Mercedes-Benz Classic is planning on taking two of Sir Stirling Moss’s most important race cars to the 2021 Goodwood Revival in honor of the driver who passed away at the age of 90 in April 2020.

One of Mercedes’ all-time great drivers, the Briton is credited as one of the best Formula 1 drivers ever to miss out on a driver’s title and drove alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.

Indeed, to celebrate his stunning performances alongside perhaps the postwar era’s most accomplished driver, Mercedes is taking the 1955 W 196 R with which Moss finished second in that year’s Formula championship.

Read Also: Watch The Story Of How Disc Brakes Came To Be In Documentary Featuring The Late Sir Stirling Moss

Powered by a 2.5-liter straight-eight with desmodromic valves and direct fuel injection, it was a technological marvel. Capable of delivering up to 285 hp (290 PS/213 kW), it earned Moss victory at the German Grand Prix in 1955, while Fangio took it to victory in Argentina, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy.

The second car Mercedes is taking to Goodwood might be the Briton’s most famous. The 1955 300 SLR (W 196 S) was a version of the same Grand Prix adapted for events like the Mille Miglia.

Racing alongside his navigator, Denis Jenkinson, under the now-famous number 722, the pair managed an average speed of 157.65 km/h (97.8 mph) over the 1,600 km (1,000 miles) course. Like the Grand Prix car, it featured a straight-eight engine, though it was bored to nearly three liters, and was thus capable of making 305 hp (310 PS/228 kW).

“In honor of the great person and racing driver Sir Stirling Moss, Mercedes-Benz Classic has already presented the ‘722’ ‘at several events in England over the past few months,” says Christian Boucke, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “The highlight and at the same time the conclusion of this special tour is certainly the Goodwood Revival. There, in addition to the racing sports car, we are showing an original Formula 1 racing car from 1955.“

The Goodwood Revival will be running from September 17 to September 19.

A true homologation special, this TVR T440R is the only one of its kind ever produced. Made to homologate an endurance race car in 2003, the car was only recently recommissioned and is up for sale.

The story of the TVR T440R starts with the T400R (aka the Typhon) race cars that were built to compete in endurance racing at Spa, Sebring, in British GT, and, of course, Le Mans. In order to obtain FIA homologation, TVR had to build four road cars.

The British company chose to build three Typhons and this, the T440R. The Typhons were initially supposed to feature a supercharged 4.0-liter straight-six but were instead finished with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine.

Read Also: Fancy An Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante That’s Only Been Driven 12 Miles?

The T440R, meanwhile, was fitted with a naturally aspirated, 4.2-liter straight-six that incorporated a gas-flowed cylinder head, a steel crankshaft and conrods, as well as a carbon fiber airbox with six upper injectors and bespoke exhaust headers. For road use, the engine makes 440 hp (446 PS/328 kW), down from the supercharged race car’s 585 hp (593 PS/436 kW).

The underfloor is flat for better aerodynamics and is made of resin-sandwiched aluminum honeycomb. A separate carbon-fiber tub is bonded to the chassis and the carbon fiber bodywork is bonded to the tub and the floor.

Thanks to its power and lightweight construction, the car will hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just four seconds and can go all the way up to 200 mph (320 km/h). Quite impressive numbers for 2003, and still more than respectable today.

Inside, the T440R has four seats and plenty of exposed carbon fiber, as well as Willans racing harnesses. The seats are trimmed in red and black leather and the Alcantara headliner is a surprisingly modern touch.

Offered by Auto Lounge Ltd through Piston Heads, the seller is asking for £192,990 ($265,663 USD).

Lamborghini has shared an intriguing teaser video to Twitter that appears to be related to the iconic Countach.

The Lamborghini Countach is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary and just last month, a modern-day variant of the car was launched, based on the Aventador. This teaser focuses solely on the interior of a Countach, showing a craftsman cutting out pieces of leather trim and expertly stitching them together.

Just what is Lamborghini planning? There are two possibilities that jump to mind.

