The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatchback is here. It has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Europe will get the new GTI this fall, but Americans will likely have to wait until the fourth quarter of 2021 for it to arrive. As the former owner of two second-generation […] More

The 2023 Bentley Flying Spur lineup is adding a new S model that aims to prioritize driving pleasure.Its exterior is distinguished by gloss-black trim, and its two-tone interior includes S-specific touches.The Flying Spur S comes with a 542-hp twin-turbo V-8 or a 536-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrain.For Bentley customers who don’t just want to ride in the back seat, the newly introduced 2023 Flying Spur S will be right up their alley. Its available 542-hp twin-turbo V-8 and 536-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrains are the same as those found on other Flying Spurs, and this marks the first time an S-badged Bentley is offered as a hybrid.

The Flying Spur S can be identified by the absence of exterior chrome. Instead, its big body boasts lots of gloss black on the grille, lower front fascia, mirror caps, and window trim. The headlights and taillights also receive dark tints that contribute to the sinister style. The only chrome bits that remain are the Bentley badge and lettering on the trunk lid.
The Flying Spur S can be fitted with several different wheels, all unique to this model. The choices include a set of tri-spoke 21-inch wheels with gloss-black and machined surfaces. There’s also a set of 22-inchers that can be had in gloss black (pictured here) or in Pale Brodgar satin. Regardless of rim type, every version has red-painted brake calipers. Plus, the Flying Spur S comes standard with rear-wheel steering and active anti-roll bars, also known as Bentley Dynamic Ride.Inside, the Flying Spur S is available in two-tone color schemes that combine leather and a faux-suede material. Its seats can be optioned with quilting, and the standard “S” embroidery on the headrests can be replaced with Bentley’s winged logo at no extra cost. Other S-specific touches that appear throughout the cabin include special illuminated sill plates, a metal “S” badge on the dash panel, and digital gauges that share a motorsport-inspired look that’s also seen on the Bentley Continental GT Speed.
For those who want the quickest version of the Flying Spur S, the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with 542 horsepower and 569 pound-feet of torque is the ideal engine. It comes standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive, and a 2021 Flying Spur we tested hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Bentley also says the V-8 model has a top speed of 198 mph. As part of the S treatment, it features a different exhaust system for a sportier soundtrack than drivers will otherwise find. Bentley’s 626-hp W-12 engine is not available in the S model won’t find.Although it doesn’t sound as intimidating as the V-8, and its top speed is limited to 177 mph, the plug-in-hybrid variant’s 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet are properly prodigious. Unlike the V-8, it’ll provide an estimated 21 miles of electric-only range. Bentley says the PHEV S also has “ingenious sound enhancements” under the hood that are intended to stimulate the driver when Sport mode is engaged but still keep things quieter in the back seat.The 2023 Bentley Flying Spur S with the V-8 is expected to have a price tag in the neighborhood of $245,000. We expect the plug-in-hybrid version to start at about $243k.
