Motor News

A homologation special built for rallying, Renault’s R5 Turbo is a widebody, mid-engined, turbocharged dose of insanity.This example comes from the collection at the Lane Motor Museum and is serviced and ready for its next driver.With five days to go, bidding sits at $75,000.Car and DriverIntroduced in January 1972, the original Renault 5 was a cleverly designed and stylish little compact, and it sold by the thousands. Or at least it did in Europe. Renault brought its Cinq across the Atlantic as the Le Car, to which the U.S. buying public responded how ’bout Re-no-thanks. Perhaps as punishment, Renault declined to officially bring over its craziest version. As with their wine, the French kept the best to themselves—though this R5 Turbo II is not so much a Beaujolais as it is a Molotov cocktail.Bring a TrailerToday’s auction pick from Bring a Trailer, part of Hearst Autos along with Car and Driver, is a 1985 Renault R5 Turbo II, and it is absolutely bonkers. Built for homologation in Group B rallying, the R5 Turbo offers an experts-only driving experience that is unlike anything else. If the Citroën DS is the essence of effortless Gallic cool, then the R5 Turbo is Napoleon Bonaparte on bath salts. It’s fantastic.For French-Car FansThe standard R5 made about 50 horsepower, though every Parisian thrashed them around the Arc de Triomphe like they were René Arnoux setting a F1 qualifying lap. Renault tripled the power with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, stuffed the powerplant where the rear seats used to be, and then hired the guy who drew the Lamborghini Miura to give this mutant creation hips like one of the moms in a Pixar movie.As the most powerful French production car of its time, the Renault R5 Turbo could beat up on six-cylinder BMWs all day long. However, turbo lag being what it was in the 1980s, make a mistake behind the wheel and the R5 Turbo would fire you into a ditch without so much as a “Désolé.” It was based on an economy car, but it had the haughty demeanor of a Porsche 930.Bring a TrailerOnscreen, this made it the perfect car of choice for the villainous Fatima Blush in 1983’s James Bond film Never Say Never Again. Sean Connery’s motorcycle was no match for a crimson R5 Turbo’s speed and agility.IncroyableThis Turbo II is one of the later models, which were slightly less expensive, thanks to fewer aluminum components used in construction. It has 43,000 miles on the odometer and a set of custom HRE wheels, and it was formerly part of the collection at the Lane Motor Museum in Tennessee. If you’ve not been, the Lane Museum boasts a treasure trove of automotive oddballs like this delightfully deranged Renault.Further, the Lane Museum is the sort of place that expects its cars to be functional rather than mere exhibits. This example has had some recent servicing and is ready to go—although the horn is listed as nonfunctional, which should probably be addressed. No self-respecting French driver could go more than 12 seconds without honking at someone perceived as being in their way.With five days to go, bidding has reached $75,000, which is no small sum for a car that started out as a French economy car. Ah, but a Renault R5 Turbo II is the type of car in which emotion overcomes rational thought. What could be more French than that? 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

The Aston Martin DBX 707 is the official medical car of the 2023 Formula 1 season.The 707-hp SUV is fitted with myriad emergency gear as well as FIA-approved racing seats and harnesses. The ’23 F1 World Championship season starts this weekend on Sunday, March 5, where the medic-equipped DBX 707 will debut too.Not a single Formula 1 driver wants to get into an accident this upcoming 2023 season. However, when crashes inevitably happen, medical responders will be raced to the scene in a 707-hp SUV—the Aston Martin DBX 707, to be exact.The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) today announced that it has named the DBX 707 as the official medical car of the ’23 F1 season, which will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend on Sunday, March 5.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.What it takes to be the Official Medical Car of Formula 1 | Aston Martin DBX707Watch onYouTube IconYouTube IconPainted Aston Martin Racing Green and fitted with emergency lights on top, the medic version of the DBX 707 features myriad safety gear and other equipment needed to respond to an accident. As one expects, that list includes fire extinguishers and a defibrillator, but its passengers can also hear race control communications and access biometric data from the drivers. This helps medical responders assess the accident before they arrive. To ensure that the emergency personnel get to racetrack crash sites as quickly and as safely as possible, Aston’s high-powered SUV is driven by a professional driver. All passengers are also strapped in place by a set of FIA-approved racing seats with six-point harnesses.Photog Max EareyDuring the past two F1 seasons, the FIA has used the regular 542-hp DBX as the official medical car. However, it’s much less powerful than the 707 variant, which is also enhanced with track-ready hardware such as carbon-ceramic brakes and a nine-speed automatic transmission with a wet-clutch pack. In our testing, the DBX 707 hit 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and ripped through the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds and 119 mph. Not too shabby for a 5128-pound SUV. And in the hands of a pro hotshoe, the official FIA version will make sure that when F1 drivers are in danger they get the medical attention they need ASAP.Extra DBX 707 ReadingThis 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 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

