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.