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Buyers Guide

2016 JAGUAR XE USA Launch Details: XE35t Making 340HP or XE20d Ingenium Diesel

  The XE is looking very sharp in the latest photos from Spain. But when is it coming to America, and which will we get? Jaguar USA has the details for us down toward the bottom of this massive configurator demo post…. But here is the skinny: US launch cars will arrive in Spring 2016 as the XE 20d or the XE 35t with the 340HP V6 from the F-Type. The other engine is set to be a diesel! Fantastic news. We we’re sure if JLR would bring it over in a Jag as well as the new Land Rovers …

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2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS Wows Amelia Island With Gloss-Black Detailing

  UPDATED 3.21.15 The GTS is great to see in the flesh. Finally captures a bit of the QP panache in this new LWB chassis. Would still definitely benefit from less chrome and a blacked-out look for all the wheels and tail brightwork in addition to the grille. 2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS   Is the Maserati Quattroporte still the sexiest limo on the market in this latest sixth-gen model? For many eyes, nothing beats Italian glamour in a leathery four-door sedan. The rarity of the idea is itself pretty tittilating versus the dry and cold German alternatives, or the lush …

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2014 Caterham Seven in the USA! Turn-Key, Street-Legal 280s Available Now From $50k

The dream track car is now alive and roaring around the USA, thanks to Superformance! More than two dozen Caterham Sevens have been sold so far by the Superformance and Hillbank Motorsports distribution network, and more are arriving fresh every week. We explain all the trim levels and specifications below — but here is the shortcut: The engine installation and selection is just a quick option box to tick. The car arrives to you ready to register for plates, and ready to race on the weekends! So hang those elbows out, floor the throttle and get shopping! The Caterham 280 …

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2015 BMW M3 in 64 New Photos From Road America + Options and Colors Guide

Updated 11.7.14 Quick caveats about these new photos: Only about half are from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin — with the rest from a German track drive event. There are a handful of M4 shots in here as well.     PREVIOUS Building a new M3 is remarkably simple – the main choices you need to ponder in advance are: – Manual transmission or M-DCT transmission? – Willing to stump for $8000 carbon brakes? – Willing to upgrade the wheels to the 19-inchers (to avoid looking like a 320i rolling on mini skateboard runners). Besides that, the rest of …

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2016 JAGUAR XE Configurator Is Live! Buyers Guide To Colors, Wheels, Options and Trims

Updated 10.5.14   We’ve spent a few hours with the all-new Jaguar XE configurator today, and are blown away by the amount of customization available on this hot new executive sedan. Far below are are prices for the various trim levels, and included here are the major configurations for Colors, Wheels, Exterior Options, Interior Options and cool accessories. Most of the features are organized into tiled Tallpapers or animations, but the base images are included mid-way down. My final XE R Sport with the 240-horsepower turbo four is viewable at this link – where you can work backwords and change …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic Bases at $34k with Standard 6.9s Sprint Time

 When it comes down to it, Mercedes-Benz has traditionally been very, very conservative about entering new market segments. That is going out the door with new entrants like the GL-Class or the CLS Shooting Brake. But in truth, a front-drive compact crossover is about as far from the Mercedes sweetspot as anything one can imagine — especially in the image-managed US market. We are not offered the nerdy and frumpy B-Class, nor the A-Class. We also generally receive the most-loaded models in every range. This is why the GLA-Class will be offered in Europe as the GLA200 and GLA220 CDI …

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2015 Maserati Quattroporte Buyers Guide to Colors, Wheels, Options, Specs and Prices

Is the Maserati Quattroporte still the sexiest limo on the market in this latest sixth-gen model? For many eyes, nothing beats Italian glamour in a leathery four-door sedan. The rarity of the idea is itself pretty tittilating versus the dry and cold German alternatives, or the lush and colorful English brands that might be a bit too cuddly for some. The Quattroporte draws from an enviable set of clients. Mercedes-Benz might have its sponsorship all over New York and Berlin Fashion Week — but the Quattroporte has always been designed to appeal to Vogue Italia readers. These are stiletto-sharp people …

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2015 Porsche Macan S – 108 All-New Photos In Almost-Base $50k Trim

The new Macan S might not be a total USA scoop like the extensive Amelia Island galleries were here on Car-Revs-Daily.com, but sighting one in the flesh at the Quail last week did result in three insights: — completely overlooking the also-brand-new Cayman GTS and Targa 4S models sitting on either side of this mid-size SUV — The Macan is definitely not an easy truck to photograph; its beauty is elusive and tricky to capture — deep longing to own a Macan S… but *definitely* with painted “Side Blades” option checked What is with these hideous door panel protectors pieces? …

