Aurelia Butler

Chevrolet Performance engineers showed a camouflaged ZR2 Colorado to an assembled group of journalists that had just finished a first drive of the 2023 Colorado ZR2.They did not expressly admit that it was the new ZR2 Bison, but we discovered the word “Bison” on a sticker attached to one of the prototype DSSV Dampers that was on the truck.No longer an accessory showcase, the Bison is now a higher-performing ZR2 variant that rides on unique long-travel suspension and 35-inch tires that conspire to raise the truck an estimated two inches over a standard ZR2.play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to playMcCarran, Nevada—Just as we were catching our breath and celebrating the finish of a three-day Vegas-to-Reno off-road blast across the Nevada desert, Chevrolet Performance engineers rolled out a distinctive camouflaged ZR2 that sent our jaws dropping. That it had massive 35-inch tires (actually, LT315/70R-17) on beadlock-capable rims was unmistakable, but a quick look underneath showed this to be much more than a garden-variety ZR2 with taller tires.Two Inches Taller For one, the truck stood about two inches taller than a regular ZR2 parked next to it. The one-inch-larger radius of the 35s explains half of that, so the rest is an additional inch of suspension lift. The Multimatic DSSV dampers were engineering sample “take-apart” pieces, which indicates this new ZR2 variant will have unique suspension tuning, which makes sense considering the taller stance and larger tires.But it also appeared that the new high(er)-performance ZR2 also had extra suspension travel above and beyond the 9.9 inches of front travel and 11.6 inches of rear travel found on a regular ZR2. This speculation was not merely due to the higher stance and extra fender gap, but also by the presence of unique Chevrolet Performance–branded hydraulic front and rear bump stops, there to cushion the landing and soak up the extremes of compression travel when driven at high speeds off-road.Why We Recognized This as a BisonWhat makes us think this higher octane ZR2 is a Bison? For one, the new ZR2 Desert Boss is the accessory showcase variant this year, and that leaves headroom for the Bison to be transformed into an extreme performance model. Secondly, and most certainly, we found the word “Bison” on one of the ID stickers affixed to one of the tunable engineering-sample DSSV dampers.Inside, there wasn’t much to see except different seat trim: black with a dash of red. No badges or embroidered logos were in evidence. And we didn’t see anything remarkably different under the hood during the brief, almost accidental glimpse that we got. But that’s not definitive because the usual plastic cover was there, and the standard ZR2’s 2.7-liter turbo engine’s output—310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet—could be ratcheted up by less obvious means involving software and turbo boost.Now We’re ExcitedWhatever the engine story turns out to be, the prospect of a genuine ZR2 Bison with a tangible performance difference has our motor running. And that is exactly what we feel the new ZR2 Bison will become, thanks to the prototype we saw with a taller stance, 35-inch tires, and long-travel suspension with hydraulic bump stops. The mid-size truck performance wars are in full swing, and we’re here for it. Technical EditorDan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department. More

The never-ending TikTok-challenge saga is actually, slowly coming to an end.Hyundai has announced that its software updates, which make the cars no longer as easy to steal as they are in the popular videos, are now available for all affected models, a few months ahead of schedule.AAA also announced that it will offer owners of affected models insurance options, following the news earlier this year that both Progressive and State Farm either raised rates on the affected models or simply declined to offer new policies.Hyundai just finished rolling out a series of model-by-model software updates for the nearly 4 million of its vehicles that, until the update, remained vulnerable to an ultra-easy theft method popularized on TikTok. The ProblemThe software rollout started in February, and availability for the later models is happening a few months earlier than Hyundai’s previously announced schedule. Hyundai’s new code is meant for affected vehicles without a built-in electronic immobilizer. The update makes it so that the TikTok method won’t work because the cars now require a physical key to deactivate the new “ignition kill” feature. Hyundai (and Kia, which also has affected vehicles) has made it clear how important it is to install this update and said any Hyundai dealership could perform the update, which should take less than an hour.One Insurer That’s Not Walking AwayIn addition to that, the automaker announced last week it is partnering with AAA to offer insurance coverage for affected vehicles. That may not sound like much of a deal, but earlier this year, both State Farm and Progressive said they would no longer accept new policies for the easily stolen models or raised prices, so having at least one guaranteed coverage provider sure is better than none. Granted, now that the software solution is rolling out, the vehicles are no longer as virally tempting, which should mean AAA won’t have to pay out as many potential dollars to recover stolen Hyundais as insurers were facing before.Hyundai and AAA said the new coverage options would be available in “most” states, excluding Alaska, Massachusetts, and Washington, because AAA does not operate in those states. How to Know If You Have an Affected VehicleIf you have an affected vehicle or think you might, you can get more information at the official HyundaiAntiTheft.com website. If you aren’t able to get the software update for your car, Hyundai is offering a program for no-cost steering wheel locks or other anti-theft devices, like alarm kits. Every Hyundai vehicle built since November 2021 has a built-in engine immobilizer.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

