Aurelia Butler

Alfa Romeo confirmed a new halo car project, set to debut on August 30 of this year.The announcement came directly from Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato during an event for the updated Giulia and Stelvio in China.Imparato described the car as “a true expression of Alfa Romeo DNA from a daring team with a desire to achieve the unique.” Like nearly every other automaker, Alfa Romeo is preparing some sort of big, drawn-out, emotional goodbye to the internal-combustion engine. As the next installment in that goodbye, the Italian manufacturer confirmed a new halo car set to debut on August 30 of this year. The announcement came directly from CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato during an event for the recently refreshed Giulia and Stelvio in China. At the event, Imparato mounted the stage to confirm the debut, which he said will take place at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, Italy. Imparato described the car as “a true expression of Alfa Romeo DNA from a daring team with a desire to achieve the unique.” More Alfa RomeoAs might be expected, the manufacturer is being extremely tight-lipped about details surrounding the new car, but the rumor is that it may carry the “6C” moniker. Assuming that rumor proves true and Alfa sticks to its historical naming convention 4C: four-cylinder engine, 8C: V-8, that can only mean the new car will be powered by some version of the glorious 2.9-liter V-6 housed in current Alfa Quadrifoglio models. That engine already makes 505 horsepower in the QF, but Alfa also made a limited-run 540-hp version known as the GTA. Unfortunately, apart from what Imparato revealed and a grainy teaser image from his Twitter account, we’re left to form our own speculations on the size, shape, and power of the new model. Perhaps Alfa decided to make a production version of the one-off Zagato from last year. Or maybe that “daring team” Imparato referenced managed to slip some of the gorgeous 8C DNA into the new project. Either way, mark your calendars for August 30; we’ll be counting down the days. 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.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

Stellantis has revealed details about the STLA Medium EV platform, which will likely debut in the U.S. as an electric Chrysler model, possibly in 2026.STLA Medium will offer standard- and long-range batteries, with the latter offering a 98.0-kWh useable capacity that could provide about 370 miles of range.Along with a 400-volt electrical system, the platform can be configured with front- or all-wheel drive.CLARIFICATION 7/5/2023: A Stellantis spokesperson has clarified that the first Chrysler EV model has not yet been confirmed for 2026, as we reported earlier based on a comment made by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.Two years ago, Stellantis announced plans to introduce four global electric-vehicle platforms. They included the STLA Small, Medium, Large, and Frame designations, and today the company has revealed details about the STLA Medium platform, which will be the first of the four to reach production starting this year in Europe.While the first EV to utilize the STLA Medium platform will be the next-generation Peugeot 3008, which is only sold overseas, the first U.S. model is expected to be a Chrysler. While we think it could arrive sometime in 2026, an official date has yet to be confirmed. The Chrysler Airflow concept teased what this new EV might be like back in 2021, but it’s currently unclear how similar it will be to the production version—or if it will even be called the Airflow.STLA Medium SpecsLike most EV platforms, the STLA Medium is modular, meaning it can be configured with different dimensions, suspensions, and more. Along with wheelbases that range from about 106 to 114 inches, it can be equipped with a single electric motor on the front axle or motors on both axles. The former setup obviously provides front-wheel drive, and the latter provides all-wheel drive. Stellantis says power output will range from about 214 horsepower to up to around 382 horses.The STLA Medium platform will also offer two battery sizes. Stellantis only revealed details about the larger battery with a 98.0-kWh useable capacity. The company says that’s expected to provide 435 miles of range per charge, but that’s based on the optimistic European WLTP test cycle. That translates to around 370 miles of range based on the EPA’s methodology. Stellantis did say the smaller standard battery is expected to provide 310 miles of WLTP-estimated range—or about 264 miles for the likely EPA estimate.While some of the latest EVs feature a more powerful 800-volt electrical architecture, the STLA Medium platform will use a 400-volt system. This is said to enable the battery to charge from 20 to 80 percent in 27 minutes using a DC fast-charger. In a virtual meeting today with reporters, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the main reason the company made that decision was to help keep the upcoming EV models affordable. He did say that the STLA Medium platform was designed to accept an 800-volt system, so it’s possible to introduce that down the road.Not only is the STLA Medium platform designed to switch from a 400- to an 800-volt electrical system in the future, but Stellantis says it will be be able to accept new battery chemistries such as solid-state as well as nickel- and cobalt-free packs. To help with packaging costs and production volumes, the perimeter dimensions of the STLA Medium’s battery packs are both the same and feature common tray and cooling designs.Stellantis plans to produce 2 million STLA Medium-based EVs per year, with the first batch starting in Europe and then heading to other markets. While U.S. customers will have to wait a couple of years, it’s expected that the Chrysler EV will quickly be followed by models from other Stellantis brands, specifically Jeep. Last fall, the company previewed the Wrangler-like electric Recon, and today Stellantis representatives mentioned that the STLA Medium platform will underpin EVs with “high off-road capability.”More on Stellantis EVsSenior 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

