Sports Cars

2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce 8

Watch the Stage Reveal of the 2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce!

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Just say it aloud: superveloce. (Vay-loh-che) Pure heaven on the tongue, eyes, ears, hands and even the nose. This is five-sensory immersion into hypercar bliss, Lambo-style. 2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce 02-Mar-2015   The Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce: the purest essence of a Lamborghini Super Sports Car   New Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Worldwide premiere   Automobili Lamborghini presents the Lamborghini LP 750-4 Superveloce at the Salon de l’Automobile in Geneva. With increased power, lower weight, improved aerodynamics and innovative technologies the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce is the most pure incarnation of a Lamborghini to date: unmistakable Lamborghini …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R 24

5.7s, 167MPH 2015 Honda Civic Type R Scorches Into Geneva With 300HP Turbo VTEC

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The 2015 Honda Civic Type R is official! This is it ladies and gentleman — the hottest-ever Honda road car since the original NSX. And it is about time!  Honda is relaunching the NSX as a 2016 model with turbo power, and the latest McLaren-Honda F1 car is also packing forced-induction for 2015. It all really comes together on this new Type R Civic, however. Very exciting performance stats are just the opening salvo — the real track joy will come from its incredibly tossable and tight-handling chassis tune.   2015 Honda Civic Type R   A HOT-HATCH ICON REBORN: …

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2015 Volkswagen Sport Coupe Concept GTE 7

2015 Volkswagen Sport Coupe Concept GTE Shows Fresh Face for Passat CC Replacement

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    VW’s Geneva Preview night is absolutely packed to the rafters with new cars, concepts and tech reveals. The big VW brand rollout is the new Sport Coupe Concept GTE — a mouthful of a name but an easily-digestible new design language. The dramatic nose treatment is most obviously new, with a full-frame grille consisting of horizontal slats throughout. The chrome grille elements flow nicely into an LED extension of the grille shape. This new style is visible on the 2015 Touareg, but vastly more unique and strikingly on this concept. Size and market potential-wise, the Sport Coupe Concept …

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2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept Previews Future 2-Seater Based on Panamera Platform

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The long-rumored Porsche 928 might have just shown its face for the first time….. as a Bentley!? The first Panamera Coupe is indeed looking like a Bentley, thanks to the just-revealed Exp 10 Speed6. EXP10 for Bentley-speak as the 10th concept car, and Speed 6 as a reference to the likely turbocharged V6 behind that all-new face. Low, lean and light are design themes instantly visible on this two-seater – with hollowed-out spaces, organic form flow and an overall lowness that is far sportier than any Continental GT.   2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept EXP 10 SPEED 6 – A …

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2015 Bugatti VEYRON FINALE 2

2015 Bugatti VEYRON FINALE Marks End of an Era – Should Wear $25M Pricetag

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Who could ask for a more hardcore record-smasher than the Bugatti Veyron! A car so intense with its focus on ultimate performance, most engineering and management teams would have abandoned the folly hundreds of times. Bugatti plugged forward. Where tires and wheels did not exist to handle the Veyron’s 250-mph planned top speed, Michelin custom-made the PAX run-flat system and vulcanized some special rubber that could stand the heat. Milled-from-solid alloy wheels to fit these special shoes – with the PAX lip integrated therein. The same scenario played out with the glass, the heat, the aero, the price, the cabin …

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2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept - Latest Photos 3

2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept in 20 New Photos + Powertrain Details

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Updated 2.27.14 With 20 New Photos Half of these are official shots from Kia, and the other half from KoreanCarBlog. In addition to the pics, Kia confirms that the powertrain is a 250-horsepower turbo four with the firm’s new DCT driving the front wheels. In that regard, the SPORTSPACE’s name is clearly SportSpace… not SportsPace. 2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept – Latest Photos   Darnit! Right when we had almost completely written Kia off as poorly-driving, and poorly-marketed cars aimed at idiots — here comes this stunning SPORTSPACE estate concept for Geneva 2015. Hitting my fast-wagon passion right in the jugular, …

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2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Racecar Revealed Wearing 300SL-Inspired Vertical Grille Slats

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First off, Mercedes-AMG has been remarkably kind with the name of its new racecar: just called the AMG GT3. Versus the AMG GT GT3, the simple moniker is very nice indeed. Besides that generosity, the AMG GT3 is a totally brutal racecar. Running the previous SLS GT3’s 6.2-liter V8 versus the new twin-turbo powertrain in the production car, the AMG GT3 is nonetheless comprehensively overhauled for the needs of FIA GT3-class racing. These GT3 specials are interesting to watch race because they are all genuine production platforms, upgraded for racing. No other class or series is as faithful to original …

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2016 Audi R8 – Digital Colorizer in 60 Custom Shades

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Step right up, folks! Pick a color… any color…. there’s plenty for all  and plenty to choose from! Took to Photoshop to explore some wild digitally-rendered colors on the new R8 shape. Most of the candy-colored Skittles rainbow is proudly represented here, along with a set of bold hues and a set of deep and dark shades. Enjoy! 2016 Audi R8 – Digital Colorizer Brights   2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus – Digital Colorizer – Bolds 2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus – Digital Colorizer – Darks  

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3.0s, 610HP 2016 Audi R8 V10 and R8 V10 Plus Are Official! HD Video + 30 Images

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The 2016 Audi R8 V10 is official today ahead of its Geneva debut next week! Packing a totally redesigned chassis, cabin and exterior — the R8 hopes to keep its place as the modest and comfortable supercar in a world filled with moody McLarens and finicky Ferrari’s. The 5.20-liter V10 of the R8 V10 in blue here is only slightly tweaked from before, as it also is in the orange and red V10 Plus R8 models with their extra spoilers and TopGear-lap track mods. Inside, the design is quite fantastic and now includes all the latest and greatest Audi tech, …

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Hypercar Heroes - 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR - Restored By Reiter Engineering 22

Hypercar Heroes – 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR – Restored By Reiter Engineering

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The 1999 Diablo GTR was the ultimate Lambo from the 20th century — with power from its V12 up 50 from the SVR and now belting out 590 ponies, the GTR was a shock to the system. Custom-built in a run of just 30 cars, the Diablo GTR was a track-day special and dominated in the one-make SuperTrophy series. This fantastic example is completely restored to as-new condition by the current SquadraCorsa race partners of Lambo, Reiter Engineering. Despite being replaced by the Murcielago shortly after the GTR arrived, this Diablo is arguably more enticing these days than its successor. …

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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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2015 MINI Vision Gran Turismo Concept 2

First Look – 2015 MINI Vision Gran Turismo Concept Is Widebody Clubman GT3

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First look today at the upcoming MINI entrant into the world of Gran Turismo 6. This MINI Vision GT concept promises a massive jump in power and track ability, likely with AWD and nearly 400-horsepower. We only have a few sketches of the car plus two digital teasers, but the real thing will be seen very soon online, and perhaps in person at the Geneva auto show next week. The MINI VGT will be raceable with the next PlayStation update for Gran Turismo, likely mid-March. 2015 MINI Vision Gran Turismo Concept  

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850HP 2016 Aston Martin VULCAN Is All-New Tactical Strike Flagship with 7.0L Racing V12

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  WOW! This new Aston Martin flagship has some serious thrills in store for its lucky owners. Named to honor the famous Avro Vulcan bomber, the Aston Vulcan will seek to match the excitement, adrenaline and glory of the first tactical nuclear strike plane ever produced. Luckily, this new track-only Aston delivers the goods without any fallout or blowback…. To continue the theme, the Vulcan was designed in a time when nuclear bombs had to still be dropped. Although the ICBM would arrive in the 1960s along with the production bomber, this plane was still a critical part of the …

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2015 McLaren 675LT 5

2.9s 2015 McLaren 675LT Brings LongTail Aero, Track-Attack Chassis and 666HP!

