Usually the presence of “camper van” and “blowout” in the same sentence would be the source of headache and/or alarm, but when you stick them in the right order, good things can happen. That’s the case today, as national rental chain Escape Camper Vans is shutting down and letting go of its rental fleet in an Ebay inventory blowout, presenting a rather appealing opportunity for those who might want to get into the hash-tag-van-life (Who let 2010 in here?) at a discount.
“After nearly two decades of helping travelers explore the open road, we share this message with heavy hearts: we’ve made the difficult decision to officially close our doors,” the company posted to its web site.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to continue our mission in the face of an increasingly challenging economic environment, declines in international travel, inflationary pressures, and shifts in the consumer market,” the company said. “Ultimately, the time has come for this special, extraordinary chapter to close. But we’re excited to announce the good news for you: We have camper vans for sale!”
Indeed. Pages and pages of them, in fact, currently listed on Bidadoo (essentially an Ebay landing page). And on top of that, they’ve got a bunch of spare roof tents too. Feelin’ lucky?
The company’s web site lists five models still available for rent, but from reading through the FAQ and other pages, it’s evident that more were available. Bidadoo’s interface doesn’t allow you to filter them by the names Escape used for the various configurations, but you can at least sort them by the underlying chassis.
If you’re like me, you’re probably skeptical (at minimum) of the prospect of buying a used camper to begin with—let alone one that was available for hire for the bulk (or all) of its life. After all, if the fastest car in the world is a rental, surely the most capable expedition vehicles are too?
Out of curiosity, I decided to see what was/wasn’t permitted under Escape’s terms of use, and while there are a fair number of warnings about where you are/aren’t allowed to drive. I was expecting references to the Rubicon Trail or Colorado’s Black Bear Pass; turns out the company had more issues with people wrecking their interiors at Burning Man. Hey, uncertainty is part of adventure, right?
Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!
The post A Defunct Camper Rental Company Is Selling All of its Custom Vans appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>Hmmm.... used rental vans. What could go wrong?
The post A Defunct Camper Rental Company Is Selling All of its Custom Vans appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/a-defunct-camper-rental-company-is-selling-all-of-its-custom-vans-and-parts-to-build-more [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573931 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:30:00 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => For Sale [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Byron Hurd [language] => en-US ) ) [1] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/is-the-government-making-an-example-out-of-whistlindiesel [title] => Is the Government Making an Example Out of WhistlinDiesel? [timestamp] => 1763414200 [author] => Caleb Jacobs [content] =>
Cody Detwiler, aka WhistlinDiesel on YouTube, was arrested last week over alleged tax evasion. Specifically, his home state of Tennessee took issue with a Ferrari F8 Tributo he bought in 2023 and subsequently registered in Montana, where he definitely does not live. The Ferrari only lasted a few months in his hands before meeting its untimely demise, as his cars often do, but Detwiler was still charged over it and released on a $2 million bond.
The Montana registration loophole is common among owners of expensive cars, because the state doesn’t charge sales tax, doesn’t require emissions testing, and has cheap registration fees. It also allows non-residents to create LLCs based in the state and register cars to them. Using the loophole is technically illegal if you don’t actually live or do business in Montana—but all it takes is a trip to any major car meet full of Montana-plated vehicles to see that enforcement is almost non-existent.
This begs the question that Detwiler himself raised on Instagram this weekend after his release: Is the government just making an example of WhistlinDiesel? And to what end?
We’re not here to probe whether Detwiler is guilty, or whether the state of Tennessee has a case. He readily admits to registering the car to Montana to avoid “possibly $30,000 in sales tax” that would’ve gone into Tennessee’s coffers. But there’s one big difference between him and the many, many other people who’ve done the same thing and gotten away with it—he has 10 million subscribers on YouTube, and millions more followers across social media.
Detwiler claims he never received a written letter, phone call, or notice before six officers arrested him on Nov. 12. In the same Instagram Story, he insisted that “they went after the worst person” to make an example of, saying it will be “the most enormous backfiring in history.” You can almost bet on this situation turning into more content on his page, drawing the attention of millions.
