Motor News

The overhauled Audi A6 Avant kicks off a new generation for the automaker’s mid-size offering and should be joined by a sedan later this year.A turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 produces 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque and features 48-volt electrical assistance.The cabin features a 14.5-inch touchscreen, an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster, and an optional 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger.Audi is in the process of overhauling its bread-and-butter models. First Audi revealed the 2025 A5 sedan, a successor to the long-running A4. Next came the 2025 Q5, kicking off the third generation of the brand’s bestselling vehicle. Now Audi is launching a new A6, revealing the mid-size car in Avant wagon form first. While the new A6 Avant won’t be sold in the United States—at least not in non-RS or Allroad forms—a sedan will surely follow and carry many of the same upgrades as Europe’s Avant.Sleek Styling and 48-Volt AssistanceAudiAt first glance, the new A6 Avant doesn’t look like a radically new design, but its sharp creases and wide front grille give it an assertive, svelte look that is a significant departure from the stoic aura of the outgoing model. That gaping maw up front is composed of boomerang-shaped elements and is sandwiched by large vents that direct air around the side of the car. Deep indentations are carved into the hood, and the headlights are adorned with the intricate LEDs that Audi has become known for. The A6’s slippery bodywork contributes to a drag coefficient of 0.25, the lowest among internal-combustion Audis.Under the hood are three powertrains, but only one is likely to make its way stateside in the A6 sedan. While Europe receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 201 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder with the same power output, the U.S.-spec A6 will presumably be offered exclusively with the turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder that sends 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels and features 48-volt electrical assistance. While the gas 2.0-liter—which drives the front wheels only—needs 8.3 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62 mph, the V-6 does the same sprint in 4.7 ticks.AudiThe 48-volt system consists of a 1.7-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery hooked up to a belt alternator starter and a powertrain generator. The latter allows the A6 Avant to run on electric power while driving slowly, such as in traffic or when parking. It can also take over for short bursts when coasting and can supply an extra 24 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque when accelerating from a standstill or overtaking another car. The A6 Avant is also able to recuperate energy through the 48-volt system under braking.High-Tech Inside and OutThe A6 will be offered with rear-wheel steering when fitted with all-wheel-drive, helping the large wagon become more maneuverable in tight corners and more stable at higher speeds. Adaptive air suspension is available, and buyers can also add a Quattro Sport rear differential to make the wagon more agile. Audi says the steering is more direct than before thanks to a stiffer torsion bar and control arm bushings. Audi increased the camber on the front axle, also contributing to Audi’s claim of more communicative and responsive steering.AudiThe cabin follows the lead of the 2025 A5 and Q5, with a trio of screens and lots of silver trim. The main 14.5-inch touchscreen, angled slightly toward the driver, is supplemented by an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster. A head-up display is optional, as is a dedicated 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger. Goodies include a panoramic glass roof, a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system with speakers in the front headrests, and optional four-zone automatic climate control. The driver can also adjust the exterior lighting, choosing from seven different light signatures. The lights can also selectively brighten or dim different areas of the road ahead, improving safety at night for both the A6 driver and other road users.Deliveries will begin in Europe at the end of May, with pricing for the gas-powered four-cylinder starting at the equivalent of $61,000 at current exchange rates. The A6 sedan should be unveiled later this year, and we don’t expect U.S. sales to get underway until 2026. Prices should start in the low-$60,000 range, and a more potent four-cylinder could appear in the U.S. alongside the V-6.More on the Audi A6 LineupCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

