Motor News

Honda Performance Development teased a race-ready CR-V with an 800-hp hybrid powertrain. The teaser shows the SUV’s bespoke carbon fiber bodywork, colossal front-splitter and rear diffuser, and a gargantuan rear wing. Honda Performance Development neglected to announce any official events this gasoline-electric CR-V racer may compete in.Honda Performance Development appears determined to push the performance limits of the 10Best-winning 2023 CR-V. The racing and performance arm of the Japanese automaker teased an 800-hp race-ready CR-V to whet enthusiasts’ appetites for high-powered four-wheeled machines. Why a CR-V? We don’t know, but we theorize that family-man Dominic Toretto may have commissioned this machine that practically screams “I’m a father, but I still live life a quarter-mile at a time.”HPD revealed few details about the vehicle itself, simply sharing that it’s being developed with Auto Development Center teams and that motivation comes courtesy of a gasoline-electric powertrain that produces a mind-boggling 800 horsepower. We presume this CR-V rolled out of the factory with the SUV’s available 204-hp hybrid powertrain. Then again, it may have had the standard 190-hp four-cylinder. Or HPD simply pulled a body in white from the assembly line before its mass-produced powerplant was ever installed. For now, HPD’s keeping such information under wraps.Related StoriesFans of Where’s Waldo? will have a gas trying to spot this SUV’s production pieces in these teaser photos. From what we can tell, the taillights and hatch look like stock pieces, as do the headlights and grille. Otherwise, this CR-V’s other pieces appear unique. Most—if not all—of this CR-V’s body panels look as though they’re bespoke carbon-fiber pieces, including the widened front and rear fenders. Aerodynamic bits dominate the front and rear ends. This includes a bevy of dive planes and a rear wing large enough to get its own representation in Congress.HPD only supplied one shot of this CR-V’s insides, but it appears the stock interior is completely gutted. Meanwhile, the addition of a roll cage ought to provide an extra layer of safety for those seated within this hot hybrid SUV. Look for HPD to share more about its CR-V racer when it reveals the vehicle on February 28. 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

• This first-generation Chevy Camaro looks like it stepped out of a time warp.• It has been restored in its original colors of Ash Gold paint over Gold vinyl upholstery.• This auction ends on Wednesday, February 22.Car and DriverToday, when we see pony cars from the ’60s, they’re typically high-performance halo models and have often been further hot-rodded or restomodded into fearsome street machines. And while those SS396 Camaros, Cobra-Jet Mustangs, and Hemi ‘Cudas are the stuff of legend, for legions of owners back in the day the pony-car reality was much different. It was something exactly like what we have here in this 1968 Chevy Camaro.More Camaro GoodnessUp for auction right now on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—this Camaro is a far most accurate period piece than is typically seen. It has a bit of punch courtesy of a 327-cubic-inch V-8, but that engine is tied to Chevy’s ubiquitous Powerglide two-speed automatic stirred by a horseshoe-shaped floor shift. The restorer somehow managed to resist the temptation to fill the wheel wells with slotted mags, torque thrust wheels, or even Chevy Rally wheels, instead sticking with 14-inch steelies wearing factory wheel covers and, yes, whitewall tires. And in contrast to the reds and blacks so popular with muscle-car builds, this Camaro’s Ash Gold reflects what was popular then. With its matching vinyl interior, it’s a golden oldie.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerCars like this are the reason the Big Three were able to turn out hundreds of thousands of Camaros, Mustangs, and the like during the pony-car heyday. They had a more youthful, sporty image than the standard Detroit fare, but they were still fairly practical and affordable. Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerSpeaking of affordability, the bid at this writing is still shy of $7000 with five days to go. It surely will climb higher, but probably nowhere near what the typical restored early Camaro would bring. And yet it’s a truer representation of the pony-car era and, maybe, a bigger head-turner as well.In Other Camaro News More

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will see a modified NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car run in the Garage 56 entry designated for experimental race cars.The car, revealed today ahead of the Daytona 500, still packs a 5.8-liter V-8 engine, but adds a large fuel cell, upgraded brakes, and unique aerodynamics.The decorated driver lineup features Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller, and the team has already racked up over 3600 miles of testing.NASCAR is going to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Wait, what?! Yep, you read that right—a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car is taking on the grueling and iconic day-long race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, this year. The NASCAR racer will run in the Garage 56 spot, an entry reserved for experimental vehicles, and the car was revealed today at Daytona International Speedway ahead of this weekend’s Daytona 500. Since 2012, Garage 56 has included cars like the unorthodox, triangle-shaped DeltaWing and a modified LMP2 car piloted by two drivers who are paralyzed from the waist down. This year, however, the entry will be occupied by a muscular Cup Series–spec Camaro powered by a snarling 5.8-liter small-block V-8. The project is being run by Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful Cup Series team with 291 race victories to date.NASCARThe Garage 56 Camaro stays close to its roots, but several changes were required for 24-hour race duty. Functional headlights and taillights replace the imitation stickers normally plastered onto the stock car bodywork, and the team also fit a larger 32-gallon fuel cell and carbon brake discs. The car will ride on unique Goodyear Eagle tires, and will wear unique aerodynamic elements with a revised front splitter, dive planes on the front bumper, a new rear diffuser, and a special rear wing protruding out of the bodywork. While a standard Cup car weighs 3200 pounds, the Garage 56 car has shaved that down to 2960 pounds and tacks on an extra two inches of length. The Le Mans–spec racer retains the front and rear double wishbone suspension with adjustable coil-over shocks. More on NASCARBehind the wheel will be three top-notch drivers. Jimmie Johnson brings his vast experience in stock cars as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, while two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller knows the track like the back of his hand. While he has never driven a stock car and only has one Le Mans start, 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button is no slouch, either. The team has been testing the Garage 56 Camaro since last August, racking up over 3600 miles at Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway (where we run out annual Lightning Lap competition), Goodyear Proving Grounds, Carolina Motorsports Park, Sebring International Raceway, and Daytona International Speedway. The team will return to Sebring this Monday for an endurance test, and the team hopes to have its entry approved by the race’s regulatory body in the next few weeks. The 24 Hours of Le Mans will start on Saturday, June 10, 2023.In Other Camaro News More

Dodge has announced pricing for the 2023 Hornet, a new subcompact crossover that starts at $31,590.A fully loaded Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid costs over $53,000.It’s based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale and will go on sale in the U.S. this spring.$53,000 sounds like a lot for a Dodge subcompact SUV, but what if that SUV is based on an Alfa Romeo and offers a plug-in-hybrid powertrain? Dodge is hoping that the new 2023 Hornet, which is closely related to the Alfa Romeo Tonale, will be enticing enough to live up to its ambitious pricing—at least in fully loaded form—when it goes on sale this spring. There’s also a more reasonably priced base model that starts under $32,000 and is powered by a turbocharged inline-four.That base model is the 265-hp Hornet GT, which starts at $31,590 and comes standard with a 10.3-inch touchscreen, cloth seats, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and more. The $4900 GT Plus upgrade adds leather seats that are heated and cooled up front, a sunroof, a power liftgate, navigation, and more. There are also packages including the $2995 Track Pack with larger wheels and tires, adaptive dampers, and upgraded interior trim; the $1995 Blacktop package with dark trim; and the $2245 Tech Pack with driver-assistance features.Hornet and Its SiblingThe Hornet R/T is the one with the 285-hp plug-in-hybrid drivetrain that claims to be quicker than the GT and offers an estimated 30 miles of electric driving. It starts at $41,590—a mere $3000 less than its Alfa Romeo sibling, which only comes as a PHEV. The R/T Plus adds equipment and starts at $46,590 and is available with the same options and packages as the GT, which explains how you can get above $53,000 if you add all the extras.Dodge says that orders are now open for the Hornet GT and that those models will start arriving at dealerships in early spring. The Hornet R/T hybrid will follow a few months after, and ordering information will be available later on.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

