2017
-
It was in 1977 that BMW’s first 7-Series was launched. To celebrate the car’s 40th anniversary this year, BMW has introduced the 7-Series Edition 40 Jahre based on the current, sixth-generation model. Prior to the launch of the first 7-Series, known as the E23 to all the fans, BMW was known for small, sporty sedans and coupes. However, by the 1970s, BMW was starting to be recognized in luxury circles, and with Mercedes-Benz launching the first S-Class early that decade, BMW needed a response. That response came in the form of the Paul Bracq-designed 7-Series which featured new...
-
2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road trail review: archaic in all the right ways
The Toyota 4Runner refuses to evolve, and that’s why we love it. It has stayed true to its rugged roots for more than three decades, outliving long-forgotten 4x4s like the Mitsubishi Montero, Nissan Xterra, Chevrolet Blazer, and Isuzu Rodeo. Today’s 4Runner, the fifth generation of the...
Andrew Ganz -
Ford GT deliveries delayed
Deliveries of its GT supercar aren’t going as smoothly as Ford had anticipated. The automaker, in a letter sent to some customers waiting for their GT, said, “The craftsmanship required to build these vehicles for global markets has required that we adjust our original timing...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
IMSA driver Katherine Legge serves a batch of donuts in the 2017 Acura NSX
Inquiring minds wonder: will the 2017 Acura NSX do donuts? The short answer: yes, yes it will. But, what brought about this fresh batch of donuts and all the show and smoke that comes with it? IMSA driver Katherine Legge decided it was her time to have a little bit of fun after the NSX GT3 racer...
Sean Szymkowski -
Watch Jay Leno's 2017 Ford GT get a protective wrap
Notice a pattern here? Many prominent figures bestowed a 2017 Ford GT have tapped protective wrap to secure their latest toy's paint finish. Jay Leno is the latest to do the same. Leno chose Protective Film Solutions to wrap his personal 2017 Ford GT, which is car number 12—matching his...
Sean Szymkowski -
MLB All-Star MVP presented with Chevy Corvette Grand Sport
Chevrolet has sponsored Major League Baseball for 12 years, and it's common practice for the brand to bestow some of its latest machines on some of the MLB's most valuable players. This year at the 2017 All-Star Game, Seattle Mariners' second baseman, Robinson Canó, earned the coveted MVP...
Sean Szymkowski -
The Tesla Model S has consistently ranked at the top of independent crash tests since its debut earlier this decade, leading to its reputation as one of the safest cars in production. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety only gave the electric sedan an “Acceptable” rating in 2016 for its small overlap front crash test. The tough test simulates an offset frontal collision at 40 mph, a scenario the IIHS says is responsible for roughly 25 percent of deaths and injuries in frontal collisions. In the 2016 test, the IIHS said the Model S ran into problems when the seat...
-
Watch Jack Roush's Ford GT get wrapped with Xpel protective film
With a car like the 2017 Ford GT, you can bet your bottom dollar it's being protected properly. Especially when the owner is one Jack Roush. Roush once again tapped Xpel, Roush Performance's official protective film, to ensure Mr. Roush's 647-horsepower supercar has no chance of seeing scuffs...
Sean Szymkowski -
Climbing to the top in a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
It's 9,000 feet from Denver to the summit of Mt. Evans, the highest point accessible by a paved road in North America. That's 9,000 vertical feet. It's a heck of a climb, especially considering it only takes about an hour and a half to do by car. We set off in a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio...
Andrew Ganz -
2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD first drive review: playing with John Deere equipment in the adult sandbox
When I was just a wee lad, I spent countless hours in the sandbox playing with my Hot Wheels and Tonka trucks. The scale discrepancy didn't bother me because the Tonka trucks worked great for grading the sand into roads and freeway off-ramps for my Hot Wheels. I eventually lost countless Hot Wheels...
Kirk Bell -
Jack Roush drives his Ford GT for the first time
Everyone knows the feeling: your first drive in a brand new car or even a car that's new to you. Now, take that feeling and imagine what it must be like to step into your very own Ford GT supercar for the first time. Roush Performance captured the moment when founder Jack Roush got behind the wheel...
Sean Szymkowski -
John Hennessey explains how to order an Exorcist Camaro ZL1
The term "muscle car" doesn't begin to describe what the Chevrolet Exorcist Camaro ZL1 is capable of. With 1,000 horsepower—959 hp at the rear wheels—the Exorcist Camaro should even give the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon a run for its money. So, how can you buy one? John Hennessey of...
