Automobile News & Reviews
Barris Kustoms circa 1953
Loomis Dean was already a veteran photographer for LIFE magazine when he got the assignment to capture images of the latest trends in custom car accessories. Not really... continue reading
2019 Bentley Continental GT W12 First Test: If You Got It, Do You Still Flaunt It?
Call it the Ocasio-Cortez Effect. We are witnessing a pendulum swing of sortsa backlash against the trappings of excessive wealth and conspicuous consumptionas signified by the election of the New York Congresswoman and her democratic socialist cohort. So it isnt a surprise that being seen in a gleaming Extreme Silver Bentley Continental GT W12, with its $276,730 sticker price, aint as cool as it used to be. Whereas such exotica used to invite a curious double take, now the driver... [read more]
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen is approaching the end of the development phase of the new Volkswagen Golf 8 - the most connected Golf of all time. But before I proceed with bombarding you with all the incredible things I've learned about it, let me just give you a glimpse of its importance through my experience. It was 2004, my finishing year of elementary school when Volkswagen revealed the Golf MkV GTI. I remember that day vividly because that was the day I was... [read more]
Audi Traffic Light Information System Will Tell you How Fast to Go to Catch a Green Light
Audi has offered a system called Traffic Light Information (TLI) on some of its models since 2015 (i...
Heres Your First Look at the Aston Martin Project 003
The 2019 Geneva Motor Show is only two weeks away, and automakers are already rolling out teasers of vehicles they will showcase in Switzerland. Among them, there's the Aston Martin Project 003, a new hypercar that the British firm is looking to launch in 2021. We only have a teaser shot and little info right now, but Project 003 looks and sounds exciting, to say the least.
Spied! MKC-Replacing Lincoln Corsair Looks Like a Mini Aviator
Its refreshing to see Lincoln finally getting the love and resources it deserves. Sure, they might not be getting poured into the Panther-platform Town Car some people inexplicably still want, but the storied American luxury brand is putting out some seriously compelling products, particularly if youre in the market for an SUV. Case in point: Just a couple of months after the debut of the promising 2020 Aviator at last years Los Angeles auto show comes this glimpse of the... [read more]
1511 GMs Tailgate Leaves Us Wondering
GM's New Sierra Tail Gate has a lot of function but also a lot of cost and some potential for some easy damage. Thanks for Tuning-In and Tuning-Up with the Motor Medics Under The Hood. Please subscribe to the podcast on whatever site you listen on and rate and review us. We would really appreciate it. Thank you. Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
Clash of the Track-Focused Giants: Ferrari 488 Pista vs McLaren 600LT vs Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche are three automakers renowned for making many superb track-honed models over the years, and the latest names to keep that flame going are 488 Pista, 600LT and 911 GT3 RS. All these cars are roughly in the same price bracket and are comparable in terms of performance. Yet, the way they achieve (and deliver) said performance is quite different from car to car.
Mopar Classic Gauges Now Available from AutoMeter
AutoMeter is proud to introduce their new Mopar Classic series instruments to assist owners of high-performance Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth muscle cars with protecting their investment while maintaining a period-correct look. Officially licensed Mopar Classic Gauges are backed by accurate and reliable, track-tested, and race-proven electric performance movements. Finished in chrome bezels and easy to read black dials emblazoned with the red, white, and blue Mopar heritage logo. Current offering includes gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, water temperature, voltmeter... [read more]
Is This the Next-Generation Ford Ranger?
