Motor News

A couple of months ago, a viewer suggested this week’s very fun challenge, but we kept putting it off. Leave enough comments, though, and we’re bound to listen. The premise: Find a car that would benefit from an engine swap and create something interesting, like this Volvo 240 with a Mustang powertrain. Engine swaps can be extremely rewarding, but they can also be a total nightmare. Each member of the WS crew had to come up with both the car in need and the engine replacement, cobble together some loose plan to get it all to work, and spend less than $20,000. It probably won’t surprise our viewers that two of the swaps involve Chevy’s LS line of V-8s. Reliable, compact, and powerful, an LS is a smart and affordable way to upgrade a car’s performance, often with minimal fuss. One goes into a 1995 Land Rover Range Rover to replace the Buick/Rover 3.9-liter V-8, and the other, a first-gen Cadillac CTS-V. At this point you are probably wondering, doesn’t that Caddy already have an LS? It sure does, but there’s a better LS out there, and it should fit just as well, right? What could go wrong?The rest of the crew has slightly more ambitious ideas, but with ambition comes a lot work. Would you like to see a Fiat X1/9 with a Honda K-series? There’s even a kit to help with the conversion; just be prepared to wait three to six weeks for delivery. Other projects include a Scion FR-S that has dreams of emulating the Toyota FR4586 drift car and a 1984 Dodge Mirada with a vinyl top and a Mopar 6.4-liter crate engine. While this episode won’t provide much advice on swapping engines, you do get to hear about the last Boss Wagon project C/D did and how the Mirada performed in NASCAR. In other words, this is clearly a can’t-miss episode.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Volkswagen is preparing to unveil its latest EV, the ID.5 GTX, which appears to be a SUV “coupe” version of the ID.4, with a similar front end but a sleeker roofline.The GTX portion of the name indicates a performance-focused model, and the ID.5 GTX will have an electric motor on both the front and rear axles.Volkswagen has yet to say whether the ID.5 GTX will make its way stateside or whether it will be offered without the GTX powertrain setup.Volkswagen sold just over 6000 examples of its new ID.4 electric crossover in the first half of the year, and while Ford has sold around twice as many Mustang Mach Es, it’s still a solid start to Volkswagen’s electric offensive in the United States. Now VW is preparing to launch another member of its battery-powered lineup, the ID.5 GTX. The company is previewing the model with several teasers before its upcoming reveal at the Munich auto show in early September.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen says that the ID.5 GTX will be its first electric SUV “coupe”, and the garish green and red swirls of the camouflage in the teasers does nothing to hide the sloping roofline. The ID.5 appears to be closely related to the ID.4, sporting what appears to be an identical front end but trading the boxy tail for a sleeker, rakish roofline in the rear. As a result, it will likely have less cargo space than the ID.4.

The GTX suffix attached to the ID.5’s name indicates that it is performance-focused, with GTX representing for VW’s ID models what GTI means for the Golf. VW revealed that the ID.5 GTX will have an electric motor on each axle, providing all-wheel drive, and is predicting a range over 300 miles. VW has already given the GTX treatment to the ID.4, but the GTX sub-brand will be limited to the European market, while the U.S. will get a mechanically similar model called the ID.4 AWD. It is not yet clear if the ID.5 will be offered as only the GTX or whether it will be available to American consumers, but more details should be revealed when VW takes the covers off the ID.5 GTX in a month’s time.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Do not confuse it with Blue’s Clues, the children’s education show, or a booze cruise, the young adult adventure that’s happens when you combine a boat with tons of alcohol. No, this is BlueCriuse, Ford’s hands-free driving feature and answer to GM’s Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot. It is available on some 2022 F-150s and Mustang Mach-Es.Long story short: it works as advertised. Ford isn’t promising commuters the chance to catch up on Instagram on their drive to work. But it is giving drivers the chance to lessen fatigue on the slog that is many Americans’ rush-hour drive home. BlueCruise may be able to keep the car in a lane and a safe distance from traffic in front, but that doesn’t mean it is driving. The driver still needs to pay attention and be ready to resume control if any number of virtually infinite possibilities arise that the computer can’t compute.

