Motor News

Mercedes-AMG released a brief teaser video for the next C-class performance variant.It isn’t clear if its the C43 or C63, but given the subdued bodywork, the C43 seems more likely.Both the next C43 and C63 will come with a hybrid inline-four powertrain, instead of the current V-6 and V-8 setups.Mercedes-AMG has given us the first taste of a hotter C-class variant, although it isn’t yet clear whether this new teaser video shows a C43 or the full-fledged C63. While the previous C63 packed a 503-horsepower twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine and the lesser C43 came with a still heady 385-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, we have known for some time that the new successors will instead utilize a hybridized inline-four setup.
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The teaser shows a small portion of the front fascia, with the performance-oriented C-class sporting the “Panamericana” grille with vertical slats that all modern AMG variants wear. The lower air intakes look essentially identical to those on the standard C300, making us think this might be the C43 instead of the top-dog C63. Still, without a V-8, the C63 might not have significantly different cooling needs than the other four-cylinder-powered models.

Both the C43 and C63 are expected to have a hybridized, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Despite the smaller engine, the C63 is still expected to produce over 500 horsepower. Mercedes has already managed to eke out 416 horses from the four-cylinder engine in the CLA45 S, which isn’t sold in the U.S. The C43 won’t have quite as much power as the C63, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it move closer to the 400 hp mark. The Mercedes teaser didn’t provide any dates, but we expect to find out more about the next AMG C-class soon.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has bought Twitter for $44 billion.As a result, Twitter will become a privately held company.Twitter says the transaction is expected to be completed this year, pending the approval of shareholders, regulatory approval, and other closing conditions.Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has agreed to spend $44 billion to buy the 15th-biggest social media network in the world. That would be Twitter, a company that has made a profit in two of the past 10 years. To scrape together that pile of money, Musk leaned heavily on Tesla, a company that has turned a profit in two of the past 19 years. In the first quarter of last year, most of Tesla’s profit came from selling Bitcoin and emissions credits. Nonetheless, at year end, Tesla made a record profit of $5.5 billion. And if it does that for eight more years in a row, that will generate enough money to pay for Twitter. Or, looking at it another way, $44 billion would buy 907,403 Model 3s. Last year, Tesla delivered 936,172 cars worldwide. Of course, Mr. Musk also owns SpaceX and the Boring Company, which digs tunnels. So those are worth some money, too—about $100 billion for SpaceX and $5.7 billion for the Boring Company. And to raise the $33.5 billion that Musk is contributing personally, he’ll likely have to sell off some part of his stake in either of those. But $12.5 billion is coming from a margin loan against Musk’s Tesla’s stock, and if Tesla’s stock drops by 40 percent, he’ll have to repay that $12.5 billion. Will that factor into any decision-making at Tesla? Between Nov. 5, 2021 and March 11, 2022, Tesla stock dropped by about 35 percent. Until yesterday, it was novel to see car company CEOs on Twitter. Going forward, it’ll be interesting to see how Musk’s free-speech ideals jibe with competitors using his own platform to promote their products. When @jimfarley98 boasts about the Ford F-150 Lightning on Twitter, how will that sit with the guy behind the Cybertruck? And how will the guy behind the Cybertruck pay enough attention to that project while running yet another company that has more than 7000 employees? Guess we’ll find out!In other news, Tesla will introduce no new models in 2022.

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• This 2010 Saab 9-3 SportCombi is up for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction site, with bidding currently at $5500 with five days left on the auction.• This 9-3 SportCombi looks to be in very good condition with just 31,000 miles on the odometer.• The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four sends 210 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic.It’s been about a decade since Saab’s demise, but we still find ourselves thinking about the oddball Swedish brand often. There are many dedicated Saab owners still out there, keeping their 900s, 9-3s, and 9-5s alive and running, despite the fact that the company hasn’t sold a car in the United States since 2011. If you want to join them in maintaining Saab’s legacy, then you’ll be interested in this 2010 Saab 9-3 SportCombi that is up for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction site—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

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This 2010 wagon model represents the 9-3’s second generation, which was facelifted in 2008 with a sleeker front-end design. While the refreshed 9-3 had been offered with a turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 pushing out either 255 or 280 horsepower, in 2010 the engine lineup was reduced to only the base turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. That motor was good for 210 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, delivered to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic in this example, although a manual transmission and all-wheel-drive were also available at the time.

This 9-3 SportCombi has just 31,000 miles on the odometer, and it shows. The Snow Silver Metallic bodywork looks pristine and the cream leather interior looks to be in equally good shape. The Saab also has goodies such as an electric sunroof, heated front seats, a power-adjustable drivers seat, cruise control, and a dual-zone automatic climate control. Luckily there’s also an aux port, since we imagine most people won’t have use for the CD player. The factory 16-inch wheels are fitted with 215/55 Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season tires, but with date codes from 2015, you’ll probably want to replace them. And while it might take some wrenching to keep a Saab going for years to come, this low-mile example would be a strong place to start. Bidding is currently at $5500 with five days remaining on the auction.

