Motor News

The Porsche 911 S/T has already cemented itself as one of the great roadgoing sports cars from Weissach. With just 1963 examples of the anniversary special planned for production, demand for an allocation is fierce. In an effort to limit the insane prices brought on by American flipping culture, Porsche has decided to limit buyers’ actual ownership of the vehicle for at least a year after the car rolls off of a local lot. Porsche’s Frank Moser, vice president of the 911 and 718 model lines, detailed these unusual restrictions at the Rennsport Reunion 7 event in California over the weekend, The Drive reports. The executive explained to the press pool at the event that a stipulation has been added to the 911 S/T purchase contract, which aims to limit the impact that resellers will have on the model’s market value. The contract dictates that buyers of the 911 S/T will technically lease the cars from Porsche for a year, at which point ownership of the vehicle will be officially transferred to the respective buyer. “We want to ensure that cars are available [to] reach true enthusiasts, to be driven and enjoyed for years to come,” Moser told the press. “For this reason, those allocated a 911 S/T in the U.S. will be required to adhere to an agreed minimum retention period, set at one year.”More on the 911 S/TThe automaker is likely trying to prevent a situation like the one that took place with the 911 R from the 991 generation. Collectors and flippers alike flocked to the limited-production model, which at the time was the only way to get a GT3 engine mated to a manual gearbox. After seeing the insane prices involved with 911 R sales on the secondary market, Porsche unveiled the GT3 Touring and brought the manual back into the fray. While tamping down on the flipper market in the United States was never the brand’s official reason, it likely didn’t hurt the decision. Values of the 911 R are still tremendous for a modern sports car, but they’ve come back down to where you’d expect a sub-1000 unit Porsche to be. We’ll have to wait and see if this effort is actually enough to prevent the 911 S/T from becoming true unobtanium. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.  More

Volvo revealed the full range of pricing for its upcoming EX30 EV crossover.The pint-sized EV is shockingly cheap with a starting price of just $36,245 for the single-motor extended-range version.Pre-order configurations are slated to begin later this fall, with deliveries expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. EV naysayers will have a harder time bemoaning the high cost of entry with this one. Volvo has revealed the full range of pricing for its upcoming EX30 crossover, and the brand’s smallest EV SUV comes in well below both the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. In the standard single-motor rear-drive setup, the EX30 makes 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, and has an EPA-estimated 275 miles of range. With the base powertrain setup, Volvo is offering three trim levels; Core, Plus, and Ultra. The base Core is the cheapest at $36,245, with the Plus bumping that up to $40,195, and the Ultra at $41,895. Stepping up to the Plus brings a Harman Kardon sound system, a dual-tone panoramic roof in Onyx Black, and 19-inch wheels. Moving into the top trim net more features including the next-generation Pilot Assist and a 360-degree-view camera. VolvoUpgrading to the dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant brings more power: 422 horses and 400 pound-feet. This version uses the same battery, and the range estimate falls to 265 miles. According to Volvo, the dual-motor setup launches the EX30 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Whereas the single-motor EX30 can be had in three trims, the dual-motor ditches the base Core. The more powerful Plus and Ultra trims add $6000 a piece to their rear-drive equivalents, bringing the totals to $46,195 and $47,895. More on the Volvo EX30According to Volvo, deposit holders will be able to configure and pre-order their EX30 later this fall, and deliveries are expected to start sometime in the first quarter of 2024. Associate News EditorJack 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

