Motor News

It’s not official yet, but news that Mitsubishi is readying a Ralliart version of the Outlander PHEV for next year aligns with the company’s announcements these last few years.Mitsubishi said in 2021 it would bring the Ralliart name back and showed off the Vision Ralliart concept in 2022.If a report from Best Car is accurate, we can expect to see a 286-hp Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart sometime in 2024.For the past decade or so, Mitsubishi has kept quiet about its Ralliart performance sub-brand. In the U.S., we last saw vehicles with the name in 2014, when Mitsubishi used them on the Galant and Lancer sedans. But the rally and off-road racing brand was never going to disappear forever, and Mitsubishi said as much in 2021. Then, at the 2022 Tokyo auto show, Mitsubishi introduced the Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart concept, based on the Outlander SUV, to put some fresh metal on this storied name.According to the Japanese outlet Best Car, Mitsubishi is now getting ready to take the next step. The site reports that a production version of the Vision Ralliart concept will arrive sometime in 2024 with a modified suspension, increased body rigidity, and more output from the same 2.4-liter engine and plug-in hybrid powertrain used in the current Outlander. This model will reportedly produce 286 horsepower, up from the standard hybrid’s 248 horsepower, and will cost around $40,000–$45,000. Visually, it’s likely to resemble the concept, pictured here.MitsubishiMore on the OutlanderThe Outlander and other future Ralliart vehicles might be seen racing worldwide. Mitsu fans know that Ralliart made a name for itself in the 1980s and 1990s, participating in races like the World Rally Championship and the Paris-Dakar Rally. Officially, all Mitsubishi is staying today about where Ralliart goes from here is that the brand will evolve to showcase the “‘Mitsubishi Motors-ness’ and ‘manufacturing [spirit]’ with the highest technology of Mitsubishi Motors, while valuing its heritage.” As we said two years ago, when Mitsubishi announced the return of Ralliart, we’re not 100 percent sure what it will look like when this ‘Mitsubishi Motors-ness’ is realized. Still, we’re getting more excited about going along for the ride.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.Contributing Editor Sebastian 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

Range Rovers are the second most often stolen vehicle in the U.K., with most thefts occurring in London.Insurance brokers have responded by refusing to insure London-based Range Rovers, or increasing rates by as much as double.There have reportedly been no thefts of new-shape Range Rovers—yet.The Range Rover is a common sight in the metropolises of the world, built to handle mud and gravel but more usually seen gliding up to the valet at a fancy restaurant. Even on London’s busy and sometimes narrow streets, a wafting Rover is a popular choice, whether for actual Royals or just the very well-heeled. But in the U.K.’s capital city, Range Rovers have become popular with a more nefarious set.Thieves. (Or, as a London bobby might call them, the criminal element.) According to recent reporting from the U.K. magazine Autocar, Range Rovers have become the second most popular vehicle to steal in the U.K., with 5200 of them nicked in 2022. The vast majority of these thefts happened in London, and insurance companies have taken notice. (We know you will ask: the U.K.’s number-one most frequently stolen car in 2022 was the Ford Fiesta.)This situation isn’t like that of the recent rash of thefts of Hyundais and Kias. Instead of pranksters on TikTok, many of these Range Rovers are said to be stolen by networks of professional thieves taking advantage of keyless entry technology. Apparently it’s all too easy to fence a hot Range Rover, either locally or by shipping it overseas, never to be seen again. According to one investigator interviewed by Autocar, the issue isn’t with some security flaw, but simply because a Range Rover is a fat and valuable target. Crime pays.Insurance companies, on the other hand, do not enjoy paying out. Premiums for Range Rovers have reportedly skyrocketed in the U.K., doubling in some cases. That’s assuming you can get coverage at all, as some insurers will flat out not cover a Range Rover. Autocar did its homework here, requesting quotes on a current full-size Range Rover vs. an equivalently priced Bentley Bentayga. Quotes on the Rover topped out at the equivalent of $7200, double to triple the prices quoted for the Bentayga.Thefts reported are of older Range Rover models, not the current one. JLR representatives noted to Autocar that they were working on solutions to the insurance issue and further pointed out the advanced security features available via the company’s Remote app. C/D has also reached out to the automaker for additional comment.Back in the Day, a Jaguar Was a Hot TargetAs a fun aside, this is not Jaguar Land Rover’s first experience as the choice of criminals. In the 1960s, Jaguar’s Mk II sedans were the pick of the likes of Roy “The Weasel” James, a getaway driver in a number of brazen heists. In those cases, the Jag was picked for its ability to outrun the coppers. Here, the Range Rover is itself the ill-gotten gain.In the U.S., the most commonly stolen vehicle is the Ford F-150, a consequence of its ubiquity. But there are periodic hot spots of Range Rover theft too—one brief spate just happened north of the border in Edmonton, Alberta, where thieves made off with six 2017–2021 model Land Rover products.So if you own a Range Rover, perhaps invest in the best immobilizer and vehicle tracking technology you can afford. And if you see a bunch of shifty-looking figures with Cockney accents hanging around, best to lock the garage up extra tight. 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