Can you keep a secret? Because we have some exciting news for you. pic.twitter.com/GvTLwI13nY

— Lamborghini (@Lamborghini) September 13, 2021

The first is a possible expansion of the automaker’s restoration service operating through its Polo Storico heritage division. The other possibility is that Lamborghini has restored a particularly special Countach, namely the LP500 Prototype, and brought it back to life. This car was unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show and the interior pieces shown in this teaser match up with the prototype.

Read Also: Feeling Brave? This Lamborghini Countach Needs A Helping Hand

At the end of the video, the teaser states “50 years ago, it paved the road to the future. Now, it’s back on the road,” perhaps suggesting that this announcement does relate to a single example of the Countach that has been restored.

Whatever the case may be, it seems quite obvious that Lamborghini isn’t yet done celebrating the anniversary of one of its most iconic models.

The new Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 has already turned a lot of heads this year. It has a design inspired by the original car but is based on the Aventador and uses the powertrain of the Sian FKP 37.

A couple of days after Matt Farah tested the new Ford Bronco Outer Banks through some canyons near Los Angeles, he has now put it through its paces along a challenging off-road trail. Unsurprisingly, it performed very well.

The Bronco Outer Banks is a mid-level variant of Ford’s SUV and the test car tested was fitted with street-focused 17-inch wheels and tires. It was also not equipped with the available Sasquatch package that adds things like 35-inch tires, front and rear-locking differentials, Bilstein position-sensitive monotube shocks, and a 4.7 final drive ratio. As it turns out, the Sasquatch Package isn’t necessary if you want to take the new Bronco off-roading.

Watch Also: The Ford Bronco Is Much Better To Drive On The Road Than The Jeep Wrangler

The first half of the review shows the Bronco being driven up the trail while the second half shows it being driven downhill. Farah and his co-host Zack Klapman test out a host of the Bronco’s available off-road modes, including the 1L mode that can be used just like hill descent control when going down steep hills. At one stage, the duo hit 30 degrees of lean angle when descending a particularly difficult section of the trail.

If this video proves anything, it’s that shoppers don’t necessarily need to buy a high-end Badlands or Wildtrak model if they want to go off-roading. In fact, a mid-level model like the Outer Banks might just be the perfect middle-ground, offering levels of ride quality and comfort on the road that models with the 35-inch tires won’t be able to match while also being capable off the beaten path.

A low-mileage Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster finished in a particularly rare color is currently up for auction on Bring A Trailer.

The Murcielago LP640 was arguably the king of mid-engined supercars in the 2000s and this particular example is finished in a color dubbed Rosso Vic. It is being sold with service records, manufacturer’s literature, an accident-free Carfax report, and an Arizona title.

Read Also: Nero Nemesis Twin Turbo Lamborghini Huracan Performante Looks Good On Golden Wheels

Beyond the gorgeous red paint, the exterior also features black-painted 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero tires measuring 245/35 at the front and 335/30 at the rear. There are also silver-painted brake calipers with black Lamborghini lettering. The car has also been equipped with a front-axle lift system and modified with a Capristo adjustable exhaust system.

The listing notes that while the odometer reads just over 2,000 miles (~3,200 km), a Carfax report reveals that a mileage inconsistency was recorded in July 2014 and a Not Actual Mileage title issued in September 2014. As such, the car’s true mileage is unknown.

Perfectly complementing the exterior of the Murcielago is an interior finished in black and red leather with diamond-pattern inserts on the seats and center tunnel. There is also carbon fiber trim on the door sill guards, center console, instrument panel, and steering wheel.

Power comes courtesy of a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 with 631 hp at 8,000 rpm and 487 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. Power is sent through a six-speed E-gear automated transmission driving all four wheels.

Hyundai has signed a memorandum of understanding with OCI Solar Power, one of the largest utility-scale solar energy developers in Texas, and CPS Energy, America’s largest municipally-owned, fully-integrated electric and natural gas utility, to test recycled electric vehicle batteries for solar energy storage.

The three companies will work together to install an energy storage system (ESS) developed by Hyundai in September 2022. They will then analyze data from the project and share it with one another.

