Autos

In September, Tesla recalled over a million cars that posed the risk of windows closing too fast and pinching driver’s fingers. A little over a month later, the electric automaker has returned with its 17th recall of 2022. Tesla is recalling 40,168 vehicles in the United States due to a potential issue with its power-steering technology. Impacting Model S and Model X vehicles produced between 2017 and 2021, Tesla claims that the power-steering assist may fail in the event that the cars drive over rough roads or if they hit a pothole. The Model S and Model X advertise the ability to add in additional force to steering input in order to help drivers control the vehicle. The system, called power steering, functions via electric sensors. While the company says it isn’t aware of any injur...

A special Porsche 911 off-roader has set off on a mission to scale Ojo del Salado in Chile, the highest volcano in the world. Setting off on an adventure where temperatures fall as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit, the Dakar-esque 911 was designed for the toughest conditions on earth where there are no tracks and no roads. The 911 Carrera 4S-based prototype arrived with heavy modifications including a roof rack for carrying equipment, raised fenders, a custom livery, and large off-road tires offering 13.7 inches of ground clearance. The car was further optimized for higher performance during low speeds and locking differentials for maximum traction. Leading the challenge was Le Mans winner Romain Dumas, who took the car to 19,708 feet (6007 m) above sea level across walls of snow and large bo...

Google and French automobile manufacturer Renault first teamed up in 2018 to work on cloud computing. As part of Renault’s aim to undergo a “digital transformation,” the two companies will be expanding and accelerating their partnership to develop a “software defined vehicle” (SDV). While it’s not totally clear what a software-defined vehicle will look like, it seems that Renault is trying to bring upgrades to the software system of its vehicle fleet in the form of advanced and personalized AI capabilities. Renault currently utilizes an operating system developed by Android, along with Google’s cloud technology. The expansion of the partnership will see Renault lean more heavily on Google, particularly when it comes to new onboard and offboard apps and the implementation of con...

Following all of the attention surrounding A$AP Rocky‘s real-life Mercedes-Benz 190E which replicates the Need for Speed Unbound hero car, a new listing has now appeared from RM Sotheby’s offering up a pristine 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. While the BMW M3 is widely considered the most iconic car which emerged from the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in the late 1980s, one of its fiercest competitors on the track was the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 made in collaboration with engineering firm Cosworth for the Group B category. Fast forward to 1992, the Mercedes’ W201 chassis reached its peak in success when the Evo II took the overall victory that year in the DTM championship. Shown above is one of 502 Evolution II vehicles, designated number 229. The ...

Few cars possess the critical acclaim and fanboy nature of the BMW M3. Since its arrival as the inaugural – and formidable – E30 M3 in 1986, the Bavarian skunkworks M division has pumped out five more generations of the seminal driving machine, leading us to today’s schismatic BMW M3 Competition G80.  But, before Hypebeast straps into the G80’s carbon-clad bucket seats for this issue of Open Road, we must dissect what is in front of us. The BMW M3 is a roaring success for the marque, most in part due to it being one of the definitive driver’s cars. For years, the M3 put a focus on automotive excellence and purity – six-cylinders, manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive, fin. But after fettling around with V8s and automatic transmissions, many purists steered away from the car as it become more of...

Few cars possess the critical acclaim and fanboy nature of the BMW M3. Since its arrival as the inaugural – and formidable – E30 M3 in 1986, the Bavarian skunkworks M division has pumped out five more generations of the seminal driving machine, leading us to today’s schismatic BMW M3 Competition G80.  But, before Hypebeast straps into the G80’s carbon-clad bucket seats for this issue of Open Road, we must dissect what is in front of us. The BMW M3 is a roaring success for the marque, most in part due to it being one of the definitive driver’s cars. For years, the M3 put a focus on automotive excellence and purity – six-cylinders, manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive, fin. But after fettling around with V8s and automatic transmissions, many purists steered away from the car as it become more of...

On the road to a fully electric future, Volvo has revealed its latest EV: the Volvo EX90. The vehicle, which is a true seven-seater SUV, marks the first of several electric cars that Volvo will release on an annual basis. The vehicle will arrive with a four-wheel, dual-motor powertrain, capable of producing a combined 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the base model. Meanwhile, the Twin Motor Performance version will reach 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet of torque. The company estimates that the former model will accelerate to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, while the latter will reach the same speed in 4.7 seconds. The EX90 is being built on the all-new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA2), which allows for a larger battery, stronger motors, faster charging and bidirectional power. ...

When Mercedes-Benz commissioned Andy Warhol for a series of Cars paintings and prints that celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1986, Warhol took his initial inspiration from the 1955 300 SL Gullwing, a slender coupe that got its name from its “winged” doors. Now, Sotheby’s is auctioning off the exact Gullwing — confirmed by its registration number, documents and a full inspection from Mercedes-Benz’s classics arm — that Warhol used as inspiration for the series, some of the final pieces he worked on before his death in 1987. One of only 1,400 Gullwings ever made, this model was painstakingly restored to its original specifications by Brabus, an effort that took 4,500 hours of labor. It boasts signature silver-grey paint on its exterior, combined with a blue leathe...

Lamborghini has officially unveiled the unusual and utterly bonkers Huracán Sterrato. It comes as competitive companies such as Porsche showcase its off-road-ready 911 prototype, and conventional all-terrain cars become increasingly capable of keeping up with the supercars of today. However, for Lamborghini, it takes this one step further by creating the world’s first all-terrain supercar. Starting with the known and loved Huracán base and its formidable V10 engine, Lamborghini brings an off-roading sensibility to the car with plenty of necessary adjustments. Starting with the looks, the Sterrato features a ride height increase and a serrated undercarriage for better ground clearance and plenty of rough-and-ready add-ons like extended bolt-on wheel arches, front LED lamps, roof racks...

The US Department of Justice has just announced a major bust in the nationwide crime of stolen automotive catalytic converters. The seizure of stolen assets, monies and other contraband are valued at approximately $545 million USD. “Cats” – vital components in the emissions system of modern-day automobiles that reduce toxic fumes – have a long-standing history of theft, since their composition consists of rare, valuable metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium. Thieves find clever ways of chopping off the catalytic converters from underneath the car’s exhaust system, extracting the rare elements and selling them on the black market, with Toyota Priuses and crossover SUVs with tall undercarriages being common targets. Skilled thieves are able to steal catalytic converte...

Lexus USA has just presented this year’s concepts at SEMA, and amongst its handful of sporty vehicles, the luxury LX 600 SUV was highlighted like never before. Appealing to fans of the outdoors and camping, the SUV was transformed into the LX 600 Alpine Lifestyle Concept — offering ruggedness and more off-road capabilities to the premium range of family vehicles. Created in partnership with Hiraku Co. and YETI, the LX 600 Alpine Lifestyle Concept sees exterior enhancements like a Dissent off-road 5052 Aluminum Rack System, 10 gauge steel modular front and rear bumpers, a Comeup Seal gen2 12.5rs winch with Agency 6 shackle, JAOS carbon fiber over fenders, and a plethora of lighting by Rigid Industries. The complete storage loadout sees gear from YETI which is joined with a TrekB...