Saturday 4 November 2017

CARSCOOPS

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A Nissan Juke Was Modded For All Things Rallying

Posted: 04 Nov 2017 03:56 AM PDT


When you're building a rally car, it's usually something that's fundamentally sporty, which should all but eliminate the Nissan Juke from contention.

Yet, owner Lars Wolfe built this 2013 Juke as the so-called "multipurpose racer", modifying it for hill climb events, rally, road courses, rallycross and pretty much anything else rally-related.

While it's powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection factory unit, the engine underwent several modifications, including a custom turbocharger and ECU tuning. In other words, this is definitely not your girlfriend's Juke.

As for the interior, it's been stripped down and properly customized to handle rallying, which obviously means no backseat, a pair of Sparcos in the front, roll cage, the works.

So what's it like to drive on canyon roads? Pretty fun and mighty loud, according to The Smoking Tire's Matt Farah. He deemed the steering feel as being very precise, the brakes were good (even though the car has no ABS and the wheels can lock up) and so was the acceleration.

VIDEO

Is VW Planning An Insane Polo R Powered By The Golf R's Engine?

Posted: 04 Nov 2017 02:54 AM PDT


Volkswagen is looking to expand the R family with hot versions of the T-Roc and a replacement for the Scirocco R, but the meanest of them all could be the Polo R.

Citing insiders with knowledge on the matter, Autocar says that the German automaker has built several prototypes of the Polo R, for evaluation purposes.

These are apparently powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit that's used in the Golf R, developing around 300hp. Moreover, since the Polo shares most nuts and bolts with its larger compact sibling, it could also adopt its four-wheel drive system, for improved traction and stability.

However, as exciting as it may sound, developing a Volkswagen Polo R with this specification has a few downsides for the automotive giant. Firstly, it will not only be faster than the Golf GTI, but probably the Golf R too, and secondly, its price will skyrocket, so making a decision won't be easy.

The same powertrain could also be used by sister brands Skoda and Seat, thus forcing the competition to go above and beyond.

Note: VW Polo R WRC Limited Edition pictured

PHOTO GALLERY

2019 Ford Focus ST Estate Might Get A 1.5-Liter Turbo With Over 270 Horses

Posted: 04 Nov 2017 01:50 AM PDT


Ford is working on putting the final touches to the fourth-generation Focus, which is expected to debut early next year.

Spied in motion while lapping the Nurburgring, this prototype won't give any hints as what's found beneath the new sheet metal, but our spy photographers, which caught the exact same car on camera last month, say that it's an ST.

Some design differences over previous scooped models can be seen in the front end, which appears to be sportier, in addition to the roof-mounted spoiler, double tailpipes, and chunky five double-spoke alloy wheels.

Some sources have suggested that the new generation Ford Focus ST will drop the current 2.0-liter gasoline unit in favor of a smaller 1.5-liter turbo'd engine that could develop up to 275hp.

At this point, it remains uncertain whether the 2.0-liter diesel powertrain, which proved its popularity in Europe, will be downsized too, or if it will be upgraded with new software and hardware meant to drop its CO2 emissions.

Apart from the ST grade, the new-gen Ford Focus will be offered with a variety of three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and it appears that electrification is going to be part of the package, with PHEV and zero-emission models coming as well.

VIDEO

McLaren Could Bring Back Iconic Papaya Livery In F1 Next Year

Posted: 04 Nov 2017 12:43 AM PDT


If you're still having trouble associating orange with McLaren's Formula 1 team, allow us to take you back to the late 1960's when the British outfit became a winning force.

McLaren first switched to an orange livery in F1 in 1968, inspired by rival liveries in Can-Am sports cars. The color was short lived, as they went with a predominantly white paint scheme in 1972, but by then, the team had already won at Spa, Monza and Mont-Tremblant.

Right now, McLaren-Honda is using an orange and black livery, but next year they could opt for the Papaya option, like on the car Fernando Alonso drove at the Indy 500 this year.

The decision also depends on the outcome of ongoing talks with potential 2018 sponsors, reports F1i.

"We are starting to look at car designs now," said McLaren's Zak Brown. "I think the fans want us to go to Papaya Orange for sure. When we did the IndyCar we had an overwhelming amount of 'Please make your F1 car like that'. We are waiting on a few sponsor decision which also can dictate what a car looks like. I wouldn't rule it out."

Still, unlike Force India, McLaren won't re-brand its livery completely just to suit a single sponsor.

