BMW’s i3 broke new ground for the German automaker when it first hit the scene three years ago. The car remains unique in the market in that it combines a carbon fiber-reinforced body with an electric powertrain and a price tag that’s far from exorbitant. However, with a new generation of affordable, long-range electrics just around...
There is just something about the new Acura NSX that makes people love it or hate it. EVO finally got the chance to put a Honda-badged version of the NSX through the paces, but Henry Catchpole – the driver in the video – didn’t seem too enthused about his time behind the wheel. I won’t ruin the experience of the video for you, but at one point, Catchpole blames jet lag and being short on time for his less-than-stellar attitude when reviewing the car.
In the video, Catchpole is piloting the NSX around Thermal Raceway. The car itself sounds amazing, and even Catchpole claims you can feel the electric motor up front kick in and pull the car as he comes out of a corner. While he was putting it through the paces, it almost seems like he was afraid of the car, as he didn’t really get on it as hard as I would have. The important part about the video, however, is that you get another chance to hear and see what it is like to pilot what was one of the most anticipated supercars prior to its debut.
Try not to hate on Catchpole or EVO that much for the lack of normal camera work. As the video starts off, we’re told that EVO didn’t have time to send a full camera crew, so for filming purposes, the team was shorthanded. Either way, click play and take a little trip around the track in the new NSX. To me, it’s worth it just to hear the engine as the car is put through the paces.
It may not be the most iconic Mercedes model in history. It may not even be the finest of its own era. But there is something about the 1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 that very few from its generation can come close to replicating. What that “something” is depends on what you may think of it, but for Del Necessary – yes, that’s his name – the ’87 190E 2.3-16 is the realization of a childhood dream.
I know it sounds a little cheeky, and for the most part, it is. But can you really put a price tag on getting the chance to own the one car that you’ve spent countless nights thinking of? I certainly can’t and I don’t blame Necessary for having such a soft spot for the 190E. After all, this is a car that Mercedes developed in part because it wanted to give the iconic BMW M3 E30 a run for its money. It never quite got to the level of the M3, but for what it’s worth, the 190E was able to etch a history and a legacy of its own independent of what Mercedes’ initial plans for it were.
Suffice to say, there are so many cars from that era that deserve to be mentioned as the best of its generation. As good as the 190E was, it probably won’t make it in that discussion. Then again, who’s to say that it can’t? The 190E was the poster of a lot of people who grew up in that era. Del Necessary was one of those people and look what he’s using as his daily driver. As for me, I always enjoyed those little wipers on the headlights. Mercedes doesn’t make them now, but they looked pretty slick on the 190E.
Porsche has been around since 1931 and in the past 85 years, it has developed a handful of legendary race cars. Some of these models have earned a place in the annals of history whereas others have been largely marginalized and under-appreciated. For a lot of people who know their Porsche history, the 1980 Porsche 924 GTP qualifies in the latter category. The 924’s legacy is unquestioned even though it has taken a backseat to other more high-profile Porsche racers in history.
Still, there’s a special place for the 924 in the hearts of a lot of people. That’s precisely why Porsche Great Britain is taking up the task of restoring one of the 924 GTP racers back to its glorious best. The project is part of the model’s 40th anniversary, which saw it first introduced in 1976. It wasn’t until 1980 that it made its name in endurance racing and while it failed to capture the Le Mans title that year, it was by no means a slouch on the track. For one, it came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that pumped out 315 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque. It also weighed incredibly light at just 2,050 pounds, a task Porsche undertook to ensure its competitiveness in any racing series it entered.
As I mentioned, one of the three models that competed at the 1980 Le Mans racing is now the subject of a comprehensive restoration. There’s still no timetable on when the project is expected to finish, but whatever the case, it’s high time that the 924 GTP is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Check out the video to watch the first part of the build process and pay close attention to the peripheral things that you might notice of Porsche’s archive. It’s fascinating to see what kind of secrets you can dig up in a place that has over five million photos and close to 209 days worth of film and audio recordings.
For someone who literally has a treasure trove of classic and exotic cars sitting in his garage, Jay Leno seems to have quite the soft sport for his Ford Festiva-based Shogun hatchback. Make no mistake about it though, the Shogun isn’t just an ordinary hatchback. In fact, it’s probably the closest thing to physically embodying what the term “pocket rocket” means.
The history of the Shogun dates all the way back to 1989 when two engineers – Chuck Beck and Rick Titus – decided to take a seemingly boring Festiva and swapped the backseat for a Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter V-6 engine from the Ford Taurus SHO that pumped out 220 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The two also worked on the aerodynamics (check out those massive rear fenders) of the car until it weighed just 2,190 pounds. The result was a hatchback that could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just five seconds to go with a top speed of 145 mph. Remember, this was 1989.
Only seven Shoguns were built and Leno, like the true collector that he is, owns chassis ’003’ of the seven models. Once he got it, Leno injected NOS into the engine, adding another 90 horsepower to the mix and bringing the total up to around 300 horsepower. Needless to say, the Shogun drives unlike any hatchback from any era, including this one.
Combine that with the sound of the engine and the sheer rarity of the car and you get a proper hot hatch that has clearly lasted the test of time. Just watching Leno take the Shogun out for a spin and hearing that Taurus SHO engine come to life is why this hot hatch has earned its status as a certified pocket rocket.
Lego has done some pretty amazing things through the Techno line. It’s recreated the Caterham Super Seven, a Mini Cooper, and even a Formula Off-Roader and a 24 Hours Race Car seen here. It even created a Porsche with working suspension a few years back. Well, it seems like as the years go on, the brand gets better and better at making these crazy toys.
Case in point: Lego Technic No. 42056 – a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. It retails for $300 here in the U.S. and is arguably one of the most detailed and thorough kits to date. By that I mean it looks amazing and includes of 2,700 pieces. In size, the thing is over six-inches high, almost two feet long and nearly a foot wide. Plus, it even has a working PDK transmission. If you haven’t had a chance to set eyes on the kit yet, watching this four-minute video of Lego’s Senior Design Manager, Andrew Woodman, walk through the kit and all the little goodies that come with it.
I won’t spoil the video for you, but if you’re a Lego fan, it’s certainly one you want to watch. Woodman breaks down a few of the things that come with the kit and displays just how detailed the Lego model really is. With that said, go ahead – hit play and be amazed by the shocking detail of Lego Technic’s newest kit.
Mercedes-Benz Classic has partnered with a German leisure tour operator to offer guests the ability to rent a vintage SL roadster for a scenic, pre-planned drive through some of the best parts of Europe. Mercedes says it and Stuttgart-based Nostalgic Tours will have on offer either W113 (1963-1971) or R107 (1971-1989) SLs for the new travel...
