The G35 pretty much saved the Infiniti brand when it came out. It offered an extremely solid package for a very good price offering better performance than its German competition for less money. The G35 shared its platform with the Nissan 350Z, making the sedan a four door sports car and the coupe a more comfortable Z. It was a rock solid lineup and they sold like hotcakes to executives and enthusiasts alike. Now they are among the best used cars you can buy if you’re looking for something that’s got everything. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Infiniti G35→
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. Continue reading Obscure Autos: Ferrari 456 Venice variants→
At Pebble Beach this year I was lucky enough to have a private run through of Mercedes-Benz’s new Android-based technology package for the SLS AMG. It is a really cool system they came up with. Basically it is as if the car is an Android but then also has some car specific features as well, such as the ability to link up to race tracks on GPS and receive detailed telemetry on your laps. The video is a bit long, but if you watch it through you will find the system incredible.
This is a model Lamborghini Aventador made of carbon fiber and diamonds. It costs 3.5 million euros which is funny because the actual Aventador car itself costs only around 300,000 euros, so you could have 11 or 12 real ones for the price of this model. Models are for people who cannot afford the real thing. Something like this is just absurdly ostentatious, and if you ask me whoever buys it should have all their assets seized on the spot and should be forced to check into a mental institution. Look I’m not against spending money in crazy ways, I’m even a little elitist at times myself, but there is a line and this sort of thing way over-steps it.
This is one of those cars that is basically a racing car but has somehow found a way to get number plates. I know the terror I personally have unleashed on little old ladies in my Subaru, but I can only imagine what would happen if I came screaming up behind them in this thing.
The Buick Regal GS will be coming out soon, and I have to say it is terrible. You see, the Regal is based on the same chassis as the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia in Europe. The problem is that in Europe GM went all out with the VXR version of the Insignia, where as it has been half assed for us here in the states. Continue reading Why does GM think Americans don’t want the best?→
Yesterday Jaguar released the first images and details on its new coupe which was rumored for some time. Long believed to be an E-Type revival of sorts, the car they actually released does not disappoint, and it has a few other tricks up its sleeve. Continue reading About Jaguar’s C-X16 concept→
We were amongst the crowd at the launch of the Pacific Grove Rally this year during Concours Weekend in the Monterey area. This is a very fun event, one that is refreshingly informal (and free) during that weekend. The cars are a mixed bunch too with everything from vintage Rolls Royces to your average Mustang. Continue reading The 2011 Pacific Grove Rally→
Some people wanted to find out how fast the LP-640 would go so they went out and did some things nobody should try at home; unless of course you live on a 5 mile long runway.
Infiniti’s G sedan has catapulted the brand into legitimacy over the last 8 years. It offered a solid sport/luxury sedan package (based on the Nissan Z) at a price that has made it continually one of the best bargains around. The G was so well placed in the market that it never needed more than one model, and it solid in vast quantities. Because of this I was a bit skeptical when Infiniti announced they were brining out a lower model, the G25, for the G lineup. My question going into this test drive was, is the G25 a legitimate consideration in its market or should people just forget it even exists and spend a little extra for a G37? Continue reading Test Driven: Infiniti G25x vs. G37x→
With the Mazda RX8 being phased out this year for reasons concerning a “lack of demand”, one must wonder what has gone wrong. The RX8 is a car that had some pretty decent sales numbers early on. Its sports car dynamics with a practical twist gave it much appeal for many people. Yet, today, in 2011, the demand has fizzled out, and I expect the reason is similar to two past offerings from Honda that shared a similar fate. Continue reading Stagnant products, not lack of demand→
Mind Over Motor 