Top Exotics at SEMA 2022

Sexy Wide Body Kits and Big Turbos

When it comes to The SEMA Show, exotic supercars are on another level. From body kits to twin turbos, these supercar builders push the envelope to stand out in a saturated crowd of stunning builds. There’s a bit, or should we say a lot, of everything for you to like here. Take a look at some of the supercars that grabbed our attention while walking the floors of the 2022 SEMA show.

Parkhaus1 Miami: Porsche Magic for 911s and P-Car Classics

Complete Porsche Restorations, Sales, Tuning and Dealer Alternative

Everytime a car contact of ours visits Miami and South Florida, they typically make inquiries about which supercar and classic car hotspots they need to visit. One Porsche 911 owner stopped by and later admitted within five miles of our location, he saw more supercar and hypercar content versus several years back home… all in one afternoon! Aside from the multiple 918 Porsche Spyders and RS cars we viewed that day, he wanted to experience real classic, rare and outrageously modified P-Cars, and there is only one place for that, Parkhaus1 in Miami. We visited Parkhaus1 during one of their open houses but really on any given day, the  Porsche hardcore will find untold wonders of rear-engine 911s, plus a few MR and FR platforms too.

Parkhaus1 (or as they call it, The Porsche Sanctuary) is famous throughout the country and continent spanning down to South America for serious clientele. If you have the means, Parkhaus1 one will either build your dream or sell it and the caliber of inventory in the showroom is always impressive. The shop houses Porsche products of all decades, turbo and NA, narrow and widebody with upgraded cars in nearly every stage of tune. The open house coincided with client cars on display and the crowds were in a frenzy as this is almost Das Renn Treffen lite but on a monthly basis.

…If you have the means, Parkhaus1 one will either build your dream or sell it and the caliber of inventory in the showroom is always impressive…

Das Renn Treffen is the annual Porsche show held in Miami that bills itself as the largest on the east coast. Second only to Luftgekϋhlt (air cooled in German), Das Rϋenn Treffen attracts everything from low-buck 996 Turbos to near priceless Porsche 962C, 935 and 959 race cars. Parkhaus1 clients always have a huge presence there, creating much of the special content at the show.

Parkhaus1 is in deep south Miami, so when coming from northern counties like Broward or West Palm Beach, it can be a grind on the treacherous I95. But passing by the area Porsche dealerships can be worth the drive (or flatbed). A fairly new shop, Parkhaus1 was launched in 2014 by a group of Porsche enthusiasts looking to create a trusted name by doing incredible work on Porsche cars of significance. They retail rare and limited classic and late model cars but also focus on being a dealer alternative for pricey maintenance and repairs. South Florida dealer rates are over $200/hr so the Parkhaus1 $149/hr alternative is appealing to P-car owners out of warranty.

Another perk at Parkhaus1 is their Pre-Purchase Inspection service (PPI) that comes in around $349 for most P-Cars. Whether you want to see if an IMS bearing has been addressed or the body on a 356 isn’t just a hammered out rusted shell coated in layers of Bondo, buying a car remote (or local) can be a nightmare. Parkhaus1 takes all the future headaches out the equation with Gold Meister service techs at the ready for air-cooled, watercooled, naturally aspirated and turbo engines regardless if they are located in the rear, front or all chassis points in between!

The staff gave us the shop tour and a bit of backstory for each Porsche car on display. While there we saw a rare bird, Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB) widebody 993 Cabriolet that came all the way from Georgia. Akira Nakai-san also had a few Rauh-Welt Begriff parts shipped there for an upcoming RWB 930 conversion on-site. There were manual Porsches galore for the purists like the 911R. Naturally, we couldn’t stop gawking at the uber-rare 993 911 Turbo S in the showroom with those prices soaring in the past few years.

…A fairly new shop, Parkhaus1 was launched in 2014 by a group of Porsche enthusiasts looking to create a trusted name by doing incredible work on Porsche cars of significance…

Spreading out from the indoor climate-controlled showroom, low-mile, pristine Porsches for sale stretch out to the front lot. How low mile is low mile? Well, Parkhaus1 currently has a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster for sale that has only 3,500 miles on the clock. There are also tuned cars from TechART and a quarter million dollar Ruf, the 400-horsepower 6-speed BTR3 Turbo Cab there too! Regardless of year, make, model, trim or limited production units Parkhaus1 has for sale, one aspect of their Porsche cars is that they have been maintained, serviced and are documented with a reliable source. No surprises here and Parkhaus1 always accepts trade-ins for the right cars with no skipped maintenance intervals or sketchy history either.

When in Miami, Parkhaus1 should be on the list of must-see car attractions. Even non-Porsche aficionados will find automotive wonders to really stop and soak in at Parkhaus1 and their doors are open to customers and fans.

What Supercars have the Best Price to Performance this Year?

With under $200K to Spend, These are the Best Supercars to Buy in 2022

Wow, it’s already 2022 and the past two years have been a decidedly weird blur of strange events like labor shortages, back-orders and sparse microchip production in the automotive sector. But as certain OEM manufacturers have been hit hard missing targets, supercar manufacturers have posted record gains and certain models fly off the shelves. We then asked, what supercars on sale in 2022 are attainable but amount to the cheapest, high performance supercars to buy.

For the sake of the article, it is widely accepted that a supercar today is 500hp+ with a mid-engine and rear-drive transaxle. A proper supercar makes use of more exotic materials, composites and advanced technology to set it apart from the brute force of lesser platforms like say a Mustang, Camaro or even a GT-R. A supercar can be had for under $200,000 (if there are units available) and this list is the most-affordable, yet capable performance vehicles available. 

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C8 – $89,500 (est.)

Yes, we know the Z06 is a 2023 model year and that deliveries and dealer mark-ups could be a circus but this is a supercar-slayer will be on sale Summer of 2022. The Corvette C8 itself was an incredible platform overhaul that has been rumored since the 60s but finally the mid-engine American supercar is actually here.

The upcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 promises to eclipse not only the soft-bellied C7 Z06 it replaced but anything close to its price-point. Derived from the C8.R racecar tech that put the hurt on the field at Le Mans, Sebring 12h and Daytona 24h is coming for fancy Italian, British and German mid-engine offerings. With an incredible sounding flat-plane crank V8, there is no turbo and no supercharger to put out its 670 glorious naturally aspirated horsepower. 

…The upcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 promises to eclipse not only the soft-bellied C7 Z06 it replaced but anything close to its price-point…

The 2023 Corvette Z06 was tested by Chevy to run 0-60mph in an incredible 2.6-seconds. We can hear you Tesla fanbois, but the 2023 Corvette Z06 will catch a Plaid just past the ¼-mile marker and destroy it on the way to a higher top speed.

2023 Audi R8 Performance RWD – $148,700

When the German brand jumped into the supercar arena, critics thought they were mentally unstable. But Audi already had Lamborghini in it’s portfolio, so the risk wasn’t high and they could design a comfortable everyday supercar that was inexpensive. The R8 V10 has gotten good, so good that it could be cross-shopped with a Lambo Huracan for much less for several years now.

For under $150K, you can get the Audi R8 Performance with spicy rear-wheel drive. It’s lighter and more unhinged than the R8 quattro. With a proven 5.2L V10 using no forced induction, you get 562-horsepower and a capable 3.6-seconds 0-60mph and a 205 mph top speed! Zehr gut! 

2022 Acura NSX Type-S – $169,500

The Acura NSX used to make our cut for best supercar value for performance-to-price when it was cheaper. With harsh critiques about the NSX, Acura took the gloves off for the Type-S, the final trim edition for the supercar that should have been available from launch but limited to only 350 units… worldwide!

The 2022 Acura NSX Type-S is everything the enthusiasts wanted. The hand-built vehicle only handled by master technicians, the same talent behind the NSX GT3 car it was inspired by. Up from 560hp in the NSX, the NSX Type-S now boasts 600-horsepower from its combined SH-AWD hybrid drivetrain. The vehicle has aggressively restyled looks, GT3-derived aero and a twin turbo mill equating to performance value will crush many high-dollar supercars. 

…The hand-built vehicle only handled by master technicians, the same talent behind the NSX GT3 car it was inspired by…

 

With a claimed top speed of 191 mph and sub-3s 0-60mph time, overall performance data is murky. But does it matter? All 350 units are spoken for with a reported 700 buyers in the queue, although the website does state: “All orders are pending. Contact your local dealer to get on the waitlist.” 

2̶0̶2̶3̶ ̶L̶a̶m̶b̶o̶r̶g̶h̶i̶n̶i̶ ̶H̶u̶r̶a̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶E̶v̶o̶  2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS – $143,050

Say what you want in the comments, but we changed our minds mid-post on opting for the lower cost 2023 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 RS versus the aging Lambo for affordable supercars. Porsche is dominating in motorsports and Nϋrburgring records with the 911 GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 RS but now for $150K you can buy a mid-engine chassis GT3-powered, lightweight track weapon that promises to embarrass many supercars like the base Huracan Evo that costs $66K more!

First, let’s settle the ‘whether this is a supercar’ argument now. Yes, it has a MR layout and a flat-6 motor that is technically 502hp (detuned to 493hp) with a number of exotic materials to keep it trim at 3,227-pounds. The GT4-RS might not have McLaren or Lambo styling but Porsche builds capable mid-engine cars and this Cayman outruns their Carrera GT and nearly the 918 Spyder after running a shocking 7:04.5 lap on the Nürburgring! The GT4 RS clicks off a 3.2s 0-60mph time and will hit 196 mph… all for under $150K? Shut up and take our money.

What is the Best Yet Cheapest Supercar to Buy?

McLaren and Lamborghini used to be on this list but now their “entry-level” Artura and Hurcan EVO have crept past the $200,000 barrier. For that reason, they still offer solid supercar value but seem unattainable for the upper middle-class. In the end, if you can go domestic, the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is the clear winner here. We predict buyers will be paying double sticker for it and still be happy with how it abuses rival supercars.

Why the Porsche 930 Turbo is Called The Widowmaker 911

The Almost Uncontrollable 911 Turbo is Magic for a Real Driver

Back in the late 90s, I was a total punk when it came to dismissing European car brands. Why? Well with a few minor tweaks, my turbo AWD Mitsu could outrun any BMW, Audi and even Porsche of the day in a straight line or in the twisties. Granted those were stock Euro cars being pumped out in Bavaria, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart but then I got the opportunity to drive a true legend, the Porsche 930 Turbo and the whole perspective changed. This coworker’s 930 Turbo had a handful of Ruf modifications and was so fast, the rear tires never really felt connected to the pavement. But was it the just the tires or was there more to the question: why do they call the Porsche 930 Turbo the Widowmaker?

Let’s be blunt, the name ‘Widowmaker’ implies you are going to die driving this car, and leave your wife a wealthy widow. Back in the 1970s when this car was conceived, we still had the Grand Prix running the Nürburgring Nordschleife Green Hell, no air bags, no ABS and Porsche engineers were smoking potent Euro cigarettes at their desks. Porsche was dominating top level motorsports like Le Mans with turbo tech in the Porsche 956 and Porsche 962C won most of the races in the 1970s and 1980s. But it was the highly successful Porsche 935 turbo, that required, Porsche build FIA homologated models for the street and the Porsche 930 Turbo produced 400 units as required in 1975. 

…the name ‘Widowmaker’ implies you are going to die driving this car, and leave your wife a wealthy widow…

But this was a car that now eclipses the 911 chassis horsepower they had in the Carrera itself. The more pedestrian version of the 911 had 150hp and 173hp for the 911S but the 930 cranked out a whopping 250hp in the 3.0L from 1975-1977 and 296 hp with 304 lb-ft of torque from the later 3.3-liter in 1978 onwards. Coming from 3.0-3.3L, that kind of horsepower might not sound like much in our modern horsepower wars but it was substantial and clearly the rest of the 930 wasn’t ready. Although Porsche upgraded the 911 chassis to address items like weight distribution, downforce, traction and yes the dreaded turbo lag, there were significant problems driving the Porsche 930 Turbo,

“The technology isn’t in the car for it to cope with the amount of horsepower, really.” 1980 Porsche 930 Turbo owner Deryck Shakespeare told Petrolicious, “If you’re not ready for [turbo lag], it will catch you by surprise and it’s lights out.”

My first experience in the 930 Turbo was trying to run 0-60mph times in my (then new G-Tech performance meter. When launching in first gear even with a bit of a roll-out it would just light up the tires and break loose when the boost started coming on. Yes I had powerful turbo cars but, this was a Ruf Turbo that was around 400hp and it was too much for the suspension, tires and weight bias to handle. The best runs we clicked off were low 5-second range but that was starting in second gear!

Remember, that is straight line acceleration and the 3.3L boxer-6 turbo was a handful. He said he didn’t really drive anywhere near the limit because of the cars reputation he had a couple snap-oversteer tank-slapper moments and that was enough to dial it back and just respect the car that completely lived up to it’s name – the Widowmaker.

The Porsche 930 Turbo isn’t a ver substantial car. It was over simplified almost from the beginning and by the mid to late 1980s seemed antiquated versus modern sport luxury offerings. The formula was simple, light chassis, no driver aides, no power-steering or ABS but big on horsepower… it even had an old school 4-speed transaxle. For a minimalist car, that weighed under 3,000-pounds, there was outstanding power-to-weight ratio to be had, especially by the final 1989 production car that came with 330hp. But the weight bias was completely off in this car from the 1970s 

Rear weight bias gave them immersive, off-the-line traction, and the ability to shift weight rear out of corners and rocket out of the exits. Only problem is that balance can’t be too upset as the rear weight give the car a pendulum effect when lateral cornering forces are introduced. Swing that force too much and a snap-oversteer condition arises and in the 930 Turbo chassis is impossible to control. Certainly the throttle can’t be relied on to help steer as the lag is too delayed. When that boost hits, it wouldn’t only add to the instability of the uncontrolled oversteer. As a result, the 930 Turbo and any modified variants from the factory or German turning houses, has to be feathered, has to be respected… you’re not Hans-Joachim Stuck.

The instability and unpredictability of the Porsche 930 did have consequences. There were crashes and deaths attributed to the inherent driving characteristics of the 930. It is rumored that the US market did not receive the 930 Turbo in 1980 to make revisions to the car but that was attributed to it not meeting emissions standards. Europe of course got more horsepower with 325 but let’s face it, they are all fantastic drivers over there. But more importantly, the questionable fate of the 930 Turbo in unskilled hands prompted Porsche to pioneer performance AWD drive systems. Yes the Porsche 959, often credited with being the grandfather of the modern supercar needed advanced traction of electronically-controlled AWD to put all of its 450 turbo ponies to the ground.

…the questionable fate of the 930 Turbo in unskilled hands prompted Porsche to pioneer performance AWD drive systems…

Porsche and turbo now meant they would be synonymous with all-wheel drive. Well at least until traction control, suspension and tire tech caught up. Yes, we are looking at you GT2-RS.

Widowmaker: a term coined by German pilots terrified of their flawed Luftwaffe F104G Starfighter seemed fitting for the Porsche 930 Turbo. Parallels exists since the F-104G was a high performance fighter with an out-of-the-box design but also fatal design issues and it didn’t perform in less-than-ideal conditions.

Top 10 Air-Cooled Porsches

From 356 to 993, These are the Cars that Built a Teutonic Legend

The air-cooled, horizontally-opposed engine design that Porsche used with great success over decades had humble beginnings as a four-cylinder development of the original Volkswagen powerplant, but grew to become one of the most iconic engines ever found in both sports cars for the street and pure race cars. Here are ten milestones that cover the 50-year history of Porsche air-cooled boxer street cars.  

1948 – Porsche 356

From the rubble of war-ravaged Europe, a small, lightweight, rear-engine sports car based on the basic powertrain design of the pre-war Volkswagen “People’s Car” was created, dubbed the 356. The flat-four engine grew in displacement (from 1.1 to 1.5 liters), valve count (the 4-valve Carrera became optional at the end of 1955) and horsepower (29kW/39HP initially, 118kW/160HP in the most highly developed version) over the 356’s 76,000+ unit,19 year production run.

1964 – Porsche 911

With the 356 still selling but at the end of its development potential, the automaker introduced a new design, retaining the rear-engine layout but adding an additional two cylinders, which bumped the displacement to 2 liters and power to 96kW/130 horsepower. You may not have heard of this obscure model, as production only continued through 1989, but it represented the cornerstone of Porsche’s business model, with a legacy that continues to this day.

1965 – Porsche 912

Concern over the increased cost of the new 911 model compared to the outgoing 356 led to the introduction of an ‘entry-level’ version of the platform powered by a holdover flat-four sourced from the latest versions of the 356. Lighter, less expensive at $4,700 list price, and offering 66kW/89HP, the 912 substantially outsold the 911 at first, but by 1969 production facility realignment and stricter looming emissions requirements in the critical US market led to the decision to end 912 production in favor of the 911 and 914. In 1976, the 912 name was revived for an “E” model to replace the 914 as the bottom step of Porsche’s three-rung performance ladder until a proper successor came on-line. Just shy of 2,100 total 912E models were manufactured during that single model year, and were only sold in the US market. 

1969 – Porsche 914

Born out of a contractual obligation to provide developmental support for Volkswagen and the need to phase out the 912 in favor of a new model, the 914 was originally conceived as being sold as a VW when powered by a flat-four and a Porsche with 6-cylinder power. Concern about the US market and potential brand confusion led to Porsche marketing both models, bringing the long-standing ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between the two companies to a sour conclusion. The car itself was a success, outselling the 911 and pioneering a rear-mid-engine powertrain layout that placed the engine ahead of the rear axle instead of behind it as it had been in the 356, 911, and 912. Though more than 118,000 were sold worldwide during the eight year production run, a bare 3,300 914/6 models would be produced. Largely overshadowed today by the runaway success of the many 911 models that appeared subsequently, the 914 was in many ways the blueprint for the modern Boxster/Cayman platform. 

1973 – Porsche 911 Carrera RS

The Rennsport (‘racing sport’) version of the classic 911 is widely considered to be one of the most desirable models from a collector’s standpoint, thanks to their improved performance and relatively low production numbers. Porsche, looking for a competitive edge in racing organizations that demanded a minimum number of cars be built and sold to the general public, created the RS as a ‘homologation special’ with a bigger and more powerful 2.7 liter six delivering 154kW/207HP. Other changes from the standard production model were an upgraded suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, more capable brakes, and aero mods that included the now-iconic “duckbill” rear decklid spoiler. In addition to these features of the “Touring”-spec RS, buyers could also tick the Sport Lightweight box on their order form which substituted thinner body panels and glass, saving an additional 220 or so pounds over the already-light 2,400 pound curb weight of the RS Touring.

1974 – Porsche 930

Though officially referred to as the 930 in the US, this variation was universally known worldwide as simply the “911 Turbo”. Introduced with a 3.0 liter engine rated at 190kW/260HP, the 930 had grown by 10 percent in displacement and another 40 horsepower by 1978; while 300 ponies doesn’t sound like much by modern sports car standards (or even compared to some crossovers), in a lightweight chassis with extreme rear weight bias and legendary turbo lag, it was more than a handful to drive. Even comically-wide rear fender flares to cover enormous rear tires and a giant whale tail spoiler could only partially correct the car’s off-throttle understeer/snap oversteer handling characteristics, and perhaps no vehicle in history other than the Beechcraft Bonanza has actively tried to kill as many doctors, investment bankers, and trust fund kids as the original 911 Turbo. Nevertheless, it remains an object of pharmaceutical-grade desire for anyone who was aware of cars in that era.

…perhaps no vehicle in history other than the Beechcraft Bonanza has actively tried to kill as many doctors, investment bankers, and trust fund kids as the original 911 Turbo…

The 930 had a hiatus in the US market due to emissions issues from 1981 until it was reintroduced for 1986, and by then the car was long in the tooth in terms of engineering, but it was still hugely profitable for the company. Porsche squeezed every bit of sweet, sweet juice out of the Turbo nonetheless, introducing the ‘slant nose’ version towards the end of production in 1989.

1989 – Porsche 964

Marketed as the “Carrera 2” and “Carrera 4”, the internally-designated 964 platform carried over just 15% of its design from the ‘classic’ 911, and was the first version to offer all-wheel-drive; as a matter of fact, the original 1989 model was only available in Carrera 4 configuration with the Carrera 2 coming on-line a year later. Power came from an equally new 3.6 liter air-cooled flat six designated the M64 rated at 184kW/247HP, and the suspension design made the radical shift from torsion bars to coil springs, with the ubiquitous MacPherson strut configuration up front and an independent semi-trailing arm rear. Coupe, Targa, and Cabriolet body styles were offered, and power steering and ABS were introduced as standard features. Buyer demand in the US led to an RS America version for 1993 and 1994, based off of the Carrera 2, featuring a whale tail spoiler, de-contented interior, and lower 2,954 pound curb weight, among other changes. Overall, the naturally-aspirated 964 spanned just half a decade of production but racked up 63,762 cars built among all the configurations.

1990 – Porsche 964 Turbo

With the introduction of the new chassis and naturally aspirated motor but a successor to the previous Turbo’s powerplant still under development, the 930’s engine was used as a stopgap. Changes increased rated power to 235kW/376HP but blunted a bit of the turbo lag, which along with the revised chassis and suspension made the car much easier to drive at the limit than the previous Turbo, but still not particularly forgiving of large changes in throttle position mid-apex. 1992 saw the debut of the Turbo S, which had the same peak power but detail revisions to the tune, a lightweight interior similar to the RS America, a manual steering rack, and lowered suspension. Only 86 were produced, making for one of the rarest road-going 911 models ever offered. By 1993, a new boosted M64 was finally available for the Turbo 3.6 model with 265kW/355HP on tap, but the 964 was nearing the end of its abbreviated lifespan and only one model year and less than 1,500 total cars were produced to that spec. 

1994 – Porsche 993

For the 1995 model year, Porsche once again mutated the 911 DNA to produce another generation with minimal (claimed less than 20%) carryover from the 964. Major frame and suspension design changes improved handling and further tamed the inherent snap-oversteer characteristics common to rear engine designs, and once again both 2 and 4 driven wheel models were offered. While the M64 engine design was carried over, this generation gained a sixth gear in the manual transmission and a bump to 200kW/268HP at introduction. Coupe and Cabriolet body designs were manufactured, along with a complex “greenhouse” roof marketed as a Targa but with a power-retractable glass panel in place of the previous removable section. Production ended in 1998 thanks to the air-cooled design no longer being able to reasonably meet emissions and noise standards, but not without one final model to properly put a coda on the end of the air-cooled 911 symphony…

1995 – Porsche 993 Turbo

Everything came together in the last air-cooled Turbo 911, with a 3.6 liter twin-turbo M64 cranking out 300kW/402HP, the first all-wheel-drive layout for a 911 Turbo, wider rear bodywork, and of course a whale tail spoiler. All the nasty surprises of the original 930 had been eliminated, creating a car that was more forgiving when pushed, not a carnival ride in bad weather, and shockingly quick under all circumstances. The ante was upped in 1997 with the Turbo S’ uprated engine delivering 424 horsepower, and another homologation special, the GT2, was produced and sold in small numbers, making it highly sought-after by collectors. All things considered, the 993 Turbo was a fitting conclusion to the first part of Porsche’s 911 evolution. 

L’Automobile Storms Miami Beach With Concepts, Customs, and Supercars

Second Annual Event Showcases World Class Cars

When you think of Miami, visions of the unhinged 80s immersed in a tropical lifestyle with a dose of narcotics come into focus. However, Miami is now recognized as an international hub of fashion, culture, and art renowned the world over for producing leading-edge designers. The car in Miami is more of a statement than basic transportation and even six-figure supercars are heavily customized and modified to make an impact in South Beach, Brickell and emerging hot spots like Wynwood and the Design District. With this fashion, art and culture movement producing a show like l’Automobile would certainly succeed, transcending car enthusiasts to cater to the design inherent in cars and the talent designers who visualize and craft them as well.

L’Automobile (French for ‘The Automobile’) is in its second year and being a new show, at a fresh venue with an innovative approach, gained momentum as car design aficionados caught on. The founder, Elo is no rookie in the high end, design and custom car scene. That’s right, the founder goes by only one name and comes by it honestly coming from the fashion world in the UK and Europe and setting up shop in Miami to establish a high dose of sophisticated car culture in one of America’s leading arts locales.

