Motor News

Tesla has raised prices on its entire lineup once again.The Model 3 now starts at $48,440, while the Model S costs $101,440 to start.The soonest you can get a Tesla if you order one now is 4–10 weeks, for a Model S Plaid. Tesla estimates a base Model X won’t arrive until May 2023 if ordered now.Like many things in this current world, the prices of Tesla electric vehicles has gone up. Tesla’s entire lineup now costs more, with the base prices of the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X all rising by a few thousand dollars recently. According to Tesla’s website, buyers who order now should also be prepared to wait between several months to over a year for their new vehicles to arrive, depending on the configuration they choose.The Model 3, once promised to be Tesla’s breakthrough into more affordable territory, now starts at $48,440—nearly $6000 more than a base BMW 3-series. And the Model Y, its crossover companion, starts at $64,440. The wait for this cheapest version of the Model 3 spans until August, while a base Model Y that’s ordered today isn’t estimated for delivery until December.

The Model S first crested $90,000 last August, and now its base price has risen into six-figure territory, starting at $101,190. The Model X SUV starts at $116,190 and has the longest estimated wait times of any Tesla model: the soonest you can get a base model is quoted at January 2023. Interestingly, the more powerful Plaid versions of both the Model S ($137,440) and Model X ($140,440) are estimated to arrive sooner than their cheaper equivalents.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently tweeted about inflation and logistical issues, claiming that the cost of raw materials has gone up. It’s only logical that this would be the root cause of these price increases. Tesla’s online ordering model also means that its price changes show up more directly to consumers compared to the traditional dealer model. Many dealerships have added markups to push vehicle prices well over MSRP, and data shows that shoppers have been paying over sticker price for new vehicles recently.

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The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is basically an EQS sedan with a raised ride height and an available third row.We rode shotgun in a dual-motor prototype that went up and down steep grades and slithered between trees.Mercedes-Benz will officially reveal the EQS SUV to the world on April 19.Don’t be fooled by the press photos of a camouflaged 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV playing in the sand. While the majority of our recent ride-along in a pre-production model was indeed spent off-road, the environment we experienced wasn’t something out of Lawrence of Arabia—instead, it consisted of steep grades and tight trails at a designated course located on the grounds of Mercedes’s assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The factory was recently retooled to accommodate both traditional Mercedes SUVs–such as the GLE- and GLS-class–as well as the upcoming EQE and EQS electric SUVs, the latter of which is slated to start production within the next few months. Both models will receive lithium-ion battery packs produced at the company’s new battery plant located in nearby Bibb County. The EV SUVs will also set the stage for a slew of new all-electric models bearing Mercedes EQ branding, including the EQB SUV and EQE sedan.

Mercedes-Benz

While the company chose to stay silent on a variety of specific details about the new EQS SUV during our brief drive, we did get to see it perform on the aforementioned off-road course. We also got our first up-close-and-personal look at its undisguised interior, from the front passenger seat, at least. Our first impressions were pretty limited, and we wondered why Mercedes chose to conduct the ride almost exclusively off-road given that this vehicle will likely see trails as often as Jeep Wranglers see autocross courses, but we came away impressed nonetheless.

The EQS SUV shares a platform, wheelbase, and battery pack with the EQS sedan. That means it’s the second EQ model and first SUV built on the company’s modular EVO 2 platform. It measures 126.4 inches between its axles and draws power from a 107.8-kWh battery. The version we rode in featured an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor configuration with undisclosed output. However, we’d wager that its final figures will be similar to the EQS 580 sedan’s powertrain, which is rated at 516 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque.

