USA Car reviews

The Chevy Bolt tends to have a bad rap because of the bow-tie emblem; it’s quirky DNA mashup between MPV and hatchback, and the fact that it’s not a Tesla. But, we managed to spend some one-on-one time with the Chevy Bolt and, well, let’s just say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Despite the general consensus surrounding GM’s compact EV, and all the hype generated by Tesla, the Bolt has found a place in our hearts. Here’s our story of a simple yet enjoyable getaway with none other than the 2019 Chevy Bolt.

The Ghia L6.4 was just about as exclusive as you could get in the 1960s, as it was designed and built only for actors and other high rollers in Hollywood. The final of the 26 Ghia L6.4s ever built was built for one of the largest stars of that era, Dean Martin. Martin was not the only Rat Pack member to own a L6.4, as Frank Sinatra also owned one, as did other Rat Pack members.

Recently, one of the 26 Ghia L6.4s built, the one owned by Dean Martin, was put up for auction on eBay as Hyman Ltd. got its hands on Martin’s old L6.4. For a car of its age, the modern features are plentiful, but it still wasn’t enough for Dean Martin, as he shipped the car off to George Barris, “Hollywood’s King of the Kustomizers,” to have even more customizations performed on this already rare vehicle. This customization turned Martin’s L6.4 into a one-of-a-kind vehicle.

Update 08-19-2016: This article has been updated with new images from RM Sotheby’s Auction at Monterey Car Week in 2016.

Click past the jump to read the full review on this vehicle and see how it has held up throughout the years.

The BMW M5; it’s a car used as the basis of comparison for some and a tribute to German engineering for others. The most recent generation came into play back in 2011 and is currently powered by a 4.4-liter V-8 that delivers a fair 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. With a new M5 slated to hit the streets as early as 2018, BMW’s M division is probably hard at work getting the next-gen model prepared. That’s only one side of the story, though, as BMW and its M division are busy churning out all kinds of limited-edition models like the one you see here: the 2017 BMW M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition.

A lot of times, we see limited edition models that boast unique exterior and interior features but, in this case, the Pure Metal Silver actually comes with a small increase in performance as well. Unlike a lot of Bimmer’s limited- and special-edition models, this one is built specifically for the U.S. Market, but will only be produced in a total of 50 examples. The Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition will be available starting in August of 2016, but until that happens, let’s take a good look at it and talk about just why you might want to get your hands on one.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition.

Every now and then, A car shows up somewhere that is just ahead of its time. One such model is the Alessi AR-1. Alessi is a fiberglass manufacturer that designed the AR-1 to show off what it could do with fiberglass way back in 1979. It originally showed up as a concept at the 1979 New York Auto Show and was eventually forgotten about – at least until 2013 when it surfaced yet again.

For 2013, Alessi Fiberglass upgraded everything about the car to bring it up to the current safety and productions standards. Plus, the AR-1 is limited to a production run of just 50 examples. There are no official production numbers to speak of as of 2016, but each one that has been built is truly a one-of-a-kind since each model is tailored to meet the customer’s specifications.

Being a limited-edition model, and being American-made, means the AR-1 is in a niche category where it competes against vehicles like the Saleen S7, Mach7 Motorsports Falcon, and the Hennessey Venom GT, to name a few. So, now that a few years have passed since the “new AR-1” has surfaced, let’s take a good look at the car and what else makes it so special.

Continue reading for the full story.

Ferrari has been selling delicate, aggressive and beautiful cars with the Prancing Horse emblazoned across the hood for 60 years here in the United States. From legendary machines like the 250 GTO, to modern marvels like the Ferrari FF, the Italian company has been showing the world what a supercar should be. Now to celebrate this milestone of six decades, Ferrari has created an ultra-limited model exclusively for its American customers. Dubbed the Ferrari F60America, this special edition machine comes with a V-12 engine, no roof and a price tag of $2.5-million.

