Motor News

Zenvo, a small Danish supercar builder, has revealed a new model featuring a hybrid V-12 powertrain called the Aurora at Monterey Car Week.Two hybrid setups are available—one pairs the V-12 with a single motor for 1450 hp while the other adds two additional electric motors on the front axle for 1850 hp.The Agil variant is more focused on lap times, sporting aggressive aerodynamics, while the Tur is designed more for eating up on-road miles.Since 2009, a small Danish firm called Zenvo has assembled a series of dramatic-looking mid-engined supercars powered by massive V-8 engines in extremely limited quantities, including the TSR-S and its bonkers rear wing that pivots both up and down as well as side to side. Now Zenvo has revealed its latest creation at Monterey Car Week, a V-12 hybrid hypercar called the Aurora.Zenvo AutomotiveZenvo says the Aurora—named for the aurora borealis natural light phenomenon—is the lightest and most powerful road car they’ve built, built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with a claimed dry weight under 3197 pounds. Behind the cabin sits a quad-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 that revs to 9800 rpm and churns out 1250 horsepower. Developed by Mahle Powertrain, 90-degree V-12 uses a “hot-V” configuration with the turbochargers placed between the cylinder banks.The Aurora will be sold in two versions—a tamer, road-focused Tur model and a more aggressive Agil variant—which each pair the V-12 to a different hybrid system. The Agil is rear-wheel drive and uses a single 200-hp electric motor to bump total output to 1450 hp, while the Tur comes with all-wheel drive courtesy of two more 200-hp electric motors at each front wheel. This 1850-hp setup is also offered on the Agil and produces a combined 1254 pound-feet of torque versus the rear-drive setup’s 1033 pound-foot total. Zenvo AutomotiveThe power flows through a seven-speed gearbox that incorporates the rear-mounted electric motor and is controlled by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The Tur is tuned for smoother gearshifts while the Agil’s gear changes are said to be more “mechanical.” The transmission also incorporates an electronic differential, while the front electric motors act as a torque-vectoring system. The two models sport distinct looks—the Tur is sleek and streamlined while the Agil is adorned with all manner of aerodynamic doodads. Zenvo says that the Agil, which comes in at 2866 pounds, can rip to 62 mph in an estimated 2.5 seconds and can reach 186 mph in just 10 second en route to a 227 mph top speed. Although the Tur is less focused on track performance and features a richer interior, its slipperier profile helps it hit 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and shave a second off of the sprint to 186 mph, with a claimed top speed of 280 mph.Zenvo AutomotiveThe Agil’s straight-line performance is likely held back by the substantial rear wing that can shift forward to act as an air brake and apply even more downforce when slowing for a corner. Zenvo claims the the Agil’s splitter, diffuser, and wing combine for 1940 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. Inside, the Agil is far more spartan than the Tur, with lightweight upholstery for the seats and doors and glimpses of the carbon-fiber chassis peeking through. The Tur’s cabin looks far more finished and additional sound proofing should help it feel more like a grand tourer than a track toy. Zenvo will build only 50 units for each Aurora model, with production kicking off in 2025 and the first Auroras being delivered to their owners in 2026. There’s no word on price, but the Aurora certainly won’t be cheap given that the 2019 TSR-S cost a cool $1.6 million.More Obscure SupercarsThis 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

Mercedes-AMG will produce a limited number of SL63 Manufaktur Big Sur special editions for 2024.It has Orange Flame Metallic exterior paint and special interior trim.Manufaktur is Mercedes’ customization program that lets buyers select a wider range of exterior and interior color and trim options.Mercedes-AMG has already confirmed that a new AMG GT coupe will debut this week at Pebble Beach, but the SL convertible on which it’s based isn’t being left out of the festivities entirely. This new 2024 SL63 Big Sur special edition is also being revealed, complete with special appearance tweaks meant to highlight the Manufaktur customization program.The SL63 Big Sur is finished in a Manufaktur color called Orange Flame Metallic, and this hue is also found in the cabin adorning the center console and other trim pieces. This particular shade of orange is supposedly meant to evoke Big Sur sunsets. Mercedes also added an additional AMG emblem, embroidered AMG logos in the floor mats, and a “Manufaktur” script on the center console storage compartment lid. The black nappa leather upholstery features orange contrasting stitching and a diamond quilted pattern.Mercedes-AMGThere aren’t any mechanical upgrades to the SL63’s 577-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, all-wheel-drive system, and nine-speed automatic transmission, but the Big Sur does come fully loaded. Standard equipment includes the front-axle lift system, 21-inch wheels, the Dynamic Plus package, the Active Ride Control suspension, and the Burmester upgraded sound system.AMG hasn’t said exactly how many Big Sur editions it will build, and we also don’t yet know the price—but figure somewhere around $200,000. And if this color combo isn’t exactly to