Kia Stinger GT420 Revealed, It’s Based On A Pre-Production Homologation Car

Back when the Stinger was in development, a pre-production car was shipped to the United Kingdom for homologation. After that and a few high-profile appearances in Top Gear and The Grand Tour, the twin-turbo V6 fastback sedan was converted into the Stinger GT420.

“The what now?” Kia describes this fellow here as a one-off track car, and it sure looks like one. Save for the Alfa Romeo F1-inspired livery, this is a Stinger GT with most of the interior ripped out for lightness, a roll cage, sticky tires, and an upgraded powerplant.

Let’s start with the 3.3-liter engine, shall we? From 365 ponies and 510 Nm out of the box, the South Korean interloper leveled up to 422 horsepower and 560 Nm (413 pound-feet) thanks to high-performance spark plugs, an air filter from K&N, and Milltek Sport exhaust system.

No catalytic converters are featured, and the eight-speed transmission comes with a bigger oil cooler to withstand extended abuse on the circuit. Kia says the transmission has also been recalibrated for quicker shifts, which is a-OK with us and everyone who loves the Stinger.

Approximately 150 kilograms were shaved off in more or less obvious ways, including a saving of 22 kilograms by replacing the bog-standard battery with a Lite Blox Li-Po battery. Even the wheels, coming courtesy of OZ Racing, help with this Lotus-esque “simplify, then add lightness” philosophy.

The genius of Colin Chapman is one thing, but don’t forget the Stinger has been developed from the get-go to be a driver’s car with the comfort of an executive sedan. Albert Biermann, a man who used to be vice president of engineering at BMW M, was in charge of development. The Genesis G70 and Hyundai i30 N are two other masterpieces signed by the German engineer and his team.

Kia didn’t offer any information about a limited edition based on the Stinger GT420, nor a racing series built around this vehicle. Knowing the sister brand of Hyundai, it won’t happen anytime soon. 

Rolls-Royce Cullinan "DUB Edition" Is Slammed on Carbon Aero

There's a huge disconnect between what the Rolls-Royce Cullinan should be and what it actually represents. The car is a super-expensive 4x4 built with the attention to detail and time that only kings or heads of state deserve to enjoy.

However, much like classic Ghosts that got pink paint, the Cullinan is the playtoy of "young money," musicians or people in connecting industries like diamonds, shoes or producers. So what you're left with is a symbol of wealth for those who want a motorized symbol of their wealth.

It feels like Forgiato is rolling out one of these on custom super-sized wheels every other week. But so far, nobody has made a truly unique Cullinan. "Oh, but nobody tunes a Rolls-Royce," we hear you say. Wrong, there's an entire community in japan dedicated to lowering them, and the Wraith and Dawn were incredibly popular with body kit makers. Just check this thing out, for example.

While we wait for Wald International to go to town on the uber-SUV, let's check out this rendering by Karan Adivi, aka Baeone. His artistic reinterpretation of the vehicle is called the "DUB Edition" and tries to recreate the vibe of the 2005 game Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix, which was sponsored by the legendary magazine and made by the same people as GTA.

Fender flares are a common theme. The ones added to the Rolls have just a bit more muscle, nothing like the crazy Rocket Bunny Supra kits that are trending right now. And while you'd normally want a step to climb into the Cullinan, this one has carbon fiber ground effects because it's so low to the ground, which kind of feels ironic. The wheels are another talking point, since they're obviously a custom set but mirror the stock RR design as well.

2018 Audi RS4 Avant Spied Testing at The Nurburgring With S4 Badges

The replacement for the Audi RS4 is going through the complicated stages of development, and one of the steps involves quick laps on the Nurburgring.

As all petrolheads have already found out, Audi has ditched the naturally-aspirated V8 unit of the RS4 with the upcoming generation. Its replacement is a V6 twin-turbo engine that is possibly shared with Porsche’s Panamera. The latter’s unit has a displacement of 2.9 liters, and it provides 440 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-Ft) under the hood of the four-door coupe from Stuttgart.

