Porsche has revealed two new “Black Edition” appearance packages, one for the Boxster and another for the 911 Carrera.
Both models have been outfitted with black exterior paintwork and matching dark interiors, with unique wheels and a range of tech and comfort upgrades.

The Boxster Black Edition maintains the color theme throughout, with a black soft top and a black finish for the rollover-protection bar. The package is further distinguished by 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, an upgraded audio system and a Sport Design steering wheel.

The Carrera Black Edition can be purchased for the hardtop or convertible variant, with optional all-wheel drive. Aside from the dark bodywork and black leather interior, the package features 20-inch “911 Turbo” wheels, LED headlights and heated seats, among other upgrades.

“The combination of black paintwork and black interior emphasizes the timeless yet purposeful elegance of the iconic coupe that has been acclaimed as one of the world’s benchmark sports cars since its launch in 1963,” the company notes.

The company has not yet outlined global launch details for the Black Edition special packages.

Consumer Reports has regularly praised the Tesla Model S, however the magazine is now reporting one big problem with its latest test vehicle.
A brand-new range-topping P85D model, accumulating just over 2,300 miles in less than a month of ownership, was rendered effectively “undriveable” after the driver-side retractable door handle failed to deploy.

The handle is designed to fit flush when not in use, automatically extending whenever the driver approaches the vehicle.

“Except this time the one on the driver’s door of our P85D didn’t pop out, leaving us no way to open the door from the outside,” CR reported. “And significantly, with the car sensing a problem, wouldn’t drive.”

The driver was able to move the car a short distance and unlock the doors via a smartphone app, crawling over from the passenger side to get behind the wheel. The problem appears to be common, accounting for the majority of owner complaints logged in CR surveys.

“The good news: Getting our Tesla fixed could hardly have been more convenient,” the report added.

Rather than sending a truck to haul the Model S to a service center 60 miles away, the company simply sent a repair technician who arrived the following morning to fix the problem. The Model S received a new door-handle control module, installed in approximately two hours.

The magazine previously reported a long list of relatively minor problems with an older Model S that accumulated more than 15,000 miles. The issues included intermittent problems with the door handles, a frozen infotainment system, broken buckles, creaks and an unresponsive trunk release.

A fresh round of spy shots reveals that Ford’s hotly anticipated GT supercar will stay true to the design concept that debuted at the 2015 Detroit auto show. The car’s interior, however, is a different story at this point.
Most of the exterior styling cues seen on the GT show car look to be good to go for production, including flying rear buttresses and center-mounted dual exhaust outlets. Coolers located just below those flying buttresses were covered by grilles on the show car, but are in clear view on this prototype.

The rear lights on this GT appear to be from a random parts bin, but we fully expect to see the cool hollowed out lamps from the concept car to make production.

The interior of the GT is far more cobbled together at this point, with all dials located directly in front of the passenger’s seat. The Ford GT will likely employ a digital gauge binnacle in its final form, but that unit obviously isn’t ready for real world testing at this point. The lack of a gauge pod does, however, give us a better look at the GT’s carbon fiber construction.

Steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are clearly visible, but our man on the ground noticed the driver operating what could be a three-pedal setup. Whether Ford is planning to offer the GT with a proper manual remains unknown at this point, but there is still a slim possibility.

The 3.5L EcoBoost powering the GT is said to be straight out of Ford’s 2013 Daytona Prototype, and the number of kill switches in this prototype’s cabin seems to confirm the use of that experimental engine. While most prototypes use just one kill button, this car has at least three.

Ford says the GT will arrive with at least 600 horsepower, but don’t be shocked to see a final figure that is closer to 700.

If everything goes as planned, the 2017 Ford GT will go on sale late next year.

Lotus has announced pricing and availability details for its new range-topping coupe, the Evora 400.
Introduced a few months ago in Geneva, the Evora 400 will fetch $89,900 in the US market, a relative bargain compared to its £72,000 (~$112,700 USD) price tag at home in the UK. Buyers in Japan and China will pay the equivalent of $212,500 USD.

The 400 brings a wide range of improvements to the basic Evora coupe, starting with more power. As the name implies, its supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine produces 400 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque.

The extra engine output brings a similar increase in performance, propelling the car to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph. The company claims the 400 is six seconds faster around its Hethel test track.

Aside from the engine tweaks, the 400 also features a retuned aluminum chassis that sheds nearly 50 pounds. A revised carbon-fiber body features a new front fascia with an enlarged air dam and LED daytime running lights, while the interior brings a new infotainment system and front seats.

US buyers will have a chance to pick up an Evora 400 when it arrives in North American showrooms this December for the 2016 model year.

Image by Ronan Glon.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has issued a minor recall for the 2014-2015 Ram 4500/5500 Chassis Cabs equipped with 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engines.
The duallie pickups were shipped with an electronic speed limiter set to 106 mph, however the company warns that triple-digit speeds are well beyond the recommended operating specifications for their factory-equipped tires. The limiter is consequently being reprogrammed to top out at 87 mph.

“While FCA believes it is unlikely that these trucks are operated at such speeds, and that doing so would exceed posted speed limits in nearly every applicable jurisdiction, the Company is acting out of an abundance of caution,” FCA said in a statement.

The company claims to be unaware of any accidents, injuries or customer complaints related to the issue, which was discovered during an internal specification review.

The campaign affects 1,771 units sold in the US market.