Kurt Ernst, Contributor
Articles
-
So far, Ford has delivered a Mustang GT and a Mustang Shelby GT500 to winners of its “Mustang Customizer” contest. To refresh your memory on the contest details, the Mustang Customizer...
-
Vote For How Audi's Super Bowl Ad Will End: Video
Audi has had a pretty good run of luck with its recent Super Bowl advertising. In 2011, they asked viewers to say goodnight to stuffy, pretentious luxury and embrace the modern take on it by buying an Audi instead of a Mercedes-Benz. Based on the increase in Audi’s U.S. sales, we’d say...
Kurt Ernst -
Rare 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda For Sale, Complete With Story
Perhaps due to the low volume built and even-smaller surviving population, Plymouth Hemi ‘Cudas are among the most valuable and sought-after cars from the muscle car era. Finding one in mint condition is a rare occurrence, and even less-than-pristine examples will price well into the...
Kurt Ernst -
Toyota’s Super Bowl Spot Warns: Be Careful What You Wish For
With Super Bowl XLVII now less than two weeks away, automakers are frantically teasing their ad spots for the big game. We know that Mercedes Benz will have model Kate Upton hosting a tutorial on car washing, while VW takes a simpler approach to tell consumers “why VW.” Luxury brand...
Kurt Ernst -
Lincoln Considers Borrowing From MINI’s Customization Playbook
Part of MINI’s success in the United States is due to the fact that the brand doesn’t market its cars to consumers as much as it markets the MINI lifestyle. In that regard, a MINI Cooper (or one of its many variants) is as much a fashion accessory as it is a mode of transportation. Buy...
Kurt Ernst -
The 2014 Corvette Stingray Visits Jay Leno’s Garage: Video
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray may be the most eagerly-anticipated American performance car since the relaunch of the Dodge Viper. Jay Leno recently traveled to Brown’s Classic Auto in Scottsdale, Arizona to meet with GM design head Ed Welburn and see this milestone Corvette up close...
Kurt Ernst -
If you track your car on a regular basis, or spend weekends killing cones in autocross competition, you know how important a component tires are in your overall car setup. Choosing the right...
-
McLaren's P1 Supercar Speeds Towards Production: Video
Love the design or hate the design, there’s no denying that McLaren’s radical P1 supercar concept polarized attendees at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. Sporting a much rounder and organic style than previous McLaren models, this much was clear: like the original McLaren F1, it would be a car...
Kurt Ernst -
Inside Koenigsegg Shows The Agera R Paint Process: Video
Painting a Koenigsegg Agera R is no simple task; in fact, Koenigsegg claims the polishing process alone requires some 200 hours of labor, which is the equivalent of a single employee working for five weeks just on paint finishing. That kind of attention to detail is to be expected when building a...
Kurt Ernst -
Watch a Porsche 935/78 lap Circuit de la Sarthe in the rain
By the late 1970s, Porsche’s 935 was arguably the most dominant car in sports car racing. Competitors feared it, since getting by one on the track bordered on the impossible. Drivers respected it, since it was utterly unforgiving when driven at the limit. While the 935’s turbocharged...
Kurt Ernst -
Lexus To Debut New Compact Crossover In Tokyo: Report
Compact luxury crossovers are the new darlings of the automotive industry, as they give buyers the amenities they expect while delivering improved fuel economy (compared to their larger siblings) for their respective manufacturers. Land Rover has its Range Rover Evoque, BMW has its X1 and Audi will...
Kurt Ernst -
Volvo's S60 Polestar Concept Visits Jay Leno's Garage
Volvos have a long-standing reputation as safe, practical and somewhat boring cars, with the possible exception of the old Volvo Turbo wagons. Sure, the S60 T6 R-Design sedan does what it can to liven things up, but its turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six only puts out 325 horsepower, to all four...
Kurt Ernst -
This year marks significant anniversaries for a number of automotive brands and vehicles. Luxury sports car builder Aston Martin turns 100, while Ford celebrates the 150th birthday of its founder,...
-
2013 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Recap
If you spent last weekend glued to Speed, watching the Barrett-Jackson Auction live from Scottsdale, Arizona, you probably came away with the same confused outlook we did. While some cars sold for impressive amounts, like the $1.1 million paid for the first production 2014 Corvette Stingray, or the...
Kurt Ernst -
2014 Chrysler 200 To Debut New Design Direction From Brand
The current Chrysler 200 sedan and convertible may be the best automotive example of the time-honored cliche, “we did the best we could with what we had to work with.” Though the Chrysler 200’s sheet metal, interior and chassis may be updated, underneath, the car is remarkably...
Kurt Ernst -
Watch The Hennessey Venom GT Breaking A World Record (Or Two): Video
A few weeks back, we brought you word that a Hennessey Venom GT driven by John Kiewicz had set a new Guinness World Record as the fastest two-seat production car from 0-300 km/h (186 mph), taking just 13.63 seconds to reach this velocity. If you wondered what such a feat would look like from inside...
Kurt Ernst -
Reminder: There's A Downside To Driving Dogs
A 68-year old Cantonment, Florida, man was struck and killed by a 1995 Chevrolet van last Monday. While tragic, the event isn’t remarkable until you learn the circumstances surrounding James W. Campbell’s death. Campbell had exited the passenger side of the van to open a metal gate for...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW To Campaign Z4 GTE In 2013 American Le Mans Series
Last year, BMW Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan drove a BMW M3 to a second place finish in the American Le Mans Series’ GT class, ending the season some 37 points behind the Corvette Racing but 25 points ahead of the Ferrari 458 Italia's campaigned by Extreme Speed Motorsports. In the four years...
Kurt Ernst -
In Greek mythology, Atlas was burdened with carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. In the Ford product line, that task goes to its F-150 pickup, which sells in higher volumes (and likely...
-
Is GM Pondering A Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ Rival?
If you’re looking for a front engine, rear drive car with some entertainment value, GM brand Chevrolet would be happy to sell you a Camaro, Corvette or (soon) an SS sedan. While the Corvette fits most enthusiasts’ definition of a sports car, its $50k starting price puts it beyond the...
Kurt Ernst -
It’s Official: Jeep Will Build Models In China, Too
Last October we brought you word that Jeep would begin producing models, and perhaps its entire lineup, in China for the Chinese market. Our article (and others) turned into a political hot potato, as some misinterpreted the story to read that Jeep was moving all of its production to China. That...
Kurt Ernst -
McLaren Releases Details On Its 2013 12C GT3 Racer
In its debut season, the McLaren 12C GT3 competed in 98 separate race events, taking home 19 victories and an additional 19 podium finishes. While most companies would be content with a handful of podiums in the first season of a new race car, that’s simply not the McLaren way. In 2012...
Kurt Ernst -
Ultra-Rare Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang And Mercedes CLK GTR Up For Sale
Are you flush with cash after having won a sizable Powerball jackpot? Looking for a safe investment that you can still derive pleasure from, as opposed to just staring at a stack of gold bars? JamesList currently a pair of cars worthy of consideration for your automotive investment portfolio. First...
Kurt Ernst -
First Production C7 Corvette Hits The Block At Barrett-Jackson
Want to park the very first production C7 Corvette Stingray, serial number 001, in your garage? Be sure you’re registered to bid at this week’s Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, then, because that very car is scheduled to cross the stage on Saturday, January 19. To be...
Kurt Ernst