NEW CARS

RM Amelia Island Preview - 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 22

RM Amelia Island Preview – 1988 Jaguar XJR-9

by

It is fantastic to see a true icon of LMP1 racing design and achievement up for sale. This 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 is the only remaining example and even won the nearby 1990 Daytona 24-hour race almost exactly 25 years before it will go across the block for RM Auctions in Amelia Island, Florida in early March. 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 Chassis no. TWR-J12C-388 The sole remaining original of only two purpose-built IMSA specification XJR-9s constructed, chassis 388 enjoyed huge record of success through 1988, 1989 and 1990 2015 marks 25th anniversary of this …

Keep reading

1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS by Bertone 1 - Copy

RM Paris 2015 Preview – 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale by Bertone

by

Racing specials with a limited number of road cars made for homologation are some of the coolest machines ever made. This Giulietta SS definitely falls into that category, with an extremely limited number ever made — and even fewer surviving in original, near-perfect condition as this car. 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS by Bertone RM Auctions Paris 4 February 2015 Lot 132 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale by Bertone To be auctioned on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 €90.000 – €120.000 Chassis no. AR101.20 00542 Engine no. AR00120 01061 116 bhp, 1,290 cc DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with twin Weber …

Keep reading

Super Sedans 2016 design shootout2

Super Sedan Design Shootout – 2016 Lexus GS-F vs. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V vs. E63 AMG vs. M5

by

  INTRO: How freaky does that sliced image montage look above!?  Despite the four car’s here not quite matching up in the photos we have at hand, they all share a great deal of buyer and market appeal. For shoppers needing supercar pace with room for five people, there have never been more choices. Very exciting times in the super-sedan business! In a segment that the BMW M5 once owned all to itself, the current M5 Jahre 30 Edition is a run-out special for 2015 that feels ancient versus the latest AMG, Cadillac and Lexus four-doors. To save the M5 …

Keep reading

2016-McLaren-P1-GTR-Pebble-Beach-World-Debut-4

2016 McLaren P1 GTR Shakedown Testing Ahead of March Production Debut

by

The new P1 GTR is getting very close to production, with the style and design of the prototype shown in Pebble Beach now roaring around racetracks for hot-weather testing. And does it ever roar — The video below offers a quick glimpse into the P1 GTR test program – with the GTR sounding as loud as a top-fuel dragster as it makes a flying pass around 1:20-seconds below. The P1 GTR program will function similar to Ferrari XX Corsa Clienti – with drivers enjoying numerous on-track driving sessions at global racetracks, and also participating in a one-make series like no …

Keep reading

AZ15_r142_005ad

Style Icons – 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider vs 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

by

Upon catching the new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider in Giallo yellow for the Detroit auto show, the realization of a modern-day Dino hits you like a ton of bricks. To prove our intuition correct, we’ve lined up the 2015 4C Spider with two exceptional Dino Ferrari’s from RM Auctions — in Paris for the 1970, and Arizona 2015 for the 1974 GTS. We’ve lined up the two side-by-side in numerous angles below. They really are kindred spirits. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider vs 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS NOSE    FRONT THREE_QUARTER ANGLE PROFILE   REAR THREE_QUARTER ANGLE   …

Keep reading

1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT L-Series 10

RM Paris 2015 – 1970 Ferrari Dino 246GT L-Series

by

After starting life as an afterthought for Ferrari cognoscenti, the Dino really evolved into quite an excellent sports-car. The style and chassis template the 246GT brought to market evolved into the mid-engine supercar Ferrari’s we know and love today. The 458 and all its predecessors, for that matter, have also been the cheapest models in the range. This exceptional 1970 example shows the Dino in a fantastic light. 1970 Ferrari Dino 246GT L-Series RM Auctions Paris 4 February 2015 Lot 167 1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT ‘L-Series’ €320.000 – €380.000 Chassis no. 01040 Engine no. 000.5882 195 bhp, 2,418 cc …

Keep reading

1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S 20

RM Paris 2015 – 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S Twin Turbo!?

by

A Countach with a twin-turbo V12! Talk about delicious excess. The original engine and turbocharger parts are all included in the sale, but the Countach as it stands is naturally-aspirated, as it was originally. The colors of this bright Carrara White LP400S Series II, along with its rarity, ensure a very, very strong performance on the auction block in a few weeks. 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S Twin Turbo   RM Auctions Paris 4 February 2015 Lot 164 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S €500.000 – €700.000 Chassis no. 1121254 Engine no. S10V4-048 375 bhp, 3,929 cc DOHC V-12 engine with six twin-throat …

Keep reading

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2

RM Paris 2015 – 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Touring – Seeks $700k

by

The Porsche 911 RS was one of Porsche’s first tries at a truly high-performance 911. They, like most people, were dubious about the super-sports potential of the 911’s rear-engine design. But after re-balancing the company following huge winning streaks at LeMans and the CanAm racing series, Porsche was back to Earth in the early 1970s. The 2.7-liter flat-six was a huge jump in displacement from the original 2.0-liter design — and the 210-horsepower it made was enough to excite even the bravest drivers. This was, after all, a bare-bones and tiny sports-car. To go along with the huge power jump …

Keep reading

2016-Mercedes-Benz-C350-Plug-In-Hybrid-10sdf

5.9s 2016 Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid Coming Fall 2015

by

  The Plug-in Hybrid is really gaining steam with the launch of mainstream models left and right. The combination of EV-mode driving almost forces the full electric integration of the hybrid components. This is especially important for the big German luxury brands, who have so far launched some of the mildest hybrids of all. This new C350 PHEV promises a 20-mile electric cruising range, at speeds up to 80-mph. Performance from the turbo four-cylinder engine combined with a charged batter is actually pretty impressive: 5.9-seconds to 60-mph. Five drive modes and a coasting ‘sail’ mode optimize the regenerative braking functions …

Keep reading

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

2015 Peugeot 2008 DKR Rally Racer – Tech Specs and Pre-Dakar Photos

by

The Peugeot DKR prototype currently blasting through the Chilean sahara on the 2015 Dakar rally has been a bit of a wallflower before the race. Few official photos of the truck have been seen. The mid-engine, rear-drive off-roader is an evolution of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak car, but raised dramatically for its new Dakar mission. The same team that created the LeMans 908 HDi FAP cars have created both of these latest racing Pugs, and all have shared the primary super-diesel engine power. This 3.0-liter twin turbo-diesel is a total torque monster: it pushes out 590 pound-feet of …

Keep reading

Ford GT Colors 12

2017 Ford GT – Digital Colorizer in 22 Shades

by

Instead of the hundreds of custom shades and multiple angles, we only have a handful of digitally-rendered color options for the exciting Ford GT supercar. Why? It has been a long week of many frantic Detroit reveals, and Photoshop prefers to crash right when you are in the middle of something great. =] We are still trying to perfect a color—> black or color —> white transformation, but it is not easy to accomplish with respectable results. But was it a total loss? Not at all! Many of the new colors are very bold and shimmery; slinky and sexy. And …

Keep reading

????????????????????????????

