Aurelia Butler

Lexus is introducing a new version of the GX mid-size SUV for 2024, and it looks quite different.At launch there is a GX550 model with a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 engine with 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. A hybrid will come later.There’s also an off-road-oriented Overtrail trim with 33-inch tires and a locking rear differential.The Lexus GX mid-size SUV, already a favorite among off-roaders and overlanding enthusiasts, enters 2024 looking like Lexus’s version of the Mercedes G-wagen. The blocky, squared-off new look emphasizes its tough body-on-frame construction, sophisticated four-wheel-drive system, and Land Cruiser roots, and the new 2024 GX550 will even offer a special new off-road trim level called Overtrail.Built on the same platform as the larger Lexus LX, the new GX is significantly larger than the old one. In fact, it’s only a few inches smaller than the LX in most dimensions and has the same wheelbase, making us wonder why Lexus still plans to offer both models in the U.S. Most versions of the GX come standard with a third row of seats offer seating for six or seven, although the Overtrail is only available as a two-row five-seater for now. The side-opening tailgate is gone, replaced by a conventional power liftgate with a glass section that opens separately. The third row is available with a power-folding function.More on the GXFour-wheel drive with a low range is standard across the board, as is a center locking differential. The standard powertrain in the GX550 is a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine and a 10-speed automatic. This is the same engine found in the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, and Lexus LX600, and in the GX550 it produces 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claims a combined fuel-economy rating of 17 mpg, a slight bump over the old V-8 GX460’s 16 mpg combined. Lexus says that a hybrid is coming later, and we expect this setup to have a similar configuration as the Tundra and Sequoia’s iForce Max, with a bit more horsepower courtesy of an electric motor and slightly improved fuel economy.The GX’s suspension features the same setup as the LX, with an independent front suspension and a solid rear axle. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) feature that can disconnect the front and rear anti-roll bars continues on, but it’s now done electronically. Adaptive dampers are standard. Upgrades for the Overtrail include a rear locking differential, 33-inch all-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels, and skid plates.Inside, the new GX’s dashboard looks far more modern than before—no surprise given that the previous GX had been around for more than a decade. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominate the driver’s view, and the touchscreen runs Lexus’s latest infotainment system with improved voice commands. A combination of two physical knobs and touch-sensitive buttons control the HVAC system, and there are switches and buttons on the center console near the shifter for the four-wheel-drive system, drive modes, and differential locks.The lineup starts off with the Premium and Premium+ grades, and the Luxury and Luxury+ models will presumably add more equipment (Lexus hasn’t detailed available features by trim yet). These will be offered with either a second-row bench or captain’s chairs. The Overtrail adds the off-road upgrades and comes with other visual tweaks, while the Overtrail+ will come with extra features commensurate with the Luxury trim. The Premium and Overtrail models offer 8000 pounds of towing capacity, while the Luxury trim can tow 6990 pounds and the Luxury+ can tow 6780 pounds.Eleven exterior colors will be offered, and the Overtrail will be available in certain two-tone combinations with a black roof like the Earth-and-black combination pictured at top. The interior comes standard with faux leather and will be available with semi-aniline leather on the higher trims, while the Overtrail has attractive green suede accents on the seats.We haven’t heard anything on price, but we expect the 2024 GX to go up a fair amount compared with the old model’s price range of $59,275–$69,930. It will be built in Japan and is slated to start arriving at U.S. dealerships in early 2024.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 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

