Motor News

The Aston Martin Valhalla started out quite different from the car we see here today, in part because of company changes including the arrival of former AMG head Tobias Moers as Aston’s new CEO.Instead of the expected V-6, the mid-engine Valhalla will get a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 sourced from AMG.The first customers should get the Valhalla in late 2023, and they’ll pay around $800,000 for it, which is much less than the seven-figure prices that were expected when the car was first discussed.Aston Martin first confirmed it was planning to produce two other mid-engine supercars to follow the Adrian Newey–designed Valkyrie back in 2019, releasing rendered images of what would become known as the Valhalla at the same point. But the change in the company’s senior management last year, when a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll took control of the English company and former AMG boss Tobias Moers arrived as CEO, has led to a bold new direction for the car.

The Valhalla name remains, and some of the original design concept lives on, but almost everything else has changed. Red Bull Racing’s connection with the car has been unsurprisingly broken now that Aston has its own Formula 1 team, and the Valhalla will now use an AMG-sourced V-8 in place of the hybridized V-6 engine that Aston had previously committed to building itself. It will also be a plug-in hybrid with an electrically powered front axle, production won’t be limited to 500 cars, and the outline pricing has fallen considerably from the $1.3 million we were originally told to expect.

Aston Martin

Back in May, Moers told Car and Driver that work on the new V-6 had barely started when he arrived at Aston, making the swap to AMG power an obvious decision. We are told that the mid-mounted 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will be based on the flat-plane-crank engine produced for the AMG GT Black Series and will be capable of revving to 7200 rpm and of making 740 horsepower. Company insiders have also indicated that engines will be hand-built from AMG-supplied components in the U.K.The V-8 will send drive to the rear axle through a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox from Italian supplier Graziano. It will be supplemented by two electric motors, one powering the front axle and the other blending assistance with the combustion engine at the rear through the transmission. Together Aston says these can add up to 200 horsepower, making for a peak combined output of 937 horsepower. The company is promising a 2.5-second zero-to-62-mph time and a 217-mph top speed and says the car is on track to deliver a 6:30 lap time of the 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife. (The current production-car record there is the 6:43.3 recently set by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.)

Aston Martin

The new gearbox will also use an electric reverse and incorporate an electronically controlled limited-slip differential at the rear axle. While the full battery specs haven’t been released yet, it appears to be same actively cooled 400-volt, 6.1-kWh unit that AMG has developed for the next-generation four cylinder C63 (a project that Moers led while at Daimler).Like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the Valhalla will be able to operate in pure electric mode, although only for short distances and with drive delivered exclusively through the front axle. This EV mode will have a top speed of 80 mph and a range of around nine miles under the EU’s WLTP testing protocol. The car will also support recharge speeds of up to 150 kW.The Valhalla’s structure is based around a central carbon-fiber tub with subframes for suspension and engine mounted to this. Aston says it is targeting a dry weight of less than 3418 pounds. The front suspension uses pushrods, and the rear axle has a multi-link design. Adaptive dampers and two-stage springs from Canadian supplier Multimatic will allow an ultra-low track mode to help increase downforce; the combination of active elements at the front, the huge adjustable rear wing, and the underbody Venturi tunnels will allow the Valhalla to produce up to 1322 pounds of this. The roof “snorkel” incorporates separate intakes, the one in the center feeds the engine’s induction system, those on either side channel cooling air. Carbon-ceramic brakes will be standard and will work with an e-booster. Aston also confirms the Valhalla will use electric power steering and it will also get a suite of active safety systems including adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It will also get conventional side mirrors, supplemented by a camera-based rearview screen in the cockpit; it would be impossible to see through the carbon-fiber engine cover with its twin upturned exhausts. The interior will feature fixed seats with a movable pedal box, Aston’s forthcoming new UI system—the first to support a touchscreen interface—and the all-important supercar dihedral doors.Pricing hasn’t been finalized, but we’re told to expect it will be somewhere around the $800,000 mark, with the first customer deliveries due in the second half of 2023. That’s a huge amount of money, but a substantial saving from the seven-figure price that the Valhalla was originally proposed to have. Which must mean it qualifies as a bargain.