2015 Volkswagen Polo R WRC Is Packing 318HP For Monte Carlo Season-Opener

by

   Pretty sexy upgrades for the Polo R WRC in 2015 — with the giant wide-body and open-box fenders venting the red-hot brake and turbo heat. These rallies are very long, with Monte Carlo in particular a major challenge for race engineers, teams and drivers alike. After all: what other series races off-road — even in the snow?!   2015 Volkswagen Polo R WRC THE FULL “MONTE”: THE NEW POLO R WRC MAKES ITS DEBUT AT A RALLY CLASSIC 16/01/15 First big test for the second generation Polo R WRC Volkswagen drivers Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen first onto the “Monte” …

Keep reading

Infiniti QX70 by AHG-Sports 3

Infiniti QX70 by AHG-Sports Shows Great Style and Stance

by

One of the big advantages of going to a big tuner for your car upgrades is that — no matter how eye-watering;y expensive they are, a big tuner’s parts will be far less than commissioning the work piece by piece. In Germany, driving one of the big local brands really helps broaden the availability, and affordability, of tuner parts and car mods. The Infiniti here by AHG-Sports lacks both of these benefits: it is nearly a one-off upgrade and each change is deeply pricey. Secondly, Infiniti’s in Europe are so rare that limited options exist to go wild on power …

Keep reading

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

2015 Dakar Rally – Peugeot 2008 DKR – 100-Photo Action Gallery

by

In the previous Dakar article today about the MINI Countryman All4 team, we noted how their action photos from the event took the cake for sharing the race excitement with the rest of us. After a bit of digging, we’ve found a real treasure-trove. Photos and videos so amazing they make MINI’s effort look a little silly and amateurish. Who could deliver this? None other than the racing powerhouse Red Bull. Videos, photos, interviews – all numbering in the hundreds. All with production values that are ready for 4K HDTV. Most of the MINI team is powered by Monster Energy, …

Keep reading

2015 BMW 1-Series 30

4.5s, 326HP 2015 BMW M135i xDrive Gives Supercar Thrills for VW Golf Bills

by

The new BMW 1-Series just came out, and it is a really cool evolution of the rear-drive compact hatch. The premise is the same as before: sports-car thrills, VW Golf bills. The new model range is a three-door and five-door hatch to start, with a future four-door sedan headed to the US market. We are unlikely to see either of the hatchback styles, but the five-door might theoretically be in the cards for the US market as well. Engines start with the 116d, and extend up to the 118, 120, 125 and finally the 135i at the top of the …

Keep reading

MINI Countryman DAKAR 2015 19

MINI Countryman Team Looks Set for Dakar Four-Peat

by

MINI has been dominating the Paris-Dakar rally in Chile for the last four years running — and that dominance looks set to continue this year. The MINI squad is up about 30 minutes ahead of the next-quickest team as we enter day 12 of the race. The major competition in the form of the very-cool Peugeot 2008 DKR is still in the game, but with only one truck left. One of the DKR Pugs crashed out early in the competition. So will MINI sweep the competition again!? Watch this space. But when it comes to amazing action shots from the …

Keep reading

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1aa

Mecum Kissimmee Preview – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

by

When it comes to Camaro’s from the 1960s, there are two things two know: — far fewer survive than their Mustang counterparts — the (authentic) high-performance models are even more exceptionally rare. They make Shelby GT350 and GT500 models look like a dime a dozen To find a near-flawless example like this 290-horsepower TurboFire V8 is quite special indeed. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Photos by Jeremy Cliff Courtesy of Mecum Auctions Auction Schedule Seller’s Check-in: 8 AM – 6 PM Tuesday January 13 through Thursday January 15 Preview: Gates open 8 AM daily January 16 through January 25 Auction: VEHICLES: …

Keep reading

1971 Porsche 911S 12

Mecum Kissimmee Preview – 1971 Porsche 911S

by

  Amid the huge onslaught of American musclecars heading to Mecum’s 2015 Florida auctions starting tomorrow, the 16th, through late next week on January 25th, is this subtle but very special Porsche 911S. In its fantastic original color with not a drop of grease or grime in the engine compartment, this is surely a Porsche that has lived its life in very gentle sunlight. FOr true collectors all over the world, Florida is a gem of zero-salt and the perfect environment for pre-galvanized vehicle longevity. This Havana dream can be yours via Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. Photos by John …

Keep reading

??????????????????????????????????????????????

4.9s, 362HP 2015 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic Sportier, Faster than C400

by

The new C450 AMG Mercedes revealed at Detroit this week will be the sixth in the new C-Class range in the USA, and is perhaps the sweet spot of them all: the C63, C63 S-Model, C400, C350 Hybrid and C300 4Matic. With 362-horsepower, the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 in the C450 makes room for itself in the line as a second line of AMG sports models. With standard 4Matic AWD that is not offered on the V8 C63, the new C450 will also be the go-to choice among people in snowy climates. A sportier setup for the Airmatic suspension, sports exhaust, …

Keep reading

2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV 14 - Copy

Design Analysis – 2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV

by

When Mitsubishi rolled out its latest trio of design concepts in Geneva last March, we were slightly horrified and very shocked. The designs are quite ‘advanced,’ — which is another way of saying they are freakishly ‘out there’ and not exactly attractive on first glance. But after seeing how this look filtered down to the 2016 Outlander, we are determined to give the new Mitsubishi design style a chance. And clearly, Mitsubishi believes it is on to something here. The XR-PHEV here became the firm’s Vision Gran Turismo car as an ‘Evolution’ version of this design, so you cannot say …

Keep reading

1971-Mercedes-Benz-300-SEL-6

Mercedes-AMG – Top 10 Greatest Hits

by

When you think of the top 10 AMG cars of all time, you might instantly put the red SEL racing sedan first, and we have. As the first AMG on record, it sets the tone for racing Mercedes cars for decades to come. It showed the levels the AMG team would go to upfit a Mercedes luxury sedan for the racetrack, even when far more suitable sports-cars might seem more logical to some as a base point. You might also put the SLS in the second spot. As the first entire car engineered by AMG, it was a milestone for …

Keep reading

detroit 2

#NAIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery – Day Two in 175 Photos!

by

175 more photos from the Detroit Auto Show! A few at the beginning from the Industry preview the 14th and 15th, with engineers pouring over the competition in very extreme detail. The Detroit auto show opens to the public on the 17th. This gallery is the new slideshow — so after the new tab opens, the main window is now a slideshow. Next photo: click right-hand side of image. Previous photo; left-hand side. Enjoy!   NAIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery Two    

