Maxxd.com – Modified and Performance Car News

  • Prince’s car collection, Lincoln Zephyr Reflection, 2022 Porsche 911 GT3: The Week In Reverse

    We looked at Prince’s car collection, Lincoln previewed its future, and we drove the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

    This week marked the fifth anniversary of pop star Prince’s death. When the artist died at the age of 57 his garage contained 18 vehicles. This week we took a look at the ones that either stood out or were the most surprising.

    The Lincoln Zephyr Reflection was unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2021. While the gorgeous sedan won’t come to the U.S., its design gives a good indication of where the brand is headed designwise. The Zephyr Reflection previews a production model bound for the Chinese market later this year.

    The 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 73 4-Door Coupe was spied wearing minimal camouflage. The 800-plus-hp super hatch will be a plug-in hybrid serving as a range-topper in the GT 4-Door Coupe lineup. Expect it to debut officially later this year.

    Cadillac’s done with gas-powered cars. The brand’s North American boss, Rory Harvey, said every new vehicle the luxury automaker introduces going forward will be electric, and that will start with the 2023 Lyriq.

    We drove the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 and found it’s the best 911 yet. The new front suspension has done wonders for the car’s power delivery, especially when exiting a corner, and the steering feel is spot on.

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  • AWD INTEGRA DA9 SLEEPER: NON-VTEC BRUISER

    That Racing Channel checks out an AWD Integra DA9 sleeper that’ll complete the 1/4 mile in 9 seconds and all thanks to a turbocharged non-VTEC B-series motor. 

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    It’s not unusual to see a B-series Honda screaming all the way to its redline, helped along the way by a big turbo and spinning its front wheels to high heaven. What is unusual is to see a non-VTEC B-series engine at the heart of the second-generation Honda (or Acura here as it was sold as in the United States) being pushed along the road by a turbo spinning at 36psi of boost while sending the power down to the ground to all four wheels. The result? An AWD Integra DA9 sleeper that’ll complete the quarter mile in 9 seconds.

    What’s nice to see is a sleeper that embodies that character to the max, with the only tell-tale signs that this is modified coming in the shape of sticky Toyos wrapped around 15-inch Volk TE37 wheels and a roll-cage inside. OK, you can peep the intercooler hidden behind the front grille, but you’d need to be looking for it to notice. The only other way you’ll see that this is no ordinary car is when it leaves you behind at a set of lights…

    Inside, a full interior with gauges and creature comforts fill the cabin, while under the bonnet resides things like power steering, to keep things comfortable.

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  • 1999 Chevrolet Corvette on Jay Leno’s Garage

    Neither classic nor brand new, the C5 Corvette can be easily overlooked. But this generation has a lot to offer, Jay Leno explains in a rundown of his 1999 Chevrolet Corvette on his Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube show.

    Launched for the 1997 model year, the C5 was a pivotal moment for the Corvette. General Motors had let the sports car languish, keeping the aging C4 Corvette in production as rivals surpassed it. As documented in the book “All Corvettes Are Red,” the Detroit giant even considered killing off the Corvette, rather than spending money on development of a C4 replacement.

    The C5 did get the green light, and it introduced several key engineering features. It kept the fiberglass bodywork of previous generations, but added a stiffer chassis made with hydroformed rails, as well as a rear-mounted transaxle to improve weight distribution. That basic layout would carry over to the following C6 and C7 generations, only changing for the mid-engine C8 Corvette in 2020.

    1999 Chevrolet Corvette on Jay Leno's Garage

    1999 Chevrolet Corvette on Jay Leno’s Garage

    This generation also introduced the LS1 V-8, which made 345 horsepower initially. A Z06 performance model was introduced in 2001, with a more powerful version of the V-8 dubbed LS6. It made 385 hp at first, but was later upgraded to 405 hp.

    The C5 kept the pop-up headlights and general proportions of the C4 generation, but with smoother surfaces that gave the C5 a more modern look. The C5 launched as a fastback coupe with removable large roof panels; convertible and notchback coupe body styles were added to the lineup later.

    Leno, who got his C5 in exchange for driving the Indianapolis 500 pace car, seemed most impressed that Chevy could offer a car like this at a (relatively) affordable price, without pushing into the six-figure range. That’s still the case with the current Corvette Stingray, which offers 3.0-second 0-60 mph acceleration for around $60,000.

    Click on the video above for more on the C5 Corvette’s history and engineering, and to see Jay drive the car on the streets of Los Angeles. As always, it’s a pleasure to hear the growl of the LS1 V-8.

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