Bamford X Bentley Mulliner Mulsanne Speed

It’s safe to say that Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke personalization division, has established a reputation for being a purveyor of some of the most unique Bentleys we’ve seen in a long time. That’s what happens when you’re responsible for building one-off to limited edition models for the British auto brand. You’re afforded the freedom to be creative with your work and as far as recent examples are concerned – the Mulsanne Sinjari Edition being one of them – that’s exactly what Mulliner has done. Now, it’s at it again with another creation: a one-off Mulsanne Speed built specifically for George Bamford, the man behind Bamford Watch Department, regarded by many as the U.K.’s premier bespoke timepiece personalization company.

The one-off Mulsanne is formally called the Bamford X Bentley Mulliner and if you’re sensitive to cars that have been turned upside their heads, you might want to look away for this one. But if you can take the proverbial heat, then feast your eyes on this enthralling work by Mulliner.

Like most of the bespoke division’s past works, the Bamford X Bentley Mulliner is more than just an expression of extreme personalization. There’s a story behind the work that Mulliner put into this Mulsanne to make it a true and legitimate one-off piece. Specific materials and methods were used to represent the identity of the BWD brand, and like a true craftsman whose name and reputation are worth the land he’s standing on, Mulliner went over and above it’s own capabilities to create a bespoke Mulsanne that’s unlikely to be replicated anytime soon.

“This is personalization. This is how you do personalization.” This is what George Bamford himself said when he saw the Bamford X Bentley Mulliner.

Wiser words have never been spoken.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Bamford X Bentley Mulsanne by Mulliner

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Porsche 718 Boxster GTS

First introduced in 1996 as the company’s entry-level sports car, the Porsche Boxster is now in its third generation, which was launched in 2012. Redesigned to include styling cues from the 911 and 918 Spyder, the third-gen Boxster also received a new, more rigid chassis, revised engine, and a small weight reduction compared to its predecessor. The engine lineup included three flat-six units at first, but this changed in 2016 when a comprehensive facelift replaced them with smaller, turbocharged flat-four powerplants. The update also brought a new name, with the "718" denomination added to the "Boxster" badge as a tribute to Porsche iconic race car from the late 1950s.

With both the base model and the higher-performance S version already in showrooms, Porsche has two more variants to launch before the fourth-generation car steps in to replace the current one. The models in question are the GTS and the Spyder, and the former has already been spotted testing on public roads.

Not much is officially known about the upcoming 718 Boxster GTS and the test car doesn’t look quite ready to hit the assembly line, but the its design isn’t much of a mystery given the fact that we already know what the base and S versions look like. However, the engine is a complete mystery at this point with two scenario being discussed in recent months. Will the GTS continue to use the naturally aspirated six-cylinder or will it get a turbocharged flat-four? How much extra power will it get over the Boxster S? These are the two most important questions that revolve around the new GTS and I plan to answer them in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS.

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McLaren 570S with Track Pack

A lot of people may associate McLaren as a purveyor of exotic cars, but those who know their McLaren history know that the British automaker traces its roots to the race track. This particular information comes in handy when considering the genesis of the automaker’s new Track Pack option for the McLaren 570S.

Introduced in 2015, the 570S was developed specifically to open McLaren up to a range of new customers, specifically those who don’t have the finances to afford any of the brand’s more exotic lineup of supercars. Despite the description though, the 570S is still a menacing piece of machinery that boasts a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, producing 562 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough power to propel the sports car from 0 to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds to go with a top speed of 204 mph.

Clearly, the 570S isn’t lacking in power and performance, but it was developed to be a road car above everything else. That’s a big reason why the new Track Pack option for the 570S is an important addition to owners of the sports car who may want to get more out of their prized beauty when it hits a race track.

The Track Pack does not include any engine upgrades so let’s get that out of the way. What it does have though are subtle aerodynamic additions that not only makes the 570S lighter, but also more in-tune for the race track. It also comes with cosmetic upgrades courtesy of McLaren Special Operations so let’s not forget about those too.

Consider what the McLaren 570S is in “standard” form and think of what it can turn into when it receives the Track Pack. A slimmer, tighter, and more polished 570S? Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?

Continue after the jump to read more about the McLaren 570S Track Pack.

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2018 Ford Expedition

Ford worked tirelessly to improve the current F-150 by reducing mass and adding efficient turbocharged engines all mounted on a high-strength steel frame. It’s now likely those same advancements will make their way onto the heavily, if not all-new 2018 Expedition SUV. And as our spy photographer caught, the Expedition is currently in development.