2001 gtr

Concept Flashback – 2001 Nissan GT-R Prototype

by

People gave Lexus a hard time for spending so many years developing the LF-A, the Honda for the endless parade of concepts leading to the current 2016 NSX just revealed in production form in Detroit. But Nissan was part of this long-running tradition of slow perfectionism when it comes to a brand’s sports-car flagship. The first look at what the R35 Nissan GT-R would become seven years later? The 2001 Tokyo auto show, with this static styling and aero buck. The next concept in 2005, the GT-R Proto, was much closer to the eventual production model — but both were …

Keep reading

cayenne turbo s

3.8s 2015 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Is Quickest SUV EVER!

by

  Here is the scenario: two amazing Porsches. Which to do first? Our first article definitely led with the new Targa GTS — until we looked at the spec sheets. The PDK Targa GTS sprints to 60-mph in a very-respectable 4.1-seconds with the PDK pack. But brace yourself for some real heat with the new Cayenne Turbo S. This $160,000 super-truck is now the quickest SUV of all time: 3.8-seconds to 60-mph. Apologies for the lack of formatting in the specs below. Screenshots of the full specs PDF included, however, as proof of this unbelievably quick new Cayenne Turbo S. …

Keep reading

2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS 12

4.1s 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS – Specs, Prices and 50 Exclusive Photos

by

Here is the scenario: two amazing Porsches. Which to do first? Our first article definitely led with the new Targa GTS — until we looked at the spec sheets. The PDK Targa GTS sprints to 60-mph in a very-respectable 4.1-seconds with the PDK pack. But brace yourself for some real heat with the new Cayenne Turbo S. This $160,000 super-truck is now the quickest SUV of all time: 3.8-seconds to 60-mph. Apologies for the lack of formatting in the specs below. Screenshots of the full specs PDF included, however, as proof of this unbelievably quick new Cayenne Turbo S. The …

Keep reading

ford gt1

Static Homepage Images BETA – Powered by the 2017 Ford GT

by

UPDATE Third update.  Still trying to figure this out. Just kidding. For boring technical reasons, the GIFs will be made static just for the main homepage and category pages. Post pages will act as normal. BETA Image UX: Animated GIFs Hey guys, Just a quick note about the user experience (UX) of the website. We’ve heard many times from many people that the animated GIFs were a problem. At minimum, slow-to-load …. and at maximum, an eyesore and turnoff from enjoying the content. Over the last two months, we’ve attempted to make things better with a far more relaxed pace …

Keep reading

fcv2

2015 Honda FCV Concept + Year of Honda Turbo VTEC and Turbofan HondaJet Arrival

by

Honda is very re-energized lately. It will take time for the actual products to catch up with the mood inside the halls of America Honda these days, but when they arrive, they should be terrific. After years of a relatively glum and forlorn outlook, there is a palpable sense of future potential in Honda today. The FCV concept is still in its production-engineering mode, as Honda is keen to perfect every detail before the global rollout. This sense slightly delayed the new Acura NSX as well, but we now see it was worth the wait. Honda is diving head-first into …

Keep reading

ctsv

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

by

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 …

Keep reading

xc90r

2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

by

When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

Keep reading

??????????????????????

2016 Lexus GSF – New Super Saloon Is E63-Seeking Missile

by

‘Ultrasonic Blue’ F cars take on a new meaning when you think of Lexus chasing — and rapidly catching – BMW M and Mercedes-AMG supercars. Their rapid progress up the performance charts is much like the latest hypersonic cruise missile technology — aimed to strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour of flying time. We’re thrilled with the new hot-rod pace and style of the GSF, and can’t wait to see its performance stats. As a rear-drive model, expecting a 0-60-mph sprint in the 3’s is unrealistic. But in-gear power and thrilling performance are absolutely guaranteed — …

Keep reading

mkx

2016 Lincoln MKX – Will Mini-Bentley Design Appeal to US and Chinese Luxury Crossover Buyers?

by

Updated 1.13.2015 Mini-Bentley!? Yes, that is the sense we have when viewing the MKX in some of its profile shots. It is actually a really well-resolved and premium appearance, with great proportions that say Luxury and Big Back Seat loud and clear. This is important, because the MKX is aimed squarely at two markets that value those two things very highly: the USA and China. Lincoln is launching in China with the MKX as one of its star cars. The luxury crossover segment is one of the few segments that is still red-hot in Chinese sales, and Lincoln is well-positioned …

Keep reading

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Update1 #NAIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery – Day One in 160 Photos!

by

Press day one is complete, one more to go! Enjoy this 160-photo mega gallery of the hottest debuts, and watch this space for a full docket of press conferences tomorrow as well. The Detroit auto show opens to the public on the 15th. This gallery is the new slideshow — so after the new tab opens, the main window is now a slideshow. Next photo: click right-hand side of image. Previous photo; left-hand side. Enjoy! #NAIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery

volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt is Quicker, Greener and More Lux + 1000-Mile Tank Range!?

by

It is no secret that current Chevy Volt owners are fanatical about how great their car is. Most people, however, have not been easily convinced. The new Volt has an all-new and much sleeker design outside, a vastly more luxurious and comfortable cabin, and the win-win of more speed and more efficiency. Overall, the design is a bit cleaner, and far more modern from all sides. Thankfully, the awkward window-line of black plastic is now banished to history. Notably, the Volt with a charged plug-in battery and full tank of fuel is expected to comfortably cruise 1000 miles before needing …

Keep reading

gt350r

2016 SHELBY GT350R Is Quickest Factory Mustang Ever Made

by

If there are two priorities for an all-star track racer, one column would be labelled ‘Power’ and the other ‘Control.’ This new GT350R majors on control, with huge changes to the aero setup, the suspension and grip package, and the overall handling characteristics. The GT350R is an always-on, flypaper-grippy supercar that hopes to best the Camaro Z/28 in the quickest-lap stakes. This will be the Mustang for laying down the headline Laguna Seca laptimes, with much equipment and luxury tossed aside to slice those last few 10ths from the ultimate speed the GT350R can achieve. This means it will be …

Keep reading

hyundai santa cruz concept

2015 Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept Explores SUV Pickup Crossover

by

  What is this Hyundai Santa Cruz? A pickup/SUV? Think of it like a Honda Ridgeline, but perhaps tilted a bit more toward the SUV side of things versus the pickup truck? The Hyundai Santa Cruz concept revealed minutes ago in Detroit is certainly a headscratcher.Not least because the Honda Ridgeline has been a bit of a dud, despite a new model coming for 2016 for Honda. The best way to think of the concept is a look at Hyundai entering new truck segments in the future, as well as a snapshot of the brand’s latest design ideas in the …

Keep reading

4c spider

4.1s 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is Modern Dino Ferrari

by

 Not sure why it took so long to come to this realization, but better late than never. The best way to think about the new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is as a modern Dino Ferrari. When the Dino was launched, it was the least-powerful and by far the most affordable Ferrari ever made. It was ostensibly created to give Enzo’s son the joy of mid-engine performance in a package that wouldn’t overwhelm the young driver with too much power. But the Dino was barely slower than many of Ferrari’s finest cars of the 1960s, despite packing half the cylinders of …