The Postal Service announced it has ordered 9250 Ford E-Transit vans.The order is part of an electrification initiative announced in December.The USPS is also having 14,000 charging stations installed at post offices and related facilities.The renewal of the Postal Service’s extensive fleet of mail trucks has been mired in controversy. Today’s familiar mail trucks, Grumman LLVs, are old, rickety, (and on occasion combustible), gas-guzzlers. The process of soliciting designs and bids for a new-generation delivery vehicle has been long and drawn out, dating back to 2015. The eventual winner, Oshkosh’s New Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV), has been criticized not for its dorky looks but because the gas-powered NGDV is nearly as fuel-thirsty as the old Grummans. The EPA requested that the Postal Service reconsider, but the USPS basically told the EPA to pound sand.Related StoriesPerhaps in a move to blunt some of that criticism, the Postal Service also back in December announced it would be putting some 66,000 EVs into its fleet. We now have the first specifics of that EV effort, with the word coming that the Ford E-Transit van will be suiting up for mail duty. The E-Transit features a 266-hp electric motor, rear-wheel drive, and a 126-mile range. The Postal Service has ordered 9250 of the Fords and points out that they’re built in Kansas City, Missouri. They’re scheduled to be deployed in December.In order to recharge those vans, the USPS has also ordered 14,000 charging stations to be located at its various facilities, with the equipment coming from three unnamed suppliers. None of this means the Postal Service is turning its back on gas-powered vehicles, however. In fact, the USPS also announced it was purchasing a similar number (9250) of gas-engine vehicles, this time from Stellantis. Those vehicles were not identified, but it’s a fair bet that they’re Ram ProMaster vans. Or, maybe, they’re Hellcat-powered Chargers and Challengers—that might not please the EPA, but it could really speed up mail delivery.Deputy Editor, Reviews and FeaturesJoe Lorio has been obsessed with cars since his Matchbox days, and he got his first subscription to Car and Driver at age 11. Joe started his career at Automobile Magazine under David E. Davis Jr., and his work has also appeared on websites including Amazon Autos, Autoblog, AutoTrader, Hagerty, Hemmings, KBB, and TrueCar. More

Kia released two teaser images and two videos of the upcoming EV9 SUV.The images leave plenty to the imagination and don’t give away much more than a glimpse of the front lighting scheme and a darkened silhouette. Despite being quite brief, the videos show off much more of the SUV and give a look at a playful animation of the headlights waking up, as well as a rear shot of the taillights. Like every other automaker, Kia is preparing for a future filled with electric vehicles. Next up in Kia’s battery-powered lineup is the EV9 electric SUV, and the manufacturer has just released two new teaser images and two new teaser videos ahead of the model’s debut later this month. play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to playMore on the Kia EV9The images leave a lot to the imagination, but confirm what previous spy shots lead us to believe. One video displays what looks to be a playful startup sequence from the headlights, with the numerous pixelated lights coming to life before the taller LEDs on the outside edge of the fascia light up. The other video shows door handles flattened against the body of the car, likely to aid in aero to boost EV range. KiaKia confirmed it will reveal more of the interior and exterior of the car in the coming weeks, with final production info for the car coming out by the end of the month. Kia claims 300 miles of driving range for the EV9 and says the SUV will also be able to charge on 350-kilowatt fast-charging stations. We don’t quite know yet what size battery pack(s) will be offered, but the EV9 will utilize the brand’s E-GMP platform, which also underpins the current EV6. play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to playA survey sent to current Telluride owners appears to hold some clues as to the EV9 specs. It suggested that pricing for the base version might start around $56,000, with higher trims coming in closer to $75,000. It also suggested range for the EV9 will be between 220 and 290 miles, while powertrain output will go from 200 horses in the base model to 400 ponies in the top trim. 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

