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2016 Ford Focus RS 22

Nitrous Blue 2016 Ford Focus RS Coming to NYC Next Week! USA Showrooms Next Year

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Ford Performance is rolling deep into Manhattan next week – with a broad range of high-performance models. A threatening gang indeed — with the Nitrous Blue signature color atop the 2017 Ford GT concept, the 2017 Ford Raptor and the 2016 Ford Mustang GT350R. But one of the most exciting vehicles to wear this scorching blue hue? One of the first to arrive in showrooms, too — the 340-horsepower 2016 Ford Focus RS. With all-wheel-drive and dynamic torque vectoring at the back for a drift-mode plaything, the Focus RS is set to be the hottest Ford hatch ever made. Competing …

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2016 Jaguar XF Reveals Fresh Nose and Tail + All-New Cabin

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800-feet above the water in a high-wire London river crossing!? Yessir – the 2016 XF is trying to make a splash by… not making a splash. The subtle nose and tail are all-new for the upcoming model-year, with new LED tech for the low and high-beams plus new F-Type-shaped LED optics for the brake lights. It is not a truly splashy makeover, but a subtle update to better fit the new design of the all-new XE compact and upcoming XJ refresh. The biggest news, arguably, happens inside the cabin. All-new Jaguar touch-screen and 12-inch TFT display bring the XF up …

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1975 Lancia Stratos Rally Car 12

Amelia Island 2015 – 1975 Lancia Stratos Rally Car

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As fantastic as the Stratos production models were, the rally car is in another league of intensity. Giant fender flares, hugely oversized tires and a raised ride height make this exotic wedge look as ready for off-roading as was possible. Considering it is essentially a hypercar, the idea of whipping through the forest, drifting so wide that the side windows look forward is almost unreal. Terrifying levels of power, extremely limited grip and flyweight dimensions mean the Stratos was a next-level machine in the world of rallying. The Stratos won the newly-formed WRC for three years in a row from …

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1969 Lancia Fulvia 12

Amelia Island 2015 – 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Rallye Car

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The Lancia Rally legends series? Not just winners in the racing arena, but also the historical influencers and taste-maker charts. If the Delta Integrale inspired the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX, what did this Lancia Fulvia spur to life? None other than the also-important BMW 2002. Important groundwork was laid here for the rear-drive Stratos, which would dominate the first few years of the official WRC race series with its lightweight panels, ultra-compact design and supercar performance — optimized for the dirty, dusty and ice-covered rally race routes. 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Rallye

1961 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet 16

Gooding Amelia 2015 – 1961 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet Brings $2.1M

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This Ferrari 250 GT is a real winner. With its factory hardtop, it can be hard to know that this is one of the most desirable second-gen Ferrari 250’s to hit the blocks recently. A series II model with the standard wheelbase, this car is a real hero and is arguably far more beautiful and balanced a design than the SWB California. How classy is this car? The hardtop even has a sunroof! Well bought. 1961 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet

1968 Porsche 908K Short-Tail Coupe 9

Amelia Island 2015 – 1968 Porsche 908K Short-Tail Coupe Is One of Two Survivors

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This Le Mans racer from Porsche is part of a 200-mph dream: Fast cars, evolving in hyperspeed. The 908 was an adapted version of the 907 – but altered to fit an all-new 3.0-liter boxer eight-cylinder engine. We believe this is chassis 908-019 (or perhaps 908-011) – which is thought to be one of two surviving short-tail 908 Coupes outside the Porsche Museum. The 908K stands for short-tail, which was ideal for tighter tracks versus the long-tail for the Le Sarthe LeMans track itself. This machine was a transition phase for the Porsche race crew. A rule change for 1969’s …

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1971 Porsche 911 East African Rally Car 2

Amelia Island 2015 – 1971 Porsche 911 East African Rally Car

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One of the five factory-prepped 911s that raced the 1971 East African Rally, this 911 is pretty outstanding in its creamy white paint. A thorough upgrade, as you can see, includes front and rear rhino bars that are fully integrated into the chassis of the car. But overall, aside from modest aesthetic tweaks, extra lighting, higher ground clearance and sponsor stickers — the mechanicals of this 911 appear to be completely stock. Just proof of the 911’s world-beating package? Perhaps! Our favorite detail? The grab handles on the exterior of the car — mounted on both C-pillars. Not exactly sure …

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Panoz DeltaWing 9

Amelia Island 2015 – Panoz DeltaWing LeMans Racer + Esperante GT

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Panoz was well-placed at the Amelia Island 2015 Concours, with their first-gen DeltaWing racecar and the production Esperante GT. One is an incredible leap into the future of aerodynamics, speed and endurance racing brilliance. The other… a hopeless anachronism based on a 1995 Ford Mustang GT. Sorry for the harsh words on the Esperante. The contrast of this thing with the Garage56 racecar from LeMans and the ALMS series just feels like a car from a different planet than a 20-year-old reskin of a 20-year-old Mustang. Panoz DeltaWing Panoz Esperante GT

1991 Ferrari F40 31

Gooding Amelia 2015 – 1991 Ferrari F40 Brings $1.6M

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Despite Ferrari building triple the 399 units of the F40 initially planned, they are still pretty rare to see. Not exactly practical or comfy, the F40 and its twin-turbocharged V8 is what we think of as a point A to point A car. Much as a Corolla is a point A to point B car — you park it at work, for example, as point B. The F40 is a car you leave from home, go for a blast, and bring it safely back to its garage. In person, this F40 is surprisingly new and still striking. Most 1991 models …

