Ferrari and rally racing might not seem like an obvious match today, but the Italian brand has some history in the dirt. The 308 GTB proved that back in 1982, finishing second at the Tour de Corse and
What was the Renault Safrane Biturbo? It was a high-performance version of Renault’s luxury flagship, developed with Hartge and Irmscher. A twin-turbo V6 drove all four wheels, while the body re
What was the 1996 Toyota Classic? It was a limited-run sedan inspired by the 1936 Toyoda Model AA, built on a Hilux pickup chassis. Toyota produced 100 examples, combining period-style bodywork and ca
What was the Mercedes braking bag? It was an experimental underbody airbag shown as part of the ESF 2009 safety programme. When sensors judged a collision unavoidable, the device would deploy a high-f
A Porsche with oars sounds like something its owner bought after an unfortunate encounter with a flooded road. In the 1950s, however, Porsche was developing a vehicle for which getting into the water
A photograph of a Citroën DS traveling with one rear wheel missing looks as though someone has caught the car halfway through a mechanical disaster. The body sits unexpectedly level. The front wh
One tire wanders across the painted line and the previously quiet cabin erupts with a harsh mechanical growl. The steering wheel trembles, the seat vibrates and, for half a second, it feels as if some
A driver can move between unfamiliar modern cars and still understand the transmission selector within seconds. Park sits at one end, followed by Reverse, Neutral and Drive. Lower ranges, manual modes
Every passenger knows the type of driver. Conversation begins, the accelerator relaxes and the car gradually slows. The driver starts speaking, enthusiasm builds and the speed rises again. Nothing dan
A concrete barrier beside a highway looks like one of the least forgiving objects a car could encounter. It is heavy, rigid and often positioned only a few feet from traffic moving at serious speed.