The 2021 show forged ahead through the pandemic with strong attendance for international cars and infamous car personalities such as:

• Fabio Lamborghini: The nephew of the famous Ferrucio Lamborhini, Fabio trained in engineering and worked at divisions of the fabled automaker until 2007. He was also active in contributing to the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agostino, Italy, which these days is more of a special guest at auto events around the world.
• Maurizio Corbi: Active designer from Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and responsible for the Ferrari legends, the F355, the 550 Maranello and yes even the exclusive 349 unit F50 flat-12 supercar from the 1990s. 
• Malcolm Bricklin: Most famous for the mid-1970s composite panel V8 supercar bearing his name the Bricklin SV-1. Bricklin is an auto exec that has had many successes over the years and remained a force in the automotive business into his 80s.

Beyond the star power invited to the event, the Miami VIP car elite showed up en masse with millions of dollars in supercars, hypercars and classics sitting out in the parking lot forming a show itself. Dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens graced the lot with the odd Koenigsegg and Pagani to make a statement. But inside the show the collection got even more eclectic, exotic and rare being hand picked by Elo himself.

Likely the most expensive vehicle at the show was the Red Bull HONDA-powered F1 car to promote F1 Miami. The show also included a high value of the late model supercars, as well as an array of customs and prototypes, which are truly priceless. We’ve seen the outrageous coachwork on the Lamborghini Espada rat rod built by Danton Arts Customs of France but in reality, the impact never fades on us. The Espada again graced another Miami show but it was it’s neighbor the Salvage to Savage DeLorean twin turbo widebody that shocked the crowds. This show was the first appearance of the 2021 SEMA hit show car, that easily made the largest impression on attendees at the Vegas show.

Built just north in Boca Raton, FL, the widebody DeLorean is literally a concept from famous 3D designer, The Kyza (Khyzyl Saleem) meticulously crafted into metal and composites. This is a true fantasy-concept sitting at the l’Automobile show but far from a rolling clay shell, this retro supercar makes real jam. Under the bonnet is Garrett twin turbo-powered 5.2L LS V8 channeled through a 6-speed Porsche 996 transaxle to the rear wheels. Not only was the first time anyone has seen the car wrapped in this rich gold hue, there is more to the build we are featuring soon.

A pair of retro highlights captured audience attention, the first was the Maggiore Project M. The limited to 40 units Project M, is based on the venerable Ferrari 308 with a fresh take on wider bodywork, composites and modern technology to make an all new approach to the Magnum-mobile. Another fan favorite was the Miami-themed Land Rover restomod. A nut and bolt restoration of this offroad legend, has been reborn with everything replaced or renewed and in a high-impact color-scheme that got a rumored $250,000 offer to buy the truck after the show.

With all of the gasoline-powered legends new and old, it was in fact a pair of EV concepts that caused a frenzy of activity. While gear heads play out the final decades of the internal combustion era, next-level projects like the EV-powered Shelby Daytona Coupe really commanded attention. This sleek silver car by Superformance was clearly missing trademark design cues like the massive side-pipes and gated manual. Although we did still spot a fuel pump switch, oil and water temp gauges, this work-in-progress has a dual EV motor set up capable of over 1000lb-ft of torque with a sub 3-second 0-60mph claim.

Beyond the Daytona Coupe EV was what appeared to be a Porsche 911 930 that curiously was missing the exhaust pipes out the rear fascia. The car called the Electric GT certainly looked like a gas car, yet had a pair of massive electric motors mounted to the rear axles resulting in one fast, yet silent assassin on the track.

Once again l’Automobile asserted itself as not a traditional Miami car show. Dozens of high-end and rare supercars from Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Pagani are seen regularly at many shows in South Florida but still the unique content at this oceanfront show setting sets itself apart. 

Exotics on Las Olas Takeover of Florida With Supercars Galore

Fourth Annual Show brings Exotics and Race Cars to Fort Lauderdale Streets

South Florida has money. Stupid kinda money where you regularly see yachts cruise by that are more than a lifetime net worth… multiplied by 100 lifetimes. For the supercar, hypercar and racecar scene, South Florida is a flurry of activity. There are collections here that will never see the light of day and having experienced a few in person, I can only verbally describe them as breathtaking because for security reasons, there won’t be any pics shared. However, Exotics on Las Olas is a show that has the owners of dozens of these rare exotics shined up and brought out to takeover the streets of Fort Lauderdale in a premium car show that realistically is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Show organizer Floyd Rag is not only a former NFL’er and celebrity-connected player but he is a huge car enthusiast who created and produces a number of popular car shows in South Florida. Floyd built up a hugely popular event called Supercar Saturdays for local dealer networks:Lamborghini Broward, Bugatti Broward and Koenigsegg Florida. With that show firmly established, he wanted to reach beyond the confines of a dealership or mall as a venue and takeover downtown Lauderdale to bring the magic to a wider audience. And now, for the fourth year in a row, the show plowed through the Pandemic to impress crowds with millions of dollars in supercars tough to find all in one place and certainly not in most states.

Past Exotics on Las Olas shows have showcased rare cars like Bugatti Divo, Pagani Huayra Roadster and even rare birds like the Maserati MC-12 Corsa, of which there are only 12. In 2021, it was more late model madness of pricey supercars, hypercars and tuned exotics that were one-offs of only a handful made. Probably the most impact at the show was garnered by the Apollo Intenza Emotizione from Ikonik Motors of Miami. Owner Barry Skolnick is a mega-millionaire that has stormed the Florida scene with his growing collection of exotics but has parlayed his passion into a retail business being the first customer to secure a V12 Apollo hypercar here in the US.

While many late model supercars graced the show, we took notice of not one but three Lamborghini Huracan STO examples in attendance. The STO is basically a street-legal race car, which in many ways is the peak of the Huracan platform as it enters its eighth model year. It seems like only yesterday the 610-4 trim came out but now there are so many variants, many of which were at the show including three Super Trofeo race versions.

While Italian supercars dominated Exotics on Las Olas, we have to tip our hat to cross-channel rival McLaren as there were many stunning examples on parade. A number of McLaren 765LT and 765LT Spiders baked in the Florida sun along with a handful of unique MSO examples on display with roof scoops and all. While the McLaren factory efforts amounted to loads of eye candy, we couldn’t believe the offering from German tuning house Novitec. The wider, faster and generally more outrageously styled Novitec 720S N-Largo was parked on Las Olas and we’re not sure just how rare people realized it actually is… there are only 14 beyond the one we were looking at!

The Novitec 720S N-Largo delivers on the performance and aero expected of the southern German tuner with a hint of Senna styling. The limited McLaren boasts 806hp and takes the already fast 720 platform to 60mph in only 2.7-seconds on the way to a top speed of 217mph. The wider wheel and tire upgrades increase the track by 2.3-inches up front and over 5-inches in the rear making the stance difference nothing less than intense.

For the 4th straight year, Exotics on Las Olas has weathered the storm and beat attendance numbers year-over-year. We ran into a few automotive media colleagues who traveled quite a distance to cover the show. Seems our little supercar show in the quaint streets of old Fort Lauderdale on palm-lined Las Olas Avenue has made the cut and gone prime-time around the world.

Strange Custom Cars at SEMA

Tank Treads, Fabricated Bodies, and Unique Paint Jobs

These custom cars at SEMA this year really push the limits on what it means to have a modified car. SEMA is a show which primarily focuses on aftermarket performance and cosmetic modifications on cars, and the companies who make them. But among the supercars, tuners, truck, and muscle you get some very creative, and strange creations from some innovative and possibly mentally unstable builders. These guys bring a unique perspective, and love them or hate them, they definitely set the bar for modifications.

These are our best and strangest custom cars we saw at SEMA this year in Las Vegas.

First up we saw a couple of snow track oddities that were not the Ford Bronco. The riveted one being a Custom Bug Out Jeep Gladiator built by Expedition Vehicle Outfitters with custom metalwork done to it. If one of the treads somehow falls off they have a spare Milestar Patagonia Tire attached to the back of the vehicle as well, just in case.

We also saw this Humvee with snow treads, but this one had a giant Battleship horn attached to it by ProdigyTV on youtube.

Artist Rocketbyz, showed off this Pikes Peak ready Audi Quattro with his signature neon paint splatter paint job. Reminiscent of all the previous art cars from the past.

Chevy Revealed a custom desert Off-Road concept truck called the Chevy Beast based off the Silverado platform. It has 5 link suspension, Four wheel drive and a body that looks like its built for the UNSC.

Next Up we have a couple of Custom Trucks, one low one hight. The blue one is a Hodson JRT10 Truck with a Jeep Wagoneer front end and a Viper V10 engine.

This one is a 6×6 C10 with 1000hp and a wing instead of a truck-bed built by Deberti.

Best Modified Supercars at SEMA

Widebody Corvettes, Lowered Ferraris, and Amazing Lamborghinis

These mid engined supercars were built to be fast, but some builders at SEMA this year decided that they did not look cool enough. Widebody, air suspension, big wings and aero, three-piece wheels and of course fancy paint makes these stand out from their stock counterparts. Whether you are a purist or prefer modified cars, this set of cars we saw will definitely stun you.

With the new Corvette mid engined propelling the brand into supercar territory, many companies have jumped on the opportunity to transform the corvette body into something more stunning. Many jaw dropping wide body corvettes were on display here in Las Vegas.

If we raise our budget by a lot we get to see this cool Mint green Ferrari 488 that has been lowered, put on some nice white wheels and subjected to downforce. Brought to us by DNA Motoring.

Also brought to us by DNA Motoring is this AMG GT that looks like its ready for a track day and a clean car show at the same time.

FInally we have a couple Lambo’s that have gotten the treatment as well. This is youtuber TJ Hunt’s British Racing Green Lamborghini Huracan with a 1016 Widebody kit and sitting on Gold HRE wheels.

Ten Euro Standouts

The Most Influential US Imports from the Old World

After the end of the Second World War, America emerged unchallenged in terms of manufacturing and industry. All the domestic car companies who had turned their might to supply the “Arsenal of Democracy” were quickly pivoting back to products designed to fill pent-up civilian demand. And yet, in Europe just as in Asia, war-ravaged economies saw the US domestic market as a way to jump-start their own reconstruction, despite formidable barriers. 

…war-ravaged economies saw the US domestic market as a way to jump-start their own reconstruction, despite formidable barriers…

For the next five decades, German, Italian, English, and French manufacturers worked to solve the puzzle of selling stateside. While there were many misfires and failed attempts along the way, we also received a lot of cars that stood out for their innovation, performance, or just plain lovable weirdness. These weren’t the Porsche and Ferrari sports cars, but often very ordinary designs that rose to greatness. Here’s ten Euro cars that all made their mark on the United States, for a lot of very different reasons. 

1949 – Volkswagen Beetle

A literal “people’s car” designed for a dystopia that thankfully never fully came to be, the Volkswagen Type 1 finaly reached mass production just in time to help a shattered Germany get back on its feet. It went on to see more than 21 million cars sold worldwide over its very long production run, and although it started out as underpowered and unsophisticated even by 1930s standards, the Bug went places nobody could have imagined. In every form of motorsports from road courses to drag strips to Baja, the VW was embraced and found success. In the driveway, it taught Boomers to wrench without fear (and how to drive stick – once you master a VW transmission, everything else is cake), and it’s pretty safe to say that as long as there is gas to burn, somebody will be turning out new air-cooled flat-fours for them.

1960 – Austin Mini

Not everyone knows that the UK spent almost ten years after WWII with rationing of certain items still in effect – the war had taken a high toll in manufacturing infrastructure and massively disrupted public transportation. Against that backdrop, the Austin Mini debuted in 1959 and a year later, left-hand-drive versions began export to the US. While the total numbers that made it to our shores weren’t spectacular (approximately 10,000 over seven years), the impact they had is hard to understate. Here was the first widely-available transverse engine front wheel drive economy car most people ever experienced, and its space-efficient two-box profile and drivetrain layout set the standard for tens of millions of cars from dozens of makers in the subsequent years. 

1968 – Fiat 124 Spider

Designed by Pininfarina, the little convertible Fiat somehow managed to be an Italian sports car in the same mold as England’s classic roadsters, but with ever-so-slightly better reliability. First appearing in the US in 1968, the model managed to soldier on all the way into the early 1980s, with upgrades in engine displacement along the way. Many say that the Mazda Miata was an homage to those English roadsters, but the commercial success of the Fiat Spider made it a more direct ancestor (even if it wasn’t good enough to keep the company in the US market.)

1974 – Fiat X1/9

This toon town caricature of Italy’s vaunted mid-rear-engine exotics never made more than 75 horsepower from the factory, was undrivable by anyone taller than six feet, and was abandoned by its parent company in 1982 to be picked up by Bertone and limp on in the US (the car’s largest market by far) through 1987. It was also a riot to drive, and foreshadowed the MR2 and even the Fiero as an affordable mid-rear two-seater.

1982 – BMW E30

It’s not throwing shade on BMW to call the E30 3-series their version of the Civic. It revived the market formerly served by the classic 2002 for enthusiasts who wanted a compact car that was fun to drive and affordable. In the secondary market, it became a tuner superstar thanks to its easy availability and the fact that all the fundamentals were done right. 

1983 – Audi Quattro

If you like the GT-R, EVO, and WRX STi, you can thank (at least in part) Audi for blazing the trail. The original Quattro hit the US market at a time when the only other car with full-time AWD was the AMC Eagle. While the Eagle was special in its own way, it was no performance car, and the Audi’s turbocharged inline 5-cylinder and rally pedigree were something totally new in America. Though the first Quattro sold in miniscule numbers in the USDM, it was the vanguard of things to come worldwide.

1983 – Mercedes W201

Not to be outdone by their rivals at BMW, Mercedes jumped right into the compact market with the 190-series “baby Benz,” gifting the W201 chassis with a sophisticated suspension and a rev-happy inline four cylinder engine in various displacements. While it didn’t gain the same traction with street tuners in the US that the E30 did, it found great success in road racing worldwide and changed Americans’ conception of Mercedes as either Gullwings or diesel-powered living room couches to a viable performance brand.

1983 – Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI

Though the VW Golf Mk1 arrived in the US in 1975 (and was called the Rabbit, for reasons which are not entirely clear) and overseas markets got the hot rod GTI version a year later, Americans would have to wait until 1983 to get a Rabbit GTI. While the 90 horsepower 1.8 liter engine (uprated to an even 100 for 1984) is nothing special by today’s standards, in the light and well-engineered Mk1 chassis it was a paradigm shift in economy car high performance. Looking back, the “hot hatch” category was inevitable, but Volkswagen got it right first, and created a legend that continues to this day.

1984 – Volvo 760T

Sure, the Volvo 122S/Amazon had European rally cred in the 60’s, and the P1800 looked exotic and cool to American eyes (and even had a star turn as Roger Moore’s ‘hero car’ in The Saint TV series), but by the mid-Eighties, the Swedish car-maker was known for safety and cars that could be accurately modeled with LEGO blocks. Then, in 1984 US buyers were offered the turbocharged 760T, which not only led to the widespread misuse of the word “intercooler” but more importantly gave us a quick, practical, and safe car with a bulletproof boosted RWD drivetrain. To this day, “turbo bricks” still have a small but very enthusiastic owner base in America.

1985 – Merkur XR4Ti

You knew you weren’t getting out of this without us throwing in at least one really weird one, and the Sierra XR4i from Ford’s European branch certainly checks that box. Rebadged and rebranded as the Merkur XR4Ti in America and sold through 800 or so Lincoln/Mercury dealers, you wouldn’t mistake one for anything else thanks to the ‘aero’ nose, biplane spoiler, and notch-profile 3-door hatchback body. The FR drivetrain layout was motivated by a 2.3l iron-block inline four topped by a turbo pushing 14 PSI – the same engine in the SVO Mustang and Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, minus the charge cooler, with 175 horsepower on tap in manual transmission cars. Ultimately, sales didn’t justify updating the model to meet increasingly tight safety regulations, and the strong Deutschmark didn’t help. The short-lived experiment left a bad taste with Ford US, and we wouldn’t see another Euro-manufactured model from the Blue Oval again until the Ford Focus RS arrived in 2016.

So there’s our list – we’ll admit that it’s subjective, and reasonable people can disagree over things like this. What USDM cars imported from Europe would you put on your own list of most influential models? 

You Bought A New Track Car – Now What?

Essentials for Hot Laps on a 5k Budget

So you’ve taken the plunge and bought yourself a dedicated track car. You did your research, found what you were looking for in sound mechanical condition and not already so far from stock that you’d have to rip everything out before doing it the way it should have been done in the first place, and you’re eager to get it prepped and put some laps on it. But you’re not made of money, and your meme stocks only got you into low earth orbit instead of to the moon, so you have a $5,000 budget for everything you’re going to need. 

Some hard choices will have to be made, because every dollar spent in one area means a dollar less to spend somewhere else. Here’s how we would allocate those 50 Benjamins most effectively – while your priorities are going to vary from ours, having a plan is the difference between a car on the track and yard art on jackstands for another year because you ran out of money and motivation.

Helmet – $350 ($4,650 Remaining)

Yes, we know you already have a helmet you bought off Craigslist. Yes, we know you are the one driver who will never, ever crash. This is still non-negotiable. Every reputable track day event organizer will insist on an ‘in-date’ skid lid that meets an accepted testing standard. Most often this is Snell SA or its equivalent – some sanctions will accept a Snell M-rated helmet, but the DOT-only models are almost always not considered good enough, for a reason.

Helmets designed to meet the SA and similar ratings have features that make them better suited for automotive use, where sharp impacts with objects that can penetrate the shell are more likely than the types of forces involved in motorcycle crashes, and they’ll have a fire-resistant liner. The “in-date” part is important too; the impact-absorbing liner has a finite lifespan, which gets shorter the more it is exposed to temperature extremes or solvent and gasoline fumes. 

While it’s possible to get an open-face helmet that carries a SA2020 tag for as little as $160, we recommend a full-face model, and as the list price goes up you’ll also get better fit and finish and improved comfort, which is important when you’re trying to concentrate on-track. Throw in another $40 or so for a fire resistant head sock (also good for comfort, as well as keeping the liner of the helmet cleaner) and $350 is a reasonable starting point for this critically important item.

Tires/Wheels – $2000 ($2650 Remaining)

We’re assuming that if you’re limited to a $5k overall budget for track car upgrades, you’re probably not going to trailer to and from events. We’re also going to assume that you will want a separate set of wheels and tires so that you’re not burning through expensive high-performance tires daily driving on them (though mad props to you if you are hardcore like that – we’ve been there ourselves). Like everything else on this list, wheels aren’t an area where you want to cut corners, but it’s entirely possible to get into a set of four new, quality wheels from a reputable manufacturer for around a grand. For that price, you are looking at cast rather than forged wheels, so the tradeoff is slightly higher weight for a lower price, as well as not being as forgiving or repairable when tweaked during inevitable encounters with debris or curbs.

Like everything else on this list, wheels aren’t an area where you want to cut corners, but it’s entirely possible to get into a set of four new, quality wheels from a reputable manufacturer for around a grand…

Tires are consumables, and depending on how hard you run them and what your level of compromise is between grip and longevity, these may have to be replaced several times a season. Fortunately, it’s often possible to find a well-heeled fellow enthusiast who always has used tires that have ‘gone off’ for full-boogie competition purposes but still have plenty of laps left in them for less serious use, so we’re compromising and putting a cost of $250 a corner out there to give some wiggle room for that initial set. Like always, your experience may vary, and cars with uncommon fitments or really big meat will tend toward the more pricey end of the spectrum. 

Brake Upgrades – $1250 ($1400)

Here’s another area where there is a wide range of possibilities – if your track car has decent stock brakes, all that may be necessary for anything less than full competition use might be a change to a different brake compound, braided stainless flex lines, new rotors, and a fluid flush and bleed. On the other hand, most cars of interest to the track day crowd have a lot of bolt-on options at surprisingly reasonable prices. If you don’t go totally nuts, our budget should at least cover a front caliper upgrade in addition to the other things mentioned above, plus a spare set of pads to be bedded in and brought with you if you’ve chosen a soft-but-grippy compound and a tight course to run on for a mid-day swap.

if your track car has decent stock brakes, all that may be necessary for anything less than full competition use might be a change to a different brake compound, braided stainless flex lines, new rotors, and a fluid flush and bleed…

Suspension upgrades – $1400

We’re going to take the last of our remaining budget and allocate it toward suspension. On the less expensive end of the scale, a complete, properly engineered and matched set of quality replacement springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, and polyurethane bushings can set you back as little as $750, while the sky is the limit for a complete competition-spec coilover conversion with multi-way adjustable dampers. We’re splitting the difference here, but odds are you will come in either substantially above or below our average estimated price. Depending on what kind of tracks you prefer, you may prioritize suspension above brakes, or the other way around, and adjust your spending on these last two categories accordingly.

One thing you absolutely do not want to do under any circumstances is to cheap out here; there are a lot of janky ‘lowering kits’ and coilover conversion setups with suspiciously low price tags and brand names you have never heard of, but spending any money on components of dubious quality and unclear origin can only lead to disaster. 

That Money Went Fast…

As you can see, it doesn’t take a whole lot to blow through $5k getting your new toy set up properly, but going into it with clear expectations for the cost and effort involved can keep your dreams from dying before you ever get to the track. Keep in mind that this is just a start, and in order to keep your racing fun sustainable, it’s a good idea to set aside money for every event you attend in some place where you won’t spend it, to be used for future consumables like tires, brakes, and maintenance items. Budgeting is never fun, but it makes the fun stuff possible, and helps you to drive more and dream less. 

Hot Swaps

Engine And Chassis Combos Limited Only By Imagination

Engine swaps might seem like a recent thing, but OG hot rodders did it back in the 1950s, putting the then-new small block Chevy V8 into Ford Model T chassis, and when Cadillac created a long-stroke 500ci version of their corporate big block in 1970, wrecked Eldorados became a prime target for drag racers looking for as many cubes as they could get. Today, despite tightening regulations that threaten to make any kind of automotive modification illegal, let alone a complete motor swap, mixing and matching cars and drivetrains has never been more popular. Let’s look at some of the most common types of hybrid chassis and engine combinations (and we mean that in the cool way, not the electric motor ‘hybrid’ sense) and the reasons behind them.

All In The Family

In terms of sheer numbers of completed swaps, updating (or backdating, in some cases) a particular car with an engine from the same manufacturer takes the top position. In the import and sport compact world, the most common swaps involve upgrading Hondas with more powerful engines – the trend began with taking lightweight Civic or CRX shells originally equipped with fuel-sipping but low-output D-series four cylinder engines and replacing them with more powerful B-series engines from models higher up on the price and performance ladder. With the introduction of the even more powerful and versatile K-series, those became the donor engines of choice, despite being somewhat more complicated to swap due to the necessity of changing transmissions as well. The extra effort is worth it, though; 200 horsepower or more from a completely stock engine in a late-90’s Civic that tips the scales at under 2,400 pounds makes for very entertaining performance at an affordable price.

In terms of sheer numbers of completed swaps, updating (or backdating, in some cases) a particular car with an engine from the same manufacturer takes the top position…

Honda engine swaps have become so popular that you can find ready-made components like engine and transmission mounts, headers, and ECU adapters for pretty much any reasonable (and more than a few unreasonable) combination of engine and chassis. With the trailblazing handled, potential compatibility issues have all been sorted out by somebody somewhere. It just takes a bit of research to come up with a proven recipe to follow, and entire books have been written on the subject covering every last detail.

Another common form of swap involves putting an engine not available in the US market into a chassis that was sold here, with the first example that comes to mind being the Nissan 240SX. Known in Japan as the 180SX and Silvia, when the company brought this fun little RWD coupe to America, they decided to replace the JDM CA and SR series turbocharged engines with KA series naturally aspirated ones. This decision was likely based on the fact that the KA engines were already “federalized” for US emissions regulations and would be less expensive than bringing in a new powerplant without an existing approval. Though well-suited for mainstream buyers, since these engines had previously been used in Nissan’s Hardbody line, they were derided by some as ‘truck engines’ unworthy of the car’s sporty image.

Of course, enthusiasts care not for things such as EPA regulations, and many CA and SR engines got strapped to pallets in Japanese wrecking yards and shipped to the west coast to be reunited with S13 and S14 240SX models here. Some particularly ambitious souls went as far as to cram RB26DETT twin turbo inline sixes from the JDM Skyline GT-R (among other applications) into that chassis as well.

Speaking of legendary Japanese turbo sixes, let’s not forget the Toyota 2JZ-GTE. This engine powered a whole generation of the company’s flagship performance models, but only came to US showrooms in the Mark IV Supra Turbo. This engine has found its way into a number of different swaps, including both Lexus IS300/GS300/SC300 models as a replacement for its naturally-aspirated sibling, the 2JZ-GE, as well as other non-Toyotas with engine bays long enough to accommodate the sizeable inline six. 

