2014 Nissan 370Z Coupe – Colors, Specs, Options and Prices from $30k

by

Can we be real for a second here? The Nissan 370Z NISMO is an awesome sports car. But if it were my hard-earned, I would snap up the standard 370Z almost any day of the week over not just the NISMO Z-car, but also the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ and WRX, the Focus ST… almost anything. For the 330-horsepower + rear-drive value equation, only the Hyundai Genesis Coupe gets close. Yes, the Mustang and Camaro exist. But they would not be my personal choices with a V6. The BMW 228i M Sport would be the only other rear-drive coupe on …

Keep reading

Escalade 2015 GIF header2

Updated With Real-Life Photos – 2015 Cadillac Escalade Leathers, Colors, Specs and Prices

by

Updated With Real-Life Photos 6.11.14 2015 Cadillac Escalade – Leathers, Colors, Specs and Pricing Great to see the 2015 Escalade arriving to buyers recently. It looks quite dapper and handsome in person, but the ESV length upgrade would be on my list for maximum style and roomy functionality. The only downside of the bigger ESV is a $3000 price premium, slightly worse mileage, and that it is a bit trickier to park quickly in crowded lots. Standard 2015 Cadillac Escalade 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV   [Orig Published November 2013] Introducing the 2015 Escalade. The 2015 Escalade is looking pretty  extremely …

Keep reading

2014 Lexus GS350 vs F Sport vs GS450h – Buyers Guide Info and Model Comparisons

by

Something about the GS is quite special on the roads. This car looks wide, brand-new, and clearly a flagship Lexus. But it is not immediately clear which: none look this good, this rear-drive and wide. Relatively clutter-free taillamps help plant the GS from the back, where this base-model GS350 looks more than worth the price. But how to tell them apart! GS350 versus the GS350 F Sport versus GS450h? Very subtle differences to the untrained eye, but the F Sport adds some intrigue to the nose and grille that is only clear up close. In addition to the wind slashes, …

Keep reading

GINA model gif header

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – BMW GINA Light Visionary Roadster

by

When you travel a long distance to see someone, you want the ‘real thing’ when you get there, right? You want all the sensory action you have been dreaming about on the long trip to see her. I was thinking quite a bit about the BMW GINA on my drive to Atlanta in my Subaru Legacy GT — with its insufficient A/C making me feel like a honey-baked ham after five hours in the car. I pondered: Would the surfaces be moving, or would they be set in a certain pose? Might there be someone on hand to shift her …

Keep reading

Nissan GTR Engine Takumi GIF header

Rare Look Inside The 2014 Nissan GT-R Engine, Transmission and Suspension with Honorable Takumi Masters

by

How strong is the 2014 Nissan GT-R’s engine and powertrain setup? So strong… it does not even need a chassis to hold its shape! The carbon propshaft is strong enough to hold the GT-R and 545 men up at the same time! Just kidding. But it is very strong and very miraculous on the roads, when paired with the GT-R chassis of course. The R35 generation of GT-R is the most widely sold model in the three letters’ history, so maintaining excellence in the highly complex powertrain and suspension was always set to be a challenge for Nissan. Luckily, the …

Keep reading

2015 NISMO 370Z Gif header

Update1 New Photos! 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO Facelift Arrives In July

by

UPDATE1 – 6.11.14 The lack of LED lighting in the 370Z Nismo really struck me as odd when briefly testing the 2014 model in October of last year. Here is a car that is too-cool-for-school in almost every other way, but still lacking one of the most sought-after pieces of aesthetic technology? That is rectified for 2015, with the new 370Z NISMO not just tacking on some Pep Boys mods: the entire front clip and nose aerodynamics have been redesigned. The red accent on the chin spoiler is sinfully delicious, as are the aforementioned LEDs themselves. 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO …

Keep reading

GT6 Vision GT header GIF

Vision GT Concept Car Teasers – What Is Left? Subaru, Lexus, Honda, Tesla, Aston, Ford, GM…

by

Oh yes! Were you growing a bit fatigued with the GranTurismo VisionGT concepts? Well, brace yourself! We are only about 20-percent of the way through the major manufacturer releases – only Mercedes-Benz AMG, VW GTI Roadster, Mitsu XR-PHEV and a handful of others have been seen so far.   This leaves the vast majority still to come, in a drip feed about once monthly over the next year or more. Why this slow trickle? It is to provide space for each car to be driven by people in the game, and room to breath around the other announcements. Here are …

Keep reading

Vision GranTurismo Scores a Super Evo Crossover! Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution

by

What to make of the latest VisionGT concept? This is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution – a futuristic look at both the Mitsubishi racing effort and the future of the Evo itself. Is the styling really possible? It does resemble the latest Mitsubishi concept cars from 2013 and 2014 – but this is not necessarily a great bit of news. Mitsubishi is going in some unusual styling directions – but the performance of the XR-PHEV Evolution is sure to be ridiculously quick. It leverages both the S-AWC all-wheel-drive of the Evolution as well as the EV tech shown in the latest …

Keep reading

Nissan-Heritage-Animation-GT1 GIF3

Nissan and GranTurismo Evolution Detailed – 150+ Nissans Drive-able in GT6

by

Did you see the teaser photo Nissan just released of the NC2020 GT1?! I will include it here… due to the huge excitement I feel at this moment! You are surely wondering: is this the next GT-R? The answer is likely a “No, but….” No, this Vision GT6 concept is not the real thing coming as the R36 generation of the legendary GT-R Nissan. But it will influence the real thing – particularly with what looks like some kind of e-Boost or hybrid technology in the powertrain package. We are just speculating based on the appearance of the wheels in …

Keep reading

2014 Nissan Vision GT1 teaser GIF

2014 Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo Concept? Mysterious Teaser Shows Hypercar Proto

by

Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo What is this high-performance creature!? I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this photo on Nissan’s press site today. The car could be dubbed the GT1 or perhaps the NC2020 — short for Nissan Concept 2020, we imagine. Nothing is certain. The only word is that Nissan will tell us more next Monday, June 16th. Our hunch is that this might be the next installment of the Vision GranTurismo concept car series – liket he VW Vision GTI Roadster and dozens of other custom machines made for GT6 drivers. This would make sense …

Keep reading

M6GT ANimation header1

Hypercar Evolution – 1969 McLaren M6GT vs. 1995 McLaren F1 vs. 2014 McLaren P1

by

  Only one of these LT1-powered road cars was officially made by McLaren. At the time, “by McLaren” literally meant that Bruce’s racing crew had created a road car for the boss. The saying goes that the original M6GT was his daily driver: attending events and developing the production plans of this racing prototype for the road. His plan was for a run of 250 cars, but only three more were created by Trojan, a fellow racing shop with the ability to complete the street-legal fiberglass bodywork, doors, and all the other trimmings like wipers and blinkers. It was a …

Keep reading

F12 Exteriors GIF

2014 Ferrari F12 Sound, Style and Speed Will Break Your Heart + All Official Colors Gallery

by

The 2014 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is one of the most completely intoxicating cars on the roads. With a huge atmospheric V12 under the hood, the sonic pleasure the F12 brings to the driver — and all on the street or beside a circuit — is only the icing on the cake. Truly crushing performance is on offer with the front-engine F12, with its tail balance perhaps the most special aspect of the car for prospective owners who might also debate the new 458 Speciale. Where the 458’s mid-engine balance has never been better, it will still snap away harder than …

