Developing a car from scratch starts with some drawing and calculations, then the building of test prototypes, then pre-production cars, and eventually the pilot production vehicles. Most of the time, test prototypes are usually destroyed when their use has been exceeded, yet here we are looking at a test prototype of the Porsche 959 – a car that is believed to be one of the few surviving examples of the F-Series prototypes from 1985. It’s currently listed for sale on Mechatronik for an undisclosed price, but is It truly authentic?

The Lotus Emira is billed as the brand’s very last fuel-powered vehicle, marking the end of its gas-powered lineup forever. We knew this was the case early on as right around the time it was launched, the company also told us that the Elise, Exige, and Evora were officially being sent to the guillotine. It was a bittersweet revelation that we all knew was coming but really didn’t think it was going to happen so fast. Since then, and even more so after the launch of the Emira, we’ve all wondered what would happen next. Will there be a successor to any of Lotus’ legacy models? Is the brand’s once most important model – the Elise – really gone forever? Well, now we know that, at the very least, it might not be over for the Elise quite yet.

The Mercedes-AMG C43 – the entry-level AMG C-class – has been spotted yet again on public roads, but this time, it has shed almost all of its camo. This time around, only the front and rear fascia have been covered, but even with that, you can make out just about everything since all of the preliminary and concealing camo is gone. With so little camo, we can say with almost no doubt that Mercedes will be revealing it soon, maybe even before the end of 2021.

First off, let me point out that we know this is the AMG C43 based on the lower ride height and the larger yet fake air vents. That lower ride height comes courtesy of an even stiffer suspension, and there are true quad exhaust outlet sin the rear to go with the larger brakes and the lip spoiler on the rear decklid.

The real kicker here is that the C-Class lineup is ditching all large engines, with a turbocharged and hybridized four-cylinder being the only offering. In this case, the entry-level AMG will be losing the twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine and gaining a 2.0-liter. It’s the same M139 four-banger that’s found in the AMG A45 S, and in that model it’s good for 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque – an improvement of 31 horsepower over the outgoing model with a V-6 but a bit down on torque. This power output could change for the C43 (or perhaps C53 if a certain rumor is correct).

The good news is that we won’t have to wait for long as a debut could happen very soon with March of 2022 being the latest we’ll see it.

Following a previous spotting of a jacked-up A3, a new set of spy shots has essentially confirmed that Audi is, in fact, designing an A3 Allroad. Like the previously spotted model, this one was wearing a lot of camouflage on the lower body, meaty tires, and it clearly has elevated suspension – enough for at least 2-3 inches of extra ground clearance over that standard A3. Although the camo does a good job at concealing what’s underneath, if you look closely, you can make out cladding around the wheel arches, especially in the front. The side skirts don’t appear to be any beefier, but there’s a good chance that are plastic for added protection.

Beyond this, there will likely be more hard plastic all around to protect the car on mild off-road adventures. The rear doesn’t appear to be any different, though the front will likely take on a more rugged appearance. Little else is known about this specific car. It may not even be known as an Allroad as the Citycarver name – previously found on the jacked-up A1 – could also make a comeback. The A1 Citycarver actually had a taller suspension (about two inches), larger tires, some plastic cladding, and an overall more rugged appearance. This A3 could simply be a larger version of that, leaving the Allroad name for larger models.

It wasn’t long ago that Audi boss, Markus Duesmann, told Germany’s Manager Magazin that the midsize A4 will ditch the internal combustion engine by 2023. As such, the next-gen model that’s seen here (and due in 2023) represents that last fuel-powered generation of the A4 with an electric model due after that. So, will this generation get all the bells and whistles to give it a proper send-off, or will it be business as usual?

Following a fresh batch of Q6 E-Tron spy shots and the first spy shots of the Q8 E-Tron’s facelift, we now have a new set of the facelifted E-Tron doing some winter testing. Much like the last prototype we spotted, this one is wearing. A similar bottom-only camouflage, indicating changes to the front end, side skirts, and lower rear end.

As was the case with the last prototype, the front grille on this prototype features a honeycomb mesh, so we can say with little doubt that this is a production feature. It will be a very nice change from the vertical and horizontal slats of the pre-facelift model. We can’t say much else about it due to the extensive coverage, but it looks as if we will see further changes to the front fascia, and there’s a good chance there will be some minor changes to the front genders as well. The rear lights are still concealed, so you can expect some more change there, too. If you want to know more, be sure to check out the last round of Q8 E-Tron spy shots and learn what we know about the “next-gen” model.

Just two weeks after we saw the ID.5 GTX being tested in the wild, Volkswagen revealed the ID.5. Today, we’re looking at the production version of the ID. Buzz with nearly no camo yet still a bit different compared to the original 2017 ID. Buzz concept.

Mercedes just launched the facelifted E-Class for the 2021 model year, which brought it more in line with the current Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. Oddly enough, the company is already working on prototypes for the next-gen E-Class that’s due around 2025, and our spy photographers managed to catch one of them out in the wild. Since this is a very early prototype, it’s under heavy camo and a fair amount of padding, but we can make out a few features that hint towards the next-gen general direction of styling.

The newest iteration of the Audi RS6 Avant is a brutal beast of a car with a 4.0-liter V-8 that pumps out 592 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque – enough to make it a rival for some of the world’s greatest supercars. So, you could coin the RS6 Avant as a supercar in disguise, but what if you want more? Well, you could get in touch with Pacific German and VF Engineering to have them build you a one-off like the one you see in this video from Auditography.

The BMW M1 was the first standalone M model, and it was produced for just three years – from 1978-1981. It has taken 40 years, but a new standalone M model has finally been revealed, and while it’s not the AMG-fighting sports car we all expected, it certainly harnesses everything that BMW M stands for. This angular, aggressive crossover isn’t an electric car as you might have expected, either. In fact, it is powered by a brutal, hybridized V-8, and even better yet, it’s heading to the production line in 2022.

