Aurelia Butler

Ram has revealed more specs and details about its first battery-electric vehicle, the 2025 Ram 1500 REV electric pickup.The electric Ram promises big figures such as a target range of up to 500 miles and a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. Ram hinted at an even more ambitious future model called the 1500 REV XR, which would offer “class-shattering” range, likely with the addition of a range-extending gasoline engine. No date was given other than it will follow the introduction of the 2025 models.Two years ago, Ram CEO Mike Koval told fans that though Ram would not be the first brand to bring an electric pickup to market, it would take the extra time to benchmark the trucks that came out before it and develop a more capable vehicle. And true to that statement, Stellantis division announced that its production electric truck would be the 2025 1500 REV in a daring and innuendo-laced Super Bowl commercial.Up to 500 Miles of Range?Based on the numbers Ram has since revealed, the extra time in the oven worked. When it begins reaching customers sometime in 2025, the 1500 REV will have two battery options. The standard 168.0-kWh battery pack will target 350 miles of range per charge. The long-range option comes equipped with a monstrously large 229.0-kWh battery targeting 500 miles of range. To put those numbers in perspective, the Extended Range F-150 Lightning has a 131.0-kWh battery and claims 320 miles of range (we managed 230 in our 75-mph highway test). The Hummer EV’s 212.7-kWh battery is even larger, with GMC claiming a similar 329 miles of range (we managed 290 miles in our range test), but fast charging a battery that large can quickly crest $100 for a full charge. Regardless of the battery chosen, the 1500 REV will be able to add up to 110 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes, suggesting blistering charge rates above 300 kW for that entire time. Its 800-volt DC fast-charging at speeds up to 350 kW is enabled by changing the connection between two 400-volt sections of the battery, likely using a similar process as GM with the Hummer that switches from parallel to series for 800-volt charging. More Rev ContentAll the power from those batteries is delivered via dual 335-hp electric drive modules (one at the front axle, and one at the rear), making the 1500 REV capable of all-wheel drive. The rear axle is available with an electronic locking rear differential, but that option is withheld from the front axle. Instead, the front axle is equipped with an automatic wheel-end disconnect, which allows the front wheels to spin freely and improving efficiency. Ram says the truck will produce 654 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Pinning the accelerator will launch the 1500 REV to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds—a respectable though not record-breaking figure. The 1500 REV will be capable of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-grid, and vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging. Onboard power at the front and rear of the truck will provide accessory power for things like job sites and tailgates, with a panel capable of up to 7.2 kW in the bed and 3.6 kW in the frunk.Working for a LivingRam knows truck owners want to be able to do truck things. That means removing or at least minimizing the trade-offs that come with switching to an EV. The standard range truck will have a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, with a max payload up to 2700 pounds. Official tow ratings aren’t available for the long-range version. The standard internal-combustion Ram 1500 has become a staple of our 10Best list, in part thanks to the great ride quality afforded by its coil-spring rear axle. The 1500 REV goes a step further with a multi-link independent setup in the rear, and active-leveling air suspension with adaptive damping standard on all four corners. The adjustable air suspension allows for five preset ride heights. Top Brass TrimsThe new Ram will be available in five trims, with the familiar names Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Limited and the addition of a new trim named Tungsten to the top of the lineup. The Tungsten trim has an exclusive two-tone interior in Indigo/Sea Salt. Metal accents find their way throughout the interior, while suede wraps the headliner, A- and B-pillars, and visors. The interior of the 1500 REV will feel immediately recognizable to people familiar with the standard gasoline-powered version, but with some significant changes. The optional 12.0-inch screen from the regular truck is now standard, with a new 14.5-inch screen available. Additionally, the 10.3-inch dash-mounted passenger screen seen on the concept truck is making it to production. New EV-specific pages in the infotainment can show such stats as power flow, range impact, charge levels, and charging schedules. The 1500 REV will also be capable of plug and charge, letting owners set up payment so charging happens automatically when plugging in to compatible stations. Production for the 2025 1500 REV is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2024 with deliveries beginning in early 2025. There’s no word on pricing yet, but the REV’s larger battery packs than its competitors’ suggests a higher price point, and it’s certain to be a significant premium over the gas- or diesel-powered Ram 1500.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