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The 2023 Nissan Z’s arrival date in the United States has been delayed from the spring to the summer of 2022.Nissan cited “unforeseen supply chain issues” as the reason for the setback.The Z will be powered by a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, and it should start around $40,000.After the Nissan 370Z’s eleven-year production run, the arrival of its successor—now simply called Z—has been hotly anticipated. Unveiled last fall with a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, the Z was originally scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this spring. But after a press release stated that the Z was delayed for the Japanese market, Nissan has confirmed to Car and Driver that the Z’s American release date has also been pushed back to summer 2022.
In a statement, a Nissan representative told Car and Driver that “due to unforeseen supply chain issues that are affecting the entire industry, there has been a slight delay to the summer of 2022.” Nissan’s consumer website still lists “spring 2022” as the launch date.

Nissan has yet to announce pricing for the 2023 Z, but we expect the two-seat coupe to start around $40,000. The Z will offer three trim levels. The base Z Sport comes with a 12.3-inch instrument display, cloth seats with faux suede inserts, and plenty of driver-assistance features. Stepping up to the Z Performance stiffens the suspension and adds stronger brakes, a limited-slip differential, and 19-inch Rays wheels. The interior gains heated leather seats and an upgraded audio system. There will also be the Z Proto Spec, which acts as a launch edition and is essentially a Z Performance model with special colors and trim. Nissan will likely reveal detailed pricing information closer to the Z’s now delayed on-sale date.
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Genesis will offer the new 2023 G90 with a 48-volt hybrid system for its V-6 engine.The setup includes an electric supercharger that boosts the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 to 420 hp.The hybrid will likely cost extra compared with the base 375-hp version of the V-6.The new 2023 Genesis G90 sedan will offer a version of the company’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a 48-volt hybrid system in the U.S. A Genesis spokesperson confirmed to C/D that this new powertrain will use an electric supercharger, and EPA documents reveal that it will produce 420 horsepower—a significant bump over the 375 hp that this engine makes in standard form.Curiously, the addition of this hybrid setup results in a drop in fuel economy, as EPA ratings show that the “MHEV” model has a combined rating of 20 mpg, one mpg lower than the standard twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6. We’d guess that the extra mass associated with the hybrid system could account for this disparity. Both powertrains use an eight-speed automatic transmission and come standard with all-wheel drive. For reference, the Mercedes-Benz S500 with a 429-hp inline-six and a 48-volt hybrid system achieves an EPA combined rating of 24 mpg.Genesis originally said that this hybrid setup would only be used in the stretched long-wheelbase version of the G90, which is not slated to come to the U.S. But now the company says that the more powerful engine will be offered in the standard-wheelbase car that will be sold on our shores. We don’t know what kind of price premium the hybrid setup will command, but we figure it’ll be a few thousand dollars extra given its extra power.Look for more details to come on the 2023 G90, including pricing, as the flagship sedan is slated to arrive in the U.S. later this year.
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The 2023 Subaru Solterra starts at $46,220, which is $3005 more than the base 2023 Toyota bZ4X.The Subaru’s standard all-wheel drive accounts for much of the extra cost, as the Toyota comes standard with front-wheel drive.Still, a bZ4x with the optional all-wheel-drive system is $925 less to start than the entry-level Solterra.The 2023 Subaru Solterra and the 2023 Toyota bZ4X have been linked together since birth, a result of the new electric SUVs being co-developed by their respective parent companies. The bZ4X and Solterra share a platform and many other characteristics, but shoppers comparing the two will notice that the Subaru is also more expensive than its Toyota twin. The 2023 Solterra starts at $46,220 whereas the 2023 bZ4X has a starting price of $43,215.

Basic math tells us that the least expensive Solterra is $3005 more than the least expensive bZ4x. However, the price comparison is more complicated than that because much of the Subie’s extra cost is attributed to its standard dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system. The Toyota, on the other hand, comes standard with a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup. So, what’s the price difference when the entry-level bZ4X is equipped with all-wheel drive? Well, it’s still $925 cheaper than the base Solterra.
The Solterra is available in three trim levels: Premium, Limited, and Touring. The Limited starts at $49,720 and the Touring starts at $53,220, making them the most expensive Subaru models in the showroom. The bZ4X is only offered in XLE and Limited grades. The front-drive Limited starts at $47,915, and upgrading to all-wheel drive costs an extra $2080 on both trims. The 2023 Solterra and 2023 bZ4x will go on sale this summer, with Subaru saying a limited number will hit dealer lots at first. The company also says it’s finalizing plans to offer Solterra reservation holders their pick of either a credit for EVgo charging or money to purchase and install a Level 2 charger at home.
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The buzz of electricity—figuratively and literally—has swept through the world’s sports-car makers, and the C8 Corvette is about to feel the jolt. The C8 will soon join the many brands turning to electrons to power their hot cars. GM president Mark Reuss has just gone public with what we’ve known for some time: that a hybrid C8 Corvette will be here next year. What no one knew until Reuss revealed it in the same conversation with CNBC reporter Phil LeBeau it is that GM will build an all-electric ‘Vette EV.

