TopSpeed - Exclusives

Exclusive: Eye Candy Shows Out And Trophies Were Hoisted At The 2023 Autorama

Jody Only — Sat, 13 May 2023 20:00:18 GMT

The annual O'Reilly Auto's 72nd Autorama encompassing both the Custom d’Elegance and West Coast Challenge Series rolled through the Golden State last week as one of the world’s largest and longest-running indoor car shows, crowning world-class custom cars with more than 400 awards onsite.

EXCLUSIVE: From Pinin To Stratos - M.A.T.’s Founder Shares The Whole Story

Guy Pickrell — Sat, 06 May 2023 16:01:17 GMT

At the head of the river Po’s vast floodplain, where the Italian Alps tumble down from their icy peaks to the verdant forests and vineyards of Piedmont, lies the region's ancient capital city. Cradle of the Italian automotive industry, Turin is home to the historic Lingotto Fiat factory, famed for its magnificent Art Deco design and improbable rooftop test track. If you were to stand atop one of the track’s banked corners, you could point to the workshops of Ghia, Bertone, Frau, and Pininfarina, some of the most celebrated coachbuilders in history.

Exclusive: Drive For Design 2023 Challenges High Schoolers To Imagine The Ultimate Electrified Ram Truck

Khris Bharath — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 22:36:24 GMT

Design is one of the most fundamental aspects of how we perceive and view things in the real world. So it comes as no surprise that it takes years of R&D by a team of experts to fine-tune a product that can cater to current market demands. Now these very same principles also apply to automotive design, an exciting field that can be incredibly rewarding in terms of career prospects, provided you hit the ground running early on that is.

Exclusive: 3,000 Classics, Customs, Hotrods And Lowriders Roll Into Goodguys 39th Annual All-American Get-Together

Jody Only — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:00:17 GMT

Springtime marks the beginning of car show season, and Goodguys Rod and Custom Associations – America’s favorite car show – went hard to kick off the Western Swing for 2023. With a three-peat of weekends, the Goodguys All-American Get-Together returned to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif. following the Texas LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals and the Arizona FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals.

Exclusive: Fast 'N Loud Star Richard Rawlings Challenger Jailbreak Giveaway

Ridgely McKinless — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 13:01:17 GMT

When the SRT Challenger Jailbreak option package was launched last year, it grabbed the attention of car enthusiasts everywhere. As the era of high-displacement engines draws to a close, Dodge is sending off its legendary muscle car with a bang. There have been a number of high-performance variants of the Challenger over the past fifteen years, such as the renowned Hellcat, but with over 800 horsepower on tap, none have been quite so thrilling–or hard to get–as the Jailbreak.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Roland Sands Designs A New Buell, Meet The Super Cruiser Concept

Guy Pickrell — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 18:30:17 GMT

Bill Melvin’s Liquid Asset Partners, best known for procuring and flipping distressed assets, bought Eric Buell Racing out of bankruptcy in 2016. But Melvin, an avid motorcyclist and moto historian, harbored noble plans for the storied brand and set about raising investment capital while hiring a new, experienced team.

Exclusive: Doug DeMuro Reveals The Real Reason Why He Launched Cars & Bids

Khris Bharath — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 17:00:17 GMT

I recently had the opportunity and privilege of speaking with one of the most influential automotive YouTubers on the planet, Doug DeMuro. From microcars like the BMW Isetta to the Bugatti Chiron and everything in between, Doug has seen it all in the decade since he began his YouTube Channel. To give you some statistics, he now has over 4.6 Million subscribers and more than 1.7 Billion views on his channel. Those really are some staggering numbers.

Exclusive: Over 250 Rare Historical Cars On Display In The Petersen Museum Vault

Ridgely McKinless — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:01:16 GMT

As a landmark location in Los Angeles, the Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the largest automotive museums in the world. When visitors explore the site, they can expect to find dozens of exhibits dispersed over multiple floors. It’s an impressive experience that takes hours to complete. But many don’t realize this is just the tip of the iceberg, with even more special vehicles hidden right underneath their feet, in the Vault.

