Motor News

Ferrari has removed the roof from the beautiful Roma coupe to create the 2024 Roma Spider, a successor to the Portofino M.The design remains mostly the same, but Ferrari redesigned the rear spoiler, added a wind deflector, and strengthened the chassis and bodywork.The Roma Spider still produces 612 horsepower from its turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8.For the first time since the 1969 365GTS/4, a front-engined Ferrari will feature a fabric top. Today Ferrari revealed the Roma Spider, chopping the roof off its elegant V-8-powered coupe and replacing it with a retractable soft top. The Roma Spider replaces the Portofino M in Ferrari’s lineup, as reported by our friends over at Road and Track.Luckily, Ferrari left the exterior mostly unchanged, with the Roma Spider retaining the long hood and smooth curves of its coupe sibling. The soft top can be erected in just 13.5 seconds at speeds up to 37 mph, and is constructed using special multi-layer fabric weaves. The active rear spoiler was redesigned and recalibrated for roofless driving, with three positions that increase downforce the faster you drive. Ferrari also reinforced the rear of the chassis, and claims that the Roma Spider is only 185 pounds heavier than the coupe.The cabin features the same sophisticated look as the original Roma, with an 8.4-inch vertical screen and a metal gear selector plate surrounded by luscious leather and faux-suede. Ferrari says the steering wheel buttons have been revised for easier use and the start button now glows red. Ferrari paid attention to reducing wind noise and turbulence with the top down, with a 5-mm aerodynamic element added to the top of the windshield and a wind deflector that pops up by rotating the backrest of the rear seats at the push of a button. This cannot be opened with rear passengers in place, but given the tight quarters in the back of the Roma, we imagine this will rarely be an issue.The Roma Spider’s heart is unchanged, with the turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 still pumping out a massive 612 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque, sending it through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic to the rear wheels. Ferrari touts minor changes to the gearbox which improve fuel efficiency, and the Roma Spider comes with the latest version of the Slide Slip Control system which manages traction and stability control and allows for predictable drifts.More Cool FerrarisDespite the prodigious power, the Roma Spider is more of a cruiser than a track weapon, and comes with plenty of amenities like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 18-way power-adjustable heated seats, with the option to add a neck warmer if you want to keep the top down in cooler climates.No pricing for the Roma Spider was provided, but we estimate that it will start around $280,000, compared to the $247,310 base price for the coupe. Ferrari also didn’t specify when the Roma Spider will go on sale, but we expect the Roma Spider to start providing top-down thrills near the end of the 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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has posted notice that 448,613 Honda and Acura vehicles are under recall for front seatbelts that may fail to latch properly.The problem affects the Acura RDX, Honda Accord and Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Insight, and Odyssey, with all recalled vehicles in model years from 2018 through 2020.Because of a manufacturing defect, the front seatbelt buckle channel can “interfere with the release button,” which will mean the seatbelt won’t latch properly. No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result.Honda will recall nearly 450,000 vehicles from 2018 through 2020 model years because the front seatbelt may not latch properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The recall notice, filed via NHTSA, says there have been 301 warranty claims for the problem dating back to early 2019, but no reports of injuries or deaths related to it.Included vehicles are the 2019 and 2020 Acura RDX, plus the 2018–2019 Honda Accord and Accord Hybrid, the 2017–2020 CR-V, the 2019 Insight, and the 2018–2020 Odyssey. Exact numbers of affected vehicles were not given for each model, although the total number being recalled is 448,613. According to the recall report, Honda began investigating the issue in 2019 and initially believed it could be caused by contraction in the seatbelt buckle channel because of low temperatures. Later, Honda decided the issue was likely of “larger scope” and related to the seatbelt buckle button. The fix will be to install a wider buckle release button, the NHTSA documents say. Owners who may have had the seatbelt fix done already at their own expense will be eligible to be reimbursed. Dealers have already started to be notified, and Honda will begin notifying vehicle owners on April 17. In the meantime, Acura and Honda owners can check the NHTSA recalls website to see if their vehicle is included in the recall. Digital DirectorLaura Sky Brown has been involved in automotive media for a very long time, and she sees it as her calling to guard the legacy and help ensure the continued high quality of Car and Driver. She was one of the first staffers at Automobile Magazine in the ’80s and has worked for many other car magazines and websites as a writer, editor, and copy editor ever since. It has been her privilege to edit many of the greats of automotive journalism over the years, including the ones who currently write for C/D. More