Keep reading

nsx

Update2 – 550HP+ 2016 Acura NSX World Premiere in 95 Images

by

Updated 1.13.2015 With 20 new photos What really strikes you after first viewing the new NSX is how incredibly stylish and lean its design is. At first glance, it seems an exact copy of the concepts we’ve seen over the years. But that is not actually true. The nose is dramatically cleaned-up, with the chrome bar now subtle and mounted right at the hood’s leading edge. Previously, it was below the hood and had black space above it — creating the unpopular beak face many have hated on Acuras recently. Beyond that refinement, there is also a full lower aero …

Keep reading

ford gt

Update1 – 2017 Ford GT Supercar Coming NEXT YEAR with ~700HP EcoBoost!

by

Holy **** folks, Ford just rocked Detroit with three of the biggest-news cars of the show so far: the new GT350R, 2017 Raptor and this, the stunning new Ford GT supercar. Have you ever seen something so gorgeous, innovative and hypercar-esque out of Dearborn? We have not. LaFerrari and P1-chasing style and tech are firmly in the equation, with the car a showcase for EcoBoost and carbon-fiber innovations in the Ford Motor Company. Watch this space for updated photos and videos shortly. 2016 Ford GT Supercar   Jan 12, 2015 | Detroit Ford Redefines Innovation in Aerodynamics, EcoBoost and Light-Weighting …

Keep reading

(Jan 2015) Detroit, MI

2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop Priced at $30k – Looks as Exciting as a Warm Nap

by

Update: we prepared this whole post just now — before realizing a double deja vu. This car debuted online months ago. Sigh. See below. MINI has a bit of a problem. This hottest-ever JCW hardtop is just not doing it for us today. Aside from the cool new cabin and better LED accents outside, we see zero reason to pick this 2015 model over a pre-owned 2009 model. Trouble ahead for MINI. This big news here is that US pricing is announced with a base of $30,000. 2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop MINI BRINGS MOTORSPORTS HERITAGE TO DETROIT FOR …

Keep reading

chevy bolt

2015 Chevrolet BOLT Concept Previews All-New EV 5-Door Arriving Within a Year

by

We are big bears on EV adoption overall, and love seeing Elon Musk squirm. In that regard, the Bolt is a fun new entry to the rapidly-irrelevant EV model niche. The Bolt is a relatively exciting surprise from Chevrolet: the new five-door EV concept that is a lightly-veiled production model arriving within a year to Chevy showrooms. The new Bolt EV concept shows the potential of a utility and family-friendly package with EV underpinnings. No pricing has been quoted, but expect this package to sticker from about $35,000 before tax incentives bring its costs to about $30,000. It is most …

Keep reading

2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupé S-Model Storms The D With 585HP

by

The new GLE63 Coupe is official!  It is the flagship model above the AMG GLE450 Coupe, and packs a huge wallop from its twin-turbo V8: from 557HP in the normal truck to the 585HP in the S-Model. Stunning performance is a sure thing: we could be looking here at the quickest-sprinting SUV of all time via pace of 4.0-seconds to 60-mph.   2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe   The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupé 4MATIC: Driving performance reinterpreted Affalterbach/Detroit Jan 12, 2015   Affalterbach/Detroit.  With the new GLE 63 Coupé, Mercedes-AMG is in highly dynamic mood as it enters the 2015 …

Keep reading

buick avenir

2015 Buick Avenir Concept Shows Design of Future RWD Flagship Limo

by

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 …

Keep reading

q60 concept

2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept – Private Debut in Detroit Shows Swanky Cabin and ~440HP V6TT

by

The 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept is here! Absolutely miraculous style and luxury shown here, with the power to back it up. The styling concept is said to be 98-percent of the finished product, sans a few of the more extravagant details like the super-lux pearlescent paint, much of the carbon-fiber in the bumpers, and things like the etched fiber-optic amber blinker lights in front. The uncut gemstone lens of the main beam headlights are particularly fascinating in their style appeal, but are also likely to fall by the wayside for production. Even so, the real 2016 Q60 Coupe promises something …

Keep reading

2015 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE

Update2 – 360HP Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Is Sporty PHEV Crossover Concept

by

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE has arrived today with sporty looks and a five-passenger cabin that is about the size of the BMW X6 inside and out. The concept runs a 3.6-liter V6 plus a large hybrid power unit with EV-driving ability. Its style is an important preview of the production CrossBlue, a Passat-based seven-seater set for assembly in Tennessee beside its sedan cousin. We are likely to see this style replicated near-exactly on the large CrossBlue, but in a larger and blockier roofline layout. This design is production-ready in almost all ways, with the actual Cross Coupe a possibility …

Keep reading

brabus cls

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

by

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 …

Keep reading

gt86 aero

2015 Toyota GT86 Brings Aero and Giallo Range-Topping Trims

by

Toyota GB is eager to keep up the GT86 momentum and magic into the 2015 model-year. The rear-drive sportscar carries a cheaper sticker price on the base Primo trim, with an on-the-road total of £23,000. From £27k, buyers have a choice between the Aero or Giallo manual, with the Aero automatic coming in at £28,500. The difference is really a choice between a loaded exterior on the Aero, and a loaded cabin on the Giallo. The bodykit and Supra-style spoiler of the Aero are very cool upgrades indeed, with the charcoal-metallic multi-spoke alloys also a nice treat. The Giallo is …

Keep reading

cascada

2016 Buick Cascada Convertible Is Official! 75 Images + Tech Specs

by

Buick revealed a surprise production car today ahead of its live debut at the Detroit auto show tomorrow: the very sexy Cascada convertible. The Cascada is a surprise only in part: the car is a clone of its European Vauxhall and Opel Cascada twins, and arrives as a Buick production model to dealers in early in the 2016 calendar year. So while the car might not be a total shock, seeing Buick integrate it into the US lineup is relatively big news. It joins the current Regal as a fully autobahn-ready Buick with premium cabin, performance and handling. This sexy …

Keep reading

mustang mach 1

Future Car Renderings – 2017 Ford Mustang Mach 1

by

  Doing a photochop of the new 2015 Mustang GT might seem almost sacrilegious these days. The car is a huge, huge hit already and is set to be the most popular pony-car in decades. We’ve see dozens of custom Mustangs so far at SEMA and now the Shelby GT350 ups the ante dramatically. But what about a truly futuristic fantasy Mustang? Something almost unreal in its stunning proportions? The ideas shown here follow the original Ford Mach 1 sketches in 1966 — they read almost like an instruction manual for a step-by-step Mustang Mach 1 for 2017. Let’s disregard …

