EXTERIOR Topic Hub

2019 BMW Z4 M40i – Road Test Review & Drive Video

It was a BMW fun-fest at Car-Revs-Daily.com this Fall and we loved every minute of it. Driving the new Z4 let us experience the amazing torque-rush of the B58 “M40” motor we loved so much in the X4 in a lighter and far more aerodynamic package. One with the wind in your hair and sun on your face. There are quite a few contrasts in the new Z4’s mission: to be both more luxurious while still keeping its playful and sporty appeal intact. We came away thrilled with the machine for so many reasons — and only mention the Supra …

Jan 12, 2020 Read more

2018 Ford Expedition Platinum – HD Road Test Review

If you love big trucks and fast Fords…. the 2018 Expedition will be a game-changer for your family. Here is a truck so full of substantive improvements and taste upgrades that a reviewer barely knows where to start. How about 10-speed automatic and chassis rigidity that is through-the-roof versus any Expedition before. And then there is exterior style that takes time to even sink in. Ultra-modern. Best LEDs on the road. Stance for days comes naturally with these new alloy body panels. We have a terrific drive video, 100 photos and standard headers below for this class-leading full-size SUV. HD …

Apr 09, 2018 Read more

2017 Porsche Panamera TURBO – Startup/Exhaust Video + 44 Photos

The new Panamera Turbo is all about headline numbers versus the rest of the range. 3.4-seconds to 60-mph. 190-mph top speed. All-new 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 with 550HP and a snarl worthy of the Porsche crest. The exterior is indeed very evolutionary from up front. New PDLS+ and LED matrix lighting sets the car apart as the new model, as do the new intercoolers behind every nose hole. Intercooler as fashion statement! They are bright silver so definitely stand out to the eye — in the best way. Around the side and rear end, the car looks much …

Mar 18, 2017 Read more

2017 Jeep Cherokee TRAILHAWK – HD Road Test Review Plus 2 Videos

True or False: The Cherokee Trailhawk is just as serious an upgrade as any M car from BMW — but tailored to making the Jeep unstoppable offroad versus chopping its track laptimes. Preposterous comparison? M car versus Trailhawk package? We might have thought so too until spending a week in the Trailhawk and testing out its off-road drive systems (on video below!) on some deep mud/clay here in South Carolina. The transformation of the Cherokee in off-road beastmode is as dramatic as any Sport Plus on a high-performance car. Perhaps even more-so for how intense the drivetrain becomes in its 4Low …

Feb 14, 2017 Read more

2016 VW Golf TSI SE – HD Road Test Review + Video

Where does the Golf fit in VW’s great comeback? The Golf has long been the most intellectual, well-travelled and worldly compact hatch. Despite pricing from the low 20s, the Golf is clearly a classy machine. A car for those who recoil at the idea of driving just another Corolla or Focus. VW as a ‘cognoscenti special’ in the Golf was badly bruised by the dieselgate scandal. That much is clear. But there is no TDI badge on the back of this car. The TSI emblem in back confirms this is a high-tech gasoline turbo engine. Revisions for 2016 now bring …

Nov 04, 2016 Read more

Road Test Review – 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum with Tim Esterdahl

Review: 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum – Fully Loaded SUV Goodness As the leader of the SUV market, the all-new 2016 Ford Explorer has big shoes to fill. Fortunately, Ford filled the Explorer Platinum with an almost absurd of luxury features making sure it not only hits all the marks, but it blows customers away. Simply put, it feels like a luxury SUV and that is precisely the point. The new Explorer is an evolution of where the SUV has been heading in the past few years and for this recent iteration, Ford really went after the design. There is new …

Apr 12, 2016 Read more

TOPCAR Shows Full Carbon STINGER Reskin for Porsche 911 Turbo

Updated 1.23.16 What better way to drive home how exotic the TopCar Stinger GTR is than to see its all-new carbon bodywork make up that iconic 911 shape — even without the Porsche underneath to distract the eye. This custom upgraded exterior looks exceptionally high-quality in its raw form. Yet also featherlight and dropping the OEM curb weight by around 200 pounds. Along with the menu of power and handling mods, the Stinger GTR definitely packs a strong punch. Like a prize fighter in carbon-kevlar, nothing it getting past these TopCar turbos! The full carbon Stinger GTR is set for …

