Autos

A Russell Built Fabrication 1991 Porsche 911 (964) Baja Prototype # 1 has just landed on the Collecting Cars auction site. Said to be the ultimate off-road 911, the Baja Prototype is powered by a Rothsport Road & Race 3.8-liter flat-six engine (360bhp and 310lb-ft of torque) and is matched with a six-speed G50 manual transmission. What started its life as a 964 Carrera 4 Cabriolet has now been modified to tackle the trickiest of dirt roads thanks to its rigid 4130 Chromoly race roll cage, full Motec electrical replacement, width increase of 15 inches, carbon fiber roof scoop, driving lamp pod, heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, lightweight doors, and custom-engineered suspension system — even with all the off-road upgrades, the Prototype is still 100 pounds lighter than its stock...

A 2021 Porsche Taycan has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the shortest charge time needed to cross the United States for an electric vehicle. The 2834.5-mile journey from New York to Los Angeles ended up taking just 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 48 seconds smashing the previous record held by a Kia EV6 which made the same journey requiring 7 hours 10 minutes, and 1 second of charge. Wayne Gerdes, a self-described professional long-distance traveler and Guinness Record holder for range in other vehicles, used a special “hypermiling” technique to maximize the vehicle’s efficiency while driving at normal speeds, or sometimes even faster. “Comparing charging performance from a variety of EVs I have driven to date, the Taycan sets the bar,” said Gerdes i...

The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance has now announced its plans for electric car development through 2030. Together, the three automotive giants will be spending a staggering $25.8 billion USD to develop 35 new models over the next eight years, creating five new platforms that’ll share 80% in common usage. The five different categories will focus on budget options, compact vehicles, commercial vehicles, crossovers, and more compact cars with even lower price points and energy consumption. Batteries will also be shared across the three companies, with the Alliance aiming to reach 220 GWh capacity by the end of the decade while lowering costs by 50% by 2026 and 65% by 2028, when all-solid-state-batteries will be available. Over the next four years, the group also aims to have 25 mil...

Toyota has now unveiled its 2023 Sequoia SUV. Receiving a series of welcome upgrades, the new three-row SUV carries the same twin-turbo V6 hybrid i-FORCE MAX engine as the Tundra, capable of generating a combined 436 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque through either a two-wheel-drive system or a part-time four-wheel-drive option. The powertrain works in tandem with a brand new rack-mounted electric power steering system, an independent front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, and the optional Adaptive Variable Suspension and Load-Leveling Rear Height Control Air Suspension configurations. With new tech installed, the Sequoia will also come with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a package that consists of a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Front and Rear Parking Assist wi...

Gooding & Company has just announced the sale of two impressive collections for its Amelia Island auction. Comprised of both the Lloyd Hawkins Collection and the late Rudy “Mr. 993” Mancinas Collection, the lots are made up of some of the rarest classic Porsches and BMWs. “Gooding & Company is excited to present these two outstanding private collections at Amelia Island,” said Gooding & Company Senior Specialist, David Brynan. “The Lloyd Hawkins Collection features a selection of important competition cars, including iconic models like the RSR and 935. The Rudy ‘Mr. 993’ Mancinas collection offers enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire some of the most sought-after modern classics from Porsche and BMW, many of which are finished in rare or on...

Gordon Murray Automotive unveils its all-new T.33 vehicle joining the T.50 and T.50s line-up. The two-seat T.33 is configured with a second-generation T.50 3.9-liter V12, a twelve-cylinder engine that powers 606 horsepower to 11,100rpm. The carbon/aluminum body is uncompromising in bespoke internal detailing but differs from the T.50 as a more accessible driver-oriented supercar. The cabin is devoid of touchscreens and column stalks, with essential amenities living on the carbon fiber steering wheel. GMA refers to the vehicle as “defiantly analog,” rebuffing the digitalization of modern-day vehicles in lieu of driver-centric controls like the aero, lights, aircon, HMI, and a manual gearbox and optional paddle shift. GMA worked closely with Cosworth and Xtrac when deriving the all-new engin...

Tesla released its fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, reporting a 65% revenue growth year-over-year to $17.72 billion USD. CEO Elon Musk also discussed a “product road map” and said the company would not release any new models in 2022. The carmaker’s operating income rose to $2.6 billion USD in Q4, compared to the same period last year, while its quarter-end cash and cash equivalents increased to $17.6 billion USD. The company said its Fremont, California factory achieved record production in 2021, while its Gigafactory Texas began builds of Model Ys in late 2021. Tesla said it plans to grow its manufacturing capacity “as quickly as possible.” Still, it noted challenges that impacted its output, including a continuation of global supply chain, transportation...

Following its first successful inter-city flight in June of last year, Klein Vision‘s AirCar, its road-legal car-aircraft vehicle, has now received the official Certificate of Airworthiness from the Slovak Transport Authority. The AirCar withstood rigorous testing including 200 takeoffs and landings and 70 hours of cross-country flight tests which examined the vehicle’s full range of flight and performance maneuvers. Impressively, takeoff and landing procedures can be achieved without the pilot’s need to touch any flight controls. “AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars. It is official and the final confirmation of our ability to change mid-distance travel forever,” said Professor Stefan Klein, the inventor, leade...

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. The car culture community is fairly diverse, largely open-minded, and most of all: inclusive. The commonality that bonds the community together – irregardless of sex, age, religion, sexual orientation or whatever — is the love of all things cars, and our latest DRIVERS subject’s hunger for speed and power is 100% apparent. Emelia Hartford is a California native car fanatic, having a ver...

Chevrolet has just unveiled its new Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition. Both the Corvette Stingray and Corvette Z06 are going on to their 70th year as a household name in the world of sports cars, and so Chevrolet has done something special to pay tribute to the American supercar icon. “Passion for Corvette runs deep at Chevrolet and this anniversary is extra special because of the excitement and sales success we’ve achieved with the eighth generation of America’s iconic sports car,” said Steve Majoros, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “Even after 70 years, Corvette still makes hearts race and kids dream of the open road.” Arriving in the choice of White Pearl Metallic Tri-coat or Carbon Flash Metallic, the 70th Anniversary Corvette sees distinct wheel center...

Brooks Weisblat from DragTimes has lined up two of the most powerful electric luxury sedans on the market, the brand new 1,111 HP Lucid Air Performance Dream Edition and the 1,020 HP Tesla Model S Plaid, for a head-to-head test. Heading out to an airstrip in Houston Texas, the cars run the drag race four times, once with a 25 mph rolling start. The Tesla Model S managed to win three out of four races quite convincingly, only losing to the Lucid only when Launch Mode was deactivated. While the Tesla Model S has lower horsepower numbers, it’s approximately 400 pounds lighter and has better acceleration with a claimed 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds in comparison to Lucid Air’s 2.5 seconds. In an email conversation with Lucid regarding testing their vehicles, the automaker emphasize...

U.S.-based car tuning company 1016 Industries is renowned for its pioneering use of carbon fiber and 3D printing, and after remodeling cars such as the McLaren 720S and the Lamborghini Urus, it now enters the high-luxury realm with its take on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Speaking on the custom car, 1016 Industries CEO Peter Northrop said, “1016 Industries engineers vehicles with an OEM-plus attitude, which means every piece of forged carbon in our new Cullinan seamlessly integrates into the existing bodywork… Our company is dedicated to resetting the boundaries of auto engineering and our carbon fiber work highlights the latest innovations in 3D printing processes. We’re incredibly pleased with the new Cullinan, which utilizes advanced manufacturing techniques that have never bee...