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1956 Maserati 200SI by Fantuzzi – Longnose Factory Race Team Prototype

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The first-ever Maserati 200 SI made, a works development prototype and raced by a dozen of the biggest names in 1950s racing? Yes, yes and yes! This 200 ‘Sport Internazionale’ is one of the most special cars ever to wear the Maserati trident. The one-of-a-kind works racer is most distinctive due to its unpainted exterior. The aluminum and alloy panelwork is on proud display, along with racing history from every angle. Chassis #2401 did not meet its (unknown) reserve price in the 2015 Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction. Rumored to bring more than $5-million, it looks like the bidding …

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1975 Ferrari 312T F1 Car 14

1975 Ferrari 312T and 1976 312T2 Are F1 Legends With Monster Rear Tires

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  These two Ferrari F1 cars were an incredible addition to the Amelia Island Concours for 2015. Hailing from 1975-76 and 1976-77, the 312T and later 312T2 represented a game-changing redesign by Ferrari. Raced by Nikki Lauda and scoring numerous race wins, the 312T is more outrageous to modern eyes thanks to its gigantic periscope of an air intake. Both machines have the almost eye-poppingly huge staggered tire setups of the era, putting tiny front rubber with a very narrow sidewall up front, but huge drag-racer-like slicks on the back. The ratio of front to rear tires is ostensibly 1 …

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2015 Fisker Thunderbolt Concept 49

2015 Fisker Thunderbolt Design Concept Is One-Off Masterclass In Sexy Supercar Style

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After what must have felt like a long decade of misadventures, Henrik Fisker is going back to his roots: lavish and custom design upgrades to factory sports-cars. Fisker’s custom SL-Class and 6-series BMW’s were the stepping-stone between Fisker’s design career (with the BMW Z8 and Aston DB9 on his CV) and the OEM hybrid-maker of the Fisker Karma. After designing the Tesla Model S, Fisker set his sights on more impressive pastures: an EREV with integrated gasoline generator and styling so outrageous and sexy that the Karma made every other sedan feel instantly dated and tired. The story unraveled under …

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HD Road Test Review - 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost in Triple Yellow with Performance Pack 226

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost in Triple Yellow with Performance Pack

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2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Review INTRO There are a few occupational hazards in writing car reviews.  The most serious risk of all?  Falling in love with a press loaner. You spend the first day shocked by your good fortune and impressive networking to have this sweet ride parked in your driveway. Just seeing the Mustang outside on its gorgeous black 19-inch wheels was a huge rush. Day two is about being smitten with surprise and delight features while driving. The Mustang rewards with an amazing driving position, fantastic rear-drive dynamics and Track mode. See the summary for the end-of-week thoughts. …

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Updated With Video + 40 New Pics – 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3

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    WWwwwwwoooowwwww. Did you watch the video above!? Incredible pace and thundering sound from this new AMG GT3. 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Geneva Reveal  Selected image credits: http://blog.mercedes-benz-passion.com PREVIOUS First off, Mercedes-AMG has been remarkably kind with the name of its new racecar: just called the AMG GT3. Versus the AMG GT GT3, the simple moniker is very nice indeed. Besides that generosity, the AMG GT3 is a totally brutal racecar. Running the previous SLS GT3’s 6.2-liter V8 versus the new twin-turbo powertrain in the production car, the AMG GT3 is nonetheless comprehensively overhauled for the needs of FIA GT3-class …

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Road Test Mega Gallery – 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost in 2 Videos + 150 New Photos

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Elbow-deep in photo edits for an upcoming 2015 Mustang Fastback road test review… and there is a slight issue: the volume of images is overwhelming! Far too many for one article. The 2015 Mustang EcoBoost in Triple Yellow with the Performance Pack is so gorgeous, we went a little overboard. — Number of photo locations? —-> Five. — Number of GoPro HD videos? —-> Six. — Number of Nikon DSLR pics? —-> 612. This is excluding the 150 or so pics snapped on mobile for sharing with the Faceplace, etc. 612 pics is alot….. even for our comprehensive ‘Road Test …

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2015 Lexus LF-SA Concept 14

2015 Lexus LF-SA Concept Explores Mini Crossover Coupe of the Future

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  Exciting day in Geneva today! Just around the corner from Lexus’s ED2 design studio, the Geneva show is hosting an exciting Lexus concept car this week. Dubbed the LF-SA, this two-door crossover combines ultra-compact and city-friendly dimensions with go-anywhere ride height, cutting-edge tech and highly advanced design. Sharing rough dimensions with the iQ from Toyota, the LF-SA is most notable for its fascinating design ideas throughout. An all-new take on the Lexus spindle grille is now much deeper, with a double layer of surfacing around the lower edges. In profile, the LF-SA wears giant fender flares and contrast-color and …

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2015 Honda Civic Type R 24

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

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

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

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

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Digital Renderings - 2017 Mitsubishi MiEVO 2

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

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

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

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

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2016 Citroen DS5 3a

2016 Citroen DS5 Is Fresh With Upscale Cabin and Ultra-Modern LED Lighting

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The 2016 Citroen DS5 is here and very cool!  Packing a cosmopolitan luxury-wagon style, a premium and laid-back cabin layout — the latest DS model really proves the transformation from basic Citroens up to the premium and swanky DS lineup. 2016 Citroen DS5   NEW DS 5: THE SYMBOL OF THE DS BRAND The New DS 5 is a vehicle of avant-garde styling, allying dynamic behaviour, refinement and attention to detail with a selection of advanced technologies. It embodies all the attributes of present and future DS vehicles. The DS flagship model introduces the brand identity and gains the new …

