By Kijoma Pius|wed 28 October 2020

Can you withstand a 1471bhp-per-tonne slicks and wings special from Bugatti?

It’s a question we’ve all figuratively asked but never thought we’d get answered: what would happen if Bugatti made an extreme track-only, lightweight hypercar? Wonder no more. This is the Bugatti Bolide – Molsheim’s 1,842bhp, 1,240kg downforcetastic love letter to bleeding-edge engineering and organ-bruising lap times. 5m 23.1s around the Nordschleife kinda lap times. Yikes. That’s not all, in a low downforce setting Bugatti claims the Bolide could also do more than 310mph. And thanks to all-wheel-drive, can also shoot from 0-62mph in 2.17 seconds. So no matter how you like your fast served, the Bolide will dish it up. We just hope you’re hungry.

It follows on from the current vogue for high end can’t-drive-on-the-road, can’t-race-in-a-championship hypercar track toys. Y’know, things like Aston Martin’s Valkyrie, McLaren’s Senna GTR, the Mercedes Project One and Ferrari FXXK. Just like them, the Bolide uses the modern race car’s recipe of minimal weight and maximum downforce. But then takes the concept of a track-only hypercar to another level, by pairing those ingredients with an absolute juggernaut of an engine.

Nestled snuggly in the heart of a carbon fibre monocoque is the same 8.0-litre, quad-turbo W16 unit we’ve come to know and love from Bugatti. But where it comes with 1,479bhp in a standard Chiron and 1,578bhp in the production version of the record-setting Chiron Super Sport 300+, the Bolide boots the doors down with 1,842bhp when running 110 octane racing fuel. It’s also got a lot less weight to push around. Thanks to a fighter-jet inspired design wrapped around a skeletal structure, the thing only weighs 1,240kg – 100kg lighter than a Porsche Cayman GT4. Some quick maths equates that to an insane power-to-weight ratio of 1,471bhp per tonne. Which is a truly monstrous figure when you compare it to the then jaw-dropping 644bhp per tonne that left us speechless with the Veyron SS a decade ago.

We’re told Bolide is a rolling concept to be used for future technology and it’s taken Bugatti’s engineers just eight months to churn out. Talk about a productive lockdown. Yep, instead of feeling guilty about not doing Joe Wicks’ workout, Bugatti’s biggest brains hopped on Zoom and decided to blow the top off blue-sky thinking to try and get into another stratosphere of fast. How? Through the use of exotic materials, no rules and brain-melting ideas. It looks like they’ve succeeded.Let’s start with the power. To get that extra oomph over standard, engineers bolted four new turbochargers with new optimised blades to make the engine build more boost pressure and power at higher engine speeds. At 7,000rpm the W16 now produces 1,842bhp and 1,364lb ft of torque. But more power and torque means more energy, and therefore more heat, so the whole oil and cooling systems have also been redesigned – including the introduction of air-to-air intercooling with water pre-cooling, rather than the standard water-to-air. And as there’s a lot more speed to scrub off before going into corners, new hybrid carbon titanium turbofan radial compressors ventilate and cool F1-style racing brakes finished with ceramic discs and coatings.

But it’s the diet that Bugatti has put its track racer on that really makes you think. Not since Christian Bale in The Machinist has anyone lost so much chunk for a dedicated role. In total, the Bolide has lost 755kg – the same as throwing an original Mini with a set of dumbells in the boot in the bin. Where weight could be saved, it has. So the driveline was gutted for grams, carbon fibre bodywork was kept to a minimum, any screw or fastening device is made out of titanium, and where possible, 3D printed aerospace titanium alloy was used. Just like the original Type 35 that had a hollow-bored and forged front axle, any weight that could then be scooped out of a component was. This all adds up. The brake calipers for example only weigh 2.4kgs each. The front forged magnesium rims 7.4kgs. The rears, 8.4kgs – meaning even weaklings like us could curl them in the gym. If we went to the gymAerospace alloys that give crazy levels of single-fibre stiffness (350,000 newtons per square millimetre, if you’re counting) are present but also traditional elements that have been honed for purpose. Take the rear frame. It’s made of welded high-strength stainless steel… but is only 1mm thick. There’s also a morphable skin on the intake scoop on the roof which, depending on the situation, will deform to optimise airflow.

In case you hadn’t guessed, downforce is also present. The Bolide has more than any other Bugatti that’s come before. At 198mph, 1,800 kgs of force is being sat on the rear wing and 800kgs at the front. The suspension is rated to take 3.5 tonnes of force – or nearly two Chirons. If that’s not enough to keep you planted to the tarmac, there’s also Michelin racing slicks stickier than a Kellogg’s Fruit Winder that’s been stuck in a lunchbox on a summer’s day. They’re thicc boys too, 340mm on the front axle and 400 millimetres on the rear. Just for context, a boggo Chiron runs 285 mm at the front and 355 mm at the rear. With all this grip, we’re told you can expect up to 2.8g. Or what people in LA call a ‘cheap facelift’.

And check out the way it looks! It’s like a cosmic LMP1 car with all that wild, minimalist bare carbon bodywork and extrusions that help deflect air to the right places to keep things cool and/or plunge the thing into the ground. Right at the front you’ve got the iconic horseshoe grille – making it instantly recognisable as a Bugatti. But from there back everything is taught and sweptback as holes punctuate all parts of the car; cutting into the bodywork inboard of the front wheels to release the pressure, holes that become a framework to see the gorgeous front double wishbone pushrod suspension and horizontal dampers.

Hopping over the snorkel you’re greeted by a dorsal fin to stabilise the car at high speed that then spreads into an outrageous full-width rear wing assembly. Looking at it from dead behind is a menacing prospect. A giant ‘X’ signature highlighted by LEDs that draw your attention to four double-stacked exhausts and a whopper of a blue-tipped diffuser. As you may have noticed, the ‘X’ shape is used relentlessly throughout the design. This isn’t a happy accident, rather a nod to the Bell X-1 flown by Chuck Yeager in 1947, the first person to break the sound barrier. The good thing about the ‘X’ shape though is that it allows room for more holiness, so you can not only see the rear suspension, but also to act as a gully to channel air efficiently, not too dissimilar from the Lotus Evija.

