Aurelia Butler

Tesla is preparing an updated Model 3, which we expect will arrive later this year.The reworked Model 3 is internally known as Project Highland.If this spy pic is anything to go by, then the revised Model 3’s design appears to crib cues from the Roadster prototype.It’s no secret that Tesla’s working on an updated Model 3. Known internally as Project Highland, the reworked entry-level electric sedan is expected to arrive sometime later this year, possibly as a late-arriving 2023 model (Tesla’s famous for ignoring model-year norms) or as a 2024. Related StoriesRegardless, Tesla has generally kept key details related to the Model 3’s revisions under wraps. Though we’re still waiting to learn what hardware and software upgrades Tesla intends to give the new Model 3, we’re finally getting our first glimpse at the car’s tweaked sheetmetal. At least, we think that’s what we’re seeing in this spy photo that seems to have originated on Reddit before finding its way to Twitter.This content is imported from twitter. 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.This supposed unmasked Model 3 prototype may ultimately turn out to be the work of a skilled Photoshop artist, or a scrapped design proposal for Project Highland, but whatever it is, its tweaked body lines match those of camouflaged Model 3s spotted in the wild. Note the crease in the door that blends into the fender and joins the side-mounted camera. It’s a small detail missing from the current Model 3, but present on the camo’d Project Highland prototypes spotted in the wild. Based on the above image, the most notable changes to the Model 3 come to its front end. Gone are the current car’s large headlight bezels and noticeably canted front bumper cover. In their places sit slit-like headlights and a simpler and more upright front valance. The resulting front-end design gives the Model 3 a look reminiscent of the Roadster prototype from 2017.TeslaBesides a new wheel design, there’s little else to glean from this image. We’re sure Tesla’s done more than just massage the design of the Model 3 as part of Project Highland, but until the company formally reveals the revised sedan, we’ll simply have to wait and find out what improvements the EV brand’s made to the car’s adaptive safety features, infotainment technology, and powertrain components.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

From the May 2023 issue of Car and Driver. WHAT IT ISDoes an electric muscle car still sound shocking? Well, Dodge appears to be making one. The next Charger is a muscular two-door with styling cues from its second-generation ’60s namesake and a powertrain from the future—or at least, the leading edge of the present. WHY IT MATTERSWe would have bet that Dodge would be the last gas-burning holdout, striping 11s on internal-combustion island as the automotive market quietly whirred and recharged around it. Instead, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis declared the “brotherhood of muscle,” going forward, will be battery-powered. PLATFORMBeneath the Charger’s bulked-up body is Stellantis’s STLA Large platform. POWERTRAINThe entry-level Charger 340 gets a 400-volt propulsion system and 455 horsepower, while the midrange 440 (the electric Scat Pack, if you will) boasts 590 horsepower. Both models can receive over-the-air horsepower bumps through Dodge Direct Connection, and a multi-speed transmission is promised. The top Banshee model will have an 800-volt architecture, and we predict that if the lesser models don’t have two motors, the Banshee will. The horsepower rating is a secret, but Dodge promises the Banshee will eclipse the gas-powered Hellcat in all performance metrics. That includes sound, with the Charger EV’s amplifying chamber “exhaust” tuned to 126 decibels. COMPETITIONNothing on the market hits the same pressure points as the Charger EV. The Mustang Mach-E is quick, domestic, and wears a muscle-car name, but its SUV body puts it in a different category. WHAT MIGHT GO WRONGThe Mopar faithful might come carrying pitchforks and torches and burn the Stellantis castle to the ground before they accept an electric muscle car. ESTIMATED ARRIVAL AND PRICEIf the stars align, we could see the Charger EV in 2024 with a starting price somewhere around that of a current 392 Hemi model; expect to pay at least $50K.Old and NewSenior Editor, Features
Like 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

The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD ZR2 debuts as the off-road pinnacle of the brand’s heavy-duty-truck lineup.The ZR2 boasts 35-inch mud-terrain tires, a lifted suspension with fancy spool-valve dampers, and numerous bash plates.Aftermarket supplier AEV provides bits for the ZR2 Bison, including exclusive steel bumpers, unique 18-inch wheels, and tougher underbody armor. The folks who buy Chevy’s heavy-duty pickup trucks typically have big jobs to do. When they finish moving metaphorical mountains or hauling huge payloads, they likely want to have some fun like the rest of us. That’s when the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2 enters the chat. Not only is it as useful as most other three-quarter-ton models, but it’s also better at playing in the dirt and crawling over rocks.Hard-Working and Fun-LovingChevy’s off-road-focused ZR2 moniker already appears on its other trucks, the mid-size Colorado and the full-size Silverado 1500. Now the fun-loving ZR2 joins the hard-working heavy-duty lineup, however, it’s only available on the 