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This rare and pristine 53,000-mile 1992 Volkswagen GTI is a near match for our editor-in-chief’s first car.The last of the second-generation GTI 16Vs, this 2505-pound hatchback is powered by a raucous 134-hp 2.0-liter four.Complete with the factory installed BBS wheels and Recaro seats, this original example is currently being auctioned until Saturday, January 28.It’s said you can’t go back, but then you see your first car being auctioned off on Bring a Trailer and you start to question that adage. Staring down at me on my laptop screen is a box-shaped piece of my past: a 1992 Volkswagen GTI 16V with 52,000 miles. It matches my first car down to the Tornado Red paint—other paint colors included white, black, and Montana Metallic, a teal-like hue. Okay, it’s not exactly like mine. My 1990 model lacked the integrated third brake light and had black trim around the rear window. But mine had the same big-bolstered Recaro seats with electronic height control and two-piece BBS RMII cross-spoke wheels that had the look of the far pricier three-piece BBS RS wheels. The last of the second-generation GTIs, the U.S.-spec models were assembled in VW’s plant in Mexico. Earlier second-gen Golf and GTIs came out of the company’s Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, plant, which shuttered in 1988. Early 16Vs arrived in 1987 and featured a 1.8-liter four with 123 horsepower. In 1990, the engine grew to 1984 cc or 2.0 liters, and horsepower rose to 134, with 133 pound-feet of torque at the ready. VW added the four-headlight grille and big bumpers that helped modernize the car. A very high 10.8:1 compression ratio meant the four thirsted for premium, a recommendation that our sister publication Road & Track missed when it tested one in 1991; C/D never tested one. Running on 87 and with an R&T tester at the wheel, the 2505-pound 16V hit 60 in 8.4 seconds (VW claimed 7.8 seconds).The engine is rough, even by the standards of 30 years ago. Hitting the 5800-rpm power peak sounds abusive, and punching the 6300-rpm redline isn’t much of a celebration either. Shifts are light and positive, and the gearing is short. On the highway, the four settles into a steady 4000-rpm buzz at 80 mph. Easily the best part of the late-GTI 16V is the handling. Ride quality is harsh and the structure is lacking, but lots of information flows up from the 195/50R-15 tires to the four-spoke steering wheel. Originally, the 16V would’ve worn Pirelli P600s; the example being auctioned wears far grippier Michelin Pilot Sport 3 summer tires in the original size. GTI NostalgiaThe cornering attitude is classic GTI as the inside rear wheel lifts off the ground. The three-wheel motion isn’t something you notice from behind the wheel; you simply marvel at the joy of hustling this relatively light machine to its limits.In addition to the Recaro chairs, you also get flares. Front fender flares, the black trim coming off the fenders, are wider to cover the big rubber and 6.5-inch-wide wheels—this was heady stuff for a Golf. Behind those wheels are vented front rotors with solid rotors in back. Anti-lock brakes weren’t on the menu; nor were airbags. No airbags meant federally mandated door-mounted belts with separate lap belt. At least they’re fixed and not motorized. Fortunately, this example doesn’t appear ever to have been in any sort of action that involved an airbag. This GTI is hard to fault and far cleaner than the second GTI 16V I purchased in 2002—I’ve tried to go back before. I sold it a couple of years later when someone left a note on it in the C/D parking lot. Even in the early ’90s, these were rare cars and cost roughly $15,000, or about $33,000 in today’s money. Today, they’re even harder to find as most gave up their lives to hard and fun-filled miles. In a recent column, I wrote about how the spirit and joy of the Toyota GR Corolla reminded me of my first 16V GTI. I believe that this GTI will get up to about $45,000, which is about the price of a nicely equipped GR Corolla. Go back or go forward? I’d say you can’t go wrong with either choice. More

