Hyundai Previews the Future of Hydrogen Tech with the N Vision 74

With the world turning its back on combustion engines in favor of EVs, more and more people have grown concerned about EV range and the speed it takes to recharge. These same fears apply to EV motorsports, as recharge times and range directly affect the length of a race. In comes hydrogen fuel cell technology to the save the day. When hydrogen is mixed with oxygen it starts a reaction that produces electricity, which can then power the electric motors in a car, with only heat and water as a byproducts of the process. But the part that most people are interested in is that hydrogen can be stored in a tank like gasoline, and refueling takes about the same time as if you were refueling an ICE vehicle while providing the same range as a fully charged EV. Because of these attributes of hydrogen, Hyundai has been researching and developing hydrogen fuel cell tech, having started back in 2015 with the reveal of the Hyundai 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and the launch of the N brand. Fast forward to today and Hyundai has given us a glimpse of their R&D with jaw-dropping N Vision 74, the prototype used to experiment with the driving and cooling performance of advanced FCEVs.

While the N Vision 74’s brawny and boxy looks make it seem like it could’ve stepped out from a retro 1980’s sci-fi movie, its actually based on Hyundai’s Pony Coupe Concept from 1974. This design was penned by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro and was to be Hyundai’s first production sports car. Prototypes were even built for the Pony Coupe but sadly, it never reached production. The interior of the N Vision 74 also inherits the driver-centric, piston-shaped layout of the Pony concept, blending classic styling with modern touches, to enhance its motorsport functionality.

…Prototypes were even built for the Pony Coupe but sadly, it never reached production...

Hyundai calls the N Vision 74 a “high performance Rolling Lab” and for good reason, as its driven by Hyundai’s most advanced hydrogen fuel cell. All the futuristic-looking air vents and curvy yet rigid body panels aren’t just for show either, they significantly improve aerodynamics and fulfill the prototype’s heat management requirements, which is further improved by a 3 channel cooling system. The N Vision 74 puts power to pavement with two 235 kW motors on each rear wheel, making the prototype a RWD setup. Not only that, Hyundai tested a logic system called e-TVTM (electronic Torque Vectoring by Twin Motors) for improved cornering ability. The advanced hydrogen fuel cell tech allows the N Vision 74 to travel 600 km (about 373 miles) at a top speed of over 250 kph (155 mph), and can be refueled in about 5 minute, blowing EV charging speeds out of the water and rivaling ICE refueling times, perfect for motorsports and everyday applications.

…Prototypes were even built for the Pony Coupe but sadly, it never reached production...

The stunning N Vision 74 previews the near future use of hydrogen fuel cells as a green alternative to EVs. Can the N Vision 74 and other FCEVs compete with electric vehicles? Only time will tell.

Honda Reveals the All-New 2023 Civic Type-R

After riling up Honda fans with teasers and a full view of a camo covered Type-R, Honda has finally revealed the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type-R. Based on the 11th gen Honda Civic Hatchback, this is only the second Type-R model ever sold in the US and the most powerful Type-R in its 30-year history.

The 2023 Type-R features a new light-weight and rigid body now referred to as the FL5, as opposed to the last generations FK8 chassis code. Powering this track-ready beast is a more powerful version of Honda’s K20C1 turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder V-TEC paired to an improved 6-speed manual. To accompany the changes the the chassis and engine, the exterior and cockpit have also been redesigned. The new Type-R is now longer, wider, and hugs the track closer than ever before. The front bumper features a more aggressive design with a honey comb grille mesh, and muscular fender flares and wider rear doors gives the new Type-R a more aggressive stance. The rear bumper and spoiler are also overhauled to produce better overall aerodynamics, downforce, and drag reduction. It will be available in 5 colors: Historic Championship White, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl.

…the most powerful Type-R in its 30-year history...

The Interior features the Type-R’s emblematic red seats with suede-like material to reduce body slippage with Type-R badging throughout the vehicle. On the dash, Honda’s LogR™ data logger lets you keep track of real-time info on all the mechanical movements and vehicle behavior, and a new +R driving mode meter design brings all the driver-necessary info such as RPM, rev indicator lights, and gear position front and center.

Can the all-new Type-R keep up with the competition? We’ll have to find out once it launches later this fall!

Online Car Buying – The Next Big Thing?

Your Next New Car could be Made to Order and Delivered Straight to Your Door

Over the past twenty years, untold billions of items have been purchased over the internet, and nearly as many articles have been written about the effect of online retail on traditional brick and mortar businesses. Even before the handbrake got yanked on in-person retail due to Covid-19 concerns, it was already possible to buy anything from groceries from the local supermarket to electronic components of questionable quality direct from the manufacturer in China, delivered straight to your door or mailbox. 

With so much commerce going on via the web, there are still some things that aren’t so easy to buy with the click of the mouse, though – One of them is a new car or truck. The complications involve both the unique aspects of vehicle purchasing and some long-standing laws that were originally designed for consumer protection against manufacturer monopolies, but now mostly shield those who are heavily invested in traditional dealer networks from competition.

Today, we’re going to take a look at the current state of online car shopping, explore the reasons why the status quo exists, and make some predictions about what the future holds for those who’d like to be able to buy a new vehicle with the same convenience you’d expect when ordering Pad Thai because you just can’t bear the thought of cooking again tonight. 

Dont Four-Square Me, Bro…

As far back as the year 2000, almost half the people who responded to a J.D Powers and Associates survey said they would opt to buy cars directly from the manufacturer, even if it didn’t save them any money, and it’s unlikely that near-majority of customers would be less likely to do so today. Clearly, the traditional brick and mortar new car dealership system has a serious problem when so many people would prefer to avoid it entirely even if there was no cost advantage to doing so. 

Today, there are more resources available than ever for car shoppers to do their research, revealing invoice costs, rebate and financing offers, and even once-esoteric hidden seller profit sources like ‘dealer hold-back.’ Nevertheless, the average person may buy a handful of new cars over the course of their entire life, while the dealer literally sells them every single day. Even with better-educated customers closing the information gap, sellers still hold a huge advantage in experience, and the psychological manipulation that is often part of the game is well-documented. It should come as no surprise then that many would-be buyers would welcome the chance to spec out and price a new vehicle the same way you can order a new laptop, with zero interaction (or hard-sell pressure) from ‘helpful sales professionals.’

Manufacturer-Direct Pricing

Another 2001 study on the effect of auto buying referral services in California estimated that on average, those services saved consumers almost 2% compared to traditional sales channels, even though a middleman was still involved in the transaction. Direct sales from auto manufacturers offer even more potential savings, eliminating a lot of the financial ‘friction’ inherent in the current system that requires a huge infrastructure to store, merchandise, and eventually deliver new vehicles to their owners. 

So if nearly half of all potential customers would prefer to buy direct, and it would make new cars less expensive, why do dealerships still exist? There are several reasons, some good, and some bad. One primary obstacle is legislation that specifically prevents OEM sales to consumers outside of the dealer network – only a few states don’t either directly prohibit it or place extensive restrictions on the practice. This dates back more than a century when many of these laws were first enacted, ostensibly to prevent ‘vertical integration’ of the new vehicle market.

At the time, long-standing monopolies in many forms of business were being vigorously dismantled by ‘trust-busters’ in the name of consumer protection. Allowing car and truck manufacturers to completely control the market from raw materials to delivery was seen as unacceptable, and considering the limited range of choices available in the market and the low bargaining power of buyers, a network of dealers/middlemen was seen as the lesser of two evils. Today, there is a LOT of money tied up in the current system, from the real estate and buildings required for dealerships to the inventory they carry on their books and in their lots, so resistance to direct online sales is strong and well-funded. 

What is it Even Good For?

On the positive side for dealers, most new car buyers are going to insist on being able to test-drive vehicles prior to purchase, and the dealership sales model is well-suited to providing that opportunity. This is especially true when consumers aren’t set on the make and model of car that best fits their needs and want to cross-shop, but even the die-hard Corvette guy who knows exactly what he wants is going to make sure ‘his’ car drives properly before taking ownership.

This “showrooming” problem became apparent in the early days of online commerce, where consumers would go to big box retailers or specialty stores to hold something in their hands, then go and order it on the internet for a lower price. The physical store was stuck with all the costs of infrastructure and inventory, with no sales to show for it. 

One possible solution comes from what’s already been tried in countries without restrictions on direct manufacturer sales, where franchised dealers receive a commision for online sales in their exclusive territory as a way to cover the costs of maintaining a sales and service network and providing the “last mile” of vehicle preparation and delivery.

Speaking of service, warranty work, ongoing maintenance, and parts sales turn out to be a significant revenue source for new car dealers, one that even outweighs the profitability of car sales themselves. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, over a ten-year period studied the average new-car dealership’s sales department varied between over $150k in profit and almost $50k in losses, while the service and parts department were continuous money-makers with net profits growing from $150k per location to over $300k. Much like the old business strategy of giving away razors to sell more blades, it seems that the most consistently profitable part of a new car dealer’s operations lie in taking care of vehicles rather than selling them. 

…it seems that the most consistently profitable part of a new car dealer’s operations lie in taking care of vehicles rather than selling them…

What About Tesla?

At this point, the only new vehicle manufacturer actively making direct-to-consumer sales is Tesla Motors, and in order to do so they’ve had to come up with convoluted custom legal work-arounds in almost every jurisdiction. In some places, Tesla showrooms can offer test drives and answer questions, but any talk of pricing or ordering is as taboo as saying “bomb” in the airport. In others, the number of Tesla sales locations is limited to a handful per state, or the semantic distinction of not having any ‘franchised dealers’ allows the company to simply ignore laws originally written to protect traditional sales outlets.

Regardless of how Tesla has managed to make direct sales work, any traditional manufacturer with an established dealer network is going to have to fight with their existing franchise owners to allow consumers to skip the usual baffling ordeal that is the new car purchasing experience. It seems inevitable, though, given consumers’ strong preference for online buying and the significant savings possible. Traditional dealers will be faced with choosing to hang on to an expensive business model their customers hate that has been made obsolete by technology, or pivoting to provide the profitable services that will still be necessary when large-scale direct sales become a reality.

First Look at the 2023 C8 Corvette Z06

Sep. 30, 2021 – The excitement about the C8 Corvette never seems to die down, even from when it was first conceived. Since its debut to the world on July 18,2019, the C8 Corvette has been a revolutionary car for the brand, as it is the first mid-engined Corvette in history. But one question asked by every automotive enthusiast in existence is whether or not a C8 Corvette Z06 was going to be released. And in true Chevrolet fashion, they answered, and on Tuesday, October 26th, they’ll debut it.

The new C8 Corvette Z06 pictures and videos have circulated the internet showing a heavily camouflaged Z06, but Chevrolet has decided to give the masses a visual taste of what this monstrosity of a vehicle is going to look like.

A naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 will power the mid-engined sports car, capable of pushing out over 600 horsepower at an incredibly high RPM, somewhere between 8500 and 9000. Judging by past Z06 packages and shots of the camouflaged variants, the Chevy will most likely come with a larger wing, suspension upgrades, carbon ceramic brakes, and more. Stay tuned for the release to learn more about the Z06!

A Closer Look at the 2021 Ford Bronco

Does the New Model live Up to the Hype?

There’s a lot to be said about the re-release of vehicle models that go on years-long hiatuses. Some will love, like, or downright hate a factory’s new rendition of an old classic. We’ve seen old muscle car nameplates flex once again in recent years, and while the resurrection of the Chevy Blazer did receive some positive attention at the jump, it really doesn’t seem to be making a lasting impression amongst truck and SUV fans as the 2021 Ford Bronco promises to deliver. 

While we could go on a bit longer about why the Blazer didn’t live up to its expectation, we aren’t really here to touch on that. What we are here to do, however, is to examine just how new Ford Bronco stands to live up to the absolute legend that is its past self. While this task seems easy enough to do, it somehow feels a lot like dissecting a modern classic movie remake. Casual or impartial fans will see the new Bronco for what it is without being overly critical than decades-deep Bronco fanatics who will hold Ford directly responsible for not building their favorite truck “like they used to”. 

While this seems like dangerous grounds to be standing on, the Bronco does have a lot going for it, which makes it highly capable of scoring valuable points from across the many categories of admirers across the market. 

Let’s first start by taking the diehard first gen Bronco into consideration. Ford has modeled the 2021 Bronco to look and feel closer to the all-American, more compact Bronco of the 60’s rather than the later, larger OJ era Bronco of the 90’s. Nostalgia sells for a premium these days, and if there’s a specific version of the SUV to base the reboot after, it’s just gotta be this mid century classic. 

Size wise, the new age Bronco is officially on record as a midsize SUV, which is smack dab in the middle of first gen’s compact classification, and the fifth (and last) gen’s fullsize ranking. Now, it is also important to note that all Broncos previous to the 2021 model were offered in 2-door configuration. The new model is being released as a 2-door, as a nod to its heritage, but it is also being made available in a 4-door option now as well to keep up with modern SUV style and convenience. The 4-door will obviously out measure the 5^th gen 2-door, making it large enough to comfortably fit extra passengers or cargo. 

Aside from size, the new Bronco does have quite a bit in common with its predecessor in the looks department as well. A lot of key elements uphold the spirit of the 1^st gen style pioneer. The use of round headlights, a familiar grille design and an option of a soft top or removable hardtop (depending on door configuration) does call back to a time gone by. Maybe the Bronco would have naturally progressed into this updated take of its inaugural design if it had remained in regular production—it’s tough to say. On the other hand, the remodel may have required a necessary hiatus period for the classic adventure orientated SUV to truly be missed and the calls for nostalgic value to be heard and answered. 

Ford will not only introduce one new 2021 Bronco, but multiple Broncos (7 to be exact). From the base model, all the way up to the top of the line ‘First Edition’ edition, which is trimmed and optioned out with the best upgrade packages from the variations ‘below’ it. The wide variety of premium add-ons that will be available will truly separate the Bronco of old with this year’s model. Lots of technology is available from remote start with the entry level model to a 12-inch LCD touchscreen and B&O sound system available starting in the mid-tier Outer Banks trim package. It’s a little unfair to compare the interiors of the new and old Bronco, as the previous truck was a true utility vehicle of its time. The standard then was minimal to say the least, and today’s Bronco definitely brings the SUV up to meet modern conveniences and luxury comforts we have grown accustomed to. 

The 2021 Bronco isn’t just a handsome, renovated shell with some convenient bells and whistles attached, as the base model is equipped with a 2.3L turbocharged 4-banger that boasts 270HP with 310 lb-ft of torque—not too shabby to start. There’s also an optional 2.7L turbo V-6 that’s also available for additional romp. Transmission offerings include a seven-speed manual with a crawler gear standard on the 2.3L, as well as a 10-speed auto that is standard issue on the 2.7L and optional equipment on the smaller engine. These modern power plants most definitely blow the largest of original engine models, the 205HP 4.9L V-8 small block, right off the trail. 

Suspension and smart driving modes also set the new Bronco apart from the old version. To start, the full-boxed steel frame and the IFS system already give the 2021 Bronco a leg up, but then it starts racking up more technical features higher up in the trim level chain. The Go Over Any Terrain (GOAT) package features eight unique driving modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Baja, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl—enough to satisfy any type of driver in just about any type of off-road condition. 

The anticipation for the 2021 Ford Bronco has been building steadily, and for good reason. It’s been 55 years since the OG Bronco was released, and in that time it has gained a tremendous reputation and devout following. It’s almost unfair to pit the new model against its previous self, given the obvious advantages available to it, but it’s cool to see what the Bronco has evolved into. This is the SUV its fans have been awaiting. For the “purists” who may not be planning to partake in this next generation of Bronco adventure, there’s still no denying the potential this new generation has to becoming a lasting presence in the modern off-road marketplace. 

Gunther Werks Unveils Their Take on One of the Rarest Porsches: The 993 Speedster Remastered

Aug 19, 2021 – If you like Porsches, you’re likely familiar with the makers of wild re-imaginations of classic Porsche platforms, Gunther Werks. The latest addition to their lineup is a vision of an extremely rare platform that only saw 2 units brought into this world; one for the designer of the original 911, Butzi Porsche, and the other for Jerry Seinfeld. Of course, we’re talking about the legendary Porsche 993 Speedster. Gunther Werks’ new 993 Speedster Remastered takes the original spirit of the Speedster and reimagines it, fleshing out its performance and aimed at providing a unique open top analog driving experience.

In true Gunther Werks fashion, carbon fiber is implemented wherever they can. The interior is mostly carbon fiber, the shorter front windshield is framed with a carbon fiber cowl, and the speedster top tonneau cover is also made of carbon fiber. With additional weight saving measures in place, the Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Remastered only weighs 2590lbs with a chassis that is even more rigid than the one in the 993 coupe.

Underneath the rear deck lives a 4.0L flat six engine that produces 435 hp and 335 lb/ft torque screaming with a 7,800rpm redline. The power from the flat six is translated through a Getrag G50 six-speed manual gearbox featured in the original 993, but with custom ratios. The Gunther Werks 993 Speedster stays composed on the track with an all-new adaptive suspension from JRZ, featuring 3 different settings; composed, sport, and sport plus.

Stronger, faster, and lighter are 3 words that without a doubt describe this new Gunther Werks project. Revealed with a striking Cannes green paint and Dawn Orange leather interior, this 993 is a testament to performance and styling. Only 25 of the 993 Speedster Remastered will be produced.

Lamborghini Brings Back the Legendary Countach With a v12 Hybrid Engine

Aug 18, 2021 – As a celebration of it’s 50th anniversary, the legendary Lamborghini Countach has returned and carries on the spirit of its iconic namesake while taking the nameplate into the future. The official name of the new Lamborghini is the Countach LPI 800-4, and will bring along with it technology as futuristic as its name.

Featuring a longitudinally mounted V12 platform, this new Countach is promised to deliver the same high performance experience you’d expect from a Lamborghini, but with a slight twist. This 6.5L V12 is combined with hybrid technology, the same used for development of the Lamborghini Sian, and is said to produce a combined 814cv (CV stands for chevaux vapeur, or horsepower) which is rounded to 800 providing the name “LPI 800-4”.  This power is delivered to a permanent four-wheel drive transmission, and makes it go from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 second with a top speed of 355km/h.

The design of the Countach LPI 800-4 is definitely reminiscent of its 70s predecessor, featuring strong and straight lines, and that iconic wedge shape. Though it doesn’t have the giant rear wing sported on the past LP500 model, it does have the signature Countach quad exhaust and scissor doors.

The final outcome of the new Lamborghini Countach LP800-4 is evolution of it’s predecessors spirit of pushing boundaries of performance into the modern age. There will be a very limited run of the LP800-4; only 112 units will be made. So for most of us once again, the Lamborghini Countach will live only as a poster on our walls.

2023 Nissan Z Revealed With 400 HP Twin-Turbo V6

Aug. 18, 2021 – In a global broadcast from Brooklyn’s Duggal Greenhouse, Nissan revealed the all-new 2023 Nissan Z sports car, only about five miles from where the original 240Z debuted. As you may have noticed, the new future classic is the first of Nissan’s line of iconic sports cars to not have a numeric designation, and will simply be known as the “Z”. Although this new Nissan may have lost some numbers, it definitely gains them back in horsepower!

The design of this new 2023 Nissan Z was of utmost importance to the brand, with a need to create a sleek and attractive exterior with a silhouette that pays homage the original models. This look features a long hood and low rear stance. Moving to the inside, the cockpit is extremely driver-centric, including a 12.3-inch customizable racing-inspired meter display, available leather sports seats and 8-speaker Bose audio system. 

The 2023 Nissan wouldn’t be a Z without the classic shape and style, but what’s really going to attract the masses is what’s under the hood. Equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, the Nissan Z puts down a solid 400 horsepower, about 70 more horsepower than the 4th-generation 370Z. When it comes to the transmission, two choices are available. For those looking to get a classic Z experience, a 6-speed manual transmission is available with a motorsport-inspired EXEDY high-performance clutch. On the other hand, you can opt for a new 9-speed automatic transmission with aluminum paddle shifters. 

The 2023 Nissan Z will be available with multiple packages, including Sport, Performance, and “Proto Spec” edition which is limited to just 240 units. Nissan says the price will start at a price around $40,000.

Return of An Icon: The Acura Integra

Aug 13, 2021 – Sure a Pininfarina Battista debuted at Monterey Car Week, and even a Singer 964-generation Porsche 911 built to DLS spec, but the show was stolen by none other than Acura. During the event, with literally no anticipation from the crowd, Acura announced the revival of the 2022 Acura Integra, a car that hasn’t been sold in the states since 2001.

The company has been so secretive and succeeded so well at keeping the news under wraps that it caught everyone by surprise. The Integra, which was one of two cars that helped to launch the brand dating back to 1986, was a widely popular compact car known for its handling and performance. 

Jon Ikeda, Vice President and Acura Brand Officer, shared that he’s “thrilled to say Integra is returning to the Acura lineup with the same fun-to-drive spirit and DNA of the original.” The news was spilled to the crowd at Monterey Car Week with an aerial drone performance. The drones were used in sync to depict a sporty coupe, before they moved in formation to spell out “INTEGRA RETURNS 2022”.

With so many brands bringing some of their most well known vehicles out of retirement, including Ford and the Bronco, and Toyota and the Supra, it will be interesting to see how the chips fall for Acura and the new Acura Integra. Other than a teaser shot of the headlight with a debossed “Integra” located underneath, not much has been specified about the car. With that being said, we don’t know much, but we do know that it is going to be great!

Limited Edition Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is Bred for the Track

Aug 9, 2021 – As if the GT2 RS wasn’t a track slayer already, Porsche has reimagined it in this special edition run to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Manthey-Racing GmbH. With a production run of just 30 cars, this new 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 was designed and executed by Porsche and Manthey for the ultimate racing fans and collectors, giving the future owners a weapon for track days and circuit racing. 

Looking back to 2018, Porsche unveiled the modern-day 935, a 700 horsepower racer featuring a body reminiscent of the legendary Porsche 935/78, with a production capped at 77 units. Today, Porsche decided to base the GT2 RS Clubsport on the same 3.8-liter flat-six twin-turbo engine, combined with a seven-speed Porsche dual-clutch gearbox. The GT2 RS Clubsport is similar to the 935 in other ways than just the engine, including the fact that both cars are based on the 991 model generation, along with sharing similar essential suspension features, 18″ center locking wheels, and more. 

