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Category: Highlight

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2022 Ford Ranger, 2022 Nio ET7: This Week’s Top Photos

Mercedes-Benz was spotted testing a redesigned GLC-Class. The popular SUV looks to be growing in size for its next generation, and new proportions should also result in a sleeker, sportier look compared to the current model.

2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63 Roadster spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf / SB-Medien

Mercedes was also spotted testing a redesigned SL-Class. The new SL-Class will be sportier than its predecessor thanks to a lightweight soft-top roof and a chassis developed by the Mercedes-Benz AMG performance skunkworks.

2022 Ford Ranger spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

Another vehicle out testing this week was a redesigned Ford Ranger. The new mid-size pickup truck is coming up shortly, and this time the U.S. is expected to receive a high-performance Raptor variant.

2022 Hyundai Kona N prototype

For performance fans on a budget, Hyundai is cooking up a Kona N. It’s coming with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and is expected to debut later this year, although its availability in the U.S. has not yet been confirmed.

2022 Nio ET7

Nio expanded its lineup with the ET7. It is the first sedan from the electric-vehicle startup, and it’s due to hit the Chinese market next year with battery options ranging up to 150 kilowatt-hours in size.

2021 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Hypercar race car

Toyota this week unveiled its new GR010 Hybrid race car designed for the Le Mans Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship. The automaker will also have a version with even more power designed for the road, a prototype for which has also been revealed.

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition

We also 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. Sadly, the 2021 model year is the last for the Land Cruiser in the U.S.

Cadillac Celestiq teased during General Motors’ 2021 CES presentation

And finally, Cadillac this week provided the first glimpses of its new flagship sedan, the Celestiq. The battery-electric cruiser is the true Cadillac flagship we’ve all been waiting for, though it will probably end up priced like an ultra-luxury model since Cadillac plans to hand build it in very low volumes.

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January 16, 2021
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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January 15, 2021
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

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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January 14, 2021