Motor News

Imagine a game show where everyone is obsessed with cars. Where arguments about the trivial are elevated above important issues. Where there are no winners or losers—or at least where winning or losing doesn’t matter. That’s Window Shop with Car and Driver. Every week, the WS crew tries to help you escape reality in favor of a goofier plane of existence. Don’t get too excited, though; this show has all the production values of a recorded Zoom call.So what’s on the menu today? Host Tony Quiroga set the challenge: Find a car (or cars) that you lusted after as a freshly minted driver. The usual gang of misfits weighed in.Contributor John Pearley Huffman looked back to his halcyon teenage years and dreamt of owning a genuine, Penske-built, Mark Donohue–driven race car. Quiroga cruelly nixed that, so Pearley presented the late-70s Porsche 911 Turbo (930) as an alternative.Contributor Jonathon Ramsey brought up that other icon of the ’70s, the Lamborghini Countach. The youngest and most practical of the shoppers, Joey Capparella, went hardcore norm-core with a 2006 Acura RSX Type-S. Deputy testing director K.C. Colwell undermined Pearley’s choice by presenting a brilliant 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo (993). And Quiroga, going full nut burger, picked a 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo and then had the audacity to claim that GM electronics made it reliable.Tune in now to watch these frenemies compete in our ridiculous little game show.

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Pricing for the updated 2022 Genesis G70 starts at $38,570.The base model is more expensive than before, but the more powerful 3.3T version is cheaper.The G70 will be arriving at U.S. dealerships this summer.Genesis remains a value player in the luxury space, but its prices are gradually creeping upward. The updated version of the G70 sedan for 2022 carries a base price that’s $1525 higher than last year’s model. It now starts at $38,570 for the base rear-wheel-drive 2.0T model.