2500HD model configured with the crew-cab body style and standard-size cargo bed. It won’t be hard to spot either, as its gigantic grille draws the eye and features the company’s cool “flowtie.” The truck also has different moldings around its wheel arches; red front tow hooks and ZR2 badges are other identifiers.While four-wheel drive and an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission are standard, buyers can choose between the base 401-hp gas-fed 6.6-liter V-8 or the optional Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V-8, which generates a substantial 470 horses and 975 pound-feet of torque. The gas engine supports 16,000 pounds of conventional towing and up to nearly 3400 pounds of payload. While the diesel has a higher tow rating (18,500 pounds), its payload capacity is capped at 3200 pounds.Regardless of what’s under the hood, every Silverado 2500HD ZR2 boasts exclusive equipment. The roster includes a set of 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory M/T tires mounted on black 18-inch multispoke wheels. It may surprise some to learn these are the first factory-installed 35-inch tires on a Silverado. They pair with arguably the most notable ZR2-specific feature: Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers. These exotic shocks use three separate spool valves to better withstand off-road abuse and aid on-road composure.Along with the fancy dampers, the heavy-duty Silverado ZR2’s suspension is lifted 1.5 inches at all four corners. There’s also a set of revised front upper and lower control arms as well as new steering knuckles. In the likely event the truck’s underbody comes into contact with hard obstacles, there’s an aluminum skid plate up front and steel plating to protect the transfer case. Helping to manage traction is an electronically locking rear differential, and every ZR2 has an Off-Road drive mode to help conquer rugged terrain.ZR2 Bison Adds ToughnessChevy and aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) have a history of partnering on upfitted off-roaders. The offspring of their relationship includes the 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison we tested (and jumped) and the newer 2023 Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison we’ve yet to get our dirty mitts on. Naturally, there’s also a bovine version of the new heavy-duty ZR2.The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD ZR2 Bison is quite a mouthful, but its name also brings additional equipment that helps it survive bigger beatings. For example, the Bison alone comes with steel-stamped front and rear bumpers with recovery points and a winch accommodation. Underneath are tough bash plates made from hot-stamped boron steel. Completing the Bison’s look are a set of AEV-specific 18-inch wheels painted in gloss black.While the Bison has a slightly steeper breakover angle than the regular ZR2 (22.6 degrees versus 21.2), the opposite is true of their approach angles, where the AEV model peaks at 29.8 degrees compared with 32.5 degrees. Their departure angle is identical at 25.7 inches and ground clearance is similarly close at 11.6—11.7 inches. Chevy says the Bison is just over 380 pounds heavier.ChevroletInside, the ZR2 benefits from updates included with the Silverado HD’s recent refresh. The interior materials are said to be easy to clean, and the leather-appointed seats and dark trim look handsome. There’s a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster to go along with a 13.4-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, which also provides access to the surround-view camera system. There’s a large head-up display too and a wireless charging pad on the full-length center console.Chevy hasn’t said how much the 2024 Silverado 2500HD ZR2 will cost, but we’d wager its price will start around $80,000. Those who want to upgrade to the Bison variant will likely have to spend another $8000, at least if the price delta between the half-ton Silverado ZR2 and its bovine counterpart is any indication. The off-road pinnacle of the heavy-duty Silverado will start production later this summer at GM’s assembly plant in Flint, Michigan. Official pricing will be announced between now and then.Extra Silverado HD ReadingThis 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 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

Last August, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act. Among its hundreds of pages were measures to restructure the federal tax incentive for buying a plug-in vehicle and boost U.S. production of EVs and their batteries. Much confusion ensued.Final guidance was issued by the U.S. Treasury on March 31, meaning next Tuesday, April 18, is the day everything changes. That day, only battery-electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles assembled in North America (U.S., Canada, or Mexico), with MSRPs less than $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs and light trucks, will qualify for purchase incentives up to $7500. Equally challenging, the sources of certain percentages of their battery minerals and components are restricted to a specific list of countries—one that notably does not include China, by far the world’s largest source of those components today.Regrettably, the EPA says it will not revise its list of eligible EVs until April 17—the day before the new rules come into effect. And note that commercial-fleet customers that lease their EVs can qualify for the full incentives regardless of the factors