Standing at only 995 millimetres tall (the same height as an original Bugatti Type 35, or just less than those giant Toblerones you used to get in airports depending on your frame of reference), drivers have to slot themselves in through gullwing doors before dropping down into the arse-down-feet-up racing driving position with the pedals moving towards or away from you. Inside there’s just enough room for you and someone to scare senseless. It may not be as luxurious as a standard Chiron but decked out in alcantara and fitted with a dashboard and door pulls, it’s the Ritz in comparison to other race cars. Safe too, with all the features the FIA likes to see: HANS device compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, towing device, pressure refuelling with fuel bladder, central locks for the wheels, lightweight polycarbonate windows, six-point harness system and air jacks for a quick tyre change.

The stats that Bugatti claim for the Bolide are potty in anyone’s books. A 0-311mph-0 time of 33.62 seconds. A Nordschliefe lap just off the Porsche 919 Evo’s record and a Le Mans lap time of 3:07.1, good enough for it to snatch pole at this year’s race by eight seconds. Obviously, these times are all currently simulated, and whether we’ll ever actually see the camouflaged Bugatti Bolide that’s been testing at Paul Ricard driven in anger remains to be seen. But Bugatti has gone and answered the question we’ve all figuratively asked but never thought we’d get answered: what would happen if Bugatti made an extreme track-only, lightweight hypercar? Now we know. But here’s another, what do you think? Let us know in the comments below

Thanks to: TopGear

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Update: SSC wouldn’t confirm the record-breaking attempt, but told us they have made “no secret of its plans to set a world top-speed record with the 1,750 hp Tuatara. We welcome speculation and buzz about whether we’ll be doing this soon, or have already done it. If/when the time is right, we’ll be in touch with news.”

By Kijoma Pius|Tuesday,13 October,2020

The SSC Tuatara is the successor to the Ultimate Aero which held the Guinness World Record for the fastest production car between 2007 and 2010.

Given that pedigree, it was only a matter of time before the new model would attempt to set a record of its own.


That reportedly happened over the weekend as the Nevada Department of Transportation revealed travelers on State Route 160 would be facing delays due to a “special two-day filming event.” While the press release didn’t go into specifics, the Pahrump Valley Times reported the delays were related to SSC’s “world land speed record attempt for a production car.”

The paper went on to note the section of road between Las Vegas and Pahrump is a familiar stomping ground for speed records as the Koenigsegg Agera RS used the strip of highway to hit 277.9 mph (447.2 km/h) back in 2017.

SSC is staying quiet, but a tipster told us the Tuatara beat the record set by the Agera RS. The tipster didn’t say how fast the car was, but the company has previously said the model is able to hit speeds in excess of 300 mph (483 km/h).

While Bugatti hit 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) in a prototype last year, the car didn’t do an averaged two-way run as required by Guinness. However, it will be interesting to see if SSC was able to eclipse that.

As a refresher, the Tuatara has a twin-turbo 5.9-liter V8 engine that produces 1,350 hp (1,007 kW / 1,369 PS) on 91 octane fuel. However, the output climbs to a staggering 1,750 hp (1,305 kW / 1,774 PS) when running on E85.

Besides the almighty engine, the car has advanced aerodynamics and a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.279. Designer Jason Castriota has previously said the design “maintains an identical aero balance from 100 mph (161 km/h) to well over 300 mph (483 km/h), resulting in an incredibly stable and predictable car that instills absolute confidence in the driver.”

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5th-October 2020. By Kijoma Pius

What an amazing way to start the spooky season: On October 1, Alieno the maker of World’s most outrageous all-Electric Hypercar , the Arcanum revealed the full specs for the interior.

The Arcanum, officially introduced in CGI form in 2018, is the world’s most technologically advanced and high-performance all-electric vehicle, with a maximum of 5,221 horsepower on tap, a top speed of 303 mph (487.6 kph), 1,000+-mile (1,610 km) range and other, similarly-insane specs. You’re excused if the name doesn’t ring a bell: the Arcanum does not exist yet, but according to Alieno, it will do so – maybe even as early as the first quarter of 2021.

The Claims

It’s best if you sat down for this.

When it’s made (and it will be made, Alieno promises), the Arcanum will be the absolute best of everything. It will be faster, more powerful and more efficient than anything else on the market right now, whether gas-powered or electric, and more customizable and customer-friendly, too. Somehow paradoxically, it will also be winning top honors in terms of safety, because it will be “the safest car on the road.”

As noted above, the Arcanum was introduced a couple of years ago, by Alieno founder Ahmed Enchev, as the flagship model for the new company. The 5,221 hp, 8,880 Nm of torque model is the top offering in a line of similarly-specced e-hypercars, starting with the 2,610 hp RP2. That said, everything about the car is highly customizable, from the layout of the interior and the trimmings, to the way the car handles on the street or the ride-height, which is independently adjustable.
With three driving modes (Street, Race and Track), the Arcanum uses six axial flux electric motors per wheel, for a total of 24 motors that allow the driver to switch them on and off for efficiency. The owner can switch between AWD and front or rear wheel drive, according to preferences.

Range is of 1,020 km (634 miles), with a full charge achievable in as little as four minutes. This is not a typo: Alieno claims this will be possible if the future owner opts for a 2,700-kilowatt DC charging station they will build at his or her home.

Everything on the Arcanum is carbon fiber and kevlar, from the chassis to the seats and the mirrors. The design is inspired by fighter jets and Darth Vader’s helmet for the rear, while the interior takes design cues from Avatar and Prometheus. Yes, the movies.

