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Posted
Mar 18 2010, 03:03 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 37 comment(s)
A friend of mine sent me a link this morning showing a new MX-5 special edition from Mazda of France. Designed by LK Paris, the concept seems to be capitalizing on the flat black trend, which is apparently alive and well.
I'm not sure if the friendly little Roadster is the best candidate for the flat black treatment, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless.
What do you think?
-Mike Garrett
Source: Left Lane News...
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Posted
Feb 24 2010, 02:44 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 30 comment(s)
For the past seven days, I've been tooling around the Los Angeles area in a 2010 Mazda RX-8 R3. Even seven years after it was introduced, the RX-8 is still one of the most unique cars on the road, and despite some drawbacks, it offers a driving experience to match....
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Posted
Jan 27 2010, 04:04 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 15 comment(s)
Looking for an exclusive new car for your collection? How about the Carlsson C25. Based on the Mercedes SL AMG, the C25 earns it's designation from it's production numbers. Yep, just 25 of these will be produced - one for each country.
Besides featuring some incredible body work, the C25 will make 753 horsepower and nearly 850 foot pounds of torque from it's bi-turbo V12 . Based on these renderings released ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the C25 looks amazing.
And the price? Well, if you have to ask....
-Mike Garrett
...
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Posted
Dec 28 2009, 02:17 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 45 comment(s)
For my final review story of the year, I want to share some observations on the general automotive and tuning trends of 2009. The economy might be on it's way out of a giant hole, but people across the world are still finding ways to enjoy cars, and we've seen some bold new ideas popping up because of this.
So, what was big in '09?...
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Posted
Dec 04 2009, 01:24 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 21 comment(s)
In what was likely the biggest car debut at the LA Auto Show, Ford took the wraps off the 2011 Fiesta. Again, this car is already on sale in other parts of the world, but it represents a big step for Ford as they begin to "European-ize" their American car line up. I had a chance to drive a Euro spec Fiesta at the SEMA show and was quite impressed with the little car. When Ford pulled the covers off the US-spec car on Wednesday I was pleased to see that it looked just as cool the Euro versions that have been making rounds as part of the Fiesta Movement....
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Posted
Dec 04 2009, 10:52 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 20 comment(s)
Now to wrap up my coverage from the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. While there were a few big cars debuted at this year's show, it also marked the American debut of cars shown earlier at other international auto shows. One of these was the Mini Coupe Concept, which looks amazing in the flesh....
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Posted
Dec 03 2009, 03:05 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 12 comment(s)
Back in 2007 I was in a small town in Japan's Ibaraki-prefecture when I first saw the new Mazda Demio driving on the street. It was love at first sight, or at least it was the coolest compact car I had seen in a long time. Now, two years later Mazda is finally bringing the Demio to North America as the Mazda2. Yesterday at the LA Auto Show, a jetlagged Mazda president Takashi Yamanouchi unveiled the US-spec Mazda2 to a large, and energized crowd....
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Posted
Dec 03 2009, 12:45 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 17 comment(s)
Yesterday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the North American auto show season kicked off as the LA Auto Show opened its doors for media days. The overall mood at the show is one of subdued optimism, with the auto market finally showing signs of recovery after a disastrous period of bankruptcies and losses. While some automakers like Nissan decided to sit the show out completely, others debuted some very important (and exciting) cars in LA....
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Posted
Nov 02 2009, 12:01 PM
by
Vaughn Gittin Jr
with 25 comment(s)
Like a proud father, I am very happy to introduce a new generation of the Ford Mustang - the Mustang RTR. I have dreamt this vision in my head for years; unfortunately, it has taken so much time for me to find the right people to help take the vision from my head to paper, then to the actual prototype phase that you see here. It sounds a lot easier then it really is - trust me! I fell in love with the Mustang in late 2004 and, as most of you know, we have been inseparable since. The Ford Mustang...
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Posted
Nov 02 2009, 03:19 AM
by
Vaughn Gittin Jr
with 24 comment(s)
Here is the sneak peak I promised you all. This is the first-ever public picture of the extremely limited production Mustang RTR-C, the halo of the RTR brand. It is a one-hundred percent dry carbon Mustang for the street, which features in-car adjustable shocks, 550 horsepower, and carbon fiber HRE wheels. Only ten of these cars will be made. The car will first be seen at the SEMA Show this year where it will be on display at the Ford booth all week. I will do a feature on the car here on Speedhunters...
