Any doubts about the California T’s new nose or the rationale of the 458 Speciale will be silenced in their first in-person viewing. Ferrari California T Ferrari 458 Speciale Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Geneva Booth Babes 2014 “It’s hard out here for a bitch.” — Lily Allen No life is easy, even for the most attractive humans in Switzerland. But standing and being approached by unwashed journalists for days on end at Auto Shows? That is some of the hardest trade show work there is. A big round of applause for these very attractive gals from Geneva 2014. “Blue Steel” Honorary Achievement in Mean/Sexy Posing: shown directly below.
The new 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop is arriving now in the US — and not a moment too soon for the many loyal fans this car has earned! But which is best for you? The four themes explored on the previous article highlight only a small smattering of the customizations available outside, inside and within the all-new 2014 MINI Cooper line. We spent a good chunk of time building out our perfect MINI — highlighting the most critical options and style upgrades available. Overall, a few key discoveries to share: — the interior is where the real customization action gets …
Okay, perhaps $35k is a better price cap for that bold claim — which we are eager to prove if need be. It is far more than Union Jack flags on the roof and mirrors these days at MINI, as well, even though that classic staple remains available. Vivid Green: gives accessories a youthful, fresh look with striking dashes of rich green against a black background. Speedwell Blue: adds a touch of sporty flair and a sense of tradition, thanks to a reinterpretation of the red, white and blue of the Union Jack, combined with a warm brown tone. John Cooper Works …
Including TurboSquid.com’s 3D design models of the Pagani Huayra ‘Extreme’ last night opened a really stinky can of worms for your humble scribe — who tries to Do The Right Thing more than even Spike Lee. On the one hand, these design models can and should be used for ethical and legal purposes. On the other hand: let’s imagine you own the intellectual property at play. Making the entire design available for just $100 or so to anyone online would be like Coca-Cola giving away the secret recipe after a customer takes their first sip of soda. Not in anyone’s …
The epidemic of unpainted or dark-lacquered carbon-fiber is magnificent to behold from just a few paces. But for the rest of us, from far away, there is little beauty in these dark, cavernous ‘holes’ in the latest hypercar bodywork. Both the Pagani Huayra and the McLaren P1 have liberal amounts of unpainted CF — but must it be this way? Without a McLaren P1 configurator available to the public — the car is already sold out — we have taken it upon ourselves to visualize the P1 with fully-painted surfaces. Of course, nothing is simple in the hypercar battle royale …
These are very photo-realistic 3D building blocks for designers. In fact, so good that the website greets you with this large caveat: these are not real! While these might not live outside computer screens: they are some great ideas regardless. Who would need these highly-detailed 3D maps of the entire car’s surface? Does this not infringe upon Pagani’s trademarked and copywritten designs with the EU Patent Office? The answer to those questions is: we do not know for certain. Overall, these screenshots sampled here promote TurboSquid.com’s expertise — design renderings used for legal and ethical means. TurboSquid.com About Us …
2013 BMW 535i M Sport Review Carmax? Oh yes. A new depth of drudgery in our quest to bring amazing car news to the world! This pre-owned BMW 535i M Sport called my name today across five lanes of traffic. I zoomed in on the beefy Alpine White/Gloss Black M Sport presence and knew: you must be mine!
This car is quite special. The video notes that thhe Pegase Boattail Roadster was by Jacques Soutchek, but that may not be the case. The tiny Amilcar company of Paris certainly shared much of the Soutchek style shown in various custom Delehaye’s and Bugatti’s — a style which was typically hand-formed alloy and steel by only a small group of skilled craftsmen like Mr. S. Overall, the Pegase Boattail Roadster is most notable for its rarity and immaculate presentation, if not its sheer pace or the grandeur of some of the gigantic Delehaye’s and Bugatti’s from this interwar period. Tent/Lawn …
Alarming fact error on this one, guys. Our sincere apologies for any confusion, and a thankyou to Wayne at Pelican Parts for pointing out the issue. This is, in fact, a 1983 March Porsche 83G-4 — a BMW prototype racer retrofitted with a flat six from Porsche. Hearing the March Porsche 83G-4 fire up immediately brought droves of people up close and personal to fawn over its details, including your humble scribe. My video of the car firing up is missing somewhere in the archives, but the photos are intact! NOTABLE ELEMENTS: — In fact, Kreepy Krawly is a brand …
This one is pretty fun. My first external GoPro mounting that also includes some very hard driving. Challenge: Name that Video’s Locale! At least half the time in this film was spent worrying that the camera would fly off the hood at any moment! Got lucky this time, but definitely looking into a more reliable and stick-able suction mount. My Personal Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon in photo comparo versus 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Wagon. Which would you prefer? Worth noting is that the Subaru is currently in the shop at the moment for a 115,000-mile service. A “Custom Tune” …
As much as we young folks like to think Aston-Martin is the epitome of a Bond car, that was not actually the case the first few times our man slid behind the wheel in Ian Fleming’s novels. His preferred coach in at least the first few books is the Bentley Continental R-Type, in black, if we’re not mistaken. Without quoting any of Flemings work (for lack of time, in honesty); the R-Type Fastback Sports Saloon certainly best matches my memories of his first car-of-choice. For, you see, Commander Bond was a bit of a lout. He was not a wild …
