Motor News

Volvo has facelifted the XC40 Recharge with a new front bumper and triangular headlights similar to the design found on the C40 Recharge.The C40 Recharge also adds a new single-motor, front-wheel-drive variant.Volvo won’t yet divulge the U.S.-market plans for these models, but said that more information will come in the spring.Volvo is rapidly moving towards an all-electric future, with news emerging earlier this week of five new EVs coming in the next few years, including two wagon-like “activity vehicles” and a sedan. But before those models arrive, Volvo’s first electric vehicle is getting an update, with Volvo announcing today a facelift for the XC40 Recharge that brings its styling in line with the sleeker, coupelike C40 Recharge introduced last year.

Volvo XC40 Recharge.
Volvo

The facelift is subtle, with a resculpted front bumper and a frameless grille cover matching the front end of the C40 Recharge. The electric XC40 also gains the pointier headlights of its sloped-roof brother, which continues to feature Volvo’s assertive Thor’s Hammer LED lighting signature. Inside, the XC40 Recharge gains non-leather upholstery options, while new paint colors and wheel options will be available, although Volvo has yet to specify what these will be.

Volvo C40 Recharge.
Volvo

Meanwhile, the C40 Recharge is also gaining a new variant. Slotting below the current dual-motor version of the C40 will be a single-motor model. The motor sends power to the front wheels and comes with a 69.0-kWh battery, versus the 78.0-kWh unit in the dual-motor C40. Volvo says this variant of the C40 Recharge will get about 270 miles of range on the more lenient European WLTP testing cycle. Volvo also claims that the C40 Recharge will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 32 minutes when plugged into a fast charger.

Volvo would not confirm U.S. market availability for either vehicle, but a spokesperson did tell Car and Driver that more information will come in the spring. The updated XC40 Recharge is almost guaranteed to reach our shores, likely for the 2023 model year, but given that Volvo doesn’t offer the single-motor XC40 Recharge stateside, the new C40 variant could remain forbidden fruit.
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Hyundai says it will launch 11 new electric models by 2030, including a model in a new vehicle segment that it doesn’t currently compete in—we don’t know which segment that is yet.Genesis will gain six new models by 2030: two passenger cars and four SUVs.Kia will sell 14 EVs by 2027 with plans for two electric pickup trucks, although not all of these new EVs from Hyundai and Kia are destined to reach the U.S. market.Sales of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6—the first dedicated ground-up electric vehicles from the two Korean automakers—are underway, but the snazzy new models are just the beginning. This week, Hyundai and Kia announced updated plans for the coming decade, including a slew of electric vehicles in new market segments.

Hyundai Prophecy concept.
Hyundai

By 2030, Hyundai will launch 11 new EVs: three sedans, six SUVs, and a light commercial vehicle. Hyundai also says there will be “one new type model” but didn’t go into specifics—this could be anything from an electric version of the Santa Cruz pickup to a tiny electric pod like the Renault Twizy. One of the sedans will be the Ioniq 6, which will take inspiration from the Prophecy concept and go on sale this year, while one of the SUVs will be the production version of the Ioniq 7 concept, reaching showrooms in 2024. These are presumably global plans, so the timing and model lineup for the U.S. is likely to be different.Hyundai’s luxury arm Genesis will add six new models in the next eight years—two “passenger cars,” with Genesis not specifying that these will be sedans, and four SUVs. The first SUV will be the Electrified GV70 launching this year, and starting in 2025, every new Genesis will be electrified.

Kia EV9 concept.
Kia

Kia meanwhile will release two EVs a year as it completes a lineup of 14 electric vehicles by 2027. There will be two electric pickup trucks—Kia describes one as a “dedicated” EV pickup and one as a “strategic model for emerging markets,” meaning the latter likely won’t reach American shores. Kia will also launch an entry-level EV, while the EV9, previewed by a concept last year, is still set for a 2023 introduction. The EV9 will be the first Kia to be equipped with the company’s AutoMode autonomous driving system, which Kia says will be available on all new models launched in major markets by 2026.After the 576-hp EV6 GT, Kia plans to expand the high-performance GT lineup to all models of its upcoming electric lineup. Kia also aims to become a market leader in purpose-built vehicles, starting with a model called the Niro Plus later this year. Based on the new generation of the Niro SUV, the Plus will be optimized for taxi and ride-hailing services. In 2025, Kia says it will launch its first dedicated purpose-built vehicle riding on a skateboard EV platform, described as “medium sized,” before expanding the lineup to all sizes for vehicles, which can act as “an alternative to public transportation or even be used as mobile offices.”

