Motor News

The 2023 Corvette Z06 returns to its naturally aspirated roots with a 670-hp 5.5-liter V-8 that uses a flat-plane crankshaft and revs to 8600 rpm. Chevy says it’ll pull 1.22 g’s on the skidpad, and we look forward to confirming that.The Blazer, which gets a light refresh with a restyled front end and new wheels, looks nothing like the sleek new 2024 Blazer EV, which packs as much as 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque in SS trim. Pricing starts at $44,995, and there are front-drive, rear-drive, and all-wheel-drive options. Best memorize its headlight signature, because there will be a police version too.While the Blazer targets the middle of the market, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV aim to undercut competitors via big price reductions. Compared with 2022 models, the 2023 Bolt gets a $5900 price drop, and the EUV’s price falls by $6300.The redesigned Colorado offers a modernized interior along with an overhauled powertrain. GM’s turbo 2.7-liter four is now the sole engine, albeit in several different tunes—from 237 horsepower in base models up to 310 ponies. There’s a Trail Boss model that splits the difference between Z71 and ZR2 off-road editions, as well as a Desert Boss ZR2 variant.New Truck ModelsThe Silverado ZR2 that Chevy introduced for 2022 gets a Bison variant fitted with various bolt-on goodies from American Expedition Vehicles. The Suburban and Tahoe offer optional SuperCruise and a black grille with “Chevrolet” lettering rather than the bow-tie badge. The Trailblazer, Equinox, and Traverse carry over mainly unchanged. There are some exterior and interior updates for the Silverado HD. As for our old friend the Camaro, we expect some news for 2023, but we’ll just have to wait on that. The Silverado EV and Equinox EV are also scheduled to arrive as 2024 models.Oh, and this is our annual reminder that the Express van still exists. It’s available with a 401-hp 6.6-liter V-8 engine. Write us a letter if you ever see a new one.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

Faraday Future has earned an official EPA range figure for its first vehicle, the FF 91, and showed the certification letter to Car and Driver to prove it.The FF 91 is rated at 381 miles of range, an increase over the initial 378-mile estimate thanks to a larger 142.0-kWh battery than the original 130.0-kWh unit.The FF 91 was first revealed in 2017, and the top-spec Futurist model could cost around $200,000.When EV startup Faraday Future revealed a “production intent” version of its first vehicle, the FF 91, earlier this year and announced that production was set to start in the third quarter of 2022, we were skeptical. Faraday Future has struggled to get the FF 91 onto the road since first unveiling the crossover in 2017, and in July the company stated that it would yet again need to push back deliveries as it sought to raise more capital. But now the California-based automaker is one step closer to getting its FF 91 into the hands of customers, receiving an official EPA range rating for its electric crossover. Faraday FutureThe FF 91, which now seems on track to be sold for the 2023 or 2024 model year, is rated at 381 miles of range. This is higher than the previous 378-mile estimate that Faraday Future had quoted, but the company also told us that the range figure was achieved with a 142.0-kWh battery; previously the FF 91 was said to employ a 130.0-kWh battery. This also bests what will be its closest competitors should the FF 91 reach production, with the Tesla Model X topping out at 348 miles of range. Faraday FutureFaraday Future’s press release also specifies that the rating only applies to the FF 91 Futurist, which will represent the top of the model line and could crest $200,000, according to the company. While the range rating is not yet visible on the public EPA fuel economy website, Faraday Future provided Car and Driver with a copy of the certification letter sent by the government agency.More EV StartupsAccording to the letter, the range rating will only apply to vehicles built before January 1, 2024, and if the FF 91 is further delayed, the startup will have to get it re-certified. The FF 91 is powered by three electric motors—one up front and two at the rear—good for a combined 1050 horsepower, providing a claimed sprint to 60 mph in less than 2.4 seconds. At 206.9 inches long, the FF 91 is just a hair shorter than a Mercedes-Benz S-class, and it features a futuristic interior design. The company still needs to raise more funds before the FF 91 can begin production at Faraday Future’s plant in Hanford, California, but the EPA certification shows the automaker is moving forward and could convince potential investors to fork over that much-needed cash.