mod@tech

You may have heard recently that Nissan has stopped taking orders for the GT-R, the two-ton supercar that was spun off from the Skyline. After over 17 years, Nissan is calling it a day for this two-ton coupe, but Nissan faithful don’t need to worry—another GT-R will be coming.

Just not yet.

The current GT-R was introduced at the end of 2007 as a 2009 model, with Americans getting its first taste of the GT-R in the summer of 2008. At the beginning, the GT-R started out with 473 horsepower and is capping its tenure at 592 horses, though there were two special-editions with more horsepower targeted to millionaires (GT-R50) or track days (NISMO Track Package). Despite being long in the tooth, the GT-R is still a spectacular supercar, somewhat how the Subaru was to Lamborghini in The Cannonball Run—clever tech over exotic.

Certainly, the world of performance cars is different today than in 2009, and GT-R sales are no longer robust. After a high of 3,158 for the initial North America debut, production settled to around 1,500 per model year until 2018, when the number cratered to 458 and has been under 300 units for the past several years.

You would think Nissan would already have a successor in place, but that’s simply not what has happened. Admittedly, Nissan isn’t in the best shape at the moment, which is a circumstance that American enthusiasts know all too well (note the shelf life of the C3 Corvette, for example).

According to Car and Driver, the next GT-R is still three to five years into the future and, like most future-leaning cars, it is expected to use a hybrid powertrain. Will it be a conventional hybrid or of the plug-in (PHEV) variety? That has yet to be determined, but a conventional hybrid would give the next-gen GT-R the faculty to handle Nürburgring—another reason Nissan abandoned the GT-R EV after several prototypes. The ICE part of the equation should include an improved-yet-familiar turbo-six.

Despite the failure of the Nissan/Honda merger, there’s also word that the new GT-R will be part of a joint effort between the two companies, which means that a next-gen NSX may be on the horizon. Honda tends to march to the beat of its own drummer so, if true, variations between the two may be chin-scratcher.

This is a carryover model year for the Hyundai Santa Fe, so aside from Atlantis Blue joining the palette of available colors, it hasn’t changed significantly since 2024. You may look at the Santa Fe in this review and think it’s the exact same one we reviewed last year. After all, it’s a top-of-the-line Calligraphy model with Earthy Brass Matte paint, a Gray Nappa leather interior, and HTRAC all-wheel drive. There’s one major difference, though: what’s under the hood, which completely changes the character of the Santa Fe.

Prices for the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid start at $37,800 for the base SEL model with front-wheel drive. With its $1,000 matte paint, $210 carpeted floor mats, and $1,415 inland freight and handling charge, our all-wheel-drive Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy review vehicle had an as-tested price of $51,675.

The Santa Fe has instant identity in any parking lot, although some passers-by may confuse the upright, two-box design for a Land Rover Defender 110. Given that those are upscale hardcore off-roaders priced from $60,800, it’s hard to imagine Santa Fe owners being angered by the mix-up. However, if they’re not used to a vehicle with matte paint, they may be unpleasantly surprised by its maintenance requirements, which prohibit automated car washes, conventional polishes and other paint care products, and wiping too hard, all of which can ruin the finish. Earthy Brass Matte is a handsome color, but it makes a sensible SUV that’s “built for your grandest adventures” a little less practical and rugged.

Most modern vehicle seats hit a certain baseline of comfort. However, there are some that are truly outstanding when it comes to making the driving experience significantly more pleasant. The Zero Gravity seats in the Nissan Altima, which can make a long road trip seem much shorter, come to mind. The heated and ventilated front seats of the Santa Fe Calligraphy are also on that level. They were absolutely pillowy. Along with the Santa Fe’s gentle suspension tuning, they made every drive better. The heated steering wheel, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual wireless phone charging pads, and heated captain’s chairs and manual sunshades in the second row only added to the serenity of the Santa Fe’s cabin.

