Automotive
Niki Lauda’s Championship 1980 BMW M1 Hits the Auction Block
SummaryThe 1980 BMW M1 awarded to Niki Lauda for winning the 1979 Procar Championship will be auctioned by Mecum in January 2026, with an estimated value of up to $675,000 USDThis specific road-going model is distinguished by a rare Procar front air dam and bespoke Motorsport livery hand-painted and signed by BMW Art Car artist Walter MaurerWith only 20,350 km on the clock, the mid-engine supercar features a 266 HP 3.5L engine and a pristine blue leather interior, serving as a museum-quality tribute to Lauda’s legacyA piece of automotive and Formula 1 royalty is preparing to change hands as the 1980 BMW M1 originally gifted to the legendary Niki Lauda heads to auction. This isn't just one of the 399 road-legal examples ever produced; it is a "trophy car," awarded to the three-time F1 World...
Mercedes-Benz Design Introduces the Maybach Ocean Club
SummaryMercedes-Benz Design has announced the Maybach Ocean Club, an exclusive ship-based members' enclave aboard a conceptual superyacht titled Beyond HorizonsThe project merges Maybach’s automotive luxury with marine heritage, offering over 50,000 square feet of deck space and staterooms designed to mimic the elegance of 1920s grand linersManaged by Michael Hehn, the club introduces a membership model that provides the perks of superyachting without the management and maintenance burdens typically associated with private ownershipMercedes-Benz Design is extending its hallmark of ultra-luxury from the asphalt to the ocean with the announcement of the Maybach Ocean Club. Set aboard a conceptual private vessel named "Beyond Horizons," this ship-based enclave reimagines the exclusive lifesty...
Ford Scraps Fully-Electric F-150 Lightning
SummaryFord is officially discontinuing the fully-electric F-150 Lightning at the end of 2025, taking a massive $19.5 billion USD write-downThe automaker is shifting its focus toward Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREV), with a next-generation hybrid LightningThis strategic pivot follows $13 billion USD in losses within Ford’s EV division since 2023, driven by high production costsIn a seismic shift for the American automotive landscape, Ford Motor Co. has officially announced the cancellation of the fully-electric F-150 Lightning. The decision, confirmed on December 15, 2025, marks a dramatic retreat from the company’s once-ambitious battery-electric vehicle (BEV) targets as it grapples with mounting financial losses and cooling consumer demand.The automaker revealed it will take a mas...
This Is the Ultimate Mercedes-Benz G-Class Experience
Ever wanted to push a Mercedes-Benz G-Class to its limits? Well, now you can.The G-Class was first launched as a civilian vehicle in 1979 and its development was a cross-country collaboration between engineers in Mercedes-Benz’s base in Stuttgart, Germany, and hand-crafted production plant in Graz, Austria.The car’s innovative design features, off-road capabilities, and dominant look pushed the boundaries of automotive when it launched, however, its success at the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally catapulted it to a performance realm, and it wasn’t long before it took the market by storm. Currently boasting an aspirational luxury SUV status, it has remained a brand staple for four decades, transcending generations and climbing the ranks as a fan-favorite of any car enthusiast.Now, Mercedes-Benz is gi...
Lexus’ Next LFA Sport Concept Receives Electrified Iteration
SummaryLexus premiered the LFA Concept, an all-electric (BEV) sports car developed to preserve and evolve essential car-making techniques under the philosophy of "Toyota's Shikinen Sengu"The concept shares engineering DNA with the GR GT and GR GT3, focusing on a low center of gravity, lightweight all-aluminum frame, and superior aerodynamicsThe design embodies "Discover Immersion" with a highly refined, minimalist cockpit and a low, sculptural coupe form that visually links it to the original LFALexus has sent shockwaves through the automotive world, officially unveiling the LFA Concept -— the all-electric successor to its legendary V10-powered supercar. This stunning second-generation machine serves not just as a halo car, but as a definitive statement on the brand's high-performance elec...
Mercedes-Benz Reveals First Look at the New G-Class Cabriolet
SummaryMercedes-Benz has commenced official road testing for the new G-Class Cabriolet, confirming the return of the iconic open-top off-roaderThis new model will be a four-door convertible featuring a power-operated retractable soft-top, maintaining the G-Wagen’s signature boxy profilePrototypes are currently being tested in Austria and will undergo rigorous winter trials in Sweden ahead of the expected debut and launch in 2026The automotive world is buzzing with the official start of testing for the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class Cabriolet, marking the return of the iconic drop-top off-roader after a significant hiatus. Following an overwhelmingly positive response to preliminary teasers, Mercedes has swiftly moved prototypes onto public roads in Austria for rigorous dynamic evaluations.This ...
