Welcome to The Smoking Tire. Kick ass automotive videos and more.

Lexus Teases Gorgeous(maybe) Concept

Monday, December 19th, 2011

The first Lexus I ever liked was the  IS300(XE10). I just liked the way it looked. Whenever I saw one in traffic it looked annoyed, like it was too good to be stuck in commuter captivity. It had a little edge to it. The only one I ever drove was an AT which kind of ruined the moment, but I still like them, especially with a 2JZ swap. Then came the IS250/350 and the ISF. All good looking. We have an ISF outside this week and I definitely linger on its bodywork. It’s a great blend of bulging metal and smooth transitions. Like mace that’s been dipped fondue.

 

Well someone at Lexus has done right again. The picture above is a Lexus concept that will be debuting at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2012. And it looks very promising. Someone at Lexus has been taking art classes, maybe taught by an Italian woman with dark hair and the curves of Jessica Rabbit. Jump to see the teased interior pic. (more…)

19.12.2011 News, Photos No Comments

A Car Built for Good, Cheap Fun

Monday, December 19th, 2011

 

 

Stuart Mills liked to have fun. But he’s a nice guy so he wanted other people to have fun too. He didn’t want them to have to spend lots of money or have to have a Degree in Engineering. So after years of building race cars, he designed the MEV Exocet kit car. Based on a Miata it weighs about 1,450lbs and makes 135HP, so it’s damn fun.  It costs as little as $6,000. Those words all go together very well. Make the jump for specs and clips of these angry little track flies in action. (more…)

19.12.2011 Photos, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Optima Ultimate SC Invitational is a Must-Attend (Gallery/Video)

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

 

Note: Let’s call this Sunday reading. It’s a bit long but there’s pretty pictures, even one that moves! It’s Sunday, take some time for the story I spent hours on yourself.

 

SEMA was over. The AdultCon of car shows had packed up, making way for the AdultCon of people; AdultCon. Hundreds of thousands of people stared at thousands of cars, parts, dudes in company polo shirts, failed strippers promo models, obstructing the way for depressed humanoids trying to gamble. Everyone went home on Friday…and missed the best show of the entire week: The Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational

 

You should have gone, because this event is the shit. Matt was invited to compete in his 1998 C5 Corvette. We figured between the car’s lightweight, power and suspension and Matt knowing Spring Mountain like the palm of his hand, he might do pretty well. However we were not prepared for what showed up early on Saturday morning. Make the jump for the story and massive gallery. (more…)

18.12.2011 News, Photos, Uncategorized, Video No Comments

Listen Up Assholes, I’m Only Going to Say This Once.

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

There has been some interesting debate in the comments about my performance in the 2011 Mojave Mile, piloting the Corvette ZR1. Mainly, the debate revolves around two factors:

1) I am fat, and if I were not fat, I would have broken 180 mph, the completely arbitrary goal I set for myself that day.

2) The 2012 Nissan GTR shouldn’t be faster than the Corvette in the mile, yet in the video, the announcer at the Mile says that a “girl in a stock GTR” ran 179.9.

Let’s explore these items after the jump.

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17.12.2011 News, Photos 30 Comments

RENNtech Adds 100 WHP to CLS63 AMG

Friday, December 16th, 2011

 

I love the aftermarket. They are the fringe chefs of the auto world. No content with the way something is made, they will take a classic dish-say, risotto – and then add crazy stuff to it like maple syrup and essence of deadly sea urchin. You might think, “What are you doing?? It was delicious the way it is!” But then chef RENNtech presents his 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG risotto and after a taste, you stop complaining. Because RENNtech has found that with a simple tune you can extract another 100 wheel horsepower. Yum. Jump for dyno sheets and a video of a race against a Nissan GTR. (more…)

16.12.2011 Photos, Uncategorized, Video No Comments

‘Scuse me Ma’am? You Balls are Showing.

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Not in this town, missy.

 

You know truck nuts, right? Those stupid fake balls that people attach to their tow hitch to show everyone…I’m not sure what actually. I guess that you’ve got balls, guts, moxi, etc. You’re the man! “You see these nuts on my truck? They’re only half as big as the balls in my shrunken brain, imagination, pants!” I guess. I think they’re stupid. They are the douche flag of the red neck. Well as it turns out, these are illegal in South Carolina. A sheriff in Moncks Corner, SC wrote a driver a citation for $445. Any guesses on the driver’s name? Buck? Steve? Kevin Klein Klanigan? Hw about Virginia Tice.  Classy. Well, women are more empowered now. She’s probably one of these new, tough chicks you see on Hog Hunters, right? She’s 67 years old. “Look, grandma’s here! That’s her truck! See? It has grandpa’s balls on it! Cookies!!” (more…)

15.12.2011 News, Photos 2 Comments

TST Has a New Show on YouTube’s DRIVE Channel

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

 

Some of you might have seen that YouTube is developing a new channel called DRIVE. You can read the official press release below, but the short of it is it will be a one-stop shop for every kind of automotive content you could want: reviews, comparisons, after market shops, race coverage and interviews. Guess they noticed what people like you and me looked for online (well, not everything). Their goal is to provide a variety of the best automotive content possible.  And, being the nice, smart and generous people they are, they asked the TST team to produce a show called “TUNED” with Matt doubling as the host. With other hosts like Chris Harris (EVO), high-speed god Alex Roy and our own Matt, it should be very good.   Make the jump for a promo video, show description and official press release. (more…)

14.12.2011 News, Photos, Video 1 Comment

GT3RS To RSR Street Car

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

 

Welcome to the beautiful world of a street-legal race car. This is a street-legal Porsche 997 GT3  RS wearing the shoulder pads and muscles of a Porsche RSR race car and put together by Orbit Racing. Make the jump for pics and videos, and more information on this equally gorgeous and obnoxiously crazy street car. (more…)

14.12.2011 Photos No Comments

Review: The BMW X5 Diesel. Over Hills and Through Snowy Ass Woods.

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

“Did you tell anyone we were coming here today?”

“I was just going to ask you that! And…..no, I didn’t. Did you?”

“No.”

We shared a long silence, both mentally flashing forward to a broken car, freezing temperatures and no food. We were 7,000 feet above sea level on the Wheeler Pass trail in Nevada. It was snowing, so the pointy rocks- which ranged in size from grenade to tool box- were becoming hidden from view. We were wearing jeans and hoodies. The closest thing to “supplies” were a tire repair kit, 2 half-full Monster Rehabs and stomachs full of Pahrump’s finest Subway. Popping a tire on this 2011 BMW X5 diesel would surely result in cannibalism, and Thad is bigger than me.

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13.12.2011 Photos, Reviews 4 Comments

Ferrari 599 Fire. What Year is it Again?

Monday, December 12th, 2011

 

Last week a Ferrari 599 GTB spontaneously caught on fire. It didn’t quite melt itself (video after jump) like a dead vampire in From Dusk Til Dawn but it did catch on fucking fire. I’m sorry but WTF?  What year is it again? 2011? And cars are still catching on fire? And not just any cars, these are some of the best  and most expensive cars on the planet. A $7,000 Versa doesn’t catch on fire. The “smart” car doesn’t.  Even my  shitty ’95 Miata managed to drive 300 miles spitting oil out its CAS seal without turning me into Kosher rotisserie. So why are Ferraris and Lamborghinis bursting into flames? Make the jump for a buffet videos featuring exotics on fire. Maybe we can find a commonality? (more…)

12.12.2011 News, Photos, Video 3 Comments

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