The Mercedes Maybach in all of it's exuberant glory
I have always been a fan of the Maybach since Mercedes brought the brand back in the early 2000’s. I much preferred it’s sleek design to the over bearing brick that is the Rolls Royce Phantom. I liked the limitless options list, and the fact that the 62’s rear seats could be fully reclined (still the most comfortable car I have been in by far). I also loved that the car was offered in two tone color schemes; something there is not enough of these days. Evidently I am in the minority though, because Mercedes has just announced this week that they will be ceasing Maybach production after the 2013 model year. This news came as an initial shock to me, largely because I like the car so much, but I have given some thought as to why it has failed. Continue reading Maybach: Time to hit the old dusty trail (Nick’s Take)→
There is a lot of bickering that goes on between car enthusiasts about cars of different regions, saying European cars are this, American cars can’t do that, Japanese cars are this, etc. With the advent of the Internet this bickering has only expanded and now people are arguing their views with folks all over the globe. While it is interesting to witness, there is a huge amount of ignorance and a lack of appreciation (on everyone’s part) for how different cars came to be the way they are. I am starting this mini series here to take a look at how the automobile developed in different parts of the world, and hopefully enlighten some of the very opinionated people out there so that they may at least respect cars from all regions and their purposes. Continue reading Automotive Evolution: Series Introduction→
Most cars look really good with a few degrees of camber, but this guy has taken his ride a bit further. Not sure what to say about it because it is very odd, but I give props for doing it.
Our friend Drake was lucky enough to catch the Pagani Huayra at one of the events on it’s American tour. It is a truly stunning car, and Mr. Pagani was there himself to show off the car. Supposedly Pagani has already recieved 12+ orders for the Huayra from American buyers, so keep you eyes peeled on the streets for one once they are allowed into the country.
A Pagani Zonda Cinque fooling around with some Lambos and an F430 (camera car) late at night. Must be nice to have enough money to both afford those cars, and not care about getting caught driving like that by the police. Just listen to that Zonda though, perfection.
Audi is all over the news right now because they have been extremely active in producing new models and technologies. While much of this is all new stuff not seen before, Audi seems to have not lost touch with the models that make up their backbone. The A6 is has been revamped for 2012 and may be the best A6 yet. Continue reading Test Driven: 2012 Audi A6 3.0T (10/10)→
So, after an excruciatingly long wait, the details of Toyota’s new entry level sports car have emerged. After looking them over for myself, I am pleased to report that everything seems to be exactly what I had hoped it would be. The car has some serious potential to be quite a good driving experience with a curb weight around 2700lbs, manual transmission options, a limited slip differential, and a high output, naturally aspirated 2.0L boxer engine producing 200hp (do the math, that is 100hp/L). The FT-86/FR-S is showing much promise, and hopefully this means Toyota is finally going to start making viable cars again, but there are still some things this car must do before progress will truly be evident. Continue reading Toyota FT-86/Scion FR-S, details are out, so what needs to happen?→
While shooting this old car commercial, the cameras caught a ghost lurking in the frame. See if you can spot it, it’s pretty creepy (you will need to look pretty close, but there’s no mistaking it when you see it). Enjoy and have a happy Halloween.
Underground Racing’s twin turbo Ferrari Italia up against a stock Lamborghini Aventador. This is a good showing of the difference between wheel horsepower (whp) and brake horsepower (bhp). The Italia is making 700whp, whereas the Aventador’s V12 puts out 700hp before the power makes it’s way through the drivetrain. The difference is pretty evident during the highway pulls they do. You gotta love a company like UR, who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty with the most expensive cars out there. Enjoy!
I was watching an Edmunds video on Youtube where they tested the new Buick Verano, a Chevy Cruze in makeup and a cocktail dress. Overall they liked how smoothly it rode and all of the effort Buick had put into making the car as quite and serene as possible in the cabin. All of this seemed great until they voiced their complaints about GM’s engine choice for the car, the shouty and strained Ecotec Inline 4. Evidently it will ruin your relaxation anytime you decide to accelerate with a loud, unrefined groan. It is sad that with most Buicks there seems to be one large flaw somewhere in the design of each of their cars, but I believe there is an easy solution for many of their problems. Continue reading Buick: Diesel is a Must.→
Mind Over Motor 