Motor News

Subaru confirmed a new WRX variant is on the way; unfortunately for longtime fans of the nameplate, it won’t be a new STI.Instead, Subaru is teasing an “enthusiast-focused” WRX TR, the last of which was a “Tuner Ready” version in 2006.According to the automaker, the full reveal will happen at Subaru’s Subiefest at Daytona International Speedway on October 7.Subaru just teased a new “enthusiast-focused” WRX sedan, and no, unfortunately it is not the WRX STI variant we all so desperately want. Instead, the automaker is reaching back to 2006 for a different historical name. The automaker is resurrecting the TR moniker, as in “Tuner Ready” to describe the new version. Subaru is tight-lipped on details at this point, but we can still infer a few things from the tight-cropped teaser image.The last WRX TR was a bare-bones variant meant for buyers who wanted to customize the car any way they want in the aftermarket. It came with a cheap stereo, non-leather steering wheel, and regular seats. Subaru didn’t even bother painting the mirror caps. SubaruIt seems a little unlikely that the Subaru of today would create something as basic as the 2006 WRX TR. The last TR was actually $1000 cheaper than the standard WRX. Looking at the teaser photo of the new model, we can spot Brembo brakes peeking out from behind the new wheels. The teaser also shows a set of side skirts.More on the WRXThe new 2023 WRX starts at $31,625 and ranges up to the grown-up GT trim that starts at $44,415. There aren’t enough details to really know if Subaru is leaning into the no-frills aspect of the last TR, but we don’t really expect this new version will cost less than the base WRX. The full reveal of the car is scheduled for October 7 at the automaker’s annual Subiefest event in Daytona Beach, Florida. 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

Hyundai and Kia recalled more than 3.3 million vehicles over fire concerns on Tuesday, a federal filing shows. The automaker says affected vehicles should be parked away from homes and other structures.“The vehicle’s anti-lock brake system module could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short,” a National Highway Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing says. “An electrical short could result in significant overcurrent in the ABS module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving or parked.” Hyundai said owners can continue to drive the vehicles and that it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries due to these issues, Reuters reports. To date, Hyundai says it knows of 21 related vehicle fires and 22 “thermal incidents” (visible smoke, burning, and melting) in the United States. Kia also reported 10 incidents of fire and melting. Affected vehicles include 1.64 million Hyundai models: 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid; 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster; 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe; 2014-2015 Equus; 2010-2012 Veracruz; 2010-2013 Tucson; 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell; and 2013 Santa Fe Sport. Kia’s recall encompasses the 2010-2019 Borrego; 2014-2016 Cadenza; 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage; 2015-2018 K900; 2011-2015 Optima; 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul; 2012-2017 Rio; 2011-2014 Sorento; and 2010-2011 Rondo. Owners of any of these models should see their local dealer for a replacement fuse once they receive a letter via first-class mail with instructions.Contributing EditorKristin Shaw fell in love with cars while visiting dozens of auto shows as a kid, which explains her love for big-finned 1950s cars and 1960s Corvettes. She competed in her first Rebelle Rally, an all-female off-roading competition, in the fall of 2022 in a lifted Hyundai Santa Cruz and will participate again in 2023. Her words have appeared in numerous publications like Popular Science, Edmunds, The Drive, GearJunkie, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Wheels, Today, The Washington Post and more. More

