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CLARIFICATION 9/7/23: This story has been updated with clarification that while the V-8 powertrain is being discontinued and the current V-6 used in the Ghibli and Levante is likely to suffer the same fate, both nameplates will live on at least through the end of their current product lifecycles.There are some big changes happening at Maserati. The storied Italian automaker today confirmed to Car and Driver that production of the Quattroporte will soon conclude and both the Ghibli and Levante could be in for major powertrain changes before those models end their current lifecycle.Making Funeral ArrangementsThe Quattroporte and Ghibli are currently the only sedans that Maserati sells, and they’re accompanied by a recently redesigned GranTurismo grand tourer, the newly introduced Grecale compact SUV, and the Levante mid-size SUV in the automaker’s lineup.While the Ghibli and Levante are said to be continuing on through the end of their lifecycle, the engines that power them are subject to change. With production ending on the V-8 and likely also the current Ferrari-built V-6, we suspect Maserati is planning to drop its newer “Nettuno” twin-turbo V-6 that debuted with the MC20 sports car under the hoods of those models.While Maserati has yet to officially announce plans to discontinue the Levante, we believe it’ll exit the lineup following the 2024 or 2025 model year, to be replaced by a second generation of the mid-size crossover. We suspect the Ghibli will be phased out completely and not return with a new generation as the company continues to push its lineup even more upmarket and as sedan sales continue to lull. The company has already confirmed that 2024 will be the final model year where a V-8 is available in any of its models, as the engine’s production will cease by the end of 2023. However, it will continue to be offered on ’24 versions of the Ghibli 335 Ultima and the Levante V8 Ultima. Unfortunately, there is no V-8–powered Quattroporte Ultima model.MaseratiThe Ferrari-built V-6 is likely to meet the same fate as the V-8. While the six-cylinder will soldier on and continue to be built in 2024 for the Levante GT and Modena and the Ghibli Modena Q4, the company told Car and Driver it will update us regarding the end of production of the engine when those details are official, further fueling our speculation that the Levante and Ghibli will receive a new powertrain.Future Quattroporte?Despite today’s news, the Maserati Quattroporte might not be gone for long. That’s because we believe the next generation of the luxury sports sedan is on the way, as first reported by Autocar. The new QP is expected to serve as Maserati’s sole sedan offering, and it could arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year. It’ll likely be a stretched version of the GranTurismo, which means it should offer a twin-turbo V-6 as well as an 800-plus-hp electric powertrain. Obviously, don’t expect a V-8 version.More Maserati 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.Senior EditorEric 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

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally brings rally-inspired performance to the Blue Oval’s mid-size battery-electric SUV.A 0.8-inch lift and additional underbody protection ought to make the Rally capable enough to take on the likes of dirt and gravel paths.Expect the Mach-E Rally to sticker for around $65,000 when it goes on sale early next year.Ford may no longer sell the Focus RS—or any Focus, for that matter—but the hot hatch’s spirit arguably lives on in the 2024 Mustang Mach-E Rally. The latest addition to the battery-electric Mustang Mach-E trim line aims to top the Mach-E GT when it comes to peak output, too, with Ford hoping to eke north of 480 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque out of the Rally’s two electric motors (one at each axle). Related StoriesAs of this writing, the Mach-E GT Performance Edition makes do with just 480 horses and 634 pound-feet of twist. It’s possible the extra grunt Ford pulls out of the Mach-E Rally’s powertrain eventually makes its way to the Performance Edition, as well.Dirty MustangHorsepower and torque figures, however, are mere bragging rights. The truth is, the Mustang Mach-E Rally is a different type of battery-powered mare than its GT kin. Whereas that Mach-E trim favors on-road performance, the Rally has its sights set on unpaved thoroughfares. Loose gravel and dirt are what Ford built the Mach-E Rally for. The Blue Oval even built a dedicated rally course at its Michigan proving ground, giving the engineers and technicians working on the Mach-E Rally a proper place to tame this wild horse. Whether Ford’s