Could Have Had a V8

Don’t think this is just limited to import brands, either. When Ford ended production of their classic pushrod 5.0 liter V8 engine in the mid-90s and replaced it with the high-tech overhead cam Modular family, it was only a matter of time before those engines started to find their way into Fox-body Mustangs and even classics. One of the disadvantages of overhead cam cylinder heads in a V-configuration engine layout is that compared to pushrod designs of similar displacement, they inevitably end up larger in width and height. Adding cams and timing gear to the top of the cylinders makes them inherently taller than engines that simply have to accommodate rocker arms beneath the valve covers. In a bit of irony, older muscle cars with their large engine bays have more room to accept Modular V8 swaps, making them somewhat easier to work on than modern factory Fords with cramped under-hood layouts. 

While Ford was breaking ties with their previous engine architecture, GM took a less radical path, introducing the first LS-series engines. These successors to the original small-block Chevy V8 and its follow-on “Gen II” LT replacements are in many ways a “what might have been” look at the direction Ford could have taken with their own small-block pushrod architecture. Though the Gen II engines had a lot of problems including a notoriously unreliable optical ignition pickup and were widely panned by gearheads, the Gen III/IV LS family turned out to be a huge success.

Lightweight, powerful, durable, plentiful, and cheap, they quickly replaced the venerable SBC as the engine of choice for GM swaps. Like the aforementioned Honda engines, a huge aftermarket has developed to make putting an LS into an older car easy, right down to complete kits that handle ignition and carburetion should you choose to go old-school and ‘downgrade’ from EFI. Another factor that led to their popularity was that they were manufactured in both iron and aluminum block form, so that those in search of an inexpensive and bomb-proof bottom end could simply grab a low-compression iron block truck motor from the local pick-a-part and feed it a decent amount of boost or nitrous without a lot of drama.

Cross Breeding

While mixing and matching engines and chassis from the same manufacturer often makes things somewhat easier because of shared mechanical and electronic components, taking an engine from one maker and stuffing it into another company’s car has been popular forever as well. As we mentioned before, early hot rodders who started out by putting Ford Flathead V8 engines into Model Ts embraced the original small-block Chevy with great enthusiasm as soon as they started turning up in junkyards. Today, purists will howl in outrage about LS-swapped Fox Mustangs, but a dispassionate look at it shows this is the same kind of thing gearheads have always done. Mustang engine transplants aren’t limited to just Chevy engines either – Most famously, the notable 2006 documentary film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift included a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback with a Nissan RB26DETT as a ‘hero car.’

Today, purists will howl in outrage about LS-swapped Fox Mustangs, but a dispassionate look at it shows this is the same kind of thing gearheads have always done…

Like Honda swaps, the popularity of the LS Fox combination has led to an entire range of aftermarket parts to make the process close to turn-key, and all the information necessary to make it happen successfully is easily accessible online and in print. In fact, there has been a strong “LS all the things!” movement in the enthusiast world, with practically every rear wheel drive platform becoming a candidate for a Gen III/IV GM V8 swap. It’s even reached the point where a backlash has occurred against it – many people see the commonality of the LS as a detriment to the originality and creativity of Pro Touring builds, preferring original or at least period-correct engines. Odds are that any SEMA resto-mod build that isn’t intended to specifically highlight another engine will have some flavor of LS power, to the point where it’s become a running joke among writers and photographers.

Regardless of one’s feelings about LS engine transplants, they’re going to be with us for the foreseeable future, and not just in cars. They’ve become the weapon of choice for inboard-powered boats of all kinds, as well as aircraft and even homebuilt helicopters. But eventually something new will come along, and it’s entirely possible that we may one day see all-electric powertrains with ‘universal’ designs developed to simply drop in place of an internal combustion engine and transmission. While one-off attempts at this have come and gone, as the hardware becomes standardized for OEM use (and thus also becomes more affordable) and battery technology advances to increase energy density, peak output, and cruising range, garage mechanics who want something completely different under the hood will embrace these swaps as well. 

About the Author: Paul Huizenga is a California-based freelance contributor who has owned, raced, and written about everything from Subarus to Mustangs to Corvettes over the last two decades. He is currently studying the feasibility of an LS4 engine and transmission swap into a Fox-body to convert it to Chevy power and front-wheel drive, because some men just want to watch the world burn.

Springs vs. Coilovers vs. Bags: What’s the Difference?

Are Springs, Coilovers, or Air Suspension Best for Performance?

It might seem like common sense that having more choices when it comes to just about any decision is a good thing. In many circumstances, that’s true, but when presented with too many options, ‘decision paralysis’ can set in, making it harder instead of easier to choose the right path. Instead of making life easier, it causes anxiety, slows down or even stops decision-making, and can even lead to remorse after the fact as you churn through all the possibilities you didn’t pick. 

When it comes to upgrading a car’s suspension for high performance street or track use, we’ve reached the point where for many popular platforms, there’s no clear winner for every situation out of a wide variety of aftermarket setups. While we can’t guarantee you’ll avoid ‘paralysis by analysis,’ we might be able to help clarify your priorities with the following look at the pros and cons of the three basic categories of mods: Spring and damper replacement, coilover conversion, and air suspension. 

Springs and Shocks/Struts

This category encompasses replacing the factory-spec springs and dampers (whether those are conventional shock absorbers, MacPherson struts, or a combination of the two) with upgraded aftermarket parts.  

Pro:

• Likely to be the least-expensive option, both to buy and to install (if you don’t do it yourself)
• Properly-engineered matching suspension kits take the guesswork out of picking the right spring rates and compression/rebound settings
• Durability is often as good as or better than factory parts
• Some high-end kits offer limited damper adjustment for fine-tuning
• Fewest compromises in ride quality and noise for dual use street/track cars

Con:

• Limited range of spring rates for applications ‘out of the mainstream’
• Systems on the most affordable end of the spectrum usually offer no ride height or damping adjustment

The Bottom Line:

Usually the least-expensive and most-available option, but with significant compromises in adjustability and performance as the tradeoff.

Coilover Conversion

For the purpose of this discussion, we’re going to define coilovers as a complete replacement of the factory spring and damper setup, whether those are individual components or struts, with aftermarket alternatives. This is the most typical choice for serious track applications, but also has a wide fanbase for street/track use as well – partially because of the serious race cred and the ‘hardcore’ aura that goes with the tradeoffs involved. 

Pro: 

• Short of a completely re-engineered suspension right down to the control arms and chassis attachment points, coilovers offer the best possible handling and the widest range of adjustment, as well as more precision and repeatability when changing settings
• Good coverage from multiple manufacturers for the most popular car applications
• Narrower coilover units can offer more clearance for wider wheels and tires without fender modification
• Adjustable ride height without altering spring rates
• Dampers available in configurations from non-adjustable to 4-way (high/low speed compression and rebound)
• Relatively simple and easy to change spring rates with ‘universal’ springs to suit different track conditions

Con: 

• A very, very wide range of quality/price, from pro level down to “I bought this off of Wish – why doesn’t it fit?”
• A whole new form of decision paralysis – lots of adjustment often means more ways to get it wrong
• Systems intended for track use can be noisy and harsh on less-than-perfect pavement
• Expect to either replace or rebuild the dampers on a regular basis, as they are usually designed with longevity as a lower priority
• Less-common performance cars may need to have coilover sets pieced together from components if ‘all in one box’ kits aren’t available

The Bottom Line:

Not the best choice for comfort or street driving, but the de-facto standard for full-race use. Beware of pitfalls in quality at the low end of the scale, and excessive complexity at the high end.

Air Suspension

Commonly referred to as “bags,” today’s performance-oriented air suspension systems are a far cry from the lashed-together rigs that pioneered the technology. Once strictly an option for “stance” and car shows instead of performance, it’s now a solid contender for track-oriented builds.

Pro:

• Adjustable ride height is the main attraction here – modern air springs offer a wide range of spring heights selectable simply by adding or reducing pressure, and clever design of the air bags themselves achieves this without significant changes in spring rate
• Compatible with multi-adjustable race-spec dampers for suspension tuning
• Systems with quality air springs rival conventional factory steel springs for durability
• A great choice for cars that will see use on both the race course and the street, making low ride height that would be a disaster with a ‘static’ coilover suspension achievable in a car you can still drive to and from the track
• Complete, ready-to-install kits are available for more applications every day

Con: 

• Trends towards the expensive end of the scale compared to anything but full-race coilover systems
• Additional hardware like compressors, tanks, solenoids, and pressure gauges required for adjustment on-the-fly, which adds expense and weight
• Modern air springs only allow changes in ride height while spring rate remains the same, requiring complete replacement of a relatively expensive component to alter it
• Like coilovers, less-popular applications may require ‘a la carte’ component selection instead of an off-the-shelf solution

The Bottom Line:
The king of adjustability, at the expense of additional weight and cost. Limited (but growing) off-the-shelf choices.

Wrapping it Up

There’s no one-size-fits all solution to picking the right path for the suspension on your project car or daily driver, and the wide variety of choices (made worse by conflicting advice from all directions) doesn’t help. Hopefully we’ve made it a little bit easier for you to organize your priorities, from the cost involved to the complexity of installation and tuning to your personal intended use (which often turns out to be somewhat different from where you actually end up in practice). Relax, take a deep breath, and consider the options we have set before you as a starting point in your search for the perfect suspension.

Gunther Werks Unveils Their Take on One of the Rarest Porsches: The 993 Speedster Remastered

Aug 19, 2021 – If you like Porsches, you’re likely familiar with the makers of wild re-imaginations of classic Porsche platforms, Gunther Werks. The latest addition to their lineup is a vision of an extremely rare platform that only saw 2 units brought into this world; one for the designer of the original 911, Butzi Porsche, and the other for Jerry Seinfeld. Of course, we’re talking about the legendary Porsche 993 Speedster. Gunther Werks’ new 993 Speedster Remastered takes the original spirit of the Speedster and reimagines it, fleshing out its performance and aimed at providing a unique open top analog driving experience.

In true Gunther Werks fashion, carbon fiber is implemented wherever they can. The interior is mostly carbon fiber, the shorter front windshield is framed with a carbon fiber cowl, and the speedster top tonneau cover is also made of carbon fiber. With additional weight saving measures in place, the Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Remastered only weighs 2590lbs with a chassis that is even more rigid than the one in the 993 coupe.

Underneath the rear deck lives a 4.0L flat six engine that produces 435 hp and 335 lb/ft torque screaming with a 7,800rpm redline. The power from the flat six is translated through a Getrag G50 six-speed manual gearbox featured in the original 993, but with custom ratios. The Gunther Werks 993 Speedster stays composed on the track with an all-new adaptive suspension from JRZ, featuring 3 different settings; composed, sport, and sport plus.

Stronger, faster, and lighter are 3 words that without a doubt describe this new Gunther Werks project. Revealed with a striking Cannes green paint and Dawn Orange leather interior, this 993 is a testament to performance and styling. Only 25 of the 993 Speedster Remastered will be produced.

State of Speed Los Angeles: An August Affair

Three shows down and hundreds of cars rolling through, we are incredibly pleased with the turnout of the State of Speed Los Angeles Car Show, presented by Milestar Tires. From the beginning, we knew the local car scene had a ton to offer, and that the monthly meet would end up being a melting pot of incredible builds and bonafide gear heads of all stripes.

This time around, the Los Angeles automotive enthusiast heads came out in droves.

First, The Cars!

Dusting off then gassing up your ride and heading to the event early is indeed the way to go. Cars start rolling in before the clock hits 7 AM to grab the prime spots, and of course, the glorious early morning photo op!

Most of the time you’ll hear them before you see them, and it’s a guessing game as to what is about to pull in next. It doesn’t take much time before the lot starts filling up with builds of every interest. Restored classics and restomods to old school JDM’s and some serious off-road machines —  there’s sure to be something for every taste.

The People

Great builds take more than some spare change, and it’s the car owners that bring these projects to life.

They’re out there answering questions about each and every minute detail of their ride; whether you’re just genuinely interested in the labor behind someone’s rotary swapped Datsun, or are looking for some recommendations on a bigger turbo, each and every owner is more than happy to chop it up about their ride.

A Day Well Spent

As the shows continue to take place each month, and the crowds continue to grow, we are excited to see the scale of State of Speed Los Angeles in the times to come. We’re grateful to collaborate with Milestar Tires to bring this event to fruition, and there isn’t a better place out there to hold the event than the Tireco headquarters in Gardena, CA.

So for those that have previously shown up for State of Speed Los Angeles, we look forward to seeing you again, and for those who haven’t, stop by, grab a coffee, and bring your ride!

Limited Edition Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is Bred for the Track

Aug 9, 2021 – As if the GT2 RS wasn’t a track slayer already, Porsche has reimagined it in this special edition run to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Manthey-Racing GmbH. With a production run of just 30 cars, this new 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 was designed and executed by Porsche and Manthey for the ultimate racing fans and collectors, giving the future owners a weapon for track days and circuit racing. 

Looking back to 2018, Porsche unveiled the modern-day 935, a 700 horsepower racer featuring a body reminiscent of the legendary Porsche 935/78, with a production capped at 77 units. Today, Porsche decided to base the GT2 RS Clubsport on the same 3.8-liter flat-six twin-turbo engine, combined with a seven-speed Porsche dual-clutch gearbox. The GT2 RS Clubsport is similar to the 935 in other ways than just the engine, including the fact that both cars are based on the 991 model generation, along with sharing similar essential suspension features, 18″ center locking wheels, and more. 

Matthias Scholz, Director of GT Racing Cars, spoke about the Porsche and Manthey collaboration, saying “With the unique special edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25, this successful partnership has moved to the next level. He goes on to say “The 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 benefits from the motor racing experience that Manthey and Porsche Motorsport have gained around the world. It is the perfect circuit racing car for ambitious private drivers, and its and impressive example of engineering skill.” 

Because of its low production numbers, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is going to be incredibly rare, with many top-tier Porsche collectors and sports car racers undoubtedly fighting for a slot. 

A Look at the First Bespoke Pininfarina Battista

July 21, 2021 – One-of-a-kind is a motto Automobili Pininfarina is using to market their new electric hypercar, the Battista, and they mean it. With a new all-encompassing bespoke personalization program, Pininfarina is able to give new clients of the Battista a unique and individually tailored hypercar. More specifically, the company has a total of 128 million combinations which provides opportunities for clients to reflect their own individual tastes. And now, Automobili Pininfarina has released images of their first bespoke Battista, which is a commission inspired by New York City and features industry-first exposed signature carbon bodyworks to compliment its red, white and blue theme.

Starting with the interior, clients can begin by choosing between leather and Alcantara, and then move to other options such as contrast stitching, an Interior Jewellery Pack, and even fine aluminum interior detailing. In the bespoke New York commission, featured inside is black leather upholstery accompanied by Iconica Blu Alcantara with navy color inserts which elegantly showcase the Battista’s interior design and luxurious materials.

Moving to the exterior, 56 exterior paint finishes are available, unless you prefer the exposed carbon fiber bodywork option. Then, additional packages can be selected, such as the Carbon Accent Pack and Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack, with a selection of bespoke paint colors or exposed carbon finishes.

However, the insanely powerful all-electric Pininfarina Battista doesn’t rely solely on its appearance. Automobili Pininfarina claims the Battista will be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. With a motor at each wheel combining for 1,900 horsepower, the Battista can reach 63 mph faster than a Formula 1 car, a staggering sub-two second feat. Better yet, the Battista promises a 310 mile range on its 120 kWh battery.

Pininfarina says just 150 Battista examples will be made, a small number for such an endless amount of customization. Prices look to be upwards of $2 million, a small price to pay fo a car claiming to be the most powerful car coming out of Italy!

The Drift Ready 2022 Audi RS3 Complete with 401-HP

July 19, 2021 – Audi may have released the A3 sedan for 2022, but the lineup wasn’t complete until now with the addition of the 2022 Audi RS3. Audi not only stepped up their design for this new sedan sports car, but also their technology and power output. 

The new Audi RS3 will come with the same 2.5-liter inline-five that its predecessor used, but this time with a bit more power. After a few tweaks and some European love, the sedan now pushes 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Audi RS3 is capable of sprinting to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds, but the fun doesn’t stop in a straight line. Matched with an impressive torque splitter that distributes drive torque between the rear wheels in a fully variable manner, the RS3 features driving modes such as RS Torque Rear that allows a single rear wheel to receive all the power, making sliding around a track that much easier, and fun. 

Other standard equipment includes RS sports suspension with newly developed shock absorbers and a valve system both specific top the RS3. Also featured is larger wheel camber for more precise steering response and increased cornering force. To stop, the RS3 comes fitted with newly developed six-piston steel brakes. 

Moving to the looks, the Audi RS3’s design is even more dynamic than before, with a wide RS bumper housing a distinctive honeycomb grille, and large air intakes which give the sedan an expressive appearance. 

The price for the U.S. model of the Audi RS3 hasn’t been announced yet, but looking at the 2020 model and its $57,195 price tag, we will assume it be be a couple thousand more than that.

The Dune Bashing Gemballa Marsien

July 16, 2021 – A new wildly designed Gemballa Porsche has hit the streets, but not quite the Gemballa we’ve come to know and love. Marc Philipp Gemballa, 27 year old son of the legendary German auto tuner Uwe Gemballa, has created his own take on the Gemballa legacy. This brand new supercar company, Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH, along with designer and Porsche aficionado Alan Derosier, took a Porsche 911 S and crafted a marvelous machine that’s here to push the boundaries of both on and off-road performance. 

Safari 911’s are nothing new, and even Singer just recently released their take on a rally-ready 911, but Marc Philipp Gemballa’s take is drastically different than what has come before. Gemballa calls this Porsche, known as the Marsien, a truly bespoke vehicle, and that it is. Besides its futuristic design and character, the majority of the car itself is made up of pure carbon fiber, designed for performance, lightweight, and cooling. Every piece was manufactured by a leading German carbon fiber specialist, known for supplying renown OEM sports car manufactures as well as several Formula 1 teams. And although it may be light and nimble, it still needs to draw power from somewhere, and that is exactly where RUF comes into play. 

For those unfamiliar or may need a refresher, RUF is a German car manufacturer that engineers original vehicles using unmarked Porsche chassis. As we talked about bespoke before, its only right for the Gemballa Marsien to have a unique powertrain of the highest quality. The engineers at RUF were able to tweak and tune the six-cylinder boxer to squeak out an extra 100+ horsepower over an original Porsche 911 Turbo S, producing a whopping 740 hp, or an even wilder 830 hp for their second stage model. However, the Gemballa Marsien isn’t all about aerodynamics and engine perfomance — off-roadability is where this beefy Porsche draws its energy. 

Together with the leading suspension and chassis technology pioneer KW automotive, Marc Philipp Gemballa was able to incorporate a newly developed double wishbone suspension system equipped with KW solid piston damper technology. Not only does this system allow the Gemballa Marsien an intelligent active damper control, but also features and adjustable ride height system for on and off road use. At the rear, a multi-link suspension with an anti-roll bar was put in place for even better control in the dirt. 

With a limited run of just 40 units, it may be difficult to get your hands on one of these creations, but if you have $583,000 to toss on a hyper off-roader, then we wish you luck!

Aston Martin Valhalla: A 937-HP Hybrid Supercar Beast

July 15, 2021 – The Valkyrie may be the more powerful and expensive of the two, but this new Aston Martin Valhalla could quite possibly be the cream of the crop. The Aston Martin Valhalla, similar to the Valkyrie, is built around the expertise the company has gained through Formula 1 experience, allowing new owners access to technology born from the race track. This truly driver-focused mid-engined hybrid supercar now sets best in class standards for performance, dynamics and driving pleasure. From Valkyrie to Valhalla, Aston Martin’s Project Horizon is not disappointing, so let’s dive into what makes this car so spectacular. 

Between a 937-horsepower hybrid engine, pinpoint handling, and remarkable levels of downforce, the Aston Martin Valhalla is a new breed of supercar. But what makes up that 937-horsepower monster of an engine you may ask? Well, it takes one beast of a V8 to push 740-hp with two turbos bolted on, along with two separate electric motors to hit such numbers.  A top speed of 217 miles per hour and the ability to hit 62 mph in under 2.5 seconds give a great example of the Valhalla’s capabilities. However, power isn’t all the Valhalla leans on, and if it learned anything from the Valkyrie, it’s aerodynamics. 

The Aston Martin Valhalla has a few tricks up its sleeve, mostly pertaining to active aerodynamics for unparalleled downforce. At first look, the Valhalla seems rather mild when it comes to aerodynamics, with no massive wing or dorsal fin like its much more extreme counterpart, the Valkyrie AMR Pro. The team at Aston Martin learned that drastic changes to aerodynamics under the car makes for less to do up top. At 150 mph, the Valhalla is capable of generating an impressive 1322 lbs of downforce, allowing for mighty high-speed cornering abilities and unshakable stability. 

It also does help that the Valhalla is built around a new carbon fiber tub for maximum stiffness, all while maintaining a weight of around 3,417 pounds. With everything Aston Martin has learned from Formula 1 and its lightning fast Valkyrie, it’s no wonder the Valhalla seems to be the quintessential hybrid supercar. 

A Final Farewell: The New Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae

July 12, 2021 – The end is near for the Lamborghini Aventador, but not without a final production farewell appropriately named the Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. Spanning over a decade, the production of the insanely aggressive looking V12 hypercar from Lamborghini is making its last rounds before vanishing into automotive history. This time, the iconic V12 is nestled inside the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, giving it the power and performance of the SVJ while intensifying the elegance of the Aventador S.

Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, says “The Aventador LP-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally-aspirated production V12 Lamborghini”. For its final go, the Ultimae will grab from a collection of the greatest features of the Aventador’s decade of successes, and of course, it will be starting with a pumped up version of the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine. With some tweaks and tunes, that powerhouse is now putting out 769 horsepower, almost 40 more the Aventador S and 10 more than the SVJ. Power’s not the only feature the Ultimae scores higher than the Aventador S, but also weight. With a unique, extremely rigid and lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, and extensive use of carbon fiber around the hypercar, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae is able to achieve a weight of 3,417 pounds, a 55 pound savings. 

All of these features lead to some impressive perfjoamcne numbers, including a 0-62 mph time of only 2.8 seconds. The fun doesn’t stop there, and the Ultimae flies to 124 mph in only 8.7 seconds, and reaches a top-speed of 221 mph.

Looks wise, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae only gets a few subtle changes compared to its SVJ counterpart. Rather than a massive wing and SVJ plastered on the side, the Ultimae received a new front bumper and an option of colored strakes. Only 350 Ultimae coupes will be produced, with an even smaller amount of roadsters at just 250.

The New Lotus Emira Is Lotus’ Last Gas-Powered Model

July 6, 2021 – Serving as its final hurrah in gas-powered vehicles, Lotus is releasing it’s all-new mid-engine sports car: The Lotus Emira. The new Lotus mimics looks from their all-electric hypercar example, the Evija, taking cues like its sporty profile and sleek and sculpted design features.

Honoring the spirit of the classic sports car, the Lotus Emira will be offered both with an automatic dual clutch transmission, and a traditional stick shift manual transmission with positioning echoing the interior of the iconic Lotus Esprit.

Lotus will be offering the Emira with two engine options; a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine developed by partner, AMG, and a 3.5L supercharged V6 previously seen in the much loved Evora and Exige. All models across the range will be made to produce between 360 and 400bhp, with a 0-60 of less than 4.5 seconds and top speed of 180mph. A modest, yet refined offering for their last combustion engine ever.

As the company looks towards the future with their “Vision80” plan, one that looks to transform Lotus by its 80th anniversary in 2028, they’re embracing the future of automotive technology with it. Citing that they will be focusing only on electrification of their lineup, the Lotus Emira serves as their way of honoring their legacy while taking the big step towards their future.

2022 Dallara EXP: A Roofless Track Weapon

July 1, 2021 – For those familiar with the world of racing, you may have heard of the Italian race car manufacturer Dallara, and if so, you’ll know that the Dallara EXP is a new car that’s going to push the boundaries of race car capabilities. The company was founded by Gian Paolo Dallara, who previously worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso. You could say he has a knack for race cars, so much so he has been creating his own track shredders.

Before releasing their newest creation, Dallara manufactured a barely road legal Stradale that somehow found its way to sporting a license plate. The company realized the car needed some extreme aero and more power, and if the original Stradale barely met requirements for the street, then this new Dallara EXP would be a track-only weapon. 

