Aurelia Butler

Automotive designer Sasha Selipanov, known for his work on the Bugatti Chiron, the Koenigsegg CC850, and the Lamborghini Huracán, has designed his own hypercar, the V-12 Nilu. The Nilu’s 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, manual transmission, and few screens reflect the kind of simplified driving experience currently trending among high-end collectors. The Nilu will have a public debut on August 15, during Monterey Car Week 2024.As forced-induction and hybrid horsepower numbers rocket upward at a speed matched only by the complexity of traction-control program modes, and square inches of interior surface covered by touchscreens, the new standout in high-end performance and luxury seems to be manual transmissions and free-breathing, naturally aspirated powerplants. Such is the case with Nilu27’s self-named hypercar, the Nilu. The wide-mouthed two-seater with its NACA ducts, exposed V-12 engine, and seven-speed manual transmission combines classic supercar styling and driving elements with lightweight tube subframes and a composite monocoque. NiluNilu27 is the creation of Sasha and Inna Selipanov. The name is a combination of the Selipanov children’s names, Nica and Lucia, with the racing number of Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve, a photo of whom inspired Sasha as a child to pursue automotive design. His most well-known work in the automotive industry has been with Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, and Bugatti, where he worked on the Gemera, CC850, Huracán, and Chiron, to name just a few of his greatest hits. For the Nilu, he left the security of an established brand to create his own vision of the perfect hypercar. NiluWild LooksThe Nilu sits low to the ground with a wide twin-scoop mouth that looks a bit like Jeremy Clarkson driving the BAC Mono on Top Gear (Season 20, Episode 2). The bodywork rises steeply over 20-inch five-spoke wheels and then drops like a ski jump into a wide rear scoop over a NACA duct before smoothing out over the 21-inch rear wheels and tucking around the exposed engine with its GT40-like “snake pit” of center-mounted exhaust pipes. Beneath the active curves of the exterior is a carbon-fiber monocoque attached to aluminum tubular subframes supporting a forged double-wishbone pushrod suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires (265/35R-20 front and 325/30R-21 rear) on wide Nilu27-designed, AppTech-produced center-lock wheels. Stopping is handled by carbon-ceramic Brembo discs and new-sneaker-white brake calipers, which should have no issue bringing the proposed 2600-pound (dry weight) car to a stop. NiluInside gullwing doors, the Nilu seats two in a fixed side-by-side position. Following a burgeoning trend among supercar startups, you’ll see no big screens or button-bedazzled steering wheel in the Nilu cockpit. Instead the focus is on the open, gated seven-speed manual shifter, billet-machined switches, and a floating bridgework gauge cluster. Free Air V-12There are no electric motor assists, turbochargers, or superchargers involved in the 6.5-liter V-12’s 1070 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque. Nilu27 worked with Hartley Engines in New Zealand to develop a big 80-degree hot-V mill with 12 throttle bodies, a redline above 10,000 rpm, and an eye-catching and thunderous 12-into-1 3-D-printed Inconel exhaust system that is the centerpiece of the car’s open rear view. Nilu27 says the car should have a top speed of nearly 250 mph and a time to 60 mph that will be well under three seconds.Planned ProductionNilu27 plans the public debut of the Nilu hypercar for August 15 at Pebble Beach during Car Week. The initial run of production will be limited to 15 cars to be assembled by Aria Group in Irvine, California. Future plans include a 54-car run of street-homologated variants. Pricing and delivery have not been announced, but impatient buyers can look for the Nilu in the CSR Racing 2 mobile simulator app in November. More to ReadLike a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story “A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2.”  In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story More

