Motor News

Despite still-limited supply, car shoppers are not slowing down. A new survey of over 3300 car owners in the U.S. found that 35 percent are not driving the car they wanted, and the other 65 percent say they are willing to pay up to 39 percent over MSRP to get the car they have their eye on.At current prices, that comes to a markup of almost $19,000.Car shoppers in Idaho are most desperate to get a specific vehicle, willing to pay up to 71 percent over the sticker price. Shoppers in the four states with the lowest rates were only willing to pay an 11 percent markup.The internet is full of tips to help car buyers to not overspend on their new purchases, but it seems like not enough people are putting them to use. Or perhaps the limited supply of new vehicles during the pandemic and the resulting thousands of dollars of dealer markups is causing people to overspend. Whatever the reason, people are paying higher and higher prices for new cars these days, and it turns out we’re not happy about it. Shocking. For most of 2022, the average price of a new car was around 10 percent over the official price, with the 15 most popular models all costing between 18 and 24 percent more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), according to iSeeCars.A new survey commissioned by Quantrell Auto Group of 3361 car owners found that over a third of them (35 percent) said they had purchased a vehicle they hadn’t intended to when they started shopping. The other 65 percent said they would be willing to spend up to 39 percent over MSRP. Thirty-nine percent. Keeping in mind that an auto dealer group is behind the study and may be surveying people who are really ready to buy, but still: Given that the average new-car price in the U.S. is now over $48,000, these survey results indicate that a whole lot of shoppers may be willing to spend upward of $19,000 over the sticker price to get the vehicle they want. While the intention to pay is different than actually paying the extra money, vehicle prices aren’t likely to drop if everyone keeps shopping with that attitude.Some automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, GM, and Ford, have warned their dealers about applying high markups, threatening in some cases to shift allocation to dealers who do not overcharge buyers.In Some Places, Cooler Heads Prevail The nationwide survey revealed significant differences between states. The state that’s willing to pay the most over MSRP is Idaho, which sits at an insane 71 percent over sticker. Four states—North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia—are willing to pay just a comparatively sane 11 percent over MSRP. There may be some clues in the data that show where vehicles are easier to acquire. The four states with the lowest percentage of car owners driving vehicles they didn’t want were Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.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 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

Getting hands on a Ford Maverick is tough. Order books have been backed up for months, with many customers waiting over a year to get their trucks. I have some firsthand experience—my dad ordered a Maverick when the truck was first announced back in 2021, and after nearly a year of waiting he canceled his order. Yet somehow, Mavericks are already starting to show up on rental lots, specifically U-Haul.This U-Haul liveried Maverick was spotted in Florida by a user on the MaverickTruckClub.com forum. According to the company’s website, you can book one right now in Miami for $19.95 a day plus fees—pretty wild considering there are countless people out there right now waiting for months for their trucks to show up. U-HaulNo matter your feelings on the matter, it’s easy to see why U-Haul is starting to stock Mavericks in their fleet. While they’re not any cheaper per day than the larger truck offerings, their compact size and better fuel economy mean renters can fit them in more places while spending less money on gas. If you’re a current or prospective Maverick order-holder, we suggest using these U-Haul trucks as an opportunity to take an extended test drive to see if you actually like the thing before you buy. And maybe even use it to get some work done around the house. Specs, DetailsThis 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

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.Sorting out whether a Nineties Toyota Pickup or a Lamborghini Huracán is faster doesn’t sound like hard work. But most Toyota Pickups don’t have 900 horsepower. The one in this new video from Hoonigan does. It also has a two-speed racing transmission, drag radials, a bed-mounted fuel cell, a 6.0-liter V-8, and 300 fewer pounds to lug around than its competition. But as the 3800-pound weight figure betrays, the Huracán isn’t stock, either. Its 5.2-liter V-10 has been fitted with twin turbos and custom ECUs, boosting maximum output to 1500 hp. And given that it’s mid-engine with all-wheel drive, the Huracán has some considerable advantages over the Pickup. Huracán SeasonUnfortunately, it isn’t fully sorted. In the first run, the Huracán goes into “Fuel Safety” mode, cutting power and giving the Pickup a chance to catch up and run past it. On the second run, the Pickup driver has to lift to avoid spinning out. In fact, throughout the video he’s fighting the constant side-to-side motions of the Pickup as it searches for grip. Eventually, they both get good runs, but there’s never a perfect race between them.Even still, it’s fun to watch as the Huracán rockets off down the runway and then abruptly cuts fuel. The Toyota, sliding down the runway at insane speeds, is hilarious to look at on every run. And both are good examples of the ultimate truth of modifying a car: Big power is a lot less useful if the car isn’t set up to handle it. 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

