Motor News

After declaring tariffs would go into effect this week, the Trump administration has now placed a 30-day hold on tariffs for goods that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), including cars made by the Big Three domestic automakers.While the administration hopes the tariffs will incentivize automakers and suppliers to bring more production to the United States, industry analysts suggest that strategy may not work.A report cited by Automotive News suggests that many automotive parts suppliers would move production outside the U.S in the event of tariffs and, if the tax remains in effect for six months, could cut U.S. jobs.The Trump administration has placed a 30-day moratorium on tariffs for USMCA-compliant goods coming from Canada and Mexico, which will end on April 2. The further delay raises questions as to how Ford, GM, and Stellantis will respond to the federal government’s goal of moving production to the United States, which some industry analysts think may not work. A report by Automotive News shows that roughly one-third of U.S. auto parts suppliers said they would move production outside of the U.S. if 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico stay in place for six months. The AN report cites a February survey conducted by MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, a company that represents U.S. auto parts manufacturers.Michael Simari|Car and DriverIn the study, more than 80 percent of American suppliers surveyed said tariffs on Mexico would negatively impact their business while more than two-thirds said the same about tariffs on Canada, according to AN. Nearly a quarter of surveyed suppliers said they would cut or delay investments if tariffs lasted just a month. If the tariffs were to last for six months, nearly half of the surveyed suppliers said, they would cut U.S. jobs. Given the short time frame offered by the new moratorium and the huge amounts of capital needed to move production, don’t expect to see the automakers taking concrete steps on that one in the next few weeks. However, we can expect some to make announcements about their investments in the U.S., said Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst for the Telemetry market-research firm.ChryslerAbuelsamid pointed to an investment plan outlined by Apple in 2021 that included a $5 billion data center in North Carolina. “Most of that money was already planned for the normal course of business anyway and would have been spent regardless,” said Abuelsamid. The playbook will likely be the same for automakers whose business outlook tends to be years down the road, rather than weeks or months. MEMA president Collin Shaw expressed similar sentiments to AN, saying it would be “categorically false” to suggest automakers could move production in a matter of months. “It’s a multiyear journey, at least two years to move production from location to location,” Shaw said. More on the Tariff SituationCar and Driver reached out to Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis for comment on the exemption and we have listed their responses below. GM’s statement on the exemption: “We thank President Trump for his approach, which enables American automakers like GM to compete and invest domestically. With more vehicle assembly plants in the U.S. than any other automaker, GM has invested over $60 billion since the USMCA took effect, and we continue to invest billions of dollars every year in our manufacturing base, supply chain, and U.S. jobs. We are committed to continued growth and delivering winning vehicles to American consumers.”Ford’s statement:”As America’s top auto producer, we appreciate President Trump’s work to support our industry and exempt auto companies complying with USMCA. Since President Trump’s successful USMCA was signed, Ford has invested billions in the United States and committed to billions more in the future to both invest in American workers and ensure all of our vehicles comply with USMCA. We will continue to have a healthy and candid dialogue with the Administration to help achieve a bright future for our industry and U.S. manufacturing.”Stellantis’s statement:”We thank President Trump for the decision to grant a one-month exemption from tariffs to USMCA-compliant products. We strongly support his determination to enable the American automotive sector to thrive, and in the first 100 hours of his new Administration we announced major investments to grow our business in America. Since the USMCA was enacted in his first term, we invested billions in our U.S. activities and U.S. suppliers. We share the President’s objective to build more American cars and create lasting American jobs. We look forward to working with him and his team.” Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2025 Nissan Z’s prices are the same as last year, making it a bargain compared with the Toyota GR Supra, which costs about $13K more to start.The Z offers three new exterior color options, including a pair of two-tone choices and the iconic Bayside Blue from the R34 Nissan GT-R. The base-model Z still starts at $44,110, with the Performance and NISMO trims starting at $54,110 and $66,890, respectively.While you can no longer order a new GT-R, Nissan will still sell you another sports car, and it’s not more expensive than last year’s model. Along with pricing details, we’ve learned the 2025 Nissan Z is now available with a trio of fresh color options, including a truly iconic shade. No Price Hikes, Hooray!For 2025, the Z still starts at $44,110. That’s a helluva deal compared with its chief rival, the 2025 Toyota GR Supra, which dropped the standard turbo four that previously had a $47,575 initial ask. Now, the GR Supra 3.0 with the 382-hp turbocharged straight-six starts at $57,385. For about $13K less, the entry-level Nissan Z comes with rear-wheel drive and a 400-hp twin-turbo six, not to mention an optional six-speed manual. The Z’s mid-tier Performance trim, which starts at $54,110, comes with additional go-fast bits such as a limited-slip rear differential, Bridgestone Potenza S007 high-performance tires, and upgraded brakes. Even the most expensive track-focused Z NISMO, which ups output to 420 horsepower, features a sportier suspension and wears racier bodywork. It starts at $66,890, just like last year. While the Supra has been the mainstream choice and the winner of our comparison test between the two models, it is also now the far more expensive option.NissanNissanThree new exterior color options have also been added to the Z’s seven existing hues. Two of them are split-tone options, including one that pairs a Pearl White tri-coat with a Super Black roof, and the other couples a Solid Red shade with the same blacked-out canopy. The third new exterior paint color should excite any longtime Nissan fans, as it isn’t a new color at all. The Z can now be ordered in Bayside Blue, one of the most iconic Nissan paint colors of all time, which first appeared on the R34-generation GT-R before also being made available on the most recent R35 GT-R. With the GT-R now cruising the great Bayshore Route in the sky, the not-so-subtle tribute is a nice gesture by Nissan. And between its performance-to-price quotient and new paint options, the latest Z looks more attractive than before.More for Your Z FixAustin’s car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren’t cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father’s full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked.

That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table. More

On this week’s Window Shop, we embark on a mission to find the best cars for Uber Black. This challenge came from a viewer and proved to be somewhat difficult, given a budget of $20,000 and the rather tight restrictions of Uber’s vehicle requirements for this premium service. Eligible vehicles have to have a black exterior and a black leather interior and be less than five years old (though some 2019 model vehicles are eligible).As usual, our contestants took a wide variety of strategies for this task, and the resulting range of vehicles proved to be entertaining. Yours truly started off with a subdued long-wheelbase Swedish luxury sedan. Then, senior editor Elana Scherr took a sharp left turn with her sporty Italian SUV, which may not have a very big back seat but would no doubt impress riders with its fancy-sounding name. Executive editor K.C. Colwell was up next and found an impressively trimmed flagship sedan from an unlikely source. Contributor Jonathon Ramsey went the more traditional route with a rather anonymous SUV that nonetheless boasted both a luxury badge and a third row of seats, possibly opening it up for UberXL duty as well. And editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga presented a self-described “cynical” choice that was quite literally a former livery vehicle.We don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but this episode did feature a fun twist ending with a tiebreaker and an impromptu special guest. So we implore you to stick around until the bitter end and share your thoughts on which vehicle you thought was the winner.More Window ShoppingDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

