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By fitting an electric powertrain into an original Mini, David Brown Automotive’s Mini eMastered takes a 1960s classic into the futurePower comes from an 18.8-kWh battery pack with a 97-hp electric motor. Most importantly, this Mini restomod remains a featherweightThe cost is considerable, but a host of customization options make this little car special.Situated just a scone’s throw from the Silverstone racing curcuit, Northampton-based David Brown Automotive (DBA) is a specialist at coaxing out the best of 1960s Britain. Previous creations include the thoroughly modernized yet coachbuilt Aston Martin DB5–inspired Speedback GT and a variety of restomodded original Minis. The latest new model is called the Mini eMastered, and it brings the classic pint-sized urban terrier into the battery-electric era.The eMastered is fitted with an 18.8 kWh battery which is paired with an electric motor producing 97 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. The torque’s a hefty dollop of grunt for a car this small, but the power rating isn’t far off what a decent tuner can get out of the 1275 cc combustion engine you got in later Cooper models. The real headline here is the 1410-pound curb weight, which is basically identical to the original.David Brown AutomotiveKeeping the battery pack small does limit the range to a still useful 110 miles, but what a cracking little London runabout this thing would be. It’d slip through the city’s Ultra Low Emssions Zone (ULEZ), scampering around corners and fitting into narrow parking bays. DBA claims a 60 mph time of under 8.5 seconds, but with that electric torque, this Mini could really scorch around the financial district on a Sunday morning. Then, pop down to your local pub while the eMastered recharges, which takes about three hours on a 6.6kW AC charger.David Brown AutomotiveWith endless options for customization to create a truly bespoke EV restomod Mini experience, the eMastered really does seem like a Cockney-accented delight. There is, however, the matter of the the cash required to buy it. The eMastered is sized like Piglet but priced like a Heffalump. At $155,000, converted from U.K. currency, you might need to pull your own gold bullion heist before ordering one.Still, as a thoroughly future-proofed and impeccably built version of one of the most charismatic cars ever made, the eMastered is charming. Sure, you could spend the same amount and get some 4000-pound EV crossover with more power, range, and performance. But with a proper Mini, less is more.David Brown AutomotiveMore about MiniContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Built as a homologation special for Group A rallying, the Lancia Delta Integrale could be considered the ultimate Italian hot hatchback.All-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine provide grip and go in all conditions.This example is a limited edition, of which 310 were built.Car and DriverQuick! What company has the most WRC championships? Subaru? Mitsubishi? Audi? Nope. The surprising answer is plucky little Lancia, an Italian automaker that punched above its weight for ages. And there’s no better expression of that rally-bred spirit than the boxy, brawny, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Lancia Delta Integrale.Up for auction on Bring A Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of the Hearst Autos—is a limited edition Delta Integrale built to commemorate Lancia’s sixth WRC championship. It’s number 272 of a run of 310 versions called the Martini 6 Evoluzione and features a lovely Martini racing livery over white paint, and a stunning turquoise interior with red accents.Bring a TrailerThe ordinary Delta was introduced in 1979, and as you’ve probably guessed from its squared-off styling, it was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro—the designer behind the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and the DeLorean DMC-12. Lancia built a Group B version of the Delta that shared nothing with the road car; then, when Group B was canceled for being too dangerous, it produced a homologated road car to meet the rules of Group A rallying.Bring a TrailerThe first Delta Integrale arrived in 1988 and had the same recipe you see in modern WRC rally cars today. All-wheel drive was standard, and in this 1992 example, a Torsen limited-slip rear end is also present. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine, which in this Evoluzione version makes 207 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a five-speed manual.Bring a TrailerIf you’re thinking “Italian WRX,” you’re not far off. With its 15-inch Speedline wheels and adjustable rear spoiler that sticks straight up like the tail of a fox terrier, this pressurized shoebox is pure rally-car fun. The closest modern equivalent is probably the Toyota GR Corolla, and as a practical classic, a Delta Integrale is equally as useful every day. It’s a practical four-door hatchback for running to the grocery store, and then driving home like your pants are on fire. Whoops, broke all the eggs again. Mi scusa.Bring a TrailerDelta Integrales are quite collectible, and this limited edition Martini version is even more so. At this writing, the bidding is knocking on the door of $100,000. The auction ends September 26.Contributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

This content is imported from youTube. 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.EA Sports WRC, from the developers at Codemasters, is the latest installment of video games based on the legendary World Rally Championship racing series.The new game features 200 different rally stages across 11 different locations and over 75 rally cars, new and old.EA Sports WRC will be available on Xbox Series S and Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC November 3.The World Rally Championship is about to embark on its 17th digital appropriation with EA Sports WRC, coming this fall. Using a different software engine created by Codemasters, a developer that’s built some incredibly fun rally video games in the past such as Colin McRae Rally, DiRT 4, and most recently DiRT Rally 2.0, EA Sports promises to deliver rally fans the most comprehensive digital rally experience ever, since the series started in 2001 on PlayStation 2.Oh the Games People PlayEA Sports WRC follows the 2023 WRC season, putting the most aggressive Rally1 cars such as the hybrid-powered Ford Puma, Hyundai i20, and Toyota GR Yaris, in the spotlight. Along with the less powerful offerings in WRC2 from Citroen, Skoda, and Volkswagen, EA Sports WRC gives players a chance to pilot over 75 cars, from as far back as the Alpine A110 1600S of the 1970s. Of course, favorites from rally’s storied Group B era, such as the Ford RS200, Lancia 037 Evo2, and Lancia Delta S4, are available too. A full list of the cars in EA Sports WRC can be found here, which features the very best from 60 years of rally. EA SportsEvery pixel of dirt, tarmac, snow, and gravel is recreated from real WRC events. 