All posts by ndubs77

Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid (10/10)

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2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid
2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid

Infiniti just seems to want to watch the world burn. For some reason they deemed it a good idea to rename their whole entire lineup, for no reason whatsoever. Every Infiniti is now named Q, with some meaningless number. The car you see here is the new Q50, the replacement for the current G37 sedan. As the replacement for the G, which is surely Infiniti’s best selling model of all time, the Q50 has big shoes to fill. This one isn’t an ordinary Q50, though, this is the much-anticipated Q50 Hybrid. So in addition to filling the G37’s shoes, the Hybrid must also make a case for itself in some new territory.

Briefly looking back, the G35 was the car that really launched Infiniti into what it is today. It was based on the same platform as the Nissan 350Z, making it a true 4-door sports car. What resulted was the car that gave the BMW 3 Series its most formidable challenge to date.

Boy has the world changed a lot since the G35 first came out. The emphasis in the luxury market is now on multitasking, both from the car and from the driver. A car needs to be comfortable, but also sporty enough for you to weave in and out of traffic at 90mph while you’re updating your Facebook status and texting your friends. The pure focus on driving is all but dead at this point, even BMW has made that obvious. While luxury cars must still be dynamically capable, and “fast”, the priority for most buyers is now on cool gadgets and hypothetical fuel economy numbers.

Looking at the Q50, especially the Hybrid, it is easy to see that it is a car built for our modern world. I must confess, that when I actually drove the car, I knew very little about it. Since my drive, I have been doing a lot of research to help with this article, and I am finding that the Q50 Hybrid may, in fact, be one of the most interesting cars on the market.

Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid (10/10) →

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster, Princeton, NJ

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Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster in Princeton NJ

I met some friends in Princeton for beers this past weekend, and I caught this sitting on a side street. Seeing any Lamborghini in the context of the real world is awesome, but this blacked-out Murcielago LP640 Roadster was especially bold. The only camera I had with me was my iPhone, but I think the pics came out well enough. Enjoy.

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Car Shows, Opinions

Elmiraj, the Cadillac of Cadillacs

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Cadillac Elmiraj Concept
Cadillac Elmiraj Concept

We got to see Cadillac’s Elmiraj Concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and plainly, this is the sort of thing the Cadillac Brand needs right now. Cadillac has not been “the Cadillac of cars” since the mid 1960s in my opinion, and it’s about time they step up and reclaim their original status in the world.

The Elmiraj looks to be a grand touring car of world class standards. It’s design is unmistakably that of a Cadillac, but it has a nice sleek, modern shape. While I doubt it would make it to production in its current form, the Elmiraj’s interior is breathtakingly gorgeous, with gratuitous amounts of wood, leather and metal used throughout.

As far as what’s under the hood, I’ve heard rumors of a twin turbo 4.5L V8 with more than 500hp. That will most likely put the Elmiraj in competition with the Jaguar XKR, Maserati Granturismo, BMW 650i/M6, etc, in the price range around $100,000. That, of course assumes that Cadillac will ever have the guts to actually produce an ambitious concept car such as this.

I think with proper execution, a production version of the Elmiraj would do a lot to put Cadillac back where they need to be as a brand. The ATS, CTS, and the CTS-V have done a lot to show that Cadillac has potential, but they need a capstone, a mighty flagship to lead their assault. I know Cadillac’s track record with concept cars is awful when it comes to anything making it to production, but I am really holding out hope that the Cadillac Elmiraj is not indeed a mirage.

Enjoy the photos

Continue reading Elmiraj, the Cadillac of Cadillacs →

CARS 101

One of the best looks at speeding laws I’ve seen

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We all dread speeding tickets, yet most of us willingly speed everywhere we go. In truth speed limits, everywhere outside of towns and neighborhoods, are far too low. Cars have come a long way, and the government should, if they were concerned with actual public safety and social function, be doing studies to find the optimal speed limit for each road within their jurisdiction. In reality, though, governments, care very little about actual public safety or the practical functioning of society. They are far more concerned with preserving the massive revenue that is brought in by traffic fines. Because of this, the speed limits have remained too low, allowing the cops to literally pick any motorist out of the pack to get a citation.

While I doubt anything will be done about this issue soon, the above video, “Speed Kills Your Pocketbook”, makes a valid and intelligent point. Enjoy.

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Ferrari Enzo and F50, Monterey, CA

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Ferrari Enzo and Ferrari F50

While checking out RM Auctions, we noticed these two “Super-Ferraris”, an Enzo and an F50, sitting in front of a hotel in Monterey, California. Naturally, photos had to be taken.

It is always awesome to see any of Ferrari’s ultimate creations on public roads, and we saw these two rolling around at various times throughout the weekend. Even with the new LaFerrari taking the throne, both the Enzo and F50 remain automotive royalty. Enjoy the photos.

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Opinions

Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57

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Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway
Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway

Fuel economy isn’t usually a concern for supercars, but Porsche’s new 918 Spyder will supposedly show a Prius what’s what. Back when Porsche first released the 918 Spyder concept, they claimed it would be able to do 78mpg — the world laughed at the idea. Well now, with the production car finally released at the Frankfurt Motor Show , they are holding fast to that claim, so one must presume they have done a few tests that confirm it is possible.

