tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:25:54 +0000SupercarGermanJapaneseLexusBritishEnglishMercedes-BenzPorscheToyotaWiesmannsupercars911BMWItalianPaganiSports cars997AmericaCarrera GTChevrolet CorvetteColin McRaeCressidaExoticsHondaISIS-FLuxuryMR2MarcosNissanNürburgringPagani ZondaRacingRallySaloonSedanSport AutoSupraWRCZonda904930993A10AMGAccordAcuraAscariAston MartinAudiAutomobilesBentleyBlogthingsBugattiC112CamryChristian Von KoenigseggColourCommendatoreConsumersDesignDodge ViperEberhard SchulzEcosseEdmundsEnginesEnthusiastEspritEuropeanEvoEvolutionExteriorF40F50FatherFerrariFord GTGTGT-RGT2GTRHoracio PaganiImperatorImportanceInteriorInvictaIsderaKZ1KoenigseggLSLaguna SecaLegendLotusM3MF4MarketMarketingMaybachMeMotorsportPerfectPerformancePorsche Carrera GTPowerPowerfulQuizRLRoadsterRolls RoyceS1S2000SaleenSkylineSlant-NoseStartStyleSwedenSwedishTSOTVRTony StelligaTop GearTouringTurboUsuabilityV10VeyronW16WelcomemagazinesAll about Performance Vehicleshttp://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)Blogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-2414467582732512067Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:29:00 +00002008-12-11T23:13:58.324-08:00AcuraHondaJapaneseLegendLuxuryRLSaloonSedanBy Bruce McCullochThough my father is probably the most passionate automotive enthusiast I’ve ever met, he is also one of the most traditional: not only in the sense that he prefers subtle designs, but traditional in terms of how he values his purchases.First and foremost, my father has never been one to purchase a car for the benefit of the others; in other words, the Joneses down the street do http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2008/03/his-car-my-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-1462521309003528526Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:10:00 +00002008-12-11T23:13:58.988-08:00DesignExteriorHondaJapanesePerfectRoadsterS2000StyleBy Bruce McCulloch The ever-daunting question on the mind of any enthusiast: is there such thing as the perfect design? That special design that you consider just perfect, that design that you honestly think could not have been better?Evidently, opinions on this matter are to greatly differ. Some enthusiasts think that there is no such thing as the “perfect” design; always implying that somethinghttp://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2008/01/perfect-design.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-6613588615787137195Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:49:00 +00002008-12-11T23:13:59.511-08:00CressidaISIS-FJapaneseLexusLSMR2SupraToyotaBy Bruce McCullochSuffice to say, it’s an interesting moment in time for the Japanese motor company that is Toyota. Never in their some-60 year history has the company ever had such recognition. As most enthusiasts are already aware, Toyota is now the world’s biggest automotive manufacturer, and much of this can attributed to Toyota’s great value as automobiles, consistency of goods, but http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2008/01/sporty-toyota.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)293tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3316043088717953759Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:06:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:00.659-08:00A10AscariBritishEcosseEnglishKZ1SupercarBy Bruce McCullochThe British sports car? Err, yeah, what about it?Well, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the world of the classic English sports car is in absolute shambles. And truthfully, it’s been on the descent for the last some three decades now. Putting aside the great impact of the Jaguars, Triumphs, the MGs and the Healeys through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, it would appear that http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/12/ascari-clan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-1882752697475251629Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:39:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:01.156-08:00911997EdmundsGermanGT-RJapaneseNissanPorscheTurboCourtesy of Edmunds - Inside LineWouldn't think twice about the subject: GT-R please!http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/12/gt-r-meets-turbo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-64452650743062695Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:22:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:02.583-08:00BritishEnglishInvictaS1SupercarBy Bruce McCullochThe 1960’s and the 1970’s were quite simply a wondrous time for enthusiasts. Especially for those who were looking for a classic British drop-top and in light of such, MG, Austin-Healey, Triumph and others offered vehicles which sated those sports car addictions.The problem is, very few current British manufacturers have been able to succeed at creating anything with a similar http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/12/searching-for-alternative.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3521421524161185740Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:30:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:03.620-08:00BentleyLexusLuxuryMaybachMercedes-BenzRolls RoyceSaloonBy Bruce McCullochFor those of you who follow the high-end market, you might recall the fact that Rolls Royce released a special edition of their flagship Phantom saloon a couple of weeks ago at the Middle East motor show in Dubai. The new edition– coined the “Phantom Tungsten” - of the already amazing Phantom saloon promises a new level of exclusivity for Rolls Royce customers, and with just 20 http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/12/rolls-why-bother.