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2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Porsche to Release Cayenne “Coupe” Late in 2019

If you hadn’t yet seen any pictures of this new Cayenne, you might be wondering if we would be talking about some 2-door-cross-utility version of Porsche’s largest SUV. At first glance of the photos, calling the upcoming Cayenne a “coupe” seems somewhat oxymoronic, because the Cayenne Coupe is still very much an SUV. In fact, Porsche says that the Coupe is mostly similar to the regular SUV, particularly on the inside.

Where the Coupe differs is through “an even more dynamic design and new technical details that position it as more progressive, athletic and emotional.” What that translates to most notably is the sloping rear hatch, with an adaptive roof and tailgate spoiler.

As is the case with the Turbo SUV, the spoilers are the beneficiary of Porsche Active Aerodynamics, and extend from the body by 135mm at speeds above 90 km/h. The aforementioned features give the Cayenne Coupe a silhouette much more alike to its smaller relative, the Macan. The Coupe will be available with either a panoramic glass roof or carbon roof option.

There will be two engines to choose from at launch: a 3.0L 355-horsepower turbo V6 or a 4.0L 545-horsepower twin-turbo V8 – both carried over from the current Cayenne lineup and which achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and 3.9 seconds, respectively.

Porsche plans to have the Cayenne Coupe in the hands of customers worldwide later this year, with pricing to start at $75,300 USD for the base car and all the way up to $200,000 USD for the most loaded version.
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Watch the HPE800 Ferrari F12 by Hennessey Performance At the Track

They Call This Validation Testing

Hennessey Performance recently posted a video of its HPE800 Ferrari F12 testing on a racetrack, and it’s pure elegance and madness all at once. The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is no typical car, and after Hennessey gets its hands on it, the car is an 800 hp pissed off beautiful Italian creation.

In its standard form, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta has a 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 that makes 730 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque. After the tuner company takes it into its garage and has its way with it, the car comes out with 800 hp and beautifully angry exhaust note. 

Hennessey doesn’t have a whole lot of information about the car on its website at this time. The video description that accompanies the video below simply listed the company’s main website instead of a specific page for the car. All we do know is that it will make 800 hp and look darn good doing it. 

This seems like the best way to forget about the Ferrari 812 Superfast. That particular car comes with 789 hp from the factory and this model beats that out. Suddenly, the Superfast doesn’t look so super fast.

Hennessey has several other projects in the works right now judging from the company’s news page on its website. It’s safe to assume the tuner company will keep putting out amazing cars. Watch the video below to see what we mean. 

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Aston Martin Has Trademarked ‘Valen’ Name

A New Model?

In a recent trademark paperwork filing, Aston Martin trademarked the name, Valen. The V names for the company will likely continue. The real question is if this means there will be another Aston Martin model coming soon. This isn’t the first V name that Aston Martin has trademarked.

Recently, we reported on it trademarking the name Valhalla, which is expected to be for the AM-RB 003. That was just speculation, though, so the car could be called Valen. According to Carscoops, the company has also trademarked the name Varekai, which would suggest it’s keeping its options open.

Still, it makes you wonder why Aston Martin needs to trademark so many names. Does it really need that many options for the upcoming AM-RB 003, or does the automaker have some other cars in the works that we don’t know about? 

The CEO of the company did say he would like the company to sell more models. His target number for the brand is 14,000 units eventually. To make that happen it would seem that the company would need to add more vehicles to its lineup, and they probably can’t all be mid-engine supercars or hypercars.

Aston may have to produce something a little more practical, and that vehicle could be the recipient of one of the names the company has trademarked. It’s unclear what all Aston will add to its lineup, but that should become a little less cloudy in the upcoming year or so. We’ll keep you posted.

Porsche Reveals Tidbits on 992 Generation 911 GT Models

Porsche Remains Focused on Continued Success of 911 GT Range

We are just a few months into the current generation of the Porsche 911 – dubbed the 992 – which inaugurated itself with the launch of the Carrera S and 4S models.  Yet much of the hype surrounding the new car has been coming from the relative shroud of mystery regarding the inevitable release of the GT models.

As has been the tradition with previous generation 911s, GT models typically begin to appear a couple of years into the cycle, with various other iterations being presented as part of the GT range until the end of the generation. The 992 generation will follow the same template, with Porsche teasing that “many exciting and unexpected” models will be released in the new future.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Porsche has already been seen testing what appeared to be a GT3 prototype at the Nürburgring late last year. We are likely to see more test mules captured on spy shots as Porsche continues to prepare the proposed variety of GT models for production.

While remaining coy on the specifications of the GT cars – such as, whether we will see any naturally aspirated engines in the lineup – purists can breathe easy, with Porsche CEO Oliver Blume underlining that the 911 will retain an internal combustion engine, amid all the fanfare surround EVs as of late. There are no plans anywhere in the near future to divert from this, nor are there any thoughts being given to fully autonomous driving features  – that’s Porsche, recognizing what makes a 911, a 911.
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2019 Porsche Taycan Nearing Production Phase

Porsche Taycan In Final Testing Phase Before September Reveal

The Porsche Taycan has rather quietly, become on of the most anticipated cars to come out of Stuttgart in a long time. The fully-electric car has the potential to be precedence-setting, both within the company itself as well as the broader automotive spectrum. When it was first unveiled as the Porsche Mission E back in 2015, little details were given, and its silhouette has evolved drastically since officially becoming known as the Taycan in 2018.

Taking place over multiple countries and continents, the Taycan’s world tour has hardly been a vacation for the car or Porsche engineers. The Taycan has undergone rigorous testing in the highest extremes of our planet’s environment, being put through a gauntlet of trials in temperatures ranging from -35 to +50 degrees Celsius.

2019 Porsche Taycan

2019 Porsche Taycan

Thorough considerations are being given to all of the Taycan’s metrics, from its driving dynamics to the performance of its batteries. Once the final testing phase is completed, Porsche states that the Taycan will have gone through well over 100,000 charging cycles using the full range of compatible charging options.

In spite of such grueling conditions, Porsche is buoyed by its findings. In an official press release, Stefan Weckbach (Head of BEV at Porsche) noted that several millions of real-world miles have been recorded as part of these tests.

“After carrying out computer simulations and comprehensive bench tests early on, we have now reached the final phase of this demanding testing programme. Before the Taycan is launched on the market at the end of the year, we will have covered approximately six million kilometers across the globe. We are already very happy with the current status of the vehicles. The Taycan is going to be a true Porsche.” he elaborated.

In a future that most automotive manufactures anticipate will be dominated by EVs, the Taycan is Porsche’s first real statement for that cause. Though this is a very forward thinking approach, Porsche fans can be appeased by the company’s commitment to maintain its core values and respect for heritage. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Porsche executive board proclaims “Even with solely battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment.”

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Porsche 911 GT2 RS Sets New Fastest Lap at Road Atlanta

Porsche Targeting Production Car Lap Records Away From the ‘Ring

While the Nürburgring unarguably remains the de facto proving grounds for automakers to test the mettle of their performance halos, Porsche is also looking to conquer some of the most iconic North American racetracks with its production-spec 911 GT2 RS.

Late in 2017, a then-new Porsche 911 GT2 RS set the production car lap record at the ‘Ring but would have to fend off the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in the title race by reclaiming victory in the later part of 2018.

Fast forward to a new year – and a new continent – where Porsche is now the away-team, with fixtures to take place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Willow Springs International Raceway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Porsche has released footage (embedded below) of the 1:24.88 lap time set by the GT2 RS at Road Atlanta on March 26, 2019, which beat previous production car record holder – the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – which achieved a 1:26.45 in 2018.

The 2.54-mile road course is located just 60 miles from Porsche’s U.S. headquarters in Atlanta and is “… a track that holds so many great memories for Porsche, such as the overall victory with the 911 RSR at Petit Le Mans in 2015,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.

Race drivers Randy Pobst and David Donohue shared driving duties for the day, with Pobst – having the honor of setting the fastest and record-breaking lap – remarking of his experience “Even for a professional driver, huge power can be intimidating. But when I drive the GT2 RS, the massive torque feels completely under my control, so useable, because the car is extremely well-balanced. It is very confidence inspiring, a pleasure”.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

We will continue to keep you apprised of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS as it continues its trailblazing tour in America!

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Should the Ferrari P80/C Have Been a Spider?

It Sure Looks Good As a Spider

We get why the Ferrari P80/C one-off was a coupe, but this recent P80/C Spider rendering by Aksyonov Nikita makes us think the person who commissioned the car from the company made a mistake, or maybe he should order another.

Unfortunately, that will probably never happen. The P80/C, as Carscoops points out, was a one-off that was not homologated for road use and does not meet any racing series regulations. Because of that, the use of the car is pretty limited. A convertible version of the car would likely have even less use, but it sure does look good.

Ferrari P80/C Spider Rendering

Ferrari P80/C Spider Rendering

The P80/C is a modern interpretation of the 330 P3/P4 and Dino 206 S. It was built using the 488 GT3 as the base. From there it was fully customized. The car has a longer wheelbase than the street-legal 488. The engine and its specs were not released, but we’d assume it was the same 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that’s in the 488. 

The car is an amazing project for an unnamed buyer. All Ferrari said was that the collector is a Ferrari aficionado. As much as we loved the look of the coupe version of the car this Spider takes the cake for us. Too bad it will never be.

This Porsche 357 Speedster Study Is the Porsche You Didn’t Know You Needed

The Future of the Porsche Speedster

If there’s one thing you need in your life in the future, it’s this Porsche 357 Speedster. The rendering comes from Clement Lacour and hints at what the future of the Porsche speedster could be. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and we hope Porsche takes it into serious consideration.

Lacour looked to the past to make a car for the future. The 357 Speedster he created takes cues from the original Porsche Speedster and the Porsche 356. The car is extremely smooth with bulging fender flares and some seriously sensual curves. It somehow blends the past, present, and future of automotive styling together into one absolutely stunning car.

The speedster vehicle type has been making a bit of a comeback in the last couple of years. We can point to the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 as the first two examples, and most recently the Lister Knobbly that we profiled a little while back. Both bring the classic speedster style back into the modern limelight.

Demand for special one-off cars has risen in recent years, and if there was a one-off speedster that we would love to see make it into the world, it would be one like this. If we can’t have a one-off, we want a production model, but we doubt that would happen. Still, it’s nice to look at this 357 Speedster and talk about what could be. Hopefully, Porsche is listening.

The VW ID. R Will Take On the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road in China

Pikes Peak Wasn’t Satisfying Enough

Volkswagen’s ID. R is without a doubt a seriously badass machine. It currently holds the record for a car traveling up the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for an EV. The company now looks to a more challenging road. While Pikes Peak is one of the most challenging out there, the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road in China should top it. VW will give the route a try in its electric racer, according to Carscoops.

The car will have its work cut out for it. Luckily it’ll have the successful racing driver Romain Dumas at the helm. He will have to pilot the vehicle along the super unique road. The stretch of road goes up the Tianmen Mountain. The road starts about 656 feet above sea level and rises to about 4265 feet high. Along the way, there are 99 turns. 

While the ID. R will have its work cut out for it, VW doesn’t have an official time to beat. There is no official record for the road. To make things interesting, the company is allowing gamers to try to set a virtual record via a video game. Dumas will then try to beat that time in the ID. R.

That should keep things interesting, and it’s a smart move by VW. The gaming community is big into automotive-focused games, and it helps with brand recognition. We’re actually pretty excited to see what the car can do on the road. The attempt will occur in September of this year. 

Watch From Inside the Car as M2K Motorsports’ Ford GT Hits 300 MPH

This Looks Insanely Fast Because It Is

Recently we reported on how M2K Motorsports beat the 300 mph speed barrier for a road car in its 2006 Ford GT. The car did so at the Texas Mile event held at an airport runway in Texas. The car put the likes of Koenigsegg and Hennessey in its rearview mirror, so to speak, by making the run so quickly. It’s also apparent that it could have gone much faster on a longer runway.

Anyway, the video of the 300 mph Ford GT was cool, but now there’s a new video posted by the guys that made it happen of the car making its run. The video was shot behind the dashboard of the car. You get to see the vehicle make the run in all of its glory. It’s a thing worth watching, and what a thing it is.

The car’s 5.4-liter V8 engine makes around 2,500 hp. It takes the GT only about 8 seconds to hit 124 mph. At 13 seconds the car is at 200 mph. At 17 seconds it soars past 253 mph, which is the top speed of a Bugatti Veyron. At 22 seconds after it began its journey, the car hits 300 mph. 

Of course, the car is far from stock. It’s been heavily modified by the M2K Motorsports team. However, it’s still street legal, and that means it wins the 300 mph crown. You can watch the full video below.

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Watch a 14-Year-Old Kid Tear Around a Snow Covered Racetrack in a Ford GT

This Will Make You Nervous

If you’re looking for a video that will make you extremely anxious, then the one included below is it. In it, a 14-year-old kid takes a Ford GT for a joyride around a racetrack at the Monticello Motor Club. The video was put together by the motor club and is designed to promote the club’s Teen Race Camp, which teaches teens (ages 14 to 19) how to drive a car safely on a racetrack.

The video is an effective promotional tool. Few would feel comfortable putting a 14-year-old kid behind the wheel of a high-dollar supercar like the Ford GT. Even fewer would feel comfortable doing so when the track is completely covered with snow.

To be fair to the kid driving, he does an excellent job. He’s obviously learned car control well. Not many people his age— or honestly much, much older—could successfully pilot the car around the snow-covered track with as much style and control. We bet he had a great time while the Monticello Motor Club filmed the video.

In all likelihood, he’s the son or relative of the owner of the car. He honestly, looks a little nervous in the video, but then again, we’d be sweating, too, if we were in his place. Our hats come off to him, and to Monticello Motor Club. Any initiative to get more young people in cars learning proper driving skills is welcomed.

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David Lee’s 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Comes to Jay Leno’s Garage

The Collector Shares The Joy

David Lee is one of the best-known Ferrari collectors in the world among many other things. Jay Leno recently invited him to the show and Lee brought one of the most beautiful Ferraris of all time to Leno’s garage, a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO. The car is unique for many reasons. Chief among them is the fact that the car was never sold in the U.S.

Lee, who made his money selling watches and jewelry, told Leno this was the hardest car for him to buy. Ferrari only made 272 of the 288 GTO and as Leno said, the car was overshadowed by the F40 that came out directly after it. People who weren’t avid supercar fans more or less forgot about the 288 GTO once the F40 hit the scene.

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Ferrari built the vehicle for Group B rally racing, but Group B was ended due to safety concerns. When it ended, Ferrari decided to sell street versions of the car. It’s this scenario that made it such a rare car and such a low number of vehicles produced. The car gets a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8. That engine makes 400 hp, which in the 1980s was an astronomical amount. Lee says the car can do a 0-60 mph run in about five seconds, which was extremely quick for the time period of the car.

What’s so impressive about the 288 GTO today is how modern it looks on the outside. It’s sleek and attractive even today. The interior is an analog lover’s dream with switches and toggles on the center console and a tall, gated five-speed shifter. It’s a gorgeous example, and we’re glad Lee decided to share it with the world. 

