Motor News

The Chevy COPO Camaro, a dedicated drag-racing special, returns for the 2022 model year and will be offered with three engines.A 572-cubic-inch (9.4-liter) big block V-8 is available, along with two small block V-8s, a 580-hp 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) unit and a 470-hp 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) motor.The 572 option starts at $105,500, while the naturally aspirated 427 will cost $117,500 and the supercharged 350 will set you back $130,000.A recent report suggested that the current sixth generation Chevrolet Camaro could be replaced by an electric performance sedan in the near future, but before the Camaro ditches fossil fuels, Chevy has taken its muscle car to the extreme with the new 2022 COPO Camaro drag-racing special. Back in the late 1960s, Chevy had a system called Central Office Production Order (COPO) which allowed dealerships to order cars and trucks with non-standard colors or features. The purpose of COPO was for speciality vehicles for fleet customers, like trucking companies or police departments, but some savvy dealers who were passionate about drag-racing utilized COPO to create purpose-built dragsters. Chevy revived the COPO name in 2012 and has built speciality drag-racing Camaros every year since.

Chevrolet

For 2022, the COPO Camaro is available with a gigantic 572-cubic-inch (9.4 liter) big-block V-8, which Chevy says “channels the spirit of the original 1969 COPO Camaro.” Chevy didn’t reveal horsepower figures for the 572, but said that it uses a cast-iron block with aluminum heads, a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons. Chevy will also offer the COPO Camaro with two LS-based small block V-8s: a supercharged 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) unit rated by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) at 580 horsepower and a naturally aspirated 427-cubic-inch (7.0 liter) engine with 470 horsepower. All three engines are mated to an ATI Racing Products TH400 three-speed automatic transmission sending power exclusively to the rear wheels.

The COPO Camaro is not street legal but does qualify to race in NHRA Stock and Super Stock eliminators. All COPO Camaros feature a carbon fiber hood and wheelie bars, while a trunk-mounted weight box and parachute are optional. In the past, Chevy limited production of COPO Camaros to 69 units per year (mimicking the production run of the original 1969 COPO Camaro) and had customers enter a lottery, but Chevy won’t restrict production of this 2022 model and will sell it on a first-come, first-serve basis. The 572 COPO Camaro starts at $105,500, while the 427 starts at $117,500 and the 350 starts at $130,000. Customers are told to “see your dealer” about tax, registration, and destination charge. Buyers can submit an order form online and can receive a private tour of the COPO Build Facility in Oxford, Michigan, with their new drag-racing Camaro.
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In this week’s episode of Window Shop with Car and Driver, we look for vehicles that we think will survive a demolition derby. While the regulars have certainly crashed cars before, they didn’t do it on purpose—or so they say. For an expert opinion, we invited contributor Derek Powell, who has competed in numerous demo derbies over the past two decades and has a rather garish trophy to prove it. Powell gets the show rolling with a car he’s taken to victory: the Lincoln Mark V. With bodywork drawn using a T-square, massive overhangs, and a well-protected radiator, this car can withstand a lot of abuse. Powell also gives us some pointers on how to win. Next up, senior editor Elana Scherr surprises us with a Rolls Royce. The pick is a controversial one, but Scherr makes a strong case for the outrageousness of repeatedly crashing a Rolls. The conversation turns to all of the valuable things you can sell off this car as you prepare it for gladiatorial glory or death. In much the same vein, contributor Jonathon Ramsey selects a remarkably clean but high-mileage Mercedes-Benz S-class of the W126 vintage. Ramsey’s battle cruiser looks far too nice to send to automotive Valhalla, but the showmanship can’t be denied. Following Ramsey is Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman, who presents a late-model Lincoln Town Car. The Lincoln certainly has its advantages, but the crew is a bit bored by the thought of seeing a Town Car smashed to bits. Deputy editor Tony Quiroga’s choice isn’t quite as exciting as some of the other contestants, but this car’s four-wheel-drive system raises some questions about what’s allowed to run in a demo derby. Come voting time, we argue about style over substance and whose car will be talked about after the derby ends. We also get so nostalgic for the celebrity demo derbies covered by ABC’s Wide World of Sports, we start watching a video of one from 1976.

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Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the EQE will debut at the Munich (formerly Frankfurt) auto show this September, releasing a teaser image of a sedan that looks like a shrunken version of the range-topping EQS sedan.The first EV from the performance-oriented AMG division will also be revealed in Munich and will likely be based on the EQS.Mercedes will also reveal a Maybach concept at the show, which is expected to be the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV that was teased at a recent press conference.Mercedes-Benz has been on an electric-vehicle offensive this year, unveiling the subcompact EQA crossover, the slightly boxier EQB crossover, and the opulent, top-of-the-line EQS sedan. The German luxury marque is showing no signs of slowing down, announcing today that it will bring a slew of new electric-vehicle debuts to the 2021 IAA, Germany’s international auto show, being held in Munich for the first time after being hosted by Frankfurt since 1951.

