The Brougham is one of Cadillac’s most-valuable cars of all time — and this one in the Cadillac pavilion of Pebble Beach 2014 was a lovely find. From most angles, the Eldorado Brougham is simply a stylish and sexy coupe with some of the largest tail-fins you have ever seen. But from the rear three-quarter angle, we see the stunning contrast-alloy roof and a hidden pair of rear doors — making this one of the first of the modern ‘4-door’ coupes.   1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham    

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Best of Awards – Coolest New Watch, Above $50k: Louis Vuitton ESCALE Worldtime

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  We’ve covered the affordable side of the watch gift market with the Skagen Havene — how about the ultra-exclusive end. There are hundreds of ways to part with tens of thousands when buying a fine timepiece — but what about for the person who already has Bell & Ross watches, is bored with Rolex and Tag, and for whom the Cartier tank is too small these days? For these gents, we present this gorgeous watch with 24 time zones depicted by stunning hand-painted motifs in the edges of the dial. In the inner circles are the hour, minute and …

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2015 Hyundai Genesis AR550 ARK Performance in 26 New Photos + Tech Specs

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Updated 11.5.14 With 26 New Photos What the what! Looking for specs on the 2015 Tucson on Hyundai Media, and what is staring me in the face on the homepage but an extremely tuned Genesis! Have you ever seen a SEMA concept so well-executed and well-timed? The new Genesis is absolutely killing it on the sales charts: the combination of 7 series proportions and 3 series pricing is really a huge, huge hit with shoppers. But how to convince the skeptical? How about a performance upgrade to shade even the M5 and E63? Enter, Ark Performance and the AR550 Genesis. …

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Are The Kia SEMA 2014 K900 Trunk-Mounted Twin Turbos Fake?

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  Update1 11.4.14 We have to be honest here: these concepts are not doing it for us. Despite Kia’s Optima GT actually winning its racing series this year, the latest SEMA concepts from Kia just have a resounding suckiness. The K900 upgrade is the most performance-oriented, but the car seems beyond hope. Without icecream desserts at the booth, we worry that the Kia stand at SEMA would be totally deserted. A resounding “meh.” Why push performance when 2015 Kia road cars drive like salvage-title 1998 Tauruses? It is just not authentic or convincing in the least. Sorry to be a …

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Novitec Tridente Maserati GHIBLI Launches With Gorgeous Performance and Style Upgrades

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  Maserati’s latest sedans suffer from what we call the “Cadillac Problem.” Good design, competitive performance, great equipment and true BMW-battling credentials in almost every way. But one huge deficit is present in the Cadillac and Maserati ranges: coolness. The factory cars wear nerdy wheels, nerdy colors and overall seem tailored to a geriatric customer base. Tan with small multi-spoke alloys? Almost all CTS sedans like this sit on the lot for months, and the same goes for the base Ghibli and Quattroporte. They are just old lady cars — and that is never something to aspire to own. They …

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AC Schnitzer Upgrades Gallery for BMW 3 series F30

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  The BMW 3 series and 5 series are really the core competency of AC Schnitzer. These upgrades center on six key areas: – body styling – wheels – springs – engine mods – exhaust mods – interior decor The monoblock five-spoke wheels are particularly cool. These in a dark finish easily make anything from the 320i to 328i and 335i have the menacing stance of an M car — for far less money. All these pieces can be ordered individually from around the world via the AC Schnitzer website. http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/   AC Schnitzer BMW 3 series F30 http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/  

RM Dallas Preview - 600HP V12 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe GIF

RM Dallas Preview – 600HP V12 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe

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The upcoming Sam Pack collection sale from RM Auctions in Dallas is shaping up to be a big mover and shaker in the world of American classics. As a follow-up to the cool Lincoln concept cars article, here is perhaps the most stunning Lincoln in years: a 1939 custom Zephyr Coupe. The waterfall grille design shown here is perhaps the best-known Lincoln design theme aside from the 1961 Lincoln Continental of JFK fame. The fact that modern Lincolns wear this aesthetic is no coincidence.     A ground-up restoration and customization sees the original engine replaced by a 6.0-liter V12 …

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Concept to Reality – 2011 Kia GT Was Stunning; Too Bad About The K900

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Looking over the details of the gorgeous 2011 Frankfurt concept from Kia, the GT, really triggers frustration. Sure, some of these ideas like the C-pillar and roof accent made it into the latest Optima — but the most desirable rear-drive nature was lost on that front-drive model. Lost forever? One would think — until the K900 flagship debuted this year with pricing from $60,000, rear-drive, and a V8 engine. But where the GT concept is artful in its form, the K900 is a blob of vaguely-melted shapes, like a plus-size model who is not afraid to show some skin. The …

