Rise and shine! It's Friday of one of the biggest weeks of the automotive show season as Monterey Car Week begins to pick up the pace. But before looking to the future, let's go back 24 hours with Cold Start, your morning news recap. Since yesterday's report, KTM has teased a new 600-horsepower track demon, Bugatti has also shown off a one-of-one classic, and 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat owners have shown their dismay at the news that their cars won't be so exclusive with the reintroduction of the model for 2023.
But this morning's roundup looks at the new Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster, the Acura Precision EV Concept, and BMW M's first attempt at an EV. Another Acura, the all-new ZDX, has also been teased, and Lincoln has returned with a bang.
Hennessey Unveils 300-MPH Venom F5 Roadster To Crush Bugatti
The Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster has been officially unveiled ahead of its debut at Monterey Car Week. Powered by the same 'Fury' V8 found in the coupe, the hypercar's mill boasts 6.6 liters of capacity, two turbochargers, and a rating of 1,817 hp. All of that venomous performance is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automated single-clutch transmission. With a dry weight of 3,100 pounds, the car is relatively light, which it needs to be to break the 300-mph barrier. Carbon fiber dominates the construction, and the roof panel weighs just 18 pounds, which means you can remove or install it alone. Only 30 will be produced at a cost of $3 million.
Click here to read the full reveal
Acura Unveils Precision EV Concept Previewing Design Direction
In 2016, Acura revealed its first Precision Concept as a design study that would preview the styling of future Acura production models. Never intended to go into production, the concept influenced everything that followed. Now, The Japanese luxury automaker is pulling the same trick, only this time, the manufacturer must have an eye on electrification. Thus, the Precision EV Concept has been revealed to once again foreshadow how Acura's future cars (electric ones especially) will look. With an illuminated front fascia, stunningly intricate 23-inch wheels, and a cabin based on an F1 car's cockpit (seriously), this won't reach production either. But future Acura EVs will certainly start to employ more futuristic design elements from here.
Click here to see the concept from all angles
Lincoln Heads To The Quail With Model L100 Concept
Yes, another concept that has no bearing on real life, but just look at it! This is Lincoln's Model L100 Concept, and it's striking from any vantage point. Described as "the ultimate vehicle sanctuary of tomorrow," the concept is clearly intended for a society fully dependent on autonomous driving systems. That means it will likely never get made, at least not in its current form. However, as a showcase of the impression the luxury brand's Quiet Flight design language can leave, it's simply spectacular. That's all good and well, but when will we see any of these design elements in a production car? We await an answer.
Click here to see the concept in all its glory
Acura Reviving ZDX As First Electric Vehicle
Our second Acura story this morning is much closer to home. It's about the company's recently teased ZDX, an all-new car reviving the old ZDX nameplate that will "translate several elements of design" from the Precision EV Concept mentioned above. See? Acura isn't kidding about instilling real cars with design elements from Fantasy Land. Acura's first EV will be co-developed with General Motors using the latter's global EV platform and Ultium batteries. Acura has also revealed that the new ZDX will pay homage to the original from 2009 and will be designed in the same studio as that car. What's more, a sporty Type S variant is coming. Is anybody else getting tired of all these crossovers? We sure are.
Click here to read the full article
BMW M Teases Standing Four-Wheel Donuts In M4 EV Prototype
We all knew the day would come when BMW would go electric. The German automaker introduced the i4 not too long ago and gave it an M50 trim. That made it an M Performance model, not a full-fat M car, but now the skunkworks division of the luxury brand has teased an electric prototype wearing today's G82 M4's body. This experimental vehicle boasts an electric motor on each wheel, which BMW says offers "an unprecedented level of performance." With a wider set of wheel arches and loads of clever tech, this car is intended to study how to make a BMW performance EV better than you expect. We'll reserve judgment until we get to drive it, and we're happy to say that the opportunity to do so appears to be some way off. We're gonna miss that straight-six, no matter how good the eventual M4 EV is.
Click here to watch the donut video
