Motor News

The new Z—it has no numbers in its name this time—will cost about the same as the 2003 350Z (adjusted for inflation, of course) and rides on the same wheelbase as the 2020 370Z.But it’s upped horsepower to 400 hp from a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6.Its main target is the Toyota Supra, and it goes on sale next spring.[editoriallinks id=’70df5292-fff5-47a2-b674-bcc8a6d71248′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]When we first tested the 2003 Nissan 350Z, we heralded its unrivaled combination of price and performance. Bringing 287 horsepower for less than $27,000, the reborn Z was an instant hit, re-establishing Nissan as a maker of serious sports cars. Now, almost 20 years later, we’re feeling that same excitement for the next Z car, the 2023 Z. Factoring for inflation, its base price—about $40,000—is that same as that of the 2003 350Z. So is the basic layout, with two seats, rear-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual transmission. But now you get 400 horsepower, from a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. That’s the kind of inflation we can get behind.[image id=’43eae820-ab21-480d-ac20-b6398ccfa716′ mediaId=’3aeca81f-71b4-4757-bf01-60f8a5f50ee9′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]Built on a much-modified version of the current FM platform and riding on the same 100.4-inch wheelbase as the outgoing 370Z, the new Z—yeah, it’s just “Z” now—uses the VR30DDTT V-6 from the Infiniti Red Sport 400 models. Making 400 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque from 1600 to 5200 rpm, the sweet 3.0-liter features direct injection and variable valve timing, running up to 14.7 psi of boost. Manual models get a carbon-fiber driveshaft, an EXEDY performance clutch, and automated rev matching on downshifts, while Zs with the nine-speed automatic have aluminum paddle shifters and available launch control.When we tested the Z’s four-seat Infiniti cousin, the Q60 Red Sport 400, it ran from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and that car had a seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The Z, a full foot shorter than the Q60 and presumably hundreds of pounds lighter, should hound the Toyota Supra 3.0 (zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds) in even its base Sport trim.[editoriallinks id=’f5aee27c-344d-41e3-907a-4e7b59ed232b’ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]Keeping the decisions simple, there are really no stand-alone options among the three trims. The Z Sport is your entry-level model, but it’s not a stripped-out husk built strictly to tout that $40,000 price point. The Z Sport gets the same powertrain as the other Zs, along with a customizable 12.3-inch TFT instrument display, cloth seats with synthetic suede inserts, and a full cadre of safety nannies and driver-assistance gear that any self-respecting Z driver won’t actually need.Z Performance models add some interior upgrades, like heated leather seats and an eight-speaker Bose stereo system, two more than the Sport’s audio setup, but most of the package contains actual performance gear: stiffer suspension, a limited-slip differential, and beefier brakes. Up front, four-piston calipers grip 14.0-inch rotors, while the 13.8-inch rear rotors are squeezed by two-piston calipers.[image id=’175ff40d-878b-4567-8d1d-f0ea5f4205e8′ mediaId=’8ae96de8-9049-412e-9e18-324512bd159a’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]The Performance replaces the Sport’s 18-inch wheels with lightweight 19-inch forged Rays wheels wearing staggered Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, 255s up front and 275s on the rear. Besides the unique wheels and red-painted brake calipers, the Performance trim is visually distinguished by front and rear spoilers and dual exhaust (and perhaps aurally distinguished by its more boisterous muffler, though we’ve yet to hear it). The automatic’s launch control function is also restricted to Performance models.Above Performance, and essentially serving as a launch edition, the Proto Spec is a Z Performance wearing the color scheme of the Z Proto concept car—yellow paint, black roof, bronze-colored wheels, and yellow brake calipers. The Wiz Khalifa–approved color scheme continues inside, with black seats and yellow stitching and accents. Manual cars also get a special shift knob. In a nod to the first Z car of them all, Nissan will only build 240 Proto Specs.[image id=’5b11627f-554c-4b88-b2c3-b9538124e360′ mediaId=’0c814e4a-5320-435d-9864-df95bc0382d9′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]In another reference to the 240Z, the interior’s center stack features three analog gauges set in a pod angled toward the driver. One is for boost, one is a voltmeter, and the third is a sort of tachometer for the turbochargers. Displaying measured turbine speed, the turbo tach will let the driver know whether the turbos are just loafing at a steady 220,000 rpm or approaching their 240,000-rpm maximum. Other callouts to Zs past include the taillights (shades of the 1990s Z32 300ZX) and the basic long-hood, short-deck proportions.Just as in the 1990s, the Supra will be the primary target when the Z goes on sale next spring.[image id=’52e8223d-34f9-4bce-979a-9a9627b1150a’ mediaId=’ef97e3c9-8bd0-4e33-81e4-ed1bdc80418e’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]But this Z isn’t a shameless retro rehash or a refresh disguised as a new model. What it looks like is a deft melding of the contemporary 370Z’s affordability with the GT-R’s ferocious turbocharged performance. At this point, the only thing we’re not crazy about is the overly minimalist name. We know that Nissan is trying to look forward, not back, but “300ZX Turbo” has an awfully nice ring to it.[poll id=’c89b1c2e-defa-4fb2-8c58-3837a3d8401f_8aa90f510eb06′ type=’text’ question=’A quick vote:’ answer1=’Thumbs up.’ answer2=’Not fresh enough.’][/poll]