Tesla’s popular Model Y SUV will soon be offered in a cheaper rear-wheel-drive variant.The so-called Standard Range model was available earlier in the Model Y’s lifecycle but had been discontinued in favor of longer-range all-wheel-drive models. Model Y Standard Range models are available to order now on the company’s website starting at $45,630 with a driving range as high as 260 miles—$7500 less than an all-wheel drive Long Range with 330 miles of advertised range.Tesla is bringing back its low-cost Model Y Standard Range rear-wheel-drive model, which is now available to order on the automaker’s website. According to a report from Automotive News, the move is a response to lower-than-projected third-quarter vehicle deliveries, and that logic tracks. Tesla has tweaked the pricing strategy for its lineup consistently throughout the year to compete with a rising tide of fresh EV rivals as well as inflation. Earlier this year, the company also relaunched Standard Range variants of the more expensive Model S sedan and Model X SUV, dropping the price of entry for those luxury vehicles by around $10,000 each. But those models didn’t last long and were pulled from the order site a few weeks later, replaced with cheaper variants of all-wheel-drive Long Range models. Latest Tesla NewsDesperate scrambling? Perhaps. Or maybe it’s merely the trial-and-error method in action: Throwing options onto an online configurator to see what customers pick. Either way, more affordable EVs aren’t a bad thing. The Standard Range Model Y is available to order now on the Tesla website, with a delivery date range starting as early as this month. Prices start at $45,630 for versions without any options, and the driving range for this model is advertised as high as 260 miles. If you opt for the prettier 20-inch Induction wheels—a $2000 option—the range estimate drops to 242 miles per charge. Given that the Model 3 compact car that underpins the Model Y is getting a facelift for 2024, we suspect the SUV will get a similar treatment, but that may not happen until the 2025 model year.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Nissan has shown the Hyper Urban concept ahead of its in-person debut at this month’s Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.The electric concept is a small, sporty crossover with a sharp, angular design, with the triangular shapes drawing inspiration from kaleidoscopes.The cabin is just as crazy as the bodywork, with green LED accents and seats that can fold together to create a spacious lounge.Nissan isn’t new to the EV business—the pioneering Leaf hatchback, which went on sale way back in 2011 with a paltry 73-mile range, paved the way for the deluge of electric vehicles now arriving on the market. Among those is Nissan’s Ariya SUV, which registered 5195 sales through the first half of this year. Now Nissan is giving us a taste of what to expect from the styling of its future electric cars with the very angular-looking Hyper Urban concept. NissanThe squat, sporty crossover is one of several concepts Nissan will unveil before the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo at the end of this month. Each will use the word “hyper” in its name to, according to the automaker, “express the heightened excitement they aim to bring.” The Hyper Urban’s bodywork is full of aggressive and dramatic slashes as if the designer had attacked a lump of clay with a sword to create the concept’s shape. The sharply sloping roofline, ginormous wheels, and stocky stance make the Hyper Urban look even more assertive.The concept follows current design trends with full-width light bars and the front and rear, each with an intricate appearance comprised of receptive LED strips. The front and rear scissor doors theatrically open skyward to reveal a cabin that is just as angular as the exterior, full of triangular shapes—inspired by kaleidoscopes, Nissan says—green LED lighting and a yoke-style steering wheel. The front seats can collapse and fold into the rear seats to create a more spacious, lounge-like interior space. NissanNissan didn’t go into detail regarding the powertrain, but the Hyper Urban is, of course, electric. Nissan imagines that the concept could provide power back into your home to reduce strain on the grid and save owners money. Nissan also mentioned a charging setup that is powered by artificial intelligence and can autonomously charge the crossover but didn’t provide specifics on how this would work. Ultimately, however, the powertrain specifics are of little consequence, and the Hyper Urban serves as a flight of fancy that previews Nissan’s future design direction. Just don’t expect the scissor doors to reach production.More Nissan NewsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb 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 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning gains a brand-new trim level.It will be called the Flash, and will slot in between the XLT and Lariat trims.Pricing for the Flash will start at $72,090 when it goes on sale sometime next year. The 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning lineup is about to get a little more crowded, with the automaker announcing a new trim level today. The new model will be called the Flash and will slot between the XLT and Lariat trims. FordFord is marketing this one as a “tech-focused” offering for Lightning buyers. In real terms that means the Flash gets a standard 15.5-inch touchscreen and the extended-range battery, with an EPA-estimated 320 miles of range. In our testing, an F-150 Lightning Platinum achieved a real-world result of 230 miles on our 75-mph highway loop. Other changes to the Lightning lineup for 2024 include the addition of Blue Cruise 1.2 to the Flash and higher models, and the addition of a heat pump to improve efficiency in colder climates. The Towing Technology package also becomes standard on XLT and above. Visually, the updated Lightning does gain the simplified Ford logo that debuted on the refreshed F-150 last month. FordMore on the F-150 LightningFord hasn’t released full pricing for the new model year, but we do know the Flash will slot between the XLT and the Lariat, and will start at $72,090 when it goes on sale alongside the rest of the lineup next year. Associate News EditorJack 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

Flex Automotive launched its first American dealership in San Diego in 2022, and it now has a U.S.-specific model with the Windansea pickup truck.Based on the third-generation Toyota Tacoma, the Windansea sports a boxier front end with circular headlights and steel bumpers.The Windansea starts at $52,800, but the price ultimately depends on the cost of the donor truck. If you have a nostalgic streak but don’t consider yourself a Luddite, the Flex Renoca Windansea may be the pickup truck for you. In 2022, Japan-based Flex Automotive announced plans to open its first U.S. showroom in San Diego, selling 1990s and 2000s Toyota Land Cruisers with a redesigned front clip that mimics the classic FJ60-series Land Cruiser from the 1980s. The firm also hinted it was planning a Tacoma-based model exclusively for the United States. Flex finally pulled the wraps off this retro-styled truck, which it calls the Windansea.Flex AutomotiveBuilt off of the third-generation Toyota Tacoma—launched for 2016 and ending with the 2023 model year due to the release of the redesigned 2024 Tacoma—the Windansea features a boxier front end that integrates a rectangular grille replete with Toyota’s classic font. A pair of squared-off headlight housings each contain a circular headlamp and a rectangular turn-signal lens. The steel bumper protrudes from the bodywork, and the Windansea rides on simple steel wheels. Flex AutomotiveFlex Automotive listed the powertrain for the Windnsea as the Tacoma’s optional 278-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission, but the company notes that exact specifications depend on the individual donor vehicle. We imagine Flex Automotive won’t turn down a check for someone looking to give their four-cylinder or stick-shift Tacoma the Windansea treatment. There’s no evidence Flex Automotive’s touch extends past the bodywork.More Modern Throwback TrucksBuyers can choose from an array of options to spice up their Windansea. This includes items such as lift kits, bed racks, fog lights, and reupholstered seat options, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible head units for Windanseas based on older Tacomas without this tech. Other extras include side steps, an upgraded sound system, and WeatherTech floor mats. Flex says that the Windansea starts at $52,800, but the final price of this classic-looking modern pickup ultimately depends on the price paid for the donor vehicle and the extent of the truck’s customization.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb 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

