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Online Ferrari 458 Configurator Changes a Man

Monday, January 16th, 2012

by Zack K

The Ferrari 458 Spider configurator has confused me. I clicked the link, and immediately changed it from the dark Rosso mugello to the traditional Rossa Corsa, because if I’m going to buy a Ferrari I want it to be “Ferrari red.” But since this is the internet where you can find a picture that caters to your fantasy about having a threesome with a Halo truck and a furry I decided to click through the other colors, just to see how they looked. I started with the usual blue, black and white but then kept going: Grigio ingrid (like sand), Blue Abu Dhabi, even one resembling British Racing Green-which felt somewhat sacrilegious- looked good enough to drive daily. I questioned my taste, “What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t want a teal car!” (more…)

16.01.2012 News, Video 1 Comment

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

Koenigsegg Agera R: 0-186-0. 21 Seconds. Crazy (video)

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

The Koenigsegg Agera R is very very very fast. No, you don’t understand. It’s really fast. In the video it goes from 0, to 300KMH (186MPH), and back to 0 in… 21.9 seconds. Now, being the internet readers you are, like me you probably have no frame of reference of how fast that really is. For comparison, we have the times of some cars  going from 0 to 300KMH. Make the jump to read and watch this ridiculous thing that I love so much.   (more…)

01.12.2011 News, Photos, Video 2 Comments

5th Gear Wuvvvs the Ferrari Spider (Video Review)

Friday, November 11th, 2011

One thing that often lacks in video reviews or driving videos is driver emotion. Cruise youtube and you’ll see a lot of people talking about cars the way your professor taught you about economics: Factual, direct, maybe some trite joke about cost of beer versus volume to keep everyone awake. Or it’s regular people driving really fast, with the same Terminator face we all wear when we’re trying to not die at the hands of several hundred horsepower.

 

But something is missing. It’s the feeling cars give us. Simply sitting down in my ERA Cobra makes me smile, laugh and make engine sounds. (But if you watch this, you’ll understand I’m not normal).  To be fair, not every car gives your brain a blowjob. I’m not going to laugh like a maniac while driving a new Passat (probably more tears of shame). But I will in a Caterham. That kind of childish emotional display is part of what makes Top Gear UK so great. It’s the difference between watching Steven Hawking and Chris Tucker commenting on Sophia Vergara’s tits.

 

That’s why I love this video of Fifth Gear’s Vicky Henderson reviewing the new 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider. I’ve never seen her have so much fun in a car, and that visible emotion tells me this car must be unbelievable.

 

-Zack K

 

11.11.2011 Editorials, Video 1 Comment

Best Motoring Goes out with a Pricey Bang

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Let’s cut the fluff shall we? Best Motoring is cancelled, and for their last race, their lineup was awesome: Lexus LF-A vs. Porsche GT2 RS vs. Corvette ZR-1 vs. Nissan GTR vs. Ferrari F430 GT3. There’s street cars, super-cars and might-as-well-be-a race-cars. The price is all over the board, as are the cylinders and countries of origin. Each of our favorite countries is represented in a cool, if not the best, way. Thanks Best Motoring, for all your hard *cough* work over the years. You’ve put together some of the coolest and most expensive super-cars in wheel to wheel races.

 

Make the jump to see who won. (more…)

16.05.2011 News, Photos, Video 12 Comments

Video: The 760 HP VF Engineering Supercharged Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

The Smoking Tire finds the best driving road in California and the best car we’ve ever driven to tackle it: VF Engineering’s all new Supercharged Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. With 760HP and 600 lb/ft of torque going through all 4 wheels, this car redefines fast. Video after the jump.

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05.04.2011 News, Reviews, Video 12 Comments

Video: 24 Hours of Dubai – The Coolest Race You’ve Never Heard Of (Update! Video Link Fixed)

Friday, January 21st, 2011

The Smoking Tire’s Tom Morningstar was fortunate enough to attend the coolest race ever that no one’s heard of: The 24 Hours of Dubai. Held at the Dubai Autodrome, surrounded by unfinished buildings and general nothingness, the endurance race features privateer racing teams fielding such cool race cars as the Audi R8 LMS, SLS AMG GT3, Porsche 911 Cup, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, and more. Check out the video to see Tom doing what he does best: getting great shots of cars.

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21.01.2011 News, Video 20 Comments

TST Dream Garage: Aston Martin DBS

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

The Aston Martin DBS. Not only was this car a no-brainer for our Dream Garage, but it is at the very tip top of my “Things to Buy When I marry a 90 year-old Billionaire” list. (That and a bucket of roofies, for myself).

While our garage would probably need to be the size of a Boeing hanger to hold all our dreams, I would want this one parked just inside the door. I’d park in my bedroom if I could, so that every morning it would be the first thing I see. I would be in a better mood each morning, something my friends would greatly appreciate.

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30.11.2010 Editorials, Photos, Viewer Submission 21 Comments

Video: Jaguar XKR 175 – The Best GT Car On Earth?

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

The Smoking Tire heads out to a closed road in the middle of nowhere to test Jaguars newest special edition GT Sports Car, the XKR 175 Edition, built in a limited run of 175 units to commemorate Jaguar’s 75th anniversary. The result of a wonderful car, crazy weather, and a safely closed road is, quite simply, one of the best videos we’ve ever made. Hit the jump to see for yourself.

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02.11.2010 News, Reviews, Video 29 Comments

TST Dream Garage: Alfa Romeo 8C Competezione

Friday, October 8th, 2010

It should come as no surprise that the next car I voted into our Dream Garage is the Alfa Romeo 8C Competezione. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to work on a shoot featuring a black 8C. When it was unloading from the transport truck I stared it with all the wonder of a 14 year old boy looking at his neighbor’s house, realizing his neighbor is Jordan, and her shower has a bay window. Then I got invited to go for a ride, and I haven’t stopped thinking about that day since.

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08.10.2010 Editorials, Photos, Uncategorized, Viewer Submission 5 Comments

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