PRIMERA

LEGO officially announced a new set featuring the iconic Vespa 125 as a perfect nostalgic piece of 1960s Italy in miniature. The kit is a gift to long-time fans as it will be the company’s first official Vespa model despite LEGO having scooter pieces included in multiple kits since the 1970s. The Vespa 125 kit features carefully-selected touches mirroring 1960s Italy. It includes the Vespa logo, an Italian license plate, a classic helmet and a small basket of flowers attached on its rear end. The scooter’s engine can also be seen thanks to the removable cover. LEGO also made the model with working steering handles and a kickstand. However, the light-blue scooter is no small figure. LEGO said that the Vespa set is made up of 1106 pieces built over 8.5 inches tall, 4.5 inches long, and 13.5 inches wide.

As car companies race towards the emerging market of electric vehicles, motorcyle manufacturer Triumph is one step closer to making an official electric sport bike. The Triumph TE-1 is an electric motorcycle prototype pushing forward an all-electric future. This is a big news for the two-wheel industry as the electrification of motorcycles has been a hot topic for debate among enthusiasts. Despite the popularity of electric bicycles that promoted safe and friendly commuters, the motorcycle industry is filled with hardcore riders that just couldn’t (or wouldn’t) let go of the grease and oil and the ever-enchanting smell of gasoline. Motorcycle-riding is an experience after all. Removing one essential aspect of it is like removing a piece of its soul. But instead of being held-off by this stigma, Triumph is willing to gamble with the future. With this move, the company is poised to position itself among the pioneers, if the electric future is indeed as successful and as inevitabl...

Volkswagen may not be the most popular pick-up truck manufacturer, but its determined to make a bold statement. A new VW Amarok is set to debut this year. And as a result of its collaboration with Ford, the truck will share the same platform with the new Ranger. The two auto giants inked a partnership deal a few years back that saw the two companies agreeing to work on various next-gen projects, including the mid-size truck platform. Considering that the Ranger is world-beating performance pick-up made by America’s premier car brand, it’s safe to assume that the Germans will be getting a strong grip on the segment. Whether the Amarok will be powered by a VW engine or a Ford unit was yet to be determined. Though speculation suggests that Volkswagen may use a powerful V6 TDI. The possibility of equipping the truck with VW's 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 is not a bad idea either, given the fact that it is capable of 255 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.

NISSAN UK celebrated 35 years of auto production by swapping an EV engine on a 1986 Bluebird/Sentra, following the trend of electrifying modern classic cars. Christened Newbird, the battery-powered hatchback got its powertrain from a modern Leaf EV of the company. The car is a symbolic piece to the company’s British arm as Nissan had set up its UK assembly plant at Sunderland in 1986. The factory produced the original Bluebird line that year. Today, the company retains its strong hold at Sunderland where they continue to build the Nissan Leaf, so resto-modding a Leaf-powered Bluebird is a proper homage to the factory's history and its strong brand heritage in the region. The Newbird is powered by a Leaf motor with 40.0-kWh battery pack, with both cells divided between its front end and its cargo area. The charging port of the car is located behind the original fuel-filler flap, while the stock fuel gauge was modified to show the battery's remaining power. To complete the ...

LEGO has been successful remaking some of motorsport’s most iconic teams as toy sets. The company’s latest addition to its Speed Champions range is a Mercedes-AMG racing model. The LEGO kit was inspired by the Mercedes F1 W12 race car from the 2021 F1 Season which saw Lewis Hamilton snag his second place finish during last year’s World Driving Championships. The set also included two figures complete with racing helmets, wig and wrench. It’s not clear what the terms of Lego’s agreement was with Mercedes-Benz, but it’s quite obvious that neither the Formula 1 logo nor Hamilton’s name appeared on the box. The driver’s included in the kit also hardly resemble the race champion himself. However, another important piece included in the kit is the Project One hybrid car that was reportedly built with an F1 turbo engine. The kit included 564 LEGO pieces, and was designed for users aged nine and above. The cars included in the box measured 4cm high, 19cm long and 7cm wide. The toymaker als...

"It was love at first sight," as Porsche expressed its feelings. Porsche released a heartfelt video this Valentine’s Season showing the automaker’s love for the V-8 engine. It was forty-five years now since the company decided to debut the iconic Porsche 928 with the said eight-cylinder engine. 1977 was a pivotal year for Porsche as it took the leap of faith, and gambled with the 928 as the new successor to the 911’s throne. It was a big role to play, and the 928 have had a tough time during its 17-year run. But if there was one thing the 928 proved, it was that the V8 had a place in the company’s heart. The love letter continued highlighting other significant moments Porsche had achieved with the V8. From the Cayenne to the Panamera, to racing on the deadly Nürburgring. Then there was the experimental V8 with electric power equipped in the 918 Spyder. That vehicle "made us fall in love all over again," the narrator said. "Now, on to a new challenge a...

Mercedes-Benz and Geely are rumored seeking a third partner and up to a billion dollars to revive the Smart Car brand. The joint venture between the two companies could raise funds as part of its plans to promote the Smart Automobile as an all-electric brand. Though there’s no official statement from both Mercedes-Benz and Geely, rumors have been spreading of the potential revival of the Smart Car that focuses on delivering premium all-electric vehicles. Other automotive media outlets report of a potential EV SUV model to be released. If the buzz turned out to be true, this means that new models may no longer cater to the alternative fun-sized compact market the company was known for. Official details are not yet available, but given the fact that Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is a major player in the development of new car technologies, the project may employ Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). The SEA is described by Geely as “the world’s first open-source electric vehi...

Italian supercar maker, Ferrari, officially confirmed that the Purosangue SUV will begin production later this year. The news came after the company hit sales record last year as it now prepares to enter a new market with its first ever SUV . Ferrari had already announced its intention to work on an SUV platform since 2018. The Purosangue has been confirmed by the company in its 2021 sales report and will be in production a few months from now. The company also said that the first batch of cars will be delivered as soon as 2023. The announcement was received with mixed reviews from the international automotive press. A Ferrari SUV seems like a smart business move, capitalizing on the height of SUV popularity. Porsche has done it with the Cayenne, Lamborghini with the Urus. Why not Ferrari, right?  The sentiment stems from fear. Ferrari is a heritage brand, with its name synonymous with racing. The introduction of a new SUV is definitely a steer on the opposite direction, and fans f...

The next Porsche 911 could be an off-road rally car, but it might not get the iconic Safari nameplate as rumors suggest. Instead, the new model could be named “Dakar.”   Trading an iconic badge for a new one is an exciting news for hardcore rally enthusiasts. It’s not as if Porsche is closing its curtain on the Safari Edition. God knows the company has been shelling out limited editions of its models time-after-time. However, as the new nameplate strongly infers, this move might signify the company’s commitment to ensure victory at Dakar Rally. Finishing the competition, let alone winning it, has been a testament to the toughness of vehicles entering in it.  These endurance rally competitions were originally staged from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal which really tests any vehicle’s reliability and driver’s endurance. Rally racing has been synonymous with in Porsche’s racing history. Though the company has now been more associated with sophisticated German luxury, Porsc...