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You really have to admire McLaren Automotive’s brand and product savvy. On either side of the 650S, we now have two tweaked variants to suit individual buyer tastes. Complementing the Asia-only 625C and its softer suspension setup is this new 675LT, a thoroughly revamped 650S with an all-new tail, advanced GT3-style aero pieces for the sills and nose, and a cabin with racing seats and details. The biggest change is in back for this new LongTail model. You instantly see how different the design is versus the 650S, with a longer rear spoiler, unique fender vents behind the wheels, and …

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Digital Renderings - 2017 Mitsubishi MiEVO 2

Digital Renderings – 2017 Mitsubishi MiEVO – Doubles Power, Adds Grip and New Widebody Stance

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We know that the i-MiEV powertrain from Mitsubishi is fully modular. The units can simply be stacked or added to a new drive axle for a precise doubling or tripling of the power. This knowledge comes from the MiEV Evolution III Pikes Peak racer, which juices up to an impressive 600-horsepower via AWD. How would this huge dose of new speed fare on the $16k i-MiEV from Mitsu — the cheapest-ever electric car ever sold in the US? It would easily overwhelm the 15-inch wheels and pizza-cutter tires as stock. So a giant rubber upgrade to 18-inches and double the …

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2015 BRABUS 850 S-Class Coupe 17

3.3s, 217MPH 2015 BRABUS 850 S-Class Coupe is Torque-a-Saurus Through 4Matic AWD

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Welcome…. to Jurassic Torque. 1069-pound-feet, to be precise. Through the new S63 AMG 4MATIC drivetrain, this 850-horsepower monster will screech to 60-mph in just 3.3-seconds and on to a 217-mph top speed. We really enjoy the design accents shown here on the new S63 850 exterior design. In front, the upper bumper intakes are nicely flared with a carbon-fiber accent. In back, a near-perfect rear spoiler looks like it should be from the Mercedes factory. That is the sign of a really good custom mod. Stunning power, tasteful exterior upgrades and a cabin to redefine swanky? Brabus! 2015 BRABUS 850 …

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AVENUE ROCKET Sabino Leerentveld 7

Design Talent Showcase – 2022 AVENUE ROCKET by Sabino Leerentveld

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  As the previous Sabino Design concept shows an extreme, deconstructed exoskeleton stripped all bodywork, this Avenue Rocket goes the other direction. A huge and intricate bodywing is made of more than 80 individual spikes, wings and dynamic surfaces. Totally absurd? Not at all. Aerodynamic studies and wind tunnels are only as good as the software and number-crunching hardware used to predict and confirm design ideas as effective. At the current rate of computer evolution, the black air of aerodynamics are about to see the light. Supercars are already leveraging these aero insights in their race upgrades. But what if …

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2020 Puma Boulevard Racer by Sabino Leerentveld 10

Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Puma Boulevard Racer by Sabino Leerentveld

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LocalMotors.com is not just the hub of a budding OEM manufacturer of trucks, motorcycles and trikes — but actually a full-fledged design community. Collaborative engineering and project management takes a huge hive of intellectual capital. It is fun to browse around the design section of the site to find exciting ideas, fantastic renderings of the future, and draft design projects that will make you gag in horror. Buried deep in the pages, however, you can find some really exciting achievements in design. Stuff that no company or even Gran Turismo concept is doing yet. Such is the Puma Boulevard Racer …

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2015 Aston Martin VANTAGE GT3 Is Most-Extreme V12S With Hardcore Aero Upgrade All Around

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Okay, Aston special edition fatique is definitely setting in pretty hard lately. But this is one special Vantage to really get – and keep – your attention in focus. But there is a big catch. What is special about this Vantage GT3? Based on the Vantage V12 S Coupe, the new GT3 model is 200-pounds lighter and nearly doubles the aerodynamic grip generated at high speeds. How? Through an all-new nose with deep splitter and ductwork, a fresh hood vent design to free any trapped air in this ultra-tight engine bay, and full reprofiled intake and bumper design in carbon-fiber. …

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Last Bugatti VEYRON ‘La Finale’ To Take Bow in Geneva

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  The time has come, ladies and gentleman. After ten years of production and 450 units, La Finale is indeed upon us. This final Veyron caps off perhaps the most-successful hypercar program of all time. Still the ultimate king of speed, the Veyron is the pride of the Volkswagen Group — and also the entire automotive industry, in some ways. We can only smile imagining what barriers the next Bugatti models will break through, what records smashed and fantasies ignited.   2015 Bugatti VEYRON Grand Sport Vitesse La Finale   2015 Bugatti VEYRON Grand Sport Vitesse La Finale Bugatti sells …

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2015 Toyota Camry - DAYTONA 500 Official Pace Car 25

2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Morphs Into DAYTONA 500 Official Pace Car + #83 Johnny Sauter Camry NASCAR

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First up-close look at the 2015 Camry Pace Car in real life. A modified 2015 CAMRY XSE V6, shiny exhausts and a lower stance are visible above 19-inch BBS alloys and Z-rated tires. Just a tire and spring change away from being approved for 155mph? Yep. Summer rubber on this pace car, even in chilly February! The pair of Camry Pace Cars is active regularly during the Budweiser Duel Races that serve as a qualifier for the Daytona 500 lineup. This new LED-lit 2015 Camry Pace Car has no trouble managing track brutes at up to 125-mph around tracks like …

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DAYTONA – Meeting the 199MPH 2015 Toyota Camry NASCAR of Matt Kenseth #20 Dollar General

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Thrilling week in Daytona Beach so far! An incredible day of meeting Toyota NASCAR drivers, crew chiefs and even the president of TRD USA, the overall lead in the Toyota Racing effort in American events. Meeting the 2015 Camry racer up close then seeing it in what felt like an HD action movie of the race Duels later? YES! So much fun to see the Daytona Speedweek leadup to the Daytona 500 tomorrow, Sunday the 22nd of February. The car-guy part of NASCAR culture makes tech and equipment off-track and in the pits every bit as serious as a wild …

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2016 McLaren P1 GTR Yellow 12-vert - Copy

986HP, ~2.2s 2016 McLaren P1 GTR Revealed Before Geneva and Catalunya Track Driver Program

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  The 2016 McLaren P1 GTR is now in full racing mode. Scary-fast and ready to blast out of the pits at the Circuit de Catalunya later this year with the elite crop of owner-drivers who will join the ultimate racing experience. The P1 GTR is significantly stripped and optimized for track duties versus its P1 road-going hypercar base-point, which was no shrinking violet itself when it comes to extreme performance. The P1 GTR is an in-house way for McLaren to bring its racing expertise to regular owners, with full pit-crew support and the chance to touch the P1 GTR’s …

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2016 Lotus Evora 400 3-tile

400HP, 4.1s 2016 Lotus Evora 400 Is Leaner and Meaner 2+2 With Designed-In Downforce