Mercedes-Benz

Unfortunately, we weren’t treated to any launches or high-speed runs in the prototype EQS SUV. Instead, we had a couple of short runs over a nicely paved test track, noting its whisper-quiet cabin and ultra-smooth ride, aided by the standard air suspension. Our sample chariot was also fitted with 21-inch wheels wearing 275/45 front and 285/45 rear Pirelli Sottozero all-season tires. Despite the oversized rims, the tires’ thick sidewalls provided plenty of cushion without any noticeable effect on handling. Then again, our ride never got much more intense than someone racing for an open parking spot at Target.When the EQS SUV we rode in first left the asphalt for an undulating two-track dirt road, we thought maybe it was time for an explainer on its dazzling 56-inch Hyperscreen, which is optional, not standard. It’s a showpiece, no doubt, but it’s similar to the EQS sedan’s, except the passenger display can play live video. The sound only plays through a headset, and if the driver looks over at the screen, a monitoring system detects it and shuts off the screen to comply with safety regulations. Oddly, though, our driver was able to reach over and interact with other menus on the passenger display while driving without issue.

Mercedes-Benz

Instead of a rundown on the infotainment system, we watched our test driver set the EQS SUV to the Off-Road drive mode (a setting not found on the EQS sedan) and learned that it raises the suspension to its maximum ride height (another specific detail we’ll have to wait for) while also changing characteristics of the powertrain and stability-control system. We then proceeded over the rough terrain until we reached a steep bank leading down to some shallow standing water. The EQS slowly descended the hill and crossed the water hazard before easily ascending a 42-degree incline–as indicated by the in-dash inclinometer–without any wheelspin or drama whatsoever. Perhaps the most amazing feat was its agility on the tight, winding trail that we were told was as narrow as 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in some spots. The massive machine’s maneuverability was aided by its standard rear-axle steering, which turns the rear wheels up to 10 degrees.The prototype EQS SUV we rode in had a fully undisguised interior, the first time Mercedes has shown the space. The design looks almost identical to the inside of the EQS sedan, but Mercedes says there’s more headroom. Unlike its sedan sibling, the SUV version also offers a third row with seating for up to seven. The cabin’s fit and finish looked ready for production, and we’re big fans of the useful storage solutions throughout the cockpit. However, we’re less enthused by the near-total lack of physical switchgear. Almost every control inside the EQS SUV is touch-sensitive, and it makes us yearn for the knobs and buttons that once provided separation of function.

Mercedes-Benz

We’ll learn more when Mercedes officially reveals the 2023 EQS SUV on April 19. We expect it to be even more popular than its sedan counterpart, especially since its current competition is pretty much limited to the BMW iX and the Tesla Model X. We also expect it to spawn an AMG-tuned version and an ultra-luxurious Maybach model if the concept is any indication.
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Volvo and Starbucks are adding ChargePoint DC fast chargers along a 1350-mile route from Seattle to Denver.The network of chargers will be available to all electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicle drivers, but Volvo models benefit from either a discounted rate or free use of the chargers.Look for the charging route to be fully online by the end of the year.Starbucks is no longer catering solely to people looking for a quick recharge. Now the coffeehouse chain is working with Volvo to ensure plug-in-hybrid and battery-electric vehicles are able to nab a recharge at a number of its locations.

