Sports Cars Archives - Page 16 of 29

Rare GM Futurliner bus set for Indiana auction in May

A unrestored Futurliner bus from General Motors “Parade of Progress” of the 1940s and ‘50s is among the early consignments for the expected roster of 1,000 cars and motorcycles available May 12-15 in Auctions America by RM at Auburn Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana. The Futurliner bus, one of 12 built and eight known in existence, has an estimated value of $450,000 to $600,000. In highly original condition, it has recently been equipped with eight new tires, a new plexiglass windshield and all-new rubber and metal siding. These futuristically styled buses, measuring 11 feet high and 33 feet long, were designed by Harley Earl and originally built in 1940 and refurbished in the early 1950s. They traveled the highways and

Specialty cars

Maybach boasts luxury, security with new armoured limo

Maybach has debuted its new Maybach Guard, an armoured limousine based on the Maybach 62 and featuring integrated safety systems by the German engineers in Sindelfingen. Responding to the needs of businessmen and Heads of State around the world, Maybach reports: “The protection offered is absolutely peerless and discreet: even to a specialist eye it is almost impossible to distinguish a Maybach Guard from the regular Maybach 62 saloon. “When it comes to the performance, the German engineers have surpassed themselves: a special armour – made of highly specialized steel and high-tech Kevlar – is integrated in the body shell and thanks to its lightness, the weight of the vehicle is raised by only 406 kilograms, with no effects on

Sports Cars

Aston Martin DB4 (James Bond's car, sort of) 1958-63 review

James Bond drove a 1964-65 Aston Martin DB5 in the first Bond movies and acquainted most Americans with England’s Aston Martin. But the 1958-63 Aston DB4, which the DB5 strongly resembled, was the first all-new Aston since industrialist David Brown bought and saved the revered automaker in 1947. Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, never owned an Aston Martin, but he sure knew about classy cars. He owned a mid-1950s Ford Thunderbird two-seater and a rakish, early 1960s Studebaker Avanti, which he shipped to various countries to drive whenever he left England. Fleming’s wife was so jealous of his affection for the Avanti that she reportedly put sugar in its gas tank to gum up its engine. But

Specialty cars

1955 Ford Thunderbird (two-seater), 1955-57 Car Review

The 1955 Ford Thunderbird two seater (1955-1957) is among the most iconic American cars. It’s been in television shows, movies and print advertisements and pictured on a U.S. postage stamp. The mass media often has mistakenly called any sporty looking car, like the Ford Mustang, a “sports car.” It’s given the 1955-57 Thunderbird the same description, although Ford stressed from the get-go its “new baby” was a “personal car.” Ford knew the sports cars market was very limited and calling the Thunderbird a “personal car” would give it broader appeal. The 1955-57 “T-Bird” was America’s second mass-produced sports car from a large domestic automaker, behind the Chevrolet Corvette. Smaller U.S. car producers, such as Nash and Kaiser, built a limited

Specialty cars

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, 2009 car review

You may not be able to afford a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, or even want one, for that matter. But you owe it to yourself to drive one before you pass on. If all you drive are cars such as Toyotas and Chevys, you’ll never get the full picture. The 2009 Phantom Coupe ($400,000) is large, heavy and luxurious. That’s the way Rolls-Royces have always been, so why break tradition? But the car also is powerful, fast and agile on twisting mountain roads near this city, I discovered while driving it at a recent media preview, And that’s not the way Rolls-Royces have always been. The 2009 Coupe should not be mistaken for a Rolls built before Germany’s BMW Group took

Sports Cars

Hyundai Genesis, 2011 car review

The Hyundai Genesis coupe debuted two years ago as a 2009 model, and its styling, acceleration and fair price gave the Korean manufacturer a good, positive jolt in the auto industry. But Hyundai has extended itself with the 2011 edition options, including the 3.8 liter, V6-powered R-Spec. Previously only available on the smaller-engined 2.0T, the R-Spec model combines 306 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission. The R-Spec also showcases 19-inch wheels with a gunmetal finish, Brembo brake package with ventilated front rotors, stiffer suspension and sportier trim. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Normal, around-town driving and a few local freeway treks during a week’s test drive are sufficient. But on more than two dozen occasions since 2003, I’ve taken test

Specialty cars

1963-64 Studebaker Avanti Car Review

The rakish 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti was among the most daring 1960s American cars, a modern masterpiece with totally unique American styling that even top exotic Italian auto stylists wouldn’t attempt to do. The Avanti had advanced safety features, when no U.S. automaker particularly gave a darn about safety. Such features included a built-in roll bar, padded interior and door latches that became structural body members when closed. Performance? An Avanti with a supercharged V-8 was one of the fastest 1960s autos. A supercharged model hit 168 mph, while a modified version reached 196 mph — a staggering speed for a 1960s production street car. Some 29 Bonneville speed records were smashed by a supercharged Avanti. Safety? The Avanti (Italian for

Luxury cars

McLaren MP4-12C, 2012: world's best sports car?

