Fans of the cult series from the eighties, Knight Rider, were very honored when David Hasselhoff recently appeared on the Kelly Clarkson show.

Hasselhov was part of Clarkson's "DRIVE-INterview" sequence, in which guests, practicing social distance, stay in the car during the conversation. The innovative part of The Kelly Clarkson Show has previously hosted fascinating machines such as the 1970 Dodge Challenger, Jay Leno and Kurt Bush in its fleet of former competitive models.

Of course, Hasselhov appeared in K.I.T.T. model, although it is clear that this is a replica, because the original models used in the shooting can no longer be found. To be in line with the Trans Am model, Clarson appeared in the classic American Pontiac model. Until recently, the actor owned a personal K.I.T.T. which is also a replica and was not used in the original series, and was recently sold for a whopping $ 300,000.

When it comes to the relevance of the Knight Rider series, Haselhof argues that today’s technology is exactly what the team behind it envisioned forty years ago. “Cars talk, they’re completely autonomous, they can park on their own,” Hasselhof said. He also commented on how at the time of filming the popular series, cars did not go through CGI processing for their stunts and offered to teach Clarkson how to make a proper J turn in minutes.

He went on to confirm that this series will get a modern edition, which is currently in production, but this is not the first time that fans of the old title have heard the same story. The last attempt to shoot a new series was canceled by the NBC house after only one season, while Haselhof appeared only briefly in the pilot episode.

{vembed Y=cUGiEjGptZo}

Back in 2014, there was information that the shooting of the film was also in the spotlight, and it was supposed to feature John Cena and Kevin Hart, as the main duo who would be in charge of the comic reinterpretation of the genre. Although all the news that appeared then has completely evaporated to this day, the latest reports state that the ribut is actually in development and that James Van, the director behind the Fast and Furious 7 titles, is behind it. Hasselhoff confirmed earlier this year, in an interview with Consequence Film Publications, that screenwriter T.J. Fixman is also behind the new sequel, but he still doesn't know if he will return to play the main character of this cult car series, Michael Knight.

We were told a few months ago that we can forget about the Renault Megane as we knew it so far. However, the new generation of the once popular hatchback still wants to maintain the tradition, but only in one thing - to remain in demand. And as trends have changed, it can only do so if it becomes a crossover and an electric one. So, goodbye for the hatchback and SUS engines, these are the official photos of the Megane prototype. However, it is still under camouflage because the premiere is awaited, and the start of production of the serial version will be in 2022.

The French manufacturer showed us a prototype of the new Megane. The cunning plan to use the name Megane for a model that has nothing to do with the previous one, was coined just to help the new crossover establish some connection with previous Renault cars.

This is a pre-production model that is still camouflaged, but you can clearly see the form of the crossover, which will be the first in the alliance to use the CMF-EV platform, writes Index.hr. It is the same base used by the electric Nissan Ariya.

Renault is not revealing much data for now, but it is announcing that MeganE will have an electric motor with a power of 217 hp and a battery with a capacity of 60 kWh, which will provide a range of 450 km.

It is not yet known whether, like Ariya, they will get a version with two electric motors that has over 300 hp, but also a 87 kWh battery. Judging by what the rivals offer, it should offer such a variant as well.

In any case, the first 30 camouflaged copies Renault will release on European roads this summer.

The new model will be produced in French plants (Douai), starting next year.

The newest F Sport Performance version of the IS takes us back to the golden era of compact sports sedans with naturally aspirated V-8 engines.

About a decade ago, compact sports sedans offered naturally aspirated V-8s that absolutely ripped. Before everyone went turbo, the E90 BMW M3, the B7 Audi RS4, and the W204 Mercedes C63 AMG crammed in sweet-sounding V-8s to create experiences that we still remember fondly today. Now that we're feeling sufficiently nostalgic for those four-door screamers, we'll get to the point that Lexus apparently shares our passion for those cars, because the new 2022 IS500 is essentially a return of Lexus's V-8 compact sedan, the IS F.

