Latest news with #Coupe
Top Gear
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skoda Enyaq Coupe Interior Layout & Technology
Skoda insists that practicality hasn't been harmed by the swoopy roofline – the boot is a mere 15 litres smaller (570 litres plays 585), and there's only a small difference in rear headroom thanks to the panoramic glass roof, which comes as standard. Generous. It's standard Skoda fare inside the car, though with a bit of added glamour for this 'sporty' Coupe. You get the usual array of Simply Clever touches, which includes the umbrella in the driver's door and ice scraper squirrelled away in the tailgate. What's the tech like? Behind the steering wheel is a small 5in digital instrument panel which displays speed, charge, trip and adaptive cruise control info (not all at once), which is simple and clear to read. But the graphics aren't as slick as we've seen in rival cars. In the centre of the dash lies the 13in touchscreen that mostly works well. At the top of the screen sits a row of customisable shortcuts (two taps is all it takes to turn off the pesky speed limit assist), while quick access to the climate controls/heated seats is via a permanently displayed band that runs across the bottom. The Enyaq is the least affected by the VW Group's weird obsession with touchscreen controls, but you'll still prefer to use the steering wheel buttons/scrollers to change volume rather than the touch sensitive slider underneath the screen, for instance. It does get a few physical buttons, but there's no apparent logic to those that Skoda has opted to keep: no direct climate controls, but rather a shortcut button that takes you to the right touchscreen sub-menu, as well as routes through to the safety assistance menus and parking help. Too many functions need you to delve into the touchscreen, if you ask us.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1940 Chevy Master Business Coupe Resurfaces After 64 Years in Abandoned Barn
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious After more than six decades hidden from the world, a 1940 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe has been discovered in a long-abandoned barn, remarkably intact and sparking new hope for preservation among classic car enthusiasts. The two-door coupe, long thought lost to time, reportedly sat untouched since 1961. Found blanketed in dust and surrounded by signs of long-term neglect—including a large rat nest in the trunk and a deteriorated interior—the car still retains much of its original form. Remarkably, rust is minimal, and the body appears solid despite being parked for 64 years. Introduced in 1933, the Chevrolet Master nameplate was part of GM's efforts to expand its model range, remaining a core part of the brand's prewar lineup. The 1940 model year marked a significant design update, with a broader grille extending past a V-shaped front fascia, sleeker fenders, and a longer 113-inch wheelbase. Chevrolet offered several body styles that year, but only 25,537 customers opted for the Business Coupe configuration—out of more than 400,000 total Masters produced. While not exceedingly rare by production numbers alone, surviving examples in unrestored condition are increasingly uncommon. The car is not entirely original, however. It appears to have received a repaint before its lengthy slumber, and under the hood lies a swapped inline-six engine, likely from the mid-1950s. Though this diminishes its historical purity, enthusiasts agree that the car's survival in such condition still holds significant value. Whether the Master will be restored or remain a survivor is uncertain, but classic car circles are already buzzing. For now, the coupe is safe, finally seeing daylight after a lifetime in the dark—a silent testament to American craftsmanship and the power of rediscovery.
Daily Tribune
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Swiatek survives Rybakina scare
AFP | Paris Triple-defending Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek battled into the quarter-finals of the French Open yesterday, overcoming a bruising first set loss to eventually defeat former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. The four-time holder of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, who has been struggling for her best form and has not reached a final since winning the title last year, was in serious trouble when trailing 2-0 in the second set. But the 24-year-old dug deep to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory. Swiatek is aiming to become the first woman to win four straight Roland Garros crowns since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. The Pole will next face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who knocked out 2024 losing finalist Jasmine Paolini, in the last eight on Tuesday. Swiatek is now on a 25-match winning streak at the French Open and boasts a remarkable 39-2 win-loss record in the tournament. Rybakina had won both of her previous career meetings with Swiatek on clay and the Kazakh dominated the opening set, hammering 12 winners past her bewildered opponent. 'Well it was tough you know, first set I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,' said Swiatek. 'I needed to do something to get back in the game, but with her playing like that I didn't feel like I had much hope.' Rybak in a broke in the first game of the second set as she threatened to run away with the match. But Swiatek impressively turned the set around with a run of five straight games. The fifth seed looked to have finally seized total control with a break to lead 4-3 in the deciding set, only to hand it straight back. Swiatek was one game from defeat when trailing 5-4, but she managed to end Rybakina's resistance and held her nerve to serve out the match. Svitolina made the quarter-finals for the fifth time with a comeback 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 win over last year's runner-up Paolini, saving three match points in a dramatic opening match on Court Philippe Chatrier. The former world number three, who has never made a Grand Slam final, will be bidding to reach a first Roland Garros semi-final when she faces Swiatek. 'I still cannot believe that this match finished my way, ' said Svitolina. 'It was a really difficult match today, Jasmine was playing really well. It was really tough for me but I'm very happy I was able to stay composed and fight until the very last point.' Fourth seed Paolini, who won the Italian Open last month, fell to the same opponent for the second straight major tournament. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen secured a quarter-final place with a hardfought three-set victory over 19th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. The Chinese eighth seed extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 10 matches, winning 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Miami Herald
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Auto review: Driving alfresco in the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