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Ford designed a special F-150 pickup for the video game Rocket League, in which rocket-powered cars playing soccer.Now Ford has built a full-size version, the F-150 Rocket League Edition, which it revealed at the Chicago auto show—but just for fun, since it’s not going to be produced for customers.The vehicle is recognizable as a F-150 but features highlighter green accents, redesigned fascias, and, of course, a rocket launcher in the bed.In February, Ford announced a partnership with video game maker Psyonix to design a version of the F-150 pickup for the game Rocket League, which is effectively soccer but with rocket-powered cars. Today, at the 2021 Chicago auto show, Ford revealed a full-size version of the F-150 Rocket League Edition, the first time a vehicle from the game has been brought to life. [editoriallinks id=’67cd8259-e736-413c-ba91-4ae4daf10706′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]The Rocket League Edition is clearly based on the production F-150—retaining the body shape, thick round wheel arches, and drop-down windows—but it takes the details to another level. The traditional grille has been replaced with an indented section with chunky “Ford” lettering reminiscent of the grille on the Raptor. Highlighter green accents adorn the truck’s bumpers, and trim pieces link the rear wheel arch to the top of the bed and run up the A-pillar to the roof-mounted lights.[image id=’280392a5-915d-464e-a4fe-06eb2dba55f4′ mediaId=’d0495917-b508-45d9-bd1e-61f3d964d71f’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]The F-150 Rocket League Edition rides on 37-inch tires and features a stance wider that than of the Raptor. “F-150” is emblazoned across the tailgate, while a (definitely not real) rocket launcher sits in the bed with vents exiting through the taillights, allowing the F-150 to perform epic jumps and score goals in the Rocket League virtual world. Both the headlights and taillights preserve the C-shaped LED signature from the production F-150 but do away with the rest of the light units for a more futuristic look.[editoriallinks id=’11cfd95e-4bf1-4a17-ba5e-bd9baa2fee26′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]The F-150 Rocket League Edition was originally available as an in-game purchase in February, when Ford also sponsored the Rocket League Championship Series Winter Majors tournament and the Ford + Rocket League Freestyle Invitational, a style-based driving competition that saw the winner receive a free 2021 F-150.[poll id=’571c2544-b6e4-44c5-9019-038208f2adaf_ec53e58c08397′ type=’text’ question=’Would you buy a Rocket League Edition F-150 in real life?’ answer1=’Yes, it’s so cool!’ answer2=’No, it’s gimmicky.’][/poll]

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The 2022 Chevy Colorado is adding a Trail Boss off-road package.It includes a lifted suspension, skid plates, different wheels, and a few other tweaks.The dealer-installed package is available for $2995 on LT models and $2895 on Z71 models.Like its big sibling the Silverado, the Chevy Colorado pickup will offer a Trail Boss off-road package starting for the 2022 model year. The dealer-installed extra will be offered for $2995 on LT models and $2895 on Z71 models, and it includes a suspension lift, different wheels, skid plates, and a few visual modifications—similar to the AT4 trim level already offered for its mechanical twin, the GMC Canyon.

The suspension lift raises the truck 1.0-inch, and the package also includes the removal of the front air dam and the addition of skid plates for the front and middle of the underbody. Other add-ons include red tow hooks, black badges, and 17-inch black wheels taken from the full-blown ZR2 off-road model.

Chevrolet

The 2022 Colorado is otherwise unchanged and continues to offer three engine choices: a 2.5-liter inline-four, a 3.6-liter V-6, and a turbodiesel 2.8-liter inline-four. Elsewhere in the Chevy truck lineup, the Silverado is scheduled to receive an update for 2022, and the full-size pickup will add an off-road ZR2 version of its own.
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Volkswagen’s redesigned Golf GTI hot hatchback will reach dealers by the end of 2021 with a starting price of $30,540 for the base S model.Mid-range SE and top-spec Autobahn trims will also be offered and will cost $35,290 and $38,990 before options. These base prices include a six-speed manual transmission; upgrading to the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic adds $800.We’ve been impatiently waiting for the redesigned 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI to make its way stateside and we’re happy to report that the hot hatchback is on track to go on sale before the end of 2021. It will be offered in three trims–S, SE, and Autobahn–and will start at $30,540, just $850 more than the outgoing 2021 model.