Again, everything on the Arcanum is “robotic.” The seats are robotic, the wheel and the steering column are robotic, the suspension is robotic (and Alieno-patented), the wheels and the regenerative brakes are robotic. The car will have no less than 17 cameras, one LiDAR, 8 radars, a GPS, an IMU, a bunch of other unspecified sensors and a voice assistant called Alieno Artificial Intelligence. But you can call it The Alien, for short. Updates will be delivered over the air, via the Alieno Cloud.
For the interior, Alieno has paid close attention to other hypercars are doing wrong and set out to make those things right again. So, in addition to even more carbon fiber and kevlar, real leather and Alcantara, owners will also get 2 or 4 cup holders and a special storage space for drinks with cooling and heating options, a glovebox and even more storage space behind the front seats.

You also get adaptive LED lights, lots of screens and gadgets, but overall a comfortable, welcoming interior

The overall theme is ultra-modernism with some Sci-Fi and futuristic accents,” Chief Design Officer Encho Enchev (probably Ahmed’s brother) says of the interior. “We want our customers to feel like they are in the cockpit of a spaceship, which the car resembles, given the technologies built into it. Our inspiration for the interior comes from the cockpits of many military fights and science fiction movies such as Avatar and Prometheus.”

Pricing for the Arcanum starts at around €1.5 million ($1.75 million), which Alieno is quick to highlight is not much more expensive than current hypercar offers. Ok, so maybe those makers have been around the block once or twice, but are you really willing to let that get in the way of driving the most outrageous car on the planet?

The red Flags

Not that we really need to lay them out, but they’re there, starting from the fact that this is a no-name company out of Bulgaria, making the most astounding claims in the entire automotive industry. Reaching for the stars is always an admirable thing, but not when you’re selling unicorns.

And unicorns is probably what Alieno is building. As New Atlas points out, the location given for the production plant in Tuhovishta, Bulgaria, is a lot outside of a little village near the border with Greece that’s so isolated even Google hasn’t sent a car there for mapping since 2012. As such, it’s difficult to determine whether anything is actually happening there.

Enchev, the mastermind behind Arcanum, has experience with selling metal detectors and was once involved in a project meant to build a humanoid robot that would be similar to humans in everything from learning to social interactions. That project never amounted to anything, by the way.Even materials released officially by Alieno raise a brow or two, or a couple of pairs. This includes their videos, photos showing development at the production plant (which, so far, involves buying a lot of robots), and last but not least, their claims.

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Alieno Arcanum, the 5,221 HP Electric Hypercar That Tells a Very Tall Tale
2 October 2020, 09:09 GMT · BY ELENA GORGAN

The Alieno Arcanum hypercar is the most technologically advanced, fastest and safest e-hyper on the planet13 PHOTOS
What an amazing way to start the spooky season: on October 1, Alieno, the maker of the world’s most outrageous all-electric hypercar, the Arcanum, revealed the full specs for the interior.
The Arcanum, officially introduced in CGI form in 2018, is the world’s most technologically advanced and high-performance all-electric vehicle, with a maximum of 5,221 horsepower on tap, a top speed of 303 mph (487.6 kph), 1,000+-mile (1,610 km) range and other, similarly-insane specs. You’re excused if the name doesn’t ring a bell: the Arcanum does not exist yet, but according to Alieno, it will do so – maybe even as early as the first quarter of 2021.

The claims

It’s best if you sat down for this.

When it’s made (and it will be made, Alieno promises), the Arcanum will be the absolute best of everything. It will be faster, more powerful and more efficient than anything else on the market right now, whether gas-powered or electric, and more customizable and customer-friendly, too. Somehow paradoxically, it will also be winning top honors in terms of safety, because it will be “the safest car on the road.”

The Alieno Arcanum hypercar is the most technologically advanced, fastest and safest e\-hyper on the planet
As noted above, the Arcanum was introduced a couple of years ago, by Alieno founder Ahmed Enchev, as the flagship model for the new company. The 5,221 hp, 8,880 Nm of torque model is the top offering in a line of similarly-specced e-hypercars, starting with the 2,610 hp RP2. That said, everything about the car is highly customizable, from the layout of the interior and the trimmings, to the way the car handles on the street or the ride-height, which is independently adjustable.
With three driving modes (Street, Race and Track), the Arcanum uses six axial flux electric motors per wheel, for a total of 24 motors that allow the driver to switch them on and off for efficiency. The owner can switch between AWD and front or rear wheel drive, according to preferences.

Range is of 1,020 km (634 miles), with a full charge achievable in as little as four minutes. This is not a typo: Alieno claims this will be possible if the future owner opts for a 2,700-kilowatt DC charging station they will build at his or her home.

Everything on the Arcanum is carbon fiber and kevlar, from the chassis to the seats and the mirrors. The design is inspired by fighter jets and Darth Vader’s helmet for the rear, while the interior takes design cues from Avatar and Prometheus. Yes, the movies.

The Alieno Arcanum hypercar is the most technologically advanced, fastest and safest e\-hyper on the planet
Again, everything on the Arcanum is “robotic.” The seats are robotic, the wheel and the steering column are robotic, the suspension is robotic (and Alieno-patented), the wheels and the regenerative brakes are robotic. The car will have no less than 17 cameras, one LiDAR, 8 radars, a GPS, an IMU, a bunch of other unspecified sensors and a voice assistant called Alieno Artificial Intelligence. But you can call it The Alien, for short. Updates will be delivered over the air, via the Alieno Cloud.
For the interior, Alieno has paid close attention to other hypercars are doing wrong and set out to make those things right again. So, in addition to even more carbon fiber and kevlar, real leather and Alcantara, owners will also get 2 or 4 cup holders and a special storage space for drinks with cooling and heating options, a glovebox and even more storage space behind the front seats.

You also get adaptive LED lights, lots of screens and gadgets, but overall a comfortable, welcoming interior.

