This is a blog, dedicated to anything to do with the automobile. I'll bring you things like my favorites in a list by importance, different cars, different days. my take on certain cars and their affect on history. I hope to expand my content as ideas come to me.
Between Takata’s airbag recall and the massive Volkswagen’s diesel scandal, it may seem like cars owners are getting “recall fatigue.” And why not? In the last two years, the recalls have occurred on an unprecedented size and scale, and it appears that it is only getting worse. A recall would have to be really unique in order to stand out.
Rolls-Royce has issued a recall that will get your attention, and not for how many cars it is recalling, but for how few. The BMW-owned British automaker is recalling a one car. We don’t mean one model line, or one model year. We mean one single car.
According to the UK’s Telegraph, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for a single 2015 Rolls-Royce Ghost made on January 23, 2014. The uber-luxury car is being recalled for an issue with its airbags.
Per the NHTSA release: “The affected vehicle has thorax air bags fitted to both front seats that may fail to meet the side impact performance requirements for the front seat occupants. As such, this vehicle may fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, ‘Side Impact Protection’.”
A Rolls-Royce dealer will bring in the Ghost for and replace both the driver’s side and passenger side thorax airbags, with no charge to the consumer. According to the Financial Times, that particular car had left the factory in January of 2014, but the owner has not yet taken delivery.
With a starting price of £231,730 ($483,000) and a renowned service system, we’re sure the dealer will make that fix before the presumably well-heeled owner gets behind the wheel for the first time.
If you were wrangling together a list of America’s greatest performance cars…you’d be hard pressed not to include the Pontiac Trans Am. It was nothing short of an icon.
First appearing in 1969, the Trans Am helped cement the Firebird as more than just Pontiac’s version of the Camaro, and cars like the brutal Trans Am SD-455 kept the muscle car spirit alive well after most of its contemporaries had been declawed. It was a bedroom pin-up, and thanks to Smokey and the Bandit—a silver screen star too.
But who says you can’t improve on perfection? One Nebraska hot rod shop gave it a shot, and the pro-touring results are pretty spectacular to say the least. What say you, Internets? Is this ’73 Pontiac Trans Am the best of the breed?
One thing is for sure, it’s not light on power. Whereas the Firebird’s shaker hood scoop reads “455”…there’s actually a massive 535ci V8 under the bonnet, which comes courtesy of Butler Performance and rattles off a defiant 700 horsepower. Gadzooks. The goliath 8.7-liter engine breathes through a set of tri-Y headers and a custom dual exhaust, and power travels rearward via a five-speed manual. Ply those gears carefully.
The pro-touring stance has become de rigueur with today’s hot rod tastes, and this Pontiac Trans Am certainly packs the kit to match. The Firebird rides low on a new Detroit Speed four-link rear suspension and fits new spindles and control arms to manage the front rubber. Adios leaf springs! Two-piece 18-inch alloys shoe the car at all four corners and also hide burly Wilwood disc brakes.
Inside, things are about as cool, calm, and collected as the Trans Am’s dark exterior. A black leather interior reveals the business end of that five-speed manual, as well as Cerullo bucket seats and vintage instruments…minus the modern Kicker sound system. All told, it’s a menacing ride, but you won’t make off like a bandit if you fancy this Firebird.
The pro-touring ’73 Pontiac Trans Am recently took to eBay and brought with it a big price tag of $139,000.
We live in a world where cars like the Local Motors Rally Fighter exist—and that’s a good thing. What’s essentially a Baja racer for the road, the Rally Fighter ticks all the right boxes for the off-road enthusiast in your family. But dare said enthusiast want something a bit more…exotic (?). One middle-eastern company hopes to supply the solution.
They call themselves Zarooq Motors, and the unknown startup was founded by prominent UAE motorsports figure Mohammed Al Qadi and former French racer Bruno Laffite, according to Motoringme.com. The chassis and engineering, on the other hand, comes from Campos Racing, a reputable name with over 30 years of experience in the industry.
With all that experience, it’s surprising then that the resemblance to the Rally Fighter is so uncanny (almost too uncanny). Nonetheless, the vehicle promises to deliver unparalleled off-road performance with a lightweight frame and racing roots.
