The kids in the third row are going to yak animal crackers while watching Shrek 6—and not because they’re disgusted by yet another sequel. Mercedes-Benz’s quintessential millionaire-mommy bus, the three-row, seven-seat GL-class has just moved into its second generation, and for the first time it will be offered as an Affalterbach-debauched GL63 AMG. (more…)
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It’s the 50th anniversary of the Alpine Berlinette, and to mark the event Renault have created this striking concept car. The A110-50 is based on a combination of the DeZir concept and a Mégane Trophy race car, and very much designed with the track in mind. It features a full roll-cage, air-jacks and 21″ single-nut [...]
What It Is: Chevrolet’s upcoming SS sedan, which will share its rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform with the new, police-only Caprice PPV. Basically a shorter, civilian version of the Caprice, the SS is being added to Chevy’s lineup as a prequel to a new version due in 2015 that will be built in the U.S. The SS [...]
We saw so many incredible machines at the Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons race in March that we just couldn’t process what we were seeing. A Lloyd Alexander? A Ford Cortina? Still, one car stood out from the others with its wonderful, pointless lunacy: the Team Ferdinandwertschtzungsgesellschaft 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle, equipped with two [...]
This is one of the most eagerly anticipated hot hatchbacks for a long time – it is the new Ford Focus ST! Powered by a direct-injection 2.0-litre, all-alloy, turbocharged, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, the new Ford Focus ST develops 250PS, yet remains capable of returning 39.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 169g/km – 20 per cent better [...]
The front-drive-roadster market has been a little thin since the departure of the Lotus Elan and the Mercury Capri in the mid-’90s. Truth be told, front-wheel drive just isn’t what the market clamors for when it comes to roadsters. That may be because the term “roadster” brings to mind images of rear-drive MGs, Triumphs, and [...]
Last week, Ford symbolically got back its blue oval. Back from whom? you ask. It wasn’t exactly sitting in someone’s living room, but the corporate logo—along with many of Ford’s factories—was pledged as collateral for an enormous, $23.5 billion loan package Ford took in 2006. At the time, Ford was bleeding money and not selling [...]
Like many automakers, safe-car maven Volvo has introduced some semi-autonomous technology in its cars in the past few years—City Safety being the big one. But it also has been working on a little side project called SARTRE. The clunky acronym stands for “Safe Road Trains for the Environment,” and it is a collaborative effort between [...]
A traditional manual transmission will come to the M6 coupe and M6 convertible, we’ve learned from sources at BMW, although a timeline isn’t set. The cars are launching first with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, but a six-speed stick will be available for both body styles in 2013 or 2014. Read full story »
Aston Martin debuted its Project AM310 concept at the annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este over the weekend. It’s noteworthy not because the concept is—as you’d expect from Aston—gorgeous, but rather because it previews the next-generation DBS, which is scheduled to debut later in the year as part of the brand’s centenary celebration. Read full story [...]
Yes, we know what you’re thinking: Yawn—Porsche has created yet another 911 variant. Well, perk up, because the brand’s latest 911 spinoff isn’t a new GTS, GT3 RS, or Targa model; in fact, it’s fairly unique, and it will be available in extremely limited numbers. It’s called the 911 Club Coupe, and it was created [...]
This one had to be really good: Enthusiasts have waited for decades for a true replacement of the legendary Alpine A110 Berlinette. It went out of production in 1977; its successor, the A310, later morphed into the GTA/A610; Renault’s subbrand was killed off in the mid-1990s. It was an act of cruelty. Read full story [...]
As with the last few years, due to the general depressed state of the economy, we in the UK are more likely to remain here for a holiday than ever before. So we naturally turn to that wonderful (don’t listen to Top Gear) past time of caravanning. With that in mind, Chevrolet has offered some [...]
On Monday we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. Most of you had no trouble determining that the shifter belongs to a 1960s C2 Chevrolet Corvette, but Jason Norris was the first to do so. Jason will receive a Save the [...]
Racing cars in a park in London? I think I might have been dreaming… Motorsport At The Palace relives the glory days of auto racing at the Crystal Palace circuit in South London: its focal point is a competition time trial, backed up with a convention of car clubs. The event is now in its [...]
Last night, about halfway through the 24-straight-hours North Dallas Hooptie, the El Camino-ized Pulp Friction BMW 325i was leading the race and the —ing With Bad Ideas Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle held a strong advantage over its Class C competition. When the checkered flag waved this afternoon, those two teams had held their positions. Normally, [...]
The Chinese has definitely developed a very interesting car culture and there's no harm the international Speedhunters audience giving them a little nudge toward the right direction. Click on the thumbnails below to download the high desktops and don't be afraid to leave a comment!
The teams are preparing for 24 straight hours of racing at hot-n-muggy Eagles Canyon Raceway, and the justices of the 24 Hours of LeMons Supreme Court are brandishing their Cheatonium-239 detectors as part of the pre-race BS Inspection. I’m taking a break from LeMons Supreme Court duties this weekend, so we’ve got LeMons Perpetrator Nick [...]
As promised, I've gone ahead and uploaded some high resolution desktops from last Saturday's Eagle Field Drags for you and your computer's enjoyment.
Among the images available are the scene above of a sweet Willys Gasser coming out of the hole...
This is the absolutely gorgeous Renault Alpine A 110-50! The car has been created to mark the Alpine Berlinette turning 50 this year. This new concept features carbon fibre bodywork in a blue that is a re-interpretation and refresh of the classic original ‘Alpine Blue’. The engine is mid-rear; a 3.5 litre 24-valve V6 churns [...]
In February, Nissan created Project 370Z. The idea was that Nissan would ask its fans on its Facebook page how they’d want their hypothetical new 370Z tuned, open it up to a vote, and bolt on the most-demanded mods. The final product debuted last week at ZDayZ in North Carolina To boost power, fans voted [...]
BMW design has been on a rollercoaster ride over the past decade or so, with the company churning out a few cars that could generously be called “polarizing”—although same have aged fairly well—as well as others that are truly elegant. Even BMW’s most attractive contemporary offerings, however, pale in comparison to this BMW Zagato Coupé. [...]
This upcoming weekend is considered by many to be the greatest weekend for race fans all year.
There are three massive events held over the weekend and we wanted to ask the Speedhunters audience which of these races they'll be tuning in to watch.
If BMW’s philosophy for the 3-series is “the best sports sedan we can make,” the strategy for the 7-series may well be “just cram in everything we have.” But it’s been a long four years since the current 7 was introduced, and in the meantime BMW has acquired, invested in, developed, built, or invented so [...]
A visit to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona is an absolute must for fans of both drag racing and automotive history in general. Packed into the museum is a fantastic collection of historic drag cars that represent every era of the sport, but it's not just the full size cars that need to be seen.
The museum also includes an amazing display drag racing history through a collection of lovingly built scale models.
As many an Elvis impersonator can attest, an entire career can be cobbled out of a likeness to someone famous. In the car world, affordable models often copy the look of more expensive machines to enhance their appeal. Some might call that cheesy; others call it democratization of design. (more…)
BMW’s M division turns 40 this month, and to mark the occasion we’ve collected reviews and tests of the most iconic M machines from our archives. First, though, a brief history of BMW’s in-house tuning arm. The brand first assembled under the BMW Motorsport name in 1972, and for much of the 1970s its activities [...]
An entertaining subtext in the ongoing saga of the automobile is the phenomenon of a box with wheels that can dust at least two-thirds of the traffic mix at any given stoplight. In the case of the EcoBoosted Ford Flex, two-thirds may be conservative. Make it 80 percent. Maybe even higher, given the ambush factor: [...]
What It Is: An aggressive body kit, 18-inch wheels, and quad tailpipes caught our attention when photos of a track-testing Audi A3 came through from our spy photographer. This is almost definitely the upcoming hot Audi S3 model. (more…)
Nissan has announced that it will put the electric e-NV200 van—the all-electric version of the NV200—into production for global markets in 2013. Unknown at this point is whether the U.S. is one of the van’s destinations. We are getting the regular gas-powered NV200 commercial vehicle early next year, as well as a taxi version for [...]
What It Is: The third generation of BMW’s Mini, which will come to market in a variety of body styles. We expect the base hatchback, a convertible, and a station wagon like the Clubman, as well as roadster and coupe versions. This platform also will serve as the base for the next-gen Countryman. (more…)
What It Is: Volkswagen’s GTI—the quintessential hot hatch. It’s a sporty variation of the Golf, and soon will enter its seventh generation. Shown here is the five-door; there will be a three-door version as well, and possibly a cabriolet several years down the road. As always, the next GTI will be clearly distinguished from lesser [...]
With a name as awesome as Barbarian Black, we’d expect this Europe-only special-edition Mitsubishi L200 to be a little more Ford Raptor-like. Unfortunately, the coolest part of this special edition is its name. Read full story »
Voltaire once wrote, “The superfluous, a very necessary thing.” What, then, should we make of a warranty-equipped Ford Mustang with 662 hp and a claimed 200-mph top speed? Is there a deeper philosophical argument to be made about the necessity of a live-axle production car with more power than an overclocked supercollider? Does the vehicle [...]
