Motor News

This is our first look at the next-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop, which will arrive in the United States for the 2025 model year.The design retains the classic Mini cues but now features triangular LED taillights in place of the long-running rectangular shape. The 2025 Cooper hatchback will feature both gas and electric powertrains, with the EV being developed as part of a joint venture with China’s Great Wall Motor.Mini has revealed the first official images of the next-generation Cooper hatchback, due to arrive in the United States for the 2025 model year. The automaker first previewed the new Cooper back in 2021, showing a camouflaged prototype and confirming that the iconic city car would offer both internal-combustion and electric powertrains.MiniMini is remaining tight-lipped on details, but the photos show a sleeker design, with the round headlights smoothly integrated into the body and the wider octagonal grille outline visually lowering the car. The grille is mostly blanked off, with a small opening at the bottom for cooling and a thin black strip at the top that seems to be hiding sensors, but the face is still recognizably Mini. MiniSharp creases on the hood give the Cooper a purposeful stance, and this example, badged as “S,” wears a set of snazzy geometric wheels. The most noticeable change comes at the back, where the rectangular taillights have been swapped out for triangular units with intricate LEDs that still hint at the design of the Union Jack flag. More Mini NewsThe styling appears unchanged from the undisguised prototypes spotted in China back in late 2021, so we’re surprised that its taken this long for the Cooper to finally be revealed. The small grille aperture, green “S” badges, and lack of a visible exhaust pipe leads us to believe that this Cooper is an EV. MiniThe electric Mini will be built in China on a platform developed with Great Wall Motor, while a gas-powered model—which is expected to share its styling with the EV—will arrive on an updated version of the current platform and be assembled in Oxford, England. The internal-combustion version should use the same turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot engines as the outgoing model. More details on the next-generation Cooper should be released soon.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 EditorCaleb 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

Pricing is now out for the 2024 Kia Seltos, which increased by over $1000 to start at $25,715.Oddly, all-wheel drive is standard on the S, X-Line, and SX trims but costs $1500 on the S and $2200 on the EX.For 2024, the Seltos lineup also gets refreshed exterior and interior styling.The Kia Seltos subcompact SUV exists to fill the small remaining gaps in the brand’s lineup. Sized and priced above the smaller Soul and below the larger Sportage, the Seltos manages to toe the line without being considered diminutive. Pricing for the 2024 model is out and increases by over $1000, with a starting price of $25,715 for the LX trim. Pricing steadily rises throughout the lineup, with the biggest jump from the $27,115 EX to the $30,015 X-Line. The latter swaps the 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder found on the lesser trims for a turbocharged 1.6-liter version, which is upgraded for 2024. Power is up 20 horses, with the peppy mill now making 195 ponies.Fuel economy for the 2.0-liter is unlikely to change from its EPA-estimated 34 mpg on front-wheel-drive models, but the more powerful 1.6-liter may lose some of its efficiency. All-wheel drive comes standard on the LX, X-Line, and SX trims, but oddly it’s optional on the S and EX trims. Springing for that feature costs $1500 on the S and $2200 on the EX.More Kia Seltos ReadingFor the 2024 model year, the Seltos’s styling is refreshed inside and out. This includes a restyled grille and updated exterior lighting elements. Inside, the infotainment setup is revised, too, with a new optional panel reaching across the dashboard. This serves as a digital gauge cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. 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

