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    2023 Lamborghini Urus Performante Is Molto Caldo! 10 Details Revealed

    The 2023 Lamborghini Urus Performante has been revealed as a lighter and racier version of the regular Urus.Along with revised styling, the Performante gains 16 horses (657 total), loses a claimed 104 pounds, and rides on steel springs versus air springs.The $264,671 Urus Performante also has a Rally drive mode, a rear-biased center diff, and super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are optional.As if the Lamborghini Urus wasn’t already a super ute, the newly revealed 2023 Urus Performante aims to take its street cred up another notch or two. Now, before anyone gets overexcited about its adopting the Aventador’s V-12 or the Huracán’s V-10, pump the brakes. The new Performante variant isn’t a radical transformation, but rather an enhanced version of an already incredible machine, as we learned firsthand during a prototype drive. With that said, let’s take a peek at the parts that separate the ultra Urus from the regular one.

    Let Me See Your Grille

    Lamborghini

    Okay, so there’s still no mistaking the new Performante for anything other than a Lamborghini Urus. However, it has a restyled mug that remains dedicated to ingesting as much atmosphere as possible. Just look at how much surface area is occupied by its air intakes. It looks like a monster’s mouth. Lamborghini says the new bumper design provides increased engine cooling, and there’s now an air curtain that directs airflow over the front wheels. The hood has also been redesigned, not only to look cooler with deeper cut lines but also to be more aerodynamic and lighter. The latter comes from its new carbon-fiber construction. Updated Booty

    Lamborghini

    The aero improvements don’t stop at the cowl, either, as the Performante has a specially designed rear spoiler that Lamborghini claims increases downforce by 38 percent. Its rear bumper and diffuser are made of carbon fiber, too, and they surround a set of standard titanium exhaust tips. The front and rear exterior revisions make it almost 1 inch longer than the regular Urus. Horsepower Bump

    Lamborghini

    The Performante uses the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 as the regular Urus. While both versions produce the same 627 pound-feet of torque, the racier model has an extra 16 horsepower, giving it 657 ponies versus 641. That power continues to run to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Lamborghini claims the Performante is quicker from zero to 62 mph than the regular Urus, beating it by 0.3 second. Plus, its zero-to-124-mph time is said to be 1.3 ticks quicker, taking 11.5 seconds.Enter Rally Mode

    Lamborghini

    The Urus’s eight-speed gearbox has been recalibrated for Performante duty, and the all-wheel-drive system gets a different center differential that sends more torque rearward. Likewise, the drivetrain has a new calibration that works in conjunction with the addition of a Rally drive mode, which we were more than happy to try out during the prototype drive. While we indulged in a lot of power oversteer on a gravel-covered off-road handling course, we have to admit it would be less enticing if it were our own six-figure SUV. Steel Suspenders

    Lamborghini

    When it comes to performance vehicles, the chassis is just as important as the powertrain, if not more so. This is arguably the area where the Performante is most different from the regular Urus, which rides on an air suspension. Thanks to a set of steel springs, the Performante sits 0.8 inch lower, and its dampers have been retuned, too. Its track width also grows by about 0.6 inch, and the standard rear-axle steering is said to intervene quicker and improve turn-in response. We got to experience the Performante’s impressive high-speed performance on a racetrack during the prototype drive, but our impressions of its real-world ride quality were limited.Stickier Shoes

    Lamborghini

    The Urus Performante comes standard with lightweight 22-inch forged wheels; a set of 23-inch rollers are also optional. What’s even more notable is the available set of super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R rubber, which Lamborghini says it helped develop and are the first semi-slick tires Pirelli has designed for an SUV. With the 22s, they measure 285/40 up front and 325/35 in back, with the rears being 10mm wider than on the regular Urus.Weight-Loss Regimen

    Lamborghini

    If we have any gripes about the Urus—and admittedly there are few—it’s that it would benefit from shedding some pounds. After all, how many supercars weigh more than 5000 pounds? We’ll wait. Thankfully, Lamborghini has trimmed some of the fat off the SUV with the Performante treatment. Sure, it’s only claimed to be 104 pounds, but it’s something. The Urus’s diet largely results from its new carbon-fiber hood, steel springs (saving 30 pounds alone), and reduced sound deadening. Inside Job

    Lamborghini

    There’s not a lot that separates the Performante’s interior from what’s inside the lesser version. Along with standard microsuede cabin materials, it introduces a new hexagonal design for the seat stitching. Other unique bits and pieces include color and trim options for places including the doors, headliner, and seatbacks. Of course, Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program allows customers to further personalize their Urus. Some neat options include matte carbon-fiber accents and red door handles. Record Breaker

    Lamborghini

    Before the 2023 Urus Performante was revealed to the world, a camouflaged version was busy breaking the production-SUV record at the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Finishing with a time of 10:32.064, the Lambo was almost 18 seconds quicker than the 2018 Bentley Bentayga that previously held the record with a 10:49.902 score. The record-breaking performance wasn’t during this year’s Pikes Peak event, the feat was verified by the event’s official timekeepers.What’s the Retail on One of Those?

