CREWE (November 20, 2024) – ‘Expressions of Texture’, a collection of four Continental GT Speed Convertibles, provides a visual and tactile showcase for the creative possibilities offered by the Mulliner bespoke studio. The Collection was a co-creation between Bentley Rancho Mirage and the Mulliner bespoke team, each side inspiring the other to greater heights of creativity. Continue reading
MAHWAH, N.J. (November 19, 2024) – A new era begins today for Jaguar. A completely transformed Jaguar brand recaptures an ethos to Copy Nothing that can trace its roots back to the words of its founder, Sir William Lyons. Continue reading
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (November 19, 2024) – In a salute to the original, battle-tested Jeep® SUV – the legendary 1941 Willys MB – the Jeep brand proudly introduces the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 special edition.
“Eight decades after cementing a reputation for all-terrain capability, straightforward design and tough versatility, the spirit of the original Willys MB lives on in everything we do at Jeep brand. The new 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 is a testament to that heritage. It’s a celebration of our past that inspires us, while we keep pushing the boundaries of capability and innovation.”
– Bob Broderdorf, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America
The 2025 Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 also takes cues from the beloved Jeep ’41 concept, which made headlines at the 2022 Easter Jeep Safari. The annual off-road event in Moab, Utah, is a mecca for Jeep enthusiasts and where the brand showcases concept vehicles that push the boundaries of design and capability and inspire future production models.
A Salute to the Past, Built for the Future The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 features a new, military olive drab-inspired ’41 exterior paint color, instantly evoking the spirit of the original Willys MB. Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels painted in the same hue are wrapped in aggressive 33-inch all-terrain tires.
The Jeep design team crafted the hood-side WILLYS / 4XE decals to honor the brand’s storied military heritage. Finished in a period-correct Drab Blue, these decals nod to the original factory stenciling mandated by the U.S. Army on Willys MBs during World War II. Jeep designers ensured that the color and style authentically replicate the utilitarian aesthetic of the era, capturing the rugged and functional spirit that defined the original Jeep vehicles and continues to be a hallmark today. Other unique, Army-inspired decals adorn the exterior, further amplifying this special model’s heritage homage.
Inside, Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 is fitted with a unique interior with tan Heritage cloth seats, an olive drab fabric dashboard insert and a ’41 shifter medallion. Maximizing open-air freedom of choice, available roofs include a body-color hardtop, Sky One-touch powertop roof and a coming, exclusive tan soft-top. Standard features include a rear locker for enhanced traction and front and rear steel bumpers for added off-road protection.
From Go Devil to Green Machine The class-exclusive, plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling PHEV in America three years in a row. Its advanced powertrain perfectly showcases 80-plus years of technical evolution since those original “Go Devil” engines powered the Willys MB.
The class-exclusive 4xe system combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine, two electric motors and a high-voltage battery pack to deliver 49 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), 21 miles of all-electric range and zero range anxiety. The powertrain is part of a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into the new 4×4.
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 special edition has a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $59,930 (excluding $1,895 destination charge). Orders are now open alongside the rest of the 2025 Jeep Wrangler lineup and will be in Jeep dealer showrooms before the end of the calendar year.
The Genesis of an American Icon In July 1940, the U.S. military informed automakers that it was looking for a “light reconnaissance vehicle.” It invited 135 manufacturers to bid on production and developed a lengthy specification list for the vehicle, including a 600-lb. load capacity, wheelbase less than 75 inches, height less than 36 inches, a smooth-running engine from 3 to 50 mph, a rectangular-shaped body, four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, fold-down windshield, three bucket seats, blackout and driving lights and a gross vehicle weight below 1,300 lbs.
Three companies, including Jeep’s predecessor, Willys-Overland, answered the call. Each produced prototypes for testing in record time. The Army took possession of these vehicles in November 1940 at Camp Holabird, Maryland. Each of the three designs exceeded the Army’s specification of 1,300 lbs., but the Army soon realized that limit was far too low and raised it for the next round of vehicles.
