Tag Archives: Luxury Cars

Why Couldn’t Lincoln Just Make a Lincoln?

April 1, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

The Lincoln brand desperately needs a savior, but I’m really not seeing the 2016 Lincoln Continental Concept as the car to do it.

Establishing a solid brand identity for Lincoln is really the only thing that matters here, in my opinion. And, frankly, if the new Continental isn’t going to do that, then it is total a waste of effort and money for Ford. My problem with it is that most of it’s good aspects are done the wrong way to establish a real unique brand identity. There is too much copying going on, and you can’t anywhere new as a follower. There are a few good things, though, so let’s begin with that before jumping into the ocean of criticism I have to voice.

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Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

2015 Cadillac CTS Vsport Review

March 25, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

This is effectively an incognito BMW E39 M5, only even more well-rounded. It is the Cadillac CTS Vsport, not to be confused with the CTS-V, which is Cadillac’s full-throttle, “still hard as a rock after 4 hours” experience.

The CTS Vsport is very much its own thing, not just some “Diet CTS-V” with less calories. If the CTS-V is a big honking hamburger, then the CTS Vsport is grilled salmon filet. It is an entirely different flavor from the V, so get that comparison out of your head from the get-go.

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Car Games

Configurator Fun: Mercedes GLA45 AMG

March 20, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

The Mercedes GLA45 AMG is basically the luxury rally-ish car of your dreams. That is to say it’s a small all wheel drive car with nimble handling that has a turbocharged 4-banger which puts out entirely too much power. Yea, I know all about the CLA45 AMG, but I’d rather have this thing with the added suspension travel.

The base price of the GLA45 AMG is $48,300

Mine cost $63,350 spec’d out how I’d want it.

I saw a GLA45 in brown with the brown interior at Pebble Beach this summer, so I had to go with that. I love that you don’t usually see such a combo on an AMG.

As far as options, I got the carbon fiber aero package, but without the ricey spoiler that I hate. I also forwent the Driver Assistance Package, where the car basically drives for you, because I can drive myself, thank you very much.

I did spring for the Premium Package and the AMG Driver’s Package for the nice features they include, as well as the Panorama Sunroof.

So that’s the GLA45 AMG that I’d have. Feel free to configure your own here, and share in the comments. I’d love to see what you all come up with!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Mercedes SLS AMG Spotted In Carmel, CA

March 9, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Mercedes SLS AMG is quite a beast of a car with it’s snarling 570hp 6.2L V8. It’s actually quite a nice sports grand touring car as well, and it will always draw a crowd with its epic gullwing doors. We caught this gray SLS AMG out prowling the streets of Carmel, California during Car Week this summer. Great car!

-Nick

Opinions

Meet The Gorgeous New Baby Bentley Concept

March 4, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

Yea I saw the new Porsche GT3 RS and yea I saw the new Lamborghini Aventador SV. For each I saw the photos and details and though, “Ok, next!” But then I saw this new Bentley sports car concept, and I still have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor. It is nothing short of magnificent!

It’s called the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, and it aprears to be a brand new entry-level model. If it makes it to production, which I imagine it will, it looks like it will take on the Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, and Mercedes AMG GT. In short, the Speed 6 will be a Bentley Sports Car, and that’s not something they’ve made before.

What I’m really hoping for in the Speed 6 is a traditional Front-engine RWD architecture. VW doen’t currently have such a RWD car in their lineup and really could use one in my opinion. If there winds up being both RWD and AWD versions of the Speed 6, then I think Bentley will have another home run on their hands.

The engine is rumored to be a six cylinder, given the Speed 6 nameplate. I suspect it could likely be the twin turbocharged 3.6L V6 found in the Porsche Macan. The base model will probably have around the same “400hp” as the Macan Turbo, and the higher model Speed 6 will likely have over 500hp so it can run with the V8 F-Type.

We’ll see for sure if/when it makes it to production. But forget the numbers, and just look at the thing, it’s incredible! I sincerely hope that Bentley doesn’t water down the design and the fine details for the production version. This will be a six-figure car, and I think that wood grain, and those headlights will help it stand out from even the posh crowd at that level.

I think the Bentley Speed 6 will be a fantastic addition to the VW Group lineup, assuming they build it, of course. Let’s all just hope, and enjoy the photos for now.

