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Tesla was the first automaker to really invest in its own public fast-charging network, and a decade head start means the company’s Superchargers are the best available.It’s not even close, really. In J.D. Power’s study, more than one in five EV drivers (21 percent) said they were unable to charge at a non-Tesla station in the first quarter of this year, but at Superchargers it was less than 4 percent.Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar have all said their future EVs will be compatible with Tesla’s NACS standard.Electric vehicles have gotten noticeably better in the last five years. Public charging? Not so much. That’s why more and more automakers are signing up to have their EVs use Tesla’s Supercharger network in the near future. Polestar, Volvo, Rivian, and GM all made announcements about using Tesla’s units in June after Ford kicked off the surprising trend in May. So, we can now say it’s good news for the broader EV community that Tesla has the most reliable fast-chargers around.Joining Them Tesla drivers rated their overall satisfaction with the DC fast charging options at 734 (on a 1000-point scale), well above the industry average of 558. GM EV drivers rated their experience at 586, with Ford coming in at 544. That’s the finding of a new J.D. Power E-Vision Intelligence Report, which also notes that the flood of new companies that will use Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) means over 70 percent of all EV sales in the U.S. will “soon” be compatible with the Tesla standard.No Contest on ReliabilityEV drivers need to be able to count on public charging stations being operational when they pull up to charge, and here is where Tesla really provides for its drivers. According to JD Power’s survey, more than one-in-five EV drivers who went to a non-Tesla public charging station in the first quarter of 2023 (21.6 percent) were not able to charge their vehicle during their visit. At Tesla Superchargers, it was just 3.9 percent. The report puts it simply, “When it comes to reliability, no other provider is even close to Tesla.”The White House has said that NACS will be a part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is spending $7.5 billion on new EV charging solutions. SAE International said this week that it will set standards for the NACS connector so that any supplier or manufacturer can use it. In 2022, all of the energy used at a Tesla Supercharger was renewable, either through on-site resources or through annual renewable matching.Highly Ranked Last Year, Too Tesla’s public charging lead is not new. In its 2022 EV Experience Public Charging Study, J.D. Power found that EV drivers ranked Tesla Superchargers highest or all available DC fast-chargers. Tesla’s ranking was so far above its competitors, in fact, that it was the only DC fast-charger brand to rank above the industry average. Tesla’s Destination chargers also ranked highest among Level 2 charging stations. In April, Tesla’s latest Impact Report claimed that its Superchargers have had an uptime of at least 99.9 percent since 2018. Tesla’s definition of “uptime” is when at least half of the chargers at a Supercharger site are operational on any given day.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 EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV. More
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GMC shared a video of the upcoming 2022 Hummer EV pickup doing a “Watts to Freedom” launch-control start. The new Hummer EV pickup, when equipped with its available 1000-hp three-motor setup, is claimed to launch to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. The Hummer EV pickup will arrive by the end of the year and an SUV model and cheaper configurations will go on sale within the next few years. GMC’s new Hummer EV pickup will enter production this fall, and GMC says it has up to 1000 horsepower and will reach 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. That’s with its launch-control mode that’s called Watts to Freedom, and GMC shared a video of the feature in action on a prototype truck—a fitting way to launch into the holiday weekend.
GMC
We’ve yet to experience it for ourselves, but Watts to Freedom aims to provide a different experience than traditional gas-powered cars’ launch-control systems. It still involves the driver mashing the accelerator and brake pedals simultaneously, but Watts to Freedom aims to elevate the auditory experience thanks to the lack of a noisy internal-combustion engine. The Hummer EV first lowers itself by 2.0 inches via the air suspension followed by a series of sounds, haptic feedback in the driver’s seat, and visual elements in the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, including a g-force meter. Once this sequence is complete, then it’ll launch to 60 mph in a claimed 3.0 seconds.
The GMC Hummer EV will eventually offer pickup and SUV variations, and they will be the first General Motors products to use the automaker’s new Ultium battery platform. In its most powerful configuration, the Hummer EV has three electric motors producing up to 1000 horsepower and all-wheel drive. Cheaper models have two-motor setups and less power. The first Hummer EV to arrive will be the fully loaded Edition 1 pickup starting at $112,595, and the cheaper configurations and SUV models will go on sale in the next few years. We’ll let you know how quick the electric Hummer is when we get our hands on one for testing, and we’ll show you all about how Watts to Freedom and the Hummer’s other features work.
