Lexus ES 350 F Sport

The current-gen Lexus ES was redesigned for the 2019 model year and is the first ES gen offered with the F Sport trim level. The ES 350 F Sport is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque paired to an 8-speed automatic. It launches from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and can hit a top speed of 131 mph. Compared to the standard and hybrid ES models, the F Sport has a sportier suspension, specific 19-inch wheels, a Sport S+ driving mode, and sport seats. Its interior is well-crafted with leather and aluminum trim and offers Apple CarPlay compatibility. Pricing for the ES 350 F Sport starts at $44,635. It is no coincidence that the latest Lexus ES happens to be the best one, especially in F Sport form. In addition, Lexus' second-largest sedan looks great, feels comfortable, and contains an unbeatable level of quality.

Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison

As of late, I have been featuring several high-end European performance cars here, mainly because those are my favorite types of cars. I am bringing you something a little different today in the form of the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. It was created with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) and is the top-of-the-line model in Chevy's midsize pickup range. Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 producing 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque paired to an 8-speed dual clutch. It travels from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds and carries a top speed limited to 99 mph; not on the level of many traditional performance cars, but it wasn't meant to be. The ZR2 Bison is also available with a 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel four-cylinder. Compared to the regular ZR2, the ZR2 Bison is more rugged, with stronger skid plates, larger fender flares, AEV badges, new 12-spoke aluminum wheels, and a Ford F150 Raptor-style grille. The Bison package can be fitted to any ZR2 for an additional $5750 regardless of its configuration, increasing the sticker price to around $50,000. To sum it up, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is one of the best and coolest midsize pickups out there.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Mercedes-Benz SSK Gazelle

This isn't just any Mercedes-Benz SSK replica, but an SSK Gazelle. The example above was produced between the late 70s and the mid 80s. Powering the Gazelle is a Chevy 4-cylinder mated to a three-speed automatic. I don't expect this vehicle to have much to show for in terms of performance. Its interior appears premium and basic with leather seats, a wooden dash, a wooden steering wheel, several gauges, air conditioning, and an AM/FM radio. These typically go for under $20,000 on the used market. In short, the SSK Gazelle looks amazing and is a great bargain for those who enjoy cruising the city or taking weekend drives.

McLaren Senna

The Senna is a limited edition, one-off supercar that succeeds the P1 in McLaren's Ultimate Series but isn't a direct replacement. It was first displayed publicly at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and named after the late great Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna. Behind the seats is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, propelling the vehicle to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch. As you can probably tell, the McLaren Senna's design is functional above anything else with its active aerodynamics and loads of carbon fiber. It also features see-through sections on the doors, thin roof panels, the electronic door release, window switches, and push-button start located on the ceiling, the steering wheel free of buttons, an 8-inch touchscreen with infotainment, navigation, and audio, and a three-camera system used to record lap times. Weighing in at 2,614 pounds, the Senna is one of the lightest McLaren models ever made. Its production run has been limited to 500 units, two of which I've seen in person. Each Senna carried a starting price of $1.05 million. It is an absolutely insane car that excels on the racetrack and at turning heads. Although I think the P1 is slightly cooler, not many vehicles can match the Senna's crazy styling and staggering performance. Ayrton Senna himself would be extremely proud of the vehicle named in his honor.

Best of Car Spotting 2019 Part 1

We are a tad less than a month away from 2020, and that means it's time to wrap up the calendar year by displaying a highlight reel of the greatest, most unusual, and my favorite cars I photographed this year. The end-of-year compilations begin with Part 1 of Best of Car Spotting 2019. This series, along with Best of Car Shows 2019 and Best of Car Spotting in previous years, has been split into two segments because I feel there would be too many pictures to cram into one post. Part 1 features photos taken between January and June of 2019. In the instance of spotting, I had to have spotted the cars on the street, in parking lots, and randomly. Dealer showrooms, displays, and museums don't count as I am going by the pure definition of car spotting. Enough said, enjoy the gallery and share your thoughts in the comments.

Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet

Ferrari 488 Spider

Aston Martin Rapide S

Lotus Evora

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

McLaren P1

The P1 is pegged as the spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1 despite the latter not having the three-seat layout. It was introduced at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, with production lasting from 2013 to 2015. Along with the Porsche 918 Spyder and LaFerrari, the P1 was one of the first hybrid supercars to hit the market and pioneered the way for future hybrid supercars and sports cars. Powering the McLaren P1 is a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 paired to two electric motors making a combined output of 903 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. It travels from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph. The P1's hybrid powertrain is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch. In EV mode, the P1 has an estimated range of 19 miles. Race Mode allows the car to be pushed to its absolute limits, but McLaren doesn't recommend using Race Mode on the street. Technology borrowed from Formula 1 consists of the Instant Power Assist System (IPAS), in which the electric motors instantly boost acceleration, and a Drag Reduction System (DRS) controlling the rear wing. Both of these features operate by pressing specific buttons on the steering wheel. 375 total units of the McLaren P1 were made, with 127 examples known to reside in the U.S. Pricing for the P1 began at around $1.15 million when new, and resale values have at least doubled since the end of its production run. In addition to the example above, I have seen one other P1 in person a few years ago at the Petersen Auto Museum in LA, shown below. To sum it up, the McLaren P1 is one of my top five favorite cars ever made and undoubtedly one of the coolest cars of all time.

Porsche 911 Carrera (992)

One of the top sports car icons in the automotive world has been redesigned for the 2020 model year and is an evolution of its previous generation. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-6 from the 991.2 carries over to the 992, upgraded to 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque in the Carrera and Carrera 4 and 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque in the Carrera S and 4S. The 992-gen Porsche 911 goes from 0 to 60 mph in anywhere between 4 and 3.4 seconds and tops out at 179-191 mph depending on the trim level and configuration. As with previous Porsche 911s, the only major difference between the base/S and 4/4S is the latter having AWD. The 992's interior is all-new, integrating more touchscreen interfaces and sensors than before. The 7-speed PDK dual-clutch in the 991 has been upgraded to an 8-speed PDK in the 992. Notable features include Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi, a PASM adaptive sport suspension, and options such as a sport exhaust, an improved torque-vectoring rear differential, and a tighter turning radius and increased high-speed stability thanks to an additional rear-wheel-steering feature. The 2020 Porsche 911 carries a starting price of $97,400 and climbs up to $133,400 for a fully loaded Carrera 4S. In other news, the new 911 has been awarded this year's Motor Trend Best Driver's Car, among other awards. The Turbo, GT3, GT3 RS, and GT2 RS variants of the 992 are under development and on their way. Overall, the 992-gen Porsche 911 is a marvelous sports car that is capable of anything.