Author: gregsaperstein

There’s a new Sheriff in town…

…well, Carabinieri actually.

See, the Carabinieri is Italy’s national military police force, protecting both military and civilian populations, and is one of Italy’s four Armed Forces.

If you’re a car fan, you’ve most likely seen the Italian Police’s Lamborghini, but what you haven’t seen is the new addition to the Carabinieri fleet – an Alfa-Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde.

Armed with a 503-hp engine, the Alfa QV’s twin-turbo V6 delivers a 191-mph top speed and 3.9 second 0-62 time – perfect for chasing down criminals on the Autostrade.

The Giulia QV doesn’t just have new stickers, lights and sirens – it’s added cameras, tablets and other policing technology.

Fiat-Chrysler head honcho Sergio Marchionne presented the first two Giulia QV’s to the Carabinieri, with more to be added in the future, in addition to some Jeeps and Fiats.

Photos from Alfa Romeo.

Cars & Coffee at Prestige

Whether you’re a muscle car, supercar or JDM fan, yesterday’s Cars and Coffee at Prestige BMW of Ramsey showed that car guys (and girls), no matter what they drive, can come together and enjoy other people’s rides. Personally, I’m a sucker for older JDM cars (one of my favorites is the R33 Skyline) and late 80s-early 90s American Muscle, but what really got me excited were the pre-2005 BMW’s that were there, especially the 850CSi and the collection of M Coupes. What was your favorite car at the show?

Here we have it — Tesla’s Model 3

model3--

It’s finally arrived! Tesla’s highly-anticipated Model 3 is here, and with over 130,000 preorders and counting, people are jumping on the Model 3 bandwagon.

At $35,000, Tesla’s Model 3 is meant to bring the company’s electric vehicle technology to the masses.

 

Tesla says the base vehicle will do 0-60 in less than 6 seconds, with versions that are able to go “much faster”. Range on the Model 3 is slated to be at least 215 miles, and will include support for Tesla’s high-speed Supercharging network, since “it’s about going where you want to go”, according to Musk. Tesla is hoping to have a total of 7,200 Superchargers by the end of 2017, when the Model 3 launches.

Speaking of production – the Model 3 is not expected to begin production until the later part of 2017, and the first Model 3 recipients will be on the West Coast of North America, with deliveries then moving to the East Coast, and finally, overseas.

A big change for Tesla is the touchscreen inside the Model 3 – the Model S has a 17-inch portrait touchscreen, while the Model 3 has a 15-inch landscape one. Autopilot hardware is standard, and all safety features will be active automatically, in addition to the Model 3’s 5-star safety rating all around.

For a small downpayment of $1,000, Tesla will take your preorder for the Model 3.  To cope with the increased production numbers, Tesla is planning to more than double the size of their dealership and service network by the end of next year.

Tesla has certainly come a long way — founded in 2003, they first came out with the Tesla Roadster. At the time, the Roadster was the first highway-capable all-electric vehicle in production. In a 2006 blog post, Tesla cofounder Elon Musk wrote:

So, in short, the master plan is:

  1. Build sports car
  2. Use that money to build an affordable car
  3. Use that money to build an even more affordable car
  4. While doing above, also provide zero emission electric power generation options

Don’t tell anyone.

So, it looks like he’s well on his way with his master plan – we can’t wait to see the Model 3 on the roads!

Watch the full video of the Model 3 unveiling at teslamotors.com/model3.

Mercedes-Benz debuts from New York’s International Auto Show

We’re just a little under halfway through with the New York International Auto Show, but we’ll be here until the very end, giving you coverage on the latest and greatest from you favorite automotive brands.

Mercedes-Benz debuted several new cars at this year’s auto show, among them the GLC Coupe,  as well as AMG division’s C43 Cabriolet, E43 and GLC43 — all new for 2017.