Matthias Scholz, Director of GT Racing Cars, spoke about the Porsche and Manthey collaboration, saying “With the unique special edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25, this successful partnership has moved to the next level. He goes on to say “The 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 benefits from the motor racing experience that Manthey and Porsche Motorsport have gained around the world. It is the perfect circuit racing car for ambitious private drivers, and its and impressive example of engineering skill.” 

Because of its low production numbers, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is going to be incredibly rare, with many top-tier Porsche collectors and sports car racers undoubtedly fighting for a slot. 

A Look at the 2022 Acura NSX Type S

Aug 4, 2021 – Recently we saw the release of the Lamborghini Ultimae, the Italian brands farewell to one of their most beloved supercars, the Aventador. Now, Acura has joined along in the farewell parade, this time with the introduction of the 2022 Acura NSX Type S. Limited to just 350 units worldwide, the Acura NSX Type S raises the already impressive performance of Acura’s cutting-edge electrified supercar to new levels. We recently got a glimpse of this incredibly high performance road-legal NSX, and it is here to deliver more power, quicker acceleration, sharper handling, and a more emotional driving experience. 

The original powertrain in the second-generation Acura NSX is a twin-turbo V6 coupled with a Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, but the Type S will sport an even more refined version of it. More details are to come about its performance following its debut on August 12th. 

Because of the limited run of 2022 Acura NSX Type S which are capped at 350, with only 300 coming to the States, Acura predicts that the car is destined to join the ranks of unique and collectible first-generation NSX models. These models include the 1999 NSX Zanardi Edition, which only had 51 produced, and other JDM variants such as the NSX-R, NSX Type S, and NSX Type S-Zero.

Stay tuned for the debut at Monterey Car Week on August 12th to see just what kind of numbers this NSX puts out performance wise, and also what number Acura wants people to pay for it! 

A Look at the First Bespoke Pininfarina Battista

July 21, 2021 – One-of-a-kind is a motto Automobili Pininfarina is using to market their new electric hypercar, the Battista, and they mean it. With a new all-encompassing bespoke personalization program, Pininfarina is able to give new clients of the Battista a unique and individually tailored hypercar. More specifically, the company has a total of 128 million combinations which provides opportunities for clients to reflect their own individual tastes. And now, Automobili Pininfarina has released images of their first bespoke Battista, which is a commission inspired by New York City and features industry-first exposed signature carbon bodyworks to compliment its red, white and blue theme.

Starting with the interior, clients can begin by choosing between leather and Alcantara, and then move to other options such as contrast stitching, an Interior Jewellery Pack, and even fine aluminum interior detailing. In the bespoke New York commission, featured inside is black leather upholstery accompanied by Iconica Blu Alcantara with navy color inserts which elegantly showcase the Battista’s interior design and luxurious materials.

Moving to the exterior, 56 exterior paint finishes are available, unless you prefer the exposed carbon fiber bodywork option. Then, additional packages can be selected, such as the Carbon Accent Pack and Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack, with a selection of bespoke paint colors or exposed carbon finishes.

However, the insanely powerful all-electric Pininfarina Battista doesn’t rely solely on its appearance. Automobili Pininfarina claims the Battista will be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. With a motor at each wheel combining for 1,900 horsepower, the Battista can reach 63 mph faster than a Formula 1 car, a staggering sub-two second feat. Better yet, the Battista promises a 310 mile range on its 120 kWh battery.

Pininfarina says just 150 Battista examples will be made, a small number for such an endless amount of customization. Prices look to be upwards of $2 million, a small price to pay fo a car claiming to be the most powerful car coming out of Italy!

The Drift Ready 2022 Audi RS3 Complete with 401-HP

July 19, 2021 – Audi may have released the A3 sedan for 2022, but the lineup wasn’t complete until now with the addition of the 2022 Audi RS3. Audi not only stepped up their design for this new sedan sports car, but also their technology and power output. 

The new Audi RS3 will come with the same 2.5-liter inline-five that its predecessor used, but this time with a bit more power. After a few tweaks and some European love, the sedan now pushes 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Audi RS3 is capable of sprinting to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds, but the fun doesn’t stop in a straight line. Matched with an impressive torque splitter that distributes drive torque between the rear wheels in a fully variable manner, the RS3 features driving modes such as RS Torque Rear that allows a single rear wheel to receive all the power, making sliding around a track that much easier, and fun. 

Other standard equipment includes RS sports suspension with newly developed shock absorbers and a valve system both specific top the RS3. Also featured is larger wheel camber for more precise steering response and increased cornering force. To stop, the RS3 comes fitted with newly developed six-piston steel brakes. 

Moving to the looks, the Audi RS3’s design is even more dynamic than before, with a wide RS bumper housing a distinctive honeycomb grille, and large air intakes which give the sedan an expressive appearance. 

The price for the U.S. model of the Audi RS3 hasn’t been announced yet, but looking at the 2020 model and its $57,195 price tag, we will assume it be be a couple thousand more than that.

The Dune Bashing Gemballa Marsien

July 16, 2021 – A new wildly designed Gemballa Porsche has hit the streets, but not quite the Gemballa we’ve come to know and love. Marc Philipp Gemballa, 27 year old son of the legendary German auto tuner Uwe Gemballa, has created his own take on the Gemballa legacy. This brand new supercar company, Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH, along with designer and Porsche aficionado Alan Derosier, took a Porsche 911 S and crafted a marvelous machine that’s here to push the boundaries of both on and off-road performance. 

Safari 911’s are nothing new, and even Singer just recently released their take on a rally-ready 911, but Marc Philipp Gemballa’s take is drastically different than what has come before. Gemballa calls this Porsche, known as the Marsien, a truly bespoke vehicle, and that it is. Besides its futuristic design and character, the majority of the car itself is made up of pure carbon fiber, designed for performance, lightweight, and cooling. Every piece was manufactured by a leading German carbon fiber specialist, known for supplying renown OEM sports car manufactures as well as several Formula 1 teams. And although it may be light and nimble, it still needs to draw power from somewhere, and that is exactly where RUF comes into play. 

For those unfamiliar or may need a refresher, RUF is a German car manufacturer that engineers original vehicles using unmarked Porsche chassis. As we talked about bespoke before, its only right for the Gemballa Marsien to have a unique powertrain of the highest quality. The engineers at RUF were able to tweak and tune the six-cylinder boxer to squeak out an extra 100+ horsepower over an original Porsche 911 Turbo S, producing a whopping 740 hp, or an even wilder 830 hp for their second stage model. However, the Gemballa Marsien isn’t all about aerodynamics and engine perfomance — off-roadability is where this beefy Porsche draws its energy. 

Together with the leading suspension and chassis technology pioneer KW automotive, Marc Philipp Gemballa was able to incorporate a newly developed double wishbone suspension system equipped with KW solid piston damper technology. Not only does this system allow the Gemballa Marsien an intelligent active damper control, but also features and adjustable ride height system for on and off road use. At the rear, a multi-link suspension with an anti-roll bar was put in place for even better control in the dirt. 

With a limited run of just 40 units, it may be difficult to get your hands on one of these creations, but if you have $583,000 to toss on a hyper off-roader, then we wish you luck!

Aston Martin Valhalla: A 937-HP Hybrid Supercar Beast

July 15, 2021 – The Valkyrie may be the more powerful and expensive of the two, but this new Aston Martin Valhalla could quite possibly be the cream of the crop. The Aston Martin Valhalla, similar to the Valkyrie, is built around the expertise the company has gained through Formula 1 experience, allowing new owners access to technology born from the race track. This truly driver-focused mid-engined hybrid supercar now sets best in class standards for performance, dynamics and driving pleasure. From Valkyrie to Valhalla, Aston Martin’s Project Horizon is not disappointing, so let’s dive into what makes this car so spectacular. 

Between a 937-horsepower hybrid engine, pinpoint handling, and remarkable levels of downforce, the Aston Martin Valhalla is a new breed of supercar. But what makes up that 937-horsepower monster of an engine you may ask? Well, it takes one beast of a V8 to push 740-hp with two turbos bolted on, along with two separate electric motors to hit such numbers.  A top speed of 217 miles per hour and the ability to hit 62 mph in under 2.5 seconds give a great example of the Valhalla’s capabilities. However, power isn’t all the Valhalla leans on, and if it learned anything from the Valkyrie, it’s aerodynamics. 

The Aston Martin Valhalla has a few tricks up its sleeve, mostly pertaining to active aerodynamics for unparalleled downforce. At first look, the Valhalla seems rather mild when it comes to aerodynamics, with no massive wing or dorsal fin like its much more extreme counterpart, the Valkyrie AMR Pro. The team at Aston Martin learned that drastic changes to aerodynamics under the car makes for less to do up top. At 150 mph, the Valhalla is capable of generating an impressive 1322 lbs of downforce, allowing for mighty high-speed cornering abilities and unshakable stability. 

It also does help that the Valhalla is built around a new carbon fiber tub for maximum stiffness, all while maintaining a weight of around 3,417 pounds. With everything Aston Martin has learned from Formula 1 and its lightning fast Valkyrie, it’s no wonder the Valhalla seems to be the quintessential hybrid supercar. 

A Final Farewell: The New Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae

July 12, 2021 – The end is near for the Lamborghini Aventador, but not without a final production farewell appropriately named the Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. Spanning over a decade, the production of the insanely aggressive looking V12 hypercar from Lamborghini is making its last rounds before vanishing into automotive history. This time, the iconic V12 is nestled inside the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, giving it the power and performance of the SVJ while intensifying the elegance of the Aventador S.

Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, says “The Aventador LP-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally-aspirated production V12 Lamborghini”. For its final go, the Ultimae will grab from a collection of the greatest features of the Aventador’s decade of successes, and of course, it will be starting with a pumped up version of the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine. With some tweaks and tunes, that powerhouse is now putting out 769 horsepower, almost 40 more the Aventador S and 10 more than the SVJ. Power’s not the only feature the Ultimae scores higher than the Aventador S, but also weight. With a unique, extremely rigid and lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, and extensive use of carbon fiber around the hypercar, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae is able to achieve a weight of 3,417 pounds, a 55 pound savings. 

All of these features lead to some impressive perfjoamcne numbers, including a 0-62 mph time of only 2.8 seconds. The fun doesn’t stop there, and the Ultimae flies to 124 mph in only 8.7 seconds, and reaches a top-speed of 221 mph.

Looks wise, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae only gets a few subtle changes compared to its SVJ counterpart. Rather than a massive wing and SVJ plastered on the side, the Ultimae received a new front bumper and an option of colored strakes. Only 350 Ultimae coupes will be produced, with an even smaller amount of roadsters at just 250.

The New Lotus Emira Is Lotus’ Last Gas-Powered Model

July 6, 2021 – Serving as its final hurrah in gas-powered vehicles, Lotus is releasing it’s all-new mid-engine sports car: The Lotus Emira. The new Lotus mimics looks from their all-electric hypercar example, the Evija, taking cues like its sporty profile and sleek and sculpted design features.

Honoring the spirit of the classic sports car, the Lotus Emira will be offered both with an automatic dual clutch transmission, and a traditional stick shift manual transmission with positioning echoing the interior of the iconic Lotus Esprit.

Lotus will be offering the Emira with two engine options; a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine developed by partner, AMG, and a 3.5L supercharged V6 previously seen in the much loved Evora and Exige. All models across the range will be made to produce between 360 and 400bhp, with a 0-60 of less than 4.5 seconds and top speed of 180mph. A modest, yet refined offering for their last combustion engine ever.

As the company looks towards the future with their “Vision80” plan, one that looks to transform Lotus by its 80th anniversary in 2028, they’re embracing the future of automotive technology with it. Citing that they will be focusing only on electrification of their lineup, the Lotus Emira serves as their way of honoring their legacy while taking the big step towards their future.

2022 Dallara EXP: A Roofless Track Weapon

July 1, 2021 – For those familiar with the world of racing, you may have heard of the Italian race car manufacturer Dallara, and if so, you’ll know that the Dallara EXP is a new car that’s going to push the boundaries of race car capabilities. The company was founded by Gian Paolo Dallara, who previously worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso. You could say he has a knack for race cars, so much so he has been creating his own track shredders.

Before releasing their newest creation, Dallara manufactured a barely road legal Stradale that somehow found its way to sporting a license plate. The company realized the car needed some extreme aero and more power, and if the original Stradale barely met requirements for the street, then this new Dallara EXP would be a track-only weapon. 

The powerhouse putting the EXP in motion is the same 2.3 liter Eco-Boost found in the Ford Focus RS, albeit with more power. A little tinkering from Dallara lands the power output of the 4 cylinder around 492 hp. With outlandish horsepower numbers from modern day supercars, this number may seem pretty small for a track only car. Don’t let that horsepower figure fool you though, as the Dallara EXP has a dry weight of only 1,962 lbs, with 2,756 lbs of downforce at top speed. Even better, the car can pull 2.7 G’s.

No price has been given for the EXP, but it is noted that the Stradale can be transformed into an EXP, and vice versa. The Stradale comes in at around $200,000, but if you’re looking for a track only toy, look no further than the EXP! 

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro Redefines the Hypercar

June 29, 2021 – If you’ve ever wondered what a hypercar is defined as, then look no further for a prime example than the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. Shortly after delivering their newest 1,000 hp hybrid road car, the Valkyrie, Aston Martin has stepped it up with a track only, racing regulation free hypercar that is here to eliminate all competition. As Aston Martin puts it, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is “a machine which takes a car designed to win the Le Mans 24 Hours as its starting point, then pushes further to explore extremes of performance unconstrained by racing regulations or registration for road use.” 

Similar to the road legal Valkyrie, the AMR Pro is chock full of mind-blowing capabilities. Neatly nestled inside the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is a Cosworth-built 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, capable of revving up to 11,000 rpm and putting 1000bhp down to the pavement. You may be thinking that the original road legal Valkyrie posted these kinds of numbers before even adding its hybrid system, a good thought indeed.

Well, the AMR Pro is more than just a powerhouse. Aston Martin set out to achieve the fastest lap times, but this pursuit also involved a plethora of weight saving changes. Firstly, the battery electric hybrid system was removed, along with a host of other weight saving measures. Continuing the technology partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), Aston Martin has been able to incorporate into the AMR Pro ultra-light carbon fiber bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones and Perspex windscreen and side windows.

With everything combined, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro exceeds Le Mans Hypercar regulations for aerodynamic efficiency, with Aston Martin claiming track performance close to that of an F1 car.

More details of the Valkyrie AMR Pro including specification and performance are to be revealed later this year. As of now, a target lap time around the 8.5 mile 24H Le Mans is set at 3 minutes and 20 seconds, a number that could put the Valkyrie AMR Pro in first place in an LMP1 race. 40 AMR Pro versions of the Valkyrie will be produced, and with the original Valkyrie priced at $3 million, it seems the sky may be the limit for the price of an AMR Pro!

Inaugural State of Speed LA Car Show Recap

Incredible builds, delicious coffee, great people — what more could have come from a successful inaugural State of Speed Los Angeles car show? First off, let’s start off by saying thank you to each and every person that showed up for the event, Milestar Tires for sponsoring the show, and Clutch and Coffee for providing the fresh brews.

It’s refreshing to know that a group of gearheads that share the same passion for their rides can come together for an extraordinary time!

Now, let’s dive on into the turnout of immaculate builds that showed up for the State of Speed LA event! As stated before the event, this was most definitely not a run of the mill car show. It was expected that a truly diverse group of cars would show up, from JDM and Euro to Off-Road and Mini Trucks. There was no shortage of any, either.

Once the clock hit 7 o’clock, people were rolling in to collect their limited edition State of Speed Los Angeles t-shirts, and boy did those go quick! Once parked and hood popped, the next most important thing to do was grab a cup of coffee, and a delicious one at that. Clutch and Coffee supplied the goods, and it was a hit!

By 9AM, the Tireco parking lot was popping, but no, not audibly. A huge thanks to everyone for also being respectful of the show and keeping the engine noises to a minimum! The lot was packed, and the three hours flew by, but there was plenty of time to check out each car and talk to the individuals behind the builds. Once 10AM came, cars slowly started to head out while bystanders headed towards the exits to hear the sweet tones of each car as they departed.

Overall, our inaugural State of Speed LA show was a huge success! Another thank you goes out to our lead sponsor, Milestar Tires, our coffee vendor, Clutch and Coffee, and most importantly, those who showed up with some killer rides. We look forward to the next event and hope everyone can make it out, so stay tuned!

Steve McQueen’s “Le Mans” Porsche 917 K Heading to Auction

June 25, 2021 – If you’re looking to get your hands on a piece of automotive history, then you’re most definitely going to want to check out this 1970 Porsche 917 K up for auction at RM Sotheby’s. This 917 K doesn’t only have a Le Mans entry in 1970 with the Mike Hailwood/David Hobbs JW Automotive Gulf Racing team, but also starred in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans. 

This Porsche 917 K has quite the history, and aside from starring in movies and racing in the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has had a complete restoration. Going back in time to Le Mans, the car was raced in 1970 and reached 3rd place before it aquaplaned in the rain and sustained minimal chassis damage. The car was retired while the drivers jumped in a spare, and that’s where the rest of the Porsche 917 K’s story continues. The car entered the limelight for the 1971 feature in which they used actual footage from its 1970 Le Mans race. The car was then rebuilt by Porsche for team Shell Heckersbruch, where it competed and performed strongly for the next 3 years.

By 2012, the Porsche 917 K was bought by a noted collector where it received its full restoration. This meant the exterior was once again plastered in its beautiful Gulf-liveried Le Mans coupe specification. The restoration was executed by Paul Lanzante, a top European racing car restorer. Without regard to cost and with access to many period correct parts, the Porsche 917 K was once again basking in the glory of its deep roots in the golden era of motorsport. 

Ferrari 296 GTB Unleashes 818 HP Through Hybrid V6

June 24, 2021 – Ferrari may now have the perfect answer to the V6 super-hybrid McLaren Artura, and it comes in the form of the new Ferrari 296 GTB. Built with a mid-rear engine V6 coupled with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, this new creation from Maranello puts out a staggering 818 hp. Biased or not, Ferrari says their newest creation defines fun to drive and maximizes usability and driving pleasure.

Ferrari may not have an EV on the market yet, but the 296 GTB definitely shows that the company is willing to step out of its 8 and 12 cylinder comfort zone. The supercar sports the company’s first ever V6 engine in a road car, which alone puts out 653 hp. For comparison, the V6 and electric motor combined in the Artura make 671 hp. That’s not far off for Ferrari’s base number, so once you factor in the electric motor that’s putting out 165 hp, that makes for one fast prancing horse! Attached to the V6 turbo ICE is an 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, while the electric motor is separated from the ICE by a clutch to decouple them in electric-only mode. 

The Ferrari 296 GTB also stands out for its newest features that manage the two engines. Called the eManettino, a power selector in the supercar, it is capable of selecting between 4 different drive modes. eDrive, hybrid, performance, and qualify are the modes to switch between, and are in order of performance. eDrive is strictly for the electric motor, hybrid allows for maximum efficiency between both motors, performance keeps the ICE on at all times for maintaining full power, and qualify is everything tuned to the max. 

Ferrari is set to release the 296 GTB in Q1 of 2022, with a starting price of $321,000. 

The Inaugural State of Speed
LA Car Show Is Coming Up!

The time has come to gas up your rides and head on over to the inaugural State Of Speed Los Angeles car show! Made possible by our lead sponsor Milestar Tires, this event is more than your run of the mill automotive event. Cars for every taste will be making their way to the show, including JDM, Euro, and Classic Muscle, all the way to rat-rods and mini trucks! One thing we all have in common is our love for all things automotive, so come on by and check out some of the baddest rides from the Southern California area and meet the people behind the builds. 

The SoS LA event will commence at 7:00 a.m., and you better believe that there are perks for showing up early! State of Speed will be giving away limited edition shirts to the first participants who show up (while supplies last). Coffee will also be available for purchase on site just in case the thrill of tastefully built cars and loud engines aren’t enough to wake you up!

Whether you’ve got a show ready ride, or are just interested in checking out some badass builds, stop by Sunday, June 27th at the Tireco Headquarters, located at 500 W 190th St Suite 600, Gardena, CA 90248. The event will begin at 7:00 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.

We hope to see you there!

Introducing the $3.9 Million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport

June 08, 2021 – Bugatti’s overarching goal is always to create a premier automotive experience combining both luxury and top speed, two boxes that their newest creation, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, undoubtedly checks off. From a brand that lives by the mantra of form always follows performance, they have done a remarkable job hitting the nail on the head once again. 

Every aspect of the exterior of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport plays a role in its unrivaled aerodynamics, from the front splitter all the way back to the rear diffuser. As Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, puts it, “With the Chiron Super Sport, we are following our long-standing tradition of combining top speed with absolute luxury.” 

You can almost imagine it being difficult making a performance version of an already over-engineered and exceptionally well performing platform such as the Bugatti Chiron. Every aspect of the car has already been so finely tuned that it seems almost impossible to refine it more. However, the engineers at Bugatti took every step to take the Chiron Super Sport a step above. For aerodynamic performance, the rear of the Chiron grew by 25 centimeters to hold the laminar flow to the bodywork for as long as possible. Engineers also enlarged the diffuser cross-section which in turn raised the diffuser’s trailing edge. As a result of these small changes, the slipstream and wind resistance generated are significantly reduced.

Moving on into the performance, the engineers once again had to tweak every last detail to hopefully accumulate a tad more performance anywhere they could. When it came to the 8.0-liter W16 engine, it was thoroughly overhauled. With modifications to the turbochargers, oil pump, cylinder head with valve train, transmission and clutch, the Chiron Super Sport is able to squeeze out about 100 more horsepower. 

The Chiron and Chiron Sport were able to put down an astonishing 1479 horsepower, but the Super Sport, with its updated components and bigger turbos, now puts down 1577 horsepower — even more than the Divo! The improved performance now makes the hypercar capable of accelerating to 124 mph in 5.8 seconds and 186 mph in only 12.1 seconds. And although Bugatti did in fact make 30 Super Sport 300 versions two years ago that could hit a top speed of 300 mph, the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport just isn’t capable of that number. However, the 273 mph top speed it is capable of should be more than enough for the lucky owners. 

