Top 20 Reviews in 2018 – RDX Whistler Trip and MB Pebble Concept Top List

Ranked by traffic and readership! 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec – First Drive Review – By Josh Seaman   Pebble Beach 2018 – Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow Concept – By James Crabtree 2018 VW Passat SE 2.0T w/ Technology – Road Test Review 2019 Mazda6 Turbo – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis   2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis 2018 Lexus LS500h – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis 2018 Kia Stinger GT1 RWD V6TT – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis     2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth …

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2018 SALAFF C2 Supercar Concept – Best of Pebble Beach – 30-Photo Gallery

Very rare double best-of winner for the Concept Lawn of 2018 Pebble Beach Concours! The Salaff C2 wins most arresting face by a mile, and also scores wildest concept tail! Very fantastic design ideas virtually pouring from all the C2’s aggressive cutlines. Carlos Salaff is already a favorite designer for many car buffs.  He is the man behind the ill-fated Mazda Furai concept, which was a 450HP rotary LMP2 racecar as well as 2040 design preview. This latest exercise is a grass-roots, hand-crafted effort from the artist’s base in Italy.  Humble-ish underpinnings from a Gallardo do nothing to tamp my …

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2018 Lexus LC500 – Supercar of the Year – Road Test Review

No test car here at CRD has created more of a stir than this Lexus LC500. Long-lost pals sought out rides. The Cars ‘n Coffee crowd was enchanted LC even stirred wild thumbs-ups from other drivers on the road. Nobody loved this next-generation Lexus supercar more than its driver, though. This all-new platform started life on a mission to sink the engine lower and much more mid-ship than any Lexus before.  The results not only lighten the handling mood dramatically, but they also sharpen the turn-in radically. A new 10-speed automatic joins the thrilling 5.0-liter V8 from the GS-F and …

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2017 Volvo S90 T6 – Road Test Review + Best of 2017 Award-Winner

We all knew the brand-new Volvo S90 sedan would be a quantum leap ahead of its S60 and S80 predecessors in the luxury segment.  We knew this new S90 is the second Volvo since XC90 to be a real class-best achievement in style and safety. But knowing all this still offers no prep for how absolutely phenomenal the new S90 is inside and on the road.  It is so magnificently high-tech, yet grounded in light Swedish leathers and a open-pore walnut woods. It drives with lightness and agility unlike anything you might expect from a 5 series or E-Class rival. …

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2017 INFINITI Q60 Red Sport 400 – HD Road Test Review

The Infiniti Q60 is a rolling climax.  This is a car whose excellence is the stuff of dreams.  Made real, this design and powertrain come together to become the stuff of legends. One week with the car is far too short.  We can still hear its ultra-smooth twin-turbo surge toward its redline.  Still feel its back wheels break traction in the smoothest, most nonchalant drifts and burnouts ever.  And still see its stunning beauty as it becomes more special, more breathtaking from each angle. With pricing from $51k but power that nearly matches the BMW M4 costing $25k more, the …

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2017 Chrysler Pacifica – HD Drive Review – VAN OF THE YEAR Award-Winner

Forget what you know about minivans. Forget being sure that the Odyssey or Sienna were top of their class for quality, luxury and comfort. They are not. Both Odyssey and Sienna are firmly outclassed by the new Chrysler Pacifica. To an extent that is shocking! This fact is clear in the first block of a Pacifica test drive: the van drives like a luxury car, is quieter than some luxury cars, and has tech to shade any other family machine on the market. We have 50 photos, an HD drive review and section headings of Exterior, Interior, performance and Pricing …

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2017 Jaguar F-PACE – SUV of the Year Review + Video

The Jaguar F-Pace absolutely rocks our world.  This SUV is a masterclass whose strength will power the brand’s rapid evolution.  New market segments and new sales records will keep coming rapidly with cars as strong as the F-Pace in the big cat range. How could Jag’s first-ever SUV out-do the premium entries from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus right out of the gate? It comes down to driver engagement, value and style.  We’ll continue to touch on these themes throughout this HD Review and its standard headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance and Price. Kicking things off is this very speedy HD video …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Lincoln MKX EcoBoost AWD – Best of Awards

Who makes the best sport SUVs? ‘Ze Germans! It is the Germans, without a doubt. The Germans have really defined the genre with their excellent Macan Turbos and X550i’s — with little serious competition from Japan or the US.  At least since the Infiniti FX and original, RWD Cadillac SRX faded. Something about an SUV cargo area, megalux cabin, corner-hungry handling and shouty 5-second sprints to 60-mph!  The combo is magic. There is a new hotshot on the block.  Just moved in. Named MKX. The 2016 Lincoln MKX EcoBoost AWD. I know, I know.  I understand your incredulousness. A truck as fast and …

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2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery

Extension of the glowing review just published:  all these stunning photos (and crazy-fun launch videos!) all by themselves. The photos below are still a gallery lightbox on click, but using a single column layout to give you a close look without any clicking.  Cheers. Thanks Dodge.  May I please have some more? =] Drive Video 1       Drive Video 2 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Road Test Mega Gallery http://www.dodge.com/en/  

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 – Balls Deep in the 4.2s ThunderCat!