“The overall theme is ultra-modernism with some Sci-Fi and futuristic accents,” Chief Design Officer Encho Enchev (probably Ahmed’s brother) says of the interior. “We want our customers to feel like they are in the cockpit of a spaceship, which the car resembles, given the technologies built into it. Our inspiration for the interior comes from the cockpits of many military fights and science fiction movies such as Avatar and Prometheus.”


The Alieno Arcanum hypercar is the most technologically advanced, fastest and safest e\-hyper on the planet
Pricing for the Arcanum starts at around €1.5 million ($1.75 million), which Alieno is quick to highlight is not much more expensive than current hypercar offers. Ok, so maybe those makers have been around the block once or twice, but are you really willing to let that get in the way of driving the most outrageous car on the planet?
The red flags

Not that we really need to lay them out, but they’re there, starting from the fact that this is a no-name company out of Bulgaria, making the most astounding claims in the entire automotive industry. Reaching for the stars is always an admirable thing, but not when you’re selling unicorns.

And unicorns is probably what Alieno is building. As New Atlas points out, the location given for the production plant in Tuhovishta, Bulgaria, is a lot outside of a little village near the border with Greece that’s so isolated even Google hasn’t sent a car there for mapping since 2012. As such, it’s difficult to determine whether anything is actually happening there.

Enchev, the mastermind behind Arcanum, has experience with selling metal detectors and was once involved in a project meant to build a humanoid robot that would be similar to humans in everything from learning to social interactions. That project never amounted to anything, by the way.

The Alieno Arcanum hypercar is the most technologically advanced, fastest and safest e\-hyper on the planet
Even materials released officially by Alieno raise a brow or two, or a couple of pairs. This includes their videos, photos showing development at the production plant (which, so far, involves buying a lot of robots), and last but not least, their claims.
“We had to make sure we were creating a user friendly car, which is drivable,” Ivan Kirov, Chief Test Pilot and Chief Sales Officer for Alieno, said of the Arcanum. “Not only drivable, but also pleasant to drive. Easy to drive, smooth, fun, enjoyable, safe or simply flawless. Superior in every way, to what we have seen or driven so far. Just perfect. Everything in this car happens logically. The maximum acceleration is easily achievable, by anyone who buys the car. The car is the safest one on the road in any term. It is amazingly stable and maneuverable. The braking is smooth and also logical. It feels like a normal car for anyone who drives it.”

Add this to the other, equally awe-inspiring specs on the Arcanum, and you get what they mean by that old saying, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Oh, and Alieno is accepting pre-orders right now and is taking on investors.

That said, keep an eye out for January 2021, which is when the Arcanum is expected to make its debut.

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JORDAN PHILLIPS’ Rolls-Royce Cullinan wrapped in frozen violet chrome, with blackout package, custom badged, yellow accents, yellow calipers, smoked head/tail lights, on 26” Forgiato wheels. Built by: Champion Motoring

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Admit it: even if you have no intention whatsoever to buy a Cadillac pickup truck, there’s something extremely attractive about the idea of a utility vehicle from a brand that built its success on models situated closer to the luxury side of the automotive universe.

By:Kijoma Pius

https://www.facebook.com/designerpius.kijoma

It wouldn’t be the first one, though. The Cadillac Escalade EXT has done it before, filling up the narrowest of niches with a premium utility vehicle that only managed to look out of place when surrounded by either regular pickups or luxury vehicles. It was a weird model and we doubt there are too many people bemoaning the fact it’s been discontinued.

This thing, however, this would be an entirely different proposition. The Escalade EXT, as the name suggests, was pretty much the largest Cadillac SUV with a sawn-off roof over the trunk. This unnamed rendering penned by GM designer Andrew McMillan and posted on one of the company’s official Instagram pages shows a much more aggressive-looking truck with a clear penchant for performance and off-roading.

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Yes, you wouldn’t be too far off if you thought about Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor or FCA’s more recent RAM 1500 TRX. Stylistically, the virtual concept represents a bit of a departure from Cadillac’s more recent models. If anything, it seems to build on the design language launched by the Ciel concept nearly ten years ago.

Well, at the end of the day, what matters is whether the truck looks good or not, and even though you’ll never get a unanimous decision on these things, it’s safe to assume the majority will find it pretty appealing. And what’s not to like? The pentagon-shaped grille makes a comeback in style, accentuated by those huge vertical air vents either side of it. Moving further out you’ll find a pair of vertical LED light bars that would have marked the outer limits of the vehicle’s width if it weren’t for those immense wheel arches.

But they need to be big if they plan on offering enough space for the equally humongous tires. The off-road appetence is further underlined by the generous ground clearance as well as the massive skid plate dominating the lower portion of the front end.

The question on everyone’s lips at this moment must be whether this sketch previews anything real. Well, we all know the answer to that if we’re honest with ourselves, but since GM is shifting the Cadillac brand toward electricity while also coming up with an all-electric Hummer pickup, one could still hold some hope for a body swap of sorts.

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And the Volkswagen’s first electric SUV has finally arrived in America.

Volkswagen’s new electric era began last year with the launch of the Europe-only ID.3 hatchback. But the first electric Volkswagen going on sale in America will be the ID.4 crossover. Previewed by the ID. Crozz Concept back in 2017, the production ID.4 has finally been revealed for the US market to take on the Tesla Model Y.

Based on VW’s modular electric drive architecture, the ID.4’s battery pack is positioned in the underbody to create a low center of gravity and optimize the driving dynamics. At launch, the ID.4 will be offered with an 82-kWh battery and a rear-mounted AC electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. In the ID.4 1st Edition, this setup will provide a range of 250 miles based on the EPA cycle.

This falls short of the entry-level Tesla Model Y Long Range, which offers an EPA-rated 316 miles of range, 449 hp and all-wheel-drive. However, a more powerful all-wheel drive version of the ID.4 with 302 hp will launch later in 2021. To help reduce range anxiety, the ID.4 also comes with three years of fast charging with Electrify America at no extra charge.