The order books on the R35-generation Nissan GT-R have officially closed in Japan.With no replacement in sight and Nissan’s shaky financials, this might be it for the sports car also known as “Godzilla.”It also wouldn’t be the first time the GT-R has had a long pause between generations.The thump you just heard was the closing of the order book for the Nissan GT-R, and it sounds worryingly authoritative. According to a statement posted on Nissan’s Japanese home website, no more orders are being taken for the production of the R35-generation GT-R. Either you already have your name on the list, or you can’t get one.Given that Nissan brought back the Z after a short hiatus, there might be a tendency not to worry about it. Plenty of nameplates go away and then return a few years later. In fact, such a situation happened with the Skyline GT-R between the “Kenmeri” GT-R of 1973 and the R32-chassis GT-R of 1989. (Side note: if you’re a real GT-R otaku, only the R32 is supposed to get the Godzilla nickname.)However, with that particular 13-year pause, some other hot Skylines filled the gap, whereas the R35-chassis GT-R is a standalone car. And, while Nissan has previously confirmed that there will be a next generation of both the GT-R and the Z, it did so at last year’s New York auto show, when the financial picture for the company was not so dire. The current situation, including ending merger talks with Honda, does not look so good. What precious R&D dollars are available need to go towards keeping mainline products competitive rather than an expensive performance flagship.The R35 chassis is so old that JDM versions actually now qualify to be imported into Canada under the country’s 15-year rules (we have to wait 25 years in the United States). Nissan tweaked the car here and there over its production run, including many special editions, but it’s worth noting that there were only three years of the previous R34. When the R35 first debuted, it was a monster. In its last years, it was starting to look like something of an atomic-breath dinosaur, still very fast but also faded. Beyond concepts, Nissan doesn’t seem to have an heir waiting in the wings.Still, there’s hope to be found. At the heart of the Z’s rebirth was none other than Hiroshi Tamura, who shepherded the R35 into existence. Tamura-san is such a huge fan of the GT-R that he still has the R32 Skyline GT-R that he’s owned since he was in his 20s. Even when the accounting department turns off the faucet, the enthusiasts working at a company can manage to keep things moving.For now, at least, the Nissan GT-R is officially dormant, if not indeed dead. Nissan will continue to build the cars that have been ordered, and then it’s curtains for the iconic sports car. Here’s hoping it’s not goodbye forever.More GT-R ReadingBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Jaguar boss Rawdon Glover said the company’s new electric platform is not designed to accept hybrid setups or gas engines, per a report by Autocar.Glover also revealed that he hit 160 mph on a test track in the 986-hp top-of-the-line version of the upcoming I-type grand tourer.According to Glover, the design will remain remarkably similar to the dramatic Type 00 concept revealed last year.Jaguar’s rebranding and plans for an electric grand tourer—previewed by last year’s Type 00 concept—have been polarizing, but there’s no going back for the British automaker. In an interview with Autocar, Jaguar’s managing director Rawdon Glover explained why the brand must commit to EVs and divulged a few more details about the upcoming electric GT, which might adopt the name I-type.Jaguar’s Future Is Electric OnlyOther automakers have reacted to cooling growth rates for EV demand by postponing or canceling plans for new electric models. For example, earlier today Maserati confirmed it’s ditching the MC20 Folgore electric supercar project. But Glover said that “there is no flexibility” for Jaguar since the Jaguar Electric Architecture that will underpin its entire future lineup cannot support hybrid or gas powertrains. JaguarA prototype for the electric Jaguar four-door grand tourer.”We made the decision back in 2021 to have an electric architecture dedicated to us,” he explained. “There isn’t the opportunity to put a V-8 into it or something else.” Glover expressed confidence in the EV market, however, stating that “a lot of things will change” over the next decade and that “EV will be the right platform for us and the powertrain of choice” for the market. “Advancements in technology and infrastructure are going to make a big difference,” he predicted.Lofty Power and Price In regards to the car itself, Jaguar’s head honcho said he had driven the range-topping version of the I-type on the test track at up to 160 mph. Autocar reported this variant produces 986 horsepower, and Glover described it as the “most fun I’ve had” while serving atop the brand. “It was stunning in terms of its speed, its acceleration, its performance, but also how it delivered the power with a real sense of character,” he said. Despite the heady power figures, the I-type will not be designed as a sports car. Instead, Glover sees it as a car that “you can drive