Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The V8 Vantage was introduced in 2008 as Aston Martin's entry-level model. As you can tell from its name, it has a 4.7-liter V8 producing around 420-430 HP and 346-361 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph happens in 4.7-4.5 seconds and top speed is approximately 180-190 mph. Its average fuel economy is around 20 mpg. Along with the V8 Vantage is a V12 model, which is more powerful, more exclusive, faster, and overall greater than the V8-powered Vantage. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the V12 Vantage as of now. Rumor has it that the next Vantage may utilize a V8 engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG. This sounds like it would be a very interesting combination. By the way, I think Mercedes-AMG makes some of the best engines in the world. The Aston Martin Vantage is a very elegant automobile, but I don't admire it as much as other Astons, such as the Vanquish and DB9. Below is an early V8 Vantage that I saw in San Francisco last month.

Aston Martin Rapide S (2014-)

The new Aston Martin Rapide S is a fascinating sedan; it is very stylish, just like most Aston Martins. What differentiates the Rapide S from its predecessor is a new front fascia and a slight power upgrade. In other words, the Rapide/S is technically a somewhat longer DB9 with an extra set of doors. It has the same 6.0-liter V12 as the DB9 and Vanquish, except it only produces 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph is accomplished in five seconds flat and top speed is clocked at 183 mph. I am already aware that the Rapide S isn't really meant to be a car used to lay down hot laps at the racetrack. It's supposed to be a luxury sedan to drive/be driven around town. I like the Rapide S, but I find the DB9 and Vanquish more appealing. Below is a previous-gen Rapide spotted in Beverly Hills back in January. I'm not sure which version of the Rapide looks better.

Aston Martin DB9 (2014-)

The Aston Martin DB9 isn't as fast, sporty, expensive, or great as the Vanquish, but it is a cool car nonetheless. Like the Vanquish, the DB9 looks really good. It shares a lot of its components with the Vanquish, but only produces 510 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph happens in 4.6 seconds and its top speed is 186 mph. The DB9's base price starts at $183,400, while the Volante starts at $198,700. I really like the DB9, but I favor the faster, sportier Vanquish more when comparing them side-by-side. Pictured below is an older model DB9 that I spotted in Beverly Hills in January.

 

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish

The Vanquish is my second all-time favorite Aston, behind the One-77. It is also one of the most beautiful cars ever created. Powered by a 6.0-liter V12, the Aston Martin Vanquish produces 565-573 HP and 457-620 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph is reached in just under four seconds and top speed is clocked at 183 mph. A 6-speed automatic comes standard while power is sent to the rear wheels. The interior looks great, just like the exterior. The 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish starts at $279,995 for the coupe and $299,995 for the drop-top Volante. The Aston Martin Vanquish is an exceptional automobile, but it would not be the first car I would buy if I started a car collection of my own.

2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty



The Ford Super Duty has been given a minor refresh for the 2015 model year. It's a cool truck, but the Super Duty is too inconvenient for someone like me to use as a daily driver because I live in the suburbs and drive to the urban areas quite a bit. If I lived on a farm, that would be a completely different story. Plus, these don't appeal to me as much because they are not meant for speed. They are, however, meant to haul heavy objects from place to place. The 2015 F-Series Super Duty comes with a large Powerstroke turbo-diesel V8 that produces around 500-700 horsepower and 600-800 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is rated at approximately 13-16 mpg while towing capacity is estimated between 14,000 and 21,000 pounds. These stats are very impressive and may be more than the competition. From what I last read, the Ford F-Series Super Duty is also the most stolen vehicle in America. The Ford Super Duty is my top pick in the heavy duty pickup segment, followed by the Chevy Silverado/ GMC Sierra HD.



2014 Ford F-150

Shown above is the outgoing 2014 Ford F-150, the best-selling car in the U.S. and the best truck in its class (the Chevy Silverado is close behind). There is a redesigned 2015 model coming to dealers soon, with an all-aluminum chassis to cut weight. I think the 2015 model looks good, while some may argue that its predecessor looks better. The trim levels pictured above are in this particular order: King Ranch, STX, Lariat, FX4, Tremor, Platinum, and Raptor. My favorite version of the F-150 is the Raptor, which is the most off-road capable F-150, and I think it is also one of the best trucks of all time. Last month, my friend bought a brand new F-150 Raptor. It looks pretty nice; I'm not sure if he plans on upgrading it or adding any cosmetic enhancements to it. Apparently, more than half of F-150 buyers opt for the EcoBoost V6 over the V8. I can see that being the case because the EcoBoost V6 is more fuel efficient and costs less than the V8. The good news is that a test mule for the next Raptor has been spied on the streets recently, meaning that there will be another Raptor ahead for the upcoming F-150, which will be due sometime next year. On the other hand, the Tremor package will not return for the 2015 model year. I tend to favor GM in most cases, but I am very impressed with the Ford F-150 as a truck. It is reliable, fuel efficient, and drives very well compared to some of its competitors.

Honda IndyCar 2014

I don't have much to say about this, but unfortunately I don't follow IndyCar that much and I don't find it as interesting as NASCAR and Formula 1. However, I am aware that Honda is one of the main sponsors of IndyCar and Dallara provides the chasses for IndyCar. Also, the Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest sporting events in the United States and is the only IndyCar race that matters to me. Finally, I can't remember who drives the one displayed above. If you have any ideas, please notify me in the comments below.

Nissan 370Z NISMO

The NISMO variant of the 370Z is the best and most potent Z car to date. It is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 churning out 350 HP and 276 lb-ft of torque. The 370Z NISMO is differentiated from the standard version by a larger rear spoiler, new front lip and side skirts, plus a power boost. This is one of the only Nissan models that grabs my interest, but the 370Z truly cannot compete on the same level as the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger in my book.

Jeep Grand Cherokee (2014-)

The Grand Cherokee is my favorite model in Jeep's current lineup. It looks great inside and out, and overall performs very well off-roading (applies to all versions except SRT8, which is more track-focused). The Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 rated at 290 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. In Europe, the Grand Cherokee is also available with a diesel option. It comes in four different trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Overland, and Summit. The best version of the Grand Cherokee is undoubtedly the SRT8, which is more performance-oriented. The SRT8 version is also my all-time favorite Jeep. It comes with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 producing 465 HP and 465 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph happens in 4.8 seconds and top speed is rated at 160 mph. My family used to have a 1997 Grand Cherokee Limited that wasn't too horrible. It was pretty much left stock for its entire lifespan. However, it was nowhere near as good as the current model. The last person in my family to have it was my cousin, who currently owns a 2008 Grand Cherokee Laredo. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the best SUVs on the market today and I would highly prefer it over its platform-mate, the Dodge Durango. Below are more recent photos of the 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT8. In the second one, it is towing a Porsche 911 Turbo S cabriolet down I-5 early January. The first one was taken early last month.

Dodge Challenger R/T (1970)

The 1970 Challenger was the original inspiration for the first modern Challenger, which made its debut in 2007. This is one of my favorite Mopar products of the muscle car era (late 60's-early 70's). It looked really good and sounded excellent. Power is sourced from a 426 cu HEMI V8. In the above gallery, I prefer the one in black over the one in orange. Classic Challengers are great cars, but I tend to find GM products from the same time period to be more appealing (i.e. Chevy Camaro, Chevelle, Impala, Corvette, Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, Pontiac GTO).