Using a home or public Level 2While the production model shares similarities with the concept, the sloping roof is less pronounced and the concept’s sliding rear doors have been replaced with conventional ones. As a nod to VW’s heritage, the VW logo is positioned in the center like the original Beetle since there’s no grille.

Like the ID.3, the LED headlights are connected by a slim light bar, while a front bumper features large scoops and honeycomb accents. Flowing design lines and illuminated door handles give the ID.4 a futuristic look, while the rear sports a tailgate-mounted spoiler and full-width taillights. Thanks to its aerodynamic design, VW claims the ID.4 has a drag coefficient of 0.28.

In terms of dimensions, the ID.4 is 180.5 inches long, which is 4.6 inches shorter than the Volkswagen Tiguan, and has a 0.9-inch shorter wheelbase at 108.9 inches. At 64.4 inches high, it’s also 1.9 inches lower than Tiguan and 0.5 inches wider at 72.9 inches.

Six exterior colors will be available: Glacier White Metallic, Mythos Black Metallic, Moonstone Grey, Scale Silver Metallic, Blue Dusk Metallic, and King’s Red Metallic. As standard, every model comes with a body-color roof, black roof rails, and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

Equipping the Statement package adds a panoramic fixed-glass roof, premium LED projector headlights, and power-folding side mirrors with a puddle lamp signature. Upgrading to the Gradient package adds 20-inch wheels, black roof, and silver roof rails and accents.

Despite being smaller than the Tiguan, the ID.4 has a spacious interior with 99.9 cubic feet of passenger space. Front passengers can sit comfortably with 41.1 inches of legroom, while the rear compartment offers 37.6 inches of legroom. Behind the second row, the ID.4 offers 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded.

A 5.3-inch digital driver display is operated with touch-sensitive controls on the leather-wrapped multifunction heated steering wheel, while the traditional gearshift is replaced by a large rocker switch on the right of the digital display. Entry-level models get black cloth seats, while models with the Statement package feature gray or black leather seats. Entry-level models are equipped with six-way adjustable seats with power recline.

Upgrading to the Statement Package adds 12-way power seats with massage lumbar and memory, and 30-color ambient lighting.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen


A centrally-positioned 10-inch infotainment screen displays the navigation system, telematics, entertainment, driver-assists, and settings, and can be upgraded to a larger 12-inch display with the Statement package. A natural voice control system comes as standard to control different functions. For example, saying “Hello ID., I’m cold” will turn up the heat.

A light strip below the windshield called “ID. Light” boasts intuitive lighting effects in different colors and sound prompts to show when the drive system is active and when the car is unlocked or locked.

Standard comfort features include rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, keyless access, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors. All-wheel-drive models also get a standard heated windshield.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen




As for safety tech, standard driver assists include forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitor, rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping system, travel assist, and emergency assist.

Pricing for the rear-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro launching in Q1 2021 starts at $39,995 before a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 is applied, while the ID.4 AWD Pro will start at $43,695 when it goes on sale later in 2021.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen




Later this year, VW will launch the limited-run ID.4 1st Edition, which starts at $43,995 and includes the Statement and Gradient packages as standard, along with accelerator and brake pedals with “play” and “pause” logos, a steering wheel and column, radio bezel, and door island finished in Electric White, 1st Edition badging, black mirror caps, and a tow hitch.

If you prefer to lease, qualified Volkswagen Credit customers can sign up for a 36-month lease with 10,000 miles a year. This will cost $379 per month and requires $3,579 at signing, excluding tax, title, license, options, and dealer fees. charger, the ID.4’s battery can add 33 miles of range in roughly one hour and fully charge in around seven and a half hours. At a DC fast-charging station with 125 kW charging, VW estimates the battery can charge from five to 80 percent in around 38 minutes.

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The ultimate off-roader gets an ultimate body kit

North America had been starved of the Land Rover Defender for years, but the all-new model is now here and aftermarket tuners have wasted little time in coming up with their own take on the tough off-roader. Carlex Design impressed us with its Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition, and while that was an especially luxurious take on the Defender, Lumma Design has come up with something a lot brasher.

It’s been dubbed the Lumma CLR LD and the changes are pretty extensive, even for this preview of the final kit, endowing the Landy with a much more butch appearance. It continues Lumma’s love for dressing up already powerful SUVs with some of the most extreme body kits around.


Some of the immediately noticeable changes on the Defender are the bigger wheels (ranging in size from 19- to 23-inches), the prominent hood ornament, and the wheel arch extensions. These extensions broaden the Defender’s body by just over 1.5 inches. Lumma says that the added components can be fashioned from either carbon fiber or polyurethane plastic.

Other additions to the dramatic look include a roof panel that houses a pair of spotlights, air inlets that contribute to engine cooling, and LUMMA CLR LD lettering on the hood in place of the usual Defender branding.

As some customers will purchase a Defender for that badge and with no real inclination to take it off-road, Lumma will oblige with the option to fit either on- or off-road tires. For the off-road version, a raised suspension forms part of the package as well.

Although the focus was on the exterior rather than the cabin, Lumma can personalize the cabin with full leather, bespoke floor mats, and anodized aluminum pedals to impart the same sporty appeal as the outside. Further to this, Lumma is working on performance tunes and a sport exhaust system, which will endow the Defender with a more distinctive sound. The upgrades are slated for arrival in spring 2021 and Lumma says it’ll be compatible with the more powerful Defender 5.0 V8 that’s expected to join the lineup.

Back in 2003, SCL Global was founded in Armavir, Russia. The company specializes in manufacturing visual enhancement kits for premium and luxury cars, including the likes of Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes G-Class and even Porsche’s 911 Turbo S. Their headquarters cover as many as 23,142 square feet, where a team of over 40 employees go about crafting some truly outstanding aftermarket modules.

