This may well be the most incredible test Evo Magazine has ever put together. With the onset of modern supercars, and the digital age, they wanted to take a look at some of the best old-school “pure” supercars. McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, Noble M600, and Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670 SV, oh yes, prepare yourself for some epic.
All posts by ndubs77
2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 2
After day two, I am convinced that 2013 has to be the best New Hope Auto Show I have ever attended. The first day had many fantastic American cars, and the second day had a barrage of phenomenal foreign cars. The field ranged from modern exotics to classics, and I was thrilled with the sheer variety of cars; not just a bunch of the same types of Ferraris lined up.
Highlights included some truly breathtaking pre-war Rolls Royces, a variety of special Porsches, and one of the prettiest Mercedes 300 SLs I have ever laid eyes on. There is much more, including a few cars not often seen in the US, so check out the gallery (below) to see. Enjoy the photos.
2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 1
Shots from day 1 of the 2013 New Hope Auto Show. Saturday is always mostly American cars, and an eclectic array of muscle cars and classics were in attendance this year. Enjoy the photos.
Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport
This stunning Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport was at the Amelia Island Festivals of Speed event back in March. Being arguably the most popular car in the world, people were constantly crowded around the car, so getting these shots took some patience.
I love the Veyron as a technological marvel, but I have been critical of it in other ways. Being the fastest car in the world, among other things, the Bugatti is basically the Guiness Book Of World Records on wheels. Consequently, the Veyron is rather cliche in my opinion, however, that is the fault of people, not of the car in any way.
As an object the Veyron is breath taking. There are many cars that sell for seven figures these days, but not many of them actually cost seven figures to produce. Volkswagen actually takes a loss on every Bugatti they sell, and the sheer solidarity of the car’s build is apparent when perusing its details. This car’s red and black finish gave it a stark appearance out on the golf course, and would you just look at those wheels, clearly machined from a single piece of metal. All of this is, of course, on top of the Veyron Grand Sport’s 1001hp quad-turbo W16 engine and 253mph top speed — but of course you already knew those.
Despite my criticisms, seeing a Veyron in the right setting is a very special experience. The last one I saw was crammed into the New York Auto Show, and I barely gave it a second glance, but this Veyron Grand Sport was surrounded by the immense beauty of Amelia Island. Snapping a few shots was a must here, and I hope you enjoy them.
Continue reading Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport
2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy
The Ferrari 275 GTB is my favorite variant of classic Ferrari road car. the 250 cars were obviously fantastic, but with the 275 I feel like Ferrari road cars were starting to truly come into their own. Keep in mind that Enzo Ferrari didn’t really care for road cars, and only saw them as a means to fund his racing efforts. In my opinion, the 275 GTB stands as the true precursor to the Ferrari Grand Touring cars we know and love today. The likes of the current F12 Berlinetta, all the way back through the 599, Maranello and 365 Daytona can all trace their lineage as road-specific GT cars back to the 275.
The car you see here is a series two coupe with a two-cam V12. The four-cam version of Ferrari’s 3.3L Colombo V12 would come out in 1966 in the 275 GTB/4. The two-cam V12 made around 280hp compared to the four-cam’s 300hp, but either 275’s performance is still impressive today, capable of speeds in excess of 160mph.
This particular car, fitted with an alloy body, caught my eye among the three or four other 275 GTBs at this year’s 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. The reason was its stunning and uncommon color scheme. The stereotypical Ferrari is red with a tan interior, whereas this 275 was a gorgeous teal-green with red leather inside. It just took my breath away.
I really love when cars are adorned in uncommon colors because it makes them more interesting to look at. Seeing my favorite type of classic Ferrari in such an uncommon specification really made this year’s Greenwich Concours that much more special. I hope you all enjoy this car as much as I do.
Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy
Test Driven: Ferrari 458 Italia (10/10)
The pursuit of perfection is a perilous road, but it is a way of life at Ferrari. Some of the greatest cars of all time have come through that famous red gate at Maranello, each new model a further refinement from the last. There have, of course, been mistakes over the years, but all are lessons well learned. No matter what sort of cars you may prefer, there is no denying that it is Ferrari who sets the bar for the supercar standard. That is why every time a new car comes out of Maranello, everyone else is immediately gunning for it, adjusting their own lineups as needed.
The 458 Italia may in fact be the most challenged Ferrari model in recent memory. Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes, and, of course, McLaren all seemed to respond immediately to the Italia’s launch with new models, all aimed to take some of the wind out of its sails. While their efforts have certainly yielded some fantastic cars, the 458 still wound up being “the car to have” among the world’s elite — most of whom can afford multiple such cars anyway.
So what is it about the 458 that is so enticing? There are plenty of awesome cars out there to choose from, why is it that the prancing horse always seems to be galloping ahead?