Part of me thinks that’s exactly what the state, and many others who miss out on tax dollars due to the Montana tag loophole, would want. Whether or not the indictment against Detwiler holds up in court, it still sends the message to exotic car owners across the U.S. that officers might come knocking should you register the car elsewhere. Detwiler said it himself: “They think it will make a wave through the luxury car community and bring in tax money.”
Love him or hate him, he’s likely correct. The practice has already drawn the ire of other states, as nearby Utah rolled out S.B.52 earlier in 2025 to address out-of-state vehicle registration for residents. Simply creating an LLC in Montana and listing a car as that company’s only asset won’t hold up. It becomes a different story, of course, if there’s a large body of bank records, contracts and agreements, and business insurance. But I guarantee not every supercar owner with Montana plates can show proof of that.
Time will tell if this sets a precedent going forward, but either way, expect a lot more attention on the Montana registration loophole.
Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com
The post Is the Government Making an Example Out of WhistlinDiesel? appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The Montana registration loophole has been used by thousands of supercar owners to avoid paying sales tax on their cars—but they usually don't get arrested for it.
The post Is the Government Making an Example Out of WhistlinDiesel? appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/is-the-government-making-an-example-out-of-whistlindiesel [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573904 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:16:40 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => People [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Caleb Jacobs [language] => en-US ) ) [2] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/2027-audi-rs6-sedan-spy-shots [title] => New Prototype Spy Shots Confirm Audi RS6 Sedan Is Back for 2027 [timestamp] => 1763399552 [author] => Byron Hurd [content] =>
Like you, we’re fans of V8-powered wagons. The Audi RS6 is just plain cool (even if it does weigh as much as a small locomotive), and we’ve been heartened by recent hints from Audi that the formula is here to stay. Needless to say, we’re even more encouraged by new spy photos of the German bruiser’s replacement.
And if that wasn’t cool enough by itself, our spies brought us more welcome news this morning: The wagon isn’t the only RS6 that will return for 2027; the sedan’s coming back too! Your author is a card-carrying (not to mention Cadillac-owning) member of the sport sedan gang, so color me particularly intrigued.
We’ve already spotted the new RS6 Avant twice now—once for each of the super-wagon‘s powertrain variants (yes, the electric model is apparently still in the pipeline). One glance at this prototype reveals it for the RS variant that it is. The wheel and brake package alone is a pretty solid giveaway, but the punched-out fenders and open vents matched by oval exhaust tips in the rear really drive this one home. And, I’ve gotta say, it looks refreshingly compact. That’s 2025 for you.
Am I crazy, or is there a little early-2000s Subaru Legacy in that rear end? And I mean that in a good way; the 2006 Spec.B was a classy design with clean lines and none of Subie’s usually over-the-top rally-car shenanigans. If I cock my head a little more, I see a little Saab back there too.
Due to Audi’s typical launch cadence, it could be another year or two before we see any of these variants stateside—and let’s be honest, the chances of the electric model coming here are slim to zero.
There was a time when the new RS6 Avant was expected to be electric-only, but the world being what it is, that strategy is completely out the window. We reported back in June that Audi would likely go with a plug-in hybrid variant of its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Since both gas-powered prototypes have borne decals indicating that they have hybrid batteries on board, that looks like a done deal.
Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!
The post New Prototype Spy Shots Confirm Audi RS6 Sedan Is Back for 2027 appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The RS6 will return with a four-door variant once again.
The post New Prototype Spy Shots Confirm Audi RS6 Sedan Is Back for 2027 appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/2027-audi-rs6-sedan-spy-shots [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573862 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:12:32 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => Spy Photos [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Byron Hurd [language] => en-US ) ) [3] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-ford-mustangs-fatal-flaw-isnt-the-suspension-its-you [title] => The Ford Mustang’s Fatal Flaw Isn’t the Suspension—It’s You [timestamp] => 1763397681 [author] => Caleb Jacobs [content] =>
The internet has a way of turning the ordinary into a nationwide phenomenon. If it weren’t for YouTube compilations and Facebook Reels, you might never know that Ford Mustangs have a problem leaving car meets without hitting a curb… or a light pole… or a crowd. But these videos don’t tell the whole story, as they lead you to believe the car is the problem and not the driver. As The Drive‘s latest YouTube video points out, it’s actually the other way around.