Don’t get too excited, though. While Starbucks seemingly has a store at every other corner of most major metropolitan areas, the company only intends to fit up to 60 ChargePoint DC fast chargers at as many as 15 of its stores along a route that extends from Seattle, Washington, to Denver, Colorado. That’s less than 0.001 percent of the number of coffee shops Starbucks operates in the United States, according to the data company ScrapeHero.
Still, if all goes according to plan, then these chargers are due to pop up approximately 100 miles from one another, ensuring EV drivers never need to worry about running out of charge while journeying from the home of Starbucks to the Mile-High City and back.Although Volvo’s branding may grace the fast chargers dotting the approximately 1350-mile route, the Swedish automaker intends to let all PHEV and EV drivers plug in for a charge. That said, owners of Volvo’s plug-in-hybrid (S60, S90; V60, V90; XC60, XC90) and electric (XC40 and C40) Recharge models will get to use these chargers for a lower fee, or even for free. Look for the installation of these chargers to be completed by the end of 2022. We hope this signals the start of a larger network of Starbucks-based ChargePoint DC fast chargers throughout the country, too, because there are few better ways to kill the time it takes to fast-charge a PHEV or EV than at a place with free Wi-Fi and good—or at least acceptable—coffee. That would sure beat killing time inside your vehicle as it charges in an empty parking lot.
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• This 2012 Lexus LFA is low on miles and has a $70,000 Nürburgring package; few copies of the already rare Japanese supercar were sold this way.• The Nürburgring package bumped total power output of the Yamaha co-developed V-10 engine to 563 horsepower and added carbon-fiber goodies plus special wheels and tires, among other extras.• According to the vehicle’s Carfax report, this 2000-mile LFA was delivered to Massachusetts in 2012 but would later transfer ownership to Florida and Montana, and it eventually found a home in California where it’s listed today.Many comment sections, out there in the infinite web of the internet, quickly devolve. So if you scroll deep into the comments of the Bring a Trailer listing for this nearly new Lexus LFA, you won’t be surprised to see things get a bit emotional. “The only two-pedal car I lust after,” one comment adds. “OMG, I just wet myself,” another reveals. “Makes my heart beat way too fast this early in the morning,” says a third reader. All of them can be forgiven, however; they’re salivating over this 563-hp LFA, a car built to do battle against Ferraris that cost nearly double its price. It came with a 4.8-liter V-10 co-developed with Yamaha that could scream to 9000 rpm. And when it screamed, it sang. This 2000-mile example on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is far from ordinary. All emotion inspired by it is legitimate.

Of the 500 cars produced during the LFA’s two-year production run, only 64 were built with the Nürburgring package, and very few of those were delivered to the U.S. The $70,000 package added 10 horsepower, different wheels, more aggressive performance tires, carbon-fiber spoilers, and a lighter battery. The six-speed automated sequential transmission was also tuned for quicker shifts. It was offered in Whitest White, Black, Matte Black, and this listing’s cheddar-colored Orange paint color. The interior was given extra carbon-fiber treatment, and Lexus went as far as removing the floor mats—an immediate safety requirement for any track day.

BRING A TRAILER

Why not the Tokyo Expressway Edition, or the Mark Levinson Bass Boost Custom? Because the German track’s 12.9-mile loop is where the LFA was developed. And it didn’t hurt that the pre-production LFA won first in its class during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2010, beating out race-car versions of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and Rapide, as well as entries like the Audi R8 and Chevy Corvette.Lexus stamped a 7:14.64 production time with the Nürburgring Package LFA at Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s quicker than cars like the Ferrari 488 GTB, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (997), and just a second slower than an attempt with the $847,975 Porsche 918 Spyder. The quickest LFA we’ve tested achieved 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, continuing to a quarter-mile in just 11.7 seconds at 125 mph. That’s quicker than the 612-hp Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano we compared it against.Every LFA purchase came with a pair of Tumi carbon-fiber suitcases, a carbon-fiber key, and two normal keys that look like they belong to the family’s 1995 Lexus ES. That’s all included in this auction, as well as a copy of service receipts and the original window sticker.
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With the auction set to end on Friday, March 18, bidding is up to to $1.6 million. That’s more than triple the car’s original $445,000 MSRP, and still more than twice as much after calculating for inflation. There are five days left for that bid to climb before No. 349 of 500 gets a new home. And we’re sure the emotional pitch of the comments section will only get more interesting as the auction continues.