your liking, the 2024 AMG SL will offer three new Manufaktur paint colors and two new interior leather options.Mercedes-AMGMore on the SLSenior 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 Mitsubishi Mirage will be discontinued in the U.S., per a report by Automotive News.The tiny Mirage hatchback is one of America’s cheapest new cars, with the 2024 model starting at $17,790.The hatchback’s impending death means the same for its slightly pricier sedan counterpart, the Mirage G4. New cars sold in the U.S. that start under $20,000 are on the verge of extinction, and one more is about to get crossed off the list. That’s because the Mitsubishi Mirage—which has a base price of under $18,000—is set to be axed, according to a report yesterday by Automotive News.Mirage DisappearingThe AN article claims the Mirage subcompact hatchback and the Mirage G4 (the sedan version) will see their U.S. production end sometime in late 2025, with no plans for a new generation. However, if that timeline is accurate, it’s possible the nameplate could survive for at least one more model year after 2024, which is currently on sale. Car and Driver reached out to Jeremy Barnes, Mitsubishi’s North American spokesman, who declined to comment on the situation.MitsubishiWith the Mirage set to leave the U.S. market, that will leave very few options for customers seeking a new car around $20,000—let alone under that price. Currently, the Nissan Versa owns the title of cheapest new car, with the 2023 model starting at just over $17K with the standard manual transmission. Then again, judging by the Mirage’s dwindling sales volume, it’s possible it won’t be sorely missed.More on the MirageThis 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

A 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty raced to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, making it the quickest diesel truck we’ve ever tested.A 2020 F-250 last held the title, hitting 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, but the newer truck is helped by an extra 150 pound-feet of torque (1200 total).Not only is the ’23 F-250 six-tenths quicker to 60, but it’s also a half-second quicker through the quarter-mile and 1.2 seconds quicker to 90 mph. Heavy-duty pickup trucks are all about bragging rights. One year Ram has the best-in-class towing capacity, for example, the next Chevy or Ford owns the crown—and so on and so forth. When it comes to torque, the 2023 Ford Super Duty lineup is the current king of the hill, with its new high-output Power Stroke diesel V-8 summoning a seismic 1200 pound-feet. That recently helped a F-250 SuperCrew 4×4 hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, earning it the title of quickest diesel-powered truck we’ve ever tested and just impressively swift for anything weighing 8000-plus pounds.F-250 Beats Its Own RecordWhile heavy-duty pickups from different brands are often one-upping each other, this time Ford one-upped itself. That’s because the record the ’23 model broke was held by a 2020 F-250 SuperCrew 4×4 that reached 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. That truck also set the record for the quickest quarter-mile time for a diesel truck, racing 1320 feet in 14.6 seconds at 94 mph.Michael Simari|Car and DriverAs impressive as those milestones were, what’s more impressive is how much quicker the new F-250 accelerates. Not only did it hit 60 mph six-tenths sooner, but its 6.8-second sprint from 5 to 60 mph was nearly a full second quicker than before. In fact, the truck we tested was between three- and nine-tenths quicker than its predecessor in virtually all of our acceleration metrics. Along with finishing the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 97 mph, the F-250 hit 90 mph in 11.9 seconds (1.2 ticks quicker than before). Of course, to extract these record-setting times, we did more than just hop behind the wheel and stomp on the go pedal. Car and Driver testing director Dave VanderWerp had to use some right-foot finesse and get tricky with the 10-speed automatic transmission. With the transfer case switched to 4Hi, the quickest times came from a second-gear start with a healthy dose of brake torquing, and then a quick shift back to automatic mode right after launch, as the manual-shift function isn’t responsive enough to count on. Voilà!—achievement unlocked.H/O Power Stroke Is KeyJust like before, the three-quarter-ton Ford’s speediness is a byproduct of its prodigious output, which is now even higher thanks to an upgraded turbo-diesel 6.7-liter V-8. With new stainless-steel manifolds and piping that feeds a single turbo with a liquid-cooled compressor housing, the newly availably H/O Power Stroke can handle higher temperatures and allows more boost. The result is 500 horsepower and 1200 pound-feet of torque, compared with the standard engine’s 475 horses and 1050 pound-feet.Michael Simari|Car and DriverDespite myriad improvements following the 2023 Ford Super Duty’s significant refresh, which include the aforementioned engine upgrade and new tech features, our F-250 Platinum tester weighs almost exactly the same as the earlier F-250 Lariat—the new version’s 8100-pound curb weight is actually 20 pounds lighter. Both trucks were fitted with the off-road-oriented Tremor package that brings unique suspension bits, a limited-slip front differential, an electronic locking rear diff with a 3.55 gear ratio, and chunky 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires. Those knobby tires probably didn’t help in getting all of the F-250’s prodigious mass slowed down, however, with braking distance from 70 mph of 245 feet at the very lengthy end of any new vehicle.With Ford’s H/O Power Stroke V-8 currently owning the heavy-duty torque crown by a sizable margin, other heavy-duty trucks will be hard-pressed to beat its acceleration times. Meanwhile, we’re still interested to see how much quicker the Super Duty can be. Perhaps a lighter regular-cab F-250 with street-oriented tires and the mightiest diesel engine could shave off a few more tenths.Other Quick Ford 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

