Motor News

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 first trailer for Fast X, the 10th film in the Fast & Furious trailer, is finally out. The movie looks even more ridiculous and over the top than we ever expected. Fast X is part one of a two-part movie series depicting the finale of the Fast franchise. Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, John Cena, Jason Statham, and Ludacris return in starring roles, while Aquaman star Jason Momoa makes his first appearance in the Fast series as the main villain, Dante. Other newcomer actors include Brie Larson and Rita Moreno. “I’ve been so blessed to be part of this family,” Diesel said to an audience at the trailer premiere on Thursday night. “You truly are, and I mean this from my soul, the best fans any film could ever dream of. You allowed us to be your family. I can’t wait for you to see this.”To no one’s surprise, the Fast X trailer is packed with family and fast cars. The plot, seemingly based on the events that took place in Fast Five, shows villain Dante attempting to break apart Dom’s family, going as far as to kidnap his child. There are numerous action and fight sequences, with plenty of shots of Diesel driving Dodge Chargers. Fast X opens in theaters on May 19, 2023. More

Hyundai has launched a one-price app-based subscription service called Evolve+ EV, which includes insurance, roadside assistance, and maintenance. At launch, the available vehicle choices are the Kona Electric and the Ioniq 5, and the service is only available in seven cities across six states. Subscriptions for the Kona Electric start at $699 per month, with subscriptions for the Ioniq 5 starting at $899 per month. Hyundai is jumping into the vehicle-by-subscription game, with the announcement of its new Evolve+ EV service. At launch the service is pretty limited in scope. The Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 are the only vehicles available to subscribers. The Kona starts at $699 per month, while the Ioniq costs $899 per month. Hyundai says Evolve+ is better than vehicle subscriptions offered by other manufacturers because subscribers can cancel at any time during the service, and there are no commitments beyond month-to-month payments. All the Details and SpecsThat monthly price is intended to be all-encompassing, so it also includes registration, insurance, roadside assistance, and maintenance costs. Hyundai is launching the program in an effort to attract what it describes as the “EV-Curious” audience. The manufacturer hopes that by offering what it feels is a lower barrier of entry for potential EV shoppers, it will be able to increase EV adoption and awareness. Each monthly term is considered 28 days and allows for 1000 miles. Going over that 1000-mile limit results in an additional charge of $20 per 100 miles until the 1500-mile mark; after that, things get expensive at $1 per mile. Any miles under the limit will be rolled over if you resubscribe to the service. There’s an App for ThatJust like everything else these days, there’s an app for the service. Subscribers can go in the app, find a car, and pay online. No pesky human interactions needed until you pick up and drop off the car at your local dealer. In order to be eligible for Evolve+, drivers need to be at least 25 years old, have at least three years of clean driving, and hold a credit score of 650 or higher. We’re pretty big fans of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 around here. You may actually remember that we named it our EV of the Year for 2022. Hyundai used a $47,125 Ioniq 5 as a cost comparison example, estimating monthy purchase payments of $850 based on six-year financing for a customer with solid credit. Monthly payments on a three-year lease come out to closer to $600, though neither the lease nor purchase prices factor insurance and maintenance in. 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. More

• AMG appears to be unwinding its relationship with Aston Martin.• The British brand could be scooped up by Geely.• U.S. EV startup Lucid might be the best pairing of all.Aston Martin’s friends-with-benefits relationship with AMG is coming undone. Former AMG chief Tobias Moers was pushed out as Aston CEO last year, and the makeshift R&D satellite he set up around the corner from AMG in Affalterbach was shuttered before it could even begin operation. The British brand still uses AMG engines and Benz’s previous-gen infotainment systems. And Mercedes will honor all contracts and provide Aston with know-how and parts until the last of Aston’s current gas-powered models bites the dust in 2026 or 2027. However, according to several sources, Aston’s planned all-new EV lineup, which was to see replacements for Vantage, DB11, DBS, and DBX in the 2026-2029 timeframe, will no longer use the Mercedes AMG 59X matrix. Quips a German insider: “AMG and Pagani—that’s true friendship. AMG and Aston is merely a business case with a fixed expiration date.”More on Aston MartinWhile it is possible for Aston to extend the life cycle of its current portfolio, the marque is increasingly desperate for pace-setting fresh metal. Topping the list is a striking all-new EV coupe/convertible aimed squarely at the 2026 Ferrari F8 Tributo/Roma replacement. Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, the Canadian billionaire who led a consortium to take a controlling stake in Aston Martin in 2020, slotted in former Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa to replace Moers. The chief sales and marketing manager Marco Matteacci, the CTO Roberto Fedeli, and other Italian high-flyers have been recruited from the deep Ferrari/Lamborghini/Maserati talent pool, but it’s increasingly clear that talent isn’t enough. Aston needs a strategic partner. Aston Martin DBX.Aston MartinGeely Getting Interested?After Stroll’s group, and Mercedes-Benz, the next biggest shareholder in Aston Martin is Geely’s Li Shifu. The acquisitive Geely chief is reportedly interested in adding Aston Martin to his mixed bag of brands, which includes Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. The Anglophile Shifu is a true Aston aficionado who allegedly developed a habit of giving his daughter a bespoke English sports car as a birthday present. To obtain control of Aston Martin, the Chinese tycoon could either take advantage of the British concern’s modest market cap of $1.2 billion and engineer a straightforward buyout or attempt a friendly takeover with potentially significant two-way synergy effects for Aston, Lotus, and potentially some of his Chinese brands. Lucid Could Be a Win-WinSo far, though, Stroll has ignored Geely’s courtship. Instead, Stroll has started flirting with the Saudi Arabian government fund PIF. The Saudis are in the position to offer fresh money as well as a tech partnership with Lucid Motors, in which they own a 60.5 percent controlling interest. Stroll has also recently started talking again directly to Lucid’s Peter Rawlinson and Eric Bach. Why Lucid? Because cooperating with the U.S. EV startup may well lead to a win-win scenario. The original idea conceived in late 2021 was for Lucid to cover vehicles up to $200,000, while Aston would cater to the $225,000-plus clientele including the supercar/hypercar segment. At the same time, the Americans would terminate their own patchy and underfinanced distribution scheme and join forces with the 134 established Aston dealers. Lucid Air.LucidAston’s traditional fortes include lightweight architectures, head-turning design, and industry-leading personalization. The major strengths of Lucid are electrification and digitalization. But as far as bending sheetmetal, putting the pieces together, and turning it into something that drives rather well and lasts, Aston has a clear edge over the startup. So, in an odd way, these two unlikely partners could actually be a good match. In an ideal world, both brands should benefit from and motivate each other. Imagine the Lucid Air 2.0 spawning an Aston Martin Lagonda, or the Lucid Gravity SUV sharing its genes with the next-gen DBX. Already, Aston allegedly agreed in late January to buy electric motors from Lucid (and, pointedly, not Mercedes). This scenario is still overshadowed, however, by Aston’s heavy debt burden and Lucid’s rapid cash burn rate, to name only two complicating factors. More

Powered by a hybridized inline-six, this latest Mercedes is the first Maybach-badged car that can be plugged in.This Maybach is essentially a more luxurious version of the Mercedes S-Class, and it builds on the S580e’s well-tuned powertrain with added length and luxury.So far this car is only earmarked for Asia and Europe, and we’re not sure it will reach the U.S.Seven years after showing off the all-electric Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the ultra-luxury division is only now launching its first plug-in-hybrid production model. That model, the just-introduced S580e, will be rolled out in a conservative fashion, first made available in China, then Thailand, then Europe. Electrification is coming to Mercedes-Maybach, but with the slow deliberation of one of the World War I dirigibles that the company’s engines once powered.Those engines were inline-sixes and, in a nice echo, such is the case here. The Mercedes-Maybach S580e is closely related to the standard S-class plug-in hybrid. A 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine provides 367 