Aurelia Butler

Lotus has revealed a new electric four-door hatchback called the Emeya.It shares its platform and powertrain with the Eletre SUV and promises up to 905 horsepower in the top version.The Emeya is slated to arrive in the U.S. next year as a 2025 model.Lotus, a British automaker best known for lightweight sports cars, already went way out of its comfort zone in releasing the 5500-plus-pound Eletre electric SUV. So the arrival of the new 2025 Lotus Emeya EV, while still quite a different vehicle than an Elise or an Emira, isn’t quite as shocking in that context. As a sibling to the Eletre, the new four-door Emeya hatchback features a similar powertrain and design but promises even better performance thanks to its lower, more aerodynamic shape.We’re not sure exactly what Lotus means when it calls the Emeya a “Hyper-GT,” but it’s clearly meant to compete with the likes of the Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. As such, it’s fitted with a big battery pack—102.0-kWh, to be specific—and powerful front and rear electric motors. The standard setup is expected to offer the same 603 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque as the lower-spec Eletre models, while the top version of the Emeya promises a whopping 905 horsepower and 727 pound-feet of torque. This version will also have a two-speed transmission like the Taycan.Although the Emeya will likely be heavy like the Eletre, Lotus is still claiming that the 905-hp version will get to 62 mph in less than 2.8 seconds and go on to a 159 mph top speed. It’s fitted with a standard air suspension and features all sorts of active aerodynamic elements such as front-grille shutters, a rear diffuser, and a rear spoiler that deploys to create more downforce at speed.Official range estimates for the Emeya are not available yet, but Lotus says they’ll be similar to the Eletre’s numbers—meaning a range of between 260 miles and 315 miles depending on configuration. The Emeya is also capable of DC fast-charging at up to 350 kilowatts.The interior looks highly modern and is trimmed in materials including Alcantara, Nappa leather, and aluminum. There’s a large infotainment touchscreen sprouting for the dashboard, and a 55.0-inch augmented-reality head-up display will also be available. A four-seat arrangement is pictured with rear bucket seats, but there will also be a rear bench available to bring passenger capacity to five. The rear hatch opens to reveal a somewhat spacious-looking cargo area.Lotus says that production of the Emeya will start in 2024 and that it will arrive in the U.S. as a 2025 model. Pricing won’t be released until later, but we figure it will start north of $100,000, with the top 905-hp version pushing well beyond $150,000.More on Lotus EVsThis 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

Nissan has teased a new Frontier model that’s inspired by the original Hardbody truck from the 1980s and ’90s.The Hardbody edition will be revealed on September 14, and we may have already seen some of its features.The Project Hardbody concept that debuted at the 2022 Chicago auto show sported a lifted ride height, knobby tires wrapping retro-looking wheels, and a sport bar.Retro trucks are rad. Among the raddest is the original Nissan Hardbody pickup from the ’80s and ’90s, and it looks like the modern-day Nissan Frontier will be getting a special edition based on its forebearer. The details of that truck will be revealed next week on September 14, and while Nissan today whet our appetite with the teaser photos shown above, we might already have a good idea of what the real deal will look like.A Concept Comes to LifeDuring the 2022 Chicago auto show, Nissan unveiled the Project Hardbody concept, which was an homage to the original pickup’s Desert Runner model. Along with a red paint job reminiscent of the one worn by the old Hardbody, the concept featured a lifted ride height along with BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires mounted on cool wheels that look identical to the old-school set.Among the concept’s other notable equipment are black overfenders, a front skid plate, and a sport bar with a pair of lights. A spare tire is mounted in the bed, and black “4×4” decals are plastered on the side of the front doors. While Nissan didn’t show any of those details in the teaser image it released today, judging by that truck’s glossy black front fascia, chunky tread pattern, and black hood decal, we’re betting the 2024 Frontier Hardbody edition will look a lot like the concept.The features that will come on the yet-to-be-revealed Frontier remain to be seen, but it’s a good bet that truck will have the same 310-hp naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V-6 and the nine-speed automatic transmission that’s standard on every other Frontier. We also wouldn’t be surprised if the Hardbody-inspired edition is based on the off-road-oriented Pro-4X model, which means it’ll likely start north of $37K. We’ll find out more next week.Explore the FrontierThis 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

