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    Modernized Ferrari Testarossa Claims a Top Speed of 200 MPH

    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 G70 Shooting Brake Revealed in Full, and We Want One

    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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    2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Updates Detailed for U.S. Version

    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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    Porsche 911 GT2 RS Racing Kit Will Be Available in the U.S. Soon

    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 Build Custom One-Off Dream Cars

    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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    President Biden to Get Advance Look at Ford F-150 Lightning EV

    The Detroit News is reporting, citing unnamed sources, that President Joe Biden will be coming to Detroit to tour Ford’s electric-vehicle facility at the Rouge Complex next week.While there, he’s reportedly getting an advance look at the Ford F-150 Lightning, the automaker’s electric pickup, at least a day before its official reveal on Wednesday, May 19. The president has been forthright in his support for electric vehicles and has called for $174 billion in spending on EV development and infrastructure.UPDATE 5/11/21, 1:30 p.m.: Ford issued a statement via Twitter confirming the Biden visit and adding, “We’re honored to host President Biden at Ford Motor Company and excited to preview for him the new F-150 Lightning and the exciting technologies that made it possible.”Ford has been talking about its electric version of the F-150 pickup for years now, and with the big debut finally coming on May 19, the automaker has festivities planned—even installing a giant projector screen on the side of its World Headquarters building in Dearborn, Michigan. But first, the automaker will reportedly welcome President Biden to Michigan, where he’ll get a sneak peek at the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning ahead of the official unveiling.

    The Detroit News reported, citing unnamed sources, that Biden is expected at Ford on Tuesday, May 18, and will be given a tour of the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center where the Lightning will be built. He’s also expected to get an early look at the pickup and talk to Ford engineers about its development. The News reports he will speak publicly during the visit. (Biden is pictured above visiting the Ford booth at the 2017 Detroit auto show.)Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes $174 billion earmarked for electric vehicles including charging-station infrastructure, with the intention to “create good jobs electrifying vehicles.” A White House fact sheet on the proposal calls the $174 billion an “investment to win the EV market” against foreign competitors.
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    Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Makes Gas Demand Jump

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    After the Colonial Pipeline oil company was hit by hackers Friday, shutting down a massive pipeline that supplies the U.S. East Coast, demand has spiked 20 to 40 percent in anticipation of shortages in the East and now the South.The DOT has issued an emergency declaration for 17 states and D.C., which Colonial Pipeline said will help alleviate the disruptions. The EPA has also issued a fuel waiver of some requirements to allow gasoline to be distributed more freely in affected regions.The FBI said it thinks a gang based in Russia or Eastern Europe launched the attack but did not say the Russian government is involved. If you’re reading this on the East Coast and still drive a gasoline-powered car, you have probably already figured out that there’s a problem with the supply of gasoline. The biggest fuel pipeline in the U.S., around 5500 miles long, was shut down Friday after hackers targeted it, pausing the flow of almost half of the East Coast’s fuel supply. CNN reported that demand for gasoline was up 20 percent in the U.S., and 40 percent in some southern states, on Monday compared with the previous week. The pipeline normally carries around three million barrels of fuel a day, and it might take until the end of this week for things to flow as normal.

    That’s the latest from Colonial Pipeline, the company that was hit by the hack last week. According to reports, the systems were not hacked to try and cause an oil spill or other direct damage, but instead to make money through a ransomware attack. Colonial Pipeline’s online data has been held hostage by unknown actors until the company agrees to pay up or finds another way to get its system back online. The company is trying to do just that. Colonial Pipeline’s website is down—which the company said was unrelated to the ransomware attack—but in a statement posted to Reddit, the company said it “continues to dedicate vast resources to restoring pipeline operations quickly and safely.” Some portions of the pipeline system were taken offline in response to the cybersecurity attack, the company said, and workers are now evaluating if these can be brought back online safely. Colonial Pipeline is owned by Royal Dutch Shell and Koch Industries, as well as foreign and domestic investment firms, the New York Times reported.Bloomberg said a portion of the pipeline from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Baltimore was reopened for a limited time Monday. That allowed some East Coast markets to be reconnected to a “key supply hub.” Colonial said its plan is to have its entire network “substantially back in service” by the weekend, Bloomberg said. While some gas stations in the South and East Coast have run out of fuel, the price of gas nationwide has not been affected. In the meantime, state and federal governments are taking action. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Regional Emergency Declaration for 17 Eastern and Southern states and Washington, DC. that temporarily relaxes restrictions on how long drivers can work in a shift. Colonial Pipeline said this change “should help alleviate local supply disruptions and we thank our government partners for their assistance in resolving this matter.” In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp temporarily suspended that state’s gas tax, so drivers can pay less for gas, if they can find it. Reuters reported that the FBI has said it believes DarkSide, a criminal gang possibly located in Russia or Eastern Europe, is behind the ransomware attack, but the U.S. government has not publicly accused the Russian government of anything related to this hack. The Russian embassy in the U.S. denied Moscow had anything to do with the attack.
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    See the 2021 Ford Bronco's Nearly 200 Available Accessories

    The list of around 200 available accessories for the 2021 Ford Bronco is now live on Ford’s website. Some of the accessories include rock rails, fender flares, seat covers, roof racks, and other off-road equipment. The 2021 Bronco is available in two- and four-door models with either a hard or soft top. When Ford first announced the return of the Bronco last summer, it promised that there would be more than 200 accessories available to customize the off-road SUV. Now you can see all of them, with the full list of accessories and prices available here. Ford offers everything from trail armor to pet harnesses, plus stuff you need to build the new Bronco into a capable overlanding rig.

    Ford

    Bolts with the Bronco logo indicate where certain accessories can be added on the off-roader. There are rock rails (for both two- and four-door models) for $595, trail armor for the front and rear corners as well as the rocker panels, a cool hood scoop for $449, various styles of fender flares, a Bronco R-themed car cover ($969 to $979), a few spare tire covers with different Bronco logos ($80), and custom exterior graphics.

    Ford

    And there are tons of upgrades available to transform the Bronco into an overlanding rig including drawer systems ($670.43), a folding table for the swing gate ($209), a 19-quart portable fridge and freezer ($759), off-road recovery kits from Warn ($149 to $329), tons of roof racks and accessories from brands like Thule and Yakima, and rooftop tents from TEPUI and Yakima. Of course, customers can also equip the Sasquatch package from the factory, which adds things like 35-inch tires and heavy-duty Bilstein shock absorbers.

    Ford is offering plenty of interior accessories, too. There are all kinds of floor mats (the Bronco has available plugs in the floors to rinse them out), Carhartt seat covers ($299–$319), console vaults, and storage bags for the removable doors and roof panels (you can see how to remove the Bronco’s doors, roof, and fenders here). The 2021 Ford Bronco is available in two- and four-door models with hard and soft tops, just like its chief rival the Jeep Wrangler. Trucks that were preordered will arrive this summer, while others will likely have to wait until next year. Pricing starts at $29,995 for the base model.
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