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 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD get a facelift, and most models receive a ritzier interior with bigger screens.Gas-fed models now have a 10-speed automatic transmission, and diesel models make 470 horses (up 25) and 975 pound-feet of torque (up 65).The ’24 Silverado HD twins will go into production in the first half of 2023, with the first-ever ZR2 version also eventually joining the lineup.Chevy’s big pickup trucks—the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD—are getting refreshed for the 2024 model year. Along with new facial features, most trim levels benefit from a flashier interior design that first debuted on the half-ton Silverado about a year ago. The improvements to the 2024 Chevy Silverado HD trucks are more than skin deep, though.More on Chevy’s Heavy-Duty TruckNew Transmission, Mightier DieselSure, the facelift and redesigned cabin help Chevy’s heavy-duty pickups stay looking fresh, but the bottom line is that the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD are built for work duty. That’s where their updated powertrains come into play. The standard gas-fed 6.6-liter V-8 is unchanged, meaning it makes the same 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque as its predecessor. However, it now pairs with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission instead of a six-speed automatic. Chevy says the gasser’s new gearbox helps the engine make better use of its peak power. For 2024, gas-burning Silverado HDs also have a higher Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which rises from 24,000 to 26,000 pounds.The optional Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V-8 continues with the same Allison 10-speed automatic, but its output gets a significant uptick. It now makes 470 horsepower (up from 445) and 975 pound-feet of torque (up from 910). Chevy says the increases result from updates to the control architecture, combustion system, and turbocharger, which are also said to help provide up to 25 percent more low-end torque and improve efficiency. However, we don’t know how the updates will affect fuel economy since the trucks are exempt from EPA testing and the company isn’t currently sharing estimates. What we do know is that the 2024 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD still have max tow ratings of 22,500 and 36,000 pounds, respectively.Fresh Face, Flashier InteriorFor 2024, the supersize Silverados all wear new mugs, from the base-level Work Truck to the top-of-the-line High Country. Along with the newly designed grille and C-shaped LED lighting elements, the LTZ and High Country trim levels feature new dual-projector headlights with animated sequences for when the driver approaches or walks away from the trucks. Chevy also supplies the ’24 Silverado HD with new wheel options, including chrome 20-inch wheels for the LTZ as well as polished 18-inchers and all-terrain tires for the dual-rear-axle 3500HD. Plus, a set of 20-inch off-road tires can now be had with certain packages. The Midnight Edition, a blacked-out appearance package, is also now available on the High Country for the first time.Inside, heavy-duty Silverados adopt a new dashboard design with prominent digital displays. While the updated layout and tech features aren’t offered on the Work Truck or Custom trim levels, they’re standard on the LT model and up. The setup includes a configurable 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google-based software and apps. The updated interior also brings a revised center console with a wireless charger and more space for cupholders. The fanciest Silverado models have real leather-wrapped surfaces and genuine wood accents. Exclusively on the High Country, there’s a new Nightshift Blue interior option with all the top-notch materials.The Silverado HD trucks also benefit from better driver assists. The list includes adaptive cruise control that works while pulling a trailer, and the blind-spot monitor now has an extended range while trailering. Plus, there’s a new alert that lets users know if they exceed the truck’s GCWR, and the available camera view that uses technology to essentially make a trailer transparent has been enhanced to work with fifth-wheel and gooseneck setups. ZR2, Coming to a Silverado HD Near YouThe 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD will go on sale in the first half of 2023. The company says it’ll share pricing closer to their on-sale date. Chevy also today announced that the heavy-duty Silverado will be getting a version of the off-road-ready ZR2 model for the first time ever, but it’ll launch sometime after the regular trucks. 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

