2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A Review

    I know that so far, Ferrari's "most extreme" road-going car is the LaFerrari, a mid-engine hypercar capable of reaching speeds of over 217 mph. But, even if the LaFerrari is Maranello's most "extreme" road car, it doesn't necessarily make it its most special. 
     In my opinion (along with Evo, Car & Driver, and Top Gear magazine), the 458 Speciale is what Maranello is really all about. It is powered by a more powerful version of the 458 Italia's 4.5 liter naturally-aspirated V8, which tops out at 597 horsepower (35 more than the 458 Italia) and 398 pound-feet of torque. These massive numbers, combined with the massive amounts of carbon-fiber weight saving, let the car reach 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat. They also allow it to reach speeds of over 200 mph. Like I said earlier, the 458 Speciale uses lots of carbon-fiber, and is much lighter than the 458 Italia. Unfortunately, the interior is also more "stripped-out," and loses amenities such as navigation, heated seats, and so on. But, at the end of the day, the 458 Speciale is an incredible driver's car, and in my opinion, more exciting than the prancing horse with almost 300 more horsepower. 

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The Lenco BearCat: Heroic or Hysterical?

   One of the most commonly discussed problems right now is the militarization of police departments across the. U.S.. It's a huge problem, and is resulting in incidents like unnecessary police shootings across the county. One of the reasons police departments are getting things like armored trucks and assault rifles is because a lot of these resources are left over from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are being reused by the government.

     A fairly common vehicle that is being donated to local police departments is the Lenco BearCat, a 17,000-pound armored assault vehicle that can withstand shots from an AK-47. This 8.5-ton trucks used by many police departments countrywide, and has been used in a multitude of attacks since it's debut in 1999. Some features include a ridiculous roof-mounted machine-gun hatch, side gun ports, and a CS (tear gas) deployment nozzle. I find this vehicle to be one of the worst ways to spend out tax dollars, and it seems like a complete waste to spend $250,000 on a truck that a police department will probably never use. It's insane that this is what is being given to local police departments, along with assault rifles and riot shields. The idea that a police force needs a truck like this is completely, absolutely, 100% absurd. 

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Here's the BearCat in action at the Boston Marathon

2015 Aston Martin Lagonda Review

    In the 1980s, Aston Martin sold a luxury sports sedan called the Lagonda. That car had lots of "high-tech" features, and was one of the most luxurious and advanced cars of the time. But, sooner or later, it had to go, and went out of production in the early '90s. 

    Then, in 2009, A-M unveiled a new Lagonda SUV concept at the Geneva Auto Show, but wasn't very popular with the public, due to its "unfortunate" styling and close to zero reasoning behind it. 

    But now, after many years of absence, the Lagonda name is back. Sadly,  it will only be available in the Middle East. Thankfully, it will be a sedan, just like the original, powered by Aston Martin's classic 5.9 liter V12, producing 550 horsepower. The interior, however, is the main focus of the car, and is probably the only thing that all of its oil-sheik clientele will take any notice in. As you'd expect in an Aston, the interior is "top-notch" (as they would say overseas), and just as in the old model, includes lots of "high-tech" features. Some include a rear-seat cool-box (for carbonated rose-water, of course), hand-quilted leather seating, and an optional carbon-ceramic braking system for enhanced stopping performance. 

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2014 Duaiv Lamborghini Aventador Roadster Review

    Like I said earlier, I was in Miami for winter break, and when I was there, I visited Prestige Imports-Lamborghini Miami, a hyper-exotic car dealership specializing in Lamborhinis, Ferraris, and Paganis. During my visit, I was lucky enough to see their extremely unique "Duiav" edition Lamborghini Aventador Roadster, complete with a multicolor vinyl wrap on the exterior. It completely stood out from every other car there, which is quite a statement, considering that they had cars such as a Bugatti Veyron Pur Blanc, an Alfa Romeo 4C, a Brabus B63S, and a Mercedes-McLaren SLR 722S. When combined with the extraordinary 6.5 liter V12, it makes for an extremely special supercar, and makes it fit right in with its other "Duiav" sibling, the Ferrari FF.

Click here to learn more about the 2015 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster

Click here to view Prestige Imports-Lamborghini Miami's full inventory

Click here to view Duaiv's website

The Lamborghini Aventador Roadster

The Ferrari FF

2015 Audi R8 V10 Review

    When the Audi R8 was announced in 2009, it shocked the world with its futuristic styling and impressive handling. There was only one problem: the engine was too underpowered, and needed to be replaced. It was Audi's traditional 4.2 liter naturally-aspirated V8, and made a decent 430 horsepower @ 7,900 rpm. 0-60 took about 4.3 seconds when optioned with the dual-clutch transmission. But, the engine had grown old, and was a little "behind the times" if you know what I mean. 

    But, in 2012, Audi introduced the R8 V10 trim level, which essentially ditched the old 4.2 liter and substituted it with the naturally-aspirated 5.2 liter V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo. That engine made a much more sufficient 525 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 in that car takes 3.4 seconds, and on to a top speed of 195 mph. The main transmission is a 6-speed manual, but if you want maximum performance from your $153K supercar, you should opt for the 7-speed dual-clutch 'box. The interior, like many sports cars of today, is primarily driver-focused, but is still very luxurious, as you'd expect from a $153,000 Audi. Quilted leather seating is available, along with Audi's signature MMI navigation system. (Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been in Miami for winter break, so I didn't have my computer w/ me).

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2015 McLaren P1 Review

    When most people think of "hyper-exotic" cars, they immediately think of Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Ferrari. But, even if those are the most well-known brands, there are still a wide variety of other supercar manufacturers, including Koenigsegg, McLaren, and Pagani. Perhaps one of the best road-legal track fighters is the new McLaren P1, aimed directly at the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder. Equipped with a potent twin-turbocharged, 3.8 liter 727-horsepower V8 and a 177-horsepower electric motor, it does 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 217 mph. What bothers me about this is that McLaren's F1 supercar from the late 90's had a top speed of at least 230 mph, so that makes this car seem slow (not slow, but less fast). The interior is surprisingly well-equipped, with air-conditioning (a rarity in this segment), a radio, navigation, and carbon-fiber bucket seats. 

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2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Review

    The Rolls-Royce namesake is one of the most prestigious brands in the motoring industry, and has built up a reputation for making the best luxury cars in the world over the past 108 years. In 2002, Volkswagen sold the rights to BMW, who came out with the Phantom sedan a year later. Since then, the Phantom has become the favorite of middle-Eastern oil sheiks, Russian oligarchs, and the Japanese Yakuza (mafia). At launch, it was only offered as a sedan, but in 2005, the extended wheelbase variant was released, and the Coupé and Drophead Coupé were introduced in 2007. 
     Now, jump to 2012, and the Phantom family received a refresh, turning it into the "Phantom Series II." The old circular headlights were replaced by LED squares, a new transmission was offered, and the navigation system was upgraded. The same variants, however, still remain, and are still as luxurious (and pricey) as before. The most expensive model is the Phantom Drophead Coupé, and features a 6.75 liter naturally-aspirated V12, rated at 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, 75% of which is available at just 1,000 rpm. The 8-speed automatic is incredibly smooth, and aids the car in completing a 5.5-second 0-60 time. The interior is the center of attention in the Drophead Coupé, featuring butter-soft leather, hand-carved wood veneers, and optional "teak decking" for the rear parcel shelf. 

Click here to learn more about the 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé