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Fiat CEO Olivier François told Car and Driver at the 2022 Los Angeles auto show that the future of the brand does not include a next-generation 500X SUV.The electric 500e minicar will be the primary focus starting in 2024 as the company shifts its North American strategy.That strategy could include subscriptions and car-sharing options.Fiat is discontinuing its SUV and shifting its focus back to the 500 minicar, as the Cinquecento’s North American return was announced today at the 2022 Los Angeles auto show. The brand currently has one model on sale in the U.S.—the 500X SUV—but Fiat boss Olivier François told Car and Driver that it will be phased out after this current generation. “Fiat is the 500, no other car,” François said. “I have a very clear plan to not do anything else than the 500.”Fiat says the current 500X will be available through the end of its current generation, although the automaker declined to say exactly when that will be. We expect it will soldier on at least until the 500e officially launches in America in 2024. François also explained that the future of the brand on U.S. shores is to serve as a learning opportunity for parent company Stellantis as it eyes a transition to electric vehicles. Experimentation with digital sales, monthly subscription services, limited-release specialty models, and even a car-sharing service are all possibilities for Fiat when the 500e goes on sale in 2024. “The last thing the American market needs is one more mainstream model or brand,” François said.The car could be offered in a variety of body styles but perhaps not concurrently, giving Fiat an opportunity to switch to whatever seems popular or desired by buyers at any given time. For instance, the 500e could be offered only as a convertible for a certain period of time, then switch back to sales of the hardtop. While sales could still happen via the traditional dealership model, Fiat says a click-to-buy option is an enticing possibility. More on FiatThe brand will focus on metro areas that are best suited for the car’s size and driving range, but François added that rural and suburban buyers wouldn’t be locked out if they so desire a 500e. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it’s likely that the 500e will be treated as a low-volume style item rather than a mass-market car, which could translate to higher-than-expected prices. The designer models shown at the L.A. auto show could be an indication that branded collaboration models could play a big role in the car’s marketability. Fiat has a history of such collaborations, as the previous-generation car was sold as a Gucci edition in America and in other markets under a partnership with luxury yacht manufacturer Riva.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

Mazda will paint your 2023 MX-5 Miata a pleasant beige option named Zircon Sand for only $395.The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata will start at $29,370 when it goes on sale later this winter, a slight increase over the previous model year. The Miata has long held to the simple formula that made it popular in the first place, something it maintains by bringing no other updates for 2023. Mazda has answered the prayers of whichever potential MX-5 Miata owners opted out of their purchase in fear of retribution for owning such a flashy car. The 2023 MX-5 Miata is a carryover model with the only change to the lineup being $395 beige paint named Zircon Sand. Truth be told, it’s an attractive color, and the Miata carries it well, even though it is also a color choice for the CX-50 crossover.There are no other meaningful changes for the 2023 MX-5. Pricing is up slightly across the lineup, with the base Sport now starting at $29,370, a $655 increase over last year’s model. That still earns you a plucky 181 horsepower from the Miata’s high-revving four cylinder. It may not sound like a lot, but urged the softtop version to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Our favorite, the Club trim, now starts at $32,870 and brings extra goodies like a limited-slip differential, a front shock tower brace, and Bilstein dampers. Upgrading the Club further with Brembo front brakes, dark gunmetal 17-inch BBS forged wheels, and heated Recaro seats tacks an additional $4500 onto the tab. Should you want the hardtop model with the Club, you’ll need to option the BBS Recaro package as well.Sitting atop the MX-5 food chain, the Grand Touring sees a raise in price to $34,370, which brings more safety and comfort items in comparison to cheaper trims. The Grand Touring gets body-color heated door mirrors, automatic headlights, and rain-sensing wipers. 