reviews

Every now and then, Volkswagen releases a random concept that showcases aftermarket mods and the potential of said model in the hands of someone willing to make some mods. Cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTE HyRacer showed us what was possible with the Golf while the Jetta GLI concept most likely gave birth to a few stunning blue Jettas on the road. There was also the Tiguan SE R-Line Black Rino Concept that somehow blended functionality with a low-rider stance. Now, Volkswagen is growing its enthusiast fleet again with the Arteon Big Sur concept.

BMW recently revealed a plethora of vehicles as part of the 2022 model refresh. One of them included the X3 M Competition. The German revealed the M models for the X3 and the X4 a couple of years back and have now refreshed it for the 2022 model year. It comes with nips and tucks on the inside and outside. Apart from this, the SUV also comes with a slight bump in the torque figures that results in quicker 0-60 mph times. Overall, not bad for what is essentially just a refresh.

Just like ABT Sportsline is to Audi, Manhart is to BMW. The German aftermarket company is known to customize Bimmers quite tastefully. They look quite different from the stock models, but nothing too extravagant. Their latest build is a testimony to that. Manhart has come up with its own version of the 2021 BMW M3 Competition called the MH3 600. The car comes with a black-and-gold combination on the outside that looks swell. But, it’s not just this. It also makes over 100 horses more and features a different suspension setup and exhaust system.

BMW’s gamble to come up with the 4 Series Gran Coupe paid. The company introduced it in 2014 to fill the vacuum between the 3 Series and the 5 Series. Given the vast lineup of both these models, no one really felt a need for a vehicle in between. But, as they say, it was something we didn’t know we need.

Fast forward to the present day, BMW has launched the second-gen of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Apart from the little tweaks and enhancements in all departments, the biggest add-on to the 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe is the extra pair of doors that makes it all the more practical. Like it any better now?

Ford has come up with a new compact pickup truck called the Maverick. The Maverick was leaked and spotted multiple times in the past. Ford teased in last week and gave us a glimpse of what to expect. Now, the truck is finally out. The Maverick will serve as the entry-level truck in Ford’s lineup and will slot below the Ranger. It will be offered with two different engine options, including a hybrid, with front-wheel-drive configuration as standard and an all-wheel-drive system as optional. The best part, however, is its price. The 2022 Ford Maverick is launched with a starting price of $19,995. Not bad, huh?

BMW has been testing an odd-looking BMW 8-Series. On the outside, the car looks like a normal BMW M8, but with a few very distinctive differences. We have known for a while that BMW has been cooking something else based on the 8-Series and all evidence suggests that it will be a hotter version of the car, sitting above the M8 Competition. Straight away, there are a few noticeable differences, and this is what you need to know.

Following the updated Buick Envision and Encore GX, Buick has given the Enclave a thorough workover. The exterior appearance has been improved thanks to Buick’s sharper design language, and you can even see some elements inspired by the Avenir too. The front fascia, grille, and headlights have all be updated, while Sport Touring models benefit from new 20-inch wheels. On the inside, Buick did everyone a justice by restyling the center console and a push-button electronic transmission gear selector. The cabin now has updated soft materials and the front seats are ventilated with a massage function. The Buick Enclave is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 that is good for 210 horsepower, and that is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Power is sent to the front wheels, but if you’re willing to pay for the upgrade, you can have all-wheel drive. The 2022 Buick Enclave will launch later on in 2021 following a pricing announcement sometime in late summer or early fall.

To celebrate the onset success of the new Kia Seltos, Kia has made it even better for the 2022 model year. A big part of the improvements for 2022 are the now standard safety features across the entire lineup. All models above the LX trim now feature a 10.25-inch infotainment display, UVO link connectivity, remote start, and auto climate control. The other side of the of the celebrate for 2022 is the new Seltos Turbo Nightfall Edition.

