Motor News

The Lightyear 2 is an upcoming solar-powered EV, and a waiting list as well as more details about it were announced at CES 2023.The Dutch startup automaker, Lightyear, claims its second model will have more than 500 miles of range and cost under $40,000. The Lightyear 2 will be the first model sold in the U.S., with production expected to start by the end of 2025.No, the Lightyear 2 isn’t a sequel to the Pixar film about Buzz Lightyear, but the solar-powered EV is a follow-up to the Lightyear Zero. The latter is the first-ever model from Lightyear, a Dutch startup automaker. While the Zero—a limited-production $265,000 proof of concept—was never destined for the North American market, the Lightyear 2 will make it to our shores, provided all goes to plan.LightyearAll the Buzz about the Lightyear 2Earlier this year, during our drive of a pre-production development Zero, we learned about Lightyear’s ambitions to bring its second model to America. However, it was today at CES 2023 when we learned more details about the Lightyear 2 and heard that the company had opened a waitlist for pre-orders. For those who haven’t figured it out by now, Lightyear’s big thing is harnessing the power of the sun to power its electric cars, at least partially. The company claims this helps reduce reliance on the world’s electrical grids, with Lightyear CEO Lex Hoefsloot saying the 2 requires less plug-in charging than conventional EVs. He also said the car is capable of sending clean energy back into the gridLightyearAs with many startups, Lightyear makes some big claims about its upcoming model. The company says that, compared with EVs not powered by solar energy, the 2 will produce half as much carbon emissions. Its sun-powered car is also claimed to have a driving range of over 500 miles. However, Lightyear didn’t clarify whether that figure is based on the U.S. EPA scale, the European WLTP cycle, or simply in-house projections.Light Years Away? More Like Two YearsAlong with plans to sell the Lightyear 2 in the United States, the company says it will launch the EV in Europe. The U.S. version is said to start under $40,000, which, if true, would make it one of the more affordable electric models sold on our shores.Production isn’t slated to start until the end of 2025, which means a lot could change between now and then. Not only the Lightyear 2’s attractive base price, but also its actual existence.CES 2023: Read All About It!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.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 Revolution BEV concept unveiled at CES 2023 is our first look at Ram’s first electric pickup, featuring smooth bodywork and a stretched cabin.The interior has a rail system allowing for customizable seating arrangements, and the powered mid-gate includes third-row jump seats and a pass-through to carry objects up to 18 feet long.Electric motors on the front and rear axles provide all-wheel drive, and Ram claims the steering wheel can retract into the dashboard for Level 3 autonomous driving.While Ford is busy churning out thousands of F-150 Lightnings from its Dearborn, Michigan plant and Chevy is readying the Silverado EV for its launch this year, Ram had so far stayed out of the electric-truck arms race. But now at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, Ram has unveiled the 1500 Revolution BEV concept, previewing an electric 1500 pickup that will arrive in 2024 and giving the first hints at the future stylistic direction of the brand. The concept sports a sleek look, with a stretched wheelbase and a swept-back windshield. The blacked-out front end is dominated by an illuminated “RAM” badge sitting between the LED headlights, which Ram refers to as having a “tuning fork” design. The beefy skid plate in the bumper hides integrated tow hooks, and the taillights and Ram badge on the tailgate also consist of LEDs.The Revolution is decked out with a powered frunk, a charge port, flush door handles, side steps, and a rear step, and we expect most of these features to reach production, at least on pricier trims. The tailgate can also be opened outwards—like barn doors—to extend the bed another couple of feet in order to haul larger loads.The concept also shows off coach doors—the rear doors open in the opposite direction to the front doors—allowing Ram to remove the B-pillar to ease ingress and egress. We imagine these flashy doors will be ditched for production, but the 3D-printed, lightweight cameras which replace the sideview mirrors could make it if U.S. regulations change. The 1500 Revolution rides on 35-inch tires wrapped around 24-inch wheels, with light-up center caps that remain still while the wheel spins, like on Rolls-Royces.The cabin is four inches longer than on the current gas-powered truck and features “Ram Track,” a rail attachment system on the floor that permits for flexible interior configurations. The rails also act as tie downs for cargo and are also found in the frunk and bed. The lightweight seats—which have integrated seatbelts, grab handles, and speakers—can be folded completely flat or removed.The