Hyundai is a very smart and savvy organization, staffed by some of the keenest automotive minds available at any price. Further proving their strategy to move upmarket and laterally toward enthusiasts, the Genesis sedan and Coupe lines continue to blossom. With this core rear-drive platform, many cars are possible that would have been mere pipe-dreams in the past. (And the present for others such as Acura who are tied to front-drive up and down the range.) HYUNDAI CONCEPT HND-9 My favorite details on the HND-9 are many, but include the free-form grille shape, the swan-wing doors that bring part …
Renderings done by students are sometimes the most exciting new ideas out there. Phil Berger is one such visionary first-year mechanical engineering student. He is an active participant in the Local Motors Forge project, which is a co-creation community and a bit of a gathering place for dreamers. Mechanical dreamers! The tricky part of student, or any renderings, for that matter: brand names and logos. All this company IP is fiercely protected, especially in a bold new age of shameless counterfeiting. But there are other concerns besides factories running mystery “ghost shifts,” or the adage of a complete twin factory …
This stately car was such a huge milestone for Rolls-Royce that the core template and style of this 1960 car barely changed for the next thirty years. In fact, Queen Elizabeth probably still wishes this were her daily cruiser. Such is its elegant simplicity, comfort and joyousness outside and in. The Phantom V Park Ward is still the utmost in formal living, so this realistic auction result is even more appreciable. Channel4 in the UK will air a relatively candid look inside Rolls-Royce this evening, but candid is a relative term in Goodwood. While the youthfulness of the staff and …
The Intrado is a welcome step from Hyundai, which seems to have lost almost all of its style and design momentum recently. The new Genesis is quite difficult to love (or even like, frankly), but this Intrado is the opposite. The carved lower panels are a particular favorite, as is the overall cleanliness of the surfacing. Hopefully it does not lose this crisp aesthetic on the way to production, or it might simply recall the blob-like Daewoo reincarnate that is the Kia K900. Hyundai unveils new concept car – Intrado – at 2014 Geneva Motor Show …
Which V12 Tourer is this? I would make a sloppy teacher because there is no answer line anywhere on this page, and, in fact: we still do not know for sure the year and exact model! We certainly had no idea (whatsoever) when fawning over its leaping greyhound and V12 badges, but now know it is a V12 Lincoln thanks to its very happy driver. Only serious history buffs will know the model name for sure. Based on some quick research, we believe it is a 1934 Model K Tourer.
2015 GMC Yukon Denali COLORS This article will load slowly due to the sheer volume of artwork, but included below are nine full spin-tables in all nine colors available. Each color spinner is labelled with the paint color as its file name. Enjoy! This one is Summit White, for example. COLOR CHOICE ANIMATIONS Animated History of the Chevrolet Suburban – right-click to download
1914 Mercedes-Benz GP Car This car does not photograph with quite the same intensity and impact of seeing it up close. There are numerous elements that truly reminded me more of a racehorse than a racecar — including the specially-made leather bonnets for much of its suspension and braking gear. Why? To keep the grime out while putting its 105-horsepower to use hitting nearly 67MPH. In 1914, those were death-defying speeds. The Dunlop Cord tires are filled harder than horseshoe steel: 80-plus PSI to maintain shape, versus about a 35PSI max in modern cars. But the real racehorse impression? This …
2015 Audi S1 Sportback ]We will not see the Audi S1 here in the states for the current generation of models, but there is still something really delightful about the cars. The latest news is the reveal of a five-door version of this speedy and highly pivotal cutie. Grip in a these S1 pocket rockets is also sublime — look for the grip comparison videos versus the Nissan GT-R for evidence of how fly-paper-like the S1 can be, even versus other four-paws. The green is my new favorite car color, and something we hope to see crossing the Big Blue …
Porsche Debuts 4.6s Boxster and Cayman GTS Range-Toppers 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 S. The larger displacement engine also will assist on two other Cayman …
The S63 AMG Coupe builds on the hottest new Mercedes-Benz strategies of supercar pace/luxury-car comfort — and keeps building, and building, and building! A true skyscraper of a car is the end result: the S63 AMG Coupe promises 664 pound-feet of torque and a perhaps even rear-drive. This would mark a change versus the E63 AMG, which is coming to America exclusively as the playful 4Matic all-wheel-drive model. With AWD, the S63 AMG is estimated by MB to hit the 60-mph sprint in 3.9-seconds with a Vmax of 186MPH. This is huge news for such a large and posh C-suite …
The Bentley SUV is finally here! Real #NewBentley SUV: Above EXP 9F Concept: Below After a long gestation period to overhaul the EXP 9F’s exterior, Bentley today revealed the first official image of its upcoming 2015 SUV model. Originally tagged the EXP 9F concept, we strongly predict the 2015 production model will be dubbed the Bentley Falcon. It builds on the more-youthful and less-polarizing style of the Bentley Continental V8 S significantly. 2012 EXP 9F Gallery This name speaks to broad global interest in predatory animal names for car models — as well as a popular …
2014 Hyundai PassoCorto There are many features of the Hyundai PassoCorto Concept that really excite the eye — in ways that the similarly-sized Alfa-Romeo 4C simply does not. A few favorites include the LED lighting in back, which forms a solid light bar the nearly the entire width of the machine. This rear lightbar also forms a (nearly) free-form plane of the Hyundai rearward — improving aerodynamics dramatically. There are numerous other semi-overlapping sheer planes in the PassoCorto design, with near-flat surfacing that appears aero-optimized, clean-cut and also exceptionally-modern. The PassoCorto’s fused-layering is quite unique and innovative. The overall sheer …
