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Maserati is transitioning away from V-8 engines, celebrating the powertrain with two final special editions fitted with the twin-turbo 3.8-liter unit.The Ghibli 334 Ultima unlocks a new top speed of 208 mph, wears more serious performance tires, and comes in a vibrant shade of turquoise.The Levante V8 Ultima features lots of carbon-fiber accents and special badges denoting its limited production status, with only 103 of each being built.When Maserati revealed a new generation of its slinky GranTurismo coupe last fall, the sports car was missing the roaring V-8 that made previous iterations so memorable, instead offering either a twin-turbo V-6 or an all-electric powertrain. That move hinted at a broader demise for the eight-cylinder engine, and now Maserati has announced two special editions—the Ghibli 334 Ultima and Levante V8 Ultima—at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that mark the end of the line for the V-8.MaseratiWill Ghibli Ultima Be the World’s Fastest Sedan?The 2024 Ghibli 334 Ultima takes the brand’s smallest sedan—set to be phased out in the coming years—to the limit. No details on the V-8 were provided, but we presume the Ultima packs the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter unit from the Trofeo model, rated at 572 horsepower. The “334” in the name references the top speed in kilometers per hour, with Maserati raising the Vmax from 203 to 208 mph for the special edition. Maserati claims this makes the Ghibli the fastest sedan in the world, putting it just beyond the 207-mph Bentley Flying Spur Speed.Maserati also says weight savings and new tires helped cut the zero-to-62-mph time from 4.3 to 3.9 seconds but didn’t specify what rubber the 334 Ultima rolls on, only calling it “new performance tires created using a special compound.” A carbon-fiber rear spoiler and 21-inch wheels are said to improve aerodynamics.The vivid blue paint—dubbed Scià di Persia—recalls the first roadgoing Maserati fitted with a V-8: a 1959 5000 GT painted Blu Sera for the Shah of Persia. The 334 Ultima wears carbon fiber on the front bumper, side-view mirrors, window pillars, and door handles, while “334” is painted in a red shade called Rubino on the front fender. The cabin is decked out in Pale Terracotta leather with Maserati’s Trident logo and “334” stitched into the headrest. MaseratiAll about the Levante V8 UltimaThe 2024 Levante V8 Ultima packs the same 572-hp twin-turbo V-8 as the special-edition Ghibli and also comes dressed to the nines in carbon fiber, with the exotic material adorning the front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The Levante will be offered in two shades, Nero Assoluto (black) and Blu Royale, with “V8 Ultima” painted in Rubino on the front fender. The V-8-powered SUV rides on 22-inch wheels, and the interior mirrors the Ghibli with Pale Terracotta leather on the seats and the “V8 Ultima” logo embroidered into the headrest. Both special editions also wear an “una di 103” badge on the transmission tunnel between the seats that notes their limited production status.MaseratiMaserati will build just 103 examples of the Ghibli and 206 examples of the Levante, with 103 units in each color. There’s no word on pricing, but we bet the Ultima editions will cost a decent chunk more than the Ghibli Trofeo’s $125,195 and the Levante Trofeo’s $168,495 base price. Maserati has not yet released photos of the full cars, but we’re expecting to get a better look at the Ultima editions before they go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year.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 News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

British specialty-car firm Caterham has revealed the Project V sports car, which it says will be on sale by early 2026.Unlike other offerings from Caterham, the Project V is shaped like a real sports coupe, complete with a roof and doors.Also different from other Caterhams, the Project V will be electric, targeting 250 miles of range from its 55.0-kWh battery. The British boutique carmaker Caterham has just revealed its next car, referred to as the Project V. As is the fashion these days, the Project V arrives with an electric powertrain. Another change of direction for Caterham is the addition of doors and a roof for the Project V, which is shaped like a modern-day Jaguar C-X75. As things stand now, the Project V arrives only as a concept being shown at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, but Caterham has revealed specifications as well as an expected production time frame. This content is imported from twitter. 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.Although it doesn’t hew to traditional Caterham style, according to CEO Bob Laishley, the Project V still stands by the characteristics that set Caterham apart. That means lightweight, simple, and fun to drive. The manufacturer is aiming for a curb weight of 2623 pounds—or roughly 220 pounds lighter than a Subaru BRZ. Power is set to arrive via a 55.