Motor News

The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is a ruggedized wagon version of the Taycan electric sedan.
It’s available in 4, 4S, Turbo, and Turbo S models that all come standard with an 83.7-kWh battery pack, two electric motors, all-wheel drive, and an air suspension that raises them 0.8-inch taller than the sedan.
The Cross Turismo will arrive this summer, starting at $92,250.
Porsche’s new Taycan Cross Turismo is a lifted, wagon version of its electric sedan with body cladding and SUV aspirations, much like the Audi A6 Allroad and the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain. It will be available in the U.S. in the summer of 2021 in 4, 4S (pictured above), Turbo, and Turbo S (pictured below) models. The Cross Turismo costs $1530 more than a comparable Taycan sedan, starting at $92,250 for the entry-level model and stretching to $188,950 for the Turbo S.

How We’d Spec It: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

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Porsche

All-wheel drive is standard on the Cross Turismo, unlike the available rear-drive version of the sedan. All Cross Turismos also get the larger of the Taycan’s two battery packs, what Porsche calls Performance Battery Plus and holds 83.7-kWh of usable energy, and two permanent-magnet synchronous motors that generate a combined 469 horsepower in the Taycan Cross Turismo 4, 562 in the 4S, 670 in the Turbo, and 750 hp in the Turbo S. These are the same outputs as the equivalent sedans, and the 4 is on par with the base Taycan sedan with the bigger battery. Porsche says the Turbo S Cross Turismo will reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, though we managed 2.4 seconds in the sedan in our testing.

2021 Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo Adds a Hatch

Range estimates will be announced closer to the Taycan Cross Turismo’s summer arrival, but with the bigger battery, the 2021 Taycan 4S sedan is now EPA rated at 227 miles, while we achieved 180 miles in our 75-mph test. EPA estimates on the 2021 Taycan Turbo and Turbo S haven’t been released, but the 2020 models were rated at 201 and 192 miles. The Cross Turismo’s range mode lowers the cars 0.8 inch, but we can expect its range estimates to be slightly lower across the board due to its higher ride height in all other modes and almost 100 extra pounds of curb weight compared to the sedans.

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Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo (right), Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (right).
Porsche

Porsche’s adaptive dampers and an air suspension are standard on all models and make the Taycan Cross Turismo ride 0.8 inch higher than the sedan. A Gravel drive mode increases ride height another 0.4 inch. An optional off-road design package gives the Cross Turismo the extra ride height of Gravel mode all the time, and adds unique front and rear fascias, even more body cladding, and side skirts (as pictured above). A roof rack and a rear-mounted bike rack will also be available from Porsche.

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Porsche

The Taycan Cross Turismo’s longer body allows for slightly more headroom compared to the sedan, and it comes standard with a panoramic glass sunroof. The rest of the interior is akin to the sedan: 16.8-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.9-inch touchscreen with an 8.4-inch touchscreen below it for climate and other controls, and an available passenger display.

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And, of course, there’s more cargo space compared to the sedan, but not a lot more. The Taycan 4 and 4S Cross Turismo have 16 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, compared to the 14-cubic-foot trunk of the sedan. However, the Cross Turismo’s 43 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down is 8 more than the Mercedes E450 All-Terrain wagon. The Turbo and Turbo S models have 1.5 less cubic feet of space, and that’s because, as Porsche told Car and Driver, because a Bose sound system, which has hardware in the trunk, is standard on the top two models. Additionally, the Taycan’s 2.9-cubic-foot frunk remains. Still, there are electric crossovers with considerably more cargo space, including the Tesla Model Y with its 68 cubic feet of maximum storage. Perhaps the coming electric Macan will be able to better compete in this regard.
Additionally, Porsche is offering two new electric bicycles to go with the Taycan Cross Turismo: the eBike Sport for street use, and the eBike Cross for the trails. They’ll be on sale, in three sizes, in the spring.
The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo will be available in the U.S. in the summer with three years of included charging from Electrify America. Pricing is set at $92,250 for the 4, $111,650 for the 4S, $154,850 for the Turbo, and $188,950 for the Turbo S.
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The 2022 Kia Stinger will be more expensive than before and have a new base engine.
A turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four is now standard equipment for the U.S. model.
Pricing starts at $37,125 and ranges up to $54,535 for a loaded V-6 AWD model.
The 2022 Kia Stinger will soon arrive in the U.S. with a new base engine, revised styling, and a higher starting price. The updated hatchback starts at $37,125 for the GT-Line model, a $3000 increase over last year’s base price. You’ll get more for your money, though, as the 2022 Stinger has a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, increases of 45 hp and 61 pound-feet over the previous 2.0-liter engine.

