Motor News

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

Heat-related refinery outages helped shut down some petroleum refining capacity in the U.S. last month, and drivers are noticing the changes at the pump.The national average gas price for a gallon of gas shot up to $3.82 this week, the highest since October 2022.Other factors contributing to your paying more to fill up are rising prices for a barrel of oil and lower gasoline inventory supplies. And if more hurricanes arrive soon, they may cause prices to climb again.If you’re still pumping your car full of liquid energy, you’ve probably noticed a higher price recently. You’re not alone. Gas prices have reached a nine-month high nationwide, thanks to both familiar and unexpected causes.During the last week of July, the average price of a gallon of gasoline shot up 16.5 cents, to $3.72 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. Diesel fuel also shot up 15.5 cents to an average of $3.99 per gallon. On August 3, GasBuddy saw the national average rise to $3.82 a gallon, the highest since October 2022.Do Your BestThose price spikes were due to three main factors, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said in a statement: heat-related refinery outages, strong summer demand for gasoline, and gasoline inventories that were at their lowest July level since 2015.Strong demand and low inventories are classic high-gas-price triggers, but heat-related outages are less common. AAA, which tracks gas prices, said the extreme heat we’re all experiencing this summer meant some U.S. refineries, especially those near the Gulf of Mexico, had to cut back. Due to the high heat, the U.S. refined around 500,000 fewer barrels a day than usual.Hottest Month EverJuly was the hottest month in all of recorded human history. The transportation sector, including personal cars and trucks as well as commercial vehicles, airplanes, and trains, is one of the most significant contributors to anthropogenic U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contribute to climate change. Transportation accounted for almost a third (29 percent) of all U.S. GHG emissions in 2021.Gas station in Austin, Texas, on August 3, 2023.Brandon Bell|Getty ImagesThe heat wave is only partly responsible for the high gas prices, however. The cost of a barrel of oil started climbing in July from the high-$60s to mid-$70s that we saw in May and June to more than $80. AAA said the recent increase was due to the end of releases from the strategic petroleum reserve and “concerns over cuts in supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia, the second- and third-largest oil producers in the world.” GasBuddy said gasoline inventories are also down 2.8 percent from a year ago and 6 percent below the five-year average for this time of year.So, what happens next? AAA said in a statement this week that the good news is that the price hikes have started to level out and that further price decreases could be on the way. Gas could also get more expensive if this year’s hurricane season puts further strains on gasoline production. As De Haan said, “Drivers may want to brace for potentially higher prices yet.”Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

BMW enthusiasts revere the E28 generation as the starting point of the M5.As a Europe-spec car, this example wears cleaner-look small bumpers and has a host of rare options.This Bring a Trailer online auction ends on Wednesday, August 9.Car and DriverYou might think that, as the reigning monarch of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf would choose as his personal car a Volvo or a Saab. But King Carl, who ascended to the throne in September 1973, evidently has more sporting tastes. His Majesty the King has cultivated a decades-long fascination with BMW, and when he ordered himself an M5 in the late 1980s, he got the spec absolutely right.Bring a TrailerThat car, a 1987 M5 with a royal touch, is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. Reportedly, the king of Sweden owned three of these ultimate ’80s sleeper sedans, and this one is tricked out in an ideal spec.Bring a TrailerFirst, we’ll point out that Euro-spec bumpers on an E28-generation 5-series look so much better than the protruding U.S. ones. Second, the color palette is absolutely on point. Malachite dark green with gold basketweave 16-inch BBS wheels and a thin gold pinstripe is super tasty. Exhibiting characteristic Swedish understatement, the King also chose Shadowline trim rather than chrome and had the rear badging removed.Bring a TrailerThe interior is all-business black, in contrast to the tan interior typical of U.S. E28 M5 models. Further, it’s tricked out with additional leather throughout: on the door panels, steering column, even the sun visors. And whereas today’s M cars often are awash in carbon fiber, here we find subtle M stripes on the steering wheel and shifter.Bring a TrailerAs for the big-stick part of this quietly speaking sports sedan, that’s provided by a 3.5-liter inline-six good for 286 horsepower in European tune. This golden-age BMW three-pedal throne room makes the case: It’s good to be king.More BMW M goodnessContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

