The supercar, on a conceptual level, is an enticing proposition – a purpose built performance vehicle with exceptional capability and a striking aesthetic – a car that brings a sense of occasion to even the most mundane driving task. In practice however, there’s a multitude of situations where that formula is less than ideal – like when you’re hobbling along in traffic or when forced to traverse through some unforgiving city streets, for instance – and it becomes clear that the supercar formula was really designed for use under ideal driving conditions. But therein lies the brilliance of the R8 V10 Plus, because Audi has actually found a way to make it all work, satisfying just about every need that an enthusiast could want in a sports car while somehow also giving the R8 enough adjustability, subtly, and good manners to make this a supercar you could legitimately use every day.
This week we’re taking a look at Volvo’s hot selling sporty crossover, which gets an updated powertrain lineup for 2015 to go along with last year’s visual refresh. That powertrain update brings the company’s new Drive-E engine family into the fold, which has a few interesting tricks up its sleeve.
When Audi unveiled a new S6 last year, a car which eschewed a pair of cylinders and gained more efficiency in the process, many were surprised to discover that its sporting capabilities had increased despite factors that would normally point in the opposite direction. We recently spent a week with the mid-sized Audi to see if those numbers, along with the new car’s plethora of technological features and overall retooling, added up to a better S6.
Back in June we headed out the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to give the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe a proper thrashing around the Wisconsin backroads and the Road America road course. While the weather proved somewhat uncooperative during our street testing, we were fortunate enough to see several hours of dry pavement during our time on track, giving us a chance to properly push the new M cars on this particularly fast course.
While we all anxiously await the arrival of the next MX-5, we also should take a moment to reflect on the fact that the current Miata is a excellent sports car in its own right. Here we find ourselves behind the wheel of a third generation MX-5 in Club trim, Mazda’s subtle nod to the Miata’s strong following in amateur club racing. This particularly racy package includes side stripes, Gunmetal Black 17 inch wheels, black headlight bezels, a front lip spoiler, a rear diffuser, body color matched interior trim pieces, and red stitching to go along with the requisite badging inside and out.
For many, the biggest loss taken when GM’s restructuring called for Pontiac to close its doors was the revelation that we’d never see a Firebird based on the fifth generation Camaro. Since the new Camaro’s introduction for the 2010 model year many have offered their own approach to what Pontiac’s pony car might have looked like, with varying degrees of aesthetic and performance success. The Lingenfelter LTA, however, might be the final word on the subject.
If you are considering getting into road racing, someone has probably advised that you to run Spec Miata. Spec Miata is great for new drivers and those wanting to refine their well-developed skills. If you are unsure what the fuss is about, here is a video that illustrates the Spec Miata experience.
We enjoyed our drive of the new STI-flavored WRX on and around Laguna Seca back in February so much that we just couldn’t keep ourselves away from the rally-bred bruiser. This time we got a chance to capture the manners of the STI around the streets of Los Angeles and on the twisty roads of the Angeles National Forest.
It’s been a while since we last spent some time with the sharpest iteration of Audi’s A5 sports coupe. As such, we thought we’d reacquaint ourselves with the RS5, see how things have progressed in the interim, and get a better sense of what it’s like to live with it in the real world.
Along with the EGO action cam we reviewed earlier this month, another standout in Liquid Image’s lineup of action cams is the Torque series goggle cameras. To the uninitiated, the Torque cam looks just like any other pair of motocross goggles, but closer inspection will reveal the 1080p camera embedded just above the user’s eyeline, allowing the camera to capture everything the user sees in full HD resolution.
As you may have previously seen, earlier this month Multimedia Editor Chris Amos got a chance to get up close and personal with the new Vantage S at Palm Beach International Raceway. No warm up laps here ladies and gentlemen – experience what it’s like to pilot a V12 Aston Martin at full song down the back straight at PBIR.
OK, we’re aware the phrase “Toyota Corolla” rarely stirs a whole lot emotion with automotive enthusiasts. But since the Corolla is a fairly popular car – in fact, the best selling car ever – we thought we might take a closer look at the all-new 2014 model, since we’ll probably be seeing a lot of these things on the road very soon.
Earlier this week, Multimedia Editor Chris Amos got some seat time with Chevrolet’s latest four door hauler. Accordingly, we bring you a pair of videos that give you an idea of what it’s like to drive and live with the Chevy fullsize in the real world.
The newest-generation of the Volkswagen Beetle is quite fun on its own, we found to our amusement. Being able to drop the top and hear the chug of the grease-burning TDI engine only adds to the fun.
Our new POV format makes use of highly accurate audio, recorded with binaural microphones, to make you feel as though it’s really you behind the wheel.