The Ford Ranger arrived on our shores this year after a long hiatus, but the North American truck is based on a design that's been on the global market since 2012. With that said, it's due for a redesign in just a few years. Recently, Australias Wheels Magazine posted images of what could be the next-generation Ranger. As the publication points out, the truck shares design cues with the 2020 Super Duty that was unveiled a few weeks ago. This... [read more]
Updated GM App Automatically Tells Friends You Made it Home Safely
General Motors is rolling outan app-based feature that allows drivers to locate their car at any time. The Vehicle Locate service can also automatically send a text message to a loved one when the vehicle enters or leaves a pre-set area. Launching this week on the Buick , Cadillac , Chevrolet , and GMC mobile apps, the feature replaces Family Link, which was solely web-based. Boundary alerts can be set as wide as a 20-mile radius, or as narrow as... [read more]
Mercedes-Benz SL Grand Edition
The Mercedes-Benz SL Grand Edition is a special-edition version of the company's familiar and fairly old SL roadster. Based on the sixth-generation SL, upgraded most recently for the 2017 model year, the Grand Edition is probably the last hurrah for the dated roadster, which should be replaced by 2021. Described as an "especially exclusive" Mercedes-Benz, the Grand Edition is indeed a more bespoke version of the SL, but upgrades are limited to special color and trim on the outside and... [read more]
You Can Own the Property Underneath Tesla Cleveland for $6 Million
A unique Tesla investment opportunity was recently announced. But rather than a stock offering,this particular investment involves a building. Specifically, the one housing the Tesla dealership serving Cleveland, Ohio. Tech-focused and New Yorkbased real estate brokerage, B+E announced the sale of the property for $6 million, and it claims the building has a cap rate of 6 percent (that is the annual rate of return one can expect to receive on the property). B+E also says that Tesla has a... [read more]
Spied! Porsche Taycan Station Wagon Caught Barely Disguised
Last fall, one of our spy photographers captured something interesting: a prototype that appeared to be a Porsche Taycan station wagon .Or more specifically, it looked like a Taycan sedan prototype with a hatch crudely attached. We wanted to believe it was proof that Porsche had plans for a Taycan Sport Turismo, but there was no telling whether something so rudimentary was headed for production. Based on these latest spy shots, though, it looks like the Taycan Sport Turismo is... [read more]
Negotiations Over National Fuel Economy Standards Have Broken Down
If youwere hoping that theEnvironmental Protection Agency, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the California Air Resources Board would be able to come to a compromise on fuel economy standards , we have some bad news. That's not going to happen anytime soon. Bloomberg reports that according to three people familiar with the talks, negotiations involving the EPA, NHTSA, and CARB have broken down. The two federal agencies had reportedly hoped to finalize a new standard that would replace the... [read more]
Cadillac CT6 Platinum to Get Optional 500-HP Twin-Turbo V-8
Despite rumorsthat Cadillac had killed off the CT6, the large luxury sedan lives on . At least for now. That was especially good news for customers who were worried they might not be able to get their hands on the 550-hp CT6-V . But what if you want that twin-turbo V-8 engine andweren't one of the 275 buyers lucky enough to get their hands on the CT6-V? According to one report, Cadillacwill soon offer a consolation prize: a detuned version... [read more]
GMC Acadia
GMC has unveiled the facelifted Acadia. Although we all expected just a few tweaks to the body and the cabin, GMC actually packed the Acadia with more than that. The 2020 GMC Acadia is now available with a new turbocharged engine, new technology, and a host of other features. Hell, the company has even launched a new trim level for the 2020 model year. Is GMC giving the Acadia a major push to capture a bigger market share from one... [read more]
Here's Our First Glimpse of the Aston Martin Project 003 Hypercar
Aston Martin isnt expected to deliver its third hypercar until late 2021, but its already giving us a sneak peek. Here is our first glimpse at the mid-engine coupe codenamed Project 003. On social media, Aston Martin posted a picture of the cars back end. Since the post is captioned The wait is nearly over, Aston Martin should show the car inoneform or another sometime soon, perhaps at the upcoming Geneva motor show. #Project003 will be the third mid-engined hypercar... [read more]
The 2021 Lexus IS Could Inherit the 2020 Toyota Supras BMW-Sourced Inline-Six
Is it possible that Toyotas existing partnership with BMW could extend into a Lexus? Thats what a report from Japans Best Car magazine is saying. According to the report, the next-generation Lexus IS sports sedan will be powered by the same 335-horsepower, 3.0-liter, turbocharged, straight-six that you can find under the hood of a recently released Toyota sports car thats been dominating the news lately. If the reports are true, the next-generation IS could share the same engine with the... [read more]
