Motor News

The Buick Century is a new flagship ultra-luxury minivan, sitting atop the brands GL8 family of vans offered in China. The Century comes in equally sumptuous four- or six-seat layouts, complete with 18-way adjustable seats. The Century will be available with three trim levels, starting around $74,500 and ranging to around $97,000 based on current exchange rates. Want an ultra-luxury minivan? Move to China, and Buick’s got you covered with its new Century minivan (no, this isn’t related to the Buick Century sedan sold for many decades in the U.S.). Several high-end vans available in China have caught our attention before—including the boldly styled Lexus LM and Buick’s GL8 Avenir—and this latest Buick van’s cabin looks nearly on par with that of luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.More Luxury VansThe Century can be had in either a four- or six-seat layout. Covered with Nappa leather, the rear seats offer 18-way adjustments, five independent heating zones, and a massage function. Worried about cold feet? Don’t be. The extendable footrests are heated as well. The Century is designed to chauffeur the wealthy, and nothing screams wealth like 366 LEDs and 162 flashing lights in the suede headliner meant to resemble a starry night sky, complete with shooting stars.The four-seat layout offers a partition between the driver and rear passengers, creating a private place to work or sleep while being chauffeured. A 32-inch entertainment screen can raise and lower at the touch of a button on yet another touchscreen. A cabin-talk system allows rear passengers to see and talk to the driver or front passenger. In a move that shows just how much the Century caters to its passengers, 16 of the vans 21 speakers are located in the rear passenger section. A 13-liter fridge keeps drinks cool, while the scent diffuser keeps the cabin smelling fresh. The Century may favor its passengers, but the driver is not forgotten. The Century has a 30-inch virtual cockpit display as well as head-up display to project nav, speed, and other key vehicle info to the driver. Buick doesn’t provide many mechanical specs, but the Century is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt hybrid system.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

Side-impact crashes are especially deadly, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wants to change that.Putting various body styles through its updated side crash test, the IIHS reports that many small sedans and hatchbacks struggled to achieve a Good rating. (All 11 tested had achieved overall Good scores in the original test.)The Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback received Good ratings, while Honda’s Civic, Nissan’s Sentra, and Toyota’s Corolla received Acceptable grades, and Kia’s Forte (pictured above) and Subaru’s Impreza received Poor marks.Safety technology within the automotive industry has progressed significantly in the 21st century, with advanced driver-assistance systems becoming standard equipment. Adding these layers of driver redundancy aims to avoid crashes altogether, but driver aids have their limits, and the frequency of traffic crashes has skyrocketed in recent years. When collisions occur, the structure of the vehicle itself can be the difference between serious injury or walking away with a few scratches. 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.Small car performance is a mixed bag in new side crash testWatch onThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has introduced a new crash test to its safety rating regimen. Nearly a quarter of passenger-vehicle occupant fatalities can be traced to severe side impacts, and the IIHS recently updated that test to reflect reality, with a 4200-pound barrier striking the side of test cars at 37 mph. The results for small cars are concerning. Good or Acceptable RatingsOf the 11 models tested, only the Mazda 3 hatchback and sedan received the highest mark of Good, with an acceptable level of safety cage damage and a minimal level of injury to the driver’s torso and pelvis. The Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and Toyota Corolla all received Acceptable ratings, which is a bump down from Good in IIHS terms, and showed weakness in driver pelvis protection. It’s worth noting that all of these models received an Acceptable rating in the structure and safety cage category—a stark contrast from the Good ratings seen on many mid-size crossovers. Mazda’s legacy hatchback had a strong safety cage and returned results with only a low chance of most injuries.MazdaFour Were Graded ‘Poor’Four of the 11 models tested received Poor overall ratings due to inadequate safety cage construction and significant injury risk to drivers. Kia’s Forte performed the worst, with a marginal safety cage rating and poor protection of the driver’s torso and pelvis, while Subaru’s Impreza and Crosstrek family displayed poor structural safety across the board.Specifically, the Forte’s crash test resulted in a window-sill head impact through the airbag, adding to the high risk of head injury. Subaru’s crash test also indicated a window-sill head impact and a cabin intrusion of the B-pillar.Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyAcross the board, small sedans and hatchbacks performed poorly as compared with their mid-size crossover counterparts but fared similarly to small crossover and mid-size sedan counterparts. The IIHS says a higher ride height leads to better performance in the new evaluation, due to the impact being centered closer to the floor as opposed to the door. But this doesn’t mean these small sedans and hatchbacks are inherently unsafe. “It’s encouraging to see so many small cars with passing grades in this new side test,” said IIHS senior research engineer Becky Mueller, who led development of the new evaluation. “Smaller, lower vehicles are at a disadvantage when struck by the new test barrier, which is a more realistic representation of the front end of a typical modern SUV than our old barrier.”Even so, it’s clear that a number of manufacturers have figured out how to provide sufficient structural rigidity and crash protection with less material. Additionally, all of these models received a Good rating in the current side-impact test, which uses a 3300-pound barrier traveling at 31 mph. The new test has a 4200-pound barrier strike the side of the vehicle at 37 mph, which IIHS said more closely emulates a real-world impact from a mid-size SUV.This updated test is not an official test criterion for 2022 model year units, but the institute says that starting in 2023, vehicles will need a Good or Acceptable rating in this upgraded test to get Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ honors. As the IIHS continues to update safety standards, manufacturers will face pressure to meet these benchmarks, given that IIHS ratings are a significant marker for safety-conscious car buyers. 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

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.If Window Shop had gone to Uncle Ben’s school of common notions, the theme of today’s show would have been, “With greatly understressed engines comes great reliability.” Since it’s much easier to answer a challenge than moral obligations, the command was to find the most reliable car on sale with a budget of $10,000.Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman took a trip in The Internet Wayback Machine—or to an estate sale—for a 1992 Toyota Camry. The XV10 has never enjoyed such hyperbole, being compared to the Lexus LS400, Toyota’s winning GTP race cars, overbuilt Mercedes engineering, and the Platonic Form of Toyotas. Shame about those potentially dried seals, though. Pearley “Thunder-stealer” Huffman had chosen the exact Camry that senior editor Joey Capparella planned to present. Capparella switched tabs to his Plan B, a second-gen Lexus GS300 powered by Toyota’s legendary 2JZ. Despite concerns about an ugly steering wheel cover, a propensity for foggy taillamps, and Capparella’s insider trading by choosing a version of his own car, the GS won reserved praise.Contributor Jonathon Ramsey asked, “What’s the point of a reliable car I don’t want to be seen in?” The answer took him first to a Land Cruiser in Ontario disqualified for being too awesome. He settled on a 2008 Subaru Outback in excellent condition. Others noted the risk of a blown head gasket being antithetical to reliability, proving Ramsey might never relinquish his mantra that it’s better to look good than to get where you’re going.Executive editor K.C. Colwell rolled up in the kind of unexpected gem he’s known for, a Honda Element with a manual transmission. The banter immediately turned to the seating arrangements, the cupholders, the cleanliness of the intake manifold, and how come no one ever sees the Honda Element anymore. At no time did anyone discuss or even mention the Element’s reliability.Editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga thought he could carry off the win in a Lexus GX470. He answered every challenge to its four-wheel-drive complexity, Walmart service history, and supposedly missing lug nut with, “It will never break.” Considering the source, used GX prices should be headed to nosebleed heights and Lexus should sell every GX it can make as soon as this show airs. But would TQ be headed to a win? Power and reliability live in inverse proportions, the same relationship reliability has with joy, adventure, and excitement. However, this episode of Window Shop proves boring cars are directly proportional to the chances of a crossfire gabfest.More Window ShoppingThis 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 Ford F-150 Raptor R is rated at 10 mpg city, 15 highway, and 13 combined, per the EPA.The Ford’s fuel-economy ratings are awful, but they’re almost identical to those for the 702-hp Ram TRX, which has a worse 14-mpg highway rating.For comparison, the regular F-150 Raptor is rated up to 15 mpg city, 18 highway, and 16 combined. We’re not surprised the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R has awful fuel-economy ratings. What do you expect from an off-road mega truck with a 700-hp supercharged V-8 and 37-inch tires that tower over most toddlers? While both of those traits are awesome, they predictably