Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

High Karate

It’s not often you see a car this rare and iconic go up on the auction block, especially considering its Japanese origin. The first of its kind, this 1967 Shelby/Toyota 2000GT was brought to life by none other than Mr. Carroll Shelby, himself, for the 1968 C-Production SCCA racing circuit. This was also significant, as [...]

Everything looks better in slow motion — or in this case cuter. If the toils of this week have left you drained or down, this five minute film depicting man’s best friend living it up on the road is guaranteed to make you smile. It appears they enjoy the thrill of the drive just as [...]

“What happens if we mix the sound of a classical orchestra with the modern tones of a powerful motorsound? What’s the outcome if we try to use the momentum of a melody and blend it to the deep sound of a V8 or the high tone of a biturbo engine?” These are the questions the [...]

The Italian Bumblebee

We can all agree that the Maserati GranTurismo is one gorgeous automobile. Then there’s its angry brother, the MC Stradale (strah-dahl-ee) with 444 horsepower and a beefed up suspension and chassis. Well, Novitec, the tuner that regularly modifies already blazingly quick Ferraris and Alfa Romeos, has churned out the Novitec Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale through [...]

Just My E-Type

Jaguar has officially sloughed off the traditional designs that stood for decades. The new design era is officially in full swing, and they’ve not only penned but created the next star in their lineup, the Jaguar C-X16 Concept, which will show up in Frankfurt next week. This one’s got some big shoes to fill, as [...]

Old Dog, New Tricks

The Chevrolet Corvette is pretty much as American as it gets. Although the current C6 is a head-turner, a classic 1960′s vette is that much more noticeable. Well, Karl Kustom Corvettes combines the best of both worlds, taking the svelte body of what are referred to as the “Mid-Years,” 1960′s coupes and convertibles and incorporating [...]

Speed Channeled

Two of what? No, it’s the Shelby Supercars Tuatara (pronounced “twu-tar-ah”), SSC’s newest superweapon in the top speed battle with Bugatti. As if SSC’s Ultimate Aero’s 257 mph was not enough, Jerod Shelby aims to re-trump Bugatti by overtaking the Veyron Super Sport, which topped out at a blistering 264 mph (otherwise known as airborne [...]

Air Hoardin'

Had enough mad black tuner cars yet? It looks like there’s no end in sight, and that’s okay with us. Brabus recently released the automotive equivalent of an M198 Howitzer, the Brabus Mercedes-Benz 800 E V12 Cabriolet ($681,484) turning an already powerful convertible into an instant way to flatten the top of your skull. The [...]

Envy Green

The Mazda Miata (or MX-5 in current form) has clearly put its automotive stamp on the world. It truly is a purist’s car with great balance, a precise shifter and envied lightness and handling. A classic roadster for the modern world, indeed. Now, the Japanese automaker has come out with a special version for the [...]

Family Dragster

The last generation M5 will have its final hurrah in five-door form and under cover of darkness. Edo Competition, the mad German tuner, has just pulled the cover off its BMW M5 Dark Edition. The V10 has been ramped up to 555 horsepower from the original and already ferocious 500 via increased air flow, allowing [...]

Frosty Goodness

There are very few times when it’s not good to be an American. This is one of them. BMW is producing the M3 CRT in limited numbers (67) for markets other than the U.S. Yes, you can cry now. The Frozen Polar Silver painted sedans are designated as Carbon Racing Technology vehicles due to the [...]

Beetle, Juiced

Are we done with black yet? Don’t hold your breath, as VW is following Porsche and BMW’s latest dark act, providing a limited edition of cloaked vehicles with special paint, trim and tires. Now far from emasculating and upped in the masculinity quotient, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Black Turbo Edition ($25,720) aims to draw 600 [...]

Sexy Back

Well, folks, it looks like the “four door coupe” is one oxymoron that is here to stay. The term is a weird one, but for Audi, the result is positively stunning in the 2012 Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI, an exercise in what can be done with automotive sheetmetal when the beancounters don’t get a [...]

Not so Woolly Mammoth

There’s off-road, and then there’s OFF-ROAD. The Russian built Trecol 39295 takes it to an altogether different level. The insane six-wheeler enables you to drive over logs, insanely rocky terrain, deep water (with optional outboard motor) and even people. Okay, back up now. Yes, you can do that, too. The Trecol just happens to have [...]

Macht Schnell

Russian tuner, TOPCAR has done something sinister to the already fast-selling Porsche family sedan with their stealthy Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR. The car certainly takes on a far more aggressive look that we feel is more consistent with the rear greenhouse of the Panamera, largely by giving it a beautiful matte black paint job, more [...]