Autonomous Speed Record

A Maserati MC20 Coupe with no one in the driver seat set a new land speed record for autonomous vehicles, reaching 197.7 mph (318 km/h) during an automotive event at the Kennedy Space Center. The Maserati was running self-driving software developed by Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific-technological university.

Electric Restomod

The Chieftain Range Rover is a fascinating thing—a refitted, reskinned, restored classic Range Rover is no new thing, nor is one with a ludicrous American V8 stuffed under the hood. But one that can be had as a gas car, plug-in hybrid, or as an EV? It can be all of those things depending on which boxes you tick. The Chieftain isn't quite like them. Developed by Oxfordshire, UK, based Jensen International Automotive, the Chieftain is an old Range Rover turned up to VERY LOUD. Or, actually, not loud at all.

Of course, these things come at a cost. A Chieftain EV Range Rover conversion, today, will set you back at least $568,000 should you choose to order one. This one was a private commission, and at that price there won't be any built on spec on the off chance someone wants to buy one off the peg. By any stretch of the imagination it is a huge amount for an old car, but they're custom-built from start to finish.

The Range Rover has aged well. Under its perfectly painted shell—the color is your choice, of course—lives a 120 kWh battery. It's made of packs mounted under the hood and in the rear, firing power to all four wheels via three motors: one at the front, and two at the rear. The tri-motor setup can theoretically produce around 650 hp (485 kW), but it's paired back to a smidge over 405 hp (302 kW), so it doesn't eat its tires on a spirited launch.