Motor News

Aston Martin’s own Works division created an electric DB6 Volante a few years ago, and now another British company—Lunaz—will be converting DB4, DB5, and DB6 models to electricity.You may be stirred by the price, which is expected to exceed $1 million to completely restore the Aston and then add the powertrain.What price beauty, though? The first customers will get these starting in late 2023. This isn’t the first time we’ve told you about an electric conversion of one of Aston Martin’s classic DB models, and it may not be the last. Three years ago, Aston’s own Works classic division created a DB6 Volante with its six-cylinder engine replaced by a modular battery pack that powered a motor connected to the original gearbox. This was, we were told, to gauge demand for a factory sanctioned conversion, the lack of a production version suggesting this was lacking.But now another British company is planning to offer what seems to be a very similar car. Lunaz, which already offers electrified versions of various other classics, has said it will be offering an EV conversion for the DB4, DB5 and DB6, meaning that James Bond really could migrate himself to an EV.

Doing so would come with a substantial price tag, of course: even a rough DB5 is most of the way to a seven-figure valuation these days, with Lunaz’s heart transplant adding substantially to the “on application” price. The company is prepared to give more detail on pricing when it comes to the cheaper DB6, reckoning the conversion will “exceed $1 million plus local taxes,” with that including a bare-metal restoration as well as the new powertrain itself. They have also released images of a plug-wearing DB6 which makes the point this is a spectacularly good-looking car, regardless of the fuel it runs on.

Lunaz

Lunaz’s official release is short on technical details, but we can presume the electro-DBs will share much with the company’s earlier conversions. These use a bespoke powertrain which, in the Jaguar XK150, features a pair of motors giving a combined output of 375 horsepower to the rear axle. The XK150 uses an 80.o-kWh battery, while the larger Rolls-Royce Phantom V conversion has 120.0 kWh from twin packs, one under the hood and the other beneath the trunk floor. Given the limited spare space on a DB Aston, the use of the single pack seems more likely; Aston Works’ putative conversion used a battery almost exactly the same size and weight as the original engine. Lunaz’s car will support fast charging through a Type 2 CCS socket.

Lunaz

Lunaz also promises “uprating [sic] of brakes, suspension, and steering, while interior comfort and convenience is brought up to modern standards through the provision of air conditioning and the sensitive integration of latest infotainment, navigation systems, and full Wi-Fi connectivity.” The biggest question with any such conversion is existential: does it really deserve to exist? Lunaz says it will carefully remove the existing engine so that owners can keep them against a future change of heart, but it is very hard to imagine a world in which the near silence of an electric motor will feel like a better soundtrack to a classic Aston than that provided by its DBR2 six-cylinder, wuffling through triple carburetors. The environmental benefits of performing such radical and expensive surgery can also be questioned. The gentle duty cycle of a typical DB Aston would seem to make it unlikely that the energy and carbon costs of an electric conversion would ever be repaid in terms of reduced tailpipe emissions. As with cars like the Everrati Porsche 911 we drove earlier this year, the Lunaz seems to be aimed at a far distant future when combustion engines are either banned or become impossible to keep running. Lunaz says the first deliveries of electric DB models will take place in the third quarter of 2023.
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General Motors announced its new Ultra Cruise hands-free driving system will debut in 2023 on a future Cadillac model. The system will work on more than two million miles of every type of road in the U.S. and Canada, joining Super Cruise, which is currently available and only works on highways. Ultra Cruise uses a combination of cameras, radar, and lidar and has a 360-degree view of the car. General Motors is adding another tier to its hands-free driving technology with its new Ultra Cruise system that it claims will work in 95 percent of driving situations. It will sit above Super Cruise, which is currently available and works on over 200,000 miles of highways across the U.S. and Canada.

