New York Topic Hub

Cadillac Unveils CT5 Sedan, Replaces CTS and ATS In Sedan Lineup

Ahead of its debut at the 2019 New York Auto Show, Cadillac has formally unveiled the 2020 CT5 sedan online, with the new model showing how commited Cadillac really is to simplifying its sedan lineup in the wake of increasing CUV demand. This step towards simplifying the lineup means that the CT5 will resurrect its role as a tweener offering for buyers, with the car replacing both the 3-Series sized ATS sedan, as well as the bigger CTS, which also initally performed this same duty when the second generation version first debuted back in 2008. We are still scratching our …

Mar 18, 2019 Read more

2019 Honda Insight Hybrid Revealed, Brings 55 MPG And Refinement To Hybrid Sedan Ranks

When we last met the 2019 Honda Insight in Detroit, it was in prototype form, and it offered a glimpse of the Japanese auto giant’s future plans for the Insight nameplate. With the New York Auto Show fast approaching, Honda has taken the veil off of the production version of the Insight ahead of its Big Apple debut. The basic styling language of the 2019 Insight is largely reminiscent of the prototype’s albeit with the bulk of the changes taking place at the front end. Here, the car borrows a number of cues from several Honda models including the “flying …

Mar 27, 2018 Read more

Cadillac Reinvents Itself With All New CT6, V-Sport Packs 626 lb-ft of Torque

With Cadillac still tackling issues with long term sales growth, and a lineup lacking strong CUV presence, the brand needed to prove it was not down for the count. If the 2019 CT6 is to be believed, there is still plenty of vigor left in the iconic luxury car maker. The 2019 CT6 debuts a new trim strategy (more on that later,) but the exterior enhancements might not standout at first glance, especially if one views the car head on. It takes a look sideways to fully see the strong emphasis on three dimensional elements present here. Thinner headlights and …

Mar 21, 2018 Read more

Animated Debut – 2017 Infiniti QX80 Monograph Concept

The newest Infiniti is upon us! It is dubbed the QX80 Monograph. That term is defined as a singular passion project – and shows the lux truck business is important to Infiniti. Very important. This design study upgrades the design of the QX80 immeasurably. The glasshouse feels familiar, as does the nose. But they are slippery, sexy new expressions on this frame. The bodysides take a similar space-future upgrade to their look, too, naturally. The silhouette-racer description is apt. Minus the giant mirrors of the current model. This beauty uses camera stalk embeds. Stance is seriously low, with massive rubber …

Apr 11, 2017 Read more

PART THREE – #NYIAS Showfloor Mega Gallery (+150 Photos)

Wrapping up a ridiculously busy week of new car debuts at the New York auto show — in the best way possible! How? A highball of pure Fireball? By sharing all the great showfloor action in a full-screen mega gallery. Interesting cars in this third installment? The new Camaro ZL1, Abarth 124, Chevy Cruze 5-Door, Nissan TITAN XD Crew Cab with the gasoline V8, more photos of the new Toyota 86 with its fresh nose and LEDs all around, Volvo S90 and even the TITAN Warrior Concept. The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and new Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Summit and Trailhawk, …

Mar 25, 2016 Read more

#NYIAS Live – Showfloor Mega Gallery – Part One in 222 Photos!

Action-packed New York auto show this year! Much new and very hot metal to see and touch, with highlights including the new GT-R, the 911R, Civic Hatchback and Prius Prime. MX-5 RF (retractable fastback) is cool too, as is the new 718 Boxster and Buick Encore with its sharp and premium new LEDs. Also included below is the first look at the new Subaru Impreza, Jaguar F-Type SVR and 2018 VW Tiguan. #NYIAS Live – Showfloor Mega Gallery

Mar 24, 2016 Read more

2017 Audi R8 Spyder V10 – World Debut in NYC

The new R8 Spyder is here and packing even more potent performance, luxury and a huge leap in chassis rigidity. The strength of the new R8 means there will be virtually no difference between the softtop and the hardtop in terms of sheer pace and drive feel. The cabin is all-new, of course, with some of the most advanced design and user-experience technology of any make worldwide. These changes are all more-than-welcome, of course. But they will have to really deliver a great first impression in Audi showrooms. Why? Because the design outside is even more subtle than the coupe’s …

Mar 23, 2016 Read more

565HP, 2.5s 2017 Nissan GT-R – New Aerotech, Style and Cabin (+2 Videos!)

