Carscoops

Report: Ford To Add $10,000 Carbon Fiber Track Package To GT500 Options List

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:45:40 GMT

We reported on January 5 that Ford was planning on bringing a new option to the GT500 to split the difference between the Handling Pack and the Carbon Fiber Track Pack. Today reports suggest that the package will cost $10,000.

The information comes thanks to an order form shared with Musclecarsandtrucks by a customer. That price point would make the new “Carbon Fiber Handling Package” considerably less expensive than the $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack, but would be equally considerably more expensive than the $1,500 Handling Pack.

For your $10,000, you would get, arguably, the CFTP’s highlight feature, the carbon fiber wheels. Whereas they are finished so that you can see the weave of the carbon fiber in that package, though, they would be painted black for the CFHP.

The new package, though, leaves the rear seats in place and fits the less extreme Pilot Sport 4S tires to the painted wheels. Those who order the CFTP will also get exclusive access to the the exposed carbon instrument panel and the massive GT4-style wing.

Also Read: A Replacement Predator V8 Engine Will Set You Back Almost $25,000

The CFHP will get adjustable strut top mounts and a catch can, like on the track pack, while the Handling Pack’s Gurney flap and splitter wickers will also come installed.

New for 2021, the GT500 will also, apparently, get a couple of new colors. With Antimatter Blue Metallic, Carbonized Gray Metallic, and Grabber Yellow joining the options sheet, four colors will also be removed. They are Grabber Lime, Kona Blue, Magnetic, and Wimbledon White.

Get A Look At The Hydrogen-Powered Hyperion XP-1 As It Heads To Las Vegas For Testing

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:09:26 GMT

A few months after the Hyperion XP-1 was previewed with a host of official photos, a camouflaged prototype of the car has been pictured out and about during recent tests in Las Vegas.

Found beneath the striking skin of the XP-1 is an advanced hydrogen powertrain that Hyperion says includes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, carbon fiber hydrogen storage systems, and ultra-capacitor energy storage technology. The vehicle also features multiple electric motors, all-wheel drive, and sports a three-speed transmission.

The startup is remaining quite coy on certain details about the powertrain but claims the car can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 2.2 seconds and top out at beyond 221 mph (356 km/h), incredible figures for any performance car, particularly one powered by hydrogen. What’s even more remarkable are claims the car will have a range of 1,016 miles (1,635 km) and can be refueled in less than five minutes.

In these photos, the XP-1 may look quite large and beefy but thanks to its carbon titanium monocoque and lightweight bodywork, it’s said to weigh less than 2,275 lbs (1,032 kg).

The exterior design of the XP-1 looks like something out of a sci-fi film rather than a car that will actually hit the production line. There are intriguing V-wing doors, a wrap-around glass canopy, and active aerodynamic blades along the sides that are said to improve cornering.

Hyperion intends on starting production of the car in 2022 and plans to build just 300 examples. Pricing details remain under wraps.

What Do You Think Of This New Lamborghini Aventador Bodykit?

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:35:45 GMT

A little known tuner from the United Arab Emirates has just showcased its new ‘ERA’ bodykit for the ever-popular Lamborghini Aventador.

While the Aventador is approaching the end of its life-cycle, it remains one of the most striking supercars on sale. Eager to make it turn even more heads, Huber has created new carbon fiber front and rear bumpers for the car that give it a unique new look.

The Huber front bumper protrudes out further than the standard bumper and also incorporates re-shaped air intakes. It also includes two subtle winglets on either side and a sharp splitter that makes the Aventador look even more aggressive.

Spin around to the rear and Huber’s new bumper adds a distinctive diffuser, new air vents, and has an altogether bulkier shape. Huber has also replaced the Lamborghini badge at the rear with one of its own.

The Dubai-based company can paint the bumpers or sell them in various different hues of colored carbon fiber. An optional carbon fiber bonnet is also available for those that want the full package.

“While we might be the new kid on the block, we feel that when designing new aero packages for a car, you have to consider both a clean sheet of paper and the North Star of its pre-existing DNA as your guide,” Huber said in a statement. “The Aventador has a large following, and many aftermarket players have added their visions to this car. Expectations are high, so we knew to take our time to get it right; and we’ve enjoyed the journey.”

The company hasn’t announced how much the kit costs.

