Motor News

Have you ever wondered how editors conduct testing for Car and Driver’s 10Best? This year, for the first time, we are offering the public a chance to get the insider story and experience 10Best testing like an editor. Will you come along for the ride? Coming on September 8On Friday, September 8, 2023, we’re heading to North Star Reach camp in Pinckney, Michigan, to test a noteworthy crop of new vehicles, as we’ve done for the past 40 years. For some background, we will be evaluating cars plus trucks and SUVs, with the editors’ scores deciding which will make our 10Best list for 2024. To qualify as a 10Best contender, each vehicle must be on sale by January 31, 2024, have a base price of no more than $110,000, and be either new or significantly updated—with the exception of our inviting back the prior year’s winners to defend their spots on the list. We’re evaluating based on value, mission fulfillment, and how fun each vehicle is to drive. 10Best attendees will get a chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at the contender vehicles, learn about the 10Best evaluation process, and engage in one-on-one conversations with editors. Then, they’ll buckle up for ride-alongs on the test route and experience the cars in action as they zip through the back roads of Pinckney. Afterward, they’ll swap notes with editors and fellow enthusiasts and cast their votes for the Car and Driver 10Best Reader’s Choice Award. We’ll also have fun offerings along the way, including a lunch from local favorite Zingerman’s Delicatessen at the Car and Driver base camp and gift bags filled with Car and Driver gear. 2024 10Best Cars results will be published in the January 2024 issue of Car and Driver and 10Best Trucks results will be published in the February/March 2024 issue, but attendees who join us will get a preview of the vehicle lineup months before the story is live. Spots are limited for this exclusive editorial experience, so don’t wait to register. We hope to see you there in September.For another chance to experience Car and Driver editorial testing, you can also attend Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap, plus Road & Track’s Performance Car of the Year. REGISTER HERE More

Reeves Callaway, founder of Callaway Cars and a legend in the Corvette world, has died. Callaway Cars confirmed in an email that he passed on Tuesday after injuries sustained in a fall in his Newport Beach, California, home. He was 75.Ely “Reeves” Callaway III was born in November 1947 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and raised in Darien, Connecticut. His father, Ely Callaway, founded the Callaway golf company, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of golf clubs. He raced go-karts as a kid and, in 1973, won the SCCA Formula Vee championship. By 1976 he was an instructor at the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving.After his professional racing career didn’t pan out, he turned his attention to modifying cars. His first product, a turbocharger kit for the E21-generation BMW 320i, generated enough interest to lead Callaway to start Callaway Cars from his garage in Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1977. Soon he began offering performance kits for other cars.Callaway Cars”We don’t call ourselves a tuner,” Callaway told Road & Track in a 2017 interview. “A tuner takes an aggregate of parts that already exists, bolts them on the automobile, and calls it a customization. Everything we make is made specifically for the car. And we manufacture it ourselves.”Callaway ArchivesQuickly, his work attracted attention from major automakers. Alfa Romeo was the first, commissioning a turbocharger kit for the GTV6 that debuted in 1983, then it was GM. Callaway developed a twin-turbo kit for the Chevrolet Corvette, which became available through Chevy dealerships in 1987. At the time, a standard Corvette offered 240 horsepower; Callaway’s twin-turbo Corvette upped that to 382 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful cars on sale at the time.The 254.76-mph Callaway SledgehammerCallaway CarsEver faster Corvettes followed, perhaps the most famous being the Sledgehammer, a C4 Corvette with low-drag aerodynamic bodywork and an 898-hp twin-turbo V-8. The Sledgehammer hit a top speed of 254.76 mph and forever linked Reeves Callaway and the Chevrolet Corvette. DW BurnettWhile Callaway Cars worked with many other automakers, Aston Martin and Land Rover among them, its strongest association was with the Corvette. Callaway also built Corvette race cars, starting with the SuperNatural that made appearances at Le Mans in 1994 and 1995, finishing 2nd and 3rd in that year’s GT2 field, and culminating in a GT3 racing version of the C7 Corvette that still races globally to this day. A notable recent highlight was the C7 Corvette AeroWagen, which featured a body kit that turned the coupe into a stylish shooting brake. Today, Callaway Cars’ offerings consist of upgrade packages for a variety of GM vehicles, including a supercharger kit for the new C8 Corvette.Callaway Cars”Thanks to Reeves’s visionary entrepreneurial spirit, Callaway Cars will continue to innovate and grow in the 21st century, inspired by his unique, extraordinary vision and by his personal example of integrity, resourcefulness, and leadership as our founder,” said his son Peter Callaway, Callaway Cars president, in a statement. “Dad’s passion for making beautifully designed and crafted machines can be seen in each and every project, and we remain devoted to executing to the highest standards, in true Callaway fashion. He was rarely found doing anything other than working towards the next milestone for the company. He was a charismatic leader with a sense of humor that we will all remember through various ‘Reeves-isms.’ I feel fortunate to have grown up working with him and the company.”He is survived by four children and two grandchildren. Senior ReporterA car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins is Road & Track’s engineering nerd and Porsche apologist. He joined the staff in 2016 and no one has figured out a way to fire him since. He street-parks a Porsche Boxster in Brooklyn, New York, much to the horror of everyone who sees the car, not least the author himself. He also insists he’s not a convertible person, despite owning three. More

Alfa Romeo has released U.S. specs and pricing for the updated 2024 Giulia and Stelvio.They both benefit from new headlights and a digital gauge cluster inside.Prices are down by $1800 across the lineup.Alfa Romeo sales are down through the first half of the year, but perhaps a price cut will help pick things up for the 2024 Giulia and Stelvio. Alfa’s sporty sedan and SUV models benefit from styling and technology updates for the new model year but cost $1800 less than the 2023 models.The 2024 Giulia now starts at $44,075 for the base rear-wheel-drive trim with a 280-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. The Stelvio starts at $46,370 for the rear-wheel-drive Sprint trim. The two Alfas are also available in Ti, Veloce, and Competizione trim levels. All-wheel drive is a $2000 option on the Giulia and the base Sprint version of the Stelvio, but comes standard on all other versions of the Stelvio.Both models receive new cool-looking LED matrix headlights with a “3+3” arrangement, along with revised LED taillights. Inside, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is new and standard across the board.Giulia and Stelvio QuadrifoglioThe high-performance Quadrifoglio versions don’t benefit from the same price cut, as they carry the same starting prices as 2023. That means $81,855 for the Giulia QF and $87,770 for the Stelvio QF.The only update is a newly available 100th Anniversary package that brings special styling touches. For $5400 extra on the Giulia and $7000 extra on the Stelvio, this appearance upgrade includes special logos, gold accent stitching, different graphics for the screens, carbon-fiber trim pieces, and gold brake calipers. It’s available in red, green, or black.More on Alfa RomeoSenior 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 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUT will provide up to 381 miles of range, per GM’s estimate.That estimated range is for the electric truck’s 3X trim with the biggest battery, which previously was rated at 355 miles—a 26-mile increase.Equipped with the Extreme Off-Road package, the ’24 Hummer EV SUT will go 30 miles more than before at an estimated 359 miles per charge.GMC claims the 2024 Hummer EV SUT will be able to go farther on a single charge. Whereas the previous model year had an estimated cap of 355 miles, the new model year gains an extra 26 miles, with the electric pickup truck now topping out at a claimed 381 miles of range on a full charge.In order to take advantage of the increased distance, customers must opt for the EV3X trim level with the bigger 24-module battery pack (GMC doesn’t list its net capacity). That estimated range drops to 359 miles when the Hummer EV SUT is outfitted with the Extreme Off-Road package that includes 18-inch wheels on 35-inch tires, extra skid plates, and other off-road-oriented upgrades. While that’s 22 miles lower than the truck without the kit, GMC says it’s 30 miles more than the previous model year.GMC will also offer the cargo-bed-toting Hummer EV3X with a smaller 20-module battery as standard. However, that pack’s range estimate is currently unknown. That figure and more should be revealed before the 2024 Hummer EV SUT goes on sale this fall to current reservation holders. Final pricing remains to be seen, but the top-level 3X trim will start around $108K.Other Hummer EV StoriesThis 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a door weld problem that could affect more than 345,000 2020 and 2021 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid SUVs.According to more than 100 complaints filed with the safety agency, the door can come open suddenly or not stay closed.The decision to recall the vehicles has not yet been made.The Ford Escape is under scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because of an issue with a front door weld