Don Montgomery
A few years ago, I found myself in an awkward position standing next to both a model-a coupe that had just been unearthed after 50 years of... continue reading
MINI John Cooper Works GP
Mini is a company that should be taken seriously when it sets about building a performance car. That's why we stood up and listened when, late last year, we heard that the Mini Cooper JCW GP was coming back in 2020 after what will be a seven-year hiatus. Now, we're seeing the first spy shots and, as you'd expect, it's the Cooper JCW dialed up to 11 with some cues ported straight from the devilishly cool 2017 Cooper Works GP... [read more]
Volkswagen Presents Lego T2 Camper Van And Were Already Dreaming Of A Life-Sized Lego World
The Volkswagen Type 2 is one of the German automaker's most enduring designs and was even kept in production in Brazil until 2013. Volkswagen sold countless numbers around the world and, while the T2 generation isn't as cute as the original T1, it has its place in history. At the F.re.e Leisure and Travel Fair in Munich, Germany, the T2 made an unexpected appearance in Lego form, proving that making full-scale recreations of cars out of thousands of Lego bricks... [read more]
Mercedes SLC Final Edition
Just as Mercedes is adept at rolling out First Edition models, it can do the same with Final Edition models. It just so happens that the latter is more fitting for the times, particularly with the SLC-Class, Mercs largely forgotten retractable hardtop convertible. In case you didnt know, Mercedes is closing the book on the SLCs three-generation life, and to commemorate the occasion, the Germans are rolling out the 2020 Mercedes SLC Final Edition. Mercedes is offering the special edition... [read more]
Hero, Zero: The Rise and Fall of Carlos Ghosn The Big Picture
January 2003. Im talking with a senior auto industry analyst about Carlos Ghosn. If it was announced Ghosn was about to take the top job at Ford , he muses, it would add $10 billion to the value of the company. He pauses just long enough to ponder a pile of greenbacks larger than the GDP of several small Caribbean countries, then delivers the punchline: Overnight Ghosn became the auto industrys $10 billion man for one simple reason: He had... [read more]
BMW M2 CS/CSL
BMW is reportedly readying an even hotter version of its M2 to sit above the M2 Competition - they are the M2 CS and M2 CSL, and our spies believe thats what they captured in these photos. Some older reports from before the Competition model was launched, called it the M2 GTS. The white prototype features several changes over the M2 Competition and, as a Whole, it looks like a more aggressive, track-focused machine. It has been suggested that the... [read more]
2018 Honda Civic Type R Long-Term Update 4: A Pilot's Take
In the last update, I relayed what editor-in-chief Ed Lohs wife, Giuliaer, Juliaa self-declared CTR newbie, thought of the Honda Civic Type R. But she wasnt the only one who had a first drive. Her father, Bob, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot (KC-135A tankers and FB-111A bombers) had a stint, too. Ed explains why Bob is uniquely qualified to review the Civic Type R: is an especially keen car enthusiast, having owned over 60 vehicles in his lifetime (was... [read more]
Lexus UX F
Lexus needs to infuse its image with some extra sportiness because even though it does make good, credible sporty cars, it is still perceived as a brand addressed toward SUV loving soccer moms and your elderly aunt who decides to spend most of her life savings on a new luxury car to treat herself. One such vehicle could be a spiced up version of the UX crossover, the newest and smallest crossover to join the Lexus range. If Lexus made... [read more]
Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition
The 2020 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition is the second pickup truck from the Blue Oval company inspired by the iconic motorcycle brand. The Harley-Davidson Edition returns after eight years as an appearance package, but it also comes with a few chassis updates. The big difference now, except the fact that it's based on the latest F-250, is that it's no longer built by Ford. Instead, the truck is assembled and sold by Tuscany Motor Company. Marketed as an "Official Harley-Davidson... [read more]
Honda Reportedly Closing Down Swindon, UK plant by 2022
Honda established its Swindon, UK plant back in 1985 and it functioned pretty well until the late 2000s credit crunch when the manufacturer closed about half of it. Before the financial crisis that really made its presence felt in 2008, Honda was making the Civic, CR-V, and Jazz in Swindon, but after the restructuring job, it only kept Civic production going at the site - now it looks like it plans on closing the facility for good, in 2021 or... [read more]
The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster is Officially Done