Mercedes-Benz

According to the Mercedes announcement, two of the new EVs are set to be production-spec vehicles. The first will be the new EQE, seen in the shadowy teasers provided by Mercedes. The EQE will sit beneath the EQS in the Mercedes lineup and, as the name suggests, is effectively an E-class-size electric sedan. From the teaser, the EQE appears to have a similar jellybean shape to the larger EQS as well as smooth bodywork and a full-width taillight. The interior teaser shows ambient lighting, a digital instrument cluster, and a large central infotainment display reminiscent of the EQS’s gigantic Hyperscreen.

Mercedes will also use the Munich show to introduce the first EV to be upgraded by AMG, Mercedes’s in-house tuner. In the announcement, Mercedes confirmed that the electric AMG will be a sedan, meaning it will likely be based on the EQS, since the only other Mercedes EV sedan is the EQE that will be unveiled at the same show.

Mercedes-Benz

Lastly, Mercedes will reveal an electric concept from the high-end Mercedes-Maybach luxury arm. Although Mercedes didn’t specify what shape this decadent EV will take, it will likely be an SUV, considering that Mercedes recently showed a teaser for the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. The EQS SUV will act as an electric counterpart to the gas-powered full-size GLS, which itself has an expensive Maybach version. The concept’s design should be close to that of the production car, which has been spotted testing and is expected to go on sale next year.
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Bowler’s Land Rover Defender Challenge series is one of the coolest one-make championships on the planet. And with the new 2022 Land Rover Defender on the scene, that means a newly revamped spec racing truck. The Bowler Defender Challenge will use identically prepared vehicles based on the 2022 Defender 90 for the 2022 season forward, and they look like an absolute blast to drive.

Like previous Defender Challenge trucks, each new model gets its interior stripped out and replaced by a full FIA-standard roll cage paired with racing buckets, harnesses, a fire suppression system, cut-off switches, and a host of other safety gear. There are column-mounted shifter paddles specially developed by Bowler, and a repositioned shifter for quick driver access.On the outside, Defender Challenge trucks get Bowler-designed 18-inch wheels and a modified front end to improve airflow to the 295-hp turbocharged inline-four. Underneath, there are underbody protection panels as well as modified subframes and bracing for the bespoke Fox Racing suspension setup, which increases the ride by just under an inch. Bowler is planning to run seven Defender Challenge events in the United Kingdom next year, with 12 entry spots available to customers. Each truck will cost the equivalent of around $138,000, and that includes entry fees for the season as well as full technical support at each race. If you’ve ever done a full season of stage rally before, you’ll know just how reasonable that is. You’ll be able to see the new Defender Challenge in action during its public debut at the 400-km Iceland Hill Rally, happening August 6–8, 2021.
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Certain 2022 Volvo models will add new 48-volt hybrid powertrains, badged B5 and B6.EPA ratings for the 2022 S60, XC60, S90, and V90 Cross Country show a boost in city fuel economy estimates.All models still use a 2.0-liter inline-four engine with either a turbocharger or a turbocharger and a supercharger.Volvo is aiming to boost fuel efficiency by bringing its 48-volt hybrid system to certain U.S. models for 2022. EPA ratings for the 2022 Volvo S60, S90, XC60, and V90 Cross Country show new B5 and B6 designations with slightly higher city fuel economy ratings than the nonhybrid T5 and T6 predecessors. the S60, for instance, rises from 23 mpg city to 26 mpg city, while the V90 Cross Country goes from 20 mpg city to 22 mpg city.These B5 and B6 powertrains already exist in other markets, and they use the same 2.0-liter inline-four found in all Volvo models in the U.S. The S60 and XC60 are offered as standard with the B5 powertrain, which has a turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter four, while there’s a more powerful B6 turbocharged and supercharged version of the engine available as an option on the XC60 and as standard in the larger S90 sedan and V90 Cross Country wagon.

Volvo has yet to release detailed U.S. specs for this new powertrain, but the horsepower ratings for the hybridized versions of these engines may change compared with the current models. Going by European specs, the B5 could have 247 horsepower and the B6 could have 295 horsepower, compared with 250 horsepower and 316 horsepower for the existing T5 and T6 models.Look for more info to come as Volvo releases U.S.-specific details for these new B5 and B6 designations. For now, it appears that the XC40 and XC90 SUVs and the V60 Cross Country wagon won’t receive the 48-volt system yet.
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Trevor Milton, who founded and then served as executive chairman at EV startup Nikola, was indicted Thursday morning by the U.S. Department of Justice on three counts of criminal fraud.Prosecutors allege that Milton made false and misleading statements to investors about the abilities and technology of the company’s products, allegedly cheating investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.Nikola distanced itself from the indictment, which is only directed at Milton, and said that it is still aiming to start production of its Tre cab-over electric truck this year.The founder and former executive chairman of electric truck startup Nikola, Trevor Milton, has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on three counts of criminal fraud for making false and misleading statements to investors. The charges, brought by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, follow a year of turmoil for Milton, who resigned from the company in September 2020.A year ago, things were looking good for Nikola. The company was drumming up hype about its Badger pickup (pictured above), which was to be sold with electric and hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains, and was about to announce a partnership with General Motors, with GM engineering and assembling the Badger and taking a stake in Nikola. Soon after, however, a short seller called Hindenburg Research released a report accusing Nikola of fraud and specifically accusing Milton of lying about the technology and capabilities of Nikola’s vehicles. The fallout from the report saw Milton resign and GM back partly out of the deal, saying in November that it would only supply the fuel cells for the Badger.

