[Auto] This Week in Cars: BMW Drops a 500-HP EV, a Flying Suit, and an Electric Scooter

[King_of_lion]

AN A4 AMONG THE DEER

Handed a new Audi A4 for the day, we wanted some twisty roads to see where entry-level luxury stands. Since Michigan is nearly curve-free, we called up Adam Franco’s [CENSORED]ture map. It searches the world’s 10 million roads and identifies the best twisties. Looks cool, too. In 10 minutes we laid out a four-hour loop in northeast Ohio that proved Audi still knows what it's doing– both materially and dynamically, and while dodging way too many deer on Ohio's backroads. Need someone to figure out how to map those.

THIS WEEK IN SHEETMETAL

'Twas a huge week for new sheetmetal:

BMW cannonballed back into the EV pool with the 2022 iX SUV. About the size of the traditionally powered BMW X5, the iX puts a motor on each axle to produce roughly 500 horsepower. BMW is aiming for 300 miles of EPA range. Was that all BMW unwrapped this week? No. We'll come back to them in a bit.

The revamped 2022 Hyundai Tucson is a whopping 6.1 inches longer. It's also wider, taller, and it comes styled with more creases than an origami unicorn. An N-Line model is on the way, too, and, based on its wheels alone, should stand out in the segment.

2022 ford e transit side
FORD
Ford debuted its full-sized 2022 E-Transit. There will be eight variants starting at $45,000, each with a 67.0-kWh battery powering up to 126 miles of range from a single motor on the rear axle.

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale Spider opens up with a retractable-hardtop throwing more sunlight on driver's already enjoying a hybrid AWD powertrain aflame with 986 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The 2021 Land Rover Discovery gets styling tweaks, top-tier Pivo Pro infotainment, and a new volume trim dubbed R-Dynamic, swaps old powertrains for two more-powerful engines. The 2021 Lexus LS 500 and 500h play the same subtle game, with nips and tucks in places like the suspension and armrests.

Rivian announced prices for the R1T and R1S Launch Editions. The R1T electric pickup will start at $75,000; it's SUV sibling, the R1S, will be a touch more at $77,500. Both offer 300 miles of range.

And is a pickup even a pickup anymore if it isn't bulletproof and have three axles?

DISPLACEMENT TO GO AND TO COME

Mopar will put a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8 into a box and send it to you. Called the Hellcrate, it ‘roids out an engine bay with 807 horsepower and 717 lb-ft.

THIS WEEK'S MOST-READ STORIES

2022 Civic Will Have the Looks, Debuts Nov 17

Tested: RS6 Avant Is About More than Numbers

Mazda Confirms Inline-Six Engines, Hybrid SUV
If you prefer your return address from Dearborn instead of Auburn Hills, Ford Performance will put the 5.2-liter supercharged Predator V-8 in a box and send it to you. The automaker hasn’t divulged output figures, but that engine makes 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft in the Mustang Shelby GT500.

A Mazda investor presentation showed pictures of the straight-six engines that will power Mazda’s future. The bitter part of this sweet news is that these engines will put Mazdaspeed in the rearview. A Mazda rep said the company "is focused on becoming more mature and upscale.”

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW

Dr. Ulrich Bez, considered the father of the 993-series Porsche 911, and Aston Martin CEO from 2000 to 2013, will resurrect Italian brand Bizzarini with a trio of Aston alumni. While we wait for that, Zagato is making 19 Iso Rivolta GTZ grand tourers right now on the bones of the C6 Corvette.

But Bruce Meyers, the man who made buggies a big deal, sold his Meyers Manx company to a venture capitalist. Ex-VW, Porsch