Genesis adds a Coupe version of its GV80 SUV for the 2025 model year.The GV80 Coupe will offer the e-supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 from the G90.The 2025 GV80 Coupe and SUV have debuted in Korea ahead of their U.S. arrival next year.Three years into its production run, the Genesis GV80 is branching out with a second body style for 2025, the GV80 Coupe. Previewed by the GV80 Coupe Concept that made its debut at the 2023 New York auto show, it presents a slightly faster-sloping roofline than the already-stylish standard GV80. Presumably, the GV80 Coupe will not offer the optional third-row seat, which is already a cramped affair in the regular GV80.Whereas the standard GV80 will continue with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine and an available twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, the GV80 Coupe gets a third engine choice: the e-supercharged V-6 from the G90 sedan, where it makes 409 horsepower. With that range-topping engine comes launch control, a Sport+ driving mode, and a selectable instrument cluster view that includes auxiliary gauges. The Coupe also incorporates an Active Sound Design feature that mimics the sound of “a large-displacement sport coupe’s exhaust,” and adjustable brake-pedal response. Both models can be had with an electronically controlled suspension with road preview. The GV80 Coupe wears an evolved version of the oversized shield-shaped grille and twin-line headlights, both shared with the standard GV80 for 2025. The Coupe gets exclusive 20- and 22-inch wheels, while in both models, the exhaust tips hide behind the rear bumper.Inside, the infotainment screen merges with the digital instrument cluster to create a single 27.0-inch display. Genesis also switches to touch-based climate controls (oh, no!) and ups the bling factor with a crystal gear selector. Rear-seat passengers get a new 14.6-inch screen of their own, and heated armrests join the list of sybaritic comfort features.Genesis continues to go beyond the usual grayscale color palette, with 13 exterior paint colors for the standard GV80 and 15 for the GV80 Coupe. The GV80 also offers five interior color schemes including two different browns and Glacier White. The 2025 GV80 lineup is just now making its debut in the home market and is expected to reach U.S. dealers sometime in 2024. We don’t yet know pricing, but we expect the Coupe to cost a few thousand dollars more than the SUV.More on GenesisThis 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.Deputy Editor, Reviews and FeaturesJoe Lorio has been obsessed with cars since his Matchbox days, and he got his first subscription to Car and Driver at age 11. Joe started his career at Automobile Magazine under David E. Davis Jr., and his work has also appeared on websites including Amazon Autos, Autoblog, AutoTrader, Hagerty, Hemmings, KBB, and TrueCar. More

Kia has announced a starting price for the 2024 EV9 three-row electric SUV.The base model is the EV9 Light RWD, which has a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 215 hp.Pricing for the Long Range models and the dual-motor AWD configurations has not been announced yet.The base version of Kia’s new electric three-row SUV, the EV9, will cost about as much as a fully loaded version of the gas-powered Telluride. The 2024 EV9 in its standard Light RWD configuration officially has an MSRP of $54,900; while Kia hasn’t yet provided the mandatory destination charge, based on destination charges for the EV6 we suspect the base price will come in at just over $56,000.This configuration features a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 215 horsepower, which sources energy from a 76.1-kWh battery pack. EPA range estimates aren’t yet available, but Kia estimates this version will deliver 223 miles of range. 215 hp isn’t much for propelling the EV9’s 5000-pound curb weight around, so we’ve previously estimated this model to accelerate to 60 mph in a laggard 8.0 seconds.More on the EV9Pricing for the more desirable versions of the EV9—which are available with larger battery packs for more range and dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain setups with significantly more power—is still forthcoming. We reckon the larger Long Range battery pack, measuring 99.8 kWh, will add several thousand dollars to the bottom line. So, too, will the 379-hp dual-motor powertrain offered in the Wind, Land, and GT-Line trim levels. Fully loaded versions will likely top $70,000.Kia says that the EV9 will go on sale in the U.S. late this year, with initial units coming from Korea. Next year, Kia will move production to its factory in West Point, Georgia.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