Keep reading

512 S MODULO Gif 1

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina

by

As wild as Ferrari production cars are – you might notice that the brand releases almost no pure concept cars. Why? Because people want to buy them off the auto show floor! And so Ferrari must be exceptionally careful about what they show the public, especially if the car itself is too wild to ever be sold. One of the great concept Ferrari’s of all time is the 512 S Modulo. It takes the same ultra-aerodynamic goals as the Lancia Stratos HF Zero to an altogether different conclusion. But while the Lancia Stratos HF Zero looked vaguely production-feasible, this 512 …

Keep reading

Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone GIF12

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone

by

1970 Lancia Stratos HF ZERO by Bertone The Dream Cars exhibit this summer at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a thrilling ride through automotive history that every car lover will adore. The collection might be far smaller than most auto shows, but the impact of every car will leave your feet cemented to the floor. And your jaw? It will often be on the floor as well. How to rewrite that introduction? It certainly applies to this next car: the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF by Bertone. Sitting beside the 1970 Ferrari Pininfarina 512 S Modulo, these cars …

Keep reading

E63 AMG GIF Header Estate

Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Estate is 3.6-Second Wagon!

by

INTERIOR GoPro Review Info – Part One   When it comes to the rarest of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars and trucks, the S-Models are the absolute top of the pops. But the E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Estate? Perhaps 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, which is a crying shame. 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. The …

Keep reading

STI Gif header 20152

Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI Is Brilliantly Fast, Grippy and Fun on Autocross

by

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojern up north to Road America last month. The STI is certainly in my Greatest Hits column. It feels punchy, fast, vocally boxer and turbocharged, eager to turn in and happy to muscle its way out of any corner. As such, the STI was swamped with wanna-be rally heroes for its big laps of the main Road America circuit. But there was time for some on-camera bonding via the smaller Go-Kart track that we set up as a timed Autocross. …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1953 Firebird I XP-21 By General Motors

by

If the Dream Cars exhibit at the Atlanta Museum had to be condensed into one machine that can turn grown men and women alike into giddy kids again, it is surely the Firebire I XP-21 by General Motors. The machine’s 1953 roll-out illustrates how fast technology was progressing from thec lose of WWII and into the early 1950s. Where the TASCO is blunt and tall in its profile, the XP-21 looks like it is from another galaxy altogether. Imagine its impact on 1953 Motorama attendees if it can still stop your brain sixty years later! What is it? Why is …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1948 TASCO Shows Propeller-Aircraft Influence Zenith

by

The Dream Cars exhibit this summer at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a thrilling ride through automotive history that every car lover will adore. The collection might be far smaller than most auto shows, but the impact of every car will leave your feet cemented to the floor. And your jaw? It will often be on the floor as well. No other recent collection spans the time and space of automotive evolution and design quite as thoroughly. Every car in the collection is marvelous. The TASCO opens the gallery and its design is certainly one that sticks …

Keep reading

RR Alpine Jenson Button Montreal Header GIF

Jenson Button Wraith-ing To WIN! Official Rolls-Royce Partnership for Summer 2014 F1 Calendar

by

Jenson is not in an official McLaren machine when he is off the track? No sir, not this year! World champion with the number 22 for Brawn GP — as the hat I wore (still wear…) very often to this day, Jenson has signed up with another hometown hero from England: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. When not in the track at the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal, Jenson will move about town in a 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost and Rolls-Royce Wraith. He is especially excited to get behind the wheel of Wraith — the most youthful and sporting Roller in ages. …

Keep reading

Hot Track Lap Review - 2014 BMW M235i Is Most Fun and Best-Sounding Junior Supercar EVER GIF6

Track Drive Review – 2014 BMW M235i Is Best Junior Supercar… EVER!

by

INTRO Favorite car? Best sports-car? I am running out of superlative awards here – but the points made in the above video are all certainly still felt by me today. The above film is actually pretty watch-able, with some great insights after hopping right in the M235i and doing a lap of Road America right after doing the same in the 2014 M5. Truth be told, for a relative new-comer to the huge-power BMW and sportscar arena, the M235i felt a little more my speed. It was more forgiving on the track, and at the same time friskier and more …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic Sedan Is Speedboat From Heaven

by

Have you ever driven a car that was so incredibly outstanding that it made you want to weep? Made you spring out of bed, head into work early — and stay late? Study harder, analyze better, deliver results and achieve excellence among your peers? It is easy to slip into fatalism — saying, “I will never have enough money to own a car like that.” Or, “Without X, Y or Z — owning a car like that is simply an impossible dream, for me.” I am here today with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG to slap your silly face. The …

Keep reading

2015 Jaguar F-TYPE S Coupe Builder GIF 222

Building My 2015 JAGUAR F-Type S Coupe – Options, Exteriors and Interior Colors Detailed

by

The new F-Type Coupe is hot as the summer sun these days – but which is best? And among the standard, S and R — which fits your budget and performance criteria? Here is a quick walk through the JaguarUSA.com online configurator, where I built a $77,000 F-Type S Coupe and racked up a $92,000 total in the process. There are many tempting options, including the poshest 20-inch wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes kit — but overall there are a few things to select to make the most villainous impact for your British pounds. Base, S or R? The S packs …

Keep reading

2015 BMW X650i GIF header

2015 BMW X6 Debuts Tech-tastic 445HP xDrive50i and New Rear-Drive sDrive35i

by

One issue with BMW’s rapidly-evolving technology suite in all models is that the existing cars can feel a bit left-behind by mid-cycle. Luckily, BMW is also rolling out models far quicker than Mercedes-Benz and especially Audi/VW. While the new GTI has finally – finally! – arrived in US dealerships this week, BMW has made its long-time best market a priority, especially for the Spartnburg-built X5, X4, X3 and X7 models. We truly get them first. The gravy train keeps rolling and even picks up speed today, with the second-gen X6 debuting online ahead of its expected arrival in stores by …

Keep reading

Track Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG at Road America

by

Hmmm, despite my grand ambitions to film every car I had the chance to drive at the MAMA Spring Rally this year for auto journalists – the exterior videos are pretty dull. Without the time and motivation to cut the interior and exterior videos together, the exteriors are best with the camera near th exhaust pipe — so there is at least some exhaust noise drama to make things watch-able. The CLA45 AMG is certainly not short of exhaust noise drama! While it never quite sounds as good as you might think and AMG should, it does have character versus …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

Off-Road Test Review – 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid is Surprisingly Silent + Very Capable

by

As shown by the Toyota 4Runner off-roading article earlier this week, we know I am a total wimp when it comes to off-roading. Despite my grand ambitions to be a Bowler Wildcat-running mudder in my own 2005 Subaru Legacy GT — all efforts to date have seriously damaged the car. I am on my fourth set of wheels, for example. But what would even lead me to take my beloved Subie off-road? One word: grip. The Subaru AWD system is seriously unflappable. In wintertime this year, I was fortunate enough to have a 2WD Chevy Silverado press loaner in my …

Keep reading

Bentley GT W12 Speed GIF header

2014 Bentley GT Speed W12 Easily Wins Fastest, Most-Sideways Award at Road America

by

How can an all-wheel-drive supercoupe be ‘most sideways,’ you ask? The Conti GT Speed was giving demo rides with none other than Bentley Works GT3 driver Jamie Morrow at the helm. This polite and dapper gentleman turns into a car-hurling beast on the track — with lurid Scandinavian flicks rocking the car off-balance and the huge, huge W12 Speed’s engine power pulling around corners in a perma-drift heaven. It was absolutely magnificent. A man in a Breitling watch and an official Bentley pay stub can certainly push the car he knows so well to the limits — better than a …