The Army issued the next round of contracts in March 1941, including an ask for Willys-Overland to build 1,500 examples of its Quad. Further testing and evaluation led to the Army’s selection of the Willys vehicle as the standard. A contract was signed on July 15, 1941, to begin production.
With modifications and improvements, the Willys Quad became the MA and later the MB. But the Army, and the world, came to know it as the Jeep. Some claimed that the name came from the slurring of the letters “GP,” the military abbreviation for “general purpose.” Others say the vehicle was named for a popular character named Eugene the Jeep in the Popeye cartoon strip. Whatever its origin, the name entered into the American lexicon.
Willys-Overland produced almost 360,000 Jeep vehicles at the Toledo, Ohio, plant between October of 1941 and August 1945. WWII reporter Ernie Pyle once said, “It did everything. It went everywhere. Was as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice what it was designed for and still kept going.”
Willys trademarked the Jeep name and, even before WWII was over, began building the brand’s first civilian model, the CJ-2A.
BUDAPEST (November 19,2024) – In the world of ultra-lightweight, classic sports cars, KAMManufaktur is setting the standard. Known for its meticulous redesign and re-engineering of the classic 912, KAMM’s 912c has won the hearts of drivers, critics, and collectors across Europe, with its lightweight construction and high-performance four-cylinder engine. Continue reading
RIYADH (November 19, 2024) – California-based luxury specialist, Singer, recognized worldwide for its restorations of the air-cooled Porsche 911, is today announcing the appointment of Seven Car Lounge as its new partner, supporting clients commissioning restorations in selected markets in the Middle East. The announcement was made today in Riyadh during a special event held for customers and the media. Continue reading
ENSANADA, Mexico (November 17, 2024) – In the heart of Baja California, where the desert becomes the ultimate rival, Ford Performance celebrated an extraordinary achievement: a two-truck victory in the 2024 Baja 1000. The Bronco DR and Ford Ranger Raptor emerged triumphant after navigating hundreds of miles of brutal terrain, proving their strength in one of the toughest races on Earth. Continue reading
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (November 18, 2024) – Mattel, Inc, a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, announced the 2024 winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, the world’s largest travelling car show, during the virtual Global Grand Finale held on November 16. After taking home the top spot during the 2024 Chilean tour stop, a home-built race car, nicknamed La Liebre, secured the global victory and will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends. The Hot Wheels design team will now transform the life-sized car into a die-cast car for collectors and fans to enjoy in 1:64 scale. Continue reading
PAPENBURG, Germany (November 15, 2024) – In a growing legend punctuated by iconic moments, Bugatti has engraved its name into the annals of automotive history. In its pursuit for innovation and top performance, three icons of the Bugatti legend have broken world top-speed records: the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition; Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition; and Chiron Super Sport 300+. Now, another incomparable feat of engineering and driving skill has been accomplished – with the W16 Mistral World Record Car setting a new top-speed world record for an open-top car, at 453.91 km/h.
Realized at the world-class track facilities of ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH, Germany, this record-breaking occasion followed in the footsteps of world-record runs that have been immortalized in automotive legend. In a story that began more than 14 years ago, in June 2010 with a Veyron 16.4 Super Sport reaching a record of 431.07 km/h, Bugatti has charted a historic course in the pursuit of unparalleled speed.
With the closed-cockpit world record broken once more in 2019 with the mesmerizing Chiron Super Sport 300+ achieving 490.48 km/h, in search of ever-more challenging innovation Bugatti’s masterful, history-making engineering also extended to open-top vehicles. Three years after the momentous achievement of the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, this chapter in the automotive history books was opened with the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, reaching 408.84 km/h with the roof down, open to the elemental force of air.
As the pages of Bugatti’s legend turned to the present-day, so the storied marque sought to exceed that endeavor once more with an open-top vehicle. Building on the foundations of the incredible accomplishments already immortalized, the pursuit of another landmark moment in Bugatti’s rich history reached its crescendo in the wake of months of intricate preparation, and meticulously planned testing to explore the car’s immense capabilities.
