$1.1M for Corvette E-Ray VIN #001, Elantra N fixed, Lambo primps aging bulls

VIN #001 Corvette E-Ray raises $1.1M for charity

Intake: At Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach Auction last weekend, Chevy auctioned off the first retail-production Corvette E-Ray. Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of the Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team, placed the winning bid of $1.1 million. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to an education nonprofit called DonorsChoose, which connects donors directly to teachers with classroom requests in low-income public schools.

Exhaust: Hendrick added the E-Ray to his stable of other VIN #001 Corvettes, including the first 2020 Corvette Stingray ($3M), the first C7 Corvette ZR1, and the first C8 Corvette Z06 ($3.7M), all of which were also auctioned off for charity. — Nathan Petroelje

First electric Porsche 911 built for California tech titan

Intake: Matt Rogers, cofounder of connected home technology firm Google Nest, is the first American to take delivery of an EV-converted Porsche 911 from British specialist Everrati. The “Signature” model features a carbon-fiber widebody kit finished in Mexico Blue with a Bridge of Weir dark blue leather interior. It was hand-built in the U.S.A. by Everrati’s partner, Aria Group, in Irvine, California. The car is powered by a 62-kWh battery pack which enables it to cover more than 200 miles on a full charge and take advantage of DC fast charging.

Exhaust: Rogers is so taken with his Everrati that he has invested in the British firm. “I have been a huge fan of the 964 since I was young,” he says. “And as we rapidly move into the age of electrification, I am thrilled to immortalize this iconic machine. It captures the zeitgeist perfectly, being sustainable and environmentally conscious while also keeping the character of the air-cooled Porsche era.” —Nik Berg

Hyundai fixes Elantra N’s only flaw

Intake: Irreverent and unusual, the Elantra N delivers delicious front-wheel-drive fun for $33K. Our only gripe? That angry-catfish face. Hyundai’s just fixed that, as this YouTube video above reveals. The “New Elantra N,” presumably the 2024 model, adds horizontal elements that calm and settle the visage: Viewed head-on, body-color blades anchor each corner. Each headlight ditches its boomerang shape and single-bulb element for an LED blade above twin rectangular elements. A light bar connects the two headlights, paralleling a body-color blade that divides the grille into top and bottom sections. The H badge on the nose is now matte black. The red-edged chin diffuser remains. There’s also a new 19-inch wheel design—if you can take your eyes off that now-harmonious face.

Exhaust: Well, we need one. Yesterday. —Grace Houghton

Lamborghini celebrates 60 with Huracán trio

Intake: To celebrate the brand’s 60th birthday, Lamborghini has announced a trio of limited-run, special-edition versions of the three gnarliest Huracáns: the STO, Tecnica, and EVO Spyder. Just 60 units of each variant will be produced. The Huracán STO will get two special liveries—the first is a blue-on-blue exterior with a black, gray, and blue interior; the second livery features a gray and black exterior with a black, gray, and red interior. The Huracán Tecnica’s two liveries will incorporate the red, green, and white colors found in the Italian flag: The first is a black, gray, and red exterior with a black and red interior; the second is a white and green exterior with a green and black interior. Finally, the Huracán EVO Spyder’s two liveries: Blue and white exterior with a black, blue, and white interior, or a green and white exterior with a black, red, and white interior.

Each of the 60th Anniversary Edition Huracáns will get a “1 of 60” plate on the interior as well as a “60th” logo painted on the doors and embroidered in the seats. They will debut on April 21 at a special event as part of Milan Design Week.

Exhaust: Turning 60 is as good an excuse as any to don some fancy new colors. Expect these cars to be anything but subtle—just as Lamborghinis should be. — Nathan Petroelje

Polestar’s 4 kills rear window for backseat comfort

Intake: Polestar’s new electric SUV coupe, and the brand’s fourth model, debuted recently at the Shanghai auto show. The design throws coupe aerodynamics and SUV spaciousness into a blender, drawing inspiration from the brand’s Precept concept car by eliminating a rear window in favor of more room. The changes are all made possible by a camera-aided rearview “mirror” system. “Immersive” is the buzzy adjective that Polestar is pitching for the experience of rear-seated riders in the 4. The model is the company’s second SUV, coming in under the Polestar 3 in terms of size and price with a length of 4839 mm (190.5 inches), a width of 2139 mm (84.2 inches), and a height of 1544 mm (60.8 inches), costing $60,000. One notable way the 4 bests the 3 is on zip, jolting out 544 hp from a 102-kWh battery that gets 300-plus miles of range. China gets first dibs on the vehicle at the end of 2023, while North America will have it in 2024.

Exhaust: Polestar would like you to believe that by riding in the back of the rear windowless 4, you will feel cozier than a swanky cave rental on Airbnb, but reality says that the jury is out. Only time and objective testing from the masses will determine whether this SUV design swing will be a hit or a miss for electric luxury. — Bryan Gerould

2024 Lincoln Nautilus gets massive screen, new sheetmetal

Intake: Lincoln has unveiled the 2024 Nautilus, a heavily reworked version of its midsize luxury SUV. The biggest news is inside, where a massive screen spans the entire width of the dashboard. Combined with new ambient lighting and three new scent cartridges housed in the center console, Lincoln hopes to make your time in the Nautilus as refreshing as possible. A Revel Ultima 28-speaker audio system will bathe the cabin with all types of auditory indulgence.

While on the go, Lincoln’s BlueCruise 1.2 hands-free driving assist stands ready to handle highway jaunts. The outside features new sheetmetal and new LED headlamps and taillamps. Power will come from either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, good for 250 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, or a hybrid setup that employs the same engine plus a 100-kW electric motor for a total system output of 310 hp. The former engine will be mated to an eight-speed automatic, the latter to a CVT. The adaptive suspension will smooth road imperfections. The 2024 Nautilus will arrive in North American showrooms in early 2024. No word on pricing yet.

Exhaust: The Explorer-based Nautilus needs to make some waves for Lincoln. Brand sales have been declining for the past four years as the portfolio of Ford’s luxury brand grows stagnant and rivals increasingly focus on EVs. We haven’t heard anything from Lincoln about an all-electric offering yet—which is concerning, especially since cross-town rival Cadillac already has two electric offerings in the pipeline. — Nathan Petroelje

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