Motor News

Kia has updated the Soul for 2023 with new front- and rear-end designs.The Turbo model and X-Line trim level have been dropped from the lineup.The 2023 Soul will arrive at dealerships in late summer.Kia has been working to simplify the Soul lineup for a few years now: after dropping the base model’s manual transmission last year, it’s now killing off the optional 201-horsepower Turbo engine and the rugged-looking X-Line trim level along with the 2023 Soul’s facelift.

This leaves the Soul’s sole engine option as a 147-hp naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four with a continuously variable automatic transmission. In our testing, this version got to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds, while the Turbo did the deed in 6.4 seconds. The trim levels that remain include LX, S, EX, and GT-Line.
All of those models benefit from new styling for 2023, which includes reshaped headlights and a different front bumper, along with new taillights and a revised rear fascia. New 17- and 18-inch wheel designs complete the new look. Kia is offering two new two-tone color combinations: Surf Blue with a black roof, like you see here, and Clear White with a black roof.Kia has yet to announce pricing, but we think it’ll rise slightly from the current model’s starting price of $20,545.
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BMW M has posted photos of a prototype for the next-generation M2.It has a wider body than the 2-series coupe and is packing considerably more horsepower. A manual transmission is rumored.We expect the new M2 to debut later this year.We like the latest generation of the BMW 2-series coupe quite a bit, but the high-performance M2 is what enthusiasts are really waiting for. BMW M gave us a taste of what’s to come by posting these photos of a camouflaged M2 prototype on Instagram and announcing that it will start production at the company’s plant in Mexico by the end of this year.
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The M2 has a considerably wider body than the 2-series coupe, with the difference especially noticeable around the rear haunches. We can also see quad exhaust tips, larger wheels and tires, and a few extra vents for enhanced cooling. The M2’s interior likely won’t be that different than the standard 2-series coupe’s, meaning it’ll offer a usable set of rear seats unlike many of its sports-car competitors.

The outgoing M2 used the S55 twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, which produced 405 hp in the Competition model. BMW may switch the new model to a version of the S58 twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 473 hp in the base version of the M3 and M4. It likely won’t have as much power as those cars, but it’ll have to sit somewhere in the mid-400-hp range in order to provide a significant boost over its predecessor and the current M240i’s single-turbo B58 engine, which makes 382 hp.Thankfully, we’ve heard rumors that BMW will continue to offer a manual transmission in the M2 despite removing that option from the base 230i and M240i models. It’ll likely be the same six-speed unit from the M3. We’re not sure if the automatic-transmission option will be a dual-clutch unit, like the last M2’s, or the torque-converter eight-speed auto from the M3 Competition.Look for more official information to come within the next few months, as we expect BMW to reveal the new M2 in the fall before it goes on sale by the end of the year.
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Several stolen Chevy Camaros led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended in multiple arrests, according to Twitter posts by the Michigan State Police.The Camaros, including at least two 650-hp ZL1s, were stolen from an assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan.Other local news outlets, such as the Detroit Free Press, reported that the chase included a drone, a helicopter, spike strips, and speeds of over 100 mph. A heist involving multiple brand-new Chevy Camaros leads to a wild police chase that includes a drone, a helicopter, spike strips, and triple-digit speeds. That’s not a scene from a new Fast & Furious film or Grand Theft Auto video game, it’s a real-life incident that occurred early yesterday morning, according to posts on social media by the Michigan State Police as well as reports from local news outlets.

Just after midnight on Monday, the MSP posted on Twitter that multiple vehicles had been reported stolen from GM’s Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan, and that officers were patrolling I-96 for the suspects. As it turns out, the stolen cars were five Camaros, including at least two 650-hp ZL1 models that have a claimed top speed of 190 mph. When it became clear that the suspects, who were allegedly traveling at speeds over 100 mph, weren’t stopping, an epic chase ensued. It eventually spread across three different counties, with the suspects at some point splitting into two separate groups of two to four cars.

Michigan State Police

Michigan State Police

At least eight different police departments were involved in the pursuit, according to the MSP. Along with a police helicopter, the Detroit Free Press reported that drones were also used during the chase. Authorities were able to stop some of the Camaros with spike strips while others lost control and crashed. Some of the suspects tried to flee on foot before finally being arrested. Photos on the MSP’s Twitter page show four different models either crashed or disabled on the side of the road. We recognize a coupe and convertible ZL1 plus two other black coupes that could be V-8-powered SS models.

