Car News
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British motorsport and engineering firm Ginetta has announced that a team will field two of its new LMP1-spec prototype racecars in the 2018 World Endurance Championship. Still in development, the prototype is expected to be roughly 130 pounds lighter than a current LMP2-spec car. Power, meanwhile, will come from an engine sourced from French firm Mecachrome and is expected to peak at 800 horsepower. The news means there will still be at least three teams competing in the sport’s premier LMP1 class following the exit of Porsche at the end of the current season, and additional entries...
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Toyota starts testing Project Portal fuel cell semi truckToyota in April revealed a fuel cell-powered semi-trailer truck as part of its Project Portal program which aims to determine whether there’s a viable future for the zero-emission technology when it comes to heavy-duty applications. On Thursday, the automaker announced that the truck is...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar first drive review: sumptuous SUVLand Rover has learned a thing or three since its sale nine years ago. First, pegging your future and bottom line on an all-SUV lineup can be rewarding (except when it isn’t). Second, British automobiles and reliability don’t have to be mutually exclusive (except when it is). Third...
Aaron Cole -
Nissan built a GT-R operated by a video game controllerThe latest installment in the iconic "Gran Turismo" video game series, "Gran Turismo Sport," goes on sale next week, but Nissan threw a celebration of its own ahead of the launch. The video game itself may have coined the "Real Driving Simulator" tagline years ago, but Nissan took it to a new level...
Sean Szymkowski -
Germany’s Wiesmann back in businessA niche German sports car marque known for retro roadsters powered by modern BMW engines is making a comeback. Wiesmann, currently led by Mercedes-Benz veteran Mario Spitzner, is working on a new sports car and on Tuesday signed a deal to source V-8 engines from BMW M—most likely the BMW...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Yes, new Land Rover Defender may be electrified; no, world not endingDeductive logic may lead to an uncomfortable truth for Land Rover fans around the world. This week, at a press event for the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, the automaker confirmed that it would offer electrified powertrain variants for its new models beginning with the 2020 model year. That...
Aaron Cole -
It's not much of a secret now, but Aston Martin has, for some time, run a secret car-building operation inside its Prototype Operations. The team will build one-off vehicles for very special, private customers. But the price of entry isn't cheap. Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer recently told Road and Track about the secret club, of sorts, and he said his company sells two slots to build bespoke cars every year. Don't get your checkbook ready just yet—all slots are sold out until 2020 at the earliest. "For those very special customers who want a very special car, we sell two of those slots...
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Go behind the scenes of Ken Block's "Climbkhana" videoKen Block's "Gymkhana" videos are always a spectacle of insane driving maneuvers, stunts, and loads of horsepower. Capturing that footage is no easy task. Now, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at what went into making "Climbkhana," Block's recent stunt-laden video. The production work included...
Sean Szymkowski -
2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited spy shotsA prototype for Jeep’s next-generation Wrangler has been spotted again. The latest shots show a prototype for the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited while earlier shots showed a test mule for the 2-door Wrangler. Both are due to be revealed late this year or early next, likely as 2018 models. A debut...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
LeBron James is ready to be driven by the machineBasketball superstar LeBron James is tired of driving. If you count zero, there are six levels of autonomous driving that have been defined by the International Society of Automotive Engineers. As you might guess, Level Zero is when there's no automation and a driver is the one responsible for...
Jeff Glucker -
This 12-year-old can show you how to change your oilThere are a handful of automotive skills that are fading as time marches forward. Less people know how to drive a manual gearbox. Changing a tire is a mystery to those with their magical AAA card. Swapping out brake pads is akin to open-heart surgery for some. However, for one father and his...
Jeff Glucker -
Watch how the professionals strip paint from a carA car in need of a complete rework of its paint will typically need its existing paint to be removed. If you want the job done right then you'll have to start from the beginning, making sure each step along the way is performed correctly. Larry Kosilla, the man behind the Ammo NYC car care brand...
