The new Ford GT was on display at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island this weekend. It’s one hell of a machine in person. We can’t wait to see what it can do on the move!
-Nick
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Amelia Island 2016 Preview
We’re currently on our way back from a truly phenomenal weekend at Amelia Island. We attended the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Cars and Coffee, Festivals of Speed, and the unveiling of Lamborghini’s new PoloStorico program. We also got behind the wheel of many different tasty cars for reviews to come. It was a crazy, exhausting, and extremely fun weekend, and there is tons of great material that will come from it, so stay tuned!
Here is a quick preview of the automotive festivities.
Enjoy!
Petrolicious Shows us a very special Dodge Challenger R/T
Gotta love those old Mopars!
-Nick
Stanced Porsche 996 at First Class Fitment
I must admit, I’ve always liked this style of aftermarket facia on the Porsche 996. This one we saw at First Class Fitment was nice and clean.
-Nick
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato at Amelia Island
The DB4 GT Zagato is one of the most beautiful Aston Martins of all time. Swooping Italian lines over a capable British GT racing-developed chassis, it is a sublime combination!
With its 314hp straight-6, the DB4 GT Zagato was one hell of a performer in the early 1960’s. It was capable of 0-60 in around 6 seconds, and could top 150 mph. It also had a lightweight design and a capable chassis, so it was very much an all-round performer. Even today, it would still roast many respectable cars.
The big draw, on top of this Aston’s styling and performance, is its rarity. Only 19 of these DB4 GT Zagatos were produced, and they are worth many millions of dollars today.
Amelia Island was actually the second time I’ve seen this one. I saw it a few years ago, where it was the star at a local cruise night in Hopewell, NJ, where it was being worked on.
The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is one of my favorite classic cars, period, let alone Aston Martins. I was so privileged to have some quality shooting time with the car after most of the show cleared out. It even had it’s own design plans on display in the trunk this time.
I hope you all enjoy the gallery!
Continue reading Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato at Amelia Island
1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition at Amelia Island
We’re gearing up for our trip down to Florida this week for the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This beautiful two-tone 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition is a gem from the last time we were at the event.
The car was commissioned by Bill Spear and Phil Hill to compete in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as other races. It was painted blue and white to distinguish it as a car driven by Americans. They had a good showing at Le Mans that year, but was forced to retire due to issues with its drum brakes. This Ferrari 340 MM was then imported into the U.S. and raced extensively around the country.
A stunning and storied machine, indeed!
Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition at Amelia Island
An Honest Take on the Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Veyron hit the world of supercars over the head with a hammer. In a world where 600hp was still hypercar territory, the Veyron came in with 1,000hp. It was the first road car to crack the 250mph barrier, it was the most expensive car on sale, it had the most radiators… essentially it was the Guiness Book of World Records on four wheels.
Bugatti just released their next-generation hypercar, the Chiron, at the Geneva Motor Show this week, and it’s the exact same recipie as the Veyron. I mean, sure it has 500 more horsepower than the original Veyron had, and sure it looks a little fancier, but it’s really just more of the same ingredients. It’s the same type of car, but is that a good thing, or a bad thing?
Perfect Purist Porsche, The 911R is a big step in the right direction
The new Porsche 911R just dropped at Geneva, and it’s about as perfect as a modern 911 can be. It’s got the biggest motor, the 493hp 4.0L flat six from the GT3 RS. It’s the lightest 911 model by a fair margin, weighing just over 3,000lbs. But most importantly it succeeds where the 991 GT3 and GT3 RS have failed miserably – IT HAS A MANUAL GEARBOX!
Yes, the 911R immediately became my favorite modern Porsche when it was revealed, and you might expect this article to just go on and on singing its praises. But that’s not why I’m writing this piece. No, as good as perfect as the 911R may be, Porsche has not solved their larger problem yet.
Continue reading Perfect Purist Porsche, The 911R is a big step in the right direction
The Aston Martin DB11 is WOW!
First impressions. How you make your entrance sets the tone for how you’ll be perceived, as well as the context for every subsequent action.