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Spiedbilde/Brian Williams

The next generation of Honda’s CR-V has been spied testing in Germany, and it appears to have a clean design, with fewer trim pieces adorning the grille and front bumper.The CR-V prototype might be longer than the current generation, which suggests Honda might include a tight third-row to better compete with the VW Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander.The sizable hood suggests the CR-V will still feature a gasoline engine, but a hybrid version is also likely to be offered; an EV may also be in the cards.The current, fifth-generation Honda CR-V is not only Honda’s bestselling vehicle, but it’s also one of the top-ranking compact crossovers on the market, earning a Car and Driver Editors’ Choice award every year since going on sale in 2017. While the CR-V is still one of our favorite crossovers, the current version is starting to show its age, and the next-generation CR-V has now been spotted testing in Germany.

Spiedbilde/Brian Williams

Although the CR-V prototype wears a swirling camouflage wrap, we can still make out a simpler front end, with the grille ditching the layers of trim elements on the current generation for a clean mesh design. The headlights look slimmer and less angled, and the overall front fascia appears to follow in the footsteps of the upcoming 2023 HR-V. The front bumper appears a lot less blocky, but its hard to tell what other styling features the camouflage might be hiding.

Spiedbilde/Brian Williams

The CR-V prototype looks like it might be longer than the outgoing version, which might allow Honda to squeeze in a third row. This would allow the CR-V to better compete with the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander, which previously had the compact-three-row market to themselves. The rear of the vehicle is heavily disguised, and it’s not obvious whether the tall, vertical taillights will return or if horizontally oriented units will take their place.

Judging by the CR-V’s proportions, Honda’s bestseller will likely continue to offer an internal-combustion engine, probably with both pure gasoline and hybrid setups. This next generation of CR-V could also spawn a full EV variant, but don’t expect that to arrive for a few years. Honda is set to launch a new electric crossover called the Prologue in 2024, the first Honda using General Motors’ Ultium battery packs as part of a new partnership, and the electric CR-V could debut after the Prologue and use similar technology. The gasoline-powered CR-V is expected to debut at some point in 2022 and could go on sale for either the 2022 or 2023 model years.
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The Ford Bronco Riptide is a custom-built concept designed, Ford says, for a “West Coast lifestyle.”The Riptide features an LED light bar, mirror-mounted off-road lights, a Bestop mesh top, and prototype mounts to attach the two Almond surfboards overhead.The Riptide is based on a four-door Bronco with the Sasquatch package and the optional EcoBoost 2.7-liter V-6. After delays due to coronavirus-related supplier issues, production of the much-awaited 2021 Ford Bronco finally began in June, and over the past month reservation holders have started to receive their brand-new off-roaders. Now Ford has unveiled the 2021 Bronco Riptide concept, a custom-built vehicle designed to show off how Bronco buyers can use the Ford accessories available at their local dealership to give their Bronco a unique, personal feel.