confidently at pace for extended periods and still come out feeling great.”While the GT car will ride on the new dedicated Jaguar Electric Architecture, Glover confirmed it will share its electric motors and battery with other JLR models. “Economically, there’s no way around that,” Glover conceded. We wouldn’t be surprised if some of the I-type’s components are shared with, say, the upcoming Land Rover Range Rover EV.Illustration by Avarvarii|Car and DriverA render of how the production version of the I-type could look.The design won’t be a significant departure from the Type 00 concept, although the production car will sprout a second pair of doors. “There is strong lineage” between the concept and production models, most notably with the proportions, long hood, front fascia, and the taillight graphic, which consists of a series of horizontal lines that Jaguar is calling the “Strikethrough.” The Type 00 concept’s cabin has a pair of large screens that could completely fold out of sight, and perhaps something similar could reach production, as Glover said that the car won’t be “bombarding the driver with technology.”While Jaguar had previously said the electric GT would hit the road in late 2026, Autocar now reports the Jaguar will be revealed by the end of this year and start production in the middle of 2026. We had previously expected the starting price for the I-type to be around $200,000, but it could end up being significantly lower, with Glover quoting a price of roughly $128,000. Jaguar’s GT will be the first of three new models, with the next two debuts expected to be a large sedan and an SUV.More on Jaguar’s FutureCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Maserati has officially canceled plans for an electric MC20 Folgore supercar.The MC20 Folgore was originally announced in 2020 and was supposed to finally be launched in 2025.A tri-motor powertrain would have churned out at least 700 horsepower, but now the MC20 will continue exclusively with its twin-turbocharged V-6 powertrain.UPDATE 3/6/25, 2:25 p.m.: This story has been updated with a statement from a Maserati spokesperson.Once known for the roar of V-8 engines, Maserati has spent the past couple of years transitioning away from internal combustion and toward an all-electric future. But one element of those plans has now been scrapped after Stellantis recently canceled a roughly $1.5 billion investment in the brand. Maserati had aimed to introduce the MC20 Folgore, an electric version of its slinky supercar, this year. Instead, as first reported by Autocar, the MC20 Folgore has been officially canceled. MaseratiMaserati first announced its intention to create an electric supercar way back in 2020 when it first revealed the gas-powered MC20. At the time, the Italian automaker said an electric version would arrive shortly after the V-6-engined car went on sale and would pack a 700-hp tri-motor powertrain. But when the MC20 finally hit the streets for the 2022 model year, there was no news about the Folgore version.Last year, Maserati gave us an update on the MC20 Folgore, revealing that it would be launched in 2025. But that project has been thrown in the scrap heap, with the company saying that the decision was “due to a perceived lack of commercial interest.” Maserati further explained that “Market studies for the super sports car segment and especially for MC20 customers has demonstrated that they are very keen on driving powerful ICE engines” and that they “are not ready to switch to BEVs for the foreseeable future.”Autocar also reported that, instead of the Folgore, Maserati will give the gas-powered MC20 a thorough update that could include some of the upgrades found on the MC20 GT2 Stradale.The cancellation of the MC20 Folgore as well as the retraction of funding by parent company Stellantis calls into question Maserati’s greater transition toward electrification, as well as the health of the brand as a whole. Last year, Maserati confirmed that the MC20 Folgore would be followed by a large electric SUV in 2027 and an electric successor to the long-running Quattroporte sedan, which had been delayed to 2028 from its originally scheduled 2024 launch. Given the setbacks Maserati’s EVs have already experienced, however, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising for the plans that Maserati announced last year to have already shifted.StellantisThe Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is related to the Maserati MC20.Another interesting factor in the news of the MC20 Folgore’s death is the status of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, which shares its bones with the MC20. While the first gas-powered 33 Stradale was delivered last fall, the Alfa Romeo was also supposed to come with an electric version with 750 hp and a 240-mile range. However, with