2014 Audi A8L W12 Review

    Among the fleet of massive, powerful executive sedans is the Audi A8L W12, which stands by the Mercedes-Benz S600 and the BMW 760Li. All of these military-grade powerplants have potent V12s and sumptuous interiors. So, if you had the choice of any one of these three limousines, which would you take? I would take the A8L. And you know why? It's because I find the A8L more understated and, if you can take it, more luxurious. Don't get me wrong, I like the 7-Series and S-Class quite a lot, but I happen to like the A8L slightly more. It might be because of its engine, which happens to be a massive 6.3 liter W12 that makes 500 hp and 463 pound-feet of torque. I don't understand, why didn't they use the signature Volkswagen Group 6.0 liter W12? It makes more power and is more reputable, so why not use that? I do like the interior quite a lot, just having refreshed my memory by sitting in one and it reminded me how nice of a place to be it is. I could spend a 5-6 hour road trip in this cabin and not get out once, thanks to the rear seats that massage your back and can be heated or ventilated. There is also two adjustable flat-screens on the seatbacks hooked up to the Audi MMI system, so you can use the navigation or watch a video. If you get thirsty, there's a decentely sized mini fridge that can hold a champaigne bottle or two.

Nice, Huh?

2014 SRT Viper GTS Review

    As my favorite American car., the SRT Viper is one of the fastest, most powerful, and sickest cars Dodge has ever created. Nicknamed "America's Lamborghini" for its hard-to-get performance and crazy price, this generation has another trick up its sleeve: the largest production engine in the world. It measures 8.4 liters in displacement and has 10 cylinders, and makes 640 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque. The wheels get 355mm Brembo brakes, which is definitely a supercar trait, if SRT ever tries to compare this to a Lamborghini Aventador or a Porsche 918 Spyder. 0-60 takes 3.1 seconds, which is pretty good considering Dodge has way less experience than Ferrrari, but yet they are able to match the 458 Italia's 0-60 time. The interior is actually very nice, especially with the brown leather. I really like the Viper, I just think it would get more publicity if more magazines like Car&Driver or MotorTrend compared it to Italian Targas more often.

2014 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Review

    As one of the 911's biggest fans, I find it almost obligatory to write about the most interesting variant of the 911: the 911 Targa 4S. It has a rather inadequate (and slightly boring) 3.8 liter boxer flat-6 that produces 400 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque. I find this engine a little underpowered to be put in a 911 and I wish they would do some sort of 911 Targa Turbo S, which would be insane (the good kind). 0-60 takes 4.4 seconds, which is slower than a Corvette Stingray, which is exactly the opposite of what Porsche should be doing. They should make the standard 911 faster than the Corvette and tell Chevy to put a sock in it, which is what I would say to them for advice on how to not be obnoxious. Anyway, The interior is all business, with very supportive seats, lots of buttons, and an optional Porsche Doppelkupplung (no idea what it is). You can get seatbelts matching the exterior color as well as a painted key fob. I love the 911, and I always will love it, I just want the model list to be smaller.

2014 Audi R8 V10 Spyder Review

    I find the Audi R8's styling very futuristic and modern, even though I am not the biggest Audi fan. I didn't like the A4 and the A6, and I definitely do not like the Q5. But there are some exceptions, like the A8L, the S7, and the R8. The R8 Spyder is probably the most practical un-practical supercar out there, with good ergonomics, practical touches, and you can tell Audi engineers did not completely focus on the handling and the powertrain. I do really like the led-rimmed headlights and the air vents directly below the tail-lights. The engine is a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2 liter V10 that produces 525 hp, and all of that power goes to all four wheels, thanks to Audi's "best-in-the-business" Quattro AWD system. 0-60 takes 3.6 seconds, which is only 3/10s of a second slower than the S6, which is a big sedan that costs less than half as much. The interior is nicely done, with hand-quilted Nappa leather and the standard Audi MMI navigation, which is a total copy of BMW's iDrive system. I think the best phrase to describe Audi's creation is "inspired by others."

