NEW CARS

Land Rover Classic Builds a V8-Powered Quartet of Restomod Icons

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Land Rover’s Classic division has clearly discovered a lucrative formula: take one of Britain’s most enduring off-road icons, restore it with near-obsessive attention to detail, then offer it back to a clientele that wants heritage without compromise. The latest example of that philosophy doesn’t arrive as a single vehicle—but as a coordinated quartet of restomods heading to the same fortunate garage.

It’s been just over a decade since production of the original Land Rover Defender ceased, closing the chapter on a utilitarian legend that had long outlived most of its contemporaries. In the years since, Land Rover established its now well-regarded Classic division in Coventry, breathing new life into carefully selected Defenders built between 2012 and 2016. The result is a curated continuation of the model’s legacy—restored, upgraded, and reinterpreted for a very modern kind of off-road luxury buyer. In the broader landscape of heritage SUVs, even newer interpretations like the Ineos Grenadier underline just how influential the original Defender’s blueprint remains.

This particular commission pushes personalization into near-obsessive territory. A single enthusiast has ordered four separate builds, each in a different body style: 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top, 110 Station Wagon, and 110 Double Cab Pick-Up. Mechanically, they share a familiar heart—a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 producing 405 hp and 515 Nm of torque, paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. Power is delivered through a permanent four-wheel-drive system, good enough to haul the boxy silhouettes from 0–100 km/h in under six seconds, before topping out at an electronically limited 170 km/h.

For a vehicle that began life as a rugged agricultural tool, those numbers feel almost surreal.

Visually, the brief leans heavily into spectacle. The quartet is finished in a bespoke “chameleon” paint effect that shifts between green, purple, and gold depending on the light—an almost concept-car flourish applied to one of the most utilitarian shapes in automotive history. White roofs and matching external roll cages provide contrast, while even the 18-inch alloy wheels receive the same color-shifting treatment, wrapped in all-terrain tires that hint at capability beneath the showmanship.

The execution is anything but superficial. Each paint job alone reportedly consumes around 400 hours, and the cabins receive equal attention. Inside, heavily sculpted seats are trimmed in pale leather, transforming the Defender’s traditionally hard-wearing interior into something closer to a boutique restomod lounge than a farm-ready cabin. Buyers can even specify modern infotainment—an optional 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—replacing the standard retro-style radio unit. It’s a small but telling reminder of how far these builds sit from their utilitarian origins.

The donor platform may be familiar, but the philosophy is not about preservation in the strict sense. Instead, Land Rover’s Classic operation is increasingly acting as a bridge between eras: retaining the silhouette and spirit of the original Defender while layering in performance, luxury, and personalization that would have been unthinkable during its working life.

In this case, the result is less a restoration and more a curated reinterpretation—four Defenders, four personalities, and one unmistakable reminder that some icons don’t retire. They simply get re-specified.

Source: Land Rover Classic

NEW CARS

2027 Aston Martin Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps Revealed with 680 HP

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Some cars are built to conquer legendary racetracks. Others are built to celebrate them. Aston Martin’s latest special edition somehow manages to do both.

Timed perfectly for the eve of the 79th running of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Aston Martin has unveiled the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps, a highly exclusive tribute to one of motorsport’s most revered circuits. It’s a fitting nod to a track where the British marque has carved out countless victories over decades of endurance racing. The catch? Only 12 examples will be built, and every single one is reserved for customers in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The project comes courtesy of Aston Martin’s Q division, the bespoke arm responsible for transforming already desirable sports cars into collector-grade rarities. Unlike previous Q creations that often lean heavily on extravagant personalization, the Spa-Francorchamps edition keeps its message focused: honoring one of the world’s greatest racing venues without overcomplicating the formula.

Its exterior wears an understated dark gray finish accented by light gray racing stripes stretching across the hood, roof, and decklid. Closer inspection reveals the details enthusiasts will appreciate most. The iconic Spa circuit layout is proudly displayed on the front fenders, while the colors of the Belgian flag find their way onto the seatbacks. Special illuminated door sill plates remind occupants that this is one of just a dozen examples ever to leave Gaydon.

