Motor News

The first electric version of the Cadillac Escalade starts around $130,000 and goes on sale in summer 2024. Clean-sheet design means this Escalade is not based on the Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban. Standard features include rear-wheel steering, 24-inch wheels, and a 55-inch touchscreen display. The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ looks different, doesn’t it? The change is fitting considering this is the first all-electric Escalade model, denoted by the “IQ” suffix the brand has been bolting to its EV models such as the Lyriq and Celestiq. Hey, just be glad they didn’t call it the “Escaladiq.” The Escalade IQ continues the design theme of those vehicles, both in the italic L-shaped motif ahead of the D-pillar and in how its fascia and rear do a little light show as you approach. Being an Escalade, though, the IQ isn’t about subtlety or restraint. Consider that it will have upward of 750 horsepower, an estimated 450 miles of range, and a price of around $130,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2024. Size and Platform Details The design represents freedom from the constraints imposed on the regular Escalade by its being based on the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. Instead, the IQ is built on similar fundamentals as the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. That means GM’s Ultium 24-module battery pack sits underneath, with a usable capacity of over 200.0 kWh and the ability of adding 100 miles of range in 10 minutes at a properly functioning DC fast-charger (emphasis on “properly”). At home, where most people charge most frequently, the IQ supports 19.2 kW AC, which adds around 37 miles of range in an hour. Raise (or Lower) Your IQCompared to the Escalade ESV, the IQ is longer both in terms of wheelbase (136.2 inches) and overall length (224.3 inches). It’s wider too, at 85.3 inches. The overall size increase is such that the standard 24-inch wheels look deceptively small. Those wheels match the size of those offered on the upcoming Silverado EV RST, and they’re wrapped in 275/50 tires; that’s 35 inches of rubber. That presumably substantial mass is controlled by MagneRide dampers and air springs that can raise and lower the IQ by one and two inches, respectively.Many More DetailsDespite the similarity in size, the IQ’s rear-wheel steering enables a 39.4-foot turning diameter, which is slightly less than that of the standard, short-wheelbase Escalade, at 39.7 feet. For comparison, the long-wheelbase ESV’s turning diameter is 43.3 feet. Also cribbed from the Hummer EV playbook is CrabWalk, where the rear wheels turn in phase with the fronts to move the vehicle diagonally. Here, the feature is dubbed Cadillac Arrival Mode, and its intention is mostly to show off at the valet. Power and Acceleration A drive mode called Velocity Max enables 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac reps say this remains active and the power stays available until you change modes or turn the key off, a welcome change from automakers with vehicles that only provide peak power momentarily. In the regular drive mode, output is 680 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque. With front and rear motors powering all four wheels, Cadillac claims 60-mph acceleration of less than five seconds in Velocity Max. We’re guessing the time is not likely so much less as to challenge the 4.3-second result we recorded from the Escalade V, since the IQ will assuredly weigh substantially more than that vehicle’s 6290 pounds. Cadillac reps wouldn’t say how much more, but we figure somewhere between the 9640-pound GMC Hummer truck and 8660-pound SUV. The IQ will also have an 8000-pound tow rating, but we suggest reading up on the perils of towing with an EV, as we’ve tested. Interior Of course, a six-figure Escalade wouldn’t be complete without some showmanship inside. What appears to be a single display that stretches 55 inches diagonally across the entire dash is actually two screens: one 35-inch display for the driver and a 25-inch screen for the passenger, partitioned because the passenger’s side is polarized so the driver can’t be distracted by it when the vehicle is out of park. While the prototype build we saw wasn’t fully functional, the screen and its Google Built-In integration looked nice. Alas, Apple CarPlay is not supported, which is a major mistake from our perspective. Also disappointing is the absence of physical switches. Beneath that 55-inch screen combination sits yet another display. This 11-inch touchscreen is where you adjust things like the five-zone climate controls and ambient lighting—the doors too, if they’re equipped with the power open-and-close feature. When enabled, this system can automatically open the driver door when it senses your approach, and a radar system in the door reduces the chance of its touching another vehicle or the wall in your garage. All Escalade IQ models will come with second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40-split power third row. An available Executive Second Row adds a rear center console with yet another touchscreen display, storage, 12.6-inch rear headrest monitors with HDMI inputs, and captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation, and massage. There are even storable tray tables. So equipped, the number of AKG-branded speakers reaches 40. A simply enormous sunroof reaches the back of the second row. While the tinted glass is treated with UV-filtering film to reduce heat transfer, you’ll have to order a shade as an accessory if you want one—we would.Storage and Other Tech As with many EVs, the IQ takes advantage of not having an engine or transmission. A front storage area (which Cadillac really wants you to call the “eTrunk”) holds more than 12 cubic feet of stuff, and an available accessory tray slides forward and rearward for easier access. Instead of a transmission tunnel underneath the center console, there’s a sizable bin. You can also expect a bevy of other Cadillac features, from Super Cruise hands-free driving, a comprehensive exterior camera system, a parallel parking assist feature, and even an alphanumeric code on the rear (“1000E4” in this case) that continues the brand’s silly trend of badges that convert a vehicle’s torque from pound-feet to newton-meters and then rounding to the nearest 100. The “E” is for electric, the “4” for the number of driven wheels. Surely, this information will amaze the crowd at the valet after you’ve Cadillac-Arrival-Mode-ed sideways into place. More Big SUVs from GMDeputy 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

