Motor News

The auction site Bring a Trailer has just listed a 1988 Callaway Corvette, but not just any Callaway Corvette.This C4 Vette was part of Project Sledgehammer, Callaway’s program to create the fastest, most uncompromised roadgoing Corvette ever. Its predecessor was part of a Car and Driver multi-car test in 1987 called “A Gathering of Eagles.”The auction ends on May 23, and bidding has already exceeded $450,000.Today, a very special Corvette has gone up for auction on Bring a Trailer: the 1988 Project Sledgehammer Callaway Corvette. Anyone who’s followed the storied history of the Chevrolet Corvette likely knows about Callaway, a specialty vehicles company that develops performance modifications and packages for production vehicles with an emphasis on Corvettes.

Back in 1988, the Callaway team set out on Project Sledgehammer with the goal of pushing the C4 Corvette platform to its absolute limit in order to create the most uncompromised roadgoing Vette ever. It eventually resulted in a road-car speed record of 254.76 mph in 1989 that stood long past the turn of the century.

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[image id=’54efd29e-c240-4686-af06-09e3fbda2cde’ mediaId=’8ac1e550-2fc3-4896-9cb2-97c1f01cd809′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’true’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]The Sledgehammer even has a history with Car and Driver. Its predecessor, nicknamed the Top Gun Corvette, made an appearance in the story “A Gathering of Eagles” in our December 1987 issue. The story tells how it logged a speed of 231 mph at the top-speed event we held on the Transportation Research Center’s 7.5-mile oval. Snippets of the event and background on the car can be found in this YouTube video:
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In the years since that record-setting run, the 200-mph club has steadily grown, but none has gone quite as far to separate itself from the pack as the Sledgehammer. In order to make the leap from the 231-mph mark measured at our Eagles event to the target of 250 mph required major modifications: pieces of the frame had to be removed for packaging purposes, an entirely new body kit for improved aerodynamics had to be developed, and a new 5.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 built by John Lingenfelter with a stronger rotating assembly, new heads, a new camshaft, and larger turbochargers capable of more boost replaced the Callaway-designed mill. When all was said and done, the Sledgehammer was able to produce a massive amount of power—especially for the time—to the tune of 880 horsepower and 772 pound-feet. Perhaps best of all is that, despite all the changes it went through, the Sledge never lost its manual transmission.

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The Sledgehammer’s BaT listing states that it has just over 2000 miles on the odometer and has spent the majority of its time in a museum environment—and from the photos it sure looks like that’s the case. It’s hard to say how quick this car would’ve been on the street; we only had a chance to test the standard Callaway Corvette back then, but it’s safe to say the Sledgehammer would better those numbers and then some. As of this writing, the bid sits at $325,000. The auction will go for another 11 days and you’ll need a lot of coin—quite possibly into the seven figures—to get a chance to test it out for yourself. With its one-off rarity and rich history, it’s unlikely the mighty Sledgehammer will see much more than museum-parking duty for the rest of its life, and that’s probably for the best. In a world rapidly proliferating with electric vehicles it’s important we don’t forget the past.
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Mitsubishi is bringing back the Ralliart performance subbrand, as first reported by Forbes.Ralliart was most recently applied to the Lancer and Galant in the U.S. in the late-2000s.Ralliart also encompasses a range of performance accessories.Mitsubishi is digging into its rich rallying history and reviving the Ralliart performance subbrand. The name will return soon, according to an earnings presentation, although the company provided few details about which vehicles it would be applied to or even if it will come to the U.S. market.

