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

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that a smaller, more affordable G-class SUV is on the way. The automaker also confirmed plans to overhaul its design language, bringing future EVs and combustion cars under a shared appearance. The announcements were made as part of a recent investor-relations presentation held by the automaker. After years of speculation and rumors, Mercedes-Benz has finally confirmed that a smaller version of the G-class (colloquially known as the G-wagen) will be built. The announcement came as part of an investor-relations presentation from Mercedes-Benz. Any details beyond the new G-class’s existence remain a mystery, but just try to stop our imaginations from running wild. The latest rumors suggest that the baby G will be sold exclusively as an EV. Considering Merc is already selling an electric version of the G-class, we don’t see any reason to doubt that. Daimler2019 Mercedes-Benz Concept GLBThis isn’t the first time Mercedes has tried to embody the spirit of the G-wagen in a smaller frame. Remember the Concept GLB? We don’t think this new SUV will miss the G’s spirit in the same way the eventual GLB production car did, but we also don’t expect it to be as brawny as the original.As part of the same announcement, Mercedes confirmed plans to drastically shift its design language. As things stand now, Merc’s entire fleet of EVs sets itself apart from the gas-burning side of the lineup with a design language that wouldn’t be out of place on your bathroom counter. That’s set to change. Mercedes-BenzIn the future, Mercedes will take a similar approach to BMW with a single model that offers internal-combustion, hybrid, and battery-electric powertrain options. The move is a 180-degree turn from Merc’s current strategy, which has separate combustion and EV models. The upcoming CLA-class will be the first model to make the change—the existing G-class and G-class EV notwithstanding. More on Mercedes-BenzJack 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

Kia revealed the first exterior photos of the production-ready PV5 electric passenger and cargo vans. The PV5 will be offered in three body styles and multiple interior configurations, although the main versions will be passenger and cargo vans.Kia says that interior photos and a more detailed technical breakdown will become available by the end of the month. With the introduction of the production-ready PV5 electric van, Kia just shoved its drink into Volkswagen’s hand and said “Hold my beer.” The modular electric van joins Kia’s lineup as a competitor to the ID.Buzz van from VW. The PV5 was first shown at last year’s CES show. Now revealed in production form, it looks virtually identical to the original concept. The mid-size van will be available in three body styles and “several” configurations, starting with passenger and cargo versions and adding specialized conversion models down the line. From the exterior images Kia has released, we can tell that both the passenger and cargo versions have a simple front end, with a tall, flat profile that is sure to offer gobs of headroom. KiaThe passenger version uses huge glass windows that stretch to the back of the van, while the cargo version blocks out those panels. Speaking of the back of the van, the passenger version features a lift-up tailgate, while the cargo model uses twin side-opening doors. Powertrain details haven’t been revealed yet, but we know that Kia developed the PV5 from the ground up as an EV. We’re also waiting on photos of the interior, but from what we can see in these photos, the dash has separate screens for infotainment and the gauge cluster. KiaKiaKia is scheduled to reveal more about the new van on February 24, with interior and powertrain details scheduled to be released three days later. Unfortunately, due to current tariff laws, it’s unlikely the PV5 lineup will make its way to the United States, so this is one vehicle we’ll have to enjoy from afar. Related StoriesJack 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

The Yugo is coming back! Maybe. Eventually. Probably not to America, though.Progress so far includes trademark rights and sketches of what a modern Yugo hatchback might look like.Keeping the price low will again be the goal, and underpinnings are likely to be sourced from another manufacturer.Did the Yugo stick around long enough to go from being the butt of jokes to laughing together with its detractors? At least a few did, judging from the way low-mileage examples of these little underpowered cars fetch far more at auction than they cost new off the showroom floor. The Yugo was unapologetically inexpensive, a double-edged sword, and while it actually sold pretty well, by 1992 it was gone from the U.S. market. But get your punchlines ready, because the Yugo could be coming back.YugoProperly, the original car’s full name was the Zastava Yugo GV, Zastava being an automaker with a long history in the former Yugoslavia. GV was meant to stand for Good Value, and at $3990 to start with a $389 destination charge, the Yugo was at least the least expensive car you could buy. Looking around at the average price of new cars these days, perhaps a little of that cheap and cheerful spirit wouldn’t go amiss.University Professor Doctor Aleksandar Bjelić certainly seems to think so, as he is the driving force behind the potential resurrection of Yugo. As first reported by The Autopian, he has acquired the rights and trademarks to the Yugo brand. Bjelić lives in Germany but has Serbian roots, and he recently hired Darko Marčeta, a Serbian designer, to sketch out what a new Yugo might look like.YugoDetails are slim, as development is still very much in the concept phase. However, the plan is to reveal a running prototype at the Belgrade Expo in 2027, and a model of the car at the end of this year. The original Yugo was based heavily on the Fiat 127, and Bjelić has indicated that this new car will have underpinnings sourced from another, as-yet-unnamed manufacturer.The obvious choice would be Fiat again, as the former Yugo factory did in fact build the late Fiat 500L. Low price will again be the goal here, so a new Yugo is likely to get a small combustion engine rather than an EV skateboard platform.As to whether thrifty U.S. buyers will be able to once again park something unintentionally hilarious in their driveways, that’s unlikely. The Yugo’s reputation was badly damaged by quality issues when it was new, and while there’s certainly a cult following for them, there’s probably not a business case to sell them to the general public.YugoIn Eastern Europe, however, the Yugo (called the Koral there) was really quite popular, closing out its production run with a respectable 800,000 cars built. A Serbian-built rival to something such as the Dacia Sandero could be quite successful, especially to those who remember the Zastava nameplate more fondly.To burnish this image, one of Yugo’s first PR stunts is going to be driving several classic Zastava models from Kragujevac in Serbia all the way to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The 6300-mile route is basically the same followed by a group of five Zastava 101s that performed the trek in 1975, as a showcase for durability. If the modern expedition can pull it off, it’ll be a shot in the arm for brand credibility.Meanwhile, the Nissan Versa is currently the least expensive new car sold in the United States. It comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission for just $18,330. Adjusted for inflation, the original Yugo’s price tag is only slightly more than half that price. Then again, nobody jokes about why the Versa has a rear window heater (for the Yugo, it was to keep your hands warm while you push).Related StoriesBrendan 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