The car is based on the most powerful GT car that Ferrari currently sells, the F12 Berlinetta. The 6.3-liter carries on unchanged, but visually the car has received a very thorough overhaul. Every piece of this car’s design has been created to pay homage to the previous 60 years of Ferrari heritage. Only ten of these cars are being produced, a nod to the 10 GTS4 NART Spiders that Ferrari imported for US customers on the request of Luigi Chinetti. Luigi Chinetti was the founder of Ferrari’s North American Racing Team, and the white stripe across the exterior of the car pays tribute to the team’s preferred livery.

This is easily one of the most limited and sought after Ferrari models in decades. As such, all 10 models were already sold before the car was even announced.

Updated 01/25/2016: The first out of ten F60 American units was delivered during this weekend during the 25th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2015 Ferrari F60America.

Back in the days when Ferrari developed engines quicker than they could do gearboxes or bodies, as per Enzo’s belief that those who rely on aerodynamics can’t put together proper engines, many memorable roadsters were built using the 4.0-liter Lampredi V-12 as the centerpiece. Other configurations sprouted from this 1951-designed powerplant as the company continued to use this layout all throughout the decade. One of the most emblematic models of the 340 series is the 340 MM, which appeared as an evolution of previous 340 iterations in 1953.

As with other Ferrari cars, MM stood for Mille Miglia, the race for which the car was originally conceived and which its forerunner, the 340 America, had won in 1951. In truth, the MM was the real replacement of the America, being a real step forward from the so-called 340 Mexico from which it evolved.

With only 11 examples built, the 340 MM is an extremely rare car, especially since both Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera and Carrozzeria Vignale dealt with building spyder bodies while Pininfarina crafted the coupes. This means that nearly each example is unique in its own way. Couple this with the racing history of certain chassis and you get part of the reasoning behind the prices for which these cars change hands. One of the many in the myriad of Ferrari ultra-exotic rarities.

Continue reading to learn more about the 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition Vignale Spider.

Have you ever heard of Detroit Electric? If you answered in the affirmative, you get a cookie, but we’ll probably have to mash it up and feed it to you with a spoon because the automaker kicked the bucket way back in 1939. Now, however, Detroit Electric is back, and it’s bringing with it a new all-electric sports car. It’s called the SP:01, and it’s based on a Lotus, bears loads of the latest EV technology, runs a 0-to-60 time under four seconds, and a boasts a very feathery curb weight.

Here’s a bit of background for those of you still left in the dark. Back in the early 1900s, the ICE-powered vehicle was far less popular than it is now. EVs were the preferred choice over the noisy, polluting, gas-powered alternatives. It was at this time that Detroit Electric thrived, with up to 2,000 electric cars sold annually by 1910.

However, over time, cheap gas and inventions like the electric starter and muffler pushed the EV to the sidelines, eventually unplugging it altogether.

But in case you didn’t notice, the electric vehicle is back, and in a big way. Now, five years after rising from the ashes, Detroit Electric is getting ready to unleash a sports car that the company hopes will “spearhead a diverse family of all-electric productions cars” for the future.

But times have changed a bit since 1910, which begs the question – how will the SP:01 shape up alongside rivals in the increasingly competitive modern EV marketplace?

Updated 07/16/2015: Detroit Electric finally revealed full specifications on its new SP:01. Read on for the details.

Continue reading to find out more about the Detroit Electric SP:01.

An Orlando-based auto company that goes by the name Exotic Rides has completed the development of a 626-horsepower supercar called the W70. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we still don’t know if the car is actually headed for production. That’s normally a recipe that would lead us to be a little cynical about the status of the W70, but we’re going to give it the benefit of the doubt because we actually want to see Exotic Rides make a name for itself in the industry.

Here’s what we know about the W70. Its design was penned by an Australian automotive designer named David Williams. The renderings of the supercar makes us think that Williams used the Ferrari Enzo as the inspiration behind his creation. It’s a little more subdued than the Enzo, but a lot of the elements, including the shape of the headlights and the scissor doors are present in the final version of the supercar.