Keep reading

MINI 5-Door 2015 Cooper S GIF header

192HP, 6.8-Second 2015 MINI 5-Door Answers the Call of Back-Seaters Everywhere

by

What is the back-seaters’ call? “Let us out!” ? That is not exactly the MINI Cooper’s fun-loving style! Back-seat whiners have typically just wanted to stretch their legs a little bit, but been stuck until one of the fancy front-seaters will move their tush and let the seat slide up to an open slice of door. The 2015 MINI five-door hatch promises modest solutions to both problems via an extra set of rear doors on the silly-fun urban classic. The latest MINI model is far more approachable in every way, with its turbocharged standard triple delivering more MPG and also …

Keep reading

FOCUS ST gif header

2014 Ford Focus ST Is Most Ferocious and Grippy Car at Road America Autocross

by

Like every journalist everywhere who has written unexpected results: we can only revert to an old stand-by defense. “…We don’t make the news, we just report it…!” It is this situation now, reporting that the Focus ST indeed felt the most ferocious and grippy around the Go-Kart track of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Perhaps because this mini road course is so similar to many proving grounds in the UK where the Focus ST honed its skills? The Focus ST could even be caught briefly doing the old cover-shot classic pose: with its rear inner tire off the ground …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

Future SUV Rendering – 2016 GMC Denali VIP Concept – Black Trim, Wheels + Extra LED Lighting

by

If you read the glowing review of the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali this morning, you know we are big fans of this big truck. It is everything the Tahoe has, and almost everything the Escalade brings to the table — but with extra under-the-radar coolness as standard. The Escalade is a pop-culture phenom at this point – which is great news for resurgent Cadillac. But the Escalade being the ride of choice for young Hollywood does not universally enhance its appeal.What about those seeking ultimate style without the Cadillac badge? Is the Denali the price ceiling for GMC? Our hunch …

Keep reading

macan turbo 111 gif header

2015 Porsche Macan Turbo Is Fast, Athletic and Nimble in 50+ Real-Life Photos

by

  I’ve been a huge fan of the Macan since first seeing the finished show cars last Fall. With Macan S and Macan Turbo variants in the USA launch line-up — it seems like it is hard to go wrong with this latest — and sportiest-so-far — Porsche crossover. But how does its $49,900 base price feel in real life? Is that a bit steep considering the Cayenne also carries that same base price for 2014? The base pricing, as many Porsche owners know, is really just a starting point. Finding a car without a single option would be like …

Keep reading

2016 Peugeot 509

Mazda6 vs Ford Fusion Shows How To Make the FWD 2016 Peogeot 509 Sexy

by

Ed’s Note: This article is feeling condescending as I review and ready it for publishing, and I regret that tone. Nobody likes being spoken down to. That is not my intention. Starting from a basic place – Just to explain it all, as best I can, to someone for whom car design might not a passion area. How to make a front-drive car sexy and stylish — while keeping it primarily front-drive? Not an easy task, and one that has taken many years to get anywhere near resultion. The clearest example of the ideas and design analyses explored below is …

Keep reading

Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Is 6.2-Second, 6.2L V8 Dream SUV

by

The GMC Yukon Denali has been a pet project of mine since the trio of next-gen GM SUVs debuted in September of 2013. I went from auto writer to fan-boy: creating color turn-tables, pouring over the equipment lists, and generally fawning over the machine. Some seat time only confirmed my strong desire for the Denali as the sweet-spot of the Tahoe/Suburban/Escalade line-up. I deeply enjoyed the Denali’s plush leather and interior mood, while relishing the benefits both the Tahoe and Yukon bring to the table for 2015. Let’s dive in with the usual categories: Exterior, Interior, Driving Experience and Summary. …

Keep reading

1914 MB GP Amelia GIF lawn 2

1914 Mercedes-Benz GranPrix Race Car in 25 Original, High-Res Photos

by

INTRO: Did I regale you yet with stories of how unbelievably cunty the official Amelia Island Concours people were this year? I was chased off the lawn numerous times during what they claimed were “private” photo shoots. Typically, having three media badges around your neck is enough — unless you are in slummy, run-down Jacksonville, Florida-adjacent. Was mostly a lovely time, but repeatedly ruined by the Ritz-Carlton Residences retirees (volunteers I now dub: the ‘colostomy bag hags’) who were running the show with an entitled arrogance of unbelievable proportion. One such run-in with the old guard was taking some lovely …

Keep reading

m1157a1p2

Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

by

The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

Keep reading

Camaro RS header gif 1

2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS Stars in Our Most-Watched Driving Video: 50,000 Views!

by

  My most popular YouTube driving reviews ever? I’m glad you asked! Without a doubt – it is the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro RS 2LT and its dual-mode exhaust — slinging around the Chicago suburbs on a rainy Tuesday morning. Just goes to show me… that I cannot anticipate which videos will be popular, and which will not! But a hot car and a heavy right foot seem to be requirements overall. =] Getting seat time in the new Camaro V6 dispelled most of my previous assumptions about Camaro owners: who I once said were (usually) either “Murder Victims” or “Murderers.” …

Keep reading

Juke NISMO header gif1

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 60 High-Res Photos + Video Walk-Around

by

The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO is incredible value at just above $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery      

EVO autocross GIF

2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR – Video Reviews and High-Res Photo Gallery

by

One of the downsides of starting a site from scratch is that the formats and the site layouts are bound to change over time. Those changes often are compatible with the old setup, but sometimes are not. So here is a repost of last fall’s dream press loaner: the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR — on video and in numerous high-res photos. VIDEO PART ONE VIDEO PART TWO

2014 McLaren 650S Spider builder GIF1

2014 McLaren 650S Spider – Buyers Guide + Color Visualizer and Build-Out in Mantis Green

by

EDITOR’S INTRO: This article almost broke the internet. Seriously…   If there is one color I could get on-board with for a new dream McLaren — beyond my preference for white paint/dark wheels — it would either be McLaren Orange or Talocca Orange, which is a new and slightly lighter shade than the current MO color. But when presented with Mantis Green, who could say no? It is an outlandish color, and one that truly comes alive in the sun. The rest of the options for the McLaren 650S are actually pretty easy – especially versus the Ferrari configurator for …

Keep reading

4Runner header GIF

VIDEO Review – Off-Roading in the 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5 – Guess Who Chickens Out First…

by

Okay, in my defense: every off-roading I have tried to do so far has drastically damaged my car and my pride. I am just nervous and a total amateur when it comes to hitting the muddy trails. Despite driving the impressive and very capable 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5, underthe direction of Land Rover’s off-road instructors — My internal gyroscope said no to the steep side-angled trail of the mid-ranked Blue trails in this little excursion. BIG WIMP-OUT – EXTERIOR CAM BIG WIMP-OUT – INTERIOR CAM I know rationally that the car was fine on this exact trail, but fear is …

