Tag Archives: Jay Leno Garage

Automobiles

Video: Campagna T-Rex roars into Jay Leno's Garage

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By Damon Lowney

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The three-wheeled Campagna T-Rex has been in production since 1995, featuring a variety of motorcycle engines to power it along the way, but Canada-based Campagna has never been able to sell it in the US as a street-legal vehicle. All that changed with the company’s new owners. The T-Rex recently was certified here to be sold and registered for the street as a motorcycle, and we were able to test the latest model, the BMW-powered T-Rex 16S, around Southern California in May. We found it to be particularly entertaining on a twisty road, if not a replacement for a daily driver, and now Jay Leno’s Garage has captured the fun on video.

Previous Campagnas have used motorcycle engines from Kawasaki, such as in the T-Rex 14R, and Harley-Davidson, in the V13R, but the newest model uses a BMW Motorrad-supplied 1600cc six-cylinder engine and six-speed sequential transmission (modified by Campagna to house a reverse gear) from its K1600 motorcycle, which, with 160 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque, pairs nicely with the three-wheeler’s 1,150-pound weight. Believe it or not, Campagna’s vice president of sales, Michel Paukette, says the 16S is wider than a Corvette ZR1 by two inches and, thanks to the wide front stance and low weight, is able to pull 1.1 g around a skidpad on performance-oriented street tires. 0-60 miles per hour comes in about four seconds, making it quick by any standard. If that, and the $62,000 price tag, is too much of a handful, then customers can still order the less-expensive 14R or V13R.

But Leno’s favorite T-Rex engine is the BMW mill in the 16S, which is a step up from the V13R and 14R both in performance and refinement. Amenities that are found in the K1600, such as satellite radio, Bluetooth and USB ports, can be found in the 16S, though Leno makes a good point that the stereo system might be useless with the engine sitting directly behind the cockpit. Watch the video below for more information on the 16S and, more importantly, to see Leno wring out that beautiful-sounding engine.

Continue reading Campagna T-Rex roars into Jay Leno’s Garage

Campagna T-Rex roars into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: Jay Leno extracts the V12 engine from his McLaren F1

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By Jonathon Ramsey

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That is Jay Leno standing next to the BMW V12 extracted from his McLaren F1. Calling it “The scariest thing we have ever done here on Jay Leno’s Garage,” his mechanics pulled the motor to replace the Vanos unit, which was leaking.

His fright is our gain, though, as Leno gives us a tour of the 627-horsepower, naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder that powered the very car that taught us new ways to dream about supercars. The motorhead’s VIP tour happens in the video below.

Continue reading Jay Leno extracts the V12 engine from his McLaren F1

Jay Leno extracts the V12 engine from his McLaren F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Report: Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]

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By John Neff

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The Volvo S60 Polestar Concept may be entering limited production in australia and, depending how the Aussies take to this Swedish super sports sedan, could then be made available worldwide. The news comes from Austrlia’s GoAuto, which claims to have received early info from its sources inside Volvo and its tuning/motorsport arm, Polestar.

Polestar released a short teaser video this week (watch it below) of what appears to be the S60 Polestar Concept clipping the snowy apex of an ice track’s turn. The only information given with the teaser were the words “Limited Edition. Soon in australia.” Unveiled last June, the S60 Polestar concept has since made the rounds at auto shows, visited Jay Leno’s Garage, played on the track with its future competition, and even secured a home for itself with a buyer who reportedly is paying Volvo some $300,000 to own it.

The S60 Polestar Concept is about the meanest machine one can imagine making out of Volvo’s sports sedan. Packing 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque from its heavily modified T6 engine, then routing those revolutions through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels, the S60 Polestar is said to cover the sprint to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. A lower and wider body, brakes by Brembo, suspension bits by Ohlins and a diet to delete some weight make this car a serious issue for M3 and C63 AMG owners everywhere. GoAuto‘s sources say the production version’s performance will be dialed back a bit from the concept’s, but we’ll have to wait until Volvo and Polestar make this sedan’s production official to find out by how much.

