Motor News

Hyundai has given the Sonata a facelift for 2024, with a distinctive, expressive new front end and a revised powertrain lineup.The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine is no longer available, and the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder can now be paired with all-wheel drive, a first for the Sonata.The cabin is upgraded with a pair of standard 12.3-inch screens and a clean new design with lots of straight lines.We first saw the refreshed Hyundai Sonata back in March when the South Korean automaker revealed the updated sedan for its home market. Now Hyundai is launching the 2024 Sonata in the United States with a sharp new look, bigger screens inside, and optional all-wheel drive for the first time.New-Look SonataThe U.S.-spec Sonata appears basically identical to the Korean model, sporting a piercing new front end dominated by a full-width LED strip mounted above a chiseled bumper. The rear light bar has also been redesigned with the LEDs forming an “H,” visually linking the sedan with the new 2024 Santa Fe. The N Line also gains a rear lip spoiler and oval exhaust tips, and there are new wheel designs across the lineup.While the striking visual revisions are the most obvious updates, there have also been major changes under the skin. While the base 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four sticks around, the 180-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that came with the pricier SEL and Limited trims has been dropped. The biggest news, however, is that the the 2.5-liter engine can now be paired with all-whee drive, a first for the Sonata. The front-biased system will allow Hyundai to compete for sales with the likes of the all-wheel-drive Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Subaru Legacy. The sporty N Line model carries over for 2024, still pumping out 290 hp from a 2.5-liter turbo four and sending that oomph to the front wheels only. The hybrid model is also unchanged for 2024, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pairing with an electric motor for a total of 192 hp. Hyundai says that the hybrid now comes with paddle shifters and a regenerative-braking mode. The horsepower figures for all three powertrains haven’t been confirmed yet, but we don’t expect any changes compared to the outgoing model.Revised InteriorThere are also significant updates inside, with the standard 8.0-inch touchscreen replaced by a 12.3-inch unit, which is mounted in a curved display next to the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, formerly an optional extra in the Convenience package. The new screens are part of a larger overhaul, with a long rectangular air vent stretching across most of the dashboard, a new three-spoke steering wheel, and the gearshift now protruding from the steering column instead of living in the center console.Hyundai claims the optional 12-speaker Bose sound system has been retuned, and wireless Apply CarPlay and Android Auto—previously only available on SE models that were not equipped with navigation—is now available on every 2024 model. Hyundai also claims that the refreshed Sonata is the first vehicle in its class to offer a power-operated trunk.The 2024 Sonata will hit the dealerships this winter. We expect a slight price increase, which should see the base SE start around $27,000 and the N Line model opening around $36,000. Official pricing should be released sometime this fall.More Hyundai 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.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