Volkswagen

For that price, the S model offers a six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic climate control, plaid seats with heating for the driver and front passenger, a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and an 8.3-inch infotainment display, among other features.

The SE will start at $35,290 and adds a sunroof, a larger 10.0-inch infotainment display, and a Harman/Kardon stereo system. The top-spec Autobahn will cost $38,990 and comes with 19-inch wheels with summer tires, adaptive dampers, leather upholstery, cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a 12-way power driver’s seat. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is optional on all models and costs $800.

Volkswagen

All Golf GTIs will come with a 241-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an limited-slip differential. At our test track, a Euro-spec 2022 Golf GTI with the optional automatic transmission snapped off a brisk 5.1-second zero-to-60-mph time, which is 0.7-second quicker than the previous-generation model. During that test drive, we also praised the GTI’s sharp handling.Volkswagen says the 2022 Golf GTI in its various trim levels will be available for retail sales nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2021.
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The VW Golf R is new for 2022 and starts at $44,640.Power comes from a 315-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.U.S. Volkswagen dealerships should start receiving the 2022 Golf R by the end of 2021.

Enthusiasts who want more performance than what the standard Golf GTI offers will soon have the 2022 Golf R to choose from, as the ultimate VW hot hatch prepares to reenter the U.S. market in late 2021 following a two-year hiatus. The wait promises to be worth it, as the redesigned Golf R boasts a more powerful, 315-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.

Volkswagen

The Golf R will be offered essentially as a monospec car with few options, and its starting price is a heady $44,640. For that amount, you’ll get Nappa leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, three-zone automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an an all-digital dashboard with a 10.0-inch infotainment system and a 10.3-inch digital gauge display.

Volkswagen

A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is available for $800. Aside from the AWD system, a number of other performance-enhancing standard features set the Golf R apart from the less expensive and less powerful Golf GTI, such as 19-inch wheels with summer tires, adaptive dampers, and larger front brakes.

The Golf R looks more upscale, too, with its matte-aluminum side mirror caps, illuminated grille, blue-painted brake calipers, and a smattering of R logos, including one that’s projected from the car’s puddle lamp onto the ground below. Volkswagen says the new Golf R will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2021 and will arrive around the same time as the Golf GTI. Once they arrive, the dynamic duo from Wolfsburg will take on a crop of competitive sport compact cars such as the Honda Civic Type R, the Hyundai Veloster N, the Mini Cooper JCW, and the Subaru WRX.
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The Pininfarina design firm has unveiled the Teorema concept, a low-slung aerodynamic missile riding on an electric skateboard chassis and featuring autonomous driving capability.The Teorema concept stretches a couple of inches longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe, but the roof is about 20 inches lower than that of the Chevy SUV.Five passengers can fit in the Teorema, with the driver in a central seating position akin to the one found in the McLaren F1.Pininfarina has been especially busy of late. After the recent announcement that Pininfarina will pen a 1000-hp electric truck for Detroit startup Hercules, the storied Italian design house has revealed this Teorema concept. Sitting on an electric skateboard chassis, with the battery tucked away under the floor, the Teorema concept has been created for an autonomous future and puts an emphasis on maximizing interior space.

The Teorema was a joint project between Pininfarina’s teams in Cambiano, Italy, and Shanghai, China, and the vehicle was developed using virtual reality technology. The Teorema is 212.6 inches long—longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe—but measures just 55.1 inches high, around 20 inches lower than the Chevy SUV. Despite its sleek appearance, the Teorema still has a roomy interior since the electric platform allowed Pininfarina to stretch the vehicle’s proportions to create a lounge-like space. Pininfarina says that passengers enter the Teorema by “simply walking inside of it” as the roof rises upward and forward, although the company didn’t provide images or video of this feature.

Pininfarina

Inside, the passengers sit in a space shaped like a pentagon. The driver, who can choose whether or not to exit autonomous mode and actively drive, sits alone up front in a central seating position but can spin the seat around and let the Teorema handle the driving duties. Since the Teorema has no doors on the side of the vehicle, passengers can also convert the four chairs into benches and sit using the side of the car as a backrest.

