Automobile News & Reviews
Fisker To Come Out With Its Electric SUV, But Is The Company Serious About It?
Fisker has been as fickle as a cat with its products in the auto industry. For what its worth, the company comes up with some really nice concepts that garner a lot of attention. But the concept-to-production model ratio does not induce enough faith in the brand. Such is the companys reputation that no one really takes Fisker that seriously anymore. Recently, Henrik Fisker tweeted a teaser image that looks like a pickup truck. With a lot of products already... [read more]
Woodward Dream Cruise 2019: GM Designers Show Off Their Cars
A highlight of the week leading up to Saturdays Woodward Dream Cruise 2019 is the exclusive car show at General Motors Warren tech center. Exclusive because it is for GMs design team only. Not surprisingly, the majority are GM brands, but MotorTrend loves heading to the tech center to see what employees have brought to work to show their colleagues before forming a parade, complete with police escort, to a park along Woodward. Here, the public can admire the cars... [read more]
What Can Koenigsegg Accomplish With The Man Behind The Bugatti Chiron?
When Christian von Koenigsegg founded the company in 1994, the aim was crystal-clear: develop world-class sports cars. But since then, that creed expanded to include supercars and hypercars. Today, Koenigsegg is one of the most respected and sought-after brands in the business, managing to keep an exclusivity aura thats only equaled by the likes of Bugatti and Pagani. Which makes signing a designer that had plenty of input in the concocting of the Chiron a natural move. Certainly not eyebrow-raising... [read more]
FCA Gauging Public Reaction for Ram 1500 Big Horn Low Down Concept
Lifting a vehicle has become second nature for the Mopar team at FCA. But one of the automakers newest rolling test beds takes things in a different direction. The 2018 Ram 1500 Big Horn Low Down concept actually lowers the full-size pickup by two inches. Mopar created the concept for the 2018 SEMA show, and FCA has been gauging reaction for about a year. A decision will be made later this year or into next year on whether to add... [read more]
See Ya at the Drags!
As you read this, Ill be en route to the H.A.M.B. Drags. Well, truth be told, Ive been on my way to the Drags for the past few... continue reading
James Bonds 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Sells for More Than $6.3 Million
RM Sothebys did well by adding a third night to its 2019 Monterey auction roster, featuring Aston Martins exclusively. The star of the evening, a 1965 DB5 that was one of three existing screen cars from the popular 007 franchise movie, Goldfinger , sold for a huge $6,385,000 to plenty of applause from the auction room. Applause came first when the ex-Bond DB5 rolled onto the block in the Portola Plaza Hotel event space after a short teaser video played... [read more]
Infiniti QX55 to Join Lineup as Coupe-Like Crossover
Ahead of the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, Infiniti announced a new addition to its SUV lineup, the QX55. Based on the teaser sketch that Infiniti released, the QX55 appears to be a coupe-like variant of the recently released QX50 , which means its got the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe in its sights. The Infiniti QX55 is a stunning new SUV coupe in the heart of one of the industry's fastest growing segments, globally, said Mike Colleran, deputy... [read more]
2020 NASCAR Mustang Breaks Cover
Ford has all but reduced its definition of cars to one word: Mustang. That philosophy extends to the racing world as Ford has worked to replace its race car fleet with Mustangs. That continues with this week's reveal of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Mustang race car which will start competing next February. Ford Performance Motorsports now has Mustangs designed to compete in race series around the world including hot rods, stock cars, and endurance racers. When the 2015 Mustang... [read more]
2020 Bugatti Centodieci Channels the EB110
The 2020 Bugatti Centodieci celebrates a car that has long divided Bugattists. Most default to the neat little Type 35 grand prix cars, or the gigantic Type 40 Royales, or the impossibly elegant Type 57 Atlantic coupes when asked to nominate the marques definitive cars. The EB110 and EB110SS models, conceived by Italian entrepreneur and enthusiast Romano Artioli, who acquired the rights to the Bugatti name in the late 1980s, have never been treated with the same respect as the... [read more]
