Month: May 2020

Design Talent Showcase – Devel Sixteen III Concept – By Mark Holster

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The Devel Sixteen has been an automotive curiosity ever since Devel Motors first laid out the groundwork for the outrageous hypercar back in 2013 when it made its debut in prototype form at the Dubai Motor Show. The idea of a 5,000 horsepower offering that could hit 320 mph seemed impossibly absurd even in a world where the Bugatti Chiron and the Ferrari LaFerrari roam the streets, but Devel has made sure to remind the world that the car is still a very real deal. When we last checked in with Devel, it was back in 2017, when the production …

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Dodge Challenger Receiving ACR Model? New Report Suggests That It Would Be Benchmarked With Legendary Viper Sports Car

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The Dodge Challenger has burned plenty of rubber, and in the process created a one of a kind legacy. It first appeared back in 2008, and it has soldiered on largely unchanged since then. While this means that the Challenger is truly ancient as far as automobiles are concerned, the muscle bound two door is also a modern success story of versatility, with the LY platform being perhaps one of the most versatile and adaptable platforms that we have ever seen in a FCA product. But while models like the SRT Hellcat, Demon (pictured,) and even the current Hellcat Redeye …

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2021 Ford F-150 Confirmed To Debut on June 25th, Will Break Cover In Virtual Unveiling

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It has been a long wait for the arrival of the 2021 Ford F-150, but in an announcement released earlier today (as well as a prior Instagram post,) Ford confirmed that the long awaited debut for the updated pickup is closing in on the home stretch. BAM! The all-new Ford F-150 will be revealed on Thursday, June 25 at 8 pm ET. #BuiltFordTough #FordF150 pic.twitter.com/oO6NLZ99Vo — Mike Levine (@mrlevine) May 29, 2020 Like other model launches affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the F-150’s arrival can be viewed as a bit overdue, with prior reports suggesting that it …

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2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium by Ben Lewis

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It’s hard to remember a new Toyota vehicle that’s had this much attention around it. Yes, the new RAV4 was a big deal, and the new Camry was also important. But neither of them had car guys (and gals) drooling, dreaming, and scouring social media for info like the new Supra. And the Supra is a very important car for the brand. As Toyota has made huge efforts to make each new vehicle more exciting and better performing, they needed a halo vehicle to show what the brand is really made of. Enter one of the most popular performance cars …

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Auto Industry Insider: What Makes An Off-Road Vehicle Great?

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Are you a gearhead who’s sick and tired of pounding the beaten path? Do you want to go out into the wilderness and explore? Good – all you need is an off-roader that can keep up with the demands of going off-piste. A quality off-road vehicle should easily skim over water barriers and bounce up and down steep inclines. With the right one by your side, there aren’t many mountains you can’t climb. Unfortunately, the market is full of faux off-roaders. These are trucks that look and sound like they have everything you need, but they are unsuitable after a …

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Legendary Mach 1 Nameplate Returning to Mustang Lineup As Limited Edition-Model For 2021

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Promising to bring back the speed, style, and the heritage that once defined the Mach 1 moniker, Ford revealed that it’s bringing back the Mustang Mach 1 for the 2021 model year. The Mach 1 nameplate has not been seen in production since 2004, and Ford is keen on taking the lessons that it has learned during this 16 year hiatus, and craft the Mach 1 into a newfound spearhead of Mustang performance. While Ford is choosing to keep key details about the revived Mach 1 largely to itself for the moment, the Dearborn based automaker did reveal three teaser …

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2021 Jeep Compass Teased Ahead Of June 4th Virtual Unveiling

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With all the attention that the Jeep Gladiator, Wrangler, and even the upcoming Grand Wagoneer are getting these days, it can be easy to forget that behind the scenes, the iconic off-road focused brand is preparing updates for some of its other models. One of these is apparently, the Jeep Compass, with the brand revealing that the 2021 Compass will make its virtual debut on June 4th.   While the lone teaser that the company released is an extreme close up of the front grille, it’s apparent that some form of refresh is in store for the Compass (contrary to …

