Motor News

EV maker Lucid revealed an even higher-performance version of its Air luxury sedan, the Air Sapphire, today during Monterey Car Week in California.This latest, three-motor version will make more than 1200 horsepower, compared with 1111 hp for the Air Performance.The Sapphire will be priced starting around $250,000. Orders will be taken starting in August, with production starting in mid-2023.Lucid hasn’t nailed down an exact number yet, but the Air Sapphire, the new performance version of the Air, is the most powerful sedan in the world. Even without a final horsepower number to tout, the company is confident of the claim, because Lucid knocked its own car off the pedestal.At over 1200 horsepower, the Air Sapphire pulls ahead of the 1111-hp Air Performance. The difference in the powertrain between the two is the Sapphire’s new dual-motor rear end. Lucid doubled up on its own compact motor, and the two-motor setup bolts up into the existing rear subframe without any modification to the car. Having two motors driving the rear wheels allows for torque vectoring, which Lucid claims helps make the car seem smaller and lighter than it is. Up front, the 670-hp motor from the Air Performance adds to the acceleration.

Lucid Motors

To 60 MPH in Less Than Two SecondsLucid is making some shocking acceleration claims. According to the company, 60 mph will be gone in less than two seconds, 100 falls before the stopwatch hits four seconds, and we’re told to expect a sub-9.0-second quarter-mile time. Keep on it and the Sapphire will reach a top speed well over 200 mph. For comparison, the quickest Tesla Model S Plaid we tested hit 60 mph in 2.1 seconds, 100 mph in 4.3, and passed the quarter in 9.4 seconds. Lucid tells us that acceleration runs can be done repeatedly without requiring a long cool-down. Max acceleration will come via a mode that will prepare the battery pack for straight-line speed. If the Sapphire is as quick as the company says it is, it’ll outaccelerate a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.

To keep the speed and power in check, the Sapphire comes with a retuned suspension that has new springs, anti-roll bars, and damper tuning. New suspension knuckles increase front track width by 12 mm, and the rear track adds 24 mm. Tire width goes up enough to require small fender flares. Michelin formulated a Pilot Sport 4S tire for the Sapphire that has a low-rolling-resistance compound on the inside of the tire and a Cup 2–like material on the outside to improve grip. Front tires go from 245 to 265, and the rears widen from 265 to 295.Those tires wrap wider forged wheels that have been designed to maximize airflow to the massive carbon-ceramic brakes, which measure 16.5 inches up front and 11.8 inches in back. A 10-piston caliper does the squeezing up front, with a four-piston caliper clamping the rear rotors. For drivers who will primarily use their Sapphire on the street, Lucid will offer a disc-like wheel cover to increase driving range and aerodynamic efficiency.Range hasn’t been set yet, but Lucid clearly wants to beat its closest competitor, the 396-mile Model S Plaid. The 118.0-kWh battery is straight from the other Air models. Aside from the fender flares that bulge out slightly, the only other exterior changes are the large duckbill-like spoiler that Lucid says creates a net downforce. The diffuser and smooth underbody carry over from the other Air models.

Lucid Motors

To give it a mean appearance, the Sapphire gets the newly available Stealth Look standard. It’s not a murdered-out, blacked-out look but rather a blend of black and dark gray exterior trim pieces. Inside, there are new sport seats that have larger side bolsters and an integrated headrest. An Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel faces the driver, and the digital gauge cluster now has a blue hue. Initial production of the Sapphire will all have a blue exterior with the gray/black Tahoe interior.Pricing is set at $249,000, a number that does not include destination. Orders begin August 23, and customers will be required to put down $24,900 for a spot on the list. The Sapphire will begin rolling off the assembly line at some time before the middle of next year and is the first of what is expected to be a performance brand within Lucid. So, even if it’s as quiet as the other Lucid models, the Sapphire is set to make a lot of noise. More

Porsche will offer a special version of the new 2023 911 GT3 RS called the “Tribute to Carrera RS” package.It is painted in white and has Python Green accents, along with other visual touches.This will be offered only in the U.S. as part of the Exclusive Manufaktur customization program.Porsche loves to play up its rich heritage, and the newest version of the just-revealed 911 GT3 RS is meant to do just that. Called the Tribute to Carrera RS package, this special edition is visually inspired by the 1970s-era Carrera RS 2.7 that was the first RS-badged 911.

