Tag Archives: Video

Would A Big Rear Wing And Retro Wheels Fix The New Lamborghini Countach For You?

August 19, 2021 admin

While traditionalists may not like the idea of Lamborghini reviving the famed Countach name with a limited-run model based on the Sian, there’s no denying that the exterior design of the car is eye-catching. But is that enough for such a storied nameplate?

In designing the 2022 Countach LPI 800-4, Lamborghini (much to our surprise) didn’t go all out in replicating later Countach models such as the LP5000 QV and 25th Anniversary Edition and instead looked to the playbook of the original LP4000. That means the Countach LPI 800-4 lacks a rear wing.

Curious about how the new car would look with design elements inspired by later Countach models, YouTuber TheSketchMonkey got to work with tweaking its design and making it all the more eye-catching.

In recreating this modern-day Countach, some minor tweaks were made to the front fascia. Most notably, the headlights were shifted down in a move that, to our eyes, radically improves the design of the car. The designer then equipped the supercar with classic phone dial wheels that act as the perfect throwback to the glory years of the Countach.

Elsewhere, the car’s side skirts have been modified with some new vents and, most importantly, a fixed rear wing has also been fitted. While these alterations may not seem all that significant, they drastically alter the design of the car and bring it somewhat closer to the original.

Is this how the Countach LPI 800-4 should have looked all along? Let us know in the comments below.

[embedded content]

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz First Reviews In And Here’s What They’re Saying

August 11, 2021 admin

Back in April, Hyundai introduced the Santa Cruz, a Tucson-based unibody pickup truck. Since then, we’ve seen a few walkarounds in a studio environment, but now, the real-world reviews have arrived.

The Santa Cruz is offered with a choice between naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants of the same 2.5L inline-four. The naturally aspirated version makes 191 hp (194 PS / 142 kW) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque, while the turbocharged version makes 281 hp (285 PS / 210 kW) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) of torque.

[embedded content]

FWD is standard with AWD as an option, but all Santa Cruz models send their power to the wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Depending on trim, you can haul up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) and tow up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). As for pricing, after destination charges, it ranges from $25,175 for the base SE with FWD and the naturally aspirated engine all the way up to $41,500 for the range-topping Limited with AWD and the turbocharged engine.

[embedded content]

The general consensus across all the reviews seems to be that the Santa Cruz is the perfect truck for non-truck people. It’s for people who like their SUV, but also want an open bed. One thing that was pointed out in almost every review was that thanks to its unibody platform, not only does it drive like a car, but a well-sorted one at that.

Finally, another thing touched on in quite a few of the reviews is that this truck will have to watch out for the Ford Maverick, which offers similar capabilities at a comparable (and in some cases lower) price point.

[embedded content]

This Porsche 356 Aims To Go 356 Miles On Antarctic Ice And Set A Record In The Process

August 8, 2021 admin

Renee Brinkerhoff and the Valkyrie Racing Team have confirmed that they will be going to Antarctica this winter to complete their mission of racing on all seven continents before the end of 2021.

There, the team plans to drive Binkerhoff’s 1956 Porsche 356A 356 miles (573 km) over the Antarctic ice, completing the team’s mission. “Project 356 World Rally Tour” has already taken the car and its driver nearly 20,000 miles (32,186 km) around the world and if it finishes its final feat, Brinkerhoff will be the first woman to race on all seven continents and the Porsche will be the first classic car to do it.

In Antarctica, Binkerhoff’s navigator will be Jason de Carteret, a famed adventurer from the U.K. who has been to both the North and South Poles nearly a dozen times. Together, they’ll start their trek at Union Glacier in Antarctica in early December.

The car, as you might anticipate, is not exactly stock. Modified to be lighter than the original, the Porsche will also feature tracks for its ice challenge.

Brinkerhoff and her car have previously raced in the Peking-to-Paris, the East African Safari Classic, the Targa Tasmania, and the Carrera Panamericana rallies. In the Carrera Panamericana, she became the first woman to win her class.

Those races have already seen Binkerhoff race across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania, leaving just Antarctica for the team to tackle.

“The real goal is to use our racing to amplify our voice for human trafficking and find a means to help as many victims as we can—through rescue efforts and separately, providing support through education and funding to aid global shelters,” said Brinkerhoff.

Indeed, the racer has already raised more than $400,000 through her team’s fundraising arm, Valkyrie Gives, a Colorado-based non-profit. Together with her daughter Christina, who helps run the foundation and is her mother’s racing manager as well, they hope to raise more than $1 million for their cause.

Patrons who donate $356 to Binkerhoff’s Antarctic Ice Challenge will have their name signed on the inside of the Porsche’s hood, with 100% of the proceeds going to organizations that are fighting human trafficking.