18 miles of Rally Mexico’s El Chocolate and the insane Fafe jump from Rally Portugal are in this game, to name a few of the some 372 miles of rally sector. An 18th location featuring the Central Europe Rally, a first in the series, is coming later as part of an update. Sadly, there hasn’t been a WRC event in the United States since 1988, but rumors suggest that could change.According to EA, its switch to the Unreal Engine development software has wrought better environments for rally’s toughest challenges. The stages also see changes in season, which are claimed to create their own unique obstacles to make rally cars react differently to the same sector on a hot summer than they would between the snowy ditches of winter.EA SportsPlayers who enjoyed the physics from Codemaster’s DiRT Rally 2.0 from 2019 might feel a familiar sensation in EA Sports WRC, as the devs used that previous rally game as a baseline to tune its physics model. We’re excited to sample this updated system, especially to experiment with strategy used in the hybrid powertrain found in the real WRC Rally1, which features regenerative braking and an extra electric boost. While we don’t have the full details about online play, EA Sports WRC will offer 32-player cross-platform multiplayer, with challenges and tournaments throughout the year. Another game mode, Moments, will be updated daily and give players a shot at recreating special events from the 2023 season and many of rally’s great moments from the past. A Builder game mode allows players to build, manage, and create their own rally car, with the freedom to create a wild livery of their own.WRC Standard EditionWRC Standard EditionEA Sports WRC launches on November 3, 2023, but as part of a preorder bonus, buying it before then means getting to play it three days early as a perk. Additional liveries and in-game equipment are also included with the preorder bonus. While EA Sports WRC is offered on Xbox Series S and Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC, it’s not available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, or part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Instead, it will be included as part of the EA Play Pro subscription. PC players can purchase it from Steam or Epic Games Store.This content is imported from poll. 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.Associate EditorYes, he’s still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs. More

Honda has built a new V-8 outboard engine for boats called the BF350.It’s a 5.0-liter V-8 that makes 350 horsepower at 5500 rpm.It’s intended for boats 25 feet and longer; pricing isn’t yet available but the BF350 will go on sale next year.Well, it finally happened: Honda built a V-8. Unfortunately, it won’t be showing up in a Ridgeline or a Pilot or an exceptionally boisterous Civic. No, the BF350 is an outboard engine, so if you want to rock Honda V-8 power, you’ll need a boat—and not a small one. Intended for boats 25 feet and longer, the BF350 makes an easy 350 horsepower at 5500 rpm. We’d guess that’s the least amount of power it’ll ever make, since that rating is on bunker-fuel 86 octane and the full throttle range extends to 6000 rpm. (Outboard manufacturers are allowed a 10 percent fudge factor on rated horsepower to account for production variances, which leads to some hilariously underrated motors like the Mercury 200 ProXS—a 4.6-liter V-8 that’s rated at 200 horsepower.)HondaHonda’s new V-8 will please Fox-body Mustang fans with its 302 cubic-inch displacement and rowdy Civic stans with its VTEC variable valve timing and lift (there’s a single cam running those 32 valves). The engine also includes the extremely cool-sounding BLAST system, which stands for Boosted Low Speed Torque and advances ignition timing when the throttle is rapidly opened. That throttle-by-wire system enables cruise control that holds speed regardless of load or sea conditions, and the BF350 is compatible with joystick controls that allow multi-engine boats to basically sidle up to a dock sideways. Honda says the BF350’s 30-degree offset crankshaft is built to the same specifications as the crank in the Acura NSX. HondaThe BF350 is a little bit chunky, weighing in at 765 pounds in its lightest guise. Mercury’s 350 Verado weighs in at 695 pounds, and that’s a 5.7-liter V-10. As for pricing, well . . . Honda says it won’t release pricing until next year, but an inadvertent leak indicated that around $46,000 might be a relevant base price. Outboard pricing is notoriously opaque, but that would make it about the same price as a pair of four-cylinder Yamaha 200s. Thus, as with most engines this size, it’s more likely that the BF350 will end up on big, multi-engine boats rather than on single-engine boats designed for 350 to 400 horsepower. If you dream of driving a V-8 Honda on terra firma, there is a precedent for Honda debuting street-bound technology on the water. In 2002, Honda was all-in on naturally aspirated engines for its cars, but its AquaTrax F12X personal watercraft was powered by a dry-sump, turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder that cranked out 163 horsepower. Did the AquaTrax lead directly to today’s Civic Type R? We’d argue that it certainly didn’t hurt. But even if Honda never gives us a factory V-8 for the street, sooner or later a BF350 will undergo a dunking that results in an insurance write-off. And then, just imagine the Copart possibilities. There aren’t any Honda V-8s on the highway just yet, but if some day in the distant future you see an Insight wearing 5.0 badges, there’ll be an outside chance it’s not a joke.More on Boat EnginesSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More