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2014 McLaren 650S Spider Sends Us Praying in Mantis Green at Pebble Beach

  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 the F12, which is a long process of interior …

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2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet Buyers Guide – Black Optics vs Matte Aluminum Optics

We discovered yesterday how to make your $55,000 Audi A5 Cabrio look much like the hottest RS5 Cabrio — with the simple click of the $4,000 sport pack to upgrade to dark carbon-blade wheels and a darker, sporter front clip. Is the RS5 also completely transformed and updated with its various add-on packages? Yes and no. There are three exterior themes available for the RS5 — but only the $3,000 Black Optics package is a must-buy. (Well, the Black Ops and the black Sport exhaust, actually.)   But the 2014 RS5 Black Optics package brings some of the most sinfully …

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2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport – Buyers Guide to All Nine Colors + Animated 360-Degree Turntables

New Sonata fever is heating up today! Here is a very cool and exclusive color guide to the 2015 Sonata Sport trim level. Shown here is the 2.0T Sport – the upgraded turbo engine model – but the Sport trim is also offered on the base 2.4-liter GDI engine. We highly recommend the Sport trim for the style upgrades outside and in the cabin. Color wise, in person my favorite colors were Phantom Black, Quartz White and Venetian Red. While Urban Sunset orange is a Sport exclusive, it is not a real winner to these eyes… The 2015 Sonata is …

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2014 Jeep Wrangler Visual Buyers Guide to Trims, Tops, Colors and Options

The Jeep Wrangler lineup is larger and more inviting than ever for 2014. 2014 Jeep Wrangler Standard V6 power and a new six-speed manual start things off in the two-door trucks from about $23,000 — which is an excellent driver’s package versus previous entry-level Wranglers. The Wrangler with the four-cylinder and automatic in the 1990s (of my high school days) was a very fun truck to ride around town in. Truly one for those who want to see and be seen doing the coolest things with the coolest people.   But at anything over 50mph, the soft-top Wranglers of the …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Buyers Guide to Specs, Pricing and Equipment

      Here are some road testing videos I took near Autobahn Country Club in Illinois last September. This car is surprisingly-awesome Some full-throttle sprints are included in the last two videos. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com

2015 BMW 740Ld Joins 7-series Lineup – Pricing, Specs and Must-Have Options

The previous article here on Car-Revs-Daily.com slammed the BMW 7 Series for its loss of focus since the wretched third-gen car stole my hope and courage and aspirations with its vile redesign. This is now the fifth-gen car, introduced in 2012. Is is all better? No. Is it much better? Yes. 2015 BMW 740Ld Joins 7-series Lineup – Pricing, Specs and Must-Have Options But let’s get a bit more real for this one. Is it or was it ever a bad car, or just one that is trying to change with the times? Change is hard. It really is. That …

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Configuring Your Supercar Hero – 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Visual Buyers Guide

  With the previous post showing the Porsche 911 GT3 in all its high-res glory, now is time to make some choices. Tough choices – like what color your new Porsche lover will take, how much leather is in the cabin, and how posh you want your GT3’s headlights to be. My choices are outlined explicitly below, and view-able the Porsche configurator. You can work backward from these choices to make it your own, or start from scratch. Here are the six most critical options to select, in my opinion: — Fanciest LED headlight option (This is open to debate. …

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

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 …

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

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, …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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Buyers Guide Info – Building my 2014 Renaultsport Clio 200 EDC Lux

If you were transplanted to another country tomorrow and needed a company car, what would you select? Nothing too garish or expensive, and something that will keep you entertained over the years of living in a new place? My choice would have a few priorities: — something that cannot be bought in America — something that fits the local roads and driving conditions well — chic, fast and low are always my goals I would be leaning toward a few cars, one of which is the new Renault Clio RS 200. Its turbocharged engine is just a few upgrades (intake, …

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2015 BMW M3 – Configurator Buyers Guide to Options, Colors, Wheels and Best Equipment

Building a new M3 is remarkably simple – the main choices you need to ponder in advance are: – Manual transmission or M-DCT transmission? – Willing to stump for $8000 carbon brakes? – Willing to upgrade the wheels to the 19-inchers (to avoid looking like a 320i rolling on mini skateboard runners). Besides that, the rest of the options book really writes itself. The level of customization inside with various leather colors really shames the exterior paint finishes available — which seem pretty limited upon first glance. Other options that seem like must-have items? – Adaptive suspension for $1000 – …

