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. There are often many ways to get your career started in automotive – from humble beginnings working on cars at your local garage, to being the traditional freelance writer covering car meets, events, shows and more. For Samuel Du, his path was carved ever since he picked up a camera, and the rest is history. Sam worked in the automotive journalism world for 14 years, which is enough time for ...

For our latest episode of Behind the HYPE, we’re looking at the epitome of excess, class, status and luxury – the Rolls-Royce Phantom, a car that is often imitated but impossible to replicate. The Phantom is the ultimate luxury limousine from British automaker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, which was acquired by BMW in 1998 to operate and recognized separately from the cars made previously within the century. In 2003, the new company under BMW produced the Phantom as its first vehicle, to worldwide acclaim and fame. Its adoption into pop culture cemented it as the pinnacle of automotive luxury, with never-before-seen amenities, technological features that seemed like sci-fi, a sumptuous ride akin to private jets and, surprisingly, powerful performance as well. Royalty, rappers, and ...

Big A Trailer has just sold United Nude‘s “Lo-Res” concept car for a surprising price of $111,111 USD. Sold with proceeds going towards the maintenance of the Petersen Museum and Energy Independence Now, the “Lo-Res” car from the footwear brand has gained a lot of attention throughout the years — winning a Wallpaper Magazine Design Award, a spot at Petersen Automotive Museum’s Disruptors exhibition, and has even appeared in Rich the Kid and Kendrick Lamar’s “New Freezer” music video. United Nude mentions that the car was inspired by the Lamborghini Countach, but it is also reminiscent of Tesla’s Cybertruck with its angular lines. The car is accessible via a full clamshell top which opens via remote control. For those curious as to...

Amazon‘s autonomous vehicle company Zoox will be testing its cars in Seattle, marking the third city it has entered after San Francisco and Las Vegas. The company also plans on opening a new office in Seattle following the testing. Zoox is currently set to deploy a small number of its automobiles to the city to get a better understanding of Seattle’s streets before going forward with expanding its operations. Zoox’s CTO and co-founder Jesse Levinson said, “We’re excited to be testing in Seattle. The data we’re gathering will be invaluable for the continued development of our AI stack.” Toyota Highlander SUVs will be given a full makeover to include retrofitted sensors and special computer hardware to allow the cars to drive autonomously. Down the l...

Lexus has joined forces with Marvel Studios as their exclusive automotive partner to reveal 10 collaborative character-themed designs based on all 10 superheroes set to appear in the highly anticipated Eternals film. Each of the custom-wrapped Eternals films are inspired by each character’s individual armor design, iconography as well as their super powers. The added golden glow that is seen emitting from the car’s grilles and underbodies reflects the characters’ shared energy from the film. The characters are given a design that and Lexus vehicle that best fits its personalities and aura. For instance, Ajak, played by Salma Hayek, can be seen embodied on the Lexus GX due to its powerful and commanding characteristics. Ikaris is paired with the auto company’s flagsh...

German car customizer and multifaceted retailer Klassen has unveiled its take on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, giving it a full bulletproof makeover. Every panel, including the roof and the chassis, has been enhanced with CEN 1063 BR6 armor proofing that makes this Cullinan capable of withstanding the impact of two simultaneous DM51 grenade explosions, while bulletproof glass also adds to the overall protection of this luxury SUV. Furthermore, elements such as the electronics control unit, suspension, door hinges, and other crucial weak points of a car have been given the bulletproof touch, meaning that altogether this Cullinan is essentially a road-going tank that can tackle anything thrown at it. Importantly, the bulletproof customization is barely noticeable so that the car doesn’t dr...

Bury Design is an Australian studio that specializes in creating leisure and commercial vessels. The firm frequently develops new ways to shake up the industry, such as a concept yacht they’ve devised, called the Inception 24. The yacht was proposed to counter the average dayboat and looks as if it jumped out of a James Bond film. More than just looks, the 79-foot narrow build was inspired by racing yachts and holds speed, comfort, and efficiency at its core. Inception 24 will be powered by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion combo and contain a large battery bank and electric drive, providing for a smooth and silent trip for over 15 knots at a time. Additionally, customers can up the speed to around 40 knots through a fully foil-borne, electric drive solution that will be available ...

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 Land Rover Defender is a British institution. Officially launched in 1948, the original Series I became a staple of the British Army. For the next 67 years, the Defender was the undisputed benchmark for 4x4s. In its lifetime, the car barely changed, except for a few engine introductions and contemporary production updates. It didn’t stop Land Rover from selling over two million of them before the “old” Defender was axed in 2016. Irrefutably, a tall order is in store for the “new” 2021 Defender. At first glance, purist...

Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled its updated military spec G-Class. Now dubbed the W464, the search and rescue/special operations model maintains the iconic off-roader‘s 40 years of design DNA but updates features for the modern world. Essentially a stripped-down and off-road centric version of the civilian version G-Class, the W464 features an emergency override switch (EOS), a 24-volt on-board power supply, improved corrosion resistance, LED lighting, a snorkel, a solid front axle, and improved ground clearance, approach, breakover, and departure angles, as well as water fording depths. The W464 is now powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel straight-six that makes 245 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, all joined to a new nine-speed automatic transmission. Available in two body types &...

Multidisciplinary designer, Off-White™ founder, and Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh is back co-designing cars, as Mercedes-Maybach has just announced that it has teamed up with Abloh on “Project MAYBACH.” Following on from September 2020’s “Project Geländewagen” partnership, which saw Abloh turn the G-Class into a race car of sorts, the designer has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener once again to create an electric show car under the luxurious Mercedes-Maybach division. Mercedes-Maybach produces some of the finest automobiles on the market, known for their unrivaled levels of luxury and prestige that equates to cars you often want to be driven in, not drive yourself. The upcoming collaborative show car is to b...

Specialized has unveiled the all-new Crux, the lightest gravel bike in the world equipped with massive tire clearance capabilities and performance gravel geometry. Weighing 725 grams, the Crux boasts a responsive build with a nimble and reactive ride. And with a 47C tire clearance, the bike offers more capability across a wide range of terrain. The Crux enlists a straight-shot, hollow drive-side chainstay, which helps to keep the bike focused around the improved 1x and gravel 2x cranksets with a lightweight. “We knew an ultralight bike with massive tire clearance would truly unlock gravel performance,” said Stewart Thompson, road and gravel product leader at Specialized, in a statement. “With the breakthroughs made on Aethos, we finally had the technology to make it a rea...

For those who think a G-Class, CLS, the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, the S-Class, and the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class are too common-place, fear not, as Mercedes-Benz has just the thing for you: its new “MANUFAKTUR” label. “MANUFAKTUR” is a customization program that can be equipped to the aforementioned cars, similar to what Porsche did with its “Sonderwunsch” program in the ’70s and ’80s. Think of it as a team that will grant your special wishes, allowing you to fit your car with rare materials that are predominantly processed by hand, exclusive paint finishes, and high-quality embellishments in the interior. The level of craftsmanship involved is akin to making a Saville Row suit that’s specifically tailored to your liking, making the car a tru...