Kirk Bell, Senior Editor
Articles
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The Mustang-Camaro war has ramped up the past couple years with the introduction of all-new cars on both sides. This past year alone, the Camaro was all-new while the Mustang added the flat-plane...
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Emissions Regulation Targets Are Defeat Devices, Motorcycles, Not RacingLast week, the internet was up in arms after the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association (SEMA) put out a press release stating that a proposed EPA emissions regulation was targeting racing. At the time we reported that the EPA had said the regulation is aimed at closing an exception for...
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NHTSA Says Google Can Test Cars Without Drivers Or Even Steering WheelsIn a letter posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website this week, NHTSA told Google it can test autonomous cars without drivers, steering wheels, brake pedals, or throttle pedals. The move fits with the promise the Department of Transportation made in January to remove...
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2017 Cadillac XT5 Priced from $39,990Cadillac has released pricing for its all-new 2017 XT5 crossover. The XT5, which replaces the SRX in Cadillac's lineup, will start at $39,990 when it goes on sale in April. That figure includes a $995 destination charge and puts the XT5 a couple thousand dollars less than its main competitors, the...
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EPA Emissions Controls Regulation Could Be Disastrous To Racing: UpdateBuried in an Environmental Protection Agency document from last summer but just coming to light now, the EPA is proposing to make it illegal to remove emissions controls from non-road vehicles, specifically motorcycles and snowmobiles, for the purpose of using them in competition. The proposal...
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2016 Audi RS 7 Performance and S8 Plus first drive reviewIt wasn't that long ago that 300 horsepower was exceptional, 400 was the domain of Corvettes, and 500 was reserved for supercars. Then we saw a 662-horsepower Mustang and 707-horsepower Hellcats, and soon the 600-horsepower club had double-digit members. Add two more cars to that club for the 2016...
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Before this week, I had driven a Lamborghini once. It was a Gallardo Spyder and I drove it about four miles in the mid-2000s. That wasn't enough time to get much of an impression, but I remember...
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How the Ford GT race car differs from the road carThe most anticipated new car release of the year in enthusiast circles is the upcoming 2017 Ford GT. Built to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 50 years after Ford posted a one-two-three finish at that hallowed race, the GT is a race car in street car guise. Of course, it's also a race car, and...
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The Beginner's Guide To The Rolex 24 At Daytona: Mega GalleryI've always respected the purity of sports car racing, but I just never really got into it. And then the invitation came from Audi to attend the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. With little exposure to the sport, I had to educate myself on the various classes and the...
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2016 Cadillac CT6 first drive reviewCadillac has a problem. Over the past few years it has developed and delivered a pair of sedans—the ATS and CTS—that are as good as or better than anything Europe has to offer. And yet, car sales were down last year and those cars really haven’t put a dent in the sales of the...
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Apple's Car Program Loses Boss, Under Hiring FreezeAccording to a story from Apple Insider, Apple's Project Titan car development program is experiencing some issues. The story says that Steve Zadesky, the Apple engineer that was in charge of Project Titan, is leaving the company for "personal reasons." It isn't clear if a concurrent hiring freeze...
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Cadillac CT6 To Get A V-8, But Don't Expect A V-Series ModelCadillac has a new line-topping model in the CT6. It's sized like a BMW 7-Series, but doesn't offer V-8 or V-12 power like the 7-Series and other large German sedans. It's also much lighter than those cars, which might lead you to believe that a V-Series model would be a natural next step. Like me...
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New car announcements weren't the only news made at the Detroit Auto Show. In a press conference at the show, the United States Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx revealed part of President...
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Stunt Driver Sets Guinness Record For Tightest 360-Degree Spin In Subaru BRZ: VideoStunt driver Alastair Moffatt has set the Guinness World Record for the tightest 360-degree spin in a Subaru BRZ. At 2.25 meters, or 7 feet, 4.6 inches, longer than the 13.9-foot BRZ, the new record beats the old record by 9.84 inches. The attempt took place over the weekend at the Autosport...
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2016 Alfa Romeo 4C And 4C Spider Get Louder, More Carbon FiberAlfa Romeo today announced the 2016 changes for its 4C and 4C Spider sports cars. Highlighting the changes are more carbon fiber and an even louder exhaust note. The 4C and 4C Spider, which share a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, are offered with a new Carbon Fiber Trim Package that adds carbon...
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Acura Rolls Out 'Precision Crafted Performance' Ad Campaign, Including Super Bowl SpotAcura has a new mantra. It's known as Precision Crafted Performance and the company views it not only as its new marketing tagline but also the brand's core promise. Actually, this tagline isn't new. Acura used Precision Crafted Automobiles in its advertising when the company launched 30 years ago...
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Jeep Cherokee Adds Overland ModelEven as the Detroit Auto Show gets set to open to the public, Jeep is making more auto show news, only it's in Boston. At the New England International Auto Show today Jeep unveiled the new Cherokee Overland trim level. The Overland is a premium model that sits atop the lineup with a price of...
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New Competition Package wrings more out of BMW M3 and M4The power and performance of your BMW M3 or M4 just not doing it for you? Fear not for BMW has an answer. Starting this spring BMW will offer a new Competition Package for the M3 sedan and M4 coupe and convertible. The package will come with a power boost from 425 to 444 horsepower. The added power...
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In an odd trick of science, it turns out there there is nothing more painful than stepping on a Lego. Now, Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] and Lego have found a way to make that experience even more...
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8 questions with Acura Precision concept designer Michelle ChristensenOne of the highlights of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show was the Acura Precision Concept. A design study for future Acura sedans, the car debuts the company's new Precision Crafted Performance mantra and points to a more adventurous and stylish future for Honda's upscale brand. The car's aggressive...
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Acura Examines Stylish Future With Precision Concept: Live Photos And VideoHow often can you say that Acura wowed the crowd with its styling? Sure, the 2017 NSX is a looker, but it's a supercar and we've seen it for so long now that it no longer inspires passion. At this week's Detroit Auto Show, Acura unveiled the Precision concept as an expression of the brand's DNA of...
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Nissan shows off-road-oriented Titan Warrior conceptNissan has just released the Titan XD pickup, a heavy duty truck highlighted by a 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine. With the unveiling of the Titan Warrior concept here in Detroit, it's clear Nissan is already thinking of how to turn the Titan XD into a full-blown off-roader. The Warrior...
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VW Tiguan plug-in hybrid off-road concept debuts in DetroitWith diesels in the rearview mirror, Volkswagen is pursuing an electric future. At this week's Detroit Auto Show, VW is showing a kind of plug-in hybrid we haven't seen before: an off-road oriented crossover. The Tiguan GTE Active concept is based on the European-spec next-generation Tiguan compact...
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2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Revealed Before Detroit Auto ShowChevrolet unveiled the 2017 Cruze sedan last summer. At the time it was rumored that another body style would be added. Today, that rumor has been confirmed as Chevrolet has revealed the 2017 Cruze Hatchback. Chevrolet made a hatchback version of the first-generation Cruze but didn't bring it to...
Kirk Bell