Motor News

Global production of the 2023 Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 is limited, as the name suggests, to only 270 units.Polestar, however, is increasing the number of BST Edition 270s it’s shipping to the U.S.A total of 58 of these limited-run EVs are headed our way, 11 more than originally planned.Miss your chance at snagging a 2023 Polestar 2 in its hotter and sportier guise as the BST Edition 270? Tough luck, because global production of the limited-run EV remains capped at 270 units. That said, the Volvo-owned brand is bringing more BST Edition 270s to the United States than expected.Related StoriesPolestar originally intended to ship “up to 47” of the global allotment of BST Edition 270s to our shores; however, a company spokesperson confirmed with Car and Driver that the final total of 2 BST Edition 270s coming our way stands at 58—11 more than planned. (The BST name comes from the car’s internal development code: “Beast.”) PolestarThere’s no word on what other markets these 11 cars were pulled from to satisfy U.S. customer demand. That said, do not get your hopes up about possibly snagging one of these extra U.S.-bound BST Edition 270s, as all are spoken for. Nevertheless, the increased allotment of U.S.-spec 2 BST Edition 270s means the chances of Americans seeing one of these cars in the wild, or later purchasing a preowned model, is higher than originally thought. While much of the 2 BST Edition 270’s kit is exclusive to the low-volume model, its powertrain’s extra grunt is not. With 469 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, the BST Edition 270’s two electric motors produce an additional 67 horses and 15 pound-feet of torque relative to the standard dual-motor 2. Mark Takahashi|Car and DriverFor 2023, though, the electric motors of all-wheel-drive 2s equipped with the $5500 Performance package produce the same 469 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of twist as the BST Edition 270. Polestar even offers this extra power and torque as an $1195 over-the-air software update for owners of qualifying older dual-motor 2s. In our testing, the Performance package’s extra oomph shaved 0.2 and 0.5 second from the 2’s runs to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile, with the 469-hp battery-electric hatchback hitting the mile-a-minute mark in 3.9 seconds and crossing the quarter-mile after 12.2 seconds.Although the 2 with the Performance package is missing many of the design and dynamic enhancements of the BST Edition 270, but the two 2 variants share the same output. That’s a small consolation prize for those who missed out on a BST Edition 270. Plus, if you’re an American consumer who really wants a BST Edition 270 of your own, then you now have 11 more chances to try and grab a U.S.-spec model on the secondhand 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.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

2022 has been an intense battle for recovery in an industry that’s still rebuilding from being rocked by supply shortages. Sure, there are still plenty of lingering waitlists and delays, but it’s been an impressive 21 months since the world has gotten a 1300-foot boat stuck up its Suez Canal. Go, Team Boats!It’s also been the year of tangible products where some dreamy press releases finally came true. The Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer EV, and Ford F-150 Lightning all showed up. On the other hand, many of the big promises from the many EV startups out there are looking at bit like conspiracy theories. Sorry, Tesla Cybertruck pre-orderers from 2019, better luck next year. A Look Back At our Older Photos:So 2022 was really what we’d all been holding our breath for, and it turned out to be a great year for great car debuts. Toyota delivered on enthusiasts’ pleas for a manual Supra, and followed it up with the launch of a 300-hp GR Corolla hatchback. We were also visited by some old flames. The Nissan Z returned with 400 horsepower, and the 315-hp Civic Type R was caught setting track records before Honda had even peeled back its camouflage. And 2022 also marked the first year an EV reached a 520-mile driving range estimate from the EPA: that was the Lucid Air. As we celebrate another lap around the sun, here’s a look back at 2022 as illustrated by our art department:Baby Got Batt: There are electric vehicles for people who grocery-shop at Whole Foods, but there’s one choice in particular suited for those who hunt for their bacon with a machine gun from the side of a helicopter. This 9640-pound GMC Hummer EV is nothing short of outrageous. Despite being the heaviest pickup we’ve tested, cranking this hog to 60 mph only takes 3.3 seconds. Virginia Is for Lap Times: Known around the office as the best time of the year, our annual Lightning Lap event pits performance cars from mild to wild on America’s toughest track. Grouped into five price segments, the 21 cars lapped this year broke some records and, naturally, some hearts. Speaking of, here comes nearly 8000 horsepower at the top of the Climbing Esses. Zeus-Oh-Six: The ultimate Corvette is 8500 rpm of shrieking bald eagle. The mufflers responsible for the 670-hp V-8’s clap and piping