Kurt Ernst, Contributor
Articles
-
The open-air version of the Lamborghini Aventador didn’t appear in Geneva as we expected, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still in the works. Lamborghini is neither confirming nor... -
Big Muscle Visits The Best Car Collection You'll (Likely) Never See: VideoIf we said “Lingenfelter,” what would pop into your head? The answer is probably Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE), the tuning firm started by the late John Lingenfelter. Over the years LPE has turned out some pretty amazing creations, perhaps best known for their blend of...
Kurt Ernst -
The Stock Chevy Camaro ZL1 Runs The Quarter Mile In The 11s: VideoThe list of cars that can run the quarter mile in under 12 seconds right off the showroom floor is a short one, populated by cars like the Nissan GT-R, the Ferrari 458 Italia and Chevy’s Corvette Z06 and ZR1. Now you can add the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 to that list as well, as both the manual...
Kurt Ernst -
Driving Tip: You Can't Ignore A Flat Tire For LongLife isn’t always fair, and things don’t always go as planned. Drive long enough, and you’ll eventually get a flat tire, likely at the worst possible moment. Fly frequently enough, and sooner or later you’re going to miss a flight or two. Sometimes, you’ll do both in...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW Announces M Performance Bits For 3 And 5 Series SedansIn years past, upgrading a car for better performance usually meant going to the aftermarket for lighter wheels, bigger brakes, enhanced aerodynamics and additional horsepower. Manufacturers have since gotten smart, and many now offer in-house performance part divisions to keep customer dollars...
Kurt Ernst -
Cadillac's CUE Likely To Migrate To Other GM ProductsCUE, short for Cadillac User Experience, is GM’s high end infotainment system, scheduled to debut in the upcoming Cadillac XTS sedan. After learning from mistakes made by Ford and Lincoln, Cadillac designed the CUE to be more intuitive and user friendly. CUE will also be the first automotive...
Kurt Ernst -
This may seem obvious, but apparently it isn’t: when you shoplift a package of schnitzel by stuffing it down the front of your pants, then rob the same grocery store you’ve pilfered from,...
-
Rare Ford GT40 Mk I Up For SaleFord’s GT40 racer was built with one goal in mind: to take on Ferrari and beat them on the race tracks of Europe. To that end, the GT40 was phenomenally successful, winning at Le Mans for four successive years and racking up an impressive string of victories on both sides of the Atlantic...
Kurt Ernst -
Gorden Wagener Describes Mercedes' Concept Style Coupe: VideoWhile plenty of pictures of the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe have been released, this video is the first we’ve seen of Daimler design head Gorden Wagener giving his thoughts on the car’s lines. The Concept Style Coupe (which will likely hit the market wearing the Mercedes-Benz CLA...
Kurt Ernst -
Porsche Explains The Spirit Of The Boxster: VideoEvery open-top Porsche model ever built, from the 1948 Porsche 356 Cabriolet to the newly-redesigned 2013 Porsche Boxster, has had a certain spirit about it. There have always been faster open-roof cars, and more luxurious open-roof cars, yet somehow none manage to deliver the essence of a Porsche...
Kurt Ernst -
Prince Charles' Aston Martin Virage Volante Heads To AuctionAre you in the market for a vintage drop-top Aston Martin Virage? Do you want one with a bit of history and perhaps a former celebrity owner? In that case, be prepared to bid on lot number 223 at the upcoming Bonhams Aston Martin sale. The car in question, sprayed in non-metallic Special British...
Kurt Ernst -
Anatole Lapine, Former Head Of Porsche Styling, Dead At 81Anatole Lapine, the lead designer behind such Porsche models as the 924, 944 and 928, has died at the age of 81. Lapine joined Porsche in 1969 as head of the Style Porsche design studio, a job he held until 1988. Michael Mauer, Porsche’s current chief designer, said of Lapine’s passing...
Kurt Ernst -
Perhaps it’s the sport’s blue-collar roots, or maybe it’s the fact that tracks are generally oval or tri-oval in shape, instead of laden with complex left and right corners. Maybe... -
BMW Classics To Participate In The 2012 Mille MigliaThe original Mille Miglia was a point-to-point race on public roads in Italy, held annually from 1927 through 1940, then again from 1947 through 1957. The event was banned following the 1957 running, as two separate crashes claimed the lives of three participants and nine spectators. In 1977, to...
Kurt Ernst -
New Driving Simulator Developed With Ariel Motor CompanyThe problem with a track day terror like the Ariel Atom is this: it may be fun to flog around the nearest road course. but it isn’t much fun to drive on public roads to and from the track, especially if the weather is less than ideal. Then there’s the issue of tires to think about: if...
Kurt Ernst -
Charity Auction Lets You Bid On Meeting Patrick DempseyPatrick Dempsey has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and even the SCORE Baja 1000 off-road endurance race. These days, the owner of Dempsey Racing splits his time between driving a Mazda RX-8 and an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the Grand Am road racing series. That's when...
Kurt Ernst -
Neil Armstrong's 1967 Corvette For Sale On EbayIn the late 1960s and early 1970s, Neil Armstrong was a household name in the United States. In 1969, Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, but even before that he’d gained notoriety as a astronaut in NASA’s Gemini program. Astronauts were on par with rock stars in the...
Kurt Ernst -
Electric Turbocharging Rumored For Next Subaru WRXIn 2007, Subaru filed a patent application for an electrically-powered turbocharger unit. Subaru’s parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, is reportedly working on a way to generate electricity from the heat energy of exhaust gasses, which could revolutionize forced induction if perfected. As...
Kurt Ernst -
The plight of the urban-dweller is generally this: parking in a big city, anywhere in the world, is expensive, risky or both. London, England is no exception to this rule, and a space in a private,... -
2012 Corvettes At Carlisle Offers Something For EveryoneIf you’re among the Corvette faithful, a trip to Corvettes at Carlisle is surely on your bucket list. Billed as the largest Corvette event in the world, the annual festival packs in over 5,000 Corvettes on display, plus tens of thousands of visitors. It’s not just another car show...
Kurt Ernst -
MINI Supports 2012 Life Ball With New One-Off Designer RoadsterSince 2001, MINI has partnered with the Life Ball, an annual charity event that raises money to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. Via the donation of 10 designer-prepared MINIs, that automaker has raised over 500,000 euros ($656,500) to support Life Ball in the past decade. This year is no...
Kurt Ernst -
Land Rover Working On Range Rover Evoque Sport Model: ReportThe Range Rover Evoque has been an out-of-the-park home run for Land Rover, and the factory at Halewood, England is struggling to meet worldwide demand. That’s a good problem to have, but consumer interest in any new product wanes over time. The best way to keep demand for the Evoque up...
Kurt Ernst -
Of Cows, Chemicals And Car SeatsIf you’re in the market for a new car, chances are good you’re being lied to. Perhaps not outright, but isn’t a lie of omission the same as a lie? Give us a bit of latitude, and we’ll explain what we mean. Let’s say you’re in the market for a new sedan, and you...
Kurt Ernst -
Jaguar Shows Off Its XJ Ultimate Edition: VideoIf you’ve never driven a current Jaguar XJ sedan, trust us: it’s a perfectly satisfying luxury ride. No, it’s not up there with Bentley or Rolls-Royce, but neither is the price tag, and the big cat can more than hold its own against competitors from Japan and Germany. If the XJ...
Kurt Ernst