The excruciatingly drawn-out decline of the traditional sedan may be getting all the headlines, but thats not the only segment ailing in this crossover-crazy market. The two-seat convertible segment has waned for more than a decade now, and it looks like its only getting worse in 2019. As we initially reported nearly two years agoand after 23 years of continuous production the Mercedes-Benz SLC (ne SLK) has been officially discontinued. A Mercedes rep tells us there is currently no direct... [read more]
Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible
The '50s were a strange decade: on the one hand, the danger of nuclear annihilation grew bigger and bigger as tensions between East and West reached new peaks and, on the other hand, automotive design also reached new peaks - peaks touched by the ultra-high fins of cars like the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, a true symbol of its time. When you think of American cars from the '50s, depending on who you are, you're bound to first picture... [read more]
2019 Ram Heavy Duty Priced Starting at $35,090
When Ram announced its new Heavy Duty pickup trucks , the biggest news was the fact that you could add an all-new 6.7-liter Cummins turbodieselgood for 400 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. But how much would it cost to get your hands on the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty? Now we know. Ram announced today thatit will take $35,090 including destination to get behind the wheel of a base-model 2500 Tradesman regular cab 42.If you want the 44 model, it... [read more]
Subaru Viziv Adrenaline Concept Coming to Geneva
Today, Subaru released a teaser image of a concept it will debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5. This model is the latest in a series of radical Viziv concepts that bear little direct resemblance to Subarus production cars. Still, the concept will provide some clues on what Subaru is cooking up for its future product portfolio. The concept might preview the next Crosstrek, although the Adrenaline name implies something high performance. The shadowy teaser obscures the vehicle's... [read more]
2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI: Eight Questions with the Product Developer
Volkswagen chose the Chicago Auto Show to reveal the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI . With the GTI's 228-hp engine, an independent rear suspension, and Volkswagen's VAQ limited-slip differential, the new GLI looks like it should be just as fun to drive as the GTI. We have a feeling it will be much better than the previous Jetta GLI . To get a better idea of what Volkswagen has done with the GLI, we caught up with Adam Reinhardt, one of... [read more]
This Rendering Shows the True Potential of What Bugatti Could do with the Divo
Bugatti's bonkers track weapon, the Divo, is the Chiron's mad brother that's been conceived to break lap records. Sadly, Bugatti won't chop the roof off the Divo but, if it did, you'd end up with something close to Rain Prisk's render, a machine that's bent on ruining your hair. We know Bugatti builds some of the most amazing cars the world has ever seen. Since it was brought back to life under Volkswagen ownership, the company founded by Ettore Bugatti... [read more]
The 276-HP Ford Focus ST Is Hot Hatch Forbidden Fruit
The Blue Oval will unleash an all-new Ford Focus ST this summer in Europe, and we get nothing. Why, Ford , why? Sure, we love our Mustangs and F-150s , but we also have a hankering for just about any hot hatch, and this one sounds extra-sweet, as it packs a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four making 276 horses and 310 lb-ft of torque. Thats a decent power bump over the last versionand the first and last Focus ST to come to... [read more]
No Speed Limits? California Considering Unlimited Lanes on Two Highways
California state senator John Moorlach (R-Orange County) has introduced a bill to that state's legislature that wouldadd lanes to both north- and southbound Interstate 5 and State Route 99 that would have no posted speed limit. SB319 does not itselfstatethe specific stretches of road where the lanes would be added, but local reports indicate the lanes would run from Stockton to Bakersfield, adistance of approximately 240 miles via I-5or 230 miles via CA-99. While some reports tout the lanes as... [read more]
Land Rover Scraps Plans for 518-HP Discovery SVX
When Land Rover first announced the Discovery SVX back in 2017, we couldn't help but get excited. It featured JLR's 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 tuned to make 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, but it also had a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a roof-mounted light bar.This hardcore off-road Discovery with more than 500 hp was going to be awesome. With a big emphasis on the was. Sadly, as AutoCar first reported, the Discovery SVX is dead. The... [read more]
Honda to Close U.K. Factory That Builds Civic Type R