2018 Nissan IDx Review

   The very "eccentric" looking Nissan IDx is to me, one of the best looking cars Car&Driver had for this year's edition of "25 Cars Worth Waiting For," and that's saying something, considering in this year's edition they had a Mercedes-Benz GT AMG and a 2015 Ford Mustang GT350. It is essentially a modern interpretation of a Datsun 510, but much more exciting, fresh, and modern. I find the headlights almost intriguing with the retro circles and the white and orange color scheme. The rest of the exterior is a little "meh" to me, thanks to Nissan's way of not incorporating one single curve in the entire body. The engine is a 1.8 liter four-cylinder borrowed from the Sentra, which will make about 130 hp. A NISMO option will most definitely offered, even though I find the "NISMO" sub-division useless because they do nothing to the cars except put a sticker on saying "NISMO" and no actual performance figures are upgraded. The interior is modern but still has some nice retro touches (stayin' with the theme" and I like it a lot more than most current Nissans. I can't wait for the IDx to arrive, even though it will take 4 years. In this time, I'll just sit and wait.

Comparison: 2007 Mercedes-Benz F700 vs. 2007 BMW CS

    You know how Mercedes owned Maybach until about a year ago? Well, in that 10-year period, they created a concept car called the F-Class, or the F700. I found it redundant, because it was supposed to be a ultra-luxury sedan-limo, but that's Maybach's job. In that same 10-year period, BMW produced the CS concept car, and it was quite similar, mainly because of its targeted market and outrageous price and engine. But which ridiculous uber-everything German barge it best?

2. BMW CS

    The BMW CS is to me one of the best looking concept cars they've made so far (aside from the i8), and it is also one of the most interesting. I just adore the way the interior is so curvy and clean, and the exterior is also quite something to behold. It is a little flashy (like the Mercedes isn't), and can be a tad too imposing, but is still pretty cool. The overall appearance and mass of the car are quite incredible, and I would assume you would rule the Autobahn with this bruiser. I just think Mercedes has done a better job of creating a massive luxury tank.

1. Mercedes-Benz F700

    The F700 concept car probably holds the title for most "wowing" concept car I've ever seen, considering when I first saw it, it was like nothing I've ever seen. The interior is very innovative and exquisite, especially the rear seat that are symmetrical, so you can flip it over so it will face backwards towards the flat-screen TV. There is also rear-seat entertainment, with folding picnic trays and power seats. The possible engine would be a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder that would produce 238 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. All of that would not be powered by some strange eco-fuel, just regular gas. This strange setup would get an impressive 39 mpg, which is good for something that rivals in size an M1 Abrams. The reason I think the F-Class is better than the CS is because I feel that Mercedes has done a better job of creating the size and luxury of a palace on four wheels.

2014 Porsche Panemera GTS Review

    Facelifted for 2014, the Panemera comes in 11 different specs, all of which are fun, fast, and expensive. The GTS model is on the more expensive side of the Panemera family, and also on the faster, thanks to the direct-injected 4.8 liter V8 that produces 440 hp and 384 pound-feet of torque. Each and every one of those horses go to making a 179-mph top speed possible. The car does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, which is almost nothing compared to the Turbo S's 3.6-second 0-60 mph dash. The interior is one of the best I've seen from Porsche, even though the center console is a little button-heavy. The backseat is quite comfortable, disregarding the space the sleek body shape suggests. All four seats are power operated, and in the trim levels with the "Executive" badge on it have a special center console in the back, with an optional beverage compartment.

2014 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Review

    The beautiful Jaguar XJ has been with us since 2011, and it has proved to be a worthy competitor for the Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the BMW 7-Series. The supercharged model is my second favorite trim level, with the XJL Ultimate in #1. But the supercharged (as the name suggests) has a supercharged 5.0 liter V8 that produces 470 hp, which helps the car do 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, which isn't class-leading, but is still good enough to keep up with the A8's 3.9-second 0-60 time. The "L" means that the wheelbase has been stretched 5 inches, so you could be chauffeured one day or drive it the next. The interior is one of Ian Callum's many masterpieces, and to me, the materials look som much better than BMW's or Audi's. I love the XJ because of its animal-like characteristics and traditional Jaguar fury and rage.

2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Review (50th Post!)

