Motor News

Polestar’s three-year production run of its flagship, the $150,000-plus Polestar 1, will be over with by late 2021.
The automaker announced that the final build slots for the vehicle are available now for those interested in purchasing the vehicle.
U.S. buyers are allotted 125 vehicles of the final 500-car run.
The Polestar 1 was meant to be a halo vehicle to garner attention for a newly established automaker. The powerful hybrid GT did just that, turning heads at auto shows and helping the Volvo stand-alone brand justify jumping deeper into the EV world with the Polestar 2. But now that the vehicle has done its job, it’s entering its final production run.

Revealed: Polestar’s First Car, the Polestar 1

Polestar 1 Is a Concept Car Brought to Life

2020 Polestar 1

Polestar announced today that the remaining build slots for the final production run of the vehicle are now available. If you have the desire and means to buy the Polestar 1, now’s your last chance to get your hands on the carbon-fiber-bodied hybrid GT with 619 horsepower.

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Polestar

The Polestar 1’s design is based on a Volvo concept coupe that was on display at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. The Polestar performance division of Volvo was spun off into its own EV automaker, bringing that concept to life as a performance hybrid.
Priced starting at $156,500, the Polestar 1 was never going to be a mass-market vehicle. Its limited run of 1500 vehicles built over its three-year production life, of which and the automaker is allotting 375 for U.S. customers, makes it one of the more exclusive hybrids out there. It also helps that it looks magnificent.

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Infiniti has released a few details about the 2022 QX60 three-row SUV.
It will have a new design and feature a nine-speed automatic transmission rather than the current model’s CVT.
We’ll see the new QX60 in full soon and it should go on sale later this year.
Now that its downmarket Nissan Pathfinder sibling has debuted, Infiniti is ready to talk about the new 2022 QX60 luxury three-row SUV. This new model will feature the same powertrain changes as the Pathfinder, swapping the current continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a new nine-speed automatic from supplier ZF. The QX60’s version of the 3.5-liter V-6 will continue to make a bit more power than what’s in the Nissan, at 295 horsepower.

Infiniti Reveals QX60 Monograph Concept

View Photos of the Infiniti QX60 Monograph

These new photos of a QX60 prototype don’t show off much about the new model’s styling, but we did get a preview last year thanks to the QX60 Monograph concept (pictured below). This gave away much of the new QX60’s exterior design, which looks far more modern and upscale than the current model that has been around since 2013, when it first arrived as the JX35.
The concept car didn’t have an interior, but we expect the cabin to make a significant step ahead, too. It will likely have nicer materials, more available features, and a more up-to-date tech interface. Three rows of seats will come standard, like before, and we expect the available seating arrangements to mirror the Pathfinder’s. The Nissan now offers either an eight-passenger setup with a three-place bench in the second and third rows, or a seven-passenger setup with newly available second-row captain’s chairs.

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Infiniti says it will release more information soon about the 2022 QX60, so look for official photos and more details to come within the next few months. It will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
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Airstream will donate enough money to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to plant 118,405 trees which will neutralize all emissions for all trailers and motorhomes sold in 2021.
The new Caravan to Carbon Neutral program also allows owners to contribute additional funds to plant even more trees.
Carbon Reduction Kits start at just $50 and include a decal to tout your camper’s carbon neutrality.
Citing a growing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, luxury RV manufacturer Airstream announced today that it will work to offset enough carbon emissions to cover all emissions resulting from the use of every trailer and motorhome it sells in 2021. That means buyers of 2021 Airstream models can travel this year knowing the emissions from their vehicles aren’t contributing to climate change.

Carbon Reduction Kit: Silver
airstreamsupplycompany.com
$50.00

Carbon Reduction Kit: Gold
airstreamsupplycompany.com
$100.00

Carbon Reduction Kit: Platinum
airstreamsupplycompany.com
$250.00

Airstream is calling this plan the Caravan to Carbon Neutral and says that in order to neutralize its fleet’s emissions this year it will donate enough money to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to cover the planting of 118,405 new trees. Current and prospective Airstream owners are also being encouraged to chip in to offset additional emissions by purchasing a Carbon Reduction Kit for their campers by donating money to the NFF.
The kits come in three levels, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, which start at $50 and top out at $250; all of which include a 5-inch by 4-inch decal that can be displayed on the buyer’s Airstream. The most expensive of the three kits also includes a Caravan to Carbon Neutral flag and provides enough funding to the NFF to plant 250 trees.
The RV-maker, which is based in Ohio, is no stranger to green initiatives. It uses renewable energy credits at its production facility to offset electricity usage there and all of its current products are Certified Green by TRA Certification, a third-party RV-industry watchdog group.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across North America in 2021, limiting leisure air travel and vacation opportunities, the RV industry is expected to see additional year-over-year increases in new-model sales, according to a report by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Last year, despite the numerous pandemic lockdowns, RV sales rose by 6% to 430,412 units; the RVIA estimates that as many as 502,000 American consumers will purchase a new RV in 2021.