“CPS Energy has been a visionary leader for solar projects in Texas. And now, nearly 10 years after we began developing solar and storage solutions in Texas, we are stepping up our green-energy game,” said Charles Kim, CEO of OCI Solar Power. “This new collaboration among Hyundai Motor Group, CPS Energy, and OCI Solar Power, will make us one of the first to study the performance and cost benefits of redeploying EV batteries.”

Read Also: VW Looking To Re-Lease Its Used EVs In Order To Keep Control Of Their Batteries

While solar power is plentiful and green, the power must be stored to match users’ habits, making some form of battery important. Electric vehicle batteries, meanwhile, may lose enough efficiency after 10 years to make them less suitable for automotive use. They are, however, still efficient enough to hold energy for the power grid, which would keep them out of landfills.

“Hyundai Motor Group will verify the possibilities and effectiveness of the ESS business in the North American market through this partnership,” said Jae Hyuk Oh, Vice President of Energy Business Development Group of Hyundai Motor Group. “The Group plans to expand its energy solution business via grafting hydrogen energy to the battery system, and provide flexibility against energy volatility in the US electricity market.”

Other manufacturers, like Volkswagen, are also looking for ways to use their batteries after the cars they are attached to have outlived their usefulness. The German automaker says it can make new batteries from recycled old ones, sparing the planet 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per battery.

This is an independent design study by Kolesa based on recent camouflaged prototypes that is neither related nor endorsed by Ford

Ford was recently spied testing a new Focus sedan and it has only taken a couple of days for detailed renderings of the car to appear online.

While the new Focus sedan won’t be sold in the United States, it should prove popular in a host of different markets, including Europe. It is also shaping up to look very striking, as these renderings reveal.

Read Also: 2022 Ford Focus ST Facelift Spied Bringing Hot Hatch Vibes

These renderings come courtesy of Kolesa and showcase the Focus sedan with headlights distinct from those of other Focus models, such as the hatchback and wagon. This is because the Focus sedan will be introduced as part of the mid-cycle refresh for the car, meaning some of its styling updates will find their way onto the hatch and wagon. These new headlights also incorporate redesigned LED daytime running lights.

Elsewhere, the car has been rendered with an angular front bumper and a distinctive grille. Styling tweaks will continue across the rear of the Focus sedan with updated LED taillights with a unique light signature. All in all, the updated Focus sedan depicted in these renderings looks more purposeful than the outgoing model and should prove to be popular among shoppers.

It’s not just the exterior of the facelifted Focus that will benefit from some changes. Ford is also expected to make some updates to the car’s cabin and this could include a larger infotainment screen. No mechanical changes are expected, meaning shoppers will still have access to 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter petrol engines, 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter diesel mills, and the flagship 2.3-liter EcoBoost of the ST.

When cars like the VW Golf and BMW 3-Series are sold in pretty much the same form across the world, it is sometimes easy to forget that different countries often need very different vehicles.

Take India, for example, and the locally built Force Gurkha. The no-nonsense SUV has been around since 2008, offering the kind of serious off-road ability rural drivers need for a price they can afford. But to meet that price, refinement and luxury has had to take a back seat, until now.

Or at least that’s the theory. The latest Force Ghurkha certainly seems much improved over the outgoing car. It still rides on a ladder chassis and promises true go-anywhere ability. You get front and rear diff locks (operated by old fashioned levers; no fancy buttons here), and a snorkel as standard, giving a 27.6-inch (700 mm) wading depth.

And it still looks like a shameless rip-off off of a Mercedes G-Wagen. But there’s now modern flush glazing, including a one-piece rear side window, LED lights and a better quality interior.

Read: The U.S. Gov Just Ordered The Most Expensive Chevy Suburbans Ever From GM At $3.6 Million A Piece

Well, make that only slightly better. Coming from a western perspective, the interior looks like something out of a 1970s Wartburg, with acres of hard, shiny plastic dominating the cabin.

And according to Autocar India’s review, that’s not the only place the refinement is lacking. The reviewer explains that the weedy 90 hp (91 PS) 2.6-liter Mercedes diesel engine is slow and noisy, and the five-speed manual gearbox as vague as a Bronze Age atlas.

