Tag Archives: vehicles

NEW CARS

Mulliner’s Dutch Masters Collection Blends Art History With Horsepower

Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum has held its share of masterpieces, but it’s not every day that three one-off Bentleys take their place among Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. At a special event hosted in the museum’s Gallery of Honour, Bentley and its bespoke division, Mulliner, unveiled the Dutch Masters Collection—a trio of Continental GTs that reinterpret the palettes, textures, and symbolism of iconic Dutch art.

More than 200 guests from Bentley’s Dutch dealerships gathered first for a virtual reveal, then for an evening inside the country’s most revered art space—an appropriately dramatic backdrop for cars that blur the line between coachbuilding and canvas.

Car 01: Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” Reimagined

Rembrandt’s 1642 Night Watch never lacked drama, and neither does Mulliner’s corresponding Continental GT Convertible. Draped in Midnight Emerald, the car picks up the painting’s deep shadows, while its interior splashes of Hotspur red riff on Captain Frans Banninck Cocq’s famous sash. A combination of Magnolia and Cumbrian green hides softens the cabin, echoing the lieutenant’s coat and the painting’s muted tones.

Gold organ stops add a subtle baroque flourish, but the real showpiece comes when the door opens at night: an illuminated animation of a floating feather—an Easter egg nodding to the lieutenant’s hat in the center of the canvas. Feather motifs continue across the door cards, set against Dutch Masters badging that reminds you this Bentley is not just a car, but a one-off piece of rolling art.

Car 02: Vermeer’s Light, Captured in Metal and Leather

Few artists command light the way Johannes Vermeer did, and Mulliner’s Vermeer-inspired Continental GT aims to distill that luminance into automotive form. The exterior’s Sapphire satin finish immediately sets a different tone—cool, reflective, almost Delft-like in its purity. A panoramic sunroof ensures daylight floods the cabin just as Vermeer did with his window-lit interiors.

Inside, Beluga and Ocean blue hides establish a calm foundation, broken up by daring flashes of Citric yellow and seat piping in Klein blue. Mulliner looked to Vermeer’s The Little Street for the welcome lamp animation and door card imagery, capturing its rolling clouds with surprising delicacy. The Bentley Rotating Display even receives a hand-painted inner ring and a Klein blue bezel—small touches that elevate the whole car from homage to interpretation.

Car 03: Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” Now in Dark Sapphire and Khamun

If Rembrandt delivered gravitas and Vermeer contributed serenity, then Vincent van Gogh brings emotion—turbulent, color-charged, and unmistakably expressive. Mulliner’s third entry, a Continental GT in Dark Sapphire with Khamun yellow pinstriping, channels the whirling sky of The Starry Night without resorting to mere imitation.

The interior leans heavily on Imperial blue, Dark Sapphire, Linen, and Khamun, a near-direct translation of Van Gogh’s Post-Impressionist palette. Illuminated welcome lamps and etched door panels recreate the painting’s swirling sky, while a dual-finish Piano Linen veneer bisected by a hand-painted Dark Sapphire pinstripe anchors the theme. Open-pore chiselled Walnut across the center console and gold knurled organ stops finish the look with texture and warmth—Van Gogh through a luxury lens.

The Art, Beyond the Cars

Each Dutch Masters Bentley comes with a bespoke presentation key box trimmed in its car’s hides. Open it, and you’ll find laser-etched artwork—feather, clouds, or starry sky—on the inner lid. Mechanically, all three cars share Blackline and Touring specifications, body-colored styling kits, wellness seating, mood lighting, the Bentley Rotating Display, and a Naim for Bentley audio system. In other words: they’re as modern and technologically complete as any Continental GT, just dressed with a level of artistic intention rarely seen in automotive design.

Art Meets Engineering—Literally

Most manufacturers love calling their cars “works of art.” Mulliner’s Dutch Masters Collection is one of the few times that claim holds up to scrutiny. These Continentals don’t merely borrow color palettes—they translate light, iconography, and mood. They’re reinterpretations of three world-famous masterpieces, crafted not for galleries, but for the open road.

And inside the Rijksmuseum, surrounded by centuries of history, these Bentleys didn’t look out of place. That might just be the highest compliment an automotive designer can hope for.

Source: Bentley

News

Waymo Robo-Taxi Rolls Through LAPD Arrest Scene, Raising Questions About AV Street Smarts

Autonomous driving has racked up some serious milestones in the last decade, but even the most advanced systems still have moments that remind us they’re not quite human. Waymo—widely considered one of the frontrunners in the driverless-car race—found itself back in the spotlight this week after one of its robo-taxis wandered into the middle of an active police arrest in Los Angeles.

A now-viral video shows a Waymo vehicle calmly approaching an intersection just as LAPD officers were in the process of detaining a suspect. A pickup truck sits on the side of the road, driver’s door open. The suspect is seen complying with police orders while officers move in. During this, the Waymo vehicle rolls forward, slows, and briefly stops near the scene before continuing through the intersection as if nothing unusual were happening.

According to NBC, the incident occurred around 3:40 a.m., and police later stated that the arrival of the driverless vehicle didn’t alter their tactics. Waymo added that the entire interaction lasted roughly 15 seconds.