Ultra Cruise will add to that number of roads, working on more than two million miles in the U.S. and Canada at launch. The goal is to reach more than 3.4 million miles, GM says. Its main competition will be Tesla’s Full Self-Driving tech (it’s not really full self-driving), which is still in Beta status and not widely available. However, Tesla’s system can currently only be engaged on roads with lane paint, and GM says that Ultra Cruise can be engaged on subdivision streets, which would give it a leg up on FSD. Ultra Cruise uses a combination of cameras, radars, and lidar; that last one is a big deal as it’s the first case of this tech being deployed on a vehicle sold to the public in the U.S. Super Cruise uses lidar map data stored onboard, but doesn’t use a sensor. GM says the system’s functions will show on a dynamic display, which will have a 360-degree view of the car. The system will follow navigation and speed limits, react to traffic control such as traffic lights (much like Tesla’s FSD), avoid close objects, and, like Super Cruise, perform automated lane changes. GM says the system will improve itself over time based on real-world learnings and also can be updated over the air. The system will adopt Super Cruise’s driver attention camera that’s located on top of the steering wheel column and tracks drivers’ eyes to make sure they’re paying attention to the road. We tested Super Cruise along with numerous other automakers’ driver-assist systems and found that GM’s system can be tricked with eyeball glasses and be engaged without a driver in the seat. GM says that Ultra Cruise will be reserved for more luxurious models in its lineup, and Cadillac will introduce the tech in 2023, likely on the upcoming Lyriq electric crossover. Super Cruise will be reserved for its “mainstream models” such as the Chevy Silverado, which recently added the tech.
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Chevrolet announced that the all-electric Silverado will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show on January 5, 2022.Chevy showed a teaser displaying the fixed-glass roof that will be an option on the non-commercial version of the Silverado EV.The Silverado EV uses General Motors’ Ultium battery technology that will also be found in the GMC Hummer EV, and it is expected to arrive as a 2023 model.The electric pickup truck wars are heating up, with entries from Rivian, GMC, Tesla, Ford, and more set to hit the road in the near future. While we have known for over a year that an electric Chevrolet pickup is on its way, Chevy has now confirmed that the all-electric Silverado will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 5, 2022. Chevrolet provided a shadowy teaser image with the announcement, showing a top-down view of the truck which reveals a fixed-glass roof. Chevy says that the glass roof only be available on certain trim levels of the retail truck, meaning it won’t be offered on commercial versions, and we think it’s likely to be a costly option. Chevrolet has confirmed that there will be a commercial-grade fleet version of the Silverado EV that will presumably do away with many of niceties that will be optional on the non-commercial truck.

The electric Silverado will be based on the same Ultium battery platform that will also underpin other upcoming electric GM products such as the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. General Motors estimates that the Silverado EV will offer up to 400 miles of range on a single charge, a fair bit more than the Rivian R1T’s 314-mile EPA range. Chevy also announced previously that the Silverado will come with rear-axle steering, which will significantly tighten the turning radius by slightly turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts.The gas-powered Silverado, which just received a refresh for the 2022 model year, is expected to live alongside the electric truck for the foreseeable future. We expect the Silverado EV to go on sale for the 2023 model year, by which point the electric pickup segment will be crowded.
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Volvo is boosting the range of its electric small SUV, the XC40 Recharge.The 2022 model now goes 223 miles on a charge, according to the EPA, up from 208 miles.Volvo also says that a software update will soon be available for existing 2021 models that will provide the same boost.Volvo has made some updates to the XC40 Recharge’s powertrain for 2022 that result in an extra 15 miles of EPA-rated range. The electric SUV is now estimated to deliver 223 miles on a single charge, and existing owners of 2021 XC40 Recharge models will also be able to get the extra range via a forthcoming software update. The EPA combined efficiency figure also rises from 79 MPGe to 85 MPGe.

The updates are not to the physical battery pack itself but rather entail a number of small software changes focused on energy management and thermal management, a Volvo spokesperson told C/D. These updates helped the 2022 XC40 Recharge perform better when the EPA retested it for the new model year. The EPA has not yet rated the XC40’s sibling, the C40 Recharge, but we expect it to achieve a similar estimate as the 2022 model.We’re curious to see how the range improvement plays out in the real world, and we’ll update this article with test results for a 2022 model as soon as we are able to complete our 75-mph real-world highway range test. In that test, a 2021 model achieved a real-world range of 180 miles.The 2022 XC40 Recharge starts at $56,395 for the standard model and $59,245 for the Ultimate model. That’s a $1310 increase in base price compared with the 2021 model. 2022 models are at dealerships now, and Volvo says it will release information soon about the software updates for existing 2021 models.
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Ford is adding two new appearance packages to the 2022 Mustang lineup.The Stealth Edition is available for the EcoBoost Premium model and features clear taillights and black trim.The California Special returns for the GT and features special badges, stripes, and suede interior bits.With all the hubbub surrounding the electric Mustang Mach-E, Ford is attempting to bring some more attention back to the classic pony car with a few new appearance options. The 2022 Mustang will offer a new Stealth Edition option for the base four-cylinder EcoBoost model, while the V-8–powered GT features an updated version of the classic California Special variant.