Keep reading

mustang concepts

Concept Flashbacks – 1966 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Allegro II and Mustang Milano

by

When you style and produce a car as successful as the Mustang in 1964, you have to start thinking next steps almost immediately. How to evolve, and how to keep up the excitement of the original, but with the thrill of the new. Ford explored a variety of wild ideas for the future of the Mustang. From the short-wheelbase, to the Ranchero — Ford was open to nearly any and all ideas. But the enthusiast vision shined brightest. How to make the Mustang even cooler, and even more hardcore as a sports-car. In this folder lives the 1966 Mustang Mach …

Keep reading

mkx

2016 Lincoln MKX in 30 Photos – 2.7L EcoBoost, Open-Pore Wood, 19-Speaker Audio

by

The 2016 Lincoln MKX has broken cover, and it is a very impressive next step for the resugent American luxury brand. A step up in size from the MKC, the MKX is larger and more posh, of course, but also a bit more evolved. The MKX images here show sexy new detailing inside and out, with a heavy emphasis on advanced luxury not offered on any Ford at any price. These details include the new twin LED DRL accents in front, a multi-lens HID low and highbeam design, and a full-width LED lightbar in back. The MKX with these modern …

Keep reading

Bugatti-SUV-Grand-Colombier-by-Ondrej-Jirec

Bugatti SUV Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec

by

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 — …

Keep reading

seat leon cupra st

2014 SEAT Leon Cupra Now Offered in Very Cool ST Wagon

by

Updated 1.10.2015 The sexy Leon ST wagon is now available in the Cupra trim! This cool dynamic and style upgrade includes the availability of the postent Cupra 280 pack and its huge-boost turbo gasoline engine. Six styling packs are also available on the Leon Cupras — with the Dynamic Grey shown in the press shots an ST Cupra exclusive that is not offered on Leon ST’s with lesser engines. We also anticipate the Sub8 performance packs to be offered on the ST wagon – these trims commemorate that the Leon Cupra is the quickest front-drive car of all time around …

Keep reading

subaru rally cars 2015

2015 Subaru WRX STi Rally Racecars + Outback SuperGT First Rescue Operation

by

Three distinct Subaru’s here: the WRX STi for the Japanese Rally Championship, the WRX STi for Global Rallycross and lastly the custom SuperGT support Outback. The Japanese rally spec appears purest and most like the production car, aside from chassis bracing for the roll cage, a roof vent for the drivers to get some air, and a slightly taller ride height on rally-sped wheels and tires. The Global Rallycross car is interesting: it wears a much wider front-end and bumper that acts as a bit of a flexible splitter. This seems able to take impacts and also be a decent …

Keep reading

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR Racers Pack Wild Aero Ugrades

by

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR When overall power is capped by a racing series of technical limits of the engine, you have a few other routes to more speed. These include a drop in weight and an increase in grip. But what can you do if max weight and tire setups are also regulated by racing rules? The last summit to climb is then aerodynamics and downforce. Subaru has embraced this fourth route to greatness in its two new racers: the BRZ GT300 and WRX STI NBR Challenge. The splitters up front add nearly a foot of extra …

Keep reading

viper colors2

2015 Dodge Viper in 100 Custom COLORS – 1-of-1 Order Concierge Brings 25-Million Individual Combinations

by

Most of the time with these digital colorizer articles, the shades shown are pure fantasy. They cannot be ordered bespoke on anything short of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. The Viper is joining this exclusive club of absolute customization for 2015 — with 8000 color shades available to order, plus dozens of other trim choices. This all expands the range of custom Vipers exponentially: up to 25-million one-of-a-kind selections possible. The 2015 Viper 1-of-1 program might be daunting for shopppers and those ordering a custom Viper. There were already a huge volume of selections to make in the 2014 model, so …

Keep reading

viper 2015

HD Video – 2015 Dodge Viper – DNA of a Supercar

by

  Dodge is thrilled to have the Viper back in the fold for 2015: a price cut of $15,000 for the base trim is only part of the plan to reinvigorate this lethal snake. The second part is to give the Viper some more screen time. Remember the excitement about the 1994 Viper TV series!? We were 12 years old at the time, and crushed when it was not renewed for a second season. But this is 2015. We are all older and more powerful now. The 640-horsepower Viper is packing 8.4-liters in its jeans, with bulges to kill — …

Keep reading

f015

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

by

  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 …

Keep reading

legacy b4 blitzen

2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept Debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon

by

As a current Legacy GT owner, you can bet we were floored to see how sweet this sixth-gen Legacy B4 Blitzen concept looks!  It is a luxury sports styling concept – with the standard 175-horsepower boxer engine. But the all-new front and rear fascias are very convincing, as are the carbon-fiber accents in the sills, wheels and rear spoiler. Favorite details are the gloss-glack mesh grille and the integrated LED styling accents in the outer bumpers. 2015 Subaru Legacy B4 BLITZEN Concept   In third-generation and fourth generation Legacy, has been planned and developed as a special specification car ‘BLITZEN’  …

Keep reading

lister knobbly2

2015 LISTER Jaguar Knobbly 60th Anniversary Edition Revealed at Autosport Intl

by

Recreations and replicas of classic racing Jaguars the are all the rage lately, with the Eagle Low Drag GT fetching $700,000 a pop and even Jaguar Special Operations releasing a limited run of racing E-Type coupes. These custom-made vehicles are usually the only option to own one at all. Very few racing prototype Jaguars were ever made in the 1950s and 1960s, and most were ultimately ‘raced to death.’ Pushed to the max, these cars often came back from race weekends with crumpled bodywork, torn mechanicals and need of major TLC. Most were parted-out and the shells retired to the …

Keep reading

Porsche 911 GT2 by OK-ChipTuning

Porsche 911 GT2 by OK-ChipTuning Adds 150HP in 90 Minutes

by

It is raining GT2 Porsche’s today! For any turbo, no mod is more cost and time-efficient than an ECU reflash. Imagine adding at least 50-horsepower in the time it takes to get an oil change. Too good to be true, right? Yes. The best turbo tunes will not just work the electronics: you definitely benefit most from a more open exhaust setup. And to sustain that performance under hard driving, a chipped turbo also demands a bigger intercooler with more capacity. If the turbo is glowing red-hot from hard driving, it will lose progressively more and more power — until …

Keep reading

wimmer gt2 rs muscleplay

1006HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS MusclePlay by WIMMER Shows Bonkers 242MPH Vmax

by

If the racing Wimmer GT2 RS previously shown was track-optimized with a jump in 80-horsepower, this one is simply for the bonkers power-fiend. The twin-turbo Porsche now puts out an astounding 1006-horsepower. The output is so immense that we actually needed to convert the metric PS 1020 measurement to US horsepower. The difference is usually negigible, but when you hit the stratosphere…. obviously what is a rounding error on the Honda becomes a difference of 16 ponies. The indicated V-max of this MusclePlay RS is 242-mph — but it would be a brave soul who explores past 220 or so! …