The 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost’s 4.5-second sprint to 60 mph makes it the quickest four-pot ‘Stang we’ve tested thus far.That said, we never tested the last generation’s 330-hp hi-po with an automatic, but we’re pretty confident the 2024 would put up a serious fight.The EcoBoost we tested came equipped with the $3475 High Performance package with summer tires and upgraded brakes.Welcome to Car and Driver’s Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We’ve been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).When a flashy new Ford Mustang shows up at C/D headquarters, loaded with performance-specific upgrades, you know we must subject it to some lively acceleration testing. Now that we have, it appears we have a new king of the hill. With a recorded 60-mph time of 4.5 seconds, the 2024 Mustang EcoBoost is officially the quickest four-cylinder Mustang we’ve had the privilege of testing.Drag Strip Mode Is GoldWe noticed a few interesting things during our examination. Over multiple attempts, the Drag Strip drive mode proved worth its weight in gold, saving a tenth or two on the way to 60 mph. As testing director Dave VanderWerp puts it, “Drag Strip mode really bangs home the shifts.” The EcoBoost also chirps its tires on the one-two upshift, which is a fun little flourish. Now, it’s worth pointing out that there’s a small asterisk involved—Barry Bonds style. While this EcoBoost absolutely trounced the manual 2020 model we evaluated as part of a comparison test, beating the stick to 60 by half a second, there is a missing variant that could give this 2024 a run for its money. We weren’t able to test the outgoing generation’s Performance Pack-equipped, 330-horsepower, automatic-transmission variant, which is as closely matched to the 2024 model as any before it. The last EcoBoost automatic we tested, a 2018 model with 310 hp, was just a tenth quicker than the Performance-Pack manual at 4.9 seconds to 60.Stacking Up StangsOther points of comparison favor the Mustang too. The new Stang continued its motive-force routing, besting the 2020 in the quarter mile with a 13.2-second run at 103 mph, with the previous manual at 13.6 seconds at 102 mph and the automatic coming in at 13.4 seconds at 100 mph. In the opposite direction, our EcoBoost Performance Pack’s brakes clamped down from 70 mph in 149 feet, barely edging past the 2020 model’s 153-foot stop. The gulf widens slightly at 100 mph, where it takes the 2024 EcoBoost 293 feet to stop, versus the 2020 EcoBoost’s 308 feet. When it’s time to turn, the tide changes; the 2024 EcoBoost fared worse on our 300-foot skidpad (0.95 g versus 2020’s 1.02 g). But that’s because the previous car had far more serious tires; Pirelli P Zero Corsa PCZ4s versus P Zero PZ4s on the 2024 model, and the new model’s 255/40R-19s are slightly narrower than the 265-width Corsas, too. Marc Urbano|Car and DriverWhile the latest EcoBoost may not pack the same 330 horsepower as the outgoing Performance Pack model, the four-cylinder Mustang did receive some powertrain bumps for 2024. The turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four under the hood makes 315 horsepower (up from 310) and 350 pound-feet of torque. This is good, because its curb weight is also up slightly; at 3812 pounds, it’s 62 more than our 2018 automatic test car. Sadly, the manual transmission is no longer offered on EcoBoost models this year, but as we’ve seen above, the 10-speed automatic is plenty good on its own. Performance Pack ExplainedSo, what’s in this mysterious Performance Pack? Throw Ford $3475 and it’ll boost your Mustang’s street cred with wider wheels and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires, MagneRide adaptive dampers, beefier Brembo brakes, extra bracing in the engine bay, and a 3.55:1 Torsen limited-slip differential. Oh yeah, it also adds the “drift stick,” which is a proper lever for the electronic parking brake that lets you get up to even dumber stuff than you otherwise would.A final fun fact: This spec of 2024 EcoBoost is only one second quicker to 60 mph than a 2023 F-250 SuperCrew 4×4. Be careful who you try to race for pinks, folks.New Mustangs Reviewed!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.Senior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More

CLARIFICATION 9/7/23: This story has been updated with clarification that while the V-8 powertrain is being discontinued and the current V-6 used in the Ghibli and Levante is likely to suffer the same fate, both nameplates will live on at least through the end of their current product lifecycles.There are some big changes happening at Maserati. The storied Italian automaker today confirmed to Car and Driver that production of the Quattroporte will soon conclude and both the Ghibli and Levante could be in for major powertrain changes before those models end their current lifecycle.Making Funeral ArrangementsThe Quattroporte and Ghibli are currently the only sedans that Maserati sells, and they’re accompanied by a recently redesigned GranTurismo grand tourer, the newly introduced Grecale compact SUV, and the Levante mid-size SUV in the automaker’s lineup.While the Ghibli and Levante are said to be continuing on through the end of their lifecycle, the engines that power them are subject to change. With production ending on the V-8 and likely also the current Ferrari-built V-6, we suspect Maserati is planning to drop its newer “Nettuno” twin-turbo V-6 that debuted with the MC20 sports car under the hoods of those models.While Maserati has yet to officially announce plans to discontinue the Levante, we believe it’ll exit the lineup following the 2024 or 2025 model year, to be replaced by a second generation of the mid-size crossover. We suspect the Ghibli will be phased out completely and not return with a new generation as the company continues to push its lineup even more upmarket and as sedan sales continue to lull. The company has already confirmed that 2024 will be the final model year where a V-8 is available in any of its models, as the engine’s production will cease by the end of 2023. However, it will continue to be offered on ’24 versions of the Ghibli 335 Ultima and the Levante V8 Ultima. Unfortunately, there is no V-8–powered Quattroporte Ultima model.MaseratiThe Ferrari-built V-6 is likely to meet the same fate as the V-8. While the six-cylinder will soldier on and continue to be built in 2024 for the Levante GT and Modena and the Ghibli Modena Q4, the company told Car and Driver it will update us regarding the end of production of the engine when those details are official, further fueling our speculation that the Levante and Ghibli will receive a new powertrain.Future Quattroporte?Despite today’s news, the Maserati Quattroporte might not be gone for long. That’s because we believe the next generation of the luxury sports sedan is on the way, as first reported by Autocar. The new QP is expected to serve as Maserati’s sole sedan offering, and it could arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year. It’ll likely be a stretched version of the GranTurismo, which means it should offer a twin-turbo V-6 as well as an 800-plus-hp electric powertrain. Obviously, don’t expect a V-8 version.More Maserati NewsThis 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