There’s no question the Inflation Reduction Act is driving massive changes in the U.S. electric vehicle market, both for shoppers buying them and companies making them.No decisions have been announced, but the new law makes building EVs in America “very attractive,” Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said late last week.If Audi does build EVs here, it will be just the latest in a long line of companies. Following the signing of the IRA last August, over $28 billion in EV manufacturing investments for the U.S. have been announced.The IRA’s hits just keep on coming.The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed into law last August, shook up the electric-vehicle market in the U.S. One shakeup came in the way the law encourages domestic EV production, and the latest automaker to respond is Audi, which said Friday that it is evaluating construction of a new EV factory in the U.S. Full Details and Specs”The IRA has made building a U.S. plant for electric cars very attractive,” Audi CEO Markus Duesmann told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. Duesmann said if Audi does build EVs here, it would probably be at a joint plant with the Volkswagen Group, according to Reuters. The Washington Post quotes Duesmann as saying, “Decisions have not yet been made, but the VW Group will probably make more cars over there [in the U.S.] in the future for the U.S. market.” While Volkswagen has a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Audi does not currently have any plants in the U.S., and the automaker’s e-tron EVs are built in Brussels, Belgium. The Audi production facility closest to the U.S. is in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, where Audi builds the Q5. To qualify for some of the changed tax credits laid out in the IRA, EVs increasingly need to be assembled in the U.S. Other recent federal legislation, especially the CHIPS and Science Act, are also encouraging companies to make EV components, like batteries and silicon chips, in the U.S. The IRA’s details change as the years go on, but the overall trend has already prompted over $28 billion in EV manufacturing investment announcements between the signing of the law in August and the end of 2022, according to the Electric Vehicle Association. Figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that investment in U.S. factories of all types is rising, too, from around $70 to $75 billion per quarter in 2020 to $88–$105 billion per quarter in 2022, the Washington Post noted. An analyst the paper spoke to said the industry expects these numbers to keep going up in the years to come as more incentives come online.More about the IRAAudi has ambitious electrification plans for its U.S. fleet. Audi of America has said it will have one-third of its portfolio be electrified by 2025. Audi has also said it will invest around $19 billion to develop and produce new hybrid and electric vehicles. A new U.S. plant would fit well with those plans. 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.Contributing Editor Sebastian 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

Porsche has updated its Roads route-planning app with AI that seeks out twisty or scenic roads; to add to the AI input, the app’s 180,000 users can rate routes, create their own, and add in useful tips.The app was launched in 2019 but now has been upgraded with artificial intelligence that can help find roads to suit user-entered specifications.Route planning connects directly to any vehicle equipped with Apple CarPlay; no Porsche required.Artificial intelligence isn’t quite at the level of HAL or Skynet yet, but the internet has adopted the technology as its new fun toy. Want to see art of every U.S. president as a Pixar character, or challenge a chatbot to write a Seinfeld episode in the style of Shakespeare? AI can do that for you. But Porsche thinks AI can be more than just a distraction. It’s betting that AI can help you generate the drive of a lifetime.PorschePorsche launched its Roads app in 2019, and today the company says this app currently has approximately 180,000 users. The latest refresh adds in the ability for route planning that incorporates an algorithm to find the best way to get from point A to point B.Full Details and SpecsBig deal! Plenty of navigation apps already do that. But the difference with Porsche’s app is that “best” here is defined by the operator. Where Google Maps takes into account driving time or fuel efficiency, Roads lets the user select for a more challenging or scenic route. If you’re looking to tear things up in your 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, you set your profile to look for something curvy. Want to hit the sights on a cross-continent trip in a Cayenne? Roads will help you find the best local can’t-miss spots.Best of all, while the app currently runs only on iPhones, not Android phones, you don’t need a Porsche. Roads will work on any car fitted with Apple CarPlay, letting you pick out your route on your phone and then follow it on your car’s infotainment screen.Along with the AI-generated routes, Roads also incorporates crowdsourced elements. Users can rate the various routes, create their own, and leave comments.Where this tech really shines isn’t so much in your local area; if you’re an enthusiast, you probably have worked out your favorite back roads already. But if you’re on a road trip, or traveling in an unfamiliar area, the Roads app will help you find the good driving roads. It’s a free download, so make sure you have it with you on your next trip—and maybe take the upgrade at the rental counter for something a bit more fun to drive. 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