Under the hood you’ll find a 3.5-liter V6 and just 304 horsepower. It may not sound like much, but the 2,204-pound body is significantly light for something in the same class—and even more important, sits in the middle of the car rather than the front. For comparisons’ sake, the front-engined Rally Fighter produces 430 horsepower, but weighs in at a heftier 3,800 pounds.
While the Sand Racer is just a concept at the moment, Zarooq plans to begin deliveries starting in 2016, and has even purchased a 100-acres of land near Dubai with intentions to build a track facility and include a driver training school. It sounds promising, let’s hope the venture proves fruitful.
Flying cars? Self driving cars? What does the future hold for the automotive world? It all depends on who you ask, but according to Audi, our future selves may be driving cars that look a heck of a lot like the mouse sitting next to your computer.
These concepts are student designs created as a part of an Audi project titled “Design Universe.” It encouraged students at four European universities to try and imagine how the Audi of tomorrow might look. The designs are very futuristic and look like something from a movie, not the real world, but that doesn’t mean designs like these won’t one day be parked in your garage.
They’re each unique, with the one commonality being the Audi logo, which in at least one concept can change color. The exterior lines of these cars are all smooth and clean with very little embellishment, but the plans for the interiors are much more high-tech. According to TopGear, students presented cars with retina scanners for configuring settings and even reconfigurable seats.
The retina scanner is cool, but are we the only ones who think about all those movies where they have to cut out some poor guy’s eye to scan and gain access to a high security government facility? Yeah, we’ll pass on that particular feature. We don’t need some punk taking our eyeballs to steal our car.
Out of twelve months of the year, much of the country is only hospitable for about three months. The rest of the nine months, these places become a frozen hellscape that will turn your eyeballs into popsicles. And for far too many out there, winter driving isn’t second nature. To help those out there that put off winter driving like the plague, we’ve come up with some top tips relating to that snowy, slushy substance that will haunt you for the next few months, because you definitely don’t want to be learning how to drive in snow when you got 15-inches of snow last night and have to get to work in twenty minutes.
Knowing Your Car
A big part of being prepared for winter driving is knowing what you have. And I don’t just mean knowing what kind of car you have. It’s the little things. Is your car AWD, FWD, or RWD? What type of engine do you have? What tires do you have? It’s these that need to be known first before you ever drive in snow because these dictate how you’ll handle certain situations.
Take for example what wheels the motor is driving. Having the motor drive the rear wheels of the car in the snow can be tricky. It can be done, but without the proper tires, or proper throttle application, it can become a handful to manage.
One of the biggest improvements for winter driving can be made by changing your tires. All-Seasons are great for rain, a bit of dirt, everyday driving and a light dusting of snow. Although, if you live in a place where multiple inches can accumulate over a short period, winter tires are necessary. Snow tires have an increased number of grooves and ridges that help provide extra traction. However, without a steady right foot, you aren’t going anywhere.
Smooth Throttle Progression
Whether you race competitively, or just want to get from A to B, smooth throttle is key for maintaining traction. When a tire comes into contact with snow or ice, it essentially has a barrier between it and the pavement. Without that contact, the tire can’t get the same amount of traction it would normally and thus make it more likely to spin.
Giving yourself more time to accelerate allows the tires to work harder to maintain traction. Same goes when you are already at speed. Hitting the throttle tends to upset the cars traction and with that your forward momentum. Keeping your foot firm and smooth is tantamount.
Left Foot Braking
We understand this concept might strike fear in many. Why would you learn to left foot brake, when your right works perfectly since you learned to drive? Because braking with your left foot is faster than braking with your right.
When accidents are broken down, they’re broken down into nanoseconds. Not minutes, not hours, not even seconds, but fractions of a second. And with each passing fraction of a second, the likelihood of you getting into an accident increases. You may think that you can get your right foot over to the brake faster than most people, but it just can’t. Keeping your left foot ready and waiting gives you a faster reaction time, and are less likely to crash.
What you do have to remember is that you need to be just as smooth and progressive as you are with the accelerator. If not, you’re likely to lock up and cause the accident you intended to avoid. But how do you correct when everything goes wrong?
What to do in a Slide
You’ve hit the brakes too hard, smashed the gas, or hit a patch of ice and tried to over correct. What do you do? People assume that braking will solve everything, or grabbing the emergency brake will stop the world. Both make everything worse. When you’re in a slide, your wheels have lost traction, therefor you need to somehow get them to where traction will increase.