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2018 Kia Stinger GT Long-Term Test

According to the EPA website, the bigger turbo-four even gets better fuel economy than before, with the highway rating for the rear-wheel-drive GT-Line rising from 29 mpg to 32 mpg. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, and all-wheel drive is a $2200 option for all versions of the Stinger.
The Stinger’s upgrade engine remains a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6, which has slightly more power than last year’s model. It now makes 368 horsepower (an increase of 3 hp) and the same 376 pound-feet of torque. The V-6 Stinger starts at $44,735 for the GT1 trim, which is $1800 less than last year’s GT1 model. The cheaper (and less well-equipped) V-6–powered base GT model is no more. The loaded GT2 starts at $52,335, a $900 increase from last year.

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Kia

Kia has yet to reveal photos of the U.S.-spec Stinger, but we don’t expect it to look much different than the global version seen here. There is a new color option called Ascot Green that we’re curious to see, and the GT-Line comes standard with 18-inch wheels with the GT1 and GT2 coming with 19-inchers.
Look for more details on the 2022 Stinger to come soon, as it’s likely to reach U.S. dealerships within the next few months.
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Mercedes-AMG has confirmed an even higher-performance GT four-door, and it could have upward of 800 horsepower.
There’s a “V8 BiTurbo E Performance” badge on the fender, meaning it should use AMG’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 paired with a more powerful hybrid system.
The new model is rumored to be called the GT73, and we expect it’ll cost close to $200,000.
Mercedes has a lineup of electric vehicles on the way under the EQ name, and its AMG high-performance wing will dabble with them as well. However, Mercedes-AMG also plans to have its entire lineup employ hybrid powertrains soon, including this upcoming electrified version of the GT four-door, likely named the GT73, which will be targeted straight at the 690-hp Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Mercedes-AMG

AMG hasn’t shared any details on the GT73’s powertrain yet, but we expect it to use a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which makes 630 horsepower in the GT63 S, in conjunction with a more powerful electric motor totaling around 800 horsepower. The 73 will need to have different type of hybrid system than the lesser GT four-door models (GT 53/GT 43), which use a 3.0-liter inline-six assisted by a small electric motor—and, in the GT53’s case, an electric supercharger—that adds no additional peak power. In our testing, the V-8-powered GT63 S hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, so it’s safe to say the 73 will have acceleration that borders on reality-warping. As with other GT four-door models, we expect all-wheel drive to help more of the power get to the ground.

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A “V8 BiTurbo E Performance” badge (pictured above) adorns the front fender, and AMG says that the rest of its upcoming high-performance hybrids will fall under that E Performance name as well. Besides that, the GT73 should look similar to the current top-spec GT63 S with a gloss black front fascia. It’s also wearing AMG’s black cross-spoke wheels, which are available on the 63 and 63 S.
We’ll know more about the Mercedes-AMG GT73 soon, and it should arrive by the end of the year. The current top-of-the-line GT63 S starts at $162,950, so expect the 73 to approach $200,000.
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The C40 Recharge is Volvo’s latest electric-vehicle offering.
Similar in size and specs to the XC40 Recharge, the C40 has a lower roofline.
Volvo estimates it will provide an EPA-rated driving range of 210 miles.
Volvo’s second electric vehicle is here, and it looks a whole lot like the first one. The 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge is essentially a reshaped version of the XC40 Recharge, with a lower roofline that gives Volvo a set of crossover twins not unlike BMW’s X1 and X2 siblings. The C40, however, will come only as an electric model, as opposed to the XC40 which also offers gasoline engines.