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2015 BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car - New Hydro-Cooled Boost Vaporization 72

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

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

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Nissan GT-R LM NISMO

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

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

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Porsche PP-911_PP-PERFORMANCE2

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

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

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2016 Mazda CX-5 8

Update1 – 2016 Mazda CX-5 Goes From Good To Great

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The Mazda CX-5 just went from one of the best crossovers available to perhaps the single best under $30,000. The changes for 2016 include a freshened exterior via a more premium dark-grey grille in a smaller shape, dark-accented wheels and more body-colored accents. Stylish new LED lighting in a cool and expressive design are standard front and rear, plus LED main beam headlamps for the first time. These Adaptive LED Headlights are part of a suite of new safety tech for the CX-5 and a redesigned cabin infotainment setup. Mazda MZD, this new tech package has a larger screen and …

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2015 Toyota Camry and Corolla Special Editions + Revised Avalon Set For Chicago Launch

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Toyota is really on the pulse of culture and style like never before: the best-selling Camry and Corolla have been tweaked for added coolness just ahead of the Chicago Auto Show. There is also a revised 2016 Avalon on the agenda: with tweaked LED designs, updated chassis tuning and a bit of cabin sprucing all likely. Sporty and enthusiast preferences are reflected in the new Camry and Corolla Special Editions – creating the trendy and chic style that guys and gals like us have used to aftermarket to achieve. But as ever, buying a Camry or Corolla can be done …

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

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

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

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

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2015 Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS 7

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

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

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2015 Nissan Juke NISMO RSnow Trax Concept Reignites Juke-R Halo Effect

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We recently gave the Juke-R concept from 2012 a hall of fame write-up – extolling the incredible global awareness the GT-R/Juke hybrid created. The next step? A new Juke RSnow Trax – highlighting the new Juke LED boomerang lamps and new projector-beam lights up front, which are fresh for the 2015 model-year. This machine was created as a support car for an ice-driving school, with the tires replaced by individual tank-like treads. The rubber and steel-spiked treads spin in sync with the new hubs up top, controlling a contact patch that is 50X larger than four tires. This upgrade can …

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2015 Nissan GT-R LM NISMO 8a

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

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

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

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

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

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Mecum Florida 2015 Curio – 1964 Amphicar 770 Was First Car-Boat Hybrid

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What classic 1960s American car was half boat, half convertible and cost as much as one of each? Which was a devastating turd of slowness on both pavement and lake-water? That would be the 1964 Amphicar!  And while the critiques of this 43-horsepower hum-bug are all too real, there is a special charm about the machine. It did actually operate as a slow-moving vehicle suitable for both land and water. With a bit of refinement on the theme, it is easy to envision this as the first of many far more sophisticated dual-purpose machines. In reality, it was only a …

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1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA 18

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

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

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Renault ALPINE Vision Gran Turismo 65

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

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

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1986 Ferrari 512 TestaRossa 30

Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites – 1986 Ferrari 512 TestaRossa

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

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

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

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

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1960 Plymouth Fury NASCAR 42

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

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

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

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

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

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2015 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 4

2015 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 May Signal Global Racing Ambitions for the Raging Bull

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   The new Lamborghini Huracan GT3 takes the LP620-2 Super Trofeo car above and beyond all previous Lambo track performance. The new rear spoiler, larger splitters and green-accented details hide big upgrades inside to the overall safety spec: a new FIA-regulated seat, fire extinguisher and roof hatch make the Huracan GT3 even safer at flat out in the Blancpain GT3 series. They may also be a precursor to runs in the Nurburgring 24-hour race and other WEC racing competitions — which would be big news for largely street-supercar Lamborghini. As quick and wild as all Lambo’s are, the firm’s racing …

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1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2

RM Paris 2015 – 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Touring – Seeks $700k

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The Porsche 911 RS was one of Porsche’s first tries at a truly high-performance 911. They, like most people, were dubious about the super-sports potential of the 911’s rear-engine design. But after re-balancing the company following huge winning streaks at LeMans and the CanAm racing series, Porsche was back to Earth in the early 1970s. The 2.7-liter flat-six was a huge jump in displacement from the original 2.0-liter design — and the 210-horsepower it made was enough to excite even the bravest drivers. This was, after all, a bare-bones and tiny sports-car. To go along with the huge power jump …

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Infiniti QX70 by AHG-Sports 3

Infiniti QX70 by AHG-Sports Shows Great Style and Stance

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One of the big advantages of going to a big tuner for your car upgrades is that — no matter how eye-watering;y expensive they are, a big tuner’s parts will be far less than commissioning the work piece by piece. In Germany, driving one of the big local brands really helps broaden the availability, and affordability, of tuner parts and car mods. The Infiniti here by AHG-Sports lacks both of these benefits: it is nearly a one-off upgrade and each change is deeply pricey. Secondly, Infiniti’s in Europe are so rare that limited options exist to go wild on power …

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2015 BMW 1-Series 30

4.5s, 326HP 2015 BMW M135i xDrive Gives Supercar Thrills for VW Golf Bills

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The new BMW 1-Series just came out, and it is a really cool evolution of the rear-drive compact hatch. The premise is the same as before: sports-car thrills, VW Golf bills. The new model range is a three-door and five-door hatch to start, with a future four-door sedan headed to the US market. We are unlikely to see either of the hatchback styles, but the five-door might theoretically be in the cards for the US market as well. Engines start with the 116d, and extend up to the 118, 120, 125 and finally the 135i at the top of the …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 A No-Show in Detroit, but CTS-V Heals All Wounds