Toyota’s most highly anticipated 2023 vehicles include two enthusiast specials: a manual-transmission GR Supra and the GR Corolla. Three pedals are a no-cost option for the Supra 3.0, and there’s an A91-MT Edition with appearance tweaks that will be limited to 500 units, while the GR Corolla channels its rallying sibling.GR CorollaToyotaGR Supra Manual ToyotaThe bZ4X gives Toyota an entry into the mainstream electric-SUV segment. Co-developed with the Subaru Solterra, the Toyota differentiates itself by offering both single-and dual-motor versions, with the front-wheel-drive base model producing 201 horsepower, and the all-wheel-drive upgrade bumping output to 214 horsepower. EPA range is 222 to 252 miles on a charge.The Avalon is dead, and its replacement is a new large sedan called the Crown. At launch later this year, customers will choose between two all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrains: a 340-hp Hybrid Max or a base 236-hp model. The roomy sedan starts at about $40,000.New and Updated ModelsThe Sequoia full-size SUV follows its Tundra pickup sibling with a long-overdue refresh. Unlike the pickup, the body-on-frame SUV gets only the 437-hp i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, consisting of a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6, one AC motor, and a 10-speed auto. A nonhybrid version of the engine is available on the pickup. Both the Tundra and the smaller Tacoma receive new SX appearance packages.A new Prius is on its way but hasn’t been revealed yet. Word is it’s significantly more stylish than before (which won’t take much) and more efficient too.The Highlander swaps its 3.5-liter V-6 for a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four that’s less powerful (265 horsepower versus 295) but more torquey (309 pound-feet versus 263 for the six). The non-GR Corolla is facelifted and drops its base 1.8-liter engine, meaning the 169-hp 2.0-liter is now standard. The Corolla hybrid sedan now offers all-wheel drive, and its Corolla Cross SUV sibling also adds an all-wheel-drive hybrid model with 194 horsepower and a claimed 37 mpg combined.The RAV4 Woodland Edition adds rugged styling to the hybrid model, the Venza gains a blacked-out Nightshade package, and the Camry now offers bronze wheels for its own Nightshade treatment. Toyota is also celebrating some anniversaries with cosmetic special editions: GR86’s 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Sienna’s 25th Anniversary Edition, and 4Runner’s 40th Anniversary Special Edition. The fuel-cell Mirai and the C-HR are unchanged.Anniversary EditionsThis 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

California’s governor signed legislation into effect today that will make it harder for catalytic-converter thieves to get away with selling them, the Los Angeles Times reported.The new law will require sellers of the valuable anti-smog equipment to prove they came by it legally or face stringent penalties.The buyers—generally scrap-metal recyclers or dealers—will also have to keep and show records of where they’re getting catalytic converters. Governor Gavin Newsom of California today signed into effect a law that will impose strict penalties on people who illegally buy and sell catalytic converters. The anti-pollution devices are a frequent target for saw-and-grab thieves, with more than 18,026 reported stolen in California alone in 2021. The Los Angeles Times reported that the new rules originated with a pair of bills, one in the California State Senate and one in the state’s Assembly. The legislation attaches a $1000 fine to a first conviction and $2000 for a second. The law would allow the additional penalty of a temporary suspension from operating as a recycler. Among the records required will be a written agreement with the seller, records of the amount paid and number of catalytic converters purchased, and descriptive information such as unique ID numbers or VINs etched into the parts. Recyclers would need to keep the records for at least two years. Related Stories As Car and Driver reported earlier this year, popular car models are the most frequent targets of catalytic converter theft, including the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-series pickups, the Honda Accord and CR-V, and the Toyota Camry and Prius. The State Farm insurance company reported in mid-2021 that catalytic converter theft grew almost 293 percent nationwide during the year after making an initial leap as the COVID-19 pandemic got underway. The insurer gave the number-one ranking to California, where more than 30 percent of State Farm insurance claims for the thefts originated in 2021. Texas, Minnesota, Washington, and Illinois rounded out the top five, but the problem is nationwide.This content is imported from twitter. 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.CA is taking action to stop catalytic converter theft by requiring recyclers to keep specific records & only allowing used catalytic converters to be sold by authorized parties. Together, these bills should remove incentives for theft and keep Californians & their cars safer. pic.twitter.com/gz44bxMzzA— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) September 25, 2022Gov. Newsom appeared on video via social media today, trumpeting the new protection and explaining to Californians that a catalytic converter is “part of that exhaust system on your car, and it’s full of valuable materials that thieves can resell.” Under the new pair of laws, only licensed resellers with detailed records will be allowed to buy and sell catalytic converters. Of course, there will always be unscrupulous buyers and sellers already figuring out a way around the regulations, but other states will be likely to watch the situation in California with interest and possibly pass their own stricter laws. As of this summer, the NICB said, more than 150 pieces of legislation were already in the works around the U.S.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

