Motor News

This content is imported from youTube. 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.When it comes to cars, the only thing stranger than French exterior design is French intake runners. That’s what the crew found out this week with a challenge to find something from the land of brie for la somme généreuse of $50,000. They went everywhere but France to do it.Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman headed to Belgium for a chunk of French history: a Panhard Dyna Z rarer than a truffle and no more pleasant to look at. Panhard was an innovator, creating some of the earliest clutch pedals and steering wheels, building the first series production car, and inventing us the Panhard Rod. This Dyna Z was avant garde all over until it opened its hood. Then it was a Hungry Hungry Hippo, a look that has no French translation. Senior editor Joey Capparella, who used this show to reveal he has a degree in French, opted for beauty and another hemisphere over innovation. His Peugeot 406 Coupé located in Argentina could be considered the least French car of the lot, designed as it was by Pininfarina without a weird line on it. It could also be considered the most French car of the lot in that it’s gorgeous, comfortable, and underpowered. Contributor Jonathon Ramsey alighted on a Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan pulled out of a barn in Vermont. The 505 was the standard bearer of Peugeot’s misadventure in North America, but panelists were more interested in peculiarities like the hub bolt pattern, the umbrella in the back seat, and the startling fact that Pug set up assembly operations in 14 countries.Executive editor K.C. Colwell went to that most French of American cities, Phoenix, Arizona, to cruise the boulevards in a Paris icon, the Citroen XM Berline. A set of anonymous 1990 aftermarket wheels couldn’t hide the ultimate Frenchness of Syd Mead sci-fi lines, a pneumatic suspension, and an ashtray half as large as the radio. The manual transmission might make it tough to enjoy a café au lait on the morning commute through Scottsdale, though.Editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga swung by Portugal for a French legend, the Peugeot 205. The rally maestro was almost everything you’d want from a hot hatch named “GTI,” including a (more) reasonable price. Shame about the ride quality, but Quiroga set a new benchmark for accessory shopping to allay that. Cue up the latest weekly episode for diversions into Michelin, European versus U.S. headlights, Capparella’s French translations, and how long it takes air in a 205 engine to travel from the intake to the manifold. No Le Cars were hurt in the making of this video. Although they were insulted.More Window ShoppingThis 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

Mercedes has created a special one-off AMG GT 4-Door to honor tennis player Roger Federer’s retirement.The special model is a GT63 S E-Performance hybrid that’s painted in tennis-ball yellow.Federer will play his last match today at the Laver Cup, a team competition held in London.Mercedes offers a wide range of colors as part of its Designo customization program, but this particular shade of tennis-ball yellow is not one of them. That’s because this special one-off version of the AMG GT 4-Door was created specially to honor tennis great Roger Federer’s retirement, which he recently announced on social media. Federer is scheduled to play his last match today at the Laver Cup, a team competition held in London of which Mercedes-Benz is a sponsor.Aside from the color, the AMG GT will also feature Federer’s “RF” logo. Naturally, it’s the top version of this AMG model, the new GT63 S E-Performance hybrid that pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with an electric motor on the rear axle for staggering output figures. It produces a total of 831 horsepower and 1082 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in-hybrid model isn’t on sale in the U.S. yet but is slated to arrive here sometime next year.More on AMG HybridsFederer is a 20-time Grand Slam champion and will play alongside longtime rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup later today. His retirement announcement follows that of fellow tennis legend Serena Williams, who announced last month that she is “evolving” away from tennis. A 23-time Grand Slam champion herself, Williams played her last match at the U.S. Open just a few weeks ago. She is a spokesperson for Lincoln and has been seen in ads for the Navigator SUV, but we haven’t seen a special version of that vehicle in her honor—yet.This 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.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