This 1993 Volkswagen Corrado SLC has amassed only 47,000 miles over its 30-year life.When it was new, the spunky VW coupe produced 178 horsepower from the 2.8-liter narrow-angle VR6. The seller notes a plethora of presale work done to the car, which is up for auction until Monday, March 6. Car and DriverThe Volkswagen Corrado SLC is a car that simply exudes character. The sharp angles and somewhat unconventional sillhouette lend to its presence on the road. In Car and Driver’s 1993 road test, Frank Markus asked readers to “Think BMW hatchback. Think reliable Alfa GTV6. Don’t think buzzy overpriced VW with boost lag.”Sure, it’s six years older than I am, and compared to modern standards it’s not winning any stoplight drag races—we managed 60 mph in 6.4 seconds back when the Corrado SLC was new. But viewing any 30-year-old car through that lens is a recipe for sadness. Get those rose-tinted glasses on and let the waves of nostalgia wash over you. The naturally aspirated 2.8-liter V-6 develops 178 horsepower at 5800 rpm, and it hums and pops as it spurs you through back road after back road. The engine in this particular SLC is equipped with a Neuspeed P-Flo intake, and according to the seller, the oil was changed and the spark plugs and ignition wires were replaced in December 2022.Bring a TrailerSLC stands for “Sports Luxury Coupe,” and comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a vehicle carrying such an important name. The automatic rear spoiler activates when crossing a speed threshold, see? Sporty. Remember automatic seat belts? The SLC has those. That’s luxury settled. How many doors can you count? I see the correct amount for a coupe. Plus, with only 47,000 miles logged, this SLC is in great shape. The interior in particular has aged with a grace not always found on a car this old. The five-spoke 15-inch Speedline wheels are mounted with new 205/50 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires. Like most 30-year-olds, the SLC has garnered a few visual blemishes over its life. Evidence of paintwork is visible on the passenger-side panels, the sunroof doesn’t work, and there is a crack in the left-side fog light. Those blemishes help to tell the story of a car that was first registered in Michigan and later spent time in Colorado, Arizona, Florida, and California before it was acquired by the selling dealer in Washington. Bring a TrailerWe loved the Corrado so much in 1993 that we invited it, along with four other hot coupes, on a head-to-head comparison test. A high price and abrupt oversteer kept the SLC from winning outright, but the torquey VR6 engine and playful steering feel left a feeling of appreciation towards Wolfsburg that had been missing previously. 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

Tesla held an Investor Day event today in Austin, Texas, hosted by CEO Elon Musk.Much of the talk was about the company’s “Master Plan,” which is now all about sustainability.There’s also talk of updates coming soon to the Model Y and Model 3.”There is a clear path to a fully sustainable earth, with abundance.”That’s not the way most automotive company investor presentations start, but that was the early message from CEO Elon Musk during Tesla’s Investor Day presentation today in Austin, Texas.The event was billed as the third in Musk’s long-term strategy outlines for the automaker, the next Tesla Master Plan. In short, the first TMP, from 2006, was about financing lower-cost EVs by first selling a more-expensive sports car (the original Tesla Roadster). The second, which followed a decade after the first, broadened Tesla’s scope to include solar roofs with battery storage, expanded the company’s product line to “address all major segments,” developing safer self-driving capability that and finding a way to let Tesla owners “make money for you when you aren’t using it.” Not all aspects of these plans have come to pass.Tesla’s New Master PlanMusk’s third Master Plan shifts its focus to the entire world. “Tesla’s purpose is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said today, calling its latest plan a “path to a fully renewable energy future for the earth.”Musk said a sustainable energy economy is within reach, but it will require incredible levels of investment—around $10 trillion—in new technologies to get there. That means 240 total tWh (terawatt hours) of energy storage (stationary batteries and electric vehicles) and 30 tW (terawatts) of renewable power generation. The benefits far outweigh the cost, Musk said, and the next two hours of the presentation beefed up this vision, including the many ways Tesla is working toward this goal—and, of course, how its own fleet of vehicles fit into this overall plan.TeslaUpdated Model 3 and Model YAs far as new details on Tesla’s vehicles themselves, the highlight came not from the official presentation itself but rumors that came out today about a revamped Model Y that is code-named Juniper. The new Model Y will have upgraded exterior and interior and should arrive in 2024, according to Automotive News. Another upgraded vehicle, a new Model 3 code-named Highland, is also in the works.More on Tesla VehiclesWhile Tesla didn’t officially talk about these models during Investor Day, it did explain how it will build EVs on its next-generation platforms in a more efficient manner than it does today thanks to a new process called unboxed assembly strategy, where the new platform and its integrated battery pack allows the unnamed future car to be put together without the traditional automotive frame (box), which will make assembly cheaper and faster.Another change comes from the way Tesla has steadily increased the percentage of controllers it designed itself that can be found in its vehicles’ powertrains. In the original Model S, for example, just 20 percent of the controllers were designed by Tesla. In the Model Y, it’s 61 percent. In the Cybertruck, Tesla says it will be 85 percent, and in the next-gen vehicles, every controller will be Tesla-designed. The main benefit of this shift will be better control of all of the vehicle’s software, Tesla said.An actual Cybertruck was on display at the Investor Day event as well, showing off a new steering yoke design, rear folding seats and a screen for rear passengers.This content is imported from twitter. 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