Porsche and Tag Heuer created a pair of bespoke 718 Cayman GT4 RS models to honor the Carrera Panamericana rally race in Mexico.The pairing is part of Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program—which means special request in German—which allows customers to create things like the recent Pixar-inspired Porsche Sally special based on the 911 Carrera GTS. The cars are intended to invoke design elements from the Porsche 550 Coupe, which two customer teams raced in the 1953 running of the Carrera Panamericana rally. When you have a stable full of historical racing cars as big as Porsche’s, you’re sure to have customers who want a modern take on classical favorites. The manufacturer’s newest examples are a pair of custom-made 718 Cayman GT4 RS models produced in conjunction with Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer. The pair is part of Porsche’s Sonderwunsch “special request” customization program and were built to commemorate the 70 years since two customer teams took part in the Carrera Panamericana rally in Mexico. PorscheThe cars are painted in Le Mans Silver Metallic, a special color in the Porsche history books, which was created for the 911 Carrera GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, and references the paint on the 1951 Le Mans winning 356 SL Coupe. The cars are distinguished from one another with the racing numbers 152 and 154 painted onto the doors and roofs of the respective models. Inside the special editions, the seats and door pulls are finished in Guards Red, while stitching on the steering wheel and dashboard is done in the signature red, white, and green colors of the Mexican flag. The door guards and the cup-holder panel are milled with a special “GT4 RS Panamericana Special” insignia, and the floormats proudly announce that each car is a product of the Sonderwunsch program. In addition to the hood and rear wing side plates, the Tag Heuer logo is embossed on the center armrest to mark the partnership. Car and DriverPerhaps the coolest addition to the Panamericana Special is the Tag Heuer stopwatch module in the center console of the 154 car. The clocks were designed and made by Tag Heuer exclusively for this project and are not available otherwise. According to Porsche, the left clock that displays the time has the typical Heuer Carrera Design, while the piece on the right is a stopwatch with a scale that helps the driver maintain the average speed during rallies. More on the 718 Cayman GT4 RSCar 154 will be driven in the first and second stages of this year’s Carrera Panamericana by actor Patrick Dempsey, while car 152 is slated to be auctioned for charity in early 2024. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack 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

The 2024 Lexus TX350 starts at $55,050, and the TX500h hybrid starts at $69,350.The TX550h+ plug-in hybrid will likely be even more expensive.Lexus says the TX350 and TX500h are on sale now and the plug-in hybrid will arrive in early 2024.Lexus has announced ambitious pricing for the new 2024 TX, as the three-row SUV will start at $55,000 for the TX350 and ranges up to over $76,000 for a loaded TX500h F Sport Performance hybrid model. That’s considerably more than the previous RX L, and thousands more than the starting prices of rival mid-size luxury SUVs such as the Infiniti QX60 and Cadillac XT6. We don’t even yet know pricing for the eventual TX550h+ plug-in hybrid, but that might top $80,000 given that it’s the most powerful version in the lineup.The front-wheel-drive TX350 model, which has a 275-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four, carries a base price of $55,050 and gets more expensive as you opt for the better-equipped Premium ($58,450) and Luxury ($60,950) trim levels. All-wheel drive costs $1600 extra.More on New Lexus ModelsPony up to the $69,350 TX500h and you get standard all-wheel drive thanks to a hybrid setup that includes the same turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four plus electric motors. It produces 366 horsepower in total and essentially the same setup found in the related Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. The TX500h comes standard with F Sport Performance upgrades including adaptive dampers and several appearance tweaks. It also offers a more expensive trim level with extra kit, the $72,650 TX500h F Sport Performance Luxury (say that two times fast).Lexus says the TX350 and TX500h models are reaching dealerships already, while the TX550h+ will go on sale in early 2024. Pricing for that model will be announced later on.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More