Toyota and Suzuki are rumored to be co-developing a new sports car, per a report by Motor1.com citing a Japanese magazine. The two-seater coupe will reportedly have a mid-mounted 120-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder and weigh less than the Toyota GR86.The project is said to be inspired by the MR2, with pricing possibly starting between $16,000 and $20,000.A spiritual successor to the mid-engine Toyota MR2 might be on the way—and it could have a traditional gas-fed engine. Rumors are swirling online about the possibility a new lightweight sports car being developed together by Toyota and Suzuki (Daihatsu is also reportedly involved).New Toyota MR2?Multiple reports today stem from an article by Japanese magazine, Best Car, which Motor1.com cites as claiming that the long-rumored “baby sports car” resulting from a partnership between Toyota and Suzuki is still happening. Of course, nothing has been officially announced—no name or anything. All we have to go off is speculation fueled by recent concepts, such as the Toyota Sports EV pictured above. Related StoriesToyota first previewed that visually striking concept car back in December 2021, amongst nearly 20 other concepts. The current rumors describe a different powertrain, though, one with an internal-combustion engine versus an electric motor. Reports claim it’ll have a mid-mounted 1.0-liter three-cylinder, with the possibility of a hybrid system also mentioned.Likely to be LightThe sports car, whatever it might be called, is expected to be light. Reports suggest it’ll weigh only 2204 pounds. For comparison, that’s lighter than the Mazda Miata, which tipped our scales at 2345 pounds. That would also make it lighter than the Toyota GR86, a sporty front-engine, rear-drive coupe weighing 2838 pounds. It’s a good thing the Toyota-Suzuki-Daihatsu sports car is expected to be so light, because it’s tiny engine isn’t said to be very powerful. With half the displacement of a typical soda bottle, the three-pot is believed to produce just 120 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. Toyota’s other three-cylinder engine powers the GR Corolla and produces a heart-pumping 300 hp, rocketing the hot hatch down back roads with a vengeance. Suzuki is reportedly developing the engine, with Toyota tapped to adapt the suspension from the current-generation Yaris for use on the new sports car. It’s unclear what platform the car would be built on, however, its overall length is said to be 165.3 inches with a 100-inch wheelbase. Perhaps coincidentally, those measurements match the GR86’s. Sports Car Pipe Dream?Obviously, we can’t confirm whether the rumors are true. Even if they are, we’re not sure if Toyota would sell it in America, especially since it may struggle to find success. Profit margins would be razor thin with reports claiming the car could be priced between $16,000 and $20,000. Still, our enthusiast desire makes us remain hopeful, even though we don’t expect to see it for at least another year or two. 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

Tesla is recalling 362,758 vehicles over issues with the Full Self-Driving software that allows vehicles to exceed speed limits or drive through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).The issues affect a range of years throughout the full lineup, including certain Model 3, Model X, Model Y and Model S units manufactured between 2016 and 2023. Tesla said it will issue a free over-the-air (OTA) software update for the affected vehicles and will send notification letters to owners by April 15, 2023. Tesla is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles over safety issues regarding the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD Beta) automated-driving software. The recall affects a total of 362,758 vehicles including certain Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Model S EVs manufactured between 2016 and 2023.Related StoriesFilings with NHTSA show that vehicles using the FSD Beta may act in an unsafe manner, with particular concern over intersections. Vehicles may potentially travel directly through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, enter a stop-sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceed into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution, according to NHTSA documents. The software may also fail to recognize changes in posted speed limits, and fail to slow the vehicle down when entering a slower-traffic area. Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update for the problem free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 877–798–3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened a preliminary investigation into the performance of FSD. The investigation was motivated by an accumulation of crashes in which Tesla vehicles, operating with Autopilot engaged, struck stationary in-road or roadside first responder vehicles tending to pre-existing collision scenes, according to NHTSA. The original preliminary evaluation was later upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to extend the existing crash analysis, evaluate additional data sets, perform vehicle evaluations, and to explore the degree to which Autopilot and associated Tesla systems may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision. More

