Motor News

Klaus Zyciora via Instagram

Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Zyciora posted a rendering of an ID.Buzz pickup truck.Reuters also reports that VW is considering building such a vehicle in the U.S.The crew-cab pickup could have historical ties to prior Microbus “Doka” variants.VW has already committed to selling several versions of the ID.Buzz electric van: the yet-to-be-launched long-wheelbase “People” variant for America, plus the short-wheelbase, five-seat “People” and short-wheelbase “Cargo” panel van versions for Europe. But this won’t be the end of the road: Volkswagen has strongly hinted at a camper version, and brand aficionados will be happy to know that a crew-cab pickup is strongly considered. At least that’s what we take away from a posting on chief designer Klaus Zyciora’s Instagram profile, where he posted a rendering of such a model, accompanied by the question: “Should we take it to the next level?”

Zyciora’s informal poll has been answered with a resounding “yes” from the community of his Instagram followers. And at the same time, a Reuters story claims that VW is mulling U.S. production of this pickup version, alongside the regular ID.Buzz.The rendering is not based on the new production model, but instead on the 2017 ID.Buzz concept, which was characterized by body-colored roof pillars. Should such a version come to market, it would likely adopt the “visor” look of the ID.Buzz production model. And the junction between the cab and the pickup bed could adapt a more conventional look.
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A crew-cab bus would draw from a strong heritage: From the first generation of the VW bus onwards, the brand has always offered a “Doppelkabine” (short: “Doka”), more or less successfully integrated. We can imagine that fans would undoubtedly adopt this nickname for the new version, should it come to fruition.Interestingly, the retro-futuristic 2001 Microbus concept, which served as a strong inspiration for the ID.Buzz, was designed with a pickup version as well. But it never saw production.We’ll join the design community in encouraging the launch of this car. And we want to see more renderings of this concept on Zyciora’s IG page.
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• This 1991 Nissan Figaro is up for sale right now on Bring a Trailer with the auction set to end on May 2.• Designed with retro styling, a tiny 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and a retractable convertible top, the Figaro is a unique car from the Japanese domestic market.• This particular one has spent time in the UK and wears custom Firenze Red paint.In 1991, Nissan launched the Figaro in its home market of Japan, alongside two other retro-futuristic small cars—the Pao and the Be-1—as well as the snail-esque S-Cargo van. The Figaro is arguably the most glamorous of the quartet, as it incorporates scaled-down 1950s-era styling and a retractable convertible top. This one, which has been refurbished and repainted in Firenze Red Metallic paint, is being offered for sale on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

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Although it’s a small, lightweight convertible, the Figaro is surely no Miata. Its tiny turbocharged 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes just 75 horsepower and drives the front wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. This is a car for cruising and turning heads at Cars and Coffee meetups.

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The cream-colored leather is slightly worn and the convertible top, despite being replaced in 2021, has some nicks at the corners. The rear seat upholstery is cracking too, but overall the Figaro is in decent shape. Mechanically, the owner reports that the steering rack, a CV boot, and the spark plugs have recently been replaced, and an oil change and a brake fluid change were performed.

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The Figaro is relatively rare, and not just because it was sold solely in Japan. Only 20,000 were produced in total, and the car was in production for just a single model year. Originally, Nissan had planned to build just 8000 Figaros, but the car proved so popular that another 12,000 were made available. Prospective buyers had to enter a lottery for the chance to buy one.

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To grab this Figaro, all you need to do is be the high bidder. The auction ends May 2.
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The 2023 Toyota Supra will be available with a manual transmission.The six-speed manual gearbox will be offered for the 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, and the base 2.0-liter turbo-four will remain automatic-only.The 2023 Supra will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.The moment we’ve been waiting for ever since the return of the Toyota Supra has now arrived: for 2023, the Supra will finally be available with a manual transmission. The six-speed gearbox will be offered only with the 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and comes with a host of other modifications to the suspension and interior for the new model year.