Any new GT-R’s arrival is a rare and magical event. This car is so ridiculously competent that Porsche and Ferrari banned the big car magazines from comparison testing their cars against it. The R35 generation has evolved significantly since its debut around 2012, however. The sports-car landscape has developed and changed significantly, too, since then. Porsche 911 Turbos are able to keep up with the GT-R’s savage sprint pace under 3-seconds to 60-mph, while even the new Corvette Z06 is hot on its heels in luring buyers to a $100k supercar. So this GT-R evolution is a critical step in re-capturing …

Mar 23, 2016 Read more

2017 SPYKER C8 Preliator – Sharp 3rd-Gen Exotic is Coming to America!

The world’s most curious supercar made a glittery debut in Geneva and is now on the way to the New York auto show! This return to the USA for Spyker is a pretty big deal. As we all know, this market can be make-or-break for low-volume manufacturers. Spyker’s new Coventry factory puts in in great company: Morgan, Aston Martin, McLaren and Jaguar are fairly closeby. Hopefully this localization helps Spyker navigate its way back onto US roads as well as our auto shows! On to the main event: the new PRELIATOR! This means warrior in Latin and marks the third …

Mar 15, 2016 Read more

RM NYC 2015 – 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ‘Roy Rogers’ Nudie Mobile

This outrageous Bonneville is the real deal: an authentic piece of memorabilia from the original Hollywood merchandising phenom: Roy Rogers. The iconic cowboy led a global trend spanning most of the 1950s and 1960s, when parents sought to avoid glamorizing WWII via the previously-ubiquitous soldier toys. The Bonneville here is shocking outside, yes, with guns replacing the door handles and an extra train-load of chrome all around its white bodywork. Giant steer horns lead the charge in front, of course. But if the outside is striking, the cabin will make you faint. The custom leatherwork makes the entire giant …

Nov 22, 2015 Read more

RM NYC 2015 – 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto

Many people cite the Mazda Miata’s inspirations from English roadsters. But the formula was really perfected well before the Lotus Elan, in Italy by a sports-car consortium names S.I.A.T.A. Swapping “S” for “M” and we get to the Miata name! Regardless, this 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto wears exclusive alloy engine components and even bodywork, ensuring an ultra-light and nimble application of the 125-horsepower. From a four-cylinder, you assume? So did we. But no! This last-ever Motto Siata 208S runs a 2.0-liter V8 engine with dual Weber carburettors. The formula would later inspire the Shelby Cobra and many a …

Nov 22, 2015 Read more

RM NYC 2015 – 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina is Hamptons-Perfect

This Ferrari feels perfect for the Maidstone and other posh, exclusive haunts of East Hampton, New York. Its Bianco white over Blu Connoly leather is the original specification, returned via a flawless restoration to their humble, delicate original beauty. But not just the Hamptons, of course. For the next owner of this rare and iconic Ferrari, any and every address you visit will become fashionable. Just 40 were ever produced. The estimate is in the $6-million-plus range. What strikes us most about this Series I 250 GT is how humble it really feels versus later models. Like a star on …

Nov 22, 2015 Read more

RM New York 2015 Preview – 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante RM Sotheby’s New York – Driven By Disruption 10 December 2015 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Oct 14, 2015 Read more

Janis Joplin’s Winky 1964 Porsche 356C Heading to Auction for First Time at RM New York 2015

