Motor News

Toyota released teaser images for a new model that is clearly the next-generation Prius. The new hybrid will debut next week, on November 16, at the L.A. auto show.This will be the fifth-generation Prius and it should go on sale in the U.S. sometime next year.It’s the Toyota Prius hybrid’s turn for a big redesign, if these new teaser photos from Toyota are any indication. The images, shared on Toyota’s Japanese social media channels, confirm a reveal date of November 16 and say “Hybrid Reborn,” meaning this new model could be nothing other than Toyota’s original hybrid hatchback.ToyotaToyotaThis will be the Prius’ fifth generation, and its silhouette looks quite familiar. But the recognizable shape, which helps with the car’s aerodynamic profile, may include some new detailing. The headlight in one teaser image looks similar to the design language we’ve seen on some Toyota concept cars, including some of the company’s recent EV concepts and the Japan-market Toyota Crown compact crossover, referred to as the Sport-type.We’re not sure exactly what to expect from the Prius’s new hybrid powertrain, but we’re sure it will aim for higher fuel economy than the current version, which achieves an EPA rating of up to 56 mpg combined. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is likely to return, and should offer a larger battery pack to provide improved electric-only range compared with the outgoing car’s 25 mile range on a fully charged battery.Prius Then and NowLook forward to finding out more information next week, as Toyota prepares to premiere the new 2023 Prius at the L.A. auto show. We’ll update this story with a live streaming video if one becomes available, so check back November 16 to see the “reborn” Prius for yourself.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

Country star Chris Stapleton, apparently, has a long-standing relationship with Ram trucks. That partnership involves things like an upcoming cover of an Al Green song called “I’m a Ram” and a 2016 “Ram Nation concert,” but it also includes the opportunity for Stapleton to ask Ram to build a throwback to one of their most memorable trucks ever. The result is this, the Ram 2500 “Traveller” one-off.Meet the FamilyInspired by the 1979 Ram Palomino that the brand calls “a Stapleton favorite,” the Traveller, announced via Facebook on Monday, is a custom Ram 2500. The exterior is highlighted by a two-tone with a graphic stripe that pays direct tribute to that Palomino. The shades of cream and light brown shades have been adjusted for more modern paint technology, while the stripe itself has been redesigned to better match the more curved shape of a modern 2500. In the front, the look is completed with a sculptural Ram hood ornament that pops out toward the grille.Inside, the retro-inspired look continues with dark brown leather and walnut materials highlighted by red flannel accents on the headrests and inside the center console. That plaid is a call back to the jacket Stapleton wore on the cover of the album that gave the truck its name, Traveller. The truck promotes a Stapleton exhibit in Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, one that is not coincidentally already sponsored by Ram.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 Audi e-tron has been refreshed, becoming the Q8 e-tron and sporting a new front end with a mask-like grille that puts it in line with the smaller Q4 e-tron.Power output is unchanged, but the Q8 e-tron and SQ8 e-tron are expected to improve their range estimates thanks to a redesigned rear electric motor and better aerodynamics.Audi says the Q8 e-tron can charge at a rate of 170 kW, going from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes on a DC fast charger.Since Audi first launched the e-tron SUV in 2019, it has added the voluptuous e-tron GT sedan and the smaller Q4 e-tron crossover to its electric arsenal. Now, the original e-tron is gaining a new moniker to differentiate it from its fellow electric Audis as part of a substantial overhaul.Rechristened as the Q8 e-tron, the facelifted EV arrives with fresh styling and increased range, and the sleek Sportback and more powerful S (now called SQ8 e-tron) variants also return. (The new name doesn’t eliminate confusion entirely, however, as there are also distinct gasoline-powered Q8 and SQ8 models; calling it the Q6 e-tron would’ve been a better move in our opinion.)Same Power, More RangeWhile Europe receives a base model with a smaller battery and less power, the only configurations that will be sold in the United States are the Q8 e-tron 55 and the SQ8 e-tron, which replaces the e-tron S. Power outputs are unchanged from before. The 55, with all-wheel drive via a dual-motor setup, maxes out at 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode. The SQ8 e-tron, meanwhile, packs three electric motors, with a 166-hp unit up front and two 131-hp motors housed on the rear axle producing a combined 496 hp and 718 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode. The 55 model reaches 62 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds while the SQ8 drops that sprint to 4.5 ticks. Top speed for the 55 is limited to 124 mph, and the SQ8 e-tron can hit 130 mph.Both models utilize a battery with 106.0 kWh of usable capacity. Audi says it is aiming for certain versions of the updated model to have an EPA-estimated range above 300 miles, or a 30 to 40 percent increase over the current model’s EPA range that tops out at 222 miles. On the European WLTP test cycle, the Q8 e-tron lineup is rated at between 307 and 373 miles of range. Audi also claims the Q8 e-tron will charge at a rate of up to 170 kW, with the battery charging from 10 to 80 percent