Motor News

The State of New York adopted a plan to phase out sales of gas- and diesel-engined cars and light trucks by 2035, following efforts by California and Washington.New York is implementing interim targets to reach goal of ZEV-only sales, with a 35 percent target by 2026.EV adoption rates in many states, especially between the two coasts, currently lag behind the announced targets, and could create vastly different car sales environments in different neighboring states. The State of New York has joined Washington and California in introducing efforts that will phase out the sale of new gas and diesel-engined cars and light trucks in the coming years. New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed the State Department of Environmental Conservation to take steps that will gradually phase out the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by the year 2035, with a number of interim targets between now and the target year.The governor’s initiative essentially directs a state administrative agency to adopt rules through rulemaking procedures, similar to an effort first announced by California Governor Gavin Newsom two years ago. However, it was California’s adoption of Advanced Clean Cars II last month that has opened the door to New York state to adopt the same goal.According to the plan, the rules will require that 35% of light vehicle sales in the state be of zero-emission vehicles by 2026—identical to California’s interim targets promulgated by CARB—moving up to 68 percent by 2030. By 2035, all 100% of light vehicle sales will be mandated to be ZEV.Some critics of California’s efforts in this regard argue that the plans don’t actually go far enough, neglecting to add more stringent requirements to internal combustion vehicles.”Both the Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II rules would provide the needed regulatory certainty to support a stable market for long-term vehicle purchasing decisions and the development of ZEV charging infrastructure,” the governor’s office said in a statement.Meanwhile in CaliforniaBy 2026, the state is investing over $1 billion in zero emissions vehicles, which includes various purchase rebate programs, including a point-of-sale rebate that could take up to $2000 off the purchase price of a zero-emission vehicle by private buyers within the state, adding to the revamped federal rebate program. “New York is a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse, and we’re using our strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emission vehicles on a grand scale,” Governor Hochul said in announcing the plan.Still, New York’s plan is more conservative than that of the state of Washington, which is working toward a phase-out of the sales of internal combustion engine cars and light trucks by 2030 according to legislation that was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee earlier this year. Washington has a head start on many other US states for a number of reasons, including current EV adoption rates, but will still have to take significant steps to bring about a 2030 ICE vehicle sales ban.While New York state’s planned 2035 phase-out may appear distant enough to be plausible, the interim 35% ZEV target by 2026 perhaps appears less so. It would require nearly double-digit EV sales growth, on average, every year between now and the end of 2026. It is also worth noting that many automakers themselves are not forecasting such growth for EVs in the US by the start of 2026, and a few have indicated that 30% would be optimistic by the year 2030. “With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles,” Governor Hochul added. “We’re driving New York’s transition to clean transportation forward, and today’s announcement will benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come.” 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 Chevrolet Corvair is known mainly for getting the attention of safety advocate Ralph Nader, but it also represents GM’s nascent attempt to fight the rising tide of small imported cars to the U.S.• This rear-engined Corvair Monza Spyder has a 2.4-liter turbo flat-six engine and a four-speed manual transmission, not to mention red vinyl upholstery.