    Lamborghini

    The 2023 Lamborghini Urus Performante is set to go on sale by the end of the year, and it carries a significant starting price of $264,871. That’s almost $35K more than the 2022 Urus, which had a base price of $229,495. Still, the Italian automaker expects the Performante version to account for at least half of all sales. With its impressive improvements, we can see why, and it’s the version we’d want to park in our garage—if we could afford one.
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    Koengisegg CC850 Has Two Standout Features: A Unique Shifter and 1385 HP

    The Koenigsegg CC850 celebrates 20 years since the delivery of the first Koenigsegg, the CC8S, and pays tribute with a faithful modernization of the sleek design.The CC850 features a unique new transmission that can act as both a nine-speed automatic and a gated six-speed manual operated with a real clutch pedal.The twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V-8 can produce 1385 horsepower on E85 ethanol and 1020 pound-feet of torque.Since delivering its first production car in 2002, Koenigsegg has become a leader in combining sleek and stylish hypercar designs with ambitious and ground-breaking engineering triumphs. To honor the twentieth anniversary of its first model, the CC8S, Koenigsegg has created the limited edition CC850, which faithfully modernizes the clean design of the CC8S while introducing a radical new gearbox, the Engage Shift System.

    Koenigsegg

    A twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V-8—likely closely related to the same unit found in the Jesko—powers the CC850 with a whopping 1185 horsepower, which increases to an even more ludicrous 1385 ponies when you fill the tank with E85. Koenigsegg claims a curb weight of 1385 kilograms, or about 3053 pounds, replicating the one-to-one power-to-weight ratio claimed by the 2014 Koenigsegg One:1. The V-8 also churns out 1020 pound-feet of torque, and while the Swedish automaker didn’t reveal performance statistics, the CC850 should be plenty quick.

    Koenigsegg

    The main attraction of the CC850, however, is the new Engage Shift System (ESS), which is based on the Light Speed Transmission (LST) from the Jesko. Like the LST, the ESS is a multi-clutch nine-speed automatic that can fire off ultra-rapid shifts. Unlike the Jesko’s LST, however, the CC850’s ESS is fitted with an old-school clutch pedal next to the brake and a gated shifter, allowing the driver to operate the ESS like a traditional six-speed manual transmission. The manual shifter is not mechanically changing the gears, instead shifting entirely by wire, which also allows the ESS to adjust the gear ratios depending on the driving mode. Koenigsegg says this makes it the first manual that can change its gear ratios, although whether this gearbox can truly be considered a manual is up for debate. Founder von Koenigsegg did confirm to Road & Track that it is possible to stall the car in manual mode if you let off the clutch too quickly.

    Koenigsegg

    Visually, the car adheres closely to the design of its CC8S ancestor. The bodywork is smooth and features similar proportions to the CC8S, and the CC850 even has a similar scoop carved out of the side of the car. The headlights and taillights have been brought up to date with a minimalist LED design, but otherwise the CC850 remains true to its heritage. The same is true inside, which is symmetrical and stays in line with Koenigsegg’s current design language, but the CC850 does get analog gauges instead of a digital instrument cluster. As on all Koenigseggs, the CC850’s hardtop roof is removable and the “synchrohelix” doors rotate out and up.