The Expedition has traditionally been based on the F-150, though the relation has grown distant over the last few years. Since the second generation, the Expedition has used an independent rear suspension system rather than the F-150’s solid axle and leaf spring setup. Exterior and interior styling also drifted apart from the F-150 for the second generation, which debuted for the 2003 model year. Nevertheless, the two vehicles have shared a close relationship since the Expedition’s introduction for the 1997 model year.

Vast improvements were made for the 2007 model year when Ford introduced the third generation Expedition. It borrowed the then-current F-150’s fully-boxed frame, updated suspension components and geometry, and Ford’s six-speed automatic transmission. A mid-cycle update for 2014 brought Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 into the picture, making it sole engine choice. The twin-turbo V-6 replaced the 5.4-liter Triton V-8, which had replaced the 4.6-liter Triton V-8 before it.

Now as the Expedition moves toward 2018, Ford is reportedly giving this three-row, body-on-frame SUV a full parts list form the F-150, including the updated 3.5-liter EcoBoost, the rumored introduction of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, an all-aluminum body, a stronger yet lighter high-strength steel frame, and styling that mirrors that of the F-150. These improvements will be for both the Expedition and its long-wheelbase brother, the Expedition XL.

Let’s have a closer look at these spy shots of the long-awaited 2018 Ford Expedition.

Update: 11/30/2016 We have created a rendering showing what we suspect the 2018 Ford Expedition might look like. Check out the “Rendering” section for all the details. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Continue reading for more information.

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Mercedes-Benz All-Electric SUV

Believe it or not, the world’s first all-electric cars were invented nearly 200 years ago, offering quiet, easy operation for quick around-town trips (check out my in-depth examination of EVs here). Mercedes-Benz, being the old automotive standby that it is, first got into the EV game in 1906, but like every other major automaker, eventually ditched the batteries in favor of a gas tank. Now, with all-electric transportation once again on the rise, Mercedes has decided to double down on EV investment, and it’s looking like its new major effort will be an SUV. Packing more than 300 miles of range, oodles of luxury, the very latest autonomous tech, and a serious amount of muscle, Merc’s new upcoming model looks to dominate a segment that’s only now starting to emerge.

Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler AG, has been tinkering with EVs here and there for the past few years, with recent offerings including electrified versions of the Mercedes B-Class and Smart ForTwo. But now, with corporate scandal, political pressure, and increasing demand for EVs all coalescing into a single motivating force, the move away from internal combustion seems all but inevitable.

As such, Daimler is pouring billions into EV R&D, and hasannounced plans debut 10 new all-electric vehicles by 2025. The new lineup will fall under the newly created “EQ” sub-brand, and will supposedly stand on “four pillars” – “Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric.”

Ambitious? Absolutely. But apparently, the first EQ offering is nearly complete, debuting in concept form at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year. Merc says the concept is close to production-ready, but concepts can be deceiving, so we took a hard look, figured out what’ll make it to dealers, drew up a rendering, and wrote the following speculative review.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming Mercedes-Benz All-Electric SUV.

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Prepare Your Checkbooks If You Want To Get The Final Production Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne announced last September that the Italian automaker was building a 500th example of the Ferrari LaFerrari that would eventually be auctioned off to benefit the victims of the massive earthquake that devastated Central Italy. No details were given then on the when and where of the auction, but now, the information’s out.

The 500th and last production Ferrari LaFerrari will auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s on December 3 during the Ferrari Finali Mondialia event at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event is being organized by the auction house, in partnership with the National Italian American Foundation’s Earthquake Relief Fund.

Is now the time to remind all of you to prepare those checkbooks? I can’t be certain, but seeing as this particular LaFerrari will go down in Ferrari history as the “LaFerrari that wasn’t supposed to exist,” it’s going to fetch a lot of money from collectors looking to score one of the most famous LaFerraris in the model’s entire lineup.

In addition to being the fastest and most powerful Ferrari in history, the LaFerrari is historic for a number of other reasons, not the least of which is its status as the first Ferrari to utilize a hybrid powertrain. That status is afforded to all 500 LaFerraris, but only one can lay claim to not being part of the automaker’s planned first production run.

That one Ferrari LaFerrari will go under the hammer this Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida. Here’s what I do know: don’t expect this LaFerrari to be sold for the price of any of the “standard” models. Nope. $1.3 million may have gotten you any of the 499 LaFerrari models before it, but seeing as this is the 500th production model, don’t expect it to fetch for anything less than $2 million, and that may even be a conservative estimate.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Nissan GT-R by Alpha-N Performance

The Nissan GT-R is one of the cars in this world that can hold its own against any other performance vehicle. It may not have the power figures of other exotic vehicles, but it’s a load in itself to deal with on any road surface. Now imagine what the GT-R is capable of if you put it in the hands of an aftermarket tuner. Okay, that’s a rhetorical question because we all know what a tuned GT-R can do. What we’re here for is Alpha-N Performance, the German tuner that has been up to his head developing tuning programs this year, including its latest pride and joy for, you guessed it, the Nissan GT-R.