The Turbo Nightfall package is only available on models with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine (S and SX trim levels) that have 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque and all-wheel drive. The exterior is enhanced with a number of black elements, including the new 18-inch matte black alloy wheels, black grille, and the standup roof rails, among other things. The interior is left largely untouched outside of a flat-bottom steering wheel and the option to have a “Plum” colored interior. Pricing for the Seltos Nightfall Edition comes in at $26,690.

The Ferrari SF90 is an amazing machine and has served as a couple of different firsts for the company. The SF90 was Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid, and it was the most powerful Ferrari to ever leave the factory. To be more specific, the 4.0-liter (3,990cc) V-8 delivers a cool 769 horsepower while three electric motors supplement that with an extra 217 ponies for a total system output of 986 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 60 mph takes just 2.5 seconds while top speed is well into the 200-mph range. If you thought these specs were good enough, then you should think again because Wheels and More has turned the SF90 into an entirely different animal.

The A91 Toyota Supra has been the center of controversy ever since early 2020, when Toyota announced that the 2021 model would benefit from more power and better engineering. It got even worse when it was announced that Europeans wouldn’t get the updated 2021 model, while Toyota announced its [justification for improving the Supra its second year->art188439 on the market, despite the shaft it gave first-year buyers. Beyond this, however, the Supra has proven itself to be worthy of the Supra name, and the latest addition to the 2022 lineup gives it the carbon-fiber look that it deserves. This is the 2022 Toyota Supra A91-CF (Carbon Fiber) Edition, but don’t get too excited yet because it’s a North American affair, and its production is limited.

The Kia Stinger might not be quite as popular as Kia had hoped, but when it was released, it proved itself a viable and formidable competitor for those well-known German brands and it forced auto enthusiasts to look at the Korean brand a little differently. These days, Stinger sales bounce from around the high three-figure to low four-figure range per month, and a new limited production Stinger Scorpion Edition could help increase sales a bit. It comes just a short time after we laid eyes on the updated 2022 Kia Stinger which means we’re still waiting for the next-gen, highly evolved Stinger that could be arriving for 2024 or 2025.

The new Stinger Scorpion doesn’t hit the road with any performance upgrades, unfortunately, but it does include a nice aesthetic package that makes the Stinger look a little darker. The new rear wing is, arguably, the highlight, but the exhaust tips, side mirror caps, and a few other components have been blacked out. New 19-inch wheels are a Scorpion-only affair while the interior has nice helpings of Nappa leather, updated sports seats, and the usual carbon-fiber-look trim. The Scorpion package comes in at $1,195, which is a bargain, especially when you consider the exclusive wheels, but it can only be had on the GT2 trim with rear- or all-wheel drive. So, in the end, a Stinger Scorpion Edition will set you back by $53,630 in RWD form or $55,830 with AWD. It is on sale now, however, only 250 units will be sold and built each month, with availability determined on a month-by-month basis until Kia decides to retire it, most likely when demand starts to die off.

AC Cobra is an iconic British sports car that has been around for almost six decades now. Back in the day, Carroll Shelby convinced AC Cars and Ford to join hands and create a sports car that could take on the likes of the Corvettes and the Ferraris on the race track. The car is still quite popular, with even replicas selling quite well.

With changing times, AC Cars has also decided to jump the wagon and electrify this iconic sports car. Moniker’d the AC Cobra Series 4–electric, the company calls it ‘The AC Cobra updated for a new age’. It doesn’t come cheap, though, starting at over $200,000.

Toyota has been quite busy in the last few days. The automaker unveiled the new GR86, a carbon-fiber Supra, debuted the Corolla Cross, introduced the refreshed Tacoma TRD Pro, and even brought the bZ4x concept to our shores. Apart from all this, Toyota also introduced a new TRD Sport model to the 2022 4Runner’s lineup. If you want something that has more off-road vibes and street cred than the regular trims but not something as full-blown off-roader as the TRD Pro trim, then the TRD Sport will fit your bill.