World Class FAST! The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT392 is a life-changing machine. Normal drives become the highlight of your day.  The remote start is a thunderous event in itself!  Waking the 6.4-liter, 485-horsepower HEMI V8 happens with pure raging fury. Hence, our loving ThunderCat nickname! The 2016 Charger is an instant Best-of Award winner.  A week in this car is enough to make anyone feel like a man’s man.  Women included.  It puts hair on your chest and a baritone in your throat. Full review here with standard headings of Exterior, Interior, Performance, Pricing and Summary.  Two HD drive videos …

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Top 10 SUPRA-Tastic Design Details – Toyota FT-1 Concept + 88 NEW Photos

NEW FT-1 photos?  Yes ALL NEW…? Sortof. We posted these originally on laptop in Santa Cruz, and the results were iffy.  So we went back to the originals, starting again and bringing the FT-1’s details to high-res glory! The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing. A stunning car. Let’s appreciate its top 10 design details from up close. The design of the FT-1 is visibly alive.  Functional ventwort in a dozen places around all side brings the wild, swooping fenders and hood into sharp relief.  The aero cuts and ground-effect details make …

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Car of the Year Review – 2015 Lexus RC-F

The RC-F was a true highlight among all the cars tested in 2015. And in the weeks since the Lexus sports flagship spent time in my garage, the deep longing and feelings for the car have not subsided. The first week was deep mourning at its absense, and the other seven stages of grief have passed over the CRD team like the eye of a hurricane. Finally, a bit of a light at the end of this tunnel: we must crown the RC-F the Car of the Year. In doing so, we honor its incredible strengths and the legacy it …

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Mazda KODO Design Wins 3 Automotive Brand Awards from German Design Council

      Mazda just had a very eventful week in Frankfurt: three Automotive Brand Contest awards for the CX-3, KODO Bike Concept, and grand prize for the KODO Design language. Very impressive results. It looks like the Mazda Design ‘Car as Art’ installation at Milan design week this Spring left quite the impression on the German Design Council, the award sponsors. Held in Frankfurt, the awards capped off an eventful week in Deutschland: they unveiled an all-new concept car. The Koeru concept reveal shows upmarket ambitions as a full-size SUV with gorgeous lines and sporty handling. Along with the …

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2016 Scion iA Review – Best Compact Sedan… Ever? 55 Pics + HD Drive Video

Quick: what are the biggest issues with compact cars? — They are typically a total snooze outside — And alarmingly depressing to drive Is that just an unbreakable curse, or can Scion engineer and design its way to greatness on its first attempt? INTRO Scion has a double threat of new compacts for 2016: the all-new iA sedan and iM hatchback take over for the discontinued iQ, xD and xB. After years of wild niche models, Scion is refocusing its mission to speak to 2015 buyer wants and needs via far more traditional body styles. The iM is a tC-based …

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2016 Mazda CX-5 – Colors Guide – All 8 Shades From Every Angle!

  2016 Mazda CX-5 Colors   Crystal White   Titanium Flash Soul Red Jet Black Meteor Grey Blue Reflex Crystal Blue Sonic Silver        

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Best of Awards – 2016 Mazda CX-5 GT Is Real-Deal BMW X1 and Audi Q3 Competitor

Love at first drive … in the Mazda CX-5! First things first: what are the Best of Awards? That is our highlight for cars and trucks of the year – but given out as-needed whenever we get behind the wheel of a truly fantastic new vehicle. The Mazda3 won this acclaim last year, and the 2016 Mazda6 is on track to nab one as well. In order to rise up to the title, a car needs to be so excellent that it really knocks your socks off outside, inside and on the road. But mostly on the road, at full …

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

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

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760HP HAMANN Aventador Limited Scores AutoBild Tuned Supercar Award

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

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Best of 2014 Awards – Toyota FT-1 Concept Is Stunning Design Triumph

Update 3 11.27.14 Has there been another concept with the impact of the FT-1? We cannot think of another vehicle this year that has created more buzz. Of course, the FT-1 is just the leading edge of what many hope will become a showroom supercar in the next few years under the vaulted Supra badge. Toyota’s collaboration with BMW on a future sports-car appears to indicate the eventual Supra will be based of a version of the BMW Z4’s chassis, albeit highly modified for a possible production debut of a hybrid-R electric boost setup. Primary power is expected to come …

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Hyundai Genesis, Elantra and Accent Score Segment-Best Initial Quality Awards from JD Power