The Stealth Edition’s most noticeable changes are the clear taillights shared with the previously revealed Ice White Edition and the black trim for the badges and side mirrors. It also has 19-inch wheels and a rear spoiler, plus a badge in the instrument cluster. Ford has yet to reveal a price for the Stealth Edition, but it will be an option package available on the EcoBoost Premium model and is offered with blue, grey, silver, or black exterior colors.

GT California Special
Ford

The California Special, a familiar nameplate to anyone who has followed the Mustang’s history, is available for either the GT coupe or convertible. The latest version of the GT/CS features a black grille, stripes, badges, and a scoop on the rear fender. There’s a strut tower brace under the hood, while the coupe features a spoiler and the convertible comes standard with a spoiler delete. Suede trim is found inside, and the California Special can now be combined with the GT Performance Package that features upgraded brakes, suspension tweaks, a limited-slip differential, and a staggered 19-inch wheel and tire setup with Pirelli summer tires.Ford says that orders open for the 2022 Mustang lineup later this year, with cars arriving at dealerships in the first quarter of next year.
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Chevrolet’s mass recall of the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV could cost GM almost $2 billion, which is why, as Inside EVs reported, some dealers are predicting a big buyback instead of widespread battery replacements.But GM reconfirmed to Car and Driver that the previously announced plan to replace the defective battery modules remains in place, adding that buybacks might be considered on a case-by-case basis.GM’s battery partner, LG, has started manufacturing replacement models for the Bolt batteries, and the first ones should be installed starting later this month.The ongoing cost of the recall that affects every single Chevrolet Bolt EV ever made is, according to some reports, around $1.8 billion. The main driver for the eye-popping number is the fact that GM’s solution to the recall is to replace at least some battery modules in all 110,000 Bolts that were sold in the U.S. The scale of this program has led some Chevy dealers to assume the automaker will implement a buyback program for the faulty EVs rather than pony up to replace the batteries.

“[GM is] already going to pay half the value of the car with the new battery. Buybacks will be way cheaper for them,” an anonymous dealer told InsideEVs. There are other signs that the recall isn’t dampening the value of these electric vehicles, which are still under temporary safety suggestions from GM and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) not to overcharge or overdischarge the battery. Manheim Auctions, InsideEVs notes, is forecasting that a 2021 Chevy Bolt will only lose around $100 in value over the next 12 months. The result? Dealers are buying up lots and lots of Bolt EVs from customers looking to sell.But a buyback—a massive buyback, at least—is not in the official plans.”We haven’t changed our plan, which is to replace all battery modules in the 2017–2019 model year vehicle population and replace defective modules in the 2020–2022 model years,” a GM spokesperson told Car and Driver. “We continue to consider buyback requests on a case-by-case basis.”