We hear that Mercedes-AMG is considering bringing the V-8 back to the high-performance C-class and E-class models.The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 could possibly be combined with a hybrid setup, as in the AMG GT63 S E Performance and AMG S63.These V-8 models could arrive as soon as 2026, sources say.The AMG community is not amused. The most powerful AMG C-class, the C63, traded the V-8 for a hybridized turbo-four, and the next top-of-the-line E-class, the upcoming E63, will make do with an inline-six plug-in-hybrid setup. Some say that’s not good enough to do battle with the BMW M3, which has a twin-turbo inline-six, and the future BMW M5, which is slated to have a hybrid setup with a twin-turbo V-8. The upcoming Audi RS5 and RS7 will also be powered by a V-6 hybrid good for up to 640 horsepower.The only escape route out of this dilemma is the reinstitution of the M177 4.0-liter V-8 engine, which will return to the C- and E-class in 2026, two independent sources say. The eight-cylinder is currently being modified to meet EU7 emissions standards. This engine is currently used in the 831-hp AMG GT63 S E Performance and the 791-hp AMG S63, and it’s combined with a hybrid setup in both of those applications.Mercedes-AMGAccording to senior engineers directly involved in the matter, both the C-class and E-class need only minor bodywork changes to accommodate the twin-turbo powerplant, the PHEV battery plus electric motor, and the auxiliary equipment. Since the C- and E-class are under evaluation for a life-cycle extension beyond 2028, the hardcore AMG versions may remain in production well into the next decade.More New Mercedes ModelsThis 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.Contributing EditorAlthough I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal clerk, it was clear from the beginning that birdwatching and stamp collecting were not my thing. Had I known that God wanted me to grow to 6’8″, I also would have ruled out anything to do with cars, which are to blame for a couple of slipped discs, a torn ligament, and that stupid stooped posture behind the wheel. While working as a keeper in the Aberdeen Zoo, smuggling cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia to Germany, and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to yield fulfillment, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is now, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday. I love every aspect of my job except long-haul travel on lousy airlines, and I hope it shows. More

California EV startup Fisker has just revealed three new models, claiming that its lineup will expand to include four vehicles by the end of 2025. The plan includes a four-door convertible called Rōnin, an affordable crossover called the Pear, and a pickup truck called the Alaska, all of which will be sold alongside the existing Ocean SUV. Henrik Fisker, the company’s CEO and lead designer, wants to scale up to building 1 million cars per year. A portfolio of unique-looking and cleverly engineered vehicles is how he believes the company achieve that goal.We’ve seen teasers for Rōnin and Pear already, but the big surprise was confirmation of the rumored pickup truck, which will be called Alaska. The trio were just shown in concept form at the company’s Product Vision Day event. While their designs could evolve by the time they see production, each one features novel details and sustainable materials.Fisker’s first SUV Makes a SplashPear: EV on a BudgetDrew Dorian|Car and DriverThe Pear promises a starting price of less than $30,000. This subcompact crossover isn’t much smaller than the Ocean, but it’s been stripped down and will be built on a new lightweight, low-cost platform.Fisker says that it represents a 35-percent reduction in parts versus traditional manufacturing. In practice, that should amount to a fairly basic package, but a glimpse inside the Pear at the event provided assurances that it’ll still deliver on style. A six-seat interior layout will be available, which swaps the two front bucket seats for a three-across bench. We spotted attractive cloth upholstery and a two-tone dashboard design with bright blue accent coloring.In front, Fisker has designed a novel drawer-style front trunk; around back, in lieu of a traditional SUV liftgate, you’ll find a motorized retractable panel which drops entirely out of the way behind the rear bumper.The company’s plan is to build the Pear in Ohio at Foxconn’s Lordstown assembly plant, which would make it eligible for federal tax