The 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy was a lovable vehicle for the reasons above and many more, but its engine had a major drawback. Although the turbocharged 2.5-liter I4 was powerful, its turbo lag meant always playing a game of “Hurry Up and Wait” for its 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid model combines a 1.6-liter turbo four with an electric motor and a 1.49-kW lithium-ion battery; total output is 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft. Under ideal conditions, the Hybrid Calligraphy with HTRAC is capable of returning 35 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway, and 34 combined. In our test vehicle, we averaged a significantly lower 30.5 mpg across 390.8 miles. True, the hybrid setup wasn’t as economical as it could’ve been nor as powerful as the gas-only option, but its power delivery was superior. The delay between requesting acceleration and getting it was minimal. Not only was the hybrid system much more responsive and enjoyable, but it also fit the positioning of the Calligraphy trim better. Soothing leather seats, a suede-like headliner, and a 12-inch head-up display are luxuries, but one of the greatest luxuries is not having to wait.

To learn even more about the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD, watch our full video review below.

Click above to watch our full video review on YouTube!

The Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction has commenced! So many classics and collectibles on the block in the Sunshine State is a fine spring follow-up from the winter success of Scottsdale just three months ago. With Thursday, April 24, 2025, being the first of three exciting days, you’re probably interested in seeing some of the excitement from Day 1, right?

Glad you asked!    

After over 100 examples of automotive memorabilia crossing the block in the morning, it was time for the collector cars—175 of ‘em, including six charity car auctions! In fact, the top car, a 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10, raised proceeds benefiting the Florida Highway Patrol Council, which provides support to the families of troopers who lose their life or sustain life-threatening injuries in the line of duty. Note the day’s highlights below.

The Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction runs through Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Want to bid on a car or just attend and watch the fireworks? Go to Barrett-Jackson.com. Can’t make it to the auction? Thanks to technology, you can watch it online at Barrett-Jackson.com! Gates open at 8 a.m. each day.

Did you love the looks of the 1980 Mercedes-Benz G 280 GE that we selected as our Pick of the Day back in February yet wished it had more modern technology? Well, we have great news: the Mercedes-Benz Stronger Than the 1980s Edition G-Wagen combines that cool retro style with the power and conveniences of today’s G 550 model.

If you’re thinking the vehicle you see here looks an awful lot like the G 280 SE that we highlighted, there’s a reason for that: Mercedes based the looks of the Stronger Than the 1980s Edition on the 280 SE. In fact, the Agave Green on our Pick of the Day is one of the throwback colors Mercedes offers on its heritage-inspired rig, albeit it’s now a shade from the Manufaktur line; the other colors are Cream (a color popular with people in the ’80s who drove their G-Classes in the city) and Manufaktur Colorado Beige. Keeping with the retro theme, Mercedes used Manufaktur Night Black Magno to black out the front fascia, grille, brush guard, bumpers, side sills, wheel arch flares, and mirror caps. The Manufaktur Logo Package adds black door handles with an embossed “G” logo. A set of silver 18-inch alloy wheels break up the two-tone look.

Other visual references to the era of Reagan and Thatcher include the old-school Mercedes badge on the hood and the “Mercedes-Benz” lettering on the rear door, which carries a spare tire with an edition-specific cover. Functional upgrades include mud flaps and all-terrain tires; models finished in Manufaktur Agave Green paint also come equipped with a roof rack.

Inside, the Stronger Than the 1980s Edition has black leather seats with checkerboard fabric inserts, as well as explicit branding on the passenger-side grab handle. The Schöckl mountain near Graz, Austria, where G-Classes have been tested and validated off-road since 1979, earns recognition in the form of the topography displayed on the front door sill panels and a “Schöckl Proved” badge at the base of the B-pillar.

The “1 of 460” badge on the center console not only pays homage to the first G-Class model series, W460, but it also indicates how many Stronger Than the 1980s Editions Mercedes will be built for the world market. Units from the U.S. allotment are scheduled to arrive in dealerships sometime later this year. There’s no official word on pricing yet, but we have a hunch the MSRP won’t be from the 1980s.