    Ever since Ferrari released the Enzo, the bar has been set really high for the elite hypercar class, and competitors like McLaren and Lamborghini have made many great successors for the Enzo. But now, they have released a new hypercar, and it is called the LaFerrari. It has a hybrid engine setup: with one electric motor cranking out 161 hp, and a 6.3 liter V12 that produces 789 hp. Combined, they produce an even 950 hp, and that means it is more powerful than the Porsche 918 Spyder, which makes 800 hp, and the upcoming McLaren P1, which produces 903 hp. Thanks to those incerdible numbers, the car does 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, which is setting the bar pretty high for everyone else. The interior is simple, with custom-tailored seats made to fit the owner perfectly, and they don't recline. There is no navigation, which is good because on this class of car I find it unecessary. So the Ferrari LaFerrari is a staggering car to look at and numbers to go with, but the price, unfortunaltely, is about $1,000,000, which isn't out of reach of Dubai sultans and Russian oligarks. Happy 50th post!

2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Review

   Recently, Bentley released the V8 S trim level for the Continental GT and GTC, and it is a masterpiece. It has a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that normally produces 500 hp and 487 pound-feet of torque (which is already quite enough), but in this case, it has been tuned to produce 521 hp and 502 lb-feet of torque. The extra 21 horsepower makes the car do 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, which is very good for something that weighs this much. The convertible is slightly heavier, so it does it in 4.5 seconds. The interior has some special touches for the V8 S, like the red stitching and the embroidered headrests. The normally white, black, and grey flying "B" logo is now only black and red, which gives the exterior a interesting touch. With a base price of $199,225 for the coupe and $219,925 for the convertible, it is quite expensive, and with ridiculous options such as the $13,875 carbon-ceramic brakes, Bentley obviously figured out the fact that people who can afford the price won't care about how much it will cost. 

2015 Acura NSX Review

    The much-anticipated arrival of the second-generation NSX supercar is almost here, and when it finally is released, I bet it will sell like crazy. The original NSX was released in 1990, and production ceased in 2005. In its 15-year run, the NSX made history in the exotic supercar timeline, alongside the Porsche 959 and the Ferrari F50. But after 10 years, Acura has released the second-gen version, and it is incredible. The engine will have a hybrid setup, with a direct-injected V6 paired with an electric motor. It will probably produce around 450 hp. Those will aid the car to do 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, which is pretty good, considering Acura makes 7-seater SUVs and mid-sized family sedans. When the new NSX comes out, it will be a historic milestone in the supercar timeline, and will also be expensive, unfortunately, so expect around $110,000 for a base model.

Comparison: 2014 BMW M6 vs. 2014 Audi RS7

    These two "four-door coupes" are extremely similar, with massively powerful V8 engines and four seats, along with the annoying "four-door coupe" title, which translated into actual English, means a sedan with a coupe silhouette. Sadly, they also have massive prices, both starting at over $100,000. But which uber-fast German sedan is the best?

2. Audi RS7

    The Audi A7 and S7 are two of my favorite cars, but for some reason, I didn't really squeal with joy when those maniacs at Quattro GMBH released the RS7. I don't know why, I just can't find something I really like about the RS7. I mean, they have replaced the subdued and understated grilles (which looked awesome) with some big hexagonal grilles that say the RS7 logo so everyone will know that you have spent much more money than the guy with the A7, which is a little obnoxious for my taste. But the engine is wonderful, maybe even better than the M6's. It is a twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 which is the same engine as the one in the S8. It produces 560 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque, which is evenly distributed to all four wheels, thanks to signature Quattro AWD. The interior is practical and stylish, yet remaining practical and functional. I like the A7 and S7, I just don't like the flashiness of the RS7.

