Kurt Ernst, Contributor
Articles
-
Earlier this month, we told you about the upcoming premier of comedian and car-guy Jerry Seinfeld’s latest endeavor, a web-only series called Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. Like the...
-
2013 Lincoln MKZ Configurator And Pricing Estimator Goes Live
Lincoln’s 2013 MKZ sedan is still a few months away from hitting the market, but Ford’s luxury division is curious to hear from interested potential buyers before it releases official pricing and specifications. Following the lead of automakers like Hyundai, who released tentative 2012...
Kurt Ernst -
Well-Documented 1968 Corvette L-88 Racer Hits The Block In Monterey
Almost since their debut in 1953, Chevrolet Corvettes have been a fixture at both club and professional-level racing events around the world. While many of us associate the C5.R and C6.R models as being the pinnacles of Corvette Racing, the most successfully-campaigned Corvette in history may be a...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW On Demand USA To Offer Short Term BMW Rentals
In 2010, BMW launched a pilot program in Munich that it called “BMW On Demand.” Based at BMW Welt (BMW World), the program allowed drivers to rent various BMW models by the hour, day or week, with prices starting from $22 per hour for a 1-Series. Now that car sharing and the idea of...
Kurt Ernst -
The Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake Hits The Road: Video
Since Mercedes-Benz officially announced its 2013 CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake uber-wagon last month, the luxury automaker has gone out of its way to keep the car, which hits European dealers this fall, in the media spotlight. After its well documented official release, the station wagon mit Schnell...
Kurt Ernst -
ART DRIVE! Highlights The BMW Art Car Collection
In 1975, French racer and auctioneer Herve Poulain asked artist Alexander Calder, a personal friend, to design a motif for an “already perfect object.” Calder worked his magic on a 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL, later entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the seeds of the BMW Art Car project were...
Kurt Ernst -
Calling it the Beltbag, Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to introduce inflatable rear seatbelt airbags on a yet-to-be-named “luxury-class model,” likely the new S Class sedan. The...
-
Subaru Explains Its Core Technologies: Video
While we here at High Gear Media generally adhere to a strict “no mime videos” policy, on occasion we’re forced to make an exception to this rule. Such is the case with a new series of videos from Subaru that focus on explaining the automaker’s core technologies. As any...
Kurt Ernst -
MG Working On An Icon-Based Convertible Crossover: Report
The Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet, in the eyes of critics, is the answer to a question that absolutely no one is asking. The topless crossover is plagued by funky looks and a more-than-slightly-ambitious sticker price, which begs the question, “could a more attractive and reasonably priced...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Audi A8 Gets New Engine Options, Priced From $73,095
Audi is introducing two new engine options for the 2013 A8 sedan, including a V-6 that lowers the starting price by some $6,550 from last year.
Kurt Ernst -
'Black Air' documentary covers the Buick Regal Grand National
Introduced in 1982, the Buick Regal Grand National began life as a special edition honoring Buick’s back-to-back titles in NASCAR’s Grand National series. Cars built for the 1982 model year were sprayed in Charcoal Gray with unique body graphics, and the standard engine was a somewhat...
Kurt Ernst -
Spyker's Survival 'Highly Uncertain' Without Additional Investors
While the sad tale of bankrupt automaker Saab may officially be over (for now, anyway), the damage caused by its long decline may still claim another victim. Spyker Cars (which used to be called Swedish Automobile when its holdings included Saab) has admitted its future remains uncertain if talks...
Kurt Ernst -
These days, it seems like there’s an app for the iPhone and iPad that will let you accomplish just about anything. Need to find the best twisty road near your current location? Just launch ...
-
Lamborghini Builds Its 1,000th Aventador
Just 15 months after production of its latest flagship supercar began, Lamborghini has reached a milestone with its Aventador. Sprayed in Argos Orange and ordered by a customer in Germany, the 1,000 Aventador built rolled off the assembly line in Sant’ Agata Bolognese today. Perhaps the most...
Kurt Ernst -
Audi Prices Its 2013 S Models
Audi has just published pricing for its 2013 model lineup, including the driver-centric S and RS models. From what we can tell, Audi is serious about expanding its share of the luxury market by upping the driver-entertainment value of models throughout its portfolio. Starting at the high end of the...
Kurt Ernst -
Campagna's Latest 3-Wheeler Visits Jay Leno's Garage
If the name Campagna sounds familiar to you, it should: the Quebec, Canada based company builds the three-wheeled T-Rex cyclecar. With two wheels in front and one aft and car-like seating, the T-Rex doesn’t require a motorcycle license to operate. What it does require, however, is a steady...
Kurt Ernst -
Aston Martin May Begin Using Toyota Engines: Report
Just a few days back, we brought you news that Aston Martin is seriously considering downsizing engines in its product range. The trick, it seems, is balancing power with fuel efficiency and lower emissions, while not “undermining the exclusivity” that makes an Aston Martin an Aston...
Kurt Ernst -
Ferrari's F1 Team The 15th Most Valuable Sports Franchise
If you think that Formula One is all about spending obscene amounts of money in the pursuit of speed, you’re correct. In the world of professional sports, however, even the net worth of a successful Formula One team pales in comparison to the net worth of European football (our soccer)...
Kurt Ernst -
In the auto industry, the average length of time that a vehicle sits on a dealer’s lot before finding a buyer is known as Days-To-Turn (DTT). In the month of May, the average for all vehicles...
-
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson Is The BBC's Biggest Earner
If you believe that cynicism and snark can’t be turned into a lucrative career, perhaps you’ll want to rethink that position after we disclose Jeremy Clarkson’s approximate 2011 income from the BBC. As reported in The Telegraph, Clarkson took home some 500,000 pounds ($781,150) in...
Kurt Ernst -
Caterham Planning Higher-End Sports Car: Report
Caterham Cars is best known for building its version of the no-frills, bare-bones Lotus Seven sports roadster. While big on performance and value, Caterham Sevens have never been much for creature comforts, and even with a top and side curtains fitted are best described as “somewhat water...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Ford Mustang RTR Makes Its Debut: Video
World Champion Drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. knows a thing or two about setting up Mustangs for optimized handling, and his Mustang RTR series cars have been available at select Ford dealers since 2010. Through 2012, Mustang RTR models were largely limited to appearance and suspension upgrades, with no...
Kurt Ernst -
European Union Rejects Aid, Nürburgring Facing Bankruptcy
The saga of the financial debacle surrounding Germany’s storied Nürburgring circuit has been been going on for years. In 2010, it was made (very) public by ‘Ring Meister Sabine Schmitz, working on behalf of a group called “Save The Ring.” While the group has been...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Cadillac ATS Stars In New Web Series: Video
Cadillac is highlighting the strengths of its new ATS compact sedan in a video series called "Cadillac ATS vs. The World."
Kurt Ernst