“Safety is our highest priority, both for the people who choose to ride with us and for the people we share the streets with,” a Waymo spokesperson said. “When we encounter unusual events like this, we learn from them as we continue to improve road safety and operate in dynamic cities.”

Waymo’s safety record is, by the numbers, one of the strongest in the industry. By mid-2025, its fleet had logged more than 100 million autonomous miles. But public confidence in robo-taxis is a fragile thing, and moments like this—no matter how harmless the outcome—have a way of reigniting the debate over how autonomous vehicles should behave in unpredictable real-world scenarios.

This isn’t Waymo’s first brush with viral awkwardness. Earlier this year, pranksters in San Francisco managed to herd 50 Waymo vehicles into the same intersection, causing a goofy but highly publicized traffic jam. Not long after, a protest in Los Angeles escalated into vandalism that left five Waymo cars burned.

Incidents like these illustrate a strange tension facing the autonomous-driving world. The technology is far more mature than it was even a few years ago, yet it’s still navigating the messy, unscripted reality of human behavior—crime scenes included. The LA arrest didn’t result in danger or interference, but it’s a reminder of a bigger challenge: designing a car that not only understands the rules of the road, but also interprets human unpredictability in real time.

For now, Waymo’s robo-taxis continue to expand service across major cities. As they do, every odd encounter—whether it’s a protest, a prank, or a police stop—becomes another test case in the long road toward autonomy that truly works everywhere, all the time.

Source: NBC

NEW CARS

CaDA’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:8 Model: A Brick-Built Tribute to Stuttgart’s Track Monster

In the world of GT racing, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 stands as one of the most recognizable silhouettes on any grid: low, wide, angry, and aerodynamically overclocked for the singular purpose of speed. From its gaping air intakes to its towering rear wing, the GT3 isn’t just a race car—it’s an intimidation tactic on wheels.

CaDA’s new 1:8-scale brick recreation doesn’t just pay tribute to that motorsport presence. It repackages it, bringing the visual drama and mechanical essence of AMG’s endurance weapon to the desks and display cabinets of enthusiasts. And it does so with a level of detail that would make even a scrutineer lean in for a closer look.

A Brick Model That Means Business

At 59 centimeters long, 25 wide, and 17 tall, this is no toy-shelf trinket. The footprint alone hints at serious intent, but it’s the design fidelity that seals the deal. CaDA has captured the GT3’s defining features: the signature Panamericana-style radiator grille, aggressive front splitter, flared aprons, and that unmistakable aerodynamic tailfin of a rear wing.

What elevates this model beyond typical display pieces is CaDA’s commitment to engineering authenticity. No decals are needed—the shapes, surfaces, and textures are built directly into its 5,463-part structure. The result is a build that feels more like assembling a miniature race chassis than snapping together a decorative kit.

Open the doors and you’re greeted by a cockpit that mirrors the real car’s functional, no-nonsense vibe. Adjustable pedals and steering wheel—just like the true GT3’s race-ready ergonomics—sit inside a carefully constructed safety cell.

Lighting, Wheels, and the Details That Sell the Illusion

If the real GT3 glows like a predator under a pit-lane spotlight, CaDA’s version replicates that perfectly. Integrated front and rear LED lamps, including endurance-spec auxiliary lights, illuminate via USB power. It’s a small touch that massively boosts realism, especially under display lighting.

Then there are the AMG-design wheels, wrapped in faithfully modeled Michelin Pilot Sport race tires. Even in brick form, they communicate the serious mechanical grip expected of a GT3 machine.

Mechanical Functionality Worthy of a Pit Crew

CaDA didn’t stop at exterior accuracy. The model is loaded with mechanical party tricks:

  • Working door-locking mechanisms
  • A rear-mounted transmission mimicking the real car’s sequential layout
  • Six forward gears, plus neutral and reverse
  • Central-locking wheel hubs, just like a real race team would use
  • Functional racing steering wheel

But the standout feature—the one that will make hardcore endurance-racing fans grin—is the pneumatic lift system. Connect an external air source, and the car rises on built-in jacks, just like during a lightning-fast pit stop. It’s tactile, clever, and a guaranteed conversation starter.

For bonus engineering cred, CaDA includes a functional hoist for removing the model’s engine, turning the whole setup into a miniature garage bay.

A Build Process That Respects the Source Material

With an 827-page manual and 1735 assembly steps, this set is not for the impatient. But for builders seeking a project as satisfying as a long-tail endurance stint, that’s exactly the appeal.

The packaging and presentation match the premium nature of the model. And with part number B66961716, it’s clearly positioned as a collector’s piece rather than a casual weekend distraction.

The CaDA Mercedes-AMG GT3 isn’t just a detailed model. It’s an experience—a mechanical deep dive wrapped in brick form. Fans of the real GT3 will appreciate the authenticity. Builders will appreciate the complexity. And anyone with a passion for motorsport engineering will recognize that this is more than a display car; it’s a celebration of what makes GT racing so compelling.

If the real GT3 is built to conquer circuits, this one is built to dominate shelves.

Source: Mercedes-Benz