Fortunately, Aston Martin resisted the temptation to tinker with an already exceptional mechanical package.

Beneath the Vantage’s impossibly long hood remains the familiar AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, producing a formidable 680 horsepower and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission channels every bit of that muscle exclusively to the rear wheels, delivering the sort of numbers that remain deeply impressive even in today’s supercar arms race.

The sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes just 3.3 seconds, while flat out, the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps reaches 202 mph (325 km/h). Those figures aren’t unique to this special edition, but they hardly need to be. Spa itself has always rewarded bravery over gimmicks, and the Vantage remains one of the most engaging front-engine performance cars on sale.

Buyers also receive a pair of carbon-fiber Bell racing helmets and matching driving gloves, a thoughtful addition that practically dares owners to book a track day rather than simply admire the car under showroom lights.

Of course, exclusivity rarely comes cheap. Aston Martin is asking roughly €335,000 for the privilege of owning one of these twelve commemorative machines—a substantial premium over a standard Vantage S, but one that collectors are unlikely to question.

For everyone else, the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps serves as another reminder that some of the world’s greatest roads—and racetracks—don’t just inspire fast cars. Sometimes, they become part of the car’s identity.

Source: Aston Martin

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Tesla Turns Its Cameras Into Predictive Crash Sensors

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Tesla has found yet another job for the cameras already covering its vehicles—and this time, the goal isn’t autonomous driving or parking assistance. Instead, the company’s latest software update turns those cameras into an extra set of eyes for the airbag system, allowing the car to begin preparing for an impact before it actually happens.

The new feature gives Tesla’s restraint system a valuable head start. According to the automaker, its camera-based crash prediction technology can trigger occupant protection systems, including seat belt pretensioners and airbag deployment logic, up to 70 milliseconds earlier than conventional systems alone. It may sound insignificant, but in a serious collision, fractions of a second can mean the difference between an airbag catching an occupant at exactly the right moment—or a split second too late.

Traditionally, airbags rely on accelerometers and crash sensors that only begin working once the vehicle has already made contact with another object. Those sensors must first detect the impact, calculate its severity, and determine whether airbag deployment is necessary before firing the inflators.

Tesla’s new approach flips that sequence on its head.

Using its forward-facing cameras, the vehicle can now identify the type of impending collision, estimate when contact is likely to occur, and predict how severe the impact will be—all before the physical crash sensors register anything. That advance warning allows the car to pre-condition its restraint systems so they’re ready the instant the collision occurs.

It’s a subtle but potentially meaningful evolution in automotive safety. While airbags appear to inflate instantaneously during crash-test footage, they actually require precious milliseconds to fully deploy. If deployment begins even slightly earlier, the airbags are more likely to be fully inflated by the time occupants move forward during the crash, maximizing their protective effect.

Importantly, Tesla isn’t replacing conventional crash sensors altogether. The cameras provide an additional predictive layer, but the final decision to deploy the airbags still comes from the vehicle’s traditional impact sensors. In other words, the system combines predictive vision with proven crash-detection hardware rather than relying solely on one technology.

The update builds on Tesla’s long-standing strategy of using cameras as the backbone of its vehicle technology. The same camera network already powers features ranging from Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities to Tesla Vision, which replaced ultrasonic parking sensors on newer models. Adding predictive crash sensing further expands the role those cameras play in vehicle safety.

Tesla vehicles already rank among the safest cars tested by major crash-safety organizations, and the company clearly believes software can continue improving that reputation long after a vehicle leaves the factory. Better still, owners won’t need to buy a new car to benefit from the technology.

Tesla says the predictive airbag feature will roll out to existing vehicles through an over-the-air software update. However, the company has yet to specify which models or software versions will receive the new capability first.

Source: Tesla

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