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President Biden is expected to announce today that his administration, with buy-in from several major automakers, will set voluntary targets for EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to account for 50 percent of new-car sales by 2030.Ford, GM, and Stellantis released a joint statement of support for the goal, contingent on the federal government providing significant support, including money for EV infrastructure and incentives to help entice buyers. BMW, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo also released statements in support of the goal.The administration is also expected to announce plans to restore Obama-era tailpipe emissions standards and to eventually set stricter regulations for tailpipe emissions starting with the 2027 model year, though the specific targets still haven’t been determined.President Biden is expected to announce this afternoon a set of plans intended to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce driving-related emissions. The New York Times says Biden will announce a return to Obama-era fuel economy standards, which were relaxed during the Trump administration. Biden is also expected to direct federal agencies to begin planning for even stricter emissions standards, which would take effect beginning with the 2027 model year. Biden has also said he will sign an executive order which will set a goal for EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to account for 50 percent of new car sales by 2030.
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That last proposal would rely on automakers making voluntary commitments to EVs and EV sales, and would lack any mechanism to enforce the 50 percent goal or to punish automakers who do not comply. Several automakers, including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo, in addition to the United Auto Workers, have already voiced support for the Biden administration’s emissions and EV sales goals.

But a joint statement from Ford, GM, and Stellantis adds an important caveat: Those automakers will strive for a 50 percent sales mix for EVs and plug-ins by the prescribed date as long as the federal government offers significant support towards that goal, including funding for EV-related infrastructure, support for domestic manufacturing and research and development, and increased incentives to encourage customers to buy the cars. EVs now account for around 3 percent of the U.S. car sales, though numbers are beginning to rise even without new investment from the government. The Senate is poised to vote on an infrastructure bill that would provide funding for some EV-related infrastructure, but the $15 billion this bill would set aside for EVs won’t be enough to fund all the initiatives that automakers say they’ll need to aggressively ramp up EV sales. An earlier proposal from the Biden administration would have provided $157 billion in funding for EV infrastructure, but the number was whittled down during a bipartisan negotiation process.
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McLaren Special Operations has revealed the Albert, a one-off version of the Speedtail commissioned by McLaren Beverly Hills.The name pays homage to the first Speedtail prototype, itself named for the original McLaren F1 test cars that were dubbed Albert after the street where McLaren was based.The paint job on the Albert is similar to the prototype’s camouflage wrap, and the mesmerizing lines took 12 weeks to paint onto the Speedtail’s aerodynamic body.McLaren is only building 106 examples of the sleek, 1035-hp, $2.1 million Speedtail, but the grey and white example seen here called Albert takes the exclusivity to the next level. The Albert is a one-off revealed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the division focused on making the automotive dreams of the uber-rich come true. It was commissioned by McLaren Beverly Hills.

McLaren

Although naming a car the Albert sounds odd, the moniker is a reference to the Speedtail’s ancestors. Back in 1992, the original test mules of the legendary McLaren F1 were called Albert in reference to the street, Albert Drive, where McLaren developed and built the supercar in Woking, England. As an homage to this, the original MVY02 Speedtail prototype was given the same name, which now migrates to this one-off honoring the test vehicle.