contribute to the Raptor R’s drinking problem, which, according to the EPA, results in estimates of 10 mpg city and 15 mpg highway—for a combined rating of 12 mpg.Since everything in the pickup-truck segment is a battle of some sort, it’s worth noting the thirstiest F-150 has EPA ratings that are almost identical to those of the 702-hp Ram TRX. Both trucks are estimated to get an abysmal 10 mpg in the city, but the Ram’s 14-mpg highway figure is 1 mpg worse than the Ford’s. They also have the same 12 mpg combined.Combined, their highway ratings are still 1 mpg less than a hybrid Toyota Corolla’s 46-mpg figure.EPAThe only other machine that’s remotely comparable to the Raptor R and TRX is the Cadillac Escalade-V. Sure, it’s missing a cargo bed and hardcore off-road hardware, but it has a body-on-frame design and a supercharged V-8 that makes 682 horsepower. The Caddy is rated at 11 mpg city, 16 highway, and 13 combined. Think about this for a second: If you take the Ford, Ram, and Cadillac’s highway ratings, they add up to 45 mpg—one less than a single Toyota Corolla hybrid rated at 46 mpg highway.More Raptor R ReadingOf course, Raptor fans who aren’t interested in the fuel-swilling R-rated model can settle for the regular version. It’s EPA-rated at up to 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and between 15–16 mpg combined. However, beware because opting for the 37-inch tire package can drop its city and highway estimates as low as 14 and 16, respectively.The 2023 F-150 Raptor R starts at $109,145. To find out how the supertruck performs in the giant off-road playground that is Michigan’s Silver Lake Sand Dunes, check out our first drive.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 Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a contest to choose a custom build and turn it into a 1:64-scale toy car.Entrants come from around the world, and only 10 will advance to the final round.Car and Driver senior editor Elana Scherr and Road & Track’s John Pearley Huffman represented Hearst Autos in the semifinals judging.You may not be a collector, all grown up as you are and needing your shelf space for pretentious bourbon, but we’d be surprised if you can see a Hot Wheels car and not give it a quick little spin around the table. Mattel’s glossy mini-machines have appeal across age groups, and worldwide, which is why the Hot Wheels Legends Tour—a chance for builders of full-size cars to see their work memorialized in die-cast form—attracts entries from all over the globe.Hot Wheels LoreWinnowing the hopefuls down to one takes a full year, with regional events leading up to a 24-car semifinal, and, eventually, a 10-best shootout. We were invited this year, along with beloved Window Shop participant and Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman, to judge the difficult semifinals.The semifinalists ranged from a pink mini-truck to an almost spherical Volkswagen Bug bus. We liked the Snork-nosed blown Porsche 928, while other judges marveled at a high-riding Autozam and a Ford Anglia with a stock back window design so wildly styled that it seemed more custom than the customs. Here’s the full list we had to choose from.2015 Proton Suprima S – Nilai Seremban, Malaysia2003 Toyota Hilux – Shimotsuma, Japan1969 Buick Riviera – Los Angeles, California, USA1987 Mitsubishi Jeep Ratrod – Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Philippines1998 Nissan 240SX S14 SE – Miami, Florida, USA1974 Mini GT – Punta Arenas, Chile1978 Porsche 928 – Dallas, Texas, USARaptor Buggy – Mt Maunganui, New Zealand1973 Toyota Celica ST – Windsor, Ontario, Canada1980 C3 Corvette – Pajęczno, Poland1992 Autozam Scrum – Beaumont, Texas, USA1976 VW Puma GTE – Saarbrücken, Germany1956 VW Beetle – Syracuse, New York, USA1963 Ford Anglia 105e – Hertfordshire, United Kingdom1971 Plymouth Duster/2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee – Mexico City, Mexico1968 VW Beetle – Atlanta, Georgia, USA1931 Dodge Rat Rod – Detroit, Michigan, USA1962 Beetle – Bandung, Indonesia2011 Kart 1000 cc – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil2017 Radio Flyer – San Tan Valley, Arizona, USA1927 Wayne Ford School Bus – Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, USA1974 Mini Clubman Panel Van – New South Wales, Australia1969 International CO1800 – Corning, California, USANissan Skyline R33 1JZ non VVTI – Barcelona, SpainWe’re not just being polite when we say any of the cars we saw would have made excellent Hot Wheels, but we were instructed to think of the final product: how would the details translate? Is this a car that’s similar to Hot Wheels already in production? Would a kid want to play with this? Would an adult?We won’t give away the semifinalist winners! You can watch the judging here and tell us who you would have sent to the finals.How to See the FinalsIf you want to watch the finals, held at Jay Leno’s garage, check back in on the Hot Wheels Facebook page on November 12 at midnight Eastern time.