With the build of the car now complete, the next step for Exotic Rides is to actually build a business plan for it. There’s no timetable for that yet, but given the enormous business challenges that the company still faces, I think it would be premature to assume that the W70 will be terrorizing the roads of America in the near future.

Click past the jump to read more about the Exotic Rides W70.

Supercars boasting incredible horsepower aren’t anything new in the auto industry, but very few automakers have actually managed to live up to expectations. But that’s what Trion Supercars is promising with the Nemesis, an exotic that vows to join the ranks of 1,000-horsepower hypercars such as the Bugatti Veyron and the Koenigsegg One:1 and take things up a notch. Who is this Trion Supercars we are talking about? Well, it’s a brand-new boutique builder that surfaced in Orange County, California with the sole purpose of creating the most powerful production car in the world. Quite ambitious for a small venture that has no experience whatsoever, but we have to give Trion credit for aiming so high. in such an exclusive segment.

The recipe is pretty simple. Design a unique body, bolt it onto a lightweight platform, stuff it with a twin-turbo powerplant and sell it to the wealthiest people in the world. It worked for both Bugatti and Koenigsegg, but does Trion have what it takes to deliver a world-class hypercar? On paper, the Nemesis is an insanely powerful vehicle that can deliver up to 2,000 ponies, but we won’t find out whether Trion has the ability to transfer its idea from the drawing board to reality until 2016.

Meanwhile, let’s have a look at what this American supercar aims to achieve.

Updated 10/28/2014: Trin Supercar announced that its brand new Nemesis supercar will be put into production in 2016. The model will be offered in four versions, with power going up to an amazing 2,000 horsepower in the RR version. The company is also developing a hybrid and an electric version. Details after the jump.

Click past the jump to read more about the Trion Nemesis.

The Falcon F7 project commenced when engineer and car enthusiast Jeff Lemke decided it’s time to build his very own supercar. It took Falcon Motorsports less than three years to complete it, just in time to show the production version of the vehicle at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The F7’s configuration is pretty much basic and in accordance with today’s supercar standards. It rides on a tungsten inert gas-welded aluminum chassis with a carbon-fiber/kevlar reinforced floor pan, the body panels are made of carbon fiber, while the GM-sourced V-8 engine is mounted behind the seats.

Yes, like most small automotive ventures, Falcon Motorsports did not develop its own powertrain or suspension system, choosing to borrow them from the previous Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

Although the recipe sounds similar to those used by Shelby SuperCars or Hennessey, the Falcon F7 has yet to stir the supercar waters, probably because it has no speed records or thousands of horsepower attached to its name. But despite its rather anonymous status, this unique, daring vehicle is worthy of your attention.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Falcon F7.

The Volkswgen Touareg is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and while a lot of folks in Europe have enjoyed the full-sized SUV for as long as it’s been around, people here in the US haven’t had that long of a love affair with the vehicle.

The German automaker hopes to change all that after announcing that a special-edition Touareg, dubbed the Touareg X, is coming to America.

The "X" designation on the SUV is a reference to its 10th year anniversary and as one can expect with a limited-run set, the Touareg X has its fair share of custom goodies, befitting of its stature as a special edition.

The SUV itself is based on the Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel Lux and has been revised to include a number of new features, including a Moonlight Blue Pearl exterior, a new set of 19-inch, Moab-style alloy wheels, and an interior that’s been dressed to the nines.

One look at the cabin and you immediately know that this Touareg is dressed to impress. There are Vienna leather seats, a black headliner and engineered ebony wood trim. In addition to all of that, the Touareg X’s cabin also got piano black accents, illuminated sill plates and faux aluminum pedal covers.

Power wasn’t modified, and yet we don’t think anybody will have problems with the Touareg X’s 3.0-liter, turbodiesel V-6 engine, developing 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.

Like we said, the Touareg X is a limited run vehicle with only 1,000 units earmarked to come Stateside. Pricing begins at $56,170.