In a world where car design is increasingly held hostage by angry, dissonant design language, Aston Martin is an abiding reminder that the finest cars are timelessly beautiful, exquisitely crafted and intelligently engineered. The thought occurred as I approached this week's test car, a 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster sheathed in carbon-fiber body panels painted California Sage, a shade-shifting green that shimmers like the automotive track star that it is, its hue changing with the light as you stole around it. Certainly, it's dressed to thrill, with bulging rear fenders and a soft shoulder mid-body, much like an old 911. Its handsome, distinct face has a noticeably larger grille, which aids cooling. The rear-end diffuser may denote sportiness, but it's visually louder than the rest of the car. However, the quad exhaust tips are beautifully integrated. With the top up, the Roadster resembles the Coupe. Top down, it's stowed beneath the sleek rear deck. Now, the Aston Martin faithful may wonder why this speed buggy is called the Roadster, and not a Volante, Aston's name for its droptops. Evidently that appellation is reserved for Aston's GT cars, which the Vantage is decidedly not. It's a sports car, one that delivers maximum thrills in a minimally sized package. The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is the follow-up to the Vantage Coupe that debuted last year. Thanks to some body structure and driveline tweaks, the Roadster weighs a mere 132 pounds more and is no slower than its Coupe sibling. Its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 produces 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. It's fast, with its Michelin Pilot Sport 5.5 tires providing a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 202-mph top speed. Just as fast is the eight-ply fabric roof, which drops in 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. The driveline is fitted with Sport, Sport+, Track, Individual and Wet driving modes, but no Eco mode - thank God. As you might expect, it uses premium fuel and returns an EPA-rated 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Even though its exhaust note exhibits signals that it's ready for a raucous time, this is a sports car for gentlemen and gentlewomen. The driveline makes a sporting sound, but it's never overbearing, while the engine and transmission prove very responsive, remaining in gear longer than most rivals - especially in manual mode, where it indulges need to the gear and listen to it emote. And it plays the automotive athlete, unequal-length double wishbones up front; a multi-link suspension out back and Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers at each corner. Despite the slew of electronic driving aids, this remains an unrepentant front-engine/rear-wheel-drive roadster. Able to dance with an ease of control that makes it one fine party animal, the steering and brakes communicate to the driver as its taut handling voraciously gobbles up asphalt accompanied by a refined rumble. Driver and passenger are ensconced in a snug cabin for two that's beautifully finished, its carbon-fiber trim colored identically to the exterior color. Its center console features a 10.25-inch capacitive touchscreen with a user interface designed in house. And bravo to the designers, who have not insisted that all controls be banished to the touchscreen. They believe, and rightly so, that certain controls are better as physical buttons while driving at speed. As a result, finding the control you want is simple. It's accompanied by a 390-watt, 11-speaker audio system or an optional 15-speaker, double amplified, 1,170-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. That said, the Aston's cylinder symphony is the only music I listened to. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Any quibbles? Well, the car's beltline is very high, which may be a turn-off for some. And, being a sports car, its boot measures a modest 7 cubic feet. Neither should dissuade you from acquiring this lovely bit of rapid transit. Aston Martin remains a survivor, and the 2026 Vantage Roadster is proof of the company's value. Having survived bankruptcy seven times in its 112-year history, it's arguably never been better. Credit the money and guidance of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who has masterfully restored Aston Martin to the top of the automotive pantheon with cars that are among the rarest and finest in the world. The Vantage Roadster's performance, quality and scarcity define the essence of a true luxury sports car. 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster Base price: $205,900 (estimated) Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 Horsepower/Torque: 656/590 pound-feet EPA rating (combined city/highway): 18 mpg Fuel required: Premium unleaded Length/Width/Height: 177/81/51 inches Ground clearance: 3.7 inches Cargo capacity: 7 cubic feet Towing capacity: Not rated Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
New SA-bound BMW M2 CS continues the tradition with more power, less weight, RWD
The new BMW M2 CS will arrive in South Africa in early 2026. Image: Supplied With more power, less weight, rear wheel drive and a limited production run, the new BMW M2 CS proudly, and loudly, continues the 'Competition Sport' tradition that dates back to the late 1960s. The limited edition Coupe will be available in South Africa from the second quarter of 2026, BMW SA has confirmed, with pricing to be released nearer to the time. But expect to pay a substantial premium over the regular M2's sticker, which falls just north of the R1.5 million mark. Beneath the bonnet is an upgraded version of BMW's 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbocharged engine, now matching the BMW M3 and M4 with outputs of 390kW at 6,250rpm and 650Nm from 2,650 to 5,730rpm. Boasting 37kW and 50Nm more than the regular M2, and being an impressive 30kg lighter, the new M2 CS is capable of sprinting from zero to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, making it 0.2 seconds quicker. The top speed is electronically limited to 302km/h. An M-specific exhaust system with electronically controlled flaps is fitted to ensure an enticing soundtrack, but for those who seek, in BMW's words, a 'racing car sound guaranteed to stir the emotions', a bespoke new M Performance silencer system is available through the M Performance Parts catalogue. Power goes straight to the back wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox and M Sport differential. A CFRP 'ducktail' rear spoiler marks out the rear end. Image: Supplied Speaking of chassis mods, the M2 CS sits 8mm lower to the ground than the regular M2 and its springs, dampers and chassis control systems have been specifically tuned for this model, as has the M Servotronic steering system. Furthermore, its Dynamic Stability Control system, and M Dynamic Mode, have been 'precisely optimised' for race track driving. An M Compound braking system with red brake callipers, is fitted as standard, while an M Carbon ceramic set-up is optionally available. The exterior of the M2 CS flaunts numerous carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components, including an M Carbon roof and boot lid with eye-catching 'ducktail' spoiler. The CS is also set apart by a unique rear diffuser, in exposed carbon fibre, and it rolls on a combination of 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) wheels, fitted as standard with track tyres. Standard sport tyres, as well as 'ultra' track tyres are available as no-cost options. A view of the cabin. Image: Supplied
