Autos

Mercedes-Benz has now unveiled its flagship EQS electric SUV. The first SUV to be built on the automaker’s new EPA-2 platform, the EQS SUV shares many similarities with its sedan sibling, especially when it comes to its interior. Most of the same tech can be found, including the MBUX Hyperscreen, Dolby Atmos surround sound system, and HEPA filter, but the similarities also extend to the exterior, such as the shared rear-axle steering that can reach up to 10 degrees and the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps upfront. As you’d expect, the SUV measures 7.8 inches taller than the sedan which adds room for up to seven seats. Two powertrain options will be provided, with the lower tier rear-wheel-drive variant pushing out 355 horsepower while the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive variant will be able to p...

With large seven-seaters such as the Buick GL8 ubiquitous in dense Chinese megacities, Audi‘s new Urbansphere concept arrives to fill that particular niche, serving as a luxurious “lounge on wheels, mobile office, and third living space during the time spent in traffic.” The new minivan concept offers the most interior space of any Audi vehicle in existence with 5.8 feet of headroom along with a host of state-of-the-art technology features and a striking next-gen design. Designed from the inside out, the Audi Urbansphere offers first-class comfort with four individual seats in two rows featuring a wide range of adjustment options including a tilt of up to 60 degrees and integrated leg rests. The seats also have their own sound zone with speakers in the headrest areas and ...

Ferrari‘s controversial — but admittedly much-needed in today’s world — hybrid V6-powered 296 GTB has officially been given a new sibling: the 296 GTS. Entering the hypercar market as the latest must-have drop-top model, the 296 GTS is largely the same as its hard-top brother, offering a three-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that’s mated to an electric motor powered by a 7.5-kilowatt-hour battery to produce 818 HP, 545 lb-ft of torque, and an electric-only range of roughly 15 miles. The performance figures continue to amaze, as 60 MPH is hit in 2.9 seconds, 124 MPH is hit 7.6 seconds, and a top speed of 205 MPH will appear not too long after that. These stats are mighty impressive for a drop-top car, as no matter how hard a marque tries it will have to add weight v...

For car enthusiasts, driving is about more than just the technical specifics. Open Road explores not just what these cars do, but what they mean. Whether it’s an old, new, or exotic model, HYPEBEAST is looking beyond the stats to unpack the simple pleasures of automotive. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was first released in 1972, and every time a new iteration has been released it has single-handedly redefined and reset the benchmark for luxury. From the first iteration in 1903 that set the tone for early 20th-century manufacturing to the first official S-Class of ‘72, which introduced never-before-seen safety innovations such as ABS, changing the game has been at the forefront of this car’s intentions. Now in its seventh generation, the S-Class has solidified itself as the executive car to bea...

Competition Carbon, a custom shop that specializes in bespoke carbon fiber aero packages for the Corvette C7 and Lamborghini Huracan, is now looking to work on its first electric vehicle, the Tesla Model S Plaid. The initial designs tease an aggressive widebody kit that has been lowered significantly. Modifications include the addition of front and rear wheel arches, air intakes, extended side skirts, custom rims, diffusers, an extended tail wing, and the list goes on. While the images released so far are renderings, the modified Tesla Model S Plaid is expected to debut at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November. Aside from the Tesla Roadster, the Model S Plaid is the EV Company’s fastest offering with a quoted 1.99-second 0-60 mph time and a 200 mph top speed. While Model S mo...

After a decade off the track, the MINI John Cooper Works will race once again at the Nürburgring later this year. The race car, which was entered by the private team Bulldog Racing, is slated to compete in the SP3T class. This year will mark the 50th edition of Nürburgring’s 24-hour long race. Posing “the ultimate endurance test for man and machine,” the race will take place from May 26 to 29 on a 15.8-mile (approximately 25.4 km) circuit. For the purpose of the race, the standard MINI JCW was updated with several modifications. A racing cage was installed on the model, the volume of its fuel tank was increased and it received aerodynamic add-ons, including an adjustable rear wing, covered underbody, a rear diffuser and front splitter. Additionally, original BMW M Performance brake c...

Tesla has stopped including a mobile charger, its Mobile Connector Bundle, with new vehicle purchases. The change was first spotted by Twitter user Tesla Adri, who noticed that Tesla had updated its website to list the mobile connector at an additional price of $275 USD, rather than saying “comes with vehicle.” Tesla just updated the website. The mobile connector is no longer included with a new car. They now list a price for the connector rather than saying “comes with vehicle”. Guessed correctly what the change in the configurator means. https://t.co/IieebFQLUu pic.twitter.com/MBWfUzsdGv — Tesla_Adri (@tesla_adri) April 16, 2022 The Mobile Connector Bundle allows Tesla owners to connect their vehicles to a wall outlet, garnering about two to three miles of range per hou...

Award-winning British restorers Thornley Kelham is launching a new Restomod division with a fresh take on Jaguar’s XK. Their new Jaguar XK European doesn’t just update the vehicle with modern developments and creature comforts, but has also been fully redesigned by McLaren P1 and 720S designer Paul Howse. The new hand-formed aluminum body is “lower, wider, curvier, cleaner,” looking like something Jaguar might have created themselves “were the XK subject to a kind of in-house skunkworks operation in the ‘50s.” “The idea of improving or modifying any iconic design is one that must be approached with great care,” says Howse. “One has to be very respectful for what was originally designed in a very different time using very different tools. My vision was to meld the latest state of the art Au...

Luxury automaker Genesis is looking towards an electrified future, and in light of this, it has just unveiled the Genesis X Speedium Coupe concept. The new concept is a “freestyle” design based on the marque’s other concept, the Genesis X, which was unveiled late last month. Here, Genesis follows the two-door GT design language but elevates it to become sportier while also showcasing what prospective owners can expect from Genesis’ next wave of electric vehicles. Genesis designed the X Speedium Coupe with an hourglass figure in mind, giving the model curvaceous lines and muscular definitions to enhance its sporting aesthetic. Its name, “Speedium,” is inspired by the brand’s “passion for motorsports felt by Genesis designers at the Korean race...

Toyota has finally put a price tag on its long-awaited bZ4X electric SUV. Announcing the news via a press release, Toyota has set the starting price for the car at $42,000 USD, and if that wasn’t attractive enough, the automaker also points out that according to the EPA, the average estimated fuel cost savings over five years can reach $5,000 USD when compared to other average new vehicles. As for what you’ll be getting for that price, the base XLE model of the bZ4X will be equipped with FWD, a range of 252 miles and a 0-60 mph time of a reasonable 7.1 seconds. If you’re looking for something beefier, you’ll also have the option to upgrade to the Limited package, which has a price tag starting at $46,700 USD. With that trim, you’re looking at a range of 228 mi...

Tesla is now launching a more affordable version of the Model Y with increased battery capacity thanks to its new 4680 battery cells. While the new cells are twice as big in size as the automaker’s current batteries, it carries an impressive five times the capacity. With the new battery installed, the updated Model Y can make a range of 279 miles on a single charge and reach 0-60 mph in just five seconds. The best thing of all is that it’ll also come at a lower price point: the new Standard Range AWD option will start at $59,990 USD, which is $3,000 USD cheaper than the Long Range AWD. This was achieved thanks to the need for fewer batteries and less complex configurations: the 4680 cells are integrated with a structural battery pack on the new Model Y. On top of these changes,...