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Manual Z4 Reigns, Solar Paint Gives Powers, CLK DTM Sale
PLUS: Road-legal 963, W1 in the Snow, Hybrid 911 Turbo spy
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2025-04-28
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Releases & Reviews
BMW’s late-arriving “Handschalter” package pairs the Z4 M40i’s familiar 382 hp (285 kW), 369 lb-ft (501 Nm) turbo inline-six with a newly tuned six-speed, plus retuned dampers and throttle mapping. The bespoke linkage feels classic BMW - notchy yet satisfying - making the roadster livelier than its Supra sibling.
VW’s facelifted Mk8.5 GTI drops the manual but keeps its playful edge: the 241 hp (180 kW), 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) EA888 still drives the front wheels through a sharper-shifting seven-speed DSG, while revised LED nose styling, real steering-wheel buttons, and a 12.9-inch infotainment system cure previous complaints.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Mercedes R&D is testing wafer-thin photovoltaic “paintwork” able to harvest up to 8,699 miles (14,000 km) of annual charge—about 24 miles (39 km) per sunny day—thanks to 20 % efficient cells embedded in the clearcoat. Paired with cell-level micro-converters, the concept could support constant 800 V output and bidirectional charging.
Reuters says Toyota is weighing a partial stake in a proposed ¥6 trillion (~$42 billion) take-private of Toyota Industries, the forklift and RAV4 builder in which it already holds 24 %. Going private could unwind cross-shareholdings and streamline governance across the sprawling keiretsu, sources claim.
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Car Culture
Theon Design’s first U.S. commission reimagines a 1990 Porsche 964 with a carbon-fiber body, dropping curb weight to 2,540 lb (1,152 kg) and adding a 4.0-liter flat-six pushing 405 hp (302 kW) and 324 lb-ft (439 Nm) through a 993 RS six-speed. The 17-inch Fuchs, adaptive dampers and $590,000 build cost underline its bespoke allure.
One of just 80 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM Cabriolets is heading to Villa d’Este: the 5.4-liter supercharged V8 dishes 582 hp (434 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), good for 186 mph (300 km/h). Broad Arrow expects €420-550 k (~$478-625 k) for the carbon-paneled, ceramic-braked four-seat rocket.
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Miscellaneous
Pope Francis’ funeral procession eschewed traditional armored papal limos for a fourth-gen Ram 1500 fitted with an open-air platform and canopy, reflecting his preference for humble, people-focused transport. The improvised Popemobile carried his cedar coffin past some 250,000 mourners en route to Santa Maria Maggiore.
An America’s Most Wanted-built Jeep Gladiator with a 707 hp (527 kW), 650 lb-ft (882 Nm) Hellcat V8, Dana axles and 40-inch tires just sold on Bring a Trailer for $124,500-an $80,495 haircut from its $204,995 build sticker-illustrating the steep depreciation of extreme aftermarket rigs.
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Quick Links
A shadowy video teaser hints Stuttgart may homologate its WEC-winning 963, pairing a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 with a 67 hp (50 kW) hybrid assist, for a June debut as Porsche’s most extreme road car yet.
A 2026 Los Angeles rollout will see VW’s seven-seat ID Buzz robotaxis-equipped with Moia’s lidar-laden self-driving stack-join Uber after 2024 safety-driver trials, with the automaker targeting thousands of vans across multiple U.S. cities within a decade.
A Tesla executive says production of a sub-$30,000 entry model-likely a de-contented Model Y built on current lines-begins in June, though the company warns the volume ramp will be slow despite shared tooling with the 2025 refresh.
New DOT guidance keeps mandatory crash-reporting but extends previously foreign-only safety exemptions to U.S. AV companies, with Secretary Sean Duffy saying lighter red tape is vital to out-innovate China and craft one national standard.
Engineers drifted the 1,258 hp (938 kW) W1 hypercar on Arctic ice to fine-tune traction control, torque vectoring and its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8-hybrid powertrain that launches from 0–124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.8 seconds.
Maryland’s new round-the-clock work-zone cameras mailed 48,000 citations-including 23 top-tier $1,000 penalties for drivers at least 40 mph (64 km/h) over the limit-sparking debate over 24/7 enforcement even when no construction workers are present.
A Nürburgring mule wearing mandatory hybrid decals confirms Porsche’s 2026 911 Turbo will gain the Carrera GTS T-Hybrid setup-3.6-liter boxer, electric turbo and 1.9 kWh 400 V battery-pushing output well beyond today’s 572 hp (427 kW) baseline.
Chery’s AiMOGA humanoid greeter-powered by ‘CheryGPT’ natural-language AI and bionic limbs-will roam Malaysian showrooms, dancing, gesturing and parroting vintage sales patter in a bid to modernize dealerships yet ironically automate the pushy salesperson experience.
On his eponymous channel, Chris Harris drifts the 800 hp (597 kW) Ferrari 296 GTS around Anglesey, praising its hybrid V6 punch, 0-124 mph (200 km/h) in 7.9 seconds pace and roof-off engagement despite a 70 kg stiffening penalty.
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