The Test Car Nissan And ItalDesign Used To Develop the GT-R50 Is On Display In Tokyo

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:04:19 GMT

Nissan will, from January 12 to March 31, display the test car used to develop the GT-R50 by Italdesign at Nissan Crossing in Tokyo. The space is a fancy showroom, perfect for showing off the car used to develop a million dollar supercar.

According to Nissan, the car was used on circuits to test chassis rigidity and durability. It was also used as a rig to test some of the car’s carbon fiber parts and the rear wing.

With just 50 GT-R50s being built, this is a really nice look into the development process of a supercar based on one of the most impressive cars of the last decade.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 making 710 hp, it’s no wonder rigidity and durability were of utmost importance. The engines are built by a small group of specialists called Takumi at Nissan’s Yokohama plant.

Apart from the engine, development and engineering work were preformed by Italdesign; the looks, though, were handled by Nissan’s design teams in Europe and America.

Also Read: Can The 2021 Nissan Kicks Lure You In With A $19,500 MSRP?

Bringing it all to a stop are six-piston Brembo brakes , while the new adjustable Bilstein DampTronic dampers, along with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, will help it handle the corners.

Designed to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of the iconic Japanese sports car in 2019 and Italdesign in 2018, the design premise of the GT-R50 was to make the most extreme GT-R possible.

“How often do you get to ask, ‘What if we created a GT-R without limits,’ and then actually get to build it?’ Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design, said. “This is a rare window in time when two big moments intersect: 50 years of Italdesign shaping the automotive world and 50 years of Nissan generating excitement through our iconic GT-R.”

Nissan and Italdesign are building just 50 examples, each priced from €990,000 ($1.12 million) before taxes, and there are only a few left.

VW’s Upcoming ID.4 EV Isn’t Worried About Freezing Temperatures

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:32:42 GMT

With the fully-electric ID.4 set to arrive at dealerships across the U.S. in just a few weeks, the carmaker is looking to put minds at ease regarding how well their EV might be able to handle cold or freezing temperatures.

“Winter isn’t a reason to avoid joining the EV revolution,” said VW of America E-mobility VP, Matthew Renna. “We’ve designed the ID.4 to make the transition to electric driving as seamless as possible regardless of the season, and we think owners will enjoy it year-round.”

The reason why people might worry about cold temperatures and EVs is that the cold can affect efficiency in pretty much any type of car. With internal combustion, you typically have a third of the fuel burned escaping the engine as heat, some of which can be used to warm the interior.

With an EV however, where the electric motor could be up to 95% efficient, you don’t have any spare energy to redirect towards the climate control system, so powering those heaters will affect your range, especially in below-freezing temperatures.

However, the ID.4 does offer a number of solutions, such as Pre-Heating. Using the Volkswagen Car-Net app you can begin to heat the interior of the ID.4 while it’s still connected to a charger, using energy from the grid instead of the battery.

Furthermore, all 2021 ID.4s come with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, as well as an electric resistance heater, part of the Climatronic system – this is designed to offer you the temperature you’re looking for faster than traditional heaters from ICE-powered cars, which can sometimes blow cold air until the engine warms up.

One downside, if you live in a northern state, is that you’ll have to wait until later this year in order to get an ID.4 with all-wheel drive. Thankfully such a setup will be available by next winter, courtesy of two electric motors combining for 302 HP.

Purists Look Away: First AC Cobra 378 Superblower With 580 HP LSA Engine Is Complete

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:04:43 GMT

AC Cars has completed the first production version of the reborn Cobra 378 Superblower, following the launch announcement back in July 2020.

Unlike the original Superblower, which used a supercharged 5.0-liter Ford V8, the reborn Superblower is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 LSA engine, producing 580 HP and paired to a six-speed manual transmission. The car is based on an all-original four-inch round tube ladder frame with a designated ‘COB’ chassis number on the correct ‘AC Cars’ chassis plate.

Every newly produced AC Cobra 378 Superblower MkIV will be accompanied by a full certificate of originality too but having a GM engine under this iconic skin might not bode well with Cobra fans around the world.

The AC Cobra 378 Superblower was originally conceived and launched by AC’s current owners back in 1998, with the car then generating a lot of interest. Only a small number of cars could be built and sold at that time but now the Superblower is back.

The reborn AC Cobra also features servo-assisted race-spec brake calipers and ventilated discs, front and rear multi-link suspension with coil-over shocks, and front and rear anti-roll bars. The wheels measure 7.5 x 15 inches at the front and 9.5 x 15 inches at the rear.