Exclusive: The Story Of Vintage Electric Bikes And Its Visually-Stunning Masterpieces

Khris Bharath — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 20:30:17 GMT

With soaring gas prices and a growing concern for the environment, demand for e-Bikes, both in the U.S. and around the world has seen a steady increase over the past decade. More recently, with the Covid19 pandemic, where public transportation really wasn’t an option for many, especially if you live in an urban area, an e-Bike fit the bill perfectly. According to a study, the current global e-bike market has a valuation of $19.04 Billion, with that number expected to climb to an estimated $52 Billion by 2030. One player that jumped on this trend early on, was Vintage Electric Bikes.

This Czech Modern Classic Takes Us Back To The 1920s

Dane Maricic — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:00:16 GMT

They are based in Prague, Czech Republic, and they’ve been around 116 years, just to be precise. Now, they decided to launch this ultra-limited classic racer. It is called Praga ZS 800, and only 28 will ever be built at a price of measly $93,300.

Exclusive: Tactical Fleet's Incredible Story On How It Became The Dealership With The Largest Inventory For Pre-Owned Exotic Cars In The U.S.

Khris Bharath — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 15:00:16 GMT

A supercar dealership; it’s one of those exhilarating and special places on earth where most cars look like they're going a million miles an hour while sitting still. From the moment you step into one of these spaces, these machines stimulate your senses and get your pulses racing, giving you that proper ‘Kid in a candy shop' feeling’. Tactical Fleet based out of Dallas, Texas takes that feeling and turns it up to 11 because few supercar dealerships can match the sheer scale and variety of evocative cars that it offers. As one of the fastest-growing multi-brand pre-owned luxury and exotic car dealerships in the United States, they specialize in sourcing extremely rare and highly sought-after automobiles.

Exclusive: TopSpeed's Up Close Encounter With Two-Wheeled Italian Exotics At The 2023 Ducati Ready 4 Red Tour

Guy Pickrell — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:00:16 GMT

Ducati kicked off its Ready 4 Red Tour in San Francisco before rolling into Los Angeles last week, as the Bologna-based builder of ballistic bikes showcased its new models for 2023. Featuring six updated motorcycles, highlights of Ready 4 Red 2023 included the new Panigale V4 R, billed as “The closest production model to a competition bike ever,” and the Next-Gen Nightshift Scrambler, a modern take on the classic café racer. One of three “Next-Gen Freedom” Scramblers debuting this year. And making its first U.S. appearance, the latest Diavel, sporting a new powerplant and eye-catching design.

Exclusive: One Thing That We Learned From Our First Look At The 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray

Ridgely McKinless — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 11:30:17 GMT

It wasn’t that long ago that hybrids were the laughingstock of the car community. The early production hybrid cars were bleak commuter cars with no character, driven by people whose dietary staple consisted of granola and kale. But ten years ago, when the first round of hybrid hypercars was launched, we got a taste of what hybrid technology could really bring to performance cars. It blended the visceral experience of the internal combustion engine with the added benefits of electrification.

The Porsche Turbo S Lightweight Is An Ultra-Exclusive 964-Gen 911

Dane Maricic — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 16:30:16 GMT

Introduced in 1992, the Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau (lightweight) is a performance oriented and stripped down version of the regular Turbo S, which was already one of the fastest cars available on the market at its time. Created to celebrate Porsche's racing success, the Turbo S Lightweight was limited to just 86 units, and the model was essentially a racer for the road. One of these ultra-exclusive models, which carries a heavyweight price tag, will soon hit the RM Sotheby's auction block.