There are no turbos under the IS500's hood. What is under there is closely related to the IS F's 5.0-liter V-8 from a decade ago. The engine—shared with the RC F—now produces 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, or 56 more horsepower and 24 more pound-feet than its spiritual predecessor. In a turbocharged world, the V-8's horsepower and especially its torque numbers aren't at the level of the M or AMG models', so Lexus is setting expectations by positioning the IS500 as an F Sport Performance model rather than a full-blown IS F.

What does that mean for the IS500's driving experience? We can't quite say yet, but we did recently get the chance to ride in the passenger's seat of the IS500 prototype at an event at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Texas, near Toyota's headquarters in Plano. Professional race-car driver Townsend Bell was behind the wheel.

Keep in mind that the IS500 prototype we rode in wasn't exactly the same car that you'll be able to buy at Lexus dealerships later this year. Wrapped in an obnoxious neon-yellow and black livery, this car was specially prepped for the IS500's debut at Sebring International Raceway earlier this year. It wore an aftermarket exhaust, 20-inch wheels, and grippier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires compared to the stock car, which will have 19-inch wheels and the same Bridgestone Potenza S001L summer tires as the IS350 F Sport with the handling package.

This means that our impression of the IS500's handling isn't exactly representative, but we weren't behind the wheel anyway. We can tell you that the 5.0-liter V-8 engine is a lovely addition to the latest IS and brings back a lot of those tingly V-8 memories. We're familiar with the glorious sound of this Lexus V-8 by now, and it makes itself known in the IS500. Although the prototype's aftermarket exhaust surely enhanced the auditory experience, we'd still rather listen to this characterful engine run up to its 7300-rpm redline than a BMW M3's twin-turbo inline-six.

Unlike the V-6-powered IS350 F Sport we drove that day on the test track, the V-8 has the grunt to shove you into the back of your seat, and the eight-speed automatic transmission upshifts and downshifts quickly. Lexus claims that the IS500 is 143 pounds heavier than a rear-wheel-drive IS350, and we assume that most of that weight is in the nose. Like the IS F that came before it, a noticeable hood bulge is the clearest sign that this is packing something special under there.

Thanks to the ability to completely deactivate stability control, the IS500 will play as much as you like—as Bell demonstrated by easily swinging the tail out wide for a satisfying drift. It also features the same torque-vectoring rear differential that's optional on the IS350 F Sport. But this car is not meant to be a track monster, and we felt plenty of compliance in the suspension tuning, with more body roll than you'd find in an M3 Competition or a C63, for instance.

We're enticed by the overall package that the IS500 promises to deliver, and we hope that the price is attractive enough to further increase its enthusiast appeal. Lexus has strongly hinted that it will be positioned closer to the M340i and AMG C43s of the world, meaning it could bring back a V-8 to the low-$60,000 range. If so, this could become the hidden gem of the sports-sedan world. Now all that's left is for Lexus to let us in the driver's seat.

(caranddriver.com)

The brake mechanism is hydraulic or mechanical and will not be released when the battery is discharged.

Most cars you can buy on the market today have electric parking brakes. Parking brakes are becoming rarer. How do electric parking brakes work? They make it easier to move uphill and downhill because they block the wheels until they have enough torque to start the vehicle.

What if you pull the electric parking brake switch while driving? Will the same thing happen with a handbrake? No, it will not, because the control unit in the car recognizes this situation as braking the car and there is no wheel lock. The electric brake then applies force at intervals, ie the ABS is activated. Basically, concentrate and don’t pull the electric parking brake switch while driving.

The brake mechanism is hydraulic or mechanical and will not be released when the battery is discharged. That is, no electricity is required to maintain a firm brake grip.

With stricter emissions regulations, combustion engine bans coming into force in the future and changing attitudes to electrification, the restomod scene has exploded with new electric possibilities. You can now get no end of classic cars modified or completely overhauled to run on e-power.

But Everrati is convinced its electric creations aren't as simple as just swapping out a combustion engine for an electric powertrain.

'We take some of the world's most beautiful and seminal cars, restore and re-engineer them, always operating with full respect for the brands that created them,' says Everrati boss, Justin Lunny.

