Motor News

For the past decade and a half, we’ve rented Virginia International Raceway’s 4.1-mile Grand Course for the better part of a week every year to lap the hottest new performance cars (and sometimes SUVs) hitting the market. We’ve now run more than 300 cars at our Lightning Lap events, which has been a terrific vantage point through which to witness and document the dramatic improvements in tire grip and the continued march to quicker times.But it’s a bummer that this fantastic and challenging Grand Course configuration is not typically run during track days, making it difficult to experience it. We’re here to help: As we did back in March of this year, we’re hosting another track day on the Grand on Friday, October 21, in conjunction with NASA and Kaizen Autosport.Even better this time around is that we’re running this year’s Lightning Lap event earlier in the week, and all track-day entrants are invited to join us the evening before, Thursday, October 20, from 5 to 7 pm, to wander through this year’s field of cars while you enjoy a drink and snacks on us.As before, cars will be divvied up into street- and race-car classes that mimic our LL1 through LL5 price categories. For $695, you’ll get three 30-minute morning sessions to get up to speed, and then two 20-minute time-trial sessions in the afternoon to have a go at posting your best time. Each class winner takes home a trophy and a one-year membership to our Track Club (which, among other things, gets you invited to other events throughout the year). Drivers must have minimum of five HPDE at any racetrack to participate.See here for more details and sign up using promo code 100CDLL10-sg5VfI for $100 off the entry fee for readers of this fine publication. Kaizen also provides rental options, so you don’t even need to have your own track-ready vehicle. VIR also allows spectators for a $10 entry fee if you just want to come hang out and see what it’s all about. See you there!Event Details and SignupThis 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

Mini USA is celebrating 20 years stateside with a special 20 Years Edition of the four-door hardtop 2023 Mini Cooper S. Unlike many Minis with Union Jack themes, this one features a loose interpretation of the Stars and Stripes and will be available in either red, white, or blue exterior colors.The 20 Years Edition went into production in July, and Mini says it will become available in dealerships starting later this month. Pricing for the special edition starts at $37,165.Mini, known for its cute and stylish squared-off hatchback shape and its identity as a British icon— is now celebrating 20 years in the U.S. To commemorate the milestone, Mini is releasing a special edition of the four-door hardtop 2023 Cooper S. MINI USAMini Cooper FunNamed the Mini 20 Years Edition, it will be available in Chili Red, Pepper White, or Island Blue. According to the company, the color schemes are meant to represent the core elements of the U.S. and U.K. flags. That may be true, but the decals certainly appeal to the American side of things. The 20 Years Edition ditches the usual Union Jack logos in favor of a silver roof and mirror caps. Speaking of decals, the hood—er, excuse me, bonnet—is emblazoned with a red, white, and blue stripe on the driver’s side with a star stamped onto the passenger side. The Stars and Stripes theme continues along the side of the car and onto the back hatch. MINI USAThe interior of the new Mini features 20 Year Edition logos on the steering wheel and emblazoned against the Piano Black surfaces. The special edition receives heated front seats, touchscreen navigation, and Apple CarPlay capability as standard. Special edition or not, power figures have not changed from the standard Cooper S, which produces 189 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The 20 Years Edition went into production in July, with Mini expecting the vehicles to begin arriving at dealerships later this month. Pricing for the special edition begins at $37,165.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

Volvo’s new electric SUV will be called the EX90.This model will eventually replace the current XC90.It debuts on November 9 and will likely go on sale in the U.S. next year.Volvo has confirmed that its new electric flagship SUV will be called EX90, and that this new model will debut November 9. Slated to replace the XC90, the EX90 should look much like last year’s Recharge concept car, pictured here. We expect it to go on sale in the U.S. sometime next year as a 2024 model.The EX90 will accelerate Volvo’s transition to a fully electric lineup, as it will be built at Volvo’s factory in South Carolina that’s slated to eventually produce only EVs. But, since Volvo doesn’t plan to complete the EV transition until 2030, there will be some overlap between the new EX90’s rollout and the end of XC90 production.More on Volvo SUVsVolvo has not yet announced a date for the end of the line for its long-running SUV model, and even said that the XC90 will receive another facelift before it is phased out due to continuing demand for gas engines and hybrids. The current version is offered with multiple gasoline-engine options including a base setup with a 48-volt hybrid system and a plug-in-hybrid powertrain dubbed Recharge.Details are slim on the new EX90 at this point, but Volvo is saying that it will have something called a “driver understanding system,” which seems like a step beyond today’s driver attention monitoring systems. We don’t know exactly what this will entail, but Volvo says the car will be able to sense if the driver is “distracted, stressed, or drowsy” and then take action to help. Sounds a bit like big brother to us, but we’ll wait until we hear the details before passing judgment.Look for more information to come on the 2024 Volvo EX90 over the next few months.