horsepower and is paired with a 150-hp electric motor. Total system output is 510 horsepower along with 553 pound-feet of torque, and nearly 60 percent of that twist is available with the light-switch response of the electric motor.Mercedes-AMGShould you wish to splatter rear-seat occupants with caviar and champagne, this new Mercedes-Maybach will sprint to highway speeds with most of the same vigor as its V-8– and V-12–powered cousins. But that sort of disrespectful behavior will get you in trouble, or, given the power wielded by the sort of people who can afford a Maybach, perhaps fired.No, a Mercedes-Maybach is for serene, airship-like gliding, which the S580e promises to do par excellence. For one thing, with all due respect to rapper Rick Ross, true Maybach music is measured in near silence. A V-8–powered Maybach murmurs at just 64 decibels of in-cabin noise at 70 mph. Capable of running purely on electrons, the S580e will be even more discreet.On a full charge, Mercedes says the Maybach S580e will run to a top speed of just under 87 mph on battery power and have a maximum range of 62 miles (per the optimistic global WLTP standard, at least). Versus a normal S-class, the Maybach variant is some seven inches longer for greater rear-seat room and can be optioned with all sorts of opulent goodies, including a rear-seat refrigerator and branded champagne glasses.Fuel economy is probably of little concern to the average Mercedes-Maybach customer, who likely has a private jet to fill up, but CO2 ratings are. The S580e treads lightly in terms of localized pollution and is thus ideal for low-emissions urban areas such as London’s expanding Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).Before you’ll see a Mercedes-Maybach S580e there, the cars will arrive in China, where more than half of worldwide Maybach production ends up. In 2022, China snapped up some 1100 Mercedes-Maybachs every month.Having fumbled the previous Maybach relaunch with the ill-fated 57 and 62 of the early 2000s, Mercedes is playing the long game here. It might seem overcautious compared to the way EVs are being pushed into the mainstream globally, but note that 2022 marks the second year of record sales growth for the division. A dirigible does not turn quickly, but it doesn’t need to. More

Volkswagen unveiled refreshed 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs at the 2023 Chicago auto show.The five- and seven-seater crossovers have been given a styling makeover that includes updated exterior designs, new wheels, and a more upscale cabin.Gone is the optional 3.6-liter V-6 engine. In its place is a 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which will be the only powertrain available.Everything You Ever Wanted to KnowVolkswagen’s three-row Atlas SUV has been refreshed before. It debuted for the 2018 model year and was given a light restyling in 2021 to align its appearance with the two-row Atlas Cross Sport that bowed for the 2020 model year. But this time around, VW’s designers have used a much heavier hand in updating the company’s largest SUV. Check the ‘fit. Both the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport wear more modern looks, with updated grilles, C-shaped headlamps, and full-width taillamps. All but the base models come with an illuminated front VW logo and a light bar that stretches across the top of the grille. New wheel designs—in sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches—grace all four corners of the SUV, and a larger rear spoiler has been added to help give the Atlas a more swept-back roofline.VolkswagenVolkswagenBut bigger changes await inside, where Volkswagen has improved the passenger experience with nicer materials and more convenience features. The dashboard and center console are wrapped in faux-leather upholstery, and wide swaths of decorative plastic or wood trim extend all the way onto the door panels. A new ambient lighting system is added to the options sheet, including a cool backlit portion of the dashboard.VolkswagenVolkswagenA larger 12.0-inch infotainment display is standard across the lineup, and all models also come with a 10.3-inch digital gauge display; a head-up display is optional. The infotainment system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and all Atlases feature a wireless smartphone charging pad and at least six fast-charging USB-C ports.Latest VW HeadlinesClimate Control by VoiceA heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and a height-adjustable passenger seat are all standard now. And the automatic climate control system is voice activated, a feature that surely makes for great Super Bowl commercial fodder, but that has proven finicky and cringe-inducing