Car reviews

The 2021 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 is a supercar designed and built by Gordon Murray, the mastermind behind the iconic McLaren F1. A lightweight, aerodynamic car powered by a naturally aspirated V-12 engine, the T.50 was designed as a spiritual successor to the F1, with a focus on the driving experience rather than extreme performance. The T.50 shares many similarities to the old McLaren F1, but every aspect has been improved through the use of new-generation materials and modern technology. Let’s find out more about the T.50, described as "the most driver-centric supercar ever built" in the review below.

Update: The Spiritual Successor to the McLaren F1 - the Gordon Murrage T.50 - has launched with a similar three-seat configuration and ultra-lightweight, Cosworth-built engine, and the most impressive aerodynamic system of any supercar on the market today. Check out our full review of the Gordon Murray T.50 or all of our recent coverage of it

The McLaren F1 was unveiled in May 1992 and was the company’s first road-going production car. The idea was born in the late 1980s, when Gordon Murray, the technical director of McLaren’s Formula One, began sketching the F1 as a three-seat supercar. Appointed as head of McLaren Cars in 1991, Murray convinced Ron Dennis to build the vehicle and played a key role in the design of the F1. It was unlike any other supercar launched up to that point. It had a race-inspired design, a three-seat configuration with the driver seat in the middle, and a comfortable ride for a vehicle of its kind. It was also the first production car to use a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and the first to bring high-tech and expensive materials such as titanium, magnesium, Kevlar, and gold under the same roof.

Not only powerful and quick, the F1 was also the world’s fastest production car. Its record endured from 1992 until 2005, when Bugatti unleashed the ludicrous Veyron. The F1 spawned a couple of special-edition models such as the LM and the GT, but it was also used as a base for the GTR race car. Essentially a standard F1 with aerodynamic improvements, the GTR went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its first year on the race track.

Some 25 years have passed since its introduction and the F1 is already considered a classic. Usually changing owners for millions of dollars, the F1 is one of the very few multi-million-dollar supercars built in the 1990s.

Hyundai introduced the Venue subcompact crossover for the 2020 model year as an all-new model that’s based on the same platform as the Ascent compact sedan. As a subcompact, you can get a well-equipped model for less than $20,000, but that affordability doesn’t come without its tradeoffs. Being an all-new model, we’ve been itching to see how Hyundai’s latest entry to the U.S. market holds up, especially against long-running nameplates like the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Kicks. We finally got our chance with the mid-level SEL trim, and this is what you can expect from it.

The Mercedes-AMG G63 is turning out to be quite popular with the aftermarket tuners. We’ve seen builds from companies like Carlex Design, Wald International, Brabus, Mansory, and many others in the past.

This time, another company has laid its hands on the luxurious, boxy SUV. Germany-based PerformMaster has given the G63 a twist that includes a few cosmetic changes and a power bump that pushes it over 800 horses. Is this enough to set it apart from other customized builds?

We’ve seen plenty of Jeep Gladiator aftermarket builds, but this is one of a kind. South Florida Jeeps, aka So Flo Jeeps, has created a monster out of this simple-looking truck from Jeep. Called the SF 6x6G, the company has transformed every single nook and corner of this Gladiator. It rides much higher than the stock model, sits on bigger tires, comes equipped with a lot of additional accessories, has an extra axle, and the best part – packs a Corvette engine under the hood. Can a build get any better?

Lexus is turning to the open seas as the inspiration behind its latest special edition model. Evoking the ambiance of a luxury marina — Lexus’ words, not mine — the Toyota-owned luxury brand is commemorating the opening of orders for the new LC Convertible by rolling out a special edition LC droptop called the Regatta Edition.

Dressed to impress, the LC Convertible Regatta Edition’s theme has roots to the origin story of the LC’s design, which Lexus described as being inspired by ocean-going yachts. It’s a saucy piece, for sure, but sadly, access to the LC Regatta Edition is going to be very difficult. Lexus didn’t say how many units of the LC Regatta Edition it plans to build, but allocations in the U.K. and Europe have completely dried up. No word yet on how many units are headed to America, or if they’re still available, to begin with.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe is, by most accounts, a slick-looking performance coupe-SUV. But like most vehicles — and that includes performance-spec models — there are ways to make a model like the AMG GLC 63 S better. There are ways to make it look better, and, certainly, there are ways to make it perform better.

Noted Mercedes tuner Lorinser took up the task of transforming the AMG GLC 63 into a better all-around coupe SUV. The German tuner is known for its programs for Silver Arrow models so this new aftermarket kit for the high-powered GLC should be a walk in the park, right? Right? Well, let’s save the verdict below.

The Donkervoort D8 is not everyone’s cup of tea, but those who do find the retro-styled, road-legal roadster saucy will be thrilled to know that the company’s new flagship model, the D8 GT0-JD70, has a special edition alter ego called the Bare Naked Carbon Edition. As its name so eloquently states, the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 Bare Naked Carbon Edition is defined by all the bare carbon fiber that you can see all over its body. There are options on how you want your special edition D8 GTO-JD70, but all options revolve around the central carbon fiber theme of the model. Visually, the D8 GTO-JD70 Bare Naked Carbon Edition looks splendid in carbon fiber. But the model’s uniqueness is defined by more than just its aesthetic design; the use of carbon fiber also reduces the model’s overall weight, making it more sprightly than your typical range-topping D8 GTO-JD70. Only 70 units of the special edition D8 GTO-JD70 will be built. Pricing starts at €163,636.36, and that’s before taxes kick in. Over half of all units are spoken for, and, unfortunately, none of these bad boys are headed to the U.S. market.

