Motor News

• A Canada-built equivalent to the DeLorean DMC-12, the Bricklin SV-1 has many parallels to that legendary car, both in terms of audacity and eventual financial failure.• The name SV-1 stands for Safety Vehicle, and this classic has a number of safety innovations that were quite advanced for its day.• Slightly fewer than 3000 SV-1s were built over a three-year period, but fewer than 150 of them came with the four-speed manual like this example currently up for auction on the Bring a Trailer website.It is said that Icarus, out of pride, flew so close to the sun that his waxen wings melted and he plummeted to his doom. The same fate seems to happen to gullwinged sports cars about once a decade, whether the wings in question are stainless steel (the DeLorean DMC-12) or bonded acrylic resin (as here). But from the financial ashes, a phoenix emerges, ready to be the center of attention at the next car show its new owner might attend.

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And that’s the Bricklin SV-1, a rare and mostly forgotten 1970s sports coupe. The company folded almost 50 years ago, but the cars still have a small but eager fan base. This one’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos. With five days to go, bidding sits at just $3500. Malcolm Bricklin was a serial automotive entrepreneur with a shoot-from-the-hip attitude and shoot-from-the-hip accuracy to match. He brought Subaru to America in 1968, and now you can’t visit a hiking trailhead without tripping over a Crosstrek. But he also founded Yugo, and when’s the last time you saw one of those? Or wanted to?

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Between launching these two endeavors, Bricklin launched the SV-1, drawing on the financial assistance of the Canadian government. A factory was built in New Brunswick, the area then economically depressed by the collapse of the local fishing industry, and the car was designed by ArtCenter College graduate Herb Grasse, who had contributed to the original Dodge Challenger.

The idea behind the SV-1 was to embrace incoming U.S. safety regulations wholeheartedly, creating a car fit for modern roads. And not just any car, but a V-8–powered grand tourer capable of going toe to toe with the Chevrolet Corvette. Bricklin’s creation would be striking-looking, with gullwing doors and a sharply sloping nose. It would feature futuristic construction materials and have integrated bumpers and a crash structure to protect its occupants.Launched in 1974 with an AMC-supplied 360-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V-8 and either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission, the SV-1 was a decent performer. There were teething troubles with overheating, but these were soon solved with a radiator upgrade. Bigger issues were the new factory and inexperienced workforce, cost overruns, and problematic quality control. Six years later, pretty much the exact same problems would kill the DeLorean DMC-12. They did in Bricklin in three.Bricklins can have all kinds of issues to work through, and there are a few with this example. The radio doesn’t work, the A/C isn’t blowing cold, and the windows stick. This last is a pain to address with the heavy gullwing doors, which weigh about 100 pounds each.Signed by the AuthorHowever, this SV-1 has the four-speed manual paired with the 220-hp 5.9-liter AMC V-8. That makes it 10 times rarer than your average Bricklin, and also quite a bit more fun to drive. Provenance is also improved by the signatures of both Malcolm Bricklin and the late Herb Grasse.

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With its conventional, U.S.-sourced powertrain, a Bricklin is a bit tougher than a DeLorean, and easier to keep on the road in terms of mechanical issues. This example also benefits from an upgraded Edelbrock intake manifold and a stainless steel exhaust system.The SV-1 drives far better than you expect it to, and with the exhaust upgrade this version probably honks like an angry Canada goose—they look cute, but Canadians call those birds cobra chickens for a reason. A sense of humor is required for ownership, as there’s a good chance you’ll be propping open one of those gullwing doors with a broom handle at some point. But just think of the stares as you rumble into your local Sunday morning car meet-up.There’s a great deal to be said for a car that was a failure in its day but seems quirky and cool now. Best of all, unlike owning a DeLorean DMC-12, you won’t have to put up with people cracking wise about flux capacitors and hitting 88 miles per hour. Just finish your coffee, pop open the doors, and fly off down the road, 93 million miles away from the sun, a V-8 underfoot, and not a care in the world. The auction ends on Monday, August 22. More

Cadillac has shown off a prototype of the upcoming Celestiq.The new electric hatchback is shown going for its first engineering drive at GM’s Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.We don’t have word on when the Celestiq will reach dealerships. This morning Cadillac shared photos on its social platforms of its new EV flagship, the Celestiq, beginning its road testing in prototype form. As it takes its first drive at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, we can see that the production model should look very close to the concept photos released just over a month ago. The Celestiq is expected to reach customers sometime in 2024.