Bugatti EB110: What it's Like Driving One of the Original Hypercars
Above 6,000 rpm it accelerates like an F16 on afterburner. The V-12's basso low-speed growl changes to a hard-edged scream as the revs build, punctuated by the metallic fissst-pshaw of the wastegates blowing off excess boost as you lift off to shift. --> I wrote that 25 years ago after testing the Bugatti EB110 for Australias Wheels magazine. Today 060 mph in less than 3.6 seconds and a 209-mph top speed is run-of-the-mill supercar territory, but back then it was... [read more]
Ghost in the Machine: Visiting the Abandoned Bugatti EB110 Factory
The last time I walked through these doors, this was a functioning car factory. Now I feel like a tomb raider. An early 90s keyboard and computer sit on the deserted receptionists desk, plastic yellowed with age. Off to the left is the dramatic circular space that once housed a showroom, engineering office, and design studio over three levels. To the right is the shop floor where skilled technicians painstakingly hand-assembled the Bugatti EB110. I first came to Campogalliano in... [read more]
2020 Drako GTE Debuts as a 1,200-HP, Hyper-Handling EV Supercar
On Friday morning at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week 2019 , upstart Drako Motors unveiled its striking new all-electric supercar, the GTE. And whatever your feelings regarding its exterior styling, it boasts several attention-grabbing numbers: 1,200 combined horsepower, a 206-mph top speed, and a base price in excess of $1 million. The all-wheel-drive Drako GTE comes from the Silicon Valleybased auto-engineering firm founded in 2015 by three tech entrepreneurs. It has four permanent-magnet hybrid synchronous motors... [read more]
Are Electric Cars a Hoax?
Electric cars seem to be our only way to the future. They will save the planet and give us more comfort. They are quicker, faster, and more fun. Heck, EVs also have the potential to be cheaper and more accessible alternatives to any ICE-powered vehicle. In this article, I will try to explore the broader ramifications of electric car mass production. I will show you why electric cars could give governments more control over your life and give car companies... [read more]
2020 Subaru WRX, BRZ Get a Price Bump and More Standard Equipment
Subaru s two performance models get some significant updates for 2020. First off, the 2020 Subaru WRX returns with the brands EyeSight safety suite as standard on models equipped with the optional CVT. Meanwhile, the 2020 Subaru BRZ sees the return of the tS model with some slight changes that make it look less boy racer than the original iteration. Pricing starts at $28,395 for a base WRX with the standard six-speed manual transmission, up $315 from last year. Getting... [read more]
Bugatti Morphed The Legendary EB110 Into A New Century With the Stuningly White 2020 Bugatti Centodieci
Capturing the spirit of the legendary Bugatti EB110, French boutique car maker Bugatti just unveiled the fantastic looking Centodieci. With a name that quite literally means 110, the Centodieci is one more special hypercar based on the Chiron's architecture. Now, with 100 horsepower more for a total of 1,600 horsepower. Yea, I know. Crazy! With the Centodieci we pay homage to the EB110 super sports car which was built in the 1990s and is very much a part of our tradition-steeped... [read more]
McLarens Next Supercar Takes on Rare Porsches and an Even Rarer Lamborghini
Ladies and gentlemen, whenever McLaren announces a new car, various strata from the industry jumps for joy. Not the competition, of course, knowing how the McLarens of recent times are ready to give their rivals a rough run for their money. But even so, as soon as Woking has official details on a fresh model its working on, everyone spreads their antennas. This time, McLaren will step away from the usual sports car -supercar-grand tourer dance and build a speedster.
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. Survives Plane Crash in Tennessee
Famed NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family were involved in a plane crash in east Tennessee on August 15. Dale, his wife, and their one-year-old daughter escaped unharmed after Earnhardt's private jet crashed at Elizabethton Municipal Airport. Local police said the plane ran off the runway upon landing and caught fire.
Does the Acura Type S Concept Make a Good Case for Revival of Acuras Performance Arm?