Most recently, Mitsubishi offered a turbocharged Ralliart version of the Lancer in the U.S. from 2009 to 2014 that fit between the base car and the higher-performance, all-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution. There was also a Ralliart version of the Galant mid-size sedan. Now that Mitsubishi’s lineup features mostly SUVs, we could reasonably expect Ralliart versions of crossovers such as the Outlander and Eclipse Cross; in the presentation, Mitsubishi showed the Ralliart logo alongside a version of its global L200 pickup.Mitsubishi refers to the return of Ralliart as helping towards its goal of “realization of Mitsubishi Motors–ness.” We’re not sure what that means, but we won’t complain about an renewed emphasis on performance in whatever form it takes. Expect to hear more about future Mitsubishi Ralliart models within the next few months as Mitsubishi fleshes out its plans.
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Porsche has released pricing for the 2022 718 Boxster and Cayman, and price increases range from $600 to $2500 depending on the model. The 718 has three engine options: two turbocharged flat-fours, providing 300 and 350 horsepower, or a 394- or 414-hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine.The 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are available to order now and will arrive in the U.S. this fall. Porsche’s 718 model line, which includes the Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe, has received a slight price increase for the 2022 model year. They’re available to order now and will arrive in the U.S. this fall starting at $61,850 for the Cayman and $63,950 for the Boxster.

2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 in Shark Blue.
Porsche

Those prices are for the base-model cars, which are powered by a 300-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four and come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox (Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic is optional). The Cayman and Boxster S models, which start at $73,850 and $75,950, use a 350-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four. Both models are $600 more than the previous model year. The T models, which come with a sport suspension and the 2.0-liter engine, start at $70,950 for the Cayman and $73,050 for the Boxster, and they’re $700 more than before.

Last year Porsche replaced the 718 GTS with a new GTS 4.0 model, and it gets a 394-hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine. This year, the GTS models are also $600 more expensive, starting at $88,750 for the Cayman GTS 4.0 and $90,850 for the Boxster GTS 4.0. Porsche also introduced a Boxster 25th Anniversary model last year, which uses the 394-hp 4.0-liter, and now it’s $2500 more, starting at $102,450. The top-of-the line track-focused Cayman GT4 now costs $102,550 and the 718 Spyder is $99,650. They both use a 414-hp version of the 4.0-liter flat-six and recently added the option of a dual-clutch automatic transmission.Orders for the 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are open now, and they can be finished in two new colors: Shark Blue (introduced on the new 911 GT3) and Frozenberry Metallic. Buyers can also now get painted keys in a leather pouch, the owner’s manual in a leather pouch, and personalized floor mats.
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A Swiss company is working on a modernized version of the Ferrari Testarossa.It has a more powerful version of the original car’s 4.9-liter flat-12.There’s no word yet on price or availability, but it won’t be cheap.In the 1980s, the Ferrari Testarossa was a spectacular supercar symbol of the era’s excess and conspicuous consumption. It also enjoyed a starring role in the later seasons of the ultimate ‘80s cop show, Miami Vice. The Testarossa quickly fell out of critical favor, but in recent years interest has started to rise again and values have enjoyed a corresponding increase. Now a Swiss tuner is set to offer a faster and modernized version of the original car.Based in Coldrerio in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, Officine Fioravanti has reportedly spent 14 months working on its retuned Testarossa. This company seems to be a continuation of a design agency that Leonardo Fioravanti started in the 1990s—Fioravanti himself led the team at Pininfarina that designed the original Testarossa.

The new car has a more powerful version of the original car’s 4.9-liter flat-12 that produced 380 horsepower and—with a long enough straight and a brave enough pilot—could push the Testarossa to just under 180 mph, enough to make it the fastest production car in the world at the time. We don’t know exactly how much more power and torque the new version has, but according to Veloce.it its rev limiter has been raised to 9000 rpm. With revised aerodynamics, around 260 pounds of weight savings, and new Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the Testarossa is now claimed to be capable of 200 mph.

Officine Fioravanti

We’re not sure why Officine Fioravanti has opted to wrap its prototype in camouflage for these early images, as no obvious changes have been made to the original bodywork. Rather than try to diminish the problems of packaging its vast flat-12 engine, Fioravanti’s Testarossa design featured a dramatically squared-off rear end and also the iconic side strakes set into the doors and leading to the rear radiator inlets. Another famous feature of early Testarossas was the use of a single extra-long external mirror on the driver’s side only—one we are pleased to see Officine Fioravanti’s test car still wears.

