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    2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 Ends Dodge's Era of Excess with 1025-HP V-8

    The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is a 1025-hp street-legal drag-strip special that signals the end of the brand’s V-8 muscle cars.Its four-digit horsepower figure requires E85 gasoline, and with that Dodge claims a quarter-mile time of 8.91 seconds at 151 mph on a prepared surface.The Demon 170 will cost $100,361 when production starts this July, but only 2500 to 3000 U.S. copies are planned through December 31. It’s curtains on V-8 Hellcats after that.Dodge doesn’t believe in the words of Ricky Bobby’s daddy: “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” The storied muscle-car maker has chased taillights throughout its 100-plus-year history. Dodge introduced the original 1970 Challenger well after the 1964.5 Ford Mustang and 1967 Chevy Camaro got the pony-car party started. Compared with those two, the Challenger’s production life was cut short. The first generation only lasted until 1974. The second existed from 1978 to 1983, but it was a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant that Mopar purists prefer to forget. The Challenger’s third go-around came in 2008, when it was reinvented with retro styling and a contemporary Hemi V-8. While it initially kept pace with similarly themed Camaros and Mustangs of the day, Dodge fell behind as Chevy and Ford kept investing in their respective machines, making them more modern and better at racing around a track. DodgeWith the big-bodied Challenger in danger of being resigned to last place, Dodge did an about-face and embraced a different performance philosophy. The brand focused on its rich heritage, doubling down on old-school priorities such as huge horsepower numbers and quick quarter-mile times.A History of HellraisersDodge’s diabolical plan began with the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat. Packing a headline-grabbing 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, it instantly hijacked the power crown from its mightiest crosstown rivals: the 580-hp Camaro ZL1 and the 662-hp Mustang Shelby GT500. In our hands, the blown Challenger hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and raced 1320 feet in 11.6 ticks at 126 mph. Starting at roughly $60,000, its hypercar-rivaling horsepower was a relative bargain. Its arrival also coincided with a thorough refresh for all Challengers that included cosmetic tweaks, updated powertrains, and an improved interior. Most notably, the Hellcat set the stage for even crazier SRT variants.2018 Demon.DodgeThe 2018 Demon came next. Limited to a one-year production run of 3300 copies, it was purpose-built for drag racing. It could also be driven on the street and included a factory warranty—all for basically $86K. Not only did its enhanced Hellcat V-8 make 840 hp when burning 100-octane race fuel, but the thing could pop a friggin’ wheelie. Dodge claimed a quarter-mile time of 9.65 seconds at 140 mph on a perfectly prepped surface. This led to an NHRA ban that Dodge eagerly publicized.The Hellcat Redeye arrived for 2019, offering Charger and Challenger variants. While the engine inherited parts from the Demon, its race-fuel intolerance and reduced airflow capped output at 797 horsepower. The Challenger version we tested hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 11.8 ticks at 125 mph. However, both metrics mirrored non-Redeyes that cost $11,000 less—proof that tires can only do so much.2019 Hellcat Redeye.Car and Driver2021 Super Stock.DodgeIn 2020, Dodge introduced the 807-hp Super Stock, essentially the Demon reincarnated (minus the transmission brake and race-fuel tune). It featured four 315-section-width Nitto NTO5R drag radials and a suspension set up for rear load transfer. The SS stickered for $82,790, with Dodge claiming a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds at 131 mph—again, on a prepped surface. Fast forward to 2023. It’s the year Dodge fanatics have been dreading, as it marks the end of the brand’s era of excess. Sadly, the Hellcat V-8 will be laid to rest after nearly a decade of duty in many memorable Chargers and Challengers. Both models also reach the end of the production line after this year to make way for electric muscle cars. During the death march, Dodge has been saying goodbye to its beloved beasts with a seven-part “Last Call” series of special editions that began last August. Now the seventh and final car is revealed, and it’s the craziest street-legal creation ever to come out of the SRT lab. Not only is it outrageous, but it’s also a metaphorical middle finger to critics who’ve called Dodge’s Hellcats one-dimensional.1-0-2-5 Horsepower For the brand that rewrote the book on muscle-car horsepower, it would’ve been a disappointment if the pinnacle of the Hellcat V-8 didn’t crack four digits. Thankfully, when it comes to power figures, Dodge isn’t in the business of disappointing. That’s also why for the grand finale it resurrected the Demon moniker and built the ultimate streetable dragster.Enter the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170. It summons an otherworldly 1025 horsepower and 945 pound-feet of torque from its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. Unlocking