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For the next episode of Inside Track, Road & Track’s virtual Q&A series, Editor-in-Chief Mike Guy is sitting down with screenwriter, comedian, and podcast host Spike Feresten to chat about his hugely popular Spike’s Car Radio podcast and his experiences writing for comedy icons—and car lovers—David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld.It’s all happening on Wednesday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), and we’d love for you to join us!Register Here In this episode, Mike will chat with Spike about what it’s like hosting a podcast alongside industry leaders and Hollywood’s biggest gearheads. We’ll also learn what it’s like working as a screenwriter for some of TV’s biggest hits including Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, and Late Show with David Letterman (to name a few). If you want to see it all go down, head over to our sign-up page here. Inside Track is one of the many offerings of the newly revamped Road & Track magazine. We’re hosting live events, virtual experiences, and adventures around the globe. We’ll also be hosting driving rallies at race tracks and on the most epic roads, holding discussions and debates on cool topics with some of the most influential people in the car world, and giving you the white-glove treatment at concours and auto show events.Register Here If you want to get in on the fun, become a member of The Track Club. You’ll get every issue of the magazine, plus a whole lot more. Find more details on the membership tiers and exclusive discounts at roadandtrack.com/join, and check out our experiences lineup at experiences.roadandtrack.com.This content was provided by the Road & Track marketing team.
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The 2023 GMC Canyon adds a sibling to the off-roading ZR2 Colorado in the form of the AT4X. GMC’s mid-size truck has been redesigned with a wider track and strong proportions.Along with the beefed-up exterior, the new Canyon also features a redesigned interior with an 11.3-inch touchscreen. Two weeks after Chevy unveiled the new Colorado, GMC has pulled the sheet back on the 2023 Canyon, revealing newly squared-off styling for the mid-size GMC truck. From the look of things, GMC has been force-feeding the Canyon scoops of pre-workout and creatine for the last year in a bulking effort. It worked. The 2023 Canyon is entering its third generation alongside its GM sibling, the Chevy Colorado. GMC is eager to stay on the more luxurious end of the mid-size-truck market, hitting the Canyon with a spritz of luxury. Each trim line comes with a color scheme unique to that trim. The Canyon sits on a new, wider track than previous years and comes with a 2.0-inch lift on Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims, with a 3.0-inch lift reserved for the AT4X.The new AT4X will come at a $64,000-plus price, nearly $20,000 higher than the 2022 ZR2’s MSRP. That price launches it past competitors including the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Ford Ranger Raptor, landing it in the ballpark closer to off-roading monsters like the Bronco Raptor. According to GMC, the price of the Elevation will also be going up, starting at an estimated $41,495. The AT4, which GMC told us was the most popular Canyon sold in the last generation, is priced at a more reasonable $42,495.
All New EverythingMuch like with the Colorado, GMC is paring down the options this year. Each Canyon will come in a four-door crew-cab configuration. Unlike with the Colorado, each new Canyon will come equipped with the same 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. No official fuel economy numbers have been published yet, and none were supplied by the manufacturer, though the engines are equipped with active fuel management and stop/start technology. Equipped with the trailer package, the new Canyon will be able to tow up to 7700 pounds. That figure drops to 6000 pounds in the AT4X model, and a further 500 pounds for the AT4Xs equipped with the Edition 1 package.The Canyon improves its approach angle this year to 36.9 degrees. Slightly worse than the 38.3-degree approach of the Chevy ZR2 but better than the 35.0-degree approach on the Tacoma TRD Pro. The improved approach angle comes with the front air dam being removed, and the front axle moving farther forward. The 17-inch wheels found on the AT4X are wrapped in 285/70R-17 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires to provide optimal traction in suboptimal conditions. Elevation and AT4 trims will come ride on 18-inch wheels, with Denali trims riding high on 20s.
Dynamic suspension spool valve (DSSV) dampers move outboard to aid off-road performance through an improved 9.6-inches of ground clearance (10.7 for AT4X). Standard for the AT4X though available on lower trims, the Canyon features electronic locking front and rear differentials, and there are seven cameras placed around and under the truck, give drivers access to 10 available camera angles, complete with underbody angles to help in dicey off-roading situations. Tough MudderAfter launching the AT4 in 2021 as an altogether capable but admittedly less rugged version of the ZR2 Colorado, the AT4X is here to play. Following after its more rugged big brother, the Sierra 1500 AT4X, the AT4X-ified Canyon is intended to be “the ultimate expression of GMC’s commitment to delivering serious off-road capability,” according to GMC. On top of the four standard drive modes offered for the Canyon, the AT4X receives an exclusive Baja mode intended for high-speed off-road driving situations. The AT4X will be the only Canyon available in the Edition 1 package, which includes a front bash bar, a 30-inch grille-mounted light bar, 17-inch beadlock wheels, a winch, and unique badging, among other goodies.