"We have all sorts of designs going on, but we need to see where we land on some of the sponsor activity and that will dictate a bit of that," added Brown.

"We would like to keep some orange. We think it is part of our identity, especially moving forward. But we are a commercial entity. Pink might be a bit extreme though."

As for these Papaya Orange renderings, courtesy of Sean Bull Design, they're all predominantly orange, although some have more black than others, while one of them features some blue as well. Which do you like best?

Photo Gallery

Forza 7 Says Porsche 911 GT2 RS And Lambo Centenario Are Dead Even

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 08:20 PM PDT


Two of the most popular supercars in the world, the Lamborghini Centenario and the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS couldn't be more different.

On one hand, the GT2 RS is a rear-wheel drive and engined, with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat six unit, pumping out 700 PS (690 HP). The Centenario, on the other hand features, all-wheel drive and a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 placed in the center that's good for 770 PS (760 HP).

In a straight line, both cars will get from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds, although it's the Centenario that will max out at 350 km/h (217 mph), as the GT2 RS will "only" do 340 km/h (211 mph).

If you want to talk differences, the price gap between the two is huge, since it's doubtful that any GT2 RS will ever sell for $2 million.

Of course, we'd love a real life comparison, but what we have here is an interesting virtual drag race, courtesy of Forza 7. In the gaming it world, it would seem that they're extremely well matched in a straight line.

VIDEO

Zipcar's New Monthly Subscription Plan Gives You Unlimited Access To Cars On Weekdays

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 07:40 PM PDT


Zipcar has announced a program which will allow city dwellers to have unlimited access to the company's fleet of vehicles during the working week, all for a monthly subscription fee.

Available in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Washington, D.C., the service provides Zipcar users with exclusive access to a vehicle from Monday at 5:00 am to Friday at 7:00 pm. Included in the cost is gas, insurance, maintenance, cleaning and an exclusive parking spot.

Depending on the city, the monthly fee ranges from $199 to $299 and in U.S. cities, users are charged an extra 45 cents per mile.

Speaking about the new service, Zipcar president Tracey Zhen said the company has created the perfect solution for many of its users.

"Offering dedicated weekday wheels follows our commitment to providing innovative mobility options for our members while continuing to enable more people to live without a personal vehicle. We know that many city dwellers own a car solely to get to and from work, relying on walking, biking or public transit on the weekends. A dedicated weekday Zipcar is the perfect solution, enabling access to a vehicle when they need it and eliminating the stress of parking when they don't."

Aussie Girl Treats Car Like Dance Pole Outside Nightclub

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 07:03 PM PDT


Suffice to say, this woman's friends should have done a better job of making sure she didn't do anything silly during their night out.

Having a pedestrian walk in front of your car, let alone someone who may have had a few too many to drink, can be pretty irritating, especially if they all of a sudden start dancing.

Of course, there's dancing, and then there's "dancing". At least the lads in the car were nice enough to thank her for her efforts at the end.

Well, it's better to see lighthearted dashcam video every once in a while, since not all car-related incidents end in tears.

Next time, though, she should really save those moves for the dance floor, or at least somewhere more private where there's no traffic...

VIDEO

Analyst Says Tesla Needs To Stop Overpromising And Under Delivering

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 06:00 PM PDT


Analysts have said Tesla needs to stop over-promising and under-delivering following the worst quarterly loss in its short history.

In the third quarter of the year, Tesla reported a net loss of $619.4 million while also further delaying volume production of the entry-level Model 3. Consequently, shares in the electric automaker have fallen by more than 6 per cent.

According to Reuters, the likes of Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan cut their price targets by $5-$10 following the release of Tesla's most recent financial reports.

In a note issued to investors, Cowen and Co analysts said the carmaker needs to slow down its aggressive plans.

"Tesla needs to slow down and more narrowly focus its vision and come up for a breath of fresh air. Elon Musk needs to stop over promising and under delivering," the analysts said.

Despite the company's history of burning through money, most analysts still believe consumers should consider investing in Tesla. In fact, Tesla shares are up roughly 50 per cent this year, despite falling some 23 per cent since mid-September.

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford's New GT Is Perfect For An Austrian Road Trip

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 05:33 PM PDT


The new Ford GT doesn't redefine performance car boundaries, but it still captured the attention of enthusiasts around the world, amassing a remarkable cult following in the process.

Eager to continue promoting the new mid-engine supercar, Ford provided a pair of Austrian journalists with the keys to the new GT and let them hit the Austrian Alps, exploring every facet of the car.

