Filmmaker Recreates The Original Gran Turismo Using RC Cars: Video

It’s hard to imagine where all the years have gone, but the truth is, we’re approaching 19 years since the first Gran Turismo video game burst into the scene back in December 1997. I don’t know about you, but nostalgia kicks in every time I remember what it was like playing the original Gran Turismo on the first Sony PlayStation. Considering how big the franchise has become, it’s no surprise that others share in my sentiment, including French filmmaker Alexandre Synger, who went over and above what you’d expect from an OG Gran Turismo fan by actually recreating specific scenes from the game, including the opening sequence, using radio-controlled cars.

The video you’ll see is an incredible depiction of the original Gran Turismo, right down to the cars – it’s the Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak! – and the open-world environment. Synger went all-out with this video, going so far as to recreate the menu screens and the car selection process using the same RC cars. Best of all, they’re all incredibly accurate!

It’s a worthwhile watch for old school fans of the original Gran Turismo video game. And once you’re done, take some time and look for some of Synger’s other works. He’s also recreated numerous chase scenes from the Fast and Furious movie franchise he even has one for the Pod Racer sequence from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It may be the worst of all the Star Wars movies, but watching Synger’s recreation of the scene is actually pretty awesome too.

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New Limited-Edition Watch from Omologato Pays Tribute to Porsche 917

A while back I did a piece about what I consider to be the 10 coolest motorsport-inspired watches you can buy. The list included some fine timekeepers, but it looks like I might have to update it to include Omologato’s new, limited-edition timepiece, which pays tribute to the iconic Porsche 917 race car.

Although Omologato isn’t the first company to build a 917-inspired watch — BRM’s BT-12 46 Gulf is pretty neat (and expensive) — this new release pays tribute to the what is arguably the most iconic example of the race car. Not including the Gulf-painted mock-up featured in Steve McQueen’s "Le Mans" movie, that is. Specifically, Omologato’s timepiece takes inspiration from the No. 23 Porsche Salzburg version that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1970.

This is visible in the red, while, and black color scheme based on the livery of the actual car, as well as the three small dials. The one on the left is red, the center dial is finish in red with white stripes, just like the car’s front hood, while the one on the right is white and features the famous number 23. The 22mm black Italian leather strap has Guards Red stitching, while the 43mm face comes in a matte-finished frame with chrome accents, and a "917" insignia at the bottom.

The watch is powered by a Japanese Quartz movement of which Omologato says it delivers the "desirable level of precision, reliability and accuracy that only comes with the very best watches." The 917-inspired timepiece is limited to only 200 examples and each will be sold with an ownership certificate, together with a bespoke case. Those who pre-order can choose the number of their watch. Speaking of orders, the timekeeper costs only £339, an affordable sticker given the specifications (also due to the fact that Omologato is a new brand, being established in 2015. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2017.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Is this what LeMans Racers of 2030 Will Look Like?

The Michelin Challenge Design has been going on ever since 2002 when designers from around the world were challenged to design a car that would fit in with Italy. Since then, the challenge has focused on other locations like China, California, France, and Germany. Other years including the design of electric cars (2010) and Mobility for All (2016.) For 2017, however, Michelin and Automobile Club de I’Quest challenged entrants to design a car that would win Le Mans in the year 2030 and, as expected, the creativity of some of the designs is out of this world.

There was a total of 1,600 entries for this challenge, of which Michelin has showcased the top 20 that you see here. First place went to Tao Ni of Wuhu, China and his “Infiniti Le Mans 2030.” Second place went to Daniel Bacelar Pereira of Vila Real, Portugal, and his “Bentley 9 Plus Michelin Battery Slick. Third place goes to the Cierzo C1 that was submitted by Kurt Scanlan from Toronto, Canada. Of course, all of the designs were nothing short of amazing, but you can’t award first place to everyone.

Thom Roach, Vice President of OEM marketing for Michelin North America, said, “The winners of our 2017 Michelin Challenge Design presented numerous highly innovative features for the Le Mans race in the year 2030 and the quality of work from this year’s entries was truly outstanding. We congratulate the winners for their thought-provoking, visually captivating designs for the world’s greatest endurance race, Le Mans 24 Hours.”