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV Police Pursuit Vehicle is the latest in the growing Chevy police lineup with 498 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque.Based on the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, the PPV has all-wheel drive and will be available for GM fleet buyers early in 2024.The Blazer EV PPV joins the Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and 2023 Traverse and Malibu as options for law enforcement needs.Except for its red and blue lights, the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) is nothing like the Tahoe that delivered your last speeding ticket. Based on the Blazer EV for us law-abiding citizens, the PPV is an all-wheel-drive crime-fighting machine with 498 horsepower. For 12 minutes of pure EV police-car glory, watch GM’s video on the Blazer EV PPVs.Super Troopers:GM says the Blazer EV PPV has an estimated driving range of 250 miles, and we’d guess its “105.0-kWh battery” is a similar unit used in the Cadillac Lyriq 450E with a capacity of 102.0 kWh. The 400-volt architecture means the police can DC-fast-charge their patrol vehicle at a rate of up to 190 kW, which GM says can deliver as much as 71 miles of range in 10 minutes. The cost of installing a dedicated DC fast-charger at a department could be deemed both cruel and unusual, so we expect state police, sheriffs, and municipalities to use 80-amp Level 2 chargers for a slower 19.2-kW refill, or begin patrolling the public charging network. Regenerative braking is standard on the Blazer EV PPV.With all its emergency lights, radio equipment, and computer, a cop car’s rap sheet of electrically demanding tools can be lengthy. GM says the Blazer EV PPV could idle for 20 to 50 hours on a single charge, which sounds like one helluva story, should an officer need that much time to write an incident report. Top speed is limited to 130 mph, but GM indicates that could be increased with aftermarket equipment. This content is imported from youTube. 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 EditorYes, he’s still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs. More

The second-generation Honda N-Box has received a facelift. The tiny N-Box is wildly popular in Japan, earning the title of most popular car in the country over five of the past six years since the introduction of the second generation.In our half-ton-pickup crazed country, the N-Box likely wouldn’t be very popular. That doesn’t stop us wanting one. Spurred along by social media and by their own inherent charm, kei trucks and kei cars have drawn fans everywhere, even in the U.S.A. Sure, if you want a small truck you could buy a Ford Maverick or a Hyundai Santa Cruz, but that does nothing to diminish the appeal of the cheap, practical little kei trucks of Japan, like the Toyota Hiace, Honda Acty, or Daihatsu Hijet. That goes double for the Honda N-Box, a truly adorable little mini van.HondaRecent Honda NewsThe N-Box is popular in Japan. Like really popular. The second generation debuted to massive success in 2017, rising to claim the most sales of any car in Japan that year. According to Top Gear, the N-Box maintained that title through 2018 and 2019 as well. Sales data from Nippon.com shows that the N-Box held on to the throne in 2020 before losing out to the Toyota Yaris in 2021, and reclaiming the sales leader title in 2022. That means for five of the six years since the launch of the second generation, the N-Box has been Japan’s most popular vehicle.HondaHondaThe redesigned version gets a fresh front end with different faces depending on the chosen trim. The standard N-Box features a smaller grille, with circular headlights set into rectangular housings, while the N-Box Custom features a more distinct grille and rectangular running lights. We love the boxy look on all the trims, but the color-matched alloy wheels on the Fashion trim really sell the van for us. HondaIn completely unsurprising (and seven-month-old) news, the three most popular vehicles sold in the United States last year were half-ton pickups. Quite a far cry away from 63-hp kei vans sold in Japan. The American populace just doesn’t seem all that interested in buying small economy vans. But we are, and we’d love to buy this facelifted N-Box. Preferably in Fjord Mist Pearl paint, with matching wheels. 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.Patience Is RewardedAssociate 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