Great news for Hyundai owners and those considering swapping to Hyundai from another nameplate: the JD Power Initial Quality Awards rankings show the Genesis, Elantra and Accent as the best in the classes. This is a great result for the Genesis as the second-best car in the entire JD Power study, but even more so for the smaller and much cheaper Accent and Elantra. (2015 Genesis shown below.)     2014 Hyundai Elantra GT shown below.   Hyundai Genesis, Elantra and Accent Score Segment-Best Initial Quality Awards from JD Power In the compact segment, the biggest sales gains lately have …

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Best Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn …

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

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. …

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

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 …

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Lexus International Is High-Culture Exemplar – Design Awards + Swarm – Coding Motion is Elegant Technology at its Best

Lexus is getting very clever.   Showroom experiences have broadened from just a warm dealer with leather chairs and dough-nuts. The brand is fully immersed in the art, media, fashion and culture segments. One stunning piece of this Lexus culture mission is the below “Swarm” video link from Lexus International. In addition to its obvious high-art appeal, the Swarm projects applications are tantalizing. The Swarm theme and arching mission? Find a snack for the hungry museum residents — T-Rex’s and other long-deceased creatures. It speaks to technology looking forward, anticipating an orgnaism’s needs, and even wishes. But the humor in …

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Automotive Artist Showcase — Hisashi Saito — 3D Mechanical Illustrator with Heart — 30 Stunning See-Through Honda Designs

Have you ever wondered how the technical illustrations in the best car magazines are created? Is there some kind of giant automotive X-ray scanner like Border Patrol and the Ports Authority use to see inside 40-foot shipping containers? The answer is no. These are generally done by skilled artists who are able to know a car’s design and mechanical details so thoroughly that they can peel away the bodywork for the eye to see inside. Hisashi Saito is one such talented artist. His work has earned him worldwide recognition and numerous awards — but his drawings for Honda are some …

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Best of Awards – 2014 BMW 335i GT M Sport – 1000 miles at 100MPH… In One Day?

Orig Published on: Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:37 What car would you pick for the ultimate day of dawn-to-dusk road tripping? Great style, pace and space in back will become far more important than previously thought. The 2014 BMW 328i xDrive GT and 335i xDrive GT are looking better and better to these eyes. Even while prepping the 328d and 328x Touring articles last week: I could not help but liking the 3GT from most angles versus its low-roof-wagon sibling. The nose is really the clinch-point for a car’s style, and the 3GT is arguably more handsome and well-resolved than …

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Best of Awards — 2014 Mazda3 Sedan and Hatch — The Smartest Compact Car in America

The Mazda3 is an amazing, incredible achievement. While preparing this article, I could not help being stunned by these tasteful, unique and attractive designs inside and out. Both the 5-door and the brand-new four-door sedan are extremely good-looking and sophisticated cars from all angles. I thought to myself — is this the thinking man’s BMW or VW Golf? As I moved further into the specs, I realized — this is just a brilliant package up and down the range! Automatic, manual, small engine or big: the Mazda3 just nails every single category or theoretical competitor I can think to name. …

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Best of Awards – 2014 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO – Biggest Trunk and EcoBoost Turbo Innovator

EcoBoost is coming on-line in a big way! The popularity and roll-out of turbo Ford engines owes a big thanks to this SHO — the first intercooled twin-turbo Ford in decades. With the announcement of the F-150 this month, Ford confirmed that a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 will join the truck line-up. The 6.0-liter V8 is replaced by a 5.0-liter delivering similar power, but no turbo V8’s yet. That is when the SHO will get really, really exciting! For now, this is a huge and comfortable car that also has big passing power and sprint pace on demand.   As a …

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Best of Awards – 2013 Cadillac Elmiraj – Most Provocative Concept

What else to say about the Elmiraj? It speaks for itself.   In my opinion, the real achievement of the Elmiraj is how faithfully its wild design is brought to the road. Anything can be rendered on CAD-CAM screens, but rarely does the finished product surpass the original idea. In this case, Cadillac has aced the test. Full house. Even if this exact car does not appear, the techniques on the interior, and especially the exterior style, surely sees the road right now as the stunning Cadillac CTS4.   Interior Gallery – Cadillac Elmiraj Concept Exterior Gallery – Cadillac Elmiraj …

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Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. — Much slimmer tire sizes, especially on luxury …

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Best of Awards – Spy Van – Nissan NV Cargo Van – 2500 HD High Roof in Super Black

Imagine two identical Nissan NV Cargo work vans.   One is white, with normal windows that show a hard-working, bearded and husky guy in a tan Carthartt jacket. If we had X-ray vision, we might see a cargo area loaded with miter saws, ladders, plywood, and other tools of his trade. The other Nissan NV is black. This one has a high roof, a 5.6-liter V8 engine, and a dark tint to the front windows. Two clean-shaven and physically fit young men pilot this van, with two more guys working in the back. With X-ray vision, inside the black van …