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First look tonight at the new Lotus Evora 400 — a tweaked and updated version of the promising sports-car with mid-mounted V6 power, a supercharger with 50 extra horsepower to deliver 4.1-second sprints to 60-mph, and even an available IPS automatic transmission. The big news of the Evora 400 is its cooler style, better aero slipperiness combined with almost double the downforce of the existing Evora S. Inside, the new Evora 400 is far more advanced with new controls and new tech throughout. The center stack is incredibly modern and delivers Porsche-beating design details for things as everyday as the …

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2015 KTM X-Bow GTR Is Reskinned and GT4-Ready To Race via Reiter Engineering

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KTM’s branch-out from its motorcycle core with the X-Bow has created a rapid and fierce bunch of loyalists on and off the racetracks of the world. A simple idea of a carbon-fiber tub, mid-engine dynamics and deconstructed and minimalist panels was such a revolution six years ago — yet today is almost the global supercar template. From the X-Bow — pronounced CrossBow — came the X-Bow GT and the latest one-make race series, increases to 400-plus horsepower, and even a windshield for those days when you can drive without a race helmet. The next step for the X-Bow takes the …

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Wow! 2015 Kia SPORTSPACE Concept Previews Future Optima Estate in Stellar Fashion

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Darnit! Right when we had almost completely written Kia off as poorly-driving, and poorly-marketed cars aimed at idiots — here comes this stunning SPORTSPACE estate concept for Geneva 2015. Hitting my fast-wagon passion right in the jugular, the bleeding passion down my neck is almost as red as this SPORTSPACE. Long, low and sexy — the SPORTSPACE concept packs a gorgeous new design from double-quad LED light-pods back to its low-roofed tail and slimline glasshouse. Inside, things improve perhaps even further, with a full-length The SPORTSPACE is a strong statement of intent and first glimpse of the new Frankfurt-led design …

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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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All-New 2016 Audi R8 First Look Teases Laser LED Headlamp For Berlinale VIPs

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    Audi has been swishing it up with the European Sundance attendees this past week – being the official car of the Berlinale film festival. Giving its highest honor to “Taxi, a film shot with dual dash-mounted cameras by a passport-revoked director from Iran, the Berlinale is just the kind of flashbulb event sponsorship Audi loves. Countering Mercedes-Benz near-domination of fashion weeks in NY and abroad, Audi is cozying up to film stars, movie lovers and culture jockeys alike. Sample the new car, sir? Along with this glitz and bohemian glamour, Audi also took the wraps off a new …

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1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato 6a

RM Amelia 2015 Preview – 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato

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  Meet the most successful Alfa Romeo racecar of all time. This 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato is the ultimate evolution on the Alfa Romeo race platform of the day, refined and tweaked with the help of poached Fiat engineering talent. The goal? To win races decisively. And win it did. This tilt-radiator design helped to keep the supercharged engine cool by shifting more air through its vanes, and also creating less aerodynamic drag. A one-two punch. That and the body by Zagato certainly helped the car look cool – both then and now. 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C …

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RM Amelia 2015 Preview – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra May Top $1-Million In Return to Early-Series Buyer Preference

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The million-dollar pre-sale estimate on this 1963 Shelby Cobra is a testament to three things: — the essential ‘rightness’ of the original concept, design and execution of this Anglo-American mashup — the value of Shelby Cobra’s continuing to rise, with originals like this sure to be among the highest-value models of all — and the fact that all those replicas and rip-offs actually reinforce and strengthen the legacy of the Shelby Cobra, but will never touch its overall collector value 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 Lot 178 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra $950,000 – $1,150,000 …

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1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder 1

RM Amelia 2015 Preview – 1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder

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Imagine a car with the low, wide and long late-60s proportions of the Maserati Ghibli and Ferrari Daytona, but with nose detailing more evocative of the famous Ferrari 250 GTO. Even the chrome wrap-around bumpers set a perfect late-50s mood that was forever lost to history by the introduction of 5-mph safety bumpers and other pesky requirements for US sale. The team behind Intermeccanica certainly could, and this machine has a really timeless and special beauty as a result. Powered by a Ford V8, this Turin-made supercar also lacks the badge appeal of any modern Ferrari or Lamborghini. As such, …

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1955 Jaguar D-Type Twin-Cowl 15

RM Amelia 2015 Preview – 1955 Jaguar D-Type Twin-Cowl

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This Jaguar is sure to be both a fan and expert favorite at the RM Auctions event in Amelia Island next month. One of 54 ever made, this privateer racecar is exquisite in its period style, achievements and performance. A surviving race-winner, the twin-cowl cockpit and windshield are particularly delightful, as is the cabin with its myriad aviation-derived instruments. 1955 Jaguar D-Type Twin-Cowl RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 Lot 135 1955 Jaguar D-Type $3,750,000 – $4,250,000 Chassis no. XKD 530 Engine no. E 2044 9 Body no. H 2030 Est. 300 bhp, 3,781 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine …

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2014 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 2 3

2014 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 2 – HD Video Startup, Specs and Colors

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RTR upgrades for the Ford Mustang are new on the scene, but gaining ground fast with their affordable, high-performance and high-impact style upgrades. Short for Ready To Rock, the RTR upgrades come in Spec 1 changes available for the V6 or V8 Mustangs since 2010, or the Spec 2 for only the V8s from 2013 and 2014. There are also packs for the 2015 car. We caught up with a Spec 2 RTR 2014 Mustang at Charleston Cars and Coffee yesterday and nabbed a few photos and a startup video of this steriodal ponycar. The exhaust note alone is enough …

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Winter Drift Gallery – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD Slides Sideways Across Canadian Border

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The big news on the very-cool Buick Regal GS this year is the addition of AWD as an option on the automatic transmission, plus a stick-shift choice for the Hy-Per-Strut front-driver. Eager to get sideways, the new Regal GS is at home in the snow like no Buick sports-sedan in decades. Enjoy this photo blast…. just try not to get snow in your eyes! 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD    

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2015 BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car – New Water-Cooled Boost Vaporization – Coming to 2016 M4 GTS?

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This new M4 MotoGP Safety Car is a beaut in its matte-black finish and artful M-color racing stripes and huge fixed wing atop the trunk. But there are two pieces of big news hiding under that pace-car livery: a new water-cooled turbo vaporization technology and the possibility of these upgrades hitting an M4 GTS production model in the next year or so with up to 100 extra horsepower. First off, the water cooled turbo system. First off, to clarify. Most intercoolers or charge cooler systems actually spray water to the outside of the intercooler itself. Spraying water atop the cooling …

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Nissan GT-R LM NISMO

2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo LMP1 Racer Makes Public Debut in Chicago – 40 New Photos!

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 The hot and heavy three-way battle among Porsche, Audi and Toyota in the LeMans Prototype One race class just got a lot steamier. Nissan just pulled back the silk sheets on its contender to World Endurance Championship racing: the 2015 Nissan GT-R LM NISMO. And boy does it go its own way to achieving massive speed and impact, while sticking to the very expansive fuel usage rules of LeMans racing. The biggest shocker is not that it is a hybrid twin-turbo-charged V6 making 1250-horsepower. It shocks with where that engine sits, and where it delivers its power. The engine lives …

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Update1 – 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept Could Be Yours….!