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3747597610416542917Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:43:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:03.997-08:00BugattiCarrera GTEnginesPorscheV10VeyronW16By Bruce McCullochI think most agree with me when I say that a great engine is most definitely one of the top priorities in any sports car. Whether it is a Lotus, or a Ferrari, it makes little difference. Obviously, an engine is much of what gives a vehicle’s it character. Drive a BMW M5 for instance and you’ll immediately notice it’s eagerness to rev; drive an AMG Mercedes, however, and you http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/engines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3269359226211496486Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:38:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:04.234-08:00BritishEnglishMarcosSupercarTony StelligaTVRBy Bruce McCullochAfter the company’s rather recent revival in early 2000, English supercar manufacturer “Marcos Engineering”, has just announced that the company will be closing shop due to “insufficient profits”, “high cost bases” and a British pound which is falling and falling.Mind you, this is far from the first time that Marcos has endured profit problems, and ultimately, bankruptcy. http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/marcos-closes-shop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-4687826411391692099Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:19:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:05.892-08:00C112CommendatoreEberhard SchulzGermanImperatorIsderasupercarsBy Bruce McCullochThe early 1990’s were an overtly awful time for supercar manufacturers, especially those with little history or prestige behind their names. Our market today is strongly fuelled with a vast amount of "specialty" manufacturers such as Pagani, Koenigsegg, Ascari and Wiesmann, but the supercar market back than was mainly driven by well-established auto firms such as Porsche and http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/isdera-history.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3657916777140673366Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:17:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:06.364-08:00ColourGTRJapaneseNissanSkylineSupercarAfter seeing the new Nissan GTR (AKA, the new Skyline) in this beige colour, I have come to the conclusion that I need one:http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/need-gtr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-186446921893092559Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:24:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:07.859-08:00904911930993Carrera GTGermanPorscheSlant-NoseSupercarBy Bruce McCullochWith around 70 years of history behind Porsche at this point, choosing just five Porsche automobiles as the most beautiful of all isn't an easy task. Oh no, in fact it's downright daunting. This is one instance where one must take into account not only every little detail, but every little niggle and nanny in approaching a general design philosophy and theme which the company http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/porsche-five-most-beautiful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-472325738483830360Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:24:00 +00002007-11-07T16:26:22.749-08:00BlogthingsQuizSports carsGive it a try fellow enthusiasts!You Should Drive a DeLoreanYou don't take yourself too seriously, and you prefer a fun, unusual car... like this Back to the Future gem!What Sports Car Should You Drive?http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/blogthings-quiz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-5167506281392944280Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:04:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:08.029-08:00EnthusiastEspritFatherLexusLotusSupercarToyotaBy Bruce McCullochI'm sure it's safe to assume that once as young ones, we all had childhood heroes. Some individuals had musicians or celebrities as their heroes, while the vast majority of us car enthusiasts had a certain automotive hero which we lusted like few things else. You know what I'm talkin' about, I'm talking about that one particular vehicle that from your childhood that was the car http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/birth-of-enthusiast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-1952218893045794525Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:55:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:09.904-08:00Horacio PaganiItalianMercedes-BenzPaganiSupercarZondaBy Bruce McCullochOut of the many fantastic supercar designs that have emerged in the past some ten years, the "Pagani Zonda" arguably boasts the most "out there, over the top" design of the crop. Indeed, it's not conservative, nor is it quiet in its design elements and it's most definitely a car for the extrovert rather than the introvert. One could even go as far as to say the Zonda has a http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/11/design-study-pagani-zonda.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-5670127789828401611Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:23:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:11.306-08:00Aston MartinBritishEnglishSupercarTouringIt’s not often that you hear the words “awful” and “supercar” in the same sentence. Actually, finding the word “awful” to describe a “supercar” is about as rare as finding someone who actually likes the repugnance of a Pontiac Aztek.And it’s no wonder why, when purchasing a $200,000 automobile, the last thing you obviously expect is for it to be awful. But of course, there are those exceptions; http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/10/not-so-good.