The jury that was tasked with choosing the absolute best designs was comprised of some of the brightest minds in the automotive world and included people like, Damien Michelin of Michelin North America; Chris Chapman, Chief Designer for Hyundai America Technical Center; Dave Marek, Acura Global Creative Director for Honda R&D Americas; and Richard Plavetich, General Manager of Design Business for Nissan Design America; among others from BMW, GM, Ford, and PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Of the Top 20 designs, first, second, and third place will be invited to Michelins stand at the North American International Auto Show where they will be recognized and will participate in a private portfolio review. The first-place winner will also be recognized at the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

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American Muscle To Give Away Track-Ready Mustang, F-150 Raptor, and Aluminum Trailer

Ford Mustang and F-150 enthusiasts likely know American Muscle. It’s a huge aftermarket parts supplier with add-on parts ranging from cosmetic bits to full crate engines ready for a project car. Well, the retailer is throwing a huge give-away with one lucky winner taking home a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, an 850-horsepower Mustang, and an aluminum race trailer stocked full of tools and race tires!

At the heart of the package is the highly tuned Mustang. This current-gen car has a Whipple supercharger sitting on its modified 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 that makes 850 horsepower at the crank and just over 725 horsepower at the rear wheels. It comes painted in a custom Tangerine Orange paint with a unique styling package. It rides on upgraded wheels and tires that can be swapped out for the drag slicks and skinnies found on the trailer. All told, this one-off Mustang has more than $30,000 worth of aftermarket parts bolted on.

Towing duties are given to a 2017 F-150 Raptor SuperCab. It comes untouched from the factory in Blue Flame paint with the optional Black Graphics Package. American Muscle didn’t have to do anything to the Raptor’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 since it makes an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The 35-inch-tall BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires and 10-spoke wheels reamain. The Raptor’s 6,000-pound towing capacity should be more than enough to pull the Mustang and aluminum trailer to the track.

Speaking of the trailer, it comes equipped with drag radials for the Mustang’s rear axle and skinnies for the front. It also has a full assortment of tools a race team might need in the pits.

This is perhaps the most comprehensive give-away package we’ve ever seen, so be sure to enter to win. You can enter weekly until November 11, 2016. The winner will be announced on November 25.

Continue reading for more information.

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Henrik Fisker Teases New Car With Butterfly Doors

Earlier this month, Henrik Fisker announced that he was launching Fisker Inc – an all-new car company that will (hopefully) be more successful than the original Fisker Automotive that bankrupt years back. As part of the announcement, Fisker claimed that he was working on an all-new “luxury EV sedan” that will boast a 400-mile range and take on the Tesla Model S. There are also plans for a compact EV sedan to take on the Tesla Model 3. It’s really hard to take Fisker’s word for it considering the way his first car company failed so badly, but Fisker recently posted a teaser image on Twitter, and it looks like we should probably take the man seriously.

As is the usual case with teaser images, we can’t get the whole picture, but the car is boasting butterfly doors in the front and rear. The roof looks to slope downward fairly gently, similar to that of the new Porsche Panamera. Ahead of the front doors, there could be a small fender vent, but with the doors open and the picture shadowed it’s hard to tell – that could simply be the opening in the body for the front door. To the front, it looks like the front fascia is as dominating as the front wheel arches. There are two small wings on the fascia just ahead of the front wheels and an LED strip accenting the fenders.

Fisker claims that this new EV will be a “spiritual successor” to the Karma and from what we can see, that could be the case. The front and rear overhangs are a little shorter than that of the original Karma, but this car certainly has an elegant silhouette against that sunset. IT does look like the car will ride rather low to the ground and sport large wheels with thin tires. The rear taillights also look to come in LED form. Fisker claims that more will be announced next week, so stay tuned for updates.

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Mercedes-AMG GT by Dime Racing

Mercedes’ lineup of AMG GT sports cars come with enough varieties that customers shouldn’t have issues picking which of these versions suit them best. Even after they’ve already chosen among the AMG GT, GT S, GT R, or the GT C Roadster, the possibilities for customization are also available at their beck and call. Tuners like Mansory, RennTech, Piecha Design, and Brabus all have programs available for different versions of the AMG GT. It’s dandy that the sports car receivers so much aftermarket love because another tuner, U.S.-based Dime Racing, is also set to offer its own tuning kit for the Mercedes sports car. Even better, the kit comes with an actual watch.

Dime actually doesn’t have the actual kit prepared yet, but it is a legitimate AMG racing and tuning outfit with an SLS AMG competing in the Pirelli World Challenge. So even without the product, Dime is promising massive upgrades to the AMG GT that, once completed, will feature, among other things 745 horsepower to play with. That’s more than what Mansory’s 720-horsepower offer for the same sports car. Pretty intriguing, right?