The slow, sloppy steering also gets a slating in this review, and the reviwer warns potential drivers to follow the off-road mantra of not hooking your thumbs over the spokes even on the road to avoid the potentially painful effects of steering kickback.

But while the Gurkha, which takes its name from South Asia’s famous soldiers, still looks hopelessly agricultural by western road car standards, Autocar says it’s still miles better than the car it replaced on the street, and as good as ever in the rough.

And when cars like the Mercedes G-Wagen and Land Rover Defender have moved away from their simple off-road roots, and even the Ineos Grenadier that wants to fill the space they vacated will cost you over $50k, it’s not hard to see the appeal of something as simple, honest and affordable as the 13 Lakh ($17,700) Gurkha.

The Porsche 919 Hybrid had an impressive career as the LMP1 racer racked up 17 wins and numerous accolades during its time in the spotlight.

While the car was retired a few years ago, one is going up for auction next month. However, there’s a huge caveat as this particular model is a showcar.

Being offered by RM Sotheby’s, the model is one of 13 showcars that was built by Porsche in 2014 for promotional purposes. As a result, it’s simply a 1:1 scale model that doesn’t drive.

Also Read: Le Mans-Winning 919 Hybrid Driven On Public Roads To Its Retirement At The Porsche Museum

That being said, it’s incredibly realistic as the showcar was created using the same CAD data as the racecar. Given this, it’s little surprise the vehicle looks the part and even features a livery similar to the 919 Hybrid which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015. This level of attention to detail was needed as the scale models were used for promotional events as well as exhibited at races, auto shows and Porsche Experience Centers.

Of course, a closer inspection will reveal this isn’t the real deal as it features closed off intakes and a simulated greenhouse. The model also lacks a powertrain and is essentially a fiberglass shell mounted on a steel frame.

Despite that, it’s undeniably cool and RM Sotheby’s notes the auction is a “unique opportunity for any museum or collector to add an incredible piece representing Porsche’s overwhelming success in modern sports-car racing” to their collection. It’s hard to argue with that and it’s worth noting Porsche Asia Pacific auctioned off one of the scale models for charity in 2015.

Picture credits: RM Sotheby’s

Bugatti apparently has a thing for partnerships, and today announced a new one with Gillette. Yes, that Gillette, the one with the razors.

Together, they will put their names on the GilletteLabs | Bugatti Special Edition Heated Razor, which, they claim, takes the grooming brand’s heated razor and pushes “into another dimension.” That means it’s finished in Agile Bleu, once France’s racing color now found on modern Bugattis, like the Chiron Pur Sport.

The handle features Bugatti’s “Macaron” emblem and is made of premium-grade aluminum zinc. Other materials, like anodized aluminum and titanium, are also incorporated into the design, as a reference to the French automaker’s use of lightweight materials.

Read Also: Bugatti Hustled Someone In The U.S. Into Buying Its First $300,000 Pool Table

“Bugatti embodies passion for perfection, in addition to performance, revolutionary design, and unrivaled quality. GilletteLabs shares these very same values,” said Wiebke Stahl, Managing Director at Bugatti International. “We are therefore delighted to be working with the world’s leading company in the field of grooming. At Bugatti, we pride ourselves on providing the pinnacle of luxurious experiences in everything we do, staying true to our mantra: ‘If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti.'”

I think we can agree that that last quote was a lot, but that’s nothing compared to the actual razor. Not only does it feature five blades and Flexdisc technology, the very cutting edge (pun intended) in the razor field, it also has a stainless steel bar next to the blades that warms up when you press a button.

It’s unclear how much the Bugatti special edition razor will cost, but the starter kit, sans branding, is $200. The Bugatti version will be launched in select markets starting this month.

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2022 Ford Maverick 2.0T have been officially revealed and the FWD model gets 23 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined.

The AWD model, unsurprisingly, suffers a bit in terms of economy and loses one mpg across the board. That means 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. Figures that aren’t bad for a pickup.