Much like the Colorado, the Canyon features an integrated 45-inch watertight storage compartment in the tailgate. Lending a hand to practicality, the tailgate also features a midgate height for longer items. Customers sweating over a lack of lashing points can breathe a sigh of relief. GMC was happy to tell us that in response to customer comments, they doubled the tie-down points in the bed of the truck to eight. Luxury Interior . . . Sort OfThe new Canyon gets a lot right about the interior. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, while physical climate controls are a welcome sight, huddled over a line of auxiliary switches. The AT4X and Denali both get a head-up display as standard, though it is not available on other trims. The dash features an 11.3-inch infotainment system. The higher trims get an 11-inch digital gauge cluster while the lower are stuck with a smaller 8.0-inch version. Opt for the Denali, and you get open-pore wood on the dash featuring a laser-etched design. Quilted leather covers the seats and rides across both the dash and door panels.GMC
Initial production is expected to start early 2023, with the AT4X having to wait a bit longer until spring 2023.
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While Audi is planning many new electric models, gas cars will stick around for the time being.Cars such as the A4 and A6 will be renamed to fit with existing odd-numbered models to differentiate them from the even-numbered EV nameplates.The TT and R8 sports cars will cease to exist, but the Q5 and Q7 SUVs reach a next generation, and a Q9 could join the lineup.2023 is going to be another slow year for Audi—a couple of facelifts and the arrival of the new Q6 e-tron—but 2024 and 2025 will be bumper years for the four rings. A whopping 17 and 15 launches are penciled into two tight twelve-month time frames. While most rivals put all their money on EVs, CEO Markus Duesmann and his team will carry on introducing new ICE models through the mid- and late-2020s, and there is no end in sight until Europe’s announced registration ban for new petrol- and diesel-engined passenger cars takes effect in 2035.More on AudiLet’s go through the ICE ranks step by step to see how the lineup will be rearranged. (The EV lineup is a whole different story, but expect the “e-tron” designation to be dropped altogether and for names like E4 and E6 to arrive at some point.) The common platform used for all future ICE Audis is codenamed PPC, short for Premium Platform Combustion. The gasoline cars will be renamed to odd numbers to differentiate them from the even-numbered EV models.A4 Becomes A5, A6 Becomes A7Audi E4Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAudi A5 AvantIllustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAudi will next year launch the A5 sedan and Avant wagon, which used to carry the A4 moniker. Completing the trio is the new A5 Sportback. Also due in 2024 is the new A7, again as sedan and Avant, both of which are currently listed as A6. Confusing? You bet. The A7 Sportback follows in 2025 along with the second-generation A5 coupe and cabriolet. All of the above are good to go through 2031 and 2032. SUVs and Performance ModelsSimilar lifespans apply to the next Q3 and Q3 Sportback earmarked for 2024, the last-of-its-kind Q5 (2024) and Q5 Sportback (2025), as well as the final Q7 scheduled to bow in mid-2025. Instead of the rumored Q7 Sportback, we may see a plusher and more upmarket Q9 worthy of the Horch badge in China. In addition to the mainstream offerings, PPC will spawn a full range of performance hybrid S and RS models good for up to 550 hp in the top-of-the-line A5s and over 700 hp in the V-6–engined RS7 Performance which will again be available as sedan, wagon, and Sportback.Sports Cars Say Goodbye, A3 Sticks AroundMore on R8 and TTLiving on borrowed time are two of the marque’s ICE legends, the TT and the R8. The TT is due to be phased out later this year, and there is no confirmed successor in sight, but if the new regime in Wolfsburg is really serious about mold-breaking synergy effects, Audi may yet eventually be able to sell rebodied versions of the fully electric Porsche 718 replacement out next year. Since the charismatic V-10 engine is unfit to straddle European emissions hurdles, the R8 bites the dust next year. Its fully electric replacement, which may well find second homes with Bentley and Lamborghini, is expected to use the SSP61 architecture conceived in Weissach.Audi E3Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverThe A3, however, will soldier on—either until 2026 when its successor would adopt the advanced electric MEB+ platform, or until 2028 when the even more sophisticated SSP3 components set chaperoned by VW becomes available. More sophisticated? The Scalable Systems Platform ups the electric ante in all major departments from range to charging time to energy density. The next A3 should be badged E3, bucking the even-numbered trend.This 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.Contributing EditorAlthough I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal clerk, it was clear from the beginning that birdwatching and stamp collecting were not my thing. Had I known that God wanted me to grow to 6’8″, I also would have ruled out anything to do with cars, which are to blame for a couple of slipped discs, a torn ligament, and that stupid stooped posture behind the wheel. While working as a keeper in the Aberdeen Zoo, smuggling cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia to Germany, and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to yield fulfillment, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is now, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday. I love every aspect of my job except long-haul travel on lousy airlines, and I hope it shows. More
The Celestiq will be hand-built at GM’s Global Technical Center, the first production vehicle to be made there.GM plans to invest over $81 million to prepare the Center, where renovation efforts have already begun, to build the Celestiq. The Celestiq will benefit from the Center’s Additive Industrialization Center, which will provide it with likely the highest volume of 3D-printed parts of any GM production vehicle. GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, has been the company’s home base for engineering and design since its opening in 1956, but it has never built a vehicle for production. That is, until now. Wednesday evening, Cadillac announced that GM plans to manufacture the Celestiq, first teased in early 2021, at the Center. There, it will utilize, “advanced manufacturing technology and tools,” to hand-build Cadillac’s future flagship EV.