incentives. Start of production is said to be targeted around mid-2025, but the company’s leader told Car and Driver that there is still a lot to finalize before the SUV is ready for prime time. Rōnin: Flagship HypercarDrew Dorian|Car and DriverLooking a bit like a reborn Karma—Fisker’s first attempt at an eco-friendly luxury car back in 2012—the Rōnin features a carbon-fiber hardtop roof and four butterfly-style doors. Fisker says 60 mph should arrive in 2.0 seconds thanks to three electric motors providing 1000 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive; the car’s battery pack is said to offer a claimed 600-mile driving range.Drew Dorian|Car and DriverIts positioning at the top of the Fisker lineup leaves plenty of space between the Rōnin and the Ocean, as it’ll surely command a six-figure price tag when it goes on sale. Timing for that, by the way, is likely to be a few years away. Alaska: An Ocean with a Truck BedDrew Dorian|Car and DriverSurprisingly, the Alaska pickup truck looks to be the most production-ready of the three new models. Based on the Ocean, the Alaska has a pickup truck bed behind the cabin and a drop-down midgate that extends the bed into the cabin. Reminiscent of the long-dead Chevy Avalanche (and the new Silverado EV), this feature allows the Alaska to remain compact in size but offer the ability to haul larger cargo.Drew Dorian|Car and DriverThe Alaska’s claimed range is lower than the Ocean’s, but Fisker said to expect at least 230 miles per charge in the base version, with more expensive longer-range versions promising up to 340 miles. Pricing is said to start at $45,400 for the Alaska, and although the company isn’t discussing production location yet, it did confirm to C/D that it will be U.S.-built. We’d expect the Alaska to hit production before the Pear, and Fisker himself said during the event that it could go on sale as early as December 2024.Fisker will also build a production version of the Ocean Force E concept, which will exist as an option package for the Ocean SUV. The Force E will come decked out with off-road equipment, including more aggressive all-terrain tires, bulged fenders, and a roof-top cargo box.More on FiskerWhat’s Next?Is Fisker’s latest plan too ambitious? Given that it faced delays getting the Ocean SUV to market, it’s certainly possible that things won’t pan out exactly as planned or on the timeline Fisker is claiming. A somewhat scattered and unknown production plan is another hurdle. Despite those doubts, the company isn’t short of consumers raising their hands for one of its future EVs. Reservation holders number in the tens of thousands, and deposits for all three of the concepts shown at the event are already trickling in.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Chevy has dropped the base 1LT trim from the 2024 Blazer EV, as first reported by Green Car Reports, with the 2LT now the cheapest offering, despite a considerable price hike. Pricing for the front-drive version of the 2LT hasn’t been announced yet, but the AWD version will start at $56,715 when it enters production in the fall. The mid-spec RS AWD will go on sale this summer and now carries a $61,790 starting price tag.As if some Titan-born Marvel villain snapped his infinity-stone-laden fingers, the base option for the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV has vanished into thin air. The previously announced 1LT trim level, which was to start at $44,995, is gone, leaving the front-wheel-drive 2LT trim (pictured at top) in its place at an as yet unnamed price.Although pricing for the 2LT FWD isn’t available yet, Chevy confirmed to Car and Driver that the all-wheel-drive version now carries an MSRP of $56,715. Chevy also confirmed that production rollout hasn’t changed for the now-midpack all-wheel-drive RS, which will be the first Blazer EV to hit the streets when it launches this summer. That car will start at $60,215 and adds features including ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a unique grille over the 2LT. More on the Blazer EVFollowing the initial launch this summer, the manufacturer plans to begin production on the RS RWD and 2LT AWD in the fall. The top-level SS trim is now slated to enter production in the spring. Chevy declined to comment on any price changes regarding the SS, but our instincts say it will see similar price hikes given that the RWD RS is now encroaching on the top-model’s pricing territory. Information on the front-drive RS and LT models is promised closer to their launch in 2024. ChevroletConfoundingly, at $61,790, the RWD version of the RS is priced above the AWD version. We checked to make sure we were reading that right, and Chevy confirmed. The rear-drive car adds a Bose sound system, but we’re still scratching our heads. A Chevrolet spokesperson told Automotive News that the brand envisions higher trim levels on the upcoming Equinox EV will meet the needs of potential Blazer EV 1LT buyers, but with the Bolt twins on hiatus, we lament the removal of another budget-oriented option. 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