Hyundai uses the vehicle-to-load capability of the Ioniq 5 to power a pop-up hotel in Essex, UK.The luxury cabin features a cinema and a restaurant with a bar, all powered by the crossover’s battery.V2L technology promises to make camping easier in the future, without requiring a bidirectional charger that vehicle-to-home (V2H) capabilities require. You’ve heard of electric vehicles’ batteries taking on charging duties beyond just making the EV move. That’s the premise behind Hotel Hyundai—an off-grid pop-up hotel where a Hyundai Ioniq 5 brings the power for all the electrical devices in a luxury cabin via its vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature. The hotel is located in Essex, England, about an hour from central London, and features a guest suite, a restaurant with a bar, and even a cinema.V2L differs from V2H, or vehicle-to-home, in that it does not require a bidirectional charger to operate, making this concept far less reliant on special hardware. In fact, all it needs is an adapter from the car.The idea for the pop-up hotel was sparked by Hyundai’s own research that showed 46 percent of respondents say that the environment and sustainability are more important to them than they were five years ago when choosing hotels, with 25 percent also indicating that they are choosing staycations instead of flying overseas in order to reduce their own carbon footprints.”Two fifths (40 percent) say they are also looking for cheaper travel options this year and over half (55 percent) admit this decision is due to the current cost of living crisis,” the automaker noted. “As a result, over half (53 percent) say they would like to invest their holiday spend in local U.K. economies rather than abroad.”This vision of sustainable vacationing includes bringing one’s own electricity.HyundaiThe luxury cabin, built by Colemans Farm, relies on V2L to power everything inside, down to the espresso machine in the small bar and the projector in the cinema. The Ioniq 5 supplies AC power (230V/50Hz) up to a maximum of 3.6 kW (15 amps).The hotel will be open for 14 nights from October 19 through November 5. “Our award winning Ioniq 5 is able to power Hotel Hyundai using its V2L feature, where an adapter from the car provides a socket which domestic appliances can be plugged into,” said Ashley Andrew, managing director of Hyundai Motor UK. “The whole experience demonstrates the practicality of this pioneering technology, and we hope the concept inspires more people to go off grid.”V2L technology received a timely introduction stateside when owners of the Ford F-150 Lightning were able to power essential appliances in their homes during prolonged power outages. But outside of emergencies, V2L technology in cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 promises to redefine the camping or glamping experience, with Hyundai’s pop-up hotel being an apt demonstration of sustainable vacation stays.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 2024 GMC Sierra EV arrives as a traditional alternative to the more extreme GMC Hummer EV.The electric Sierra debuts as the fully loaded Denali Edition 1, with 754 horsepower and a claimed 400-mile range.The Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 costs $108,695 and will go on sale in early 2024; less expensive models will join the lineup the following year. Let’s be honest. The GMC Hummer EV pickup truck is a beast. It’s humongous, it has 1000 horsepower, and its very name conjures up images of war machines and ’90s Arnold Schwarzenegger. That’s where the 2024 GMC Sierra EV comes in. Sure, it’s still a big, bold, and powerful full-size truck, but it’s less extreme than its Hummer sibling, and the Sierra is tailored more for folks who want a traditional truck with a nontraditional powertrain.GMC’s First Electric Sierra and DenaliThe first electric Sierra makes its debut as the Denali Edition 1, which is a fully loaded model in the same vein as the Hummer EV Edition 1 that was offered at that truck’s launch. The Sierra Edition 1 represents the first electric Denali, and it carries a sizable $108,695 price tag. It’s only available as a crew cab with all-wheel drive, which is derived from dual electric motors that combine for 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. The only way to unlock that full power is the appropriately named Max Power mode that GMC claims will shoot the Sierra EV to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.GM’s Other Electric TrucksFor those who don’t already know or who can’t connect the dots, the electric Sierra is essentially a resized and reskinned version of the Hummer EV (the same goes for the Chevy Silverado EV). All three pickups use GM’s Ultium batteries and share other components and content. GMC hasn’t said how big the Sierra’s battery is, but we’d bet the house it’s the same 200.0-kWh pack found under the floors of the Silverado and Hummer. Plus, its 400-mile estimated range is identical to Chevy’s figure. Thanks to its 800-volt electrical architecture, the Sierra is capable of charging at speeds of up to 350 kW; GMC says this can add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.Future Sierra EV models will be available with different ranges and tow ratings. For now, the Denali Edition 1 comes standard with trailering equipment, and it’s rated to pull up to 9500 pounds. The truck’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system is able to operate while towing, and there are currently 400,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada that Super Cruise works on. The Edition 1 can also carry 1300 pounds of payload in its cargo bed. With an adjustable air suspension, the Sierra EV can raise or lower its ride height by about two inches. The Denali Edition 1 rolls on 24-inch wheels, but a GMC spokesperson told Car and Driver the set of aggressive-looking Nitto Terra Grapplers on the version shown in these photos will not make it to production. What will make it is the rear-wheel-steering system that enables Crab Walk—a feature that was introduced on the Hummer EV and allows the truck to move diagonally at low speeds. A Transforming Electric TruckAs with the regular gas-fed Sierra, GMC has finally put in an effort to visually distinguish it inside and out from its corporate counterpart. The Sierra EV looks more handsome than the Silverado EV to our eyes. Its closed-face grille is distinctive and the front lighting elements are futuristic without being over the top. The three little light bars double as indicators of the battery’s level during charging. The actual headlights are positioned low on the bumper. The hood also opens to reveal a large front trunk with a 120-volt outlet and two drains.The Sierra EV debuts with a 5-foot-11-inch cargo bed. However, not only does it have GMC’s multifunction tailgate, but it also benefits from a foldaway wall on the back of the cab (called the MultiPro Midgate) that dates back to the original Chevy Avalanche. Open the Sierra’s Midgate to unlock nine feet of space for extra-long items (that length increases to 11 feet with the tailgate down). There are also smaller sections of the Midgate that allow part of the 60/40-split-folding rear seat to remain in place. The cargo bed’s other neat option is the built-in charging station that can provide 10.2 kW to up 10 outlets. With the proper equipment, GMC claims the Sierra EV can power a home for up to 21 days. Inside, the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 is finished with attractive materials. The wood and metal trim are real, the dashboard design is simple yet sophisticated, and the giant center touchscreen looks slick. It has a 16.8-inch display that can be reconfigured, and there’s a physical volume knob as well as toggle switches for different functions on the lower edge. The driver faces an 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a head-up display, and above all the passengers is a fixed panoramic sunroof that’s designed to limit exposure to ultraviolet rays.GMC plans to release a regular Sierra EV Denali shortly after the Edition 1 becomes available in early 2024, but we don’t yet know how much it’ll cost. We do know that the company will add an off-road-oriented AT4 model as well as a more affordable Elevation trim that’ll start around $52k. However, those won’t join the lineup until the 2025 model year. Reservations to order the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 are now open.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 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