2014 Ferrari FF COLORS At first, I thought the Ferrari FF was only offered in about six colors. How wrong was I!? That is just the first batch of paints available on the outside — with five collections the total blooms to a robust 60-plus, we estimate. But that is literally the tip of the iceberg when configuring an FF! Wait until you get inside the cabin — then the real magic of low-volume exotic production takes hold. We’ll present these configuration screenshots in some order from the outside in, as is the layout of the Ferrari FF’s main web …
The McLaren P1’s mission is clear: world hypercar supremacy. And for the P1’s dynamic beauty in these latest photos, we’d say they are on the right track! (No pun intended…) A few things are noticeable in these photos, which all may owe a debt to McLaren’s deep racing expertise: — The car is absolutely flying in these photos! Serious 10/10ths driving in many cases, which is nearly impossible for amateurs to photograph as well as McLaren has. Clearly, this snapper has some F1 racing photo skills that we must bow to and respect. — The P1 is in final, …
The 2015 Alfa-Romeo 4C Spyder’s headlamps finally look like an OEM effort, which is always a plus on any exotic sports car with pricing expected to be in the $65,000 range when it ever arrives stateside. We have no data to confirm this, but have a strong hunch that even those who have shelled out $600 for F-150 aftermarket headlight kits are not pleased with the tacky and police-attracting appearance. The 4C’s production lamps with odd LED dots in random places reminded one on-looker of a bad venereal disease. There is nothing less erotic than a bad venereal disease to …
The Ferrari FF launched to excited prose from auto writers worldwide. If I may speak on their behalf briefly: this was the dream FerrariFour we would actually want to use Monday-Sunday. Not just a track-day plaything, or a Saturday night showpiece: the FF is a car you can not only imagine owning — but owning as your only vehicle. There simply has not been a more flexible Ferrari GT car in decades — since the Daytona, some might say. The available seats inserts certainly confirm Daytona dreaming. Even while the 458 and F12 become even more savage and focused, the …
As my Tweets previewed a few minutes ago: “When you or I flip a coin, there are two possible total outcomes. When Tesla flips a coin, it lands as a still-spinning Rubik’s Cube.” PART 1: DEVILS ADVOCATE DISCLAIMER — OPINIONS ONLY We have been pretty hard on Tesla recently for a variety of reasons that have little to do with the excellence of the firm’s main product: the Model S sedan. Before you write this off as uninformed Tesla ‘hating,’ please note a few things about his article right at the top: The Model S is ** by far** …
These videos are pretty good! I have worked hard to ‘up my game’ in terms of video production quality. Is this just a fancy way of saying: numerous camera mounts and a fresh GoPro Hero3+. But also a renewed focus on delivering high-quality, often humorous, and insightful expert automotive road tests. The results are now imminently high-quality, meaning a shower and perhaps a shave are definitely mandatory items before going in front of the 1080P lens. But while I highly recommend the GoPro Hero3+, what do I think of the 2014 Captiva Sport LT, which brings new-for-2014 touchscreen MyLink controls …
This is a draft for what we hope will be a very memorable entry into the #INAMUSTANG challenge — where-in the best ideas will be made into short films. For me, the prize might even be a media invite to some upcoming Mustang events. April 17th is the big anniversary of the original launch at the 1964 New York Auto Show, so things are likely pretty near on the horizon. Ideally, these ideas would utilize a 2015 Mustang as the basis instead of the NeedForSpeed car shown here. The inspiration, of course, is Charlie Webb’s $984,000 1965 Mustang GT350R. Even …
Is the Mustang order book open already for first deliveries in late 2014!? That thought passed through my head while already elbow-deep in PhotoShop this morning. I usually only try to change the color of a car that is: — out of production (like the McLaren F1) — or not released in full detail yet (ie Lambo Huracan). These next Huracan ones are the official colors options versus my photochop above. Adding too many colors that are not factory options might make automakers care even less about our little website. It is good to tread a little lightly in that …
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 = …
Lots of magnificent Jaguars prowling the Ritz-Carlton — including some relative newborns in the XFR and exclusive, in-person details on the not-here-yet F-Type Coupe that will be featured in an upcoming article. The essence of a Jaguar to me? But finding an XJR15 in he flesh was enough to abort the XJ220 photo mid-snap. This TWR-created baby was actually quite successful in racing, and … whisper it… a lot faster around tracks than Jaguar’s own XJ220 hypercar. Surely these cars shared much of their components and development work? Nope. Barely a common bolt among them — making it a troublesome …
This car was a real head-scratcher for me — and I think everyone, everywhere — who sees it in the flesh. Wheels from a Camaro, a steering boss from the 325i, seats from a racing boat? What the heck is this gurgling, V8-powered bubble-car? Is is the bespoke work of 6 Proton Engineering, a custom fabrication shop in Northern Florida. Why? Why not! For custom fabricators like 6 Proton: anything is possible. What better way to showcase that fact than a Morris Minor V8 racer. Special thanks to chief engineer Tripp Ferrer for letting me mug for a few photos …
These Volvo’s were immaculate and very appealing. The white car (122S Amazon Coupe, we believe) established a template for small, rear-drive sports sedans that firmly did not exist yet from anyone — including BMW or anyone else. The BMW 1600 (later the 2002) would ride to greatness as the current 3 series. The 122’s early-1960s imports into the United States showed how far ahead Sweden was at the time of Germany in some ways. Sweden largely sat out WWII and maintained much of its sovereign wealth as a result. The PV444 is even more iconic for many Volvo fans, and …
Yes, Matte Black’s moment may have come and gone. But there is some authenticity to this car’s finish — which recalls the original industrial paint finishes of the 1950s. Just called Flat Black in those days, we presume. One thing is for sure: this car would be a bit toasty in the summer-time.