the new Demon’s full fury requires E85 gasoline, and that 170-proof ethanol fuel mixture inspires its name. Even when burning 91 octane, the new engine makes 900 horsepower and 810 pound-feet of torque.As with its predecessor, the new Demon is a numbers car. It’s also a car that isn’t afraid to be offensive. An inscription at the entrance of its enormous hood scoop reads Alcohol Injected. If that doesn’t make you bristle, the 170’s rageful exhaust sound should. With E85 in the tank and on a fully prepped surface under perfect conditions, Dodge claims the Demon 170 clocked a quarter-mile run of 8.61 seconds at 151 mph and hit 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds. Of course, it won’t be that quick on the street.Obviously, the 170 had to one-up the old Demon. Naturally, the new one can still do a wheelie—as seen in numerous press photos and video clips Dodge has released. The 170 can also be outfitted with a parachute through Direct Connection, the place for the brand’s factory-backed performance parts. What a time to be alive.All about the Hardware Several weeks ago, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis told a group of auto journalists that while developing the Demon 170, they blew up several engines. Not only did this delay the reveal date, but Kuniskis said it led them to invest even more money than expected into the project. His comments give credence to the assertion that the team did a lot more than simply modify the previous Demon V-8. Sure, the two share an iron block with the same 376-cubic-inch displacement, but the 170’s mill has new internals. The only significant engine part that carries over is the camshaft. The steroidal V-8 is stronger from the crank to the connecting rods to the main and rod bearings. Steel studs now help clamp the cylinder heads, and the cylinders themselves can handle considerably higher pressure (up to 2500 psi on E85).The new Demon engine also sucks air through a bigger 105 mm throttle body. At up to 164 gallons per hour, Dodge says the new injectors can flow more fuel than a typical shower head can dispense water. A modified version of the supercharger from Dodge’s Hellephant crate engine is mounted on top. That larger 3.0-liter unit generates a whopping 21.3 psi of boost pressure, significantly more than the 14.5 psi made by the old Demon’s 2.7-liter supercharger.To handle the Demon 170’s monumental power, Dodge fortified the driveline, making the driveshaft 30 percent stronger and the rear axle housing 53 percent stronger. The differential is also stuffed with larger ring and pinion gears. The transmission remains an eight-speed automatic, but it now pairs with an improved transmission brake. For those who forgot, the innovative drag-race feature made its production-car debut on the original Demon.Dodge says the new TransBrake 2.0 enables more configurable launch settings, including the ability to manipulate the torque curve to match surface conditions. It allows more torque at the rear wheels for harder launches too. Earth-shattering take-offs should further improve thanks to a retuned suspension said to be 50 percent firmer in the rear to reduce front-end lift. Stopping is handled by the same brake setup as the old Demon. Of course, a proper drag car needs proper drag radials. For that, Dodge turned to Mickey Thompson. The tire maker supplies a set of ET Street R rubber, size 245/55R-18 front and 315/50R-17 rear, which are said to provide an advantage over the previous Nittos. And since Dodge no longer sells a separate Demon crate with the equipment necessary for the quickest quarter-mile trips, the 170 is ready to rip down the strip right out of the box. A $100K Grand FinaleThe new Demon still comes with options. The priciest upgrade is the available two-piece wheels made of aluminum and carbon fiber. They have the same design as the stock set but save a combined 25 pounds. They also cost $11,495. All 170s shed 16 pounds after Dodge ditched the old Demon’s front fender flares. Overall, the two weigh about the same, with the new car claimed to weigh 4275 pounds.Dodge will sell a street-tire package for people who want to road-trip their Demon and increase their chances of making it home unscathed. We don’t yet know how much the kit will cost, just like we don’t know how much it is to add a passenger seat. In the past, it was $1. Otherwise, the 170 comes standard with only a cloth driver’s seat. The model we sat in had both front buckets wrapped in available nappa leather. The rest of the interior looked like every other Hellcat Challenger since 2015. When orders open sometime this spring, the 2023 Demon 170 will start at $100,361 (cue complaints about the dealer markups we’re almost certain to see). Production will be limited, but an exact number isn’t set. Dodge hopes to build up to 3000 copies for the U.S. and another 300 for Canada between the start of production this July and when the last one rolls off the assembly line on December 31.New Year’s Eve marks the end of the Hellcat V-8 and the dawn of a new age for Dodge. While it hurts to say goodbye, it’s been one helluva ride. More on Demons and HellcatsThis 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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    Lego Land Rover Defender Is a Brick You Can Build from Bricks

