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    2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV Starts at $105,550 and Crests $133K

    The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ SUV starts at $105,550, which is only $100 more than its sedan counterpart.The SUV’s all-wheel-drive models, the EQS450 4Matic and EQS580 4Matic, start at $108,550 and $127,100, respectively.The 2023 EQS580 4Matic SUV in the fanciest Pinnacle trim level crests the $133k mark. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has a base price of $105,550. Surprisingly, that’s only $100 more than the starting price of its EQS450+ sedan counterpart, which opens at $105,450 for the 2023 model year.

    That $100 price difference continues to separate the 2023 EQS SUV and sedan for each of their available powertrains, which include the aforementioned rear-drive EQS450+ as well as the all-wheel-drive EQS450 4Matic and the EQS580 4Matic. The SUV version of each starts at $108,550 and $127,100, respectively.

    Mercedes-Benz

    As with the sedan, the EQS SUV and its three powertrains are available in three trim levels: Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle. All the prices listed above are for the Premium, which represents the entry-level trim and comes standard with heated and ventilated front seats, leather interior upholstery, a Burmester sound system, rear-axle steering, and a boatload of driver assists.

    Mercedes-Benz

    The Exclusive trim adds a head-up display, four-zone climate control, massaging front seats, and more. With dual motors and all-wheel drive, the 355-hp EQS450 4Matic costs $112,800, and the 536-hp EQS580 4Matic costs $131,350. The Pinnacle trim essentially upgrades the second-row seats with an Executive package, an MBUX tablet and wireless charging in the middle armrest, and more comfortable headrests. The EQS450 4Matic costs $114,800, whereas the EQS580 4Matic crests $133k, with a starting price of $133,350.The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV goes on sale this fall, meaning it should reach dealerships any day now.
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    Listen to the Ferrari Purosangue's Exhaust before Its September 13 Reveal

    Ferrari has confirmed that it will unveil the Purosangue SUV next Tuesday, September 13.In this just-released teaser image, Ferrari shows a front-facing silhouette of the car in semi-darkness. We originally speculated the Purosangue would debut as a 2022 model, but it’s now looking more likely to be a 2023 model.Heresy or not, Ferrari is plunging into the super-SUV fray with the Purosangue. The newest prancing horse will take on a growing list of ultra-high-performance models that includes the Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX 707, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. In a post to the Ferrari Twitter account, the Maranello-based automaker announced a reveal date of September 13 and offered up a short teaser of the exhaust note. Ferrari’s not calling this new model an SUV or even a crossover, instead referring to the Purosangue as a Ferrari Utility Vehicle (FUV).
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    The teaser video shows off the same sloping figure, this time giving us a look at a set of angled headlights. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna confirmed in May that the Purosangue will be powered by a naturally aspirated V-12. While the company has not confirmed a V-8 version of the vehicle, it could also get the same twin-turbo V-8 seen elsewhere in the Ferrari stable. Unlike some of the other high-performance SUVs in the class, the Purosangue is thought to be heavily focused on roadgoing performance. Expect off-road options and performance upgrades to be pretty scant. We don’t know yet what the power output will be, but the Porsche offers 631 horsepower, the Urus offers 641 or 657 horsepower, and the Aston comes with 697 hp. Our colleagues at Road & Track think the Purosangue may share its V-12 with the 819-hp 812 Competizione, which could put the Ferrari at the top of the heap. Whatever the exact figure is, it is sure to provide serious performance for an SUV, and we’d expect handling to match.With the full reveal only a week away, there is not long to wait now for more information on what is arguably the most significant Ferrari in recent memory.
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    Ford Mustang GT Performance Badge Teased ahead of Next-Gen Model's Debut

