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    EV Charging Help Is on the Way: DOT Approves First $900 Million to Add Infrastructure in 35 States

    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the first 35 states that will get money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that was signed into law in late 2021.That law approved a total of $5 billion to be spent on electric-vehicle chargers over five years, and that includes installation, maintenance and other services to keep things working.Under the BIL’s funding formula, Texas could get the biggest slice of the EV infrastructure pie, followed by California and Florida.The federal government has been talking for almost a year now about the $5 billion it will spend on improving electric vehicle infrastructure in the U.S. At the Detroit auto show today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the first 35 states that had more than $900 million in funding approved for EV chargers that will end up covering 53,000 miles of highways across the country.Choosing and Charging an EV”Today, with funding in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are taking an important step to build a nationwide electric vehicle charging network where finding a charge is as easy as locating a gas station,” Buttigieg said, according to prepared remarks. “With the first set of approvals we are announcing today, 35 states across the country—with Democratic and Republican governors—will be moving forward to use these funds to install EV chargers at regular, reliable intervals along their highways.”The DOT’s infrastructure plan as of 9/14/22.U.S. Department of TransportationThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that President Biden signed into law in November 2021 included a total of $7.5 billion for EV chargers and other alternative fueling facilities. Five billion of that was assigned to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Under the NEVI program, states can receive funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for up to 80 percent of eligible project costs.What Does the Money Go For? Eligible costs here mean almost anything that has to do with getting EV chargers in the ground, including the “acquisition, installation, and network connection of EV charging stations,” for example, as well as maintenance of those stations once they’re in operation. NEVI also wants to make long-term EV charging station data more sharable, and any government funds have to be spent on charging stations that are non-proprietary and allow for open-access payment methods. The stations also have to be publicly available (or available to commercial drivers from more than one company) and be installed along designated FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). In short, this money is meant to help as many EV drivers as possible find places to charge. Today’s announcement covers just the first two-thirds of the EV infrastructure deployment plans from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More EV charging funds remain to be announced, as the $900 million represents money from the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, and the NEVI program continues until fiscal year 2026.The Funding Formula Favors TexasThe five-year NEVI program divides money by state using a funding formula that will see 12 states get more than $100 million in funding, with the state that stands to gain the most here being Texas. While any application from Texas has not yet been approved, the Lone Star State was allocated over $407 million in the NEVI formula. The second-place state, California, could get over $383 million, and the Golden State has had its initial funding request approved. Third-place Florida, which stands to get $198 million overall, has also been approved.”California is ahead of the game,” Scott Painter, the CEO of California-based EV firm Autonomy, told Car and Driver. “It already has the most EVs on the road and 30 percent of all public EV chargers. So it’s not surprising that Texas, given its size, population, and miles of highway, is getting a big bite of the funding. EV charging infrastructure to date has tended to follow EV registrations and state backing. The federal funding and distribution will help even out EV adoption by states and alleviate range anxiety which is one of the keys to consumer adoption.” You can see the full list of approved states here. 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

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    Queen Elizabeth II Designed Her Own Hearse with Jaguar Land Rover

    Queen Elizabeth’s coffin is being moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London today, where it will lie in state for four days, and mourners will be able to visit it to pay their respects.The coffin is being carried on the state hearse—the same one that will be used at her funeral next Monday. BAZAAR.com has learned the hearse was designed by The Royal Household and Jaguar Land Rover, and the queen was consulted on the plans and approved the final model before her death. The state hearse is finished in the shade Royal Claret, the same color as the official royal and state vehicles kept in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and used by members of the royal family on official duties, per Buckingham Palace.DANIEL LEAL|Getty ImagesThe vehicle also features the late Queen Elizabeth’s personal royal cypher and was designed to allow members of the public to have a clear view of the monarch’s coffin as it travels from place to place.Anadolu Agency|Getty ImagesSince Buckingham Palace announced Queen Elizabeth’s death last Thursday, her coffin has traveled from Balmoral Castle in Scotland, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace, and now to Westminster Hall. The royal family—including Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan, Prince William, and Princess Kate—came together this morning for the procession of the late monarch’s coffin. The funeral service for the queen will take place Monday, September 19. The queen’s final resting place will be St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where she will be buried next to her husband of more than 70 years, Prince Philip.The royal period of mourning will continue for one week after, per King Charles III. This story was originally published by Bazaar.com.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

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    2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport Shows Its Chunky New Looks

