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It might sound shocking that the newest mid-engine Ferrari is a V-6 hybrid, but one long press on the accelerator will make anyone a believer. We had another opportunity to visit Italy and drive the Ferrari 296GTB on the automaker’s test circuit and the nearby ultratight and bumpy roads. As shown in the video, the GTB is everything a Ferrari should be.After immediately getting stuck behind traffic, C/D testing director Dave VanderWerp uses that time to explain the technical details of the new engine. Ferrari says the GTB is its first roadgoing vehicle with a V-6, as the brand still doesn’t consider the 246GT Dino a real Ferrari.

The hybrid consists of a 164-hp electric motor that sits between the V-6 and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 654 horsepower, and Ferrari says the powertrain produces 819 horsepower combined. If you’re wondering why there’s one additional horsepower in the combined figure, remember the concept of rounding. The 6.0-kWh battery provides an estimated 10 miles of all electric driving range. To Ferrari’s credit, the EV driving mode keeps the engine off even when you stomp on the accelerator pedal. On the other hand, you’d have to go far back in history to find a slower Ferrari than the GTB in its EV mode. Once traffic clears, Dave explores the upper ranges of the powerband and experiences launch control. We also touch briefly on the track-oriented Assetto Fiorano package and its grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

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• This 1989 Honda Pilot FL400R is a throwback off-roader with racy bodywork, a roll cage, and a single-seat configuration.• It features a two-stroke 397-cc single-cylinder engine, a yoke-style steering wheel with hand controls, and a fully independent suspension.• It currently has a high bid of $4600 on the Bring a Trailer site, with the auction set to end on Sunday, May 29. Back in 1989, Tim Burton’s Batman was number one at the U.S. box office and Look Away by Chicago was the most popular song in America. It would be almost 20 years until the debut of the 2008 Polaris Ranger RZR (pronounced “razor”), which is widely regarded as the first performance-oriented side-by-side ATV. However, people forget that in the ’80s Honda was already building badass single-seat, off-road playthings. An excellent example is this Pilot FL400R, currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

What began with the primitive Odyssey FL250 in the late ’70s would morph into the more sophisticated Pilot FL400R, which was built between 1989 and 1990. It featured a liquid-cooled, two-stroke 397cc single-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) feeding the rear wheels. The whole thing is said to have weighed about 593 pounds sans rider.By today’s standards, the FL400R looks like a glorified go-kart, but the nicely preserved ’89 example that’s currently listed on Bring a Trailer has a high nostalgia factor and neat features that make it our auction pick of the day.

Bring a Trailer

Before Honda slapped the Pilot nameplate on a mid-size crossover, the moniker appeared on a rad single-seat ATV. Known as the Pilot FL400R, it’s rated R for gratuitous use of red paint on its tubular frame and plastic bodywork. From the front bash bar and winged fenders to the tall roll cage and staggered set of gnarly tires, it’s a machine that looks like a lot of fun or a lot of ways to get hurt (parents would probably pick the latter). The Pilot’s Baja vibes continue with the brush guards on the headlights, the netting behind the driver’s seat, the snorkel air intake, and—most notably—the fully independent suspension. Along with double A-arms and coil-over shocks at each corner, the buggy’s rear dampers have remote-mounted reservoirs, a pretty advanced setup for a personal ATV of the time.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

Think Tesla was the first automaker to use a yoke-style steering wheel? Think again. One of the hallmarks of Honda’s single-seat ATV is its steering yoke, which even predates the then popular Knight Rider TV show. Even more intriguing are the hand-operated controls. The hand levers activate the front drum brakes and the single rear disc brake. Its thumb-operated throttle will feel familiar to ATV riders, even if putting on the steering wheel’s wrist straps feels awkward. At least the four-point harness is there to help keep the driver strapped in if things get topsy-turvy.The Pilot’s other physical controls include an electric starter switch (a pull-start option is there for backup), a hand brake that’s perfect for drift duty, and a shift lever with forward, neutral, and reverse gears. In the event the CVT belt breaks, there’s a replacement belt stored in the cockpit.

