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Welcome to the Motoring Soapbox!

In the old days, people would take a big wooden soapbox, drop it down on a street corner, step up on it, and begin talking about anything they had on their minds. Hence the term soap box became THE expression to describe the process of shouting out to the world whatever it was that one wished to share. Ever since I was a very little boy, as early as 2 years old, I was into reading magazines about cars. Of course I don't think I could read at that time yet but I would browse through them looking at the photos.  It helped that I grew up surrounded by car enthusiasts and for as long as I can remember, and even to this day, I would hang out in the garage and sit inside a car. When I was a little boy I would sit only in the drivers seat of a stationary car and pretend to drive, complete with a radio for my driving pleasure. I was notorious for running down car batteries then but being the first male child and grandchild has its perks, one of which was the adults would just let m...

The 2024 Rimac Nevera - Electrifying Performance and Futuristic Driving Dynamics

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  I first encountered the Rimac Nevera in Forza Horizon 4 and 5. Since that time I was so intrigued by the car and the heady (virtual) driving experience it provided. In both FH4 and FH5, the car, at least on tarmac, had no equal.  This led me to research all I could about Rimac and the Nevera, deliveries of which have started to a handful of very lucky buyers. Understandably, many car enthusiasts are unaware of this car because of its limited run and Rimac is not exactly the most popular brand around.  This however is bound to change very soon due to a couple of factors. One is that companies such as Hyundai and Kia are collaborating with Rimac for their electric vehicles. Another is the joint venture cum merger of Rimac and Bugatti (yes that supercar) which has proven successful way beyond both companies expectations.  So given the promising future ahead for Rimac, let’s take closer look at the current flagship and see where the rubber meets the proverbial road. ...

Initial thoughts about the Kia EV6 GT

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  Kia EV6 GT: Redefining Performance and Sustainability in Electric Vehicles   Overview I first got a look at the EV6 by way of this excellent video by ex-rally driver YS Khong on his YouTube channel. Khong certainly put the car through its paces but what is fascinating about it, is the ease with which the EV6 goes through the course. This prompted me to take a closer look at the car and post my findings here. The Kia EV6 GT is a groundbreaking electric vehicle that merges exhilarating performance with sustainable technology. In this quick run through, I will explore the remarkable features and innovations that make the EV6 GT a game-changer in the electric vehicle market. From its impressive acceleration and range to its sleek design and cutting-edge technology, the EV6 GT sets a new standard for performance and sustainability.   Exhilarating Performance: At the heart of the Kia EV6 GT is an impressive powertrain that delivers thrilling performance. The dua...

Great way to compile your automotive and motorsports video library

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If you're a dyed in the wool car enthusiast, whether you came from the points and carb era or the dual electric motor  crowd, nothing gets your engine revving better than an auto video.  Personally, I am a big fan of videos, watching everything from car reviews, car manufacturer video presentation, races, how to videos and the list continues. A treasure trove of this exists on Youtube and I am not ashamed that I have spent hours playing videos on Youtube because they show great recommended videos that are similar to what you are watching so its an endless stream of car porn. The problem is that sometimes, you have no time to watch or you simply want to save this great video since sometimes, videos have a nasty way of suddenly disappearing from Youtube. For the longest time now I have been using this program 4K Video Downloader   to download my videos. It saves it in the best format possible using this Smart mode which is so useful. Because of this I have been able to...

Ferrari 812 Superfast - Official Video

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Surprising insights into vehicle safety

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I am currently in the process of picking a 7 seater automobile for road trips. From the getgo, my heart was set on two cars, the Volvo XC90 and the Chevrolet Suburban. So while I have been going back and forth on the model and engine for the XC90 mainly because there were more options,  for the Chevy it was simply a question of what year I could afford. Of course I would have wanted the next to the current model but my the prospect of buying two for the price of one appealed to me. The bottom line though was that as far as I was concerned, the safety of both cars was a given. The XC90 by reputation and the Chevy by sheer size. It was quite a shock when I found out today that I was dead wrong about the Chevy. It seems that in a report by the well respected IIHS or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevy was a deadlier car to be in compared to a Mini Cooper! I know right? Who would have thought that such a behemoth could be a a softie in collisions. But how ...

FREE Nissan Skyline History PDF download

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Just saw this awesome photo of the Skylines from 1957 to 2007 which includes the R35. Turns out, you can download, ABSOULUTELY FREE, a high resolution PDF version that can be printed and framed. You just have to visit Cockram Nissan and sign up for their email list (you can opt out anytime) and they will send the links to the Skyline History as well as a Navarra History PDF. Personally I am staying on their mailing list because from their site and Pinterest account, they are clearly true blue enthusiasts. Here is the link to the free poster offer Here is the JPG version, albeit a smaller one.