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styling

2016 G-Class Adds New Colors, Black Packs and Designo Cabin + We Rename The Colors V Offensively

After the G-Class Crazy Colors Edition, Mercedes is pulling back a bit and going more tasteful for its latest factory-customized SUV flagships. EVEN among this color-mad photochopper… the G63 Crazy Colors are OTT.  We would need much deeper tints for the windows to venture out in Raspberry Beret Purple or Psychotic Break Green. And it appears buyers are suddenly shy and demure too. Those deep-thinking G-Class fans apparently want to class it up a bit for 2016.  Suggested names for these new colors?  Casket bronze, Arabian Racing Pyrite, Rivercorpse Blue and Dirty Diaper Brown. Just snarking…  The new shades are …

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Bentley Continental GTC by PRIOR DESIGN – Aero Kit Delivers Fresh, Sexy New Style

Wow. Has it really been since 2003 that the world has enjoyed the Continental GT? Indeed!  The original model ran until 2011, replaced a in 2012 with updated details and tech all around. But unless you are in one of the hot recent models, like the GT3 or the SuperSport, your Conti GT might need a bit of updating. This kit appears to fit all generations and models of Continental. Prior Design’s three-piece kit is as effective an update as we have seen, especially for the pricing of the Duraflex pieces — which are a tenth or less than full …

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2016 Renault TALISMAN – Pricing and Trims from €27,900

Updated 11.1.15 with French prices and new photos.         Welcome to the top of the Renault range: the new Talisman sedan. This fresh D-segment saloon is a larger and more plush big brother to the Laguna — promising world-class comfort, design, luxury and technology. All with a completely fresh design and dimensions to compete with the BMW 5 series. A total length of 4.85-metres is fairly gigantic for a front-drive luxury sedan in France. As the segment’s built-in government and livery driver pool looks to Germany for their fleets, the large car market in France is fairly …

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2016 Toyota PRIUS Intros Future-Tech Design, Sharper Handling and 10% Efficiency Bump

New new Prius made a splashy debut last night in Las Vegas — marking a new phase in hybrid-electric cars right in a desert city that neon and AC made possible. Is this fun-loving mission a disconnect for the ultra-responsible Prius? Not at all: the new Prius adds efficiency and new tech to the classic Prius merits, but injects a healthy share of fun and style for the first time in 2016. What does this mean? Let’s break it down into three buckets: tech, fun and style. TECH The basics are that the new Prius is 2.4-inches longer, 0.6-inches wider …

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Update1 – 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out

Updated 9.8.15 With 101 Real-Life Photos The all-new Lexus RX is here and stunning! As Lexus’ all-star sales champ, the RX redesign for 2016 is an all-important step in keeping the Big L’s sales and market share near the top of the luxury brand ranks. To fend of new competition from all sides in this five-seat crossover segment, the RX is dramatically redone in almost every way. First off, the style. DESIGN ANALYSIS Wearing Lexus’s new design brief and its interesting, unique and captivating creases and angles, the RX is far more exciting to look at than it has been …

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2015 Citroen Cactus M Concept – Jolly Surf Special Runs Inflatable AirFrame Soft-Top

  French makes, and Citroen in particular, have a strange and unjustified fascination with surf cars. Think of these as part Fiat Jolli with its wicker seats, and part Jeep Wrangler. But with Euro6 emissions and zero practicality. We saw this in the Pluriel and numerous Cacti concepts over the years. The new Cactus M is a far more practical fantasy, if that is possible. Real doors and even a roof! The convertible crossover has fixed A and D-pillars in a sexy woodgrain wrap. The contrast between these organic pillars and the bright Hawaiian blue of the body is certainly …

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2016 Honda Accord SPORT in 120 New Pics + Animated CarPlay and Android Auto Demos