Jan 23, 2016 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2016 GMC Terrain DENALI AWD V6 – Swanky Refresh for Right-Sized SUV

GMC’s best-seller has been tearing up the sales rulebooks since its launch in 2009. We’ve admired its huge back seat and very affordable $24k base price from afar, but never from behind the wheel. The GMC Terrain welcomes a light refresh for 2016: new styling outside and new tech in the cabin helps the family favorite be even more competitive in the mid-size SUV class. And while the upgrades outside are fairly light for most trims, the new LED DRLs up front do wonders for the truck’s appeal on the road. The biggest news for the 2016 Terrain is the …

Jan 04, 2016 Read more

2016 Volvo XC90 T8 R-Design Flagships Arriving Now – 472 Torques, Priced from $69k

The new Volvo XC90 is set to become the brand’s biggest-ever launch. Buried in preorders and scrambling to get the HOT new truck into buyer hands, Volvo started production of the new seven-seater with exclusively T6 engines and the luxury trimlines. These are fab, of course, but not technically the coolest or fastest new XC90. Nope, that honor definitely goes to the 400HP T8 R-Design! Running a turbo PHEV drivetrain, the XC90 T8 will become the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV with seven seats. It will also be the quickest XC90 ever — V8 included. How? This incredible twin-engine drivetrain …

Nov 27, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus RX350 Colors Gallery Inside and Out + 80 New Pics of New Eminent White Pearl Paint

Best exterior color for the new 2016 Lexus RX? Eminent White Pearl! Devoted an insane amount of hours today editing just half of the RX photos we have to share — and eager to show off this gorgeous set of the RX350 in new colors inside and out. Eminent White Pearl is the name of this breathtakingly beautiful new white. The semi-gloss finish really brings all the curves and creases of the RX’s new bodywork to life. Inside, this RX350 features the new Noble Brown leather choice, paired with the Grey Sapele woodwork. These are just one choice among the …

Nov 12, 2015 Read more

2016 Nissan Patrol NISMO Storms Dubai with 30HP Bump + Bilsteins, Rays 22s and Custom Exterior

Here is an exciting truck that is certainly not headed stateside in its current form: the 2016 Nissan Patrol NISMO for the Middle Eastern market. The upgrades are actually pretty awesome, despite just a jump to 428-ponies from the stock 400 even. The 5.6-liter V8 is absolutely a gem in 400HP form, so with freer intakes and exhaust, the engine is eager to deliver even more smiles-per-gallon via this new NISMO tune. Chassis changes are fairly extensive, with a custom handling setup, Bilstein gas shocks and new Rays 22-inch forged alloys on the options list. Custom exterior with all-new …

Oct 19, 2015 Read more

2016 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription STUNS in Person: Worlds-Best Cabin and Q7-Smacking Exterior Beauty

As you may know, we’ve followed the development of the all-new Volvo XC90 with a magnifying glass — loving the design vision, tech solutions and family-first attitude of this first in a new series of Volvo models. Meeting the truck in person this week was a seriously competitive affair. Journalists were literally running to reserve it for a quick spin every time it became available. Just an exceptionally short test drive as a result — without the chance to take a video or really get on-road impressions. Even so, we do have a gorgeous set of photos of the …

Oct 11, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus IS250 Nails Apex-Carver Fundamentals

The 2015 Lexus IS250 nails the sport-sedan fundamentals so hard, you forget all about mainstream mid-size cars after a block in the driver’s seat. That is a fact. A pure-cornering, rev-loving fact. Drive position in the Daytona GTB/4-style tan seats is instantly flawless, as are the major pedal anc control inputs. Crank up the SXM, rotate to sport mode…. and never look back. 4K Drive Video – 2015 Lexus IS250 Review INTRO The 2015 IS250 is such a fantastic sports sedan that we wanted to drive a 320i right afterward to confirm the RWD love for this Lexus was …

