Motor News

Cadillac is preparing for the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, showing off the gold, blue, and red liveries that its three V-LMDh endurance cars will wear at the iconic event.The blue number 02 car will also run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with new rules for endurance racing in 2023 making IMSA SportsCar racers eligible for the World Endurance Championship.The V-LMDh car uses a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 and a spec hybrid system, sending up to 670 horsepower through a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Cadillac may not be the first brand you associate with motorsports, but the American automaker has found success in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in recent years, winning the premier American endurance racing series three times since 2017. With the first race of the season—the grueling 24 Hours of Daytona—fast approaching, Cadillac has revealed the liveries that its three V-LMDh race cars will wear as they rocket around tracks across the nation.CadillacEach car flies one of the colors found in Cadillac’s V-Series logo. The number 01 and 02 cars—run by Chip Ganassi Racing under the Cadillac Racing banner—are gold and blue, respectively. The 01 will be driven by Sebastian Bourdais, who won Daytona in 2014, and Renger van der Zande, who triumphed at Daytona in 2019 and 2020 in a Cadillac, with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon joining for the opening round.The 02 will be piloted by two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, and Richard Westbrook. Following the 24 Hours of Daytona, the trio will head over to Sebring to begin the World Endurance Championship, going after overall victory at Le Mans later in the year thanks to new rules that allow the top class endurance race cars in IMSA to also compete in the WEC.CadillacThe number 31 car, painted red, will be fielded by Whelen Engineering Racing, with 2021 IMSA champion Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims at the helm. Jack Aitken, who substituted for one Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2020, will help out during the longer endurance events, including Daytona.See the Other Daytona CompetitorsThe V-LMDh car was first previewed last summer with the Project GTP Hypercar, and is powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter DOHC V-8, mated to the standardized hybrid system that all LMDh competitors use. The powertrain combines for up to 670 horsepower, routed through a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Cadillac has four wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona since 2017, and will look to capture a fifth victory when the race kicks off on January 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 conversion van is pure 1990s vibes, with a few tasteful modern upgrades like a flat-screen smart TV.Are there abstract vinyl graphics on the side? You betcha!Slide into this slice of pre-internet life on Bring a Trailer, where the no-reserve auction runs until Monday, January 16.The upfitted-cargo-van cohort might be all about #VanLife these days, but before glorified homelessness flashed in the pan, there was the humble conversion van. Established under the same premise—turning a cargo van into something much more livable—these third-party-modified vehicles formed the basis for many an elder Millennial’s childhood road trips. Pining for a time when Saturday morning cartoons were good and Comedy Central played actual standup? Here’s your chance to go back.This van started life as a stock 1998 Chevrolet Express cargo van, retailing for $24,880 ($45,442 in 2023 dollars). But it made the jump from work vehicle to family-friendly machine courtesy of a Rocky Ridge conversion kit, which included a higher roof, an upfitter staple that came to define the shape of late-20th-century conversion vans.Bring a TrailerOpen the passenger-side clamshell doors­—Chevrolet didn’t start selling Express vans with a driver-side door until the 2003 model year—and you can practically hear Mark Mothersbaugh’s Rugrats theme through the screen. The 1990s never went away in here. Every extremely well-padded throne is wrapped in the beigest of beige leather. The carpet is roughly the color of ground beef that’s past its sell-by date. The stained wood throughout is, um, vibrant.Somehow, there are still fewer cupholders in this van than there are in a Subaru Ascent. Bring a Trailer|Car and DriverThere have been a few tasteful 21st-century additions as well. Whatever tired old CRT came stock has been swapped out in favor of a Roku-enabled smart TV. Jutting out from the dashboard is an upgraded Alpine head unit with touchscreen capability, while a modern backup camera should make this thing a heck of a lot easier to park. Which is good, because you’ll have a hard time finding period-correct abstract vinyl graphics if you start scuffing the panels.Perhaps the single greatest AV upgrade in this Express resides behind the third row, where a wooden enclosure houses not one, but two Sony Xplod subwoofers. If you are not listening to Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” on repeat, you’re not living. Car and DriverUnder all this wood, metal, and leather is one properly preserved powertrain. The 5.7-liter Vortec V-8 residing up front has just 24,000 miles on it. While it’s unclear how judiciously the previous owner followed service schedules, the current owner did take the van in for some work before offering it for sale, spending about $3100 on a smattering of replacement parts, including a good ol’ Freon recharge. Mother Nature’s favorite.Even for something as left-field as a Chevrolet Express conversion van, a low-mileage example like this won’t be had for a song. As of this writing, there are six days left on the auction, and it’s already commanding $10,250, which is dear for what it is. But perhaps no price is too high to pretend Y2K is still a thing worth worrying about.Vans, Vans, Vans!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