We've driven a prototype of Everrati's latest creation – a 964-generation 911 – to see if an electric icon can really work.

What's Everrati?

It's a technological and engineering company founded in 2019, designed to cater to those who want to keep their classic cars but make sure they're ready for the electric age. The company has had previous projects with the Mercedes SL and Land Rover Defender and, more recently, has diverted its attention to classic and retro generations of the 911.

But what Everrati strives to do is not just restore and redefine a classic by making it electric but keep as much of the DNA from the original as possible. Fun is the priority here, with Everrati seeing the benefits of an EV powertrain like instant torque and throttle adjustability being front and centre with its sports car projects. The advantages of holier-than-thou zero-emissions running, cheaper running costs, (predicted) cheaper maintenance costs and the ability to whizz around clean air or congestion zones for free are mere bonuses.

So, with this 964-generation 911 project, the targets have always been about maintaining the car's weight and weight distribution, its retro looks and its Porsche feel inside.

So how has Everrati done that?

You'll need at least £250k to start the process. The team take a 964 donor car (either one you already own, or one Everrati will source for you to perform the restoration on for an extra cost), strip it down to parts and water blast, then rust protect, the chassis, seam-welding it in the process. The front and rear wheelarches, doors and bonnet are recreated with carbonfibre to keep weight down.

Speaking of weight, Everrati has the aim of keeping the each of the electric 911s it makes as close to the standard car as possible. The 53kWh battery pack is split into two, housed beneath the front and rear bonnets to maintain the car's 40:60 front/rear weight balance. A single e-motor drives the rear wheels, producing 500bhp and 369lb ft (even more power than the 964 Turbo S could ever claim). Everrati claims around 150 miles on a single charge – not a huge number, but the team see this as an 'A-to-A car' – something to go for a drive in when you have some free time, rather than an entirely usable daily driver – given the clientele will almost certainly have fat enough wallets to have more than one car in the garage.

Everrati says the entire process can also be reversed, if the owner changes their mind, allowing the engine and transmission to be refitted. If you stick with the EV powertrain, the team also offers to refurbish the engine and keep it in storage, or even make it a piece of art for your home.

As for dynamics, Everrati includes electronically adjustable suspension, allowing you to attack a B-road with a stiff setup or go grand touring with a squishy motorway one. Every model built also features a Quaife differential for the driven wheels and renewed Brembo brakes with drilled, ventilated discs.

Inside, it's still very much a 964 – clean and simple but with all the key switchgear in the same place – albeit with a few changes. The original seats are overhauled with four-way electrical adjustment, Porsche's Classic Communications Management system is installed in the dashboard to allow for thoroughly 21st century tech like Apple CarPlay, DAB and navigation. The dials are in keeping with Porsche's original design, but the info displayed is very much geared (wired?) towards the electric powertrain, showing the car's state of charge, power and cooling. Our test prototype was swathed in Alcantara, too.

Does it do clever EV things?

It does. There's regenerative braking if you lift off the throttle, with the option to enable regen fierce enough to drive with one pedal. Everrati has engineered in both AC and DC charging via a CCS socket, allowing your electric 911 to be charged at up to 100kW and a 10 to 100 per cent charge possible in under an hour.

When the car launches, it will have both Sport and Eco modes for the powertrain, with Sport being the default and Eco restricting throttle response.

As an aside, Everrati is also developing a sound system capable of emitting engine noises that you can modify via an app tuned to the car's speed, even including throttle blip sounds when you slow down. The tech was in its early stages when we tested it, but the team want the finished product to have speakers both outside and inside the car for the best experience. You can, of course, turn it off if you're so inclined.

Mike Kerr, Everrati's engineering director, who's had roles at Lotus and McLaren (including being the brains behind the new Artura's gearbox), told us that future development ideas include programming in torque steps to the motor to mirror the gear changes of the donor car. Everrati is also open to the possibility of better battery chemistries coming along that can increase range being fitted into the 911 creation after it's already been restored.

Come on then, how does it drive?

Well, first things first, turning the starter key to the eerie sound of silence is a little odd. Your mind takes a few minutes to adjust to a gorgeously restored 964 being active and ready to drive without a so much as a whisper. But it takes mere yards at the wheel to get over it as other, better, sensations wash over you one by one.

