Motor News

Previously on Window Shopping with Car and Driver we looked at the fastest cars you can buy for less than $10,000. While we found some seriously powerful and quick cars, none of them have much a reputation for reliability. So, when a viewer suggested that we combine two challenges in one and wanted us to look at reliable cars that are also quick for less than $15,000, we thought, giving people what they want isYouTube gold.
Helping us mine the internet’s car listings this week is Window Shop rookie and C/D contributor, Ben Stewart. Stewart is a fan of muscle cars, burnouts, and horsepower, so his choice of a Dodge Charger Pursuit with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 doesn’t surprise any of us. His selection does draw a few questions about reliability, what the former city-owned vehicle might smell like, and we dive into the other things the Charger’s seller has for sale. Unsatisfied with the quickness and horsepower of his stock Charger, Stewart leaves enough money in the budget for a Procharger supercharger.Valuing handling and driving fun, contributor Jonathon Ramsey picks a fifth-gen Volkswagen GTI. While we can’t fault the 10Best winning GTI’s dynamics, we do badger Ramsey about just how quick and reliable he expects a 13-year-old VW will be. Ramsey takes our barbs and then answers our complaints with a second, more powerful car in such a sad state that we really wish he hadn’t shown it to us.Senior editor Joey Capparella and contributor John Pearley Huffman select two very different Japanese cars. Capparella goes for the surprisingly quick and largely forgotten Infiniti FX50 S SUV that could hit 60 in 5.0-5.1 seconds. Huffman uncovers a V-6-powered Accord with a manual transmission, a 10Best winner that he hopes will resonate with the group. Finally, deputy editor and host of this fine show, Tony Quiroga puts forth a Lexus IS300 that nails the challenge so thoroughly that everyone, and possibly you, are left completely satisfied and in awe.

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Hindenburg Research, a short seller—an investor that profits from a stock’s drop in value—released a report today stating that Lordstown Motors has misled investors about the progress of its truck, the Endurance, and the amount of interest in it.
Hindenburg says many orders for the Endurance are “fictitious” and that the electric startup paid outside groups to generate pre-orders.
Hindenburg released a report in fall 2020 on electric startup Nikola, leading to the chairman resigning and the launching of federal probes into the company.
Hindenburg Research, a short seller that previously targeted Nikola in the fall of last year, has released a report on Lordstown Motors today saying that the startup has misled investors about the capabilities of its pickup, the Endurance, and about pre-orders for the truck, which have been widely publicized. Lordstown Motors bought the Lordstown, Ohio, plant from General Motors in 2019 and unveiled the Endurance last summer.

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Featured prominently in Hindenburg’s report are the 100,000 pre-orders for the Endurance which Lordstown CEO Steve Burns has touted. Hindenburg’s report says that in addition to those pre-orders being nonbinding, many of them are simply “fictitious.” Hindenburg claims that in some cases, Lordstown paid for the orders to be placed.
Lordstown did not respond to Car and Driver’s request for comment, but Burns gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal following the release of the report. Burns said in the interview that while the orders were nonbinding, they still accurately represent the demand for the trucks. He also said that the report contains “half-truths and lies” and looks to serve the financial interests of Hindenburg, which, as a short seller, stands to benefit from the fall of Lordstown’s stock. In fact, following the release of the Hindenburg report, Lordstown’s stock fell 16 percent.
The claims made by Hindenburg in the report have not been verified by C/D or any other independent publications.
Lordstown went public last year in a blank-check merger, or SPAC, a method of going public that has become increasingly popular among automotive startups. Fisker, Nikola, and Workhorse are other companies that have gone such a route.
Hindenburg said a former employee told the research firm that while Lordstown has said it will begin production in September of this year, it is still “three or four years” from actually beginning production. Former employees also told Hindenburg that the company hasn’t completed any of the necessary testing, such as cold-weather and durability testing. The report says that Lordstown’s first test on public roads resulted in the truck combusting.
In the fall of last year, Hindenburg released a similar report on the automotive startup Nikola, a company that had gone public a few months prior to the report. The report led to Nikola’s stock tanking, the executive chairman and founder stepping down, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice launching inquiries into the company.
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This is our best look yet at the 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup truck.
It’s a crew-cab model with a unibody construction, and it’ll likely be around the same size as the Bronco Sport but with a pickup bed.
Expect to hear more about the Maverick later this year, as it’s expected to arrive for the 2022 model year.
Now that we know Ford has already begun production of a new small pickup truck, we’re starting to learn a lot more about what will likely become the 2022 Ford Maverick. These spy photos show off the new model from various angles, and we can see that it will be a crew-cab pickup with a friendly-looking face.

KGP Photography

The photos also appear to confirm that the Maverick shares its underpinnings with the Escape and Bronco Sport crossovers. An independent rear suspension setup is clearly visible. This prototype also has the same 17-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires that are available on the Bronco Sport Badlands. It is also being built in the same factory in Mexico as the Bronco Sport.

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The Maverick’s short bed is attached to the cab, as this truck features a unibody construction like the Honda Ridgeline and upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz. But those models are both based on mid-size SUVs, whereas the Bronco Sport is a compact SUV, so the Maverick will be smaller.

