Audi is working on a redesign for the A7, and this time the range will feature additional body styles to the regular Sportback hatch. One of the new body styles will be an Avant wagon, a prototype for which has been spotted. It will take over for the gas-powered A6 Avant after the A6 range goes electric with its next redesign.
Czech race car specialist Praga has joined the ranks of hypercar manufacturers following the launch of the Bohema, an extreme track machine that can also be driven on the road. Production is now underway, and the first examples will be delivered this year, including in the U.S.
Aston Martin is just weeks out from revealing a major update to its Vantage sports car. The updates will include fresh styling and a new interior, and there will once again be both coupe and convertible body styles.
You’ll find these stories and more in today’s car news, right here at Motor Authority.
Located in the Bahariya Oasis, English Mountain is one of Egypt’s most popular tourist attractions. Located in a region known for adventure tourism, it attracts many visitors each year with its diverse desert landscapes and unique rock formations.
The Bahariya Oasis is famous for its White Desert and stunning rock formations, as well as the visually striking Black Desert. The English Mountain site lies between Al Mandesha and Al Bawati City, which are considered to be the capitals of the largest settlements in this fascinating region.
Discover the wonders of Egypt tour packages and explore all that this enchanting destination has to offer with our exclusive Egypt tours.
Renowned for its natural beauty, English Mountain is a highly sought after tourist destination. Located in a region known for its adventurous activities and captivating landscapes such as deserts and unique rock formations, this attraction attracts a significant number of visitors every year.
Location
Located in the northernmost part of all the oases, Bahariya is famous for its picturesque white desert and striking rock formations, which provide a stunning visual contrast to the black desert. The English Mountain lies between Al Mandesha and Al Bawati City, the region’s main towns and largest settlements.
History
The English Mountain in Bahariya Oasis is a fascinating place and one of the wonders of Egypt. It gained its name during the First World War in 1916, when British forces occupied the region, hence the name ‘English Mountain’.
It was used as a scouting post in the Bahariya oasis, with ruins on the mountain helping to identify it from a distance. It served as a reconnaissance post for the British troops, who left behind the remains of their buildings.
The mountain’s elevated position allowed Captain Williams and his troops to effectively monitor and detect any advances by Libyan troops, who frequently attempted to invade the oasis during this period.
The mountain is characterized by its basalt and diorite summit, the result of past volcanic activity.
Now let’s look at the history of the Bahariya oasis. The name “Bahariya” comes from the Arabic word “Bahr”, which means “sea” in English. This name is inspired by the Mediterranean Sea and the northern lands of Egypt in ancient times.
Over the years, the oasis has been known by various names. The ancient Egyptians called it “Desdes”, while the Romans called it “Parva”, meaning the small oasis.
Bahariya Oasis has the distinction of being Egypt’s first true desert oasis. It is a four to five hour drive from Cairo on a well-maintained road with minimal traffic. There is only one stop, a barnlike tea house, about 150km into the journey (with a smaller one about 10km further on). It is on the right-hand side of the road, towards Wadi Natrun, where French aviator Antoine de Saint Exupery crashed in 1935. Surviving on just half a pint of coffee and an orange, Exupery later recounted his experiences in the magnificent desert book “Wind, Sand and Stars”.
Sunset in Bahariya, Egypt.
Bahariya highlights
Bahariya, close to Cairo, has attracted the attention of many international visitors longing for the tranquility and liberating embrace of the desert. These individuals have either initiated or participated in the establishment of various eco-spiritual enterprises that cater to the evolving group of explorers who seek more than mere observation. These companies offer tailor-made safaris to fulfil the desires of these adventurous travelers.
The oasis is divided into two parts: one from Libya and the north coast, and the other from settlers from the Nile Valley.
In the past, during the Middle Kingdom and Roman periods, the oasis was a thriving agricultural centre known for its wine production. Its strategic location on the caravan routes between Libya and the Nile Valley ensured its prosperity throughout the ages.
In recent years, Bahariya has become popular with tourists due to its archaeological finds, such as the Golden Mummies, and its proximity to the White and Black Deserts.
The oasis has a museum in Bawiti where visitors can see some of the mummy cases. There are also shops selling various items, including Bedouin scarves and carpets.