Updated 8.11.15 The Accord Sport is where it’s at for anyone who loves driving. The Sport trim level adds the Coupe’s suspension tune and powertrain tweaks to the standard bodystyle with impressive results. We have a mega pack of new photos to share, primarily of this fire-engine-red Accord Sport cruising around some scenic mountain roads. On this mid-priced example, the lack of the new LED lamps on the loaded Touring line speaks to the low entry prices of the Sport overall. Versus the much more luxury-focused other variants, the Sport is by far the most entertaining steer. The Sport appears …

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2016 Honda Accord COUPE Shows its Fresh, Sexy Design in 50 New Photos

Updated 8.11.15 The Coupe joins the Accord reveal today! Did you do a double take on first sight?? We did… perhaps for the first time in years for an Accord Coupe. Shown in the top-spec V6 Touring trim level, the new Accord Coupe is vastly more attractive than the frisky and fast — but dull-looking — existing model. The Coupe looks really striking with all its new LEDs and styling upgrades – especially up front, where it is far more serious with black chrome in place of the sedan’s normal brightwork. The nose look is similar to the Accord Sport …

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2016 Acura RDX COLORS – Every Shade In Flawless Animated Flyarounds

Acura has a pretty swanky consumer-facing website these days — part of the overall brand renaissance along with sharp LED style and fun handling. After years in the doldrums, Acura’s latest ILX and TLX are seriously good. They are focused and playful, fun and well-equipped. Nearly any sense of Honda sharing among platforms and tech is now banished as the brand doubles down on its shield grille. Somehow, even the much-maligned grille detail looks better in the context of the new NSX supercar. The RDX is a big grower for Acura: its sales have ramped up month over month, even …

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2016 Acura RDX Refresh Adds Power, Tech and Style – 40 New Photos + Pricing by Trim

The quick and nimble Acura RDX is fresh for 2016 with new LED lighting front and rear, a server of new active safety technology and a redesigned cabin control stack. Now majoring on touchscreens and simplified settings, the 2016 RDX’s standard 3.5-liter V6 will compete even more effectively with the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes GLK and a half-dozen other five-seat, semi-compact SUVs and crossovers. This segment is definitely not the small or compact SUV norm– these luxury models are big and wide, with roomy rear seats. They are small enough for city duty and most travel, but …

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LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator Bodykit Brings Exotic, Designer Feel to VIP Fave

  Considering that the Lexus LX570 is the ride of choice for VIPs worldwide, the exterior of the truck is remarkably demure. Yes, the updated 2014 factory LEDs and grille design help distinguish the LX570 a bit from its Land Cruiser cousin — but where is the visual punch, the sex appeal and pure aggression of the hottest Cayennes, QX80s and Mercedes SUVs? For an LX570 that will take you (*and your family!) safely into and out of hot zones around the world — while looking exotic, exclusive and even more expensive than ever — the Larte Design ‘Alligator’ pack …

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2016 Honda Accord Bringing Tech-Tastic LED and Infotainment Updates

The 2016 Accord refresh is out and looking fantastic! Shown here on the loaded V6 Touring trim, the 2016 Accord is quite a looker with its new 19-inch alloys, standard LED taillights and a very fresh face up front. Packing LED foglights and LED DRLs on Sport or Touring trims, these special Acura-like lighting designs will really set the loaded Accord apart on the roads. The Touring flagship trim is now available on the Coupe, which also packs LED headlamps for the first time. The engines specs are not yet out, but the 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 are set …

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2016 Lexus ES350 and ES300h Revealed In US-Spec With Fresh Nose, Tail + Updated Wheels, Paints and Cabins

Updated 7.15.15 With Latest 41 US-Spec ES Photos The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and …

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2016 Renault TALISMAN Is All-New French Flagship Saloon

Welcome to the top of the Renault range: the new Talisman sedan. This fresh D-segment saloon is a larger and more plush big brother to the awkward Laguna — promising world-class comfort, design, luxury and technology. All with a completely fresh design and dimensions to compete with the BMW 5 series. A total length of 4.85-metres is fairly gigantic for a front-drive luxury sedan in France. As the segment’s built-in government and livery driver pool looks to Germany for their fleets, the large car market in France is fairly depressed and likely to continue deteriorating. As the Citroen C6 and …