that could cause a door to open suddenly while the vehicle is in motion. The problem affects 2020 and 2021 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid SUVs, and any recall could involve 346,071 vehicles.The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation has received 118 complaints describing the spot welds’ failure in the door’s arm. In interviews with owners, NHTSA learned of 25 “minor injuries” and 1 report of “minor property damage.” Some people have reported a popping noise when the door comes open and say that the door can be unable to latch when closed or can suddenly come open when it had been closed. According to the safety agency’s investigation document, the problem is believed to be faulty spot welds in the check arm attachment points on the doors.As one example, an owner reported to NHTSA that “The driver side front door made a creaking sound, could not be opened, and the window would not go down. The internal weld to the door failed.”A decision about a recall has not yet been made, but Ford Escape owners can check the NHTSA recalls site for updates.Other Recent RecallsSummer Editorial InternAlessandra Kaestner, a Chicago native, has always been interested in journalism. She remembers listening to NPR every day before school with her parents and trying to race her dad to get the New York Times from the front door. Alessandra continued her passion for journalism by working at her university’s newspaper during her first year and into her sophomore year: the Cornell Daily Sun. She is majoring in psychology and philosophy and wants to explore law and journalism. Although she does not have a lot of background in the world of cars, Alessandra is interested in expanding her knowledge and gaining experience. She could not be more excited to work with so many talented people at Car and Driver. More

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally was revealed today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.The rally-inspired Mach-E features circular fog lights, knobbier tires, and a prominent rear spoiler.While specific details are scarce, Ford says the Mustang Mach-E Rally will be available to order in the U.S. and Europe this fall.Ford will build an off-road-oriented Mustang, only it’s not based on the gas-powered pony car but rather the electric Mach-E. The company today revealed the Mustang Mach-E Rally at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Ford also said it plans to put the dirt-tuned EV SUV into production.Designed to Get DirtyWhile specific details about its off-road upgrades, powertrain, and price are still unknown, Ford has released photos of the Mach-E Rally in a camouflaged-esque livery that gives us an idea about some of its unique features.Ford Motor CompanyFrom what we can tell, the rally-inspired Mustang SUV has a restyled front end with circular fog lights mounted in the panel that poses as a grille. There’s also a red recovery hook on the front bumper. The side view shown above shows subtle body cladding that traces the bottom of the EV as well as around the wheel arches that are filled by mostly flat-faced rims mounted on tires with knobbier tread than any current Mach-E. In the back, there’s also a prominent rear spoiler mounted on the rear hatch. It looks similar to the last rally-bred Ford—the all-wheel-drive Focus RS hatchback. While it’s hard to say for sure, it does appear as if the Mach-E Rally has more ground clearance than its on-road-only counterparts.Ford Motor CompanyDestined for ProductionThe Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally will be raced up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by former World Rally champion Ott Tänak, who also happens to be the current driver of the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 entry. Although we still have more to learn about the production version, that information and more should surface before orders open this fall in Europe and the United States.Ford Motor CompanyCurrently, the most powerful Mach-Es are the all-wheel-drive GT and GT Performance, with their dual motors combing to make 480 horsepower and up to 634 pound-feet of torque. The 2023 versions start at $61,795 and $66,795, respectively. While they seem poised to be the starting point for the upcoming Rally trim, we’ll have to wait until Ford says for sure.Other Goodwood DebutsThis 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

