Autos

DRIVERS is a series highlighting influential individuals in the HYPEBEAST sphere and their passion towards all things automotive. The approach is simple: what is car culture to you, and why do you have a passion for it? Each contributor is given a chance to shine light on their personal vehicle or vehicles, and asked to remark on how they are driving culture forward, both metaphorically and literally. Sometimes life will hand you the sweetest deals, whether it’s a dream job opportunity or something as simple as an offer you’d been holding out for. For Vin Anatra, both seemed to have been the case. Vin is the Vice President of Business Development over at Hoonigan, the end-all location for everything you love about car culture. The brand goes deep to cover all aspects of the aut...

In February, the iconic American artist Jeff Koons partnered with BMW to release his limited-to-99 take on the M850i Gran Coupé, dubbed “The 8 X Jeff Koons.” Now, the 99th example of the production run is heading to auction with Christie’s New York, and to mark the special occasion, it will also be the only example signed by the artist. Koons is known for his dismantling of American consumerism and commentary on the visual excess that modern culture consumes and thrives upon. As a result, Americana-styled iconography in a pop art style adorns the art car, a design that reportedly takes hundred hours of professional paintwork per vehicle, and it also pays homage to Koons’ art car from 2010. Naturally, the M850i Gran Coupé packs a 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 with 5...

In the 1970s, a very lucky selection of high-profile clients was hand-selected by Porsche to become a part of the Sonderwunsch Program, a “Special Wishes” platform that allowed clients to go wild with their custom Porsche creations. Today, the program is very rare and seldom exercised, but now the Porsche Club of America has been enlisted to create its own car alongside Porsche, dubbed the 911 Classic Club Coupe. Based on the divisive 996-generation 911 — which split opinions because of its water-cooled engine and egg-shaped headlights — this custom now comes with plenty of nods to great 911s of the past. Notably, a ducktail spoiler is reminiscent of the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7, while design details such as a double-bubble roof, 18″ “Fuchs” wheels ...

American automaker Buick is planning on joining its fellow brands under the GM umbrella including Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, in debuting all-new electric vehicles over the next few years. Following GM’s company rebranding last year in order to reflect its new focus, Buick has now filed a trademark for a new logo design. The updated logo appears with more curves and skinner shields laid out in a horizontal formation, a switch from the circular emblem featuring cascading shield motifs. It’s yet to be determined whether the red, white, and blue hues from the current logo will carry over. What do we think of the possible new @Buick logo? pic.twitter.com/zDafl5g2lr — Jared Rosenholtz (@carbuzzjared) March 21, 2022 The rebranded logo could potentially be used for Buck’s upco...

Italian luxury automaker Maserati has debuted its second-ever SUV, the Grecale, which will arrive in several powertrains including an all-electric version coming in 2023. The vehicle marks an early step in Maserati’s mission to transition into a fully-electric brand by 2030. Meanwhile, all Maserati models will be available in electric versions by 2025, according to brand executives via CNN. The launch Grecale range will be available this year with a high-performance V6 engine — similar to that found in its MC20 supercar — producing 530 HP to become the most dynamic of the mid-sized SUV line-up. A four-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system will also be on offer ahead of the all-electric Grecale Folgore’s arrival next year. The electric Grecale, which will arrive ...

DRIVERS is a series highlighting influential individuals in the HYPEBEAST sphere and their passion towards all things automotive. The approach is simple: what is car culture to you, and why do you have a passion for it? Each contributor is given a chance to shine light on their personal vehicle or vehicles, and asked to remark on how they are driving culture forward, both metaphorically and literally. For our latest DRIVERS edition, we’re highlighting a racing professional who specializes in entering corners way too fast and sideways, while his fans and home country love him for it. Jhonnattan Castro drifts professionally for the Formula D(rift) series, where he’s competed and won multiple championships – four to be exact. Driving for Toyota and using the nimble GT86 spor...

