Industry News

Ferrari has been very busy through the first half of 2021, introducing – as of the time of this writing – two “new” models: The 812 Limited Edition V12 and the V-12 Targa that is the 812 Competizione. These cars are a big deal because it’s widely believed that, thanks to increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the forced transition to electrification, the days of larger naturally aspirated engines like the Ferrari V-12 are about to come to an end. This, however, may not be the case – at least not if Ferrari has anything to say about it.

As we transitioned into 2021, we learned that Lotus was bringing us a new sports car, but it would come at the cost of the Elise, Exige, and Evora. For some, the death of cars like the Elise isn’t that big a deal. After all, we haven’t had it in the United States for a decade now, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s been an icon for the brand since the Elise Series 1 was introduced way back in 1996. Killing off the Elise is similar to Nissan killing of the Z car or the GT-R, so why is Lotus making such a move? Well, the answer is simpler than you might think.

When Volkswagen introduced the new 2020 Mk.8 Golf, we got to feast eyes on the Golf GTI, GTD, and GTE, a blend of trims that pretty much covered every desire imaginable. Later we got to lay eyes on the 2021 VW Golf R and Golf GTI Clubsport. I don’t need to tell you why any of these models is special, but did you know that only the Golf GTI and Golf R are sold here in the United States? That’s right! Outside of these two models, the rest of the Golf lineup is a forbidden fruit. It might seem a little early to think about the next-gen Golf considering the 8th generation is still practically brand new, but will there be another generation? And, what happens after that? Well, with the way the automotive industry is changing, that’s a very good question.

Lotus’ highly-anticipated Evija is getting close to production and it promises staggering performance. Matt Windle says that, currently, there are a few Evija prototypes, each focusing on a different aspect – one focuses on battery management, another on build and tech, and a third one – on the motors. The one he drove most recently was focused on the performance aspect and he promises that it does not disappoint.

Let’s face it, Performance vehicles as we know them like the BMW M4, Hyundai Veloster, – and by that, I mean cars with raw internal combustion power – aren’t exactly staring down the barrel of a bright future. By 2030 or 2040 at the latest, there’s a good chance that you’ll only be able to buy electric vehicles and, while they can offer some great performance as we’ve learned from cars like the Porsche Taycan, the basis behind performance vehicles is changing. That’s probably why automakers are offering so many performance vehicles that, well, probably shouldn’t even exist.

The Hyundai Kona N, as cool as it is, is one such model. The world doesn’t need a high-performance Kona, but here we are with one. Other automakers are doing the same thing, and it’s only because we’re willing to snatch them up as quickly as they can produce them simply based on the fact that this is probably our last chance. And that’s probably a big reason as to why Hyundai has just promised a whole bunch of N Performance models….

Following the FCA-PSA merger that created Stellantis, Alfa Romeo has a new design boss, but whether or not the company is going to survive the next five years is still being called into question. Recent news that the Tonale was being delayed by three months doesn’t help but the latest interview between Auto News and Alfa’s new CEO is, well, troubling.

If someone tells you that a particular performance car’s weight figures are rigged, you would assume the company has listed it to be lighter than what it actually weighs. I mean, wouldn’t a lighter car hold more advantage over a heavier car? But as it turns out, that’s not the case with the Euro-spec BMW M3 Competition. The folks at MotorTrend weighed the car and found out that the BMW M3 Competition is actually 150 pounds lighter than what the company claims. Why, you ask? Because of EU regulations! Yeah, we were as confused as you at first.

2019 was the year when Bugatti unveiled the La Voiture Noir (The Black Car) in Geneva. The La Voiture Noire is a one-off model built to celebrate Bugatti’s 110th anniversary, it was sold before the public got a chance to see it, and pays respects to Ettore Bugatti’s stunning Type 57SC Atlantic, a car that disappeared from the carmaker’s workshops during the Second World War and was never found to this day.

Given the chance, I’m willing to bet that 90-percent of the car-loving population would be more than happy to drive a Nissan GT-R or, even better yet, the Nissan GT-R Nismo. Of course, 89-percent of that original 90-percent will never get the chance to get behind the wheel, not because the GT-R is hard to find but because it’s hard to afford. If you were to cruise into a Nissan dealership right now, you’d have to pony up at least $113,540 just for a base model GT-R. If you want to go all out and get the Godzilla of Godzilla’s – the GT-R Nismo – you’ll have to spend nearly double that or $210,740. And, that’s where the Nissan Z comes in.

As you are probably well aware, a lot of governments offer some relatively big incentives to get people into EVs, probably, well before they would normally make the transition. Government incentives have been a big deal here in the U.S. and even over in Europe. Canada also has a new incentive – a $5,000 tax incentive – but there’s a catch: The electric car in question needs to have a base price under $45,000 and cost no more than $55,000 with options. Tesla’s entire lineup was out of the running, until recently when Tesla dropped the price of the entry-level Model 3 to $44,999 by removing autopilot and cutting range down to just 151 km or about 94 miles. This is where it gets sketchy, and it gives a good reason for criticism.

The merger between FCA and PSA came to light in 2019 when both the groups announced their holy matrimony. A lot of regrouping was expected at this point and there were hushed talks about some brands receiving the ax doing rounds. The new group, called Stellantis, ended up retaining them, but as it turns out, one major brand is getting banished from the kingdom, and it’s none other than the pickup truck manufacturer, Ram.

As if the world hasn’t been turned upside down as it is, we’re now receiving word that Porsche is actually developing a pickup truck through its newly announced partnership with Ford. This pickup truck will actually be positioned in the lower range of Porsche’s offerings and is expected to slot somewhere below the Macan – and you thought 2021 couldn’t get any worse.

Lamborghini is preparing a mid-cycle refresh for its Urus “Super SUV” and with it, an electrified version of the high-riding machine, which is also in line for a more hardcore Sport RS version if we are to believe the latest reports.