The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 is a track-only supercar produced by Lamborghini. Unveiled in 2020, it’s developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, the company’s racing division, and designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile. A bespoke design that looks nothing like Lamborghini’s other vehicles, the Essenza SCV12 is limited to only 40 units and comes with its own racing program. Like other bespoke customer track cars from the past, such as the Ferrari FXX K and the McLaren P1 GTR, all examples of the Essenza SCV12 remain with Lamborghini outside specific customer events. Labeled as a direct descendant to the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR, the Essenza SCV12 is powered by a V-12 rated at more than 818 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful Lambo V-12 supercar developed so far.

In the wake of the success it had with the LEAF EV, Nissan is extending its ambitions in the crossover segment with the futuristic-looking Ariya, an all-electric crossover based on the Ariya prototype shown in 2019 in Tokyo.

As you’d expect, the styling cues flaunted by that Ariya - inside and outside - have a clear correspondent in Japanese tradition. The Ariya is available in 2WD and 4WD guise. Customers can also pick from one of the two available battery packs. We’ll get into more detail below.

Brabus is known to customize and give the vehicles it works on a unique twist. Its favorite bunny, the Mercedes-AMG G63, has been transformed into many different iterations. One of them is the Brabus 700. The aftermarket company later tweaked it again with a small performance boost and some exterior upgrades that resulted in the 700 Widestar. Now, another German company called Fostla.de has laid its hands on the Brabus 700 Widestar to give it its own twist. This pattern will make Christopher Nolan proud.

The Bronco’s revival has made enthusiasts and purists more than happy. But, given how tough the market has become, Ford knew that it would also need a practical vehicle. In comes the Bronco Sport. The Bronco Sport is not as rugged as the standard Bronco and can be very much used as a daily driver as well. If I had to describe it in a sentence, I’d say it’s not an off-roader like the Bronco, but a crossover with a very heavy off-road bias. It has a lot of Bronco shades and vibe all around, but will people accept it as an urban crossover and as their daily driver?

The Gladiator was the most anticipated launch of 2020, right alongside the Chevrolet C8. Jeep had revealed the pickup truck concept back in 2005, but it took the company 15 years to bring out the production version. This was going to be Jeep’s first pickup truck in 30 years, so it was natural for enthusiasts to be hyped up for it. Jeep even introduced five different Gladiator concepts at the 2019 Eastern Jeep Safari and gave the Wranglers a miss; which is some sort of a record in Jeep’s history.

The company launched the Gladiator with four trims plus a limited Launch Edition trim, but it expanded the lineup with three more trims within a year. The Gladiator was a true-blue Jeep, but it isn’t bringing in volumes for the automaker, perhaps because of its slightly-higher pricing. But, a year post its launch with new trims in line and price discounts to lure the customers, can the Gladiator rake in sales numbers for Jeep?

Most supercars live a life of unexplored potential. In a world where a Toyota Camry can hit 60 mph in a once-shocking six seconds, and six-figure performance machines have to cut that time in half to be relevant, few cars can be pushed to their limits in legal conditions. And the higher the limits, the fewer the chances you have to approach them. That means most supercars spend their days flaunting their looks — along with the prestige associated with their extreme capabilities — between occasional bursts of all-out speed.

Lamborghini hasn’t been shy when it comes to rolling out special edition models. It’s a tried-and-tested formula that always works for the Italian automaker, largely because consumer demand for these SE models has always been high.

Take the 2021 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Xago Edition, for example. It’s the latest in a long line of special edition Aventadors, except that this one is a celebratory SE that pays tribute to Lambo’s Ad Personam customization program. Yes, Lamborghini just rolled out a special edition Aventador SVJ to celebrate its own personalization division, though, to be fair, the Ad Personam program does have several new and exciting options on the table.

After being in production for over three decades, the Bronco went down in the history books as one of the most hardcore SUVs that mankind had ever seen. The SUV was developed as an off-roader to take on the Jeep CJ-5, and it succeeded to a large extent. However, the company decided to put down the model in 1996 to make way for a newer lineup. Purists and enthusiasts hoped the model would make a comeback, and after 20+ years, the moniker has come back from the ashes.

Rumors about its reincarnation started many years back, but the company didn’t confirm its existence until less than a year before it was unveiled. The wait was not easy, but it was worth it. The company launched the rugged, off-road Bronco in two- and four-door configurations, to go with an urban version with an off-road bias called the Bronco Sport. Ford will offer hundreds of optional accessories right from its launch as well. Despite all this, does it have in it to take on the undisputed king of the segment, the Jeep Wrangler?

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is the range-topping version of the AMG GT sports car. Unveiled in 2020, the Black Series model arrives six years after Mercedes-Benz debuted the AMG GT lineage, which now includes five road-legal models and two race-spec versions. The Black Series slots at the top of the range, featuring a race-inspired exterior and the most powerful iteration of the 4.0-liter V-8 engine yet. Heavily upgraded and capable of 720 horsepower, the Black Series’ mill is also the most powerful production V-8 from AMG. The Black Series model is also the most expensive from the lineup and the only Mercedes-Benz that costs in excess of €300,000.

It looks like we’re going through some ‘dark’ days lately. A couple of days back,Ram introduced a Black Edition package for its heavy duty trucks, and now BMW has come up with one for the X7 SUV. Called the Dark Shadow Edition, this appearance package will be limited to just 500 examples worldwide and the U.S. will receive 75 of those. BMW is asking $120,490 for this exclusive edition X7.

I believe we’re starting to get past the days when chrome was synonymous with luxury. For a person who has detested chrome his entire life, this is good news. Ram has introduced a new “Heavy Duty Limited Black Edition” for its top trims on the 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. This monochromatic package is essentially a dark treatment for all the bling that is present all over the Limited trim’s body. Although it is offered only on the Limited trim, it can be had with any engine and drive layout.