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- JDM dream shop, Miura reimagined, Sienna's breakthrough
JDM dream shop, Miura reimagined, Sienna's breakthrough
PLUS: Lincoln drowning, Harry's garage roundup, MT's biggest losers
2024-12-30
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Releases & Reviews
Toyota's updated minivan introduces groundbreaking safety tech with a millimeter-wave radar system that can detect occupants left in second and third rows. The refreshed model maintains its standard hybrid powertrain delivering up to 36 mpg (6.5L/100km), with available all-wheel drive.
After 15,000 miles of testing, MotorTrend praises the electric fastback's 299 horsepower (223 kW) powertrain and practical liftback design. The single-motor variant achieves 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds while offering thoughtful features like a flip-up cargo divider and hidden storage. However, testers note stiff suspension and some cheap interior materials detract from the experience.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Ford's newly published patent tackles a unique challenge of steer-by-wire systems: maintaining steering wheel resistance when parked. The solution uses sensors to detect driver entry/exit and applies torque to the wheel when used as a grab handle.
The Japanese tuning house reveals renderings of their modernized take on Lamborghini's iconic Miura ahead of Tokyo Auto Salon 2025. The LB-Silhouette Works GT Miura features an aggressive widebody kit, custom black-and-white livery, and significant aerodynamic modifications while retaining the original 385 horsepower (287 kW) V12 engine.
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Car Culture
Top Rank Classic Specialties' new showroom houses an incredible collection of Japanese icons, including ultra-rare models like a $1.3 million Nissan Skyline GT-R 400R. The facility features dedicated buying and restoration divisions to source and refurbish pristine examples for export, capitalizing on the current 157 yen to dollar exchange rate.
Road & Track explores how the reborn Meyers Manx, now featuring an aircraft-style radial engine producing 130 horsepower (97 kW), offers a unique alternative to traditional performance cars. The 1,530-pound (694 kg) buggy emphasizes driving engagement and whimsy over outright speed, representing a different approach to automotive enthusiasm.
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Miscellaneous
Doug DeMuro names the Porsche 911 ST his "Biggest Surprise" and awards the Volvo EX90 "Car of the Year" in his annual review. The Tesla Cybertruck claims "Quirkiest Car," while the Mercedes-AMG C63's controversial powertrain earns it "Worst Car." The G-Class EV's tank turn feature is crowned "Quirk of the Year."
The all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with 1,034 horsepower (771 kW) edges out both the 1,000 horsepower (746 kW) Ferrari SF90 and 200 horsepower (149 kW) Yamaha R1M in standing quarter-mile tests. The Taycan completed the run in 9.9 seconds, followed by the Ferrari at 10.0 seconds and the motorcycle at 10.3 seconds.
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Quick Links
For 2024, several models fell in MotorTrend's rankings, including the Ford F-150 losing its top spot to the Ram 1500, while multiple Subaru models dropped from previous leading positions.
From the game-changing Honda Civic CVCC to the downsized GM full-size cars that lost 800 pounds (363 kg), these five vehicles helped shape automotive history during one of the industry's most challenging decades.
The prototype racer, featuring a 220 hp (164 kW) Type 901 2.0L flat-six and F1-derived 13-inch center-lock wheels, competed in over 250 events including Lauda's notable drive at the 1969 Österreichring 1000km race.
While Toyota and Lexus maintain efficient 31-36 day supply levels, Jaguar and Lincoln's inventories have swelled to twice the industry average of 85 days amid broader new vehicle inventory increases nationwide.
A Christmas Eve crash involving a Lincoln Navigator ignited a gas line at the notorious Portland corner house, where residents have long pleaded for safety improvements to the deceptively sharp 15 mph (24 km/h) turn.
The open-top variant of the GT4 RS inherits its GT3-derived engine and carbon airbox, delivering an intense motorsport experience with distinctive valve overlap sounds above 8,000 RPM.
A standard Ioniq 5 with a 72.6-kWh battery covered 3,079 miles (4,956 km) from India's highest road at 19,025 feet (5,799 meters) to below sea level, relying on a mix of fast chargers and slow charging in remote areas.
Harry's annual garage update reveals maintenance costs across his 20-car collection, including an £8,450 ($10,750) insurance bill and significant restoration expenses on various classics.
Garage 54's latest creation repurposes 50 cordless drills connected via serpentine belts and hose clamps into a functioning powertrain system.
The Dark Side Performance concept features futuristic blue LED lighting, widebody fenders, and a distinctive shield grille with QR code, showcasing Toyota's experimental design approach ahead of January's auto show.
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