Ford

Bronco color and materials designer Missy Coolsaet explains that the Bronco Riptide was designed for “a customer who enjoys the open air and a free-spirited West Coast lifestyle,” and with two Almond surfboards strapped on top, the project certainly calls to mind stereotypical Californian imagery. The Bronco Riptide is based on a 2021 four-door Bronco with the Sasquatch package, which brings all of the off-road goodies—like 35-inch tires and Bilstein shock absorbers—and should make the Riptide especially nimble over beach dunes.

Ford

Ford

The Bronco Riptide is painted in Velocity Blue, a factory color option available on 2021 Broncos which, Ford says, “is meant to evoke tropical ocean hues.” The interior is a subtle mix of Black Onyx and Dark Space Gray, and the rubberized washout flooring will come in handy when you emerge from the waves covered in sand. The Riptide includes many factory- or dealer-installed accessories, including a Rigid LED light bar, mirror-mounted auxiliary off-road lights, and a Bestop mesh top. The two surfboards are affixed on two prototype crossbars, and the steel front bumper is a prototype designed by Ford specifically for the Riptide.

The Riptide concept comes with the optional EcoBoost 2.7-liter V-6, producing 330 horsepower and mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Customers can order the Riptide parts from their dealership when buying a Bronco, Ford says.
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A post on Reddit’s r/cars forum claims that Mercedes-Benz will suspend almost all sales of cars with V-8 engines, including all Mercedes-AMGs, from the U.S. for the 2022 model year.The poster claims to have proof in the form of a memo provided to dealers. The memo says Mercedes plans to confirm the change next month. Forum moderators say they have confirmed the validity of the memo but did not post it to the site in an attempt to protect the identity of the user. Mercedes-Benz did not confirm the details of the report but sent us a statement that repeats the language quoted on the Reddit post. UPDATE 8/16/21, 3:00 PM: Car and Driver has been in touch with the Reddit user who posted the original thread. The user shared a document with us that is allegedly a communication from Mercedes-Benz to its U.S. dealers. The document’s phrasing matches that of a statement provided to us separately by Mercedes-Benz. It lists 17 2022 model-year V-8 vehicles that dealers would no longer be able to order or schedule for production on behalf of their customers. Mercedes-Benz has not explicitly confirmed the validity of these reports.A post this weekend on Reddit’s popular r/cars forum reports that Mercedes-Benz is set to announce that it will suspend sales of almost all of the brand’s V-8-powered cars in the U.S. for the 2022 model year. The user behind the initial post—who has said in other posts on Reddit that they run a car dealership—claims to have seen a memo to that effect, purportedly provided to U.S. dealerships in order to warn them of the coming change. The forum’s moderators say that the user provided proof of the memo to them—Jalopnik says it’s seen it, too—but did not post the proof publicly in an attempt to protect the identity of the original poster.