in other vehicles with similar functionality.While the outgoing models were available with either a 235-hp turbo four or a 276-hp 3.6-liter V-6, the 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport can be had with just one engine: a new 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four. Front-wheel drive is still standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims.While the EPA has yet to weigh in on the turbo four’s fuel efficiency, VW says it should be improved over the outgoing model. Towing capacity is unchanged and the Atlas is rated to pull up to 5000 pounds. On Sale Later in the YearVolkswagen says the handsome 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will go on sale in the third quarter of 2023, but hasn’t announced pricing just yet. Given the upgrades, we’d reckon a slightly increased base price from the 2023 Atlas Cross Sport’s $35,755 entry price. The same goes for the three-row Atlas, which should start a bit higher than the 2023 model’s $36,455.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. More

The Ram 1500 Rev has been confirmed as the name of the company’s first electric pickup truck.The concept version of the truck that was revealed at CES 2023 was originally called the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV.The Rev will go into production next year, and Ram says it’ll share more details this Sunday, Feb. 12.Ram has significantly shortened the official name of its first electric pickup, which is slated to start production next year. While the concept version was originally called the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV, the brand has condensed it down to the Ram 1500 Rev.Other than what we already know about the concept, today’s news is only notable because of the name. Thankfully, the world won’t have to wait too long to learn more details, as Ram says it plans to release more information this Sunday, Feb. 12. Could it be a surprise addition to the slew of Super Bowl commercials? Stay tuned.Rev is most likely short for Revolution, however, it also sounds like the verb used to describe the revolution of an internal-combustion motor. Perhaps it’s a double entendre that pays tribute to both traditional gas-powered Ram trucks from the past as well as the future that’s potentially full electron-fueled pickups. It’s still likely a few months before the Ram 1500 Rev is officially revealed to the world. It’s presence at this year’s Chicago auto show gave us an opportunity to see the concept version up close. Not only is it more immense in person than in photos, but its open-air interior— with its sort-of third-row seats—offers a tantalizing look at potential design and tech features for the production version. Michael SimariMichael SimariSure, the concept’s entirely glass roof, coach doors, and nonexistent B pillar are probably pure fantasy, but we expect the real electric Ram to have more than a few innovative features. Now we just have to wait and see what what they’ll be.More on the Ram 1500 RevThis 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. More

Ford showed off the upcoming 2024 Mustang Dark Horse fitted with its optional set of carbon-fiber wheels, along with our first glimpse of its interior. The lightweight wheels tip the scales at 20.1 pounds, a figure that equates to roughly 37 percent lighter than the standard Dark Horse aluminum wheels.The Dark Horse’s interior features blue bolstering and stitching on the Recaro seats, along with an anodized blue titanium shift knob.The new 2024 Ford Mustang looks fantastic a set of carbon-fiber dancing shoes. Ford announced today that it will offer a carbon wheel option when the Dark Horse performance model goes on sale later this year. The lightweight wheels tip the scales at 20.1 pounds each, making them approximately 37 percent lighter than Dark Horse aluminum wheels, according to Ford. They were developed in collaboration with Carbon Revolution, and they follow the carbon-fiber wheels that Ford previously offered on the GT supercar and the Mustang Shelby GT350R.Using aerospace engineering inspired technology, Carbon Revolution used a plasma arc spray inside the front wheels to keep them protected from high temperatures caused under braking. The wheels wear 305/30R-19 Trofeo RS performance tires at the front, and 315/30R-19 tires at the rear. The Mustang Dark Horse you see here is also finished in a special exterior paint color called Blue Ember that’s said to shift shades in different lighting.Along with the fancy wheels and special color, Ford gave us our first glimpse of the interior trim that’s exclusive to the Dark Horse. The moody cabin combines a variety of black and blue hues. Bright Indigo