Motor News

The 2024 Honda Passport receives mild updates, which most notably include making the TrailSport trim more capable.Now with all-terrain tires and a revised suspension, the TrailSport can tackle tougher off-road obstacles than before.The Passport also adds a wider center console with more storage space, and the Black Edition replaces the Elite as the top trim.Since the nameplate returned for 2019, the Honda Passport has provided a mid-size, two-row alternative to the larger three-row Pilot SUV. Now that the Pilot has entered a new generation and adopted a new platform, the Passport is waiting in the wings for a similar transformation. In the meantime, it gets subtle updates that improve the interior and make the TrailSport trim more capable than before.A More Serious TrailSportWhen the Passport lineup introduced the off-road-oriented TrailSport a couple years ago, its rugged looks wrote a check its actual capabilities couldn’t cash. The optional HPD package took it a step further, adding a different grille, black fender flares, and HPD graphics. Too bad the tougher visage was undermined by all-season tires and the same suspension as every other Passport. Thankfully, Honda rectifies those missteps with the 2024 TrailSport, which now wears knobbier General Grabber ATX all-terrain tires. Its spring rates and dampers are retuned, and the anti-roll bars have been revised for better articulation and ride quality when the pavement ends. Along with a set of freshly designed 18-inch wheels, the TrailSport’s front and rear tracks are now 0.4 inch wider.Honda also introduces the HPD+ package that includes a unique grille, black overfenders, and 20-inch wheels. The list of available Honda accessories is also expanded to include underbody protection. The pretty Diffused Sky Blue paint that debuted on the new Pilot TrailSport is also now available on the Passport TrailSport.Passport Gets a New Center ConsoleInside, the 2024 Passport is largely the same as last year. The one big change is the wider center console. Not only does Honda claim it can now swallow a full-size tablet, but it has a larger cubby in front of the shifter that can hold two smartphones side by side. The addition of large armrests is designed to make the front seat a more comfortable place to hang out.Those looking for the most lavish experience—relatively speaking—will cast their attention towards the top-of-the-line Passport, which is no longer the Elite trim level, as it is replaced by the Black Edition. Previously, the moniker was used as an appearance package, but now it stands alone. The Black Edition, as its name implies, has dark exterior elements such as 20-inch wheels, badges, a grille, and body molding all in black. It also comes standard with perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. It’s the only trim with red contrast stitching and matching ambient interior lighting.The 2024 Honda Passport will reach dealership this fall. The company hasn’t yet released pricing, but we don’t expect costs to rise too much. The outgoing base model started at $42,475, the TrailSport started at $44,975, and the Elite started at $47,935. Expect each of those to increase by $1000 or so.Honda Passport 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

Rivian is finally putting the long-delayed Max battery pack into production for the Dual-Motor versions of the R1T and R1S EVs.The R1T with the Max pack can go 410 miles on a charge while the R1S with the Max battery is rated at 400 miles, and the Max pack adds $16,000 to the vehicles’ prices.Deliveries of the R1T have already begun, while the R1S Max battery will start reaching customers later this fall.Late last year, Rivian announced that it no longer planned to offer the high-performance, quad-motor, 835-hp versions of its R1T truck with the startup’s biggest battery pack as originally intended. But now Rivian has put the 180.0-kWh gross-capacity unit, called the “Max,” into production for the dual-motor variants of the company’s EVs, boosting their maximum range ratings by a substantial amount. The Max pack costs an additional $16,000.Andrew Trahan|Car and DriverThe R1S Dual-Motor features an EPA-estimated range of 400 miles, up from the 352-mile rating of the dual-motor version with the Large battery. The R1T performs even better with the Max battery, eking out 410 miles of EPA-estimated range compared to Large battery’s 352 miles. The range is unaffected for the Dual-Motor Performance variants. Rivian says the Max pack makes the R1S the longest-range seven-passenger electric SUV on the market, while the R1T takes top honors among electric pickups.More Rivian NewsFor comparison, the highest range offered in the Tesla Model X is 348 miles, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV maxes out at 305 miles. Smaller EVs that offer a cramped third row such as the Tesla Model Y and Mercedes-Benz EQB are limited to 330 and 250 miles, respectively. The Kia EV9, which arrives this fall, won’t travel much further than 300 miles.Customers can option their R1S or R1T with the Max battery starting today, with deliveries of Max-pack-equipped R1Ts already underway. The R1S with the Max pack will start arriving in customer’s driveways later this fall. The pack will be available on both 2023 and 2024 model year Rivians.This 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