KGP Photography

Because of its shared platform, we expect that the Bronco Sport’s powertrains will carry over to the Maverick, too. The optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is a sure bet, with the 180-hp 1.5-liter inline-three possible for a cheaper base version of the Maverick. All-wheel drive will likely be standard, with a front-wheel-drive model possible.
The Maverick should be significantly smaller than the Ranger, and cheaper as well. Ford has previously talked about a sub-$20,000 starting price but we’re not sure if that’s still in the cards. We think a base price of around $25,000 is more likely.
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Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess tweeted that the automaker will have an event early on the morning of on Monday, March 15, which will appear on a livestream on Volkswagen’s media site and on its Twitter feed.
Called Power Day, the event will likely deal with the automaker’s battery technology, and the CEO was quick to point out that the event is not a car presentation.
Volkswagen might use the event to talk about its MEB platform and the technology behind the upcoming Trinity electric sedan.

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Turns out announcing news via Twitter is no longer exclusive to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess tweeted news that the Volkswagen Group will be holding an online event called Power Day on Monday, March 15, at 7:00 a.m. ET. The event sounds similar to Tesla’s vaunted Battery Day events. The tweet and accompanying video both note that no new vehicles will be announced during the event.
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Based on the name and accompanying video showing a battery, it’s likely the event will focus on Volkswagen’s battery technology and its MEB electric platform. The automaker has announced a bold plan to have 50 percent of its sales in the U.S. be electric by 2030 and recently announced an upcoming sedan called Trinity that it says will set new standards for charging times and battery range. How that actually plays out technologically may be the basis for the March 15 event.
The automaker recently launched its first electric MEB-based vehicle in the United States, the 2021 ID.4 compact SUV. The MEB platform is also the underlying technology of the 2021 ID.3 released in Europe and the upcoming 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron that will land in U.S. showrooms in early 2022.
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Mercedes has released new teaser photos of the next-generation SL.
This upcoming convertible will be more of a sports car than a cushy cruiser.
Expect AMG SL43 and SL53 models with an inline-six and an SL63 with a V-8.
Mercedes is planning a reset for its SL-class range and is attempting to whet our appetite with teaser shots of the new 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL, which is currently undergoing final winter testing in Sweden.
While the cars are still camouflaged, we can take away quite a bit of information. The retractable hard top which has been a hallmark of the SL for the last two decades makes way for a fabric top again. This helps to achieve a sleek roofline and a lower rear end; the previous model needed a relatively tall trunk to fit the folded roof. To enhance aerodynamics, there is a large, electrically raised rear spoiler, much like on the current AMG GT.

Mercedes

The proportions are tighter and more harmonious than before. The new one is shaping up to be a lot more pleasing to the eye than the awkward current generation. It’s a bit more practical, too, as there’s enough space behind the front seats for two tiny rear seats, meaning the new SL is likely to be offered as a a 2+2, like in the distant past.

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Mercedes isn’t talking about the powertrains yet but our best guess is that there will be AMG SL43 and SL53 models with inline-six engines and around 360 and 430 horsepower, as well as an AMG SL63 with a 4.0-liter V-8 and around 600 horsepower. There could even be an AMG SL73e with a plug-in-hybrid drivetrain and close to 800 horsepower, but that’s a model for the more distant future, and it could overlap too much with the AMG GT. The 43, 53 and 63 models will by hybridized as well, they will all come with a 9-speed automatic, and for the first time, the SL will be offered with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system.

Mercedes

Every SL will be an AMG. The high-performance division in Affalterbach is responsible for the new model. And therefore we expect it to be a real sports car, not a boulevard cruiser. What’s gone is the V-12, as that’s henceforth a Maybach engine.
We expect the SL to come to market late in 2021. Competition will include the BMW 8-series cabriolet, the Lexus LC500 convertible, and the Porsche 911 cabrio.
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Automotive startup Canoo has unveiled an electric truck that’s compact but has an expandable six-to-eight-foot pickup bed.
The pickup will offer over 200 miles of range and be offered with either a dual- or rear-motor configuration, the former of which putting out as much as 600 hp and 550 pound-feet of torque.
The pickup is set to go into production in 2023. By then, Canoo’s pickup will be competing alongside several other electric pickups.
Canoo, an electric automotive startup based in California, has expanded its lineup of forthcoming electric vehicles by revealing this snub-nosed pickup. The pickup, which sports a design similar to Canoo’s passenger van, will offer more than 200 miles of range and as much as 600 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque with the dual-motor configuration; a rear motor configuration will also be offered. That power and range, and a full six-to-eight-foot pickup bed, all have to fit into a vehicle with a 112.2-inch wheelbase—an inch shorter than the Tesla Model 3—and an overall length, at 184 inches, that makes it more than two feet shorter than the Ford Ranger pickup.

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The pickup rides on Canoo’s multi-purpose platform architecture and will be the third Canoo vehicle to do so. This has become a common approach for makers of electric vehicles—using one platform for many vehicles—with the likes of General Motors and Volkswagen doing the same. In addition to Canoo’s passenger van, the startup has also revealed various multi-purpose delivery vehicles.