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Hypercar Hall of Shame – 2005 MAYBACH Exelero

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Hall of shame is right! A car so hideous that it shamed Mercedes-Benz into a full McLaren partnership to make the SLR? Perhaps too harsh? We were unsure how to position this article until catching the face of the woman in the background of the photo below. Yep, that about sums up the Exelero. There are a few nice elements of the Exelero, including is huge proportions and length versus such a low height, the sinking glasshouse and arced windows, and the elegant twisted-beam in the side shaping. This spiral form was/is all the rage in architecture, and was fresh …

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RM Hershey Highlights – 1905 FIAT 60HP Five-Passenger Tourer by Quinby & Co.

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A top earner at the Hershey, Pennsylvania event from RM Auctions earlier this month? This 1905 Fiat Tourer with a whopping 60-horsepower. 60HP is double what anything else offered in 1905 — with huge power like this making it the Rolls-Royce and Bentley of its era. The Fiat packs triple the 20-hp that the Ford Model T’s “L-head” four-cylinder delivered from from 1910 to 1930. A wheel and triple-pedal setup on the floor also predates nearly any other car with this now-standard control layout. This very car was originally owned by August Anheuser Busch Senior — to give a sense …

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2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Metropolitan Collection Is Bespoke Tastemaker + Berlin Lightshow

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  An unexpected challenge when commissioning a Rolls-Royce? The thousands of options for the exterior and interior can be slightly overwhelming. What if an ultimate tastemaker could select and deliver the ultimate in 2015 mood — with just the click of a button? Such is the new Phantom Metropolitan Collection – a subtle but ultra-stylish member of the Phantom family – available in a limited-run of two dozen copies. The Metropolitan Collection celebrates the greatest parts of city life with a subtle satin grey/blue outside over a lovely ivory cabin with custom woodwork and detailing. The Phantom Metropolitan is a …

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Kia SEMA 2014 Preview – K900, Soul and Sedona “Day At The Races”

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  Kia just rolled out its latest SEMA concept car – and it is clearly the best yet. A K900 called the “Day at the Races,” it promises a huge upgrade in style as well as performance. Big brakes, a deep body kit and a massive intercooler appear in this teaser photos. So will this be the holy grail? A turbocharged V8? Stay tuned for more details as they become available. Overall, the K900 needs all the halo it can get. Sales have been extremely lackluster in the first six months. This is in sharp contrast to the new Hyundai …

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Pebble Beach Concours – 1911 Hotchkiss AD Amiet Enclosed Limousine

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  Paris-based Amiet bodied this Hotchkiss limo in 1911 — more than 30 years after Connecticut industrialist arrived in France to set up a military armaments factory. The competitors for the Hotchkiss would have been the Benz wagon. Looking like a stagecoach was a nice ‘in’ to gentrified society buyers. These folks had long traveled within enclosed coaches, leaving the rain and smells of the city to the driver up front or simple farmers. For a sense of what the hoi polloi were traveling in? See the steam-car nearby for context! After more than 100 years, this original Hotchkiss limo …

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2012 Cadillac CTS-V with Satin White Wrap by CAMSHAFT vs 2015 CTS-V Coupe Midnight

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Tastes are changing fast. In the latest Corvette C7 sales breakout for 2014, gloss black wheels took nearly half of the sales on the top Z51 trim level. Old staples like silver and chrome are now battling for the remainder of sales. This makes sense. Supercars and hypercars as far back as 2005 and 2006 started to appear with black wheels. This is a great top-down was to make a trend go mainstream. Similarly, brightwork is out. Chrome trims on the windows have long been ditched on M Sport BMWs, but it takes a custom touch to update your own …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Lexus GS350 AWD Is Quick And Balanced with Killer 835W Audio System

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By Special Contributor Ken Glassman Photos Include the 2015 GS350 F Sport Crafted Line EXTERIOR Refreshed in 2013, the Lexus GS350 remains about the same for the 2014 model year. For whatever reason, the mid-size Lexus has never been a great selling model, maybe because it goes up against some stiff competition from the European models like the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, BMW’s 5-Series, and even the excellent Cadillac CTS. But the GS350 and its GS hybrid cousin are still very fine automobiles, and should appeal to anyone looking for a mid-size luxury car.     The power comes from …

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