BMW has a new site recording all its car models made between 1928 and 2008.The site is similar to previous historical projects done for Mini and BMW’s motorcycles.Everything’s here from rare oddballs to the brand’s greatest hits.Heritage is a value every automaker has been known to brag about, but not too many put in the legwork to actually honor it. Not so BMW, which has just launched a public site that catalogs some 80 years of the company’s history, from 1928 through to 2008. If you’re a BMW fan, then yes, your favorite pick is in here, complete with photos and a short breakdown as to model features. And we do mean everything: for the E28 5-series, for instance, BMW has every trim level listed from the Euro-only, carburetor-equipped 518 to the mighty M5.BMWThe historic model overview represents a tremendous amount of research, but it’s not unprecedented. BMW already has two similar historic catalogs, one for its Mini sub-brand, and one for its motorcycle division. Both of those are great fun to browse through, whether you want to look up the original price of pickup-truck Minis from the 1960s (about $550) or dig into the then-radical aerodynamics of the 1988 BMW K1.BMW’s car history is broader than even its motorcycle past, and the new digital catalog has plenty of gems. For instance, were you aware than most models of the adorable three-wheeler Isetta were actually built in the U.K. as knock-down kits, which is why you might see one at your local British car show? Or you can scroll through every iteration of the E30 wagon (BMW calls this spec “Touring”), including the all-wheel-drive 325iX aimed at the skiing set.This is a worldwide catalog, so there’s plenty of forbidden fruit to pore over, especially for the M fans in the audience. Dream about the last of the blister-fendered E30 M3s, the Evolution III, with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder screaming to 238 horsepower at 7000 rpm. Or check out the rarest-of-the-rare E34 M5 Touring Elekta, of which only 20 were built especially for the Italian market.In addition to diving in on specific favorites, the catalog charts BMWs history from the Dixi cars of the late 1920s, based on the Austin 7, right through to the E46 M3 and E39 M5. Both those last are considered perhaps the best of their breeds, but it’s interesting to see lesser-known BMW models from the 1950s and late 1960s, before the Neue Klasse models arrived to herald the future of the brand.Whether you’re a fan of BMW specifically, or just interested in automotive history generally, the new site is well worth a visit. Check it out: you might find a Bimmer you’ve never heard of before, or see where the roots of your current modern favorite first took hold.From the C/D ArchivesBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Honda has reportedly scrapped plans to shift production of the next-generation Civic Hybrid to Mexico.Instead of Guanajuato, Mexico, the Civic will instead be produced at the automaker’s Greensburg, Indiana, facility alongside the CR-V. The change in plans comes the day before the Trump administration puts 25 percent tariffs into effect on both Canada and Mexico. A new report from Reuters details a change in Honda’s production plans, with the automaker ditching previous plans to move Honda Civic Hybrid production to Mexico. According to the Reuters report, which was released on the eve of the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Honda will produce the next-generation Civic at its Greensburg, Indiana, facility. HondaApart from the Civic Type R, which is built in Japan, Honda currently splits production for North America–bound Civics and CR-Vs between its production facilities in Indiana and Ontario, Canada. Reuters cites three anonymous sources who confirmed initial plans for Honda to move Civic production to Guanajuato, Mexico. The new location was picked due to rising costs in Indiana and Canada.According to the sources, production at the Mexico facility had been scheduled to begin in November 2027. The revised plans will see the Indiana-based production start in May 2028—a six-month delay. The same anonymous sources cite an expected annual production of around 210,000 cars, with Honda looking to import from countries not impacted by the tariffs should the production expectations fall short. Marc Urbano|Car and DriverCivic sales were up 21 percent last year, placing it 10th on the highest-selling list in the United States, and giving it an annual sales figure of just over 242,000. While about 40 percent of Honda’s U.S. sales each year are imported from Canada and Mexico, the company also exports roughly 60,000 U.S.-made cars to those countries, meaning any retaliatory tariffs would further hurt the automaker. A Honda representative issued the following statement to Car and Driver in response to the Reuters article.”Honda has made no such announcement and will not comment on this report. The Honda Civic has been made in our Indiana Auto Plant since the facility opened in 2008 based on our longstanding approach to build products close to the customer. We have the flexibility to produce products in each region based on customer needs and market conditions.”More on Tariffs and the Honda CivicJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Here’s a restomod Porsche based on the oft-overlooked 912.The appeal here isn’t huge power, but a feathery curb weight.It’s expensive, but you get a power-to-weight ratio close to a modern 911.911? As Police Chief Clancy Wiggum once said, “You’ve got the wrong number, this is 91 . . . 2.” Launched in 1965 as the budget-friendly version of Porsche’s classic 2+2, the 912 was intended to paper over some of the gap left by the last of the four-cylinder 365s with which it shared a powerplant. Instead of a flat-six, it was powered by an air-cooled 1.6-liter four-cylinder boxer, which made around 100 horsepower. However, the car was very light, and it is now coming into its own as a collectible. And, as you might have expected, there’s also a company building a high-performance restomod version.KAMManufaktur is a Hungarian company established a couple of years ago by Miklós Kázmér, a successful commercial and film director. Genesis came about almost accidentally, as Kázmér originally bought a 912 as a donor car for a 911 build, but fell in love with the four-cylinder’s underdog charms. Together with a team of engineering specialists, he founded a company and set about giving the 912 the love it deserved.KAMManufakturThe firm’s creation is called the 912c, and that lower-case “c” stands for carbon fiber. A lot of carbon fiber. Just as the original 912 made the most of its modest power by being lighter and a bit better balanced than the 911, the 912c is unlike the big-bore restomodded Porsches made by other specialists. The now 2.0-liter flat-four is up in power, from 170 to just above 190 horsepower depending whether it’s running carburetors or fuel injected, but the big story with the 912c is that, according to the company’s claims, it weighs just 1650 pounds and has nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution.As the 912 turns 60 this year, KAMManufaktur is building a couple of motorsport-themed 912cs to celebrate the car’s somewhat overshadowed history. The first of them is painted red like the 1967 912 driven by Poland-born Porsche factory driver Sobiesław Zasada, who won his class in the European Rally Championship three times. The other car is yellow, and based on a 912 used in Swedish rallying in period. Both cars look fantastic, much more discreet than a 911 from Singer or Gunther Werks.KAMManufakturLess power, less weight, and less ostentation goes against the flow somewhat in 2025, but KAMManufaktur’s 912c looks extremely tempting. As the cars are low-production, buyers can slightly change the specification from a more track-oriented build with stiffer suspension to a more road-friendly experience. They’ve even built a targa version complete with roof rack and surfboard.KAMManufakturThe cost for all this lightness is, unfortunately, somewhat weighty at over $400,000. Even so, perhaps this too is a long overdue tribute to the 912. For too long it was considered the poor cousin to the 911 or the “wrong” Porsche. That KAMManufaktur can build and sell such a desirable creation proves that the 912 was special all along.HomageBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

A new rumor suggests that the legendary Shelby GT500 Mustang is headed for production in the near future. The rumor can be traced back to a now-deleted post on the r/Mustang Reddit page that shows what looks to be a leaked United Auto Workers internal memo.According to the memo, the Shelby GT500 will make its return for the 2026 model year and will be powered by an engine dubbed “Legend.”Despite the seventh-generation Mustang not appearing until the 2024 model year, Ford hasn’t had the courtesy to offer a Shelby GT500 since 2022. Thankfully, our drought may finally be ending as a new rumor suggests that Ford could resurrect the Shelby GT500 for the 2026 model year. The rumor originates from a now-deleted post on the r/Mustang Reddit page that showed what appeared to be a leaked United Auto Workers internal memo. The memo had a link to UAW Local 600’s website at the bottom and referenced multiple recent changes to Ford’s Dearborn Engine Plant. The author of the memo also referenced an additional shift being added to the Niche assembly line. Why should we care about Ford adding a shift at an engine plant? Well, the extra shift is apparently directly tied to the production of an upcoming 2026 Shelby GT500. The memo continues on to say, “I can’t wait until we start building engines for such an iconic vehicle with an engine that will be named Legend.”What that engine could entail will surely be up for plenty of debate. The last GT500 used Ford’s Predator supercharged 5.2-liter V-8. The GT3-inspired Mustang GTD will use a dry-sump version of that 760-hp Predator engine but pushes the output to 815 horsepower. It’s unlikely