Choosing a specific 2023 Dodge Challenger trim is hard enough on its own. Do you go with the 303-hp 3.6-liter V-6 in the SXT or GT, or do you spring for the nearly 400-hp 5.7-liter V-8 in the R/T? Related StoriesMaybe you get a bit crazy and snag a Challenger R/T Scat Pack with the 485-hp 6.4-liter V-8, or get even a bit wilder and grab one of the SRT-tuned Hellcat models, which make as little as 717 horsepower and as much as 807 hp in Super Stock and Redeye Jailbreak trim—10 more than the run-of-the-mill Hellcat Redeye. And we haven’t even gotten into drivetrain and transmission options yet, where Dodge offers V-6 buyers the option to push power to all four wheels and gives V-8 R/T, Scat Pack, and entry-level 717-hp SRT Hellcat shoppers the choice of either an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox. If only there were a way to combine all of these options into one Challenger . . . Well, there isn’t. It’s up to you to make these trim and powertrain decisions on your own. That said, Dodge and the graphic designers at CG Detroit are making it easier for the indecisive Challenger consumer to choose which of the 2023 model’s exterior colors they want their two-door muscle car done up in. The solution is a limited-run wrap that shows off all 14 of the coupe’s available hues—a nod to Dodge’s former corporate cousin’s Plymouth “Paint Chip” ‘Cuda. Why pick one color when you can have them all, right?Wellborn Musclecar MuseumThose with older Challengers need not fret, as Dodge is offering this amazing multicolor wrap to any owner of a 2008 or newer Challenger willing to fork over the $3700 this bit of exterior decor costs. If you’re a DIY wrapper, then you’re in luck, because that mighty sum does not cover the cost of installation. Everyone else will need to find and pay for professional installation.If you ask us, we think you’re better off saving your money and living with a monotone Challenger. Still, if you’ve ever thought “I’d pay at least $3700 to take away the stress of choosing what color Challenger I want to get,” then Dodge and CG Detroit’s Challenger wrap with all 14 of the 2023 model’s available colors may be the perfect solution to your problem.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 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

