Performance Vehicles (Page 76)

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: I wonder if the people who are caught red handed being “distracted while AutoPilot” realize how lucky they are they got away with their crime. Unlike the people who I last wrote about who face the wrath of the NTSB and the courts for their tort who proclaim “my Tesla did it, not me,” “driving distracted while AutoPilot” is a crime of reckless endangerment, and most are getting away with it without realizing it.

Supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg, whose production has maxxed out its facility, and Chinese carmaker NEVS have agreed to build a new "entry-level" supercar. The cost will be only $1.5 million.

We can put those nasty rumors to rest that Subaru and Toyota will ax the BRZ and 86 sports coupe. Fans will see a second-generation model.

By selling the entire model range in three categories, Tesla Corporation makes each car more cheaply, and simplifies discerning which car is which. If you want “Ludicrous,” which now comes in a separate upgrade package at a $20,000 premium, no more looking at old school Bentley-like badges to see battery energy capacity, you just look for “Performance.” This also helps with pricing and sales: by having cheaper Base Models S and X, Tesla is getting ready to sell Base Model 3.

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: One of the worse things a driver can do in a late model car engaged in an accident is to fib or outright lie. You see, whether you realize it, their car may help you, but your car is going to make it really easy to tell your side of the story, with data and soon even images, sooner than later, and regardless of what kind of shape the car is in, and whether for your benefit or not. Your car always telling the truth, is one thing! Getting on the same page with you, is another.

Sublime was the most popular color for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and this afternoon, the high performance brand announced that the bright metallic green hue will be returning for the 2019 model year, but not just for the Challenger, as this color will be offered with all Charger trim levels as well.

Ford Performance announced at the 2017 SEMA Show that they were working on a new Mustang funny car body for the NHRA big leagues and yesterday, the company offered up the first picture of the 2019 race car.

There are more reports the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 will be dropped from the lineup and there won’t be a second-generation model. Are they true, or just rumors?

The Ford F-150 known as the Hoonitruck from Ken Block’s Gymkhana Ten is powered by a modified Ford GT EcoBoost engine fitted with a custom twin turbo setup and an intake manifold that is the biggest 3D-printed metal piece ever used on a working, driving vehicle in the world.

After completing a month on Tesla’s autopilot trial on the Model 3 it is clear - Tesla is currently the most technologically advanced automobile you can currently purchase and drive. The ability to update and improve the vehicle via a software update is a competitive advantage not available to any current automobile manufacturer. Including the ability to send an autopilot trial over the air.

It has been known for some time that Ford will eventually offer a hybrid variant of the Mustang and the F-150, but a patent filing from the Motor Company reveals a V8 hybrid drivetrain that also integrates all-wheel-drive – possibly signaling the first Mustang that powered all four wheels.

Mazda's new Mazda3 has a new feature that could enable Mazda to create the best hot-hatch in America.

If you are interested in one of the world's most wanted cars, you have your chance to buy one, but you have to have $7.5 million to play. When the Divo was introduced at Pebble Beach last year all of the build slots -- 40 -- were thought to have been presold. But, according to Mobile.de a German dealer has put a build slot -- and the Divo that is in that slot -- on sale for the figure noted. It's the first one available.

Cadillac is celebrating after winning in the DPi class in the Rolex 24 for the third time in three years.

Heading into the weekend-long festivities surrounding the Rolex 24 Hour race at Daytona International Speedway, Chevrolet has introduced the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series – a quarter of special appearance packages designed to pay tribute to the drivers of the modern Corvette endurance racing program.

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: It’s not looking too good in the public relations arena for Cadillac and GM when the national, now world conversation nows turns toward questioning the existence of luxury car brands after the Cadillac XT6-Gate GM Debacle. Aston Martin’s CEO weighed in with the XT6-Gate to establish six ultra brands, and none of the ones below it like Cadillac will surpass them. But let’s be clear: XT6-Gate is an American problem, not a European one.

Even before the first Taycan has rolled off an assembly line, Porsche has doubled the number of E-Taycans that will be built this year. It also expects that it will sellout of the 2020 personal sports electric.

Over the past few years, Courtney Force has become one of the front-runners in the NHRA Funny Car ranks in her John Force Racing Chevrolet Camaro, but with the promise of another strong season in 2019, the winningest female driver in the class’s history has retired suddenly.

This week two new models 1st production cars generated a whopping 4.6 million for charities. Looking back, Tesla missed a huge opportunity to do good.

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: While GM didn’t strike an iceberg like Titanic with the recent Cadillac XT6-Gate Roll Out, XT6’s Super Cruise “Radio Delete” from the options list Gaffe, and Caddy’s the ”Lead Brand” Announcement Kerfuffle with no Caddy BEV for three years, it certainly ran into the reefs too quickly like the Costa Concordia. Although it isn’t a massive blockbusting disaster, it is a serious debacle that needs some changes. And they better do it soon.

There is no other information available, but the schedule of events for this weekend’s Rolex 24 festivities includes the introduction of a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Special Edition – which could be some sort of final-edition package celebrating the C7 ahead of the expected mid-engine debut later this year.

Get a rare glimpse of the Subaru Tecnica International custom shop and factory where they hand-build the all-new 2020 Subaru WRX STI S209. Video.

In all, Ford donated $3.6 million to charity after selling two vehicles at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Dodge Challenger is likely to receive hybrid power and the supercharged V8 could leave the lineup in the future, but contrary to what many people think online, these changes aren’t happening right away and they don’t guarantee the end of the V8-powered muscle car era.

Moving to its next major target, Volkswagen has confirmed that it plans to make a run at the single-lap record for a fully electric racing vehicle at the Eifel's Nordschleife racetrack.

Just days after making its big debut at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, the most powerful production Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction to raise money for charity.

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: GM President Mark Reuss’ recent announcement of putting Cadillac as the lead brand against Tesla helped everything else but Cadillac. Cadillac just put their third gas CUV into their portfolio right after this announcement! A real all electric car company doesn’t do that! To be taken seriously by anyone you have to be reliable and believable, and that means having honesty, and to be honest, starting with yourself, you have to believe in yourself. Who’s fooling who?

Canada gets an ultra-exclusive 2019 BRZ RAIU Edition. See what sets it apart.

The EJ25 Subaru WRX STI engine is aging but Subaru Tecnica International pulled out some old tricks to produce the most powerful STI engine ever. See how they did it.

If Toyota drops the 86 sports coupe, what will be the fate of the Subaru BRZ? Recent reports say it will survive the chopping block.