Porsche has revealed the new Manthey Kit for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.A Manthey Kit equipped GT4 RS recorded a time of 7:03.121 at the Nordschleife, a 6.179 second improvement over the stock car.Porsche hasn’t announced pricing or when the kit will be available, but it promises to sell the kit to the U.S. market. Improvements at the race track are often measured in decimals. Shaving a tenth of second off here, or a few thousands off there can add up over time. The Manthey Kit Porsche just announced for the 718 GT4 RS spits in the face of those decimals and takes full seconds away from the stock car’s Nürburgring Nordschleife time, 6.179 seconds to be exact. PorscheThe new kit adds flaps and air curtains along with a wheel arch Gurney flap at the front. A new carbon underbody complete with diffusers help improve downforce at the front of the car. The rear wing at the back of the car is 3.4 inches wider than the standard version, and features larger side blades to increased downforce at the back of the car. It also adds a fourth position for more variability. With the rear wing set to the performance position intended for the track, downforce is nearly doubled at 124 mph, from 196 to 372 pounds. The increase in downforce is enough to warrant a carbon weave for reinforcement over the engine cover. Extra AdjustmentPorsche and Manthey jointly developed a new coil-over suspension for the car, with spring struts that can be adjusted to four positions and rebound and compression stages that can be adjusted without the need for tools. Spring rates on the front suspension have been increased by 20 percent. The Manthey kit also adds braided steel brake lines, with the option to add racing brake pads as well.PorscheMore PorscheAccording to Porsche, the kit will be distributed to the U.S. market, though timing of the availability and pricing haven’t been released yet. Importantly, the manufacturer’s warranty for the car isn’t affected by the addition of the kit. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster is a pickup-truck rendition of the company’s old-school SUV, with the same tough ladder-frame chassis and 282-hp BMW inline-six.It’s unclear if the Quartermaster is heading to the U.S. market, but the truck will start at the equivalent of $86,797 in the United Kingdom.INEOS also showed off a hydrogen fuel-cell prototype version of its Grenadier SUV, with the powertrain sourced from BMW.British chemical company INEOS hopes to keep the rugged, workhorse spirit of the original Land Rover Defender alive with the Grenadier 4×4, its first foray into the automotive world. Now the company is taking its emulation of the Defender one step further, revealing a new pickup-truck version called the Grenadier Quartermaster at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. IneosWhile the double-cab truck is based on the same bones as the SUV, the Quartermaster’s ladder-frame chassis measures 12.0 inches longer, with that extra space allowing for the 61.6-by-63.7-inch bed. Designed to easily fit a standard European pallet, the Quartermaster’s bed is nearly as long as the Chevy Colorado’s cargo box but around 5.0 inches wider.Under the hood is the same BMW-sourced turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine lineup as the SUV, offered in Europe as a diesel alongside the 282-hp gas-burning unit. Power is routed through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard center locking differential and two-speed transfer case. Electronically locking front and rear differentials can be added for an extra cost, and the old-school solid axles are supported by a multi-link suspension.IneosThe Quartermaster equals the SUV on towing capacity at 7716 pounds and has a payload of 1676 pounds, with four tie-down hooks and a 400W power takeoff in the bed. With 10.4 inches of ground clearance and a 31.5-inch wading depth, the Quartermaster should be able to handle some pretty serious terrain. An array of accessories will be offered, from a waterproof canvas canopy to a roof rack and a lockable tonneau cover.The Grenadier Quartermaster will be offered in the same three trim levels as the SUV: a stripped-down base model, an off-road-focused Trialmaster, and a fully loaded luxe Fieldmaster. Orders have opened in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with prices starting at the equivalent of $86,797 at current exchange rates. INEOS hasn’t said if the Quartermaster will be offered in the U.S., with deliveries of the Grenadier 4×4 expected to start by the end of 2023.IneosPowered by HydrogenINEOS also used the Goodwood Festival of Speed to show off a hydrogen-powered Grenadier prototype. INEOS said its uses BMW’s latest hydrogen fuel-cell system, which we imagine is the 395-hp powertrain from the iX5 that allows for around 300 miles of range on a tank. The hydrogen Grenadier looks nearly identical to the standard combustion versions, save for the sizable hood bulge needed to fit the fuel cell. INEOS says this unsightly protrusion wouldn’t make it into a production model.INEOS appears committed to the alternate fuel source. The company already plans to launch an all-electric model in 2026, and CEO Lynn Calder points to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as being well-suited for longer excursions. INEOS may also have a leg up since the company already produces over 400,000 tons of hydrogen each year. “Our demonstrator proves that the technology is capable, but what we need now is support from policy makers to help provide the infrastructure for the next generation of hydrogen vehicles,” Calder explained. No timeline was given on when INEOS hopes to sell hydrogen-powered vehicles.More Cool Off-RoadersThis 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