Honda announced it will close its Swindon, U.K., manufacturing plant in 2021 when production ends on the current-generation Civic. All Civic hatchbacks in the U.S., including the Civic Type R , are made at the Swindon factory. The decision comes as Hondaevolves its EV strategy. The significant challenges of electrification will see Honda revise its global manufacturing operations, and focus activity in regions where it expects to have high production volumes, Honda said in a statement. Honda chief executive Takahiro... [read more]
McLaren Officially Has No Desire to Offer An SUV - Ever
An SUV is not part of McLarens plans, now or in future. McLarens design chief, Mark Roberts, made that clear at an event preceding the 2019 Canadian International Auto Show. According to Roberts, McLaren isnt going to stray away from its core identity as an automaker that delivers the ultimate driving experience. Since McLaren believes that developing an SUV strays from that identity, its not a question of if the company ends up building one, as it is when were... [read more]
Lamborghinis First Hybrid will Debut in Frankfurt as - You Guessed It - a Special Edition Model
The wait for Lamborghinis first hybrid supercar will come to an end at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. The yet-to-be-named hybrid monster is a touchpoint for the Italian automaker as it lays the foundation for its own hybrid plans for the future. For now, the hybrid supercar goes by the name LB48H. Details are still scarce at this point, but Lamborghini is expected to take styling cues from the Terzo Millenio EV Concept it unveiled last year and graft them... [read more]
Dragging the Sixth Street Viaduct
It's possibly one of the most filmed locations for car chases in all of LA, and before it was replaced in the name of progress', the 6th Street... continue reading
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Wont Look Like the 2015 Santa Cruz Concept After All
Four years after dropping jaws on the floor of the North American International Auto Show, we learn the Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept could finally come to our lives in the next few years. Just dont expect the production version to look anything like the concept that caused a ruckus in Detroit back in 2015. Time is the biggest culprit behind this shift. Its been four years since Hyundai unveiled the Santa Cruz, and a lot has changed within Hyundai during... [read more]
Subaru Teases Viziv Adrenaline Concept Bound for Geneva
Subaru will add another study to its Viziv line of concepts that its been parading at motor shows over the past half-decade. This latest one, the seventh in the series, is called Subaru Viziv Adrenaline, and its set to make its debut next month, at the 2019 Geneva motor show.
Ford Focus ST
The 2019 Ford Focus ST is the performance-oriented version of the fourth-generation Focus, a hatchback unveiled in 2018. Introduced in February 2019, the new Focus ST brings many changes to the table, including a bigger EcoBoost engine, more power than ever, and state-of-the-art technology. Unlike its predecessors, the new Focus ST won't come to the U.S., as Ford decided to stop offering most of its passenger cars in North America. The previous-gen Focus ST was already more powerful than its... [read more]
Citroen Ami Concept
Citroen is a manufacturer that many still associate with clever technical innovations wrapped in a unique styling package and, by that definition, the new Ami Concept fits right into the brands historic mold. Its also not the first Citroen to be called Ami, so maybe the automaker is timidly trying to play the history card with this petit concept.
2018 Ford F-150 Lariat FX4 Long-Term Update 4: Halfway Point
I recently went in for my annual physical, with surprisingly good results considering all the Doritos and chocolate I consumed in 2018. It also happens to be the half-way mark of our F-150s year-long stay with us. With close to 14,000 miles on the odometer, how is our truck doing? Cosmetically its in great shape. The passenger side view mirror suffered minor damage when a staffer misjudged a concrete post in our garage, which is making me doubt my decision... [read more]
2019 Kia Niro EV First Drive: Friendly Electro-Wagonoid
Switching to an electric vehicle for the first time can be intimidating, and not just because of range anxiety. From the techy gauges to changing the way you operate a car, it can take time to learn how to drive an EV efficiently. Fortunately, Kia has made electric motoring more accessible with the 2019 Niro EV; with its conventional design and emphasis on user-friendliness, the latest electro-wagonoid from Korea minimizes the learning curve of going electric. The 2019 Niro EV... [read more]
Random Act of Kindness Ends with Nursing Student Getting a Free Car
Lets start your Mondays off on a good note with a story about a young nurse from California and the generosity of a Scion xB owner. Kayla Cooper walked into an Auto City dealership with the intent of purchasing a vehicle. What she got instead was a free car from Dan Laguardia, who handed her the keys to his Scion xB after learning that Cooper couldnt close a deal on her car purchase. Theres obviously more to this story well... [read more]