team succeeded at turning the Mach-E Rally into a thoroughbred is something we won’t know until we have a chance to get behind the wheel of this electric SUV. Nevertheless, the mechanical upgrades of the Rally go beyond just its powertrain. MagneRide shocks, specially tuned springs, a 0.8-inch lift, and a trim-specific RallySport drive mode ought to help this dirt-loving Mach-E better take on craggy terra firma. Additionally, the Rally adds protective shielding around the front and rear motors as a means of preventing any debris from damaging the drivetrain. Soft RoaderThough Ford designed the Rally for off-tarmac driving, this Mustang Mach-E variant is an off-road machine in a limited context. Need proof? Note the Michelin CrossClimate2 all-season rubber Ford fits around the trim’s distinct 19-inch wheels. Need to trail your own path or tackle particularly tough terrain? Then you’re better off looking at a Ford truck or SUV bearing either the Tremor or Raptor moniker. On the plus side, if you do push the Mach-E Rally beyond its capabilities, then you can rest easy knowing this variant features a front recovery point. This complements other Rally-specific decor such as those aforementioned wheels, a reworked front fascia with high-mounted fog lights, a Focus RS–esque rear wing mounted to the hatch, a black-painted roof, and a pair of contrasting stripes on the hood and tailgate. Bringing the Rally to a stop, meanwhile, comes courtesy of 15.8-inch front rotors (1.5 inches larger than the 2023 Mach-E’s standard units) clamped down by red-painted Brembo-sourced calipers. Ford’s mum on details related to the rear rotors and calipers, but we wager the current Mach-E’s standard 12.4-inch units and single-piston stoppers carry over.Just how far the Rally will go on a full charge depends on how heavy a left foot you have. That said, Ford is aiming to squeeze 250 miles from the SUV’s battery pack and its 91.0 kWh of usable capacity. Similarly, the Blue Oval is still figuring out final pricing for the Mach-E Rally, with the company targeting a base price of approximately $65,000 for the model. Expect the automaker to release final power, torque, range, and price details closer to the start of 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E production, which begins early next year with sales following shortly thereafter.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

We’ve all been in this situation: You want to leave a party, but you keep getting sidelined on your way out the door. This year’s Burning Man festival abruptly dumped 70,000 people into that scenario when torrential rains turned the hardpan of the Black Rock desert into a soupy, muddy mess and organizers told attendees to shelter in place and conserve food and water. COURTESY OF NAVE BLACKIf that sounds like a major harsh on 70,000 mellows, it was, particularly for those Burners who had somewhere else to be. Among that crowd was Nave Black, who’d been camping in a rented 30-foot RV trailer. Conventional wisdom says you can’t tow a 30-foot trailer through deep mud, but it turns out conventional wisdom doesn’t apply when there’s a guy who really wants to leave Burning Man and has the keys to a 2023 Ram TRX.”Nobody was even trying to get out, and definitely not with a trailer,” says Black. “But my wife is at home with our baby, and I said, ‘Either I have to try to get home or she’s going to shoot me.’ And I decided to take off.” The Venn diagrams of RV towing and mud running don’t typically overlap, but Black may have invented a new sport in his haste to peace out. This was on Saturday, when organizers were forecasting that roads wouldn’t be passable until Wednesday.The Venn diagrams of RV towing and mud running don’t typically overlap, but Black may have invented a new sport in his haste to peace out. A video shot by fellow attendee Brendan Cogbill shows the supercharged, 702-hp Ram charging through the muck and rounding a corner, spraying mud and issuing determined high-rpm crackles from the exhaust as the trailer seemingly hydroplanes across the soup—a tandem-axle toboggan meets freestyle tow-boggin’. Courtesy of Brendan CogbillAs many viewers of the video have noted, the RV’s stairs are still down. That, says Black, isn’t because he forgot to stow them, but because his escape from Black Rock really was a spur-of-the-moment decision. “I had the stairs down because I initially only planned to move the trailer a little bit. But once it got moving, I said, ‘Fuck it, I’m getting out of here!'”The scene at Burning Man this year.picture alliance|Getty ImagesAs Cogbill’s video and another one show, Black is a successful adherent to the “when in doubt, add throttle” school of off-roading, which is particularly relevant