• 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

BMW has taken the wraps off its M Hybrid V8 prototype race car, which will make its racing debut in the IMSA GTP Class at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2024, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including a return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 25-year absence. The BMW M Hybrid V8’s body rides atop a chassis from Italian race-car supplier Dallara. As the model name suggests, it’s powered by a 4.0-liter V-8 producing up to 640 horsepower and is mated to an IMSA-spec electric motor for a hybrid setup.Hot on the heels of Acura’s ARX-06 recent debut, BMW is the latest manufacturer to showcase the official livery of its LMDh prototype. Festooned with more BMW design cues than a knockoff track suit, the colorful BMW M Hybrid V8 is set to enter the inaugural IMSA GTP class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where Acura has long reigned supreme.With the GTP class, IMSA is encouraging manufacturers to incorporate styling cues from its roadgoing cars, and BMW heeded that call (and then some) with the design of the M Hybrid V8. Up front, the M logo cascades into an angled concave channel that slopes down from the prow. Twin gaping snouts are laser-lit and rake backward at the outer edges, evoking a hint of a snarl when viewed at an angle. The windshield wraps around into the side windows, terminating in a Hofmeister kink. Out back, the massive diffuser sweeps up into the taillights, which resemble a set of interlocked hockey sticks. The intriguingly asymmetrical livery takes the BMW-ness to the next level. On the right side, the M colors flit about the bodywork like a flock of butterflies. When viewed straight on, the fractal shades accentuate the angular lines of the bodywork. It’s only when you take a few steps to either axle that you notice the “M” flowing along the rear of the cockpit. The left side is far less subtle, with the impossible-to-miss M stretching across the entire rear quarter and atop the edge of the rear wing.Blessed with an array of race-ready powerplants, BMW engineers opted to develop an existing engine to meet LMDh specs rather than build one from scratch. After evaluating the P48 four-cylinder from the 2020 M4 DTM (too small) and the P63 turbo V-8 from the M8 GTE (too big), they found the naturally aspirated P66 V-8 from the 2018 M4 DTM to be just right. Now featuring twin turbos, this 4.0-liter V-8 features a redline of 8200 rpm and delivers up to 640 horsepower. It’s mated to an IMSA-specified hybrid system, while a separator clutch between the two engines allows for electric-only driving at pit speeds.BMWBMWThe BMW M Hybrid V8 will see a lot of pit time starting in 2023, making its competitive debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona. With returning stalwarts Acura and Cadillac being joined by entries from Ferrari and Porsche, it’s bound to be a hotly contested race. In 2024, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will enter the Hypercar category of the FIA World Endurance Championship. For the first time since 1999, BMW will field a top-class entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.This 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.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 Renault R5 Turbo 3E uses the body of the iconic Renault 5 Turbo from the 1970s and mates it with an electric powertrain.The 42.0-kWh battery powers two electric motors, with a total output of 375 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.The body work is wildly exaggerated with a towering rear wing and a snazzy yellow and purple livery.Renault is poised to revive the 5 nameplate—which adorned the automaker’s bestseller in the 1970s and early 1980s—on a new electric hatchback due in 2024 and previewed by a concept shown in 2021. This year also marks five decades since the Renault 5’s introduction, and the French brand celebrated earlier this year with the quirky but stylish 5 Diamant concept. Now Renault gone even wilder with the R5 Turbo 3E, an electric drift car that reimagines the iconic Renault 5 Turbo rally legend and takes inspiration from retro video games.The body shape of the Turbo 3E remains loyal to the original 5 Turbo, but the details have been entirely revised. The mesh side air intakes are replaced by a pair of NACA ducts that pop in a lurid shade of yellow, while a gigantic rear wing sprouts from the hatch and a cavernous diffuser replaces the rear bumper. The headlights and taillights are swapped out for thin LED strips, and four square pixel fog lights are mounted on the front bumper. The front end also includes three rectangular yellow vents and purple tow hooks mounted above a protruding front splitter.Despite the classic squared-off bodywork, the Turbo 3E is all-electric underneath, with a 42-kWh lithium-ion battery feeding two electric motors, each powering one rear wheel. Total output is 375 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, allowing the psychedelic restomod to hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds en route to a 124 mph top speed according to Renault.Based around a tubular chassis with an FIA-approved roll cage and fashioned from carbon fiber, the R5 Turbo 3E weighs in at 2161 pounds, with 1146 pounds of that coming from the battery. Renault claims that the battery can provide enough juice for “several laps,” but fails to specify whether those are laps around NASCAR’s half-mile Martinsville Speedway or the nearly 13-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife. Along with track driving, Renault envisions the Turbo 3E partaking in gymkhana, a time trial competition involving drifting, jumping, and other rally-style maneuvers. The 3E comes with a drift mode, with the 62-mph sprint lasting 3.9 seconds in that setting. The Turbo 3E’s trippy purple and highlighter yellow livery also seems clearly inspired by the drift machines that Ken Block used to make gymkhana popular on YouTube. Renault certainly had internet virality in mind when designing the Turbo 3E, fitting it with 10 mounting points for cameras on the interior and exterior, and the LED lights flash while the car is drifting. The interior is dotted with more yellow and purple accents, and Renault worked with Sabelt on the carbon fiber bucket seats, safety harnesses, and steering wheel. The handbrake lever stands tall, urging the driver to induce a smokey drift, and the gauge cluster consists of 10 digital screens with video-game-inspired graphics. The floor is fashioned from black cork while the dashboard and door panels are draped in Alcantara. Renault also bizarrely includes a teddy bear named “Drifty” in the cabin, ostensibly to “relax and comfort passengers overwhelmed by the show car’s muscle.”More Stylish RenaultsThe R5 Turbo 3E will make its debut at the 2022 Chantilly Arts & Elegance competition on September 25. In typical 2022 fashion, Renault will also issue a collection of NFTs based on the vehicle, but we’re more interested in hopefully seeing the R5 Turbo 3E burn large quantities of rubber in the near future.This 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.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 Porsche Vision Gran Turismo Spyder concept car is the brand’s second vehicle in the video-game-related Vision Gran Turismo program, which launched in 2013 for Gran Turismo 6.The Porsche Vision Gran Turismo, which this new Spyder replicates, was Porsche’s first foray into the Vision Gran Turismo program and debuted with the new Gran Turismo 7 video game in March. The newest Porsche concept will be available to drive exclusively within Gran Turismo 7 starting on September 29.Say what you will about the metaverse, it has cool cars. However, one drawback is that you can’t drive the new Porsche Vision Gran Turismo Spyder on public roads. The newest concept car from Porsche is part of a program launched in 2013 between the game developer Polyphony Digital and automakers. The program works with companies including Porsche that design their ideal version of grand touring cars and allows fans to experience them through the video-game world of Gran Turismo. This content is imported from twitter. 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.Porsche’s newest addition to the Vision GT world is an open-top version of its concept that launched with Gran Turismo 7 in March. Like the supercar concept it is based on, the Vision GT Spyder wraps velvety body panels over a long—low slung frame. It shares the same rectangular headlights, which, Porsche explained, reference the Taycan. In addition to the Porsche branding on the rear bumper, the Spyder now incorporates the company name in large font extending the length of the car. Porsche did not give out any details on the Vision GT Spyder, but the GT concept it is based on is an all-wheel-drive electric supercar with the performance numbers to back it up. Getting to 62 miles per hour takes 2.1 seconds. Doubling that speed requires an additional 3.1 seconds. Max power figures are listed as 1100 horsepower, or up to 1274 with overboost and launch control. The coupe is able to reach a top speed of 217 mph. The Spyder will join the coupe version of the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo concept in the game starting on September 29. Both Porsches, along with creations already in the game from the likes of Mercedes, Lamborghini, and Mazda, will be drivable in the Gran Turismo 7 universe.This 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.Other Gran Turismo CarsThis 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