Unlike almost all performance-focused cars on the market, the 2017 Ford GT hasn't been designed as a road car with some abilities when taken to a racetrack. Instead, the GT was designed for winning its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours and then refined and tamed for road use. Consequently, it is about as close to a race car as you can get.

Sitting at the heart of the GT is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine with 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque.

VIDEO

VW Says Plug-In Hybrids Don't Make Sense In America, Won't Offer Any

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 06:01 PM PDT


Volkswagen is gearing up to launch an assortment of electric vehicles including the ID Buzz and ID Crozz but a new report is indicating the company will eschew plug-in hybrids.

According to Car and Driver, Volkswagen doesn't intend to offer any plug-in hybrids in the United States. The report goes on to suggest the company might not even offer them in Europe either.

The move could prove risky as plug-in hybrids offer some of the benefits of electric vehicles without the necessity of always having to be recharged. This makes them ideal for long distance travel as they can operate on electricity alone for short periods of time before using a conventional engine to power the vehicle on longer trips.

In an interview with the magazine, Volkswagen brand boss Herbert Diess said "For America, plug-in hybrids don't make a lot of sense for the upstream emissions and they're just not incentivized by the tax schemes." Diess went on to say plug-in hybrids make sense in markets such as China but he's not convinced they're a good fit for European customers.

For the time being, Volkswagen will focus on electric vehicles and Diess thinks they will be cheaper and easier to build than most people realize. As he explained, "You always have, in your product range, more profitable cars and less profitable cars. We will already achieve with the first car - the ID Hatch - the same profit range we achieve with the Polo." He went on to say he's okay with the slim profit margins even though they aren't great.

Photo Gallery

SpeedKore Creates Special Ford Mustang Boss For Robert Downey Jr.

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 04:32 PM PDT


Noted tuning company and custom car builder SpeedKore, has just unveiled a bespoke 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 built for Robert Downey Jr. at SEMA.

The hugely-successful actor commissioned SpeedKore to create the heavily-modified Mustang and according to the company, was involved heavily in the making of the muscle car. With a mixture of original parts and modern-day technologies, it is something special.

The beating heart of the car is a Ford Performance Aluminator 5.0-liter V8 with a Stage 2 Ford Performance/Roush supercharger. No horsepower and torque figures have been quoted but we do know the engine is mated to a Bowler T56 transmission that sends power to the pavement through a Detroit Speed 9-inch rear differential.

Like other recent projects from SpeedKore, Downey Jr's Mustang has been adorned in lightweight carbon fiber body panels, including the hood, bumpers, fenders, quarter extensions, and front and rear spoilers. The exterior was then painted in PPG Khaki yellow.

In the cabin, Gabe's Street Road Custom Interiors worked its magic and fitted a pair of bucket seats, stunning dark brown leather, a bespoke steering wheel, and a unique air conditioning system.

PHOTO GALLERY

Is Porsche's New Panamera Turbo The Ultimate Luxury Sport Sedan?

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 04:03 PM PDT


Even though it's technically not a 4-door sedan, one could easily argue that the Porsche Panamera, especially in Turbo guise, is a prime candidate for earning the crown for the sportiest luxury car in its price range.

Arguing in favor of the Panamera is Doug DeMuro, who mostly found just positives while reviewing this Turbocharged $150,000 model, borrowed from a Philadelphia-based dealership.

He not only found the latest-generation Panamera to be surprisingly practical, but also acknowledged the fact that it looks a lot better than its predecessor, and that it's packed full of clever tech and high-quality materials, which is to be expected in a Porsche.

On the road, the new Panamera Turbo is sharp and accelerates as well as can be expected from such a heavy car. Its 550 PS (542 HP) and 770 Nm (567 lb-ft) of torque send it from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds.

In the end, DeMuro ranked the 2017 Panamera Turbo as the best car he's ever tested from a 'Daily' standpoint. Its overall "DougScore" put it in 7th place overall, between the Audi R8 V10 Plus and the Tesla Model X.

VIDEO

Corvette Lands On Toyota Yaris In Bizarre Canadian Driveway Crash

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 06:54 PM PDT


Both a C6-generation Chevrolet Corvette and a Toyota Yaris have been severely damaged in a bizarre crash in Brampton, Ontario.

Late last week, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services responded to calls after a Corvette somehow landed on top of a parked Yaris in a driveway after the sports car speared off the road.