Cars 101: How to live the “Low Life”
Have you ever been so stoned that you wondered, “Hey, what if my car… and the ground… were the same thing?”
Evidently, someone asked that very question at some point, and the stance craze was born. Slammed cars have all but replaced ricers as the automotive fad of choice, and now everyone wants to be “Hella Flush” in their mom’s Jetta.
It is a movement based entirely around vanity, compromising practical functionality in the name of style and form. There comes with it a rebellious undertone, projecting a level of pride in deviating from the automotive norm. Most people won’t “get it”, and that is the whole point.
So how does one go about conforming to the non-conformity of the Stance Movement? There is a lot more to it than just lowering your car, although that is an inevitability that you might as well just get out of the way. As said by Stance Works, “Low is a lifestyle”, so you’ve gotta really love it to live it low, bro.
2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton
This beautiful Auburn 851 SC Phaeton was at the recent 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. The 851 came about when Cord, who owned Auburn at the time, was looking to make an effective car for the times, which had changed. America was now caught in the midst of The Great Depression, and V12 luxury cars were no longer the best idea.
The 851 was a more downmarket model than previous Auburns, though very much still a luxury car. While most people think of the famous Boattail Speedster when they hear the name Auburn, this 851 SC Phaeton was aimed more at clients with families. The car you see here is equipped with Auburn’s supercharged inline-eight cylinder engine, producing 150hp. That was a lot of power at the time, and an 851 Speedster with the same engine set a record, averaging over 100mph for a 12 hour long run. Auburn sold around 5000 851s in 1935, but sales dropped sharply in 1936. It was at that point that Cord decided to end Auburn production altogether.
This 851 SC Phaeton caught my eye because of its immaculate appointments. Its beautiful two-tone blue exterior sits strikingly over its read leather interior, and the detail work all around the car is incredible. I tried to capture as much of it as I could through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.
Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton
Thoughts on the 2014 BMW i3
Just yesterday I was telling a friend of mine how I thought the Tesla Model S was currently the only truly viable electric car on the market. Less than 24hrs after that conversation it would seem things have changed. BMW dropped the details on their production ready i3 city car today, and it looks mighty promising in many respects. That said, it also raises a few questions for me.
The basic details of the i3 are as follows:
- Pricing starts around $41k — before any government discounts
- Range is said to be 80-100 miles per charge
- A full charge takes only 3 hours, or just 30 minutes with the optional SAE DC Combo Fast Charger
- A 650cc range extending gas motor is available as an option
- 170hp and 184ft/lbs of torque go to the rear wheels — from zero rpm
- Performance: 0-30 in 3.5sec, 0-60 in 7sec, and a top speed of 93mph
- The chassis is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque, a mass production first, which helps keep the weight down to around 2700lbs.
Looking at the details I see a few things that stand out…
2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
This Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale is one of just nine in the world. It is based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X, and shares the same 640hp 8.4L V10 engine. The TZ3 was built to commemorate Fiat Group’s purchase of Chrysler after the onset of the recent economic crisis.
In attendance for the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, this is the second TZ3 Stradale that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. It’s appearance is beyond striking, especially in this sky blue color. A Viper is a phenomenal performance machine, and now, with the addition of some Italian bodywork, it may well be one of the sweetest cars on Earth in the form of this Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale.
Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
Renault Clio 182 Trophy by Evo Magazine
Evo’s Harry Metcalfe shows us his Renault Clio 182 Trophy, and explains why he feels it deserves to be in his collection of supercars. Seeing this makes me a very sad American because we don’t get so many wonderful cars from Europe. Enjoy.
-Nick
Test Driven: 2013 BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe (9/10)
This is the new face of BMW, a big “do-everything” sort of luxury car aimed at a niche market. We enthusiasts love to complain about the direction BMW has been going, yearning for the days of the E30 M3 to come again. The truth is those times are long gone, and BMW’s new direction is now both well-established and quite successful. Many of BMW’s attempts at finding new segments have been regrettable, the X6 and 5 Series GT made me gag. So the big question here is, where does the 6 Series Gran Coupe stand? Is it finally a good product of the new BMW, or is it just another attempt by BMW’s bean counters to try and make themselves feel important?
The car I drove was a 650i xDrive, the second highest model in the Gran Coupe range (only the mighty M6 is higher). This is a car that sits right at the top of the executive car range, one that those who’ve ascended the corporate latter might buy with their holiday bonus.
One thing this car is not trying to be, though, is a supercar. That is the M6’s territory, and it brings with it further issues. The 650i, on the other hand, is just a luxury car, jumping into the coupe-sedan segment originally founded by the Mercedes CLS. It is in this context that we should judge it.
Continue reading Test Driven: 2013 BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe (9/10)
Mind Over Motor 