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How excited were we to see the new Cadillac CT6 flagship at the Detroit auto show press conference? *Very* We have been refreshing the Cadillac media website throughout the CTS-V introduction, hoping the new flagship photos would be live momentarily. After all, Cadillac announced months ago that the CT6 would make a Detroit reveal. But all that might have been before new Caddy President Johan de Nysschen (far right in below photo) took the reins of the brand. Our hunch is that he had some last-minute tweaks to the CT6 that are still being implemented. We hope one of them …

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gt350r

2016 SHELBY GT350R Is Quickest Factory Mustang Ever Made

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If there are two priorities for an all-star track racer, one column would be labelled ‘Power’ and the other ‘Control.’ This new GT350R majors on control, with huge changes to the aero setup, the suspension and grip package, and the overall handling characteristics. The GT350R is an always-on, flypaper-grippy supercar that hopes to best the Camaro Z/28 in the quickest-lap stakes. This will be the Mustang for laying down the headline Laguna Seca laptimes, with much equipment and luxury tossed aside to slice those last few 10ths from the ultimate speed the GT350R can achieve. This means it will be …

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Update2 – 550HP+ 2016 Acura NSX World Premiere in 95 Images

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Updated 1.13.2015 With 20 new photos What really strikes you after first viewing the new NSX is how incredibly stylish and lean its design is. At first glance, it seems an exact copy of the concepts we’ve seen over the years. But that is not actually true. The nose is dramatically cleaned-up, with the chrome bar now subtle and mounted right at the hood’s leading edge. Previously, it was below the hood and had black space above it — creating the unpopular beak face many have hated on Acuras recently. Beyond that refinement, there is also a full lower aero …

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q60 concept

2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept – Private Debut in Detroit Shows Swanky Cabin and ~440HP V6TT

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The 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept is here! Absolutely miraculous style and luxury shown here, with the power to back it up. The styling concept is said to be 98-percent of the finished product, sans a few of the more extravagant details like the super-lux pearlescent paint, much of the carbon-fiber in the bumpers, and things like the etched fiber-optic amber blinker lights in front. The uncut gemstone lens of the main beam headlights are particularly fascinating in their style appeal, but are also likely to fall by the wayside for production. Even so, the real 2016 Q60 Coupe promises something …

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2016 Buick Cascada Convertible Is Official! 75 Images + Tech Specs

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Buick revealed a surprise production car today ahead of its live debut at the Detroit auto show tomorrow: the very sexy Cascada convertible. The Cascada is a surprise only in part: the car is a clone of its European Vauxhall and Opel Cascada twins, and arrives as a Buick production model to dealers in early in the 2016 calendar year. So while the car might not be a total shock, seeing Buick integrate it into the US lineup is relatively big news. It joins the current Regal as a fully autobahn-ready Buick with premium cabin, performance and handling. This sexy …

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2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR Racers Pack Wild Aero Ugrades

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2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR When overall power is capped by a racing series of technical limits of the engine, you have a few other routes to more speed. These include a drop in weight and an increase in grip. But what can you do if max weight and tire setups are also regulated by racing rules? The last summit to climb is then aerodynamics and downforce. Subaru has embraced this fourth route to greatness in its two new racers: the BRZ GT300 and WRX STI NBR Challenge. The splitters up front add nearly a foot of extra …

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2015 Dodge Viper in 100 Custom COLORS – 1-of-1 Order Concierge Brings 25-Million Individual Combinations

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Most of the time with these digital colorizer articles, the shades shown are pure fantasy. They cannot be ordered bespoke on anything short of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. The Viper is joining this exclusive club of absolute customization for 2015 — with 8000 color shades available to order, plus dozens of other trim choices. This all expands the range of custom Vipers exponentially: up to 25-million one-of-a-kind selections possible. The 2015 Viper 1-of-1 program might be daunting for shopppers and those ordering a custom Viper. There were already a huge volume of selections to make in the 2014 model, so …

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Porsche 911 GT2 by OK-ChipTuning

Porsche 911 GT2 by OK-ChipTuning Adds 150HP in 90 Minutes

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It is raining GT2 Porsche’s today! For any turbo, no mod is more cost and time-efficient than an ECU reflash. Imagine adding at least 50-horsepower in the time it takes to get an oil change. Too good to be true, right? Yes. The best turbo tunes will not just work the electronics: you definitely benefit most from a more open exhaust setup. And to sustain that performance under hard driving, a chipped turbo also demands a bigger intercooler with more capacity. If the turbo is glowing red-hot from hard driving, it will lose progressively more and more power — until …

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wimmer gt2 rs muscleplay

1006HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS MusclePlay by WIMMER Shows Bonkers 242MPH Vmax

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If the racing Wimmer GT2 RS previously shown was track-optimized with a jump in 80-horsepower, this one is simply for the bonkers power-fiend. The twin-turbo Porsche now puts out an astounding 1006-horsepower. The output is so immense that we actually needed to convert the metric PS 1020 measurement to US horsepower. The difference is usually negigible, but when you hit the stratosphere…. obviously what is a rounding error on the Honda becomes a difference of 16 ponies. The indicated V-max of this MusclePlay RS is 242-mph — but it would be a brave soul who explores past 220 or so! …

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Porsche 911 GT2 RS by WIMMER