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The C40’s dimensions are nearly identical to the XC40’s, other than its lower height. The roofline in the rear slopes into a tapered liftback shape, meaning it has less cargo volume than the more squared-off XC40. Otherwise, the C40 is nearly identical to the electric version of the SUV. It rides on the same CMA platform and shares its 402-horsepower two-motor electric drivetrain and 75.0-kWh battery pack with the XC40 Recharge. (The related Polestar 2 also has this powertrain.)

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Volvo

Volvo estimates that the C40 will provide an EPA-rated driving range of 210 miles, which is 2 miles more than the XC40 Recharge’s rating. The zero-to-60-mph acceleration claim of 4.7 seconds is the same as the XC40.
The C40’s interior is nearly identical to the XC40 Recharge’s, with a digital gauge cluster and interesting-looking dashboard trim. It has Volvo’s latest Android-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, and the car is capable of receiving over-the-air software updates.
Volvo says it won’t offer many different configurations of the C40 Recharge, meaning it will likely come in a single well-equipped trim level, possibly starting around $55,000. The company says it will use an online sales model for this EV, meaning customers in the U.S. will likely be able to place an order online for delivery at their local Volvo dealership. Look for more details to come as Volvo prepares to start production of the C40 Recharge later this year.
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The freshly redesigned 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander has a starting price of $26,990, a $900 price increase from the previous model.
The top trim on the 2022, the SEL, starts at $33,140.
The 2022 Outlander is set to reach dealers by April.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander has received a full redesign after the automaker skipped the 2021 model year altogether. With the changes, the SUV sees a $900 price increase to $26,990. The Outlander tops out at $33,140 for the highest trim, SEL; that is likely to change once Mitsubishi introduces the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Outlander for the 2022 model year. Currently, the only 2021 Outlander is the PHEV.

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There are three trim levels on the 2022 Outlander, half as many as were available on the 2020 model. The midlevel SE costs $30,040. There is just one powertrain currently on the 2022 Outlander, a 2.5-liter inline-four with 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque which routes power through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive comes as standard, and all-wheel drive can be had for $1800, which is $200 cheaper than the 2020 model.
The 2022 Outlander is now a few hundred dollars more expensive than its main competitors, including the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2021 Nissan Rogue, the SUV from which the Outlander borrows many components. The Tiguan starts at $26,440, and the Rogue starts at $26,800.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is set to reach dealers by April.
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The new 2022 Kia Carnival starts at $33,275, a $1700 price increase from the Kia Sedona it replaces.
The Carnival received sweeping interior and exterior updates, including a design which gives it more SUV-like proportions.
Despite the increase in starting price, the Carnival still undercuts its competitors. It’ll reach U.S. dealers by the second quarter of this year.
The 2022 Kia Carnival, formerly known as the Sedona, received sweeping updates for this model year and with it, a price increase of $1700. The Carnival now starts at $33,275 for the entry-level LX, and reaches $47,275 on the highest trim level, SX-Prestige, which is new for this year.

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The 2022 Carnival has a new, more stylish look which gives it SUV-like proportions. It also received stylish updates to its interior and now comes standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen and an optional 12.3-inch screen. The Carnival is front-wheel-drive only, and one engine is offered: a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