Ford previously said that the hybrid base version of the Maverick would return up to 40 mpg thanks to its electrified powertrain, but the fuel economy ratings of the non-hybrid version had not been officially announced until now. Although Monroney stickers had leaked this information previously, the update on the EPA’s website confirms officially that those stickers were authentic.

Read Also: Ford Pauses Production Scheduling Of New Hybrid Maverick Models

Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the non-hybrid Maverick makes 250 hp (253 PS/186 kW) and 277 lb-ft (375 Nm) of torque and can tow up to 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) if you opt for the 4K tow package.

That will no doubt please the people interested in this truck, of which there are many. Reports suggest that Ford has received more than 100,000 reservations for the trucklet, and that it is particularly popular in California’s big cities, like LA and San Francisco.

Starting at less than $20,000 for the base XL Crew Cab FWD model, the standard version of the truck will be powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that makes 191 hp (193 PS/142 kW).

Unfortunately, Ford has reportedly paused production of the hybrid model and will not be scheduling new builds until further notice. Fortunately, the 2.0T model will start to hit dealerships soon, the company says.

Work continues on the Hyundai Ioniq 6 as spy photographers have snapped a heavily camouflaged prototype undergoing testing in Germany.

Previewed by the stunning Prophecy concept, the production model features a striking but more conventional design. As you can see, the front end appears shorter and less dramatic, while the EV also adopts traditional side mirrors and chunkier A-pillars. The concept’s massive wheels have also been replaced by smaller ones with a more aerodynamic design.

Elsewhere, there’s a sweeping beltline and a familiar greenhouse. The model also appears to adopt traditional door handles and a less dramatic roofline that likely maximizes rear seat headroom.

Also Read: Hyundai Confirms Specs For Ioniq 6 Sedan And Ioniq 7 SUV, Both Will Have 300+ Mile Range

The rear end is disguised by bulky padding, but the trunk is much shorter than it appears. We can also see slender taillights and a small spoiler.

While spy photographers didn’t get a look inside, a previous video showed a prototype outfitted with perforated leather seats and orange accents. The model was also equipped with a floating center console, ribbed door panels and prominent speaker grilles. We can also expect a digital instrument cluster and a widescreen infotainment system.

It’s also worth mentioning the prototype featured in the video had digital side mirrors, unlike this one. As a result, it appears the technology will be offered on certain variants in some markets.

While automakers are normally tight-lipped about future products, Hyundai has previously said the car will be roughly the same size as the Sonata and serve as a replacement for the original Ioniq. The automaker also revealed the Ioniq 6 will ride on the E-GMP platform and feature a 73 kWh battery pack as well as two different powertrains.

One version is slated to have an electric motor producing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS), while the second is set to use a dual-motor powertrain with a combined output of 308 hp (230 kW / 313 PS). The company also said we can expect a range in excess of 300 miles (483 km) when the model is launched in late 2022.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops

Prototypes of the Toyota GR Yaris with extra aero parts have been spied testing at the Nürburgring in October 2020, and more recently in August 2021, hinting at a possible track-focused variant of the rally-bred hot hatch. It seems that Toyota engineers had another go with the tuned GR Yaris prototype, but this time they didn’t bother to add any camouflage, thus revealing all of the details.

As we can see from the pictures, the track-focused GR Yaris has a set of canards on the front bumper, additional vents behind the front wheels, an extra piece on the rear fenders, and a significantly larger rear wing. All extra aero components in this test car are black, and we suspect they could be made of carbon fiber. This time the car is fitted with production-spec wheels while it keeps the data-gathering sensors mounted at the back.

See Also: Track-Focused Toyota GR Yaris Continues Its Development

Toyota hasn’t released any details on future GR Yaris variants. However, given the popularity of the hot hatch and the investment they made for its custom-chassis and uniquely designed three-door body, it is highly likely that Gazoo Racing will continue its development.

Gazoo Racing’s naming strategy includes the GR Parts (extra parts), GR Sport (entry-level sports models), GR (serious sports models), and GRMN (extreme sports models). The latter is a good candidate for the Yaris since it was also used in its limited-production FWD predecessor.

