Sean Szymkowski, Contributor
Articles
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When a customer plans to drop $2.6 million on a single purchase, like they will have to for the Aston Martin Valkyrie, it makes sense for the company in question to ensure the entire process is as...
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What goes up must come down: classic car values dip in 2016For the past few years, some of the most solid investments a person could make were in classic cars. From 2012 onward, the value of vintage models has skyrocketed to heights the market has never seen before. But, nothing lasts forever. The most recent report on the state of collectible items shows...
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Luxury automakers focus on too much "stupid" tech, Genesis performance boss saysGenesis' performance chief Albert Biermann had some harsh words for the brand's German rivals. The former BMW M boss of 30 years said rival brands invest too much in unnecessary technology, and it gives Genesis a clear path forward for quality and longevity. "It’s all marketing, first of...
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Current 4-cylinder engines aren't good enough for BMW MThe automotive industry at large may be working to downsize engines to extract greater fuel efficiency from cars, but not BMW's M division. Today's modern 4-cylinder engines aren't up to par for the performance division and BMW M's chief, Frank van Meel, said there won't be an M car powered by a...
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Will Lexus bring an LS F to the Tokyo motor show?Lexus used the 2017 Detroit auto show to debut the totally redesigned 2018 LS sedan, but Tokyo may be the place where the LS earns its performance credentials. Posted to an Instagram by the user Jzsinternational is a photo from a Japanese automotive magazine with a caption that seems to claim a...
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Electric news: Bosch and Nikola team up on hydrogen semis, Camel Group invests in RimacTwo major movements occurred this week on the alternative-propulsion front. First, Croatian firm Rimac, responsible for the insane Concept_One supercar, announced Chinese battery manufacturer Camel Group has invested $36 million into its future operations. Second, Bosch announced it will join...
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Horsepower is a dangerous thing. Fast may be fun, but it can also be pretty darn scary. 1,400 horsepower? That's "frightening," according to Ken Block.
The star rally driver used the adjective to...
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Unplugged Performance readies Tesla Model 3 kitsUnplugged Performance has yet to actually dive into the world of tuning Tesla's electric cars, but it's arguably made some pretty cool aftermarket parts for its vehicles. Naturally, after tackling the Model S and Model X, it's turning its attention to the Tesla Model 3. Like most Unplugged...
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First details on Rimac's next electric supercar emergeRimac isn't sitting on its hands. The oddball Croatian electric supercar firm is preparing to unveil its second supercar next year. It will follow the Rimac Concept_One. With a working title of Concept_Two, Rimac's chief operating officer Monika Mikac told Autocar the supercar will be more...
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Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo is quicker, more aerodynamic, and ready for the trackThe Lamborghini Super Trofeo one-make race series has a new race car ready for duty: the Huracán Super Trofeo Evo. Lamborghini just showed off the series' latest racer and detailed its numerous improvements that should have drivers giddy. The Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo is...
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V-8-powered Kia Stinger in the works?Kia impressed, and likely shocked, many when it unveiled the Stinger, a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan that boasts specs not normally associated with the Korean brand. The shock factor arises from the fact that Kia went with a sport sedan at all when automakers are cashing in on the crossover craze...
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Audi launches car sharing for high-end customersAutomakers and brands have begun to look outside the traditional ownership model to expand their business opportunities, and one of the more popular areas of expansion include car sharing services. Audi had previously waded into car sharing with its Audi On Demand service, and now, it's launched a...
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Buying a new car is an exciting time, but waiting is the hardest part. While most American buyers will take delivery directly from dealer inventory, that's not the case in Europe. To help placate its...
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Chris Bangle finds new design ideas lacking at Frankfurt Motor ShowThere may not be a more divisive modern automotive designer than Chris Bangle. The former BMW design chief was responsible for some of the most controversial designs the marque has ever put into production, some of which have left many divided to this day. Bangle emerged from his design studio in...
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BMW M CEO says brand doesn't need a hypercar or supercarBuilding incredible, limited-run supercars seems to be a hot trend these days, but it's not one BMW's M division plans to partake in. CEO of BMW's M division, Frank van Meel, recently commented on the prospects of an M supercar or hypercar, and he believes such a car isn't needed. The BMW M chief...
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BMW might ditch car keys all togetherThe days of grabbing keys to gain access to one's car may be a thing of the past in future BMWs. The automaker has recently questioned the need for car keys altogether, according to a report by Reuters. During last week's 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, Ian Robertson, BMW's board member responsible for...
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McLaren builds bespoke 570GTs to match F1 XP GT ‘Longtail'McLaren may be churning out incredible sports cars today, but when enthusiasts hear the name "McLaren," many of them think of one car: the F1. The iconic supercar that was nearly all Formula One technology remains a marvel to this day, and McLaren has reached back into its the archives to honor the...
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You can now drive a vintage Defender at the Land Rover ExperienceEarly last year, its maker laid the Land Rover Defender to rest, but it certainly hasn't forgotten about the SUV. In fact, it still lets enthusiasts have a go behind the wheel of the iconic off-roader at its newly-launched Land Rover Experience. The brand announced the Land Rover Experience will...
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The 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show was full of new cars and futuristic designs, but one word hummed in the background: electrification.
Many major automakers announced that they would produce more electric...
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Patent filing suggests Tesla still interested in battery swappingTesla first toyed with the idea of battery swapping three years ago, only to walk away from the service less than one year later. Despite this, the electric-car maker may still have an eye on battery swapping, and a new patent filing is evidence of this. In May of this year, Tesla filed to patent a...
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With return of Supra, will new Toyota Celica come next?Toyota's renewed interest in performance and sports cars may bring yet another gift to enthusiasts: a new Toyota Celica. The Japanese automaker filed last month to protect the "Celica" name in its roster of trademarks, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The move to trademark the...
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Daimler beats Tesla to electric truck production with Fuso eCanterTesla may have pushed back the reveal of its electric semi-trailer truck to October, but German auto giant Daimler is moving full-speed ahead with its own electric truck plans. This week Daimler, which owns the Mercedes-Benz and Smart car brands as well as the Freightliner and Western Star truck...
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Hennessey cooking up 1,012-hp Jeep Trackhawk, 0-60 mph in 2.8 secondsSo, Jeep's standard-issue Grand Cherokee Trackhawk isn't enough for you? Have no fear, the power-obsessed minds at Hennessey Performance Engineering are planning something even faster. While the regular Grand Cherokee Trackhawk arrives with a Hellcat-standard 707 horsepower, HPE has massaged 1,012...
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Production Porsche Mission E to be priced like PanameraNow that Porsche has ushered the 2019 Cayenne out into the world, it will be dedicating most of its resources to its next major launch: the production version of the Mission E electric sedan. Porsche's chairman, Oliver Blume, was kind enough to provide a little bit of insight into Porsche's first...
Sean Szymkowski