Bugatti will soon begin manufacturing of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France, and if you’re interested in purchasing one, the price is $3.9 million. 

Touring Superleggera Unveils True Italian Artistry With Arese RH95

June 07, 2021 – Italian automobile coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has just dropped their latest creation, the Arese RH95, and it’s here to drop your jaw.

Coachbuilding is at the foundation of automotive culture, and has been around for as long as luxury cars have been produced. In the early days, if you had enough money and wanted to have your ride stand out from the crowd, you could hire a coachbuilder to customize, and even re-body, your car. Fast-forward to today and this is exactly what Touring Superleggera is widely known and respected for doing. 

The Arese RH95 most likely started its life as a Ferrari 488 Pista, but has now become a symbol of performance and elegance. The first mid-engined car Touring has built, the Arese RH95 is quite possibly the definition of Italian sports cars. The name of the coach built supercar reflects directly on the 95 years of Touring Superleggera heritage. 

Several features of the Arese RH95 speak volumes for the true craftsmanship coming out of Touring. For one, because of the Arese being their first mid-engined car, it was only right to throw on a massive dorsal scoop to feed air to the engine, right? If the beautifully crafted front and center scoop isn’t quite enough, the Arese RH95 features fantastic scissor doors which are quick to draw your attention, while also giving a glimpse of the immaculate interior.

Performance wise, the Arese RH95 should deliver everything we’d expect from a Ferrari 488 Pista. In short, the Pista comes with a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that produces 711 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque. This launches the supercar to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.0 seconds flat, with a top speed of 211 mph. 

Pricing for the Arese RH95 is available upon request, but you better hope your wallet is as big as that dorsal scoop!

Toyota Reveals 2022 GR Supra A91-CF Edition

June 04, 2021 – Come 2022, Toyota has a limited, special edition coupe hitting showroom floors that you’re most definitely going to want to get yours hands on — introducing the Toyota GR Supra A91-CF Edition. The GR, which stands for Gazoo Racing, is still linked to the Supra nameplate, but the additional CF at the end stands for Carbon Fiber, and this special edition Supra has a heck of a lot of it. 

This updated Mark V Supra maintains the sleek, stylish look automotive fans have come to know and love, but introduces a couple extra bells and whistles. To start, the GR Supra CF Edition adds carbon fiber accents and a beautiful duckbill spoiler. 

Toyota wouldn’t come out and release a special edition supra with carbon fiber in its name unless the car had tons of it, and that is most definitely the case. The GR Supra A91-CF Edition features a brand new carbon fiber front splitter and larger canards, with additional carbon fiber side rockers that help to define the lower edge along the sides. Heading towards the back of the car, the carbon fiber dreams continue. For some increased downforce, and of course, looks, a carbon fiber duckbill has been attached to the trunk, and for catching air down below, lower canards have also been attached. 

This aero kit is more than just for looks, and indeed serves a functional purpose. Whether you’re planning to take the A91-CF Supra to the track or the canyons, the kit improves both downforce and stability. 

Additionally, the Toyota Supra A91-CF Edition comes standard with 19-inch wheels in a matte black color, which nicely compliments the available matte-gray Phantom paint color, with other choices including Absolute Zero White and Nitro Yellow. Pricing has yet to be announced, but Toyota says that will be available in the coming months, with dealer availability expected this Fall.  

Ford F-150 Lightning: Watch the EV Debut

May 19, 2021 – A new electrified truck is here to steal the show, and it’s said to be Ford’s smartest, most innovative truck yet — introducing the Ford F-150 Lightning. No, this isn’t the V-8 powered Lightning street trucks from the ‘90s and early 2000’s, but a new electric pickup from Ford. The all-new F-150 Lightning is set to be revealed tonight at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, and of course live-streamed for the millions of eager consumers to tune in. 

Fourteen generations in the making, the F-Series has been a longtime success for Ford, and their newest electrified F-150 is here to solidify it. The F-150 has been the best-selling pickup truck in the United States since 1977, and the highest-selling vehicle overall since 1981. However, the F-150 Lightining will bring stunning innovation, technologies and capabilities to the F-Series. 

With strong competition in the mix, such as the Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, GMC Hummer, and more, there are certain performance numbers we expect from the Lightning. Ford says that the F-150 Lightning will be the most powerful F-150 to date, so it will undoubtedly have two motors powering an all-wheel drive system. The fastest F-150 on the market currently has 450 horsepower and can sprint to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, so this will already be a milestone for the Lightning to pass. However, other electric trucks are said to have sub-4 second 0-60 times, so there is a good chance the F-150 Lightning will fit somewhere in that mix. The truck is also said to be able to power your house during an outage, so when it comes to the battery, its definitely going to be big! 

The reveal will take place at 9:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live with 30+ ways to watch, including Ford’s Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and more. 

Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A Leave No Stone Unturned

May 05, 2021 – As if the V12 producing 800 ponies in the 812 Superfast wasn’t quite enough, Ferrari decided to up the ante and create not one, but two Special Edition 812’s — introducing the Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A. Based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast platform, these two new V12 Ferrari’s revealed today pack in more power, newer tech, and an incredible rear-wheel steering system. 

The 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A are both built with, as Ferrari claims, “the most exhilarating V12 on the automotive scene.” This reengineered naturally-aspirated V12 produces 830bhp and revs up to a new maximum rpm of 9,500. Just think of the beautiful noises coming from a Ferrari V12 red-lining at 9,500 rpms — are your ears bleeding yet? Performance figures from Ferrari state that 0-62 can be achieved in 2.85 seconds, with a 211 mph top-speed! 

The 6.5-liter engine in both Ferrari 812 Competizione even houses titanium connecting rods, which are 40% lighter than the steel versions, while maintaining the same mechanical resistance. Ferrari says that the most significant improvements, however, are given to the distribution and the cylinder heads, which have both been completely redesigned. The cams feature a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating that reduces friction, and they now action the valve stems via DLC-coated steel sliding finger followers, technology taken straight from Ferrari’s F1 experience. 

When it comes to the transmission, both models come equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, delivering a better performance and feel for the V12. The transmission has been further calibrated  to reduce shift times by 5 percent. The Ferrari 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A may have the same gear ratios, but thanks to the extra 500 rpms to red-line, they’ll feel even sportier.

The boost in power brought Ferrari to the next challenges, cooling and braking. With an engine that produces more power comes the need to cool it, and with more power comes speed, which needs to be slowed down. For the Competizione, Ferrari first integrated a new single air duct into the front grille, which allows the intake for the engine radiators to be extended sideways as far as the chassis allows. Next came vents on either side of the bonnet to help evacuate hot air coming off of the radiator, along with louvers on the wings. All of these changes translate to a 10 percent more efficient cooling of engine fluids than the 812 Superfast. 

For the Ferrari 812 Competizione A, to compensate for the removal of the vortex generators, Ferrari incorporated a bridge element between the flying buttresses. The air flow is then deflected effectively and effienctly towards the rear spoiler, giving the Competzione A the same downforce as the Competizione. 

For braking, ventilation of the calipers and pads is achieved by channeling the cool air captured by the two ducts on either side of the front bumper. The air rushes through an air intake and is distributed inside the component. Thanks to these new modifications, Ferrari is able to achieve brake temperatures 30 degrees celsius lower than those of the 812 Superfast. 

All in all, the these two new updated Superfast 812’s could be some of the greatest cars Ferrari has produced. The Competizione and Competizione A are unmistakingly bold and brilliant. The coupe will start at $598,567 while the Competizione A will start at $694,549 with deliveries beginning Q2 2022.

Hongqi S9 Debuts As 1,400 HP Hybrid Hypercar

May 04, 2021 – A joint venture between Silk EV of Italy and FAW has come to fruition, with the announcement of the beginning of development of a series of ultra-luxury, high-performance sports vehicles. This new line of full electric and hybrid luxury models falls under the Hongqi ’S’ series, and to prove that they mean business, their first model of the series is an ultra-luxury hypercar, the S9. With Walter de Silva, former Volkswagen design chief, overseeing the design of the S9, it’s bound to not only hit incredible performance numbers, but also express a beautiful, aerodynamic design. 

The Hongqi S9 was debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt international Motor Show as a concept, but soon hit the Auto Shanghai show in 2021 as the real deal. Similar to the concept, the S9 features a V8-based powertrain with a plug-in hybrid motor that combines to make 1,400 hp. Silk-FAW claim that the car will do 0-62 mph at an incredible 1.9 seconds, with a top speed just over 250 mph. As of now, the joint companies have given out too many details about the hypercar, but from pictures alone, the car itself is beautiful, and has all sorts of aerodynamic features, along with unique air-vents for cooling.

If you take a close look at the headlights, you’ll see integrated air ducts. At the rear, you’ll find a louvered rear window, a fairly subtle wing, and a pretty aggressive carbon fiber diffuser. Speaking of carbon fiber, the hypercar is covered in it! 

Hongqi, which means “Red Flag” in English, is already accepting orders for the S9, and production is said to begin soon with deliveries starting as early as 2022. Only 99 S9’s will be built, with an estimated price of $1.45 million, or about $1,035 per one hp! 

Silk and FAW are building the Hongqi S9 to be sold in the global market, so there is a chance North America will be blessed with a few examples!

The New Bentley Continental GT Speed Is a 650 HP Convertible

April 13, 2021 – Last month brought the introduction of the new Bentley Continental GT Speed, the most capable, performance-focused car Bentley has claimed to have ever made. Within a matter of weeks, Bentley has now introduced the all-new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible, capable of reaching the same top speed and hitting 60 mph only a tenth of a second slower than the coupe — all while being able to let your hair blow in the wind. 

Bentley is known for luxurious interiors and next level technology while never sacrificing performance. The Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible is no exception. Featuring an enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6.0 liter W12 engine, the car can deliver 650 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, launching the luxury sports car to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. The fun doesn’t stop there, and the W12 can continue pushing the Bentley up to a top speed of 208 mph. For comparison, the new McLaren Artura has a top speed of 205 mph — W12 for the win! 

Both the engine and the transmission in the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible are calibrated to suit the car’s driver-focused credentials. Bentley says that this claim is most noticeable in SPORT mode, where the twin-turbocharged W12 has been tuned to keep the engine in the power band longer by up-shifting later, or downshifting earlier. Meanwhile, the dual-clutch, eight-speed transmission in SPORT mode is capable of shifting twice as fast. 

Running a twin-turbo W12 engine does come with some questions, and most are probably wondering what kind of fuel economy the Bentley gets. Well, if you’re able to spare a few dollars and actually afford this Bentley, gas prices may not be of concern. However, the Continental GT comes with a Variable Displacement system, shutting down half of the engine’s 12 cylinders under certain conditions. Intake and exhaust valves, fuel injection and ignition are all shut down on these defined cylinders, with the engine running as a 6-cylinder for improved fuel efficiency. 

Moving to the interior of the Continental GT Speed Convertible, you’ll first notice Bentley’s expertise in creating the world’s finest automotive interiors. Unique trim and badging, all of which are handmade, will quickly draw your attention. A unique duotone color split handcrafted in hide and Alcantara make up most of the interior. Personalization is also available, with a choice of 15 main and 11 secondary hide colors, as well as the use of leather instead of Alcantara. Also noticeable is Bentley’s Diamond in Diamond quilting, which is included as standard, as well as ‘Speed’ embroidered headrests to distinguish the cabin of the “most potent Continental GT”. 

The Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible is available for order now, but you’ll be looking at a price just above $300,000, which doesn’t even include the destination charge and gas guzzler tax. 

The 2022 Toyota GR 86: New Looks, More Power

April 05, 2021 – Last November brought the newest iteration of the BRZ from Subaru, and now five months later, Toyota has released its friendly competitor, the Toyota GR 86. For those unfamiliar with the new letters added to the 86, GR stands for Gazoo Racing, the company’s motorsport/performance brand. Following the GR Supra and GR Yaris, the new GR 86 is the third global model in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR series of sports cars. 

Nine years and 200,000 86s later, the car has become synonymous with a variety of motorsports, including rallies, gymkhana, dirt trials and more, while others have been uniquely customized to fit the needs of the customer — ahem, forced induction. Toyota surpassed their goal of delivering the dreams and the joy of driving inherent in sports cars to its customers through its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles. A platform capable of intuitive handling and instinctive responsiveness has made for an incredible driver’s car. 

Moving back to the friendly competition, Subaru and Toyota jointly developed the 86/BRZ platform, although the two vehicles focus on separate features to give the ultimate driving experience to the customer. This new business and capital alliance between Toyota and Subaru is only the beginning of a beautiful relationship. It’s hard to see where they can go wrong judging by the reliability of each brands cars and their deep roots in motorsports. 

The new Toyota GR 86 is everything it has been, plus a bit more. Toyota has continued the same recipe with the GR 86 that it used for the original 86 — a 2+2 rear-wheel-drive coupe. However, Toyota has stepped it up when it comes to performance, throwing in an evolutionary new 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine in place of the old 2.0-liter. The increase in power significantly reduces the GR 86’s 0-60 times, dropping the time for the previous model of 7.4 seconds to just 6.3 seconds. Responsiveness has also been enhanced, providing a smooth, stress-free ride through the rpm range. 

Lowering the center of gravity was also an extremely important goal Toyota set out to achieve. The use of an aluminum roof panel results in a lower center of gravity, while aluminum fenders, updated front seats, and new mufflers all contribute to reduced weight. Body rigidity has also been improved in the GR 86, with the goal of delivering increased handling in all speed ranges. 

Diving into aerodynamics, the GR 86 features aerodynamic components seen on 86 models that have participated in motorsport events, including air outlets, side sill spoilers, and other parts that significantly improve steering responsiveness and stability. 

Overall, the new Toyota GR 86 is going to deliver an improved driving experience over the previous generation, while continuing to be an ultimate driver’s car. There’s no turbocharged version yet, but who knows what to expect in the future! While no price tag has been announced, the new GR 85 is scheduled to launch later this year most likely near the $30,000 mark. 

The Road Legal 1,400 Horsepower Glickenhaus 007S

March 30, 2021 – A new hypercar class at Le Mans has drawn in some incredible new competition, one contender being America’s Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, and their newest racer, the 007. If you know anything about Glickenhaus, you’ll know that they make some of the toughest vehicles to withstand grueling races around the world, from 24 Hours of Nurburgring to the Baja 1000. The fun doesn’t stop there, however — once Glickenhaus has perfected their vehicles, they go a step further to make road-legal versions.

With the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus 007 perfected, they have now released a 007S, “S” representing the street version. What stands out the most with the little details given about the 007S is its power-to-weight ratio. The car itself, gassed up and race ready tips the scales at 2,800 pounds, an incredible feat for a three-seater hypercar. Inside the 007S is a centered seat with a seat behind the driver on either side, similar to the T.50S, and of course, the McLaren F1. Even crazier is the 1,400-hp engine that powers it, producing 1 hp for every 2 pounds! The race car version, the 007, is powered by a bespoke 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8, but as of now, it hasn’t been announced whether or not that’s what the street legal version will house.  

A remarkable feature, pointed out by their social media page, is that it has an “AC that will work in bumper to bumper traffic, on the Long Island Expressway, on a 100 degree day…”. For a 1,400 horsepower hypercar that relies on high speeds to maintain cool temps from air rushing through its vents, this is an amazing feat. Additionally, Glickenhaus says the 007S, on street tires, will run a sub 6 minute ring time, nearing the incredible 5:19.55 time set by Porsche’s 919 Evo time-attack special in 2018. Yes, pretty unbelievable! 

Only 24 007S’ will be produced, and deliveries will take place at least two years after the last slot has been sold. Glickenhaus doesn’t seam to be worried about slots not being filled up, however, as they mentioned that they’ll be sold out before even having a chance to have test drive/ ride events. Pricing will start at $2.3 million USD.  

The New Pagani Huayra R: An 850-HP Track Killer

March 18, 2021 – Following in the track-only footsteps of the Zonda R, the new V12 Pagani Huayra R is here to prove the Italian automakers dedication to form and function. Horacio Pagani, founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., states that “The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.”

The Pagani Huayra R was put together piece by piece with the latest technology derived from the world of racing. The heart of the Huayra R is a 12-cylinder, 6-liter, naturally-aspirated racing engine, designed to not only put out peak performance, but also be incredibly light to be one of the most efficient track-ready V12’s ever created. The new powertrain delivers a whopping 850-hp at 8,250 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque, with a redline at 9,000 rpm, creating that sound Horacio Pagani was going for from the F1 engines of the 1980s. 

Paired to the screaming V12 is a brand new six-speed sequential gearbox. The gearbox itself is a non synchronized dog ring that guarantees 95% friction efficiency, which helps to achieve maximum shift precision and reduce shift times, all while only weighing in at a total of just 176 lbs. Mounted to the engine and the monocoque, the gearbox also contributes to the rigidity of the chassis and is designed to integrate structurally with the entire suspension unit. 

Going back to the monocoque, the Pagani Huayra R’s is the result of specifically dedicated development that gives the driver total involvement and driving experience that you’d expect from an authentic racing car experience. The monocoque was designed using the latest composite technology, including carbo-titanium HP62-G2, a combination of beta titanium alloy and carbon composite, along with Carbo-Triax HP62. Combined with the new structural principles and materials that were specially designed for the all-new Pagani Huayra R, the supercar tips the scales at a dry weight of just over 2,300 lbs. 

Moving on into the aerodynamics of the Pagania Huayra R, every detail of its exterior plays a role in generating maximum aerodynamic load. The goal from the beginning was the generate roughly 2204 lbs of downforce at 199 mph (1000 kg at 320 km/h), which the teams at Pagani and HWA quickly achieved. This wasn’t enough though, and the engineers wanted to push the envelope even further with the combination of form and function. They started to realize that every little detail they were changing on the exterior of the car was improving aerodynamic efficiency. 

Continuing the racing feel that the Pagani Huayra R was going for is the interior of the car. The interior of the R was designed for all around involvement and maximum adrenaline. All controls, including traction control, ABS, radio communication and other important functions can all be found on the quick release steering wheel. All other important controls are available on the center console, while a high-res, fully customizable motorsport dashboard display feeds the driver the necessary information to monitor the status of the car. 

Converted to USD, the Pagani Huayra R will cost about $3.1 million, but that’s only if you’re able to get your hands on 1 of 30 build slots. If you do however get on the waitlist and secure a slot, be ready to experience some of the most thrilling Pagani organized track days, part of the Pagani ownership experience. 

The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo: An Off-Roadable EV Wagon

March 05, 2021 – Porsche has officially announced the expansion of their all-electric sports car range, and the newest edition is an off-road, shooting brake dream — the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Many of the Cross Turismos strengths are taken from its sedan counterpart, with focus on performance and an exciting driving experience. Added to the mix is increased ground clearance for off-roadability, along with the much needed extra cargo space.

While the Taycan Cross Turismo will continue with the same front end, which has to be one of the best looking of all EVs, it will feature a longer, flatter roofline compared to its sedan counterpart. Also changed will be the fender extensions, unique rocker panels, front and rear fascia, and a 20 mm higher ride height. 

The Cross Turismo is in no way a rock-crawling off-roader, but it does however come with a Gravel mode, which increases the ride height an additional 10 mm, while also setting the suspension firmness, traction and stability control, and torque management system. All of these functions combined help the Taycan Cross Tursimo to maximize its grip over loose surfaces, including rocks, mud, sand, and gravel. This alone gives the Taycan more versatility over most EVs out there, but the performance doesn’t stop there. Off the gravel and back onto the road, the Taycan Turbo S Cross Tursimo can sprint to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds.

Moving to the interior, the Taycan Cross Turismo has several options available, including Porsche InnoDrive, Head Up Display, 14-way seats with massage functionality, and Bose and Burmester audio systems. 

Four different Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo models will be available at the launch, including the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Taycan Turbo Cross Tursimo, and Taycan Turbo S Cross Tursimo. All variants of the Cross Turismo will feature an all-wheel drive system powered by dual-motors, a two-speed rear transmission, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management in conjunction with air suspension, and much more. No EPA-estimated figures for range have been disclosed yet, but out is expected that they will be slightly lower than that of its sedan counterpart.

Pricing for the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo starts at $92,250, and goes all the way up to $188,950 for the Turbo S model. Porsche also sweetens the deal with three years of free charging through Electrify America. The new Porsche variant will go on sale later this summer. 

Supercharged V8 Creates a Land Rover Defender Monster

Feb. 26 – Hefty V8s have been packing a punch in Land Rovers dating back to the 1970s, and the story continues with the new Land Rover Defender V8. This isn’t your run of the mill N/A V8, but a potent new supercharged V8, available in both 90 and 110 body styles. Iain Gray, Senior Manager, Powertrain Advanced Engineering, says “The 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine further enhances the unique character of the Defender. It sounds fantastic and delivers incredible performance — providing new levels of driver appeal.” 

Speaking of performance, that 5.0-liter supercharged V8 in the Land Rover Defender produces 518 hp, and 461 lb-ft of torque. That power is delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Defender 90, or 2-door model, with the V8 package can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, and sprint all the way to its top speed of 149 mph. Although extremely quick, and faster than any Defender model before it, the new Defenders aren’t just know for their speed. 

Inside the new Land Rover Defenders, you’ll find a unique suspension system, including bespoke spring and damper rates, and a new Electronic Active Rear Differential. This new technologically advanced equipment delivers more agile and engaging handling with heightened body control — you’ll also get to hear the lovely sounds of the supercharged V8. 

To continue on the Defenders exceptional off-roadability, Land Rover has introduced a new Dynamic program within the Terrain Response system. The program helps the driver exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the 518 hp model on tarmac and loose surfaces. In the setting, a sharper throttle response and bespoke tuning for the Continuously Variable Damping combine with the stiffer suspension for immediate steering response. 

Moving on to the looks of the new Defenders, the V8 models will be badged with unique emblems, while also coming with a distinctive quad exhaust and 22-inch alloy wheels. Another giveaway that the Defender is indeed housing a supercharged V8 is the Xenon blue front brake calipers and 15-inch brake discs. 

You’d better want to get your wallet ready for these prices, though. The base Defender 90 and 110 start at around $50,000, but as soon as you introduce the supercharged V8, you’ll be looking at a near $100,000 price tag. 

