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The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-class wagon makes its global debut. The luxury wagon enters a new generation with a light redesign and fancy tech.EPA documents suggest the All-Terrain model is the only E-class wagon variant coming to America, though a future AMG-tuned E63 is also likely coming. The days of a do-anything luxury sport wagon may be numbered, but they aren’t over yet. Mercedes-Benz proves that by pulling back the cloth on the sixth-generation E-class wagon. As with its smaller sedan sibling, Mercedes breathes new life into the 2024 E-class wagon, with a redesign and a host of new tech. The new generation brings new styling as well as some physical growth for the E-class estate, which is 0.9 inch longer than its predecessor. The extra length is said to provide more legroom for rear-seat passengers. An additional 1.1 inches of width means extra space to stretch your arms too. In proving the practicality of the form factor, cargo room increases from 22 cubic feet with the rear seats up to an SUV rivaling 65 cubes of storage with the seats folded. Style-wise, the E-wagon earns a new front grille and the taillights now feature two star-shaped elements, akin to the Mercedes star logo.Extravagant InteriorThe 2024 E-class wagon is as extravagant inside as the sedan counterpart. The longroof version comes standard with two displays, but the high-tech, three-display “Superscreen” is available here as well. Just like with the standard E-class, the rest of the cabin features rich-looking leather and metal switchgear. Ambient lighting wraps the dashboard and ties together the rest of the interior. The optional Active Ambient Lighting package allows the lights to change with the beat of the music. The light strip can also display visual alerts from the driver-assistance systems to warn the driver of potential dangers. When equipped with the optional front-passenger screen, the Superscreen extends the passenger can stream videos and games, even while the car is in motion. According to Mercedes, the system is safe due to a technology that blocks the driver from seeing dynamic content on the screen. Mercedes also installed a handful of third-party apps on the central display, including TikTok, Zoom, and even Angry Birds, while the built-in entertainment system allows for streaming as part of a subscription plan. Zoom uses the optional selfie and video camera that comes with the Superscreen and requires the vehicle to be stationary to function.Unanswered QuestionsWithout confirmation from the manufacturer, we can’t be sure, but it looks like the E450 All-Terrain will continue to be the only E-class wagon to cross the Atlantic. Mercedes revealed a new PHEV version that will go on sale at launch, though, unfortunately for us, the manufacturer doesn’t seem to want to sell plug-in hybrids in North America. Instead, we’re more likely to see the updated 375-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six hybrid that powers the new E450 sedan. The hybrid systems are said to reduce turbo lag and smooth the operation of the auto start/stop system. It’s likely the wagon will also follow the sedan with standard all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission. There are still a lot of unanswered questions for the new E-class wagon. Pricing has yet to be announced, and we’re still waiting on official confirmation the new generation is even coming to America. Sales are set to start in the fall for Europe, with more information likely to released before then. Mercedes-Benz E-ClassThis 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

Today Rivian announced that it will join GM and Ford in adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning that Rivians will be able to use Tesla’s Supercharger network. The R1T and R1S won’t have factory-installed NACS ports until 2025, but adapters will be available early next year. The upcoming R2 model will also switch to NACS. This content is imported from twitter. 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.Tesla posits the industry stampede to its chargers as a win-win for both parties, and it might be, financially. In Tesla’s statement about the Rivian news, Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure, said, “We look forward to welcoming Rivian owners to thousands of our Superchargers across North America.” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe was understandably cheery about the announcement, saying, “The adoption of the North American Charging Standard will enable our existing and future customers to leverage Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network while we continue to build out our Rivian Adventure Network.” The optimistic view is that if every electric car can use every charger, then everybody is better off. Right? Sure, unless you drive one of the cars that formerly had its own walled garden of charging competence. Meaning, a Tesla.Thomas Trutschel|Getty ImagesLooking a Little Crowded at the Charging StationWhile rivals’ adoption of NACS instantly gives Tesla hundreds of thousands of new charging customers (and licensing fees from manufacturers), the news isn’t as wonderful for Tesla’s own customers, who’ll now face bigger crowds at the finite number of Superchargers. Grant Larsen, owner of a 2020 Model 3, says, “That’s really surprising that they’re letting other companies in. Superchargers already get crowded and charge speed goes down if someone is right next to you. So I’m not super excited about this, because Tesla owners can’t go anywhere else and get the same charging experience. Most other chargers are slow.” But if you’re on the other side of these announcements, and the Supercharger drawbridge is on the way down, the prospect of reliable fast-charging would relieve a huge EV-ownership pain point. Neil Mandt, who drives a 2023 Mercedes EQS, says: “The biggest nightmare about this car is that I can’t get to fast-chargers. I always have to wait in line like it’s the gas embargo from the 1970s. Opening up the Tesla chargers to everybody would be amazing.”Mercedes-Benz hasn’t announced any plans to adopt Tesla’s charging standard . . . yet. Coming Right UpSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