Bahariya Oasis is famous for its hot and cold springs, which can reach temperatures as high as 45°C/113°F. These springs have a high mineral content which can stain swimwear.
The oasis played an important role during the First World War when the Baharia Military Railway was built to provide access. Over the years, Baharia Oasis has undergone significant changes. In the early 1970s, the Egyptian government built an asphalt road linking Bahariya to Cairo, which facilitated the supply of electricity, cars, television, telephone lines and even the internet to the oasis. This road also increased the exchange of people and ideas between Bahariya and Cairo, leading to changes in the language and dialect spoken in the oasis, which became more influenced by the Cairo dialect heard on television and in music.
In addition to the desert landscape, the Bahariya area has a plethora of stunning oases that are well worth exploring. One such oasis is the Black Desert, located approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Bahariya Oasis.
Another notable site is Crystal Mountain, also known as Gebel Al-Izzaz, which boasts an impressive formation of sparkling quartz crystals.
Finally, Gebel al-Dist, commonly known as Pyramid Mountain, is a notable local landmark with its iconic pyramid-shaped structure.
I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences I had whilst traveling. You’re in a certain place and a fellow traveler, or a local, tip you off on a little-known beach, bar or accommodation. Great travel tips from other travelers or locals always add something special to our travels. That was the inspiration for Travel Dudes.
Tokyo Auto Salon isn’t Tokyo Auto Salon without all the hype of a Liberty Walk car reveal, and for 2024, Wataru Kato and his team delivered all the energy with another ’80s supercar icon at the center of it all.
We’ll get to the LB-Works Lamborghini Countach in a moment, because that was just one of a lot of Liberty Walk cars on display at the Makuhari Messe last weekend.
Liberty Walk shared space with Tag, Bullet, and Sphere Light brands, with a total of 100 staff working across the giant booth over the course of the three-day event.
No one does it bigger at Tokyo Auto Salon than Kato-san, and come 2:00pm on Friday afternoon when the covers came off Liberty Walk’s two TAS 2024 headliners, there was a rock concert vibe.
Let’s start with the Countach, which features a brand new LB-Works body kit that adds 40mm of extra width to each side of the this ’80s poster car. On top of the fenders, which of course require the original bodywork to be cut to fit, the complete kit features a new front bumper with diffuser and canards, side skirts and side diffusers, and out back a rear diffuser, rear wing and roof air intake.
Pricing has yet to released, but given the full kit features more pieces than the LB-Works Ferrari F40 equivalent, it’s unlikely to be any cheaper than that, which runs US$127,600 in FRP and US$160,600 in CFRP, plus fitting of course and the other necessities – air suspension and custom wheels.
The question is though, if you had a Countach, would you consider the LB-Works conversion?
If you dream of owning and driving a Liberty Walk-enhanced supercar but only have a kei car budget, don’t worry, Kato-san has something special for you. This sweet little machine was unveiled by the LB Kids. No, it’s not the electric ride-on, although that does look cool…
It’s this – the LB-Works LB40.
If you can get your hands on an Autozam (Mazda) AZ-1, LB-Works can turn it into a micro F40 replica. And even better, the conversion doesn’t come with a full-size price tag; the full kit, which is a combination of FRP and dry carbon, runs just US$22,660 plus fitting.
The Fiat Abarth 595 is not quite as small as a kei car but is still compact by modern standards, and it too now has a Liberty Walk solution. LB-Works teamed up Abas Works for this demo car, and it wears the full kit – front bumper with canards, hood, side skirts, rear diffuser and wing, and of course wide body fenders at all four corners.
Kato-san might be best known for his shock supercar-widening antics, but his roots are squarely in shakotan. So it was cool to see his old Kenmeri Skyline back at Tokyo Auto Salon – albeit this time with The Smurfs collaboration we didn’t know we needed. And how cool is the C10 Skyline parked alongside?!
Blurring the lines between contemporary car design and shakotan style is the LB-Works Nissan Fairlady Z/400Z, which Kato-san unveiled at the SEMA Show last year.