As you browse their extensive inventory, you’ll come across a couple of downright bonkers conversion packages for the 2020 models in Lexus’ RX and NX range. They pride themselves with one of the most unique grille designs you’ve ever seen. Needless to say, these damn things are absolutely bananas!

We’ll start by having a quick look at what the Lexus NX is capable of. For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to stick to a single configuration; the NX 300h Luxury AWD. It is brought to life by a 2.5-liter inline-four powerplant, with some assistance from a hybrid motor. At 5,700 rpm, the engine is capable of generating up to 194 hp, along with 152 pound-feet (206 Nm) of torque output at 4,400 revs.

Kotaro
This power is handed over to an all-wheel-drive system by means of a continuously variable transmission (CVT, for the layman). Up front, the entire structure is supported by a MacPherson strut setup, accompanied by a double wishbone suspension on the opposite end. The NX 300h crawls on a set of 18-inch aluminum wheels, hugged by P225/60HR18 tires on both ends. Each and every one of the wheels wears disc brakes, measuring 297 mm (11.7 inches) at the front and 284 mm (11.2 inches) at the rear.
SCL Global’s body kit for the NX was nicknamed Kotaro. The very first thing you will notice is that genuinely surreal grille; a collection of diagonal lines that tends to lead your eyes towards its center. Besides this outlandish entity, the Russian firm also created a sexy custom hood with a couple of openings near the windshield, as well as a new splitter and enlarged fender flares that make Lexus’ SUV look like it’s been hitting the gym lately.

At the back, you’ll find a roof spoiler and stylish trimmings around the taillights. The rear bumper was tweaked, allowing for a stealthy aftermarket exhaust system to make its way through a central opening.

On the other hand, the 2020 RX 450h AWD is put in motion by a hybrid 3.5-liter V6 mill that transmits its force to all four wheels though a CVT gearbox. This bad boy will produce up to 308 ponies at 6,000 rpm, joined by 247 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm.

Goemon
Aside from a few minor differences, RX’s chassis shares its characteristics with the aforementioned NX model. Nonetheless, it’s worth pointing out that it comes equipped with wider wheels, as well as larger brake rotors for superior stopping power.
The SCL crew refers to this package as Goemon. We see the same grille pattern from the Kotaro making an appearance this time around too. However, it is now flanked by a pair of generously-sized air inlets that aren’t featured on the NX module. Additionally, its hood is a little sharper and the splitter’s configuration appears to be slightly more complex.

Lastly, the rear end was honored with a similar spoiler layout, but prides itself with a tougher bumper setup. In comparison to its sibling’s design, the manufacturer decided to leave RX’s taillights untouched.

While I may not be a huge fan of SCL Global’s approach, I’ll have to say that I find that bizarre grille a lot more attractive than, say, the grotesque spindle nonsense that plagues Lexus’ 2021 RX model

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• Best Hybrid Car 2024 – Lexus NX350h
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Chinese automaker Hongqi will put its eye-catching E115 SUV concept from last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show into production, PC Auto reports.

The E115 SUV was designed by Gilles Taylor, a man who used to work for Rolls-Royce, and is quite an imposing thing. Dominating the front fascia is a faux grille and a large red stripe. The concept also featured huge chrome wheels, cameras in the place of traditional wing mirrors, and a rear fascia dominated by aggressive taillights connected with a thick LED light bar. The concept didn’t feature a completed interior so it’s hard to say what the cabin of the road-going model will be like.


The Hongqi E115 Concept was presented at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show
With that being said, it should be similarly high-end to the H9 and complete with a fully digital gauge cluster, a large central infotainment display, and clad in plush leather.

As you may have guessed from the lack of a front grille, the Hongqi E115 is all-electric. At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, the concept was promoted with a driving range of 373 miles (600 km) and sported a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of under 4 seconds, seriously impressive for a vehicle of this size. Details about the electric motors and battery pack bound for the production model remain unclear.

The new electric Hongqi SUV should be introduced later this year.

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• Best Hybrid Car 2024 – Lexus NX350h
• HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MERCEDES LOVERS
• Fastest Cars In The World Ranked
• CHEVROLET SILVERADO ZR2
• 2024 BMW X5, X6 M Competitions: Hybrid V-8 Promises Efficiency Boost

