First Recaro, Now Fanatec
https://theautoverse.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Aint-Nothing-Like-the-Real-Thing.mp4 In a letter to its paid affiliate partners today, Fanatec announced today that its parent company Endor AG had filed to open insolvency proceeding. (The Autoverse is a Fanatec affiliate.) Fanatec asserts that it will maintain business operations, sales, and customer support. They are seeking to be acquired and
What is an Auto Broker?
What is an Auto Broker? An auto broker finds out what you want and brokers the purchase for you. 2020 Audi S7 that Motus Brokered for Jerry L. in Boston This post sponsored by: How Does that Differ from an Auto Dealer? An auto dealer maintains vehicle inventory at a
2024 Lotus Emira First Edition on Track! (Gallery)
We got to put the Emira through its paces after completing 1,000 break-in miles. Check out these photos from SCCA’s Track Night in America event at Dominion Raceway, south of Washingron, DC.
Meet RevMatch!
What is RevMatch? RevMatch is a new automotive community platform that simplifies the process of sharing car builds and connecting enthusiasts. It serves as a centralized hub where users can easily document their builds, access a vast database of aftermarket parts, and engage with over 450 brands – and even
First Look at our 2024 Lotus Emira First Edition
Photoset just in from Flow Lotus in Winston-Salem! Our 2024 Lotus Emira First Edition is still embargoed by the feds over emissions compliance. BUT! We now have our first images. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel. Join Free
Track Days with RSC Motors in 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-jf4Nx_wFM It can be an extremely expensive hobby. It’s kind of hard to get into. And when you do, it can be next-to-impossible to get out of your system. We’re all about breaking down barriers to access in the auto sector – and if you’re new to getting on track,
Don’t eat it on your parade lap
We promoted the Charity Laps for Victory Junction at VIR on November 10, but we didn’t get to go. Then we learned at Katie’s Cars and Coffee yesterday that a Lamborghini Gallardo lost it on a parade lap. We knew this was possible. Low-speed crashes in supercars have almost become
What is paint-protection film?
Protecting your automobile’s pristine finish has always been a top priority for car enthusiasts. Paint protection film (PPF), also known as clear bra or automotive film, has emerged as a popular solution to safeguard your vehicle’s exterior from the rigors of everyday driving. Who invented it? 3M, to protect military
My complicated relationship with sunglasses
I can be a ridiculous person. I also have ADHD. These two facts are strongly correlated. I’m hard on sunglasses. REALLY hard on them. And the ones I don’t break, I tend to lose. I never thought a lot about sunglasses until I started driving. To be fair, it was
I met my hero – the original NSX
They say not to meet your heroes. Well, I never listen. In 1990, reigning Formula One engine supplier Honda launched its first sports car. An all-aluminum, mid-engined, rear-drive sports car to rival the entry-level model from Ferrari. Its canopy was inspired by the F-16. Its shifter was so good that
Lotus announces that its Emira is delayed again
Lotus has notified North American reservation holders of a six-or-more month production delay for its Emira sports car. For much of the last two years, US customers have been expecting production to begin in early 2023 with delivery in roughly the April timeframe. This latest delay pushes deliveries to October
Is an extended car warranty right for me? Part 1
You’ve found the car of your dreams. It drives great, it looks amazing! But now you have to go through one of the worst rituals a consumer will ever experience: the dealership finance department. Many people will sign anything just to get out of there – that’s what the dealership
The Driving Force behind VIR
Being part of The Autoverse means I get to meet some of the most interesting people in the world of motorsport.
Recently, I spoke with Connie Nyholm, co-owner and CEO of the Virginia International Raceway.
Hypercar Maker RSC Motors plans HQ and Experience Center in the UAE
Old Town Alexandria, VA, USA – RSC Motors, Inc., is announcing plans to cement itself as one of the world’s elite sports car brands through construction of a headquarters and customer experience center in the United Arab Emirates. RSC has just completed scale prototyping of its record-breaking 13,000 RPM Pegasus
RSC Motors Chimera Racing Team – 2022 Season Recap
RSC Motors, Inc. completed its first full racing season in 2022, competing in the Sports Car Club of America’s Formula Atlantic Class. Team Principal and Driver Victor Seaber built this race rar from scratch – going from bare chassis to a full race car in just ten days in April
Welcome to The Autoverse
Welcome to The Autoverse, July 22, 2022, Saphiena Michaels Until a few months ago, I had no idea Formula 1 existed. Like many new fans of the sport, I stumbled across Netflix’s docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive and was beyond surprised at what I was seeing. The variety of sporting elements portrayed
Getting on Track
In-car footage from an RSC Motors client in a 981 Cayman S As a relative newcomer to track driving, I’m going to share my experience getting on track – which seems to be pretty common. Stages of Getting the Track Bug So you have a performance car or sports car
Miami Grand Prix – First Impressions from a First Timer
The Miami Grand Prix has gotten a lot of attention, but from what I’ve gathered from social media, it’s a mixed bag. Some love the glamours South Beach backdrop, even if the event is a bit north in land locked Miami Gardens. There have been lots of celebrity sightings, and
2022 Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Advanced l Review
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2022 Ford Maverick XL Hybrid l Review
Whatever happened to small trucks? When I was a kid they were everywhere. The first time I experienced donuts in an empty parking lot covered in snow was in either a compact Toyota or B-Series Mazda. Thanks Dad, that is still a good memory. Then, after the mini-truckin movement came
2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
I recently said out loud that basically “all new cars are good”. Some of my Weird Car Twitter friends out there may disagree, likely pointing to some 20 (30?) year old beater as the pinnacle of motoring. But, I stand by the notion that between performance, functionality, and technology there
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD
The automotive community, particularly those identifying as “an enthusiast” (a sect where I identify as a member) always has segment they don’t like and they’re pretty vocal about it. When I was young people couldn’t care less about the minvan or wagon. Now they’re both quite cool. Small trucks like
2018 Aston Martin DB11
Every once in awhile you get to experience a really special vehicle in a really special place. While I drive a lot of great cars, spending time with this 2018 Aston Martin DB11 was an amazing treat. What made it better was the location, the absolutely gorgeous town and road
2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited FWD l Comprehensive Review
I remember the beginning of the year 2000 fairly well. It was new years eve 1999 and we all hunkered down at a college friend’s place in the middle of nowhere and waited out what could potentially be an eventful night. Y2K came and went without the end of days
2022 Lexus UX 250h l Review
First impressions count for a lot. I’m graciously given cars that I don’t own to drive around for a whole week. Sometimes it’s even more than one car per week. Ridiculous I know. It makes the first impression even more important as they vie for attention with the vehicles I
2022 Hyundai Elantra N l Review
Every once in a while something special comes along that makes this job a whole lotta fun. In a sea of anonymous crossovers, the Hyundai Elantra N is quite special. I usually start these reviews with a slow build, “is this new blah blah any good?”. Well the Elantra N
2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback Prestige l Review
When I was a kid we had cars trucks, and vans. That was it. No, this isn’t a stay off my lawn moment, but I am prone to those. It is actually meant to highlight how it was a simpler time across the automotive landscape back in the 1980s. OK,
2022 Ford Bronco Advanced Wildtrak l Review
Welcome to the very first new car review here at The Starting Line, powered by The Autoverse! We kick it off with a good one too, the brand new 2022 Ford Bronco! Ford product manager Donald Frey—who also supervised the development of the Ford Mustang—kicked off development of the original
Why The Nürburgring is a Motorsports Obsession
For nearly a century, Germany’s Nürburgring course has proven to be one of the world’s biggest and toughest race tracks. With over 25 kilometers of narrow straightaways, banked corners, and blind hairpins, simply completing a lap takes titanic resolve from even seasoned drivers. The original “Ring was conceptualized in the
The History of AMG
For over 50 years, AMG has been one of Germany’s premier tuning and racing outfits. Maintaining a close relationship with Mercedes-Benz’s production team, and then becoming an official brand of the manufacturer. The tuner’s output ranges from big V8 sedans, to low-slung coupes, and to turbocharged hot hatches. Stick around
Dallara: Italy’s Underdog Race Car Builder
When you’re told to think of Italian race car manufacturers, Ferrari and Maserati come to mind. You may not have thought of Dallara, but the company has regardless worked behind the scenes of prestigious racing series for nearly 50 years. Building chassis for IndyCar, Formula 1, and Le Mans teams,
Italy’s Prestigious Automotive Design Houses
Automotive design is just as much an art as it is a science, and some of the best car-tists are living in Italy. These companies, known as design houses, are responsible for some of the most iconic auto concepts to hit the streets. Both in their home country, and globally.
70 Years of Lotus
Since 1948, Lotus has been England’s pluckiest indie automaker, putting out taught and nimble sports cars for the street and track. Famously, founder Colin Chapman’s mantra was “Simplify and add lightness.” Which has been carried into all the company’s products. From a physics standpoint, it just makes sense. Lighter components
The Greatest Corvettes in Motorsports
The original Corvette was created by Chevrolet in an effort to steal some thunder from popular British sports cars, but the Vette itself wasn’t much of a performer. It was saddled with a weak straight-six engine and a two-speed automatic gearbox. After a few years of mediocre sales, the Corvette
Timeline of the Corvette Z06
The long-running Corvette Z06 package has always been a solid option for turnkey performance on the street and track. First appearing in 1963 on the first stingray, The Z06 would take a nearly 40 year hiatus before re-appearing as the top of the line version of C5 Vette. While stock
VW’s MQB Platform
Volkswagens’ MQB chassis is a prolific Swiss Army Knife of a platform. Underpinning everything from compact hatchbacks, to sedans, vans, crossovers, up to budget supercars like the VW Golf R and Audi TT RS. The MQB is a generational successor to the venerable A platform of the original Golf, which
VW’s MLB Evo Platform
In order to combat rising production costs, platform-sharing has become an extremely common practice for vehicle manufacturers. Volkswagen Group has taken this practice to a whole new level, putting over a dozen big sedan and crossover models on its MLB Evo chassis. The Evo itself is a stretched version of
Timeline of the Porsche 911 Turbo
Since the 70’s, the 911 Turbo has been one of Porsche’s most prestigious nameplates. The original 930 brought racing technology to the street, and each subsequent Turbo has upped the ante with technical advancements like all-wheel-drive and anti-lag. They’re also some of the most powerful and violently accelerating cars to
Why Enthusiasts Love Station Wagons
Shedding their old boring image, station wagons have become another segment that car fans pine for. From a practical standpoint it’s easy to see why, as wagons can marry the cargo space of an SUV with the road manners and handling of a sports sedan. Like everything fun, this segment
Why Sports Cars Go Mid-Engine
The most exclusive supercars on Earth all essentially have one thing in common: An engine mounted directly behind the driver. It’s not just a design choice. Mid-mounted, or midship, engines have proven to be the choice for uncompromised performance. But why is that? It’s a fairly simple matter of gravity
How Detailers Bring Paint to a Like-New Shine
Over extended use, automotive paint is susceptible to all kinds of environmental attacks, from UV rays, to acid rain, road gravel, bird droppings, and microscopic dust. All these factors damage a paint’s clear coat over time and leave tiny imperfections in their wake, usually in the form of “swirls” visible
The Roadster: An Automotive Tradition
In the modern day, two-seat droptop roadsters are often seen as an enthusiast’s luxury item, but going back over a century, the segment actually describes many of the world’s most pioneering cars. These early “horseless carriage” models were quite literally based on horse carts, and naturally inherited their open-top design.
How to Avoid Car Buying Scams
Buying or selling a car is one of the biggest financial decisions the average person is likely to make. Unfortunately, that makes the whole process ripe picking for scammers to take advantage of our good faith. Parties will pose as either a buyer or seller and use that pretense to
What Exactly is a Kei Car?
Not to be confused with Chrysler’s old “K Car” platform. Dating back to 1949 in Japan, the Kei designation offers some of the tiniest vehicles that could still be legally considered a car. In Japan, and other East Asian countries, vehicles are often subjected to tax rates based on their
What Makes a Porsche GT3 RS
For almost 20 years, the GT3 RS has been one of the Porsche 911’s most desirable packages, mating a lightened chassis with strong downforce and high-revving power. Porsche takes the already-formidable GT3 formula, and spices it up with racing-spec goodies like carbon fiber trim and center-lock magnesium wheels. Every time
What Makes a Boxer Engine
Updated: May 19, 2021 Although they are currently associated with Porsche and Subaru, horizontally-opposed “boxer” engines were once one of the most popular engine types, with lineage going back over 100 years. The first boxer was patented by automotive pioneer Carl Benz in 1897, and the design would go on to
A Brief History of the Sports Sedan
For a lot of automotive history, if you wanted a nimble handling performance car, your choice was limited to cramped roadsters like the Cobra, Corvette, and various MGs, but in the late 70’s through the 80’s that all started to change. Sports sedans exploded out of Europe and became a
The Brave New World of EV Hot Rodding
Going back to the 1930’s and 40’s, a quintessential part of hot rodding and car modification has been swapping an engine with a more powerful one. Now that we’re a ways into the 21st century, some shops and manufacturers have taken to replacing the engine altogether, converting it to a
Celebrating the Mustangs that made the Name Legendary
We’ve just recently celebrated the 57th anniversary of the venerable Ford Mustang, with its official release on April 17th, 1964. In those 57 years, the Mustang has pretty consistently been the consumer choice for an affordable American GT sports car, almost to the point of being cliché. Base models of
A Brief History of the Porsche Boxster and Cayman
Updated: Apr 30, 2021 Although the platform has long lived in the shadow of Porsche’s flagship 911, the Boxster and Cayman remain solid little sports cars for the more budget-minded enthusiast. Special editions such as the recent Cayman GT4 can even give big brother 911 a run for its money performance-wise,
Why Car Collectors Love Naturally Aspirated Power
Updated: Apr 30, 2021 Be they BMW’s straight sixes, Porsche’s flat sixes, V12s from Ferrari, or Honda’s Vtec engines, automotive enthusiasts largely love high-revving naturally aspirated performance engines. The feeling and the sound coming from one of these machines flat-out at 8,000 RPM is hard to match with anything short of
Getting a Grip on Winter (Tires)
Why are we talking about this, it’s the mid-Atlantic, and we have all season tires not summer tires? I don’t need snow tires because it doesn’t snow that much here. Plus, I have all-wheel drive (or four-wheel drive), so it doesn’t matter.* Well…that’s just it. “Snow Tires” and “Summer Tires”
Exploring Electric Vehicles
Electric / Zero-Emission Vehicles are undeniably the wave of the future. The UK and Europe have already passed rules banning the sale of new internal combustion engines, ICE, starting in 2030 – so it’s just a matter of time before they are the majority if not the only vehicles on
Unpacking the Peculiarities of Porsche Procurement
Updated: Apr 13, 2021 Air cooled or water cooled? IMS failure? PASM? Sport Chrono? Wait, you mean the engine is in the back? 997, 991, 991.2, 987, 981 – huh? If you’ve spent any time whatsoever looking into Porsches, you’ve probably already discovered that there is a steep learning curve. Porsche-speak