The program itself is relatively straight-forward, at least when you compare it to some of the previous works of Alpha-N Performance, including the BMW M2 and Mercedes-AMG GT R. In fact, if you line up those two kits with the one the German tuner prepared for the GT-R, the latter is tame by comparison.

Not that it’s going to matter because the GT-R is already a powerhouse in its own right. All Alpha-N Performance is doing here is massaging Godzilla’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine and giving it an extra bump in power and performance. Even better, the cost of availing this upgrade is cheap – it doesn’t even reach four figures – and owners of the GT-R R35 should have no problem giving their supercars an extra shot in power.

Given how some tuners have taken over-the-top approaches in building tuning kits for the GT-R, it’s a good sign that there’s another aftermarket company out there willing to take a different approach on Godzilla.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Nissan GT-R by Alpha-N Performance.

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BMW 6 Series Convertible

The BMW 6 Series is currently in its third-generation and went through a minor update for the 2015 model year. Just recently our photographers caught the next-gen 6 Series Coupe doing some real world testing, and just weeks later, we finally got our hands on shots of the next-gen 6 Series Convertible. The exterior of the next-gen model will change a little to freshen things up, but the real news is what’s happening below the skin. The new 6 Series is expected to shed a few pounds in the chassis department, get some new technology on the inside, and get a healthy selection of powerplants that will produce enough power to keep competing models like the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet and the Audi S5 Cabriolet at bay.

But, the 6 Series has one major problem, and that’s its starting price point. While similar offerings from the likes of Mercedes and Audi start out in the $60,000 range, the 6 Series starts out closer to $90,000. That’s a hard sell in any market, but with the next-gen model expected to debut as a 2018 model, it will at least be fresh inside and out, and will hopefully come out of the gate a little quicker thanks to that lighter chassis. We still have a while to wait before we get to see the new 6 Series in the metal, but let’s take a good look at the first round of spy shots and talk a little more about what’s coming in 2018.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 6 Series Convertible.

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2018 Mercedes-AMG G63

It’s no secret Mercedes is preparing its next generation of G-Class – the go-anywhere luxury SUV that started life nearly 40 years ago as a military truck. Spy shots and rumors have surfaces regarding the upcoming Geländewagen, or G-Wagen, but no news has surfaced about Mercedes’ sportier version built under the AMG badge. That has all changed now thanks to our lucky spy photographer who captured a camouflaged test mule running around the hills of Spain.

The new generation of G-Wagen, even sans-AMG badge, is visibly larger than the outgoing model. Its track is wider, its wheelbase is slightly longer, and the overall height seems to be slightly increased. All this in the name of interior comfort and on-road driving dynamics, rumors suggest. The current G-Wagen is notorious for its cramped, outdated interior. Mercedes is undoubtedly ready to update its most iconic and longest-lived platform.

Concerning the AMG version seen here, it’s wearing a taller bumper with larger air scoops, AMG-specific wheels, and wider fenders that accommodate the wider tires. We’ve compiled all the rumored into a speculative review, so keep reading for the all the info.

Continue reading for the full review.

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How Will Virtual Reality Affect The Car World?

‘Tis the season to be buying stuff, and so far, 2016 is looking like it’s pushing virtual reality headsets as the number one hot ticket item. But unlike a Tickle Me Elmo (oh God, I’m old), VR tech has a very real potential to upend a variety of well-established industries, including the automotive space. There’s no way to know for sure what’ll happen until VR hits the mainstream in a major way, but in the interim, we can put on our collective thinking caps and do a little chin scratching.

If we were to guess, VR will probably benefit the car world in some ways, while hampering it in others. The net effect most likely won’t fall definitively on either side of the fence – rather, the technology will simply change the industry, transforming it in potentially unexpected ways.

Of course, what follows is little more than a few educated guesses. Got some insight of your own? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Continue reading for our take on how virtual reality will affect the car world.

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What Can We Expect From The Alpine A120 And Its Hotter Variants?

Renault’s long drawn out plan to bring back the Alpine brand is now taking shape with the arrival of the mid-engined Alpine A120 sports car. The sports coupe is expected to make its debut at the start of 2017 ahead of the planned release sometime in the third quarter of the year. But new details have emerged about the Alpine A120 as there now appears to be plans to expand the brand’s lineup with different variants of the A120.

