The Ferrari 488 is a drool-worthy machine, and the Spider turns it up to eleven.
-Nick
All posts by ndubs77
Peel P50 at Amelia Island: The World’s Smallest Car
This is the Peel P50, and as I said in the title, it is the world’s smallest car. It was made famous in modern times by Top Gear, and I’ve included that hilarious bit below for your enjoyment.
This was the first time I’ve ever seen a Peel P50 in person, and it is really, really tiny. I’m talking like not even up to my waist. It would be so awesome to have a Peel P50 just to zoom around the house in, but they don’t come cheap these days. This red one sold for a hefty $176,000 at RM Auctions Amelia Island. Check out more info on it here.
Enjoy Clarkson’s antics…
Drive a Stick? Here’s What You Shouldn’t Do
Engineering Explained takes us through what you should not do in a car with a manual transmission.
-Nick
The Jagauar XJ13 on Motor Trend Classic
Springing off of the Bugatti Aerolithe post from earlier, here is another of those iconic recreations that had to be done when a one-off original car was destroyed. Ladies and gents, the Jaguar XJ13.
-Nick
The Magnificent Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe at Amelia Island
I’m sure many of you know about the most expensive car on Earth (arguably), the 1936 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe. Well, this Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe was the show car that inspired the Atlantic’s design. At the 1935 Paris Auto Salon, the Aerolithe was had a striking and divisive effect on the crowd. It was unlike any car ever seen before because of its swooping coupe shape and also because its body was made entirely of electron magnesium, a metal nearly impossible to work with. It was aptly dubbed the “Electron Coupe.”
Despite initial mixed opinions in Paris, the Bugatti Aerolithe went on to inspire many other French car designs to come during the Art Deco era, including the famed Type 57 SC Atlantic. Interestingly, though, the Aerolithe vanished shortly after the Paris show, and has never been seen again.
Continue reading The Magnificent Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe at Amelia Island
/DRIVE: Flat Out in a Porsche 917
To hear and see a Porsche 917 in action is always a treat!
-Nick
Lamborghini Murcielago 40th Anniversary Edition in Carmel, CA
This 40th Anniversary Murcielago was out and about during Monterey Car Week. I love funky colors on Lamborghinis, but particularly love the teal of the 40th Anniversary Edition because it not shamelessly bright.
Also, this was back before E-Gear took over, so this Lambo has three pedals. Win!
-Nick
Top Gear Reviews the Porsche 911 R
I never get tired of the 911 R. It represents everything I hold dear in a car.
Enjoyment > Everything Else
-Nick
This Fiat 1100 Vignale is the Magic of Italian Cars
With all of my doubts about the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio as a reliable-enough daily driver voiced earlier, I thought we should look at what makes Italian cars so special. Naturally, we can leave it to Petrolicious to paint the perfect picture.
Feel the passion!
-Nick
So, Alfa Romeo Is Making an SUV
This is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, more specifically the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, a.k.a the fast one you really want. That’s right, Alfa is getting into the SUV/Crossover market, which is the most obvious and expected move for them. I must say, though, the Stelvio looks pretty damn good.
The Stelvio Quadrifoglio definitely seems like a serious contender with its 505hp 2.9L twin turbo V6, shared with its Guilia sedan sibling. The difference in the Stelvio is that you get all wheel drive to help put all that horsepower to the ground. I see it likely being the most fun one can have in a crossover, but with the usual Italian car frustrations.
Look, I trust Alfa Romeo to deliver an emotionally riveting driving experience in any vehicle they make. They could make a pogo stick, and I’m sure it’d get me all hot and bothered. I’m also someone who genuinely enjoys the current crop of fast SUVs, so I see no reason why the Stelvio won’t be phenomenal from a driving perspective.
The question here for me will be more the in the Utility end. Obviously it’s going to be practical in terms of space, but can the Italians really pull the functional details together enough to satisfy the daily user? SUVs are daily drivers, and everything needs to work, and stay working, day in, and day out. Fiat-Chrysler hasn’t had the best track record for that lately, and Italian cars haven’t had a great track record for that in… um… ever.
A few technical flaws in a weekend sports car come off as endearing because driving a car like that is solely for enjoyment. However, with a daily commuter, every flaw is going to annoy the owner, and that frustration will add up over time. I really hope Alfa Romeo has put in the work to make the Stelvio as reliable as can be. It doesn’t need to rival Lexus, but it does need to be on par with Audi, Jaguar and BMW.
The Stelvio’s first impressions are great as far as I’m concerned, though I don’t see any reason why it won’t be the same old Italian car story, only this time as a crossover.
-Nick Walker
Koenigsegg Freevalve: The Next Step For The Internal Combustion Engine
Koenigsegg, maker of Swedish Hypercars, is also working to revolutionize the internal combustion engine. Engineering Explained explains…
-Nick
2004 HPA Volkswagen R32 on /TUNED
How’s this for an insane Mk4? It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill R32 with bolt-on mods.
Enjoy!
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 