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    Sony and Honda’s 2026 Afeela EV Sedan Wears Updated Styling at CES

    Sony and Honda’s joint venture, Afeela, has revealed an updated version of its electric sedan concept at CES 2024.The revised Afeela features production-ready cues like traditional sideview mirrors instead of cameras and more substantial headlights.Afeela also released specifications, with the sedan packing a 241-hp electric motor on each axle and DC charging at speeds up to 150 kW.At CES 2023 last year, Sony and Honda surprised the automotive world with a new EV brand called Afeela, the product of a joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility that will unleash an electric sedan on American roads in 2026. Now Afeela is showing an updated version of its prototype at CES 2024, with the four-door EV looking far more production ready, and has released a slew of new powertrain information.Sony Honda MobilityListed at 193.5 inches long, the latest Afeela prototype is about two inches shy of a 2024 Honda Accord, but with a nearly seven-inch-longer wheelbase. Compared with the original prototype shown last year, there are some noticeable changes. The thin cameras sprouting from the A-pillar have been replaced by traditional side-view mirrors, and the headlights and grille trim piece are also thicker than before. The charging port door on the front fender has grown in size, and the indentation along the rocker panels and the rear bumper have also been restyled.The cabin appears largely the same as the original prototype, but the center console is a bit larger and the steering wheel and rearview mirror have been slightly redesigned. There are also two wireless phone chargers and what appears to be an inward-facing camera perched atop the full-width screen. Sony Honda MobilityAfeela has also published drivetrain specifications for the sedan, which were absent from the reveal last year. The Afeela will be all-wheel drive, with permanent-magnet synchronous motors at the front and rear. Each is rated at 241 horsepower, but Afeela doesn’t provide a combined horsepower rating, and calculating total output typically isn’t as simple as adding the horsepower from each motor together. Range? Not YetThe lithium-ion battery has a listed capacity of 91.0 kWh, but Afeela has yet to publish range figures. Afeela says the sedan is capable of DC charging at up to 150 kW, with AC charging maxing out at 11 kW. The air suspension is supported by unequal-length control arms up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. The front tires measure 245/40 and the rear rubber is listed at 275/35, with the Afeela riding on 21-inch wheels all around. Sony Honda MobilityOrders for the Afeela sedan, which has yet to be given a specific model name, will open in 2025, with U.S. sales set to begin in 2026. Little else is known about the company’s plans, but we expect the Afeela to start around $45,000. The sedan is also set to be added to the Gran Turismo 7 video game later this year, allowing anyone to drive it virtually two years before the Afeela hits the road. More from CES 2024Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

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    2025 VW Golf GTI Will Have More Tech, New Looks, Sadly No Manual

    VW revealed a camouflaged version of the updated Golf GTI hatchback.We spotted different headlights and taillights, plus a larger screen inside.We expect this to arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year. Sadly, there will be no manual transmission offered, as VW confirmed 2024 would be the last year for the three-pedal GTI.An updated version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is coming soon, as indicated by this camouflaged prototype revealed as part of CES 2024. Several changes are coming to the hot hatchback for the 2025 model year, including revised headlights and taillights and a significantly larger touchscreen infotainment system inside that offers updated software that uses a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant.One change we’re not so pleased about is the discontinuation of the six-speed manual transmission. VW already confirmed that the 2024 Golf GTI 380 special edition would commemorate the last year of production for the stick-shift versions of the Golf GTI and Golf R. That means the 2025 GTI will likely only offer the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; perhaps VW will offer a bit more horsepower than the current GTI’s 241-hp output to soften the blow a bit.While the eye-catching camouflage on this prototype obscures the new front and rear-end designs, we think the updated GTI will look a bit more modern than before. That carries on inside, as it features a significantly larger touchscreen; it looks like the 15.0-inch screen found in the new ID.7, which would offer many more pixels than the current GTI’s optional 10.0-inch screen. We also spotted new steering-wheel controls that do away with the frustrating touch-capacitive sliders in favor of real buttons, which is a nice upgrade.We’re expecting similar changes to come to the more powerful Golf R hot hatchback as well. These two variants are the only Golf models sold in the U.S. since VW dropped the standard Golf hatchbacks from its North American lineup when the Mk 8 model first arrived here for the 2022 model year. Look for more information to come on the 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R models within the next few months.More on the GolfDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

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    Aston Martin Valhalla Shown Testing in All Its 998-HP Hybrid Glory