    Lego has created a miniature version of the iconic Defender 90 to celebrate Land Rover’s 75th anniversary.The 2336-piece set is highly customizable, coming with numerous add-ons that make the Defender even more off-road ready, like traction boards and a working winch.The Lego Defender goes on sale online in early April for $239.99.When Land Rover launched a new Defender for 2020, it transformed the crude but capable workhorse into a slick luxury machine that combines off-road dexterity with a comfortable demeanor well suited to the suburban lifestyle. Still, the original Defender 90, with its honest character and gung-ho go-anywhere attitude, holds a special place in our hearts, so the latest automotive creation from Lego has instantly landed on our wish list. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Land Rover, Lego is honoring the Defender with a new 2336-piece set, and it looks spectacular.LEGOThe Lego Defender 90 comes in an appropriately outdoorsy sage green color and can be built with a more street-friendly look before you inevitably decide to deck it out with all of the essentials for tackling a tricky off-road trail. The Lego Defender wears spare tires on the hood and rear door, while a snorkel sprouts from the hood to help the Land Rover wade through rivers. The beefy front bumper carries a working winch and auxiliary lights, while the roof rack packs jerrycans, traction boards, a jack, and a toolbox. LEGOLEGOA pickaxe, hammer, axe, and fire extinguisher can also be found strapped to the Defender. The set measures 12.5 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6 inches high without the accessories, and includes fully functioning steering and suspension. More Cool Lego CarsThe doors open up to reveal an accurately modeled interior, and Lego says there are two engine options that can be fit under the hood. The Lego Defender will go on sale online in early April for $239.99, so start saving your allowance—or your paycheck—now.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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    Kia EV5 Concept Revealed as the EV9's Compact-SUV Sibling

