Category: Highlight

Lotus Emira, 2022 BMW 2-Series, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee: This Week’s Top Photos

Lotus revealed its new Emira sports car this week, the British automaker’s last model to feature an internal-combustion engine of any sort. The Emira has two engine options to choose from; one is the same supercharged Toyota engine powering the outgoing Evora, and the other is a new unit sourced from Mercedes-Benz AMG.

Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae

Lamborghini unveiled the final version of the Aventador, the Aventador Ultimae. The stunning supercar is also the last Lamborghini to be powered purely by a V-12 engine, as the Aventador’s successor is set to feature a V-12 in a plug-in hybrid configuration.

2022 BMW 2-Series

BMW revealed a new generation of its 2-Series coupe. The car is due at dealerships in November, and is bigger and more powerful than the model it replaces. And yes, there’s an M2 variant being cooked up.

2021 Ford Shelby F-150

Shelby beat Ford to the launch of a V-8 performance pickup based on the latest F-150, with its new 2021 Ford Shelby F-150. The Ford tuner extraordinaire has added a supercharger and a host of other upgrades to an F-150 Lariat, and the resulting pickup has an insane 775 hp on tap.

2022 Genesis G80 Sport

Genesis revealed the Sport version of its redesigned G80 sedan this week. Genesis is holding back details until closer to the market launch this fall but we know the new G80 Sport will come with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Jeep revealed the smaller, two-row sibling to the three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Jeep has only provided a first look at the mid-size crossover as the full reveal is scheduled for next month’s 2021 New York International Auto Show, but we know a plug-in hybrid option will be available.

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S

We spent more time behind the wheel of the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S, this time the coupe. The car is hard to beat in most performance metrics, though for most buyers the slightly tamer Turbo will probably suffice. There’s no wrong option here.

2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz production model spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

And finally, we spied Volkswagen’s new electric van that many are calling the spiritual successor to the iconic Microbus. The debut isn’t far but we’ll only see the van in the United States in 2023.

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July 10, 2021
2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz spy shots and video: Modern electric Bus takes shape

Volkswagen’s electric successor to the iconic Microbus, which was previewed by 2017’s ID Buzz concept vehicle, has been spotted testing in prototype form (earlier shots showed a test mule).

The prototypes are barely disguised, but some finer details like the lights are camouflaged by stickers. There are also fake elements attached to the front to hide the true design of the vehicle’s face.

Some of our spy shots also show a T6-generation VW Transporter/Multivan. We can see that the ID Buzz is wider and lower than the T6 van. It’s hard to compare the wheelbase, but we know the ID Buzz will have two wheelbase options, with the United States expected to receive the longer version as standard.

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We also know that both passenger and commercial versions are planned, the latter previewed by 2018’s ID Buzz Cargo concept. The U.S. is only expected to receive the passenger version, however.

The final design should resemble the design shown in a teaser sketch of a self-driving ID Buzz (shown below) that’s slated to enter a commercial taxi service in 2025. The service will be run by Volkswagen Group’s Moia mobility division using a self-driving system developed by Argo AI, which VW Group is a major shareholder of.

The ID Buzz, which will likely be called something along the lines of ID.7 or ID.8 in production guise, is due to start sales in Europe in 2022. It won’t reach the United States until 2023, meaning it will likely arrive as a 2024 model. That’s a year later than originally promised.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz AD self-driving car prototype

VW has hinted at a modern Bus for years. In fact, the automaker rolled out the first concept for one as far back as 2001. Now production is finally happening. The production will be handled at a VW Group plant in Hanover, Germany, which is being upgraded to handle electric vehicles. The plant is where VW currently builds its T-series van, the true successor to the Microbus.

The T-series in June spawned the new T7 generation in passenger-oriented Multivan guise. The T7 van, which is based on VW Group’s MQB platform, will be sold alongside the ID Buzz. The ID Buzz rides on VW Group’s MEB battery-electric platform.

Look for a base model with around 201 hp and rear-wheel drive. Above this should sit a 302-hp model with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The biggest battery option should offer close to 300 miles of range.

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July 9, 2021
British startup Wells reveals Porsche Boxster rival

After being disappointed by the existing offerings on the market, a budding entrepreneur from the United Kingdom decided to develop his ideal sports car from scratch.

That entrepreneur was Robin Wells, who in 2014 started work on a sports car that would eventually become the Wells Vertige. According to him, rather than output performance, the Vertige is all about the “pure, unfiltered driving experience.”

The sports car features many of the characteristics of an exotic, such as a mid-engine layout, butterfly doors, and lightweight construction, but not the price. The Vertige starts at 45,000 British pounds (approximately $62,000). The car is also smaller than most exotics, measuring just over 13 feet in length or about the same as a modern subcompact.

Wells Vertige

Power comes from a Ford-sourced 2.0-liter inline-4 rated at 208 hp, and more powerful options are being looked at, perhaps for future updates. Drive is to the rear wheels only, via a 6-speed manual transmission, and the wheels are a bespoke set of 17-inch alloys from Speedline. They’re fitted with 205/45-size Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.

The body is made from composite materials and wraps a steel monocoque structure. Steel is also used for the front and rear sub-frames, though aluminum is used for the independent double wishbone suspension. Despite the relatively simple materials, the Vertige tips the scales at only 1,653 pounds dry.

According to Wells, the Vertige should cover the 0-60 mph sprint in less than five seconds and top out somewhere around 140 mph.

Wells Vertige

The interior design is reminiscent of old Lotus sports cars, with the steering wheel and pedals perfectly in line with the driver’s seat. Modern features like navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are taken care of via a touchscreen-based infotainment system, and there’s also a beautiful wooden shifter, carved from a single block of African Rosewood. Other materials used in the cabin include Scottish Bridge of Weir leather and Alcantara.

Deliveries are due to start in 2022. Wells is preparing a plant in Bishop’s Itchington and will have Hall Engineering, the company that did the engineering for the Vertige, build the first handful of examples while work on the plant is completed.

The Wells Vertige is set for its world debut at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed which is on now in the U.K. and runs until July 11. For more coverage, head to our dedicated hub.

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July 8, 2021