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    Strict EPA Rules for 2027–2032 Vehicles Are Expected This Week

    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

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    2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Adds Torquey Duramax Diesel Engine

    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

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    Weirdest Car Commercials: Window Shop with Car and Driver

    This content is imported from youTube. 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.The sign at the start of Memory Lane advertises, “This Way to Kinder, Gentler Times!” What the marketers of nostalgia never tell you is that Memory Lane has some side streets and alleys that, like a Tijuana for the mind, contain reminiscences that should have been condemned and razed, their earth salted for the safety of future generations.The Internet won’t let that happen.This week’s Window Shop challenge started as an innocent, whimsical search for the strangest car commercial. Our esteemed panelists explored the bizarre and outlandish from Spain to Saturday Night Live. Just the kind of gentle, wacky fun our committed clique of viewers knows to expect.Then editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga introduced everyone to the dark side of strange—the mystifying, freakish kind. Does anyone remember when automotive marketers decided to combine Edgar Burrows’ science fiction and William Burroughs’ psychedelic enhancers to advertise a milquetoast Chevrolet sedan? Is anyone surprised that Quiroga remembered?Well, he gave it to us, which means we’re now giving it to you. Tune in to watch C/D feature maestros K.C. Colwell and Elana Scherr, Most Favored Nation contributor Jonathon Ramsey, and Road & Track’s resident Svengali John Pearley Huffman have their innocence taken from them. More Window Shopping More

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    2023 Toyota Prius Prime Is More Expensive But Has More Range

    Toyota has announced pricing for the 2023 Prius Prime, which starts $3580 higher than the outgoing Prime at $33,445.The top XSE Premium trim now starts above $40,000, representing a $4620 increase over the 2022 Limited model.Toyota is also estimating a 44-mile range for the base SE, versus the old model’s 25-mile range.The debut of the fifth-generation Toyota Prius in November brought flashy new bodywork, with the plug-in Prime model packing a beefier 220-hp powertrain. This week Toyota revealed pricing for the 2023 Prius Prime, with the improved performance and sharp styling coming at a significant price increase.The added power—which shaves the sprint to 60 mph from a 10-second trudge down to a claimed 6.6 seconds—sees the Prime rebranded as the sportier model, swapping the LE, XLE, and Limited nameplates for SE, XSE, and XSE Premium trims. The base SE now starts at $33,445, a $3580 bump over the outgoing base Prius Prime. Stepping up to XSE brings a $36,695 price tag, a whopping $5050 more than the previous XLE trim. The top of the lineup sees the Prius Prime crest $40,000, a $4620 hike over the 2022 Limited. More Toyota NewsAlong with pricing, Toyota revealed estimates for the 2023 Prius Prime’s all-electric range. Although Toyota’s original estimate was 38 miles, Toyota now says the Prime’s new battery pack—nearly double the size of the outgoing model’s unit—will net a 44 mile range for the SE model. Even the slightly lower 39-mile range Toyota claims for the top two trims is an impressive increase over the 2022 Prius Prime’s 25-mile figure. The XSE and XSE Premium grades sacrifice those 5 miles of range for 19-inch wheels, while the SE comes standard with 17-inch wheels. The first examples of the Prius Prime are supposed to reach dealers in May.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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    Toyota Three-Row Electric SUV to Be Built on U.S. Soil in 2025