Ford may have created a monster. We’re not scaremongers when it comes to technology, but Ford’s latest announcement chills us to the bone. Such are the humanity-altering ramifications of its deployment. Check out some of the phrasing in this announcement, which pertains to three- or four-ton hunks of steel and aluminum autonomously roaming the earth. Ford cites “60 new patents,” “computer vision,” “artificial intelligence,” a “neural network,” and “machine learning,” just to name five things that should rightly cause you permanent insomnia. These groundbreaking dystopian horrors will commandeer the controls of your 2023 Ford truck—F-150 or Super Duty—and relegate you to the role of useless meat cargo as your truck hurtles backward, on its own recognizance, on a mission from which it won’t be dissuaded: lining up your hitch with a trailer.Bringing It with YouThat’s right. No longer will trailer-hooking-up be subject to the vagaries of human frailty, those pathetic faults of depth perception or glare or distraction. No longer will we back up, get out, realize we need to back up another three inches, get back in, back up six inches, get out, realize we backed up too far and turn our faces to the sky to plead with the heavens for some eternal recourse from this Sisyphean ordeal. No—now we will push a button and let the computer handle this, while the computer silently chortles its binary mockery.It’s like if a drone deposited you 10 feet from the summit of Mount Everest and then flew away.Simply put, Ford’s system uses cameras to identify a trailer and, within about 20 feet or so, reverse the truck such that the hitch ball is beneath the trailer coupler, typically within one inch of precision. Ford calls the system Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, as benign a misnomer as “Cyberdyne Skynet.” Make no mistake, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist must never infiltrate our networks. But should that ever happen, let us go on the record that we love Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and will always help it accomplish its aims, whatever those may be!Yes, push the button. Relax. Let the truck handle this. Based on your maxed-out air conditioning and ventilated seat settings, you are stressed, human.Ford Motor CompanySome might say that Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is dumb unless it automatically applies the parking brake so your truck doesn’t lurch forward when you step off the brake, thus putting your hitch ball a few inches forward of its ideal position. Well, guess what? Ford thought of that. Or maybe Pro Trailer Hitch Assist itself thought of that. But either way, once it gets lined up, it’s throwing on that parking brake to hold your position. Such a smart system! We love it.Now sure, there are already backup cameras that pretty much literally draw a path from your hitch to the trailer, so all you need to do is follow the breadcrumbs to line up the hitch ball. And one might say that if you need that much help mating truck with trailer, maybe you shouldn’t be towing anything anywhere, because towing a trailer is a lot harder than hooking one up. It’s kind of like if a drone were programmed to deposit you 10 feet from the summit of Mount Everest and then fly away. On one hand, you’re about to accomplish something. But on the other, you might be in very serious trouble! And there’s no Tenzing Norgay of towing. If there were, you wouldn’t see so many trailers with dented fenders.Ford hasn’t released pricing for Pro Trailer Hitch Assist—we’ll update this story when it’s available—but, assuredly, it will be measured in far more than dollars. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is available on the 2023 F-150, F-150 Lightning, and Super Duty trucks.Collect the Full SetSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

Volkswagen’s facelifted Atlas gains a rugged Peak Edition appearance package, just unveiled at the 2023 New York auto show and set to go on sale later this year.Inspired by the Atlas Basecamp concept from 2019, the Peak Edition model comes with unique black wheels and all-terrain tires.The cabin is dressed up with gray and orange accents and a backlit dashboard with Peak Edition branding. Volkswagen’s SUV lineup gains a rugged-looking Peak Edition trim of its popular three-row Atlas SUV, unveiled today at the 2023 New York auto show. The Atlas Peak Edition pulls inspiration from the 2019 Atlas Basecamp concept, including its 18-inch black wheels with all-terrain tires and its silver-colored lower bumper and body-side moldings. More Outdoorsy-Looking Family HaulersThe Peak Edition is essentially an appearance package. It will be available in two special colors that the rest of the Atlas lineup doesn’t offer: Avocado Green and Pure Gray. There’s also Peak Edition badging, a grille design inspired by the two-row Atlas Cross Sport, an illuminated VW logo, and a silver-colored rear diffuser. Other exterior embellishments include blacked-out trim around the windows, black mirror caps, and black roof rails. Inside, the Atlas’s cabin gets a few tweaks for Peak Edition service. Black faux-leather upholstery is contrasted with gray accents and orange stitching and the Atlas’s cool backlit dashboard lights up to reveal Peak Edition branding. On the SUV’s steering wheel, the same Peak Edition badging from the exterior makes an appearance on the lower spoke.Unlike the standard Atlas three-row, the Peak Edition model will offer all-wheel drive as standard. The differences end there, though, and you won’t find any mechanical changes intended to give the SUV any additional off-road capability. Like all other 2024 Atlas models, the Peak Edition is powered by a 269-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine which is hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.When it goes on sale later this year, the Atlas Peak Edition will join a large number of three-row SUVs targeting families with an outdoorsy lifestyle. Among them are the Ford Explorer Timberline, the Honda Pilot TrailSport, and the Kia Telluride X-Pro. Volkswagen hasn’t stated exactly where the Peak Edition trim will fall in the Atlas lineup, but looking closely at the photos reveals a subtle “SEL” emblem on the SUV’s rear liftgate, which denotes mid- to upper-level versions of the Atlas. Given that, we’re expecting pricing to come in at around $50,000.A VW spokesperson also alluded to a second, more affordable Peak Edition model, so we’re left to speculate on a decontented SE trim that could bring the package’s price down to a more affordable $45,000 or so. Future applications of the Peak Edition treatment also could happen, says VW, depending on consumer interest, but don’t hold your breath for a ruggedized version of the brand’s electric ID.4. More than likely, the offering would spread to other gasoline-powered SUVs in the brand’s lineup, including the Atlas Cross Sport and the subcompact Taos crossover. 