Government figures for traffic fatalities show a higher number in the first half of 2022 than in 2021, but that’s not the whole story.After seven quarters of continued growth, traffic fatalities dropped in the second quarter of 2022.To bring about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s call to prevent as many deaths as possible, NHTSA has been updating—or will update—rules around safety features in new cars as well as considering factors outside the car, such as bikers and pedestrians.Last year, 2021, experts recorded the most traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 16 years. The 42,915 people who died last year might represent a new high-water mark if the predicted trend for 2022 proves itself out and continues.Stay Safe Out ThereThis month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that its early estimates of traffic fatalities for the first half of 2022 were up a tiny bit, around 0.5 percent. Compared to the first half of 2021, when an estimated 20,070 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, the first half of 2022 saw a projected 20,175 fatalities. That’s obviously an increase, but NHTSA found good news hiding in that higher number: the second quarter of 2022 represents the first decline in deaths in almost two years. The number had been steadily climbing since the third quarter of 2020, or for seven straight quarters.”These deaths are preventable, not inevitable, and we should act accordingly,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. He added that even with the decline, NHTSA still has work to do—and is doing it—to protect all road users. How to Make Streets Safer?For example, Secretary Buttigieg unveiled a National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) in January. The NRSS states that almost 95 percent of the transportation deaths that occur in America happen on streets, roads, and highways, compared to traveling by things like trains or planes. To reduce the number of road fatalities, NHTSA is helping states develop a “complete streets” project and is also considering making changes to new-car rules to make them even safer than today’s models.So far this year, NHTSA has also taken steps to improve child safety seat test standards and increase underride protection on semi-truck trailers. The agency also found that to combat the greater risk to women in crashes, it helps to make crash test dummies that are more accurately represent both male and female bodies.Understanding the ProcessMore Driver-Assist Tech?NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program might also be updated by adding four more recommended advanced driver assistance system technologies: blind-spot detection, blind spot intervention, lane-keeping assistance, and pedestrian automated emergency braking. NHTSA said it will update the NCAP over the next 10 years and will “potentially incorporate consideration of the vehicle’s safety features for people walking or biking around the car.”Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said all new vehicles should come with alcohol impairment detection systems. The NTSB recommended to NHTSA that it require passive alcohol impairment detection systems, better driver monitoring systems, or some combination of both in order to stop inebriated people from driving.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 Wall Street Journal reports that Ford expects to be sitting on 40,000 to 45,000 trucks at the end of the third quarter because it doesn’t have enough badges to put on them.The problem might not be related to the supply-chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. Instead, the cause might be a chemical spill in Michigan last month by Tribar, a company that has supplied badges to Ford in the past and needed to limit operations temporarily.Ford reportedly considered using 3D printing technology to provide short-term replacement badges but didn’t think the quality would be good enough.When someone in Springfield pranked Superintendent Chalmers by removing the hood emblem from his 1979 Honda Accord, he complained, “That’s how people know it’s a Honda.” Good for a laugh on The Simpsons, but it’s unlikely that anybody will fail to recognize the bestselling vehicle in the U.S. for decades if it doesn’t say “Ford.” Still, the automaker