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The BMW M8 is a bittersweet tale of ambition and unrealised potential. The 1980s were an era of excess, where extravagant lifestyles led to equally outrageous cars. The race for the title of ‘world’s fastest car’ pushed the limits of engineering as the supercar market boomed. Porsche’s 959 and Ferrari’s F40 broke the 200mph barrier, while aftermarket beasts like RUF’s CTR Yellowbird and the Callaway Sledgehammer hit 217mph and 255mph, respectively. This need for speed ramped up in the 1990s, with new challengers like Jaguar’s XJ220, Lamborghini’s Diablo, and Bugatti’s EB110 entering the mix. BMW M, already renowned for creating…
High-spec Takumi models feature a bright and airy white leather finish, with blonde timber inserts, high-gloss metal-look trim and textured fabrics, but if this all feels a little delicate for a family hauler, the Homura’s black Nappa leather seems just as premium. Its overall design isn’t exactly cutting-edge and potentially lacks the coolness exuded by rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, but there’s nothing wrong with the quality or construction. Sat-nav, stereo and infotainmentEvery CX-80 is equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central display. It’s worth noting, though, that the latter is not a touchscreen, because Mazda…
Audi introduced a new naming strategy in 2023 to better differentiate between models equipped with internal-combustion engines and those powered purely by batteries. Under the strategy, models with gas or diesel engines, including hybrids, were to use an odd number in their names, while EVs would use an even number. However, on Monday, Audi announced it was abandoning this approach following feedback from customers and dealerships. Instead, the automaker will revert to its original naming strategy, in which the number in the name reflects only the model’s size or position in the lineup. “This decision is the result of intensive…
I can’t look away. Every swipe brings forth new footage of homes on fire and decimated communities across Los Angeles. Doom scrolling eats my days as I scan for evacuation notices and new information. Parting the blinds to look outside makes things worse. I live just south of Altadena, the city most affected by the Eaton fire, and my window provides an unobstructed view of the glowing flames as they consume the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s Thursday, January 9th, as this natural disaster enters its third day, powered by unprecedentedly potent Santa Ana winds. We’ve just returned to our house…
Classic cars can be a joy to drive. The sounds, the smells, and the tactile feel of the materials are all sensations that new cars can’t beat. However, the fun usually stops when the sun goes down, and you realize there’s nothing nostalgic about old headlight technology. Ruf, a niche German sports car manufacturer that also specializes in upgrades for various Porsches, understands this issue and has developed its own modern LED lighting system for the 993-generation Porsche 911. Ruf said the system has a plug-and-play design, making installation simple even at home. The company also said the system meets…
ChargePoint last week announced an agreement with AAA to expand deployment of its electric vehicle chargers. The agreement will secure “preferred pricing” on charging hardware for businesses associated with AAA, according to a press release. Such businesses include towing companies, repair shops, and similar automotive-related businesses that could make use of EV chargers. ChargePoint Omni Port This pricing applies to Level 2 AC and DC fast-chargers, as well as service plans provided by ChargePoint. AAA expects to offer it to more than 12,000 businesses associated with 27 of its U.S. auto clubs, as well as CAA clubs in Canada. Some…
Are plug-in hybrids an on-ramp to fully electric vehicles, or undue cost and complexity? Are they something consumers asked for, or something created by bureaucrats and regulators? At least in some respects the answer includes all of the above. It’s complicated. Plug-in hybrids’ greater complexity is intended to pay off by greening the ownership experience for a specific kind of driver—those who can plug in most days for the commute but need a gas tank because of road-trip charging concerns. Thus, PHEVs have an engine and, typically, a much larger battery than hybrids. If you don’t charge a plug-in hybrid,…
A redesigned Jeep Cherokee is expected to debut in 2025 Latest prototype sighting points to a bigger, brawnier design for the new Cherokee Jeep officials have hinted at a hybrid powertrain for the new Cherokee Stellantis’ SUV brand, Jeep, has several new models in the pipeline, and a prototype for one of them has just been spotted. The prototype is believed to be for a redesigned sixth-generation Jeep Cherokee, expected to hit the market later this year, likely as a 2026 model. The last Cherokee bowed out after the 2023 model year. The heavily camouflaged prototype is unmistakably a Jeep,…
A rare Mercedes-Benz has sold at auction for almost $54 million The car is a W196 Grand Prix car raced by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss The car was sold by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum which is raising funds for its upkeep and expansion A new record price has been set for a Grand Prix race car, one that’s unlikely to be rivaled anytime soon. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, in an effort to raise funds for its upkeep and expansion, has consigned auction house RM Sotheby’s to sell an array of some of its most desirable cars…
Greenland could emerge as a major source of raw materials for electric-vehicle batteries—if industrial interests have their way. Arctic conditions and an ice layer over much of the land mass in this autonomous territory of Denmark have made mining difficult in the past. But, ironically, as glaciers recede due to climate change mineral deposits that could be used in EV batteries might become easier to access, notes a report by The Lever published Wednesday. A 2023 European Commission survey found that Greenland contains deposits of 25 out of 34 minerals classified as “critical raw materials,” including battery-related metals like nickel…