Aug 20, 2015 Read more

2016 Lexus LX570 Debuts Stunning New Cabin and Escalade-Proof Exterior Flash!

The 2016 Lexus is now as stunning inside as a Range Rover! This is big news for the unstoppable seven-seat SUV in the face of big competition from the new Escalade, Navigator and even the fresh QX80 Limited. Cabin tech and giant flatscreens look ready for South Beach and beyond inside the new LX570, which packs a host of new safety tech as well. The compact new steering wheel and fabulous finishes are perhaps the best ever seen from Lexus — befitting its place at the top of the Lexus lineup with the LS600h. The LX570 pricing is likely to …

Aug 13, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Buick Regal GS AWD

Hot Buicks are some of the most adored American cars of all time. So when Buick decided to bring over the European Opel/Vauxhall Insignia to the US market for the first time, the excitement over receiving their OPC/VXR performance variant was palpable. Confirmation that the big brushed-alloy fangs would make it across the pond to US buyers for the first time brought many GNX rumbles to the surface. Would this hot Buick be able to inherit the Banker’s Hotrod legacy? A turbo engine and all the autobahn-ready handling seemed like a perfect statement of intent for Buick at the time. …

Aug 12, 2015 Read more

4K Road Test Review – 2015 Dodge CHARGER R/T Is Four-Door Musclecar Dream From $34k

The 2015 Dodge Charger is a real favorite. So much so… that it might have ruined me for other cars. Since balling around Charleston this summer in the Redline Red HEMI R/T, it has been hard to get back into my normal groove of turbo stickshifts. Why? 370HP for 37k. That is a power and price combo that can’t be beat from any manufacturer, nor are others close to the excellence of the eight-speed ZF auto. Or the cabin comfort, room and tech. Or the style outside — which is eye-poppingly cool. Driving the Charger R/T redefines effortless speed, and …

Aug 12, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2016 Scion iM Is Sporty and Uber-Practical New Focus-Fighter

The all-new 2016 Scion iM is part of a big new-product push from Scion: the iM hatchback and much smaller iA sedan replace the boxy xD and xB. Why so normal and conventional from Toyota’s youth brand this year? Following buyer trends, of course! Extensive research on how to resonate with today’s 35-and-under car shoppers shows a big shift in preferences. Perhaps feeling the crunch of a slower global economy on their hipster jeans, first-time new car buyers want a car with more evergreen appeal than the once-trendy Scion box cars. The iM hopes to ace the 2016 buyer mood …

Aug 09, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5SL is a Serene, Mile-Munching Machine!

Midsize sedans might not be the sexiest or most desirable segment of the new car market, but they are the gasoline for the American automobile market’s engine. Taken together with pickup trucks, these two body styles of vehicle make up more than a third of all sales annually. The Altima is a big player in this mix: ranking number three behind the Camry and Accord for a whopping 2014 total of 335,000 sold. However you slice it, that is a huge chunk of influence, and a car that many will consider when seeking their next ride. And to wrap up …

Aug 09, 2015 Read more

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe in 40 New Photos – Previews GLE400 Twin Turbo

Updated 8.6.15 The GLE-Class and GLE-Class Coupe are the freshest entries to the Mercedes SUV lineup this Fall. They are both set to duke it out with the BMW X6, RRS, plus the upcoming Maserati Levante and Jaguar F-PACE Suvs. The racier profile on the GLE Coupe is exceptionally fresh. The low and sporty look is one advantage, but there are other big ones too. Namely, the GLE-Class proper has the same glasshouse and profile look as the outgoing ML-Class. Same goes for the tail of the non-coupe GLE. The GLE Coupe has exceptionally fresh design in the entire rear …

Aug 05, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali XL 4×4 with New 8-Speed Automatic