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe has stylistic features of a coupe with the proportions & practicality of an SUV, and just had its world premiere at the NYIAS. An aggressive, upright radiator grille and twin-blade louvers provide the first indication of Mercedes-Benz’s sporty philosophy behind the GLC coupe, while muscular lines, expansive greenhouse and large wheels complete the striking package. Standard equipment includes a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, sunroof and 19″ wheels. The GLC Coupe is expected to go on sale at US dealers by early 2017.

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet
2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet
2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet pairs incredible performance and extremely dynamic driving characteristics with its expressive, stylishly honed design — all hallmarks of the new Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet, which also made its world premiere at the show. A handcrafted AMG V8 bi-turbo engine produces 503 horses and 516 lb-ft of torque. The Cabriolet features an AIRSCARF neck-level heating system and AIRCAP automatic draft stop system to extend open top season from early spring well into the fall. The C63 Cabriolet will be on sale this fall.

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG E43

Mercedes-AMG’s E43 Sedan features a bi-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 396 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. Numerous ground-breaking technical innovations made their world debut in the new E-Class in January, and the E43 now combines the safety and elegance of the E-Class with AMG driving performance. Standard features on the E43 include a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, AMG AIRMATIC adaptive sport suspension, dual 12.3″ high definition displays, LED headlamps, AMG bodystyling, 19″ wheels and 4MATIC all-wheel drive with a 31% front / 69% rear power bias. The E43 is expected to go on sale in early 2017.

 

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 features a 362 hp, 384 lb-ft of torque bi-turbo 3.0-liter engine, 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission. With good sport utility vehicles looks with performance to match, the GLC43 comes standard with AMG AIRMATIC adaptive sport suspension, offering a comfortable ride when wanted, or sporty handling at a moment’s notice. AMG bodystyling and standard 20″ wheels set this SUV apart from the crowd. THE GLC43 will be on sale this fall.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA

Although not an all-new car, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA features a revised front fascia, new wheel options and redesigned rear bumper. Updated interior appointments include a slimline infotainment display, new trim options and standard on-board Wi-Fi. The CLA45 continues with their best-in-class hand-crafted 2.0-liter AMG inline-4 turbocharged engine with 375hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, delivering power to all four wheels. 2017 CLA’s will be on sale at US dealers this summer.

Stay tuned for additional coverage of the New York International Auto Show. Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and right here on theautocracy.com.

All-New LC 500 & LC 500h from Lexus

The New York International Auto Show is back in town, running until April 3rd, and this year’s show may be the biggest one yet. Several new cars debuted from luxury car brands this year, including BMW, Mercedes, Maserati and Lexus, to name a few.

One of the big standouts from this year’s auto show is the new Lexus LC500 and LC500h luxury coupe. The New York Auto Show marks the LC 500h’s North American debut, as well as its first appearance together with the LC 500.

Lexus_LC_500_LC_500h_001_8B14AFF926DEBA8C3E4BAE5BF3B64537E8B349B4

Styling, performance and craftsmanship of the LC mark it as the flagship coupe of the Lexus brand. The LC marks the beginning of a new phase for Lexus with its outstanding visual appeal, highlighted by an aerodynamic shape, its curves and wide, imposing stance.

The LC 500 has a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission — the first ever in a luxury automobile. The LC is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform, which promises enhanced dynamic capability and performance.

The LC 500 Hybrid features the world’s first Multi Stage Hybrid System, the next generation of hybrid powertrains specifically designed for performance vehicles. The hybrid system aligns engine speed with throttle inputs, while also balancing power and fuel consumption.

Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer and Master Driver for Lexus said that, “a few years ago, we decided to guide the future of the brand with products that had more passion and distinction in the luxury market. This flagship luxury coupe’s proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brands’ emotional direction, and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal globally”.

The pulse of the LC 500 comes from a high-revving 5.0-liter V8, the same found in the the RC F and GS F. Selected for its smooth, linear throttle response and hearty engine sound, the all-aluminum V8 has 467hp and 389 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine in the LC 500 uses a dual intake inlet that helps improve breathing and allows the vehicle to achieve a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 4.5 seconds.

