Ignition

On the premiere episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago conquers the legendary Nardo Ring in the 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. Come along for the ride as the most powerful bull ever enters the worlds fastest ring.

In this episode of Ignition, Michael Febbo tests the all new 2012 Bentley Continental GTC stateside, then crosses the pond for some Old World cruising in Croatia.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago finds out if BMWs latest 335i still remains the sports sedan benchmark. Does this larger, longer and taller 3 Series mean the icon has finally gone soft?

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago takes the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track Edition to sports car school to see if it passes the true enthusiasts test.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago finds out what happens when you strap a pair of turbos to an M car. Does this latest M5 live up to the legend of the naturally aspirated M5s of yore?

Carlos Lago finds out if the 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe is too quirky for its own good. Does this hard top two-seater go too far by choosing fun over function?

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago gets rained-out at the test track, and decides to head out on the open road in search of adventure in the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago digs deep into the concoction of turbochargers and aluminum that is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. Does the latest and most powerful version of the big bad Benz do the SL name justice?

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago proves that Subaru has been making fun sports cars since before the BRZ.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago hits the road and the test track with Aston Martins 2012 Virage. Strategically positioned between the DB9 and the DBS, the V-12 Virage looks to blend the DB9s grand touring luxury with the DBSs sports car performance. Does it get the balance right? Watch to find out.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago hits the test track and the winding road with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. With its imposing size, brute power and booming exhaust note, the SLS Roadster feels more like a classic American muscle car than a refined German coupe. But is that a good thing?

Carlos Lago drives the 2012 Audi R8 5.2 FSI because - well, why not? Audis 525 horsepower V-10-powered all-wheel drive coupe delivers the impressive performance numbers, stunning design and sheer driving pleasure that might make it the most complete super car on the road today.

Carlos Lago hits the road and the test track with Jeeps Hemi-powered 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Carlos Lago puts the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 Black Series to the test and explores what makes it so special.

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago ditches the normal testing routine and takes the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor straight to the dirt instead. Is Fords factory prerunner rugged enough to power slide through sand washes and conquer mountains AND refined enough to handle less demanding conditions with poise and comfort? Carlos heads to Hungry Valley SVRA to find out.

Carlos Lago convinces Mazda to hand him the keys to the only left-hand drive RX-7 Spirit R in the world.

Carlos Lago pilots the 2012 Lexus IS F at the test track and on the winding road.

Carlos Lago drives a motorcycle, technically.

Carlos Lago tests out the hotly anticipated 2013 Cadillac ATS. Ever since its "Art and Science" rebirth, Cadillac has made it clear its gunning for BMW. With the 2013 ATS, theyve finally locked in on their primary target - the benchmark BMW 3 Series.

Carlos Lago is seduced by the Italian sound and power of the recently renovated Maserati Granturismo Sport. Its not without faults but as Carlos explains, they are easily justifiable soon after taking the helm.

Carlos Lago revisits the BMW M5 to test out something that was missing from the first test: a manual transmission. Is the 6-speed stick shift better than the standard automatic twin-clutch version?

Motor Trends Technical Director Frank Markus ventures to Morocco to test the new 4th generation Range Rover. Has the new Rover gone soft? Or can it handle all that Mother Nature can throw at it?

Motor Trend Senior Features Editor Jonny Lieberman drives Audis R8 V10 Plus with its new twin-clutch auto. Will the updated gearbox be enough for this iconic German super car to win over one of its biggest critics?

Carlos Lago finally tests the eagerly anticipated 2013 SRT Viper.

Carlos Lago tests the new Porsche Boxster S. Sporting a new electric steering system and a wider track than before, Carlos puts the smallest Porsche through the Ignition paces to find out if it retains the fun and liveliness of its predecessor.

Carlos Lago flogs the 1000+ horsepower AMS Alpha 12 GT-R up and down the runway in pursuit of a sub-10 second quarter mile.

Carlos Lago runs Aston Martins new Vanquish on the track and through the canyons to see if its performance matches its super car looks. Engineered with lessons learned from creating the exclusive Aston Martin One-77, the new Aston Martin flagship returns to the British car-makers lineup sporting impressive amounts of carbon fiber, leather, and flat orange paint.

Carlos Lago takes a look at the attributes that have made the Mazda MX-5 such a successful roadster for the past 24 years. With its old-school charm and simplistic yet lively characteristics, the MX-5 turns a SoCal canyon road into a drivers playground.

Carlos Lago crashes a Ferrari winter driving school in Colorado in order to "properly" evaluate the 651 horsepower FF -- Ferraris first all-wheel drive production car. Afterwards, the team hits the road to examine the finer points of the cars unique personality.

Jonny Lieberman visits the Unimog museum in Gaggenau, Germany, to find out more about the history and development of one the worlds most versatile vehicles.

Motor Trend Technical Director Frank Markus heads to the Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France. Here he will test the most powerful iteration of the Mercedes SLS AMG, the Black Series. While there, Mercedes pulls wheels out its ecofriendly brother, the Electric Drive, and lets Frank have a go at it.

Frank Markus heads to Saint Tropez to test out the CLA, which is Mercedes-Benzs brand new entry into the youth market. The idea sounds fraught with danger: another sub-$30,000 Benz, this time with a 2.0l 208hp transverse engine, 258 lb-ft of torque, and a front-wheel drivetrain. Will this new entry level kinder-Benz find the same fate as C230 sport coupe from several years ago, or is this a completely new philosophy on an entry level luxury car?