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally brings rally-inspired performance to the Blue Oval’s mid-size battery-electric SUV.A 0.8-inch lift and additional underbody protection ought to make the Rally capable enough to take on the likes of dirt and gravel paths.Expect the Mach-E Rally to sticker for around $65,000 when it goes on sale early next year.Ford may no longer sell the Focus RS—or any Focus, for that matter—but the hot hatch’s spirit arguably lives on in the 2024 Mustang Mach-E Rally. The latest addition to the battery-electric Mustang Mach-E trim line aims to top the Mach-E GT when it comes to peak output, too, with Ford hoping to eke north of 480 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque out of the Rally’s two electric motors (one at each axle). Related StoriesAs of this writing, the Mach-E GT Performance Edition makes do with just 480 horses and 634 pound-feet of twist. It’s possible the extra grunt Ford pulls out of the Mach-E Rally’s powertrain eventually makes its way to the Performance Edition, as well.Dirty MustangHorsepower and torque figures, however, are mere bragging rights. The truth is, the Mustang Mach-E Rally is a different type of battery-powered mare than its GT kin. Whereas that Mach-E trim favors on-road performance, the Rally has its sights set on unpaved thoroughfares. Loose gravel and dirt are what Ford built the Mach-E Rally for. The Blue Oval even built a dedicated rally course at its Michigan proving ground, giving the engineers and technicians working on the Mach-E Rally a proper place to tame this wild horse. Whether Ford’s team succeeded at turning the Mach-E Rally into a thoroughbred is something we won’t know until we have a chance to get behind the wheel of this electric SUV. Nevertheless, the mechanical upgrades of the Rally go beyond just its powertrain. MagneRide shocks, specially tuned springs, a 0.8-inch lift, and a trim-specific RallySport drive mode ought to help this dirt-loving Mach-E better take on craggy terra firma. Additionally, the Rally adds protective shielding around the front and rear motors as a means of preventing any debris from damaging the drivetrain. Soft RoaderThough Ford designed the Rally for off-tarmac driving, this Mustang Mach-E variant is an off-road machine in a limited context. Need proof? Note the Michelin CrossClimate2 all-season rubber Ford fits around the trim’s distinct 19-inch wheels. Need to trail your own path or tackle particularly tough terrain? Then you’re better off looking at a Ford truck or SUV bearing either the Tremor or Raptor moniker. On the plus side, if you do push the Mach-E Rally beyond its capabilities, then you can rest easy knowing this variant features a front recovery point. This complements other Rally-specific decor such as those aforementioned wheels, a reworked front fascia with high-mounted fog lights, a Focus RS–esque rear wing mounted to the hatch, a black-painted roof, and a pair of contrasting stripes on the hood and tailgate. Bringing the Rally to a stop, meanwhile, comes courtesy of 15.8-inch front rotors (1.5 inches larger than the 2023 Mach-E’s standard units) clamped down by red-painted Brembo-sourced calipers. Ford’s mum on details related to the rear rotors and calipers, but we wager the current Mach-E’s standard 12.4-inch units and single-piston stoppers carry over.Just how far the Rally will go on a full charge depends on how heavy a left foot you have. That said, Ford is aiming to squeeze 250 miles from the SUV’s battery pack and its 91.0 kWh of usable capacity. Similarly, the Blue Oval is still figuring out final pricing for the Mach-E Rally, with the company targeting a base price of approximately $65,000 for the model. Expect the automaker to release final power, torque, range, and price details closer to the start of 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E production, which begins early next year with sales following shortly thereafter.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.Senior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More