BMW is issuing a recall of 14,086 iX, i4, and i7 vehicles due to a potential issue regarding a high-voltage battery.The issue stems from a misdiagnosis in the battery management electronics, which could cause the control unit to reset and in turn create an interruption in electrical power. A separate recall affecting 367 2022–23 iX xDrive50, iX M60, and 2022 i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles includes a Stop Drive order due to a fire risk. BMW has issued a recall through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on certain 2022 and 2023 iX, i4, and i7 models, totaling 14,086 vehicles. The recall issue relates to a misdiagnosis in the high-voltage battery management electronics system, which has the potential to cause the control unit to reset. The resulting reset in turn creates an interruption in electrical power, leading to an increased risk of crash. Only 1 percent of potentially affected vehicles are expected to carry the defect, though owners of all the affected vehicles will be notified by mail of the potential defect. As of the December 20 filing date, BMW said it was not aware of any accidents related to the recall issue. Documents for the recall can be found here. A separate recall affecting 367 BMW vehicles specifically involves the 2022 i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50, as well as the 2022 and 2023 iX xDrive50 and iX M60. NHTSA issued a Stop Drive warning and advised owners against charging their vehicles. Owners are also advised to park outdoors and away from structures due to an increased fire risk from a potential short circuit in the high-voltage battery. Owners were first notified of the recall by phone and email in August before notification letters were sent in September and December 2022, warning about the fire risk. BMW provided alternative transportation in the interim while owner vehicles awaited the remedy. Documents for this recall can be found here. 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

2024 will be the Jaguar F-type’s final year, with the British automaker revealing the 75 final edition, available on both the P450 and P575 models.Unique wheels and special badges inside and out separate the 75 editions visually from the R-Dynamic P450, which is also offered for 2024.There is also updated suspension designed to bring increased steering feel, and the 75 editions come standard with luxurious interior options.Last fall, Jaguar confirmed that the 2024 model year would be the last for the slinky F-type coupe and convertible. A special edition was unveiled for Europe, and now the British automaker has revealed that this final version, called the 75 Edition, will also make its way stateside as the F-type bows out.JaguarThe F-type lineup became V-8–only in 2023, and the 75 Edition will be offered both for the 444-horsepower P450 and 575-horsepower P575 models. Although it’s difficult to make out in the shadowy photos, the 75 edition brings badges depicting the F-type’s silhouette on the front fender, door sills, and center console. You can also find “75” emblems throughout the interior and an “R” etched into the R 75 P575 model’s quad exhaust pipes. Every 2024 F-type rides on 20-inch wheels, with the 75 P450 set apart by gloss black five-spoke rollers and the R 75 P575 differentiated with 10-spoke designs. The 75 edition also comes standard with the “Performance” seat design, Windsor leather, and the Ebony suede headliner. JaguarThe special edition brings a few mechanical upgrades, with new lightweight rear knuckles, larger wheel bearings, and redesigned upper ball joints, which Jaguar claims will make the steering more communicative. All-wheel drive is optional on the 75 and standard on the R 75, and both come with a rear electronic active differential and adaptive dampers. The R 75 also adds Pirelli P Zero tires measuring 265/35 at the front and 305/30 at the rear. Other Dead Sports CarsDeliveries of the 2024 F-type begin in the spring, and the R-Dynamic P450—without the special edition package—is also still available, starting at $79,175. The 75 P450, meanwhile, will cost $91,175 while the R 75 P575 will subtract $114,275 from your bank account, with the convertible versions adding $2000 to the price for each model. Minor color and trim changes also occur across the entire lineup for the F-type’s final trip around the sun.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