1. BMW M6

    Annoyingly, the 2011 M5 was a massive disappointment, with so-so steering, relatively slow acceleration, and somewhat poor driving dynamics. But the engine was great, with 560 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. Those figures help the car go to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. That same year, BMW released the second-gen 6-series. A year after, they released the 6-series Gran Coupe, which was targeted at the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the Audi A7, and the Porsche Panemera. Alongside the regular 640i and 650i Gran Coupe, they released the M6 Gran Coupe, and it is spectacular. It has the same 560-hp twin-turbo 4.4 liter V8 as the M5, which works wonderfully in the 6-series, which it should, considering that the 6-series is a 5-series underneath the sportier body panels. The interior is simple, but still nice enough to be worth $100,000, thanks to aerodynamic styling, carbon-fiber trim, and black Nappa perforated leather. Even though the M5 isn't the best, the M6 is still an amazing car.

2014 Jaguar F-Type V8 S Review

    The new Jaguar F-Type is one of the best looking British cars on the market, and has some pretty interesting heritage, including the E-Type, which is considered to be the most beautiful cars of all time. And the F-Type looks like a concept car, which can also be said for Land Rover's Evoque compact. There are three engine choices: a 3.0 liter V6 that produces 340 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque. The "S" trim level adds 40 hp and 7 lb-feet of torque to that V6. But the V8 S changes the engine entirely, replacing the 3.0 liter V6 with the famed Jaguar/Land Rover supercharged 5.0 liter V8 that produces 495 hp and 460 pound-feet of toque. Jaguar's claimed 0-60 time for that car is about 4.2 seconds, but Car&Driver got a much better 3.9, so around that area. The interior looks a lot like the XK's, which is a compliment. The navigation is a tiny bit slow, but works nonetheless and has everything you need. This car's main competitors are the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG and the Porsche Boxster/Cayman S. BTW: Sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple of days (been very busy).

2014 McLaren MP4-12C Review

    The incredible McLaren MP4-12C is one of the fastest and most exciting cars on the face of the Earth, which is what makes it a great successor to the famed McLaren F1, which is one of the greatest cars of all time. And the 12C has many things that are worthy of the McLaren name, such as the twin-turbo 3.8 liter V8 that produces 616 hp and 443 lb-feet of torque. 0-60 takes 3.1 seconds, which is as fast as a Ferrari 458, which is this car's main competitor. The interior detail is beyond obsessive, with air vents hand-carved out of aluminum and an incredible 7-speaker Meridan Surround-Sound system. The exterior looks like a modernized F1, which is a compliment, because the old F1 was beautiful.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe Review

    The new 2014 S-Class is stunning to look at, nice to sit in, and fast enough to keep the passengers entertained. But next year, Mercedes-Benz will release part 1 of 3 to push the S-Class upmarket. The first part is the new Pullman limousine, which I wrote about recently, will compete with cars like the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The next part is the S-Class coupe, which will replace the CL-Class. Lastly, they will release the S-Class convertible, which will essentially be a drop-top coupe, which will compete with the Bentley Continental GTC and the Maserati GranTurismo Cabrio. But the coupe is even more beautiful than the sedan, and will be even faster. The estimated base price will be about $120,000, which is up to par with the directed competition. The interior will be about the same as the sedan, with only some sportier touches. As far as I know, there will be an S550, an S600, and some AMG variants.'

2014 Ford Mustang GT500 Review

    The Mustang is one of the most popular muscle cars of all time, and it has been around since the 60's. But a man named Caroll Shelby had the idea to put a Ford 5.0 liter into a AC Ace sports car, which badly needed a new engine. So that led to the birth of the Shelby Cobra, one of the best cars of all time. But shortly after that, Caroll decided to create an engine for the Ford Mustang. Over the years, the Shelby-brand Mustang has evolved so much, and this year, it is amazing. The engine is a supercharged 5.8 liter V8 that produces an astounding 662 hp and 631 pound-feet of torque, which is almost as much as a Lamborghini Aventador. 0-60 takes 3.5 seconds, which is faster than a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S. Sadly, Caroll Shelby died on May 10th, 2012 , at the age of 83. But his great acts of engineering will never be forgotten.