The optional twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 engine, though, is less expensive than before, as a G70 in rear-wheel-drive 3.3T configuration starts at $43,145, down from the 2021 3.3T model’s $47,245 starting price. Both engines offer all-wheel drive as a $2100 option. The 2.0T model offers only a single higher trim level, called Prestige, while 3.3T cars are available in Sport Advanced and Sport Prestige trims. There’s also an exclusive G70 Launch Edition with special color combos that costs $53,345. It’s offered only with the 3.3T engine and either rear- or all-wheel drive.The 2022 G70 benefits from updated styling that makes it look more similar to the newer G80 and GV80. It’s freshened inside, too, with a larger infotainment screen and a few new features.
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Uber announced this week it would partner with Walgreens to allow users to book a COVID-19 vaccine and a ride to the appointment at the same time. It also announced that users can now book rental cars through the app, thanks to new partnerships with Avis and Hertz. And there’s one more gimmick they should have tried a long time ago: riders can now order and collect food delivery orders while they are on a ride-hail trip. Just remember to tip your driver extra if you make them wait in the Taco Bell drive-thru line.This Week in SheetmetalIt was a slow week for reveals after the flurry of activity related to last week’s Shanghai Auto Show, but we caught a glimpse of the C8 Corvette Z06 and Zr1 in a video posted to a Corvette-themed YouTube channel. The cars were heavily camouflaged, but there’s no hiding the sound of a flat-plane crank V-8.Volkswagen announced a GTX Performance trim for its ID.4 electric crossover. The new variant will have all-wheel drive and 295 horsepower compared to the base model’s rear-wheel drive and 201 horses. The trim name is intended as a nod to our beloved GTI, but we’ll have to drive one before we decide if the souped-up ID.4 is worthy of that association.[image id=’12495b3a-cf60-4850-961f-d688bec86596′ mediaId=’25f872da-ac1b-4705-9cf2-30094fec6c72′ align=’right’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]Mercedes will bring its 503-hp GLC63 S SUV to the United States after previously limiting U.S. customers to the sleeker-looking but less useful GLC63 S Coupe. That power comes from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine, and if the coupe is any indicator, it should be blazing fast. Hyundai has announced the details of its Kona N crossover. The Kona will be the second member of the N family in the U.S. (the first was the Veloster N, which we love). It will hit dealerships this fall with 286 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.[image id=’2aea6974-2566-47da-a9b5-a237b66ac5e9′ mediaId=’ed5248fb-b9b6-406b-aed9-90d203c296c2′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]Energy IndependenceFord gets the batteries for its Mustang Mach-E EV from LG Chem, which also supplies batteries for the Chevrolet Bolt and other EVs. But the best supplier is no supplier at all, which is why Ford has announced a new battery production R&D project in southeastern Michigan. The endeavor, called Ion Park, started as a pilot last year. Ford has already spent $100 million on the project, which it hopes will uncover cheaper, quicker ways to build electric vehicle battery cells at scale. If the project bears fruit it could be well worth the investment. Ford is due to launch an electric F-150, which we now know will be called the Lightning, in the middle of next year.Porsche also gets its EV batteries from LG Chem and is also investigating the possibility of building its own. Porsche says it will build a battery factory in Tübingen, Germany. Volkswagen, Porsche’s parent company, has separate plans to build half a dozen battery factories throughout Europe, but the Tübingen factory will specialize in what Porsche CEO Oliver Blume referred to as “high-performance” battery cells.General Motors has already invested scads of cash in its proprietary battery project, called Ultium, but may be wishing it had independence of a different kind after its workers’ union, the UAW, raised objections to a GM plan to spend $1 billion on a new EV factory in Mexico. The plant would manufacture batteries and other components for EVs to be sold in the United States and around the world. But the UAW says that since GM is courting government subsidies and investment for its EVs, the company should build its cars (and hire its employees) in the United States. GM didn’t outline its side of the argument, but presumably it can be summed up thusly: $$.[editoriallinks id=’0f520a9a-6d84-4b69-b126-b5c8b774e3d9′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]Supply Chain Disasters, ContinuedThe semiconductor shortage continues to upend the car world. Ford says the shortage could result in a 50 percent cut to production in the second quarter, and Volkswagen has recently announced new plant shutdowns. But that’s old news. The new thing to worry about is an impending summer fuel shortage, brought on by a shortage of drivers qualified to drive the fuel tankers. The key takeaway from the story is that the fuel shortages are likely to be minor and isolated as long as people don’t panic and start to hoard fuel. So don’t do that.[image id=’7520f524-166e-4d66-b65e-4249834285de’ mediaId=’b9e0de15-e1c2-4fa4-895a-dfb0c4a10545′ align=’left’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]And if you’ve spent fourteen months daydreaming about a vacation to Hawaii, be warned that that fantasy may have to include some creative transportation solutions. As the vaccinated and the incautious head out on vacation there has been a run on rental cars in Hawaii that has pushed rates for rental cars above $200 per day. One rental company was even advertising a Toyota Camry at $700 per day last month. In the face of those prices, some vacationers are choosing to rent wheels from U-Haul, so it’s probably only a matter of time before those prices skyrocket, too. We suggest turning to Craigslist instead, where industrious locals are listing their personal cars for rent at more reasonable prices. Further readingThe New York Times has a delightful look into the lives of long-haul truckers who take their pets on the road. Or read about the Vietnamese electric car company that’s hoping to make a splash in the U.S. and European markets. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about everyone’s favorite capsized cargo ship. Here’s an update on the Golden Ray, still stuck off the Georgia coast and still full of doomed (and dangling) cars.

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The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is $10,690 more expensive than before, starting at $65,840.It’s powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, but a V-8–powered Raptor R will arrive next year. The new Raptor arrives at dealerships this summer. The Ford F-150 Raptor is now in its third generation and it continues to use a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, even though Ram has presented a challenger in the form of the 702-hp Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX. But the Ram costs $71,990, and the 2021 F-150 Raptor will be available this summer starting at $65,840. Ford’s true answer to the TRX will be the Raptor R, which won’t arrive until next year.

The new F-150 Raptor is powered by the same twin-turbo 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6 as before, though Ford still hasn’t released its power output. The previous model made 450 horsepower, and we’re told we’ll know more this summer. The upcoming Raptor R is expected to use a version of the Mustang Shelby GT500’s Predator supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 making over 700 horsepower.The new trucks now have a coil-spring suspension setup in the rear in addition to upgraded Fox Live Valve dampers, and there’s an available 37-inch tire package. Ford has yet to release option prices for the Raptor, but it’s a safe bet that a fully loaded version will push into a considerably higher price range. The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is $10,690 more expensive than the previous generation in part because it’s now only available in four-door SuperCrew form. The previous model year’s starting price was for the two-door SuperCab model. Comparing apples to apples, the new SuperCrew is $7705 more expensive.
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Big Sky Country MLS / Zillow

Are you a multimillionaire living the big-city life with nowhere to put your cars? Want to spend the summer in a quiet, secluded location where you can safely store your treasured collection? Do we have a spot for you. This mansion in rural Montana is surrounded by wilderness and comes with its own 50-car underground garage, an onsite gas station, and even a dyno room.