• The online auction goes until Monday, October 3.I’m not a Boomer, and I’ve never fallen for air-cooled cars in the past, so I’m not certain to what I should credit my emergent fascination with Corvairs. But, like many forms of uncanny automotive affection, the first step is in admitting that we are powerless against them. That’s why this 1963 Corvair Monza Spyder was my choice for pick of the day on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.Perhaps I love Corvairs because they represent, in actuality, a multiversal path General Motors could have (and kind of did) take toward modernization and future-proofing, at a pivot point within the industry. In response to the rising popularity of the first imported vehicle to gain traction in the United States—the VW Beetle—GM put its engineering and design know-how into practice to create this small(ish), rear-engined, air-cooled, independently suspended, distinctly European-styled vehicle. From the C/D ArchiveThe Corvair was a hit, eventually spawning an entire family of models including a coupe, sedan, wagon, van, pickup, and—like this one—convertible. This top-performing Monza Spyder sported one of the first industry applications of turbocharging. Forced induction increased the power and torque of the Corvair’s flat-six by more than 50 percent, making the car a respectable performer. This particular model sports some interesting period-correct accessories, like a front stone guard and spoiler and 13-inch Halibrand wheels with three-bar centers. And while I’m not usually one for white exteriors, or red interiors, it all works perfectly on this example. Bring a TrailerRalph Nader’s Unsafe at any Speed gets called out for destroying the Corvair program, but this ignores both the context of the industry at the time and the specific institutional behavior of GM. Nader’s book certainly used the Corvair as an example, perhaps even as a bit of a straw man, but its impact resulted from the way in which it took on the industry for intentionally privileging profit over any consideration of safety and doggedly fighting necessary regulation.Bring a TrailerMoreover, Ford’s blistering success with the more traditional (and more profitable) Mustang—derived from an existing car platform, unlike the Corvair’s custom one—fostered the GM brass’s pre-existing predilection for pushing cheap, unsophisticated pushrod V-8s. As with many products, the company improved the Corvair until it was approaching greatness, then pulled the plug, claiming futility, to focus on simple, stylish muscle cars: Camaros, Chevelles, Novas.This behavior, and the endemic hubris underpinning it, caused GM to ignore the surging consumer preference for imports from Europe and Japan until it was already too late. The Big Three spent decades trying to catch up on engineering and styling techniques it could have fostered intrinsically if it had stuck to the template offered up here. If that isn’t reason enough to buy, I don’t know what is.The Corvair’s online auction goes until Monday, October 3, and with four days left between now and then, bidding is only at $3255, so a bargain could be in the making.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

Ford revealed the 2024 Mustang at the Detroit auto show this month. The seventh-generation Mustang continues to offer a turbo 2.3-liter four and the 5.0-liter V-8, and more power from both is expected. While the four is automatic only, a manual is available with V-8.Otherwise, the most exciting news at Ford is the F-150 Raptor R’s engine, the same Predator supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 that’s in the Shelby GT500. In the pickup, it pumps out 700 ponies and 640 pound-feet.Ford’s baby pickup, the Maverick, adds off-road cred with the new Tremor package. The Maverick Tremor receives a revised all-wheel-drive system, a beefier suspension, and a one-inch lift to allow it to go a little further off-road. It also has a steel skid plate and tow hooks. The XLT and Lariat trim levels offer the $2995 package, which pairs exclusively with the 250-hp turbo 2.0-liter four.More on Ford TrucksWe should see Ford’s all-new Ranger in 2023, although U.S. specifics are TBD. Expect a 270-hp turbo 2.3-liter four mated to a 10-speed automatic. Crew-and extended-cab body styles will feature a more modern interior with a standard 10.1-inch touch-screen and an optional 12.1-inch display. A Ranger Raptor is also in the works. We’re expecting it to have a 392-hp twin-turbo V-6 and the Bronco Raptor’s suspension upgrades.Three years in, the Escape receives an aesthetic facelift, and high demand for the electric F-150 Lightning emboldened Ford to raise prices by $6000 to $8500. Mustang Mach-E prices rise too. No word on a Mach-E de Sade package, but we’re hopeful. The Super Duty also gets an update with a tougher look and new engine choices. The rest of the lineup—Expedition, Explorer, Bronco, Edge, and Transit—continues with minor changes. Ford hasn’t confirmed, but we expect the Transit Connect and EcoSport to die, and 2022 was the GT’s last year.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