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The Buick Encore is set to be discontinued after the 2022 model year, according to a report from GM Authority. A Buick spokesperson did not confirm the Encore’s discontinuation to Car and Driver, but did say that Buick “will continue to offer four distinct SUVs.”Sales of the Encore have dropped dramatically since the introduction of the more modern Encore GX.CLARIFICATION 3/14/22: GM Authority also reports that the Chevrolet Trax will be discontinued in 2022 on the same schedule as the related Buick Encore. Like the Encore, sales of the Trax have declined significantly since the arrival of the newer subcompact Trailblazer. Buick has been selling the new Encore GX alongside the older, egg-shaped Encore for some time now. But now it appears the original Encore’s time is coming to an end, with GM Authority reporting that the Encore will be discontinued after the 2022 model year. The Encore was first introduced way back in 2013 and has remained in the Buick lineup as a slightly smaller and cheaper alternative to the more modern Encore GX. [image id=’fb715238-7eea-4313-b6cc-00edcb082310′ mediaId=’ddc746a9-94bb-4a78-a7b7-32e92b33a223′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=’Encore GX’ expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]Production of the Buick Encore at General Motors’ Bupyeong factory in South Korea will wrap up in the third quarter of this year, GM Authority claims. A Buick spokesperson told Car and Driver that “Buick will continue to offer four distinct SUVs in the U.S. and Canada going forward” but would not confirm the Encore’s fate. If the Encore truly is dead, that would leave Buick with three SUV lines—the Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave. The fourth model could be an upcoming electric crossover which Buick will preview with a concept this summer.[editoriallinks id=’c0d054b7-0abc-4e96-a2f5-ef44900515ac’ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]Buick has been slowly phasing out the Encore over the past few years, with the lineup cut to just one trim level for 2022, down from six offerings in 2018. Sales have dipped dramatically since the introduction of the GX, with just over 20,000 Encores sold in 2021, down 50 percent compared with 2020. Meanwhile the Encore GX saw a 59 percent jump in sales last year to 71,247 units. The death of the Encore will free up extra space to expand production of the Encore GX and its Chevrolet sibling, the Trailblazer. [poll id=’c7be455c-e717-456c-bff9-dfc93caed76e_dd95a14bc69db’ type=’text’ question=’Should Buick keep the Encore around as a budget model?’ answer1=’No, the Encore GX takes that spot.’ answer2=’It fills a worthwhile niche.’][/poll]

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Ford announced plans for an expansion of its EV lineup in Europe, including two new electric SUV models.The “sport” and “medium-size” crossovers seen in this teaser will be built in Europe and have yet to be confirmed for the U.S.Both will be based on VW’s MEB platform used in the ID.4 and other EV models.Ford’s growing EV lineup will include two new electric SUV models, seen in this teaser image, that will be based on VW’s MEB platform. The one on the left is a “medium-size” crossover set to begin production in 2023, while the vehicle on the right is referred to as a “sport” crossover that will arrive in 2024. Ford has yet to confirm either of these new models for the U.S. market but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the mid-size model arrive at some point as a replacement for the Edge.

The mid-size SUV appears to be taller and boxier than the Mustang Mach-E, and Ford claims that it will have a driving range of over 300 miles. (We assume that’s on the European WLTP cycle rather than the U.S.-specific EPA test cycle.) Based on what we’ve heard from Ford in the past, this SUV will use VW’s battery pack, electric motors, and underpinnings but will not share its body or interior with any Volkswagen ID models.The same goes for the so-called “sport” crossover that appears to have interestingly shaped headlights. It looks to be a bit smaller than the mid-size SUV and could have a sleeker shape and more horsepower to live up to its billing.Both of these vehicles will be built in Cologne, Germany, where Ford has invested $2 billion for electric-vehicle production. They’re part of Ford’s plan to introduce seven new EVs in Europe by 2024, including four commercial vans and an electric version of the Puma. If Ford were to either bring these SUV models to the U.S. we’re not sure if the company would export them from Europe or figure out a way to build them in North America. VW, for its part, initially built the MEB-based ID.4 in Europe and brought it over to the U.S. but is planning to begin production of that model in Chattanooga, Tennessee, later this year.We’ve reached out to Ford about the possible U.S. availability of either of these models and will update this post as more information becomes available.
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Pixar has a knack for bringing inanimate objects to life. Starting with the studio’s first feature, Toy Story, it’s been able to create vivid, lovable characters out of everyday objects. No movie franchise flexed that muscle like Cars, a series entirely devoid of humans. In it, Pixar brought a 2002 Porsche 911 named Sally Carrera to life through animation. Now, with the help of Porsche, they’re turning the animated character into a real-life car.

