I wonder when it came from to get here…
-Nick
Back To The Future Delorean at the Philly Auto Show
I wonder when it came from to get here…
-Nick
All posts by ndubs77
The KIA Stinger GT Looks Phenomenal in Person
Most people seemed to agree that the KIA Stinger GT looked enticing when it first broke cover. I also heard many people say they’d buy one and de-badge it so no one would know it’s a KIA. With its wonderful proportions, the Stinger GT looks even better in person than it does in photos, and the fact that it’s a KIA doesn’t bug me in the slightest. I’m someone who likes to give credit where credit is due, and this could well be a home run for KIA. Let them have their shine.
I’m very curious to see what pricepoint KIA will place the Stinger at. I think it’s obvious they need to go lower to compete with the likes of the BMW 4 Series, but how much lower before it’s too low to be seen as a genuine competitor?
-Nick
Jay Leno takes a GTO Judge for a spin
Lotus Seven at the Philly Auto Show
Simplify and add lightness…
-Nick
The Stunning Supercar Display at the Philly Auto Show
Usually the FC Kerbeck display of Aston Martins and Lamborghinis is the high point of auto exotica at the Philly Auto Show, but this year was very different. A local collector decided to bring his personal collection of ultra rare, limited production supercars to display.
We’ve featured most of them before in our coverage of the owner’s CF Charities Supercar Show, but these cars are so rare that you don’t pass up a chance to shoot them. What I find most interesting, is that (other than the Ferrari) these are all the ultimate versions of exotic American supercars from Saleen, Mosler, and SSC. There are many great car collections in the world, but this one his absolutely unique, namely because the Mosler is a one-off and the Saleen is 1 of 3.
I remember being a kid and just oogling at the supercars on display at the Philly Auto Show. I admit, seeing a standard Lamborghini doesn’t do what it once did for me at this point, but seeing these insane cars lined up together brought me back to that feeling.
Enjoy!
Continue reading The Stunning Supercar Display at the Philly Auto Show
A bright red McLaren F1 in the paddock at Laguna Seca
This is it, the McLaren F1, and in many ways it has remained the most insane hypercar ever made. Sure, it’s top speed of 240.14 mph has been beaten by a few other cars now, but it took the industry ten years to accomplish that. Even still, no one has been able to beat the McLaren without a boosted engine, and it’s likely the F1 may remain the fastest naturally aspirated car of all time.
Even if we forget about its monumental performance, the McLaren F1 is one of the most unique and clever designs ever to grace an automobile. 3 seats, with a central driver, two trunks on each side of the car right behind the doors, and gold plating lining the engine bay to reflect heat. It is an incredible experience getting to see an F1 up close, and pour over its every detail.
For the car’s 25th anniversary, McLaren has released unseen footage from the F1’s world record 240 mph run. See it below, and enjoy the rest of the photos!
Continue reading A bright red McLaren F1 in the paddock at Laguna Seca
Could we see a mid-engined Porsche 911 road car soon?
The new Porsche 991.2 GT3 is rumored to be essentially like the previous 4.0L RSs, with Porsche’s mighty 4.0L flat six, around 500hp, and a choice of two or three pedals. Meanwhile, the new 911 RSR racecar is a mid engined now. So the next 991.2 GT3 RS finds itself at a fork in the road. Should it stay as the ultimate rear engine track crusher? Or should it be based on the new mid engine RSR, staying true to form as a racecar for the street?
If the new 991.2 GT3 RS were to be based on the mid engine RSR, it could create a break-point between rear and mid engine 911 models, which would amount to the line between sports cars and supercars.
The rear engine 911 is a great sports car, maybe the greatest, because it offers a totally unique driving experience. However, Porsche clearly knows they’re pushing the boundaries of what a rear engine layout can do. The fact that the new 911 RSR racecar is blatantly mid engine just makes it obvious, but Porsche has been pushing the 911’s engine more and more forward of the rear axle with each new generation. At this point, the current 991 is extremely close to technically being a mid-engine car.
Look, whether it happens within the 991.2 generation or not, I think a mid engined 911 GT model, or lineup of models, is absolutely coming. People want what the racecar has, and now the racecar has its engine in the middle.
I do think the basic 911 Carrara up through GT3 and Turbo models should remain “rear engine” sports cars to stay true to form. After all, a rear engine is the defining feature of a Porsche 911. That said, I also think that opening up a range of mid engine 911 supercar models at the top of the range creates a healthy evolution for the Porsche brand. Okay, sure, maybe they might call the new mid engined cars by a name other than “911”, but they would essentially be mid engined 911s. For those of you scoffing right now, appalled at the idea of a 911 with an engine in the middle, just remember there’s already a major precedent for this from the late 90s; it’s called the 911 GT1.