    Honda has released far more revealing teaser images showing more of the 2023 Honda Pilot’s new design.There will be a TrailSport trim level with off-road-oriented tweaks.Honda says the Pilot will be revealed in the fall, meaning it should go on sale late this year or early next year.We’re now seeing a lot more of the new 2023 Honda Pilot thanks to new teaser images that show the SUV’s front and rear ends. Honda had previously shown a camouflaged version from afar, but these latest photos reveal much of the three-row crossover’s new design that includes a larger grille, squared-off headlights and taillights, and a new bright blue color.Pictured here is the TrailSport trim level, which was first introduced on the outgoing Pilot (and the smaller Passport) but will include more intensive tweaks in the new model. Honda says that additions will consist of all-terrain tires, skid plates, suspension modifications, and a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system.Open GalleryMore on the PilotAs for the broader 2023 Pilot lineup, we expect the familiar EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels to stick around. Three rows of seats will be standard, and the interior should get a significant overhaul with a new infotainment system, nicer materials, and a digital gauge cluster. We’re not sure of the new Pilot’s powertrain, but the current 3.5-liter V-6 may stick around, and a hybrid variant will likely be added.Look for more information to come soon on the new Pilot, as Honda says the reveal is planned for this fall. It will then go on sale either late this year or early next year, and we expect pricing to start around $40,000.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

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    2023 Chevy Tahoe RST Adds a Performance Package with More Power

    The 2023 Chevy Tahoe’s RST trim level will offer a performance package with extra power and chassis tweaks.An upgraded exhaust adds 13 horsepower and 7 pound-feet to the 6.2-liter V-8.The package costs $8525 extra and it will be available late this year.Perhaps Chevrolet is a bit jealous of the Ford Expedition’s Stealth Performance package, as the 2023 Tahoe full-size SUV will now be adding a performance package of its own. Available for the RST trim level, the Performance Edition adds an upgraded exhaust, suspension tweaks, and different brakes.The exhaust adds 13 horsepower and 7 pound-feet to the RST’s 6.2-liter V-8 engine, bringing totals to 433 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque. Springs, dampers, and an anti-roll bar borrowed from the police-spec Tahoe are also included, meaning the Performance Edition sits 0.4 inch lower than stock. Larger front brakes provide extra stopping power, and the calipers are painted red.ChevroletMore Big SUVsChevy claims improved performance metrics, including a 5.8-second sprint to 60 mph, a 124 mph top speed, and shorter stopping distances. We’ll see how it performs on our test track when we’re able to get our hands on one; it’ll have its work cut out for it matching the Expedition Stealth Performance’s 4.9-second 60-mph run.The Performance Edition costs $8550 on top of the 2023 Tahoe RST 4WD’s $66,595 base price. It also includes the Luxury package, which typically costs $3025 and includes equipment such as heated second-row seats, adaptive cruise control, and a heated steering wheel. Tahoes equipped with the package will arrive at dealerships in the last quarter of this year.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

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    1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    This Mustang, up for auction on the Bring a Trailer site, marks the first chapter in the “Shelby Mustang” saga. This 1965 Shelby GT350 flaunts the optional Le Mans stripes and special alloy wheels. Dealer invoice shows a total cost of $3,888.04 in 1965; the current bid sits at $275,000, with the online auction set to end on Thursday, September 15.If the first cut is the deepest, then this 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is as deep as it gets. Like many automotive enthusiasts, I considered the Ford Mustang an absolute superstar in my childhood, and it was, in fact, my first favorite car. Of course, by the time I roamed this earth it had already become an American icon, and the name of Carroll Shelby was revered by gearheads and fanatics.Bring a TrailerThis specimen, located in Pittsford, New York, is currently up for auction on the Bring a Trailer online auction site—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. It was refurbished in California before ending up with its current owner in 2014. It flaunts the period-correct Wimbledon White paint with the standard rocker panel strips and optional Le Mans stripes. A letter from Howard Pardee, Director Emeritus of Shelby American Automobile Club, supplements its authenticity. Before scrutinizing pricing figures and condition, let’s first revisit what the first ever Shelby Mustang actually was.Carroll Shelby’s legacy was well under way when the first of the Shelby Mustangs hit the scene in 1965. As explained in our instrumented test of the 1965 Shelby GT350, he and his crew set out to convert the Mustang fastback coupe into a street-legal version of a NASCAR stock car. Upgrades included a modified 289-cubic-inch V-8 with an output of 306 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, an array of chassis and suspension upgrades—such as Koni adjustable shocks, altered steering geometry, and an anti-roll bar along with torque-control arms—beefier brakes with 11-inch discs up front and drums in the rear, and 15-inch “mag-type” wheels. Of course, there were other enhancements, including closer ratios for the four-speed transmission, optional oil coolers, an extra-capacity radiator, and so on. Bring a TrailerAccording to documentation provided by the seller, the original dealer invoice shows a total cost of $3,888.04 back in 1965, which includes the Le Mans stripes as a no-charge option and “special alloy” wheels as a $214 option. For reference, the 1965 Shelby GT350 had a base MSRP of $4547. These figures are a drop in the bucket compared to the current bid, which sits at $275,000 as of this writing. If previous auctions are any indicator, the bids should continue to mount for this pristine-looking example, as another 1965 Shelby GT350 sold for $400,000 in September 2020, and a Shelby GT350R managed to fetch a whopping $875,000 in April 2022. Buying a piece of automotive history can actually be an extremely expensive feat.Car and DriverToday, we have a Shelby GT500 that puts out a monstrous 760 horsepower and can pull as much as 1.13 g’s on the skidpad. Suffice it to say that the original Mustang GT350 was the starting point of a legacy that is prized by today’s auto enthusiasts, and it’s still being written. From the C/D Archive: 1960sThis 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