This Escape is a really fun, well-equipped and affordable crossover in SE front-drive guise. It also runs the deceptively powerful 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine, with the badge and twin pipes on the back just like the 240-horsepower models! 2014 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost – Exterior Gallery 2014 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost – Interior Gallery Drake meeting a new friend Only $29,000 out the door!
2016 PAGANI Huayra Roadster I was all prepared to promote these amazing designs by aspiring car design student Aldo Maria Sica with the standard fluff about how students must put their skills to use — and mean no infringement by using well-known (and well-guarded) brand names and likenesses on their design studies. But the world is already very aware of Aldo Sica’s great talent — his LinkedIn shows he landed a dream job working for Bugatti design in Berlin. A quick hop up from Torino where he studied transportation design — it is still a six-hour journey many students …
So you need a Mercedes-Benz with a giant V8, about 5.0-seconds to 60-mph or less, and perhaps four doors — perhaps only two. Options will lead you to the CLS, the original “foupe” and inspiring act for the very fashionable new CLA250 and CLA45 AMG. This is not really a Tupac vs Biggie-style rap battle. Just noting that the CLS550 is available both in rear-drive and AWD setups. They are both very tail-happy and will play along when you are in the mood. But once the CLS trigger is pulled, you might be compelled to only consider the CLS63 AMG. …
How is Pagani’s sales team performing in the face of the all-new P1 and LaFerrari? So well! They are busy at the moment, can we call you back? Pagani’s huge rise to greatness has avoided the key pitfall of many hypercar brands: unsustainable growth. Luckily, the hand-crafted carbon-fiber chassis and bodywork of the Huayra makes any kind of volume production a distant, distant daydream. Not only does Pagani lay and autoclave each piece itself from the fabric forward; nearly every metal component is also machined (on site, from billet alloy blocks) one-by-one as well. This ensures two things: — Horacio’s …
This Mustang is so amazingly hot in person, one finds it hard not to paw up and down its panels. RM Auctions Amelia Island really aced this huge sale — earning $984,000 for its original driver and owner, Charlie Kemp. Mr. Kemp and his top mechanic were on hand with some fascinating insights about the racecar, shared in the below video around the three-minute mark. The most exciting things I learned from him were regarding the extremely low suspension setup to limit aero drag, the paint job, and the top speed at redline. — Aero and structural stiffness enhancements: …
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 …
From afar, the CLA45 AMG never seemed to live up to the hype since launching in mid-2013 as the A45 AMG in Europe. Under auto show glare, it can be easy to miss altogether why this car is so special or groundbreaking for Mercedes. But up close, even between to its big E63 and S63 siblings, the CLA45’s case starts improving dramatically. These are not only new styling themes for the ever-traditional Star brand. Not just a transition to a transverse, front-drive basis for a next-gen of luxury compacts. This car really lays the future template for making Mercedes-Benz to …
Sometimes, you just cannot keep people out of the frame. With supercars as desirable as the McLaren 12C Spider, that seems to happen over and over. On the huge plus side of things for McLaren, I think this gentleman bought the car that day. Why? The next day — it was replaced with a bright orange example. Lastly, POSTERS! McLaren had a few, and I sure as heck snagged one for the collection. Posters are the best-performing supercar medium on Earth. Thousands will be discarded carelessly, but a few will end up as thousand-hour staring pieces for artful dreamers and …
Bored of these concours articles yet?! With 3,000 photos snapped in three days — I was even a bit tired of all this out-of-reach metal myself my the end of the weekend. But there really were some stunning machines in attendance. Best part? Their owners were typically nearby — more than happy to extol the benefits of their cherished cars. And more often, the great care and passion they have put into getting these machines up to show-quality. Yes, in theory, anyone with a cool car could apply for a lawn badge. But be prepared for light interrogation by fellow …
My long-distance love affair with the SEAT Leon continues to heat up! I love the standard LEDs of this Spanish GTI — and also love its overall design and performance. For the Geneva show, SEAT revealed its track-champ two-door Leon as well as this delicious Sports Styling Kit for the full range. The gloss black alloys and brilliant blue paint are simply astounding, and very appealing! Now, to shorter than Ocean between us… =]
