The Ford RS200 and the Audi Sport Quattro are two of the most recognizable rally cars ever produced. They were built in a time when automotive technology was flourishing, but by today’s standards they are crude and archaic. They were built in limited numbers to satisfy the homologation rules for the Group B rally cars that ran between 1984-1986, and because of this they are now some of the most desirable cars in the world. Chris Harris of Youtube’s new DRIVE network recently got behind the wheel of both the RS200 and Audi Sport Quattro for an experience that few other drivers have ever had. Click through for the video and make sure to subscribe at Youtube.com/DRIVE.

Source: Youtube.com

If you don’t believe that a car can have an impact on you at a young age then there’s something seriously wrong. For some it comes in the shape of a certain red Italian sports car, for others it’s something built in Detroit, and yet for others it takes the shape of one of the most iconic cars ever built. The Porsche 911 is not just a car, but a way of life for many of its owners. It combines elegance, performance and status in an automotive package that is very difficult to match which is why it seems so appropriate that Porsche is capable of creating ads like the one you are about to see.

Back in the 1970′s I truly believed that white lettered tires made a car go faster. Granted I was a kid, but that didn’t stop me from visualizing everything from Ferrari’s to Firebird’s with those raised letters. Back them everything from Nascar to Formula 1 ran them and man-o-man did that leave an impression on this little kid from Brooklyn. Today it’s a rare sight to see cars toting the raised letter look, but I’ve got to admit, I still love them. Sure it looks great on muscle cars and on cars from that era, but honestly, I still think it has a place on today’s rides. Whatcha’ think – Yay or Nay to the white roundies?

Buck-ass crazy… that’s the only way I would categorize any driver who ran a car in the Group B rally class in WRC from 1984 to 1986. They ran upwards of 700 hp, had little to no traction management systems and even though they were fully-caged cars, they were a far cry from having the safety systems that today’s rally cars utilize. Perhaps the most famous and recognizable of the Group B beasties was Audi’s Sport Quattro. Back then it was a hotbed of technology and also changed the way people looked upon the sport. Don’t believe me? Click through for the video and prepare to get motor-wood.

Source: Youtube.com

Take the sounds of a symphony orchestra, a worked Audi RS5 and some of the most beautiful roads on the planet and you’ve just concocted the recipe for heaven…

Source: VWVortex.com

I always get a kick out of street cars that have been lowered within an inch or two of the tarmac. Sure it looks good, but 9 times out of 10 lowering these things makes them completely undrivable. Road imperfections, potholes, speed bumps and even foul weather are the enemies of a lowered car. Hell, even getting in and out of a driveway can be a hassle. Understand that manufacturers go through great lengths making sure that their cars will perform flawlessly in all sorts of conditions, because in the end, these are street cars. That doesn’t stop the masses though from tinkering. It’s a tough choice… do you go for looks alone or usability?

Thumbs Up: Drives like a sedan, but with the functionality of a crossover.

Thumbs Down: Only transmission choice is a CVT

Buy This Car If: You want a compact crossover with a comfortable ride and distinct style.

It hasn’t even been a year since we last reviewed the Nissan Rogue crossover, and to be honest, not much has changed since then. Park the two side by side, and you won’t see any differences; look inside, and nothing has changed from last year, either. In fact, you’d need to comb through Nissan’s press release on the launch of the 2012 Rogue to find any changes between the two models.

In the case of the Rogue, which was refreshed for the 2011 model year, that’s not a bad thing. Like some of its better-known competitors (the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, for example), the Nissan Rogue manages to fit quite a bit of content into a reasonably priced compact crossover. It’s available in versions to suit almost any family’s needs, including both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive platforms. Like its other Japanese rivals, the Rogue isn’t an appropriate choice for off-road adventures; however, equipped with AWD and fitted with winter tires, the Rogue is more than capable of getting you safely through the worst that winter can deliver.

New for 2012 is a Special Edition package for base trim Rogue S models. The package includes steering wheel mounted audio controls, a reverse camera, a 4.3-inch audio display, USB input, satellite radio, fog lights, privacy glass and 16-inch alloy wheels. Opting for the SL trim package (available on upscale SV models only) now includes Nissan’s paranoia-inducing “Around View” monitor, which gives a birds-eye, real-time view of your Rogue and its surroundings. Useful for navigating in close quarters, the view is oddly reminiscent of the view from a laser-guided bomb, just before it obliterates a target.

Also new for 2012 is a “Sport” button for the continuously variable transmission (CVT). To be honest, we’re not really sure what the button does, since CVTs (in theory, anyway) provide near-linear acceleration that optimizes performance based on an engine’s output. In practice, however, we find all CVT’s to be be harsh and buzzy, and accelerating with purpose in a CVT-equipped vehicle is never a pleasant experience. That said, no automaker has put as much effort into the development and refinement of its CVTs as Nissan, who builds the least-worst CVTs on the market.

