Autos

The Audi TT — everyone’s favorite Bauhaus-inspired speedster — turns 25 in 2023, and Audi is celebrating a little early with an “Iconic Edition” of the TT RS Coupe. The fittingly-named vehicle is limited to a scant 100 units (all of which have been delegated to Europe), and, per Audi, looks to salute the TT’s legacy with a combination of “performance and passion.” When the TT first hit the market in 1998, its rounded shape drew from the principles of reductive design preached by Bauhaus icons like Walter Gropus, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. “The TT was inspired by Bauhaus’ universal design philosophy of ‘less is more’,” says March Lichte, Audi’s head of design. “The maximum reduction [of the TT’s design...

Wisk Aero has debuted its 6th-generation all-electric air taxi. The Generation 6 is a vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle with room for four passengers. It also happens to be Wisk’s first aircraft that’s a potential candidate for FAA certification of an autonomous eVTOL, according to the company. While the Generation 6 operates autonomously, Wisk guarantees human oversight of every flight from supervisors who can intervene at any moment. The vehicle is capable of reaching 2,500 feet (762 m) to 4,000 feet (1,219 m) in altitude and can cruise around 120 knots (138 mph). The company stresses that safety is paramount. To exceed aviation safety standards, the Generation 6 employs a simplified design consisting of few moving parts, as well as no hydraulics, oil or fuel. Wisk emphasizes ...

Hypebeast was lucky enough to drive the top-spec Audi R8 V10 Performance as part of our series Open Road earlier this year, but now Audi has responded with one better: the R8 Coupé V10 GT RWD. Heralded as the marque’s “most powerful rear-wheel drive unit in the history of the brand,” this new German supercar utilizes the familiar 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated V10 and sends a pumped-up 620 HP to the rear wheels alone through a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which works in tandem with a “Torque Rear” driving mode to perfect oversteering (read, powerslides and fun). Capable of hitting 62 MPH in 3.4 seconds and going onto a top speed of 199 MPH, the GT RWD follows on from the first Audi R8 GT that debuted 12 years ago. Then, it was one of the most hardco...

Coming off a rough Q2 that saw a slowdown in vehicle production and delivery plus a drop in earnings, Tesla recently reported strong manufacturing and delivery numbers in Q3 — but numbers that still fell slightly short of analyst expectations. The company announced that it was able to build 365,923 of its electric cars between July 1 and September 30, and also delivered 343,830 of those cars. This is the most cars Tesla has delivered in any quarter to date but is still below analyst expectations: Reuters reports that, on average, analysts expected Tesla to deliver 359,162 cars. Tesla’s overall production numbers represent a 54 percent increase from Q3 2021, in which they were able to manufacture 237,823 cars. However, they built 22,093 more cars than they were able to deliver. “...

Echoing the commitments made by California, Governor Kathy Hochul announced ahead of the weekend that New York will be requiring all “passenger cars, pickup trucks and SUVs” sold in the state beginning in 2035 to be zero-emissions models. In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, allowing California to set its own emissions laws due to the worrying levels of air pollution at the time. According to The Hill, the Act prohibits states from implementing their own standard, and only after California applies for a waiver can other states follow. Ahead of the ban on gas-powered car sales, Hochul has announced a series of initiatives including having 35 percent of new cars be zero-emissions by 2026 and 68 percent by 2030. A small controllable act that will help reach those benchmark ...

Italian automaker Maserati is expanding its operations with the announcement of its debut retail store concept. Located in Milan’s Magenta district, the store’s art-gallery style design was created with New York-based experience design firm, Eight Inc. With the new store, Maserati invites clients to join in on the creative process of producing the luxury sports car. Forming the design/configuration counter is a warm kitchen island and living space outfitted with an espresso bar, wine and cold-pressed juices. “From the early stages of developing a new car to the complete luxury retail experience, everything at Maserati is designed with the client in mind,” said Maserati’s CEO, David Grasso. “Our new store concept embodies our values of passion, innovation...