It’ll be more expensive to charge at Electrify America stations starting on March 6.The company is raising its per-kilowatt-hour and per-minute prices—varied by location—by up to 5 cents.Pass+ members who pay $4 per month for discounted rates will also be impacted by EA’s upcoming price hikes.Get ready to pay more money when connecting to one of the thousands of Electrify America chargers scattered across the country. The company is raising rates up to 5 cents for its per-kilowatt-hour and per-minute charging options—which vary based on location—starting on March 6.People who have a Pass membership as well as guests who aren’t members will see the price for a per-kilowatt-hour session jump from 43 cents to 48 cents. Meanwhile, that same group will see prices in states that require per-minute charging also increase by 5 cents from 32 to 37 cents. That’s the price hike for fast-charging speeds up to 350 kW; the rate rises 3 pennies from 16 to 19 cents for those charging at speeds of 90 kW or less. Car and DriverWhile Electrify America says the people who pay $4 per month for the company’s Pass+ membership save roughly 25 percent on charging costs, they’ll still be affected by the upcoming price hikes. Their per-kilowatt-hour rate will jump from 31 cents to 36 cents. As with the people who don’t get a discount, Pass+ members see their per-minute pricing rise by 3 cents (0.12 to 0.15) for up to 90-kW charging speeds and by 5 cents (0.24 to 0.29) for up to 350-kW speeds.EA first made the announcement earlier this month in an email sent out to customers. The company cited rising energy and operational costs as the reason for the increased rates. Electrify America says it’s the largest fast-charging network in the country, most recently claiming 800 total stations and 3500 DC fast-chargers.Other Electrify America StoriesThis 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

Before the 240Z arrived, the Datsun roadster showed that Japan could deliver sports-car thrills.This example has the later 2.0-liter engine, with twin SU carburetors and a recent rebuild.The auction runs through February 28. Car and DriverWhen the Datsun 240Z landed in California for the 1970 model year, many were shocked that Japan could produce a world-class budget-friendly sports car. Those who were more familiar with Datsun weren’t so surprised: There’d been a sporting Datsun in U.S. showrooms for the past five years.Related StoriesHere, up for sale on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is one of the best of the breed. This Datsun 2000 roadster is a zippy little open car that combines the best elements of open British sports cars with a gutsy 2.0-liter engine and Japanese build quality. With the auction slated to end on Tuesday, February 28, bidding is currently at $11,500.Bring a TrailerCar and Drivertagged the Datsun 2000 Roadster as a future collectible way back in 2010. Known as the SRL311 in Datsun cognoscenti circles, the 2000 Roadster was raced by Bob Sharp and John Morton, and it continually posted class wins in SCCA racing. It was the cheapest sports car in its division, but it beat the pants off everything else anyway. Overseas, the SRL311 was known as the Fairlady, as was true of the 240Z. The Fairlady nameplate can trace its heritage back to the 1950s, with the second generation of cars arriving in the U.S. in 1960. These cars are pretty and cheerful but fairly terrible to drive. They were based on the Datsun pickup truck, and they feel like it.Bring a TrailerThe later 1600 Roadster and the 2000 Roadster that followed are entirely different machines. Nissan (Datsun’s parent company) changed to a sedan-based design with an independent front suspension and a well-sorted leaf-spring setup in the rear. The engine was at first a 1.6-liter OHV four-cylinder, which later got five main bearings for durability. The later 2000 Roadsters, like this example, saw a displacement bump to 2.0 liters, got a five-speed manual gearbox, and could be ordered with a competition package with dual carburetors. Power was rated as 150 hp SAE gross, pretty lively for the 1960s, especially in a car that weighed barely over 2000 pounds.Along with many a podium finish, the roadster also features in a little-known David vs. Goliath rivalry. When Toyota fielded the gorgeous 2000GT in SCCA racing, the cars were supposed to go to Peter Brock’s BRE racing team. At the last minute, Carroll Shelby flew to Japan and charmed Toyota execs into giving him the contract instead. Brock had made a name for himself in Japan by getting a car called the Hino Contessa to perform and win a few races. Hino was snapped up by Toyota in the 1960s and turned to truck production only—namely, the Hilux. But the president of Hino was still on good terms with Brock, and he just so happened to have gone to school with the then-president of Nissan. Brock couldn’t get Datsun USA to part with a couple of Roadsters; instead, Brock’s came direct from Japan.There then followed a game of cat-and-mouse whereby Brock would show up at out-of-California races where Shelby’s 2000GT team was hoping to pick up an easy win or two. The Roadsters were running in a different class, but it was easy enough to hold up the 2000GTs and let the competing Porsches and Triumphs slip by. In the end, the 2000GT team lost the championship, and Toyota slunk home embarrassed.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerEven without the fun footnotes of early Japanese SCCA history, the 2000 Roadster is a wonderful driver. The 240Z and the 510 are better known, but you can’t beat an open car for full involvement. This example is set up as a driver’s car, with a sorted suspension, Dunlop Direzza performance tires, and a host of recent engine work. The stickers that once covered the underside of the trunk show a lifetime spent attending various California rallies and generally having a lot of fun. It’s time for the next owner to add their own.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

