Author: News Room
A new record in the Cannonball Run—an unsanctioned time-trial rally from New York to Los Angeles—always attracts headlines. But this week’s record-setting run is even more absurd than most. Completed in a BMW 535 diesel, driver Chris Stowell covered the 2,800-mile Cannonball in just 27 hours and 16 minutes at an average moving speed of 105 miles per hour. More ludicrously, he achieved this with no spotters, no co-driver, and only light modifications to his car. It represents the outright post-COVID-lockdown record, as well as the solo record and the diesel-car record. A record-holding run with so little pomp and…
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz configurator is live, including pricing. Only the Pro S Plus trim has available options. Adding accessories can send ID. Buzz pricing beyond $75,000. It feels like 100 years since Volkswagen revealed the ID. Buzz to the world. Buyers in North America are still awaiting initial deliveries, which should happen before the end of the year—but only in the very expensive 1st Edition trim. To refresh your memory, the 1st Edition starts at $67,045 for the single-motor rear-wheel drive version. It’s a far cry from the humble VW Type 2 on which the Buzz draws inspiration. How…
Mini has updated the Cooper Convertible with new styling. It has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making either 161 or 201 horsepower. It goes on sale in January for $34,945. After a real boom in the 2000s, convertibles are now struggling in the car market. The very small ones, in particular, have almost completely disappeared. If you want to drive an open-top car, you often have to dig deep into your pockets. So it is all the more pleasing that Mini is sticking with it and giving its convertible a major facelift. “We are very proud to be able to offer…
It’s safe to say Dacia is on a roll. The Sandero is Europe’s best-selling car so far this year, well ahead of the once all-conquering Volkswagen Golf. In addition, the Duster is dueling the Tiguan for sixth place. With the Bigster, Renault’s low-cost division wants a larger piece of the pie by dipping its toes into C-segment territory. Unimaginative name aside, the company’s biggest vehicle ever is shaping up to be a solid product. Dacia calls it a completely new vehicle but we’re seeing a Duster XL. Essentially, it’s a production version of the 2021 Bigster concept, and dare we…
The 2025 Ford Explorer has a friendlier infotainment system, a slicker interior, and a laundry list of features—including Ford’s fantastic BlueCruise Level 2 driving assist. Unfortunately, it also gets much angrier-looking, and its top-trim Platinum and ST models are pricey enough to make for some confusing cross-shopping for three-row buyers. Quick Specs 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum Engine Turbocharged 2.3-Liter Inline-Four Output 300 Horsepower / 310 Pound-Feet Efficiency 20 City / 29 Highway / 24 Combined Base Price/As Tested $41,350 / $53,250 On-Sale Date Now I’ll start with its physical appearance. When my test vehicle was dropped off, I initially saw…
Jeep killed the 5.7-liter V-8 in the Grand Cherokee in late 2022. About a year later, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer lost the Hemi as well. Now, we’re bidding adieu to this eight-cylinder engine from the Grand Cherokee L as well. You could’ve had it in the more expensive Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trim levels before it was quietly phased out in the third quarter of 2024. The eight-cylinder engine can’t be ordered anymore, making the Grand Cherokee L yet another model to lose V-8 power in recent years. Motor Authority learned from a Jeep spokesperson the company has…
The Rolls-Royce Ghost has received a minor refresh for 2025. Called the Ghost Series II, it has an updated front fascia, lights, and new interior features. The V-12 powertrain carries over unchanged, thankfully. You probably won’t notice the changes on the 2025 Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II unless you look closely. The sedan’s stunning silhouette is unchanged from its debut in 2020, but Rolls-Royce designers have made some lighting and fascia updates to give the Ghost a slight refresh. Inside is still a bastion of luxury, though it’s now infused with updated software and even more customization options. Up front there’s…
The Cadillac Celestiq starts at $350,000. It’s a handbuilt ultra-luxury sedan with its sights set on Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and the first of its kind in the General Motors lineup. While nobody in the press has had the opportunity to drive one yet, I recently got the chance to ride shotgun in the Celestiq to see what all the fuss was about. The Celestiq is the brand’s most audacious car in recent memory. Not only does it stand alone in the automaker’s lineup price-wise, but it’s only the second high-end electric luxury car after the Rolls-Royce Spectre. The Cadillac is…
If you feel like there aren’t enough ultra-expensive supercars out there, we’ve got good news. After last year’s wild IndyCar-inspired Half11 speedster, California-based Oilstainlab is back with the 2026 HF-11, yours for the princely sum of $1.85 million. What is it? A mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive machine that weighs less than a Mazda Miata but has more than three and a half times the power. Founded by car designers Nikita and Iliya Bridan, Oilstainlab is engineering the lightweight coupe with a flat-six engine. You’d be tempted to say it’s a Porsche-sourced powertrain, but the twin brothers told Car and Driver the naturally aspirated engine is…
[UPDATE] Volkswagen of America has confirmed the US will be getting a long-wheelbase Tiguan but mentions that its “sheet metal, powertrain options, and equipment set will differ markedly.” The new US-spec Tiguan debuts later this year. If it won’t be a spitting image of the Tayron, it could have more in common with the Chinese-market Tayron L. Tayron isn’t a new name in Volkswage’s lineup. It’s been around in China since 2018 and is now making its way into the company’s European portfolio. What is it? Essentially, a seven-seat version of the latest-generation Tiguan. In other words, it replaces the…