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- M2 CS Hits Track, 1M-car recall, Paul Walker’s Evo Sale
M2 CS Hits Track, 1M-car recall, Paul Walker’s Evo Sale
PLUS: Rivian R2 Details, RWD Malibu SS, Infiniti Manual Sedan?!
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2025-11-07
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Releases & Reviews
On a rain‑soaked track, the M2 CS feels playful yet composed, rotating on throttle and settling cleanly as grip returns. Its turbo inline‑six and rear‑drive layout deliver classic BMW feedback, while the $108,000 price underscores its track‑day focus.
Cadillac’s dual‑motor Optiq‑V claims 519 hp (387 kW) and 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds, but that headline number is unlocked only in short‑duration Velocity Max mode. With substantial chassis upgrades, it’s quick and composed, yet the power delivery and feel leave some questioning whether it earns the coveted V badge.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Tremec engineered a six‑speed manual transaxle that bolts to the C8’s existing TR‑9080 DCT mounting points, paving the way for manual‑swapped Corvettes. Rated for 1000 hp (746 kW), 800 lb‑ft (1,085 Nm) and an 8,600‑rpm input, it lacks pricing, timing, and the software needed to appease the factory electronics.
Honda plans to design a brand‑new internal‑combustion engine in 2025, a notable pivot as U.S. EV demand cools and federal incentives fluctuate. With more automakers leaning into hybrids, Honda’s move underscores that efficient gasoline engines remain central to near‑term product strategy, supplying the thermal half of future hybrid powertrains.
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Car Culture
Bonhams will auction eight screen‑used cars November 21–28 from France’s Movie Cars Central Museum, headlined by Paul Walker’s 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII from 2 Fast 2 Furious. Built by Craig Lieberman, the first of four stunt cars packs 330 hp (246 kW) and crosses the block with no reserve.
Jason Cammisa pits three 2000s legends—the E90 M3, B7 RS4, and W204 C63 AMG—against today’s CT4‑V Blackwing on Hagerty. He dissects steering feel, braking consistency, and drivetrain character, contrasting high‑revving, naturally aspirated V8 charisma with the modern car’s turbo torque, chassis polish, and data‑driven lap consistency.
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Miscellaneous
Over 1 million vehicles are being recalled for a rearview camera fault that can leave the display black. Affected models include 2022–2026 Toyota and Lexus vehicles and 2023–2025 Subaru Solterra equipped with panoramic view monitor and park assist; owners should receive notices by mid‑December with repair details.
Ford is rolling out a new dealership template that swaps sales cubicles for a hotel‑lobby vibe, with lounge spaces, flexible showrooms, and heavy digital merchandising. The concept centers on “Hospitality First,” aiming to make service and sales feel like a tech‑brand experience while standardizing future Ford store architecture.
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Quick Links
Debuting November 14, the lightest, most driver-focused Continental GT arrives as Bentley signals its first EV reveal next year for 2027 deliveries and admits full electrification may slip beyond 2035.
Rumored to pair a twin-turbo V6 with a manual gearbox, the U.S.-bound sedan will badge Nissan’s next Skyline as an Infiniti, likely rear-wheel drive, with design cues hinted by global design chief Alfonso Albaisa.
Highlights include Toyota's bZ Time Attack, a 1,000 hp (746 kW) Infiniti QX80 R‑Spec, Hoonigan’s new Gymkhana racer, Ringbrothers’ Kingpin Mustang, and a wild Mopar concept among thousands of builds across Las Vegas’s cavernous halls.
Rivian details a rear-mounted energy management control module integrating the inverter and other hardware, a new battery cell design, and bi-directional charging, with R2 customer deliveries still slated for the first half of 2026.
Early U.S. drives show the single‑motor variant feels lighter and goes farther than the dual‑motor’s 280 miles (451 km), while pricing starts at $57,800 and the coupe‑SUV’s camera‑based rear view proves usable in daily traffic.
Amid softer EV demand outside China, Mazda has reportedly deprioritized the rotary‑assisted Iconic SP battery‑electric sports car for production, tempering earlier optimism despite designers’ insistence the concept was more than an empty showpiece.
How hard is it to be the boss of BMW M in 2025, and what's happening with the M3 EV? (6 minute read)
BMW M chief Frank van Meel says inflation, parts costs, and EV targets make affordable M cars harder to approve.
A provocative analysis argues GM could revive sedan sales by introducing a rear‑drive Malibu SS, signaling a broader pivot from an SUV‑heavy lineup as the company reassesses EV timing and seeks enthusiast credibility.
CEO Frank‑Steffen Walliser says new combustion‑powered Bentleys are coming even as the brand delays a full‑EV lineup to 2035 and beyond, emphasizing customer choice alongside a first EV reveal next year and hybrid options.
Doug DeMuro explains why the 986 Boxster remains a smart buy, praising mid‑engine balance, analog steering feel, and practicality while cautioning shoppers to verify maintenance history and common fixes like the IMS bearing.
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