Like most seven-figure properties, 2100 North Ford Road in Big Sky, Montana, is more of a compound than a single structure. According to the listing on Zillow.com, it was built in 1987 and sits on just over 20 acres of land. The primary residence, located at the end of a private driveway in a gated community, is a 9000-square-foot home with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and a standard oversize two-car garage. Even by itself, it’s a stunning property, with 360-degree views of panoramic Montana mountain ranges. A bit down the driveway sits an entrance to a detached underground facility capable of housing up to 50 vehicles. Inside, you’ll also find a maintenance room with a two-post lift and a dynamometer built into the floor—something you’d normally have to go to a professional tuning shop to find. There’s also a built-in electric car charger for Teslas and an indoor car wash station.

Elsewhere on the property you’ll find an onsite gasoline pump with a 1000-gallon capacity and even a treehouse. There’s also a living quarters for property caretakers and separate guest house with an RV hookup. The property, listed for a cool $12 million, has been on sale for just over a month. Considering just how much you’re getting, we bet it won’t be on the market for much longer.

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Rivian has confirmed that both its R1T pickup and R1S SUV will be available with an all-glass panoramic roof.The R1T pickup is expected to hit the market in a couple of months, with the open-air roof coming in the middle of next year, according to Rivian.We’ve been hearing this rumor for a while, but this is the first we’ve seen Rivian confirm it. Rivian’s pickup truck, the R1T, is expected to hit the market in a couple of months, and the company is still fiddling with what features it plans to offer. Rivian now confirms both its R1T pickup and R1S SUV will be available with an all-glass panoramic roof. “An open-air removable roof option will be offered mid-2022,” the company said on its website. We’ve been hearing this rumor for a while, but this is the first we’ve seen Rivian confirm it.

Rivian says it should start deliveries of the R1T in June. First available is a Launch Edition starting around $75,000, with Explore ($67,500) and Adventure ($75,000) trim levels coming in January. The plan is to sell directly to consumers while opening a network of service centers.

The Rivian pickup is expected to go on sale in June.
Rivian

When the R1T Launch Edition hits the market, Rivian says it will be available with the 135.0 kWh, 300-plus-mile Large battery pack. “You can also configure the R1T with the 180.0-kWh, 400-plus-mile Max pack,” a Rivian official told Autoweek. There is also an entry level 105.0-kWh battery coming. “We’ll announce the timing of a lower-priced, 250-plus-mile-range R1T and R1S after launch,” Rivian told Autoweek.That Max battery pack will add $10 grand to the price. “If you want the R1T with the 400-plus-mile Max pack, you pick the Adventure or Explore package, available beginning in January 2022,” a Rivian official said. Rivian said that regardless of battery size, the R1T can tow more than 11,000 pounds.Rivian officials also told Autoweek that the R1S SUV Launch Edition will be available in August, starting with the Large pack with other trims coming next January. As for the announced roof option, Jeep says its Gladiator is the only pickup truck currently offered with a removable roof. That could change with the tidal wave of electric pickups heading to market, from not just Rivian but also Ford, GMC Hummer, Lordstown, Chevrolet, perhaps Fisker, and many more.We already know the Hummer will have a ginormous removable roof, and we bet many more will follow to stay competitive.

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Jeep is offering Performance Parts for the new 2021 Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid including a 2.0-inch lift kit. There are also other accessories for the 4xe similar to what’s offered on other Jeep Wranglers, including rock rails, steel tube doors, and a Warn winch. The Wrangler 4xe is available in Sahara and Rubicon trim levels and starts at $49,490. From the factory, the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is already a capable Wrangler with 10.8 inches of ground clearance and up to 30 inches of water-fording ability. Now it can be had with a 2.0-inch lift kit, along with other off-road accessories, all from Jeep Performance Parts. The 2.0-inch lift kit costs $1495, and with it come Fox shocks, front lower control arms, stabilizer links, bump stops, all the necessary hardware, and a Jeep Performance Parts badge. All its high-voltage components are sealed and waterproof, of course. The 4xe is sold in Sahara and Rubicon trim levels, and an electric Wrangler could be coming, too, as previewed by the Magneto concept.