Click past the jump to read about the Volkswagen Touareg

The Cadillac Escalade has always been a love-it-or-hate-it type of vehicle, thanks to its awesome styling but terrible fuel economy. Sales have been falling off lately and incoming CAFÉ regulations are really putting the squeeze on GM to increase the overall fuel economy of its sole luxury automaker. This led to talks of the Escalade getting the axe in coming years, but apparently GM is not ready to throw in the towel yet.

Reports are pointing to an all-new Cadillac Escalade arriving in 2014 as an early-2015 model year. Instead of Caddy going the direction that many other SUV builders have gone, it will keep the Escalade on a truck frame, whereas many builders are changing SUVs to sit upon car platforms. This means that the 2015 Escalade will ride on the same platform as the soon-to-be released new Chevy Silverado and Sierra.

Unfortunately, we have nothing to really offer except speculation on the incoming Chevy and GMC trucks, as we have only seen heavily camouflaged models. All we can say for certain is that the Cadillac will share the same platform as its pickup brethren. Some experts are anticipating a change in the Silverado/Sierra twins that rivals the 1996 space shuttle treatment that the F-150 received. If this is the case, we can also expect a vastly redesigned Escalade.

We also know that GM has to work on the fuel economy of this luxury SUV to help it meet CAFÉ regulations in the future and the 18 highway mpg that the 2012 Escalade gets is simply not going to cut it. Look for GM to develop an engine that rivals the Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, like the 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine that has been mentioned, and toss it into the Escalade. The only other option would be to go turbo diesel, which may not sit well with Cadillac owners.

We will continue to bring you more information as it becomes available on the upcoming 2015 Escalade.

Updated 9/23/2013: Cadillac has unveiled a pair of teaser images of the 2015 Escalade, and it announced that it will reveal the 2015 Escalade on October 7, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. EST. You can see the reveal live, by clicking here. Additionally, Cadillac also released a series of teaser videos outlining some of the highlights of the model. You can see these videos after the jump.

Updated 10/01/2013: With just a few days before its official debut, Cadillac unveiled a new teaser image, this time revealing the interior of the 2015 Escalade. As expected the new SUV combines luxurious handcrafted elements with state-of-the-art advanced technology, this way offering the latest features in luxury, connectivity and safety for up to eight occupants.

Read more about the 2015 Cadillac Escalade after the jump

With the United Sports Car Racing series GT Daytona class set to make its debut next year, another of automakers are busy preparing their respective race cars that will compete in the new racing series.

One of them is Porsche, and recently, Porsche Motorsport North America, Inc. announced that its official race car for the series, 2014 Porsche 911 GT America, is already set for production in Stuttgart, Germany.

The car, which is based on the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, will be used exclusively in the new racing series and will come with a host of modifications to make it fit and right for racing duties.

A slew of specific components have been added to the 911 GT America, including a handful of aerodynamic components, highlighted by a new front spoiler with its own diffuser. A USCR-spec rear wing was also installed, as was a new design rear cover and a carbon fiber undertray that aids in maximizing the race car’s aerodynamic balance.

Power for the new race car comes in the form of a rear-mounted, 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine that produces 470 horsepower that mates to a six-speed sequential dog-type transmission with a pneumatic paddle shift system.

Porsche also outfitted the series-specific race car with an Endurance Package, which consists of quick-release couplings for all brake calipers, as well as a fast-fill refueling system for oil, and an oil-level display. Also included are 380 mm (14.96-inch) ventilated rotors with six-pot calipers up front and four-pot calipers on the rear.

Teams interested in fielding racers for the upcoming 2014 USCR season can pickup one of these race cars at a price of $269,000, with deliveries scheduled to begin later this year.

Click past the jump to read about the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

When you ask students to design a car, you normally get some wildly imaginative drawings of vehicles with wings on it, turbo boosters, or a combination of both in some occasions.