    Along with marking two decades since Koenigsegg’s first production car, 2022 also saw its founder, Christian von Koenigsegg, turn 50 years old, and as a result only 50 units of the CC850 will be built. The CC850 will likely cost many millions of dollars for the few lucky individuals to get their hands on one.
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    McLaren’s Latest Track Toy Has a 5.2-Liter V-10 and 829 HP

    The McLaren Solus GT is a new limited-edition track car, taking design inspiration from the 2017 Vision GT car created for the Gran Turismo video game series.The centerpiece is a 5.2-liter V-10 developed with help from Judd Power, producing over 829 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and revving to over 10,000 rpm.McLaren predicts a top speed of over 200 mph and a 60 mph sprint time of under 2.5 seconds, and only 25 units will be built.Since 2013, automakers have crafted dramatic, outlandish race cars for the Gran Turismo video game series under the “Vision Gran Turismo” banner. These fantasy vehicles are designed to exist solely in the virtual world, allowing the designers to stretch their imaginations beyond the limitations of budgets and real-world production processes. McLaren’s 2017 entry, the Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo, was one of the most striking concepts, and now McLaren is turning that virtual race car into a reality with the Solus GT, a single-seat, V-10–powered track car.
    The Solus GT’s design remains fairly similar to that of the Vision GT, with windswept bodywork reminiscent of top-flight endurance race cars. Access to the single seat is granted by a theatrical sliding canopy, while the styling is largely dictated by aerodynamics. The Solus is glued to the asphalt thanks to ground-effect tunnels running the length of the car, fed by vents behind the large front splitter and spitting air out the back of the car via a cavernous rear diffuser. A fixed rear wing also helps the Solus stick to the track, while the front suspension and wheels are shrink-wrapped in aerodynamic pods to improve airflow. McLaren says that Solus can produce more than 2,635 pounds of downforce, while the whole car is said to weigh under 2,205 pounds, thanks to a carbon-fibre monocoque and front and rear chassis structures.Power comes from a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10, which will pump out more than 829 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque while revving to over 10,000 rpm. McLaren is aiming for the Solus to reach a top speed over 200 mph and sprint to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. That V-10 motor is unusual for a company that has used some form of twin-turbocharged V-8 in every modern road car its built besides the recently revealed V-6-powered Artura. Development help came from engine specialists Judd Power, which built Formula 1 engines in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The V-10 sucks in air via an intake mounted atop the cockpit, and the chiseled sidepods house large radiators to help keep the 5.2-liter unit cool. McLaren also says that engine’s responsiveness is boosted by the V-10’s individual throttle bodies.
    The beastly engine is paired with a seven-speed sequential gearbox featuring straight-cut gears and multiplate carbon-fiber clutch. The engine is also integrated into the chassis, doing away with the need for extra subframes, reducing weight. The unequal-length control arm suspension features inboard torsion bar dampers, using pushrods up front and pullrods at the back. Anti-roll bars on each axle can be adjusted by the driver, and the Solus rides on 18-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in slick Le Mans–spec tires (a wet-weather compound will also be available). Stopping power comes via six-piston monoblock aluminum calipers and carbon brake discs and pads, with brake bias also tunable by the driver.
    The cockpit is bare-bones, with a yoke-style steering wheel that looks like it came out Lando Norris’s F1 car. Each customer will have a seat fitting just like a professional racing driver, and the pedal box will be adjustable via a remote system operated from the fixed seat. McLaren says there is “halo style” cockpit protection, which is 3D printed from titanium and likely takes inspiration from the “halo” device used by F1 since 2018 to help prevent head injuries.

    Along with a seat fitting, owners with get an FIA-homolgated race suit, helmet, HANS head restraint, and radio-enabled ear inserts, as well as access to a drive-development coaching program. McLaren is planning to host track events for Solus owners, and each car will come with a flight case—including tools, vehicle jacks, radio sets, and more—for owners to attend track days on their own. McLaren claims the Solus will deliver the fastest lap times of any McLaren besides their single-seater race cars. Deliveries will begin in 2023, with the Solus still undergoing track testing. There’s no word on price, but production of the Solus GT will be limited to 25 units, and, of course, they’re all already sold out.
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    2022 Ford Mustang and 2023 Mach-E Get Darker with Nite Pony Package

    The 2022 Ford Mustang and 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E are getting a Nite Pony appearance package.The kit adds dark details such as black badges, exterior trim, and rims, but the Mach-E gets some other unique bits.We don’t know how much Nite Pony Mustangs will cost, but they should become available this fall.For those who want a Mustang with a darker vibe, Ford will soon offer an appearance package to address that. Called the Nite Pony, it’s designed to make the 2022 Mustang pony car and 2023 Mustang Mach-E electric SUV look more sinister. However, we have to admit, the name Nite Pony sounds adorable.