The Celestiq pictured here is wearing blue and white camouflage with hundreds of Cadillac badges in all different orientations meant to create an optical illusion. But the camouflage can’t hide how massive the car is, and its silhouette is remarkably dramatic on the road. The main difference we can tell from the concept is that this prototype has real side-view mirrors.

The electric hatchback is on track to arrive as a 2025 model, although Cadillac hasn’t yet announced exactly when deliveries will begin. We also don’t have any information on how many vehicles Cadillac plans to build, but production will be kept at low volume to ensure exclusivity. The Celestiq EV uses GM’s Ultium battery technology, and we expect it to offer a large battery pack that should be good for at least 300 miles of driving range per charge. Its competitors such as the Tesla Model S and the Lucid Air offer more than 400 and 500 miles of range, respectively. The slinky electric hatchback’s base MSRP has yet to be announced, but we expect it to start in the high-$200,000 to low-$300,000 range. The Celestiq will be hand-built, and customers will be able to customize their car to a large degree. Look for more details on the 2025 Celestiq as Cadillac prepares this new electric hatchback for production and works with customers to spec and build their cars before finally handing them over. More

Dodge is bringing back the GLH (Goes Like Hell) moniker for the 2023 Hornet crossover.The name was originally used on the Omni hot hatch from the 1980s.The GLH package includes a lowered suspension, an upgraded exhaust, and visual add-ons.Dodge is playing up the sporty angle for the new 2023 Hornet and now says it will offer a GLH package that includes several performance upgrades for the SUV. This name, which stands for “Goes Like Hell,” is an homage to the Omni GLH hot hatchback from the 1980s. The dealer-installed upgrades will be sold through Dodge’s Direct Connection parts program. The car you see pictured here is the Hornet GLH concept and is meant to demonstrate what’s possible if you add all the goodies.Available for the Hornet GT, which has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, the GLH add-ons include a suspension kit that lowers the SUV by more than an inch, an upgraded exhaust, 20-inch wheels, and numerous stripes and GLH logos. Dodge hasn’t yet said how much extra horsepower the exhaust setup will add, but expect a bit more than the standard car’s 265 hp.

We also don’t yet know pricing for these extras, but Dodge says the GLH upgrades will be “stackable,” meaning you will likely be able to add one, some, or all of these options to your Hornet. We’d guess there will be an all-in price for the GLH package if you want everything. The Direct Connection parts will be covered under the vehicle’s warranty if you have them installed by a designated dealership, which Dodge calls a “Power Broker.” Eventually, Direct Connection will also offer performance parts for the more powerful Hornet R/T plug-in-hybrid model, but we don’t know details on those yet.Look for more info on the GLH upgrades later this year, as the Hornet GT is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in December.
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Acura has revealed the ARX-06, which features a twin-turbo 2.4-liter V-6 producing between 630 and 670 hp. It’s mated to a hybrid motor mounted in the transmission case. Development of the ARX-06 was a joint collaboration of chassis supplier ORECA, Honda Performance Development, and Acura Design Studio.Brand identity is usually an afterthought in modern racing. Form generally follows function, leaving little room for creativity. But IMSA’s new GTP class is designed to encourage just that, with guidelines that entries “will carry significant design cues and styling to closely align with each manufacturer’s roadgoing products.” And while it’s been decades since race cars even remotely resembled their street counterparts, Acura’s design team was tasked with bringing a family resemblance to the exterior of the new ARX-06 prototype.

The ARX-06 is Acura’s entry into the nascent GTP class. An all-new twin-turbocharged 90-degree 2.4-liter V6 was developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD). Capable of reaching 10,000 rpm, this tiny screamer is mated to an IMSA-specified hybrid system and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transaxle. Longtime Acura partner ORECA supplied the underpinnings. Riding on 123.9-inch wheelbase, the carbon-fiber monocoque chassis has an unequal-length-control-arm suspension with pushrod-style dampers at both axles. While altering the chassis is off limits, manufacturers can personalize the exterior to a much greater extent.