Dodge has announced pricing for the electric Charger Daytona, which arrives for 2024 in two-door form.The Charger Daytona R/T will start at $61,590, almost $14,000 more than the 2023 gas-powered R/T.The Charger Daytona Scat Pack will carry a $75,185 price, over $20,000 higher than a 2023 Scat Pack with a V-8 engine.Just two days after Dodge showed off the new simulated “exhaust” note on the upcoming 2024 Charger Daytona EV, the American automaker has announced official pricing for the two-door electric sports car. The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T will start at $61,590, which is nearly $14K more than the previous-generation gas-powered 2023 Charger R/T.The electric R/T, however, gains a whole lot more performance. Dodge says the 2024 Charger Daytona R/T will come standard with the Direct Connection Stage 1 Upgrade, which boosts the maximum output to 496 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. The old Charger R/T’s V-8 engine produced 370 horsepower. Dodge also specified that the R/T will ride on 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 245/55R18 all-season tires and attached to a sport suspension.DodgeUpgrading to the 2024 Charger Daytona Scat Pack sees the price rise to $75,185, a more than $20 grand hike versus an internal-combustion 2023 Charger Scat Pack. Yet again, the electric Scat Pack boasts a high output, coming standard with the Direct Connection Stage 2 Upgrade, putting output at 670 ponies and 627 pound-feet of torque. The gas-powered Scat Pack’s V-8 cranked out 485 hp. The 2024 Charger Daytona Scat Pack will also arrive standard with the Track package, which adds red Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes, a gloss black rear spoiler, and a dual-valve adaptive dampers. The Scat Pack upgrades to 20-inch aluminum wheels wearing beefy 325/35R-20 all-season tires. Dodge says this specification will get the car to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and let it zip through the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. Inside, the package brings leather and suede 12-way power-adjustable performance seats with four-way lumbar, heated rear seats, and a data and video recording system.Package DealsDodge will offer the Charger Daytona with an array of packages. The $4995 Plus Group adds goodies including a 16-inch digital gauge cluster, powered rear hatch, a wireless charging pad, and LED headlights. For $1095, the R/T model can gain a Blacktop package, which darkens the wheels and exterior badging. A Sun & Sound add-on equips the car with a full glass roof and an 18-speaker Alpine sound system, while the Scat Pack can be had with a Carbon & Suede package that dispenses those materials throughout the cabin.DodgeThe Scat Pack can also be fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 summer tires, measuring 305/35ZR-20XL up front and 325/35ZR-20 at the rear, for a $695 fee. All 2024 Charger Daytonas will be offered with either an at-home Level 2 charger or a $600 credit through Free2move Charge, a charging network app launched by Stellantis. Production of the two-door 2024 Charger Daytonas will kick off this summer, and the new models should reach dealerships by the fourth quarter. Dodge also notes that both the R/T and Scat Pack will qualify for the full $7500 tax credit when leased.Four-door Charger Daytonas will start rolling off the line in the first half of next year. The gas-powered Charger Sixpack models will begin production in the second half of 2025, with pricing for the six-cylinder Charger not likely to arrive until next year. More on the Charger DaytonaCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV gets a new Edition Two as a successor to last year’s Edition One. The Edition Two includes four unique themes that pair paint colors with specific interior trims.Each theme uses a considerable amount of carbon fiber, including the hood and wheels made from the material. Last May, Land Rover debuted the successor to the almighty SVR in the form of the Range Rover Sport SV Edition One. Now, the marque has announced the SV Edition Two, which expands customizability of the mid-size performance SUV—though only just. Land RoverThe Edition Two arrives with four hand-picked themes that determine the paint color and interior trim selections of each car. Last year’s version came with three. You can now choose from Blue Nebula Matte, Ligurian Black Gloss, Marl Grey Gloss, or Sunrise Copper Satin.According to Land Rover, the matte blue is inspired by the North Atlantic coast and contains a color-shifting effect with a hint of green. It’s paired with a painted carbon-fiber hood and 23-inch forged wheels. Inside, you get SV Performance seats in Light Cloud and Ebony Windsor leather. The Marl Grey and Ligurian Black options ditch the paint on the carbon hood and swap the alloy wheels for a set of 23-inch glossy carbon wheels. The grey spec mixes Rosewood and Ebony Windsor leather inside, while the black spec brings Cinder and Ebony and employs knitted fabrics. Land RoverThe final option is finished in Sunrise Copper Satin. Just like the blue spec, it’s got a painted hood and alloy wheels. The interior features Ebony Windsor leather. Just like with the Editon One, the Two dons special identifiers on the front splitter, center console, tread plates, and puddle lamps. Mechanically, the Edition Two matches the Edition One with a monstrous 626-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine pushing 553 pound-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. We haven’t had the chance to strap our testing instruments