And so that journey led to the project-zenith in Papenburg, on November 9th. From the esteemed guests in attendance, to CEO of Bugatti Rimac, Mate Rimac, the senior management team, the project crew and the intensely focused vehicle technicians – all immersed in overwhelming emotion as the run-briefing concluded, and the historic moment arrived.
Andy Wallace – Bugatti Pilote Officiel and winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours – assumed the controls of the one-off W16 Mistral World Record Car, warming up the vehicle’s bespoke high-performance tires on a first anticipatory lap. Ascending to a specified speed of 200 km/h into the banking of the track, Andy increased the speed before unleashing the full power of the vehicle as the straight opened up coming off the banking, taking it to new heights of record-speed. Under the meticulous control of SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, the achievement of a new world top-speed record for an open-top car was officially confirmed at the end of the run, with Andy reaching an incredible 453.91 km/h.
“Throughout the testing program leading up to this moment, it was incredible to feel how stable the car felt – I got the sense that it wanted to go faster,” explained Andy Wallace. “And when it came to the moment itself, the experience was overwhelmingly thrilling; feeling the elemental forces from the open-top cockpit, the sound of the immense W16 engine emanating from the air scoops next to my ear – it made the achievement incredibly emotional. A record like this pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation, and requires immense focus, dedication, and teamwork to realize. It’s a true testament to the passion that everyone at Bugatti has for making history.”
– Andy Wallace, Bugatti Pilote Officiel
For the first time in Bugatti’s history, the customer of the vehicle was in attendance to witness a record-breaking event for the ages, he was offered the opportunity to immerse themselves in an exclusive, exquisite experience throughout the weekend in honor of the momentous day. Reinforcing the purely unique and landmark nature of the occasion, the customer was bestowed with the incredible opportunity to join Andy on another high-speed run in the wake of the world record, almost reaching the same speed – and likely setting an unofficial record for the fastest-ever passenger ride
Like each Bugatti owner, the customer of the W16 Mistral World Record Car had a unique vision to cement the legacy of their rare Bugatti collection: to own each of the Bugatti World Record Cars; the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, and Chiron Super Sport 300+. Each icon joins the W16 Mistral World Record Car in this exceptional collection, while forming a unique representation of the marque in The Singh Collection – an incredible private car collection showcasing the aspirational achievements of the community from Punjab, India.
In addition to the World Record Cars’ monumental accomplishments, a unifying thread runs through the W16 Mistral World Record Car and each of its illustrious forebears. Signifying its membership of a truly incomparable collection, the unique €14m W16 Mistral World Record Car features unmistakable accents on the lower body and wheels in vibrant ‘Jet Orange’ – a color that has evolved from the original signature hue of the Veyron World Record Cars to define the record-breaking Chiron and W16 Mistral, married with a pure, visible-black carbon exterior. The spirit of this unique design language continues in the interior, with a plethora of orange-accented features throughout the cabin immersing the driver in the aura of record-breaking triumph.
Reflecting on the immense moment in the history of Bugatti and indeed the automotive world, Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, said:
“Since the inception of Bugatti in 1909, the marque has sought to supersede the perceived realms of possibility in luxury, elegance, and performance. The Bugatti World Record Cars throughout the marque’s history have represented the epitome of speed and power, setting new boundaries and redefining again and again, what Bugatti vehicles are capable of. And now, with the unparalleled achievement of the W16 Mistral World Record Car etched into the history books, we see history not just repeating itself, but new history made. We are immensely proud of the whole team that made this incredible achievement possible – an achievement defined by passion and the pursuit of perfection. That is what defines Bugatti – and what makes its achievements truly incomparable.”
WEISSACH, Germany (November 14, 2024) – Trends and inspirations from around the world fuel the ideas of Porsche designers. The Newsroom provides an exclusive look behind the scenes of Porsche’s design studio. Continue reading
