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Watch the other new Top Gear host rap about a Rolls-Royce

The rebooted Top Gear revealed its full slate of new co-hosts last week, complete with a lineup of names and faces we know – and one we don't. That's Rory Reid, the one new host chosen from public auditions. Though most of us many never have seen his face or heard his voice, he's not new to reviewing cars on video. In addition to hosting automotive videos for CNET and Sky television, Reid is also automotive editor for a British video series called Recombu. Most of the reviews he's done for the YouTube channel are pretty straightforward, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of whatever he's driving – from a Bentley Continental GT Speed or Range Rover Sport SVR to a Mini JCW or Peugeot 308 GTI. But when it came to the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Rory was evidently moved to take things in a different (and original) direction. Instead of simply describing the luxury sedan as most automotive journalists would, Reid rapped about it. The result is a pretty novel take on the usual car review, and no doubt helped him secure the spot on the revived BBC program alongside the likes of Chris Evans, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz, Matt LeBlanc, and of course the Stig. See for yourself in the video above, and check out his other reviews in the playlist below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Recombu via YouTube, Carscoops TV/Movies Rolls-Royce Videos rolls-royce ghost rory reid rap rolls-royce ghost series ii

BMW's Connected Drive feature vulnerable to hackers

BMW is working to fix a cyber-security flaw that has left 2.2 million vehicles worldwide vulnerable to hackers. Cars equipped with the automaker's Connected Drive remote-services system are affected, according to the German Automobile Association (ADAC), which first discovered the problem. Researchers found they could lock and unlock car doors by mimicking mobile communications and sending phony signals to a SIM card installed in affected vehicles. An attack could be launched "within minutes" of accessing the system without the perpetrators leaving a trace, according to their report, in part because once they had gained access to the network, the communications were not secure. In response to the security gap, BMW says it has been upgrading software via over-the-air updates over the past week, so no visits to dealerships are needed to remedy the security hole. In fact, owners of affected cars may not have even noticed the updates taking place. The problem affects BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI vehicles equipped with Connected Drive since 2010. Flaws were first reported to BMW last year by ADAC, which is the country's equivalent of AAA. ADAC says it withheld a public announcement until the car company could address the problem. While BMW has pushed the software patch to most affected vehicles, the organization said it's possible some at cars in the United States had not yet been updated. BMW did not respond to a request for comment Monday. In a written statement, the automaker said it knows of no real-world breaches. 2015 Off To Dubious Start The hack could raise the eyebrows of industry leaders: Cars are now the equivalent of mobile computers and cyber-security experts have been warning that the auto industry has been slow to close its security holes. BMW's breach marks the second time in 2015 that researchers have found a popular automotive feature with little or no security precautions. Last month, experts said a popular device made by Progressive Insurance that allows motorists to track their driving habits contained no security whatsoever. Like the Connected Drive smart-phone app, many automotive components and infotainment features were conceived and produced at a time when industry executives never considered the possibility someone might want to hack into them. But increased connectivity brings increased risk. Going forward, BMW says its Connected Drive features will now operate by using encrypted communications via the HTTPS protocol.

2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom spied on the inside

The Grey-Poupon set has a new digital reality in store for 2018. Or at least its drivers will. Today we've captured the next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom during testing, and decadent sedan will feature a digital instrument panel. These photos show large screens in front of the driver and on top of the center stack – a marked change from the traditional dials. This digital cluster is among a slew of changes that will dramatically update the Phantom. It will also run on a new aluminum platform, which will underpin all Rollers from 2018. The coupe and Drophead coupe will also be killed off with the outgoing seventh generation, which has run for 13 years. Rolls-Royce said from the start the new ultra-luxury sedan would feature significant updates. In a statement, chief executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes called it "a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations." Still, the eighth Phantom will look like, well, a Phantom. Despite the "enhanced ... design innovations" Mueller-Oetvoes is pitching, the exterior styling looks largely evolutionary. We're expecting another Roller staple, the traditional V12, to provide the usual mustard-hauling power. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom View 10 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Design/Style Spy Photos Rolls-Royce Technology Infotainment Luxury Sedan rolls-royce phantom