2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Review

    As one of my vehicle classes, the all-rounder type car makes a lot of sense when you think of it. For example, the BMW X5 M makes a lot of sense because it performs like a sports car, has the practicality of a SUV, and has the luxury of a BMW. It's the same thing with the Vauxhall VXR8 Maloo, which has the body and practicality of an ute, the performance of a sport sedan, and when you think about it, it makes more sense than buying a pickup truck and a sports car. But one of the most popular (but not in numbers, in grown men's fantasies) all-rounders is the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. It has the same 556-hp supercharged 6.2 liter V8 as the CTS-V sedan and coupe, and even I (who isn't the biggest Cadillac fan in the world) think it is a wonderful engine. With 551 lb-feet of torque, you won't have any trouble doing 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, which is quite impressive.  Some styling cues that help you tell a CTS-V apart are the new mesh grill, "//V" side logos, and of course, a CTS-V badge on the back. The interior is typical Cadillac, with no knobs, only buttons and sharp edges that could cut you if you tried hard enough. Believe me, I've felt the tail-lights on a XTS, and they were incredibly sharp. I'm surprised they're legal. Same goes with the CTS-V: cool, but hardly legal. 

Comparison: 2014 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS vs. 2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507

    As you might have noticed, I don't review cars only sold in Europe very often, and you might be wondering why. The answer is that most of them are small, affordable hatchbacks made for city driving. But there are a few exceptions, and the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is definitely one of them. Most of you are probably used to a high-performance sport sedan with around 400-500 hp, but the VXR8 GTS has 576 brake horsepower, which bests the BMW M3, the Audi RS5, and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, by at least 69 hp. But is it all about raw power? No. It is just as much about precision and handling as it is about power and torque. 

2. Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

    The fist time I ever heard of the VXR8 was on Top Gear, when Richard Hammond did a double-review of the current Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst and the Vauxhall VXR8 Maloo (a small ute*), but since then, the Maloo has been cancelled and the regular VXR8 has received a facelift. The VXR8 has 139 hp than before, and is a lot quicker. 0-60 takes 4.8 seconds, which is half a second slower than the C63 (how does that work?). That is one of the many examples of how the VXR8 is bested by the C63 just because Mercedes' engineers haven't only focused on sheer power, they've also paid attention to things like weight distribution, handling, and many more things that really help the car go faster. 

These aren't sold in the U.S., so I couldn't find a picture with left-hand drive

1. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507

    Now you might complain that the VXR8 should have won because it has 69 more hp than the C63 and to be honest, that's a completely valid argument. But you know what? That doesn't matter, because the C63 is faster, which proves that power isn't always the key to speed. 0-60 in the C63 takes 4.3 seconds, which is plenty fast, but isn't nearly as fast as the coupe version. As you might have guessed, the C63 AMG Edition 507 produces 507 hp (surprise) and 450 pound-feet of torque. The interior is slightly more stylish than the VXR8's, and you can tell that Mercedes has spent more time than Vauxhall designing the interior. But the main reason the C63 wins is because it shows up a near-600 hp brute using 69 less hp and still beats it in performance. It handles better, and not only that, but it feels more precise and does better on the track. 

*An "ute" is a small pickup/jalopy sort of thing originating in Australia

Some Good, Some Bad, But None In-between

    Is it just me or are American cars very hit-or-miss? Some American cars have done extraordinarily well, such as the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Suburban/ Cadillac Escalade/ GMC Yukon, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, or the Chevrolet Corvette. But some have been big flops, such as the Chrysler Crossfire, the Pontiac Aztec (which is basically the most hideous car of all time), or the entire Mercury and Saturn brands. I don't know why this is, because compared to Japanese and German cars, which are both usually pretty well made, American cars can be really great sometimes, but can also be really terrible. And for some strange reason, they never seem to be so-so, they're either really good or really bad. They're never just okay. For example, the new Corvette is doing extremely well, but the Cadillac XTS hasn't been able to show up its competition. So why is this? Is it because some days the staff is working harder than usual? Is it because sometimes the companies have a loss for inspiration? I don't know why, but for some reason, these cars don't have consistent quality, unlike cars like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, or Mazda, which usually are pretty good. I know some U.S. citizens want to buy "American" but in reality, most American cars are built in Mexico, such as the Ford Fiesta. So if you do buy American, you aren't buying a car that was designed, created, manufactured, and sold in the U.S.. 