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 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance swaps the old V-8 for a new plug-in-hybrid setup.The powertrain uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and an electric motor to combine for 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque.AMG claims it will accelerate to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 174 mph when properly equipped.In the distant past, Mercedes might have called a car like this the 190E 2.0-16 Turbo, but in this time and age, 2.0 liters of displacement suffice for the model designation Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance. The “63” is an almost magical number, as it has traditionally stood for Mercedes and AMG V-8 engines of the highest order. But hey, that was the past. The new C63 S, as we shall henceforth call it in the interest of brevity, utilizes a four-cylinder plug-in-hybrid powertrain to produce 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. It ends the era of compact V-8 sedans by AMG, which had begun with the W202 C43 AMG, included the wild C63 models with the legendary 6.2-liter V-8, and culminated with the outgoing C63 and its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8.Why kill the V-8? First off, the new C-class isn’t designed for anything bigger than a four. But more importantly, the political and regulatory climate—especially in Europe—favors electric vehicles and hybrids. With the new plug-in-hybrid system, AMG has made the best out of the situation and added a remarkable number of performance-oriented features. Yes, the C63 can go 8 miles on electricity only, but that is not what this car or this powertrain is about.Engine and PerformanceIt is, in fact, about immediate acceleration and extra boost via a “kick-down” feature that’s reminiscent of current Formula 1 cars or video games. The numbers look good, too: The sprint to 60 mph takes a claimed 3.3 seconds, and top speed is governed at 155 or 174 mph.More New AMGsThe engine is the M139 turbocharged 2.0-liter four taken from the CLA45 and GLA45 models, tweaked to be longitudinally mounted, as it is in the C43 and SL43. But only in the C63 S does it come with an electrically assisted turbocharger, increasing its power to 469 horsepower. This engine is mated to the P3 hybrid system that we know from the GT63 S E-Performance, with a rear-mounted, 201-horsepower electric motor that operates through a two-speed transmission. The main gearbox is AMG’s nine-speed wet-clutch MCT transmission. And the power is channeled to all four wheels through an all-wheel-drive system. That goes for the electric motor as well: Even in fully electric mode, this is an all-wheel-drive car.The driver can do a lot to tweak the character of this car. There are no less than eight driving modes, plus four modes for the regenerative braking. AMG hopes to make up for the loss of the V-8 sound through artificial sound effects, which are transmitted into the cabin for the benefit of the occupants and through external speakers for the benefit of bystanders. The press release speaks of a “low-frequency, speed-modulated sound.”Chassis and Body ModificationsThe chassis has been tweaked extensively to cope with the power and weight of the C63 S. It tips the scales at a whopping 4654 pounds, which is S-class territory. The front axle and rear elastokinematics are AMG-exclusive and the steel suspension uses adaptive dampers that work in three distinct settings. Rear-wheel steering is always on board, for more agility at lower speeds and more stability at higher speeds.The C63’s body has been modified extensively, especially the front end. It is longer and wider than the regular C-class, and even the wheelbase has grown. An air outlet on the front hood serves as a visual indicator of this model’s status, as does the rear spoiler. For the first time, the hood sports AMG’s specific coat of arms. The C63 S has staggered-width tires measuring 265-width in the front and 275-width in the rear, and is available with either 19- or 20-inch wheels.While other markets get a choice of sedan or station wagon, North America gets the sedan only. And that’s a pity, not just because the station wagon looks good, but also because it could have compensated for the loss of trunk space, as the battery and electric motor eat into the sedan’s luggage compartment.Moving towards a four-cylinder is daring, but perhaps inevitable for a brand that wants to stay relevant. The competition is diverse: Audi’s RS5 sticks to a turbocharged V-6, all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox; the BMW M3 has a straight-six and offers a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive and manual or automatic transmission. Cadillac’s CT4-V Blackwing comes with a turbocharged V-6, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of transmissions, while Lexus is fitting its rear-wheel-drive, automatic-only IS500 with a classic, naturally aspirated V-8. The only four-cylinder among the group, the C63 S offers standard all-wheel drive and, like every AMG, is automatic only. But it attempts to eclipse the competition with its hybrid functions—and far more horsepower than any of them.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