See More: We Drive The 2021 Toyota GR Yaris Rallye Is The One You Should Go For

The stock GR Yaris is fitted with a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder producing 257 hp (192 kW / 261 PS) and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) of torque in EU-spec. Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a six-speed manual and with the help of the rally-inspired GR-Four system, which comes with Torsen limited-slip differentials in both axles in the Circuit Pack.

We expect the more hardcore version of Toyota’s hot hatch to get all of the goodies from the GR Yaris Circuit Pack (aka Ralllye in Australia), and possibly come with an even more track focused suspension and extra power. That should make it quicker than the stock model, which sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), but most importantly, faster around the track.

Given that the prototype didn’t have any camouflage on and looked almost production-ready, the new GR Yaris variant could be revealed before the end of the year ahead of a 2022 market launch.

Photo credits: CarPix for CarScoops

The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing have the kind of performance that allows them to rival their competitors from Europe, but they will not be offered in the same array of body styles.

According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, quoting unnamed sources close to the automaker, the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing will only be offered in sedan guise. That means no coupe, wagon, or convertible variants.

This is a shame because Cadillac does have experience with high-powered coupe and wagon models. In fact, the old ATS-V was sold as a sedan and a coupe while the old CTS-V was offered as a sedan and a wagon. The lack of a convertible isn’t a surprise but does mean Cadillac customers won’t have anywhere near the array of body styles available in cars like the BMW M3/M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63.

Watch Also: 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Reviews Are In, Is It All We Had Hoped For?

For example, the new BMW M3/M4 duo are already offered in sedan, coupe, and convertible forms and soon, an M3 Touring wagon will join them. Similarly, the outgoing C63 is available as a sedan, coupe, cabriolet, and an estate.

Muscle Cars and Trucks doesn’t offer an explanation as to why Cadillac will only stick to offering its high-performance duo as sedans. Nevertheless, the duo still have a lot going for them.

Powering the CT4-V Blackwing is a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 pumping out 472 hp and 445 lb-ft (603 Nm) of torque. It is offered with a six-speed manual transmission and a 10-speed automatic and in the U.S., costs $10,000 less than an entry-level BMW M3, starting at $59,990. As for the CT5-V Blackwing, it has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 668 hp and 659 lb-ft (893 Nm) of torque. It starts at $84,990, undercutting the BMW M5, Mercedes-AMG E 63 and Audi RS7 by over $15,000.

Not long after the Singer DLS was showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Singer has brought the car to the Nurburgring for a series of tests.

This dark green example is the same car that featured at Goodwood and was later driven by Top Gear. In fact, this is the first customer example of the DLS that was built by Singer and clearly, the owner is happy for the brand to use it for development. According to our spy photographers, Singer was conducting engine testing at the ‘Ring and actually brought along a couple of spare engines with them.

Watch Also: Top Gear Tests The Lightweight Singer Porsche 911 DLS On Track

That engine is also the highlight of the Singer DLS: a four-valve per cylinder, four-camshaft, naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six that was developed under the watchful eye of Hans Mezger. It produces 500 hp, is air-cooled, and revs through to 9,300 rpm. It is one of the finest-sounding production car engines ever created and according to Top Gear’s recent review, is an absolute joy to push to its limits.

These shots of the car being tested at the ‘Ring help to highlight just how low its ride height is. This is particularly evident when it was pictured driving around the ‘little carousel’ on the circuit.

The 4.0-liter engine is bolted to a Hewland six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. This transmission uses magnesium casings with hollow shafts to reduce the rotating mass.

As you may already know, the car doesn’t come cheap. In fact, each example starts at $1.8 million and Singer will only build 75 of them.

Photo credits: CarPix and S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops

The new Bronco is one of the hottest trucks of 2021, but while buyers patiently wait for Ford to actually deliver its retro off-roader, another vintage-inspired SUV has been making waves, this time on the modern classic scene.

A recent article by Hagerty drawing on the insurance company’s valuation data for Toyota’s FJ Cruiser highlights how demand for the 4Runner-based throwback has sent prices crazy over the last few years.