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The 2024 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition commemorates the modified NASCAR Cup Car running in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.Painted Riptide Blue and wearing graphics inspired by the ZL1 race car, Chevy will only sell 56 copies in the U.S. of the production version.While pricing hasn’t been released, the 650-hp Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition will be available later this year.The incredible six-generation Chevy Camaro ZL1 will soon be pushing daises, as it’s ending production after the 2024 model year. However, in addition to the recently revealed commemorative Collector’s Edition, the bow-tie brand has introduced the 2024 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition to mark a motorsports milestone.Inspired by the modified NASCAR Camaro ZL1 Cup Car that’s running in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the production car is aimed at customers who love the Camaro and who love Le Mans. Chevy says it will only sell 56 copies of the G56 Edition in the U.S., making it extremely limited. Based on the 2024 Camaro ZL1 coupe, with its 650-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, the Garage 56 version features the face of the track-focused 1LE variant, complete with prominent dive planes and a protruding front splitter. There’s also a wicker bill rear spoiler that’s influenced by those seen on NASCAR Cup Cars. ChevyAlong with Riptide Blue paint—exclusively offered for the ’24 model year—the ZL1 G56 wears graphics designed to mimic the Le Mans race car. Notice the thin gold stripe outlining the primary white stripe that flow from the car’s hood to the trunklid. In the middle is a black and gray rendition of the American flag. The hood also gets a NASCAR 75th Anniversary badge, and there’s a Hendrick Motorsports logo on the rear pillar, just like the race car. Garage 56 emblems also appear on the front fenders as well as inside on the steering wheel and floormats. For those who want their commemorative Camaro ZL1 to look even more like the race car that’ll be spending an entire day circling the Circuit de la Sarthe, Chevy will offer three additional decals. There’s a NASCAR one that goes at the top of the windshield, there are Goodyear decals for the front wheel arches, and “24” can be stamped on the doors in honor of the race car’s number.The 2024 Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition will go into production later this year, and fans who want to watch it compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans can see the action start at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, June 10.Keep Up on the CamaroThis 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 EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More
Illustration by Darin JohnsonCar and Driver The Audi A3 has been comprehensively redesigned, and a sedan model will likely arrive in the U.S. later this year. A 48-volt hybrid system should be standard, with a plug-in-hybrid model to follow. The high-performance S3 and RS3 derivatives will continue on. After the global launch of the fourth-generation […] More
The all-new 2023 Range Rover Sport has more regal styling, a longer wheelbase, and various new features.Along with familiar six-cylinder engines, there’s a new 434-hp plug-in hybrid and a 523-hp twin-turbo V-8.The ’23 Range Rover Sport ranges from $84,350 for the base SE trim to $122,850 for the V-8–powered First Edition.The 2023 Range Rover Sport ushers in the third generation of the British brand’s most popular model. Well, its most popular model in the U.S. market, according to Land Rover. When it comes to prestige and price, the Sport is one step below the premier Range Rover, which also recently underwent a complete redesign. When it came to reinventing the Sport, Range Rover elected to design sleeker bodywork around a three-inch-longer wheelbase and, of course, add a host of new content to broaden its appeal.
Every Range Rover Sport sold in the U.S. will have all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The lineup is split into four trim levels—P360 SE, P400 SE Dynamic, P440e Autobiography, and P530 First Edition—each with a particular powertrain. The SE and SE Dynamic share a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system. However, the P360 has 355 horsepower and the P400 has 395. The P440e has a plug-in-hybrid setup that generates a combined 434 horses, and its 31.8-kWh battery provides an estimated electric-only range of 48 miles. The P530 has a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 that’s sourced from BMW, and it can hit 60 mph in a claimed 4.3 seconds. Range Rover also says an electric variant will join the lineup next year.
Land Rover
Although the general shape of an SUV is hard to alter too drastically, the ’23 Range Rover Sport’s new look is decidely more dapper than its predecessor. Its overhangs are shorter in the front and longer in the rear, and the front-end height has been raised. Its headlights are slimmer, its grille openings are smaller, and the surfaces look smoother, especially on the sides with the flush-mounted door handles. The Sport’s tail has a more contemporary appearance with lighting elements that span the width of the rear hatch. The latest Rover is now available with larger, 23-inch rims (21s are standard), and the Dynamic model has special visual cues such as unique bumpers as well as graphite- and copper-colored exterior accents.
Land Rover
The new RR Sport’s platform is said to be 35 percent stiffer than before, and its wheelbase has been stretched by three inches. This helps add about an inch of rear-seat legroom in the cabin, which has also been restyled with new materials and features. Front passengers will enjoy 22-way power seats with heated and ventilated cushions and massage functions. Along with a 13.7-inch digital gauge cluster, every Sport has a curved 13.1-inch touchscreen that supports over-the-air updates and Amazon Alexa voice commands. Wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are standard, too. Top options include Meridian sound systems with as many as 29 speakers and up to 1430 watts of amplifier power.
Land Rover
Among the Range Rover Sport’s other new and improved features is rear-axle steering that can turn the back wheels up to 7.3 degrees, helping the big SUV be more manueverable at low speeds. The addition of adaptive off-road cruise control is intented to make the Sport easier to control on uneven terrain by automatically adjusting the vehicle speed, leaving the driver to only have to control the steering. All models come with a host of driver-assistance tech that includes a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and lane-keeping assist. For those who spring for the top-tier First Edition, this higher-performance model supplements the Sport’s standard air suspension and rear-wheel steering with electronically controlled anti-roll bars. Built on the same production line as the top Range Rover at the company’s Solihull factory in the U.K., the RR Sport is currently on sale. The entry-level P360 SE starts at $84,350, which is nearly $12,000 more than last year’s base price. The $91,350 P400 SE Dynamic and $105,550 plug-in-hybrid P440e Autobiography make up the middle of the lineup. The limited-production, V-8–powered P530 First Edition sits at the top and essentially replaces the old Supercharged model. The First Edition opens at $122,850, which is a whopping $32,200 more than last year’s least expensive V-8 RR Sport.
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