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 Kia Seltos subcompact SUV receives updates to its design for 2024.A new, more ruggedly styled X-Line trim joins the fray as well.The entry-level 2.0-liter engine now makes 147 horsepower, while the available turbo four sees its output jump to 195 horses. Related StoriesFollowing the 2023 model-year introductions of the second-generation Niro and updated Soul, Kia turns its attention to the third subcompact SUV option in its lineup, the Seltos. Unlike the front-wheel-drive-only Niro and Soul, though, the refreshed 2024 Seltos serves as Kia’s sole small SUV available with all-wheel drive. Emphasizing this fact is the introduction of a new X-Line trim that brings a more rugged look to the Seltos by way of distinct 18-inch wheels, a trim-specific grille design, and special badging, among other things.Even without the X-Line kit, the 2024 Seltos sports a number of design improvements, almost all of which were previewed by the Korean-market Seltos that Kia revealed in June. Notably, this includes a revised front end with a larger grille, revised front and rear fascias, and a new full-width taillight design.Inside, Kia trades the current Seltos’s analog gauges for a digital set that frame a 4.2-inch digital display screen. Spend a little extra, and an even larger 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster takes its place. Complementing the Seltos’s updated cabin are a handful of newly available convenience items including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, a power-opening liftgate, and cooled front seats. Alas, these items are limited to the top-line Seltos SX. Today’s LX, S, and EX trims also return to the fold. Power continues to come from one of two four-cylinder engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter or turbocharged 1.6-liter unit. The former mates to a continuously variable automatic transmission and sees its stable of horses grow by one to 147 horsepower. The latter, however, benefits from a 20-horsepower bump, netting it a total of 195 horsepower. A new eight-speed automatic transmission replaces the current car’s seven-speed unit. Pricing for the 2024 Kia Seltos remains under wraps, though we expect the new Seltos to see its base price rise slightly relative to the 2023 model’s $24,185 starting sum. Look for the revamped Seltos to reach Kia dealers before the middle of calendar year 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

Hyundai Home is a new online service the automaker is providing to electric-vehicle customers to help them find local contractors to install EV home chargers, solar panels, and maybe a home battery.Nissan also announced EV Carefree+ at the L.A. auto show. This is a collection of services including free public charging and roadside assistance to reduce anxiety in new EV drivers.Automakers have been experimenting with different ways of encouraging EV adoption with projects like this. GM, for example, will pay to have L2 home chargers installed when someone buys a new Bolt, and many automakers work with Qmerit to find reliable local contractors.Hyundai is working on making it easier for car buyers to choose a plug-in vehicle with a new program called Hyundai Home. The new website, which was announced today at the Los Angeles auto show, acts like an intermediary between someone who just purchased a new Hyundai EV and the boring nuts and bolts of getting a home charger permitted and installed and maybe filing for some local government or utility incentives.What to Plug InThe Hyundai Home Marketplace uses your home address to find EV-related services available there. In my case, I was able to see options for rooftop solar and home battery storage, but the EV home charger section was not yet operational. Requesting information about rooftop solar brings up a personalized but auto-generated estimate of the lifetime savings of installing solar panels. The home energy storage tab works similarly, providing an estimate of how much it would cost you to install enough batteries to power your home for a week. All of these estimates get refined by an actual installer or contractor once you complete the forms on the website, and the marketplace ends up providing customers with three bids for each project they might be interested in.Some of what’s on Hyundai’s menu. HyundaiHyundai Home also offers human Energy Advisors who can answer questions about the technologies involved. Hyundai first announced the Hyundai Home project at the 2021 L.A. show and has partnered with Electrum to make it operational. The site currently works in 16 states, but nationwide operation is “coming soon.”Other Companies at Work on EV LogisticsHyundai has company when it comes to offering EV shoppers help getting set up for home charging. GM will cover the installation of Level 2 charging outlet for new Bolt EV or Bolt EUV customers, for example, and works with Qmerit to find verified installers. Automakers including Audi, BMW, and Cadillac all work with Qmerit to find local electricians for their customers, and Qmerit also offers home charger installation help for people who didn’t just buy their EV at a dealership.Nissan EVsAnother new EV benefits program was announced alongside the Hyundai House at the L.A. show. Nissan announced a “care initiative” called EV Carefree+ that will provide EV transition assistance to Ariya and Leaf buyers, as well as customers of future Nissan electric vehicles. EV Carefree+ is the branded name for some services Nissan was already offering, like an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty and roadside assistance, along with some complimentary public charging with EVgo and included scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. Nissan also partners with Qmerit for home charger installations.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