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]

Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Report: After stepping away from Tonight Show, will there be more Jay Leno's Garage?

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

Jay Leno's Garage

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When Jay Leno steps away from The Tonight Show next year, fans of Jimmy Fallon – and Conan O’Brien – will surely be happy, but it could be automotive enthusiasts who benefit the most. According to a blog posting at The Wall Street Journal, without his late-night talk show, Leno would be able to focus more of his efforts on automotive-related content including the Jay Leno’s Garage webisodes.

Fallon will take the reins at The Tonight Show after the 2014 Winter Olympics next spring, which will be about the same time when the show moves from its current venue in Burbank, CA to its original home at 30 Rockefeller Center – NBC’s headquarters. Furthering the hope of more car-related Leno appearances, after the announcement was made earlier in the week, the comedian was quoted by ABC News as saying: “If you need me, I’ll be at the garage.”

Sounds good to us.

After stepping away from Tonight Show, will there be more Jay Leno’s Garage? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: Jay Leno chats with Magnus Walker about his 1972 Porsche 911 72STR

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By Zach Bowman

Magnus Walker's 1972 Porsche 911 72STR pictured in Jay Leno's Garage

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Magnus Walker has stopped by the Big Dog Garage again to pay Jay Leno a visit in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. This time, the Porsche builder brought along his 1972 911 72STR 002. Walker calls the machine his best build to date, and the car is a rolling “best of” from Porsches past, rocking some of the more attractive elements pulled from a wide arc of 911 model years. Of course, the machine also wears a few signature Walker touches, including flush-mount turning indicators, a center-hood fuel filler and plenty of louver work.

Unlike some of Walker’s other creations, the 72STR 002 is clean enough to lick. Leno seems suitably impressed with the creation, and while apparently isn’t typically a fan of Porsche models in general, Walker’s tastefully modified 911 has him singing a different tune. You can check out the car in the video below.

Continue reading Jay Leno chats with Magnus Walker about his 1972 Porsche 911 72STR

Jay Leno chats with Magnus Walker about his 1972 Porsche 911 72STR originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: US Army invades <em>Jay Leno's Garage</em> with the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

Jay Leno welcomes US Army FED prototype into his garage - video screencap

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Some of the fastest and most expensive cars in the world roll through Jay Leno’s Garage – we’re pretty sure this fits mostly in the latter category. Army Geneneral Dennis Via brought the US government’s new Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator prototype troop transporter for Leno to check out and take for a spin. We’re sure there were more than a few surprised residents and motorists in the LA area when Leno took the massive FED out for a late-night test drive.

The FED employs plenty of carbon fiber and aluminum as a weight-reducing measure, which helps give this four-seater a 30-percent improvement in fuel economy over current military vehicles. Yet even after such a significant increase in efficiency, the FED only get seven miles per gallon. Under the carbon fiber hood, the FED is powered by a turbocharged and supercharged Cummins four-cylinder engine putting out 200 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. That helps produce enough power to allow the 15,000-pound FED to have a top speed of almost 75 miles per hour.

In the near term, lessons learned on the FED will be applied to current military vehicles most likely including the seat design and seatbelt harnesses aimed at reducing injuries in the case that the vehicle runs over an explosive device. Scroll down to watch Leno crawl in, on and under the FED.

Continue reading US Army invades Jay Leno’s Garage with the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator

US Army invades Jay Leno’s Garage with the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish graces Jay Leno's Garage

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish with funnyman Jay Leno in his garage - video screencap

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Jay Leno always seems to lay his hands on some of the best cars – new or old – that have ever been created, so you’d think there aren’t many new models that can impress the comic any more. Well after watching the latest installment of Jay Leno’s Garage, the collector car king has had some time in newly updated 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, and if we’re not mistaken, he’s downright giddy about it.