Nissan’s global head of design for nearly two decades, Shiro Nakamura, is behind this attractive rear-driven coupe concept called the Aim EV Sport 01.At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K., the concept will make its debut and Aim’s CEO will tackle the festival’s timed Hill route in it.For now there is no plan for Aim, a startup motorsports engineering company, to produce the car, but you never know.One of the more interesting debuts at next week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is set to be this Aim EV Sport 01, a handsome rear-driven electric coupe which combines 483 horsepower with a claimed weight of just 3150 pounds. It is the work of a Japanese motorsport engineering company and we’re told that there are indeed plans to put it into limited production.But before we get into the details, can you work out where the EV Sport 01’s designer used to work? Take a couple of minutes to look at the pictures before we drop the spoiler.Now pat yourself on the back if you were thinking of Nissan’s sports cars. The EV Sport 01’s styling is the work of Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s global styling boss between 1999 and 2017. During that time he led the development of projects as diverse as the Cube, Murano, Juke, and—probably most telling here—also the R35 generation of the GT-R sports car. After retiring from Nissan in 2017, Nakamura set up his own company, and the EV Sport 01 is one of the first projects.AIMThough the car was originally intended to be a billboard for Aim’s engineering talents, the company now says that it’s investigating the possibility of creating a limited production run. We don’t know where in the world those would be sold. AIMAim was founded in 1998 and has worked on projects including a V-10 engine for endurance racing. The LMP1 Oreca 01, which finished the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours in fourth place, used one.Like many companies, Aim is looking toward a fully electric future, with the EV Sport 01 intended to showcase its talents. It features an aluminum frame, a carbon-fiber central tub, and front-hinged doors. At 153 inches in length, it is fractionally shorter than a Mazda Miata, but despite its diminutive size the EV Sport 01 carries 81.0 kWh of battery capacity, split among four packs. At the rear it has individual motors to power each wheel, allowing for torque vectoring. There are no performance figures yet, but the power and weight figures suggest it should be impressively potent. Aim’s CEO, Yukinori Suzuki, will be showing what his company’s new product is capable of at the Goodwood Festival of Speed July 13–16, where he will be driving the car in a timed category on the 1.16-mile Hill route. We hope to be able to tell you about production plans soon. Goodwood ArchiveSenior European CorrespondentMike Duff has been writing about the auto industry for two decades and calls the UK home, although he normally lives life on the road. He loves old cars and adventure in unlikely places, with career highlights including driving to Chernobyl in a Lada. More