Not surprisingly, Dime is limiting the program to just 100 units per year, ensuring top-notch quality for each model it builds. It’s also announced a price of $150,200 for each program, which presumably already includes the donor car itself. That includes “bumper-to-bumper” warranty so those who end up with a Dime-tuned AMG GT can take comfort knowing their car is covered in the event of a mishap or two. Apparently, the first batch of cars are all reserved, which is a remarkable act of faith considering that the whole kit is not yet finished.

Oh, and about that watch. The tuner is also offering a personalized Växjö that comes with machine serial numbers with the car and will come directly from former Formula One driver and 1997 Le Mans winner Stefan Johansson.

It’s a tantalizing offer, but unlike those who already put the money down on reservations, I’d like to see the actual finished product first before making any judgments on what Dime Racing is offering.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Mercedes-AMG GT by Dime Racing.

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Audi Forced to Drop Tech Projects in Aftermath of Dieselgate

It doesn’t matter which brand you’re talking about – the Dieselgate scandal has rocked every single branch of the Volkswagen family tree. The latest to take a hit is Audi, as a recent report from Reuters outlines a variety of projects sidelined by the beleaguered automaker in an attempt to cut back on spending.

Citing unnamed sources from within Audi, Reuters says the Four Ring brand is pausing development of a new test track for autonomous vehicle research, as well as stopping construction of new production facilities slated to build upcoming concept cars and batteries for electric vehicles. Audi is also halting projects for its Ingolstadt-based “IN-Campus” technology park.

To make matters worse, Audi’s work council is expressing displeasure with the automaker’s recent efforts to move production beyond German borders, including plans to build all-electric vehicles in Brussels, and plans to build the Q5 SUV in Mexico.

The cutbacks come amid Volkswagen’s ongoing efforts to repair its image, with forward-thinking innovations like autonomous vehicles and electric powertrains offered as evidence of the brand’s break from its old, emissions-cheating ways. However, with Audi now sidelining many of its top tech projects, it’s uncertain how long it’ll take for VW to get back in the public’s good graces.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Volkswagen Exec Calls Demise Of SUVs Imminent

Consumer taste and preference is always a cyclical thing. Today’s popular items will be on sales bins tomorrow. That kind of change has always happened and will continue to happen since consumers are always after the next big thing. The same principle applies in the auto industry, which is exactly what Volkswagen’s executive director of design Klaus Bischoff alluded to when the told Auto Express that SUVs will eventually become “dinosaurs” once autonomous driving vehicles hit the market.

“Maybe SUVs will start to look old at some point and people will point at them and say, ‘He’s driving a dinosaur,’" Bischoff said. “We don’t see that now, but I strongly believe that we’re going to see much different vehicles when we get to Level 5 autonomy, and then it becomes much more open.”

The comparison to the extinct reptiles sounds a little harsh, but there are some nuggets of truth to what Bischoff is talking about. More than most industries, the automotive business is susceptible to the winds of change, especially when revolutionary technologies like electrification and autonomous driving start to take center stage. There once was a time when vans and minivans were considered the go-to people movers. Then crossovers and SUVs arrived and those same vans slowly started losing popularity to the point that only a handful of automakers still make them these days.

Today, crossovers and SUVs are as popular as they’ve ever been, but according Bischoff, the next automotive “game changer” will be Level 5 autonomy, or the ability for cars to completely drive by themselves without any sort of human assistance. The shift itself isn’t necessarily tied into the convenience of being able to do something else as the car drives by itself, but rather the opportunity that designers will be presented with to completely alter a car’s interior to suit a number of different lifestyles, including the “lounge layout” that Volkswagen presented with the ID Concept at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

That kind of design is a possibility if cars with Level 5 autonomy become the norm in the industry. In the event that happens, would you still drive an SUV?

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Bentley Flying Spur

Launched in 2005 and updated in 2013, the Bentley Flying Spur is getting a little long in the tooth. As a result, the British firm has already begun testing the next-generation model and we have already received the first spy shots of the upcoming luxury rig.

Don’t let the Panamera body fool you, this is actually a Bentley mule, and the fact that Bentley is using a Porsche body is by no means surprising. As you may recall, the first Bentayga prototype hit the road with an Audi Q7 body. Also, keep in mind the Bentley, Porsche, and Audi are all under the same Volkswagen Group umbrella. If you’re still in doubt, our paparazzi have already checked the British plates with the DVLA, which revealed that the prototype is indeed registered as a Bentley.

Likely to break cover in late 2018 or early 2019, the next-generation Flying Spur will bring major improvements to the nameplate. Arguably the most imporant is the MSB-F platform, which already made its debut in the new Porsche Panamera. The redesign will also spawn a new styling language, a more luxurious interior, and give the sedan more powertrain options.

