Motor News

The 2025 Acura RDX’s facelift includes a different grille design, fresh paint options, and new wheel choices. Inside, the center console gets a redesign and the infotainment screen adds a new widescreen mode for phone mirroring. The updated RDX will arrive at Acura dealerships later this month, with pricing expected to be released around that time. Last year, Acura made all-wheel drive standard across the RDX lineup. This year, changes to the compact luxury SUV are more focused on visuals and rounding out the RDX package with updated technology and minor cabin revisions. The most obvious visual change involves the RDX’s front end. The grille takes on a new “frameless” look and adopts a more distinctive mesh pattern. The lineup receives new wheel designs too, with a newly standard set of 19-inchers painted Berlina Black. The lower body trim on the Advance trim level is now color-matched to the rest of the body to help distinguish its spot at the top of the lineup. There are also three new paint options: Solar Silver Metallic, Canyon River Blue Metallic, and Urban Gray Pearl.Inside, changes are equally minimal. The redesigned center console has larger cupholders and improved access to the wireless charging pad. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen has been updated to include a new widescreen mode for the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s nothing new under the RDX’s hood for 2025. Every model is still powered by a 272-hp 2.0-liter turbo four paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The last model we tested rode on a set of 20-inch wheels and hit 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. We’re still waiting for Acura to release a full pricing breakdown before ’25 RDX models start arriving at dealerships later this month. More on AcuraJack 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 Ram 1500 Classic is being discontinued after the 2024 model year, the company confirmed.The Classic was a continuation of the previous-generation truck, meant to serve as a more affordable alternative to the Ram 1500 that launched in 2019.Without the Classic on sale, Ram will no longer offer a new half-ton pickup with a Hemi V-8 engine.The Ram 1500 Classic is finally being laid to rest. The Classic was a continuation of the previous-generation Ram 1500, which first launched in 2009. When the latest iteration of the Ram 1500 arrived in 2019, the older truck adopted the Classic moniker and stuck around as a more affordable, bare-bones option. But now the Ram 1500 Classic is being discontinued, meaning Ram will no longer offer a half-ton truck with a V-8 engine.A company spokesperson today confirmed the news to Car and Driver, stating that the Ram 1500 Classic’s departure comes as the result of “the introduction of the Tradesman trim on the newer Ram 1500 for the 2024 model year.” For 2025, the Tradesman remains the 1500’s entry-level trim, and it comes with a $42,270 base price.StellantisThe 2024 Ram 1500 Classic was offered in two trims, the Tradesman and the Warlock. The former started at $40,700, a $6460 increase over the Classic’s 2023 starting price and only $715 cheaper than the 2024 version of the newer-generation truck. Previous versions of the Classic had represented a more notable savings over modern 1500s.The 1500 Classic had been offered with both the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and the Hemi 5.7-liter V-8. The latest update to the Ram 1500 for the 2025 model year sees the truck come standard with the Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, so without the Classic on sale, it is now no longer possible to buy a current-model-year 1500 pickup with a Hemi V-8.The Hemi V-8 lives on for the time being in the 2025 Dodge Durango, and Ram’s heavy-duty trucks still offer the 6.4-liter V-8. If you want the old-school 1500 Classic, Ram still has some left on dealership lots, with the spokesperson confirming that “the Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Classic will sell into 2025.”More Ram ReadingCaleb 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 Mitsubishi Mirage has officially been declared dead, as it will not return to the U.S. market for the 2025 model year.With the Mirage hatchback and the Mirage G4 sedan going away, that leaves the Nissan Versa as the last new car that starts under $20K. A Mitsubishi spokesperson told Car and Driver that the company expects dealers stock of the outgoing Mirage models to last into next summer. The time has finally come for the Mitsubishi Mirage to take a dirt nap. The death of the Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan, which for the 2024 model year started at $18,015 and $19,115, respectively, means that new cars priced below $20,000 are bordering on extinction. The Nissan Versa, with its $17,820 base price, is currently all that remains.The news of the Mirage’s demise was confirmed today to Car and Driver by Jeremy Barnes, Mitsubishi’s North American spokesman. “Mirage is being discontinued in the U.S. market, and there will not be a 2025 model,” he said. “Production will cease late this year, and we expect to have sufficient dealer stock to last into the summer of 2025.”MitsubishiMitsubishiWhen it comes to the death of the Mitsubishi Mirage siblings, the writing was on the wall. Last year, it was reported that the subcompact car was on the chopping block due to shrinking sales. While affordable new cars are still popular among shoppers, it was clear that the Mirage was well past its sell-by date. Sure, it was among the cheapest new cars on sale in the U.S., but it also had the distinction of being the wimpiest, with both body styles featuring a 78-hp(!) three-cylinder engine.More Mirage ReadingEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Dodge has posted a video on social media showing off the faux exhaust sound of the