The most intoxicating new TT for speed freaks? The latest TT Quattro Sport Concept — which appears to be a possible production reality as a ‘Cup’ or ‘club racer’ model. This makes perfect sense when considered a bit more. The chassis and price points of the base TT and the previous-gen TTRS mean it was ripe for a halo performance flagship. A car so fast and loud that it might force the world to show some respect. If only to banish the popular TopGear critique of a hair-dresser’s car. Sidebar: do hair stylists in the UK make more than …
The 2015 TT is less of a clean-sheet exterior overhaul than many expected, which may in fact be a great thing for shoppers. Why? It means Audi has labored even longer on the underlying chassis and interior — both of which have been a bit floppy since the first-gen car debuted to wide eyes in the late 1990s. Overall, the new production TT and TTS (the Audi S version of the TT Coupe) feature evolutionary styling improvements and updates outside, which the unique and striking LED treatments the most noticeable difference. The TT roadster has not yet broken cover, but …
An exciting day of Honda and Acura news here at CarRevsDaily. The previous Honda Design article highlights some of the great styling coming out of Honda recently, including the limo-length FCEV and now the production-ready Vezel based on 2013’s Honda Urban SUV Concept. The great news is: the styling finally makes sense, looks good, and has personality. So, while wondering aloud about Honda and Acura’s future NSX earlier today: I decided to collect all four of the latest NSX concepts together in one post. The car is being engineered and built in Ohio, versus Japan, which is huge news. This …
Very exciting, fast moves from Infiniti this year. While the name change is still being fine-tuned for its roll-out beyond the Q50 and the new QX60 Hybrid — all the foundation building blocks are in place for an all-star mid-term future for the company. In short: Fast luxury cars, made well. Now even more beautiful! More beautiful in large part from the Infiniti design skunkwerks in uptown Paddington. For this Concept to Reality article, the Concept Q30 from Frankfurt 2013 will step in as the near-production example of these design ideas. The Q30 looks great. It is confusing …
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, …
It was convertible Rolls-Royce season down in Florida last weekend! Three exceptional pre-war Rollers were in proud residence, with both soft-tops bringing in far more cash than the single hardtop: the 1929 Phantom I Newmarket. All are exceptionally-desirable, but clearly some more than others. Results for the cars featured here are included with headers noting which is which. The real star of the show was the Henley Roadster, but the 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Three-Position Drophead Coupe has many merits of its own. One quick one? This was the firm’s official 1933 Paris auto show car. A running, bespoke concept …
Did you guys ever read the James Bond continuation books? There have been dozens and dozens of writers who keep the series going — since the late 1970s, I believe, the publisher has been cranking out new James Bond adventures in print.. Do they pack the F-you-too-then-Sir swagger of Fleming chain-smoking at his typewriter? No, they generally do not. But they do capture the fast-cars/legal-outlaw image that Mr. Bond so embodies. Sidebar: I read all 22 (or whatever) of the original Bond books in a lightning-flash of perhaps five weeks. It was summer 1995 at the Hinsdale Public Library …
UPDATE1: These… do not work. They do not animate once set as desktop background. Sorry guys. =] We tried. A great idea from special contributor Chris Maypole yesterday! Add some downloadable desktop backgrounds! So here they are. =] Dynamic Desktop Backgrounds — Usage Instructions: 1. Open this image in a new tab or window 2. Rightclick image 3. Select “Set As Desktop Background” Piece of cake! But this is a beta. I do not know if it will work on anything besides the exact type of Lenovo stinkpad I am typing on. Sizes: 800×372 These are …
I worried about the new Q50 for three reasons: the name change did not sit well with me, at first the styling seemed … confused as well the steer-by-wire system’s early announcement freaked me out, because I actually drove a 2003 Q45 briefly (years ago, third-gen car with Gatling-gun HIDs) that had a n appallingly-bad electronic throttle. The third-gen Q45’s throttle had two settings: no forward movement for first two inches of toe-tip, then a huge, huge over-surge that confused the transmission as you immediately backed off the throttle. Anyone know the big lurch I am referring to with …
Not just Land Speed Record. Any speed! This included air and water, where this exact car’s 141.7MPH run on Daytona Beach was, literally, the fastest man-made object on Planet Earth until 1919. The start-up process in the below video is handled by Mercedes-Benz Classic experts — and even they took at least six minutes to breathe 21st-century life into this beautiful behemoth. MOMENTS BEFORE START-UP — Cued Video Link http://youtu.be/xMa3_tT5mKA?t=6m17s FULL STARTUP VIDEO 2012 Pebble Beach — Ignition occurs at 6-minutes, 17-seconds Stunning features all around, including the aero-pointed radiator and the chain-drive traction system from a locomotive. No differentials …