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With more Americans turning to RVs for family vacations and a growing number of workers taking advantage of their new work-from-anywhere lifestyle, a growing concern of vehicle emissions due to towing heavy trailers or driving large motorhomes is understandable. At the moment, few electric vehicles are set up for regular towing duty and those that are, including the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model X SUVs, will see their estimated driving ranges significantly sapped in the process.
Heavier duty electric pickup trucks, such as the GMC Hummer EV, the Rivian R1T, and the Tesla Cybertruck, are on the horizon but in the meantime, purchasing carbon offsets for gasoline- or diesel-powered tow vehicles is a good alternative to emissions-free towing.
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The next Mercedes-Benz C-class, shown here in prototype form, will be four-cylinder only and come with Mercedes’s nine-speed automatic transmission.
That includes AMG versions, which will get hybridized four-cylinder powertrains—even the AMG C63.
U.S. buyers are expected to get a C300 sedan, followed by AMG versions and possibly a plug-in hybrid, with an on-sale date probably in late 2021.
There it is, the new C-class: Still partially covered, but impressive, with a wide stance and a fair amount of what designers call the prestigemass, the measure of prestige: the length of the body between the front axle and the root of the A-pillar. It is even longer than before, a clear indication that the C-class has kept its rear-wheel-drive layout.

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Mercedes-Benz

“It is impossible to achieve this kind of handling and balance with a front-wheel-drive platform,” says Christian Früh, head engineer for the new C-class whose responsibilities have also included the E-class coupe and cabriolet. The C-class has been an incredible success story for Mercedes-Benz, with a history that stretches back to the W201 Baby Benz, launched in 1982. The new model marks the sixth generation if you include the 190, which did not yet bear the C-class moniker.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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In a way, the C-class returns to its roots. It will come with four cylinders only, just like the W201; it took three years before the company that was then called Daimler-Benz added a six-cylinder derivative. We doubt the new model, internally called W206, will ever get a six-cylinder version. There will be nothing but four-bangers, from the Europe-only C180 and the C200 up to the C300, rated at around 250 horsepower and available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Europe will get some extremely efficient diesel engines, and Daimler is planning to add plug-in hybrids based both on the diesel and gasoline versions. The other versions will have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, without exception.
The plug-in hybrids will be the most powerful C-class models, with the exception of the AMG derivatives. But alas, those will lose their V-6 and brutal V-8 engines as well. The next generation of AMG C-class models will be fitted with hybridized four-cylinder powertrains—even the AMG C63. It will be rated at over 500 horsepower. Some customers will be saddened by the loss of the manual transmission, which was still offered in Europe on some versions of the current-gen C-class, but every new C-class will be fitted with the company’s homemade (and excellent) nine-speed automatic.
But there is plenty of good news about the new C-class. It is not just more efficient than the predecessor, it also comes with strong improvements. The center console is a huge touchpad, and the digital instrumentation and the infotainment system work with extreme precision and quickness. The Burmester audio system turns the car into a veritable concert hall. The engineers at Daimler realize that a lot of customers spend more money on their car hi-fi system than on the one at home. They also use it more frequently.

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Mercedes-Benz

There’s more innovation: The head-up system now projects information almost 15 feet ahead of the car, making it far more legible. And over-the-air updates will be possible. While the optional air suspension is gone, there will be different chassis setups, with electronically adjustable dampers on the top-end version. And for the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering rear-axle steering, which adds high-speed stability and makes the car supremely maneuverable in the city.
Two more things have changed. First, there is no more overlap with Renault. While the previous generation was temporarily available with co-developed powertrains, no such collaboration happened with the new model. And second, Daimler will no longer offer a classic grille with a hood-mounted star—unless you live in China, where the not-for-export long-wheelbase version still comes with the heritage look.
Europe will get a station wagon version of the new model, while the current C-class coupe and convertible continue on the existing platform, alongside their slightly bigger E-class siblings. Engineer Früh, we suspect, is already busy working on the appropriate replacements.
For the U.S. market, we expect to see the C300 sedan, followed by AMG versions and possibly the plug-in hybrid. Sales could begin late in 2021.
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The 2021 Ford Mustang configurator is now live, so you can build out your own car, including a GT500 or a Mach 1, the new variant in the Mustang lineup this year.
The GT500 can now be had with a new carbon-fiber handling package as well as several new colors.
The Mach 1, which comes standard with a manual transmission, offers a $3500 handling package.
Ford’s updated 2021 Mustang, including the Shelby GT500 and the new Mach 1, will soon be reaching dealers. While you wait, you can decide what your perfect spec would be on the live online configurator. You can now build out the GT500 with the new carbon-fiber handling package or spec the new Mach 1, which comes standard with a manual transmission and a 480-hp 5.0-liter V-8.