should’ve been nominated at the American Music Awards. Even the God of Thunder couldn’t help but spy on our track day with a Z06.A Star Is Hatched: The moment we’ve all been waiting for: that stubborn Toyota Corolla has finally moved out of the left lane. This time it enters the racetrack as an actual blast-to-drive 300-hp hatchback with rally-car DNA. The GR Corolla isn’t just great; it’s one of the best, earning a spot on our 10Best list the year it debuted. READ MOREPhotography by John Roe and illustration by Alexander Wells|Car and DriverSweet Sixteen: The Volkswagen GTI is no stranger to 10Best trophies, having won 16 of them since its first appearance in 1983. Its superhero strength is its blend of practicality, performance, and, until recently, affordability. The Porsche 718 is a longtime favorite too, and its special ability is how quickly it can turn a normal road into an exciting one. Neither of these cars are absolutists with the most horsepower or the quickest quarter-mile times, yet they’re able to deliver a driving experience as grand as far more expensive and powerful sports cars. X Marks the Spot: Dealerships cashed in heavily during the COVID-19 pandemic. A blight of inventory exploded into a blessing for salespeople. Customers were determined to get off waitlists and into cars, so they thought up a genius way to fight exorbitant markups: just pay them. This behavior pushed the average new-car price to $48,301, up 10.8 percent from the year prior. Just saying, dealerships couldn’t get away with it if consumers didn’t feed the furnace.Kidney Bean: Pour one out for the nearly three and a half feet of Michelin Pilot 4S tire under the 503-hp BMW X4M Competition. Our testers saddled this 4548-pound porker through Hog Pen at Virginia International Raceway to the tune of 3:02.9 seconds. It didn’t set a new SUV record, but getting it around that fast required plenty of ridiculous two-wheel antics. Alternative Truck: Longtime Car and Driver contributor John Phillips is a literary treasure. To get his take on the realest Tesla Cybertruck available to consumers, we asked him to unbox the secrets behind Elon Musk’s stainless-steel fetish. Phillips did not disappoint. What’s New Is Old: The new Nissan Z borrows its powertrain from the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport and has more in common with its sixth-generation 370Z predecessor than what we had originally hoped, but a 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 base engine with an available six-speed manual transmission is always welcome.Frunk-y Truck: Ford sells more F-series pickups annually than politicians make promises, so the success of its all-electric F-150 Lightning isn’t a complete shock. Unlike your favorite lawmaker, the Lightning’s success isn’t all that polarizing. It’s a lot like the popular gas-powered F-150, only much quieter with a rather extreme battery. Friends with Benefits: Toyota’s stake in Subaru has wrought some of our favorite cars in recent memory. The love story began in 2005 and would lead to a Crosstrek Hybrid in 2018, the 10Best-winning pair of Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, and the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X electric crossover duo.Dacia Delivery: Contributor Jonathon Ramsey delivered medicine and supplies to Ukrainian refugees in a Dacia Jogger minivan. When asked to help a friend’s nonprofit group get donations to some of the more than two two million refugees in Poland, Ramsey didn’t blink.Storage Wars: Pickups versus cars isn’t a fight that usually goes very well for partisans of the sedan, and affordable compact trucks such as the Ford Maverick spells even worse news for the shrinking compact-car segment. The Maverick’s competitively low price and impressive fuel economy already make a strong argument for the toy truck, but is it big enough to supplant economy cars like the Honda Civic? We put a bunch of our junk in the trunk to find out. Smoke ’em If You Got ’em: Back when the average car was fastened to thick channels of steel, the body-on-frame Buick Roadmaster wagon was there to haul families. Contributing photographer and respected family man James Lipman owns one, but it’s got additional muscle. Under the hood is a GM E-Rod 6.2-liter V-8 crate engine. Now it’s a family barbecue. The One: The Polestar 1 was a product of Volvo’s owner, Geely. Unlike the fully electric Polestar 2 and upcoming SUVs, the 1 is a 619-hp plug-in hybrid that is as beautiful as it is expensive. Only 500 were made per year. The Polestar 1 is already out of production while the company dedicates its efforts to expanding an EV-only lineup. Covered: The story behind the cover for our December 2022 issue isn’t as clinical as it appeared in print. Staff photographer Michael Simari shot the Honda Civic Type R inside a paddock garage minutes after an entire National Auto Sport Association weekend started to move in. What could normally take hours of prep work with an entire studio of lighting equipment took Simari less than 60 minutes to capture with help from fellow staff photographer Marc Urbano. We thank the patient team of dudes that waited by their car haulers and gave us the extra time we