Keep reading

Aston Martin V12 Zagato header GIF spinner3

Aston Martin V12 Zagato – Future Classic Showcase in 5 Flawless Color Turntables

by

THE WHO Like many small British brands who shall not be named, Aston can feel a victim to its own design success, at times. The DB7 kick-started this modern styling vogue, which led smoothly to the 2000s Vanquish and DB9 and the modern range. But sometimes what is needed is not evolution, but revolution. This latest safe-design kick is the blowback from Aston-Martin’s aggressive design flirtations in the 1970s and 1980s — cars like the Lagonda sedan and the Bulldog wedge concept were so ‘out there’ that they nearly bankrupted the company of customers and ideas. All while making the …

Keep reading

458 Italia white black gold GIF header12

See + Hear My Ideal 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale in All-New Ferrari.com Car Configurator

by

Car configurators are no silly thing these days: this is serious high-commerce. Not an Amazon.com purchase, either: people are far more demanding of the experience presented to them from before the moment they step into a car showroom these days. For companies like Ferrari and McLaren — the configurator wars are ground zero for a battle to win these high-dollar clients. But isn’t a test drive critical, you might ask? Yes and no. Buyers like this often own a car for such a short period of time that the delivered model must prove itself to earn more than a three-month …

Keep reading

2014 Hyundai Veloster REFLEX GIF header

2014 Hyundai Veloster REFLEX Brings Exclusive White Finish, Turbo LEDs and DCT Auto for $22k

by

  The special Veloster Hyundai debuted in Chicago has now arrived in dealers nationwide! The Veloster RE:FLEX is a shortcut way to get the hottest-spec and best-equipped Veloster model available — with standard automatic transmission and all the Turbo’s LED style for only $21,650 before delivery charges of about $800. The interior is offered in red or black leather, along with the latest mobile device connectivity and even the giant glass moonroof as standard. The white and chrome finishes are a nice touch to the Veloster RE:FLEX — and are a sure way to have an exclusive and premium-feeling sports …

Keep reading

2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S GIF header2

2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S – Road Test Review of AMG and BMW’s New Daddy

by

Does anyone else recall the Fox TV network’s endless promo’s many years ago for that crappy show called Wife Swap? “Meet your new mommy!” the announcer crowed over video of the horrified children — shocked that their parents would sign up for this reality-show charade? That is my face now as I say to myself, “Wow, meet the new luxury supercar ‘Daddy.’” The Bentley Continental GT has faced many harsh critiques over the years it has dominated its market segment – criticized even while selling so many that it defined what a modern, successful Bentley Cars Ltd should be in …

Keep reading

MDX header gif

Road Test Review – 2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD Is Premium and Posh 7-Seat Cruiser

by

Let’s say you are on a road trip. But you are in the back seat! Ahhh! You are not just a grown-up like Tom Hanks in BIG. You are just a large, tired human. Best stretch-out-comfy cabin this side of Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class? The Acura MDX. New for this year, the MDX really excels in its smooth, confident and quiet luxury crossover mission. This is a car for people who need to feel fewer jabs in the ribs in general — let alone paying the a German SUV to bounce you around choppy pavement. For these shoppers, the …

Keep reading

500C Abarth GIF

2014 Fiat Abarth 500C Wins Hottest Exhaust Note on Autocross Track

by

 Listen to this gurgling little slugger! The 500C Abarth was perhaps the closest kindred spirit to the Fiesta ST we crowned as Most Fun around the Road America Go-Kart Autocross track. And while the Fiesta ST’s induction path in the front of the car definitely sounds good, it really cannot compete with the amazing aurals out back from the Fiat. The Abarth 500C’s drop-top is a welcome piece of kit for the fun little machine – operating smoothly and in a power-operated fashion that makes losing the whole roof panel as easy as opening a normal car’s moonroof. Where the …

Keep reading

Accord Coupe V6 header BRP GIF22

Travel Adventures – 2014 Honda Accord Coupe V6 in the Mountains of the Blue Ridge Parkway

by

  Okay!  Let’s dive in! Part of the delay in writing up this Travel Adventures piece on the Accord Coupe is the surplus of photos. Seriously! We arrived home with 386 photos from various “Parkway” spots along my adventure on some of America’s finest driving roads. But here is the thing: the photos all look identical! =] So to make matters relatively simple, about 200 of them are animated in seven GIFs here – with 70 or so of the best in a gallery at the bottom. Also included here are three videos from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park …

Keep reading

GMC RR Wraith rendering

Rendered Mashup – GMC Denali Plus Rolls-Royce Wraith

by

These are nothing more than simple entertainment – there is no link between GMC and Rolls-Royce today, and both brands would likely be horrified by the results shown here. But a cross-breed can be fun to explore visually: Simply because it is so outside the norm – so unlike anything you see on a daily basis. In that fun and silly and non-speculative note, here is a rough, rough mix of Rolls-Royce Wraith and GMC All Terrain and Denali styling — on one mutant vehicle. The more I look at these, the less I want to publish them…. But so …

Keep reading

Scion xB and xD Roof-Chop Renderings Bring Gangster Look

Scion xB and xD Roof-Chop Renderings Bring Gangster Look

by

Here is the fruit of a few hours in PhotoChop. Would such small windows ever offer enough outward vision? Perhaps – with camera assistance and active safety systems. CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof BONUS: this one did not turn out very well, but shows a speculative preview of Kia’s upcoming 2+2 sports car via a chopped and re-imagined Forte Koup. The concept is set to debut at Detroit in January, and promises genuine driver thrills.

C63 AMG Coupe and Sedan 507 GIF header

2014 C63 AMG Edition 507 Sedan and Coupe Going Out With V8 Flash-Bang!

by

Extra power and extra menace for the final year on the market before new models arrive? Yes please! The stonking 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine is one of the best powerplants available at any price — even this priced by GE, Westinghouse or the other nuclear turbine providers of the world. This thing is a rip-snorting firework that you set off with your right foot. In the lightweight and compact C-Class sedan and coupe, this translates into some of the most extreme passing speeds of any car, anywhere. That includes Ferrari’s and the like, by the way. Where the current Edition …

Keep reading

BMW 435i header GIF

2014 BMW 435i Cabrio Track Tested at Road America – Best All-Around Drop-Top Ever?

by

The BMW 435i Convertible is just about the sweetest companion you could imagine: all the power and poise of the best BMW’s ever made: plus a bit of extra wind in your hair. What is not to like? The 435i and cheaper 428i compete most directly with the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabrio’s these days, so BMW does not really have the segment of four-seat convertibles all to itself these days. But it does command the most market share — largely thanks to the legacy this car has since defining the 90210-chic as far back as the 1989 325i …

Keep reading

C-CLass Estate 2015

2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate Ups Wagon Sexiness, Will It Come To USA?

by

Update1: 5.31.14 Will the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate come to the United States? The answer is most likely a “No.” That is because the Mercedes GLA-Class and GLK SUVs have been doing an admirable job hoovering up crossover demand all by themselves. The recent re-arrival of the E-Class Estate to the US market might point in a new direction for the brand, but we still would give the C400 4Matic Estate only a 50/50 chance of coming over with the rest of the new C-Class range when it arrives in late 2014 to MB dealers nationwide. The good news? Is …