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2015 Nissan JUKE-R 2.0 Updated to GT-R NISMO Mechanicals + New Style for Goodwood

Two must-watch videos to show off the incredible, gravity-defying performance of the 2015 Juke-R 2.0! The upper video embed is the Juke-R 2.0 flying up Goodwood hill, while the below video is the Juke-R flat-out around the fabled TopGear test track. The Juke-R sequel doubles the airflow to the GT-R NISMO’s 600HP engine up front via an all-new carbon-fiber bumper, widebody fenders, and diffuser element out back. Still utterly sideways on command, the Juke-R 2.0 also shows off the latest 2015 model-year Juke nose, lighting and panels.  JUKE-R 2.0 Dunsfold Track Testing Video 2015 Nissan JUKE-R 2.0 THE NISSAN JUKE-R …

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2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight Is Official! Revealed At BET Experience Festival

Updated 6.26.15 The 2015 Maxima black pack is official! The entire upgrade detailed below can now be ordered as the Maxima SR Midnight edition. Launched at the BET Experience, the key difference between the Maxima SR Midnight and a DIY black pack via Nissan accessories is that the Midnight comes exclusively in Super Black exterior paintwork. However you get to these 19-inch black alloys and sport bodywork upgrades, the results speak for themselves! 2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is …

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HD Video Drive Review – 2015 Hyundai Sonata ECO Introduces 1.6T and 7-Sp DCT

The 2015 Sonata ECO is the perfect blend of the base Sonata and the loaded Sonata Sport 2.oT. With styling inside and out that is darker and sexier than the base model, the Sonata ECO wears a tasty black chrome for its grille that really moves the car’s look upmarket. At least from the front. From the side and in profile, the ECO is a bit more humble. 17-inch low-rolling resistance tires look a bit silly and undersized, while a single exhaust pipe out back is down by half versus the Sonata Sport 2.0T. But where the ECO really pulls …

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2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Black Pack Details, Track Test Video and 99 New Photos

The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is going all-out to rev up excitement among loyalists. Nissan just revealed its sport styling parts, and they are right up our alley. Gloss-black 19-inch wheels with matching black diffuser and trunk spoiler are deeply cool. The side sills are a contrast metallic grey and really help deliver some concept-car stance to the sportiest Maximas. Pricing from $32k to around $39k is detailed in the animated configurator mid-way down the page, along with colors and tech specs.   2016 …

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2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept – Mid-Engine 2016 TT-Fighter in HD LeMans Lap

Surprise reveal for the next chapter in Alpine sportscars! This 2015 ALPINE Celebration Concept is a mid-engine prototype that represents the first look at the brand’s move to a stand-alone marque in the RenaultSport fleet. Initiated as a collaboration with Caterham a few years ago, the plan was to acquire a low-cost and proven sports-car chassis from the English. Custom bodywork and RenaultSport engines would provide authentic French zing for the machine – which would become a halo sportscar for the entire Renault/Dacia lineup — worldwide. HD Le Mans Lap Renault ran into major troubles synchronizing its big-company safety, reliability …

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2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 Is Lux Cruiser

BMW Motorrad’s sales are on an absolute tear in the US and worldwide in recent years. Where to take the brand that dominates the desirability of the entire two-wheeled world? Upward and onward! The highest-margin area of the motorcycle market is for large cruisers. This new Concept 101 takes the BMW riding-pleasure mantra into this huge new area. A bike that surely makes many German minimalists cringe, the Concept 101 is a firm statement of intent. The machine debuted this weekend at the BMW-sponsored Villa d’Este Concours. It is a long-range cruiser with hardshell luggage cases, a relaxed riding position …

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Shock M6 Concept! 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage – Design Analysis + Rendered Colorizer

