Next BMW X1 due in 2022 with imposing new look

 

The next BMW X1 will be on sale in 2022 along with all-electric iX1 variant

New Nissan Z car due in 2022 could take Nissan 400Z name

Nissan 370Z replacement will forgo an electric powertrain

Nissan is in the midst of an ambitious plan to rebuild the brand, boost profits, plus establish a new generation of products, and key to its turnaround is a successor to the firm’s 370Z sports car. Expected to be revealed towards the end of 2022 and go on sale the following year, the new Z car’s launch will mark 15 years since the current 370Z was introduced, back in 2008. 

The Japanese firm’s short-term plan, which goes up to 2023, will see the company focus its efforts on expanding its crossover model range, launch more than eight new electric vehicles and reinvigorate its sports car line-up. At the same time Nissan will  reduce its overall product portfolio by 20 per cent, by discontinuing older models or vehicles that are specific to a single region. 

The 370Z replacement, rumoured to be called 400Z, will be sold across Nissan’s major markets in North America and China, as well as Europe, in order to maximise profitability. Sports cars make up one per cent of Europe’s total new car sales.

Confirmation of the new Z car came earlier this year, along with a hazy teaser image of the two-door coupé. Although design details are hard to pick out, the image did reveal that the sports car will keep the sleek, cab-rearward silhouette that first appeared on the 240Z back in the sixties. Spy shots have revealed that Nissan is already under way with development on the newcomer, using the current 370Z as a test mule. Our exclusive images give you an idea of how the finished car could look. 

Talking about the styling of the upcoming sports car, Nissan’s senior vice-president for design, Alfonso Albaisa, told us: “The Z is the car that democratised sports cars back in the sixties. The current car has been a long time in the dealerships, and so you could imagine the designers working on it.

We could never leave this alone, it’s in our soul. You can feel this in other Nissan designs, like the new Ariya; it’s not just about fuel efficiency, it wants to be driven, for the love of driving.”

To ensure the Toyota Supra rival will be profitable for Nissan – something that’s famously difficult to achieve in the sports car class due to the small sales volumes – the firm will look to leverage its position within the Renault Nissan Alliance. Rather than develop a new platform for the sports car, Nissan is likely to use an evolution of the architecture that underpins a range of models, including the Infiniti Q60 coupé. 

The platform is designed for front-engined, rear-wheel-drive vehicles and is already compatible with a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged engine that is capable of producing in excess of 400bhp. Such a configuration will allow Nissan to develop the next Z model quickly, because components are readily available, while the performance figures would make the newcomer competitive in its class. 

There’s also the possibility of the Nismo division developing a more powerful and more focused model further down the line. 

Despite Nissan concentrating on electric and e-Power hybrid systems, Auto Express understands that the 370Z replacement will feature no electrification, and rely solely on an internal combustion engine for power. To that end, official documents released by Nissan show that an ICE vehicle will be launched towards the end of the company’s 2023 plan. 

Lister Stealth to be ‘Britain’s fastest SUV’ with 195mph top speed

 

The £110,000 Jaguar F-Pace-based Lister Stealth boasts a 3.6-second 0-60mph time

This is the Lister Stealth, a car its maker claims to be Britain’s fastest and most powerful SUV.

The Stealth is based on the Jaguar F-Pace SVR but Lister has increased power to 666bhp and torque to 881Nm, a 22 per cent boost over the standard car. As a result the Stealth can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 195mph.

The hike in power and performance has been made possible through new supercharger pulleys, a custom-built intercooler, revised induction and use of Lister’s proprietary engine management software. As a result, the Stealth is claimed to be not only Britain's fastest SUV, but also the most powerful to date.

The Lister Stealth sports a range of handmade bodywork modifications, designed to aid aerodynamics and engine cooling. The front bumper and rear diffuser are both constructed from carbon fibre. Other revisions include a custom-designed stainless steel exhaust with carbon fibre tips, for a “thunderous soundtrack”, as well as more powerful brakes front and rear and 23-inch alloy wheels.