Exclusive: Salvaggio Auto Design Tells A Tale With Their Custom Creations

Ridgely McKinless — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:06:16 GMT

With new cars becoming increasingly homogenized, well-heeled car enthusiasts are looking to the past for a unique automotive experience. This has caused a huge surge in demand for 'Restomods'–classic cars that have been re-engineered with modern drivetrains and technology.

Exclusive: Stellantis Design Chief, Ralph Gilles Speaks To TopSpeed About An Exciting New Free Design Course

Khris Bharath — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 10:57:46 GMT

Design; One of the most fundamental aspects of almost everything that we see and touch every day; and yet, it is something that we tend to overlook and take for granted sometimes. But aside from performing the function of making an object aesthetically pleasing, design is a discipline that must serve a purpose.

Exclusive: TopSpeed's One-On-One Interview With Dakar Racer, Film Maker Amy Lerner

Khris Bharath — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 22:00:16 GMT

Off-road endurance racing; is designed to test both driver and machine to the absolute limit. To find out more about what goes into prepping and eventually driving in this competitive form of motorsport, I was extremely fortunate to have recently caught up with off-road endurance racer and more recently filmmaker, Amy Lerner.

Exclusive: How E.C.D. Automotive Design Is Keeping The Spirit Of The Defender Alive

Khris Bharath — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 20:00:16 GMT

Few models have had an impact on the world, quite like the Land Rover has. From the deserts of Sub-Saharan Africa, the tropical jungles of Central America, and the icy-cold plains of Northern Siberia, the Land Rover has conquered them all. Originally designed as a recreational vehicle in post-war Britain, the Series I Land Rover was a purpose-built, rugged off-roader and was the Rover Company’s answer to the Willys Jeep. It first broke cover back in 1948 and there was no looking back.

Exclusive: Petersen Museum Exhibit With The Largest Collection Of Tesla Models Ever Displayed To The Public

Ridgely McKinless — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 13:00:15 GMT

Today, there are over two million electric cars on U.S. roads. Automakers have committed to all-electric lineups, and some countries have banned of the sale of internal combustion engines in the near future. Yet, just 15 years ago there wasn’t a single EV on sale in the U.S. market. Well, we are now witnessing the industry shift towards a sustainable future like never before, almost entirely thanks to the efforts of one company: Tesla.

Exclusive: DARTZ MOTORZ - Builders Of The Blingiest Armored Vehicles On The Planet

Khris Bharath — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:00:16 GMT

If there’s one thing you probably know about any armored or bulletproof vehicle in general, it is that they try their best to mask their heavy body armor and fly under the radar without much fuss. However, you can’t necessarily say the same thing about the armored vehicles built by Latvian Tank maker, DARTZ MOTORZ COMPANY.

Exclusive: TopSpeed Caught Up With Ex-Mercedes, Rivian Designer Davis Yongwon Lee

Khris Bharath — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 20:00:15 GMT

As someone who wanted to get into Transportation Design myself, I was very excited when I recently got the opportunity to speak with renowned automotive designer Davis Yongwon Lee. He was responsible for one of the most stunning concept cars of all time the, Vision Mercedes Maybach 6. Mr.Lee has previously worked as a senior designer with brands like Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, and more recently EV startup Rivian.

Exclusive: How Some People Have Leveraged Leasing To Build An Exotic Car Collection

Khris Bharath — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 12:55:11 GMT

The automotive landscape today is currently experiencing the sort of price trends that we’ve never seen before. While the exotic and classic auction car markets are no strangers to sky-high prices, even bread, and butter cars these days can cost you a pretty penny with buyers having to deal with astronomical prices be it for new or used cars. While buying a car through the more traditional route of cash or finance is one way of going about it, leasing remains another solid option.

Exclusive: JCCS 2022 - The West Coast Mecca of JDM

Daud Gonzalez — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 11:20:10 GMT

There is no other place in the world like quite Long Beach, California. Oceanside vibes mixed with gritty Los Angeles culture. I have been lucky enough to call it my home for over a decade. It is evident that Southern California is the center of the automotive universe in many ways. As a result, there is no shortage of quality events and shows even on a weekly basis.