needed. Besides, it’s rare that the staff of a car magazine shows up to leaf-blow your reserved garage space for a track weekend. Heartbeat of America: There aren’t enough illustrations of cars from the 1980s on the internet, so here’s an illustration of a kick-ass Chevy Camaro IROC-Z in jpeg form for all you dot-coms. Under the Influencers: One person’s salvaged Tesla is another person’s off-road campsite. YouTubers Ethan Schlussler and Edwin Olding build creative mechanical projects for a living. This Tesla Model 3 is a product of that. Here it is entering a mud bath along the 147-mile Mojave Road. Moon, Man: The Rivian R1T is the quickest pickup we’ve ever tested. Its otherworldly acceleration to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds from a 7173-pound pickup sounds like automotive sci-fi, but there’s no conspiracy about this EV truck’s unfettered performance. Paint Me Like One of Your Toyota Girls: 10Best is a lot like mixed media. In the collection of the greatest cars of the year, the palette of excellence comes in all different mediums. Artistry is what gives opposites like the Honda Accord and Toyota Supra a shared greatness. Designed to Dazzle: Engineers and designers shave clay, sweat bullets, and calculate the tiniest tolerances most folks may never notice to appreciate. The fog lights on our long-term Volkswagen GTI are a more obvious example of small stuff made crafty. 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

The Lotus Esprit is one of the longest-running and most recognizable sports car nameplates to come out of England. Thanks to one seller on Hemmings, a lucky enthusiast now has the chance to purchase what could be the world’s nicest Esprit Turbo, which has turned just 167 miles since new. More on Lotus EspritThe minty car in question is a 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo Commemorative Edition. Only 88 of these commemorative cars were built in 1988 to celebrate 40 years of Lotus being incorporated. The 1988 model year also saw the introduction of the new bodywork penned by Peter Stevens, kicking off what is often referred to as the X180 generation of the Esprit. This particular Commemorative Edition model is number 68 of the run and wears the obligatory Pearlescent White exterior paintwork shared by all Commemorative Edition models. Inside you’ll find a tri-tone Blue interior which looks fantastic in an era of monotone offerings. Under the hood, there’s a Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel-injected and turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder, which provides 215 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque in U.S.-spec. That power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a five-speed manual transaxle. HemmingsThis low-mile survivor was delivered new to Robert’s Lotus in Meriden, Connecticut in 1988 carrying an MSRP of $70,645. In the decades that have passed since, not much has changed for the sports coupe. The seller claims that the car has spent its entire life in a climate-controlled garage and remains entirely the same as it arrived back in 1988. In fact, the car has never been registered and retains its original Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. The seller claims this is the only Esprit to retain those honors anywhere in the world. The Esprit is even still wearing the same Goodyear NCT tires that it left the factory with. The seller claims that the car runs and drives just as well as you’d expect from a brand-new car, though we wager a fresh head gasket and timing belt are likely in order. However, it seems unlikely that whoever buys this thing will ever add any miles to the odometer. If you’re interested in the chance to own the nicest Lotus Esprit in the world, you’re going to need $146,000. While you could easily get a new Lotus Emira for that sort of cash, that is a real bargain as far as survivor sports cars are concerned. Unfortunately, it seems as if this particular car is destined for a life of sitting in yet another garage. That’s a shame, but a bit more understandable in this case than most.HemmingsThis 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

Subaru has revealed the modified vehicles it will bring to the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon: the Levorg STI Sport # prototype and the Crosstrek Boost Gear concept.The Levorg STI Sport # prototype brings handling improvements to the WRX-engined wagon, and will be sold in limited quantities in Japan.The Crosstrek Boost Gear concept is decked out with tons of off-road accessories, including a roof-mounted tent and plenty of black plastic cladding.The Tokyo Auto Salon—the Japanese equivalent of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas—opens on January 13 and will bring a flood of wacky tuner vehicles that will push the boundaries of taste. Now Subaru has revealed the first images of the modified cars that it will be showing at the event, the Levorg STI Sport # prototype and the Crosstrek Boost Gear concept.The Levorg STI Sport #—yes, that’s a hashtag in the name—is certainly a looker. While the base model in Japan is fitted with a puny 174-hp 1.8-liter flat-four, the Tokyo show car is based