Kim Reynolds heads to Pamplona, Spain to have a look at some of Jaguars classic entries in the sports car realm, and also to get his hands on their latest convertible sports car, the F-Type. The F-type has an all-aluminum body and a new all-aluminum, 3.0-liter supercharged direct-injection V-6 based on the 5.0-liter V-8, with balance shafts, a dual independent variable cam timing system, and a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger mounted in the engines vee.

Carlos Lago and Randy Pobst head to the track with the most extreme GTR yet, the 2014 GTR Track Pack.

Carlos Lago heads back to Fontana and the mountainous roads of Angeles Crest Highway to tackle the newest update to the Audi S4.

Carlos Lago heads to the track with the most extreme Subaru BRZ ever conceived.

Carlos Lago gets behind the wheel of the newest iteration of Porsches Cayman line, the 2014 Porsche Cayman S.

Carlos Lago tests the Bentley Continental GT Speed.

Carlos Lago gets behind the wheel of Chevrolets hotly anticipated 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51, the most technologically advanced production Corvette ever made.

Carlos Lago goes to Portugal to test the new BMW 435i.

Carlos Lago tests the 850 horsepower Shelby GT500 Super Snake.

Carlos Lago heads to Germany to sample the newest variant of the 911: The Turbo S.

Carlos Lago finally tests the most powerful production Ferrari yet: the 2014 F12 Berlinetta. Our brief drive of the 731-hp, V-12-powered machine in Italy last year simply wasnt enough. But now that its stateside, we can strap our test gear to it and see how fast it can go in the hands of pro racing driver Randy Pobst at famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Carlos Lago takes the brand new 2014 Mercedes Benz CLA45 AMG to the Hyundai Proving Grounds, to find out what makes this high-strung turbo four-cylinder AMG sports car so special. With its engine producing 355 horsepower and 332-lb-ft of torque, the CLA45 AMG easily packs one of the most powerful factory turbocharged four cylinder engines in the world, but with extra options, can it live up to its near $60,000 price tag?

Jonny Lieberman heads to Modena, Italy to drive one of the most expensive cars in the world - the uncompromising Pagani Huayra. Named for the Peruvian god of wind, the Huayra represents Horacio Paganis notion of what a hypercar should be. With a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-12 hand built by AMG that produces a staggering 730 horsepower, the car promises world class performance.

Carlos Lago tests the sportiest hot hatch Volkswagen has to offer, the Euro-only 2013 Scirocco R. With a 262 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder driving the front wheels, this Euro-spec Scirocco is not only more powerful than its Golf twin, but lighter as well. Will it offer a better driving experience because of it, or prove to be just another stylish Golf?

Carlos gets back behind the wheel of the craigslisted 240SX, so he can start deconstructing and then reconstructing the car using all new, high quality parts.The process isnt as simple as it seems, however, because the car first has to make a trip to K&N dyno house in Riverside, and then make it all the way back to the garage in El Segundo. After one busted cylinder, a seized caliper, and a couple of other hiccups, will any of the new modifications even be worth it?

Carlos Lago tests the most extreme Aston Martin this side of the One-77. With a massive 5.9-liter V-12 shoehorned in the smallest chassis in the lineup, the gorgeous and motorsports-derived 565-horsepower V12 Vantage S promises one exhilarating ride. Aston claims its the second fastest accelerating car the company has produced, and this week we head to the test track to verify that claim. Afterwards, we find out how well the controversial single-clutch automated manual copes with mountain roads.

We look back at some of the best sideways tire-smoking moments from this 2013 season. Were taking a break for the holidays, but well be back in the new year

Carlos Lago tests Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model. Mercedes calls it a coupe, despite the fact that it has four doors, but what really matters is underneath the sheet metal: A 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 that sends 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque to all four tires. Its performance will be exceptional, but will the styling be enough to warrant the extra cost over the E-Class on which the CLS is based?

Standing for Bi-drive Recreational All-Terrain Vehicle, the Brat was a lovable answer to Americas notorious chicken tax - the law that states all pickup trucks not built in the USA much pay a 25% import tariff. Many examples exist of work arounds, but none were quite so creative/dangerous as the Brat.

Carlos Lago puts Minis most hardcore offering to the test. Like the last-generation GP edition Cooper introduced in 2006, the 2013 version is an uncompromising track-day focused machine. Utilizing new inverted dampers, bigger brakes and stickier tires, Mini claims its their best handling car ever.

Carlos Lago and his team travel to Alabama to drive the hotly anticipated 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. With 505 horsepower from a high-revving 7.0-liter V-8, a 6-speed manual transmission, sophisticated suspension, and the widest front tires of any production car we know of, this Camaro is focused on one thing: Track domination. To find out how well it works, we subject the Z/28 to our battery of tests, including a lap with race driver Randy Pobst.

Carlos Lago tests the latest generation of the perennial rally car favorite: The 2015 Subaru WRX STI. Much like the new WRX, this STI has an entirely new and significantly stiffer body structure, but unlike the WRX, it still uses the same 305 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four thats powered the car since 2008. Our introduction to the car occurs at the press launch at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Carlos Lago has a second go at Porsches 918 hypercar. The goal: to run the 918 through the full gauntlet of MTs instrumented testing, including 0-60, quarter mile, braking, figure 8, and a blistering real-time hot lap around Big Willow race track with pro driver Randy Pobst. Carlos also gets a rare chance to experience the 918s ancestor, the Porsche 959.