The way to correct safely is to lift off both the brake and the gas, steer into the turn, and wait until traction is recovered. This may sound like a hope and a prayer, but it works as we’ve used the method repeatedly. Recently, we took a turn entirely too quickly and the car started to understeer badly towards a small ravine. We slammed on the brakes doing the very opposite of what is detailed above, and locked up the tires.
A few feet before the ravines edge, we let go of the brake and steered into the slide thereby giving me more traction. It was only after that was we were able to steer the car from the ravine and save our butts. Sharp inputs never solve anything, they make matters worse, and speaking of making matters worse.
YOU’RE NOT INVINCIBLE
One of the biggest issues comes from people with big SUV’s or AWD cars and think they’re invincible. They believe that it makes them tough as diamonds. In fact though, 90% of the accidents we’ve witnessed during winter involved these cars. People believe that AWD is the end all, be all for snow. It’s not. It helps provide traction off the line, and that’s it. It doesn’t provide better braking or help correct a slide. All it does is allow you to accelerate faster.
Know that, understand that, accept that, and learn from the things above and you’ll be a better driver in the snow. Will you still go off the road, possibly, but if you learn the aspects of your car, and truly understand the physics that happen to a car traveling in snow, then you’ll be less likely to be calling for a tow truck and freezing your butt off come this winter.
Last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, MotorTrend announced the Chevrolet Camaro as the winner of its 2016 “Golden Calipers” awards. This isn’t just any old auto award: MotorTrend has been evolving the competition for over 60 years (this list of winners going back to 1949 provides an illustrative example), and it’s still adding on to the process.
This year featured the addition of a new category, “Person of the Year,” to bring the judging process beyond what shows up on dealer’s lots.
The new Camaro doesn’t look like a radical change, but beneath its familiar sheetmetal, it’s a whole new beast (you can read our full review of the car here). A new platform, revised engines (and the addition of a potent turbocharged four-cylinder), and a weightloss plan later, the Camaro was able to shirk some serious competition for MotorTrend’s sought-after high honors.
Read on to see what the Camaro was able to beat out.
1. 2016 Audi TT
In selecting the Audi TT, MotorTrend cited its technology and luxury features (though not specifically). So what’s so great about the 2016 TT? For one thing, there’s a cutting edge “virtual dashboard” packed with all kinds of visual navigation, voice-operated features, and more, all in a display mounted behind the steering wheel (this TechCrunch article provides more details.) The high-design car also features a potent 220 horsepower TSI turbo-four, capable of boosting the coupe to 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds.
2. BMW 7 Series
SOURCE : BMW
With the BMW 7 Series, MotorTrend cited its “sophisticated design” and “impressive . luxury appointments.” One such feature getting a lot of attention is the car’s new remote key fob that actually lets drivers pull the car in and out of parking spaces, while standing on the curb.
But there’s a lot more packed into this luxury badge vehicle, too — gesture control, palace-like rear seats, built-in tablet controlled appointments, and art-deco-inspired cabin lighting, to name a few.
3. Honda Civic
Source: Honda
The 10th generation Honda Civic features a lot of the style and value that people have always loved about this popular car — with the combination of fresh curves and high-quality Honda design, MotorTrend calls the Honda Civic “one of the most popular economy cars in America,”
and panelists made the choice based on economy and value. In general, the 2016 Honda Civic has been winning a lot of attention as a fresh way to enjoy a traditional value pick.
4. Mazda MX-5 Miata
Source: Mazda
The Mazda Miata has always been a flagship part of the automaker’s product line, and this particular model gets a critical style refresh that customers have been eagerly anticipating for a long time.
The Miata is also among the top choices for sporty two-seater cars that look good with the top down. It’s overall one of the best new-car buys (used, too, come to think of it) as it offers unparalleled fun for the dollar.
5. Mercedes AMG GT S
Source: Mercedes-Benz
Not to be outdone, Mercedes-Benz offers the AMG GT S as a successor to the SLS with features like AMG dynamic select, dynamic suspension, collision prevention assist, rearview camera, blind spot assist, and much more.