First is the steering. It's just so gorgeously weighted and accurate; sharp turns require a little muscle as your hands grip the petite Alcantara wheel, but you know exactly where the wheels are. Even on a straight road, the slightest flex from your bicep or twitch of your wrist translates into a microscopic change of direction. That's not a complaint: it's incredibly rare to find something modern with such alert steering in a modern car, bar the electronically assisted rack of a Ferrari Roma or 488 Pista. Gorgeous.

The suspension works exactly as intended, allowing you to firm up or slacken off the damping. We tried the setup in its hardest format and a more road-ready tune – the former added a sharper edge to the dynamics, allowing you to carve up corners with precision, the latter meant I could cruise in peace on a dual carriageway. There's some tyre noise, of course, but an original would have some, too.

As for the performance, it's... well, it's electric. Obviously. The way this thing shifts is more than enough to keep most supercars honest in a flat out drag race. And, very much unlike the wayward 964 Turbos of yore, the grip on tap allows you to hoof it mid-corner with confidence. The regenerative braking on the throttle took a little time to get used to, and I suggested to the team that an on-the-fly ability to change how much regen (allowing the car to coast on the motorway, for example) would be a bonus.

Of course, it's not a flat-six, with all of the additional involvement that brings to the mix. The addition of the 'engine' sound system helps to curb that to some degree, but there'll still be some classic car faithful that won't be able to get on with the lack of a combustion engine. Regardless, the Everrati 964 is eye-widening in how it delivers pace.

Everrati 911 Signature: verdict

Purely on objective terms, the small range, cost and the removal of one of the most iconic traits of a 911 – its flat-six engine – will be enough to cast this Everrati creation aside for some.

But the 911 even as a brand-new car is on borrowed time; even Porsche is looking at how to electrify its icon in-house. And behind the wheel of Everrati's creation, I couldn't stop smiling. The steering, suspension, atmosphere inside and sheer pace of the 964 Signature are plenty enough to involve you. It's still very much a 911 in the way it drives, which is something Everrati can be truly commended for – the stereotype of EVs being naturally heavy and inert to drive is simply untrue here. It also means it's entirely possible for OEMs to create fantastic-to-drive EV sports cars.

If the idea of futureproofing your classic for the zero-emission age sounds appealing, and you have plenty of dosh, it's at least worth giving Everrati a call.

(carmagazine.co.uk)

Although sales in March jumped 63% from last March, the results are still far from those achieved before the pandemic.

With the exception of last year's crisis, last month's sales in Europe were the lowest since March 2013 and 22% lower than in 2019. At the same time, diesels reached a historically low share of only 24%.

According to data from 26 markets in Europe, sales jumped from 842,094 last year to 1,374,313 units in March, according to Jato Dynamics. That this is still not a reason to celebrate is confirmed by the fact that quarterly sales are only 1% higher than in the same period last year, ie the lowest since 1986.

"The European market is far from pre-pandemic, and governments need to take action to increase sales and restore customer confidence," said Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at JATO Dynamics.

What is required?
Only two groups of vehicles, SUVs and electrically powered models, recorded a positive result. In March, electric vehicles reached a record 16%. Recall, last March the share was 9.7%, and in 2019 only 3.4%.

The share of SUVs has risen even more. In March 2019, it was 37%, last year 40%, and this March as much as 45%. The largest increase in popularity is recorded in Sweden, Norway and our neighboring Slovenia and Hungary.

Best selling Golf

The Golf has regained the title of best-selling model on the European market, with an increasing share of hybrid performances. Sales were 26,265 units, or only 836 units more than the second-placed Peugeot 208, which is the quarterly winner.

The Opel Corsa is in third place, ahead of the Clio and Polo, and the fourth place was taken by the Tesla Model 3, also by far the best-selling electric model.

Let's also mention the novelties. The newly launched Citroen C4 reached 5,671 registrations, and the Opel Mokka up to 5,560 units. Electric VW ID.3 and ID.4 had slightly lower sales.