One of the eight Aston Martin DB5 stunt cars built for the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die sold on September 28 for more than $3 million. The sale headlined a Christie’s charity auction held in honor of 60 years of James Bond films.The proceeds of the DB5 sale go to the Prince’s Trust and the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund’s support of charities in the U.K.It may have taken the bank account of a Bond villain, but every penny of the the $3,209,773.17 spent on this Aston Martin DB5 prop car is going to charity. Aston Martin built eight prop versions of the DB5 for the 2021 Bond film No Time to Die, with each serving a specific purpose in bringing the film to life. Each prop car is uniquely modified, with this particular car featuring rotating license plates, retractable headlights, pop-out machine guns, and firing prop bomblets. Aston MartinWe had the chance to drive some of the No Time to Die stunt cars around Britain’s famous Silverstone Circuit before the movie was released. The conclusion? Like most illegal things, non-regulated movie prop cars are joyous fun as well as being fantastic to drive—even if they aren’t street legal. All proceeds from the DB5 sale were donated to the Prince’s Trust charity, which helps young people in Britain between the ages of 11 and 30, as well as the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund to support of former employees of British Intelligence Agencies and Special Forces.The DB5 may have fetched the highest bid of the evening, but it was not the only Bond car sold. A total of three Astons were sold at auction, all having been used in No Time to Die. Also sold was Timothy Dalton’s 007 car of choice: a 1981 Aston Martin V8 Vantage much like the car used in the 1987 Bond film The Living Daylights was brought back in Vantage form in the newest film and brought $692,046 at auction. The money generated from the V8;s auction was donated to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Aston MartinThe third Aston sold was one of 25 DBS Superleggera 007 Editions, created by Aston to celebrate the inclusion of the Superleggera into the iconic franchise. The DBS features a plaque complete with etched signatures from actress Lashana Lynch who drove the car in the film, as well as from producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The DBS Superleggera 007 edition sold for $442,909 with all proceeds going to the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.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

After revealing the Urus Performante earlier this year, Lamborghini has now shown the new S model.While the S is the entry-level Urus, it still makes 657 hp from its 4.0-liter V-8, the same amount as the track-focused Performante.The S also rides on an air suspension, instead of the steel springs fitted to the Performante.Lamborghini is turning the Urus SUV up to eleven for 2023 with the new Performante model, which debuted last month sporting aggressive styling and packing a more powerful V-8 engine and revised suspension. Now Lamborghini has revealed the 2023 Urus S, which replaces the standard Urus but arrives with the same 657 horsepower as the more dialed-in Performante.That represents a 16 horsepower boost over the outgoing base Urus, and the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 also spits out 627 pound-feet of torque. Lamborghini says the Urus S will hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, 0.2 second behind its claim for the lighter Performante. 124 mph is said to arrive in 12.5 seconds, one second adrift of the Performante but still blisteringly quick for a vehicle weighing nearly 5000 pounds. Top speed is a claimed 190 mph, and Lamborghini says the Urus S can brake from 62 mph down to a stop in around 110 feet. While the Performante rides on steel springs, the Urus S uses an air suspension, which can be set to street, track, and off-road modes. The Urus S gets a revised front bumper with horizontal grille elements replacing the hexagonal design of the outgoing model, and a new matte-black stainless steel skidplate protects the underside of the car. The hood is made from carbon fiber and features the same thin air vents as the Performante, which can be optioned in gloss black, body color, or carbon fiber. The Urus can also be specced with a carbon fiber roof, and the rear bumper adopts the sharper styling seen on the Performante, although the S lacks the small rear spoiler. More Lamborghini NewsLamborghini says the exhaust has been retuned, and the standard 21-inch wheels are joined by 22-inch and 23-inch options. The cabin also gets new color and trim options. While pricing for the U.S. market has yet to be announced, we expect the updated 2023 Urus to be a bit more expensive than the outgoing model, which starts at $229,495, when it goes on sale stateside.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

