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The Lancia Scorpion is a rare and fun mid-engine Italian sports car.This example has benefited from a comprehensive restorationPart of the refurbishment included the installation of a more-powerful European-spec 2.0-liter engineFancy a dose of mid-engine Italian exotica? Today’s find on Bring A Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—won’t quite rock you like a Lamborghini Huracán, but it is a fun and accessible classic from a brand with impeccable breeding. It’s a Lancia Scorpion, one fitted with the feistier European engine and with a simply staggering amount of restoration work already done.Bring a TrailerLaunched in the 1970s as a hotter version of the Fiat X1/9, the Scorpion features similarly wedgy styling. It’s like a Toyota MR2 that talks with its hands. This 1977 version has beautifully thin rear buttresses like a Maserati Merak, and some details lifted from the European Montecarlo version.Bring a TrailerAcross the Atlantic, the Lancia Montecarlo took its name from the marque’s win at the 1975 Monte Carlo rally. Lancia is perhaps a lesser-known Italian brand, but it is one with a proud history. That includes breakthroughs like the first V-6–powered car (the achingly gorgeous B20 Aurelia), and winning more WRC titles than any other manufacturer. Its engineering was always forward-looking. Financial management, not so much.Bring a TrailerObviously Lancia couldn’t sell a Montecarlo in the U.S. without General Motors deploying an entire paratrooper division of lawyers. Instead, possibly due to Abarth’s racing success with one of the early prototypes, it was called the Scorpion. The U.S.-spec cars looked cool and cornered like the “on rails” cliche, but had less sting in the tail than a base model Pinto. They also cost more than a contemporary Corvette, so only the most ardent Lancia fans bought them.Bring a TrailerSpeaking of ardent Lancia fans, the current owner of this car certainly counts as one. He treated this Scorpion to an extensive restoration. Together with work done by the previous owner, the result is a Scorpion that in many ways is an improvement on the original. A 2.0-liter European-spec engine was installed, with high compression pistons, a ceramic-coated header, and a Magnaflow exhaust. Euro Montecarlos were good for something like 120 horsepower and 0-60 mph in a respectable 8.5 seconds. The suspension is all new too, as is the rack-and-pinion steering, and refreshed brakes. The 13-inch alloy wheels are shod with 185-series Falken tires. The interior has been refurbished and the body treated to a bare-metal respray and Euro bumpers. The lift-off roof panel appears to be one of the few remaining needs.Related StoriesImagine resting your hands on that Momo Prototipo steering wheels and feeding this little sports car into a tight corner, then blasting out with a snarl of twin-cam Italian four-cylinder fury. Yes, please. Let the exotics have their unusable hundreds of horsepower. This is one of those cars where you get to use the whole of the tachometer.Scorpions haven’t really appreciated sharply in the same way other Lancias, like the Stratos or the Fulvia, have, so someone may get a great deal on this car. The auction is no reserve and ends on November 15. Contributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Honda recently revealed a near-production-looking concept car that brings back the iconic Prelude name. The concept is a low-slung two-door coupe that Honda has said prioritizes “the joy of driving.”However, new quotes from Honda’s large project chief engineer, Tomoyuki Yamagami, suggest that the new Prelude won’t be sporty enough to compete with the Civic Type R or Integra Type S.All signs point to Honda’s bringing the historical Prelude name back in the form of a new hybrid coupe. The brand officially showed off the car at this year’s Tokyo auto show as a concept, although unofficially we think it’s more accurate to call the Prelude a near-production prototype. HondaDon’t be fooled by the low-slung and sporty look of the two-door coupe, though. Despite Honda’s statement at the reveal that the new car will prioritize “the joy of driving,” quotes from Honda large project chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami suggest that the new Prelude won’t necessarily be a track-day weapon. In an interview with Australia’s CarsGuide, Yamagami said the new Prelude “isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits.” The publication suggested that it will therefore not compete against, for instance, the Subaru BRZ or Toyota GR86. While that doesn’t mean enthusiasts should immediately write the Prelude off as boring, it does suggest that the new version will be positioned somewhere below the brand’s own track-ready cars like the Civic Type R and the Acura Integra Type S. Furthering that point, Yamagami continued by saying, “We’re developing this as a four-seater, so you will be seeing a second row with two seats available as well.” Take that last comment with a grain of salt. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 both have “back seats” and are no worse off for it. Elana Scherr|Car and DriverThe Prelude is more likely to serve as something of a replacement for the discontinued coupe versions of the Civic and Accord. Think of the Prelude as filling the space between the harder, more focused cars like the Civic Type R and softer, more livable cars like the outgoing Accord coupe—an economical front-wheel-drive GT car. More Revamped Honda NewsWe know the Prelude will use a hybrid powertrain, but we don’t know the specifics yet. We expect it to share underpinnings with either the Civic or the Accord. We’re hopeful the hybrid setup will be a bit more potent than the 204-hp Accord Hybrid, but it’s also possible the new car will use a similar configuration, simply with a more powerful gasoline engine. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