above.In a statement, Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella told Reuters the requirement that EVs must be assembled in North America to qualify for any credit eliminated 70 percent of EV models on sale today. More DetailsCar and Driver reached out to automakers to ask whether their batteries and minerals were compliant with the new regulations as well. The short answer? It’s complicated.Looking at the EVs on the market for 2023, winners and losers in the incentives game start to emerge based on where they’re built. Here is our non-comprehensive list of where we stand for retail buyers a week before the new rules take effect.The Apparent Winners CHEVROLET, GMC, CADILLAC: General Motors not only plans to build all its future EVs in North America but has announced numerous mineral-sourcing contracts and is setting up at least three battery plants as joint ventures with its longtime cell partner LG Energy Solutions.Cadillac Lyriq.CadillacThe company gave Car and Driver a statement that read: “We expect a number of our Ultium-based EVs, including the Cadillac Lyriq and additional EVs launching this year like the Chevrolet Equinox EV SUV and Blazer EV SUV, to qualify for the full $7500 credit in 2023.” Of those, only the Lyriq is presently in production, albeit at low volumes thus far. Matthew Ybarra, GM senior manager of public policy communication, added that future versions of the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck that are priced under $80,000 will also qualify.Left open is the question of whether the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV, built in Michigan, qualify for the full $7500. Ybarra told Car and Driver that the company expects both Bolts “to qualify for some level of credit even after the new rules go into effect on April 18” and promises to share an update “in the near future.” Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring hybrid.LincolnFORD, LINCOLN: Last Wednesday, Ford said all six of the vehicles with plugs it now sells will be eligible for at least partial IRA credits. The Detroit-built Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup gets the full $7500, as does the Chicago-built Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E (built in Mexico), the e-Transit commercial van (Kansas City), and the Ford Escape PHEV and Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring (both built in Louisville) get $3750 based on either location or the sources of their battery components and assembly.TESLA: By far the largest U.S. maker of EVs, the Silicon Valley startup is now almost two decades old and has sold more than 4 million vehicles. It builds all four of its models and most of its battery packs in California, Nevada, and Texas, but its larger Model S and Model X exceed the price caps. Tesla does not communicate with the press, but it said 10 days ago it expects the rear-wheel-drive Model 3 to receive a lower tax credit—likely because of its China-sourced iron-phosphate battery.We won’t know until the final list of eligible vehicles drops, but perhaps compensating for more incentive cuts, earlier this month the company cut $5000 off the prices of Model S and Model X, $2000 off Model Y prices, and $1000 off the Model 3 sticker.Genesis Electrified GV70.GenesisGENESIS: This month, the Korean luxury brand is launching the Genesis Electrified GV70, a battery-electric version of its popular GV70 compact crossover. That version, and only that version, is now assembled in the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama. As of Monday, said Jarred Pellat, the brand’s senior manager for PR and communications, Genesis is “in the process of determining what, if any, portion of the EV tax credit the U.S. assembled Electrified GV70 qualifies for after the April 18 effective date.”Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sahara.StellantisSTELLANTIS (Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler): The Chrysler Pacifica (plug-in) Hybrid minivan and the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrids are built in North America. The Pacifica will keep the full credit of $7500, but the plug-in hybrid Jeeps will fall to $3750 each. The upcoming Dodge Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid is built in Italy, so it won’t qualify. Stellantis sells no battery-electric vehicles in North America today.Contenders HYUNDAI and KIA: Given these brands’ aggressive plans to launch a full array of EV models and the good reviews received by their newest models, it is undoubtedly a blow to their U.S. arms that all tax incentives will vanish on April 18. However, last May the company announced it will build a dedicated EV assembly plant in Georgia. Those plans have likely accelerated—meaning the first U.S.