VW GTI Celebrates 45 Years With Golf GTI Clubsport 45

March 01 – It has officially been 45 years since the hottest hatch of them all has hit showroom floors, and VW is celebrating its birthday with the 2021 Golf GTI Clubsport 45. This new special edition GTI is based off of the previous Clubsport, and mostly incorporates aesthetic changes.

The exterior of the Golf GTI Clubsport 45 boasts a striking black roof complete with a paint matched roof spoiler, an homage to the black-framed rear window of the first Golf GTI. The Race package, which is standard on the Clubsport 45, also includes 19-inch Scottsdale alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system, and removal of the Vmax limiter, which limits the top speed to 250 kph. 

Moving to the interior, the special edition anniversary model also showcases the classic GTI insignia. GTI lettering can be found on the backrests of the front premium sport seats, along with “45” stamped on to the center spoke of the steering wheel. 

As of now, there’s no sign of the VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45 reaching the U.S.. European countries will receive first presales as soon as March 1st, with pricing in Germany starting at 47,790 euros. 

Born A Legend: The 725-HP GMA T.50s Niki Lauda

Feb. 23 – Gordon Murray Automotive just one-upped their ultimate driver’s car, the T.50, this time calling it the T.50s Niki Lauda. The T.50, which was revealed last year, is an incredible F1 inspired 3-seater supercar, and much of its DNA is being passed along to the T.50s. The new high-horsepower, lightweight track shredder is described by GMA as “an on track experience like no other car to date.”

At the heart of the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda is a Cosworth-designed 3.9-liter V12, putting out 700 horsepower at an extraordinarily high 11,500 rpm. The engine is fed air through a newly designed, roof-mounted RAM induction airbox, which can also increase the maximum output of the engine to 725 horsepower. If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking this T.50s is capable of blowing some eardrums. This is definitely the case following the fact that a newly-developed, bespoke, straight-through exhaust system has also been implemented, taking the engine sound to the next level. As it is strictly a track car, the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda does without catalytic converters — no sound limitations other than those of the track need to be met. 

Built around a specially developed, lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, the T.50s Niki Lauda is completely optimized for weight reduction and structural rigidity. The car was constructed using an advanced part-binding technology, with carbon fiber wrapped around a honeycomb aluminum core. Exterior body panels of the car are also unique to the T.50s, which are made of an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber. An extra step GMA even takes is to lighten the glass around the vehicle, using a glazing that has been further reduced in weight from road car specification. The T.50s also uses the same forged aluminum front and rear double wishbone suspension system as its processor, the T.50. The springs, dampers, and anti-roll bar, however, were all optimized for track performance.

The most noticeable parts of the T.50s Niki Lauda are the aerodynamics. Covered in completely new aero, the T.50s combines to create an incredible 3,300 lbs of downforce. This is in part due to a massive 1,758mm-wide, rear-mounted delta wing. The front of the T.50s features a splitter that can generate huge load figures to balance out those from the rear wing. A central fin, noticeable with Niki Lauda’s name on it, stretches from the roof to the rear lip of the car, and helps dramatically with yaw stability. 

If you weren’t somehow getting the racing vibes from the exterior of the car, the interior will definitely solidify it. The cabin is completely race-car oriented, with a driver-focused central seating position. This central spot gives the driver a much greater view of the track ahead. The center seat is made up of carbon fiber and secures the driver with a six-point harness, while a passenger can sit on either side, both seats complete with a four-point harness. Much of the rest of the interior is very simple, only giving the driver the key controls that they need. 

It should be fairly obvious now why the T.50s was named after the great racing legend, Niki Lauda. As Professor Gordon Murray CBE puts it, “The T.50s is named in honour of Niki to commemorate his famous win with the Brabham BT46B fan car in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Niki was a great racing driver and he was also a good friend and it is absolutely fitting that we are launching the T.50s Niki Lauda on his birthday. Niki would have appreciated the innovation and engineering detail in our car.”

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s will be limited to just 25 examples, each priced at about $4.3 million. Production is said to start at the end of the year, with help from famous racing names such as Dario Franchitti, who will be helping with dynamic development. 

Old Meets New With the Land Rover Defender V8 Trophy

Feb. 15 – Heads up off-road adventurers, Land Rover Classic is building 25 re-engineered Defender Works V8 Trophy vehicles for an adventure of a lifetime. The brand will be continuing the formidable expedition legacy of the original Defender, creating this limited run of adventure-ready Defender Works V8 Trophy vehicles. The re-engineered masterpieces will then be used for an exclusive competition at Eastnor Castle in 2021.

These extremely capable off-road Land Rovers are based on the re-engineered 2012-2016 Defender Works V8 spec developed by Land Rover Classic, and will include a 400 horsepower 5.0-liter V8. Also included is an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, an upgraded suspension, steering and braking packages, and a wide range of additional upgrades specifically tailored for off-road use. 

Dan Pink, Director of Land Rover Classic, states “The Land Rover Defender has always been more than just a vehicle, its engineering capability and suitability for overland expedition and all-terrain competition means it’s renowned with getting away from it all. The new Land Rover Trophy will bring this to life for a new generation of adventurers.” 

To begin, Land Rover has taken a mixture of 90 and 110 Station Wagon body designs, each being finished in an exclusive and unique Eastnor Yellow paint with matching 16-inch steel wheels. The Defender Works V8 Trophy will be built to handle the most demanding and rugged challenges. Land Rover will be adding an entire all-terrain kit, which includes a front winch, multi-point expedition cage, roof rack, underbody protection, a raised air-intake, LED spotlights and M/T tires. 

Inside the Defender Works V8 Trophy is a full black Windsor leather upholstery with Recaro seats and  a bespoke Land Rover Trophy clock face by Elliot Brown. 

The Land Rover Trophy Event will start with owners putting their names, along with their co-drivers, on the vehicle along with their country of origin. Owners will then set out on the adventure with guidance by an off-loading expert to give the customers a unique opportunity to develop extreme driving techniques and skills. A grand prize for the winner of the exclusive competition at Eastnor Castle will be announced later this year. Prices for the Land Rover Defender Works V8 Trophy start at $236,000. 

The $8 Million Bugatti Centodieci: A Modern EB110

Feb. 15 – If you thought Bugatti couldn’t come up with an even more powerful and unique supercar, then you’re in for a surprise from the French car manufacturer — the first prototype for series development of a W16 engined Bugatti Centodieci has come to fruition. This highly-exclusive, high-performance machine is a tribute to the legendary EB110, evoking automotive history and showcasing Bugatti’s excellent coach building expertise. 

The Bugatti Centodieci brought on extreme challenges for the designers and engineers at Bugatti, especially because of the fact that they had to house an enormous, 8-liter engine — the 16-cylinder beast puts out nearly 1,600 horsepower. Another challenge was quite possibly the biggest one, transforming the very flat and wedge-shaped EB 110 into a modern, three-dimensional sculpture. 

Achim Anschiedt, Bugatti’s creative director, explains that “the challenge was not to allow oneself be captivated too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time.”

The engineers on the project had to dive right into the calculations for the body, aerodynamics, engine and transmission. The body of the Centodieci is then thrown into an air tunnel where they can simulate the airflow of the vehicle and check all components, going even as deep as checking the smallest of screws. The design team, on the other hand, checks the styling of the Centodieci in closer collaboration with the developers. After a year of continued research and development, the team finally had developed the first prototype. 

On to the performance, the Buggati Centodiece and its W16 engine create 1,600 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The powerhouse can sprint to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and 120 in 6.1 seconds — an electronically halting top speed is set at 380 kph (236 mph). The Centodieci isn’t at all designed to just be a top-speed build. Stephen Winklemann, Bugatti President, puts it, “With the Centodieci, we once again demonstrate that design, quality and performance are just as important.”

The Bugatti Centodieci is limited to only 10 units, at $8 million a pop. Those 10 units have already been purchased and will arrive to their new owners some time next year.

Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster Proves Yet Again That Carbon Fiber Is King

Feb. 22 – Gunther Werks is back in action, and their newest open-top, air-cooled creation is here to steal your heart — the Porsche 993 Speedster. For those unfamiliar with the magic behind Gunther Werks name, they are master crafters within the world of the Porsche aftermarket, perfecting their builds with none other than carbon fiber. The 993 is familiar ground for Gunther Werks, but this new Speedster is here to prove yet again that carbon fiber is king. 

This new creation is summed up by Gunther Werks as an “open-air model that not only heightens the experience with the rush of wind through your hair, but also pushes the boundaries of performance to build a stronger, lighter, faster car.” The reengineered Porsche 993 Speedster has already gone on to put down the fastest air-cooled lap around Laguna Seca at just 1:30.99, but what exactly have they done to the car to make it lighter and faster?

The biggest problem Gunther Werks had to overcome with the Porsche 993 Speedster is the removal of the roof. The roof of any car is key in keeping torsional rigidity, so with it gone the engineers had to employ advanced reinforcement. Most of this reinforcement has been cleverly concealed by the new carbon fiber Speedster top and tonneau cover. Beyond chassis strength, the 993 Speedster has also gained improved aerodynamics. An updated front fascia integrates a carbon front splitter that drastically improves aerodynamics. The rear of the Porsche 993 Speedster features a revised duck tail with a ram air scoop, along with 3d printed exhaust tips. Other modifications to the exterior include aluminum side view mirrors, lightweight door handles, and an updated front led reflector system. If you haven’t already noticed, Gunther Werks takes every detail into account when it comes to weight savings.

The interior of the Porsche 993 Speedster includes a new carbon fiber dash, a redesigned pedal assembly and a revised carbon fiber floor panel system. The front windscreen also sits lower, with an option to delete it completely, so Gunther Werks accommodated this by developing a hollow carbon fiber seat shell featuring lightweight cushions. The seats themselves also sit lower that the original 993, reducing drag and lowering the center of gravity. 

Technical specifications haven’t been revealed yet, but the Porsche 993 Speedster is promised to have an increase over the original 435 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. Gunther Werks continued partnership with Eisenloht Racing and JRZ Suspension also means that the Speedster with feature an all-new advanced dynamic suspension system.

25 of these beautifully reengineered Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedsters will be developed, with a price of $675,000 before other options are applied. 

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Model Revealed With 502 HP

Feb. 17 – Another year of knowledge gained at the race track has led Porsche to their newest iteration of the 911 high-performance model, the all-new 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. This incredibly high-revving, naturally aspirated engine is shared with the 911 GT3 Cup, with a double wishbone front suspension adapted from the 911 RSR. Through extensive use of lightweight materials, refined aerodynamics, and the newly equipped front suspension, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 aims to once again raise the bar. 

At the heart of the all-new Porsche 911 GT3 is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter, six-cylinder boxer that revs to a screaming 9,000 rpm. Combined with 6 individual throttle bodies, the engine is able to provide extremely sharp throttle response, putting its 502 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque to the ground immediately. The engine, which is almost identical to the 911 GT3 Cup, Porsche’s track-only race car, proves just how quick Porsche is to pass down their racing knowledge to their street cars. Attached to the engine is a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission, while a six-speed manual transmission is also available. Together, the engine and PDK transmission can launch the 911 GT3 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 197 mph. 

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 isn’t only about engine performance — lightweight materials keep the car light and agile, ready to tear up the track. The new GT3 is based on the 911 Carrera body, making the front track width increase by 1.9 inches. However, the use of several lightweight materials makes the GT3 weight the same exact weight as its predecessor. The hood, rear wing, and fixed rear spoiler are all made up of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Even the glass used for the windows is lightweight and noise insulated.

Moving to the chassis and brakes, the double wishbone front axle of the new 911 GT3 was taken from the 911 RSR and 911 GT3 Cup and adapted for road use. This is a milestone for the 911, and the new front axle allows for more direct and precise steering, allowing for improved stability while cornering. As for braking, the standard braking system incorporates cast iron discs that are 28-mm larger than the previous model, and 17 percent lighter. The brakes are also able to deal with very high heat thanks to special cooling channels and new developed ventilation.

The interior of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 continues the connection to Porsche’s racing experience. A GT3 Multifunction Sport steering wheels is standard equipment, with an included drive mode switch for the first time. Four-way Sports Seats Plus are also standard, while 18-way Sport Seats Plus and even a carbon fiber bucket seat option are available. 

The new Porsche 911 GT3 is set to be released in the U.S. as a part of the 2022 model year, with dealers getting them as soon as Fall 2021.

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar Set To Be Revealed February 16

Feb. 2 – McLaren has been spawning more supercars than we can keep up with, recently the Sabre, and now the all-new McLaren Artura. What seems to be a similar looking platform to recently departed models such as the 570S, is actually a brand new design, and powertrain. The McLaren Artura, due for launch on the 16th of February, is being hyped by McLaren as a platform that will follow the footsteps of some of the greatest cars McLaren has ever made, including the Senna, Speedtail and Elva.

The McLaren Artura will make its debut as an all-new high-performance Hybrid Supercar, housing a twin-turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor. This powertrain is designed to retain all of the performance benefits from McLaren’s larger V8 engine options, but come with the added advantages of improved torque in the lower rev ranges, and an option of running the Artura on only electric. This option, however, will most likely be for city jaunts as it’s not a full electric vehicle, so the battery will most likely be fairly small.

The McLaren Artura is also going to be built around their new carbon fiber chassis, known as the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). Because of the batteries for the hybrid system, the carbon fiber chassis is a smart move to offset some of that added weight.

Tune in on February 16th for the official reveal to see just how incredible their new Artura is!

Audi E-Tron GT and RS E-Tron GT Aim for Comfort and Performance

Feb. 10 – With the ever-growing popularity of SUVs in America, it’s a welcoming sight to see the all-new 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT. Audi announced Tuesday that their new electric vehicle, the e-tron GT, is defined by its duality, a high-performance gran turismo that can be enjoyed through spirited driving, or even just leisurely cruises. To expand on this, Audi Sport has also released its first ever EV in the U.S, the Audi RS e-tron GT, packed full of new tech including an electric propulsion system, air suspension, all-wheel steering, and a two speed transmission. 

Both the Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are packed with power, both suited with permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM). These motors are ideal because of their ample, instant torque. The e-tron GT produces 235 horsepower from a motor situated in the front, and 429 horsepower from the motor in the rear. The net combined power for these motors is 469 horsepower, but a key feature is their ability to overboots for 2.5 seconds with launch control, shooting that new horsepower number up to 522, with 464 lb-ft of torque. The e-tron GT can launch to 60 in 3.9 seconds, repeatedly, while being able to hit a top-speed of 152 mph. 

Even more impressive power wise is the RS e-tron GT — both e-tron GT’s share the same front motor, but the rear is where the RS has the advantage. At the rear of the RS e-tron GT is a motor capable of 450 horsepower, bringing the RS’ net horsepower to 590, or 637 with overboost. Combined with its total system torque of 612 lb-ft, the RS can jet to 60 in 3.1 seconds, and hit a top speed of 155 mph. 

A unique feature that the Audi e-tron GT’s have that puts them at an advantage over other electric vehicles is their two-speed transmissions. Anything over a single speed transmission almost seems odd now that EV’s are becoming increasingly popular, but Audi may be on to something with this new advancement. The GT’s 1st gear is used for rapid acceleration when needed, while the taller second gear can be used for long stretches of highway driving.

Other key features the Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT will come with standard are a leather-free interior, using Dynamic and Alcantara, a “monoposto” cockpit that angles everything towards the driver, and a full-circumference flat-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in Alcantara. Standard for the RSS e-tron GT is a lightweight, high-strength, five-layer carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof. Another key design detail that Audi wanted to stand out is the strongly chiseled lower doorsill lines that emphasize the battery pack as the car’s powerhouse and foundation. 

The 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT will arrive in the U.S. this summer, with prices starting at $99,000 for the e-tron GT and $139,900 for the RS e-tron GT.

Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings Bring Big Power

Jan. 18 – The Cadillac V-Series just gained two more impressive, high-performance vehicles, known as the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings. Born from a vision of achieving an artful balance of form and function, these two new Cadillac sedans are ready to prove their track-capable performance, while showing off the glorious V-Series motorsports-inspired styling.

Engine and Performance

Interior

Aerodynamics

Pricing for the CT4-V Blackwing begins at 59,990, while the beefier CT5-V Blackwing starts at 84,990. Worth the price of admission?

The All-New 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor: More Tech, More Travel

Feb. 3 – If you’re looking to hop into the most capable off-road vehicle made to date, geared to the gills with new tech and designed after an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, then you may want to take a look into the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. Ford has crafted the most rugged Ford Raptors to shred through the dirt, and now they have upped the ante with the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. Designed to tackle the toughest terrain, the new Raptor comes with all the bells and whistles to comfortably glide through the desert with ease. 

This fully redesigned Ford F-150 Raptor comes straight from the factory with an all-new five-link rear suspension with improved wheel travel. Also included, similar to the 2017-2020 Raptors, is the electronically controlled next-generation Fox shocks with Live Valve technology. The Ford Performance chief engineer, Carl Widmann, says that the “Raptor is rooted in Baja 1000 racing, and its suspension advances our capability and performance — a five-link rear setup with more wheel travel than any Raptor before it.” The previous generations’ 13 inches of travel in the front and 13.9 inches in the back was already an impressive feat from the factory, but when it comes to pre-running, the more the merrier! The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor is also capable of up to 1,000 pounds of damping per corner at desert speeds.

The styling for the new Ford F-150 Raptor is deeply inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. The rugged and aggressive exterior is the signature Raptor look, but this completely redesigned platform goes one step further to show its true grit. The new hood has a heat extractor and functional side vents inspired directly by the fighter jet. Also noticeable is the distinctive front that emphasizes the truck’s width, featuring a power dome hood, headlights that stretch fender to fender, and of course, that beautiful blacked out grille.

Engine wise, the Ford Raptor is equipped with a third-generation twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. The previous 2017-2020 Raptors proved just how much of an improvement the EcoBoost engines made to the Raptor family, so it was only right that for 2021, they maintained the same power plant.

When it comes to the newest technology Ford has to offer, the Ford F-150 Raptor is equipped it all. The Raptor’s new high-tech cockpit includes a 12-inch digital gauge cluster featuring a large information-on-demand area with Raptor-specific graphics and animations, off-road data and turn-by-turn navigation. Also included in the standard package is a 12-inch customizable center screen, allowing the driver to split the screen and control multiple functions at the same time. Over-the-air updates allow the Ford F-150 Raptor to gain more capabilities in the future like trail maps and trail turn assist, making the Raptor even more capable off-road. 

The 2021 F-150 Raptor will be assembled at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and if you’re ready to get your hands on one, be prepared to wait until this summer when they’ll be hitting showroom floors.

The New BMW M5 CS Is the Pinnacle of M Performance

Jan. 18 – BMW just made a new top of the line model that is the most impressive M model to date; the BMW M5 CS. Adding to their already impressive lineup of CS models spanning their (now)entire lineup of M cars, this limited run special edition takes it to the next level.

Described as the “highest rung of the BMW M ladder”, the BMW M5 CS comes with tons of features and performance numbers to boot. It comes with a 4.4L V8 engine that makes a whopping 635hp which makes the M5 CS the most powerful M car ever made. All this power is delivered to all four wheels through their M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which also gives you the option of 2-wheel-drive if you’re a RWD purist.

The BMW M5 CS has 0-60 of just 3 seconds flat and can take it all the way to 124mph in just 10.3 seconds. With an electronic speed governor, the M5 CS caps out at 189mph.

As with all of the CS models, this model takes weight savings seriously and has adapted retuned bearing springs and modified axles to coincide with the lower vehicle weight. Additionally, your 4th friend will have to sit this one out, cause the BMW M5 CS comes with only 4 racing bucket seats in all corners. Classic BMW luxury is injected throughout with black merino leather with red stitching, with an Alcantara steering wheel to round out the interior.

The M5 CS comes with a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with a quad tip exhaust. To control all that power, it also comes with M Carbon ceramic brakes that can be painted either red or gold; whichever suits your fancy.

This luxury and performance comes with a cost, with the BMW M5 CS starting with a price tag of over $200K in USD. But, how much would you shell out for the most powerful BMW M car to date?

Hennessey’s Supercharged Mammoth 1000 RAM TRX Makes Over 1000HP

Jan 20, 2020 – Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is known widely for taking performance vehicles and taking them to the next level, as seen in the Velociraptor Bronco. So once they got a hold of the new 2021 RAM TRX, they went to town and came up with the limited-edition Hennessy Mammoth 1000 TRX.

This high performance pickup comes from the factory with a supercharged 6.2L V8 rated at 702BHP and 650lb-ft of torque, which is quite impressive, but obviously not impressive enough for the mad scientists at Hennessey. In a direct quote from John Hennessey himself, “The RAM 1500 TRX is exciting in stock configuration, but I’m seeking extraordinary,”. And extraordinary is what they made. With the addition of an upgraded supercharger, headers, and high-flow exhaust to name a few, the RAM TRX is boosted to over 1000hp(hence the Mammoth 1000 name if it wasn’t obvious enough) and 650lb-ft of torque. Along with the beefed up powertrain, you get a 2.5″ lift kit, custom front bumper with a built in light bar, Hennessey wheels, 35″ off-road tires, and a suspension level; all part of the MAMMOTH OFF-ROAD STAGE 1 package.

If you want to get your hands on one of these: good luck. There will only be 200 of the Mammoth 1000s made, each carrying its own serialized badge, and comes with a price tag of $135,350. RAM TRX included. But without a doubt, the Hennessey Mammoth 1000 RAM TRX is sure to be a beast off the road.

The McLaren Sabre: A Bespoke Hypercar Experience

January 4, 2021 – When you get the opportunity to participate in the development process of a bespoke commission hypercar, such as this McLaren Sabre, you don’t pass it up. This exclusive new hypercar, crafted for the first 15 lucky customers, was designed through McLaren Special Operations, McLaren’s bespoke division which is dedicated to providing owners with fully customizable options and building ultra-exclusive limited-edition or one-off models.

The McLaren Sabre has been designed and homologated exclusively for the U.S. market. It boasts the most powerful non-hybrid McLaren twin-turbo V8 engine to date, with an astonishing 824 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse jets the McLaren Sabre to a top-speed of 218 mph, making it the fastest two-seater McLaren, but not by much. The McLaren P1 has a top-speed of 217 mph, just beat by only 1 mph!