The interior of the first reborn AC Cobra Superblower is handcrafted in black leather and features deep pile carpets, door map pockets, a leather-covered instrument panel, and a leather glovebox.

“We are incredibly proud to see the first production version of 378 Superblower now built,” said Alan Lubinsky, Chief Executive of AC Cars. “It’s a tremendous achievement by the full team of engineers to produce such a high-quality car ahead of schedule and in the midst of a challenging global pandemic. This is another big step forward in the ongoing resurgence of the AC Cars brand and we are tremendously excited to start UK sales through our sales team at Boss Motor Company.”

Prices for the ‘new’ Superblower start from £129,500 ($177k in current exchange rates) in the UK and is now available to order. The new Superblower is part of AC’s expanding model range which also includes a limited pure electric version with a maximum driving range of 150 miles.

U.S. To Exempt Autonomous Vehicles From Certain Crash Standards

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:33:42 GMT

New rules have been issued that will allow the manufacturers of autonomous vehicles to bypass the crash standards required by traditional passenger vehicles.

The rules, announced by the outgoing Trump administration but yet to be finalized or implemented, will exempt automated vehicles designed to exclusively carry goods, rather than people, from certain crash standards.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed the new rules would also give companies the flexibility to manufacture autonomous vehicles that carry passengers without steering wheels and pedals.

In a statement, the NHTSA said it has started to craft the new rules to “clarify ambiguities in current occupant protection standards for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems that are designed without traditional manual driver controls.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that the rule-making process will be conducted by the administration of President-electric Joe Biden.

Executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, Jason Levine, has expressed concern about the NHTSA’s approach, stating that new rules need to be developed for driverless vehicles, rather than simply exempting them from existing regulations.

“NHTSA’s insistence of enabling the fast deployment of self-driving vehicles by amending rules written for cars with drivers, instead of recognizing the unique characteristics of autonomous technology, may be the fastest way to authorize the deployment of autonomous vehicles but it is not a consumer-safety driven approach.”

Counsel to the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets, which includes Ford, Lyft, Uber, Volvo and Waymo, Ariel Wolf, praised the move, stating that the “NHTSA’s Final Rule is a step forward for autonomous vehicle technology and design.”

BMW X2 M Mesh Edition Arriving In UK From £34,510

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:02:38 GMT

UK buyers looking for a more distinctive BMW X2 can turn their attention to the M Mesh Edition variant, available to order now in Britain, with customer deliveries scheduled for March.

Pricing starts from £34,510 ($47,000), with all models featuring a high-gloss black 3D mesh grille, inspired by racing cars. The crossover also comes with exclusive bumper trim inserts, prominent side skirt and door cladding, plus a new signature color in Frozen Black-Brown for the wheel arch trim.

The unique 19-inch bi-color alloy wheels with black accents and BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line both come as standard, as does the high-gloss black window and exterior mirror surrounds, mirror base, B-pillar and C-pillar trim, while the M mesh grille surround and the ring around the BMW badge are finished in Black Chrome.

Other features for the X2 M Mesh Edition include the standard LED headlights with cornering function (optional adaptive LEDs with matrix high-beam) and the X2 logo projected from the exterior door mirror. The sporty interior meanwhile comes with black Dakota Leather headrests, Grey contrast stitching, ‘Edition’ entry sills, standard M steering wheel and Aluminum Hexagon Anthracite trim.

You also get sat-nav as standard, courtesy of an 8.8-inch display with touchscreen functionality, although if you get the Navigation Plus system, you’ll also enjoy a larger 10.25-inch screen, as well as a HUD system.

As for performance, buyers can choose between seven engines (three diesels, three gasoline and a plug-in hybrid system), all of which meet Euro 6d emissions standards. The PHEV model is the X2 xDrive25e and it puts down a combined system output of 217 HP (220 PS) and 284 lb-ft (385 Nm) of torque, getting you from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.8 seconds.

It also offers a fully electric range of up to 35 miles (56 km).

How To Watch The 2022 Mercedes EQA World Premiere On January 20

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:30:48 GMT

Mercedes is ready to unveil its first ever fully electric compact model in the EQA, which will serve as the brand’s entry-level battery-powered offering.

Its debut will take place exclusively online on January 20, at 11:00 AM CET (5:00 AM EST), and you’ll be able to follow everything as it unfolds right on this page in the video below (it will go live next week). The compact EV crossover will be available across European dealerships this spring.