that Ford will produce a less powerful version of the GT500, but the automaker also won’t want to overshadow its $300,000-plus model.The imminent arrival of the Mustang GTD certainly makes the proposition of a new Shelby GT500 an interesting idea. Both the fifth- and sixth-gen Mustangs were topped by a Shelby GT500, but Ford has been mum on the name since the seventh-gen model debuted. We could see the Blue Oval brand pushing into the four-digit power range but holding back many of the race-inspired components that ballooned the GTD’s price tag. Car and Driver reached out to both Ford and the UAW for comment with a spokesperson for Ford declining to comment on speculation about future products. We will update this story if we hear back from the UAW.More on the GT500Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Mercedes-Benz will unveil an electric supercar concept from its AMG performance division this year, according to a report from Autocar.The concept will preview the powertrain that will underpin the dedicated AMG electric sedan and SUV that are due in the next two years.The report also claims that Mercedes will launch a new GLB SUV with both hybrid and electric setups, as well as a heavily reworked EQS that will adopt the storied S-class name.Two weeks ago, Mercedes-Benz declared that the new CLA—which we just drove in prototype form—will kick off “the most intense product launch” program in the automaker’s nearly 100-year history. In the announcement, Mercedes confirmed several new or significantly refreshed vehicles which will arrive before 2027, including the face-lifted S-class that we recently spied testing in Sweden. Now a report from Autocar suggests that Mercedes-Benz’s EV push will be led by an extreme supercar concept from the high-performance AMG division.AMG Goes EVThe electric Mercedes-AMG supercar will be shown as a concept later this year, Autocar reported, and will draw upon the radical Vision One-Eleven concept from 2023. According to one of Autocar’s sources, a ‘high-ranking insider,’ the concept ‘will be the fastest-accelerating car AMG has ever produced.’The sleek two-door will preview the potent electric powertrain that will underpin dedicated AMG EVs due in the next couple of years, which will include both a sedan—serving as a next generation for the AMG GT sedan—and an SUV.Mercedes-BenzVision One-Eleven concept.According to one of Autocar’s sources, who was described as a “high-ranking insider,” the concept “will be the fastest-accelerating car AMG has ever produced.” The rapid acceleration will be thanks to a new axial-flux electric motor developed by the British company Yasa, acquired by Mercedes in 2021. The supercar concept will also supposedly debut a next-generation battery, which might be a solid-state unit and will utilize input from the company’s High Performance Powertrain division that crafts the hybrid powertrains for Mercedes’s F1 cars. We’ve reached out to Mercedes for comment on the AMG supercar and will update this story when we’ve heard back.A Mixed Powertrain StrategyThe supercar concept is just one reveal among dozens coming from Mercedes, and the automaker confirmed three other products in its announcement. The CLA arrives first and will come with both an electric powertrain and a 48-volt electrified four-cylinder engine. Mercedes also announced electric versions of the GLC SUV, C-class sedan, and E-class sedan, continuing the brand’s shift away from the EQ moniker and toward a strategy of offering multiple powertrains under the same nameplate. Mercedes-BenzThe 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA in prototype form.The GLC EV should debut this year, while the other two are expected to emerge later. The GLC EV and C-class EV will share a platform and AMG-tuned variants for both vehicles are in the cards. Both the GLC and C-class EVs should feature single-motor/rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor/all-wheel-drive variants.Along with those confirmed models, Autocar reports that the CLA will be accompanied by a new GLB. The compact SUV is expected to grow slightly in size and share powertrains with the CLA sedan. The electric version will also employ the GLB badge, signaling the end of the EQB nameplate.2026 will bring the refreshed S-class, wearing a new face and running new software that should make better use of the screen-covered dashboard. A more advanced Level 3 autonomous driving system will also improve on the Drive Pilot setup currently found in the Mercedes flagship. The electric EQS is also set for a thorough reworking and is expected to adopt the S-class name despite riding on a different platform.Mercedes-BenzThe upcoming electric Mercedes-AMG sedan.AMG’s first dedicated EV will be unveiled in 2026, with the aforementioned sedan coming first ahead of the SUV version in 2027. Mercedes has already teased both models testing. The sporty sedan and SUV will both ride on a new platform called AMG.EA.Other upcoming models include refreshes for the gas-powered C-class, EQS SUV, EQE sedan, and EQE SUV. The gas-powered GLE and GLS SUVs are also due for a facelift to extend their life span to around 2030. Mercedes is also expected to release more details on the baby G-class, recently confirmed by the automaker, in 2026 ahead of a 2027 debut. The baby G-class is expected to be related to the updated GLB.More on Mercedes-Benz’s FutureCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