To that end, the new GT3 RS is finished in white paint and has its wheels, side mirrors, and a few other exterior elements painted in Python Green. There’s also a large green stripe on the side with “GT3 RS” script in a slightly modernized version of the “Carrera” font from the original. The giant rear wing has “RS” logos in green on each end. The interior matches the white and green theme as well, with different stitching and other painted trim pieces.

Porsche

Porsche will offer this option only in the U.S. market, which it says is the “second home” of the 911. It’ll be part of the Exclusive Manufaktur customization program, and although Porsche hasn’t yet provided a price, we imagine it won’t be a cheap option on top of the GT3 RS’s $225,250 starting price (before gas-guzzler tax). It should be rare, too, as Porsche says it will have limited availability. More

The Kia EV6 GT will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.It has 577 horsepower and an upgraded chassis to provide better performance than lesser versions of the EV.Kia claims it will get to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and that its top speed is 161 mph. The Kia EV6 is about to gain a far more powerful variant called the GT. With 577 horsepower, all-wheel-drive, and some heady performance claims, it will sit at the top of the EV6 lineup above the Light, Wind, and GT-Line trims. This model also likely previews much of what the upcoming N version of the related Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will offer. We’ve already driven the EV6 GT in Europe, and now we have confirmation of its U.S. specs ahead of its arrival on our shores later this year.

Kia

The EV6 GT’s front and rear electric motors provide a total of 577 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque. That’s a whole lot more than the current most powerful version of the EV6, the 320-hp dual-motor version. That model already got to 60 mph in an impressive 4.5 seconds in our testing, but the GT will be quicker still, and faster on the top end. Kia claims that the EV6 GT will get to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and go on to a top speed of 161 mph.

The increased focus on power and performance hurts the EV6 GT’s range estimate, which sits at a paltry 206 miles. It has the same 77.4-kWh battery pack as other versions, but that’s 104 miles less than the longest-range version of the EV, the rear-wheel-drive Long Range model, EPA-rated at 310 miles. Even the EV6’s base model, the rear-wheel-drive version with the smaller 58.0-kWh battery pack, outpaces the GT with its 232-mile range rating.

Kia

Adaptive dampers, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, and larger front and rear brakes are standard on the GT. 21-inch wheels are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, although Kia hasn’t specified if they’re summer tires or all-season rubber. There’s also a special set of drive modes that includes a Drift mode that directs more power to the rear wheels for powersliding antics. There are also newly available artificial sounds meant to make the EV’s soundtrack more dramatic.Inside, the main differences include sport seats, neon-green accents, and GT logos. The front and rear ends also have a slightly different look, although the GT isn’t all that easy to distinguish from the less powerful GT-Line version that also benefits from appearance tweaks over lesser models.

Kia

Kia hasn’t yet announced pricing for the GT, but we reckon it will start at over $60,000 given that a GT-Line costs $57,695. It will arrive at U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter of this year.
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Acura has announced that its first electric vehicle will be named ZDX.It’s a joint venture with General Motors and powered by Ultium batteries.The Acura ZDX features styling cues from the Precision EV concept.Acura is on a revival kick as of late, resurrecting the cherished Integra title for its compact sedan after a 20-year hiatus. Now Acura is at it again as it dusts off an unlikely nameplate for its first electric model: the ZDX. Built from 2010 to 2013, the original ZDX was a delightful, impractical oddball that struggled to find an audience. While it rode on an SUV chassis, its cargo space was extremely compromised by its swoopy fastback proportions.