Never-before sold at auction, Janis Joplin’s acid-trip Porsche 356C is headed to the RM Sotheby’s 2015 sale in NYC this December. Janis was a consummate scene-ster and party girl — living and defining the Haight/Ashbury scene in San Francisco throughout the 1960s while performing at tiny coffee-shop type venues. The tiny gigs often paid not in cash, but just free drinks. The bay area 1960s ideals of peace and love went national and eventually global by the end of the decade, by which time Janis was finally enjoying commercial success for her unhinged and anti-establishment sound. That success came fast …

Sep 23, 2015 Read more

2017 Cadillac XT5 in NY Fashion Week Fly-By! First Photos of SRX Crossover Replacement

Cadillac has taken its high-culture ambitions to new heights! A partnership launch gala with fashion-focused Public School in New York was topped off last night by a helicopter-assisted fly-by of the 2017 XT5 SUV. Replacing the unloved by most — but driven by General Motors CEO Mary Barra — SRX crossover, the XT5 is sorely needed in the Cadillac range. Battling the Lexus RX350 and BMW X5, the XT5 is a critical missing addition to the next-gen Cadillac range. Despite the proliferation of mini SUVs, Cadillac has largely missed the boat. So it took a helicopter instead? Perhaps. This …

Sep 10, 2015 Read more

Pebble Beach 2015 – Concours Best in Show Winners & Highlights in 77 Photos

What a fantastic group of machines! Scrolling through the photos takes you to another place and time, with each more delightful than the last. We’ve gathered the full list of winners by category, as well as some gorgeous photos of many winners. And smartly, this year created a key with each photo’s details! You’ll be lost in pleasure seeing them all basking in classic-car nirvana. Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Isotta Fraschini Named Best of Show at 65th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2015 Charitable Donations Top $1.8 Million PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August …

Aug 19, 2015 Read more

RM Amelia Island 2015 – Top 10 Most-Valuable Auction Cars in 80 New Photos

Started this article to share an update on RM Auctions — which you may have noticed is now co-branded as RM Sotheby’s. Just before the Amelia Island 2015 event in March, Sotheby’s announced a 25-percent equity share purchase of RM, based in Blenheim, Ontario. Sotheby’s is in the big three of global auction companies, so their interest in RM makes sense to broaden and co-mingle both buyer groups. RM is certainly a powerhouse of an auction company, with its car sales generating massive interest among collectors and fans alike. Amelia Island 2015 was no different: $60-million in sales in just …

May 06, 2015 Read more

2016 Jaguar XF Thinks It Is a Porsche 911; We Break The Bad News To Bad Mr. Kitty

Updated 4.1.15 With 99 New Images We stand corrected – the 2016 XF is actually an all-new design, with no panels carrying over from the existing car. The chassis improvements are fairly dramatic as the XF shifts from its steel structure toward the aluminum of the XJ and F-Type. But why oh why must the styling be so dry? This trend of carmakers ever-so-lightly refreshing models makes no sense at all to me – especially if the panels are, in fact, all new. What is the point?! Chrysler 300, Kia Optima, Audi A6, Bentley Continental…. and now Jaguar XF. Every …

Apr 01, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Mar 24, 2015 Read more

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

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 …

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

Update1 New Photos! 2015 Audi TT and TTS Bring Much More Power and Much Better Dynamics

The 2015 TT is less of a clean-sheet exterior overhaul than many expected, which may in fact be a great thing for shoppers. Why? It means Audi has labored even longer on the underlying chassis and interior — both of which have been a bit floppy since the first-gen car debuted to wide eyes in the late 1990s. Overall, the new production TT and TTS (the Audi S version of the TT Coupe) feature evolutionary styling improvements and updates outside, which the unique and striking LED treatments the most noticeable difference. The TT roadster has not yet broken cover, but …

Sep 09, 2014 Read more

RM Auctions Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1968 Toyota 2000GT Joins Million-Plus Japanese Car Club

Rare is the key word for any Asian car to crest the million dollar mark — only two or three other 2000GT’s can claim membership, and only since 2013. Even referring to the group as “Asian” cars is quite a misnomer – no other car from South Korea or China is anywhere near this mark in classic car values. Values for the ultimate 1960s Japanese supercar are firmly on the ascent, with buyers eager to own its delicate curves and precision inline-six engine. Outright power is not really part of the appeal with only 150-horsepower available from the Yamaha-partnership engine …