Acura has introduced the Type S Concept, a model that not only serves as the official reintroduction of Acuras Type S performance division, but it also serves as a preview to what the next-generation TLX will look like. According to Acura, two high-performance Type S models will make their debut by 2021, one of which is the TLX, but theres a big elephant in the room the Type S name, while revered by Honda and Acura Fanboys, only lasted eight... [read more]
We Want in on the Toyota Supra Game of Horse Power!
What happens when you invite two professional drift racers and tell them that theyre competing in a friendly game of H-O-R-S-E? Its the makings of a fun and competitive duel, but since Toyota was the one that did the inviting, this game of horse came with an added twist: a pair of brand-new 2020 Toyota GR Supras. The objective of the game, according to fellow pro drift racer and part-time game master, Ryan Tuerck, is to perform a series of... [read more]
The 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray is Faster Than the C7, But How Much Faster?
Two details were missing from the media whirlwind that is the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8: its price tag and top speed. We already dedicated a separate article to the price tag topic, so its now time to look at the 2020 Corvette C8s top speed. According to Chevrolets own PR talk, the new Corvette can do 194 mph, which is roughly 313 km/h.
2020 Toyota Corolla Goes Dark With Nightshade Edition
The Toyota Corolla is known for its conventional looks, but a new special edition model hopes to change the script. For 2020, the sedan and hatch receive a Nightshade Edition with blacked-out exterior accents. Other updates have also been announced for the Corolla Hatchback. Based off the SE trim with the CVT transmission, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Nightshade Edition features many black exterior accents, from the front fascia to the door handles, mirror caps, rocker panels, and rear spoiler. The... [read more]
It Makes How Much? We Dyno the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 might have the best-sounding engine of any new production car. If you dont believe us, take a listen . Ford calls it the Voodoo , and its much different than the engines in its more pedestrian pony car brethren. Its flat-plane-crank architecture is unique among V-8s from the States, as is its astronomical 8,250-rpm redline. --> In the 2019 GT350 and GT350R, the Voodoo is rated at 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque at... [read more]
The 10 Best Cars You Can Buy at the 2019 Monterey Car Week
The Monterey Car Week is arguably the most important week for a lot of auto collectors. More than your typical car shows, this week-long extravaganza plays host to must-attend events like the Monterey Motorsport Reunion, the Quail, A Gathering, and the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, so theres no shortage of things to do and places to visit during the event. One highlight or is it seven highlights? that I have yet to mention is the car auction aspect of... [read more]
Original 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt Movie Car Heading to Auction
If Steve McQueen was still with us, you know he would have jumped at the chance to own his co-starthe 1968 Ford Mustang GT that he drove in the classic cop film Bullitt . The original Highland Green beauty is going on the block at the Mecum Kissimmee 2020 auction in Florida and is expected to sell for big bucks. Its whereabouts were unknown for over four decades until it resurfaced at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show and we learned... [read more]
