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First have a look at new 771bhp Bentley Continental GT PHEV

Bentley has launched the primary photos of the next-generation Continental GT, which is able to pack practically 800bhp from a brand new hybrid drivetrain, making it the agency’s strongest automobile but.

A heavy revision of right this moment’s third-generation automobile, it’s the first Bentley to make use of the brand new ‘ultra-performance hybrid’ set-up, which pairs an uprated 4.0-litre V8 with a single electrical motor that’s anticipated to be built-in into the gearbox. The two mix to ship as much as 771bhp and 738lb ft to all 4 wheels, making it stronger than the W12 fitted within the extremely unique Batur.

The consequence will virtually actually be a 0-62mph time faster than the three.6sec claimed by the previous 650bhp Continental GT Speed, though Bentley has but to publish any detailed efficiency figures.

As properly as mammoth energy, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up formally delivers 50 miles of electric-only driving between costs, contributing to a CO2 emissions determine of lower than 50g/km. This would place it within the 8% benefit-in-kind tax band for the 2024-25 monetary yr. 

Bentley has but to element the burden implications of the automobile’s new electrified innards, however the outgoing V8 GT Speed tipped Autocar’s scales at 2279kg. 

In a bid to protect its dynamic character, the incoming fourth-generation automobile receives new dual-valve dampers along with tweaked energetic anti-roll bars, plus revised torque vectoring and four-wheel steering programs.

The new PHEV replaces Bentley’s earlier V8 and W12 powertrains wholesale, with the Continental GTC cabriolet and Flying Spur saloon additionally set to be up to date later this yr.

The Bentley Bentayga will provide a pure-combustion engine till 2026, at which level it’ll go hybrid-only.

The V6-based PHEV within the Bentayga and Flying Spur stays on sale.

Dodge Somehow Sold a Brand-New Viper This Year

It’s been almost seven years since Dodge ceased Viper manufacturing, however the model continues to promote the remaining inventory. Stellantis launched its first-quarter gross sales outcomes for 2024, and the info reveals the automaker bought one Viper within the first three months of the 12 months.

Dodge can also be already midway towards equalling the mannequin’s 2023 gross sales numbers. It sold two of them last year, each within the final quarter.

Prius Winning This World Car Of The Year Award Would’ve Been Unthinkable 18 Months Ago

When the first-generation Toyota Prius was launched nearly 27 years ago, the automobile wasn’t significantly identified for its enticing seems. What it was well-known for, nonetheless, was its credentials because the world’s first mass-produced hybrid automobile. So necessary was this label that Toyota was capable of maintain individuals fixated on the automobile’s eco-friendliness regardless of having some obvious points with the design.

Toyota would quickly discover that there are sufficient takers for a automobile that promotes itself as a inexperienced automobile that not solely pollutes much less but additionally boasts unimaginable gasoline effectivity figures. For some, the automobile’s ungainly design additionally meant their automobile stood out from the remainder of the automobiles on the street, giving them an odd sense of exclusivity. Despite the arrival of newer Hybrid automobiles, the Toyota Prius nonetheless sells in massive numbers within the U.S. and Japan.

Between the first-gen Prius from 1997 and the fifth-generation Prius from 2022, there have been three separate generations of Prius automobiles that endured with the oddball design. The Prius has been promoting fairly properly for Toyota within the U.S. for a number of years. However, the numbers for the U.S. market plateaued round 2014 and have been taking place ever since.

With the arrival of handsome EVs and PHEVs out there, it now not made sense for Toyota to stick with an odd design for the 2023 Toyota Prius. It can be fascinating to see how a lot of an affect this design revamp has on precise gross sales figures, although.

Jeep Played It Safe With This Year’s Easter Safari Concepts

Easter is almost upon us, and for Jeep lovers, meaning it is time for the annual Easter Jeep Safari. Four colourful idea autos—two Wranglers, a Gladiator, and a Grand Wagoneer—will be part of 1000’s of Jeep house owners at Moab for the off-road motion. And whereas these most likely aren’t essentially the most superb Easter Jeep Safari ideas we have seen, the colourful paint jobs will definitely make them stand out.

Before diving into the specifics of every idea, although, it is price noting that Jeep’s presence is not fairly as strong this yr versus current safaris. Seven concepts hit the trails last year, together with a cool 1978 Cherokee restomod. 2022 also featured seven vehicles, although some have been carryovers from the 2021 SEMA Show.

Last yr, Stellantis pulled out of several big auto shows and later introduced it was suspending all present exercise. It’s unclear if that call additionally impacts occasions just like the Easter Jeep Safari; we have reached out to Jeep to study extra and we’ll share that info ought to it turn out to be accessible.

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept

You will not discover any restomods from Jeep this yr, however the Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept actually pulls on our Seventies heartstrings. Wearing a metallic two-tone Ginger Snap exterior end, it has flat fender flares and a modified entrance bumper from American Expedition Vehicles. This makes room for 40-inch all-terrain tires turned by Dana 60 axles, and there is an adjustable air suspension system in there too. The 3.6-liter V-6 and eight-speed automated are inventory.