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• This 2011 BMW 328i Sports Wagon is one of fewer than 400 3-series wagons fitted with the M-Sport package.• The wagon’s naturally aspirated 3.0-liter straight-six makes less power than BMW’s turbocharged engines, but it is less complex and thus more reliable.• The result is a car that’s quick, practical, and fun to drive, and the icing on the cake here can be found between the seats: a six-speed manual transmission.”They don’t make them like that anymore” is both a cliché and a double-edged sword. Hyundai, for instance, would be positively eager to point out that its factories don’t make ’em like the old Sonata or Excel any more, and good thing too. In the case of BMW, however, power and sheer speed have increased, but the 3-series is now styled like a visual head butt. Here, on the other hand, is the kind of enthusiast secret handshake that BMW used to be so good at.Up for auction at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos), this 2011 BMW 328i wagon checks all the possible boxes. First of all, this North America–spec wagon is one of only a few equipped with the desirable M-Sport package. Along with 18-inch wheels and some more aggressive bodywork, the M-Sport also got sportier seats and a lovely leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel.Bring a TrailerEven better, and rarer, it’s a manual. The bulk of 3-series sold in 2011 were, of course, equipped with automatic transmissions. Today, it’s rare to see even an M-car with a stick shift. In this case, the six-speed manual and three-pedal setup unlocks quite a bit more fun when seated behind the wheel.From the C/D ArchiveSpec-wise, the engine seems unremarkable, but it’s a trick. Peak power from the naturally aspirated straight-six is 230 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. Even with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive sapping some power through parasitic losses, it’s still plenty. It’s a BMW straight-six, after all: an inherently perfectly balanced engine built by a German company whose middle initial is literally “Motoren.”Bring a TrailerIn an M4, stomp the throttle and go directly to jail, do not collect $200. But in this wagon, you could wind it out on your favorite back road, taking that straight-six to redline again and again. You paid for the whole tachometer, so why not use it? Then, back to work on the Monday rat race, it’s a competent cruiser with gutsy torque. Plus, there’s enough cargo room to haul groceries or the dog or your road bike. Throw in all-wheel drive for four-season drivability, and you’ve got a Munich-built Swiss Army knife of a car.Bring a TrailerAs far as the rest of the crossover-driving masses around you know, it’s just another car on the road. But show up at your local Cars and Coffee event in this wagon, and those gathered there will know. Nods of approval. Knowing smiles. Oh, is that a manual? Sweet. Too bad we don’t get the wagon over here. Yeah, they just don’t make ’em like that anymore. With six days to go on the auction—which ends on Thursday, September 29–early bidding stands at $13,400. Whoever wins the auction will be getting a very special machine.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition debuts as the most hardcore version of the mid-size pickup truck.It boasts exclusive 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires with beadlock-capable Salta wheels, tougher skid plates, and AEV steel bumpers.With a 4.5-inch factory lift and optional Multimatic hydraulic bump stops, the Canyon AEV is taller and built to handle more abuse than the regular AT4X.Just when some people thought the GMC Canyon AT4X couldn’t get any more extreme, here comes the new-for-2024 AEV Edition. With other off-road-oriented mid-size pickup trucks, such as the recently introduced Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, rolling on 33-inch-tall tires, GMC slaps a set of 35-inch tires on the Canyon. That combined with other exclusive hardware make the AEV Edition the most hardcore Canyon.AEV Takes AT4X to Another LevelMuch like how the Bison version of the 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 takes that truck to another level of off-road capability, the AEV Edition does the same for the Canyon AT4X. For those who don’t already know, the regular AT4X boasts 33-inch mud-terrain tires, aluminum skid plates, electronic locking front and rear differentials, Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers, wider front and rear tracks, and a 3.0-inch inch lift that helps provide 10.7 inches of ground clearance.GMCEnter the AEV Edition. With taller Goodyear Wrangler Territory Mud-Terrain tires—GMC rounds those LT315/70R17 up to 35 inches—and a 4.5-inch lift, it stands 1.5 inches higher than the regular AT4X. That translates to 12.2 inches of ground clearance, and the truck’s AEV-specific front and rear steel bumpers help enable a 38.2-degree approach angle and a 26.0-degree departure angle; its breakover angle is 26.9 degrees. For comparison, the regular AT4X’s approach, breakover, and departure angles measure 36.9, 24.5, and 25 degrees, respectively.One big difference between the Colorado ZR2 Bison and the Canyon AT4X AEV is that the Chevy comes standard with Mutlimatic front and rear hydraulic bumps stops that are designed to withstand the harsh impacts of high-speed off-roading or soften the landing after getting airborne. While these “Jounce Control Dampers” are available on the GMC truck, they cost extra, and