when dragging thousands of pounds of RV through a rich silt mousse. “It was two or three miles in the mud, and if I didn’t keep moving, I would have been stuck,” he says. While this was his first time driving his TRX in the mud, Black does have some prior off-roading experience by way of the Israeli military. (When it comes to Burning Man, you never know what kind of training will turn out to be useful.) In one video, Black is going fast enough that he appears to be drifting the trailer, which is the kind of thing you might expect to earn skill points in some demented offshoot of Forza Horizon but never see in real life. Courtesy of Nave BlackAs for the rented trailer, well, it got muddy. “I called the owner and said, ‘Look, this thing is so muddy that I might have to actually buy it from you,’ ” Black says. But on the way out, he discovered a carwash set up by local Native Americans. “They worked on it for two hours, and after that I called the owner and said, ‘Forget what I told you. It’s cleaner now than it was when I picked it up.’ ” Given all that transpired, will Black ever return to Burning Man? “Sure, no question,” he says. “It was a good experience. But you’re hearing that from someone who got out. I think a Ram TRX is the minimum truck you need there.”The More You KnowSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

Toyota has revealed a new version of the Century that takes the shape of an SUV.The Century sedan has existed for many decades and is a highly exclusive model only for Japan meant for chauffeuring important people.The Century SUV has a plug-in-hybrid powertrain with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.The Toyota Century has long occupied a special place in the Japanese automaker’s lineup, serving as a highly exclusive, Japan-only model meant for customers who want to be chauffeured. Debuting in the late 1960s, the stately Century sedan was previously offered with a smooth V-12 engine and most recently switched to a hybrid V-8 powertrain when its latest generation arrived several years ago. Now, the Century is transforming yet again into a new shape: an SUV.The new Century SUV follows many of the design cues that are characteristic of this model, and Toyota says that the sedan will continue to be sold alongside this new body style. Boxy, subdued, and ornate, this new Century is essentially as big as many full-size SUVs but only seats four, as the two rear seats recline in all sorts of ways and offer features including an entertainment system and even a driving mode meant to smooth braking jolts for the rear-seat passengers.There will be more customization possibilities for this version, as it will offer several different exterior colors including two-tone schemes and numerous interior upholstery possibilities. There’s also a GR-badged “sporty” version that has sliding doors and different wheels and tires.Under the hood of the Century SUV is a plug-in-hybrid system with a 3.5-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive. It sounds similar to the powertrain found in the new 2024 Lexus TX550+ which makes 406 horsepower and claims 30 mpg and a 33-mile electric driving range in that three-row SUV. Toyota hasn’t yet provided detailed specs on the Century, other than its dimensions and a prodigious 5600-plus-pound curb weight.Toyota only plans to build 30 units per month, and the Century will be only for the Japanese market. It will start at the equivalent of nearly $170,000.More on the CenturyThis 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 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

VW is updating the ID.4 for 2024 with new electric motors and a revised interior.The base rear-wheel-drive version now makes 282 horsepower and the all-wheel-drive version has 330 hp.The updated models will start arriving early in 2024, and pricing isn’t available yet.Volkswagen is adding more oomph to its electric SUV for 2024 courtesy of new electric motors. Both of the ID.4’s powertrain configurations, which include a rear-wheel-drive single-motor setup and an all-wheel-drive dual-motor version, get a big power bump for the new model year. This only applies to models equipped with the larger 77.0-kWh battery pack, and not to ID.4s with the base 58.0-kWh battery. There are also revisions to the interior and new wheels, along with a few new features for certain trim levels.The 77.0-kWh RWD ID.4 produces 282 horsepower, compared with the old model’s 201 hp. This should significantly improve acceleration compared with before, which we measured at 7.6 seconds to 60 mph in our test of a 2021 ID.4. The dual-motor AWD ID.4, meanwhile, goes from 295 hp up to 330 hp; that model previously recorded a sprint of 5.4 seconds in our testing, and