In the United States, we have a reasonable expectation of privacy. That means you can’t escape an influencer’s camera lens while in public, but you can live in your residence and let it all hang out to your heart’s content.

So, what about when you’re driving in public? A court case in Georgia may clarify what your expectations should be.

Currently, you can drive a modern General Motors vehicle and, while you accumulate miles, the vehicle’s computer is accumulating driving data that can be sold to another company. GM’s position is that “driving a vehicle—which necessarily involves conduct that takes place on public roads—cannot form the basis for any privacy-based claim” because “a public place is not an intrusion upon one’s privacy.”

However, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim they had a “reasonable expectation of privacy” regarding their driving behavior, and that GM violated the Federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Nonetheless, GM counters that “roadways are public, and these behaviors are observed by all.”

That’s definitely true and, as a result, we have had to rely on law enforcement to bear witness to infractions, with the opportunity to face our accuser. That’s been one argument against red-light or speed cameras, though laws will depend on the state—some have banned automated cameras, while others limit where the cameras can be used (for example, in Scottsdale, Arizona, cameras are allowed on municipal roads but not on state highways).

General Motors claims, “Driving data includes vehicle location, driving routes, braking events, and speed, all of which occur on ‘public thoroughfares,’” and then cites a 2015 case where, according to Motor1.com, the courts ruled that a person being surveilled by a drone did not have his/her privacy violated because the person was in public.

LexisNexis and Verisk are co-defendants in this case because GM sold them the data. Of course, they too are requesting the case be dismissed. “Plaintiffs allege that Driving Data was collected from their vehicles as they drove on public roadways,” the pair said in their filing. “Courts consistently hold there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in driving activity on public roads.”

Considering your car logs everything between Point A and Point B, and the manufacturer may give data to an organization that you may or may not deem nefarious (read: your insurance company), can you expect your rates to increase based on charges that you don’t know about and cannot fight?

Like the Luddites discovered over 200 years ago, the nature of technology will challenge our belief systems, but everything should settle appropriately.

I’ll start this off by stating that I am a bit biased towards Mercedes-Benz roadsters. I have owned a number of these cars over the years and feel like every single generation of the Mercedes SL is a top-of-class roadster GT in its category. Every single one, without exception, offers capable performance for the era, attractive styling, best-in-the-world build quality and – most importantly – is enjoyable to drive. Keep in mind that all Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters are GT cars and not really sports cars, but that being said, they are some of the world’s best cars to take on a vintage car rally, especially if you want classic style combined with utter reliability.

Of all the Mercedes SL roadsters, my favorites are the W113 models built between 1963 and 1971, named the 230/250/280SL. The reason? They offer classic 1960s Mercedes styling, are still light and sporting, and are extremely well-crafted and reliable.

Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is one of these amazing cars, a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL. The auction ends on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

The seller describes this car as being powered by an M130 2.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission. It is painted in Silver Mist with a color-matched removable hardtop over a black MB-Tex interior. The car is offered by the seller with the hardtop stand, spare parts and a clear title.

Among the highlights of this specific 280SL is that it was the recipient of a body-on restoration. Being a unibody car, that is the only way you can restore any 280SL. The seller also points out that it’s from a long-term private collection.

The exterior of this 280SL appears quite nice in the provided photos. The Silver Mist paint looks to be in good condition, as does all the brightwork. I’m impressed that the owner has replaced the U.S.-spec headlights with the much cooler-looking European ones. (The original U.S.-spec headlights are included in the sale.)

The interior is in black MB-Tex. Before you get all fussy and say you prefer leather, you should know that correct MB-Tex is some of the finest vinyl ever put in a car. It wears forever, is nice-looking, requires little special care and is comfortable to sit in. While sitting in that comfy driver’s seat, it’s easy to see why a 280SL represents classic German elegance at its best as you check out the full instrumentation behind the big steering wheel, which looks even more impressive at night when lit up.

