Electric Hypercar Concept

f you haven't heard of Singapore's Vanda Electrics yet, don't blame yourself. I'm only their seventh subscriber on YouTube. So far, the company has come up up with an electric truck with a range of approximately 62 miles and a top speed of 24 mph, and an urban scooter called the MotoChimp. Both that and the Ant Truck are still in the prototype stage.

Sounds bumpy? No matter! Instead of worrying about their sales prospects, Vanda is now taking about a hundred and fifty steps forward, teaming up with Williams Advanced Engineering to create an electric hypercar concept for the Geneva Motor Show in March. And if the Dendrobium concept somewhat reminds you of the already-sold-out Red Bull-Aston Martin hypercar designed by Adrian Newey, it's because both cars use F1 aerodynamics, something Williams knows all about.

The English engineering powerhouse is also one of the leading experts in composite, drivetrain and battery technologies, and most importantly, the firm that built the Jaguar C-X75 concept, constructing ten working prototypes.

Now, the stage is set for them to turn an even more ambitious plan into something lightning quick, since Vanda wants to put this halo car into limited production by 2018.

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Everything We Think We Know About the Upcoming Ford Bronco and Ranger

Technically the Ford Ranger isn't dead at all. The current-generation Ford Ranger is built in Thailand, South Africa, and Argentina, and sold in nearly every market around the world besides North America. But as Johnson confirmed, Ford plans to build a new Ranger in its Michigan Assembly Plant and sell it here again.

In a recent Reddit thread, an anonymous poster claiming to be a Ford designer (and verified by the moderators of the Ranger subreddit) claimed the new Ranger will be a facelifted version of the foreign-market Ranger. Our Ranger will reportedly get new headlights, a new grille, and a new front fascia, but the rest of the truck will look about the same. The interior, though, will get a complete overhaul for the U.S. market.

That means the new Ranger to be a direct competitor for large-midsize trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma—pickups that share dimensions with the full-size trucks of 15 years ago. For fans of smaller trucks, that has to be disappointing news. But as the alleged Ford designer points out, by 2011, the market for small pickups had eroded to the point that Ranger sales were almost entirely propped up by fleet sales. The market for a legitimately small pickup truck just doesn't exist anymore.

We wouldn't be surprised if Ford's new Bronco shares engine and transmission offerings with the Ranger since they'll share a platform. The alleged Ford designer did say, though, that the Bronco will get an off-road version to slot under the Raptor and take on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. That fits with Nair's assertion that the Wrangler will be the Bronco's chief competitor.

Unfortunately, there's no telling whether or not Ford actually plans to bring back the two-door Bronco. We'd like to think it will, but the market for two-door SUVs is pretty limited. We do know, though, that it will get a removable roof. So that's encouraging.

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(Update: No We Won't) We'll See the Production Volvo XC40 in China in April

We're big fans of Volvo's new 90-series cars–the XC90 SUV and S90 sedan are among the best in their classes, and bode well for more great things to come from the Swedish automaker. The XC90 is about to get a compact companion in the XC40, which was previewed last year as the Concept 40.1 (pictured above) and is nearly ready to make its car show debut.

Update (1/19 9:32 a.m. ET): A Volvo spokesperson informs us that the production XC40 won't be revealed in Shanghai, contradicting the Autoguide report we cited below. We regret the error.

Autoguide reports that the production version of the XC40 will premiere at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, expected to arrive on the US market later this year or early in 2018. The XC40 will ride on Volvo's new CMA platform, which will also underpin Geely Automotive's upcoming Lynk & Co 01. Both cars are expected to be build alongside one another in a shared assembly plant in China.

When Volvo first showed the Concept 40.1 last year, the company promised the production model would offer the option of either conventional or hybrid drivetrains. Autoguide expects that Volvo will initially offer the XC40 with either a 1.5-liter three-cylinder, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, or a variant of Volvo's plug-in hybrid setup. Like the XC90, the base XC40 will be front-wheel-drive, but can be made all-wheel-drive with either a traditional driveshaft, or an electric motor on the rear axle.

The XC40 will compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA in the increasingly-popular tiny luxury SUV segment. Volvo will also bring an S40 sedan to market, and hopefully, a V40 hatchback too.

The XC90 is a big hit for Volvo–it's selling well and critics really like it. It will be interesting to see if the XC90's success can translate to a smaller crossover.

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Every New Car You Can Expect From Lotus In the Next Five Years

The current Lotus Elise (pictured above) may have received a refresh for 2010, but it hasn't gotten a full redesign since 2001. And it hasn't been available here in the US since 2011. Thankfully, Lotus is working on a new Elise for 2020 that it claims will meet US safety regulations with almost no weight gain over the European model. And by 2022, the entire Lotus lineup will be brand new.

In a recent interview with Autocar, Lotus CEO Jean Marc Gales again promised that the new Elise will be ready by 2020 and will weigh less than 2200 lbs. And once the Elise launches, a new Exige won't be far behind. Gales also said both cars will only gain negligible weight to make sure their crash structures meets U.S. regulations.

"We will make the Elise and Exige US-compliant, as we did for the Evora," Gales told Autocar. "The Evora has an 8kg [18 lb.] weight penalty for the US. With the Elise and Exige, the target is the same again. Crash tests are very important."

A new Evora will then join the lineup a few years later, most likely by 2022. And we may even see a new addition—a Lotus-branded SUV.

When the new cars do launch, they'll most likely be built on a shared modular platform to reduce costs. "Using big modules that are the same on all cars, such as the harnesses, lighting, infotainment and HVAC, would be a big step forward," Gales told Autocar. "We don't do that at present. In the future, we will do that across all three sports car lines."

But because Lotus sells so many different versions of its sports cars, a new platform has to be able to handle a wide range of power outputs. "The platform on which the future products are based will need to span 140-150 horsepower to 450 horsepower, so it needs to be a very good and solid platform and we know it," said Gales. It's likely that Lotus will continue to use Toyota-derived engines across its lineup, though the current 3.5-liter supercharged V6 could shrink to 3.0-liters and swap its blower for a turbocharger.

A 450-horsepower Lotus that's legal in the U.S.? Sounds just about perfect to us. Until then, we'll gladly settle for the brilliant Evora 410.

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Yep, There's a New 2018 Ford Mustang Convertible Now

Ford showed off the lightly-restyled 2018 Mustang hardtop last week, but something was missing. Something roofless. Fear not: The 2018 Mustang convertible is here to fulfill all of your fantasies of rock-and-rollin' down the highway with the wind in your hair.

Ford only released two images of the new drop-top Mustang, which, truth be told, looks a whole hell of a lot like the hardtop shown last week. Just, y'know, with a disappearing roof-thing. The only major styling updates to both coupe and convertible come in the form of a slightly lower hood, reshaped headlights, a pointier prow, and some very minor rear fascia changes. Here's a spotter's guide to help you recognize a 2018 Mustang from its 2015, 2016, and 2017 siblings.

Like the hardtop, the convertible 'Stang gets some important updates under the skin. Gone is the V6 engine, leaving either the 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder or the 5.0-liter V8 as your only drivetrain options. Both engines get an as-yet-unspecified boost in power for 2018. Either engine can be had with a six-speed manual or the new 10-speed automatic transmission found in the Ford Raptor and the Chevy Camaro ZL1.

More importantly, for 2018 Ford is blessing Performance Package Mustangs with MagneRide, an available magnetorheological adaptive damping system. This technology was previously only available on the Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R, and we can't wait to see what it does to the garden-variety Mustangs. The Performance Package is now available on both hardtop and convertible 'Stangs with either the stick shift or automatic transmission.

Other small updates, like a new fully-digital instrument panel and some additional collision avoidance technology, round out the Mustang's mid-cycle refresh. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but we expect the 2018 Mustang to hit dealerships toward the end of this year.

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President Trump Will Use Obama's Old Limo For the Next Few Months

Previously, we'd heard that a new Presidential limousine would make its official debut at today's inauguration. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican (or somewhere in between), you can't deny that limousines are fascinating, especially heavily armored ones capable of withstanding everything from machine gun fire to a chemical attack. But as it turned out, the limousine that carried President Trump on his inaugural parade was the same model that's ferried President Obama around for the past few years.

Instead of riding off in an all-new limousine, Trump had to use the old Cadillac-branded, GM truck-based "Beast" that's been in service since 2009. According to Jalopnik, "an industry source with knowledge of the situation" revealed that Trump's new limo is "supposed to come later this year." Shucks.

The new Cadillac hasn't, however, been delayed. The way Jalopnik's source tells it, the plan was never to debut the new limousine at the inauguration. It's reportedly still on schedule, just not coming as quickly as many of us would have expected it to.

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The Next BMW M5 Is Rumored to Do 0-62 MPH in 3.5 Seconds

BMW's upcoming M550i xDrive is silly quick–promising a sub-four-second 0-60 mph time. That means the top-dog M5 should be a sport sedan rocket. We're still a few months away from seeing the new M5, but a new rumor from BMWBlog suggests it'll run from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in around 3.5 seconds. Dang.

BMWBlog says the upcoming M5's quick acceleration will come courtesy of a 600-horse twin-turbo V8 mated to a dual-clutch transmission. Like its main rival, the Mercedes-AMG E63, the next M5 will use an all-wheel-drive system with a mode that disengages the front axle for rear-drive operation. Yep, burnouts and drifting aplenty, at the push of a button.

For reference, BMW quotes the outgoing M5 as running from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Mercedes-AMG says that its E63 S does the sprint in 3.3 seconds, while Cadillac says the CTS-V does it in 3.7 seconds.

It's no surprise that the next M5 will be wickedly quick, but this particular rumor seems especially believable. We'll know for sure when the M5 debuts later this year.

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Here's Our First Look at the Alfa Romeo Stelvio in Non-Quadrifoglio Form

Alfa Romeo's new Stelvio crossover won't arrive in the United States for a few more months, but Europeans are getting the jump on us with a First Edition version that's open for ordering right now. Although we won't get the First Edition in America, this model marks the first time we've seen the Stelvio in its standard form, as Alfa only revealed the high-performance Quadrifoglio model upon its debut last fall.

Shorn of the QV model's body kit, aggressive wheels and tires, and quad exhaust tips, the standard Stelvio presents a cleaner, uncluttered profile that's attractive to our eye—dare we say that its overall proportions may be even better-looking than those of the Giulia sedan? The First Edition model wears 20-inch wheels, colored brake calipers, and some extra chrome, while its interior equipment includes paddle shifters, heated front seats, wood trim, and an 8.8-inch central display screen with navigation.

Like the Giulia sedan on which it's based, the Stelvio's base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; in the U.S., this engine's 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque will be routed through all four wheels as standard, with the only transmission choice being an eight-speed automatic.

The Stelvio First Edition is only for Europe and a few other non-U.S. markets, so we won't see this exact model in American showrooms. But Alfa Romeo does say that the Stelvio is set to arrive in U.S. dealerships during the second quarter of this year, and that it will be offered in base and Ti trims with the same 2.0-liter turbo four, along with the fire-breathing Quadrifoglio that uses the same 505-hp, 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 as the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

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A Porsche Panamera Wagon Will Go on Sale Later This Year

Back in 2012, Porsche showed off a Panamera station wagon concept, called the Panamera Sport Turismo (pictured above), at the Paris Motor Show. But while it didn't head to production for that generation, Porsche promised the new Panamera would get a wagon variant. And we'll get to see it in March.

The UK's CAR magazine recently spoke with Dr. Stefan Utsch, Porsche's head of sales and marketing for the Panamera, who said a five-door version of the Panamera will debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. According to CAR, the production Panamera wagon will look a lot like the 2012 concept. Even better, it will go on sale later this year.

One thing Utsch didn't say, however, is when the new Panamera wagon will arrive in the States. We found out last May that it's definitely coming to the U.S., but at the time, Porsche CEO Klaus Zellmer said "we have to have some patience for [the wagon] to arrive in the U.S."

Hopefully, that means only a slight delay. As great as the new Panamera is to drive, we think a five-door would be even cooler.

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Here's Why We Think the 2018 Mustang GT Could Make 455 Horsepower

When we first saw the 2018 Ford Mustang last week, Ford was being coy about exact specifications. Both the GT and the EcoBoost will get horsepower and torque increases Ford said, though the automaker didn't reveal big those increase will be. But we have a theory, based on what seems like a sneaky hint from Ford

Autoguide first noticed a tweet from a Ford communications rep, pointing out easter eggs in an image of the 2018 Mustang's new digital gauge cluster. Note the odometer, 1964.5 miles, a reference to the Mustang's first model year, and 289 miles of fuel range, a nod to the displacement of the biggest V8 in the first Mustang.

But look at those bigger numbers. A big four and a big 55. What could that mean?

Autoguide thinks this is a hint that the 2018 Mustang GT will have 455 horsepower. We're inclined to agree. Automakers tease information like this in product pictures from time to time. For example, Dodge hinted at the Hellcat's 707-hp figure by showing the radio tuned to SiriusXM's 70's on 7 channel.

Currently, the 5.0-liter V8 in the Mustang GT produces 435 horsepower. For 2018, the 5.0 gets both direct- and port-fuel-injection, and a higher compression ratio, so a 20-horsepower increase seems plausible. Ford Performance also sells an aftermarket calibration pack for the current Mustang GT that uses a combination of software tuning and GT350 hardware to boost horsepower from 435 to 472.

We asked Ford spokesman Mike Levine, who tweeted the gauge image, whether this was the case. He sent us a picture of a gauge cluster with a big seven and a big 55, adding "we'll share more details about the new Mustang closer to launch."

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2017 Shelby Mustang Super Snake: 750 Horses, Sub-11-Second 1/4 Mile

Ford just showed us its upcoming 2018 refresh for the sixth-generation Mustang, but Shelby American isn't done with the 2017 model just yet. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carroll Shelby's original high-performance Super Snake, which was released back in 1967, Shelby American has revived the name for a new version that it claims can do the quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds.

Following up the release of the Mustang GTE last year, Shelby and Ford Performance unveiled a new striped variant of the American muscle car at the Ford exhibit at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction the weekend of January 21. Based on Shelby's performance claims, the Super Snake can outperform the Mustang Shelby GT350R in just about every way and remains both street and track legal.

The Super Snake, available with an automatic or manual transmission, begins as a Mustang GT with its 5.0-liter V-8, but a supercharger and tuning kick it up to a claimed 670 horsepower. Pay extra for a Whipple or Kenne Bell supercharger, and Shelby claims the engine will generate up to 750 horsepower. That's the model Shelby uses to establish its performance claims. With an automatic transmission, normal gas-station fuel, and Michelin street tires (not specified), the Super Snake with the optional supercharger can do zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, Shelby asserts, and hit 1.2 g on the skidpad. In our testing, the GT350R did zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, ran the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds, and pulled 1.10 g on the skidpad.

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Whoa Hey Wow, The 2020 Ford Bronco Might Have Solid Axles Front & Rear

At the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford dropped the news we've all been anticipating for seemingly forever: The Bronco returns in 2020. Speaking with R&T at the show, Ford Executive Vice President Joe Hinrichs vowed that the new Bronco will be a bona-fide off-roader, hinting that the upcoming SUV could be the first true competitor to the wildly successful Jeep Wrangler in many years.

And now, we've got further evidence supporting that claim: It sounds like the 2020 Bronco will offer solid axles front and rear.

As Larry Vellequette reports at Automotive News, axle manufacturer Dana revealed in an investor presentation this month that it's been chosen as the driveline supplier for both the 2019 Ford Ranger and the 2020 Bronco. In the presentation, Dana indicated that both vehicles will have "front and rear axles featuring our latest AdvanTEK gear technology," Vellequette writes.

Dana. Hmmm. Where have I seen those axles before? Ah yes:

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The New Ford GT Makes 647 HP, 550 Lb-Ft, And Tops Out at 216 MPH

Ford has been playing the slow game with the all-new GT. The car first debuted just over two years ago, at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Today, we finally—finally—get to find out some important numbers on the third revival of Ford's world-beater: Horsepower, torque, weight, and top speed.

Ford's claiming 647 horses and 550 lb-ft of torque from the GT's 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. As a reminder, the GT uses the same aluminum engine block as the 3.5-liter EcoBoost you can get in the Ford F-150, among other products. All that twin-turbo power motivates a vehicle with a dry curb weight of 3054 lbs. to a top speed of 216 mph.

Ford is quick to compare these numbers to two exotic competitors, the McLaren 675LT and the Ferrari 488GTB. When we tested the McLaren, we weighed it at 2982 lbs ready-to-drive; the 666-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque produced by the 675LT's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 move the McLaren to a top speed of 205 mph.

Ferrari claims the 488GTB weighs in at 3252 lbs—add about a hundred to that number if you want yours with vital fluids. It makes 660 hp, 561 lb-ft, and maxes out at 205 mph. So the Ford beats the competition on top speed, despite landing in the middle on weight and working with a horsepower deficit.

How does the GT, made of such exotic materials—and with a passenger compartment nearly four cubic feet smaller than an Alfa Romeo 4C's—still manage to top 3000 lbs. dry? Blame the trick active-adjustable suspension and aerodynamics packages, both of which operate hydraulically using the same pump that powers the old-fashioned steering rack.

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Latest Alpine Teasers Show off Aerodynamics, as Well as Most of the Car

Back in December, Alpine started taking pre-orders for its upcoming—and yet to be named—sports car based on the Vision Concept. At the time, the only images of the car showed highly camouflaged test vehicles. But while the car still hasn't been revealed, the latest official teasers show off more than you'd expect.

According to the press release, these photos depict the new Alpine's advanced aerodynamic equipment. And as you can see, the lines that have been added do form aesthetically pleasing shapes, presumably as a result of the car's excellent airflow management. Plus, it promises a motorsports-inspired flat floor and a functional diffuser.

But the real story may be that these photos also reveal quite a bit of the production car's shape and design. We already knew Renault planned to stick closely to the styling of the concept, but as far as we can tell, the two are almost identical.

The side-view mirrors are bigger than before, and the door handles are no longer flush, and the wheels are different. Other than that, though, not much has changed. The production car even gets the concept's center-exit exhaust and taillight design.

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Aston Martin's Final Vanquish Is This Impossibly Gorgeous 580-HP Drop Top

Aston Martin is in the midst of a revision to its entire lineup, spearheaded by the all-new DB11. But the brand's older models aren't dead just yet. Last November, the 580-hp Vanquish S made its debut in coupe form, and today, we're blessed with the Vanquish S Volante. And yes, I mean blessed, because, well, look at it.

Chopping the roof off a beautiful coupe can often produce an awkward results, but the Vanquish S Volante just works. The rear three-quarter view is especially great, with those bulging fender flares and stunning rear fascia. I'd be happy just to stare at it in my garage.

Like its hardtop sibling, the Vanquish S Volante is powered by Aston's old 5.9-liter, naturally aspirated V12 making 580 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. Aston hasn't announced performance specifications for the Vanquish S Volante yet, but it'll probably be nearly identical to the coupe's 3.5-second 0-60 sprint and 201-mph top speed.

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Lamborghini Gives the Aventador Rear-Steer and 740 Horsepower

Inside the cabin, a new touchscreen and Apple Carplay are now standard. In addition to the three current drive modes—Strada, Sport, and Corsa—the Aventador S now also comes with an "Ego" mode, letting drivers customize the car's drivetrain and suspension settings for their own personal preferences.

There's no word on pricing or availability for U.S. customers yet, but expect the Aventador S to arrive on our shores sometime in spring 2017.

Believe it or not, it's been over half a decade since Lamborghini introduced its all new V12 mid-engine supercar flagship, the Aventador. Since then, the supercar maker has added open-top and track-focused variants to keep buyers interested. Now, the base car's getting a refresh. Meet the Aventador S.

The lightly-updated Lambo starts off with some serious aero improvements to both the front and rear. The painted blades on the bumper are able to produce a claimed 130 percent more downforce than the previous car, and the new three-position rear wing makes 50 percent more downforce at its most aggressive setting, reducing drag by 400 percent when it's fully tucked.

The 6.5-liter V12 we know and love gets a 40-horsepower bump, up to 740. Torque stays nearly the same at 509 lb.-ft., though the 8500 rpm redline is 150 higher than before. The single-clutch ISR paddle-shift transmission remains unchanged.

Chassis and suspension improvements are the main focus of the Aventador S. For the first time ever in a production Lamborghini, the updated supercar is equipped with four-wheel steering, improving low speed agility and high speed stability.

The Aventador S benefits from a refreshed magnetorheological suspension, updated to improve responsiveness and cope with the four-wheel steering. The car's stability control systems have been retuned as well, enabling up to 90 percent of the torque to be sent to the rear wheels, which Lamborghini says will allow the driver more oversteer if he or she wants it.

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Lamborghini Boss Says Aventador Replacement Will Have a Naturally-Aspirated V12

Recently, turbocharging has become the go-to choice for automakers looking to make a lot of power from smaller, more efficient engines. Even exotic car brands like Ferrari and Aston Martin have turned to forced induction. But according to Lamborghini boss Stefano Domenicali, his brand won't be doing that anytime soon.

Australian site CarAdvice talked to Domenicali regarding the future of Lamborghini's flagship, the Aventador supercar. When asked whether its replacement would be turbocharged, he replied, "our position in the [Volkswagen] group must be different, and a naturally aspirated V12 engine is part of that difference." And don't expect that position to change any time soon. According to Domenicali, "the Aventador has more than five or six more years to run and the next platform also has a V12 at the center of the project."

Unsurprisingly, Domenicali gave emotional reasons for why the next V12 Lamborghini won't have any forced induction. "We want to be different, we don't want to follow the route of the others," he said. "We are purists in that respect. The top priority for us is to retain the feel from a naturally aspirated engine."

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Breaking in our new long-term 2014 Corvette Z51

It was about halfway through our Corvette delivery experience last Thursday

morning when I realized it: There's a 500-mile break-in period on the Stingray. I'm supposed to drive the Stingray home. I live a little more than 500 miles away.

The new long-termer needed to get from the National Corvette museum and factory

in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where we picked it up to the R&T office in Michigan. The short route is mostly on I-75, which is one of the most boring

stretches of highway around. I was now fully in charge of the car's break-in period. I was about to be taunted for most of the drive.

The break-in procedure is pretty standard. For the first 200 miles: no hard cornering or big brake applications. And the first 500 miles: no full-throttle

starts or abrupt stops, vary the speed and no cruise control, don't exceed 4000 rpm, no downshifts that will zing the engine past 4000, and don't lug the

engine.

I don't break in a lot of new cars. Manufacturers usually deliver them to us already run-in to save us the trouble—and them the likelihood of future

mechanical disaster. Since the C7 Corvette has fully

digital gauges, GM was able to throw in an ingenious line of code. It changes the tachometers (yes, plural: one on the main gauge screen and one on our

car's head-up display) to display a yellow zone centered around 4000 rpm and a red zone just north of that. Once the odometer hits the 500-mile mark, the

special code disappears into the computer, never to be seen again.

To be honest, the car is so tractable and the transmission so full of gears that I didn't have much trouble keeping the revs low. I almost forgot that was

my aim since I was in and out of traffic, construction zones, and rain showers most of the way. And the car is comfortable, not to mention a nice place to

be—another new feature for a Corvette.

So instead of playing with the throttle, I entertain myself with the various gauge layouts and screens. Flipping back and forth leads me to the

fuel-economy pages, one of which has a V8 or V4 icon telling me which mode the engine is in. This reminds me that our manual car only shuts off four cylinders

when it's in Eco mode. I switch over to Eco mode.

Facing limited open road and the engine's clipped wings, I decide I'll embrace the break-in process and hypermile. In a Corvette. Voluntarily. I amuse myself by watching the

50-mile fuel-economy average jump from a high of about 26 mpg to 31.3. I giggle to an empty passenger seat and keep making time. This car hasn't even hit redline yet and it's already doing remarkable things.