Jeffludes.com/Canoo

The new pickup emphasizes modularity and looks to maximize its utility. It has tables folding down around the vehicle, various hidden storage areas, and numerous charging points on the exterior of the truck. In a video exploring the ins and outs, Tony Aquila, executive chairman of Canoo, said that the goal was to make something that was very functional and could also be personalized.

Canoo

On either side of the six-foot bed, tables fold down to function as a workspace, and there is also a table that folds down from the front of the truck. That table exposes a small storage area as well as various points to charge or power electronics. The pickup bed can also be extended, as well as enclosed, to eight feet long to fit bigger items. Steps with storage within them can be pulled out of the sides of the truck to make it easier to access anything on the roof rack. And to answer the question any truck owner would ask, yes, there’s a taillamp setup in the bed extension, so it’s okay to drive the truck with the bed extended to fit longer cargo.

Canoo

Canoo

The battery pack in the pickup is designed to be repaired, replaced, and upgraded when need be, so the batteries powering the truck don’t become outdated. Canoo also designed the pickup to have steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems controlling the vehicle to eliminate the need for a steering column and other hardware.

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The interior of the pickup, shown in the video, shows it fits two people, but Aquila said it could be adapted for a three-person setup. Information such as speed and battery levels appear to be on a broad screen just below the windshield.
Canoo’s pickup will be available for pre-order beginning in the second quarter of this year, but production isn’t slated to begin until 2023. By that time, the pickup will have considerable competition across the industry; this year alone will see the Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer EV SUT reach driveways, and the next coming years have even more electric pickups on the way.
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Audiophile darling McIntosh has built a high-end audio system exclusively for the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
The MX1375 Reference Entertainment System comes with 23 speakers, a 1375-watt amplifier, and adaptive 3D surround sound processing.
The less powerful McIntosh MX950 is available for the 2022 Wagoneer, with 19 speakers and a 950-watt amplifier.

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For audiophiles, the name McIntosh is associated with high-end home audio equipment. From receivers to tube amps to slightly odd-looking but very expensive precision turntables, finding the McIntosh name in a house means the person cares about fidelity and has the healthy bank account needed to support their love of sound. That music quality is being brought to the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer in the what McIntosh says is its very first “automotive reference system.” With over 20 speakers, a powerful amplifier, and 3D surround sound, the large luxury SUV might be the perfect vehicle for listening to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon for the 18,528th time.
This new McIntosh MX1375 Reference Entertainment System will be available exclusively in the 2022 Grand Wagoneer. McIntosh says the system has been built and tuned specifically to bring audiophile quality to the road. With 23 speakers including a 12-inch subwoofer, the system is powered by a 1375-watt amplifier that should cut through even the loudest driving environment. McIntosh notes that the system also has unique adaptive 3D surround sound processing capabilities. The MX1375 is available on the Grand Wagoneer’s top-end Obsidian and Series IIII trim levels.
Making this a reference system is a big deal for Jeep and McIntosh. Reference systems, according to McIntosh, are systems “to which all others are compared.” The idea is that the hardware is tuned in a way so that the music sounds as close to possible to what was recorded by the artists. McIntosh says that the MX1375 doesn’t just sound good, but will “transport you to the performance.”
For those looking for McIntosh audio quality in the slightly less luxe 2022 Wagoneer, the MX950 system is available on that SUV’s top Series III trim level. It’s also available on the Grand Wagoneer’s Series I and II trim levels. This less powerful system still comes with 19 custom-tuned speakers including a 10-inch subwoofer and a 950-watt amplifier. Not as impressive as the MX1375, but if McIntosh can do to vehicle sound what it’s done in home audio for decades, it will likely still make all those swirling noises found on Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief really pop.
Still, without actually hearing either of these systems in their respective vehicles, we can’t say whether or not we’re audibly transported to the performance. For that, we’ll have to wait until this summer when the 2022 Wagoneers go on sale.
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Leaked photos of the 2022 Honda Civic sedan have appeared on a Civic forum.
These pics, which look to be out of China, show the 11th-generation car in production form.
We expect to see the car officially revealed within the next few months.

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We’ve seen Honda’s new Civic in spy photos, patent drawings, concept-car form, and now finally in its final production guise thanks to these leaked photos published on CivicXI.com. The images appear to show a China-market version of the 2022 Civic sedan, which features the same design seen on the Civic concept but with toned-down styling elements including smaller wheels and fewer adornments.
Even still, we think this new Civic sedan looks good, with cleaner lines than the current tenth-generation model. It’ll arrive first in the U.S. in this four-door sedan bodystyle, with the hatchback to follow and high-performance Si and Type R coming later. The two-door Civic coupe won’t return to the lineup.
There’s still a lot to learn about the 2022 Civic, such as its powertrains and available features. Honda has teased the interior layout with a photo showing an attractive, simplistic dashboard with a tablet-style infotainment screen.

Honda

We expect Honda to share more official information about the 2022 Civic soon, as it’s expected to debut within the next few months and go on sale in the U.S. late this spring. Starting prices should stay relatively close to the current model, which starts at $22,245 for the sedan and $23,195 for the hatchback.
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