#carblogging

[fourwheelsweekly]

Canoo MPDV: A Delivery Van with Futuristic Flair and Unique Utility

Canoo is a recently formed car manufacturer that produces affordable electric commercial vehicles. The Canoo MPDV (Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle) is intended for professionals seeking to expand their business with a workhorse electric van to fulfill various commercial duties. Typically, a delivery van is not the type of vehicle that you would expect to catch your eye, as they tend to blend in quite well with ordinary traffic. The MPDV begs to differ, breaking the attention barrier with its strikingly futuristic and geometric design that brings to mind the Tesla Cybertruck. In addition to its novel look, it also boasts one-of-a-kind utility in the form of a modular body that can be customized exactly to one’s business needs.

Canoo MPDV

Utility

Utilitarian and modular, the MPDV seeks to provide for the needs of business owners of all types. It has a plethora of adjustable and optional features that make it notably serviceable. This separates it from other delivery vans, with it being applicable to a wide variety of business types, in addition to delivery. From food truck, to mobile cafe, mobile retail store, mobile locker, and even a mobile marketplace that sells fresh produce, the possibilities are endless. When configuring your MPDV, you can choose from features such as: adjustable shelving, hanging storage, built-in dolly and loading ramp, temperature-controlled cabin, built-in canopy, retractable exterior tables and chairs, locker system, sliding or hinged rear door, on-board 125V/240V charging station, and more. You can even handpick to have the steering wheel placed in an exact position to your liking, unrestricted by a physical steering column, since it is all connected through the onboard computer. The body comes in various sizes, but the chassis is the same for all versions of the MPDV, with the overhangs being adjustable in size and length at the factory. The payload capacity ranges from 1300 to 1900 lb, depending on the power of the fitted batteries. 

Examples of various business use-cases

MPDV size options

Design

The MPDV’s most prominent exterior features are its large flat surfaces resembling sheet metal, sharp connecting lines and angles, rugged boxiness, and futuristic line lighting elements. The interior features a sleek and minimalist driver’s cabin that consists only of the essential elements necessary for driving. Instead of a typically large and rectangular infotainment screen, an app shows all relevant information regarding car-user preferences and road data that is accessible through a phone, which can be propped up in the side armrest like a mini infotainment display. 

MPDV interior, with visible front storage shelf and openable lower glass pane

Interior front shelf view

Interior top view

Steering wheel close-up

Canoo smartphone infotainment app, interface design

Branding Space

The flat exterior panels make for an excellent space to advertise your brand. Large and bold brand designs will benefit from the real estate that the outer surfaces provide.

Exterior branding visualizations

Affordability

According to a press release, Canoo estimates that the MPDV will provide class-leading cost of ownership improvements over current best selling delivery vehicles of between “$50,000 to $80,000 on return on capital over six to seven years, depending on the use case.” This projection is based on expected low maintenance costs as a result of it being electric, overall durability, and its use of a flat chassis that allows for increased cargo volume on a smaller platform, which aids in electric range efficiency. Considering these estimates, vehicle characteristics, and the reasonable starting price of $33,000, the MPDV will likely make for an overall highly cost-effective vehicle that will be cheap and easy to maintain.

Final Thoughts

Affordable, modular, versatile and electric. The Canoo MPDV is an innovation in the world of delivery vans that makes total sense. Its lucrative for the company, since one vehicle can be sold to a wide variety of business owners, and convenient for the consumer, since one can customize and configure their MPDV for the exact needs of their business. A pioneer in technology and functionality, the MPDV sets a bold new standard of what a delivery van can be.

[fourwheelsweekly]

Vision Renndienst Concept: A VW Bus from Porsche

In a new published book titled "Porsche Unseen,” the company unveils previously top-secret concept vehicles. It documents 15 unique design studies from 2005 to 2019, showcasing the unfettered creativity that takes place within Porsche outside of the realm of producing road-going vehicles. Of the various concepts revealed, one caught my eye in particular: Porsche Vision Renndienst.

Porsche Vision Renndienst

The Vision Renndienst is a microbus, inspired by the iconic Volkswagen Bus, and infused with Porsche DNA. The exterior design is pure sci-fi galore. Smooth flowing surfaces combined with sharp connecting contours creates visual balance between streamlined and edged. Design details such as the upward narrowing side windows, full light-bar taillights, slim headlights, and Porsche insignia on the side contribute to a futuristic look. With it being a microbus, the overall shape is understandably bubbly, but thanks to short front and rear overhangs and a wheel and tire setup that confidently occupies the wheel wells, the Renndienst looks properly poised.

Sadly there are no photos of the interior, but I can imagine that it is a luxurious and classy cabin, as one would expect from Porsche. The driver sits in the center, and there’s seating for six.

Vision Renndienst next to a classic Volkswagen Type 2 “Bus”

Renndienst means “racing service” in German. This implies that it could be intended as a service vehicle for a racing team, for transport of people and supplies, in addition to being a potential commuter car for families.

While the Vision Renndienst won’t be headed for production, a new German microbus vehicle is soon to be reality thanks to Volkswagen’s I.D. Buzz concept, which is confirmed to begin production in 2022.

Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Concept

I.D. Buzz Concept

The main attractions of a microbus are comfort and utility. I believe there is a place in the market for a new VW Bus, considering that larger vehicles such as crossovers and SUV’s have taken precedence over sedans and other smaller vehicles, because of their spacious cabins and large storage capacities, which buyers tend to prefer nowadays.

