Just enjoy this video, and the passion Mr. Harris has. Keep in mind that buying this car was a financial stretch for him, and that sometimes doing something you love is more important than your account balance.
-Nick Walker
Some thoughts on the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
Although I was not in the country for this year’s NAIAS, I followed it closely from my phone when I was in Israel for the past two weeks or so. Overall, I have to say there’s a lot to look at this year, and the new model debuts give me hope that 2012 is going to be even more exciting than 2011 was. The market is changing fast, and as I watch everyone attempt to catch up, there are some clear indications that some brands in particular have most of their ducks in a row. Then again, there’s indications that some are definitely struggling to come up with new ideas. I’m going to go through each country, by major manufacturer, and discuss what I think are the best and the worst of this year’s show. Continue reading Some thoughts on the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
Test Driven: Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic
I got bored watching the Detroit Lions get beaten to a sad, bloody pulp on Thanksgiving by the Green Bay Packers, so I decided to go take something for a drive. Thanks to a close friend of my uncle, I obtained the keys to his personal Mercedes E350 4Matic, a car that’s quite successful around my hometown in northern New Jersey. So, in the interest of asking why people love these cars so much, I took half an hour out of Turkey Day and had myself a drive of this black Benz. Continue reading Test Driven: Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic
Evo’s Harry Metcalfe shows us his Zonda
Evo Magazine founder, Harry Metcalfe, shows us some of the day to day parts of owning a Pagani Zonda. At (3:15) Harry demonstrates the amount of torque his 7.3L Zonda has by getting it rolling from a stop and shifting all the way up the gears with out ever even touching the gas pedal. I have previously only seen this done on diesel trucks, truly incredible for a supercar to be able to do. This is part 2 of his Zonda review, Part one is below. Enjoy.
-Nick Walker
Bloodmasters: Insane drifting at Raceway Park, NJ
The Bloodmasters invade Englishtown Raceway Park in NJ for some insane drifting action.
-Nick Walker
Test Driven: 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
I’ve gotten used to hybrids in the four years I’ve driven them. They aren’t glamorous, they aren’t designed to make you feel like Ayrton Senna in the mountains, and they’re certainly not designed to tow a boat. That is, of course, until General Motors decided otherwise. Meet the Cadillac Escalade. It’s the most expensive, most blinged-out, and most conspicuous SUV GM offers, and it now comes as a hybrid. I wonder what Greenpeace thinks? Well, in reality, I don’t give a damn what they think, so I decided to see what this V8-powered mild hybrid, full-size, full-frame truck was all about at the Radnor Hunt Concours last September. Continue reading Test Driven: 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
True craftsmanship and functional sculpture: Blastolene
Matt Farah checks out the Decoliner on his Drive segment, Tuned. If you haven’t heard of Drive yet, please follow them on Youtube because it is an epic collaboration of some of the best auto journalists out there. Drive on Youtube
-Nick Walker
Cars 101: Video games and real driving
My generation was the first to grow up with video games that could really simulate reality to a high degree. There are titles out there now that can simulate the likes of ruthless combat, dog fighting a fighter jet, and of course racing a car. Every generation after us will continue to grow up with these simulating games, and will wind up trying to use the experience they have gained in these games when it comes time to get behind the wheel for real. Many people out there do not believe such games hold any real merit in such skills as driving a car, but they would be hugely mistaken. Much can be learned from experience in realistic video games, but it is important to understand what translates into reality and what does not. Continue reading Cars 101: Video games and real driving
Spotted! SAAB 95, Greenwich, CT
Nick and I saw this little Saab station wagon while walking around Greenwich on the first day of the 2011 Concours (June 4th). Strangely, this is a two-door station wagon that until a few years before it was replaced was capable of seating seven people. To be honest, I’d rather not try that today. Still, it’s a nice example and a reminder of what Saab used to be about.
Spotted by: Nick and Al
Bentley and Lamborghini, the VW effect
Around the turn of the 20th century Volkswagen acquired both Bentley and Lamborghini, two very different, very prestigious brands. Right away there was some worry by many enthusiasts that VW may dilute the brands, especially in the case of Lamborghini, but it soon became clear that they were only making things better. In the coming years they introduced the likes of the Bentley Continental and Lamborghini Gallardo. Both were totally new cars that delved into new territory for their respective brands, and both would go on to become the best selling cars in their brands history to date. Lets take a look at what made these two models so successful.
Cars 101: “Certified Pre-Owned”
When I was a little kid, there were two different ways to buy a car. One would either buy new, or buy used. For the most part, the path of buying used was a spread of options, ranging from buying a used car at a new car dealership for a price that would often be too high for the market, buying from a shady dealer in an even shadier area (Big Paulie’s Used Car Barn! Everyone is approved! No credit? No problem! Right in Newark’s West Ward!), or buying from a private seller (which would often prove to be either the very best or very worst option, depending on the seller or the car). Now though, as has been the case for at least the past ten years, the “Certified Pre-Owned” programs are everywhere. So, what exactly are they? Continue reading Cars 101: “Certified Pre-Owned”
Nissan Juke R, what to do for a production version?
There has been a lot of buzz over the Nissan GTR powered Juke R. It is one of those insane ideas that comes along every so often as a prototype and makes everyone wonder if it could ever make it to production. The last time this sort of thing happened, VW put a Bentley GT engine in a GTI, it caused a commotion and even appeared on Top Gear, but that was all that became of it. I see the GTR powered Juke R as the same sort of thing, a fun prototype that won’t actually make it to production. It does however raise the question of what a high performance Juke could actually be like in production form though. Continue reading Nissan Juke R, what to do for a production version?
Mind Over Motor 