The Volkswagen Passat isn’t as dead as the media would lead you to believe, and the Aero B – a Passat-sized EV – isn’t going to replace it right away. In fact, the ICE-powered Passat will see one more generational shift that should keep it on the market, at least in some places, until the end of the decade. At that point, it will probably be replaced by the second-generation Aero B, but that’s still 8 years from now and we’re getting ahead of ourselves, so let’s take a look at these new spy shots of the Volkswagen Aero B.

Audi is not backing down from electrification. Just recently we learned that the RS6 Avant E-Tron should launch in 2023 and not even a week after that, the company launched the China-only Q5 E-Tron, basically a rebadged Volkswagen ID.6X. And, while all these new models are cool, we can’t forget about existing models, like the original E-Tron – Audi’s largest electric SUV to date. That’s why the company is hard at work to refresh it for 2022 – a move that will keep it fresh until its successor arrives. That successor, we just learned will be coming in 2026.

A new report is claiming that Porsche is looking to expand its SUV lineup even further with a model that slots above the Cayenne as a flagship crossover of sorts. The model, which is currently without a name, was shown off in a rendering to various dealers, but it is expected to launch in the second half of this decade. Does Porsche need a three-row crossover? Well, there’s some interesting information coming together on this one.

Note: Porsche Cayenne Turbo shown here

Shortly after we turned the calendar to 2021, Dodge CEO, Tim Kuniskus did his best to prepare us for the inevitable death of Dodge’s supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8. The good news from that was that report was that Dodge wouldn’t abandon the muscle car, but now we know – if reports from Motor Authority are accurate – the exact model year that Dodge will kill off Hellcat production. I’ll give you a hint: It’s not far away.

With the Pagani Huayra being on the market for the better part of a decade – actually it will be a decade as of 2022 – the world has been expecting a successor. Now, we don’t exactly have all of the specifics, but a new report quoting none other than Horacio Pagani has shed some light on a few things that we can expect. The most important development is that it will remain true to its internal combustion roots with no hint of electrification in the mix.

It was in mid-October when we laid eyes on the BMW M3 Touring as it did some hardcore testing on the Nürburgring.It was wearing that controversial big grille, an aggressive front fascia, and looking every bit the M3 Touring we always wanted. Then we learned that the M3 Touring won’t be coming to the United States. The reason behind it, strangely enough, has nothing to do with the lack of interest in wagons or the love for SUVS. In fact, it’s actually BMW making a good business decision.

Acura just revealed the new 2023 Integra, marking the name’s return to the market in nearly two decades (2006, to be specific), but what happens next? Well, if Acura has its way, it’ll be putting the Integra back on the racetrack yet again, but it’s not entirely up to Acura, and we’re talking about cross-company politics here.

The next-gen BMW 5 series has been spied numerous times in 2021 despite the fact that the current-generation model was just updated. We’ve also recently seen the i5 – the 5 Series EV that will be sold alongside the traditional 5 Series- but now we’ve learned that the i5 won’t be just an electric sedan – there’s actually more to it. And, by more, I mean more interior space and cargo room.

At the beginning of November 2021, I brought you spy shots of a mysterious Audi EV prototype that could have been the Q6 E-Tron or a special, China-only model that would slots somewhere between the Q6 and Q4 E-Tron. As it turns out, it was the China-only Q5 E-Tron, and now it has been fully revealed. As you’d expect it’s based largely on the Audi Concept Shanghai that was reveled back in April 2021, a car that led us to believe that China would be getting something like a fancier ID.6 with an Audi badge.

There’s no deny that as awesome as it is, the Kia Stinger never lived up to sales expectations. As a fighter against cars like the BMW 4 Series and Audi S5, and Mercedes C-Class, it had big shoes to fill, but one could argue that Kia has yet to shed that econobox aura. At least not enough for it to have a true sports sedan – and the Kia Stinger is undoubtedly that – actually be successful against well-established names with big enthusiast followings. As the automotive industry has shifted, Kia’s strategy has too, and that means that the Stinger can’t live on as it is, nor will there be a direct successor, but that doesn’t mean the Stinger won’t live on.

About a week before the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru revealed the JDM-spec Solterra, an EV that essentially represents the brands future, and one that is built in collaboration with Toyota. Twined with the Toyota BZ4X, the aesthetic appearance and badges are pretty much the only thing that separate this Subaru from the Toyota. As is the case with the BZ4X, we’re finally getting U.S. specifications for the new Solterra, and we’re wondering if it’s actually good enough or if Subaru missed the mark.

Over the past few months, Kia has revealed the all-new Sportage twice. In July we got our first look at the new Sportage, and then in October, Kia revealed the Euro-spec Sportage - a first for the model. The biggest highlights include a bold and sporty exterior design, a stylish cabin, and a brand-new (optional) 2.5-liter engine. Today, at the L.A. Auto Show, Kia revealed the all-new Kia Sportage Hybrid, and it offers up to 500 miles (805 km) of range on a single tank of gas.

The Nissan Rogue went through a thorough facelift for the 2021 model year, bringing Juke-like DNA and an impressive interior, but subpar performance. Its biggest flaw, and it was a very big flaw, was the underpowered 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivered just 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. During our test drive of the Rogue, we found it to be a beautiful car inside and out, but it was sluggish and unrefined on the road, and that’s putting it nicely. Fortunately, Nissan heard everyone out and decided to remedy the situation for 2022 – by introducing a new three-cylinder engine. Does it sound underwhelming yet again? I can’t blame you for thinking that way but hear me out before you write it off completely.

Right around the same time that Hyundai revealed its new SEVEN Concept, Kia revealed the new EV9 concept, which is arguably, a little more production ready. Like the SEVEN Concept, the EV9 previews a real production model, but it’s not quite so large, and has more of an aggressive exterior appearance while the interior has hints of luxury all around. Is this the future of Kia? We certainly hope so.