Acura

Acura executive creative director Dave Marek said he relished the challenge. “I told my team, ‘Let’s just make the thing cool and look like a show car,’ ” he joked. Marek knew from his previous experience with the ARX-05 design process that even simple ideas might be difficult to execute. “At the time, IMSA wanted to make the [race cars] look more like passenger cars. So we started doing it and they said, But you can’t change that, or that, or that. At the end of the day, I want it to look like our car, but I also want to win. So let’s make the best car we can.” In hindsight, Marek and his team arrived too late in the development process of the ARX-05 to make any meaningful changes. The exterior styling of the ARX-06, however, was designed from the ground up at the Los Angeles-based Acura Design Studio. Stylists from Acura’s production car division created the initial sketches, which ultimately led to scale models. Once the scale model was finalized, the design team worked with HPD and ORECA to further refine aerodynamic performance. Special projects leader Bill Yex points out that achieving good looks were only half of the design equation. “The aerodynamics quickly took over on the developmental side. Production cars are very aerodynamically efficient, but it kind of stops there. This thing needs to be low drag, high downforce balanced.”

Acura

Additional input from racing partners Meyer Shank and Wayne Taylor helped to fine tune details from a real-world perspective. Driver complaints about the ARX-05’s lighting enabled Marek to redesign the front clusters on the ARX-06, improving both their appearance as well as intensity. Using VR allowed drivers to “sit” in the cockpit and adjust their driving position. Those Lights Look FamiliarWhen viewed in full-scale form, the ARX-06 conveys a successful collaboration among everyone involved. The familiar Acura styling elements play a functional role in the car’s design, from the purposefully exaggerated headlight clusters to the “chicane” taillights out back. Still, Marek wasn’t able to win every battle. “The rear is still very dominated by restrictions.” After attempting to soften a particularly blocky part, he was shot down by IMSA regulators. “It was illegal. I said, ‘why is that illegal? What the hell, man?’” Constraints aside, Marek is still proud of what they were able to accomplish. “I’m not going to say the other cars aren’t real yet, but to me the fact that this is completely legal and still looks as good as it does is a shout-out to the team.”The ARX-06 will make its racing debut starting with the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2023. Though Acura has recently dominated IMSA endurance racing, it will be facing a slew of fresh competition in the GTP class. Longtime rival Cadillac is once again fielding a entry, along with newcomers Porsche and BMW. Still, it should be easy to spot the Acura in this newly crowded field. Just look for the headlights.
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The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a new subcompact SUV with a performance-focused, plug-in-hybrid model.There’s also a gas-only Hornet that starts around $30,000, and it’s offered with similar features and options.With Dodge about to enter a new “electrifed performance” era, the Hornet leads the way when the PHEV hits dealers next spring starting around $40,000. A new era is dawning at Dodge. For at least the past decade, the brand’s survival has largely relied on retro-themed, V-8–powered hits like the Charger and Challenger. Hell, it even offered a 710-hp Durango with an estimated 13 mpg combined. While the Hellcat SUV is back for 2023, along with myriad special editions of the muscle-car duo, Dodge has declared last call. The decision comes as the brand takes a hard left towards an electrified future, one that begins with the new 2023 Dodge Hornet.
Dodge’s New Direction