Official data is virtually non-existent, but I gathered all existing rumors in a speculative review that should keep you covered until a Bentley-bodied prototype shows up in 2017. Make sure you stay tuned for details.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Flying Spur.

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Volswagen Golf R - Driven

The Volkswagen Golf R has been long awaited here in the U.S. where customers have pining for this Europe-only car to make its appearance Stateside. Now with the 2016 model year, that wish has finally come true. The anticipation is justifiable when considering Volkswagen first debuted the Golf R32 back in 2003. It featured the first dual-clutch gearbox in any production car and had VW’s then-new 3.2-liter VR6. It set the bar extremely high in the hot hatch segment.

Volkswagen has plenty of competitors out there, but the Golf R still holds its own. It comes with 4Motion AWD, a standard six-speed manual or the optional six-speed DSG automatic, and of course, the 292-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Those mechanicals are good for a sub-five-second launch to 60 mph and more fun on public roads than Johnny Law will allow.

At the same time, the Golf R is still… well, a Golf. It boasts 52.7 cubic feet of cargo room with the second row folded. There’s still 22.8 cubic feet of room with the second row locked in place. That means the Golf R is not only fun, but it’s functional. Obviously, that’s the appeal of a hot hatch. There’s little compromise unlike a 2+2 sports coupe or larger, heavier crossover.

I recently spent a week with the Golf R fitted with the DSG, DCC, and no N-A-V. Punny acronyms aside, the car was well equipped, but not loaded. Thankfully it had Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) so I was able to use my iPhone for navigation. So what’s it like to live with the Golf R? I’ll let you know below.

Continue reading for the full driven review.

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iPhone 7 Bursts Into Flames; Destroys Car In The Process

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 now has competition in the iPhone 7 in a category that neither wants any part of. Less than two months after a Galaxy Note 7 caught fire and burned down a Jeep Grand Cherokee with it, a similar fate befell an iPhone 7 when it too reportedly exploded while sitting under a pile of clothes in the car of a surfer who was giving surf lessons at that time.

According to Yahoo News Australia, Mat Jones was shocked when he returned to his car, which at that point in time, was already filling up with smoke. It wasn’t mentioned how the situation was contained, but in the aftermath of the terrifying ordeal, Jones discovered the burned down remains of the iPhone 7 and a pair of pants that was still on fire at that time.

The young surfer claims that he had owned the iPhone 7 for barely a week and hadn’t dropped it or used a foreign charger since buying it. Now he has no phone and no car, a double whammy to the gut if there ever was one.

For its part, Apple has since caught wind of the incident and is currently investigating the cause of the fire. An official statement has yet to come out, but given the magnitude and the media coverage it has received, I expect the tech giant to come up with an explanation sooner than later. Hopefully, Jones gets a new iPhone 7 and car in the process.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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BMW 7 Series Rose Quartz Edition

Remember when the U.S. used to receive a good number of special edition vehicles from automakers all over the world? It still happens to a certain extent, but it seems that a lot of BMW’s desirable limited edition cars are headed elsewhere, most notably to our friends over in Japan. And so, after staring longingly at this new special edition from Bimmer, I present to you the 7 Series Rose Quartz Edition.

As most of you can expect, this is not a “standard” 7 Series, even though I’m fully aware of the paradox that comes with mentioning the words “standard” and “7 Series” in one sentence. But it’s also true because the 7 Series Rose Quartz has a menu of nice features that are exclusive to it. Even better, BMW has based the special edition 7er on the 750Li, which means that in addition to its unique add-ons, it also carries a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that pumps out 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel it from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.

The 7 Series Rose Quartz will make its debut on November 2, 2016 at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka. There’s no mention yet on how many units of the special edition 7 Series will be made available to the public. What I do know is that unless somebody finds a way to import these units to the U.S., the only way to get them is if you’re in Japan and you have 20.19 million yen to spare, or the equivalent of $193,900 based on current exchange rates.

Continue after the jump to read more about the BMW 7 Series Rose Quartz Edition.

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Infiniti Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition

What does the Ford Mustang Convertible, the Maserati Ghibli S Q4 100th Anniversary, and the McLaren 12C Spider all have in common? Not a lot, right? Well, that’s not entirely accurate because of these cars have all, at point or another, graced the famous Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, the same book that reminds us of the upcoming holidays and is filled with items that most of us can only dream about. The catalog traditionally arrives around October, and on cue, the 2016 edition comes bearing another laundry list of luxury gift items, none more eye-catching than the Infiniti Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition.