Because of the fact that the McLaren Sabre is limited to 15 bespoke examples, and only available in the U.S., this means it only has to meet standards set in the U.S. This leads to ideas and innovations on the McLaren that global homologation would not permit.

Customers were able to test drive a prototype of the car on track in partnership with O’Gara Motorsport and McLaren Beverly Hills, but that’s only part of the immersive journey McLaren has provided. Customers also flew to their style design studio in the UK, where they could work with the McLaren Special Operations designers to create a McLaren Sabre that best suits their style and needs.

Audi Returns to Rally Racing

Competing in Dakar 2022 With Electric-Drive Platform

December 10, 2020 – For the first time ever, Audi will be competing in the famous Dakar Rally in 2022 with an innovative prototype vehicle. Utilizing an electric drivetrain powered by a high-voltage battery paired with an efficient energy converter, Audi plans to spearhead a future for the company in cross-country rallying motorsport.

Once a trailblazer in the rally world with their Quattro sub brand, Audi plans to make a triumphant return to the scene bringing a factory team back to the dirt stages. And what better way to start than with one of the most extreme and dangerous rally races out there. Audi plans to use their new electric drive system that charges the high voltage battery while driving. The Dakar Rally’s tough conditions and demand for endurance became the perfect test for the platform. Audi hopes to showcase the durability of their new electric-drive platform and once again become an icon in the rally world and lay the groundwork for developing the platform for production use.

The One-Off V12 Lamborghini SC20

December 19, 2020 – Lamborghini Squadra Corse has just announced a brand new open-top track car approved for road use, and it goes by the name SC20. This one-off vehicle was created following a very lucky customers wishes, who had been involved in the project from start to finish, including the very first drawings by Lamborghini’s designers. The goal? Create an incredibly unique vehicle, extreme in its design and performance while carrying over as many aerodynamic solutions from actual racing Lamborghinis.

The body of the Lamborghini SC20 is made of carbon fiber, polished and slicked down by hand by the Lamborghini aerodynamic engineers. The goal was to deliver optimal airflow, not only for performance, but also for the occupants inside the cockpit.

Because the SC20 is open-air, the engineers had to ensure that the driver and passenger are comfortable while traveling at high speeds. The front hood of the Lamborghini SC20 is inspired by the Huracan GT3 EVO, with sculpted body sides reflecting the solutions adopted on the Essenza SCV12. The rear of the SC20 is topped with an adjustable large carbon fiber wing, with three different positions.

The SC20 stands out by its looks alone, but the cherry on top is Lamborghini’s flagship V12 nestled inside, delivering 770 hp at a screaming 8,500 rpm. Connected is an optimized seven-speed Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) gearbox.

The power from that V12 heads through the gearbox and is discharged to the ground through the SC20’s four-wheel drive system with a central electronic differential.

Unfortunately, this Lamborghini SC20 is a one-off creation, making it highly unlikely that you’ll even be able to see it with your own eyes, but it sure is a masterpiece.

Alfa Romeo Pays Tribute to the 33 Stradale With Special Edition 4C Spider

December 17, 2020 – The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was a legend in motorsport and a huge step for the automotive world being one of the first supercars. The company is paying tribute to their early mid-engine supercar with the release of a limited edition version of their current halo car and calling it the 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo. This 4C will be extremely limited with only 33 examples produced for the North American market.

The 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo comes exclusively in a beautiful Rosso Villa d’Este red exterior with composite Dinamica® black suede and brown tobacco leather sport seats. Plaques placed throughout the car noting the 33 Stradale Tributo and displaying the unit number of the car, 1-33.

Alfa Romeo’s heritage in the Formula 1 world is seen in the 4C’s carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Additionally, everything that was an option in the 4C comes standard in the Stradale Tributo like the Akrapovic dual-mode center-mounted exhaust, race tuned suspension and carbon fiber halo.

Featuring a twin-clutch transmission and all-aluminum 1750cc turbocharged engine, the 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. And weighing in at less than 2500lb, the Stradale Tributo is light as a feather going from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. With its speed and luxury defining this car, the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo serves as a fitting end to the production of the 4C Spider in North America.

Entry Level Ford Raptor?
Ford Announces the F-150 Tremor

December 15, 2020 – Adding to its increasing lineup of off-road capable vehicles, Ford is introducing the all-new F-150 Tremor. Meant to be a bridge between workhorse and trail beast, the F-150 Tremor features all-terrain upgrades with all of the towing and payload capability you’d expect from an F-150. This new model is designed for those looking to hit the trails and tackle rocky and muddy backroads while providing the features required to be a solid and reliable work truck.

The Ford Tremor is powered by a 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, all together powering a four-wheel drive system. The Tremor is raised slightly for improved ground clearance compared to the standard F-150, and has upgraded suspension with retuned springs all around, specifically designed monotube shocks in the front and twin tube shocks in the rear that are tuned softer at low speeds. An upgrade to a Torsen limited slip differential is available as well as a torque-on-demand transfer case similar to the one available in the the F-150 Raptor. Along with the 33″ General Grabber all-terrain tires that come standard on all Tremors, this truck ready to tackle trails right out of the box.

More of the Raptor is seen in the exterior design which has been beefed up all around. The hood has a more aggressive design matched with a mean-mugging front end. Raptor-inspired off-road running boards line the sides of the truck and are built to take a beating. The bash plate is also taken from the Raptor, and the rear features a cutout bumper with dual exhaust and recovery hooks giving it an approach angle of 27.6 degrees and a departure angle of 24.3 degrees.

Adding to it’s offroad capabilities, the F0rd F-150 Tremor comes selectable terrain specific suspension settings, “Trail Control” which is basically like cruise control for the dirt, 360 degree camera to see obstacles on the trail, and an optional recovery tool set for when those obstacles get the best of you. And with its 10,900 lb payload capacity, anything you need comes along for the ride as well. The new F-150 Tremor is truly the best of both worlds; a workhorse for the weekdays and trail beast for the weekend.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Hits 60 In 3.5 Seconds

December 04, 2020 – Ford has been building high-performance Mustangs for quite some time, but they are taking their 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance model to the next level. Although they have moved the Mustang to an EV platform, they haven’t ditched their roots of building bad to the bone rides that will throw you into the back of your seat. 

The GT Performance may not deliver the same V8 roar we’ve come to love, but it does have something else up its sleeve. Pumping out 358 kilowatts of power, or 480 horsepower, and 634 pound-feet of torque, the GT Performance model can jet to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, making the already quick Mach-E GT even quicker. The Performance model not only delivers that extra power over the base Mach-E GT, but also features enhanced grip and better handling. 

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance also has more in store than just extra power, though. The Performance Edition features several sportier components, including 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli summer tires and red-painted Brembo brakes. Also featured is MagneRide damping that helps to improve handling performance. 

To make the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance even more driver focused, the front seats are Ford Performance-sculpted with Performance Gray ActiveX material, while a unique aluminum instrument panel sits right behind the wheel. 

2021 Audi R8 Panther Goes RWD

December 03, 2020 – A new 2021 Audi R8 RWD brings on an exclusive model limited to just 30 units, the 2021 R8 Panther edition. Announced at just the right time for the holiday season, this new Panther edition R8, seen before on the RS5, is chock full of some unique design cues. Both interior and exterior of the car are going to get some incredible new design elements.

A Tuned Chassis

To begin, Audi had to specially design the chassis of the 2021 R8 Panther to allow for a rear-wheel-drive application, as it will not be coming with their trademark Quattro system. The chassis has been specifically adapted for rear-wheel drive, including the use of a solid rear axle, stiffer front anti-roll bar, and an increase in negative camber on the rear wheels. The R8 also comes with electromechanical power steering, which frees the car of any torque steer, and also enables precise handling and driver feedback.

The Power

Featuring a 5.2-liter FSI V10, which produces a powerful 532 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the 2021 R8 Panther can sprint to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, an impressive feat considering the loss of power going to the front wheels. The limited edition model can also reach a max speed of 201 mph.

Other Special Content

All 50 units will come from the factory with an exclusive Panther Black crystal effect paint with carbon exterior mirror housings. As for wheels, the R8 Panther will come equipped with 20 inch milled cut wheels, finished in matte black with red trim, wrapped in summer performance tires. The colors of the interior are similar to those of the wheels, black with red stitching. A sport exhaust system also amplifies the full bodied sound of the V10 engine, and can be adjusted depending on the driving mode the car is in. Every inch of the 2021 R8 Panther has been customized, mostly in Black with red accents. If you’re looking for a powerful naturally aspirated V10 with rear-wheel drive, then the 2021 R8 Panther may be for you, that is, if you can afford the $183,300 price tag.

The Elation Freedom EV: A Megawatt of Power

November 25, 2020 – Hypercars are becoming more common these days, with automotive technology evolving and advancing. Bespoke car manufacturers are having to step up their game to compete with the big boys, which is exactly what the newest hypercar from the United States has done, the Elation Freedom EV.

EV Performance

The Elation Freedom is built around three liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous e-motors, together putting out 1 megawatt of energy, or around 1,427 horsepower. If for some reason that amount of power doesn’t tickle your fancy, an optional 4th motor can be included, bringing that horsepower figure up to around 1,903. With all that power, the Elation Freedom is capable of 0-60 times of 1.8 seconds, with an electronically limited 260 mph max speed. The fun doesn’t stop there however, as depending on battery option, the Elation’s range is either 300 or 400 miles, allowing you to put the pedal to the metal for even longer.

Other Specs

When it comes to getting that power to the ground, the engineers at Elation knew an all-wheel drive torque vectoring system would be ideal, especially to elevate that cornering prowess. The car also comes with elector-hydraulic active ride height and damping control, with Formula 1 inspired double wishbone suspension and Ohlins adjustable dampers. The chassis itself, like many of its future competitors, is a carbon fiber monocoque.

Elation Freedom Iconic Collection

Maybe the EV thing isn’t your style, and that’s ok, because Elation has another car just for you. Their Elation Freedom Iconic Collection, as Elation themselves say, is “Built to honor the legacy of Internal Combustion”. That’s right, you can get their Freedom Hypercar with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, putting out 750 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. It’s not even close to the power output of Elation’s 4 EV motor configuration, but could the sound of a V10 be worth it? Possibly!

The Lamborghini Huracán STO: A New V10 Masterpiece

November 18, 2020 – Whether or not you can pronounce oo-ra-KAHN, you are sure to appreciate the newest V10 added to the lineup, the Lamborghini Huracan STO, with the STO being short for Super Trofeo Omologata. Based off of the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and GT3 EVO race cars, the STO has deep roots in Lamborghini’s Quadra Corse motorsports. For the Lamborghini Huracan STO, they have gone above and beyond to create a unique, lightweight Lamborghini with next level aerodynamics and race car engineering.

At the heart of the Lamborghini Huracan STO is a naturally aspirated V10 , feeding its rear wheels 640 hp. The v10, along with a 7-speed LDF dual-clutch transmission, launches the STO to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, 120 in 9.0 seconds, and gets it to a top speed of just under 200 mph. The Lamborghini Huracan STO isn’t just about delivering power, however. With superior aerodynamic efficiency, extensive use of lightweight materials, and first-class braking performance and steering, the STO is a natural born racecar, making every drive a track experience.

Though similar in shape to the original Huracan, the new Lamborghini Huracan STO sports an entirely new exterior design, focusing heavily on aerodynamics to optimize airflow. Every aspect of the STO’s aerodynamic solutions are inspired by Quadra Corse racecars.

The cofango as Lamborghini calls it, or combination of hood and fenders, has integrated air ducts, a front splitter, and louvers. The reason Lamborghini uses such a feature is purely because it is lightweight and a timesaving access feature in motorsports.

The rear bonnet of the new Lamborghini Huracan STO has been revised with such features as an integrated air scoop for air-cooling the rear underwood, and a “shark fin’ that improves the STO’s dynamic abilities when cornering.

The Huracan STO’s exterior is made up of more than 75% carbon fiber, making it incredibly light while increasing integrity. Lamborghini’s engineers even used a new technique, called a carbon fiber sandwich, that uses 25% less carbon fiber material while maintaining the same structural rigidity.

With an increased wheel track, stiffer suspension bushing, anti-roll bars, and other racing bred technology, the STO delivers all the emotion of a racecar while providing a comfortable road experience.

2022 Subaru BRZ: No Turbo Needed

November 18, 2020 – The all-new 2022 Subaru BRZ has just been announced, and it is packing even more fun into its tiny, rear-wheel drive platform. The BRZ has been a hit in the automotive community since its release in 2012, featuring a low vehicle weight, an ultra-low center of gravity, and precision steering and handling. Not to mention the fact that it is a super affordable 2+2 package. But for 2022, Subaru is upgrading its performance, improving its handling, and touching up its styling. Subaru calls it “a pure sports car with Subaru DNA”. Unfortunately, our prayers for a turbo still haven’t been answered, but that doesn’t take away from Subaru still making an incredible drivers car.

Subaru’s have been a popular pick for years because of their boxer engines, which sit low giving the car a lower center of gravity. However, for 2022, Subaru has positioned the 2.4 liter horizontally opposed engine even lower than the previous BRZ, giving a center of gravity comparable to hypercars. Did we also mention it’s making 228 horsepower now, compared to the previous 205? The 2022 Subaru BRZ will be available in a Premium or Limited trim, and is available with two transmission choices; a standard six-speed manual or an available six-speed automatic. The automatic also comes with a new Sport mode, which is designed for those who prefer a bit more aggressive driving.

Subaru didn’t skimp out on making the BRZ lighter, either. With a roof, fenders and hood made of aluminum, the new 2022 Subaru BRZ checks in at a curb weight just under 2,900 lbs. Subaru definitely delivers accessible performance with this new ride.

The exterior styling is very modern, agile and powerful, with a heavy focus on aerodynamics. New side vents reduce drag by ducting air from undertake hood and fenders, and the released air is directed to a side sill spoiler that creates downforce at speed. A new ducktail rear spoiler has also been integrated, adding a bit more style to the BRZ.

When it comes to the interior, the 2022 Subaru BRZ features a new customizable 7-inch digital dashboard, integrating a centered tachometer, digital speedometer readout, and programmable meter that can change to show amps, water temperature, or a g-meter. The BRZ also features a track mode, and when engaged, the tachometer automatically shifts to a linear graph and a color display, making a quick glance all you need to gain enough information while focusing on the road.

The new 2022 Subaru BRZ is being produced at Subaru’s Gunma, Japan assembly plant, and will go on sale in early Fall of 2021.

Aston Martin Valkyrie: Track Performance on the Street

October 21, 2020 – The Aston Martin Valkyrie might be one of the greatest hypercars ever made, that is, if you don’t mind a slightly claustrophobic cockpit with no rear window. But racecar, right?

The heart of the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s powertrain is a Cosworth naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 engine, producing 1,000 hp. But the power doesn’t stop there. Because it is a hybrid powertrain, the Valkyrie gets a further performance boost delivered by the battery hybrid system, turning that 1,000 hp into 1,160 hp.

The Valkyrie also features a KERS-style boost system similar to those fitted to Formula 1 cars, allowing the car to recuperate a ton of energy lost while braking, which is harnessed and supplied back to the batteries.

Inside the Aston Martin Valkyrie, you’ll find seating for two, with its cockpit taking the shape of a teardrop. For an even closer feel to a Formula 1 car, the seats are placed in a reclined, feet-up position. In front of the driver is also a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel where you can find all of the car’s switchgear. Having all of the switches on the wheel reduces driver distraction.

For those that know that they will be putting in some extra time at the track, Aston Martin also released a Valkyrie AMR Pro edition, featuring the same powertrain as the standard Valkyrie, but with a tweaked boost output. The AMR Pro also has a light curb weight thanks to the deletion of features such as the Infotainment screen. Aston Martin also claims that the AMR Pro is capable of generating more than its own weight in downforce.

The Valkyrie starts at $3 million, but unfortunately, all models have already been sold.

Mercedes-AMG ONE: Bringing Formula 1 to the Road

November 09, 2020 – The new Mercedes-AMG ONE is the ultimate Formula 1 inspired supercar that’s ready for road use. Technology has been passed down from Formula 1 to everyday cars for years. From safety features, to new materials, exterior design and more. But Mercedes didn’t want to stop there, they wanted to create a road car that utilizes as much F1 technology as possible.

With Mercedes-AMG working together with the Petronas Motorsport team, the Mercedes-AMG ONE was born. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6 liter V6 with four independent motors, the ONE is able to put out over 1,000 hp, with a top speed of 217 mph. Speaking of those four electric motors, there is one for each front wheel, one linked to the crankcase, and one in the turbocharger itself.

Another important statistic the ONE is able to put down is its incredible 0-200 kph (0-124 mph) speed, falling under 6 seconds. Compare that to the Chiron which does it in 6.5 seconds. This is all thanks to those front axle motors which are capable of 50,000 rpms alone. Also, selective torque distribution allows for extra high levels of vehicle dynamics. These abilities matched with a Race Start function and that electric motor in the turbocharger, allowing for zero turbo lag, give the ONE its quickness.

The power and handling of the ONE are definitely impressive, but it doesn’t stop there. The efficiency of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is equally impressive. An EQ Power+ hybrid drive system allows for multiple driving modes, from only electric to highly dynamic. A regenerative braking system also recoups up to 80% of braking energy.

When it comes to its looks, the ONE evokes the premium class of motorsport with muscular proportions. The exterior is filled with numerous air inlets, while the car rides on forged aluminum wheels. The interior on the other hand is very minimal, with lightweight bucket seats and a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel.

The production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is planned to be 275 units at a price of $2.72 million.

2022 Volkswagen Golf R Adds Drift Mode to AWD

November 05, 2020 – If you thought Volkswagen couldn’t squeeze more juice out of the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine in the Golf R, you’d be mistaken. VW just introduced the 2022 Golf R, and are claiming it is the most powerful production Golf of all time. Some may be disappointed that the standard Golf is no longer available in the US, but this new R is definitely the silver lining.

With its turbocharged 2.0 liter engine, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R can put out an incredible 315 hp, 27 more than the previous generation. This boost in power, along with an all-new torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system, launch the Golf R to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. When it comes to the transmission, all buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed DSG.

Every Golf R generation has come standard with AWD, but this new generation boasts something new and improved. A new rear differential distributes power variably between the axles. If you’re ready to slide it through a corner, the system can be put in “Drift Mode”, which allows up to 100 percent of the torque to be sent to the outside wheel. Another driving profile known as “Special” was configured for the Nurburgring. This profile has softer damping settings to make sure the Golf R can maintain maximum contact with the road.

On the exterior, the Golf R gains a new front bumper featuring a motorsport-style splitter. It also features a new daytime running light at the top of the radiator grille, stretching all the way into the fenders. On the rear bumper, a newly designed high-gloss black diffuser can be found. The production will be limited to three colors, including Lapiz Blue Metallic, Pure White, and Deep Black pearl Effect.

The inside of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R has gone a bit more digital, allowing for more customization within the cockpit, while a 10-inch Discover Pro touchscreen display greets the driver. The driver and passenger seats have also been upgraded to sportier leather seats, along with a heated and multifunction leather sport steering wheel.

Overall, the all-new 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is going to be a force to reckon with. It will go on sale in the US beginning late next year. No price has been announced, but the previous model started just above $40,000.

The All-New Lexus LC 500 Aviation Edition

November 04, 2020 – Look out Japan, that’s no bird or plane, but surely a special edition Lexus LC 500 Aviation based off of the two! This plane-themed version of its LC 500 sporty coupe is Lexus’ take on the aerodynamic crossover possible between automobiles and aviation.

Because of its sleek design, you have too look close to notice the new curved carbon fiber reinforced plastic spoiler on the back of the car. It follows the arc of the trunk and includes two downturned functional winglets on either end, which generate a vertical vortex that smooths out any turbulence, improving the aerodynamics of the coupe. From this comes improved yaw response, direction changes, and steering response.

The best part about the spoiler? It was designed and made by a craftsman from the LFA project, the same one that created the 3d carbon fiber components on the past supercar. Also, aerobatic pilot, Yoshihide Muroya, shared his expertise on wings during the design process.

The spoiler isn’t the only upgrade to this Lexus LC 500 Aviation. Also included are 21-inch split-spoke wheels, an all-black Spindle grill, a custom steering wheel and shift knob, and an “Aviation Black” interior.

The Aviation package is available on both the Lexus LC 500 and LC 500H. However, Lexus is only producing 70 of these cars for Japan, with a cost of 15-million Yen, approximately $143,600.

A V8 Resurrection: The Hennessey VelociRaptor V8 Bronco

November 03, 2020 – Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Ford is bringing back the Bronco. You probably also know that Ford is releasing a ton of different packages for it, but one thing lacking in the entire lineup is the use of a V8.

Enter Hennessey Performance, a company that’s been making fast cars go faster since 1991. They figured if Ford wasn’t going to put out a V8 Bronco, they’d take on the responsibility. This wouldn’t be just any Bronco, this would be a VelociRaptor, and that 5.0 liter V8 would be accompanied by a 3.0 liter Supercharger system.

The Hennessey VelociRaptor V8 Bronco and its supercharged 5.0 liter V8 will put out an impressive 750 hp, and of course be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This improved power and performance have Hennessey estimating 0-60 times of just 4.5 seconds, an incredible number for a rig originally built to handle the harshest of off-road terrain.

The Bronco won’t just receive an engine upgrade, but also a plethora of interior and exterior upgrades as well. Included will be a custom hood with scoop, larger wheels and tires, upgraded suspension system, custom Hennessey leather interior, VelociRaptor V8 racing livery graphics, upgraded stainless steel exhaust, and more.

If you’re ready to get your hands on 1 of only 24 Hennessey VelociRaptor V8 Broncos, you’d better hurry, and you’ll also want to have $225,000 plus vehicle shipping costs ready to purchase it.

All-New 2022 GMC Hummer EV Revealed

October 21, 2020 – Don’t compare this new GMC HUMMER to its relatives, this isn’t an ordinary civilian Humvee. GMC just created a silent assassin ready to conquer anything on and off-road. 

The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Edition 1 is, you read that correctly, an EV. In the past, you may have thought the HUMMER was a car you could see yourself owning, but never could see that gas bill fitting into your budget. Well now, the HUMMER is utilizing GM’s all-new Ultium battery architecture, offering optimal driving range and will enable performance and capabilities that would not be possible with a conventional vehicle architecture and propulsion system. In addition to power and range, the Ultium battery pack will contribute to the HUMMER EV’s driving dynamics and structure. The pack’s low mounting position in the chassis contributes to a low center of gravity, enhancing the vehicle’s overall feeling of control and stability. The truck itself was designed around the EV propulsion system, a first for GM.

