Motor News

Dodge will sell the Challenger SRT Demon 170’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 as crate engines through Direct Connection. Called the Hellephant C170, the fully assembled engine costs $27,695 and will be available early next year.The 2023 Challenger Demon 170 was an ethanol-fueled street-legal dragster with up to 1025 horsepower and priced at $100K.We waved goodbye to Dodge’s outrageous Hellcat-powered muscle cars last year, with the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 representing the ultimate expression of their incredible power figures. With a tank full of E85 gasoline, the street-legal dragster’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 generated an otherworldly 1025 horsepower and pound-feet of torque. That same engine will soon be available through Direct Connection, the home of Dodge’s factory-backed performance parts, as the Hellephant C170.Demon 170 Crate Engine While the Challenger Demon 170 had a starting price just over $100,000, with U.S. production limited to 3000 units, the fully assembled crate engine costs about a quarter of that. Priced at $27,695, the C170 Long Block comes with the 3.0-liter supercharger and improved intercooler, according to Dodge. Along with a larger snout and bigger pulley for boosted boost, there’s a 105mm throttle body with a new housing, blade, shaft, and geartrain.A version of the C170 without the supercharger and other bits mentioned will be available for $18,995. They will go on sale sometime in the early part of next year and will be joined by several other long-block crate engines. Among them are the Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye engines, good for 717 and 807 horses, respectively.Extra Demon 170 ReadingThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Toyota is bringing back the Tacoma X-Runner—well, in concept form at least. The concept truck sits on a widened track and features a lowered suspension.The truck is powered by a modified version of the larger Tundra’s twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6, which produces 421 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.Toyota likes to emphasize the off-road chops of its Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, but this decidedly street-oriented concept truck caught our eye at the 2023 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Toyota brought back the X-Runner name from the past and applied it to a 2024 Tacoma sport-truck concept with a lowered suspension and extra power, among other modifications.ToyotaThe Tacoma X-Runner concept features a version of the larger Tundra’s twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine. The engine produces 421 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque in this application—a big increase over the 2024 Tacoma’s most powerful setup, a 326-hp four-cylinder hybrid. A solid axle from the Tundra with a 4.30:1 final drive and an electronic locking differential splits torque to the rear wheels. The exhaust pipe now routes to just below the rocker panel on the side of the truck. ToyotaUnder the amped-up bodywork, you’ll find the air suspension from the Tundra that Toyota says helps the Tacoma ride at a lower height while still being able to carry a load. The team behind the truck also customized the length of the control arms due to the lowered stance of the Tacoma. Toyota also strengthened the frame and widened the track width of the car by roughly three inches. The springs are stiffer and 2.5-inch Bilstein shocks are found at each corner. The truck rides on a set of Lacks Enterprises 21-inch carbon-fiber wheels with forged aluminum centers on Michelin 285/45R21 Sport Tires.The display truck is finished in the same Speedway Blue as the original Tacoma X-Runner that debuted at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show. We don’t know if that hints at a production version of this truck with a similar performance package, but we would be excited to see something like this hit the streets in the near future.More SEMA BuildsAssociate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2024 Ford Mustang is getting a new supercharger kit courtesy of Ford Performance.With the regular 5.0-liter V-8, Ford claims the kit will raise horsepower from 480 to at least 800.The supercharger debuts on the Ford Mustang FP800S concept, which previews a package of other Ford Performance parts.Just because Dodge isn’t building any more V-8 Hellcats doesn’t mean Ford isn’t interested in making new Mustangs with 800-plus horsepower. That’s what’s on the menu with the new Ford Performance supercharger kit, which debuts on the Ford Mustang FP800S concept at this year’s SEMA show.Supercharged 5.0The Mustang’s naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 is good for 480 horses off the showroom floor. That figure rises to at least 800 horses with the Whipple 3.0-liter supercharger, which also comes with obligatory upgrades to the air and fuel systems. Ford says the kit is compatible with the automatic and manual transmission, and the company says a version that’s specially designed for the Mustang Dark Horse is also on the way.FordThe supercharger kit is compliant with CARB regulations, and it comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty from Ford Performance. The Mustang kit will be available next year, but a price hasn’t been released.Mustang FP800S ConceptJust like it did with the Ford F-150 FP700, the company has now revealed a similar treatment for its pony car. Not only does the Mustang FP800S concept have the new supercharger, but it has a Borla Extreme cat-back exhaust with four 5.0-inch tips. The concept also has a lowered ride height, carbon-fiber aero elements, and it’s fitted with stronger half-shafts. FordThe supercharger kit is available separate from the FP800S package, which we think will make it to production. We especially like the Mustang concept’s appearance, mixing white wheels and matching grille nostrils with a body-side stripe that looks appropriately racy. New Ford Mustang ReviewsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