Michigan State Police

Miraculously, no pedestrians and none of the suspects or police officers involved in the hot pursuit were injured. The MSP said that nine men between the ages of 20 and 24 were arrested and taken into custody. They face multiple charges that include fleeing and eluding police as well as receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle. It’s estimated that the total value of the stolen Camaros is around $375,000.
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The 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate features a dark chrome look for the exterior and an interior with nicer leather.The 16-way power front seats feature a massage function and speakers built into the headrests.The Denali Ultimate can also be had with the Super Cruise driver assistance technology and a rear-seat entertainment package. The GMC Yukon Denali is already one of the blingiest SUVs on sale thanks to its glitzy chrome grille and well-appointed interior. But now GMC is turning the Yukon’s opulence up a notch with the 2023 Yukon Denali Ultimate, a new range-topper that brings subtle exterior tweaks, nicer interior materials, and even more technology to the already luxurious Denali.
You might expect every inch of an even swankier Denali to be coated in chrome, but in fact the Denali Ultimate gets a more understated look, with much of the trim bearing a darkened “Vader” chrome look. The GMC badges feature a darker finish, but GMC did leave some trim in a brighter coating, such as around the windows, for contrast. The Denali Ultimate also gains unique, 22-inch, seven-spoke wheels. The biggest upgrades are to the interior. All three rows of seating are wrapped in richer leather with plaited stitching, and the front thrones are 16-way adjustable and equipped with a massage function. The dashboard features Paldao wood trim with a topographical map of Mount Denali etched in, which is echoed on the seat backs. Aluminum trim completes the look.The Denali Ultimate is also packed with features. There’s a new 18-speaker Bose sound system with speakers built into the headrests and an optional rear-seat entertainment package that attaches screens to the back of the front seats. But the real highlight is the optional Super Cruise driver assistance tech, which includes automatic lane changing and a setting designed for towing.

The 2023 Yukon Denali Ultimate comes with the 6.2-liter V-8 or an optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel, with both engines mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Magnetorheological dampers and an air suspension also come standard.The Yukon Denali Ultimate goes on sale this fall. GMC has yet to release pricing, but given that its pickup-truck sibling, the Sierra Denali Ultimate, carries a $20,000 premium over the standard Sierra Denali, we expect the Yukon Denali Ultimate to ring in close to $92,000.
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• The 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet combines a soft top with a 355-hp 3.8-liter flat-six and all-wheel drive.• This particular 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet includes a six-speed manual transmission.• Bidding closes on Monday, May 9.It only takes a few gray Michigan winters under your belt to appreciate the sunshine of spring. That’s why this 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet that’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is owned by Hearst Autos—caught our attention.

This specific 997-generation 911’s allure stems from the fact it combines the model’s drop-top body style with a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. The fact this 911 is a Carrera 4S and not a lesser Carrera 4 is the cherry on top of the cake, as its 3.8-liter flat-six engine produces a total of 355 horsepower—30 horses more than the lesser Carrera 4’s 3.6-liter unit.What better way to enjoy the warm weather than in an open-top stick-shift 911 with power to spare? This car’s all-wheel-drive system means it ought to offer reasonable competence on subpar surfaces, as well. After all, sometimes it snows in April—or May—in the midwest.

Bring a Trailer

Not that we recommend regularly taking this 911 through the white stuff—especially if you’re doing so in a state that salts its roads. With approximately 5000 miles on its odometer, this 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is in far too fine of shape to risk either rot or rust. Although this Porsche’s gray paint may come off as a tad too tame for some, the subdued hue appeals to our modest sensibilities. Plus, we think it perfectly complements the car’s gray 19-inch wheels, black soft top, and tan interior, which includes leather-lined seats, a Bose stereo, and an in-dash navigation system, the latter of which may prove more burdensome than beneficial given the setup’s age.

Bring a Trailer

We wager the final bid for this Porsche drop-top will top that of the last 2008 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet to cross Bring a Trailer’s virtual auction block, a 56,000-mile example equipped with the less desirable five-speed automatic transmission that sold for $41,000 late last year. Whether this 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet sells, though, ultimately depends on the seller’s reserve. Regardless, we’ll know where the proverbial hammer falls on this all-wheel-drive 911 convertible once bidding ends on Monday, May 9.

