A mad car scientist built a Franken-Golf that can obliterate supercars

By Ronan Glon Published May 10, 2017

If Volkswagen had built the Golf R in the 1980s, it probably would have looked a lot like this one-of-a-kind hot-rodded second-generation model. Forget the wolf; this hatchback is a Tyrannosaurus rex in sheep’s clothing, and it’s out for blood.

Built by Boba Motoring in Germany, the Golf started out as a homely, humble hatchback. It led a quiet life until it was selected to receive a heart transplant. The stock engine was tossed out and replaced by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 16 valves borrowed from a third-generation Golf GTI. The swap made the Golf much more dynamic to drive, but it turns out that was just the beginning of the project.

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Through nearly endless modifications, Boba Motoring cranked the turbo four’s output up to a volcano-awakening 1,233 horsepower and 806 pound-feet of torque. The list of upgrades includes bigger injectors, a re-mapped ECU, a turbo the size of a soccer ball, and upgraded cams. Internal components like the valves, the pistons, and the connecting rods were strengthened to handle the extra grunt; after all, the folks in Wolfsburg didn’t design the 2.0-liter to make four-digit horsepower figures.

That prodigious amount of power is channeled to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission and a Haldex-type 4Motion all-wheel drive system sourced, surprisingly, from the Volkswagen parts bin. Weighing in at 2,600 pounds, the hatchback makes the Dodge Challenger Demon look like your dad’s old Super Beetle by blasting through the quarter mile in 8.6 seconds at 174 mph.

The performance figures are jaw-dropping, but what’s even more surprising about this Golf is that it looks 100-percent stock. To the untrained eye, it’s just a tired old Golf. There are no spoilers, no air vents, and no gimmicky air diffuser underneath the rear bumper. The story is the same inside, where the only hints of the grunt under the hood are a speedometer that goes up to 300 kilometers per hour and a few additional switches.

Updated 5-10-2017 by Ronan Glon: Corrected a technical error in the second paragraph.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.