Just gonna leave this here… Aston Martin Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2
Posted: February 25, 2013 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: Aston Martin Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2, Mind over motor, One off, Wagon 3 Comments »
This Rapide wagon will be a one off, commissioned by a wealthy collector…. obviously. It is a Bertone design, and was made to commemorate the long relationship between Aston Martin and Bertone. This Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2 is based on the new Rapide S, so underneath it is familiar, but just take a few moments and digest the visual beauty of this stunning machine.
-Nick
The new Mercedes E63: Just what the doctor ordered.
Posted: January 30, 2013 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: 2014, 4MATIC, AMG S-Model, AWD, E63, Facelift, Mercedes-Benz, Superwagon, twin turbo, Wagon 2 Comments »
Mercedes-Benz isn’t all what it seems. While some may mock it for expanding the E-Class range to a coupe and a convertible, and some may question it for offering AWD on the AMG products, no one will see me on that side of the line. In fact, I’m the one doing the slow clap. Mercedes is taking a lesson from its rivals, Audi and BMW, and using the best of what it’s learning. The German luxury market is changing, and Mercedes is keeping up with it in an exemplary way–but the new E63 is proof that they’ve got their ears to the streets and listening to the good word. Read the rest of this entry »
Chris Harris tests the Audi RS4 lineage (and a Merc)
Posted: June 20, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: Audi, Avant, B5, B7, B8, Benz, C63, Chris, Drive, Estate, Harris, Mercedes, Mind, motor, Over, review, RS4, Test, TV, Wagon 1 Comment »Drive’s Chris Harris tests the new B8 Audi RS4, as well as both its predecessors. A very cool video for anyone who loves Audis. The B5 RS4 is still my personal favorite though. Enjoy.
-Nick
Spotted! Subaru Wagon, Jerusalem, Israel
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: SPOTTED!, Unique | Tags: Art Car, Art District, AWD, Birthright, Garden Trowel, Israel, Jerusalem, Loyale, Mind over motor, Rutgers University, Spotted! Unique, Station Wagon, Subaru, Subaru Loyale, Taglit-Birthright, Wagon 1 Comment »
While on a two-week trip to Israel, I spotted this breathtaking Subaru station wagon on the very first day of the trip in Jerusalem’s impromptu art district not far away from the main market. Normally such a car would not attract my attention (in fact, these wagons are everywhere in Jerusalem) but after a few seconds looking at this one, I bet anyone will agree that this is one special Subaru art car. It seems to be a case of “make a garden out of the car”. My compliments to the owner, who is on the left in the photo after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Street Wars 8
Posted: April 23, 2012 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES, Photography by Dan Valanzola | Tags: 302, 350Z, 4G63, 8, AC, accord, airbrush, AMG, Art, Atlantic, Ball, Boss, C63, Camaro, Chevrolet, city, clean, Dan, drag, Dragon, euro, Evo, evolution, FD, Ford, GC, Genesis, Geo, GTI, GTR, Hatch, Honda, Hot Rod, Hyundai, import, Impreza, intake, Integra, Jersey, Lancer, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Miata, Mind, Mitsubishi, Modded, Modified, Monster, motor, Muscle, Mustang, new, Nick, Nissan, NJ, Over, Photography, race, racer, Rotary, RX7, slam, slammed, slicks, Stance, STi, Street, Subaru, Supercharge, Track, Truck, tuned, tuner, turbo, Valanzola, VIP, VW, Wagon, Walker, Wars, WRX, Z 1 Comment »
Photo by Dan Valanzola
We were in attendance for Street Wars 8. The show was a lot smaller than last year due to organizational issues, but there were still plenty of quality cars to see. Photos are by both myself and Dan Valanzola. Enjoy the gallery. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS
Posted: March 29, 2012 Filed under: TEST DRIVEN, Used Gems | Tags: 2.0, 260, 4, back, Chevrolet, Chevy, cylinder, Drive, ecotec, FWD, GM, Hatch, HHR, hp, manual, milk, Mind, motor, Over, review, Small, space, SS, steer, SUV, T, Test, Torque, Truck, turbo, Wagon 2 Comments »
Chevy HHR SS
The HHR is a car that is definitely overlooked by most people. It was a reaction to the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but it took GM 5 whole years before it was in showrooms. The HHR was often referred to as a small SUV, but honestly its proportions are only slightly larger than those of a Mazda3, and it lacks the ground clearance of a true crossover. It is a bit of an oddball car, and it looks like an old milk truck to boot. That however does make it more interesting than the average car, especially the SS, where Chevy decided to throw in the same turbocharged 2.0L motor from the Cobalt SS. In fact I got the idea to do this review off of a whim when a bright red HHR SS pulled up next to me at a light. The car looked cool, and it peaked my interest enough that I went out and found one to test drive. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted! SAAB 95, Greenwich, CT
Posted: January 12, 2012 Filed under: SPOTTED!, Unique | Tags: 2 door, 95, Break, Brown, Concours, CT, Defunct, Estate, green, Greenwich, June, Mind over motor, Rare, Saab, spot, Spotted!, Sweden, two tone, Unique, USA, Wagon Leave a comment »
Nick and I saw this little Saab station wagon while walking around Greenwich on the first day of the 2011 Concours (June 4th). Strangely, this is a two-door station wagon that until a few years before it was replaced was capable of seating seven people. To be honest, I’d rather not try that today. Still, it’s a nice example and a reminder of what Saab used to be about.