The Hornet is a subcompact SUV that shares a platform and other parts with the Alfa Romeo Tonale. It measures 178 inches long, up to 63.8 inches tall, and rides on a 103.8-inch wheelbase. It’s also the first entirely new model that Dodge has introduced since the ill-fated Dart compact sedan, which only lasted from 2012 to 2016. The Hornet represents the company’s first plug-in-hybrid model, too, but rather than focus on fuel efficiency, Dodge is boasting about the new hybrid’s performance. CEO Tim Kuniskis even billed the Hornet as the “first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge.”Before you worry about all of Dodge’s future performance models being hybrid crossovers, don’t forget that the company plans to unveil a concept version of its electric muscle car this week, too. So it’s not leaving its roots entirely. Plus, the 2023 Hornet actually has some legitimate performance attributes, and they’re not limited to the plug-in-hybrid model. There’s also a base nonhybrid model with a turbocharged gas engine, and it’s offered with many of the same features and options as the PHEV. The standard shared bits from the Alfa include a fully independent suspension, Koni dampers, and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The PHEV comes standard with Brembo four-piston, fixed front calipers, which are also available on the base model. Likewise, every Hornet is available with the Track Pack, which includes 20-inch wheels, upgraded dampers, and unique styling bits.
Powertrain ComparisonsThe Hornet GT is the entry point. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Dodge estimates the GT will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 140 mph. The Hornet R/T is the plug-in hybrid. It combines a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four, six-speed automatic, and a 121-hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The total system output is 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. It also features a “PowerStop” function that delivers an extra 25 horsepower and instant torque for 15-second bursts. While its top speed is limited to a lower 128 mph, it should be quicker than its nonhybrid counterpart. Dodge estimates the PHEV will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. For comparison, that’s slightly behind a 250-hp Mazda CX-30 we tested that hit 60 in 5.8 ticks.The Hornet R/T’s lithium-ion battery pack has a 12.0-kWh useable capacity, and with its 7.2-kW onboard charger, Dodge estimates a Level 2 connection can refill the battery in about 2.5 hours. While we’re told it’ll have an electric-only driving range of around 30 miles, EPA ratings for either powertrain haven’t been released yet. Designed by DodgeFrom the outside, the Hornet’s connection to the Tonale is obvious. Both are also built in Italy. The Dodge’s most notable design difference is the prominent heat extractors on its hood, which are reminiscent of those seen on more muscular models. Also seen on other performance-focused Dodges is the mail slot-looking piece that separates the upper and lower grilles. A set of narrow headlights with upside-down boomerangs for accent lights and full-width taillights further distinguish the Hornet’s appearance. Both the GT and R/T are available with a Blacktop package that includes black 18-inch wheels along with gloss-black exterior badges and mirror caps.Inside, the Hornet’s dashboard prioritizes the driver by canting the controls to the left. There’s a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles and a button to select different drive modes. Every model features a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.3-inch infotainment display with Uconnect5 software. Among the system’s many standard features are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
While the standard interior is black cloth with red contrast stitching, opting for the GT Plus or R/T Plus trims add leather upholstery that’s offered in red. These upper trims also add wireless smartphone charging and a fancier sound system in the form of a 465-watt, 14-speaker Harman Kardon unit. All Hornets comes standard with driver-assistance tech such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Opting for the Tech Pack unlocks adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and more.Dodge says the 2023 Hornet GT starts at $29,995 before destination, so we expect its actual starting MSRP to be around $31,000. The same goes for the R/T, which is priced at $39,995 before destination. Orders for the GT model open tomorrow, and it will reach dealers this December. Dodge hasn’t said when orders will open for the R/T, but it’ll be sometime before it hits dealerships next spring.
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The 2023 Mazda 3 gets some updates and new pricing now that the base 2.0L model is gone.The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine now makes 191 horsepower and gets an mpg bump.The sedan starts at $23,615, and pricing ranges up to $36,365 for a loaded turbocharged hatchback model.The 2023 Mazda 3 lineup benefits from some updates to the powertrain offerings, and prices are up. There’s no more 2.0 base model, as the 2.5 S trim with its naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four is now the cheapest version available, starting at $23,615 for the sedan. That represents an $1850 increase over the 2022 model, although that’s offset by the fact that the 2.5 S is better-equipped and more powerful than the previous 155-hp 2.0 model.In fact, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine now makes a bit more horsepower than it did before, with a 5 hp increase bumping it up to 191 hp. The 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four is still available on higher trims, starting at $33,515.

The naturally aspirated model’s fuel-economy improvements are thanks to an updated cylinder-deactivation system. Combined ratings are up by 1 mpg for most models, and the city and highway ratings are up as well. Front-wheel drive remains standard and all-wheel drive is an option on the 2.5 S Carbon Edition and standard on the 2.5 S Premium and 2.5 Turbo models. The front-wheel-drive 3 2.5 S Premium hatchback remains available with a six-speed manual transmission and that version starts at $30,215.Mazda says that the 2023 Mazda 3 hatchback will arrive this fall, with the sedan slated to follow in the winter.
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This carefully named “reimagined” Porsche 911 cabriolet is the work of Singer, a company that does amazing things to Porsches for very discerning customers.Although Singer specializes in this area, this is its first 964 cabriolet.Price for such a work? Probably north of $500,000, with a wait at least a couple of years long.In order to stay on the right side of Porsche’s jealously guarded intellectual property rights, Singer is always careful to note that the company neither manufactures nor sells cars. Instead, it describes its work as restoring and reimagining the Porsche 911 as built between 1989 and 1994—the 964 chassis. Really, though, Singer isn’t a manufacturer, and it isn’t a restoration specialist. It is a distillery.Here’s its newest cask-strength offering, the first convertible 911 to receive the Singer treatment. Building on the lessons learned from its recent Turbo Study reworking of the iconic 930, this 911 cabriolet gets widebody carbon-fiber enhancements, a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged and air-cooled flat-six engine, and a six-speed manual transmission.