  Brace yourself! BMW’s new concept is going to knock you off your feet. This 2015 BMW CSL Hommage takes the incredible aggression and aero add-on feel of the classic BMW racecars, then integrates much of the layered and detailed look via its swirling CFRP panels. The Hommage is a simply stunning look at the future of BMW’s large coupe — with the track embellishments and GT-R-style machoness almost dripping off the Golf Yellow paintwork. No powertrain details are given, as the focus is really on design for the Concours.   Design Analysis NOSE The nose will dominate many conversations …

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ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

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2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E With Ken Glassman

2015 Volvo S60 T6 Review By Ken Glassman A Hooligan Volvo Sedan? Yes, but . . . Ever since the 1960’s Volvo’s built their reputation by being a boxy (homely?) vehicle that was reliable, fuel efficient, roomy, and most of all . . . a very safe vehicle. It sold safety, when American cars were selling big engines and style, and Japan was selling cheap cost. College professors, wearing tweed sport coats with patches on the elbows, and young conservative families interested in safety seemed like the average buyers. But in the last 20 years or so, all car companies …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Takes Monaco in 73 New Pics

Updated 5.5.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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Update1 – 2015 QOROS 2 SUV PHEV Concept Previews Upcoming Juke-Fighter

Updated 4.21.15 with 10 Real-Life Photos Qoros is by far our favorite Chinese car brand — plucking exceptional talent from the UK car scene like Gerte Hildebrand of MINI fame and Jamie Barrett from the RCA design program. The goal is to bring global car safety, design and equipment standards to China-made vehicles. This is more than lip-service: QOROS has the only Chinese vehicles to pass the tough EuroNCAP crash tests and on sale across the highly competitive European car market. Qoros recognizes the opportunity for new brands in the crossover and SUV space — with this latest Qoros 2 SUV …

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2016 Lexus ES Makes Shanghai Debut With Fresh Details + RX200t F Sport

The 2016 Lexus ES refresh is exceedingly safe and conservative — keeping the steady march of progress intact on a tentpole model in the Lexus model range. The new ES is instantly recognizable but tweaked and updated to match the new design ethos on some of Lexus’s more adventurous models. Changes include a new nose and grille design, fresh headlights and a relocation of the LED foglamps into a new, more stylized and higher-mounted bumper shroud. The ES has big chassis upgrades under the metal, with additional welds enhancing vehicle rigidity and therefore handling and NVH smoothness. A pair of …

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2015 Peugeot GT Line Is Glossy Black/White Style Upgrade for 7 Models

Big Peugeot day today =] An all-new style and desirability push for the brand is now coming to fruition with better designs outside and in. To drive the point home, a new GT Line offers damn sexy and very on-trend trim choices for almost a dozen Peugeot models. The GT Line is a top-flight equipment and design upgrade and can be specced with a variety of engine and transmission choices for the RCZ, 208, 308 and the new 508 models.  Consisting of glacier white exterior paints with gloss-black detailing, the GT Line really looks fantastic. Dark wheels and dark headlight …

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6.5s, 143MPH 2015 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arriving In May Priced From 18k

The new Corsa VXR is priced and on its way to showrooms in just two weeks time. The base Corsa VXR comes in at £18k with standard Recaro seats, a 202-horsepower turbo engine and performance topline stats of 6.5-seconds to 60 and a 143-mph top speed. Overall, the biggest changes to the Corsa VXR versus the previous model are up front and from the driver’s seat. The nose is now all-new versus both the previous Corsa VXR and the base Corsa range, with a deep lower bumper, forward-facing grille in a low snout area, and a new integrated air intake duct …

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2015 Citroen AirCross Concept Is Production-Intent 5-Seat SUV

  We’ve been eager to see this car for days now! A low-res leak earlier in the week showed a huge amount of potential for this latest Citroen concept car — and luckily the full reveal confirms how cool this concept design is. Citroen, as we know, has little trouble creating absolutely stunning prototypes and concept cars. These are far different from the norm of concept cars lately in the US market. Heavy expectation management strategies mean that US show-goers rarely see pure dream cars, with manufacturers preferring the Honda, Ford and Infiniti route: a decorated version of the actual …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe in HD Video + 99 Photos!