Buyers can choose from 36 colours of Bridge of Weir nappa leather, along with 90 stitching options for the car’s seatbelts, seats, dashboard, steering wheel and roof lining.

Impressively, the Lister will have a longer warranty than the F-Pace on which it is based. Cover comes from Warrantywise, Lister’s sister company. Just 100 Lister Stealths will be built, costing £109,950 each.

Lister CEO, Lawrence Whittaker, said: “Creating Britain’s fastest SUV is not without its challenges, but our in-house design and development team have created a truly unique and world-class product with the Lister Stealth. The launch of the Stealth continues our track record of creating bespoke, beautiful cars that major on performance, luxury and most of all owner and driver enjoyment, with a price point that significantly undercuts the competitors in this marketplace.”

Bentley Flying Spur gets carbon fibre exterior tweaks

 

Flagship Bentley Flying Spur receives ‘Styling Specification’ sporty makeover

The current generation Bentley Flying Spur arrived in 2019, now in line with the firm’s centenary, Bentley has given the luxury saloon a sporty body kit and package of design tweaks dubbed the ‘Styling Specification’ to emphasise its performance credentials. 

In the world of luxury limousines, we rank the Bentley Flying Spur among the very best. Despite weighing almost 2,500kg and being able to carry four people in sublime comfort, the Flying Spur can reach a supercar-rivalling top speed of 207mph - making it the world’s fastest production saloon car.

As part of a new Styling Specification, the Bentley Flying Spur receives a handmade, high-gloss, carbon-fibre front splitter, side sills, a rear diffuser and a boot lid spoiler. The B-shaped side vents are also blacked out to promote the sporty look. The carbon-fibre weave is a 2x2 twill pattern and there are also 3D electroformed metallic badges front and rear. 

The three-chamber air suspension system fitted to the standard Flying Spur is unchanged so sumptuous ride comfort is assured, and in the engine bay it’s also business as usual.

That means the Flying Spur’s 626bhp, 900Nm 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine remains as was, so the 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds and 207mph top speed should remain the same. Active all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering still feature to complete the car’s dynamic-set-up. Pricing for the Styling Specification pack is yet to be announced, although expect it to extend the standard car some way beyond its basic £168,000 price tag.

New 2022 BMW M3 Touring testing begins

The hot new BMW M3 Touring estate is on the way and it’ll feature the same 503bhp straight-six engine as the saloon.

 

BMW has officially confirmed plans to launch an estate version of the upcoming, sixth-generation M3. When it eventually reaches the UK market, it’ll be the first official M-performance version of the 3 Series Touring, and compete directly with the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Estate and the Audi RS 4 Avant.

The car has been officially pictured in a shadowy teaser image and now in a short video clip posted by the manufacturer on Instagram showing a disguised prototype on test. The images confirm that the design of the car will closely follow that of the new BMW M3 saloon that has also been spied testing, as revealed in our exclusive rendering. 

It has also been confirmed new BMW M3 Touring will be powered by a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine. It’s the same 3.0-litre powertrain found in the X3 M and X4 M performance SUVs, which means the hot M3 estate should have an output of 503bhp and 600Nm of torque.

The new M3 Touring will feature the same selectable four-wheel drive system as the M3 saloon, which will allow the driver to send 100 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels. BMW has also confirmed that the estate will have a wider track than the standard car, which should be complemented by an upgraded suspension system and larger brakes.

BMW says the M3 Touring is still in the early stages of its two-year development cycle, so we’re unlikely to see the finished car until late 2022 at the earliest. The first test mules are now testing on public roads, along with a few track-based prototypes, which will undergo a rigorous test cycle at the Nurburgring.

Our exclusive illustration gives an indication of how the finished M3 Touring will look, and BMW has confirmed that it will share some of its cosmetic tweaks with the standard M3.

The pictures of the disguised M3 Touring confirm an aggressive makeover compared with the regular 3 Series Touring, but also that the M3 models are set to adopt the large vertical kidney grilles used to controversial effect on the new 4 Series and the next M4 too. 

BMW developed a running prototype M3 Touring based on the E46 generation M3 in 2000, using a straight-six engine developing 338bhp, but never brought the model to market.