    Aston Martin has revealed a new series of images showing the upcoming Valhalla hypercar testing at the Silverstone Circuit. The Valhalla sources 998 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged V-8 and a plug-in-hybrid system.Aston Martin will build 999 examples of the Valhalla and it is on pace to enter production in 2024. If you’re a bit confused by all the various hypercar projects coming out of Aston Martin lately, we sympathize. There are only two of them, but they both feature names inspired by Norse mythology, so let us clear things up. There’s the Adrian Newey brainchild called the Valkryie, which was originally called the AM-RB 001. It produces an immense 1139 horsepower from its hybrid V-12 powertrain. Then there’s the upcoming Valhalla you see here, which started life named the AM-RB 003.Aston MartinThink of the Valkryie as Aston Martin’s ultimate vision for what a hypercar can be, and the Valhalla as an (only slightly) more accessible track weapon. The Valhalla has been more or less shrouded in mist until now, though the company just released a new set of images showing the car testing at Silverstone. The images come as Aston Martin begins a more aggressive phase of real-world testing for the upcoming hypercar.The Mercedes-AMG–sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 feeds power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It pairs with a set of three electric motors, including one in the transmission to bring the Valhalla’s combined output to 998 horsepower. Aston MartinAston MartinMore on Aston Martin HypercarsJust like the Valkyrie before it, the Valhalla will be built in limited figures. Aston Martin kept the Valkyrie extremely exclusive, offering only 150 build slots globally. The Valhalla will be more available to the bourgeoisie—well, kinda. There will still only be 999 of them, and pricing is expected to start in the $800,000 range. According to Aston Martin, the Valhalla is still on track to enter production in 2024. Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Gets Price Cut, Now Starts at $34,010

    The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $34,010. That’s $875 less than the outgoing generation.The new Kona EV’s other two trims are also slightly cheaper, with the SEL and Limited starting at $38,010 and $42,380, respectively. Since the ’24 Kona Electric isn’t currently built in the U.S., it doesn’t qualify for the $7500 federal EV tax credit.Not only has the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric become bigger inside and out as well as added better features, but its base price also costs about $900 less than the outgoing generation. In a day and age when new cars are consistently becoming more expensive year over year, it’s nice to see a new car that actually costs less.New Kona EV PricesRedesigned for 2024, the Kona Electric’s entry-level SE trim starts at $34,010. That’s $875 less than its 2023 predecessor, which started at $34,885. The new generation continues to offer the mid-tier SEL and top-spec Limited. Those start at $38,010 and $42,380, respectively. The former figure is $625 less than before, and the latter constitutes a $505 discount.Hyundai’s decision to lower rather than raise prices of the new Kona Electric isn’t a common practice. However, it might have something to do with offsetting the fact that the subcompact SUV isn’t currently eligible for the $7500 federal tax credit. Since it’s not built in the U.S., it doesn’t qualify under the rules of the Inflation Reduction Act. At least folks interested in leasing a Kona Electric should be able to get the credit.A Hyundai spokesperson told Car and Driver that the company was able to reduce the Kona Electric’s starting price due to the smaller battery pack. Interestingly, higher trims that have the bigger battery have a similarly lower starting price, which we think hurts the base model’s value since it has less power and shorter estimated range. If anything, the electric Kona’s base price should be even cheaper.Every 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric still features a single front-mounted electric motor. Previously, every Kona EV had the same powertrain output and battery capacity, but now the base SE alone has 133 horsepower and a 48.6-kWh battery pack; the SEL and Limited pack 201 ponies and a larger 64.8-kWh battery that the EPA estimates will provide up to 261 miles of range. Hyundai claims a DC fast-charge connection will take either battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 43 minutes.Extra Kona Electric ReadingEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

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    Genesis and Design House Bulgari Debut Gran Turismo Concepts