Hennessey has revealed the Venom F5 Revolution roadster, an open-top version of the company’s track-focused supercar that features a carbon-fiber roof panel.While the 6.6-liter V-8 engine still produces 1817 horsepower, revised aerodynamics promise to make the Revolution Roadster even quicker around a race circuit. The Revolution Roadster will be built in a limited edition of 12, each of which will cost at least $3 million. First came the Hennessey Venom F5 in 2020, an 1817-hp ballistic missile with a claimed 311-mph top speed. The Texas-based supercar maker then chopped off the roof in 2022 to create the Venom F5 Roadster, followed by the lighter, track-honed Revolution model earlier this year. Now Hennessey has taken the next logical step, with this Venom F5 Revolution Roadster that debuts next week at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. HennesseyThe Revolution Roadster removes the roof from the hardcore Venom F5, normally a major compromise on structural rigidity that would not be ideal at the track. But Hennessey claims that this hasn’t lessened the Revolution Roadster’s abilities, with the Venom F5’s carbon-fiber monocoque and carbon-fiber body keeping the supercar stiff and structurally sound.About That RoofThe roof is a removable panel composed of carbon-fiber composites—there’s no powered operation here, with four quick-release bolts and two latches holding it in place. This saves weight over a powered setup, although the panel is still lined with Alcantara for a hint of luxury inside. Hennessey says the roof weighs just 18 pounds. HennesseyThe Revolution Roadster is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-8 engine as the other Venom F5s. The motor unleashes the same 1817 horsepower, with Hennessey focusing on aerodynamic improvements instead of extra oomph for its track edition. A glass window—which Hennessey says is four times stronger than normal glass—is integrated into the engine cover to provide a view of the powertrain.HennesseyLike the Revolution Coupe, the Roadster wears a sharp front splitter and dive planes on the front bumper that look like they could slice off your leg. There’s also a towering rear wing and a roof scoop that feeds air to the 6.6-liter engine. Under the skin, Hennessey says, it retuned the suspension for the Revolution models. HennesseyThe Revolution Roadster will start at $3 million. Only 12 will be built, and every unit is already sold. The example seen here, featuring beautiful exposed carbon fiber, is one of just five “Bare Carbon” versions that presumably cost even more. 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

Pricing for the 2023 Lucid Air has been slashed by thousands of dollars per trim. The Air Pure model now starts at $83,900, more than $5000 cheaper than before, while both the Touring and Grand Touring models have seen $12,550 cut from their starting prices. Destination charges also drop, from $1650 to $1500.Luxury electric-vehicle manufacturer Lucid is officially cutting the prices on its Air electric sedan. The starting price for 2023 Air models has been slashed by thousands of dollars per trim, with the largest cuts arriving for the Touring and Grand Touring models. The dual-motor AWD Air Pure model now starts at $83,900, a $5150 decrease from before. The Touring and Grand Touring models receive twice the cost decrease, with both models now starting $12,550 lower than before. That works out to a $96,500 price for the Touring and a $127,100 cost out the door for the Grand Touring. Michael Simari|Car and DriverAfter the EV startup increased prices last June, these recent reductions bring the Air directly in line with the company’s initial pricing figures announced in March 2022. At that time, the Air Pure’s starting price was $78,900, and the Touring’s was $96,500. More Lucid NewsPrices We Didn’t Get (Yet)We reached out to Lucid for confirmation on pricing for the rear-drive Pure model scheduled to begin availability in September. We asked whether the original 2022 starting price of $78,900 would be the new price. The spokesperson wouldn’t confirm a price for the model but did state that “We did work back from that original price in determining pricing for [the] currently available Pure AWD.”The company also didn’t state a new price for the 2024 Grand Touring Performance, which is noticeably absent from the Lucid online configurator. A spokesperson declined comment when asked, leading us to believe that the top-spec model may not survive to see the 2024 model year. We got a brief taste of the Grand Touring Performance near Lucid’s headquarters last spring, while also putting the regular Grand Touring model through our testing regimen. 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

