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Dodge Daytona EV price hits a new high as BMW adds AWD and Maserati eyes gain
1 day ago•Source: The Drive
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BMW M2 Grows AWD with 2027 xDrive, Boosting Pace and Grip
BMW will offer a 2027 M2 with an xDrive all‑wheel‑drive variant using the M3/M4‑based system; it retains the 3.0-liter twin‑turbo inline‑six at 473 hp, shifts exclusively via an eight‑speed automatic (the six‑speed manual isn’t available with xDrive), and lets drivers switch between AWD and RWD. The xDrive M2 weighs about 3,988 lb, does 0–60 in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph (177 mph with the Driver’s Package). It starts at $74,950, about $4,600 over the base 2026 M2 and $18,100 below the M4 Competition xDrive, and goes on sale this summer with a new Borusan Turkish Blue color.
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Five Hidden-Gem 1970s Muscle Cars That Outran Their Fame
The 1970s were tough for V8 muscle, but five underappreciated models proved big power could come in small packages or unusual bodies: Buick GS 455 Stage 1 with a 360-hp, high-torque 455 and a 13.38-sec quarter at 105.5 mph; the rarity of Ford Ranchero GT 429 (only a handful with the 429 and 78 manual examples) despite 375 hp; Mercury Cougar Eliminator with a 428 Cobra Jet and a rare 2,267 builds; Plymouth Duster 340 offering affordable, lightweight speed (14.5-sec quarter-mile) at a fraction of A-pillar Mopar prices; and AMC Rebel Machine, a $3,500 one-year-run with the 390 producing about 340 hp in roughly 2,000 cars. The era’s oil crisis and regs dampened the public spotlight, but these machines showed serious performance and collector intrigue long after the badge-heavy names."
Defend Your Ugly Favorite: Ferrari Luce Sparks a Design Debate
Brad Brownell invites readers to share which ugly car they’d defend, using Ferrari’s new all‑electric Luce as a focal point. He admits liking the design despite its controversy, arguing that bold, unconventional styling can be appealing. He also cites the Jaguar Type 00 and promises to recap some favorite opinions on Monday.
AC Cobra Returns: Ford-Powered GT Coupe Debuts as Ultra-Limited Revival
The all-new AC Cobra GT Coupe, powered by Ford's 5.0L Coyote V8 delivering up to 720 hp, debuts as a refined GT-style revival built on an extruded aluminum space frame with carbon fiber body, offering weight balance at 50:50 and a 1,600 kg curb weight. Production is capped at 1,000 units (100 per year) for global markets, built in Sweden, with deliveries starting in 2028. Prices start at £234,300 ($315,002) for the naturally aspirated model and £256,300 ($344,579) for the supercharged version, taxes extra.
Lexus ES 2026 moves to hybrid and EV power with a calm, luxury focus
The 2026 Lexus ES switches to a multi-pathway platform offering three variants—ES 350h hybrid (FWD/AWD, 244 hp, ~46 MPG), ES 350e BEV (FWD, up to 307 miles), and ES 500e BEV AWD (338 hp, ~276 miles). It’s larger, roomier, and emphasizes comfort over sport, with a 14-inch touchscreen, optional 21-inch wheels, and a rear-seat Executive Package on the 350e Luxury. Prices start around $48,895 for the 350e Premium and rise to $60,295 for the 500e Luxury AWD, delivering a refined, quiet luxury sedan more than a performance machine.
Lotus Emira 420 Sport Boosts Power, Slashes Weight, Adds Glass Roof
Lotus refreshes its combustion-era halo, the Emira, with the 420 Sport, lifting power to 420 metric hp (414 hp US), shaving about 55 lb and adding 55 lb of downforce with an optional lightweight handling package. It introduces a removable glass roof panel and sticks with an eight-speed dual-clutch (no manual for the AMG four‑cylinder option). US price starts at $122,900 with orders open and deliveries due in August; a hybrid V‑6 Emira is expected soon, and buyers with the older powertrains will have a limited window to purchase.
Subaru DriverFocus: How to Disable the Distraction-Mitigation Camera
Subaru’s DriverFocus distraction-mitigation camera, paired with EyeSight on some Outbacks, has sparked owner complaints about over-sensitivity, but Subaru says it can be disabled via the head unit; the issue echoes broader ADAS gripes as more cars adopt driver-monitoring tech, amid talk of a 2027 US mandate for impaired-driver monitoring.
Dodge Copperhead signals SRT’s Viper-era revival
Stellantis confirms a new Dodge Copperhead SRT as a standalone flagship to carry the Viper legacy, likely powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 and built on the STLA Large platform, with a launch expected before 2030 to rival the Ford Mustang GTD.
Gunther Werks 993 Speedster (Blue Phoenix) Heads to Monterey Auction as a Carbon-Fiber Hyper-Classic
A rare Gunther Werks Speedster based on a Porsche 993, one of 25, named Blue Phoenix, with a 4.0L flat‑six producing 430 hp, carbon fiber body, and a reinforced chassis; weighing about 2,600 lb, it has just 108 miles and heads to Mecum’s Monterey auction, where it’s expected to fetch seven‑figure money.
GT53 vs GT63: Is the V8 Premium Worth It?
Two 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupes in New Jersey present a price gap: a $43k GT53 with an inline-6 and 469 hp (21 mpg combined) versus a $69k GT63 with a V8 and 577 hp (590 lb-ft, 17 mpg), with the GT63 accelerating faster (0–60 in 3.3s vs 4.1s). While the GT63 is the more desirable and potentially better at holding value, the $26k premium invites weighing whether the extra performance justifies the cost.
Iconic Hot Rod Styles: From Rat Rods to Track Roadsters
Jalopnik profiles nine iconic hot rod styles—Street Rod, Rat Rod, Track Roadster, T-Bucket, Lowboy, Highboy, Gasser, Pro Street, and the Deuce (1932 Ford)—explaining how each differs in purpose and construction, from safety- and reliability-minded street rods and rusty-budget rat rods to aero-focused track roadsters, fenderless lowboys and highboys, high-traction gasers, and showy, drag-inspired Pro Street machines, with notes on origins and how definitions vary across groups like NSRA and magazines.