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    690-HP Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 Revealed, Only Six Coming to U.S.

    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.
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    2022 Lexus GX Arrives with Bigger Screen, Special Edition

    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.
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    Biden to Set Target for 50 Percent of New Car Sales to Be EVs by 2030

    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.
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    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.
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    McLaren Speedtail Albert Honors Prototype with Camo Paint

    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.
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    Morgan Built a Wild-Looking Plus Four That's Ready for Rallying

    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.
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    New York Auto Show Officially Canceled for 2021

    The New York auto show, previously rescheduled for August, has now been canceled.The show said that it’s due to a rise in COVID-19 Delta variant cases and stricter public-health measures put in place in New York City.Debuts that were scheduled for the auto show include the Nissan 400Z, Subaru WRX, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.The organizers of the New York auto show announced that the show has been canceled and will not take place in 2021. It had previously been rescheduled for August, a change from its typical place in the calendar in the spring. We’re not sure what this means for the many new-vehicle debuts that were planned for the show, including the 2022 Subaru WRX, Nissan Z, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.

    The show said in a statement that the cancelation is due to “the growing incidences of the Covid-19 Delta variant and the increased measures announced recently by State and local officials to stop its spread.” The organizers now say that the next New York auto show will be in spring 2022. The show was also canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic after initially being rescheduled for August.We will keep you updated about any news regarding the reveals that had been planned for this show. The Nissan Z debut is scheduled for August 17, a few days before the show, and the Subaru WRX is scheduled for August 19—we haven’t heard about any changes to those plans yet, but stay tuned.
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    Tesla Model S Base Price Rises to over $90,000

    Tesla has increased the base price of the Model S Long Range to $91,190.It has gotten steadily more expensive recently, as the Long Range was previously available for just over $70,000.The Model S Long Range achieved a real-world highway driving range of 320 miles in our testing.Tesla has been steadily increasing the base price of the Model S, and it has now reached above $90,000. The Long Range model, which previously started at just over $70,000 but has seen numerous price adjustments recently, now costs $91,190 to start according to Tesla’s website.

    This price includes white exterior paint, 19-inch wheels, and a black interior. Other exterior and interior colors cost $1500–$2500 extra, as do the optional $4500 21-inch wheels that reduce the estimated range. The standard Model S Long Range is rated to go 405 miles on a charge by the EPA, and in our 75-mph highway efficiency test a Model S Long Range achieved 320 miles.There’s also a more powerful Model S Plaid model available, but its price has not changed since it increased by $10,000 back in June. It starts at $131,190, offers 1020 horsepower, and has an estimated range of 348 miles. Tesla’s website currently estimates that buyers who place an order now for either the Long Range or Plaid models can expect to have their vehicles delivered in March or April 2022.
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    2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Pricing Announced, Starts At $27,190

    The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, which received a light facelift, will start at $27,190 for the front-wheel drive base S trim, $750 more than last year.The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line are replaced by one model, the SEL R-Line, that splits their starting prices at $37,790 and comes standard with all-wheel drive.The cheapest Tiguan is pricier than the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson but comes in below the Toyota RAV4.For 2022, the VW Tiguan compact crossover gets a facelift with sharper styling and upgraded tech, and now the German company has released pricing for the updated model. The base Tiguan S with front-wheel drive will start at $27,190, a $750 increase from 2021, with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive available for an extra $1500. All-wheel drive is an option on first three trim levels, but comes standard on the top SEL R-Line model, which starts at $37,790. The 2022 SEL R-Line is more expensive than the 2021 SEL but cheaper than last year’s top trim, the SEL Premium R-Line.

    Volkswagen

    In between the S and SEL R-Line are the SE—$30,690 for front-wheel drive and $32,190 for all-wheel drive—and SE R-Line Black, which starts at $33,490. Every 2022 Tiguan features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 184 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Front-wheel-drive versions include three rows of seats, uncommon for the segment, while all-wheel-drive variants are limited to two rows.

    The Tiguan is priced a little higher than some of its rivals in the compact-crossover market. The base Tiguan S is pricer than the Honda CR-V LX ($26,575), Mazda CX-5 Sport ($26,545), Ford Escape S ($26,800), and Hyundai Tucson SE ($26,135). Still, the Tiguan undercuts the Toyota RAV4 LE ($27,565) and the SEL R-Line is cheaper than some of the high-end trims on its competitors. The Tiguan is due to reach dealerships in the United States during the third quarter of this year.
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