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2021 Acura TLX Revealed, Poised To Make Acura Serious Threat In Sport Sedan Segment Once Again [Video]

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Following a steady stream of teaser images that have done a good job wetting our appetite for Acura‘s revamped TLX sedan, the Japanese luxury car brand has taken the veil off of the 2021 TLX which aims to reinvigorate Acura’s ability to be a threat in the popular sport sedan segment. Based on what we see here, we think Acura could be on the right track to reaching this bold goal. The exterior styling of the 2021 TLX thankfully embraces many of the styling cues that we came to adore in the Type S concept, with chiseled lines, aggressive curves, …

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Could Kawasaki Be Planning A Supercharged Assault On The Super Cruiser Segment? New Rumors Suggests That Vulcan Next In Line For H2 Treatment

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Back in 2015, Kawasaki dropped a bombshell by introducing its first supercharged offering, the H2 which was based on the popular Ninja lineup of bikes. The H2 lineup has grown since then, with the Japanese manufacturer introducing the Z H2 hypernaked four years later. We got a chance to take a glimpse of the H2 lineup for ourselves when we traveled to Cleveland to check out the IMS Motorcycle Show, and we came away largely impressed with what we saw. But with the development dollars that are needed to create a new engine these days, it would only make sense …

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Upcoming Nissan Z Sports Car Teased In New Video Clip [Video]

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The Nissan 370Z has always been a very capable two door sports car, with a chassis that can still create smiles, and a V6 that can give it respectable chops in a dog fight out on the race track. But it’s no secret that after 12 years, the 370Z is starting to look very dated in the performance car scene. Nissan is out to change that, and has released an all new teaser video previewing the replacement for the 370Z. While it is unknown if the new offering will put a new number designation after the “Z” moniker as has …

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2021 BMW 5-Series Debuts With Refreshed Design, Brings More Powerful Electrified Powertrain To Consumers

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BMW recently took the wraps off of the 2021 BMW 5-Series earlier this week, and it brings a number of welcome updates that not only help keep the 5-Series fresh in the minds of buyers for a few more years, but also allows the 5-Series to take a big step closer towards formally fitting in with BMW’s renewed push towards electrification technology. But before we get into the more radical changes that take place in the performance hardware, we might as well address the decidedly more subtle updates that define the exterior styling. Being a mid-cycle refresh, the 5-Series avoids …

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Tesla Slashes Thousands Off New Car Prices To Improve Sales Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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In a surprise move over night, Tesla revealed that it has cut prices on all three of its electric vehicles by as much as 6% for U.S. customers. The move comes amid a string of recent developments for Tesla and Elon Musk, with the latter poised to make history with a SpaceX rocket launch that will be the first one ever to be formally manned by NASA astronauts.   As for the price cuts themselves, they will follow a two tiered structure, with the biggest cuts focused on the older Model S sedan and the Model X SUV. The Model …

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2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road – Off-Pavement Drive Review – By Matt Barnes

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The RAV4 is a tent-pole for Toyota USA with nearly half a million sales in 2019 and as the top-selling SUV in the United States. The RAV4 was updated in 2019 to be better in almost every way. Toyota moved away from the bland styling of yesteryear to create a more athletic and polarizing vehicle with more Tacoma and 4Runner design cues. Toyota is offering a new trim level for the RAV4, the TRD Off-Road for 2020 to match this newly masculine and athletic theme. On-Road For on road driving, the TRD Off-Road handles similarly to all other RAV4’s we’ve …

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Range Rover VELAR SV600 By Manhart Performance

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Germany has such a powerful set of OEM automakers that it is easy to forget the country also has a thriving and world-leading car customization industry.  Manhart Performance is part of this crew taking the hottest vehicles from Europe and the world and making them even faster, louder and sexier than stock. In typical German fashion, these customs are typically executed with a finesse and holistic approach that is much more thorough than simple part-by-part upgrades.  In US tuner terms, they go right to stage two or stage three right off the bat. This new Velar SV600 is a perfect …

