Car guides

Fresh from the release of the all-new Chevy C8 Corvette Z06, we’ve learned some very interesting detail about the Z07 package and how it changes the behavior of the Vette on the street and the track. Not only that but how the Z07 package is different and why the tire pressure strategy you’ve memorized is probably wrong now. This is a rundown of the secrets of the C8 Corvette Z06’s new Z07 Performance Package.

The age of the muscle car is long gone as emissions, practicality, and motion-sensing take up the majority of the consumer space. It is understandable as the modern car has sophisticated comforts that were thought of as space-age technology thirty years ago. However, automakers gave in to the mainstream tradeoff, leading to bland design languages and lackluster engagement on the road. The muscle cars of the past were manual, heavy, and quite loud. Brands that based their flagships on this formula only appealed to a niche market, which often led to discontinuation. Muscle car automakers that survived the technological blitz had to rethink and diversify, resulting in acquisitions or partnerships that completely changed their offerings to the market. In an ideal world, of course, the old-time rock and roll brands would still produce their cars for willing buyers. The following is a list of those that are gone but not forgotten.

German engineering has been severally praised for being some of the best in the automotive world. It may have something to do with the fact German automakers do not generally compromise on anything. Germany is also the home of some of the best automotive brands, including Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Audi. It goes without saying that performance is one of the reasons behind this, so German engines are thought of as engineering marvels. The following are some of the best engines German brands have provided the market.

Nowadays, every brand has a performance flagship the market is aware of. These cars are heavily marketed, so a large percentage of the population considers them for purchase, but once in a while, automakers release a really good model that checks all of the boxes and does not impose them as much. Once in a while, they can be spotted on the street, and it elicits gasps of envy, but the moment passes, and you return to whatever it is you were doing. The following cars are worthy of such moments.

Concept cars are how automakers reveal the future direction they are going to take with different models. They seemed pretty outlandish and ambitious in the past decades, but the future has caught up. True, flying cars are still a ways off but what seemed alien in 1995 is far more pragmatic in the 2020s. The current concept cars resemble a lot of the design language of today’s cars, which means they are in tune with what the people want. Unfortunately, the majority of concept cars do not make it to production status. It may be funding or a general change direction. The ones that did pull through, though, have become some of the most influential models in the automotive market.

The earliest modern electric vehicles were successful purely because they dared to challenge the notion that a car could run on anything other than petrol. The public embraced the change, though, but the problem lay in the capacity to fulfill the requirements fossil fuel had adequately done until then. The technology behind them was also in the rudimentary stages, so cars had only enough battery power to get them to work, and they had to be recharged for the trip back. It caused an increase in range anxiety both for the new owners of electric vehicles and the automakers. They were worried these cars would not have the ability to fulfill obligations before reaching charging points. However, this problem is becoming less relevant for today’s electric cars, whose ranges are getting longer by the day. The following list boasts EVs that can crack above 250 miles before you have to plug them in.

When it comes to high-performance cars, the phrase “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” is still, very much, true. But it was in the 1960s when those words were most notably put into action. The Shelby Cobra is one of the most legendary cars from the 1960s. It was also very successful in motorsports and Chevrolet didn’t like that. So, they turned to an old Chevy associate – Bill Thomas. He, in turn, came with a car even crazier than the Cobra – the 1963 Cheetah.

Once Volvo’s version of the AMG, Polestar has made a name for itself as the new EV division for Volvo. The first Polestar showed the market what a sports EV sedan should look like, and the new one is not any different. It has the proportions of a sedan but the ride height of a crossover, much like Forester stance save for the rear estate body. At $47,200, it’s cheap (for an EV) and a clean-cut looker, but the latest iteration of the Polestar is not just a pretty-faced environmental ambassador.

When you think of Porsche, most often you think of the Porsche 911. Saying that the rear-engine sports car is the brand’s most definitive model has turned into a trite cliché. A while back, we covered Frank Stephenson’s guide to Aston Martin’s three greatest designs. Now, as part of his YouTube series, he is giving us his take on the three greatest designs from Porsche.

Electric cars have come a long way from being a niche option for the tech affiliated and trendy to becoming a valid option for regular drivers. EV brands are also expanding their lineup beyond the sedan sector to the family segment as more of their models penetrate the customer base. These vehicles still have a long way to go as far as range and access to charging ports is concerned, but the practicality, top-notch technology, and increasingly reasonable pricing have proved their validity. The following are some EV family types for this year that warrant a second look.

When you think of iconic, classic American cars, Cadillac Coupe DeVille, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, and Dodge Challenger are, often, some of the first to come to mind. And while each of them has had their fair share of special editions, we can’t help but wonder what classic American cars can be like, with a European twist. Whether it’s their design or an unusual engineering solution, these are the most obscure American classic cars ever to exist.

Le Mans is one of the greatest tests of endurance where man and machine are tested for 24 hours at speeds in excess of 200 mph. Almost a century ago, the race began as a showcase for manufacturers to prove their vehicles’ sturdiness in competition. The race was then staged annually without fail, apart from the hiatus during the Second World War. Ever since, thousands of teams have flocked to the French countryside to brave the elements. Racing dynasties also flourished and faded during the years resulting in great stories, legends, and victories that are currently being told. The following are some of the best cars to compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the past century.

Economical and cost-effective are not the terms that come to mind when talking about Lamborghinis. As one of the premier automakers globally, Lamborghini produces sleek, high-performance models that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The brand also has a rich history that entails rivalry with Italian supercar greats like Ferrari. This long-established pedigree translated into producing models from high-performance parts in the market. The overall cost of production would mean an even bigger price tag for the consumer. Secondly, Lamborghini has produced a reduced number of its models to keep up the exclusivity. Its rarity seals the fact that not everyone can own one, but, as the years progress, some of the older models lose their shine due to better technologies and standards. These cars have become somewhat obsolete and become attainable to members of the middle class.

Under General Motors, Cadillac has primarily known for luxury and comfort as opposed to performance. And, truth be told, the automaker is not known for its acceleration or lap times despite its large displacement engines. However, a few models have been engineered to push the envelope not only in terms of comfort and style but also on the track. The following is a list of the fastest Cadillacs ever made.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra came out with all guns blazing. It doesn’t offer a plethora of engine options like its American rivals, but it still has a strong and loyal fan base who swear by its reliability. No wonder the Tundra and the Tacoma have a high demand even in the pre-worshipped market. While the 2022 model’s highlight was the new hybrid engine, there’s one other thing that deserves attention – its composite bed. It is said to be more abuse-friendly, but is that true?

Following a continuous production run for 67 years, the Defender was discontinued in 2016 due to rising irrelevance and the costly EU emission standards. However, in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover released a new generation that differs significantly from the previous model. The main highlights include the platform it is based on, the overall design, and hybrid powertrain alternatives. The previous generations were also reputed for their spartan cabins and lack of technology. The new Defender adequately embraces technology and gets a new range of modern petrol and diesel engines from across the available range. Both the past and present Defenders were made to be off-roading SUVs, but there is no harm in comparing attributes to see where each excels better than the other.

By now, manufacturers (at least mainstream ones) have made it clear that the days of the manual gearbox are coming to an end. Shifting the gears yourself and working a third pedal will eventually become a lost art. Although we see it mainly in modern cars, this process actually started a while ago and some cars (or specific versions of them) that should have come with a manual gearbox were deprived of it.