Hyundai says it is targeting global EV sales of nearly 1.9 million units annually by 2030 and a 7 percent market share for EVs. Kia says it is aiming for sales of 1.2 million EVs in 2030 and predicts 80 percent of its EV sales will come from Korea, China, Europe, and North America, with EVs representing a 45 percent share of Kia sales in these regions. Hyundai also says it will create an Integrated Modular Architecture as an evolution of the E-GMP platform underpinning the Ioniq 5, EV6, and Genesis GV60, which will standardize the battery systems and motors along with the chassis for future EVs.
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It was colloquially known as “the bathtub.” Accurate, but that nickname doesn’t begin to convey the joy that the Porsche 356 was to drive.This 1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Super, currently up for auction on the Bring a Trailer website, can be expected to sell in six-figure territory.How much, we won’t know until the auction ends on Sunday, March 6, but as of March 3 bidding had reached $50,000.Driving a car with just 75 horsepower might not sound enthralling, but several thousand owners of Porche 356s would no doubt beg to differ. Early-generation Porsches like this 356B coupe, currently on offer at Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—are coveted, collected, and costly. When they’re in great shape, like this ivory-over-red 356B 1600 Super, they can fetch well over $100,000. And consider that this model is in the middle of the range; the rarest high-performance 356 Carreras have been known to go for several hundred thousand dollars.

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It’s not rarity, though, that drives the prices of these so-called bathtub Porsches—nicknamed because, well, they look like upside-down bathtubs. Some Porsche experts estimate there could be 20,000 or more of them still in existence. It’s that they were and remain a pleasure to drive. They’re light, nimble and comfortable—equal part grand touring car and sports car, which is something we say about today’s 911. We stated that same thing back when this car was new, too, in a road test of a 356B coupe virtually identical to this one in our October 1963 print issue. We called it a luxurious “businessman’s express” that “also does everything most sports cars try to do.” We declared it “an incomparable car in the literal sense; there’s nothing like it at any price.”

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The 356 line started life in 1948 and evolved through six generations—though some were closer to facelifts—with many design changes and mechanical upgrades along the way. Convertible, notchback coupe, and Speedster models were added through the years. The final 356C (basically a 356B with the addition of four-wheel disc brakes) was built in 1965. The 356B for sale here is a 1600 Super, which was the GTS of its day: a higher-performing version of the standard model. The Super’s 75-hp, 1582-cc flat-four is a souped-up version of the base car’s 60-hp engine. That doesn’t sound like much of an improvement, but it represents a horsepower increase of 25 percent. Though its zero-to-60-mph time of 12.8 seconds was hardly fast even by 1963 standards—remember, this was the dawn of the muscle-car era—what it lacked in straight-line speed it more than made up for in agility. This was a car that loved to play on serpentine roads. It was also happy cruising American interstates; after all, it had been raised in the land of the wide-open autobahn.

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The seller of this 356B reports that it was purchased by his father in 1998. The car came from the factory in this same ivory color and was repainted in 1999; the luscious red interior was redone at that time. It’s powered by a numbers-matching engine, which means it still has its original powerplant under the rear deck. The engine was removed earlier this year for service and replacement of its rear main oil seal. This car’s body was supplied to Porsche by Karosseriewerk Reutter, as the gold badge on its right front fender attests. (Porsche purchased Reutter in 1963.) The only modification made to this car is a set of aftermarket Koni shock absorbers—an upgrade made to many a sporty European sports sedan or sports car in the 1960s. The 1600 Super for sale here comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity confirming that its VIN, paint and interior colors, and engine and transmission identification numbers are correct. The photos confirm the rest: that this is one beautiful bathtub. As of Thursday, March 3, bidding stood at $50,000, and the auction ends on Sunday, March 6.

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Shelby American announced Wednesday it plans to build a limited run of extra-special Cobra continuation race cars for the company’s 60th anniversary. Limited to just 10 examples, these Cobras will have up to 800 horsepower and use a uniquely designed carbon fiber body that weighs just 88 pounds. Yes, you read that correctly. 88 pounds.

The carbon Cobra, dubbed the Diamond Edition, was developed in conjunction with Classic Recreations, the same Texas-based shop that helped create the all-carbon GT500CR Mustang re-creation released in 2021. That 88-pound measurement for the body includes the front and rear clips as well as the doors and the floor. The engine bay has been designed to accept a Generation 3 Coyote V-8 from Ford Performance, with space for a T56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission to get power to the rear wheels. If you want all 800 horses, you’ll have to option the available VMP supercharger kit. There are six-piston Wilwood brakes front and rear to bring the carbon-wrapped missile on four wheels to a stop. Shelby says each Diamond Edition Cobra will be assembled by “an elite team of designers and technicians” at Classic Recreations. It also promises the car will handle like a modern vehicle thanks to its incredible power-to-weight ratio. Each example will receive a coveted CSX serial number, running from CSX4521 through CSX4530, from Shelby Licensing.

