Motor News

The electric version of the Genesis GV70, called the Electrified GV70, will start production soon.It will be built at Hyundai’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama, starting in December.Pricing isn’t available yet, but we know the Electrified GV70 will be sold only in eight states at first.After announcing an electric version of the GV70 crossover in late 2021, Genesis has now detailed plans for the U.S. launch of this new EV. Set to be built in Montgomery, Alabama, the North American version of the 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 will start production in December. The U.S.-spec car, pictured here, was first shown at the L.A. auto show recently.GenesisGenesisLike its sibling, the Electrified G80 sedan, the Electrified GV70 looks nearly identical to its gasoline-powered equivalent but features an entirely different powertrain underneath. Front and rear electric motors combine to produce 429 horsepower in the Performance configuration, or up to 483 hp in a special boost mode that operates for 10 seconds at a time. A less powerful base powertrain may be offered as well. Genesis has yet to release battery capacity or range figures but does say it will be capable of DC fast-charging at up to 350 kilowatts.More on Genesis EVsPricing isn’t yet available, but Genesis does say that it will be sold in eight states at first: Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Utah, and Washington. More states may be added later, as the Electrified G80 sedan is now sold in 12 states after Genesis added Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Virginia to the list.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

Audi has confirmed that 2023 will be the last model year for the R8 supercar.The GT model will serve as a sendoff for the V-10–powered coupe and convertible.Rumors suggest that an electric replacement may arrive at some point, but the timeline is not clear.The Audi R8 supercar will soon reach the end of the line, Audi recently confirmed to C/D during a drive of the new GT model. The 2023 model year will be the last for the R8 in the U.S., and this new trim joins the lineup to serve as a sendoff for the mid-engined coupe and convertible as they sunset. The 2023 R8 is currently offered in 562-hp RWD form and 602-hp Quattro form, plus the GT which is a 602-hp RWD model with other modifications.2023 Audi R8 GTAudi|Car and DriverThe R8 first arrived for the 2008 model year, and the first-generation model offered both a 4.2-liter V-8 engine and a 5.2-liter V-10. The R8’s second generation went V-10 only and has been around since the 2017 model year in the U.S. Audi only sells several hundred R8s each year, but it has served as an important halo model for the brand’s RS performance cars.More on the R8’s FarewellIt’s unclear what’s coming down the pipe to replace the R8 as Audi’s flagship sports car. Rumors suggest that an electric supercar called the RNext is in the works, but these plans are uncertain and an Audi spokesperson denied these rumors to C/D. Even if it did materialize, such a vehicle likely wouldn’t arrive until 2029 at the earliest.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

It was already one of the most desirable Alfa Romeos, but this GTV 2000 has also received a full overhaul from U.K. specialist Alfaholics.Its fuel-injected engine produces 230 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission, lightweight suspension and bodywork, and upgraded brakes.Nearly $240,000 was spent by the previous owner to create one of the best driving restomods out there, and some lucky bidder can get it on auction from Bring a Trailer.In the old days, the stopwatch made the rules: whichever sports car was fastest to 60 mph or around a circuit was the best. QED. Yet, even in that time, many enthusiasts waxed romantic about the appeal of an Alfa Romeo, not just performance but an experience. In an age when dollars equals speed, that appeal hasn’t gone away. If anything, as in the case of this special little Alfa, the romance is even more concentrated.Up for auction on the website Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is this gorgeous confection of motoring con brio. Based on a 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000, one of the prettiest coupes to issue from a Milanese factory, this one has been treated to a full workup from U.K.-based firm Alfaholics. With a week left to go until the auction ends on Wednesday, November 30, bidding sits at $110,000. Bring a TrailerIf paying new 911 money for an old Alfa sounds crazy, it’s not.First, take the GTV 2000 itself. 