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Unveils GR GT and GR GT3 Flagships
SummaryTOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveiled the GR GT (road-legal) and GR GT3 (race-spec) flagships, continuing the legacy of models like the Lexus LFABoth feature a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine (over 650 PS) and Toyota's first all-aluminum body frameDevelopment was advanced under a "one-team approach" focused on low weight, low center of gravity, and aerodynamic performanceTOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has officially unveiled two groundbreaking flagship models, the GR GT and its FIA GT3-spec race variant, the GR GT3. These twin supercars embody TGR’s philosophy of engineering "ever-better motorsports-bred cars," continuing the lineage of legends like the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA.At the heart of both machines is the newly developed 4.0-liter, V8 twin-turbo engine, a powerplant that achieves maxim...
Unrestored 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible Headed for $1 Million USD Auction
SummaryAn ultra-rare 1969 Corvette L88 Convertible, one of 116 examples built, is expected to fetch over $1 million USD at auctionThe car retains its original powertrain: a 427 ci L88 V-8 mated to a Muncie M22 four-speed manual gearbox for pure motorsport intentShowing just 19,886 miles, the unrestored Vette is finished in Le Mans Blue and has earned an NCRS Top Flight AwardA phenomenal piece of American muscle car history is currently up for bid. An ultra-rare, original, unrestored 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible is live on auction at SBX Cars, with the immaculate "time-capsule" expected to command over $1 million USD. This particular L88 is one of only 116 examples of the model variant built that year, making it an essential acquisition for any serious collector.Its desirability ...
Land Rover Unveils Its Dakar Rally Defender
SummaryLand Rover unveiled its purpose-built Dakar Rally Defender, marking the brand’s official return to the grueling off-road raceThe vehicle is built on a reinforced chassis with a long-travel suspension system and a powerful twin-turbo V8 engineThis race model is designed to prove the Defender’s legendary toughness and cement its status as the ultimate off-road championLand Rover has pulled the covers off its formidable new competition vehicle, the Dakar Rally Defender, marking the brand's official return to the world's most grueling off-road endurance race. Developed by the brand's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, this purpose-built machine is engineered to conquer the brutal terrains of the Dakar Rally, showcasing the Defender's legendary capability in its most extreme form...
Shoei and EyeLights Introduce the GT-Air 3 Smart, the First AR-Integrated Motorcycle Helmet
SummaryThe Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart is the first motorcycle helmet to launch with fully integrated Augmented Reality (AR) technologyDeveloped with EyeLights, the AR display projects crucial navigation and safety data directly onto the visor within the rider's line of sightThe helmet also features a high-quality, built-in Bluetooth audio system for hands-free music, communication, and navigation promptsThe future of motorcycling safety and connectivity has arrived with the unveiling of the Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart, the first motorcycle helmet to feature fully integrated Augmented Reality (AR) technology. Developed through a landmark partnership between premium helmet manufacturer Shoei and smart technology firm EyeLights, this helmet is poised to revolutionize the rider experience.The core innovati...
Cao Fei’s Art Car Collection Hits the Tracks at BMW M Festival Chengdu
Now in its 50th year, BMW’s Art Car series has once again landed front and center on the world’s stage, featuring in several retrospective exhibitions and commemorative races. As part of its anniversary, the automotive brand has also reunited with PUMA to release a new capsule collection inspired by the 2017 Cao Fei Art Car. The respective capsule marks the third installment in the brands’ ongoing collaboration, following on from the limited-edition range honoring Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL Art Car. Continuing to bridge the gap between fashion and fast cars, the latest drop serves as an ode to Cao Fei’s electrifying BMW M6 GT3, turning the digitally designed strokes and curves into a line of stealthy streetwear garments. “The Art Car itself is an exploration of the boundary between vir...
Porsche Motorsport is Immortalized in New Limited-Edition Book, ‘Artifacts’
SummaryType 7 unveiled Artifacts: Porsche Motorsport, a comprehensive, large-format coffee table book celebrating the marque’s racing legacyThe 550-page volume features over 250 high-resolution photos of rare components and deep storytelling from the archivesThe book retails for €350 (approximately $405 USD) and includes interviews with figures like Roger Penske, honoring the craft of the sportIn association with Porsche Motorsport, Type 7 has unveiled Artifacts: Porsche Motorsport, a comprehensive large-format coffee table book that offers an unparalleled artistic view into the items, stories, and individuals powering the marque's historic racing legacy. This edition, curated and photographed within restricted Porsche facilities like Flacht and Weissach, captures over 250 wide-ranging ite...