Word from Autocar reveals that a convertible is expected to follow the coupe in due time and a high performance variant is also in the pipeline. Details surrounding these additional variants are still being kept under wraps, but it is understood that both models are already in “advanced” development so information about them could be coming sooner than later.

For now, all eyes are on the A120 as it gears up for its long-awaited unveiling, which in itself has been years in-the-making as a result of several false starts that plagued the project. But now that it’s getting close to finally becoming a real thing, the expectation is that the A120 will be using a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will develop close to 300 horsepower, giving it a higher output than both the 240-horsepower Alfa Romeo 4C and right about the same figure as the Porsche 718 Cayman. All of the power generated by the A120’s turbo four will likely course through a revised version of the Renault Clio RS’s six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just under 4.5 seconds.

Once sales for the A120 commences next year, the sports coupe is tipped to get a starting price of about £50,000 to £55,000, or the equivalent of about $53,000 to $58,000 based on current exchange rates. Alpine managing director Michael van der Sande also hinted that production for the car could range from 5,000 to 7,000 units on an annual basis with models being sold in a handful of dealerships across Europe. Don’t expect the A120 to hit U.S. shores anytime soon.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette was unveiled in early 2013 and introduced for the 2014 model year. It replaced the nine-year-old C6 and essentially changed the way enthusiasts viewed the Corvette thanks to its significant upgrades. Besides the more angular and aggressive styling, the C7 also received a revamped interior that no longer made use of cheap plastics. The cabin was finally moved into premium territory, putting an end to decades of criticism. Under the hood, the ’Vette continues to use a naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter V-8 powerplant, but the old LS3 was replaced with the brand-new LT1.

While it spawned the usual supercharged Z06 and race-spec R versions, as well as a Grand Sport and numerous limited-edition models, the seventh-generation Vette entered its third model year without a range-topping ZR1 in its lineup. A successor to the most powerful version of the C6 was rumored ever since the standard C7 arrived in dealerships, but in three years we got nothing more than unconfirmed rumors and speculation. Actually, at some point GM did say that a ZR1 won’t happen, and then the upcoming mid-engined Corvette, likely called the Zora, caught our entire attention.

The supercharged ’Vette gained more traction in May 2016, when General Motors filed a trademark for the "ZR1" name. Although a trademark doesn’t necessarily mean the car in question is actually coming, the spy shots we received from our paparazzi in the second half of 2016 pretty much confirm there’s a new ZR1 underway. The high-performance coupe is expected to arrive for the 2018 model, meaning that its official debut could take place in early 2017. Keep reading for more info on the new ZR1 and stay tuned for updates.

Updated 11/29/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Corvette ZR1 out for a new testing session. When compared to the previous prototypes, this new one dropped significant camouflage, meaning its world debut is imminent.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

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TopSpeed's Top 5 Automotive Leftovers

If you’re like me, you’re probably just coming around from your annual post-Thanksgiving tryptophan-induced coma, and paired with your newfound consciousness is a renewed hunger for all those delicious dishes chilling out in the fridge. As long it’s properly stored, the extra turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy will last for a while – kinda like a well maintained used car. So in that spirit, we’ve put together a list of five older enthusiast cars ready for Round Two.

As you might suspect, we’ve focused primarily on performance and fun factor behind the wheel for this list, but daily drivability, reliability, and cost to own were also factored in.

So then – are you picking through the automotive cupboard looking for something to satisfy? If you answered “yes,” then consider the following tasty possibilities…

Continue reading for our list of Top 5 Automotive Leftovers.

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Tesla Software 8.1 Coming In A Few Weeks Will Unlock Enhanced Autopilot

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally pinned down a date for the arrival of the 8.1 version of the automaker’s “Enhanced Autopilot” software suite, replying to a tweet from a new Tesla Model S owner and saying the new software will go live in “about three weeks” and that its features will be rolled out “incrementally in monthly releases.”

Musk’s response is not as specific as we’d like it to be, but it does fit into the company’s previous statement that the autonomous functions to the new system would only be enabled as soon as the new Autopilot hardware has been validated and calibrated through real-world driving by owners of the Model S and Model X. The automaker’s “Tesla Vision” system is expected to enhance the car’s autonomous driving features and leading to it being capable of Level 5 full autonomous driving by 2018.

To get there, Tesla, according to Musk, will be making monthly updates to the system to add new features into the mix and restore old features like lane keep assist, self-parking, active cruise control, and self-parking. All these features were disabled when Tesla introduced Autopilot 2.0 last month, saying that it was done to “further calibrate the system.”

