2021 Ford Bronco Raptor (or Warthog), 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, 2020 Aston Martin Vantage: The Week In Reverse

The 2021 Ford Bronco Raptor (or Warthog) was spotted; the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette won’t be as rare as expected; and we spent time in the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Raptor—or is that Warthog?—was spotted on public roads undergoing what appeared to be validation testing. Likely in production form, the high-performance Bronco featured 37-inch off-road tires and orange Fox shocks with active damping and external bypass technology.

Toyota’s commitment to the iconic Land Cruiser SUV in the U.S. has apparently ended as a dealer source told Motor Authority 2021 will be the final model year for the large SUV in the U.S. market. “There’s no illusion it’s coming back and it’s completely dead for the moment,” he said.

We slid behind the wheel of the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage and found it excels as a sports car, approaching the Porsche 911 for handling prowess. But it’s expensive and the interior controls can be confusing.

The 2021 Jaguar XF was revealed with a tweaked exterior design and a refreshed interior with updated tech. The XF will now feature an 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that Jaguar says is simpler to use. Digital controls now reside below the infotainment screen for comfort settings.

Turns out the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette won’t be that collectible after all. Production of the mid-engine sports car has been extended through December to build as many 2020s as possible to meet customer demand. Chevrolet has delivered 12,634 2020 Corvettes through the first three quarters of the year.

Source

860BHP NISSAN SKYLINE R32 GT-R DRIVEN

Watch as Matt gets behind the wheel of Rocky Bhattel’s 860bhp Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R. Better yet, you can win this car!

[embedded content]

Driving fast cars is something we get used to. That sounds like an arrogant statement right from the off, but the luxury of our jobs means we get to test the latest and greatest manufacturers can offer. From the Civic Type R FK8 and Fiesta ST, right up to the McLaren 720s and Porsches etc. You get the picture. It’s very rare, though, that we get to drive other people’s builds. To put it plain and simple, who’s going to trust us getting behind the wheel of their pride and joy to hoon about?

So when we got the call from one of our close friends Rocky Bhattel, who also runs one the UKs hottest car clubs in GTR Cartel, to drive a car from his collection, well it was a no brainer. A quick trip down south to meet up and suddenly we were piloting his 860bhp Nissan Skyline GT-R. Here’s how we got on…

The best bit, though, is that you win this very car. Head over to Superstar Comps and get yourself a ticket in the draw to win that very 860bhp Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R. The winner is picked via Facebook live using Google’s random number generator. Tickets cost £20. T&Cs apply.

Tech Spec: 862bhp Nissan Skyline GT-R

Engine:

JUN Pistons
HKS Conrods
New Total Seal Piston Rings
Block Restrictor
Fresh Hone on Bores
New JUN Oil Pump
ARP Conrod Bolts
ACL Racing Bearings
ACL Mains/Big end bearings
ACL Crank Bearings
Crank Balanced
JUN Single Inlet Manifold
Q45 Throttle Body
Alloy Radiator
ARC Intercooler
Nismo Engine Mounts

Head spec:

Cosworth MLS Headgasket
Fully Ported & Polished at Midnight Racing
HKS 264 Camshafts
Tomie Cam Cap Stud & Nut Kit
Manley Valve Springs TI Retainers
Re Shimmed
Jun Mains and Jun Headbolt kit
Adjustable Cam Wheels
New cambelt kit with tensioner and idler
New water pump all genuine Nissan parts
APW Extended Sump
APW Trigger Kit
Starter fully reconditioned
All racing line dash fittings and aeroquip hoses for fuel and oil
Custom Breather system
Custom ABS delete kit all braided lines
Custom power steering lines and tank
All tanks and covers powder coated in black

Fuelling:

450lph intank fuel pump
Bosch 1000 cc Injectors
Brand new Racing Lines Oil cooler and Custom relocation for filter
Racing lines for Fuel Rail
Racing lines FPR

Turbo kit:

APW Full Race Manifold
APW Downpipe
Twin Side Exit Exhausts
APW Custom Pipework
Twin Turbosmart 38mm Wastegates
Twin Screamer Pipes
ITG Air Intake
Borg Warner S366 T4 Turbo

Transmission:

R33 Late Spec Gearbox
Single Piece Propshaft
Nismo 1.5 way Rear Diff
Nismo Gearbox Mount
Braided clutch line
Os Giken Triple plate clutch with new plates and release bearing all balanced with crank

ECU/Electronics:

AEM Map Sensor
AEM Fuel/Oil sensor mapped into ecu and failsafes set
Racetechnology dash2 fully Setup
Innovate AFR wideband kit with gauge
Torque Split Controller

Interior:

Full roll Cage Cusco
R33 GTR Front Seats
Tablet fitted (full gauge display)
Nismo Gearknob
OMP Steering Wheel
HI/Low Boost Switch Fitted
Pump/Race Fuel switch fitted
Nismo 320kmh Clocks

Exterior:

Bodywork in stealth grey
Carbon side spats
Carbon bonnet with aero catches
Carbon Headlight Duct (OEM Light included)
Carbon Front Grill
Genuine trust gracer rear spats
Genuine N1 rear lip spoiler
N1 headlights
OEM front splitter with Carbon extented front lip
Carbon Duck tail boot spoiler lip
Genuine ganador wing mirrors
Carbon R34 GTR Side Extensions

Wheels/Tyres:

18X10.5 Volk Racing TE37 SL Alloys
265/35/18 Yokahama AD08R Tyres all round

Suspensions/Brakes:

K Sport 8pot 356MM front brakes with carbon friction xp10 pads
K Sport 356MM 6 pots rear brakes with ds2500 pads
Every bush is Polybushed
New ball joints/track rod ends
New Driftworks Lockout Bar Rear
Driftworks Camber Arms
Cusco Rear Castor Arms
Fromt Cusco castor arms
Custom camber Arms
Full Adjustable Crux Coilovers
Auto-Select Front Strut Brace

Source

2021 Audi R8 adding less-expensive rear-drive models

The EPA provided the clue, and now it’s coming true.

In July, we reported that EPA fuel economy figures published on fueleconomy.gov indicated a rear-drive 2021 Audi R8 was coming to the U.S. Audi confirmed the news on Thursday and revealed that both the coupe and Spyder will get rear-drive models in addition to the standard all-wheel-drive versions.

The 2021 R8 lineup consists of R8 V10 Performance Coupe and Spyder and R8 V10 RWD Coupe and Spyder models. The RWD versions get less power and come at a discount.

The R8 RWD models use the same naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10 as the V10 Performance models, but here it’s tuned to make 532 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque instead of 603 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. With less grip and less power, Audi says the R8 RWD coupe will hit 60 mph from a stop in 3.6 seconds and the Spyder will do the deed in 3.7 seconds. The coupe will top out at 201 mph and the Spyder will hit 200 mph. The lesser performance is despite less weight due to the RWD models’ lack of all-wheel-drive components, including the prop shaft, front axles, multi-plate clutch, and front differential.

2021 Audi R8 V10 RWD Spyder

2021 Audi R8 V10 RWD Spyder

The drop in performance will be worth it for buyers who want to get an R8 at a lower price. The 2021 Audi R8 V10 Coupe RWD starts at $145,895, including $1,495 for destination and a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax, while the Spyder starts at $158,095. That’s about 25% less than a 2021 R8 V10 Performance Quattro that starts at $200,295 for the coupe (including $1,495 for destination and a $2,100 gas-guzzler tax) and $212,485 for the Spyder.

Audi adjusts the R8’s chassis for rear drive by using solid instead of hollow rear axles, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and more negative camber in the rear.

The 2021 Audi R8 RWD coupe and Spyder get unique design elements. The front blade, side sill inserts, and rear diffuser are all painted gloss black, while the side blades sport Mythos black paint and the exhaust tips are chrome. The all-wheel-drive R8 V10 Performance models have matte titanium lower trim; the side blades, mirror housings, and rear spoiler have a carbon finish; and the tailpipes are black.

2021 Audi R8 V10 RWD Spyder

2021 Audi R8 V10 RWD Spyder

An optional Carbon Exterior package for RWD models uses carbon fiber for the side blades and in the engine compartment.

The RWD variants also don’t come standard with the laser headlights of the V10 Performance models, though they are optional.

Interior design packages for the RWD models consist of a Carbon Interior package with carbon-fiber surrounds for the instrument cluster and air vents and a Diamond Stitch Full Leather package with diamond stitching on the Alcantara headliner and seats.

Audi also announced a new interior package for R8 Performance models. The R8 Performance Design package adds Mercato blue diamond contrast stitching to the standard leather- and Alcantara-upholstered racing shell seats, a full leather package, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and floor mats. The package also comes with blue ceramic brake calipers, an Alcantara shift lever, and a leather shifter boot with the Mercato blue stitching.

The 2021 Audi R8 will be available late this year.

Source