Where the road ends and the dirt begins is where the HUMMER truly shines. Features such as Crabwalk, allowing for front and rear-steer, Ultravision, eighteen available camera views including waterproof underbody cameras, and Extract Mode, lifting the HUMMER by approximately 6 inches, give the driver that much more control off-road.

But what’s the fun in cruising on and off-road without superb views. The HUMMER EV features and immersive infinity roof with modular sky panels, creating an open-air experience. All four roof panels come off and can be stored in the power trunk. When the panels are on, they include transparent sky panels, tinted to deflect the sun and help protect you from the elements while still giving you breathtaking views.

The real fun for the 2022 GMC HUMMER is in the performance numbers. Looking back to older generations, you’d never think of describing one as quick or fast. Well now with the available Watts to Freedom, you’ll get 1000 hp and a 0-60 time of 3 seconds. GMC has created a new monster that we didn’t expect. To make it quicker, the truck lowers by 3” in this mode, lowering the center of gravity.

With its revolutionary design, impressive performance numbers, and on and off-road capabilities, the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV will be a truck to keep your eyes on. Watch out Wrangler and Bronco, there is a new beast in town.

SSC Tuatara Sets World Record for Fastest Production Car

October 20, 2020 – Move over Bugatti, there’s a new hypercar in town, and it just set the record for fastest production car. Built by SSC, America’s first hypercar company, the Tuatara hit a staggering 331 mph, a seemingly easy feat with 1,750 horsepower.

In the cockpit was professional racing driver, Oliver Webb, who took the Tuatara to its record speed right outside of Las Vegas, along a seven-mile stretch of road that had been closed off for the event. Webb took two consecutive passes, one direction at 301.07 mph, and the second heading back at 331.15 mph, averaging a speed of 316.16 mph.

To break the world record for “Fastest Production Car”, the Tuatara had to travel in opposite directions, clocking its speeds within one hour. They take the average speed of these two passes in order to account for wind and road conditions that may favor the vehicle. Other criteria for setting this record included achieving this feat on a public road ensuring real world driving, having its speed checked by a certified GPS measurement system, and lastly run on street tires and non-race fuel.

In addition to this outstanding feat, the SSC and the Tuatara also set three other records, including “Fastest Flying Mile an a Public Road” (313.12 mph), “Fastest Flying Kilometer on a Public Road” (321.35 mph), and “Highest Speed Achieved on a Public Road” (331.15 mph).

Aerodynamics and an unprecedented drivetrain are to thank for the Tuatara’s incredible passes. The Tuatara’s design achieved an all-time production-hypercard best coefficient of drag of 0.279, and from 150-300 mph, the hypercar maintained a perfect aerodynamic balance of 37% front and 63% rear. When it comes to the drivetrain, under the hood the Tuatara has a V8 5.9L twin-turbo power plant that’s capable of producing its 1,750 hp.

The coolest part of the world record attempt? How it was filmed. The SSC Tuatara’s aerodynamics are modeled after those of a fighter jet, so it was only right to film the passes using a subsonic T-33 jet. This aerial asset proved to be the ultimate camera vehicle, as it is capable of operating at altitudes as low as five feet from the ground, and with speeds over 400 mph, it had no trouble keeping up with the Tuatara.

The New BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe Are Here With a Bigger Grill and AWD

September 23, 2020 – The BMW M line gets an update with the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe and packs in a ton of new tech. Both the M3 and the M4 will be available in a standard trim and a competition trim. Power wise, the competition versions have 20 more horsepower than the standard version as well as an all-new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The M returns with an in-line six-cylinder engine powered by twin turbochargers and track optimized cooling and oil supply. Additionally, the exhaust comes with electrically controlled flaps to control exhaust sounds.

BMW M3 Sedan:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M3 Competition Sedan:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds
BMW M4 Coupé:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M4 Competition Coupé:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds

Both the M3 and M4 will be available with a 6-speed manual transmission, keeping with their pursuit of providing an authentic drivers experience. Models with the new xDrive system will also be able to switch between 2wd, 4wd, and 4wd sportmode through an electronically controlled differential. Adding to the electrification, the suspension has Adaptive M suspension which has electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering. Race compound brakes paired with carbon ceramic rotors round out the performance of the new M.

There’s no shortage of sharp lines in the design of these cars. The new BMW M, with the addition of its large grill, brings a fresh look to the traditional BMW twin kidney grill. Regardless, the pedigree of the M remains in these models with their high performance capability.

The Nissan Z Proto Is Revealed and Packed With Classic Z Touches

September 16, 2020 –  Nissan has finally unveiled the new Z Proto demonstrating their plans to revive the Z badge. It has a totally new design, relieving the 370z of its many years of service. The designers at Nissan had the main goal of injecting the DNA of the past legendary Z cars like the 240z and 300zx into this new platform.

Nissan has stated that the rear tail lights are directly inspired by the 300zx, but “reinterpreted for the modern world.” The front end is directly inspired by the 240z featuring that large rectangular duct in the middle as well as a similar headlight shape taking cues from the iconic headlight covers on much desired ZG version of the platform. The roofline maintains a very similar feel to the current 370z, but has sharper lines and a cleaner overall look.

Performance wise, Nissan has stated that the Z Proto has an enhanced V6(likely an upgraded/larger HR platform engine?) Details on the performance will come soon with the release of the actual Z, but Nissan assured that the Z Proto represents a commitment to providing the passionate Z enthusiasts with a true drivers car. Being true to this sentiment, the Z Proto was revealed with a good ol’ 6-speed manual transmission. Z enthusiasts and fans of cars in general are excited to see how the final product will look like and perform, but we can take comfort in the fact that manufacturers still want to make fun to drive cars for the ones who love them.

Project Geländewagen: Off-White’s Virgil Abloh and Mercedes AMG Collaborate on a Unique Project

September 8, 2020 – Project Geländewagen is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and the highly esteemed fashion designer and founder of Off-White, Virgil Abloh. Working with Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz, Gorden Wagener, Abloh produced this unique take on the Mercedes G-Wagen in an examination and exploration of the next step in modern luxury design. Those familiar with Virgil’s brand, Off-White recognize that he is no stranger to challenging the concept of luxury.

Every aspect of Project Geländewagen challenges the idea of luxury using the SUV familiar with high class and celebrity. Abloh takes this platform and flips the image, changing typical features of a 4×4 SUV and instead presenting an image as a race car. With stripped interior and simplified exterior features, Project Geländewagen questions what we know as an SUV while keeping the iconic shape of the Mercedes G-Wagen.

Abloh stated that, “My ultimate goal in this project with Mercedes-Benz is inspiring young artists, engineers, designers to question the status quo, in addition to experimenting with my own design abilities”, and “For me it’s all about providing opportunities for those coming after me and giving this next generation a foundation for success, both here with Mercedes-Benz and through my own Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.” Resonating with this idea, a replica of Project Geländewagen will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to a charity that supports international creative communities.

More on Project: Gelandewagen can be found here.

Release video:

Honda Announces Limited Edition 2021 Phoenix Yellow Honda Civic Type R With Forged BBS Wheels, and Michelin Cup 2 Tires

Sep 3, 2020 – Honda announces all new 2021 Type R Limited Edition Civic Type R. This 2021 Type R Limited Edition embodies multiple engineering and feature changes designed to maximize performance, without sacrificing Type R’s unique combination of razor-sharp performance and civilized daily-driving manners.

The New Nissan Z Proto Reveal: Coming Very Soon

September 1, 2020 – The new Nissan Z car is coming. And it won’t be long til we get to see what it looks like. Dubbed the Nissan Z Proto, the new car was teased in a video highlighting the heritage of the beloved Z badge. It also has a beautiful group rolling shot of all of the past Zs(minus the 370z) that’ll bring a tear to your eye.

The video features clips of Nissan’s past Z models like the 240z, 280zx, Z31 and Z32 300zx, and 350z, and shows off the Z’s deep ties to racing. Though they didn’t show any more of the Z Proto than we’ve already seen, this teaser video lets fans rest assured that Nissan is acknowledging the Z’s roots and is dropping something that will respect that. Set to reveal on Spetember 15th at the Nissan Pavillion and on the NissanNext.com, the Nissan Z Proto will be showing its face very soon. Hopefully during the reveal they give us some details on performance aspects of the Z, but right now much is to be under speculation. Will it be a hybrid electric? Will it have some update to the VQ engine? Will it even be called the 400z like everyone thought? No clue. But regardless, we’re happy to see Nissan reviving a classic and much loved sports car.

The Ram TRX: A New Rival to the Ford Raptor

August 18, 2020 –  A new challenger approaches. When you think of a high powered and fast off-road pickup, there used to be only one vehicle that came to mind; the Ford Raptor. But now theres a new contender stepping into the ring in the fight for supremacy in the offroad world, and its name is the RAM 1500 TRX. And what does TRX stand for? No clue. But when you read it out, it kind of sounds like “T-Rex” which makes it clear who this beast is picking a fight with. But how does it stack up against the reigning champion?

The TRX seems to be coming out on top in terms of power. Featuring a 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8, this RAM has quite the kick. It pushes out 702hp and 650ft lb of torque, making its run from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. Thats quick for even a sports car! Compared to the Gen 2 Ford Raptor’s 3.6L twin turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that produces 450hp and 510ft lb of torque, the new kid has it beat. All that power comes with a cost, though. The TRX weighs a hefty 6350lb and compared to the Raptor’s 5508lb curb weight its a much heavier truck. Though you would think that the much lighter Raptor would help its speed, it still falls short in comparison to the TRX pulling a 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. So in power and speed, it seems that the RAM 1500 TRX has the Ford Raptor beat. But straight line speed isn’t everything for an offroad beast.

Both contenders here have beefy suspension setups by highly respected brands. The Ford Raptor features 3in racing shocks that were made by FOX while the new RAM TRX features Bilstien shocks designed specifically for this vehicle. RAM boasts the new TRX’s suspension, mentioning it’s, “unbeatable damping and improved heat dissipation for traversing harsh terrain at speeds greater than 100 mph”. Undoubtedly, this new truck was designed for all you desert running folks out there just like the Raptor. The difference here lies in the rear where the RAM uses a coil-spring setup while the Raptor still utilizes a leaf spring setup. The TRX’s suspension setup and fat fender flares gives it a wider track than the Raptor as well as an almost 2in difference in ground clearance.

These trucks wouldn’t truly be trucks if they couldn’t haul. The RAM has a payload capacity of 1,310lb and a towing capacity of 8,100lb. Compared to the Raptor, the TRX is much more capable. The Raptor’s payload capacity is around 300lb less at 1000lb and has a max towing capacity of 6000lb.

The arena where the Raptor has the TRX beat is definitively in its price. The RAM TRX is going to start at around $72,000 for the base model and up to $90,000 for the Launch Edition, which is right around $15,000 more than the current Gen 2 Ford Raptor. So which one is better overall? We’ll have to see when people start taking the TRX out for testing. But what can be stated is that the new RAM 1500 TRX is definitely looking like its going to be a beast and a strong rival for the Ford Raptor. So now begs the question: who wins in a fight between a T-Rex and a Raptor?

BMW Announces New M3 With a Little More Trunk Space

August 13, 2020 – BMW M teased their newest project; a high performance touring car bearing the M3 badge. A touring 5-door variant has previously only been seen in the M5 line, but the team at BMW’s performance division decided that they wanted to do something new. This will be the first ever BMW M3 Touring 5-door wagon model, satisfying the needs of those looking for a high performance racing developed vehicle paired with high functionality.

It will likely be powered by the classic 6-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine which should be capable of over 500hp. BMW M also stated that “Further speculation on engine and performance is quite welcome.” They did ensure that several of the iconic exterior M3 features will be present in the new model, like large intake ducts and quad exhaust. Not much visually has been shared other than this obscured rear shot BMW M shared on their Instagram.

The BMW M3 Touring is still in its early testing stages, so it’ll be quite some time before we see any of them on the roads. And unfortunately, if you’re in the US you might not see any on the roads ever. Regardless, M3 fans have been waiting for this for quite some time, and we’re excited to see the full release.

The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12: 40 Made for the Ultimate Track Experience

July 17, 2020 – Automobili Lamborghini strikes again this year with another limited edition hypercar, this time with the most powerful V12 they’ve ever produced and only available for track-use; Introducing the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Prototype: Seven Motors and 1400 HP

July 21, 2020 – If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the new Mustang Mach-E, then you’re going to fall in love all over again with Ford’s new prototype, the All-Electric Mustang Mach-E 1400. Along with RTR Vehicles, Ford set out to show just how powerful electric cars can become, and of course, how much fun you can have with said power. The prototype Mach-E produces a whopping 1,400 peak horsepower, and at 160 mph, creates a staggering 2,300 pounds of downforce.

Just about every automotive enthusiast has a solid understanding of the performance an electric vehicle is capable of. Take for example the Tesla P100D, or the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The Tesla produces 600 hp and an incredible 713 lb-ft of torque, rocketing to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo S produces 750 hp and 774 lb-ft of torque, getting to 60 in just 2.6 seconds. You almost wonder just how much more power you could get out of an electric vehicle, or even if you’d need it.

But, Ford wanted to prove that there is way more juice left to squeeze from these electric motors, and that’s exactly what they set out to do.

The Ford Mach-E produces its power with seven motors, and when paired with an incredible amount of downforce, shows just how capable it is at the track, dragstrip and gymkhana course. With three motors attached to the front differential and four connected to the rear, Ford had to figure out how they’d even control that much power. A single driveshaft connects the motors to the differentials, and a huge amount of adjustability allows the Mach-E 1400 to be perfectly set-up to do everything from drifting to racing on the track.

The reason this should get any enthusiast excited is because Ford is learning more and more from these prototype vehicles, pushing the limits of EV power. Every technological advancement they make with these prototypes will soon be hitting their production vehicles. Are we saying Ford will soon be producing a 1400-hp Mach-E for the public, no, but could something be released that easily takes out a GT500, who knows, but we’d like to think so!

The Dark Side Reborn: 2021 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series

July 17, 2020 – Mercedes-AMG has been producing some of the most powerful and aesthetically pleasing series of vehicles, known as the Black Series, and 2021 brings their most wild creation yet, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

At first sight, you may think this limited edition model is simply a racecar produced for the DTM Racing Series; an enormous wing, carbon fiber galore, and shots of the GT at the track might have you thinking you are looking at the newest technological advances Mercedes has made solely for their racing teams. Truth be told, you don’t need to be a professional driver to own this beauty, but you may need some driving experience to handle the power this glorious machine produces.

720-hp. This is the number you’re thinking about when stepping into the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 under the bonnet connected to a reinforced seven-speed DCT gearbox will output enough power for you to reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 100 mph in just under 9. The best part? Well, of course, the music coming from the tail pipes. This powerplant is very rev-happy, redlining at 7,200 rpms and delivering its peak power between 6,700 and 6,900 rpms. Combined with twin-turbos putting out 24.6 pounds of boost, the GT screams with its 720-hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

As much as I’d like to say the engine is where the sweet spot of the GT Black Series is, I would say that is wrong. The aerodynamics of this car are top notch, and every inch of its exterior plays a role in creating such a beast of a machine. If anyone understands the form and function of carbon fiber, it’s Mercedes. I mean, you’ll have a tough time finding parts on the GT that aren’t made of the incredibly strong and lightweight polymer, from the wing, to the roof, heck, even the engine bay is littered with it. The front bumper incorporates an adjustable splitter for better aero when you need it, and bigger vents are found on the hood and fenders, aiding with cooling and of course, aero.

Along with special trim and badging, the GT Black Series is sure to stick out in a crowd. There isn’t a price for it yet, but with everything considered, it will probably be a hefty one. Come early 2021, the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will be available for purchase, so if you’re ready to get your hands on the sixth generation of the series, you’d better get your wallet ready!

The New Porsche 911 Turbo Sheds the S

July 16, 2020 – The 992 Generation welcomes a new car to its lineup, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo, and it’s here to bridge the gap between base model and Supercar. Let’s be honest, 640 hp in the 911 Turbo S is quite overkill for a daily driver, but some Porsche Aficionados want a bit more juice than the standard 911.

This is where the new 911 Turbo enters the picture. Although not the S model, this Porsche still packs a punch, with the same 3.8-liter flat-six as its counterpart, just detuned to a reasonable 572 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. It’s almost comical to say that that’s a reasonable figure, but it’s just enough of a reduction to make the 911 Turbo a daily drive-able car. Did we mention the 0-60 mph time is only a tenth of a second slower than the S? That’s right, the Turbo will get you there in 2.7 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph.

Other than the slight engine performance reduction, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S share much of the same traits. The newer variant receives power through an eight-speed, dual clutch transmission, and of course, is equipped with Porsche’s Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel-drive system which has the ability to transfer even more power to the front wheels than before.

Luckily for you, the Porsche 911 Turbo also comes at a significant discount. The Turbo S will run you over $200,000, but the new Turbo will cost just over $170,000. If you’re willing to pay the extra $430 per horsepower difference and prefer the 911 Turbo S, then more power to you. But, if you’re looking for a cream of the crop Porsche that is just as fun on the streets as it is on the track, then the new 911 Turbo may just be for you.

Ford Finally Unleashes
The All-New 2021 Ford Bronco
(and Bronco Sport)

July 13, 2020 – The 2021 Ford Bronco has finally been revealed, coming in 2 models, the Ford Bronco and the Ford Bronco Sport (and a plethora of trims), which should be capable of conquering anything you put in front of them and their turbocharged Ecoboost engines. Will they have what it takes to take on the Jeep lineup? We’ll have to wait until we see these out in the wild, but from the looks of it, these Broncos should be able to hold their own!

Models

The all-new 2021 Ford Bronco looks to be the perfect ride for any off-road enthusiast, coming in a 2-door and 4-door Bronco and 4-door Bronco Sport model. You’ll be able to customize any of the Broncos your way, plus there are over 300 Ford accessories to truly make it your own.

Ford Bronco

The 2 and 4-door Broncos come with a large assortment of trims: the Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak, and First Edition. The G.O.A.T mode is featured on the Black Diamond model, although unclear if the other trims have it.

Each starts with a 2.3L Ecoboost, or, according to the reveal video, can be upgraded to the 2.7 L Ecoboost engine that puts out 310 horsepower and 400 torque, but, depending on the model, can include a plethora of upgrades such as a twin-turbocharged version and 35 inch tires.

All Bronco models include best-in-class departure and breakover angles, ground clearance, and water fording. They also come with a 12-inch screen capable of downloading off-road apps that can keep track of your adventures.

Ford Bronco Sport

The Bronco Sport has a smaller range of trims: Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands, and First Edition. Every model comes standard with 4×4 and G.O.A.T mode. A 1.5 L Ecoboost is available with 181 horsepower and 190 torque, or you can grab a 2.0 L Ecoboost with an increased 245 horsepower with 275 torque.

First Edition Models

Both the Bronco and Bronco Sport come with a First Edition Model, packing the best of every other model into one, and adding some extra goodies. Only 2,000 of the Bronco Sport First Edition will be produced, and 3,500 for the Bronco. Better grab ’em while you can!

G.O.A.T Mode

The Bronco comes standard with a terrain management system with up to 7 available G.O.A.T modes, also known as the Goes Over Any Type of Terrain mode. This feature, in theory, lets you tackle any terrain with just the click of a dial.

Was the hype for the Bronco well deserved? Will it live up to its heritage? We think the Bronco and Bronco Sport will give Jeep a run for their money, but the customers will be the true judge of that.

Lamborghini Goes Topless With the Sian Roadster

July 10, 2020 – It’s difficult enough getting your hands on any newly built Hypercar, but Lamborghini is only producing 19 units of their new Sián Roadster. Sorry folks, but unless you have heard otherwise, this 807-hp beast is already sold out.

Housing the most powerful V12 engine Lamborghini has produced to date, there was no doubt that the Sián would be swiped before even being announced to the public. Nonetheless, this powerhouse also incorporates unique hybrid technologies, rocketing the Sián to 60 mph in under 2.8 seconds, with a top speed of 220 mph.

The futuristic design is beyond remarkable. Every inch of this Roadster was designed for superior aerodynamics, and of course, feeding air into the insanely powerful V12 sitting right behind its occupants.

When it comes to the hybrid aspect of the Sián, there is a small 48-volt e-motor that was strategically incorporated into the gearbox, delivering up to 34 extra horsepower, providing immediate response and improved performance.

You may be wondering why Lamborghini decided to make such few units of their new Hypercars, and there is one simple answer to that. 19 units of the Sián Roadster and 63 units of the Coupe combine to form the year 1963, in which Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company. The entire car is a nod to the history of Lamborghini.

Because the Coupe and Roadster sold out before most of us even heard about them, there isn’t a clear price, but sources say there is a price tag of $3.6 million. You may be able to buy a couple Veyrons for that price, or even a handful of Aventadors, but come on, sitting in the roofless Sián with a screaming V12 pushing over 800 ponies behind you should be worth the price of admission!

The 2021 Ford Bronco: What to Expect

The Blue Oval Boys Take On the Jeep Wrangler on Its Home Turf.
Do They Have the Right Formula to Unseat the King of Hardcore Off-Roading?

For the last 75 years, Jeep has been the brand to beat when it comes to street cred where the streets end. From the original civilian CJ-2A to today’s JL Wrangler, they’ve set the standard for no-compromises off-road performance straight off the showroom floor. Throughout that long, successful run they’ve faced many challengers; the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Chevy Blazer, the International Scout, and of course the Ford Bronco.

Though they all found their own fans, over the past few decades all those nameplates have fallen to the wayside, leaving only Jeep still selling vehicles that are so strongly biased in favor of all terrain performance over creature comforts and day to day practicality.