The FJ Cruiser was born out of the same late 1990s, early noughties retro movement that gave us cars like the new VW Beetle, BMW Mini, and 2005 Ford Mustang. It married a capable 4Runner chassis and stout 4.0-liter V6 engine with vintage FJ Land Cruiser styling cues like the wraparound rear windows, front grille, and contrasting roof color. Plus, the front and rears doors opened to reveal clean air where the B-pillar should have been, a nice concept car-style touch.

Related: 2022 Tank 500 Is A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Rival From China

Hagerty says that while the FJ Cruiser never sold in huge numbers during its 2007-14 production run, in the years since it’s established itself as a seriously desirable truck. According to Hagerty’s data “median sales prices for the base model more than doubled from about $14,000 in 2019 to $27,500 in 2020 and continued to rise to $30,450 in 2021.”

If you like the idea of an FJ Cruiser and can handle those high prices, Hagerty has some sage buying advice to help you bag a good one. It says the original 2007 cars had weak differentials, though many will have been fixed under warranty, and 2010-on cars swapped the original 4.0 V6 that developed 239 hp on premium fuel for a dual VVT-i version that made 20 hp more but on regular gas. The catch is those later cars will set you back $15k more than an equivalent early model.

It’s difficult to escape the feeling that the FJ Cruiser was ahead of its time. SUVs didn’t dominate the car market a decade ago the way they do today, and with vehicles like the Bronco putting retro SUVs in the public eye again, maybe it’s time for Toyota to take another look.

Rivian has started building R1T electric pickup trucks for customers with first deliveries imminent, but meanwhile, Motor Trend had the chance to put one through its paces in a different kind of road trip.

In the coming months, we expect to see many reviews of the R1T hit the web and chances are, they will focus more on on-road driving or some easy off-road tracks. MT decided to do something a little and embarked on a road-trip along the Trans-America Trail, a complex route on non-paved roads that runs from North Carolina to Oregon. It stretches a staggering 4,253 miles (6,845 km) and is a great test to see what the R1T is capable of.

Read More: Rivian R1T Finally Goes Into Production, Becomes First American-Made EV Pickup Of The Modern Era

The video below details the first leg of the route which saw the Motor Trend team travel from Nags Head, North Carolina to Dalton, Georgia. This section of the trail passes through North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia and covered 1,704 miles.

The Rivian performed extremely well and the only issue it encountered was a flat tire. The team had to make a few minor detours to reach accessible charging stations but for the most part, stuck to gravel roads and rocky paths.

As a reminder, the first R1T models rolling off the production line are Launch Edition models that includes features like a powered tonneau cover and an air compressor. The truck also includes a Meridian audio system, natural-grained ash wood trim, and a 16-inch infotainment system. It is also equipped with a heated leather steering wheel and perforated vegan leather seats.

More than 880,595 vehicles were stolen across the United States last year, an increase of 10.9 percent from the 794,019 vehicles stolen in 2019 according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The data was published in the NCIB’s annual Hot Spots report, which found that Washington, D.C., Colorado, and California were the three states (or federal districts) with the most vehicle thefts per 100,000 people.

Washington, D.C. had the dubious distinction of taking first place with a rate of 562.98 thefts per 100,000 residents. In Colorado, a rate of 502.12 thefts per 100,000 residents amounted to a total increase of 37 percent. The state’s statistics were driven by its biggest metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Denver, where thefts increased by nearly 50 percent to a total of 21,112 in 2020, up from 14,093 in 2019.

Read Also: Dodge Rolling Out More Security Features To Curb Thefts Of Chargers And Challengers

The MSA with the highest auto theft rate, though, was Bakersfield, California. The area saw 905.41 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents, making it the city with the most thefts by population for the second year in a row.

The state of California in general, though, is a hotbed. Purely in terms of the total number of vehicles stolen, the state leads the U.S. In 2020 alone Californians reported 187,094 stolen vehicles, more than twice as many as second-place Texas.