Tesla has introduced a new Universal Wall Connector with a built-in adapter for both Tesla (NACS) and J1772 plugs for EV charging.The Universal unit also allows control and monitoring of charging history and energy use via the Tesla app, a feature new to the Wall Connector.Its $595 price is slightly higher than the current Wall Connector, it’s available for order now, and Tesla says it will start shipping in October.Today Tesla announced a new Universal Wall Connector, a Level 2 EV charger that’s intended for home use as well as in Tesla’s 40,000-strong public Level 2 chargers it refers to as destination charging. This means that owners of any non-Tesla EVs will be able to use this latest Tesla charging equipment without a separate adapter.With a critical mass of automakers recently announcing that they will be switching from the J1772 plug to Tesla’s NACS receptacle in the 2025 timeframe, this isn’t a surprising move. Now Tesla stands not only to benefit from non-Tesla owners paying to charge at its Superchargers, but also will potentially sell a lot more home-charging units. Meanwhile, the other big players in home charging, such as ChargePoint, are rushing to add Tesla’s NACS plug to their offerings. What’s DifferentThe new unit looks almost identical to its third-generation Wall Connector that is currently on sale, and all the specs carry over as well, with two key differences. The first is a built-in adapter to allow seamless switching between plugging in to a vehicle with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, which is currently found only on Teslas, and the round, J1772 plug that is used to charge nearly every other EV in the U.S. This is similar to the so-called Magic Dock adapter the company has built into some of its latest Supercharger stations to be able to be able to fast charge non-Tesla EVs. The other major change is that, through the Tesla app, users will be able to schedule or stop and start charging and view charging history and energy usage for the first time. TeslaThe current Wall Connector already has Wi-Fi connectivity for firmware updates and to be able to network multiple units together to share power from the same circuit without exceeding a peak programable power draw. While Tesla owners can monitor their charging history through the car and a third-party app such as TeslaFi, there’s currently no option for non-Tesla owners to track their charging, something that has kept the Wall Connector from being our top pick in our EV charging test.TeslaTeslaCost and When You Can Get OneTesla currently sells Wall Connectors with either the NACS ($475) or J1772 ($550) plugs, while the price of the new Universal unit is up slightly, to $595. Both the current and new Universal Wall Connector have a maximum output of 11.5 kW, a 24-foot cable that is thinner than those of the competition, and come only as a hardwire option.More on ChargingThe Universal Wall Connector is available to order now, and while Tesla says the app functionality won’t launch until late August or early September, that shouldn’t matter, as the company says the new units will start shipping in October. Tesla is sending us one to try, so we’ll be back with a review soon.Director, Vehicle TestingDave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, in varied roles from engineering to product consulting, and now leading Car and Driver’s vehicle-testing efforts. Dave got his very lucky start at C/D by happening to submit an unsolicited resume at just the right time to land a part-time road warrior job when he was a student at the University of Michigan, where he immediately became enthralled with the world of automotive journalism. More

Lexus has revealed the latest Inspiration Series, a new limited-edition run for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible. The special edition adds front bumper canards, a limited-slip differential, and rear performance dampers to help with performance. Production will be limited to just 125 units for North America, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. Lexus just announced the latest Inspiration Series for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible models—sorry LC500h hybrid, better luck next time. This special-edition Inspiration Series will be limited to just 125 cars for North America, including 33 coupes and 92 convertibles. Unsurprisingly, the special-edition cars carry a hefty premium over the standard production siblings, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. LexusBoth the coupe and convertible add canards to the front bumper, which are meant to balance front-end lift at higher speeds. The Inspiration Series coupe also adds a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing to keep the rear end planted. On top of that, both models gain a standard Torsen limited-slip differential along with rear performance dampers—both items from the LC’s optional Sport package. The coupe version also incorporates the convertible’s front and rear underfloor braces, and, as a bonus comes with a standard carbon-fiber roof. LexusMore on the LC500In addition to the performance upgrades, the Inspiration Series cars also get unique styling details. The coupe models get a combination of Polar Surge Satin white exterior paint with Deep Blue upholstery for the interior, marking the first time this color pairing is available for the LC. The convertible comes with the same color scheme, but goes a step further with the blue scheme and comes equipped with a blue fabric soft top. According to Lexus, the Inspiration Series should begin arriving at dealerships early this fall. 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

