Around the Tracks: Toyota unveils the world’s first autonomous drift car
General Motors thinks there’s a market for Disney-themed production vehicles, plus Toyota has demonstrated the world’s first autonomous drift car.
When we’re not creating it ourselves, the Drive team spends a lot of time finding and consuming motoring content from all over the world.
Here’s a handful of the photos, articles, videos or social media posts that caught our eye last week.
Toyota takes autonomous-driving technology to a whole new level
Japanese car giant Toyota has taken autonomous vehicle technology to a whole new level.
The Toyota Research Institute has demonstrated what it claims is the world’s first autonomous drift car – a vehicle capable of drifting around obstacles on a closed course.
Toyota says it collaborated with the Dynamic Design Lab at Stanford University, performance specialists GReddy, and drift champion Ken Gushi.
The result – a specially customised Toyota Supra with computer-controlled steering, throttle, clutch, transmission, and individual wheel braking.
Apparently there’s a market for Disney cars in China
Apparently there are so many Disney fans in China that SAIC-GM – the joint venture between US car giant General Motors and Chinese company SAIC (which owns MG) – has modified the Chevrolet Menlo electric car to appeal to Disney fans.
Evidently the standard Menlo hasn’t been huge sales success, launching in 2019 at a cost of around $AU39,000. The company has now made various changes for 2022, boosting its driving range and adding ‘Disney’ badging.
The extra branding includes door stickers and wheel centre caps and a Disney icon on the infotainment system.
Images via Car News China.
This tiny Toyota iQ has big off-road dreams
This cute, compact Toyota iQ city car rides on the underpinnings of a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara and borrowed parts from a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
It’s known as the Sciuki iQ. While still small enough to handle city driving, the owner had something else in mind – to convert it into a gnarly off-roader.
The owner added a three-inch suspension lift kit with SoftRide coil springs and SuperFlex rear links, and new axles with front and rear lockers. The off-road rubber wraps 17-inch wheels.
To add to the off-road credibility, LED bars are mounted up front, and there’s a whip flag at the back. The high ground clearance and short wheelbase also adds to its off-road capabilities.
The baby beast is powered by a non-turbo 2.5-litre V6 sending power to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic gearbox with an extra short-gear manual shifter. A
According to the owner, the conversion cost approximately $AU11,000.
Seven-time world champion set for tinsel town
We’ve seen sportsmen make cameo appearances in Hollywood blockbuster movies before.
Boxer Mike Tyson played a role in the Hangover, and basketballer LeBron James was in the movie Trainwreck.
Now, seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton apparently has Hollywood in his sights.
It has been reported Apple TV has secured the rights to a movie about Formula One, with the lead role said to be played by heart-throb actor Brad Pitt.
It’s understood Hamilton will be involved in the movie in some capacity, but it is unclear whether it will be on-camera or off-camera – or both.
It’s not Hamilton’s first brush with Hollywood; he reportedly turned down a role in a remake of the movie Top Gun in 2019.
The rally Porsche that’s looking for a new owner
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