The amount of beauty and glamour in the 2015 S-Class Coupe is almost unreal. Sharing a name and much of its style with the S550, the new Coupe totally banishes all thought of the CL-Class — immediately and permanently on first sight. We’ve been very eager to try out this new high-fashion two-door for months now. But pouring rain means many of the photos are not up to the normal high standards we keep here at Car-Revs-Daily.com. Luckily, GoPro video in the cabin for our full-throttle drive was recording in full HD glory! Check out the video for a a …

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Refreshed 2016 Toyota RAV4 and New RAV4 Hybrid Make NY Debut

  Toyota is rolling out an update for the 2016 RAV4 that includes a new design for the nose and tail, LED lighting all around and some very cool new cabin tech. The Hybrid is a perfect demo platform for these new features because it will come in two loaded flavors, with the ‘trifecta’ of LEDs up front and LED brake lights as standard. These are likely optional on the cheaper, gas-powered trim lines. In this new and far more appealing nose, the RAV4 runs LED foglamps, LED DRL’s forming a sharp accent line across the top of the headlamps, …

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2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h Are All-New Inside and Out in 84 Images!

The all-new Lexus RX is here and stunning! As Lexus’ all-star sales champ, the RX redesign for 2016 is an all-important step in keeping the Big L’s sales and market share near the top of the luxury brand ranks. To fend of new competition from all sides in this five-seat crossover segment, the RX is dramatically redone in almost every way. First off, the style. DESIGN ANALYSIS Wearing Lexus’s new design brief and its interesting, unique and captivating creases and angles, the RX is far more exciting to look at than it has been in years. The noses are characterized …

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2015 Rolls-Royce WRAITH Inspired by Film Edition Celebrates Frozen Moment BFI Inductee

    When a 2-minute launch movie for a car is inducted into the British Film Institute National Archive, you know it must be something special. Both the car and those magical two minutes of cinema are indeed quite special, breathtaking and goose-bump-inducing. The premise of the film ‘And the World Stood Still’ is a man piloting his Wraith through an enchanted, steaming forest when he comes across the living incarnation of the Spirit of Ecstasy badge. For one fleeting, frozen moment, the two have an ethereal bond that is at once serene, lust-filled and slightly fraught with danger. Thematically, the film shows …

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Update1 – 2016 GMC Terrain and Terrain Denali Refreshed With LEDs

  A midsize crossover so bland that we regularly forget it exists? Oh, that would be GMC’s second-best-seller: the Terrain. Paired with the Chevrolet Equinox, the new Terrain and Terrain Denali are right on the pulse of many buyers size, price and style needs even six years since their launch in 2009. The Terrain and Equinox have actually increased their sales performance fairly dramatically in recent years, which may explain why they are so updated so slightly for 2016. A new look for the nose comes from a fresh lower fascia design, revised grille detailing and a new hood shape …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Subaru Outback Limited By Ken Glassman

  2015 Subaru Outback Limited By Ken Glassman Since nearly 25% of Subaru’s total vehicle sales, or around 120,000 copies, comes from the Outback model, Subaru understood that radical changes would be a risky proposition. Outback buyers are a fiercely loyal group, and that’s because they have been happy with the package that Subaru has been offering for many years. So while the 2015 model is based off the new Legacy sedan, the Outback changes have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. The result is a better vehicle, with mild styling changes, and improvements. PERFORMANCE Two engine options are available, and while …

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

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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Update2 – 40 New Photos – 2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept

The long-rumored Porsche 928 might have just shown its face for the first time….. as a Bentley!? The first Panamera Coupe is indeed looking like a Bentley, thanks to the just-revealed Exp 10 Speed6. EXP10 for Bentley-speak as the 10th concept car, and Speed 6 as a reference to the likely turbocharged V6 behind that all-new face. Low, lean and light are design themes instantly visible on this two-seater – with hollowed-out spaces, organic form flow and an overall lowness that is far sportier than any Continental GT.   2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept EXP 10 SPEED 6 – A …

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2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept Previews Future 2-Seater Based on Panamera Platform

The long-rumored Porsche 928 might have just shown its face for the first time….. as a Bentley!? The first Panamera Coupe is indeed looking like a Bentley, thanks to the just-revealed Exp 10 Speed6. EXP10 for Bentley-speak as the 10th concept car, and Speed 6 as a reference to the likely turbocharged V6 behind that all-new face. Low, lean and light are design themes instantly visible on this two-seater – with hollowed-out spaces, organic form flow and an overall lowness that is far sportier than any Continental GT.   2015 Bentley EXP10 Speed6 Concept EXP 10 SPEED 6 – A …

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Cool Gift Ideas – NOMO Design Auto Icon Screen Prints Show History and Evolution of Famous Car Makes

  What to do for interesting and informative wall decor between the teenage years of Blue-Tac posters and the mid-life oil on canvas? How to keep you automotive passion visible, brand loyalty powerful and left-brain active … without dusting off those old Porsche posters? These new screen prints from Chicago-based NOMO Design are a fantastic way to relive the evolution of iconic brand styles every day. Highlighting the major design features of BMW noses over the last 80 years? Fantastically interesting, relevant and stimulating to all car-guys and gals. Jerome Daksiewicz is the designer behind this project, which is on …

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

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 Mitsubishi GC-PHEV – 40 Photos and 4 Reasons This Concept Previews USA-Bound 2017 Montero Full-Size SUV

  Okay, okay. We can certainly echo your initial thoughts on this design. First reaction at this desk was a blasphemous exclamation. “Sweet Jesus.” Second reaction after thinking we might see a production-spec Montero reborn. But ended up with this? “Holy Mary, mother of God…. what is this evil monstrosity?” But step back a minute. Appreciate its creamy and sily surfaces atop this unapologetically blocky shape. Functional, futuristic, and certainly eye-catching. The nose and tail are absolutely ghastly, but then, the 2016 Outlander shows how cool and chic production-spec nose like could look. With some tweaks, the overall scale of …

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2016 Toyota Avalon Brings New Suspension Tuning, LED + Tech Upgrades and Top-line Touring Trim

  The 2016 Toyota Avalon is refreshed for Chicago including a number of tweaks to the current style and trim levels, plus a loaded Touring trim to top the model line with sporty dark-grey wheels and grille. All 2016 Avalons benefit from enhanced chassis tuning — with the suspension now delivering a better sport and comfort ride compromise than the current model. Shifted a bit too far toward sporty springs in its 2012 refresh, the Avalon in this generation was never too happy either cruising or handling tight bends at speed. We hope the new model addresses this unhappy handling …

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2015 Acura RDX Refreshed With New Tech, LED Lighting and Chassis Refinement

 The quick and nimble Acura RDX is fresh for 2016 with new LED lighting front and rear, a server of new active safety technology and a redesigned cabin control stack. Now majoring on touchscreens and simplified settings, the 2016 RDX’s standard 3.5-liter V6 will compete even more effectively with the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes GLK and a half-dozen other five-seat, semi-compact SUVs and crossovers. This segment is definitely not the small or compact SUV norm– these luxury models are big and wide, with roomy rear seats. They are small enough for city duty and most travel, but …

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2015 KIA Trail’Ster Concept Previews Upcoming Soul Refresh + All-New Interior

The Kia Soul is easily our favorite model in the Kia range – with actual sportiness in the handling and impressive power, there is no other car on the market with such a flexible crossover package. Best of all? The Soul is priced like an economy car, and has almost double the power of the Scion xD and xB. But how to make it a real SUV instead of just a fun and light-hearted crossover? For that, you need all-wheel-drive. KIA has gone theRX450h route here — powering the rear axle with hybrid electric motors. Efficient, compact, and lacking any …