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The Department of Energy is launching the Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program, dedicated to improving battery technology.The program will provide up to $45 million for the domestic development of electric-vehicle batteries.The program aims for batteries with faster charging times, less susceptibility to extreme temperatures, and better range retention over a battery’s lifespan. The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new venture for the advancement of electric vehicles in the U.S., creating a program to fund the development of cheaper, more efficient, and longer-lasting batteries. This follows an announcement from February when the DOE and the Department of Transportation launched a joint office to oversee the expansion of America’s electric-vehicle charging network, pledging $5 billion to states over the next five years to create a “spine” of chargers along the interstate highway system. The new battery-focused program is called EVs4ALL and will dedicate up to $45 million to fund the domestic development of advanced batteries for EVs. It’s organized through division called Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This funding comes from ARPA-E’s fiscal year 2022 appropriation from Congress, and not from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is funding the charging network expansion. The program will take applications from groups including automakers, battery suppliers, American universities, and national laboratories.

The project has three key goals for batteries: faster charging, higher efficiency, and improved longevity. The DOE acknowledges that many Americans do not live in residences where they can easily install a home charger, and is seeking to decrease recharging times to as low as five minutes to benefit those who cannot recharge overnight at home. The department also wants batteries to be more efficient and more able to withstand extreme temperatures without losing significant amounts of energy, in a bid to boost EV adoption rates in colder regions of the country. Lastly, the department notes that two-thirds of Americans purchase used cars and aims to increase range retention over the lifespan of batteries, so that batteries won’t need to be replaced as often on older EVs and those in the used car market have access to EVs with a respectable amount of driving range.While the funding is separate from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden last November, the new program from the Department of Energy will be crucial for Biden’s goals to have EVs make up half of all vehicle sales in 2030. The Department of Energy hopes that the funding can lead to better batteries that assuage the fears that still have many Americans wary of purchasing an EV.

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Cadillac revealed that the dual-motor, AWD version of the Lyriq EV will produce an estimated 500 horsepower.The rear-wheel-drive, single-motor version goes on sale first with 340 hp.The 2023 Lyriq starts at $59,990 and will be open for orders starting May 19.Cadillac has only detailed the base single-motor powertrain for the new 2023 Lyriq electric SUV so far. But now we know that the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version will offer an estimated 500 horsepower, as Cadillac shared that figure on an Instagram Q&A session today.

Cadillac via Instagram

While the base 340-hp single-motor Lyriq RWD starts at $59,990, we assume that the dual-motor variant will cost a fair bit more than that to start. Its 500 horsepower, which comes from front and rear electric motors, will put it in strong contention with other EV SUV competitors including the 469-hp Audi e-tron S and the 516-horsepower BMW iX xDrive50. We assume the Lyriq AWD will use the same battery pack as the RWD model, which offers 100.0-kWh of usable capacity and an EPA-estimated 312 miles of range; the more powerful dual-motor version will likely have a slightly lower range estimate.

Cadillac will open orders for the 2023 Lyriq starting May 19, but the initial production run will include only the single-motor Lyriq Debut Edition form that comes only in silver or black and doesn’t offer many option choices. We don’t know exact timing yet on when the dual-motor cars will arrive, but Cadillac says to expect other versions of the Lyriq to go on sale this fall.
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UPDATE 3:55 PM: Road & Track spoke with the Ford GT owner. Their story has been updated with additional details.A Ford GT owner in Boca Raton, Florida crashed his recently purchased supercar into a tree Friday evening because he was “unfamiliar with how to drive stick shift,” police say.The driver, 50-year-old Robert J. Guarini, told police he lost control after downshifting while leaving his housing development at around 6 p.m. This led to a head-on collision with a palm tree. Guarini then told a nearby security worker that he did not have his phone and needed a ride back to his house, where he spoke to police via landline after leaving the vehicle unattended, police say.
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Facebook user John Peddle’s photos from the crash site show that the damage is limited to the front third of the car. The hit was substantial enough to trigger multiple airbags and disable the vehicle. It’s unclear how fast Guarini was going when the crash occurred, but the GT slid far enough after hitting the tree that it blocked a nearby sidewalk. The car was not registered or insured when the crash occurred. The listed VIN indicates that the car was purchased at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach for $704,000 in early April, about the going price for a 2006 Heritage Edition GT. That would make replacement a very expensive endeavor. Guarini was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license and a warning for operating an unregistered vehicle.

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