it will likely get quicker too.VolkswagenVolkswagen also says that the new electric motors will improve range, but EPA estimates are not yet available. It’s currently rated at between 255 miles and 275 miles with the larger battery pack, so we can expect incremental improvements over those numbers once the official ratings are out.More on the ID.4VolkswagenOther upgrades include a larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen for upper trim levels, which is said to offer improved menu structures and simpler climate controls compared to the old 12.0-inch screen. The steering wheel and shifter designs are also revised. Cooled front seats are now standard, and the S Plus trim level gains a Harman/Kardon audio system. 20-inch wheels replace 19-inch wheels, and the S Plus now has 21-inch wheels. (VW hasn’t yet released exterior photos of the U.S.-spec 2024 ID.4, but pictured at top is a Euro-spec model with 21-inch wheels.)The 2024 ID.4 will start arriving at dealerships early next year. Pricing isn’t out yet, but we’ll update this story once it is.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

The manual transmission will die with the current generation of Mini Cooper, the company’s boss told Top Gear at the launch of the next-generation hatchback.The new Cooper hatch will come with both electric and internal-combustion powertrains, but the gas-powered models are expected to be automatic only.The final manual-equipped versions of the current Cooper will be produced in February of next year.Cars with manual gearboxes are truly becoming an endangered species. After Volkswagen announced the death of the stick-shift Golf GTI last week with the GTI 380 special package, it now appears that the manual transmission will soon disappear from the Mini lineup. The British marque recently revealed an all-new generation of Cooper hatchback, but according to Top Gear, the do-it-yourself gearbox won’t return for the updated model. MiniThe head of Mini, Stefanie Wurst, told Top Gear, “We won’t have a manual unfortunately.” A Mini representative left the door open for a future addition to the lineup, saying, “It doesn’t look likely that the next-generation Mini ICE hardtop and convertibles will come with a manual transmission at launch.” This could suggest that the stick-shift gearbox could be offered down the line if demand is strong enough, but we think it is unlikely. This news comes after Mini reintroduced the manual transmission on the Cooper hatchback for the 2023 model year, after it had removed the option in May 2022 due to supply-chain constraints. The six-speed manual was offered on the two-door Hardtop Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works variants. More about MiniMini has only disclosed details on the electric version of the 2025 Mini Cooper so far, but the EV will be joined by gas-powered models that are expected to use carryover engines. The outgoing Cooper was motivated by either a 134-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder and a 189-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which should continue to be hooked up to an eight-speed automatic in the new model. The final versions of the current-generation Cooper with the manual gearbox will roll off the assembly line in February 2024, according to Mini. 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

When it comes to upgraded versions of full-size trucks, Chevrolet’s Silverado ZR2 Bison is special in its own way.We’ll show you around the Bison package, which has the same suspension as the regular ZR2.Car and Driver suspension expert Dan Edmunds explains how it works and shows its degree of flex, as shown in our Ramp Travel Index test. The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison may lack the high-output bragging rights of the Ram TRX or the long-travel wide-track suspension of the Ford F-150 Raptor, but it has a few features of its own. For starters, it’s less expensive than those two trucks, and it offers a locking front differential and Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers. In this video, resident suspension expert Dan Edmunds explains how the ZR2’s suspension works and shows how much it flexes compared to other trucks with the Ramp Travel Index test.The Silverado ZR2 in this video has the Bison package, which adds high-clearance bumpers and underbody protection along with different wheels and interior features but leaves the truck mechanically unchanged otherwise. Because the suspension is the same, the findings in this video apply to the standard ZR2 as well. Sizing Up the CompetitionWe start at the front, where the Multimatic DSSV dampers appear prominently. The spool valves inside the shocks offer greater control but, as