Subaru unveiled the sixth-generation Impreza with updated styling and changes to the lineup.A new RS model with the 182-hp 2.5-liter engine from the Crosstrek is being added, echoing the 2.5RS model first introduced in 1998. Subaru is dropping the sedan and selling the Impreza only as a hatchback. The 2024 Impreza will hit dealer lots in the spring. The Subaru Impreza is entering its sixth generation with a slimmed-down lineup that pivots in its focus, dropping the Premium and Limited models and adding a new more powerful RS trim that joins the base version and the Sport. The RS receives the 182-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in the Crosstrek, giving it an additional 30 horsepower and 33 pound-feet of torque compared with the other Impreza models. The 2024 Impreza’s styling updates the same familiar design. The grille stretches taller and swaps out chrome trim for a more muted black piece. More pronounced rear-wheel arches give a slightly sportier look. Also at the rear, the taillights have been refreshed with a design that does not protrude as much into the rear hatch. The RS model also gets an RS badge to mark its significance. New Features, Hatch OnlyWhen the third-generation WRX made its debut last year, Subaru announced that the WRX would be offered only as a sedan. Now, the company has chosen to make the sixth-generation Impreza exclusively a hatchback, further differentiating the two models. It’s a move that makes logical sense; in 2022, a spokesperson told Car and Driver, the hatchback made up 73 percent of Impreza sales. Subaru has updated its EyeSight driver-assist tech for the Impreza so that it now recognizes cyclists and pedestrians more quickly, as well as widening the field of view. The new Impreza takes a stab at additional comfort with reduced noise in the cabin and front seats that are claimed to be more supportive. Subaru is bringing its 11.6-inch vertical center screen to the Impreza, bringing the car in line with the rest of the lineup. Previously, the largest infotainment screen available on the Impreza was 8.0 inches.No Manual Option The Base and Sport trim levels return with the same 2.0-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine again producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Subaru is dropping the five-speed manual transmission, leaving only the CVT. Normally we would lament the passing of a manual gearbox, but the five-speed was so imprecise that it won’t be missed. The Sport and RS trims will receive paddle shifters and a simulated “manual mode” allowing drivers to select eight preset ratios. All-wheel drive is standard and has been upgraded with a new active torque vectoring system. The car also receives a version of the dual-pinion electronic steering rack from the WRX, which should improve steering feel, and Subaru also claims the 2024 Impreza has 10 percent more structural rigidity thanks to a redesigned, lighter inner frame.A Return of the RSIt’s a welcome move that Subaru is bringing back the RS badge and bringing the Crosstrek’s 182-hp 2.5-liter engine to the Impreza. In our testing, that engine accelerated the Crosstrek to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, whereas the Impreza with its 152-hp 2.0-liter takes just shy of nine seconds to reach 60 mph.Apart from more power, the RS gets some styling changes to help distinguish it from the lesser trims. RS badging can be found on the front doors and rear hatch. The RS swaps body-color side mirrors and rocker panel molding for black replacements. The interior has simulated carbon and gunmetal trim pieces. The front seats are finished in black cloth with red bolstering, while the steering wheel and shifter get an upgraded leather finish. The carpeted floor mats feature the RS logo. It’s certainly still no thrill-seeking hot hatch, but thankfully Subaru added a bit more pep to its step. Subaru hasn’t given any pricing details yet, but the 2023 model starts at $20,815 and we expect the newer vehicle will come at a small increase from that. According to Subaru, the 2024 Impreza will go on sale beginning in the spring. 