    Since 2013, the Vision Gran Turismo series has been churning out eye-catching virtual supercars that can only be driven in the video game, and now two more join the roster.The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta is a sleek coupe powered by a hybrid V-6 powertrain churning out a total of 1071 horsepower and 986 pound-feet of torque.The Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo draws inspiration from one of the company’s watches and wears a roofless barchetta body reminiscent of 1970s concept cars.Way back in 2013—when Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” was dominating airwaves, Barack Obama was president, and the youths were saying “swag” instead of “drip”—the racing video game Gran Turismo launched a series of virtual supercars designed by real-world automakers that could only be driven within the digital confines of the game. Vision Gran Turismo concepts have continued to trickle out over the years, and now two new entries have been revealed: the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta and a surprising entry from luxury fashion house Bulgari, stylized as the Bvlgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo. Genesis’s Sinuous SupercarGran TurismoThe slinky Genesis X Gran Berlinetta feels like a more extreme evolution of the stunning Essentia concept from 2018, with a low and wide stance and the latest version of the company’s “two lines” lighting motif first seen on the 2022 X Speedium Coupe concept. The smooth bodywork is punctuated by aerodynamic slashes and scoops, with the wraparound taillights poking through the ovoid rear fascia that swirls upward into a squat rear wing. Genesis says the X Gran Berlinetta has a drag coefficient of 0.34.Gran TurismoThe cabin is minimalistic, with a screen stretching across the dashboard and just a couple of physical dials that feature the same knurled metal finish seen inside Genesis production cars. A yoke-style steering wheel features a smaller, secondary screen and two dials, one to control the level of traction control and one to tune the amount of ABS intervention. The door panels and center console are wrapped in quilted leather, and the seats have a serious amount of bolstering.Gran TurismoSurprisingly for a car revealed in 2023, the X Gran Berlinetta is not electric. Instead, power is derived from a front-mid-mounted V-6 from Hyundai’s Lambda engine family, mated to a hybrid system. The V-6 is said to rev all the way to 10,000 rpm, pushing out 870 horsepower and 790 pound-feet of torque on its own. An electric motor from a company called YASA, which has seen its motors used in Ferrari’s SF90 Stradale and 296GTB, contributes 201 hp and 196 pound-feet, pushing total output to 1071 ponies and 986 pound-feet. No performance metrics were quoted, but we’d bet it’s pretty darn quick.The Fashionista’s Track ToyGran TurismoThe second new Vision GT concept comes from Bulgari, and yes, that is the same Bulgari known for high-end watches, jewelry, fragrances, and other luxury goods. The company’s first automotive venture, the Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo, sports a chunky, wedge-like speedster body that feels reminiscent of 1970s concepts like the Alfa Romeo 33 Spider Cuneo. There’s also a hint of the roofless Pininfarina B95 revealed earlier this year. The design, said to be inspired by the Bulgari Aluminium watch from 1998, features crisp creases and simple shapes to create a bold and assertive look. Gran TurismoTwo thin LED strips flank a single bank of headlights that sit in the middle of the car and appear to be revealed by a fold-down panel, very similar to the setup seen on the Aston Martin Bulldog concept. The wheels feature blocky aerodynamic covers, and the brushed aluminum look gives the concept a DeLorean-like retro-futuristic vibe. The bucket seats and dials wear yellow accents, and aluminum also appears across the dashboard and steering wheel.Gran TurismoNo performance specifications were provided, but given the lack of openings in the Bulgari’s bodywork, we would have to imagine it uses an electric powertrain. The design was a partnership between Bulgari’s product creation executive director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and Fabio Filippini, former design director for Pininfarina who penned vehicles like the Sergio concept (later put into limited production by Ferrari) and another Vision Gran Turismo car, the Fittipaldi EF7.The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta will be added to Gran Turismo 7 in January, while the Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo will join the game’s roster later in 2024. The Bulgari is the first Vision Gran Turismo from a non-car company, although two others have been teased in the past. Nike and Jordan have been listed on the Vision Gran Turismo site since 2013, and while a teaser sketch of the Nike exists, these concepts have yet to materialize. More Wild Vision GT CarsAssociate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

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    Hennessey’s Cadillac Escalade-V H1000 Has Four-Digit HP Figure

    Hennessey, a Texas-based tuner, has revealed a wilder version of the 682-hp Cadillac Escalade-V. Dubbed the H1000, the modified high-performance Escalade makes 1005 horsepower and 882 pound-feet of torque.The super Slade’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 has a host of valvetrain and cooling upgrades, all covered by Hennessey’s three-year/36,000-mile warranty.Sometimes all you want is just a little more, and Hennessey—the automotive tuner and manufacturer—is here to give it to you. The newest product out of the company’s HQ in Sealy, Texas, is based on the Cadillac Escalade-V. It’s called the H1000, and Hennessey says it makes 1005 horsepower. That four-digit figure is notably higher than the massive luxury SUV’s already lofty stock output.An Even Wilder Escalade The standard Cadillac Escalade-V is a beast right out of the box. Its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 normally packs 682 horses, and it’s closely related to the 668-hp supercharged V-8 found in the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. In our testing, we launched a 6290-pound Escalade-V to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. With the Hennessey version’s significantly increased power and 882 pound-feet of torque, the H1000 will likely be even quicker.HennesseyTo basically add a Supra 3.0’s-worth of horsepower, Hennessey modifies the V’s engine by swapping in a custom camshaft, ported cylinder heads and upgrades everything from valve springs and retainers to lifters and push rods. The V-8 also gains new fuel and intake systems as well as catalytic converters that allow for higher air-flow rates. When we tested the factory-built Escalade-V, we measured an interior noise level of 85 decibels with the accelerator pinned. We imagine Hennessey’s monster will roar even more. HennesseyBig Power, Big PriceIf you’re worried that Hennessey’s team has ruined the reliability of the new Caddy, well, we can’t tell you how to feel, but you might not need to worry. That’s because the tuner provides a limited warranty that lasts three years or 36,000 miles. Affording one is likely the bigger pill to swallow, as the H1000 surely costs considerably more than a new Cadillac Escalade-V, which currently starts $154,290.More on the Escalade VAssociate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    Jeep Recalls 32,125 Wrangler 4xe Models over Potential Fire Risk