In the coming five years, Hertz will be adding some 175,000 General Motors EVs—everything from Chevrolet Bolt EV crossovers to BrightDrop commercial trucks—to its rental fleets in a program that starts in early 2023 and runs through 2027.The rental-car giant is planning to “create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America” by planting so many EVs across 500 locations in 38 states.The first will be Bolt EV and EUV models that will start being available to rent in early 2023, Hertz said in a statement, and the ultimate aim is to have 25 percent of Hertz’s total fleet be electric by the end of 2024. Rental-car giant Hertz has announced that it will start acquiring a large number of General Motors electric vehicles with the aim of eventually offering EV choices across the rental-car range, from low-end to luxury models. The aggressive program involves the purchase of 175,000 vehicles, starting early next year with Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV models. Once moribund and filing for bankruptcy, Hertz is now betting on EVs as the way forward. The company has already revitalized its lineup with the choice last fall to buy 100,000 Teslas and to supply Uber with Tesla Model 3 EVs.For now, Teslas are available in a limited number of airport locations in larger population areas, but the rental company intends to expand beyond it, aiming to have a quarter of its fleet as EVs in the next two years.Know Your EVsAlthough Hertz only specifically referred to the Bolt crossovers, an informational video it released on social media today showed the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer EVs as well, and its press materials referred to Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and BrightDrop models being part of the planned purchase.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

Volkswagen showed off four ID.Buzz commercial vehicle concepts at the Frankfurt, Germany, commercial-vehicle show this week.Each van was made by a different specialist manufacturer and outfitted for tasks ranging from refrigeration to emergency response. The concept vans, labeled as “near production,” are intended for Europe, with Volkswagen planning to only bring the extended-wheelbase passenger version of the van to the U.S.We’re sure Volkswagen wasn’t intending to hurt us so much by unveiling four adorable ID.Buzz concepts at the Frankfurt commercial-vehicle show. Yet, somehow it hurts to know that these cute and seemingly practical compact cargo vans exist and we won’t get them. It’s not Volkswagen’s fault that Nissan stopped production of the NV200, or that Mercedes is dropping the Metris. Nor should we blame Volkswagen because Ram pulled the plug on the ProMaster City—or complain to Ford for flipping the off switch on the Transit Connect. Meanwhile, European commercial customers can look forward to a whole lineup of interesting, attractive, and practical ID.Buzz variants, so there’s that.VolkswagenThe flex-cab concept, adapted by the Dutch company Snoeks, features a configurable five-seater layout for passenger transportation needs. The seats can be electronically folded, allowing the van to transition from a people carrier to a goods transporter. The paramedic version of the ID.Buzz, built by Bösenberg, has room for three people. The cargo area has been converted to be modular, able to store medical equipment and serve as an emergency work space. According to Volkswagen, the incorporated emergency light system runs on a different battery system from the rest of the car, meaning it will not hamper range in emergency situations. VolkswagenThe most visually changed ID.Buzz is the box-body version. Veth Automotive dropped a large rectangular box on the back of the Buzz, bringing cargo space from 138 to 212 cubic feet. The sides and back of the box can both be equipped with hinged doors, sliding doors, or roll-up shutters. Of course, sharing aerodynamic qualities with a shed will bring down range, but the box body is being shown off as a “last mile” vehicle. The refrigerated ID.Buzz (top, center) is another “last mile” van, designed with city-center deliveries in mind. The 230V cooling system is mounted to roof with four 100-amp batteries and an inverter to convert from DC to AC voltage. The four-battery system is able to run independently of the van for six to eight hours. The refrigerated Buzz has a payload of 860 pounds, which converts to approximately 172 gallons of ice cream.VolkswagenVolkswagen also showed off a service van for the appliance company Miele. The Miele-specific van is outfitted with shelving in the back to store tools and materiel for the company’s customer service department. The center console of the van is equipped with a fold-out table to give the driver a workspace within the cabin. 