Aurelia Butler

Volvo released a new teaser for the electric ES90 mid-size luxury sedan ahead of its full reveal on March 5.The teaser highlights the ES90’s software and details how the SPA2 architecture it is built on will allow continuous updates. When it arrives, the ES90 will be built on the same platform as the EX90 SUV and will sit alongside the current S90 sedan. Volvo has released a new teaser for the electric ES90 as it prepares to reveal the car in full next month. The mid-size luxury sedan was first teased during an investor-relations meeting last September, but the full reveal is scheduled to be livestreamed on March 5. VolvoThe new info from the automaker focuses on the “Superset tech stack” set of software and hardware modules underpinning the ES90. The sedan is Volvo’s next step in working towards software-defined vehicles. The hope is that the technology will allow for faster and more frequent over-the-air updates that improve the overall customer experience as well as safety. Volvo says that additional connectivity features and improved range are two potential upsides of the technology. The sedan will be the second Volvo built on the brand’s SPA2 architecture, which it shares with the EX90 flagship SUV. Volvo says that another benefit of the Superset stack is that improvements to one car can be concurrent with another. VolvoAs they’ll share a platform, the ES90 will likely use the same 111.0-kWh battery pack as the EX90 SUV, though the sedan will likely edge out the SUV’s 300- to 310-mile range estimate thanks to its smaller size. Previous plans from Volvo will position the ES90 alongside the gas-burning S90 sedan, with the brand selling both models while it transitions to an electric-only future. More information surrounding the pricing, powertrain, and technology should become available when the car is revealed next month. 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 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is a new limited-edition trim that prioritizes standard tech and off-road-focused features.The Backcountry features the same plug-in-hybrid powertrain as the 4xe Sahara, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.The new Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and costs $66,185.If just having a plug-in-hybrid Jeep Wrangler wasn’t high-tech enough for your off-road excursions, Jeep is introducing a new limited-edition Wrangler 4xe Backcountry trim that is meant to better serve trail-loving technophiles.The New Backcountry WranglerBuilding on the upscale and comfort-oriented plug-in-hybrid 4xe Sahara trim, which comes standard with leather upholstery, heated seats, and an available 12.3-inch touchscreen, the 4xe Backcountry ups its tech quotient while also adding new accessories to make it more capable off-road. JeepAs far as tech goes, the 4xe Backcountry’s new additions include a nine-speaker Alpine audio system and the inclusion of a portable Jeep power box that can draw energy from the Backcountry’s hybrid battery pack and be used to charge devices or power small appliances. Like the 4xe Sahara, the 4xe Backcountry features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with built-in navigation. To encourage adventure, the infotainment system includes off-road trail guides for 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails as well as an integrated geocaching app. While some Jeep owners use their Wranglers to get off the grid, the 4xe Backcountry comes with onboard Wi-Fi if you aren’t part of that camp.Outside of the new tech goodies, the Backcountry also gets some significant off-road bits. It wears steel bumpers at both ends, a Mopar grille guard, and rock rails along its door sills to limit damage from any boulder bashing. To prevent bashing from happening in the first place, the Backcountry comes standard with a front trail camera to survey the path ahead. JeepJeepIt also comes standard with unique matte-black 20-inch wheels wrapped in 275/55R-20 General Grabber all-terrain tires for supreme traction on any surface. To help it look the part, it has Backcountry decals on its hood, fenders, and rear swing gate and comes with a removable three-piece body-colored hardtop. A towing package is also included, which adds seven- and four-pin wiring harnesses, auxiliary switches, and a receiver hitch. The Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and retails for $66,185, which is $6595 more than the 4xe Sahara. If you want to hear what an Alpine audio system sounds like echoing through a dense forest, now’s your time to find out.Related StoriesAustin’s car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren’t cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father’s full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked.

That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table. More

Rivian has launched its first special-edition models, the R1T and R1S California Dune Edition.Their exteriors wear a tan paint job, with the option to match the same hue on the 20-inch wheels that come as part of the standard All-Terrain package.The cabin features a two-tone look, with a Black Mountain upper section and a Sandstone lower section.The Rivian R1T truck and R1S SUV received comprehensive updates for the 2025 model year, bringing tweaked exterior styling, a lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry in the standard battery, and a new drive unit in the Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor powertrains. Now, Rivian is enhancing the R1 duo even further with the California Dune Edition, a special version of the R1T and R1S that gets a desert-inspired paint job and standard off-road gear. This marks the first time Rivian has launched a limited-edition variant of its R1 line of vehicles.The special-edition model is differentiated from standard Rivians by an all-new paint color called, unsurprisingly, California Dune. The color was inspired by Southern California’s beautiful dunes. The vehicles also wear an exterior Darkout package to accentuate the contrast between the badging and the tan paint job.Inside, each California Dune Edition sports a hue called Sandstone on the lower section of the cabin with a Black Mountain upper half. The interior also features flooring material that’s supposed to be easy to clean, with Sandstone floor mats to match the seats, center console, and door panels.The California Dune Edition is based around the R1 models’ Tri-Motor setup, which packs three electric motors spitting out a whopping 850 horsepower and 1103 pound-feet of torque. This allows the electric SUV and electric truck to rip from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 2.9 seconds. The Tri-Motor powertrain also features a Soft Sand drive mode, which ties in nicely with the California Dune theme.RivianThe special Rivians also come fitted with the All-Terrain package as standard. Normally a $3700 add-on, the package adds 20-inch wheels, a spare tire, and a reinforced underbody shield. The wheels are offered here with two finishes, either a darkened look or a California Dune paint that matches the rest of the body. The inclusion of the All-Terrain package does knock the Tri-Motor powertrain’s EPA-rated range from 371 miles to 329 miles.The California Dune models also feature a couple of unique accessories. There are black MAXTRAX traction boards that live atop the roof rack, which also get a darkened appearance. On the R1T pickup truck, there is also a standard powered tonneau cover, which got a revised design for 2025.Rivian didn’t say how many examples of the California Dune models will be built, but it did describe the model as limited editions. The special Rivians are available to order now, with the R1T California Dune Edition starting at $99,900 and the R1S California Dune Edition starting at $105,900.Related StoriesCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More