To help with U.S.-based natural disasters, Ford is providing $2.5 million to Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster relief organization.Team Rubicon will receive two Bronco Sasquatch SUVs and 15 pickup trucks: 10 F-150 Hybrids, three F-150 Lightning EV pickups, and two F-350s.Ford previously gave Team Rubicon $1.5 million and donated $7 million for disaster relief efforts in the past few years. Automakers often donate vehicles or financial resources to communities they are connected to after a disaster hits. Today, Ford is announcing a five-year, $2.5 million investment in Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization. Ford has previously donated $1.5 million to Team Rubicon and said the latest donation will allow the organization to assist communities facing damage from “the increasing number of natural disasters across the United States.” Ford said it will make a total investment of $5.8 million in Team Rubicon.Stepping Up Transportation, including passenger vehicles, is responsible for around 29 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, climate change scientists have warned that increasing global temperatures will lead to more intense weather disasters. According to NBC News, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified 18 extreme weather events that each caused at least $1 billion in damage in 2022.Ford Motor CompanyA Fleet of Fords with Reflective WrapsOn top of the just-announced monetary donation, Ford will also hand over 17 electric vehicles and hybrids to Team Rubicon, including 15 pickup trucks and two four-door Broncos with a Sasquatch off-road package. That truck fleet will be made up of 10 F-150 XL PowerBoost Hybrid trucks, three F-150 Lightning Pro trucks, and two Super Duty F-350 XL trucks. Ford selected these models not only for their ability to carry heavy loads—of food or medical supplies, for example—but also to provide power for rescue efforts or other needs, as all 15 trucks have some Pro Power Onboard capability. The 17-vehicle fleet will also have a co-branded wrap design that includes reflective elements so the vehicles are easier to see in the dark.Full Details and SpecsFord is making the donation through its charitable arm, the Ford Motor Company Fund, which has donated $7 million to disaster relief efforts globally in the past few years, according to the group’s website. Ford and the Ford Fund made over $64 million in charitable contributions in 2022.Team Rubicon Started in HaitiTeam Rubicon was founded in 2010 after a massive earthquake in Haiti. The veteran-led organization now supports communities around the world “before, during, and after disasters and crises” with the help of over 150,000 volunteers. Team Rubicon operates across the United States.Ford will encourage its employees to volunteer with Team Rubicon by providing paid time off when they do. Ford employees volunteered with Team Rubicon in Detroit earlier in 2023 to repair homes wrecked by floods in 2021. The first targets for Ford employees with this new donation are Detroit, again, and Houston.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.Heading Off Disasters at Your HouseContributing 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

Both Ford and General Motors recently announced intentions to install Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge ports on their respective electric vehicles starting in 2025, with access to the Tesla charging network arriving for current models in 2024. Not one to let the crosstown rivals get all the shine, Stellantis executives have just confirmed that the automaker is also investigating and evaluating a move to the Tesla setup. More about Charging Tie-UpsWhereas Tesla EVs have utilized the brand’s proprietary NACS port from inception, every other electric vehicle sold today in the United States comes equipped with an SAE J1772 charge port. This hardware difference has prevented non-Tesla vehicles from using the brand’s expansive charging network up until recently; Tesla agreed to open a portion of its network up to other branded vehicles in a deal with the Biden administration in February. Through that agreement, 7500 Tesla chargers will be opened to the EV-driving public at large by the end of 2024.Stellantis“At this time, we continue to evaluate the NACS standard and look forward to discussing more in the future,” Stellantis said in a statement to Reuters. “Our focus is to provide the customer the best charging experience possible. Our Free2Move Charge brand will offer seamless, simple solutions whether at home or on-the-go through partnerships with charging providers.”With Ford and GM already making the move over to the NACS standard, it makes a ton of sense for Stellantis to follow suit. That’s particularly true as the brand is gearing up to release a suite of all-electric vehicles under its Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Maserati brands here in the States. The Tesla network provides customers with more fast charging locations than every other provider in the States combined. Whether or not the system’s heralded reliability and ease of use extends to non-Tesla vehicles will play a major role in how this situation works out. It will also be interesting to see how the Tesla owner base reacts to the influx of vehicles at popular charging stations across the country. Comparison ShoppingBorn and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.  More