Currently a concept, the Mission X that Porsche revealed today is a hypercar with an electric powertrain. Porsche says that if it goes to production, the Mission X would be designed to claim the title of fastest road-legal car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Lightweight carbon-fiber design and aero elements make more downforce than a 911 GT3 RS.Summer is when the concept cars come out to play, and Porsche has a doozy in its Mission X, which the automaker unveiled at a celebration of 75 years of its sports cars. The Mission X is a look at how the next 75 years of great sports cars might unfold: fast, light, and electric. PorscheThe low-slung electric coupe-style concept looks like a hovercraft, with a lightweight glass-dome roof and doors that open forward like a beetle’s wings—although Porsche designers were probably thinking more of the famous 917 race car when they hung those hinges. “The Porsche Mission X . . . picks up the torch of iconic sports cars of decades past. Like the 959, the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder before it, the Mission X provides critical impetus for the evolutionary development of future vehicle concepts,” according to Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche.PorscheFascinating LED LightingThis is no longtail. At 177.0 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 47.2 inches tall, the Mission X should fit nicely in your garage. It has a similar wheelbase—107.4 inches—to the Carrera GT and 918. Other racing callouts can be seen in the headlight shape, long and placed low on the nose. Unlike the old cars, the new lights are LED modules. During daytime running, just a slim element is visible, but when you turn on the headlights, the full module opens, “like an eye blinking open,” says Porsche. The modern version of a pop-up, say us. Elana Scherr|Car and DriverThe concept car is painted in Rocket Metallic, a color designed just for this car. Satin-finished carbon-fiber details highlight the car’s lightweight construction, and Porsche says its aero elements will make more downforce than a 911 GT3 RS. Staggered tires—20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear—make use of that downforce. In the center of the wheels is Porsche’s redesigned crest, which also can be found on the hood and steering wheel. Look closely: changes are subtle. More Porsche NewsContinuing Porsche’s current production car design trend, a full-length light floats across the rear of the Mission X, with Porsche spelled out across it, in case the freshly redesigned crest threw off your recognition. While charging, the “E” in the Porsche lettering gently pulses, to show something is happening. As it’s a concept, Porsche hasn’t given much detail on the propulsion, but this is an electric hypercar, with a battery installed behind the vehicle seats to center the mass and give it mid-engine dynamics. PorscheUltra-Fast ChargingThere is no information on the motors, but the Mission X is promised to have a power-to-weight ratio of roughly 1 hp per 2.2 pounds, and a 900-volt system that will allow it to charge at twice the speed of the Taycan Turbo S—which Porsche says can go from 5 to 80 percent in just over 20 minutes. In the cabin, the driver and passenger seats are different colors, the driver’s seat blending into the Kalahari Gray of the dash as if to say the pilot is part of the car. The passenger sits on Andalusia Brown, and what that says about Porsche’s expectations of your passenger’s experience, we don’t wish to guess at. Porsche’Ring-Ready SwitchgearBack to motorsports inspiration, the open-top steering wheel features mode switches and shift paddles—presumably for some sort of regenerative brake control. Lap recorders and a stopwatch module are also integrated into the cabin, so you can set your own Nürburgring time. Currently the production-car record is held by Mercedes, with the Mercedes AMG One running a 6:35.18 lap time set in 2022.Porsche is quick to declare the Mission X is a design study only, but we saw the Mission E become the Taycan, so we have hope that Mission X will find its way to dealerships in the future. Other Porsches of NoteSenior Editor, FeaturesLike a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews.     More

Ford is recalling over 125,000 pickup trucks and crossovers that could catch fire, according to a campaign published by the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).The recall expands on a similar recall campaign issued in July 2022 that covered 100,000 Ford Escape, Ford Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles built between 2020 and 2023, equipped with the company’s 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain. In the event of an engine failure, the recall says engine oil and fuel vapor can enter the engine compartment and accumulate near hot ignition sources like the exhaust, which could start a fire.Ford says it knows of three instances where vehicles caught fire after undergoing the 2022 recall, suggesting the company’s original fix did not solve the problem. The new fix is currently under development, says Ford. In the meantime, Ford is advising owners to “park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.”If you think your vehicle might be affected by this recall, head over to the NHTSA’s website and enter your VIN. Ford is expected to mail notices to owners on June 12, with a follow-up notice when a solution is available. Other Recent RecallsRoad & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

