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Ask any Porsche collector what their favorite color is, and aside from Guards Red, the answer will be PTS. What does PTS stand for? Paint to sample. A Paint To Sample Porsche 911 is just what it sounds like. If you want a car that is truly yours, the process is not complex. It opens the door to special events, and opportunities to reserve limited-run models before they are announced. What is Paint To Sample? The Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur program can make it a reality if you can dream it. In the early days, a dealer would note “Sunderwunsch”, or…
Lucid has made it easier to hop behind the wheel of its 819-hp, 516-mile Air Grand Touring sedan. The EV startup this week announced a new starting price of $138,000, down from $154,000 previously. To achieve the lower price, Lucid removed some standard features and made them available, thus giving buyers more flexibility when it comes to configuring the car. This flexibility is already found with the lower Air Pure and Air Touring grades, which start at $87,400 and $107,400, respectively. Previously standard features on the Air Grand Touring that are now available include the DreamDrive Pro driver-assist package ($10,000),…
The Volkswagen MEB platform that has served as the backbone for the automaker’s EV push is set to get a number of updates over the next few years. The updated version, dubbed MEB+, will incorporate charging and battery updates, as well as an electrical architecture designed to support more advanced driver-assist tech, according to VW. 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 A new generation of so-called “unit cell” batteries will enable up to 435 miles of range (likely as measured on the more lenient European WLTP testing cycle), VW explained. The automaker also claims MEB+ will “significantly improve charging times,” and may feature…
Rivian takes a look at the building blocks for its upcoming dual-motor electric trucks. Nio might have the most aerodynamic SUV ever. And we look at Lucid’s interface, and its continuous improvement, up close. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports. The Lucid Air remains the technology leader among EVs, with astonishing range, power, and efficiency. And we just checked in with Lucid’s user interface, which has been given an invisible overhaul via software and over-the-air upgrades—and continues to improve, sometimes by the day. Rivian this week previewed the drive modules for the dual-motor powertrain it plans to make the…
Motional, the self-driving technology joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv, plans to launch a robotaxi service in Las Vegas in late 2023, and a new video shows the unique challenges the city presents. Motional’s robotaxis, based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car, have been able to offer rides to the public in Las Vegas since last August, and the vehicles have been available for booking via Lyft and more recently Uber in limited form. Unique challenges they face in Sin City include unpredictable pedestrian behavior, unusual vehicle types (like limousines), and chaotic hotel driveways. Motional’s robotaxis are fitted with…
Shakotan, kyusha, kaido racer – bosozoku car lifestyle (to put it loosely) is rich with different niches that originated in post-war Japan. After a couple of generations, the original ‘motorcycle gang’ aggression switched to an expression of personal style and a love for bike and car culture in general. Love and admiration is one thing, but building a bosozoku project outside of Japan is not easy. But Janne Kortekuru from Turku, Finland might just have created a kaido racer true to its origins. Janne’s car of choice for the build was a 1986 Mazda 929. The Mazda was purchased in 2015 as a typical rear-wheel drive beater, perfect to slide around on Finland’s many frozen…
When it comes to American performance cars, the Viper is a whole different animal. There’s no car like an American performance car, and there’s no American performance car like the Dodge Viper. The classic American formula of front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars with lots of power is something that the Viper did to an incredible degree, with a massive engine, two seats, and to save weight, not much more than was necessary otherwise. The Viper quickly became a legend, with incredibly provocative looks, a strict dedication to performance, and of course, the V10 engine. 1996-2002 Dodge Viper Price, Horsepower, 1/4 Mile…
All across the auto industry, dealerships are having to invest in new training, tools, and equipment to support electric vehicles, and that all requires a significant amount of money. Buick spokesman Sean Poppitt in a statement to Automotive DriftBreath (subscription required) published on Tuesday said the investment required to upgrade a Buick dealership for EVs is between $300,000 and $400,000 on average. However, this investment won’t affect many Buick dealerships. According to Automotive DriftBreath’ Dealer Census, only 13 of Buick’s 1,963 dealers are standalone stores, and most of the others have dual showrooms with GMC. GMC dealers have already had…
A low drag coefficient (Cd) is very important for maximizing range, leading automakers to push for more aerodynamic EVs. The Nio EC7, the Chinese automaker’s new flagship SUV, is yet another example of this trend. Unveiled at the company’s recent Nio Day 2022 presentation in Heifei, China, the EC7 has a drag coefficient of 0.23, which Nio claims is the lowest ever for a production SUV—a trait that will help maximize its range. That puts the EC7 ahead of the Tesla Model X and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, at 0.24 and 0.26, respectively. Whether you consider Nio’s “SUV coupe” an SUV…
As we head into the new year and prepare to announce the DriftBreath Reports Best Car To Buy 2023, there seems like no better time to reflect and revisit our past winner, the Lucid Air. A year after taking the technology lead with incredible range, power, and efficiency, the Lucid Air has matured its user experience without losing those headlining qualities that made it the new leading edge for EVs. We spent just over a week with a 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring to experience exactly how the startup automaker’s improved the only portion of the car that felt a…