We tapped our buddy Nik Romano to explain why. You see, he’s qualified to speak on this for a couple of reasons:
1.) He’s a professional high-performance driving instructor
2.) He actually owns two Mustangs, including the one in this very video
Romano starts by debunking the myth that Mustangs always crash because of their solid rear axle. Sure, the ‘Stang was the last passenger car to cling to that truck-like tech until the S550 platform introduced independent rear suspension in 2015, but there are just as many videos of newer cars crashing as there are older ones.
And because he’s a kind soul, Romano doesn’t just point fingers at people and leave it at that. He gives a thorough lil’ science lesson to help drivers understand the coefficient of friction while showing how to handle uneven surfaces at speed in a solid-axle car. You just might learn something from him—heck, I know I did.
I don’t want to spoil the whole thing, so if you’re interested in learning how to go fast in a car with archaic suspension, click the embed at the top of this post.
Want to watch more videos about driving fast? Check out this one that proves snap oversteer is a bunch of bull, or this one that talks about high-revving engines and what enthusiasts lose as they go away.
The post The Ford Mustang’s Fatal Flaw Isn’t the Suspension—It’s You appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>Our latest high-performance driving explainer proves that the Ford Mustang’s biggest problem lies between the seat and the steering wheel.
The post The Ford Mustang’s Fatal Flaw Isn’t the Suspension—It’s You appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-ford-mustangs-fatal-flaw-isnt-the-suspension-its-you [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573884 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:41:21 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => Watch This [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Caleb Jacobs [language] => en-US ) ) [4] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/think-the-honda-prelude-needs-more-power-its-even-slower-in-europe [title] => Think the Honda Prelude Needs More Power? It’s Even Slower in Europe [timestamp] => 1763391600 [author] => Adam Ismail [content] =>
Everyone seems to have their mind made up about the new Honda Prelude, based on its spec-sheet performance and ballpark price. The new coupe will offer 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque from a hybrid powertrain at “about $42,000,” Honda tells us—at least if you’re buying one here in the States, or in Japan. Because across the pond in Europe, the Prelude will actually be 10% down on power, presumably due to emissions regulations and tuning, while still effectively costing more.
If you’ve been following the Prelude, you know that it pulls the Civic Hybrid’s powertrain and chassis components from the Type R. Over in Europe, the current Civic Hybrid has always advertised less power—181 hp, to our version’s 200—while both markets are even in torque. In the U.K., Honda has announced the Prelude will hit dealers at £39,595 before taxes, which translates to $52,150 at the time of writing.
Our Prelude won’t be as expensive, but consider that enthusiasts here have long been grumbling about the coupe’s performance-per-dollar proposition since we vaguely knew what the car would cost in Japan. In Europe, that proposal is going to be even less compelling. One review from British outlet Car placed the two-door’s zero-to-60 time at 8.2 seconds, which is about even with a fully loaded Civic Hybrid you’d buy over there.
Twenty horsepower might not make or break a car, but when you’re talking about what is ostensibly a performance model—even if Honda’s pitching it more as a budget grand tourer than a sports compact—that has but 200 hp to begin with and only costs a few grand less than a Type R, you’re arguably starting on the back foot.
That’s not to say the Prelude can’t still be fun to drive. Our man Joel Feder very briefly sampled one over in Japan, which has the same output as the U.S. spec due on sale imminently, and he liked it. I’m very much looking forward to getting some seat time in the Prelude next year because, among other things, I think it looks stunning, and we need more relatively affordable coupes in this world.