If this report turns out to be true, it would signal a pause on U.S. sales of Mercedes’ C63, GLC63, E63, GLE580, GLS580, GLE63, GLS63, GLS600 Maybach, G550, G63. The V-8-powered S580 and S580 Maybach would be spared, per the mysterious memo. One commenter on the r/cars post claimed that an order they had placed for a 2022 Mercedes-AMG E63S sedan had been canceled by the dealer. That user claimed that their dealer showed them a memo similar to the one cited in the original post by way of explaining the cancellation.It’s unclear, from the small chunk of text posted by forum moderators as proof, whether the suspension of these models would be temporary or permanent. The text included in the post references “various global, external and internal requirements, as well as several other factors, including but not limited to challenges in the supply chain” as reasons for the sudden change. A statement Car and Driver received from Mercedes-Benz, which did not explicitly confirm the lineup change, used the same language. The supply chain problems will probably clear up in time, but if the “external and internal requirements” the memo mentions refer to changing emissions regulations, this move could foreshadow more permanent changes to Mercedes’ lineup. Mercedes has already said it would be “ready” to go all-electric by the end of the decade “where market conditions allow.”We’ll update this page if and when Mercedes confirms the changes to its 2022 lineup. Additional reporting by Caleb Miller.
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Stellantis is recalling 212,373 U.S.-market Ram pickups to fix a problem with the side curtain airbag inflator that could cause the airbag to rupture.The issue affects 2015–2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 pickups along with some Ram Classic 1500 pickups, also from 2015–2020. No current-generation Ram 1500 pickups—which started being built in 2019—are involved with this problem.The problem is also unrelated to the massive and well-publicized Takata airbag explosion recalls of the past; those airbags had ammonium nitrate, which the Ram airbags do not, Stellantis said.Stellantis has issued a statement saying it will voluntarily recall 212,373 Ram pickups to replace defective side curtain airbags. The inflators in the airbags were “contaminated by moisture” during manufacturing, the company said, which could cause the airbags to rupture even in the absence of a crash or airbag deployment. If that happened, Stellantis said, debris could explode into the passenger cabin.The recall includes 2015–2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, 3500 cab-chassis trucks, and previous-generation Ram 1500 pickups, known as the Ram Classic. The current-gen 2019–2021 Ram 1500 is not included.Stellantis said there has only been one report of a rupture, and no injuries resulted. The company said the supplier of the inflators was also involved in a recall by “another automaker.” The Detroit Free Press noted that GM recalled more than 400,000 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups over the same issue earlier this year and that those inflators were produced by Joyson Safety Systems in Mexico. The paper also reported Stellantis’s statement that the Ram’s air bags do not contain ammonium nitrate, the ingredient in the Takata airbag inflators that have been part of a massive recall.Owners of potentially affected Ram trucks can contact Ram by phone at 800–853–1403 or check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls site for further information. Owners will be contacted and the airbags will be replaced at no charge at an unspecified future date.
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The upcoming C8-generation Corvette Z06 is expected to be headlined by a flat-plane-crank DOHC V-8 based on the engine in the C8.R racing car, but the fastest and most track-focused C8 yet will also feature some pretty aggressive new aerodynamic options. A report last Summer indicated those would include an active splitter and rear wing. New spy shots of a Z06 apparently testing near the Nürburgring with minimal camouflage appear to show those elements in action.

spiedbilde/Brian Williams

The aggressive rear wing jumps out immediately. While previous-generation Z06s were available with optional aerodynamic elements as part of the Z07 Performance package, the body-shaped rear wing spotted on this particular C8 is a new benchmark for serious downforce generation from the factory. Reports indicate that this will be an active piece, something also expected from the aggressive front splitter and dive planes.The model being tested also appears to show carbon fiber wheels, another expected option for the Z07 package. The wheels are a relatively new industry benchmark, one that greatly reduces unsprung weight while also reducing some road noise.GM previously revealed that the C8 Z06 would be revealed later this fall, but it will likely be sold as a 2023 model-year vehicle. If the previous-generation Z06 is any indication, it should be priced around $85,000.When it is eventually revealed, its unique sounds will be among its most distinguishing features. The first teaser trailer for the car included some onboard footage, revealing what may be the most exotic-sounding car available for under $300,000 right now. Roadside clips of the car’s launch control systems we shared back in May give an even better glimpse. That noise comes thanks to a rumored 617-hp naturally aspirated engine, a number that dwarfs the 500 horsepower the motor is estimated to make in the championship-winning C8.R racer.

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Hagerty/National Historic Vehicle Register

The mission of the National Historic Vehicle Register is to “preserve America’s auto heritage for future generations.” The list’s latest addition is the 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400S used in the comedy film The Cannonball Run.The angular speedster made an impression in the opening few minutes of the movie, with its additional front spoiler and twin spotlights, and kept on inspiring car people throughout the ’80s.The Countach has been restored to look the way it did in the film, including swapping out the burgundy red interior that a recent owner put in for the original Senape Tan. It will be on display in Washington, D.C., next month.As most of the automotive world looks forward with anticipation to the just-revealed Lamborghini Countach update, some contrarians are looking back. This week, a famous Countach—the 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S used in the 1981 film The Cannonball Run—was added to the National Historic Vehicle Register, an exclusive list that only boasts a grand total of 30 vehicles.

“The Countach is a car that has excited and intrigued car enthusiasts since its radical style shocked the world on its debut in the early ’70s,” Jonathan Klinger, executive director of the Hagerty Drivers Foundation, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to document and share the history behind what is probably the most famous example of the storied model.”The mid-engine Countach was introduced to the world in 1971 and the one used in the comedy film based on the real-world speed coast-to-coast record attempts—officially called the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash—featured an extra front spoiler and twin spotlights. We now understand why cross-country speed drives are dumb, but that doesn’t stop us from appreciating an important car when we see one.

