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2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 Retro Review: Last of the Mezgers

In honor of Hans Mezger’s life, we’re republishing our June 2011 first drive of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0—the model that bid adieu to the famed Mezger engine in Porsche’s road-going cars.  Porsche churns out so many run-out editions of the 911 that collectors must be feeling pretty gouged by now. There’s the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, the 911 Black Edition Cabriolet, the 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder—the list goes on. Seems like every combination of spec and paint becomes a model in its own right. We are just waiting for a narrow-body rear-wheel-drive Turbo Targa Orange Stripe edition. Instead, along comes the real deal. Not just the last 997-series 911, but the ultimate RS, and the roadgoing swan song for the magnificent Mezger flat-six. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 . . . now...

This Big Book Is All About Micro Machines

Millennial car nuts are right in their sweet spot for vehicle nostalgia, and for many of said nuts, Micro Machines were the toy of choice for a few years. The fast-talking pitchman made the tiny cars, trucks, and planes stand out from the larger Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys. As those have become collectible, spawning renewed interest (and, yes, even full-size, drivable recreations like you can see in our MotorTrend App show Hot Wheels Life Size), it was maybe inevitable that Micro Machines would get their second day in the sun. That time seems to be now. This big, glossy book from Bitmap is called “Micro But Many: An Unofficial Micro Machines Collection.” As you can tell from the title, it’s a work that’s not authorized by current owner Hasbro, nor is it related to ...

2011-2019 Ford Mustang Manual Transmissions Are Defective, Lawsuit Alleges

Automotive News reports that a group of owners of 2011 and newer Ford Mustangs is suing the company over alleged defects in the sports car’s Getrag MT82 six-speed manual transmission. The suit alleges that Ford knows of the issue but has not taken adequate steps to prevent it, despite a series of technical service bulletins (TSBs) and other guidance to dealerships about various transmission problems. The TSBs address a number of issues, all related to shift quality: Grinding, higher-than-expected shift effort, delayed clutch re-engagement, and notchiness. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation found there was no safety risk associated with the issues, and Ford provided a few fixes that are claimed to address these complaints. You can check out the NHTS...

What Else Does David Freiburger have in His Garage!?

David Freiburger has been a busy (rumble) bee while working from home, and he’s uncovered even more automotive treasures. The lifelong hot rodder and off-roader has amassed such an impressive collection automobilia, parts, tools, and cars that it was all too much to show you in one installment! Dive in for another journey with Freiburger through the mini-Mecca that is his garage! Vintage Stickers and Decals on David Freiburger’s Toolbox Most of us car nuts have collected many a sticker and decal in our travels, and Freiburger is no different. They come with speed parts, they get handed out at events, sometimes we even pay for them because they’re just too cool to pass up, but the collection on the side of Freiburger’s toolbox is more than just a random hodgepodge of...

Tuner Hacks Tesla Model 3, Unlocks 50 Extra HP

We all know that Tesla can update its cars “over the air,” meaning via a wireless internet data connection. Even though the tech is getting standardized across the industry, Tesla is one of the few companies that can do things like add driving range or power via a software update, unlocking electronically cordoned-off battery capacity or energy distribution. Your Tesla can always get better, it seems, but not only by Tesla’s hand. That’s right—a Canadian company is now offering its own squirts of extra performance for the Model 3 sedan by way of software updates of its own, and for less than half the price Tesla charges its customers for a similar boost. According to Elektrek, a Canadian company called Ingenext has found a way to unlock an extra 50 horsepower from a...

2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS and Cayenne GTS Coupe First Look

Porsche is pulling the wraps off a duo of new SUVs: the Cayenne GTS and the Cayenne GTS Coupe. What’s GTS mean? In Porsche-speak, the GTS is the Goldilocks offering. Not too bare bones, but not too pricey; that last bit’s relative. Typically speaking, the GTS model comes complete with all the expensive, optional go-faster bits you want on the S model, some extra thrust, and a lowered ride height, all for a lower price. The new Cayenne GTS models are no exception. The V-8 is Back, Baby! The very first Cayenne GTS came with a 399-hp naturally aspirated V-8, and a manual transmission was an option! Obviously, the world’s been going downhill since then. The second-generation Cayenne GTS still had an N/A V-8 (autobox-only) and produced 414 hp. After a mid-cycle refresh, the Ca...