around the Levorg STI R EX model, which packs the WRX’s 271-hp 2.4-liter boxer four. More Subaru NewsSold in Australia as the WRX Sportswagon, the Levorg unfortunately only offers that motor paired with a continuously variable transmission, but the handsome bodywork is enough to have us pining for a long-roof WRX, even if we’d have to sacrifice the six-speed manual. The prototype is said to have “enhanced stable handling and premium drive feel,” rides on unique wheels, and will be offered—presumably only in Japan—in limited numbers.SubaruThe Crosstrek Boost Gear concept, meanwhile, tacks on a plethora of off-road goodies to the recently revealed third-generation of the Impreza-based crossover. A LED light bar and a roof-mounted tent now reside atop the Crosstrek, while the doors and side sills gain chunky black plastic cladding. Steps hang below each of the doors to ease ingress, since the beefy off-road tires appear to have raised the crossover’s ride height. Other minor trim changes in the grille, front bumper, and wheel arches as well as turquoise accents help differentiate the Boost Gear from standard Crosstreks. It’s unclear what Subaru plans for the Boost Gear, but the concept could preview future accessories for Crosstrek’s owners who want to explore a little further off the beaten path.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 Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, returns for 2023, and the automakers are planning plenty of exciting announcements. Though it’s known as a broader tech show, CES has become a big deal for the automotive industry, with many reveals happening here in recent years. CES 2023, which will take place January 5–8 in Las Vegas, will include announcements from Ram, Volkswagen, and many others. We’ve rounded up the big news we know about and will continue updating this post as more info becomes available.Ram RevolutionStellantis|Car and DriverRam will show a concept version of its upcoming electric pickup at CES this year. Called the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept, this will preview Ram’s upcoming EV that has been teased already and should hit the market soon. While we’re not sure how indicative this concept will be of the eventual production version, we do expect Ram to provide some big claims in terms of horsepower, driving range, and hauling capability.More on the Ram EVStellantis, Ram’s parent company, will also show a Peugeot concept called the Inception. Peugeot is a French brand that isn’t likely to come to the U.S., but it may feature interesting styling or technology features that could propagate to other Stellantis models on our shores.VW ID ConceptVolkswagenVW says it is showing a new ID concept car, and we think it will be a version of the ID.Aero electric sedan it showed a few months ago. This new addition to the ID lineup emphasizes its aerodynamic nature in the interest of driving range and efficiency, and should slot in above the ID.4 in terms of price. VW says it will be displayed in camouflage, which means it’ll likely be close to the production model.More on the ID SedanSony/Honda MobilitySonySony and Honda are partnering to build electric vehicles, and the two companies will be making some sort of announcement at CES this year. While we don’t know if this means a new car or not, but we’re hoping this announcement makes as big of a splash as Sony’s last concept car, the Vision S prototype shown at CES in 2021.More on Sony and HondaVolvo EX90VolvoRevealed in Sweden in November, Volvo’s new electric SUV will be making its North American debut at CES. It’s scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in early 2024 and promises 496 horsepower, 300 miles of range, and a starting price of around $80,000.More on the EX90Other AutomakersAudi will be showcasing a new “virtual-reality experience platform” that allows for new gaming possibilities for rear-seat passengers.BMW will reveal something that it describes as “the ultimate digital driving machine.” CEO Oliver Zipse will be making a keynote address.Mercedes-Benz says it will be making announcements about future electrification plans, driver-assistance technologies, and in-car entertainment features. It will also reveal a collaboration with some sort of entertainment brand. Canoo, a startup automaker that plans to build EV pickups and vans, will be displaying some of its vehicles at CES. Vinfast, a Vietnamese automaker with plans to enter the U.S. market, will be displaying four electric SUV models and electric bikes. The company will be offering rides in the VF8 electric SUV, and the other three models will include the VF6, VF.7, and VF.9.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

