Motor News

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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Lego Technic introduces a 1:8-scale replica of a red Ferrari Daytona SP3.The Ferrari model has working parts like moving pistons and doors that open.The entire set includes 3778 pieces and costs $399.99.Who doesn’t want to own a Ferrari? Okay, maybe not Lewis Hamilton or Bruce McLaren, but this new Lego Technic set of a red, 1:8 scale Ferrari Daytona SP3 isn’t for them. It’s for builders who love supercars and have the time to assemble 3778 pieces and the coin to spend $399.99.

If you haven’t heard, the real-life Daytona SP3 is one of the most special Ferrari’s ever built. It’s an ultra-limited edition that’s based on the design of the sports-prototype racers that finished 1-2-3 at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. The actual SP3 is powered by a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 that produces an expletive-inducing 829 horsepower.

Lego

Lego

Ferrari Daytona SP3

Technic™
lego.com

$399.99

While the Lego version makes 829 fewer horses, its model engine does have moving pistons. The miniature Daytona SP3 also features a functioning replica of the real car’s eight-speed automatic transmission. A set of butterfly doors, as well as the front and rear hoods, can also be opened and closed at your leisure. Of course, someone first has to piece the whole thing together.Once it’s completely assembled, Lego says its Daytona SP3 measures 23.0 inches long, 9.5 inches wide, and 5.5 inches tall. Along with the aforementioned working parts, the Lego model has rolling wheels covered in silver lacquer. Removing the model’s black roof panel reveals a pair of blue seats inside.

Lego

Lego

Ferrari isn’t likely to build more than 500 copies of the Daytona SP3, all of which have likely already found homes with the brand’s wealthiest and most loyal customers. Luckily, Lego will sell a lot more of the red Ferrari when the first sets go on sale worldwide in the company’s stores on June 1, followed by the retail release on August 1.
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Honda has released teaser images showing the 2023 CR-V.It will have new styling and what Honda describes as a “more advanced hybrid system.”More information will come this summer, and we expect the new CR-V to go on sale in the U.S. by the fall.Honda is redesigning many of its SUV models this year, with a new 2023 HR-V on its way and a new Pilot slated to arrive later this year. For now, it’s the bestselling CR-V’s turn, and Honda has just released the first photos of the 2023 CR-V. These teaser images show the compact SUV’s new front- and rear-end styling. Based on previous spy photos, we expect the new CR-V to grow a bit compared with the current model, and its new headlights and taillights, along with a larger grille, should give it more presence on the road.

Honda

With this new generation, Honda will emphasize the CR-V’s hybrid powertrain more than before, as it intends for this model to become half of the sales mix. We expect the new hybrid setup to be a bit more powerful than the current CR-V Hybrid, which makes a combined 212 horsepower. EPA combined fuel economy, which currently sits at 38 mpg, may improve as well; in our long-term test of a 2021 CR-V Hybrid, we averaged 30 mpg overall.We expect the CR-V’s nonhybrid powertrain to be the same turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four that’s currently standard, possibly with a bit more grunt than the 2022 CR-V’s 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. It will likely continue with a continuously variable automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive.Honda is also describing the new CR-V as more “rugged” and “adventurous,” which suggests that it may gain a TrailSport trim level similar to the larger Passport and Pilot SUVs. In the CR-V’s case, this is likely to include mostly appearance tweaks, along with different tires and possibly minor enhancements to the all-wheel-drive system or drive modes. The existing LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels should carry over as well.Look for more concrete information to come on the CR-V within the next few months, including engine specs, pricing, and feature details.
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The 2023 Toyota 4Runner adds a 40th Anniversary Special Edition.Limited to 4040 copies, the special edition includes cool tri-colored stripes and bronze 17-inch rims.For 2023, Toyota makes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on all 4Runners.We may poke fun at the current-generation Toyota 4Runner for not changing much over the past decade-plus, but—as our mothers would say—never forget where you came from. Along with body-on-frame construction, its combination of a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V-6, archaic five-speed automatic transmission, and available four-wheel drive prove the 4Runner not only sticks to its roots, but it also embraces them. For 2023, the off-road icon turns 40 years old, and Toyota is celebrating that milestone with a special edition that’ll be limited to 4040 copies.

The 2023 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition is immediately distinguished by the tri-colored stripes on its body, which are complemented by unique bronze-colored 17-inch rims. The example seen in these photos is painted in Midnight Black metallic, but it’s also offered in Barcelona Red metallic and white. The bronze wheels contrast nicely with the black exterior paint, but the retro-styled graphics are especially eye-catching, with the yellow, orange, and red stripes appearing on the body sides and as a hash on the bar in the grille.
The 40th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the 4Runner’s SR5 trim. However, it receives the TRD Pro’s heritage grille with Toyota script. There’s a commemorative badge on the rear liftgate and the “4Runner” lettering on the back is bronze. Bronze accents are also sprinkled throughout the cabin, including for the stitching on the shift knob and black leatherette seats (cloth upholstery is otherwise standard on the SR5). Further references to the 4Runner’s 40th birthday are seen on the floormats, the logos on the front headrests, and badges on the center console and above the glovebox.
Along with the addition of the 40th Anniversary Special Edition for the 2023 model year, Toyota is making blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard across the lineup. The company hasn’t released pricing for the 2023 4Runner, but we expect that to be announced by the time it goes on sale this year.
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