The 2024 Ram 1500 TRX is the last of the 702-hp off-road pickup truck as we know it, as production concludes at the end of this year.Fittingly, Ram will offer a Final Edition with exclusive styling options and a hefty $119,620 starting price.Ram plans to sell 4000 Final Editions worldwide alongside the regular TRX models.Just like the prehistoric monster it was named after, the half-ton Ram TRX is going extinct. Production of the 702-hp off-road pickup truck is slated to stop at the end of 2023, and Ram is sending it into the sunset with a literal Final Edition.2024 Ram 1500 TRX Final EditionFor its final model year, the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX lineup will include a Final Edition, which offers a selection of unique styling options. Among its eight available paint colors are the exclusive Delmonico Red, Night Edge Blue, and Harvest Sunrise. The Final Edition also offers Satin Titanium beadlock-capable wheels that come with a color-matched hood badge and bedside graphic.StellantisInside, several surfaces are dressed up with Patina contrast stitching and a “TRX” embroidery on the seat cushions, none of which will be found on any other TRX models. Likewise, “Final Edition” appears in the gauge cluster and a badge with the specific truck’s build number is hosted on the center console. Other interior touches include a dashboard badge with a Satin Titanium finish, special faux-suede on the door panels, and an interesting matte carbon-fiber weave throughout the cabin. StellantisPricing and Fond MemoriesRam plans to sell 4000 examples around the globe of the ’24 TRX Final Edition. The company says it will still sell the regular TRX too, which started at just over $87K for the previous model year. Those looking to buy a Final Edition when they become available sometime in the last quarter of this year will have to shell out at least $119,620. That hefty price does include a boatload of standard features, from the 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system to a head-up display to myriad driver-assistance features.While we’re sad to see a high-performance V-8 pickup truck like the TRX leave this world, we’ll never forget the first time we tested (and jumped) one. We’re also lucky to have spent so much quality time with a TRX during our 40,000-mile long-term test. We’ll also think back fondly on the time we pitted it against its archival, the Ford F-150 Raptor. Despite its looming death, we can only hope Ram will consider a high-flying, widebody version of the upcoming REV electric truck, or perhaps the TRX will return with a mightier version of the Hurricane engine, a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six that’s already capable of making more than 500 horsepower. Only time will tell. Until then, we bid the TRX farewell.Other Special TRXsThis 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 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R will no longer be offered with a manual transmission after the 2024 model year. The 2024 GTI 380 is a special package that all manual GTIs will be fitted with for their final year of production.The 380 will be offered with an exclusive paint color, black 19-inch wheels from the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition, and standard adaptive dampers on all trims.2024 will mark the final year for the manual-transmission Volkswagen Golf GTI. The German automaker revealed a special edition of the hot hatch today called the Golf GTI 380, announcing that this package will be fitted to every 2024 stick-shift GTI as a send-off to the do-it-yourself gearbox. This will also be the last year for the manual transmission in the 315-hp Golf R.VolkswagenThe changes to the GTI 380—which borrows the number from the eighth-generation GTI’s internal model code—are fairly subtle. Along with the normal range of paint options, the GTI 380 will be available in a unique hue called Graphite Gray Metallic. The black 19-inch wheels are swiped from the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition and come wrapped in summer performance rubber as standard. Mirroring the wheels are a blacked-out roof and side-view mirrors, and the adaptive dampers from the top-tier Autobahn model are now standard on all manual 2024 GTIs. Volkswagen didn’t make any changes to the cabin of the GTI 380, and all GTIs continue to be motivated by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. VolkswagenVolkswagen didn’t specify why the manual transmission was going the way of the dodo, but it was likely a confluence of factors. Emissions regulations in Europe are getting significantly stricter, and as Autocar reported earlier this year, the manual GTI pumps out slightly more carbon dioxide than the automatic version, enough to affect VW’s overall fleet emissions. Although these regulations don’t directly affect the United States, keeping the stick shift around for just one market—especially one where only 8423 GTIs and Golf Rs, automatic or manual, were sold in 2022—likely doesn’t make financial sense. By removing the manual option, Volkswagen can streamline the GTI’s assembly line, saving money. Volkswagen says the GTI and Golf R will continue to be sold with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The 2024 GTI 380 goes on sale this fall, starting at $32,485 for the S model. The SE will ring in at $37,285 while the Autobahn will go for $40,625. These prices do not include the destination fee, which Volkswagen has yet to publish for the 2024 Golf GTI.All about the GTIThis 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

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale will be limited to a total of 33 examples.Alfa’s employing coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera to handle 33 Stradale production.The 33 Stradale cribs its name and likeness from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale sports car of the late 1960s.Alfa Romeo is pulling from its past in order to prepare for the future. The latest halo car from the 113-year-old brand shares its name and likeness with the 33 Stradale mid-engine sports car of the late 1960s. That car served as the road-going counterpart to the automaker’s Tipo 33 race car. Though the reimagined 33 Stradale lacks a direct connection to any modern Alfa Romeo race car, the new 33 is no less lustworthy than its forebear. Just 18 examples of the original 33 Stradale left the factory. Alfa’s Halo CarThis time around Alfa’s expanding the reach of the 33 Stradale by adding an extra 15 units to the production run. Want one? Too late, all 33 spots for the surely close to—if not more than—seven-figure halo car are spoken for. These lucky (and wealthy) customers span the globe, per Alfa, including North America.The design of the 33 Stradale—with its low-slung looks, flowing lines, butterfly doors, and airy glass canopy—is arguably its pièce de résistance, and its retro-modern styling bridges the gap between Alfa’s past and its future. This applies to the art deco interior that mimics the cockpit of a jet airplane as well. Physical switchgear pockmarks the cabin, with the 33 Stradale integrating physical controls to engage the likes of its front-axle lift, launch-control system, and drive-mode selector, which offers the driver two settings to choose from: the default Strada mode that favors on-road comfort or the track-oriented Pista setting. Maserati Mechanical ConnectionLike Alfa’s last halo car, the front-engine 8C Competizione coupe and 8C Spider convertible of the late 2000s, the 33 Stradale pulls much of its mechanical hardware from the Maserati parts bin. This includes integral chassis components from the MC20. The two Italian sports cars even share the same wheelbase, and both gas-powered models’ powertrains consist of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that produces north of 620 horsepower and an eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.But internal-combustion engines are the powertrain of yesterday. Electricity will power many of tomorrow’s cars, and the 33 Stradale acknowledges this by way of its available battery-electric powertrain. Alfa Romeo is mum on specifics, but it claims the setup makes more than 750 horsepower and ought to provide around 240 miles of driving range on a full charge. Regardless, Alfa Romeo expects the battery-powered 33 Stradale to pack an extra half-ton of weight compared to the sub-3300-pound gas model. That additional mass ought to have little effect on off-the-line acceleration, though, as the automaker estimates both powertrains will push the 33 Stradale to 60 mph in less than 3.0 seconds, with the higher-powered electric variant hitting the mile-a-minute mark just a couple ticks ahead of the gasser. (For what it’s worth, a nearly 3800-pound MC20 needed 3.2 seconds to hit 60 mph under our supervision.)33 for 33Just how many of these hand-built Italian supercars leave Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera’s factory under battery or gas power once production commences in June 2024 ultimately depends on the preference of each individual customer. That said, we hear the majority of buyers are favoring the internal-combustion option.Though there’s always the chance this limited-run sports car does little more than celebrate Alfa Romeo’s past glory, we’re hopeful that the 33 Stradale previews the future design direction, approach to dynamic performance, and general extravagance of the next generation of mass-produced models from the historic Italian marque. More Alfa RomeoThis 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