As far as what we can expect once the unveiling takes place, well, for starters something a lot more conventional-looking than the Concept EQA on which the car is based. Our latest batch of spy images was very revealing, as recent prototypes went out in public with very little camouflage on.

Watch: Explore The Mercedes EQA And EQS, Plus The Facility Where They Are Tested

Looks aside, Mercedes calls the EQA “effortless” as far as everyday life is concerned.

“This is guaranteed, for example, by the standard navigation system with Electric Intelligence. It calculates the fastest route to the destination. On the basis of ongoing range simulations, necessary charging stops are taken into account, as are numerous other factors such as topography and the weather. This makes it easier for anyone who is initially deciding on an all-electric vehicle to get started.”

Planting your foot down means exploring an output of 140 kW (187 HP / 190 PS) on the EQA 250, which is rated at 15.7 kWh / 100 km. Eventually, Mercedes will also reveal a 200 kW (268 HP / 272 PS) variant, as well as a model with all-wheel drive. As for the interior design, the teaser above doesn’t tell us very much, although we do see a striking similarity to the cabin of the GLA.

In the meantime, stay tuned to our coverage of the Mercedes EQA reveal, as videos, images and additional information will all become available in due course.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

GM Considering Electric Corvette SUV, Could Arrive In 2025, Say Sources

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:56:29 GMT

Rumors of a Corvette-based SUV have been flying around for a while now. However, people familiar with the matter have just recently come out and said that General Motors is indeed working on a strategy to build at least one new EV inspired by the Corvette.

This likely means the arrival of a Mustang Mach-E competitor, since pure internal combustion power is clearly on its way out.

These sources say that GM has its designers working on several Corvette-brand concepts, targeting a wide range of buyers. This program is reportedly called Project R or Brand R, as per Bloomberg. The news site said that GM declined to comment on the report.

Once news of this report broke, GM stock spiked by as much as 2.4% to $52.75, closing at $51.53.

One of the sources said that a Corvette SUV could go on sale as soon as 2025, although it will likely take longer than that. As for the powertrain, a battery-electric vehicle is indeed what we should expect, said another person close to the matter. GM has already developed a modular platform called Ultimum that can and will be used in a variety of different vehicles.

If you’re still not convinced, just look back to GM’s presentation at CES 2021 from earlier this week. At one point, design boss Mike Simcoe stood in front of three electric vehicles, one of which featured Corvette-like headlights and was clearly a crossover (see image above).

Could some of those previously-mentioned concepts already exist in 1:1 scale? It’s certainly a possibility, and if we had to bet on it, we’d say that yes, a Corvette SUV makes almost perfect sense when taking into consideration the current automotive landscape and where it’s all heading. It’s not much of a taboo anymore, given that even premium and exotic brands, from Porsche to Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce to Lamborghini, have already succumbed to the allure of SUVs. Even historic nameplates such as Ford’s Mustang are now being used on crossovers.

As for the fully electric part, well, that’s a no-brainer too.

Electric Scooter-Maker Builds Electric Monoposto Mini Car

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:24:47 GMT

Blaze makes electric scooters and has gotten into a bit of a habit of producing things that look like classic cars.

With the next cruiser EV, they have a little electric WWII Jeep. And with the EV Classic, they created a little classic race car.

Officially a mini car, it’s big enough to get an adult moving. According to the company, the EV Classic is good for about 50 km (30 miles) of range and a maximum speed of 50 km/h (30 miles). It can be charged in about 8 hours from a standard home plug and weighs in at about 200 kg.

The mini car is about 90 inches long and 46 inches wide, which makes it only about 15 inches shorter and thinner than a Smart Car. And thanks to its electric drivetrain, it actually has a differential, not some chain gear.

Also Read: Bugatti Baby II Arrives In The USA With An Adult Price Tag That Can Top $70,000!

This isn’t too dissimilar to what Bugatti did recently with its Bugatti Baby. That 75% scale Bugatti is good for up to 42 mph, which in something not much bigger than a go-kart, should feel fast enough.

Unlike the Bugatti, though, which charges you up to $70,000, you might be able to afford the Blaze EV Classic, which costs 880,000 yen, or about $8,500 at current exchange rates. Still not exactly a bargain, but definitely much more affordable.

Unlike the Bugatti, the EV Classic doesn’t really appear to be designed to look like any monoposto in particular, but is rather a general homage to race cars from the 1930s.

