Posts from ‘Sporty/Performance Cars’
2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary in Pearl White/Solid Red two-tone paint
2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition
Class: Sporty/Performance Car
Miles driven: 230
Fuel used: 13.2 gallons
2020 Porsche Taycan 4S
Although it’s hardly “new” — it’s been known about for some time — the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show marks the first U.S. public appearance for the trendsetting Porsche Taycan all-electric midsize sedan.
All electric? … In a Porsche?!?
2020 Dodge Challenger 50th Anniversary Editions (That’s an original 1970 Challenger in the background)
Dodge introduced 50th Anniversary Edition Challengers with available “retro” colors at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Offered on the rear-drive Challenger GT (V6), R/T, R/T Scat Pack, and R/T Scat Pack Widebody, the 50th Anniversary package includes a Shaker hood scoop (on all but the GT) and a choice of high-impact colors: “Blast from the past” TorRed, F8 Green, and Go Mango, along with new Frostbite, Hellraisin, Sinamon Stick, and Gold Rush. Each 50th Anniversary model includes gold badging, black-painted hood, roof, and deck, Nappa leather and Alcantara interior with carbon-fiber accents, and a unique gauge cluster with body-color badge.
2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Well, it’s official now… the Lexus LC 500 grand touring coupe will be joined by a convertible version for 2021. At the beginning of this year, Lexus displayed a LC 500 Convertible Concept at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, and the production version that is making its global debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show is remarkably close to the show car.
The Cars of Ford v Ferrari
A specially constructed “Frankenstein” camera car enabled the makers of Ford v Ferrari to capture exciting on-track footage between the film’s replica Ferrari 330 P3/P4 (left) and Ford GT40 (background) race cars.
In its opening weekend, Ford v Ferrari raked in about 31.5 million dollars, so it’s safe to call this high-octane historic racing film a bona fide success right out of the gate. A key part of the movie’s appeal is the way it captures the look and feel of 1960s sports-car racing—an especially difficult task, considering the current value of the original vehicles involved.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford officially unveiled its all-new pure-electric sporty crossover—the 2021 Mustang Mach E—Sunday night in Los Angeles, less than a week before the kick-off of the 2019 L.A. Auto Show. It’s remarkable enough that this genre-smashing new vehicle is Ford’s first purpose-built, regular-production, pure-electric vehicle (with no equivalent gasoline-engine version). What’s almost as noteworthy is that Ford has elected to use the name of its beloved pony car, and make this new EV part of the Mustang “family.”
2019 Hyundai Elantra Sport in Intense Blue
2019 Hyundai Elantra Sport M/T
Class: Compact Car
Miles driven: 340
Fuel used: 13.4 gallons
First Spin: 2020 Honda Civic Si
2020 Honda Civic Si sedan
Ever since the tenth-generation Civic’s debut as a 2016 model, Honda has stayed busy rolling out new versions and fine tuning the Civic lineup’s styling and ergonomic details. Coupe and hatchback body styles followed shortly after the ’16 Civic sedan’s launch, sporty Si models (and the racetrack-ready Type R hatchback) followed for 2017, and a freshening for 2019 included an improved infotainment system and other welcome updates.
2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA
by Don Sikora
Note: The following story was excerpted from the April 2019 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.
When a limited-production variant of a performance car that’s been around a few years is announced, it’s easy to assume there’s little new beyond special graphics or maybe a fresh exterior color. Our latest Future Collectibles subject, the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA, is one of the exceptions that have been reworked sufficiently to pique enthusiast interest.
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4
by Don Sikora II
Note: The following story was excerpted from the April 2019 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.
Dodge performance history has largely been shaped by muscular V8s and smoking rear tires, but don’t forget the handful of turbocharged four-cylinder front-drivers. Memorable machines like the Omni GLH and Neon SRT-4 remain enthusiast favorites, but we’d like to look at a more recent Dodge “hot hatch,” the Caliber SRT4.
