Car News

Panel vans were an icon of Australian culture in the 1970s, providing young people with the freedom and accommodation to escape a more conservative society. While Holden's Sandman is the most well-known, the Ford Sundowner and Chrysler Drifter were also a big part of surf culture at the time. Estonian designer Rain Prisk – known for creating two-door wagon models on his Instagram page – has rendered what he's named a Dodge Challenger Hearse.

Lotus is in the process of upgrading its Hethel headquarters and testing facilities, as part of a push to modernise the brand and develop its zero-emission line-up. The most prominent element of the multi-million-dollar investment is a new electric drive unit test cell. According to the Geely-owned manufacturer, this will allow engineers to test EV motors, gearboxes and supporting electronics under simulated real-world conditions.

The standout car colour for 2021 will be all about blending in, according to a new report from a global trend forecasting company specialising in car paint shades. German-based automotive coatings manufacturer BASF has released its annual Automotive Colour Trends for 2020-21 and has predicted we'll see the rise of cars in shades of "greyish green, warm beige and coarse grey".

A new record price has been set for a Nissan R34 GT-R at auction, with a pristine example selling for ¥33,205,000 at auction in Japan, according to according to GTR-Registry.com. That’s the equivalent of AUSD$437,500, US$313,400, £241,900 and €266,600, excluding commission and delivery fees. With just 6817km on the odometer, the Millennium Jade-finished M-Spec Nür eclipsed the previous record set back in 2018 when a White V-Spec II Nür went under the hammer for ¥32,000,000.

A prototype believed to be the forthcoming McLaren Sabre has been photographed in dazzle camouflage at a dealership in California. Released by spy.shots on Instagram, the car’s aesthetic is defined by long and deep side scoops, a board-mounted rear wing, a large front splitter, and McLaren's traditional dihedral doors. It's understood the Sabre is based on the Senna platform, and was inspired by the Ultimate Vision GT car from the Gran Turismo video games.