CADILLAC ESCALADE/ESCALADE ESV – 2021
2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE ELEVATES THE EXTRAORDINARY
Industry-first curved OLED display technology
Industry-first AKG audio technology
Segment-first available Super Cruise driver assistance technology
LOS ANGELES – Cadillac today unveiled the all-new 2021 Escalade, completely redesigned with pioneering technologies that add new dimension to the iconic luxury SUV.
Featuring exclusive, first-to-market technology advances including a curved Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen, the first AKG automotive audio system and Cadillac’s acclaimed Super Cruise driver assistance technology, the fifth-generation of Cadillac’s flagship expands on its more than 20 years of segment-defining leadership.
“There is something special about driving an Escalade,” said Steve Carlisle, Cadillac president. “It has the bold presence and exclusive technology to elevate the extraordinary and make every drive feel like an occasion.”
Launching in the third quarter this year in North America, the 2021 Escalade has been completely redesigned to deliver improved driving dynamics and significantly greater passenger and cargo capacities.
“The 2021 Escalade takes its leadership into a new era of mobility, with comprehensive upgrades that are transformative to the driving experience,” said Carlisle. ”It’s more than a new Escalade. It’s a new experience.”
SEE AND BE SEEN
Industry-first curved OLED screen technology
Augmented Reality-enabled navigation with a live forward camera view
Bold exterior and interior designs
The 2021 Escalade features OLED and camera technologies developed to enhance driver vision, while its signature design evolves and strengthens, with added layers of craftsmanship and unique appearances for Sport and Luxury models.
Industry-first curved OLED display technology
Escalade’s industry-first curved OLED display offers more than 38 inches of total diagonal display area, with twice the pixel density of a 4K television. The technology delivers bold imagery, perfect blacks and the largest color range of any automotive display in production today.
The system includes three screens: a 7.2-inch-diagonal touch control panel driver information center to the driver’s left, a 14.2-inch-diagonal cluster display behind the steering wheel and a 16.9-inch-diagonal Infotainment screen to the driver’s right. The OLED is paper-thin, and its curvature positions the displays for optimal visibility.
The vivid color and visual quality of OLED technology also eliminates the need for the common “hood” shrouding many typical in-vehicle screens, creating a brighter and less cluttered environment.
The Escalade incorporates several other advanced, vision-oriented features, including:
All-new, available Augmented Reality-enabled navigation, which uses live street views with directional overlays and more to enhance driving directions.
Surround Vision , a standard feature that employs four exterior cameras to provide a 2-megapixel bird’s-eye view of the scene around the vehicle.
An available Trailering Integration Package , which offers up to nine camera views (including rear camera guidelines) to support easier hitching. The package also includes an integrated trailer brake controller and a trailering app that offers trailer profiles, tire pressure and temperature monitoring, and an Extended Side Blind Zone Alert.
Rear Camera Mirror , an available feature that streams a rear-facing camera view on the conventional inside mirror screen.
Night Vision, an available feature that uses infrared technology to enhance forward visibility, including detection of pedestrians and large animals, projected on the center cluster display.
New rear-seat entertainment features a pair of 12.6-inch-diagonal independent touch displays with navigation as well as streaming capability to play games, music and videos through HDMI and USB inputs. The screens can also mirror Android smartphones. Additionally, destination “suggestions” can be “sent” by rear passengers to the front navigation screen, for the driver to accept or decline.
FEATURE FOCUS: NAVIGATION
Augmented Reality Navigation is a new, available feature with the 2021 Escalade’s turn-by-turn navigation. A live street view in front of the vehicle is projected on the cluster display with turn indicators and other directional information overlaid on the scene. It includes features such as direction-based audio prompts. For example, a “turn left” audio prompt comes through the left speakers to further emphasize the navigation instruction – with the volume increasing as the turn approaches.
Be seen: Escalade presence
“Escalade has always made a bold statement that says you’ve arrived,” said Therese Pinazzo, exterior design manager. “We have updated that statement for a new era, adding layers of sophistication. The goal was to create a new Escalade that is unmistakable at a glance, and then rewards you with greater details on the second or even third read.”
Escalade maintains Cadillac’s signature vertical lighting element, but the new interpretation adds a sleek, horizontal headlamp to reinforce a broad, confident stance. The tall, vertical, rear light signature continues but adds deep three-dimensional layers and finishes with detailed etching. Twenty-two-inch wheels are standard and strengthen Escalade’s bold appearance.
The added layers of detail extend to unique trim elements and grille textures. Escalade will offer Cadillac’s Sport trim for the first time, featuring a black mesh grille and black trim across the exterior. Luxury and Premium Luxury models showcase a bright Galvano finish, while Platinum models top the range, with unique interior and exterior details.
Interior Design
Escalade’s new interior design is heavily influenced by Cadillac’s Escala concept vehicle — a design that also debuted an OLED display — and breaks new ground with the first-ever Gideon Whisper Beige trim combination. This high-performance, high-fashion available interior is centered on a custom-woven fabric that adds a new level of style and ambience to the Escalade’s cabin.
“The expectations and desires of Escalade customers are factors everyone in the Cadillac design studio unequivocally understands,” said Phil Kucera, interior design manager. “This allowed us to reach greater levels of depth and detail than Escalade has ever had before.”
The new curved OLED display is the centerpiece of the interior, enabling designers to integrate and customize the entire environment, rather than simply inserting a standard rectangular screen into a conventional instrument panel. The result is a completely fresh, integrated cabin look that seamlessly blends the technology with handcrafted details.
A mix of electronic controls and physical switches offer intuitive operation of vehicle features. The OLED display includes touch-screen control for the center display, while the interior also includes a full-feature rotary dial controller and steering wheel controls. Additional touches include stainless-steel speaker grilles, intricate piping on the door panels and ambient lighting with a wide range of color choices.
The interior is further distinguished by no less than eight color and trim choices, which include unique seat designs, with custom perforation and quilting patterns.
FEATURE FOCUS: SOFT-CLOSE DOORS
With this available feature, an electric motor pulls each door closed to its primary position, after it has been closed over its secondary latch position, eliminating hard door slams.
HEAR AND BE HEARD
Industry-first AKG audio technology, led by a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference system
Conversation Enhancement using microphones and AKG speakers for front- and rear-passenger communication
Intuitive audio navigation prompts indicating distance and direction instructions
Sound creates and heightens experiences. In the 2021 Escalade, that sense is elevated with the professional studio sound of AKG audio systems.
Industry-first AKG audio technology
Known worldwide for microphones and headphones used by leading musicians in recording studios and live venues, AKG has brought its audio technology to the auto industry for the first time, exclusively for Cadillac.
The result is the Escalade’s available AKG Studio Reference system, 36 speakers powered by three amplifiers that deliver 28 channels, offering a listening experience that is astonishingly crisp and immersive. A standard AKG Studio system includes 19 speakers and a large enclosed subwoofer, powered by a 14-channel amplifier.
FAST FACT: AKG ORIGINS
AKG was founded in Vienna in 1947 by physicist Dr. Rudolf Goerike and engineer Ernst Pless; and the company quickly grew into one of the most prominent in sound technology.
In addition to its crisp sound output, AKG technology enables additional advanced features in the Escalade, including:
Studio 3D Surround creates professional-level sound through the multichannel audio system, with strategically placed speakers finely tuned to deliver sound like being with the artist in the recording studio. Additional speakers in the headliner help create a 360-degree immersive listening experience.
Conversation Enhancement . Vehicle communication is enhanced for front and rear passengers as their voices are captured by embedded microphones and reproduced in the designated zone using the 36-speaker system.
Audio Rendering for navigation. Turn-by-turn navigation instructions are more intuitive with audio prompts coming exclusively from the audio system’s left- or right-hand speakers, with the prompt moving nearer to the driver as the turn gets closer.
Front Passenger Volume Control . The front-seat passenger can take charge of his or her personal audio experience, with a dedicated volume control for each front seat (included with the Studio Reference system).