May 25, 2014 Read more

NASCAR Meets Road Course?! Video of Stock Cars at Mitty 2014 + 100 Track Photos

One cannot really escape NASCAR if you are outside of a New York-LA-Chicago type of city, and especially if you are a Yankee who wakes up one day in the South. Stock Car racing is everywhere, and I am climbing down into the abyss. Overall, the cars are pretty fun to watch being driven at max attack around Road Atlanta’s challenging road course. For one, it has numerous tight corners. Second, the cars in this Stock Car class include everything from Impalas and relatively recent Charger NASCARS … all the way back in time to the Chevy Monte Carolo and …

May 01, 2014 Read more

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Convertible — NY Worlds Fair Magic Skyway Car Number One

Ford definitely knew they had a major hit on their hands leading up to the Mustang’s original launch – even before the World’s Fair opened in Queens, New York City on April 17th of 1964. This car, serial #5F08F100004 — the 100004 part is the clue to its early-days provenance — was built as one of the very first pilot cars off the line, before March 5th of that same year. The build dates are a real pride point among Mustang owners of this period – and this 1964 1/2 Convertible was definitely, definitely one of the …

Apr 21, 2014 Read more

Rendered Speculation — 2015 INFINITI Q70L Coming to New York Show with Revised Q70 and QX80

Update: My own errors never cease to amaze me. The Q70 Sedan will debut tomorrow with a Q70L version. Big news this week from Infiniti, which will debut revised versions of the QX70 Q70 and QX80 SUVs, formerly known as the FX M and QX. The look is highly likely to reflect the latest QX60 and Q50 styles — but there is a nugget of interesting info here as well. The new QX70 Q70 will debut a LWB version promising five extra inches of legroom in back! This will make it very commodious versus the pinched-glass version today. So, in …

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

2015 Nissan Murano Brings a Hypercar-inspired Restyle! Flowing Surfaces Accented With Macho Wheel Flares and Low Roof

The new 2015 Murano is here and looking very stylish! It wears a very similar style to that previewed by the Detroit 2014 Sport Sedan Concept — but where the car-like forms of the Maxima are soft, the Murano’s are much crisper and more masculine. Another distinction? This is the real deal. Not a concept. The Murano will make its public debut on Wednesday in New York before hitting showrooms in November of 2014. Favorite angles abound on this five-seat crossover — from the “outta my way” nose aggressiveness, to the blacked-out pillar treatment for the floating roof, to my …

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

AWD TDI Golf SportWagen to Join GTI, TSI and TDI — But Not Until 2015 Calendar Year With Est $36k Price

The American-market Mark7 2015 Golf line is only about three years late, but finally looks like it is not missing some critical members this time. Scratch that: the Golf Plus and Golf Sportvan are still nowhere to be found, along with the long-promised/never-delivered e-Golf. The e-Golf is now on sale only in Europe, and has been teased in the US since at least 2008. As many VW people know very well, the GTI has always been the star pupil of the group — both due to its performance and it vastly superior build quality and materials versus the Pueblo-built …

Apr 13, 2014 Read more

Update1 – 2015 Kia Sedona, Is That You? KIA Previews NY Debut of Sharp New Van

KIA just send out a curious teaser — but we have a strong hunch this is the next Sedona van! That, or a swanky crossover with sliding doors? That seemed silly to type, but why do no SUV models have sliding rear doors? The nose design looks to closely mirror the very handsome Sportage. All will be revealed in a few weeks. KIA 2014 NYIAS TEASER Kia will unveil an all-new midsize multi-purpose vehicle at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in two weeks. This global debut will challenge the segment and will offer the functionality …

Apr 03, 2014 Read more

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

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

Apr 02, 2014 Read more

My Ford #INAMUSTANG Contest Entry — GT350R Goes Flat-Out Around LeMans, Fuji and Monaco