221MPH, 703HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS by WIMMER

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We car-guys are becoming a bit desensitized to power outputs hitting absolutely huge heights. But any Porsche 911 with a horsepower figure starting in the 700’s is still a shocking thing. This Wimmer GT2 RS was designed to go racing from day one, and the car is a model of brutality and knife-edged speed even more than the stock ‘widow-maker.’ Along with the 83-horsepower increase over the factory model’s 620-horsepower comes an even bigger jump in top speed: to a frankly shocking 221-mph. As Porsche prepares to launch its own RS 911 model soon, it is good to see that …

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nomad colors

2015 ARIEL Nomad – Exclusive Digital COLORIZER

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This Ariel Nomad is a very cool piece of news – even as CES is in full swing and Detroit is starting to build momentum ahead of press parties starting on Sunday. We’ve spent a bit of time in photoshop to create an exclusive color visualizer for the new Nomad — with our skills obviously best able to create bright, Skittles-style shades. We’ve also lightened and darkened the wheels for a few ideas of what the gloss-black optional rims might look like. This car seems like it is *perfect* for the X-raid class of rallying, and as such there are …

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ariel nomad

3.3s 2015 ARIEL Nomad – Tech Specs, Options and Full-Throttle Testing Video!

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Updated 1.6.2015 If anything, the real-life Ariel Nomad is even cooler than last week’s teaser renders indicated. Power is a stout 235-ponies, the Yokohama 35-inch mud tires are insane, and the options list will make you start drooling onto your touchscreen. Is there any downside to the ultra-light yet super-strong Ariel Atom chassis concept being applied to an off-roader? Not that we can think of. A heated windshield is even offered. The rear-engine playfulness and handling joy seem to apply themselves perfectly to the Nomad’s off-road mission — as well as guaranteeing traction for sprints and heavy braking. The 100-kph …

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Update1 – 2004 Chrysler ME 4/12 Was Quad-Turbo V12 Hypercar

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Updated 1.5.15 With 30 Extra Photos It is hard to go wrong with mid-engine hypercar concepts, and this one is no exception. There are really interesting and lavish details throughout, the success of which led to the long-running hood strakes in many production Chrysler models. Little else from this quad-turbocharged V12 concept made it to the roads, but the ME Four Twelve concept capped a record number of concept cars for Chrysler under Daimler. The company released at least three wild concepts ever year between 1999 and 2004, but none are as desirable as this car. Or, in fact, the …

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356 zagato

1958 Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster Is Worlds Only Aluminum-Bodied Example

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Zagato Classic has recreated their first-ever Porsche project here: a 356 Speedster that was lightened and made quicker for a racing customer in Paris. The tailfins are particularly delightful as functional and style-enhancing elements, as is the lower and lighter windshield. If you are thinking: hey, this Zagato 356 Speedster actually looks much more like the 550 Spyder — you are correct. The commission of a new aluminum body for the steel-skinned 356 meant Zagato could make the car as streamlined as Porsche’s most-successful racer ever (at the time): the 550. Shown below on the grass, you can see the …

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2015 Ford Mustang Colors and Wheel Visualizer

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Updated 1.1.2015 With the four wheel styles. A few months ago we created a digital colorizer for the new Mustang – a car that is so highly anticipated that even Ford teams are clamoring for access. Rendered colorizers are fun, but not really helpful as a shopping tool or a real-life guide. We promised a real factory color guide in that article, and are proud to deliver it today! A few observations after spending much, much time on the Ford.com site and the Ford Media Center this week: — The car looks amazing. Even better than expected in the lighter …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in 44 High-Res Photos

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For a race car to become an icon, it typically needs to achieve much more on the track than this 1971 300 SEL. A single second-place trophy at Spa racing against Ford Capri’s and Chevy Camaro’s? That is the win that this first-ever AMG model has in its quiver. So disposable that the original car was even sold off – and never to be seen again? It is true. This is the sole Mercedes-Benz replica created in 2005 to celebrate AMG joining the official Daimler Benz family. So what does it represent today, beyond an amazing sample of a Merc …

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2012 AC 378GT by ZAGATO visualizer front67

2012 AC 378GT by ZAGATO – Animated Visualizer of 25 Custom, Race-Inspired Liveries

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The Zagato design of the AC 378GT is actually remarkably sexy and fresh, even five years since it was first previewed in 2009. To add buzz and sales momentum to the AC Cars branding, the Italian design boutique created 25 stunning liveries to inspire supercar buyers. There are some really sexy ideas for paint and trims in here. Sure, it might not have been make-or-break in the car’s (very) limited production run, but they are cool to see in one of our animated visualizers. These two animations below are extra cool because they are synced up – with each of …

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Bespoke Supercars – 2012 AC 378GT by ZAGATO

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  ZAGATO has been in a front-engine-GT mood recently, and the AC 378GT was the only one in a series of sexy designs that was produced for sale. This AC Cars 378GT was initially conceived as a new sports-car brand called Perana. With a tubular steel chassis and full engineering by Zagato, the car was thisclose to production form when Perana suddenly ran out of cash in the midst of the 2008-present economic meltdown. Step in, AC Cars, a German and English consortium importing and selling South African-made Cobra MkVI models of various sizes and specifications. The resemblance of the …

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mustang gt

My Best Video of 2014 – 2015 Ford Mustang GT Track Drive Review

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 Track Drive Video Review Re-publishing this article from October with the new page-top gallery, and to celebrate shooting a video review that is ‘watchable.’ This 3-lap blast in a 2015 Mustang GT six-speed-manual at Autobahn Country Club is our most-watched video of all time over at http://www.youtube.com/user/thetomburkart The new Mustang GT is a real favorite watch the above to find out why! 2015 Ford Mustang GT Awww yeah! Track time with the new Mustang GT! It felt so fantastic to fire up this pony-car for the first time. Could not help but smiling even to find the new GT and …