To enter rally competition in a rear-wheel-drive car at age 16 is an impressive undertaking. For Lia Block, a return to the race course isn’t just about competition. It’s also about memorializing her father, Ken Block, who was killed earlier this year in a snowmobile accident that sent shock waves through the automotive world and briefly left a question as to the continuation of the Block name in rally racing.Tony HarmerThe pause was truly brief, as both daughter Lia and her mother, Lucy, were just as invested in racing and automotive culture as Ken. “This year is going to be a tough one,” Lia Block said on her Instagram page as she revealed the new car. “But I’m happy to be back doing what my dad loved and what I still love.”Remembering Ken BlockFor the 2023 season, Block will be partnered with Rhianon Gelsomino, a championship-winning co-driver who most recently right-seated for Travis Pastrana. Gelsomino’s husband, Alex, is also a co-driver and raced for years with Ken. He’ll be racing with Lucy Block, also in the American Rally Association events. Tony HarmerBlock started racing at age 15 and made seven race starts in her Ford Fiesta, finishing as high as third in her class. For 2023 she moves for the first time to competition in a RWD car, a Subaru BRZ. Recent social media posts showed Block and Gelsomino at the Dirt Fish rally school in Washington State, getting some rear-drive practice in. “It’s going to be fascinating to see how Lia’s obvious and natural pace translates to the new car,” Block’s team manager, Derek Dauncey, told Dirt Fish. Lars Gange For the first race of the season—the 100 Acre Wood Rally in Salem, Missouri, an event Ken won seven times—Lia pays tribute to her famous dad by re-creating the snow-camouflage and gold accent livery he first used in 2005 on a Subaru WRX STI. Ken is missed by his family and his community, but the Block name is still going racing. Tony HarmerSenior Editor, Features
Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews.    More

As it enters the fourth year of its current generation, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class gets a small facelift. Dual 10.3-inch screens running the newest generation MBUX now come standard.The more powerful 2024 GLA35 also receives new styling along with additional standard equipment. Spring has sprung, and Mercedes-Benz is celebrating by offering incremental improvements to the 2024 GLA-class SUV. The luxurious little subcompact is getting enhanced powertrains, a tech update, and a minor facelift. The revised styling start at the corners, with new headlights and taillights. The front bumper and grille have also been tweaked. A new Spectral Blue Metallic paint and three optional wheel designs have been added, capping the exterior styling changes. Inside, a set of dual 10.3-inch screens, previously part of the Premium Package, now come standard, with the infotainment system running the newest generation of MBUX software. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available, and Mercedes has added an additional USB-C port with more charging power. The GLA-class comes with two interior color choices: black and Macchiato Beige, though the more upscale AMG GLA35 offers four interior colors to choose from.More Mercedes NewsHighbeam Assist, the Parking package, the Mirror package, and the Keyless Go package are now all standard. Pricing for the new GLA-class with its additional content has not been released. New Hybrid PowerThe 2024 GLA-class is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front or all four wheels and makes 221 horsepower; it’s paired up with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A new 48-volt hybrid system and belt-driven starter-generator augments the powertrain and should bring a little more athleticism to the new GLA. (We previously managed a 60-mph time of 6.3 seconds in an all-wheel drive 2021 GLA250 4Matic.)Updates for the brawnier Mercedes-AMG GLA35 largely follow those of the standard model. The AMG adds the same 48-volt hybrid system. The headlights and taillights have been similarly redesigned, and the dual screens have the newest MBUX software. On the GLA35, the Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood is replaced by a Mercedes-AMG badge to help distinguish the models. The GLA35 also gets an AMG Performance Steering wheel. The GLA35 comes with a slew of standard performance features, including all-wheel drive and a tuned-and-tweaked suspension that pump up the driving excitement compared to the regular Mercedes-Benz GLA250. However, Mercedes appears to have dropped the 382-hp GLA45 from the lineup, leaving only the 302-hp AMG GLA35. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-class receives a minor facelift with subtle exterior tweaks and new interior features.The biggest change to the cabin is the standard 10.3-inch screens, which were previously part of the optional Premium package.The GLB250 and AMG-tuned GLB35 gain 48-volt hybrid systems that can inject an extra 13 hp under certain driving conditions.When the Mercedes-Benz GLB-class arrived for 2020, it filled a niche between the subcompact GLA and the compact GLC and became the smallest SUV on the market to offer a third row of seats, albeit one best suited to children. For 2024, the GLB is receiving a light refresh, bringing minor styling changes, upgraded infotainment, and an electrified engine lineup.Visually, not much has changed. The front bumper and grille are slightly tweaked while the headlights and taillights feature sharper LED graphics. The GLB also adds a Spectral Blue metallic paint option and new 18- and 20-inch wheels.Interior UpdatesInside, the two 10.3-inch screens that used to be part of the Premium package now come standard, a sizable upgrade over the 7.0-inch screens on the 2023 base model. The GLB now runs the latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system, supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and gains an extra USB-C port and improved USB charging power. Mercedes throws in more standard equipment too, including automatic high-beams, a parking package that adds a 360-degree camera view, and a nappa leather steering wheel. For the first time, the GLB offers a heated steering wheel with the AMG Line package.More on MercedesUnder the hoodThe GLB’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four gains a 48-volt hybrid system, with the belt-driven starter-generator providing an extra 13 horsepower in certain situations to aid acceleration or allow the vehicle to coast with the engine off. The setup also makes the start/stop system smoother and recuperates energy during braking to recharge both the 48-volt and 12-volt batteries. Peak power stays the same at 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.The sporty Mercedes-AMG GLB35 receives similar revisions for 2024, with new exterior lights, an updated AMG Performance steering wheel, and the same benefits to infotainment and phone connectivity. The turbo 2.0-liter four-pot still churns out 302 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque but also adds the 48-volt hybrid system with the same 13-hp boost. The AMG GLB35 can also be had with new 19- and 20-inch wheel designs. The 2024 GLB-class will reach showrooms later this year, and we expect a slight increase over the 2023 GLB250’s base price of $40,950 and the GLB35’s price tag of $52,650.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

Not only did the 2023 Toyota Tundra drop the V-8 engine from its lineup, but it also switched from a leaf-spring rear suspension to a coil-spring setup. Toyota is only the second major truck manufacturer to do so across its entire line of full-size pickups, following only the Ram 1500. (While Ford offers coil springs on the F-150 Raptor, the regular F-150s have leaf springs.) If you’re wondering what this suspension change means from both a design and ride and handling perspective, this suspension test video explains all the details in unabashedly nerdy glory. The video also demonstrates how much suspension flex the TRD Pro offers through our Ramp Travel Index test and compares its result to other off-road trucks on the market. play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to playDuring our suspension deep dive, we see that the rear suspension isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Among other differences, the front suspension features beefier looking anti-roll bar mounts and no shortage of red paint. We also highlight the advantages of the rear coil-spring suspension, especially the increase in ride comfort. That all being said, it’s clear the TRD Pro hasn’t gone as far down the off-road path as the more expensive F-150 Raptor or Ram TRX. For example, its rear shocks aren’t inverted to reduce unsprung mass, and nor does it come with all-terrain tires from the factory. Also consider the TRD Pro’s lower RTI score versus those other off-road monsters. What other cars and trucks would you like to see undergo a suspension deep drive? Let us know in the comments below. Technical EditorDan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department. More