Westfalia has been absent from North American market for 20 years, and now it’s coming backOriginally a VW-based brand, this new effort will be centered around Ram ProMaster vans.This new company will be based out of Ontario and is looking to establish a dealer network in 2024 and beyond.For decades, the sight of a Volkswagen camper van meant two things: free-wheeling adventure for its owner and prayers for a passing lane from anyone stuck behind it. Westfalia camper conversions, or “Westys,” spawned a whole subculture of the van life movement, rolling slow and setting up home whenever the sun began settling low on the horizon. But then Daimler bought out the Westfalia-Werke camper conversion company and put an end to pop-top VWs. It’s been 20 years since Westfalia camper vans were sold in America—but now, they’re coming back.Clearly, Westfalia’s current owner, the French Groupe Rapido, has been paying attention. North American brand recognition of the Westfalia name is too valuable a prospect to simply ignore, and the new Westfalia-Americas company is planning a return for 2024.More on Camper VansDo not, however, expect any sloth-like Volkswagen campers. Westfalia does still offer camper versions of VW vans across the pond, but as those vans are not sold here, certifying them for U.S. regulations would likely be cost prohibitive. And although Westfalia also makes campers out of the Mercedes Metris van, the Metris is dead in North America for 2024. Instead, the sole candidate for a reborn Westfalia is the Ram ProMaster.In Europe, there are are four versions of what Westfalia calls its Columbus model (pictured at top), all built on a Fiat platform similar to that of the Ram ProMaster sold here. Westfalia’s pre-production display model is a class B van built from the ProMaster, and can sleep up to six in three fold-away berths—yes, including up top in a pop-up roof section. It’s not as big as other RVs, but offers flexibility and plenty of cargo storage.According to trade journal RV Business, the conversions will be done by Roadtrek in Ontario, Canada, which already does camper conversions on the ProMaster 3500 chassis. As yet, a dealer network is still in the early planning stages. However, Westfalia is back with its pop-top roof, just like its fondly-remembered peripatetic ancestors. And, just like those slow and steady VW-based machines promised, the return of Westfalia to North America comes with tremendous appeal. When wherever you are happens to be home, why not keep roaming?Contributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Four years after its last facelift, Bentley decided it was time to refresh the Bentayga for 2024.The updates are feature-heavy, highlighted by rear-wheel steering being added as standard for the S and Azure trims and as an option for lower trims.Sticking to Bentley’s highly customizable reputation, there are new 21-inch wheels with three available finishes, as well as eight new paint options, bringing the total number of paint choices to 112.The Bentayga SUV is Bentley’s most popular vehicle—no surprise considering the seemingly endless demand for ultra-luxury SUVs. It’s been four years since Bentley last freshened up the Bentayga, and as it enters the 2024 model year the high-end SUV is getting revamped once again.Most of the changes center around newly standard and optional features, though the front grille ditches its vertical slats in favor of a new mesh grille that matches the front end on the recently updated Flying Spur. The rear-wheel-steering system from the extended-wheelbase model is ported over for the standard-length Bentayga. It will come standard on the Azure and S trim levels, and will be optional for the rest of the lineup.BentleyBentley has something of a reputation for customization, and to be fair, the company puts its money where its mouth is. The 2024 Bentayga adds new 21-inch wheels that are available in three finishes. There are also eight new paint colors, seven of which are satin paints. Those new paint options bring the total number of exterior paint choices up to 112. The cushy Airline Seats from the extended-wheelbase model also makes their way over to the rest of the lineup as an option. Those are the rear seats that offer 22 different planes of adjustment and a Relax mode that reclines at 40 degrees while shoving the front passenger seat out of the way and deploying a footrest. More Bentayga NewsThere are even more rear-seat focused comforts for the updated Bentayga. According to Bentley, after a rear-seat passenger chooses a temperature with the auto climate controls, the system measures the passenger’s temperature and surface humidity every 25 milliseconds and adjusts accordingly. The new posture adjustment system conforms to a passenger’s seating position and pressure points and can apply 177 individual pressure changes across six independent zones to keep the passenger’s body from fatiguing. 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