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack connected to a lone 268-hp motor mounted at the rear axle. Caterham claims a zero-to-62-mph time of less than 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. As the Project V isn’t really designed as a grand tourer, Caterham is only targeting a range of 249 miles on the European WLTP cycle. CaterhamCaterhamMore CaterhamThree drive modes keep to the idea of simple: Normal, Sport, and Sprint are all the driver has to choose from. It’s got a control-arm suspension at front and rear, electrically assisted power steering, brake discs all around, and a staggered set of 19- and 20-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Unlike Any Other CaterhamVisually it’s unlike any Caterham we’ve ever seen. The Seven is long, and low, with varying degrees of open wheels and arching fenders, but the Project V swaps all that for a much more mainstream take on a sports coupe. Caterham“A Caterham Seven’s design is simple and minimalist, it’s designed for its intended function, to be lightweight and fun to drive,” said Caterham chief designer Anthony Jannarelly. “With Project V, we’re applying this philosophy to the sports coupé architecture to create a seducing and timeless silhouette. Every single feature has to justify itself from a weight perspective to maintain lightness and optimize driver engagement.”Three SeatsLooking at the Caterham, we can’t help but be reminded of another British concept, the Jaguar C-X75, which shared a strikingly similar front end. The inside of the Project V looks to keep things minimal, with two gauge pods for the driver, a central touchscreen display, and three digital gauges at the center of the dash. Buyers will have the option to order the Project V in a 2+1 layout, with a centrally mounted seat in the rear, or as a more traditional 2+2. CaterhamThe Project V is targeted to go on sale by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026 and carry a starting price at or around $103,000. It’s not clear yet whether there are any plans for it to be officially homologated for U.S. roads or if it will be imported as a kit car like the Seven. 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 News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Available for just two Accord generations, the Honda Accord wagon was a practical Honda from the days before the CR-V existed.This first-gen Accord wagon has just 42,000 miles and is being sold by the original owning family.Recent work includes the all-important timing belt replacement.Car and DriverIn the early 1990s, Honda was flying high. The fifth-generation Civic was thrifty but zippy, the Acura NSX was a performance revelation thanks to the tasseled-loafer input of Ayrton Senna, and the Accord was a reliable and handsome choice for family hauling. Then the big H went one better and turned that Accord into a station wagon: ultimate practicality from a time when a “crossover” was just Run-D.M.C. collaborating with Aerosmith on a rap/rock version of Walk This Way.Bring a TrailerRelated StoriesThis 1993 Accord LX wagon, up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a well-preserved example from the Golden Age of Honda. It has been in the same family since new and has just 42,000 miles on the odometer. Its clean and unfussy lines call back to an era when styling was all about less, not more.In the U.S. market, the wagon variant only existed for two generations of Accord, the fourth and fifth gen. All were built in Ohio at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio, plant, even those sold in Japan. In fact, Honda built a very sporty variant called the Accord wagon SiR, with a 190-hp four-cylinder under the hood; it was built in Ohio but sold in Japan only.Bring a TrailerThis 1993 example is much more subdued, with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine good for 125 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, this particular Honda is less Brazilian F1 god and more farmer’s-market shuttle.Which is not to sell the appeal short. The elegant simplicity of the instrumentation, the well-thought-out cargo area, the nicely bolstered seats, the sensible ergonomics and controls—everything about this Accord is enough to make you nostalgic for the days before touchscreens and smartphone connectivity.Bring a TrailerAs it’s an LX model, the options list isn’t overwhelming, but all the necessities are there. It’s got power windows, air conditioning, and a factory cassette stereo if you want to dig out your ’90s mixtapes. More important, perhaps, this example has had plenty of service in the past six years, including the timing belt. It’s cleaned up and ready to go.Bring a TrailerA pleasant driver with plenty of life left on the odometer and simple serviceability, this Accord wagon will still be on the road years after many a high-tech modern car has bricked itself off to the scrapyard. That’s the wonderful thing about Golden Age Hondas: part of their appeal was that they were an inverse of an exotic. They were lovely to drive, but also asked very little in return.The auction ends on Monday, July 17.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

Ferrari has announced the KC23, a bespoke masterpiece from the company’s Special Projects team in Maranello, Italy. The KC23 blends inspiration from past Ferraris with the thunderous V-8 of a 488 GT3 Evo race car. Ferrari describes the car as being designed for non-competitive track use. It will make its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs from July 13–16.Ferrari has unveiled the KC23, a new, one-of-one bespoke car from the Special Projects program in Maranello, ahead of its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Based on the 488 GT3 Evo race car, with numerous styling cues inspired by past Ferraris, the one-off hints at the future of the prancing-horse brand.The KC23 follows in the wake of past Special Projects cars like the GTC4Lusso inspired BR20, the 812 GTS–inspired SP51, and last year’s F8 Tributo–based SP48 Unica. While each of those cars is road legal, the KC23 is a dedicated track machine.FerrariThe twin-turbo V-8 under the hood carries over from the 488 GT3 race car, but Ferrari hasn’t revealed the maximum output. In the 488 GT3, the FIA limits the car to a maximum of 591 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, but we know the engine is capable of much more than that. Ferrari said as much in its press release, stating, “From the beginning, the KC23 was destined to be radical and untethered from homologation constraints.”That desire to throw caution to the wind shows through with the blend of inspiration taken from Ferrari’s Vision Gran Turismo concept and its Le Mans–winning 