BlueCruise, much like Super Cruise, is geo-fenced and limited to divided highways. Ford calls them Blue Zones, but know that it includes over 100,000 miles in all 50 states and southern Canada. Activate adaptive cruise control and BlueCruise takes over once it has a good sense of its surroundings. Ford leveraged the digital instrument cluster to totally change its appearance when BlueCruise is active. This is one of the best uses of a digital cluster and it avoids any confusion. There’s a camera and two infrared light emitters in the cabin to keep track of what you’re keeping track of. If your eyes wander too long from the task at hand, which is driving, BlueCruise will shut down.

Ford

The system worked great for us. Only when we wore a mask and sunglasses did BlueCruise think we weren’t paying enough attention. In addition to tracking eyes, the camera tracks the whole face. (We had a minder from Ford in the car with us and we were trying to be respectful.) Once we removed the mask, there wasn’t a single warning to pay better attention.We got to sample the Level 2 autonomy system in Dearborn, Michigan, while behind the wheel of an F-150. The camera and dual IR emitters are totally integrated with the pickup’s dash. In the Mach-E, however, there is a camera wart on the steering column. There is no relative limit as to what speed you can set BlueCruise to maintain. We didn’t confirm that the F-150 could achieve it, but we did set the system to 106 mph while cruising at 55 mph behind a tractor trailer on the Southfield Freeway. We’re guessing the top speed of the pickup is 106 mph. If you have a 2021 F-150 or Mach-e with the ADA prep pack, you can pay a one-time $600 fee to upgrade your car to BlueCruise spec. This can be done over the air or at a dealership. Another over-the-air update—Ford calls them Power-Ups—that includes an automated lane-change feature will roll out at some point in the near future. For now, drivers will have to signal and initiate the lane change themselves.This is just one step of many more that need to happen on the path to full autonomy. Ford is confident it will be put more than 100,000 BlueCruise equipped cars on the road in the next year.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

This is the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 customer race car that celebrates Porsche and Manthey-Racing’s 25th anniversary. It’s powered by a 690-hp twin-turbo flat-six from the 911 GT2 RS, and it has an adjustable racing suspension, carbon-fiber bodywork, a huge swan-neck rear wing, along with other equipment from Porsche’s racing cars.Only 30 units will be made, with six heading to the U.S. starting at $620,000. Porsche and Manthey-Racing are celebrating 25 years of their motorsports alliance with this limited-edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25. You might think that the GT2 RS is old news since the newer 992-generation 911 is now well into its production run (sans its own GT2), but Porsche reassures us that this special-edition race car “bridges the gap” of the two most recent 911 generations. Only 30 of them will be built with just six heading to the States, and they’ll cost $620,000.

Porsche

This special-edition customer race car, like the modern-day Porsche 935 that Porsche commissioned in 2018, is based on the Clubsport version of the 991-generation 911 GT2 RS, which was limited to 200 units. It uses the 911 GT2 RS road car’s 690-hp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six and seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission. Like the other two customer race cars, the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 has an adjustable racing suspension, carbon-fiber bodywork, a data logger, and Porsche’s Stability Management (PSM) system. Additionally, it has electric power steering with a variable steering ratio from the 935.

Porsche says the new car’s livery, which includes those bright green accents that highlight its functional aerodynamics, was inspired by Manthey’s GT3 R—dubbed “Grello” by racing fans because of its color scheme. The Clubsport 25’s underbody is closed off, and the two large hood vents send air over the roof to the swan-neck rear wing. That small inlet in front of the two scoops is for the cabin’s air conditioning.