But the automotive engineering students from Clemson University aren’t your typical students. For one, they know how to design a car, but more importantly, they know how to design a pretty cool car. Both things were shown in full bloom with the presentation of the Mazda Deep Orange 3.

Built in collaboration with Mazda, the Deep Orange 3 actually represents a next-generation Mazda concept vehicle, conceived and engineered from the ground up by automotive engineering students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). "Impressive" doesn’t even do justice on how to describe this vehicle.

Every engineering from the inside and out came from the minds of these young and up-and-coming designers, a tribute to not only their creativity but also to their skills and understanding on how to build a car from scratch. The design of the Deep Orange 3, in particular, was actually penned by student Frederick Naaman at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Everything else was developed and built by students in Clemson’s graduate automotive engineering program, all of whom are required to create and manufacture a new vehicle prototype. The vehicle’s concept and design are developed in partnership with students from the transportation design department at the Art Center focusing holistically on the vehicle and the end-user.

After months of collaboration and tireless work in ensuring a top-end build at the end of the day, the Deep Orange 3 prototype was born.

Click past the jump to read about the Mazda Deep 3 Orange Prototype

Not a lot of people are familiar with the California-based niche automaker, Lucra. For one, it was founded just 3 years ago in 2010 and until now, it still has only one model to its name: the LC470.

All that could change soon, given the automaker’s plan to introduce a second model comes to fruition. Details are still limited, but Lucra labeled the prototype model as the "2.2". The initial renderings show it as a long, front- or mid-engine sports roadster that looks - at least in terms of its shape and contour - eerily similar to the Corvette Stingray Concept of some years ago.

Judging by these renderings, the 2.2 does hold some design appeal. It’s got the streamlined look of a bona fide roadster and makes use of tons of modern automotive materials, including carbon fiber, LED lighting and state-of-the-art wheels.

As far as the powertrain is concerned, customers will have the choice of what V-8 engine they want Lucra to drop into the engine bay. Options include a GM-sourced powertrain or a Mercedes-source powertrain, which we assume will come from the German automaker’s in-house performance division, AMG.

Putting a number on the 2.2’s performance capabilities, it won’t be surprising if the sports roadster achieves somewhere around 530 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque under its hood to go with a 0-to-60 mph time of just under 3 seconds and a top speed of around 190 mph.

No word on yet on how far along the development of the 2.2 is, but considering the nature of the prototype, it won’t be long before a lot of people start talking about this new sports car from Lucra.

Click past the jump to read about potential competitors for the Lucra 2.2

You may not know a whole lot about Mara Hoffman, but the colorful and vibrant fashion designer sure does have quite a following.

Hoffman is considered one of the most prestigious swimwear designers in the world and her stature caught the attention of Mercedes-Benz, who proceeded to name her this season’s "Mercedes-Benz Presents" design.

As part of being named with the honor, Mercedes gave Hoffman a chance to showcase her fashion design skills, not on a two-piece bikini, but on an actual Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet.

Judging by the look of Hoffman’s creation, we have little doubt that she really put her personality into that drop-top E-Class with a one-of-a-kind print that will also debut as an exclusively designed fashion item and be sold at Alchemist fashion boutique in Miami.

If you want to take a closer look at Mara Hoffan’s bursting design on the E-Class Cabriolet, you can keep an eye out for it at numerous spots by South Beach in Miami.

Given the fact that South Beach is known for being one of the most hip and happening places in America, there’s no doubt that this one-off Mara Hoffan-designed E-Class Cabriolet will fit right in.

Click past the jump to read about the standard Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet

The Ram 1500 pickup has become a popular model in the years that it’s been patrolling roads all over America.

Everybody has thought highly enough of the pickup that a revised model of the current-generation 1500 was just introduced a few weeks ago. Apparently, that popularity has compelled Ram to build a special-edition model called the Ram Black Express.

Looking the part of a completely bad-ass pickup, RAM built the Black Express to accommodate a slew of new features that completely sets it apart from the rest of the 1500 lot. Not that the latter doesn’t boast of many creds, the Black Express just takes it to another level.