Keep reading

Aston-Martin-DBS-Centennial GIF

Block-Chic Zagato Aston Martin DBS Centennial Hits Concours Circuit at Villa d’Este

by

The artful styling direction at Zagato typically ebbs and flows between two extremes: curved softness and sharp brutality. Things appear to be swinging back to the sharp side of the ruler lately, with the DBS Centennial by Zagato implementing creases and a blocky nose and rear form that is much more 1980s than we have seen from Aston or anyone else, since that decade, perhaps. The Alfa-Romeo SZ and even many Astons from this era whole-heartedly embraced crisp graphics: just recall the Aston-Martin Lagonda saloon car for reference. Curves and flow are not totally out of the picture for the …

Keep reading

650S header

2014 McLaren 650S Is Devastatingly Gorgeous in 150 New Photos in 4 Colors

by

This is some rough stuff for those of us without a few hundred grand in our checking accounts. The latest photos of the 2014 McLaren 650S Coupe and Spider… Are. Gorgeous. This is not some flight-of-fancy. Not some floozy in a dim bar. This is sell-your-house beauty. Sell-your-kidneys sex appeal on wheels. Wow. Stunning stuff. Don’t say we didn’t warn you beforehand…! 2014 McLaren 650S – MANTIS GREEN 2014 McLaren 650S Is Devastatingly Gorgeous in 150 New Photos in 4 Colors   2014 McLaren 650S – WHITE 2014 McLaren 650S – ORANGE 2014 McLaren 650S – BLUE

2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8L V6 – Road Test Review of FAST and FUN RWD Sportscar

by

Does something or someone become more beautiful the more you love it? I think we all know that the answer is: Yes. Such were my feelings after driving the 2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8. Coming home, I find some of the most stunning photos and time-consuming angles of any car in recent memory – and the car is looking stellar. Sporty, lightweight, expensive and fast – but most of all, bright red. Was I so smitten that I kept snapping away long after I had the basics for a road test review? It would clearly seem that way. After all, …

Keep reading

TUNDRA HEADER GIF

MEGA Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8 CrewMax Limited

by

INTRO   Ahh, the joys of moving from a little car to a giant truck. Can they ever truly be overstated? The first few minutes, you are simply in awe at how large a vehicle you are piloting. The steering can feel a bit slow, and the width takes getting used to. But after less than a mile, you start to “get it.” You get the big view forward and to all sides. You get the sense that the roominess of the Tundra’s cabin goes on for miles and miles. And you get the sense, most importantly, that you are …

Keep reading

Fiesta ST gif header

VIDEO: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is Most Fun at Road America Autocross Track

by

Do you ever want to reach into TopGear magazine sometimes and shake them by the collar, yelling: “YES, We know the Fiesta ST is fun. Next topic!” Oh, that is just me? Whatever then! I have gotten really fatigued with Fiesta ST rave reviews. It just didn’t seem relevant. Until the first peel-out. On the go-kart-track turned Autocross of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the Fiesta ST comes alive. I finally get it. Finally. Finally! The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST really is a hoot. It is How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It is the g-spot in Octopussy. …

Keep reading

2015 BRZ Series Blue GIF

2015 Subaru BRZ Series.Blue Limited-Edition Brings STI Goodies

by

2015 Subaru BRZ Series Blue …. Also Available in White. No joke. 500 copies of the World Rally Blue color and 500 copies of Crystal White are the only choices for the top-spec Series.Blue limited edition coming this summer to Subaru BRZ fans. A minimal makeover of the 2015 BRZ will kick off the second-generation cars’ market tenure: underbody aero panels smooth the drag coefficient, STI wheels and body accessories add drama outside, while larger exhaust tips and a shark-fin radio antenna also join the fun for 2015. The cars are also likely to include a bit more NVH material …

Keep reading

BMW Motorrad - Concept Roadster GIF header

BMW Motorrad Concept Roadster is Boxer Ducati-Fighter for Lake Cuomo

by

Here is a new BMW Roadster that is (or, rather: might.. eventually be) not only affordable, but truly bring the road to your brainstem in HD via all five senses. Granted, this boxer twin rumbler it does lack four wheels… but even on two, this is an exciting step for the BMW Motorrad program – bridging the gap between BMW scooters and full sport cycles with a fun and contemporary take on a city roadster. Key parts of the design are deconstructed mechanical pieces, but there are future-tech flashes like the solid-state LED lighting element in front. Overall, the BMW …

Keep reading

PANAMERA HYBRID HEADER 2

2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Review + All Colors and Wheels Visualizer

by

Panamera desire but also confusion? Such is life in the fast lane. This hugely-successful model has bloomed into an eight-strong fleet this year. What is new? The Turbo S, Panamera LWB, Diesel and even this all-new plug-in e-Hybrid. (Versions outlined and pricing comparisons here in previous article.) The Panamera S e-Hybrid slides in between the Panamera S and the Panamera 4S on price. Surely, luxury limo’s are passe company cars for those with more dollars than actual eco guilt? No longer. The Panamera S e-Hybrid is the first-ever plug-in luxury car in existence. Doubtful? Count them down. 1. Tesla = …

Keep reading

RM 2014 Monterey Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale GIF header

RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale

by

This Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale looks good enough to eat! Adorable lines shown here, in a style that is a dead ringer for the Ferrari road cars of this year as well. Monterey 15 – 16 August 2014 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale Chassis no. MI 0139154 MI Engine no. SL0215   Entrant at the 1954 and 1955 Mille Miglias; One-off, custom-built Italian competition coupe; Extensive restoration by the current owner; Shown at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance  

Jeep GC offroading GIF 2 header

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Shows Its Trail Rated Skills Off-Road

by

When someone or something is world-renowned for a certain skill – it is only natural to want to see it performed up close. It is why we all want to hear a band or musician’s greatest hits mixed in with whatever those weird songs are from the new album. It is the reason Justin Bieber will be belting out “Baby, baby, baby… Ohhh!” until he withers away into dust. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, and all Jeeps for that matter, have made their Trail Rated prowess a key selling point. No matter how soft the road settings can be to keep …

Keep reading

RM Auctions Monterey 2014 Preview - 1961 Aston-Martin DB4 GIF header

RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1961 Aston-Martin DB4 Superleggera – Lost by Castrol Ltd, Found By You

by

This sentence originally closed the article, but must be bumped to the front: This is a Superleggera car — with an alloy bodyshell! HIGHLY DESIRABLE…! Carrozzeria Touring handled these few cars, if we are not mistaken… This DB4 was originally delivered to Castrol in the United Kingdom, forty years before Castrol motor oils officially became part of British Petroleum in the year 2000. For trivia buffs, CC Wakefield and Company became Castrol in 1960, before being purchased by Burmah Oil in 1966. But this has nothing to do with this outstandingly-authentic DB4, which is in true “Barn-Find” condition. Somehow, the …

Keep reading

1963 JAGUAR E-Type GIF header

1963 JAGUAR E-Type Series 1 Classes Up Kiawah Island Cars and Coffee

by

Classes up? Kiawah is already pretty darn fancy, including this faux village of a town square. The mini town is dubbed Fresh Fields, by the way, in charming faux-thenti-city. But the presence of any genuine Jaguar E-Type Series I instantly adds charm to any venue. Even when painted a color I dubbed “Swedish Racing Purple.” No, it does not make sense. Yes, this English charmer is painted what is claimed to be a factory color. But still, this deep lilac metallic pearl (?) is pretty far from the dark greens that most E-Types wore out the factory doors… 1963 JAGUAR …

