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- RAV4 US?, Ford's 40th Recall, Ferrari F50 Resurfaces
RAV4 US?, Ford's 40th Recall, Ferrari F50 Resurfaces
PLUS: WRX tS Fixed, Kia EV4 Still Coming, Veyron Birth
2025-04-21
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Releases & Reviews
Behind its playful styling, the Blazer EV RS RWD uses a 365 hp (272 kW)/325 lb‑ft (441 Nm) rear motor and 102 kWh battery, yielding an EPA range of 334 miles (538 km). It hits 0–60 mph in 5.7 seconds and charges 5–80 percent in 46 minutes, but braking feels soft and cornering induces heavy understeer.
The StraightPipes revel in the JCW’s 228 hp (170 kW), 280 lb‑ft (380 Nm) from its 2 L turbo four‑cylinder, pairing explosive throttle with firm, go‑kart‑like suspension and Sport Contact 7 tires. While the steely ride and quirky circle display divide opinions, the fun factor remains undeniable.
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Technology, Market Data & Analysis
Sources say Toyota is weighing Kentucky assembly for its 2026 RAV4—its first redesign since 2019—to shield U.S. buyers from President Trump’s 25 percent import tariffs and yen volatility. Production could begin in Kentucky by 2027 while maintaining current Canadian output amid strong demand.
Ford warns it will hike prices on models built in May, phasing out its temporary employee‑pricing program when new section 301 parts and vehicle tariffs take effect. While 80 percent of U.S. sales dodge full import duties by local production, Mexican‑built models like Bronco Sport, Maverick, and Mach‑E face higher costs.
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Car Culture
Chassis CK6-88, a factory‑raced 1988 Porsche 962C converted for road use by BBM Sport, combines its 3.0 L twin‑turbo flat‑six’s 750 hp (560 kW) with added parking brake, cooling fans, intercom, and traction control for street‑legal thrills. Eligible for historic events, it’s listed at £999,950 (~$1.3 million).
One of only two U.S.‑spec Ferrari F50s in Giallo Modena, chassis #F59209 carries ex‑Ralph Lauren provenance and just 5,400 miles (8,690 km). Its 4.7 L naturally aspirated V12 links directly to Ferrari’s 1990 F1 engine, and RM Sotheby’s anticipates a $6.5–7.5 million sale at Monterey.
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Miscellaneous
Salzburg stalemate: Wolfgang Porsche seeks a €10 million ($11.3 million) tunnel through public Kapuzinerberg to access his 12‑car underground garage beneath his 17th‑century villa once owned by Stefan Zweig. After initial approval, the project faces a council vote amid environmental and equity objections despite Porsche’s offers of limited public access.
By April 18, Ford has issued 40 U.S. recalls—averaging one every 2.7 days—impacting 1,235,256 vehicles, nearly one million fewer than this period last year. Roughly half affect fewer than 1,000 units, and 21 stem from a software‑remedy audit as Ford maintains its lead in total recalls.
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Quick Links
Jörg Bergmeister lapped the reconfigured 12.94 mi (21 km) Nürburgring in 6 minutes 56.294 seconds, beating the previous stick‑shift production‑car record by over 9.5 seconds and outpacing the PDK model by 3.7 seconds.
[Top Gear] The RB17’s 4.5 L V10 revs to 15,000 rpm to produce 1,000 hp (746 kW) through a six‑speed sequential box in a sub‑900 kg chassis, generating 1,700 kg of downforce on track.
Powered by a turbocharged 1.5 L engine producing 109 hp (81 kW), the Lavida Pro rides on the MQB platform with a 185.8 in length and weighs 2,910 lb under SAIC‑VW’s compact sedan portfolio.
Amid pandemic‑induced semiconductor shortages, pre‑ordered cars like an Audi RS6 Avant and Ford Bronco delivered to my friend were valued hundreds of percent above their list prices, turning unplanned delays into windfall opportunities with minimal ownership risk.
On a 1997 Shinkansen ride, Ferdinand Piëch sketched an unprecedented 18‑cylinder engine on an envelope, setting in motion the W‑16 powertrain that would deliver 1,001 hp (746 kW) and exceed 248 mph (400 km/h).
[SavageGeese] The WRX tS pairs STI‑tuned adaptive dampers and Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires with six‑piston front and two‑piston Brembo calipers for robust track performance complementing its FA24 engine’s 265 hp (198 kW) stock output.
Morgan’s new Supersport flagship doubles down on traditional coachbuilding with increased wood framing and hand-formed metalwork, capping artisanal production at around 800 bespoke units annually to preserve exclusivity.
Kia’s EV4 offers 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery options for an estimated range of 235 mi (378 km) or 330 mi (531 km), features Tesla’s NACS port with 10–80% DC fast charging in 31 minutes, and starts near $37,000.
Rolls-Royce’s chess set unfurls in a leather-lined aluminum board reflecting ‘waft lines’, featuring precision ceramic-coated aluminum pieces, hidden queen drawers, magnetized squares, and polished Spirit of Ecstasy emblems for theatrical luxury gameplay.
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