two rows of seating can also be supplemented by third-row jump seats, which Ram says are mounted in the powered mid-gate and can be affixed in the bed, echoing the Subaru Brat of the late 1970s. Unfortunately Ram didn’t provide any photos showing the jump seats, but the mid-gate is also said to include a pass-through that extends all the way to the frunk—an idea previously seen on the Bollinger B2—and can fit objects that are 18 feet long. Continuing on the theme of cabin customizability, the center console can be removed to increase interior room, while the armrest converts to a desk. The “tuning fork” design reappears on the dashboard via orange ambient lighting, which flows behind a dual display setup totaling 28 inches of touchscreen. The lower screen can be removed and used as a tablet or adjusted into three different positions—minimal view, extended view, and full screen view—while the upper screen can also apparently slide on the Ram Track system. As is expected of an electric truck concept, the interior is overflowing with fancy tech, from a 360-degree camera system to an AI-powered voice-activated assistant and augmented reality in the head-up display. The octagonal steering wheel has small screens built in, while the glass roof has electro-chromatic panels that can individually adjust their opacity. Sustainable materials are also found throughout the interior, including leather made from a byproduct of the apple industry and a floor built from recycled rubber and cork.Another neat feature on the 1500 Revolution is Shadow Mode, where the truck autonomously follows the driver as they walk ahead, which Ram says will save time for short trips around a job site. There are also several cabin modes that alter seating positions, ambient lighting, window opacity, suspension, and more at the press of a single button. More Electric TrucksThe Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept is built on the body-on-frame STLA Frame EV platform and features two electric motors, one on each axle, for all-wheel drive. No power outputs or performance statistics were provided, but Ram says that up to 100 miles of range can be added in around 10 minutes with 800-volt DC fast charging at up to 350 kW. Rear-wheel steering with up to 15 degrees of movement should improve the massive truck’s agility in tight spaces at low speeds, and the air suspension can be set to three levels: ingress/egress, aero, and off-road.Ram also says the concept is capable of Level 3 autonomous driving, where the steering wheel retracts and the “interior lights, the AR HUD, smart seats, and the steering wheel work together to provide next-level situational awareness to the driver.” External projectors also communicate with the driver and can transform the truck into a mobile movie theater. Ram also says drivers can manage their smart home from the truck and can use a phone app to measure objects and determine how to best carry them in the Revolution. More information on the production version of the 1500 Revolution BEV will come in the next several months, ahead of the electric truck’s launch in 2024. For now, the concept appears to provide a pretty clear idea of what is to come and some of the innovative technology Ram aims to bring to the electric truck segment. 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.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

With EVs and their necessary charging infrastructure on everyone’s mind these days, Mercedes-Benz’s announcement of its own charging network is particularly timely.The automaker gave details of its plans during the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) event in Las Vegas today.High-speed charging stations will be open to other brands, not just Mercedes. Even with the Vision EQXX on the display stand, Mercedes-Benz’s big announcement at CES this year wasn’t a new car but the news that the automaker is getting into the high-power—up to 350 kW—charging network game.Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a new, open electric vehicle charger network in North America later this year. Mercedes plans to have more than 400 hubs, a.k.a. stations, with more than 2500 high-power chargers, a.k.a. plugs, in operation across North America by 2027. The network will also expand to include more than 10,000 chargers in Europe, China, and “other main markets” by the end of the decade, Mercedes said. Initially, Mercedes plans for each hub to have between four and a dozen chargers, but this number could grow to 30 chargers at a hub in the future.Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing|Car and DriverThe charging network will be open to drivers of any compatible EV, and the locations will be selected to be close to key urban areas, near major roads and at participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The stations will use Plug & Charge technology that allows payment details to be sent from the car to the charger without any extra interaction, but credit card and app-based payments will also be possible.Other Brands Are WelcomeJust because the stations are open to any compatible EVs doesn’t mean there isn’t something special for drivers of the EQS or other three-pointed star plug-in models. Mercedes-Benz EV drivers will be able to pre-book time at a charging station from their car, for example, and the network “will prioritize Mercedes-Benz customers.” From a driver’s perspective, the navigation system in Mercedes EVs will be able to communicate with the charging network and then automatically optimize the route and reserve charging sessions automatically, if needed, so you’ll get where you’re going on time and without any range anxiety.Tesla led the way in automaker-operated charging stations for EVs, but almost all of its 40,000 Superchargers use a Tesla-specific adapter and are not compatible with other EVs. Charging ForwardRivian is also building out what it calls the Rivian Adventure Network but only has nine stations in operation. Other electric vehicle automakers rely on public charging stations operated by independent or partner companies, like Electrify America, which Volkswagen was forced to create after its diesel emission scandal.Mercedes will work with MN8 Energy to provide renewable energy for the charging hubs and with ChargePoint on other technical aspects of the hubs and chargers. Mercedes is a shareholder in ChargePoint, and the two companies already work together on the Mercedes me Charge technology in the U.S. Some of the new stations will have solar-powered lights and security features. Mercedes said it expects the North American portion of the network will cost a little over a billion dollars over the next six or seven years. Mercedes and MN8 split this cost roughly in half.This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

• Up for auction at Bring A Trailer this week is an absolute time capsule of a Nissan pickup truck—it even still has the original oil.• Small pickups from this era were workhorses first, and this one is as basic as they came, with a manual transmission and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.• There’s no reserve on this auction, which ends on Tuesday, January 10.For all the stories about Mr. K. (Yutaka Katayama) and his obsession with racing, the Datsun brand established its foothold in the U.S. by selling tiny trucks. The 240Z would come later, and the 510 still has a cult following, but a cheap-to-buy and cheaper-to-run pickup truck was core to Datsun/Nissan’s success into the 1990s. To get a sense of what those vehicles were like, check out this 1987 example up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. This pickup is preserved in astonishingly original condition as if trapped in amber.More Nissan Hardbody LoreThis 1987 Nissan Hardbody pickup truck has just 1100 miles on the odometer. This is a bare-bones pickup of the honest sort popular with many a handyman or gardener of the era. It’s a regular-cab model equipped with a fiberglass cap over the cargo bed, some fog lights, a tow package, and that’s about it. Never mind Marty McFly’s fancy Toyota; this pickup is all business, with rear-wheel drive, and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine backed by a five-speed manual transmission.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThis little pickup isn’t just a useful rig but a snapshot from simpler times. The D21-chassis Nissan pickup was produced from 1986 until 1997, when it was replaced by the Frontier. Like the Toyota, Nissan’s offering was rugged, and it soon picked up the moniker Hardbody, both for its fender-flared looks and for the tough double-walled bed. It was a strong seller for Nissan and, perhaps even more important, provided the underpinnings for the first-generation Pathfinder.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThe Hardbody was popular enough to enter popular culture in the oddest way. The 1997 documentary Hands on a Hardbody documents a Texas-based contest where the person who can keep their hand on a Nissan pickup for the longest time—no squatting or leaning—wins the truck. It won the best documentary award at the 1997 Los Angeles Film Festival.The previous owner of this pickup didn’t have to endure any stunts but simply ordered it new in Colorado as a fishing and camping rig. It didn’t see much use, even on the weekends, and reportedly spent much of its time tucked indoors alongside a collection of vintage Corvettes.Bring a TrailerMost of these pickups never got such pampered treatment, and as a result, many rusted away. This one would need an oil change and some new tires if you planned to actually drive it, but for a certain type of collector, it would tuck right in among a collection of vintage Japanese cars. Or heck, maybe Nissan wants to put it in its museum.If you want to get your hands on this Hardbody, head on over to Bring a Trailer.This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

