This Week in Motoring: December 29, 2014

Hyundai Readies a Performance Division
Hyundai wants a performance division. No surprise there; these days, every automaker pretty much needs one in order to be taken seriously. But no one predicted that the Korean manufacturer would poach BMW M division chief engineer Albert Biermann. Biermann no doubt has a few secrets to bestow upon Hyundai’s performance cars, which will be designated as “N” models. caranddriver.com

2016 Cadillac CTS-V
Cadillac’s CTS is the sedan America has been pining for. Sure, the Hellcat Charger has 707 horsepower, but styling and luxury count for something. The recently unveiled CTS-V boasts a near-Hellcat 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 185 mph. Cadillac isn’t aiming that Z06 engine at Dodge, though: for Caddy, it’s Germany or bust. roadandtrack.com

Nissan Returns to Le Mans
Nissan leaked their plans to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their contender will be unveiled during the Super Bowl: To the excitement of many, it’ll be an LMP1 based on the GT-R with a front-engine layout — notably, the last time a front-engine car won Le Mans was in 1962. jalopnik.com

A Very Pretty P1
Depending on your taste, McLaren’s Special Operations wing is hit or miss. And even though there are liveries better suited for a McLaren P1, no one can deny that it looks good in classic Gulf colors. topgear.com

Google: Ahead of the Game
Companies like Audi and Mercedes-Benz are taking a very cautious approach to fully autonomous driving. Google, on the other hand, has gone balls to the wall with a “fully functioning” model, which the company hopes to bring to the road within the next five to 10 years. wired.com

Cars and Coffee Canceled
The original Cars and Coffee, based in Irvine, California, has been canceled — but not from under attended events. Quite the opposite: the last meet-up landed over 2,000 attendees (compare to the first event’s 350). Cars and Coffee has spawned more than a few iterations around the world, so its popularity may well allow a rebirth, perhaps in a better-suited venue. autoweek.com

The 2014 Audi S4 Is a Supercharged Daily Driver
The Audi S4 is a sleeper hit: an undercover sports car that can go toe-to-toe with flashier opponents. gearpatrol.com

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