[embedded content]

R8 Vs. RS E-Tron GT Drag Race Shows Us Which Audi Is The Quickest

July 31, 2021 admin

The Audi R8 and RS E-Tron GT are both high performance cars, but one is a mid-engine V10 supercar, while the other is an electric sports sedan. Regardless of their differences, both are cars designed for speed, so that begs the question: which one is quicker? That’s what Carwow attempts to find out in their latest video as the two are pitted against each other in a series of challenges.

The R8 in the video is a pre-facelift model, but its 5.2-liter V10 engine has been tuned to make the same 612 hp (620 PS / 456 kW) and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque as the current model. The RS E-Tron GT, on the other hand, is powered by two electric motors producing 637 hp (646 PS / 475 kW) and 612 lb-ft (830 Nm) of torque.

On paper, the two seem evenly matched, with both having all-wheel drive and similar power figures, but there are other factors at play that will determine the outcome of the challenges. For instance, the E-Tron has the additional benefit of instant electric torque, but it also weighs 1,468 lb (665 kg) more than the R8.

In the first drag race, the E-Tron GT left the R8 in its dust and just kept widening the gap until the finish line. In the second, the R8 actually got the better launch, but the E-Tron ultimately took the win by a sizeable margin. The third and final drag race was the most evenly matched of the bunch, with both cars neck and neck until the E-Tron managed to eek out the win at the very end.

We won’t spoil the other two challenges, so to see the results of the roll races and braking tests, you can check out for yourself the video right below.

[embedded content]

C8 Corvette Vs. BMW M4 Competition In 500 HP Sports Car Shootout

July 25, 2021 admin

If you’re lucky enough to have $70,000 to spend on a car and your buying criteria includes head-turning looks and the kind of power that can incinerate a set of tires before you’ve even left the dealer’s lot, you’re spoiled for choice.

That kind of money gets you into all manner of high performance front-engined coupes from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat to the brand new BMW M4 Competition. But in the C8 Corvette it also opens the door to the next best thing to an Italian supercar for those of us who can’t afford the real thing.

To find out which is best, Edmunds pitted its own long term Corvette against a BMW test car. The C8 had a $60,995 base price, but ended up costing $80,660 by the time they’d finished nibbling at the options list, adding stuff like the Z51 Performance Pack.

The BMW, on the other hand, stickered at $72,795, but loaded with the usual haul of press car goodies, came in at $101,995.

[embedded content]

They deliver eerily similar power, but do so in very different ways. The BMW’s 503 hp and 479lb ft comes courtesy of a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six, where the Corvette’s 495 hp is generated by a 6.2-liter V8. It kicks out a similar 470 lb ft, but being naturally aspirated, delivers it almost 3000 rpm further round the dial.

And Edmunds host Carlos Lago says the BMW’s stronger initial kick in the back means it feels far more powerful than the Corvette, despite the C8 beating the M4 to 60 mph and to the quarter mile mark.

The BMW’s limited traction also makes it exciting, Lago says, but maybe a little too exciting, while the Corvette is always controllable and surprises with a more comfortable ride, and, weirdly, more trunk space.

Pushed to call it, Lago gives the win to the Corvette for its value and breadth of abilities, but the four-seat, sideways-to-victory M4 runs it very close.

Does The 2022 Kia K9 Live Up To Its Fancy New Looks?

July 4, 2021 admin

To say that the Hyundai Group has come out of the last decade as the automaker with the most improved image is an understatement. Now, even Kia can make Americans lust after a car they aren’t allowed to buy.

The latest such car is the K9, which was sold in the U.S. as the K900 until it was announced that Kia would discontinue the car early this year, and is referred to as such in the following video.

This video appears to be from a first-drive press event that was held in Korea and shows off some of the car’s fancier features, like stop-and-go cruise control and predictive shift technology. That tech uses the GPS along with the car’s radar sensor and its cameras to help the eight-speed automatic transmission behave more intuitively so that shifts are as smooth as possible. Although the nature of the system makes it hard to film, the video’s host says the car is, indeed, very comfortable.

He also calls it pretty quick, saying it pulls linearly and powerfully. The version of the car seen here uses the same 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that powers the Stinger. It makes 370 hp (375 PS/276 kW) and 376 lb-ft (508 Nm) of torque. In sends its power to all four wheels and is surprisingly capable.

On a tight on-ramp, the driver hustles the car and reports that it feels really good, especially considering its size. At 202.3-inches (5,138 mm) long, it’s longer than the Genesis GV80, which is 194 inches (4,945 mm) long.

So should you feel jealous that Kia isn’t offering the K9 Stateside anymore? Maybe you should, yeah.

[embedded content]

You’ll Be Astounded By All The Details Of The McLaren Speedtail

June 26, 2021 admin

The Speedtail is a McLaren unlike any other – and, come to think of it, a hypercar unlike any other as well.

As just 106 examples of the Speedtail will be built, not that many people have had the opportunity to drive and review it. Recently, Doug DeMuro was given the opportunity to get an up close look at one before taking it out onto the street for a quick test drive.