Why? For a combination of reasons: the Corvette is the giant killer of sports cars, a vehicle that has become known for delivering the performance and technology of name-brand hotties like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche for a fraction of their cost. Virtually all of the leading sports-car makers have now committed to building either hybrid or electric models in the near future. Some of the top brands already have hybrids on the market. “The other guys are doing it” is a strong enough reason for electrifying the ‘Vette. It’s the price of keeping up with the competition, capitalizing on the buzz surrounding electric vehicles in general. The second reason for electrifying the C8 is even simpler: it has the potential to deliver tremendous power and performance along with environmental cred.

GM

The Corvette C8 was designed from the outset to include a hybrid model. The C8’s front compartment is designed to house a module made up of one or two electric motors and associated control hardware. A small battery pack will most likely be located in the car’s central tunnel, which runs through the center of the passenger compartment.

To the best of our knowledge, the hybrid system was originally planned as a “power adder” to the top twin-turbo version of the 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8. With the electric motor driving the front wheels, the C8 would have all-wheel drive, enabling it to use its power—said to approach a total output of near 1000 hp—to deliver staggering straight-line acceleration. Rumor has it that the C8 hybrid was not expected to be able to drive solely on electric power, though that might have changed by now and it might be able to move on electrons for short distances at lower speeds. Because the hybrid system is essentially a plug-and-play module, it could be added to the base C8 as well, which comes with the 490-hp 6.2-liter LT2 small block pushrod V-8. Now that hybridization is taking hold in the sports car world, this is a strong possibility. Reuss stated that the hybrid ‘Vette will be out “next year.” We expect that that means late in 2023 as a 2024 model. When asked when the full EV C8 would arrive, Reuss coyly sidestepped the question, essentially saying “somewhere down the road.” We believe that converting the C8 to full electric propulsion will require a massive redesign of the car aft of the seats. There is a vast difference in propulsion systems between the internal-combustion C8s and the EV model.

The revisions include the need to package the large battery required to provide both massive power and reasonable driving range; fitting one or two electric motors in the rear; and packaging the Ultium battery. This battery pack is currently used in larger vehicles including the Hummer EV and upcoming Cadillac Lyriq and it will have to be redesigned to fit within the confines of the two-seat Vette. All this takes time—years rather than months—and then the car will have to be debugged, validated for reliability, and fine-tuned to deliver the superb ride-and-handling balance of the ICE Vettes currently on offer. While the project is no doubt well underway, we expect a C8 EV to appear around 2024 as a 2025 model at the earliest. While the timeline and the details of the C8 EV are highly speculative at this point, given the current gas-powered Vette’s performance and value we have high hopes that it will retain its giant-killer rep in the EV-sports car world as well.
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• The second-generation Datsun Z is emblematic of the 1980s.• This time-warp example has covered just 8000 miles.• For sale right now on Bring a Trailer, the auction for this car ends on April 29.

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The seller of this 1983 Datsun 280ZX, Adamike, would appear to be quite a fan of the Japanese marque judging by the giant, dealership-sized DATSUN sign in front of which he parked this vintage Z. If that visual seems vaguely familiar, it may be because this seller has used it in previous BaT sales—for a 36,000-mile ’78 280Z that brought $61,000 back in October and a remarkable 355-mile 1976 280Z that went for $140,000 in November.

This 1983 280ZX is another exceedingly low-mileage example for sale right now on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. The second-gen Z debuted for 1979, and at the time, we said that it “evolves into a personal luxury car.” That genre had a powerful hold on the U.S. auto market back then, with buyers snapping up Monte Carlos, Cordobas, Cutlass Supremes, and the like by the hundreds of thousands.

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The new ZX was in tune with the swanky, decadent zeitgeist, and a glance at the (included) original window sticker for this car shows power windows, air conditioning, velour upholstery, and a cassette stereo all included amongst the standard equipment. This car takes things up a notch with its T-tops, the period’s most glamorous feature.

@chrisbealphotography

@chrisbealphotography

Although the styling drew a clear connection to the original, Datsun ironed some creases into the sheet metal to update the organic curves of its predecessor. The champagne metallic hue (French Beige) is accented with red tape stripes that are remarkably intact. Extra points for the “Datsun Saves” license plate, which was the brand’s long-serving ad slogan during the fuel-crisis era. Sharp eyes will note the nascent “by Nissan” plaque on the tail, a whisper of change to come.

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The red-red-red interior stopped us in our tracks. Groove to its color-keyed uniformity and its sheer chromatic intensity. And while the automatic transmission was by this point an increasingly popular option on the Z, this car has a five-speed stick shift poking up between the seats.

@chrisbealphotography

@chrisbealphotography

Under the front-hinged hood lives a fuel-injected 2.8-liter L28E inline-six. Here, we must pause to compliment the seller’s presentation, which borders on the obsessive and includes such elements as compression test results, mapped paint-meter readings, and nighttime images of the exterior lights and dashboard warning lights. Bravo, sir.That presentation combined with this car’s condition and the ultra-low mileage is sure to lead to a strong selling price when the hammer falls this coming Friday. The winning bidder may not have a huge Datsun sign on the wall of their garage but hopefully does have the feathered hair and acid-washed jeans to fully live the Eighties dream.

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