Hyundai is growing its electric fleet of vehicles as fast as it can, with the 2022 Ioniq 5 poised to be a solid alternative to the Tesla Model 3 This car, and its push of the Ioniq sub-brand has proven how resilient the automotive sector is, and now the Seven Concept pushes that idea a step further. The Ioniq 5 serves as the compact hatchback\crossover and the SEVEN represents a full-size EV that Hyundai will begin marketing in the very near future.

Toyota might not be the company that’s most critical of combating climate change and was recently ranked as the third most resistant to climate change polices, but that doesn’t mean it’s not inching its way into electrification. The very first step in the brand’s transformation is the BZ4X, which was revealed as a concept earlier this year and is now scheduled to arrive at dealers in production form by mid-2022 as a 2023 model. Now, we’ve learned just what the production model will offer, and it’s not that bad at all.

The Taycan has been Porsche’s best-selling non-SUV so far in 2021, so it was no surprise when Porsche ushered in some pretty decent improvements for the 2020 model year, nor was it a surprise when the brand launched the off-road focused Taycan Cross Turismo. It’s pretty obvious that Porsche is dead set on expanding the Taycan into what could almost be its own standalone brand, with rumors indicating that we could even see a Taycan Coupe, Turismo, or road-focused Sport Turismo wagon. Well, as it turns out, Porsche showed up to the L.A. Auto Show with not one but two new Taycans – the aforementioned Taycan Sport Turismo and the new Taycan GTS. It seems Christmas has come a little early this year, folks.

The current Dodge Durango has aged well in the last decade that it’s been on the market, mainly due to routine updates every few years, the most recent being in 2021. After recent reports from Automotive News suggested that the Dodge Durango – along with the Chrysler 300 – could be on verge of being discontinued, the internet went a little crazy. As it turns out, there was some truth there – the current Dodge Durango is on the verge of death, but it’s successor, if the latest reports are accurate, will fix just about the only thing that’s wrong with the current model.

It was just back in April of 2021 that Audi launched the A6 E-Tron concept – a car that was originally thought to replace the fuel-drinking A6. As it turned out, the A6 E-Tron won’t replace the regular A6, but it will be the A6’s EV counterpart. About a month after it was released, I sat down to make a case for how the A6 E-Tron could become the electric wagon – or Avant in Audi talk – that 2025 needs. If the latest reports are true, I could have been right, except that Audi might be moving quicker than I anticipated.

When Porsche revealed the electric Mission R Concept, it was billed as a preview of a one-maker racer, but it also previewed – to a small extent – what we can expect from the upcoming electric Porsche 718. In fact, the Mission R Concept was based on a highly modified version of the current 718’s chassis and even featured similar dimensions to the current road-going sports cars. And it’s because of this car that the next-gen electric 718 Cayman and Boxster will set the standard for how a modern sports car can transition into electrification without losing what matters the most – its driving dynamic.

Porsche is about ready to reveal the new Cayman GT4 RS, and rumor has it that it’s going to happen on November 17 or 18. The date actually makes a lot of sense, considering those are the media days for the 2020 Los Angeles Auto Show. We’ve already seen some official photos released by Porsche when the GT4 RS was doing some testing on the Nürburgring, so these spy shots might not seem that interesting, but there’s actually more here than what meets the eye.

For years now, we’ve been told to patiently wait for an electrified Porsche 911. Back in 2018, Porsche’s 911 Product Line Director, August Achleitner said that an electrified 911 in any form definitely won’t come soon, with the plan being 2022 at the very earliest. Later on, we found out that Porsche was struggling to electrify the 911 without ruining its iconic nature, and finally, back in 2020 Frank-Steggen Walliser, the man in charge of Porsche’s sports car line, said the 911 would be the last Porsche to go electric. Things clearly haven’t been looking up for an electrified 911 – hybrid or full-on EV. All of that is about to change, though, and the video we have for you today is the proof – it’s a hybrid 911 kicking ass around the Nürburgring.

The BMW iX and i4 are on their way to spearhead BMW’s new and revitalized EV lineup, but those cars will have nothing on the new i7 or the i5 M. If this latest report is accurate, the i5 M and i7 will make both the 617-horsepower M8 and 627-horsepower M5 CS (the most powerful BMW to date, by the way) appear weak by comparison. How is that possible? Well, folks, the nature of electrification is changing the automotive landscape forever, and this is just the start.

Alfa Romeo was supposed to launch the Tonale SUV – a production vehicle based on the 2019 Tonale Concept – but that has yet to happen. In fact, it’s now scheduled to launch in June of 2022, more than a year late. In fact, out of Alfa’s plan to launch a new model every year until 2026 we’ve seen exactly nothing. The company did update the Stelvio and Giulia for 2022, so it has that going for it, but it’s pretty clear that the company is still feeling the pain of its everlasting struggle to try to remain relevant. Despite the fact that the company can’t even get the Tonale to the market, it’s still hopeful a third, smaller SUV can happen.

Back in April 2020, the Nissan GT-R’s fate hung in the balance as it looked like it would live on as it is until it was inevitably put to rest with no successor on the table. Nissan said it wouldn’t update the GT-R because it wanted to keep it affordable – if that’s what you call a car that is priced between $110,000 and $210,00, but I digress. In May of 2020, it was even rumored that Nissan could kill of the GT-R and the Z altogether to keep itself afloat. The good news is that this obviously didn’t happen and the R35 GT-R is still alive. Now, however, we’ve learned from a new report on Autocar that the R36 Nissan GT-R is, in fact, happening, and it might not go the route of electrification at all, if you can believe that.

Chevy didn’t spill all of the beans when it revealed the C8 Corvette Z06, but it did tell us a lot. The naturally aspirated LT6 V-8 engine is downright amazing, and the Z07 package definitely makes the new Z06 more than track-worthy with some crazy aerodynamic magic. We’ve even learned some of the secrets behind the Z06’s crazy engine, and why chevy didn’t go with forced induction. What we didn’t learn, however, was final performance figures like the 0-60 mph sprint and how well it can run a quarter-mile. Well, that was until now, and it all comes thanks to a leaked picture of a Chevy product board for the new Z06.