In the case of the next RS4, Audi is expected to come up with at least 450 HP, but some reports do not rule out values as high as 500 HP. The turbocharging solution will reduce the rev limit of this engine, but the unit will come with a more generous torque curve, along with a fitting power band.

Another important aspect of the next RS4 is that it will be lighter than its predecessor. The reduced weight should bring improved handling, enhanced fuel economy, and lessen the wear on braking and suspension components. All of the described changes should make the next RS4 Avant faster than the ongoing model, which was a quick car even in the wrong hands.

Audi is expected to launch the next RS4 Avant as a 2018 model year vehicle, which means that you could see it in late 2017. As you can see in the video below, published by the YouTube channel “Supercarsfromeu,” the engineers are driving the RS4 prototype rather quickly across the German track.

The prototype comes with fenders that have been equipped with an improvisation on the fenders, which are not seamlessly joined to the vehicle.

It is important to remark that this prototype, which comes with S4 badges, also has two twin exhaust pipes, which do not match Audi’s traditional oval exhaust tips for its RS range. The production car based on this prototype should have a generously-sized oval exhaust tip on each side instead of the configuration seen in the video.

All-New Renault Scenic Is an Overdesigned MPV with Crossover Looks in Geneva

Renault doesn't believe that MPVs are dead. In fact, its sales have proven some European buyers are not tricked by the supposed ruggedness of a crossover.

Still, the brand new Scenic has a bit of Captur striped socks underneath its pleated skirt. The first thing that struck us when seeing it in the metal at the Geneva Motor Show was just how complex it was - every surface is intricately sculpted and filled with details.

The 2016 Scenic is the car Renault chief designer Laurens van den Acker hopes will make people "fall in love again" with the MPV. As a result, this is the first Renault that looks good in standard trim, thanks to 20-inch wheels that are free. When a Porsche 911 comes with 19-inch ones, you know that your neighbor will order the Scenic in a heartbeat.

The headlights feature the same U-shaped LED elements as the Espace and Talisman. They get a lot of attention, as does the deep recess in the side of the doors. While the A-pillars have the built-in glass for extra visibility, just like the C4 Picasso, the rear windows taper sharply for a coupe look.

On the outside, the Scenic 4 is 40mm longer (1.6 inches) and 20mm wider. Thankfully, they resisted shortening the ground clearance so you should be able to climb curves. The trunk is a spacious one at 572 liters, and there are plenty of convenience features dotted around the cabin.

All the engines are borrowed from the Megane and include four flavors of diesel and two small turbocharged gasoline units. The 1.5 dCi is rated at 95 PS (5 more than usual), but the Eco2 stamp belongs to an 110 PS Hybrid Assist version that features regenerative braking and a 48-volt battery. It's not a hybrid, but it should emit as little as 80 grams per kilometer.

For now, the most powerful engine is a twin-turbo 1.6-liter diesel. We can't tell you if it's good or not since the Megane hasn't got it yet, but it will be more efficient than older 2.0 units that have been all but discontinued.

What we really think: It looks almost perfect, but it needs a 1.6-liter TCe turbo and more engines available with the EDC. The fake leather dash with white stitching reminds us of the Laguna.

Ultra-Rare Fiberfab Centurion Corvette Heads To Auction

The 1950s were an experimental period for all American car manufacturers, fueled by the prosperity that came to the United States following the end of World War II. It’s during this period that General Motors started tinkering with wild designs, including the Corvette Stingray Racer Concept Car that was inspired by the Corvette SS.

Fast-forward to the mid-‘60s, and a custom car builder known as Fiberfab took inspiration from the XP-87 Stingray racer to create the Centurion, a.k.a. Corvette Custom Topless Roadster. Six examples were built in total, with this particular model bearing the identification number tag 12616.

Barrett-Jackson is offering 12616 at auction at the Scottsdale 2018 sale at no reserve, and as you can tell from the photos in the gallery, the car is freshly restored to immaculate condition. Finished in Inca Silver and featuring dual headrest fairings on the rear deck, the Centurion is listed in the C1 Corvette Registry and eligible for the Monterey Historic Races.