Jeep gave the Wrangler a light refresh for 2024, and the updated off-roader will start at $33,690.The go-anywhere Rubicon models open at $47,190 for the two-door version, with the four-door models adding $4000 to the total across the lineup.The plug-in hybrid 4xe arsenal has grown to include a new Sport S ($51,790) model at the bottom and a Rubicon X ($70,880) at the top.Jeep updated its venerable Wrangler off-roader for the 2024 model year with a redesigned version of the iconic seven-slot grille, a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, and an expanded model lineup for the plug-in hybrid 4xe. Now Jeep has announced pricing for the 2024 Wrangler, with the cheapest two-door Sport model starting at $33,690 and the lineup topping out at $89,390 for the burly four-door Rubicon 392, which still packs a 470-hp 6.4-liter V-8.The Sport can be upgraded to the Sport S for an extra $3500, adding features like adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, and power windows and door locks. The next step up is the Willys, which prepares the Wrangler for the trails with a rear-locking differential and 33-inch all-terrain tires. It also brings LED headlamps and fog lights and costs $41,190.The top of the range features the Rubicon and Rubicon X, starting at $47,190 and $56,690, respectively. Here’s where the Wrangler’s go-anywhere attitude really gets serious, with the Rubicon bringing a Dana full-float rear axle, electronic front sway-bar disconnect, a part-time transfer case, and front and rear locking differentials. The X adds creature comforts like 12-way power adjustable front seats wrapped in Nappa leather, blind-spot monitoring, and a heated steering wheel and seats. All models from the Sport to the Rubicon X come standard with the 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 but can be upgraded to a 270-hp turbo 2.0-liter four-pot, which produces 35 more pound-feet of torque than the six-cylinder.Each of the aforementioned trims can be had in four-door form for an extra $4000, but there are also two trim levels exclusively offered with the additional apertures. The Rubicon 392 sits atop the range with its massive motor, but the Sahara slots in between the Willys and Rubicon at $49,620. The Sahara’s only non-hybrid powertrain is the 2.0-liter inline-four, and the model also includes a heated steering wheel and seats, LED lights all around, and proximity key entry with remote start.More New Off-RoadersJeep also added the plug-in hybrid 4xe powertrain to more trim levels. The new base PHEV model is the Sport S, which starts at $51,790. Next comes the Willys ($56,530) and the Sahara ($58,640) before getting to the 4xe-exclusive High Altitude. This model costs $68,790 and adds goodies like a full-time transfer case, 20-inch aluminum wheels shod in 32-inch tires, a built-in front camera for off-roading, 12-way powered front seats, and a powered retracting roof. The 4xe lineup is capped off by the Rubicon, at $62,380, and the new Rubicon X at $70,880. Jeep says that the 2024 Wrangler will start hitting dealership lots this summer. 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

From the June 2023 issue of Car and Driver.Break out your American-flag shirt and grab your passport, because NASCAR is headed to France for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The crossover isn’t as strange as it might seem. American sports-car teams have long been vying for glory on the Mulsanne straight at the famed endurance race, but NASCAR has only been to Le Mans once before.Each year, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) welcomes a team to Le Mans to participate in the Garage 56 program, an exhibition class created in 2012 to encourage technical innovation. Past G56 racers have run on alternative fuels or featured cockpits equipped for disabled drivers, with two teams from the latter category being the only G56 entries to have ever finished the race. For 2023, the ACO invited NASCAR to compete in the Garage 56 spot to bring the rowdy V-8 NASCAR experience to Europe.Le Mans from Every AngleEven though NASCAR runs road courses, endurance racing has different rules and challenges. So it’s not as simple as just shipping over a Cup Series car. NASCAR chose Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful team in NASCAR’s premier class, to go to France. This year’s G56 entry will be a Camaro ZL1 Cup Car, modified for the long hours and difficult racing conditions at Le Mans. “We had to adapt it to make it an endurance vehicle,” says Brandon Thomas, vice president of vehicle design. “But it’s a Cup car in spirit.”Check out the photo gallery to learn more about how NASCAR modified the Camaro stock car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.A Bicentennial PartyIn 1976, with gas prices high and track attendance low, the ACO