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2003 ItalDesign Moray Corvette By Giugiaro

Concept Flashback – 2003 ItalDesign Moray Corvette By Giugiaro

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  The Corvette Moray is a slippery one — in many senses of the word! Named after the shimmery Moray eel and styled to glide through this world without disturbing the air, the Moray Corvette from ItalDesign in 2003 is interesting for a few reasons. First off, though, let’s discuss what it is under these sleek new panels and triple glass bubble canopy. It is a C5 underneath — so the guys had their work cut out for them in making it special and respected at Pebble Beach and in Geneva. It is a full reskin from tip to tail, …

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ctsv3

2016 Cadillac CTS-V in 99 New Images + Roaring Dynamic Video!

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  The above 45-second CTS-V promo video is heaven. The super-sedan category has a very potent new entry in the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Revealed today online ahead of its public showing in Detroit in two weeks, the new CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2.-liter V8 making a stonking 640-horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Let’s repeat those numbers. 640HP, 630 Ft/LB. That is a cool 100 over the BMW M5 and 60-plus more than the E63 AMG S-Model. The rear-drive sedan has a limited-slip diff in back along with the latest eight-speed automatic from the Corvette Z06. The one …

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Concept Flashback - 1989 Mitsubishi HSR II Innovates With Six Active Aero Wings

Concept Flashback – 1989 Mitsubishi HSR II Innovates With Six Active Aero Wings

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We’ve been pouring through the Mitsubishi back catalog today for a few Concept Flashback articles. The real all-star of the Mitsu lineup of show cars in the last three decades? It is this – the 1989 HSR II. HSR stands for Highly Sophisticated-transport Research and was a follow-up to a 1987 concept of the same name. The HSR II is far more beautiful, however, and also more innovative. Sure, as a 1989 Japanese exotic, the HSR II is packing a twin-turbo V6 along with 4-wheel-steering and 4-wheel-drive. This goes well with its ABS brakes, independent suspension and electronically-adjustable dampers all …

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ariel nomad

2015 ARIEL Nomad is Off-Roader With ATOMic Lightness and Speed!

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Thrilled to see the latest move from Ariel Motors in the UK: an off-road version of its legendary Atom sports car! This new variant is called the Nomad and is based on the latest Atom 3 running gear — but with a totally new roll-cage/chassis combination, a huge suspension upfit and giant dune-munching tires. A windshield is also in the mix on the teaser shots. This will be helpful for keeping the mud and sand out of your face! 200-horsepower is the output from the rear-engine Nomad, with rear-drive keeping things just a few hundred pounds up on the flyweight …

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365gtb4

RM Paris 2015 Preview – 1969 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta – Euro-Spec Plexiglass Nose

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It is hard to believe that the austere and perennially grumpy Europe we know today was once the largest market for supercars like this 1969 Daytona. This car may have itself marked a tipping point – when American sales of Ferrari and Lamborghini exotics would overtake the Continent for the first time. There was plenty of cash in American buyer hands, but the distribution of exotic imports was extremely limited until the mid-1960s. Unless you lived in Greenwich, CT or Malibu — there simply was no place to buy and service most European supercars. Rapid distribution expansion by Ferrari followed …

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wimmer ktm xbow gt

KTM X-Bow GT By WIMMER Is Nearly Unbeatable With 485HP

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 The KTM X-Bow is easily one of the most interesting and coolest track car designs to appear in the last 15 years. But major critiques of the car have arisen regardless. Its carbon tub and frame make the car’s handling, some say, too benign and its power delivery too inert. For these hardcore drivers, the X-Bow GT and X-Bow RR need a final push to enter the true supercar level of track pace. Enter Germany’s WIMMER RST — a racing company that will also prep you a road car. The X-Bow GT shown here with the new windshield option bumps …

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cts-rs

GMInsideNews’ MonaroSS Renders 2017 Cadillac CTS-RS + CTS-V Coupe and Cabriolet Variants

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We were not alone in speculating about a future Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. The one hint from the CTS-V release a few days ago is that the photos were all labelled “Sedan.” This is usually a dead giveaway that a coupe or cabrio version of a car is coming. MonaroSS from GM Inside News is well-known for his Elmiraj-based sedan renderings from last Fall. We’re happy to see his latest renders on this superlux Cadillac theme. His idea for a CTS-RS is easily the most enticing… but the cabriolets and coupes are interesting to see as well. Reactions seem positive over …

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ctsv

Update1 – 640HP, 200MPH 2016 Cadillac CTS-V Revealed + Tech Specs

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  The super-sedan category has a very potent new entry in the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Revealed today online ahead of its public showing in Detroit in two weeks, the new CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2.-liter V8 making a stonking 640-horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Let’s repeat those numbers. 640HP, 630 Ft/LB. That is a cool 100 over the BMW M5 and 60-plus more than the E63 AMG S-Model. The rear-drive sedan has a limited-slip diff in back along with the latest eight-speed automatic from the Corvette Z06. The one that is .4-seconds-quicker to 60-mph than even the …

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BMW 550i By Fostla

BMW 550i By Fostla.de Is Wrapped, Uncapped and Remapped to 570HP Bliss

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  The stock BMW 5 series has all the makings of an amazing sports sedan – one with outstanding performance, luxury and room inside for every situation. But from the factory, even the 550i M Sport lacks a bit of visual aggression. How to better project its unique performance cred on the outside? Fostla.de not only wrapped this F10 in a subtle satin-finish “grey olive matte metallic” foil, color-matches the new 21-inch Yido wheels, and accents the design with another shade of bright tan. The foil wrap delivers real visual punch by being subtle and also quite special and flashy …