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith Review

    Two questions: one: why did Rolls-Royce really bother with a sports car? And two: is their creation any good? To the first one I say: don't know, don't care. To the second one I say: they should have focused on performance and power more than luxury if they really wanted to make a great sports car/ grand tourer. In my opinion, the Wraith is too big and isn't really any smaller or sportier-looking than the car it is based on, the Ghost. I still like the look, and I like Rolls-Royce, but I think their standard look doesn't really work on a sports car. The engine is plenty powerful, cranking out 624 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. That's more than a Bentley Continental GT, this car's main competitor. 0-60 takes 4.4 seconds, which matches the Conti Gt, but isn't actually that fast, compared to today's sports-car standards. They haven't slouched on the luxurious side of things, considering that this car can be optioned with a light-up headliner that mimics a starry night sky and has hand-carved wood and stitched leather. As I mentioned earlier, I feel that this car needs improvement on the handling and performance side of things more than luxury because Rolls-Royce is used to big limousines, not high-performance coupes, so they should work harder on that, and not the stuff they're used to. And to tie it all together, the Wraith's base price is an obscene $284,900 before optioned to meet the high expectations of it's possible buyers.  

2015 Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman: Save The Money

    Mercedes-Benz has been working on the upcoming Pullman variant of the current S-Class for a while now, and apparently, the next Pullman will cost about $1 million in its fully-loaded form. Its main competitor is the Rolls-Royce Phantom, which costs half that. The new Pullman will also have an enormous options list, ranging from new wood trim to full body armor, thanks to Mercedes-Benz's "Guard" technology. What I can't figure out is how Mercedes is going to sell any $1 million dollar stretched S-Classes that compete with cars with more craftsmanship and exclusivity for half the price. But, if you're like me and can't imagine spending $1 million on a car like that, there is still the extra-long wheelbase S-Class, ironically dubbed the "Maybach." This car will be in-between the standard long-wheelbase S-Class and the Pullman limousine. This car will be considerably cheaper then the Pullman but will still be quite upscale inside and out, minus the partition and the backward-facing bucket seats. In my opinion, the only way Mercedes will be able to sell any of these "Pullman" limousines is if they are very different from the base S-Class and will include more upscale features. But, the "Maybach" S-Class is probably much better value and will be almost as nice. 

Tesla: The Wrong Idea

    A couple weeks ago, as usual, I turned on my iPad Mini to see if there was any interesting new videos on the MotorTrend channel. I found a new Head2Head comparison featuring the Tesla Model S and the Mercedes-Benz S550. I was confused because: those two cars are vastly dissimilar, and I couldn't figure out what type of car the comparison was aimed at. Why are people comparing the Tesla to cars like the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class? Those are massive luxury sedans with beautiful interiors, big V8 engines, and don't forget their 16-mpg avg. gas mileage. But the Tesla is a sleek, fast, eco-friendly sports sedan with an electric motor and an iPad-sized nav screen. So why compare it to that class of car? A proper comparison with the Tesla would be against something like the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid or the Fisker Karma (now deceased), which are both aimed at the Tesla. But instead all of theses major car review companies are comparing it to the wrong cars. I know it's not my place to say which cars MotorTrend and Car&Driver should compare to which, I'm just saying that it would make more sense to compare the Model S to the cars it actually has things in common with, not cars that have close to zero similarities with it.

2015 McLaren 650S Review

       Designed to become the brand's new flagship super-coupe, the 650S is pretty much stealing the 12C's thunder. Why'd they do that? The 12C is a perfectly capable performance car, so why shove it out of the way? In the 650S's defense, the 650S has 641 hp, 25 more than the 12C. It also does 0-60 faster, in a more-than-substantial 2.8 seconds, which matches the Porsche 911 Turbo S and beats the Lamborghini Aventador and Ferrari F12, which is what McLaren hoped to achieve. The engine displacement stays the same, with a relatively small 3.8 liters. I was in L.A. this past week and I saw a shiny-new 650S in downtown Beverly Hills. It looks nice in pictures, but in person, it just shows the 12C up in styling. It was gorgeous. Compared to some of the other sports cars I saw there, that car was by far the most beautiful. And it has every right to be, thanks to its P1 hypercar cousin and F1 ancestor, which are both incredible to look at. 

BTW: I've been in L.A. for the past week (like I mentioned), so I haven't been able to post as consistently as I usually do. 

2014 Brabus Mercedes-Benz Viano iBusiness 3D Review

    A little while ago, I reviewed the Brabus Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG 800 iBusiness, which is an incredible off-roader with massive amounts of both power and technology. But if that's not enough for your multi-millionaire, you can buy the Viano iBusiness 3D, which is more work-ready and is more connected. It isn't as powerful, but do you really need 800 hp? I guess those  oil shieks and oligarchs do. But the iBusiness 3D has a Sony-made 3D flat-screen TV that doubles as a partition. In addition to this, there are many, many more features, such as a coffee maker, fingerprint-scanning safe, light-up headliner, mini-fridge, Wi-Fi, reclining massage seats, and that's not even half of it. The engine choices are a 6.1 liter V8, a 4.0 liter diesel, a 3.0 diesel, and a 3.5 liter diesel.