Inside, the Nissan Rogue offers comfortable but soft seating. That’s fine for the type of around-town errands most Rogues will be used for, but on a long road trip a firmer seating surface would be preferred. Our SL Package-equipped Rogue came with leather seats, heated up front for winter comfort and mounted high, SUV-style, for a commanding view of the road. We’d have liked the ability to lower the passenger seat just a bit, since taller passengers occasionally hit their head on the door frame getting in.

Rear seats offer both reasonable headroom and decent legroom, especially given the Rogue’s compact size. Rear seat backs are fixed and we’d prefer to see reclining seat backs for rear passengers. While we’re adding to our Rogue wish list, we’d also like rear seat backs that fold flat. Rear seats in place, the Rogue still offers a decent amount of carrying capacity in the hatch, but its sloping roof means the Rogue doesn’t have quite as much carrying capacity as some competitors (the Honda CR-V, for example).

The dash feels more upscale than the Rogue’s mass-market price would indicate. Yes, there’s some hard plastic, but the bulk of the dash is wrapped in coarse-grained, soft-touch vinyl. While the dash upper uses primarily black materials, Nissan works in enough variances in shapes and textures to keep things interesting. The dash lower is trimmed in light-colored plastic to match the carpeting, and aluminum-colored trim adorns the shifter, door grab handles, steering wheel and vents.

The Rogue (thankfully) forgoes any attempts at flashy instrumentation, which is becoming more and more common among automakers. Drivers get a tachometer with an embedded temperature gauge, an LCD driver information display and a speedometer with an embedded fuel gauge. In short, that’s everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Powering the Rogue is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, good for 170 horsepower and 175 pound feet of torque. That may not sound like much, but the Rogue only weighs around 3,300 pounds in front wheel drive configuration, which means that acceleration is more than adequate for the compact crossover segment. The Rogue delivers reasonable fuel economy, too, with an EPA rating of 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. In a mix of city and highway driving, we saw an average of 25.2 mpg.

On the road, the Rogue drives more like a sedan than a crossover or SUV. Most drivers will like the elevated seating position, as it gives a commanding view of the road ahead. Thanks to a four-wheel independent suspension and a surprising weight distribution of 53-percent front and 47-percent rear, the Rogue handles better than you expect it will. Despite its relatively high center of gravity, even sudden lane changes and other evasive maneuvers are accomplished with very little drama. While the Rogue can’t offer up the same entertainment value as even a sporty sedan, it’s confidence-inspiring road manners make a good choice for a compact family vehicle.

Nissan supplied the vehicle for our road test and evaluation. Our 2012 Nissan Rogue SV FWD had a base sticker price of $24,780, including a destination charge of $810. Options included the $135 Splash Guards, the $60 Rear Bumper Protector, the $190 Floor Mats and Rear Cargo Protector, the $225 Illuminated Kick Plates and the $3,900 SL Package (leather seating, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, navigation system, Bose premium audio, Around View Monitor, auto dimming rearview mirror, Xenon headlights with auto on/off, power moonroof, automatic climate control, fog lights), for a total sticker price of $29,290.

For comparison, a similarly equipped Honda CR-V EX-L with navigation would sticker for $29,355, while a comparable Toyota RAV4 Limited would list at $29,565.

The mighty 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition vs Godzilla, the 2013 Nissan GT-R Premium. Both of these cars are titans of speed. One is a technological powerhouse, the other a tried and true American sledgehammer. Neither of these cars is for the faint of heart and both will get you into serious trouble if you’re not careful. The big question though is… which is faster? Inside Line recently pitted these two road rockets against each other to find the answer to that exact question.

Source: InsideLine.com

It’s built in Scotland by a team of French and Scottish engineers. It’s raced at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Nevada, and the guy responsible for its turbo system is from Texas. The Flower of Scotland is a true multinational project whose sole intention was to be the first car with a 1.0-liter engine to break the 300 mph barrier. Power comes from a Kawasaki ZX11 motorcycle engine with one big-ass Garrett turbo on it that can max out at about 35 lbs of boost generating around 400 hp. Not bad for a 1-liter mill. The streamliner runs aluminum front wheels and is only 21-inches wide meaning that this sucker must be a handful to drive. That didn’t stop this international team though from trying to break the record. Click through for the video to see how they did.

Source: RalfBecker.com

Flower of Scotland from Josh Clason on Vimeo.

I remember as a kid that the only thing I ever wanted to do was drive. I would sit on my Grandmothers dark green rug with my HotWheels cars for hours imagining the day when I would actually get my own set of car keys. These days however it seems like that has changed and that today’s kids would rather have a smartphone as opposed to an automobile. When I was a teenager the car was the ultimate expression of freedom, nowadays though, I’m not so sure. With all the technology that’s packed into today’s smart phones we can seemingly get anything we want at a moments notice. Need a plane ticket? No problem. Looking for a good restaurant? Still no problem. Want a cab to get there? Presto! Maybe I’m just getting older and more cynical, I’m not sure. I just hope that there are still kids out there who dream of still getting a car for their 16th birthday as opposed to an iPad.