As of now, there’s not much known about the LC hybrid, other than its actual existence.

Other new models for Lexus featured at the show include the 2016 GS F, an elegant, yet aggressive, sedan which lends its 467 horsepower, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 to the LC 500, and Lexus’ 2016 RX which demonstrates that sophistication can, indeed, have an edge.

2015.12.25

 

The New York International Auto Show is back!

The New York International Auto Show strikes again! With approximately 1,000 vehicles on display contained under 950,000 sq. ft., the show is one of the world’s biggest and greatest automotive shows for over one million car enthusiasts to check out the newest cars, trucks and SUV’s.

A few dozen, new for 2016, cars made their big debuts at the show. Some of these were the all-new Audi A4 with a power boost up to 252hp, the sixth generation BMW 7 series, the 365hp BMW M2, an all-wheel-drive Ford Fusion V6 Sport and Hyundai’s new flagship brand, Genesis, showed us the new G90. Other debuts include the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Fiat 124 Spider, Cadillac CT6, the 5.0-liter V8 Lexus LX500, Lincoln Continental, Mercedes E-Class with a new 2.0-liter, 241hp four cylinder and the Volvo S90 luxury sedan.

New concept vehicles were also revealed at the show, including the Buick Avista coupe grand tourer, Volkswagen BUDD-e, the Kia A1A Optima and the Kia Telluride.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the New York International Auto Show over the next few days.

First Responders at the New York International Auto Show

Ever go to the New York Auto Show and wonder where all those police cars on the lower level come from? They come from the New York City Police Museum.

Incorporated in 1998, The New York City Police Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the New York City Police Department, the world’s largest and most famous police service. Every year, they have a spectacular display of the police cars of New York City, from the 1930s to present day.

1958 Ford Custom 300 with factory 292i V8 (4.8L) and 3 speed automatic. Emergency equipment includes a Federal signal Model 17 light, Federal Signal Model 28 siren, Stewart Warner Police Special Speedometer and Motorola Twin V Police Radio.

1974 Plymouth Satellite Custom with factory 318i V8 (5.2L) and 3 speed automatic. The NYPD switched from the larger Plymouth Fury to the smaller Plymouth Satellite due to the gasoline crisis. Each car was $3,767. Precinct numbers were added to the sides of the cars in 1978. Includes a Signal Stat #9555 light bar, Signal Stat VI Siren & Control Center, Stewart Warner Police Special speedometer and Motorola T-Power Radio

1989 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police Package with Federal Signal Aerodynamic 24H lighter and Federal Signal PA-300 radio. This car is built in tribute to P.O. Edward Byrne.

2016 Smart Car, with 89 horsepower and CVT transmission. NYPD installed options include NYPD specialized LED lighting and message board with 72 different programmed messages and a VIT fuel management system.

2016 Ford NGPI Utility, comes with 304 horsepower and al-wheel-drive with police tuned suspension, heavy duty wheels and brakes, NYPD specialized LED lighting, Rumbler siren, front push bumper, ballistic door and window panels, computer tablet with keyboard and printer, priority start (battery rundown protection), skid plate, AVL (automatic vehicle locator). It also has a park kill module, which turns the sirens off when the vehicle is placed in park, and a run on module, which allows the vehicle to run when the ignition key is removed but turns the car off when the brake is pressed so the car can’t be stolen.

1961 Plymouth Savoy from “Car 54, Where are You?”, with factory 318i V8 (5.2L) and 3 speed automatic, and Motorola Twin V radio, Stewart Warner Police Speedometer, Federal Signal Model 28 Siren and Federal Signal Model 17 light. Each car cost $2,694 in 1961.

1958 Ford Custom 300
1989 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police Package
2016 Ford NGPI Utility
1974 Plymouth Satellite Custom
1974 Plymouth Satellite Custom
1961 Plymouth Savoy from “Car 54, Where are You?”
2016 Smart Car
1958 Ford Custom 300
2016 Ford NGPI Utility
1961 Plymouth Savoy from “Car 54, Where are You?”