The last Toyota Celica rolled off the assembly line in 2006, but the storied nameplate may soon be making its triumphant return. That’s according to no less a source than Chairman Akio Toyoda. However, even he admits that he can’t make that decision unilaterally.

During a livestreamed interview with the Toyota Times YouTube channel in anticipation of the Rally Hokkaido, Toyoda was questioned about the possibility of a new Celica. Initially, he hesitated, noting that he was now on the executive side rather than the product side of the company since stepping down as CEO. However, he did drop some hints that could be seen as encouraging for Celica enthusiasts.

After a followup question from the host to clarify if Toyoda had put in a request to bring the car back, he said, “Well, I have, but I don’t know what name it will come out under,” as translated by Toyota. That sounds like a very good sign.

Read: New Toyota MR2 Rumored With GR Corolla Turbo Engine, But Will We Get It?

However, the chairman clarified that even at his high position, a request does not necessarily mean that a new Celica is a certainty. After being asked if anyone would really refuse him at Toyota, he said, “Plenty would.”

“Some people are sick of hearing what [I have] to say,” Toyoda said. “I won on the Crown, but the Prius was claimed by people who didn’t want to side with me. I think it’s good that we became a product-centered company capable of having such discussions for the sake of making ever-better cars.”

Coming back to the Celica, he then referenced the event at which they were speaking. At Rally Hokkaido, Toyota invited Juha Kankkunen, a Finnish rally driver who went on to win multiple rallying titles at the wheel of a Toyota Celica.

“Kankkunen (who was invited to the demo run) is Mr. Celica. He was champion four times in the Celica,” said Toyoda, turning to the camera to say, “Now you can all have a think about why I’m using Kankkunen so much. See if you can guess!”

We certainly have a few guesses as to why that might be. With the return of the Supra, there seems to be growing interest in reviving famous nameplates from Toyota’s past. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer before we find out exactly what Toyoda and Toyota have in mind.

This is a 1996 Audi A6 but you’d never know that by looking at it. After a great deal of cutting, welding, and frankensteining the result is an exocar that blends Audi’s past and what would be the future in 1996. It’s priced at approximately $4,600 but there’s one big catch that includes an ocean and what could be more money in shipping costs.

Right off the bat, we should say that the car is located in Poland so bringing it stateside has its challenges. Could it be worth it to have this wacky and relatively inexpensive dirt toy? We’ll let you be the judge of that after we tell you about what we know about it.

The builder of this car chronicled the experience on their YouTube channel and to be clear, the changes are extensive but mostly skin-deep. Bone deep might be a better phrase though as the vast majority of the frame and body is now made up of welded tube steel.

More: Morgan Introduces First Super 3s To The U.S., Plans To Offer Four-Wheel Models By 2024

What’s not different appears to be the drivetrain. If it’s still stock, and it appears to be based on the videos, the car is powered by a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated V6. There’s no way to be sure about how much power it makes but in 1996 Audi said the A6 made 171 hp (127 kW). That might not sound like a lot of power but this car is bound to be significantly lighter than it was originally.

The fun quotient goes up when we talk about the rest of the drivetrain too. However much power it does make goes through a five-speed manual transmission and then to all four wheels. Video of the car speeding around dirt roads harkens back to the famous days of Audi dominating rally racing.

Modern Audi is represented too with a late-model front and rear bumper treatment that somehow works really well on this older chassis. The seller is asking 19,900 Polish Zloty for the car or about $4,600 USD. Wherever one is on the planet that seems like a boatload of fun for that kind of cash.

Image Credit: Stancol

Soon after the European and U.S. launches of the 2024 BMW X2 and iX2, the car manufacturer’s online configurators for the combustion models have been released. As we’ve come to expect from BMW in recent years, neither the X2 nor the iX2 are particularly nice to look at, which made us wonder, just how ugly can you make the SUV look?

To find out, we jumped on the German configurator and started with the base X2 sDrive20i. For the color, we have opted for Utah Orange Metallic, an €890 ($938) option that looks especially garish and doesn’t suit a vehicle like this at all. Some pretty dramatic wheel designs are also available for the 2024 X2. We’ve gone with the basic 18-inch 865 wheels with a silver finish.

A selection of different interior themes is available for the new X2. Some of them are quite nice but to ensure our X2 makes as bold a statement as possible, we have gone with the red and black interior trim and a white dashboard panel with red and blue pinstripes.

Read: New 2024 BMW X2 Is An X1 In Ostentatious Running Shoes Priced From $43,000

Not all 2024 BMW X2 models will look as questionable as ours. In fact, the flagship X2 M35i xDrive showcased by BMW looks much better with its more aggressive bodykit and clad in a stunning shade of matte blue.