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been spending time in Europe this month as the electric automaker is searching for a place to build another Gigafactory in the EU.This week, Musk met with French president Emmanuel Macron and, separately, with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.”Let’s work together,” Macron suggested on Twitter, which Musk of course owns.Tesla CEO Elon Musk and French president Emmanuel Macron met this week for the second time in a month, as rumors grew that the California-based electric vehicle company will build another factory somewhere in Europe. Macron is encouraging Tesla to build it in his country, and he posted a simple message to Twitter alongside a picture of himself and Musk. “Let’s work together,” the tweet said.This content is imported from twitter. 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.Macron is balancing a desire to bring a Tesla Gigafactory to France while French regulators are considering banning Twitter until it complies with upcoming European Union Digital Services Act regulations. Musk owns both Tesla and Twitter.”It will be great to have a Tesla factory in France, there has been a lot of effort and energy to make sure this is possible, and this can happen,” France’s digital minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told CNBC. “We have also invested in an . . . entire sector of electric batteries, so we will try to convince him that France is the best possible place in Europe to establish the next Tesla factory.”Musk made a public appearance at the Viva Tech summit in France Friday. At Tesla’s berlin gigafactory in germany, march 2022. Pool|Getty ImagesTesla currently operates one Gigafactory in Europe. Despite France’s efforts to lure that first plant, Tesla built it in Germany, the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. Musk also met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni this week, and Spain is also mentioned in news reports as a potential new Tesla Gigafactory location.China Is Also an Option, Apparently “Today, France is more attractive than ever,” French industry minister Roland Lescure said during a radio interview this week. “But the competition with other countries is extremely fierce, so we’re bringing out all of our strengths.” Lescure said France’s competitive advantages include cheap, green electricity and ready land before adding that Spain is holding similar cards.Tesla isn’t the only EV company France would like to see set up shop in-country. France has been talking to Chinese automaker BYD, which announced earlier this month that it would start selling five EVs in France by the end of 2023. According to Automotive News Europe, BYD is considering France, Spain, or Germany for its first European factory. BYD hopes to start producing EVs in Europe in 2025.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. More

Ford recently filed a patent for an backup battery pack that EV owners can bring along so they don’t have to worry so much about range. The battery, shown housed on the roof of the car, contains battery modules, a backup battery assembly, and a connection port to maximize ease. The patent images use a Ford Bronco as the demo car. Could an electric Bronco be closer than we think? Either way, this invention is probably not coming soon.There are two things we know to be true about the EV market: Automakers want to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, and consumers are worried about range. Now, as first reported by Electrek, Ford has applied for an innovative patent for a backup battery pack that can travel on the roof of the vehicle. This patent looks like a novel way to address the range anxiety and charging concerns that people often associate with EVs, especially on extended trips. One suggestion in the patent application is that these battery packs could be “rented or leased prior to an off-roading trip, for example.”More Specs and DetailsThe patent outlines a mechanism designed to provide additional power and range to EVs when the primary battery is depleted. It’s a modular system that’s intended to be compatible across different EV models and, at least according to the description, simple to maintain and upgrade. The units are stacked to provide the most capacity. U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeBeyond the fact that a roof-mounted battery pack is sitting on top of the vehicle in these drawings, it’s interesting that the vehicle used resembles the Ford Bronco. We wonder if this is a hint that an EV version of Ford’s big-selling Bronco is coming soon.So Many QuestionsBut we, like others, have questions, principally: How does Ford plan on reinforcing the roof to handle the weight? A rack can’t do it alone. And how does the battery get up there (and down again)? EV battery packs’ weight can range into the thousands of pounds.The patent application explains that the battery is removable, which leads us to believe this roof-mounted pack won’t have the capacity of the large packs automakers use to power their EVs. This ought to ensure the pack weighs just a couple hundred pounds—a sum most roof racks are capable of holding. For instance, the original Prius plug-in hybrid’s 4.4-kWh battery hit the scales at a manufacturer-claimed 176 pounds.Michael Simari|Car and DriverThat doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to hoist a battery pack on your EV or PHEV’s roof. Anyone who’s ever used a roof-mounted cargo carrier can tell you that you’d likely need at least one other person to assist with this task.Assuming our hunch is correct, then we think the potential product this patent hints at will serve the equivalent purpose of a gas car’s reserve tank. That said, given the extra weight and negative effects on aerodynamics the additional pack will have on an EV, it’s possible this concept actually worsens an EV’s range, particularly at highway speed.At lower speeds, though, such as in off-road environments, this roof-mounted battery pack may just offer the little bit of extra juice needed to get back to the trailhead. Adding a set of solar panels could make this concept even better, as they’d allow the roof-mounted pack to—slowly—replenish itself, too.It seems evident that this invention is not going to become a reality anytime in the near future. It must be a placeholder for a future time when Ford has the right electric off-road vehicle to use it with—and, more important, when battery technology has advanced sufficiently that the weight is not an issue anymore.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoSummer 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.Senior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