Well if looks can kill, call me dead and buried because this 2017 Aston Martin DB11 is beyond pretty. When I think of automotive beauty, the first car that pops into my mind is an Aston Martin. They’ve always been beautiful, but somehow Aston has kept upping the ante over the years. Modernity is treating them well.
So when a car’s first impression looks like the DB11, I almost wouldn’t even care if it had a lawnmower engine under the hood. But thankfully, that’s far from the case. The DB11 has a twin turbo 5.2L V12 lurking beneath its lusty lines, and it’s said to be in the neighborhood of 600hp. With that kind of thrust, top speed should easily be north of 200mph, unless the gearing is too short.
Aston Martins have never been all about the numbers, though. They’re way too cool for that. What really matters is the style, the craftsmanship, and the experience of the drive. As a grand tourer, it’s not just a car, it’s a substitute for a plane ticket. Aston Martins are for the type of person who appreciates that the journey is often preferable to the destination.
So I look forward to learning more about the DB11 this week, as the 2016 Geneva Motor Show brings all sorts of excitement to the car world. Everything I’ve heard of this new Aston so far has been great; it may even have the option of a manual gearbox (fingers crossed). Now that we’ve laid eyes on the DB11’s full form, I think we can be confident Aston Martin is on the right track.
-Nick Walker
Pagani Huayras at The Quail, A Carbon Fiber Extravaganza!
With Pagani dropping the new Huayra BC at the Geneva Auto Show, I thought it’d be a good time to share some the “normal” Pagani Huayras we saw at The Quail.
My favorite was definitely the blue carbon over tan Huayra you see above. It was absolutely stunning. Paganis have such rich detail in every aspect. They’re one of the few seven figure cars that actually seem like they should be worth that much. Their craftsmanship is about as close to perfection as can be, right down to the strands of carbon fiber lining up across panel gaps.
I also love The Quail because you get such access to everyone. Mr. Pagani himself was just walking around talking to people, and I had the distinct honor to speak with him myself for a few minutes. He’s as nice as everyone says, and really appreciates anyone who is enthusiastic about his cars.
Pagani is by far my favorite automotive brand, and I am captivated in my very soul whenever I see a Pagani up close. Even if I just glimpse one for a second, it will surely be the highlight of my day. These cars have a serious power to inspire.
Enjoy the gallery of these magnificent machines!
Continue reading Pagani Huayras at The Quail, A Carbon Fiber Extravaganza!
BMW i3 Review: Expectations are Everything
The BMW i3 is just a car in the same way that an iPhone is just a phone. It does the job, but it’s really about so much more than basic functionality. It is a techy gadget on wheels, and it’s as much a personal brand statement as it is a mode of transportation.
As a new age city car, a Toyota Prius C will do the exact same functional job as the BMW i3 for less than half the price. But you could say the same for any other BMW as well, compared to a normal car. BMWs are pure luxury items, just like an Apple products, so we need to look at the car in that way.
As a car reviewer, I have my experience driving the car for a few minutes, hours or days, and then I give the car back. Owners have to live with the car, day-in and day-out for extended time. Consequently, our two experiences can often wind up pretty different.
The BMW i3 is one such car. I had my experience driving it, and I developed my initial opinion based on that. But then I looked around online to see what actual customers were saying, and I found much more I needed to consider before rendering my verdict. I think a lot comes down to how you approach the BMW i3, and how you intend to use the car.
Here is my take from both my drive in the car as well as from further research I’ve done.
Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, and Toyota GT86 FA20 Tuning and Modification Guide
The Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, and Toyota GT86 are all basically the same car underneath. A popular fun machine at an affordable price is an appealing thing, and they’ve sold pretty well.
Most car enthusiasts will wind up wanting to modify and upgrade their cars, tailoring its experience for their own personal tastes. There are many ways to go about modifying a Toyobaru 86 variant. This is my own take and advice on the best way to go about modifying the car intelligently and cost-effectively.
Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments…
Continue reading Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, and Toyota GT86 FA20 Tuning and Modification Guide
Mind Over Motor 