This content is imported from youTube. 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.The Best Cars For Starting A YouTube Channel | Window Shop with Car and Driver | EP111Watch onYouTube IconYouTube Icon”Window Shop” or “Window Shopping” or whatever it’s called at any moment is something watched on YouTube. And that is a beast always craving fresh content. So, let’s be fresh and contentious.Working from a suggestion from a WS viewer (no one here dares to claim they’re a “fan”), the Car and Driver panel was tasked with finding one car on the Internet around which to build a YouTube presence that attracts millions of eyeballs, leads to the establishment of yet another car auction site, and then results in massive wealth when Peter Chernin throws money at it. Hey, it’s happened once. It can happen again.Join senior editor Elana Scherr (who already has a YouTube channel called “Challengeher”), executive editor K.C. Colwell (whose channel would include cow tipping), blessed contributor Jonathon Ramsey (who earns his love), editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga (from atop Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), and the wholly tertiary John Pearley Huffman (pre-emptively banned by YouTube before actually uploading a video) in a challenge that allows blowing up to 30,000 pretend dollars.Among cars mentioned: a Porsche model designated greater than a 913 but not quite a 915. A Frankenstein mash-up of Lincoln and Lamborghini, which is insane but alphabetically compatible. An old near-truck from a company that’s long dead. Either a Suzuki dump truck or an Autozam, depending on the moment. And a Fisker, picked by some lunatic.More Window ShoppingCar and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoSenior EditorJohn Pearley Huffman has been writing about cars since 1990 and is getting okay at it. Besides Car and Driver, his work has appeared in the New York Times and more than 100 automotive publications and websites. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, he still lives near that campus with his wife and two children. He owns a pair of Toyota Tundras and two Siberian huskies. He used to have a Nova and a Camaro. More

Porsche has teased the refreshed Cayenne’s front end before its Shanghai auto show debut next week. In addition to a freshened-up exterior, the 2024 Cayenne has a slick new cabin, as well.We’ve already driven a prototype, and the refresh also picks up some engineering tweaks.The 2024 Porsche Cayenne will make its official debut at the Shanghai auto show early next week (Monday, April 17, in U.S. time zones). Even though we’re just a couple days away from that reveal, Porsche has seen fit to throw one last teaser into the mix.The teaser reveals a small portion of the Porsche Cayenne’s mid-cycle refresh, and none of it really comes as a surprise. The headlights, which we’ve seen under camouflage, look a lot closer to those of the electric Taycan. The recently refreshed Macan appears to have loaned the Cayenne its full-width lower front fascia too. On the whole, things shouldn’t look too different, but it’ll bring Porsche’s larger SUV up to date with the rest of its lineup.More Specs, DetailsThe Cayenne’s interior will pick up a healthy dose of new tech. Analog gauges are dead and gone, and in their place is a 12.6-inch curved display, again similar to the Taycan. There’s also a 12.3-inch dashboard touchscreen running the Porsche Communication Management infotainment system, in addition to a 10.3-inch optional passenger touchscreen—because reaching an extra three inches to change the radio is so last year.Looks only tell part of the 2024 Porsche Cayenne’s story, though. Earlier this year, we took a prototype for a spin to get an early taste at what’s to come. In addition to some adjustments to the tire and suspension setup, Porsche’s engineers also went to town on the powertrains; power is up on both ends of the trim spectrum, while the mid-tier 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 is gone and replaced with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. Hell yeah.The 2024 Porsche Cayenne makes its debut at 10:40 p.m. ET Monday night. Schedule your coffeemakers now.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

• Not the usual choice for an affordable sports car, the Toyota MR2 Spyder answers the question, “What if Toyota built a Boxster?”• This example has low miles and an attractive appearance package.• The auction runs through April 17.Car and DriverThese days, affordable sportscars are thin on the ground, but in the mid-2000s, life was good. Then, if shopping for a wallet-friendly roadster, you could stroll right past the Mazda dealer and over to Toyota, where Miata Isn’t Always The Answer. Up for auction this week at Bring A Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is this low-mileage Toyota MR2 Spyder, a dependable and thrifty alternative to the likes of a Porsche Boxster or Lotus Elise.Bring a TrailerWhen new, you could have bought two MR2 Spyders for the price of one Porsche Boxster and worn them like shoes. Mid-engined, light on its feet, and shorter even than the contemporary second-gen Mazda MX-5, the MR2 was zippy, fun, and friendly.Related StoriesYou can of course pick used early Boxsters up on the cheap these days, but water-cooled Porsche complexity and parts pricing can still unexpectedly mug you for a month’s salary. That’s not true for the simple Toyota. The MR2’s engineer took their third-generation sports car back to its cut-priced roots with some compact packaging and an economical and durable 1.8-liter engine shared with the Celica GT.The initial plan for the first-generation MR2 was accessible fun for the everyman, and it resulted in a pint-sized cross between a wedge of cheese and a Star Wars A-Wing interceptor. The second generation followed up with speed and turbocharged complexity, along with somewhat trickier driving dynamics.The third-gen car was back to easy mode, with 138 horsepower pitted against 2200 pounds. That’s not quite Lotus Elise levels of power-to-weight, but the MR2 will start right up on any given Sunday, faithful as a Corolla, which is unfortunately not the case for a company whose fans often quip, “Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious.”Bring a TrailerThis example is from the second last year of production and is equipped with the preferred five-speed manual gearbox (an SMG was also available). It has just 18,000 miles on the odometer and presents in excellent condition. Even better, it’s one of the rare Red Collection editions which—please hold for applause—has more red. Specifically, it comes with red seats and a red convertible top, which seem like minor enhancements but really subtly brighten up the car’s otherwise gray livery.Drawbacks to the last generation of MR2 are few. It’s tuned to be slightly more civilized than raw, so there are more hardcore driving experiences out there. And the storage capacity is hilariously small. If you take a friend for a drive, there’s basically only enough space for one sandwich—you’ll have to split it.Compared to a Mazda MX-5 of similar year and condition, this MR2 will likely fetch a higher price simply because it’s more rare and unusual. Meanwhile, we can all dream about the kind of mid-engined roadster Toyota could build today using the GR Corolla’s turbocharged three-cylinder engine…Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More