Money may not be the root of all evil, but it is the root of all speed. In big-time racing, the correlation between winning and financing is direct. You could argue that a big budget doesn t necessarily guarantee top finishes, but a small budget absolutely guarantees a spot among the also-rans. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Formula 1, which is precisely…
Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer…
BMW redesigned its 2-seat roadster for the 2003 model year, adding what the company called flame-surfaced styling and renaming it as the Z4 in the process. Offering a choice between two refined inline 6-cylinder engines, a used Z4 with reasonable mileage costs about $14, . 2003-2004 Ford Mustang The 2003 and 2004 Mustangs were the final editions of the boxy previous-generation…
Paul lives in Southern California where image is everything. He wants something stylish and sporty but nothing too over the top or too fast because he plans on giving it to his daughter in a few years. What car should he buy? (Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car?…
Better Reaction Times All Around The nonhybrid MDX SH-AWD is a tough act to follow; it’s among the best-handling three-row crossovers, with quick, well-weighted steering and well-controlled body motions. Both MDX models feature an all-wheel-drive system—optional in the regular one, standard in the hybrid—that sends more torque to the outside rear wheel during…
Apparently, it’s because the regular Veyron is such a pansy jellyfish of a car that Bugatti brings forth the Super Sport. The model will be the last word in Veyrons, representing the final 40 cars in a total production run of 300. Price: one hundred thousand trillion billion dollars, or it might as well be. For the $2, 426, 904 a Super Sport costs (at the time…
Infiniti was adrift for more than a decade, trying to establish itself in a crowded luxury scene filled with established players that enjoyed years of pedigree and consumer recognition. With a lineup of staid sedans and rebadged Nissan SUVs, there were few products to help the brand get noticed. That all changed with the G, a car that established Infiniti s current…
AARON KILEY DICK KELLEY AL SATTERWHITE HUMPHREY SUTTON THE MANUFACTURER Ford redesigned its mid-size cars for 1970, and America instantly fell out of love with them. Maybe it’s because Ford kept campaigning the long-nose 1969 Ford Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler in NASCAR. Built on the same mid-size chassis as those of previous Torinos and Cyclones…
Excelling on both road and track is a rare quality, but sometimes a special car comes along Describe your perfect sports car. You know where this is going, but humour me, because there probably aren’t many cars left – or coming – which could tick every box. A sports car has its priorities on sensations, not speed, so you can get away with one of those quaint…
We live in a world in which we re constantly being sold lifestyles. Some companies want you to buy their sports drinks, others want to sell you their activewear, though neither really cares if you actually live the way their ads suggest. The car world is no different. Ninety percent of pickup trucks you see on the road have naught in the bed, nothing being towed…
Mitsubishi doesn’t have a lot of cards left to play in the U.S. market, and its most popular model, the Outlander Sport, has been underwhelming in our testing. But Mitsubishi is doing everything it can to keep its top seller selling, with regular refreshes since the Outlander Sport first appeared as a 2011 model. The first update came on the 2013 model. Then…
The Honda S2 was a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive roadster produced from 2- 09. It featured a high-performance, high-winding inline four-cylinder engine along with a superbly balanced chassis. The S2 was the first sports car to roll out of a Honda factory since the tiny S500, S600 and S800 roadsters of the 1960s, and it ended up having one of the longest production…
A car logo is like a sort of autograph of a car manufacturer, but the logo is even more symbolic and informative. Just a glance at this small emblem can give you an idea of whether it’s a sports car or luxury car, it speaks much about the brand’s image and reputation and the most acquisitive minds can even capture the historical marks. A logo certainly gives…
When it comes to new sports cars, it’s all about the numbers. Not 0-60 MPH times or horsepower. At Beverly Hills Porsche, the two numbers you should concern yourself with are ‘718’ and ‘911.’ The new Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman, and the 911 lineup offer the dynamic drivability and fantastic handling that has been a part of the German auto maker since the doors…
Honda is on a mission to get its sporty groove back. We’ve already seen the new Acura NSX; the Civic Type R was revealed at the recent Geneva auto show; the company’s comeback as a Formula 1 engine supplier is underway; and now Honda has added a new, somewhat smaller, performance car to its range. First shown in concept form at the 2013 Tokyo show, the S660 is…
* Excludes all options, taxes, title registration, $925 transportation charge and dealer preparation fees. ** All Mercedes-Benz mbrace® services operate only where cellular and Global Positioning System satellite signals are available, which are provided by third parties and not within the control of Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. Five years of the mbrace Connect package…
The Mercedes-Simplex 18/28 hp introduced in 1904 is based on the 35-hp Mercedes. The latter was the first vehicle to bear the name Mercedes (from late 1900). Named after Mercedes Jellinek, the then eleven-year-old daughter of businessman and automotive enthusiast Emil Jellinek, the vehicle marks the definitive departure from the until then dominant primitive…
I’m a convertible guy. That Boxster vs. Cayman argument you always have with your friends? Yep, I’m firmly on Team Boxster (feel free to subsequently up- or downgrade me in your personal estimation as you see fit). My reasons are mostly aesthetic, but a little bit practical, too. It’s true that I just love the feeling of an open-topped car, which immerses me…
The Saturn Sky, produced for just three model years, was a two-seat convertible produced by GM s Saturn brand. It was the only sports car and the only convertible ever made by Saturn, which was shut down in the 2009 bankruptcy and government-backed restructuring of General Motors. The Sky was derived from the same platform on which the related Pontiac Solstice…
Total production of the Mazda MX-5 sports car reached 900, units today at Mazda s Hiroshima plant in Japan. The milestone was achieved 21 years and 10 months after mass production of the first-generation MX-5 commenced in April 1989 and further extends the Mazda MX-5 s lead as the best selling two-seater sports car of all time. Indeed, the MX-5 took that title…
It used be that the phrase “best fuel-efficient sports cars” was an automotive oxymoron, as a focus on fuel-economy usually ruled out much in the way of traditional road-going performance. But with the current race to meet the next round of EPA requirements already underway, automakers have turned to turbocharging and other powertrain technologies to deliver…
AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED The Altima Coupe made a statement all its own. It had a shorter wheelbase, a lowered ride height, sleek aerodynamic profile, and an overall sporty attitude. That attitude can still be found today in the Z® Coupe and Altima sedan. Explore Altima Sedan Explore 370Z 2-Door Design The compact two-door featured an ergonomic, sporty interior…
Expressing yourself through your vehicle can spawn much further than furry dice and eyelashes for lights. Our personalised number plate ideas can help you to get your true identity across through the vehicle you’re driving; with it being as obvious or discreet as you like. Having a personalised number plate that reflects who you are can be a creative way to flaunt…
Fade the fund manager with the brand-new Maserati, put your faith in the one who just bought a Honda Odyssey. We find that hedge fund managers who own powerful sports cars take on more investment risk,wrote Yan Lu of the University of Central Florida, Sugata Ray of the University of Florida and Melvyn Teo of the Singapore Management University. The incremental…