Litchfield Working On Toyota GR Yaris Upgrades, Has Already Boosted It To 300 HP

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 11:46:32 GMT

The Toyota GR Yaris is one of those cars that are simply destined to be tuned and UK’s Litchfield Motors is one of the first to announce their work on the little pocket rocket.

The tuning company has purchased two examples of the Japanese hot hatch to simultaneously develop packages for the chassis and the engine and has already extracted 300 HP from its 1.6-liter three-cylinder, up from the factory’s 257 HP, with a simple tuning box that’s currently receiving its final calibration before going on sale.

Litchfield notes that it will take some time to crack the factory Denso ECU in order to offer OBD tuning packages, but their partners are putting the final details on a plug-and-play replacement ECU for those who want to extract even more power from the little Yaris.

In addition to the engine tuning, Litchfield has partnered with Nitron to develop a series of suspension kits and handling setup packages. The company’s initial goal here is to offer an improved ride quality and sharper responses from the chassis and so far, the white car with the prototype suspension performs exactly like that.

The black car currently has the 300 HP tune while the white one wears the prototype Nitron suspension

Litchfield will eventually offer both 3-way and a 2-way Nitron suspension kits for the GR Yaris, which features solid mounts, big wheel articulation, and wide tracks right from the factory, making it a truly great platform for mods.

Ex-Bentley Design Chief Stefan Sielaff Tipped To Move To Geely

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:27:24 GMT

Bentley’s former design chief Stefan Sielaff has left the British automaker and will reportedly start working for Geely.

A Bentley spokeswoman confirmed Sielaff’s departure earlier this week, stating that he “left his position to pursue other career opportunities outside Bentley and the Volkswagen Group”, but did not comment on the reports of him joining Geely, as claimed by German press outlets.

Sielaff assumed the role of Bentley’s design boss in 2015 having previously headed up the VW Group’s Potsdam design center in Germany. The 59-year-old has spent most of his career with the VW Group, having joined the car manufacturer in 1990 as an interior designer at Audi.

Auto News reports that Sielaff’s move to Geely will see him take over Peter Horbury’s role as the head of Geely design.

Bentley has confirmed that the former head of exterior design for Audi, Andreas Mindt, will take over from Sielaff as the brand’s director of design. During his time at Audi, Mindt played a key role in the design of the e-tron, as well as the Q8 SUV. He has worked for companies within the VW Group for two decades and was involved in the design of the 1999 Bentley Hunaudières.

“Bentley is a jewel within the Volkswagen Group,” Mindt said. “Designing a car, and a future, is always a process based on the performance of many, not one, and so I look forward to working with my colleagues to help define the next phase for Bentley, into an electrified future.”

Toyota Unveils 2021 Yaris WRC Race Car With New Livery

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:24:04 GMT

Toyota Gazoo Racing has unveiled the Yaris WRC car it will compete with in the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship.

The Japanese car manufacturer had initially planned to enter the 2021 season with a WRC version of the new-generation Yaris (the car that led to the creation of the road-going GR Yaris), but this project was killed off. Instead, Toyota will continue to race with its previous-gen Yaris, albeit now updated with a livery similar to that worn by the new GR010 Hybrid designed for the Le Mans Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship.

Over the past four WRC seasons, Toyota has claimed 17 victories and 322 stage wins with its current Yaris race car. It also secured the manufacturers’ title in 2019 and has won back-to-back drivers’ and co-drivers’ crowns in 2019 and 2020.

New for the 2021 car is the fitment of Pirelli tires, as the Italian company is now the sole tire supplier for the World Rally Championship.

No changes have been made to Toyota’s driver line-up. As such, Sebastien Ogier will continue to race alongside co-driver Julien Ingrassia while Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin will partner up once again. Toyota’s third car will be driven by Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen.

Porsche Boxster 25 Edition Promo Video Is Filled With Nostalgia

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 03:04:44 GMT

Hot on the heels of the 2021 Boxster 25 Edition being unveiled, Porsche has released its official promotional clip.

The video follows a mother and son driving the new car while providing flashbacks of them when they were younger and enjoying the first-generation Boxster. This story is fitting as the Boxster 25 Edition has been launched to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Porsche’s mid-engined sports car.