Keep reading

Rogue header GIF

Best of Awards: 2014 Nissan Rogue Seats 7 – Featuring M.I.A. XXXO

by

The all-new Rogue is a huge hit so far: with seven seats and pricing from about $24,000 — this compact crossover nails a huge swath of buyer priorities. Its new LED lighting up front sets the tone, while the Nissan V-bar grille is just foreshadowing. Enjoy this early reveal of the Nissan Rogue in “Full-Throttle Action.” My favorite part? Seeing our pilot’s high-heel shoe mash the throttle to the floor before she uses an on-ramp to jump onto a train’s roof. All in a day’s work for the on-trend and stylish Rogue. This Nissan commercial seems to channel Sri Lankan …

Keep reading

2015 GMC Sierra HD All Terrain Header GIF2

2015 GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD – Real-Life Launch Photos of the King-Kong 2015 HD Truck

by

GMC is on a roll right now – sales are way up, market share is up, and diesel engine adoption is above 70-percent among HD truck buyers. This is all great news for the company, and shows that buyers are stepping up to the HD trucks in record numbers. The trade-offs for doing so are less than ever before, and the payout is far more capability. To make the transition as smooth as possible from the loaded half-ton trucks to the 2500 and 3500 HD lines, the Denali trim comes along and now the All Terrain package (available of SLE …

Keep reading

Beetle GSR GIF1

2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Scoots Around Go-Kart Autocross at Road America

by

Alternative headlines? “GSR Aims at Autocross Target, Misses.” “Beetle GSR Drives Like It Has Gorilla On Roof.” The Beetle GSR is supposedly tailor-made for racing and timed laps – it even includes a chronometer stopwatch right in the central dashboard and racing stripes outside. Unfortunately, all who drove it at Road America last week came away with various harsh critiques. Brakes were spongy and non-existent, the tires washed out all sense of grip, it felt pokey, and most damning of all: it handled extremely poorly. My critique that it felt like a gorilla was on the roof was echoed by …

Keep reading

Volkswagen Vision GTI Roadster for GT6 Scores 4Motion and 500HP Twin-Turbo VR6

by

The GranTurismo Vision concept series is still in roll-out mode – there are perhaps 20 more special concept cars still to come from all sorts of brands, including Lexus, Subaru Alfa-Romeo and more. Subaru’s looks very tasty – stay tuned for more details on Subie’s fast wagon prototype. For today, however, all eyes are on the VW #VisionGTI – a deliciously chopped-top roadster that is also packing huge four-wheel-drive power. Tallies are nearly 500-horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque to the 4Motion drivetrain. A seven-speed DSG is also in the mix – ensuring this little GTI will be running hot …

Keep reading

K900 LED lighting GIF

2015 Kia K900 Potential Revealed in Flesh: LED Low, High and Brake Lighting Photos

by

2015 Kia K900 LED Lighting Photos   We are in major fence-mending mode at the moment with Kia after learning the extremely displeased reaction the company has had to some of the previus coverage written on this keyboard. A thoughtful and well-prepared brief on the K900 luxury sedan accompanied part of last week’s big rally at Road America – and it does make one believe that there is a market for this car, albeit small. The K900 will appeal to self-made men and women of all stripes. They will be successful and define success based on their own metrics, less …

Keep reading

New 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter GIF header

New 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in Real Life + 2015 4×4 Model Details

by

The Big Van wars are going nuclear this year! While the segment has languished in obscurity for at least the last thirty years, the Econoline and Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana have quietly hoovered up nearly 100,000 sales each to some of the nation’s hardest-working owners. Yes, pickups like the F-150 might be a more popular lifestyle choice, but nothing truly gets more work done – and more people hauled – than the largest of vans. The segment is slowly reinventing itself with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter starting the modernization wave nearly a decade ago under the Freightliner and Ram brands. Another all-new …

Keep reading

Phantom Canyon Header

Travel Adventures: Rally Roads – Phantom Canyon in Colorado

by

HD Driving Video: Best Rally Roads – Phantom Canyon in Colorado Published on: Jan 30, 2014 @ 6:00 I got some great drives during a recent trip to Colorado, including the legendary Pikes Peak hillclimb route. After a week in the area, I discovered that the really fun roads are the smooth but unpaved mountain roads in the region. Included in the first Travel Adventure Series, here are descriptions, maps and video of a 22-mile stretch of rally-style gravel heaven called the Phantom Canyon Road in Adelaide, Colorado. My criteria for off-roading trails are pretty wimpy. My car, a 2005 …

Keep reading

2015 GMC Canyon Header GIF1

Updated with Real-Life Photos! 302HP 2015 GMC Canyon Easily Best-Looking Mid-Size Pickup

by

2015 GMC Canyon All-Terrain – Article Updated 5.27.14 The Canyon All-Terrain took the stage last week with the GMC team at Road America for the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s Spring Rally – and it looks just as good in the flesh as it does in the previews!   The 2015 GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are shaping up to be huge news in a stagnant segment: mid-size trucks. Compact trucks? Not a “thing” anymore. Everybody who is anybody is going mid-size. As the Toyota Tacoma grew in size markedly to match the (long-gone; not missed) Dodge Dakota in size, others …

Keep reading

2015 Audi A7 S7 LED header giof

2015 Audi A7 and S7 Refresh Brings New LEDs, Detail Tweaks and New Wheels

by

The Audi A7 and S7 are clear winners – they are so attractive and so fast that they make a strong case for themselves versus everything from the BMW 5 and 6 series all the way to the S-Class and even the Audi A8. The biggest competition for the glamourous Audi A7, S7 and RS7 really comes from the Porsche Panamera, in my opinion. So the keep the trendiest and most fashionable clients in the business happy, the A7 and S7 gain new LED lighting solutions front and rear for 2015. These images show the UK spec cars, with no …

Keep reading

2015 Volvo XC90 header gif

2015 Volvo XC90 Interior Is Official! 7-Seat Comfort, Luxury and Tech

by

Volvo has rediscovered all of its best brand attributes – and is bringing them to market this fall with the very promising 2015 XC90 SUV. The slow drip of the launch has taken the form of three outstanding concepts since Frankfurt 2013: the Volvo Concept Coupe, the Concept Estate and the XC Coupe Concept. All have shown the firm to be on an exceptional path toward restoring its brand luster. This is a company that is poised for greatness — all by going back to its core roots: stylish but subtle, efficient and safe, and comfortable on the North Pole …

Keep reading

Highlander XLE 2014 USS Yorktown GIF1 header

Travel Adventures – 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE Visits USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier

by

PART TWO OF FOUR: 2014 Toyota Highlander TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES We’re still preparing the full review of the outstandingly smooth, easy and relaxing 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE. But there is a slight problem! Far too many great photos! =] Granted, it is a good problem to have. Especially for a new and sleek machine like this Highlander. The 2014 Highlander might be a bread/butter crossover model to many people, but to owners: it is a godsend. Small(ish) on the outside, huge on the inside. The new Highlander is extremely affordable but luxurious – and even really hustles on the roads with the XLE’s standard 270-horsepower …

Keep reading

PART ONE OF FOUR - HIGHLANDER TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES - Fenwick Plantation GIF header