Keep reading

Porsche 911 GT2 RS by WIMMER

221MPH, 703HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS by WIMMER

by

We car-guys are becoming a bit desensitized to power outputs hitting absolutely huge heights. But any Porsche 911 with a horsepower figure starting in the 700’s is still a shocking thing. This Wimmer GT2 RS was designed to go racing from day one, and the car is a model of brutality and knife-edged speed even more than the stock ‘widow-maker.’ Along with the 83-horsepower increase over the factory model’s 620-horsepower comes an even bigger jump in top speed: to a frankly shocking 221-mph. As Porsche prepares to launch its own RS 911 model soon, it is good to see that …

Keep reading

gullwings

The Evolution of Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Supercars in 9 Cars Since 1952

by

As the SLS AMG bows out to be replaced by the new AMG GT as the Mercedes supercar, many people are unemotional about the change from gullwing to traditional hinged doors. In this regard, the gullwing doors of the SLS are so iconic that they have become a bit passe as a result. But the special magic of twin, central-hinged doors opening upward and meeting mid-roof is truly a cultural touchstone in the car business. Much as Lamborghini defines scissor doors, Mercedes gullwing doors are a huge part of the 300SL legend — and therefore the Mercedes legend — since …

Keep reading

q7 tech

2016 Audi Q7 Shows New MMI Touch, Audi Connect and MIB Tablet Interfaces by Nvidia

by

The new Audi Q7 will debut not just a much lighter chassis and all-new styling outside, but a cabin that is fresh from the carpet upward and absolutely packed with tech goodies. Where to start? The latest Virtual Cockpit design uses a 12.3-inch TFT panel in the main guage cluster, able to show 3D instruments, full Google-Earth navigation and maps, and a dozen other custom displays as needed. These are operated by voice, redundant knobs and buttons on the wheel and dash, or by the new MMI Touch control panel with multi-touch capabilities (ahead of the shifter). On the road, …

Keep reading

s60 xc

Volvo S60 XC Marks Return of the SUS!

by

The SUS lives! Sport Utility Sedans are a rare breed indeed. Only a few hundred of the original Subaru Outback Sedan were made and sold in core Subie markets like Vermont and Colorado in the late 1990s. Volvo’s new S60 XC entry will head to Detroit and then nationwide as a fun niche model for the brand. The Cross Country style actually looks amazing on the S60 sedan shell – and we’re eager to spot the rare and elusive SUS Volvo in the wild later in 2015…! Volvo S60 XC Volvo takes Cross Country brand into sedan territory Volvo Cars …

Keep reading

f800

Concept Flashback – 2009 Mercedes-Benz F800

by

If you want a solid starting point for the latest sexy Mercedes designs, you might start at the first-gen CLS in 2005. But those proportions needed work, and the surfacing left much to be desired. Between the CLS and this 2009 F800 Style lived the ghastly F700 and the notorious bionic fish van concept. F700 This 2009 F800 Style Research Concept really set the tone for a new Mercedes aesthetic. This slinky design was followed by the Style Coupe concept in 2012 — wearing lines that are even closer to what is now the CLA-Class. 2012 Style Coupe Concept There …

Keep reading

lr defender2

Land Rover Honors 2015 Defender Retirement with Trio of Special Editions

by

  Heading back to the start 65 years ago, Land Rover has created a fantastic Earthen honor to its founding model: the Series I. The legend of this truck actually started in the sand. The salty ocean fringe medium was actually where the first engineering sketches were drawn. Long after the waves washed the shape away, the product of those ideas is now a global icon in off-roading. This brief video shows the latest Defender sand drawing on the English coast – as etched by three new 2015 special-editions in a 1-kilometer-wide shape.     Among the new Heritage, Adventure …

Keep reading

enzo silver

RM All-Stars – 2003 Ferrari Enzo Earns Double its Sticker Price 10 Years After Built

by

Doubling the original sticker price just ten years after a car was made is a solid indication of a car’s all-time greatness and future-icon status. This gorgeous Enzo brought in $1.3-million at RM Auctions 2013 Arizona sale, and is on track to be one of Ferrari’s greatest hits. Including the car today in a post because the RM Auctions photo set of the car in silver is the most gorgeous collection of Enzo pictures we have ever seen. Enjoy.   http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1057513   2003 Ferrari Enzo          

1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

Iconic Classics – 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

by

If I were any grumpier today, my head would explode.  But this Delahaye by Figoni and Falaschi might help brighten the mood =] Sold by RM Auctions in 2013’s Arizona event for $1.54-million, this Delahaye 135 MS Coupe is the ultimate anti-depressant in creme white. This one-off even flies French-flag colors in the grille and red leather inside for a perfectly Parisian mood. Every inch of the bodywork, the rear-hinged coach doors and slip-stream rear end was all created by master craftsmens’ hands. The result is one of the most beautiful cars of all time.   1938 Delahaye 135 MS …

Keep reading

ces15

2015 CES Showfloor Best and Worst + 75 High-Res Photos of Automotive Future-Tech

by

Wish you were in Vegas this week for endless keynote speeches bags of cool tech swag, product demo’s and a glimpse into the future? We have the next best thing: a full showfloor gallery of the coolest automotive tech displayed. As a reminder, this below gallery (should) be the new lightbox setup. So after a pic opens in a new tab, the original page is now set up as a slideshow. Click the right-hand side of a photo to scroll to next pic, and the left-hand side of a pic to see previous photo. Why a new tab first?  As …

Keep reading

prologue tech12

Updated with Tech Video – Audi Prologue Hybrid Piloted Drive to Vegas

by

We were active haters of the Prologue concept when it was revealed for Los Angeles in late November. The low and clean style of the future A8 this car previews is growing better with time, but still seems a bit dull. The change of color to a dark grey with new five-spoke alloys are a huge improvement. They let the design breathe and feel a bit more interesting, with the lower bodywork and sill extensions coming to life in ways they didn’t in silver. The concave rear glass is still bizarre, and the nose and tail detailing still seem awkward. …

Keep reading

glk sema

Concept Flashbacks – 2010 SEMA Mercedes-Benz GLK Tuner Cars

by

Shocked and appalled by hideous custom Mercedes-Benzes prowling the world’s roads? Wish there were an upgrade kit that fits the refined aesthetic of the Merc brand? If only Mercedes would commission a few tuner custom show cars of its own, it would have control and be able to yay/nay any questionable elements. For the US launch of the GLK in 2010, MB-USA did just that: four custom GLK’s for the SEMA show in Vegas. Unfortunately for those who do not like loud, brash designs…. what resulted are four of the wildest, silliest concept GLK’s ever seen. Removing the constraint of …

Keep reading

m4 ces

BMW M4 ‘Concept Iconic Lights’ Shines Laser Highbeams + OLED Slice Taillamps

by

Amid a dozen i3 and i8 innovations BMW is showing at CES this week is this M4 – dubbed the ‘Iconic Lights Concept.’ We can’t help but add quotes to that concept name, as it does seem a bit …. presumptuous to call a brand-new concept iconic. Even with that bit of skepticism, the new tech shown is pretty cool. For LED aficionados, the new design certainly vaults the current M4 styling into the future quite effectively. A new high-powered laser lighting system is employed up front, with deep crystal lenses forming a larger and more expressive DRL shape. The …