Police are still investigating the exact cause of the crash but it's believed that the driver of the Corvette lost control of the car, veered off the road, bounced off a tree and ended up on top of the Yaris.

Upon arriving at the scene, authorities extracted the 42-year-old Corvette driver from the car with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. Fortunately, the Yaris owner was not in the hatchback at the time of the crash.

Speaking to CTV News, the homeowner, Payal Mehta, said the family heard a loud bang and rushed outside to see what happened.

"We just heard a big sound in the house. We just came out and we saw the car – the Corvette – on our driveway, all up on my car."



PHOTO GALLERY

McLaren P1 Foot-to-Floor Edition Is An Extremely Lightweight Model With An Alternative Powertrain

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 03:05 PM PDT


McLaren is celebrating the 5th anniversary of the P1 by launching an all-new model with an alternative powertrain.

Set to be launched just in time for Christmas, the McLaren P1 Foot-to-Floor Edition is an extremely lightweight model that weighs significantly less than the standard P1 which tips the scales at 1,395 kg (3,075 lbs). McLaren declined to release detailed specifications but confirmed the car costs £35.99 ($47) and is designed for drivers who are less than three years old.

Drivers looking for something more powerful can opt for the McLaren P1 Electric Ride-On. While the standard model can hit an electronically-limited top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h), the EV variant is limited to approximately 3 mph (4.8 km/h). That's a sizeable difference but the P1 Electric Ride-On is significantly cheaper as prices start at £219.99 ($287.35).

Fans over the age of 10 haven't been overlooked as McLaren offers a P1 Tecnomodel collectible which has a base price of £345.00 ($450.71). A variety of different options will be available including a Flash Pink paint job and a Gulf livery.

If the latest slate of McLarens doesn't sound too interesting, there are also Scalextric slot cars and radio-controlled models from New Bright, Rastar and Maisto.

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Photo Gallery

Mother Arrested After Having Her Son Hold Down Pool On Roof Of Minivan

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 02:51 PM PDT


A mother in Wisconsin is facing serious charges after she admitted to driving around Saukville with her 9 year old son on the roof of her minivan.

According to WISN, 28 year old Amber Schmunk was transporting a plastic pool and didn't have anything to tie it down with so she had her son get up on the roof and hold it down. A concerned citizen called 911 and told the operator what was happening as she continued to follow the vehicle.

Schmunk eventually pulled over and removed her son and the pool from the roof of the minivan and put both of them inside the vehicle.

Police eventually caught up to Schmunk who reportedly told officers her son was only on the roof for "maybe 20 to 30 seconds" and she didn't think it would be an issue because her farther used to have her to things like that when she was her son's age.

That explanation didn't go over well with police or prosecutors and Schmunk is now facing a felony charge of recklessly endangering safety. She is scheduled to appear in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on November 11th and she could be facing up to ten years in jail if convicted.

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Yahoo! Tricks Facebook Users With Clickbait Car Lease Deals

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 02:10 PM PDT


Fallen internet giant Yahoo! is trying to lure users to its web search engine with clickbait ads posing as story snippets, promising, but never delivering, amazing car lease deals on Facebook.

Yahoo!, which along with AOL is a Verizon subsidiary called "Oath", is facing turbulent times - who can forget the epic security breach, but the once all-powerful web portal is hitting new lows with some of their Facebook postings – sponsored or not.

While going through Facebook's news feed, we were presented with a sponsored post titled "These Lease Deals Will Make You Consider Upgrading Your Ride" adorned with the picture of a BMW i8. Curiosity got the best of us and we clicked to find out what exactly those deals were only to be forwarded to… Yahoo!'s search results page for "best luxury car lease deals". 

More diligent users will probably notice that the "post" does mention "best deals on Yahoo Search", but we all know that's just there to cover face.

Some of you might be thinking that perhaps it was a human mistake or AI machine error. Well, we would have given them the benefit of the doubt if it wasn't for the fact that we found at least two more posts from July and August this year, with similar clickbait titles and text going straight to – you machine-guessed it, Yahoo!'s search pages.

Way to #BuildYourBrand and trust among users, Yahoo!

BMW 3-Series E90 Wants To Be A Bad Boy With Z-Performance Wheels

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 01:49 PM PDT


Ever since the BMW 3-Series from the E90/E91/E91/E93 generation went into production some 13 years ago, tuners and wheel makers alike have rolled out countless aftermarket upgrades.