Jeff Glucker -
The mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette has been the stuff of myth and legends for decades, but this year, it's spun perilously close to reality. We've spied it undergoing cold-weather testing, and playing on the track. Now a prototype's been caught on public roads–at a McDonald's in Cadillac, Michigan. Bad news, Corvette. The shake machine's probably broken. These photos, posted to a private Facebook group by Josh B., show what appears to be a mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette, likely on its way to disappointment as it wends through the drive-thru lane. The car matches spy shots we've shown you...
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2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar previewIf the Range Rover Evoque is too small and the Range Rover Sport too big, there still may be a Range Rover for you in Land Rover’s lineup: the 2018 Range Rover Velar. Unveiled to the world in March at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the new small SUV member in Land Rover's luxury lineup is almost...
Joel Feder -
2018 Land Rover Range Rover, Honda Sports Vision GT, Corvette barn find: Car News HeadlinesFollowing the reveal of the updated Range Rover Sport a week ago, Land Rover has since uncovered the updated Range Rover. The British automaker’s flagship remains as elegant as ever but is now more refined and fitted with the latest tech. It also has a new plug-in hybrid option. The mystery...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
This 1972 Chevy Corvette has less than a thousand milesHow do you measure a person's restraint? If that person is Jim Kevan, it's easy to measure because it's right there for you to see in its dust-covered, un-driven glory. You see Kevan is the owner of a 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. This one is wearing lovely Bryar Blue paint, and it boasts a...
Jeff Glucker -
Hyundai looks to make car buying easier via transparent pricing, full refundsBuying a car should be fun but for many the process can be tedious and in some cases harrowing. The process usually involves trekking to a number of dealerships and hoping there’s someone available to serve you and arrange a test drive if necessary. Then there’s the completely...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ken Block's latest ride is a 1991 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A rally carKen Block will likely have some downtime ahead as Hoonigan Racing Division and Ford lay their World Rallycross Championship days to rest. However, in the meantime, Block has a new toy, and he brought it by Hoonigan headquarters for the team to get a closer look. It's none other than a 1991 Ford...
Sean Szymkowski -
Hot on the heels of last week’s reveal of the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport comes our first look at its larger, more luxurious sibling, the 2018 Range Rover. Both vehicles have received a series of upgrades to keep them fresh as they reach the midpoint in their respective product cycles, including tweaks to the styling, a new interface and—coming for 2019—a plug-in hybrid option. Only Range Rover diehards will spot the differences. Taking inspiration from the 2018 Range Rover Velar, the designers have added a new grille pattern, new LED headlights with a squarer design...
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Former Peron Packard parade car up for biddingIn 1983, Raymond Plaster went to a collector car auction in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hoping to bring home a V12 Packard that was supposed to be on the docket. When that car didn’t show up for the sale, Plaster bought another Packard, a 1939 Super Eight Derham Phaeton in sorry shape. Plaster and his...
ClassicCars.com -
GM buys lidar developer for self-driving car projectsGeneral Motors continues to pursue an ambitious self-driving car agenda. It recently acquired Cruise Automation to help speed up development of its own self-driving cars. Now it's purchased another company, Strobe Inc. Strobe develops lidar systems, an essential component for self-driving and...
Sean Szymkowski -
"Porsche Turbo Charging" showcased with electric Porsche CaymanTesla laid a blueprint for electric car infrastructure with its Supercharger stations, but Porsche may be aiming to perfect it and spread the benefits with its own 320-kilowatt fast-charging stations. The luxury and sports car brand installed its first prototype 350-kw, 800-volt station in Berlin...
Sean Szymkowski -
FCA CEO Marchionne says Tesla, electric cars not viableFiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE: FCAU] CEO Sergio Marchionne hasn't exactly been an ally to electric cars. This is the same executive who urged consumers to not buy the Fiat 500e electric car since FCA lost thousands of dollars with each one sold. Marchionne once again cast doubt on the viability...
Sean Szymkowski -
iPhone, Galaxy…911? Porsche joins the car-subscription raceIn an effort to embrace the ever-changing automotive industry, Porsche announced today its own vehicle subscription service: Porsche Passport. The service offers on-demand access and white-glove delivery to its entire lineup of vehicles for a monthly fee. Just like your smartphone, it will be...
Sean Szymkowski