The sole new addition to the 2024 Toyota 4Runner lineup is a new paint color.Terra, which is an orange-brown, will be offered on the TRD Pro trim.There isn’t a whole lot else to say about paint, y’know.The Toyota 4Runner advances at a rate similar to plate tectonics. After making its debut at the State Fair of Texas in 2009, the fifth generation of Toyota’s body-on-frame mid-size SUV has remained a staple of Toyota dealership lots across the country, earning its mid-cycle refresh in the 2014 model year. And it’s not going anywhere yet—not if a flashy new paint color has anything to say about it.Toyota has introduced the 2024 4Runner, and as you might have guessed by now, the star of the new model year is Terra. This orangeish, brownish earth tone will be offered on the TRD Pro variant, an off-road-oriented trim that also happens to be the most expensive of the cohort. ToyotaA 2023 4Runner TRD Pro would’ve set you back a cool $56,015, but the 2024 raises the cost of entry by $300 to $56,315. You’ll really have to want that paint, but if you don’t, a 4Runner can be yours for as little as $41,850. With the exception of the costly, four-wheel-drive-only off-road models, most trims offer a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. 2023’s 40th Anniversary Special Edition is not along for the ride this year, as 41 isn’t really as big of a deal.Otherwise, the 4Runner stays the course for 2024. Motivation still comes from a 270-hp 4.0-liter V-6 that makes 278 pound-feet of torque and sends that business to all four wheels by way of a—no, you’re not misreading this—five-speed automatic transmission. All models are capable of towing 5000 pounds. Every 4Runner also includes the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of driver aids, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency braking.Senior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More

The Porsche 911 S/T has already cemented itself as one of the great roadgoing sports cars from Weissach. With just 1963 examples of the anniversary special planned for production, demand for an allocation is fierce. In an effort to limit the insane prices brought on by American flipping culture, Porsche has decided to limit buyers’ actual ownership of the vehicle for at least a year after the car rolls off of a local lot. Porsche’s Frank Moser, vice president of the 911 and 718 model lines, detailed these unusual restrictions at the Rennsport Reunion 7 event in California over the weekend, The Drive reports. The executive explained to the press pool at the event that a stipulation has been added to the 911 S/T purchase contract, which aims to limit the impact that resellers will have on the model’s market value. The contract dictates that buyers of the 911 S/T will technically lease the cars from Porsche for a year, at which point ownership of the vehicle will be officially transferred to the respective buyer. “We want to ensure that cars are available [to] reach true enthusiasts, to be driven and enjoyed for years to come,” Moser told the press. “For this reason, those allocated a 911 S/T in the U.S. will be required to adhere to an agreed minimum retention period, set at one year.”More on the 911 S/TThe automaker is likely trying to prevent a situation like the one that took place with the 911 R from the 991 generation. Collectors and flippers alike flocked to the limited-production model, which at the time was the only way to get a GT3 engine mated to a manual gearbox. After seeing the insane prices involved with 911 R sales on the secondary market, Porsche unveiled the GT3 Touring and brought the manual back into the fray. While tamping down on the flipper market in the United States was never the brand’s official reason, it likely didn’t hurt the decision. Values of the 911 R are still tremendous for a modern sports car, but they’ve come back down to where you’d expect a sub-1000 unit Porsche to be. We’ll have to wait and see if this effort is actually enough to prevent the 911 S/T from becoming true unobtanium. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.  More

Volvo revealed the full range of pricing for its upcoming EX30 EV crossover.The pint-sized EV is shockingly cheap with a starting price of just $36,245 for the single-motor extended-range version.Pre-order configurations are slated to begin later this fall, with deliveries expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. EV naysayers will have a harder time bemoaning the high cost of entry with this one. Volvo has revealed the full range of pricing for its upcoming EX30 crossover, and the brand’s smallest EV SUV comes in well below both the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. In the standard single-motor rear-drive setup, the EX30 makes 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, and has an EPA-estimated 275 miles of range. With the base powertrain setup, Volvo is offering three trim levels; Core, Plus, and Ultra. The base Core is the cheapest at $36,245, with the Plus bumping that up to $40,195, and the Ultra at $41,895. Stepping up to the Plus brings a Harman Kardon sound system, a dual-tone panoramic roof in Onyx Black, and 19-inch wheels. Moving into the top trim net more features including the next-generation Pilot Assist and a 360-degree-view camera. VolvoUpgrading to the dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant brings more power: 422 horses and 400 pound-feet. This version uses the same battery, and the range estimate falls to 265 miles. According to Volvo, the dual-motor setup launches the EX30 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Whereas the single-motor EX30 can be had in three trims, the dual-motor ditches the base Core. The more powerful Plus and Ultra trims add $6000 a piece to their rear-drive equivalents, bringing the totals to $46,195 and $47,895. More on the Volvo EX30According to Volvo, deposit holders will be able to configure and pre-order their EX30 later this fall, and deliveries are expected to start sometime in the first quarter of 2024. 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