Jaguar Land Rover Aluminium Upcycling initiative to slash carbon emissions

 

The use of end-of-life vehicles in addition to other recycled sources, will form part of Jaguar Land Rover’s drive towards zero-emission production

Jaguar Land Rover will aim to reduce carbon emissions in its aluminium production by up to 26 per cent over the coming years through the use of obtaining materials from recycled sources. 

Internal research within the group has confirmed that such cuts are achievable through recycling. Cans, bottle tops and older vehicles that have reached the end of their life can be reused and remixed with a much smaller quantity of first-use aluminium to form an automotive-grade alloy for new cars.

The source of old aluminium is plentiful; Jaguar says that 75 per cent of aluminium produced in the UK and USA is still in use, and that recycling the material requires 90 per cent less energy than mining than extracting raw materials.

Much of this second-hand aluminium tends to be reused for lower-grade applications, but JLR will employ what it calls “advanced separation technology” which allows it to extract a higher quality of material. 

The research comes as part of the group’s Reality Aluminium Project, which is part of a greater aim to point JLR to a zero-emission production future. Recycled aluminium already plays a part in JLR’s production: between September 2013 and March 2020, Jaguar’s range has utilised 360,000 tonnes of “closed-loop scrap” for producing aluminium structures throughout its range.

Speaking of the research, Lead Project Manager for REALITY at JLR, Gaëlle Guillaume, said, “this project has allowed us, for the first time, to recover premium automotive-grade aluminium from scrapped vehicles and re-use its unique properties. The potential of this on the production process is a reduction in CO2 impact as well as helping us re-use even more aluminium.”

Chevy Stops Selling 2020 C8 Corvettes Whose Front Trunks May Unexpectedly Open

 

The "flying frunk" recall is separate from the "traps people inside" front trunk recall.

General Motors has issued a "stop delivery" order to its dealers on "certain" 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette models both new and used, related to a recall for the car's "frunk" it is filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today (Aug. 19). The recall—separate from a different frunk issue—centers around a "flying frunk" issue, as the front trunk of the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette has opened unexpectedly in several instances while the car is in motion. The results are potentially catastrophic, with blocked forward vision and undesirable aerodynamics, but we haven't heard of any instances of the flying-frunk recall issue causing a crash so far. The 2020 model-year Corvettes have been sold out for some time, but customers looking forward to taking delivery of their cars soon will now have to wait until an undetermined time to do so.

We were alerted to the C8's flying-frunk problem, and the recall, by corvetteblogger.com, a popular Corvette enthusiasts' forum in which several owners have reported their Corvette frunks opening while driving, mostly at low speed. It's still not entirely clear as to what causes the problem, but it appears the issue stems from owners not shutting the frunk properly or inadvertently opening it from inside the car. This YouTube video shows the problem occurring around the 24-second mark.

GM spokesman Kevin Kelly says "GM's internal analysis indicates that the few reports of hood openings were related to drivers inadvertently pressing the hood release button on the keyfob while the vehicle was stopped and in park."

There is a warning system built into the car which is supposed to give the driver a visual and audible alert to warn them the front trunk isn't closed securely, and that speed is limited to 82 mph until the frunk is shut properly. GM wants to reduce that speed to 26 mph and modify the C8's keyfob to prevent accidental openings.

In an official statement, GM said:

"General Motors has decided to voluntarily recall certain 2020 model-year Chevrolet Corvette vehicles for a potential issue with the vehicle's front trunk lid.

"If drivers ignore the vehicle's visual and audible warnings that the front trunk lid is open, they can drive the vehicle in that condition at speed, which could increase the likelihood that the wind force is sufficient to inadvertently flip open the hood.

"GM is finalizing a software repair for the vehicles' Body Control Module (BCM) to limit vehicle speed to 26 mph when the hood is not completely closed and latched. The software update will also provide a driver information-center message indicating that the top speed is limited to 26 mph. In addition, the operation of the hood release on the keyfob will be modified to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent hood release actuations. The interior door-trim switch and release button located inside the front trunk compartment are also modified to require a longer press-time."