The Speedtail featured in this video is part of The Triple F Collection, a family-owned collection of exotics in the U.S. that includes vehicles like the McLaren Speedtail, McLaren Sabre, Ferrari LaFerrari, Pagani Huayra BC, Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg Regera, Ferrari F40, Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche 918 Spyder, and many others. This Speedtail was imported to the U.S. under the ‘Show or Display’ exemption as it isn’t officially sold in the U.S., even though a third of the 106 have been sold to U.S. buyers.

The blue exterior finish of the car is absolutely gorgeous and the blue theme continues into the cabin with some areas of blue leather. Speaking of the cabin, it has some intriguing features, including an electrochromatic piece of glass at the top of the windshield that acts as an expensive alternative to sun visors.

In typical Doug DeMuro fashion, the driving portion of the video is very short but he does get a feel for just how tremendously fast the Speedtail is. Which is what you would expect, considering it pumps out 1,036 hp.

[embedded content]

Lamborghini Aventador SV Races A Handful Of Rallycross Cars

June 15, 2021 admin

The Lamborghini Aventador is coming towards the end of its lifecycle but it is still a joy to see it tested to its limits, particularly in SV Roadster guise like the example featured in this video.

The Aventador SV is powered by a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 that delivers 750 hp and 507 lb-ft (690 Nm) of torque and is coupled to the Aventador’s 7-speed ISR transmission and all-wheel drive system, enabling a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint in as little as 2.9 seconds.

For many years, the Aventador SV has been one of the quickest production cars on the planet and eager to see just how it fares against some rather unusual competition, CarWow pitted it against a trio of race cars used in the British Rallycross championship.

In the first race, the Aventador SV and a bright yellow Peugeot 306 get jump off the line extraordinarily well while a Rallycross buggy and a Citroen DS3 struggled. In the second race, the DS3 driver nailed the launch and was able to beat both the Peugeot and the Lamborghini. A rolling race is then held between the quartet and unsurprisingly, the Peugeot and the Citroen initially had the advantage and the Aventador was only able to overtake when the others hit their top speed limiters.

[embedded content]

Is The Tesla Model Y More Efficient At Towing Than An ICE Vehicle?

June 6, 2021 admin

While EVs have their many advantages, it’s not often that towing is considered one of their strong suits. The loss of range, combined with not being able to quickly juice up, is enough to put the frighteners on any trailer-owning potential EV convert. But perhaps those fears aren’t as justified as you may think.

Youtuber Tesla Canuck decided to document exactly how well a Tesla Model Y would tow a 3000-pound (1360 kg) boat. The Model Y has a towing capacity of 3500 pounds (1587 kg) and, without a trailer hitched up, it has an EPA estimated range of 326 miles (525 km).

Read: IIHS Safety Award And CR Top Pick Status Stripped From Tesla Model 3 Following Radar Removal

While range did take the expected hit, the 98-mile (158 km) drive was achievable. The Tesla used up 53 percent of its charge on the journey, which works out to an estimated cost of $7.46 ($0.14 per kWh). According to the host, although this meant the car was only working at 45 percent efficiency as over half of the Model Y’s range was lost, he reasons that the range lost on a full tank of gas with an ICE-powered vehicle would be roughly the same. The host also estimates that the same journey would’ve used 13.3 liters of fuel (3.5 gallons), which, depending on gas prices, would still make the EV the cheaper bet.

As for what it is like using a Model Y to tow, the process is as straightforward as in a conventional car. The Tesla takes a standard seven-pin four-way adapter, which, when connected, allows the Model Y to automatically default to towing mode.

Some functions, like Autopilot and Autosteer, are disabled, but Tesla Canuck mentions that you could still feel the instant torque an electric vehicle churns out. The brake regeneration also worked like a charm, with no issues coming to a dead stop. The Model Y also rode well and swayed less due to its low center of gravity.

[embedded content]

Scooter Rider Leads Police Chase Down Wrong Way Of Interstate Highway

May 29, 2021 admin

A police chase ended miraculously well after a scooter rider behaving erratically led police on a multi-city chase starting in Danvers, Massachusetts, and ending in Medford just north of Boston.

CBS News followed the chase from its helicopter as the scooter was ridden down Insterstate 93 going the wrong way and weaving through oncoming traffic.

What started the chase is unclear, but the police say they chose to follow the scooter rider from afar in an attempt not to escalate the situation with the rider, who they believed to be suicidal.

BREAKING: A scooter operator was just taken into custody by police in Medford after going the wrong way on the highway https://t.co/9U0wMdB5lS pic.twitter.com/0ozbiylADn

— WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) May 27, 2021

Police apprehended the rider on Mystic Avenue in Medford and CBS reports that EMS was there to attend to him shortly after the chase ended.

Of course, not only is the rider lucky to be alive, but everyone driving down the highway this morning was lucky, too as the rider’s erratic driving could easily have triggered an accident that could have been very dangerous for other motorists.

The chase ended at 11:00 am local time and the suspect is now in police custody.

[embedded content]