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Building My 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 – Buyers Guide to Colors, Wheels and Must-Have Options

If you only read this one sentence– there are only two major CLA250 options you need to check to make your new Merc (said as: ‘Merk’) the coolest kid on the block: — Sport pack: $2,200 – New sills, front and rear bumpers, and overall styling enhancement versus the standard car — Bi-xenon + LED pack: $850 – Halogen headlights? No thanks! These also bring cool LED accents front and back.     The CLA250 is fresh off the boats this year, and looks amazing in the flesh. It really does. With a $29,900 price attached for the base models, …

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Exclusive! Caterham Seven — USA Buyers Guide — LHD, Street-Legal Superformance From $38k! — 5 Engines: 160, 280, 360, 480 and 620R

The only questions to ask yourself when ordering a Caterham from Superformance are remarkably basic: — How quickly would you like to have a huge grin on your face via monster performance and uber-tactile handling? — Will 2.8-seconds to 60-mph be worth an extra $30,000 or so versus the devastatingly-rapid Seven 480’s 3.4-second sprint? Or is 4.9-seconds in the affordable Seven 280 acceptable? — How wild do you prefer to be with color and style — as this can ratchet up all the below pricing dramatically. Easy, right? The Superformance distribution deal with Caterham finally allows these hilarious machines to …

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MEGA Buyers Guide — 2015 BMW 740Ld Forms 11-Strong Model Range — Pricing, Diesel Build-Out, Tech Specs and Must-Have Options

The previous article here on Car-Revs-Daily.com slammed the BMW 7 Series for its loss of focus since the wretched third-gen car stole my hope and courage and aspirations with its vile redesign. This is now the fifth-gen car, introduced in 2012. Is is all better? No. Is it much better? Yes. But let’s get a bit more real for this one. Is it or was it ever a bad car, or just one that is trying to change with the times? Change is hard. It really is. That is why I cannot stop over-sharing, try as I might to keep …

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3.8s 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible — MEGA Buyers Guide — Pricing, Specs, Equipment, Interiors, Colors, Wheels and Options

INTRO:  You do not see 150-image buyers guides in any car magazine or magazine iPad app, that is for sure! Why? It takes sooooo, soooo loooong to put something like this together. I hope it is helpful and entertaining to those with — or without — a Stingray ragtop in their future! There is fresh content all the way down to the bottom of this page. =] A few insights after a very deep dive into the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible’s specs, pricing and configuration options. — In my opinion, the drop-top looks even better than the hardtop…. but, the …

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Concept to Reality — Design Analysis — Hyundai HCD-14 to the All-New 2015 Genesis — Plus US Pricing and Equipment

Last week we explored the fresh and innovative appearances of the Hyundai Intrado concept SUV, HCD-9 Coupe concept and the PassoCorto sports car concept — with generous praise for the ideas and execution shown in all three.   Will that gravy train keep rolling with the new Genesis? Unfortunately, after comparing the two side-by-side and in detail: the answer is a firm “No.”   Overall, the transition from HCD-14 to Genesis loses all of the concept’s unique surfaces, elegance,  and all semblance of premium appeal. The artful and contemporary sweeping shapes of the HCD-14 are all completely gone; replaced by …

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2014 Acura MDX Colors, Options + Wheels Guide From $43k

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 …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet + Specs, Pricing and Options

2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet Review Here are some road testing videos I took near Autobahn Country Club in Illinois last September. This car is surprisingly-awesome Some full-throttle sprints are included in the last two videos. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com

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

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, …

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Buyers Guide — 2014 Jeep Wrangler — Doors, Trims, Tops and Options + All Colors Visualized

The Jeep Wrangler lineup is larger and more inviting than ever for 2014. Standard V6 power and a new six-speed manual start things off in the two-door trucks from about $23,000 — which is an excellent driver’s package versus previous entry-level Wranglers. The Wrangler with the four-cylinder and automatic in the 1990s (of my high school days) was a very fun truck to ride around town in. Truly one for those who want to see and be seen doing the coolest things with the coolest people.   But at anything over 50mph, the soft-top Wranglers of the 1990s lost me …

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Buyers Guide to the 2014 Toyota Highlander with Specs, Pricing and 88 Photos

[Orig Published on: Dec 29, 2013 @ 15:30] The 2014 Highlander is finally looking like a classy option versus its sibling, the wildly-popular Lexus RX crossover. But while the RX has always made its rich appearance a selling point, the previous Highlander was best described as “forgettable.” No more. This new series really cleans up the styling, while keeping the same fundamental proportions and $29,000 base pricing. On that side of the three-engine range, the Highlander runs a front-drive 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 24 MPG on the highway. Buyers who need AWD can choose between the V6 gasoline …

