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Category: Highlight

  • Volkswagen to change its name to Voltswagen in America

    Volkswagen will change the name of its North American unit from “Volkswagen of America” to “Voltswagen in America,” CNBC reported Monday.

    It may look like a typo, but VW accidentally posted an incomplete press release announcing the name change to its website early Monday morning, according to CNBC. The release was dated April 29 and has since been taken down, the report said. A VW source familiar with the situation confirmed to Motor Authority that the information was leaked too early.

    While the timing of the press release also suggests a premature April Fool’s Day joke, CNBC reported that the name change is meant to emphasize VW’s shift toward electric vehicles.

    2021 Volkswagen ID.4

    2021 Volkswagen ID.4

    The release, which was incomplete, citing the need for an additional quote and photography, also discussed new badging for VW vehicles, according to CNBC. Electric cars will get a “Voltswagen” exterior badge, while gasoline models will have the existing VW badge (which was recently redesigned itself) only. The badge will continue to have a dark blue badge for gasoline models, and a lighter blue for EVs, the report said.

    VW’s United States EV push recently kicked off with the ID.4 crossover, one of several planned global models based on the automaker’s MEB platform. Instead of targeting other electric cars, VW claims to the ID.4 will compete with mainstream gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The first U.S.-market vehicles will be imported from Germany, but VW plans to start local production at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory in 2022.

    That’s part of a larger plan to build 28 million EVs by 2028, encompassing 70 distinct models across VW’s many global brands. In addition to affordable MEB-based models, the lineup already includes luxury models like the Audi E-Tron GT and Porsche Taycan, with a Bentley EV on the way. By the end of the decade, VW plans to have a standardized platform for most electric models, and solid-state batteries that the company believes will allow greater range and quicker charging.

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  • “Fast Five” 1963 Corvette Grand Sport replica for sale

    The “Fast and the Furious” franchise may have started out with tuner cars, but by the time “Fast Five” premiered in 2011, the series had expanded to include cars like this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport replica, which will be auctioned off online by Volo Auto Sales starting April 14.

    First spotted by Motor1, the Grand Sport replica only appeared briefly in “Fast Five.” It was one of several cars stolen off a moving train by the heroes, only to plummet off a cliff to its doom shortly after. Still, the Grand Sport is a bona fide movie car—and a cool one at that.

    The original Grand Sport was a heavily-modified version of the C2 Corvette designed for racing—hence the numerous cooling ducts, bulging fender flares, and fixed headlights. Only five original cars were built—two convertibles and three coupes—establishing enough of a reputation that Chevy brought back the Grand Sport name for variants of recent Corvettes.

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    The replica was built by Mongoose Motorsports, which is licensed by General Motors to build these cars. It has a custom tubular chassis with C4 Corvette suspension and a GM Performance 5.7-liter V-8 crate engine that makes 380 hp, according to the listing. It’s also an automatic, which isn’t uncommon for movie cars as it makes them easier to move around on set.

    This is one of three surviving Grand Sport replicas from the film, and was used as a “hero car” for close-up shots, according to the listing. That means it likely got the most screen time, and is closest in appearance to what you see on screen. Movie productions generally use multiple cars, which are only made to look or function as good as they need to for a particular scene. For example, a car used for stunts might not have a full interior, because that wouldn’t be shown in a given shot.

    The auction house expects this movie car to sell for between $95,000 and $100,000, while Mongoose advertises new cars (without the movie pedigree) at “under $100,000.” Either way, the “Fast Five” car should be a lot less than one of the five original Grand Sports, which have seven-figure valuations.

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  • 2022 Infiniti QX55, lifted Subaru Outback, 1967 Chevy Corvette L88: The Week In Reverse

    We drove the 2022 Infiniti QX55, learned about a lifted Subaru Outback, and reported on a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 sold at auction. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

    We slid behind the wheel of the 2022 Infiniti QX55 to determine whether a faster roofline is worth about $7,000 over a QX50. The answer: That’s a lot of extra money to pay for style that isn’t matched with substance. The shortcomings are noticeable and the German competition simply does it better.

    The covers came off the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe. With a price of over $140,000, this four-door coupe will be rare when it lands at BMW dealerships in late spring (Alpina only builds about 2,000 cars annually). While an M8 Gran Coupe exists from BMW, the Alpina model will be something special with trademark styling cues and top-shelf features.

    A lifted Subaru Outback is headed into production. The rugged Outback will be “adventure-ready,” according to Subaru. The tall wagon will be revealed on March 30 and should be a 2022 model. Expect new wheels riding on Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain tires along with the lifted ride height.

    The 2022 Hyundai Kona N was spied without any disguise during an official photo shoot in Germany. The hot hatch/crossover will feature the Veloster N’s turbocharged powertrain, though it’s unclear if all-wheel drive will be offered. Expect a debut to occur soon and the pocket rocket to arrive in dealers later this year as a 2022 model.

    A numbers-matching 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 sold for $2,695,000 at a recent Mecum auction in Arizona. It was one of just 20 built that year, and it’s finished in Sunfire Yellow. The car previously underwent a 10-year restoration, making this a stunning example of a rare car.

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