Back in August 2021 we learned that Aston Martin was planning a whole bunch of different DBX models, and I even went so far to suggest that a DBX coupe is inevitable. These new spy shots aren’t of that crazy model, but this is the DBX S – the high-performance DBX that you probably didn’t know you’d want. Our photographers caught it blazing around the Nürburgring in all its glory.

The Audi Q6 E-Tron will probably be revealed in 2022, so when these spy shots landed in my inbox this morning, I thought for sure that’s what I was looking at. However, sources are new telling us that this is a Chinese-market special, and it should even be a seven-seater.

The new Mercedes SL is an AMG special that comes to bring new life to the SL name with impressive performance, stylish looks, and a very cool soft top that’s not only fast but sheds some major weight. Thanks to its unique design, it’s even the first SL since the 1980s to feature those barely usable jump seats in the rear. That’s right, the new Mercedes SL is actually a 2+2 roadster. So, with all of this said, we have some questions to answer. Is the new Mercedes SL doing justice to the AMG lineup? Is the new Mercedes SL really designed for everyday use? Will it be worth the high price tag?

Mini is busy revamping its entire lineup for the 2023 model year, and now we’re getting a good look at the next-gen Countryman. As best we can tell from these fresh shots, we’re looking at the Countryman S, however, the camo is still pretty heavy, so do what you will with what we’re about to tell you.

If you’re not a fan of the BMW 4 Series’ massive grille, then the spy shots we have of the 3 Series Touring today should make you quite happy. As best we can tell, the facelifted 3 Series won’t be seeing the supersized grille, and these spy photos all but confirm that very notion. Keep in mind, this is the standard 3 Series Touring, not the M3 Touring that was spied with the massive grille back in October 2021.

The truth is that the Ford Focus Electric was an utter and complete failure compared to most of Ford’s lineup. During the time it was on sale between 2011 and 2019 here in the United States, Ford averaged a sales volume of around 1,125 examples per year. In fairness, it was one of the first big steps that Ford took into electrification, and now it seems like it may have been a little ahead of its time – especially now that the Ford Mach-E is, you know, such a hit.

If you discount that Audi R8, the S8 is, for all intents and purposes, Audi’s flagship model. If you’re in the market for a six-figure sedan, the Audi S8 is essentially the cream of the crop. For 2022, Audi took an already awesome package and made it even better by executing some minor tweaks inside and out – something I’d be welcome to argue is just enough.

Volkswagen continues to diversify its EV (and ID) portfolio with the new ID.5 electric crossover. Available at launch in two different trims – GTX and Standard – and with your choice of three different powertrain options, the ID.5 comes to fill the need of both families and enthusiasts alike. Does it look a lot like the ID.4? Well, that’s probably because it’s basically an ID.4 with a coupe-like roof, so there’s a lot of shared DNA here. What’s below the skin of the ID.5? More than you think.

Toyota revealed the BZ4X concept back in April of 2021, and now we’re getting our first look at the production model. Luckily, the production model looks a lot like the concept, all the way down to the aggressive body lines. When it hits the market in mid-2022, it’ll be offered with FWD or AWD and will serve as a stepping stone into the future. It’s the first of seven models planned over the next nine years, and this is what we know about it.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL, which I should really just call the AMG SL since it’s a standalone AMG vehicle, has been revealed with a sleek exterior appearance, plenty of AMG power, and a desire to reinvigorate the SL name in ways we never thought imaginable. But, what makes it special? Is it just a follow-up to the AMG GT Roadster, or is there more to it than that? Well, here are some very cool facts about it.

Chevy shocked the world when the eighth-generation (C8) Corvette switched to a mid-engine layout. It naturally came with some criticism, but for the most part it was well received. Fast forward a couple of years, and Chevy stayed true to tradition by releasing an all-new C8 Corvette Z06, but how much does the new Z06 really stick to tradition? Well, it doesn’t feature forced induction, but it is supercar fast and it comes as a strong proposition to cars like the Ferrari F8 that cost more than double, and it kind of sticks it to Ford and its overpriced, heritage-proud GT. Here’s everything you need to know about the brand new 2023 Chevy C8 Corvette Z06.

Land Rover just revealed the all-new Rang Rover with a new design that’s being coined as evolutionary, new more powerful engines, and luxury that some are saying is on par with that of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. That aside, the new Range Rover will launch in the U.S. with the option of two different engine choices – one hybridized and one BMW sourced. Looking ahead of a couple of years, you’ll find a Range Rover PHEV but beyond this Range Rover could do something very unexpected and it revolves around the first-ever electric Range Rover.

Fresh from the release of the all-new Chevy C8 Corvette Z06, we’ve learned some very interesting detail about the Z07 package and how it changes the behavior of the Vette on the street and the track. Not only that but how the Z07 package is different and why the tire pressure strategy you’ve memorized is probably wrong now. This is a rundown of the secrets of the C8 Corvette Z06’s new Z07 Performance Package.

The Toyota MR2 is making a comeback. This isn’t the first time I’ve said those words, and it probably won’t be the last. After all, rumors about the MR2’s revival go back to as early as 2010, but when the 2020 Toyota Supra launched, things started to get a little out of control. We’ve seen a number of rumors since then, all of which were generally spawned from Tetsuya Tada’s desire to bring the three brothers back. Most of the rumors have been somewhat believeable, but this latest rumors tells of a story that would put the next-gen MR2 well above the Toyota Supra and, well, you’ve got to hear this.