Spotted by: Nick and Al
Test Driven: 2011 SAAB 9-3X SportCombi
Posted: December 27, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 9-3, 9-3X, bankrupt, Car, Cladding, Compact, Haldex, Mind over motor, NJ, premium, review, Saab, Sportcombi, Sweden, Test Driven, Trollhattan, Wagon, Warranty, White, XWD Leave a comment »
On December 18th, Saab Automobile filed for bankruptcy, bringing its 64 year offbeat history to an unfortunate end. Saab enthusiasts are some of the most vocal and most possessive of their brand, and undoubtedly, they will mourn the loss of this name. Around Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to add another car to my wagon test–Saab’s own wagon, the 9-3 SportCombi. At the moment, it’s the only wagon Saab sells in the United States, and when I got to the dealer, the car I drove was already discounted by $9,000. This amount is no misprint–and any new car marked down this much is either a demo, or the dealer seriously needs it off the lot (in this case, the latter). But, when I started the engine, I forgot about Saab’s financial woes, and asked myself this question: Despite all the gloom and doom, is this car actually worth buying right now? Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2011 BMW 328i xDrive Sportwagon
Posted: November 8, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 3-Series, BMW, E90, E91, German, Highway, Mind over motor, NJ, Test Driven, Wagon, xDrive Leave a comment »
The 3-Series has been BMW’s best-known and most well-respected model since it caught on in the United States back in the 1980s. The formula has changed somewhat and the models available are far more extensive than its launch decades back, but the basic idea hasn’t changed–a compact sports sedan with enough appeal and value to draw in the masses and show them how a car is supposed to perform. The E90 design, first introduced back in 2006, is nearing the end of its life on this planet, and as of now, I am unsure that this model, the station wagon, will continue in the United States. With that in mind, I took the wheel of the white estate car seen here. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2011 Audi A4 Avant
Posted: September 20, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2.0T, 2011, A4, Audi, Avant, Black Wagon, Mind over motor, Quattro, Test Driven, Wagon Leave a comment »
The rims just don’t quite fill up the fenders like they’re supposed to. Not sure if it’s the rims themselves or the rest of the car.
During the summertime, I decided to embark on a quest of station wagons in the United States. Audi’s seen success with the little A4 Avant, and it’s the only wagon they’re still selling here as of this year, as the new A6 Avant will not make landfall here. So, I decided to take one out to see how it was in today’s world. Read the rest of this entry »
Obscure Autos: Ferrari 456 Venice variants
Posted: September 19, 2011 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 456, Autos, Brunei, Cabriolet, custom, Estate, Ferrari, GT, Mind, motor, Obscure, of, Over, Saloon, Sedan, Spyder, Sultan, Venice, Wagon Leave a comment »
Ferrari 456 variants
The Ferrari 456 is a member of a long line of Ferrari grand touring cars. It had a sleek, pure shape to it and was one of the last production cars to feature pop-up headlights. A good many of the standard 456s were produced during it’s eleven year run, and today they are even among the more affordable used Ferraris out there. There were, however, a few other variants of the 456 produced for customers (mainly the Brunei royal family) upon special request. These custom built examples are quite rare and are among the most unique cars around. Read the rest of this entry »
Explaining the Death and Rebirth of the Wagon
Posted: September 8, 2011 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: Acura, Automotive Insights, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cool, Crossover, Death, Enthusiasts, Ford, GM, Market, Mind over motor, Minivan, Rebirth, Segment, SUV, USA, Wagon Leave a comment »
The CTS-V wagon, or the ultimate way of getting the kids to school.
Wagons have a pretty colored history here in America. For ages and ages, they were the ride of choice for the American mom, with long wheelbases, huge interior room, smooth styling, and excellent visibility. However, starting before the beginning of the SUV craze, wagons somehow became uncool among America’s mainstream car buyers. Read the rest of this entry »
