Ever catch up with that scrawny kid from high school, perhaps at a reunion a few years later, and they’ve transformed into a buffer, more outgoing person? Lining up the 2022 Lexus NX and its predecessor, which came out in 2015, is a bit like that. The newer NX is more powerful, more user-friendly, and more luxurious than the small luxury SUV it replaces.
The NX is once again based heavily on the contemporary Toyota RAV4 and is roughly the same size, but it presents as altogether more substantial. As before, the NX has a distinctive domed roof that peaks over the second-row seats and wears the signature Lexus spindle grille and squinty headlights.
The body appears wider, especially in the back, where new full-width taillights exaggerate the visual girth. The tailgate features widely spaced “L E X U S” lettering (instead of the usual Lexus “L” logo, which remains on the NX’s nose) in [...]
There’s good news and then there’s even better news. The first bit is that Audi, like many automotive manufacturers, has committed to a sustainable future. The expansion electrification of their lineup, with the all-electric E-Tron GT and Q4 E-Tron leading the way. The other piece of good news, the one we’re more excited about? Audi feels internal combustion engines aren’t going anywhere in the near future. To that end, Audi appeared to confirm a great engine for a fun car: A new-generation RS3 is coming and it will carry the brand’s iconic five-cylinder engine under its hood.
The news didn’t come in so much an out-and-out statement that these two things were coming as a hint from a photo in a recent release. In it, the new A3 family is pictured, with what appear to be the sporty RS models (both the sedan and the hatchback) parked in the foreground all camo’d up. (The decaf [...]
Diecast car collecting has been around for over five decades, but in recent years has seen a pretty significant upswing—and with it a wave of customizers that pride themselves in dissecting and personalizing these 1/64-scale specimens. Meet Jun Imai, an artist, diecast customizing wizard, dedicated car enthusiast with an admitted obsession with Japanese cars of yesteryear, and probably one of the reasons that cool Hot Wheels you snatched off the shelf at your local Target while whispering “yesss!” to yourself even exist.
His Kaido House brand has become a source for hardcore diecast collectors to drool over and, when the stars align, actually get their hands on a one-off, entirely scratch-built custom. But for those who can’t, Kaido House has expanded with a line of offerings that bring the Imai’s vision to the masses.
Based on the sorcery Imai applies to these tiny diecast creations, it’s [...]
With over 200,000 examples sold every year, the Toyota Highlander is one of the most popular three-row SUVs sold today. All-new just last year, it features ample cargo space, a strong safety suite, and four distinct powertrain combinations. With a half-dozen trim levels, buyers face a wide array of possibilities. To help narrow it down, we’ve compiled the following trim review as an easy way to navigate these choices.
2021 Toyota Highlander L Trim Pros and ConsNew entrants in this segment mean that even the Highlander L must deliver a strong value game to remain competitive with the formidable Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride duo. The Toyota boasts eight-passenger seating, but the third row in the Highlander is seriously cramped. Like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, V-6 power is standard in the Highlander. Producing a decent 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque, we found the 3.5-liter V-6 engine to be surprisingly thrashy. [...]
No, this isn’t the Bugatti Chiron SS 300+ that broke the 300 mph barrier last year and was sold in extremely limited quantities to Bugatti’s ritziest clientele. It is, however, still a Bugatti Chiron SS. Think of it as the low-calorie version of the full-fat fettuccine alfredo that is the Chiron SS 300+.
If it’s got “SS” in the name, then speed is definitely its game. To that end, the Chiron SS has a thoroughly reworked version of the (already immensely powerful) 8.0-liter quad-turbo W-16 that sits aft of the cabin of the normal Chiron and Chiron Sport. The resulting work results in a higher redline of 7,100 rpm, up from the regular Chiron’s 6,800 rpm mark. It also gifted the Chiron SS with 1,578 hp and a colossal 1,180 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which the engine delivers between 2,000 rpm and 7,000 rpm. It’s a mighty engine, but when you’re aiming for [...]