As BMW navigates the inevitable course to the future that doesn’t only include electrification of its lineup, but digitalization and sustainability, the company has been forced to rethink everything it stands for, all the way down to a design standpoint. This was never more evident than when BMW released the controversially grilled BMW M3 and the even bolder M4. And, while nobody can argue that the design of the M3 and M4 were definitely bold, that’s actually just the start of things.

We now know that BMW is working on a new compact EV Saloon. Internally known today as the NK1, the rest of the world will know it as the 3 Series EV when it launches in 2025. It will serve as an alternative to the next-gen, fuel-powered 3 Series. Sitting atop a new electric architecture known as Neue Klasse, this electric 3 Series will be the first big step forward in BMW’s massive shift to electrification and will pave the way for a whole-new generation of BMW EVs – including an extended lineup of SUVs. This news, however, is about a lot more than a new electric 3 Series, and more about BMW’s path to the future.

Honda just revealed all the dirty details about both the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback and the Civic Sedan, and, on top of this, we’ve learned a little bit about the Civic Si and Civic Type R. Honda didn’t go all out and spoil the party of anxiety leading up to the launch of these two gems, but we did learn a couple of things about them, including a very strange twist that nobody saw coming.

Update 10-18-2021: Honda has released a final teaser of the new Honda Civic Si along with the promise that it will be revealed on October 19, 2021. Check out the new image and what we know about it below.

It’s been a little over four years since Mercedes and AMG first revealed the Project One – a daring hypercar whose goal was to blend F1 performance and technology with the simple phrase “road capable.” As easy as that sounds, there’s a reason we’ve had to wait so long for the original Project One to become a reality – it wasn’t so easy after all. For six months after its unveiling, Mercedes was balls to the wall when it came to sharing insight about development and goals, even claiming that the One was going to be the fastest car to ever grace the Nürburgring. But, this is where fairy tales become nightmares, and both Mercedes and AMG finally got a taste of just how hard it is to build a true F1 car for the road.

As you already know, The Acura Integra is making a comeback. And based on the very first teaser, we know it’ll feature a unique blend of Civic Type R, Acura NSX, and typical Acura DNA. More recently we learned that it’s going to be a real-life hatchback as the universe intended, but outside of this, the bulk of what makes up the new Acura Integra is a bit of a mystery. Now, thanks to Acura’s most recent teaser (and tribute to previous models, including the RSX) we know it’ll feature a six-speed manual transmission, again, as the universe intended.

BMW is no stranger to controversy these days. It all started with the massive kidney grilles on the BMW 7 Series and 8 Series, but then the brand doubled down with the buckteeth on the new BMW 4 Series. It seems as if BMW might like all the controversy, and the evidence lies in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Now, before I go too deep, I should point out that the 2 Series AT is no stranger to controversy, either, as it was widely criticized as being the first BMW to feature FWD. It performed well enough that it warranted a second generation, so what did BMW do? It decided to go all-in but pairing a mildly updated silhouette with the front end of a BMW 7 Series. The end result is a car that’s not exactly hideous, but it’s not exactly pretty either.

A new report is suggesting that AMG has not only closed the order books for the AMG GT Coupe and GT Roadster but will also end production by the end of 2021. This move, has been somewhat expected since the AMG GT Black Series has officially launched and usually, the Black Series name is synonymous with the end of a product’s lifecycle. So, what does this mean for the future of AMG coupes, and what will happen next? We think have some answers.

At some point, you almost have to feel bad for Alfa Romeo. Despite having some pretty cool cars, a blend of bad decisions and a tainted perception of reliability has put the brand in a position where it would almost make more sense to kill it than try to bring it back to profitability. Fortunately, the brand isn’t done just yet, and a heap of new models between now and 2026 could be exactly what the company needs to bounce back. Still, at the same time, one can’t help but wonder: Is this the beginning of the end for Alfa Romeo?

When the Lotus Emira launched, we classified it as a bit of a mixed bag. We praised it for its tech-happy interior and the AMG powertrain is definitely a plus but, at the same time, there’s a little too much of that typical Lotus DNA – especially for a vehicle that marks the end of Lotus’ gas-powered lineup forever. We recently learned how much the Lotus Emira will cost and, while the flagship, V6-powered Emira First Edition will command a wallet-hitting price that nudges beyond six figures, the entry-level model is much more affordable, putting in the company of some strange competition.

Electric sports cars aren’t exactly a thing yet. Sure, you’ve got the currently non-existent Tesla Roadster 2.0 and plenty of hypercars, but the closest we have to a genuine sports car is the Tesla Model S Plaid or the Porsche Taycan. Transitioning the everyday family car or even SUVs to all-electric drive is easy enough – relatively speaking – but when it comes to sports cars, things like weight and driving dynamics are just as important as power. Having too much of one and not enough of the other isn’t an acceptable compromise, and this is why we don’t have an Electric Porsche 911. Eventually, however, it’ll be possible, and when it is, the freedom that comes with EV tech could drastically change the iconic 911 forever.

When Ford launched the Focus RS with its famed, albeit accidentally created drift mode, it was a very cool marketing gimmick. There’s not a lot of use for such a thing for most folks, but it’s cool to say you have the functionality. What we didn’t know at the time, however, was that Ford’s happy little accident sparked a whole new trend, and that trend is already starting to get ridiculous.

There have been more full-scale Lego builds than we can honestly count, but the most memorable of all happened back in 2016 when Land Rover set a record for the largest Lego structure ever built. That record held strong for a while, but it has now been broken over in Saudi Arabia by, of all things, a Formula 1 car.

We’ve come a long way from the original idea that the 2021 Porsche Macan would only be offered with an all-electric powertrain. That was the story in 2019, which quickly turned into word that the next-gen Macan would be all-electric but would be sold alongside the current Macan– something we called “Porsche’s dual-Macan strategy.” Now, it seems there’s even more to the story, and you might not like what you’re about to read.