For $63,000, customers can line themselves up with a special edition Q60 Red Sport 400, complete with striking exterior and posh interior upgrades, including an ivory leather weekender bag and a branded car cover, to go with some pretty useful tech extras. It’s also limited to just 50 units, which makes it all the more desirable considering that prospective owners will only shell out an extra $10,000 to turn a standard AWD Q60 Red Sport 400 into this golden firecracker.

Those who do end up buying the Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition should also take comfort knowing that for every purchase of the car, Infiniti itself will donate $1,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. If all 50 cars sell out as expected, that donation could add up to $50,000, a nice sum for the foundation. Best be quick about making a decision though because reservations for the special edition Q60 can only be done by calling 844-367-6971, beginning at noon, EDT, on November 2, 2016

Continue reading to learn more about the Infiniti Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition.

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Volkswagen Tiguan R

The Volkswagen Tiguan is in some ways, a trailblazer in its segment. As one of the first of the modern premium compact crossovers to hit the market in 2007, the Volkswagen Tiguan opened the door for many of its rivals. The intentions may have been pure, but the results were anything but. That’s because for better or worse, the Tiguan hasn’t been as dynamic as Volkswagen intended it to be. You might even say that the crossover has languished in the face of increased competition, partly due to VW’s decision to keep the Tiguan’s design muted for the better part of its existence.

Now it appears all that’s about to change. According to Autocar, Volkswagen is preparing an onslaught of new crossovers and SUVs, beginning in 2016. The Tiguan will play a prominent role in this renaissance of sorts. To make things more interesting, there’s also talk of a range-topping performance variant that will combine a new design language with the company’s renowned R performance engineering. Nothing has been made official at this point, but Volkswagen’s timetable for its Tiguan family points to a 2017 launch for the R-badged model.

It’s also not yet clear whether the R will be based on the standard Tiguan or feature a revised body. Initial rumors pointed toward a coupe-style crossover, likely dubbed Coupe R, but such a launch would imply additional development costs for the German brand. More recently, our paparazzi caught a beefed-up Tiguan wearing the standard roofline on the Nurburgring, which suggests that Volkswagen is sticking to the standard crossover configuration. The coupe is not completely out of the question as stranger things have happened within the Volkswagen Group, but for now, this prototype is the only thing we have.

Check it out in our speculative review below and stay tuner for updates.

Updated 10/21/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Tiguan R out for a first testing session at the Nürburgring.

Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Tiguan R.

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Nissan Acquires Controlling Stake in Mitsubishi; Names Carlos Ghosn as Chairman

After struggling through years of lackluster sales and countless setbacks, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) just announced that Nissan has plunked down 237 billion yen (or $2.28 billion at current exchange rates, 10/20/16) to purchase 34 percent of its stock, handing Nissan a controlling stake in MMC. The deal will allow both companies to synergize across multiple departments and significantly reduce annual costs, while also promoting the sharing of vehicle platforms and new technology.

The deal is also expected to bring Mitsubishi some much-needed resources as it scrambles to address revelations that the automaker cheated on fuel economy data.

The acquisition was first announced back in May, following Mitsubishi’s fuel economy scandal story that broke in April. The deal was finalized only recently.

Taking the position of chairman-elect is Carlos Ghosn, the current CEO at Renault and Nissan, a role that should suit him well considering his experience with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Mitsubishi’s CEO and President, Osamu Masuko, will stay on board at his current position, despite some calling for his resignation in the wake of Mitsubishi’s mileage scandal.

“As part of our Board and management team, Nissan will help us rebuild customer trust in our company and maximize potential future synergies through our deeper alliance,” Masuko said in a press release.

Ghosn justified Masuko staying on in a joint briefing, stating, “This sends a strong message that it’s not Nissan that’s going to transform Mitsubishi, it’s Mitsubishi that’s going to transform Mitsubishi.”

Mitsubishi’s press release on the deal states, “Nissan and MMC will begin cooperating on a wide-ranging synergy program, building on a five-year alliance in minicars between the two companies.”

Synergies identified include purchasing cost-reduction, joint plant utilization, shared vehicle platforms, and technology sharing, which should encompass both autonomous driving and hybrid powertrains.

Joint cost reductions are estimated to save Mitsubishi around 25 billion yen annually, with Nissan saving roughly 24 billion yen in 2017.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Faraday Future to Debut Production-Ready Car at CES 2017

Faraday Future has confirmed that its very first production-ready offering will finally drop cover this January at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Confirmation comes via a recent tweet issued by Faraday, in which the up-and-coming automaker gives a short breakdown of the company’s history, finally concluding with the phrase “We unveil the future. #CES2017.”