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will be available in an overlanding-ready Trailhunter trim.Expect plenty of off-road-ready kit, including an ARB rear bumper and big tow hooks.Those features are confirmed in Toyota’s latest teaser, as are the Trailhunter’s branded headlight bezels.Toyota is looking to further appeal to off-roaders with its 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup. After initially teasing the new truck in hybrid TRD Pro guise, Toyota is now giving us a small peek at the forthcoming Trailhunter trim.Related StoriesThough the Tacoma appears to be the first production vehicle from Toyota to bear the Trailhunter name, it’s not the first time we’ve heard of this new nameplate. That honor goes to the Tundra Trailhunter concept from last year’s SEMA show. Like its full-size concept brethren, the Tacoma Trailhunter has its sights set on the overlanding crowd. What exactly that entails remains to be seen. ToyotaFor now, we can confirm the Tacoma Trailhunter will have an ARB-sourced rear bumper (almost certainly made of steel) and a big frame-mounted tow hook. Additionally, the model sports darkened, Trailhunter-branded headlight bezels, flared fenders, and what look like all-terrain tires. We wager a good deal of what made the Tundra Trailhunter concept (shown below) so special will also separate the Tacoma Trailhunter from its lesser kin. This includes a trim-specific suspension setup, a number of underbody skid plates, roof racks, and off-road driving lamps. toyotaThe Tundra Trailhunter concept also included a bed rack with a roof-top tent mounted to it, a refrigerator, and custom in-bed storage features to make living off the grid a little more bearable. Frankly, we’d be shocked if Toyota didn’t at least offer these bits as optional accessory items. That said, we won’t hold our breath on such items making it to the production model’s standard features list. Toyota is mum on much else regarding the 2024 Tacoma and its less off-road-focused models. Nonetheless, mid-size-truck buyers looking for a hybrid-powered off-road pickup or a factory-built overlander will surely want to give the 2024 Tacoma a look. When exactly Toyota plans to let us see the truck in its entirety, however, is anyone’s guess.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

Acura has revealed the 2024 Integra Type S in its final production form. It has similar specs as the Honda Civic Type R, but with slightly more horsepower from its turbo 2.0-liter engine. The Type S will go on sale in the U.S. in June, and we’re eager to find out how much it will cost compared to the base Integra and the Civic Type R.The Acura Integra you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. While the base model didn’t necessarily meet everyone’s expectations for the revived nameplate, this new 320-hp 2024 Type S performance model ensures that the Integra remains part of the sport-compact conversation.Like the standard Integra, the Type S borrows many ingredients from the Honda Civic—but in this case, those components come from the red-hot Civic Type R hatchback. That includes its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, which in the Acura pumps out 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That’s an extra 5 horsepower compared with the Civic, which Acura says is thanks to the Integra’s unique exhaust system. The power differential could also be for bragging rights, but we think the two cars’ acceleration performance will be similar given that the Acura’s claimed curb weight is around 30 pounds higher than the Civic Type R’s. A six-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching function is the only gearbox on offer in the Type S, and a limited-slip differential is standard equipment.More on the Integra Type SAll the expected chassis upgrades are in store too. The front and rear tracks are wider, and the Integra has the same dual-axis front suspension setup as the Civic Type R that’s meant to quell torque steer. Adaptive dampers, also available in the Integra A-Spec, adjust based on the drive-mode selection, which in the Type S comprises Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. The brakes are upgraded with larger rotors front and rear, and the lightweight 19-inch wheels are wrapped in 265-series Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires.The Integra will attempt to appeal to a different fanbase than the Civic, with looks that are slightly toned-down compared with the street-racer Type R. The Type S still has widened fenders and an appropriately aggressive stance, but it does without the Civic’s giant rear wing, and its air intakes, front splitter, and rear diffuser look more subtle. The Integra’s active exhaust, however, promises to sound even more special than the Civic’s, with plenty of pops and bangs in Sport+ mode. Seven colors will be offered, including blue, white, and the striking gold Tiger Eye Pearl hue available on the TLX and MDX Type S models.AcuraInside, the Type S offers front seats with a bit of extra bolstering that are trimmed in a leather and suede upholstery combination available in either red, black, or white. There are some features that aren’t available on the Civic Type R, such as a head-up display and a 16-speaker ELS audio system. The front seats are heated, and the driver’s seat is power-adjustable and has an adjustable lumbar support. The Type S gives up its center rear seating position, meaning it’s a four-seater. The 9.0-inch touchscreen display has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.Acura hasn’t priced the Integra Type R yet, and this tidbit will be crucial for understanding its positioning. We’re hoping it comes in under $50,000, which would put it a few thousand dollars more than the Civic Type R and in the neighborhood of German rivals such as the Audi S3 and BMW M235i Gran Coupe. We should know more soon, as the Type R will start reaching U.S. dealerships in June after making its debut this weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.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