Porsche

The stripped-out interior is the same as the standard GT2 RS Clubsport, so it’s a single-seater with a Recaro bucket seat and a roll cage. It has the 991-generation 911’s overall dashboard shape with buttons to toggle the stability and traction control systems, and there’s a unique badge to show that this race car is exclusive. If you want to own one of the six U.S.-bound 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 cars, you’ll need $620,000, which is more than double the price of the 911 GT2 RS road car when new. However, although it will be rare (especially in North America), its price sits right between the $478,000 911 GT2 RS clubsport and the $829,000 modern-day 935.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The 2022 Lexus GX gets a newly standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, up from 8.0 inches, and now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Other tech features such as parking assist, navigation, and power folding and heated mirrors are now standard on the GX as well.A new Black Line Special Edition joins the lineup, with blacked-out trim and a new color offering, Nori Green Pearl. Lexus has revealed a host of updates for the 2022 GX SUV, its mid-size, three-row luxury off-roader. The second-generation SUV, introduced back in 2010 and related to the global Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, soldiers on with a body-on-frame platform and a thirsty V-8 engine but for 2022 adds more modern technology and a Black Line Special Edition model.

Lexus

The biggest changes are found inside, where every GX now comes fitted with a 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the dated 8.0-inch unit from last year’s model. Crucially, the system also now supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Lexus has also made its parking-assist system, navigation, and power-folding and heated mirrors standard across the GX lineup. Lexus’ Safety System+, which includes driver-assistance features such as lane departure alert and intelligent high beams, is also now standard.

The GX also gains a Black Line Special Edition trim for 2022, based on the Premium trim level. Unsurprisingly, the Black Line consists of a lot of blacked-out trim, including the fog lamp housings, grille surround, and roof rails, although the door handles are painted body-color. The special edition rides on 18-inch wheels finished in, you guessed it, glossy black, while the theme continues inside with a black headliner and black faux leather upholstery. The Black Line is available in Starfire Pearl or Black Onyx, and is also offered with an Nori Green Pearl paint color that’s new to the GX. The 2022 GX is powered by the same 4.6-liter V-8 making 301 hp and 329 pound-feet of torque and it’s still somewhat of a workhorse, with a 6,500-pound towing capability, a Torsen limited-slip center differential, and a two-speed transfer case with low range. The 2022 GX goes on sale this month and pricing should be similar to the 2021 model, which started at $54,475.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

President Biden is expected to announce today that his administration, with buy-in from several major automakers, will set voluntary targets for EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to account for 50 percent of new-car sales by 2030.Ford, GM, and Stellantis released a joint statement of support for the goal, contingent on the federal government providing significant support, including money for EV infrastructure and incentives to help entice buyers. BMW, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo also released statements in support of the goal.The administration is also expected to announce plans to restore Obama-era tailpipe emissions standards and to eventually set stricter regulations for tailpipe emissions starting with the 2027 model year, though the specific targets still haven’t been determined.President Biden is expected to announce this afternoon a set of plans intended to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce driving-related emissions. The New York Times says Biden will announce a return to Obama-era fuel economy standards, which were relaxed during the Trump administration. Biden is also expected to direct federal agencies to begin planning for even stricter emissions standards, which would take effect beginning with the 2027 model year. Biden has also said he will sign an executive order which will set a goal for EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to account for 50 percent of new car sales by 2030.
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.

That last proposal would rely on automakers making voluntary commitments to EVs and EV sales, and would lack any mechanism to enforce the 50 percent goal or to punish automakers who do not comply. Several automakers, including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo, in addition to the United Auto Workers, have already voiced support for the Biden administration’s emissions and EV sales goals.

But a joint statement from Ford, GM, and Stellantis adds an important caveat: Those automakers will strive for a 50 percent sales mix for EVs and plug-ins by the prescribed date as long as the federal government offers significant support towards that goal, including funding for EV-related infrastructure, support for domestic manufacturing and research and development, and increased incentives to encourage customers to buy the cars. EVs now account for around 3 percent of the U.S. car sales, though numbers are beginning to rise even without new investment from the government. The Senate is poised to vote on an infrastructure bill that would provide funding for some EV-related infrastructure, but the $15 billion this bill would set aside for EVs won’t be enough to fund all the initiatives that automakers say they’ll need to aggressively ramp up EV sales. An earlier proposal from the Biden administration would have provided $157 billion in funding for EV infrastructure, but the number was whittled down during a bipartisan negotiation process.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