    Jeep is recalling 32,125 Wrangler 4xe models (2021–2024) due to a fire risk after the company discovered eight vehicle fires.Among the fires, six reportedly occurred while the plug-in-hybrid Wranglers were connected to chargers, but all of the vehicles were parked and turned off.Jeep says the affected Wrangler 4xe models will require a software flash or a replacement battery pack.Anyone who owns a 2021–2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe may have to worry about their off-roader being a potential fire risk. Following an internal investigation that resulted from a routine review of customer data, Stellantis—Jeep’s parent company—last week announced it had discovered eight vehicle fires, which has led it to recall 32,125 U.S. models.As part of its investigation, the company disclosed that six of the eight vehicle fires happened while the plug-in-hybrid Wranglers were connected to chargers. It also said that all of the vehicles were parked and turned off when the fires occurred. Stellantis says it’s not aware of any accidents or injuries that resulted from the fires.This recall only applies to certain Wrangler 4xe models, which feature a plug-in-hybrid powertrain with a roughly 14.0-kWh lithium-ion battery stashed under the rear seats. Stellantis estimates that only 1 percent of the total vehicles built were affected, and the fix involves either a software flash or replacing the entire battery pack.Stellantis reported that an additional 3856 models in Canada are affected, with another 9249 outside of North America being affected. Owners of recalled vehicles will be advised when to schedule a service.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

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    Immaculate 9000-Mile 2001 BMW Z8 is Today’s BaT Auction Highlight

    This V-8-powered roadster combines a BMW M5 powertrain with a retro design inspired by the BMW 507.Its silver paint and black interior make it a double for James Bond’s car in The World Is Not Enough. With only 9000 miles covered in 22 years, it’s looking like a good prospect, and the online auction ends on Tuesday, November 28.Remember James Bond’s BMW period? That’s likely to be the first association for many people spying this gleaming silver Z8—one that looks pretty much identical to the one that the Pierce Brosnan’s take on the world’s most famous non–secret agent drove in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. Spoiler alert: It didn’t end well for the car.Our Bring a Trailer pick of the day is a very low-mileage example of the muscular BMW roadster. Even without the kudos of being a Bond car, there is a huge amount to like about the Z8, one of those cars for which critical appreciation has grown strongly over the years. When it was first shown at the 1997 Tokyo auto show as the Z07 concept, taking obvious inspiration from the 1956 BMW 507, many wondered why BMW was taking such a retro styling direction for a range flagship built around a high-tech aluminum space-frame structure. Bring a TrailerBut while the Z8 looked like it had traveled from the past, it brought performance from the future. The production car shared its powertrain with the E39-generation BMW M5, another of the era’s portfolio highlights, using the same S62 4.9-liter naturally aspirated V-8. This made peaks of 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet and sent drive to the rear axle through a standard six-speed manual gearbox. The only automatic Z8 would be the later Alpina version. Bring a TrailerBeing 500 pounds lighter than the M5 made the Z8 seriously quick. We ran it through the zero-to-60-mph benchmark in just 4.5-seconds, making it one of the fastest cars we had tested at that point. It proved its superiority against even the most exotic competition by outperforming a Ferrari 360 spider on acceleration in a three-way comparison in 2001. (The Aston Martin DB7 Volante was very much there to make up the numbers.)Despite costing more than twice as much as the M5, with a $135,300 base price in 2000, the Z8 had no difficulty finding an enthusiastic audience in the United States. More than 2500 were sold here, close to half of the total production of 5700 cars. Its status as a bona fide modern classic would have been secured even without starring in one of the less well-known Bond films. Bring a TrailerOur pick has covered just 9000 miles from new and is being sold complete with the optional hard top. It still features the original audio system, with a six-CD multi-changer, plus a similar vintage BMW-branded flip phone that mounts in the center console. Minor issues noted by the seller include some small scuffs on the underside of the front bumper and sagging hardtop headlining. With seven days to run, the bidding is already past $100,000. Given the low mileage and apparent condition of this one we can expect it to run considerably higher. Senior European CorrespondentOur man on the other side of the pond, Mike Duff lives in Britain but reports from across Europe, sometimes beyond. He has previously held staff roles on U.K. titles including CAR, Autocar, and evo, but his own automotive tastes tend toward the Germanic: he owns both a troublesome 987-generation Porsche Cayman S and a Mercedes 190E 2.5-16. More