The Pininfarina Battista Will Come to Goodwood

The Car Will Appear at the Next Members’ Meeting

Pininfarina will bring the new Battista hypercar and a 1955 Lancia Aurelia to a Goodwood members’ meeting, according to Carscoops. The two cars have nothing in common but the fact that they were both designed by Pininfarina. It will be an interesting pairing to see the cars together, though. It will also mark the Battista’s UK debut. 

The event showcasing the Battista will be attended by some of Goodwood’s most famous names, including Formula E driver Nick Heidfeld. Heidfeld was the man behind tuning the Battista. He also holds the fastest time up the famous hill climb. Rene Wollmann who worked on the Mercedes-AMG One will be there as well as many other big names.

Unfortunately, the car will only be on static display. It won’t make a run of the famous course and everyone will have to wait to see it in action. That’s a shame because the Battista is an amazing force to be reckoned with. The car uses a Rimac-sourced battery and four electric motors that put out a combined 1874 hp and 1696 lb-ft of torque. It can reach 62 mph from a standstill in under two seconds and 186 mph in under 12. With stats like that, we’re absolutely dying to see it take on a track. 

The Next Porsche Hypercar Might Be An EV and Involve Rimac

The 918 Successor Would Sit Atop the Lineup

Porsche’s 918 successor is in the works, but it’s a long way from coming out even in concept form. The team is still deliberating on how to make the vehicle and what it should be. According to CEO Oliver Blume in a recent interview with Top Gear, the car could be a fully electric model. 

“It has to be the best in the market, the highest performing… right now we haven’t got a concept for that car. But might it be a pure-electric car? Yes,” he said.

Porsche is not unfamiliar with EV technology and fully electric cars by any means. The all-electric Taycan is coming out in September, and it’s adding EV and hybrid versions of many of its models in the future. The Taycan is pretty much already a success with over 20,000 customers placing a roughly $2,800 deposit for the car. As long as it’s as good as it looks, Porsche’s future may be electric. 

According to Top Gear, Porsche is kicking around the idea of making the next generation Cayenne all-electric. This could depend on where solid-state battery technology is at that time. That type of battery technology is expected to push electric cars to the next level.

Bentley Wants the Pike’s Peak Production Car Record

It’s Going to Use the Continental GT

In an attempt to set the world production car record at Pike’s Peak, Bentley will bring the Continental GT and let Rhys Millen pilot the car along the route, according to Carscoops. Bentley previously set the SUV record with its Bentayga, and now it wants the car record as well.

The Continental GT wouldn’t be our first choice to make the run. Sure, it’s an amazing car, but it’s also heavy. It weighs somewhere around 4,800 pounds. However, the car comes with a W12 engine that produces 626 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque, so that weight is moved easily. Also, the car has all-wheel drive, which it’s going to need because Pike’s Peak is one of the most challenging courses out there. It’s no straight shot up a hill.

The record for the fastest production vehicle was once held by a Land Rover Range Rover Sport. A 2014 model, to be exact. The Bentayga blew that vehicle away. It made the run roughly two minutes faster with a time of 10:49.9. The Continental GT should be able to crack the 10-minute mark. 

There are many production cars more extreme than the Continental GT, but many manufacturers don’t bring their production cars to Pikes Peak. That means the Continental GT has fewer competitors and a better chance of claiming the title the company seeks. We wish them well in their efforts. There’s nothing like watching a Bentley racing along at high speed.

The Ferrari P80/C Is a Crazy One-Off Project

A 330 P3/P4 and the 1966 Dino 206 S Inspired Car

Ferrari calls the P80/C “the most extreme one-off design ever,” and we’re inclined to believe it. Based on the 488 GT3 chassis the car’s design begins with one of the best racing chassis of all time. Of course, it’s going to be the most extreme when you do that, and we’re sure glad the company did.