Bring a Trailer

In the Pilot FL400R’s heyday, hair bands ruled the airwaves and neon Spandex was in vogue. At that time, buying a 450-hp off-road pickup truck like the Ford F-150 Raptor from the factory was unthinkable, let alone the 702-hp monstrosity that is the Ram 1500 TRX. The closest thing back in 1989 would have maybe been a V-8–swapped Jeep Wrangler, but even that looks like a Tonka toy compared to the comparatively nuclear 470-hp Wrangler Rubicon 392.To better appreciate how limited the off-road options were in those days, look no further than the Geo Tracker that finished second in our desert-themed comparison test. Put in that context, the Pilot was a pretty desirable package. Nowadays, it can’t match the high-flying antics and lofty performance limits of contemporary side-by-sides. Still, we’d gladly park this pre–Cold War buggy in our garage alongside newer machines.As of this writing, the bidding has reached $4600. But we wouldn’t be surpised if the final selling price is three to four times that much when the auction ends on Sunday, May 29.
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The 2023 BMW Alpina B3 sedan and wagon inherit new styling and tech from the regular BMW 3-series.The Alpina models also receive powertrain upgrades that add 33 horsepower and 22 pound-feet of torque.The ’23 B3 sedan and wagon aren’t available in the U.S., but if they were, they might start at about $98,000. It’s human nature to want what we can’t have. Well, some of us Americans really want the freshly updated 2023 BMW Alpina B3 sedan (a.k.a. Saloon) or wagon (a.k.a. Touring), but, unfortunately, we can’t have either one. Instead, Alpina’s specially tuned version of the 3-series sedan and wagon are reserved for our enthusiast counterparts who live overseas.

Like the regular ’23 BMW 3-series models that do grace our shores, the Alpina variants also receive restyled exterior elements and a revised dashboard. The new crossover cues include a more angular front bumper and slimmer headlights. Likewise, the driver and front-seat passenger now face a curved display that spans most of the dash and incorporates a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. But what exclusive updates do the B3 Saloon and Touring get for 2023? We’re here to tell you.

Alpina

Alpina

Along with the visual changes and new tech, the most notable upgrade to the ’23 Alpina B3s is under the hood. BMW’s tuning house went to work on the cars’ twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six, helping it breathe better by adding a new exhaust system as well as installing new engine software. The result is increased horsepower and torque, with the former rising from 462 to 495 hp and the latter rising from 516 to 538 pound-feet. Both Alpina models can most easily be identified by their available multispoke 20-inch wheels (a set of 19-inchers is standard). A closer inspection will also reveal “Alpina” lettering on the bottom edge of the front bumper and specific badging on the sedan’s trunk lid and the wagon’s rear hatch. Inside, both body styles have unique details such as a plaque on the center console complete with an individual build number. The list of options for the Alpinas’ interior materials also has much greater variety than a mainstream BMW.
The ’23 BMW Alpina B3 Saloon and Touring can currently be configured on the company’s website (we recommend viewing the Australian or U.K. version). In the U.K., both B3s have a starting price that’s equal to roughly $98,000. We’d gladly pony up the money for the wagon shown here in a wonderful shade of Alpina Green paint—if only we had the chance.
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There’s a new version of the VW Golf R to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the R-badged hot-hatch models.The Golf R 20 Years has extra power from its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, producing 329 hp.VW says there will be a version of this model coming to the U.S., but it won’t be exactly the same.While the Golf R doesn’t have as long of a history as the GTI, Volkswagen has been building hot hatchbacks with R badges for 20 years now. To celebrate, it’s releasing a Mk 8 Golf R 20 Years edition with the expected anniversary-edition tweaks plus an upgrade for the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that brings on more power. The model you see here is the Europe-market version, but a VW spokesperson told C/D that a U.S. version is set to arrive later that will be slightly different.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen

The Golf R 20 Years’ engine is tuned to produce 329 horsepower, an increase of 14 hp over the U.S.-spec car’s 315 hp. There’s also a feature called Emotion Start that revs the engine to 2500 rpm when you start up the car—basically just to create more noise.Visual tweaks are subtle and include a “20” badge on the B-pillar, lights that project a “20 R” logo onto the ground, a different spoiler, and blue trim for the wheels, mirror caps, and seats.The first R-badged Golf was the R32, based on the two-door Mk 4 hatchback, and it had a naturally aspirated 3.2-liter VR6 engine. The Mk 5 R32 continued on with this six-cylinder powerplant, while the successive Mk 6, Mk 7, and Mk 8 models have all used turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-fours.

Volkswagen

VW says it will be sharing details about the U.S. version of the Golf R 20 Years at a later date, as it will arrive a few months after the European car.
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The open-topped version of the Maserati MC20 features innovative active glass roof.The electrochromic glass can be turned dark or clear and folds in 12 seconds.The convertible is just 143 pounds heavier than coupe, according to Maserati.When Maserati introduced the MC20 last year, we knew it would also create a convertible version of its junior supercar. What we couldn’t know until now, with the first official images you see here, is that the MC20 Cielo would be this handsome. Driving manners are certainly important in this part of the market, but so is design—and regardless of the dynamic experience, the decapitated MC20 is a spectacularly good-looking car.