Now that these features are expected to return in the coming weeks, the clock now starts for Tesla to see through its goal of taking Autopilot 2.0 to levels that its predecessor couldn’t attain. The electric carmaker has never been the type to shy away from setting lofty goals for itself and it did so during Autopilot 2.0’s “surprise” announcement last October when it laid out a timetable to get Tesla models built in 2016 to advance to level 3 autonomy in the coming months, before moving on to level 4 autonomy and then to level 5 autonomy in two years’ time.

That said, these updates are still “subject to regulatory approval” so that’s another angle that owners of the Tesla Model S and Model X should pay attention to once the first wave of Autopilot 2.0’s software updates goes live.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Mercedes G-Class G-Cross by Hofele Design

The Mercedes G-Class’ appeal is undeniable, even if it caters to a specific clientele. Let’s face it; it’s the only Mercedes model that flies against the company’s existing design language with a utilitarian look that hits off well with the same people who enjoy models like the Jeep Wrangler and the Land Rover Defender. But the G-Class’ appeal also extends to the tuning world where a handful of aftermarket companies have developed kits specifically for the off-road conquering SUV. Most of these kits revolve around the AMG G63, but every so often, a tuner comes by with a kit specifically for “lesser” variants of the G-Class. Here then is Hofele Design, one of the most renowned German tuners in the business, and it’s presenting the “G-Cross,” a tuning program for the G-Class with an extra engine tune specifically for the G350 Diesel variant.

Hofele Design has also taken pride in being different so it’s no surprise that the G-Cross program follows that template. Remember when it developed an Audi R8-inspired kit for the convertible variant of the Audi A5 back in 2009? The G-Cross kit isn’t audacious as that program, but it does come with upgrades that alters the G-Class’ overall look, which in itself is a challenge considering that Mercedes has resisted on making sweeping aesthetic changes of its own.

The program itself is admittedly not for everyone, but for those who want their G-Class SUVs to get a different look, this kit is certainly worth a look or two. At the very least, you can take comfort knowing that the G-Cross tuning program is from a German tuner that has been in the business for more than 30 years. You don’t get to have that kind of longevity in a business as cutthroat as the aftermarket auto tuning scene without knowing what you’re doing.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Mercedes G-Class “G-Cross” by Hofele Design.

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Are Automakers Force Feeding Us Subliminal Messaging in Regards to Autonomous Vehicles?

With fully-autonomous cars on the horizon, automakers and regulatory boards everywhere are pushing the envelope as hard as possible. We keep hearing about how great, safe, and time-saving a world full of autonomous vehicles will be, but do you honestly hear anyone you know saying something like “I can’t wait for self-driving cars” or “I’m so ready to give put my life in the hands of some complex computer algorithms?” No, you probably don’t, and some studies even show that a majority of people aren’t ready to give up the steering wheel. But, autonomous cars are still being pushed on us anyway, with new vehicles including semi-autonomous features like automatic braking and adaptive cruise control built in without the user option to disable.

Then there’s Tesla who’s practically heading off the self-driving idea and allowing its customers to put their life and that of others in risk to help build awareness that the technology is safe. Still, there are lots of people who enjoy driving, and will do their best to not give up the wheel, myself included. So, what’s the best way to build trust in something new with the masses quickly and efficiently? Easy, force them to use the features (think emergency braking) then subliminally convince them to trust those systems via tacky and annoying commercials.

There are quite a few out there, but I’m just going to highlight two because they are perfect examples of what I’m talking about. Let’s dive in.

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Rezvani Beast Alpha

The Rezvani Beast came to be in 2014, less than a year after Rezvani Motors was established in 2014. Developed as a street-legal race car, the Beast is based on the British-made Ariel Atom, using not only its lightweight chassis, but Honda Racing engine too. Much like any carmaker focused on track-ready, limited-production cars, Rezvani focuses on creating various versions of its original sports car rather than developing new products. The initial Beast was followed by a Speedster version in 2016, while the 2017 model year brought the Beast X, Rezvani’s quickest and most powerful vehicle to date. At the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Rezvani unveiled yet another variant of the Beast, called the Alpha.

Although much of the styling is identical to any other Beast we’ve seen so far, there are two very important features that set the Alpha apart. First, it has a targa-style roof. Granted, it’s removable and turns the car into a proper roadster, but when in place, it provides the comfort of a regular coupe, as well as better aerodynamics. Second, the Alpha uses a Lotus-derived chassis instead of the Ariel Atom underpinnings found in other Beast models. Third, the engine is turbocharged rather than supercharged. Finally, it comes with a rather unconventional door system, which Rezvani dubbed "SideWinder."

Despite the updates, it’s not significantly more expensive than the standard Beast ,which is a real treat given that the limited-edition Beast X had a nearly 60-percent premium. But let’s find out more about that as well as what makes the Alpha special in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Rezvani Beast Alpha.