Because BMW does not currently offer the B58 inline-six—the variant that powers six-cylinder Supras—with a manual transmission in the U.S., we believe Toyota when it says it went to a great amount of trouble to engineer this transmission specifically for this car. The engine will produce the same output as it does when paired with the eight-speed automatic, but the manual receives a shorter final-drive ratio—3.46 versus 3.15 for the auto. It also has a rev-matching function that can be disabled.
The stick will be offered on the 3.0 and 3.0 Premium models, along with an exclusive new special edition called the A91-MT. Only 500 units of this manual-only trim level will be offered in the U.S., and it’ll come in either matte white or grey. It has a brown leather interior that’s not available on any other Supra, and it also comes with an Alcantara shift knob, red brake calipers, red badging, red strut tower braces, and 19-inch wheels.Other changes for the manual car include recalibrated traction-control and stability-control programming and a rearranged center console that moves the infotainment controller knob and other buttons to accommodate the manual shifter. Toyota says the shift knob’s placement is meant to provide enough clearance between the shifter and the center stack.
All 2023 Supras will receive revised tuning for the shocks and power steering system, plus a new feature that Toyota calls Hairpin+. It’s meant specifically for steep uphill hairpin turns and is said to permit a greater difference in wheelspin between the left and right rear tires.Toyota hasn’t said what the 2023 Supra with the manual transmission will cost, but did hint that it might carry a price premium by referring to the stick as an “option.” We’ll have to reserve final judgment until we can shift the Supra’s gearbox for ourselves, but we’d reckon it’ll be worth paying extra for.
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The 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic uses the 911 Turbo’s engine, albeit with reduced output of 543 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.This lesser output allows the rear-wheel-drive Sport Classic to adopt a seven-speed manual transmission.Porsche intends to cap production at 1250 units worldwide. The 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is a 911 Turbo by any other name. Limited to 1250 units worldwide, the Sport Classic shares its engine with the Turbo, but not its drivetrain or transmission.

Whereas today’s Turbo-grade 911 comes exclusively with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the 911 Sport Classic pushes its power strictly to its rear wheels by way of a manual transmission. A classic approach to a sports car, indeed.In order to ensure the twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat-six plays nice with the seven-speed gearbox, Porsche reduces the engine’s output to 543 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque—a loss of 29 horses and 111 lb-ft of torque relative to the Turbo. If you’re after peak performance, then you’re better off with the quicker shift times and superior traction of the self-shifting all-wheel-drive 911 Turbo. The 911 Sport Classic instead sacrifices the lofty straight-line acceleration capabilities of its Turbo kin at the altar of a more involving driving experience.
Though it’s sure to require a few more ticks to hit 60 mph (the 572-hp 911 Turbo did it in 2.4 seconds in our testing), the Sport Classic ought to maintain much of the dynamic competence of the Turbo on twisting tarmac. Credit features such as rear-wheel steering, active anti-roll bars, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) Sport active dampers, which lower the car’s ride height by 0.4 inch. Model-specific revisions to the front springs and staggered 20- and 21-inch front and rear wheels are also included. Stopping power comes courtesy of black-painted 10-piston front and four-piston rear calipers that clamp down on 16.5-inch front and 15.4-inch rear carbon-ceramic rotors. Along with its engine, the Turbo also lends its wider body to the Sport Classic. Like the prior 911 Sport Classic that Porsche revealed in late 2009, the latest 911 Sport Classic wears Fuchs-style wheels, a retro “ducktail” rear spoiler, and a double-bubble roof panel. A carbon-fiber hood with a central dip complements the look of the aforementioned roof panel, which Porsche also constructs from carbon fiber.
Additional alterations include LED headlights with black housings, Porsche script on the model’s lower sides, side-mounted white circles designed to house numeric decals of the driver’s choice, and a number of special badges shared with the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. A Porsche crest that mimics the automaker’s 1963 design, real gold badging at the likes of the car’s rear end, and a Porsche Heritage badge mounted to the rear grille complement a set of badges on the front quarter panels.Despite its Turbo-sourced engine, the Sport Classic ditches the active aerodynamic equipment and side air intakes of its 911 Turbo and Turbo S stablemates. Forgoing the latter feature required Porsche to develop new tooling to stamp the intake-less wide-body panels it fits on this special-edition model. The Sport Classic channels additional air into its engine bay by way of ducts mounted under the rear spoiler as a way of compensating for the missing holes in its sides.Tweaks to the interior accompany the exterior modifications. Both the tachometer and dash-mounted clock of the standard Sport Chrono package include white needles set against faces with green numerals and accents, while Porsche embosses logos into the headrests and center-console lid. There are also distinct door sill plates and a dash-mounted badge.
Pepita cloth lines the door panels and seat centers, contrasting with the cabin’s black and brown leather decor. An all-black leather interior is optional for those in search of a low-key look.Unlike Porsche’s previous 911 Sport Classic, all 250 of which were built for markets outside of the United States, the brand plans to ship an undisclosed number of its latest Sport Classic to our shores. Pricing remains under wraps, but we wager the Sport Classic will sticker for a good deal more than the $208,350 starting price of a 911 Turbo S.The 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic is due to hit dealers before the end of the year, with customers able to outfit the car in one of four paint options: gray, black, dark gray, and blue—each with contrasting light gray stripes.
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Screenshot: Stricker Auto Parts on Facebook

When a tornado struck General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly plant in December, it caused fires and leaks that forced GM to write off 122 Corvette vehicles. Those Corvettes, mostly still on the assembly line, died before they ever got to live.But thanks to CorvetteBlogger, which was tipped off by one of its readers, we now know that the ‘Vettes didn’t die completely in vain. The site located a bunch of eBay listings by user Stricker Auto Parts for 2022 Corvette parts, pulled from cars that in some cases show 0 miles on the odometer.