The powerhouse putting the EXP in motion is the same 2.3 liter Eco-Boost found in the Ford Focus RS, albeit with more power. A little tinkering from Dallara lands the power output of the 4 cylinder around 492 hp. With outlandish horsepower numbers from modern day supercars, this number may seem pretty small for a track only car. Don’t let that horsepower figure fool you though, as the Dallara EXP has a dry weight of only 1,962 lbs, with 2,756 lbs of downforce at top speed. Even better, the car can pull 2.7 G’s.

No price has been given for the EXP, but it is noted that the Stradale can be transformed into an EXP, and vice versa. The Stradale comes in at around $200,000, but if you’re looking for a track only toy, look no further than the EXP! 

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro Redefines the Hypercar

June 29, 2021 – If you’ve ever wondered what a hypercar is defined as, then look no further for a prime example than the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. Shortly after delivering their newest 1,000 hp hybrid road car, the Valkyrie, Aston Martin has stepped it up with a track only, racing regulation free hypercar that is here to eliminate all competition. As Aston Martin puts it, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is “a machine which takes a car designed to win the Le Mans 24 Hours as its starting point, then pushes further to explore extremes of performance unconstrained by racing regulations or registration for road use.” 

Similar to the road legal Valkyrie, the AMR Pro is chock full of mind-blowing capabilities. Neatly nestled inside the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is a Cosworth-built 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, capable of revving up to 11,000 rpm and putting 1000bhp down to the pavement. You may be thinking that the original road legal Valkyrie posted these kinds of numbers before even adding its hybrid system, a good thought indeed.

Well, the AMR Pro is more than just a powerhouse. Aston Martin set out to achieve the fastest lap times, but this pursuit also involved a plethora of weight saving changes. Firstly, the battery electric hybrid system was removed, along with a host of other weight saving measures. Continuing the technology partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), Aston Martin has been able to incorporate into the AMR Pro ultra-light carbon fiber bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones and Perspex windscreen and side windows.

With everything combined, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro exceeds Le Mans Hypercar regulations for aerodynamic efficiency, with Aston Martin claiming track performance close to that of an F1 car.

More details of the Valkyrie AMR Pro including specification and performance are to be revealed later this year. As of now, a target lap time around the 8.5 mile 24H Le Mans is set at 3 minutes and 20 seconds, a number that could put the Valkyrie AMR Pro in first place in an LMP1 race. 40 AMR Pro versions of the Valkyrie will be produced, and with the original Valkyrie priced at $3 million, it seems the sky may be the limit for the price of an AMR Pro!

Inaugural State of Speed LA Car Show Recap

Incredible builds, delicious coffee, great people — what more could have come from a successful inaugural State of Speed Los Angeles car show? First off, let’s start off by saying thank you to each and every person that showed up for the event, Milestar Tires for sponsoring the show, and Clutch and Coffee for providing the fresh brews.

It’s refreshing to know that a group of gearheads that share the same passion for their rides can come together for an extraordinary time!

Now, let’s dive on into the turnout of immaculate builds that showed up for the State of Speed LA event! As stated before the event, this was most definitely not a run of the mill car show. It was expected that a truly diverse group of cars would show up, from JDM and Euro to Off-Road and Mini Trucks. There was no shortage of any, either.

Once the clock hit 7 o’clock, people were rolling in to collect their limited edition State of Speed Los Angeles t-shirts, and boy did those go quick! Once parked and hood popped, the next most important thing to do was grab a cup of coffee, and a delicious one at that. Clutch and Coffee supplied the goods, and it was a hit!

By 9AM, the Tireco parking lot was popping, but no, not audibly. A huge thanks to everyone for also being respectful of the show and keeping the engine noises to a minimum! The lot was packed, and the three hours flew by, but there was plenty of time to check out each car and talk to the individuals behind the builds. Once 10AM came, cars slowly started to head out while bystanders headed towards the exits to hear the sweet tones of each car as they departed.

Overall, our inaugural State of Speed LA show was a huge success! Another thank you goes out to our lead sponsor, Milestar Tires, our coffee vendor, Clutch and Coffee, and most importantly, those who showed up with some killer rides. We look forward to the next event and hope everyone can make it out, so stay tuned!

Steve McQueen’s “Le Mans” Porsche 917 K Heading to Auction

June 25, 2021 – If you’re looking to get your hands on a piece of automotive history, then you’re most definitely going to want to check out this 1970 Porsche 917 K up for auction at RM Sotheby’s. This 917 K doesn’t only have a Le Mans entry in 1970 with the Mike Hailwood/David Hobbs JW Automotive Gulf Racing team, but also starred in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans. 

This Porsche 917 K has quite the history, and aside from starring in movies and racing in the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has had a complete restoration. Going back in time to Le Mans, the car was raced in 1970 and reached 3rd place before it aquaplaned in the rain and sustained minimal chassis damage. The car was retired while the drivers jumped in a spare, and that’s where the rest of the Porsche 917 K’s story continues. The car entered the limelight for the 1971 feature in which they used actual footage from its 1970 Le Mans race. The car was then rebuilt by Porsche for team Shell Heckersbruch, where it competed and performed strongly for the next 3 years.

By 2012, the Porsche 917 K was bought by a noted collector where it received its full restoration. This meant the exterior was once again plastered in its beautiful Gulf-liveried Le Mans coupe specification. The restoration was executed by Paul Lanzante, a top European racing car restorer. Without regard to cost and with access to many period correct parts, the Porsche 917 K was once again basking in the glory of its deep roots in the golden era of motorsport. 

A Streamlined Guide to Aero

What Do All Those Wings and Fins Do, Really?

Getting into the subject of aerodynamics as they relate to cars is asking for trouble. Whether you’re talking about imports with big goofy wings and dive planes that look like anime road catfish, or even just owners of a certain domestic brand who steadfastly refuse to remove the banana-yellow shipping guards on their cars’ factory splitters, it’s a topic that draws a lot of derision. Sometimes that’s warranted, but there is a place for aero mods in the tuner’s toolbox. Understanding the goals of functional aero is the first step in moving from the realm of questionable styling choices into something worth doing for the sake of improved performance. We’re going to jump in with both feet and banish the poser-tech to the Land of Wind and Ghosts, so hang on…

No Free Lunch

Aerodynamic modifications to a car serve one or both of two main functions; reducing drag and reducing lift. Most changes affect both drag and lift, and while downforce can be important, achieving meaningful results in that area without a huge drag penalty can require some finesse. Drag is especially important because it increases with the cube of velocity – drag-inducing elements of a vehicle’s design that aren’t worth worrying about at low speed become big problems on the highway or racetrack. Like almost any part of car design, the ability to maximize the desired effects while minimizing the drawbacks is what separates winners and losers.

An excellent example of this that’s become ubiquitous over the last two decades in OEM car designs is limiting the volume of air that passes underneath a car. In older designs, this was a source of both lift and drag, and as a result, modern vehicles have become lower and they’ve added aerodynamic features to the nose of the car to redirect flow. These changes cost virtually nothing for manufacturers to implement but provide real benefits.

One area of special attention that was often poorly-understood or simply ignored in the past was air passing through the front grille, into the engine bay, and out through the open underside. Smaller air inlets better-sized to the radiator core and ‘bottom breather’ noses that actually relieve pressure at the lowest point under the bumper, plus aerodynamic trays covering the underside of the engine compartment are all examples of the way modern designs improve aero in this region.

We have to admit that we’ve been among those who have either intentionally removed an engine bay undertray to make maintenance less of a pain, or simply lost one due to ill-advised encounters with curb stops or speed bumps, but not having them in place as intended is a significant source of both drag and lift. There’s little point in trying to improve aerodynamics at the nose of the vehicle with added parts if the primary flow-control features of the factory design are missing. 

Presuming that you’re starting from an intact, OEM aero standpoint, is it possible to modify things yourself and achieve meaningful, non-cosmetic results? The answer is a qualified yes – like every other aspect of automotive engineering, factory designs are always a compromise between competing goals, and the compromises you might choose as an enthusiast aren’t always the same as the ones that are aimed at satisfying the greatest number of ‘normie’ potential customers. In the case of aero, low drag, stable handling at freeway speed, and low noise top the factory wish list. 

As an enthusiast, you may be willing to trade away some extra drag (and lose a bit of fuel economy at cruise) in exchange for added downforce to improve traction. Increased wind noise may also not be a concern for you, and you might be willing to accept the negative consequences of a lower ride height, like increased susceptibility to damage from potholes and curbs. These are just a couple of considerations when planning out aero changes to your vehicle. 

With all this in mind, let’s start from the front and work our way back, describing different aero components and how they function (or at least are supposed to function).

Nose Dive

It used to be that air dams with splitters (a horizontal plate attached at the bottom of the air dam) were only seen on race cars, but they’re appearing with greater and greater frequency on factory cars as well – often with the aforementioned plastic protective bananas still attached, because reasons. The purpose of a splitter is to cleanly divide flow between the air moving around and through the nose of the car and the air traveling underneath the body, as well as limiting how much air goes low instead of high. To be truly effective, splitters need to be quite close to the ground, and even though factory-designed ones are usually higher than ideal, they still provide an endless source of horrible scraping noises over curbs, driveway entrances, and other obstacles if the driver isn’t careful. 

A properly-designed splitter and air dam combo will reduce both drag and front end lift by reducing turbulent flow to the underbody, and will also help the engine bay tray (if present) to do its job. A secondary purpose is to help guide flow around the front wheel openings, which are a major source of drag. 

Dive planes, canards, fins, or whatever you want to call other small aero devices placed on the quarter panel in front of the wheel arches also serve this purpose, as do longitudinal fences at the gap between the fender and the hood. Properly engineered canards can also help promote the flow of air from brake cooling ducts that source air from the high pressure area in the bumper by creating a local region of lower pressure to draw air away from the rotors and wheels after it has done its job. 

Care has to be taken with hood fences, though – viewed in profile, a car is shaped somewhat like an airplane wing, and just like a wing, air that is accelerated over the upper side creates an area of reduced pressure, generating lift. Ideally, fences will keep high pressure air from spilling over the fenders (thus increasing front downforce) without forcing it to follow the curve of the windshield over, rather than around, the passenger cabin. Fences, as well as canards/dive planes to a lesser extent, can also greatly increase turbulence around external mirrors – while this isn’t a huge source of extra drag, it can create a lot of interior noise ranging from a very-low-frequency ‘brown note’ rumble to intolerable high-pitched whistling. 

Side View

Extended lower sills along the sides of the body are another example of managing airflow beneath the vehicle. Like splitters, to be completely effective they need to be impractically (at least for on-road use) close to the ground, but they aren’t totally useless even when compromised for the sake of clearance. 

An interesting side note here is that a number of competition vehicles, ranging from the 1970 Chaparral 2J Can Am car to modern Formula SAE karts have been built with ‘powered downforce’ using a fan to pull air from underneath the car. Working like a reverse hovercraft of sorts, the front, sides, and rear of the underbody were sealed to the road surface via flexible skirts with polycarbonate sliders at the bottom to reduce air leakage, and a slight vacuum created by the fan across the entire underside of the car delivered enormous downforce at zero MPH with no aerodynamic drag. It was said that the 2J could develop enough suction to allow it to stick to the roof of a tunnel at a standstill, and the pair of 17 inch fans, driven by a separate snowmobile engine, could drive the car forward at 40 MPH just by their thrust alone.

Of course, in Can Am competition the technology was immediately outlawed, as these things tend to be, but in racing situations where it isn’t outright banned by the rulebook, this unique form of “aero” is still an extremely effective one. In the real world with roads that aren’t billiard-table smooth, the skirts take a beating, and getting rocks and dirt actively sucked up through powered fans does not make the people driving behind you very happy. Nonetheless, a good front splitter and side skirts, combined with a rear end shaped to create a low pressure area can still take advantage of this same effect, though only in motion and with much less total downforce. 

On the roof of the car, vortex generators can be fitted along the back edge just ahead of the rear window. These are small triangular features that are actually designed to create turbulence, but in a very controlled way. By inducing a narrow band of swirling flow, they act in the same way as a solid fence and can help keep flow attached to a surface, with a small drag penalty. Originally vortex generators (as well as fences) were found on aircraft wings as a way to stop span-wise (side to side) airflow and improve stall performance. In the automotive world, you’ve undoubtedly seen these on factory Mitsubishi EVO sedans, and their budget cousins can easily be found in the stick-on plastic whatsis aisle at your local auto parts store, alongside portholes, fake vents, and chrome Punisher symbols. Usually, these cheap little pyramids are poser tech, but they can actually be effective when used in the right spots. Unfortunately, without sticking tufts of yarn all over the outside of the car to see how air is moving locally across the roof and backlight, the ‘right spots’ are impossible to determine beyond an educated guess. 

Winging It (Spoiler Alert)

Finally, we get to what you’ve all been waiting for, the defining piece of aero hardware – the wing or spoiler. First, though, please understand that the terms aren’t interchangeable, and although both reduce lift/increase downforce on the rear end of the vehicle, they do it in different ways. Let’s start with the simpler of the two, the spoiler. 

The name for this aerodynamic device comes directly from its function; ‘spoiling’ the lift of a wing-shaped surface. Earlier, we described how the body of the entire car in side-view resembles an aircraft wing with a curved upper surface, and just like an aircraft wing, since air has to travel farther and faster across the top than the bottom, it will generate lift. A spoiler on the back of the car works exactly as it would on a wing, disrupting that flow of air to kill some of the lift being produced. 

Just as importantly, a spoiler can actually reduce total aerodynamic drag despite being an impediment to the smooth flow of air. Back at the dawn of ‘streamlining’ (as aerodynamics were first called 100 or so years ago) inventors looked at the teardrop shape of a falling droplet of water and concluded that nature was providing them with a blueprint for the perfect low-drag shape. As a result, a lot of the first efforts at streamlining included long, pointed tails to allow the airflow to smoothly rejoin behind the vehicle without producing an area of low pressure.  

As zippy as these designs looked, they were somewhat impractical for road vehicles, and designers searched for other solutions. The most successful was developed by a German fellow by the name of Wunibald Kamm in the late ‘30s when he discovered that an abruptly cut off vertical shape at the back of the car was nearly as effective in reducing drag as a pointed tail. By inducing some of the boundary layer air close to the surface of the body to tumble into that space behind the car, it created an area of turbulence that didn’t mix with the other air flowing around the car and worked like an invisible (and weightless) pointed tail.

Since that time, the “Kammback” has been widely adopted, and can be seen in cars ranging from the original Honda CRX to many modern hybrids. For best results, the vertical surface should be placed at a point where the body’s cross section has sloped back down to about 50% of its maximum, but this limits the workable roofline and tail shapes quite a bit. Add a spoiler to the trunk lid or the back edge of the roof on a hatchback, though, and you get a similar drag reducing effect as a full Kamm rearend. 

Wings, particularly those that are intended to do something more than just look cool, are somewhat more complex. Ideally, a wing will be placed far enough away from the body of the car to be in “clean” air instead of sluggish and turbulent boundary layer flow. Interestingly, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird, with their fender-mounted ‘basket handle’ rear wings that were higher than the roofline had ideal placement for them, but it wasn’t for aero reasons – they had to be that high so that the trunk lid could still open underneath them!

A few years earlier, the Chaparral 2E Can Am design had debuted a tall strut-mounted rear wing that had what would be now considered “active aero” – A pedal on the floor would flatten out the angle of the wing and simultaneously close a shutter on the air dam that normally allowed air out through a vent in the front bodywork when depressed, letting the driver reduce drag when downforce wasn’t needed along high speed straights. The struts for the wing were also directly connected to the suspension, so force was applied straight to the rear tires instead of through the springs. While it worked very well, it proved to be fragile and after a few failures in the cars adopting these kinds of movable wings, they were outlawed (leading to the aforementioned Chaparral 2J ‘sucker car’).

Today, it is very common to see high-end (and even some not so high-end) sports cars with rear wings that automatically deploy and adjust their angle based on road speed and cornering forces. For aftermarket race-style wings, the angle of the airfoil (or in many cases, multiple airfoils) can be changed in the garage by altering the mounting points in order to customize the balance between drag and downforce for a particular race venue. Spill plates on the ends of the wing serve the same purpose as the winglets commonly found on commercial jets, reducing drag caused by vortexes shed by the ends of the wings. 

It’s also worth noting that a wing can help high-speed stability side-to-side by moving the car’s center of pressure rearward. The center of pressure is the imaginary point where all the aerodynamic forces are balanced, and the farther behind the car’s center of gravity it is, the more the car will want to travel in a straight line. Any kid who’s built a model rocket and decided to put all sorts of fins on the front will tell you that having the center of pressure at or ahead of the center of mass gets you something that flies like a pinwheel instead of an arrow, and the same applies to car aerodynamics. We should also point out that the ever-popular ‘wing on the back of a FWD car’ isn’t necessarily just poser-tech. At high speed the car doesn’t care that much about which wheels are doing the motivating, and since FWD cars tend to have a forward weight bias in the first place, a properly-designed rear wing can greatly increase stability and cornering balance.

Finally, we get to the last details as we reach the very tail end of the car. Wings and spoilers often have small features on their rear lips to enhance their effectiveness, which can be either fixed or adjustable. A small tab, usually a half-inch high or less and mounted at the very trailing edge of a wing or spoiler at a right angle to the surface is usually referred to as a “Gurney flap.” It gets its name from the legendary racer and team owner Dan Gurney who came up with the idea as a quick handling fix for his driver Bobby Unser’s car. To hide the true purpose of the modification, he initially floated the story that it was just a way to protect crewmembers from the sharp trailing edge of the wing while working on or pushing the car, but soon enough everybody figured it out and it became commonplace in race car aerodynamics.

A taller, usually adjustable trailing edge lip is typically called a ‘wickerbill,’ and explanations for the name are easy to come by but none are definitive. These fall into the category of aero devices that can be tuned in the garage or pit to suit the race course by sliding them up or down in their mounting slots. 

So there you have it – the incomplete guide to understanding car aerodynamics. We hope that we’ve fired your imagination and that you’ll follow up on the subject with further reading, since it’s a topic of pretty high importance for both factory and modified vehicles. Plus, aero stuff looks cool when it’s done right, but you already knew that…

Top 5 Affordable Supercars

Let’s say you’ve come into some money. Not life-changing, private island money, mind you. More along the lines of catching a hedge fund in a short squeeze, getting into (and out of) cryptocurrency at just the right time, or even just scratching a particularly good lottery ticket. While a new Lamborghini isn’t going to be in the budget, what are some head-turning cars that you can actually drive and enjoy, but are within your financial reach?

We’ve come up with a list of a few different ideas, should you want to scratch that supercar itch without paying a price tag that’s more in line with real estate than something you can park in a garage. It’s not all-inclusive, and we’re sure that many readers will have their own top choices, but daydreaming is always fun and it’s even better when those dreams are within the realm of possibility.

Honorable Mention: “Component Cars”/Replicas

Though ‘kit cars’ got a bad reputation decades ago when they were mostly based on aircooled Volkswagen or Fiero chassis and a LOT of optimism about your own fabrication skills, the industry has come a long, long way in terms of quality and value-for-money. Companies like Factory Five Racing and Superformance offer the chance to own cars like a Cobra, Daytona Coupe, Corvette Grand Sport, or GT40 that would simply be out of financial reach if you wanted an original. As a plus, with modern components and drivelines, they’re going to be a whole lot more reliable and drivable than the originals (and potentially a whole lot faster on the track), and you can customize them to suit your own must-have list.

You will need a warm, dry, comfortable place to work, a bitchin’ set of tools, some mechanical aptitude, and an unusually high level of patience if you chose this route, though. If you are like the author and are the kind of person who loses interest in the 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle after the edges and two out of the three kitten faces are done, this is not for you. 

#5: 996 Porsche

For a lot of people, the Porsche 911 family defines the idea of an aspirational sports car. Many of those reading this article had a poster of the original 911 Turbo on their bedroom wall as a kid. None of those reading this article can afford one, and even if you could, it would try to kill you the first time you drove it. 

Fortunately, though, the long history of the marque offers some choices that are within our parameters for affordability and that are actually reliable and fun to drive. We’ve singled out the 1998-2004 996 as our favorite in this category because it’s about the least expensive way to get into a Porsche that you can actually be proud of (apologies to those 914, 924/944, and 928 peeps out there. You know we’re right.) A little history explains why these cars are what they are – they represent a radical shift from previous 911 models, trading a new water-cooled flat six for the old air-cooled design that was no longer capable of meeting ever-stricter environmental and noise standards, and sharing a ton of parts with the less-expensive Boxster that had just been introduced. Porsche purists clutched their pearls in dismay, but despite the somewhat meh styling, the 996 was a huge hit with new car buyers and a ton of them were produced in many variants. 

While there are a lot of keyboard warriors who make a big deal out of the faulty design of the intermediate shaft bearing that can do expensive damage to the M96 engine in non-GT2, GT3, and Turbo 996 models if it fails, by now most of the cars susceptible to this problem have already been either junked or fixed – just be sure to get a car with a verifiable service history that shows it has been corrected, or budget another two grand or so for a shop to replace it with the improved design.

#4: V8 Ferraris

Is there a manufacturer more closely-associated with the term “supercar” than Ferrari? And yet, thanks to the miracle of depreciation, you can get yourself into a good one for less than a new optioned-out Ford F150. While the Italian carmaker is known for their screaming V12 engines, bargains can be found if you can live with four fewer cylinders. 

In the ‘classic’ (or at least classic-adjacent) category, we have cars like the 308 GTB/GTS from 1975-85, which will make you feel like Thomas Sullivan Magnum III every time you turn the key, its improved successor, the ‘86-’89 328 GTS which is actually known for its (relative) reliability and easy maintenance, and the 348 which replaced those in turn for the 1989-1995 model years if you want Testarossa strakes on a budget. 

Moving on to more recent V8 models, prices start to rise, as you might expect, but you can still get an awful lot of Ferrari for the money with cars like the F355 (produced from 1995-1998), the 2000-2004 360 Modena, or even the front-engine 2009-2014 California if you can stretch your budget to six figures.    

The caveat here is that maintenance costs are not for the faint of heart, and depending on where you live, even finding a mechanic who has ever even seen one of the Ferraris you just bought off of Facebook Marketplace may not be possible. But hey, even a broken Ferrari in your garage is still a Ferrari in your garage, right?

#3: Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R

The EPA giveth, and the EPA taketh away – while there’s currently a fight going on to preserve the right to even work on your own car, let alone modify it, there’s also the 25-year rule that turns unimportable pumpkins into glittering carriages as soon as they hit the quarter-century mark. And no forbidden fruit was quite so attractive to an entire generation raised on racing video games than the original Godzilla, the 1989-1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R. 

Over the course of the production run, Nissan cranked out more than forty thousand R32 GT-R models in a variety of specifications, and since 2014 every one of them has been legal to own in the US (at least as far as the Feds are concerned; your state may suck like the author’s does and impose its own restrictions). As far as all-wheel-drive turbocharged cars designed in the late 1980s go, they’re reliable and have a robust supply chain plus plenty of folks here in the ‘States who know how to work on them. 

Despite their large production numbers, though, prices are on the rise and we predict that before long they’ll exceed what’s sensible for a car you actually want to drive on a regular basis. Get in now if one of these right-hand-drive dream cars is on your wishlist.

#2: C6 Corvette Z06/ZR1

The 2005-2013 Corvette earns our ‘bang for the buck’ award on this list, especially in the form of the naturally-aspirated LS7-powered Z06 and supercharged LS9 ZR1 models. When these cars were new, there was nothing that could touch them in terms of performance per dollar spent, and the arrival of the C7 for the 2014 model year helped drive down their resale value. Throw in the introduction of the mid-rear engine C8 for 2020 and the bottom got knocked out of prices for used sixth-gen Corvettes, making them the performance bargain of the 21st century. 

The Z06 and ZR1 have very different personalities; the 505-horsepower LS7 in the former is about as good as a non-forced-induction big displacement V8 engine gets, and the car was clearly aimed at track performance with a first-for-Corvettes full aluminum chassis and suspension tuning that owed a lot to the experience earned in competition with the previous C5’s near-interchangeable underpinnings. The 638 horsepower ZR1 is a T-Rex of a car, and driven hard you’ll find yourself unexpectedly bumping the redline because the blown powerplant just doesn’t nose over and run out of breath as it climbs the tach.