Now, Ford is poised to take a run at the Wrangler with the 2021 Bronco, which will be revealed in full to the world on Monday, June 13, 2020. This long-rumored return of a classic off-roader shows every sign of being specifically targeted at the same market segment as the JL, but can it really go toe-to-toe with Jeep’s flagship? Here’s what we know so far…

There Will Be Three Different Broncos

This is a mortal lock, based on what Ford has already shown us. The lineup will include a 2-door, a 4-door, and the Bronco Sport. But honestly, you can just ignore the Sport – it isn’t going to share anything but a nameplate with the “real” Bronco, and is going to be positioned as a competitor to softroaders like the Jeep Renegade, not the Wrangler. A pickup version to compete with the Jeep Gladiator is possible as a follow-on in subsequent model years, depending on how sales of that model (as well as the 2- and 4-door Bronco) pan out.

The Doors Will Be Removable (Without Tools)

US Patent 10,550,615 B2 granted to Ford in February describes a “door hinge assembly incorporating a latch to facilitate selective door removal.” Unlike the Wrangler, it seems that the Bronco’s doors will be easy to remove and replace without needing any tools. Ford has also filed multiple patents for things like doors with separate skins that leave a side-impact protection structure in place when removed, an airbag compatible with a detachable door, and even retractable safety rails between the front and rear pillars that are either constantly in place when the doors are off, or activate automatically in the event of a crash. Ford would undoubtedly prefer for you to keep the doors on your new Bronco while driving on the road in the name of greater occupant safety (and will also certainly put a lot of warnings about it in the manual, where nobody will read them), but based on the fact that the hinge latch patent has not just been applied for but granted, that seems very likely to be incorporated at launch.

The Bronco Will Have Body-On-Frame Construction and a Solid Rear Axle With IFS

The rumor is that the Bronco will be built on the same platform as the new mid-size Ranger pickup in the same facility, and that implies a separate traditional ladder frame instead of unibody construction. That’s good news for the aftermarket, as it will allow body lifts to easily accommodate larger-diameter tire fitments without re-engineering suspension components, plus many people will prefer that design’s inherent ruggedness for serious off-roading. The Bronco will also almost certainly have a coil-sprung solid rear axle with a multi-link suspension, but unlike the Wrangler, the front suspension is going to be independent. This is a wise move for Ford; IFS is the right answer for 95% of the questions asked of the Bronco both on and off road, and they don’t have to worry about a small but extremely vocal cadre of purists raising a ruckus like Jeep will when they inevitably have to switch the Wrangler over from a solid front axle. 

There Won’t Be a Traditional Transfer Case and 4-LO

This prediction is more speculative than some of the others, but images circulating on the interwebs point to a manual gearbox with a ratio labeled “C” on the shifter rather than a separate lever/button to engage low range. Ford has plenty of experience with 4WD systems, from full time to shift on the fly to manually-selectable, but this is a new twist. In addition to a ‘creeper gear’ you can also expect selectable locking for the front and center differentials, and either a limited slip or locker for the front as well. 

Want a V8? That May Be a Long Wait for a Train That Doesn’t Come

Way back in the early 1990s, Ford decided that the future of their powertrains lay in the direction of smaller-displacement engines with more sophisticated designs to replace their tried-and-true pushrod V8 design. While there’s much to be said about whether overhead cam V8 engines were the right idea for their trucks as well as their passenger cars, they have remained steadfastly devoted to the idea of high technology instead of raw cubic inches.

On the dyno, either engine choice for the new Bronco absolutely murders the old SBF V8…

For the Bronco, it’s very likely that the workhorse “base” engine will be the 2.3 liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder delivering something in the neighborhood of 270-280 horsepower and 310 pound-feet, biased toward low-end horsepower and torque. The optional upgrade is likely to follow the rest of Ford’s truck lineup with the twin-turbo 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6, producing around 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet. 

On the dyno, either engine choice for the new Bronco absolutely murders the old SBF V8, but buyer acceptance is going to come down to whether the market they’re trying to court (both in terms of people with fond memories of Broncos past, and would-be Jeep Wrangler owners cross-shopping) believe that a turbocharged small-displacement engine is the right solution. Engine calibration is going to make or break the success for the new Bronco among shoppers who are looking for off road competence, and the benchmark Wrangler JL offers not only a standard naturally-aspirated 3.6 liter V6 gasoline engine rated at 285/260, but an optional 2.0 liter turbo inline four with 270 horsepower and 295 pound feet, plus a turbocharged 3.0 liter EcoDiesel that delivers an estimated 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet.

Offering a 5.0 liter gasoline V8 based off the current Coyote architecture would seem to be an attractive option for Ford, should customers desire a NA engine over the EcoBoost 4 and 6 cylinder powerplants, but considering how the wind has been blowing with their Raptor models, a hopped-up EcoBoost V6 seems more likely as a future ‘premium’ engine upgrade.

It’s Ford’s chance to show the world what they can do when they’re turned loose to compete with the current heavyweight champ.

The Devil in the Details

While we feel we are on pretty solid ground with these predictions, Ford has kept most of the details for the new Bronco very close to the vest. You can be sure that every engineering, styling, and marketing decision for the new model was vetted against the Wrangler archetype, though – the company has a clear vision of what they’re trying to accomplish with 2021 Bronco, which is something pretty rare these days when focus groups, shareholder opinions, and low-risk strategies dominate new car and truck designs. That’s what’s really exciting about the upcoming reveal. It’s Ford’s chance to show the world what they can do when they’re turned loose to compete with the current heavyweight champ.

For $141K, the New BMW Alpina XB7 Gets You High-End Luxury Paired With a 600HP Bi-Turbo V8

May 19, 2020 – There’s no doubt that SUVs and crossovers are taking over the US market, so it makes sense that Alpina is bringing their first BMW SAV along in their fall lineup. The BMW Alpina XB7 is a refined combination of high performance and luxury comforts which can be yours for the modest price of $141,300.

Now, yes, that’s a lot of dough for the average Joe, but this SAV has got goodies to spare. The BMW Alpina XB7 comes with a bi-turbocharged 4.4L V8 producing 612 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. With all that power, the XB7 goes from 0-60 in just 4 seconds. The twin turbos both have 2.1″ turbines to reduce lag and get you up to speed quicker, but Alpina actually limited the top speed to 180mph when equipped with the standard 21″ wheel and performance tire setup. With the custom Alpina Dynamic wheels, you can specify if you want performance summer or all-season runflat tires. The XB7 shares a similar stainless steel exhaust system as the Alpina B7 sedan that lets you control wether or not you want to hear how fast you’re going.

Suspension wise, the balance of performance and comfort is prevalent. The BMW Alpina XB7 features a two-axle air suspension setup with dampers tuned by Alpina to achieve this balance. The air suspension allows up to a 1.6″ change in ride height depending on current speed and performance settings chosen. With the ability to change it’s center of gravity in a moment, the XB7 can be comfortable at low speeds and vicious at highs. Additional suspension parts work to refine the cornering capabilities of this SAV and combat roll like; reinforced torsion struts, dome-bulkhead strut, and electromechanical anti-roll bars.

The interior is what you’d expect from a luxury automotive manufacturer and more. There are 3 rows of high-end Maerino Leather multicontour seating with 2 captains chairs in the second row. Alcantera headliner frames its optional Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof, which “generates a very special aura when darkness falls, with LED light spreading evenly across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky.” Fancy is an understatement.

The XB7 exemplifies Alpina’s dedication to luxury and performance.

For more on the BMW Alpina XB7 click here.

Ken Block’s Next Big Project: The Hoonifox

April 30, 2020 – Ken Block, along with Hoonigan’s Brian Scotto and designer Ash Thorp gave the world a behind the scenes look at the new car that will likely be tearing up the emptied streets of cities around the world in the next Gymkhana film. This new project, in true fashion, will be as wild and unique as Ken’s previous builds. The platform of choice this time around is a Foxbody Mustang earning the fitting nickname; The Hoonifox.

Ken and Ash have a history collaborating, building the Cosworth “Cossie” last year. Thorp is a well known designer who’s work is seen throughout video games and Hollywood, and is most recently credited with designing the new Batmobile for the upcoming reboot by Matt Reeves.

Ken shares his inspiration for the Hoonifox, saying that he was thinking about the early days of his Mustang Fastback build, the Hoonicorn, and its “simple and raw” nature. A Foxbody Mustang turned out to be the simple and raw platform he was looking for. Additionally, Block shares that he drew some inspiration from the ’80s and Miami Vice vibes and even threw in possibly doing the next Gymkhana in Miami.

Ash Thorp’s renderings of the Hoonifox are aggressive and shows other livery variations he came up with like an all carbon fiber version, a murdered out white version, and the aformentioned ’80s version.

No word was given on what powerplant was going to be thrown into the Hoonifox, but given Ken Block’s build history, it will be anything but boring… and probably AWD.

Watch the Hoonifox reveal here:

Bugatti Didn’t Cut Corners on the 1500 Horsepower Divo

April 27, 2020 – The Bugatti name is widely known for their extremely fast super cars that have broken many land speed records. With the new Bugatti Divo, they aim to show that their speed can come with agility too. Sharing several parts with the Chiron, the Divo differentiates itself by its track-focused composure. And after a development process lasting several years, it is finally ready to be sent out to the lucky few(only 40 units made) who got their hands on one.

The Bugatti Divo’s centerpiece is the carefully and painstakingly tuned chassis. Tests on computer simulations, windy country roads, and raceways like the Nurburgring are what the development team used to tune the Divo’s chassis to a precise degree. Changes in weight reduction by the addition of carbon fiber and replacing some luxuries in the Chiron paired with increased downforce aid in improving the cornering ability.

Additionally, the body’s wild and aggressive design comes with a purpose. Along with the chassis tuning, the aerodynamics of the car were also precisely tuned. Each crease and duct seen on the Divo serves a purpose in increasing downforce or providing heat reduction to specific spots all in the name of lateral acceleration. Despite the focus on the corners, Bugatti still didn’t neglect its power. With a 1500 horsepower engine and 1180lb ft torque, the Divo goes from 0-60 in 2.3 seconds. All of these tweaks added up make the Divo capable of pulling 1.6g in the corners.

The Bugatti Divo is named after French racing legend, Albert Divo, who raced for Bugatti in the 1920s. In his time, Divo brought home several podiums using a lightweight and agile sports car much like the one that now holds his name. The new Bugatti Divo is truly a Bugatti built for the corners. Limited to 40 examples and holding a price tag of over 5 million euros, this car will likely become a hot collectors item as well.

More on the Bugatti Divo here

Cadillac Introduces Ultra-High Performance Designation:

The Blackwing

April 14, 2020 – Once the face of Detroit’s finest, today the face of American Luxury Performance as with the 2016 launch of the Blackwing. Hidden under the guise of angular camouflage, the next phase of BLACKWING will boast a slew of ultimate performance upgrades and a new naming convention. This is evident in their announcement of a new line of ultra-high performance vehicles given a load of upgrades and edgy name: The Blackwing.

The Cadillac Blackwing name carries on the moniker of their highly popular twin-turbocharged eight cylinder engine that was first found in the 2016 CTS-V. After the waves made by the “four door Corvette” and accompanying performance vehicles, Cadillac is doubling down on performance with the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing. These new models will feature specially tuned chassis, vehicle control technologies and engines, and apparently will be ready to hit the track. Cadillac has already begun testing them on various tracks to some promising results.

The feature that is sure to make some happy is that the Blackwing models will all be offered with a manual transmission option, which was “a feature most luxury brands no longer offer but continues to be a strong desire for many performance driving enthusiasts.” And they are correct.

More details on the models will be released at a later time, but as it sits now, the new Cadillac Blackwing line is cooking up to be something pretty sweet.

The Polestar Precept Is a Greener Future

April 9, 2020 – Due to the cancellation of the Geneva International Motorshow in lieu of the coronavirus, many automotive manufacturers turned to the web to showcase their new products. Polestar is one of such brands that recently shared a video walkthrough of their new product; the Precept.

Watch here:

The Polestar Precept is the all new electric vehicle by Volvo’s sub-brand and is another step towards the future of automotive. This step is not in the form of a revolutionary new power plant or mind blowing 0-60s;  it comes in the form of a brand new way of making cars. Serving as the cornerstone of the Precept’s design is the fact that the majority of the interior and exterior panels are made from recycled and organic materials.

The interior is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that are woven to create the fabric on those seats, and the interior body panels are made of organic fibers and are even backlit to show the structure of the panels. The exterior design is sleek and does away with parts that are unnecessary with current like the front grill and even a rear window, and also has recycled materials built in. None of these materials are hidden by layers of paint or additional paneling. Polestar wants to show off their innovative construction, which seems to be the reason for this whole car.

Automotive is in an interesting time currently where we are on the cusp of a huge change from how things were always done. The Polestar Precept is their declaration of which direction they will be heading and how they will be designing their cars to reach their goals for the future. A Precept of sorts.

Polestar has released an additional walkthrough of their concept that you can watch here:

Is the Future of Automotive Fully Charged?

Electric VS. Internal Combustion Engine Debate

I have seen the future, and it is electric. This might not sound like good news for the tuner scene, old-school hot rodders, and racers, but it actually is (though not for the reasons you might think). To see how I have reached this conclusion, it’s necessary to understand what hurdles electric cars have yet to overcome, and how they require a fundamental change in the way we think about getting from point A to point B.

Companies like Tesla and Toyota have proven that pure-electric vehicles don’t have to be boring, slow, or impractical, and nobody can really argue with the results that General Motors has already achieved with the eCOPO purpose-built electric-powered drag race Camaro. But we’re still a long way from seeing the end of internal combustion, despite what lawmakers in certain states believe. Once you look past the mechanical differences between electric and fossil fuel power for personal transportation, the main issues come down to power storage and infrastructure.

Density Matters

When the Horseless Carriage first began its conquest of the world’s roads, nobody knew what a car was “supposed to” be, and different ideas flourished. As the 20th century began, it wasn’t clear what technology would prevail, and both internal combustion and electric cars found eager (though mostly rich) buyers. In short order, though, piston-engine cars proved to be more practical, and one of the main reasons was that the best battery technology of the time was the lead-acid wet cell, which only offered very limited range.

Of course, we still use lead-acid batteries today to start our cars and to power things like forklifts and golf carts, because the batteries are relatively inexpensive, offer a decent service life, can deliver very high power output for short periods, and are tolerant of a good deal of abuse without failing in horribly dangerous ways. But the amount of energy that can be stored per pound of lead-acid battery is pretty miserable when compared with even very inefficient internal combustion engines, which puts a hard limit on its practicality for personal transportation. A typical 12-volt car battery has an energy density of about 30-40 Watt-hours per kilogram. Gasoline, on the other hand, has an energy density of over 12,000 Watt-hours per kilo. To put it in more relatable units, a 15-gallon fuel tank holds about the same potential energy as more than 700 average 40-pound car batteries.

Obviously, driving around in a car that has a 14-ton battery pack isn’t really a practical option to get the same amount of available energy as a gas-powered car, and fortunately battery technology with far higher energy density has been developed, with commercially available lithium-ion batteries offering as much as 200 Watt-hours per kilo. But even at a five-fold increase in energy density, you still end up needing a battery pack that weighs 5,700 pounds to contain the same energy as less than 100 pounds of filled gas tank. This is the heart of the problem for electric vehicles – barring some scientific breakthrough that improves battery power density by an order of magnitude, the amount of total energy available in a reasonable electric vehicle chassis is always going to be far below that provided by an internal combustion drivetrain.

Companies like Tesla have proven that pure-electric vehicles don’t have to be boring, slow, or impractical…

The current gold standard for practical electric cars is the Tesla Model 3. It’s available in “standard” and “long range” versions with Li-Ion battery packs assembled from a large number of individual, commercially-available cells in capacities ranging from 50 to 75 kilowatt-hours. Estimated range on the EPA drive cycle for the Model 3 varies accordingly, from about 250 miles to about 320 between fully charged and fully discharged, which is an astonishing accomplishment considering how little energy the battery packs contain, compared to a tank full of gas. The quoted mass for the Model 3 long range pack is 480 kg, or about 1,060 pounds – more than a quarter of the total curb weight of the vehicle.

Tesla manages to achieve decent range by keeping the non-battery mass of the vehicle as low as possible, and by employing regenerative braking to recapture a portion of the energy spent getting the car moving to help stop it. It also helps that electric motors are very efficient in terms of converting input energy into useful work compared to internal combustion engines, which rarely operate in the narrow range of engine speed and load that is most effective in turning gasoline into motion. On the flip side, though, an ICE-powered vehicle won’t lose a significant portion of its potential range as the result of brief, aggressive application of the right-hand pedal, but this will absolutely murder the miles-to-empty on an electric vehicle.

We’ve been using Tesla as our example here because to be honest, it’s the only pure electric mass-produced vehicle most enthusiasts would even consider owning. Nissan, GM, Fiat, and many others have offered their own all-electric models, but they tend to occupy the part of the market that is only concerned with efficiency. Nevertheless, they also have practical unrecharged ranges that are a fraction of comparably-sized gas-powered cars. Chemistry and physics both dictate just how much electric power can be stored on-board a practical car, and barring huge breakthroughs in battery technology, this will continue to be a primary challenge for the future of all-electric transportation.

Power to the People

The second major hurdle electric cars have to clear is the infrastructure required to recharge them. Utilities have built out their generation, transmission, and distribution networks without the additional load from car recharging in mind, and ‘time of use’ becomes a major issue. Electric power consumption from residential consumers peaks in the late afternoon and early evening, drops down overnight, then rises again during the day, while industrial demand is primarily concentrated during working hours. The grid is designed to cope with peak demand (hopefully – your experience may vary if you’re in California during the summer months) so the good news is that during off-peak times, there’s a considerable amount of additional capacity available for battery recharging. The bad news is that ‘green’ power doesn’t operate on a convenient schedule – wind happens when it happens, and solar output is dependent on time of day, the season, and weather.

The traditional approach to planning generation capacity is to have the ‘baseline’ load taken care of by relatively inexpensive, large-scale fossil fuel power plants that run constantly but can’t react quickly to changes in demand, supplemented by smaller plants that are less efficient and cost more per kilowatt-hour but that can be quickly brought on-line or shut down as needed. Nuclear power once promised ‘electricity too cheap to meter,’ but as we all know, the technology wasn’t exactly ready for prime time in terms of safety. Improvements to reactor designs have made proposed future nuclear plants safer for people and the environment than any other electric power source, including wind and solar if the complete life-cycle of the system from mining raw materials to decommissioning are considered, but the stigma attached is simply too great for massive new nuclear projects to be viable from a public acceptance standpoint.

So, the challenge is, “how do you charge all these electric cars without building a bunch of new fossil fuel plants or doubling the capacity of the transmission and distribution grid?” Big solar generation plants are one possible solution that takes advantage of the economies of scale offered by centralizing power production, but as was previously mentioned, solar doesn’t run on a convenient timetable. That means that, just like electric cars themselves, power storage becomes an issue. Battery storage on a massive scale appropriate for a power grid would be absurdly expensive and/or take up a huge amount of space, but “pumped storage” is one potential option.

The idea behind pumped storage is a lot like keeping a grandfather clock ticking by pulling weights up to the top, then letting them run the mechanism by slowly dropping down on their chains. During the day, solar energy is used to run pumps that fill a man-made reservoir on top of a hill, then when power is needed and the sun isn’t shining, the pumps run backwards as turbines to generate power by letting the water flow back down into the lower reservoir. Overall, the process isn’t very efficient, with the majority of the power supplied by the solar generation lost to friction, resistance and heat, but it has the advantage of being both very cheap compared to batteries and very easy to scale up, simply by digging bigger reservoirs.

…solar doesn’t run on a convenient timetable. That means that, just like electric cars themselves, power storage becomes an issue.

In the end, though, electric cars themselves may be the solution to the generation and storage problems they pose. Thanks in large part to government grants and tax credits to offset costs and outright building code requirements to include photovoltaic panels in new construction, businesses and homes are adding solar generation to their roofs at an increasing rate. In some sunbelt states, so much excess capacity is being added during daylight hours that electric utilities are now faced with having more power than they need being fed into the grid. More electric cars on the road would mean more batteries on wheels, parked during the day and ready to soak up that solar-generated electricity from a distributed network of roof-top solar panels at work and at home, but it will require a significant shift in the way we think about keeping our personal vehicles “topped up.”

Think “Phones” not “Cars”

We’re used to the idea that cars can be driven until the needle is on “E” and then quickly brought up to their full range capacity in just a few minutes at the pump. You can even see this in the way Tesla markets their vehicles, highlighting that the Model 3 can get up to 75 miles of additional range in just five minutes at one of their “Supercharger” stations, though normal charging to full battery capacity takes hours – 30 to 44 miles of range per hour on the typical home charger. Rapid charging is also inefficient and very hard on batteries, which last a lot longer when they’re charged and discharged at slower rates.

Without realizing it, though, Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC, and all the other phone manufacturers have been training the rest of us for a smooth transition into future electric car ownership…

But almost all of us carry around a battery powered device that has the same kind of charging quirks as a Tesla; smart phones like being slowly charged and discharged, and their batteries last longest when they never drop below 20% charge or rise above 80%. If you’re the kind of person who is perpetually at 10 percent charge on your iPhone, you are probably going to face the same kind of challenge keeping an electric car powered up. Without realizing it, though, Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC, and all the other phone manufacturers have been training the rest of us for a smooth transition into future electric car ownership, where we will apply the same methods of keeping our car battery charged – keep it plugged in whenever you’re not using it, and never pass up an opportunity to throw it on the charger for a few minutes.

The Future of High Performance

With these factors in mind, what does the future of “enthusiast” cars look like? Well, it’s a sure bet that for normal transportation needs, electric vehicles are going to take over the market despite their drawbacks. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, and whether ‘peak oil’ happens in ten years, or fifty, or a hundred and fifty, it will happen. There is no foreseeable end to the availability of fuel for internal combustion engines, though – even if the last drop of crude oil was pumped from the ground tomorrow, it’s still possible to synthesize gasoline and diesel from other sources, albeit in a very expensive way. For applications where the energy density of liquid fuels is important, like commercial aircraft, long-haul trucking, or military vehicles, there’s simply no viable electric alternative on the horizon, either.

The good news is that as more of the mundane duties of personal transportation are taken over by electric vehicles, demand for gasoline will drop, stretching out the availability of relatively inexpensive fuel. It’s likely that in the near future, the most popular form of car will be a plug-in hybrid like the ones available today that derives most of its day to day range from electric power drawn from the grid, with a small ICE power plant to act as a range-extender for trips that exceed the storage capacity of the on-board battery. Another option will be pure-electric vehicles that are designed with the ability to connect to a small trailer equipped with a generator and fuel tank; for daily driving you’ll rely on normal battery power, but if you want to go on a road trip to take the family to see your cousins three states away, you’ll be able to rent the range-extender tag-along so you can keep driving for as long as your bladder will allow. Either option will require the continued existence of an infrastructure to keep them fueled.

