Motor News

The GMC Hummer EV SUT’s EarthCruiser upfit gives the electric pickup truck a bed-mounted camper.The EarthCruiser transformation includes a carbon-fiber housing with a pop-up roof and a full-size bed that sleeps two.Solar panels on the roof help power the camper’s accessories, which include a fridge, a water heater, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen control panel.On its own, the hulking GMC Hummer EV pickup truck looks like it can take on anything and go anywhere—provided its battery has the juice to make it there and back. Now, after teaser images gave us a taste of its overlanding potential, GMC has fully revealed the new EarthCruiser upfit for the bed-toting Hummer. The transformation makes it an electric-powered mobile home, albeit one that most likely costs well north of $100K altogether.Electric AdventuringGMC teamed up with Oregon-based EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles to create the Hummer upfit. Adventurers with deep pockets and a desire to explore the outdoors—as well as a fearlessness to venture into the unknown on battery power alone—will be especially intrigued by the EarthCruiser conversion.GMCMounted in the electric truck’s five-foot-long bed, the housing is made of carbon fiber and features a pop-up roof. The structure’s dimensions measure 217 inches long overall, part of which overlaps the crew-cab Hummer’s roof (that’s where the full-size bed goes). With the roof up, the camper is 117 inches tall, and inside there’s up to 80 inches of standing room. Dropping the top lowers the total height to 90 inches.GMCOff-Road GlampingThe Hummer’s EarthCruiser upfit is more than a hardbodied tent. It has many of the same amenities as home. There’s a fridge, a sink, a stovetop, a water heater, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen control panel that are all powered by the solar panels on the roof, which feed a 6.0-kWh electrical system that’s said to provide power for seven days. In that time, people can keep clean with the EarthCruiser’s outdoor shower, and at night there are exterior lights that set the mood.GMCGMC says the conversion through EarthCruiser is expected to become available sometime in 2024. Those looking to reserve the EarthCruiser upfit for a Hummer EV SUT can do so on the company’s website—just don’t forget, you have to provide the truck separate. Also, the camper’s extra weight and added aerodynamic drag will cut into its driving range, which currently is EPA-estimated at up to 329 miles.Despite not knowing how much the upfit costs, EarthCruiser is known for hardcore conversions, which conversely cost a lot more than a humble Coleman tent. A 2023 Hummer EV pickup already costs close to six figures, so it’s safe to assume their combined price won’t be cheap. Still, we think those who can afford one will have one of the coolest looking overlanders on the road or the trail.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 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 F-150 Lightning is adding a Platinum Black special edition.It’s a blacked-out visual package with a matte-black wrap, special badging, and other black trim elements.The Lightning Platinum Black starts at $99,990 and deliveries will start early in 2024.Ford doesn’t currently offer too many visual customization options for the F-150 Lightning pickup, but there’s a new special edition joining the lineup for 2024 that makes a bold statement. It’s called the Platinum Black and this new package wraps the entire electric truck in matte black, along with special badging, wheels, lighting, and interior bits.The 2024 F-150 Lightning Platinum Black will be available in limited quantities—2000 units to be exact—and deliveries are scheduled to start in early 2024. It’s based on the top Platinum trim and carries a starting price of $99,990—a fair bit more than the 2023 Lightning Platinum’s starting price of $93,290.For that extra dough, you get the matte-black exterior, 22-inch black wheels with matte-black lug nuts, black badging, a soft tonneau cover, a “smoked” light bar, and a gloss-black roof with graphics in the panoramic sunroof. Inside, the Platinum Black—naturally—has black Nirvana leather upholstery plus a plate in the door jamb denoting the special-edition series number. There’s also a plaque in the frunk. The vinyl wrap itself is from supplier 3M and Ford is offering a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty for the wrap specifically (the truck is painted Agate Black underneath).Like all Platinum-trim F-150 Lightnings, the Platinum Black comes standard with the Extended