Like most Singerized 911s, this car is built to owner specification; in an age when the word “bespoke” is stretched to include getting the brake calipers on a Cayenne painted yellow, this special 911 cab is properly made to order. It receives the higher-performance 510-hp engine with electric wastegates and air-to-water intercooling (the original Turbo Study has 450 hp as standard), as well as the upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes. Yet it is also clearly intended as a grand tourer, fitted with the softer suspension option, electric power seats, air conditioning, and even inductive phone charging.
Since its founding in 2009, Singer has always had a stated focus of infusing California’s automotive ethos into its reimaginings. Here, an open-topped 911 Turbo immediately conjures up images of cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway, crossing the span of the Bixby Creek Bridge with the sun beating down, the sting of salt spray in your nostrils, and limitless flat-six torque in reserve.While Singer has reworked a handful of 911 Targas in the past, this is the company’s first effort at a 964 cabriolet. That the effort should be based around forced induction and that huge whale-tail is only fitting. Almost all 911 Turbos of this generation were coupes, but Porsche made a half-dozen cabriolets for some very well-connected buyers in-period. Those cars were built from Turbo-look widebody 911 cabriolets, each one shipped to the Sonderwisch department in Weissach where they were comprehensively reworked with Turbo powertrains and performance upgrades.
Special WishesSonderwisch translates to “Special Wishes,” what Porsche now calls its Exclusive Manufaktur department. Singer effectively doubles down on all three terms: nearly anything the customer could wish for, incredibly rare and exclusive, and so comprehensive an approach to manufacturing as to make even the glovebox a work of art.The cost, as you might expect, is astronomical. The wait is less-so, but anyone interested in commissioning a Singer restoration of a 911 convertible will likely be waiting at least a couple of years. Despite a price estimate of at least $500,000, demand easily outstrips supply.Hardly surprising, because what Singer creates with their no-stone-left-unturned approach is not so much a car as it is an idea. This 911 Turbo cabriolet provides, in both performance and driving experience, a concentrated and refined version of what every bedroom 911 poster promised. It is the dream of a Porsche droptop, condensed into carbon fiber and polished steel, every ounce of it as potent as you could wish for.

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Chevy is bringing the ZR2 Bison trim level to its Silverado pickup.As with the Colorado ZR2 Bison, the model is a collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles.The Silverado ZR2 Bison goes on sale this fall, priced at $78,490.After being hunted nearly to extinction, the American bison has slowly come back in the West and is a common sight at Yellowstone National Park. At Chevrolet, the genus ZR2 Bison is an even more common sight, and its population is about to double, with a new Silverado ZR2 Bison pickup joining the Colorado ZR2 Bison that has been roaming Chevy dealer lots since 2019.

Like the mid-size Colorado ZR2 Bison, the new Silverado was developed with off-road specialists American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) and will be the model’s most hardcore off-roader. It’s based on the existing ZR2 (which continues), adding five underbody skid plates along with rocker-panel protectors and replacing the front and rear bumpers with redesigned stamped-steel units that integrate step plates and front tow hooks. Gloss black 18-inch wheels are wrapped with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. The new bumpers allow for steeper approach and departure angles, although exact figures aren’t yet available. Chevrolet is estimating 32.5 degrees for the approach angle and 23.4 degrees for the departure angle. Ground clearance is unchanged at 11.2 inches.
Beyond the trim-specific black wheels, the Bison is differentiated by its body-colored grille bar and a matte-black panel on its standard Multi-Flex tailgate, in addition to Bison and AEV badging inside and out.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet

Like the ZR2, the Bison comes exclusively with a 6.2-liter V-8 that’s good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Output is sent via a 10-speed automatic to front and rear electronically locking differentials. Chevy is charging $78,490 for the ZR2 Bison, which represents a hefty upcharge over the 2023 Silverado ZR2’s $71,545.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet

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