According to the indictment, from November 2019 until his resignation in September 2020, Milton allegedly deceived investors into buying Nikola shares by making untruthful statements regarding the company’s products and underlying technology. Following the indictment, Nikola released a statement clarifying that “today’s government actions are against Mr. Milton individually, and not against the company” and that “Nikola has cooperated with the government throughout the course of its inquiry.”

Nikola

Last November, Nikola confirmed that it had received grand jury subpoenas from the Department of Justice regarding the fraud allegations, and in February, after an external review by a law firm, the company admitted that both it and Milton had made partially or completely inaccurate statements. Prosecutors in the indictment claim these false statements caused individual investors in Nikola to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Milton had previously tweeted that he would stand up against “false allegations” before deleting his Twitter account in September of last year and vanishing from the public eye. In its statement, Nikola said it is “focused on delivering Nikola Tre battery-electric trucks later this year.” The Tre is a cab-over semi truck that Nikola claims will have a 753.0-kWh battery and 350 miles of range, with production to begin this year and a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain joining the lineup in 2023. Nikola’s stock prices dropped 10 percent in pre-market trading today following news of the indictment.
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The 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition is limited to 220 units, and buyers get the chance to enter in an off-road competition in North Carolina this fall. It’s based on the Defender 110 P400 X-Dynamic SE, and comes with all kinds of off-road goodies such as all-terrain tires, air springs, a roof rack, and a deployable ladder. Orders open next month starting at $91,350. Land Rover is hosting an off-road competition event at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina on October 11, and if you buy one of these Defender Trophy Editions you get to chance to participate. The winner even gets to go on to an event in the U.K next year.

Land Rover

The Trophy Edition is limited to only 220 units and has similar looks to the 399-hp V-8–powered Defender Works V8 Trophy that Land Rover unveiled earlier this year. The Defender’s optional expedition roof rack, deployable ladder, skid plates, and integrated air compressor all come with it along with more black exterior trim. A winch can be included as a dealer-installed accessory.

It’s based off a 2022 Defender 110 P400 X-Dynamic SE model, which comes with four-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter inline-six with an electric supercharger and 48-volt hybrid system generating a total of 396 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The limited-edition trucks come equipped with all sorts of off-road equipment including all-terrain tires, air springs, an electronically controlled rear differential, off-road drive modes including, and 360-degree cameras that act as digital trail spotters.

Land Rover

Land Rover

The Land Rover U.S. Trophy Competition in North Carolina has room for up to 90 two-person teams, and it’s first come first serve, so we feel for those 130 buyers of the special-edition Defender who get left out. Owners will compete in on- and off-road challenges with the help of professional coaches, and the winning team, determined by a panel of judges, will get invited to the the Land Rover Trophy Competition at Eastnor Castle in England early next year. Orders for the Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition will open next month starting at $91,350.
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The new Mitsubishi Outlander will again have a plug-in-hybrid version.Unlike the current Outlander PHEV, the new model will have a third-row seat.The Outlander PHEV will arrive in the U.S. in the second half of calendar-year 2022, likely as a 2023 model.Mitsubishi is currently selling the previous-generation Outlander plug-in hybrid alongside the redesigned nonhybrid 2022 Outlander, but that will change next year when a PHEV version based on the new model arrives in the U.S. Mitsubishi shared two photos of the new hybrid and shared a few tidbits of information about this new model, saying that it will go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of 2022.

Mitsubishi

The new Outlander hybrid’s gas-electric powertrain will have a more powerful electric motor and a larger battery capacity, which should give it more electric driving range than the current car’s EPA rating of 24 miles on battery power. Mitsubishi also says that the packaging of the new platform allows for a third-row seat in the hybrid model, which gives it the same seven-passenger seating capacity as the nonhybrid.

It’s unclear if the Outlander’s corporate cousin, the Nissan Rogue, will also gain a plug-in-hybrid variant. The two models currently share a platform and a powertrain, but Nissan has not announced any plans for a Rogue hybrid. Other compact-crossover rivals have added plug-in-hybrid models recently including the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.
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