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Category: Highlight

  • 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450, Ken Block and Ford: The Week In Reverse

    We said goodbye to the Toyota Land Cruiser, had our first seat time in the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 Coupe, and witnessed the end of Ken Block’s exclusive partnership with Ford. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

    We spent a week with the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser to remind ourselves why it’s the ultimate SUV for a select few and the wrong tool for the job for most consumers, before it leaves the market at the end of 2021. 

    The 2022 Ford Ranger was spotted undergoing testing on public roads. The next-gen Ranger will adopt a mini F-150 design with blunt, upright front end and squared-off design. Expect a debut to take place in 2021.

    We slid behind the wheel of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 Coupe and found it to be a comfortable, sporty cruiser with one flaw: the overly complicated steering wheel controls. Planted and precise, the E450 coupe with all-wheel drive and the AMG sport package makes for a terrific partner.

    Cadillac teased its flagship Celestiq electric car during its 2021 CES presentation. The hand-built flagship electric car will feature a four-quadrant smart glass roof, and the front end design looks similar to that of the upcoming Lyriq electric crossover SUV.

    Ken Block’s marriage to Ford has come to an end. While the relationship didn’t end with a divorce, the exclusive 10-year contract has ended, which leaves Block a free agent to pursue other automakers. Block’s relationship with Ford is unlikely to end completely, but expect the hot shoe to strike up partnerships with other automakers in the near future. Block used to work with Subaru before his contract with Ford.

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  • Porsche 914 restomod hides Cayman S flat-6

    At the end of the 1960s, Porsche was on the hunt for a model that could slot into the family lineup below the 911. Working with Volkswagen to make this happen, it came up with the 914, a car that proved to be quite popular.

    Despite this popularity, the 914 today isn’t exactly lighting up the classic car market like other Porsches of the era, though that could change if we see more companies like the United Kingdom’s Fifteen Eleven Design spring up.

    The company is a division of World Rally Championship team Mellors Elliot Motorsport and is focused on the classic car side of things. While it traditionally performs restorations, it has also dabbled in the world of restomods, and its latest is based on a 1975 Porsche 914.

    1975 Porsche 914 restomod by Fifteen Eleven Design

    1975 Porsche 914 restomod by Fifteen Eleven Design

    The design features several tweaks inside and out but the biggest changes will be in the areas you can see. We’re told extensive chassis updates are planned, including for the suspension and brakes.

    Fifteen Eleven will also install a modern engine, in this case a 3.4-liter flat-6 from a Porsche Cayman S. It will be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Interestingly, Porsche originally offered a flat-6 in the 914/6 model, though it didn’t sell well, with most customers preferring a flat-4.

    Fifteen Eleven plans to show its first completed 914 restomod later this year. The company is currently accepting orders, for both left- and right-hand-drive cars, and it hasn’t said if build slots are limited. It also hasn’t said how much the restomod will cost.

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  • Bentley picks Audi designer as new design chief

    Bentley on Tuesday named Andreas Mindt as its new design chief.

    Mindt is currently head of exterior design at fellow Volkswagen Group brand Audi and starts his new role on March 1.

    He replaces Stefan Sielaff, himself an ex-Audi designer, who is leaving Bentley after a six-year stint to pursue other opportunities.

    In his new role, Mindt will be in charge of a team of 50 designers and report to Matthias Rabe, head of engineering at Bentley. One of the first models he is likely to be tasked with designing is Bentley’s first electric vehicle, which is due in 2025.

    Fortunately, Mindt has plenty of experience with EVs as the 25-year VW Group veteran was pivotal in devising the design direction for Audi’s expanding EV portfolio, including the E-Tron and upcoming E-Tron GT. Now he will do the same at Bentley which is committed to offering a full-EV lineup by 2030.

    “Designing a car, and a future, is always a process based on the performance of many, not one, and so I look forward to working with my colleagues to help define the next phase for Bentley, into an electrified future,” Mindt said in a statement.

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