A redesigned 7-series flagship sails forth with larger dimensions and gas or electric powertrains. In other large-BMW news, the iX electric SUV gains a 610-hp M60 variant, which has an EPA range of up to 288 miles and a base price of $109,895. The i4 adds an eDrive35 entry-level model with a single motor making 281 horsepower and a smaller 66.0-kWh battery good for 260 miles. At $52,395, it’s $4500 less than the eDrive40.2023 BMW i7BMW2023 BMW 7-seriesBMWChanges to the 2-series coupe are limited to updated infotainment. However, a redesigned M2 arrives in the spring, with its chassis and drivetrain borrowing heavily from the M3/M4. Details are limited, but a twin-turbo inline-six with around 450 horses drives the rear wheels via either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.New BMW CarsThe 3-series lineup (330i, 330e, and M340i) receives a light freshening, with crisper exterior styling and BMW’s curved infotainment display coming to all variants, including the largely carried-over M3. Prices open at$43,295. Updates to the 4-series center on the top M4 Competition model, which adds a track-focused CSL variant with 40 more horsepower (now 543), a 240-pound weight reduction, and a $140,895 price. Production is capped at 1000 worldwide.The 8-series, the M8 Competition, and the 612-hp Alpina B8 receive a modest refresh, notably an illuminated front grille and a larger touchscreen. Carbon bucket seats are available in the 617-hp M8. Art collectors can empty their pockets chasing one of the 99 special-edition Jeff Koons–designed M850i Gran Coupes that went for $350,995.The updated Z4 roadster has minor styling tweaks but unfortunately it does not follow its Toyota Supra platform-mate in offering the option of a manual transmission.BMW M goes big with the new XM SUV, which adopts the polarizing design of the similarly named concept. It squares off against the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus early next year with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 plug-in-hybrid powertrain producing 644 horsepower, or up to 735 hp in the forthcoming Label Red version. Close in size to the three-row X7, the two-row XM will feature a spacious back seat and a ride-and-handling balance geared more toward grand touring than track days. We’ve sampled a prototype, and despite its roughly 6000-pound weight, we found it more entertaining to drive than a few of BMW’s smaller, sportier cars. And if there’s an M on the bumper, you can bet your sweet roundel there will be a Competition version too.New BMW SUVsThe big X7 also gets a refresh with an i7-inspired front end and the curved infotainment display. The xDrive40i’s turbo inline-six is up 40 horses to 375, while the M50i model becomes the M60i, with its 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 gaining 48-volt hybrid assistance. Prices kick off at $78,845 and range up to around $145,000 for the updated Alpina XB7, which has 630 ponies.At the opposite end of the lineup, a redesigned X1 offers a more spacious cabin. At launch, there’s only an xDrive28i, motivated by a Miller-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four good for 241 horsepower, a gain of 13. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox replaces the previous eight-speed automatic. Prices start at $39,595. A redesigned X2 with a sleeker hatchback shape should follow in a year or so. But for now, only the 228-hp s- and xDrive28i models continue, as the 302-hp M35i variant is on hiatus.The X3, X4, X5, and X6 SUVs, along with the 5-series sedan, see only minor changes.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

An off-road-ready Rebel trim has joined the heavy-duty Ram lineup for 2023.Available only on the Ram 2500, the Rebel trim adds an electronically locking limited-slip rear differential, skid plates, meaty all-terrain tires, and unique exterior design elements.The Rebel trim slots midway through the Ram HD lineup with a starting price of $68,940 and will hit the market before the end of 2022.Ram can’t get enough off-roaders in its lineup of trucks, so it’s adding yet another terrain-stomping model in the form of a heavy-duty version of the popular Rebel trim. Set to go on sale by the end of the year at a starting price of $68,940, the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel will sit alongside the 2500 Power Wagon with which it shares similar road-hogging dimensions.But of course, pavement is only one place one can expect to see the Ram 2500 Rebel. This massive hunk of steel comes with plenty of off-roading gear straight from the factory, including a limited-slip rear differential with an electronic locker, 20-inch wheels on 33-inch off-road tires, and a set of protective skid plates. The latter is designed to protect the truck’s fuel tank and transfer case as well as your ego, lest