    Ford has posted a short video on social media that teases a new Mustang GT Performance model.The 10-second clip shows a piece of luggage in a trunk before the lid closes to show a chrome “GT Performance” badge.We can’t tell if the badge will adorn a model from the outgoing generation or the new one, but we’ll likely know once the next-gen Mustang is revealed on September 14.With the debut of the next-generation 2024 Mustang just over a week away, Ford has dropped a teaser video online that shows a GT Performance badge on what is clearly a Mustang’s trunk lid.
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    The short clip was posted on September 2 on Ford Performance’s Facebook page along with some of the company’s other social media accounts. The 10-second video opens with a retro-looking piece of luggage with an old-school Mustang logo on it sitting in the trunk of a car. The trunk lid then closes to reveal a chrome “GT Performance” badge. The rest of the video mentions the new Mustang’s reveal date on September 14 as well as the Stampede event that’s set to precede the reveal.

    Whether the GT Performance badge is worn by a new model from the outgoing generation or a new model from the next-gen one is hard to say, but it has us intrigued. It also has us speculating about a potential 60th Anniversary edition, since the badge that was teased has a distinct typeface and chrome plating that recalls Ford Mustang’s of yore.Either way, we’re sure to find out by the time Ford pulls the covers off the next-gen pony car next week. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more clues and teasers as the week ahead is sure to be full of them.
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    2023 Bentley Flying Spur Speed Comes Exclusively with 6.0-Liter W-12

    The 2023 Bentley Flying Spur Speed is powered by the familiar 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that produces 626 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque. The Speed is set apart by dark trim, unique 22-inch wheels, and lots of speed badges.The W-12 is no longer offered in the base $200,000 Flying Spur, with the new Speed expected to fetch around $80,000 more.Bentley has rounded out the lineup of its sole remaining sedan with the new 2023 Flying Spur Speed, which arrives as a more performance-focused version of the opulent cruiser. It will also become the only way to get a Flying Spur with the W-12 powertrain after production of the standard Flying Spur W-12 ended in May, unless you want to go through Bentley’s even pricier Mulliner customization program.
    The 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine is unchanged, still offering 626 horsepower, an 84-hp bump over the V-8-powered S model, with torque coming in at 664 pound-feet. Bentley claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.7 seconds, but in Car and Driver testing, a 2020 W-12 did the 60 mph run in 3.5 seconds. Top speed is still a claimed 207 mph. Like other Flying Spurs, the Speed uses a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and comes with all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering as standard. The Speed is also fitted with a brake-based torque vectoring system and Bentley’s Dynamic Ride system, which uses a 48-volt electrical system that adjusts the stiffness of the anti-roll bar to keep the Flying Spur level through corners. Stopping power comes thanks to 16.5-inch iron front brake discs, shared with the Continental GT and the largest in the world according to Bentley. The front calipers are painted red with Bentley branding, but can be finished in black for an extra cost.
    The Speed model is distinguished from lesser Flying Spurs by a dark tint applied to the front grilles, headlights, and taillights. Speed badges adorn the front fender and there are also unique 22-inch wheels, with dark tint, gloss black, and silver finishes available. There is a second 22-inch wheel option offered in Pale Brodgar satin, and the Speed also gets jeweled fuel and oil filler caps.
    The decadent interior uses a material Bentley calls “Dinamica Pure,” said to be made from 73 percent recycled polyester, while the leather color choices jump from five to fifteen options. The trim is Piano Black veneer as standard, but can be swapped out for Crown Cut Walnut, Dark Stained Burr Walnut or Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus for no additional fee. Bentley says there are new performance infotainment graphics inspired by luxury chronograph watches. More Speed logos are found inside, and the badges also appears illuminated on the door sills.

