Around the Tracks: Videos, columns and articles from all over the internet

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When we’re not creating it ourselves, the CarAdvice team spends a lot of time finding and consuming motoring content from all over the world. Here’s a handful of the articles, videos and social media posts that most caught our eye last week. Some of them are brand-new, others have been online for a while. Enjoy them – […]

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2023 Porsche Taycan GTS review

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Whether on the back of a 911 or a Cayenne, the GTS badge has always denoted a special kind of Porsche. Now the electric Porsche Taycan gets the GTS treatment. Skip ahead: Introduction Running costs Price and specification Energy use Interior space and comfort On-road assessment Connectivity and infotainment Summary Safety 2023 Porsche Taycan GTS Nothing prepares you for it. It’s visceral, punching you in the guts, grabbing your heart in its sweaty fist and squeezing to the point of breathlessness. It’s the first heady rush of acceleration, a rush of speed unencumbered by the limits of traditional internal combustion. It shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore.   Meet the 2023 Porsche Taycan GTS , the mid-spec variant in the wider Taycan range that takes everything you think you know about the physics of driving and then stomps on it. Yes, there are faster Taycans – Turbo and Turbo S anyone? – but in terms of bang-for-your-not-inconsid...
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New Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar unveiled with petrol and electric power

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Alfa Romeo has rebooted the iconic 33 Stradale of the 1960s with a limited-edition, custom-built, multimillion-dollar supercar available with twin-turbo V6 petrol, or full battery power. The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale name has been revived for a new supercar, unveiled in Europe overnight ahead of first customer deliveries overseas due late next year. The new car is a modern reboot of the original 1967 33 Stradale, which was the road-going version of the Tipo 33 race car of the day, and is considered one of Alfa Romeo’s most iconic cars. Limited to 33 examples, all sold out, the new 33 Stradale will be available with an enlarged version of the twin-turbo petrol V6 familiar to Alfa Romeo performance cars today – or solely electric power, as the first battery-powered vehicle unveiled by the Italian car maker. With each vehicle to be custom-built to the customer’s specifications by boutique Italian ‘coachbuilding’ company Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, prices are estimated to e...
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Ineos Grenadier gets converted into a camper with Australian-made pop-top

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Mere weeks after hitting the road in Australia, this Ineos Grenadier has already had the roof chopped and converted into a pop-top camper. Ineos Grenadier Pop-top camper The Ineos Grenadier four-wheel drive now has a pop-top conversion available , thanks to Australian company Expedition Centre. Based in Sydney, Expedition Centre has been making pop-top conversions for Land Rover Defenders and Toyota LandCruisers since 2009. But now with the Ineos Grenadier hitting the road in Australia, Expedition Centre has quickly turned its attention to the new, old-school four-wheel-drive wagon. Similar to conversions Expedition Centre has been doing on Defenders and LandCruiser Troopcarriers, the roof of the Grenadier is removed and modified to fit in a slatted 1.3-metre wide Fanello Bed. Hinged at the front and latched at the back, the roof can ‘pop’ open to create additional sleeping and living space inside the vehicle. The roofline of the Grenadier is raised by around 250...
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Renault and Nissan production delays due to global cyber attack

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Renault and Nissan ‘s Sunderland production facility has been the victim of a global cyber attack, causing costly production delays. The global cyber attack began late last week and has so far affected more than 75,000 systems in 100 countries. The attack hits vulnerable Microsoft Windows machines and encrypts the user’s filesystem, taking it ransom. The user is asked to pay a fee of US$300 to have their computer unlocked. While the attack can easily be prevented by updating the operating system, many automated machines and dumb terminals connected to the internet are being infiltrated. A Renault spokesperson told  Autocar, “Groupe Renault confirms it was impacted by the global cyber attack that began late on Friday May 12. It consists of a Ransomware virus. Proactive measures were taken immediately in order to stop the spread of the Virus and protect the group,” the spokesperson said. “A full diagnosis is in progress in order to put in place the appropriat...
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2023 Toyota Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid AWD review

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Singer DLS Turbo: 1970s racer inspires reimagined Porsche 911

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The Singer DLS Turbo is the Californian company’s most powerful Porsche 911 recreation yet – combining 1970s racing looks with a 520kW twin-turbo engine. California-based classic Porsche restoration firm Singer has revealed the ‘DLS Turbo’ – a sports car inspired by a racing 911 from the 1970s. The Singer DLS Turbo’s design draws inspiration from the Porsche 934/5, a racing variant of the iconic 911 sports car which won six out of the eight races it competed in throughout the 1977 Trans-Am season in North America. As with all of Singer’s ‘reimagined’ Porsches, the DLS Turbo is based on the chassis from a 964-generation 911, though its bodywork is bespoke – blending elements of the 934/5 with more modern offerings. MORE: Singer reveals its ultimate Porsche 911 Singer’s latest creation is its first model to mate the company’s 3.8-litre air-cooled flat-six engine – developed by Formula One team Williams and found in the ‘standard’ DLS – with two turbochargers. Th...
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The mysterious origins of the Isuzu MU

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Long before the Isuzu MU-X made a name for itself as rugged tow vehicle, the Japanese brand was employing wizardry and mystery when it came to naming its off-roaders. The letters following the humble Isuzu badge don’t really give a hint at what’s to come. After all, we’ve become accustomed to car names over the decades that feature a string of letters or numbers after their maker’s badge. And, for the most part, we know what those numbers and letters have meant: GT stands for Grand Touring , while RS , whether on a Porsche or Audi , denotes rennsport , German for ‘motorsport’. Other notable acronyms include Mazda’s MX-5 , the popular sportscar from the Japanese manufacturer deriving its nameplate from Mazda Experimental Project 5. Mazda’s Experimental Project 5 Ferrari takes its naming conventions seriously too with various models designated GTB , GTO , GTS or GTC which stand for, in order, Gran Turismo Berlinetta , Omologata , Spyder , and Coupe . And Ferrari’...
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The new European cars under $50,000 drive-away

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2024 Toyota Yaris Cross updated in Europe with new tech, more hybrid power

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Europe’s Toyota Yaris Cross has received a mid-life update with more power, a revised look and new technology. Plans for the Australian version are yet to be announced. The updated 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross small SUV has been unveiled in Europe with an upgraded hybrid powertrain and new styling.  This is the first update for the Yaris Cross – the SUV sibling to the Toyota Yaris hatch – since it was first introduced to the Australian market in 2020.  Mirroring changes to the European-market Yaris hatch, the 2024 Yaris Cross in Europe brings with it mild styling changes to the exterior and interior of the SUV, improved safety features, and a more powerful hybrid system.  While pre-orders in Europe are due to commence this month, there’s no word on when we can expect to see the updates flow onto the Yaris Cross in Australia.  European-market Yaris Cross vehicles are manufactured in France, whereas Australian-delivered examples are built in Japan. Most ...
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