New internal-combustion-only cars will become rare, limited to niche markets and buyers with deep pockets, but with the proliferation of clean, primarily solar-powered electric cars taking the pressure off of fossil fuel consumption and limiting the ecological impact of personal vehicles, there will be room for hobbyists and racers to maintain, build, and drive cars with combustion engines, and do it guilt-free.

Changes to the way we get from point A to point B day to day are inevitable; while the timeline is up for debate, the switch to electric cars is going to happen. Fortunately, it’s not necessarily a disaster for car enthusiasts. It will just take some adjustment, and some sound public policy that acknowledges the fact that gearheads want a better future too, and can keep their passion alive while still achieving that goal.

Is the RG Nathalie’s Methanol-Electric Powertrain the New Future of EV?

March 17, 2020 – Roland Gumpert has come out with a new brainchild that presents yet another alternative power source. Branded as a “super sports car”, the new Roland Gumpert Nathalie is electrically powered by a battery and the interesting and innovative methanol fuel cell. With the use of methanol as a secondary source, the Nathalie has the ability to actively recharge its battery, giving it a 500+ mile range. This also solves the recharging time issue experienced by a lot electric vehicle issues. Refilling the methanol cell only takes 3 minutes, and after that you can hit the road right away.

Here’s a video by RG that explains their technology:

Those with reservations about electric vehicles due to accessibility issues will not be changing their minds with this new innovation, however, as methanol is even harder to find than ev charging stations nowadays. But regardless, this innovation provides enough power to the Nathalie to produce some pretty impressive numbers.

The RG Nathalie is driven by 4 electric motors each taking responsibility for 1 wheel. Yep, thats right – its got 4 wheel drive. The motors produce about 536hp and can push its lightweight (GT-R lookin’) body from 0-60 in less than 2.5 seconds. With a top speed of 190mph, this won’t be breaking any speed records like the Jesko Absolut, but it’s definitely quick.

Though we won’t really know how well it performs on the track, we can speculate that it will be a strong contender and a fun drive. The methanol-electric powertrain is an interesting answer to the woes experienced by current EVs, but due to the limited availability of the fuel source the long term viability is questionable. Only 500 examples of the RG Nathalie will be produced and will have a price tag of $447,699.

More on the RG Nathalie:

The Audi RS6 Avant Is Coming to America

March 9, 2020 – Audi is finally giving the US high powered performance wagon: the RS6 Avant. Previously unavailable to the American market, the RS6 Avant was just a pipe dream for many wishing they could have the space and daily practicality of a wagon, but the performance of a sports car. With its 4.0-liter TFSI® twin-turbo V8, the new Audi is definitely not going fall short in the power department. This beefy power plant produces 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, pushing it from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Audi will also be offering an optional sport exhaust to have a “more pronounced sound”. Who wouldn’t want to hear a more pronounced twin turbo v8? In a straight the RS6 will be one of the quickest out there, but its suspension shows Audi did not neglect cornering ability.

Adaptive air suspension was specifically tuned for the RS6 Avant and controllable by the driver though switching driving modes. And if you would like to get even more in the corners, a sport suspension option is also available utilizing the 3 way adjustable dampers with a system called Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), which provides roll stabilization without the help of any computers.

The exterior of the new-for-America Audi RS6 Avant is stellar and aggressive with several sharp lines and a wide body to show off how buff it is. On top of that, it will come standard with huge 21 inch wheels with options that get even bigger. Design wise, the RS6 is in tune with the rest of the RS family of aggressive performance. Needless to say; it sits real pretty.

The wagon is becoming scarce in manufacturer lineups. Performance wagons are even fewer and farther in between, but they provide a unique automotive experience.With Audi’s choice to release the RS6 Avant in the US, it kind of makes you hope that we’re going to see more manufacturers feeding into this category.

The New Audi SQ8 Lets You Have Comfort and High Performance

March 6, 2020 – Audi’s brand new SQ8 provides a medium level performance option packaged into a daily drivable SUV. Coming with the SQ8 is an engine that has yet to be brought to America by Audi, and is a twin turbocharged 4.0L V8 that produces 500hp and 568lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 of 4.3 seconds, this SUV definitely isn’t slow.

If you pick up the Sport package, you’ll be treated to a few upgrades including a Quattro sport differential, red brake calipers, and active roll stabilization which will help the SQ8 stay flat in the corners. All trims come with all-wheel steering as well as all wheel drive, maximizing the driver’s control.

Inside, the interior maintains the luxury expected from an Audi and features 2 large touch screens oriented towards the driver. Overall, the design takes cues from the Audi Sport Quattro coupe while pushing the design towards a more modern look with sharp edges and their signature pronounced center grill. Blended together, the comfortable interior and high performance engine and suspension make the Audi SQ8 a perfect median between daily practicality and performance.

The All-New Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Is a 1600HP Street Legal Beast

March 6, 2020 – The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is the brand’s latest addition to their portfolio of extremely quick supercars; and this car is the fastest one ever. Koenigsegg’s mastery of aerodynamics is prevalent in the Jesko boasting extremely low drag coefficients achieved by the striking roofline. The standard Jesko comes with a larger than life wing mounted to the roof and is geared more towards track usage. The Jesko Absolut, on the other hand, has an extended roof and is designed for one thing: speed.

Dual fins jutting out of the roof of the Absolut are a key feature to the body design. Inspired by fighter jets, these fins provide the aerodynamics that make the car slip through the air with minimal drag. Adding to Koenigsegg’s war on drag, the Absoult comes with a set of covered rear wheels. The body is to an insanely low weight, providing the Jesko with a 1:1 power to weight ratio; with passengers and luggage accounted for.

Pushing this fighter jet is a twin turbocharged v8 fitted with a 180 degree crankshaft that can rev to 8500rpm. With e85 fuel, the Jesko produces an insane 1600bhp. The car comes fitted with what they call an LST, which stands for Light Speed Transmission which, true to its name, shifts through all 9 gears with virtually no time between gears.

What do you get when you mix an extremely light, aerodynamically perfected body with a 1600hp twin turbo v8 and lightning fast transmission? You get (most likely) the fastest car ever to roll on the earth. Koenigsegg had no mention of top speed, mentioning only that “time will tell”. We’re eager to see the tests coming in the future…

The i4 Is the New Electric Gran Coupe That Will Take BMW to the Future

March 3, 2020 – BMW unveiled their step into the future with the new Concept I4. The new I4 will be completely electric but is said to maintain the driving ability and luxury that makes it a BMW. On the exterior, this concept is extremely sharp with several body lines leading to the iconic dual grille. BMW has also used this model as an opportunity to show off their new, more modern, identity mark, which will serve as the badge on all future models. This concept focuses on creating a sedan for every day with sports coupe styling. Very sharp indeed.

As with any step into the future, technology will be key. This is prevalent in the new touch Curved Display which is oriented towards the driver. According to BMW, this display is for “those times when the driver chooses to pilot the car themselves.”, which seems like they will have autopilot features much like Teslas, however there was no mention of that technology being added. Drive features will be broken into 3 modes selectable off of the curved screen, which are “Core”, “Sport”, and “Efficient which all effect the way the car will drive. The rest of the interior is actually quite luxurious featuring gold bronze trim all over the dash and steering wheel. There are only 4 seats in there, so you will unfortunately have to say goodbye to the 5th friend in your group.

An interesting feature, and one that is quickly becoming a standard in newer cars, is the addition of automotive sound design, otherwise known as fake engine noise. In the BMW I4, the sound will be designed by none other than the world renowned composer Hanz Zimmer. Yes, the man who brought you the emotional music of your favorite films will now be bringing you emotional sounds from your otherwise soundless electric car. The sounds you will receive will change depending on which of the 3 driving modes you have selected.

Overall, the BMW I4 is a big step for the manufacturer in producing the cars of the future as well as setting up the direction of the new core of the brand.

This New Batmobile Is No Joke

March 5, 2020 – The much anticipated remake of everyones favorite dark suit millionaire chiroptophobic got a boost in public curiosity as director Matt Reeves tweeted out some images of the new Batmobile. There’s only 3 images and they’re pretty dark(makes sense), but what we can see is a totally fresh take of what we know as the Batmobile.  

In the past, the Batmobile has been huge part of Batman’s image; just as our cars are a reflection of ourselves. With the Bat’s vehicle of choice going from pretty zany to a straight up military vehicle, his image has gone through some changes.

With this new Batmobile, we can see that it’s probably built on top of an old muscle car – which one? Not quite sure. But it looks ratty, rough on the edges, and let’s be honest; pretty rad. It honestly looks like someone’s passion project or a wild and experimental SEMA Show build. One of the images focuses on a rear mounted engine that looks like a V10 with a rocket welded on it. The design of the vehicle kind of shows a different side of Batman that we haven’t really seen in recent years. It’s more gritty and looks more like something Bruce Wayne was actually working on as opposed to just purchased. Built and not bought.

But of course, this is all speculation. We’re still not quite sure what to expect from the new Batman, but at least now we know he’s got a cool build.

For Its 110th Birthday, Alfa Romeo Gives the World the Giulia GTA

March 3, 2020 –  Alfa Romeo will reach its 110th birthday in June and is celebrating by dropping a performance driven, F1 inspired model: The Giulia GTA.

No, the GTA does not stand for “Grand Theft Auto”; it’s an acronym standing for “Gran Turismo Alleggerita”. Alleggerita, meaning “lightened”. And lightened it is– with several components being replaced by lightweight carbon fiber such as the driveshaft, hood, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches, and rear wheel arch inserts, the Giulia GTA weighs a whole 220lb less than the standard model. The more extreme model, the GTAm will feature even more carbon fiber components such as a larger front diffuser and a big wing on the back. The GTA will feature a 2.9L V6 Bi-Turbo aluminum engine that will produce 540hp giving it an astounding power to weight ratio.

One interesting feature added is the center lock wheels, which is quite unusual for a sedan, but shows the F1 inspired nature of this model. Additionally, even more components on the car are replaced with lightweight Lexan as seen on many cars on the track. And if that isn’t enough racecar for you, the GTAm model will come with 2 racing seats, 5 point harnesses, and even an integrated roll cage!

Production of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm are going to be limited to only 500 units. Yep, thats all. And if you’re able to get one, you’ll get a whole experience by Alfa including a sales representative per buyer and several goodies like a Bell helmet featuring a GTA livery, race suit, gloves, and shoes by Alpinestars, and a Goodwool car cover. Alfa will also be offering a performance driving course with every purchase as well.

Alfa Romeo definitely pulled out all the stops to celebrate their 110th birthday with the Giulia GTA. It’s sure to be a valuable collectors item for anyone who is able to get their hands on one.

Volkswagen Announces the MK8 Golf GTI

Feb 27, 2020 – Volkswagen has officially revealed the newest addition to the long line of GTIs focusing on modernization of the platform. This includes assist technology like lane departure and pedestrian monitoring, to newer systems that electronically lock the differential and even communicate with other cars and the traffic infrastructure.

The new MK8 GTI gets a power bump from the MK7 with a 245-hp 2.0-litre turbocharged and direct injection four–cylinder engine producing 273lb-ft torque; and true to form, it comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The GTI is joined by 2 other trim options that are said to offer the same power despite their different drivetrains. First is the GTD, which of course stands for diesel. Yes, the infamous Volkswagen turbo diesel engine makes a return for the new generation and will produce 200 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The newcomer in the lineup is the GTE which will be brand new for the platform and providing an eco friendly option for those looking for a new hot hatch. The MK8 plug in hybrid features a 150-horsepower 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, a 114-hp (85 kW) electric motor, a 6-speed DSG (DQ400e) and a new lithium-ion battery, all packed into that little egg.

Visually, the MK8 is a little more angry and smug than it’s predecessor. Sharper headlights and tail lights, and a more prominent hood crease give the new GTI quite an aggressive look. Inside that new honeycomb front air dam, optional fog lights are going to be available. And to accompany those lights, there will be accessory LEDs pretty much everywhere. A fresh sporty diffuser and modest roof wing round out the image of this car.

Volkswagen is taking a step to the future with the MK8, but the typical question returns; how will the MK8 GTI compare to its older siblings?

Nissan Announces New Vehicle Subscription Service Called Nissan Switch

Feb 19, 2020 – In an age of countless subscription services offered from the 50 billion video streaming platforms to basic things like socks, there can’t possibly be anything else interesting we can shell out a monthly fee for right? Nissan thinks otherwise. With their new subscription service, Nissan Switch, they’re offering a way for the average consumer to select a car to drive one day and switch (get it?) to a totally different ride the next day. And the lineup of cars to choose from isn’t going to be some old beaters and neglected rides; they’re all going to be from the current model year. We know what you’re all thinking and the answer is yes, you can get a GTR. For an additional cost, of course.

The monthly fee for Nissan Switch kind of depends on what selection of cars you want. After an initial membership activation fee of $495 you can choose from a couple subscription levels:

SELECT – $699/mo

• Altima
• Rogue
• Pathfinder
• Frontier

PREMIUM – $899/mo

• LEAF PLUS
• Maxima
• Murano
• Armada
• TITAN
• 370Z

If you want the GTR, you’ll have to get the premium subscription and pay the additional cost of $100 a day for a maximum of a 7 day rental. Despite the seemingly high fees, what’s included in the price is quite valuable. Your monthly subscription to Nissan Switch includes delivery, cleaning, insurance, roadside assistance, and regular maintenance. On top of that, you’re allowed unlimited switches as often a new vehicle each day. With this subscription service, you can drive a Leaf for the daily commute of the week and a 370z on the weekends. Or maybe you have a camping trip planned and want to swap out for a Titan. Maybe you want to take your kid to soccer practice in a different crossover or suv every time, sure why not. There are so many possibilities available to fit whatever convenience you’d like to have.

Nissan is carrying out initial testing of the Nissan Switch program in Houston, TX and gauging the public’s interest. On the surface level, this seems to be a solid deal for those with the dough and extremely diverse needs. It’s no news that Nissan has been struggling these past couple years, but will this new service spark the fire they need?

Toyota’s New Supra Lineup Includes Lighter 2.0L 4-Cylinder Engine Option

Feb 18, 2020 – Toyota announced that they will be bringing updates to the new 2021 A90 Supra. Engine wise, the 3.0L turbo engine has been reworked to produce more power and torque on the upper end. Toyota is predicting that the new engine setup will push the 2021 Supra from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. To the dismay of many old-school heads, the 2021 Supra will retain the 8 speed automatic transmission offered in the original model. (But don’t worry, you can get a new 2020 Corolla with a stick shift.)

The A90 also brings retuned electronic control units like electric power steering, adaptive variable suspension, vehicle stability control, and its active differential. This is paired with upgraded suspension components and bracing to improve chassis rigidity. This is stated to improve stability through quick transitions and compound turns.

The biggest news came from the announcement that a 2.0 liter turbo 4 banger will be joining the lineup. Toyota mentioned that the new 2.0L A90 Supra will serve as an intermediate option for those shopping for a Toyota sports car with the 86 being on the entry level and 3.0L Supra on the premium end. This mirrors the 2 tier option format offered by Toyota in the past Supra models. Apparently, this will bring the cost down a fair bit to encourage buyers that this new Supra won’t be more than you can afford, pal. We’re sure to see a lot more of these flooding shows much like we saw in SEMA Show 2019.

Check out our Supra coverage of SEMA Show 2019 here.

Along with the smaller engine, Toyota touted that the 2.0 Supra will be a whole 200 pounds lighter than the 3.0 model, but still retaining its 50/50 weight distribution. This is done by weight reduction being spread throughout the whole body of the car. Some of these reductions include smaller front brake rotors than the 3.0 and single piston calipers as opposed to 4 piston featured in the premium, standard speaker layout, and good old fashioned manual adjustable seats.

The new 2021 Supra is undoubtedly doubling down on providing the public with an affordable sports car. With a more affordable option, we’re hoping to see more of these on the road and in the hands of enthusiasts who want to build on the platform just like its predecessor.

The Nikola Badger Brings Competition to the Electric Pickup Market

Feb 14, 2020 – An electric vehicle manufacturer by the name of Nikola Corp has unveiled their offering to the electric pickup truck market on. It’s difficult not to see this as an answer to the buzz that revolved around Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Despite their shared namesake (Is there a shortage of electricity pioneers to name corporations after?), the Badger presents a different angle to consumers than the Tesla truck. Nikola stated that, “The electric pickup is designed to handle what a construction company could throw at it and is engineered to outperform all electric pickup trucks on the market in both continuous towing, HP and range.” This, along with a 15 kilowatt power outlet to use for tools which is, “enough power to assist a construction site for approximately 12 hours without a generator.”, suggests that they’re gearing it more towards the working individual.

Performance wise, Nikola points out that their electric pickup truck can perform launches from 0-100 mph and go up to a 40% grade with minimal loss in performance. This is done through their unique software that mixes the power of batteries and fuel-cell. Thats right, this truck can operate both on electric batteries AND hydrogen fuel cell. How that works? Not quite sure. (We’ll probably make an article about it later) But through this technology, the Badger is capable of delivering up to 600 miles of range, 906hp peak output and 980 ft lb of torque.

The Badger is being developed with the help of Heavy D, star of the reality tv show, “Diesel Brothers”, who will be building and testing the truck. It’s clear that Nikola is really trying to develop an all electric pickup truck for the average consumer as one of their goals was to diversify their offerings in order to lower the Badger’s cost. The Nikola Badger is set to be officially unveiled at Nikola World.

2020 Jeep Wrangler JPP 20 Flaunts MOPAR’s All-New Jeep Performance Parts

Feb 7, 2020 – There’s no doubt that the Jeep aftermarket industry is alive and kicking—when’s the last time you’ve even seen a bone stock Jeep driving down the Highway?

The thriving scene makes it really easy to get your hands on cool parts at a relatively inexpensive price. Jeep, however, wants owners to see the extensive list of parts offered by their aftermarket performance parts division, MOPAR.

This is where Jeep stepped in and created a custom version of their 2020 Jeep Wrangler JPP (Jeep Performance Parts) 20 to debut at the Chicago Auto Show. This fully custom Wrangler showcases a large array of parts to target off-road enthusiasts.

Mark Bosanac, Head of MOPAR Service, Parts and Customer Care for FCA – North America, says that the JPP 20 “is a ‘check-all-the-boxes’ off-road vehicle for enthusiasts.”

This Limited-edition Wrangler will come equipped with a 2-inch lift kit, LED light packages, a Rubicon Warn Winch, and much more.

What are your thoughts—will this 2020 Jeep Wrangler JPP be a game changer?

2020 Civic Type R Refresh Gets Upgraded Suspension, Brakes, and… Fake Engine Noise?

Feb 6, 2020 – The new 2020 Civic Type R made its US debut at the Chicago Auto Show and brings with it some performance upgrades and a new bright and electrifying color option fittingly called “Boost Blue”. Sorry Honda fanboys and girls; still no Pheonix Yellow. The interior will get a fancy touch with a new Alcantara™ wrapped steering wheel and redesigned shift knob complete with shorter throws. Performance wise, the new Civic has upgraded 2 piece brake rotors that are stated to reduce fade and improved dampers and bushings for ride quality. It’s not like the Civic Type R was ever subpar in terms of performance, so these upgrades are sure to give it even more aggressive cornering capabilities on track days and spirited drives.

The new feature that Honda slipped into the 2020 Civic Type R, and what is sure to get everyones gears grinding is the addition of what they call “Active Sound Control”. The new feature reportedly, “modifies interior sound in concert with the chosen drive mode.” Which basically means you choose fast mode; you get fast sounds.

“[Active Sound Control] modifies interior sound in concert with the chosen drive mode.”

Some would say that this new feature is tacky and diminishes the genuineness of a true performance car. Some would also say that it’s minor and can be overlooked in respect to the car’s actual performance capability. How do you feel about fake engine noise? Let us know!

Chevrolet’s First 2020 Corvettes Fresh off the Kentucky Assembly Line

Feb 3, 2020 – The Vettes are coming. Today, the much anticipated 2020 Corvette Stingray has begun regular production in GM’s Kentucky plant. The new addition to the Corvette family made waves with its (not-so-new) mid-engine format. If you’re not sure what we mean by that, check out our article on the original mid-engine Corvette concept. The new mid-engine Corvette c8 boasts 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque coming from the new LT2 6.2L small block V8. With this beefy power plant and fighter jet inspired body, these new Vettes are going to be breaking necks soaring down the highway very soon. Dealers are expecting shipments as soon as late February or early March.

More images of the new Corvette in case you haven’t seen how sweet this thing looks:

GMC Teases Their New All-Electric Hummer

Jan 30, 2020 – In a press release today, GM announced that the next generation of the Hummer is here and contrary to its predecessor’s image of unmatched dead dinosaur consumption; all-electric. The new electric Hummer EV will be teased this Sunday during Superbowl LIV in an ad airing during the second quarter. The 30 second spot will focus on how quiet the truck will be despite its staggering performance capabilities. And the numbers? Staggering for sure. GMC anticipates that the new electric Hummer will produce 1000 hp and a jaw-dropping 11,500 lb-ft of torque making it go from 0-60 in 3 seconds. That’s a pretty sharp contrast from the old image of a Hummer.

Unfortunately there are no images of the new truck except for this teaser of the front grill. From this we can see a clean and moderately futuristic design while still retaining similar design notes of its predecessor. The Hummer name is front and center with a tiny “EV” badge next to it to remind you that this isn’t the same beast you knew before. If this new Hummer retains the hulking size and weight of the H1 or H2, it’ll really say something about how far we’ve come with electric vehicle technology.

GMC also has a series of teaser videos available on their Youtube channel boasting the Hummer’s capabilities. They’re short, but you can definitely tell their aim is to highlight how quiet and powerful this new “all-electric super truck” will be.

Detroit will be the birthplace of this truck as GMC has also announced that they will retain production of their new electric vehicle products in the US. The future of automotive production in the US looks bright and undoubtedly electrified. The Hummer EV is slated to be revealed on May 20, 2020.