Being based on the 1958 Corvette, the Centurion hides a 283-cu.in. V8 under the hood, complete with Rochester fuel injection. Connected to a four-speed manual transmission, the all-American grunt of the eight-cylinder powerplant is sent to the driven wheels through a 4.11:1 posi rear.

Retrofitted to mimic the C2 Corvette Sting Ray-based racing car, this particular Centurion is the only example known to have two headrests. Word has it that makes it collectible, but Barrett-Jackson hasn’t offered an estimate on this rarefied beast. That being said, don’t brace yourself for a winning bid close to the average transaction price of pristine C1s.

Developed to test handling and performance, the XP-87 that serves as the primary influence for the Fiberfab Centurion won the SCCA National Championship in 1960. The bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful racing car was then retired, though its existence paved the way for the C2’s design and the extensive use of aluminum. Regarding the latter, it’s the C6 Z06 that finally made the switch to an aluminum-based chassis structure.

2016 Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl Launched in South America

Dear James May, rejoice! Though this isn’t the Dacia Sandero econobox you were looking for, the good news is that the 2016 Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl is the ritziest Sandero ever made. It’s modern and cool, exactly the opposite of Captain Slow.

Based on the Dacia Sandero from the Old Continent, the Renault Sandero from South America is different from its European twin sister only by badge. The Stepway that comes after the Sandero nameplate is nothing more than a jacked-up visual package. What about the Rip Curl after Stepway? That tells you that this is a special edition model with visuals inspired by a surfing sportswear company from Australia.

Exclusively available in select South American markets (such as Brazil), the Rip Curl is a limited edition with a starting price of 55,850 reais. That’s €13,110 or $14,245 according to today’s exchange rates. So what do you get for two grand less than what a 2016 Dacia Sandero Stepway costs in its home market of Romania, the country with "the best road in the world?"

For starters, it’s based on the range-topping Privilege trim level, so customers aren’t missing anything regarding creature comforts. Other than that, the Rip Curl adds Rip Curl decals on the front doors and steering wheel, grey-painted mirror caps, red-painted air vent bezels, nicer seats, and that’s about it. Air conditioning, Media Nav infotainment, and satellite navigation are on the menu as well.

In terms of motivation, the front-wheel-drive Renault Sandero Stepway Rip Curl is available with two 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine options. The first is an 8-valve job with 85 horsepower. The second comes with double the valves and 105 horsepower. The five-speed manual that comes as standard can be exchanged for the Easy-R automated manual transmission for a teeny-weeny bit more Brazilian reais.

And no, unfortunately, the surfboard in the featured image isn’t included in the advertised price. 

Nurburgring Fans Got Together For Drifting Next to the Track, Sleighs Involved

With the Nurburgring now closed and covered in thick snow, German track aficionados have to find a way of getting their kicks and it seems these people just won't give up their Nordschleife obsession.

One way to quench your Green White Hell thirst is to hit the track... on a sleigh. Nevertheless, relying on human power and the elevation changes of the circuit obviously brings serious limitations - after all, the gear heads are there to use their cars.

As such, a group of Ring fans decided to put on a bit of a drifting show right next to the track. The sideways-friendly group got together yesterday, with the meeting taking place in the Brunnchen area. You might know this as one of the most YouTube-friendly corners of the infamous German track, with the adrenaline junkies doing their thing in the proximity of the bend. It seems that not even the rather bumpy terrain managed to keep these people from enjoying their slip angle moments.

Since most of them had brought their sleighs along, one thing led to another and these ended up getting pulled by a drifting BMW (it's always an E36). Heck, even a Volkswagen LT driver decided to forget all about the commercial vehicle's nature and go for a bit of rear-wheel-drive fan.

This kind of... winter barbecue events that actually prevent rubber from getting toasted seem to be popular at the Nordschleife, as people simply aim for no-fuss weekend hooning fun.

And the piece of footage at the bottom of the page allows us to get a good taste of what happened during such a meet. For one thing, we're glad to see car aficionados being just as friendly to amateur front-wheel-drive sliders as they are to those who own RWD machines that can actually put on a drifting show.