- Today in Cars
- Posts
- BMW Shatters Record, Huge Nissan Recall, Lucid Tops Porsche
BMW Shatters Record, Huge Nissan Recall, Lucid Tops Porsche
PLUS: Subaru's mad twin-turbo, SRT is back, 1625hp Koenigsegg
2025-07-07
🚙
Releases & Reviews
The tri-motor Lucid Air Sapphire delivers a staggering 1,234 horsepower (921 kW) and 1,430 lb-ft (1,939 Nm) of torque, enabling a record-tying 1.9-second 0-60 mph sprint. It proves faster than its Porsche rival at higher speeds, completing the quarter-mile in 9.1 seconds at 155 mph (249 km/h).
In their review, savagegeese finds the new E53 plug-in hybrid has a dual personality. The inline-six and electric motor produce a combined 577 horsepower (430 kW), but its complex brake-by-wire system feels inconsistent in daily driving, detracting from an otherwise capable and fast performance sedan.
📈
Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Over 440,000 Nissan and Infiniti models from 2019-2024 with VC-Turbo engines are being recalled due to defective bottom-end bearings. The issue, affecting the main, A-, C-, and L-link bearings, can lead to gradual engine damage and eventual failure.
With the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ending, this analysis argues the transition to electric vehicles will slow but not stop. The author believes the core appeal of EVs—their superior driving dynamics, reliability, and lower operating costs—will ensure their long-term success despite policy changes.
🛞
Car Culture
A drive in the official Aston Martin F1 Safety and Medical cars reveals they are remarkably close to their road-going versions. Despite this, they are pushed to their absolute limits during a race weekend, with the 5,100-pound (2,313 kg) DBX707 Medical Car needing a full-throttle launch.
Doug DeMuro explores the iconic 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 300D, a car celebrated for its mechanical simplicity and incredible longevity. Its 3.0-liter 5-cylinder turbo-diesel engine produced just 125 horsepower (93 kW) and 180 lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque, focusing on durability over performance.
🔧
Miscellaneous
The new BMW M2 CS has claimed the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for a compact car with a time of 7:25.5. The achievement is thanks to its twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six, now producing 523 horsepower (390 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque.
The new Ferrari Amalfi, successor to the Roma, rectifies a major critique by reintroducing physical buttons to its steering wheel. While its 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 gets a modest power bump to 631 horsepower (471 kW), the biggest improvement is a more user-friendly and tactile interior.
🏁
Quick Links
This stylish Swedish wagon offers a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter turbo with 247 horsepower (184 kW), but its aging technology and premium price make it a tougher sell against more modern German competitors.
A look back at the wildly complex sequential twin-turbo EJ20 flat-four from the 1990s Japanese-market Legacy, which produced up to 276 horsepower (206 kW) but was plagued by an infamous mid-range torque dip.
This limited-edition, track-focused Jesko variant features a twin-turbo V8 making 1,300 horsepower (970 kW) on pump gas, enhanced aero for 20% more downforce, and is limited to just 30 exclusive examples.
The range-topping F-350 Platinum Plus impresses with a 6.7-liter High Output Power Stroke diesel producing 500 horsepower (373 kW) and 1,200 lb-ft (1,627 Nm) of torque, offering surprising luxury rivaling high-end German sedans.
TheStraightPipes reviews their heavily modified Fiat 500 Abarth project car, which now makes an estimated 250 horsepower (187 kW) and offers a thrilling, if occasionally sketchy, driving experience after years of troubleshooting.
NHTSA has opened a new investigation into nearly 300,000 Dodge Darts after a 2019 recall failed to fix faulty shifter cable bushings, which can detach and potentially cause the car to roll away unexpectedly.
A July 9 deadline looms for new trade deals, potentially triggering higher tariffs on imported vehicles from the EU, Japan, and South Korea, with Japanese cars facing a possible 25 percent rate if no agreement is reached.
Apple's new F1 film, starring Brad Pitt, features a familiar underdog plot but is elevated by unprecedented access to the real F1 grid and remarkable on-track footage captured by compact, high-powered cameras.
Stellantis is reviving its SRT performance division under the leadership of Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who plans to unite engineers from all American brands to lead motorsports initiatives and develop new high-performance vehicles.
Reply