Another big plus with these cars is their reliability and serviceability. Maintenance and repair is well within the ability of a home mechanic, and if you’d rather have somebody else take care of it, literally any Chevy dealership on the planet can get parts. There’s a huge aftermarket if you want to upgrade the suspension or engine as well. While some Z06 models had issues with the LS7 dropping valves, by now they’ve all either been fixed under warranty or they’re not going to fail. About the only downsides are that the interiors are just “good for a Chevy” rather than extraordinary, and you will also be required by law to wear jorts and white New Balance tennis shoes while driving one.

#1: First-Gen Acura NSX

You knew this one would make the list, since part of the original mission statement for the 1990-2005 NSX was to be the original ‘affordable supercar.’ The goal was to match the performance of the Ferrari 328/348 without the reliability issues or the price tag, and the styling was closely based on the Pininfarina-penned HP-X concept car. Honda being Honda, the NSX would also avoid all the ergonomic woes common to other mid-rear exotics, with decent interior room and really excellent all-around visibility from the driver’s seat.

The NSX started out with a 270 horsepower 3.0 liter V6, which was replaced for 1997 with an improved 3.2 liter, 290 horsepower engine. In such a light car (depending on model and year, curb weight was between 2,800-3,160 pounds) this made for plenty of performance, and in 1992 a NSX-R variant was introduced with a focus on track use, trading away a little bit of street manners. 

The car got a facelift for 2002, most easily recognizable by the replacement of the original pop-up headlights with less-fun fixed projector HID units, and beneath the skin there were some changes to the suspension calibration with stiffer springs front and rear and a higher-rate rear anti-roll bar. Regardless of the model year, these cars have held their value well and remain insanely fun to drive while still being about as practical as a mid-rear two seat sports car can be. Best of all, even though they’re “just” a Honda/Acura, they still turn heads thirty years after they hit the market, punching way above their weight class in terms of coolness.

So that’s our supercar list – like any of these things are, it’s subjective, and your opinion may place other cars higher than the ones we’ve picked out here. The important thing, though, is that there are more affordable, desirable supercars available on the used market today than there have ever been, so being on a budget doesn’t have to mean living with something boring in the driveway. 

The New Pagani Huayra R: An 850-HP Track Killer

March 18, 2021 – Following in the track-only footsteps of the Zonda R, the new V12 Pagani Huayra R is here to prove the Italian automakers dedication to form and function. Horacio Pagani, founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., states that “The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.”

The Pagani Huayra R was put together piece by piece with the latest technology derived from the world of racing. The heart of the Huayra R is a 12-cylinder, 6-liter, naturally-aspirated racing engine, designed to not only put out peak performance, but also be incredibly light to be one of the most efficient track-ready V12’s ever created. The new powertrain delivers a whopping 850-hp at 8,250 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque, with a redline at 9,000 rpm, creating that sound Horacio Pagani was going for from the F1 engines of the 1980s. 

Paired to the screaming V12 is a brand new six-speed sequential gearbox. The gearbox itself is a non synchronized dog ring that guarantees 95% friction efficiency, which helps to achieve maximum shift precision and reduce shift times, all while only weighing in at a total of just 176 lbs. Mounted to the engine and the monocoque, the gearbox also contributes to the rigidity of the chassis and is designed to integrate structurally with the entire suspension unit. 

Going back to the monocoque, the Pagani Huayra R’s is the result of specifically dedicated development that gives the driver total involvement and driving experience that you’d expect from an authentic racing car experience. The monocoque was designed using the latest composite technology, including carbo-titanium HP62-G2, a combination of beta titanium alloy and carbon composite, along with Carbo-Triax HP62. Combined with the new structural principles and materials that were specially designed for the all-new Pagani Huayra R, the supercar tips the scales at a dry weight of just over 2,300 lbs. 

Moving on into the aerodynamics of the Pagania Huayra R, every detail of its exterior plays a role in generating maximum aerodynamic load. The goal from the beginning was the generate roughly 2204 lbs of downforce at 199 mph (1000 kg at 320 km/h), which the teams at Pagani and HWA quickly achieved. This wasn’t enough though, and the engineers wanted to push the envelope even further with the combination of form and function. They started to realize that every little detail they were changing on the exterior of the car was improving aerodynamic efficiency. 

Continuing the racing feel that the Pagani Huayra R was going for is the interior of the car. The interior of the R was designed for all around involvement and maximum adrenaline. All controls, including traction control, ABS, radio communication and other important functions can all be found on the quick release steering wheel. All other important controls are available on the center console, while a high-res, fully customizable motorsport dashboard display feeds the driver the necessary information to monitor the status of the car. 

Converted to USD, the Pagani Huayra R will cost about $3.1 million, but that’s only if you’re able to get your hands on 1 of 30 build slots. If you do however get on the waitlist and secure a slot, be ready to experience some of the most thrilling Pagani organized track days, part of the Pagani ownership experience. 

The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo: An Off-Roadable EV Wagon

March 05, 2021 – Porsche has officially announced the expansion of their all-electric sports car range, and the newest edition is an off-road, shooting brake dream — the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Many of the Cross Turismos strengths are taken from its sedan counterpart, with focus on performance and an exciting driving experience. Added to the mix is increased ground clearance for off-roadability, along with the much needed extra cargo space.

While the Taycan Cross Turismo will continue with the same front end, which has to be one of the best looking of all EVs, it will feature a longer, flatter roofline compared to its sedan counterpart. Also changed will be the fender extensions, unique rocker panels, front and rear fascia, and a 20 mm higher ride height. 

The Cross Turismo is in no way a rock-crawling off-roader, but it does however come with a Gravel mode, which increases the ride height an additional 10 mm, while also setting the suspension firmness, traction and stability control, and torque management system. All of these functions combined help the Taycan Cross Tursimo to maximize its grip over loose surfaces, including rocks, mud, sand, and gravel. This alone gives the Taycan more versatility over most EVs out there, but the performance doesn’t stop there. Off the gravel and back onto the road, the Taycan Turbo S Cross Tursimo can sprint to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds.

Moving to the interior, the Taycan Cross Turismo has several options available, including Porsche InnoDrive, Head Up Display, 14-way seats with massage functionality, and Bose and Burmester audio systems. 

Four different Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo models will be available at the launch, including the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Taycan Turbo Cross Tursimo, and Taycan Turbo S Cross Tursimo. All variants of the Cross Turismo will feature an all-wheel drive system powered by dual-motors, a two-speed rear transmission, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management in conjunction with air suspension, and much more. No EPA-estimated figures for range have been disclosed yet, but out is expected that they will be slightly lower than that of its sedan counterpart.

Pricing for the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo starts at $92,250, and goes all the way up to $188,950 for the Turbo S model. Porsche also sweetens the deal with three years of free charging through Electrify America. The new Porsche variant will go on sale later this summer. 

Supercharged V8 Creates a Land Rover Defender Monster

Feb. 26 – Hefty V8s have been packing a punch in Land Rovers dating back to the 1970s, and the story continues with the new Land Rover Defender V8. This isn’t your run of the mill N/A V8, but a potent new supercharged V8, available in both 90 and 110 body styles. Iain Gray, Senior Manager, Powertrain Advanced Engineering, says “The 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine further enhances the unique character of the Defender. It sounds fantastic and delivers incredible performance — providing new levels of driver appeal.” 

Speaking of performance, that 5.0-liter supercharged V8 in the Land Rover Defender produces 518 hp, and 461 lb-ft of torque. That power is delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Defender 90, or 2-door model, with the V8 package can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, and sprint all the way to its top speed of 149 mph. Although extremely quick, and faster than any Defender model before it, the new Defenders aren’t just know for their speed. 

Inside the new Land Rover Defenders, you’ll find a unique suspension system, including bespoke spring and damper rates, and a new Electronic Active Rear Differential. This new technologically advanced equipment delivers more agile and engaging handling with heightened body control — you’ll also get to hear the lovely sounds of the supercharged V8. 

To continue on the Defenders exceptional off-roadability, Land Rover has introduced a new Dynamic program within the Terrain Response system. The program helps the driver exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the 518 hp model on tarmac and loose surfaces. In the setting, a sharper throttle response and bespoke tuning for the Continuously Variable Damping combine with the stiffer suspension for immediate steering response. 

Moving on to the looks of the new Defenders, the V8 models will be badged with unique emblems, while also coming with a distinctive quad exhaust and 22-inch alloy wheels. Another giveaway that the Defender is indeed housing a supercharged V8 is the Xenon blue front brake calipers and 15-inch brake discs. 

You’d better want to get your wallet ready for these prices, though. The base Defender 90 and 110 start at around $50,000, but as soon as you introduce the supercharged V8, you’ll be looking at a near $100,000 price tag. 

VW GTI Celebrates 45 Years With Golf GTI Clubsport 45

March 01 – It has officially been 45 years since the hottest hatch of them all has hit showroom floors, and VW is celebrating its birthday with the 2021 Golf GTI Clubsport 45. This new special edition GTI is based off of the previous Clubsport, and mostly incorporates aesthetic changes.

The exterior of the Golf GTI Clubsport 45 boasts a striking black roof complete with a paint matched roof spoiler, an homage to the black-framed rear window of the first Golf GTI. The Race package, which is standard on the Clubsport 45, also includes 19-inch Scottsdale alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system, and removal of the Vmax limiter, which limits the top speed to 250 kph. 

Moving to the interior, the special edition anniversary model also showcases the classic GTI insignia. GTI lettering can be found on the backrests of the front premium sport seats, along with “45” stamped on to the center spoke of the steering wheel. 

As of now, there’s no sign of the VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 reaching the U.S.. European countries will receive first presales as soon as March 1st, with pricing in Germany starting at 47,790 euros. 

The $8 Million Bugatti Centodieci: A Modern EB110

Feb. 15 – If you thought Bugatti couldn’t come up with an even more powerful and unique supercar, then you’re in for a surprise from the French car manufacturer — the first prototype for series development of a W16 engined Bugatti Centodieci has come to fruition. This highly-exclusive, high-performance machine is a tribute to the legendary EB110, evoking automotive history and showcasing Bugatti’s excellent coach building expertise. 

The Bugatti Centodieci brought on extreme challenges for the designers and engineers at Bugatti, especially because of the fact that they had to house an enormous, 8-liter engine — the 16-cylinder beast puts out nearly 1,600 horsepower. Another challenge was quite possibly the biggest one, transforming the very flat and wedge-shaped EB 110 into a modern, three-dimensional sculpture. 

Achim Anschiedt, Bugatti’s creative director, explains that “the challenge was not to allow oneself be captivated too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time.”

The engineers on the project had to dive right into the calculations for the body, aerodynamics, engine and transmission. The body of the Centodieci is then thrown into an air tunnel where they can simulate the airflow of the vehicle and check all components, going even as deep as checking the smallest of screws. The design team, on the other hand, checks the styling of the Centodieci in closer collaboration with the developers. After a year of continued research and development, the team finally had developed the first prototype. 

On to the performance, the Buggati Centodiece and its W16 engine create 1,600 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The powerhouse can sprint to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and 120 in 6.1 seconds — an electronically halting top speed is set at 380 kph (236 mph). The Centodieci isn’t at all designed to just be a top-speed build. Stephen Winklemann, Bugatti President, puts it, “With the Centodieci, we once again demonstrate that design, quality and performance are just as important.”

The Bugatti Centodieci is limited to only 10 units, at $8 million a pop. Those 10 units have already been purchased and will arrive to their new owners some time next year.

Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Proves Yet Again That Carbon Fiber Is King

Feb. 22 – Gunther Werks is back in action, and their newest open-top, air-cooled creation is here to steal your heart — the Porsche 993 Speedster. For those unfamiliar with the magic behind Gunther Werks name, they are master crafters within the world of the Porsche aftermarket, perfecting their builds with none other than carbon fiber. The 993 is familiar ground for Gunther Werks, but this new Speedster is here to prove yet again that carbon fiber is king. 

This new creation is summed up by Gunther Werks as an “open-air model that not only heightens the experience with the rush of wind through your hair, but also pushes the boundaries of performance to build a stronger, lighter, faster car.” The reengineered Porsche 993 Speedster has already gone on to put down the fastest air-cooled lap around Laguna Seca at just 1:30.99, but what exactly have they done to the car to make it lighter and faster?

The biggest problem Gunther Werks had to overcome with the Porsche 993 Speedster is the removal of the roof. The roof of any car is key in keeping torsional rigidity, so with it gone the engineers had to employ advanced reinforcement. Most of this reinforcement has been cleverly concealed by the new carbon fiber Speedster top and tonneau cover. Beyond chassis strength, the 993 Speedster has also gained improved aerodynamics. An updated front fascia integrates a carbon front splitter that drastically improves aerodynamics. The rear of the Porsche 993 Speedster features a revised duck tail with a ram air scoop, along with 3d printed exhaust tips. Other modifications to the exterior include aluminum side view mirrors, lightweight door handles, and an updated front led reflector system. If you haven’t already noticed, Gunther Werks takes every detail into account when it comes to weight savings.

The interior of the Porsche 993 Speedster includes a new carbon fiber dash, a redesigned pedal assembly and a revised carbon fiber floor panel system. The front windscreen also sits lower, with an option to delete it completely, so Gunther Werks accommodated this by developing a hollow carbon fiber seat shell featuring lightweight cushions. The seats themselves also sit lower that the original 993, reducing drag and lowering the center of gravity. 

Technical specifications haven’t been revealed yet, but the Porsche 993 Speedster is promised to have an increase over the original 435 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. Gunther Werks continued partnership with Eisenloht Racing and JRZ Suspension also means that the Speedster with feature an all-new advanced dynamic suspension system.

25 of these beautifully reengineered Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedsters will be developed, with a price of $675,000 before other options are applied. 

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Model Revealed With 502 HP

Feb. 17 – Another year of knowledge gained at the race track has led Porsche to their newest iteration of the 911 high-performance model, the all-new 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. This incredibly high-revving, naturally aspirated engine is shared with the 911 GT3 Cup, with a double wishbone front suspension adapted from the 911 RSR. Through extensive use of lightweight materials, refined aerodynamics, and the newly equipped front suspension, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 aims to once again raise the bar. 

At the heart of the all-new Porsche 911 GT3 is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter, six-cylinder boxer that revs to a screaming 9,000 rpm. Combined with 6 individual throttle bodies, the engine is able to provide extremely sharp throttle response, putting its 502 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque to the ground immediately. The engine, which is almost identical to the 911 GT3 Cup, Porsche’s track-only race car, proves just how quick Porsche is to pass down their racing knowledge to their street cars. Attached to the engine is a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission, while a six-speed manual transmission is also available. Together, the engine and PDK transmission can launch the 911 GT3 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 197 mph. 

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 isn’t only about engine performance — lightweight materials keep the car light and agile, ready to tear up the track. The new GT3 is based on the 911 Carrera body, making the front track width increase by 1.9 inches. However, the use of several lightweight materials makes the GT3 weight the same exact weight as its predecessor. The hood, rear wing, and fixed rear spoiler are all made up of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Even the glass used for the windows is lightweight and noise insulated.

Moving to the chassis and brakes, the double wishbone front axle of the new 911 GT3 was taken from the 911 RSR and 911 GT3 Cup and adapted for road use. This is a milestone for the 911, and the new front axle allows for more direct and precise steering, allowing for improved stability while cornering. As for braking, the standard braking system incorporates cast iron discs that are 28-mm larger than the previous model, and 17 percent lighter. The brakes are also able to deal with very high heat thanks to special cooling channels and new developed ventilation.

The interior of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 continues the connection to Porsche’s racing experience. A GT3 Multifunction Sport steering wheels is standard equipment, with an included drive mode switch for the first time. Four-way Sports Seats Plus are also standard, while 18-way Sport Seats Plus and even a carbon fiber bucket seat option are available. 

The new Porsche 911 GT3 is set to be released in the U.S. as a part of the 2022 model year, with dealers getting them as soon as Fall 2021.

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar Set To Be Revealed February 16

Feb. 2 – McLaren has been spawning more supercars than we can keep up with, recently the Sabre, and now the all-new McLaren Artura. What seems to be a similar looking platform to recently departed models such as the 570S, is actually a brand new design, and powertrain. The McLaren Artura, due for launch on the 16th of February, is being hyped by McLaren as a platform that will follow the footsteps of some of the greatest cars McLaren has ever made, including the Senna, Speedtail and Elva.

The McLaren Artura will make its debut as an all-new high-performance Hybrid Supercar, housing a twin-turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor. This powertrain is designed to retain all of the performance benefits from McLaren’s larger V8 engine options, but come with the added advantages of improved torque in the lower rev ranges, and an option of running the Artura on only electric. This option, however, will most likely be for city jaunts as it’s not a full electric vehicle, so the battery will most likely be fairly small.

The McLaren Artura is also going to be built around their new carbon fiber chassis, known as the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). Because of the batteries for the hybrid system, the carbon fiber chassis is a smart move to offset some of that added weight.

Tune in on February 16th for the official reveal to see just how incredible their new Artura is!

Audi E-Tron GT and RS E-Tron GT Aim for Comfort and Performance

Feb. 10 – With the ever-growing popularity of SUVs in America, it’s a welcoming sight to see the all-new 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT. Audi announced Tuesday that their new electric vehicle, the e-tron GT, is defined by its duality, a high-performance gran turismo that can be enjoyed through spirited driving, or even just leisurely cruises. To expand on this, Audi Sport has also released its first ever EV in the U.S, the Audi RS e-tron GT, packed full of new tech including an electric propulsion system, air suspension, all-wheel steering, and a two speed transmission. 

Both the Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are packed with power, both suited with permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM). These motors are ideal because of their ample, instant torque. The e-tron GT produces 235 horsepower from a motor situated in the front, and 429 horsepower from the motor in the rear. The net combined power for these motors is 469 horsepower, but a key feature is their ability to overboots for 2.5 seconds with launch control, shooting that new horsepower number up to 522, with 464 lb-ft of torque. The e-tron GT can launch to 60 in 3.9 seconds, repeatedly, while being able to hit a top-speed of 152 mph. 

Even more impressive power wise is the RS e-tron GT — both e-tron GT’s share the same front motor, but the rear is where the RS has the advantage. At the rear of the RS e-tron GT is a motor capable of 450 horsepower, bringing the RS’ net horsepower to 590, or 637 with overboost. Combined with its total system torque of 612 lb-ft, the RS can jet to 60 in 3.1 seconds, and hit a top speed of 155 mph. 

A unique feature that the Audi e-tron GT’s have that puts them at an advantage over other electric vehicles is their two-speed transmissions. Anything over a single speed transmission almost seems odd now that EV’s are becoming increasingly popular, but Audi may be on to something with this new advancement. The GT’s 1st gear is used for rapid acceleration when needed, while the taller second gear can be used for long stretches of highway driving.

Other key features the Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT will come with standard are a leather-free interior, using Dynamic and Alcantara, a “monoposto” cockpit that angles everything towards the driver, and a full-circumference flat-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in Alcantara. Standard for the RSS e-tron GT is a lightweight, high-strength, five-layer carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof. Another key design detail that Audi wanted to stand out is the strongly chiseled lower doorsill lines that emphasize the battery pack as the car’s powerhouse and foundation. 

The 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT will arrive in the U.S. this summer, with prices starting at $99,000 for the e-tron GT and $139,900 for the RS e-tron GT.

The New BMW M5 CS Is the Pinnacle of M Performance

Jan. 18 – BMW just made a new top of the line model that is the most impressive M model to date; the BMW M5 CS. Adding to their already impressive lineup of CS models spanning their (now)entire lineup of M cars, this limited run special edition takes it to the next level.

Described as the “highest rung of the BMW M ladder”, the BMW M5 CS comes with tons of features and performance numbers to boot. It comes with a 4.4L V8 engine that makes a whopping 635hp which makes the M5 CS the most powerful M car ever made. All this power is delivered to all four wheels through their M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which also gives you the option of 2-wheel-drive if you’re a RWD purist.

The BMW M5 CS has 0-60 of just 3 seconds flat and can take it all the way to 124mph in just 10.3 seconds. With an electronic speed governor, the M5 CS caps out at 189mph.

As with all of the CS models, this model takes weight savings seriously and has adapted retuned bearing springs and modified axles to coincide with the lower vehicle weight. Additionally, your 4th friend will have to sit this one out, cause the BMW M5 CS comes with only 4 racing bucket seats in all corners. Classic BMW luxury is injected throughout with black merino leather with red stitching, with an Alcantara steering wheel to round out the interior.

The M5 CS comes with a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with a quad tip exhaust. To control all that power, it also comes with M Carbon ceramic brakes that can be painted either red or gold; whichever suits your fancy.

This luxury and performance comes with a cost, with the BMW M5 CS starting with a price tag of over $200K in USD. But, how much would you shell out for the most powerful BMW M car to date?

The One-Off V12 Lamborghini SC20

December 19, 2020 – Lamborghini Squadra Corse has just announced a brand new open-top track car approved for road use, and it goes by the name SC20. This one-off vehicle was created following a very lucky customers wishes, who had been involved in the project from start to finish, including the very first drawings by Lamborghini’s designers. The goal? Create an incredibly unique vehicle, extreme in its design and performance while carrying over as many aerodynamic solutions from actual racing Lamborghinis.

The body of the Lamborghini SC20 is made of carbon fiber, polished and slicked down by hand by the Lamborghini aerodynamic engineers. The goal was to deliver optimal airflow, not only for performance, but also for the occupants inside the cockpit.

Because the SC20 is open-air, the engineers had to ensure that the driver and passenger are comfortable while traveling at high speeds. The front hood of the Lamborghini SC20 is inspired by the Huracan GT3 EVO, with sculpted body sides reflecting the solutions adopted on the Essenza SCV12. The rear of the SC20 is topped with an adjustable large carbon fiber wing, with three different positions.

The SC20 stands out by its looks alone, but the cherry on top is Lamborghini’s flagship V12 nestled inside, delivering 770 hp at a screaming 8,500 rpm. Connected is an optimized seven-speed Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) gearbox.

The power from that V12 heads through the gearbox and is discharged to the ground through the SC20’s four-wheel drive system with a central electronic differential.

Unfortunately, this Lamborghini SC20 is a one-off creation, making it highly unlikely that you’ll even be able to see it with your own eyes, but it sure is a masterpiece.

Alfa Romeo Pays Tribute to the 33 Stradale With Special Edition 4C Spider

December 17, 2020 – The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was a legend in motorsport and a huge step for the automotive world being one of the first supercars. The company is paying tribute to their early mid-engine supercar with the release of a limited edition version of their current halo car and calling it the 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo. This 4C will be extremely limited with only 33 examples produced for the North American market.

The 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo comes exclusively in a beautiful Rosso Villa d’Este red exterior with composite Dinamica® black suede and brown tobacco leather sport seats. Plaques placed throughout the car noting the 33 Stradale Tributo and displaying the unit number of the car, 1-33.

Alfa Romeo’s heritage in the Formula 1 world is seen in the 4C’s carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Additionally, everything that was an option in the 4C comes standard in the Stradale Tributo like the Akrapovic dual-mode center-mounted exhaust, race tuned suspension and carbon fiber halo.

Featuring a twin-clutch transmission and all-aluminum 1750cc turbocharged engine, the 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. And weighing in at less than 2500lb, the Stradale Tributo is light as a feather going from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. With its speed and luxury defining this car, the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo serves as a fitting end to the production of the 4C Spider in North America.

Mercedes-AMG ONE: Bringing Formula 1 to the Road

November 09, 2020 – The new Mercedes-AMG ONE is the ultimate Formula 1 inspired supercar that’s ready for road use. Technology has been passed down from Formula 1 to everyday cars for years. From safety features, to new materials, exterior design and more. But Mercedes didn’t want to stop there, they wanted to create a road car that utilizes as much F1 technology as possible.

With Mercedes-AMG working together with the Petronas Motorsport team, the Mercedes-AMG ONE was born. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6 liter V6 with four independent motors, the ONE is able to put out over 1,000 hp, with a top speed of 217 mph. Speaking of those four electric motors, there is one for each front wheel, one linked to the crankcase, and one in the turbocharger itself.

Another important statistic the ONE is able to put down is its incredible 0-200 kph (0-124 mph) speed, falling under 6 seconds. Compare that to the Chiron which does it in 6.5 seconds. This is all thanks to those front axle motors which are capable of 50,000 rpms alone. Also, selective torque distribution allows for extra high levels of vehicle dynamics. These abilities matched with a Race Start function and that electric motor in the turbocharger, allowing for zero turbo lag, give the ONE its quickness.

The power and handling of the ONE are definitely impressive, but it doesn’t stop there. The efficiency of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is equally impressive. An EQ Power+ hybrid drive system allows for multiple driving modes, from only electric to highly dynamic. A regenerative braking system also recoups up to 80% of braking energy.