    Kia has revealed the EV5 concept, which previews a future electric compact SUV.The EV5 has similar styling as the EV9, which is a three-row EV SUV slated to go on sale soon.Kia says that the production EV5 will go on sale in China initially, but we expect it to come to the U.S. too.If you like the look of the new Kia EV9 three-row electric SUV, you’ll be equally dazzled by its new little sibling, the EV5. Revealed in concept form, this smaller EV crossover shares its blocky, modern styling with the EV9 and previews a production model that will go on sale in China later this year. Kia hasn’t yet announced plans for the U.S., but we expect the EV5 to reach our market at some point in the near future.In these images, the EV5 doesn’t look all that much smaller than the EV9, and Kia has yet to reveal dimensions for this model. Its wheelbase does look shorter and it has two rows of seats compared with the EV9’s three-row layout. Nomenclature-wise, the EV5 name also suggests that it will slot in below the EV6, which is a mid-size crossover with a more low-slung profile, in terms of size and price.Specifications aren’t out yet, but we’re assuming that the EV5 rides on the same E-GMP platform as Kia’s other new EV models. This should enable fast charging thanks to its 800-volt electrical architecture, and multiple battery-pack options and single- and dual-motor configurations may be offered.More on Kia EVsThe EV5 concept’s futuristic interior will likely be toned down for production, as it features wide-opening rear-hinged rear doors, a highly minimalistic dashboard layout, and wild-looking front and rear seats. The cargo area features a useful-looking platform that can serve as a table for tailgating, and the seats also swivel in a multitude of ways. This may be more than a flight of fancy, however, as the production EV9 does have swiveling rear seat and something of the sort could make its way into the final version of the EV5 as well.We should learn more about the EV5 in the coming months as Kia prepares the production model for the Chinese market. Kia’s announcement says that details for other global markets will come “in due course” so a U.S. announcement may be on the horizon as well.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

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    2024 Acura Integra Type S Has More Horsepower Than Civic Type R

    Acura has confirmed power figures for the 2024 Integra Type S hot hatchback.It has the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four as the Honda Civic Type R, but makes 5 horsepower extra, for a total of 320 hp.The Integra Type S will make its official debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.Acura is ensuring that the 2024 Integra Type S will maintain bragging rights over its Civic Type R sibling by giving it a slight edge in horsepower. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four will make 320 hp, 5 hp more than the Honda, and the same 310 pound-feet of torque. And we now know that we won’t have to wait much longer for its official debut, which will take place at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach during the weekend of April 14–16.More on the Type SAcuraAcuraA few new teaser photos give us another look at the Type S model’s modified bodywork. We previously saw the Type S in prototype form with camouflage (pictured at top) when we got a chance to drive this hotted-up Integra for the first time. It has a wider body, larger wheels and tires, a rear spoiler, and looks a whole lot meaner than the base car. Acura also released a teaser video with an enticing clip of the Type S’s exhaust note.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.Coming Soon: the All-New Integra Type SWatch onYouTube IconYouTube IconLike the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S will be offered only with a six-speed manual transmission. A limited-slip differential will also be standard. We’re not sure how much the extra 5 hp will affect the Integra’s acceleration times at the track, where the Civic Type R achieved a 60 mph sprint of 4.9 seconds in our hands. But we’re looking to getting behind the wheel of the latest Integra to see what it can do.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.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

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    Hyundai Veloster Recalled Because Parking Sensors Can Start Fire

    Hyundai is recalling more than 26,000 Velosters built between 2012 and 2013 over concerns their parking sensors could short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. A recall published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website says a “high conductive liquid” may leak into the Veloster’s reverse parking sensor module, short circuiting the system and posing a fire risk.A total of 26,169 Velosters built between 2012 and 2013 are affected, says the recall. While there are no reports of crashes or injuries, Hyundai has received five reports of fires related to the problem, according to Consumer Reports. Thankfully, there’s already a remedy in place. Dealers will replace the reverse parking aid sensor fuse free of charge in affected vehicles. Owners are expected to be mailed notifications alerting them of the problem on April 29. If you think your car may be affected, head on over to the NHTSA’s site and punch in your VIN. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

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    Car Rental Companies Expanding Again, Leading to Spring Deals