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 Drako Dragon is the second vehicle from the California-based startup after the GTE electric sedan that was revealed in 2019.The Dragon has four electric motors with a combined output of 2000 horsepower, and Drako claims a 200-mph top speed and a 9.0-second quarter-mile time.Behind the gullwing doors are a leather interior and a massive 17.1-inch touchscreen. The Dragon will cost $290,000 when it reaches customers in 2026. Drako Motors, a startup based in San Jose, California, first teased the Dragon SUV this summer, showing off its dramatic gullwing doors and announcing its wild 2000-horsepower output. The Dragon is Drako’s second vehicle after the Fisker Karma-based GTE electric sedan, and the electric super-SUV has now been revealed in full, showing off an athletic design and touting otherworldly performance figures.DrakoThe Dragon looks like an Extreme E racer blended with a Lotus Eletre because of its aggressive stance and sloping, coupe-like roofline. The trapezoidal grille shape incorporates both cooling vents and a front wing that boosts range and provides downforce, working in conjunction with flying buttresses that stretch from the roof to the rear haunches. The Dragon’s slim LED headlights and taillights are joined by “ultra-bright rally lights integrated into its roof.” The body panels are constructed from sustainable natural fiber composites, decreasing the use of plastics by 70 percent, and wrap around a carbon-fiber chassis.DrakoThe gullwing doors are eye-catching but also allow Drako to remove the B-pillar, easing ingress and egress from the rear seats. The cabin is dominated by a 17.1-inch touchscreen, with a smaller digital instrument cluster behind the flat-bottom steering wheel, which holds all of the Dragon’s physical buttons. The Dragon also uses cameras in lieu of mirrors, displaying the view on small screens integrated into the dashboard. Screens for the rear passengers are mounted in the leather and carbon-fiber front seats, while a panoramic glass roof sits overhead. DrakoLike the GTE, the Dragon uses four electric motors, one controlling each wheel. With 2000 hp and all-wheel drive, Drako claims the Dragon launches from zero to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, runs the quarter-mile in 9.0 seconds, and reaches a top speed of more than 200 mph. With a curb weight of 4969 pounds, 10-piston front calipers and six-piston rear calipers clamp onto carbon-ceramic brake rotors to slow the Dragon down. Drako also claims the Dragon has 50/50 weight distribution, and the SUV measures 199 inches long and 81 inches wide, a smidge shorter and wider than a Lamborghini Urus. The adaptive suspension allows the Dragon to sit as low as 6.4 inches off the ground but can raise to provide 12.4 inches of clearance in its “Overland” mode.More Super SUVsThe battery is apparently designed and built in-house, although Drako doesn’t specify how large the pack is. Still, it must be pretty big since Drako is claiming a 420-mile range, and with a maximum charging rate of 500 kW, Drako says the Dragon can charge to 80 percent in 10 minutes. The Dragon also uses a single operating system to control all of the vehicle’s functions, from the infotainment to the driver-assistance systems to the battery management and traction control system that permits tank turns like a Rivian R1T.Drako says the Dragon will be built in the United States, with plans to eventually build 5000 units each year. Deliveries are supposed to begin in 2026, with the Dragon starting at $290,000, and reservations are open now. 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

• Here’s a tiny, friendly-faced city hatchback with an outsize personality.• A masterpiece of packaging, the Twingo is roomy and comfortable, and the enormous canvas roof provides open-air motoring on demand.• This car represents a highlight of French motoring whimsy. It’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer.For a country so given to Gallic shrugs and black-and-white movies crammed with ennui, France really does know how to have fun on the road. English cars have a tweedy character, Italian exotics can be fierce, but the French do a sort of wheeled quirkiness that’s positively fizzing with zest. As they say, if it’s not from the Champagne region, it’s merely a sparkling hatchback.Related StoriesUp for auction this week on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a cheery green example of the peak of mid-’90s French design. It’s a 1996 Twingo, Renault’s city-car replacement for the venerable Renault 4. Just look at this car’s cherubic amphibian face, brimming with delight and ready to go careening around the streets of Paris like a motorized pinball. Doesn’t it look fun?In a world where every new SUV grimaces like a murderous electric shaver, the Twingo is a throwback to a more lighthearted era of design. It wouldn’t be out of place in one of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. In fact, Japan’s most beloved animator was and is partial to French motoring, having owned a series of Citroën 2CVs for decades.Bring a TrailerWhile the Twingo is a Renault rather than a Citroën, it can be argued that it’s the true everyman follow-up to France’s beloved tin snail. Conceived as a tiny van that maximized a stamp-sized parking footprint, the Twingo was full of clever design ideas, including flat-folding seats, a simple control layout, and wheels pushed to the absolute corners of the car. It embodies some of the best elements of the original Mini, the first-generation Honda Fit, and a host of other small but charming city cars.This one is a 1996 model with about 103,000 kilometers (64,000 miles) on the odometer. Power comes from a thrifty 1.2-liter engine that puts 75 