McLaren is ending production of the 720S supercar after a roughly five-year run, with a yet-to-be-named replacement already sold out well into 2024.The 720S was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show, and went into production for the 2018 model year, replacing the 650S.A McLaren spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that production for the 2023 model year officially ended in December 2022.McLaren has sounded the death knell for its iconic and beloved 720S supercar. Production of 2023 model-year vehicles officially ended in December 2022, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Car and Driver. No official replacement has been announced, but speaking with Automotive News, Nicolas Brown, McLaren’s president of the Americas region, told the outlet, “… Customers, of course, they see that, ‘OK, well, you can’t order a 720 anymore.’ They realize that production is ending. So putting two and two together, something is coming.”Despite no official replacement being revealed, or even announced, Brown told AN that the company has taken deposits on the new car. In fact, he confirmed that the replacement vehicle is sold out “through deep into 2024.”More on McLarenThe 720S was first unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show as a replacement for the 650S supercar. The twin-turbocharged V-8 powering the wheels is mounted behind the passenger compartment and makes 710 horsepower. Unleashing that power propels the 720S to 60 mph in well under three seconds, and on to 120 mph in less than seven seconds.We lapped a 2018 720S at our annual Lightning Lap testing, where we deemed it “Wonderfully fun and scary fast.” Not only did it clock a 2:39.7 around the VIR Grand Course, joining an elite group of cars under 2:40; but it also recorded a mind-warping speed of 171.7 mph on the front straight. We’re always sad to see cars we love die off, especially with a car as fast and fun to drive as the 720S. The brand’s newest car, the Artura, is quicker to 60 mph, but swaps the 4.0-liter V-8 for a hybrid V-6 paired to an electric motor. It’s a cheaper entry, sure, but it’s heavier and less powerful than the 720S. And it loses the sensory experience granted by the 720S. We’ll surely miss the 720S as it exits stage left after 2023. 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 2023 Jeep Cherokee lineup includes only two models: Altitude Lux and Trailhawk.The 180-hp 2.4-liter inline-four is the base engine, and the 270-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four is optional.Jeep says it’s preparing to end production of the current-generation Cherokee next month.Jeep has greatly reduced the Cherokee’s lineup for what appears to be the current generation’s final model year. The 2023 Cherokee is now available in either Altitude Lux and Trailhawk trim levels, and the only engine choices are now the naturally aspirated 180-hp 2.4-liter inline-four and a 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; the previous 3.2-liter V-6 engine has been dropped.Pricing starts at $39,290 for the Altitude Lux and $42,890 for the Trailhawk, and both come standard with four-wheel drive. That’s a big jump from the 2022 model’s base price, which started at $31,590 for the front-wheel-drive Altitude; even the 2022 Altitude 4×4, though, was $6200 less than this year’s Altitude Lux model, which does get extra equipment including leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and remote start. The Trailhawk, which previously had the 3.2-liter V-6 engine, gets a $3750 price bump over last year.More on the CherokeeWe previously reported that the Belvedere, Illinois, plant that builds the compact SUV would be idled after February 2023. Jeep told us then that the Cherokees being built now are 2023 models. Reports that Cherokee production could move to Mexico after the Illinois plant is idled suggest that the Cherokee’s replacement might be coming soon. The current KL generation of the Cherokee has been on sale since the 2014 model year and is overdue for a replacement. 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

Lexus is bestowing some updates upon the RC and RC F coupe models for 2023.A new touchscreen sits atop the dash, replacing the old sunken screen that was controlled only by a touchpad.There’s also a new Special Appearance package available for F Sport models.Lexus isn’t quite ready to replace the aging RC coupe with a redesigned model, but it is making some updates to both the standard RC and performance RC F models for the 2023 model year. The biggest change is inside, where the dashboard is revised to accommodate a new touchscreen. There are also new colors, newly available appearance packages, and minor performance tweaks.The standard RC, which is available in RC300 and RC350 configurations, adds an F Sport Special Appearance package with a two-tone color scheme that pairs a gray body with a black roof and hood and 19-inch Enkei wheels. This same gray exterior color, called Incognito, is also newly available on the RC F Track Edition. Lexus also says that the Track Edition benefits from new Hitachi shocks.More on the RCWe appreciate the updates to the RC’s infotainment system, as the fact that the display moves forward and can now be controlled as a touchscreen means you won’t have to rely as much on the fussy touchpad controller on the console. An 8.0-inch screen is standard, and a 10.3-inch screen is optional.Pricing stars at $45,470 for the rear-wheel-drive RC300 with its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The RC350, which has a 3.5-liter V-6, costs $53,020 with the optional F Sport package. To get the RC F’s sonorous 5.0-liter V-8 engine, you’ll need $67,845.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

We’re excited to announce that we’re running another Lightning Lap-inspired track day at our favorite track, Virginia International Raceway, in its best and most challenging, 4.1-mile Grand Course configuration.We’ve been doing annual pilgrimages there since 2006 to run our Lightning Lap track shootout of the year’s hottest performance cars (and sometimes SUVs). We’ve now run 315 production vehicles, the most recent 17 of which we’ll be publishing in early February.In case you can’t tell, our love of VIR’s Grand Course is infectious, and we want to not only tell you of its spectacularism but also show you. That’s why we’ve organized another track day that’s happening on Wednesday, May 10th. We’ve heard your feedback; our previous two events came together with insufficient lead time to plan the trek, and the requirement for significant previous track experience disqualified a number of interested folks. That’s why we’ve added a new category of drivers this time around that will be done in a lead-follow format and is open to anyone. Trust us, you’ll want someone to follow the first time around Grand.Really, you don’t even need a vehicle to drive, as on-site shop and driving instruction Kaizen Autosport, who is our partner in organizing this event will rent you various options ranging from a BMW M240i to a Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.Unlike last time, the May 10th date will be 100-percent devoted to the Lightning Lap track day, rather than integrate with a larger track-day weekend. But as at our previous two track days, cars for the experienced run groups will be segmented into the same LL1 through LL5 price categories we use for Lightning Lap, and there will be three 30-minute practice sessions in the morning and two 30-minute timed sessions in the afternoon where you’ll be gunning for the class win.Go here for more details and to sign up. For 10 percent off the $795 entry fee, use code CDVIP2023.We’re always counting down to our next VIR visit. See you there!Register HereThis 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