Versions of the new X2 that will be available to shoppers depend on the market. In the United States, the entry-level model takes the form of the xDrive28i powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 241 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. U.S. buyers seeking more power then have the option of the X2 M35i xDrive which has a juiced-up 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 312 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).

A single version of the electric iX2 will initially be sold in Europe and other overseas markets. It has front and rear electric motors that combine to deliver 309 hp and 364 lb-ft (494 Nm) of torque.

With over 2 million sales, the Dacia Duster has gathered quite a following, so it was inevitable that some owners would be interested in all kinds of upgrades. One of the first companies to capitalize on that is German dealer Carpoint and its dedicated sub-brand CP Performance, highlighting the available tuning options with a new crazy build.

If you’re a loyal reader you might remember the yellow-themed Dacia Duster Carpoint Edition we showed you some months ago. The latest example is even wilder than that, mostly thanks to the monster-themed wrap which is anything but subtle. Fangs, claws, cords, and gray monster flesh are printed on a yellow and white background, with the massive “Carpoint Edition” graphics on the profile making sure that everyone will know the origin of this build.

More: Dacia Duster Gets A Wild Bodykit From Prior Design For Less Than $4k

As if the wrap wasn’t eye-catching enough, the Romanian SUV rides on a new set of yellow 20-inch Ronal R62 wheels shod in 255/35ZR20 tires. The same color can be found on the roof racks and inside the headlight casing, while the taillight garnish is painted black. For this particular example, the tuner chose a “subtle” lowering kit but more extreme solutions are available for those who prefer slammed off-roaders. The final touch is the in-house developed quad exhaust pipes, which unfortunately are not combined with any kind of performance upgrades.

It is worth mentioning that besides the sportier-looking Dusters coming with lowered suspension and low-profile tires, CP Performance also offers off-road-focused upgrades. Those include lift kits, all-terrain tires, rugged-looking protective components, and roof racks which are admittedly more compatible with the character of the model.

Moving inside, the company opted for a high-contrast color combination with yellow accents and stitching on a black background. The Dacia fabric has been replaced by high-quality leather upholstery for a more premium feel although the hard scratchy plastics remain. The seats have a Bentley-style quilted pattern and a Carpoint Edition emblem embroidered on the seatbacks. Similar emblems can be found on the floor mats and the yellow-painted side sills.

Carpoint’s dealerships operate in Neukirchen-Vluyn and in Beckum. The second location is also the home of a new workshop where the Dacia Dusters are being modified. If you’re wondering, the current inventory of finished Carpoint Edition examples is priced between €28,490 ($29,955) and €32,990 ($34,686), although the pictured model is not among them. Existing Duster owners who want to upgrade their Dacia can check out different options on the tuner’s online shop.

Dacia is working on the all-new third-gen Duster that is expected to debut in 2024. It is safe to assume that tuners will take notice of the new model and likely start offering upgrades from early on. Dacia is also closely watching and we wouldn’t be surprised if they offer a wide range of accessories for their popular crossover.

Photos: Carpoint

When a car manufacturer releases a new generation of one of its most famous and popular sports cars, it’s reasonable to expect the new model will be faster than the one it replaces. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case when comparing the new 2024 Ford Mustang GT to the previous-generation Mustang GT on a track.

The guys over at Throttle House recently picked up the keys to a 2024 Mustang GT with the available Performance Package and first pitted it against a Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE in a straight line. It performs very well, easily out-sprinting the Camaro but it was over the course of a lap where the Mustang performed less admirably.

On the tight and technical course used by the YouTubers in all of their reviews, the Mustang GT set a time of 1:14.17. That puts it slightly behind a Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye with a time of 1:14.14 and just ahead of the FK8-generation Honda Civic Type R. More importantly, it was significantly slower than the 1:11.83 of the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE and also off the pace of the sixth-gen Mustang GT with a time of 1:12.77. There is a little more to the story, however.

Read: Brand New 2024 Mustang Dark Horse Arrives At Ford Dealership Pre-Crashed

The sixth-gen Mustang GT tested by Throttle House was equipped with the Performance Package 2. This version was introduced back in 2018 and adds MagneRide adaptive dampers, stiffer front and rear roll bars, revised springs, and most importantly, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires measuring 305/30 ZR19 at all four corners.

By comparison, the 2024 Mustang GT tested is not so extreme, even when optioned with the Performance Package as this model was. The key difference is that it is equipped with standard Pirelli P Zero tires that are far less focused than the Cup 2s. This means that new Mustang owners who want the best performance should look at the Dark Horse models. As Road & Track notes, they include Pirelli Trofeo RS tires alongside a host of suspension, brake, and aerodynamic changes.