When the electric Ram Revolution concept was revealed, its rearmost jump seats made it a three-row pickup truck. Now, new photos provide a closer look at the Ram 1500 EV’s third-row seating, which may be useful or useless. Based on the images from the concept, the two small seats each feature bottoms that fold out of the rear wall.Anyone who has ever sat on the tiny jump seats in the back of an old extended-cab pickus knows they’re not very comfortable. Then again, neither is riding in the back of a truck bed, which can also be unsafe. Well, jump seats might make a comeback based on what we know about the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept that was recently revealed. Thankfully—unlike the ones in Uncle Eddie’s rusted-out Chevy S-10—the electric Ram’s rearmost seats are part of a makeshift third row. Newly released photos also give us our best look at them.From the get-go, Ram acknowledged that the Revolution’s third row consisted of jump seats. However, only now do we get to see what they actually look like. As expected, the images show two small seats that fold out of the back wall. It’s the same wall that doubles as a mid-gate that opens up to create an even larger cargo bed. Obviously, this is part of the reason the rearmost row had to be jump seats.The debate that follows is whether or not the Ram EV’s third-row seats are useful or useless. We get why calling it a three-row pickup truck is a bit misleading, and also why some people will likely scoff at the idea of spending extended time back there. However, we think it’s an innovative idea. As in the past, the jump seats aren’t meant to coddle passengers on road trips and whatnot, but rather to provide extra space for people on short stints. After all, we’d rather safely ride inside the electric Ram than risk bouncing around the box. Extra Ram EV ReadingThis 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 2024 Honda Passport SUV and Ridgeline truck are scheduled to receive a more rugged set of revisions later this year, Honda confirmed in a media briefing. An updated TrailSport trim will headline the facelift, offering a treatment that will likely include all-terrain tires and steel skid plates, helping the Passport and Ridgeline tackle tougher terrain instead of just pretending to.It seems equally likely that the overhauled 3.5-liter V-6, and 10-speed automatic transmission from the new Pilot will be added as well.Pavement-bound SUVs dressed in off-road garb are all the rage these days, with Honda’s previous TrailSport offerings acting as a prime perpetrator. The newest 2023 Pilot TrailSport, though, transcends the off-road-in-name-only fad, and adds more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and suspension revisions. For the 2024 model year, both the Passport SUV and the Ridgeline truck are scheduled to receive a similarly rugged set of revisions, Honda confirmed in a media briefing. More Trail Blazing HondasHowever, those holding out hope for a hybrid powertrain will be disappointed, as Honda confirmed that neither the Passport nor the Ridgeline will add a gas-electric option for 2024. This solidifies our suspicion that both will receive the updated powertrain from the Pilot. The new 3.5-liter V-6 in that car improves the fuel-delivery system, internals and packaging, ups the horsepower from 280 to 285, and pairs with a new 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the old nine-speed. We haven’t had the chance to put the new powertrain through our usual testing regimen yet, but it doesn’t feel discernibly quicker from our initial drives.Michael Simari|Car and DriverOff-roading is not a foreign concept for the Ridgeline pickup. In fact, Honda has been supporting a desert-racing Ridgeline pickup dating back to 2015. Adding some off-roading chops to the consumer version is a welcome thought, even if the naysayers will complain that most TrailSports will never venture beyond the trailhead. 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

Honda has announced that it will launch a hybrid version of the Civic compact car for the 2024 model year.The company says the Civic hybrid will be offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles and will be powered by a version of the powertrain in the larger Accord hybrid.Hybrid models will not replace the gasoline ones currently offered but will be sold alongside them when it hits the market in 2024.The next step in Honda’s plan to hybridize its lineup will come in the form of the 2024 Civic Hybrid, which will be offered both as a sedan and a hatchback. The company’s electrification plans include shifting to an entirely electric lineup by 2040, but increasing its hybrid offerings in the meantime is meant to bridge that gap.We reported last April that Honda had launched a hybrid version of the Civic hatchback in Europe, and speculated that the car would also come stateside to fill the gap left by the discontinued Insight sedan. We’re not sure yet exactly how Honda will adjust the European car’s powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-liter inline-four and two electric motors that combine for 181 horsepower, for the U.S. market. But we can only hope that its output comes closer to the 204 horsepower offered by the closely related hybrid setup in the 2023 Accord hybrid.HondaWhile consumer interest has moved from cars to light trucks