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amg gt VR video

Mercedes-AMG GT Stars in Trippy Virtual-Reality Track Videos

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  These are seriously freaky in their modernity – and a snippet of Hollywood magic coming to GoPro owners in the future. These two videos of the new AMG GT S on a racetrack can be watched from numerous 360-degree perspectives. Theoretically, each has full HD picture and sound. (In practice, it is not exactly high-definition.) A quick three -step instruction will help you get the most out of these films without a VR headset: — Bursor movement on the playing video changes the perspective — Bottom right globe button makes it super-wide-angle. (Avoid!) — A three-camera selector at the …

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tt 2016

2016 Audi TT Wins TopGear Coupe of the Year + LED Lighting Demo

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  TopGear has hated the Audi TT for as long as anyone can recall. Sure, this is part of their countercultural appeal, as the UK was one of the TT’s biggest global markets. The car was absolutely everywhere and wore many people out. It represented a “tarted up Golf,” as the guys said so, so many times. So for the new 2016 model-year TT to win the mag’s Coupe of the Year award is quite surprising indeed. Granted, they gave more than a dozen of these awards out in many categories, with heavily subjective and qualitative assessments deciding who won …

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gts

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1996 Dodge Viper GTS

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1973 charger rt

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger RT – Lot R216

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee - Lot R212

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee – Lot R212

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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mansory2

3.1s, 1000HP Mercedes-AMG S63 Is Latest MANSORY Monster

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The Mansory Monster! That has kindof a nice ring to it =] In reality, Mansory makes cars that are overhauled so well, and so thoroughly, that you would only call it a monster with a smile on your face. The latest S63 AMG goes under the microscope at Mansory and comes out wider, lower, meaner and leaner. There are numerous body upgrades to enjoy outside, ultra-soft leather inside with unique patterns and an unlimited palatte, but leather-wrapping of virtually every cabin element. Everything. Do upgrade an S-Class so thoroughly is really, really difficult. They basically have to disassemble entire sections …

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1970 Buick GSX

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Buick GSX

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Switching it up briefly — this fly-yellow Buick GSX stunner also lived in the Wellborn stables… A note here about “badge engineering.” Sure, badge engineering got a bad reputation and still has one in the auto business. But it was not always about shameless profit-seeking. It was about dealerships demanding a cool their-brand version of whatever popular car came out of these companies. This stemmed ultimately from buyer’s outcry for the same thing. In a time of fierce brand loyalties among whole families, they were much less likely to jump ship to a Dodge if they had traditionally owned Buicks. …

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1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1970-Dodge-Challenger-TA22

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Dodge Challenger TA

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

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1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

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1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered for …

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mclaren m6gt fantasy colorizer

#BlackSwanMoments – 1969 McLaren M6GT – Fantasy Colorizer

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 McLaren is running a series of teasers dubbed #BlackSwanMoments ahead of the arrival of the newest, and cheapest, sportscar some time in 2015. We are on number 5 of 13 moments so far. They all touch on the magic of how McLaren came to be, what the company is proudest to have achieved, and how these impactful, breakthrough moments have inspired the new 2016 Sport Series of cars. It is a dark and relatively moody look back at history, racing, innovation and Bruce McLaren himself. It’s deep. Number 5 #BlackSwanMoment is our cherished 1969 McLaren M6GT, a car intended to …

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kahn 600le

KAHN Design Range Rover RS600 Is Private Haven in Snow White/Gloss Black

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KAHN Design will make you turn-key stunner like this or help you upgrade your Rangie a la carte via Kahn wheels, grilles, trims and styling pieces over time. Either way, the results are definitely unique and striking. The level of vulgarity and hints of criminals behind the wheel goes up dramatically with any kind of matte or monochrome paintwork, so this white/black stunner is a great balance. Flashy and classy in all the right ways. There are widebody flares on this car, and totally unique front and rear bumpers as well. The design of these pieces is so well-integrated and …

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1984 Audi Sport Quattro

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1984 Audi Sport Quattro

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  Why so many auction articles, I hear you asking. Auctions are one of the only appearances of extremely rare and coveted classics, and the photos and bios prepared as owners ready their beauties for sale are some of the best out there. Because whoever buys the car will absolutely adore it and think of it constantly, the pricest ones expecting above $100,000 are truly gussied up for the occassion. It is the equivalent of the Oscars for vintage automobiles — and this is the red carpet. Few rally cars have as much lasting impact as the Audi Sport Quattro …

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rockford firebird

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files

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Jim Rockford’s hero car from The Rockford Files!? Yessir. These three Firebirds are about as nice as it gets – truly stunning. James Garner was the ultimate 1970s detective, in a broadcast schedule lousy with imitators that could never compare with his steely delivery and shrewd crime-solving skills. This Firebird Formula was painted gold to match the first Firebird Espirit from the series’ early seasons, and was Rockford’s main ride for the 1978-1980 seasons of the show. Garner disliked the 1979 restyle of the Firebird, so this kid stayed in the picture.   Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files Lot …

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1978 788 ta

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition

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Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. This Y88 Gold Special Edition was a one-year release and includes all the great three-letter model codes of the era: W72 6.6-liter V8, Y88 trim and WS6 Performance Pack. The gold leaf paint and glass T-Tops are a special accent, while the 16,000 original miles make this one barely broken in – 35 years later. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition     Lot R204// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan …

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trans am

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1978 Pontiac Trans Am – Owned by Burt Reynolds