This 280SL also features a dealer-installed factory under-dash air-conditioning unit – a somewhat rare amenity for these cars that makes them much nicer to drive on a hot day. A humorous note in the car’s description: The seller states an imperfection is that the factory Becker Europa radio has a delay after being turned on before it plays. In fact, this is not a problem – it’s how the Becker Europa works; it needs to warm up after being turned on.

Under the hood of this 280SL is the correct Mercedes M130 fuel-injected 2.8-liter SOHC inline-six that has 180 horsepower and 193 lb-ft of torque. These engines are tremendous and can last for hundreds of thousands of miles. Yes, they do require service, but a nice 280SL – as this one appears to be – is one of the easiest-to-own classic European cars. And the fact it is equipped with a 4-speed manual makes it all the more fun to drive.

When the first generation of the W113 roadsters was launched, Road & Track magazine closed off their review by stating it was “very near the ideal of a fast, effortless GT car.” In the review by the same magazine of the 280SL, they wrote, “For those who value engineering fitness and high-quality construction, it’s alone in the field.”

If all this is intriguing to you, act fast and place a bid – the auction for this 1969 280SL ends on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter Listing for more information and a photo gallery

In the early days of station wagons, they were associated with prestige and wealth. They could be found in both two- and four-door configurations but, when station wagons began being offered for the commercial trades, they tended to be two-doors. By the late 1950s, two-door wagons were being phased out, with Chevrolet last offering a full-size two-door wagon in 1959. However, Chevrolet brought back the two-door station wagon when the Chevelle was introduced for 1964. One of those interesting vehicles is our Pick of the Day. This 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle 300 two-door wagon is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Washington, Michigan.

When the 1964 Chevelle was introduced, there were several trim levels: Chevelle 300, Malibu, and Malibu SS. “New style, new size, new spirit, new car. That’s Chevelle,” read the brochure. This was Chevrolet’s first mid-size car, built on what became known as the A-body platform. The Chevelle 300 was available as two- and four-door sedans, and two- and four-door wagons. A two-door Sport Coupe (hardtop) and convertible were two other body styles, but they were reserved for the Malibu and Malibu SS. As the most austere version of the Chevelle, the Chevelle 300 happened to appeal to the more frugal Chevrolet customers, as evidenced by all body styles having six-cylinders installed at a higher rate than V8s.

Available engines started with the High Thrift 194 inline-six, but a Turbo-Thrift 230 was available. For V8s, the entry-level Turbo-Fire 283 with 195 horsepower was a start, with a four-barrel upgrade being available. Sometime during the spring of 1964, a 327 four-barrel offering 250 or 300 horsepower was introduced. A Corvette 327 with 365 was teased but never made production.

The two-door wagon was produced through 1965 and then put to rest. What set it apart from four-door Chevelle wagons was the B-pillar, which featured a slant that matched the C-pillar and gave an impression of sleekness and motion missing from the four-door wagon. Though never a big seller (2,710 in 1964, 1,668 in 1965), it captured the hot-rodding community’s eye decades ago thanks to its quasi-Nomad looks and mechanical potential (after all, it is a Chevrolet).

This 1964 Chevelle 300 two-door wagon has the VIN prefix of 5415, signifying it was originally one of 1,101 originally built with a V8. No idea what was powering it originally, but today it’s been transformed with a 383 stroker paired with a TH400 automatic with shift kit. Features include cowl-induction hood, aluminum intake, headers and dual exhausts, MSD ignition, electric cooling fan, chrome accessories, American Racing aluminum mags, power disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors, and more. Inside, you’ll find front buckets, floor-mounted B&M shifter, power steering with chrome column, three-spoke wooden steering wheel, Dakota Digital instrumentation, and Retro radio, among other items.

After the demise of the 1957 Nomad, Bow Tie fans had to wait until 1964 for a stylish wagon, though this one was dressed down instead of dressed up. However, in its current incarnation, the builder dolled it up, and we are only too happy to present it for its coming-out party—tickets are $49,990.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com