It took nearly half an hour on an ice lake to realize we could see behind ourselves in the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N prototype. That may not seem extraordinary, but considering every Ioniq 5 thus far lacked a rear windshield wiper—a constant point of frustration for any reviewer who lives where there’s weather—it’s a bigger deal than you might think.Hyundai declined to confirm anything on the record, but sources close to Hyundai have told us that the Ioniq 5 lineup will finally receive a rear windshield wiper. It’s unclear if it will be standard or an option, but it’ll be available, and that’s what matters.HyundaiFor those of you living under perpetual sun, it may be hard to figure out why this is a big deal. And for many cars with rear ends of various slopes, a missing wiper is hardly a major transgression. But there’s something about the Ioniq 5’s hatch that makes the rear glass accumulate snow, rain, dust, and dirt like nobody’s business. After a few trips, it’s generally dirty enough to require a stop at a gas station (quelle horreur!) to squeegee that glass and restore rear visibility. A wiper will likely cause a bit of additional drag, which can eat into the Ioniq 5’s overall range, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks here.Full Details and SpecsIt’s not yet clear if the Ioniq 5 will receive the rear wiper at the same time as the Ioniq 5 N, and there is no confirmation whether this will come as part of a greater product refresh for the 2024 model year. That’s what our sources said, but Hyundai declined to confirm our sources’ claims. Considering the 5 N will head to the Goodwood Festival of Speed—albeit in the same prototype form seen here—perhaps we’ll get more information about the rear wiper then.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoSenior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More

Dodge wasn’t bashful about promoting the 710-hp 2021 Durango Hellcat SUV, telling potential customers they had only “one shot” at getting behind the wheel of the fastest team bus idling in the dropoff lane.Buyers were understandably frustrated when Dodge said last year that it would bring the Durango Hellcat back as a 2023 model.Seven original customers have now filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, asking for damages in excess of $5 million.A class-action lawsuit was filed last week against the idea of the 2023 Dodge Durango Hellcat. Okay, technically, the lawsuit alleges that Dodge used “false and deceptive advertising and marketing” back in 2020 when it told potential buyers that the 2021 Durango Hellcat would see the only year of production but then reversed course in late 2022 when it announced the 2023 Durango Hellcat with nearly identical specs. The lawsuit is asking for in excess of $5 million in damages, citing a few instances where Dodge representatives made claims that sounded like there wouldn’t be any more after that year. The big one? Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said in a Dodge promotional video that “the Hellcat Durango will be a single-model-year run. When we turn the order books over to the ’22 model year, the Durango Hellcat will be gone. So you’ve only got one shot [to buy one].”Hellcat of the Recent PastThe lawsuit also quotes from a Dodge press release that attributes this to Kuniskis: “The 2021 Durango Hellcat is only a single-model-year run, ensuring that it will be a very special, sought-after performance SUV for years to come. Based on anticipated demand, all dealer allocations have already been reserved, but there is still some time to secure an unsold dealer order.”2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat.DodgeMad Enough to SueBased on those quotes, the case appears to have at least some merit. Dodge promoted this as a limited-edition, power-mad SUV, and some people paid out the nose for them. The lawsuit says some paid almost $115,000 for their Hellcats. Now, all of a sudden, Dodge is making more of what’s basically the same vehicle, and those people are litigiously angry. Of course, there’s another side to this: why Dodge said it would only build a year’s worth of Durango Hellcats. Let’s start with a brief timeline. The “one shot” video mentioned above was part of the Hellcat Durango’s introduction in July 2020. That same month, Kuniskis told Muscle Cars and Trucks that the Durango Hellcat would not be a serialized, limited-edition vehicle. Instead, Dodge was only building a small number because of the pandemic:”With all of the changes we made in the plant to come back up [to production] post-COVID with the sequencing and spacing in the plant, it’s changed the number we can build . . . I don’t have an actual number but it will be less than 2000. I don’t know how much less than 2000. It will be determined by customer demand and how much we can build in that six-month period,” he was quoted as saying.No Limit on 2023 Production?COVID was part of the problem, but it became part of the solution. The global chip shortage allowed Dodge to make more Durango Hellcats by adjusting the production of other models. The final nail in the coffin was that the fuel-gulping Hellcats were not helping Stellantis meet its emissions targets. COVID-related disruptions are on the decline, and Dodge engineers were able to meet emissions regulations by changing the fuel tank, fuel filler and carbon canister, according to Motor Authority, which also cited a Dodge spokesperson as saying the 2023 Durango Hellcat will not be a volume-limited model. Dodge did not respond to Car and Driver’s request for comment before publication. The company did tell other media outlets it does not comment on pending litigation. 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