What I think may happen here is the 911 GT3 and Turbo will be the top of the rear engined 911 range. Then the hardcore GT3 RS will kick off the new range of mid-engine, 911 GT1-style supercars derived from the RSR. The GT3 RS would have the rumored 4.0L+ naturally aspirated flat-six, as well as a host of track-ready features. Porsche should then offer turbocharged models of the mid engine 911 supercar, ready to compete directly with the Ferrari 488s, Ford GTs, and McLaren 650s of the world. Maybe that would be the “GT2”, and then have a “GT2 RS” with an upgraded turbo engine (a turbo 4.0?) and all of the trackday tricks of the GT3 RS.
Price wise, I picture it as follows: Rear engined 911 Turbo and GT3 models occupy the $150k-$250k range, as they do right now. The mid engine GT3 RS would come in around $300k, the turbocharged mid engine GT2 would run $350-400k, and the GT2 RS would be $500-600k and be built in limited numbers.
This is all just me pondering at this point, but if you remember back a couple years, there were rumors of Porsche wanting to develop a mid engine supercar above the 911 Turbo but below the 918. This would be that car, clear as day. Porsche had supposedly sacked the idea, but now they have a racing program with a mid engined 911 RSR?
It sure seems like they’re headed in this direction…
-Nick Walker
Quick Spin: BMW G11 750i xDrive
This is not so much a car as it is a rolling spa. Sure, I had some time behind the wheel of this new BMW G11 750i, but what really stuck in my mind was the massage I got while riding around in the back seat. It was pouring rain, we were stuck in a traffic jam, and I wouldn’t have been anywhere else in the world if I could have. It’s an optional extra, but what’s an extra $7 grand for the pleasure of being able to have a heated, or cooled, massage everywhere you go? I could really go for one right now, as a matter of fact.
The new 750i may be a rolling spa, but it’s one that moves pretty good, too. BMW claims 445 hp and 480 ft/lbs of torque from its “Hot Vee” twin turbo V8, and that’s enough to propel your pampered ass from a snooze to a heart attack in just 4.3 seconds.
Really though, the G11 is the expected next step for the BMW 7 Series, nothing less, but nothing more either. It’s really nice, but they’ve all been nice over the years. It’s really fast, and handles well for a big limo, but again, same with every other 7 Series. The G11 is also full of lots of fancy, cutting edge technology, which is awesome today, but it will suck in ten years for the poor sap who buys this once-$120,000 luxo-barge for $13,988. Go try to use the nav on a late 90’s E38 7 Series, and you’ll see what I mean.
In fact, staggering depreciation is probably just as much of what makes a 7 Series a 7 Series as the car’s big comfort or big horsepower. Well-optioned, it’s not a bad value for what you get for $120,000 or so, but you can be damn sure you won’t be seeing much of that money back. Leasing may be a good idea here, people.
The G11 750i is among the nearly flawless lineup of current luxury cars. They’re all just really good, almost to a fault, if only for the fact that such uniform perfection lacks character. Objectively, this BMW 750i is good enough as a luxury cruiser to make me wonder why anyone would shell out triple the money for a Bentley or a Rolls. I mean, how much more comfortable could you possibly be?
But really it’s not about features, or the comfort, or any of that. It comes back to the car being good, really good, too good for its own good. The G11 is a lot like that guy at the party who just keeps talking, on and on, about his own accomplishments. He’s very impressive and all, but people just keep walking away, don’t they? That’s because endless perfection gets boring pretty quick, and it’s usually a lot more fun to hear people talk about their mistakes.
Nick Walker
MoM Score: BMW G11 750i xDrive
Primary Function: Luxury: 2
Secondary Functions: Performance(2) Practicality(2) MPG(2): 2
Visual Appeal: 1
Build Quality: 2
Value for Money: 1
Final Score: 8 /10
BMW Z8 Spotted in Hopewell, NJ
BMW Z8s are just awesome, a roadster with the engine from the mighty M5. There’s a reason their values keep climbing.
-Nick
1931 Voisin C20 Simoun Underslung at Hershey
I do have a weakness for pre-war French cars. These were the chariots of the bourgeoisie, with their fantastic art deco style, artisan coachwork, and superior technology.
This Voisin C20 Simoun Underslung was the top sport model of the Voisin V-12 range. It commanded a hefty premium even over a comparable Bugatti of the day. Only 30 Voisin C20 chassis were originally built, and this one is supposedly the only survivor.
Enjoy the photos of this most-elegant machine.
Continue reading 1931 Voisin C20 Simoun Underslung at Hershey
This may be the most bougie thing I’ve ever seen
They’re asking a quarter of a billion dollars for this house in Bel Air that comes stacked with more fancy shit than you’d ever know what to do with. It even comes complete with a helicopter on the roof, and a collection of rare classic and exotic cars, including one of those special edition Bugatti Veyrons, a Pagani Huayra, and, I believe, a pre-war Mercedes 540K.
It’s a total orgy of materialism, and it looks incredible. That said, I feel like after the realtor handed over the keys and left, I’d just be standing there like, “Okay, now that I have everything I ever wanted, now what?”
-Nick
Blacked-out VW CC at First Class Fitment
I do love the look of a lowered CC on some fresh wheels. I had planned to maybe do something like this with mine when I first got it, but I could never justify it when I could buy another Miata instead. They do look amazing, though. Ultra classy.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 