Travel Adventures – 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE Visits Old Oaks of Colonial Plantation

by

PART ONE OF FOUR: 2014 Toyota Highlander TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES We’re still preparing the full review of the outstandingly smooth, easy and relaxing 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE. But there is a slight problem! Far too many great photos! =] Granted, it is a good problem to have. Especially for a new and sleek machine like this Highlander. The 2014 Highlander might be a bread/butter crossover model to many people, but to owners: it is a godsend. Small(ish) on the outside, huge on the inside. The new Highlander is extremely affordable but luxurious – and even really hustles on the roads with the XLE’s standard 270-horsepower …

Keep reading

Car-Revs-Daily

VIDEO: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – Exhaust Note, Interior and Performance Upgrades Debut

by

600-horsepower from the new Challenger SRT’s supercharged Hellcat engine — all fired up and ready to roar into the record books with deliveries starting in late Summer 2014! ENGINE START-UP AND REVS VIDEO The coolest aspects of the new Challenger SRT are the Viper-inspired hood with extra breathing and venting ports, plus the hollow driver-side highbeam lamp – which delivers air right into the airbox of the Hellcat. The interior is completely redesigned, with a much more comfortable-looking seating arrangement for the big SRT racing thrones. The infotainment is also far better, as are the new bi-xenon lights that run …

Keep reading

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible GIF header

Track Lap and Road Test Review – 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 3LT Z51

by

INTRO I am the biggest Corvette Stingray “convert” for this C7 generation – I am a true believer. This is coming from someone who has long scoffed at the Corvette, even as the ZR-1 blazed back to reality in recent years. I just was stuck with the old thoughts of perves driving the 1980s cars, or old fat men driving the 1990s cars. But then I got some time behind the wheel of the coupe in October 2013, and it all changed. I was like a man who had found sportscar God. Eager to tell friends and strangers alike how …

Keep reading

1974 Triumph TR6 GIF header

This 1974 Triumph TR6 Is Track-Prepped and Rally-Ready in Flat Black

by

Any car with X’s over the headlights is an instant favorite. It is a sign that the car is ready to play — and play hard. This Triumph TR6 from ~1974 at Kiawah Island Cars and Coffee definitely looks ready to run itself with the gas pedal pinned to the floorboards. The paint-job is a bit heat-collecting for the hot South Carolina summers; at least top-down air will keep you cool once on the move. Overall, the lower rally lights and good body panels make this car a chic and fun option versus a modern roadster. All the thrills, but hopefully …

Keep reading

RM Monterey Preview GT40 Roadster

RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype

by

Ahh, the joy of discovery. Discovery? Is that the right word for ‘finding’ something that many knew about before, and which has existed for the last 50 years? Hm… Nevertheless, imagine my surprise and delight upon seeing this GT40 Roadster Prototype on the RM Auctions website today. Less than a month ago we asked ourselves a hypothetical question: what if there had been a GT40 Can-Am Spyder? It is great to see that not only is there one, there were 12 made in all. This one has an all-star owner and driver list that includes none other than Carroll Shelby …

Keep reading

1966 Toyota 2000GT Targa - Bond Movie Car Idea Realized GIF

1966 Toyota 2000GT Targa – Bond Movie Car Idea Realized, But Earned Only $200k in RM Auctions London 2010

by

In the 1960s, the 2000GT was best known from the line… “Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond.” In 2014? “Welcome to Monte Carlo, Mr. Toyoda.”   This is the closing of the previous 2000GT article here on Car-Revs-Daily.com — so what is more appropriate than talking about Bond cars in this next article!? After it was discovered that the rather tall Sean Connery did not fit inside the 2000GT hardtop, Toyota was in a pickle. Eager to participate in the film, the company presented two ideas to the Bond producers: a targa or a cabriolet. Both would need to be made in …

Keep reading

1968 Toyota 2000GT header GIF

RM Auctions Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1968 Toyota 2000GT Joins Million-Plus Japanese Car Club

by

Rare is the key word for any Asian car to crest the million dollar mark — only two or three other 2000GT’s can claim membership, and only since 2013. Even referring to the group as “Asian” cars is quite a misnomer – no other car from South Korea or China is anywhere near this mark in classic car values. Values for the ultimate 1960s Japanese supercar are firmly on the ascent, with buyers eager to own its delicate curves and precision inline-six engine. Outright power is not really part of the appeal with only 150-horsepower available from the Yamaha-partnership engine …

Keep reading

2014 MINI Superleggera Concept is Dreamy Roofless Speedster GIF

2014 MINI Superleggera Concept is Dreamy Roofless Speedster With Corvette, Porsche, Aston and Jag Influences

by

As shown by the Car-Revs-Daily.com exclusive renders of a possible GT40 Can-Am Spyder, Corvette Stingray Speedster and the GT-R Spider — you know we are huge fans of roofless cars. Most of these are not quite “cabriolets” in the ‘convertible’ sense – there is only one setting.   They are strictly fair-weather friends. But the lack of a roof mechanism frees the designers to go wild, and the results are nearly always miraculously beautiful. Clear influences for this MINI Superleggera come from the Jaguar D-Type (and Project 7…), as well as the Porsche 718 RSK Spyder and even a handful of …

Keep reading

CHS header Accord Coupe GIF

Travel Adventures – 2014 Honda Accord Coupe Visits Historic Charleston, SC in 300 Photos

by

How much am I enjoying the exceptional Honda Accord Coupe with a V6 and six-speed manual? I have snapped more than five full photo shoots of this press loaner car: in the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at the Seabrook Island beach club, next to a lake somewhere, and at a few picturesque spots in downtown Charleston The Accord Coupe has been a perfect model in all scenarios. Stay tuned for the full review apart from these photo travel adventures. This is a seriously handsome car ~ which is why it looks so nice next to colonial mansions in  Charleston, South Carolina. Do …

Keep reading

M5 header GIF

2014 BMW M5 Track Tested at Road America in 1080P HD Video

by

Have you ever dreamed about something for so long that you start to lose hope about ever doing it in real life? That is the BMW M5 for me. But I drove this dream. Not just drove it around a parking lot, either: we hit 130-mph at Road America. Afterward, the M5 asked me to remind you…: “Dream Big.” The BMW M5 is the hottest woman, the biggest house, and the best job all rolled into one super saloon car. I have longed for the car – felt the ache in my loins to get behind the wheel every morning …

Keep reading

4C gif header

Gorgeous 2015 Alfa-Romeo 4C Revealed in Full USA Trim + New Headlights!

by

We’ve been pretty bearish on the Alfa 4C’s prospects in the United States – until seeing one in the flesh this week at Road America. This $66,000 sports coupe is deliciously wide, low and sexy from all sides. New USA features include a refined set of bumpers to fit our license plates and the latest headlamps from the 4C Spider concept. Trust me on this: the car is absolutely divine in person, with proportions and style to make your heart ache. The new lights feature shrouded projector-beams flanked by four white LED daytime-running-lights above the main beam. It is subtle …

Keep reading

DeTomanso Pantera Rally Special GIF

RM Auctions Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1973 DeTomaso Pantera Rally Special Is Low-Brow Heaven

by

See!? Just when you think DeTomaso will start bringing some serious loot for his supercars, along comes this Pantera Rally Special – earning just under $80,000 total. The Pantera took the Mangusta design to the next epoch of supercar style, with a slant-nose and hidden lamps that were all the rage by 1973. But the Pantera is really a victim of its own popularity and success — the name alone has less cache now than it deserves. This is mostly due to the volume of cars imported to America, and the owners being a less-than-classy bunch. This is like the rockstar …