Mercedes has launched a new coupe called the CLE that takes over for the two-door versions of the C-class and E-class, both of which are discontinued after 2023.The CLE300 uses a 255-hp turbo inline-four while the CLE450 upgrades to a 375-hp turbo inline-six, and both feature electrical assistance from an integrated starter-generator.The cabin is nearly identical to the one in the current C-class, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 11.9-inch central touchscreen.Mercedes-Benz is shrinking its coupe lineup, with its latest two-door effort, the 2024 CLE-class, replacing two recently discontinued models, the C-class and E-class coupes. The CLE arrives with a classy, streamlined design, a pair of electrified powertrains, and a tech-focused interior that borrows from the C-class and E-class sedans. The CLE goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2024, with a cabriolet variant coming later.The styling mixes elements from the latest C- and E-class cars. The sleek LED headlights and trapezoidal grille mirrors the C-class while the full-width taillight (actually two lights linked by a dark red trim piece) echoes the look of the E-class. The bodywork is typical Mercedes, with smooth, flowing surfaces punctuated by crisp lines down the side and sculpted bumpers. The grille design consists of dozens of tiny Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars.Measuring 191 inches from bumper to bumper, the CLE is a smidge longer than the outgoing E-class coupe but stretches 6.5 inches farther than the C-class coupe. The added length is almost entirely in the overhangs, with the CLE’s 112.8-inch wheelbase within an inch of both of its predecessors. Mercedes claims there is more cabin space than the previous C-class coupe and says the trunk can hold three golf bags.The base CLE300 is powered by the same M254 engine found in the C300 and E350 sedans, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Upgrading to the CLE450 brings the M256 motor from the E450 sedan, a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six pumping out 375 hp and 369 pound-feet. Both powertrains include an integrated starter-generator running on the 48-volt electrical system, with the electric motor providing a boost of 23 hp and 148 pound-feet. This extra oomph is fed in at lower rpm to reduce turbo lag and smooth out the start/stop system. In both models, power is routed to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission, which houses the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission cooler to save space and weight. The front and rear suspension uses a multilink design, and the CLE450 comes standard with a stiffer sport-tuned suspension, also offered on the AMG package for the CLE300. The cabin looks nearly identical to the one in the current C-class, with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.9-inch central touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver, as well as the same circular air vents. The CLE skips a third screen for the front passenger, which is an option on the E-class. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and the front seats—designed specifically for the CLE—come heated and with four-way lumbar support as standard. Seat ventilation and a seven-zone massage function are optional. The CLE is also fitted with a standard 17-speaker Burmester surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos, which allows “individual instruments or voices to be placed around the listening area” with compatible songs on Apple Music.While the screen layout is borrowed from the C-class, the displays utilize the interface seen on the 2024 E-class, with new icons for important functions that can be accessed more directly. The latest MBUX infotainment system lets customers download third-party apps: TikTok, Angry Birds, Webex, and Zoom are available at launch. There’s also a built-in entertainment suite with video streaming and local programming including sports and news. Mercedes has integrated major music streaming platforms into the infotainment system, which can be linked to individual profiles. Those infotainment profiles can be transferred to other Mercedes vehicles with the latest MBUX system.As on the 2024 E-class, Mercedes is implementing artificial intelligence to learn which comfort systems the driver uses at certain times and under certain conditions, and will then run these systems automatically. This includes everything from navigation to a specific address to climate-control settings to birthday reminders. Users can also create templates that support their routines—Mercedes suggests a “Cold Days” template that switches on the heated seats and turns the ambient lighting orange, or a “Date Night” preset that plays romantic music and makes the interior lighting rose-colored. The CLE will feature remote start and a proximity unlock/lock feature, as well as hands-free access to the trunk by waving your foot in front of the rear bumper’s sensor. The voice assistant now includes a setting where it will always be listening for commands without being activated by the keyword “Hey Mercedes”—it only works if you are alone in the car. The CLE comes packed full of driver-assistance systems, with lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, and traffic sign recognition as standard. An additional package adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, steering and lane change assist, and more. There’s no word yet on pricing, which should be released closer to the 2024 on-sale date. The 2023 C300 coupe started at $50,600 while the 2023 E450 coupe cost $70,800. We expect the CLE300 to start around $60,000 range, while the CLE450 should start near the $70,000 mark. 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.Associate 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

Mazda confirmed that the CX-9 three-row SUV will be discontinued after the 2023 model year.The CX-9 is being replaced by the 2024 CX-90, which has a new platform and new powertrain options.The CX-9 first joined the lineup for 2007 and the current generation arrived for 2016.It’s out with the old, in with the new at Mazda as the company has confirmed that the CX-9 will die after the 2023 model year. The CX-9 has served as Mazda’s three-row SUV offering since it first arrived for the 2007 model year, but it’s being replaced by the new 2024 Mazda CX-90, which went on sale earlier this year.This discontinuation doesn’t exactly come as a surprise, as it represents a larger shift that’s happening within Mazda’s crossover lineup. The CX-9 is based on Mazda’s transverse-engine platform and uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the CX-90 rides on the company’s new longitudinal-engine platform and offers either a turbocharged inline-six engine or a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The CX-90 is also positioned to be more of an upscale offering: although its starting price of $40,970 isn’t much higher than the outgoing CX-9, at $40,125, the CX-90’s higher trim levels reach above $60,000 while the CX-9 tops out at around $50,000.We Test the CX-90The CX-9 first arrived for the 2007 model year and the current, second-generation CX-9 arrived for 2016. We liked its combination of pleasant driving dynamics and upscale interior materials, but its third-row seat was cramped and it was starting to show its age by the time we tested a 2020 model later in its production run.More change is coming to Mazda’s SUV offerings later this year, as we’re expecting the two-row CX-70 to join the CX-90 soon. This new mid-size model will also use the new longitudinal-engine platform and inline-six engine and should look similar to the CX-60 that’s been introduced for global markets.In the meantime, CX-9 sales remain relatively strong, as so far in 2023 the model is up 7 percent compared with last year. Mazda sold 17,359 CX-9s through the first half compared with just 5704 CX-90s during the same time period. Mazda has not yet given an exact date for when CX-9 production will end, so expect some 2023 inventory to remain at U.S. dealers for the time being.More on Mazda SUVsThis 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