1974 was the last year of these cars for the U.S. market, and they had everything necessary to provide a special driving feel. With a frothy 130-hp twin-cam engine, a nimble chassis tipping the scales at just over 2200 pounds, and gorgeous styling, the Gran Turismo Veloce was everything that Alfisti could want. If the internal combustion wasn’t always internal, that was just some added Alfa zest. A life without even a little drama is not worth living, right?Bring a TrailerIn 1977, Richard Banks bought the first Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2.0L GTV in the U.K., for competition in the British Production Saloon Car Championship. The car was very competitive. As a sideline to help pay for the racing, he bought and refreshed a secondhand 2000 GTV. It sold the same day his ad ran in the local paper.Bring a TrailerArt and ScienceMore than four decades later, Banks and his two sons—both trained as lawyers, but also involved in racing—run a family firm dedicated to creating the finest Alfa Romeos around. There’s a temptation here to compare Alfaholics to California-based Singer and that company’s reimagined 911s, but there are differences. Much of Singer’s work is pure artistry, but the cars that emerge from the Alfaholics workshop are more an organic result of one family’s Alfa racing obsession.However, a 911 restored by Singer and an Alfaholics-fettled machine are both idealized experiences of what you hope either a Porsche or Alfa Romeo will be. They are both a sort of cask-strength distillation of the essence of the brand, the meet-your-heroes moment that doesn’t disappoint.This 1974 GTV2000 was purchased through Bring a Trailer two years ago and promptly sent to Somerset for the full Alfaholics treatment with the company’s GTA-R Upgraded package. The list of modifications is too exhaustive to relay in its entirety, but highlights include a handbuilt 2.1L twin-cam four-cylinder engine good for roughly 230 hp, a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission, comprehensive lightweighting from lighter glass to carbon-fiber bodywork, six-piston front brakes, and a suspension that contains more titanium than your average space rocket.If You Remember the ’70s You Weren’t ThereAnd, because this car was bound for Texas, it also has air conditioning. While born from lessons learned on the racing circuit, this GTV is meant for drivers. Indeed, close-up inspection of the undercarriage shows some oxidation of the titanium pieces, and the paintwork on the undercarriage has a blemish or two.All of which underlines the emphasis that this is a car to be driven. Whatever the final hammer price happens to be, it will likely be enough to buy a seat in some pretty high-test modern machinery, but that’s not the point. An Alfaholics GTA-R provides the sort of drive that transcends the stopwatch and the skidpad. For one very lucky bidder, it’s a bucket-list driving experience. 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 performance version of the Fiat 500e has been revealed, with the Abarth model going electric for the first time.153 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque are fed to the front wheels, shooting the tiny hatch to 62 mph in 7.0 seconds.The Abarth 500e also comes with a Sound Generator that produces fake engine noises, but the electric hatchback likely won’t be sold in the United States.At the Los Angeles auto show earlier this month, Fiat announced that it will finally bring the electric 500e, which has been on sale in Europe since 2020, to the United States for 2024. In fact, Fiat CEO Olivier François told Car and Driver that the automaker’s U.S. lineup will consist solely of the 500e, with the 500X SUV not receiving a new generation. Now parent company Stellantis has revealed a new Abarth 500e, bringing zippy performance to the tiny city car, although its unclear if the Abarth version will ever reach American shores.AbarthA single electric motor powers the front wheels of the Abarth 500e, producing 153 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque. That’s a decent increase over the standard 500e, which emits 117 horsepower and, in the U.S.-spec car, 162 pound-feet of torque. Abarth claims the hot hatch can reach 62 mph in 7.0 seconds, and Abarth says the electric car was 1.0 second quicker around the Misto Alfa test track at Balocco than the gas-powered Abarth 695 based on the previous 500. The Abarth uses the same lithium-ion battery as the standard 500e, which has a usable capacity of 37.3 kWh, and while no range figure was quoted, the Abarth likely can’t travel as far as its less powerful counterpart. AbarthThe Abarth 500e has three drive modes—Turismo, Scorpion Street, and Scorpion Track. Turismo smooths out power delivery and limits output to 134 hp and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the Scorpion modes unlock the full power and escalate the 500e’s performance. One-pedal driving is available in Turismo and Scorpion Street, and Abarth says that with a maximum charging rate of 85 kW, the 500e can reach 80 percent in 35 minutes. Abarth also touts an “immersive sound experience” for the electric hatch—turning the car on produces a simulated guitar sound, and when you go over 12 mph for the first time after startup, a “strumming guitar” plays. A Sound Generator can also be turned on to reproduce the noise of an Abarth gas engine. AbarthStylistically, not much has changed compared to the standard 500e, with the 500 badging swapped out for a bold “Abarth” font and the scorpion-bearing badge on the nose. The front and rear bumpers have undergone minor revisions, a new “electrified” scorpion logo sits behind the doors, and there is a new wheel design. The version seen here is the fully loaded Scorpionissima launch edition, which will be limited to 1949 units and comes in either Acid Green or Poison Blue. It brings unique side graphics and 18-inch diamond-cut wheels as well as embossed seats, unique steel pedals, and an Alcantara dashboard. More about AbarthWhile Fiat is bringing the 500 back to the United States for the 2024 model year, we don’t expect the Abarth model to return, at least not initially. Fiat has announced that full details of the U.S.