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.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Mercedes has priced the 2023 AMG C43 sedan at $61,050.It has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 402 horsepower.All-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard.The newest middle child of the Mercedes C-class lineup, the 2023 AMG C43 sedan, now has a price. It starts at $61,050, a $3500 bump compared with the last time the C43 sedan was offered, for the 2021 model year.The C43 looks a whole lot different this time around, as this performance model now has a turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain compared with the old model’s turbo V-6. Power is up, however, with the new 2.0-liter engine pumping out 402 horsepower compared with the old V-6’s 385 hp. If you’re not sold on this setup in the new W205-generation model, you can still buy the old W206-generation C43 in coupe and convertible form for 2023, as these carry over for the time being.More AMG C-classesMercedes will offer the C43 in two trim levels, with the base called Premium. The Pinnacle trim, for an extra $2800, adds features including heated front seats, a sunroof, larger screens, and a head-up display. There are also other options available such as a $3250 Performance Seat package, a $1700 driver-assist package, and many more standalone add-ons that will easily push the price over $70,000.The C43 is starting to arrive at U.S. dealerships now, but the real AMG faithful will still be kept waiting for the top-dog: the 2024 AMG C63. It swaps the old C63’s V-8 for a new plug-in-hybrid setup with a four-cylinder that puts out a whopping 671 horsepower in total. Pricing is still a mystery, but we reckon it will cost a pretty penny.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

Gordon Murray’s T.33 Spider uses the same 4.0-liter V-12 as the T.33 Coupe, revving to 11,100 rpm and making 607 hp.Its targa-style roof panels lift out and stow in the front luggage compartment. Only 100 will be produced, priced at $2.3 million at current exchange rates.When Gordon Murray unveiled the T.33 supercar last year, he admitted that an open-topped version was part of his company’s model plans. Now we have the stylish proof in the form of the T.33 Spider. Only 100 will be built, each carrying a seven-figure price. We can expect the entire run to sell out shortly after ordering opens, so there’s no time to waste if you want to add one to your personal collection.While the T.33 is less radical than the central-seat Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, it is still radically different from almost everything else in the supercar segment. Like the other GMA models, the Spider uses a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V-12 created and built by Cosworth in the U.K. It shares its peak 607 horsepower and dizzy 11,100-rpm redline with the T.33 Coupe.The T.33 Spider will also be available exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. When Car and Driver spoke to Murray about the T.33 Coupe last year, he said he was planning to also offer an automated version of the same transmission, but that has now been reversed on the grounds that almost no buyers actually wanted to forgo a clutch pedal. “It was an expensive mistake,” Murray admitted, when he showed C/D the new car at GMA’s Dunsfold factory in Surrey, England. “We started developing the gearbox with the Xtrac instantaneous shift and even had a working gearbox in a Lotus Evora prototype. We’d spent a fair bit of money on it—and then nobody wanted it!”Murray confirmed that both T.33 Coupe and Spider will now be manual only, although he admitted it is possible that the instant shift system will be offered with the third car to use the T.33 platform, likely a track-focused variant. Spider and Coupe buyers will be able to choose between regular gearing and a longer-legged sixth ratio to make high-speed cruising quieter. Alternatively, they could just enjoy listening to that V-12.More Gordon Murray CarsHatchback Practicality in a SupercarGMA’s dedication to lightweight construction means the T.33 Spider doesn’t get a power-folding roof. Instead, it has a pair of targa panels that can be individually removed and then stored in the front luggage compartment. Doing this removes the ability to carry additional luggage there, although there are two rear-hinged storage compartments in the T.33’s rear flanks with a total of six cubic feet of space. Keeping the roof in place, or leaving it at home, gives the chance to accommodate an additional four cubic feet up front, delivering on Murray’s promise to combine supercar performance with hatchback practicality. There is also a power-operated rear glass screen behind the passenger compartment, which will enable occupants to sample more of the V-12’s soundtrack. The car you see here is a late styling model that doesn’t quite reflect what will become the finished reality. Since it was commissioned, Murray says the decision has been taken to move the windshield header forward by another 4.3 inches. “Once we sat in the seating buck we decided it will be just a little too close to your head,” he said. Such flexibility is clearly one of the main advantages of owning your own auto company. Despite that, Murray said that the Spider’s aerodynamic performance will be almost