Volkswagen will invest an additional $7.1 billion USD into its North American production over the next five years, the company announced on Monday. The automaker is aiming to add 25 new electric vehicles in the region by 2030, including an updated version of VW’s classic Microbus. The company plans to allocate the funds to “[boosting] its product portfolio, regional R&D and manufacturing capabilities,” according to a release. The new aforementioned Microbus model, dubbed the ID.Buzz, will first be imported from VW’s Hanover base in Germany, before American assembly plants will be able to produce the vehicle in 2024, according to VW’s president and CEO Scott Keogh via Reuters. In addition to the ID.Buzz, Volkswagen plans to produce the ID.4 in 2022, and a y...

British car manufacturer, Bentley has revealed a one-off model of its 2022 Bentley Bentayga for one special customer. The brand’s in-house design branch Mulliner, has constructed a bespoke “Space Edition” model of the six-figure Bentayga Speed, which is powered by a 626 hp twin-turbocharged W-12 engine. The exterior is understated and features the same shade that the first generation 2003 Bentley Continental GT once wore. Dressed in a special dark green-grey Cypress paint job reminiscent of the ominous night sky, the car also features orange accents inspired by dust trails led by comets. The exterior evokes the shade of the moon’s surface with the metallic grey and green undertones while the body includes the blackline specification that replaces the usual chrome tr...

Prodrive has now created what it calls “the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.” Simply named the Hunter, the new off-road-styled vehicle was designed by none other can Jaguar F-Type creator Ian Callum, and sports a rather unique aesthetic. The car is powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine from Ford that’s capable of pushing out 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, giving the vehicle a good bit of speed to accompany its six-speed paddle-shifted gearbox, four-wheel-drive configuration, double-wishbone suspension system with adjustable dampers, 17-inch wheels with 35-inch off-road tires, six-piston Brembo brakes, and carbon fiber body panels. Its 0-60mph time clocks in at under four seconds, and its top speed reaches 180mph. Despite its impressive perform...

Some early reservation numbers were just divulged by Andrew Quillin of Acura Public Relations, where there is a clear indication that fans are excited for the 2023 Acura Integra. Data indicates that 70 percent of all current 2023 Integra reservations have been for the 6-speed manual transmission over the continuously variable transmission version. In the past years, the demand for MT Integras was on average 50 percent (’86-’01). While 70 percent may seem high, it sits relatively low compared to the MT fans of Subaru — 75 percent for the BRZ and 90 percent for the WRX. While there’s still some time before owners begin receiving their vehicles, this new info should indicate a healthy amount of aftermarket support and amazing builds. Fun Fact: 2023 Integra reservations...

In anticipation of the 2023 season, Ferrari has now unveiled the first look at its upcoming 296 GT3. As its name suggests, the new track racer will be the GT3 version of the 296 GTB and will replace the current 488 for next year. While the new car no doubt borrows its design from the standard GTB option, it also has significant aero upgrades, including a full body kit that equips the vehicle with a much lower front splitter, canards on both sides of the front bumper, reimagined side skirts, vents that lead into the front fenders to lower turbulence affecting the wheel wells, a large air diffuser at the rear, and a hefty rear wing on top. In terms of power, the 296 GT3 will also drop the hybrid powertrain used in the GTB variant in order to comply with racing regulations. Instead, it’...

Porsche has revealed an ambitious plan to make 80% of its cars electric by 2030. In 2021, the company delivered over 300,000 vehicles to customers worldwide and in Europe, almost 40 percent of all new Porsche vehicles were already at least partly electric. The German luxury brand is now aiming to ramp up its output of “all-electric” vehicles in order to meet the 80% mark within the next decade. It’s already working towards that goal with a revamped version of the mid-engine 718, which will be reworked to debut “exclusively in an all-electric form.” “In 2025, half of all new Porsche sales are expected to come from the sale of electric vehicles – i.e. all-electric or plug-in hybrid,” Porsche CEO Oliver Blume announced. As part of its lofty plan, Porsche intends to be carbon-neutr...