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2021 Acura TLX Teases All New Suspension, Promises Sharper Cornering Behavior

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Acura has big plans for the 2021 TLX, with the Japanese luxury car brand placing all of its chips on the TLX being a potential game changer in the sport sedan segment. While we will have to wait a bit to find out if the TLX can indeed live up to its promises, Acura has released a brand new teaser today that highlights some of the new suspension technology that will make their respective debuts in the new model. The company claims that the 2021 TLX will be “the quickest, best-handling, and most well-appointed sport sedan in Acura history.” While …

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Hyundai Teases Next Generation Santa Fe With New Teaser Image, Hints At Sharper Front Facia

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It’s not often that an automaker completely flips the script when it comes to designing a mid-cycle refresh for an automobile. Usually, the company in question would focus on lightly updating the model, but retain its core elements for a bit longer. Hyundai however is doing just the opposite with the Hyundai Santa Fe, and promises that customers can expect more than just a typical refresh for the next generation Santa Fe. A key change here is that Hyundai will be replacing the current platform with an all new one. This rarely happens in the automotive industry, and is a …

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Andy Palmer Out At Aston Martin, Tobias Moers To Take Over As CEO August 1st

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Following a flood of rumors that emerged this week regarding a potential shift at the CEO position, Aston Martin has officially confirmed that long time CEO Dr. Andy Palmer has stepped down, with current Mercedes AMG CEO Tobias Moers being appointed to replace him, with Moers fully assuming his new role on August 1st. Palmer’s exit comes as the company is currently trying to navigate its way through rough seas financially, with the company’s share price trending downward since it was allowed to float publicly in October of 2018. Things reached a sobering new low earlier this month, when the …

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2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited X 4×4 by Ben Lewis

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These days, we’ve been thinking a lot about “bug out” vehicles. Maybe it’s too much bingeing on the Walking Dead, but hey when the Zombies come a-munching, what you gonna do? We say hop in your 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee and head for the hills! Grand Cherokee exterior – familiar and friendly While the idea of a Zombie Apocalypse is really not that new, neither is the Grand Cherokee. But that’s not a bad thing. Jeep says it’s the most rewarded SUV ever, and that’s believable. And the Jeep GC continues to be the same tasteful, handsome vehicle it has …

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Jeep Designer Reveals That Wrangler Is Similar In Spirit To Original Defender

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The latest iteration of the Land Rover Defender is a very radical overhaul from what we have seen in past iterations. Once known for being a rugged billy goat of an SUV that was designed to cross scorching hot deserts and ford even the wildest of rivers, the new one has taken a much more serious focus on being more livable for consumers. This includes sacrificing some of its rugged attributes and being a softer offering to help it appeal to a wider range of customers. But don’t expect this same transformation to occur with the Jeep Wrangler according to …

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Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition Goes From The Silver Screen To Your Garage

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The latest James Bond film No Time To Die was originally supposed to make its debut over a month ago, but the rapidly evolving situation surrounding the novel COVID-10 outbreak forced its premiere to be postponed until fall. Despite this, some of the product tie ins that were bundled in with the movie are still moving forward with their original time tables. One of these is the all new Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition which will serve as the most compelling preview of the movie (for now) when it makes its way to Triumph showrooms. The most immediate differences that will …

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2020 Toyota C-HR Limited By Ben Lewis

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It’s interesting how time changes things. When we tested the 2018 C-HR, it was one of the first of the mini-crossovers, and it looked like the small sedan was on its way of going extinct. Well, the small sedan still isn’t what it used to be, but it’s around. And we’ve found some really good ones lately, including the Toyota Corolla and Kia Forte GT. But what’s even more interesting to us, is that the mini-crossover has now been attracting the interest of a new type of buyer – those who were thinking about luxury vehicles, but with the economy …