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Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Do you also like Mustaches and wild burnouts? If so, you are doubly fortunate with this Trans Am.  This Firebird is none other than Burt Reynold’s personal Pontiac Trans Am. Not a movie car — his actual daily driver for a few years. The Starlight Black* paint glows just as deeply today as it ever did, and the design of this Firebird is aging very gracefully. The C/B radio is …

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daytona

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Has Just 6k Original Miles

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Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the muscle car era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it certainly applies to the owners of this astounding 1969 Dodge Hemi 4-speed Daytona, which has been driven an amazing 6,435 …

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chevelle ss

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport

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Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. Kicking things off is this triple black Chevelle SS. We think of the Chevelle as the Camaro’s stronger and meaner older brother — so clearly not one to mess with at the lights. The 454 badges show and tell the power of this machine loud and clear, as does its bellowing V8 roar on hard throttle. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Super Sport 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Engine 454/450 HP Trans …

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2014 McLaren 650S GT3

2014 McLaren 650S GT3 Scores Podium Finish in Gulf 12-Hour Season Closer

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  The McLaren 650S GT3 wrapped up its first season with a competitive 3rd place at the Gulf 12-hour race this weekend at Yas Marina.   2014 McLaren 650S GT3     Exciting race-car news from McLaren GT today! It looks like the P1 GTR will not be the only Macca out on the world’s sportscar racetracks next year!   The 650S GT3 upgrade has just been revealed by McLaren GT today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Official Details below from McLaren GT.       McLAREN GT SIGNS OFF THE 650S GT3 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WITH A PODIUM FINISH AT …

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1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II: Wankel vs V8 Proved Piston-Engine Dominance

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Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars.   1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II     PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …

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174MPH, 4.1s 2015 Audi RS3 Sportback Revealed For Europe with 376HP I5T

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In a nod to past Audi heroes, the latest RS3 Sportback is turning up the wick — and burning it from both ends. Quattro all-wheel-drive legend’s are claimed to be alive in this latest Audi RS3 , with performance that is certainly eye-catching! And it needs to be: this mini-supercar segment is becoming not just a prestige battle for halo consumers buying cheaper trims, but a grudge match between the big German luxury brands. The CLA and A45 AMG vs the BMW M235i vs the RS3!  Audi is stacking the deck in their favor by fielding not just this RS3 …

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228HP, 5.9s 2016 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop World Debut

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  The new MINI JCW is here! Revealed online ahead of its global showing in Detroit next month, the next-gen JCW is a pretty stout upgrade over an already-intense predecessor. Power is up 10-percent to 228-horsepower, while torque is up 14-percent to 236-pound-feet from an all-new turbo four. The big news with this engine is its giant jump in displacement: up 25-percent over the previous engine. That means the power is easier to achieve without huge throttle needed. Good on the track, but even better for real-world road power and responsiveness. The six-speed manual sprints to 60-mph now in 6.1-seconds, …

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1967 SHELBY GT500 Eleanor Mustang Headlining MECUM Austin Auction This Weekend

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Your chance to own not just an incredibly upgraded Mustang GT500 with custom widebody, aero pieces and mechanical improvements throughout — but a famous movie hero as well? This Mustang GT500 is one of three driven by the stars in the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds. Yes, that means Angelina Jolie will have driven your car! The Mecum Austin auction is the first-ever event for the powerhourse auction specialist. More than 600 cars are set to be sold this weekend, December 12th and 13th, starting on Friday — just two days from today! 1967 SHELBY GT500 Eleanor Mustang   …

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1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel 14

201MPH 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel World Speed Record Car

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The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …

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Subaru VIZIV GT Vision Gran Turismo 64

591HP 2014 Subaru VIZIV GT Vision Gran Turismo – Latest GT6 Concept in 70 Photos!

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      How did we miss this!? It has been about two weeks since the amazing Subaru Viziv GT concept was revealed for Gran Turismo 6 – but seeing its details up close still quickens the pulse. We absolutely love these chiseled and chopped lines, the proportions of an ultra-low shooting brake, and the detailing throughout. It is a stunning interpretation of the ultimate Subaru track car. The tech details are a turbo 2.0-liter boxer in front, supplemented by twin electric motors in back and a single electric motor in front. The combination delivers 591-horsepower and 593 pound-feet of …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Sienna XLE Brings All-New Infotainment and Fresh Comfort Upgrades

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On the way to test out the 2015 Sienna, we traveled by Sienna! Our chariot of 2014 Sienna SE offered a great basis point to evaluate the 2015 model’s improvements. Let’s dive in with the usual format of Exterior, Interior, Performance and Summary. We have split each segment into Sienna XLE and Sienna SE portions, in hopes of offering a good idea of what both offer families – highlighting relevant differences between the two. EXTERIOR Sienna XLE There are subtle style changes outside around front and back. The SE and Limited Sienna’s benefit from some classy LED accents in the …

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2015 Jaguar F-Type S Coupe Wheels Upgrade by Best Cars/Schmidt Revolution

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The best accessory for night out is a hot date. For a sports car, the simplest upgrade can also have the most impact: a sexy set of new wheels. It is too bad that these 295/ZR25 rear tires are far too small for the 21-inch wheels’ width. Looks silly. The 235/ZR30 front tires will out the rims much better. But the Jaguar does have the still-optional leaper badge on the hood, which makes up for a lot. 2015 Jaguar F-Type S Coupe Wheels Upgrade by Best Cars/Schmidt Revolution JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPÉ by BEST CARS AND BIKES   The founded in …

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