Blue stitching is found on the steering wheel, the door panels, the shift boot and the Recaro performance seats. Opting for the Dark Horse Appearance package adds a Deep Indigo Blue finish for the seat bolsters and seatbelts to round out the theme of the interior. The seatbacks are finished in black Dinamica suede, while on the dash the bezels and vents are finished in a dark metallic gloss that replaces the silver shades from lower Mustang trim levels. Carbon-fiber trim spans the front of the instrument and door panels and the three-spoke steering wheel. Customers who opt for the six-speed manual transmission will get to row through the gears with a special anodized blue, lightweight titanium manual shift knob. The shift knob is hollow, which Ford says helps keep it cool in warmer weather. Anyone who chooses the 10-speed automatic transmission is awarded the consolation prize of anodized silver paddle shifters.As a final touch, each Mustang Dark Horse features an instrument panel badge that includes the vehicle’s chassis number. More

At $7 million for a 30-second spot, this year Super Bowl commercials are an expensive proposition.That’s why GM brought in Will Ferrell to introduce the idea that you’re about to see GM EVs all over Netflix shows, but only where it makes sense, so no Bolts in Bridgerton.Kia, Jeep, and Ram will also have commercials in the Big Game, but our first look at them will have to wait until Sunday. We do know that Kia’s has something to do with a pacifier emoji.According to Adweek, a 30-second commercial on this year’s Super Bowl television broadcast costs $7 million. At least three automakers have previewed some ads they believe are worth the money. Here’s what we know about the Super Bowl LVII car commercials appearing on Fox when the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs play Sunday evening. GM + Will Ferrell + NetflixFirst up, an ad that’s about as meta as they come. Will Ferrell plays himself as a spokesperson for GM and Netflix about the streaming giant’s promise to use more of GM’s electric vehicles in upcoming shows. A commercial about other commercials, in other words, ones that aren’t supposed to look like commercials but are now being explicitly called out. GM calls it “Giving EVs the Stage they Deserve.” 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.Army of the Dead Squid GameBridgerton, and . Will jokes that it wouldn’t make sense to introduces EVs into some of these shows, but at least is guaranteed to feature a GM EV on screen sometime in the next year: a GMC Hummer EV pickup. Netflix also announced that will include a Chevrolet Bolt EUV and that will show a Cadillac Lyriq.Will Ferrell’s time-tested humor keeps things light, even when he’s being bitten by a zombie from or kidnapped like the characters in . We also see him plopped into scenes from Stranger Things,Queer EyeQueer Eye Love Is BlindUnstableStellantis Buys Time for Ram and JeepUnlike GM, Stellantis is keeping previews of the Super Bowl commercials for two of its brands, Jeep and Ram, off the Internet for now. The advertising trade media report that Stellantis has purchased two 60-second commercial spots during the game. A Jeep ad will air during the second quarter, followed by a Ram ad in the fourth quarter. Stellantis did not air any commercials in last year’s game.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.Jeep released a short teaser for its spot, showcasing a chameleon in a recording studio and the tagline “Let’s boogie,” followed by a lightning-covered “Freedom is electric.” We’re not sure how that last bit works well with a separate commercial Jeep posted to its YouTube channel this week called “Parking Spot,” which makes fun of electric-vehicle drivers trying to find a charging cable buried in snow. One step forward, two watts back.Kia’s Binky Emoji MysteryKia started off with this bizarre teaser, and at that point we only knew that it had something to do with forgetting babies. KiaToday, the automaker dropped the full commercial.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.Binky Dad | The 2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro All-Terrain AWD SUVWatch ona petitionNo, seriously, a major automaker is spending millions of dollars trying to get a pacifier added to the emoji keyboard. It’s like the Ford truck emoji thing but sillier. As of this writing, the petition already has 385 signatures.The spot will be Kia America’s 14th Super Bowl commercial, following the story of a robot dog in love with the EV6 last year. Kia is concurrently trying to get some of that sweet, sweet online engagement through on Change.org. The reason for this astroturfed grassroots effort? To demand a Binky emoji. More