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Kia Design Boss Appears To Hint At Future Electrified Version Of The Stinger

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When we last caught up with the Kia Stinger, it was the subject of a report which indicated that the sleek four door might not live to see a second generation due to slowing sales despite a mid-cycle refresh that the model was supposed to receive in the near future. However, an all new report appears to not only confirm that the mid-cycle refresh is on track, but that the Stinger could survive by evolving to better cope with the times. This was all revealed in remarks released by Kia design chief Karim Habib during an interview that was done …

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Ford Unleashes Certified Bronco Online Community, Aims To Expand Bronco Following With Forums, Merchandise, and More [Video]

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Ford is very keen on making the revived Ford Bronco into a serious competitor against the Jeep Wrangler. While the Bronco will bring alot of off-road equipment, customization, and technology to buyers in an attempt to steal sales, Ford execs know that the Bronco also needs to build a versatile community that can be on par with the massive following enjoyed by Wrangler fans. The Dearborn automaker has done just that, and has revealed its first certified and nationally recognized online community – TheBroncoNation.com   The site in question offers many of the basic features that one would expect including …

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GMC Teases Open Air T-Tops, Massive Display Screen Also Emerges From The Shadows [Video]

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When GM first began teasing the GMC Hummer EV pickup back in March, the company revealed that a key feature for the truck will be its removable glass roof panels. The truck was originally supposed to make its debut this week, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced GM to scrap those plans. However, that has not stopped the auto giant from continuing its meticulous tease of the new model, with the firm releasing a brand new teaser for the truck. Unlike last time, GMC trades the birds-eye view for a more traditional glimpse that is shot from within the EV. …

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Car Care Product Review – Audew 150 PSI Portable Digital Tire Inflator – By Carl Malek

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Lets face it, getting a flat tire can really put a damper on your day, especially if you happen to be far away from help. While a handful of current automotive models still come with compact spare tires, an increasing number of them are ditching the traditional spare tire in lieu of portable kits or nothing at all. This latter trait has really allowed portable tire compressors to come into their own, and the market in these devices has grown over the past few years. But choosing the right one for your vehicle can be tough, so when the folks …

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2021 Toyota Sienna Minivan Unveiled, Debuts Hybrid Only Performance

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It has been awhile since a major shakeup has occurred in the minivan segment. While the redesigned Chrysler Pacifica cemented FCA’s role as a potent benchmark in the segment, others have been aging not so gracefully. One of these offerings is the Toyota Sienna. Last updated back in 2011, the Sienna was in dire need of an update with aging styling and powertrains handicapping its sales potential. Toyota is out to right the ship though, and has formally unveiled the 2021 Toyota Sienna which aims to revitalize the Sienna nameplate while also bringing in new technology as well.   A …

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Toyota Revives Venza Nameplate For Hybrid CUV, Promises To Bring High Fashion To Green Vehicle Ranks

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The Toyota Venza has returned after a several year absence. But while the original Venza was a segment blurring entry that straddled the line between a traditional car and a SUV before it was unceremoniously discontinued in 2015, this chapter of Venza aims to push its SUV lineage more into the spotlight, while also doubling down on its green credentials at the same time.   Sharpness and Aggression Define Venza Styling: The original Venza’s styling could be best defined as a bland mixture of styling elements, with the overall look having about as much consistency and excitement as a brand …

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2020 Fiat 500x Sport by Ben Lewis

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Are you a fan of Monty Python? (OK, we may be dating ourselves here..) Well, they used to have a segment with a newsman-like person at a desk saying, “And now for something completely different.” And you know, they could have been talking about the Fiat 500x. Fiat 500x Exterior – Thinking out of The Box It starts with expressive looks. While it shares the running gear with the Jeep Renegade, it won’t be confused with that, or any other small SUV. Last year, the 500x got a facelift, with new front and rear fascia that trade in a little …

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2021 Cadillac Escalade To feature Super Cruise, $2500 Option Expands Availability Of Revolutionary Technology