Shelby American

“Carroll Shelby taught me the significance of pushing the envelope through innovation and passion,” Classic Recreations founder Jason Engel said in a statement. “A dream of Carroll’s was always to place the highest-horsepower engine possible in the lightest, most agile car imaginable and it is our honor to have met that challenge.”Cobras this special come at a price. The Diamond Edition starts at an incredible $1.2 million before options—roughly four times the price of the carbon-bodied GT500CR. Considering the raw performance potential from this platform and the fact these are officially licensed Cobras, we have no doubt they’ll sell out in no time.

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Mercedes is introducing a new special-edition version of the G-wagen called the Edition 550.It comes in either red, grey, or white and has black bumpers and fender flares, along with a special badge.The interior has fancier leather and carbon-fiber trim.The G-wagen briefly exited Mercedes-Benz’s lineup along with most of the automaker’s other V-8–powered models, but now it’s back and has added an exclusive special edition. 200 units of the G-class Edition 550 will make their way to the U.S. and feature a few appearance tweaks inside and out along with special badging.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

The Edition 550 models are based on the non-AMG G550 model with a 416-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, rather than the more powerful 577-hp AMG G63. It will be offered in either Jupiter Red, Arabian Grey, or a new hue called Moonlight White. Rather than the standard model’s body-color bumpers and fender flares, the Edition 550 has black lower trim. The wheels appear to be the same black 20-inch AMG 14-spoke wheels that are available as an option on the standard model.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

The interior has two-tone Nappa leather upholstery, carbon-fiber trim, and options including massaging front seats. There’s also a badge on the passenger’s side grab handle denoting the special-edition as 1 of 200, and a similar emblem on the front fenders with a cool graphic of a G-wagen climbing a mountain.Mercedes has not yet released a price for the Edition 550, but we reckon it will be at least $150,000 given the price of an equivalent G550 with these appearance upgrades.
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• When it comes to the question of lightweight, slick-shifting rear-drive roadsters with four-wheel independent suspension, the answer is always Miata.• The Bring a Trailer auction site has listed this one, with a mid-1991 VIN number that falls on the right side of a major crankshaft redesign.• Bidding is open on this 1991 Miata until Sunday, March 6, with current bidding at a mere $9750.Those who know me understand why I’m keeping an eye on this car, my choice as Auction Pick of the Day on the Bring a Trailer auction site—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. I have a soft spot for the 1.6-liter Miata because back in the day I managed to get my hands on one of the three original prototypes that were unveiled at the 1989 Chicago auto show. The red and blue ones went into the press fleet, but the white car, VIN 000017, ended up in my lap after a stint at the Mazda Service Training center, where it was taken apart and reassembled by countless mechanics. A group of us added a roll cage and got it an SCCA logbook because we were going to take it endurance racing, but that project was stillborn and I ended up with the car because, quite simply, it was being stored in my enclosed trailer.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

I could only ever race that car because it could not be registered for the street, but I was immediately smitten by its sophisticated rear-drive chassis with independent double-wishbone suspension at each end. The 1.6-liter four-banger only made 116 hp at 6500 rpm, but that was enough to make it a Showroom Stock C (SSC) terror because its approximate 2150-pound race weight and well-balanced chassis made it the ultimate momentum car. The factory brakes were more than up for track duty, and the fact that the shift lever jutted directly out of the transmission made it one of the best-shifting manuals I can name. It was extremely easy to work on, too.At one point I bought a red 1991 Miata very much like the one in the BaT listing, including the desirable A package that included cruise control and power windows. I bought mine for $850 from a California Highway Patrol officer because it had high mileage and a blown-out ring and pinion. I plopped in the engine from the now-retired race car and installed a spare diff I had laying around, and I finally had a street-drivable Miata. Soon after, however, I was encouraged to restore the old race car, so the engine came out and went back into old #17. My red Miata sits engineless in my garage to this day.

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The Miata that is the subject of this auction benefits from the same advantage I found in the red car I bought: it’s a mid-1991 build that has the desirable “big nose” crankshaft that was installed starting at VIN 209447. All 1990 and early 1991 Miatas were built with short-nose cranks with a fragile keyway where the lower timing belt sprocket was indexed. The keyway was prone to breakage if the key was installed improperly or if the bolt was not torqued just so, which made it necessary to replace the entire crankshaft. Current advice for those changing a timing belt on the affected early cars is to not remove the lower timing belt sprocket if the front crank seal isn’t weeping. Some even go so far as to advise that you roll the car in fifth gear instead of turning the crank with a wrench when aligning the timing marks. But old motors eventually need to be rebuilt, so having the “big nose” crankshaft avoids a lot of hand wringing.