• The original Acura Integra was intended to be fun and sporty to drive, but also everyday livable.• Relive the glory days of popup headlights and Paula Abdul with this example, which has just 55,000 miles on the odometer.• Bidding runs through March 5.Car and DriverWhen Acura announced that the Integra nameplate would be returning for the 2023 model year, not everyone was convinced. How could this four-door hatchback live up to our memories of the stripped-out Integra Type-R, with its screaming engine and razor-sharp handling? Simply put, the new Integra didn’t have to, because the Type-R was a fun but rare aberration in the Acura range. The reborn Integra really needed to be faithful to something like this: a 1989 Acura LS, up for auction on Bring A Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos).First-gen Integra coverage from back in the dayThe Integra was part of the original Acura brand launch for the 1986 model year, and it quickly landed on the Car and Driver 10 Best list. “We like everything about the three- and five-door Integras—their snappy sixteen-valve engines, their sporty good looks, their usefully roomy interiors, and their fun-to-drive personalities,” we said at the time. Acura was the new kid on the block, but its cars had been infused with essential goodness from parent company Honda, in an age when the big H was at its best.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThis 1989 LS is a great example of a first-gen Integra. It has a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder good for 118 horsepower at 6500 rpm, a five-speed manual transmission, and a lovely two-tone interior with well-bolstered seats. The sharply folded sheetmetal still looks good today, and you gotta love the popup headlights. The paint color on this little coupe is Laguna Gold. If your brain went straight to hurling through Laguna Seca’s famous Corkscrew, dial it back a little. This color was also supposed to embody a languid sunset over a Southern California beach. Acura wasn’t just a brand for steely-eyed Brazilian Formula One drivers, it was created to bring driving pleasure to regular folks, too. According to the seller, this one was delivered to a woman in California who drove it until 2022, when she decided it was time to give up driving for good. As it sits, the car has just 55,000 miles on the odometer.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerBecause this Integra was donated to the Kars4Kids charity by the previous owner’s family, there were some title issues. It’s now listed on a Restored Salvage title in Arizona, despite a clean bill of health from the California DMV and CarFax.If this makes it less of a potential museum piece, so much the better. The seller has addressed wear items such as the CV axles, sparkplugs, and tires, and this literally golden-age Acura is just itching to be driven. You’re going to want to go digging through the attic for your old mixtape Memorex cassettes. Ooh, Roxette and Fine Young Cannibals? That’s the one.You can find the new Integra at your local Acura dealership, and it does a fine job of living up to the standard set by the original. However, the new car has neither popup headlights nor a cassette deck. Here’s a chance to rewind the tape back to Acura’s early days.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

GM scheduled a two-week work stoppage at its Fort Wayne, Indiana truck assembly facility in an attempt to maintain optimal dealership inventory levels. According to a GM representative, production is up over the past month, while demand remains fairly consistent, leading to an increase in inventory. The Fort Wayne plant produces the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. GM’s full-size truck plants in Michigan, Canada, and Mexico will continue with operations through the two-week stoppage in Indiana. General Motors is preparing for a two-week shutdown at its Fort Wayne, Indiana truck manufacturing facility. The Fort Wayne plant that produces roughly 1300 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks each day will be shut down to “to maintain optimal inventory levels with our dealerships,” according to a statement shared by a GM spokesperson. The shutdown is scheduled to begin Monday, March 27, and is reportedly in accordance with provisions of both the national and local UAW bargaining agreements.More on GM TrucksGM confirmed that production is up over the past month while demand remains fairly consistent, leading to an increase in inventory. According to a report by Autoweek, the stoppage is in keeping with comments from GM CFO Paul Jacobson, who said the company wants between 50 to 60 days’ inventory through 2023.Production at GM’s other full-size truck plants in Michigan, Canada, and Mexico are set to continue with operations through the two-week stoppage in Indiana. The Fort Wayne plant constantly reviews and adjusts production schedules to keep inventory levels at dealerships at an optimal level, according to a GM representative.The scheduled shutdown comes at an interesting time for pickup production and automotive manufacturing in general. It stands in contrast to the production struggles that automakers faced in 2021, when supply-chain issues and specifically a microchip shortage caused GM, Ford, and many other automakers to greatly reduce production plans, throwing off the supply and demand curve on the opposite end of the spectrum. More recently in the pickup world, production of the electric Ford F-150 Lightning was halted in February, citing a potential battery issue. “During a standard Lightning pre-delivery quality inspection, one vehicle displayed a battery issue,” Ford said in a statement.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