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 multi-million-dollar Mercedes-AMG One hypercar set a new lap record for production cars at the Nürburgring with a time of 6:35.183. According to Mercedes, the lap was completed on October 28 while parts of the 12.944 mile track were still drying off.The car was piloted by Nürburgring 24-Hour winner and DTM competitor Maro Engel and the record followed the official Nüburgring-Nordschleife rules, using the official start/finish line in section T13.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.Mercedes-AMG ONE | 6:35.183 | Record Lap NordschleifeWatch onThe Mercedes-Benz AMG One hypercar set a new lap record for production cars on the Nüburgring-Nordschleife. Maro Engel piloted the hypercar to blisteringly fast time of 6:35.183, following the official standard for Nürburgring record runs, which have changed in recent years to utilize the same start/finish line in section T13 of the track. Information about the official record standards can be found on the Nürburgring website here. The time set by the AMG One achieves a new record for production cars on the famous Green Hell. This isn’t Engel’s first record: in 2020 he set a production car record of 6:48.047 in the formidable Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey topped that with a time of 6:43.300 in 2021. The Manthey Kit is currently only available through European Porsche dealerships, making it a bit of a production gray area, though Porsche previously announced a plan to allow U.S. customers the option to retrofit the kit. Engel completed the new lap on October 28, with parts of the track damp from rain resulting in less than ideal driving conditions. Mercedes-Benz AG “I didn’t expect that we would be able to set such a lap time with these track conditions. In some crucial areas of the track, it hadn’t dried completely yet and was therefore tricky,” Engel said in a statement. “That was a special challenge.” The AMG One is a hybrid hypercar that’s essentially a street-legal Formula 1 car. The 1.6-liter V-6 revs to 11,000 rpm and the powertrain also utilizes four electric motors. Two motors power the front wheels, one is paired with the engine, and another to the turbocharger. Mercedes claims a combined horsepower figure north of 1000 but hasn’t released detailed specs. 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.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 Moke Californian was inspired by a Sixties Mini-based beach special.It will be sold in the U.S. but is no highway cruiser with its 44 horsepower and 50-mph top speed. Prices start at $41,990.Buyers looking for a retro-styled, British-inspired ultra-lightweight EV are now facing a tricky choice, with the announcement that a second all-electric Mini Moke is going to go on sale in the U.S. Meet the Moke Californian.The original 1959 Mini was a masterpiece of minimalism, marketed in its U.K. homeland as having space for four adults despite an overall length of just 120 inches. But for its designer, Alec Issigonis, it wasn’t pared back enough. He also led development of what was essentially a bodyless version of the same mechanical package. The original concept was for a parachute-deployable troop transporter, but the British army turned down the chance to use what would undoubtedly have been the cutest military vehicle of all time, possibly to avoid the risk of being laughed at.Moke InternationalInstead what became known as the Mini Moke was marketed as a civilian vehicle, one aimed at the temperate parts of the world where its lack of doors and a roof would be less of an issue. (Fans of British sci-fi show The Prisoner would have seen candy-striped versions in the cult 1960s classic.) It was produced at various times in Britain, Australia, and Portugal, sharing its core mechanical package with the Mini sedan—meaning a transverse-mounted four-cylinder A-series engine with between 0.8 and 1.2 liters of swept capacity, and power outputs ranging from 34 to a dizzying 68 horsepower.Moke InternationalThe original Moke was briefly sold in the States, but production of all versions ended in 1993. In 2012 Chinese automaker Chery acquired the name and started to produce a similar-looking car, although one that is considerably larger because of the need to accommodate modern engines and bulkier strut suspension. On the published numbers it is 11 inches longer, 14 inches wider, and sits on a wheelbase 10 inches bigger than the original. Around the world several companies have produced electric versions of this car, with one already being sold in the U.S. by Moke America.The new Californian comes from a different company, Moke International, and will be built in the U.K.—although it is based on the same Chery design as the rival car, with all major dimensions being almost identical. The Moke Californian has a more powerful drivetrain and, thanks to the the much-delayed enactment of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act allowing the sale of replica vehicles, is set to be highway legal.Moke InternationalThat’s highway legal rather than interstate viable. The Moke Californian uses a rear-mounted 44-hp motor to deliver a top speed of 50 mph. A lithium-ion battery pack gives a claimed range of up to 74 miles under Europes WLTP testing protocol, although one that it’s hard to imagine too many owners trying to achieve in one journey. Sales will be limited to no more than 325 cars a year in the U.S.—another provision of the Low Volume Act—with prices starting at $41,900. That is close to double the $22,975 base price of Moke America’s version, although that one has only 19 hp and a 25-mph top speed, and its use is restricted to Neighborhood Electric Vehicle areas. Pick either, and the Moke will be on you. 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