Despite moving between different owners’ garages over the years and getting a burgundy interior at some point, the car has been restored to look like it did in the film, including a Senape tan interior. The powertrain is a 353-hp 4.0-liter 12-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission. A grand total of 16,067 miles are on the odometer.
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The Cannonball Run film was directed by Hal Needham and starred the Countach, a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, a Aston Martin DB5, and many more wonderful vehicles, along with stars Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, and Farrah Fawcett. The National Historic Vehicle Register is managed by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation and the U.S. Department of the Interior. The NHVR was established in 2013 and most recently added the 1981 DeLorean “hero car” from the movie Back to the Future to its list. If you want to see the Countach and other vehicles that were added to the list in 2020 and 2021, head on down to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in September during the Register’s annual Cars at the Capitol event. One car from the Register will be on display each week.
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Bugatti has announced it will produce the Bolide, first introduced as an 1825-hp concept in December 2020.These images show that it will look just about as outrageous as the concept, at least on the outside (interior details and images have not yet been released).Horsepower is down a bit for the production model but the W-16 still makes a respectable 1578 hp, the same as Bugatti’s Centodieci and Chiron Super Sport.You can color us unsurprised that Bugatti has just confirmed it will be producing a production version of last year’s Bolide concept. It was hard to imagine that the hypercar maker’s customer base of speed-seeking billionaires would not demand the right to buy their own example of the outrageous 1825-hp track-only one-off, albeit in what is set to be modestly downtuned form.

Bugatti has announced at The Quail Motorsport Gathering that it will be producing no more than 40 of the production Bolide, set to cost the equivalent of about $4.8 million. By our reckoning, that makes the Bolide the most expensive track special so far, considerably more than it would cost for a couple of seasons as a gentleman driver in a top-flight GT3 championship. But that’s not the point, of course; this is a car designed for those with the financial means to scratch any automotive itch.
According to the official images, the production Bolide is set to keep most of the outrageous aero-sculpted design of the concept, notably a skeletal front end that has been built around a carbon-fiber version of Bugatti’s trademark horseshoe-shaped radiator grille. It isn’t just a stripped-back Chiron; it’s built around a carbon-fiber monocoque that is clearly lower and smaller than that of its roadgoing sister. Bugatti hasn’t released any detail views of the Bolide’s interior yet.The rear view is dominated by both a substantial dual-element wing and a quartet of exhaust pipes, these between what look to be Lotus Evija–style Venturi tunnels and above a huge diffuser. There is also an intake periscope mounted to the cockpit roof together with an extended in-line wing element that runs over the engine cover. Bugatti hasn’t released any claimed aerodynamic downforce figures, but the car seems certain to produce substantial negative lift.Power comes from Bugatti’s long-serving quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, a developed version of the powerplant that has been used in all the company’s modern era products since the Veyron launched in 2005. In the original “experimental vehicle” concept, this ran on 110-octane race fuel and was claimed to be capable of producing up to 1825 horsepower. For the production Bolide, the company has opted to keep the engine tune compatible with commercially available premium gasoline, restricting output to a more modest 1578 horsepower, the same as in the Chiron Super Sport and Centodieci. This is accompanied by 1180 pound-feet of torque, available from just 2250 rpm.

While Bugatti hasn’t confirmed what transmission the production Bolide will use, the concept was built around the all-wheel-drive system of the company’s roadgoing cars, featuring a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Bugatti says the finished car will have a curb weight of 3200 pounds, svelte by the company’s modern standards, giving a power-to-weight ratio superior to that of any earlier Bugatti except the concept version. The Bolide’s structure is being designed to deliver protection equivalent to FIA safety standards and will include an automatic fire extinguisher system, a bladder fuel tank, and six-point safety harnesses.As with similar programs, including the Lamborghini SCV12 Essenza and Ferrari FXX, Bugatti says it is planning to offer buyers exclusive track days to experience the Bolide in conjunction with fellow owners, and without any of those vulgar GT Porsches. We still think that a race series would be more fun, though.One thing conspicuously missing from the latest release is any mention of the previous claim that the concept was designed to be capable of a 5:23 lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife—more than a minute inside the current “production car” lap record. We’d love to see some Bolide owners attempt that, too.

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