The 2011 Lincoln MKT seems like just about the last car we’d be reviewing on this site. After all, it’s a crossover with very little enthusiast appeal and virtually no online presence, right? Maybe so, but after 1500 miles in America’s least well-known Lincoln, we found ourselves wanting one, bad. Read on to find out why. (more…)
The Smoking Tire hits Supercar Sunday and the canyons with the Art Morrison 1955 Bel Air, one of the best handling hot rods around. We toss this 55 year-old car through some of the tightest curves in California to find out if there really is such a thing as a Hot Rod for drivers.
When you hear the name Buick, what comes to mind? If you get a senior’s discount you’ll sit back on your hemorrhoid cushion and say, “Ah yes, fine automobiles. All the luxury of a Cadillac without drawing attention from the IRS.” If you’re reading this while living in a house that’s worth 50% of what you bought it for, you look at Buick the way Teddy looked at Matt Damon in Rounders; you owe me some f***in’ money. For me the brand reminds me of my grandma, because she’s the only person I’ve ever known who owned one. Sure, Tiger Woods did, but only because his endorsement deal made him.
Basically, Buick’s have always had a reputation as being a car for old people, but after spending a few days with the 2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS, they might have been on to something.
If someone tries to sound smart by telling you that the $240,000 $185,000 ** Aston Martin V12 Vantage takes .9 seconds longer to hit 60 than a Ferrari 458 for the same price, or .8 seconds longer than a Porsche GT2 for $20,000 less, punch them in the face right then and there, because they just don’t get it, and never will.
VF Engineering knows power. By strapping superchargers on everything from Porsche 911′s to BMW M3′s, they know how to give an otherwise stock car a major power increase without compromising any other part of the car. We’ve sampled all their Supercharger packages at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, and we filmed mini-segments with each of them. This is the 560 horsepower, Supercharged Audi R8 4.2. Video below.
Last year, Honda announced that they would try to do something different for its next hybrid car: make it fun to drive. How would they do that? By shortening, widening, and lowering the Insight’s chassis, make it a coupe, and provide a 6-speed manual transmission. Manuals have appeared in Hybrids before, in the first-generation Insight and Civic Hybrids, but all of a sudden, everyone is making a big deal out of it. I got a chance to take one for a quick spin around the block, and here’s what I discovered, in no particular order: (more…)
On June 5th, 2010, I bought a 2010 Ford SVT Raptor 6.2L from Galpin Auto Sports. This wasn’t just on a whim, as I had been lusting after this truck since we borrowed one from Ford to drive on the 2009 Bullrun Rally. On that trip, we learned that, not only does the Raptor have more off-road capability than nearly every other car currently in production, but also it makes a fantastic daily driver, with levels of comfort, storage space, technology, and luxury that are on par with some of today’s best luxury cars. When we decided we needed a daily driver and camera vehicle for The Smoking Tire, the Raptor seemed like the only logical decision. Of course, I waited for the 6.2L engine to arrive, since you can’t make that extra 100hp in the aftermarket for less money than the $3,000 upgrade from Ford. 9 weeks and 3,500 miles later, here’s what we’ve learned about the best sport truck money can buy.
After we posted our 2011 Mustang GT review and the subsequent Mustang GT vs. Camaro SS Drag Race video, we got lots of comments that the race was unfair, or that we drove the wrong Camaro. You see, that particular Camaro was an automatic, which means that instead of the 426 horsepower LS3 engine underhood, it only had a 400 horsepower. This is neither our fault nor Ford’s, however in the interest of satisfying our viewers, we took a 2010 Camaro SS, this time with a stick, to the track. We ran some hot laps to find out if these Chevy fanboys are on to something, or if the Camaro is all style and no substance. Of course, we also ran some hot laps to see if the Camaro’s 226 horsepower advantage is enough to take our Time Attack crown from the current leader, the 2010 Volkswagen GTI. Video review after the jump. (more…)
The Infiniti “M” series, now into its third generation, has had a rough run so far. The first-generation car was closely based on the JDM Nissan Gloria, so much so, that the design was considered outdated by the time it hit US shores. It was considered a sales flop, which is sad because it’s actually quite a good car. The second-generation M35/45 sold much better, but always seemed to play tag-along with the BMW 5-series, Lexus GS, and Mercedes E-Class in sales, despite winning several comparison tests.
Now, we’re testing the third-generation car, and wow, is this something new and improved. But is it new and improved enough to take down the German heavy hitters in the mid-large segment? Hit the jump to find out.
There’s something about convertibles that make people feel glamorous, exclusive and special.
I don’t get it.
My feelings on Volvo and convertibles are similar: strong, passionate indifference. The term”open air motoring” makes me think of an old British man trundling down a road in the cold fog on wheels made of wood. There are exceptions of course, but for the cars with a roof made of metal.
It’s the same for Volvo. My family has owned 3, and while the 2 wagons (a ’91 940 and a 2008 V50) have provided perfectly acceptable transportation, that’s all they provided. The only one that makes me feel anything is my dad’s 1972 P1800ES, and that’s because every time you climb in you get to play “What part will stop working today?”
But when I picked up a 2011 Volvo C70 from Matt’s house it was clear Volvo was hell-bent on changing both of my preconceptions.