AEV took a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD and outfitted it to look like a formidable flatbed pickup truck.The regular-cab model adds steel bumpers, a huge brush guard, off-road lights, and a winch.The heavy-duty Sierra is powered by a Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V-8 that breathes through a snorkel air intake.American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) knows how to make a tough truck even tougher. Take the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD hat the company transformed for this year’s SEMA show. What started out as a regular-cab, long-bed model is outfitted with all manner of AEV add-ons that turn it into a heavy-duty overlander.A Sierra HD for SEMAThe Sierra HD Grande concept looks like it could drive through a brick wall. That’s mostly because of its huge grille guard, which is an AEV prototype that provides protection for the headlights too. It features four powerful off-road lights, and below them is a 12,500-pound ComeUp winch.That winch is integrated into a steel front bumper that’s the same one found on the Sierra HD AT4X AEV Edition. Just like that truck, the concept has the AT4X suspension that includes Multimatic spool-valve dampers and a 1.5-inch lift. Those buoy giant 40-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires mounted on Salta XD wheels. Should one of those go flat, there’s a full-size spare in the truck’s eight-foot aluminum flatbed.To better ensure its underbody doesn’t get too banged up on treacherous terrain, AEV bolted on stamped steel skid plates. There’s also a custom steel bumper out back with a 9500-pound winch. Other accessories include an ARB air compressor and a snorkel air intake, which lets the Duramax diesel—a 6.6-liter V-8 making 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet of torque—breathe should the truck need to wade into water.AEVAEVThe Sierra HD Grande concept looks formidable. That’s what oversize tires and a big brush guard will do. Its custom paint isn’t something you’ll find on a factory model, and neither are the prototype AEV front fender flares. While a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD regular cab starts at just over $47K, this concept’s mix of custom elements make it priceless. Extra Sierra HD ReadingThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

This Toyota FJ Bruiser, which honors the 1966 FJ45 pickup’s styling, is appearing at the 2023 SEMA show in Las Vegas.There’s quite a bit more power this time around, though: in place of the six-cylinder engine from the 1966 vehicle, Toyota sourced a 725-hp V-8 from a NASCAR Cup car. The truck rides on a set of Method Double Standard beadlock wheels and 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX tires.SEMA is about going above and beyond, and Toyota nailed that idea with this concept. The manufacturer just revealed a high-riding, V-8 snarling FJ45 concept called the FJ Bruiser. As can be intuited from the name, the concept pays homage to the 1966 FJ45 pickup truck. This time around, there are quite a few serious modifications. ToyotaThe team at Toyota must have concluded that the FJ45 from the Sixties wasn’t nearly tough enough, because Toyota’s Motorsports Garage fabricated a full tube frame and roll cage, which they then mated to the vintage FJ body. A full trailing-arm suspension, with Fox shocks and Eibach springs, was added to suspend the chassis. The whole contraption rides on a set of Method Double Standard 20-by-10-inch beadlock wheels and 42-by-14.5 R-20 BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX tires to provide gobs of traction off-road. A modified 358-cubic-inch NASCAR Cup Car V-8 produces 725 horsepower. Power is transferred to the wheels by way of a three-speed automatic transmission built by Rancho Drivetrain Engineering. Exhaust is managed through a custom MagnaFlow exhaust system. More on the Land CruiserThe FJ Bruiser retains the FJ45’s solid axle but adds new front and rear differentials along with a new transfer case that provides four two-wheel-drive speeds and four four-wheel-drive speeds. According to Toyota, the gearing setup allows the Bruiser to crawl at 12 mph while revving to 7000 rpm in the lowest gear and up to 165 mph at 7000 rpm in the highest gear.ToyotaIn the event that the horsepower outmaneuvers the huge tires, Toyota fitted a conveyer belt complete with treading underneath the truck. Like some sort of Mad Max–devised treadmill, the Tank mode can be activated from the cabin for those pesky instances where you find yourself supported by the gas tank rather than your tires. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Chevy released more details on the 2024 Equinox EV.Pricing ranges from $34,995 to $52,395, but you’ll have to wait longer for the cheaper models.Claimed range is up to 319 miles, compared with Chevy’s previous estimate of 300 miles.Order books are about to open for the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, and that means we now have more information on prices, specs, and trim levels for the new electric compact SUV. Two different 2RS launch versions will arrive first, starting at $48,995, and the base model will begin reaching dealerships later with a lower starting price of $34,995. Chevy also upped its range estimate for the longest-range variant to 319 miles.The launch versions of the Equinox will start at $48,995 for the 210-hp front-wheel-drive 2RS version and $52,395 for the 290-hp all-wheel-drive 2RS version. These models will come standard with equipment including a 17.7-inch touchscreen, a power tailgate, heated front seats, and 21-inch wheels. Chevy also previously showed 3LT and 3RS trims that suggest there might be even more expensive models available later on.Equinox 3RSChevroletThe 1LT base model also won’t arrive until later, but it carries a far more attractive starting price: $34,995. That’s surely for the FWD model, and we don’t yet know how much extra the dual-motor AWD setup will cost. Only one battery pack will be available across the board, and we expect different range estimates depending on trim level, with the 319 mile estimate representing the longest-range variant.Chevy says dealerships will start taking orders for the launch models starting in early November. We don’t yet have specific timing on when Equinox EVs will start reaching customers. It’s possible the cheaper versions won’t arrive until the 2025 model year, but Chevy does say that deliveries of the entire range will start in the 2024 calendar year.More on the Equinox EVSenior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

The Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute celebrates the Datsun 240Z that won the 1971 East African Safari Rally.Built by Tommy Pike Customs, the Z features a two-inch lift thanks to an upgraded suspension and burly Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires.The V-6 engine has been tuned to more than 400 horsepower. The modified Z also has a cat-back exhaust, cold air intake, and twin-disc clutch and flywheel. The popularity of off-roading has surged as trucks and SUVs have come to dominate the market, with automakers launching new sub-brands—Subaru with Wilderness and Honda with TrailSport, for example—to beef up their crossovers. The go-anywhere enthusiasm has spread to sports cars too, with Porsche and Lamborghini concocting the 911 Dakar and Huracán Sterrato, respectively. At the 2023 SEMA show, opening this week in Las Vegas, Nissan is showing its own take on the trend with this Safari Rally Z Tribute, built by Tommy Pike Customs. The Tribute pays homage to the rally-spec Datsun 240Z that triumphed at the 3800-mile 1971 East African Safari Rally, which Nissan previously honored with a Juke-based concept a couple of years ago. Nissan commissioned the build from South Carolina–based Tommy Pike Customs, which built a Leaf-powered 1987 Sunny pickup and a woody-wagon-inspired Ariya for last year’s SEMA show. The modified Z sports car will sit alongside a replica of the Datsun 240Z Safari.Tommy Pike Customs fitted the sharply styled sports car with some major upgrades. The Tribute build rides 2.0 inches higher thanks to a custom KW safari suspension, which also includes adjustable upper control arms, a strut tower brace, and other components from Nissan in-house tuner NISMO. Unique black 17.0-inch wheels are wrapped in chunky Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 225/65 tires.Protecting the oily bits are a front bumper guard and skid plate, while a slew of auxiliary LED lights sprouting from the front end provide extra visibility in dark or dusty conditions. Inside, the Z features a roll bar hooked up to four-point harnesses that keep the driver firmly seated in Recaro bucket seats. The V-6 engine has also been tuned by AMS Performance, pushing output beyond the stock 400 horsepower, although Nissan didn’t specify quite how much it was improved. Other under-the-hood goodies include a cold air intake, a carbon-fiber engine cover, a heat exchange, and a twin-disc clutch and flywheel. Tommy Pike Customs also added a cat-back exhaust with laser-etched NISMO branding. The look is rounded out with a livery that mimics the original rally car’s, albeit sporting the number “23” on the doors instead of the “11” worn by the 1971 car. While we doubt this off-road Z has any chance at production, hopefully some of these parts could be offered by Nissan for DIYers who want to create their own rally special.More Special NissansThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Earlier this year, a Ferrari 499P went out and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans to give the brand its first win in the race since 1965. Back then, customers could buy spectacular Ferraris like the 250 GTO directly from the Scuderia. While just about everything else about the automotive world has changed since, Ferrari apparently sees some value in that tradition. That means it will sell the 499P Modificata, a variant of the 499P Le Mans Hypercar available to customers. That does not mean customers in the racing sense, either. This is not a car for privateers looking to race a Ferrari—this is a car for people looking to purchase a 499P of their own as the ultimate track-day car. Unlike the presumably canceled Toyota GR Super Sport or the Aston Martin Valkyrie that is moving to the Hypercar class in 2025, the 499P Modificata is also not a road car. This is a pure track car, one free of the restrictions that come with racing to a ruleset. That makes the 499P Modificata something like the 919 Evo to the 499P’s Porsche 919 Hybrid. While this car is not quite as extreme as the Porsche—the 919 Evo had over 1000 horsepower and active aerodynamics—freedom from regulation allows for Ferrari to make the car more powerful and make more direct use of its hybrid assistance. The resulting car has 697 horsepower, four-wheel drive that can be activated well below the FIA-regulated 118 mph, and specially designed Pirelli tires. The hybrid powertrain’s power is also deployed differently, available at the push of a button to bring total output to a peak of 858 horsepower. Far past the standards of performance you might find in even the most extreme road cars, that puts the 499P Modificata in league only with the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Bugatti Bolide. While both of those cars are not far from Le Mans Hypercars themselves, the Ferrari actually is one. Add in a complicated hybrid system and that makes it a fairly difficult car to run for private owners, so Ferrari has introduced the Sport Prototipi Clienti program to provide direct support. In a system similar to its F1 Clienti program for owners of historic F1 cars, 499P Modificata owners will have their car both maintained and supported by Ferrari itself. That allows the company to make a more complex and modern track car, in this case the only one in its ultra-exclusive segment that actually utilizes a hybrid setup to provide power to all four wheels. Going forward, it also means Ferrari will already have a structure in place to support projects of similar ambition.Ferrari has not announced a price for the 499P Modificata. With no other prototype racer from a major manufacturer on sale today, comparison points can be hard to find. The closest thing may be a ready-to-race Porsche 963, which comes in at $3 million for customer race teams. As the Ferrari was developed for even more complicated regulations, expect a high number.More Ferrari More