1972 Chevrolet El Camino on 2040-cars

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Autoblog's guilty pleasure cars

Guilty pleasures are part of life – don't even try to pretend like you don't have one (or two, or six). In the non-automotive space, this could come down to that secret playlist in your iPhone of songs you'll only listen to when you're alone; or think of that one TV show you really do love, but won't admit to your friends. I've got plenty, and so do you. Going back to cars, here's a particularly juicy one for me: several years ago, I had a mad crush on the very last iteration of the Cadillac DTS. Oh yes, the front-wheel-drive, Northstar V8-powered sofa-on-wheels that was the last remaining shred of the elderly-swooning days of Cadillac's past. Every time I had the chance to drive one, I was secretly giddy. Don't hate me, okay? These days, the DTS is gone, but I've still got a mess of other cars that hold a special place in my heart. And in the spirit of camaraderie, I've asked my other Autoblog editors to tell me some of their guilty pleasure cars, as well – Seyth Miersma, as you can see above, has a few choice emotions to share about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Read on to find out what cars make us secretly happy. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG This decadent convertible is the epitome of the guilty pleasure. It's big, powerful, fairly heavy and it's richly appointed inside and out. It's a chocolate eclair with the three-pointed star on the hood. Given my druthers, I'd take the SL65 AMG, which delivers 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. That output is borderline absurd for this laid-back convertible. I don't care. You don't need dessert. Sometimes you just crave it. The SL line is about the feel you get on the road. The roof is open. The air, sun and engine sounds all embrace you. It's the same dynamic you could have experienced in a Mercedes a century ago, yet the SL gives you the most modern of luxuries. An Airscarf feature that warms my neck and shoulders through a vent embedded in the seat? Yes, please. Sure, it's an old-guy car. Mr. Burns and Lord Grantham are probably too young and hip for an SL65. I don't care. This is my guilty pleasure. Release the hounds. – Greg Migliore Senior Editor Ford Flex I drove my first Flex in 2009 when my mother let me borrow hers for the summer while I was away at college. The incredibly spacious interior made moving twice that summer a breeze, and the 200-mile trips up north were quite comfortable.

Corvette Z06. Nissan GT-R Nismo. Motor Trend Head 2 Head. 'Nuff said.

Here is a video we've been waiting for, one that will get broadband fiber optic cables glowing like Hooker headers on a dyno. For Episode 62 of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend throws the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 into the bear pit with the latest Nissan GT-R Nismo. What comes out of that is seventeen minutes of don't-look-away video. We're only going to give you the specs. The 3,527-pound Z06 gets on with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, applied to the wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission. With the Z07 performance package appended it has a front splitter and winglets, and a three-section rear spoiler among its aero aids. The tested model also wore carbon ceramic brakes, which helped push its $89,985 MSRP out to $105,210. The 3,881-pound GT-R Nismo plays the underdog – again – with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 spitting out 600 hp and 481 lb-ft, yoked to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The GT-R left its 'performance bargain' days behind years ago, and this top-shelf version starts at $151,585 but has almost everything it can get, so the as-tested price was only a skosh more at $151,880. We're not going to tell you any more than that. Click on the video and let Carlos Lago and his two mean minions tell you a story you won't soon forget. Related Video: News Source: Motor Trend Channel via YouTube Chevrolet Nissan Coupe Luxury Performance Videos motor trend nissan gt-r nismo head 2 head

GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado diesels finally heading to dealers

Customers who have been waiting to receive their diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons should be relived to hear that GM will finally start to ship them out of the Wentzville Assembly Plant. "The highly anticipated 2016 GMC Canyon diesel has begun shipping to dealers," a company spokesperson confirmed to The Detroit News. The trucks originally had a fall launch date, but a final review forced a delay in deliveries. The 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel in the midsize trucks produces 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and the company touts the engine's low emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board even put the mill through extra scrutiny with a real world test in the wake of VW's diesel scandal, and the Duramax passed with no problems. At that time, a Chevy spokesperson told Autoblog that the models' launch was on track. The Duramax engine adds $3,730 to the price of a comparable V6 model, but they're the most fuel-efficient pickups on the market. The EPA estimates the twins at 31 miles per gallon highway, 22 mpg city, and 25 mpg combined in two-wheel drive form and 29/20/23 with four-wheel drive. Buyers likely can't wait to finally experience these pickups after reading a heap of positive reviews. The Colorado diesel recently earned Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award. We also came away impressed with it during our First Drive and liked the Canyon during our Quick Spin. Related Video: