Automobile

Rolls-Royce unveiled their latest special edition model in the shape of the Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos at the beginning of July. To mark the moment, the people in Goodwood decided to create an online game, available for everyone, not just the customers. The game is made up of a cryptic challenge, consisting of four levels, each getting progressively harder. There’s even a prize involved but chances are it has already been claimed. When the Kryptos was unveiled, Rolls-Royce said that cryptic messages and codes have been embedded into the car and that prospective owners will be able to decipher them over time. Upon completing the challenge, they would find ‘an enlightening conclusion’, according to Rolls-Royce, and they are invited to submit their findings through the Whispers app...

In today’s automotive world, it’s not enough to simply make a good car. It also has to come with plenty of tech to cover a wide range of customers. Therefore, car makers must find ways to integrate all sorts of tech into our cars. BMW has been doing it rather successfully over the years. In fact, modern-day BMWs can even connect to services like the Amazon Alexa personal assistant. You’ll have to connect your phone to the car though and go through some steps to get the most out of it though. The first thing you need to do is install the BMW Connected app. You’ll then have to go to the Hub sub-menu and choose Amazon Alexa from the dropdown list. You’ll then go to Amazon Alexa car integration and hit the ‘Connect with Amazon’ button at the bottom of the page. This will connect...

BMW and Toyota have been working together for years, despite people acting all surprised when the new Supra/Z4 combo was announced. They have been officially working on hybrids for almost 10 years but petrolheads around the world have mixed them together for even longer than that. The 2JZ engine Toyota created and used on the MkIV Supra was so adored by enthusiasts around the world, it was bound to make its way into other cars as well. Since the BMW E30 M3 is deemed as having one of the best chassis ever to bless the automotive world, combinations between it and the 2JZ were expected. The video below shows exactly one such experiment taking on the Nurburgring. The car was done by the Buldre Racing team in Germany and has some truly impressive specs. If you thought the 2JZ was st...

The BMW M8 Competition is without a doubt one of the greatest weapons BMW M has in its arsenal: With a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 packing 625 hp and 750 Nm, this model – which comes in the shape of a Coupe (F92), Cabriolet (F91) or four-door Gran Coupé (F93) – is one of the top athletes fresh from the M Division. But as always, tuning shops from around the world are willing to improve upon the successful M recipe. G-Power announced a few months ago their program for the BMW M8, and today, they follow through with new updates and photos. G-POWER is offering three different power upgrade levels: The starter package provides an already impressive 720 hp (529 kW) and a maximum torque of 850 Nm thanks to G-POWER’s GP-720 Performance Software. One step up and GP-770 Performance Softw...

Earlier today, BMW confirmed once again that a BMW X5 hydrogen fuel-cell SUV will arrive in 2022. The technology “could have the potential to become another pillar in the portfolio of BMW,” Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse said for Bloomberg. At the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW introduced the concept version, dubbed the BMW i Hydrogen Next. The second generation of the BMW fuel cell drive is currently being prepared in the research and technology center as another pillar of the principle called “Power of Choice”. So far, this meant a choice between gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric drive. The hydrogen fuel cell will also be an option in the future. The fuel-cell in the luxury SUV based on the current BMW X5 G05 will provide 170 hp. The vehicle will also be powered by...

The Italian brand claims its new hybrid cuts emissions by 25 per cent compared to purely petrol-powered cars. Maserati has unveiled its first-ever hybrid vehicle – and promises it will still sound like a sports sedan, despite being powered by a four-cylinder engine. The 2021 Maserati Ghibli Hybrid will retain its distinctive exhaust note, but come with the fuel economy of a diesel car. Based on the V6-powered Ghibli sedan, the Ghibli Hybrid pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, petrol engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system which recoups energy when the car brakes or coasts. The hybrid system also features an eBooster, which works in tandem with the traditional mono scroll turbocharger to sustain power in the lower rev range as required, as well as providing an additional boost at the...

It is possible to buy an electric car at almost zero cost in Europe, but there's a catch. Fancy an electric car for free? There's only one catch: you will need to move to Germany. Tax exemptions for electric cars in parts of Europe are now so generous it is possible to lease a brand-new zero-emissions vehicle at almost zero cost. German dealership Autohaus Koenig has begun advertising Renault Zoe leases for “free” – after a deposit of €3100 ($AU5060) – thanks to new government rebates. According to its website, the 24 monthly instalments of €125 (just over $AU200) are completely offset by the "state subsidy for environmental bonus" and an "innovation bonus". In Australia, the same car costs from $47,490 plus on-road costs. Renault Zoe as advertised for 'free' by Autohaus Koe...

An immaculate 20-year-old Honda Civic Type R hot hatch has sold for mega dollars in Japan. Cult Japanese performance cars are continuing to fetch big money, with yet another example of an immaculate 20-year-old Honda selling for top dollar. A pristine year 2000 Honda Civic Type R hot hatch – with just 2549km on the clock – has sold at auction in Japan for 7.64 million Yen, which is equivalent to more than $101,000. The vehicle – known as the EK9 series among hardcore enthusiasts, and the first ever Honda Civic Type R – is finished in black paint, rather than Championship White which accounted for the majority of those built. The vehicle still had the original radio, and red Recaro sports seats – and the back seat looked like it had never been sat in. The black 2000 Honda Civic T...

The Nissan 400Z sports car is due in showrooms next year with twin turbo V6 power. An electrified model is at least half a decade away. The 2021 Nissan 400Z is believed to be in the final stages of development and due in local showrooms next year. The new Nissan Zed car is expected to launch with a twin turbo 3.0-litre V6 and be based largely on the underpinnings of the current model – but with a complete reskin, elements of which will be a nod to the original model from 1969. Recent teaser images of the vehicle show rounded headlights and sleek horizontal tail-lights, said to be a tribute to the first Nissan Zed car. In a video conference with international media Nissan's global design boss Alfonso Albaisa said of the new styling: "It's not retro as much as it's respect", adding ...

The German car giant has secured a number of names suggesting a range of fully-electric retro models could be under development. Volkswagen has trademarked a number of model names with European authorities, it has been revealed overnight. All four names were trademarked with the 'e' prefix, pointing to yet another expansion of the German car company's electric future. The website of the European Union Intellectual Property Office has shown the trademark applications from Volkswagen: e-Beetle, e-Karmann, e-Kübel, and e-Golf Classic. Volkswagen has previously indicated it plans to build an electric version of the modern Kombi – as a van and a people mover – as the company looks to its past to map out its future. CarAdvice reported in 2017 and again in 2018 on an electric VW Beetle. ...