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    Aston Martin DB11 Facelift Will Be Called DB12, Trademark Application Suggests

    Aston Martin has filed a trademark in the U.S. for the nameplate “DB12,” as first reported by CarBuzz.The DB12 is expected to be revealed this year as a refreshed version of the DB11, which has been on sale since 2017.We expected the DB12 to retain the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, but it may gain a 48-volt hybrid system.Aston Martin’s aging sports-car lineup is due for a major overhaul, and a new trademark filing—first reported by CarBuzz—suggests that this update will usher in a new nameplate. The British automaker has filed for the name DB12 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which will presumably be applied to a heavily refreshed version of the DB11 expected to make its debut later this year.Jessica Lynn Walker|Car and DriverLast year, Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll said that all of the company’s sports cars—the Vantage, DB11, and DBS—would be overhauled in 2023. Stroll revealed that the changes would be so drastic that they would essentially be “all-new cars,” and the new trademark seems to confirm that. This would be the first time since the DB6 went out of production in 1970 that one of Aston Martin’s DB series of sports cars would bear an even-numbered badge. More Aston Martin NewsAlong with revised styling, the update is expected to bring a more modern infotainment system that will scrap the touchpad setup and be better differentiated from the Mercedes-Benz system on which it is based. The DB12 will likely retain the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8—also borrowed from Mercedes—although it could gain a 48-volt hybrid setup like in the Mercedes-AMG GLS63. It’s unclear if the V-12 will live on in the DB12. More details should arrive later this year.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

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    Ford Has Patented an All-Wheel-Drive EV Line Lock Burnout Mode

    If you’ve ever driven one of the newest Ford Mustangs, you’ll know that there is a mode that enables line lock, essentially a way of keeping the brakes on the front wheels while letting the rear wheels do a burnout to heat the tires for the optimum drag strip launch.Now, Ford has patented a system for EVs that’ll allow a different sort of line lock, one that’ll work on all-wheel-drive models. It’ll brake the front wheels to spin the rear tires, and then it can brake the rear wheels to spin the front tires. The patent, published March 2, specifies it’s for track use only, of course, and for tire heating. It’s also said that this is achievable with current hardware, so it could be a software update that makes it function.U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeThe patent drawing shows a Mustang Mach-E, so perhaps the GT model would be the first recipient of a mode like this.Of course, Ford did make a drift-ready Mach-E, which had seven motors and 1400 horsepower, so it wouldn’t be the first tire-smoking electric crossover from the brand.World of MustangsEditor-at-LargeTravis is an editor at Road & Track. He was previously the Editor-in-Chief of Jalopnik.com and is a little too fond of the Mazda Miata. More

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    2002 Chrysler 300M Special Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    The 2002 Chrysler 300M Special was the most performance-oriented of the LH cars. The Special isn’t much more powerful than the standard 300M, though, with just five more horsepower and three more pound-feet of torque, but the overall package stands out. This well-preserved example is up for sale on Bring a Trailer, and the auction ends on March 26. Bring a TrailerWhen Chrysler released the 2002 Chrysler 300M Special, our foredrivers felt it was an obvious effort to win back their adulation after our affection for the 300Ms began to wane. The model made our 10Best list in 1999 and 2000, then fell off as more potent competitors appeared on the scene. The Special’s smidge of extra horsepower and torque weren’t quite enough to totally do the trick, however. Still, the 300M’s “cab-forward” design was advanced for its time, and it’s aged well. This fine-looking example, currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos), could turn heads even today.As recounted by one of the commenters, the 300M was a last-minute addition to the Chrysler brand’s LH lineup. Supposedly, the car was designed as the second-gen Eagle Vision, but when the Eagle division was dropped, Chrysler ended up with the model, to sell alongside the Concorde and the LHS. Compared to those two, the 300M was a more tidy, international size, at just five meters long.Bring a Trailer Chrysler put a slightly more powerful version of the 3.5-liter SOHC V6 engine in the Special than it did in the standard 300M. The Special version produced up to 255 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, compared to 250 and 255, respectively, in the standard 300M. The Chrysler 300M Special also came with a stiffer suspension, and the four-speed automatic transmission had a shorter final-drive ratio (3.89 compared to 3.66). There was also a Special-specific dual exhaust system. And, unusual for a front-wheel-drive car, the engine was mounted longitudinally in the 300M, which helped create a roomy and comfortable interior.Bring a TrailerThis car features a retro-tastic four-disc in-dash CD player and a factory cassette stereo, and its Light Taupe leather interior appears in fine shape. This Chrysler is also equipped with a power sunroof, heated and power-adjustable front seats with position memory, and HID headlights. The exterior is painted in Bright Silver Metallic, and the car has 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/45 Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 3 tires.Chrysler 300, from the Late 20th CenturyThe example up for auction has seen some use, with around 60,000 miles on the odometer and a repainted front bumper cover. It was originally sold in California and has a Pennsylvania title. It also has a clean CarFax record, but there is some corrosion on the exhaust and suspension components. At the time of their debut, the LH cars were a big deal, and even the second-generation models were well ahead of their domestic competition, at least in terms of design. This car is the sportiest of the bunch and would have been a stylin’ ride in the post-Y2K era.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