Other changes include the addition of traction control and ABS, as well as electronic Ohlins dampers and an adjustable suspension. There is no word on power steering, another omission from the original Testarossa, but we wouldn’t be surprised if an electric system has been added to help low-speed maneuvering. Officine Fioravanti is also promising a fully retrimmed cabin with new leather, machined aluminium components in place of plastic, and a modern audio system.

Officine Fioravanti

There is no word on price or availability yet. The finished car certainly won’t be cheap, but if you already possess a Testarossa you are almost certain to have a high tolerance for painful bills. For reference, Ian Callum’s reimagining of the original Aston Martin Vanquish costs around $600,000 beyond the cost of the base car itself. But regardless of money, we are very keen to see what the finished version is capable of.
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Genesis has revealed the Shooting Brake version of the G70.A four-door wagon with a sleek roofline, this version of Genesis’ compact sports sedan looks appealing to our eye.Unfortunately, it will only be sold in Europe.The Genesis G70’s transformation into an attractive wagon is finally complete. These latest photos of the G70 Shooting Brake confirm that the sports sedan looks better as a longroof, and we’re now even sadder that it won’t reach the U.S. market. It’s a major part of the Genesis brand’s entry into the European market, where wagons find significantly more buyers than they do in the U.S.

With the same styling as seen on the updated 2022 G70 sedan, the wagon’s biggest changes are seen aft of the B-pillar, where the roofline tapers to a steeply sloped rear liftgate. Genesis claims that cargo space is increased by 40 percent compared with the sedan and the rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 arrangement for added cargo flexibility.

The Shooting Brake will likely offer the same engines as the G70 sedan, which include a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four and a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6. A diesel may be offered in Europe as well.When it goes on sale across the pond this summer, the G70 wagon will compete with wagon versions of the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Mercedes C-class. Over here, we only get a precious few wagons this size such as the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60—unless Genesis decides to change its mind and import the G70 Shooting Brake, which would make us very happy indeed.
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VW has revealed the 2022 Tiguan in U.S.-spec form.It has visual changes inside and out and newly available features.The 2022 Tiguan will go on sale in the U.S. at the end of September.The Volkswagen Tiguan is getting an update for 2022, and we now know a lot more about the U.S. version of this compact crossover that will go on sale here in the fall. The long-wheelbase U.S.-spec model seen here has similar exterior and interior changes as the short-wheelbase Euro-spec model we saw previously; the trim-level lineup will change, too, and there are some newly available features.

The visual updates include newly standard LED headlights, a different grille, and new wheel designs ranging from 17 to 20 inches. VW’s new logo is present, and there’s a new Tiguan badge now in the center of the tailgate, like on the Atlas. Two new exterior colors are available including Oryx White and Kings Red.

Volkswagen

Inside, the steering wheel is new and an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster is standard. The infotainment system is updated and now offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities on all but the base model. Touch-sensitive climate controls are offered on upper trim levels and capacitive buttons on the steering wheel come standard on R-Line models. Heated front seats are newly standard on the base S trim. The SEL R-Line has a larger 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster and also adds cooled front seats. A brown leather interior is newly offered on the top trim.The Tiguan will still be available with either standard front-wheel drive or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. FWD models come with a third row of seats providing seven-passenger capacity, but the third row is no longer an option on AWD models. That means that the loaded SEL R-Line trim level, which comes standard with 4Motion, is five-passenger-only. The other models include the base S, the mid-level SE, and the SE R-Line which has an appearance package including black wheels.