After years of memes, broken promises, and a lot of waiting, evidence is mounting that Tesla’s Cybertruck is actually nearing production. The manufacturer took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to announce the first Cybertruck was built at the company’s Giga Texas facility on July 15. Internet sleuths have spotted increased sightings of Cybertrucks on public roads, as well as delivery trucks loaded with what appear to be production vehicles.So far it’s been four years of memes, internet arguments, broken promises, and a lot of waiting, but evidence is mounting that the Tesla Cybertruck may actually be nearing full production. Think back to the time before the Cybertruck (unbroken windows and all) rolled onto stage for the first time—we’ll give you a moment. It’s been so long, you’ve probably undergone some major life events such as getting married, going through a divorce, having kids, or, like all of us, living through a global pandemic. Major life events or not, it appears the Cybertruck is rounding the final corners before entering mass production. FREDERIC J. BROWN|Getty ImagesProduction for the Cybertruck was originally planned to start in late 2021. It was later pushed back to begin sometime in 2022, before Musk kicked the can farther down the road to 2023. According to The Verge, Musk confirmed in January that the Cybertruck won’t enter full volume production until sometime in 2024, but early manufacturing efforts were slated to begin this summer. First Truck Built July 15That timeline appears to be the most accurate to date, with the manufacturer announcing on the recently renamed X.com that the first Cybertruck was built at the company’s Giga Texas facility on July 15. This content is imported from twitter. 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.The slow ramp-up in production is further corroborated by increased sightings of Cybertrucks on delivery trucks. Internet sleuths and excited Tesla fans have been posting spy photos of delivery trucks laden with multiple Cybertucks. There have also been more sightings of test vehicles seen driving on the road. Unsurprisingly, given the CEO’s track record, one of the test vehicles has been seen with both Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra inspired wraps. Why? Honestly, we don’t know. This content is imported from twitter. 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.Pricing ChangesBack at the start of the whole Cybertruck saga, Tesla announced the vehicle would carry a starting price of $39,900 in the base single-motor RWD version. The dual-motor AWD truck was planned at $49,000, and the tri-motor AWD was supposed to launch with 500 miles of range and a starting price of $69,900. Unfortunately for a lot of consumers, those figures seem pretty out of reach at this point. The Ford F-150 Lightning, which launched around $40,000, shot up in price by more than $10,000 before falling back down to settle around a $52,000 entry point. The Rivian R1T starts even higher, at $74,800, and the GMC Hummer EV is even more expensive at nearly $87,000. Musk all but confirmed there’ll be a price increase over the initial prediction. According to a report by Forbes, the CEO backed away from the price, saying, “It’s going to be hard to make [it] affordable because it is a new car, a new manufacturing method.” We won’t really know for sure until Tesla itself confirms the initial selling price, but if the last year of price fluctuations are anything to go by, anything shy of a receipt could be wrong. More on Tesla and the CybertruckAssociate 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