Porsche is recalling 489 examples of its legendary Carrera GT from 2004 and 2005.Only around 1300 Carrera GTs were ever produced, so 489 vehicles is a pretty significant number. According to documents filed with NHTSA, spherical joints connecting the wishbone suspension components on the front and rear axles may fail due to mechanical stress or corrosion. Take a minute today to empathize with the 489 Porsche Carrera GT owners who will need to take time out of their busy days to schedule a dealership appointment. Or, more likely to ask their assistant to schedule a dealership appointment for their recently recalled million-plus-dollar supercar. Porsche issued a recall for 489 Carrera GTs over an issue with the suspension components, which could increase the risk of a crash. According to a recent filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the spherical joints that connect the wishbone suspension components on the front and rear axles can fail due to damage from mechanical stress and corrosion.”The material used does not provide sufficient resistance to inter granular stress corrosion when exposed to salt and mechanical stress over service life,” Porsche’s defect notice reads. “This could result in cracks or fractures in the spherical joints, and possible [sic] the wishbone.” PorschePorsche said it first found the issue in an isolated case in August 2019, when one owner brought a Carrera GT in for an unrelated service. According to the filings, Porsche struggled with further analyses on more Carrera GTs, because of the age and extremely limited production run of the vehicle. The recall notes that owners might be able to perceive noise and vibration due to a loosening or failure of the connection, but the component could also fail without warning. Due to parts not being available, the company has a two-phase remedy plan. It first wants to inspect all the affected vehicles. If the issue doesn’t show up during the inspection, the vehicle will be cleared for unrestricted use and the customer will be notified when the remedy parts become available. If the issue does make itself known, Porsche will advise customers not to drive their vehicle until the fix is completed. This being the Carrera GT, Porsche will offer alternative transportation upon request. In the unlikely event you own one, you can check the NHTSA recalls site to determine whether your Carrera GT is included in the recall.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

Adding the hybrid powertrain to the Toyota Corolla Cross will cost you around $5000.For the money, you get around a 10-mpg improvement and almost 30 more horsepower.Options for the three trims include two-tone paint and a moonroof, with the top XSE model under $35,000.The literal Corolla of SUVs will start at $29,305 with a hybrid powertrain for the 2023 model year. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will come in three trim levels and will top out at $35,090 for the top-of-the-line XSE trim with all available options. The nonhybrid 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross starts at $24,395, and you get more than just better efficiency for your five grand. For one thing, the hybrid model has slightly different front and rear styling. Also, while the base engine in the nonhybrid version produces just 169 horsepower, the hybrid system uses three electric motors for a combined output of 196 hp.Related Stories The good news is that the all-wheel-drive Corolla Cross Hybrid comes with a fuel-economy improvement as well. While the nonhybrid Corolla Cross models are rated at either 30 or 32 combined mpg by the EPA, Toyota said it expects the EPA will rate all grades of the Corolla Cross Hybrid at 42 combined mpg. Depending on gas prices in the coming years, someone planning to keep the Corolla Cross for about a decade would be able to recoup the increased cost of the hybrid model based on fuel efficiency. To run just one example of an average American driver putting on 13,500 miles a year, they’d need 450 gallons of gas in the 30-mpg nonhybrid Corolla Cross. In the hybrid? Just 322. At this weekend’s average national price of $3.60 a gallon, the hybrid driver could save $461 at the pump. Some of the money saved on fuel could be used to option up the new Corolla Cross Hybrid. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard in all of these models, and it includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and dynamic radar cruise control, among other features. The lone optional feature that’s somewhat safety related is the adaptive headlights, which can be had for $615 on the XSE trim.Other options include a more premium JBL sound system ($800), a moonroof ($940), and two ways to make your vehicle stand out paint-wise. There are six standard exterior paint colors and one that costs extra (Wind Chill Pearl, $425). There are also four $500 two-tone color combinations that add a black roof.Finally, a $1250 convenience package is available. Toyota doesn’t specifically say what’s included in this package, but what appears to be the same option on the nonhybrid Corolla Cross includes a moonroof and power liftgate. The only option for the S base trim is the optional color. All other options can be had on the SE trim, which starts at $31,625, or the XSE, starting at $32,400. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the voice-controlled “Hey Toyota” Intelligent Assistant is standard, as are 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlamps. The SE trim adds two important convenience features—blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert—as well as roof rails and paddle shifters. The XSE grade gets 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat.The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid will arrive at Toyota dealerships in June. Toyota will build the car at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