Range battery pack and the 580-hp dual-motor powertrain configuration. Ford claims it will deliver the same 300-mile EPA-rated range as the standard Platinum.New features for all 2024 model-year F-150 Lightnings include an automatic lock function when you exit the truck and walk away with the key in your pocket, and the updated BlueCruise 1.2 hands-free driver-assist feature. The optional ProPower onboard generator now automatically powers on when you unlock the truck, meaning that you don’t have to physically start the truck before plugging in devices. Ford says that these upgrades will be offered as software updates for existing owners of 2022 and 2023 Lightnings.More on the LightningThis 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

The Mercedes-Benz EQB is undergoing a minor revision for the 2024 model year, with a new grille, front bumper, and updated headlights and taillights.The cabin receives a new steering wheel, and the EQB now comes with “sound experiences” that play while driving.The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB will go on sale during the first half of next year.Mercedes-Benz has been busy implementing minor refreshes across its SUV lineup for the 2024 model year, with the GLA, GLB, GLE, and GLS all receiving light updates earlier this year. Now, the German automaker has revealed a nip and tuck for the electric 2024 EQB SUV, bringing a revised grille graphic, new lighting elements, and a modernized interior.A Replaced Face The visual changes are minimal, but Mercedes revised the front end to better fit in with the rest of its ever-expanding arsenal of electric vehicles. The “grille” trim piece now features a star pattern, as seen on the EQS and EQE, and a light bar runs along the top, linking the daytime running lights within the headlight housings. The front bumper has also been reshaped, while the taillight graphic has been updated with parallel lines in place of the previous rectangular LEDs. Something Called “Sound Experiences”Inside, the EQB is fitted with a new steering wheel with haptic controls. Mercedes also added two “sound experiences” that create a fake noise as the car accelerates and decelerates, although this is only available if you opt for the Burmester surround-sound system. Two extra sound profiles can also be purchased online after the owner takes delivery of the car. The infotainment system has been updated with the latest software, including three available visual layouts that are referred to as “Subtle,” “Sporty,” and “Classic.” Mercedes also says the voice assistant has gotten smarter, while the Burmester stereo now features Dolby Atmos, which boasts improved spatial audio. The updated EQB is also fitted with a new multipurpose camera and a new backup camera that’s said to improve the driver-assistance systems. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB will go on sale in the U.S. during the first half of next year. Although the company hasn’t yet announced prices, they should only slightly increase over the starting figures for the outgoing model year, which range from mid-$50K to mid-$60K.More New MercedesThis 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 Ford F-150 Lightning looks to be getting an off-road variant, which will likely use the Tremor moniker.Our spy photos show a Lightning with a front skid plate as well as the same all-terrain tires as the gas-fed F-150 Tremor.Car and Driver asked Ford to confirm if the electric F-150 will get the Tremor treatment, but a spokesperson declined to comment on future products.The Ford F-150 Lightning can take its driver where they need to go on electricity alone. But what if their destination extends where the blacktop ends, more specifically where surfaces are slipperier and rocks treat the underbody like George Foreman used to treat opponents in the boxing ring? For that, off-road-oriented upgrades such as those on the gas-fed F-150 Tremor are a basic requirement. Based on our spy photos, the Lightning may soon be getting a similar type of treatment.Tremor-Like F-150 LightningFord isn’t saying a peep about a forthcoming F-150 Lightning Tremor. Car and Driver asked a spokesperson to confirm its existence, but they predictably replied with the company line about not commenting on future products. Of course, it’s hard for us not to speculate that such a truck is likely on the way when we spy an electric F-150 fitted with some of the same equipment that’s found on the existing Tremor.GLENN PAULINA|Car and DriverAlong with similarly styled matte-black 18-inch wheels, the most obvious things the Lightning test