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Kia

The next trim up from the LX is EX, and it starts at $38,775. The second-highest trim level, SX, comes at a starting price of $42,275. Although the starting price of the Carnival received a generous price increase for 2022, it is still priced below its competitors such as the 2021 Chrysler Pacificaand the 2021 Toyota Sienna, which start at $36,690 and $35,635, respectively.
The 2022 Kia Carnival is set to reach dealers in the U.S. by the second quarter of this year.
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American Humane makes the astonishing claim that as many as 100,000 dogs are killed each year riding unrestrained in the back of a pickup truck.
A new state legislator in Utah has introduced the Transportation of Dogs Act to make sure this potentially dangerous activity becomes illegal.
Currently, only six states have specific laws against this sort of thing.
The state of Utah is about to consider legislation to make it illegal to let your dog(s) ride in the bed of a pickup truck. One impetus for the bill is the outrage that was created when the Utah Humane Society video (below) of a dog standing on a truck zooming down the highway went viral. Unrestrained dogs can be tossed around in the bed or fall off while the truck is moving—a problem with an easy solution, but even easy may be too hard for people used to the practice. Still, if the American Humane organization’s claim—that 100,000 dogs die each year from riding in pickup-truck beds—is anywhere near reality, it’s a serious problem.
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Rep. Ashlee Matthews, the only Democrat to win in Utah in November, has introduced the Transportation of Dogs Act (officially, H.B. 386) to the state legislature. The bill would make it illegal for people to drive faster than 40 mph with unrestrained dogs in the back of their truck. There are exceptions for working farm dogs and hunting dogs or if the sides of the bed are at least 46 inches tall. A driver’s first violation would result in an infraction, and any further violations would be misdemeanors. Rep. Matthews did not respond to Car and Driver’s request for comment.

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Deann Shepherd of the Humane Society of Utah told local news station WITN last year that the group would support a law similar to what Rep. Matthews has introduced. The Utah state legislative session ends March 5.
“This bill is long overdue,” said Rachel Heatley, Utah Humane Society advocacy director, in a statement. “This legislation is an easy and effective way to reduce distraction on Utah’s high-speed roadways and save countless lives of humans and animals.”
Other States’ Laws
According to outdoor supplier Orvis, only six other states have laws that ban unrestrained dogs riding in truck beds: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Some states also forbid drivers from having dogs on their lap while driving, and some states require dogs to be in the back seat of cars. Orvis notes there are 16 states where the laws regarding dog transportation are ambiguous enough that it’s likely up to a law enforcement officer to decide if the way the dog is being carried is dangerous or against the law.
The American Humane Society says pets should always ride inside the cab, never in a truck bed. In fact, it is the first safety rule listed on the group’s website, which goes on to point out that it’s not just falling or jumping out of the bed that can hurt the animal. There’s no protection from the weather in the bed, so at the very least you should use a secured crate back there if you have to carry your dog and there’s no room in the cabin.
Dogs falling out of truck beds can also be hazardous to other drivers, but simply leashing your dog to the truck is not a good idea, the group said, because “many dogs have been strangled when tossed or bumped over the side of the truck and been left helplessly dangling.”
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Aptera, the startup aiming to make a three-wheeled electric vehicle, just got $4 million in funding.
That brings it closer to actual production, slated for the end of 2021.
The ultra-efficient three-wheeled two-seater promises 1000 miles of range.
Electric-trike maker Aptera finally has what it needs to really get going: money. Last week the company announced it had closed on $4 million in Series A funding. “Aptera’s continued momentum has now garnered it over 7000 vehicle reservations in just over two months, totaling a quarter-billion in orders,” the company’s news section read.

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2010 Aptera 2e

It goes on to say Aptera has moved into a new production design facility in the tony Sorrento Valley area of San Diego, just east of La Jolla. (Aside: Dr. Seuss lived in La Jolla and would probably have approved of the Aptera’s shape.)
The shape, like everything on the vehicle, is squeezed for efficiency. It has a ludicrous 0.15 coefficient of drag and a curb weight of just 1800 pounds. Depending on what battery you order and how much sun the rooftop panels can add to your drive, you could get 1000 miles of range out of this thing. If you live in a really, really sunny spot, you can gain over 41 miles a day in free electricity from the solar panels, or 11,484 extra free-sun-happy miles a day. If you live in, say, New York, you can still make between 11 and 30 miles a day. Most people don’t actually drive that far in a typical day, so for them, it’s basically free fuel forever.
Prices are still listed at between $25,900 and $46,900 for the high-efficiency two-seater, with the first deliveries planned for the end of this year. The company wants to hit 10,000 vehicles a year by 2022.
Below is a recent Aptera story with more details:
Anybody remember the Aptera 2e? The three-wheeled two-seater that looked like a flying pumpkin seed? Well it’s back, or it will be back, and the stats of the new model that its makers are throwing around sound crazy: a curb weight as low as 1800 pounds, range of up to 1000 miles(!), priced starting at $25,900.
Incredible, right?
Let’s back up a bit, like about 14 years. In 2006 when the company was more or less founded, it was going to revolutionize transportation through efficiency. Three wheels instead of four allowed for the wild aerodynamic shape you see here, as well as skirting federal safety standards. Three-wheelers are generally classified as motorcycles by NHTSA, but if they’re enclosed like this one, you usually don’t have to wear a helmet.
An electric motor drove the rear wheel on that original model and produced an mpg equivalent of 200 miles per gallon. Pricing back then was going to be between $25,000 and $45,000. In 2008 it was entered in the Automotive X Prize contest with a claim of 300 mpg equivalent. Original plans called for a plug-in-hybrid version utilizing a 500-cc catalyst-equipped gasoline engine. The PHEV would compliment the battery electric models in the lineup.
All too soon, however, the money ran out, and a reported dispute (about whether the car should have roll-down windows, of all things) doomed production. The company closed its doors in 2011, not having delivered a single car to a customer.