Screenshot: Stricker Auto Parts on eBay

Because cars always leave the factory with a few miles on them, we assume that these are parts from cars that never got finished. Plus, CorvetteBlogger notes that some of the listings that show full cars have “X” marked on the windshield; the site also spotted this marking on the tornado-damaged cars in drone footage from the factory. There aren’t enough listings to know if all of the 122 written-off Corvettes will eventually be parted out by the same seller, but if you’re looking for never-used C8 parts with some interesting history, we recommend perusing the Stricker Auto Parts eBay listings.

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The 2023 Polestar 2 gains two new colors, fresh wheel designs, and new interior materials.Polestar is also using blockchain technology to track metals including cobalt, mica, and aluminum to ensure they are ethically sourced and processed using sustainable energy.The 2 also gets an upgraded heat pump which Polestar claims improves real-world range.For the 2023 model year, the Polestar 2 is gaining a host of upgrades, including fresh design elements, an optimized heat pump, and new technology that aims to make the 2 more sustainable. Polestar previously updated the 2 for 2022 with a longer EPA-estimated range in the single-motor model—now 270 miles—and 68 more horsepower for the dual-motor version.
The 2023 Polestar 2 will come with two new exterior colors. The first, called Space, is a metallic black, while the second, dubbed Jupiter, is described as a gold-grey with a red flake. These new hues can be matched with new designs for both the standard 19-inch wheels as well as the optional 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Nappa leather can be had in a new Zinc grey color, and a new Light Ash trim is also available.

Polestar has partnered with software company Circulor, which uses blockchain technology to track where Polestar sources cobalt and mica, two key minerals used in electric-car batteries. Polestar says the partnership allows it to verify that the minerals are coming from ethical mining and manufacturing sources. The technology has also seen Polestar switch to aluminum suppliers which use sustainable energy. Polestar claims this has reduced the carbon emissions from producing the aluminum tray holding the 2’s battery. Polestar is experimenting with similar emissions reductions with its aluminum wheels, and expects the wheels to start saving carbon emissions in the second half of the year.Polestar also says it has bettered the optimal temperature range for the mechanical heat pump included in the Plus package to between 20 degrees and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Polestar claims that the pump, which was previously optimized for between 40 and 60 degrees, helps increase real-world range in “adverse conditions.” It’s unclear at this point if the car’s EPA-rated range will be adjusted as a result of these changes.
Polestar has also added an advanced cabin filter and upgraded the interior particulate sensor, which is now pair with an in-car app to measure the air quality improvement in the cabin versus the outside world. Lastly, Polestar has added a removable sunshade for 2s fitted with the panoramic glass roof.Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but we don’t expect it to change much from the current car’s starting price. Look for the 2023 single-motor version to start at around $47,500 and the dual-motor version to start at around $51,500.
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The Dodge Hornet—the brand’s first plug-in hybrid—is planned to debut in August, Stellantis CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed on Tuesday, per The Detroit News.The Hornet is expected to be based on the plug-in version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but Kuniskis suggested supply chain issues might delay the Hornet’s launch. Dodge is also planning to unveil an electric muscle car concept this summer, but Kuniskis suggested this reveal could also be pushed back. Last fall, Stellantis confirmed that Dodge’s first plug-in hybrid would be shown in 2022. Rumors soon started circulating that the vehicle would be a small crossover SUV bearing the Hornet name (a rendering of which leads this piece). In February, not long after the reveal of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which offers a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, photos leaked of a Tonale sporting Dodge logos and styling cues—purportedly a prototype of the Hornet. Now Tim Kuniskis, chief executive officer of Dodge, has given credence to the rumors and leaked images, as he confirmed on Tuesday the Hornet will debut this summer, per The Detroit News.