mule shares with the Tremor are its 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires. That type of knobby rubber isn’t currently offered on any electric F-150. While front tow hooks are, none currently have the front skid plate that appears under the spied Lightning’s chin. More importantly, the revised lower fascia will provide a better approach angle for clearing obstacles.GLENN PAULINA|Car and DriverGLENN PAULINA|Car and DriverContributing to its improved clearances, the test truck also has an elevated ride height, which is another Tremor tell. We don’t know from the photos whether or not the Lightning’s adjustable air suspension has been altered, yet we can clearly see the side steps found on most models are missing. What’s also missing are the Tremor’s bedside badges and signature orange accents that appear on the gas model’s grille, front tow hooks, and side vents.All these clues suggest the F-150 Lightning is in store for an off-road variant, and since every other Ford pickup—minus the comparatively minuscule Maverick—offers a Tremor configuration, we’d wager that moniker will also apply to the EV. Now we just have to wait and see.Other Ford Tremor TrucksThis 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

For Jeepers who want to get even more off-road capability out of their rigs, American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is offering three new upfit options for 2024 Wranglers. The kits are available for the Rubicon and—for the first time—the more affordable Willys model.Wrangler’s Upcountry KitsTwo-door versions of the ’24 Wrangler Willys and Rubicon start at $41,190 and $47,190, respectively. Tack another $7476 onto those price tags for the regular Upcountry kit. It includes a 2.0-inch suspension lift and 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires as well as AEV-branded satin black Pintler wheels and a jack base. Fender flare extensions and a spare-tire relocation kit from Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) are also part of the upfit.The Upcountry+ costs $11,599 and includes all those goodies and more. The other upgrades are AEV’s EX front bumper, which is made of hot-stamped Boron steel and has a hoop and end caps that accommodate the stock fog lights. Also included from AEV are a front skid plate, a non-winch cover plate, and relocating the front camera.Wrangler’s Level II KitAEV’s Level II setup is essentially what was offered on the 2023 Wrangler 20th Anniversary Edition, which were limited to 150 copies and cost an astronomical $94,358 (4xe) and $113,820 (Rubicon 392). While Willys customers don’t get a shot at the top kit, the Rubicon crew do, as it’s exclusively available on that model. It costs an extra $20,049 for the V-6 version and $22,099 for the 4xe plug-in hybrid.StellantisStellantisRubicons’s upfitted with the Level II package add 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires and feature an AEV-specific suspension (with a 2.5-inch lift and Bilstein dampers), an AEV rear bumper, off-road lights, a steering damper, and a Zeon 10-S winch. Each version also includes bits from the Upcountry+ kit (i.e., EX front bumper and skid plate). Each also wears a set of satin black AEV Savegre II wheels.All that extra height helps the Jeep ford 37.1 inches of water and provides 14.2 inches of ground clearance. Its other clearances include a 50-degree approach angle, 33-degree breakover angle, and 43-degree departure angle.For those looking to upfit their ’24 Jeep Wrangler Willys or Rubicon, they should place orders through their local dealerships. Jeep says the AEV upgrades will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.Extra Wrangler ReadingThis 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

Kia is discontinuing the Rio in the U.S. after the 2023 model year, as reported by Automotive News.The Rio subcompact was offered as a sedan and a hatchback, with both starting under $20,000.It’s possible that the new Kia K3 will serve as a replacement for the Rio, but it will surely be more expensive.The Kia Rio is the latest victim in the string of affordable small-car discontinuations in the U.S. The subcompact sedan and hatchback won’t return for the 2024 model year, a Kia representative confirmed to C/D.The Rio was one of just three remaining sub-$20,000 new cars available in the U.S. for the 2023 model year. With the impending cancellation of the Mitsubishi Mirage, this will leave only the Nissan Versa as a member of this club going forward, although Nissan has not yet announced 2024 Versa information.RIP Small CarsThrough July of this year, Kia