Tesla is known for keeping its model lineup simple and tidy focusing on economies of scale. Still, fans of the EV brand can’t help but imagine a broader range with additional bodystyles, such as the Tesla Model 3 GT depicted here. The fictional concept is the work of independent designer Sugarchow, proposing a roomier alternative to the popular electric sedan.

The designer’s goal was to create a “grand hatchback” (or something between the former BMW 3-Series GT and its Touring counterpart, if you will), that could combine the cargo space of an estate with the attractive lines of a coupe. He based his project on the recently facelifted Tesla Model 3, retaining the front portion of the bodywork intact, while sharing the same wheelbase.

More: What If Tesla Made A Sexy Model 3 Coupe To Fight BMW’s 4-Series?

SugarDesign_1 / Instagram

The highlight of the Tesla Model 3 GT (Grand Tour) is the redesigned roofline and tail, transforming it from a three-box sedan to a two-box sporty estate. The greenhouse and the way it merges with the inclined rear glass is reminiscent of the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake, bringing an exotic flair to the EV. A large portion of the black-painted roof is covered in glass, shedding more light inside the cabin. The prominent rear spoiler formed by a continuation of the pillars might look cool but it probably does a great job in obstructing rear visibility.

Setting aside any styling objections, the end result looks like a legit competitor to the Zeekr 01 which is currently available in China. Such an offering could slot between the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y in terms of practicality, targeting those who prefer low-slung vehicles with a larger and more practical boot.

SugarDesign_1 / Instagram

Besides the “Red Flame Spec” with black wheels, Sugarchow shared two more derivatives of the Model 3 GT on his Instagram profile. The orange-painted model looks like a standard spec, while the grey version with the copper-finished wheels and the bumper extensions is his vision of a performance-focused trim. The Tesla Model 3 Super GT, as its creator calls it, was envisioned with the electric powertrain of the upcoming Tesla Roadster, potentially blessing it with hypercar-beating performance figures.

Of course, all these renderings are products of the designer’s imagination, with close to zero chances of becoming reality. However, while Tesla is not expected to expand the Model 3 lineup anytime soon, digital models like these could inspire independent builders for unique coachbuilt projects.

Note: The illustrations in this story are not related to nor endorsed by Tesla.

Renderings: SugarDesign_1 / Instagram

A rare Clubsport R8 Tourer built by Holden Specialty Vehicles (HSV) in Australia in 2011 is heading to auction but it is no longer located Down Under. Instead, this HSV is being auctioned off through Mecum’s sales event in Chattanooga being held over the coming two days.

The auction reveals that this is 1 of 100 examples of the Holden Commodore-based Clubsport R8 Tourer that was built by HSV and asserts that it is one of just 13 built with Black paint and an automatic transmission. We’re not sure where Mecum got the 100-unit figure from as anyone who lived in Australia in the early 2010s will tell you these cars were a common sight on local roads and many thousands were produced across the car’s entire production run.

Nevertheless, there’s no denying that the Clubsport R8 Tourer is a very rare car on U.S. soil. The auction house hasn’t mentioned when or how the car was imported into the United States nor why the seller has decided to keep it in right-hand drive, rather than converting it to left-hand drive. Whatever the case may be, few would deny that this is one of the coolest V8-powered station wagons you’ll find in the U.S., right up there with the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon but perhaps even more desirable given its forbidden fruit status in the States.

Read: Rare Left-Hand Drive HSV Maloo R8 LSA Is America’s Coolest Ute

The listing notes the car is powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine with a custom tune and is emissions-compliant in all 50 states. When new, this HSV creation delivered 425 hp (317 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque but the tune, long tube headers, high-flow cats, and stainless steel exhaust of this car probably means it has more grunt than that.

The car has 118,419 miles (190,576 km) under its belt and while there’s quite a lot, it has been resprayed since landing in the U.S.

The Tesla Cybertruck is still nowhere to be found, but that hasn’t stopped the company from cranking out some new merchandise. The latest is CyberBeer and it’s virtually impossible to escape if you’ve logged onto X today.

Putting that aside, the CyberBeer + CyberStein Limited Edition Set costs a whopping $150. However, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill beer as it pays tribute to the “angular exoskeleton” of the Cybertruck and comes in a bottle that features a distinctive gloss black sleeve.

The kit includes two 11.2 ounce (330 ml) beers that are 7% alcohol by volume (ABV) and brewed by Buzzrock Brewing. Tesla describes them as a “Helles Lager with European Noble Hops Saaz and Hallertau Mittlefruh.” The automaker goes onto say the beers are “accentuated by notes of herb and spice and more notable aromas of tea and citrus.”

