Test Driven: 2013 Jaguar XJL Supersport
Posted: January 4, 2013 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2013, 5.0L, Flagship, high performance, Jaguar, Luxury, Mind over motor, Purple velvet, review, Supercharged, Supersport, Test Drive, V8, XJL 1 Comment »
The term “luxury” is very profound in the automotive world, one single phrase that evokes so much about a car’s nature. It is something that goes far beyond the face value of leather seats, and some fine wood veneer. Luxury implies a balance of heritage and modern sophistication, being up with the times, but staying true to one’s self. There is also a sense of great power, but with the wisdom to use it tastefully, and intelligently. Class is everything for luxury cars, but identity is most important when choosing between them. After all, if you are going to spend six figures on a mode of transportation, you don’t want it to be something “typical”. And with that I give you the Jaguar XJL Supersport, one such luxury car that I had the pleasure of sampling this past fall.
Hopewell Cruise Night: Modified Porsche 928 GTS
Posted: January 2, 2013 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES | Tags: 5.4L, 928 GTS, Cruise Night, Hopewell, Mind over motor, Modified, NJ, Porsche, Strosek, V8 Leave a comment »
I have seen this awesome looking Porsche 928 around the area numerous times, but I finally got some quality photo time with it a few months ago during the cruise night in Hopewell, NJ. I am not sure exactly what has been done to the car mods wise, but it sure sounds good. It looks like it may be a Strosek bodykit, but I’m not certain. A 928 GTS is pretty darn quick to begin with, so I’m sure this car moves quite well. Enjoy.
Spotted! 1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1, Woodward Ave, MI
Posted: December 24, 2012 Filed under: Classics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 1958, 283ci, C1, Chevrolet, Classic, Corvette, Detroit, Michigan, Mind over motor, V8, Woodward Ave Leave a comment »
I saw this beautiful C1 Corvette during my last night on Woodward Ave this past summer. I saw many of the great American cars this summer, but it was nice to leave off with true legend. The Corvette is still one of the fastest, most accomplished cars money can buy, and this was the first generation. By 1958 V8s were the norm in Corvettes, and the car was well on its way to becoming a legend. This read and white example is like the apple pie of Corvette heritage. Enjoy.
Spotted! 1963 Plymouth Fury 426 Wedge, Woodward Ave, MI
Posted: December 19, 2012 Filed under: Muscle, SPOTTED! | Tags: 1963, 426, Detroit, Fury, Golden Commando, Max Wedge, Michigan, Mind over motor, Muscle Car, Plymouth, spotted, V8, Woodward Avenue Leave a comment »
Haven’t had a solid muscle car in a while, so this Plymouth Fury should get things back on track. I was blown away by this thing when I saw it during my summer in Detroit. First off I am a huge fan of black and red color schemes, so even just looks alone caught my interest. But then the hood was popped, and inside sat a 426ci Max Wedge V8; the epitome of the 1963 models. This Fury embodies what the muscle car is all about, rather unassuming looks with a whole lot of punch under the hood. Enjoy.
Angelina’s 2012: The Ferraris
Posted: December 11, 2012 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES | Tags: 360, 458, Angelina's, F430, Ferrari, Italia, Italian Car Show, Modena, NY, Spider, Staten Island, V8 2 Comments »
Ferraris always have a special place at an Italian car show. In many ways they are the corner stone of such events. Sure, seeing more obscure cars is always great, but the presence of numerous Ferraris, however generic they may be, serves as a sort of foundation on which the day can be judged. Going to car shows as much as I do, you kind of get used to seeing 360s, F430s, 458s, etc, but they are always brilliant in their own right. That is what this gallery is about, the majesty of the Prancing Horse. Enjoy.
Jaguars, and how to play Jingle Bells with your car
Posted: December 8, 2012 Filed under: MoM Vlog | Tags: exhaust, F-Type, Jaguar, Jingle Bells, Mind over motor, Supercharged, tuner, V8, video, XFR-S 1 Comment »Test Driven: 6.0 swapped 2000 Chevrolet Silverado
Posted: December 6, 2012 Filed under: Off-Road Able, Photography by Dan Valanzola, Road Review, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2000, 6.0, Black Bear Performance, cammed, Chevrolet, drag racing, Mind over motor, Nick Walker, Photography by Dan Valanzola, review, Silverado, swapped, Test Driven, V8 1 Comment »
The Silverado (by Dan V)
I have been around cars for a long time now, and it has gotten to the point where I generally know what to expect when I get behind the wheel of something new. Many cars have some surprising features, but usually these surprises are more of a nice touch, a cherry on top of the ice cream sundae; if you will. Every so often though, I find something that completely throws my expectations out the window. The Chevy Siverado you see above belongs to my photographer friend, Dan Valanzola, who has spent countless hours turning it into something entirely unexpected. Read the rest of this entry »
2014 Audi RS6 released, now for some speculation
Posted: December 4, 2012 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 2014, 4.0T, Audi, Auto Show, C7, Geneva, Mind over motor, new, RS6, S6, V8 1 Comment »
The new Audi RS6 Avant has just been revealed online, and my how badass it is. However, me being the ever curious sort, I must wonder about the engine they have put in it. They claim it to be a 560hp version of their trusty, and ever underrated, 4.0L turbocharged V8.