The P80/C is a car that shares some parts with the GT3, but the body and the front splitter are entirely unique. Ferrari made the body entirely of carbon fiber. Many of the functional parts and components of the car are left out in the open and unpainted. What is painted gets a gorgeous coat (likely several) of Rosso Vero.

The car features the best styling elements of several historic Ferraris, including  250 LM, the Dino 206 S and 330 P3/4. The more you look at the car, the more you can see little bits of other beautiful Ferrari models in this special one-off project. It’s a simply stunning car from all angles. 

It’s safe to assume the car features the 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, but Ferrari didn’t reveal the specifications for the vehicle. The engine is just one small little piece of the whole package here anyway. Ferrari got to design and build a car without the need to comply with specific standards, which allows the design team to really experiment.

The car features an aerodynamic shape like no other. It’s curvy and sleek and timeless. The huge carbon fiber wing dominates the rear visually. Once you get past it, you see all the other little details. You notice the massive exhausts, the rear diffuser, and the view of the engine.

Ferrari didn’t name the customer. It only said that he was a “great connoisseur of the Ferrari world.” The customer wanted Ferrari to build a “modern sports prototype.” He also wanted the car to come in two configurations. He wanted a racing package and an exhibition package. The car you see in the photos is obviously the racing package. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and we can’t wait for Ferrari to release the technical specifications. 

Forget Hennessey and Koenigsegg, Watch this Ford GT Break 300 MPH

A Car From 2006 Pulled it Off

While Hennessey and Koenigsegg are working hard to make a car that can top 300 mph, the guys at M2K Motorsports took their 2006 Ford GT and rocketed past the 300 mph barrier. The team took their street legal Ford GT all the way up to 293.6 mph a few years ago, according to Motor1, and now they’ve toppled the barrier that supercar manufacturers were trying to get past.

The top speed was achieved in three runs at the Texas Mile event organized at the Victoria Regional Airport. Yep, the car only had one mile to hit the speed. As you can see in the video, it gets close before it actually goes over. The car did a run at 299 mph. Then it topped out the next time at 300.4 mph. 

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With only a mile of pavement for each run, it makes you wonder how fast the car would have gone had it had more room to stretch its legs. Obviously, the 2006 Ford GT that made the 300 mph run was not a stock car. It is street legal, though, according to Motor1. 

Koenigsegg, Hennessey, Bugatti, and all the other automakers out there trying to make a production car that can do 300 mph might not be too happy about this, but the thing about this particular Ford GT is that there’s only this one car. While there are other Ford GTs out there that could be made to go this fast, the other hypercar manufacturers will have their rides go that speed from the factory floor.

Apple’s New TV Streaming Service: Here’s What We Know

If you’ve been on the news pulse, you’ll know that Apple has shared some exciting announcements. This week alone, it’s released new, updated versions of the iMac, iPad and AirPods. Basically, it got all its new hardware announcements out of the way to clear the air for a big event it’s hosting on Monday, March 25th, when it’s expected to unveil a brand new video streaming service.

There’s long been speculation that Apple would throw its hat in the ring with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. It made waves at CES this year when it announced partnerships to integrate its HomeKit and AirPlay into pretty much every new smart TV coming out in 2019, meaning users won’t need an Apple TV device to access Apple TV services. And it’s been producing its own content, like Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps with varying levels of success.

Content is key with any new video service, and it’s been reported that Apple’s budget for original content is more than $1 billion, which it’s spent to produce an expansive list of films and shows (you can read it in full at The Verge). It’s a big chunk of change, but it’s not much in comparison to the estimated $8 billion to $13 billion Netflix reportedly spent on original content in 2018, and is dwarfed by the $15 billion it could spend in 2019.

But notably, it’s anticipated that Apple’s video service will include partnerships with other premium subscription services. According to a recent Recode article, “it will also be able to offer its own bundles — for instance, it could offer a package of HBO, Showtime and Starz at a price that’s lower than you’d pay for each pay-TV service on its own.” There’s also a chance that Apple could bundle its other services, such as Apple Music, with its TV subscription plan.

