'Thor' star Chris Hemsworth takes a spin in a Formula E electric race car

By Stephen Edelstein Published July 24, 2017

The list of Hollywood actors who have transitioned to motor sports includes famous names like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Chris Hemsworth recently test drove a Formula E race car, so can he add his name to that list?

The actor best known for playing Thor got behind the wheel of one of Formula E’s electric race cars during the recent New York City ePrix (that’s what Formula E calls its races). While he seemed to have fun, Hemsworth probably didn’t have any of Formula E’s pro drivers worrying about their jobs.

Recommended Videos

Hemsworth played Formula One legend James Hunt in the 2013 film Rush, but that doesn’t seem to have helped his driving skills. He spun the car in one turn, and drove at a fairly leisurely pace for the rest of the lap. At least he managed to avoid hitting the wall, which can be difficult on the tight NYC ePrix track. Formula E uses temporary street circuits rather than conventional racetracks, and the New York circuit was laid out within the confines of a customs facility in Brooklyn.

“I was a little too excited, just got a little overconfident … I was just happy I found reverse and was able to get back going,” Hemsworth said of the spin. “It’s the first time I’ve done it, so that’s my excuse for all the mistakes I made!” Overall, Hemsworth said the drive was “good fun.”

Hemsworth wasn’t the only celebrity ready to take the wheel at the NYC ePrix, which was the first major motor sport event held within New York’s city limits in modern times. Richard Branson, whose Virgin conglomerate sponsors one of the teams, volunteered himself as a reserve driver. He wasn’t needed, as DS Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird won both rounds of the doubleheader in the Big Apple.

Formula E’s next stop is Montreal, where a pair of races will be run July 29 and 30. That will bring an end to the current season, with teams getting a few months off before the next season kicks off in Hong Kong in December. That season, Formula E’s fourth, will be the last before sweeping rules changes meant to improve the quality of the racing take effect for the 2018-2019 season.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Topics

Cars

Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV

toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Cars

Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Computing

Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.