The Z06 has only been shown in public four times since its Detroit show debut in January. It attended the auto shows of Chicago, Geneva, KC and Dallas — but otherwise has been trapped in captivity when in public. Do you remember how cooped-up KingKong felt upon arrival from overseas? The Z06 looked similarly ready to explode off this show stand. It is ready to squash Porsche 911 GT3s and perhaps even a few Italian exotics as well. Great to see this rule-breaker has escaped the convention center fluorescent bulbs ahead of its first deliveries later of this year. The …
The new 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S are fantastic additions to the already-stellar 911 sports car line. Why is this one so little? Keep reading… =] The base 911 Carrera2 is so good that it would be my choice in a heartbeat over any Cayman — even the Cayman R. But adding the drama and unique appeal of a power-retractable top section? Delicious and very tempting. Seeing it in the flesh only confirmed this intense 911 Targa longing! So where is one of my snazzy animations? I was rushing taking the photos in general, and without tripod. As a …
One of four built. Madame X indicates the owner was so wealthy — and likely so famous / infamous — that even initials on the build sheet were stripped. The $264,000 earned by this stunning V16 limousine at Gooding’s Amelia Island 2014 event was very impressive, but certainly not in the Rolls-Royce price or prestige echelon just yet. Even so, the twin sets of suicide doors are lovely. The back seat is enormous and cushioned in crushed velvet. A repeated speedometer in back lets back-seat drivers really know their stuff. Green paint in this era was extremely rare and extremely …
Porsche 918 Spyder This article’s turntable is more of a DIY effort — on your part! (Excluding these first snippet spinners) Simply scroll down at your own pace to take in all of the angles we could capture on this exotic hybrid supercar. The 918 is approximately 70-percent sold, but act fast to make sure you are not left out in the cold in the upcoming hypercar rumble royales. After tonight’s TopGear feature, the Porsche team is sure to knock that sold percentage up to 80-percent! Why not sold out? Porsche will make 918 of these cars, which is 3X …
Amelia Parking Lot Finds ~1966 Alpine A110 Berlinette When no one knows how many of a particular car model was ever imported into North America, the number is surely under five in total. Sidebar: Anyone remember the “Ameritech McLaren F1” ? Case in point. Owned by the CEO of.. let’s speculate… Ameritech! Why Ameritech? Because this corporation could afford to bring it over without type approvals, and without waiting for the 25-year-old classic cars loophole in order to make it road legal. A client demonstration platform, I can hear someone saying. So his guys stuck some nasty reflectors on the …
Update: Met Charlie Kemp and learned all about the car while down for the auctions. New article coming soon. =] This car. Oh man, this car! Forgive me for two RM Auctions articles in row, but have you ever seen such a gorgeous racing Shelby? The orange lip and splitter brings some Aston Martin Racing flair to the car – even though this Shelby-signed racecar came decades before. The Aston Martin Vantage from the 1970s-1990s actually shared much of the Mustang’s hood-grille style, in fact. So good sharing across the pond. This Ford GT350R is scheduled for Amelia Island’s RM …
2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG COLORS So, which 2014 S-Class is for you? The S550 starts things off with a 4.8s sprint to 60-mph for just $90,000, while the S63 AMG lops that time down to just 3.9s for an extra $50 Large. For real-life Kings and Queens? Still the rear-drive S65 AMG for now — but stay tuned for the extra-long-doors version and perhaps even a six-door Pullman S700 (?) in the next few years. The all-new AMG 4Matic is heavily rear-biased, with last fall’s E63 4Matic drive proving these are still exceptionally-balanced and great-steering vehicles. S63 …
2014 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and S63 AMG The 2015 S-Class is set to be a giant leap over the uncomfortably-compromised BMW 750iL and the ungainly 2014 (and 2015) Audi A8 models. Sidebar: What is up with the 7 series and A8 these days? The old kings are both fuddy-duddy specials lately, one might say. — The BMW drives like an Avalon Hybrid with roid-rage, while the A8 is simply tiny in the back seat and trunk by most real-world measures. — I do not have the stats at hand, but know for a fact the Chevrolet Impala’s legroom, headroom, shoulder …
We’re all busy — so here is the best part of the JAGUAR XFR video reviews from a few days ago… in 20-second form. =] Another 12 minutes of high-def JAGUAR XFR driving reviews about four articles below this excerpt. Or on click here.