and SUVs, Honda still sees sedans and hatchbacks as important parts of its business. “The market has shifted away from passenger cars, but cars still matter to Honda, said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of automobile sales for American Honda. “The cars bring in younger, more multicultural buyers to the brand.”Our Latest Honda TakesThe introduction of a hybrid powertrain to the Civic lineup is part of Honda’s plan to keep those younger buyers coming. Honda plans to open the order books for its all-electric Prologue SUV this year as well, which will be its first step toward the broader electrification of is lineup within the coming years.We expect to find out more about the Civic hybrid closer to the car’s on-sale date, which should be in early 2024. 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 2024 BMW M3 CS debuts as an even more hardcore version of the track-focused M3 Competition.The M3 CS’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six is boosted from the Competition’s 503 horses to 543, matching the 2023 M4 CSL. The new M3 CS will start at $119,695 when its limited-production run begins this March.For generation after generation, the smooth blend of thrilling performance and comfortable appointments has made the BMW M3 a household name. However, with the debut of the 2024 M3 CS, BMW ditches the regular sedan’s livable demeanor for significant on-track gains, as it’s even more hardcore than the track-focused M3 Competition. Utilizing Maximum BoostThe chief change separating the limited-edition M3 CS from the rest of the lineup is higher power output. BMW retuned the CS’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six to produce 40 horsepower more than the 503-hp Competition (and 70 more than the standard 473-hp M3) for a total of 543 hp. Most of the extra power results from raising the engine’s boost pressure from 24.7 psi in the Comp to 30.5 psi in the CS. Torque remains the same in both versions at 479 pound-feet.With technology derived from the M4 GT3 race car, the CS’s cooling system is not only designed to handle the added power, but also the hardships of track use. The engine mounts are significantly stiffer to create a more rigid connection between the engine and the car’s structure, just like in the M4 CSL. With that said, expect noise, vibration, and harshness to be more pronounced.Every M3 CS features an eight-speed automatic transmission with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. The M Setup menu lets drivers jump from the xDrive “4WD” settings to “4WD Sport” which directs even more of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels. Or, just like in the all-wheel-drive Competition, drivers in search of sideways shenanigans can switch off stability control and activate “2WD,” which sends power directly to the rear wheels. BMW claims the new M3 CS rockets from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Its top speed is said to be electronically limited to 188 mph (when equipped with the M Driver’s package). Generous Serving of Carbon Fiber To shave as many pounds off the Competition as possible, BMW uses generous amounts of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic on the M3 CS. The roof, hood, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, center console, shift paddles, and interior trim strips are all made from the lightweight material. Even the titanium rear silencer fitted to the CS’s exhaust is said to save more than eight pounds versus the standard system. In Bimmer speak, CS stands for Competition Sport, which in the case of the 2024 M3 CS means shedding roughly 75 pounds compared to the M3 Competition with standard M Sport seats. While that’s not as impressive as the M4 CSL’s 240-pound weight loss, it’s still roughly one fourth-grader lighter than the M3 Comp. More BMW CSA set of 275/35ZR-19 front and 285/30ZR-20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 high-performance tires are a no-cost option on the M3 CS (a stand-alone set currently costs $1874 on Tire Rack). If the Cup 2s aren’t optioned, the CS comes standard with more conventional summer tires in identical sizes. Regardless of the rubber, CS models roll on special gold bronze or matte-black M-specific wheels with an exclusive V-spoke design. Power-adjustable heated seats are optional in the M4 CSL but standard on the M3 CS. The seats are upholstered in Merino leather and feature a unique look that combines black with Mugello red accents and distinctive contrast stitching. Plus, unlike with the CSL, friends or family can ride along, because the CS actually has rear seats. BMW says the 2024 M3 CS will be a limited-production model, but the company hasn’t yet said how many it’ll make in total. For comparison, the 2023 M4 CSL is limited to 1000 units worldwide. So, we expect the M3 CS will be produced in similar numbers. Either way, fans of the M3 who feel the Competition doesn’t provide enough track-day theatrics will surely be more entertained by the CS version. The 2024 BMW M3 CS starts at $119,695 and is slated to begin production in March of this 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. More