The Cielo is not a conventional roadster, instead carrying a folding two-piece roof beneath the power-opening rear clamshell compartment. While heavy retractable hardtops have become less fashionable in recent years, as more luxury makers return to lighter fabric roofs, the MC20’s has a cool trick. It’s constructed from dimmable electrochromic glass that can be turned from clear to opaque using electrical current. The ability to see through a clear canopy (as well as remove it) inspired the car’s name: Cielo is Italian for sky. Maserati says that the roof can be opened and closed in a relatively speedy 12 seconds and that the Cielo weighs just 143 pounds more than its coupe sibling. For reference, Maserati claims a weight of 3307 pounds for the coupe, but our test car tipped the scales at 3757 pounds.
The Cielo shares its carbon-fiber tub with the MC20 coupe, and is mechanically unchanged, using the same innovative Nettuno twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 which features both a dry sump and Maserati’s pre-chamber combustion system. It produces 621 hp at 7500 rpm and accompanies this with 538 pound-feet of torque from just 3000 rpm. Drive is delivered to the rear axle through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Maserati claims the Cielo will accelerate to 62 mph in approximately 3.0 seconds and to 124 mph in 9.2 seconds. For reference, our test of the MC20 coupe resulted in a slightly less impressive 60 mph sprint of 3.2-seconds and a quarter-mile time of 11.0 seconds at 131 mph; we’d anticipate the Spyder to be a couple of tenths slower through both benchmarks. Top speed is claimed to be 199 mph. While roadster versions of supercars are often forced to sacrifice the snazzy doors of their permanently roofed siblings, the Cielo keeps the coupe’s butterfly opening doors. These rotate and hinge upwards to both ease access and make sure that every eye is turned whenever you get in and out. Drivers will be able to cycle through five dynamic modes through the rotary controller in the center of the cockpit. It changes color to indicate which one has been selected: Wet (green), GT (blue), Sport (red), Corsa, (yellow) and ESC OFF (orange).
The Cielo gets some other revisions that are also being integrated into the 2023 MC20 coupe. These include a new suite of active safety systems, with a 360-degree camera, traffic sign recognition, and autonomous emergency braking in addition to blind-spot monitoring. It will also be available with the new color seen in these images, Acquamarina, which will be available exclusively on the Primaserie first edition.We don’t have pricing details yet, although we anticipate the Cielo will carry a sizeable supplement over the Coupe’s $216,995 starting price. We also suspect a significant percentage of buyers will be prepared to pay this for the breezier thrills of this beautiful roadster.
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Hyundai is recalling 239,000 vehicles for seatbelt pretensioners that may deploy in a way that sprays shrapnel throughout the cabin, potentially injuring the occupants.The recall affects 2019–2022 Accents, 2021–2023 Elantras, and 2021–2022 Elantra Hybrids. Owners of affected vehicles can have a cap fitted to the pretensioners at no cost to prevent the potential abnormal deployment.It’s ironic that a device meant to keep vehicle occupants safe could end up doing the exact opposite. That is the basis for a recall issued on May 19 that is affecting 239,000 Hyundai vehicles in the United States. The NHTSA recall document states that the seatbelt pretensioners in these Hyundais may deploy in an abnormal manner, potentially exploding and injuring those in the vehicle. So far, there are reports of two injuries in the U.S. as a result of this malfunction, as well as one in Singapore. The recall affects 2019–2022 Accents, 2021–2023 Elantras, and 2021–2022 Elantra Hybrids.

Hyundai

Seatbelt pretensioners tighten the belts in preparation for a crash, some detonating a small charge that retracts the belt and secures the occupants milliseconds before impact. However, in the case of these Accent and Elantra models that are part of this recall, the explosion may not be contained, potentially sending shrapnel into the cabin. A specific cause is yet to be determined, but Hyundai is actively investigating the situation, according to the recall documentation.

This recall follows and replaces three prior recalls. According to NHTSA, around 61,000 Accents, 166,000 Elantras, and 12,000 Elantra Hybrids are involved in the current recall. Owners will be able to take their affected vehicles to dealerships where, at no cost, the pretensioners will be secured with a cap to stop the possibility of an abnormal deployment. Hyundai will reach out to owners by July 15, according to the NHTSA documents. Owners who want to find out if their vehicle is affected can check the NHTSA recalls website.