Lexus is adding a plug-in-hybrid model to the RX lineup for 2024.It’s called the RX450h+ and it has the same powertrain as the smaller NX450h+, with a slightly shorter claimed electric range and slightly lower efficiency.The RX450h+ starts at $70,080 and will go on sale by the end of the year.For 2024, Lexus is adding a third hybrid option for the RX SUV. The new RX450h+ model joins the lineup as a plug-in hybrid, complementing the existing RX350h and RX500h F Sport Performance hybrids. The plug-in version offers a claimed 35 mile electric range and has the same setup as the smaller NX450h+.The RX450h+ has a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four plus three electric motors; this is the same all-wheel-drive setup found in the NX450h+ and Toyota RAV4 Prime. It has a 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger that can charge the 18.1-kWh battery pack in two and a half hours using a 240-volt outlet. It has slightly more power, with a total output of 304 hp compared with the other models’ 302 hp. The larger RX won’t be as quick as those smaller PHEVs, though, with Lexus claiming a 60 mph time of 6.2 seconds.LexusThe RX450h+ is expensive, starting at $70,080, making it the costliest model in the RX lineup. It comes standard with all the features included on the lesser powertrains’ Luxury trim level including a head-up display, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front and rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof.EPA fuel-economy ratings are 35 mpg combined while running on hybrid power, just 1 mpg less than the RX350h, and 83 MPGe including electric driving. Lexus says the RX450h+ will be available at dealerships by the end of the year.LexusMore on Lexus HybridsThis 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

There’s a smaller Land Rover Defender on the way, and it’ll be electric, a Jaguar Land Rover executive said at a recent investor conference, according to Autocar. The “baby” Defender, as Autocar calls it, will be built on JLR’s Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform and is expected to arrive in 2027. It’ll be one of four models built on the EMA platform, joining the next-generation Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, Autocar reports. Based on the EMA platform’s dimensions, the new, smaller Defender (which could possibly carry the Defender Sport nameplate) will be about 15 feet long and 6.5 feet wide, making it a bit smaller than a BMW X3. Defenders Old and NewThis new smaller Defender wouldn’t replace the current full-size SUV in Land Rover’s lineup. In fact, the next-generation Defender is expected to arrive in 2026, according to Autocar, based on the company’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform, which supports both purely electric and hybrid ICE powertrains. It’s then we expect the first full-size Defender EV to make its first appearance. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

Nissan confirmed that 2024 would be the last model year for the Titan full-size pickup.Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant will end production of the Titan in summer 2024.Pricing for the 2024 Titan starts at $47,665.Since we recently covered pricing for the 2024 Nissan Titan pickup, Nissan has confirmed that this model year will be the last for its full-size truck. Production of the Titan and Titan XD will end in summer 2024 at Nissan’s plant in Canton, Mississippi, to make way for two new electric vehicles that will be built there. One will be a Nissan EV sedan, which we think will be called the Maxima, and the other will be an Infiniti equivalent.The Titan was first introduced for 2003 and was Nissan’s first entry into the full-size pickup market. Its second generation arrived for 2017 and introduced a variant called XD that was meant to fit between light-duty and heavy-duty trucks. The Titan never sold in volumes anywhere close to the levels of the domestic full-size trucks, and has even lagged behind its only other Japanese competitor, the Toyota Tundra. Through the first half of 2023, Nissan sold just 10,550 Titans in the U.S.More on Nissan TrucksThe mid-size Frontier will now be the only pickup truck in Nissan’s lineup. Nissan has also teased a future electric pickup with a concept car called the Surf-Out that looks to be similar in size to the Frontier. Nissan executives have stated an intention to build a mid-size electric truck for the U.S. market, as the Frontier has consistently sold better than the Titan.Before production ends next year, the Titan will still be available at Nissan dealerships. The updated 2024 model is already on sale and gets a new SV Bronze Edition appearance package along with a rejiggered trim lineup.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