in as quickly as 31 minutes on a DC fast charger.The 2024 Q8 e-tron’s bump in range is the product of an upgraded rear motor and improved aerodynamics. The asynchronous motor on the rear axle now uses 14 coils to generate its electromagnetic field, up from 12. This makes the motor more efficient, since it can use less electricity to create the same amount of torque, or produce more torque using the same amount of energy as the old 12-coil design. Aerodynamics also play a huge role. The restyled front end has decreased the drag coefficient slightly to 0.24 for the Sportback and 0.27 for the SUV. The Q8 e-tron also adds larger wheel spoilers up front on the underbody of the vehicle, channeling airflow around the front wheels to help the large crossover carve through the air more efficiently.New Design and Tech FeaturesWhile the overall body shape remains the same, the Q8 e-tron debuts a new mask-like grille design, visually linking it with the e-tron GT and Q4 e-tron. The new grille also features a light bar over the Audi logo, connecting the headlights. The grille presents a new version of Audi’s four-ringed logo, and the logo and model designation are also laser-etched into the car’s B-pillar. The Q8 e-tron comes standard with an air suspension, and the body height can be adjusted by about 3 inches. There’s also revised tuning for the air springs and an updated steering ratio.More Audi e-tronsThe big addition to the Q8 e-tron’s suite of driver-assistance systems is remote park assist plus, which can navigate the SUV into tight spots as the owner controls the process from outside the vehicle via a smartphone app. The Q8 e-tron also features digital Matrix LED headlights that can individually illuminate different sections of the road depending on the conditions, but these lights remain exclusive to Europe for the time being due to different regulations in the United States.The interior is centered around two touchscreens—a 10.1-inch unit situated above an 8.6-inch display—that handle almost every function, although drivers can also use voice commands. Options include features such as a head-up display, four-zone climate control, and massaging seats. A light brown walnut wood interior trim is new. The S-Line package adds seats wrapped in synthetic leather and a microfiber called Dinamica, which is made from recycled bottles, fiber residue, and used textiles. The Q8 e-tron arrives in the United States at the end of April 2023. Pricing will be announced later, but we don’t expect a major increase over the current starting price of $71,995 for the standard model and $89,395 for the S.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

Tesla has issued a recall of 40,168 Model S and Model X vehicles from 2017-2021 model years over a possible loss of electronic power steering. The recall was reported with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week, and owners will be notified in December. The company has released an over-the-air update to update and recalibrate the electronic power assist steering (EPAS). Tesla is issuing a recall of just over 40,000 of its Model S and Model X vehicles from 2017 through 2021 model years. The recall relates to a fault in the electronic power assist steering system, which could result in a loss of power steering. Affected vehicles may lose power when driving on rough roads, or after hitting a pothole, Tesla’s filings with NHTSA said.As of November 1, the company said it was not aware of any injuries or deaths related to the issue, though it has identified 314 vehicle alerts that it believes are related to the issue. In filings with NHTSA, Tesla said it discovered the issue through vehicle manufacturing, service, and firmware deployment records. It described that the issue stemmed from an earlier firmware update, which changed the steering system’s calibration values so that the system might incorrectly classify external road conditions such as potholes as “unexpected steering assist torque.” The result would be loss of power steering assist. Tesla’s filing said drivers experiencing ths problem would have received audio and visual alerts. Tesla has since released a newer version of the firmware, which it claims more than 97 percent of affected vehicles have already received. Owners who have updated their vehicles firmware to the 2022.36.5 firmware or later do not need to take any other actions, the automaker said. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 31, 2022. In the meantime, owners can check the NHTSA recalls website to see if their vehicle is included in the recall.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 Kia EV6 has a starting price of $49,795, which is $7100 higher than the previous model year.The price hike is primarily due to Kia dropping the base Light model that started at $42,695.The rest of the EV6 lineup sees base prices spike $1000, and the new-for-2023 576-hp GT model starts at $62,695.The cost of admission to owning a 2023 Kia EV6 just got considerably more expensive. That’s because for the new model year Kia has dropped the entry-level Light trim that previously started at a relatively accessible $42,695. With the Wind trim level serving as the new entry point, the EV6’s base price rises by $7100 to $49,795.Unfortunately, as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which makes any EVs built outside of North America ineligible for federal tax credits, the 2023 EV6 also misses out on that potential $7500 discount. KiaTo find out why the company decided to drop the most affordable version of the otherwise terrific EV6, we reached out to a Kia spokesperson, but have yet to hear back. Considering this same type of tactic is happening with other automakers, too, we’d make an educated guess that it mostly has to do with supply-chain issues. As for the rest of the ’23 EV6 lineup, prices rise by $1000 across the board. The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive GT-Line now starts at $53,995. Meanwhile, the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Wind and GT-Line now start at $53,695 and $58,695, respectively. The high-performance EV6 GT also joins the family for 2023, and consumers can enjoy its dual-motor 576-hp powertrain for $62,695.Extra EV6 ReadingFor those wondering about the EV6’s corporate cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, its base model didn’t get the axe. The 2023 Ioniq 5 SE standard range starts at $42,745, which is up $1500, but that’s obviously not as big of an increase as on the Kia.