Keep reading

gsf3

Update1 – 2016 Lexus GS F Revealed! 467HP with Standard Torque-Vectoring Diff

by

The new GSF is official! With the powertrain from the incredible RCF pushing out 467-horsepower, the GSF is sure to be a rocketship with sprint times approaching 4.2-seconds to 60-mph. Crucially, the GSF will run the torque-vectoring differential as standard. This bit of kit is available in the RCF’s performance carbon package — and totally transforms the vehicle’s handling attitude. Three switchable settings let you control how aggressively the F manages power entering, around and leaving corners. TVD gives a great feeling of potency and adds liveliness to the rear end of the car while also helping laptimes. This tech …

Keep reading

nomad colors

2015 ARIEL Nomad – Exclusive Digital COLORIZER

by

This Ariel Nomad is a very cool piece of news – even as CES is in full swing and Detroit is starting to build momentum ahead of press parties starting on Sunday. We’ve spent a bit of time in photoshop to create an exclusive color visualizer for the new Nomad — with our skills obviously best able to create bright, Skittles-style shades. We’ve also lightened and darkened the wheels for a few ideas of what the gloss-black optional rims might look like. This car seems like it is *perfect* for the X-raid class of rallying, and as such there are …

Keep reading

ariel nomad

3.3s 2015 ARIEL Nomad – Tech Specs, Options and Full-Throttle Testing Video!

by

Updated 1.6.2015 If anything, the real-life Ariel Nomad is even cooler than last week’s teaser renders indicated. Power is a stout 235-ponies, the Yokohama 35-inch mud tires are insane, and the options list will make you start drooling onto your touchscreen. Is there any downside to the ultra-light yet super-strong Ariel Atom chassis concept being applied to an off-roader? Not that we can think of. A heated windshield is even offered. The rear-engine playfulness and handling joy seem to apply themselves perfectly to the Nomad’s off-road mission — as well as guaranteeing traction for sprints and heavy braking. The 100-kph …

Keep reading

q60 concept new

Update3 – INFINITI Q60 Concept – 30 Photos

by

Updated 1.6.2015 Second update today with 22 more photos. These appear to be some kind of leak. A few more photos of the upcoming Q60 Concept have appeared online, but not officially from Infiniti yet. Usually, with a massive leak like this, a car will then debut online shortly afterward. It hurts a brand to have people deciding on its style merits based on extremely low-quality digital renderings like these. So, is this concept the real-deal 2016 Q60 arriving in late summer 2015? Yes. Excluding a few tiny details like the glass roof and the inner bumper details, this is …

Keep reading

Mercedes-Benz F 015 Concept

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

by

  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 …

Keep reading

VATH SLS AMG Roadster

VATH Blacks-Out SLS AMG Roadster With 700HP Supercharger and Slammed Stance

by

VATH SLS AMG Roadster   702 PS SLS ROADSTER by VÄTH Automobiltechnik Since November 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS Roadster is the first vehicle independently developed by AMG for sale. In a relatively short time many prospective customers have given in to the magical charm of Swabian sports car, which program is Sport Leicht Super (the short form being SLS). Such a tidbit in the best sense needs no correction, or does it? Increase in efficiency in everything that company works with is one of many special spheres of VÄTH Company in Bavarian Hösbach. As for the here represented SLS Roadster, a …

Keep reading

c63k wimmer

624HP Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate by WIMMER Rennsporttechnik

by

It is only recently that the US market enjoys super-high-performance AMG wagons — our European friends have been loving their AMG Kombi’s and Estates for years now. But even for German domestic-market clients – we do not believe a wagon C63 was ever in the factory catalog. That makes this Wimmer conversion extra special. Bumping the power and style of the C63 is Wimmer RST — a helpful acronym when shortening Rennsporttechnik! Nothing shorthand about the 150-horsepower conversion in power in this yellow C63, nor the slammed stance and custom styling upgrade. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate by WIMMER     …

Keep reading

2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT

2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT Was Sexy Widebody Hatchback

by

It is really difficult to design a hatchback city car with the stance of a rear-drive performance car. The bluff nose and and widebody fenders of a supercar help make this 2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT a memorable design study, with its twisting and rising beltline an ultramodern flourish. The CT’s rounded but bluff and streamlined nose and windshield are relatively simple – and really highlight the cool and low feel of the Concept CT design. 2006 Mitsubishi Concept CT  

highlander hybrid

Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD – By Ken Glassman

by

  2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review   By Ken Glassman Last year the Toyota Highlander underwent its third major makeover, and not much has changed for this year. While the Highlander is technically a crossover vehicle, based upon a car platform, it looks and feels very much more truck-like, and seems more akin to the Toyota 4Runner than a Camry. It is a large vehicle, which seats 7 or 8 depending upon the interior choices, and has more cargo space than the last generation. It is also better looking, with a bold front end and brawny, bulging fenders. The base …

Keep reading

2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited – By Ken Glassman

by

2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review By Ken Glassman The first Hyundai Sonata appeared on the scene way back in 1988. It was a small, homely looking sedan, but a capable, economical car with a lot of content found only on cars costing a few thousand dollars more. And it may be best remembered for having a five year bumper to bumper warranty, and 10 years on the powertrain. Hyundai in those years were trying to impress the buying public that their cars were ready for prime time, and they were willing to back them up with the best warranty in …

Keep reading

e63 wagon

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

by

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. …

Keep reading

k900 v8

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

by

  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 …

Keep reading

q60 concept

Update1 – INFINITI Q60 Concept Previews Striking New 2016 Sports Coupe

by

  Updated 1.5.2015 with second teaser image. When it rains, it pours! Infiniti just teased a gorgeous new Gran Turismo prototype and now is showing some ankle on its new Q60 Coupe. This concept is headed for Detroit and is said to be nearly 98-percent of what the real-life Q60 Coupe will be when introduced in August as a 2016 model. The most action is of course around the doors and glasshouse, where the Q60 has a far more expressive and aggressive roofline and C-pillar treatment versus its sibling, the Q50 sedan. The lower front wheel-arch also shows a dramatic …

Keep reading

me412

Update1 – 2004 Chrysler ME 4/12 Was Quad-Turbo V12 Hypercar

by

Updated 1.5.15 With 30 Extra Photos It is hard to go wrong with mid-engine hypercar concepts, and this one is no exception. There are really interesting and lavish details throughout, the success of which led to the long-running hood strakes in many production Chrysler models. Little else from this quad-turbocharged V12 concept made it to the roads, but the ME Four Twelve concept capped a record number of concept cars for Chrysler under Daimler. The company released at least three wild concepts ever year between 1999 and 2004, but none are as desirable as this car. Or, in fact, the …