Denali lovers have never had it so good: this swanky trimline now extends beyond the Yukon and into the full range from GMC. But for many shoppers, the sweet spot of the General Motors truck range is the Denali XL. Nearly all the tech and luxury of the Escalade, with a less shouty overall presence on the roads. This paradox of the Denali being more humble, yet costing similar to the Caddy is plain for all to see. The idea is that everyone knows the Denali is Caddy-plush, and costs about as much, too. For a big swath of buyers, …

Aug 03, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 INFINITI QX80 Limited AWD

In the global Renault-Nissan portfolio, the QX80 Limited lives among greats like the R35 GT-R or RenaultSport Megane Trophy. Being such an event car and flagship has always been a core part of the massive truck’s appeal among owners. With all the class of a Range Rover, but all the guts of a Denali — the QX80 is famous worldwide for its bomb-proof chassis toughness married to a standard 400HP V8. The QX80 is fresh for 2015 with new nose detailing, LEDs and an extra-swanky new Limited option pack. Fabulous opulence inside this cabin rivals any superlux mark worldwide, and …

Jul 22, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai GENESIS 3.8 AWD Is Impossibly Good

2015 Hyundai GENESIS Review The 2015 Hyundai Genesis sets a skyhigh bar for luxury sedan excellence. This V6 AWD version is the best-driving and most joyful four-door we’ve driven in years. Why? The Genesis feels inherently right behind the wheel, diving into and out of corners, and singing up to its redline. There is a terrific analog feel to the Genesis at speed — you instantly trust the car implicitly and fall head over heels. We’d even wager most performance sedan owners would prefer the Genesis to the new 535i or E350. Versus the A6 or Cadillac CTS?! No …

Jul 06, 2015 Read more

4K Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Murano SL – Ultra-Modern Crossover Is World’s Smoothest SUV?

The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano takes the five-seat crossover market to a luxurious and stylish new peak. Among mainstream brands, the Murano’s $30k-$40k price range is typically occupied by either loaded compact crossovers like the CR-V and RAV4, or even tinier premium vehicles like the new Mercedes-Benz GLA and fresh 2016 BMW X1. Moving up a price class generally adds seven seats among mainstream brands (see Ford Explorer or Toyota Highlander.) The Pathfinder owns this family space quite nicely for Nissan, leaving the Murano with a meaty slice of buyer wants all to itself. What about versus two-row SUVs like …

Jul 06, 2015 Read more

TopCar Stinger 911 Turbo GTR Is Sexy and Mean In Onyx Black

Updated 6.16.15 With Latest Stinger GTR PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom …

Jun 15, 2015 Read more

TopCar Stinger GTR for Porsche 991 Turbo Delivers All-New CF Widebody + Whale Tail!

PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom of the door-frames are instantly …

May 14, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Chevrolet Trax LT on HD Video + Colors, Wheels and Pricing

As you move up in the world, there are certain luxuries in life that are total game-changers. Things that make it impossible to go back once you have experienced their brilliance. As a young buck moving from the college dorms into a small first apartment, you have a hard gig in life overall. You might not even have a dishwasher or a washer and dryer in your unit. Typing this now in my 30’s, the idea of living without such modern conveniences is almost unfathomable. Going back to a laundromat two blocks away or a musty basement of half-functional …

May 11, 2015 Read more

2016 Ferrari 488GTB – All Colors + Animated Visualizer in 300 Images!

The new Ferrari 488 GTB configurator is live and stunning! Fantastic new design details in the 458 –> 488 update are visible in these 3D animated visuals. Two dozen colors, six wheel styles, brakes and carbon upgrades galore. The builder is actually a new setup as well, with streamlined options that let you fly through the process or customize every element, based on your preferences. (Some previous Ferrari builders have been a ‘next’ ‘next’ type of affair in your browser, while this one lets you scroll down to new menu elements.) Favorite design elements of the new mid-engine hotness? 1. …

Apr 29, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Lincoln MKC Black Label 2.3L AWD

2015 Lincoln MKC Review – HD Drive Video INTRO The 2015 Lincoln MKC is the brand’s biggest launch in more than five years: an all-new crossover to compete head to head with the Audi Q5, BMW x3 and Lexus NX. A huge overhaul versus any shared components underneath that might be shared with Ford, the MKC delivers an all-new design inside and out, technology that is available with no Blue Oval vehicle, and a potent 2.3-liter turbo engine that also finds its first home in this stylish crossover. Lincoln has thrown out all the old brand stigmas …