has sold 16,554 units of the Rio, a 2 percent decline compared with last year. But the Rio has never been among Kia’s bestselling models, and its low prices likely mean slim profit margins. The compact Forte sedan will now be the cheapest model in the Kia lineup. It started at $20,815 for the 2023 model year; 2024 pricing hasn’t yet been announced.Kia also recently revealed a new small sedan called the K3. We expect it to serve as a replacement for both the Rio and the Forte going forward, but it’s not likely to carry a sub-$20,000 starting price. Look for more information on this new model to come later this year, as it could arrive in the U.S. for 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.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

VinFast, an EV startup from Vietnam, revealed EPA range estimates for its second model, the three-row VF9 SUV.The VF9 Eco is rated at 330 miles of range per charge, while the Plus model has a 291-mile estimate.Deliveries are planned for the fourth quarter of this year, with the Eco starting at $83K and the Plus at $91K, before destination fees.VinFast is on a roll. The Vietnamese automaker delivered the first 45 VF8 SUVs to Californian customers in March. Last week, VinFast completed a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, allowing the company to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Its stock has since soared, giving the EV maker a market capitalization greater than Ford and General Motors combined at the time of writing. VinFast is now readying its second model for the United States, announcing official EPA range estimates for the VF9 SUV. VinFast VF9 Estimated RangeThe VinFast VF9 Eco trim level is expected to travel 330 miles on a charge, and the Plus model is expected to go 291 miles. The company previously said the VF9 would be offered with two battery sizes, a Standard Range pack and an Enhanced Range unit. It didn’t specify which battery was responsible for the EPA-estimated figures, but since VinFast claims it outperformed its own estimates, we presume the data is for the Standard Range, which VinFast initially predicted would provide between 262 and 272 miles.VinfastThe preliminary guesses for the Enhanced Range model were between 360 and 369 miles, and VinFast’s consumer website now only lists one battery option. Confusingly, the pack listed on the consumer site is a 123.0-kWh unit, which the official press site lists as the Enhanced Range battery. Car and Driver reached out to VinFast for confirmation on which battery pack returned these range estimates. We’ll update this story if we hear back. VF9 PricingVinFast also revealed updated pricing for the VF9, which will start at $83,000 for the Eco and $91,000 for the Plus, before destination fees. This is roughly $6000 more than the previously revealed prices for both models, and puts it on par with the three-row Rivian R1S, which returns either 260 or 352 miles per charge, depending on the battery pack. The segment will be joined by the pricier 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ, which is targeting a 450-mile rating and will also have to contend with the significantly cheaper three-row Kia EV9 that should get up to 300 miles of range.VinfastThe VF9’s battery feeds to two electric motors churning out a combined 402 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. VinFast claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.5 seconds and says the VF9 will charge from 10 to 70 percent in 35 minutes on a DC fast-charger. VinFast has already begun deliveries of the VF9 in Vietnam and aims to start putting North American customers behind the wheel of the three-row EV in the fourth quarter of this year.More on VinFastThis 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

Meyers Manx unveiled the Manx 2.0 Electric as a reimagining of the original dune buggy that captured hearts in the 1960s. The electric buggy is the first vehicle produced under the new leadership, which took control of the company shortly before original designer Bruce Meyers’s passing.The 40.0-kWh battery, the largest of two options, has a claimed 300-mile range and promises 202 horsepower and up to 240 pound-feet of torque.UPDATE 8/22/23: Meyers Manx has announced preliminary pricing for the Manx 2.0 EV, which will start at $74,000. The recently revealed Resorter NEV, which has a 25-mph top speed, has a base price of $49K. The company is currently accepting $500 deposits for both models on the Meyers Manx website.In Car and Driver’s April 1967 issue, we featured the original Meyers Manx on the cover, front and