identical to that of the T.33 Coupe.Unlike the GMA T.50, which uses a fan-assisted ground effects system to create serious downforce, the T.33 has a gentler aerodynamic mission. It still has some clever ground effects, using low-pressure air drawn from the rear of the car to improve the efficiency of the hidden underbody diffuser. Murray says this will make a peak of 331 pounds of downforce at 150 mph, enough to improve high-speed stability but not to require excessively firm springs or dampers. As with the the Coupe, the T.33 Spider uses passive rather than active dampers and doesn’t even have a rear anti-roll bar. In terms of dynamics and performance, the two T.33 variants should be almost identical, with Murray saying the open-topped car is just 40 pounds heavier with a dry weight of just 2445 pounds.The Spider Came First”We actually designed the Spider first, as that is much easier to do than to take the roof off a coupe,” he said. “Our torsional target and bending stiffness targets were both for the Spider. The Coupe is slightly stiffer, but that’s bonus stiffness if you like.” The Spider will also be the car used for the testing required to earn T.33 federal approval for sale in the U.S., a process which Murray said has cost an additional $34 million and which will involve sacrificing over 30 crash-test mules. That’s a serious commitment for a company of GMA’s modest size, but one that has been justified by huge interest from American buyers. Murray confirmed that exactly half of the 100 T.33 Coupes will be going to the U.S. While the T.33 has been designed to avoid fussy styling or the aggressive aerodynamics common to modern supercars, there are many neat details. One is the way the exterior color comes into the cabin through a panel between the seats, something Murray says was inspired by the C1 Corvette. Another is the high-level air intake for the mid-mounted engine, which passes through the bodywork in an aperture that gives it clearance on all sides. That’s because it is mounted directly to the top of the engine and will move with it. “Like a shaker hood,” Murray says with a laugh. Another option which we will only be able to imagine for now is what we’re promised will be an optional color scheme inspired by Murray’s love for vibrant Hawaiian shirts. We hope at least one buyer will order it that way.The GMA T.33 Spider will cost $2.35 million, with the first deliveries due to begin in the middle of 2025. 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.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoEuropean EditorMike 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

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-class dons a new mug as part of a mid-cycle refresh.Most updates also apply to the AMG GLS63 and Maybach GLS600, with all three variants adding new exterior and interior features.The Benz-branded GLS450 and GLS580 see their engine output rise to 375 and 510 horsepower, respectively.The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-class looks a little different than the previous model year. The large luxury SUV also adds some fresh features inside and out. It’s all part of a mid-cycle refresh that should keep the biggest Benz competitive with alternatives such as the BMW X7 and the Land Rover Range Rover—both of which have recently been revamped.Fresh FacesThe Mercedes GLS family includes myriad models. There’s the Benz-branded GLS450 and GLS580. There’s also the high-performance Mercedes-AMG GLS63 and the ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS600. All of them receive mildly revised styling, with the Benz model’s larger grille being the most notable.Mercedes-BenzAll 2024 models add a pair of revised taillights with three distinct blocks. There are also new paint colors—Twilight Blue Metallic and MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey—and the GLS63 and GLS600 both are now available with forged 23-inch wheels. The GLS63, in particular, now has red-painted brake calipers.Interior UpdatesInside, Mercedes supplies customers with new leather options, from Catalana Beige and Bahia Brown/Black to Crystal White and Silver Gray Pearl as well as Mahogany Brown and Macchiato Beige. There are additional interior trim choices too, including glossy Brown Linden Wood and MANUFAKTUR Piano Lacquer Flowing Lines. Previously, the latter was only available on the extra-expensive Maybach model.Mercedes-BenzThe GLS lineup gets new steering wheels with touch controls on the spokes. The mid-cycle refresh also brings the latest version of the Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system, featuring new display designs (the AMG has some unique layouts). Each trim also has some newly standard features. For example, every GLS63 now comes with automatic high-beams, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a performance exhaust.Power UpWhile the AMG and Maybach models don’t receive any powertrain changes, the GLS450 and GLS580 do. The former sees output rise from 362 to 375 horsepower and the latter sees an increase from 483 to 510 ponies. The AMG has revisions to its air suspension and its anti-roll system, with Mercedes saying a software update and other tweaks are intended to increase the gap between comfortable and sporty dynamics.The GLS580 can now be equipped with the Off-Road Engineering package. This kit brings underbody protection and a revised air suspension, which can raise the ride an additional 1.2 inches for better ground clearance.Other Mercedes SUV UpdatesThe 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-class will reach U.S. dealerships sometime later this year. While we don’t yet have pricing details, we expect the entry-level GLS450 to start around $85,000 and the AMG GLS63 and Maybach GLS600 to start around $150K and $175K, respectively.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 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