As we reported last month, VW intends to fully electrify its performance R subbrand by 2030.There are some changes in the works to make that possible, which we explore with VW executives—among them, the need for a new EV platform and software updates.Once the kinks are worked out, though, VW is looking to sell an EV in the under-$25,000 range and potentially to add a couple of halo cars that could be in the R subbrand.VW’s go-fast R division would love to surprise and delight us with four new electric high-performance models. But top management may have different ideas about the brand’s future halo cars—like a reimagined Golf or a new battery-powered Beetle.”One thing is certain: the future of VW R is electric,” says Reinhold Ivenz, previously with Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport, now head of the VW R division. “In my view, R must stand for fully integrated sustainable high-performance products: emotional, digital, balanced, and brand-centric.” 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.Slik lagde vi Norges mest populære arbeidsplass på fem hjulWatch onChanging of the GuardSounds like a plan, but over the past 20 years R was above all synonymous with eye-catching R-line trim packs and high-performance versions of mainstream models. Run by Jost Capito, who is now with Williams F1, the R power brokers had plenty of promising ideas that went exactly nowhere. The proposed roadgoing version of the record-breaking 680-hp 2018 ID.R electric racer was mothballed at the 11th hour. An affordable bespoke mid-engine roadster known as the VW Mimo was gunned down by Audi and Porsche in unison. The limited-edition ID.R Buggy built by Karmann turned out to be another paper tiger. Fact is, the R division never had the funds, the clout, and the support to become Wolfsburg’s answer to Audi Sport, BMW M, and Mercedes-AMG.Specs and DetailsWhich is a shame, because the Golf R ranks among the brand’s all-time greats. But where to from here? The R versions of the Touareg, T-Roc, and Tiguan currently sold in Europe will be discontinued with the arrival of the next-generation models, and the ID.R proposals mentioned by Reinhold Ivenz are at this point nothing but a pipe dream:the 2025 Trinity R, VW’s new radically re-engineered zero-emission flagshipthe 2026 ID.R CUV, an electrified Touareg/Teramont/Atlas Cross Sport replacementthe 2027 ID.R SUV, a zero-emission full-size five- and seven-seater global SUVAll of the above are based on the new SSP (scalable systems platform) architecture, which requires the latest E3 2.0 software. That’s still under development at the VW Cariad think tank. E3 2.0 permits extended functionalities like Level 3 autonomous driving, 250-kW-plus fast-charging, and much improved connectivity. Rumored R versions of ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and the upcoming Passat-size ID.Aero are a mirage because the first-generation MEB platform does not meet the ambitious performance and range requirements. New CEO Thomas Schäfer knows full well that VW must deliver to bring the brand back up to speed and profitability. “First of all, we are going to fix the overly complicated ergonomics, deal with certain quality issues, and address the somewhat nondescript design language. In a parallel move, we will introduce the 2023 Passat, Tiguan, and ID.Aero to add luster to the portfolio. After that, I am determined to launch an electric Volkswagen in the sub-25,000-euro segment, which will be available in two body styles.”We Must Decide What to Do with GTI and R””Last but not least, our products must become more desirable by offering a more emotional user experience. That’s where the R division might come in, but R alone won’t cut it. In addition to the ID.Buzz, VW needs at least one more halo car, perhaps even two. We must decide what to do with GTI and R, whether to create a new subbrand along the lines of Hyundai N, and how to reinvent iconic models like Golf. I believe that names tell a better story than letters and numbers, but irrespective of marketing considerations substance is absolutely essential because we need healthy volumes to fund whatever that icing on the cake may be.” When we suggested the idea of an electric Beetle as a sporty two-seat spider or a four-seat cabriolet, the chairman pulled out his most nondescript smile and said exactly nothing. Perhaps we should have asked him what it would take to let Porsche use VW a decontented version of the electric 718 replacement, which will be built at Karmann in Osnabrück where the coachbuilt Beetle softtop rolled off the line through 1979. Time for an enco-R-e, don’t you think?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