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    Glorious-Sounding Ford Mustang GT3 Race Car Could Be Coming in a Street Version

    Ford CEO Jim Farley posted a video to Twitter showing the company’s upcoming Mustang GT3 race car lapping at Sebring.This is the first we’ve seen (or heard) anything about the upcoming factory GT3 car since Ford announced it in September.Farley also tweeted a rhetorical question, hinting at a potential future roadgoing version of the GT3 racer. This content is imported from twitter. 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.Wherever you are right now, stop. Now turn your volume as high as it will go and enjoy the beautiful soundtrack of a naturally aspirated V-8. Ford CEO Jim Farley took to Twitter today to show the company’s upcoming Mustang GT3 race car turning laps at Sebring, and the audio is glorious. This is the first we’ve seen (and, more important, heard) of the factory GT3 Mustang since Ford announced its plan to launch six new racing versions of the S650 Mustang back in September. The GT3 won’t officially debut until the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024, but that isn’t stopping Ford from building hype now. Ford RacingThis version of the GT3 is being developed jointly by Ford Performance and Multimatic, and it will be powered by a revised version of the Coyote V-8 bored to 5.4 liters. The images show a Mustang that has undergone serious and necessary modifications to complete 24-hour races like Daytona and Le Mans. Huge fenders wrap around a set of meaty racing tires, while every visible piece of bodywork looks to be made from lightweight carbon fiber. The car has an extremely aggressive lip at the front, and a large diffuser at the rear. Visually, the real show stopper is the rear wing mounted not to the rear decklid, but instead to the rear pillars of the car. Ford made sure to remind us that the despite being a thoroughbred race car, the GT3 car shares DNA with the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse. Wes Dunkel, Ford PerformanceWes Dunkel, Ford PerformanceBut we already knew race cars looked and sounded great. The really interesting part came from Farley’s second tweet. The Ford CEO got back on Twitter an hour after he posted the clip of the GT3 and asked his followers if Ford should make a road version. Mr. Farley, I think we all agree. The answer is a resounding yes. Please send your first example to the Car and Driver office ASAP.This content is imported from twitter. 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

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    1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi Is Today's Bring a Trailer Auction Pick

