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The new 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid takes on Ken Bjønnes in a tuned 1,100 horsepower Palm Beach Dyno Mustang GT500 at MITM Elite for a series of rolling races, followed by a quarter-mile pass by each car. Can the Model S Plaid come out on top?

Tesla was quite active at the Green Hell before the Covid hit us, but it seems like it’s back there again; this time, with a prototype of the Model S Plaid. The only logical explanation for the red prototype to be there is it gunning for a record lap. The company had unofficially set a record back in 2019, but is back two years later to set another record that could possibly be an official attempt to dethrone the Porsche Taycan. Exciting stuff, isn’t it?

Earlier this month, Brabus revealed its latest creation based on the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S coupé – the Brabus 800. The German tuner has given it a typical Brabus treatment. It comes with a black exterior, big wheels, oodles of carbon fiber elements and components, and of course, a power boost.

The Volkswagen Passat is officially dead in the United States. Well, not quite yet, but it’s definitely taking its last breaths as Volkswagen prepares the Chattanooga plant in Tennessee for production of the Atlas, Atlas Cross, and all-electric ID.4. As the U.S. market bids farewell to the Passat, it’s going to honor it in the only way it knows how – a special edition. The car you see here is just one of four configurations, with a total of 1,973 examples being built. Why 1,973? Because 1973 was the first year the Passat was offered.

Volkswagen will produce 411 examples of the Passat special edition in a combination of Aurora Red Metallic with a Titan Black interior. This model represents the original production code of the Passat – 411. Next, there will be 423 examples of the passat finished in Racing Green Metallic with a Mauro Brown interior. 423 represents the Chattanooga, TN area code. Another version finished in Pure White with Mauro Brown interior will be produced in just 524 examples, representing the opening date of the Chattanooga plant: May 24, 2011. Finally, the fourth iteration of the Passat special edition will be offered in Grey Metallic with a Titan Black interior. 615 represents six generations of imported Passats (6), one generation assembled in Chattanooga (1), and 5 decades of U.S. sales (5).

Outside of the exclusive exterior paint and interior theme, there’s not a whole lot to set the Passat special edition apart from the pack. The seats inside will feature a “x of 1973” tag on one side and “Chattanooga 2011” on the other. Comfort sports seats will come standard with Vienna leather while the exterior will ride on distinctive 18-inch, fifteen-spoke wheels. Pricing for the Passat special edition comes in at $30,295 but the Aurora Red Metallic will add an extra $395 to the ticket.

Nissan unveiled the all-new fifth-generation (R53) Pathfinder back in February. It was scheduled to go on sale in the summer. Well, the wait is finally over. The Pathfinder went on sale earlier this month.

This model has been overhauled from the ground up. It receives a far more rugged exterior and a modern yet functional interior. There are four trims to choose from. S, SL, SV, and top-spec Platinum.

Being on the market since 2017, it might seem logical to glance over the Mercedes E-Class until a new-gen model arrives in a few years. That actually couldn’t be further from the truth because the E-Class lineup was refreshed for 2021 with new technology, and updated appearance, and a more efficient powertrain. We’ve been itching to see how the new E-Class stands after its most recent refresh, so Mercedes let us spend a week with the E450 Wagon. It didn’t take long for us to realize that the fifth-gen E-Class has aged well, and in fact, we’d take the E450 Wagon over most SUVs – how’s that for a plot twist?

The BMW 5 Series has long been one of the brand’s most significant models. With nearly 50 years of history and millions sold, the 5er has enjoyed great success. The current G30 generation was recently updated, so it’s not going away in the next couple of years. That said, we’ve already seen spy footage of the next generation BWM 5 Series, set to debut around 2024. This is what we know so far.

The Audi RS7 and the BMW M5 CS are both quick vehicles, but how they do fare against each other? Daniel Abt finds out the answer by pitting the two together in a drag race. While the Bimmer makes more horsepower, the Lord of the four rings produces a lot more torque. Both the Germans are powered by V-8s and feature an all-wheel-drive system. With similar specs, you’d expect them to have a close race. However, the M5 CS blows the RS7 out of the water. What do you think could be the reason for it – transmission, weight, tires, driver’s skill?

A Cosworth-built 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V-12, 11,000 RPM, hybrid powertrain, 1,160 horsepower (865 kilowatts). Those are just some of the astonishing numbers of the $3.0+ million Aston Martin Valkyrie. The car is able to hit 60 mph (97 km/h) in under 3.0 seconds and only 150 units will be produced with deliveries starting in September. Moreover, there is an even rarer Valkyrie AMR Pro, limited to just 40 units. Nevertheless, the Valkyrie’s debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed turned out to be less than glamorous, as the car had an unexpected malfunction during the hill climb.

Lately, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has been the most talked-about EV. It was initially met by mixed reactions as Ford not only slapped the Mustang name on it, previously belonging exclusively to the two-door pony car, but they also gave it many of the Mustang’s design elements, such as the front fascia and the tri-bar taillights. However, as it turns out, the Mach-E has one key redeeming feature, as it recently got into the Guinness world records book thanks to its efficiency.

Hyundai is trying hard to make its performance ‘N’ division more mainstream. The automaker has infused the Elantra with the ‘N’ steroids to come up with its first high-performance sedan. The company has taken the wraps off the global version of the Elantra N, but confirmed that it will come to the U.S. as well. The U.S.-spec Elantra N will debut at the New York Auto Show that’s slated for August 2021.

If you are currently on the market for a performance sedan, you have a lot of options. So much so that it’s almost impossible to choose unless you favor a specific brand. With this in mind, sometimes what can tip the scales in favor of one car is performance. YouTube channel Sam CarLegion helps simplify things with a series of drag races. This time it’s the new Genesis G70 3.3t versus the Infiniti Q50 RedSport. The two cars go head to head in eight drag races, and the results are quite different and intriguing.

Not long ago, we shared details on how Mazda plans to reinvent itself. Now it appears that the brand’s best-selling model - the CX-5 - will not only continue to be a part of Mazda’s portfolio but is also about to become a lot more exciting. Mazda has confirmed that the upcoming CX-5 will “ride” on their new rear-wheel-drive architecture. Of course, you’ll still be able to get it with all-wheel-drive, but the new platform promises a lot more flexibility and sportiness. But that’s not all that’s new for the next generation CX-5.

The Sportage is one of the longest-running nameplates in Kia’s history. It has been around since 1993 and is entering its fifth generation as it nears its three-decade anniversary. The new Sportage comes with a plethora of changes. It looks a lot smarter than the current model, is underpinned on a new architecture, and will be offered with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. Kia will also add a new trim on the fifth-gen Sportage. At this point, not a lot of detail is revealed, but we should hear more of it when it arrives in late 2021 or early 2022.

Despite manufacturers churning out a variety of luxury SUVs of late, full-size luxury sedans are still the epitome of opulence and lavish luxury. Even now, the luxury sedan market is quite competitive. The new Mercedes S-Class recently came out, Audi has updated their A8, and an all-new BMW 7 Series is on its way. The German trio has been killing it for years, with the occasional Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS, or Cadillac CT6 securing a rather insignificant market share. Now, however, Genesis is the one gunning for the full-size luxury sedan segment, by coming up with an all-new G90. Here’s what we know so far.

A drag race between two stock midsize pickup trucks is about as scientific as a drift competition with shopping carts. Pickup truck buyers are rarely interested in the performance aspect of these vehicles, but Carwow still gives us the answer to a question we never thought of asking – which is the quicker pickup truck. This time it’s the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok that line up for a quarter-mile drag and despite the two vehicles being very similar on paper, the outcome is quite decisive.