Cognizant of this legacy, Acura stressed that this new ZDX would provide versatility and utility that’s more in line with the current Acura RDX and MDX SUVs. Though no photos yet exist of the ZDX, its styling and proportions will borrow heavily from the Precision EV concept, an MDX-sized vehicle that features a spacious, upright greenhouse. The ZDX rides on a platform developed in conjunction with General Motors and powered by GM’s Ultium battery packs. This scalable EV platform offers multiple motor and battery configurations, and provides a range of up to 450 miles. Acura hasn’t provided any additional technical details, but we predict the launch edition Type S variant will feature a dual-motor AWD setup and larger battery, with FWD base models to follow. It’s highly unlikely that Acura will offer a RWD version. Acura says that the ZDX will arrive in calendar-year 2024. More

Lincoln pulled the wraps off of the Model L100 concept at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.The big concept car is an autonomous grand tourer with an emphasis on the passenger experience.The Model L100 celebrates the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor’s purchase of Lincoln.Depending on who you ask, Lincoln is celebrating either its 100th anniversary or its 105th. Ford Motor Company prefers the former, as the Blue Oval purchased the luxury brand from Henry Leland in June of 1922. The latter year, however, marks the date of Lincoln’s actual founding.

At its inception, Lincoln strictly produced aircraft engines for the United States government. However, by September 1920, the company kicked off production of its first car: the Model L. Maybe this is the date to mark Lincoln’s anniversary, then? In that case, this means 2022 marks the brand’s 102nd anniversary. No matter, Lincoln has declared 2022 its 100th anniversary, and the American luxury brand is gifting itself a concept car in honor of this occasion. The Model L100 concept shares its ethos with the aforementioned Model L.
Like Cadillac’s upcoming Celestiq, the Model L100 is a massive machine that prioritizes personal luxury above all else. Unlike the Celestiq, which previews a forthcoming production model, the Model L100 is purely a concept car. We doubt features such as the big grand tourer’s two rearward opening doors, as well as its glass canopy roof that raises to further ease egress and ingress, have any chance of seeing the light of day. Nor do we foresee its autonomous driving capability going into production anytime soon.The Model L100 concept instead presents itself as a vision of a future Lincoln hopes it—and to some degree, society—will be able to achieve. There’s no steering wheel or pedals. Instead, those within the Model L100 let the car do the driving. Should the need to override the Model L100’s autonomous driving arise, then passengers can use a miniature model of the car (what Lincoln calls a “chess piece”) that rests on a center-console screen (the “chessboard”) to accelerate, stop, and steer the vehicle.
With driving largely removed from the equation, Lincoln’s design team was able to create a cabin that caters primarily to the passenger experience. This includes a front seating space capable of switching between a typical forward-facing position or a more sociable, but also potentially more nauseating, rearward-facing position that allows front and rear passengers to face one another. A massive floorboard-mounted screen helps set the cabin ambiance, as well, with the display projecting the likes of clouds to create a more serene setting.Though the Model L100’s interior caters toward a fantastical future, the exterior design is far more realistic. While we wager the open-glass frunk area—replete with a 3D-printed greyhound ornament mounted below—and massive wheel covers may serve as concept-car fancy, we think the basic design and decor of the Model L100 are set to influence Lincoln models in the not-so-distant future.We hope this is the case, at least, as the aerodynamic shape, wide rear haunches, Kammback rear end, and complex but understated surface treatment make for a compelling combination. It certainly helps that Lincoln’s design team refrained from fitting the Model L100 with an overabundance of decorative exterior pieces. Instead, the Model L100’s body panels are largely free of fuss. A big Apple MacBook-inspired Lincoln badge residing on the car’s front end, not to mention another Lincoln star on each front fender, reminds passersby what type of vehicle they’re looking at.