Keep reading

700c

2012 Chrysler 700C Concept Looking Like True Preview of 2016 Town & Country

by

When the 2012 700C arrived on the scene for Detroit 2012, it seemed extremely far-fetched. But viewed in the context of the new Chrysler 200, the 700C not only looks possible — it looks extremely likely. The cabin of the 700C in particular shares much of the functional and style moves seen first in the 200, including the rotary-shifter and numerous contrast color elements like the steering wheel. A reveal of the next-gen minivans may take center stage for Chrysler and Dodge next week in Detroit. 2012 Chrysler 700C Concept  

HAMANN Aventador Limited

760HP HAMANN Aventador Limited Scores AutoBild Tuned Supercar Award

by

12 parts to greatness? The massive upgrade in aggression in the HAMANN Aventador Limited is thanks to just a dozen well-judged body additions — plus a giant custom exhaust system, of course. Our favorite pieces from the Hamann Aventador catalog are the rear wing and the giant engine scoop – available in a contrast accent color or exposed-weave carbon-fiber in a glossy sheen. HAMANN Aventador Limited     HAMANN Lamborghini Aventador front bumper unit HAMANN Lamborghini Aventador rear wing 4-pcd increase downforce on rear axle in clear-coated Carbon black HAMANN Lamborghini Aventador side skirts 4-pcd including Carbon inserts in clear-coated …

Keep reading

2008 Dodge ZEO

Concept Flashback – 2008 Dodge ZEO Was EV Tesla-Fighter

by

The 2008 Dodge ZEO was conceived in a world of $150-per-barrel oil in 2006 and 2007, when the full electrification of the car seemed inevitable. The freedom to run a flat-pack of Li-Ion batteries in the floor of the vehicle offered Dodge a chance to break out of typical packaging constraints. We see some great elements in the ZEO, including its finished four-seat cabin and spectacular doors. But the design is a bit busier than the Dodge ideal, especially around the nose. Lack of air intakes means the ZEO and its crossbar grille just seem a bit scrunched and silly …

Keep reading

2007 VADHO BMW by ItalDesign Giugiaro

Concept Flashback – 2007 ItalDesign VADHO Ran BMW Hydrogen V12

by

A hydrogen V12? That is not exactly true. The VADHO indeed runs a BMW Hydrogen fuel cell, but this produces power for a hybrid-electric drivetrain — like all hydrogen cars. The V12 is likely to be conventionally-powered. So why the tandem seating arrangement? Ostensibly, this bubble canopy housing a single passenger behind the driver’s seat is to allow for the powertrain’s massive scale and the required gas tank for the Hydrogen powertrain. These tanks generally are only available in one cylindrical shape — and housing a massive one that can avoid exploding in a crash is deeply challenging for car …

Keep reading

larte rrs

LARTE Design Launches Flashy New Range Rover Sport Upgrades

by

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 an F1-inspired rear central brake light shines bright red from the lower bumper. The new three-pod grille insert is a fresh take on the RRS style – and is one of …

Keep reading

carrera gtz

Porsche Carrera GTZ by Zagato Wears Much-Sexier Double Bubble Roof

by

  Along with recreating this long-lost 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster for the modern era, Zagato highlights their subtle Carrera GTZ mod as well. You will really need a sharp eye to note the difference between the Carrera GTZ and its factory base, the stupendous Carrera GT. But once you note the differences — you will almost-definitely like the Zagato better. It is all about the roof and rear canopy. Where the targa-roofed stock Carrera GT has a sharp drop-off behind the rear glass, the GTZ has smooth double bubbles flowing back in a very artful fashion. The GTZ is much, …

Keep reading

356 zagato

1958 Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster Is Worlds Only Aluminum-Bodied Example

by

Zagato Classic has recreated their first-ever Porsche project here: a 356 Speedster that was lightened and made quicker for a racing customer in Paris. The tailfins are particularly delightful as functional and style-enhancing elements, as is the lower and lighter windshield. If you are thinking: hey, this Zagato 356 Speedster actually looks much more like the 550 Spyder — you are correct. The commission of a new aluminum body for the steel-skinned 356 meant Zagato could make the car as streamlined as Porsche’s most-successful racer ever (at the time): the 550. Shown below on the grass, you can see the …

Keep reading

dodge razor

Concept Flashback – 2002 Dodge Razor Was Driftable Rear-Drive Plaything

by

With a Razor scooter featured alongside the Razor concept, Dodge was feeling very silly and playful with the launch of this remarkably-sexy two-seater. A turbocharger 2.4-liter engine mounted longitudinally under the hood up front with a big K&N cone filter lets you know this was no Neon. Skinny tires front and rear mean the Razor was designed to be as drifty as a roller palette at CostCo. Five-point harnesses and racing seats will keep you in place while seriously sideways, however. We like the design overall, especially the extremely cool windshield wrap-around, near-vertical A-pillars and the chopped trunk and rear …

Keep reading

2004 Dodge Sling Shot

Concept Flashback – 2004 Dodge Sling Shot Was Rear-Engine Turbo Targa

by

More concept Dodges! The 2004 Sling Shot was a styling exercise investigating how a Dodge version of the recently-launched Smart Roadster might look. Production plans were ultimately shelved for both Sling Shot after, it was rumored, not even the Smart version could pass US crash testing rules. The shared platform means a turbo triple lived under the trunk in back.   2004 Dodge Sling Shot  

jeep renegade

2008 Jeep Renegade Concept Was Off-Road EV Speedster

by

The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles concept parade continues unabated! Here we have the 2008 Jeep Renegade concept — which was a brave look at what a wider, lower and EV-powered Wrangler might look like. The exposed doors and organic surfaces, along with integrated fenders, meld well with the chopped windshield glass. Overall, the Renegade concept showed a modern form language whose lighting elements are seen on the upcoming 2015 Renegade small crossover. 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept

lambo perdigon

Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Lamborghini Perdigon by Ondrej Jirec

by

The Cadillac Estill design vision from last week is not the only incredible future exotic designed by Ondrej Jirec recently. While in his final years as a student at the Art College of Design in Pasadena, Jirec has also been dreaming of future Lamborghini’s. But his dreams turn out far better than any study-hall doodle we could ever achieve… that is for sure. This Gallardo-sized Lamborghini looks fairly traditional from the nose, but is actually a mean and deconstructed beast with ultra-short overhands, complex leading edges, and a full glass canopy. The first thing that hits your eye is the …

Keep reading

MUSTANG-COLORS1-GIF

2015 Ford Mustang Colors and Wheel Visualizer

by

Updated 1.1.2015 With the four wheel styles. A few months ago we created a digital colorizer for the new Mustang – a car that is so highly anticipated that even Ford teams are clamoring for access. Rendered colorizers are fun, but not really helpful as a shopping tool or a real-life guide. We promised a real factory color guide in that article, and are proud to deliver it today! A few observations after spending much, much time on the Ford.com site and the Ford Media Center this week: — The car looks amazing. Even better than expected in the lighter …

Keep reading