Dan Neil, the long-time automotive columnist whose feature Rumble Seat appears in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal, has something to say. He believes the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is the best sports car in the world. The reason: “(It’s) an era-defining work of technical intelligence and jet-fighter performance that will — be warned — make you look look at the other cars in your garage like they were lawn mowers.” Neil bases his opinion on a variety of factors, most notably: the new McLaren accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. The C12 has a 32-valve, 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 with 592 horsepower and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Neil

Specialty cars

BMW 1956-1959 507 car review

One of the most revered BMW models is the 1956-59 507 sports car, valued at $420,000 if in excellent (and not even show car) condition. Only 253 were built, but at least 200 have survived because the 507 isn’t the sort of auto that’s neglected and then thrown away. BMW made top sports cars in the 1930s, but suffered so much damage during World War II that it couldn’t return to auto production until 1951. The 507 revived its reputation for producing fast, durable, superbly engineered road cars. The 507 had everything you could ask from a sports car. It had sensational styling that still looks great and could do 0-60 mph in 7 to 8.8 seconds, depending on gearing.

Specialty cars

Lexus video: Super car does donuts around super model

Like manufacturers featuring stunning models at auto shows, the same equation works in print and in video marketing. But throw in a performance Lexus and add a little suspense, and it’s a great way to sell cars — or at least yellow bikinis. In the video below, champion drifter racer Rhys Millen guides the Lexus LFA super car around super model around Rianne Ten Haken. Photographer Yu Tsai explains his concept in the video, Rhys does an extraordinary job getting the Lexus close to the model. And Ten Haken? She just stands there and then comments she had no idea how close the car was. Of course, the dilemma is whether those watching the video will even care about the

Luxury cars

Million Dollar Baby, Pagani Huayra, will be sold in U.S.

Pagani, the niche Italian carmaker founded about 20 years ago, will sell the Huarya, its new more than $1 million sports car, in the United States later this year through a dealer network. The Zonda, Pagani‘s current model, is a perennial favorite for enthusiasts interested in top-speed and brute-power. But it’s not available in the United States. Pagani, based in San Cesario sul Panaro, near Modena, Italy, builds about 40 cars per year, and hopes to sell five of its new Huayra model in the U.S. this year. Named after Huayra Tata, an ancient God of wind, the Huayra has a six-liter, 12-cylinder engine with two turbochargers built by Mercedes-Benz’s AMG. The engine breathes through a pair of air intakes

Specialty cars

Bugatti Veyron gets another honor — 'meanest' car

Manufacturers take pride in “green” cars honors and automakers like Honda, Nissan and Toyota aggressively use the accolades in various marketing and public relations campaigns. But not so much exotic carmakers like Bugatti and domestic truck manufacturers Ford, Dodge and Chevy. They’ve all been awarded positions on the dubious list of the “meanest” cars — the country’s biggest environmental losers. Bugatti‘s position on the top of the bad list is nothing new. It’s a notorious gas guzzler, which the Italian manufacturer doesn’t much care about since the Veyron is among the most exclusive and fastest cars made. Among gas guzzlers, the Veyron’s 8 mpg in city driving is the lowest average of any car and the only single-digit average. So, while

Sports Cars, Automotive Reviews

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Car Review

Fast, rugged rally race cars are designed to go flat out on almost impossibly demanding back roads. While popular in Europe, few Americans know professional rally competition exists, although foreign automakers long have built cars to compete in that sport. In America — mostly a stick-and-ball sport country — the Indianapolis 500 and maybe the Daytona 500, particularly in the South, are the only mass-attraction auto races. Subaru’s street version of a rally car, the Impreza WRX, arrived for 2002. The first versions were bare-bones and marginally comfortable, but a kick to drive. They became more comfortable for American driving as the years passed. That doesn’t mean the WRX has become soft. For 2009, horsepower was boosted by 41 to

Electric and Hybrid

Fisker gets $150 million more funding, Karma built soon

Fisker Automotive, poised to begin production of its $87,000 Karma hybrid sports car sedan in March, has received another $150 million in funding, bringing its total financing to more than $1 billion. In addition to private investing, Fisker has received about $530 million from the Department of Energy. The Karma sedan is touted as the world’s “first true electric vehicle with extended range,” according to Fisker’s website. The car has an all-electric range of 50 miles when fully charged. After 50 miles, a gasoline engine turns an on-board generator for 250 miles before refueling or recharging. The car is slated to begin production March 21 in the carmaker’s new location in Anaheim. According to Russell Datz, Fisker Automotive publicist, Fisker

Sports Cars

Aston Martin Vantage S 2011 debuts

Bridging the gap between road car and race car, the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage S is influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car. The GT4 takes advantage of the Vantage’s immensely rigid bonded aluminium chassis, providing the ideal platform for a race car. Minor racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing ‘bag’ petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car. In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory

Luxury cars

Pagani Huayra 2012: New god-like, $1.4 million supercar

Named after an ancient Andean god of wind, the 2012 Pagani Huayra is the newest Italian supercar offered from by one of the smallest and most unheralded automakers. Unlike the company’s current car, the Zonda, the Huayra has been engineered to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards, and should be available — to a chosen few who can get one of the 20 made for about $1.4 million. Pagani describes the car as “a carbon-titanium monocoque chassis cradling a mid-mounted, 700 hp 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine.” It was designed for Pagani by AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz. The two-passenger cabin features leather and carbon fiber trim among other high-end gadgets and options. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist

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