    Young whippersnappers might not remember that you didn’t always have to take out a loan to rent a car for the weekend. Thankfully, after the pandemic years, prices are coming down, and there are even deals to be had.Signs that the rental-car industry is turning around can be found in recent expansion announcements, both about new cars being added to fleets and more rental counters in more locations.We found some deals from Sixt, Hertz, and Avis in case you’re looking for temporary wheels soon.The rental-car world is shifting back to normal, sort of. These past few years introduced us to a slew of pandemic-influenced strangeness and incredibly high prices. Remember when it cost $200 a day to rent a car or that unusual U-Haul life hack? But now rental-car prices are coming back down to earth, and some companies are back to offering deals for your temporary wheels. The Bad Old (Recent) DaysEVs, Luxury Cars Entering the Fleet One way to see how things are on the upswing is recent news about growing capacity. Hertz, for example, announced this week that it will add 2100 electric vehicles to its Houston fleet, nearly tripling the number of EVs available in the area. Hertz is also building a new fast-charging hub at the Houston Hobby Airport. So far this year, Sixt has announced a number of new North American locations, including Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Toronto, and has said it will announce further expansion plans later this year. In February, peer-to-peer car-sharing service Turo said it was adjusting its maps of where it expects to see growing demand for vacation rentals for its vehicles, with the Carolina coast predicted to be one such hotspot in 2023.The revival is happening globally, too, with Dubai’s luxury-car rentals “skyrocketing,” for example. The Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup, which owns the new EV brand VinFast, announced earlier this month that it had established a new joint stock company called GSM (which stands for Green Smart Mobility) that would focus on renting out VinFast EVs as well as renting VinFast’s scooters and operating a taxi service. As you might be able to guess, with all of this revitalized activity, there are now deals to be had if you need to rent a car soon. Here are a few options that might fit your plans.Jeff Greenberg|Getty ImagesSome DealsSixt is offering midweek and regional deals, as well as discounts on luxury vehicles at all of its locations through the end of June. The midweek deal—up to 30 percent off—is for anyone who starts their rental on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday and ends by Thursday. Or you can choose to get up to 25 percent off the cost of a rental of a premium or luxury vehicle or one from the “extraordinary” category. Some regional Sixt offices are also offering deals up to 25 percent off. None of these Sixt deals are available between April 2 and 22, also known as the prime Spring Break travel weeks.Avis doesn’t have as many deals as Sixt right now, but if you spend $175 or more on a rental that lasts three days or more, you can get $15 off.If you need a car for a week or more, Hertz is offering a free day if you rent for five days. The company is also offering a discount of up to 30 percent on your rental if you choose to drive an EV. That’s worth plugging in for, probably. 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 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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    Future Audi Lineup Will be Reconfigured for Gas and EV Models