New Italian EV startup Aehra unveiled its SUV concept EV last year and is taking the wraps off this Sedan EV at the Milano Monza auto show this weekend.The electric duo will not start production until sometime in 2026, so the current lack of details isn’t exactly surprising. Aehra has said “The Sedan”—yes, that’s the name—will have a range of around 500 miles and will cost somewhere between $175,000 and $200,000.Aehra says it is drawing on local connections in Italy to make its EV lineup a reality.The electric vehicle world remains fertile ground for companies ready to make their mark on the auto industry. One of the new aspirants is Aehra, an Italian electric startup “mobility brand” that announced itself in the middle of 2022. Aehra just took the wraps off of a new premium electric vehicle targeted at the high end of the luxury-EV market. The design rocks, even if the model name falls a bit flat. AehraAehra unveiled the first teaser picture of the new car at the end of May, but that only showed part of the rear spoiler. A new batch of preview images reveals the entire exterior of the elegant upcoming all-electric performance sedan. Aehra’s chief design officer, Filippo Perini, previously worked as a designer for Audi, Lamborghini, and Italdesign, so it’s not exactly shocking that our first response is that a design this good needs a better name than the one Aehra gave it: the Sedan.Aehra Aehra is taking all the wraps off its Sedan this weekend at the Milano Monza auto show. The company said it will deliver the first Sedans to customers sometime in 2026. Aehra showed off its SUV concept—which, you guessed it, is called “The SUV”—in 2022.Looking Forward to It So, what is the Sedan all about? Based on the pictures, the Sedan looks a bit like what we imagine Lexus would do if it decided to tweak the new Prius design for the high-end market, but better. It has four scissor doors and a short, aggressive front end, making it look intimidating and fuel-efficient in one fell swoop.The company isn’t showing all of its cards just yet, but it did say the Sedan will be based on the same platform as the Aehra SUV. Aehar said the Sedan will offer an impressive 500-mile range on a full charge using technology from Miba Battery Systems and will have a top speed of 165 mph.AehraThe interior features some excellent options, including a pillar-to-pillar infotainment screen that displays pertinent information when the car is in motion but which can be extended upward when the vehicle is parked to provide a widescreen movie display or a way to win Room Rater during your next video meeting.Production Car to Be “Virtually Identical” This kind of eye-grabbing tech isn’t just for the visitors to the auto show. Perini said in a statement that the EV unveiled this weekend “will look virtually identical to the final production model that will arrive in 2026.” Full-scale production should start in late 2027, and preorders will open sometime in 2024.According to Reuters, the price tags for both the Sedan and the SUV will be around $175,000 to $197,000. Publicly announced plans are vague but call for Aehra to build about 25,000 units of each model each year.AehraAehra is headquartered in Milan and claims it has “substantial private funding in place” to make its promises real. The Italian startup calls itself a “global ultra-premium electric automotive brand,” but “global” here doesn’t mean everywhere, at least at first. The company said Aehra’s initial key markets include North America, Europe, China, and the Gulf States.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.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

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has debuted a special paint color called Terra.The orange-like hue is the latest in Toyota’s annual tradition of offering exclusive one-year-only paint colors on TRD Pro models.Like last year’s Solar Octane paint job, Terra will be available on 2024 TRD Pro versions of the 4Runner, Tundra, and Sequoia.Ever since 2015, Toyota has created a unique paint color that’s only offered for a single model year on TRD Pro models, otherwise known as the company’s most off-road-ready machines. For 2024, that color is called Terra, and now we have our first look at the orange-like hue on the redesigned Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.The company’s Calty design studio handles the process of developing the special paint color each year. The decision is said to be based on factors that include market trends, an understanding of what consumers want, and good old-fashioned creativity. Previous TRD Pro-only colors include last year’s Solar Octane as well as Lime Rush (2022), Voodoo Blue (2019), and Quicksand (2016).2022 Tacoma TRD Pro painted Lime Rush.toyotaWhile the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro is the model used to introduce Terra, the exclusive paint job will also be available on TRD Pro versions of the mid-size 4Runner SUV, the full-size Tundra pickup truck, and the full-size three-row Sequoia SUV when they eventually go on sale for the 2024 model year. TRD Pro customers who want their 2023 models coated in Solar Flare currently have to pay $425, but it remains to be seen how much Terra will cost on the ’24 versions. We’re still waiting for Toyota to release pricing on the newly revealed fourth-generation Tacoma, but that information is expected to be released before the mid-size pickup truck goes on sale sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.Read about the New TacomaThis 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