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Cadillac’s innovative Super Cruise technology has had a very rocky launch since it was first formally unveiled in the CT6 sedan a few years ago. Back then, Cadillac promised to roll out the technology across the bulk of its lineup, but those plans largely never materialized, and the system remained a CT6 exclusive. But that’s all changing now, with the 2021 Escalade being the next recipient of the technology according to a report from the Cadillac Society forum. According to the site’s report, Cadillac plans to make Super Cruise optional on all but the base model Escalade for the 2021 …

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2021 Cadillac Escalade Fuel Economy Numbers Revealed, Freeway Mileage Takes Hit For New Model Year

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Following hot on the heels of its bold debut in Los Angeles earlier this year, EPA figures for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade have emerged, and it appears that the news is not good, with the numbers revealing that there has been little to no improvement for the 6.2 liter gasoline fueled base engine especially in freeway mileage.   While figures for the optional 3.0 liter diesel six cylinder were not released as of this writing, the writing is on the wall for V8 equipped Escalades with rear wheel drive, with city figures improving by only 1 mpg at 15, while …

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2021 Porsche 911 Targa Teased, Will Drop Its Top Next Monday [Video]

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The 992 era Porsche 911 has so far been a very welcome evolution of the 911 formula, but while the standard model has enjoyed its time in the spotlight, Porsche has confirmed that the parade of new variants will indeed continue through the COVID-19 pandemic with the German sports car company revealing that the Targa model will be making its virtual debut next Monday on May 18th via a virtual unveiling event. The car was originally supposed to have a formal unveiling at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, but that event was cancelled along with a second unveiling attempt at …

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Road Test Review – 2020 Mini Cooper S Clubman – By Carl Malek [Video]

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The 2020 Mini Cooper S Clubman is the answer to a very interesting question. What would happen if you take a Mini Cooper hatchback, and try to apply some of its quirky charm and appeal to a segment blurring utility focused model? The end result is the Clubman which tries to add more versatility and cargo hauling ability into its distinctly British flanks. But while the Clubman Panel Van a few years ago was a short lived and ultimately flawed experiment, the standard Clubman has managed to gather a sizable following of loyalists over the years. We were eager to …

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Superformance Goes Double Or Nothing With All New MKIII-R, Modern Aerodynamics And Performance Muscle Unleashes The Beast Incarnate

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Superformance has managed to establish a very solid reputation for producing replicas that faithfully emulate a wide range of 1960’s cars including the Shelby Cobra. The Shelby Cobra replicas in particular have morphed into a core piece of the broader business, with the firm even receiving a licensing deal from Shelby themselves (a rarity for many replica makers.) But for this particular project, Superformance pitched historical accuracy, and instead embraced their dark side to unleash a very potent beast for the track.   Dubbed the MKIII-R the basic design shares much of its core DNA with the old-school Shelby Cobra, …

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Road Rage: Getting To Grips With This Common Driving Problem

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Many of us have been guilty of road rage at some point in our lives, and a lot of us will have experienced the wrath of another driver too. When we look at recent road rage statistics in the US, many of us will be able to relate to the findings by the researchers behind the stats. According to the study, 82% of drivers in the US have admitted to having road rage over the last twelve months. Many of the people admitting to road rage have retaliated by honking their horn, shouting aggressively at other drivers, and using obscene …

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Lotus Evija’s Aero Features Highlighted In New Video, Features Chief Aerodynamicist [Video]

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The Lotus Evija hypercar brings a number of firsts to Lotus. Not only is it the first ever offering in this segment by Lotus, but it is also the first fully EV to be ever produced by the company. The 2,000 horsepower generated by its electric drive train aim to make the Evija one of the quickest hyper entries ever produced, but ultimately the car’s futuristic fighter jet-esque styling is what draws stares at the end of the day. But amid the futuristic undertones, there is actually an impressive degree of functional purpose backed into the design, with Lotus choosing …