    Built as a double celebration of Subaru’s 40th anniversary and triple wins of the WRC manufacturer’s championship, the 22B is the ultimate STI.All the Subaru rally-racing goodies are here: a driver-adjustable all-wheel-drive system, wider bodywork, a huge rear wing, and World Rally Blue paint. The auction runs through March 28, with bidding already approaching $100K. Car and DriverIn 1998, Subaru turned 40 and gave itself pretty much the best birthday present ever. Subaru was riding high in its middle age, with three consecutive WRC manufacturer championships between 1995 and 1997. To celebrate, it announced what would become the most desirable car ever to wear the six-star Subaru badge: the rally-bred 22B. One of these late 1990s World Rally Blue beauties is now up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. Bring a TrailerThis 22B is #135 of the 400 examples sold in Japan (a further 25 were split between the U.K. and Australia). The car has been imported into the U.S. under “show and display” rules. Under show and display rules, a gray-market car like the Subaru 22B is limited to 2500 miles a year. Related StoriesThis generation of the WRX/STI never officially came to the U.S., and the closest we got on this side of the Pacific was the 2.5RS. Even those have increased in value of late, as Subaru enthusiasts seek out clean donor chassis to build tribute cars.Car and DriverWhen it comes to a real 22B, things are about as tasty as any gravel-spattered rally otaku could hope for. No Subaru STI has ever looked better, and at just over 2800 pounds, few have been lighter. The blister fenders house 235-series tires for maximum grip —Car and Driver managed 0.96 g on the skidpad in a 1999 test—while tucked under that functional hood scoop is a turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter flat-four engine with a redline of 7900 rpm. Water injectors are controlled by a dashboard switch. Subaru listed the 22B at the 280-hp rating common at the time, but it’s widely believed that the peak power figure was somewhere between 300 and 350 horsepower.Bring a TrailerThat power is doled out through an all-wheel-drive system with an adjustable center differential, making for all kinds of back-road pace or big, fun sliding. It’s the kind of driving experience that still echoes today in rally-inspired machinery like Toyota’s GR Corolla, or, yes, Subaru’s own WRX sedan. Pause here to pour out a gallon of vape fluid for the much-missed STI versionThis car has 186,000 kilometers (115,000 miles) on the odometer and has just completed a comprehensive engine-out service. Despite the six-figure mileage, bidding has already hit $90,000 with seven days to go.Bring a TrailerIf the thought of a six-figure Subaru is surprising, that number is only going to tick upward. The 22B is basically the Subaru equivalent of the Ferrari F40, an anniversary gift of a type that will likely never be seen again. Besides, can you drift your 401K on gravel, then take it home to wash the bugs off your side windows? In these uncertain times, when even blue-chip investments can falter, maybe it’s time to consider World Rally Blue–chip ones. No matter what happens in the financial markets, you can bank on the fact that a dirt-road blast in a 22B is sure to make you feel like Colin McRae.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan 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

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    2024 Mini Clubman Marks the End but Celebrates the Past

    The 2024 Mini Cooper S Clubman Final Edition is a send-off to the brand’s funky station wagon.The Final Edition will be limited to 1969 examples, a reference to the first year of the original Clubman.The Cooper S Clubman Final Edition features special graphics and badging to differentiate it from regular variants. It comes as no surprise the Mini Cooper Clubman is headed for the big farm upstate. Sales have been in a downward spiral since they peaked in 2016, with the Clubman now the worst-selling vehicle Mini makes. Before officially bowing out, though, the Clubman is celebrating the past with the 2024 Mini Cooper S Clubman Final Edition. MiniThe Final Edition pays homage to its roots by limiting production numbers to 1969 units, a figure that representative the first year Mini introduced the Clubman nameplate. The special edition is only available with three exterior paint options: Nanuq White, Enigmatic Black, and Melting Silver. Its interior features a special Final Edition color scheme. Special graphics running along the hood and doors of the car are intended to accentuate the classic Mini shape of the Clubman. Unique copper-colored badging is also found outside and in, denoting the significance of the Final Edition. Inside the new Clubman, the Final Edition maintains an earthy tone, with dark brown leather bolstering and anthracite fabric inserts in the seats. The door sills along with the base of the steering wheel read “Final Edition.” The floor mats and dashboard feature a serialized badge (“1 of 1969,” for example) denoting the number of each specific car in the limited-production run. MiniMiniThe Final Edition is mechanically unchanged from the standard Mini Clubman, with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing a peppy 189 horsepower. Mini overlooked the Clubman when it added the manual back to the Cooper last year, so all Clubmans have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive comes standard, while all-wheel is optional. After the 2024 model year, the Clubman will be put to rest, but the gap left in Mini’s lineup will be filled by a production version of the incoming fully electric Aceman SUV. The Clubman’s life was a bit rocky when it came to sales, but we’re always sad to see another wagon leave the U.S. market. So long, Mini Clubman, you will be missed. Reviews to Remember the Club’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

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    Chevy Camaro Axed after 2024, but a Successor Is in the Works