Lotus has announced that its electric sedan, previously known by its code name of Type 133, will be called the Emeya.The Emeya will be revealed on September 7 and should launch in the U.S. for the 2025 model year.Teaser photos for the Emeya show sharp LED headlights and a full-width rear taillight.Lotus is busy reinventing itself for the electric age. While the British automaker’s venture into EVs began with the 1972-hp Evija hypercar, the second Lotus EV, the Eletre SUV, is far more down to earth, eschewing Lotus’s typical focus on handling prowess in favor of a comfortable ride and a luxurious cabin. Now Lotus is preparing another four-door passenger car, a sedan code-named the Type 133, that’s set to be unveiled next week, and officially confirmed today that the sedan will be called the Emeya. LotusLotus didn’t reveal much about the Emeya ahead of the scheduled September 7 unveiling, but a darkened teaser photo shows piercing headlights that consist of a pair of hockey-stick-shaped, angled LED strips. These design elements line up roughly with the photos our spy photographer captured in February, which showed a split headlight design with pointy “eyebrows” above a full-width lower light unit. Those spy photos also revealed the electric sedan’s sleek bodywork, with the Emeya sporting a slinky shape designed to efficiently cut through the air in the name of improved range. A second teaser released today showing the back end confirms that the Emeya will feature a rear light bar, with a single thin LED band serving as the taillights.More Lotus NewsThe Emeya is expected to serve as a rival to the Porsche Taycan, the Tesla Model S, and the Lucid Air. The Emeya should arrive with at least 250 miles of range and a price starting north of $80,000. Although the Emeya will be revealed in just a few days’ time, it likely won’t arrive in the United States until the 2025 model year. 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

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is the most powerful version of the mid-size luxury SUV.The new Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid makes a combined 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque.The plug-in-hybrid Cayenne should be a missile on the road, with Porsche claiming a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph. It’s been awhile since Porsche purists have held a complaint campaign targeted at the Cayenne SUV, but for any remaining holdouts, we recommend getting behind the wheel of the 2024 Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, which is the most powerful model in the lineup.729-HP MissileThe previous Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid was a rocket ship for the road, and Porsche appears to have fine-tuned that road-going missile with the updated plug-in-hybrid powertrain. It starts with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that has been extensively revised to make 591 horsepower. The hybrid system has been upgraded too, as the electric motor now makes 174 horsepower—up from 134 in the outgoing Turbo S E-Hybrid. Combined, the new system produces 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque.PorscheBigger Battery, Faster ChargingCompared to its predecessor, the new Turbo E-Hybrid has nearly double the battery capacity, increasing from 14.1 kWh to 25.9 kWh. Porsche claims the increased battery capacity provides more pure-electric range. It didn’t give specifics, but the last generation was capable of 20 EV-only miles, so we expect the new car to be closer to 30 miles. Along with the bigger battery, a new 11.0-kW onboard charger brings charging times down to a claimed two-and-a-half hours for the new version. PorschePorsche says the 2024 Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is now available to order, with the first examples expected to reach U.S. dealers in the second quarter of next year. Neither the SUV nor the Coupe body style come cheap, with the former carrying a base price of $148,550 and the latter priced at $153,050. 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

The Porsche Macan EV could arrive for the 2024 model year, and the latest spy photos show the electric SUV with minimal camouflage. The Macan EV will sport a coupe-like roofline that takes a sharp dive aft of the rear doors, likely to improve aerodynamics and in turn increase range.The Macan EV will ride on the new PPE platform that promises shorter charging times and up to 603 horsepower from a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup.Porsche is nearly ready to unleash its second electric model, and our spy photographer has now captured photos showing the Macan EV almost entirely undisguised. Spotted while testing in Germany, these latest images give us a clear look at the shape of the electric Macan’s body. The most notable aspect of this virtually camo-free prototype is the sloping roofline, which dramatically plummets after reaching the rear doors. The shape gives the Macan EV a squat, hunchbacked stance reminiscent of the Genesis GV60. Although coupe-style SUVs have become a trendy design choice in recent years, the curved roof has likely been incorporated to improve the aerodynamics, thus boosting range. All Macan EVs are expected to feature this body, instead of offering a more traditional squared-off body alongside a “coupe” variant.Brian Williams|Car and DriverThe front end of the Macan EV draws heavily upon Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan, with similarly shaped headlights, although these may end up just being daytime running lights as larger housings live below in the bumper. The taillights don’t appear to be in production spec, but the full-width light bar sits beneath an electronically deployable rear wing, another aerodynamic trick to squeeze out as much range as possible. It also appears that there is some tape obscuring a design cue, possibly air outlets, below the taillights. The Macan EV will ride on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a new architecture that will also underpin the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron, which should fill a similarly sized gap in Audi’s lineup. Last year, Porsche revealed that PPE will support both rear- and all-wheel-drive setups, producing a peak of 603 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. The Q6, meanwhile, will max out at 482 hp in the SQ6 model, with a boost mode unlocking 509 ponies. The biggest benefit of PPE is the 800-volt electrical system, which should allow the Macan EV to charge at rates higher than the Taycan’s current maximum of 270 kW. Porsche is predicting that the Macan EV will shoot from five to 80 percent charge in less than 25 minutes. The Macan EV should be revealed before the end of the year, with sales kicking off in 2024. More Porsche 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.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