The 2025 Honda Prologue adds a new front electric motor that adds both power and range.Front-wheel-drive Prologues now make 220 horsepower, up by eight, and all-wheel-drive variants produce 300 hp, a 12-hp increase.The front-wheel-drive versions gain 12 miles for a 308-mile range while the all-wheel-drive Prologue now maxes out at 294 miles of range.The Honda Prologue—the automaker’s first dedicated EV for the United States—got off to a hot start in 2024. Despite not going on sale until the end of the second quarter, the Prologue managed to rack up 33,017 sales in 2024, making the electric mid-size SUV the sixth-biggest-selling EV in the U.S. last year. But Honda is making the Prologue more enticing for EV shoppers in 2025, implementing a new front power unit for the 2025 Prologue to both boost the power output and improve the SUV’s range. The Prologue is sold with both single-motor/front-wheel-drive and dual-motor/all-wheel-drive setups. For the front-wheel-drive Prologue, the new electric motor has resulted in an eight-horsepower bump to a total of 220 horsepower. Torque is also up to 243 pound-feet, a seven-pound-foot increase. Despite being more potent, the Prologue also travels farther on a charge, with the front-wheel-drive variant gaining an additional 12 miles of range, pushing the total range figure to 308 miles.HondaThe new motor has also brought a higher output for the all-wheel-drive variants, which add 12 horsepower for a total of 300 ponies and 25 pound-feet of torque for a total of 355 pound-feet. Range has also increased, with the EX and Touring trim adding 13 miles for a 294-mile range and the Elite trim’s range increasing by 10 miles to a total of 283 miles.The 2025 Prologue will start at $48,850 for the base EX model in front-wheel-drive form, only $55 more than last year. The Touring trim starts at $53,150 for the front-wheel-drive powertrain, and upgrading to all-wheel drive for the EX or Touring will see the price rise by $3000. The top-of-the-line Elite trim is available exclusively with all-wheel drive and starts at $59,350. Honda also says that all 2025 Prologues are eligible for the $7500 federal tax credit for EVs. More on Honda EVsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Mercedes-Benz has teased a new electric luxury van that will be revealed in spring 2025. Mercedes has already said the unnamed mid-size van will be sold in the United States.Based on the new modular VAN.EA platform, Mercedes says this will help the brand differentiate personal vans from commercial ones.UPDATE 3/3/25: Mercedes has released a new photo teasing a soon-to-debut Vision V concept. It will preview a new luxury version from the brand’s forthcoming lineup of electric vans. They will be based on the modular VAN.EA platform, which will spawn a range of variants starting in 2026.Mercedes-Benz is developing a new generation of electric vans, including a luxury model that’s coming to America. The German automaker today released a teaser photo of the new van, which should be more upscale than the now-defunct Metris and will debut in spring 2025.Mercedes-BenzThe new Mercedes vans will be based on the modular VAN.EA platform that the company detailed more than a year ago. Basically, it will be the foundation of all forthcoming personal and commercial vans, and it was designed to help better differentiate between the two use cases. Mercedes says VAN.EA is scalable, allowing multiple wheelbase lengths as well as various battery capacities. The EV vans will be available with front- or all-wheel drive.Mercedes-BenzCircling back to the yet-to-be-named luxury van, Mercedes previously confirmed that it would make it to our shores when it revealed the new electrical architecture. While the company today shared very few other details about it, the mid-size van that’s designed for personal use will offer different levels of appointments. Those will include everything from a fancy family hauler to a C-suite shuttle to a roomy limo that would make Burt Reynolds proud.Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes has said its next generation of vans will arrive in 2026. While we’ll have to wait a few months for them to be revealed, earlier this year, the automaker released photos of a prototype testing, albeit one that was heavily disguised.More on Mercedes VansEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More