The Aston Martin DBX was a controversial success from launch and, today, it accounts for more that 50-percent of the company’s global sales. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that there are more derivatives of the DBX coming – a move that is expected to keep demand high and make up for the fact that Aston Martin occupies just a small portion of the SUV market. Some of the new DBX models coming are at least somewhat expected, but you might not like all of what Aston Martin is planning.

For the longest time, fans have been begging Toyota to turbocharge the Toyota 86 and, ultimately, make it faster. But, Toyota has remained firm on its stance of remaining naturally aspirated, and it all boils down to the Toyota 86’s driving dynamics. What does that have to do with the Nissan Z? Well, the Nissan Z was built on the very same premise. It might feature a potent, 400-horsepower, turbocharged V-6, but at the end of the day, it’s not about numbers, it’s about the pleasure of driving; It’s about driver and car becoming one. And, if you don’t believe me, maybe taking it from Nissan’s Chief Engineer, Hiroshi Tamura, will help you see the light.

Hyundai’s mid-engined halo car has a history that dates back nearly a decade, and that’s just the history that we know about. It’s been more than a year since we really last heard about what was going on with the car – now known as the RM19 Concept – but we’ve finally heard something fresh. As it turns out, Hyundai didn’t forget about it. On the contrary, the company has actually been busy making some modifications that includes a new engine. Does that mean more power?

There has been a lot of hype, drama, and rumors surrounding the 2022 Nissan Z with everything ranging from Nissan killing off the Z altogether to how much it will cost and that it could even be offered as an SUV. With so much news and so many rumors over the past couple of years, it’s time we lay it all out on the table. So, this is what you need to know about the Nissan 400Z and what to expect when it debuts on August 17, 2021.

It’s been some five years since Tesla first showcased its bioweapon defense mode in the Tesla Model X. From that point on, it was an available option for the Model X and Model S, and eventually became standard equipment as of July 2018. Now, you can add the Tesla Model Y to the list, as it is now on the list of cars that come standard with the big HEPA air filter and the bioweapon defense mode.

The Hyundai Venue isn’t only one of the brand’s newest cars, but it’s also the smallest SUV or crossover the brand currently sells. As a subcompact model, it competes with models like the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V, but there’s a catch, because the Venue is significantly smaller, sitting on the lower border of the subcompact segment. With that in mind, we have been itching to find out if a smaller, more affordable Hyundai can actually hold its own against the larger, more expensive competition. It does have its faults, but you’ll be surprised as to what those faults really are.

The new Toyota Supra is nothing if not controversial. Meant to be a spiritual successor to the legendary Mk.3 Supra, it’s extreme ties to the BMW Z4 didn’t rub a lot of enthusiasts right. To this day, we’re still not sure if the new Supra is even as tunable as the Mk.3, at least not without some crazy 2JZ transplant, anyway. Regardless of what’s possible in real life, the new Toyota Supra is included as a day-one car in Forza Horizon 5 and, so far, it looks like it’ll at least live up to the reputation it’s meant to have in the game.

Not that long ago, the concept of over-the-air updates for cars sounded pretty cool – who wouldn’t want to have the latest and greatest software? It works great for cell phones, right? Well, when it comes to cars, automakers see it as a way of extorting more money out of you, and the new Mercedes EQS is, quite literally, the epitome of that. After paying six figures for a luxury car, should you have to pay another $105 to play Tetris? Or, should you have to pay another $59 for a simple update that makes the car more gentle to drive? Maybe a little more to make sure some Valet can’t go to fast in your new pride and joy? Well, this is the future, it’s only going to get more expensive, and the Mercedes EQS is the epitome of what’s wrong with the future of the automotive industry.

German tuner G-Power has put some serious work in on various BMWs over the years, and the Hurricane brand has been the epitome of power. Now, G-Power has given the BMW M8 the Hurricane treatment and the stock output of 625 horsepower is a joke in comparison. We’re even willing to bet the G-Power M8 can hit 60 mph in less than three seconds.

In mid-2018 we learned that Toyota was planning a road-going hypercar to complement its WEC racer and, a few months later, we laid eyes on the concept for the first time. Toyota has apparently been hard at work, and even revealed a camouflaged prototype earlier in 2021, but all of that may have been for nothing if the newest report coming out of Japan is correct. In short, the road-going GR Super Sport has been canceled after a horrendous crash and burn during testing.

A new rumor circulated the web says that Nissan is working on a new EV, but not just any EV – it’s reported a compact electric pickup truck. It’s not just the size and motivation that would make such a model unique, but the fact that it will have zero competition if it’s launched soon enough. Sounds crazy, right? Well it is, but maybe crazy is exactly what the industry needs right now, and it won’t be the first time Nissan created its own segment based on the compact pickup truck.

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re cruising around the streets of Italy in your $220,000 Italian Ferrari Roma. Life is good right? Well, yeah, obviously, but not if you’re the guy in this video that underestimated just how thin some of Italy’s roads are. Now, we’re not sure exactly what led to the events in the video below, but we can tell you that this man’s day went from good to bad faster than the Roma can get to 60 mph.

The Biden administration is so enthusiastic about transitioning to green vehicles that it hosed an EV-themed event to announce that it want’s 50-percent of new vehicle sales by 2030 to be battery-electric, PHEV, or hydrogen-powered vehicles. General Motors was there, Ford was there, and even Stellantis had a representative at the party. Who wasn’t there? Elon Musk or a single person related to Tesla. But why would the Biden administration snub the only American automaker who’s lineup is 100-percent electric?

When we saw the teaser of what looked like a Camaro-based Ford Mach-E competitor, we came right out and said it was time for the Chevy Camaro to die. In fact, that exact statement was based on the fact that Chevy can’t even justify the Camaro’s existence anymore. In late 2020, a new report said that Chevy was considering killing off the Camaro post-2023 when we would get a new-gen model, which was followed by news that the current model would run until 2026, making the current model some 10 years old when it will be retired. We don’t have any updates about that, but we’ve learned that previous rumors of the Camaro Z28’s cancellation are likely true, and a new report says it would have been a brutal beast.

