Continue reading My Top 10 list of cars that defined the past decade
Tag Archives: Electric and Hybrids
Impressions from the Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace is the first electric car I’ve driven that I could actually see myself owning, and I say this having driven some of the fast Teslas.
I just found the Jag a better all around package. See, I’m not a fan of the idea of an electric sports car at all… totally ruins the point IMO. That said, I love the idea of having an electric daily driver, and the I-Pace just seemed to fit my taste a bit better than the Teslas.
The BMW i8 is basically what the DeLorean would’ve been
The BMW i8 is today a lot like the DeLorean was in the early 80s.
While not nearly the political phenomenon the DeLorean was, in the market it occupies the exact same slot: a spaceship-looking car with epic doors that doesn’t perform nearly as good as it looks. In fact, the ratio of the i8’s power compared to the Ferrari 488’s is nearly identical to that of the DeLorean compared to a Ferrari 308.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually really love the i8 for what it is, and I enjoyed cruising around in the sapphire blue one you see above. But the i8’s party piece is its appearance rather than its performance. It’s only about as fast as a stage 2 Subaru, but it will turn as many heads in town as a Koenigsegg, especially in an insane color like this. We actually had a guy push his stroller into a curb because he was so fixated on our i8 just sitting at a red light.
The i8 is really is a concept car you can buy, but it’s more for casual drivers than enthusiasts in terms of the driving experience it offers. Also just like the DeLorean ⛄️
-Nick
Jay Leno takes us through Tesla’s past and future
Ferrari F12 next to a Prius in Greenwich, CT
Like Yin and Yang in perfect harmony, the fast and ostentatious Ferrari F12 sat side by side with the slow and humble Toyota Prius. Two very different lifestyles met to attend the same festival of Automobillia, the Greenwich Concours.
It’s a lovely place.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor Podcast 7 – Thoughts on the Camaro Facelift, Performance SUVs, and Enthusiast Hybrids
Acura NSX Review: Can an Acura be a “full” supercar?
Sometimes great things do fall right in your lap. The other day I went to work and was having a pretty normal day. As I went to leave for lunch, I noticed this striking silver Acura NSX parked in front of our building. I had no idea why it was there, but where I work, at AWE Tuning, we get cool cars stopping by all the time. I checked out the NSX with my coworkers, and spoke with the driver, who I found out worked for Acura corporate. I knew my boss was going to take the car for a spin, but as we talked, he told me I could sign a release and drive the car too. Say no more, I signed the papers. It was going to be a fun lunch break…
This was crazy, a supercar drive had fallen in my lap on a random Monday afternoon. I didn’t have my proper camera on me, and the roads near work aren’t the best for testing out handling, but hey, I figured I’d make the absolute most of it. I only had about 10 minutes in the NSX, so it was just a taste, but it gave me a solid impression of what Acura’s new supercar is all about.
Continue reading Acura NSX Review: Can an Acura be a “full” supercar?
Rimac Concept One at NYIAS
The Rimac is the first electric hypercar. It’s proven to be a little quicker than a Porsche 918 in the 1/4 mile, and it has a good amount of hype surrounding it at this point.
This was the first Rimac I’ve seen in person, and it’s cool, but it doesn’t have the same sort of breathtaking detail as the new Bugatti Chiron or the Koenigsegg Agera.
I respect Rimac for what they’re doing. Electric supercars definitely need to carve out their place in the world, and the Concept One is leading the charge. That said, a supercar without an engine and gearshift is missing 90% of the drama that makes such a car so special. Fast only goes so far in my opinion, and that will always hold electric cars back for me.
-Nick Walker
Are Electric Cars REALLY the Future for Driving Enthusiasts?
Watching the first episode of the new season of Top Gear, and Chris Harris made a comment about the Ferrari FXX K possibly being the last gasp of the combustion engine. It’s a comment we’ve heard before, and I’m sure it’s a comment many will continue to make. But I don’t buy it for a number of reasons.
Sure, I do think electric cars, specifically self-driven electric cars, are the future for mass independent transportation. I think so many people out there have so little interest in driving that they’re a danger to themselves and everyone around them when they get behind the wheel. Those folks should leave the driving to the machines, the world will be a much happier place.
But what about those of us who live to drive for recreation, just because driving is so much fun? Obviously you can totally forget the self-driving cars, but are electric cars even that desirable to us?
Continue reading Are Electric Cars REALLY the Future for Driving Enthusiasts?
Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach in Outrageous Orange!
It’s amazing how much the right color can add to the impact a car has on the world around it. The Porsche 918 Spyder has a ton of presence to begin with, but in this molten orange it seems like it can stop time itself.
People were pouring over this thing in Scarsdale, especially little kids, who must have been totally transfixed . Even with all of the other insane machines around it, this Porsche had it’s own special sort of gravity.
In addition to it’s spectacular paint job, this 918 Spyder was also fitted with the coveted Weissach Package. That made it extra cool for me because it’s actually the first Weissach-equipped Porsche 918 I’ve laid eyes on in person.
Enjoy the gallery!
Continue reading Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach in Outrageous Orange!
Tesla Take 2 with the Model S P90D
I got my first taste of the Tesla magic in 2015 when I drove a Model S P85D. It made one hell of a first impression, and I was totally blown away. I felt like I had just experienced the true next step for the automobile, capable of blistering acceleration, superior practicality and sublime comfort, all in a single package. Oh, and did I mention it was green, too? I was enamored with it then, but I was curious to see how the Tesla would fair the second time around, now that my initial fascination had worn off.
I was recently able to take a spin in the new, facelifted, Model S P90D. This drive was much better than the first one. It lasted much longer, the roads were much better, and I got to try out some of Tesla’s amazing new features (including Autopilot). I also gained more perspective on the Model S, what it is, and what it is not.
Hybrid Exotic Showdown: BMW i8 vs. Acura NSX
Carfection pits the BMW i8 against the Acura NSX.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 