the company hasn’t yet revealed how much. GMCAlong with improved clearances and easily accessible recovery points, the front bumper has a slot to accommodate a winch and the rear bumper has a cap on each corner that can be removed to reveal steel plates for sliding over rocks and other hard obstacles. To better protect vital components underneath the Canyon, the AEV Edition comes with additional skid plates, all of which are tougher than the aluminum ones on the regular AT4X. Made of hot-stamped boron steel, the five pieces of armor protect the AEV’s radiator, steering gear, transmission and transfer case, fuel tank, and rear differential.The Canyon AT4X AEV Edition also comes with exclusive 17-inch Salta wheels that are beadlock-capable, rock rails to protect the rocker panels, and a full-size spare tire mounted in the cargo bed. The truck’s front fender openings have also been enlarged to prevent the larger tires from rubbing, and the fender flares are also wider because the AEV version has front and rear tracks that are expected to be almost an inch wider than the regular AT4X. AT4X AEV Arrival and Price Under the hood, the AEV Edition has the same engine as every AT4X. The turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are also standard. Both Canyon models have an exclusive Baja drive mode, but now it includes launch control. Just like on the 2024 Colorado ZR2, it’s accessed using the rotary knob on the center console. Once activated, press the brake pedal, pin the throttle, and release the brake for take off. GMC says the launch mode also automatically adjusts to different surface conditions, so the system will detect if the truck is on dirt, gravel, or sand.GMCInside, the top-spec Canyon looks similar to its AT4X counterpart, except it has AEV-branded floor mats and embroidered headrests. Every model also has a digital gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The latter includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as the new Ultifi software that allows over-the-air updates.GMC says the 2024 Canyon AT4X AEV Edition will be available to order sometime later this year. There’s also no word on pricing, but we expect the most extreme off-road model to start around $70,000.Other AEV GMC TrucksThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

A 2003 Toyota Tacoma that’s been restored and modified is up for auction on Bring a Trailer until Friday, April 7.Along with a repainted body and replaced frame, this fresh first-generation Tacoma features genuine bronze TRD wheels. Its other tasteful mods include an upgraded front suspension, a grille guard and rock rails, and a steel rear bumper with a swing-away tire carrier.Car and DriverDuring its nearly 30-year history, the Toyota Tacoma has become synonymous with off-roading. Its status in those circles has steadily grown since the first generation debuted for the 1995 model year, and the 2003 Tacoma SR5 double cab that’s being auctioned off on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a tastefully modified example that epitomizes the Taco’s ethos.Fresh TacoThe ’03 Tacoma listed on BaT looks as minty as it does due to a fresh coat of paint, which was known as Impulse Red from the factory. It has a color-matched bed cap with a roof basket on top that’s fitted with perimeter LED lights. The truck also has a replaced frame that’s said to be sourced from a 2004 model and then coated in POR-15 to help protect from rust.Bring a TrailerContributing to this Tacoma’s freshness is an updated suspension. Not only does it feature upgraded front upper control arms, but they mate with a new set of Fox 2.0 coil-overs. The truck’s solid rear axle is also buoyed by enhanced shock absorbers and a leaf-spring kit that raises the ride height.There aren’t any explicit changes to the Taco’s drivetrain or powertrain. With around 89,000 miles on the clock, it features a four-wheel-drive system paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 3.4-liter V-6 that was rated at 190 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque when new.Taco DressingsWhat makes this Taco truly tasty is its myriad modifications. The bronze-painted 17-inch TRD wheels with simulated beadlock rings perfectly complement its red paint. They’re mounted on a set of BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02s, sized 265/75R-17. There’s also a spare mounted on the rear tire-carrier that shares space with a hi-lift jack and extra fuel tanks. Bring a TrailerThe rear assembly swings open for easy access to the covered cargo bed. Below it is a steel bumper with red tow hooks. Further body protection is provided by third-party rock rails and a full-length front grille guard with an integrated light bar. The prominent front skid plate is just one of several underbody pieces designed to take abuse from rocks and such.Inside, the Taco’s throwback design reminds everyone this truck is from the 2000s, but the charcoal upholstery looks clean and the dashboard is said to have been refinished to fix previous sun damage. For folks who don’t want to deal with cassette tapes or CDs, this 2003 example features a Pioneer stereo system with SiriusXM satellite radio and access to Spotify music. The unit also acts as the display for the backup camera.Bring a TrailerAs of this writing, the 2003 Toyota Tacoma SR5 double cab on Bring a Trailer currently has a bid of $17,000. The auction is set to end on Friday, April 7.Taco News You Can UseThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More