But what has astounded drivers lucky enough to get behind the wheel of this new model is mostly related to handling, power, and the “sturdiness” of a high-speed drive. Reviewers note a bunch of design features: For instance, getting rid of the oil pan to lower the engine and building a new carbon fiber driveshaft for a lighter unit, which allows for impressive handling above 100 miles per hour.
6. Toyota Mirai
Source: Toyota
Last but not least, the Toyota Mirai made the list based on its groundbreaking engineering. Taking in a mix of biogases and refined natural gas, the Mirai is, in the words of MotorTrend, “the first mass-production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle available for purchase.”
The word Mirai means “future” in Japanese, and Toyota has kicked off a major marketing campaign around the inspiring innovation of this car that, in a sense, can “run on trash.” Alas, despite the decades of work put into it, it was spanked by some old-fashioned American Muscle.
New/Notable: . Eight-speed automatic transmission now offered with 6.2-L V-8
Completely redesigned last year
Winner of 2014 North American Truck of the Year award
More pickup trucks are sold in the United States than any other vehicle segment and GM is vying for a large piece of that pie with the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
The Silverado 1500 got a complete redesign last year which overhauled the full-size pickup and helped it garner a 2014 North American Truck of the Year award. But the Silverado 1500 doesn’t rest on its laurels for the new model year, adding a new eight-speed automatic transmission on 6.2-liter V-8 models, as well as new technology, including available Wi-Fi hotspot capability via a 4G LTE connection and OnStar.
The redesign changed the Silverado’s exterior styling completely, giving it a rugged, squared off look with a large rectangular front grille, flanked by squared off two-stack headlight clusters. The wheel arches continue this aesthetic and give the Silverado a unique look in profile. Three cab styles are offered (regular, double, and crew), with both short and long beds available as well. The rear bumper features convenient side cutouts which function as a step, providing easier access to the truck bed. A spray-in bedliner and LED bed lighting are optional.
Peeking under the hood, the Silverado 1500 has three engine options which were either all-new or reworked in the redesign. The base engine is a 285-hp, 4.3-liter V-6 that makes 305 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, as is the optional 355-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 that makes 383 pounds-feet of torque. As previously mentioned, the 420-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 (which makes 460 pounds-feet of torque) gets a new transmission for 2015, an eight-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive is also available on all cab size and engine combinations.
Interior refinement took a big leap in the redesign, with upgrade materials and better fit and finish all around. The center console now has larger controls as well so they can be easily operated by gloved hands and the Silverado 1500 also features plenty of available technology which modernizes the cabin. Standard features include a USB port, power windows/locks, air conditioning, and cruise control. Also available are Bluetooth connectivity, Chevrolet’s MyLink multimedia system, a navigation system, noise cancellation, and HD radio.
The 2015 Silverado 1500’s cab is made of more high-strength steel which improves crash protection. Six airbags, antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, and a tire pressure monitoring system come standard. GM’s OnStar safety suite is optional, as are a forward collision warning system and rearview camera.
Secret 1: Consumer Incentives
Zero percent financing, employee discount, cash back, out-the-door price tags... Most dealers work hard to offer the public competitive prices. These incentives can grab your attention, but they can also obscure the actual terms you're getting on your purchase. How can you fully understand incentives to get the lowest possible price on your car?
Secret 2: Finance & Insurance
Most state franchise laws prohibit manufacturers from selling cars directly to the public, so the dealer will be your middleman. But in terms of financing and insurance, you can choose a bank or the dealer directly. How can you determine what's in your best interest?
Secret 3: Additional Costs
Destination charges, taxes, license and title fees, advertising fees... When going to a dealership, you must ask for an explanation of any fee you don't understand. But you need to choose your battles wisely. Your local car dealer may have taken a loss or slim profit along the way, and your fighting over something like a doc fee when the deal is nearly wrapped up may be counterproductive. In any case, there are many fees and charges in the sale process: some inevitable, others questionable. How do you tell them apart?
Secret 4: Trade-in Value
If you currently own a car, it probably represents profit. The question is, whose profit will it be? With few exceptions, you'll get the most money for your used car by selling it privately. That's because dealers pay wholesale prices — not retail prices — for used cars, and they sell them at retail. Your current car's value can be used to lower the price on your new car. However, most people underestimate their used car's value when going to a dealership. How can you maximize your value?