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Volkswagen Arteon

Back in 2007, Volkswagen thought it would be a good idea to develop a large coupe with a heavily sloped roof. Some of you from way back then know it as the Passat CC, while more recently it has dropped the “Passat” name. Volkswagen had big ambitions for the CC, calling it a “sports sedan” and projecting sales of at least 300,000 over the first seven years of production. But, the CC is often overlooked and has performed very poorly. Fast forward to today and VW has released a sketch of its next new model, the Volkswagen Arteon, that will presumably replace the CC in Volkswagen’s lineup. VW has said very little as far as details go, but we know it will use a stretched version of the MQB platform, will have a fastback-like design, and is said to “emphasize emotionality in the upper mid-class.”

Alright, let me wipe VW’s PR juice from my lips real quick… Okay, now that we’re done with the marketing talk, let’s talk about practicality for a moment. If you take a look at the sketch provided by VW and the side profile of the current Volkswagen CC (currently out of production, by the way) you’ll see that the two models are very similar. Furthermore, there’s also some familiarity to the 2015 Volkswagen Coupe Concept GTE – a model that was said back then to be a successor of the CC. The sketch and the Sports Coupe Concept GTE also look like another model that we’ve seen before: The new Porsche Panamera. So, where VW has a chance to reinvent something in its current lineup that has experienced poor sales, the brand has decided to chop the roof a little, borrow some stuff from the Panamera’s parts bin, and come up with a new name for it, ultimately pushing it as a new model. It’s not very practical, now is it?

All of that aside, perhaps the Arteon will sell better than the CC just because it has updated looks and a roof that’s slung a little lower. It will make its world debut at the Geneva Auto Show and is expected to launch in the summer months of 2017. But, before that happens, let’s take a closer look at the sketch and the included video so we can talk a little more about it.

Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Arteon.

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Did You See Ram's Thanksgiving Day Commercial?

Ram Trucks aired a deep, thought-provoking commercial on Thanksgiving Day, honoring the unsung heroes of the blue-collar class. Called “Praise,” the 90-second TV spot mentions things hard-working folks commonly be thankful for – and some things that aren’t generally though of. One string of poetry reads, “Praise the line worker and the line, praise the foreman and the floor, praise the second shift early Saturday, praise the candle lit at both ends…”

The commercial aired during NFL football games on CBS and FOX on Thursday, November 24, 2016. It combined with Ram’s heavy appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade earlier that day. For two years now, Ram has been the official truck of the Macy’s Parade where 25 Ram trucks pulled the floats down the crowded streets of New York City.

“Praise” isn’t the first poetic commercial Ram has produced that targets blue-collars. Ram debuted “Farmer” during the 2013 Super Bowl – an iconic and picturesque two-minute piece with moving images of farmers hard at work mixed with the original reading of famed radio host Paul Harvey’s “And God made a Farmer” speech.

Ram also appealed to women in its 2015 TV commercial, “Courage.” The spot contained motivational words about harnessing inner strength and prevailing against the odds, with imagines of conquering the elements of Mother Nature and the inner demons of self-doubt.

Don’t count of “Praise” being the last heart-felt commercial we see from Ram. These spots seem to be garnering tons of attention and acclaim. Let up know what you think in the comments below.

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Is Toyota Eyeing Mercedes-AMG With Its Own Performance Division?

Back in June 2016, Tetsuya Tada, the lead engineer behind the Toyota 86 sports car, was quoted by Car Advice, voicing his opinion about the possibility of Toyota creating its own performance division to rival that of Mercedes-AMG, as well as BMW’s M Division and Audi’s quattro GmbH. Fast forward five months and a new report, this time from Autocar, is saying that Gazoo Racing, the Japanese automaker’s racing division that houses both Toyota and Lexus Racing, is looking to gain entry, or “increase its presence,” in road car markets outside of Japan.

The new report quotes no less than Koei Saga, the top man of both Gazoo Racing and Toyota’s own powertrain division. Speaking with the British website, Saga made no qualms about his “intention” for Gazoo Racing to be more active in Toyota’s road car affairs, indicating that it’s about time that the Japanese automaker’s road car and racing activities develop a more comprehensive relationship than it has in the past.

Saga didn’t immediately confirm plans to turn Gazoo Racing into Toyota’s equivalent of Mercedes-AMG or BMW’s M Division, but he certainly didn’t mince his words regarding his intentions for the racing division, going so far as to say that he’s already “working on that so we can have a brand like [BMW’s] M brand.”