Still, we don’t exactly know what Apple’s streaming video service will look like or how people would access it — there’s speculation that the service would be integrated into Apple’s TV app, although there’s currently no TV app for Mac. Another thing we don’t know is how much the new service will cost. A monthly charge of $10 seems like a safe place to start, but given that there will likely me copious bundle deals, it could easily cost more.

While there a lot of questions that won’t be answered until Monday, you can catch up on what we know for sure about its new hardware through the links below.

Apple’s New AirPods Are Better in So Many Ways

The new AirPods come with a number of welcome improvements, including faster pairing speeds, more talk time and improved microphone clarity on calls. They can also wirelessly charge.

Apple’s New iMacs Are Twice as Powerful as Before.

Apple is shrinking the gap between its entry-level iMacs and super high-end iMac Pros.

Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New iPads

The iPad Air and iPad mini are decked out with Retina displays, A12 Bionic processors and Apple Pencil support.

Aston Martin Vanquish to Have Volante and AMR Pro Versions

You Definitely Need Both

The Aston Martin Vanquish will compete in the supercar market with the Ferrari F8 Tributo, Lamborghini Huracan EVO, and McLaren’s vehicles. That meant to the folks at Aston that they’d better offer both the Volante and AMR Pro versions of the cars. In a recent interview with Top Gear, Aston Martin’s CEO Andy Palmer discussed the details. 

Palmer said his company hopes to pull sales from its competitors. He also said that the Volante will go up against the competing spider models and the AMR Pro, which will be a more hardcore version of the car will take on the Huracan Performante, McLaren LT, and the Ferrari Pista replacement.

The Vanquish is still a few years away from debuting, but when it does, it will be a force to be reckoned with. The car will feature an aluminum V6 engine paired with an electric motor. This hybrid powertrain will place it securely in the modern age and help it compete with the other big names in the supercar segment. 

Additionally, Palmer discussed Aston Martin’s aspirations for selling more models. He told Top Gear that the company wants to sell 7,000 units per year. Aston just built a new facility to make the DBXs and Lagonda. Palmer would like to see another 7,000 models sell from that facility, too. Palmer said that Ferrari wants to sell 14,000 units. “What works for Ferrari works for us.” That would mean Aston is upping its volume considerably. With that said, the company seems to be putting the product portfolio to do it.

Watch the 1,200 HP Twin-Turbo Dodge Demon Tear Down the Drag Strip

A True Speed Demon

We don’t hit enough of the crazy drag cars that are out there, but we couldn’t overlook this Dodge Demon build. A carbon fiber Demon. This car uses that same carbon fiber body by Speedkore that was unveiled at SEMA in 2018. There’s a video of it taking to the dragstrip and laying down some seriously impressive times posted by That Racing Channel.

If you’re unfamiliar with Speedkore’s carbon body Demon. The car has all carbon fiber body panels. Yep, that means bumpers, fenders, hood, roof, quarter panels, door panels, front splitter, mirror caps, trunk lid, trunk spoiler, and fender flares. That transformation left it significantly lighter weight, but Speedkore hasn’t said how much lighter the car is.

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Under the hood of this particular car is the Demon engine but with some serious tweaks to it. The team added a custom twin-turbo kit built in-house attached to 7675 Precision turbos. The team also added a new torque converter, a carbon driveshaft, and diff brace, proprietary intake, and a CO2 boost controller. This car does away with the Demon’s original supercharger.

As you can see in the video, the vehicle is a blistering fast machine, hitting quarter-mile times under 9 seconds. Its fastest time is an 8.7-second run at 162 mph, which is a new record for a Dodge Demon. That’s a seriously fast car. What’s cool about it is that it still has a full interior. The team left the interior, infotainment, air-conditioning and everything else still intact, meaning you could drive it around on the street if you wanted to. We want to.