2014 Fiat 500 Abarth Esseesse Review

    When Fiat decided to return to the U.S. with a new 500, Mini was probably pretty mad. They have every right to be, because the Mini Cooper has done incredibly well over the past 15 years and has become king-of-the-hill when it comes to small hatchbacks. But Fiat just came along and stole Mini's thunder with the 500. Personally, I love the 500. Just looking at its retro shape makes me happy. And the 158 hp Abarth is even more fun to drive and even to own. 0-60 takes 7.3 seconds, which isn't inherently fast, but it does it in a way that you don't care if you're going unbelievably slow, just because you're having so much fun. The interior is sporty, stylish, and functional, even if it doesn't have things like navigation or a complete center console/armrest. If I were Fiat-Chrysler, I would make another performance-oriented 500, but would be faster and more powerful. And like the Volkswagen Golf, it would be called the "R". And until those Golf-related dreams come true, I'll just sit and read Car&Driver rant about the Ford Fiesta ST and how much better it is than every other car out there. They must have reviewed that car a dozen times. Enough is enough!

2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale Review

   In my mind, Ferrari has many good characteristics, such as making sports cars, making fast cars, and making cool cars. But some of their cars can be kind of a letdown, like the California. That car is really boring. It isn't fast, it isn't pretty, and isn't as cool as an Aston Martin DB9. But looking back at their good side, and you'll find some pretty amazing cars, such as this one: the 458 Speciale. It has 597 hp, 35 more than a standard 458, and carries over the 398 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes 3.0 seconds, which matches the Lamborghini Aventador and the Porsche 911 GT3. The interior is almost the same, with the same dashboard, the same navigation system, and the same crazy and chaotic steering wheel, which does things like tell you when to shift, changes the drive mode, and turns off the stability control. But most importantly, how much does it cost? Well, if you're in the market for a high-performance supercar, this might be a good choice, for only $261,162. That is just insane. Who can afford that? But the people who can know who they are and won't car if it is $200K or $400k. It doesn't matter to them as much. 

2014 BMW M3/M4 Review

    There are many BMW enthusiasts out there, and there is a good chance that most of them were sad when the E92-series M3 went away. It was an incredible car to drive, and did extremely well. But after the introduction of the 4-Series coupe (created to replace the 3-Series coupe), the wonderful M division took both the 3 and 4 Series and turned them both into performance animals. They both have a twin-turbo 3.0 liter inline-six (replacing the old 4.0 liter V8) which produces 425 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes from 4.1 to 4.4 seconds, depending on which model you pick. The interior is more luxurious than before, and has things like navigation, leather seats, and other things that were missing on the previous generation. Even though the M3 just went through a massive facelift, it still isn't fast enough to match its prime competitors, such as the Audi RS5, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, and the upcoming Cadillac ATS-V.

2014 Spyker C8 Review

    Recently, I reviewed the Morgan Three-Wheeler, which is made by a small England-based company that has been around since the 1920's. And some of you might think that all of the small, 3-5 car companies are all British, but that's where you're wrong. Spyker, a small Dutch company founded in 1880, has been producing car almost as long as Mercedes-Benz, which is pretty impressive. Their first contribution to the world of transportation was the Golden Carriage, an impressive carriage which is golden (obviously). About a year later, they created the Spyker 60 HP, which is the first ever  four-wheel-drive car with a single engine. But now, their main car is called the C8, which is a relatively expensive sports car. Keeping the sports-car theme, it uses an Audi-derived 4.2 liter V8 that produces 400 hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 in that car takes 4.5 seconds, which isn't exactly groundbreaking, but is still faster than a Subaru WRX STI, which I reviewed yesterday. But, if you are crazy about speed and power, there is a more performance-oriented GT2R version, which uses a 3.8 liter engine that produces 450 hp and a slightly lower 310 pound-feet of torque. That does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, which is as fast as a Chevrolet Corvette. The interior is beautiful. I can't think of another car in its class with a more stylish interior. But in reality, this $225,000 car is a little too showy and a little down on performance and focus on driving. 

BTW: Love the doors

2015 Subaru WRX STI Review

    I find Japanese cars to be a safe choice when buying any type of car. What I mean by that is you know that any car you pick from a brand like Mazda or Toyota is going to be reliable, safe, comfortable, and get relatively good mpg. But one thing is true about four out of the five brands: they all have a flagship car. Mazda has the Miata, Nissan has the GT-R, and Honda has the Accord (rather boringly), and Toyota has the Prius. But Subaru hasn't had a real showroom car until now. Even though it's been around for a while, it has never been so cool or impressive that is has been worthy of being a flagship. And for good reason, because it has a 305-hp, 2.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is capable of doing 0-60 in an astonishing 5.1 seconds. The interior is all-business, with good ergonomics and designed to be as functional as possible. I am glad that Subaru now has a flagship, but I think it should be a little more iconic, and maybe try to convey Subaru's rally image better.