Befitting its futuristic nature, Lincoln designed the Model L100 concept with the intention of fitting a hub-mounted electric motor at each wheel, with power to those motors coming courtesy of a solid-state battery built into the structure. Although solid-state batteries do not power any electric vehicle sold today, the technology is due to power future EVs within the next few years. Many of the features of the Lincoln Model L100 concept may not arrive for years or decades to come. Nevertheless, we expect the car’s basic styling and some of its more practical fanciful features to make their way to future Lincoln vehicles. Who knows? Maybe the Model L100 will even inspire Lincoln to build and sell an ultra-luxury electric vehicle, too. The brand’s done it before with the Model L, after all. Now may be the time for Lincoln to prepare to produce such a model once again.
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Hennessey presents the roadster version of its Venom F5, targeting it to be the fastest cabriolet in the world.Its lift-off carbon-fiber targa panel means minimal weight penalty.The price will be a not-so-light $3 million each, with production limited to just 30 examples.Monterey Car Week has long been famous for the chance to see some of the world’s most historic and exclusive cars. But the series of car-themed events in northern California serves another purpose: that of being an auto show for billionaires. A place where they can see new, unobtainium-grade models before anybody else, and also buy them.
One of this year’s debuts is the Hennessey Venom F5 roadster, freshly unveiled at The Quail Motorsport Gathering. As its name suggests, this is a decapitated version of the existing F5, which the Texan manufacturer says is going to be the world’s fastest and most powerful open-topped road car in the world. Only 30 will be built, with each one selling for a cool $3 million. By the ludicrous standards of Pebble Beach hypercar unveilings, the price isn’t actually that excessive. The roadster is based on the F5 Venom coupe and shares an identical mechanical package. This is a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 claimed to produce an astonishing 1817 horsepower and driving the rear wheels through an automated single-clutch transmission. Hennessey says the roadster has a dry weight of just 3098 pounds—just 45 pounds more than the coupe—and that it is designed to deliver a top speed of more than 300 mph, although maximum velocity will be limited when the roof panel is removed.Top Gets Special TreatmentThe open-topped F5 is a targa rather than a full cabriolet, with a lift-out section between the windshield rail and the raised rollover structure behind the seats. The panel is made from carbon fiber and weighs just under 40 pounds, meaning it should be simple for one person to remove or install it. Once decapitated, the roof can be either transported in an ultrasoft merino wool travel bag or alternatively displayed on a pedestal that will be come with the car. The roadster also gets a new viewing window in its engine cover to show off the “Fury” V-8; it sits beneath a carbon-fiber panel in the coupe.
Other visual changes over the fixed-roof F5 include new forged seven-spoke aluminum wheels for the roadster, available in either silver finish or polished aluminum and secured by titanium bolts. But use of the same carbon monocoque as the coupe, which weighs just 190 pounds naked, means that structural strength should be almost exactly the same, even with the roof removed. And as with the coupe, the roadster does without any active aerodynamic elements, unusual in this part of the market; downforce levels are adjusted by tweaking ride height to alter the angle of airflow over the body. The unanswered question, for now, is just how fast the F5 Venom roadster will be capable of going. Hennessey is still working to prove what the coupe is capable of, the most recent publicly released figure is 271 mph on a 3.2-mile runway in Florida. (You can see the video of that run here.) Can It Beat the Bugatti?While that is still short of the targeted 300-mph-plus top speed, physics suggests that both the F5 Venom coupe and roadster may well be capable of breaking that milestone given they have more power and less weight than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which currently holds the production car speed record, having been driven to nearly 305 mph by British sports-car racing legend Andy Wallace in 2019. We look forward to discovering what the Hennessey is truly capable of.While the F5 Venom roadster is set to be more expensive than the coupe, which cost $2.1 million when it was announced in 2020, the open-topped car is also going to be less exclusive—presuming Hennessey manages to sell out its full proposed run of 30 cars, against just 24 coupes. Production of the roadster is set to begin by the end of the year. But compared to the Texan company’s planned six-wheeled 2400-hp four-seat EV, it looks pretty sensible. More