In designing the limited-edition model, Porsche took inspiration from the Boxster concept car unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 1993. Key parts of its exterior design include copper-colored paint on the front and side air intakes, ‘Boxster 25’ badge, and 20-inch alloy wheels. Porsche has only showcased the car wearing a GT Silver metallic finish, but it will also be offered in Jet Black Metallic and Carrara White Metallic.

The interior of the Boxster 25 Edition is clad in Bordeaux Red leather and sports a red folding soft top, while a black interior with black roof is also available. Other key highlights of the cabin include brushed aluminum accents, 14-way electrically adjustable sports seats, door sill trims with ‘Boxster 25’ lettering and a heated GT multifunction sport leather steering wheel.

Powering the car is a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six with 394 hp and 309 lb-ft (419 Nm) and is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch. With the manual, it maxes out at 182 mph (293 km/h), whereas with the dual-clutch and the standard Sport Chrono package it will hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.

Porsche will build just 1,250 examples of the Boxster 25, with U.S. pricing starting at $98,600 excluding delivery fees.

Feel Like Lewis Hamilton By Driving This Jordan F1 Car On The Track

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:30:40 GMT

If you’ve ever wanted to drive a Formula 1 car and live in the UK, now is your chance thanks to a company known as TrackDays.

For a fee of £999 ($1,365), budding race car drivers can enjoy a day with the Jordan EJ12 F1 car that was once driven by Takuma Sato. While that may sound like a lot of money, it’s pretty much the only way you will ever be able to drive an F1 car unless you’re a Formula 1 driver.

Of course, TrackDays won’t just let you jump into the wheel of the EJ12 and unleash it on a track. Instead, the experience starts with a 30-minute briefing about racing lines, throttle and braking techniques, and track day safety etiquette. Then there’s a 14 lap reflex training and throttle control exercise on a drift circuit. Next, participants go for four sighting laps of the Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire, England, in a BMW M3, before jumping into an F1000 single-seater for 20 laps.

Once drivers have proven themselves, they’ll be given the opportunity to drive the F1 car for 10 laps around the track.

Interestingly, this EJ12 is the exact same car we wrote about last September after it was listed up for sale in the UK. It was fist driven by Sato at Silverstone in January 2002 during preparations for the forthcoming season. It remains adorned in the livery it had for the Suzuka Grand Prix of October 2002 and sold for £167,500 ($228,599).

When it was racing, the car was powered by a Honda RA002E naturally aspirated, 3.0-liter V10 engine, but the Japanese company removed it when the single-seater was first sold. Thus, it has been replaced with a Judd KV8 S3000 Formula 3000 V8 engine mated to a five-speed Lola/Hewland transmission with pneumatic paddle shifters.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 With Akrapovic Exhaust Is Out For 911 Blood

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:54:15 GMT

Akrapovic has made the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 even hotter by installing their new exhaust system.

The Slip-On Race Line and Link pipe set, both made of titanium, enhance the sports car’s soundtrack and improve performance. The installation takes around two hours to complete and requires remapping the ECU software.

Review: Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4 Is A Sports Car For Proper Driving Enthusiasts

Weighing 8.2 kg (18 lbs) less than the OEM part, it adds 11.6 kW (15.7 PS / 15.5 HP) at 2,600 rpm and 43 Nm (32 lb-ft) of torque at 2,600 rpm to the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine. The flat-six now produces 430 HP (436 PS / 321 kW) and 341 lb-ft (463 Nm), and in all likelihood should improve slightly on the stock car’s 4.4-second 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration time.

While Akrapovic was busy launching an aftermarket exhaust system for the 718 Cayman GT4, Porsche has been working on a more track-focused variant. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS is expected with around 444 HP (450 PS / 331 kW) produced by an upgraded version of the 4.0-liter flat-six, with some reports claiming that it could get up to 493 HP. However, since that would bring it too close for comfort (for Porsche at least) to the upcoming 911 GT3, which will have roughly 510 HP, this seems rather unlikely.

Toyota GR010 Hybrid Unveiled With Twin-Turbo 3.5-Liter V6 For Le Mans Hypercar Class

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:49:19 GMT

This is the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, the car that the automaker will compete with in the newly-formed Le Mans Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship.

Powering the car is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, significantly larger than the 2.4-liter unit used by Toyota’s retired TS050 LMP1 car. Working alongside the internal combustion engine is a front-axle hybrid system that delivers 268 hp. Total power of the car is capped at 670 hp. To meet this cap on power, the GR010 Hybrid’s advanced electronics reduced engine power depending on how much hybrid boost is being deployed at any given time.