Secret 5: Dealer Holdback
The car manufacturer holds back a fraction of the price of all vehicles the dealership sells. Then, it returns the money to the dealership, usually on a quarterly basis. Dealer holdback began its life as a safety net that ensured the manufacturers would have a security deposit of sorts if a dealership missed payments, and the dealerships would have money on hand to cover overhead costs when the holdback was returned. How can you take advantage of dealer holdbacks to get the bottom line price?
Secret 6: Dealer Incentives
Unlike consumer incentives, dealer incentives are factory-to-dealer incentives that reduce the dealer's true cost to buy the vehicle from the factory to below invoice. Manufacturers offer these incentives on a regional basis to generate sales on specific models. These incentives are sometimes referred to as "spiffs," and they can touch off competition among dealers to move slower-selling stock. For instance, a dealer incentive may kick in when a certain sales target is reached, with each subsequent sale resulting in a higher factory-to-dealer rebate. How can you benefit from that? Get your free quote above and we'll tell you these secrets.
Just two months after BMW introduced the hardcore M4 GTS to the world, all 700 planned examples have been poached by new owners. Far more than just a body kit, the successor to BMW’s M3 GTS comes equipped with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that features water injection technology to develop just under 500 horsepower to the standard M4’s 425 and an increase in torque to 442 pound-feet. A seven-speed M DCT transmission channels the power exclusively to the rear wheels. This translates to a 0-to-60 mph run of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph.
Also part of the GTS package is a series of weight savings techniques, culminating in reduction of 136 pounds. The rear seats have been deleted, the center console and door panels are lighter, and straps replace the interior door handles. BMW’s M GmbH has also tweaked the chassis. On board is a three-way, manually adjustable coil-over suspension and new anti-roll bars and supporting mounts. Steering has been adjusted thanks to retuned power assist and M has tinkered with the active rear differential.
Related: BMW’s M4 GTS Debuts In Tokyo Other highlights include 265 front and 285 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires covered unique wheels, and housing carbon-ceramic brakes. The M4’s aluminum hood has been replaced with a carbon-fiber one and its adjustable rear wing, rear diffuser, and front splitter all use carbon fiber construction.
A titanium exhaust makes everything sound luscious, too. For some extra coin, the optional Clubsport Package adds a fire extinguisher, six-point harness, and an Acid Orange roll bar. Of the 700 total units, 300 will be coming to the U.S., each commanding £120,500 (about $180,000), though it may convert differently. Customers are able to choose from a small number of exterior paint colors, including Mineral Grey, Sapphire Black, Frozen Dark Grey, and Alpine White. By comparison, the BMW M3 GTS from 2010 only came in burnt orange.
Just two months after BMW introduced the hardcore M4 GTS to the world, all 700 planned examples have been poached by new owners.
Far more than just a body kit, the successor to BMW’s M3 GTS comes equipped with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that features water injection technology to develop just under 500 horsepower to the standard M4’s 425 and an increase in torque to 442 pound-feet. A seven-speed M DCT transmission channels the power exclusively to the rear wheels. This translates to a 0-to-60 mph run of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph.
Also part of the GTS package is a series of weight savings techniques, culminating in reduction of 136 pounds. The rear seats have been deleted, the center console and door panels are lighter, and straps replace the interior door handles. BMW’s M GmbH has also tweaked the chassis. On board is a three-way, manually adjustable coil-over suspension and new anti-roll bars and supporting mounts. Steering has been adjusted thanks to retuned power assist and M has tinkered with the active rear differential.
Other highlights include 265 front and 285 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires covered unique wheels, and housing carbon-ceramic brakes. The M4’s aluminum hood has been replaced with a carbon-fiber one and its adjustable rear wing, rear diffuser, and front splitter all use carbon fiber construction. A titanium exhaust makes everything sound luscious, too. For some extra coin, the optional Clubsport Package adds a fire extinguisher, six-point harness, and an Acid Orange roll bar.
Of the 700 total units, 300 will be coming to the U.S., each commanding £120,500 (about $180,000), though it may convert differently. Customers are able to choose from a small number of exterior paint colors, including Mineral Grey, Sapphire Black, Frozen Dark Grey, and Alpine White. By comparison, the BMW M3 GTS from 2010 only came in burnt orange.