In its day, this police pursuit version of the Chevrolet Camaro was hard to outrun, packing LS1 V-8 power.This one is a former Florida Highway Patrol car and comes with all kinds of fun accessories.With five days to go and no reserve, bidding on the Bring a Trailer online auction is currently at $4200.As Chevrolet prepares to send its Camaro muscle car off to the big scrapyard in the sky in January 2024, here’s a brief homage to the Camaro you really didn’t ever want to see. When zipping down one of Florida’s highways in the early 2000s, the sight of a black and tan coupe snorting up behind you with its blue lights strobing was inevitably accompanied by a sinking feeling located in the area of your wallet. But now you can turn the tables (just not in Florida). Bring a TrailerToday’s pick at Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is this former Florida State Patrol Camaro with the B4C Special Service package. Assuming you discount stickered-up exotics and Corvettes usually used for police PR events, this is probably the quickest a working highway pursuit vehicle ever got.Essentially a Z/28 package with fewer amenities and no T-tops, the B4C has a 5.7-liter LS1 V-8 under its hood, a four-speed automatic transmission, and a knack for catching up to scofflaws. In its retirement, it’s a fun way to play cops and robbers dress-up, particularly as this example comes with a Florida Highway Patrol uniform, jacket, and hat. Bring a TrailerWe mentioned the just-not-in-Florida part, right? FHP would not be amused to see this car on the road in their home state. This cruiser is currently registered in Virginia and would be fine to bring to shows in many states. Or you can of course bring a trailer.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerWhat would be the most fun for this old cop car is to invest in a couple of drag radials and head to your local run-what-ya-brung Friday-night drag races. Fans of horsepower never wanted to see this car coming up fast in the rearview, but the crowd would surely cheer to see it running down the strip with the light bar on.With five days to go until the auction ends on November 15, the high bid is $4200, and there’s no reserve. If you want to live out your highway patrol fantasies, just head over to Bring a Trailer to make your bid. Just, let’s say it all together: not in Florida. Other Recent Auction PicksContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

The amount of people in the market for a $186,000, plug-in-hybrid luxury SUV is a lot smaller than those looking for, say, a Toyota Prius Prime that costs about $153K less than that price. Still, the wealthy folks who are considering buying the 2024 BMW XM’s high-performance model might notice a slight change to its name. What was previously known as the XM Label Red is now simply known as the XM Label.BMW XM’s New LabelWhen BMW first introduced the XM Label Red, we admired its mighty 738-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrain, but we also noted that its styling wouldn’t appeal to everyone. It was also the luxury brand’s first use of “Label Red” on a production model. Clearly BMW didn’t think it was catching on with consumers, as a company spokesperson told Motor1.com that the decision to give the hi-po XM a new label was to simplify the name. Car and Driver also reached out to BMW to ask about the name change, and we’ll update this story if we hear back.Report: BMW XM DiscountThe 2024 BMW XM Label starts at a hefty $185,995, while the regular model starts at $159,995. However, customers can apply for a $9900 loan credit that would drop those prices. That’s according to Cars Direct, who reported the discount is available by either financing through BMW directly or by going through another lender using a “Non FS Credit” that would act as a rebate and provide the same $9900 off.Extra BMW XM ReadingSenior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Mini has revealed the John Cooper Works performance variant for the 2025 Countryman subcompact luxury SUV.The JCW is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder churning out 312 hp, a 71-pony upgrade over the regular Countryman.Pricing starts at $47,895, with the Countryman JCW hitting dealerships in May of next year.The third-generation Mini Countryman debuted this fall in two flavors—a fully electric model offering all-wheel drive and up to 308 horsepower, and a gas-powered model pushing 241 ponies to all four wheels. While both of these variants already have more pep in their step than the outgoing