“Auto thefts saw a dramatic increase in 2020 versus 2019 in part due to the pandemic, an economic downturn, law enforcement realignment, depleted social and schooling programs, and, in still too many cases, owner complacency,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. “For many people, a car is the second largest investment they will ever make behind a home. As such, it is important to take simple steps to protect your investment – lock your car and take your keys, no matter where you live.”

Either way, the rise is still noteworthy since nationwide theft stats had been on a downward trajectory between 2017 and 2019.

Ford today announced that the first pre-production all-electric F-150 Lightning has rolled off the line at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, in Michigan. With the first truck comes a new investment in the plant that will add more union jobs.

The Blue Oval will invest an additional $250 million EVs, which will add another 450 hourly jobs. Most of those new workers will be working on assembling the F-150 Lightning, while some will go to other plants to make batteries and drivetrain components. In all, the investment will increase Ford’s production capacity for the truck to 80,000 per year.

“We knew the F-150 Lightning was special, but the interest from the public has surpassed our highest expectations and changed the conversation around electric vehicles. So we are doubling down, adding jobs and investment to increase production,” said Bill Ford, executive chair, Ford Motor Company. “This truck and the Ford-UAW workers who are assembling it in Michigan have a chance to make history and lead the electric vehicle movement in America.”

Read Also: Ford Will Spend More On Electrified Vehicles Than ICEs In 2023

The new investment follows $700 million that the company funneled into the historic Ford Rouge Center to bring up to date enough to make the F-150 Lightning in the first place. It’s also part of a wider $7.7 billion investment the automaker has made in Michigan since 2016.

Real World Testing For Pre-Production F-150 Lightning EVs Begins

Now that the first pre-production models are leaving the plant, they will undergo real-world testing. Expected to start at $40,000 and with a targeted range of 300 miles, Ford has already received more than 150,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning.

“Electrifying the F-Series […] represents a significant step toward mass adoption of electric vehicles in America,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of The Americas and International Markets Group. “F-150 Lightning is intended to be more than a no-compromise zero tailpipe-emissions truck. It’s packed with ingenious features and technology that will improve over time, it’s exhilarating to drive and it can power your home and worksite.”

The first production F-150 Lightnings are expected to roll off the line in the spring of 2022.

Mercedes has already shown us the rigid chassis and the tech-filled interior of the upcoming SL, but we are still waiting for the roadster’s full reveal which is expected before the end of the year.

Prototypes of the SL have been spied during testing, but this time our spy photographers caught one with the lightest possible camouflage, revealing almost all of the design details.

The next generation of Merc’s most popular roadster is a departure from the previous model, with sexier proportions and a curved rear-end resembling the AMG GT sportscar. On the shark-inspired front end, we can see the aggressive Panamericana grille positioned low between triangular-shaped LED headlights. The sporty intakes on the bumper in combination with the quadruple tailpipes at the back are hinting at an AMG variant.

The prototype also dons large diameter rims finished in black with yellow brake calipers, making it look even more handsome.

See Also: A Brief Look Back At The History Of The Mercedes-Benz SL

Unlike its predecessors, the new-generation SL gets a fabric roof, showing that hard-top roadsters are probably a thing of the past. When opened, it reveals a 2+2 seating layout and a futuristic dashboard. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the tilting 11.9-inch central touchscreen dominating the center console feature the latest MBUX system, while there will also be an optional 3D head-up display for those who want to keep their eyes on the road.

It has been confirmed that the new SL will replace both the outgoing SL and the AMG GT Roadster. The brand new lightweight architecture made of aluminum will be shared with the new generation GT Coupe, bringing significantly increased torsional stiffness (+18%), torsional rigidity (+50%), and longitudinal rigidity (+40%) over the current GT Roadster.

See Also: 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster Opens Up Revealing Its 2+2 Interior For The First Time

The engine range is expected to comprise the latest Mercedes motors with four, six, and eight cylinders. The SL 63 variant will most likely feature a twin-turbo V8, while a PHEV variant is also rumored, borrowing the electrified 831 hp powertrain from the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 E Performance.

We will learn more about the new SL in the coming months as production is expected to start sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.