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 2017 Mercedes-Benz G550 4×4² that’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer is a surefire way to attract everyone’s attention.• Compared with the regular G550, the 4×4² is almost a foot higher, more than nine inches wider, and fitted with 36.1-inch-tall off-road tires.• We previously tested a 2017 G550 4×4² and marveled at its 6.1-second 60-mph time as well as its obvious awesomeness.There are plenty of ways to attract attention. Attending a wedding dressed in a Smurf costume or loudly singing Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” in a Waffle House should do the trick. But maybe you want the good kind of attention. For exhibitionists with deep pockets, there’s another, more expensive way to ensure all eyes are on you. It’s the brightly colored 2017 Mercedes-Benz G550 4×4² that’s currently listed on the Bring a Trailer auction site, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos.Bring a TrailerA G That Screams, “Look at Me!”It’s not just the eye-popping Electric Beam paint that makes this G550 4×4² stand out, although the highlighter-like hue definitely plays a role. No, to be clear, the gigantic G-wagen could be grayish-brown and still make passersby take notice. That’s because not only does it have the body of Mercedes’s iconic G-class, but also because it stands almost a foot higher than the regular G550 and measures more than nine inches wider. The 4×4² also rolls on 36.1-inch-tall Pirelli Scorpion ATR off-road tires. Less obvious, albeit no less important, are its portal axles that contribute to the lifted G’s towering 17.9 inches of ground clearance.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThat’s Right, We Tested OneWhen it was first released, we tested a 2017 G550 4×4². It hit 60 mph in an impressive 6.1 seconds—impressive because it was only four-tenths behind the regular G550, which shares the same 416-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. Of course, the jacked-up version’s side-exit exhaust provided extra theater. The one listed on BaT features an aftermarket Brabus exhaust system that dumps out below the truck.View PhotosThrowback to that time we thrashed one.Michael Simari|Car and DriverOur trip down memory lane reminded us that the G550 4×4² is a bit of a handful to drive, which is to be expected by a three-plus-ton machine that’s seven feet, four inches tall. Its steering is sloppy, its body control is floppy, and when we stood on the brake pedal at 70 mph it took 196 feet to come to a stop. Meanwhile, daily tasks such as navigating fast-food drive-throughs and interacting with ATMs require careful planning. Getting in and out of the skyscraper-esque SUV is also a production. Still, it’s all worth it because there’s truly nothing else like the 4×4² on the road—or off it, for that matter. Peep inside the BeastPerhaps our least favorite part of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G550 4×4² is that it’s the old generation. That means it’s missing all the updated tech and features found in 2019 and newer models. This one that’s up for auction has the outdated infotainment system, the ugly center stack with more buttons than a QWERTY keyboard, and the lack of a few niceties that make the current G-class more livable. At least the materials remain top-notch, with leather covering myriad surfaces and the seats all sporting quilted microsuede sections that carry over to the door panels.Bring a TrailerThe G550 4×4² on the BaT website currently has a bid of $150,000. That’s about $75,000 less than the 2017 model’s $225,995 base price, but we’ll have to see how much higher the bids climb by the time the auction ends on Thursday, November 10.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 Volkswagen ID.4 is VW’s take on a modern electric crossover for the people. Featuring nearly identical proportions to its twin, the Audi Q4 e-tron is the slightly preppier and more expensive of the pairing. With our recent review of the Q4 e-tron and a brief drive in a prototype of the 58.0-kWh-equipped ID.4 fresh in our minds, now seemed as good a time as any to go over the differences in each car. Here’s how they compare.Motor Configurations and Power FiguresBoth the ID.4 and the Q4 e-tron come in two available power levels. At the base level, both are available in a rear-drive configuration, equipped with a single rear-mounted motor providing a meager 201 horsepower. Optionally, both models can also be had with dual motors, bringing the added benefit of all-wheel drive and bumping power output to 295 horsepower. In our testing of both the single-motor and dual-motor ID.4 setups, neither produced particularly exciting performance. The rear-motor ID.4 reached 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, while the dual-motor version achieved the same in 5.4 seconds. We haven’t had the chance to do a full instrumented test of