-spec 500e will be revealed at the 2023 Los Angeles auto show. 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 reincarnated Lamborghini Countach was recalled last week for an issue relating to the vehicle’s glass engine cover, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing said.Lamborghini received a field notice from an owner in Qatar on October 10, which noted that one of the Countach’s four glass engine cover panels had separated from the supercar while it was on the move, an NHTSA filing said. Those glass panels sit above an electronically assisted 6.5-liter V-12 engine, which provides a total powertrain output of 803 horsepower and 557 pound-feet of torque.This incident prompted Lamborghini to open an investigation, which ultimately determined that an issue with the part’s supplier was to blame. More specifically, Lamborghini concluded that the fault stems from an issue with the supplier’s bonding of the glass panels, which could result in the panels detaching and leaving the car.LamborghiniThe 2022 Lamborghini Countach is capable of reaching 62 mph from a standstill in just 2.8 seconds, before stretching its legs all the way up to 221 mph. Not exactly the sort of speeds you want involved when ill-affixed bodywork is at play.Lamborghini was unable to determine whether or not other Countach examples would suffer from the same production fault during its initial investigation. On November 10, Lamborghini’s Product Safety Committee voted to launch a proactive recall for the Countach in every global market. That recall impacts nine owners here in the United States, with dealers expected to receive the recall details on January 9, 2023. Customers will receive a notice from Lamborghini later that week. Customer cars will be inspected after that, with replacement glass panels being made available if they are required. Every Countach built during October 2022 will already have the issue addressed in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Owning an exclusive supercar can come with some unique challenges. Thankfully for the Lamborghini faithful, this particular fix should be a straightforward job. If you happen to own one of these, it’s probably a good idea to leave it in the garage for the time being. Not that you were going to pour on the miles, anyway. LamborghiniThis 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

Mazda today teased a sports car concept called the “Vision Study Model” that we hope hints at a future Miata EV. The beautiful coupe concept features butterfly doors, bulging fenders, and proportions that appear Miata-esque. The “Vision Study Model” was shown as part of Mazda’s presentation on its updated electrification plans through 2030.The thought of an all-electric Mazda Miata might peeve purists, but there will surely come a day when it’s a reality. While it’s still too soon to say when the first MX-5 EV will arrive, Mazda today revealed a three-phase strategy that prioritizes electrification leading up to 2030. Along with its updated plans, the company teased the “Vision Study Model,” a stunning coupe concept that we hope previews the future design of the iconic two-seater sports car.MazdaLast year, Mazda confirmed to Car and Driver that the next-generation Miata will be electrified in some way. We expect that to mean some sort of hybrid setup, which corresponds with part of the company’s second phase. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a fully electric Miata by the end of the decade. We also wouldn’t be shocked to see an EV version that looks similar to the concept shown in press images as well as in clips of the video on Mazda’s official YouTube channel (the concept first appears at the 34:55 mark).This content is imported from youTube. 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.中期経営計画のアップデートおよび2030年の経営方針についてWatch onIn the minutes leading up to the concept’s first appearance, we see numerous shots of people happily driving different Miata generations, which further fuels our speculation that there’s a connection between past MX-5s and the Vision Study Model. Our first look at the concept is viewed through an iPhone screen, with its exposed chassis featuring what appears to be a T-shaped battery pack. The car’s body then drops on top and we see its passenger-side butterfly door open up.MazdaWhile the crazy doors are one of the concept’s defining features, we don’t expect them to be part of a production model. We do expect future Miatas to maintain a convertible body style, although a fixed-roof variant like the concept wouldn’t be a first, as Mazda did offer the rare JDM-only NB-generation coupe. The rest of the imaginary sports car looks doable, albeit ultra-dramatic. Its wide hips, peaked front fenders, and low cowl are all exaggerated traits of the current ND Miata. The illuminated Mazda logo mounted low on the concept’s nose and the slim, protruding front lighting elements are other neat touches.MazdaMazdaOf course, we realize Mazda’s Vision Study Model might not preview a future Miata EV at all. We have flashbacks of the visually arresting four-door Vision Coupe concept the company revealed back in 2017 that has not come to fruition. However, its aspirational styling did go on to influence the brand’s design language, so perhaps the Miata-esque concept will do the same. At least we can dare to dream.More on the Mazda MiataThis content is imported from youTube. 