Rolls-Royce has previewed a new special-edition Wraith, known as the ‘Inspired by Film’ edition.
As the name implies, the package celebrates the company’s Wraith launch film, “And the World Stood Still,” which has been accepted into the British Film Institute National Archive.

“We selected ['And the World Stood Still'] for preservation as it is an outstanding and award-winning example of modern corporate promotional filmmaking,” said BFI’s senior curator for non-fiction films, Patrick Russell. “It’s a powerful use of the film medium for product launch purposes, executed with impeccable craftsmanship.”

The special-edition Wraith takes inspiration from the film, with a two-tone silver and Jubilee Silver exterior color theme and a solid-silver hand-cast Spirit of Ecstasy adorning the hood.

The interior has been outfitted with Anthracite leather contrasting against Casden Tan accents. The silver scheme is maintained by an aluminum band that flows across the open-pore Macassar Ebony paneling.

No changes have been made under the hood, where a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 produces 624 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The special-edition Wraith will make its debut this week at the New York auto show.

A Porsche executive has confirmed plans to build a new GT2 RS and dismissed the possibility of moving to turbocharged engines for all 911s.
The company’s 911 product manager a year ago hinted that the future of the GT2 was in question. Speculation cited internal politics and improved performance of the latest 911 Turbo S and GT3 RS as potential roadblocks.

Porsche Motorsport head Andreas Preuninger now claims the company has warmed to the idea. Speaking to Autocar, he confirmed that a GT2 RS is now under development.

The upcoming GT2 RS will not be based on the current 991 model, instead arriving later in the lifecycle of the next generation. The redesigned 911 is rumored to arrive within the next year, suggesting the GT2 RS could make its debut around 2018.

The previous 911 GT2 RS was capped to just 500 units, each powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat six capable of producing 620 horsepower. With a curb weight barely over 3,000 pounds, the car was capable of hitting 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and eventually reaching 205 mph.

Aside from the GT2 details, Preuninger also reaffirmed Porsche’s commitment to natural aspiration for future GT3 models. He is also pushing for an optional manual transmission on GT3 models, but the move has not yet been officially approved by the management board.

The revamped 911 is expected to be revealed at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

Hyundai has outlined its strategy for developing autonomous vehicles, with limited self-driving functionality expected to arrive by the end of the decade.
Most if not all major automakers are working on the same time-frame, though Hyundai does not expect fully autonomous vehicles to be ready for the market until 2030.

Hyundai’s roadmap starts with highway-driving assist, which will begin rolling out in the second half of this year. Like similar features from other companies, the technology will help hold a lane and manage cruise control to maintain a certain distance from traffic ahead. The company hopes to differentiate its technology by integrating automatic traffic-jam avoidance, according to a Korea Herald report.

“We aim to provide partially automated driving in 2015, highly automated driving in 2020 and fully automated driving in 2030,” a Hyundai official said at a demonstration event outside of Seoul.

Other automakers will also begin phasing in the technology over the next five years, likely starting with comprehensive automatic-braking and highway-driving assist before moving to more advanced technology. Similar announcements have been made by Audi, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Tesla Motors, among others.

One research firm suggests the shift toward autonomous vehicles will be exponential, with more than nine percent of new cars either semi- or completely-autonomous by 2035. In the meantime, the technology will remain relatively expensive through 2025 and consequently installed on a small fraction of production cars.

Subaru has revealed its 2015 WRX STI-based rallycross fighter, known by the monicker VT15x.
The racer is the third evolution of an STI-based rallycross car for Subaru Rally Team USA in four years, built through a partnership with Vermont SportsCar.

The VT15x manages to squeeze 580 horsepower out of Subaru’s 2.0-liter boxer engine, with power sent to all four wheels via a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox. It is said to be capable of hitting 60 mph from a standstill in just two seconds flat.

The development team has also focused on improving weight balance, center-of-gravity, suspension geometry and aerodynamics, all of which contribute to even better handling than the VT14x build.

“The VT15x is almost entirely-new technology. This car is a revolution, not just an evolution,” said Vermont SportsCar team principal Lance Smith. “Using the 2015 WRX STI, we have seen gains in handling and cornering in both our stage rally and rallycross cars; which is a testament to advancements in design from the factory.”

Subaru Rally Team USA will begin its 2015 season at the Red Bull Global Rallycross event in Ft. Lauderdale, before heading to Austin to compete in the X Games Rallycross series. The car will be piloted by Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen, with Travis Pastrana joining at the X Games.

GMC has quietly introduced the modestly updated 2016 Terrain ahead of its debut at tomorrow’s New York Motor Show.
Up front, the Terrain is fitted with new-look headlights, a sharper radiator grille with three horizontal slats, a power dome hood and a new lower bumper accented by a mustache-shaped piece of chrome trim. The rear end gets a redesigned bumper, tweaked tail lamps and a trapezoidal exhaust pipe, while a pair of new alloy wheel designs and two additional paint colors round out the exterior modifications for 2016.

The updates are even more minor in the cockpit, where the most notable changes for the next model year are the addition of a storage shelf in the center console, an updated touch screen with new graphics and a chromed transmission shifter. SLT models can be spruced up with new Saddle Up leather upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, while range-topping Denali models are offered with a new Light Titanium/Jet Black interior combination.

GMC has not made any mechanical modifications to the Terrain, meaning buyers can choose from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit that produces 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft. of torque and a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 301 horsepower and 272 lb-ft. of torque. Both engines are linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The updated 2016 GMC Terrain will land in showrooms next fall.