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UPDATE 5/25/2022: Stellantis will pay $300 million in fines and plead guilty to criminal charges resulting from an investigation into diesel emissions cheating by the company, according to a report from Reuters this morning. The Environmental Protection Agency launched the investigation in 2017 against the company’s former business unit, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and had settled with FCA in 2019 for $800 million in civil penalties as described in the story below. The criminal charges and the plea deal are pending.Fiat Chrysler will pay $800 million in civil penalties and compliance costs to settle allegations that it installed “defeat device software” allowing its Jeep and Ram diesel vehicles to emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides while driving, the automaker said in a statement on Thursday.The settlement resolves allegations since January 2017 that the turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 in the 2014–2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee had software that let the vehicles “operate in a way that produces increased NOx emissions off cycle,” according to a complaint filed separately by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Roughly 100,000 vehicles are affected; of those, more than 13,000 are in California. FCA is one several manufacturers to use similar Bosch software that Volkswagen admitted in 2015 that it co-developed to cheat federal emissions tests. However, FCA has not been charged with any crime and maintains that it never intentionally deceived regulators.”The settlements do not change the company’s position that it did not engage in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests,” the automaker said. “Further, the consent decree and settlement agreements contain no finding or admission with regard to any alleged violations of vehicle emissions rules.”Settlement Includes Payments to Vehicle OwnersFCA has agreed to pay nearly $400 million in civil penalties, including $305 million to the EPA, the Department of Justice, and CARB; $6 million to Customs and Border Protection; and $72.5 million to various state attorneys general. California will receive $78.4 million, including a $19 million payment to upgrade an unspecified set of 200,000 vehicles with new catalytic converters. The remaining $400 million covers a software update and payments to current and former vehicle owners in amounts that average $2800 per person. FCA said the software update, which should be available to owners later this year, will not affect fuel economy or performance. In July 2017, the EPA and CARB approved 2017 model diesel Ram and Jeep vehicles after the company agreed to release this software update.At issue is what CARB calls “auxiliary emission-control devices” (in other words, software code) that can allow excess pollution at specific times, such as during a cold start or for dumping fuel to clean the particulate filter, that must be disclosed. CARB said FCA either did not disclose each of the eight devices on board or did not disclose them “fully or accurately.” Unlike the VW case, CARB and the EPA did not present evidence in their complaints of the exact amounts of nitrogen oxides that these vehicles emitted. Regardless, the nondisclosure of these devices makes the vehicles noncompliant with emissions laws.Since the VW scandal, CARB and the EPA have gone after other automakers and delayed their diesel-vehicle certifications. Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and General Motors are facing federal investigations and class-action suits for the same allegations. However, these automakers, including FCA, have not been found guilty of any crime. VW was found to have colluded with Bosch to pass U.S. emissions only while its vehicles sensed they were being tested by federal agencies, while otherwise they operated in a completely different driving mode that polluted up to 40 times above the legal limit. This story was originally published on January 10, 2019.

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The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor’s fuel economy ratings have been revealed, and it returns a combined 15 miles per gallon.This makes it the least fuel-efficient Bronco, thanks to its more powerful engine, bulkier bodywork, and 37-inch tires.The Bronco Raptor is more efficient than its closest rival, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, but the Jeep is powered by a roaring V-8.UPDATE 5/24/22, 4:45 p.m.: In a tweet, Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed the Bronco Raptor’s official horsepower figure for the first time, writing that the off-roader will produce 418 ponies. Horsepower had been previously estimated at a targeted 400 hp.The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is a beast. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 pumps out 418 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, while the bodywork swells 8.6 inches wider to accommodate 37-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. While these changes make the Bronco into an even more proficient off-roader, it comes at a cost. The EPA has released its fuel economy rating for the 2022 Bronco Raptor, and it is unsurprisingly the least efficient Bronco in the lineup.
The EPA says that the 2022 Bronco Raptor will get 15 miles per gallon in the city and 16 mpg on the highway, good for a combined rating of 15 mpg. This makes it thirstier than other off-road models including V-6–powered Sasquatch, which gets a combined 17 mpg. The most efficient Broncos, on the other hand, are the base models fitted with the four-cylinder, which return 20 mpg combined regardless of whether they use a manual or automatic gearbox.

The Bronco Raptor’s closest competitor, the 470-hp Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, guzzles more gas, with 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway for a 14 mpg combined figure. However, the 392 manages this with a hulking 6.4-liter V-8 stuffed under the hood. While the 392 also gains a taller suspension and other off-road goodies, it rides on significantly smaller 33-inch tires (there is an option for 35s). While the Bronco Raptor is slightly more fuel efficient than its Jeep rival, we doubt many buyers of these all-terrain conquistadors are concerned with how much fuel their $70,000 brutes chug.
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