Most of them come in contrast with the optional OEM parts, and are quite flashy, while others suit the premium compact models like a glove. So, where do these Z-Performance wheels fit in?

We would be tempted to say, on the 'flashy' side, and it's not hard to see why, as the car that wears them has a black look, while the rims are finished in 'Royal Blue'. Designed in Austria, with a TUV certification, they are 8.5x19- and 9.5x19-inch in size, front and rear, respectively, and have a plain six-spoke design.

Digging through Z-Performance's website reveals that the concave wheels are from the ZP.10 set, which can also be had in a variety of other finishes, including a very stylish Black Chrome, for which you'll have to pay at least €1,440 ($1,676) per set.

PHOTO GALLERY

BMW, Daimler, Ford, And VW Team Up To Launch European Charging Joint Venture

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 01:17 PM PDT


BMW, Daimler, Ford, and the Volkswagen Group have teamed up to form a new joint venture called IONITY.

Created to develop and implement a high-power charging network across Europe, IONITY aims to make long distance travel in electric vehicles easier and less frustrating. The joint venture will be based in Munich and has plans open approximately 400 charging stations in Europe by 2020.

20 stations are slated to be opened later this year and they will be located on major roads in Austria, Germany, and Norway. The stations will be located 120 km (74 miles) apart from each other and have a capacity of up to 350 kW per charging point.

Each station will use the European Combined Charging System standard and it promises to "significantly reduce charging times compared to existing systems." The use of the standard will also allow multiple customers, driving different manufacturer cars, to charge their vehicles simultaneously.

The network will expand to more than 100 stations in 2018 and companies all have equal shares in the joint venture. Other automakers have been invited to help expand the network and IONITY's goal is to help make electric vehicles more appealing to consumers.

Photo Gallery

2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Spotted Undisguised

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 03:02 PM PDT


Jeep recently released the first pictures of the 2018 Wrangler and now we're getting a glimpse at the undisguised Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.

Posted by the JL Wrangler Forums, the images confirm the model will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and adopt a unique suspension and off-road tires which will ensure the Wrangler can tackle the toughest trails of Moab.

Jeep is keeping details under wraps but a previous leak of standard equipment revealed the Wrangler Rubicon will be distinguished by a unique grille, a black fuel door cap, and red "Trail Rated" badges. The model will also have Rubicon hood decals and 17-inch alloy wheels with black accents.

Interior changes will be minor but the documents show the Rubicon will have bright accents. Drivers will also find a leather wrapped steering wheel, an automatic climate control system, and LED ambient lighting. Other notable features include USB charging ports and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster.

Since the Rubicon is designed for off-roading, the model comes with a Rock-Trac four-wheel drive system and unique axles with a 4.10 rear gear ratio. There will also be a unique front stabilizer bar which can be disconnected and a 650 amp AGM battery.

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler will be unveiled on November 29th at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Photo Gallery

Take A POV Test Drive In The 460BHP BMW M4 CS

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 12:19 PM PDT


Lean back and enjoy the next eight minutes watching a BMW M4 CS driven on public roads, with the occasional throttle punishing.

Designed as the mid-range version of the M4 Coupe family, the CS slots between the M4 Competition Package and M4 GTS.

On the styling front, it's more aggressive than your average M4, but not as daring as the GTS, although it was slightly inspired by the latter, as it benefits from a number of weight saving elements, made from CFRP, which work together to save 32kg (71lbs) over the regular car.

Motivation comes from the familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engine that's was massaged to feed an additional 29PS (29hp) and 50Nm (37lb-ft) of torque to the wheels, raising the total output to 460PS (454hp) and 600Nm (442lb-ft) of torque.

Thanks to this configuration, which uses a standard 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the BMW M4 CS needs just 3.9sec from 0-100km/h (62mph), before reaching a limited top speed of 278km/h (174mph).

And if you're still not convinced whether it's actually worth it, then perhaps the fact that it lapped the Nurburgring just as fast as the Porsche 991 Carrera S, in 7 minutes and 38 seconds, should make you look at it with an open mind.

VIDEO

New BMW M8's Interior Spied For The First Time

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 03:02 PM PDT


Whether we're talking about the regular 8-Series or the M8, this marks the first time we've gotten a glimpse of the interior as the car begins to near production.

While the overall cabin design is still very much an unknown, we can see the seats, the steering wheel and the center console (partly), which does indeed appear to have the same configuration of buttons and switches we saw on the 8-Series Concept, although a bit less extravagant.

