If you watch just one review of the new McLaren P1, make it this one from the Drive Network. I know it is a half-hour long, but Chris Harris takes you through so many of the car’s different aspects, even sitting in traffic in Abu Dhabi. This P1 is clearly a game-changing machine, and if you love supercars, then this video is really worth watching to gain an appreciation for how the bar has been raised.
-Nick
Here we will be discussing the cars from the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn. Now that some time has passed since the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, we can see a little more of what has become of some of these incredible machines, or in some cases, more accurately, these cool ideas.
Considering how much I enjoy the V6S version of Jaguar’s F-Type sports car, dropping a supercharged V8 engine in it reminds me of what Carroll Shelby used to say, “Too much is just enough.” He was right. But, just to be sure, I took the wheel of this Polaris White 8-cylinder out on the same roads as the black V6S, a few days after taking the other car out for a spin, to get a closer look at the top engine offered in Jaguar’s newest chassis. Continue reading Jaguar F-Type V8S Review, Al’s Take (Grade: A)
The Corvette has always been an American hero, able to rival Porsches and whatnot in lap times and speed. However, by almost all counts, the Corvette was never on the same level in terms of its driving experience, when compared to the Europeans. The Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray is probably the best Vette yet in terms of driving dynamics, so Autocar decided to see how it stacked up directly to its fiercest rivals from across the pond.
Keep in mind, British journalists, especially, tend to be heavy critics of Corvettes. Maybe they feel threatened by such a great American icon, I mean, the Vette is basically “the George Washington of cars”, and that might bring up some of their cultural bad memories from the late 1700s. Either way, all pokes aside, the Brits seem to like the C7 Stingray quite a lot, and it seems it is finally able to take on the Europeans on their own turf.
Enjoy, and let us know what you think in the comments.
-Nick
Say you have been very successful in your chosen career, and you are ready to treat yourself to a really nice set of wheels. Many die-hard car enthusiasts, like myself, would rather have a collection of a few different cars on a six-figure budget, but many folks still opt for just one car to suit all of their needs and desires. In truth, if you have a high-level executive job, you probably don’t have much spare time to spend cruising around just for fun in multiple, superfluous cars, so having one car that really knocks the ball out of the park is the only way to go.
Obviously, with such a large budget, you can basically have anything you want from a car without even straining yourself. That said, such a budget does allow you to get yourself something that is truly extraordinary, should you so wish. This is where a car like the new Jaguar XJR comes in.
Jaguar’s F-Type is a car that has taken a lot of thought out of me. When I was at Pebble Beach, it was already on sale, and I’d already had some seat time in one back in June 2013 on a parking-lot racetrack in Queens, NY. However, due to the limited amount of time I’d had with it, I was looking forward to taking another crack at this little sports car in the Golden State. I got my wish when I strapped myself into this sleek black beauty, and took it for a rather educational drive around the Seventeen Mile Drive.
Continue reading Test Driven: Jaguar F-Type V6S, Al’s Take (Grade: B+)
It is our first day of Pebble Beach festivities, and Al and I are driving to The Inn at Spanish Bay for a press event. Right after making a left into the driveway we notice a dark shape approaching us, one that is extremely wide with the unmistakable styling of an Aston Martin. My immediate thought was DBS with some aftermarket body kit, but I quickly realized that we were face to face with the ultimate Aston Martin, the mighty One-77.
At the time we might as well have been staring at a living breathing unicorn. Time literally seemed to slow to a crawl as the One-77 rolled past, and the thought of our cameras did not even cross our minds until it was too late. Had we not had to be somewhere, we likely would’ve given chase, but after catching a glimpse of this incredible car, we knew we would have to find a way to track it down later on. Luckily for us, we were able to find the car again in Carmel, CA later that night, surrounded by other incredible Astons. What followed was one of the most incredible car spots of Monterey Car Week this year.
Continue reading Aston Martin One-77 Spotted In Carmel, CA
On Day 2 of the New Hope Car Show, the European classics come out to play. This year, the venerable marque of Rolls-Royce was healthily represented. In fact, its representation was so healthy that I was spoiled for choice. It wasn’t until after I’d spent about an hour perusing the models in the field that I came across this shining red Phantom, owned by one of the more humorous people in the show. The tan convertible roof and luggage compartment, combined with the gorgeous wire wheels and whitewall tires, made this particular Phantom II stand out from the crowd that sunny day. In fact, it stood out so much that my Kodak z990 camera actually broke that very day and I had to go get it replaced. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1931 Rolls Royce Phantom II at the New Hope Classic Car Show 2013
Monterey Car Week is a car spotter’s paradise that is on par with the streets of Monte Carlo or London during the “Arab Invasion” each summer. Rare and exotic cars are literally everywhere you look, and after a while, the run-of-the-mill Ferraris and Lamborghinis no longer seem all that exciting. With so many special cars running around, it takes something very special to grab your attention, especially once you’re a few days into the Monterey madness.
This Aston Martin V12 Zagato is one of those cars that can stop you dead in your tracks, even during Monterey Car Week. With just 150 V12 Zagatos having been built, you have more than double the chance of seeing a Ferrari Enzo on the street as you do this extra-curvy Aston. What’s more, the V12 Zagato was not officially imported into the US, making it that much rarer to see in a place like California. Obviously some special arrangements were made.
Continue reading Aston Martin V12 Zagato spotted in Carmel, CA
We, here at Mind over Motor, are about to wave goodbye to 2013. I, however, don’t want to wave goodbye to some of my favorite reviews of 2013. I didn’t put up as many reviews as I would have liked this year–and there are plenty of reviews on the way for 2014, I assure everyone. However, of the cars that I took out for a drive this year, here are my four favorites.
Continue reading Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013
The Range Rover is a hard vehicle for me to place sometimes. It has the trappings and the appeal of a luxury car, but can tackle off-road trails like nobody’s business. This year, Land Rover did a ground-up redesign of the old girl and at Pebble Beach, I took a chance on this big black beast after taking a Rolls-Royce out for a spin. Now, I drove an older one on a short off-road course last year and it was a rather eye-opening experience, where I learned just how capable the old one was. This time, though, there was no rock-crawling or dune-smashing. It was just me, a representative, and the 17-Mile Drive. After I shut the door, I had some interesting things to ponder. Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B)
In this installment of Chris Harris on Cars, Chris Harris takes it upon himself to find out how good the Porsche 911 Turbo S is when pitted against a McLaren 12C. Watch to find out which one takes the win. Will the Porsche top the McLaren? Or will the McLaren prove its supercar pedigree and knock the Porsche out? Turn up your speakers (or put in headphones). This one’s a treat for the eyes, and it’s also a treat for the ears.
-Albert S. Davis
Mind Over Motor 