Apr 13, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan Is Stylish, Quiet and Smooth with 37MPG

In the compact segment, buyers want a brand-new car with all the tech, safety and reliability of a mid-size, but the efficiency and low entry price of around $15,000. The Accent is lightly refreshed for 2015 with many more premium features than is the norm for the segment, plus added interior refinement and some top-line trim details that are truly stylish. Available in as the GLS sedan or two levels of five-door, the Accent is one of the most grown-up cars in its class. Real sedan style is even possible – which is not something many would say about the …

Apr 05, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus RC350 F Sport – Ultra White in 2 Videos + 200 Photos!

INTRO These are hot times in the sports coupe business, my friends! Buyers have never had more choices for high-performance, rear-drive vehicles with racy rooflines and track-ready platforms. Diving head-first into the fray of BMW 4 series, Cadillac ATS, Audi A5 and Infiniti Q60 is the 2015 Lexus RC – a hot new design with five major models starting from $43,000 and hitting $64,000 in the RC-F. HD Drive Review Video Part One With standard and F Sport trim levels both offering rear or AWD, the RC350 comes in hot with a standard quad-cam V6 making 306-horsepower through a DirectShift …

Apr 05, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Ram ProMaster City SLT Cargo

2015 Ram ProMaster City ReviewTools are the main thing that sets man apart from animals. Many beasts rival and even exceed man’s ability in instinctive intelligence or physical strength. But no animal has mastered using tools to accomplish tasks their paws, flippers or arms cannot complete. On that note, the right tool for the job can be the difference between hours of back-breaking labor vs minutes of snap-complete solutions. In a similar way, using a full-size truck all the time can feel a bit like using a sledge-hammer to fix a pair of eyeglasses. To do the job right, you …

Mar 23, 2015 Read more

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63-S in 63 Real-Life Photos Inside and Out

Updated 3.17.15 With 63 New Photos This subtle but sweet C63-S is the hottest model in the new C-Class range, atop all others — even its two other AMG brothers. That’s right. There will also be a C63 and a C450 AMG. The C63-S is clearly the one to lust after, with its 510-horsepower topping the Lexus RC-F, M3 and all other exec supercoupes/supersedans. First Impressions? There is a big issue with this car, however, and the lack of people oogling it in Amelia Island makes that clear. It is just too subtle. The car, at least in this grey …

Mar 17, 2015 Read more

2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63-S Inside and Out From Amelia Island

The new GLE63 S Model made a fairly striking static debut at Amelia Island’s Ritz-Carlton hotel this weekend – stopping traffic and causing a commotion. This is the first-known outdoor showing of the new SUV Coupe muscle-truck, with its ultra-modern Benz nose in its sportiest, gloss-black best. This bumper on the hottest-yet GLE63 AMG Coupe — an all-new truck that is also heading to showrooms as the comparatively modest GLE450 AMG and a few other smaller engines. Almost no bumper is actually left up front. Like the new AMG GT, the nose is almost a wall of intercoolers and radiators. …

Mar 15, 2015 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Lexus ES350 – Still Quietly Excellent

2015 Lexus ES350 Review The Lexus ES350 is one of the brand’s all-time sales heroes. Over the last 20 years, the ES has been a staple on the best-selling, most-loved and best-resale-value ranks of all luxury cars. Since the most recent refresh of the ES350 in 2012, the car has averaged around 72,000 sales a year — which is a mighty impressive total that averages out to 25-percent of overall 2013 and 2014 Lexus brand sales. Year Lexus Brand Lexus ES ES Share of Total Lexus Sales U.S. Sales U.S. Sales U.S. Sales 2002 234,109 71,450 31% 2003 …

