Car Shows

Woodward Dream Cruise: Ariel Atom

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This was the first Ariel Atom I’ve ever seen in person. It looks really far out amongst normal traffic, and I wasn’t under the impression it was actually legal for US roads. That said, I saw many cars in Detroit this summer that are not supposed to be driving on our roads either, so by the Dream Cruise nothing surprised me. I love the mechanical beauty of the Atom, everything is right out there for you to see and every bit of the car is entirely functional. This is motoring in its purest form, and I love it. Enjoy the photos.

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Opinions

2014 Audi RS6 released, now for some speculation

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RS6

The new Audi RS6 Avant has just been revealed online, and my how badass it is. However, me being the ever curious sort, I must wonder about the engine they have put in it. They claim it to be a 560hp version of their trusty, and ever underrated, 4.0L turbocharged V8.

Lets take a look back at Motor Trend’s Audi S6 test (from 3:57 to 5:36) from a few weeks back. On paper the S6 is a 4700lb, all wheel drive sedan with 520hp from its 4.0T engine. However Motor Trend’s tests yielded a 0-60 time of 3.5sec and a quarter mile run of 11.8sec @ 118mph, number that do not fit with the car’s on paper figures. They decided to test the S8 on a chassis dyno, and it put down 480awhp… translating to around 580hp being produced from the engine. Could this be the exact same version of the 4.0T that we are now seeing in the RS6?

If you consider the cost of developing even a moderately different version of an engine for a company like Audi, then it would make sense to use it in more than just one place. This is just a hunch, but it’s an educated hunch, and we will find out for sure when test of the RS6 come out. That makes the S6 an incredible value in its class, and the new RS6 exactly what we would like it to be. Despite the outright lying on their power claims, Audi is continuing to take the industry by storm.

We aren’t big on reposting dry press releases, so you can find the full list of impressive details on the new RS6 here.

-Nick

Car Shows, Photography by Dan Valanzola

Hopewell Cruise Night: International Harvester custom

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Photo by Dan Valanzola

This custom International Harvester truck was at the cruise night in in Hopewell, NJ a few months ago. I must admit that I don’t know much about these trucks except that they are quite rare at this point. This particular truck has obviously been slammed and customized, with pure badassary seeping from every nook and cranny. Enjoy.

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Car Shows

Mercedes Benz Museum: The Beginning of the Automobile

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I stopped at the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart during my trip to Germany this year. It is a fascinating facility in every respect, but the display of early automobiles is truly something to savor. Daimler (Mercedes Benz today) invented the motor car, so the museum is able to show the progression of the automobile quite actually from Genesis. These cars set the stage for every car we know and love today. In this feature you will see Daimler and Benz cars, the Mercedes name was added later on for added appeal. You will see the development from the crude origins of the automobile to where Daimler-Benz cars began to resemble the luxury objects that they are today. Enjoy.  Continue reading Mercedes Benz Museum: The Beginning of the Automobile →

Car Shows

Radnor Hunt CDE: 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

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When it comes to Ferraris things do not get much better than this. The 250 Testa Rossa is one of the most legendary cars of all time, and this was the first one sold in the United States. Owned by the Simone Museum in Philadelphia, we were fortunate enough to be able to see this car up close at this year’s Radnor Hunt Concours d’ Elegance. The design of the Testa Rossa is nothing short of breathtaking, with its voluptuous Italian curves. It is a work of functional art rivaled by few other objects on Earth. While visually beautiful, it remains a race car in purpose, so it was built to be as light and simple as possible. Under the hood there is a V12 engine, which is beautiful enough in its own right. Even going to car events all the time, I don’t get to see too many of these, so I ate up my time with this rare Ferrari (likely worth around $20M) by taking tons of photos. I hope you enjoy them; if this isn’t “Art”, then I don’t know what is.

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Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: Toyota Prius

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Yes, the Prius. A different sort of car than we normally feature in this section, yet a car that has had a resounding impact on the automotive world in recent years. Everyone knows a Prius when they see one, and most people know that the car has become as much a political statement as a mode of transportation. Whether you buy into the whole Green movement or not, there is no denying that the Prius has been an incredible marketing success. It paved the way for an entirely new sort of car in the world, one that puts priority on efficiency and cleanliness over all else. We all know the car, but behind every car there is a story to tell. This is that story.

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Car Shows

Woodward Dream Cruise: Dodge Challenger “Superbird”

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This an interesting, albeit love/hate sort of car. I have to admit that when I first saw this thing roll past, a few days before I shot these photos, I thought to myself, “Are you kidding me?”. However, up close the car is really well done and it kind of grew on me after I was able to look at it for a while. I can certainly appreciate where this car is coming from, and I give the owner credit for doing a great job on it. I still find it a little forced, and a little too short compared to the real Plymouth Superbird, which I saw in traffic at the same time as this car. This new Superbird certainly turns heads though, it will get you noticed for better or worse. I can’t fault someone for making their idea happen though, so I’m glad this exists.  Continue reading Woodward Dream Cruise: Dodge Challenger “Superbird” →

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Jaguar E-Type Series 1, Woodward Ave, MI

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This absolutely pristine Jaguar E-Type was out for one of the cruise nights this summer in Detroit, MI. The E-type was deemed “the most beautiful car in the world” by many in its day, and you can really see why when looking at this car. I was also thrilled to have the chance to shoot it with the hood open. There is a mechanic elegance about how it sits with the hood up that is nothing short of seductive for a gear head. This is basically as close as cars get to pornography folks, any more than this and I would have to flag this post as NSFW. Enjoy the gallery of this Jag among Jaaags.

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Opinions

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster released… all that waiting for a predictable result

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Yea this is an incredible car, yea I can’t wait to see one on the road, and  yea I really can’t wait  to drive one. It is awesome, as is any drop top Lambo. But after all the hype and build up after the last few years of spy shots, and Lamborghini test drivers chasing paparazzi, I look at this and find my self saying, “Okay, next”. Everything about it is just so predictable, the car looks fantastic but it also looks exactly how everyone knew it would look. I am thrilled this car is finally out, but for me it is hardly a showstopper when other cars, like the Mclaren P1, have come out and really dropped people’s jaws. They should’ve made the Jota instead of this, then I would really be excited.

-Nick