Leno spent a week with the Vanquish, and during his video walkaround, he has almost nothing negative to say about the British coupe, labeling it the “perfect combination” of sports car and a grand touring car, even defending it against very different cars like the Porsche Carrera GT and the Ford Shelby GT500. Starting at almost $300,000 and having a powerful V12 under its long, carbon-fiber hood, Leno notes the Vanquish is sophisticated, astounding him with how well-balanced it is between performance and comfort. Oddly enough, the only thing Leno didn’t like about this particular car was its bright blue color, which is probably only a shade or two brighter than Leno’s own denim outfit.

Scroll down to watch Leno give his opinion about the Vanquish and then have some real fun taking it for a spin.

Continue reading 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish graces Jay Leno’s Garage

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish graces Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: 2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno's Garage

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By Jonathon Ramsey

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Jay Leno with C7 Corvette

Where else would you expect the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to show up first? Although this time it isn’t exactly in Jay Leno’s Garage, Leno instead playing an away game at Brown’s Classic Auto in Scottsdale, Arizona. Nor does Leno drive the car, instead taking an 11-minute walkaround of the new American sports car with General Motors design head Ed Welburn, the same man who recently brought by a string of classic Corvettes to the talk show host’s California compound.

It is, admittedly, a love-fest for the American sports car now featuring 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, but one that also features admissions about previous Corvette seats like “they were kinda rough,” and the explanation that labeling the coupe “Stingray” means not having to call it “the base Corvette.” On top of that, Welburn also explains the proper application of the term “dashboard.” You can watch it all in the video below.

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno’s Garage

2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: Volvo S60 Polestar Concept looking Smurfy in Jay Leno's Garage

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By Chris Paukert

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Volvo S60 Polestar concept with Jay Leno in his garage

Is it just us, or has Jay Leno’s Garage evolved from an intimate, off-the-cuff video series designed to show off the late-night comedian’s automobile collection into something a lot more ambitious and… mainstream? This isn’t a complaint, exactly, as Leno has been putting out engaging videos at an increasingly furious pace. However, we can’t help but note that the subjects have largely graduated from the funnyman’s steam-powered eccentricities and forgotten classics to lots of new production and concept cars, often with automaker execs in tow. It’s almost as if the series is turning into an internet version of his NBC talk show, one where bigwigs swing by to show off their latest projects as part of their publicity tours, only instead of new movies and albums, it’s cars or the occasional motorcycle.

Such is the exactly case with Volvo’s stonking S60 Polestar Concept, which makes its appearance in Jay’s warehouse of wonders this week. Tuned by in-house skunkworks Polestar, the “Swedish Racing Blue” S60 has certainly been making the rounds as of late, with recent appearances near Leno’s garage at the LA Auto Show and an Auto Motor und Sport track faceoff against the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 Avant.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Volvo is so keen to get its showcar in front of the cameras – last we heard, executives were seriously considering a small production run for their unlikely 508-horsepower, all-wheel drive sport sedan, though we continue to hear that realistic pricing is likely to be a roadblock.

Regardless of whether the S60 Polestar has a production future or not, we can’t get enough of it. If you’re like us, check out Leno’s video below for more.

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar Concept looking Smurfy in Jay Leno’s Garage

Volvo S60 Polestar Concept looking Smurfy in Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Local Motors Rally Fighter crowds into Jay Leno's Garage

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By Seyth Miersma

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The Local Motors Rally Fighter is a car that neither looks nor drives like anything else on the road today. Even Jay Leno, who seems to have one of just about every cool car in history, admits to not knowing much about it. Which makes for an interesting interview for Jay, and a cool video for us.

One of the neatest elements of the Local Motors product – for those that like to swing a wrench, anyway – is that all of the Rally Fighters are build in the company’s facility with the help of the owners themselves. That’s a way of getting these “component cars” on the road, legally, without conforming to the strict crash standards for large-scale production cars, but it also means that each owner is really invested in the car that they’ve just purchased. We’d guess that world-class stuff-jumping ability might be a big draw, too.

Scroll down to watch this fascinating episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, and get schooled about the ins and outs of hand-made rally cars.

Continue reading Local Motors Rally Fighter crowds into Jay Leno’s Garage

Local Motors Rally Fighter crowds into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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