We have seen quite a lot of the upcoming Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray this past month, including what looked like a completely undisguised prototype just last week. While we do not yet have a reveal date for the actual car, and with it any specific information about its hybrid components, we do know that the version we have seen in a recent configurator leak should bear the E-Ray name and a wide body familiar to anyone who has seen the C8 Z06. We do not know where exactly the electric power is being sent just yet, but the latest leaked video gives some hope that, as we heard all the way back in 2020, the power may be going to the front wheels.We’ve Been Talking about This for a WhileThe video, uploaded by Corvette Nut on YouTube with the conspicuous title “°•“°☆°•~♤°|♧°•`~°■•,” looks a lot like a leak of an official GM clip. It features a “professional driver, closed course” caption in fine print at the bottom and ends with a Corvette logo, but Corvette Blogger notes that this is actually the older C7-generation variant of the logo. Whether or not the clip is official, the important thing is what it shows: a wide-bodied, camouflaged Corvette drifting through light snow.Does this mean the E-Ray will be getting that rumored all-wheel drive? If you were hoping to show the winter prowess of an all-wheel-drive Corvette, there would be no better way to do it. We still have to wait to see the final car for any real answers, but the sheer number of new looks at the car this week seem to indicate that a finished product could be imminent. 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

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla just won our 10Best award, but so too have two other fun-do-drive cars that wear similar badging: the GR86 and GR Supra. It’s remarkable that Toyota’s three most recent sporty cars have all been knockouts in their respective segments. That’s why each one is on our 10Best list, after all. But read between the lines and you’ll find something even more interesting. The GR86 and GR Supra were made in partnership with other manufacturers: Subaru and BMW, respectively. The fact that the Supra’s new six-speed manual transmission feels even better than BMW’s version hints at Toyota’s expertise in creating a satisfying driving experience. The GR Corolla confirms it.All the Details and SpecsThis 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

• Here’s a big-bore two-stroke GP bike that’s barely streetable and extremely rare.• Finished in the dark blue, gold, and red racing livery of the Walter Wolf racing team, this bike pays tribute to one of the most interesting characters in motorsports.• This BaT auction ends on December 28.If you’ve never heard of Walter Wolf, then strap in for a wild ride. A deep-sea oil rig driver who arrived in Montreal as a near-penniless immigrant from post–World War II Slovenia, Wolf struck it big in the 1970s oil speculation market, to the point that he could afford to campaign his own F1 team. That team won him a Ferrari 512BB on a handshake bet with Enzo on the outcome of the 1977 Monaco Grand Prix, although he might be seen driving around on the street in stuff like a Le Mans–spec Porsche 935 with a leather interior and air conditioning. Oh, and he issued his own Wolf-branded cologne and cigarettes. By comparison, the fictional Dos Equis “most interesting” guy might as well be a tax accountant.Bring a TrailerWolf somehow found the time to develop a partnership with Suzuki and set up a motorcycle racing team. In 1982, rider Masaru Mizutani raced a Wolf-sponsored Suzuki RG500 in the 500cc All Japan Championship and won. Suzuki decided a tribute bike was in order. It was built for just two model years, 1986 and 1987.The performance of this 498-cc motorcycle is still bonkers in modern terms. Thanks to a twin-spar aluminum frame, it tips the scales at just 340 pounds, about as much as a modern Honda CB300F. However, with 95 horsepower at the crank, it’s roughly triple the power of the Honda, a blue-smoke-puffing death machine with four silencers, four Mikuni carbs, and an 11,000-rpm redline.Bidding Ends December 28This example is currently up for sale at Bring a Trailer, which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. With only a few days to go until the December 28 deadline, bidding sits at $12,300. That’s a trifling amount for a machine that will run quarter-mile times in the mid-11-second range.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerAnd it’s absolutely peanuts compared to the other vehicles that bear the Wolf signature. Walter Wolf is probably best known for under-the-table-funded prototype Countachs, one-off cars with engines handbuilt by Gian Paolo Dallara. Three were made, and they hinted at the fender flares and wild wing excess of the 1980s. All are worth six or seven figures today.A Wolf-liveried motorcycle will outperform these exotics by most performance metrics, but for pennies on the dollar. And motorsports cognoscenti would lose their minds if you were to show up at a meet riding this thing. Wolf Racing employed the likes of F1 champions James Hunt and Jody Scheckter, and he was right at the center of the Formula 1 circus of the late 1970s.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThere’s no better way to outclass a modern 911 in a tired and entirely predictable Gulf Oil livery. The Porsche is just Steve McQueen cosplay. This Wolf-branded motorcycle has both a vicious bite and the genuinely motorsports-derived backstory to go with it. Before December 28, we’d advise you either to run like the Wolf or scurry back to the paddock with the rest of the sheep.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