The 4xe is equipped with Dana 44 axles and a two-speed transfer case that enables full-time four-wheel drive. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four paired with two electric motors and a 17.0-kWh battery pack that generates a combined 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The EPA estimates the Wrangler 4xe at 49 MPGe, and it has an electric-only mode that delivers up to 21 miles of driving range.

Jeep

Jeep Performance Parts is also offering accessories similar to what’s available on other Jeeps: steel rock rails ($925), steel tube doors ($1195), a heavy-duty steel front bumper ($1275), a Warn winch ($1595), and an LED lighting kit with 7.0-inch lights ($725). Additionally for the 4xe are 240-volt chargers (pictured) available from Jeep, either hard-wired ($621.50) or plug-in ($647.90). The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is on sale now starting at $49,490 for the Sahara and $53,190 for the Rubicon.
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The Little Car Company is making a drivable version of Tamiya’s Wild One 1/10-scale remote-controlled off-road buggy, called the Wild One Max.Blown up to 8/10 scale, the adult-size romper is about 16 inches shorter than a Mazda Miata but 2.5 inches wider, big enough for someone 6′ 5″ to drive.Build slots are available now with a refundable deposit. It will go on sale in 2022 for about $8250.On September 25, 1985, the Japanese remote-controlled-model maker Tamiya released the Wild One, a 1/10-scale off-road buggy kit. Ten years later, the Wild One is coming back, this time overscale instead of underscale, in an upsized version of the Tamiya called the Wild One Max.

It makes sense that this one would be the choice for an adult-size car: Along with kits like the Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider, it was one of Tamiya’s most popular R/C models in the late 1980s and ’90s. The black and red, two-wheel-drive dirt hopper with the coil-over suspension and iconic graphics cued up enough nostalgia in the early 2000s for Tamiya to reissue the Wild One in 2012. The same Little Car Company that built the downsized Baby Bugatti II and Aston Martin DB5 is making the Wild One Max. At 8/10 scale and powered by an electric motor, the Wild One Max will be big enough for humans standing up to 6’5″ to climb into the composite racing seat and drive into the sunset.

The Little Car Company

The Wild One Max is about 16 inches shorter in length than a Mazda Miata, and 2.5 inches wider. The space-frame chassis gets coil-over dampers suspending 15-inch lightweight wheels shod in grooved rubber up front and chunky knobby tires in back, just like the original. The flat white wheels hide a set of hydraulic Brembo disc brake,s also fitted with regenerative braking. The spare cockpit gets a racing steering wheel and a few digital gauges. And at just 551 pounds in base spec, the Wild One Max shouldn’t get its in own way when it’s time to hit the dirt.

The Little Car Company

As standard, power comes from a 2.0-kWh battery juicing a motor with 5.5 peak horsepower. That configuration caps top speed at 30 miles per hour and range at 25 miles. Those specs vary based on the driving modes Novice, Eco, and Race, however, which change power output, throttle mapping, and top speed.Wild One scale modelers were quick to upgrade from stock by heading to the Tamiya Hop-Up store. The Little Car Company is giving Wild Ones MAX builders—yes, this car is a proper, home-built kit—the chance to do the same. Bundles like the PowerPack add more battery power and increase performance and range, while the Tarmac Pack adds components to make the buggy road legal as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). Individual upgrades will be offered, too, like a four-point seat harness to supplant the three-point belt, and higher-spec brakes and suspension. The Little Car Company is taking $140 refundable deposits for build slots at the Wild One MAX site. Retail price is expected to come in around $8250. We wouldn’t mind seeing a red helmet and white race suit among the Hop-Ups. And since the original Wild One was supposedly a civilian version of Tamiya’s 1/10-scale Fast Attack Vehicle, a camo sticker kit and bumper-mounted headlights would be pretty cool, too.
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