invited NASCAR to send over a couple of its big V-8-powered cars to battle with Porsches and prototypes at Le Mans. A Dodge Charger and a Ford Torino made the journey, but neither survived the 24 hours.A Notorious 56Nissan campaigned the odd-looking Deltawing in 2012, G56’s inaugural year. A study in aerodynamics and weight reduction, the oddly shaped, narrow-front-track wingless design (nearly all downforce came from its diffuser) could run while sipping a fraction of the fuel and using fewer tires. It weighed just over 1000 pounds and successfully hit the pace the ACO requested (between prototype and GT racers). It retired on lap 76 after making contact with a barrier, but that was after it made good on its goal and returned 8.8 mpg at race pace. That’d be just as shocking as a production car getting 100 mpg.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

The DOT’s Inspector General has conducted an audit of the way the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzes safety defects in vehicles, and, well, it could be better.NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has been updating its processes, but the new software and office organization weren’t enough to investigate more than a handful (88) of the 75,267 consumer complaints the agency received in 2019.The report made 12 recommendations for NHTSA to speed things up and now considers all topics “resolved but open pending implementation.” In other words, time to get to work.Figuring out what’s wrong—potentially wrong—with a vehicle these days takes time. Too much time, according to the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General (DOTIG), which recently published an audit report on why it has been taking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) so long to analyze safety defects. The gist of the 40-page report is that NHTSA has made some improvements in its processes, but far more needs to be done.NHTSA at WorkBefore we get into the weeds of the report, titled “NHTSA Has Not Fully Established and Applied Its Risk-Based Process for Safety Defect Analysis,” let’s remember why understanding how NHTSA conducts its investigations and recalls is important. One well-known recent case of a major safety defect was the case of the defective Takata airbag inflators, which killed 24 people and injured over 400. The DOT Inspector General wants NHTSA to speed up its information collection and analysis processes to address any similar safety defects, hoping to avoid any future situation where casualty numbers reach similar levels.Office of Defects Investigation Not Investigating Enough DefectsFor the report, the DOT specifically looked at NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) because it “plays a key role by gathering and analyzing relevant information, investigating potential defects, identifying unsafe motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment, and managing the recall process.” The ODI implemented new procedures in 2016 and 2020, including restructuring its office and modernizing the software it uses to store and analyze data. This was not enough to stave off a number of blistering criticisms from the DOTIG. The ODI didn’t meet timeliness goals, did not upload documents to its public website in a timely manner, doesn’t have an integrated information system for safety defect investigations and recall processes, and, finally, the ODI “does not consistently follow its procedures for issue escalation and lacks guidance for other pre-investigative efforts.”In other words, NHTSA needs to do better.The report provides details about these criticisms. For example, on the last point—issue escalation—the DOT found that the ODI doesn’t consistently follow procedures to determine which problems need to be prioritized and deserve an investigation. In 2019, for example, NHTSA received 75,267 consumer complaints, and 32,482 needed “further substantive review.” NHTSA issued 966 recalls that year, but the ODI only opened 88 investigations. Automakers Moving Faster Than NHTSAThe main reason for this low number of investigations is, in part, that automakers decided to launch some recalls before the ODI pursued its own investigation. This system fits in nicely with ODI’s measurement of success, the DOTIG said, because it “count[s] the number of vehicles recalled each year, rather than by the number of potential safety defects investigated.”The DOTIG made a dozen recommendations to speed things up safely, and NHTSA said it concurred with 10 of them. NHTSA sort of agreed with another (ways to meet timeliness goals) and did not agree with the DOT report about developing consistent rules for negotiating safety defect issues with manufacturers. Given NHTSA’s response, DOTIG said it considers “all 12 recommendations resolved but open pending implementation.” Will any of this result in more and faster recalls? Stay tuned. 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