When it comes to its looks, the ONE evokes the premium class of motorsport with muscular proportions. The exterior is filled with numerous air inlets, while the car rides on forged aluminum wheels. The interior on the other hand is very minimal, with lightweight bucket seats and a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel.

The production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is planned to be 275 units at a price of $2.72 million.

2022 Volkswagen Golf R Adds Drift Mode to AWD

November 05, 2020 – If you thought Volkswagen couldn’t squeeze more juice out of the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine in the Golf R, you’d be mistaken. VW just introduced the 2022 Golf R, and are claiming it is the most powerful production Golf of all time. Some may be disappointed that the standard Golf is no longer available in the US, but this new R is definitely the silver lining.

With its turbocharged 2.0 liter engine, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R can put out an incredible 315 hp, 27 more than the previous generation. This boost in power, along with an all-new torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system, launch the Golf R to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. When it comes to the transmission, all buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed DSG.

Every Golf R generation has come standard with AWD, but this new generation boasts something new and improved. A new rear differential distributes power variably between the axles. If you’re ready to slide it through a corner, the system can be put in “Drift Mode”, which allows up to 100 percent of the torque to be sent to the outside wheel. Another driving profile known as “Special” was configured for the Nurburgring. This profile has softer damping settings to make sure the Golf R can maintain maximum contact with the road.

On the exterior, the Golf R gains a new front bumper featuring a motorsport-style splitter. It also features a new daytime running light at the top of the radiator grille, stretching all the way into the fenders. On the rear bumper, a newly designed high-gloss black diffuser can be found. The production will be limited to three colors, including Lapiz Blue Metallic, Pure White, and Deep Black pearl Effect.

The inside of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R has gone a bit more digital, allowing for more customization within the cockpit, while a 10-inch Discover Pro touchscreen display greets the driver. The driver and passenger seats have also been upgraded to sportier leather seats, along with a heated and multifunction leather sport steering wheel.

Overall, the all-new 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is going to be a force to reckon with. It will go on sale in the US beginning late next year. No price has been announced, but the previous model started just above $40,000.

The All-New Lexus LC 500 Aviation Edition

November 04, 2020 – Look out Japan, that’s no bird or plane, but surely a special edition Lexus LC 500 Aviation based off of the two! This plane-themed version of its LC 500 sporty coupe is Lexus’ take on the aerodynamic crossover possible between automobiles and aviation.

Because of its sleek design, you have too look close to notice the new curved carbon fiber reinforced plastic spoiler on the back of the car. It follows the arc of the trunk and includes two downturned functional winglets on either end, which generate a vertical vortex that smooths out any turbulence, improving the aerodynamics of the coupe. From this comes improved yaw response, direction changes, and steering response.

The best part about the spoiler? It was designed and made by a craftsman from the LFA project, the same one that created the 3d carbon fiber components on the past supercar. Also, aerobatic pilot, Yoshihide Muroya, shared his expertise on wings during the design process.

The spoiler isn’t the only upgrade to this Lexus LC 500 Aviation. Also included are 21-inch split-spoke wheels, an all-black Spindle grill, a custom steering wheel and shift knob, and an “Aviation Black” interior.

The Aviation package is available on both the Lexus LC 500 and LC 500H. However, Lexus is only producing 70 of these cars for Japan, with a cost of 15-million Yen, approximately $143,600.

The New BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe Are Here With a Bigger Grill and AWD

September 23, 2020 – The BMW M line gets an update with the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe and packs in a ton of new tech. Both the M3 and the M4 will be available in a standard trim and a competition trim. Power wise, the competition versions have 20 more horsepower than the standard version as well as an all-new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The M returns with an in-line six-cylinder engine powered by twin turbochargers and track optimized cooling and oil supply. Additionally, the exhaust comes with electrically controlled flaps to control exhaust sounds.

BMW M3 Sedan:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M3 Competition Sedan:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds
BMW M4 Coupé:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M4 Competition Coupé:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds

Both the M3 and M4 will be available with a 6-speed manual transmission, keeping with their pursuit of providing an authentic drivers experience. Models with the new xDrive system will also be able to switch between 2wd, 4wd, and 4wd sportmode through an electronically controlled differential. Adding to the electrification, the suspension has Adaptive M suspension which has electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering. Race compound brakes paired with carbon ceramic rotors round out the performance of the new M.

There’s no shortage of sharp lines in the design of these cars. The new BMW M, with the addition of its large grill, brings a fresh look to the traditional BMW twin kidney grill. Regardless, the pedigree of the M remains in these models with their high performance capability.

Safari 911: Are Porsche’s More Fun Off-Road?

When most people hear the word Porsche they usually think of the 911, even though the first cars were designated the 356. The 356 hit production in 1948, and ran until 1965. Interestingly, the 911 which would replace the 356 was launched 2 years earlier in 1963. Despite the difference in model designation, the outside envelope and drivetrain configuration of both cars were very close. The familiar shape and mechanical layout conceived by the car’s designer, Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche are still in use today. The 2020 Porsche Taycan is an all-electric sports car that still resembles the familiar 911 shape. The 911 is an icon, and people don’t like anyone messing with an icon. The 911’s original air cooled engine design was so coveted by enthusiasts that there was much controversy when it was retired in 1998 to be replaced with more conventional water cooling. I wonder if the Taycan has the battery bank laid out in a “flat six” configuration.

Most people drive their Porsches on the street. Although the 911 was known for simplicity, and driving pleasure, they were still luxurious, and rather expensive. They were out of reach for many. That fact created envy, and also spawned the Porsche snob. It’s easy to be a snob when you are so successful. Racing on pavement, Porsche has earned an impressive 19 overall wins at Le Mans to go with over 50 class wins. They also have endurance wins including 18 at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and another 18 at the 24 hours of Daytona. They have won the FIA World Endurance Championship three times, and own 12 manufacturer, and team titles in the World Sportscar Championship.

While no Porsche snob in their right mind would get their prized 911 muddy, there were those who were quite successful competing in the dirt; including the factory. While some wanted luxury and status, the cars durability and performance made them perfect for rally, hill climb, and offroad competition. Off the pavement, Porsche has four Monte Carlo rally titles, and a couple of Dakar Rally wins. The exotic all-wheel drive Porsche 959 was originally developed to compete in Group B rally competition but was never realized due to the cars cost. The 959 did however take 1st, and 2nd place at the Paris-Dakar rally in 1986. Porsche already won the Paris-Dakar rally in 1984 with a 911 RS/SC 4×4. The win in 1986 was with the same driver, Rene Metge in one of the two 959 models entered.

If you wanted to run a rally today, you would probably contact the Tuthill Porsche team. They outfit Porsche 911’s for rally competition. In 2013, they built 17 vintage 911’s for the East African Safari Classic Rally in Mombasa. 15 of the 17 cars finished the grueling rally. A Safari 911 that you need to check out belongs to Kelly-Moss Road and Race Director of Operations, Andy Kilcoyne. His 911 is extensively modified for the dirt.

So are these 911 Safari builds just to thumb their noses towards Porsche purists, or are they legitimate offroad performers? Certainly Porsche’s own success in the dirt would demonstrate that the latter is the case. Surprisingly, one of the 911’s greatest weaknesses on pavement makes the car superlative in the dirt; Trailing Throttle Oversteer. Those three words strike fear into 99 percent of Porsche 911 owners. Because the engine is mounted in the rear, the back end of the car outweighs the front. The ratio for the 911 varies from 58 to 60 percent of weight on the rear wheels. The most extreme case was the 1979 930 turbo. It had 63.8 percent of the weight in the back end. When you cut the throttle sharply on a rear engine car, the heavy rear end can act like a pendulum. The back end will come around, and cause uncontrollable oversteer. Uncontrolled Trailing Throttle Oversteer on pavement is bad. Controlled Trailing Throttle Oversteer in the dirt with grippy offroad tires is a blast. Just let off the gas for a second, flick the steering wheel opposite to where you want to go, and then bury the throttle to drift through the corner. On the pavement the goal is to drive at the limits of your tires adhesion without going overboard. On the dirt, it’s much more fun to hang it out in the turns, but that’s not all.

It’s common knowledge that the Porsche has many similarities to the Volkswagen which was designed by Ferry Porsche’s Father, Dr Ferdinand Porsche. The rear engine configuration, light weight, independent rear suspension, and torsion bar springs are shared by both cars. Those attributes made them extremely capable offroad. Many offroad racers were VW based. VW’s were also used extensively during the fiberglass dune buggy craze during the 60’s. Unlike the Porsche, Volkswagens were inexpensive, and produced in massive numbers. By making a few simple changes, any 911 can become a solid offroad performer. Some Porsche bodied cars where raced offroad, but mainly in the highly modified unlimited classes. They were somewhat of a novelty, however the platform is well-proven. The latest unlimited, open wheeled race cars competing today are rear engine designs with an independent transaxle driving the rear wheels, just like the 911.

So what’s holding most people back from building such a fast, proven, and fun car for the dirt? It’s the cost. Anything with a Porsche badge on it has skyrocketed in value in recent years. While you might find a rough example that needs work for a reasonable price, most well-kept 911’s, no matter what the year can go for anywhere from 60 thousand to well over a hundred thousand dollars. A quick internet search for let’s say a 1976 Porsche Turbo Carrera came back with a lovely example for the bargain price of 229,900 dollars. To be fair, you can find 1974 to 1977 models for good prices, but the 2.7 liter engine had problems that can be costly to fix. As long as you are not concerned with originality, a 3.0 liter engine can be bolted right in. If you are going to tweak the suspension, and fit larger tires why not? The offroad 911 will grow in popularity, it’s just too fun to drive to ignore. Then there will be those who build one just to bother the Porsche snobs out there. Whatever your motivation, you will have a unique car that attracts attention, and is a blast to drive.

More on this Safari 911 build here.

Project Geländewagen: Off-White’s Virgil Abloh and Mercedes AMG Collaborate on a Unique Project

September 8, 2020 – Project Geländewagen is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and the highly esteemed fashion designer and founder of Off-White, Virgil Abloh. Working with Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz, Gorden Wagener, Abloh produced this unique take on the Mercedes G-Wagen in an examination and exploration of the next step in modern luxury design. Those familiar with Virgil’s brand, Off-White recognize that he is no stranger to challenging the concept of luxury.

Every aspect of Project Geländewagen challenges the idea of luxury using the SUV familiar with high class and celebrity. Abloh takes this platform and flips the image, changing typical features of a 4×4 SUV and instead presenting an image as a race car. With stripped interior and simplified exterior features, Project Geländewagen questions what we know as an SUV while keeping the iconic shape of the Mercedes G-Wagen.

Abloh stated that, “My ultimate goal in this project with Mercedes-Benz is inspiring young artists, engineers, designers to question the status quo, in addition to experimenting with my own design abilities”, and “For me it’s all about providing opportunities for those coming after me and giving this next generation a foundation for success, both here with Mercedes-Benz and through my own Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.” Resonating with this idea, a replica of Project Geländewagen will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to a charity that supports international creative communities.

More on Project: Gelandewagen can be found here.

Release video:

BMW Announces New M3 With a Little More Trunk Space

August 13, 2020 – BMW M teased their newest project; a high performance touring car bearing the M3 badge. A touring 5-door variant has previously only been seen in the M5 line, but the team at BMW’s performance division decided that they wanted to do something new. This will be the first ever BMW M3 Touring 5-door wagon model, satisfying the needs of those looking for a high performance racing developed vehicle paired with high functionality.

It will likely be powered by the classic 6-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine which should be capable of over 500hp. BMW M also stated that “Further speculation on engine and performance is quite welcome.” They did ensure that several of the iconic exterior M3 features will be present in the new model, like large intake ducts and quad exhaust. Not much visually has been shared other than this obscured rear shot BMW M shared on their Instagram.

The BMW M3 Touring is still in its early testing stages, so it’ll be quite some time before we see any of them on the roads. And unfortunately, if you’re in the US you might not see any on the roads ever. Regardless, M3 fans have been waiting for this for quite some time, and we’re excited to see the full release.

Top Driving Ferraris

In the early 1980s, I worked with a woman who told me her sister worked at Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. We often joked about it until one day I asked, “Kay, does your sister really work at Ferrari as I’m going to the Turin Auto Show and I’d love to get the tour?” “She does,” She replied, “and she’s secretary to somebody important.”

They are in no particular order, as some prefer the early, models of the 60s that were controlled by hands, feet and brain while others prefer the later models that are controlled by computers.

That somebody important was Enzo Ferrari and the sister turned out to be the infamous Brenda Vernor. Needless to say, my long time friend Tim Parker and myself got the tour many times when tours were reserved mainly for owners. Tim is the consummate Italophile and knows his Ferraris, however, rather than just our jaded journalistic picks we consulted other Ferraristas including Stewart Bassett, Tom Brockmiller and Tex Otto. This, therefore, is our combined list of the top driving Ferraris.

They are in no particular order, as some prefer the early models of the 60s that were controlled by hands, feet and brain while others prefer the later models that are controlled by computers. Also, our opinions are ours alone; other people might well prefer the driving characteristics of other models.

 1959-1965 250 GT Berlinetta Short Wheel Base (SWB)

Last of the Ferraris that could be raced and comfortably driven to and from the track. Very successful race history and beautiful Pininfarina design.

1959-1961 250 GT California Spyder (SWB)

Most desirable convertible version of the Ferrari 250 chassis due to its elegant design and open bodywork.

1963-1964 250 GTL Lusso

Beautiful body built on the proven 250 chassis. 

Notes: These three 250s were all built on SWB chassis that were conventional but well sorted by the early 60s. What was not to like about 250 horsepower from a ‘ripping silk’ V-12 with a four-speed and disc brakes? All the cars are simply gorgeous Pinin Farina designs (PininFarina was two words back then as that was Farina’s name).

Perhaps the most famous 250 is the 1962 GTO owned by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. Nick apparently paid £37,000 for his in 1977 and its now valued north of $50 million.

1964-1967 275 GTB

Beautiful flowing shape followed the lines of the 250 GTO. Independent rear suspension increased handling for a true grand tourer.

1971-1975 365 GTC/4

Basically a four seat Daytona that is more street friendly with power steering. Beautiful throaty exhaust sound unique to this car.

1968-1972 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe and Spider

Grand tourer that followed the 275 GTB.

Notes: The 275/365s can be loved as group, too. The cars are bigger in every way over the 250s with a little more grunt, comfort and ergonomic “improvements.” Series of cars well suited to the 1970s. Better? Sure. Just not so visceral, perhaps.

1969-1974 246 Dino

Named after Enzo’s first son the Dino is lovely handling coupe or ‘targa top’ spider with a sensual shape. However, the 246 has a high-revving V6 and offers a lightweight, sweet handling, mid-engine configuration that is faster than it looks.

1973-1980 Dino 308 GT4

Unbeknown to many this first 308, a mid-engine V8 2+2, is a superb driver. It has excellent ergonomics with a little more elbowroom than the GTB/GTS. Same clever chassis and worthy to be grouped with the Dino 246.

1984-1996 Testarossa

After the Berlinetta Boxer (BB) the Testarossa was near perfection, however, it too is a big car with those distinctive strakes down the side. Love ’em or hate ’em, the Testarossa (red head) offers good driver fingertip control and massive performance from its ‘flat-12’ that sounds just awesome.

Notes: Think Crockett & Tubbs and the Miami Vice TV show except in the early episodes they were Corvette-based kit cars that Ferrari was not happy about. Eventually Ferrari donated two 1986 Testarossas to the show.

1994-1999 F355

Beginning of the modern era Ferraris with impressive power and handling. Best sounding Ferrari V-8 ever.

Notes: My old friend Boyd Coddington of American Hot Rod TV fame would let me drive his black Spider convertible. With 375 hp, a six-speed manual and a curb weight of only 2.976 lbs it had great power to weight ratio. If you could find the door handle that was hidden in the side scoop that is.

1987-1992 F40

Ferrari’s answer in the first round of ‘Super Car’ wars and the last car that Enzo personally approved before he died in August 1988. Its twin-turbo V8 produced incredible power in Ferrari’s first major use of carbon fiber and Kevlar. Amazing power-to-weight ratio.

Notes: “We had several F40s back in the day,” said Stewart Bassett, CEO of USAutomotive.co.uk. “It was brutal, a racecar for the road that we used to thrash up the M10 in England. It was the first road car ever to officially exceed 200 mph and believe me we tried.”

2008-2009 430 Scuderia

This was he last iteration of the F430 model with minimum appointments for maximum performance but it was still comfortable as a road car. In fact, the whole F430 line is also good, but the Scuderia is the ultimate version.

2010-2015 458

The last of the naturally aspirated, ‘no-lag’ mid-engined V-8 Ferraris. And there was a new in-house design direction featuring clean bodywork devoid of the large side intakes of subsequent models. In Tim’s opinion, “more Lotus that you might think.” 

2013-2016 LaFerrari

The beginning of the hybrid era combining a big V-12 with two electric motors for nearly 1,000 hp. LaFerrari is often acclaimed as ‘near perfect.’

2017-Present 812 Superfast

Potentially the last naturally aspirated V-12. Performance of the 879 hp ‘front mid-engine’ V12 surpasses the previous F12 TdF in an elegant road car. Massive performance in a superbly comfortable yet drivable car.

The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12: 40 Made for the Ultimate Track Experience

July 17, 2020 – Automobili Lamborghini strikes again this year with another limited edition hypercar, this time with the most powerful V12 they’ve ever produced and only available for track-use; Introducing the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12.

10 Engines That Changed the World

We take a lot of things for granted today – engines that start with the turn of a key, deliver abundant horsepower from minimal displacement, squeeze every mile possible out of a gallon of gas, and run for a hundred thousand miles and beyond with only routine maintenance. But over the last century or so, there have been some definite turning points where new technology and fresh ideas have radically changed how we drive. Here’s a look at ten of them that deserve recognition.

Ford Model T – 1908

Henry Ford’s car for the masses was one of the few vehicles in history that actually got simpler and cheaper over its long production run, and the basic 144 cubic inch inline-four under the hood, delivering a whopping 20 horsepower, was the perfect powerplant for the job. With a 3.98:1 compression ratio, this side-valve engine wasn’t all that sensitive to fuel quality, which was an important selling point in a world where the availability of highly-refined gasoline was pretty much non-existent.

Everything about the Model T’s engine was simple by design. There was no fuel pump, with the single sidedraft carb relying on gravity feed much like a lawnmower engine, and spark was provided via magneto and four “trembler” coils to step up the voltage. After an initial short run of a few hundred engines equipped with a water pump, Ford switched to a ‘thermosiphon’ cooling system that relied on the natural circulation of hot water. Hand crank starting was supplemented with an optional electric starter in 1919.

Although Model T production ended in 1927, the engine continued to be manufactured all the way up through the fall of 1941 for use in industrial and marine applications to power pumps and generators. 

Ford Flathead V8 – 1932

Though the V8 engine configuration, with two banks of cylinders sharing a single case and crankshaft, dated back to the turn of the 20th century, Ford’s original 221 cubic inch “Flathead” V8 was revolutionary in 1932. Most widely-produced car engines up until that time were either inline four or six cylinder designs, and even luxury cars with powerful (for the time) eight cylinder engines almost always were inline block layouts. The relatively compact Flathead was initially rated at 65 horsepower, then improved via an increased compression ratio to 85, and the design morphed into a number of different displacements ranging all the way up to a 337 cubic inch version and shrunk down to a diminutive 60-horsepower 136CI model.

Despite having cooling issues stemming from the necessity of routing exhaust passages through the block, and the general inefficiency of the valve-in-block cylinder head design, it’s impossible to understate just how important the Flathead was as an automotive powerplant. It was the engine that spawned the original hot rod movement, and countless aftermarket performance parts, up to and including overhead valve “Ardun” cylinder head conversions. Eventually overshadowed by more modern V8 engine designs, the Flathead still remained in production (albeit in highly-modified form) all the way up until the mid-1960s, and it continues to be popular with hot rod builders interested in retro or period-correct power.

Volkswagen Flat Four – 1936

Designed during the era of German nationalism that metastasized into the Nazi Reich, the horizontally-opposed, air-cooled flat-four engine from the “people’s car” ended up powering decades’ worth of vehicles that became synonymous with peace and love, and remained in factory production for more than 50 years, eventually spawning a water-cooled successor and laying the groundwork for Porsche’s legendary aircooled 6-cylinder “boxer” engines.

Despite its uber-simple design, which utilized a horizontally opposed layout to make it as compact as possible and fan-driven air cooling to eliminate the need for complex castings incorporating passages for liquid coolant as well as the weight of a water pump and radiator, the VW flat-four featured some remarkably sophisticated engineering for the era. The heads were manufactured from aluminum, while the finned cylinders were cast iron, and the crankcase was made from lightweight but strong magnesium.

With displacements ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 liters, and horsepower ranging between 24 and 99+ in factory trim, the VW flat-four found its way into a lot of vehicles other than the iconic Beetle – vans, the mid-engine Porsche 914 and “entry level” 912, countless dune buggies and kit cars, and even aircraft. As a matter of fact, its similarity to the widely-used Continental and Lycoming horizontally-opposed air cooled aircraft engines led not only to conversions for experimental kit planes, but even certified versions for aviation use. Its simplicity, durability, and tuner-friendly nature mean that the VW aircooled four will be popular for as long as internal combustion engines still exist.

Jaguar XK6 – 1948

There were inline-six engines before the Jaguar XK, and there were dual overhead cam engines before it as well. But the 3.4L engine that first appeared in the Jaguar XK120 sports car (their first sporting model since the unpleasantness on the Continent ended production of the SS100 in 1939) was the engine that all subsequent I6 designs and all DOHC powerplants of any cylinder count worth mentioning can claim as an ancestor.

When Nissan, Toyota, and even BMW set out to build their own I6 powered sports cars, the XK6 provided the archetype, so if you are a fan of the RB, 2JZ, or M30, you owe a debt of gratitude to this seminal design.

The XK6’s iron block was topped by an aluminum cylinder head; the material had been selected not only for light weight but also for its ability to efficiently move combustion heat into the cooling system, which allowed a higher compression ratio without detonation (and took advantage of the massive increases in fuel knock resistance that the war had brought). Widely-spaced, large valves and ports designed to increase intake charge swirl let it breathe, and the XK6 quickly went from a rated 160 horsepower to 210, then 250.

The Jag 6 was the result of a generation of engineers who had been pushed hard for a decade to defeat an existential threat to their nation turning their now-razor-sharp skills on making the best auto engine they possibly could, and between 1948 and the end of its run in 1992, the design in all its variations and displacements made its way into dozens of different Jaguar models, and even powered the Scorpion and Scimitar armored fighting vehicles.

When Nissan, Toyota, and even BMW set out to build their own I6 powered sports cars, the XK6 provided the archetype, so if you are a fan of the RB, 2JZ, or M30, you owe a debt of gratitude to this seminal design.

BMC A-Series – 1951

The Austin Mini holds pride-of-place as the car that first put together all the elements of the modern automotive transportation appliance in the same package: All the bulky mechanical parts out ahead of the passenger compartment, with a transaxle powering the front wheels driven by a transverse inline-four engine. The diminutive car required a similarly-tiny engine, and the BMC A-Series, ranging in displacement from 0.8 to a whopping 1.275 liters, was the perfect companion.

While outside of Japan’s Kei sub-sub-compacts, almost every other FWD car is huge compared to the original Mini, but they all draw inspiration from it. Nissan’s CA family can show a direct engineering family tree to the BMC A-Series, having been built around a licensed version of the little Austin’s blueprints. The A-Series inline four wasn’t anything particularly revolutionary in terms of performance or mechanical engineering, but it led the way in how engines would be packaged in the future to free up maximum space for people and things on the inside of the vehicle, making an impact on the automotive world that was as enormous as the engine itself was small.

Chrysler Hemi – 1951

Born from an experimental aircraft engine design that reached maturity just a bit too late to contribute to the Allied war effort in 1945, Chrysler’s hemispherical cylinder head concept was, at heart, the engineering solution to the problem of fitting the biggest possible pair of valves into any given cylinder bore diameter. Once civilian car production re-started, the company took what they had learned in developing that engine and applied it to their FirePower 331 cubic inch V8 that debuted in 1951, delivering between 180 and 300 rated horsepower depending on configuration.