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    Chevrolet Will Let Z06 Buyers Help Build Their Own Engines . . . for a Price

    Chevrolet announced in early September that it plans to bring back its “Build Your Own Engine” program for the Corvette Z06 starting in the second quarter of 2023. The program, which allows buyers to come into the factory and help workers assemble the engine before it goes into their car, will only be available for Corvettes utilizing the LT6 powertrain, which, for now, only means the Z06. “This is a real challenge for us because this is such a new engine and it’s much more complex than what we’ve ever done in the past,” plant director Kai Spande said at a 28th-anniversary celebration for the Corvette Museum, recorded by Corvette Blogger.”We’ve done some things that I think will be very much appreciated by those that build their engine,” Spande continued. What Price Glory?Previous iterations of the Build Your Own Engine program meant buyers would join assembly-line workers to help assemble their motor. For 2023, though, the Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant has designed a specific area of the plant where participants will be able to help assemble their engine alongside professionals without having to go down the line. The Build Your Own Engine program was a $5000 option in the past, according to Corvette Blogger. Considering all of the new accommodations the factory has made to add this option back to the floor, we’re betting it’s going to be a lot more expensive this time around. We’ve reached out to Chevrolet for official pricing. 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

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    2023 Chrysler 300C Bows Out with a Brawny 6.4-Liter V-8

    The 2023 Chrysler 300C is a limited-production send-off for the 300, with 2000 examples set to be sold in the United States.The 300C is powered by the familiar 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, producing 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.The 300C starts at $56,595.After nearly two decades, the Chrysler 300 will cease production following the 2023 model year. But the 300 will not go quietly into the night, instead roaring towards the grave with a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. This is the heart of the limited-edition 300C, revealed ahead of the Detroit auto show, with only 2000 units of the brawny sedan set to be built for the United States and an extra 200 for Canada. Chrysler 300s of the PastThat 391-cubic-inch engine cranks out 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, with Chrysler claiming a 4.3-second sprint to 60 mph and a 12.4 second quarter-mile time. Top speed is a claimed 160 mph. This engine was previously featured in the 300 SRT, built from 2012 to 2015, but that car’s version of this V-8 made 15 fewer horsepower. This engine also powers 392-badged Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Jeep Wranglers, plus the Durango and Grand Cherokee SRT models. Now all that’s left for Chrysler to do is rip out the Pacifica minivan’s Stow ’N Go seats and replace them with the 6.4-liter to make a mid-engined muscle van.The 300C comes only with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and stopping power comes from red four-piston Brembo brakes. The 300C is also fitted with a limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers. The exterior is styled with black chrome accents on the front end, black headlight and taillight bezels, and round black exhaust tips. The 300C rides on 20-inch wheels and the limited-edition model can be painted Gloss Black, Velvet Red, or Bright White.A new 300C logo—which echoes the tri-color 300C logo of the 1950s—adorns the front grille and is embossed into the headrests of the black Laguna leather seats. The seats, along with the doors and dashboard, also feature silver contrast stitching. Standard equipment includes a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, plus heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel.The 2023 300C will cost $56,595, and Chrysler says orders are open now. Chrysler hasn’t revealed much about what lies beyond for the 300 nameplate, but CEO Chris Feuell was quoted in the press release as saying Chrysler will transform with “a fully electrified future.” The Airflow crossover concept from the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show looked nearly production-ready and is likely to form part of Chrysler’s EV lineup, but its unclear if the traditional 300 sedan will get an electron-powered revival.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

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    How to Watch the New 2024 Ford Mustang Reveal

    The 2024 Ford Mustang will be revealed at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 14.Ford will be streaming the reveal, which will be held as part of the Detroit auto show, live on YouTube.Ford CEO Jim Farley earlier this year confirmed that the seventh-gen Mustang will offer a manual transmission. Fans are patiently—or perhaps not so patiently—awaiting the debut of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. Well, the wait will end at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 14, when Ford will reveal its latest pony car as part of the Detroit auto show. The new ‘Stang’s debut can be watched from afar via a livestream on YouTube.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.All-New Ford Mustang Global Debut | 2022 North American International Auto ShowWatch onThe new Mustang (called S650) will be a 2024 model. Ford CEO Jim Farley back in July confirmed on Twitter the continuation of the manual transmission for the pony car, even plugging the #SaveTheManuals hashtag. More on the Next-Gen ‘StangWe expect the new version to continue to offer an EcoBoost turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder and the Coyote 5.0-liter V-8. Currently, the EcoBoost ‘Stang produces 310 horsepower, whereas the V-8 in the Mustang GT makes 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. We expect that both engine variants will be slightly tuned up for the new generation, likely raising power numbers slightly. GLENN PAULINA|Car and DriverBased on the camouflaged test mules we’ve seen driving near our southeast Michigan office, the exterior styling of the car won’t be dramatically different from the current S550 Mustang. We do expect to see more significant changes to the interior. All of that and more should be answered tomorrow night.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