During a virtual news conference, Kuniskis shared that Dodge is preparing to show the Hornet in August. However, this plan could be affected by the supply chain issues that have been plaguing the car industry, halting production, and delaying launches. Kuniskis would not comment on where the Hornet will be built, but the SUV is expected to be assembled at the company’s plant in Pomigliano, Italy, which also builds the Tonale. The Tonale’s plug-in hybrid powertrain features a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four and an electric motor at the rear axle, the combination of which nets a total of 272 horsepower. The Hornet will presumably arrive with a similar, if not identical, powertrain setup when it goes on sale in 2023.

Dodge

Dodge also plans to reveal a concept version of its electric muscle car, which is due in 2024, before the end of the year. Kuniskis said Dodge is aiming to show the concept before the Hornet’s reveal, but the brand still needs a key piece that is, “outside of my control, it’s outside our industry, quite frankly,” before the reveal can happen. Dodge’s first electric car will utilize the “eMuscle” name. A teaser for the vehicle reveals it will feature a boxy front end that’s reminiscent of the brand’s Chargers and Challengers of the 1960s and 1970s.
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• Designed for overlanding or doomsday scenarios, this RV is a mash-up of a camper and a military-grade truck chassis.• It has a Cummins diesel 6.7-liter inline-six, four-wheel drive, a queen-size bed, a shower, and roof-mounted solar panels.• Registered as a 2012 BAE Systems Titan motorhome, it currently has an $85k bid on Bring a Trailer, and the auction ends on Wednesday, May 4.If Instagram has taught me anything, it’s that people who have vans converted into campers are cooler and happier than I am. The proof is in the perfect composition of their photos, from the unwaveringly sunny vistas to their unquestionably authentic smiles. However, in the event of the Apocalypse, when even the brightest Insta filter can’t hide the hellscape in the background, I suspect the happy-go-lucky vibes of #vanlife to go on hiatus. Meanwhile, I’ll be getting the hell out of Dodge and seeking safety in this military-grade motorhome that I found on the Bring a Trailer auction site–which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

Sure, this thing looks as inviting as an ice-cream truck in the Arctic Circle, but it’s that industrial aesthetic that captured my attention. Is it a truck? Is it a camper? Upon closer inspection, it’s a little bit of both. Beneath the camper portion is a medium-duty, flat-bed truck. While it features the same platform as trucks that BAE Systems supplied to the U.S. military, this example is said to be one of about 50 that were sold to civilians as part of the now seemingly defunct Titan Trucks brand.

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According to an old brochure, this 4×4 “Extreme Duty” chassis has a 153.0-inch wheelbase, measures 96.0 inches wide, and has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 24,700 pounds. Moving the 10-plus-ton machine is a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six, which in stock form is said to make as much as 325 horsepower and 860 pound-feet of torque. The engine pairs with a seven-speed automatic transmission and feeds all four wheels. The rear axle also has a locking differential to help in treacherous terrain. The truck rolls on a set of 10-lug wheels wrapped with 395/85R20 Goodyear MV/T tires that are rated for combat duty, and what’s good enough for Uncle Sam is good enough for me.Obviously, this Frankenstein RV has more than a few interesting features. Its roof has been reinforced so that it can be walked on, but most of the real estate on top is occupied by a 1200-watt solar-panel system. Above the roof of the cockpit is an aluminum storage bin that can be accessed by ladders on both sides. There are additional storage compartments on the bottom of the camper as well as two power-retractable awnings, LED auxiliary lighting, and even an exterior shower. The long steel bumper that pokes out from behind the truck also has a neat trick; it pivots and is connected to a winch that can raise it for a greater departure angle.

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Despite the RV’s military specifications, the inside of its aluminum camper looks a lot more comfortable than an army barracks. It might even be something you’d see in your grandparents’ Winnebago, except it’s a lot more stylish. There’s a queen-size bed and still room for serviceable kitchen space and a bathroom with a shower. A pair of folding bench seats with seat belts face each other in the middle of the camper, and when it’s time to eat or, say, play some cards, a wood table slides out from under the nearby bed frame. If things inside the camper get too hot or cold, there’s an air-conditioning unit and a diesel-powered heater. If things get too boring, there’s a TV and a JL audio system to blast some tunes. I can think of one especially fitting song by R.E.M.

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In the event that any of my passengers and I need some space as we try to survive the Apocalypse, the cab of the truck is separate from the camper. Up front, there’s a set of aftermarket racing seats that look comfy and supportive. The driving position is perfect for big-rig cosplay, with a sky-high seat height and a comically large steering wheel. The huge windshield and flat-nose configuration should provide excellent forward visibility. The truck’s abbreviated front overhang should provide terrific approach angles, and in the worst-case scenario of a zombie apocalypse, the steel front bumper will make for an excellent battering ram.
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