only 33 units of the supercar being built worldwide, it’s unclear if Alfa Romeo will follow through on the investment needed for only a handful of electric 33 Stradales.More on MaseratiCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Volvo has shown us our first sneak peek of the upcoming EX60 electric crossover, which is set to make its debut in 2026.When it shows up, the EX60 will launch Volvo’s SPA3 platform which the company says will allow for cheaper and more efficient cars.The EX60 will be a new electric compact crossover that sits alongside the internal-combustion XC60 in Volvo’s lineup.Volvo has given us our first glimpse of the upcoming EX60, which will be an electric equivalent to the brand’s incredibly popular XC60 combustion model. The car was announced last September, but this is the first time the automaker has shown any preview of the design.The teaser came just before the 25-minute mark of Volvo’s recent ES90 electric sedan launch video (shown below). It shows what looks to be a nearly fully covered clay model and the brand’s instantly recognizable vertical taillight design. Previous claims from Volvo indicate that the new model is slated to arrive sometime in 2026.When it arrives, the EX60 will debut Volvo’s SPA3 production architecture, which is set to succeed the SPA2 platform underpinning the new Volvo EX90 and ES90. This incoming platform is meant to be completely modular, allowing for smaller and larger vehicles to be built on the same platform and, in turn, reduce production costs. Volvo claims that one of the other defining features of SPA3 will be its structural battery packs that will further reduce weight and cost. Little surrounding the EX60 is set in stone at this point but we expect it to roughly match the gas version’s dimensions while taking styling cues from the rest of Volvo’s EV lineup. As with the XC90 and EX90, we expect the electric 60 will be considerably more expensive than the traditional model—with pricing likely starting in the ballpark of $60,000. More on VolvoJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2026 Genesis GV70 benefits from a refresh, but its prices have also risen by up to $3235 as a result.The compact luxury SUV still offers a 300-hp turbo four and a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6, which start at $49,345 and $64,865, respectively. Genesis hasn’t yet announced pricing for the Electrified GV70, but we expect it will start at around $67K when it eventually goes on sale.The Genesis GV70 gets a little prettier for the 2026 model year, and its interior is improved with a new dash-spanning display. The visual tweaks and newly added features are part of the compact luxury SUV’s mid-cycle refresh, bringing price hikes as high as $3235, but they vary based on the trim level.GV70 Prices are (Mostly) HigherFor 2026, the GV70 lineup starts with the $49,345 base 2.5T model, which still features a 300-hp 2.5-liter turbo four and standard all-wheel drive. That price is $1695 higher than last year, but unlike before, the entry-level model now comes with a 27-inch OLED screen on the dash and snazzy microlens-array headlights. Stepping up to the 2.5T Select pushes the starting price to $52,335 (up $1685), but it adds myriad power adjustments, a panoramic sunroof, and a wireless phone charger.The 2.5T versions of the GV70 also come in Sport Advanced and Sport Prestige trims, which start at $56,885 and $60,245, respectively. The former model receives the highest price hike, rising $3235 versus last year. Meanwhile, the latter is only $685 more expensive. With the Advanced, Genesis includes leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a Bang & Olufsen stereo. The Prestige adopts 21-inch wheels, styling bits that suggest it’s sportier, and there are more leather interior surfaces, plus a third climate zone.For those who want the most powerful version of the GV70, Genesis continues to offer it with a 375-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6. For 2026, it drops the 3.5T Sport that previously started at $60,250. Instead, the mightier models now start at $64,865 for the Sport Advanced. While that means it costs $4615 more to get the V-6, Genesis appears to try and offset that by making the Advanced trim’s price $1785 lower than last year. The Sport Prestige still resides at the top of the GV70 hierarchy, and its $71,545 initial ask is up by $1695.EV GV70 Pricing to ComeGenesis also updated the Electrified GV70 for 2026, giving it a bigger 84.0-kWh battery with more range as well as a newly standard NACS charge port. However, the company hasn’t yet announced pricing for the electric version. That should be announced closer to its on-sale date, which should follow the gas GV70’s spring debut.Related StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More