The 918 Spyder can also produce 887hp, but certainly not at the same time it is doing 78mpg. Yes, the choice will be yours from the driver’s seat. While I’m sure that few will actually bother trying to best a Prius in MPG with that sort of power on tap, it is nice to know you can if you want to. The 918 Spyder allows you to have your cake and eat it too, and that is not something true of most similar such cars.

Continue reading Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57 →

Car Shows

2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder

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Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder

When attending Monterey Car Week, seeing incredible cars is a given. However, some cars are incredible amongst the incredible, and those are the cars you really want to see. This time around, I really wanted to finally see a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, my favorite classic Ferrari, yes, even more than a 250 GTO. I had heard about the red 275 NART Spyder that was going up for auction, so I figured that would be the one I’d get to see.

As circumstance turned out, we arrived at Pebble Beach to pick up our press credentials right as the Tour d’Elegance was rolling by the Lodge. To my amazement, a blue 275 NART Spyder was among the grand parade, and it served as the welcoming party for what was to be an incredible weekend.

Continue reading 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder →

Car Shows, MoM Vlog

Highlights from the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance

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We were in attendance for the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance this past weekend. Instead of our normal photo highlights, we have decided to try on a video compilation of the cars at the show. For those of you who like the photo galleries, do not worry because we have plenty of still shots from the show as well (to be used later on).  Let us know what you think of the video in the comments.

1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron
Best in Show winner, a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron

Radnor Hunt is always a wonderful show, with some fantastic cars and a great venue. It is basically Philadelphia’s major Concours event, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. The features this year were Art Deco cars, Rally cars, and Aston Martins, but there was quite a motley crew within those classes.  Some of my favorites included a pristine 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I, a Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe, an Aston Martin DBR1 racing car, and a genuine Subaru STi 22B. “Best in Show” went to a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron (seen above and at the end of the video), and yes, the cars with the longest names always wins these events.

Check out the video, and stay tuned for the features to follow. Enjoy.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

New Model: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart

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1/18 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart
1/18 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart

It has been quite some time since I last bought a model car, but this Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart proved too enticing to pass up. One aspect of my automotive enthusiasm which I have not yet shown here on Mind Over Motor is my extensive collection of 1/18th scale models. Both myself and Al collect model cars, but until recently, mine have all been packed away from my family’s recent move and I still haven’t set up a display in the new house.

I have been interested in this Alfa model for a while now, but I got my hands on one for the first time while we were out in California last month. While perusing the Automobilia shops at Laguna Seca, I found the Tipo 33 Stradale model I had been lusting after. I forewent purchasing the model that day, due to logistical concerns of getting it home during my trip, but it had wet my appetite. When I got home, a few weeks later, I found myself searching for it online. I found a much better deal on Amazon.com than I would’ve gotten in California, so I decided to go for it.

A real Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale is on, what I call, my “Soul List”– The list of cars I’d consider trading my soul for if given the chance. Unless someone who has a Tipo 33 Stradale will accept a trade for a soul, this model will probably be the closest I come to owning one, seeing as how they are worth something like $5 million now. But who knows, lottery tickets can be bought, and prayers can be prayed. Honestly, I’d be entirely content if I ever even have the chance to drive one of these epic machines. For now though, the model will do.

My Tipo 33 Stradale just arrived today, and I couldn’t be happier with its quality. I plan to display it in my bedroom until my larger model display gets sorted out.

Continue reading New Model: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: Dodge Challenger SRT 392 (5.5/10)

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Dodge Challenger SRT 392

Of the muscle cars back in the 1960s-70s, I always find myself drawn to Mopars the most. Something about their cartoonish, yet badass nature. A bright green Challenger, a purple Plymouth Barracuda, and the roar of a 426 Hemi V8, that just defines the flavor of the era for me.

Back in 2008, Chrysler blessed the world with the reincarnation of the legendary Dodge Challenger. With its retro look, it seemed poised to reignite the muscle car wars with the Ford Mustang, and the soon-to-be-released Chevrolet Camaro. However, we are not in the 1960s anymore, and there are far more contenders than just the good old American boys these days.

My real question going into this drive was, where does the Challenger fit in today? Is it still a Muscle Car in the traditional sense, or has it adapted, like the Camaro SS has, to meet modern expectations of handling performance?

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Car Shows

2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Paddock Highlights

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Porsche 962
Porsche 962

During the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the paddock of Laguna Seca is always full of interesting and legendary things. 2013 was no exception, with drool worthy race cars everywhere you looked. In particular there were numerous Porsche 962s, monster Group Group C racing cars for those unfamiliar with them. It is always difficult to focus your attention while down in the paddock because everywhere you look there is something awesome to see. I will let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50… nothing more need be said

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As a gearhead with a website, I am obligated to share something like this when I see it. Drive’s Chris Harris has a day made of dreams, drifting a Ferrari F40 and Ferrari F50. Fantastic video.

-Nick