Countryman, Mini is now turning up the wick for fans of spirited driving. The performance-focused John Cooper Works model returns for 2025, packing a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and all-wheel drive.Mini says it revised the 2.0-liter’s pistons, connecting rods, and engine mounts, and with 312 horsepower, the turbocharged motor produces 71 horsepower more than the standard Countryman and is 11 hp more potent than the outgoing Countryman JCW. Torque, however, remains the same as the standard Countryman at 295 pound-feet and is down significantly from the outgoing JCW’s 331 pound-feet.With standard all-wheel drive, Mini claims, that’s enough oomph to propel this chic crossover to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds, over a second clear of what Mini says the non-JCW Countryman is capable of. Still, the last JCW we tested sprinted to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Mini boasts that the Countryman JCW has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.26 and says it will top out at 155 mph.The 19.0- or 20.0-inch wheels are shod in 245-section-width tires, an upgrade from the outgoing car’s 225-section rubber. From the press photos, the tires appear to be Continental EcoContact 6Q tires, versus the previous iteration’s Pirelli Cinturato P7s. The crossover is fitted with a “high-performance braking system,” with Chili Red–painted brake calipers adding a bit of visual pop. Mini mentions a “characteristic sound” from the exhaust, with a “exclusive JCW sound extension” inside that “intensifies the soundscape with racing-inspired engine sounds.” Go-Kart mode puts the Countryman into its sportiest setting, which includes an artificially boosted engine note.Visually, the John Cooper Works models is differentiated by red accents, a grille pattern that mimics a checkered flag, a restyled front bumper, and a new JCW logo that appears on the grille, hatchback, and C-pillar. The LEDs in the headlights are also tweaked, while the cabin is decked out in sporty red trim with an intricate design consisting of vertical lines on the dashboard, upholstered in a fabric made from recycled polyester.The JCW is fitted with 12 ultrasonic sensors and four cameras which, when the car includes the optional Driving Assistant Professional package, allows the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel at speeds up to 37 mph on “highway-like routes.” The assisted-driving feature will also detect gaps in traffic to execute lane changes. Mini emphasizes that the driver must remain attentive and ready to take over at a moment’s notice, The Countryman John Cooper Works will start at $47,895 when it launches in the U.S. next year. Production begins in March 2024, with deliveries expected to begin in early May. More New MinisAssociate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Rivian will now sell you its electric commercial delivery vans, with the cheapest option starting at $83,000.The commercial vans have been built exclusively as Amazon delivery vehicles since 2019, with the online shopping colossus ordering 100,000 vehicles from the manufacturer. The vans come in two sizes that offer just over 150 miles of range in a front-wheel-drive configuration. Rivian will now sell you its electric commercial delivery vans, even if your name isn’t Amazon or Jeff Bezos. The manufacturer had an exclusive partnership with the online shopping company since 2019, when Amazon put in an order for 100,000 delivery vehicles from the manufacturer. Now Rivian is opening up sales to fleets around the world.Fleet sales consist of two sizes for the cargo vans. The Delivery 500 is the smaller of the two vans, and features roughly 500 cubic feet of storage (487 to be exact). It’s good for up to a 2734 pound payload in the back, while the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is 9350 pounds. The larger Delivery 700 van is longer and wider than the 500, and brings interior storage space up to 652 cubic feet. Interestingly, the payload is slightly lower than that of the smaller van at 2513 pounds, though the GVWR is increased at 9500 pounds. RivianBoth vans are front-wheel drive, and according to Rivian, the 500 has an estimated maximum range of 161 miles, while the larger size and weight of the 700 bring that figure down to 153 miles. Rivian hasn’t shared the battery sizes or electric motor specifics for the cargo vans, but we’re assuming the public vans utilize the same technology as the Amazon vans. That means a lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and Rivian’s in-house “Enduro” electric motor that the Amazon EDV vans use. We do know that the vans are capable of both J1772 and CCS1 charging at speeds up to 100 kW.More on RivianPricing for the smaller 500 starts at $83,000, while pricing for the larger 700 rounds that figure up to $87,000. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The Rimac Nevera has just set a new world record for the fastest speed by a vehicle in reverse, at a testing facility in Germany. The record was set at the Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany, where the Nevera reached an astounding top speed of 171.34 mph.It wasn’t that fast, but Car and Driver did execute a reverse-driving test in 2011 as part of our “Rental Car Olympics.”We love the sort of car-based shenanigans that make you scratch your head and just mutter “What were they thinking?” It’s that sort of harebrained thinking that drove us to pit four rental cars against one another in 2011, complete with a reverse hot lap. Spoiler alert: that Lincoln Town Car was bloody quick in reverse. It appears the engineers at Rimac share our passion for driving in reverse, as they have just set a new world record with the Nevera. Rimac brought the Nevera to the Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany, where test driver Goran Drndak piloted the vehicle to an astonishingly fast 171.34 mph. In reverse. He described the experience as unnatural for the Nevera. “On the run itself, it definitely took some getting used to,” said Drndak. “You’re facing straight out backwards watching the scenery flash away from you faster and faster, feeling your neck pulled forwards in almost the same sensation you would normally get under heavy braking.” RimacAccording to the manufacturer, the extraordinary feat is made possible because the Nevera’s drivetrain doesn’t have a typical transmission. Instead, there are four individual motors that propel the car forward or backward, with no inherent limitations based on which direction they’re rotating. That means the same motors that propelled the Nevera to its world-record-setting 256 mph earlier this year are capable of providing the same thrust in reverse. The limiting factors instead become stability and aerodynamics. Rimac and Related ShenanigansThe Nevera’s chief engineer joked about how the idea for the record had come up during development. “It occurred to us during development that Nevera would probably be the world’s fastest car in reverse, but we kind of laughed it off,” said Matija Renić. “The aerodynamics, cooling, and stability hadn’t been engineered for traveling backwards at speed, after all.” Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will succeed the mighty TRX, trading that truck’s 702-hp supercharged V-8 for a twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six with 540 horses.Despite a sizable power disadvantage, the RHO will inherit the TRX’s wide body, beefier frame, long-travel suspension, and chunky off-road tires. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the TRX nameplate is getting shelved, and it likely won’t return unless a more powerful powertrain is available—perhaps an electric one?What’s worse? A world where six-cylinder Ram TRXs exist or one where V-8 TRXs have gone extinct. Both answers will likely appeal to different audiences, and since Ram doesn’t want to offend either side (read: relinquish market share), it’s simply releasing a new version of the high-performance pickup truck under a different name and with a less powerful engine.RHO Replaces the TRXThink of the upcoming Ram 1500 RHO as the TRX’s alter ego. Instead of having a 702-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 under its hood, the RHO has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 540 horsepower. That’s the same power produced by the high-output Hurricane engine now available on the refreshed 2025 Ram 1500. Others will note that power figure is a significant 162 ponies shy of the outgoing truck’s beloved Hellcat engine, which will become a fossil after the 2024 model year.2024 Ram TRX Final Edition.StellantisMeanwhile, the TRX nameplate is going on the shelf. That’s according to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who recently told a group of reporters that a next-gen TRX would only return with more power. He also said the RHO’s horsepower deficit is the reason it’s not called a TRX. Still, just because the new truck won’t accelerate or sound like the old one doesn’t mean it can’t be a seriously fun off-roader. Although we don’t have any specific details, Kuniskis told Car and Driver the RHO will have the same equipment as the TRX, albeit with a retuned suspension. That suggests the new version will continue with chunky 35-inch all-terrain tires, a reinforced frame, and a foot of suspension travel. The RHO will also inherit a wider body than the normal Ram 1500, and it will surely have some revised exterior elements and new interior tech courtesy of the regular truck’s facelift.Next TRX?The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will go on sale sometime in the third quarter of next year. Between now and then we should get information on pricing. Kuniskis mentioned that it’ll be less expensive than the retired TRX, which last started at $97,485. That brings us back to wondering when we might see Ram’s high-powered truck return to action, especially with the 700-hp Ford F-150 Raptor R now solely controlling the off-road-truck throne. Since we know the TRX name won’t come back without at least 703 horses, and since Stellantis isn’t making anymore V-8s for Ram to use, the only logical thing left would be a TRX based on the new plug-in-hybrid Ramcharger or the electric Ram 1500 REV. Each make 650-plus horsepower, meaning it probably wouldn’t take much to surpass 703 or possibly higher.Extra TRX 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.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More