The beauty of outdoor photos is that they do not require intensive photo editing. To publish 120-plus photos and video from Friday evening after the Huracan’s American debut in Amelia Island, Florida on the same night that it debuted was not easy. We labored pretty exhaustively to add light to these twilight photos. The other photographers had called it quits after perhaps ten photos each. Not me. The results are still miraculous even when it was already well past sunset — especially thanks to this Huracan’s reflective silver/grey paint finish. But on the lawns the next morning? Not a tap …
Amelia Island this weekend was sensory overload. But most of the really high-dollar machines came with their own cadre of security — making this Bugatti’s solo parallel parking even more curious. Between the Porsche driving demos and the Infiniti test drive booth sat a lovely 1920s Bugatti for many hours each day since Thursday. Uncovered, unguarded — and, of course, certainly mobbed by the curious almost every minute. After all, is this not the exact Type 37 that was well-guarded inside RM’s indoor showroom? [On further research, I believe the photos show a Type 35B Grand Prix, versus the Type …
This former GP car was one of two 1920s-era Bugatti’s roaming the Ritz-Carlton grounds this weekend. The other was black and will be featured in even more photographic detail than this little blue fella. Both are absolutely enchanting up close, with a metal wire closure system for most bodywork that was ideal for rapid servicing without the need to un-bolt any bodywork. These GP cars carry a similar shape to other Bugatti racers, but are actually far smaller and more nimble machines than their big-engined brothers. Why? Racing rules from FIA specified a maximum engine size — with four cyclinders being …
1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder This little 718 RSK is the ultimate in 1950s racing roadster chic. That is part of the reason this 1,270-pound flyweight earned $2,600-per-pound. The 550 is perhaps better-known, and certainly easier to build yourself via replica kits, but this 718 RSK is perhaps Porsche’s first real track-ready road car. Just looking at its five-speed manual and 148-horsepower top-line specs shows how advanced this car was in 1959. Tech Specs c/o Gooding & Company Twin Weber 46 IDM Carburetors 148 BHP at 8,000 RPM 5-Speed Manual Transaxle 4-Wheel Finned Alloy Drum Brakes Independent Trailing-Arm Front Suspension …
2005 Maserati Birdcage 75th Concept The Birdcage 75th runs the full (Enzo-derived) MC-12 running gear under these exotic panels — ensuring this is a truly rapid exotic as well as a design showpiece. Under that huge glass perspex canopy: the visible steering linkage and inboard, pushrod suspension are quite magnificent. One concern with the original Birdcage concept was that the cabin became a bit hot in any sunlight — but hopefully the Birdcage 75th solves for that with air conditioning. Unfortunately for this car’s new owner… Based on the race-car steering wheel and driver package, however, this car may not have …
Too many bullfighting metaphors for this early in the morning? We are resisting the urge to put in Chayanne’s “Torero” pop song in here as well… so it could always be worse! Si hay que ser, torero Poner el alma en el ruedo No importa lo que se venga Pa’que sepas que te quiero Como un buen torero Me juego la vida por tí…. ** loose translation** If you must be a bullfighter: you put your soul in harm’s way No matter the outcome No matter how you hope it will go Like a good fighter I play this lifegame …
No rest for the wicked. Here is the Huracan’s ***official, first-ever showing*** here in America, via 127 photos.
The weather might have been a little rough yesterday in Amelia Island, Florida — but the Gooding team was pulling no punches with this flawless BMW collection. Even the tents were fantastic — providing far better photo lighting than I anticipated. This car is a real highlight. I cant find today’s results quickly, but its original estimate was between $125,000 — $225,000 and sold without reserve. How good is this CSL? It seemed **too good** to me. Too good to be true? Nope. Too legit to quit! Plexiglass rear window and all =] Enjoy. This is currently …
1968 Porsche 907 Longtail This is the Daytona 1968 winner himself. He is quite breathtaking in person — with me doing so many slow laps taking photos… that I think we started getting some looks from the other guests. Oh well. It was worth it. Extraordinary barely begins to describe this car’s in-person impact. These are relatively un-edited so far, but more articles on the Porsche Motorsport legacy coming soon.
The Porsche Motorsport story for 2014 is moving ahead at the usual blisteringly-rapid Porsche pace. No one knows what it under most of the 919’s racecar livery – but expect these photos of the 919 at Geneva to be some of the best. Once racing, the 919 this car will be moving fast enough to seem blurry – even when in focus. Past Glories Porsche 2014 Drivers & Key Personnel 2014 Porsche 911 RSR It was the news that motorsport fans around the world had been waiting for: Porsche returns to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours and the …
We have been Dr. Honesty lately! Trying to keep it constructive, generally, but it is a slippery slope once you open the taps. So what does this have to do with the Mustang GT convertible? We recently noted in this Mustang Triple Yellow article that Ford’s photography department seems to be less-adept than the best competitors lately. Video stills below. Aston-Martin DB9 Carbon White — Car-Revs-Daily.com exclusive spinner — Made at my desk from **at least 180 raw image files** =] Oh, this is actually draft below. It has an error. Try to spot it… These auto-play moving pictures leverage …
2014 Volkswagen T-ROC Concept I like the T-ROC even more in the official images versus the sketches from last week’s preview article here. The T-ROC is still firmly a concept — but here is what we predict: this exact car, with streetable tires, coming soon to VW dealers nationwide. Based on the MQB architecture, the T-ROC will hopefully be more affordable than the Tiguan, but more feature-rich than the Taigun. The night-vision, terrain cameras and blackout functions of a military vehicle headlight are present on the T-ROC’s foglight (above). Examples of this tech shown here: Very cool. Keeping the two-door …
http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/03/05/laferrari-colors-mechanical-architecture-animations-150-screen-snapshots/
Full Article Here! Trying to stop breaking old links by republishing content….