One look at the Black Express and you immediately notice that it’s been blacked out to the hilt, complete with a black grille and front fascia, black bumpers, black badges on the front and rear, and to no one’s surprise, black 20-inch aluminum wheels.

Nobody got confused with what to call this special-edition 1500, apparently.

There’s also the addition of a bi-function halogen projector headlamps with LED running lights, a standard feature on this special edition compared to it being an added option on the regular steeds.

No powertrain changes were made so expect to see the same 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 under its hood, good enough to produce 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque while mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a towing capacity of 9,250 pounds to go with an estimated 0-to-60 mph time of about 8-something seconds and a top speed of about 135 mph.

The Ram Black Express comes with a base price of $26,955, a little over $1,000 more than the base Express 4X2 regular cab.

Click past the jump to read about the standard Ram 1500

Cross-marketing stunts aren’t new in the auto industry.

It’s a great way for two companies to promote each other to two completely different audiences. Recently, a lot of auto brands and movie studios have taken this route to promote a particular movie and the car that will appear in said movie.

Alfa Romeo and Fast and Furious 6 recently did something like this a few weeks ago. Now, it’s Ram and Warner Bros’ turn to get in on the action.

With the upcoming "Man of Steel" movie set to hit theaters on June 14th, the two companies went ahead and unveiled a special edition, one-off "Man of Steel" Ram 1500 Power Wagon that was specifically built to promote the movie.

If this truck isn’t intimidating enough on its own, the specially designed Man of Steel-inspired styling will definitely get your attention.

Shortly after its unveiling, the one-off Man of Steel Power Wagon will head over to New York City on June 10th, just in time for the world premiere of the highly anticipated Superman movie. From there, the truck will go on its own tour around the country in the coming months before heading over to the auction block where it will be auctioned off for charity.

Click past the jump to read about how Ram dressed up this 1500 Power Wagon in the style of the Man of Steel himself

Everything is bigger in Texas, so they say. And apparently, that even extends to the choice of vehicles the folks down there are inclined to buy. We actually don’t know this but according to Chevrolet, one out of every six full-size pickups are sold in Texas.

That’s a pretty telling number and partly explains why the Bowtie decided to unveil a special-edition Silverado exclusively for the Lone Star State.

The model is called the Silverado Texas Edition and according to Chevrolet, it was built to recognize the strong bonds between Texans and their trucks. That’s awfully touching.

But the Silverado Texas Edition has no sentimental bone in its body. It’s rugged as rugged can be with the added benefit of a few new components, including body-color outside mirror caps and door handles, a locking rear differential, a trailering package, Texas Edition badges, and a set of 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels. And that’s just for the midlevel LT trim. For the LTZ trim, customers get all of the aforementioned goodies in chrome to go with a Bose premium audio system.

And lest we forget, the Silverado Texas Edition can be had with a choice of two powertrains: a 4.3-liter V-6 engine with 285 horsepower for the LT and a 5.3-liter V-8 with 355 horsepower for the LTZ.

Click past the jump to read about the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and the accompanying press release for the Silverado Texas Edition

We obviously care a great deal about our cars and the way they look. Some of us, though, opt for something a little more along the lines of eye-catching, so steps are taken to further improve the car’s aesthetics relative to its stock features.

R1 Motorsport believes in the same thing. Why settle for a standard BMW M6 when you can turn into one of the meanest cars on the block? To its credit, R1 Motorsport answered that question in resounding fashion, dressing up the German sports car in a satin black finish that’s about as menacing as it gets this side of matte black.

You can’t deny that the M6 looks a lot nastier than what it did in standard guise. Add that to the M6’s 4.4-liter V-8 engine that produces 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque with a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, and you have a true sports coupe - a big and mean one - that can make other sports cars in its path squirm with fear.

Click past the jump to see more of R1 Motorsport’s program for the BMW M6