Faraday Future, an EV startup based in California, has announced that it has delivered its first FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance, a 1050-hp electric crossover.The automaker has had a troubled past, with years of financial challenges delaying deliveries as Faraday Future sought more funding.The company says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more potential customers for the $309,000 SUV.Faraday Future has faced constant struggles since unveiling its electric FF 91 crossover at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2017. There were lawsuits from suppliers and a factory in Las Vegas that never materialized, and the company’s founder filed for bankruptcy in 2019. But Faraday Future reemerged in 2021 by going public on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and the embattled startup now says it has finally delivered its first production vehicle, handing over an FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance at a recent event.Deliveries of the FF 91 were originally slated to begin in 2018, but financial troubles continually delayed the car. Faraday Future acquired its factory—a former Pirelli tire plant—in Hanford, California, in late 2017 and claimed to have built its first “production intent” prototype in February 2022. But the initially delivery target of late 2022 was pushed back yet again as the company sought additional funding. Now it appears that Faraday Future finally has solid footing, securing enough money earlier this month to start deliveries of road-ready FF 91s.Faraday FutureFaraday Future provided a photo of the smiling customers with their new machine and said this first owner is affiliated with Private Collection Motors, a luxury car dealership in Costa Mesa, California. However, Faraday Future’s delivery process is shrouded in marketing jargon, with the company describing itself as “the pioneer of the Ultimate Intelligent TechLuxury ultra spire market in the intelligent EV era” and referencing its prospective customers as “spire users” and “Developer Co-Creators.” First Owner or First User?The choice of the word “user” instead of “owner” in Faraday Future’s press release make us question whether this initial FF 91 was paid for or is being gifted or loaned. The so-called “Developer Co-Creator” title appears to involve turning the customers into partners to boost the value of the company, granting early access to the car in return for “consulting, branding, and other arrangements with FF in exchange for fees ranging from approximately $225,000 to $475,000,” according to the company.More EV Startup NewsThe first FF 91 to be delivered was a special edition model called the 2.0 Futurist Alliance, which costs $309,000 before the destination charge. The FF 91’s 142.0-kWh battery pack is rated for an EPA-estimated 381 miles of range and feeds three motors that churn out 1050 horsepower, rocketing the FF 91 to 60 mph in a claimed 2.3 seconds.Faraday Future says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more customers and says each of its “spire users” will receive “unique and unparalleled . . . customized delivery ceremonies.” We will continue to keep a close eye on Faraday Future as the automaker continues its slow rollout of the FF 91, and we hope to get our hands on an example soon.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 Tesla Model S and Model X’s base prices have dropped by $10,000 due to new Standard Range models.The Model S now starts at $79,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 320 miles compared with the pricier 405-mile model.The Model X now starts at $89,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 269 miles versus the more expensive version, which has a 348-mile estimate.The price of new Teslas has been up and down and moving all around. Over the past year or so, the company has adjusted the cost of its four models myriad times, and now the Model S and Model X can be had for $10,000 less than last week following the introduction of new Standard Range models.Model S and X Price DropsTesla yesterday launched shorter-range variants of the Model S and Model X, as reported by Reuters. The Model S Standard Range carries a $79,880 base price, which costs $10K less than the next-level dual-motor model. However, the discounted price comes with a lot less EPA-estimated range—320 versus 405 miles. The tri-motor Model S Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 396 miles of range.TeslaThe Model X Standard Range starts at $89,880 and has an EPA-estimated range of 269 miles per charge. That’s exactly $10K less than the longer-range model, which has a considerably longer 348-mile estimate. Meanwhile, the tri-motor Model X Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 333 miles of range.Tesla Price ChangesThis 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