Author: Sofia
BMW revealed a mid-cycle refresh for its X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs this week. The updates are significant and include a new V-8 paired with mild-hybrid technology under the hood. Bentley W-12 engine Bentley confirmed that its twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 will bow out next year. The final and most powerful version of the unique engine will feature in the limited-edition Batur coupe, of which just 18 examples will be built. Pininfarina Battista The Pininfarina Battista set new quarter-mile and half-mile production-car records. The electric hypercar managed an 8.55-second elapsed time in the quarter mile and covered the half…
If you’re after a reasonably practical compact SUV, but also want something that reflects your smart, sophisticated side, then the Volkswagen Taigo could be for you. Based on the more upright-looking T-Cross model, the Taigo offers smoother lines and a lowered stance, but still comes with enough space and flexibility to appeal to family buyers.It’s not particularly fun to drive, although it’s certainly easy on the eye and this, combined with the typical VW traits of decent build quality, good levels of standard equipment and reasonable efficiency, mean that it will prove to be a convincing package for some.About the…
ROME — It’s easy to argue that the coupe is dead — especially big coupes with four seats. Never a huge segment to begin with, this slice of the market has shrunk in recent years as buyers flock to SUVs and carmakers allocate their development budget accordingly. In 2023, it makes more sense from a business point of view to slap the “coupe” label on a four-door crossover than to put it on a real coupe with two doors. Maserati isn’t giving up. It’s not just business; it’s also personal. There’s a big chunk of its heritage built on four-seater…
The Lordstown Endurance electric pickup truck has only been in production for a couple of months, but Lordstown on Thursday announced it has stopped production and further deliveries due to performance and quality issues. Lordstown also announced plans to voluntarily recall the electric trucks it has already delivered, and that it has filed the necessary paperwork with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects 19 examples that are either in the hands of customers or being used internally by the company. In its announcement, Lordstown described the issue as a specific electric connection that could result in a…
California clamps down on replacement tire efficiency. Rivian thinks about charging stations fanning hot electric truck batteries as they charge. And Lordstown Motors is recalling the Endurance over a propulsion issue. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports. Lordstown Motors has paused production on the Endurance electric truck due to “performance and quality issues.” Although the company didn’t disclose what those are, it says that it’s filed paperwork to recall 19 of the trucks due to an issue that could lead to loss of propulsion while driving. Rivian is thinking about having some of its DC fast-charger stations funnel cool…
Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday provided insight into plans to deliver in-house-developed operating and navigation systems to be used across its lineup in the years ahead. Many automakers today rely on off-the-shelf systems like Linux and QNX, and more recently Google Android. However, switching to an in-house system provides automakers with greater control and flexibility, and increasingly, new financial opportunities. Mercedes started work on its operating system, dubbed MB.OS, in 2021, and on Tuesday the automaker said the system will be introduced around the middle of the decade in a next-generation compact car lineup based on the MMA platform. The first MMA-based…
Cadillac will launch three electric vehicles this year to join the existing Lyriq and Celestiq, and a prototype for one of them has just been spotted. The prototype is for a mid-size three-row SUV that will likely end up replacing the gas-powered XT6. Cadillac has previously described the vehicle as a “globally sized” offering with an emphasis on space and cargo capability. The vehicle is heavily camouflaged but design cues borrowed from the Lyriq can clearly be seen, like the lines of the front fascia, the vertical layout of the headlights, and the beak-like visor running along the leading edge…
The Pininfarina Battista electric supercar has set a quarter-mile record for production cars, managing an 8.55-second run, Pininfarina announced Thursday. That time narrowly beats the 8.58-second quarter mile recorded by the Rimac Nevera, which shares components with the Battista, in 2021. The record run was conducted earlier this month at the Natrax test facility in India, home country of Pininfarina’s parent company, Mahindra. Pininfarina Battista record attempts at India’s Natrax test facility Pininfarina is also claiming a half-mile acceleration record of 13.38 seconds, and noted that the 222.4-mph top speed achieved by test driver Hormazd Sorabjee makes the Battista the…
Despite more stringent standards, a number of electric cars and plug-in hybrids were recognized with Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick awards for 2023. The IIHS strengthened requirements in a number of areas in 2023, and as a result only 48 models received awards, compared to 65 for 2022 (including eight EVs). Of that group, 28 earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ and 20 earned Top Safety Pick awards. Among the Top Safety Pick+ winners were the all-electric Rivian R1T, Subaru Solterra, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4, as well as the Lexus NX 450h+ and Volvo…
The third-generation Range Rover Sport delivers exactly what luxury SUV buyers are looking for. Smarter styling, improved onboard technology, along with a raft of developments in the way the Sport drives mean that it remains as sophisticated as ever, while maintaining a dynamic edge over its bigger Range Rover sibling.A strong choice of petrol, diesel and efficient plug-in hybrid engines will please private and business users alike, as will the sumptuous levels of comfort and refinement. Yes, prices have inevitably risen, but the Range Rover Sport is one of the best premium SUVs you can buy.About the Range Rover SportIn…