Motor News

The Pininfarina design firm has unveiled the Teorema concept, a low-slung aerodynamic missile riding on an electric skateboard chassis and featuring autonomous driving capability.The Teorema concept stretches a couple of inches longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe, but the roof is about 20 inches lower than that of the Chevy SUV.Five passengers can fit in the Teorema, with the driver in a central seating position akin to the one found in the McLaren F1.Pininfarina has been especially busy of late. After the recent announcement that Pininfarina will pen a 1000-hp electric truck for Detroit startup Hercules, the storied Italian design house has revealed this Teorema concept. Sitting on an electric skateboard chassis, with the battery tucked away under the floor, the Teorema concept has been created for an autonomous future and puts an emphasis on maximizing interior space.

The Teorema was a joint project between Pininfarina’s teams in Cambiano, Italy, and Shanghai, China, and the vehicle was developed using virtual reality technology. The Teorema is 212.6 inches long—longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe—but measures just 55.1 inches high, around 20 inches lower than the Chevy SUV. Despite its sleek appearance, the Teorema still has a roomy interior since the electric platform allowed Pininfarina to stretch the vehicle’s proportions to create a lounge-like space. Pininfarina says that passengers enter the Teorema by “simply walking inside of it” as the roof rises upward and forward, although the company didn’t provide images or video of this feature.

Pininfarina

Inside, the passengers sit in a space shaped like a pentagon. The driver, who can choose whether or not to exit autonomous mode and actively drive, sits alone up front in a central seating position but can spin the seat around and let the Teorema handle the driving duties. Since the Teorema has no doors on the side of the vehicle, passengers can also convert the four chairs into benches and sit using the side of the car as a backrest.

Pininfarina

Pininfarina typically doesn’t build cars itself, other than the upcoming Battista electric hypercar, so the Teorema likely has no chance of reaching production. Instead, it shows off Pininfarina’s design expertise and previews how the company will approach design in the electric autonomous future as it partners with companies such as Karma Automotive and Vietnam’s VinFast.
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

Hyundai has revealed the global version of the new Elantra N high-performance sedan. U.S. specs will be shared at the New York auto show next month. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 286 horsepower with an N Grin Shift overboost function. The 2022 Elantra N should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year or early next year starting at around $30,000.Hyundai is pushing its high-performance N subbrand into more relevance with the new Elantra N. It joins the Veloster N hatchback and Kona N crossover in the Korean automaker’s lineup as the first full-blown N sedan model. The car you see here is the global version of the Elantra N, but Hyundai confirmed it’s coming to the U.S. and that we will learn more about the car that’s headed stateside when it makes its North American debut in August at the New York auto show.
All three existing N models share a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque in the Elantra N under normal operation. It’s available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. An overboost function (only on DCT-equipped cars) provides an extra 10 horsepower for 20 seconds and is engaged via a button on the steering wheel. Elantra Ns with the dual-clutch come with a launch control function, and Hyundai claims a zero-to-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Like the other N models, it has a variable exhaust system, but Elantra N models add a virtual engine sound with three adjustable settings.

The Elantra N comes with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and an independent rear suspension like the less powerful N-Line model (base Elantra models use a torsion beam in the rear). N models also use an integrated drive axle that is stiffer and lighter than a conventional drive axle. They get 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and 14.2-inch rotors.
The Elantra N’s digital gauge cluster displays oil and coolant temps, torque, and boost pressure. And, like the new Kona N, there’s an N mode lap timer integrated into the infotainment that can be linked to a mobile app, too. Optional N bucket seats add a lit-up N emblem in the headrest. The Elantra N should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year or early next year, and we expect it to start at around $30,000.
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