There isn’t anything on the market quite like the new Prelude—but that’s both a blessing and a curse, and you have to wonder how many people are looking for its precise blend of sportiness, comfort, and efficiency. We know it’s gotten off to a surprisingly brisk start in its home market, but it’ll be interesting to see if it can find a similar footing in the U.S., and especially in Europe with 20 horsepower tied behind its back.
Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com
The post Think the Honda Prelude Needs More Power? It’s Even Slower in Europe appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The new Prelude has all but 181 horsepower in Europe—down almost 20 hp from its American counterpart—and costs the equivalent of $52,000.
The post Think the Honda Prelude Needs More Power? It’s Even Slower in Europe appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/think-the-honda-prelude-needs-more-power-its-even-slower-in-europe [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573826 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => News by Brand [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Adam Ismail [language] => en-US ) ) [5] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-now-requiring-its-american-cars-to-be-built-without-chinese-parts-tds [title] => Tesla Now Requiring Its American Cars To Be Built Without Chinese Parts: TDS [timestamp] => 1763387174 [author] => Joel Feder [content] =>
Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Light, tight, and right, TDS gathers the latest automotive news from around the globe and places it in one spot. Stories are summarized in a single, sometimes long, sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information.
Just a reminder that I’m in Los Angeles this week for 2026 World Car of the Year awards testing, the 2025 LA Auto Show, and some time with Volvo. That’s why TDS is a smidge later than normal and probably will be for the rest of this week.
The first cup of coffee is in progress and it’s a chilly, wet Monday in LA. Let’s get into it.
What I’m driving: The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S was left back in Minneapolis and I grabbed the keys to a 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Sport for the week here in LA with instant impressions being extremely favorable all around.
Tesia is now requiring suppliers to exclude China-sourced components for its U.S.-made vehicles due to geopolitical and tariff costs.
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda went on a smiling MAGA star-spangled banner offensive driving an F-150 in Japan while hosting a NASCAR showcase wearing a Trump-Vance MAGA shirt and MAGA hat.
Jaguar Land Rover reported a quarterly loss of almost $750 million, most of which is being attributed to the crippling cyberattack that halted production entirely, which was a massive swing form the $375 million profit recorded in the same time period last year.
Audi reportedly plans to build a Land Rover Defender competitor in the U.S. on the Scout platform with an extended-range electric powertrain.
Mitsubishi vowed to rebuild U.S. sales with a “strategic shift” in product offensive plans.
TVR is back with plans for a new V8-powered sports car along with an EV.
Ford provided a peek inside its new world headquarters, which marks a new era after 70 years in the Glass House.
BMW’s bringing back some retro colors for a special M340i.
Despite the road car being dead, the Camaro ZL1 returns for a new season of NASCAR.
Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com
The post Tesla Now Requiring Its American Cars To Be Built Without Chinese Parts: TDS appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The supply-chain strategy shift is being driven by geopolitical and tariff risks.
The post Tesla Now Requiring Its American Cars To Be Built Without Chinese Parts: TDS appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-now-requiring-its-american-cars-to-be-built-without-chinese-parts-tds [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573823 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:46:14 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => The Downshift [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Joel Feder [language] => en-US ) ) [6] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2026-nissan-rogue-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-mitsubishi-outlander-with-less-grille-colored-in [title] => The 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Is a Mitsubishi Outlander With Less Grille Colored In [timestamp] => 1763384400 [author] => Adam Ismail [content] =>
The Rogue has long been Nissan’s best-seller, and it’s gotten there through solid value, rather than cutting-edge tech, design, or performance. Times are changing, though; plenty of the Rogue’s competitors have started to offer plug-in hybrid powertrains, and Nissan has finally decided that it should join them. Only, it’s decided to go about that in a rather amusing way.
If the SUV seen above looks familiar, that’s because you may know it better as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Nissan and Mitsubishi are longtime collaborators, of course, and the gas Rogue and Outlander share a platform. Rather than electrifying the Rogue, Nissan has chosen to essentially rebadge the plug-in Outlander.
