MERCEDES-AMG: HALF-CENTURY OF SPEED AT GOODWOOD!

Posted on June 9, 2017 by MartynL

Concepts, Formula One racecars, championship drivers and modern and classic AMG models will be celebrated at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The performance brand’s golden anniversary will be marked with some of the most memorable cars in Mercedes-AMG’s history, including the striking new AMG GT Concept, which will be making its UK debut. Many notable AMG models, both past and present, will be taking to the famous Goodwood Hill, including the powerful new 612 horsepower E 63 S 4MATIC Saloo...

DAYTONA REDUX: STUDENTS BUILD COBRA DAYTONA CLONE!

Posted on June 8, 2017June 8, 2017 by MartynL

Motown students build and test a Factory Five ’65 Daytona Coupe as part of Ford Fund’s STEAM Education Learning Experience. More than 50 Detroit high school students gathered to unveil a unique class project – a ‘65 Ford Daytona Coupe. The assignment – in which students assembled a working vehicle from nearly 1,000 parts – is the culmination of a learning experience created by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. It was in collaboration with Detroit Public Schoo...

FERRARI DRIVERS GROUP: ROAD TRIP!

Posted on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 by MartynL

Mario Parker chronicles eight days (May 14-22) of spirited driving with nary an incident or traffic ticket. Welcome to the First Annual Buona Fortuna 3400. Day 1: Buona Fortuna means good luck and we started our adventure to Troy, AL at our clubhouse at Joe Brielmann’s Collection. TripTik: I-75 north to Florida State Road 27 to Georgia 84 to Alabama 231. Day 2: Troy, AL to Little Rock, AR. TripTik: Alabama 10 to Alabama 19 to Alabama 16 to Natchez Trace to Alabama 36 to Alabama 82 to Alabama...

JAGUAR LAND ROVER: FUTURE TECH!

Posted on May 30, 2017 by MartynL

The future is now at JLR’s Portland Tech Incubator. LISNR and Pilot Automotive Labs are the latest start-ups to join Jaguar Land Rover’s Portland Tech Incubator. It seeks to encourage, promote and support new automotive, mobility and connected car technologies that are being developed by start-ups. LISNR and PILOT bring new expertise to the Incubator team as their research will focus on transmission over audio and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and connected car services. Incubato...

‘17 LINCOLN MKZ: WHAT A DIFFERENCE 400-HP MAKES!

Posted on May 17, 2017May 17, 2017 by MartynL

A feisty new twin-turbo V6 adds some spark to Lincoln’s mid-size luxe sedan, blogs Road Test Editor Howard Walker. Not since Abe was in the White House has there been a Lincoln with this much power. For 2017, those artisans at the Lincoln Motor Company have endowed their stylish MKZ mid-size sedan with a honking 400-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. That’s the equivalent of strapping an Exocet rocket to the back of a kid’s Radio Flyer wagon. Pedal-to-the-metal this new MKZ 3.0T AWD can ...

TECHRULES REN: THE ELECTRIC SUPERCAR!

Posted on May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Aerospace-inspired form by renowned designers Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro and featuring an innovative turbine range extender system, the first production Ren will break cover at one of the world’s most prestigious Concours. Techrules, the China-based automotive research and development company, will display its first production electric supercar, Ren, at the 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este. Featuring a dramatic aerospace-inspired design, Ren delivers power and performance like ...

’17 FORD FOCUS RS: A HOT HATCH THAT HAULS!

Posted on May 14, 2017May 15, 2017 by MartynL

It’s a very usable family hatch that hauls in a straight line, around curves, and to the store, blogs Dan Scanlan. A 2.3-liter EcoBoost Four delivering a whopping 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, also popular in the latest Mustang, powers Ford’s 3,460-pound econobox. It’s mated to a short-throw six-speed manual transmission with a delightfully responsive clutch that engages immediately but smoothly. There’s a center console button that controls the drivetrain. For daily use, just...

QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING: BEST OF THE BEST!

Posted on May 11, 2017May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Cool temperatures fail to lower motorcycle fever at the Quail and keep Jim Palam from delivering this photo report. Low temperatures, brisk winds and overcast skies did nothing to dampen the spirits of over 3,000 visitors to the 2017 Quail Motorcycle Gathering on May 6 at the beautiful Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, CA. Gordon McCall, motorsports director for the Quail Lodge, was once again the perfect ringleader for this 9th Annual gathering. It featured over 300 rare and historic b...

REVOLOGY CARS: MODERN VINTAGE MUSTANGS!

Posted on May 10, 2017May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Licensed by Ford and Shelby, ‘new’ old Mustangs with potent powertrains bring back the golden era of Motown Muscle. Dan Scanlan checks them out for CGC. It’s a Ponycar-lover’s dream team - a 450-horsepower ‘66 Shelby Mustang GT350 in proper white with blue stripes and, and a 430-horsepower ‘66 Mustang GT convertible in that right shade of blue. But while this pair looks period, they are “brand new” ’66 Mustangs produced by Revology Cars, a three-year-old Orlando, FL company started by Tom S...

2017 NY AUTO SHOW: MUSCLE IN MANHATTAN!

Posted on May 9, 2017May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Not all the “horsepower” was on the main floor of the recent NY Auto Show. Hiding in plain sight were some examples of modern influence on standard bearers from the golden era of kick-ass performance. There was plenty of Musclecar and Supercar activity on the main floor of the New York International Auto Show at Javits Center, but I sent roving reporter Joel Wasserman on a mission to find some good old fashioned vintage Chevys and Corvettes. Mission accomplished! Quentin Carbone's Benchmark ...