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 youTube. 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 Honda Pilot is all new for its fourth generation, bringing a 285-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Styling has been updated inside and out, modernizing the cabin while also giving the overall shape of the car a more muscular look. Honda announced pricing for the 2023 Pilot, with the cheapest front-wheel-drive sport version starting at $40,445, and the brand-new TrailSport starting at $49,645.Earlier this month, after months of teasing images and hints about the upcoming model, Honda pulled the sheet off the fourth-generation Pilot, showing off an overhauled design and upgraded performance. Now the company has released pricing info for the bulked-up SUV. As could probably be expected, the Pilot has risen slightly in price, now starting at $40,445, which is $1070 more than the last version. The price goes up across the lineup as well, with the EX-L and Touring both increasing by about $1500, to $43,245 and $47,745 respectively. More on the PilotThe updated pricing brings the top-of-the-line Elite trim to a starting price of $53,325 and the new TrailSport to $49,645. It’s not the first Pilot to wear the TrailSport nameplate, but it is the first one that’s capable of putting its money where its mouth is. (We drove a prototype earlier this year.)All models in the 2023 lineup, including the base Sport model, receive the 285-hp 3.5-liter V-6 as well as the 10-speed automatic transmission that Honda swapped out for the former nine-speed. The wheelbase and front and rear tracks have all grown, giving it a broader stance. The revamped TrailSport gets a 1.0-inch lift, a front bash plate, knobby A/T tires, and even a full-size spare. Honda is also adding a Honda Performance Development (HPD) special options package for the Pilot. Available on any trim for $2950, the HPD package adds fender flares, bronze- or black-colored wheels, and special HPD graphics. The updated Pilot will begin arriving at dealerships in December.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

Domino’s will start delivering pizzas using Chevy Bolt EVs this month, with the fleet expanding to more than 800 Bolts in 2023.Domino’s says advantages are zero tailpipe emissions, reduced maintenance costs, and the ability to add delivery drivers who don’t own a personal vehicle.The Bolt EV has a 259-mile EPA-estimated range, and the 200-hp powertrain provides punchy acceleration for in-town driving.Back in 2015, Domino’s introduced the DXP, a Chevy Spark modified specifically for pizza-delivery duty with a built-in oven. In 2017, we pitted the DXP against the former staple of pizza transportation, a ratty Mitsubishi Eclipse with faded flame decals, and the DXP handily won. But the times they are a-changing, and Domino’s is preparing for the future, announcing that it’ll begin using 2023 Chevy Bolt EVs to deliver pizzas across the country, with more than 100 Domino’s-branded Bolts reaching stores this month.Domino’sAnother 700 Bolts will arrive in the coming months, which Domino’s says will make it the largest electric pizza-delivery fleet in the country, although we’re not sure how much competition there is for that title. With more than 6000 stores in the U.S., not every location will get a Bolt, but it’s a significant step up from the 155 DXPs that were built back in 2015. The Bolt EVs that Domino’s will use appear to have ditched the built-in oven from the DXP, reducing costs and complexity—converting the Spark into a DXP added around $9000 to the price. More on the BoltAlong with eliminating tailpipe emissions, Domino’s anticipates the major benefits being the lower average maintenance costs and not having to shell out for expensive gas. Domino’s says it expects the battery life to potentially last for “days of deliveries,” with the Bolt EV achieving a 259-mile range estimate from the EPA. Domino’s also hopes the fleet vehicles will bring in more delivery drivers who don’t own their own car, as many locations still require drivers to provide their own transportation. The Bolt EV features a quiet and comfortable cabin—hopefully leading to happier, more relaxed drivers—and the 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque make the electric hatchback feel zippy around town, so the time between ordering your pizza and shoveling it down your esophagus should be reduced. That sounds like a win-win to us. For the most dedicated Domino’s fans, the pizza company has created an interactive map to keep track of how many Bolt EVs are in each state, meaning they can calculate the chances the next pizza they order is delivered via electric power.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