Jeep releases a limited run of Jurassic Park appearance packages for the Gladiator and JL Wrangler (2018—2024).The new kit commemorates the Jeep Wrangler YJs in the original 1993 film, which featured logos on the doors and other graphics..While the Jurassic Park packages are more stylistically reserved, they include decals for the doors, front fenders, and hood.When Jurassic Park hit theaters in the summer of 1993, it seared images of roaring T. rexes and conniving Velociraptors into the minds of moviegoers. For some, the larger-than-life dinosaurs weren’t the only stars of the show, though, it was also the assortment of awesome vehicles—from the striped, self-driving Ford Explorers to the Jeep Wrangler YJs with red wheels and matching “JP” liveries. Now, Jeep is releasing an appearance package inspired by the original movie so fans can live out their fantasy.Jurassic Park-Style JeepsWith 2023 marking the 30-year anniversary of the original film, Jeep is commemorating the 1992 Wrangler YJ Saharas’ starring role with the new Jurassic Park package. It includes logos for the doors, graphics for the side of the hood, and numbering for the center of the hood, the front fender vents, and the tailgate handle. There’s also a numbered shifter insert that says “T. rex, and for an additional charge people can opt for a shifter insert for the transfer case that features a textured grassy island.There are two available Jurassic Park packages, one with and one without the transfer case shifter insert. The former costs $550, and the latter costs $650. Jeep will sell a limited-run of 100 packages, each with unique numbering, through its Graphic Studio website. The decals are designed to fit all Gladiators and all JL-generation Wrangler (2018—2024).More, PleaseObviously, Jeep’s new Jurassic Park appearance package isn’t for everyone, perhaps why the company only plans to sell so few. While we wouldn’t put it on our daily driver, we know that Jeep peeps love to customize their machines. So, for Jurassic Park fans who fall into that category, we just wish the package more closely resembled the movie car.The YJ Wrangler pictured above is a replica built by Razorfly Studios, a North Carolina company that specializes in meticulous copies of iconic movie cars (read our full story here). Notice the red-painted wheels with the matching body stripes, light bar, winch, and CB antenna. Those are all the things we wish came with Jeep’s graphic package. Sure, they’d likely inflate the price, but we think it’d be worth it to feel like we were driving the same Wrangler that outran a T. rex in Spielberg’s original.New Wrangler NewsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Acura has released this teaser for the upcoming ZDX electric SUV, which will be revealed on August 17 during Monterey Car Week.The electric SUV is being built in collaboration with GM and will ride on the Ultium battery platform.Both the standard ZDX and the more performance-oriented Type S variant are slated to go on sale in early 2024.Acura is prepping fans for the full reveal of its upcoming ZDX electric SUV, which will happen on August 17 during Monterey Car Week. The company released this teaser image today showcasing a darkened image with the ZDX’s LED headlights peering out. A new light strip wrapping around the bottom four sides of Acura’s pentagon-shaped grille also takes shape in the teaser. Both the standard ZDX and its performance-oriented twin Type S version will go on sale in the early months of 2024. When they do, the pairing will mark Acura’s first voyage into the EV market, a milestone made possible through a partnership with General Motors. The ZDX offerings, along with the upcoming Honda Prologue, are part of Honda’s collaboration with GM. Both vehicles will ride on GM’s Ultium battery platform, with the ZDX rumored to be built alongside the Cadillac Lyriq in Tennessee. Nothing Like the Previous Generation Acura previously previewed the design language of the ZDX with the reveal of the Precision EV concept at last year’s Monterey Car Week. Then, late last year, the company released camouflaged images showing the ZDX Type S. There’s a long hood and a fairly standard squareback SUV shape, nothing like the previous-generation ZDX, with its sloped roofline. AcuraMore on the ZDXAssuming the rumors about the Acura bing built alongside the Lyriq pan out, we think the ZDX could feature the same 12.0-kWh battery pack and 340-hp electric motor powering the rear wheels. The performance-oriented Type S would likely receive the Lyriq’s all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup and more powerful 500-hp output. 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