Sean Szymkowski -
The 2017 Honda Civic Type R arrives in the United States for the first time with some serious performance credentials. Honda engineers were able to extract a whopping 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. Honda has always been pretty good at getting big numbers from small displacement engines, so this is no surprise. But, there may be more to the story. Dyno runs don't lie, and the 2017 Civic Type R might be seriously underrated from the factory. The Dyno Center in Puerto Rico recently strapped the front-wheel-drive hot hatch to the...
-
Watch Ken Block blast the 2017 Ford GT at Le Mans
Only a lucky few have been given the tick of approval—500 individuals so far—from Ford to own the modern GT supercar. Yes, it's a rare and beautiful thing. However, we understand why someone like Ken Block would be offered the chance to muscle one around the 24 Hours of Le Mans' Circuit...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tour de (special) force: How the Army and Chevy team up on the front lines
Get off the X. That’s what you do when the shit goes down. And in a vehicle, that means speed can be your friend. That’s just one of the rules that Delta Force operators follow in wartime. The “X,” in this case, is an attack, and if you are in a vehicle that is under attack...
Kirk Bell -
Alcon has a powerful brake upgrade for the Ford F-150 Raptor
Alcon likes big brake kits, and it cannot lie. That's why it's created such a kit for the Ford F-150 Raptor. This is a big rig that manages to haul itself down from speed nicely, but there's always room for improvement. That's what the Alcon brake kit provides. If you upgrade to this kit, you'll...
Jeff Glucker -
Bidding on first 2017 Honda Civic Type R tops out at $200K
Honda recently decided to give fans the chance to own the first very 2017 Civic Type R in the country. That's right, the car with a VIN ending in 001. It went up on an online auction and at the close of bidding on Thursday the final tally came in at $200,000. Not bad considering the starting price...
Sean Szymkowski -
How much quicker is a 2017 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 vs a stock Raptor?
Hennessey Performance Engineering unveiled its VelociRaptor 600 this past March as a considerable update to the stock 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, but how much quicker is it? HPE will answer that question directly. The performance house set up a simple quarter-mile drag race to see how its modifications...
Sean Szymkowski -
For years, Honda has been teasing us with the promise of a Civic Type R for the United States. We’re glad to report that the wait is finally over as the car is now on sale. It also has its first television spot up and running. Honda on Thursday confirmed a starting price of $34,775, including destination. That’s similar to what you have to pay for rivals like the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R, though the Honda makes do with front-wheel drive while the rival models come standard with all-wheel drive. The price also makes the Civic Type R $10K more expensive than its lesser...
-
2017 Honda Civic Type R first drive review: Track attacker
It’s a spectacular summer day in Montreal, and not just because it’s 80 degrees. It’s Formula One week, and the remote buzz is audible even downtown as F1 drivers crackle off practice laps at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. They turn one of the most peaceful places in one of North...
Martin Padgett -
Take a peek at the Ford GT production line thanks to Turn 10 Studios
Alan Hartman, the man in charge of video game developer Turn 10 Studios, isn't hurting for cash. He must enjoy automobiles, too, seeing as his firm is responsible for the "Forza" franchise. Hartman is also one of "The Chosen," the lucky few who raised their hand when Ford asked who wanted to...
Jeff Glucker -
Opel Ampera-e is the new Popemobile
The Popemobile has taken the shape of many automobiles over the years, but the latest is likely the most environmentally friendly yet. Opel has bestowed the current pontiff, Pope Francis, with a 2017 Ampera-e as the Vatican City aims to become the first country in the world to produce zero carbon...
Sean Szymkowski -
Nissan creates 'Predzilla' GT-R for Nashville Predators, proceeds going to charity
Hockey season is coming to a close, but not before either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Nashville Predators become Stanley Cup champions. Nissan, in an effort to show its home team some support—Nissan's North American operations are headquartered in Nashville—crafted what you see here...
Sean Szymkowski -
Reliability capped power on the 2017 Honda Civic Si
When initial specifications began to trickle out surrounding the 2017 Honda Civic Si, there were two courts. One court realized the car would be a blast to drive. The other felt the power ratings were much too low. Experiences may vary per driver, but the Civic Si is still a hoot to toss...
Sean Szymkowski