    On June 1, Ford announced a black accent package for the current Mustang’s final model year (the new S650-generation ‘Stang is set to arrive on September 14). At the time, Ford began soliciting submissions for the unnamed package, and it seems that Nite Pony was the winner. What’s interesting, though, is that the automaker on June 22 also filed a trademark for “Mustang Dark Horse” in the U.S. and in other countries, so it remains to be seen if that will come to fruition as well.Since Ford hasn’t yet announced official details about the new Nite Pony editions, we’ll have to wait to find out if the Mustang Dark Horse is the Nite Pony or if it’s something else entirely. Until then, we can only go off of photos posted today on the company’s media site that give us a pretty good idea of what to expect with the Nite Ponies. They have various black or dark badges, exterior trim, and rims. Does the kit include any interior alterations? We can’t say because there were no photos of the cabin.
    What we can say is that the package appears to only be available for the 2022 Mustang coupe, with close-up shots of the V-8 model’s “GT” and “5.0” badges, painted black, of course. We can also see shots of a black “Mustang” logo in the front grille as well as glossy black five-spoke wheels that appear to have a unique design.
    The 2023 Mustang Mach-E will also receive the Nite Pony package, with pictures showing versions of the all-wheel-drive Premium trim and GT Performance. The former is shown in all black, from its paint to its wheels. Unlike on the gas-burning Mustang, the front and rear logos on the Mach-E Premium look white with stripes instead of all black. The front badge on the GT Performance is black with a white outline and features an illuminated silhouette.

    Ford

    Ford

    We don’t know how much the Nite Pony package will cost, however. But the captions for the photos on Ford’s media site indicate that it’ll be available starting this fall.
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    2024 Bugatti Mistral Roadster Has These 5 Cool Design Details

    The 2024 Bugatti Mistral roadster is more than a roofless Chiron, as we learned from Bugatti designer Jascha Straub.Bugatti says the $5 million Mistral will “become the fastest roadster in the world,” and its unique wraparound windshield was designed for that.The Mistral’s other standout details include reworked body lines, distinct lighting elements, and special interior materials.Bugatti has revealed its latest masterpiece, the Mistral roadster, which also serves as the send-off for the French automaker’s famous W-16 engine. As a topless version of the Bugatti Chiron, the Mistral brings a wind-in-the-hair option to the marque’s privileged plutocrats—just in case their Gulfstream G800 Landaulet is in the shop.”Our customers asked for this, something that has been missing in the Chiron line,” said Bugatti designer Jascha Straub, as he walked us around a prototype mockup during an exclusive preview on the grounds of the Bugatti Château last month before the reveal. We also got an up-close look at five cool design elements, which are detailed below. An Expensive Haircut

    Bugatti

    One thing that will not be available is an actual roof. “There will be a foldable soft top of some kind, for emergencies,” Straub said. “We wanted a real roadster. And a real roadster has no top.” Creating the $5 million Mistral roadster was not as simple as targa-ing the Chiron’s roof panel. “That aero wouldn’t work for our top speeds,” Straub said. Such a workaday solution was a no-go aesthetically as well. “It would remove the Bugatti signature line,” he added, referring to the delicate ovoid curve that ensnares the A-pillar, roofline, air intake, and rocker panel. Staying in Character

    Bugatti

    The Chiron’s “signature line” is one of its defining design features, and it echoes the designs penned by the company’s founder, Ettore Bugatti, in interwar masterpieces like the Type 41 and Type 57. To preserve that important body line, the Mistral’s designers created a visor-like, wraparound windshield and integrated a lower, wider, flatter character line, inspired by those seen on the track-only Bolide and the one-off Voiture Noire.A Familiar-ish Face

    Bugatti

    There’s no mistaking the Mistral’s horseshoe grille, which is a Bugatti trademark. However, the rest of the roadster’s face is more radical, with design language that looks to be derived from the ultra-limited Bugatti Divo and Bugatti La Voiture Noire. The Mistral’s slat-like front LED lighting elements are another facial feature that makes it look unique. Taillight Show

    Bugatti

    Among the most eye-catching details on the Mistral are the red X-shaped taillights with Bugatti illuminated in between, so those who are inevitably passed by one of these rockets will instantly know what just blew by them at 250-plus mph. Along with quad center-mounted exhaust tips, the roadster has a very short rear overhang that provides an ideal view of the outgoing W-16 engine. The Inside Scoop

    Bugatti

    The interior of the Mistral looks a lot like the Chiron’s cabin because they’re one and the same. The roadster gets special materials such as hand-woven leather that can line the seats and dash, and the aluminum and rosewood gearshift knob features a Bugatti standing elephant mascot housed in glass, like an ancient insect caught in amber.
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    2024 Bugatti Mistral Roadster Revealed as Brand's W-16 Sendoff