The Acura Precision EV Concept provides a glimpse of the styling direction for future Acura models. It’s an evolution of the 2016 Precision Concept design language, with a focus on electrification. The dual-mode cockpit is designed for both performance and autonomous driving situations.When Acura’s original Precision Concept debuted in 2016, it provided a visual roadmap for every future model. Staying true to that promise has resulted in today’s cohesive-looking lineup. Now, that established aesthetic is getting a glow-up in the form of the Acura’s Precision EV concept. Much of the styling seen here will debut shortly on an all-electric Acura SUV, slated to use GM’s Ultium battery platform, that is set to go into production as a 2024 model.
The overall design goal of the Precision EV Concept is to demonstrate the flexibility of an EV future by reinterpreting current Acura styling cues rather than outright reinventing them. Nowhere is this more evident than the front fascia, where a dazzling light show plays across an illuminated version of the familiar pentagon-shaped grille. While the previous Precision concept was a sedan, the new one’s SUV shape is also a nod to changing consumer tastes, though Acura insists future styling cues will easily translate to other bodystyles as well.

In evolving this theme, Acura designers were said to be inspired by the chiseled contours of luxury powerboats. We particularly like the sweeping character line reminiscent of a V-shaped hull’s tumblehome. It looks best from a front-three-quarters angle as it arcs gracefully from the rear of the body up to the A-pillar, transitioning into a powerful crease along the hood. Less visually appealing is the unmoored chrome strip atop the glass, whose presence feels like an afterthought. Dipping below the prow reveals a set of light clusters at both ends of the vehicle. They project a chaotic menagerie of shapes whose pattern is also echoed in the spokes of the 23-inch wheels. Acura calls the theme “Particle Glitch,” which evokes images of circuitry gone awry. We find the name to be a whimsical yet odd choice for such a tech-focused concept. Seeing as how these lower detailing elements would be submerged under a powerboat’s waterline, perhaps it’s Acura’s subversively clever way of continuing the nautical theme.Inside the cockpit, Acura’s next-generation cabin tech is represented by a curved, transparent touchscreen atop the dash, accompanied by a smaller transparent display in front of the driver. A yoke-style steering wheel contains a cluster of knobs and dials along its hub.
Since the future of electrification suggests both increased performance and the promise of autonomous driving, Acura created two distinct cockpit experiences which respectively cater to each end of this spectrum. “Instinctive Drive” brings out your inner F1 champion by enveloping the space in a cacophony of red lighting and racy engine sounds. In “Spiritual Lounge,” the steering wheel and pedals retract, both displays go fully transparent, and the seats recline. As passengers are whisked to their destination, soothing scents and sounds waft through the cabin while oceanic imagery projects dreamily onto the surfaces. What’s the opposite of a sensory deprivation tank again?In developing this split personality, principal designer Gypsy Modina talked about creating an environment that was capable of immersing all five senses, though we’re curious how taste factors into the equation. It could be the use of 100 percent biomass leather on the seats, which admittedly did look pretty appetizing. In addition to a study in extremes, the interior is also an exploration of sustainable materials which still convey a premium feel. Recycled aluminum and plastic are used liberally throughout the cockpit.While it’s unlikely that many of the interior features will reach production anytime soon, the exterior design of the Precision EV Concept hints very strongly to a roadgoing model in the near future.
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• It could cost more than $100 to fill the GMC Hummer EV’s big battery pack at a fast-charging station.• We performed our charging test at an Electrify America station, which costs $0.43 per kilowatt-hour.• The Hummer maxed out at an impressive 287-kW charging rate, second only to the Lucid Air in this year’s field of EV of the Year contenders. Welcome to Car and Driver’s Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We’ve been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).It costs a lot of money to fill up a big pickup truck’s gas tank—especially these days. But what if we told you that even an electric pickup truck could crest the $100 mark when it comes time to replenish the battery? That’s what we found when we plugged the 2022 GMC Hummer EV in for a fast-charge session.

For our charging test, we plugged the Hummer in at an Electrify America station to go from 10 percent charge to 90 percent charge. At current rates of $0.43 per kWh, adding 80 percent charge cost us $81, including sales tax. Extrapolating from that, to go from 0 percent to 100 percent charge at a DC fast-charging station would cost over $100. The Hummer did hit an impressive 287-kW peak charge rate, second only to the Lucid Air among the 20 competitors in this year’s field of EV of the Year contenders. But its average between 10 and 90 percent state of charge was a less wowing 98 kW and, partially because the pack is so large, it took an hour an 49 minutes to add that 80-percent charge.

Now, you might notice that multiplying the Hummer EV’s total battery capacity of 212.7 kWh by $0.43 doesn’t quite come to $100. But there are charging losses, as evidenced by our 80 percent fill that took 177.9 kWh, about five percent more than what made it into the pack (80 percent of the total capacity is 170.2 kWh). And our session in Michigan added a 6 percent sales tax, which of course varies by state.Charging costs can also vary by state, and by charging provider. But the point remains: although GM has attempted to recast the Hummer for the electrified era, that doesn’t mean it’s cheap to fuel. It is, after all, a 9640-pound, 1000-horsepower, four-wheel-drive pickup truck that costs six figures, no matter what it’s powered by. More