The Auto World

Japanese coach-builder Mitsuoka announced that the M55 Concept will evolve into a production offering by 2025 after popular demand. The model is based on the 11th generation of the Honda Civic but a comprehensive visual makeover transformed it into a Dodge Challenger impersonator, with the five-door fastback bodystyle incorporating elements from various American muscle cars. The Mitsuoka M55 Concept debuted in November 2023 , as a nod to the company’s 55th anniversary, which explains the nostalgic references to the ’70s. The underpinnings are carried over from the Honda Civic Hatchback, but the redesigned body panels make it virtually unrecognizable. More: Mitsuoka Viewt Story Puts A Vintage Jaguar Spin On Toyota Yaris advertisement scroll to continue The company doesn’t mention any particular models as sources of inspiration, but the references are more than evident. The front looks similar to the Dodge Challenger thanks to the quad round headlights within the elongated...

Porsche has issued a recall for more than 900 examples of the ever-popular 911 in the United States due to a fault with the seat belt mechanism. The German carmaker has revealed the seat belt automatic locking retraction may deactivate early which could prevent the child restraint system from being properly secured. The recall notice issued through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that if an owner uses the seat belt to restrain a child seat instead of the LATCH system, there is an increased risk of injury in a crash to the seat’s occupant. Read: We Sampled Porsche’s Performance Playground, Here’s What We Learned From The Track Masters advertisement scroll to continue The issue has been traced back to an automated assembly check at one of Porsche’s factories simply checking the presence of a spring blade used to engage the automatic retractor’s locking system rather than verifying the spring blade was in the correct position. A total of 9...

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he has instructed the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to initiate an investigation into vehicles equipped with connected technology originating from China and other “countries of concern.” In a statement, the president said that “ China is determined to dominate the future of the auto market, including by using unfair practices.” He added that the country is poised to flood American roads with technologically advanced vehicles that could pose a risk to national security . “Connected vehicles from China could collect sensitive data about our citizens and our infrastructure and send this data back to the People’s Republic of China,” said Biden. “These vehicles could be remotely accessed or disabled.” advertisement scroll to continue Read: Ford Knows Chinese EVs Pose ‘Colossal’ Threat, Eyes Alliances With Rivals China’s BYD Seal U DM-i The Chinese Embassy in Washington has criticized the White House for suggesting that its vehic...

Apple’s plan to enter the automotive scene has been canceled, with Project Titan reportedly shut down and the so-called electric iCar concept buried alongside it. The decision was largely viewed positively by American investors, resulting in a moderate increase in the company’s share prices. However, it has sparked debate among executives leading EV companies in China. The Asian nation has emerged as a powerhouse in the electric vehicle space, paralleling its dominance in the smartphone industry, which was perceived as a significant threat by executives such as William Li, founder and CEO of Nio . Therefore, it may not be surprising that the decision is being positively received by some executives. Li Xiang, founder and CEO of Li Auto, took to Weibo on Wednesday to express his approval for Apple’s departure from the automotive industry, as reported by CnEVPost . However, he asserted that Apple’s reported shift in focus to artificial intelligence, rather than concerns about a pote...

The GR Yaris has played a significant role in rehabilitating Toyota’s reputation among enthusiasts. Loved passionately by nearly everyone who drives it, there could hardly be a better competitor for it than the original Morris Mini, one of the most widely beloved little cars ever made. That’s very good news, because its presence in this Collecting Cars head-to-head test was an accident. The Mini was called in to sub for the car the GR Yaris was originally supposed to compete against in this video. Fortunately, it happens to be a very good Mini . According to its owner, this 1963 Mini Cooper S was Swiftune’s first works racecar. That’s very impressive provenance, because Swiftune is the company that prepares all of the Minis that race at Goodwood every year, and for which video host Chris Harris’s love is well documented. advertisement scroll to continue Read: Chris Harris Shows How Much Fun You Can Have Racing A Mini At Goodwood Despite being an FIA-certified historic r...

When you name a car in honor of your company founder’s anniversary, it had better be good. The fact that this example of the Lamborghini Centenario is expected to sell for $2.5 million suggests that it was pretty good. Built to celebrate what would have been Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 100th birthday, the Centenario was limited to just 40 examples. This particular model is one of the 20 coupes made and sports an attractive combination of matte black with red highlights on the carbon fiber body. Based on the Aventador, the special edition model featured a collection of significant upgrades, including an aggressive aerodynamics package that includes a twin-plane front splitter and a racecar-style rear diffuser. The Centenario was also the first Lamborghini to ever be equipped with four-wheel steering, which made it as nimble at low speeds as its aero package made it stable at high speeds. advertisement scroll to continue Read: Red Lamborghini Centenario Roadster Is A True Itali...