Ooooh! These are pretty great photos from last Fall. Chrysler has never liked me, and the feeling is very mutual — so probably not many more Viper drives forthcoming any time soon. First impressions from low-speed parking lot stuff? (I was late that morning and missed track briefing.) It felt … pretty amazingly bad after the Corvette Stingray and GT-R. It does look good, however. I always forget that I am … sortof a talented photographer as well. Why Viper stuff today? I have a new theory about a (possible — very unlikely tho) Viper chassis underneath Alfieri Maserati concept, …
2014 LaFerrari Animated Turntables in 3 Colors Oh, the LaFerrari Visualizer came out almost exactly a year ago, and I am a year late? Perhaps — but I was not writing about cars a year ago! This is my first year doing this, and I like to start at the beginning with hypercars like this. Yes, there are (limited) real-life photos of LaFerrari out there from auto shows and the like, but these offer the clean aesthetic for which Car-Revs-Daily strives. Enjoy. LaFerrari — Giallo Modena Animated Turntable LaFerrari — Animated Launch Video LaFerrari — Animated Mechanical Architecture LaFerrari — …
2015 F-150 in Red! Plus 2015 F-650 and F-750 Packing New 6.7L Diesel NAIAS F-150 Launch Images 2015 F-650 and F-750
The one thing thing American buyers have liked least about the Fiat 500? Its size. Buyers also dislike its performance and pricing that easily crests $22,000 — yet lacks comfort, economy, tech and usability features that are standard equipment on the $12,000 Nissan Versa Note SR. But surely — it will be far more competent than the 1998 Dodge-Neon-based Compass and Patriot? No? Larger? No. Cooler? Please? That is a biggg negatory, ghostrider. With products like this, one wonders the prescription glasses spec of the man in charge. Who would approve these monstrosities? So how to make the 500X into …
McLaren F1 Colorizer McLaren F1 – Production Spec – Wallpapers McLaren F1 – Racing Spec – Wallpapers Rendered Colors Visualizer
Fatigued with Geneva hypercars yet? My hands and eyes are about to explode — so I think that is a yes for me. I have been typing since 4am today, so this might be it for a bit while I recharge my batteries. With the 2003 Century — these three videos confirmed a long-suspected fact: this Buick is named for ***last*** century versus this current one. Here is a very humorous and adjective-laden assessment of the absolutely wretched 2003 Buick Century, shot on my snazzy new GoPro Hero3+ as I learn how to take some better, more watchable-quality content. These …
Design Analysis – 2014 Alfieri Maserati Concept Only the short-sighted have ever underestimated Maserati. One man named Enzo found the Trident such a threat that he spent more than a few years trying to bury his cross-town rival in the 1960s and 1970s. Over Maserati’s supernaturally-blessed, but tumultuous, 100-year history so far: the Trident has adorned many far-flung concepts and racers that were each at least 20 years ahead of their time. In an era when Ferrari and Lamborghini were bringing key auto design functions back in-house, the wildest cards in Italy frequently found an eager audience with Maserati. It …
The Hazumi! If there were ever a cuter name that really syncs with the ZoomZoom ethos: it must be this. The Hazumi is a lightly-veiled look at the next Mazda2, which appears to move upmarket with a wider platform and far more appealing aesthetics. Pricing for this city car and its production variants are not known, but a 2015 model year Mazda2 seems like a smart bet. Deep bow to headlineauto.co.uk for the real-life images of this concept today in Geneva. Thanks!
When you work alone and in almost a vacuum of feedback, you have to pat yourself on the back every once and a while. Sidebar: you also have to scratch your own back, and handle other appendages in a DIY way as well. But that is for a completely disgusting How-To article on a different website altogether =] Closing note: it looks like McLaren has finally nailed its signature McLaren Orange paint with the help of tech partner AkzoNobel. The new color is actually called Tarocco Orange — and is delightful in all lights and climates as a bright yellow/deep …
Sorry for the lack of text in this article before. I was actually locked out of my website until 6a, which led to posting the Civic Type R Concept on the http://www.facebook.com/carrevsdaily when the initial release hit my inbox at 3:58a. Regardless: a dozen or so extra images inlcuded now, plus the official details on the WTCC-inspired Civic concept. Official Details from Honda below. Racing Car for the Road – Civic Type R Concept Bold and Aggressive, Styled to Reflect Performance Honda’s appearance at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show will lead with the worldwide reveal of the Civic Type R …
2014 Rolls-Royce GHOST Series II Early bird gets the worm! This applies in elementary school as much as it does in Warren Buffet’s Berkshire compounds — with one of Buffet’s companies recently snubbing high-frequency traders’ access to market-moving news releases. As we know, Geneva is seven hours ahead of eastern time in the United States. Therefore, as I type this at 5:58am, the Ghost Series II has already blown the doors off this Swiss expo hall. But wait, I hear you say: “The car does not look all that new?” That is the Rolls-Royce way. Huge progress without boastfulness. Continuity …
2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans Ask and ye shall receive? Only last week, we lamented the lack of angles of the ZEOD RC versus the flawless 29 angles of the car’s potent 1.5-liter, 400HP turbo triple, which both propels the car and charges the batteries (we think.) Well, the strip-tease continues for the ZEOD RC. The latest batch of info from Nissan’s UK-based Le Mans operation shows the real-life racer in much more detail. (Just kidding — looks like we just did not look hard enough for images. This release is tagged October 21st, 2013.) Nissan’s hybrid-electric Garage56 experimental entry …