Keep reading

DeTomaso Mangusta Header GIF999

RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Brings $367k of Supercar Hedonism

by

Oh, this is a great total to see. Overall, DeTomaso machines typically do not deliver the value they should when you consider their beauty and hand-made Italian designs. The shortcut of using an American engine has never been kind to the values of classics, with even the Face Vega’s of Paris and many others really not delivering the stratospheric sales prices of Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s of the same provenance and era. This Mangusta is quite a sinfully delicious design, with a brutality to its nose that was and is a nice counterpoint to the streamlined Daytona Ferrari, pin-sharp Maserati Ghibli …

Keep reading

Enzo Ferrari Yellow gif header

RM Auctions Monaco 2014 – Ferrari Enzo Stuns in Yellow over Black

by

  2003! That is eleven years ago. But even today, you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful and crave-able hypercar. At least until LaFerrari starts its march to greatness…! Official Details and Photo Credit below to RM Auctions. 2003 Ferrari Enzo To be auctioned on Saturday, May 10, 2014 Sold for €868.000 Chassis no. ZFF CZ5 6B0 0013 3512 660 bhp, 5,998 cc DOHC 65-degree V-12 engine with Bosch Motronic engine management and electronic fuel injection, six-speed electro-hydraulic computer-controlled sequential F1 gearbox, limited-slip differential and traction control, front and rear pushrod-actuated double wishbones with horizontal external reservoir coil-spring damper …

Keep reading

GTBC Ferrari header gif

RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C by Scaglietti Brings $7.8M

by

Such a high total makes perfect sense for this daring 1966 Ferrari – one of the last of the dominating 250-derived models to actually see and win races. One of the other 12 cars like this actually took first place at LeMans in its class in 1965, proving beyond any doubt that there was something quite special in the car’s mystique. A three-pack of reasons are most logical for explaining the Monaco-topping $7.8-million earned by this immaculate example, and they go beyond rarity. — Alloy panels were an exotic prospect then and now versus the typical steel-bodied racers, and on …

Keep reading

Picture9

National Corvette Museum Racecars! 1963 Z06 Excited For New NCM Race Track

by

There are more than a few hundred stop-and-stare Chevrolets at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.   But isn’t the NCM all closed up following a natural disaster the other week? No sir. The museum itself consists of six or seven distinct buildings, 90% of which are still open to the public. Every day, all year long. Business as usual for this all-star local attraction. This is a big summer for NCM already: the 20th anniversary celebrations fill the summer calendar here. This article focuses on two things: — introducing the soon-completed NCM Motorsports park directly across the …

Keep reading

Regal CT GIF

Low-Volume Specials – Buick Regal Country Tourer Could Be Yours… At A Price

by

When a long-term product plan from GM was released a few years ago by a disgruntled employee CMO to a German newspaper, the revelations about what exactly lay ahead for Opel were quickly silenced. Luckily, it was not the Guardian who received the documents. The one thing I recall before all the news … went away … was the Country Tourer name for a potential Vectra replacement wagon.   An all-road-style option for families who not only need AWD, but need some extra ground clearance and gravel resistance on the lower panels as well. These are not some kind of …

Keep reading

nissan bg gif 1

Nissan BladeGlider Concept Is DeltaWing MX-5

by

Nissan today revealed an exciting new prototype sports car that blends the best thinking in racing ev tech, track-day lightness, and Z-car purity. As a pinched nose design, the BladeGlider is most similar, in negineering terms, to the Nissan-backed 2012 DeltaWing experimental LeMans entry. Sharing key rear-axle torque vectoring should allow the BladeGlider to have the precision and incredible pace of the DelaWing — but the affordable pricing and market potential of a Mazda MX-5 competitor. Interesting. Confusing. Exciting.  

cmc header gif

Auto Landmark: Chicago Motor Club Building- Vacant Art Deco Highrise

by

How sad is this title? 17 stories of glory, with car elevators and a full drive-up garage system, on prime real estate of Wacker Drive in Chicago? Last we checked, 68 South Water Street was owned by a consortium of flustered real estate investors. Hotel conversion plans have backfired, and there are rumblings that the building … may not be inhabitable. Too bad. Look at this penthouse sun room. Vacant for the last 30 years, at least. Built over 80 years ago, bringing this masterclass in Art Deco architecture up to code seems to be prohibitively expensive at the moment. …

Keep reading

Track-Prepped Porsche 986 911 Whale Tale Is Mighty Desirable Machine GIF

Track-Prepped 1985 Porsche 911 Whale Tale Is Mighty Desirable Machine

by

Maybe it is the lack 5-mph bumpers. Or maybe it is the whale tale. Or maybe the headlight shrouds and the racing seats. Or maybe the roll cage. But this 911 looks fun and daring in a very modern way, even nearly 30 years since its production date in the mid-1980s…   Track-Prepped 1985 Porsche 911 Whale Tale Is Mighty Desirable Machine – GALLERY  

Rare Ragtops - A Pair of Lotus Elans Graced Kiawah Island, SC Cars and Coffee Today GIF

Rare Ragtops – A Pair of Lotus Elans Graced Kiawah Island, SC Cars and Coffee Today

by

A few fun facts about the very-rare Lotus Elan series three, of which less than 600 total were ever imported to the United States: — it was designed by Peter Stevens, who later designed the McLaren F1 — the turbo-charged engine and super-wide layout of the chassis gave the Elan much more speed on tracks and in corners than its MX-5 contemporary But prices nearly double the MX-5 meant the Elan was doomed to a niche fate in many core markets. As much as the badge appealed, the front-drive layout was hard to admire when Mazda had just proven beyond …

Keep reading

anigif wraith

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith First Drive – A Fleeting Fantasma

by

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith First Drive – A Fleeting Fantasma Since being swept away on a huge wave of new-found enthusiasm for the Double-R, Wraith has never been more than a few thoughts away. As fun and posh and unforgettable as the ride in a *brand new* Phantom Series II was – the time spent inside Wraith is most tingly. I should mention this now: the name of the vehicle is simply “Wraith” – without anything in front. It might be a bit formal at first, but if not for a 624-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-12 coupe.. when? Some of the colors that …

Keep reading

header gif Civic Type R USA

2016 USA Honda Civic Type R Renderings + Strategic Rationale

by

YAY… HONDA MOJO IS BACK! After guest editor Chris May’s article this week, the Honda sportscar fan owner situation feels very real. His main message was one of frustration and confusion about the lack of a US Type R akin to the outstanding concept and real-life model that is heading to Japan, Europe and the UK within the next year or so as a production car. Spy Shots photo credit: MotorAuthority.com Finally. Finally! A turbo engine in a Honda Civic that is promised to deliver “at least” 280 horsepower. And a lean and mean pocket-rocket bodystyle that packs five doors …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback – 1997 Nissan Trail Runner – Inspired Peugeot’s 2015 DAKAR Entry?

by

Definitely ahead of its time, this 1997 Trail Runner concept. Nissan was ahead of Jeep and many others who started sensing this small/fast off-roader trend by the early 2000s. Other big guys threw more production muscle to make sketches like this car a real thing, but the results were shockingly-bad from Pontiac and Jeep. Yes, both the Pontiac Aztek and Jeep Compass were, in fact, really cool sketches and designs at first. But they were both D.O.A. in production thanks to tiny tires and no engine power to match the compact off-road racer premise. Time has finally come for these …

Keep reading