Mar 02, 2015 Read more

MEGA Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid

2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Review At the new Camry’s launch event in Florida last Fall, we were very surprised to hear the best-seller’s recent powertrain sales mix. With such a gem of a 3.5-liter V6 available and pushing sprint times to the low 6’s, that would be our choice Monday through Sunday. And such a smooth and effortless hybrid available too, with almost no downsides except a very-slightly smaller trunk? These two premium powertrains have recently each pulled just 10-percent of overall sales each, with the base four-cylinder hoovering up 80-percent of the overall mix. Surprising to us as …

Feb 09, 2015 Read more

2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

Jan 13, 2015 Read more

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 …

Nov 07, 2014 Read more

Best of Awards – Most Fun SuperCoupe Street Racer – 2015 JAGUAR F-Type R Coupe

UPDATED 10.4.14 With Two 4K Drive Videos and 30 High-Res Photos Our solid and bankable reco if you can afford it? The R! 2015 JAGUAR F-Type R Coupe PREVIOUS The new F-Type Coupe is hot as the summer sun these days – but which is best? And among the standard, S and R — which fits your budget and performance criteria? Here is a quick walk through the JaguarUSA.com online configurator, where I built a $77,000 F-Type S Coupe and racked up a $92,000 total in the process. There are many tempting options, including the poshest 20-inch wheels …

Oct 04, 2014 Read more

2015 VOLVO XC90 R-Design Adds Sex Appeal to All-New 7-Seater

Hooray for Volvo! We are very excited for the XC90 launch and have a strong feeling that Volvo’s efforts in the cabin and with the ultra-modern powertrains will be a big hit with shoppers. But if one thing was missing from the XC90 announcement last week — it might have been a bit of sex appeal. Where was the VaVaVoom of the Concept Coupe and Concept Estate? The new XC90 seemed a little too practical for its own good? Luckily, the R-Design trim is now out and addresses many of these concerns. It looks hot — and even hotter …

Sep 18, 2014 Read more

2015 INFINITI QX70S Brings New Sport Package With Black Exterior and Cooled Front Seats

Are we spotting some trends here? — Many hot new cars debuted at Pebble Beach this year — White over black is the sexiest style of 2014 and 2015, by far — Infiniti is keeping it fresh with new S packages for the Q60 coupe and QX70 crossovers Trned-spotting this latest convergence of car brand marketing also offers a bit of insight into how quickly car brands can take an idea to market. Lexus with the Crafted Line of five models in white/black definitely shows a rapid-fire way to get sexy machines into showrooms ASAP, while even staid old Lincoln …

Aug 27, 2014 Read more

2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere – Pricing from $48,000 – Fabulous Hybrid Tech and Cabin Innovations

The 2015 XC90 is official and it is fantastic! At once both very futuristic and innovative, while also rebuilding on the Volvo luxury and family safety that have been brand pillars for decades. The base price is $48,000 in the US market, where the first trucks will hopefully be arriving before year-end. The two launch packages are likely one of the biggest choices to make when considering the new XC90: — Urban luxury: body-color trims and 21-inch wheels — Rugged luxury: grey body cladding and some very handsome 22-inch wheels 2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere World premiere: the all-new …

Aug 26, 2014 Read more

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 …

Aug 26, 2014 Read more

Road Test Review – 2014 Honda Civic EX-L Coupe Is Sharp-Looking Two-Door With Great Tech and Handling!

Racy coupe bodies are about as hot as it gets up and down the automotive spectrum. A two-door tells the world you are unattached – and unburdened by kids or carpools. You are single and ready to mingle! The Honda Civic Coupe is one of the most adored nameplates in the youth car culture scene. Last year’s 2013 Civic Coupe has lost is austere nose from 2013 and come back stronger, better, faster and cooler for 2014. This brings an all-new nose design with some aggressive profiling and chrome-accented foglamps, a dark grille slash in semi-gloss black widening the …