Included in the tweet is mention of the company’s first design study, the FFZERO1 Concept, and its recent partnership in the Formula E racing series. The tweet arrives on the heels of a comment made by Jia Yueting, CEO at LeEco, at a recent product launch in which the Chinese billionaire mentioned that CES would be a good place for Faraday to reveal its new electric vehicle.

LeEco is a Chinese consumer product firm involved in smartphones, TV’s, bicycles, and Internet video streaming, to name just a few of the company’s numerous interests. Included in the list is financial backing for Faraday Future, an upstart electric vehicle company based out of Gardena, California.

In related news, Faraday is currently looking to build a $1 billion dollar factory in the desert north of Las Vegas, but construction has yet to begin. When completed, the factory is anticipated to house some 4,500 employees.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Will Fast 8 be Oscar Worthy? Vin Diesel Thinks So

I think we can all agree that the Fast & Furious movie franchise has given us a good amount of thrills in its lifespan. We’ve seen awesome cars, beautiful people, amazing fight scenes, and the whole gang jumping out of a plane in cars, surviving the fall with no scratches to their beautiful faces. But we can also agree that not one of the seven F&F movies have ever been considered Oscar-worthy. That could change with Fast 8 as Vin Diesel has come out and said that the eighth installment of the blockbuster movie franchise may surprise a lot of people, even going so far as to hint of a possible Oscar buzz surrounding it.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Diesel said that he actually thinks that Fast 8 will win an Oscar on the back of what director F. Gary Gray was able to piece together to make the movie. “I think he went into making this movie with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, going ’Oh, really? Okay,” Diesel was quoted as saying. “Now I’m going to take the biggest saga in the world, and I’m about to throw Oscars at you.”

Diesel is likely referring to the Oscar snub on Gray and his movie, Straight Outta Compton, which missed out on an Oscar despite being one of the most critically acclaimed movies entering the competition. Is Fast 8 going to be Gray’s Oscar redemption? That’s highly unlikely if you base it on the franchise’s history, but stranger things have happened. Remember when Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan, arguably the greatest war movie of all time, for Best Picture?

Keep the hope alive, Vin!

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Study Finds That Women are Angrier Behind the Wheel and Empty Roads Make 84 Percent of Drivers Happy

You’re on your way out of town for the holiday weekend, but 100 miles into your trip you’re stuck behind inconsiderate prick who is riding side-by-side with a Semi on a two-lane highway doing 10 mph under the limit. You honk your horn casually in an attempt to motivate them, but your only reply is a middle finger and a quick brake check. Talk about rude! Well, believe it or not, that inconsiderate prick is more likely to be a woman than a man. While it might not make sense, because women are made from sugar and spice and everything nice, a recent U.K. study has shown that women are actually 12-percent angrier than men when they’re behind the wheel. That’s right; a woman is more likely to lose it when driving than a man.

The study was commissioned by Hyundai UK and conducted by Patrick Fagan – a behavioral psychologist at Goldsmiths University London. The main purpose was to “sense test” licensed drivers to see how different things like sound, sight, and smell lead to emotional responses in various driving scenarios. A total of 1,000 licensed drivers were tested, and the results are actually pretty surprising. As already mentioned women are 12-percent angrier when behind the wheel, 14-percent angrier when dealing with a backseat driver (most likely a man,) and 13-percent angrier when forced to deal with another driver who neglects to use their turn signals before changing lanes or turning. That’s just one part of the study, however, and it’s not all bad for women.

Explaining the overall results of the study, Patrick Fagan said, “Psychologically, women score higher than men on emotional and verbal intelligence, and on the personality trait of neuroticism. Evolutionary theory suggests our early female ancestors had to develop an acute sense of danger for anything that threatened them and their young if their cave was undefended while men were out hunting. That ‘early warning system’ instinct is still relevant today, and women drivers tend to be more sensitive to negative stimuli, so get angry and frustrated quicker. “

After that explanation, it does make sense, but anger levels aren’t all that the study has shown us. There are actually two dominate emotions linked to driving. One is, as we’ve already discussed, anger while the other is actually happiness – two ends of the same spectrum. The primary fuel behind happiness behind the wheel was found to be derived from the sense of freedom felt when driving. Next in line that contributes to happiness in 19 percent of drivers is the sense of mobility, and finally, 10 percent of drivers are happy just because of the independence associated with driving yourself around.