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 2023 BMW Alpina XB7 gains the same front-end revisions as lesser X7s, while also boosting output from the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 to 630 horsepower.BMW claims the XB7 can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and a 180 mph top speed.The XB7 also gets an opulent interior with an illuminated gear selector and an Alpina steering wheel with blue and green stitching. The starting price is $145,995.A mid-cycle update for BMW’s largest SUV, the X7, earlier this year brought more powerful and efficient engines and a revised front end with squintier headlights sandwiching the vast front grille. Now BMW has revealed the most expensive and high-performance version of the X7, giving the 2023 Alpina XB7 the same visual upgrades and the most powerful engine in the X7 lineup.The XB7 continues to use a tuned version of the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 found in the X7 M60i, but while the pre-facelift XB7 made 612 horsepower, the new version boosts that to 630 ponies. Torque stays the same at 590 pound-feet—a 37 pound-foot advantage over the M60i—and BMW says the torque peak arrives 200 rpm earlier, at 1800 rpm, and lasts until 5600 rpm. The latest X7’s V-8 also includes 48-volt hybrid assistance that improves engine responsiveness and efficiency, and Alpina’s version of the 4.4-liter also gains a unique cooling system.The motor is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission which includes the 48-volt starter-generator, and the XB7 has all-wheel-drive with an electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle. BMW claims the XB7 can reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and run the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds, impressive figures for a vehicle with a curb weight around 6000 pounds. Top speed is said to be 180 mph if the XB7 is outfitted with the performance tire package and 21-inch wheels, which can be added at no extra cost. The XB7 rides on an air suspension with unique Alpina dampers, and the SUV can raise its ride height by 1.6 inches below 19 mph. Putting the vehicle in Sport mode or driving over 100 mph lowers the XB7 by 0.8 inches, while Sport+ mode or breaking the 155 mph barrier lowers it by 1.6 inches, although we’re not sure where American Alpina owners would reach these speeds in their colossal SUV.BMW also says the Alpina gains reinforced torsion struts for increased rigidity, while stiffer rear-axle bushings and the M60i’s electromechanical anti-roll bars are said to reduce body roll. Rear-wheel steering, also found on the M60i, can move the rear wheels by up to 2.3 degrees in either direction. Braking power is provided by four-piston fixed Brembo calipers clamping onto 15.5-inch discs up front and floating calipers with 15.7-inch discs at the rear. The calipers are painted in blue with “Alpina” written in white. More on AlpinaThe XB7 is available with two wheel choices. 21-inch Dynamic wheels can be had with 285-width summer or all-season rubber at all four corners. The 20-spoke, 23-inch Classic wheels are standard and are wrapped in Pirelli summer tires, with a staggered setup of 285-width tires up front and 325-width at the rear. Other design changes for the XB7 include a new front bumper with chiseled air intakes and a body-colored rear bumper.Inside, the XB7 is decked out with a glass Alpina infotainment control dial, a blue illuminated gear selector, illuminated door sills, and a unique steering wheel finished in Lavalina leather with blue and green stitching. The gauge clusters are accented by Alpina blue, changing to Alpina green when in Sport or Sport+ modes, and there are three trim options—Myrtle Luxury wood, Piano lacquer, or Natural Walnut Anthracite.Pricing for the Alpina XB7 will start at $145,995, with deliveries set to begin in early 2023.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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported a plan to recall more than 200,000 Nissan Titan (above) and Frontier trucks to address a problem that could lead the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly when parked.The problem involves a defective parking pawl, which is supposed to hold the vehicle in park, Nissan said in documents filed with NHTSA.Owners will be notified starting November 1.Nissan will be recalling more than 200,000 of its 2020 through 2023 model Frontier and Titan pickups over a defect that could make the trucks roll away while parked. In documents filed with NHTSA, the automaker said the problem is “non-engagement of the parking pawl” on trucks from 2020 through 2023 model years, which have a nine-speed automatic transmission.Nissan spotted the problem at its Canton, Mississippi, plant and had it confirmed through testing by Jatco, the maker of the nine-speed transmission. The supplier said “insufficient lifting force of the parking pawl, due to friction” was believed to be the problem, according to NHTSA filings.2022 Nissan Frontier.NissanIncluded in the recall are trucks built between December 13, 2019, and June 14, 2022. There have been no reported accidents, the automaker said. Nissan said it will notify owners by November 1, and in the meantime owners are asked to use the parking brake every time they park the vehicles. In the meantime, owners can determine whether their vehicle is included in the recall by visiting the NHTSA recalls website.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