‘Where we’re going, we don’t need roads, but we do need racetracks…’

By Alexander Kalogianni Published January 30, 2015

Who knew that of all the parts laying around McLaren’s technology center, there’d be a flux capacitor handy?

A few things are coming back to McLaren this year for this year’s 2015 Formula 1 season. Honda is returning as its engine supplier and Former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso returns to the team after a scandal-fueled separation from the team in 2008. These circumstances have surely inspired this Back to the Future style video where Alonso and teammate Jensen Button take a page from Doc Brown’s handbook, converting a McLaren 650S into a familiar-looking time machine.

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The video starts with Button skateboarding to McLaren’s tech center, where he encounters the silver 650S unloading from a transport truck. After uttering “Lewis? is that you?” (sounds like Button is already stuck in the past if the thinks Lewis Hamilton is showing up in a McLaren), Alonso urges him to climb in (don’t ask where he got schematics for a time machine, We’re sure they came from a legit source this time), whipping the tail of the 641 horsepower sports car via remote control.

Button incredulously discovers the 650S has indeed been converted into a time machine at this point, and the two plot to where they will take the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 powered supercar.

McLaren 650S — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Button suggests they travel back to the 1988 Brazilian Gran Prix, where F1 legend Ayrton Senna took his Honda-powered McLaren from 21st place to second after an amazing display of driver talent. Although he was disqualified after a disallowed vehicle change, it still remains an amazing moment in McLaren and Honda’s history together.

Alonso suggests instead they look ahead to the near future, leaping to this year’s Melbourne Gran Prix that will kick off the season, and the two take off. You’d think the sports car with its 3-second 0 to 60 time would get up to 88 miles per hour rather quicker than demonstrated in the video, but maybe the new Mr. Fusion system is heavier than we realize.

It’s a fun video that’s designed to get us excited for what McLaren has in store for us this season. Still, If we had a supercar time machine, we’d be more inclined to see some of racing history first before hopping forward a couple of months.

Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

Cars

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.

Cars

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.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

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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.