    Toyota plans to build a three-row electric SUV in the U.S. starting sometime in 2025.The company also plans to introduce 10 EVs globally by 2026, with these next-gen electric models to have double the driving range.A mysterious new Lexus EV was also teased during today’s press conference that featured several prominent executives.Toyota appears to be working overtime to make up ground in the race to electrify its lineup. During a press conference today in Japan, the company’s executive leadership said the latest plan includes introducing 10 new EVs around the globe by 2026. Among them is a three-row electric SUV that’s slated to start production in the U.S. sometime in 2025.Built in AmericaBesides the fact it’ll be built in America—with batteries to be assembled in North Carolina—no other details were revealed about the brand’s future EV SUV. However, it could be similar to the three-row Toyota bZ5X concept that was shown back in 2021. The bZ5X debuted alongside myriad other Toyota and Lexus concepts and coincided with their announcement about plans to offer 30 electric models by 2030.toyotaSince then, Koji Sato has replaced Akio Toyoda as Toyota’s president and CEO. The move marked a change of direction for the automaker, who had been criticized over its general resistance to EV adoption. In February, Sato tapped Lexus to lead the charge in the company’s reformed plans to prioritize EVs.Doubling Electric RangeThe announcement also mentioned the introduction of a next-generation electric platform planned for around 2026, and today Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima said the company plans to double the driving range of its next-gen EVs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t detailed exactly how the range will double, other than Nakajima’s vague comment that it’ll be accomplished through “far greater efficiency.” Currently, the longest EPA-estimated range is 252 miles for the Toyota bZ4X; the Lexus RZ450e tops out at 220 miles of estimated range. That suggest future models will have between roughly 440 and 500 miles of range per charge.Toyota’s Future EV PlansNew Lexus EV TeasedWhile it wasn’t directly addressed during the presentation, one of the slides showed a mysterious electric Lexus model. The side profile teased a sharp angles and a rakish roofline, with a small Lexus badge located above the rear wheel arch. The design suggests something between a sedan, a hatchback, and a crossover.ToyotaWhatever the new Lexus EV may be (real or otherwise), it will surely be based on the next-gen platform. It could also feature an interesting new idea that was brought up by Nakajima regarding the ability for drivers to customize “ride feel” in the future. This was described as preferences around how the vehicle runs, turns, and stops. He went on to say this is part of the Toyota’s plans to “create cars that are more fun to drive in terms of both hardware and software.”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 EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

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    Tesla Model 3 Gets Price Cut as Reduced Tax Credit Looms

    Tesla dropped the price of the Model 3 sedan by $1000 on Thursday.The Long Range and Performance versions of the Model Y also received a $2000 price cut, with the base Model Y officially joining the lineup.The price reductions come as the $7500 tax credit for the base Model 3 will be halved on April 18.If you’ve been on the fence about buying a Tesla Model 3, now’s the time to decide. In anticipation of a reduced federal tax credit starting later this month, the company reduced the price of the single-motor rear-drive sedan by $1000 on Thursday.”Based on new IRS guidance, the $7,500 credit will be reduced for Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive on April 18 to $3,750,” the automaker said on a Federal Tax Incentives section of its website. More Tesla and EV storiesThe reduction comes because the lithium-iron-phosphate battery used in the base model 3 is the only battery from Tesla’s U.S. lineup that sources its cells from China. For a vehicle to qualify under the Inflation Reduction Act, it must be assembled in the U.S. even to be considered for qualification. On top of that, a percentage of its battery minerals must be sourced from a specific list of free-trade partners (not including China), and lastly, its battery cells must be assembled in North America. That means that from now until April 18, the Model 3 has a starting price of $43,630 and qualifies for the full $7500 credit. After that, the credit will be cut in half. As to what Tesla will do with Model 3 pricing—your guess is as good as ours. TeslaIn other Tesla pricing news, the Long Range and Performance versions of the Model Y also received a $2000 price cut on Thursday and now start at $54,630 and $58,630, respectively. Additionally, a base version of the Model Y with 279 miles of range was added to the lineup on Tesla’s website. The base model comes with a small discount to the Long Range model, and starts at $51,630. It was previously limited to inventory models and wasn’t listed next to the Long Range and Performance Models on the website, with Tesla opting for more of an In-N-Out secret menu approach. Tesla notes on its website that all versions of the Model Y will remain eligible for the full credit beyond April 18.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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    2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan’s Smooth Profile Teased before April Reveal