Rush hour arrives and my fuel economy takes a little hit. There's no way to give my clutch leg a rest in the stop-and-go, but the Vette comes with a

laziness solution in the form of automatic rev-matching. I turn that on and basically treat the car like an automatic with an extra pedal, something I

probably wouldn't do on a track or a back road, but it really makes the highway drive that much easier. It's actually kind of enjoyable. Modern technology,

man.

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Long-Term Wrap: 2014 BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon

When BMW introduced its new-for-2014 diesel 3-series wagon, we begged to get our hands on a long-term tester for obvious reasons. The 328d xDrive Sports Wagon is a rare and appealing combination for the enthusiast with cargo-hauling needs: wagon body style, efficient diesel engine, and all-wheel drive. Sadly, a manual gearbox isn't offered, leaving the 328d one superlative jewel short of the holy grail. At least with a base price of $43,875, the 328d can offer somewhat of a value.

Our car, however, arrived with a whopping $58,000 window sticker due to a mile-long list of options, including some $10,000 in luxury and appearance add-ons. Considering BMW calls this a Sports Wagon, it'd be easy to argue that our tester's performance-enhancing extras—namely $650 M Sport brakes and a $1000 handling package, which adds adaptive dampers and quicker-ratio steering—should come standard.

Rather than dwell on the spec sheet, we got behind the wheel and hit the road. The 328d quickly became everyone's go-to car for long hauls, thanks to its 525-mile highway range and composed ride. During a 1500-mile, 24-hour trek from Ann Arbor to Atlanta, staff road-trippers applauded the supportive seats, cup holders that swallowed venti-size Starbucks, and the glorious 16-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo that crisply blasted their playlists. In a car that can travel more than seven hours between highway fill-ups, those comforts are particularly welcome.

This car is more than a freeway cruiser, though. On back roads, Sport mode stiffened the suspension, added steering effort, and sped up the powertrain response. That didn't improve steering feel or the lines of communication between chassis and driver, but the BMW still proved plenty capable of spirited driving on 18-inch Bridgestone Potenza S001 summer tires. With a rear-biased torque split, the xDrive all-wheel-drive system allowed the 3790-pound wagon to slide gracefully through corners without stability control stepping in to ruin the fun.

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The 2020 Volkswagen GTI Could Get a Mild Hybrid Drivetrain

It's hard to find much to complain about with the current Volkswagen GTI. It's good looking, refined, comfortable, and (especially when equipped with the Performance Package) an absolute blast to drive. But even great cars must get redesigned, and when the next-gen GTI shows up, it may have a mild hybrid drivetrain.

The latest tidbit, sourced from AutoCar, cites anonymous inside sources, so take it with a grain of salt. But it claims the 2020 GTI will use an electric motor mounted at the front of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to improve acceleration. Interestingly, the exhaust-driven turbocharger will reportedly be replaced with an electric turbo that improves low-end power, AutoCar claims.

Power-wise, don't expect a huge increase over the GTI's current output. AutoCar says it'll make around 260 horsepower. Not bad.

Going electric would certainly be a major change for the GTI, but if it happens, we can't say we'll be surprised. Volkswagen already builds the plug-in performance hybrid GTE, and with its post-diesel scandal focus on electrification, you have to assume more models will get hybrid powertrains.

Let's just hope the GTI doesn't lose its manual transmission in the process.

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Here's the New BMW Z5 Doing Donuts on a Frozen Lake

While Toyota is rumored to debut its new Supra in October, it still has to be seen whether BMW will get ready with the Z5 in time for a Frankfurt premier. What's for sure is that they've been up in Sweden quite a lot recently, winter-testing half of their future lineup—including the new X7 SUV, the long-awaited 8 Series, and the second generation of the 5 Series Gran Turismo.

Joining the crew now is the Z5, and camouflage be damned, this latest prototype gives us a pretty good idea of the proportions and the sound of BMW's new roadster. As far as we know, it will be powered by a twin-turbo straight-six and built alongside most of the current 5 Series at Magna in Graz, Austria, on a platform shared with Toyota.

Donuts on a frozen lake? It's for science!

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