An electric version of Ram’s full-size commercial van is coming Stateside later this year. Stellantis confirmed the EV version of the ProMaster will be unveiled in the first half of 2023, and deliveries will begin in the latter half of the year. We expect the EV version to be competitive with the Ford E-Transit in terms of payload capacity. Ram is joining Ford in the world of electric #Vanlife and making good on its promise to introduce an electric ProMaster van by the end of 2023. We know that the commercial van will be unveiled in the first half of 2023, and deliveries will begin in the latter half of the year. A Stellantis spokesperson confirmed to C/D that the ProMaster EV is coming to the North American market. StellantisRelated StoriesOther than the rough timeline, and a single teaser image, we don’t have any specifics about the ProMaster EV yet. What we do have are images and specs for Fiat’s E-Ducato (pictured at top), which is essentially a rebadged ProMaster. So it’s reasonable to glean some information from the E-Ducato, which is already offered in Europe, to inform our speculation on the upcoming ProMaster EV. The E-Ducato is offered with two battery options, a 47.0-kWh standard pack and a larger 79.0-kWh optional pack. On the less stringent WLTP cycle, Fiat claims 146 miles of range for the standard battery and 229 miles of range for the larger pack. Accounting for the differences of the U.S. EPA range cycle, that could put the standard battery right in contention with the 126 miles offered by Ford’s E-Transit van, while the larger pack could beat the Ford by a significant margin. Fiat’s claimed payload capacity of up to 4189 pounds is down from the 4680 pound maximum payload offered by the current gasoline-powered ProMaster, but beats the E-Transit’s 3880 pound maximum. 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

Lordstown Motors has halted production of the Endurance electric pickup truck, citing issues with supplier components.The truck has been in production since last fall, with Lordstown planning to assemble about 500 units with current funding.The Lordstown factory was purchased by Taiwan’s Foxconn in the spring of 2022, with the tech giant planning to produce a number of EVs stateside, although few have been built to date.The Lordstown Endurance, has only been in production for a few months, but the truck is now facing a production halt. The EV maker said it “has experienced performance and quality issues with certain Endurance components,” leading it to make the decision to stop production temporarily. The company’s response to the performance and quality issues, which it did not specify in detail, also affects completed trucks that are awaiting delivery to customers. But the entire pool of affected trucks only amounts to 19 vehicles that have either been delivered, or are currently being used internally by the company.Enduring Challenges with the StartupThe EV maker said it is working with suppliers on the causes of these issues and that potential solutions could include retrofits and design modifications, as well as software updates. The formal decision to issue a recall, however, was made in light of “a specific electrical connection issue” that could produce a loss of power while driving.The Lordstown Endurance is unique among electric pickups—and EVs as a whole—in that it features in-wheel hub motors. The truck produces a combined 440 horsepower, thanks to its four motors, and is powered by a 109.0-kWh battery. However, this setup gives the truck an EPA-estimated range of 193 miles, which places it near the bottom end of the spectrum for electric pickups currently on the market. The truck’s overall positioning and $65,060 starting price perhaps make it a curious choice in a segment finally seeing some compelling choices—and some serious competition from longtime automakers.2023 Lordstown Endurance.”While our experienced team has made significant progress in addressing the underlying component and vehicle sub-system issues affecting the Endurance build schedule, we remain committed to doing the right thing by our customers and to resolve potential issues before resuming production and customer shipments,” said Edward Hightower, Lordstown Motors CEO & president. Production of the Endurance began in early October 2022, just a few months after the plant was sold to Taiwan’s Hon Hai Technology Group, better known as Foxconn. At that time the company said it planned to assemble only up to 500 trucks, with 50 having been scheduled for delivery in 2022. The rest were slated to be delivered in 2023, “subject to raising sufficient capital.” Therefore, there are still a few asterisks to the entire venture. Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum. Despite being followed around by French cars for the past decade, he has somehow been able to avoid Citroën ownership, judging them too commonplace, and is currently looking at cars from the former Czechoslovakia. Jay has been with Autoweek since 2013.  More