Nother CarGuy

The all-new 8-Series Convertible is one of the automaker’s worst kept secrets in recent years. After all, the spy shots we’ve seen so far revealed almost everything about BMW’s upcoming drop-top model. The only parts on the test prototypes that were covered in camo were the trunk lid and the rear fenders, leaving everything else exposed. Well, you can now see all of the 2019 8-Series Convertible, as official photos of the new model have leaked on the internet. Belgian website Autotijn apparently broke the embargo and released a set of official images ahead of schedule. As you probably know, the 8-Series Convertible will have its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show a month from now. Styling-wise, the cabriolet looks great with the soft top down, but the lack of a hardtop somehow makes it look more like a luxury car than a sports car. BMW describes the 8-Series Coupe as a proper sports car, so we’re curious to see if that tag will stick to the drop-top version as well...

After having already expanded the GT’s production run, Ford has now pulled the covers off a special edition version, dubbed Carbon Series. This is a track-focused model, said to be 18 kg (40 lbs) lighter than the regular street-legal versions. The decrease in weight has been made possible by applying a polycarbonate rear hatch with extra venting, but also carbon fiber wheels with titanium nuts and a titanium exhaust system. Despite the weight loss, this car still retains important comfort features such as air conditioning and an infotainment system. Also, according to Ford, the 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series “will want to be driven home after time sheets are collected” from the track, unlike its sibling racer. Compared to previous variants of the supercar, this special edition version features more visible carbon fiber, along with two exposed carbon fiber stripes that match the A-pillars, lower body panels and wheels. Also, customers can choose one of the four optional colors, ...

The time has finally come for the new Toyota Supra to be revealed; the American arm of the Japanese carmaker confirmed with a press release that their new sports car will be revealed in full production form at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show on January 14. If you’ve been following the Supra-saga on our site, you probably already know that, as Toyota’s German division spilled the beans on the venue earlier this month through a social media posting. Toyota has already paraded a camouflaged Supra prototype at a number of events this year, including the Goodwood Festival of Speed while another GT4-spec prototype took part in a VLN race at the Nurburgring. Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the carmaker showcased the GR Supra Racing Concept, confirming one of the worst kept secrets in the industry. Production of the new Toyota Supra will start in the first half of 2019 at Magna Steyr’s manufacturing facility in Austria, alongside the BMW Z4. The two models share the same archit...

Racing is electrifying. And we don’t just mean that it’s exciting for fans. It’s actually going electric, from Formula E to touring cars to rally. And if Chevy gets its way, drag racing could be next. The Bowtie brand is showcasing this conceptual Camaro drag racer at the SEMA show this week. It’s called the eCOPO Camaro, and it packs 700 horsepower (522 kW) along with 600 lb-ft (814 Nm) of torque – all of it from electric motors. Chevy started with the existing COPO Camaro, designed as it already is for drag racing, and replaced the V8 engine with an electric motor assembly with a huge battery pack in the trunk. The system is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motors, each generating 300 lb-ft (407 Nm) of torque, and connects to a conventional Turbo 400 automatic transmission. In the back, it installed four 200-volt battery modules, each weighing 175 pounds (79 kg), to give it a combined 800 volts of electrical power. It even extended the roll cage rearward...

Volkswagen has released the first sketch of an all-new pickup concept which will debut at the São Paulo Motor Show on November 6th. Being billed as an “extraordinary pickup,” the unnamed model promises to combine the best attributes of trucks and SUVs. The company didn’t go into specifics, but said the concept will have an innovative “multivariable loading area” which can be extended by folding the rear panel of the truck’s cab. That’s pretty vague, but it sounds like the concept have a removable rear bed wall that’s similar to the one used on the old Chevrolet Avalanche. The truck is an “urban-oriented vehicle” and this suggests the model will be a lifestyle pickup. It will be based on the MQB platform and feature all-wheel drive. The automaker also confirmed the model will be positioned beneath the Amarok. Volkswagen only released one picture of the concept, but it shows the truck will have strong character lines, pronounced wheel arches and a rounded bed with high walls. ...

Following a very revealing leak last night, McLaren has officially pulled the wraps off the new Speedtail, which is the closest we’ll get to a modern interpretation of the legendary F1. The new McLaren Speedtail represents the next chapter in the brand’s Ultimate Series, featuring a top speed of 250mph (403km/h), courtesy of a new hybrid powertrain that produces a combined 1,036hp (1,050PS). McLaren hasn’t revealed yet the full technical specifications of the Speedtail’s petrol-electric powertrain but the company did reveal that it sets a new benchmark for the company when it comes to straight-line acceleration; 0-186mph (300km/h) comes in 12.8 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the much more powerful Bugatti Chiron (13.1 seconds). Every body panel on the McLaren Speedtail is made out of carbon fiber, designed to reduce drag. A pair of retractable digital rear-view cameras further aid the aerodynamic performance while a pair of static front wheel covers reduce the turbu...