Thanks to the design’s wide bore spacing, displacement grew throughout the decade, and DeSoto Fire Dome and Dodge Red Ram and Power Dome versions of the same architecture were introduced. But the second-gen Hemi, introduced in 1964 and displacing 426 cubic inches, was what put the name on the performance map. The over-the-counter version available to the driving public from 1965 to 1971 was rated at 425 horsepower (gross, with no accessories like a water pump drive or alternator to put parasitic drag on the engine) and 490 pound-feet of torque. In competition, NASCAR and professional drag racing teams embraced the enormous (and enormously powerful) Hemi, and there are still traces of the original 1964 Hemi DNA in today’s nitromethane-burning supercharged Top Fuel and Funny Car engines.

While the name was revived (rendered in all caps – “HEMI” – don’t you forget it!) for a third generation in 2003 that continues in production today, the engine bears little resemblance to its forebearers – a true hemispherical combustion chamber as seen in the second-gen engines, while allowing very large valves, ends up with a “squish” space that looks like an orange peel. This makes the design sensitive to fuel quality and ignition timing to make sure that large, thin volume of compressed gas and air burns smoothly and completely. Modern multi-valve “pent roof” cylinder heads with four facets for a pair of intake and exhaust valves, plus a fifth for the spark plug, achieve the same airflow advantages of a two-valve Hemi head while allowing more efficient combustion chamber shapes. Nevertheless, Chrysler’s Hemi remains as an iconic turning point in performance engine design.

Small Block Chevy – 1954

Arguably the most popular engine of all time, the original “small block” Chevy V8, first introduced in the 1955 model year Corvette and Bel Air, caught lightning in a bottle, and its descendants continue to be manufactured today for use in cars like the mid-rear-engine C8 Corvette. Unlike the Flathead, Chevy’s V8 utilized an overhead-valve cylinder head that allowed for higher compression, a more efficient combustion chamber design, and improved cooling.

The original 265 cubic inch design eventually grew into 400CI factory engines with the same bore spacing, and the SBC was one of the first production engines to deliver more than one horsepower per cubic inch of displacement. Over five separate generations, there have been countless changes to the original Chevy V8, including various mixes of cast iron and aluminum blocks and cylinder heads, distributor-fired and coil-per-plug ignition, carburetors, mechanical fuel injection, and EFI, and even cylinder deactivation for “displacement on demand” and variable valve timing.

Through all these changes, from the original 162 horsepower Gen I in 1955 to today’s naturally aspirated Gen V LT2 rated at 490 horsepower in the 2020 Stingray and the 638-horse supercharged Gen IV LS9, the SBC has retained one archaic design feature (with the exception of the unique Lotus-designed DOHC 1989-1995 LT5) – a single cam located in the center of the vee, with pushrod valvetrain actuation. In a world dominated by overhead cam designs, GM’s venerable cam-in-block design continues to prosper in everything from trucks to sports cars.

Wankel Rotary – 1964

Out of all the engines on our list, the Wankel is definitely the most revolutionary (pun intended). Forgoing the conventional piston-engine layout, the design originally conceived by Felix Wankel and patented way back in 1929 is a graduate-level education in geometry and physics. Instead of reciprocating, all the internal components in a rotary spin in the same direction, and although it operates in the same general way a four-stroke piston engine does, it has the power delivery characteristics of a two-stroke, with one power “event” per turn of the output shaft for each rotor assembly.

…but whenever there’s a need to pack a huge amount of horsepower in a high-RPM engine the size of a pony keg, the Wankel is ready to answer the call.

German manufacturer NSU was the first to bring a semi-practical design to mass production, but it took Mazda to really embrace the Wankel, licensing the patents and working out many of the unique challenges posed by the design, which included developing combustion seals for the rotor apexes and between the rotors and housing sides that would be durable enough to compete with piston engine technology that had several decades’ head start. Legendary Mazda cars like the Cosmo, RX-2, -3, -4, -7, and -8, and even a compact pickup (which was singularly unsuitable for rotary power in practical terms, but an awesome example of Mazda’s “Wankel all the things!” enthusiasm) featured rotary power, and many US manufacturers considered using variations of the design for everything from subcompacts to Corvette concepts.

Unfortunately, some inherent drawbacks remained hard to overcome – apex seal lubrication required a small, but continuous consumption of oil as there was no crankcase to separate lube from the combustion process, and although Wankel rotaries are very compact and mechanically simple compared to piston engines that deliver the same power, they’re also thirsty thanks to the thermodynamic inefficiency of their continuously variable combustion space. In the end, even Mazda more or less gave up on rotary engines for production vehicles, but whenever there’s a need to pack a huge amount of horsepower in a high-RPM engine the size of a pony keg, the Wankel is ready to answer the call.

Honda B-Series – 1988

Where would a list of the Ten Engines that Changed the World be without the Honda B-series? For one thing, the author would be risking violence at the hands of a pitchfork and torch wielding mob of Honda fans, but this particular inline four earns its place on merit. It’s arguably the most-popular modern inline four in history, and it combined all the features and technology we take for granted in high-tech engines today. Although it was never intended for turbo– or supercharging, it proved itself to be readily adaptable to boost, and there’s no small-displacement engine family that can boast as much aftermarket support as Honda’s killer B.

With displacements ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 liters in factory trim and rated horsepower from 126 to 190, there were a wide range of variations in both short and tall deck versions, with a panoply of different details like cylinder head design. But the big thing Honda gave the world with the B-series was the widespread introduction of VTEC, their term for a system to switch cam profiles through the use of a hydraulically-actuated cam follower setup. Activated by a signal from the ECU, VTEC allowed the engine to flip between valve timing, lift, duration, and overlap optimized for fuel economy to higher performance and back again, foreshadowing all the current variable valve control technology incorporated into state of the art engines today.

Like the Ford Flathead and classic Small Block Chevy, the Honda B-series has become a favorite of racers and enthusiasts due to the broad availability of performance parts and the extensive tuning knowledge gained over the past thirty years (has it really been that long?)

Nissan VC-Turbo / Mazda Skyactiv / Hyundai Cvvd – Today

It might seem like a bit of a cheat to give the last spot in our top ten list to a whole group of modern engines, but there are so many new technologies being introduced to production internal combustion engines that we can’t simply ignore their effect on the landscape. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) was the first to become relatively commonplace, offering both performance and fuel efficiency increases, but compared to what’s come after, it seems almost quaint – after all, Diesel engines have more or less always been direct-injection.

Nissan’s recently-released VC-Turbo engine uses a multi-link connecting rod assembly to provide a continuously variable “static” compression ratio, from 8:1 for turbocharged operation under boost to a miserly 14:1 under low load and atmospheric intake pressure for maximum efficiency.

Mazda introduced a whole range of new technology under their “SkyActiv” trademark, from the aforementioned GDI to a low-compression (14:1) advanced diesel with two-stage turbocharging to eliminate a large percentage of the particulate and NOx emissions normally associated with compression-ignition engines. They’ve even rolled out a gasoline “SkyActiv-X” engine with two-stage direct fuel injection and variable spark or spark-plus-compression ignition that promises 20-30% greater fuel efficiency.

The “camless” engine has been the holy grail of powerplant design since the middle of the last century, and while certain exotic-but-impractical designs have been proposed or used for pure race engines, and some production engines like BMW’s N55 have implemented systems that can dynamically control cam phasing and variable lift, Hyundai’s Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology comes as close as we’ve seen so far to offering complete control over when and how much a conventional tappet valve opens. While it still relies on mechanical contact between a cam lobe and a follower, it’s a good compromise between practicality and theoretical “perfect” control of valve motion.

We’ve done our best to pick the most significant engine designs without prejudice or favoritism, but we’ve undoubtedly left some of you scratching your heads as to why we overlooked your personal selection in our Top Ten. Make your case in the comments below, and we might just revisit the topic in a future article to mend the error in our ways…

The Dark Side Reborn: 2021 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series

July 17, 2020 – Mercedes-AMG has been producing some of the most powerful and aesthetically pleasing series of vehicles, known as the Black Series, and 2021 brings their most wild creation yet, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

At first sight, you may think this limited edition model is simply a racecar produced for the DTM Racing Series; an enormous wing, carbon fiber galore, and shots of the GT at the track might have you thinking you are looking at the newest technological advances Mercedes has made solely for their racing teams. Truth be told, you don’t need to be a professional driver to own this beauty, but you may need some driving experience to handle the power this glorious machine produces.

720-hp. This is the number you’re thinking about when stepping into the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 under the bonnet connected to a reinforced seven-speed DCT gearbox will output enough power for you to reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 100 mph in just under 9. The best part? Well, of course, the music coming from the tail pipes. This powerplant is very rev-happy, redlining at 7,200 rpms and delivering its peak power between 6,700 and 6,900 rpms. Combined with twin-turbos putting out 24.6 pounds of boost, the GT screams with its 720-hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

As much as I’d like to say the engine is where the sweet spot of the GT Black Series is, I would say that is wrong. The aerodynamics of this car are top notch, and every inch of its exterior plays a role in creating such a beast of a machine. If anyone understands the form and function of carbon fiber, it’s Mercedes. I mean, you’ll have a tough time finding parts on the GT that aren’t made of the incredibly strong and lightweight polymer, from the wing, to the roof, heck, even the engine bay is littered with it. The front bumper incorporates an adjustable splitter for better aero when you need it, and bigger vents are found on the hood and fenders, aiding with cooling and of course, aero.

Along with special trim and badging, the GT Black Series is sure to stick out in a crowd. There isn’t a price for it yet, but with everything considered, it will probably be a hefty one. Come early 2021, the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will be available for purchase, so if you’re ready to get your hands on the sixth generation of the series, you’d better get your wallet ready!

The New Porsche 911 Turbo Sheds the S

July 16, 2020 – The 992 Generation welcomes a new car to its lineup, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo, and it’s here to bridge the gap between base model and Supercar. Let’s be honest, 640 hp in the 911 Turbo S is quite overkill for a daily driver, but some Porsche Aficionados want a bit more juice than the standard 911.

This is where the new 911 Turbo enters the picture. Although not the S model, this Porsche still packs a punch, with the same 3.8-liter flat-six as its counterpart, just detuned to a reasonable 572 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. It’s almost comical to say that that’s a reasonable figure, but it’s just enough of a reduction to make the 911 Turbo a daily drive-able car. Did we mention the 0-60 mph time is only a tenth of a second slower than the S? That’s right, the Turbo will get you there in 2.7 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph.

Other than the slight engine performance reduction, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S share much of the same traits. The newer variant receives power through an eight-speed, dual clutch transmission, and of course, is equipped with Porsche’s Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel-drive system which has the ability to transfer even more power to the front wheels than before.

Luckily for you, the Porsche 911 Turbo also comes at a significant discount. The Turbo S will run you over $200,000, but the new Turbo will cost just over $170,000. If you’re willing to pay the extra $430 per horsepower difference and prefer the 911 Turbo S, then more power to you. But, if you’re looking for a cream of the crop Porsche that is just as fun on the streets as it is on the track, then the new 911 Turbo may just be for you.

Old School Cool: All About Air Cooled Engines

It’s an unfortunate reality that internal combustion engines are inefficient, turning more than half of the energy from every drop of fuel burned into waste heat instead of forward motion or sweet, sweet tire smoke. Much of that lost energy goes into the exhaust, but in order to keep things like cylinder heads, pistons, and engine blocks in a temperature range where they can operate reliably, every engine has to have some way to move waste heat away from the metal and into the air.

Air-cooled engines have been around for basically forever; they’re simple, light, and less complicated than liquid cooled designs, and yet aside from some very specific niche applications, it’s hard to find any large-displacement air-cooled engines in production today. In the US market, most people would be hard-pressed to identify any air-cooled car engines other than the one used by VW for decades across their entire model line, from Beetle to Bus, Porsche’s flat-six 911 powerplants, and perhaps the Corvair. In the motorcycle world, air cooling held on for a lot longer, but even BMW and Suzuki eventually gave up on fins in favor of water jackets for their street bikes.

Battle-Tested

As with so many important aspects of piston engine technology we take for granted today, the competition between air and water cooling saw its most intense period of development during the Second World War. The original 1903 Wright Flyer, the first practical aircraft, used a four-cylinder water-cooled engine (although it had no radiator, relying on boiling off its limited supply of water during the short duration it had to run) and during the Great War, both air-cooled rotary engines (no, not Wankels – that’s a story for another time) and liquid cooled inline engines rapidly developed.

By the late 1930s, aircraft engines, which needed to be both light and powerful, had evolved into two basic forms: Watercooled inline or V designs, and air-cooled radials. The legendary Merlin that powered the P-51 Mustang, and the Allison V-1710 that was installed in pairs in the P-38 Lightning were both liquid cooled, while fighters like the Wildcat, Hellcat, Corsair, and Thunderbolt all had big, round air-cooled radial engines. Neither approach to engine cooling held a clear advantage (as a matter of fact, it was actually possible for the extremely clever radiator or cooling fin ductwork to generate net thrust from waste heat, though the effect was almost too small to measure) and things mostly came down to packaging within the airframe and streamlining. There, the liquid cooled engines had the advantage of a smaller cross-section, versus simplicity and the lack of a vulnerable radiator for the air cooled radials. By war’s end, both types of engines were capable of more or less the same peak power output and had similar power-to-weight ratios.

Cars Aren’t Airplanes Though…

Perhaps the world’s best-known air-cooled engine (and certainly the most widely-produced), the iconic Volkswagen flat four, was conceived during that same tumultuous time as an inexpensive and compact powerplant for Ferdinand Porsche’s “people’s car.” While the design for the Volkswagen Type 1 was set by 1938, it wouldn’t be until a decade later that civilian versions were manufactured in any numbers in post-war Germany. Czechoslovakia’s Tatra had also made a number of air-cooled cars before the war, and continued all the way through the late 1990s (and even still makes air-cooled heavy trucks today) and FIAT and Citroën embraced these kinds of engines in their small, economical post-war vehicles as well.

The only major US domestic manufacturer to put an air-cooled engine into mass production in the modern era was Chevolet, for the 1960-1969 Corvair. These flat-six engines were actually very successful, though the car they were designed for suffered from the first wave of consumer safety activism that would later target Pinto, Audis, and GM trucks for design flaws that made them somewhat more dangerous (though not greatly so) than their contemporaries. Chevy’s air-cooled flat six got thrown out with the bath water, and all subsequent GM engines would rely on liquid cooling.

Of course, it would be impossible to discuss air-cooled auto engines without mentioning the wildly successful Porsche flat-6, which powered the 911 family all the way through the 1998 model year before finally being replaced by a water-cooled design with a similar layout. The ongoing success of that engine family showed that it was certainly possible to create a completely modern, extremely powerful and reliable engine that didn’t need coolant. So why the switch?

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions

The dominance of water-cooling in present day automotive engine applications comes down to a few main factors. First, there’s the issue of performance. Though Porsche’s air-cooled flat six (as well as innumerable air-cooled motorcycle engine designs) proved that it’s possible to build engines that are very powerful and reliable without coolant jackets, and more importantly water circulating through the cylinder head, as specific output climbs it becomes harder and harder to control hot spots in the combustion chamber using air cooling alone.

The exhaust valve and port area is one particular trouble spot – without coolant flowing through adjacent passages, it’s hard to move the heat build-up from this area in particular out to the atmosphere, no matter how much cooling fin you throw at the problem. There simply isn’t enough room to accommodate the necessary surface area on the head for adequate heat rejection, and issues arise for cooling the cylinders that aren’t first in line for airflow.

Pistons are another potential issue, as they must first transfer the majority of their excess heat through the ring package and into the cylinder wall before the engine block can take it away, whether it’s water- or air-cooled. Even in water-cooled high performance engines it’s not uncommon to use oil squirters directed at the underside of the pistons to help cool them, and the problem is compounded in air-cooled engines that often use very large amounts of oil circulating in the engine and pumped through an external radiator to assist in temperature control.

Better control over cylinder head and piston crown temperatures allows more leeway before preignition (and the engine damage that goes with it) sets in, making water-cooled designs generally less sensitive to fuel quality and more tolerant of high compression ratios or boost. This factor alone weighs heavily in favor of abandoning air cooling for max-performance production engines.

Another increasingly important consideration is tailpipe emissions. The industry has done an incredible job reducing pollution over the last four decades, with emissions control strategies that have a surprisingly small performance downside. The last untapped source of potential improvement, though, was engine startup. Because engines run so clean once they’re up to operating temperature, the majority of tailpipe emissions left to deal with happen during the cold start process. This is why current best practices close-couple a catalytic converter to the cylinder head in the exhaust manifold collector, to reduce the time it takes for the catalyst to ‘light off’ and start doing its thing.

The same is true with ECU mapping during cold starts. Additional fuel must be added – back in the day, we had this thing called a choke that manually blocked airflow through the carburetor and enriched the mixture to the cylinders, but now it’s all handled via computer, with more fuel called for from the injectors until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. An air-cooled engine, even with modern fuel injection, is still slower to get to that point because the cooling system is always ‘on,’ but a water-cooled engine with a thermostat can keep the radiator out of the loop until everything is up to temperature.

Although it’s certainly possible to build an air-cooled engine with baffles to control the airflow past the cylinders (and indeed, this is a ubiquitous feature on light aircraft engines like the Continental and Lycoming flat-four and -six engines that power practically every Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, and Lancair in the world today), the quick warm-up and precise in-operation control of temperature gives liquid-cooled engines an enormous advantage when it comes to clean tailpipe emissions, and it’s the main reason why Porsche (and to a lesser extent, Volkswagen) eventually adopted it after a long history of successful air-cooled engines.

Finally, there’s the issue of noise. This may not seem like a big deal at first, but many countries have adopted noise standards that don’t just include the exhaust – intake and other engine noise all count toward the maximum decibel level a vehicle can legally produce. Liquid-cooled engines are inherently quieter than air-cooled ones, partially because of the dampening effect of the water jacket around the cylinders, and because there are no cooling fins directly attached to the reciprocating parts of the engine that can act as resonators, amplifying certain frequencies.

Even the notoriously atavistic Harley-Davidson motorcycle lineup, one of the last strongholds of air-cooled engine technology for road vehicles, is reluctantly moving toward liquid cooling. Their most recent design, the “Milwaukee-Eight,” circulates oil through passages in the cylinder heads, though the cylinder barrels remain air-cooled. It’s only a matter of time until they join their Japanese V-twin competitors and fully embrace water-cooled designs that retain vestigial cylinder fins for cosmetic purposes, if for no other reason than noise limits. After all, every decibel saved in mechanical noise from the engine itself is another decibel available for that all-important exhaust note, and while it’s hard to keep your customers from swapping to louder pipes once they get their bike home, it’s not practical short of complete replacement to go back to an air-cooled engine design.

Like many different technologies that were competitive for quite a while, but eventually fell out of favor for the majority of users, air cooling has seen its time in automotive applications come to an end. Nevertheless, for other situations where light weight and simplicity are still the main priorities (like piston aircraft engines), they’ll remain in production and use for the foreseeable future, as they remain a viable solution to those particular needs. And of course, as long as there’s a single gallon of gas left on earth, somebody somewhere will be using it to fire up the 1600 flat four in their lovingly-maintained VW Super Beetle that still runs like a top.

The Audi RS6 Avant Is Coming to America

March 9, 2020 – Audi is finally giving the US high powered performance wagon: the RS6 Avant. Previously unavailable to the American market, the RS6 Avant was just a pipe dream for many wishing they could have the space and daily practicality of a wagon, but the performance of a sports car. With its 4.0-liter TFSI® twin-turbo V8, the new Audi is definitely not going fall short in the power department. This beefy power plant produces 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, pushing it from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Audi will also be offering an optional sport exhaust to have a “more pronounced sound”. Who wouldn’t want to hear a more pronounced twin turbo v8? In a straight the RS6 will be one of the quickest out there, but its suspension shows Audi did not neglect cornering ability.

Adaptive air suspension was specifically tuned for the RS6 Avant and controllable by the driver though switching driving modes. And if you would like to get even more in the corners, a sport suspension option is also available utilizing the 3 way adjustable dampers with a system called Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), which provides roll stabilization without the help of any computers.

The exterior of the new-for-America Audi RS6 Avant is stellar and aggressive with several sharp lines and a wide body to show off how buff it is. On top of that, it will come standard with huge 21 inch wheels with options that get even bigger. Design wise, the RS6 is in tune with the rest of the RS family of aggressive performance. Needless to say; it sits real pretty.

The wagon is becoming scarce in manufacturer lineups. Performance wagons are even fewer and farther in between, but they provide a unique automotive experience.With Audi’s choice to release the RS6 Avant in the US, it kind of makes you hope that we’re going to see more manufacturers feeding into this category.

The New Audi SQ8 Lets You Have Comfort and High Performance

March 6, 2020 – Audi’s brand new SQ8 provides a medium level performance option packaged into a daily drivable SUV. Coming with the SQ8 is an engine that has yet to be brought to America by Audi, and is a twin turbocharged 4.0L V8 that produces 500hp and 568lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 of 4.3 seconds, this SUV definitely isn’t slow.

If you pick up the Sport package, you’ll be treated to a few upgrades including a Quattro sport differential, red brake calipers, and active roll stabilization which will help the SQ8 stay flat in the corners. All trims come with all-wheel steering as well as all wheel drive, maximizing the driver’s control.

Inside, the interior maintains the luxury expected from an Audi and features 2 large touch screens oriented towards the driver. Overall, the design takes cues from the Audi Sport Quattro coupe while pushing the design towards a more modern look with sharp edges and their signature pronounced center grill. Blended together, the comfortable interior and high performance engine and suspension make the Audi SQ8 a perfect median between daily practicality and performance.

The All-New Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Is a 1600HP Street Legal Beast

March 6, 2020 – The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is the brand’s latest addition to their portfolio of extremely quick supercars; and this car is the fastest one ever. Koenigsegg’s mastery of aerodynamics is prevalent in the Jesko boasting extremely low drag coefficients achieved by the striking roofline. The standard Jesko comes with a larger than life wing mounted to the roof and is geared more towards track usage. The Jesko Absolut, on the other hand, has an extended roof and is designed for one thing: speed.

Dual fins jutting out of the roof of the Absolut are a key feature to the body design. Inspired by fighter jets, these fins provide the aerodynamics that make the car slip through the air with minimal drag. Adding to Koenigsegg’s war on drag, the Absoult comes with a set of covered rear wheels. The body is to an insanely low weight, providing the Jesko with a 1:1 power to weight ratio; with passengers and luggage accounted for.

Pushing this fighter jet is a twin turbocharged v8 fitted with a 180 degree crankshaft that can rev to 8500rpm. With e85 fuel, the Jesko produces an insane 1600bhp. The car comes fitted with what they call an LST, which stands for Light Speed Transmission which, true to its name, shifts through all 9 gears with virtually no time between gears.

What do you get when you mix an extremely light, aerodynamically perfected body with a 1600hp twin turbo v8 and lightning fast transmission? You get (most likely) the fastest car ever to roll on the earth. Koenigsegg had no mention of top speed, mentioning only that “time will tell”. We’re eager to see the tests coming in the future…

The i4 Is the New Electric Gran Coupe That Will Take BMW to the Future

March 3, 2020 – BMW unveiled their step into the future with the new Concept I4. The new I4 will be completely electric but is said to maintain the driving ability and luxury that makes it a BMW. On the exterior, this concept is extremely sharp with several body lines leading to the iconic dual grille. BMW has also used this model as an opportunity to show off their new, more modern, identity mark, which will serve as the badge on all future models. This concept focuses on creating a sedan for every day with sports coupe styling. Very sharp indeed.

As with any step into the future, technology will be key. This is prevalent in the new touch Curved Display which is oriented towards the driver. According to BMW, this display is for “those times when the driver chooses to pilot the car themselves.”, which seems like they will have autopilot features much like Teslas, however there was no mention of that technology being added. Drive features will be broken into 3 modes selectable off of the curved screen, which are “Core”, “Sport”, and “Efficient which all effect the way the car will drive. The rest of the interior is actually quite luxurious featuring gold bronze trim all over the dash and steering wheel. There are only 4 seats in there, so you will unfortunately have to say goodbye to the 5th friend in your group.

An interesting feature, and one that is quickly becoming a standard in newer cars, is the addition of automotive sound design, otherwise known as fake engine noise. In the BMW I4, the sound will be designed by none other than the world renowned composer Hanz Zimmer. Yes, the man who brought you the emotional music of your favorite films will now be bringing you emotional sounds from your otherwise soundless electric car. The sounds you will receive will change depending on which of the 3 driving modes you have selected.

Overall, the BMW I4 is a big step for the manufacturer in producing the cars of the future as well as setting up the direction of the new core of the brand.