A new generation of the BMW M5 is on the way, codenamed G90.It will share its plug-in-hybrid powertrain with the BMW XM SUV.A wagon version of the M5 is under consideration for America.A new generation of the BMW 5-series is on the way and wears the codename G60. But the most exciting news will come in July 2024, when the M division will launch the new M5. Dubbed G90, the top-of-the-line model will only be available in Label Red high-performance guise rated at 735 horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque. You guessed it—the next M5 shares its plug-in-hybrid drivetrain with the polarizing XM SUV out this summer. While it will be offered as a sedan once again, we hear that the M5 Touring station wagon (G99), due to go into production in late 2024, is at long last considered for exportation to North America.The new M5 should sport an electric range of close to 60 miles and a maximum speed of 87 mph in EV mode, sources say. On the debit side, it carries a weight penalty of over 440 pounds compared to the outgoing M5. While the extra grunt is said to cut the 60 mph acceleration time by a few ticks (we already managed a blisteringly quick 2.8 seconds in the current M5 Competition), it remains to be seen which effect—if any—the extra body fat has on the best-in-class handling.BMW M5 sedanIllustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAccording to those in the know, the next M5 remains loyal to the classic steel suspension, but introduces rear-wheel steering, bigger brakes, and optional 22-inch wheels. Drivers can choose between three energy regeneration stages, two calibrations for the steering and brakes, and five different drive modes including eControl, which prioritizes the electric motor. The 644-hp unit fitted to the “base” XM will not be offered in the new M5. If anything, there might be an even brawnier Label Black high-flyer which would mate the 627-hp V-8 of the defunct M5 CS to a bigger electric motor.More on the M5Electric BMW i5 M Could Have More Than 1000 HPWhat about an i5 M, you ask? The electric i5 range will likely compromise these three models: i5 eDrive40 and xDrive40 (340 hp), i5 M50 xDrive (544 hp) and i5 M70 xDrive (650 hp). The M70 is not only the most potent version, it can allegedly also be charged faster, is equipped with special high-performance batteries, gets active steering, bigger 21-inch wheels and suspension tweaks, plus the usual M livery inside and out, but is still not yet a fully fledged hardcore M car.This role belongs to the i5 M, which won’t bow before 2026 as a widebody four-door, four-motor 1136-hp crackerjack due to follow hot on the heels of the 1000-hp all-electric M4 replacement. Codenamed Katharina, the new high-performance electric drivetrain boasts ultrafast wheel-by-wheel torque vectoring, multi-stage cooling, a supplementary brake-by-motor energy regeneration system and new dynamic features like piloted drifting and the ability to perform tank turns. Key to the new talent level is a complex advanced control unit known internally as “Hand of God.”Future BMW EVsWhether this DNA will eventually also spawn the rumored new BMW M supercar is still open to debate—talks with McLaren on the subject have reportedly reached a cul-de-sac. More

Tesla was the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. last year, according to new data reported by Automotive News.Based on Experian data on new vehicle registrations, 484,351 Teslas were tagged in 2022 (up 41 percent from the year before).Tesla beat out BMW—the previous luxury sales champ—by a massive margin of more than 156K registrations.BMW no longer holds the title of the bestselling luxury brand in America. The crown now belongs to Tesla for the first time. The company achieved this milestone after a big surge of new vehicle registrations in 2022, based on new data reported by Automotive News. While it’s fair to argue whether Tesla qualifies as a true luxury automaker alongside the likes of more prominent brands such as Audi and Lexus, the price range of the company’s lineup appears to justify that categorization more than anything else. Despite Tesla’s quality-control woes and the Model 3 and Model Y’s—er—austere interiors, the Model S and Model X each can get into six-figure territory.Other Tesla NewsTesla Takes the Title As most people know, Tesla only makes electric vehicles. Still, the 484,351 new models registered last year were more than all other luxury automakers, including their electric and gas-powered offerings. That amount represents a 41-percent jump in Tesla registrations compared with 2021. Before the amount of Tesla registrations exploded last year, BMW was the reigning luxury sales champ. However, not only did Tesla have 156,422 more registrations in 2022, but BMW also saw its numbers drop by 5.3 percent from the year prior to 327,929. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz finished third with 269,511 new registrations last year, but AN reports that amount barely changed versus 2021. The data on new vehicle registrations that identifies the bestselling luxury automaker comes from Experian. It’s used to because Tesla notoriously doesn’t separate U.S. sales from the amount the company sells globally. That’s why new registrations are considered the best way to compare the market. 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