General Motors will partner with American racing powerhouse Andretti Global to field a new Formula 1 team, set to be called Andretti Cadillac.Andretti Cadillac will submit an official Expression of Interest when F1’s governing body begins the process of considering new teams in the coming months.There is still a long way to go before the team becomes official, but the growth of F1 in the U.S. and the involvement of GM is bound to help the team’s bid get through.In a shock announcement, General Motors and Andretti Global have declared their intentions to enter the Formula 1 championship. The FIA—Formula 1’s governing body—recently revealed it was planning to open the door for new teams to join the grid. Set to be called Andretti Cadillac, the new team will submit an official Expression of Interest when the FIA starts the formal process, the first step towards eventually fielding an entry in the world’s most prestigious form of motorsport.There is still a long road ahead before this American juggernaut can get its cars on track, and no specific date was set for when Andretti Cadillac expects to enter its first race. If the application is accepted, the team says it will “compete as soon as practical” and will field at least one American driver. Formula 1 race cars in 2022 at the Miami Grand Prix.Jamey Price|Car and DriverAndretti—which races in IndyCar and Formula E among other series—previously sought to enter the championship on its own but struggled to gain traction. The addition of General Motors—which reclaimed the crown of the biggest automaker in the U.S. in 2022—will likely tip the scales in favor of the new team, since the Cadillac name should help draw more American eyes to the series. The team would be based in the United States, with a support facility in the United Kingdom, similar to the approach taken by the Haas F1 team which is headquartered in North Carolina.More F1 NewsThe popularity of Formula 1 has exploded in the United States since the docuseries Drive to Survive debuted on Netflix in 2019, and the 2023 season is set to feature three Grands Prix on American soil. But American F1 fans haven’t really had a hometown hero to root for—neither the drivers nor the team principal for Haas hail from the U.S., and the name isn’t familiar unless you follow NASCAR or work with CNC machine tools. The Cadillac brand promises to bring name recognition for new American fans, and the Andretti name still holds weight among certain demographics who recall the triumphs of Marco Andretti in F1 and IndyCar in the 1970s and ’80s. While this would be the first time the Cadillac name appears in F1, the brand has a lengthy motorsports history and has found success over the past decade in endurance racing. Cadillac’s DPi race car won the IMSA SportsCar championship in 2017, 2018, and 2021, and took top honors at the 24 Hours of Daytona every year from 2017 to 2020. Along with its newfound desire to race in F1 in the near future, Cadillac will compete in the new GTP class (which replaces DPi) with a new car starting at the 24 Hours of Daytona later this month. 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.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 Polestar 3 will be the first vehicle to have Google’s new HD map, the company today announced at CES 2023.Along with aiding the 3’s driver assists, Google’s HD map provides greater detail and more up-to-date info.Polestar 2 models can now be remotely controlled via devices with Google Assistant, allowing people to precondition the cabin and more.When the sleek-looking Polestar 3 arrives sometime near the end of 2023, not only will it be the brand’s first SUV, but it’ll be the first vehicle ever to have Google’s new HD map. Polestar today made the announcement at CES 2023 and provided several other details about fresh features.CES 2023: Read All About It!Teamwork Makes the Dream WorkGoogle and Polestar have been collaborating for a while now, and the tech company’s new HD map is the most recent result of that team-up. The 2024 Polestar will mark the debut of Google’s HD map, which will also be featured in the upcoming Volvo EX90, which is set to arrive in early 2024. Since Google’s Android Automotive operating system is also being adopted by other automakers—such as Ford and GM—we expect the map to eventually proliferate as well.The HD map is said to provide greater detail than traditional maps and be more precise, too. This contributes to what is arguably the most notable function. Working in conjunction with Polestar 3’s driver-assistance technology, the Google software can improve the EV’s Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive mode through better recognition of lane markings, real-world objects, and road signs. The teamwork is also expected to play a big role in future autonomous driving.Talking to the Polestar 2The Polestar 2 was the first vehicle to feature Google’s operating system, called Android Automotive OS. While it has continued to feature an in-car voice assistant, the system now adds “remote actions” that allow people to control vehicle functions via devices with Google Assistant.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMarc Urbano|Car and DriverSimply speaking to your Google Assistant now lets people remotely operate their Polestar 2 as well as check its status. For example, you can now precondition the car’s cabin, unlock the doors, check the battery’s state of charge, and more, all while you lay around on your couch.Polestar says this new functionality will initially only be offered in the U.S., but eventually, it will be available in other markets, too.Polestar Priority 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.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