new Charger Daytona EV.The “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” emits a roar that does an impressive job of imitating a V-8 engine.The Charger Daytona also has a Stealth mode for drivers who prefer subtlety.Over the past two decades, the Dodge Charger has gained notoriety for its aggressive looks, tire-spinning power figures, and, most notably, its V-8 roar. When Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona EV in March, the new electric car checked off two of those boxes, with a square-jawed face and a maximum output of 670 horsepower. But the question remained as to what the Charger Daytona would sound like, with the original 2022 concept boasting a “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” that promised head-turning levels of noise despite its electric powertrain.Now we have an answer. Dodge has posted a video on social media showing a production-spec Charger Daytona zipping under an overpass, giving us a taste of the aural experience the Charger Daytona will provide once sales kick off later this year. And unsurprisingly, while the noise is artificial, it sounds quite a bit like a V-8 engine.This synthetic soundtrack is produced by the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. Although Dodge hasn’t revealed much about how the system works, we know it utilizes two passive radiators to create a noise that amps up as speed builds. The original concept was said to be capable of producing 126 decibels, but it’s unclear if that degree of noise will be available on the production vehicle. Regardless, it will likely run afoul of noise restrictions that have popped up in certain cities, such as New York City.Still, from the video, the “exhaust” certainly sounds deafening. If we were to hear it without any context, we have to admit we could be fooled into believing it is the sound of a gas-powered car. There’s even a slight high-pitched whine as the Charger Daytona begins its acceleration, which seems to reference both the whir of electric motors and the wail of a supercharger. For those who prefer the silence of an EV, choosing Stealth mode will turn off the Fratzonic system. More on the New ChargerCaleb 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

Some 2024 Toyota Tacoma owners are reporting transmission failures to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.The reported failures seem to affect both manual and automatic gearboxes, with some owners reporting failure within the first 1000 miles. Car and Driver reached out to Toyota for comment on the matter, but we’ve yet to hear back from the company. Toyota hasn’t been having the best summer. After recalling over 102,000 Tundras and Lexus LX models and then agreeing to replace their engines, some Toyota Tacoma owners have now reported transmission failures in the new mid-size pickup truck.Tacoma owners began reporting transmission failures on forums this past June, according to a report by The Drive, and even more complaints have been filed through official channels with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Since the new 2024 Tacoma hasn’t been around very long, most models don’t have very many miles on them, so it’s surprising to see that some of the reports cite trucks with well below 1000 miles on the odometer.Michael Simari|Car and DriverThe problem is reportedly compounded by long wait times for replacement transmissions in the United States, according to The Drive article. On the forums, affected customers have posted wait times of two to four months. Still, it’s important to note that while multiple reports have been filed with NHTSA, currently there are no active investigations or open recalls. Car and Driver reached out to Toyota for comment on the transmission situation, but we have not heard back at the time of publishing. We will update this story if we get a response.More on the 2024 TacomaJack 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

Ford has filed a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a system that helps law enforcement identify speeders, as first reported by Motor Authority. The patented system not only detects when speeding occurs, but it also snaps a picture of the vehicle committing the traffic violation.A Ford spokesperson said that the patent is specifically designed for use on law-enforcement vehicles and does not include sharing personal driving data.Cops could have an easier time handing out speeding tickets if a new Ford patent becomes reality. The system described in the patent application can be equipped to a Ford Police Interceptor, for example, and can identify other vehicles that exceed a set speed-limit threshold. This can trigger an onboard camera to take a picture of the lawbreaker’s car, which theoretically will help law-enforcement officers write a ticket for speeding.Ford first filed the patent application, titled “Systems and Methods for Detecting Speeding Violations,” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in January 2023. However, it was formally published by the USPTO on July 18, 2024, as previously reported by Motor Authority after that.The patent application also states that once data about the speeder’s car has been captured, the photograph can be used to determine at least one distinctive feature to help identify the vehicle, such as a license plate, a paint color, or visible damage. That info can be recorded and shared with other cop cars, and it may even determine if the situation calls for a hot pursuit. The recorded information can be sent to a computer server as well as to a roadside device that uses the Internet of Things, which is essentially a network of surveillance devices that can communicate with each other. USPTOWhile a cursory reading of the application might cause some people to become concerned that Ford’s patented system is planned for use in its passenger cars, a company