As for when the fix will be available, Kelly says "In terms of timing for the software availability, our engineers are working around the clock to finalize the necessary software updates and we will release it to our dealers and customers as soon as possible."

Owners of affected 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette models will receive frunk recall notices beginning on Aug. 19, though a dealer with knowledge of the issue tells us the software update is not yet available, so no fixes are available to owners at this time. This echoes the contents of an official GM document, below:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N202311160 Drivers May Overlook Open Hood Alerts

These questions and answers are being provided to help GM dealers respond to inquiries from involved vehicle owners about the Safety recall identified above.

Q1) Which vehicles are involved?

A1) 2020 Chevrolet Corvette

Q2) What is the issue or condition?

A2) General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2020 model-year Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. If drivers ignore the vehicle's visual and audible warnings that the front trunk lid is open, they can drive the vehicle in that condition at speed, which could increase the likelihood that the wind force is sufficient to inadvertently flip open the hood.

Q3) What symptoms may be experienced? What warning signs may be associated with the issue or condition described?

A3) When the hood is not completely closed and latched, the driver receives the following warnings and alerts:

• The hood-ajar icon on the instrument panel is illuminated and the driver information center (DIC) displays a message that the hood is open;
• An initial audible chime will sound once;
• When the vehicle is in drive and moving above 3 mph, a persistent chime plays; and,
• The DIC currently displays a message that indicates the vehicle speed is limited to 82 mph (this will be changed to 26 mph with the software remedy described below).

Q4) What is the remedy/repair?

A4) GM will soon update the software in the vehicles' Body Control Module (BCM) to limit vehicle speed to 26 mph when the hood is not completely closed and latched. The software update will also provide a DIC message indicating that the top speed is limited to 26 mph. In addition, the operation of the hood release on the key fob will be modified to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent hood release actuations. The interior door trim switch and release button located inside the front trunk compartment are also modified to require a longer press-time. Owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using wireless over-the-air (OTA) technology without having to bring their vehicle to a dealership. Alternatively, owners may schedule service at a GM dealer to receive these software updates.

Q5) What is the safety risk? Is the vehicle safe to drive?

A5) If the hood is open (i.e., the primary and secondary latches are not engaged) while driving at speed, the hood could flip open and obstruct the driver's forward view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Q6) Does the customer have to pay for this remedy/repair?

A6) No, this inspection/repair will be done at no cost to the customer.

Q7) Is the remedy/repair available now?

A7) No, when a remedy is available the recall bulletin will be released, and dealers can begin repairing vehicles. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N202311160 Drivers May Overlook Open Hood Alerts

Q8) What should customers do until recall repairs can be completed? Are there any special instructions?

A8) If special instructions are provided, they will be included in the notification letters to customers.

Q9) How can customers check to see if their vehicle is involved in this field action?

A9) Customers who own a vehicle involved in the field action will be notified by mail by General Motors, but they may also check their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for field actions in GM Owner Center at https://my.gm.com/recalls or via NHTSA's website at https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

Q10) If customers are concerned, can they get a rental car or courtesy transportation?

A10) Courtesy transportation is available for customers whose vehicles are involved in this recall and are within the warranty coverage period for the warranty which is associated with this recall. Please refer to Warranty Administration Bulletin #17-NA-073: Field Action Courtesy Transportation Policy for further information.

Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet special edition revealed

 

New Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet looks 100 years into the past to evoke spirit of historic roasters; just 50 examples will be produced

This is the Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet: a two seat roadster version of the Dawn convertible that will be limited to just 50 examples worldwide.

Announced back in March, the first car has rolled off the production line and is shown in these images for the first time.

Said to take inspiration from dramatic roasters from the 1920s, the most obvious change from the existing Dawn is behind the front seats: the rear chairs are replaced with an aero cowling, which mixes the tan-coloured upholstery with a silver central spine. The look is completed with a titanium windbreak featuring a subtle engraving of the car’s profile on the front and “Silver Bullet” when viewed from the rear.