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  This 370Z NISMO is remarkably sexy, considering we have already seen the latest 370Z NISMO as well as the standard 370Z Roadster. Combine those two, however, and real sparks fly. The gorgeous snowflake white metallic paint with NISMO red accents in the lower aero pieces are fantastic, and the car wears a sexy single-piece spoiler that totally changes the 370Z Roadster’s silhouette. Overall, a striking vision indeed. This NISMO Roadster runs an automatic, which is also different from the manual-only helm of the NISMO 370Z hardtop. So what is the catch?! When will it arrive? Perhaps by August of …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Aero Accessories Concept 2

2016 Mazda MX-5 Aero Accessories Concept Packs Fresh Splitters, Wheels, and Sills for Chicago

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Sweet BBS alloys in gloss-black, splitters all around, a Brembo big brake kit and even a luggage rack atop the trunk for those cross-country trips?! We’ll take them all except that luggage rack, thank-you-very-much!     2016 Mazda MX-5 Aero Accessories Concept MAZDA UNVEILS 2016 MX-5 MIATA ACCESSORIES CONCEPT DESIGN AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The only thing better than the all-new 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a personalized 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, where the first-generation MX-5 Miata was introduced to the world in 1989, Mazda revealed an MX-5 …

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Watch the PP-Performance Porsche 911 Turbo Slam a 9.8s Quarter Mile!

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Talk about bang for the buck! Or maybe a better phrase? G-forces for your G’s? 2.5G of acceleration pushing you into the 911 Turbo’s seat twice as hard as stock, for just 15G’s of your cash. This PP-911 Turbo upgrade creates a stonking 150 extra horsepower for just 12,000 Euros. Roughly exchanged to dollars, this is a very reasonable $100 per pony. The results of this giant torque and horsepower expansion take the 911 Turbo to a new league of performance. 2.5-seconds to 60-mph, and a blistering 9.8-second 1/4-mile sprint. Stellar numbers, both. Finely honed on the PP-Performance dyno’s and …

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3.6s 2016 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe Updated With Latest 6-Series Tech and Style

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We really wondered about the just-released-in-the-US Alpina B6 for 2015. How would this sync with the overall 635i, 650i and M6 Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe that are all packing barely-noticeable updates? Luckily, the Aplina B6 benefits from these ultra-subtle tweaks for 2016. We recently spotted (what the owner said) was the first B6 GC on the East Coast, after falling hard for the first USA B6 GC at a BMW event in Pebble Beach. 2015 BMW Alpina B6 (current model)   The biggest change to spot is that the current car has its LED indicator elements below the main …

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TechArt Reveals Porsche 911 GTS AeroKit and Noselift System

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  The new Porsche 911 GTS models are absolutely awesome. With the wide-body rear fenders and LED lightbar in back, these are easily some of the coolest naturally-aspirated Porsches out there. But when seeking new wheels, a lower stance and added curb appeal — the TechArt gurus are a great destination. The new GTS Convertible shown here wears their new centerlock forged wheels, a meaner front bumper design, and a big wing in back to drive home the point for those you pass. A lower and cooler stance is possible with the TechArt Noselift system — a hydraulic lift to …

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2015 nanoFlowcell QUANT F Headed to Geneva With New 1000HP Powertrain

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Quant is back in Geneva this year with a new evolution of the Quant E from 2014 – now packing 500 extra horsepower, a new transmission and drivetrain, a bright red color outside, new LED headlights and fresh wheels. The 2014 nanoFlowcell eSportLimousine prototype was recently approved for road use in Europe, so production reality is coming along nicely for this cool supercar. Imagine a Tesla Model S crossed with a Porsche 918 Spyder, and you have the $350,000 estimated price point of the eventual production model.    2015 nanoFlowcell QUANT F 10.02.2015 nanoFlowcell AG presents new QUANT F in …

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RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster

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How time flies in the hypercar world! Only seven short years ago, this Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster was the absolute hottest, wildest machine on four wheels. With only 156 miles since new, the original owner clearly thought highly of the car and wanted to maximize its collector potential in the future. But again just seven short years later, he or she is making room in the garage. Perhaps for one of the hypercar class of 2015? 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 2008 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640-4 Roadster Chassis no. ZHWBU47S88LA03146

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RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1937 Lincoln Model K Convertible Sedan by LeBaron

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Here is a gorgeous classic we are excited to even see in person! A V12 Lincoln cabriolet with four doors!? Yes indeed. 1937 Lincoln Model K Convertible Sedan by LeBaron RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1937 Lincoln Model K Convertible Sedan by LeBaron Chassis no. K-8128

1968 Toyota 2000GT 8

RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1968 Toyota 2000GT

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The second Japanese car to join RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 auction? The stunning and very desirable 2000GT from Toyota. 1968 Toyota 2000GT RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1968 Toyota 2000GT Chassis no. MF10L-10189 Engine no. 10225 Body no. 1179

1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 5

RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432

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It is rare to see Japanese cars in the high-dollar auction world, so this Z-car is extra special in that regard. Additionally, as what appears to be a Japanese Domestic Market model, the vehicle is officially a Nissan versus a Datsun as it was sold stateside. 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 Chassis no. PS30-00092

1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster by Reutter 18a

RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster by Reutter

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Any  Porsche 356 in 2015 is almost unbelievably tiny and basic, so the Speedster with its stripped down cabin and tiny glass areas is almost the perfect caricature of a 1950s sports roadster.   1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster by Reutter RM Auctions Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1958 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter Chassis no. 83814 Engine no. 75350 60 hp, 1,582 cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with dual Zenith carburetors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with laminated torsion bars, parallel trailing arms, and tubular shock absorbers, independent rear swing axles with torsion bars …

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2016 Acura ILX A-SPEC Makes Credible, Playful and Chic Audi A3-Fighter

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The first-gen Acura ILX did not do it for us. It seemed too much like a lightly-upfitted Civic to really turn heads, and its design never appealed much either. But for 2016, the ILX takes huge advances on the performance, style and tech realms. The new eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic is a peppy and responsive playmate for the 201-horsepower 2.4-liter engine, while even the new design is actually quite cool. ILX is bit more handsome than the Audi A3? What is happening!?! Even the much-maligned Acura single-bar grille is suddenly much cooler, with a sharp and three-dimensional new shape making it …

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Ege Argüden 2035 Aston Martin AMR-AP LeMans Racer 12

Design Talent Showcase – Ege Arguden 2035 Aston Martin AMR-AP LeMans Racer

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This design study by emerging automotive design all-star Ege Arguden is a fascinating look into the future of endurance racing. With ‘air power’ that compresses oxygen and converts it to wheel thrust, this future-tech racecar has many interesting facets to study even today. Versus contemporary Aston Martin racing prototypes, the AMR-AP by Arguden is a massive leap into the future. Even so, the 2035 AMR-AP design sticks with the things we know already work so well on the track: ultra-low nose, shrouded fenders, massive length and long-tail spoiler with numerous stabilizer elements. The Arguden AMR-AP prototype is most special to …

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2014 Superformance GT40 Mark I - MEGA Photo Shoot and Ride-Along Videos 86

Superformance GT40 Mk1 – Gulf Racing Livery in 90 Gorgeous Photos + 2 Videos

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Update1 – Republishing this with new gallery formats. While editing these photos just now, I am trying to think of the right description for the beauty shown by the Superformance GT40 Mark I. (And its humble photographer…!) All I keep thinking is: “These Photos Are Wet-Your-Pants Gorgeous!” The 100-plus photos below hopefully make up for the very disappointing camerawork in my GT40 ride-along. Yes, for most of it, I am narrating into an iPhone that was not actually, ahem, recording… VIDEO PART ONE Ride-Along VIDEO PART TWO Overall, owning a Superformance GT40 is now near the top of my long …

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2018 Porsche 901 by Ege Arguden 4-tile

Design Talent Showcase – Porsche 901 by Ege Argüden – Future Super-911 To Take On McLaren and Ferrari?