spokesperson told Car and Driver that the tech is specifically intended for law-enforcement vehicles. Ford’s official statement is that “it’s a system that would automate a capability that law enforcement already have in use today, except this would utilize the built-in system and sensors in the vehicle. This patent does not state that driving data from customers’ vehicles would be shared with law enforcement, which is what some media have incorrectly reported.”Ford’s spokesperson also reiterated that patents are meant to protect new ideas and not provide insight into new products coming to market. Of course, we know that there are also plenty of patents that eventually do become features on new models, so sometimes it can be worthwhile to report on features like Ford’s speed-detection system that might one day become reality.More Patent StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Spy photos of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 show a redesigned front bumper and new daytime running lights. The rear fascia also appears to get a redesign, but heavy camouflage obscures most of the details. We expect the facelift to arrive for the 2026 model year, which will be the fourth since the Ioniq 6 debuted in 2023. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 hasn’t been around for very long, but that isn’t stopping the manufacturer from cooking up a facelifted version. The egg-shaped electric sedan debuted for the 2023 model year to incredibly positive reviews regarding performance, even winning Car and Driver’s own 2023 EV of the Year award, though praise for the design was less universal. New spy photos reveal that Hyundai may be taking that feedback to heart by whipping up a new design for the 2026 model.Brian Williams/SpiedBilde|Car and DriverThe spy photographer has captured images of what appears to be a facelifted Ioniq 6 sedan covered in some pretty heavy camouflage. The camo keeps us from learning any real specifics about the facelift, but the car clearly maintains its overall shape. New headlights and running lights can be seen through the covering, along with new sensors that could indicate a redesigned bumper. The sides and rear of the Ioniq 6 are covered as well, which suggests new designs for the rear fascia and taillights to match the new front end. The redesign schedule may seem quick, but it follows a similar timeframe to the related Kia EV6 model, which launched in 2022 and got a refresh for 2025. Brian Williams/SpiedBilde|Car and DriverWe don’t expect much to change mechanically for the Ioniq outside of potential battery changes that could improve range marginally. The current model is available in single or dual-motor configurations that range from 149 horsepower on the low end to 320 horsepower on the high end. All-wheel-drive models are rated for 270 miles of range, and while single-motor Long Range models are rated for 361 miles of range, we recorded closer to 260 in our 75-mph real-world highway range test. More on the Ioniq 6Jack 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

Maserati revealed two one-offs created by its Fuoriserie customization department.The Maserati Quattroporte Grand Finale is the last Maserati to pack a V-8 engine.The Maserati MC20 Iris sports an iridescent AI Aqua Rainbow hue and white stripes.In the resort town of Stresa, located on Lake Maggiore in Italy, Maserati has taken the wraps off two special cars: the Quattroporte Grand Finale and the MC20 Iris. Both were crafted for the same dedicated Maserati enthusiast, who is described as an entrepreneur in the United States’ biomedical field. The Quattroporte is the final Maserati fitted with a V-8 engine, while the MC20 is a rainbow-colored take on the brand’s 621-hp supercar. The two one-off cars were built by Maserati’s Fuoriserie customization division. MaseratiMaseratiNot only is the Quattroporte Grand Finale the last Maserati with a V-8 engine, but it is also the last new vehicle to wear the Quattroporte nameplate, that is until the expected arrival of an electric successor later this decade. The Grand Finale is painted a deep blue color called Blu Nobile, with carbon-fiber trim tinted the same hue. Under the hood lives the 572-hp 3.8-liter V-8 from the Trofeo model that was last sold in 2023. The eight-cylinder motor wears a custom engine cover adorned with the signatures of the Fuoriserie team and the engineers responsible for the powertrain. The Grand Finale’s brake calipers are finished in brushed aluminum.The one-off Quattroporte’s cabin is covered in leather, with the seats and door panels wrapped in a tan hide while the A-pillar and even the trunk are shod in black leather. The interior also contains acres of deep-brown wood, which appears around the rim of the steering wheel, on the center console, and on the inner door handles. The seat headrests feature the brand’s Trident logo stitched in black, while a “Grand Finale” script lives on the center console and the door sills. MaseratiMaseratiThe MC20 Iris, meanwhile, derives its name from the Latin word for rainbow and shows off Maserati’s craftsmanship. The car is painted in AI Aqua Rainbow, a sort of iridescent light blue that also includes hints of green, yellow, and red. A white stripe runs over the hood and separate white decals flow along the sills before soaring up and over the rear haunches.The same aqua hue is found inside, decorating the sides of the seats and appearing on the stitching on the armrest, center console, and steering wheel. The steering wheel also wears a hash mark at the 12 o’clock position with a white stripe sandwiched by light blue, and the same color also appears on the “+” and “-” symbols on the paddle shifters. The door sill wears unique “MC20 Iris” badging, while the the rear trunk is lined with leather. More New MaseratisCaleb 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