Aug 10, 2014 Read more

2015 Honda Fit Buyers Guide and Pricing: Cute and Edgy New Style, Latest HondaLink Touchscreen and 41MPG

The 2015 Honda Fit is updated with a subtle but attractive redesign, vastly more comfortable cabin, and tech like the latest (and very good) HondaLink touchscreen controls. Paired with the Fit’s exceptional usefulness as a city car with the trunk size of a SUV — and the economy of a supermini — the 2015 Fit from about $16,000 is an exceptional little machine. Most shoppers will go for the EX-L or the EX-L with Navigation thanks to the top trims standard automatic transmission. The auto is a CVT unit, however, so sporty people might like the light and slick six-speed …

Aug 07, 2014 Read more

2015 Acura TLX Media Launch Brings 100 New Photos, Pricing, Colors and Specs – $31k Base Price

The 2015 TLX is off to a roaring start! Eventually replacing both the current TL and the TSX sedan, the new TLX has three powertrains to entice shoppers away from the Lexus IS, BMW 320i, Mercedes-Benz CLA250 and Audi A3/A4. The base pricing looks extremely reasonably for such a swoopy and aggressive sedan design. From just $31,000 for the front-drive four-cylinder, to $about $35,000 for the front-drive V6, and up to a base of $41,450 for the loaded SH-AWD TLX V6 with its standar Tech package. Style-wise, the four-cylinder and V6 TLX’s both look low and sharp and all-new – …

Aug 05, 2014 Read more

2015 JAGUAR F-Type Coupe – American Launch at Willow Springs in 85 Sideways Action Shots

The F-Type coupe is officially here! Jaguar’s recent launch events at Willow Springs Raceway and Motorland Aragon demonstrated the F-Type S and F-Type R in some gorgeous corners and straightaways – with gorgeous summer sunlight in both places to accentuate the F-Type Coupe’s gorgeous form. 2015 JAGUAR F-Type Coupe – American Launch at Willow Springs The new F-Type Coupe is hot as the summer sun these days – but which is best? And among the standard, S and R — which fits your budget and performance criteria? Here is a quick walk through the JaguarUSA.com online configurator, …

Jul 22, 2014 Read more

2.9s 2015 Lamborghini Huracan in 56 New High-Res Photos From Marbella Dynamic Debut

After being in the right place at the right time — with the right contacts! — to attend the Huracan’s US debut in Amelia Island in March, I fell hard and fast for this incredible new supercar. All the time spent with colorizers and specs builders (see previous articles at links below) do the car little justice. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/03/09/2015-lamborghini-huracan-sunny-photos-led-blinker-sequence-usa-launch-galleries-hd-video/ http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/03/08/2015-lamborghini-huracan-american-debut-127-high-res-photos/ http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/02/12/202mph-lamborghini-huracan-official-colorizer-tech-specs/ http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/02/12/2014-lamborghini-huracan-colorizer-close-up-high-res-images/ In person, its lines are so immensely intoxicating that the initial photo sets do it almost no justice. It has proportion, glamour and sheer magnetism that is absent in some digital renderings of the car. The more sophisticated …

Jul 03, 2014 Read more

PART ONE: 4.5-second 2015 Audi RS Q3 Priced Out of Compact SUV Market in USA

2015 Audi RS Q3 The Audi RS Q3 is not coming abroad to the United States market – on what has been deemed cost grounds. This makes sense if you start adding up what the showroom sticker would be for Audi of America. With the new Q3 priced in the $35,000 to $45,000 range with options and the upgraded 2.0-liter turbo engine, there is little headroom for the price premium that Quattro GmbH models command. Based on the RS5 versus the S5, we are talking a full $10 to $15,000 price bump – which would lead the RS Q3 perilously …

Jul 03, 2014 Read more

3.8s 2014 LOTUS Exige LF1 – Formula One Black/Gold Special – 50 High-Res Photos

Lotus is still not really recovered from its latest bout of trouble. Money trouble, talent trouble, mechanical trouble. But hey, Lotus is always in a bit of a pickle — so why should now be any different? High-level management stuff has never dulled the brilliance of the new Exige S sports-car range – and this thing is absolutely brutal on tracks. It delivers times that Porsche owners would take five years of practise to approach. But the Lotus Exige can do it on its first lap out there. It is just so, so quick with the supercharged V6 in back. …