Another 2023 release was this – the LB-Works McLaren 720S. The complete body kit adds a front diffuser, front canards, hood, side diffusers and door panels, a rear diffuser, rear wing and wide fenders. The black on black scheme looks sinister.
The final car we want to show you is a collaboration between Liberty Walk, Alpharex USA and Likewise. This GR86 is tough!
Another year of Liberty Walk at Tokyo Auto Salon has us asking the same question as always – how will Kato-san top this? I guess we’ll all find out 12 months from now.
Camper & Nicholsons has announced the sale of the 44.65m Feadship Blue Sky, represented by Senior Advisor Carmen Lau.
A 2013 build from the Dutch builder’s F45 Vantage series, Blue Sky has been based at Gold Coast Marina in Hong Kong and was on the market for the first time. She has been sold to the US.
Featuring a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, Blue Sky was the last superyacht in the F45 Vantage series and the only one to feature a helipad, along with other customised features for her original owner. The yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests and nine crew.
“Blue Sky is unique. Carefully maintained by her original owner, she is the true definition of relaxation and quality. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the owner for placing their trust in us to represent the sale of Blue Sky,” Lau said.
Carmen Lau (fourth right) with Shek Fung (fourth left), Captain Tsang (middle) and Blue Sky crew
“I also want to thank Captain Tsang and the entire crew for their support and dedication, and Shek Fung, our Fleet Manager at Camper & Nicholsons in Hong Kong, for his professionalism. As the new owners embark on their voyage, we wish them endless blue skies.”
Blue Sky features a sleek exterior by De Voogt Naval Architects and Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, with each hull side distinguished by eight vertical windows forward.
An elegant interior by Bannenberg & Rowell Design offers high levels of comfort and includes a main deck with a saloon and five guest cabins, including a spacious owner’s suite with large skylights that flood the room with natural light.
The upper deck includes an open aft deck for alfresco dining, a skylounge, a separate entertainment room and the wheelhouse. The sun deck has sun loungers aft, an open area for furniture, while forward is a circular spa pool surrounded by sunpads.
The yacht has a 9.2m beam, while twin MTU engines deliver a cruising speed of 13 knots and a top speed of 14.5 knots.
Revenge travel is real! I’m writing this on the train to Hong Kong Airport, about to end another trip, but I am already planning my next. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. As far as the travel scene is concerned, things have gone back to normal. Well, not quite.
If you’ve traveled to anywhere at any point over the past year, you’d probably noticed that a lot has changed — but the most drastic is definitely the cost. During the time we were all cooped up in our houses, prices have increased dramatically. Airfare, hotels, meals — most travel items cost much higher these days. All the more reason we should be conscious about how much we spend when we travel and find ways to save more!
This is why I am happy — no, ecstatic — that I can get cashback on my favorite travel apps and websites via ShopBack! We’ve featured ShopBack a few times on this site before, but for the uninitiated, here’s a quick rundown. ShopBack is one of the top shopping and rewards platforms, with over 38 million shoppers across the Asia Pacific region.
When you book with ShopBack, you can get EXTRAAA cashback so that you can do more! Whatever cashback you get, you can spend on other expenses like a ticket to your favorite attraction or a meal at a restaurant in your destination.
Among ShopBack’s long-standing partners are Agoda, Booking.com, and Klook. And booking a room using ShopBack can give you extra cashback. For example, for a P10,000 hotel booking, you can get P750 cashback!
2. Airline Booking
And yes, I mentioned airlines, too. Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, and AirAsia are just some of ShopBack’s airlines partners that can give you cashback.
3. OOTD and Accessories Purchases
You can also get cashback for your OOTDs, accessories, and travel essentials! Eyeing a jacket at UNIQLO for an upcoming autumn/winter trip? You can get 9% cashback for that!
4. Sign-up Bonus
If you don’t have an account yet, you can get P100 bonus cashback instantly if you register using this link: SIGN UP HERE!
Yes, P100 agad-agad just for creating an account with ShopBack! This is an exclusive offer, so do it now!
5. Get EXTRAAA cashback when completing Shopback Challenges.
You can enjoy even more cashback when you join challenges on the ShopBack app. Challenges would give you a bonus if you complete some activities in the app. For 10.10 for example, you can get P100 if you book with any travel merchants. This is on top of the usual cashback!
