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.

This Cullinan Is the Darkest Black Badge Rolls-Royce Yet

Knowing that even the most pretentious of car customers can be divided into sub-groups, luxury brands have long ago decided to diversify their offer by launching special variants of their already exclusive cars. For Rolls-Royce, diversification means Black Badge.

The range of Black Badge Rolls-Royce cars was introduced in 2016 as a means to satisfy a subversive cohort, as the company calls the “men and women who take risks, break rules and build success on their own terms.” In words we can all understand, people who want to be more exclusive than their exclusive peers.

Rolls’ only SUV, the Cullinan, is the latest to get this treatment, a development we knew was coming from earlier this year. And now, here it is.

Black Badge does not mean a darkened shield thrown on the car. First and foremost, it means a menacing look, made possible by the color black used extensively throughout. And not just any black, but the darkest shade available on Black Badge machines.

But changes do not stop to visual tweaks. Usually cranking out 578 ps from the monstrous 6.75-liter V12 engine, this Cullinan is even more powerful, being rated at 600 ps and 900 Nm of torque (an extra 50 Nm thrown into the mix). There's even a re-engineered drivetrain and chassis.

The Cullinan Black Badge has been nicknamed by the carmaker the King of the Night. It is already available for order, but prices have not been announced.

“Black Badge reflects the desires of a distinct group of Rolls-Royce clients: men and women who take risks, break rules and build success on their own terms,” said in a statement Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO.

“In this spirit, the time has come for Rolls-Royce’s boldest and darkest expression of Black Badge yet. The King of the Night, Black Badge Cullinan.”

The full scope of modifications can be found in the press release section below.

How the Genesis G70 Stole the New BMW 3 Series’ Thunder

The launch of the all-new and really rather good G20 3 Series coincided with the launch of a rival model from Hyundai’s new luxury division, Genesis. It’s called the Genesis G70 and it actually debuted in 2018, but it was in 2019 when it really caught both buyers’ and journalists’ attention.

Before you read on any further, let me tell you the latest 3 Series, now in its seventh generation, is a solid, accomplished car. It looks better than its predecessor both inside and out and it’s better to drive too. It is jam-packed with some of the most advanced automotive technologies available and that blue and white propeller badge on its hood is instantly recognizable and highly coveted.

People know what a 3 Series is and even if not all brand connotations are positive, the fact that it is a nameplate that traces its roots back to 1975 means it’s had over 40 years to cement itself as a major player in the industry. It also has undeniable qualities of being great to drive and generally a good car (regardless of whichever generation you’re looking at), so it’s no wonder it’s the top seller in its class on many markets.

The most recent G20 incarnation has won its fair share of awards: Auto Zeitung named it “World’s Best Car“ in the midsize segment in 2018 and it was also Auto Bild Allrad’s “AWD Car of the Year up to €40,000” for 2018. And it didn’t just impress the press in its native Germany - it was also on Car Magazine’s “Best Buys” in the premium midsize category for 2018 and What Car? said it was its “Best Executive Car” for 2019.

The 3 Series lives in a fairly crowded sector where it’s not that easy to penetrate - Jaguar has tried with the XE and so far it hasn’t really succeeded, while Cadillac also tried with the ATS, but since it mostly sold in the U.S., it doesn’t really count on a global scale. The Lexus IS is more unique and popular and it has gained its own followers (a feat which the Jag and Cadillac can’t match).

Then there’s the Alfa Romeo which out-BMW’d BMW by making the Giulia the best car to drive in its class. The Giulia also has a remarkably good Quadrifoglio performance version that is at least as good as the haloed M3 (if not better).

Cool 1969 Chevy Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III GT Is as Fast as It Is Rare

Its creation was the result of a joint effort between Motion Performance and Long Island-based Baldwin Chevrolet, and it really has a lot going for it. It’s called the Chevrolet Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III GT and the key part of its name is the Phase III bit.

That means it was one the most powerful and extreme vehicles to result from this collaboration. It packed an L71 427 cubic inch V8 (the original the car came with) modified to make anywhere from 430 to 530 horsepower, according to some reports, since it was breathed upon by Motion Performance. We can spot the custom Motion Performance valve cover, the Edelbrock intake manifold, as well as the four-barrel Holley carb.

It is hooked up to a Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission, the factory gearbox the car came with before it went in to be modified.

Its claimed quarter-mile time was 11.5 seconds, so it probably has closer to 500 horsepower - otherwise it wouldn’t be able to match this claim. And back in the day, when you purchased the car, it came with a guarantee that it would be able to match this claim.

It certainly has more power than a regular Corvette of the era, so those extra-wide rear tires are not there just for show - they are required to help it put the power down. But they don’t look out of place thanks to the flared wheel arches.

But the bulging arches are just the start of the exterior visual modifications. The car also features a functional hood scoop, surprisingly well integrated fixed headlights (the original had flip-up lights that have been removed), noticeable factory side exhausts, slit rear lights, custom side slats, side scoops on the B-pillar and unique looking slanted fastback-style rear glass.

It must be mentioned that this particular car is the only Phase III series car that has the Shelby-style side scoops, making it unique even among others of its kind. The wheels are also special, featuring custom rims by Motion Performance and cool looking Mickey Thompson sportsman tires - those fat rear tires really give the car aggressive look.

This car really pops visually, and most of that pop is comes from its wonderful Candyapple Gold and Black two-tone paint scheme. The black accents are incredibly clever on this car, highlighting some shapes without feeling like too much - they accentuate the pert rear end, the hood bulge and the middle of the roof and it all looks really pleasant and well done.

There’s more to this car than just facts about its modifications and performance and there’s a reason why only ten were ever created. It came just before the 1970s energy crisis, at a time when the U.S. Government was aiming to make all cars cleaner and more frugal, the reason why it enforced the Clean Air Act in 1970. Based on this, the Government was able to sue Motion Performance and ultimately won and forced the shop to stop making its delicious modified Corvettes in 1971.

That makes this particular example, a well documented, pristine matching-numbers car, that was on magazine covers back in the day, worth well in excess of $200,000. It last changed hands in 2005 for $231,000, and it’s set to go under the hammer again in January 2020 when it is expected to fetch more than it did nearly 15 years