Lets take a look back at Motor Trend’s Audi S6 test (from 3:57 to 5:36) from a few weeks back. On paper the S6 is a 4700lb, all wheel drive sedan with 520hp from its 4.0T engine. However Motor Trend’s tests yielded a 0-60 time of 3.5sec and a quarter mile run of 11.8sec @ 118mph, number that do not fit with the car’s on paper figures. They decided to test the S8 on a chassis dyno, and it put down 480awhp… translating to around 580hp being produced from the engine. Could this be the exact same version of the 4.0T that we are now seeing in the RS6?
If you consider the cost of developing even a moderately different version of an engine for a company like Audi, then it would make sense to use it in more than just one place. This is just a hunch, but it’s an educated hunch, and we will find out for sure when test of the RS6 come out. That makes the S6 an incredible value in its class, and the new RS6 exactly what we would like it to be. Despite the outright lying on their power claims, Audi is continuing to take the industry by storm.
We aren’t big on reposting dry press releases, so you can find the full list of impressive details on the new RS6 here.
-Nick
Test Driven: 2012 Jaguar XFR
Posted: November 29, 2012 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2012, high performance, Jaguar, Mind over motor, review, Sedan, Supercharged, Tata, Test Drive, V8, XFR 3 Comments »
The family sedan is the average car meant to suit the needs of average people. In fact it is much like the average person, exuding an inoffensive image that is considered acceptable by all parts of society. Sedans are the standard of the automobile, and today there are a host of cookie cutter options available from every manufacturer. The term “typical” comes to mind when looking at a sedan, everything normal, and going as planned in life. So what happens when one of these typical looking fellows goes mad behind the scenes, and starts mutilating innocent people? Meet Jack The Ripper, aka the Jaguar XFR.
Test Driven: 2012 BMW 650i Convertible and 750i xDrive M Sport
Posted: October 30, 2012 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 6 Series, 650i, 7-Series, 750i, AWD, BMW, Comparison, Connecticut, Convertible, Driver's Car, F01, Flagship, fun, Greenwich, GT Car, Limo Style, M-Sport, Mind over motor, RWD, Sedan, Sport, Summertime, Test Driven, twin turbo, V8, White, xDrive Leave a comment »
The BMW 6-Series can be a tough car to really pin down. Based on its market price and its layout, it is a direct competitor to cars like the Jaguar XJ and the Porsche 911. That said, its size is on the big side for a personal coupe, yet it wears its size well. I was at the Greenwich Concours and BMW had this and a 750i available for test drives, so I took the plunge and gave this rather expensive droptop a good shakedown. Then, I got a chance to drive a 750i, equipped with xDrive AWD, the long-wheelbase body, and the M-Sport trim (an interesting combination that should definitely go over well in the Northeast, where AWD is an important selling point). I took each out and asked myself a question: These two cars are based on pretty much the same platform in different lengths–which one does the job that it sets out to do in the better manner, and which one is actually better overall? I was surprised by the results. Read the rest of this entry »
This episode of Drive, Chris Harris…
Posted: October 25, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry | Tags: 12C Spyder, Ascari Circuit, Auto Idolatry, beauty, Chris Harris, CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS, Convertible, Drive, Drive Channel, Engineering, Mclaren, McLaren 12C, Mind over motor, Orange, Racetrack, V8, video, YouTube Leave a comment »…gets his hands on a McLaren 12C Spyder. Chaos, tire-destroying awesome ensues all over the Ascari test track. As an engineer, I happen to be completely bowled over (in a good way) about the work that went into this design–it’s a masterpiece of automotive design and engineering. Watch the video to see more.
-Albert S. Davis
The Jaguar F-Type–Keeping Calm and Carrying On.
Posted: October 19, 2012 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS, INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 2014, Automotive Insights, Classy, curves, F-Type, Flash, Future Vehicles, Industry Talk, Jaguar, Mind over motor, modern, Roadster, sexy, Supercharged, V6, V8 1 Comment »
Jaguar’s been one of the few companies in the past couple of years that hasn’t made a huge mistake with the models they sell. Yes, their product line isn’t as diverse as the competition, but what they have invested in is paying dividends, and the new F-Type is proof that their current focus is one I’m going to keep a close eye on in the near future. From the styling to the engine options revealed recently, I’m unashamed to say that I love this car even before I’ve seen it in the flesh.
