Autos

In January 2020, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the VISION AVTR — a car inspired by the 2009 blockbuster Avatar — and like the film, it wanted to bring humans and machines closer than ever using its “ADVANCED VEHICLE TRANSFORMATION” platform. Now, at the IAA Mobility 2021 showcase, the marque has announced the inclusion of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), meaning that the VISION AVTR can be controlled by the power of thought. From selecting the navigation destination to changing the radio station or setting the ambient lighting, everything you see inside — and some of the outside functions — can be controlled using your brain. BCI is more than a gimmick, though, as it could open up possibilities to help disabled people drive, and in day-to-day life, BCI could ch...

The tuning of electric cars isn’t as much of a craze as it is with combustion engine models, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of MANHART from producing the Tesla Model 3-based TM3 720. Breaking down that name, we find the acronym for the car itself alongside three digits, “720,” that relate to the all-electric car’s newfound power. Specifically, the performance has been upped from 513 HP and 660 Nm of torque to an even more impressive 550 HP and 720 Nm of torque, which is put down using the car’s proprietary dual-motor all-wheel-drive system via an 82 kWh lithium-ion battery that’s now equipped with the MANHART MHTronik Powerbox. Additionally, the Model 3 now sits lower thanks to a set of H&R springs, and the suspension is ever-so-slightly har...

It’s been quite the month for Mercedes-Benz having unveiled its collaboration with Heron Preston, the AMG GT 63 S E, and the all-electric EQG, and now it follows on from this success with the just-revealed Mercedes-Maybach Concept EQS. Coming from its luxury Maybach division, the EQS will stand as its first fully electric SUV — aside from the EQG — and showcases how the future of Mercedes-Maybach will look. It’s an instantly recognizable recipe, featuring a two-tone paint job, chrome details all around, and plenty of presence that’s combined with a futuristic powertrain. Starting at the front, we find an almost upright panel of black wrapping around to incorporate the headlights before swooping into the frunk, while Maybach branding prominently graces the faux...

Volkswagen is known as the manufacturer of “the people’s car,” having consistently produced high-quality, affordable cars for the masses, and now it looks to take on the electrified market with its ID. LIFE. The Volkswagen ID. LIFE concept is a small, compact crossover electric vehicle that’s slated to come out in 2025, and will be strategically priced at around €20,000 EUR (approx. $24,000 USD), making it one of the cheapest all-electric cars on the market. However, the entry-level price does not equate to entry-level specs. It may have a simplistic design that’s described as being “strikingly clear, pared-down and high-quality,” but this aesthetic choice is made on purpose — everything from the removable roof made of an air chamber textile ...

The automotive industry is one of the most planet-harming manufacturing sectors, even if the focus on electric cars is bigger than ever, but BMW is looking to change this with its just-revealed concept, the i Vision Circular. Positioned as a car for 2040, the i Vision Circular combines sustainability with the marque’s premium and luxurious touch for something that’s never been seen in the automotive world before. As the name suggests, the car has been designed using the principles of a circular economy, which in turn aims to make BMW the “world’s most sustainable manufacturer in the individual premium mobility space.” Under the titles “RE:THINK,” “RE:DUCE,” “RE:USE,” and “RE:CYCLE,” BMW has created a car that is made e...

German luxury RV specialists Volkner has just released their most expensive motor home to date. The Volkner Performance S sees an L-shaped kitchen, a full master suite, a full-width bathroom, a 2,000-watt solar array, an 8-KW generator, a wine locker, and a Burmester sound system that costs $355,000 USD alone. While the 40-foot RV costs $2.4 million by itself, what adds to its price tag, even more, is a Bugatti Chiron that’s stowed in its slide-out garage. This complete package sells for roughly $7.7 million USD. Check out the features in the video above. In other automotive news, MANHART adds power, carbon fiber, rims and decals to the all-electric Tesla Model 3. Read more at HYPEBEAST

Following on from BMW‘s just-revealed i Vision Circular concept car, the German marque and its sub-brand BMW Motorrad have unveiled their respective versions of the i Vision AMBY. Starting with the BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY, which is the machine that’s more akin to a traditional motorbike, we find an all-electric powertrain that’s controlled using a throttle grip that is capable of hitting different speeds depending on the location or situation you are riding. For example, it’ll hit 15 MPH on cycle paths, 28 MPH on inner-city roads, or a top speed of 37 MPH on bigger roads outside of city centers. This modular speed concept is unheard of and aims to use geofencing technology to detect which road or path it’s being used on, subsequently introducing new laws and ...

In January of 2018, Arnold Schwarzenegger, an avid fan of the G-Wagen, elicited a rare promise from the then Chairman of Daimler AG, Dieter Zetsche who vowed to deliver an electric G-Class line. Three years later, an electric concept of the legendary all-terrain vehicle has been officially unveiled at the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich accompanied by a ’70s space opera video seen above. The new Mercedes-Benz EQG bears the G-Class’ signature boxy design with the addition of futuristic glowing accents and 22-inch polished aluminum rims. A closer look reveals a Black Panel Grille illuminated by rounded LED blocks in a 3D effect and white illuminated bands that wrap around the exterior mirror housing and sides. Significant aesthetic changes are seen from the top view, revealing a...

Gulfstream‘s innovative G700 aircraft just set two international city-pair records. Dubbed as the world’s largest business jet, the aircraft took off from Savannah, Georgia on Friday in destination to Doha, Qatar — a distance of 6,711 nautical miles — and made record time in just 13 hours and 16 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.88. Thereafter, the test plane, dubbed N706GD, flew from Doha to Paris’ Le Bourget airport — 2,953 nm away — in a swift ride that took merely six hours and 15 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90, before heading home. Acclaimed Parisian photographer, Karl Hab, was there to document this beauty of modern-day aviation. An aircraft that features four customizable living areas and is currently the biggest cabin of any business aircraft in the ...

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 automotives. What does Aston Martin mean to you? Most likely, James Bond, and connotations of an antiquated marque that, for the most part, has an ardent passion for “the good old days of Great Britain.” But you’d be mistaken. This is the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, and it is proof that everything you’ve ever thought about Aston Martin is from a bygone era.  “DBS” is not to Aston Martin what “GTO” is to Ferrari, despite the fact that each has produced just three cars under their special respective monikers. The difference being, F...

Tesla is no stranger to investigations. It was first announced in early August that Tesla was under fire for its autopilot system; the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an official examination into the manufacturer’s autopilot system that resulted in 17 injuries and one death. According to The New York Times, Tesla has now been ordered to turn over all its detailed Autopilot data by October 22 or else the electric vehicle company will face fines up to $115 million USD. The NHTSA has indicated to Tesla to produce a detailed report on how the driver assistance system works. It specifically asks the company to pinpoint exactly how Tesla ensures that drivers will keep their eyes on the road even when using the Autopilot function. For months, Feds have c...

Audi has officially unveiled its self-driving luxury electric vehicle concept sedan. The dramatically sleek Audi Grandsphere has is a nod to the German automaker’s vision of luxurious self-driving cars. The Grandsphere concept toys with the idea of how consumers will interact with vehicles now the line. The company has reimagined the idea of luxury cars and has engineered a rolling lounge-style electric-powered automotive. The Grandsphere is the second of a trio of concepts to be debuted by the automaker. The elegance of the car features similar styling components to its sportier counterpart, the Audi Skysphere. Different from the debut concept, the Grandsphere features a more spacious, four-door layout that further showcases the brand’s design direction down the line. With two...