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It’s not clear if the Miata in this auction has ever had its timing belt replaced. On mileage alone, it’s not necessary. But this car was built 31 years ago, and I’d want to confirm the age of the timing belt and plan on replacing it if it turns out to be original. The rest of the car looks very original, too. There’s a bit of wear, but only enough to perhaps keep it from going for top dollar. The headlight doors line up nicely with the hood, and there’s not much rust underneath, both of which suggest it has been treated nicely and stored inside in winter. The tires are the wrong size, but that’s understandable because 185/60R-14 tires are hard to find unless you’re looking for high-performance autocross rubber, which is very much available in that size. This car shows only 17,000 miles and is currently in North Carolina, with bidding set to end on Sunday, March 6. It’d be a shame to see this car continue to sit mostly undriven, but I guess I have to come to grips with the fact that early Miatas might have become a classic when I wasn’t looking.

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Ford announced today a major restructuring, with two new divisions, Ford Model e and Ford Blue, joining the existing commercial arm, Ford Pro.Ford Model e will center around developing technologies for Ford’s future EVs as well as software and vehicle connectivity.Ford Blue will streamline the internal-combustion business and strengthen existing subbrands including the Bronco, F-series, and Mustang with new models and accompanying “brand experiences.”Jim Farley, who has been praised for his leadership since taking over as Ford president and CEO in October 2020, continues to shake things up at the long-lived American automaker. The company announced today that it will form two separate but interdependent businesses under the Ford banner—Ford Model e, which will focus on electric vehicles and connectivity, and Ford Blue, which will be dedicated to the company’s traditional internal-combustion-engine business. The division is part of Farley’s Ford+ plan introduced last year, and the two new branches join Ford Pro, the company’s commercial vehicle department.

Ford

Ford says that Ford Model e and Ford Blue “will be run as distinct businesses, but also support each other”—for instance, Ford Blue will make use of the software developed by Ford Model e—and both will also serve Lincoln. Ford Model e will center around future technology, developing things like electric platforms, batteries, e-motors, and recycling capabilities for Ford’s next generation of EVs. Ford Model e will also focus on the software and vehicle architectures that future Fords will run on, as well as the future of the car shopping, buying, and ownership experiences. Farley will add the role of president of Ford Model e to his list of duties.

Ford Blue, on the other hand, will “strengthen the iconic Ford vehicles” via investments in new models and related experiences and services having to do with the F-series, Ranger, Maverick, Bronco, Explorer, and Mustang. Ford says these brand experiences will range “from off-roading to performance to family activities,” particularly for “situations when ICE capabilities are required.” The Ford Blue division also intends to decrease waste and production costs as ways to streamline the internal-combustion business. Blue will support Ford Model e and Ford Pro through the global engineering, manufacturing, and testing systems that Ford already has. Kumar Galhotra, previously president of Ford North America, will become president of Ford Blue. Whatever this means for EV development, it seems clear that the traditional gas-powered Ford vehicles that buyers clearly still want are still getting Ford’s attention, not moving to any kind of back burner.
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The Polestar O2 concept is a two-door, hardtop electric roadster riding on the bespoke aluminum platform set to underpin the 2024 Polestar 5.The design is similar to the Precept concept, with sharp, minimalist lines.A drone can be deployed and autonomously follow the car at up to 56 mph, filming content that can be edited and shared directly from the car.Polestar already confirmed that the stunning Precept concept from 2020 will reach production in 2024 as the Polestar 5 riding on a bespoke bonded aluminum chassis. Now Polestar is showing more of what can be done with the 5’s new platform with the O2 concept, a sharp two-door electric roadster.
The O2 (which Polestar stylizes as O₂ like the molecular formula for oxygen) features front and rear lights similar to those on the original Precept concept but with a cleaner, sleeker front bumper. The proportions are balanced, with the cabin sitting perfectly in the center of the car. There’s a blacked-out A-pillar, giving off a hint of the new Nissan Z when the hard top is up. Polestar says that the bonded aluminum chassis will increase rigidity and improve body control while also keeping weight down. No specifics about the electric powertrain were revealed.

Aerodynamics play a big role on the O2. Ducts that exit behind the front wheels help smooth airflow over the side, and Polestar says the thin taillight acts as “air blades” to quell turbulence off the rear of the roadster. There is also aerofoil behind the rear seats that extends to create a “calm area of negative pressure”—crucial for the O2’s pièce de résistance, a drone, to take off. The autonomous drone can follow the car at up to 56 mph, with the driver able to select whether they want the drone to film an “atmospheric sequence” or an “action-filled sequence.” The video can then be edited and shared directly from the 15-inch center screen when the O2 is parked. Inside, the O2 features a recycled polyester for the soft-touch areas as well as lots of aluminum. There are currently no plans to put the Polestar O2 concept into production, but since it rides on the same platform as the upcoming 5, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
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