2022 Exclusive: La Carrera Panamericana - One Of The Last Surviving Endurance Road Races

Khris Bharath — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 08:31:20 GMT

La Carrera Panamericana is one of the last surviving endurance open road races in the world of motorsport. Having earned the reputation for being one of the most grueling races of all time, it is set against some truly spectacular backdrops of Mexico. The race lasts for seven days and covers a distance of 2000 miles. I had the opportunity to catch up with Karen León, who is currently responsible for organizing the event to find out more about the history and legacy of the race and what to expect at this year's event and beyond.

Exclusive: Richard Rawlings' Love For Cars and Why He's Selling His Collection

Daud Gonzalez — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 09:53:02 GMT

Richard Rawlings, the founder of Gas Monkey Garage, has decided to sell his entire car collection. Yet, this online auction will be unlike any other one before it. Rawlings is working in collaboration with popular auction site Bring A Trailer to bring something special. This is in fact, the largest single-owner collection ever featured on the site. It’s actually the first of its kind.

Exclusive: How Legacy Classic Trucks Is Keeping The Spirit Of Old School American Pickup Trucks Alive

Khris Bharath — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 10:21:14 GMT

Pickup trucks today are more popular than ever before. They now come feature packed with many creature comforts which in some cases also rival luxury SUVs. But at its very core, the pickup is a work vehicle and its contribution to modern society cannot be quantified. You can certainly credit these workhorses with building entire nations.

Exclusive: A Peek Inside Retro Designs Speed And Custom, North Carolina

Khris Bharath — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 18:52:04 GMT

Retro Designs - Speed and Custom are an automotive design studio and shop based in the heart of Concord, North Carolina. The brainchild of Daniel Valjevac, Retro Designs started out as a fabrication shop back in ’09. Fast forward to today and they handle everything from period correct restorations to full-blown custom builds.

Exclusive: Prestige Imports, Miami - Not Your Typical Supercar Dealership

Khris Bharath — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 16:57:01 GMT

This is Prestige Imports, one of the nations leading luxury and exotic car dealerships. Based out of Miami, the brand has come a long way since its humble beginnings by its founder Irv David over 45 years ago.

Exclusive: The Concours Club In Miami Is An Outstanding Private Venture Where High-Paced Track Action Meets Opulence

Khris Bharath — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 18:28:07 GMT

The Concours Club situated in Sunny Miami is one of the Nation's premier Automotive Clubs. It is a members-only luxury resort that has a state-of-the-art two-mile-long racing circuit on site.

Exclusive: U.S. Legend Cars - Past, Present and Future

Khris Bharath — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 08:48:03 GMT

If you like the Cup Series and NASCAR in general, then you probably know about the Legend car already. It was created back in 1992, in a bid to make racing more accessible and affordable.

TopSpeed Exclusive: How Classic.com Generates Pricing For Vintage / Collector Cars In Real Time

Khris Bharath — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 20:07:19 GMT

Traditionally, when you think about vintage and classic cars, you naturally assume that they're the sort of cars that cross the block at one of those big auction houses. While part of that is true, there is so much more to it. Classic cars can also be a hobby and an affordable one at that if you play your cards right. Today, with the industry as a whole acknowledging and embracing electrification, the landscape of classic and collector cars is simultaneously also seeing a big transformation. Demand for all types of cars from old-school to modern-day classics has seen tremendous growth over the past few years.

Exclusive: Classic Cars Don't Have to be an Expensive Hobby

Khris Bharath — Tue, 24 May 2022 14:29:08 GMT

With my hot wheels and NFS arcade racing games in the late 90s and early 2000s, I am someone who grew up in the Fast and the Furious generation. But over the years my taste in cars has evolved and I have come to appreciate much older cars as well. The sixties, in particular, are a sweet spot for me.