The Celestiq is one of 30 EVs GM plans to release by 2025, and we expect it to compete with other luxury EV sedans like the Tesla Model S and the Mercedes-Benz EQS. It follows Cadillac’s EV SUV, the Lyriq, which will likely hit the market as a 2023 model. Like the Lyriq, the Celestiq will use GM’s new line of scalable EV battery technology. This technology is expected to give the Celestiq more than 300 miles of driving range thanks to a battery pack with potential capacity of as much as 100.0 kWh.When the production Celestiq goes on sale, which we expect will be for the 2025 model year, it will likely feature a dual-motor powertrain with all-wheel drive. Four-wheel steering is also a possibility, as well as a full-dashboard LED display and a smart glass roof, of which the transparency can be adjusted in quadrants. All in all, the Celestiq could command a six-figure price when it goes on sale.First, though, the vehicles and all their next-generation components have to be built, and to do that, GM is investing more than $81 million to prep the Global Technical Center for the car’s production. These efforts at the campus have already begun, GM says, and the investment will fund the purchase and installation of manufacturing equipment.
Additive Industrialization Center at GM’s Global Technical Center.
General MotorsThe campus is also home to GM’s Additive Industrialization Center, which opened in 2020 to pioneer GM’s initiatives to 3D-print functional and aesthetic components for its vehicles. The Celestiq will feature more than 100 3D-printed polymer and metal components, which is expected to be the most on any GM production vehicle, and 3D-printed components will also be used in the Celestiq’s assembly process. Additional details on the Celestiq will be available when it’s fully revealed in late July.
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The 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63 gets a special Edition 55 treatment to celebrate AMG’s 55th anniversary.The G63 Edition 55 includes unique exterior graphics as well as a red-and-black interior with “55” references throughout.Mercedes-AMG says it’ll be limited to 55 copies in the U.S. when it goes on sale later this year.In 1967, Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher first laid the foundation for what would become the brand’s high-performance AMG division. Now, 55 years later, Mercedes is commemorating that milestone with a specially designed 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63 dubbed Edition 55, of which only 55 copies will come to America.
The Edition 55 isn’t an ostentatious interpretation of the G63. In fact, only subtle exterior graphics on the lower part of its doors distinguish it from other G-wagens. However, its appearance has been specially curated for this configuration. That means every version features 22-inch forged wheels with a multispoke design and AMG’s Night appearance packages, which include numerous black exterior accents. The G63 Edition 55 pictured here wears G Manufaktur Opalite White paint. However, Mercedes says that color is reserved for other markets; U.S. models only come in Obsidian Black metallic.
Mercedes-AMG
Inside, the G63 Edition 55’s color scheme is also predetermined. The seats feature black-and-red nappa leather, with red accents also appearing on the interior door panels. The trim on the doors, center console, and surrounding the instrument panel and infotainment system is matte carbon fiber. Of course, it wouldn’t be a special edition without the obligatory badging, as seen by the “55” engraved on the bottom of the steering and “Edition 55” woven into the floor mats. The AMG logo illuminated in red is also integrated into the stainless-steel doorsills.
Mercedes-AMG
The 2022 AMG G63 is powered by a hand-built 577-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system with three locking differentials. Despite weighing nearly three tons, we tested a 2019 model that hit 60 mph in an incredible 3.9 seconds. While more recently Mercedes has struggled with supply-chain issues that impacted V-8 production for the 2022 model year, causing certain models to be suspended, the company has since reinstated several of them, including the 2022 G63. Unfortunately, the availability of V-8–powered Benzes is still limited, but fans of the Mercedes-AMG G63 now know there will be at least 55 available in the U.S. market. However, a company spokesman told Car and Driver that the Edition 55 isn’t available to order and that customers should contact their local dealer for further details. Mercedes says the Edition 55 will be available later this year, but the company hasn’t yet announced pricing for any member of the 2023 G63 lineup.
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