Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
It can be hard keeping track of some new entrants into the hypercar space, with announcements coming thick and fast. But how many of these seemingly impossible claims will materialize into a finished production car that can rival the likes of Bugatti? We’ve rounded up ten candidates that might be less fact than fiction.
BMW’s 750 HP Concept XM Revealed And It’s Even Scarier Than We Imagined
Some of you may have expected this to be the successor to the M1 supercar. However, despite being only the second standalone M car, a supercar it is not. Even so, the 750 hp plug-in hybrid XM SUV is taking no prisoners. Although officially a concept, what you see here is largely production-ready, with the finalized version set to appear before the end of 2022. Once you get past those huge illuminated nostrils, you’ll have to contend with the LED lights in the roof, as well as the vertically-stacked tailpipes and double roundels on the rear screen. But is the Concept XM genius or madness? Two of our editors offer their own take on the topic, while we also delve into just why BMW is happy to shock the public with its designs.
Ferrari’s Purosangue SUV Spied With Production Body For The First Time
These spy shots mark the first time we’ve seen Ferrari’s all-new SUV wearing what looks to be its final production body, albeit under heavy cladding. Previous mules have been wearing bodywork from models such as the Maserati Levante, while the official debut of the Purosangue is expected sometime in 2022.
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor-Based Retro With 1970s Bronco Face Is Our Kind Of Classic Truck
Built by Sweet Brothers Restomods in Upton, Wyoming, this classic Bronco-faced truck is actually constructed using the chassis, drivetrain, and interior of a modern Ford F-150 Raptor. But with a heap of 1970s Ford parts used in the process, it looks like it could have been something from a fair few decades ago. However, the end product combines timeless styling with the modernity and convenience of brand new running gear. We like!
2023 Volvo XC90 Successor To Blend SUV And Estate Styling Cues
The next XC90 will shed some of its overtly-SUV tones for a sleeker, estate-like take on the genre. It’s though that the new design direction will distinguish it from conventional SUV offerings while paying homage to Volvo’s wagon-rich heritage. It will take cues from the Concept Recharge that was revealed earlier this year and will be offered in both BEV and ICE-powered flavors. The car, which is expected to debut next year, will ride on the SPA2 platform, which is an evolved version of the current architecture.
New Toyota GR Corolla: Sneaky Teaser Essentially Confirms U.S. Hot Hatch
Toyota’s Instagram page essentially confirmed the upcoming GR Corolla for North America with an image of a camouflaged model bearing a “GR Four” sticker on the car’s doors as well as a “G16 GR Four” marking on one of the shipping containers. The “NA” preceding the G16 could also stand for North America.
2023 Lexus RZ Electric Crossover Teased; Looks Just Like Our Illustrations
Lexus finally showed off sketches of its upcoming RZ electric crossover, which will use the same e-TNGA EV platform that the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra are based on. The images look remarkably similar to our own renderings in the preview of the new EV, which were created by Carscoops artist Josh Byrnes.
What Else Is Making The News
F1 Drivers Alonso And Ocon Turn Up To Ballon D’Or
Alpine’s Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon brought the Ballon d’Or trophy to the 65th ceremony celebrating achievements in football. The pair were introduced as French music duo Daft Punk before taking off their helmets and revealing themselves. Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending seventh time after earning his first major international trophy with Argentina.
Tesla Launches A New $50 Cybertruck Whistle
Elon Musk announced the Cybertruck-inspired “Cyberwhistle.” The trinket cost just $50 and Tesla said on its website that the whistle is a “premium collectible” made from medical-grade stainless steel with a polished finish. Apparently the whistle sold out quickly, and some buyers were quick to capitalize on demand, offering them on eBay for significantly inflated prices that mostly ranged between $150-$300, although some went as high as $2,250!