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-2770929763283960072Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:15:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:12.141-08:00911997GT2NürburgringPorscheSport AutoAs if recent news of the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport completing the Nürburgring Nordschliefe in 7:27.82 (see here) wasn’t enough of a shock, earlier today German publication “Sport Auto” announced that in their monthly “Supertest” the recently released 530bhp Porsche 911 GT2 has completed the Nordschliefe in 7 minutes, 33 seconds.Such a figure indicates a new echelon in Porsche 911 history. Not onlyhttp://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/10/porsche-storms-supertest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-3974524976670558461Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:33:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:12.374-08:00EvoNürburgringPagani ZondaPorsche Carrera GTSport Auto By Bruce McCulloch It would appear that the near-thirteen mile Nürburgring Nordschliefe circuit has a new king.According to English publication “EVO”, Pagani Automobili and their fabulous Zonda F “Clubsport” – a faster, more taut and powerful version of the regular unit – has finally stolen the long held crown from the Porsche Carrera GT.Porsche’s $450,000 flagship had reportedly set a lap time http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-nring-king.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-4841194356459210007Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:30:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:13.682-08:00CressidaJapaneseLexusMR2SupraToyota By Bruce McCullochThe words "Toyota" and "enthusiast" go to together about as well as oil and cake - or so I'm told.As a Toyota enthusiast myself, I am getting a little sick of hearing how Toyota (and affiliated) is a brand for those with little interest in cars whatsoever. So often are we (yeah, you can be sure there are at least a few of us) stereotyped as a bunch of knowledge-stricken, http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/10/from-toyota-enthusiast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-1330531464549132407Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:58:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:13.776-08:00BMWGermanMarketingBy Bruce McCullochThat, folks, is what BMW calls protecting the environment; building more fuel-efficient and earth-friendly “eco” cars. Rather than sticking to the usual catch phrases of having their vehicles named such things as “LEV” (Low Emissions Vehicle), BMW deems such a name necessary to separate themselves from most every other company who practice the identical, uh, practice.Mind you, http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/efficient-dynamics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-6788235215158861306Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:15:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:13.935-08:00AccordCamryMarketPowerSupercarBy Bruce McCullochAnyone else remember when the automotive world, specifically that which is the supercar world, was limited and controlled? By limited and controlled, I’m referring to a market where the number of supercars wasn’t reminiscent to the vast amount of fruit types you buy at the super-market.It’s no secret that I love supercars and take great joy in discussing them, examining them andhttp://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/progress-kills.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-7531831127774126235Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:43:00 +00002007-09-17T10:44:14.344-07:00Colin McRaeRacingRallyWRCMade by me..http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/colin-mcrae-tribute-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-8209509702389750169Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:21:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:14.557-08:00GermanSupercarWiesmannBy Bruce McCullochFRANKFURT: You may recall that just a few days ago I wrote a short piece on Wiesmann’s up and coming “MF5” flagship supercar. At the time at which that was written little was known about how much the vehicle would differ from its counterpart, but the time of pondering has come to an end as Wiesmann has now released the final details of the vehicle.So then, what shall we start http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/wiesmann-mf5-gt-arrives_16.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-2378525405001543764Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:30:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:14.843-08:00Colin McRaeMotorsportRacingRallyWRCHad you not yet heard, both world famous rally driver Colin McRae and his son lost their lives earlier today in a helicopter crash. Such is obviously an awful loss to the automotive world.You know, I never watched rally all that much, but the name "McRae" is one which is surely unmistakable to most any automotive enthusiast. As far as I'm concerned, Colin was the world's greatest rally driver. http://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/colin-mcrae-son-dead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368196127875663440.post-6193360966736253394Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:38:00 +00002008-12-11T23:14:15.259-08:00GermanSupercarWiesmannTransmission: M Division's "SMG"Production: ca. 25Base list price: EUR 180.000,--With Ceramic brakes: EUR 200.000Car eqquiped with driver-air baghttp://thespeedbarrier.blogspot.com/2007/09/wiesmann-mf5-gt-arrives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (BruceMcc)0