With peak output of 512 horsepower, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid betters the lesser Cayenne E-Hybrid by 49 horses.The Cayenne S E-Hybrid comes in both SUV and coupe body styles.Look for deliveries to start in early 2024 and pricing starts at $100,750. Porsche is dusting off the S E-Hybrid moniker for the 2024 Porsche Cayenne after temporarily retiring it following the 2018 model year. The 512-hp Cayenne S E-Hybrid slots between the 463-hp Cayenne E-Hybrid and 729-hp Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid in the SUV’s lineup of gasoline-electric variants. Related StoriesAvailable in both wagon and fastback body styles (or SUV and coupe in Porsche parlance), the S E-Hybrid shares its 348-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with the base Cayenne, which it pairs with a 174-hp electric motor. The combination provides enough grunt to push the SUV to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, per Porsche. Like the rest of the Cayenne E-Hybrid line, the S E-Hybrid includes a 25.9-kWh (gross capacity) battery pack. An 11.0-kW charger allows the SUV to fully charge that pack in two and a half hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. We wager that battery-only driving range ought to top 20 miles in the EPA’s hands. Porsche, however, is mum on range estimates at this point.PorschePorscheWith a starting sum of $100,750, the S E-Hybrid wagon stickers for $7400 more than the E-Hybrid. That sum includes niceties such as 20-inch wheels and tires, quad tailpipes, LED headlights with automatic high beams, the Sport Chrono package and its steering-wheel-mounted drive mode switch, and a proximity key with pushbutton start. Opting for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe, meanwhile, adds $4900 to the starting sum. Along with its swoopy shape, the fastback S E-Hybrid trades the wagon’s silver exterior decor for black trim pieces.Both 2024 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid body styles are due to start deliveries 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.Senior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

The AMG GLC Coupe siblings enter a new generation, with the GLC43 Coupe arriving for 2024 and the more powerful GLC63 S E Performance Coupe joining the party a year later for the 2025 model year.Both the eight- and six-cylinder engine options are gone, with a set of turbocharged four-cylinders taking their places.The GLC43 produces 416 horsepower, and the plug-in-hybrid GLC63 cranks that figure to 671 hp. Mercedes-AMG is here to answer the call for those who require a little less utility and a lot more sport from their sport-utility vehicles. The AMG GLC Coupe enters a new generation, with the GLC43 arriving for 2024, and the more powerful GLC63 S E Performance entering the market for the 2025 model year. Last year’s AMG GLC43 Coupe was powered by a raucous turbocharged V-6, while the AMG GLC63 that departed after 2021 was powered by a wild twin-turbocharged V-8. The beating heart of the new generation drops a few cylinders in favor of the same four-cylinder powertrains found in the latest AMG C-class sedans, as well as the new generation of AMG GLC-class SUVs. 2.0-Liter Turbo Four PowerThe turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder referenced internally as the M139 produces 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the GLC43, and pairs with the same 48-volt hybrid system found in the more mainstream Mercedes models. The turbocharger features an electric motor on the shaft that links the compressor and turbine wheels, and can spool up the turbo before the exhaust gases arrive, essentially eliminating turbo lag. The higher-octane GLC63 S is powered by the same engine, though the engineers over in Affalterbach fit a larger turbocharger to the 63, meaning the engine is good for an additional 53 ponies. It also pairs with a rear-mounted 201-hp electric motor operating through a two-speed transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Combined, the system makes 671 horsepower, more than making up for the lost cylinders—at least on a spec sheet. Both the GLC43 and GLC63 S pair their powertrains with AMG’s 9-speed automatic with a clutch pack in place of the torque converter. According to Mercedes, the lesser GLC43 is capable of a sprint to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the mighty GLC63 S manages to complete the run in just 3.4 seconds. Like the square-backed GLC63 S, the coupe version features unequal-length control arms at each corner, and steel springs that are paired with adaptive dampers. It also features active roll stabilization help reduce body roll. Plus, the brakes have been upgraded, with 14.7-inch discs up front and 14.2-inch rotors in the rear.Like the other AMG-ified cars, the new AMG GLC Coupe differentiates itself from the standard Mercedes examples through an AMG-specific grille and special bumper. A roof-mounted spoiler, aggressive exhaust tips, and diffuser mark changes to the rear. More on the AMG GLC ClassThe inside of the AMG cars features an AMG steering wheel finished in Nappa leather and seats wrapped in Mercedes’ MB-Tex faux leather. Sport seats and Nappa leather front seats with an embossed AMG logo in the headrests are both optional. And floor mats, door sills, and display numerous AMG logos, lest you forget what you’re in. 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