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Best of Awards – Coolest SUV Stance – Dodge Durango Rallye and Blacktop

The new Durango is a completely different machine from the first two generations of large SUVs from Dodge. Where those rigs really drove like trucks, with graunchy diffs and a stiff ride, the new Durango feels just as butch – but now far more nimble and polite in town. There is no harshness whatsoever from the RWD or optional AWD setups, and this is still one of the only rear-drive-based, seven seat crossovers on the market. Yes, there is the Tahoe, but that really moves the trucks up a size (and garage) class too far, for some. Tow ratings and …

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The FIAT brand partners with Condé Nast for the limited-edition Fiat 500c GQ Edition

Best of Awards – Most Playful Sport Compact – Fiat 500C Abarth

Hey, can you pop that top off? Ahh, being yelled at in Italiano. Is there anything sexier? Charming and sexy, a fast-talker who never breaks eye contact. If that seductress with the Abarth Scorpion tattoo does not prove it conclusively: this car is a little slice of Italy. Sweet and nice, but ready to give some kiss bites. And like most hot Italian romances, all this might happen in public! Whatever happens, the Abarth 500C is always packing a body by Speedo, and ready for a dip to cool off. Oops, you forgot your bathing suit? That’s okay.   2014 …

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Best of 2013 Awards – Tail-Out, Balls-Out Supercar – $70,000 Lotus Exige S

What a pivot for Lotus Cars in 2013. While still reeling from ownership changes and a variety of management re-alignments, Lotus Cars shines its green and gold flags through any fog. This is a racing company at its core, and the Exige S arrives to American buyers with all the power, prestige and class of true exotic cars. While sharing a vaguely familiar silhouette with the Elise and previous-gen Exige, the looks are very modern and fresh up close. All the race-ready Exige S styling elements really work together with its ultra-low, ultra-wide footprint.     Where the previous Exige …

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Best of 2013 Awards – New Exotic Car – W Motors Lykan HyperSport

W Motors is such an exciting success story – it must win the Best of 2013 Award for these  achievements. From the outside world, a new hypercar from a country without automotive expertise is laughable. Even coming close to the levels set by Pagani, Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren is virtually impossible for any new company. At the very least: most of the promises from any new exotic car brand are (very) exaggerated. This spirals development costs out of control, leading to: – insolvency from lack of capital to invest – at the very least, huge delays and unhappy deposit-makers   …

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Best of 2013 Awards: 265MPH Hennessey Venom GT is Reigning Supercar King

If there is one Yankee hypercar that can really run with the bulls from Europe, it is the Hennessey Venom GT. WHat the Texas-based crew from Hennssey has proven since 2010 is nothing short of remarkable. In fact, this is the ultimate American exotic. The real thing. Refined and fine-tuned over the last seven years, the Venom GT is nothing short of: The Fastest Car in the World. Forget the NARDO for ultimate Vmax runs in the next generation of hypercars. Too bumpy. (Porsche may be working on this issue, but a resurfacing project visible from space should give advance …

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Best of 2013 Awards: Turbo Sports Car, Under $25,000 – Nissan Juke NISMO

The Juke NISMO as the turbo sports car of the year? In this budget range: you bet your alcantara headlining and carbon-fiber diffusers! The NISMO Juke makes no apologies for being different from the norm. After spending a week with the Juke NISMO earlier this fall, I discovered a fun-to-drive car that is nimble and toss-able in all situations. It also turned heads like a GT-R on roads filled with boring tan sedans. The unusual headlamp setup of the Juke is brought to life with the GT-R’s white LED accents in the lower bumper area. With the LEDs blazing white, …

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Best of 2013 Awards: Coolest 4-Door – BMW 640i GranCoupe

Until the new M4 arrives, the BMW 6-series Gran Coupe is by far my favorite current BMW. While all brands like to tout their new cars as longer, lower and wider than before: usually the changes are fractions of an inch (or some other meaningless millimeter measurements!). The 640i GC is a full three inches lower than the 5-series, rocks almost a 117-inch wheelbase, and looks wider than a Hummer H1 on the highway. The whole car is designed to emphasize width, power and stance from all angles. The glasshouse is far more inward of the car’s shoulder-line than any …

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Best of 2013 Awards: Most Improved Design/Style – Volvo Concept Coupe

Welcome to the first in a playful series of ‘2013 Awards’ articles about the most significant and influential cars of the past year. What a year for concept cars! After serious austerity at the major European shows in recent years, our favorite luxury brands embraced exotic prototypes once again in 2013. After all, show cars can – and do – work wonders for the best car brands. The list is long, but two of great American icons come to mind. The 1953 Corvette concept led to hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue in the 60 years since then, while …

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