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Posted
Oct 31 2009, 06:30 AM
by
Vaughn Gittin Jr
with 19 comment(s)
The RTR-C was the inspiration to create the Mustang RTR, which is basically a toned-down version that offers similar looks without the carbon or the serious performance gains. The reason I chose Autosport Dynamics (ASD) in Charlotte, NC to build the RTR-C is due to their attention to detail and complete understanding of my vision. I wanted a Mustang that was simply untouchable and was a work of art; all the way from the carbon fiber HRE CF40's, to the way that the weave of the carbon lines up...
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Posted
Oct 28 2009, 02:45 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 10 comment(s)
Just a couple weeks ago I posted a photo of a previous gen Accord Wagon from Japan, pondering how cool it would be if Honda decided to bring the new Accord Tourer to North America as the TSX Wagon. Perhaps someone from Honda was reading? Acura has just announced the TSX Sport Wagon will be joining the lineup for 2011. The car most likely will look very similar to the Euro/Japanese market Accord Tourer pictured up above.
Hmmm...I wonder if it will be time to replace my daily driver come 2011?
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Oct 14 2009, 01:00 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 54 comment(s)
We all know that Toyota teamed up with Subaru on its latest FT86 concept Jeroen posted about last week, but it looks like the rumored Subaru STi version of the car may be the one to wait for. According to Autoblog , where I found this image, the STi version of the car might be ready for the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show and pack a 250 HP EJ25 along with a rear-wheel-drive layout. I wonder if a turbocharged 300+ HP STi AWD variant may be on the cards too? -Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Posted
Oct 07 2009, 04:18 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 20 comment(s)
With Dino's fantastic Hakosuka feature and our JCCS coverage it seems like we've been on a bit of Nostalgic JDM kick this week. Sticking with that theme for a moment, we have the Honda EV-N Concept, which will be shown at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Although it features a high tech electric drivetrain, the exterior was clearly inspired by the original Honda N360 of the late '60s.
Anyone else think this would look awesome dropped on 12 or 13-inch RS Watanabes or SSR's?
-Mike Garrett
...
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Posted
Oct 06 2009, 11:31 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 102 comment(s)
After so many rumors I think our prayers have been heard, at least at the design studio of Toyota in France. They designed this successor of the Corolla AE86 that will be debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. Luckily for us Dino will be covering this show so I'm sure he will get us all the details surrounding this car. I do know that it will be powered by a 2.0 liter boxer engine that has been developed by Subaru and that it will be rear wheel driven. The engine has been placed as far back as possible...
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Posted
Sep 21 2009, 11:03 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 13 comment(s)
It's been a long time coming, but Mazda has finally announced that the Mazda2 (or the Demio as it's known in Japan) is USA-bound. According to Mazda, the 2 will go on sale stateside in late 2010 and will be priced below the Mazda3. The Demio's Euro-like styling always caught my eye on the streets of Japan, and I can't wait to see them over here. The car in the photo above is the Demio tuned by Auto Craft Kyoto at the '08 Tsukuba Super Battle.
Hmmm...is it time to make plans for a new daily driver?
-Mike Garrett
Source: GT Channel ...
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Posted
Sep 16 2009, 06:00 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 12 comment(s)
The Frankfurt Auto Show is now in full swing and BMW is one of the manufactures that has a massive stand. One of the cars they have on display is this M6 Competition Limited Edition. It will be an exclusive model because only 100 of them will be built. It will feature a new paintscheme called ‘Frozen Gray Metallic' it has a cool matt finish. Other upgrades include a revised suspension system that lowers the car 10mm in the front and 12mm in the back. The interior has also been upgraded...
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Posted
Sep 10 2009, 12:15 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 53 comment(s)
McLaren Automotive launched their new MP4-12C Supercar earlier this week at their Technical Centre in the UK. The new car will go into production in 2011 and feature a McLaren design and developed Twin Turbo V8 and cost around £150,000 CEO, Ron Dennis' plan is for McLaren to produce a range of sports cars in the coming years and the MP4-12C fits into the Ferrari 458/Lamborghini Gallardo class. Personally, I am somewhat underwhelmed with the styling, but I do understand the reasons for this...
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Posted
Sep 03 2009, 04:54 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 34 comment(s)
Just in time for BMW month, here's an interesting bit of news coming out of BMW's Mini division. The newest model coming to the always-expanding is the Mini line is this new coupe model, which will be on display in concept form at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. As the name suggests, this car takes the familiar Mini styling and adds a sweeping coupe treatment to the rear....
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Posted
Aug 17 2009, 03:02 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 16 comment(s)
At the recent Concourse event in Pebble Beach, Infiniti revealed the first renderings of the all new 2011 M Sedan. Using a clay model with projected with computer images, Infiniti certainly chose a classy place to show off their new flagship. With a bold new styling and more displacement under the hood, the new M should improve on what's already one of the best performing Japanese luxury sedans around....
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