RideLust

The MGB-GT is the prettiest shooting brake ever made. But its engineering is more than 50 years old. And it wasn’t cutting edge to begin with. Now Frontline Developments in the UK are giving the MGB GT the engineering it always deserved: A 215-horsepower Miata mill, six-speed gearbox, limited-slip diff and advanced suspension components. Oh, and did I mention all those goodies are attached to a brand-new reproduction body?

Frontline Developments have been making advanced suspension bits and performance parts for British sports cars since 1992. After restoring and driving dozens of the things, they decided to build a brand-new car with the latest tech.

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Cars have lost their charm. They’re sterile, wind-tunnel tested, über-safe cocoons that stir the soul like a washer/dryer combo. On the other hand, yesterday’s cars were packed with passion, but they drive like shit. That’s why companies like Texas-based Gullwing America recreate retro rides based on modern tech. And this, their P/904 Carrera based on a Porsche Boxter, may just be the ultimate retro reboot.

Gullwing America makes a meticulous tribute to the famed Mercedes 300SL called the Panamericana. The car is built on a steel tube chassis with aluminum bodywork—just like the real thing. It rocks a 400-horsepower Mercedes-based V8 (or a 320-horsepower V6 for the faint of heart) and many modern Mercedes parts. It is exquisitely crafted to standards that any German engineer would approve of.

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When Old Man Winter belches hoarfrost over the land, it’s only natural to seek solace in a nice set of studded snow tires. The grinding metallic paws provide a sense of security. They just feel like they’re slicing through the ice, delivering life-saving stability and grip. Au contraire mon frère! Studded tires are terrible. They provide less grip in frosty conditions than their specialized studless counterparts and they pulverize pavement, turning roads in to rutted moonscapes. Stop buying studded tires. They suck.

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The Yugo was supposed to unite the Balkans under an umbrella of capitalism, to infuse the area with much-needed jobs and cash. Instead, the car was crap. Still, there’s something endearing about the little hatchback, something honest and pure. That’s why it still has a special place in our hearts—and why designer Milos Paripovic has re-imagined it as an electric. Oh, and also because he wanted to poke fun at electric cars.

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In China, they have a new bullet train that can hit 311mph. The aerodynamic design is based on, appropriately, an ancient Chinese sword. It’s quite a feat and begs the question, where in the hell is our bullet train in the U.S.?

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The new Varley evR-450 electric super car can hit 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds, packs 900-plus torques and looks like a Nissan R390. It costs $200,000. It’s also based on the awesome, gas-guzzling $40,000-ish Superlite SLC coupe.

The evR-450 is assembled in Australia by Varley Electric Vehicles. It’s super-trick, featuring twin carbon ironless core AC motors with totally awesome-sounding Tritium Wavesculptor inverters. It has a semi-monocoque TIG-welded aluminum chassis with an integral space frame and weighs just 2750-ish pounds. Range? A comfortable 100 miles. Top speed? A disappointing 100-ish miles per hour. Are the batteries worth the extra cost of $200,000? Hit the jump to find out.

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Dan Wood's MGB GT

We all dream of owning vintage iron, of rumbling along in a piece of automotive history, of being the envy of car nuts everywhere we go. Well, we can. There are truly affordable classics out there. And I’m going to find them. Welcome to Classic Review.

Don’t fear the MGB GT. It is not a finicky piece of questionable British engineering possessed by the Prince of Darkness, Joseph Lucas. It is a beautiful little beast, a punchy and snarling sports car with the refined manners of a grand tourer.

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Redshift is what happens when stuff moves away from you really, really quickly. And that’s what electric motorcycle startup BRD hopes their new RedShift MX bike will do on the trails—at least until its batteries run out.  Read More…

Soon this cute little six wheeler will be following U.S. infantry troops around like a lost puppy. It’s a Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) autonomous vehicle and it’s headed to Afghanistan for testing.

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The Pontiac Tempest is known for its tumultuous 400-cubic-inch V8, for spewing clouds of atomized rubber and partially combusted gasoline, for altering weather patterns and generally being a kick-ass muscle car. But it started life as a funky little economy car created by the legendary John DeLorean. Read More…