The steering wheel is pretty similar to that of a 7-Series, but that could very well change once it's all said and done. Also, the gauge cluster cover does resemble what we saw on the concept, clearly a positive.

The M8 remains extremely well camouflaged. We can tell it's got the bigger intakes, quad exhaust system, bigger brakes and so on, although it's not wearing its production headlights, which we already saw two months ago on a regular 8-Series prototype.

As for performance, we can expect plenty of muscle from its 4.4-liter TwinPower turbo V8, with around 600 HP and over 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) having their say under acceleration.

BMW's all-new 8-Series range, which includes both the M8 and M8 Convertible, will arrive in showrooms sometime next year.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY

A Honda NSX Was Left For Dead In A Russian Forest!

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 11:36 AM PDT


Of all the cars you could find abandoned in a forest, an original NSX isn't going to be one of them unless you happen to live near St. Petersburg, Russia.

The car was apparently left for many years in this forest as it was found covered with moss and mold. Why would someone ditch a rare sportscar like this remains a mystery but the good news is that the poor NSX has already been bought from its previous owner and extracted to a safer environment. It has no engine according to Xander1 who shared the story on Russian Drive2.

The specific NSX was offered for sale about seven or eight years ago for less than a million rubles (about $17k) but that's where the story ends as there's no information to what happened to it later.

NSXs were never a common sight, especially in Russia where it's believed that there are less than twenty examples in the specific region.

The new owner gave the 1992 NSX a good wash to remove all the nasty forest-related stuff and then parked it in a garage in St. Petersburg. Whether he'll restore it back to its former glory or sell it to someone who will, it remains to be seen but we sincerely hope to see it proudly moving under its own power and staying away from forests.

PHOTO GALLERY

New Lamborghini Concept Teased, Could Preview The Aventador Successor

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 10:41 AM PDT


Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman has posted a teaser image of a mysterious Lamborghini concept on Instagram.

Set to be unveiled on November 6th at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the model is expected to preview the styling direction of the Aventador successor. The car is currently being overseen by Mitja Borkner who is the head of Lamborghini design and has previously worked on a handful Porsche models including the Mission E and Panamera Sport Turismo.

The teaser image doesn't reveal much but we can see the concept will be extremely low to the ground and feature an aggressive front fascia. The model also has slender headlights and what appears to be LED daytime running lights.

Little is known about the concept at this point but Lamborghini teamed up with MIT to "write an important page in the future of super sports cars for the third millennium." The partnership is primarily focused on creating new materials for the automotive sector and had the goal of developing a "super sports car ready for the challenges of the third millennium."

Interestingly, Lieberman hinted the concept doesn't have an engine and isn't powered by batteries. That leaves plenty of questions but we'll find out more next week.

H/T to Autoguide

Photo Gallery

Polestar 1 Looks Wicked As A Race Car

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 10:28 AM PDT


The Polestar 1 won't arrive in the hands of customers (or should we say subscribers) for a couple of years, but Aksyonov Nikita has already decided to render the coupe as a race car.

Immediately differentiating the car pictured from the production-spec Polestar 1 is the overhauled front fascia that incorporates a custom bumper which seamlessly joins to a pair of aggressively flared wheel arches.

Final modifications made to the Swedish two-door include racing wheels, slick tires and a large rear wing.

Polestar has made no comment on whether it intends on promoting its vehicles through motorsport. However, we'd love to see the car's hybrid powertrain replaced by a simple naturally-aspirated V8 and the 1 competing in Australia's Supercars championship.

PHOTO GALLERY

Strange Mercedes S-Classes Spied With Flared Wheel Arches

Posted: 03 Nov 2017 09:56 AM PDT


It's not unusual for car manufacturers to test weird and wacky creations with no intention of turning them into production cars, but these two Mercedes-Benz S500s have caught our attention.

For the most part, the two prototypes seen secured on a transport truck, appear like any other S-Class. However, on further inspection, you'll notice that both have been equipped with flared wheel arches which resemble something you'd see from Liberty Walk, not Mercedes-Benz.

It is difficult to know what the German automaker is working on but it is possible that these fenders have been fitted to help the car accommodate a set of wider wheels. If that's the case, then it is possible that they offer an early taste of a future S-Class AMG model, potentially a straight-six model dubbed the S43 AMG.

What is also interesting about the two prototypes is that they're based around the pre-facelift S-Class and could, therefore, be leftover mules from testing of the updated S-Class.

Do you have any thoughts about the prototypes? Let us know below!

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