Volvo’s first purpose-built EV, the 2024 EX90 SUV, made its North American debut today as part of CES 2023. Scheduled to arrive in 2024, the EX90 will feature lidar, cameras, and radar to provide information for the newly announced Google’s HD map feature. The Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 will be the first two vehicles available with this technology from Google. Over the last few years, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has followed roughly the same trend as the automotive industry as a whole, blurring the lines between what can be deemed part of the car world, and what lives solely in technology. For 2023, Volvo brought its first purpose-built EV, the 2024 EX90 SUV, to CES for its North American debut. But CES is about technology, not cars. So Volvo is mainly showing off its newest Google mapping software.Google’s HD map was designed specifically for automakers to integrate into their vehicles. In the EX90, it utilizes the SUV’s lidar, camera, and radar systems along with lane-level and local data from Google. Lane markers and objects like signs, or other vehicles are combined with the data from the EX90’s sensors before the software gets processed through the vehicle’s native computers, and is powered through NVIDIA DRIVE AI Platforms Xavier and Orin. More On the EX90 and LidarVolvoWe haven’t yet used the technology in the real world, but we can tell that the HD map looks and seems to function similarly to the display we’ve experienced in Teslas. The radar and camera systems of the car take in images and provide the driver with real-time information on their surroundings. The Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 will be the first two cars to get the technology, before moving to other Volvo vehicles and partnering brands. Volvo is also rolling out over-the-air updates (OTA), which will increase the number of functions Google-enabled Volvos can utilize. The new update adds connectivity between personal Google devices such as Google Home products and your car. Owners will now be able to use their devices for things like checking fuel levels, battery levels, charging status, or asking their car to heat up on cold mornings. VolvoIn addition to the new Google features, Volvo is introducing or updating various other tech features. Access to Volvo’s Care Key function is expanding, and details about over-the-air updates will now be available on the Volvo Cars app, among other infotainment tweaks. This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

At the CES electronics show in Las Vegas this week, auto supplier ZF is showing a Heat Belt—basically a heated driver’s-side front seatbelt.What’s the point? It lets EV owners keep their cabin heat turned down, potentially improving range during cold weather.As far as future vehicles that might have this innovation, ZF said no automaker has signed on yet.Low temperatures and electric vehicles don’t play well together. The cold takes a toll on range, in part because electrons move slower when it’s chilly but mostly because heating up the cabin costs extra energy in an EV. ZF’s Heat Belt, announced at the 2023 CES (formerl known as the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, is the automotive equivalent of a heated blanket, warming you directly so you can keep the thermostat a few degrees lower and save precious miles on your winter drive.More from CES 2023Woven into the Heat Belt are conductive wires that warm up to about 104 degrees Fahrenheit when activated. ZF says the wires add minimal thickness to the belt and that it works with existing seatbelt hardware. When combined with a heated seat and steering wheel, it could improve the cold-weather range of an EV by up to 15%. Which, on the one hand makes you wonder how much of that comes from just the heated belt. On the other hand, why not heat the front of your body along with your paws and backside? Forget range anxiety, some of us just like being cozy. And on that note, ZF points out that the Heat Belt encourages people to remove bulky winter coats, which helps the seatbelt fit better, enhancing safety in a crash.This Heat Belt won’t be appreciably thicker than a normal seatbelt, says ZF.ZFWe’ve Seen This BeforeMercedes-Benz previewed this idea back in 2019 but never brought it to a production car, leaving the warmed armrest first seen on the S-class cabriolet in 2007 as the last major innovation in heated cabin surfaces. While the cost is similar to adding heating elements to a steering wheel, ZF says it doesn’t have an automaker as a partner for the Heat Belt yet, so we can’t say when you should expect this as an option. 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.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