-Nick Walker

Auto Idolatry

Chris Harris Tests The New Mercedes C63 AMG

February 24, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

In place of the old 6.2L V8 monster, the new-gen Mercedes C63 AMG has the same twin turbocharged 4.0L as the AMG GT-S sports car. Chris Harris has taken it out to see how it goes. Enjoy!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Exotic Car Combo Spots In Carmel, CA

February 17, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

Normally it’s cool enough seeing one exotic car on the road, even a single Ferrari can often make your day. But Monterey, California is an excessive, excessive place during Car Week. You see all sorts of awesome combos, and you even get used to seeing the more “common” exotics. These two photos are a good taste of “the norm” during the week. In the photos you will notice a Rolls Royce Ghost, McLaren 12C Spider, McLaren 650S, Mercedes SLS AMG, two Ferrari 458s, a Mercedes SL63 AMG, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and I’ll even include the Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible in the back there. Now who reading this wouldn’t love to have all of those in your garage?

Enjoy!

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, Exotic Supercars

Tesla Model S P85D Review

February 6, 2015 ndubs77 9 Comments

Tesla has taken the industry by storm, shattering all expectations and continuing to surprise everyone. I remember about a year ago when Tesla shares were around $120 and many analysts were saying that was far too high. Well guess what, today shares are selling for $218.

Elon Musk’s can-do spirit permeates through the Tesla brand. That charisma associated with the brand seems to appeal to many customers as much the car itself does. Lately, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing Teslas everywhere in my area. For a high-end luxury car, they are selling like hotcakes.

The Model S P85D is surely the most multi-functional vehicle that I’ve ever experienced, and that is what surprised and impressed me the most about it. In fact, I’d say it’s like having four distinct cars in one…

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Opinions

2016 Lexus GS-F, Stupidity Or Genius?

January 16, 2015 ndubs77 3 Comments

Lexus has unveiled the long awaited F version of their GS sedan, the aptly named “GS-F.” It aims to take on the heavy hitters of the high performance luxury sedan market. You know, the BMW M5, Mercedes E63, Audi RS7, and Cadillac’s daring new CTS-V. With such hefty competition, we were all sure that Lexus would really come prepared. We waited with baited breath as we saw test mules running through their paces, hoping it would be another a bombshell like the Cadillac.

Now out in production form, we see that Lexus has given the GS-F a big naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 that produces all of 467bhp. And that would have been great… if it were still 2003.

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CARS 101

Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R 2.0T Modification and Tuning Guide

January 6, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

Volkswagen’s 2.0T has been the backbone of their lineup, at least here in the US, for nearly a decade now. It has nestled itself into a versitile position, powering the higher-end VW models as well as the lower level Audi models.

Volkswagens equipped with the 2.0T include: the GTI, Golf R, Jetta GLI, Passat, Beetle Turbo, CC, Eos, and Tiguan.

Audis equipped with the 2.0T include: the A3, S3, A4, A5, A6, Q3, Q5, and TT.

The 2.0T has wide-ranging capabilities, and, what luck, it just so happens to be quite tuneable. While there are a few varying versions of the 2.0T out there, depending on the model, the general modification path is pretty standard fare.

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Opinions

The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V And The Identity Of New GM

December 24, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Christmas came a few days early for American car enthusiasts this year. On Monday, General Motors released the first details on the new Cadillac CTS-V, the latest part of a blatant assault on their foreign rivals. But the offensive is about far more than just “beating” the competition. What these efforts are really about is cementing a solid reputation for the new-era of General Motors.

What I’ve seen happen in the last few years is GM creating their own identity, their own unique flavor of automobile. This is especially so in the high performance sector. GM isn’t trying to build a carbon copy of the latest BMW, quite the contrary. If anything, BMW has strayed from their own ideology in recent years, and GM has chosen to pursue the path that BMW and others have left behind.

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Cars We've Driven

2015 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Executive Reviewed (8/10)

December 17, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Turbo S Executive is the big mac-daddy of the Porsche Panamera lineup. It seems to take all of the best aspects of other Panamera models and put them together with an extra helping of horsepower. The Turbo S Executive is an immaculate vehicle in every way possible. But it had better be, considering the price… $240,000 for the one I drove.

The Panamera Turbo S is an awesome and complex automobile, full of gadgets and cutting edge technology. I could go on for days about all that, but it’d get us nowhere with the one truly relevant question… is this Panamera worth spending nearly a quarter of a million dollars for?

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