On one hand, that’s fair enough: the Outlander PHEV is a fine vehicle, and I even think it looks pretty sharp for an SUV. But it’s amusing how little Nissan’s changed the Outlander’s exterior for its own brand. The designers effectively blacked in only the upper third of the Mitsubishi’s grille and trim to convey a Rogue-like V-shape.
Topographically, the face appears to be the same. The lighting, front and back, is also the same, though Nissan bridges the taillights with a black bar, like the Pathfinder’s got.
Naturally, the specs are familiar, too. When the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid hits showrooms early next year, it will do so in two grades: SL and Platinum. Both will offer an EPA-estimated 38 miles of range on the 20-kWh battery alone, and 420 miles when the 2.4-liter four-cylinder joins the party. That engine produces 131 horsepower on its own, but factoring in front and rear electric motors—all-wheel drive is standard—total system output lands at 248 hp and a very healthy 332 lb-ft of torque.
The battery can be fully charged in roughly 7.5 hours using a Level 2 home charger, according to Nissan. Fuel economy is estimated to be 64 MPGe, or 26 mpg on gas alone. And while Nissan doesn’t offer the normal Rogue with third-row seating, because the Outlander has it, so too does the plug-in Rogue.
While pricing for the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid won’t be revealed until closer to launch, Nissan has already outlined the difference in content between the two grades. The Platinum improves upon the base SL with a 10-inch head-up display, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, heated steering wheel, Bose nine-speaker audio system, and two 120-volt power outlets for the rear seats and trunk. If you want to get a sense of what to expect, though, consider that the 2025 Outlander PHEV currently starts at $42,190.
Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com
The post The 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Is a Mitsubishi Outlander With Less Grille Colored In appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The first-ever Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid will be very familiar to anyone who already owns a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
The post The 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Is a Mitsubishi Outlander With Less Grille Colored In appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2026-nissan-rogue-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-mitsubishi-outlander-with-less-grille-colored-in [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573648 [pubDate] => Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => Nissan News [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Adam Ismail [language] => en-US ) ) [7] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-audi-f1-car-development-already-stopped-now-focused-on-2027-and-2028 [title] => 2026 Audi F1 Car Development Already Stopped, ‘Now Focused on 2027 and 2028’ [timestamp] => 1763319600 [author] => Jerry Perez [content] =>
The Audi Formula 1 Team hasn’t turned a single lap of pre-season testing—let alone packed the containers headed to the Australia Grand Prix—but it has already halted the development of its 2026 drivetrain.
During a tour of the newly expanded Audi Sport complex in Neuburg, Germany, where the internal-combustion and electrical components for the new F1 power unit are made, The Drive learned that despite being in a race against the clock to have everything ready for the maiden race, the facility’s 430 employees are primarily focusing on the team’s sophomore and junior years in the series.
“Development of the 2026 drivetrain has concluded, and we’re already focusing on 2027 and 2028, Audi F1’s Chief Technology Officer Stefan Dreyer told The Drive. “Development of components truly never stops in Formula 1, but considering the limited amount of data valuable to us from the current Sauber and Ferrari setup [and the 2026 regulation changes], we’re looking past our first year now.”
Dreyer explained that, despite Audi’s purchase of Sauber and most, if not all, of its assets, the drivetrain IP belongs strictly to Ferrari, and not a single line of data is shared with Sauber itself, let alone Audi. He described the arrangement as a “Chinese wall,” implying that all data gathered by the team from this and previous seasons is not shared with the new drivetrain team. Even if it did, it’s unclear how useful it would be due to the incoming regulations.
When asked how engineers can focus on improving something that hasn’t been tested yet—given that there is still no real data from real driving on real tracks—Dreyer admitted that it was a challenging situation they found themselves in. He explained that they’re relying on simulator testing and will obviously be working double-time as the cars start racking up miles in Spain at the end of January, and then in Bahrain mid-February.
I asked Dreyer what the Neuburg team will be focusing on for the time being since the 2026 development is wrapped up, and he simply said, “manufacturing.” The team will need to stock up on vital components ahead of embarking on a grueling season around the globe, which begins in January with pre-season testing and ends in December with the Abu Dhabi GP.