This content is imported from youTube. 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.There’s a reason Utah’s Moab is a mecca for off-roading enthusiasts. Its challenging trails, decades-long heritage, and legendary scenery make it one of the most entertaining places to take a truck. Though the “Hell’s Revenge” trail is known as one of the more hardcore areas of Moab, this Cayenne doesn’t have much trouble making it through, and it’s a joy to watch. Peppering You with DetailsHarrison Schoen on YouTube decided it would be a good idea to conquer Moab using this totally stock 2008 Porsche Cayenne S. The only mod on the car is a set of 20-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch General Tires ATX all-terrains. Other than that, it’s totally stock, right down to the bumpers and suspension. The Cayenne makes quick work of the trail, even managing to climb up “Hell’s Gate,” an especially famous and challenging section, without much trouble. It gets dinged up a bit, but that’s expected out on trails like these. Even without any mods, the Cayenne is an impressive rig. It packs a center-locking differential, low-range gearing, height-adjustable air-suspension, and in the case of this Cayenne S, a torquey V-8. Combine those things with the grippy all-terrains, and you have one seriously capable Porsche. 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 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is the latest “Last Call” special edition, using the widebody Hellcat Redeye as its foundation.The Black Ghost gains an extra 10 horsepower for a grand total of 807 hp and is painted Pitch Black with a gator-skin vinyl roof pattern.This look mirrors that of the original Black Ghost, a 1970 Challenger R/T that gained a mythical aura in the Detroit street racing scene. Only 300 2023 models will be built.Dodge is nearly finished unveiling its Last Call special edition Challengers and Chargers, with the latest, the 2023 Challenger Black Ghost, representing the sixth out of seven sendoff variants for the V-8–powered muscle cars. The Black Ghost is based on the widebody SRT Hellcat Redeye model, but it boosts the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8’s output by 10 ponies to a total of 807 horsepower.DodgeThe Black Ghost name comes from a 1970 Challenger R/T SE that prowled the streets of Detroit five decades ago. Owned by a man named Godfrey Qualls, who was a Detroit motorcycle police officer at the time, the black ’70 Challenger earned legendary status for showing up to stoplight drag races on Woodward Avenue and other local strips, winning, and then disappearing into the night like a 426 Hemi–powered apparition. The original Black Ghost was inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2020 after Qualls’s son, Gregory, helped return it to road-worthy status when his father bestowed the car upon him before his death in 2015. The car is still owned by the Qualls family.DodgeFor the 2023 homage, Dodge will paint 300 Challenger Hellcat Redeyes in Pitch Black with a black faux-gator-skin roof vinyl that mimics the look of the original. The Black Ghost edition also features a chrome “Dodge” front badge, a white stripe on the rear fender, and chrome script “Challenger” badges on the grille, front fender, and rear spoiler. The Black Ghost rides on 20-inch Satin Carbon wheels, and stopping power comes via black six-piston Brembo brakes.More Dodge “Last Call” EditionsThe interior is also black, with seats and doors wrapped in Alcantara and Laguna leather and a red SRT logo adorning the Alcantara steering wheel. The instrument panel receives a special Black Ghost badge that includes the iconic Dodge Fratzog logo and a gator-scale pattern, as well as carbon-fiber bezels. Orders open this fall, and you can expect the Black Ghost to cost significantly more than the standard $87,340 Challenger Hellcat Redeye.This 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.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