Inside, the inside will get a leather-based makeover and the mattress options lockable storage elements. All in all, it is a comparatively minor construct however it could possibly be the best-looking idea of the bunch.

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept

Jeep Low Down Concept

Jeep Low Down Concept

A low-rider at Moab does not make sense, however on this occasion, low down does not imply a slammed suspension. In reality, this Wrangler maintains its manufacturing unit inventory journey peak with 42-inch mud-terrain tires squeezed in there. Jeep says that is to assist maintain the middle of gravity low, however the wheel/tire combo wants particular high-clearance carbon fender flares to make it work. And did we point out that is based mostly on a Wrangler Rubicon 392? That means a inventory 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 is below the hood, making 470 horsepower.

A customized clear hood permits you to see the Hemi beneath it, although onlookers is perhaps blinded by its Poison Apple Red paint job. The inside will get customized black leather-based seats, and it is shielded by a bespoke pink bikini prime. And to be sure to remember what’s below the hood, 392 decals are distinguished on the fenders and the sprint.

Jeep Low Down Concept

Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept

Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept

Here’s the place issues get very inexperienced. The Willys Dispatcher Concept showcases the place Jeep began and the place it is going, combining retro cues reminiscent of embossed Willys lettering on the hood and metal wheels with a contemporary Wrangler 4xe powertrain. The 16-inch wheels are shod with 36-inch tires that, frankly, look reasonably modest on this lineup. There’s a easy entrance bumper with a giant ol’ winch in there, and inside, the seats don’t have any headrests to additional push the retro theme. However, the leather-based seats are removed from what you’d discover in a basic post-war Jeep.

You additionally will not discover the hybrid powertrain, which stays inventory at 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. There are Dana 50 axles and 4.70 gears for low-speed functionality, and there is no lacking it in Moab because of the shade of Element 115 Green utilized to the outside.

Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept

Jeep Vacationeer Concept

Jeep Vacationeer Concept

Just as vivid on the eyes is that this Grand Wagoneer idea, painted Spearmint and fitted with a pop-top tent for overlanding journey. Jeep additionally provides only a contact of woodgrain to the perimeters, an ode to the basic Wagoneer and one which simply stands out in opposition to the pastel end. Inside is awash with plaid, a minimum of on the entrance seats as a result of the second and third rows are eliminated. This makes room for the Skyloft prime, which is completely mounted and accessible from inside the SUV.

The suspension and powertrain are inventory, although the 35-inch tires present an additional inch and a half of floor clearance. Larger wheel wells and customized fender flares make room for the tires, and skidplates assist shield the undercarriage.

Jeep Vacationeer Concept
Jeep Vacationeer Concept

“Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, is the perfect venue for new Jeep concepts, with more than 20,000 Jeep enthusiasts gathering each year to celebrate the most iconic 4×4 brand in the world,” mentioned Jeep CEO Bill Peffer. “From 4xe electrification to unmatched 392 power, this year’s Jeep 4×4 concepts illustrate how the most capable Wrangler ever appeals to such a wide range of people.”

The 2024 Easter Jeep Safari runs from March 23-31.

Abandoned Cars Are Becoming a Big Problem in Oakland

Oakland, California, has an deserted automotive drawback. Over six months in 2023, individuals reported practically 14,000 deserted vehicles to town, and the state of affairs has worsened in 2024. The metropolis is working out of house to retailer the automobiles, resorting to stacking them on high of one another in some cases, and residents are fed up and annoyed with all of the vehicles.

The automobiles litter town’s streets, blocking entry to houses, companies, and even colleges whereas chewing up beneficial parking house. ABC 7 News Bay Area went on a ride-along with Oakland council member Noel Gallo, uncovering practically 50 deserted vehicles in about half-hour, all in numerous states of disrepair. Many had been stolen and stripped for elements, whereas others had been victims of smash-and-grab operations.

According to ABC 7’s report, the Oakland Police Department will solely reply if a car is obstructing entry to a house. The Oakland Department of Transportation handles all the opposite deserted automobiles, and it might probably take time to take away a automotive.

The metropolis has so many abandoned cars that it pays practically $1 million yearly in storage prices, with one lot containing for than 2,000 automobiles. However, reduction may quickly be coming as metropolis council members voted for elevated funding to resolve the difficulty, hiring a number of tow firms whereas using parking tons from the California Department of Transportation. The metropolis can be hiring 15 extra parking management technicians who will hit the streets this yr.

Fiat Outsold All The Other Stellantis Brands In 2023, Again

Fiat could also be a shadow of its former self in Europe and almost absent within the US nevertheless it’s printing cash in different elements of the world. 2023 marked the third 12 months in a row when it outsold all the opposite automakers a part of the Stellantis mum or dad firm. As a refresher, the results of the FCA-PSA merger finalized in early 2021 is an automotive juggernaut with no fewer than 14 manufacturers.