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With the Porsche 911 one of the most consistent and linear designs in all of automobile-dom, it might be easy to think there are no new ideas for how to make the icon more modern, more svelte and delivering even  more performance. Ege Argüden is an exciting talent in the car-design world. Studying automotive and industrial design in Pasadena, Arguden has not only created a stunning new Porsche 911 style. But also a story and design rationale, product positioning and brand heritage study. BIO Originally from Turkey, Arguden recently wrapped up his second design internship with BMW in Munich. Arguden’s …

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Concept Flashback – 2000 Audi Rosemeyer

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Steampunk? Does that apply here? No, none of the original Audi race-cars from the 1930s were powered by steam, but this Rosemeyer concept seems to fit into this new, retro-mechanical style movement. Exposed rivets, pop-up lamp covers, individual headlight pods, massive vents all down the back of the engine compartment — all fantastic and moody. The brushed-aluminum surface takes a big step toward authenticity versus the clean and polished surface of the Avus Quattro concept, while the front vents all feel milled from a solid piece of metal. 2000 Audi Rosemeyer

1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet 1

RM Amelia 2015 Preview – 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet

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This Ferrari 400 SuperAmerica is absolutely unbelievable – it looks like it just came in from Modena this morning. Stellar. 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet   Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina Chassis no. 1945 SA Engine no. 1945 SA

2015 Panigale S 41

2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale – Worlds Wildest Superbike in 300 Photos!

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When it comes to luxury products worldwide, there are two king countries: France and Italy. But in the world of mechanical perfection, thrilling speed and racing glory, Italy obviously trumps France in almost every realm. Small volumes, extreme passion, engineering focus all help to deliver a quicker pulse, guaranteed. Ducati is the latest masterpiece to wear this two-wheeled-Ferrari crown thanks to the race-fast 1299 Panigale, plus its two bad-ass siblings, the 899 Panigale and 1299 Panigale S. With pricing from $25,000 for the Panigale S, there is no better way to enter the Italian mechanical exotica club than this new …

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1935 Mercedes-Benz 500-540K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen 15

RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500-540K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen

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The Blue Train Bentley heading to RM Auctions Amelia Island event is enough to put anyone in a 1930s supercar mood. This black 540K Cabriolet certainly qualifies in this low-roof, huge-length archetype of luxury cruisers able to hit massive speed. And bonus? This Merc is even a ragtop. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Amelia Island 14 March 2015 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis no. 105384 Engine no. 105384 Body no. 817605 Kommission no. 12847

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2015 Ferrari F12 Tour de France 64 Is Latest from Ferrari Tailor Made

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Tailor Made Ferrari’s are all about details: and this latest homage to the 250 GTO Tour de France racer has some stunning tweaks. A matching yellow stripe across the hood of this front-engine supercar perfectly matches the style shown 50 years ago on the Tour de France-winning 250 GTO. The other incredible detail that is a surprise and delight? F40-matching blue ‘superfabric’ seats! This shows how a few tweaks in the build process in Modena can make a future concours-winner out of any 2015 Ferrari. 2015 Ferrari F12 Tour de France 64   The F12berlinetta Tour de France 64 revealed …

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1973 Vauxhall Firenza 25

1973 Vauxhall Firenza Showed Rare Sports-Coupe Elegance and Futuristic Style

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Okay, okay. At first glance, this Vauxhall Firenza looks impossibly dated and recalls a Chevy Chevette for anyone in the USA. But think of the Firenza in the context of the Ford Mustang II, Pacer and Gremlin. The 1970s was a pretty gross period in car design overall. Shrinking engines, sloppy style and floppy suspensions are preeminent themes of the 1970s, from the cheapest cars to the priciest Lamborghini’s. The Firenza was a flagship sports coupe for the Vauxhall brand, introducing aerodynamic shrouds for the headlamps under flat glass, a single-piece nose design with integrated airdamn, and a pointy hood …

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RM Amelia Island 2015 Preview – 1930 Bentley Blue Train Is Reborn!

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Part mystery, part fantasy – but all legend! The Blue Train Bentley is back with this just-finished recreation of one of the most legendary Flying B’s ever made. As the official RM write-up below charts, the car was created the beat one of the quickest trains on a route to France. This might seem easy today, with six-lane motorways throughout the world and pavement allowing high-speed progress for even the most unskilled drivers. But in the 1930s, the idea of averaging more than 90-mph in a car, across long distances, was pure fantasy and hyperbole. Like something right out of …

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2004 Vauxhall VXR220 – A Design Icon and Style Tastemaker

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When the first-gen Elise was sweeping up accolades, the smartest people in the room might have seen three holes in the perfect-handling bliss that was the new Lotus. — The design was odd and the detailing was all-wrong. The bug-eye lamps and curvy shapes recalled a dune buggy more than an exotic supercar — The original engines were low on torque and not globally certified for emissions — Distribution within the tiny Lotus boutique dealer network was extremely limited Vauxhall was able to bring solutions to these three issues in one fell swoop. Huge industrial might behind it, design talent …

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SuperSedan Debrief – 1993 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

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The Lotus Carlton was not just a hero because of its massive turbocharged engine and rear-drive handling balance. Not just an icon because of its Lotus-honed grip and track prowess. Not just a stylish executive saloon that suddenly competied with Audi and BMW thanks to its sweet wide fenders and aerokit. Not just a British national champion because it was created by Vauxhall and Lotus, and built there too. Little Opel input was needed for asked-for, nor help from General Motors across the Atlantic. Nor simply an extremely-rapid autobahn missile with a Vmax of more than 180-mph. The real reason …

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Corsa VXR Front

2015 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Packs Koni Shocks and Limited-Slip Diff!

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  The hot hatch market in the UK is one of the fiercest and most-competitive anywhere in the world. So to have any street cred selling millions of luke-warm mini-cars, a brand needs to have an aspirational hero at the top of the range. A car that will make Richard Hammond laugh and hoon, you might say. The Corsa VXR is a direct response to the global love-fest that surrounds the Ford Fiesta ST. These two mini-cars are Britain’s top-selling vehicles, so any tweak or change in their style and performance is rapidly noted by all drivers. Especially lead-footed teens! …

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srt mystery

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – Side Exhaust Mystery + 150 New Photos

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The 2015 Challenger Hellcat is currently on track to be one of the most popular SRT upgrades ever. And little wonder. What other musclecar has ever achieved 707-horsepower!? Two in-person sightings of the Hellcat since its static debut at Elkhart Lake last summer: first at the Houston Auto Show, where we find an unusual side-exhaust ahead of the passenger wheel….. and next at the Mecum Auction in Kissimmee, Florida last week. Based on the anoraks at Hellcat.org forums, we believe the side exhaust is just a prototype testing detail, and not on the production cars. We have a few zoomed …

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2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 9

380HP 2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 Is Hardcore, Track-Attack Cockster!