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder Review

   Over the years, Porsche has created a reputation for having extremely pricey cars and extremely pricey options lists. For example, carbon-ceramic brakes on a Cayenne Turbo S cost $8,840. That is ridiculous. For four performance brake calipers, you pay about 200% of what you should pay for them. But their latest high-performance supercar is even more ridiculous. It is called the 918 spyder, and with a base price of $845,000, it is about double the cost of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, which is arguably the best luxury car in the world. Another crazy number: 887 hp. Thanks to the hybrid engine setup, the Porsche newbie does 0-60 takes 2.5 seconds. Lastly, it did a lap around the Nurburgring with a time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds, which breaks several records. But it is a shame that this incredible performance comes at such a high price. But guess what? There's another new performance-oriented Porsche out, and it may be slower, but it is about a twelfth of the 918's price. It's called the Cayman GTS.

2014 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 Review

    If I had to choose one car to drive on a day-to-day basis, I would probably choose some sort of small luxury sport sedan, like the Ghibli. The reason I would take this type of car is because if you drive it 1-3 hours a day, you would want something fun to drive, but something that is practical and comfortable at the same time. And the the Italians know how to make this fusion of luxury and sport so well. Over the years, the Quattroporte has built a reputation for being incredibly upscale and executive, yet still essentially remaining a four-door Ferrari. Some say the new generation of the Quattroporte isn't as great as the first, but honestly, I don't care. And the new Ghibli does such a good job of being a smaller and more affordable version of the Quattroporte. Part of its amazing personality is thanks to its twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 that produces a respectable 404 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 takes an impressive 4.5 seconds, which is in the same area as the main competition, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the BMW 650i Gran Coupe, and the Audi A7. But what's most important is if it sells. Car&Driver said "why isn't it beautiful?" but I think it is extraordinary. And that's what's wrong with a lot of cars: they are too hit-or-miss.

2014 Morgan 3-Wheeler Review

    Most of you are probably used to the typical carbon-fiber supercar with some crazy 6.0 liter V12 and a sub-3.0 second 0-60 time being the best driver's car out there. But there is one car that is just as incredible to drive, but is a little out of the ordinary. It doesn't even have four wheels. It is called the Morgan 3-Wheeler. Founded in 1909, the British company Morgan has been making the 3-wheeler for a good amount of time. Production started in 1919, and ended in 1950. Then, in 2012, the car made a worldwide reappearance and since then, it has taken the car world's heart. It has a 116-hp 4-valve V2 engine, which is about the biggest engine they could fit in the tiny "bonnet." 0-60 takes 6.9 seconds, which isn't exactly ground-breaking, but is better than a Mitsubishi Mirage, which is something. The top speed is limited to 100mph, which I find disappointing, but yet reassuring, because the idea of going 190 miles an hour seems really unsafe. Morgan has actually been really clever with the placement of the 3rd wheel, because if they put it in the front (as displayed on Top Gear with the Reliant Robin hatchback failure), you would flip over on even the smallest turns. 

Tuning Firms/Companies

    Until about a month or two ago, I didn't know that tuned cars are getting increasingly popular. For example, companies like Brabus take cars from mainstream brands like Mercedes-Benz or Maybach, and then make modifications to the given car to make it faster, nicer, and plain cooler. There is a good number of tuning companies out there, such as Brabus, Mansory, Singer, Carlsson, and Hamann. In most cases, the firm just makes modifications to things like the bodywork, the engine displacement, and handling/performance. In other cases, the company's focus will be on the interior, or even stretching the car to make a limousine. Usually with custom coach-builders, the car is armored, mainly because the customer is a celebrity or political figure. One major company that does this is Carat Security Group, which is globally known to do an incredible job of tanking cars such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom or the Maybach 62, and armoring and/or stretching the specific vehicle.

2015 Cadillac Escalade Review

    Some people might call Cadillac an incredible brand, and others might call it an abomination. But one thing is true: their Escalade SUV has done incredibly well in the market, wether the customer was looking for a comfortable mom-car or a blingy tank-like thing of a car. After a 7-year production period, the third-generation was finally replaced by the current Escalade, which was revealed on October 7th, 2014. The new generation shares the platform (as usual) from the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon. The interior and exterior has been almost completely redesigned, and for good reason. The old fascia, headlights, and overall feel of the car was getting old, and it deserved to be replaced. The engine is GM's EcoTech 6.2 liter V8, which produces 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. There will be two variants of the new Escalade: a standard 202.5-inch length, and a 224.3-inch EXT model.