Turning Gazoo Racing into a performance car brand is huge deal, especially if it follows a similar template that its German rivals have done with their own performance divisions. The obvious takeaway here is that a Gazoo division would have to include a family of performance cars that could either include sporty versions of Toyota’s existing line or new models altogether, including the upcoming Supra sports coupe.

Obviously, there are still plenty of details to be hashed out from his major development, not the least of which is how Toyota plans to navigate around the business complexities of creating a performance division. There’s also the issue of timetable, something that’s going to be difficult to answer at this point considering that the Japanese automaker has yet to officially confirm – or deny – these plans.

Rest assured though, a Toyota performance division is a huge deal, and one that, quite frankly, is a long time in the making.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Performante

The Lamborghini Huracan made its public debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It replaced the Gallardo, the company’s best-selling model as of 2016, in the lineup and became Lambo’s entry-level supercar. Slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, the Huracan employs a different styling language compared to the Huracan, featuring lines derived from the range-topping Aventador. The design include sharper cues, more pronounced side skirts, and a more aggressive stance overall. The cabin has been redesigned to a modern appearance with a flat dashboard and a six-sided instrument cluster that houses a massive, 12.3-inch TFT screen. Much like its predecessor, it comes with the finest materials for the upholstery and aluminum and carbon-fiber trim. Under the hood, the 5.2-liter V-10 was updated for more horsepower and improved fuel economy.

Two years have passed since the Huracan was unleashed on public roads and the supercar is already highly popular, selling more than 3,000 units since its introduction. The Huracan also spawned a Spyder model, as well as race-spec Super Trofeo and GT3 models. And, Lambo is still working on new iterations, with a higher-performance Superleggera being readied for production as we speak. Also, a recently applied trademark for the Huracan Performante name suggests that a lighter, more powerful version of the Spyder is also in the works, and it’s this specific model we’ll be discussing in the speculative review below.

The news that Lambo may be working on a Performante variant of the Huracan Spyder is by no means surprising and the name is far from new. It was first used on the Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, essentially a convertible version of the Gallardo Superleggera. The high-performance drop-top was introduced in 2011 and remained in production until the Gallardo was phased out in 2013. Granted, it’s a bit early for a Huracan Spyder Performante given that the Gallardo version arrived eight years after the supercar’s debut, but the demand for special cars is so big right now that Lamborghini will most definitely bring it out sooner. I expect it to break cover by the end of 2018.

Updated 11/28/2016: Based on the recent speculations, we created a rendering for the upcoming Spyder Performante. Let us know in the "comments" section below what do you think about it.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Performante.

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McLaren F1 GTR "Longtail" Turns 20, Gets Artistic Photo Shoot

The McLaren P1 supercar may be all modern and fancy with its fresh looks and hybrid drivetrain, but F1, which was launched more than decades ago gets nearly as much attention nowadays. Introduced in 1992 as the most innovative supercar of its time, the F1 went racing in 1995 and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its maiden season. In November 1996, McLaren rolled out an upgraded GTR "Longtail" model, which wasn’t as successful as the original GTR on the race track but it’s considered one of the most exotic McLarens ever built. With the "Longtail" exactly 20 years old as of November 2016, McLaren celebrates by releasing a handful of high-res pictures of a Gulf-liveried example.

Developed for the 1997 racing season, the GTR "Longtail" featured a much longer nose and rear section, wider fenders and a bigger rear wing. A complete redesign rather than just an update, the "Longtail" boasted improved aerodynamic downforce in order to compete with prototypes such as the Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR. Unlike the exterior, the interior carried over from the standard GTR, but McLaren added a new steering wheel, gear shifter, and center stack.

More changes were operated under the hood, where a stroke reduction brought the BMW-sourced 6.1-liter V-12 down to 6.0 liters in an attempt to prolong its life and improve reliability. The gearbox was also replaced with a new X-trac six-speed sequential transmission with quicker shifts. FIA-spec cars were still limited to the 600-horsepower output imposed by the air restrictor, but cars entered in other series had their engines tweaked to generate as much as 900 horses. For a race car that tipped the scales at only 2,018 pounds, it was downright amazing.

