Aurelia Butler

Stellantis has shown off a new hands-free driving system that allows for up to Level 3 self-driving—to a point.The system allows for the driver to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, but only up to 37 mph. The company is working on developing the system up to 59 mph, but there’s no timeline for when either system will be added to a car you can buy. Stellantis unveiled a new hands-free driving system that it says would allow users to watch movies, read emails, or confront the cold grip of reality while staring into the dark abyss that is the universe . . . Assuming, of course, that you’re driving under 37 miles per hour. You’ll also need to make sure you don’t get too lost in your reality check because even vehicles with SAE Level 3 autonomous-driving ratings might ask you to take control back.StellantisStellantis fittingly calls the new system STLA AutoDrive 1.0. With the speed capped at 37 mph, the system is designed for commuters in dense urban areas that often experience bumper-to-bumper traffic. It will apparently work in low-light and night conditions and even in poor weather. When traffic and environmental conditions allow it, a message will prompt drivers that AutoDrive is available. They can then activate the system with a physical button, prompting the AutoDrive to take control of steering, following distance to the car ahead, and adjusting speed and braking. Stellantis said it’s also working to develop the system further and hopes to increase the top speed to 59 mph, while also adding off-road capabilities down the line. In a written statement to Car and Driver, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the system isn’t available yet. “Our Level 3 technology is fully developed and ready for deployment, but the current market for autonomous driving at this level remains very limited. We have made the strategic decision not to launch it at this time. Once the market matures and conditions become more favorable, we will evaluate the path to commercialization,” the spokesperson said. More on Autonomous DrivingJack 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

Mercedes-AMG has confirmed that it is working on a new generation V-8 that it calls a “high-tech electrified V-8.”The mill is intended for performance models riding on the brand’s new AMG.EA architecture.The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 is also set to stick around, though only in select markets. Mercedes-AMG has just confirmed that it’s working on a new-generation V-8 setup to power its next generation of performance models. The announcement came as part of the same investor meeting where the Affalterbach-based automaker confirmed development on a smaller G-class SUV. Mercedes said that, moving forward, the AMG brand plans to “outgrow the performance market” with the help of a heavily refreshed lineup that will begin arriving in 2026. How will that lineup be refreshed? With the help of a new powertrain the automaker describes as a “next-generation, high-tech electrified V-8.” Mercedes-AMGWhat we don’t know is just how important the word “electrified” is in this context. Is it all new from the ground up? Or has Merc been quietly working to develop the existing hybridized 4.0-liter V-8? There’s also the question of battery size. Mercedes could stick to the same 48-volt system that has found its way onto the bulk of the lineup, or it could spring for a larger battery and a plug-in format. We do know that the engine is destined for the AMG.EA platform, where they will live alongside “dedicated high-performance electric models.” One thing Mercedes was more clear on is that the 6.0-liter V-12 will continue to be produced. Unfortunately, while the V-8 is being developed to meet the European Union’s strict emissions standards, the V-12 will only be available in select markets. More on MercedesJack 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

Desert Power Wagons builds modern reproductions of the original Dodge Power Wagon with everything new but the styling.A recently finished truck uses a modern Ram HD as a basis and even borrows its contemporary interior.Ram-based models such as this one from DPW start at $425,000.Desert Power Wagons will build you an old-look, new-tech take on the 1940s Dodge original in one of two ways: with a custom body on a custom chassis or using that same body atop modern Ram bits. Car and Driver senior editor Ezra Dyer came away impressed after some time with the all-custom option, which garnered more attention than some supercars and cost an exotic-rivaling $385,000. We’re now getting a closer look at the other type of build, and it looks just as nicely finished.Desert Power WagonsDPW recently completed an example in a very Power Wagon-appropriate red with black trim. It looks every bit the part on the outside, with the Method Racing wheels being the real giveaway that this truck isn’t simply over-restored army surplus. Inside, however, the builder has neatly placed the guts of a modern heavy-duty Ram 2500—a Limited model, judging by the center-console lid. Everything looks like it was designed to fit, including the giant center touchscreen. The seats have been recovered in red-accented black leather with diamond quilting and crocodile-look embellishments, and the doors are trimmed to match.Desert Power WagonsAs Dyer explained in his piece, plopping the retro body on a new Ram necessitates a shallow bed. The latest creation is just as cleanly outfitted as the one he hauled kayaks in, with its oak floor stained black to match the rest of the truck’s motif. A set of 40-inch tires fill the giant fenders, and there’s a Carli suspension holding everything up and providing 9.5 inches of travel front and rear. Desert Power WagonsDesert Power WagonsThis truck is powered by a Cummins diesel 6.7-liter inline-six making 385 horsepower and 930 pound-feet of torque, backed by a six-speed automatic. It’s the same powerplant as in the one Dyer drove, the difference being it hasn’t been wrested from its natural home in a Ram frame. Desert Power Wagons will also build you a truck with a Hemi V-8, and it offers two-door Power Wagons as well as a more wagon-like facsimile of the WC-53 Carryall.Like other modern reproductions, the Ram-based Desert Power Wagon carries a high price. The $425,000 ask is put into perspective somewhat when you consider that this giant took over 5000 hours to create. Sheer size and mass don’t come cheap, and neither does meticulous attention to detail.More Rad TrucksEver since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he’s driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he’s back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David’s not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs. More