car

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.

Tesla prepares to unveil Model 3 tonight!

Big news! Tonight, Tesla will be live streaming the highly-anticipated unveiling of their Model 3.

Be sure to tune in tonight, 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT on www.teslamotors.com and check back with us tomorrow as we’ll have photos and more information!

Tesla Motors

#PrestigeWarehouse

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.

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.

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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.

Vehicles on display included a:

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.

2016 Smart Car

1958 Ford Custom 300

2016 Ford NGPI Utility

1961 Plymouth Savoy from “Car 54, Where are You?”

1974 Plymouth Satellite Custom

1989 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police Package

1961 Plymouth Savoy from “Car 54, Where are You?”

Serial One: The First Honda in the US

In 1969, Honda debuted the N600, the first Honda car that was imported to the US. Designed to combat bad fuel economy and high emissions, the N600 was roughly three feet shorter and half the weight of the average American car at the time.

Mechanic and restorer Tim Mings is the only full-time Honda N600 mechanic in the world – having worked on over 1,000 throughout the past 20 years. From the first 50 produced (serial #1 through 50), only 3 survived. After sitting under five decades of dust and dirt, Tim recently found this N600, purchasing it sight unseen, unaware of its’ pedigree. Now, it’s Tim’s mission to restore Serial One, the very first N600 that rolled off the line. Mings says it’s “humbling that I get to be the guy that does it. I’m the first person to take it apart since it was put together in 1967”. Once the restoration is complete, it will be going to the Honda Museum.

During the 12- to 18-month rebuild, Honda will be documenting the restoration of this special car at SerialOne.com – follow along, both with Honda and us, as we keep a close eye on the progress!

Images from: Honda Motor Co.

Ford opens doors for law enforcement

Ford has always been a staple in law enforcement vehicle history – going all the way back to 1919 when departments used Model T police trucks. Then, came the infamous Crown Victoria era in the early 90s and late 2000s. Now, we have the new Explorers and Tauruses we see most departments using on the roads today.

Ford is taking their dedication to law enforcement one step further, and will now be offering doors that protect against armor-piercing bullets. Since 2008, they’ve offered factory-installed ballistic panels on their police car doors, but they only protect against handgun fire and non-armor piercing bullets. Only about 5 to 10 percent of police vehicles sold by Ford have the optional ballistic protection, which costs about $1,500 per door.

In this photo provided by Ford Motor Company, a Michigan State Police officer shoots at the doors of a Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle during ballistic testing of doors against small arm fire at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association in Brighton, Mich.

This photo provided by Ford Motor Company shows entry holes through the outer skin of the door panel of a Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle during ballistic testing of doors against small arm fire at the Barry County Conservation Club in Hastings, Mich.

In this photo provided by Ford Motor Company, a Michigan State Police officer and a Ford engineer look at damage to a door of a Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle during ballistic testing of doors against small arm fire at the Barry County Conservation Club in Hastings, Mich.

In this photo provided by Ford Motor Company, different types of ammunition used in testing are displayed, foreground, as a Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle sits parked in the background during ballistic testing of doors against small arm fire at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association in Brighton, Mich.

Controlling 60 percent of the US police vehicle market in 2015, Ford will be the first in the US to meet the Justice Department’s highest standard for body armor, which is the equivalent of a bulky SWAT team vest.

The ballistic panels, which cover the majority of the door, have two layers. The first layer is made from ballistic-grade ceramic tile, which disperses the energy and starts to break the bullet into pieces on impact. The inner layer is made from aramid fiber, which is the same material used for Kevlar, and catches the shrapnel from the bullet.

Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations said that “any kind of protection that can be added into the vehicles that officers are driving in is a great idea”, since officers are frequently targeted when they are in their patrol cars.

Unavailable to the public, the doors are destroyed when police cars are scrapped so they don’t wind up in the bad guys’ hands.

Engineering the doors proved to be a challenge since the added weight of the ballistic protection had to be supported by the hinges of the door, though they made it happen. Ford will continue to offer both non-armor piercing and armor-piercing protection doors for departments with different needs. Pricing for upgraded protection has not been announced.

Photo Credit: Ford

Nissan Teases the 2017 GT-R

All systems are go! Nissan just recently released a teaser photo for the 2017 Nissan GT-R, which is set to make its debut at the New York International Auto Show.

Nissan. New York. 2016.

In the photo, the 2017 GT-R taillights appear to be quite similar to the current model, which only leaves us more in a great deal of suspense as to what’s changed. One thing is for sure — Nissan won’t disappoint. Nissan has not released any further information regarding the 2017 GT-R other than it will debut this year at the New York International Auto Show.

The 2016 GT-R comes standard with a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 which cranks out 545 horsepower AND only comes in all-wheel drive, to boot! For those that want a little something extra, Nissan offers the GT-R Nismo which boosts power 55hp, bringing that up to 600. With power like that at a fraction of the price of a supercar, who wouldn’t want to give the GT-R a chance?

The GT-R’s competitors include the Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which are some solid models to be in competition with.

The Autocracy will be in full force covering the Auto Show and we’ll be posting live to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Be sure to keep checking back for Auto Show coverage, as well as a first look at the 2017 Nissan GT-R.

No Porsche for You!

It’s no secret Jerry Seinfeld is a car guy – but did you know that he’s a major Porsche fan? According to Complex Magazine, Seinfeld owns over 45 of the brand’s most sought after models. Car collectors seized the opportunity of a lifetime, taking up the chance to own some of the comedy legend’s beloved Porsches that he recently unloaded — for over $22,000,000.

Considering the “cheapest” vehicle that sold was a 1964 Volkswagen Bus for $99,000 (and the most expensive car from his collection sold for over $5 million!), you know these vehicles came from a very well maintained and well-cared-for collection from someone who truly loves his Porsches (and Volkswagen’s).

Check out some of the cars that hit the auction block – the only one that didn’t sell was his 2000 Porsche Carrera GT prototype. We can only imagine what else he has in his garage.