Autos

Shortly after reports of Hyundai shuttering its combustible engine development division, news has broken that the South Korean automotive giant is also slamming the brakes on hydrogen tech. According to Korean news outlet Chosunbiz, Hyundai executives have pulled the plug on the third-generation hydrogen fuel cells originally intended for use on its Genesis series after negative results came back from a feasibility study. While the site highlights that the stoppage is temporary, it also noted serious issues with the existing technology that may prove hard to solve for Hyundai, including a lack of marketability due to exceptionally high costs and a series of technical problems that weren’t specified. The closure of its hydrogen division will have a massive effect on the automaker, whi...

Ferrari is marking its 75th year with a special anniversary logo, paying tribute to the luxury Italian auto house Enzo Ferrari built in 1947. 2022 is shaping up to be a memorable year for Ferrari which will introduce its upcoming high-performance SUV, the Ferrari Purosangue to compete with the growing popularity of luxury SUVs. Next year, Ferrari will also be releasing a convertible version of the 296 GTB, a hybrid plug-in sports car. Additionally, new Icona models are expected to arrive as follow-ups to the Monza SP1 and SP2 speedster alongside the recently debuted, Daytona SP3. While the 75th anniversary will celebrate the legacy of the Ferrari, the luxury brand will most especially be commemorating the “spirit of Ferrari.” To celebrate, Ferrari has released a new logo, promo...

Mansory has just unveiled its newest automotive masterpiece in the form of a reworked Rolls-Royce Cullinan. This one-off “Special UAE” build was made in celebration of the German tuner’s first showroom in Dubai. The new duotone conversion gives the luxury SUV a new body kit made from forged carbon where the entire stance and appearance have a more aggressive presence with vents, diffusers, and flared wheel arches. The entire interior has also been upgraded with new carbon trim and stitch details on the seats. This entire package sits on new DX.5 24-inch, fully forged wheel. The base horsepower from the 6.75-liter V12 engine also receives a slight bump from 563hp and 627 lb-ft of torque to 610hp and 701 lb-ft of torque. There’s no word on pricing, but do keep in mind...

Tesla’s forthcoming Cybertruck has inspired a high-tech remote-controlled snowcat. Developed by the startup Spyker Workshop, the CyberKAT is a miniature electric vehicle with a similar design to the Cybertruck, featuring a sleek silver finish and a sharp angular body. Measuring 29 inches long (737 mm) by 19 inches wide (483 mm), the CyberKAT can clear approximately 4 inches (102 mm) of snow and is built to move across rugged terrain. The CyBlower, a separate attachment that’s being developed at Spyker, readily turns the EV into a snowblower when attached to its trailer hitch. The frame of the CyberKAT is built out of aluminum sheet metal and contains aluminum parts, including its transmission. With a 775 electric motor, the vehicle is recommended to be run using 12-volt batteries, though S...

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. Certain cities have a rich, deep car culture like no other that’s full of enthusiasts, drivers, collectors, builders, etc – Los Angeles and Tokyo instantly come to mind. For Kenta, living in both has made him into the ultimate car fanatic, one which has shaped his life to include owning, driving, and even making a living off of his love for automotive. Kenta – who goes by L.A. Kenta to ...

The Thundertruck is the futuristic electric vehicle many of us dreamt of waking up to on Christmas morning. Concepted by the Los Angeles design agency, Wolfgang, the two-part project was made to challenge current automotive design principles, while maximizing offroad performance. The proposed launch campaign positions the multi-purpose EV as “rugged, eco-friendly and versatile.” A reliable truck that was inspired by the vast Australian Outback and designed to visually fascinate both outdoor aficionados and young trendsetters. Examining the specs of the vehicle truly gets the imagination going — from a 180kWh battery pack, 800 horsepower engine that can reach over 500 miles, batwing solar awnings to a holographic information display. If the 4×4 isn’t enough, Wolfgang ...

Tesla‘s latest software update lets drivers use their car as a megaphone to project messages to the outside world. Last week, Electrek reported that Tesla’s annual holiday software update gives users the ability to swipe through TikTok while the car is in park, in addition to adding new games, including Sudoku and the original version of Sonic the Hedgehog, to the car’s arcade. Now, the company has announced that its software update also includes the capability to turn Tesla vehicles into a megaphone. According to Electrek, the megaphone function is an add-on to the existing Boombox feature introduced last year. “Our new Boombox Megaphone allows you to project your voice via your car’s external speaker — perfect for announcing to your friends when it’s time to...

HYPEBEAST previously reported that Tesla is under yet another investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This time, the case focuses on reports of Tesla vehicles allowing drivers to play video games on the front touchscreen of the car while in motion. The Guardian noted that just less than a day after the NHSTA revealed that they would be investigating Tesla on these claims, the company announced that it will be sending out an update to prevent drivers from playing games while the car is moving. The NHSTA said that the company is expected to send out a software update so that the “Passenger Play” function will be locked at the time of driving. This change will be implemented across all four of Tesla’s models with this function. Tesla offi...

Nissan‘s Nismo Heritage program is expanding its catalog of enhanced motor parts with three made-to-order tailpipes and exhaust systems for the automaker’s R32, R33 and R34 Skyline models. The three exhaust systems are composed of titanium and utilize an updated black-color DLC for its Nismo iconography. The new diamond-like coating is said to prevent the system from changing color from the exhaust heat, like a typical titanium exhaust would. Additionally, each system is approximately 12.5 kg (27.5 lbs) lighter than previous exhausts and reduces exhaust pressure for a roughly 7% increase in power. Nissan recommends the systems only be installed in R3 or R4 models, not on the automaker’s S1 or S2-engine vehicles due to their turbocharger. The exhausts built for the R32 and...

Last month, Hollywood director Michael Bay teamed up with the Miami-based vintage supercar dealership Curated and former entertainment news anchor Alex Aievoli to bring forth four automobiles from the celebrated franchise of The Transformers. Headlining the range is the notorious 2010 Chevrolet Camaro “Bumblebee” from Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon, featuring a front fascia, spoiler, hood, and more unique details for filming purposes. The hero car is followed by the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG from the same movie, driven by Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington. Next in line is the heavily customized 2016 Ford Mustang “Barricade” featured in Transformers 5: The Last Knight. The Deep Impact Blue GT police car with an Ebony interior is fitted with worki...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating an estimated 580,000 Tesla vehicles over reports that drivers can play video games from the front center touchscreen while the car is in motion. The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has opened a preliminary evaluation after a complaint alleged that the Tesla gameplay functionality is enabled even when the car is being driven. “This functionality, referred to as ‘Passenger Play,’ may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash,” the agency said. ODI states that the capability has been available since December 2020 in Tesla “Passenger Play”-equipped vehicles, and prior to this, was only available for passengers when the car was in park. “ODI will ...

Seven months after Ford initially revealed its 2022 F-150 Lightning lineup, the American automaker has finally offered more details regarding the new electric pickup, with a spotlight on its hefty battery packs. Available in two configurations, the F-150 Lightning series will have a range of roughly 230 miles with a Standard Range 98kWh battery, while the Extended Range package will give it a boost to 300 miles with its 131kWh capacity. In terms of availability, the former option will accompany the Lightning Pro, the XLT and the Lariat, while the latter will come standard for the top-end Platinum trim and be optional for both the XLT and Lariat. On top of battery capacities, Ford also shed more light on some of its other features. Power fold mirrors will only be available to the Lariat and...