The 2017–2023 model Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan has a potential issue with a transmission wiring connector that has led to a recall of 76,000 of the vehicles worldwide, 67,000 of which are in the U.S., Reuters reported today.The problem could cause unexpected engine shutdown, Stellantis said.The recall will include an update to the power inverter software and a potential instrument panel software update as well.The Reuters news service is reporting today, citing Chrysler parent company Stellantis, that about 67,000 2017–2023 models of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will be recalled in the U.S. The recall will be to fix an issue that could lead to an unexpected shutdown of the minivan’s engine. The automaker said the problem has been reported in about 0.2 percent of Pacifica Hybrid minivans, and no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this issue. No date has been given yet for the recall, which will include a power inverter software update and a potential update to the instrument panel cluster’s software. We have reached out to Stellantis for more information and will update this story as it becomes available. In the meantime, Pacifica Hybrid owners can check the NHTSA recalls website, where recall information should be posted soon.Other Recent Recalls More

Toyota’s bZ4X EV was subject to a recall and stop-sale last year.It’s now back on sale, but sales expectations are modest for 2023.Toyota prefers to emphasize its hybrid sales over its plans to expand its EV lineup.After a recall and stop-sale thwarted the launch of Toyota’s first mass-market EV last year, the company is starting over as it starts to sell the 2023 bZ4X to customers in the U.S. once again. But even now that there’s a fix for the faulty wheel hub bolts and dealerships have bZ4Xs in stock, expectations are modest for this new electric vehicle—as are Toyota’s broader plans for EVs overall.During an interview at the Washington, D.C., auto show last week, Toyota executives discussed how the bZ4X fits in with the company’s wider electrification strategy. We spoke with Jason Keller, director of dealer policy and government affairs, and Rick Gezelle, senior principal engineer of regulatory affairs, about how the recall “hurt the momentum” of the bZ4X’s launch and how expectations are now being set as the car is relaunched.More on the bZ4XWhy Toyota Prefers HybridsToyota is aiming to sell only 10,000 units of the bZ4X this year, meaning it could be rarer than even the GR86 sports car, which sold nearly 12,000 units in 2022. That would also put the bZ4X significantly behind the 2022 sales performance of several of its EV rivals: Ford sold just under 40,000 Mustang Mach-Es and Volkswagen sold more than 20,000 ID.4 models, and sales of those SUVs could increase even more in 2023 due to expanded production.Toyota likes to emphasize its strong hybrid sales instead. The company sold over 500,000 electrified vehicles in 2022, the vast majority of which were hybrids and plug-in hybrids (the fuel-cell Mirai is also included in this number, but only made up just over 2000 units of that total). Toyota has been clear about how it plans to prioritize hybrid production over EVs as a way of managing the finite amount of raw materials, particularly for batteries, that go into building an electrified vehicle. With the same amount of materials needed for a single bZ4X, Toyota says it can build 90 Prius hybrids or 60 plug-in-hybrid RAV4 Primes. The company believes that maximizing hybrid sales is a better play for reducing carbon emissions, at least given current market conditions.Even though the sales expectations are small, Toyota acknowledges that a renewed push to get the word out about the bZ4X is still necessary after the recall and stop-sale grounded the initial rollout. There will be a renewed marketing campaign launching in May to make sure that customers haven’t forgotten that the bZ4X exists. We found a few hundred new bZ4X models for sale through a search of nationwide dealer inventory, and a slightly lower number of the Toyota’s twin, the Subaru Solterra. While Subaru says that the Solterra is available in all 50 states, Toyota describes the bZ4X on its website as, “available in select states only and in extremely limited quantities.”No More Tax CreditThe bZ4X also enters