To mark quarter-century of the Boxster, Porsche released the limited edition 718 25 Years, a stylish commemorative model based on the same-generation GTS 4.0. We hit the road in one of only 1,250 examples...
911 & Porsche World reader, Adam Kravitz, owns an early 928 on each side of the Atlantic. We caught up with him in London to learn more about his passion for the underappreciated ‘land shark’...
With prices of the E9x M3 spiralling into the stratosphere, the 335i could be a savvy way to scratch the itch. With practicality, classy understated styling and that peachy twin-turbo straight-six, is there anything not to like?
The BMW M5 has long been considered king of the sports saloons but what’s better than owning one? Owning two, of course! We catch up with Don Wearing to discuss his E60 and F10 duo. Which one would you choose?
Broadspeed is synonymous with racing in the 1960s, including several 105E Anglias. Mike Koskela managed to track down and now own one, which he’s carefully brought back to original Group 5 spec.
Our final contender is both significant and poignant. Not only is it our only Japanese offering in this test, but it’s also the model that reflects a change in buying habits that might well spell the death knell of the sports saloon altogether. The third and current generation of the Lexus IS300 will be its final iteration, because around 80 per cent of new drivers prefer the elevated driving position of the company’s SUVs.
Ask most traditionalists what constitutes a great driving machine and they’ll tell you it has two doors, no roof and a big engine. That’s been the standardised formula for driving nirvana for nearly as long as the car itself. As owner’s priorities change, fun behind the wheel can often evaporate – but it doesn’t have to. A sports saloon not only keeps your pulse racing, but negates the need for a beady eye on the weather forecast or to leave family or friends behind.
It’s sometimes amazing just how quickly time passes. I look at the subject of this month’s Across the Pond as an example. The year 1982 doesn’t seem that long ago to me, but four decades have passed since then.
The Compass is a much-loved model in the Jeep SUV line-up. It sits above the Renegade and is a great choice for those looking for something a bit smaller than say, a Grand Cherokee or a Wrangler. It also offers the option of a plug-in version in all-wheel drive.
Being an enabler is typically considered a bad thing when it comes to unhealthy addictions, but if it’s your pops and grandpops doing the pushing, it’s likely to be something positive. In the case of John Griffith III, he pretty much had little choice in the matter when it came to the horsepower addiction. “I inherited the affection for power from my father and grandfather,” John admits. “It started with motorcycles in my early teenage years, then naturally grew in the direction of muscle cars soon after.”
Pro Street got its start with the idea of implementing features from a Pro Stock drag car into a vehicle that could be driven on the street. After about 20 years of evolution and innovation, the Pro Street movement lost a lot of its popularity, largely because of the lack of actual performance associated with these fat-tired freaks of nature. However, a dedicated following has kept Pro Street alive and, if anything, it’s gone back to its radical roots with excessive horsepower and tire-torching capabilities. This incredibly brutal ’71 Camaro Z28 is a fine example of modern Pro Street goodness, as it boasts giant rear tires and four-digit horsepower to match the aggressive drag car appearance.
While airbags have been an almost ubiquitous safety feature on cars since the 1990s, their origins can be traced back to American engineer John Hetrick in 1952. In the spring of that year, Hetrick, his wife and his seven-year-old daughter were out for a Sunday drive in their 1948 Chrysler Windsor. Cresting a hill, Hetrick encountered a rock in the road and swerved to avoid it.
After a 10,000-mile journey and a chequered history including five years locked away by the customs people, this lovely Shadow II found a caring Australian home.