Toyota has been developing the car for the past 19 months at its racing team’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany, while also using electric hybrid powertrain experts at Higashi-Fuji in Japan.

Compared to the old TS050 LMP1 car, the GR010 Hybrid is 250 mm longer, 100 mm wider, and 100 mm higher. It also tips the scales at 1,040 kg (2,292 lbs), quite a bit more than the 878 kg (1,935 lbs) of the TS050. Teams competing in the Le Mans Hypercar class can only develop a single aerodynamic configuration that must work at both high- and low-downforce circuits. Only the rear wing is adjustable.

“There is a similar principle on the powertrain side as well, with a given power curve but a lot of freedom in terms of configuration,” chassis project leader at TGRE in Cologne, John Litjens said. “The biggest change for us here was to move to only a front motor generator unit. The packaging for the hybrid system was more challenging on this car because of updated safety standards. The combustion engine is a more powerful on the GR010 Hybrid compared to the TS050 Hybrid, so it is a very different car both in appearance and in how it sounds.”

The company’s driver line-up remains unchanged from the LMP1 program. As such, Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Jose Maria Lopez will drive the #7 car while Sebastian Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, and Brendon Hartley will race the #8.

Kia Teases Several New Electric Vehicles, First E-GMP Based Model Will Debut Soon

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:18:39 GMT

Kia is transitioning from a vehicle manufacture to a provider of sustainable mobility solutions.

As part of the change, the company has been renamed the Kia Corporation – formerly the Kia Motors Corporation – and announced a new brand slogan of “Movement that inspires.”

While a few eyes roll probably just rolled, Kia’s Head of Global Brand & Customer Experience, Artur Martins, explained “Movement has always been at heart of our brand, and moving people at the core of our business. Movement helps humankind to constantly progress, improve, and evolve. That is why at Kia we believe that movement inspires ideas.”

Also Read: Kia Takes To The Sky To Reveal New Logo And Brand Slogan

The big news is Kia’s decision to focus on popularizing battery electric vehicles. As part of this initiative, the company will launch seven new dedicated BEVs by 2027. Each will be based on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and Kia said we can expect a variety of vehicles including cars, crossovers and MPVs.

Kia’s first E-GMP based model will be introduced in the first quarter and it’s known as the CV. The company is keeping details under wraps, but said it will feature a crossover-inspired design, high-speed charging and a range in excess of 311 miles (500 km).

On top of this, Kia is also developing purpose-built vehicles. They’ll be based on flexible skateboard platforms and feature modular bodies that can be tailored to meet specific requirements of corporate and fleet customers.

Kia noted demand for purpose-built vehicles is expected to grow five-fold by 2030, due to growth in e-commerce and car-sharing services. As a result, they’ve partnered with Arrival and Canoo, and are slated to produce specialty vehicles for car-sharing and delivery services.

While Kia didn’t say much about the upcoming EVs, they teased an assortment of them. There appears to three cars and two crossovers as well as three or four commercial vehicles. We’ll learn more about them, and the company’s new design direction, in the weeks ahead.

Did Brake Failure Cause This Dodge Challenger Hellcat To Crash?

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 00:43:17 GMT

A 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has been filmed slamming into two concrete poles in Arizona.

Th footage was captured by a security camera and was recently shared on Reddit. While the exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined, the driver of the powerful muscle car claims that it wasn’t his fault.

As the Challenger comes into view of the security camera, it’s clear that the car is going sideways. Unable to control it, the driver had no way of avoiding the two concrete columns and nearly took out a pedestrian.

Watch Also: Dodge Challenger Hellcat Driver Tries To Show Off, Pulls A Mustang Instead

The crash was significant enough to compromise one of the concrete supports and destroy the front of the car. The brunt of the impact with the second column was concentrated on the driver’s side door. Clearly, this Hellcat is heading straight to the scrapyard and won’t be driven ever again.

Given how powerful the Challenger SRT Hellcat is, being involved in accidents isn’t that surprising, and mostly it’s due to a driver being a little too throttle-happy. However, the driver in this case claims that the brakes of the car locked up.

We’re not crash investigators, but it does seem a little odd that a brake failure would cause the rear of the car to snap out so suddenly along a piece of arrow-straight road. Then again, we only get to see a few seconds before the Hellcat hit the poles, so we can’t tell for sure. In any case, the driver should count himself lucky to have escaped from this crash.