This is a draft for what we hope will be a very memorable entry into the #INAMUSTANG challenge — where-in the best ideas will be made into short films. For me, the prize might even be a media invite to some upcoming Mustang events. April 17th is the big anniversary of the original launch at the 1964 New York Auto Show, so things are likely pretty near on the horizon. Ideally, these ideas would utilize a 2015 Mustang as the basis instead of the NeedForSpeed car shown here. The inspiration, of course, is Charlie Webb’s $984,000 1965 Mustang GT350R. Even …

Mar 16, 2014 Read more

Audi TT is Fighting Fit for 2015 — Ultra-Simple, High-Tech Interior — Much More Power and Better Dynamics

The 2015 TT is less of a clean-sheet exterior overhaul than many expected, which may in fact be a great thing for shoppers. Why? It means Audi has labored even longer on the underlying chassis and interior — both of which have been a bit floppy since the first-gen car debuted to wide eyes in the late 1990s. Overall, the new production TT and TTS (the Audi S version of the TT Coupe) feature evolutionary styling improvements and updates outside, which the unique and striking LED treatments the most noticeable difference. The TT roadster has not yet broken cover, but …

Mar 13, 2014 Read more

Iconic Classic Car: 1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum

Only at the Mullin Automotive Museum could a car as brilliant, unique and influential as this Type 165 Cabriolet be summed up as “Car 30.” Amid the world’s finest collection of all-things pre-war and coach-built, the Oxnard, California Mullin Museum is a must-visit for all car fans. Those with a special passion for classics will find none other than 90-plus completely one-off models in the astounding collection. Housed in a glamorous stage-type museum building, the mood is right for period flashbacks with a recreated LeMans pit area real enough to be a fire hazard. Everything is magnificent about the museum, …

Jan 25, 2014 Read more

New Supercar or Vintage Racecar: The Case for Recreations + Quiz: Which is the Fake?

Here is the case for exotic, hand-crafted replica vintage racecars: They Exist. They did not hit the walls, or churn tires through bodywork, or reek of urine. They start the first time, and can be titled and driven on the roads. At Motor Classic & Competition in Westchester County, New York — the all-time best hero racecars come back to life, rumble onto 2014 streets, and perhaps even find a home in your garage. Most race-winning examples of anything need to be treasured and preserved; maintained and respected. To put it in plain language: the GT40s in this article are …

Jan 02, 2014 Read more

Classic Supercars: Ultra-Chic Ferrari 400i and 412i

Classic car shopping is often like staring over a city from high atop a mountain. Once your eye sees one thing it likes, there are ten more within the same focal point. Such is Hemming’s Classifieds section. This site allows is a much broader type of browsing and car shopping, with long distance delivery of anything bought online. Generally, private sellers online come in two flavors: – extreme obsessives who are forced to part with a car they have cherished – extremely careless people charged with liquidating an asset You can guess which one you want to buy from to …

Dec 14, 2013 Read more

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions and Sotheby’s NY Gala

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions/Sotheby’s NY Gala The art world is in a frenzy. From Gurlitt to Rothko to Warhol, checks are being cut in denominations so large they might need an official escort. This certainly extends to cars. Beautiful dry weather brought out the big spenders all spring an summer. Even versus a three-pack of masters, the $50-million-plus recent Ferrari total is unbelievably huge. It is particularly interesting that such a sale was so public, in some regards. Typically, buyers in that type of market are not browsing the night of the auction. Closed-doors deals …

Nov 16, 2013 Read more

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions and Sotheby’s NY Gala

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions/Sotheby’s NY Gala The art world is in a frenzy. From Gurlitt to Rothko to Warhol, checks are being cut in denominations so large they might need an official escort. This certainly extends to cars. Beautiful dry weather brought out the big spenders all spring an summer. Even versus a three-pack of masters, the $50-million-plus recent Ferrari total is unbelievably huge. It is particularly interesting that such a sale was so public, in some regards. Typically, buyers in that type of market are not browsing the night of the auction. Closed-doors deals …

Nov 16, 2013 Read more