center. Our road test proclaimed it “all things to all men.” The only thing they could all agree on, we said, was that the Meyers Manx was “more soul-freeing, leaping, bounding, uninhibited fun than anything else they’ve ever driven—on or off the road.”Back in the Day; C/D ArchiveFifty-five years later, the beloved dune buggy aspires to be all that and more as it gets reimagined for 2023. Announced Monday evening, the Manx 2.0 Electric brings all the adventurous, off-road fun of the original, just powered by a battery. The design of the Manx 2.0 closely follows in the original’s footsteps with its rugged yet voluptuous silhouette, but the newest incarnation is a bit more refined than its predecessor, thanks to the enclosed rear to cool the electric motors. No air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle engine hanging out the back here. Still, the Manx 2.0 stays true to the monocoque chassis legacy of the original, making it light—the heaviest 2.0 is claimed to weigh 1650 pounds—and strong on rough terrain. It also features independent rear suspension and regenerative braking, which should shoulder most of the braking load.Inside, the Manx 2.0 will have two battery options: a 20.0-kWh battery with a claimed 150 miles of range or a a 40.0-kWh battery with 300 miles of range. Those are very ambitious claims given that a Chevy Bolt EV needs a 66.0 kWh battery to achieve a 259-mile EPA range rating. That would also equate to efficiency of roughly 225 MPGe for the Manx, or nearly 100 MPGe higher than the most efficient EV on the market today, the 132 MPGe rear-drive Tesla Model 3. Sure, the Manx is substantially lighter, but it also wears knobby tires and its aerodynamics are sure to be hindered by the open cabin. While the company has yet to release power specs for the smaller battery, the bigger option sends 202 horsepower and up to 240 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through two motors, which should get you to 60 miles per hour in an estimated 4.5 seconds. The motor, inverter, gear train, and brakes will be housed in a single unit. The Manx 2.0’s motor unit attached to a battery pack.Elana Scherr|Car and DriverThe first batch, totaling just 50 buggies, will ship in 2023 as part of a beta program, but once the Manx 2.0 reaches a wider audience, it will come with a suite of options like A/C and heat, as well as a smart screen, according to Meyers Manx CEO Freeman Thomas. Thomas, designer of the New Beetle as well as others like the original Audi TT concept, joined Meyers Manx as CEO in 2020 following the brands acquisition by venture capitalist and Manx enthusiast Phillip Sarofim. Sarofim acquired Meyers Manx from Bruce and Winnie Meyers shortly before Bruce Meyers died at age 94 in 2021, and now the duo, according to Freeman, want to “carry his legacy into the future.”It’s a powerful legacy. Bruce Meyers almost singlehandedly started the kit dune buggy craze when he decided, despite being more acquainted with building sailboats and surfboards, to build a dune buggy out of a Beetle in his Newport Beach, California, garage in 1964. It quickly became a sensation after it broke the timed record for a run from Tijuana, Mexico, to La Paz over rocky, desert terrain. When the route was organized into the first ever Baja 1000, known as the Mexican 1000 in 1967, the Meyers Manx was crowned the victor. However, an electric Manx also has a history. Bruce Meyers revived the Meyers Manx brand in 2000, and in 2014 he partnered with Las Vegas-based battery company Rev-TEC to create an electric concept known as the Manx V. The V had 86.3 horsepower and a top speed of 64 miles per hour. Volkswagen, too, got in on the fun with a 2019 concept inspired by the original Manx called the I.D. Buggy. More On The ManxCertainly, the Meyers Manx has had quite the journey since we put it on our cover all those years ago. However, with the reveal of the Manx 2.0 it’s clear that, no matter where the auto industry has gone, seemingly nothing enamors enthusiasts quite like the Manx. 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.Editorial InternSasha Richie is a local of the Detroit area, so cars have always been a big part of her life. Some of her fondest memories include driving her dad’s 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in the Woodward Dream Cruise the summer after she got her license and going to drag races with her grandpa. Currently finishing a Bachelor’s in Russian at Duke University, where she is the Sports Managing Editor of the Duke Chronicle, Sasha is excited to join the Car and Driver team for the summer. More