The original Albert was built to test the ergonomics of the central seat driving position, evaluating visibility and rear-view camera positioning. The MVY02 was the first Speedtail to be driven on public roads, and originally used the front-end bodywork from a 720S. The production-spec Albert mimics the prototype’s camouflage livery, with a complex paint job featuring a gradient of grey lines representing the airflow over the car. The car is painted in Magnesium Silver, the color of the first F1 road car revealed at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix, and Ueno Grey, which adorned the F1 GTR that trumped at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. The MSO team spent 12 weeks applying the intricate paint job. The Albert is set to debut at Sunset GT, a cars and coffee event hosted by O’Gara Beverly Hills this Sunday in Los Angeles before Monterey Car Week kicks off on Monday.
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Morgan has created an off-road version of the Plus Four called the CX-T.It has a lifted suspension, an external roll cage, and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.Morgan says it will build eight examples of the CX-T for around $240,000.Morgan is the most eccentric of England’s many eccentric sports-car makers. But although Americans cannot currently buy any of the company’s models in the U.S. (plans continue to advance to bring both the Plus Four and Plus Six back here under replica car rules), we’re hoping somebody can fudge the paperwork to get the newly unveiled Plus Four CX-T brought into the ‘States. Described as a car “designed for overland adventure,” it is basically an off-road version of the Plus Four, featuring a substantial external roll cage and various other modifications to help it to cut it in the wilderness. It doesn’t have all-wheel drive, though. Like the regular Plus Four the CX-T sends power exclusively to the rear axle.

Its wilderness ability comes from Maxxis all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and the fitment of a new BMW-sourced electronically controlled limited-slip differential with various modes for different conditions including “all terrain” and “extreme,” the latter of which locks the differential. As with the standard Plus Four, power comes from BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Morgan

The roll cage is described by the company as protective exoskeleton, with the integration of a fixed roof meaning this is technically the first coupe Morgan has produced since the Aeromax in 2009. The cage incorporates mountings for rally lights, an aluminum tool box, bespoke luggage, two spare wheels, and what the official release says is “recovery equipment”—presumably winches and traction pads to help it escape when stuck. Additional mountings on the roof will accommodate bicycles or even surfboards. The CX-T’s suspension is similar to the larger Plus Six’s and has new coilover dampers that have been developed by motorsport preparations specialists Rally Raid UK, which regularly works on Dakar Rally challengers. Ground clearance has been increased to 9.0 inches, with that figure helped by a redesigned side-exit exhaust system. That isn’t much by the standards of tougher off-roaders, but a set of bash guards will give additional underbody protection if obstacles do get too close.

Morgan

Morgan says it is planning to build up to eight of the CX-T, with each one costing the equivalent of $240,000 before local taxes. That’s more than twice as much as British buyers have to pay for the standard Plus Four, but the CX-T does look as if it could be more than twice as much fun.
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The New York auto show, previously rescheduled for August, has now been canceled.The show said that it’s due to a rise in COVID-19 Delta variant cases and stricter public-health measures put in place in New York City.Debuts that were scheduled for the auto show include the Nissan 400Z, Subaru WRX, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.The organizers of the New York auto show announced that the show has been canceled and will not take place in 2021. It had previously been rescheduled for August, a change from its typical place in the calendar in the spring. We’re not sure what this means for the many new-vehicle debuts that were planned for the show, including the 2022 Subaru WRX, Nissan Z, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.

The show said in a statement that the cancelation is due to “the growing incidences of the Covid-19 Delta variant and the increased measures announced recently by State and local officials to stop its spread.” The organizers now say that the next New York auto show will be in spring 2022. The show was also canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic after initially being rescheduled for August.We will keep you updated about any news regarding the reveals that had been planned for this show. The Nissan Z debut is scheduled for August 17, a few days before the show, and the Subaru WRX is scheduled for August 19—we haven’t heard about any changes to those plans yet, but stay tuned.
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Tesla has increased the base price of the Model S Long Range to $91,190.It has gotten steadily more expensive recently, as the Long Range was previously available for just over $70,000.The Model S Long Range achieved a real-world highway driving range of 320 miles in our testing.Tesla has been steadily increasing the base price of the Model S, and it has now reached above $90,000. The Long Range model, which previously started at just over $70,000 but has seen numerous price adjustments recently, now costs $91,190 to start according to Tesla’s website.