you embarrass yourself in front of the other four-wheelers out on the trail. If you do find yourself in a tricky spot, there’s an available 12,000-pound winch that mounts on the truck’s front bumper. Ram’s Heavy-Duty Rivals in the NewsThe standard engine is a 410-hp 6.4-liter V-8 but, unlike the Power Wagon, the 2500 Rebel can also be ordered with a 6.7-liter turbo-diesel inline-six. The diesel engine makes only 370 horsepower, but its 850 pound-feet of torque is far more than that of the gasoline V-8, which is rated for just 429 pound-feet. Heavy duty trucks are best used for towing, and the Rebel 2500 certainly can tug a lot. The maximum towing capacity is 16,870 pounds, and the truck’s payload rating is as high as 3140 pounds. The interior can be outfitted with a bench or bucket seats up front, but three-across seating locks you out of the fanciest leather upholstery that is only available on the bucket seats. An optional 12.0-inch digital gauge display can be reconfigured to show a dizzying number of menus, all of which are intended to give the driver a customized view of whatever information is most pertinent to the task at hand—be that towing, stump pulling, trail running, or rock crawling.Look for the 2500 Rebel to hit dealer lots where it will fit right in among Ram’s other off-road models, including the 2500 Power Wagon, the 1500 TRX, and the 1500 Rebel, in the fourth quarter of 2022. Watch for it on trails near you—where it may not fit in so well, considering its size—shortly thereafter.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

The SP51 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive V-12 speedster that draws heavily from the 812 GTS it shares a chassis, engine and layout with. The SP51 livery, said to be based on the 1955 Ferrari 410 S, features blue and white striping running the entire length of the car, inside and out. Ferrari offered no mention of price for this one-off car.To be able to purchase a new Ferrari, one must already be exceedingly wealthy. To purchase a specially designed one-off Ferrari from the exclusive Ferrari Special Projects division? That’s serious money. The newest car created by the Special Projects group in Maranello is a V-12 speedster called the SP51, which shares a layout, engine, and chassis with the 812 GTS. While the 812 GTS has a convertible top and gives the driver’s ears unhindered access to the screaming V-12 under the hood, the SP51 forgoes the roof entirely. Working in tandem with the client to bring their vision to life, Ferrari tested the SP51 through simulators and wind tunnel testing to ensure maximum comfort within the car. The front end of the car is redesigned and features unique headlights which are shorter and much less angled than those on the 812 GTS. The front bumper is unique with a more aggressive grille design and front splitter. A boomerang-esque carbon blade sits behind each front wheel well. FerrariDesign similarities between rear ends of the SP51 and 812 GTS end with the taillights and quad-exhaust systems. The SP51 features twin flying buttresses connected by a carbon fiber spoiler that sits just behind the cabin and slopes down on either side toward the rear wheel wells. Uniqueness continues to the wheels, designed specifically for the SP51, which feature a diamond-cut finish.According to Ferrari, the SP51 makes reference to a blue and white livery worn by the 1955 Ferrari 410 S. The one-off version shares the same blue and white striping, which runs the entire length of the car. The primary color for the SP51 called Rosso Passionale, was specifically designed for the car. The tri-color scheme makes its way to the interior of the car where the red Alcantara is accented with blue and white stitching. As might be expected from a sports car of this magnitude, carbon fiber plays a big role in the bodywork as well as the cabin of the car. A small plaque reading “Ferrari SP51 one of one” is tucked into the carbon work between the seats and serves as a reminder to the owner just how special their Ferrari is. FerrariNo power figures were offered, and Ferrari made no mention of mechanical changes to the car. Although we have not carried out a full test of the 812 GTS, we did test an 812 Superfast, which achieved 60 miles per hour in a lightning-quick 2.8 seconds. We also had a chance to review the 812 GTS, in which editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga commented that the starting price of $404,494 makes more sense when you consider the dualities it possesses. Sticking to its historically protective stance on the privacy of its clientele, Ferrari gives us no idea how much this one-off cost. Rest assured it was substantially more than the list price of the car.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