2020 Mid-Engine Corvette Stunningly Low Prices Announced!
Buy a Ford GTor a C8 Corvette, plus a mansion to keep it in! The lightest-weight 2020 C8 mid-engine Corvette will leave your wallet the heaviest. Chevrolet just announced the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for the 1LT starting at $59,995, the 2LT at $67,295, and 3LT $71,945. What remains to be seen is how much of a premium Chevrolet dealers will tack on the first 2020 Corvettes to hit showroom floors. Whoever the ad agency Chevrolet commissioned to campaign... [read more]
Footage of Drag Racing Legends
Video compilation of vintage drag racing from different events and classes across the country, including the Sox & Martin Cuda and Roland Leong. We stumbled upon this collection of drag-racing video clips pulled from a DVD titled Draggin Into The 70s , which appears to be old newscasts of drag-racing competitions from that time. Cars like the Sox & Martin Cuda, the Red Baron wheelstander, and old turbine cars are blasting down the quarter-mile to the tune of fuzzy, mono... [read more]
Volvo is Looking to Add Two More SUVs to its Lineup
It seems like Volvo is set to grow its SUV lineup in the wake of strong sales. In an interview with Auto Express, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson revealed that the Swedish automaker is considering adding two more models to its SUV lineup. Our strategy has been growth, but not through adding pure volumes, Samuelsson told Auto Express. We have been going in hard and being better in segments where we have a really strong offering. That is the basic assumption... [read more]
Refreshed 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback Starts at $22,580
Honda refreshed the Civic sedan and coupe last year, and now its the hatchbacks turn to receive some TLC. The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback goes on sale this week with updated styling and expanded availability of the six-speed manual transmission. To give the hatchback a sharper look, Honda revised the grille crossbar and provided the headlights with a new blackout treatment. The lower bumper foglight housings now feature a body-color crossbar, as do the lower bumper openings in the rear... [read more]
McLaren GT by McLaren Special Operations
McLaren isnt going to the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance empty-handed. The British automaker is bringing a special edition McLaren GT with McLaren Special Operations (MSO) imprints all over it. This isnt your typical McLaren GT, folks, even if describing the GT as typical in it of itself sounds weird. This McLaren GT is the product of MSOs latest design exercise, a showcase of the groups ability to turn a $200,000 supercar into what amounts to a one-off creation thats beaming... [read more]
The Lincoln Aviator Hybrid Is More Powerful than the Chevrolet C8 Corvette
Revived in 2019 as a successor for the MKT, the Lincoln Aviator is the company's first SUV to feature a hybrid drivetrain. In 2018, Lincoln revealed preliminary specs for the hybrid, hinting that it will top the range in terms of output. Come August 2019 and the final numbers confirm that the Aviator Hybrid is one of the most powerful gas-electric vehicles on the market.
The Cure for Distracted Pedestrians
How many times have you had some joker with their nose buried in a phonestep off a curb and right in front of your moving car? It seems... continue reading
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Officially Starts at $59,995
Finally, official pricing for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is out. True to its promise , Chevrolet is making the sports car available for less than $60,000. It will start at exactly $59,995 when it goes on sale early next year. The 2020 Corvette price has increased from the C7 Corvette Stingray, which started at $56,995. Still, the new model is definitely a bargain. The Porsche 718 Cayman S, Jaguar F-Type , and BMW Z4 sDrive M40i are included in a... [read more]
$59,995 Corvette C8 Price Shows It Is the Best Bargain Mid-Engine Sports Car We Ever Had
With a base price of $58,900 ($59,995 with destination fee), the new mid-engine Corvette C8 proves that GM delivered on its sub-$60k promise. I cannot think of another car that could come close to the performance of the Corvette C8 for less than $60k. I remind you that it can reach 60 mph in just over 3 seconds and reach a top speed of 194 mph. The only car that can come close to it in terms of performance is... [read more]
Is the Volvo XC60 a Better Commuter or Road Trip SUV?
Were nearing the end of our time in the Volvo XC60 , and its been smooth sailing all year. Currently at around 24,000 miles, the compact crossover has visited the dealership twice for regular maintenance. Im impressed by the airy, eco-chic feel of my local Volvo dealership, but Im even happier about the fact that the first three services are free of charge. This means free maintenance at the 10,000-, 20,000-, and 30,000-mile recommended intervals. For some buyers, the XC60... [read more]
Cadillac CT6-V vs. BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes: Just the Numbers
We had some nice things to say about the new Blackwing-powered Cadillac CT6 -V, but a car like this doesnt exist in a vacuum. The strongest competition comes from the Germans, specifically, the Mercedes-AMG S63 , Porsche Panamera Turbo Executive, and the BMW 7 Series based Alpina B7 . Each of these four cars are giant four-door sedans powered by their respective automakers take on a 500+ hp hot vee turbocharged V-8, and each sends power to all four wheels... [read more]
Chevrolet Corvette C4 History: The Technologically Advanced, Black Sheep of the Family
Love it or hate it, the fourth generation Corvette (1984 1996) is next in our series of Corvette history features. These cars are commonly the whipping boy of Americas sports car, however, for their time, they were highly advanced compared to their domestic peers and even outperformed some of their European counterparts. This was due to a complete overhaul of nearly every aspect of the car done by a new team of engineers and designers, who all had a new... [read more]
The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is your new small high-riding drop top
Convertible SUVs are only slightly more common than hens teeth these days, primarily because there doesnt seem to be a huge market for them, yet VW has taken the plunge and launched one of its own - the new T-Roc Cabriolet, a model the manufacturer promises has a lot of appeal thanks to the many qualities it blends together.