499P. Any thought of homologation is completely forgotten with the inclusion of the electronically controlled movable panels along each flank, and huge motorsport-sized removable rear wing at the rear. A thin, low-slung wedge forms the front fascia and immediately breaks into a series of aero elements, including a huge diffuser at the rear of the car. There are two-piece center-lock wheels, and depending on rear wing/side air-vent position, the car’s appearance transforms from a gorgeous, sleek profile to a dominant, capable silhouette. FerrariFerrariThe inside of the KC23 is pulled straight from the 488 GT3 race car, which looks to have enough buttons to warrant a dedicated Crash Course series just to teach the lucky owner what each of them does. The interior looks totally dedicated to track performance, though has the notable inclusion of air conditioning vents to keep the driver cool while setting hot laps. We can also spot a roll cage for safety and a series of three screens in place of a traditional rearview mirror. More FerrariLike every other Special Projects car, the KC23 was purchased by a longtime Ferrari customer, and there’s no word on price. Unlike most other one-off Ferraris, this one has a pretty clear way for fans to see it up close. Ferrari confirmed the car will make a public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. from July 13–16, before going on display at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from August 1 to October 2. 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 News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Koenigsegg revealed the official production specification for the four-seat Gemera, with deliveries scheduled for 2025.The Gemera will now be available with a V-8 hybrid powertrain, churning out 2269 hp and 2028 pound-feet of torque.Koenigsegg will still offer the unorthodox inline-three engine, and the company also designed a new electric motor for the Gemera’s hybrid component.Jaws dropped around the world when Koenigsegg first took the wraps off the Gemera in 2020, with the dramatic four-seat supercar packing 1677 horsepower and an innovative turbocharged three-cylinder engine that doesn’t feature camshafts. Now, three years later, Koenigsegg has unveiled the production specification for the Gemera, bringing major changes including an optional new powertrain that bumps the headlining figure to a mind-bending 2269 hp. KoenigseggMost of the changes for production are under the skin, with only minor tweaks to the front bumper. The Gemera still sports slippery, low-slung bodywork, which looks resplendent in this emerald green shade paired with gold wheels. The only other noticeable visual difference are the real sideview mirrors, which replace the futuristic cameras on the original show car.One of the most significant updates is the inclusion of the Light Speed Transmission (LST), first developed for the two-seater Jesko hypercar. The Gemera was originally designed with the single-speed direct-drive transmission that Koenigsegg pioneered on the Regera, but the Swedish automaker decided to incorporate the Jesko’s nine-speed automatic gearbox into the Gemera. Rechristened as the “Light Speed Tourbillon Transmission” (LSTT), referencing the mechanical precision of fancy Swiss watches, the transmission does away with the flywheel, with the input shaft directly linked to the engine’s crankshaft. This allows for extremely rapid shifts, and Koenigsegg claims it makes the Gemera even more engaging to drive.The 2020 Gemera show car paired that experimental 2.0-liter inline-three with a trio of electric motors, but for the production-spec car, Koenigsegg has simplified the powertrain. This is the result of a new electric motor developed by the Swedish performance experts. Dubbed the “Dark Matter,” the new “Raxial Flux” (a combination of radial and axial flux) motor produces 789 hp and 922 pound-feet of torque. This potent output means the Gemera now packs just the one e-motor, reducing weight and saving space versus the previous setup. KoenigseggThe Gemera is still all-wheel drive with four-wheel torque vectoring, and can power the wheels with the e-motor, the gas engine, or a combination of both. All told, the powertrain spits out 1381 horsepower and 1364 pound-feet of torque—less than originally touted in 2020 but still a mighty figure. Koenigsegg claims acceleration and other performance figures improved due to the weight savings and new transmission, but didn’t offer concrete numbers. For owners disappointed by the three-cylinder-hybrid’s drop in power, Koenigsegg is offering a very enticing upgrade. Along with the inline-three, the Gemera will also be available with the twin-turbo 5.0-liter V-8 from the Jesko. This 1479-hp eight-cylinder beast is still mated to a 789-hp Dark Matter e-motor, sending output for the the Gemera HV8 (meaning Hot V8) skyrocketing to 2269 hp and 2028 pound-feet of torque. Koenigsegg claims this makes the Gemera the most powerful production car.KoenigseggKoenigsegg was only able to offer the V-8 because of the adoption of the LSTT, which freed up enough space to squeeze in the V-8 amidships while still providing adequate room for all four seats. The V-8 also had to be reconfigured from the setup in the Jesko, with Koenigsegg moving the exhaust exits to the top center of the engine, hence the name “Hot V8.” Koenigsegg also opened a new facility at its headquarters in Ängelholm, Sweden yesterday, where it will further develop and later assemble the Gemera. Production is set to kick off at the end of 2024, with deliveries beginning in 2025. There is still no word on price or how much extra the HV8 model will run, but all Gemeras will presumably cost multiple millions of dollars. More Crazy KoenigseggsThis 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 News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More