Porsche is updating its badging on the Turbo models in its lineup.The iconic badge will be finished in a new gray color called Turbonite, and depending on the model, wheel spokes or inlays in the front fascia will be finished in the same color.The switch comes as Porsche attempts to distinguish Turbo models as a brand of their own.Automakers love to separate out model lines and trim levels as their own sub-brands. Take a look at the next Corvette you see, or the next Bronco. You won’t see any Chevrolet bowties or Ford ovals shouting about who actually builds the iconic vehicles. Now, Porsche is gearing up to do something similar with the capital-T Turbo models in its lineup. PorscheStarting with the 2024 Porsche Panamera that is set to make its debut later this month, Turbo models will differentiate themselves from the lesser vehicles in the lineup with badging finished in a new gray color that the manufacturer calls Turbonite. “We now want to make the Turbo even more visible, and differentiate it more markedly from other derivatives such as the GTS,” said Michael Mauer, Porsche’s chief designer.PorscheThe new crest will be exclusive for Turbo models and swaps the red and gold of the traditional badge for a more muted black and gray. The color won’t be limited to just the front badge either. According to Porsche, the color will make its way onto side window surrounds as well as the lettering on the rear. Depending on the model, other details like wheel spokes or inlays in the front fascia will be finished in the same color as well. The color will make its way into the cabin as well, with things like trim strips and belt straps as well as some switchgear will come in Turbonite. According to the manufacturer, the extent of the interior changes is tied to individual models. Knowing Porsche, we’d wager you’ll still be able to option the classic look, should you want it. Just know they’ll likely charge you an exorbitant amount for the replacement. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

A document from the NHTSA has revealed a few details regarding the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck ahead of the start of deliveries in November.The document shows that the Cybertruck will come with dual-motor and tri-motor setups, with the single-motor version that was supposed to cost under $40K notably absent.The document also revealed the Cybertruck will have a gross vehicle weight rating between 8001 and 10,000 pounds, depending on the specification.The start of deliveries for the angular Tesla Cybertruck is, after years of delays, nearly upon us, with the automaker announcing last week that the first production units will reach customers on November 30. Still, official specifications remain a mystery, with Tesla yet to divulge how closely the production model will hew to the original prototype revealed in 2019. But now a document published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—first shared on a Tesla forum—appears to reveal some of the truck’s details, including motor configurations and an approximate idea of the truck’s weight.Cybertruck Decoded The NHTSA document is a decoder for the vehicle identification number, or VIN, for all 2024 Tesla models. The document breaks down the meaning of each of the VIN’s seventeen digits, but there are two that caught our eye.First, the eighth digit represents the vehicle’s motor and drive unit, with two designations for the Cybertruck listed on the document. “D” symbolizes a dual-motor variant, while “E” stands for a tri-motor Performance model. Tesla had originally announced that the Cybertruck would also be offered with a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive specification that was supposed to start at $39,900, but it appears that won’t be available for 2024, if ever. TeslaThe second point of interest is the sixth digit, which corresponds to the gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight of your vehicle which includes the weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. There are two ratings listed for the Cybertruck: “G” represents a GVWR between 8001 and 9000 pounds, while “H” stands for a GVWR between 9001 and 10,000 pounds. While this doesn’t tell us the precise weight of the Cybertruck, it means the truck will likely weigh around 7000 pounds, with some variants likely coming in well over 8000 pounds. For context, the Rivian R1T has a GVWR of 8532 pounds, the F-150 Lightning has a GVWR between 8250 and 8550 pounds, and the GMC Hummer EV pickup is rated at 10,550 pounds. All of these ratings are roughly 1000 to 2000 pounds higher than the weight of the vehicles. More detailed specifications should arrive when Tesla delivers the first Cybertrucks next month.More Tesla NewsAssociate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released findings on a set of crash tests that show small passenger cars can’t protect rear-seat occupants as well as front passengers. The IIHS tested five small 2023 model-year cars using its moderate overlap crash test: the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, the Kia Forte, the Nissan Sentra, and the Subaru Crosstrek. None were able to achieve an overall crash test rating of Good, with only the Civic and the Corolla being marked as Acceptable. The other three were given Poor ratings from the IIHS. IIHSThe lackluster ratings stem from the lack of modern protections afforded to rear-seat occupants. The IIHS found that in all five cars tested, the rear dummy would “submarine” on impact, increasing the risk of fatal injury. Submarining occurs when the lap part of the seatbelt slides up into the abdominal region, making internal injuries more likely in the event of a crash.These findings aren’t the result of diminishing rear-seat occupant safety equipment, but a byproduct of the increasing safety standards given to occupants up front, in the form of more advanced seatbelt and airbag designs. Basically, the IIHS is saying it wants to see this new tech make its way to rear seats too. Despite the results, the IIHS says the rear seats remain the safest place for young children, who can be injured by an inflating front airbag. Crash CourseRoad & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

The Honda e made its debut in Europe this week, but this scrappy little city car is not destined to come to the United States. The base model of the new electric car has about 137 miles of range on the European cycle. It’s a rear-wheel-drive car with 50:50 weight distribution, a low center of […] More

Toyota has revealed a new version of the Century that takes the shape of an SUV.The Century sedan has existed for many decades and is a highly exclusive model only for Japan meant for chauffeuring important people.The Century SUV has a plug-in-hybrid powertrain with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.The Toyota Century has long occupied a special place in the Japanese automaker’s lineup, serving as a highly exclusive, Japan-only model meant for customers who want to be chauffeured. Debuting in the late 1960s, the stately Century sedan was previously offered with a smooth V-12 engine and most recently switched to a hybrid V-8 powertrain when its latest generation arrived several years ago. Now, the Century is transforming yet again into a new shape: an SUV.The new Century SUV follows many of the design cues that are characteristic of this model, and Toyota says that the sedan will continue to be sold alongside this new body style. Boxy, subdued, and ornate, this new Century is essentially as big as many full-size SUVs but only seats four, as the two rear seats recline in all sorts of ways and offer features including an entertainment system and even a driving mode meant to smooth braking jolts for the rear-seat passengers.There will be more customization possibilities for this version, as it will offer several different exterior colors including two-tone schemes and numerous interior upholstery possibilities. There’s also a GR-badged “sporty” version that has sliding doors and different wheels and tires.Under the hood of the Century SUV is a plug-in-hybrid system with a 3.5-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive. It sounds similar to the powertrain found in the new 2024 Lexus TX550+ which makes 406 horsepower and claims 30 mpg and a 33-mile electric driving range in that three-row SUV. Toyota hasn’t yet provided detailed specs on the Century, other than its dimensions and a prodigious 5600-plus-pound curb weight.Toyota only plans to build 30 units per month, and the Century will be only for the Japanese market. It will start at the equivalent of nearly $170,000.More on the CenturyThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More