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TechArt Reveals Porsche 911 GTS AeroKit and Noselift System

  The new Porsche 911 GTS models are absolutely awesome. With the wide-body rear fenders and LED lightbar in back, these are easily some of the coolest naturally-aspirated Porsches out there. But when seeking new wheels, a lower stance and added curb appeal — the TechArt gurus are a great destination. The new GTS Convertible shown here wears their new centerlock forged wheels, a meaner front bumper design, and a big wing in back to drive home the point for those you pass. A lower and cooler stance is possible with the TechArt Noselift system — a hydraulic lift to …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Styling Kit in 26 New Photos

Updated 2.8.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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Houston Auto Show Debuts – 2015 Mazda3 Ti Edition Rocks Gloss-Black Body Styling

The new Mazda3 Ti Edition joins a revised Mazda6 and CX-5 on Mazda showroom floors early this year, but had an advanced outing at the Houston Auto Show. This fall, the Mazda range gets really thrilling: the new 2016 MX-5 and hot CX-3 will join in the Zoom-Zoom fun. Production-ready with a window sticker, this new Mazda3 Ti Edition jazzes up the exceptional Mazda3 with some really cool style additions: titanium metallic wheels are joined by a sweet body kit all around in contrast gloss-black. The lower splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all a pure and silky dark …

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Infiniti QX70 by AHG-Sports Shows Great Style and Stance

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 Honda FCV Concept + Year of Honda Turbo VTEC and Turbofan HondaJet Arrival

Honda is very re-energized lately. It will take time for the actual products to catch up with the mood inside the halls of America Honda these days, but when they arrive, they should be terrific. After years of a relatively glum and forlorn outlook, there is a palpable sense of future potential in Honda today. The FCV concept is still in its production-engineering mode, as Honda is keen to perfect every detail before the global rollout. This sense slightly delayed the new Acura NSX as well, but we now see it was worth the wait. Honda is diving head-first into …

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

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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Concept Flashback – 2002 Cadillac Cien XV12 – Halo Hypercar Back in Product Plans?

Cadillac in 2002 was just, just starting to reclaim its place in the luxury car ranks. Long blighted by horribly-engineered boats that failed every objective and subjective comparison with any true luxury brand, Cadillac was finally committing to rear-drive and actual merits as a corporate philoshophy. The new Art & Science tagline for the brand’s style — coined by Leo Burnett Chicago — needed an exemplar. People were thrilled by the Catera-replacing CTS but the brand needed a real shove upmarket. And fast. Enter stage left: the 2002 Cadillac Ciel concept running a mid-engine XV12 Northstar of 7.5-liters. It was …

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RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft Trans Am

In more than a few ways, the new Mustang invokes the styling of the 1970 Boss 302 more than it does even the 1965 GT350 or the 1969 GT500. The over-wide stance and race-ready upgrades of this Kar Kraft Trans Am racer are just the right icing on the cake. Expect big loot for this School-Bus Yellow Boss 302 at RM Auctions in Arizona this January 15th. Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft Trans Am  

Concept Flashback – 2012 McLaren X-1 Introduced MSO Skills To World … In Hideous Fashion?

The MSO X-1 customer car from 2012 was a grand intro to MSO at Pebble Beach in 2012 — and boy was it a shocking coming out party. Many were rightly flabbergasted by its design – as though George Jetson had won the powerball. But while the X-1 will certainly not go down in history as one of the most beautiful cars, it did its job of showcasing MSO’s talents very well indeed. Not a panel from the MPF-12C remained on the X-1 — which also has totally unique proportions and a heavy-handed style all its own. The nose is …

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BRABUS Mercedes-Benz SL550 R231 – With and Without AMG Sport Styling