Lots of fans would jump at the chance to own a celebrity’s personal car. Let’s be honest, cruising around in CJ Wilson’s McLaren P1 or David Beckham’s custom Range Rover sounds like a blast. That said, it takes a particularly staunch fan to yearn for a celebrity’s race car—a vehicle they can’t just flaunt out on public roads. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what we have here, and we’ll pose the question: which of these two racers tugs at your heartstrings (and your wallet) the most?
First off, the mechanical bits. While Busch’s NASCAR chassis boasts the “Taurus” name and headlights up front, there’s little to align this beast with its road-going Ford cousin. Underneath its “Sharpie” bonnet lies a carbureted 5.8-liter V8 engine, which in its day would have blasted out over 800 horsepower and unlocked speeds near and above 200 miles per hour. Yikes.
Inside, like most race cars, there isn’t much to write home about. If it isn’t necessary, it isn’t included. Then again Kurt Busch might have liked this spartan layout, according to the listing it earned him some pretty impressive results. Busch drove this Roush Racing Taurus (chassis #49) three times at the Daytona International Speedway in 2002, finishing 7th, 31st, and 4th, with the latter occurring at the Daytona 500.
He drove it again in April of that year, earning himself a stellar third place finish at Talladega for the Aarons 499. Its last outing came with an 11th place finish in 2003 at the Budweiser Shootout…once again, at Daytona.
Understandably, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is a different animal altogether. These cars are indeed derived from the street-worthy 911 GT3s, albeit with every potential gram of unnecessary weight shaved. But what Porsche doesn’t provide in luxury, it more than provides in performance. The GT3 Cup leverages Porsche’s wonderful 3.8-liter flat-six, which twists 444 horsepower to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.
It’s a potent setup for going racing, and according to the listing, this Dempsey Racing GT3 Cup car is the chassis that earned Patrick Dempsey a second place class finish at the 2013 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Cast your votes!
Cook up the turkey, whip up the mashed potatoes, and bust out the stuffing. Thanksgiving has once again arrived, bringing together families and friends all across the USA. Some come for the food, others for the football, but above it all—we’re here to share the company of our loved ones. And that’s just wonderful.
So we thought it only fitting to display our thanks for what we love most—aside from our families of course—the automobile. 2015 gave us plenty of four-wheeled wonders to be thankful for, but we’ve weeded out the list and these five special autos made the cut. Make sure to let us know which cars you’re thankful for in the comments below. Happy Thanksgiving!
2016 BMW M3
Jeff Perez: I’m thankful that the 2016 BMW M3 is still a BMW M3—fantastic in every way. After 30 years, cars come and go, but the BMW M3 has remained one of the best sports sedans around. A manual gearbox, a superb suspension, and driving dynamics that rival anything to ever come out of Bavaria.
Not to mention the new and improved 425-horsepower straight-six, which is a healthy improvement over the previous-gen V8. If our mouthes weren’t filled with turkey and stuffing, we’d be talking about the BMW M3 all day long.
2016 Ford Focus RS
Zach Doell: For what seems like eons, Ford has crafted potent, nimble hotter-than-hot RS models…and then proceeded not to sell them on U.S. shores. These have included loads of hot Escorts, a couple blistering Capris, a few Sierras, and of course the Fiestas and Focuses.
Finally, the drought is now over as the Blue Oval has given the go ahead for this red-white-and-blue bombshell—the new Focus RS. 350 horsepower is chucked to all four wheels, and there’s even a drift mode. “Thankful” is an epic understatement.
2017 Fiat 124 Spider / 2016 Mazda MX-5
George Kennedy: For everyone who has ever asked, “What happened to the classic Italian roadster?” the 2017 Fiat 124 is a blessing. It also answers the call from plenty of drivers who want a car like a Miata to have more power. The 1.4-liter turbo sourced from the Fiat 500 Abarth is putting out roughly the same horsepower as in the Miata, but the 186 lb-ft of torque in the 124 Spider is 26 more pound feet than the 140 from the Miata. And if it sounds anything like the Abarth, then you’ll hear it before you ever see it!