    Bentley says that one in three Flying Spurs in those the United States and Europe are expected to be the Speed. No pricing details were revealed, but it should cost significantly more than the approximately $200,000 base V-8 model, with the Speed models bringing an approximately $80,000 increase for the Continental GT and Bentayga model lineups.
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    2023 Toyota GR Corolla Pricing Ranges from $36,995 to $50,995

    Toyota has announced pricing for the 2023 GR Corolla hot hatchback.It starts at $36,995 for the base Core model, $43,995 for the Circuit, and $50,995 for the Morizo Edition.The Core will go on sale later this year, while the Circuit and Morizo won’t arrive until next year.Pricing for the highly anticipated 2023 Toyota GR Corolla spans a wide range, from $36,995 for the base Core model up to $50,995 for the track-oriented Morizo special edition. All GR Corollas have the same 300-hp turbocharged inline-three, all-wheel-drive system, and six-speed manual transmission, but there are various performance options available as you move up the price ladder.It’s worth noting that the Core’s base price undercuts the AWD hot-hatch competition, which for now consists only of the VW Golf R, starting at $45,385. The previous-generation Honda Civic Type R started at $38,910; a new model is arriving for 2023, also only offering front-wheel drive, and will likely be more expensive still.Trim Levels and Options

    Morizo (white), Core (red), Circuit (gray)
    Toyota

    The Circuit model splits the difference between the GR Corolla’s Core and Morizo trims, at $43,995, and comes standard with front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, upgraded brakes, and a host of comfort and convenience equipment including heated seats and a nicer audio system. The Core does offer a few packages to bring it closer to the Circuit: the $1180 Performance package adds the Torsen differentials and larger brakes; the $770 Technology package adds the JBL audio system and wireless smartphone charger; and the $500 Cold Weather package adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.The Morizo Edition is a bigger step up because of its more significant changes that include a rear-seat delete, more aggressive Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and extra 22 pound-feet of torque from the turbo-three for a total of 295 pound-feet. Toyota claims it is 106 pounds lighter and that it is more rigid thanks to extra strut braces. Only 200 units will be available in the U.S.The GR Corolla Core will be the first model to arrive and is slated to reach dealerships later this year. Those who want the Circuit or Morizo Edition models will have to wait until 2023.
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    Buick Will Buy Out Dealers Who Don't Want to Start Selling Electric Cars

    Buick has made it clear that its future lies in two directions. First, the brand will only sell EVs after 2030. Second, all Buicks will be SUVs.Dealers who aren’t aligned with that future will be given an off-ramp, Buick global vice president Duncan Aldred said this week.The first all-electric Buick, the Electra, should be revealed sometime in 2023 and will arrive in 2024 as a 2025 model. Its look is expected to be influenced by the Buick Wildcat concept shown above.General Motors continues its push toward electrification, and it might take out a few Buick dealerships on its way.Duncan Aldred, global vice president of Buick and GMC, revealed to the Wall Street Journal this week that all of the 1900-plus Buick dealerships in the U.S. will be given buyout offers to those who don’t want to be a part of the brand’s shift to selling only electric vehicles. Buick is requiring its dealers to invest in charging stations and other store upgrades as part of this change.

    The 2022 Buick lineup: Encore, Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave.
    Buick

    “Not everyone necessarily wants to make [the electric] journey, depending on where they’re located or the level of expenditure that the transition will demand,” Aldred told the Journal. “So if they want to exit the Buick franchise, then we will give them monetary assistance to do so.”

    While Buick isn’t yet selling any all-electric models, the first Buick EV will be the Electra. The second and third and, well, all the rest will, too. Buick has announced that all of its EVs will carry the Electra name. The first Buick Electra should go into production in 2024 as a 2025 model. All new Buicks sold in the U.S. and Canada after that date will not only be electric, but the brand will exclusively sell SUVs in the future.We don’t know many details about the first Buick Electra, but since we expect it will use a GM Ultium battery pack with about 100.0 kWh of capacity, that should be good for 300 or more miles of range. The Electra will be revealed sometime in 2023, and we expect it will start at around $50,000.Most of the Buick dealers in the U.S. also sell GMC models. According to Automotive News, there were only around a dozen stand-alone Buick dealerships, so taking a buyout would most likely keep the dealership in the GM family.In 2020, GM offered buyouts to Cadillac dealers that didn’t want to spend the $150,000 to $200,000 that GM was requiring to update the dealerships for Cadillac’s first EV, the Lyriq, which is due next year. Around 175 Cadillac dealers took the buyouts, which were worth between $300,000 and $500,000, according to Automotive News.
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    Nearly 800 Pedal Cars up for Sale in a Single Auction This Month

