Take Cybertruck production into your own hands, glimpse new Civic Si, Swiss “Resto-rossa” debuts
Mattel lets you take Cybertruck production into your own hands
Intake: Starting October 15, you can order your own buildable Tesla Cybertruck with a building block set from MEGA. The kit includes more than 3000 pieces and includes an adjustable suspension, functional tonneau cover, a folding and stowable tailgate, and interchangeable windows that include the broken window seen ’round the world. Find a set of your own at MattelCreations.com, with an MSRP of $250—just don’t taunt the poor souls who ordered the full-size version from Tesla, because production (shockingly) has been delayed until 2022.
Exhaust: Although it’s not the real thing, the highly detailed model does look the part of the angular Cybertruck. Those blocks do make for an excellent medium for such a faceted vehicle, and we have to admit that the broken window was a nice touch.
BMW readies newest M4 for GT4 battle worldwide
Intake: BMW is preparing its beaver-toothed M4 sports coupe for battle in the red-hot GT4 category. According to a report from Sportscar365, the new G82 M4 will make its competition debut in 2023, replacing the current F82-gen car which debuted in 2018 and has been notching victories everywhere it turns a wheel. “[The G82] is a great car and looks really nice,” Mike Krack, BMW Motorsport director tells Sportscar365. “SRO does the homologation so it’s super important that we do these [cars, along with the GT3] together with them. We are busy.” The new M4 GT4 is expected to make its race debut this time next year, but the American debut may not happen until the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona (traditionally held in January) given the lack of races left in either the Pirelli GT4 America or the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge calendar that late in the year.
Exhaust: We’ll admit that slapping racey bodywork on the M4 does dull the shock of that nose a bit, but saying it looks really nice is … a stretch. Still, we’re glad to see BMW stepping up to the GT4 table again. The series continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways for customer teams to get into factory-prepped cars with a healthy support network.
Honda preps next-gen Civic Si for racing
Intake: Honda claims that its upcoming 11th-generation 2022 Civic Si will be “the best-handling and most fun-to-drive Civic Si ever,” and has given us a taste of the new car being put to the test on the track by a group of engineers from Team Honda Research West.
Exhaust: The Civic Si has some big shoes to fill as the trim has come to be synonymous with fun, sharp handling. Engineers have a lot of room to play with the Si before it steps on the toes of the top-performing Type-R. We’re hoping that the Si stays true to its heritage and remains a bit of a sleeper–expect the production version to do without the large-and-in-charge rear wing.
Swiss Resto-rossa revealed
Intake: What are the Swiss best known for? Watches? Cheese? How about restomod Ferraris? Officine Fioravanti first teased its Monospecchio Testarossa a few months back and has now revealed the finished version of the car it claims will top 200 mph. Officine Fioravanti describes its treatment of the redhead as “automotive neoclassicism” with the “classicism” part no doubt referring to the virtually unchanged exterior. Only new 17-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels provide exterior clues to the “neo” part of the equation. These new elements center on the running gear and see the 4.9-liter flat-12 engine increase in output from 390 to 510 hp. The rev limit is raised to a heady 9000 rpm and a valve-controlled Inconel exhaust system will allow it to sing. There’s a weight saving of 266 pounds, Ohlins electronically-adjustable dampers, a front-end lift system, Brembo brakes with ABS, adjustable antiroll bars, and a sophisticated traction-control system. The underfloor is also flat to aid aerodynamics. Inside the first production model, it’s all lovely brown leather and the onboard electronics have been upgraded to include Apple CarPlay. (That classic 1980s car phone is just for giggles.) There’s still no price yet, but expect this Resto-rossa to be pitched at Rolex rather than Swatch customers.
Exhaust: This looks like the glorious and sympathetic treatment that such a car deserves. Leaving the exterior untouched but bringing the performance and handling up to date without altering the Testarossa’s character is to be applauded.
Watch a Formula 1 car rip through the streets of New York
Intake: The wonderful world of Grand Prix racing is coming to Miami in 2022, but the Red Bull Racing team doesn’t know much about geography, it would appear. To mark the confirmation of next year’s street race around Miami Gardens and the Hard Rock Stadium, Red Bull decided to set a race car—a 2011 RB7—loose in New York instead. In this F1 fantasy, commuting is traffic-free and even finding a parking space in the Big Apple is a doddle. Enjoy the clips.
Exhaust: American F1 fans will be treated to double the fun in 2022 with Miami’s 3.9-mile street circuit hosting on May 8 and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, following on October 23.