Volkswagen

There are no changes to the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that comes standard across the board. It makes 184 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque and pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission.VW has yet to announce pricing but we expect it to rise somewhat compared with the 2021 Tiguan. The base S should come in around $27,000, with loaded models topping $40,000.
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A Manthey-Racing kit for the Porsche 911 GT2 RS will be available through dealerships in the U.S. starting next year. The kit includes additional aerodynamic components, magnesium wheels with aero covers, and revised suspension and brakes. Porsche’s Tequipment division will add more performance parts soon including 3D-printed bucket seats. Porsche’s Tequipment parts and accessories division will soon offer performance parts developed in collaboration with its partner Manthey-Racing that are focused on Porsche’s GT models. These parts, which keep the cars street legal, are meant to increase track performance and will be installed by Porsche dealerships.

Porsche

The collaboration starts with a Manthey-Racing kit for the 991-generation 911 GT2 RS that transforms existing owners’ cars into the 911 GT2 RS MR that previously set a Nürburgring lap record for a street-legal car. It consists of a carbon-fiber underbody, revised suspension, upgraded brakes, and additional aerodynamics, which include magnesium wheels with aero blades. Manthey-Racing also offers upgrades for the Cayman GT4 and 991-generation 911 GT3 in Europe. Porsche says that 3D-printed bucket seats that can be custom-fit to any specific person’s body will soon be available as well.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS was the most extreme version of the 991-generation 911, with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six that produces 700 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. It uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that sends power rearward, and in our testing, it reached 60 mph in 2.5 seconds when equipped with the lightweight Weissach package. At our annual Lightning Lap test in 2018, it lapped Virginia International Raceway’s 4.1-mile Grand Course in 2:37.8. The Manthey-Racing kit for the GT2 RS will be available through dealerships in the U.S. starting next year, and pricing has yet to be announced.
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Porsche Classic will now take customer requests for one-off dream cars and build them as part of its Sonderwunsch program. Requests need to be technically feasible, though, and can include exterior and interior customization as well as suspension and powertrain upgrades. Porsche will start this year with three to five customer builds.Porsche Classic, the German automaker’s restoration and parts division, and Exclusive Manufaktur, its bespoke division, are working together to build customers’ cars into special one-off creations. Its Sonderwunsch program will take owners’ requests and transform their car, new or old, into almost anything they want. Customization typically involves transforming the materials in the interior or refinishing the exterior paintwork, but upgrades to the powertrain and suspension components are also now possible.

Porsche

There are a few restrictions, Porsche says. It won’t rebuild any limited-production cars—for example, turning a Cayman into a Boxster Spyder—or copy anything from other brands. “They [customers] still want to have a Porsche,” Alexander Fabig, the head of individualization and Classic at Porsche says. A typical build could be something like a 997-generation 911 GT2 RS finished in Oak Green Metallic, similar to the Carrera GT it built a few years ago, with a Cognac leather interior. The builds need to be technically feasible, too, but Porsche says things like a water-cooled 930 could be possible (if someone wishes to do that).

If Porsche finds the customer’s wishes doable, it invites them to a project meeting, either digitally, in Zuffenhausen, at one of the Porsche Experience Centers in Atlanta or Los Angeles, or even at the customer’s home. The customer acts as the project manager on a team of experts and will be in close contact with them during the entire process with fixed milestone meetings from the brainstorming session to the final stages of the build.

Porsche

Depending on the scale of the project, the ideation process can take up to a year, Porsche says, and it can cost over $100,000. At the end of this stage, the dream transitions into reality and the car gets built. Depending on the vehicle’s age, it could need to be restored first. Porsche expects the builds to take around two to three years, especially if it involves suspension or powertrain components. The finished product must remain a Porsche at heart and comply with Porsche’s quality standards. Porsche will begin this year building around three to five one-0ff customer cars. Two are already in progress. Customers in the U.S. can get in contact with the Sonderwunsch advisors through dealerships or the Porsche Experience Centers, and we’re excited to see what they dream up.
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