Jeep has revealed the 2022 Compass, which has interior and exterior updates.A new 10.1-inch infotainment screen is newly optional.The 2.4-liter inline-four engine remains, and is available with either front- or all-wheel drive.The 2022 Jeep Compass is getting a mid-cycle update, with the biggest news being the SUV’s updated interior and technology options. The 2022 Compass also gets exterior updates for this including a revised front end with smaller LED headlights, a larger lower grille, thinner grille slats, and new taillights.It’s the interior where Stellantis made the biggest changes, and the 2022 model now looks more like the Europe-market Compass than the previous U.S. version. The acres of plastic have been reduced in favor of an upholstered and stitched dashboard. The standard 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system remains the same, but there’s now an optional 10.1-inch screen, and all systems now use the latest Uconnect 5 software.
Jeep also introduced a new trim level, the Latitude Lux, which includes heated leather front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster, 18-inch wheels, and the optional and 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The other trim levels include Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk.

Jeep says it has upgraded the steering and suspension for 2022, but the Compass’s powertrain unfortunately remains the same. We called it the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four lethargic before, and have no expectation that this will be different for 2022. It produces the same 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, and the two available transmissions carry over: a six-speed automatic in the front-wheel-drive model and a nine-speed automatic in all-wheel-drive models.
As before, the 2022 Compass offers two all-wheel-drive systems, and if you want the 20:1 crawl ratio for off-roading, you’ll want the Trailhawk trim, which also offers an extra inch of ground clearance for a total of 8.6 inches. The 2022 Compass can tow a maximum of 2000 pounds. There is no manual-transmission option.Prices start at $26,490 for the front-wheel-drive Compass Sport, a $500 increase from last year. The Latitude starts at $28,020, the Latitude Lux at $31,090, the Limited at $32,890, and the Trailhawk at $33,090. All-wheel drive is a $1500 option on the Sport and Latitude but comes standard on Latitude Lux, Trailhawk, and Limited models.Jeep didn’t mention anything about the 4xe plug-in-hybrid version during the Compass’ U.S. debut at the Chicago auto show, but since it has already been confirmed for Europe and Jeep has said it will offer a PHEV in every segment, we assume information on that model will come in the near future. The 2022 Compass will go on sale this fall.
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

A new tuner called Marc Philipp Gemballa has released its first creation, the Marsien.It’s an off-road supercar based on the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S.Only 40 units will be built and the cost for the modifications is around $583,000.Gemballa was previously known as one of the more outlandish of Germany’s aftermarket tuners of Porsches in the 1990s and 2000s—and was made infamous when founder Uwe Gemballa was murdered in South Africa in 2010, amid rumored links to organized crime. Though the original Gemballa was later sold, and still exists, a new company has emerged that is led by (and named after) Uwe’s son, Marc Philipp Gemballa.

This off-road supercar designed for use in the desert is set to be Marc Philipp Gemballa’s first product. Clearly inspired by the Porsche 959 that entered the Paris-Dakar rally in 1985 and 1986, it’s called the Marsien; similar to the word for “martian” in French.Based on the current 992-generation 911 Turbo S, the Marsien has a taller and more muscular stance with large vents and a huge rear wing that wraps around the sides of the car. The bodywork is new and made from carbon fiber, and the company says it will be possible to order this unpainted if anyone wants to flaunt the material. The car’s aerodynamics have been optimized by KLK, a company that regularly works with racing teams.

Marc Philipp Gemballa

Power comes from a tuned version of the Turbo S’s mighty flat-six engine, the work having been done by another famous German 911 fettler, RUF. Two versions will be offered, the less powerful one having 740 horsepower and 685 pound-feet of torque and the brawnier one raising peak output to 818 horsepower. An upgraded air filter designed to work in dusty desert conditions and an Akrapovic exhaust system will be standard. Like the new GT3, the Marsien has a new double-wishbone front suspension in place of the regular 911’s struts. In addition to adaptive dampers, there is also a ride-height adjustment system through a hydraulic lift that claimed to be able to increase ground clearance from the standard 4.7 inches to 9.8 inches. Cars will be supplied with two sets of forged aluminum wheels, one fitted with road tires and the other with all-terrain rubber. An optional off road package will bring rally-spec dampers and an even higher (but fixed) suspension height.