Ferrari has revealed its latest one-off creation, a front-engined V12 spider created to the specifications of a customer from Taiwan. Designed by the Flavio Manzoni-headed Ferrari Styling Centre, the SP51 is based on the 812 GTS, taking on its layout, chassis and engine and offering a “successful roadster take on Maranello’s first front-engined V12 spider in 50 years.” The complete absence of a roof – the 812 GTS features a retractable hard top – meant the car’s aerodynamics required fine tuning using computer simulations, wind tunnels and testing to ensure comfort and acoustics in the cabin. Bare carbon fiber is used extensively in the cabin and on the exterior, sitting alongside three-layer Rosso Passionale paint – a color developed specifically for the SP51 – and...

After teasing a concept back in November, BMW has now officially revealed its all-new XM, the automaker’s first-ever performance vehicle with an electrified drive system. The XM is a dedicated M car, the first since the ultra-exclusive M1 from the late ’70s, and features a plug-in hybrid system comprised of a V8 petrol engine and an electric motor. Arriving in a large silhouette resembling what the X8 would have been, exteriors are sharper than that of BMW’s other SUVs with powerful contours, large kidney grilles, wide intakes, contour lighting, hexagonal dual tailpipes, and sharp split headlights. An accent band runs along the body, stretching above the door handles and over the windshields in an unfinished loop while BMW badges on the rear are noticeably absent. Distinc...

Mercedes-Benz has been the exclusive automotive partner of the League of Legends World Championship, or Worlds for short, since 2020 and recently renewed its partnership with Riot Games until 2025. Building on the extended collaboration, the German automaker has crafted its first-ever virtual show car seen in this year’s official Worlds music video “STAR WALKIN” by new LoL president Lil Nas X. Beginning on November 3, fans will also be able to preview in-car elements from LoL within the Mercedes EQS digital vehicle display in San Francisco, which will eventually make their way into Mercedes-Benz’s  MBUX infotainment systems. As a virtual car, the vehicle is free from the laws of physics and road regulations, allowing for a fluid glass-like design with a bubble cockp...

LiveWire is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first publicly-traded electric motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. The S2 Del Mar features the company’s proprietary ARROW architecture, exclusively designed at LiveWire Labs in Mountain View, California and the Product Development Center in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Reservations for the S2 Del Mar open today, following the bell’s ring at the NYSE in Manhattan’s Financial District. The S2 Del Mar aims to deepen riders’ experiences with the world around them. Built for agility, the S2 Del Mar invites modern-day adventurers to champion offerings in the electric bike division as contemporary modes of transport. The e-motorcycle will be available in three colors at the time of its release — Nimbus Gray, Nightfall Blue, and A...

Nissan has just given racing enthusiasts a better look at the full track potential of the all-new Nissan Z. Revealing the Nissan Z GT4 in Yokohama, the competition race car from the NISMO Racing Division sees the street version of the new Z with a fully tuned R30DDTT engine. On top of power output, the entire chassis has been upgraded from the ground up with enhanced rigidity, suspension, braking, and aerodynamics. “Motorsports for Nissan is an expression of our passion and unrivaled expertise. The Nissan Z continues to maintain its position as an exciting sports car that fascinates drivers with its driving dynamics and flexible powertrain,” said Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta. “We are confident that this track-ready GT4-category Nissan Z will be ready to write another chapter ...

Following the release of unconventional objects such as  Gobstomper sneakers in collaboration with Jimmy Fallon, billionaire-themed popsicles, and Tiffany & Co. participation trophies, MSCHF is back with a brilliantly nonpractical concept dubbed the Key4All. Described as a shift from Universal Basic Car to Public Universal Car, MSCHF has “rebuilt the entirety of ZipCar with a fleet of one single vehicle,” selling 1,000 keys that all unlock the same car. In true Grand Theft Auto fashion, “the car is transient and un-ownable, a journey and temporary blessing,” writes MSCHF. “It is a contest without the security of victory. If you find the car, it is yours. But if you want to enjoy the fruits of your victory and drive, then you must accept the risk of taking ...