The EPA regulates and lowers the quantity of emissions that can spew from the transportation network—in effect, raising fuel economy requirements—and the next stage will be announced Wednesday, according to insiders.The new rules will affect model year 2027 through 2032 vehicles and do not ban internal-combustion engines or force EV purchases.Similar fuel-economy regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are also expected this month.Cleaner air and more electric vehicles are the goals of a move expected next week when the Biden Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportedly will announce what insiders are already calling the toughest-ever emissions rules for new cars and light trucks. The Associated Press reported on the planned announcement, having talked to people familiar with details of the proposal and who asked not to be named because it hasn’t yet been made public. This Is Not a Gas-Engine BanWhat the new rules won’t do is ban new internal-combustion-engine vehicles outright or force people to buy electric vehicles. Instead, they’d the next logical step in the U.S. government’s overall push to clean up our transportation system. President Biden’s official target is for half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030 to be zero-emission vehicles, which for the government means all-electric, plug-in-hybrid, or fuel-cell vehicles.The stricter rules will affect model year 2027–2032 vehicles and deal with carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Los Angeles Times, automakers have been pushing behind the scenes to delay implementation of the new emission limits for “a few years,” but we won’t learn more until the proposed rules are released this week.The EPA’s Not Talking (Yet)The EPA sets emissions standards for new vehicles sold in the U.S. in batches. For example, emissions rules for 2021–2026 model year vehicles were finalized in the spring of 2020. Those rules ended up being less strict than initially proposed. The original proposed rule would have effectively required an industry fleet-wide average of 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year, but that was amended first to 46.7 mpg and then to 40.4 mpg in the final rule.The last time the EPA issued a press statement about new light-duty-vehicle emission standards for the 2027–2032 model years, it said that the final MY 2026 rules “set the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program on track to provide a strong launch point for the Agency’s next phase of standards for MY 2027 and beyond.” Those new rules, the ones now expected next week, “will speed the transition of the light-duty vehicle fleet toward a zero-emissions future consistent with President Biden’s [plans],” the EPA said in December 2021. The EPA declined to issue any official statements regarding the new rules, telling the LA Times that the rules are still under interagency review.More DetailsThe new standards are set to be announced Wednesday. The EPA is also expected to update emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks and power plants this month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also expected to announce its new fuel economy standards in April. 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.Take a LookContributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

The 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X now comes standard with GM’s Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six.While it has less horsepower, the diesel’s 495 pound-feet of torque is 35 more than the optional 6.2-liter V-8.GMC also tweaked other Sierra 1500 models for 2024 by adding a newly available active exhaust and two fresh paint options. Last week, Chevy announced the 2024 Silverado ZR2 will adopt the Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six as its base engine. Now it comes as no surprise that GMC is following suit by making the downsized Duramax the new standard engine on the 2024 Sierra AT4X.GMCThe oil-burning straight-six generates less horsepower than the massive 6.2-liter V-8 option (305 versus 420 hp, respectively), but it turns the tide by providing an additional 35 pound-feet of torque. The diesel produces 495 pound-feet compared with the V-8’s 460 pound-feet.GM and Duramax updated the diesel 3.0-liter by adding a retuned turbo compressor, new fuel injectors, new steel pistons, and improved temperature control features that together help the engine squeeze out the higher torque figure, which was previously 460 pound-feet. We haven’t yet tested the updated Duramax option, but we loved how refined and quiet the previous version was.More Sierra 1500 AT4XAs one might expect, most of the other changes made to 2024 models of GMC’s half-ton pickup truck mirror those of its Chevy counterpart. The Sierra now offers power-retractable side steps and an active exhaust system available on upper trims. Two new wheel options are also added, as are two fresh paint colors (Downpour metallic and Thunderstorm Gray). The base 2.7-liter turbo four from the Sierra 1500’s base trims stays the same mechanically but is now referred to as the “TurboMax.”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