2014 Mansory Carbonado GT Review

    As we all know, the Lamborghini is one of the fastest and most powerful cars on the planet, with 691 hp and a 3.0 0-60 time. But the amazing Swiss tuning firm Mansory has added a limited-edition version of the Aventador, and it is insane. The 6.5 liter V12 has had two Mansory brand turbochargers added, and the result is an unearthly 1600 hp and 1200 pound-feet of torque. And all of this crazy power shoves the car to 60 mph in a faster-than-a-Veyron 2.1 seconds, which I find worth bragging about. Both the interior and exterior have received the Mansory treatment, with massive carbon-fiber spoilers and trim, and hand-stitched leather. The car also gets custom alloy wheels and a relocated start button, which is now on the ceiling, obviously inspired by fighter jets. And this car is essentially a fighter jet, only with wheels.

2014 Brabus Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG 850 iBuisness Review

    I consider the G65 AMG 800 iBusiness as one of the most incredible SUVs on the planet, alongside the Range Rover Autobiography Black and the Bentley Falcon. But this year, Brabus has updated the iBusiness, and the result is an even cooler SUV, with amazing power, incredible interior craftsmanship, and also, a gigantic price. The engine is a heavily tuned AMG hand-built 6.0 liter biturbo V12 that now produces an astounding 800 hp and 1420 pound-feet of torque, which is more than a Lamborghini Aventador. 060 takes a good 4.2 seconds to a top speed of 155 mph, which might be too much for this massive truck. When I first saw the 850 iBusiness, I immediately fell in love with the Brabus brand. Thank you, Brabus, for everything you have done to the G65, which is already a great car.

Sorry, I had to show the backseat

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Review

    Released last year, the new Vanquish is a honorable replacement for the very similar Virage, which I really liked. However, the new car is more powerful, more luxurious, and unfortunately, a tiny bit more expensive. The famous Aston Martin 5.9 liter V12 is now cranking out 510 hp and 457 pound-feet of torque, which I find considerably less than the competition, such as the Lamborghini Aventador or the Ferrari 458. 0-60 takes a respectable 4.0 seconds, which is also a little slower. I think the interior is Aston's best work yet, from the carbon-fiber trim to the amazing stitching all done by one seamstress. I like the Vanquish, I just wish there was more to the $297,000 base price.

Comparison: 2014 Mercedes-Benz G550 vs. 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged

    These two go-anywhere SUVs have been enemies since they were released around 1970, and both have quite a lot of heritage. The 4th generation Range Rover, new for 2014, has been the benchmark luxury SUV, with only the best of rivals. And the G-Class, created by Mercedes-Benz for the German military, but now it is a Beverly Hills mom car. But which uber-SUV is better?

2. Mercedes-Benz G550

    The G-Class has remained one of the best off-roaders in the world ever since 1970, and is used worldwide by a very impressive collection of armies, such as Germany, Greece, Norway, Austria, Canada, and Bulgaria. It used to be a very simple truck, with no fancy off-road settings and a basic interior, but over the past 10 years, it has really changed. Now, it has a twin-turbo 5.5 liter V8 that produces 382 hp and 391 lb-feet of torque. 0-60 takes a somewhat disappointing 5.9 seconds, which is below my expectations. The interior is very upscale, with diamond-quilted Designo leather and almost every creature comfort you could expect from a $114,000 Mercedes.

1. Land Rover Range Rover 

    The new Range Rover has take the world by storm, ever since the new generation was released in September 2013, and for good reasons. First of all, it has a supercharged 5.0 liter V8 that produces 510 hp and 461 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers, as well as the car's 800-lb diet, help the car do 0-60 mph in an incredible 4.7 seconds. The interior, in my opinion, is one of the best designs in the world. I just love the rectangular "Range Rover" plaque on the steering wheel and the interface with almost no buttons. My uncle just got the new Range Rover Sport, and I would take this over a Porsche Cayenne or a Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

    One of the most outstanding on the road since 1974, the VW GTI has been one of my personal favorites ever since I have liked cars. The GTI has evolved so much since it was released and now, it has a turbocharged inline-four that produces 210 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 is estimated to take around 5.9 seconds, which isn't much slower than the 5th-gen GTI W12. The interior is very stylish but simple, with plaid seats and optional navigation. The handling and overall ride are pretty good, which is what they should be, considering that this small hot hatch is $25,000, which is more expensive than a Mini Cooper S or a Fiat 500 Abarth. I just think the GTI, and all VWs of the moment should be cheaper.