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The new Cayman GT4 is a huge bit of news! An ultra-hardcore model with 380-horsepower and a chassis overhaul complete with 911 GT3 tech bits throughout, this sweet new Cayman flagship will make many Porsche Club members thrilled. The GT4 is not just the huge wing and aerokit all around. It also crosses a threshold Porsche has so far been reluctant about: a pricing overlap with the base 911. The base 911 Carrera 2 is a cruiser at heart, though, and will not really compete directly with this new $85,000 Cayman GT4. Overlap is good. Let the Cayman GT4 have …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Roadster 45 - Copy

2016 Mazda MX-5 Roadster Sexy, Cool and Mean in 52 New Photos

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With the all-new 2016 MX-5, we can imagine Mazda had a few design goals in mind. It would definitely need to look: — completely fresh and unable to be mistaken for existing cars — cool and masculine, with a mean streak that shows its performance edge — modern and stylish; a sexy flair to fire up roadster passion We were not completely sure about the design when first shown, but are firm believers now. How cool and sexy and mean is this little roadster in its latest dynamic photos from Spain? Very. Most of these cars on Euro plates are …

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2016 Ferrari 488 GTB Digital Colorizer

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Let’s take a look at the latest Ferrari in 30 other colors! 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB Digital Colorizer   The next chapter of mid-engine Ferrari V8 has arrived! Named the 488 GTB, this twin-turbo 3.9-liter is an absolute beast in the power and torque department. 660-horsepower pairs with 560-pound-feet of torque for a 60-mph sprint as quick as 2.8-seconds to 60-mph. Top speed is quoted as in excess of 330-kph, or about 205-mph. But based on the new ultra-slippery style, we expect a Vmax in ideal conditions of about 212-mph. The design outside is a from step forward from the …

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660HP, 212MPH 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB Goes Turbo With Wild New Intake Styles!

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  The next chapter of mid-engine Ferrari V8 has arrived! Named the 488 GTB, this twin-turbo 3.9-liter is an absolute beast in the power and torque department. 660-horsepower pairs with 560-pound-feet of torque for a 60-mph sprint as quick as 2.8-seconds to 60-mph. Top speed is quoted as in excess of 330-kph, or about 205-mph. But based on the new ultra-slippery style, we expect a Vmax in ideal conditions of about 212-mph. The design outside is a from step forward from the 458, with a meaner and wider-feeling nose that evokes LaFerrari themes, while the side intakes are now twice …

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~340HP 2016 Ford Focus RS Runs AWD and DTV! Official Debut + Drift Video

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  The new Ford Focus RS is official, and officially stunning! With a new 2.3-liter turbo engine and an extreme new AWD setup, the wildest part of the new Focus RS might be under the metal. But that metal is also pretty intense: wide-body fenders, a giant splitter up front, deeper sills and a rear end to honor the Ford RS legacy. That means a giant Rallycross wing and huge coffee-can exhausts mounted inboard for max visual and aural impact. Best news of all? This new Focus RS is coming to America! Check out the video below to see and …

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Hypercar Heroes! 2015 Pagani Huayra Up Close and Personal 10

Hypercar Heroes! 2015 Pagani Huayra Up Close and Personal

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  In the hypercar class of 2015, the Pagani Huayra is one for true drivers. Brutal power plus exquisite beauty. The Huayra is so rare that Ferrari and McLaren will have made 10X the number of LaFerrari’s and P1’s by the end of 2015. Among the five total dealerships in the United States, we’re thrilled that Pagani of Dallas brought two cars to the recent Houston Auto Show. One customer car shown in blue and yellow for the show itself, and the bare-carbon demo car for display outside one of Houston’s glitziest hotels. The Huayra is easy to fall in …

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2015 Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS 7

Update1 70 New Pics – 2015 Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS Feature Ripping Exhaust!

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BIG news about the new 981 Porsche Cayman and Boxster GTS! They feature a roaring, stonking and rip-snorting exhaust note. In perhaps the least-kept-secret of the last year, the Cayman and Boxster are officially available with a new top-level GTS trim level. In addition to more focused dynamics and style all around, the GTS models pack 340-horsepower each. (Edit: the Boxster appears to have ten fewer ponies than the hardtop Cayman.) Even so, this is a pretty substantial leap for the 911’s siblings, which until now have been capped well below this total — even in the Boxster and Cayman …

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2015 BMW M4 Fire Orange 2

2015 BMW M4 Colors and Wheels Guide – Animated Turntables + Individual Fire Orange

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We were really excited to find this Fire Orange M4 in Houston. We thought it meant that BMW was expanding the very lackluster color range available. But that is not really the case. This Fire Orange is a $5,000 option via BMW Individual. The most fantastic shade on the standard palette is Sakhir Orange, which is a semi-matte finish that is dark and yummy, and very distinctive.   2015 BMW M4 Sakhir Orange Besides those, we’d vote only for Black Sapphire or non-Metallic Alpine White. Bonus for Alpine white? It saves you $2,000. The manual transmission is a good decision, …

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2016 Nissan Maxima #WithDad Commercial – Creative Strategy Analysis

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  This 90-second Nissan ad is a huge, huge overall branding push – with a (negotiated) price of about $10-million just for the media, it needs to connect a lot of dots and hit the right notes to earn its worth. It is admittedly pretty touching, and themes such as bonding with a distant father are highly universal. The scenes are also uniquely Nissan. You could not switch out the brand or product easily, which is a sign of good creative. The same cannot be said for Kia Motors Pierce Brosnan ad, or even the touching Jeep Renegade spot. When …

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2015 Nissan GT-R LM NISMO 8a

LMP1 3-Way Becomes Fourgy! 2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo Revealed With 1250HP, Front-Drive V6TT?!

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 The hot and heavy three-way battle among Porsche, Audi and Toyota in the LeMans Prototype One race class just got a lot steamier. Nissan just pulled back the silk sheets on its contender to World Endurance Championship racing: the 2015 Nissan GT-R LM NISMO. And boy does it go its own way to achieving massive speed and impact, while sticking to the very expansive fuel usage rules of LeMans racing. The biggest shocker is not that it is a hybrid twin-turbo-charged V6 making 1250-horsepower. It shocks with where that engine sits, and where it delivers its power. The engine lives …

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4.0s, 567HP 2015 BMW X6 M In 140 New Photos From Austin COTA

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The X6M is harder, lower, wider and wilder than the new X5M — really cementing its status as one of the quickest SUVs of all time. The design showcases a new rear fender strike and even more chopped-roof design feeling — and sets the right for its massive new power and pace from all sides. The most powerful BMWs ever made have just shattered the glass ceiling of SUV performance. With 567-horsepower through standard xDrive AWD, the new X5 and X6 M have sprint times of just 4.0-seconds along with a devilish M styling overhaul. The grille and front fascia …

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Houston Auto Show Curio - Porsche 356 Art Car Is Janis Joplin Homage 8

Houston Auto Show Curio – Porsche 356 Art Car Is Janis Joplin Homage

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Janis Joplin’s very famous Porsche 356C lives today in the North Carolina Art Museum, where it sits in a rock & roll showcase with its top up and musky, phsychodelic cabin sealed from onlookers. THe rag-top Porsche was a big part of Janet’s rise to stardom, and one of her first gifts to herself when she started making money in the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s. This is where the real birth of the hippie movement happened, starting as early as 1955 and only going national a dozen years later. Janet was a riddle herself: poor and loving …