Perhaps in an alternate reality, a Porsche microbus is being sold right along side the Panamera, Macan and Cayenne as part of Porsche’s “utility” lineup. But in our reality, the Vision Renndienst remains a one-off concept that is one of many examples of the kind of creative thinking that takes place within Porsche’s design studio in Weissach, Germany. Vision concepts serve as potential future directions of design and technology, and help propel Porsche into the future.

[fourwheelsweekly]

Lexus J201: The Off-Roader’s Fantasy

Lexus LX

At first glance, the Lexus LX570 impresses with its large proportions and showy looks. But what might not be immediately obvious to the passerby, is that hidden underneath all the luxury and glamour, is a highly capable off-road vehicle the likes of Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Mercedes G-Class.

2021 Lexus LX570

Lexus has been known for its off-road capable vehicles for decades now. The two key models include the LX and GX, both of which exist thanks to the Toyota Land Cruiser, which they are based on. With versatile performance on any terrain, the LX570 boasts excellent body stability on uneven surfaces, responsive steering, adaptive air suspension, crawl control, real-time four-wheel-drive with active traction control and 7000-lb towing capacity. It is a tough brick that likes to get its shoes dirty.

For those who desire to get more out of their LX, either new or old, there is a plethora of aftermarket parts and upgrades available that further enhance its off-road capabilities. Everything from lift kits, to body kits, light bars, snorkels, tires, wheels, brakes, suspension… and the list goes on. Upgrading your car with aftermarket performance parts is a great way to improve its functionality and to personalize it. With the vast amount of parts available for the LX570, there is everything one needs to make it their dream off-roader.

J201 Concept

The J201 Concept is an LX570 that has been fine-tuned with aftermarket performance parts. Its inspiration comes from the large community of Lexus SUV owners who love to venture off-road and explore the great outdoors. Lexus calls this group of people “Experimental Adventurers,” and has built the J201 Concept with them in mind. The name “J201” comes from the internal model code for the LX. J201 is the chassis code, which is well known among off-roading enthusiasts.

Exterior Upgrades

Front and rear off-road bumpers that add under-body reinforcement and improve ground clearance

Front bumper winch and light bar

Rear bumper lights

Trunk-mounted spare tire, ladder and water cans

Roof rack and roof light bar

Downsized wheels (from 20” to 17”) that make room for off-road tires with large sidewall and deep grooves

Drilled front and rear brake rotors with performance pads

Upgraded suspension control arms and spacers

Adjusted height sensors that allow for higher air suspension lift

Under-body protection in the form of rock sliders and skid plates.

J201 Closed Swing-Outs

Open Swing-Outs

J201 Drilled Brake Rotors

Engine/Drivetrain Upgrades

Supercharger that boosts power output to 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque (compared to the original 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque)

Performance differentials

Air snorkel

Air compressor for tire inflation

Interior Upgrades

Accessory interface for controlling lighting, differential, compressor, battery and angle meter

Aluminum storage cases

Drawers with dog bowls, tools and first aid kit

The J201 “Concept” isn’t a concept in the traditional sense, with one-off parts and a non production spec design. Rather, this is a standard LX570 with real world aftermarket parts from real brands, built to showcase the versatile capabilities of the LX platform. While the J201 Concept likely won’t make it to production, you can build one just like it using all the same parts. And if a new LX570 is pricey, older models of the LX, GX and Land Cruiser can be picked up for cheap. Even without all the fancy tech of a new LX570, they are nevertheless great platforms for driving off the beaten path and enjoying some outdoors.

The J201 is currently competing in the all-female Rebelle Rally, a week long event where participants are tasked with navigating across more than 1,200 miles of treacherous Nevada and California desert without a GPS or cell phone, moving from checkpoint to checkpoint using physical maps and a compass. With two expert drivers/navigators behind the wheel, I have no doubt the J201 will perform spectacularly.

The event can be watched live here: https://www.rebellerally.com/live/

[autobhan796]

🚗 That "minor" fender bender might not be so minor.

Most people walk away from a rear-end collision thinking everything's fine — no airbags, no crumpled hood, no drama. But hidden damage doesn't always show up on the surface.

Here are a few things that actually happen beneath the bumper:

Your frame can bend without any visible dents. Modern cars use crumple zones designed to absorb impact. That's great for safety — but it means structural damage can occur even in low-speed hits.

Trunk alignment shifts quietly. A trunk that "feels a little off" after a crash isn't just cosmetic. Misaligned panels can compromise your vehicle's structural integrity over time.

Electrical systems take invisible hits. Rear sensors, tail light wiring, and even your backup camera can be disrupted by impact forces that never leave a scratch.

Suspension and exhaust components sit right in the damage zone. These are among the most commonly missed — and most dangerous — post-collision oversights.

Whiplash doesn't always hurt immediately. Pain can be delayed by 24–72 hours. If you were in a rear-end collision and feel "fine," that window matters.

The 2026 safety data on this is worth knowing before you skip that post-accident inspection.

— Autobahn Collision shares 7 of these facts in full detail. Worth a read if you drive.

[doctordekapan]

The Opel Corsa OPC is an iconic hot hatch known for its performance.

[acidglasses]

The Bugatti Veyron is an iconic luxury hypercar known for its exceptional performance.

[scrumptiousbeardturtle-blog1]

Affordable and Trustworthy Car Transport for Stylish Cars

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[promodispenser]

Selecting a Reliable Auto Transport for Your Stylish Car

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