The Autoweek Dispatch: Getting rich off Lotus submarines, the line between 'Jeep-like' and 'Jeep,' and how to get the torquiest Renault Caravelle on the planet

Having trouble viewing this email? [See the online version]( The Autoweek Dispatch Friday, December 06, 2019 Car Life [The Autoweek Dispatch: Friday, Dec. 6, 2019]( Car news, racing stories, reviews and weird stuff from autoweek.com. [Read More >]( UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE WEEK “They had no idea how valuable their discovery was.” Doug Redenius, co-founder of the Ian Fleming Foundation, describing the [Lotus Esprit found in a storage unit, the contents of which were purchased for $100 by a Long Island couple](. The Esprit was one of eight used in filming the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me (photo above), and it was subsequently purchased at auction for nearly $1 million by Tesla founder Elon Musk. RACING LINES The 2019 [Formula 1]( season is in the bag; regardless of how we feel about the racing action itself, the series appears to be in good shape. TV numbers are up, new sponsors are arriving and demand for races exceeds the supply. [Catch up on all the details with Joe Saward in this roundup of the F1 year that was](. In a look at "crossovers that shouldn’t surprise us," reigning [NASCAR Cup]( champ [Kyle Busch captured the WWE 24/7 Championship pro-wrestling belt]( ... for an hour. The stunt ended when wrestler R-Truth caught Busch unguarded outside the arena, pinning him for the WWE’s Instagram feed. So there you go. CAR NEWS AND NOTES The [incredibly fun Mahindra Roxor]( might not last long on these shores. If you’re not familiar, the diesel-powered, off-road-only Roxor looks like a ¾-size Jeep CJ, which is the primary issue: [Jeep has triumphed in a lawsuit claiming infringement of "trade dress."]( In other words, the Roxor hits a little too close to home. At best, Mahindra may have to change the design; at worst, it may be barred from selling the Roxor at all and have to pay damages. Remember those [glorious little Nissan IDX concepts]( that [made the auto show rounds]( Well, they’re not going to be built, and [an alleged Nissan insider gives some reasons why on Reddit](. While we have no guarantees that the information is legit, all the excuses seem plausible. Still, given [Nissan’s recent troubles]( a low-volume halo might be money well spent to polish the brand. [Hyundai’s new pickup truck—we’ll call it the Santa Cruz]( even though we don’t yet know if it’ll retain the concept’s name—[has been spotted in heavy camo in South Korea]( following confirmation of production plans. Expected to borrow most of its front-end styling from the Santa Fe crossover, we’re left wondering if the Santa Cruz will get a Ridgeline-style contiguous bodyside, or if it’ll have the appearance of a separate pickup bed. More will surely be coming soon. WHAT WE'RE DRIVING We all have mixed feelings about stability control and other electronic nannies that save us from ourselves even when we don’t necessarily want to be saved—or that don’t offer enough leash for skilled drivers. Road test editor [Jake Lingeman found that the BMW M8 manages this balance better than most]( with different driving modes that’ll let the hoon in you hang out while still keeping you out of the tire wall. [Check out his full drive here](. Mark Vaughn also gets some track time, but [in the prototype Hyundai RM19 midengine monster]( a testbed that may signify some very interesting performance machinery flowing from South Korea in the next few years. However it turns out in production guise, [the RM19 is a ton of fun right now, as Vaughn discovered](. And, since we were all shopping our local junkyards’ Black Friday [all-you-can-carry sales]( last week, you may have missed our Thanksgiving paean to luxury: Robin Warner [gently guided the Rolls-Royce Cullinan high-sided vehicle]( (seriously, that’s what Rolls calls it) around Ann Arbor, Michigan, and found it’s everything you’d expect in a Rolls-Royce SUV. BUY THIS Autoweek editors have scoured the earth for the [best gearhead gift ideas]( compiling them into [our annual Gift Guide](. Goodies include wines from noteworthy car enthusiasts Pruett and Mullin, books on Le Mans, the BMW 2002 and ’69 Camaro, and even socks designed to stay fresh during your next multiday off-roading adventure. [Check it out!]( MOSTLY ODDS, SOME ENDS Chrysler Valiant Pacer. Just let that sink in a little. You’ve heard all those names before, but probably not attached to the same car. Such a beast existed years ago in Chrysler’s Australian lineup, and [the company is now producing a tape-striped throwback called the Chrysler 300 SRT Pacer tribute](. It’ll be the hit of the Mopar meet when you can import one in 25 years. The world may be [moving to electric propulsion]( but Mercedes isn’t ready to let go of its V12 engine yet. The [silky mega-mill will continue in a version of the next-generation S-Class sedan]( but interestingly enough will not see the engine bay of the recently announced [Maybach GLS 600 SUV](. At the other end of the spectrum, Murilee Martin reminds us there was once a time when the average Renault Dauphine or Caravelle owner could [get a big-bore piston and liner kit from the venerable J.C. Whitney company](. Just $49.95 nets you an extra 59 ccs of axle-snapping torque! LISTEN UP Be sure to [check out the “Autoweek Podcast” this week]( where Natalie Neff joins Mike Pryson, Wesley Wren and “Autoweek Podcast” enthusiasm contributor Chris Langrill to celebrate the end of the NASCAR season by reviewing the classic flick “Fireball 500” from 1966. Stick around for an update on the Autoweek Fleet, specifically the Lexus GX460, the Volvo V60 T8 Polestar and the Hyundai Santa Fe. [Tune in here]( on Spotify or wherever podcasts are played. WHAT'S AHEAD We’ll be back with more [car news]( [reviews]( and [car culture posts all next week]( and check in during the weekend for [motorsports news and offseason team updates]( from NASCAR, IndyCar, F1 and more. -- Andrew Stoy, Digital Editor Connect With Us [facebook]( [instagram]( [twitter]( Feedback or questions? [Contact Us]( [Email editor](mailto:tips@autoweek.com) | [Customer Service](mailto:customerservice@autoweek.com) | [Advertise with Us]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Manage My Account]( | [Unsubscribe]( © 2019 Autoweek 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207 United States. [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms and Conditions](