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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Buyers Guide to Engines, Suspensions and Top Trims: Summit, Altitude and Overland

The 2014 Grand Cherokee is a hugely versatile truck – both in terms of its on-road/off-road skill set and the numerous configurations available. The base Jeep GC Laredo comes in at just $29,000 – and even this 4×2 truck has the latest 3.6-liter engine and eight-speed automatic. In other words, it is no slouch and a solid handler in corners from that light nose. But many buyers will have major engine envy if they stick with the V6. Why? The Three other optional engines catapult the Grand Cherokee from competing with the Ford Explorer — and on to competing with …

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2014 VW Beetle Turbo, TDI and Cabrio – Buyers Guide and Photo Galleries

It’s VW Saturday here at CarRevsDaily! After sharing my first car stories in the previous VW ads article, I’m almost back on board with the 2014 Beetle. Three engines are available, and a fourth with the tuned power of the 2014 GSR. 2014 Beetle Coupe – Exteriors 2014 Beetle Coupe – Fender Edition 2014 Beetle Cabrio – Exteriors 2014 Beetle Cabrio – Interiors

GLK250 Diesel Joins GLK350 from $37,000 – Buyers Guide to AMG Sport trims

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a cool little truck. The really great thing about this package versus other crossovers is how agile and fun it is to toss around. The low proportions and general handling excellence really shame the Acura RDX and even the Range Rover Evoque. The GLK makes no apologies for its macho lines, and really looks exclusive on city streets. The GLK is rear-drive as standard, making this one of the most balanced in its segment for fast drivers. That segment is growing fast, with the GLA250 also joining the U.S. price books for 2014, and the BMW …

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2014 Audi Q7 TDI S-line Plus – Buyers Guide with Galleries, Specs and Pricing

The 2014 Q7 TDI is a very compelling option versus the other supercharged V6 gasoline engine options available on this luxury seven-seater in American Audi dealers. There basically are no downsides – only benefits – to choosing this Clean Diesel engine. – Huge torque advantage, 406 pound-feet from from just 1750 rpm. – Big efficiency advantages on paper and in real life. – Just as quick as 3.0T models at 7.7-seconds to 60-mph. —- (But down 1.0 seconds versus the 3.0TFSI S-Line with 333 horsepower versus 280 for 3.0T) – Optional air suspension a TDI and TFSI exclusive option, not …

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Buyers Guide: 2014 Audi RS5 Cabrio Sets Phasers to SUN!

Joining the R8 and the new RS7, the RS5 Cabriolet brings enough horsepower and visual aggression to break glass with just one stare. The metallic honeycomb grille is gigantic and looks capable of deflecting a whole family of birds at its 174 mph top speed. The atmospheric V-8 produces 450 horsepower via an optional sports exhaust and Black Optics package hiding the twin coffee-can oval exhaust outlets under the diffuser panel.These cans are so large that they define the lower rear graphic of the RS5, and look really incredible with the sharp bumper corners up top. Dark wheels bring standard …

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Buyers Guide: 2014 Audi RS5 Cabrio Sets Phasers to SUN!

Joining the R8 and the new RS7, the RS5 Cabriolet brings enough horsepower and visual aggression to break glass with just one stare. The metallic honeycomb grille is gigantic and looks capable of deflecting a whole family of birds at its 174 mph top speed. The atmospheric V-8 produces 450 horsepower via an optional sports exhaust and Black Optics package hiding the twin coffee-can oval exhaust outlets under the diffuser panel.These cans are so large that they define the lower rear graphic of the RS5, and look really incredible with the sharp bumper corners up top. Dark wheels bring standard …

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2014 Porsche Panamera Buyers Guide – Facelift + Three New LWB Models

The Porsche Panamera is a revelation. This is a car that draws in comments from strangers on a daily basis. And when the strangers are not approaching you to fawn over the Porsche, they are watching the car’s every detail as it rockets down the roads and highways of the world. The Panamera is, perhaps, the coolest sedan every made. Yes, yes – I am a big Porsche fan and have been for most of my life. But even so, Porsche’s brilliant execution of the Panamera really makes this a 928S — updated for 2020 and beyond. Among the eleven …

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Road Test Video Reviews, Photos and Buyers Guide — 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet

Published on: Nov 30, 2013 @ 12:36 Here are some quick videos I took outside Autobahn Country Club in Illinois earlier this fall. Please disregard my employer’s name at the time and enjoy this twin-turbocharged luxury drop-top. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com