horsepowe through a five-speed manual transmission to the front wheels. On paper, the Twingo posts some leisurely acceleration times. Display a little elbows-out French driving élan, and it’s an absolute rocket.Or at least it will feel like one from behind the wheel, what with that characteristic soft suspension and light steering. The Twingo is the sort of car that responds like an eager puppy when you pitch it into a corner, sawing at the wheel like Marcel Marceau miming steering a sinking pirate ship.Bring a TrailerFurther delight can be found in the large retractable canvas roof, which is a bit like the one you get in a 2CV. A fairly tasteful aftermarket three-spoke wheel has been fitted, though the original factory two-spoke is also included in the sale. We say keep the three-spoke and pretend to be a budget-restricted René Arnoux.Bring a TrailerThe only drawback to this Twingo is that it is not street-legal in every state. If you live in California, désolé, but the Twingo is not for you. The car is currently registered in Connecticut.Should this pocket-size French import be legal to park in your driveway, make all haste to bid. With seven days left, bidding stands at just $2911. Miss out, and you’ll end up crying into your ratatouille while an accordion plays a mournful dirge.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

Fiat announced today that its adorable 500 minicar will return to the North America market after a four-year absence.Unlike the previous-generation car, the 500 will be sold here only as the electric 500e.The new 500e is already on sale in Europe and comes with an estimated driving range of up to 199 miles on Europe’s very optimistic WLTP cycle.After Fiat discontinued of the 500 and 500L models in North America a few years back, we’ve been skeptical about the future of the brand. The 500X SUV is the only Fiat currently sold on our shores, but now a completely redesigned 500e electric hatchback is on the way to give Fiat a boost in the U.S. market.Based on the 500 city car that’s sold in Europe already, the 500e will go on sale here as a 2024 model, but Fiat has so far been tight-lipped on details about U.S. specs for its electric powertrain and battery pack. We suspect it will port over exactly as it is sold in Europe, with the larger of the two available battery packs, a 37.3-kWh unit, and an electric motor driving the front wheels that can provide up to 117 horsepower. More on the Original 500eWith this larger battery, the 500e carries a range estimate of 199 miles on the European WLTP cycle. But unless Fiat somehow squeezes a larger battery pack into the U.S. variant, we expect to see a significantly lower EPA range estimate, likely around 160 miles per charge.The 500e appears to be coming to the U.S. in both hardtop hatchback and softtop convertible body styles, although there’s no word yet on if the European version’s 3+1 door configuration will make the leap. With help from Italian fashion houses Armani and Bulgari as well as contemporary furniture design firm Kartell, Fiat has shown three one-off concept cars at the 2022 Los Angeles auto show that highlight the car’s fashionable styling. FiatFiatThe Armani 500e, for example, features a special exterior paint treatment with a laser-etched chevron pattern meant to make it look like fabric. The Kartell version uses sustainable plastics to dress up the car’s interior, and the Bulgari model sports an upscale appearance inside and out with colorful embroidered upholstery and a matching mural on the dashboard. That version also features a removable brooch with inset amethyst, topaz, and citrine gemstones mounted at the center of the steering wheel. We don’t expect such an option to make it to production, sadly.Those in the know will remember that 500e version of the previous-gen car was sold here back through 2019 model year, although its availability was limited to California and Oregon. That model was a big money loser for the brand, with former Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne famously telling Reuters in 2014 that he hoped not too many people would buy it because his company lost about $14,000 on each one.FiatFiatThis time around, the 500e is poised to present a better business case. For starters, it’ll likely be offered in for sale in more states, and we expect it will carry a higher starting price than the 2019 version, which retailed for around $34,000. The 500e will be among the first EVs to reach the U.S. from Fiat’s parent company, Stellantis. While rivals such as General Motors, Ford, and Volkswagen have rapidly launched EV models, Stellantis has lagged. The company has shown flashy concepts such as the Chrysler Airflow and the Dodge Charger Daytona, but those cars are still in the concept stage. Since the 500e is already on sale in other parts of the world, it may beat those vehicles to production.Fiat says the production version of the 500e will debut next year at the 2023 Los Angeles auto show, and by then we’ll likely know more about the car’s powertrain, battery, and driving range. 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