The body is finished in a unique “ultra-metallic” paint finish called Brewster Silver, while there’s a darkened finish for the headlights and the trim surround for the front air intake. The wheels are painted dark grey and feature a single silver pinstripe.

Inside, the Silver Bullet features open pore carbon fibre trim on the fascia, front face of the rear cowling and on the rear deck surround. The tan-coloured upholstery features quilting on the central transmission tunnel.

Power is supplied by a Rolls-Royce twin turbocharged 6.6-litre V12, producing 563bhp and 780Nm of torque. Zero to 62mph, in the regular Dawn, is dispatched in 4.9 seconds.

Prices of the ultra-rare Silver Bullet haven’t been disclosed by Rolls-Royce, but with the standard model kicking off at over £250,000, this limited run model is likely to cost significantly more, possibly towards seven-figure territory.

2022 Toyota Tundra: What We Know About the Next One

 

Will the next full-size Tundra pickup truly challenge the likes of the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500?

The current Toyota Tundra impressed us enough to earn the MotorTrend Truck of the Year award…in 2008. Since then, the Japanese automaker has merely put coats of lipstick on its aging pickup while rivals such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500 received at least one full-on redesign. In other words, the Tundra's been left in the dust. However, Toyota finally is doing something about it.

An All-New Toyota Tundra For 2022

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is due to ride on the company's latest truck chassis. Reportedly coined Toyota New Global Architecture-F (or TNGA-F), the Tundra's body-on-frame underpinnings ought to benefit from greater use of high-strength steel and other weight-saving materials. Like the Ram 1500, we anticipate the next-gen Tundra will adopt coil springs—in place of the current truck's leaf springs—to go with its live rear axle. Such a setup will surely improve the truck's ride quality. Likewise, we expect the lither 2022 Tundra to notably improve upon the outgoing model's maximum 1,730-pound payload and 10,200-pound towing figures. Of course, it will have to, with more-modern light-duty competitors offering capacities that far outstrip those dated numbers.

Twin-Turbo 2022 Tundra

Say goodbye to the Tundra's V-8 engines, because Toyota's big pickup will reportedly enter the world with a V-6-only powertrain lineup. Look for higher-end Tundra variants to utilize a variant of the 416-hp 3.5-liter unit found under the hood of the Lexus LS500. Lesser Tundras will likely employ the naturally aspirated 278-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine of the Tacoma (possibly massaged to produce more than 300 horses). 

Given Toyota's hybrid history, the brand may offer the 2022 Tundra with a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain option, putting it on the vanguard in a segment that is just now warming up to electrification. Such a setup will allow the Toyota truck to properly compete with the 2021 Ford F-150 and its available hybrid powertrain.

2022 Toyota Tundra's Truck-Like Looks

Despite its relatively radical mechanical changes, the 2022 Toyota Tundra is anticipated to evolve upon the styling of today's truck. That's no bad thing, as the current Tundra has finally grown into its skin—the original version looked like a four-wheeled fish of some sort—and comes across as innocuous enough, if not fully handsome. Still, look for the big Toyota truck to sport a brasher front-end design incorporating a large grille and tall hood, providing the new Tundra with a flashier mug.

Inside, the new Tundra will welcome Toyota's latest Entune infotainment technology. This includes an available 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a large head-up display unit. Toyota's full Safety Sense suite of goodies are sure to be available, too, including automatic braking, advanced radar cruise control, automatic lane centering and lane-keep assist, and much more. 

2022 Toyota Tundra On-Sale Date And Price

Although we expect Toyota to unveil the 2022 Tundra before the middle of next year, we don't anticipate the model rolling forth from Toyota's San Antonio, Texas, factory and reaching dealerships until the end of 2021. When it arrives, the 2022 Tundra may sport a base price close to that of the current truck's approximately $35,000 figure, or the brand might reintroduce lower, less-equipment-rich trim levels to the lineup in an attempt to capture fleet or entry-level buyers. No matter what, opting for four-wheel drive, more technology, a larger cab or bed, and more powerful or advanced powertrain options will raise the truck's cost. Plan to spend north of $55,000 to get into the 2022 Tundra's pricier trims.