Author: Shelly Johnson

[ad_1] Steve Jenny has an enviable job. As a Bugatti test driver, he inspects every new car before it's delivered to a customer. Bugatti recently explained how Jenny got that sweet gig, and what his typical day entails. Jenny joined Bugatti in 2004, and since then he's driven 90% of all Bugatti vehicles sold, covering more than 217,000 miles in the Veyron, Chiron, and Divo, the company reckons. Raised in Alsace, France, Jenny started out as a rally driver and co-driver, and then became a mechanic and quality inspector, working for automotive suppliers Mahle and BBS. Situated near Bugatti's Molsheim headquarters, he got a few glimpses of the facility, and of Veyron prototypes out testing, and decided to send in an application. Bugatti test driver Steve Jenny Today, Jenny is…

[ad_1] The 911 GT3 based on the 992 generation of Porsche's 911 sports car has only been in delivery for a few months but Manthey-Racing already has a comprehensive upgrade package for the track star. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise as Manthey has been a close motorsport partner of Porsche for more than two decades, even serving as Porsche's factory team on occasion, including in the World Endurance Championship. Manthey's first upgrade package for the 992 911 GT3 adds improvements in the areas of aerodynamics, braking, and suspension. Key items include four-way adjustable suspension, uprated brake pads and brake lines, a front lip spoiler, flics, rear diffuser, and carbon-fiber rear wing with end plates. Manthey also offers up its own wheel design which, should the buyer desire,…

[ad_1] A prototype for BMW's next-generation 7-Series has been spotted again. The tester is for a battery-electric version that's likely to feature some styling elements distinct to the rest of the 7-Series lineup, like a sealed-off grille. It may also have a unique name, such as "i7." Other shots show prototypes with internal-combustion engines. 2023 BMW i7 (7-Series) spy shots - Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien There's a lot of camouflage gear to hide the true shape, particularly around the C-pillar to mask the latest take on BMW's signature Hofmeister kink. There is also a rearward facing camera mounted to each of the front fenders, as well as multiple cameras and a large sensor in the grille area. The latest spy shots show the true shape of the grille, which is…

[ad_1] Hyundai recently revealed two restomods of important models from its past with electric powertrains. Over the weekend, the automaker unveiled an EV concept based on the first-generation Grandeur. Launched in 1986, the Grandeur was Hyundai's first attempt at a flagship luxury sedan, setting the stage for today's Genesis luxury brand. The Grandeur EV restomod retains most of the original car's boxy styling, but with subtle tweaks to the grille, side moldings, exterior mirrors, and wheels. It also has the pixelated headlights and taillights that are a feature of Hyundai's new Ioniq EV sub-brand. Hyundai Pony Heritage Series concept The interior gets a wide display screen that serves as both an instrument cluster and infotainment screen, plus a smaller vertical screen that seems to take the place of most analog…

[ad_1] We drove the 2022 Audi A3 and S3; Ford revealed a new Bronco Everglades is coming; and GMC introduced the 2022 Sierra 1500. It's the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority. We drove the 2022 Audi A3 and S3 on Colorado mountain roads, which was the ideal setting for these smart, small sport sedans. Both cars feel tied down to the road, and while the S3 gets more power and better brakes, it's still more of a canyon carver than a track machine. GMC unveiled the 2022 Sierra 1500 with new high-end ATX4 and Denali Ultimate trims. The $80,000 Denali Ultimate comes loaded with all the equipment and features a luxurious interior with Mount Denali topographical maps etched into the dash and seats. The ATX4 improves upon…

[ad_1] Rivian's first product, the 2022 R1T full-size pickup, is now in production and initial impressions, including from us, are positive. That should bode well for the company's efforts to raise additional funds by launching an initial public offering, a filing for which was made with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week. The filing discloses key financial data for investors, as well as opportunities and risks. It reveals that the company has been burning through serious cash as it ramped up for September's start of production of the R1T, with losses for the first half of 2021 coming in at $994 million, which was almost the total amount the company lost in 2020 and about double what it lost in 2019. Rivian builds first customer example of R1T -…

[ad_1] The Bugatti Bolide track car has some radical design features, including a massive roof-mounted air scoop with an unusual design inspiration. It turns out the engineers borrowed an aerodynamic trick from the humble golf ball. Golf balls are remarkably aerodynamic. Their dimpled surface allows them to travel about twice as far as a smooth ball, according to Bugatti. That's because the dimples create turbulence on the surface of the ball, allowing air to adhere better and as a result reduce drag. One of Bugatti's engineers decided to apply the same principle to a car. Bugatti Bolide dimpled roof scoop This engineer began experimenting with dimpled surfaces as part of a master's thesis, adding dimples to the cooling channels of a 3D-printed titanium brake caliper Bugatti developed. For the Bolide,…