Dan shows by turning the wheels to one side, the three-chamber design takes up precious space. More Video Deep DivesAfter weighing a mounted wheel and tire, Dan switches to the rear suspension, which features inverted Multimatic dampers and blocks under the leaf springs to achieve its lift. Alas, those inverted rear shocks sit more inboard than we’d prefer on an off-roader, requiring owners to consider their placement—along with the differential—when straddling rocks. Given the suspension similarities to the standard Silverado and the overlanding intention of the ZR2, especially when paired with the Bison package, its score of 444 is unsurprising. It’s higher than the similarly priced and outfitted Toyota Tundra TRD Pro (408) but lower than trucks with wide track long-travel suspension, such as the last-generation Colorado ZR2 Bison (501) and F-150 Raptor (559). Deputy Editor, VideoFrom selling them to testing them, Carlos Lago has spent his entire adult life consumed by cars. He currently drives the creative behind Car and Driver video. More

Audi is updating the Q8 for 2024 with a new face that combines a more streamlined grille with more expressive headlights and chunkier air intakes.The Q8’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and the SQ8’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 carry over unchanged.The 2024 Q8 and SQ8 will go on sale in the United States this winter, with pricing and full U.S. specifications coming soon.The electric Audi Q8 e-tron received a handsome facelift for 2024 that introduced a sleeker grille and redesigned lighting elements. Now the German automaker is refreshing the gas-powered Q8, bringing the sporty crossover in line with its electric cousin with thinner headlights and a restyled grille. The high-performance SQ8 also returns for 2024 with its burly 4.0-liter V-8 powertrain.The changes to the 2024 Q8’s exterior are subtle but add up to give the crossover a slicker, more elegant front end. The grille is less chiseled than before and flows smoothly into the headlights, similar to how the Q8 e-tron’s grille is integrated into the lights. The air inlets in the front bumper have been enlarged and a new exhaust setup is fitted across the lineup. The SQ8 also wears a redesigned front spoiler and rear diffuser, while the grille, sideview mirrors, and air intakes are accented in aluminum. Optional packages can have the window trim, bumper trim, and grille finished in gloss black, creating a more sinister appearance.Audi also revised the layout of the Matrix LED headlights, and the Q8 will be offered with the high-tech laser lights that boost the range of the high beams. The daytime running lights on top-spec models can swap between four different lighting signatures via the infotainment screen, and the rear light bar has a simpler look and can now be had with Audi’s digital OLED lighting units. As with the electric e-tron models, the gas-powered Q8 now displays its model name and trim level on the B-pillar. Five new wheel designs are available, measuring between 21 and 23 inches in diameter. The Q8 also gains three new colors, including the eye-catching Sakhir Gold seen here. Inside, the Q8 offers several new materials and Audi has also expanded the list of apps that work with its infotainment system, including third party apps like Spotify.The Q8’s engines continues to be motivated by the same turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, which routes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The engine is also supplemented by a 48-volt hybrid-assist system that recoups energy under braking, smooths out the start-stop feature, and can allow the vehicle to coast for up to 40 seconds at a time with the engine off. The SQ8 still packs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that churns out a potent 500 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. Like the lesser Q8s, the S model uses an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, but also offers a torque-vectoring rear differential and active anti-roll bars. The Q8 continues to come with a steel spring suspension as standard, but buyers can still upgrade to adaptive air suspension and can add rear-wheel steering to make their SUV more nimble. The SQ8 gets air springs, adaptive dampers, and rear-wheel steering as standard. The refreshed Q8 will go on sale in the United States this winter, and pricing and more detailed U.S. specifications will be available soon. Given the subtlety of the changes, we don’t expect a major price hike for the 2024 model, with the Q8 expected to start around $75,000 and the SQ8 likely to start in the high-$90,000 range.More Audi CrossoversThis 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