a different regulatory landscape than it would have had it launched on schedule. For one thing, it no longer qualifies for the $7500 federal tax credit. Under the old rules, Toyota ran out of time for the bZ4X to qualify because, in July 2022, it reached the sales volume cap due to sales of its plug-in hybrids. Per the new parameters of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the bZ4X and Solterra do not qualify for the credit because they are built in Japan, not the U.S.Keller did mention a different subset of the IRA for commercial vehicles that could potentially apply for bZ4X customers who choose to lease. But the details around this loophole remain murky—not to mention confusing for consumers. Toyota has not yet announced any plans for U.S. EV production that could make the bZ4X—or future bZ models such as the rumored bZ3X small SUV and bZ5X three-row SUV—eligible for the broader tax credit.More Toyota EVsRecall and FixThe bZ4X initially went on sale in spring 2022, but in June the company announced a recall involving a flaw with the wheel hub bolts that could cause the wheels to detach from the car. Only 258 cars were involved in the U.S., but those early customers were told to stop driving their cars. Toyota offered these owners an extended warranty, loaner vehicles, reimbursements, loan/lease credits, complimentary charging, and even initiated a buyback program for those who wanted to give back their bZ4Xs (the company did not disclose how many of those customers opted to participate). The closely related Subaru Solterra, the bZ4X’s twin, was also affected by the recall, but Subaru had yet to sell any units in the U.S. before it was announced.It took until October for Toyota to come up with a fix, which involves replacing the hub bolts and wheels. The company started implementing the fix late in 2022 and the cars went back on sale in November, with Toyota moving 988 units of the bZ4X in the fourth quarter and Subaru selling 919 Solterras (Subaru has not shared sales targets for the Solterra in the U.S.).Only time will tell if this rocky launch mars the bZ4X’s larger narrative, but either way this new model tells the story of where Toyota’s priorities stand. As the industry continues to shift towards electrification, Toyota appears to be hedging its bets until it becomes clear which solution will win out in the end.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

Nissan currently only sells the mid-size Frontier and the full-size Titan on American shores. With the Titan struggling to sell even half as well as domestic pickup-truck stalwarts such as the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500, it’s only a matter of time until Nissan puts its half-ton truck and heavier-duty XD sibling out to pasture. However, a report by Automotive News suggests the Japanese automaker is considering building a small electric pickup for the U.S. that might not only help offset the Titan’s inevitable death but also appeal to new types of customers.FrontierNissanTitan NissanTyler Slade, chairman of the Nissan Dealer Advisory Board, told AN that dealers want the company to build a mid-size electric truck. He also said it would be logical for Nissan to build an EV pickup similar to the Frontier model. That idea makes sense since the mid-size truck has consistently sold considerably better than the Titan. This isn’t the first time there have been hints at the idea of Nissan building a light-duty electric truck. In fact, AN also reported last year that the company was studying a new model to slot below the Frontier, citing a source familiar with the situation. The new model wasn’t explicitly said to be an EV, but the possibility was left on the table with the acknowledgment that it would be smart for Nissan to enter a segment that remains wide open as far as competition. Although full-size electric trucks such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T are starting to flood the market, there currently aren’t any fully electric compact or mid-size options. However, it won’t be long before other automakers strike at the opportunity. For example, Chevy is already reportedly exploring a compact EV truck to steal sales from the hybrid Ford Maverick.While it’s too early to say if or when Nissan will come out with a small electric pickup truck, it definitely teased what such a thing might look like with the Surf-Out concept (pictured above) that the company showed last year. The futuristic-looking truck appeared along with several other funky concepts. At the time, Nissan also laid out plans to release 15 new EV models by 2030. Could an electric version of the Frontier be one of them? We’ll just have to wait and see.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