Tag Archives: Gran

Motorsport

Next-Gen BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Spotted for the First Time

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, which is a compact sport sedan with an additional pair of doors, is getting a new generation. Recent spy shots show that development is underway, with production expected to start in late 2024.

One of the notable features at the front end is the unusual layout of BMW’s kidney grilles. Unlike the traditional design, this model has a smaller version of the grilles in the center of the nose, with two larger openings on each side. However, it’s worth noting that the white mesh used in the larger sections is likely not the final production-spec part.


Motorsport

Gran Turismo 7 Adds Three New Cars And The Ability To Swap Engines

In the latest update of Gran Turismo 7, three new enthusiast cars have been added: the 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, the 1971 Ford Maverick restomod by Greening Auto Company, and the 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo. These new vehicles offer something for fans of every era to admire.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce is one of the automaker’s most famous and desirable sports cars. Despite its 105-horsepower engine, the car weighs only 2,100 pounds, resulting in an enjoyable driving experience. The updated version of the Giulia still maintains the same driving pleasure as its predecessor.

1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce
1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce

The Ford Maverick, although nowadays more well-known as a hot-selling small pickup, was the Blue Oval’s entry in the compact car class 50 years ago. Unlike its infamous Pinto sibling, the Maverick had some performance thanks to its available 4.9-liter V8 engine, which produced 210 horsepower.

However, the Greening Auto Company 1971 Maverick takes performance to a whole new level with its twin-turbocharged 7.0-liter Ford V8, generating a whopping 1,200 horsepower. This special Maverick, which won the “Best In Show” award at the 2018 SEMA GT Awards, reached a top speed of 202.6 mph in 2019 before being digitized for the game.

1971 Ford Maverick By Greening Auto Company

The 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo was built to homologate a Group A racer. It features subtle yet significant modifications compared to the standard R32 GT-R, such as additional air inlets in the front bumper and removal of the rear windshield wiper and ABS. The car retains the same engine, suspension, and braking system as the non-Nismo GT-R but is about 80 pounds lighter, promising a more aggressive driving experience.

1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo
1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo

In addition to the new cars, the GT7 update now allows players to swap engines at GT Auto. However, this feature has limitations and can only be done with certain predetermined vehicle/engine combinations. Nonetheless, this update brings Gran Turismo closer to simulating real-world racing.

Motorsport

Watch 1972 Ford Gran Torino Get First Wash In 20 Years

The owner of this 1972 Ford Gran Torino put it in an open garage bay 20 years ago, and it sat there ever since. Now, the folks at WD Detailing drag the forgotten personal luxury coupe out of the resting place to give the vehicle a much-needed wash. 

While it was partially covered, this Gran Torino still looks rough. There’s dust and grime on the body. The interior is filthy. According to the owner, a raccoon got into the engine bay at some point and tore things up.

WD Detailing focuses on cleaning the car, but the team also makes sure the engine still turns over. It does, but the Ford needs lots of work before the powerplant gets running again. 

Rather than starting by washing the body like usual, the detailers begin with the cabin this time because they plan on dyeing the carpets. The upholstery on the seats is also filthy. There’s a massive mouse nest under the rear seat.

As usual, just washing the body goes a long way toward making this Gran Torino look better. Instead of using wash mitts, the crew wipes the body with sandpaper to remove the oxidation from the paint. While unorthodox, the tactic works well here.

At the end of the cleaning process, the Gran Torino looks significantly better. There’s still some patina on the body with some chipped paint and less-than-shiny chrome. Inside, there are big holes on the driver and passenger side of the front bench. Plus, there would still need to be lots of mechanical work to make the car road-worthy.

Ford introduced the Torino name in 1968 as an upmarket subseries for the Fairlane. In 1970, the Blue Oval swapped the nomenclature by making Torino the primary model and Fairlane the submodel. For the 1972 model year, the Torino entirely took over, and the Blue Oval introduced the Gran Torino moniker.

Ford offered the ’72 Torino with an inline-six and a variety of V8s. This one has an eight-cylinder powerplant, but we can’t see enough to identify which one.

The show Starsky and Hutch made the Gran Torino a TV star. The characters drove 1975 and ’76 cars with a white stripe along the side. A ’72 Gran Torino was the eponymous machine in the 2008 film Gran Torino.

Cars

Best Electric Cars Of 2023

The BMW i4 M50 had a lot to meet the expectations. It had to offer the performance of an M-badged car, the practicality of a 4-Series Gran Coupe, and the smooth, refined experience that BMW EV buyers look for. It was a challenging task, but the i4 M50 successfully delivers on all aspects, making it one of the most satisfying BMWs to drive in recent times. Inspired by the M5, this car is surprisingly practical without compromising on performance. The front and rear seats are spacious, there’s a decent-sized trunk, and the cabin offers the luxurious BMW experience we know and love.

When you press the accelerator, the car feels even more powerful than the M440i, thanks to its dual electric motors that provide a surge of energy capable of lighting up the tires when the traction control is turned off. Whether you’re driving aggressively on winding roads or cruising on the highway, the i4 M50 handles remarkably well. And when it’s time to recharge, its support for 200 kW DC fast charging allows you to get back on the road quickly – assuming you can find a sufficiently powerful charger in the first place.

The only major drawback of the i4 M50 is its limited range, as it can only travel 227 miles between charges, whereas the regular i4 offers up to 301 miles. Aside from that, it excels in almost every aspect, making it an outstanding choice if you can live with the shorter range.