Elon Musk claimed that Tesla is working on a “next-generation vehicle” that will be smaller and cheaper than the Model 3 and Model Y.The comments came during the company’s Q3 earnings call; no specific timeline was given.The aim is to significantly reduce production costs and drastically increase output of this new model, which Musk claims will outsell all other Tesla models combined.Tesla CEO Elon Musk makes a lot of claims, but his latest assertion is particularly enticing. During the company’s Q3 earnings call and Q&A session, Musk discussed the next big thing on the horizon, a new platform that will spawn a “next-generation vehicle” that will be smaller and significantly cheaper than the current Model 3 and Model Y.The goals for this new product are ambitious and far-reaching: Musk says the aim is to reduce production costs by around 50 percent compared with the Model 3 and Y and increase output so that this new model could “exceed the production of all our other vehicles combined.” Given that both the Model 3 and Model Y are already among the top 20 bestselling vehicles in the U.S., that’s a stratospherically high sales target.More on TeslaWe can only assume that these reduced production costs will translate to a lower cost for buyers as well, but we’re not sure exactly how low Tesla could go. The Model 3 currently starts at just under $50,000, and a starting price of around $30,000 would put this hypothetical new Tesla in contention with the cheapest new EVs you can buy today.Musk isn’t talking specifics in terms of timing but asserted that this new platform is the current priority for the development team, as he says, “We’ve done the engineering for Cybertrucks and for Semi.” But neither of those products has hit the market yet, so we’re not holding our breath for the new small, cheap Tesla to arrive anytime soon.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 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

• This 1967 Jaguar Mk II has so much to offer, including sedan practicality, lashings of chrome, and a lusty straight-six paired to a manual transmission.• This particular spec is also the ultimate getaway car, the same kind favored by Roy “the Weasel” James, one of the ne’er-do-wells behind the Great Train Robbery.• Wire wheels with knock-on hubs provide a dash of 1960s elegance, but behind all four of them are disc brakes. The Mk II is elegant, but also easily up to handling traffic on modern roads.Up for your consideration this week is a U.S.-specification 1967 Mk II in black on red, with the desirable four-speed manual transmission. It’s currently up for auction at Bring a Trailer, which, along with Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. Of More Recent VintageIn addition to its obvious charms, there’s the fact that the Mk II was the favored car of a legendary criminal behind the Great Train Robbery—and of someone even more interesting, larger-than-life actor Robbie Coltrane, who died last week. He had any number of outstanding roles in a long career, from criminal psychologist to nun on the run, but undoubtedly his most beloved portrayal was Rubeus Hagrid, half-giant gamekeeper at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. And in real life, Hagrid was a Jag man.Bring a TrailerColtrane owned many cars, but the one he kept longest was a Jaguar Mk II, equipped with the 3.4L engine—not this one that’s up for auction. The Mk II is certainly fit for its purpose as the personal vehicle of a magic gamekeeper. A big trunk offers plenty of room for Griffin Kibbles, and the big, comfy cabin offers a chance to spread out. Also, this thing sprints to 60 mph quicker than a Golden Snitch.Bring a TrailerMk IIs are lovely cars to drive, pairing old world English elegance with some thoroughly modern engineering. Jaguar fitted these cars with disc brakes at all four corners, and the suspension, while supple, is built for carrying speed. You can think of the Mk II as the family E-type or the bank robber’s special.Infamous London underworld hotshoe Roy “the Weasel” James was awfully fond of an Mk II. He specifically chose the 3.4L over the 3.8, as he preferred to wind the engine out while scampering down country lanes, the Old Bill in hot pursuit. These cars were used in the successful heist of gold bullion from Heathrow airport, and later in the theft of £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train: the Great Train Robbery. Bring a TrailerThis example is a later car, and although it can’t claim any celebrities as previous owners, it does include some special features like an optional sunroof. The black paint is especially discreet, but the deep red interior adds a sense of occasion. The twin-carbureted 3.4-liter six is good for 210 horsepower, and it pulls even more authoritatively than the power rating would suggest. Very much a speak softly and carry a big stick car.So, whether you are a fan of wizardry, a student of crime, or just someone who appreciates a proper Jag-you-war, here’s your chance. With four days left to go before the auction ends on October 24, bidding sits at $21,000. 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