    The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro will go out of production in January 2024, the automaker announced today.For its final model year, Chevy will introduce a Collector’s Edition, although no details on the package have been revealed yet. Chevy says that the Camaro nameplate will live on and that a successor will be announced in the future.Chevrolet announced today that the sixth-generation Camaro will end production after the 2024 model year. The last examples of the muscle car are set to roll off the line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in January of next year. While there is no direct successor waiting in the wings, Chevy promises that “this is not the end of Camaro’s story.” The sixth generation ran for nine years, selling a healthy 72,705 units in its first full year on sale in 2016. Yet it was never able to reach the heights of the fifth generation—which crested the 80,000-unit mark in five different years—and sales dwindled to just 24,652 vehicles in 2022.ChevroletA special Collector’s Edition will arrive for the Camaro’s final year, although Chevy has yet to provide details on what it includes. For now, we just have a shadowy teaser. The automaker did divulge that it will have “ties that date back to the development of the first generation Camaro in the 1960s” and referenced that Camaro’s original codename, Panther. The package will be fitted to the RS and SS models, as well as a limited number of the ZL1 variant. More on the CamaroWith the Dodge Challenger biting the dust after 2023, the Camaro’s demise leaves the Ford Mustang as the only remaining American muscle car. But Dodge is promising an electric competitor, inspired by the Charger Daytona SRT concept, and we expect that whatever Chevy cooks up to wear the Camaro nameplate next will include some form of electrification. The muscle car world is in for some major changes.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

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    This Special Wraith Black Arrow Is Rolls-Royce's Final V-12 Coupe

    Rolls-Royce has revealed the Wraith Black Arrow, a limited-run send-off to the automaker’s V-12–powered coupe.The Black Arrow is a reference to a 1930s land speed record car that used Rolls-Royce engines, with an etching of that motor appearing on the Wraith’s dashboard.The special edition also features a gradient paint job, going from silver to black, accented by yellow trim.After a ten-year run, the Rolls-Royce Wraith is finally bidding adieu for good. Although the coupe departed the U.S. market in 2021, it had lived on overseas, and the newly revealed Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection represents the end of the line for the company’s V-12–powered coupes. The electric Spectre takes over the mantle later this year, but before then Rolls-Royce will build 12 examples of this special Wraith as a final hurrah.Rolls-RoyceThe car pays homage to Thunderbolt, an eight-wheeled land speed record car powered by two Rolls-Royce V-12 airplane engines. In 1938, Thunderbolt rocketed to 357.497 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, a record that it held for nearly a year. The onset of World War II curtailed efforts to recapture the top spot, but changes in propulsion technology following the conflict mean Thunderbolt has remained the fastest V-12–powered car ever. According to Rolls-Royce, Thunderbolt’s bright aluminum body reflected the glaring Utah sun’s rays so much that it couldn’t be picked up by timing equipment, leading the driver to paint a massive black arrow and with a yellow circle on the side of the car, inspiring the name and design of this limited-production Wraith. Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce says that the Black Arrow’s snazzy gradient paint finish—with the Celebration Silver front end blending into the Black Diamond rear—took 18 months to perfect. It is accented by bright yellow trim in the front bumper and adorning the wheels. Yellow also appears on struts visible through the grille and on the base of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament above. Rolls-RoyceRolls-RoyceThe decadent interior continues the color scheme, with yellow leather gracing the seats, steering wheel, and dashboard. The headrests are embroidered with a stylized arrow, while the analog clock set into the dashboard proudly displays Thunderbolt’s top speed. The coach doors feature a dark wood finish consisting of over 320 layered pieces designed to emulate the rough surface of the Salt Flats, while a depiction of the Thunderbolt’s V-12 is etched into aluminum and set behind glass on the dashboard. A small aluminum model of the Thunderbolt also resides under a pane of glass in the center console.Rolls-RoyceRolls-RoyceRolls-Royce also went the extra mile with the starlight headliner, stitching 2117 fiber-optic lights into the ceiling, the most Rolls-Royce has ever fitted to one headliner. The “stars” are arranged to mimic the constellations as they would have looked on the date in 1938 when the Thunderbolt set its record.More on Rolls-RoyceA plaque on the engine cover notes that this is the last V-12 coupe from the automaker. Unsurprisingly, all 12 Wraith Black Arrows are already spoken for. There’s no official price, but we are certain that those lucky owners paid a substantial sum more than the Wraith’s $343,350 starting price.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