McLaren Special Operations has revealed the Albert, a one-off version of the Speedtail commissioned by McLaren Beverly Hills.The name pays homage to the first Speedtail prototype, itself named for the original McLaren F1 test cars that were dubbed Albert after the street where McLaren was based.The paint job on the Albert is similar to the prototype’s camouflage wrap, and the mesmerizing lines took 12 weeks to paint onto the Speedtail’s aerodynamic body.McLaren is only building 106 examples of the sleek, 1035-hp, $2.1 million Speedtail, but the grey and white example seen here called Albert takes the exclusivity to the next level. The Albert is a one-off revealed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the division focused on making the automotive dreams of the uber-rich come true. It was commissioned by McLaren Beverly Hills.

McLaren

Although naming a car the Albert sounds odd, the moniker is a reference to the Speedtail’s ancestors. Back in 1992, the original test mules of the legendary McLaren F1 were called Albert in reference to the street, Albert Drive, where McLaren developed and built the supercar in Woking, England. As an homage to this, the original MVY02 Speedtail prototype was given the same name, which now migrates to this one-off honoring the test vehicle.

The original Albert was built to test the ergonomics of the central seat driving position, evaluating visibility and rear-view camera positioning. The MVY02 was the first Speedtail to be driven on public roads, and originally used the front-end bodywork from a 720S. The production-spec Albert mimics the prototype’s camouflage livery, with a complex paint job featuring a gradient of grey lines representing the airflow over the car. The car is painted in Magnesium Silver, the color of the first F1 road car revealed at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix, and Ueno Grey, which adorned the F1 GTR that trumped at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. The MSO team spent 12 weeks applying the intricate paint job. The Albert is set to debut at Sunset GT, a cars and coffee event hosted by O’Gara Beverly Hills this Sunday in Los Angeles before Monterey Car Week kicks off on Monday.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Morgan has created an off-road version of the Plus Four called the CX-T.It has a lifted suspension, an external roll cage, and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.Morgan says it will build eight examples of the CX-T for around $240,000.Morgan is the most eccentric of England’s many eccentric sports-car makers. But although Americans cannot currently buy any of the company’s models in the U.S. (plans continue to advance to bring both the Plus Four and Plus Six back here under replica car rules), we’re hoping somebody can fudge the paperwork to get the newly unveiled Plus Four CX-T brought into the ‘States. Described as a car “designed for overland adventure,” it is basically an off-road version of the Plus Four, featuring a substantial external roll cage and various other modifications to help it to cut it in the wilderness. It doesn’t have all-wheel drive, though. Like the regular Plus Four the CX-T sends power exclusively to the rear axle.

Its wilderness ability comes from Maxxis all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and the fitment of a new BMW-sourced electronically controlled limited-slip differential with various modes for different conditions including “all terrain” and “extreme,” the latter of which locks the differential. As with the standard Plus Four, power comes from BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Morgan

The roll cage is described by the company as protective exoskeleton, with the integration of a fixed roof meaning this is technically the first coupe Morgan has produced since the Aeromax in 2009. The cage incorporates mountings for rally lights, an aluminum tool box, bespoke luggage, two spare wheels, and what the official release says is “recovery equipment”—presumably winches and traction pads to help it escape when stuck. Additional mountings on the roof will accommodate bicycles or even surfboards. The CX-T’s suspension is similar to the larger Plus Six’s and has new coilover dampers that have been developed by motorsport preparations specialists Rally Raid UK, which regularly works on Dakar Rally challengers. Ground clearance has been increased to 9.0 inches, with that figure helped by a redesigned side-exit exhaust system. That isn’t much by the standards of tougher off-roaders, but a set of bash guards will give additional underbody protection if obstacles do get too close.

Morgan

Morgan says it is planning to build up to eight of the CX-T, with each one costing the equivalent of $240,000 before local taxes. That’s more than twice as much as British buyers have to pay for the standard Plus Four, but the CX-T does look as if it could be more than twice as much fun.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More