More: Tesla Cyberhops To The Beer Game With Limited GigaBier Inspired By Cybertruck

Since drinking out of the bottle is passé, the kit includes two matte black ceramic beer steins that were “glazed and fired to mirror the form of [the] Cybertruck and finished with a gloss interior and signature Tesla logo.” While they look like edgy pitchers, they’ll likely become a collectors item.

Tesla is currently accepting orders and it appears the kits are limited to people who live in the United States and are at least 21 years old. Orders are slated to ship later this month, although the $150 price tag doesn’t include tax or a $15 shipping charge. As a result, those two beers and mugs will set you back $176.63 overall.

Going into its fourth model year, Nissan is preparing a mid-cycle refresh for the Rogue in 2024. Unfortunately for the company, someone appears to have screwed up, and posted a photo of the updated SUV to its website ahead of schedule.

Shared with us by an anonymous a reader, the 2024 Rogue looks familiar, but gets some important changes up front. A wider grille takes up more of the frontal area of the crossover, while new horizontal spars draw more attention to it.

In addition, the body work around the lower lighting element has been reworked. Finally, the lower grille along the bumper has changed, now featuring less chrome, a wider bezel, and a radar array, which may hint at updates to the driver assistance systems.

Read: 2024 Nissan Rogue Facelift Spied With Larger Infotainment Screen

Further back, there don’t appear to be many changes to the handsome crossover, though the model featured here does have big wheels with chrome-tipped spokes. Earlier spy photos suggest that the rear end of the vehicle won’t get many updates either, but a few styling tweaks around the bumper are possible.

Although the interior isn’t visible, we know from that same batch of earlier spy shots that Nissan is testing a larger infotainment system. While the U.S. model currently makes do with an 8-inch screen, the crossover gets a 12.3-inch screen in other parts of the world, where it is sold as the X-Trail. Now, the Rogue looks like it will be available with that same, larger screen in North America.

Spy photos of the 2024 Nissan Rogue | Baldauf

We still don’t know what will go under the 2024 Rogue’s hood, but we don’t expect massive changes in the upcoming model year. Currently, the model is sold exclusively with a 1.5-liter engine that makes 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque, and is mated to an Xtronic CVT transmission. However, the X-Trail is offered with mild-hybrid and self-charging hybrid powertrains.

The exact timing of Nissan’s official unveiling for the refreshed 2024 Rogue remains elusive, but this leak would suggest that it’s imminent, possibly as early as next month’s LA Auto Show. Moreover, sources indicate that next year, Nissan is poised to introduce an off-road trim to the lineup, taking cues from the successful Pathfinder Rock Creek package.

UAW President Shawn Fain has used his Friday livestream to announce the union is mixing things up and keeping automakers on their toes.

According to Fain, they’re “entering a new phase of this fight” and “it demands a new approach.” He went on to say, “We’re done waiting until Fridays to escalate our strike.”

While Fain didn’t expand the strike today, he warned automakers the union is prepared, at anytime, to call on more locals to stand up and walk out. He went on to note the strikes have been going on for more than four weeks and will continue as long as necessary.

More: UAW Ramps Up Strike Action, Shuts Ford’s Biggest Plant

The new, more unpredictable, move was previewed earlier this week when the UAW announced it was expanding their strike at Ford to include the Kentucky Truck Plant. The facility is vital to the Blue Oval as it builds the profitable Ford F-Series Super Duty and Expedition as well as the Lincoln Navigator.

At the time, the union said 8,700 members walked off their job after “Ford refused to make further movement in bargaining.” Fain himself stated, “We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message.”

This prompted a fiery response from the automaker, which called the expansion “grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leadership’s stated strategy of keeping the Detroit 3 wounded for months through ‘reputational damage’ and ‘industrial chaos.’”

The automaker went on to say they made an “outstanding offer that would make a meaningful positive difference in the quality of life for our 57,000 UAW-represented workers, who are already among the best compensated hourly manufacturing workers anywhere in the world.” They added the union’s decision to reject the record offer “carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers.” In particular, Ford noted “painful aftershocks – including putting at risk approximately a dozen additional Ford operations and many more supplier operations that together employ well over 100,000 people.”

Besides striking at the Kentucky Truck Plant, union members have walked off the line at GM’s Wentzville Assembly, Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, and Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex. After that initial hit, the union expanded the strike to parts distribution facilities as well as GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Ford’s Chicago Assembly.

These facilities build popular SUVs including the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse as well as the Ford Explorer / Police Interceptor Utility and Lincoln Aviator. Other models impacted by the strike include the Ford Bronco and Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler.

Picture credits: UAW