    The new Bugatti Mistral roadster will be the final W-16–powered car from the legendary brand.Bugatti says the roofless Mistral, which is based on the Chiron coupe, will be the fastest open-top production car in the world.The Mistral costs $5 million and deliveries should start in 2024, but it’s already sold out.The Bugatti quad-turbo W-16 is an engineering masterpiece and a symbol of pure excess, but the end of the incredible engine is nigh. When Volkswagen Group ceded control of Bugatti to Croatian EV maker Rimac, it was a clear acknowledgment that the ultra-luxury brand’s future will be fully electric. As the last model to feature the W-16, the new Bugatti Mistral—freshly unveiled at Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week—is the car that signals that transition.Although it carries a different name, the Mistral also completes the life cycle of the Bugatti Chiron, as it’s essentially a convertible version of that hypercar, which hasn’t been offered until now. Only 99 Mistrals will be produced and priced at $5 million apiece, based on the current U.S. exchange rate. Bugatti says they’re already sold out ahead of deliveries that are slated to start in 2024.
    Although it’s closely related to the Chiron, the Mistral is far more than a roofectomy. The design team gave it a radical new front end, one that evokes the predatory design language pioneered by two previous ultra-limited editions—the Bugatti Divo and the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. The Mistral is not a natural beauty, with fender-mounted lights and the trademark horseshoe grille at the end of an elongated snout. Still, it has more road presence than a parade float.

    The Mistral’s cut-down windshield curves like a visor and matches up to shallow side panels. A roof isn’t shown in any of the official images, but Bugatti told Car and Driver that the car will be offered with a temporary clip-in panel rather than a full top. The last open-topped Bugatti, the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, was effectively a targa with a lift-off roof section. The Mistral can be considered permanently converted. Behind the cockpit are twin raised intakes that channel air to the engine compartment while adding a ram effect. They are connected by a high-level spar. At the rear, the X-shaped taillight elements cross almost the entire width of the car and incorporate illuminated red Bugatti branding.

    Bugatti

    Bugatti

    The engine is the existing 8.0-liter W-16, which features four turbochargers and produces 1578 horsepower. That’s the same output as the Chiron Super Sport 300+ that set an outright production-car speed record in 2019. Power reaches the road through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. Bugatti hasn’t released detailed performance claims for the Mistral but did say the car will have a top speed of at least 260 mph. We’re also told the company wants the Mistral to “become the fastest roadster in the world.” However, that would require officially beating the 254-mph record set by the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse in 2013.
    The Mistral’s interior design appears to be what’s least changed from the Chiron, sharing the same dashboard, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and center console. At least this should make it a comfortable place to spend time, although a much breezier one compared with its coupe counterpart. The car shown at Pebble Beach wears a striking yellow and black color scheme that was inspired by the similarly roofless 1934 Type 57 Grand Raid. The latter had bodywork by coachbuilder Gangloff, and it’s now part of the collection at the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands.Bugatti’s W-16 was willed into existence by Ferdinand Piëch, one of the most famous and ambitious automotive engineers of all time. Piëch’s goal was to create what he believed would be the most powerful engine ever fitted to a homologated road car, something that both the Veyron and Chiron achieved. With the end of the combustion era rapidly approaching, the 16-cylinder’s position on top seems unassailable. Once production of the Mistral is complete, Bugatti will become an EV brand, albeit one that still makes ultra-luxury cars with ultra-high performance.
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    1200+-HP Lucid Air Sapphire EV Luxury Sedan Will Have Shocking Acceleration

    EV maker Lucid revealed an even higher-performance version of its Air luxury sedan, the Air Sapphire, today during Monterey Car Week in California.This latest, three-motor version will make more than 1200 horsepower, compared with 1111 hp for the Air Performance.The Sapphire will be priced starting around $250,000. Orders will be taken starting in August, with production starting in mid-2023.Lucid hasn’t nailed down an exact number yet, but the Air Sapphire, the new performance version of the Air, is the most powerful sedan in the world. Even without a final horsepower number to tout, the company is confident of the claim, because Lucid knocked its own car off the pedestal.At over 1200 horsepower, the Air Sapphire pulls ahead of the 1111-hp Air Performance. The difference in the powertrain between the two is the Sapphire’s new dual-motor rear end. Lucid doubled up on its own compact motor, and the two-motor setup bolts up into the existing rear subframe without any modification to the car. Having two motors driving the rear wheels allows for torque vectoring, which Lucid claims helps make the car seem smaller and lighter than it is. Up front, the 670-hp motor from the Air Performance adds to the acceleration.