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LeSee Pro Concept No-Shows Own Launch

If there ever was an award for the most surreal car launch of 2016, LeEco’s LeSee prototype takes the cake. It was supposed to be a hallmark event for the Chinese tech company as it signaled the start of its foray into autonomous driving, but when it came time for the LeSee to make its grand entrance in its own U.S. unveiling in San Francisco, the actual prototype wasn’t there; it was still stuck in London filming its appearance in Transformers V: The Last Knight.

Apparently, the schedule brouhaha forced LeEco to proceed with the unveiling without the car. To be fair, there was a prototype available, but it didn’t have the autonomous driving capabilities of the other prototype. So Jia sauntered down the runway, telling the audience through a translator that “it shouldn’t be me running out here, we didn’t have any other choice. What we wanted was me in the car, and the autonomous car drives me out."

To be fair, the LeSee prototype actually made its official debut in Beijing back in April 2016. So at least LeEco has that going for it. But it’s still pretty embarrassing when you consider that the company pulled out all the stops for a grand U.S. unveiling, even doing it in the Bay Area, in close proximity to Palo Alto where some of the biggest tech giants, including Apple and Google are located, only to end up with egg on its face because of what boils down to a conflict in schedule.

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Techrules is on a Mission to Keep Performance Cars Relevant

No doubt about it – the world of high-performance automobiles is in a state of flux. At the center of the evolution is the car’s beating heart – its engine. You hear the question all the time: what will power our fun four-wheeled machines when internal combustion falls by the wayside? Everyone is placing their bets, including all the major automakers, which are currently exploring a variety of answers in the hopes of getting the jump on the future. However, Techrules, an automotive research and development firm based in China, says it has the solution – turbine-recharging electric vehicles, or TREV’s for short.

According to a recent report from Car Buzz, Techrules says its unique turbine system is “lighter, more compact and easier to package than a conventional internal combustion engine.” Not only that, but the system can apparently find application “in any kind of vehicle,” including motorcycles.

The system works by using gas-powered turbines to generate electricity. The juice is then routed to a battery pack, which in turn motivates the electric motors that move the wheels. The whole system sounds vaguely similar to a series hybrid vehicle, but with a turbine engine replacing the reciprocating pistons of a traditional ICE.

That means you get lots of the benefits you’d normally associate with hybrid vehicles, including highly efficient gas usage and no recharge times at an outlet. You can still plug-in if you want to make sure your battery is topped off, but as long as you have fuel, you’ve got go.

Make that a lot of go. Techrules claims this set-up allows for blistering acceleration and speed, as evidenced by the AT96 TREV Concept in attendance at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Apparently, the turbine-equipped hybrid produces 1,030 horsepower and 6,300 pound-feet of torque, blessing it with a 0-to-62 mph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. That’s on top of 31 miles of all-electric range and 50 mpg, by the way.

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BMW M2 by G-Power

The BMW M2 is barely a year old and it’s already positioned itself as one of the most popular cars in the industry. Sure, it’s got it’s got a few drawbacks, but by and large, the M2 represents a home run for BMW. It’s become such a hot item that aftermarket tuners have also taken notice, as shown by the litany of tuning programs that are already available for the sports coupe. Not one to be left behind, G-Power is jumping into the M2 bandwagon with a new program of its own, with the highlight being a power increase to 410 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.

Those are stout improvements, but in true G-Power fashion, they’re not the only upgrades included in the entire tuning kit. There’s also an offer of new wheels and suspension upgrades to round out the whole program. Given the company’s reputation as one of the best BMW tuners in the business, you can excuse the lack of any exterior and interior upgrades to the sports coupe if the result includes performance and handling improvements that M3 owners can enjoy.

It’s tough to say exactly which among these aftermarket companies has the best program for the BMW M2. But the pattern is clear here: the M2 is a car that’s worth our attention and in case you have one, or are about to get one, you can take comfort knowing that there are tuners like G-Power that can address your aftermarket needs should you want to scratch that itch.

Continue reading to read more about the BMW M2 by G-Power.

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Lamborghini and MIT Partner Up to Develop New, Lighter Materials

Lamborghini hasn’t been shy about reminding everyone that it’s one of the pioneers in using carbon fiber technology in the auto industry. It’s a badge of honor that the Italian automaker proudly wears to this day, but like any forward-thinking company, Lambo isn’t content with simply basking in its achievements. It’s setting its sights on discovering the next breakthrough in the business, and for this task, Lamborghini is collaborating with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, considered as one the best private research universities in the world.