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Toyota Teases May 18th Unveiling For Two All New Hybrid Models

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With the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic keeping automotive related events down to a minimum, worldwide vehicle debuts have been a rarity over the past few months. Toyota on the other hand is trying to keep things interesting, and has revealed that it will be unveiling not one but two all new hybrid models in a live stream event on May 18th.   While the 2020 Toyota Prius 2020 Edition (a lightly spruced up version of the current Prius) is already confirmed to be a part of the event to coincide with its 20th anniversary, the Japanese auto giant is so far …

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Ready For All Of Mother Nature’s Wrath In New Video [Video]

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While the bulk of the United States is supposed to be in spring, freak winter weather in the northern parts of the country are subtly reminding buyers that the specter of winter is never too far away. Ford used the unique meteorological opportunity to release a new video that provides some unique insight into the Mach-E’s testing regimen as well as an example of its all weather prowess. The video in question places the spotlight on its all-wheel drive system, with the Mach-E featured being tasked with going through very snowy terrain. The white and the red mixing together produces …

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2020 BMW M340i xDrive Sedan by Ben Lewis

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In every market segment there is the dominant player. Small affordable sports car? Miata. Import pickup truck? Tacoma. And when it comes to premium sport sedan, that would be the BMW 3-series. Which is not to say there isn’t competition there, in fact a bunch of wonderful sedans from the Audi A4 to the Genesis G70 to the Volvo S60 are gunning to be the quickest gun in town. But it always seemed that the BMW 3 is the benchmark. And now they went and made it incredible – welcome to the BMW M340i. M340i Exterior – Low-key flyer The …

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Jeep Wagoneer Arriving With Mojave Treatment? New Report Suggests Mojave Lineup Could Expand To Upcoming SUV Entry

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When the “Desert Rated” badge and the Mojave trim level first appeared earlier this year on the Jeep Gladiator, it was certainly a very welcome surprise. The Mojave was the answer to the demands of Jeep buyers that wanted something that could handle desert terrain and still be a proper Jeep. Jeep execs revealed that the Mojave range could grow, and on the heels of a separate report that suggests the Wrangler SUV could get the treatment, it appears that the upcoming Wagoneer is also in line too. According to the report which was revealed by Motor Trend, it appears …

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Hyundai Palisade Gains Uplevel Calligraphy and VIP Trims In Korea, Hopes For U.S. Arrival Uncertain

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The Hyundai Palisade and its Kia badged cousin the Telluride are currently the two best three-row SUVs that money can buy. Both of them offer an impressive suite of standard equipment, styling, and a driving experience that could easily be mistaken for something that is worth twice as much. But while the Telluride has remained firmly entrenched in its role as a mainstream offering, the already luxurious Palisade has gained two new trim levels that up the game both in luxury and exclusivity. Dubbed the Calligraphy and VIP, these two trim levels are meant to show the world what would …

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First Drive Review – 2020 BMW X1 xDrive28i – By Carl Malek

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The 2020 BMW X1 has often been a model that has largely preferred to lurk behind the scenes. While the bigger X3, X5, and even the X7 hog the bulk of the spotlight, the X1 has performed its duties as a entry level model without as much as a whimper. But BMW is always eager to shake things up to try and keep their models fresh in the rapidly evolving SUV/CUV sales race, and the 2020 X1 is no exception. BMW has made some subtle but noticeable updates to the tiniest member of the X family for 2020. But do …

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First Drive Review – 2020 BMW 840i – By Carl Malek [Video]

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When one asks what makes a proper flagship coupe? Some will say that you must have eye watering style to help your offering stand out from the rest of the pack. Still, others will say performance and technology rule the day. Regardless of which principle is true, making sure all the stars align to achieve this nirvana is very difficult even for a German luxury car maker like BMW. When the world last saw the 8-Series coupe, it was back in 1990 when the first 8 Series rolled off the assembly line. Designed to be the ultimate 90’s luxury machine, …

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