This price includes white exterior paint, 19-inch wheels, and a black interior. Other exterior and interior colors cost $1500–$2500 extra, as do the optional $4500 21-inch wheels that reduce the estimated range. The standard Model S Long Range is rated to go 405 miles on a charge by the EPA, and in our 75-mph highway efficiency test a Model S Long Range achieved 320 miles.There’s also a more powerful Model S Plaid model available, but its price has not changed since it increased by $10,000 back in June. It starts at $131,190, offers 1020 horsepower, and has an estimated range of 348 miles. Tesla’s website currently estimates that buyers who place an order now for either the Long Range or Plaid models can expect to have their vehicles delivered in March or April 2022.
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The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, which received a light facelift, will start at $27,190 for the front-wheel drive base S trim, $750 more than last year.The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line are replaced by one model, the SEL R-Line, that splits their starting prices at $37,790 and comes standard with all-wheel drive.The cheapest Tiguan is pricier than the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson but comes in below the Toyota RAV4.For 2022, the VW Tiguan compact crossover gets a facelift with sharper styling and upgraded tech, and now the German company has released pricing for the updated model. The base Tiguan S with front-wheel drive will start at $27,190, a $750 increase from 2021, with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive available for an extra $1500. All-wheel drive is an option on first three trim levels, but comes standard on the top SEL R-Line model, which starts at $37,790. The 2022 SEL R-Line is more expensive than the 2021 SEL but cheaper than last year’s top trim, the SEL Premium R-Line.

Volkswagen

In between the S and SEL R-Line are the SE—$30,690 for front-wheel drive and $32,190 for all-wheel drive—and SE R-Line Black, which starts at $33,490. Every 2022 Tiguan features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 184 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Front-wheel-drive versions include three rows of seats, uncommon for the segment, while all-wheel-drive variants are limited to two rows.

The Tiguan is priced a little higher than some of its rivals in the compact-crossover market. The base Tiguan S is pricer than the Honda CR-V LX ($26,575), Mazda CX-5 Sport ($26,545), Ford Escape S ($26,800), and Hyundai Tucson SE ($26,135). Still, the Tiguan undercuts the Toyota RAV4 LE ($27,565) and the SEL R-Line is cheaper than some of the high-end trims on its competitors. The Tiguan is due to reach dealerships in the United States during the third quarter of this year.
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An elderly woman is crying profusely over the phone, and all anyone can do is listen and try to console her. Through no fault of her own, she’s now beside herself with a $7000 repair estimate for a car that has become a 3500-pound paperweight. The only thing she knows about cars is how to drive one. Guess who was responsible for this tragic scene? The guy writing this article.

That’s right. I was guilty—not by intent, but by association and anecdotal experience. Guess who recommended to her that she buy that car? Yep, that was me. I bought a reliable version of the same model—a car that’s still on the road with 350,000-plus miles on the odometer—more than 20 years ago. In fact, my evangelizing about the reliability of that daily driver, a 1994 Toyota Camry coupe, eventually led my family to buy four more Camrys. Between 1994 and 2012, those were the only cars bought by my parents and brothers. I drank the industry Kool-Aid that makes many of us believe that, out of that ocean of millions of cars, only a few chosen models can offer you true long-term reliability.That’s no longer true. Soon after that woman on the phone (my mom) was given that jaw-dropping estimate, I decided to do two things. First, I replaced a sensor and told the dealer where he could stick that estimate. And second, I became involved with a project called the Long-Term Quality Index (LTQI), a collaborative effort that studies the reliability of used cars. The study now includes data on more than 1.4 million vehicles that have been independently inspected by certified mechanics. When it comes to used-car shopping, this is a smidgen of what has been found so far:

Sports Cars Often Are the Most Reliable CarsLet us give you an example that hit us right between the eyes. The Toyota Camry has long been hailed as reliability incarnate, along with the Honda Accord, the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic. We at the Long-Term Quality Index expected those models to be right at the top.But guess which older, used vehicles outperform all of them according to LTQI data? A Ford Explorer? A Chevrolet Silverado? Nope, not even close. Try sports cars and roadsters such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Mercedes SL-class, and the BMW Z3 and Z4 convertibles. As time passes, two big ingredients help these models offer one tasty recipe for long-term reliability: care-conscious owners and strong powertrains make a real difference.After years and sometimes even decades, these four sports cars provide outstanding reliability because they offer the perfect combination that makes longevity a reality: attentive owners who usually install quality replacement parts, and powertrains designed to withstand demands that go beyond daily driving. (More on this point can be found here.)Cars with Reliable Reputations Can Also Be Rolling Money TrapsA 10-year-old Camry sounds like a great idea until you find out about frequent engine issues and melting dashboards. LTQI data shows that a Camrys of that vintage are just middle-of-the-pack, not leaders. And another similarly well-regarded vehicle, the Honda Accord, has good years and bad years thanks to chronic transmission issues that apparently took several years to resolve.Unpopular Cars Can Be Reliable . . . and Dirt CheapYou don’t have to buy an old person’s car like a Buick Park Avenue or Lincoln Town Car to buy a car that lasts. Fun can be had along with long-term quality if you spread your search to the unpopular cars. Volkswagen is a damaged brand at the moment, and many of its powertrains aren’t a good deal. But if you stick with a manual transmission, and an engine that doesn’t have a turbocharger or direct injection, you may be able to get a quality vehicle at a discount thanks to all the bad publicity these days.

And Unloved Badge-Engineered Siblings Are Even BetterHave you ever heard of a Suzuki Equator? It’s a version of the mid-size Nissan Frontier truck with different badging that nobody ever shops for because Suzuki hasn’t sold new cars in the United States since 2012. This lack of advertising makes the Equator thousands of dollars cheaper than the Frontier while offering the same level of quality. The Equator also came with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, unlike the Frontier. That same lack of new-car advertising made the Pontiac Vibe compact cheaper than its genetically identical clone, the Toyota Corolla Matrix. The Toyota Camry was the right decision for my family, until it wasn’t. Quality can change over time. So choose a smart path. Invest time in questioning the owner. Make condition your priority, and don’t talk yourself out of buying a car that’s fast and fun. Sometimes the best deals are exactly where you wouldn’t expect to find them.Steve Lang has been an auto auctioneer, car dealer, and part owner of an auto auction for nearly two decades.

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After releasing the Outback Wilderness earlier this year, Subaru is expanding the all-terrain trim to a new model, showing two teaser images.The images don’t show which model it will be, but we expect it to be the Ascent three-row SUV.Expect a minor suspension lift, all-terrain tires, and lots of Wilderness-specific trim when Subaru reveals the new model in the near future.Earlier this year, Subaru showed off the Outback Wilderness, a new trim level that took the already rugged wagon-turned-crossover and prepped it for more serious off-road duties. Now Subaru is applying the Wilderness badge to a new member of their lineup, with two teasers hinting that it might be the Ascent three-row crossover.

Subaru

Though the tightly cropped teaser images don’t reveal much, the first photo shows the Wilderness badge adorning the door next to chunky plastic wheel arch cladding while the second image features most of the front door and fender. We think it is the Ascent judging by the shape of the front end and the fact that, as Subaru’s largest crossover, it is already well-suited vehicle for camping and other excursions. The Forester or the Crosstrek are likely candidates for the Wilderness treatment, too, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Subaru’s entire crossover lineup gain this trim at some point.

Regardless of the model, Subaru’s next Wilderness model will likely have similar modifications as the Outback. We can already see that it sports the same Geyser Blue paint, and we expect a suspension lift—the Outback gains 0.8 inches for 9.5 inches of total ground clearance. Redesigned bumpers should create better approach and departure angles and model-specific wheels will come wrapped in all-terrain rubber. Other visual changes could include a front skid plate, roof rack, and a unique grille, and while the engine should remain unchanged, there might be some retuning of the transmission. Like the Outback Wilderness, the interior will probably feature StarTex, a water-repelling fabric.We expect to hear more about this mysterious Wilderness model soon, although Subaru didn’t say when more information would be released.
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