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1971 Porsche 911S 4

Updated With New Photos – Mecum Kissimmee 2015 – 1971 Porsche 911S

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Updated 2.1.15 This yummy yellow 911S is still available are a high bid of $180,000 did not meet its reserve. It is quite special in person, with period paint and detailing all totally flawless. 1971 Porsche 911S PREVIOUS 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 …

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Hand-Airbrushed Nissan 370Z LowRider 1

Houston Auto Show Tuners – Hand-Airbrushed Nissan 370Z LowRider

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Despite graphics that make us think of Saved By The Bell, this Z-car is exceptionally cool on its stanced-out air-ride and giant wheels. Looking closely at all the photos, we do not know the vendor showcased here. Nor even if it is airbrushed or a wrap. It is quite alarming up close, actually…. Hand-Airbrushed Nissan 370Z LowRider    

Wellborn Musclecar Collection at Mecum Florida 2015 Auctions 45

HD Video Walkarounds + Gallery – Wellborn Musclecar Collection at Mecum Florida 2015 Auctions

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  We chatted our way past the nylon ropes to secure some up-close and person looks at the headliners of the recent Mecum 2015 Auctions in Florida. These pristine MOPAR muslcecars are some of the finest in the world, and the Chevelle SS, Buick GSX, Mustang Boss 429 and Pontiac Firebirds are a welcome bit of nostalgia as well. Also included below are 60 new photos of these cars in person. Enjoy!     Wellborn Musclecar Collection at Mecum Florida 2015 Auctions     1970 Mustang Boss 429 Fastback – $425,000 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona – $900,000    

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback 1

Mecum Florida 2015 – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback Is #5 Top Earner at $425k

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  $425,000 is a fantastic total for any American car — ever — so definitely no poo-pooing here. But wouldn’t it be nice if it had rung in a solid $429k!? Even so, this Wellborn Musclecar Museum Boss 429 Fastback is a real hero in the flesh. Larger and meaner than the first few years of pony-cars, this beast looks hungry for blood. Its fantastic blue paintwork surely helps seal the period mood: this Mustang is a forever icon of its era. A squealing-tire time-capsule. 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback Lot R223// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1970 Ford Mustang …

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2015 Lexus LF-LC GT Vision Gran Turismo Is Race-Ready With Fantasy Gound-Effect Aero

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  There are obviously a few routes a brand cane take with their Vision Gran Turismo prototype racers, and this makes sense. When you play GT6 (or any GT) the cars are classified by power to weight ratio, drivetrain layouts, and myriad other classifications. So it is not as if all these VGT cars just end up on a track together. With that in mind, the new Lexus LF-LC GT falls into a much more practical category that hyper-futuristic ideas like the Chevrolet Chaparral or the most recent Renault Alpine. This LF-LC GT is a down-to-earth look that is very, …

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1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA 18

Mecum Florida 2015 Hero – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Brings $900k

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 Stunning total sale prices for the star of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection: this flawlessly original 1969 Daytona Charger. HD Video walkaround below, plus 30 new photos of the car in person. Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the …

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Hall of Fame – 2012 Nissan JUKE-R – Branded Marketing Halo Worth Weight in Gold

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The 2012 Nissan Juke-R broke all the rules of concept cars, branding and supercar manufacturing. ‘Broke the rules’ is an absolute marketing cliche in this day and age, with every brand and their mom trying to play the rebel and bad-boy, all in search of that most elusive of demographics: the male 13-34. The reason this freakish creation with a Juke body atop a shortened Nissan GT-R platform was ostensibly just to showcase the GT-R’s amazing skills, perhaps living under the skin of normal and affordable Nissan models. In the JUKE-R’s case, the resemblence was far more that a branding …

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2015 Ford Mustang Convertible 18

2015 Ford Mustang Convertible Sweeps Muscle Beach! MEGA 140-Photo Gallery

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400 photos on a sunny beach in the middle of January? With one of the hottest new cars of 2015? And not just a muscle-car icon reborn for its 50th birthday, but the all-new ragtop version? Yes, yes yes!! It was a heavenly few days in the new 2015 Ford Mustang Convertible – capped by a trip to the beach for a photo shoot that: — delivered some amazing shots of the car right on the Gulf of Mexico, steps from the salty ocean — not getting the car stuck or damaged by sand driving (!) We absolutely adored the …

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1966 Sunbeam Tiger V8 1

Mecum Florida 2015 – 1966 Sunbeam Tiger 4.7L V8 Signed by Carroll Shelby

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The Sunbeam Tiger was quite a few cars in one. First off, it was the classic transplant of a tiny English roadster now powered by a big American V8. This ethos gave these lightweight and delicate sportscars huge power they were never designed to handle. The result was a playful and wild handling demeanor on the roads, and even more on the track. Secondly, it was the second project of Carroll Shelby after the Cobra. Shelby wanted to build the car in the US, but Sunbeam decided to keep assembly in Blighty. Shelby was incensed, and the Sunbeam Tiger V8 …

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Fantasy Supercar Renderings - RUF Porsche 993 Turbo RS 14

Fantasy Supercar Renderings – RUF Porsche 993 Turbo RS

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Yes, Porsche made a 993 Turbo S, and RUF made a Turbo R (below)… but what about something altogether wilder? Here we present a fantasy digital rendering three-pack of the Porsche 993 RUF 911 of our dreams: what we’re calling the Turbo RS. Much change went into the look of this car, but it started out with simple updates: darker wheels and perhaps a RUF graphic on the side? But after driving into the renders, we decided to lower the front spoiler and make it wider, chop the roof, extend the side sills downward to hug the wheels better, and …

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1997 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo R Yellowbird 46

Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites – 1997 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo R Yellowbird

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Among all the Porsche 911’s ever made, the 993 is easily the most sought-after generation. This despite the car already being on sale for three decades up to that point… And among the 993 series, the 911 Turbo is a mega-star among minor bit players. Add in a RUF-massaged engine, interior, chassis and paintwork in trademark Yellowbird with monoblock wheels and the RUF big brake kit? The end result is many people’s ideal Porsche, right here, idling calmly. This RUF 911 Turbo benefits from nearly all the modern tech and style of a current-generation Porsche, plus the legendary speed of …

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Renault ALPINE Vision Gran Turismo 65

Renault ALPINE Vision Gran Turismo Racer on Video and 70 Photos!