Pininfarina

Pininfarina typically doesn’t build cars itself, other than the upcoming Battista electric hypercar, so the Teorema likely has no chance of reaching production. Instead, it shows off Pininfarina’s design expertise and previews how the company will approach design in the electric autonomous future as it partners with companies such as Karma Automotive and Vietnam’s VinFast.
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Hyundai has revealed the global version of the new Elantra N high-performance sedan. U.S. specs will be shared at the New York auto show next month. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 286 horsepower with an N Grin Shift overboost function. The 2022 Elantra N should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year or early next year starting at around $30,000.Hyundai is pushing its high-performance N subbrand into more relevance with the new Elantra N. It joins the Veloster N hatchback and Kona N crossover in the Korean automaker’s lineup as the first full-blown N sedan model. The car you see here is the global version of the Elantra N, but Hyundai confirmed it’s coming to the U.S. and that we will learn more about the car that’s headed stateside when it makes its North American debut in August at the New York auto show.
All three existing N models share a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque in the Elantra N under normal operation. It’s available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. An overboost function (only on DCT-equipped cars) provides an extra 10 horsepower for 20 seconds and is engaged via a button on the steering wheel. Elantra Ns with the dual-clutch come with a launch control function, and Hyundai claims a zero-to-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Like the other N models, it has a variable exhaust system, but Elantra N models add a virtual engine sound with three adjustable settings.

The Elantra N comes with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and an independent rear suspension like the less powerful N-Line model (base Elantra models use a torsion beam in the rear). N models also use an integrated drive axle that is stiffer and lighter than a conventional drive axle. They get 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and 14.2-inch rotors.
The Elantra N’s digital gauge cluster displays oil and coolant temps, torque, and boost pressure. And, like the new Kona N, there’s an N mode lap timer integrated into the infotainment that can be linked to a mobile app, too. Optional N bucket seats add a lit-up N emblem in the headrest. The Elantra N should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year or early next year, and we expect it to start at around $30,000.
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Jeep has revealed the 2022 Compass, which has interior and exterior updates.A new 10.1-inch infotainment screen is newly optional.The 2.4-liter inline-four engine remains, and is available with either front- or all-wheel drive.The 2022 Jeep Compass is getting a mid-cycle update, with the biggest news being the SUV’s updated interior and technology options. The 2022 Compass also gets exterior updates for this including a revised front end with smaller LED headlights, a larger lower grille, thinner grille slats, and new taillights.It’s the interior where Stellantis made the biggest changes, and the 2022 model now looks more like the Europe-market Compass than the previous U.S. version. The acres of plastic have been reduced in favor of an upholstered and stitched dashboard. The standard 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system remains the same, but there’s now an optional 10.1-inch screen, and all systems now use the latest Uconnect 5 software.
Jeep also introduced a new trim level, the Latitude Lux, which includes heated leather front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster, 18-inch wheels, and the optional and 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The other trim levels include Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk.

Jeep says it has upgraded the steering and suspension for 2022, but the Compass’s powertrain unfortunately remains the same. We called it the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four lethargic before, and have no expectation that this will be different for 2022. It produces the same 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, and the two available transmissions carry over: a six-speed automatic in the front-wheel-drive model and a nine-speed automatic in all-wheel-drive models.
As before, the 2022 Compass offers two all-wheel-drive systems, and if you want the 20:1 crawl ratio for off-roading, you’ll want the Trailhawk trim, which also offers an extra inch of ground clearance for a total of 8.6 inches. The 2022 Compass can tow a maximum of 2000 pounds. There is no manual-transmission option.Prices start at $26,490 for the front-wheel-drive Compass Sport, a $500 increase from last year. The Latitude starts at $28,020, the Latitude Lux at $31,090, the Limited at $32,890, and the Trailhawk at $33,090. All-wheel drive is a $1500 option on the Sport and Latitude but comes standard on Latitude Lux, Trailhawk, and Limited models.Jeep didn’t mention anything about the 4xe plug-in-hybrid version during the Compass’ U.S. debut at the Chicago auto show, but since it has already been confirmed for Europe and Jeep has said it will offer a PHEV in every segment, we assume information on that model will come in the near future. The 2022 Compass will go on sale this fall.
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