Florida Man Approved: Ford Files for “Everglades” Trademark, Possibly for Bronco and F-150

Ford continues its run of firing filing to trademark the names of national parks for possible use on its vehicles. Following its submissions for marks such as Big Bend and Badlands—which are among the expected trims for both the 2021 Bronco and the 2021 Bronco Sport—the Blue Oval recently filed for the Everglades name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. What exactly Ford plans to do with the Everglades name is unknown. That said, the filing does list the company’s desire to use it for, “[m]otor vehicles, namely, automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport-utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts. “ Admittedly, that’s a rather broad statement. Still, the inclusion of “electric” and “off-road vehicles&...

This Searing Orange Paint Ups the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E’s Visual Wattage

Whatever your feelings are on Ford’s decision to graft its upcoming all-electric crossover SUV to the iconic Mustang‘s brand, you may be interested in knowing the 2021 Mustang Mach-E will now be available in this crazy bright orange color. Apparently, orange is a popular color on the real Mustang—you know, the gas-fed coupe and convertible models—so Ford has gone and added the hue to the Mach-E’s palette. Cyber Orange Tri-Coat, as Ford calls it, indeed renders the somewhat tall Mach-E with a more exotic appearance. (We maintain that the electric SUV is best appreciated in person, where its powerful rear haunches, fastback roofline, and various cherry-picked Mustang styling cues come together far better than in photos.) Even though it’s not available on the Mustang, ...

2021 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid Finally Arrives, Brings More Range and Power

The redesigned BMW X5 has been out for well more than a year, and now, the plug-in hybrid version is finally arriving. It might be worth the wait, considering it’ll deliver more power and achieve significantly better EV-only range than its predecessor. Oh, and when the 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e arrives in U.S. dealerships this July, it won’t be cheap, either. The big news under the X5 hybrid’s hood is an engine swap. In place of the previous X5 PHEV’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine sits a 3.0-liter six-cylinder. That move helps the new X5 xDrive45e push out a total of 389 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque between its gas engine and electric assist motor, increases of 81 ponies and 111 lb-ft from the old four-cylinder version. BMW also installs a larger battery, wh...

Not Taycan Its Time, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Coming Sooner than Expected

It’s no secret Porsche is working on a wagon variant of its battery-electric Taycan sedan. When the German brand plans to unveil the long-roof Taycan model officially remains a mystery. Thanks to a well-placed source within the company, though, we now have a general idea of the forthcoming Taycan Cross Turismo‘s unveil date, and it’s sooner than we expected. While we do not know an exact day or time, we are told the Taycan EV wagon will officially debut toward the end of the year. Frankly, we figured Porsche would wait until 2021 to show off the model. Nevertheless, the fact the brand plans to take the wraps off of the Taycan Cross Turismo before the calendar turns over gives us hope the car will reach our shores by the middle of 2021, perhaps as a 2022 model.  As sp...

EarthCruiser 4×4 Overland RV Gets New Dual Cab, Still Fits in Shipping Container

Do you love to travel the world with a full bathroom, a comfy bedroom, and a decent kitchen? Then look no further than this impressive expedition truck—the EarthCruiser. The formidable 4×4 is designed to take its occupants from the city streets to sand dunes or anywhere you want to go on the planet. The 2020 EarthCruiser overland camper sleeps four and has a 140-inch wheelbase with exterior dimensions similar to a midsize pickup truck. An optional Dual Cab body style with a 169-inch wheelbase is also available, and just recently became available to order. In the Dual Cab configuration the EarthCruiser measures 289 inches long from bumper to bumper, but both versions offer 11.3 inches of ground clearance and a reasonably good approach angle thanks to the short front overhang that comes...

Spy Shots Show 2021 Ford Bronco’s Manual Transmission With Built-In Crawler Gear

An anonymous source provided the publication with these revealing photos, which show a manual transmission with six speeds and a “C” gear. Presumably, that “C” stands for “crawl.” There are also new photos that give us a closer look at the Bronco’s engine, suspension, and dash setup. The seven-speed manual seems perfect for the soon-to-be-revealed Ford Bronco SUV. Getrag’s own information points to the transmission being aimed at large rear-wheel-drive vehicles—implying a longitudinal engine configuration, which the new Bronco is sure to have—and being configurable for five-, six-, and seven-speed setups. The transmission can handle up to 443 lb-ft of torque and supports all-wheel-drive applications. The optional ultra-low crawler gear would ...