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2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 at Lightning Lap 20

That carbon-fiber handling package on the GT500 includes 20-inch painted carbon-fiber wheels along with adjustable strut top mounts, an oil catch can, a Gurney flap, and splitter wickers. The 2021 GT500 and other Mustangs come in three new colors: Grabber Yellow, Antimatter Blue, and Carbonized Gray Metallic. The Mach 1 will also be offered in an exclusive Fighter Jet Gray, shown in the photo above.
The Mach 1 comes with a manual transmission as standard but can also be had with a 10-speed automatic transmission as well as a $3500 handling package. The Mach 1 starts at $52,915, while the high-performance GT500, which maintains its 760-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, starts at $74,095.
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This spring with the release of iOS 4.5, iPhone users will be able to use Siri and Apple Maps to report road incidents at precise locations using their voice.
The feature is currently rolling out to iOS beta users.
It will work both in the Apple Maps app on the iPhone and with Apple CarPlay in a vehicle.

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Coming this spring in iOS 4.5 and rolling out to beta users of iOS right now is a new feature in Apple Maps that allows drivers to tell Siri about road conditions without taking their hands or eyes off the road. Once the report has been logged, the information will be shared with other drivers along that same stretch of road. After an incident has been cleared, Siri can also be used to inform Apple Maps that it’s no longer an issue.
The new feature will work in both the Apple Maps application on the phone and via CarPlay. Drivers can say “Hey Siri” and share incidents using any of the following phrases:
Report an accident / hazard / speed check / speed trap / incidentThere’s an accident / hazard / speed check / speed trap / incidentThere’s a crash up aheadThere’s something on the roadThere’s a speed trap hereClear the accident / hazard / incidentThe hazard is goneThe incident is no longer hereThere’s an accident that’s still here
For users of the Waze navigation app, these types of alerts along their routes are old hat. What Apple is doing is integrating it directly into its own app so that the incidents can be shared via Siri without the need to interact with the application with anything beyond their voice.
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In a call with media earlier today, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares all but confirmed that there are no longer plans to bring Peugeot back to the U.S.
Back in 2016, the PSA Group said that it would bring the Peugeot back to the U.S. in the next ten years. Tavares said a lot has changed since then.
Tavares also suggested that, despite speculation, Chrysler will likely not be cut from the Stellantis brand lineup.
Since the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group, which includes the Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall brands, speculation has abounded on whether PSA’s plans to bring Peugeot back to the U.S. would remain in place. In a call with media today, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares all but confirmed that the French brand doesn’t have a future in the U.S.

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“For the time being, I don’t think that is part of the things that we want to prioritize for the next time window,” Tavares said. “I think it’s better that we funnel the talent, the capital, and the engineering capability of our Stellantis company to the existing brands to improve what needs to be improved and to accelerate where we need to accelerate because we already have a very strong presence in this market.”
Stellantis already has a strong market share in the U.S., as Tavares pointed out, and is prioritizing increasing the market share of Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler, among others that are already here. This is particularly the case for Chrysler, a struggling brand that currently has only the 300 and the Pacifica and Voyager minivans.
Chrysler’s sales have declined in recent years, from 300,000 sales five years ago down to around 110,000 vehicles in 2020. Such results, combined with the change in ownership, have led to speculation that Chrysler is nearing its end in the U.S., but Tavares suggested that Chrysler was here to stay and will instead be reinvented.
“We consider that this brand is one of the three historical pillars of Stellantis [Fiat and Peugeot are the other two], and of course we are eager, and I am eager, to give this brand a future,” Tavares said. What that future is, the Stellantis CEO said, depends on what is proposed for the brand.
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Toyota announced today that it will unveil two new EVs this year and will bring them both to the U.S. market in 2022.
The automaker will also unveil a plug-in hybrid this year that will be available next year.
The two EVs will be part of a global goal to bring 10 new EVs to market sometime in the early 2020s.
Today Toyota announced that will be unveiling two EVs for the U.S. market as 2022 models. One of the vehicles will be a crossover, while details of the other are still unknown. Toyota did say that the vehicles are part of a plan to introduce 10 new EVs worldwide in the “early 2020s.” In addition to the EVs, the automaker also plans to unveil a new plug-in hybrid this year that will come to market in 2022.

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While Toyota has been and continues to be bullish about its hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains, it’s also jumping into the EV world with these new vehicles. Toyota North America executive vice president of sales Bob Carter said on a call announcing the news that the automaker wants “to be the Macy’s department store of powertrains.”
In late December, Toyota announced that it is bringing an electric crossover to the European market, showing the sketch pictured above, and said that it will eventually be available in the U.S. With today’s news, we have a bit more of an idea of the timetable for the release of that vehicle. The automaker is also working on bringing a solid-state-battery-powered vehicle in the early 2020s.
Toyota’s strategy to continue to bring an assortment of electrified vehicles includes the goal to have 40 percent of all new vehicles be electrified by 2025 and 70 percent of all new vehicles be electrified by 2030.
While Toyota has been slower than other automakers to embrace EVs on a mass scale, the automaker points to its decades of hybrid vehicles as proof that it has been a champion of reducing emissions for years.
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