Sean Szymkowski, Contributor
Articles
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Well, color us impressed, this kid is starting out young.
Not only does 5-year-old Marcus "the mechanic" know how to change a car's oil, he's learned how to properly perform the particular...
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This Mercedes G-Wagen/E-Class mash-up is the off-roader we've always wantedNo, this is not some sham or gimmick of a rendering—this Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4x4² is very real and it comes straight from the brilliantly twisted mind of a Mercedes-Benz engineer. First, let's start with where this project began. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain was...
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Here's how Subaru's 4 all-wheel-drive systems workSubaru has carved a niche in the vast automotive industry by doing one thing: equip every single car it sells with an all-wheel-drive system. That's minus the BRZ, of course, which features rear-wheel drive. How does Subaru's system actually work? Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained is here to...
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The first US street-legal McLaren F1 is for saleThere won't be enough time for everyone here at Motor Authority to collectively scrape change, empty piggy banks, and check couch cushions. But, boy, do we wish we had all the couches, piggy banks, and change cups to buy this. By "this," we mean the very first street-legal McLaren F1 sold in the...
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300,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class rolls off the assembly lineMagna-Steyr's Austrian factory behind the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has reached a milestone after producing the 300,000th example of the boxy, brick of an off-road SUV. We say "boxy" and "brick" lovingly because there's no confusing the G-Class for anything else, which is likely one of the reasons why...
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Cosworth returning to F1 in 2021?Cosworth has been absent from Formula One racing since 2013, but the company has reportedly signed on to frame new engine rules past the year 2020. In doing so, Cosworth may be poised for a return to F1 in 2021. The Northampton, England-based engineering company has signaled its optimism about the...
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk, ever the visionary, says he received "verbal approval" from the United States government to build a Hyperloop through New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
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454-horsepower BMW M3 CS in the works?BMW seems to be making use of its multiple "CS" trademark filings because the latest news pegs a 454-horsepower BMW M3 CS to arrive next year. In 2016, BMW filed to protect the "CS" name with trademarks ranging from "M1 CS" all the way to "M8 CS." The strategy is most certainly a way to keep up...
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Ferrari F1 drivers are the only employees allowed to purchase a new FerrariIt's no secret a lot goes into becoming a preferred customer of Ferrari, but the Italian sports car and supercar maker even sets some rules for its own employees. In fact, Ferrari employees are barred from purchasing a brand-new Ferrari. Imagine slaving over an impeccable piece of Italian design...
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New video explores the Sultan of Brunei's vast car collectionSome people are fortunate enough to have the means to purchase one of their dream cars in a lifetime; others buy dozens or even hundreds if they can afford to do so. The Sultan of Brunei? Well, his case is a little different. Long known for his love of cars and equal love of extravagance, the...
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Learn how Subaru's Boxer engine works via this 3-D printed working modelThe term is thrown around often, but what actually constitutes Subaru's "boxer" engine? With the insightful mind of Jason Fenske and a 3-D printed model of a 4-cylinder boxer engine, we're all in for some learning. In this video, Jason, host of Engineering Explained, walks viewers through the...
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Custom Jeep Renegade pickup echoes Comanche of yore, and it can be yoursJeep will finally answer enthusiasts' wishes with a Wrangler-based pickup truck, probably in late 2019, but in the meantime, this custom Jeep Renegade pickup should pique your interest. The Renegade "Comanche" pickup was discovered for sale by The Drive and it's quite a marvelous build. It takes a...
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There are quite a few cases of near race cars making their way from the track to the street. Now, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus' SCG003 range may be the most extreme example.
The typical red tape has...
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Turbo V-6 vs supercharged V-8: 600-hp VelociRaptors face offNo replacement for displacement, you say? Say no more because Hennessey Performance Engineering has shown what forced induction can do with a simple, straight-line drag race. On one side sits the 2014 Ford F-150 VelociRaptor from HPE, which features a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. On the other...
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IMSA driver Katherine Legge serves a batch of donuts in the 2017 Acura NSXInquiring 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...
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Ford dealer creates wild Ranger pickup truckThe Ford Ranger may have vanished from North American shores years ago, but it's soldiered on in other countries around the world. Australia, in particular, has come to adore the mid-size pickup truck. And as sales boom so does the aftermarket. Clearly, the dealership that created this wild Ranger...
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Watch Jay Leno's 2017 Ford GT get a protective wrapNotice 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...
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"Gran Turismo Sport" launching on October 17The "Gran Turismo" franchise has a history of delays, but the next iteration of the iconic franchise has an official date: "Gran Turismo Sport" is launching on October 17. Last month, Polyphony Digital revealed more details about the game at the E3 video game expo and simply gave the title a fall...
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In 2000, Sam Schmidt faced the unthinkable. During a test lap ahead of the season-opening Indy 200, he lost control of his car and the left rear hit the wall. Following intensive medical treatment,...
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Owner gets dirty, runs dirt rally stage in Mercedes-Benz CLK GTRWe're not sure if we should call this owner a madman or a hero because it takes a lot of guts to run your one-of-six Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster on a rally stage. The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR was born for FIA GT Championship racing and was the result of homologation requirements. (Translation: it's...
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Steady as he goes; Lyle Fisk is the patron saint of pinstripingIt may seem commonplace now, but pinstriping has come a long way from its luxury roots. The practice is now in vogue in hot rod customization culture, or as professional pinstriper, Edward Lyle Fisk calls it, "embellishing." Fisk is one of only a handful of people who have dedicated their lives to...
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Rolls-Royce opens show with a little help from John Lennon's Phantom VAttention Londoners: Please send pics. When Rolls-Royce opens their exhibition at Bonhams, called "The Great Eight Phantoms," John Lennon's personalized Rolls-Royce Phantom V will be in attendance. The special guest appearance coincides with the 50th anniversary of the release of "Sgt. Pepper's...
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2018 Hyundai i30 Fastback reveals its sleek silhouetteFollowing the reveal of the i30 and i30 Tourer, and finally the i30 N hot hatchback, Hyundai has debuted the final variant of i30: the 2018 i30 Fastback. Note, the 3-door Hyundai i30 does not return from the previous generation—the i30 Fastback serves as its successor. And a sleek successor...
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Polestar will tune your 2018 Volvo XC60 to 421 horsepowerVolvo is spinning off Polestar into a standalone brand for high-performance electrified cars, but that doesn’t mean the Swedish brand born out of racing won’t be tuning Volvos anymore. Polestar will also continue to offer optimization for Volvo cars, under the new Polestar Engineered...
Sean Szymkowski