Audi showed up to the Shanghai Auto Show with the A6 E-Tron Concept, a car that seemed more like a futuristic A8 than an A6, and one that had production written all over it. It could also become the brand’s first electric wagon, but we’ll leave that discussion for another time. Until now, we’ve heard nothing about when we’d see a production version, but a new report says that A6 E-Tron is slated for production very soon.

Following Audi’s last teaser for the Grand Sphere concept – a flagship sedan with RS6-like proportions and potentially a hint at the next-gen A8, Audi has shown off another teaser. This time, we’re looking at the Sky Sphere which is, appropriately, a roofless car that also features sporty proportions. However, there’s something about this specific concept that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Mazda kind of threw us for a loop back in May of 2021. There was word that the next-gen Mazda 6 will ride on an AWD platform and feature a new, powerful straight-six engine. It wasn’t long before Mazda confirmed that the Mazda 6 was officially being discontinued in the United States with no word about that mythical next-gen Mazda 6 in sight. Now, surprisingly enough, Mazda has filed a new trademark for an all-new stylized R logo that could be hinting at something big.

Back in December of 2020 a report from Which Car claimed that the Chevy Camaro would live on until 2026, at which point the Camaro name could be called off altogether. Now a new report from Automotive News claims that the Camaro will be discontinued in 2024 along with the Malibu. After that, however, things could get very interesting.

The Toyota Yaris Cross, basically a high-riding hatchback with crossover ambitions, is one of Toyota’s newest vehicles and the company’s only subcompact crossover. Now, it looks like Toyota is going to share that love with Lexus, however, this news might not be a big deal if you live in the United States. The Tiny Lexus will share market designations with the Yaris Cross, which is currently only available in Europe, Japan, and Australia. According to the report, the Lexus crossover will be powered by the same 1.5-liter, hybrid, three-cylinder that powers the Yaris Cross. In that model, it’s good for anywhere between 90 and 118 horsepower with the electric motor – either 3.9 kW or 59 kW – adding from 5.2 to 79 horsepower into the mix.

It’s not likely that Lexus will simply rebadge the Yaris Cross, so expect the typical Lexus front end, nice interior materials, and – perhaps – a small increase in power output, at least for the higher trim levels. For the record, it would slot below the Lexus UX, which means that the trademark filing for “LBX” and “Lexus LBX” could have been hinting at its name. That said, the LBX is largely considered to be a concept, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with that. Another rumor claims the sub-UX crossover would be called the Lexus BX, it would arrive in 2023, and would sit somewhere below the $30,000 mark. That sounds a little more like it to us, but we’ll have to see what happens.

Audi is planning to participate in the 2022 Dakar Rally with what has to be one of the most extreme off-roaders we’ve seen so far this year. The RS Q E-Tron is an EV, yet there’s also a TFSI gasoline engine borrowed from DTM that serves as a range generator that will allow it to run constantly without charging. If this is the reason Audi decided to ditch Formula E, then I have to admit that I whole-heartedly agree with its decision.

One could easily argue that the Skyline name belongs to Nissan. It brings back memories of cars like the 1957 Nissan Prince Skyline and, more importantly, cars like the R32, R33, and R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R – the godfather of Godzilla itself, the current Nissan GT-R. The name has been kept alive in certain markets as a sports sedan – the same car we call the Infiniti Q50 here in the States, and now it seems a new Skyline could be coming the U.S. market. The catch? If it happens, It’s not going to wear a Nissan badge but a Ford or Lincoln badge instead.

Mercedes, as a company in general, has been on a roll lately – which is especially true when you look at its electrification efforts. The company now has the Mercedes EQA, EQB, EQC, and the EQS luxury saloon that will serve as a luxury EV halo car. The new EQ brand is obviously going very well, but what about other brands like AMG and Maybach? And, does the G-Class have a future considering the sudden shift to electrification? Well, as it turns out, Daimler – the parent company of Mercedes (and by relation, Maybach) – has huge plans, and this could change everything.

The Chevy C8 Corvette is officially one of the most un-tunable vehicles on the road today. It’s not because it’s already powerful enough or because mechanical engineering prevents it. And, the C8 can be tuned to some extent, such as throwing in a bolt-on supercharger, for example, or however this record-breaking C8 Corvette managed to reach 1,000 horsepower. But, in terms of conventional tuning, aka, ECU remapping, tuners are essentially out of luck and probably will be for some time to come unless someone manages to crack the code.

Despite the Dino being called a Ferrari by, well, just about everyone, and being produced by Ferrari, it didn’t actually wear a Ferrari badge. In fact, the Dino name itself was created in Ferrari’s attempt create a low-cost sports car, ultimately opening the door to people a little less fortunate than those that could actually afford a real Ferrari. Ferrari produced several versions of the Dino like the V-6 206 GT, 246 GT, the 246 GTS, and there was even an eight-cylinder model, the 308 GT4. Be that as it may, the Dino is remembered as a V-6 Ferrari first and foremost, while the original plan for the Dino name to represent any car that didn’t have a V-12. The name itself was somewhat successful but was discontinued after 1976. Ferrari hasn’t used the Dino name since, although, it’s been highly speculated for years that the name would make a comeback. With the reveal of the Ferrari 296 GTB, we now know why it hasn’t and probably never will.

From deep within the bowels of Hennessey comes a very unexpected project that involves a 2021 Ford Mustang, the black and white color scheme of the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 of 1966, and 808 horsepower of full-on, all-American muscle. Okay, maybe I’m over-selling it a little bit, as it is essentially just a rehash of Hennessey’s Heritage Edition from 2018 with a different color. But hey, this is Top Speed, and we love go-fast cars – this Mustang is certainly that, and I want to tell you a little more about it.