Finally, there are the looks. Much of what is on the market today for performance buyers smacks of “boy-racer.” If you want a fast, fun car with more gentlemanly looks, you’ll have to drop serious coin. But the Fiat 124 Spider is a throwback, and is easily the car we are most looking forward to driving in the next year.
Nicole Wakelin: The 2016 Mazda MX-5 isn’t the most powerful, mind-blowing, or unbelievable car on the planet, but it is a damn fun car! It also looks great, and you don’t have to be a Kardashian to afford one. What isn’t there to be thankful for?
Scarbo Performance SVF1
Jonathon Klein: I’m thankful for the absolutely absurd Scarbo Performance SVF1. Using old-school race designs with new school automotive engineering, Joe Scarbo has created the ultimate Ferrari F312 replica that you can take to the track and show up everyone with a Lotus Elise or BAC Mono. The SVF1 uses an LS7 V8 engine and a chassis that weighs only 1,200 pounds to offer drivers a full-on early Formula 1 experience without having to pay for early Formula 1 cars, and also maintain them.
Additionally, to deliver a correct acoustic experience, the SVF1 has a custom eight-into-one exhaust that will terrify onlookers. The SVF1 also has a proper manual transmission to prove to any at your local track day that you are truly a baller of epic proportions. I want one, more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.
Before he founded the company that would bear his name and created the car that would become an iconic part of cinema, John DeLorean was a madman in a lab at Pontiac. He was responsible for the Pontiac GTO, and wanted to continue furthering the brand’s performance stature. He had his sights set on an incredible car called the Banshee. Too bad General Motors can be a hot mess at times.
GM has this very backwards, often schizophrenic approach to the the Chevrolet Corvette. No car among any of its brands can have performance greater than that of the vaunted Corvette. It is an approach that has killed many cars through the years. And the Banshee is one of them.
In March of 1964, the Ford Mustang entered the market, and as it became a sales success other automakers scrambled to build a competitor. DeLorean and his team at Pontiac set about creating the XP-883 concept. It was a small two-seater with a long, flowing hood and short rear deck. Among the group of concepts crafted, two drivable prototypes emerged. One had a straight six while the other featured a V8. The six-cylinder model weighed only 2,200 pounds. It sounded like an ideal sports car.
Around the same time, the third-generation Corvette was under development (the Corvette Mako Shark concept came out in 1961), and if DeLorean had his way, the XP-883, which they called Banshee, would have outperformed the Corvette. It would have has just as much power with the V8, but weighed less. This did not sit well with GM brass, which instructed DeLorean to cease all work on the car.
DeLorean was forced to change gears and work on a Pontiac-branded sibling to the Chevrolet Camaro. He was not allowed to change many of the components, mostly just the front and rear fascias. He was allowed to use their own unique suspension design. That car became the Pontiac Firebird, which became an icon all its own.
As for the Banshee? On Sept 10, 1965, GM head of design Bill Mitchell received a memo instructing his team to take the Banshee clays and update them “reflecting a Chevrolet design for the two-passenger version coupe.” The XP-883 could become the third-generation Corvette.
There would be other Banshee concepts through the years, and each featured design elements that would make their way to various Firebirds, Camaros and Trans-Ams. In another case of GM Corvette-paranoia the 1968 Banshee II was later renamed the Fiero.
The eventual Pontiac Fiero of the 1980s was originally planned with a V6, which would have given it performance rivaling the contemporary ‘Vette. Instead, the Fiero debuted with a 2.5-liter I4 making a paltry 92 hp. It would eventually get a V6, but the damage had been done to the car’s image.
Like the Fiero, the Banshee is a prime example of General Motors’ inability to let other models thrive and coexist with the Corvette. The fear was that they would cannibalize sales, but who knows what new buyers GM could have attracted with these various offerings through the years.
For many Americans, the open road is home. My family went on countless road trips across the U.S. throughout my life and they are some of the most special memories I have. One memory that I could have done without is the cramped space that both my brother and I (both of us over 6’4”) were subjected to.
What we needed was the Roadtrek RS Adventurous. Based off a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, Roadtrek keeps the German quality, but adds a touch of American exceptionalism to the overall product. The coach was built to take its occupants across the U.S. in complete comfort, seeing the sights and camping out under the stars.