6. EXTRAAA Cashback Prizes
By the way, our friend Bogart the Explorer is also running a contest and he’s giving away EXTRAAA cashbacks on Shopback’s social pages.
In the latest contest, all you need to do is insert his image to a photo of your dream destination for a chance to grab P500 cashback. Details below.
This article is brought to you by ShopBack. Established in 2014, ShopBack is one of the leading shopping and rewards platforms in the Asia Pacific region, serving over 38 million customers and generating over US$3.7 billion in annual sales for more than 15,000 in-store and online merchant partners.
When Subaru first came to the United States, it sold small funky cars that were decidedly un-American. As the company grew its own identity and became more established in the U.S., it became the first automaker to offer an all-wheel-drive passenger car in 1975. Subaru was also an early-adopter of turbocharged engines to bring more power to its line of quirky cars and wagons. Subaru was also one of the first manufacturers to produce a crossover SUV with the Forester in the late ’90s.
We’re Driving the 2024 Subaru Impreza, What Do You Want to Know?
As the crossover craze has rapidly ballooned into a crossover pandemic, Subaru didn’t have to abandon its history to align with consumer demand, it just kept producing the same kind of vehicle it had produced since 1975. In contrast, the world stopped when Porsche first introduced the original Cayenne in 2002 because an SUV was a sacrilegious departure from Porsche’s history of producing racing legends and ultra-high-performance cars. When Subaru introduced the Forester as its first crack at an SUV, it flew under the radar since it still aligned with Subaru’s history.
Image: Subaru
AWD passenger cars started coming into the mainstream in the ’80s and ’90s, but again Subaru was ahead of that curve. It had a preexisting fanbase who valued this feature, allowing it to maintain a distinctive identity through its wide array of AWD passenger car offerings.
Subaru was also an early innovator of AWD as a performance-enhancing feature on its sportier models. Nowadays, most car models regardless of their size or EPA size classification offer an AWD variant from the Toyota Prius to the Mazda 3 to the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
Image: Subaru
The combination of Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system that delivers an even power split between front and rear wheels, Subaru’s famous boxer engines, and focus on safety come together to form dynamically competent and compelling packages that have wide consumer appeal. Subaru’s focus on promoting active lifestyles has really resonated with modern consumers who seek a do-everything vehicle that gets good fuel mileage, offers the security and capability of AWD, provides exceptional occupant safety, in a package that doesn’t break the bank.
In the early days, Subaru’s sales reflected its then-niche appeal, but as consumer preferences have shifted, Subaru’s distinctive recipe ended up aligning beautifully and current sales reflect that. December 2023 marked 17 consecutive months of Subaru’s sales growth, and according to Good Car Bad Car, Subaru had the highest growth of all mainstream brands in the US from 200,000 in 2009 to 700,000 in 2019; breaking its annual sales record year after year.
Image: Logan Carter
I am actually the only person in my family who doesn’t own a Subaru. I encouraged my mom to check out a 2010 Subaru Outback after our second Dodge Grand Caravan finally bit the dust, and my mom immediately fell in love with the Outback’s solidity, AWD security, and tidy packaging. After that, my dad decided to buy a 2008 Forester XT Sports to replace his 1986 Ford Mustang SVO and he was shocked by the comparable performance between the two cars. My brother then bought a 2003 WRX wagon and still loves it to this day. Subaru has experienced this impressive growth by staying true to its brand identity and producing affordable and versatile vehicles.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes before you take delivery of a Koenigsegg Jesko? Tom Pagliaro, a Master Tech at Koenigsegg London takes us through all the minute details of the whole PDI process.
It all starts with a visual inspection of the exterior and interior, followed by a thorough check of the engine bay for leaks, etc. The technician also goes through all the accessories that come with the car and checks if they’re all in order. Then he moves onto the actual 50+ point PDI checklist.
This Chili Red Jesko Attack was delivered to Koenigsegg London in December last year. It was initially ordered by a customer in Hong Kong, who decided to sell it as it was no longer legal in his home country.