is holding back tens of thousands of new F-series pickup trucks because the automaker doesn’t have enough badges.Ford’s Good NamePeople familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal that the shortage applies to the famous blue oval Ford badges as well as those that identify the model. A Ford spokesperson told the Journal that some vehicle shipments are still happening as planned and that it is retrofitting vehicles that don’t have the correct badges before delivering them to dealers. Ford said it expects to have between 40,000 and 45,000 pickups waiting for badges at the end of the third quarter. Ford reportedly considered 3D printing to make temporary badges but dismissed the idea because it could not guarantee the short-term replacements would look as good. The company declined to comment on the 3D printing proposal to the paper. We have asked Ford for more details about these issues.Ford, and other automakers, had previously held back shipments of numerous models because of a lack of silicon semiconductor chips, which have been difficult for some automakers to obtain for their products since 2020 because of the pandemic. But the lack of badges might not be directly tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal noted that one of Ford’s badge suppliers is Tribar Technologies. That name likely rings a bell for readers in mid-Michigan, because that’s where Tribar “released several thousand gallons of a liquid containing 5 percent hexavalent chromium into the sewer system” in August, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Hexavalent chromium is a form of the metallic element chromium and has been shown to “cause a number of adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation,” the MDEGLE said.As part of the chemical cleanup, Tribar was forced to “limit operations” in August, the Journal said. This might have caused a drop in the supply of new badges. Both Ford and Tribar confirmed their badge-supplying relationship, but neither would talk to the paper about the current situation. 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 Brabus P 900 Rocket Edition is a heavily revised Mercedes-AMG G63 featuring a pickup truck bed and a very angry front fascia.900 horsepower and 922 pound-feet of torque are shot out of the twin-turbo 4.5-liter V-8 through a nine-speed automatic, with this brick able to hit 62 mph in a claimed 3.7 seconds.The interior features Rocket Red accents and plenty of black leather with a “Seashell Diamond” quilting pattern.What do you buy if all of your friends own Ford Raptor Rs and Ram 1500 TRXs and you want to stand out? The latest creation from German aftermarket tuning company Brabus would be a great choice—along with its over-the-top styling and a prodigious power output, the P 900 Rocket Edition will also be limited to a production run of just ten units. The P 900 Rocket Edition is based on Brabus’s XLP pickup truck conversion of the Mercedes-AMG G63, with a large, boxy four-door cabin and a stubby bed. Powering this beast is a twin-turbocharged 4.5-liter V-8 blasting out 900 horsepower and 922 pound-feet of torque, routing that through a nine-speed automatic. That’s enough oomph to fire this Rocket to 62 mph in claimed 3.7 seconds and on to a 174 mph top speed.The P 900 Rocket Edition has one mean-looking mug, with blocky vents in the bumper and a carbon-fiber front splitter with red end plates. The carbon grille also includes red-accented strakes and is even backlit red at night, creating an ominous, bloodthirsty appearance. The aggressive front end is topped off with the “PowerView” hood, fashioned yet again from carbon fiber. The fender flares have also been redesigned with protruding vents sporting a carbon weave, and lo and behold, there is more carbon fiber adorning the tailgate, which sits above a small rear diffuser.More Bonkers Brabus G-wagensThe side-exit valve-controlled exhaust—decked out in carbon fiber with red ambient lighting—is said to deliver “earth-shattering sounds.” Owners might want to be careful with their right foot if they find themselves in one of the six California cities with camera-automated exhaust noise enforcement, or at least set the adjustable sound management to the “Coming Home” mode. The P 900 pickup rides on ginormous 24-inch Monoblock Z “Aero-Disc” wheels, which are hooked up to an aluminum coilover suspension that can adjust the ride height by 1.8 inches.The interior is just as crazy as the exterior, with oodles of black leather sporting a so-called “seashell diamond” quilting pattern, which even spreads to the footwells. “Rocket Red” accents appear on more than 206 interior components, such as the A/C vents, seat adjustment controls, and gas and brake pedals. The cabin also, of course, features its fair share of carbon fiber. There’s no word on price for Brabus’s monstrous creation, but we would expect it to cost well over $500,000.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