But, despite its redesigned aerodynamics, the F1 GTR "Longtail" was unable to compete with the new Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, which won the FIA GT championship with a comfortable lead. The McLaren teams finished second and third in the standings in what became the F1’s final official season in GT racing. At the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GTR finished second and third, behind the seemingly unbeatable TWR Porsche WSC-95, but ahead of the 911 GT1 and several LMP cars. An impressive performance given the circumstances; one that McLaren takes great pride in given that the anniversary photo shoot was made with the Gulf-liveried, No. 41 "Longtail" that finished second at Le Mans in the hands of Jean-Marc Gounon, Pierre-Henri Raphanel and Anders Olofsson.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Hyundai i30 Wagon

Sold as the Elantra GT here in the U.S. and the Hyundai I30 in the rest of the world, Hyundai’s resident hatchback entered its third generation for the 2017 model year. The four-door hatchback has already made its debut, featuring a new, angular look on the outside with a cleaner and more modern layout on the inside. Standard technology includes things like a rear-view camera, phone connectivity via Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto, or Apple Car Play. Under the hood, the I30 came complete with a handful of engines that includes a new, turbocharged four-banger that delivers 138 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Now that the four-door hatch has made its debut, it should come as no surprise that our camera crew caught the longer i30 wagon putting in some work.

In most cases, shorter models turned wagon usual differ very little, but Hyundai has gone to considerable lengths to cover up this prototype. It should be identical to the four-door hatch from the rear doors forward, but the excessive wrapping and padding could suggest that there are some other differences to be found when the i30 Wagon bares it all. So far, it looks like the third-generation i30 lineup will include a four-door hatch, a four-door coupe, and this wagon. But it’s not all gravy because that means it’s unlikely that we’ll see the sportiest of all, the three-door i30 hatch, in this generation.

So, we’ll go ahead and let that sink in a little as we talk a little bit about this wagon and what it will bring to the third-generation i30 lineup.

Continue reading to learn more about the Hyundai i30 Wagon.

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Learn How to Obsessively Clean Your Car's Wheels: Video

Have you ever wondered what goes into keeping a car looking better than new? For most of us, cars are a tool of life, but there are some people out that literally spend an entire day each week to cleaning and perfecting their car inside and out. To put it into perspective, the $100 details offered by your local car wash make your car like clean and misguidedly like new, but a real, obsessive detail will set you back hundreds of dollars and at least a day’s worth of time. One part of obsessive detailing means keeping your wheels clean. It can be extremely difficult if you have to drive your car in the winter and don’t have winter wheels, but the guys over at AMMO have put together a video. describing just what goes into keeping wheels car-show clean as well as the brake system and the wheel wells.

You’ll want to watch the whole video to get the full gist of what you’ve got to do, but in short, there are multiple steps to cleaning your wheels that will seem obsessive to most, but a necessity to the few who take pride in having the cleanest and best looking cars out there. And, if this seems like too much to you, that’s okay – it’s not for everybody. But, if you have a really nice car that you like to show off, and you do a lot to keep the body and paint in awesome condition – I’m talking about mirror-like shine – then you probably want to go to the extent of excessively cleaning the wheels, wheel wells, and brake system. Even if this kind of obsessive car care isn’t for you, now you’ll understand why someone who is that into it will freak out over a small scratch or some dirt when it wouldn’t make you think twice.

With that said, go ahead and click play, then let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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BMW Brings New M Performance Parts To Essen Motor Show

As the calendar year draws to an end, the Essen Motor Show comes to conclude the year of European motor shows with numerous tuning, motorsport, and track-race production models. The organizers expect more than 300,000 visitors to come to the exhibition halls at Essen’s Grugapark, which will have a wide array of cars and aftermarket products on display, including many from BMW.

The German automaker will bring its latest M Performance parts to Essen, as well as eight vehicles, including the M240i Convertible and the M2 Safety Car. The public will also be able to demonstrate their racing talent at the “DTM M4 Driving Simulator” by following in the tracks of Marco Wittmann, the newly crowned DTM champion.

As for the actual performance parts, BMW will introduce a handful of upgrades for the M3 and M4. First up, there’s carbon rear wing made entirely of carbon-fiber with the struts sporting M motorsport stripes in blue, red, and violet, and "Performance" lettering on the sides of the blade. The coupe and sedan will also get an M Performance suspension that will enable drivers to adjust ride height between five and 20 mm (0.2 and 0.8 inches) via a spring plate on the front and rear spring struts. The coil springs are painted red for a motorsport-inspired look. Both the carbon wing and the suspension system will be offered starting summer 2017.

The M3 and M4 will also get something new under the hood. Unfortunately, I’m not talking about power upgrades, but the new carbon engine cover should make a few enthusiasts happy. Made from hand-crafted, high-quality carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, it will give the M3 and M4 a race-inspired look under the lid.

The BMW booth will also showcase the brand’s new M Performance Accessories, including an Alcantara steering wheel with carbon trim and race display, gear selector lever and carbon handbrake grip with Alcantara bellows, 19-inch, double-spoke 405 M Bicolour alloy wheels, black matt rear diffuser, and carbon tailpipe trims. All these parts will be exhibited on an upgraded M240i Convertible model.

Continue reading for the full story.

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