The Koenigsegg Jesko is powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that puts out 1280 hp and 1106 lb-ft of max torque. The engine is hooked to a 9-speed multi-clutch transmission, which Koenigsegg refers to as the Light Speed Transmission or LST. It is said that this particular is not equipped with the ‘Environmental Power Upgrade’ that boosts output to 1600 hp when running on E85.
The 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster made its debut back in 2022. The 2023 V12 Vantage Roadster shared much of its drivetrain and chassis upgrades with the coupe. That meant a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12 from the DBS Superleggera under the hood making 690 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque. It sent power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transaxle and a mechanical limited-slip differential. There was also a widened track and a revised suspension setup for more overall grip. Aston claimed a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
The V12 Vantage Roadster got many of the same aero changes as its hardtop sibling, including revised bumpers and underbody molding. The bumper, hood, front fenders, and side sills were all made from carbon fiber. In addition to providing a maximum of 476 pounds of downforce, the revised design also provided adequate cooling for the large power plant under that gigantic front clamshell.
Both driver and passenger took their places in the cabin on Sports Plus Seats rendered in full semi-aniline leather, featuring the Aston Martin ‘Wings’ as standard on the headrest. Further weight savings could be achieved through the optional performance seat with an exposed carbon fiber shell and manual 6-way adjustment. The hand-laid carbon fiber panel trim on the interior could even be treated to a selection of tinted lacquers, courtesy of Aston Martin’s Q personalization service that also offered exterior graphics and woven leather upholstery.
Aston built just 333 V12 Vantage coupés. The V12 Vantage Roadster was even rarer, with just 249 units made, making it an instant classic.
Salvation Mountain California is an artistic landscape that stands colourfully in the California Desert which I’m sure you’ll love!
Erected over 30 years ago, this landscape has been created by volunteers that look after this one-of-a-kind spot. And to be honest, it’s easy to see why… it’s so unique.
That’s why I wanted to share some more information below on how to visit Salvation Mountain California. 🌈
Why was Salvation Mountain California built?
Salvation mountain first started by a local resident, Leonard Knight who had an epiphany about this spot. He built this spiritual landscape as a place for visitors to experience and totally immerse themselves within.
With that in mind, he invited people from all over the world to enjoy Salvation Mountain in California whenever they wanted. With every aspect of Salvation Mountain premised around love. ❤️
Best of all, you can add your own messages that promote love, acceptance and happiness to the ‘walls’ themselves. You can even donate some paint if you like. Just make sure it’s lead-free, obviously!
What is Salvation Mountain California made of?
To be blunt, anything! 🤣
Built from salvaged materials, trees and a shed load of donated paint, Salvation Mountain California is an ever-changing and evolving site. This means the landscape will always look different, no matter when you visit.
That means that each year the murals and the scope of the mountain changes, with new items and salvaged goods added almost weekly.
How can you visit Salvation Mountain California?
Situated around 100 miles east of San Diego, in the California Desert, Salvation Mountain California sits just northeast of Niland and relatively close to Slab City.
Salvation Mountain California is easily accessible if you drive, though if you don’t have a car, it can be much trickier to get to.
Best of all, there are seasonal tours arranged from San Diego itself so if you’re planning to visit you should definitely check if any are operating during your visit by emailing Salvation Mountain California itself.
The exact directions to input in your GPS are: Beal Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233, USA
A redesigned Infiniti QX80 is set to debut this year, and a prototype has been spotted for the first time. The design of Infiniti’s new QX80 appears to be a close match with the QX Monograph concept that was shown last summer and previews the new design language for the brand.
Porsche is just one week out from revealing its electric Macan. The vehicle is a true next-generation design, but it might not immediately replace the current gas-powered crossover as Porsche has hinted in the past at selling both side-by-side for a period.
The Acura TLX sport sedan was updated for the 2024 model year and we just tested the range-topping TLX Type S grade. There’s revised styling and some new cabin technology, but the standard turbocharged V-6’s 355-hp peak power rating is unchanged.
You’ll find these stories and more in today’s car news, right here at Motor Authority.
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This article is brought to you by ShopBack. Established in 2014, ShopBack is one of the leading shopping and rewards platforms in the Asia Pacific region, serving over 38 million customers and generating over US$3.7 billion in annual sales for more than 15,000 in-store and online merchant partners. 