    Lucid Motors

    To 60 MPH in Less Than Two SecondsLucid is making some shocking acceleration claims. According to the company, 60 mph will be gone in less than two seconds, 100 falls before the stopwatch hits four seconds, and we’re told to expect a sub-9.0-second quarter-mile time. Keep on it and the Sapphire will reach a top speed well over 200 mph. For comparison, the quickest Tesla Model S Plaid we tested hit 60 mph in 2.1 seconds, 100 mph in 4.3, and passed the quarter in 9.4 seconds. Lucid tells us that acceleration runs can be done repeatedly without requiring a long cool-down. Max acceleration will come via a mode that will prepare the battery pack for straight-line speed. If the Sapphire is as quick as the company says it is, it’ll outaccelerate a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.

    To keep the speed and power in check, the Sapphire comes with a retuned suspension that has new springs, anti-roll bars, and damper tuning. New suspension knuckles increase front track width by 12 mm, and the rear track adds 24 mm. Tire width goes up enough to require small fender flares. Michelin formulated a Pilot Sport 4S tire for the Sapphire that has a low-rolling-resistance compound on the inside of the tire and a Cup 2–like material on the outside to improve grip. Front tires go from 245 to 265, and the rears widen from 265 to 295.Those tires wrap wider forged wheels that have been designed to maximize airflow to the massive carbon-ceramic brakes, which measure 16.5 inches up front and 11.8 inches in back. A 10-piston caliper does the squeezing up front, with a four-piston caliper clamping the rear rotors. For drivers who will primarily use their Sapphire on the street, Lucid will offer a disc-like wheel cover to increase driving range and aerodynamic efficiency.Range hasn’t been set yet, but Lucid clearly wants to beat its closest competitor, the 396-mile Model S Plaid. The 118.0-kWh battery is straight from the other Air models. Aside from the fender flares that bulge out slightly, the only other exterior changes are the large duckbill-like spoiler that Lucid says creates a net downforce. The diffuser and smooth underbody carry over from the other Air models.

    Lucid Motors

    To give it a mean appearance, the Sapphire gets the newly available Stealth Look standard. It’s not a murdered-out, blacked-out look but rather a blend of black and dark gray exterior trim pieces. Inside, there are new sport seats that have larger side bolsters and an integrated headrest. An Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel faces the driver, and the digital gauge cluster now has a blue hue. Initial production of the Sapphire will all have a blue exterior with the gray/black Tahoe interior.Pricing is set at $249,000, a number that does not include destination. Orders begin August 23, and customers will be required to put down $24,900 for a spot on the list. The Sapphire will begin rolling off the assembly line at some time before the middle of next year and is the first of what is expected to be a performance brand within Lucid. So, even if it’s as quiet as the other Lucid models, the Sapphire is set to make a lot of noise. More

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    Porsche 911 GT3 RS Honors Carrera RS 2.7 with Special Edition

    Porsche will offer a special version of the new 2023 911 GT3 RS called the “Tribute to Carrera RS” package.It is painted in white and has Python Green accents, along with other visual touches.This will be offered only in the U.S. as part of the Exclusive Manufaktur customization program.Porsche loves to play up its rich heritage, and the newest version of the just-revealed 911 GT3 RS is meant to do just that. Called the Tribute to Carrera RS package, this special edition is visually inspired by the 1970s-era Carrera RS 2.7 that was the first RS-badged 911.

    To that end, the new GT3 RS is finished in white paint and has its wheels, side mirrors, and a few other exterior elements painted in Python Green. There’s also a large green stripe on the side with “GT3 RS” script in a slightly modernized version of the “Carrera” font from the original. The giant rear wing has “RS” logos in green on each end. The interior matches the white and green theme as well, with different stitching and other painted trim pieces.

    Porsche

    Porsche will offer this option only in the U.S. market, which it says is the “second home” of the 911. It’ll be part of the Exclusive Manufaktur customization program, and although Porsche hasn’t yet provided a price, we imagine it won’t be a cheap option on top of the GT3 RS’s $225,250 starting price (before gas-guzzler tax). It should be rare, too, as Porsche says it will have limited availability. More