    The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-class will be revealed on April 25.Mercedes first showed the next-generation E-class’s futuristic dashboard earlier this year.The new E-class should arrive with hybrid powertrains but looks to retain more classic sedan proportions compared with the brand’s jellybean-like EVs.Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz provided a first glimpse at the upcoming 2024 E-class by revealing the luxury sedan’s tech-laden interior. Mercedes has now officially announced the next-generation E-class will debut on April 25 and teasing the model with a shadowy image of its profile.Mercedes-BenzWhile Mercedes-Benz’s electric sedans have taken on a smooth, jellybean-like shape, the 2024 E-class appears to retain more traditional sedan proportions, with a longer hood and more upright front end. The side view also reveals a crisp, full-length character line running from the headlights to the taillights. There’s also a sloping roofline.More Mercedes NewsThe new E-class’s interior will feature Mercedes’s optional Hyperscreen, which adds a second display facing the front passenger for streaming and gaming on the move. The content will be obscured if eye-tracking cameras notice the driver looking over at the passenger’s entertainment. When parked, the car will allow you to browse the internet and even join Zoom meetings thanks to a built-in camera on the dashboard.We expect the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-class to offer hybrid powertrains, but the company has yet to hint at any performance details. Other specific information will come when the 2024 E-class is revealed in full later this month.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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    2008 Lamborghini Reventon Coupe Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    This Reventón, one of just 20 sold, is a rare blend of Lamborghini’s past and present.Combining stealth-fighter styling and a lusty V-12 powertrain, this flagship Lamborghini led the way for the creation of the Aventador.Bidding has already gone into seven figures with six days to go on the online auction at Bring a Trailer.Car and DriverDirectly inspired by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the Lamborghini Reventón did anything but fly under the radar. A highly limited edition based on the V-12–powered Murciélago LP640, it featured unique carbon-fiber bodywork in a flat gray that enhanced the stealth fighter looks. The Reventón made its debut in 2007, and all 20 cars were snapped up by collectors before the public even saw them (one additional car was reserved for the Lamborghini museum). This one is now up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—and it’s an opportunity to own a Reventón for anyone who missed out the first time around. Fair warning: It won’t be cheap. With six days to go, bidding on this special Lamborghini has reached $1.4 million, the first Lamborghini product to crack the million-dollar barrier on the site. Then again, an F-22 Raptor costs roughly $143 million. This thing’s a bargain!Bring a TrailerIf you’re thinking there were a lot of hints at the then-upcoming Aventador’s styling in the Reventón, you’re right. In many ways, it was a roadgoing concept car, showing the way forward for Lamborghini’s V-12 machines.Here, that V-12 displaces 6.5 liters and produces 641 horsepower at 8000 rpm, slightly more than in the Murciélago. Note that this was one of the last examples of the first-generation Lamborghini V-12, which could stretch its bloodline all the way back to the birth of the company, and the handiwork of Giotto Bizzarinni.Bring a TrailerAnd, at the same time, the Reventón smashed any neo-retro nostalgia Lamborghini’s designers might have been toying with. One year before this all-angular car emerged, the 2006 Miura concept hinted at the potential for Lamborghini to look to its past for inspiration. The customer and public response to the Reventón helped Lamborghini hit the afterburners on an ever-wilder, knife-edged design.You can see the next evolution of that design in the just-released Revuelto, Lamborghini’s hybridized replacement for the Aventador. Many details on the Revuelto can be traced back to the limited-run Sián, which followed in the Reventón’s hoofprints in helping Lamborghini bridge the gap between models.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThis example is more artwork than car, with just 457 miles on the odometer. Car number five of the 20, it has been driven sparingly but maintained, and includes the military-style bag that came with the car on its original delivery to customers.Being that there are only 20 cars out there (plus 15 roadster versions that followed), the opportunity to own a Reventón doesn’t come along every day. As Lamborghini moves towards an ever more electrified future, this combustion-powered, combat-aircraft-inspired machine seems destined to only grow in value, even if the next owner puts a few more miles on it. Here’s your chance to take it out for a sortie while you still can. The auction ends on Wednesday, April 12.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