MOVE AND BE MOVED
Super Cruise driver assistance technology, a segment-first
Significant gains in second- and third-row seating space, and added cargo space
Enhanced driving dynamics with a new independent rear suspension and available Magnetic Ride Control, Air Ride Adaptive Suspension and Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD)
Confident performance with advanced chassis technologies, a more spacious interior and leading driver-assistance technologies coalesce to offer an enhanced driving experience.
Super Cruise
The 2021 Escalade enters the future of mobility as the first full-size SUV with Super Cruise driver assistance technology. It enables hands-free driving on more than 200,000 miles of compatible highways in the United States and Canada, using LiDAR map data, high-precision GPS, a state-of-the-art driver attention system and a network of cameras and radar sensors.
The 2021 Escalade features an enhanced Super Cruise system with several new features and improvements, including automated lane change. Automated lane change will allow the driver to direct the system to perform a single lane change using the turn signal to indicate the direction of the desired move.
Super Cruise’s driver attention system helps keep drivers engaged by detecting and signaling when drivers need to pay more attention to the road; and recent technology enhancements include dynamic lane offset, which can adjust the Escalade slightly over in its lane for driver comfort when other vehicles are passing in close proximity. Additionally, new messaging on the driver information center alerts drivers when Super Cruise may not be available in certain instances.
More room to move
The 2021 Escalade offers more room for passengers and their cargo. A new architecture and new chassis technologies have significantly expanded interior space, offering 40 percent more third-row legroom (34.9 inches / 886 mm) and a 68 percent increase in maximum cargo space behind the third row (25.5 cubic feet / 722 liters) in the standard-length model.
The dramatic increases in passenger and cargo space are due primarily to a longer wheelbase and longer overall vehicle length, compared to the previous model, as well as a new independent rear suspension, which enables a lower interior floor — features that not only expand the Escalade’s roominess, but improve comfort by allowing easier access to the second and third rows, as well as creating a more natural seating position for third-row occupants.
Third-row legroom increases more than 10 inches, giving Escalade one of the roomiest third rows in the segment, while the lower floor and increased vehicle length allow cargo space to expand.
“Escalade’s new architecture enables a unique series of wins for drivers and passengers,” said Tim Herrick, vice president for global product programs. “We greatly increased passenger space, expanded cargo carrying capability – and at the same time delivered significant enhancements to both ride quality and handling performance.”
Isolated precision
The most spacious Escalade ever is complemented with new and enhanced chassis technologies intended to deliver a responsive, precise driving experience that offers exceptional isolation from the road. Contributing elements include:
An all-new independent rear suspension fundamentally transforms the driving dynamics of the Escalade, allowing each rear wheel to handle road conditions separately to dramatically enhance ride quality, steering responsiveness and overall driver control.
Cadillac’s signature Magnetic Ride Control , the world’s fastest reacting suspension technology, continues for Escalade. It uses sensors to continually “read” the road and alter the damping rate of the shocks almost instantly. It reacts much faster than computer-controlled shock absorbers to reduce vertical body motion, body roll and vibrations that can often resonate in a large SUV.
New Air Ride Adaptive Suspension is available as a new system that combines with Magnetic Ride Control. The Air Suspension delivers automatic load-leveling and ride-height adjustments continuously at all four wheels. In highway driving, the system automatically lowers the ride height to improve aerodynamics; and a driver-selectable setting lowers the suspension 2 inches (51 mm) to aid passenger entry and exit when the vehicle is parked. Drivers can also raise the body for additional ground clearance when driving off-road.
An electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) is available, offering more precise traction and power engagement for the rear wheels. Its infinitely variable clutch engagement delivers torque to the wheel with the most traction, including cornering and wet weather conditions.
Escalade’s available and unique combination of Magnetic Ride Control, Air Ride Adaptive Suspension and eLSD offers exceptional body control and remarkable agility for a vehicle of its scale. Four-wheel drive is available on all models.
FEATURE FOCUS: INDEPENDENT THINKING
Escalade’s new multilink independent rear suspension is composed of three lateral arms, a large longitudinal arm, coil springs and a robust stabilizer bar, all of which enable the ride sophistication and isolating characteristics typically associated with smaller vehicles but scaled for the superior capability requirements of a full-size luxury SUV.
Power to move you
Confidence-inspiring performance remains a hallmark of the 2021 Escalade, with a new 6.2L V-8 engine offered as standard. With variable valve timing, stop/start and Dynamic Fuel Management technologies, it balances performance — 420 horsepower (313 kW) — with comparative efficiency.
For the first time ever, the Escalade is also offered with an available 3.0L turbo-diesel engine, which is designed to produce strong torque across the power band for confident performance and trailering capability. In fact, its 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of peak torque matches the 6.2L V-8.
Both engines are matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift control; and a trailering package is standard on all models. An enhanced trailering experience is offered with the available Trailering Integration Package.
COMING THIS SUMMER
The all-new 2021 Escalade goes on sale in late-2020 in North America, with availability in other regions to follow. It is manufactured at GM’s Arlington, Texas assembly facility, which has received more than $1.4 billion in investments since 2015. The Arlington plant employs approximately 4,800 hourly and salaried personnel, and was recently upgraded with a new paint shop, body shop and additional assembly quality improvements to support the production of new SUVs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Tara Kuhnen at 313.530.1143 or email tara.kuhnen@cadillac.com.
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* Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather, and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle’s owner’s manual for more important feature limitations and information.
About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at
http://www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at Weird cars data source

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