Tesla’s popular Model Y SUV will soon be offered in a cheaper rear-wheel-drive variant.The so-called Standard Range model was available earlier in the Model Y’s lifecycle but had been discontinued in favor of longer-range all-wheel-drive models. Model Y Standard Range models are available to order now on the company’s website starting at $45,630 with a driving range as high as 260 miles—$7500 less than an all-wheel drive Long Range with 330 miles of advertised range.Tesla is bringing back its low-cost Model Y Standard Range rear-wheel-drive model, which is now available to order on the automaker’s website. According to a report from Automotive News, the move is a response to lower-than-projected third-quarter vehicle deliveries, and that logic tracks. Tesla has tweaked the pricing strategy for its lineup consistently throughout the year to compete with a rising tide of fresh EV rivals as well as inflation. Earlier this year, the company also relaunched Standard Range variants of the more expensive Model S sedan and Model X SUV, dropping the price of entry for those luxury vehicles by around $10,000 each. But those models didn’t last long and were pulled from the order site a few weeks later, replaced with cheaper variants of all-wheel-drive Long Range models. Latest Tesla NewsDesperate scrambling? Perhaps. Or maybe it’s merely the trial-and-error method in action: Throwing options onto an online configurator to see what customers pick. Either way, more affordable EVs aren’t a bad thing. The Standard Range Model Y is available to order now on the Tesla website, with a delivery date range starting as early as this month. Prices start at $45,630 for versions without any options, and the driving range for this model is advertised as high as 260 miles. If you opt for the prettier 20-inch Induction wheels—a $2000 option—the range estimate drops to 242 miles per charge. Given that the Model 3 compact car that underpins the Model Y is getting a facelift for 2024, we suspect the SUV will get a similar treatment, but that may not happen until the 2025 model year.This 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.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Nissan has shown the Hyper Urban concept ahead of its in-person debut at this month’s Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.The electric concept is a small, sporty crossover with a sharp, angular design, with the triangular shapes drawing inspiration from kaleidoscopes.The cabin is just as crazy as the bodywork, with green LED accents and seats that can fold together to create a spacious lounge.Nissan isn’t new to the EV business—the pioneering Leaf hatchback, which went on sale way back in 2011 with a paltry 73-mile range, paved the way for the deluge of electric vehicles now arriving on the market. Among those is Nissan’s Ariya SUV, which registered 5195 sales through the first half of this year. Now Nissan is giving us a taste of what to expect from the styling of its future electric cars with the very angular-looking Hyper Urban concept. NissanThe squat, sporty crossover is one of several concepts Nissan will unveil before the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo at the end of this month. Each will use the word “hyper” in its name to, according to the automaker, “express the heightened excitement they aim to bring.” The Hyper Urban’s bodywork is full of aggressive and dramatic slashes as if the designer had attacked a lump of clay with a sword to create the concept’s shape. The sharply sloping roofline, ginormous wheels, and stocky stance make the Hyper Urban look even more assertive.The concept follows current design trends with full-width light bars and the front and rear, each with an intricate appearance comprised of receptive LED strips. The front and rear scissor doors theatrically open skyward to reveal a cabin that is just as angular as the exterior, full of triangular shapes—inspired by kaleidoscopes, Nissan says—green LED lighting and a yoke-style steering wheel. The front seats can collapse and fold into the rear seats to create a more spacious, lounge-like interior space. NissanNissan didn’t go into detail regarding the powertrain, but the Hyper Urban is, of course, electric. Nissan imagines that the concept could provide power back into your home to reduce strain on the grid and save owners money. Nissan also mentioned a charging setup that is powered by artificial intelligence and can autonomously charge the crossover but didn’t provide specifics on how this would work. Ultimately, however, the powertrain specifics are of little consequence, and the Hyper Urban serves as a flight of fancy that previews Nissan’s future design direction. Just don’t expect the scissor doors to reach production.More Nissan NewsThis 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

The 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning gains a brand-new trim level.It will be called the Flash, and will slot in between the XLT and Lariat trims.Pricing for the Flash will start at $72,090 when it goes on sale sometime next year. The 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning lineup is about to get a little more crowded, with the automaker announcing a new trim level today. The new model will be called the Flash and will slot between the XLT and Lariat trims. FordFord is marketing this one as a “tech-focused” offering for Lightning buyers. In real terms that means the Flash gets a standard 15.5-inch touchscreen and the extended-range battery, with an EPA-estimated 320 miles of range. In our testing, an F-150 Lightning Platinum achieved a real-world result of 230 miles on our 75-mph highway loop. Other changes to the Lightning lineup for 2024 include the addition of Blue Cruise 1.2 to the Flash and higher models, and the addition of a heat pump to improve efficiency in colder climates. The Towing Technology package also becomes standard on XLT and above. Visually, the updated Lightning does gain the simplified Ford logo that debuted on the refreshed F-150 last month. FordMore on the F-150 LightningFord hasn’t released full pricing for the new model year, but we do know the Flash will slot between the XLT and the Lariat, and will start at $72,090 when it goes on sale alongside the rest of the lineup next year. 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