Porsche

The two companies are teaming up to build a real, brand-new 992 Porsche 911 styled like the beloved character. The project hasn’t been finished, but Porsche’s release contains photos of what appears to be the 996 911 that Pixar modified to resemble the original Sally. The marketing car is painted to match Sally’s blue hue and has a revised bumper, with Sally’s trademark smirk for an air intake. Like in the movie, its windshield is dominated by two big green eyes with body-colored eyelids. Its wheelbase was shortened and the roof was raised to keep the proportions right.

Porsche

Despite that, Porsche says that it intends for the new one-of-one 992 to be entirely street legal. It’ll take a bit of clever work from Porsche and its Exclusive program to make sure that cooling and visibility don’t get ruined, but the result should be something special. It’ll be auctioned off in celebration of Sally’s 20th birthday.

Porsche

Porsche

The character, Pixar says, was defined by wanting to help. In service of that, the proceeds of the auction will go to two charities. The first, Girls Inc., helps with. mentorship and education for young women in America. The second, USA for UNHCR, is part of the United Nations’ Refugee program and is working to help resettle refugees of the current war in Ukraine. The buyer will also get a special one-of-one watch by Porsche Design. More details, including the location and timing of the auction, held by RM Sotheby’s, will be released later in the year.

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BMW has been working with Qualcomm and Arriver since late 2021 on some autonomous driving technologies, but now the three have said they are forming a long-term partnership to bring Level 3 technology to BMW models by the second half of 2025, and then maybe more beyond that.Some of the technologies used will be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride Vision system-on-a-chip (SoC) and Arriver’s Computer Vision technology, which will provide better AV options than BMW’s current system that was introduced on the iX last year and is coming to the new 7-series next month.BMW could also use this autonomous tech in Mini and Rolls-Royce models down the line.Future iterations of BMW’s autonomous driving technology will be more connected, and not just to the growing internet of things. This week, BMW announced more details about its autonomous driving partnership with Qualcomm and Arriver that the three companies will jointly develop next-generation automated driving solutions that will offer Level 3 capabilities in the second half of 2025, with an eye toward Level 4 capabilities after that. In brief, Level 3 will allow drivers to ride without having to touch the steering wheel or constantly watch the road when they’re on some highways, but a human must be ready to take over whenever the system is unable to drive itself.

This week’s news grew out of an announcement from November 2021 when BMW said its next-generation automated driving system would use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride Vision system-on-a-chip (SoC) and Arriver’s Computer Vision technology. Moving forward, the joint project will combine BMW’s current automated driving technologies, which debuted in the BMW iX in 2021 and are coming to the new 7-series next month, with Arriver and Qualcomm technology. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride autonomous driving platform can be used from the common Level 1 and 2 driver-assistance systems seen today to fully self-driving Level 5 vehicles.”The idea [with the Snapdragon digital chassis] is to be able to find economies of scale within an automotive platform that allows OEMs to be able to scale up very quickly.” said Qualcomm’s Nakul Duggal on a media call with journalists. “To be able to build a reference platform with a partner like BMW that scales from entry-level vehicles all the way to luxury vehicles, at a global scale, is something that is synonymous with what a lot of different automakers need.”That platform will include a common reference architecture, sensor specifications, and safety requirements, the companies said, and will get input from more than 1400 specialists working around the world, including the BMW Autonomous Driving Test Center in the Czech Republic, Arriver engineers in Sweden, Germany, and the U.S., and Qualcomm employees in South Korea and India, among others. The investments that the three companies are making will provide a benefit to the entire autonomous driving ecosystem, Duggal said, in terms of time saved to bring this tech to market. BMW’s senior vice president of driving experiences, Nicolai Martin, said during the call that the technology could also find its way to Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles as well but this project will not be limited to BMW brands. As part of the announcement, Qualcomm, BMW, and Arriver said they “remain open to further partnerships.”
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