The teaser campaign for the all-new T-Cross is finally over as VW has officially lifted the veils of its smallest SUV to date. Revealed in Amsterdam, Shanghai, and São Paulo the T-Cross is a global SUV that uses the same platform as the Polo and therefore doesn’t offer all-wheel drive — not even as an option. Design-wise, it’s a combination between VW’s other SUVs. From the front, it looks like a smaller Touareg thanks to the similar grille that blends with the headlights. The side reminds a lot of the Tiguan thanks to the strong character line, while the rear end is probably the most original part of the car. The taillights look like nothing else in VW’s current lineup, and they are connected by a light strip that makes the T-Cross look wider than it really is. Speaking of dimensions, the MQB platform has allowed VW to locate the driven front axle well forward. As a result, the T-Cross has a relatively generous wheelbase compared to the overall vehicle length. The sma...

What you see here is the Hoonitruck – the new set of old wheels that Block will drive in the forthcoming Gymkhana Ten. It’s based on a 1977 Ford F-150 like the one his daddy had. But his daddy’s didn’t pack this much power. In place of the big old hunk of metal with which this pickup was built, Detroit Speed (out of Mooresville, NC) dropped in the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 from the Ford GT. But not the road-going GT – this one’s from the Le Mans racer, and produces a massive 914 horsepower (682 kW) and 702 lb-ft (952 Nm) of torque. That’s nearly four times as much power as even the biggest engine offered in the sixth-gen F-150, and it’s channeled to all four of those 20-inch wheels and their Toyo tires through a Sadev six-speed gearbox. The body shell was recrafted by hand out of military-grade aluminum (not unlike the current F-150’s), the suspension evidently dropped to the tarmac, and there’s a big wing at the back that looks like it was lifted straight off a NAS...

Audi has officially unveiled the 2019 R8 Coupe and Spyder. Set to go on sale in Europe early next year, the facelifted models have a more aggressive design as they adopt a wider Singleframe grille and three hood slits that pay tribute to the iconic Ur-quattro. Elsewhere, designers installed a new front splitter and more aggressive air intakes. Additional styling changes are limited, but Audi says the model has a new three-piece engine cover that is available in either plastic or carbon fiber. Speaking of options, there will be up to three exterior styling packages which add “various highlights to the front splitter, the side trims and the diffuser.” The updated model also offers two new colors – Kemora Gray and Ascari Blue – and optional high-gloss black badges. Interior changes are limited to new color options which include “pastel silver with rock gray contrasting stitching, palomino brown with steel gray stitching and black with utopia blue stitching.” The range-toppi...

Nissan will reveal the updated for 2019 Maxima at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, boasting a refreshed exterior look and more safety kit. The company didn’t go into specifics with its announcement, giving us just one image of the 2019 Maxima and saying that it will be available with Nissan Safety Shield 360 safety suite. The latter includes six safety and driver-assist systems. From the single image we can see that the updated Nissan Maxima is getting a redesigned front bumper with different fog lights, as well as a refreshed headlight design that incorporates LEDs. Expect similar revisions at the rear, along with the obligatory new wheel designs. All current Maxima models come equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 that kicks out 300hp and 261lb-ft of peak torque and is bolted to an Xtronic CVT gearbox, which is the only transmission option. Nissan’s update measures may include a new infotainment system with improved software (current models come with an 8-inch unit), as well as ...

Porsche has officially confirmed that the Mission E Cross Turismo will spawn a production version, alongside the Taycan at the Zuffenhausen facility. It’s unknown when series production will kick off, as Porsche is keeping all other aspects close to its chest for now, but it has been speculated that the production Mission E Cross Turismo might arrive on the market in 2021. By then, Porsche would have hired an additional 300 people at the plant, who will be responsible for putting it together. Essentially a derivative of the upcoming 2019 Porsche Taycan, the Mission E Cross Turismo was previewed by a concept car at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The study has a rather futuristic look and a more practical interior, capable of hauling different equipment easily. It will be interesting to see whether some of the technologies found in the cabin of the show car will equip the final production version, such as the eye-tracking control for the instrument cluster. Porsche is believed to...

Consumers can’t seem to get enough crossovers and BMW has been happy to comply as the company already offers six different models. However, there was one thing missing from its lineup – a competitor to the Mercedes GLS. BMW is finally responding in the form of the 2019 X7. Larger and more luxurious than the redesigned X5, the production model closely echoes the X7 iPerformance concept which was introduced last year. While the concept received a slightly chilly reception, BMW has high hopes for the production model as the company says it offers a unique blend of “presence, exclusivity and spaciousness.” It certainly has a commanding presence as the front fascia is dominated by a massive chrome grille which will likely prove to be controversial. Unsurprisingly, BMW says its the largest kidney grille ever fitted to one of their production models. Putting the grille aside, the X7 features adaptive LED headlights which reside above massive air intakes. Moving further back,...