To catch you up on the Bolt recall situation, which also affects the Bolt EUV, the main problem is that there is a risk of the high-voltage battery pack catching fire. It has only happened around a dozen times, but the risk was large enough that GM and NHTSA made an initial recall announcement in November 2020. The problem stems from two rare manufacturing defects—a torn anode and a folded separator—that both need to be present in the same battery cell that supplier LG made for GM for a fire to potentially start. The two companies are now working together to find a solution. In late September, GM said it and LG had “identified the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell as the root cause of battery fires in certain Chevrolet Bolt EVs.”Identifying that root cause allowed LG to resume battery and module production with an updated manufacturing process last month. Module replacements are supposed to start in mid-October, with the first batch going to Bolt EV and EUV customers “whose batteries were manufactured during specific build time frames where GM believes battery defects appear to be clustered,” GM said.Before the end of the year, GM will also release new diagnostic software that has been designed to “detect specific abnormalities that might indicate a damaged battery in Bolt EVs and EUVs.” GM said that with this new software and other fixes, Bolt EV and EUV owners should be able to use their cars as they did before.
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The Lotus Emira mid-engine sports car will start at $77,100 and is set to go on sale in the U.S. at the end of 2022. That base price is for the four-cylinder model that’s powered by an AMG-sourced 360-hp turbocharged four-cylinder.A First Edition model, powered by a 400-hp supercharged V-6, will be available first, entering production in the fall of next year, and it will cost $96,100. CORRECTION 10/04/21: This story has been updated to correctly state the four-cylinder engine’s horsepower.Lotus’ newest mid-engine sports car, the Emira, will enter production at the end of next year and initially be sold as a loaded First Edition model. That version will cost $96,100 in the United States and a base model will arrive in 2023 with a starting price of $77,100. For reference, you can get a Chevy Corvette or Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman S for less coin.
The Emira First Edition is powered by a 400-hp supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, though a six-speed automatic is optional for $2150. Lotus says the quickest version of the Emira will reach 62 mph in less than 4.5 seconds and have a 180-mph top speed. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 360 horsepower will also be available in the Emira, though it is only available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Six color choices are available on the First Edition models: Seneca Blue (pictured), Magma Red, Hethel Yellow, Dark Verdant, Shadow Grey, and Nimbus Grey. First Edition cars also have additional black exterior trim (you can get even more black trim for $1400), 20-inch wheels, and brake calipers with a Lotus emblem. First Edition customers can choose from either a tour suspension setup with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires or a sport setup that comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Interior choices include red, black, grey, or tan leather along with an Alcantara option with either red, yellow, or gray stitching. Lotus says that the Emira First Edition will start production in the fall of next year, and there will be a four-cylinder First Edition model that will join the lineup shortly after. The base model with its $77,100 starting price won’t be available until 2023, and we’ll have additional pricing details closer to its on-sale date.
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Cadillac joins several other automakers by redesigning its logo with a minimalist look to signify the transition to becoming an electric-vehicle manufacturer.The new logo retains the wider, wreathless style introduced in 2014 but is now black and white, and will be illuminated in some cases, such as on the front end of the upcoming Lyriq SUV.The monochromatic version of the badge will appear on all new electric Cadillacs, while the color crest will continue on the gas-powered models until they are replaced by EVs.

Cadillac

As automakers transition their lineups to become electric only, several brands have sought to reinvent themselves by redesigning their iconic logos. Within the past two years, Volkswagen, BMW, Nissan, and General Motors have also given their emblems a similar refresh, keeping the same basic shapes but opting for a more simplified, minimalist style. Now Cadillac is joining the party, with Fox News Autos reporting that Cadillac will transition to a new monochromatic version of its logo for its upcoming arsenal of electric vehicles.

Cadillac

The new black-and-white version of the logo was first seen when Cadillac debuted the Lyriq SUV as a concept in late 2020, where it was illuminated in the grille. Now the monochromatic version of the Cadillac badge—which continues with the wider, wreathless look introduced in 2014—has appeared on Cadillac’s website and social-media platforms, signaling the brand’s shift towards EVs. A Cadillac spokesperson told Car and Driver that “as Cadillac begins its next chapter to an all-electric future” with the Lyriq, Cadillac is “refreshing our brand look and feel” with “a bold and modern interpretation of the Cadillac crest.” The spokesperson also said that while the monochromatic crest will become more common, “Cadillac will continue to use the current crest as well.”

While the Cadillac representative did not specify to Car and Driver when the current, color crest would be used, Fox News Autos reports that a Cadillac spokesperson said that the color version of the logo would continue to appear on internal-combustion-engine models and will be phased out as those models are replaced with EVs. With the reveal of the Lyriq, Cadillac had announced it would not be releasing any more new gas-powered models, at least in North America, implying that the color crest will continue on the CT4, CT5, XT4, XT5, XT6, and Escalade until their electric successors arrive. Cadillac’s first EV, the Lyriq, is set to go on sale in the first half of 2022 for $59,990.
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