Despite rumors that Nissan was killing off the Z car altogether, September of 2020 brought with it the good news that was the Z proto – a nearly production-ready prototype that will retire the long-lived 370Z with a lot of retro-inspired goodness. The production version of the new Nissan Z will be revealed on August 17, 2021, and now a new report signs a faint glimmer of light on hope that the Nissan Z Nismo will be revealed not long after that. There’s only one problem – the source isn’t exactly the most reputable.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed has already kicked off and will run until Sunday evening with what seems like a year’s worth of topspeed goodness. You can expect to see everything from classic cars to modern electric cars tearing up the course, and you should definitely be sure to check out this year’s event. We’ve embedded the livestream below, along with the entire schedule for the rest of this week!

When an automaker is in turbulent times, sometimes all it takes is the right person to turn it all around. Take Jaguar and Land Rover for example – two companies that have been plagued by quality and reliability issues to the point that the whole world knows just how bad they really are. And I’m not even exaggerating, either. In What Car’s 2020 reliability survey, Land Rover landed dead last in position No. 31 with a score of 78.2-percent, or 10-percent less than Renault at 87.6-percent in position No. 30. Jaguar did a little better in position 21 with a score of 91.8-percent, but you get the idea – neither company is known for two things that matter the most. There was even a protest at JLR’s Shanghai headquarters in 2018 over poor performance. For 2021 and beyond, however, both brands could very well see a completely different fortune.

Historically, Bugatti’s biggest market has been Europe, which really isn’t surprising for a French automaker with a German parent company – Volkswagen AG. This year, however, things have changed, and – as it turns out – North Americans really, really like Bugatti these days. So much so, that North America is now the region leading sales for Bugatti.

The day has finally come as Lotus hammers the last nail into its fuel-driven coffin as it spreads its wings to explore the great unknown. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but Lotus’ final gas-powered car – the one that’s replacing the Exige, Elise, and Evora – has finally been revealed. In a nutshell, it appears to blend cues from the Evija and Evora with a newly designed rear end and a larger footprint than any of its predecessors. As a new competitor aimed at the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman and the Alpine A110, and the last car from Lotus that won’t be electric, the Emira has a lot of expectations to live up to. Does it have what it takes? Let’s take a deeper look at the finer details.

When Volkswagen revealed the Mk.8 Golf R, everyone was very impressed. The familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger was massaged to deliver 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque – a nice improvement of 27 horsepower and 30 pound-feet over the MK.7 Golf R. On top of this new Golf R brought the future with it thanks to some awesome high-end tech like that cool all-digital dashboard. In the end, the Golf became a formidable competitor for cars like the Honda Civic Type R, beating it out in almost every category except top speed, which it lost by 2 mph (167 mph vs. 169 when the Golf was equipped with the performance package.) But, what if this kind of performance isn’t enough? Wait, who am I kidding? This is TopSpeed, and it’s never enough. Well, I suppose it’s a good thing that ABT has our back, and even thought what I’m about to tell you is going to sound pretty awesome, it’s going to get better in the future too!

Two-hundred, forty-two years ago, the Continental Congress declared the 13 American colonies to be independent of the British Empire, giving birth to the good ‘ole U.S. of A. Since then, we’ve busied ourselves by fighting wars, inventing stuff, and perfecting the art of consumerism, but who cares about all that - you’re here for only one thing. You want the cars, those tire-shredding, gas-gulping, speed-making all ‘Merican sports cars, baby. Welp, we’re gonna give ‘em to ‘ya, so put down that M-80 and read on.

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Alfa Romeo, as a brand has been dying for years, and it seems that no matter what happens, things just keep getting worse. The move from bad to worse seems to have started right around the time that the revival of both the 8C and GTV nameplates was cancelled, right around the same time that FCA – before the Stellantis merger, of course – started skinning it to the bone as the 4C Spider landed on the chopping block. By 2020, the Giulietta was discontinued and we were promised a new compact electric SUV in 2020. Now, under new leadership, Alfa Romeo is discontinuing the Giorgio platform, and more recently announced a plan that included delaying models like the Tonale and raising prices – a weird move for a company that can’t sell vehicles to save its life. Things could have been a lot different if FCA sold Alfa to Volkswagen. In fact, the opportunity was there twice in the same decade.

We have good news and, potentially, bad news. The good news is that the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which last went through a generational shift for the 2015 model year, will stick around for at least one more generation and, probably, into the 2030s. The bad news is that it might not be quite as light weight or affordable as before because it will only live on through means of electrification.

The first production car with a recorded speed was the 1894 Benz Velo that had a top speed of just 12 mph. Few verified records exist from that point until around 1950, when the Jaguar XK120 set a production car speed record of 124.6 mph (not to be confused with the tuned prototype that managed to hit 133 mph) From this point on, it became a trend for automotive publications to do their own top speed test. Even the venerable McLaren F1 was tested by Car & Driver, and in 2005 we got our first government-official speed record set by the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 and verified by German inspection officials in 2005. It was that moment when the official challenge between manufacturers kicked off, and since then there have only been a handful of cars up to breaking the record. This list covers the top 10 fastest cars in the world, ranked from slowest to fastest.

Lexus sits in a weird position within the automotive industry. It serves as Toyota’s luxury arm and yet it still offers a total of two coupes – something that’s a bit of a mystery considering SUVs are king and the coupe segment is slowly dying. I’m talking about, of course, the Lexus RC and the Lexus LC, the former of which can be had in RC F form with 472 horsepower, and the latter of which offers as much as 471 horsepower in its range-topping LC5 500 trim level. So, Lexus has, essentially, two performance coupes, and a new rumor hints that a third, more compact sports coupe could be on the way.

Right on schedule, Porsche has launched the new 2022 911 GTS, the perfect mix between the 911 Carrera S and the 911 Turbo. For the 992-generation, the 911 GTS features improved power output, the option for a seven-speed manual, optional AWD, and a host of other upgrades. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2022, with prices starting at $136,700 for the entry-level GTS and maxing out at $156,800 before options, taxes, and other fees.