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Original founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony.
Aptera

However, the original founders, Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony, never gave up. They are shown now posed with an Aptera, ready for the future.
The new car will be electric only, with a variety of battery packs available. The bigger the pack, the longer the range. Consider this: 25 kWh good for 250 miles of range; 40 kWh for 400 miles; 60 kWh for 600 miles; and the king-daddy 1000.0-kWh battery will give a promised—and unprecedented—1000 miles of range. That works out to 10 miles per kWh, by the way. Contemporary EVs are closer to 4 miles per kWh. So the pumpkin shape means two and a half times more range? That’s what they’re saying.
But the most interesting statistic may be the power of the solar roof. Most previous applications of solar roofs on electric or hybrid cars say they’re only good for a few hundred watts of power. Some carmakers say they’re only good to operate an exhaust fan to keep the car’s interior cooler on hot days. But Aptera says its roof options—up to three solar panels—can give you 60 miles of range. That’s unprecedented statistic number two. The maximum panel size is three square meters, which yields a claimed 700 watts of charge as long as the sun is shining. Say you live in South Miami and get 10 hours of direct, glaring sunlight a day—700 watts times 10 hours is 7.0 kWh. If this rig really does get 10 miles per kWh, that’d be good for 70 miles. Aptera is only claiming 60 miles, though it expresses that as 60 kilometers plus 24 miles. In the main press release it claims 45 miles. An earlier release, still on its website, said the solar roof would be good for 40 miles. Take your pick. Co-CEO Chris Anthony tries to explain:
“If you put our same solar package on a Prius, you could get maybe six or eight miles of charge range a day, which some people might find compelling, if you have a really short commute. For most people, it wouldn’t be worth the expense of the solar. But when you only burn 100 watt-hours per mile, like the Aptera does, the same solar package can get you 40-plus miles a day of range.”

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Aptera

The trick is getting that 100 watt-hours, which, with the craft’s shape and light weight, seems entirely plausible. The company sums it all up with a statement:
“Aptera Motors today announced it has introduced the first solar electric vehicle (sEV) that requires no charging for most daily use and boasts a range of up to 1000 miles per full charge, shattering industry performance achievements to date. Aptera leverages breakthroughs in lightweight structures, low-drag aerodynamics and cooling, material science, and manufacturing processes to deliver the most efficient vehicle ever made available to consumers.”
The body is made of lightweight composites that are said to meet “all applicable safety standards.” Keep in mind that the standards applicable to a three-wheeler are nowhere near as stringent as those required of a four-wheeled, generic “car.” That’s okay. People ride motorcycles, don’t they?
That slippery exterior is said to have a drag coefficient of 0.13, which looks entirely possible. Power goes to all three wheels via hub motors in each wheel. Autonomous driving is said to be on the list of features, though no specifics were proferred.
Will it really happen this time? Deliveries are slated for “2021,” which gives them a little elbow room should there be yet another dispute about roll-down windows, or maybe cupholders. But it sure looks cool. The slice of electric car enthusiasts who program their own software will likely love this thing. As for the rest of the planet, well, who doesn’t want 1000 miles of range and free solar charging?

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