the Q4 e-tron yet, but we expect similar 60-mph times. Michael Simari|Car and DriverAudiBattery Size and RangeVolkswagen offers a choice of two battery sizes to Audi’s one and delivers slightly more range. For 2023, VW is adding an additional cheaper option, a 58.0-kWh battery pack good for an EPA-estimated 209 miles of range. The ID.4 has an optional, more expensive 77.0-kWh battery, which offers an EPA-estimated 275 miles in rear-drive models, and 250 miles in AWD versions. Our 75-mph test of a rear-wheel-drive 2021 ID.4 showed a real-world highway range of 190 miles. The Audi offers only one battery which delivers slightly less range than the similarly equipped ID.4. Audi forgoes the cheaper 58.0-kWh battery and equips the 2023 Q4 etron with the same 77.0-kWh battery found in the more expensive ID.4 models. The rear-wheel-drive Q4 e-tron provides up to 265 miles of range, while the all-wheel-drive version offers an estimated 242 miles for the Sportback body style and a lower 236 miles for the squareback. Both vehicles feature an 11.0-kW onboard charger. Interestingly, the Audi also loses out in stated maximum DC fast-charging figures. The 58.0-kWh Volkswagen can handle up to 140-kW of DC output. The 77.0-kWh battery VW can accept a higher 170 kW of DC charging, while the Q4 is only rated to accept 150 kW. Interior and CargoInside, both cars feel distinctly like the brands they hail from. The ID.4’s interior is comfortable but understated. It features a newly standard 12.0-inch center display and a redesigned center console. The center display features touch controls also found in the current generation Golf. It also features a unique gear selector mounted to the right of the digital instrument cluster. On the other hand, the Q4 follows recent interior trends from Audi. Gear selection is handled by a toggle-style shifter mounted on a peninsula jutting out from the dash. Audi is upgrading from the 10.1-inch screen in 2022 models to a larger 11.6-inch screen angled toward the driver. Optionally, there is an augmented-reality head-up display that projects moving icons for navigation onto the windshield. Volkswagen beats out Audi purely on infotainment screen size, but we prefer Audi’s MMI. VolkswagenAudiIn terms of cargo space, VW claims 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 60 with them flat. Interestingly, due to a quirk in the EPA guidelines, the Sportback Q4 provides slightly more space than the SUV version allowing for 26 cubic feet of storage with the seats up and 54 with them down. The SUV provides one less cubic foot of space for both measurements. PricingThe ID.4 comes in significantly cheaper at the base end, with the 58.0-kW equipped version starting at $38,790. The cheapest Q4 comes equipped with the larger battery but starts at $49,995. Optional all-wheel drive is also more expensive for the Audi where it costs $5000 in contrast to the $3800 Volkswagen charges. Getting the Audi in the Sportback form adds another $3000 to the price. 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

This 2022 Honda Civic for sale in Texas has nearly 250,000 miles on the odometer.Its previous owner was a medical courier who regularly delivered supplies between Houston and Dallas.It’s listed for $17,899, which isn’t as cheap as you might think given its history.A used Honda Civic for sale with over 200,000 miles on the odometer is hardly newsworthy on its own. But when said high-mileage Civic is a 2022 model that was purchased by its first owner just over a year ago, we start to take notice. As reported by Tire Meets Road, this 2022 Civic sedan for sale at a dealership in Dallas, Texas, has clocked an unbelievable 248,740 miles. The more you think about it, the more inconceivable it sounds. It’s an average of over 600 miles per day. How can anyone drive that much? But the Carfax report bears out this owner’s driving-centric lifestyle, as it documents regular oil changes at the dealership, in this case Rusty Wallis Honda in Dallas. And by regular, we mean regular, as the Civic visited the service department just about every two weeks. Here we were thinking our long-term Civic Si was accumulating miles at a decent rate. . .There are some questionable elements to the report, such as the implausibility of the car’s first 10,000 miles coming in a three-day period between when the car was first marked as registered and when it came in for its first oil change. But as some have pointed out, that likely comes down to a delay in registration data making it onto the report. Driving 10,000 miles in a few weeks is no more reasonable, but it’s at least feasible.It turns out that the previous owner was a medical courier who made daily drives between Dallas to Houston delivering supplies. If that sounds vaguely familiar, you might be thinking of our story from 2016 about—you guessed it—a medical courier who drove around 200,000 miles per year in his 2011 Ford Fiesta.Drive ‘Till You DropThere was also the story from 2018 about a woman who put 1 million miles on her 2013 Hyundai Elantra over the course of five years. At that point, Hyundai got involved and gave her a new Elantra to replace the heavily used one. And there was the similar case of the 2007 Toyota Tundra that racked up seven-figure mileage, at which point Toyota bought the truck back to study it.Honda told C/D that it has no plans to purchase this particular Civic, but a spokesperson did say, “we hope its second owner will enjoy accumulating many more miles in it.” So, if you are willing to pay the $17,899 asking price for this Civic that’s, er, well past the break-in period, maybe this is your chance to break some sort of mileage record.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