Jul 02, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 19, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 10, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 06, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 05, 2014 Read more

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 …

Jun 03, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 03, 2014 Read more

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

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

Jun 02, 2014 Read more

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

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

May 28, 2014 Read more

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

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

May 24, 2014 Read more

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

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

May 20, 2014 Read more

2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite – Road Test Review – Luxury King for Van Man Dads on Road Trips

The Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is quite a machine – it brings much of the smooth ride and cabin silence of a luxury car into the jumbo van segment, where it has led the sales charts for the last decade or more. Many think it is the Chrysler and Dodge vans that are the best-sellers, but that is only true when their total numbers are combined. Individual nameplate-wise, the Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna are neck-and-neck to lead the race, trading spots infrequently but keeping the Honda name as a leader in vans. This supremacy of the Odyssey is well-known …

May 12, 2014 Read more

MEGA Road Test Review – 2014 Lexus GX460 Driven Back-to-Back with 2015 Tahoe LTZ

INTRO For road testers as well as shoppers, there is a huge benefit in driving two considered vehicles back-to-back, with insights and detail differences coming to the surface that might not have been noticeable before. The closer the competition in terms of quality and specifications — the more critical it is to get a sense of each machine from the driver’s seat. Probably common sense, but a good reminder to myself nonetheless on my favorite aspect of any car magazine. So what did I notice coming right from the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe into the Lexus GX460? Find out in the …

May 06, 2014 Read more

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 – …

May 04, 2014 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ 4WD – 150 Photos and Four 1080P GoPro Videos

“…Come Mister Tallyman, TALLY ME BANANA… Daylight come and me wanna Tahoe…” INTRO: Is this bizarro-world where all is backwards? The 2015 Tahoe is vastly improved over the outgoing trucks in every single meaningful way. These four videos shot near Lake Lanier, Georgia last week are a testament to how smitten I was with the new Tahoe’s handling, chassis rigidity and quietness, interior overhaul and even the exterior style upgrade. But as we will outline below, there is some curious switching in the big SUV game. The Chevy’s interior is vastly superior to the Lexus GX460, but the Lexus costs …

Apr 30, 2014 Read more

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, …

Apr 23, 2014 Read more

2015 Hyundai Sonata Goes Huge – Forget Camry and Accord, This Sonata Is Benchmarking Buicks

Uh Oh. Old habits really do die hard, apparently. This new Sonata shows that some vile old standard-operating-procedures are back in vogue at Hyundai-Kia, in a BIG way: — shoddy design — shoddy performance — shoddy quality We could also add Shoddy Strategy and Shady Promises for handling, efficiency, value…. EXPLAIN: WHAT DO YOU MEAN? The recent model range changes from Hyundai are very, very bizarre in chucking the baby out with the bathwater. Three years of great sales have emboldened the team to go back to its roots in the worst possible ways. The latest ‘Busch-league’ maneuver? Ditching the …

Apr 22, 2014 Read more

My MINI Build-Out: Hardtop Customizer Shows Cool Upgrades Throughout + At Least Half Are Zero-Cost Additions —

The new 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop is arriving now in the US — and not a moment too soon for the many loyal fans this car has earned! But which is best for you? The four themes explored on the previous article highlight only a small smattering of the customizations available outside, inside and within the all-new 2014 MINI Cooper line. We spent a good chunk of time building out our perfect MINI — highlighting the most critical options and style upgrades available. Overall, a few key discoveries to share: — the interior is where the real customization action gets …

Mar 22, 2014 Read more

2014 Ferrari FF COLORS and 100+ Interior Options

2014 Ferrari FF COLORS At first, I thought the Ferrari FF was only offered in about six colors. How wrong was I!? That is just the first batch of paints available on the outside — with five collections the total blooms to a robust 60-plus, we estimate. But that is literally the tip of the iceberg when configuring an FF! Wait until you get inside the cabin — then the real magic of low-volume exotic production takes hold. We’ll present these configuration screenshots in some order from the outside in, as is the layout of the Ferrari FF’s main web …

Mar 18, 2014 Read more