Autos

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...

AC Schnitzer has just unveiled its latest performance-tuned BMW. Made for the track, AC Schnitzer has further developed the G80 BMW M3 Competition for added power, handling, and of course, aggressive styling. Power sees an increase in almost 80 horsepower at 582hp and 553 lb-ft of torque while handling gets bumped up via a new spring kit with RS coilovers. This setup lowers the front of the car by 15-20mm. There is also a slight reduction in weight thanks to the AC3 lightweight forged wheels. One of the more prominent upgrades can be found in the form of new aero parts for the sports car. On top of the roof spoiler and modest carbon rear wing that produce 44lbs and 154lbs of downforce, respectively, there’s also a front splitter, a four-piece front canard set, and a rear diffuser. Ma...

The Ferrari F40 is unquestionably one of the greatest and most legendary supercars of all time, and this 1989 F40 Berlinetta “Non-Cat, Non-Adjust” iteration is without fail a fine example that’s heading to auction with Bonhams. With just one owner from new, this F40 is perhaps one of the cleanest examples to ever hit the market. Finished in the factory-supplied color of “Rosso Corsa,” and being just one of the 1,315 examples ever made, the classic supercar also comes with optional extras such as wind-up windows and air conditioning — remember, this is basically a road-going F1-derived car, and is one of Ferrari‘s most visceral and hardcore models ever made, so ticking the option box for things such as this aren’t as alien as you’d expec...

The classic James Bond automotive is officially getting an electric vehicle makeover. British company Lunaz, is set to offer electric versions of the iconic Aston Martin DB4, DB5 and DB6. The price tag for the substantial shift for the DB5 and DB6 is looking into the seven-figure valuation. While there is limited information on the pricing, the DB6 is expected to be cheaper but will still “exceed $1 million USD plus local taxes.” According to Top Gear, Lunaz has specifically been programmed to allow for “brisk initial acceleration with the requirements of a classic car that is very much built in the mode of a Grand Tourer.” The electrified Db6 is said to have a range of approximately 255 miles, which is more than is expected from a non-EV DB6. Not much detail has be...

The Audi R8 has been with us since 2006, and over the past 15 years it has appeared in many variants, the most exciting of which is the R8 V10 Performance RWD, which today has been given an update for the 2022 model year. As Sebastian Grams, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH, says, “The Audi R8 V10 RWD really struck a chord with customers right from the start with its rear-wheel-drive derived from the R8 LMS racecar and its unfiltered dynamics.” To add to this experience, Audi has pumped an extra 30 HP and 10 Nm of torque into the car’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 FSI engine, resulting in a total output of 570 HP and 550 Nm. To help the RWD car cope in all kinds of conditions, the mechanical limited-slip differential has been fettled with to make sure that the ri...