The collaboration between Lambo and MIT largely revolves around creating new materials that can be adopted for use in future vehicles. It’s largely similar to the undertaking the company embarked on when it pioneered carbon fiber technology, except that this time, it’s got some of the brightest young engineers from MIT helping out. Together, engineers from Lambo will work closely with their counterparts from MIT to develop new and lighter materials that will allow the automaker to stay a step ahead in the high-stakes race to innovation that the exotic car market is known for.

No specific details were mentioned on what the partnership will constitute other than what has been mentioned. That said, Lamborghini could be working with MIT to determine how to expand the use of carbon fiber past what it’s already capable of doing by itself. There have been past reports that the the automaker is trying to figure out a method that would allow it to put carbon fiber into the engine, thus making it lighter and stronger than what it is today.

It’s an interesting proposition and having engineers from MIT help out could pave the way for Lamborghini to knock on yet another door that leads to a new innovation that has the potential to shake up the industry. Could this partnership with MIT turn into a redux of the time Lambo discovered forged composite process? Only time will tell, but having MIT in the fold is definitely going to help the Raging Bull’s chances.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Lamborghini Trademarks "Huracan Performante"

A recently applied trademark suggests that Lamborghini is working on a fourth iteration for the entry-level Huracan supercar. According to Auto Guide, the Italian firm has applied to trademark the Huracan Performante name. Given that the Performance badge has been previously used on a convertible version of the Gallardo Superleggera, Lambo may be planning a similar version of the Huracan.

Already available in coupe and spyder versions, the Huracan has yet to receive the higher performance Superleggera treatment, but the vehicle has been spotted testing as early as 2015. The Superleggera is expected to break cover in late 2016 or early 2017 with an aggressive body kit and a beefed-up V-10 engine rated at more than 630 horsepower (versus the standard 602 horses). The Performante model should arrive with identical specs, but slightly different aerodynamic upgrades.

There’s no word as to when the fourth version of the Huracan might hit showrooms, but given that we have yet to see any test cars as of October 2016, the high-performance roadster is at least 12 months away.

It’s predecessor, the Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performance was announced in late 2010 and deliveries began in April 2011. Production of the Gallardo ended in November 2013, with the final example being a Spyder Performante.

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Did Hurricane Matthew Eat Your Car? If So, Nissan Will Give You Employee Pricing on a New Ride

Hurricane Matthew devastated Florida’s eastern coastline during the first week in October before continuing north as it brought damage to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia before sweeping out to sea. Cities ranging from Miami to Norfolk felt the winds from the late-season storm. Millions were without power, thousands lost homes, and many more lost vehicles. That’s why Nissan is offering to help hurricane victims with heavy discounts on new Nissan vehicles.

Nissan is giving customers and businesses in the affected states access to employee pricing discounts so long as they can show proof of residency and proof their vehicle was damaged or destroyed during the storm. The program has no limits within households, meaning if a family had three vehicles affected by the storm, they could get employee pricing on three new Nissan vehicles.

Those who choose to finance through Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation can qualify for a deferred payment plan that allows a three-month grace period before payments begin. Existing customers who reside in FEMA disaster areas can alloy for payment extensions, both for lease and retail vehicles.

The program is open though October 31, 2016 and includes most Nissan North American’s products.

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Seat Leon

The latest-generation Leon came to be in 2012, some 14 years after Seat launched the nameplate. The third-gen car brought many improvements over its predecessor, being significantly lighter and incorporating more technology. The exterior was also redesigned with sportiness in mind, while the interior gained better materials and a more upscale look. Sharing its platform with the Volkswagen Golf and the Audi A3, the Leon also borrowed its drivetrain from its German counterparts. In 2016, the third-generation model received its mid-cycle facelift.

Although facelifts operated by the Volkswagen Group aren’t exactly comprehensive, the revised Leon arrived with many new exterior features, as well as a significant amount of new technologies in the infotainment and safety departments. The hatchback also gained a couple of new engine options, which make it a more versatile car compared to its main rivals, including the Golf it is based on. Like the outgoing model, the refreshed Leon will be offered in three body styles: the five-door hatchback, three-door hatchback (Sports Coupe), and the five-door station wagon (Sports Tourer).

The facelifted Leon will hit showrooms in early 2017, about the same time Volkswagen is expected to start selling the revised Golf. The Spanish hatch will face massive competition in Europe from the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i30, and Kia Cee’d, among other nameplates. Find out how it compared with its most important competitors in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Seat Leon.

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