Monroe 72468 Front Oespectrum Strut on 2040-parts.com

1984 Ford Mustang SVO: American metal, European performance

If the 1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra II isn't quite your thing, why not give the 1984 Ford Mustang SVO a try? In the Jan. 3, 1983, issue of Autoweek, we previewed a different take on the pony car -- one that promised "visual subtlety with unsubtle performance." Built on the Fox platform, the Mustang SVO (for "Special Vehicle Operations") wasn't supposed to be a flashy package for the wannabe racer -- it was designed from the ground up to be a balanced road car, "a state-of-the-art performance vehicle for the absolutely no-compromises performance buyer." And when we say "ground up," we mean it.

Pick up a twelver for the tired cat, wouldya?

The timeworn solution to quelling the finicky (read “expensive to repair”) Jaguar V12 has been to swap the British unit with that eight-pot testament to midcentury American ingenuity, the Chevrolet small block. We've seen an '80s-era L98 in a Lamborghini Espada. We've borne witness '90's-era LT1s in all manner of things.

Video: Porsche's Michael Mauer and Mitja Borkert on the new Macan

Porsche style vice-president Michael Mauer has revealed how the new Macan's design was influenced by racecars. In this new video, Mauer and members of his design team explain some of the Macan's development and the team's desire to create "a true Porsche in each segment – a true sports car". Classic Porsche design cues were immediately obvious upon seeing the Macan in the metal in Tokyo and Los Angeles – including its rear and interior – and Mitja Borkert, director advanced design style, identifies other recognizable features.