The Italian marque is joyful to report demand went up by 12 p.c in comparison with 2022, reaching 1.35 million gross sales. Fiat’s market share at house in Italy was solely 12.8 p.c in 2023, or 11.1 p.c if we solely embody passenger vehicles. Other areas contributed to the gross sales progress. The model’s market share in Turkey was 15.7 p.c final 12 months when 21.8 p.c of latest automobile patrons in Brazil acquired a Fiat.

Jeep Recalls Nearly 200,000 Hybrids For Malfunctioning Defrost System

Jeep is recalling practically 200,000 plug-in hybrid electrical autos. A recall issued by the automaker and printed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe might have software program that disables the windshield defrost system in sure situations.

A choose variety of 2021-2024 Wranglers and 2022-2024 Grand Cherokees had been constructed with incorrectly programmed hybrid management processor software program. The recall impacts 139,318 Wrangler 4xes and 59,825 Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid electrical autos, relationship again to the start of the variants’ manufacturing.

Here’s Every Insane Option On The New Rezvani Beast

It’s been almost 10 years since Rezvani first hit the scene with a automobile known as the Beast. The latest Beast is radically totally different from the unique, and never simply because it is based mostly on a C8 Chevrolet Corvette. Whereas most supercars have choices like aero packages or upgraded supplies for the inside, Rezvani offers you gasoline masks, electrified door handles, armor plating, and sure, a smoke display system.

You’re doubtless acquainted with options like this in Rezvani’s different choices, notably the Tank and Vengeance. But this can be a small, two-seat, carbon-fiber supercar. You can order it as a traditional automobile if you would like – costs begin at $485,000. But actually, should you’re spending that a lot, who would not pay an additional $45,000 for the 007 Package? As the identify suggests, it is filled with goodies you’d anticipate finding in a James Bond film.

Here’s what the laundry record of choices for the 2024 Rezvani Beast contains:

  • Military Run-flat Tires
  • Thermal Night Vision System
  • Electromagnetic Pulse Protection
  • Smoke Screen System
  • First Aid Kit
  • Hypothermia Kit
  • Pepper Spray Dispenser
  • Magnetic Dead Bolts
  • Electrified Door Handles
  • Lights/Siren/Horn Upgrades
  • Strobe Lights
  • Intercom System
  • Gas Masks
  • Explosive Device Detection (non-compulsory)
2024 Rezvani Beast
2024 Rezvani Beast
2024 Rezvani Beast

We needed to know extra about these techniques in a supercar, so we chatted with Cynthia Karimi at Rezvani Motors about it. For the document, she says these things are authorized in a automobile. But should you go mucking about with smoke screens on the mall car parking zone or shoot pepper spray at Cars & Coffee, you are in all probability going to get in hassle.

“They’re self-defense so they’re not on continuously,” she defined. “Of course, you don’t want to goof off, use them inappropriately. Security-featured cars are more prominent than not. They just don’t look like this.”

Some objects like first-aid kits or upgraded lights are straightforward to understand on a small supercar, however how does one match smoke screens and pepper spray dispensers into one thing Corvette-sized? Karimi did not share full particulars, however intelligent packaging performs a giant position. Rezvani does all of the work in-house, and since every automobile is built-to-order, customization is all the time attainable.

“There’s a little bit of installation to them,” mentioned Karimi. “For example, the smoke screen is tied to the exhaust system; a special formula is injected into the exhaust, and at the push of a button, the client is able to activate the smoke screen and hopefully lose a tracker.”

2024 Rezvani Beast

Controlling all these options is a financial institution of buttons that Rezvani typically installs above the rearview mirror, although consumers can decide to have them positioned someplace else. For that matter, particular choices may be chosen if the customer does not need the whole lot of the 007 Package. However, Karimi says Rezvani purchasers usually need all the things.

That contains armor, which is not a part of the 007 Package however is out there for an additional $55,000. For that, you get B4 ballistics safety courtesy of composite armor put in throughout the automobile below its carbon fiber physique, and home windows which can be an inch thick. The upfit provides 350 kilos to the Beast, which actually is not as a lot as we had been anticipating.

“The body and the tub are very lightweight, so when you add the armor, which is made of composite materials, you don’t feel that much weight,” mentioned Karimi. “And you achieve the goal of adding that protective layer to yourself.”

Only 20 Rezvani Beasts might be constructed, and should you’ve already completed the fundamental math, they are not low cost. With the $45,000 007 Package and $55,000 armor improve added in, this automobile prices $585,000 – sufficient to purchase two Porsche 911 Turbo S fashions for weekend enjoyable and a Corvette Z06 to function your each day driver. But that is not stopping consumers from getting in line. Rezvani tells us manufacturing is underway and some have already been offered, together with at the least one fully-equipped Beast with the 007 Package and armor improve.

So should you come across a modern supercar with shades of C8 Corvette styling and Rezvani branding, take our recommendation: Give the motive force some area. Lots of area.