Tag Archives: Luxury Cars

Highlights from the 2014 New York International Auto Show

April 24, 2014 ndubs77 5 Comments

Lamborghini, Lotus, and Bugatti — Lamborghini Aventador, Lotus Evora S, and the obligatory Bugatti Veyron, of course.

We made it out to the New York International Auto Show to see some of the new cars that have come out recently. The industry has been very exciting in the last few years, as we move out of the global recession, with many great ideas taking shape, as well as a few that leave us scratching our heads.

Check out the gallery below, and let us know what you think of the new style we are trying out with some of our photos. Enjoy.

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Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid, Al’s Take (Grade: A)

April 3, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

Infiniti has been good at keeping itself in the news lately. Last year, when they announced they would reshuffle their naming convention in their model lineup to use the word “Q” across the board, I decried the news as a poor decision which would confuse buyers and damage sales. I’m still not sure if I said the right thing, or the wrong thing. However, at the New York Auto Show last year, I did catch a glimpse of the new Q50, Infiniti’s replacement for the respectable G37 sedan, and took some time with it to see what it was like to sit in. By the time Pebble Beach rolled around, Infiniti was offering this brown 2014 Q50S Hybrid for drives. I eagerly took the keys to see what Infiniti had done with a new platform to fight the BMW 3-Series.

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Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars, Road Review, Used Car Gems

Nick’s new daily driver, a 2012 Volkswagen CC Sport

February 21, 2014 ndubs77 13 Comments

Those of you who routinely follow us, here at Mind Over Motor, may have noticed that my posts last week were a bit light. It wasn’t because I was nodding off, it was because I was going through the process of purchasing my new (but used) daily driver, this beautiful 2012 Volkswagen CC Sport.

I, like many car enthusiasts, am seen as a sort of car guru by my friends and family, who often turn to me for advice on all things relating to automobiles. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back too much here, but they all know that I am quite well informed on many aspects of automobillia, especially when it comes to buying the right car. So when I actually wind up signing papers on a car for myself, I always get a lot of questions as to why I chose the car I bought.

My purchase of this Volkswagen CC is the result of over a year of serious consideration, as well as many years of playing “what if” games on Auto Trader. Given that this blog is largely about documenting our lives as they relate to our passion for automobiles, I wanted to do a post that shows you, the reader, my thought process for the purchase of my CC.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

2014 Jaguar XJR LWB Review (10/10)

February 5, 2014 ndubs77 6 Comments

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.

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Opinions

A quick take on the 2014 North American International Auto Show

January 17, 2014 ndubs77 5 Comments

The 2014 North American International Auto Show has been going on this week in Detroit, and there have been a number of interesting car debuts. The internet is full of all the minute details, and plenty of long-winded coverage about cars that nobody has driven yet. I have seen the details, and sat through much of the coverage, and now I want to bring you my concise, informed take on the cars that have debuted at NAIAS 2014. So here it goes.

2015 Acura TLX:
Pretty much unsurprising, but it’s good Acura consolidated the TL and TSX into one model. They should throw the 370hp hybrid drivetrain from the RLX into this car and have a legitimate Audi S4 competitor.

2015 Audi A8:
What exactly is different again?

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept:
The Allroad Shooting Brake could be an incredibly badass modern rally car for the road. 402hp and 479ft/lbs of torque are some serious figures, and the hybrid drivetrain could prove interesting in a car such as this. My guess, though, is that this will remain a concept.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Motor Trend Pits the Audi RS7 Against The Porsche Panamera Turbo

January 10, 2014 ndubs77 5 Comments

Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman instigates some in-fighting between members of the VW Group: Audi’s RS7 takes on Porsche’s Panamera Turbo. Both are all wheel drive, four door sedans, and both have turbocharged V8 engines. The similarities are numerous, but in the end, the differences do show.

PS: I absolutely love the Porsche’s purple paint job, which Johnny says he hates more than a few times throughout the video. It is a provocative color, and one that lends itself well to the relatively “sleeper” Turbo model.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven

Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013

December 31, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

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.
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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B)

December 17, 2013 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

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) →

Car Shows

Beautiful Raspberry Bentley Continental GTC W12

December 4, 2013 ndubs77 2 Comments

While passing the Bentley hospitality lodge at Pebble Beach, I noticed this stunning raspberry colored Continental GTC W12 on display. Normally Bentley Continentals are common fare in wealthy areas, especially Pebble Beach, but the color of this one, and the beautiful setting drew me in. Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Porsche Panamera GTS (GRADE: A)

November 8, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

Porsche is a brand with plenty of varied supporters and detractors. What’s funny is, some of those supporters are also detractors. Whether it was the 911 going to a water-cooled engine, the 911 getting the nose of the Boxster, the 911 going to electric power steering, the Cayenne launching, or the idea (even the idea! For shame!) that Porsche would–GASP!–produce a four door sedan. Any change, and they start screaming.

I’m not one of those people. The Panamera has been a big hit for Porsche financially and I have seen more and more of them on the road since the car’s 2009 launch in America. I hadn’t driven one yet and for some reason, just didn’t think much of it until I was at the Porsche Zentrum at the Quail Lodge in August. When I arrived, I signed up to drive this four-door Porsche, only because the 911s on hand were all booked completely. I thought I’d regret this decision until I turned the key…

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Rolls Royce Phantom DHC and Ferrari F12, Pebble Beach, CA

November 6, 2013 ndubs77 5 Comments

While driving around Pebble Beach during our first day of Monterey Car Week we decided to stop by The Inn at Spanish Bay. We were greeted by numerous exotics parked out front, but this bright purple Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and bright red Ferrari F12 Berlinetta definitely stole to show. Enjoy the pics.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: Hyundai Equus, Nick’s Take (6.5/10)

November 1, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

Hyundai has transformed itself over the last decade, going from the stereotype maker of cheap jalopies to a company that is now taking on the biggest names in the luxury market. The Equus you see here is the culmination of those efforts, a car that claims to strike directly at the standard of the world, the Mercedes S class.

It is really crazy to think that the same company which makes the economy-minded Elantra can also produce this posh luxury bruiser. Other companies, like Honda and Toyota, created whole new brands (Acura and Lexus) for their upmarket efforts in the US, but Hyundai has decided to keep everything under one flag.

This does beg some questions: Can the Equus really work as a Hyundai in a country where people are obsessed purely with their own self image? And furthermore, if we put the Equus up against its claimed competitors, will it stand up to the challenge?

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