Marc Philipp Gemballa

Although the official release claims that the “horsepower game is over” the Marsien is set to be as fast as almost any supercar. The company claims a 2.6-second sprint to 62 mph when running on road tires and a top speed of 205 mph. The all-terrain tires will be limited to 130 mph. The company says it will produce no more than 40 of the Marsien, with each of these set to carry a pre-tax conversion cost in Germany of around $583,000—the base 911 will add roughly another $220,000 if bought in Deutschland. But for those with more money than roads, it’s not hard to see the appeal of becoming a Gemballer.
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

Fans of Volkswagen’s legendary vans, as well as people looking for something more spacious in an electric vehicle, have been eagerly awaiting the release of VW’s 2024 ID.Buzz Microbus.While waiting, there’s always the idea of building this ’60s-nostalgic T2 camper van kit, to be released by Lego on August 1.The kit has more than 2000 pieces and features a wraparound front windshield, a sliding door, a pop-up roof with a tent, and a pair of folding chairs.

Fans of the VW Microbus—whether for its practical shape, its status as a Sixties and Seventies hippie icon, or its quirky personality—may already own a Lego version—the T1 Camper Van kit (see below), released several years ago. Now it’s joined by this T2 kit, representing the second generation of the van, which goes on sale on August 1. It ought to be a hit among fans of the legendary Microbus. After all, they still have about two years to wait before they finally see the automaker’s ID.Buzz electric van out on the market.

LEGO Creator Expert Volkswagen T1 Camper Van 10220 Construction Set (1334 Pieces)

LEGO
amazon.com

$206.95

This set has a lot of the same combination of fun and practicality that was the hallmark of the actual T2. It has working steering, a wraparound windshield, and a folding rear bench seat. The curtains are fabric. In the kitchen area, the cabinets and refrigerator open, and there’s a sink and a gas stove with a teakettle on top. There’s a popup roof with tent. Accessories include folding chairs and a surfboard. The stickers are 1970s period-specific, right down to the stick-on “LOVE” letters, and you can choose a license plate from either Germany or the U.S.
When assembled, the Lego T2 is 13.5 inches long, 5.5 inches wide, and 6.0 inches high, a good size for a desk or home-office ornament. It will cost $179.99 and can be ordered at Lego.com.

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

VinFast, Vietnam’s first car company, announced it has established U.S. headquarters and said that showrooms will open in California soon.The company plans to enter the U.S. market with two electric crossovers, the VFe35 and the VFe36, and is targeting to start sales in March 2022.VinFast has an 8.4 percent share of the market in Vietnam but said it will need to raise additional funds to finance its global expansion.VinFast became Vietnam’s first domestic carmaker in 2019, when it started selling two gasoline-powered vehicles, the Lux A2.0 sedan and the Lux SA2.0 crossover, in its home market. Now the fledgling company has announced plans to expand into North America and Europe, with the goal of starting sales in the United States in March 2022. The automaker’s global lineup will be centered around electric crossovers.

VinFast sold around 30,000 vehicles in Vietnam last year. The company has yet to make a profit but is quickly growing in Vietnam, becoming the fourth most popular car brand there this year, with an 8.3 percent share of the market. The company is part of Vietnam’s largest conglomerate, known as Vingroup JSC. In a statement Monday, Vinfast said it has opened offices in North America and Europe, with aims to open showrooms in California soon. The company also added that Van Anh Nguyen, CEO of VinFast’s U.S. operation, recently moved from Vietnam to the U.S.

VinFast

VinFast has admitted that it needs more funding for its expansion plans, suggesting either an initial public offering on the U.S. stock market or a merger with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (as EV startup Lucid Motors did this year) to raise those finances. VinFast was originally eying an offering in the second quarter of this year that would help raise $2 billion in funding, but Reuters reported that the offering was delayed.

