2017
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Italian cars are known for two things: driving passion and a finicky nature. So when I finagled my way into a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio for a track day event, I was hoping that I would experience the former and avoid the latter. Instead I got a healthy dose of both. On Memorial Day, I was part of a private group that attended a track day in western Michigan on Gingerman Raceway's 11-turn, 2.14-mile road course. The Giulia Quadrifoglio in question came with a $72,000 starting price; Vesuvio Gray Metallic paint for an extra $600; an air quality system ($250); the Driver Assistance...
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Watch the unboxing of a Ford GT Order Kit, courtesy of John Hennessey
Thousands applied, but ultimately, only 500 individuals have so far been selected to have a Ford GT built. (A second round of applications will be announced at a later date, though.) Once chosen, each and every soon-to-be owner gets a Ford GT Order Kit to help decide how to outfit their car. John...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Maserati Levante first drive review: beauty is pain
Check the tape: Maserati owned the U.S. comeback before Fiat and Alfa Romeo crowded into the party. Trident-clad cars could be found roaming streets in the U.S. for more than a decade before Alfa Romeo returned. Yet, despite being the elder statesman at the ripe old age of 15, Maserati had to wait...
Aaron Cole -
2017 Honda Civic Si first drive: looking the part
The ascending shift lights dart along the tach, green to yellow to red, before the revs bounce and the 2017 Honda Civic Si stretches its legs in the tawny California desert. As the center-mounted exhaust bellows a convincing growl and a short throw from third gear easily finds fourth, the new Civic...
Aaron Cole -
How can the Nissan Titan brake quicker than a Mini?
A Nissan Titan weighs 5,811 pounds. A Mini Countryman weighs 3,629. The former requires a shorter distance to reach a complete stop from 60. Sounds crazy, but it's true, and Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained is here to, well, explain how the full-size pickup truck can out-brake a Mini...
Sean Szymkowski -
Jay Leno shows off his 2017 Ford GT
Jay Leno is the proud owner of a 2017 Ford GT finished in black and dressed in a pair of red racing stripes. He recently posted a photo of himself with the car on the official Instragram page of his Jay Leno’s Garage online show. Also in the photo is the crew from Protective Film Solutions, a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fiat hasn't seen paramount success since returning to the United States in 2011, but it does arguably offer some pretty nice, affordable cars. In a world full of angry-eyed sports cars, there's the Fiat 124 Spider. Its non-aggression is subtle and approachable, and it marks a departure from the decidedly more angry looking—and possibly better performing—Mazda MX-5 Miata. Fiat and Mazda hooked up for the latest 124 Spider, but the Italian marque does do a few things very differently from the car's Japanese counterpart. Along with unique powertrains, Fiat gives the spicier Abarth...
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Holden builds final Chevrolet SS
General Motors’ Australian division, Holden, confirmed on Thursday that it has built its final Chevrolet SS. Currently on its way to the United States, the final example was finished in black and equipped with a manual transmission. The buyer, likely someone at GM or a dealer, requested that...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2017 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS laps the 'Ring quicker than previous GT3
Porsche seems to have outdone itself again. The 2017 911 Carrera GTS is capable of lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife quicker than the previous 911 GT3, evidenced by the accompanying video. The video shows the car setting a 7:24 lap at the hands of Sport Auto's expert tester, a full second...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet first drive review: the one you want
At times, it has felt like Porsche’s myriad 911 configurations serve only to answer questions nobody was asking. But this is not one of those instances. After a few hours behind the wheel of a 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Porsche's wisdom becomes crystal clear. Sure, it's...
Andrew Ganz -
2017 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive priced from $24,550
Smart was one of the first mainstream automakers to introduce an electric car when it launched the first ForTwo Electric Drive on the market late last decade. Smart is now launching a successor, which the company has confirmed will be priced from $24,550. That’s $1,200 lower than the previous...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Owner posts a review of the 2017 Ford GT
The 2017 Ford GT—there's a lot that can be said. It's the reincarnation of an American supercar icon; it represents the dreams of so many hardworking individuals with a passion for motorsport, and it's been the source of a lot of debate as much as it's been praised. The media, including Motor...