For the Roadtrek RS Adventurous, it’s all about luxury and the interior is meant to make you feel like you’re in your own home, but on wheels as you explore the country. The RS Adventurous comes fully equipped with a 3.6 cubic foot refrigerator, two-burner propane stove, granite countertops and a convection microwave. Most importantly though, is the full bathroom with a sit or stand shower.
Additionally, the Roadtrek coach features a rear power sofa that with a push of the button turns into a king-sized bed, or if you’re with someone you don’t want to share a comforter with, it can become two twin beds. The RS Adventurous also has all the electronic equipment and hookups you could ask for, including a massive flat-screen TV.
With Roadtrek’s RS Adventurous, the company offers an industry leading six-year “Peace of Mind” warranty in addition to the Mercedes-Benz three-year/36,000-mile warranty. This allows owners to continue to explore the country and not worry about a thing while on the edge of the Grand Canyon or in the Redwood Forests of California.
The Roadtrek RS Adventurous starts at $127,192, but can be optioned to over $200,000. All of which is completely worth it just based on leg room, and that’s speaking from vast experience.
Holiday shopping for friends and family can be tough, if not downright exhausting. Will they like your gift? Is it something they already have? The search can go on, and on, and on. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
If you happen to have a few car enthusiasts on your shopping list this year, the following are eight great gift ideas guaranteed to please the four-wheeled fans in your life.
Cyntur JumperPack Mini
If you’ve ever been left stranded on the side of the road…you’ll know how crucial one of these car battery charger packs can be. Built by Cyntur, the JumperPack Mini boasts 250 amps of cranking power for your flat car battery, an emergency light, and also features charger ports for smartphones and tablets. Never be stranded without Netflix again.
LEGO Ferrari F40 set
Whether you’re a young kid or a grown-up “kid”—LEGO sets always make great gift ideas, and it doesn’t get much better than one of the greatest Ferrari road cars of all time, the Ferrari F40. It’s a stunning set, which LEGO suggests for builders age 14 and up. If you’re looking for some more gift ideas, check out LEGO’s great Speed Champions line as well, with Formula 1 cars, the McLaren-Porsche-Ferrari hypercar trio, Porsche 911 sports cars, and enough racing hardware to recreate your own Le Mans circuit.
3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter
Ever wanted to film your car with all the cinematic flair of a big budget production? Now you can, at least as far as aerial shots are concerned. The 3DRobotics Solo drone features a great “Follow Me” ability, which means the drone can keep you in its GoPro sights as you lap a track, do donuts, or crawl through your favorite off-road spot. Now you’re a one-person film crew!
Garmin nuvi 2589LMT
Car infotainment technology has come a long way in recent years. If your car lacks these features, notably GPS, the Garmin nuvi makes big strides in bridging that gap. The nuvi 2589LMT features free lifetime map updates, as well as voice-activated directions, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and integration with Foursquare. Up-market models even add a dash cam, but understandably that costs extra. The nuvi 2589LMT normally retails for around $230. Now it’s on sale at 18 percent off!
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman DVD
To many, Paul Newman is best known as one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men—starring in unforgettable classics like Butch Cassidy and Cool Hand Luke. But those close to Newman knew a different side—Paul Newman the racer. Behind the wheel of a race car he was blisteringly quick. Winning takes a look at that lesser known side of Newman, and it’s really an incredible ride.
Plugless Electric Vehicle Car Charger
Got an electric vehicle you always forget to plug in? No problem. With the Plugless system installed on you car and your garage floor, simply drive over the charger pad and you’ll never have to plug in at home again. So far the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, and Cadillac ELR are supported, with more EV options on the way.
Cool Shirt System
Ambient temperatures may be tumbling outside, but for the amateur racer in your life…it’s still hot as heck in that race car! To chill them off, why not buy them a Cool Shirt water cooler, which circulates cooling water through specialized racing gear—helping racers at all levels stay ice cold and committed on track.
Flux Capacitor USB Car Charger
Okay, so nobody really “needs” a Flux Capacitor USB car charger, but if you’re adding some USB plugs to your ride, why not do it in style? The Back to the Future gadget adds two charging ports…no word on whether it allows time travel at 88 miles per hour, but we’ll trust that it does. A perfect gift idea for the Marty McFly or Doc Brown in your life.