    While Audi is planning many new electric models, gas cars will stick around for the time being.Cars such as the A4 and A6 will be renamed to fit with existing odd-numbered models to differentiate them from the even-numbered EV nameplates.The TT and R8 sports cars will cease to exist, but the Q5 and Q7 SUVs reach a next generation, and a Q9 could join the lineup.2023 is going to be another slow year for Audi—a couple of facelifts and the arrival of the new Q6 e-tron—but 2024 and 2025 will be bumper years for the four rings. A whopping 17 and 15 launches are penciled into two tight twelve-month time frames. While most rivals put all their money on EVs, CEO Markus Duesmann and his team will carry on introducing new ICE models through the mid- and late-2020s, and there is no end in sight until Europe’s announced registration ban for new petrol- and diesel-engined passenger cars takes effect in 2035.More on AudiLet’s go through the ICE ranks step by step to see how the lineup will be rearranged. (The EV lineup is a whole different story, but expect the “e-tron” designation to be dropped altogether and for names like E4 and E6 to arrive at some point.) The common platform used for all future ICE Audis is codenamed PPC, short for Premium Platform Combustion. The gasoline cars will be renamed to odd numbers to differentiate them from the even-numbered EV models.A4 Becomes A5, A6 Becomes A7Audi E4Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAudi A5 AvantIllustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAudi will next year launch the A5 sedan and Avant wagon, which used to carry the A4 moniker. Completing the trio is the new A5 Sportback. Also due in 2024 is the new A7, again as sedan and Avant, both of which are currently listed as A6. Confusing? You bet. The A7 Sportback follows in 2025 along with the second-generation A5 coupe and cabriolet. All of the above are good to go through 2031 and 2032. SUVs and Performance ModelsSimilar lifespans apply to the next Q3 and Q3 Sportback earmarked for 2024, the last-of-its-kind Q5 (2024) and Q5 Sportback (2025), as well as the final Q7 scheduled to bow in mid-2025. Instead of the rumored Q7 Sportback, we may see a plusher and more upmarket Q9 worthy of the Horch badge in China. In addition to the mainstream offerings, PPC will spawn a full range of performance hybrid S and RS models good for up to 550 hp in the top-of-the-line A5s and over 700 hp in the V-6–engined RS7 Performance which will again be available as sedan, wagon, and Sportback.Sports Cars Say Goodbye, A3 Sticks AroundMore on R8 and TTLiving on borrowed time are two of the marque’s ICE legends, the TT and the R8. The TT is due to be phased out later this year, and there is no confirmed successor in sight, but if the new regime in Wolfsburg is really serious about mold-breaking synergy effects, Audi may yet eventually be able to sell rebodied versions of the fully electric Porsche 718 replacement out next year. Since the charismatic V-10 engine is unfit to straddle European emissions hurdles, the R8 bites the dust next year. Its fully electric replacement, which may well find second homes with Bentley and Lamborghini, is expected to use the SSP61 architecture conceived in Weissach.Audi E3Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverThe A3, however, will soldier on—either until 2026 when its successor would adopt the advanced electric MEB+ platform, or until 2028 when the even more sophisticated SSP3 components set chaperoned by VW becomes available. More sophisticated? The Scalable Systems Platform ups the electric ante in all major departments from range to charging time to energy density. The next A3 should be badged E3, bucking the even-numbered trend.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 EditorAlthough I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal clerk, it was clear from the beginning that birdwatching and stamp collecting were not my thing. Had I known that God wanted me to grow to 6’8″, I also would have ruled out anything to do with cars, which are to blame for a couple of slipped discs, a torn ligament, and that stupid stooped posture behind the wheel. While working as a keeper in the Aberdeen Zoo, smuggling cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia to Germany, and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to yield fulfillment, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is now, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday. I love every aspect of my job except long-haul travel on lousy airlines, and I hope it shows. More

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    2025 Audi Q6 e-tron Confirmed as the Brand's Third Electric SUV

    Audi has confirmed a new model called the Q6 e-tron, which will be an electric SUV between the Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron models.It will use the VW Group’s new PPE platform with an 800-volt electrical architecture.We expect the Q6 e-tron to debut later this year and come to the U.S. as a 2025 model.Audi is adding yet another electric model to its range, the Q6 e-tron. As its name suggests, it will slot in between the Q4 e-tron and the recently renamed Q8 e-tron EV SUVs. These first official photos of a Q6 prototype in camouflage undergoing winter testing show us a glimpse at what this new model looks like, and Audi has released preliminary details about its new PPE platform and 800-volt electrical architecture that should enable impressively fast charging speeds.More Audi ElectricsThe Q6 e-tron will be offered in conventional SUV and sloped-back Sportback versions, just like its siblings. The squareback is pictured here, and its overall proportions are about what we’d expect from an Audi crossover. The front end looks to adopt a split-headlight design akin to the BMW X7’s, but we’re not sure how much the prototype’s lighting elements will change for production.AudiThis model will introduce the VW group’s PPE electric platform, which stands for Premium Platform Electric. These underpinnings boast a more powerful 800-volt electrical system and will also be found in future models including the Audi A6 e-tron. We expect the Q6 e-tron to have a standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that will undoubtedly wear the Quattro name Audi uses for all of its AWD models. Competitors will include vehicles such as the Cadillac Lyriq, the Genesis Electrified GV70, and the Lexus RZ.Audi hasn’t yet set a debut date for the production Q6 e-tron but we expect to see the real thing within the next few months.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