Sean Szymkowski -
Honda has long had a penchant for motorsports, and it has translated into an iconic nameplate for the brand's road cars: Type R. Except, the United States has mostly been left out of the Type R party. That changes this year and Honda is sounding the news off loud and clear in the 2017 Civic Type R's first advertisement. The ad spot, titled "Racing at Heart," features various Honda racing machines morphing into their road-going counterparts. We see a Ridgeline Baja truck, the Civic Global Rallycross racer, and the manufacturer's latest IndyCar. F1 is not represented for various (read: failed)...
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GT supercar is tech testbed for future Fords
The Ford GT provided plenty of shock and awe when it debuted at the 2015 Detroit auto show, but the brand had more in mind than just raw performance. In fact, Ford developed and engineered the GT with technologies intended to trickle down into future cars, trucks, SUVs, and even electric vehicles...
Sean Szymkowski -
5 ways the Chevy Colorado turns into a ZR2
There are high hopes for the 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2. So high, in fact, that the automaker didn’t mind if we jumped the truck repeatedly over a short-run trophy course. Would you consider doing the same with a bone stock Colorado? Perhaps, but we’d suggest a healthy cache of bumpers...
Aaron Cole -
2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk off-road review
Just what is Trail Rated? For years, Jeep has separately branded its most off road-oriented models. Years ago, it was the Up Country package. Today, it's the Trail Rated badge, which is affixed to all Wranglers and certain versions of Jeep's Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee. Yes...
Andrew Ganz -
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 first drive review: cast in convenience, forged off road
There’s no substitute for the right tool. How do I know that? Decades of hammering nails with a meat tenderizer. Don't ask. Off-roading requires the right tool, and Chevy owners have waited a long time for that equipment to show up in their Snap-On chests. Fast-rewind to the 2015 LA auto...
Aaron Cole -
The 2017 Ford Raptor merges AWD and 4WD
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor's off-road prowess isn't contested often and with good reason. Chevrolet thinks it has found a sweet spot with the 2017 Colorado ZR2—offering a shorter, lighter rock-crawling experience—but the Raptor remains king of the high-power off-road scene. Just ask Ken...
Sean Szymkowski -
Honda has been busy filling out the 10th-generation Civic's portfolio with a sedan, coupe, and the return of the hatchback. While the commonplace variants carry out their sales duty, Honda will spice things up with the introduction of a new Type R and the return of the familiar Si. We now know how much the latter will cost. While the Type R holds out awhile longer, the Si will go on sale with a starting price of $24,775, which includes an $875 destination fee. The starting price commands either a Civic Si in coupe or sedan body styles, meaning there's no upcharge for the arguably better...
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2017 Ford GT first drive review: Ready for supercar liftoff
The nose draws to a point. It's an arrow. The tail tapers like the business end of rifle ammo. It squares up, impossibly mean in its stance. The 2017 Ford GT sets the newest benchmark for things that look fast while standing still. Lots of street cars ape track machines. Ford developed its striking...
Motor Authority -
Watch the 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 hit the trails
Chevrolet says the 2017 Colorado ZR2 sits in a "segment of one," with exclusive off-road attributes and mid-size proportions to take it through the toughest, tightest trails. The brand wants to prove those claims with a new video, which shows the Colorado ZR2 taking on Badlands off-road park. With...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Honda Civic Type R boasts 25 mpg combined
Fun and frugal: the best of both worlds. It's typically hard to come by, but occasionally, Goldilocks syndrome sets in. The 2017 Honda Civic Type R may classify as one example. Official fuel economy estimates released for the 2017 Civic Type R reveal an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway...
Sean Szymkowski -
Witness the largest 5th-gen Dodge Viper customer delivery ever
Six cars in total, all 2017 Dodge Viper ACRs with the extreme aero package. That's what made up the largest fifth-generation Dodge Viper customer delivery. The Minnesota Viper Club cashed in on the final days of the Viper's "1-of-1" program and put together a group-buy order to coordinate the...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF first drive review: the Miata coupe (targa?) we've always wanted
As soon as sports car fans discovered the Miata was a fantastic roadster, some started asking for a stylish coupe version. That was probably a couple days after the first Miata hit the street in 1989. I'd argue that the 2017 MX-5 Miata RF answers that call. Coupe, roadster, or targa? The latest...
Kirk Bell