The Neuburg facility has been in existence for some time, but it recently underwent a sizable and extremely expensive remodel and expansion to accommodate the new F1 facilities. Dreyer led me and a select group of media through the complex, though, like most assembly facility racing or otherwise, any photography or recording of any kind was prohibited. What I can tell you, however, is that after having been inside Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva in Maranello (F1 HQ) and most recently, McLaren’s Technology Center in Woking, I can assure you that Audi’s facilities are first-rate and no expense has been spared.
Dreyer did not divulge a number for the investment made in Neuburg, though he laughed and said he “did not want to think about the number.” That said, later that evening, when I asked the same question to Audi AG’s Finance boss, the answer was “a three-digit-million amount.”
Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com
The post 2026 Audi F1 Car Development Already Stopped, ‘Now Focused on 2027 and 2028’ appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>Audi's new F1 drivetrain hasn't turned a single lap around a track, but over 400 engineers are already hard at work trying to improve it for future seasons.
The post 2026 Audi F1 Car Development Already Stopped, ‘Now Focused on 2027 and 2028’ appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-audi-f1-car-development-already-stopped-now-focused-on-2027-and-2028 [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573781 [pubDate] => Sun, 16 Nov 2025 14:00:00 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => Racing [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Jerry Perez [language] => en-US ) ) [8] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/get-a-look-at-all-the-obscure-boring-low-poly-cars-in-this-gran-turismo-fan-mod [title] => Get a Look at All the Obscure, Boring Low-Poly Cars in This Gran Turismo Fan Mod [timestamp] => 1763312400 [author] => Adam Ismail [content] =>
Gran Turismo fans everywhere are looking forward to the same thing as 2025 draws to a close. I’m talking, of course, about the release of Gran Turismo 2: Beige Edition. This upcoming mod of the 1999 racing game swaps out GT2’s 600-car-strong roster for far less remarkable machinery. Some vehicles have been retained from the original game because, as anyone who has played GT2 will tell you, it had plenty of boring cars already. But many will be added, and the folks working on it just put out a video of the first 120.
This video is 11-and-a-half minutes long, and I have watched all of it without skipping ahead. If they put together a final one of the whole roster, it’ll be four times as long, and I’ll probably watch that, too. I love old, forgettable cars rendered in an authentic low-poly style, and Beige Edition has the lot.
These videos teach me things, too. Like, for example, that there was a Bic-sponsored—that’s the pen company—version of the Citroen Saxo. Or that, in Europe, Ford released yellow “Millennium Edition” models of the Focus, Ka, and Puma. Amid all of the American auto industry’s half-hearted early attempts at cracking the electric car, I’d missed the Dodge Caravan EPIC (that’s an acronym for “Electric Power Interurban Commuter,” of course). And how about the existence of the Citroen Xsara West Coast? Because what else could possibly capture the spirit and tradition of California’s iconic car culture but a small European family car that was never sold in the States?
This video’s teeming with curiosities, and I’m sure there are many more lurking in the other couple hundred cars planned. And don’t worry—as this is a Gran Turismo game, it still has Skylines, Supras, and Mustangs. They’re the base-engine models nobody wants, but they’re there!
Got a tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com
The post Get a Look at All the Obscure, Boring Low-Poly Cars in This Gran Turismo Fan Mod appeared first on The Drive.
[enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [description] =>The first 120 cars of the Gran Turismo 2: Beige Edition mod have been revealed, and you aren't ready for how totally dull they are.
The post Get a Look at All the Obscure, Boring Low-Poly Cars in This Gran Turismo Fan Mod appeared first on The Drive.
[link] => https://www.thedrive.com/news/get-a-look-at-all-the-obscure-boring-low-poly-cars-in-this-gran-turismo-fan-mod [guid] => https://www.thedrive.com/?p=6573699 [pubDate] => Sun, 16 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500 [enclosure] => [category] => Video Games [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Adam Ismail [language] => en-US ) ) ) )