Moto Guzzi rides into the 21st century, buy a Kimi-raced McLaren F1 car, Defender eyes EV G-Wagen?

Moto Guzzi’s techy new V100 Mandello arrives fashionably late to the water-cooled party

Intake: Though we don’t yet glimpse Moto Guzzi’s newest sport tourer on the move, the Italian brand is hyping up its centenary-celebrating V100 Mandello with a teaser video, shown below. Details on driveline or output are scarce right now, but Guzzi claims that all will be revealed at Italy’s premier motorcycle show (EICMA) late this November. From the few previously shown photos and this recent video, we know that this sport touring model pays homage to classic Guzzi elements, such as shaft drive and a longitudinally mounted V-twin, while bringing more modern technology than ever to the brand’s lineup: water (rather than air) cooling, active aero, and a TFT dash display.

Exhaust: Moto Guzzi has a well-earned following, and this new V100 is positioned nicely to not only attract new members to the Guzzi club but also bring some of the faithful into the 21st century. A ready progression for a brand that has been quite staid in what it builds, the V100 Mandello appears on paper to hold a strong line against the Yamaha Tracer or BMW R1250RS.

Something GT-R Japan’s way comes

Intake: How now, resident GT-R fans of Japan: You, and you only, are getting a new GT-R model. If that leaves you starving for more information, blame Nissan: All the information the automaker has officially revealed lies in the static frame of the YouTube reveal link above, which will go live at 1:30 a.m. EST (2:30 p.m. in Japan) tomorrow.

Exhaust: As much as the world deserves an R36, it’s highly unlikely that Nissan is revealing an entirely new successor to the current R35-gen GT-R, which debuted in 2007 and received facelifts in 2011 and 2017, plus countless special editions and one-offs along the way. A final, end-of-production edition is a possibility, especially since Nissan’s already planned a 300-unit run of wasabi-spec GT-Rs for the 2022 model year, the built-to-order NISMO Special Edition.

Preserve Kimi Räikkönen’s legacy by buying one of his McLaren F1 cars

Intake: If news of the Iceman’s departure from Formula 1 has you down, two things: You’re not alone, and you’re in luck when it comes to momentos. Next week at RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz sale, a 2002 McLaren MP4 17D driven by the Iceman himself will cross the block. This Adrian Newey–design chassis (MP4-17A-06, to be exact) was raced 12 times during the 2002 and 2003 F1 seasons, notching a win at the 2003 Austrian Grand Prix, albeit with Kimi’s teammate David Coulthard behind the wheel. At the hands of Räikkönen, its best result was the 2002 French Grand Prix, where he wheeled the Mercedes V-10–powered beast to second place. Presale estimates place this speed freak somewhere between $2.18M and $2.72M.

Exhaust: “With five podium finishes and a Grand Prix win with two of the sport’s most famous drivers, this McLaren is among the best F1 cars, even if it did race at the height of the Ferrari/Schumacher era,” says Hagerty’s senior auction editor Andrew Newton. “RM already showed how collectible these modern F1 cars are when it auctioned an ex-Hamilton GP-winning 2010 McLaren MP4-25 for 4.73M GBP ($6.55M) this July, and the timing of Räikkönen’s retirement from F1 could help this car sell as well.”

Lexus’ delicious, V-8-powered IS 500 F Sport starts under $60K

Intake: Interested in owning one of the last great V-8-powered luxury sport sedans? Grab a pen and stroke a check for at least $57,575. That’s the price of entry (including the $1075 destination fee) into the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, which boasts one of the best-sounding engines in existence, a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 pushing 472 ponies and 395 lb-ft of torque. For an additional $4500, you can step up to the IS 500 F Sport Premium, which nets the delightful 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, nav, and triple-beam LED headlights. Savvy collectors will be eyeing one of the 500 $68,475 Launch Edition units. The IS 500 F Sport will arrive in dealerships later this fall.

Exhaust: $13,500 to jump from the V-6 powered IS 350 F Sport is no small fee, but for that V-8 alone, the upcharge may be worth it. For context, Acura’s new TLX Type S is a skosh cheaper, at $53,325 including $1025 destination fee, but that only has a 355-horse twin-turbo V-6 and Acura’s nifty all-wheel drive system. This is probably the last time we’ll see the 5.0-liter V-8 in a Lexus performance car, so let’s enjoy this one while it lasts.

Longer, more luxurious Defender is in the offing

Intake: Land Rover is set to redefine the Defender with a longer, luxe version that takes its cues from Range Rover. According to a report in Autocar, the most upscale Defender will sit on the same platform as the next Range Rover, known as MLA. This new architecture will debut next year and also underpin the next Range Rover Sport, Velar, and Discovery 6. Designed to accomodate mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric powertrains, the model could be a rival for the Mercedes-Benz EQG. Autocar says a seven-seater version would be likely, and that it would feature a luxury interior with “naturally weathered” materials to reflect the Defender’s ability to explore the great outdoors.

Exhaust: The report also suggests that Land Rover wants to establish Defender as sub-brand in its own right. A 130 wheelbase version is coming in 2022, while a pickup is in the offing, and a smaller, entry-level Bronco rival may follow in 2025.

Bond in Motion at The Petersen

Intake: Los Angeles has a new license to thrill as the Petersen Automotive Museum hosts an exhibition of some of the very best Bond cars. Bond in Motion opens on September 25, just in time for the premiere of the eagerly anticipated 25th 007 flick. Obviously Aston Martin will be center stage, with the DB5 which featured in Goldfinger, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die starring alongside the smashed DBS from Casino Royale and the ski-equipped V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights. The submersible Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me will also be on show, along with the Galting-equipped Jaguar XKR driven by Zao in Die Another Day. Planes, boats, and motorcycles from the world’s favorite spy franchise will be on show, too. Tickets are available now.

Exhaust: Hagerty is proud to support this showcase of spy machines. There’s a special For Your Eyes Only preview on September 23, but don’t worry if you miss it: The exhibition will run until October 2022, marking 60 years of the Bond on screen.