Currently, VinFast builds five vehicles. The Lux A2.0 is based on the F10-generation BMW 5-series and the Lux SA2.0 is built on the bones of the F15 version of the BMW X5, with both cars penned by Italian design house Pininfarina. VinFast’s first EV is the VFe34, a subcompact crossover built on a VinFast-exclusive platform, and there is also the compact Fadil, a reskinned Opel Karl city car. VinFast also made a 500-unit run of the President, a version of the Lux SA2.0 packing a 420 hp 6.2-liter GM V-8. The Vietnamese brand’s entry to the U.S. market will be based around the upcoming VFe35 and VFe36, a compact and mid-size electric crossover, respectively. Details for the U.S.-specific models have not yet been announced. VinFast had originally targeted sales of 56,000 EVs in 2022, but the global semiconductor chip shortage has forced VinFast to reduce that goal to 15,000 units.
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

Infiniti has released pricing for the new 2022 QX60, which starts at $47,875.Trim levels include Pure, Luxe, Sensory, and Autograph, with a fully loaded model commanding over $64,000.Infiniti is taking reservations now and deliveries will start later this year.Infiniti’s new 2022 QX60 looks a lot better than its predecessor inside and out, and you’ll pay more for the various improvements to its design, powertrain, and available features. The new model starts at $47,875, a $2500 increase over the 2020 QX60’s starting price (the QX60 skipped the 2021 model year).

All versions of the QX60 come standard with a 295-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine, front-wheel drive, and a nine-speed automatic transmission that replaces the previous CVT. All-wheel drive is optional on all trim levels for between $2000 and $2900 extra.The base QX60 is called Pure, while the other trim levels include Luxe ($53,925), Sensory ($57,375), and Autograph ($61,375). The Luxe includes 20-inch wheels, driver-assistance features, navigation, and cooled front seats. The Sensory adds massaging seats, heated second-row seats, a wireless smartphone charger, among other features. The loaded Autograph has niceties such as plusher interior trim, second-row captain’s chairs, and a head-up display.
Options include various premium paint colors for between $695 and $900; a premium audio system for $900 on the Luxe model; a $1500 Vision package with the head-up display, upgraded headlights, and a digital rearview mirror for Luxe and Sensory models; and a $900 towing package for Sensory AWD models that increases towing capacity to 6000 pounds (the Autograph AWD comes standard with the towing package).Infiniti is now taking reservations for the 2022 QX60 on its website, and it will arrive at dealerships this fall.
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 Hyundai Santa Cruz compact pickup starts at $25,175 for the base SE model.The top Limited version with its optional turbo engine starts at $40,455.The Santa Cruz has started production and goes on sale in late July.Hyundai has priced its new compact pickup competitively, but not as low as its chief rival the Ford Maverick. The new 2022 Santa Cruz starts at $25,175 compared with the Maverick’s base price of $21,490.

Granted, the Santa Cruz is better-equipped in its base form than the Maverick is. The SE comes standard with features such as 18-inch wheels, several driver-assistance features, and a remote-opening tailgate. It has a 2.5-liter inline-four engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive.All-wheel drive is a $1500 option for all models equipped with the base 2.5L engine, which also includes the SEL, starting at $28,375. The SEL offers an Activity package for an extra $3270 for either FWD or AWD models, but Hyundai has yet to say exactly what’s included with that option.The optional turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine is available starting in the $36,856 SEL Premium model, which comes standard with all-wheel drive. The loaded Santa Cruz Limited also has the more powerful turbo engine and all-wheel drive; it starts at $40,455.Hyundai’s online configurator lists FWD SEL Premium and FWD Limited versions as well, but the company has yet to release pricing for those models.Expect to see 2022 Santa Cruz models rolling into Hyundai dealerships later this month, as the pickup has already started production at the company’s plant in Alabama.
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