to one, but according to Land Rover, it can launch to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. We bet they’re correct. Land RoverLand Rover hasn’t revealed pricing for the Sport SV Edition Two yet, but we expect it to be close to last year’s $180,000 starting figure. If the curated designs don’t perfectly match your taste, Land Rover lets you opt for alternative wheels or brake caliper covers. You can also select a body-colored roof, Satin Forged carbon-fiber pack, or Twill carbon-fiber pack to match interior and exterior carbon pieces. More on the Range Rover SportJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Rolls-Royce’s latest one-off commission is the Spectre Semaphore, which will have its in-person debut at The Quail next week.The Spectre is painted Semaphore Yellow, echoed by yellow upholstery throughout the cabin.The hood gets a unique treatment with a flowing silver lacquer that makes it look like liquid chrome seeping from the grille.Monterey Car Week is nearly here. Over several days of festivities, the world’s most exclusive car companies will gather on the Californian coast to mingle with their ultra-wealthy clientele and reveal their latest luxury and performance machines. Rolls-Royce has jumped the gun, unveiling its latest one-off creation a week ahead its in-person debut at The Quail on August 16. The Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore is a one-off take on the brand’s first electric vehicle with a vibrant yellow paint job and unique artwork adorning the hood.Rolls-RoyceThe bespoke Spectre derives its name from the Semaphore Yellow paint which coats its large-and-in-charge bodywork. But the real attraction is on the hood, where Rolls-Royce placed a “Marbled Paint Spill” graphic that the company describes as “an abstract tribute to the Golden State and its diverse environment.” The visual features a silver lacquer under multiple layers of clearcoat, making it appear as if the chrome from the domineering Pantheon grille is oozing and flowing up the hood in liquid form. Rolls-Royce says the artwork took over 160 hours to create. Rolls-RoyceThe cabin matches the vivid exterior with a combination of Lemon Yellow and Citrine Yellow splashed across the seats, doors panels, and dashboard. The remaining surfaces are finished in Grace White and Slate Grey, accented by Lemon Yellow stitching, and even the digital dials on the gauge cluster have been colored to match the exterior. The cabin also features wood trim painted in Cashmere Grey and infused with silver mica flakes to create a sparkling effect. The Spectre’s dual-motor electric powertrain has been untouched for this one-off creation, still producing a healthy 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. While Rolls-Royce hasn’t divulged the price of the Spectre Semaphore, the bespoke nature of this commission means it likely required a hefty sum of money. The electric Spectre coupe starts at $422,750.More Ornate Rolls-RoycesCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

The 2025 Acura RDX’s facelift includes a different grille design, fresh paint options, and new wheel choices. Inside, the center console gets a redesign and the infotainment screen adds a new widescreen mode for phone mirroring. The updated RDX will arrive at Acura dealerships later this month, with pricing expected to be released around that time. Last year, Acura made all-wheel drive standard across the RDX lineup. This year, changes to the compact luxury SUV are more focused on visuals and rounding out the RDX package with updated technology and minor cabin revisions. The most obvious visual change involves the RDX’s front end. The grille takes on a new “frameless” look and adopts a more distinctive mesh pattern. The lineup receives new wheel designs too, with a newly standard set of 19-inchers painted Berlina Black. The lower body trim on the Advance trim level is now color-matched to the rest of the body to help distinguish its spot at the top of the lineup. There are also three new paint options: Solar Silver Metallic, Canyon River Blue Metallic, and Urban Gray Pearl.Inside, changes are equally minimal. The redesigned center console has larger cupholders and improved access to the wireless charging pad. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen has been updated to include a new widescreen mode for the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s nothing new under the RDX’s hood for 2025. Every model is still powered by a 272-hp 2.0-liter turbo four paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The last model we tested rode on a set of 20-inch wheels and hit 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. We’re still waiting for Acura to release a full pricing breakdown before ’25 RDX models start arriving at dealerships later this month. More on AcuraJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More