The latest Mercedes SL is, shall we say, more difficult to love at first sight than previous all-star iterations of the machine. There is just something wonky about the nose from some angles. Despite being a technical tour de force as always, the base SL550 is the most-plain of the bunch that also includes the SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG in the US market. BRABUS makes a wicked 800 V12 Roadster for that is the most hardcore SL in recent memory — but is it too much for some shoppers?   What the SL550 needs is a bit of extra …

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2016 Mazda2 Sedan Revealed in Thailand + Gorgeous White MX-5

Mazda is killing it lately — in a good way! It is hard not to feel a bit of pride in their achievements, even as an outsider. The brand is a loveable underdog. The new CX-3 is amazing, while the exceptionally-competent Mazda6 and CX-5 are also updated for 2016 with cooler LED style details, tech updates and on-trend dark wheels. Just when you thought Thanksgiving could not possibly have any more to offer from Mazda, here comes the dapper new Mazda2 in four-door sedan form. This car was revealed in Thailand where it will be sold from early 2015 onward. …

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Concept to Reality: 2015 Ford Mustang Sketches That Led To Gorgeous New Ponycar

We really like that Ford has been releasing so much information on the design development of their models. A big part of the One Ford program means getting these core models absolutely correct — but such success in styling is not easy to guarantee. So how did Ford get to the 2015 Mustang design? Looking at some of the ideas behind the final look of the Mustang is interesting — with bits from various sketches coming together to form a clean and holistic look for the car. One of the biggest challenges is getting the nose right. In order to …

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2014 Audi TT Sportback Concept Is a Stylish Escape From Current Audi Styling Funk

Audi design is in a major funk. After a full 15 years of making BMW and Mercedes seem old and tired and boring, Audi lost the plot some time around 2010. We are not sure what exactly happened, but the magic seemed gone. The cars started to look like cheap copies of earlier Audi ideas – with the current A6 and new TT perhaps exemplifying this major design problem best. Sure, its proportions are cleaner than ever in 2015, and its new lighting is very dapper indeed. But what the heck? It looks like a 1999 model. This is a …

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2015 Honda Civic Sport is New for UK with Type-R Styling Accents!

How fantastic does this Euro Civic Sport look! Enjoy it, our UK pals. We are envious here in the States! 2015 Honda Civic Sport     Honda UK Ltd 24 September 2014 New design, new technology and a new Sport derivative for the Swindon-built Civic range   New sporty exterior and interior styling upgrades for Honda Civic and Civic Tourer models Introduction of new Civic Sport with visual links to forthcoming Type R New in-car entertainment and technology system introduced across the line-up New automatic low-speed braking system applied as standard across the range Class-leading boot space of 477 (Civic) …

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2015 Ford C-Max and 7-Seat Grand C-Max Make UK Debut With Revised Styling and Tech

Very subtle tweaks to the nose of the C-Max and Grand C-Max debuted today for the UK market. No word yet on when the US-market C-Max Hybrid might receive these changes, but a Spring arrival to US showrooms is likely. The Grand C-Max with seven seats would be a welcome car for the US market — but Ford has those bases covered with the Transit Connect Wagon — which is far better-looking than the sliding-door C-Max shown here in a dark tan color. What the Grand C-Max does offer shoppers is a more-sophisticated set of drivetrains and a more refined …

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LARTE Design Creates Killer ‘Alligator’ Upgrade Package for Lexus LX570

The Lexus LX570 just joined the cool fleet over at Larte Design in California and Germany! This monster-truck makeover sees the family/luxury SUV become saomething altogether darker, more sinister and more exclusive. The trademark Larte Design style is present up front, where the makeover is the most significant with matte-effect dark trims and a newly-chiseled lower bumper. The Larte Design LX570 program is dubbed “Alligator” and just debuted this week at the Moscow auto show — where buyers give a first-hand look at this stylish upgrade for Lexus LX570 owners. LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator LARTE DESIGN INTRODUCES “ALLIGATOR” TUNING …

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