    They might have been toys once, but classic pedal cars can now be considered collector’s items, and Mecum Auctions will attempt to unload hundreds of them at an auction later this month.The lot comes from Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum and includes some that are 100 years old, some that are in relatively original condition, and others that have been heavily restored or modified.Aside from the pedal cars, Mecum will also be selling 120 classic cars as part of this auction, including a 1964 Amphicar 770.Pedal car enthusiasts out there might want to start measuring their available storage. The Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum is selling a significant portion of its collection through Mecum Auctions later this month, and the lot includes almost 800 classic pedal cars.

    Mecum Auctions

    Mecum Auctions

    Some of these classics are 100 years old, like a 1920s Steelcraft Buick pedal car or a 1927 American National Lincoln pedal car with many original parts like the windshield frame, hood ornament, and spare disc tire. The current bid is $100. The 1950s Hamilton Jeep Wrecker with two horns (obviously great for kids) and an AMF Red Mustang also caught our eye.

    Most of the pedal cars up for auction have been updated and repainted over the years. If you’re thinking of getting these not to be kept as a collectible but for kids to actually ride on, we think the pedal airplanes—basically pedal cars with stubby little wings on the sides—or pedal cars with airplanes painted on their sides, like the blue and white Strato-Flite pedal car pictured below, might do the trick. If the little ones enjoy role-playing adult work, then perhaps check out the customized Mack C-Cab pedal car painted to look like a Conoco oil truck.

    Mecum Auctions

    If your tastes run more to pedal cars that aren’t pedal cars anymore, Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum has you covered with a Champion model that has been restored and then modified and turned into a remote-control (RC) car. It even comes with a doll “driver.”

    Mecum Auctions

    There are almost 2000 items from Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum included in the auction lot, including plenty without any reserve limit. Aside from the pedal cars, there are more than 230 bicycles and tricycles and around 120 sleds, carriages, and ride-on toys. A handful of classic full-size vehicles, about 120, will also be sold. The auction runs from September 14–17. Bidders can name their price in person, via phone, or on the Internet but must be registered before bidding. New ride-on pedal cars can cost anywhere between $100 and $1000.
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    This V-10-Swapped BMW E30 M3 Is the Most Delightful Kind of Overkill

    These days, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone crazy enough to buy a perfectly stock E30-generation M3 and modify it. The first ever M3 is a fast-appreciating collector car, after all, with factory examples with low mileage demanding over six figures. But just a few years ago, these cars weren’t worth as much. Which is why this Australian man felt okay swapping out the legendary S14 from his M3 and dropping in a 500-hp V-10.

    The Fullboost YouTube channel caught up with the owner of this pretty red M3, Bob, to get the details on this incredible swap. The V-10 is also a BMW product, you see, taken from either an M5 or an M6 from the mid-2000s. In this application, it runs on a stand-alone ECU and revs all the way to 8300 rpm. Bob sourced a six-speed manual transmission from an E90-generation M3 to get the power to the rear wheels, though amazingly, the differential still uses an E30 housing. Inside you’ll find an upgraded locking center from Quaife. Most interesting is Bob’s claims that he didn’t have to cut any part of the chassis or firewall to fit the powertrain inside this E30. He did, however, have to fabricate an entirely new subframe, a new oil pan, and a heavily modified steering rack to get everything to work. Bob says he built this M3 to drive to the track, claiming a curb weight under 3000 pounds and a near 50/50 weight distribution. It’s all pretty incredible considering the car has more than double the cylinders it used to. Of course, the fantastic power-to-weight ratio means it makes for a solid drag car as well. Oh, and it sounds wonderful. We’re not jealous. Not one bit. More