The 3-series is the heart and the backbone of the BMW brand, and the Munich-based manufacturer obviously thinks it should be expanded beyond the current sedan, coupe, convertible, and wagon. In fact, BMW is likely to divide the lineup into the 3-series (sedans) and the 4-series (coupes and convertibles), although we won’t truly believe it [...]
While Jonathan Moore is still recovering and bringing you guys the action from an exhausting weekend at the Nurburgring, I will be once again handling the Week in Pictures.
There's lots of cool stuff to see, so let's jump right into to our look at some of the past week's happenings in the automotive world.
Like this, but roofless. And with old-looking stuff. We reported back in April that the new-generation Beetle droptop will launch this fall at the Los Angeles auto show, and we’ve now learned that VW plans to launch the car with at least three special-edition models. Read full story »
At first blush, the Porsche 944 (and its Audi/VW-engined pseudo-predecessor, the 924) looks like an ideal candidate for 24 Hours of LeMons racing. You can find cosmetically challenged examples for scrap-metal prices in all regions of the country, you get respectable horsepower coupled with near-50/50 weight balance, and plenty of LeMons drivers have extensive 924/944 [...]
There was a whole lot more going on at the Nürburgring than the fastest 30-odd GT3-spec cars battling at the front for 24 hours. In the build-up to the race there was a whole slew of events to keep the fans entertained – and that’s just as well, as at the Nürburgring 24 Hours there [...]
Whether or not you have heard of Audi’s Truth in 24 documentaries—there are two—we bring you good news: the latest installment (II) has joined the original (I) on iTunes, where both are available to download for free. For those who haven’t experienced the documentaries, allow us to fill you in. The feature-length films chronicle Audi’s [...]
Headlining today’s Out of Left Field News is an announcement from Mazda and Fiat that the two companies will collaborate on the development and manufacture of a small rear-drive roadster. Yes, that rear-drive roadster: The plan has Mazda’s next-gen Miata serving as the basis for a future Alfa Romeo roadster due in 2015. (The next [...]
And then there were three: Toyota Racing Development debuted its 2013 Toyota Camry that will be competing in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup series, beginning with the Daytona 500 season opener next February. Read full story »
The 2012 BMW M6 convertible is a puzzling machine. Two conundrums, for example, present themselves immediately upon use of the primary controls. The first is trivial: the presence of a narrow, three-pedal-style brake-pedal pad in a car with no clutch pedal. The second is of infinitely more import to an enthusiast, being that this is [...]
I've been trying to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes the Eagle Field Drags so great, and I think I may have figured it out.
Whether you are talking about a street legal car or a Top Fueler at the NHRA Winternationals, drag racing is a numbers game. It's about reaction times, 60 foot times, trap speeds, and of course the all-important ET.
At Eagle Field it's different.
What It Is: A covered-up 2014 Ford Fiesta ST five-door prototype; we saw the car in near-production-spec “concept” form at last year’s Frankfurt and Los Angeles auto shows, and the three-door version already has been fully revealed for Europe. (As is the case with the three-door Fiesta, the three-door ST will stay in Europe. (more…)
Those of you that have followed our annual Nürburgring 24 Hours coverage will know that it’s not just about the 24Hr Rennen itself. In fact, there are several other classes that share event time with the toughest endurance race on earth. For most, the classic race is the pick of the bunch. The paddock alone [...]
I'm right in the middle of my coverage from the Eagle Field Drags at the moment, but I want to take a break to do a quick spotlight on one of the day's stand-out cars.
Based on the classic Ford five-window Coupe, to me this is the perfect Hot Rod.
Provided with a Mini Cooper S Roadster as a blank canvas, Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian Vogue, created a rolling work of art to mark the 20th anniversary of the Life Ball charity event and auction held annually in Vienna. After coating the Roadster’s exterior in a custom matte finish named “Deepest Purple,” Sozzani [...]
On Monday we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. Many of you guessed that this shifter belongs to a Lotus or a Porsche, but commenter Kyle Batta was the first to correctly identify it as coming from a TVR 3000S. Congratulations [...]
The stable of BMW M cars serving as MotoGP’s official vehicles will grow by one more come the middle of this season. The new M6 will join a fleet consisting of the M5, the 1-series M, the X6 M, the M3, the X5 M, the ActiveHybrid X6, and the 535i Touring. Read full story »
This chunky looking small SUV is the Chevrolet Trax. As everyone is getting in on this increasingly growing market segment, Chevrolet is set to join the party at the Paris Motor Show in September and will go on general sale some time in 2013. “Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment [...]