2020 Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is your new small high-riding drop top
Convertible SUVs are only slightly more common than hens teeth these days, primarily because there doesnt seem to be a huge market for them, yet VW has taken the plunge and launched one of its own - the new T-Roc Cabriolet, a model the manufacturer promises has a lot of appeal thanks to the many qualities it blends together.
1939 Bentley Corniche Gets Resurrected by Milliner
Bentley has resurrected a piece of their lost automotive history with this stunning recreation of their 1939 Corniche. The idea originated when Greek race car driver Andre Embiricos ordered a performance car based on Bentley s 4 Litre chassis. Engineers and higher-ups had been kicking around the idea of a performance version of the MkV for a while. A lightweight chassis and a tuned-up version of the MkV engine coupled to an overdrive gearbox was combined with a more aerodynamic... [read more]
Matt Farah Drives an S55-Powered E30 BMW M3 and Were Jealous
The first-generation BMW M3 E30 is arguably one of the most sought-after BMWs in the world today. But even its collectible status hasnt stopped tuners from engaging in a little aftermarket debauchery. The Smoking Tires Matt Farah recently took the wheel of one such project. Its an M3 E30, but underneath that hood lies a twin-turbo S55 straight-six engine thats normally found under the new M3. This isnt A BMW M3 E30 with less than 300 horsepower on tap, folks... [read more]
Ford Creating Families Around Mustang, Bronco
Mustang and Bronco are iconic names. Ford is leveraging that equity, creating families of vehicles as part of an overall rejiggering of its lineup that downplays traditional sedans and emphasizes car-based vehicles with a different look. Much like F-Series encompasses assorted pickups and truck chassis under one umbrella, Mustang and Bronco are evolving into sub-brands of sorts, adding variants and even different body styles while working to preserve the essence of the names attached to them. Mustang has the distinction... [read more]
Dodge Debuts Limited-Production 717HP Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition on New 2020 Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody
New Dodge Charger Daytona 50thAnniversary Edition Makes Its First Public Appearance in Dodge Display at the Modern Street HEMI® Shootout (MSHS) Lot in Pontiac, Michigan, on Aug. 17 during Annual Woodward Dream Cruise 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition is powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine with an extra boost of power: 717 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque Revised powertrain calibration unique to Daytona 50thAnniversary Edition increases rated power output by... [read more]
Lord Of The Horn Rings
We go off on a strange tangent about horn rings. You'll see where were going. Thanks for tuning-in and tuning-up! Press "Play" below to listen to this episode
Fiats New Turbo Engine Has to Pull a Lot of Weight in the U.S.
The downsizing trend continues as the 2019 Fiat 500X receives a new 1.3-liter turbo-four engine that replaces existing larger units while offering similar power, more torque, and superior fuel economy. FCAs new turbo-four belongs to its new Global Small Engine (GSE) family, and forms the foundations for FCAs upcoming range of electrified powertrains that will more than likely end up on North American shores. In the 2019 Fiat 500X, the 1.3T replaces the old 2.4-liter and the 1.4-liter turbo-four. With... [read more]
Unspoken Rules of Street Racing
I do not approve, promote, or encourage illegal street racing at any level. Street racing, however, does happen. A lot. Here I am to tell you about the unspoken rules of street racing that should, at least, make you and anyone involved a tad safer. This list of unspoken rules, should also teach you a thing or two about street racing that you may have missed during your illegal racing forays "down in Mexico."