For Its 110th Birthday, Alfa Romeo Gives the World the Giulia GTA

March 3, 2020 –  Alfa Romeo will reach its 110th birthday in June and is celebrating by dropping a performance driven, F1 inspired model: The Giulia GTA.

No, the GTA does not stand for “Grand Theft Auto”; it’s an acronym standing for “Gran Turismo Alleggerita”. Alleggerita, meaning “lightened”. And lightened it is– with several components being replaced by lightweight carbon fiber such as the driveshaft, hood, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches, and rear wheel arch inserts, the Giulia GTA weighs a whole 220lb less than the standard model. The more extreme model, the GTAm will feature even more carbon fiber components such as a larger front diffuser and a big wing on the back. The GTA will feature a 2.9L V6 Bi-Turbo aluminum engine that will produce 540hp giving it an astounding power to weight ratio.

One interesting feature added is the center lock wheels, which is quite unusual for a sedan, but shows the F1 inspired nature of this model. Additionally, even more components on the car are replaced with lightweight Lexan as seen on many cars on the track. And if that isn’t enough racecar for you, the GTAm model will come with 2 racing seats, 5 point harnesses, and even an integrated roll cage!

Production of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm are going to be limited to only 500 units. Yep, thats all. And if you’re able to get one, you’ll get a whole experience by Alfa including a sales representative per buyer and several goodies like a Bell helmet featuring a GTA livery, race suit, gloves, and shoes by Alpinestars, and a Goodwool car cover. Alfa will also be offering a performance driving course with every purchase as well.

Alfa Romeo definitely pulled out all the stops to celebrate their 110th birthday with the Giulia GTA. It’s sure to be a valuable collectors item for anyone who is able to get their hands on one.

Benton Performance: From the Ashes

In early November 2019, a perfect storm of a vehicle fire on an adjacent lot, a tank of stored diesel that collapsed and fed the flames, and California’s unpredictably predictable winds ravaged one of the world’s premiere vintage Porsche restoration and repair shops. Four months later, John Benton is ready to open his doors once more. Here’s what it took to go from disaster to a new beginning.

“The ambient temperature in the voids was 2,200 degrees. It reduced a Bridgeport mill to scrap. It made cast iron give up. It was pretty intense heat.”John Benton

By now, you may have heard the story of how an out-of-control late night fire fanned by 40+ mile per hour winds consumed a major portion of Benton Performance in Anaheim, California. For more than 35 years, John Benton and his crew have been repairing, restoring, stockpiling original parts for, and otherwise loving air-cooled Porsches. While the disaster didn’t claim all of Benton’s property, it hit his inventory particularly hard.

“There was nothing that was salvageable,” Benton explains. “The ambient temperature in the voids was 2,200 degrees. It reduced a Bridgeport mill to scrap. It made cast iron give up. It was pretty intense heat. When you have a steel building with magnesium as the main energy source going off, and 40 mile per hour winds going through it, it’s a convection oven. Every steel beam in the frame of the building was sagging. All the tension cables were sagging.”

Before even a rough estimate of the damage could be made, the remains of the buildings had to be inspected and made safe for people to enter. Then the hard work began.

Per Benton, “Once we emptied the building, then we began cleaning, and it was a mess. We looked like coal miners. Then we had to disassemble the building, filling these 20-yard roll-offs with steel and debris. I was running a cutting torch, and I haven’t done that work since I was a young man, but I’ve done it, so it was just a matter of relying on muscle memory and telling the guys, ‘cut here, cut there, let’s get this into pieces’ and little by little we did it.”

“I don’t ever anticipate accumulating $2 million of new old stock stuff again, because I’m never going to find that stuff.”

“Finally, we had a concrete pad, and then it started raining! I was undeterred, though,” he continues. “The next challenge was getting the residue out of the concrete because we knew we were going to have an open pad, since it wasn’t going to be hidden beneath flooring. It had taken some damage, and it was pretty scored in spots, so I rented a core cutter and a jackhammer and cut out the one big section that was damaged, then side drilled, laid rebar, and poured new concrete. Once that was done, we got the three 20 foot containers delivered, and started building a perimeter wall with a gate. So now we have this beautiful facade that opens up into a courtyard with our three big containers.”

Those containers are where Benton Performance’s inventory will reside now, though it will only be a shadow of what was on-hand before. “I don’t ever anticipate accumulating $2 million of new old stock stuff again, because I’m never going to find that stuff,” Benton admits. “I have procured a lot of choice parts over the years, and when we used them I would always go looking for more. I know where to find them, and I will get what I need to get, but I don’t anticipate stockpiling them ever again.”

Fortunately, Benton didn’t have to start from zero, and the relationships he’s built over the past four decades gave him a running start.

“I had some stuff at my house, and I had some stuff in a separate storage unit, but not much. I had my clean room here, so there were a lot of choice parts for builds that were taking place. But people in the community have been very, very nice and donated some startup parts. Jack [Diramarian] from Scientific [Motorcars] in Pasadena, had one of his guys come over in a pickup that was full of vintage 4-banger parts.

It’s not big stuff – it was parts that need some work, but we’re good at that. We got some head cores, and some case cores, rods, carburetors, manifolds – just stuff that will make an impact. If we can build one or two motors out of that, that gets us to the next place, and we go on from there,” he explains.

“We built this shop off of our people, and we have to keep the team intact.”John Benton

The term “human resources” is almost a punchline in the corporate world, but for small businesses like Benton Performance, the people who make things run are literally the most important asset.

“I have six guys who depend on this business for their livelihood, and they are the driving factor behind my decisions,” says Benton, with the pride evident in his voice. “We built this shop off of our people, and we have to keep the team intact. After a couple of days when it finally sunk in that we weren’t functional and it was just a debris field, everyone was kind of under a black cloud. So we all went out back, and I said look, every single one of you guys has come to me over the last five, ten, twelve years and said, I want this, I want that, how come we don’t have this? I want a list. I don’t care how long it is – I want to know. We will find a way. We might be dead in the water now, but we are going to do it right.”

But the favorite thing I did was hang a disco ball above bay 1 with four spotlights on it, because when I flip that switch on, it makes me smile.”John Benton

The result was a reborn business, designed with the input of all the key players to make it more efficient than the old layout, better for customers, and a more pleasant place to work.

Per Benton, “This has brought us together as a family on a whole ‘nother level – it’s something we will never forget. It looked like a bomb went off, and now, although the shop is smaller than it was, it’s going to be more efficient. Everyone worked very hard on ‘smoothing the corners’ and improving the flow.”

“We put in LED lighting. We fixed the AC in the back unit so there’s better air circulation back there. We took all the stuff we used for cleaning parts and moved it outside. We moved all the machine shop stuff inside, and made a compact and efficient area for machining and welding.

We moved carburetor and distributor repair to right outside the clean room where we build engines. We looked at the flow, and made sure it was what we wanted. We had limited space, so we built integrated custom shelving into the containers for parts storage to maximize that space. But the favorite thing I did was hang a disco ball above bay 1 with four spotlights on it, because when I flip that switch on, it makes me smile.”

“You have to find solutions, and not focus on what you don’t have. Learning that cost me so much time, money, and whiskey, you don’t even know. It was one of those things where I was thinking about all we had to do and I wasn’t sleeping well, and I was on Amazon buying exterior lighting, and as I am browsing, ‘disco ball’ comes up in the suggestions, and I thought, ‘yeah, I think I will have that.’” Benton explains. “Now I have a 12 inch disco ball – who doesn’t want one of those? So when we ‘officially’ reopen on the 28th, we are going to have a party.

Volkswagen Announces the MK8 Golf GTI

Feb 27, 2020 – Volkswagen has officially revealed the newest addition to the long line of GTIs focusing on modernization of the platform. This includes assist technology like lane departure and pedestrian monitoring, to newer systems that electronically lock the differential and even communicate with other cars and the traffic infrastructure.

The new MK8 GTI gets a power bump from the MK7 with a 245-hp 2.0-litre turbocharged and direct injection four–cylinder engine producing 273lb-ft torque; and true to form, it comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The GTI is joined by 2 other trim options that are said to offer the same power despite their different drivetrains. First is the GTD, which of course stands for diesel. Yes, the infamous Volkswagen turbo diesel engine makes a return for the new generation and will produce 200 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The newcomer in the lineup is the GTE which will be brand new for the platform and providing an eco friendly option for those looking for a new hot hatch. The MK8 plug in hybrid features a 150-horsepower 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, a 114-hp (85 kW) electric motor, a 6-speed DSG (DQ400e) and a new lithium-ion battery, all packed into that little egg.

Visually, the MK8 is a little more angry and smug than it’s predecessor. Sharper headlights and tail lights, and a more prominent hood crease give the new GTI quite an aggressive look. Inside that new honeycomb front air dam, optional fog lights are going to be available. And to accompany those lights, there will be accessory LEDs pretty much everywhere. A fresh sporty diffuser and modest roof wing round out the image of this car.

Volkswagen is taking a step to the future with the MK8, but the typical question returns; how will the MK8 GTI compare to its older siblings?

Slammedenuff SoCal 2020:

Bagged and Bougie

Bringing automotive enthusiasts together is what every great car show and meet is about, and SlammedEnuff has been excelling at this since 2011. SlammedEnuff SOCAL 2020 took place this past Sunday, February 10th, and let’s just say it was spectacular. The show features some of the most insane builds in Southern California, from OEM Plus to Slammed, from Off-Road 240SX to VIP Lexus LS400, and everything in between.

Walking the aisles of SlammedEnuff had us breaking our necks from one build to the next—whether slammed and VIP cars are your cup of tea or not, you can at least admire the true craftsmanship each car displays.

Euro

“It’s like a never ending project for me.”Clair (@r32queen)

This slick VW R32 owned by Clair (@r32queen) and sponsored by Kormodiv will definitely stop you in your tracks. “It’s like a never ending project for me,” says Clair. “There are a set of 3-piece wheels on order. Interior doors soon to be reupholstered with alcantara honey comb pattern.” As if this R32 wasn’t beautiful enough, it is about to get a heck of a lot cooler!

Sometimes you just wonder how people get the perfect fitment, the right amount of low, and a lot of wow factor. This clean purple wrapped Audi S4 flawlessly perfects all of these traits.

This Widebody BMW E92 shows just how cool and crazy some of these cars at SlammedEnuff can get. I mean, who doesn’t love a nice purple wrap with cartoon animals all over.

JDM

The Subaru WRX and WRX STI have been killing it on showroom floors since their release. These Subarus are a prime example of tasteful modifications all around. We talked to Frankie (@Frankie9512, light grey WRX on the left) about the show. “It was a great turnout […] everything was well organized.” There’s nothing worse than an unorganized and chaotic show, so we are thankful to the team at SlammedEnuff for putting on an epic event!

“…future plan for the Evo is to work on making a bit more power and torque.”Madi (@evo.madi)

When it comes to Evos, Madi (@Evo.Madi) knows how to build a show car, and it’s no wonder she won best Mitsubishi at SlammedEnuff! We had a chance to talk to Madi and she told us that her “future plan for the Evo is to work on making a bit more power and torque.” She also has “plans to rewrap the car and go with a new look entirely.”

We love the way this Evo is looking, but can’t wait to see what she has in store for it.  “I made a lot of big moves last year so this year will be more about fine tuning and adding the little details.”

It’s already hard enough to go wrong with an RX7 FD, and even harder with a Rocket Bunny Widebody kit, but then throw some bright Orange into the mix and you’ve created one beautiful machine.

This Lexus RC F sponsored by FlexiShield will have you questioning why you don’t own a Lexus. Although that grille to car ratio is a bit high, this thing is too mean and way clean.

240SX Takeover

No car show is complete without a 240SX overload. There are so many different routes you can go with a 240SX that it’s just so easy to put your own personal touch on one. Just make sure it’s “slammedenuff”.

Talk about going a completely different route, this next 240SX was completely outfitted for off-road use. There’s no doubt that this car is just as much fun in the dirt as it is on the road!

VIP

There was a plethora of VIP builds at SlammedEnuff—nothing beats a Chandelier in the back seat for some added elegance!

We also had a chance to chat with Adam’s Polishes, a familiar name to anyone in the car scene. When asked about how the show went, they said “The show was awesome. Great variety of cars and high quality builds. We hope SlammedEnuff comes back to Socal soon!” We definitely agree with the show coming back next year.

All in all, this event was one for the books. SlammedEnuff Socal 2020 brought out some of the most amazing cars in the area, and everyone from spectators, to vendors, to participants enjoyed every second.

Exhaust 101

Everything You Need to Know About Exhaust

One of the most popular upgrades for any performance vehicle, from V8 Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers through pickups and SUVs to “tuner” turbo cars is an aftermarket exhaust. Considering how common it is for owners to discard the factory pipes in favor of something different, we’re going to take a look (and listen) to the basics of exhaust systems from start to finish to highlight what you need to know. Whether you are looking for more horsepower, a better sound, or both, your bank balance and your neighbors will thank you for educating yourself before you strap on a new aftermarket exhaust. 

An exhaust system has to achieve a few primary functions – First (and most importantly from a performance standpoint), it has to efficiently move spent gasses away from the combustion chamber to allow room for a fresh charge of air and fuel to enter for the next power cycle. Second, it has to move those gasses to someplace that won’t dump a lot of waste heat in the engine compartment (Fun Fact: 40% or more of the heat generated during a car engine’s operation ends up going out through the exhaust) or asphyxiate the driver and passengers. Third, except for pure competition applications, it has to moderate the volume and sound quality of the exhaust noise. Finally, in modern OEM applications, it has to incorporate emission control systems to reduce the amount of pollutants released by the exhaust.

Understanding these functions is the key to understanding why factory exhaust systems are built the way they are, and knowing what the tradeoffs involved in modifying your exhaust will be. Let’s follow the path of a puff of exhaust from the cylinder to the tailpipe to see how all the components involved contribute to the process.

When the exhaust valve opens, hot, energetic, pressurized, but diffuse waste gas exits the cylinder and travels through the exhaust port and out of the cylinder head. Each cylinder has its own port, and those outlets are connected to each other by a manifold. In most OEM designs that manifold is made out of cast iron, which is a good choice for durability and keeping the overall size of the engine package small, but it can come with a performance penalty. To keep things compact, the manifold may have runners for each individual cylinder that are different lengths or even different diameters, and this offers performance part makers their first opportunity to find a few extra horsepower.

Current state-of-the-art engine designs often make things difficult for anyone trying to build performance headers…

A manifold made of tubular steel, referred to as a header, is a common performance upgrade. Individual runners, called “primary tubes”, carry exhaust gasses to a collector where the output of several cylinders combines into a single stream. The collector does a couple of things besides just simplifying the plumbing from that point on – it reflects pressure waves along the primary tubes back to the cylinder head, and it lets each cylinder “talk” to each other. By carefully designing the length of the primary tubes and the volume of the collector, a good header can actually flow more efficiently than an exhaust port that’s open to the outside world by letting the waves of high and low pressure work together from cylinder to cylinder to actively scavenge exhaust gas in the engine’s main operating RPM range. 

Current state-of-the-art engine designs often make things difficult for anyone trying to build performance headers; because of ever-increasing emissions standards, it’s very common to have a catalytic converter built into the factory exhaust manifold so that it gets up to operating temperature as quickly as possible to reduce the amount of pollution during a cold start. Some engine designs even combine all the exhaust runners into the cylinder head itself, eliminating the manifold entirely. And in the case of turbocharged engines, the cast exhaust manifold is usually (but not always) also the mounting point for the turbo. All of these factors will determine whether a performance header is a worthwhile upgrade, or indeed even an engineering possibility, for your particular application. 

Speaking of turbos, you’ll frequently see a component called the downpipe listed as a performance upgrade. This particular piece of exhaust plumbing connects the outlet of the turbine section to the down-stream parts of the system, and in some factory engine designs it’s a well-known bottleneck for exhaust flow. Turbochargers like having as little restriction at the outlet of the turbine as possible; this is what lets them extract energy from the exhaust and use it to spin the compressor on the intake side. A well-designed aftermarket downpipe can increase horsepower throughout the RPM range as well as reducing boost lag. 

For both forced-induction and naturally-aspirated OEM engines, the next stop is usually the main catalytic converter(s). In V6 and V8 RWD cars, they’re often incorporated into an X-, H-, or Y-pipe, while inline engines with a single header have a simple section of exhaust pipe that incorporates this emission control device. Back when catalytic converters first became necessary in order to meet tailpipe pollution standards, they posed a serious obstacle to performance, causing a major restriction to exhaust flow that the engine had to fight. Today, both factory and aftermarket catalysts take a very minimal toll on horsepower, and depending on how aggressively emissions laws are enforced in your neck of the woods, removing or defeating them can be very expensive if you happen to get caught. Ultimately it’s between you and your conscience if you decide to roll the dice, but the performance penalty for a catalyst-equipped exhaust is much lower than it was back in the day.

You’ll often see variations on the term “cat-back” in aftermarket exhaust descriptions – this usually means the system has no effect on emission controls and is legit in all 50 states (at least from a pollution perspective). Factory exhausts need to meet specific sound level limits, as well as being durable enough to not wear out during the car’s warranty period even in salt-encrusted rust belt states, while being as inexpensive as possible. A good aftermarket cat-back system will offer superior materials and construction – typically stainless steel – while being lighter than the OEM exhaust, and if it’s particularly well designed (and the factory system is particularly bad) it may even increase horsepower and torque. 

Mufflers use a variety of different engineering approaches to reducing and changing the sound of the exhaust. Solid or perforated baffles inside the muffler body can be used to suppress specific frequencies by reflecting sound waves back on themselves, and packing materials like fiberglass are sometimes employed to absorb sound energy, though if the muffler is poorly designed, they can get compressed or even blown out over time, compromising the effectiveness of the system. Mufflers with a “straight through” design typically give less flow restriction at the expense of less sound reduction than designs that force the exhaust to change direction or travel through multiple internal chambers. Even the overall size of the muffler plays a role in how it sounds – more internal volume gives the designer more opportunity to modify overall noise levels and tune out unwanted frequencies. 

Of course, the main reason to replace the factory resonator and muffler system is to get an exhaust note that you like better than stock, and this comes down to personal taste. The only advice we can give you in this respect is, if it’s in any way possible, find somebody who already has the cat-back aftermarket exhaust you are considering and listen to it in person. Video and audio clips on the internet are better than nothing, but they are no substitute for hearing it yourself. It’s also important to ask yourself if it’s something you can live with all the time if it’s your daily driver, and if your need to flex on everybody who pulls up next to you at a stoplight is worth your neighbors actively hating your guts. A good exhaust system is music to your ears, but there are plenty of people out there who have hung new pipes on their car but secretly wish they’d picked something else, no matter how much they tell their friends it’s exactly what they wanted it to sound like. 

The bottom line is that your exhaust system is one of the first things people will notice about your car, and one of the last things you want to get wrong. Make sure you educate yourself, get input from other people who have done the upgrades you’re considering, and be realistic about how much of a performance increase you can expect and how much additional noise you’re willing to live with to get it.

Odd and Obscure Cars You’ll Find at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale

There’s no doubt that the majority of cars at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona are Muscle and Super Cars, but there’s also a small niche of odd and obscure cars that may pique your curiosity.

1956 BMW Isetta 300

The first car on our list is a ’56 BMW Isetta 300, which some may recognize as Steve Urkel’s ride of choice from Family Matters. The beautiful two-toned red and white exterior catches your eye in a heartbeat. It even has a sunroof and an air-cooled 2 cylinder engine, just make sure the door is closed up front!

1937 Morgan F4 Roadster

Next is a ’37 Morgan F4 Roadster, and while in today’s day and age we see three wheeled “cars” on a daily basis such as the Polaris Slingshot, they probably weren’t your every day occurrence in the ‘30s. 

1952 Kaiser Henry J Custom Coupe

This ’52 Kaiser Henry J Custom Coupe looks like it could have come straight from Whoville, but that doesn’t take away from its coolness factor. Just look at that scoop!

1985 Ford LTD Custom Station Wagon

Here we have an ’85 Ford LTD Custom Station Wagon, the “Family Truckster”. Whether it’s the wood paneling, the green paint, or the fact that whoever built it doubled down on the headlights, this thing sticks out like a sore thumb, and we are kind of digging it.

1971 Lawil S3 Varzina

This boxy car is a ’71 Lawil S3 Varzina, built by a company known for making these microcars. Nothing like some chains to keep you feeling nice and secure while driving. You’ll want to stay out of this bad boys way with its whopping 12 horsepower.

1957 Jato Golf Cart

This executive ’57 Jato Golf Cart is definitely one unique ride. Just imagine hitting the back 9 in the ‘50s cruising around in this puppy. From a fringed fabric top to original chrome, this thing is sweet! From the looks of those handle bars though, you better hope your passenger turns at the same time as you.

1972 Cadillac Custom Wagon

We end this list with what once was a Cadillac Hearse. While we’re still trying to figure out what exactly is going on with this thing, we do know that it’s named the “Pirate Surf Mobile”. We are also sure that this thing purrs and definitely catches attention.

That does it for our list of some of the most odd and obscure cars at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona!

Barrett Jackson Goes Bavarian

Cool, Collectable and Unusual BMWs

BMW is known for some of the most refined, performance oriented, and sometimes unusual, vehicles known to man, and many found their way to the Barrett Jackson auction block.

From the unconventional Isetta 300 to Paul Walker’s collection of some of the rarest E36 M3 Lightweights, Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona is a treasure trove for BMW collectors. 

Paul Walker’s collection easily steals the spotlight. The collection consists of 21 cars, 7 of those being BMWs, including 5 E36 M3 Lightweights and 2 E30 M3s.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that Paul Walker had great taste in cars.

BMW 2002s, the company’s major milestone after World War II that pretty much secured their future, also made a statement at the auction.

While some of these cars are either kept pristine or restored to their original state, others take on a whole new look, including new wheels, wraps and even engine swaps.

This particular ’73 2002 was stripped down and sandblasted, then wrapped up in the signature Louis Vuitton monogram. Some may not go down the same road as this owner, but it’s all about creating a car that suits your taste.

Barrett Jackson

Prep for the Gavel

Some of the most extraordinary cars you’ve ever seen are auctioned off at Barrett Jackson, and with the swing of the gavel, another pristine automobile goes off to the highest bidder, but not before some of the most extensive preparation.

There is more to the process than meets the eye, and a ton of patience and elbow grease goes into each vehicle that crosses the Barrett Jackson auction block.

From paint-correction and detailing to frame-off restorations, each car has a unique story and an owner that has put their blood and sweat into maintaining their cars legacy.

Days leading up to and even the day of the auction, the owners meticulously inspect and clean every nook and cranny of their prized possessions.

It’s no wonder the largest sponsors for Barrett Jackson are some of the biggest detailing names in the game, such as Meguiar’s, Mother’s, and Adam’s Polishes.

But it doesn’t stop at the exterior, every inch of these vehicles is polished to perfection.

Cars of all shapes and sizes enter the block at Barrett Jackson, but one thing they all have in common is the pure joy they bring to their owners.

Prepping a car for auction is more than securing the highest bid, but a final farewell.

A Whole Lotta Supra:
The SEMA Edition

The new Toyota MKV Supra is a BMW Z4 with a different body.

If you walked the miles of aisles at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, you couldn’t help but notice the number of Toyota MKV Supra builds littering the show floor. Not only were they in the Toyota corporate display but they were in numerous booths of aftermarket speed merchants from Milestar to Yokohama.

Now, not a lot of people know this beyond the cognoscenti—the most serious enthusiasts—but the new Gen 5 Toyota GR Supra is really a BMW G29 Z4 wearing a Japanese suit. Indeed, the two cars are assembled side by side in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr.

It’s been more than two decades since the last Supra was available and this version was apparently seven years in the making. That said, we had a taste of what was coming when the concept FT-1 first appeared at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2014. McLaren F1 designer Peter Stevens said, “The front nose is silly, but it does the upper window line to top of screen better than I have seen before and has sensuous surface through the door.”

So, if the MKV Supra which is a real, iconic enthusiast’s car, is a re-dressed BMW, how do those enthusiasts feel about that? StateofSpeed.com spoke to racer Stephen Papadakis about it. PapadakisRacing.com, is, of course, the winningest team in Formula Drift and earlier this year Steph’ attacked the in-line Bavarian B58 six in search of the magic 1,000 horsepower asking the question, “Is this a worthy successor to the 2JZ Toyota engine? Time will tell but so far, I’m pretty impressed.” Stephen actually reprised this build live at the SEMA Show.