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Welcome to the future of racing, courtesy of the racing boffins at Renault ALPINE and Gran Turismo! Sony’s PlayStation GT6 just got a bit more exciting today, with a mid-mounted, 4.5-liter V8 pushing this new prototype to a Vmax of 199-mph. We have two versions of the Alpine Vision GT here, one with the dual boattail venturi tail and one with a LeMans-style rear wing. On both, there is a cool active aero air-brake functionality in the sides of the rear end. These square-shaped flaps snap open to keep the rear end planted under braking, and slow the vehicle by …

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1986 Ferrari 512 TestaRossa 30

Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites – 1986 Ferrari 512 TestaRossa

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The Ferrari 512TR was the ultimate supercar icon for many people in the 1980s and through the 1990s. No other car so firmly established side slat intakes as a must-have style feature, and the 512TR even seemed restrained and practical next to the Countach from Lamborghini. Even as the F40 lapped up the praise and kudos from 1987, the 512TR will always have a special place in the ultimate hypercar registries of the world. This black single-mirror model was a no-sale at $77,000 with a freshly-restored interior and yummy tan leathers that are all fresh and pristine. 1986 Ferrari 512 …

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Houston Auto Show - 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim 3

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim

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The new 228i Convertible joins the 235i in the BMW range as the smallest and most affordable ragtop BMWs since the first-gen Z3 of the 1990s. We’re excited to report that the style of the new 2 series convertible really looks fantastic. The car’s distinctive nose and new kidney design is ultra subtle, but very new actually versus cars like the current 5 series. As evidence of BMW’s utter brilliance in product variations: this new ragtop even offers xDrive AWD. No demerits in ride height, either. Clever stuff — and the xDrive 228i has an extra 60 pound-feet of torque …

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2015 Scion tC Release Series 9

Updated With Real-Life Photos! 2015 Scion tC RS9 – Showcar Style In Showrooms From $24k

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Updated 1.27.15 with 18 New Photos Scion’s Release Series cars are convincing upgrades to standard models – showing what is possible in a full stage one makeover outside and in. The FR-S RS1 and this new tC RS9 stand out as some of the best factory customs on the market – and certainly in this price range. 2000 copies of this lowered and blacked-out Scion tC will reach showrooms around February of 2015 — with cool accents like black wheels, lowering springs and even a milled central exhaust outlet. Very cool upgrades all around from Cartel Customs. 2015 Scion tC …

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1960 Plymouth Fury NASCAR 42

Mecum Florida 2015 – 1960 Plymouth Fury NASCAR Modified to Recreate Richard Petty’s Daytona 500 Racer

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UPDATE 1 Sorry guys. Some shoddy reporting (and total lack of fact-checking:) on the first draft of this article below! Richard Petty started racing in 1958 at the Historic Columbia Speedway, so this 1960 model-year Plymouth was definitely not his first NASCAR ride. A bit of Petty trivia? He returned to this tiny dirt oval in 1959 to score his first win. The track is still around today, but in a heavily ‘disused’ state with much grass growing through the paved sections, which were laid down in the late 1960s. We do believe this body Plmouth Fury was his ride …

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Mecum 2015 Supercars - Saleen S7 25

Mecum 2015 Supercars – Saleen S7 Wows With 220-MPH Proportions and Hypercar Impact

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Even those approaching the S7 without knowing what it was knew one thing: it is very special. What the Saleen S7 lacks in name and style recognition, it more than makes up for in brute width and hip-hugging overall height. The pop-up doors show just how light all the S7’s carbon-fiber bodywork is, while the piping for the twin-turbo engine is extremely visible under the rear canopy. Saleen itself as a company is in dire straights financially at the moment, so this rare beast might go down as one of the all-American hypercar greats. Saleen S7  

2015 BMW M4 by IKON Wraps 16

Houston Tuner Highlights – 2015 BMW M4 by IKON Wraps

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It is not so much the color of this yummy M4 wrap, but the quality of the execution and how nicely this satin wrap brings the M4 design to life. Surprisingly, the M4’s color options are actually a serious, serious weak point of the vehicle. A total of seven shades are offered, and a few are simply grotesque. Step in, Austin Yellow Metallic! When Dodge can paint a Ram 56 shades, and a Viper 8000 colors — BMW has a major competitive weakness with the lame and hideous colors offered on the new M4 and M3. So while this Easter-egg …

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2015 Nissan GT-R in Imperial Japanese Army Zero WarPaint 5

Houston Tuner Highlights – 2015 Nissan GT-R in Imperial Japanese Zero War-Paint

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This one is tongue-in-cheek. The Zero livery plays off the Japanese fighter planes of WWII with dark jungle camo and orange aviation-themed tints for the LED accents. In a state as fiercely independent and patriotic as Texas, this nod to Japanese military strength is the ultimate honor for the GT-R — a giant-killer of a supercar if there ever was one. 2015 Nissan GT-R in Imperial Japanese Army Zero WarPaint  

AMG SLS Roadster by IKON Wraps 19

Houston Tuner Highlights – AMG SLS Roadster by IKON Wraps

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This AMG SLS benefits from more than just a perfect shimmery red foil-wrap — but actually a black-out all around for the grilles, detail pieces and windshield surround and matte racing stripes up the hood. Cool stuff. The car looks absolutely fresh in a way that few SLS Roadsters do. AMG SLS Roadster by IKON Wraps    

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Black Pack 5

Houston Auto Show Debuts – 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Black Pack

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The new Camaro Z/28 is one of the most intense and accomplished musclecars of all time. On a three-lap track blast in October, we fell hard for its deep lungs and unstoppable grip. But this Houston Camaro is something else entirely — taking all the Z/28’s incredible aero tweaks and spoilers and dipping them all in a sexy black paintwork. The only pieces of this car that are not jet-black are the slight fender extension pieces and the carbon-fiber reverse scoops in the hood. Ducktail and front splitter?! Black as night. In 50 years time, this Camaro Z/28 will be …

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Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX 17

Best of Houston Auto Show – Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX

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Let’s say you love the hottest and wildest customs from Germany, like the outrageous GTRS4 by Vorsteiner for the new BMW M4. But you do not live in Germany or near a Vorsteiner installer. What to do? You have to find a local customs shop with major bodywork and custom fabrication expertise. Elite Customs and Collision in China Bay, Texas is a go-to place for flawless execution of a major supercar upgrade like shown here. The parts arrive from Germany unpainted and without full instructions, so you want some proof that a shop can handle a job this big and …

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2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package with XPEL Paint Protection 15

Houston Aftermarket Highlights – 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package with XPEL Paint Protection

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The Houston Auto Show has a tuner and aftermarket section to melt even the coldest hearts: exotica galore and customs as wide as a Texas Mile. This Porsche 918 Spyder looks amazing in yellow with the optional Weissach Package – consisting of the huge fixed-wing rear spoiler, gloss-black side spats and other delicious detailing. To keep all this pricey paintwork safe from stones and chips, this car features XPEL Paint Protection film – a self-healing wrap that is completely transparent. The XPEL wrap over yellow here creates a really stunning and deep finish for the paintwork. It all comes together …

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Houston Auto Show - 2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Is Damn Sexy In Real-Life 3

Houston Auto Show – 2015 Scion FR-S RS1 Is Damn Sexy In Real Life!

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The Scion FR-S Release Series 1.0 is almost a direct production version of the TRD project car shown this Spring with the Lexus LFA around Scion’s Epic marketing campaign events. The prototype TRD Project Car and the production model are almost exactly the same outside, but the TRD project car wears wider rubber on different wheels, has a front-mounted intercooler of some kind, and a racing-prepped cabin.   2015 Scion FR-S RS1 TRD Project Car The production RS1 looks just as good, and is amazing news for buyers looking for a showroom racer – modded and looking mean right from …

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2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe 10

2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe Scores Widebody + SportDesign Package

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The risk with so many special editions of one car is major buyer and auto journalist fatigue. See Aston Martin for a prime example. But Porsche seems to really excel when it comes to special editions that actually do feel special. This latest 911 GTS Club Coupe celebrates 60 years of the Porsche Club of America — and builds in C4S styling and wide hips, the SportDesign ducktail spoiler, and a handful of other goodies as standard. 60 cars will be made, with a base price of $136,000. 2015 Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe GTS CLUB COUPE REVEALED IN THE …

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