BMW unveiled the i4 digitally at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. A year later, the company has finally debuted the model along with its crossover sibling, the iX. The 2022 BMW i4 will be offered in two different trims, one of them being a performance version that makes over 500 horses. The i4 will launch Stateside in the first quarter of 2022 and will come with a starting price tag of $55,400.

The Model S has been around for a decade now, but Tesla didn’t bother refreshing it much over the years. It was a hit and there was no competition; so it didn’t really have to. But, that’s not the case now and the company has finally stepped up accordingly. The 2021 Model S doesn’t come with a whole lot of changes on the outside, but there is a lot of new stuff inside. Tesla will also be coming up with the Plaid model later this year and Plaid+ next year. But, otherwise, does the 2021 model get any better?

There’s nothing quite like a classic Porsche, and the 964-gen 911 holds a special place in a lot of hearts. When the 964 911 entered production in 1989, it was considered to be 85-percent new compared to the model it replaced – not only a bold move, but a hard thing to achieve considering it had to retain that timeless 911 look. The 964 is long gone and is now considered a classic, and that’s why so many restomods are popping up these days – the 964 is at that ripe age. Not all restomods are created equal, though, and that’s where this 500-horsepower Porsche 911 (964) restomod comes into play. Fair warning – it might not please the purists.

The McLaren 720S is an extreme machine, and was one of the first ever supercars to approach the acceleration level of modern day hypercars. Where McLaren stopped with the 720S, aftermarket tuners picked up, giving the world models like the McLaren 720S by Novitec, McLaren 720S Zenith Black by MSO, and even the 720S Spyder by MSO. Each of these programs built upon and already amazing package, but none of them come close to making the 720S look as extreme as the McLaren Senna,and that’s where DarwinPro’s new aerodynamic body kit comes into play.

Dodge unveiled a special-edition model of the Challenger Redeye Widebody last year called the Challenger Super Stock. The car comes with the famous 6.2-liter, V-8 supercharged HEMI engine that churns out over 800 horses. Hennessey brought this car over to its factory and equipped it with its HPE1000 Performance Upgrade package. The result? 1,000+ horses on paper, but around 800 horses on the dyno. In Hennessey’s defense, it is still more than the Challenger Super Stock’s dyno figures.

Ferrari unveiled the Portofino at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show. Launched as a successor to the California T, the Portofino sits at the bottom of the company’s hierarchy. Being the entry-level model, it is one of the most important products for the Italian automaker. The sales numbers reflect its popularity, and that is perhaps why it is quite a hit amongst aftermarket companies, too.

German aftermarket company, Mansory, has come up with its unique take on the Ferrari Portofino. Surprisingly, it isn’t as wild asother Mansory builds we’ve seen so far. The forged carbon elements along with the yellow and black theme make this Italian car with a German twist look sweeeeet. And, did I mention it now makes over 700 horses and takes just three seconds to sprint to 62 mph?

The current N18, third-generation Nissan Versa was released in 2019 among falling sales in a dying segment. Featuring Nissan’s latest design language, revised technology, and better materials, but it’s still one of the last few remaining subcompact sedans on the market, and the lack of interest is so obvious it hurts. In 2019, Nissan sold 66,596 Versas in the U.S., 2,369 in Canada, and 88,707 in Mexico, while the 2020 model year saw those numbers drop to 48,273, 125, and 68,013, respectively. That leaves us to wonder: Is there something inheritantly wrong with the Nissan Versa’s recipe, or are falling sales just the result of the COVID pandemic and a general lack of public interest in small sedans? We spent a week with the Nissan Versa to find out.

Lamborghini launched the first ever Huracan Super Trofeo back in 2014. It was essentially a hardcore track machine built to enter the world of GT3 racing. Fast forward to 2017, the company revealed the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO that benefitted from an aerodynamics package. Fast forward to the present day, the Italian automaker has rolled out its successor, the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 that will take part in the Super Trofeo in 2022.