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- GTD Best Ever?, New R1S Quad, Jaguar Boss Fired
GTD Best Ever?, New R1S Quad, Jaguar Boss Fired
PLUS: Ferrari vs Lambo Battle, Lexus Supercar, G-Class Cabrio
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Releases & Reviews
Ford's $330,000 GTD represents the ultimate street-legal Mustang, featuring a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 producing 815 horsepower (608 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. Designed as an unrestricted version of the GT3 race car, it successfully lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes. While it achieves muscle car perfection, it doesn't quite reach the supercar territory occupied by similarly-priced Ferrari and McLaren competitors.
Doug DeMuro provides an exhaustive review of Rivian's updated R1S Quad Motor, showcasing the electric SUV's remarkable versatility across various driving scenarios. The revised model demonstrates impressive capability in both daily driving and demanding off-road conditions, while maintaining the premium features and technology that define the brand. Despite its substantial size and performance, the R1S proves surprisingly practical for everyday use.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Hyundai is investing $817 million in a new Future Mobility Battery Campus in South Korea, dedicated to real-world quality and durability testing of battery packs before mass production. The facility will enable development of next-generation high-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. This substantial commitment underscores the Korean automaker's confidence in electrification and its focus on battery technology advancement.
Oxfordshire-based YASA has achieved an unofficial world record for electric motor power density with its revolutionary in-wheel design producing over 1,000 horsepower (746 kW) while weighing just 28 pounds (12.7 kg). The company claims this breakthrough technology generates such effective regenerative braking that rear brakes may become unnecessary. YASA's founder describes the innovation as potentially bringing "a step change" to performance electric vehicle development.
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Car Culture
Porsche Classic is reissuing iconic interior fabrics including Pasha, Pepita, and various tartan designs to combat the flood of inferior reproductions in the restoration market. The company emphasizes maintaining original quality standards, as most enthusiasts seek to restore their classic Porsches to factory-original specifications. This initiative addresses a significant gap for owners of historic and modern classic Porsche models.
In May 1994, three French members of the Les Mousquetaires Morgan owners' club completed an epic 90-day journey around the world in their vintage British sports cars. The remarkable adventure took them through Russia, China, and the United States, among other countries, in vehicles most would consider wholly unsuitable for such an expedition. Morgan has now published a short documentary film chronicling this extraordinary feat of automotive endurance.
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Miscellaneous
Long-time Jaguar Land Rover design executive Gerry McGovern was reportedly escorted from the office earlier this week, following widespread criticism of the brand's controversial rebrand and Type 00 concept. The firing comes less than a week after former JLR CEO Adrian Mardell's retirement, suggesting significant upheaval at the luxury automaker. Jaguar has refused to comment on McGovern's departure, though multiple outlets have confirmed the reports.
YouTube engine teardown specialist Eric Berg has obtained and analyzed a failed twin-turbo V6 from a current-generation Tundra with just 38,000 miles (61,000 km), challenging Toyota's official explanation for the widespread failures. Toyota has issued two recalls affecting over 200,000 vehicles, attributing the engine grenading to manufacturing debris in oiling passages. Berg's detailed examination of the catastrophically failed V35A-FTS engine raises serious questions about the automaker's stated root cause.
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Quick Links
Top Gear tests three naturally-aspirated V12 supercars in a performance and sound comparison to determine which exotic delivers the ultimate driving experience.
Audi and BMW are developing body-on-frame SUVs to compete with the G-Wagen and Defender, with both models expected to arrive by 2029 and built on existing architectures.
Lotus will introduce a plug-in hybrid Eletre SUV with over 900 horsepower (671 kW) early next year, walking back its commitment to go fully electric.
Ford sold 4,207 Mustangs in November compared to just 4,247 total EVs across all electric models, highlighting a sharp divergence in consumer demand as tax credits disappear.
Toyota's new GR GT supercar will debut Friday alongside a Lexus-badged equivalent and a track-only variant, marking the return of the LFA successor.
The redesigned 2027 Seltos adopts styling cues from Kia's larger Telluride, bringing premium design elements to the brand's affordable subcompact SUV segment.
The refreshed Terrain AT4 adds more off-road capability than its predecessor but maintains the same powertrain, limiting its performance on challenging trails despite improved ruggedness.
Mercedes-Benz released official camouflaged photos of the upcoming G-Class Cabriolet testing in Austria, with the convertible luxury off-roader expected after spring following winter testing.
The Forester Wilderness proved capable on moderate trails but became high-sided on larger obstacles, demonstrating the limits of its off-road upgrades in the compact SUV segment.
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