Autos

Following a series of leaks online, Toyota has finally seized the opportunity to officially unveil the first images of its upcoming 2022 Tundra. While other details revolving around the rugged pickup remain scarce at this point, we do know that the Japanese automaker has been developing a new “iForce MAX” engine for the new Tundra, which could potentially be similar to the twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter, 415-horsepower V6 powering the 2022 Land Cruiser. The two cars will also share the same platform, giving the Tundra greater rigidity and safety features. Other performance upgrades include better handling, higher towing and payload capacities, as well as a coil spring rear suspension. Toyota will be releasing full details for the 2022 Tundra soon, and those interested can sign up...

To make up for a lack of the classic Defender Camel Trophy Edition in the U.S., Land Rover has now created one for the 2022 Defender model instead, making it exclusive to the North American market. The car itself is based on the Defender X-Dynamic SE, which is powered by a six-cylinder engine pushing out 395 horsepower. Aside from being dressed in the ultra-iconic yellow shade of the Camel Trophy vehicles, the special edition receives a vintage-styled logo on both doors and a black trim package to offer a sleek dash of contrast. To prepare you for the wilderness, Land Rover has also equipped the car with a new front bumper, a skid plate, an expedition roof platform, a ladder to access it, mud flaps to keep things relatively clean along with rubber floor mats on the interior, a winch instal...

Bentley has crafted a limited-edition take on its ultra-luxurious Flying Spur Hybrid, taking inspiration from its EXP 100 GT Concept unveiled back in 2019 in celebration of the British automaker’s 100th anniversary. Named the Odyssean Edition, the new Flying Spur Hybrid is offered in a variety of specifically chosen color options to pair with the Pale Brodgar trim on the interior, which is also lined with a series of open-pore Koa wood panels and sustainably sourced leathers in furtherance of the company’s sustainability efforts. Powering the vehicle itself will be a combination of a 2.9-liter V6 and an electric motor which together push out a combined 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, translating to a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 177mph. It’l...

Tesla is now prepared to pay $1.5 million USD in a settlement over battery throttling incidents for its Model S. Complaints first surfaced in 2019 when Tesla released an over-the-air update to its batteries after one of its Model S EVs caught fire in a parking lot in Hong Kong. The update was said to change up the cars’ “charge and thermal management settings” in order to “help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity.” While the updates did help with battery preservation, some Model S owners experienced a reduction in their battery’s maximum voltage, and subsequently took Tesla to court with a class-action lawsuit. According to new reports, 1,743 Model S EVs were affected by the update in the U.S. The owners suffered a 10 percent batter...

Elon Musk announced that Tesla will hold an AI Day on August 19 via Twitter on Wednesday evening. Though Tesla has previously held an Autonomy Day in 2019 and a Battery Day in 2020, AI Day marks the first time that the car manufacturer will dedicate an event exclusively to artificial intelligence. Tesla AI Day August 19th — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2021 Musk did not share much information regarding details of the event, though he did add: “convincing the best AI talent to join Tesla is the sole goal.” Musk alluded to the event back in June, when he tweeted that Tesla was looking into hosting an AI Day in approximately one month. “Will go over progress with Tesla AI software & hardware, both training & interference. Purpose is recruiting,” he added at t...

Top Gear‘s former host Richard Hammond is selling some of his prized vehicles in a private auction hosted by Silverstone. Putting up eight of his cherished collectibles, in order to fund his new vehicle restoration business venture “The Smallest Cog,” Hammond’s vehicles include a much-loved family heirloom 1959 Bentley S2, a stunning 1969 Porsche 911, a 1927 Sunbeam Model 2 motorcycle, a 1999 Lotus Esprit Sport 350 (5 of 48), a 1932 Velocette KSS Mk1, a 1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk1, and a Norton and Kawasaki motorcycle that he bought for his 40th and 50th birthday. “The irony of me supporting my new classic car restoration business by selling some of my own classic car collection is not wasted on me” stated Hammond. He went on to add “It is with a v...

Bentley‘s Mulliner division has just unveiled an RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) carbon fiber wheel for the Bentayga. After years of development with the help of Bucci Composites, this 22-inch wheel was born — now the largest carbon wheel in production in the world. Meeting all TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverei – Technical Inspection Association) standards, this wheel not only shaves off over 13 pounds per wheel but during impact tests, it was able to withstand hits that would normally crack or shatter an aluminum wheel. Another added benefit is improved agility and stability on the road due to the decrease in unsprung mass, and high stiffness afforded by the properties of carbon fiber. Made specifically for the Bentayga, these will be made available in late 2021. In other...

RM Sotheby’s is now offering up for auction a motocross bike owned by the legendary Steve McQueen himself. Coming in the form of a vintage 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360, the motorcycle was first piloted by Swedish two-time FIA motocross champion  Bengt Åberg. Witnessing racer’s prowess during a race in Santa Cruz, McQueen was so impressed that his production company Solar Productions of Los Angeles immediately made an offer for the bike. Åberg went on to finish the remainder of his season on another motorcycle before taking two world titles with another Husqvarna in 1969 and 1970, while McQueen took ownership of the 1968 model on February 18, 1969. While kept in great condition, McQueen’s Viking 360 nonetheless underwent a restoration that took 14 months to carry out, making ...

In 1954, Ferrari was welcomed to the American automotive market, and back in 2014 while celebrating its 60th anniversary of U.S. supercar sales, the Italian marque made something very special — the Ferrari F60 America. Now, this 1-of-10 example has landed at RM Sotheby’s latest auction, causing quite a stir given its incredible predicted sale price. The F60 is based on the F12 Berlinetta, but its roots run much deeper than just a one-off rebody. In 1954, the Italian racing driver Luigi Chinetti (known for his success at Le Mans) was asked to represent Ferrari in the States, and as Ferrari U.S.A. grew, he found time to develop a racing team. The North American Racing Team, or NART as it’s commonly known, combined Ferrari and the U.S.A. together in racing, and following the...

Audi is looking to do more than just turn heads at one of the most extreme race car competitions in the world at this year’s 2022 Dakar Rally. The German carmaker is set to enter the rally with its newly developed hardcore monster EV machine, the RSQ E-Tron. Audi’s RSQ E-Tron is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and runs on a 50-kWh battery. The behemoth has two electric motors, yet it also employs the same gas engine that is used in the Audi RS5 Turbo DTM. The electric components are borrowed from Audi’s E-Tron FE07 Formula E-Car, which the carmaker only developed this season. As a hybrid, the engine works as a generator that charges the battery while the car is in motion, as it spins a third electric motor. The motor reaches the highest efficiency betwe...

Following last year’s release of the hardcore 765LT supercar, McLaren on Tuesday unveiled a drop-top edition of the Spider, mimicking the formula of its lightning-fast coupe counterpart with a 755-horsepower drivetrain. Powering the vehicle is the same 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V-8 fitted inside the 720S; however, the 765LT engine expels 755 horsepower, a 45 point increase to the 720S edition. Additionally, torque peaks at 590 lb-ft and the car’s seven-speed dial-clutch transmission offers a 15 percent faster acceleration. With its speed-inducing modifications, the 765LT Spider can reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 124 mph in 7.2 seconds, while also clocking in a quarter-mile time of 10 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Those figures are fractionally lower than the coupe̵...