-built Hyundais and/or Kias might qualify for credits as soon as the end of next year.Nissan Leaf.Jay K. McNally/NissanNISSAN: The company has built Leaf battery-electric hatchbacks at its Smyrna, Tennessee, plant since 2013, with battery cells assembled in an adjacent facility. Ted Kreder, its senior manager of EV sales and strategy, told Car and Driver the company is still checking whether the Leaf—which he confirmed will continue into the 2024 model year—will qualify for incentives. The company’s new Ariya EV crossover, however, will not qualify.Volkswagen ID.4.VolkswagenVOLKSWAGEN, AUDI, other brands: The company started assembling its ID.4 electric compact SUV in Tennessee last July. But it is still assessing whether it qualifies for incentives. VW rep Mark Gillies told Car and Driver, “We are carefully reviewing the draft guidance and are consulting with our supply-chain partners to evaluate the Section 30D battery component and critical mineral requirements.”Longer term, VW feels it is well positioned. By 2030, it says it will offer 25 separate EV models in the U.S. among its stable of brands—not only VW but also Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini. Last week, Volkswagen Group of American CEO Pablo Di Si told Bloomberg Television it expects all of those to qualify for the maximum $7500 in incentives.Honda Prologue.hondaHONDA and ACURA: The Japanese maker will launch the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX battery-electric SUVs in 2024. Both vehicles will be assembled in North America by GM on the company’s Ultium platform. Based on GM’s responses above, that should qualify both vehicles for full incentives.Will These Brands Miss Out? AUDI, BMW, MERCEDES-BENZ: Many of these brands’ several EVs currently exceed the price caps of $55,000 for passenger cars and $80,000 for SUVs. And lower-priced models like the Audi Q4 e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQB SUV are not currently built in North America. Business leases to those who qualify may help significantly, but until they start building EVs in North America, the German luxury trio is out of luck.Toyota bZ4X.toyotaTOYOTA, LEXUS: The world’s most profitable mass-market carmaker has also been among the most reluctant to launch vehicles that plug in. It sells only four in the U.S. among its two brands, of which only the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime plug-in hybrids do any significant volume. Those are both built in Japan (unlike all other RAV4s, which are assembled in North America). Its bZ4X crossover, launched and then recalled due to a problem in which the wheels might fall off, is built in Japan—no incentives. Ditto for the Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid, the only variant of its NX not built in North America. In February, Toyota said it would build EVs at a plant in Kentucky, powered by batteries made in North Carolina. By the end of 2025, it hopes to build roughly 10,000 electric SUVs a month, selling as many as 200,000 EVs a year in the U.S. starting in 2026.Subaru Crosstrek.SubaruSUBARU: Its Solterra electric crossover is a rebadged Toyota bZ4X built in Japan, making it ineligible. The latest 2024 Crosstrek has just been released, and the company has stayed mum on whether it will add the (plug-in) hybrid version it offered for the previous generation. But Crosstrek production has now moved from Japan to Indiana, so there’s at least a theoretical chance Subaru might get some credits for a U.S.-built Crosstrek PHEV. Stay tuned.MAZDA: The company sells the MX-30 EV strictly in California. The small EV is built in Japan and would not qualify for any federal incentives. The new CX-90 SUV offers a PHEV option, but it’s built in Japan. Like Subaru, it would be likely to get any future battery-electric technology via its Toyota connection. Shop AroundContributing EditorJohn Voelcker edited Green Car Reports for nine years, publishing more than 12,000 articles on hybrids, electric cars, and other low- and zero-emission vehicles and the energy ecosystem around them. He now covers advanced auto technologies and energy policy as a reporter and analyst. His work has appeared in print, online, and radio outlets that include Wired, Popular Science, Tech Review, IEEE Spectrum, and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”He splits his time between the Catskill Mountains and New York City, and still has hopes of one day becoming an international man of mystery. More

A new world record has been achieved for the title of most expensive license plate at 55 million dirhams ($15 million).The license was sold in a government-run charity auction in Dubai.Proceeds from the auction will go to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s global food aid initiative, the 1 Billion Meals Endowment.As the great poet (don’t fight us on this) Kendrick Lamar rapped in his 2017 song Humble, “It’s levels to it, you and I know.” He may not have been referencing levels of wealth, but we are. The level of wealth maintained by unnamed oil tycoons is more than most of us can even fathom. What can oil-tycoon money buy you? We hear you ask. How about a world-record-breaking $15 million license plate?Articles to Quench Your Expensive TasteAccording to a report by Bloomberg, at 55 million dirhams, the equivalent of $15 million, that’s exactly what one unnamed wealthy bidder in Dubai recently paid for the license plate P 7. The plate was sold on Saturday in an auction put on by the Emirates Auction. Proceeds will go to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s global food aid initiative, the 1 Billion Meals Endowment. According to the same Bloomberg article, Saturday’s bid takes down a record set in 2008 by Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri, who paid the equivalent of $14.2 million for a plate bearing the number 1 in Abu Dhabi. The identity of the most recent winner will not be disclosed, and the plate can reportedly be transferred to any car registered in the emirate. If you happen to be in Dubai any time soon, make sure to keep an eye out for license plate P 7, or any other unusually short plate names. Chances are it went for big money at auction. 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