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Fiat unveiled a new EV for the European market called the 600e that slots in above the electric version of the 500.The 600e is a few inches shorter than the 500X crossover, the only model Fiat currently sells in the U.S. It is rated at 249 miles of range in Europe. The 600e has 154 horsepower reaches 62 mph in a claimed 9.0 seconds. It is not expected to reach the U.S. market as Fiat prepares to launch the 500e here next year.Last fall, Jeep unveiled its first EV, a tiny crossover called the Avenger for the European market. Now Fiat has created its own spin on the same platform, revealing the new 600e today with a cute design, solid all-electric range, and a chic-looking interior. Fiat says the electric underpinnings bring more interior space and an “increased Dolce Vita feel.” We’ll have to figure out a new test to measure whatever that means.FiatThe 600 name hails from the 1950s, when Fiat launched a slightly bigger alternative to the iconic 500, and the new 600e occupies a similar space in the current Fiat lineup. At 164.2 inches long, the 600e stretches about 14.0 inches further than the 500e. But it’s around 8.0 inches shy of a 2023 Kia Rio, among the smallest cars on sale in the U.S. today. The 600e still fits five passengers and offers nearly 13 cubic feet of space in the cargo area.Like the Avenger, the 600e uses a 54.0-kWh lithium-ion battery, providing over 249 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP test cycle, which typically returns more optimistic numbers than the EPA’s. In city driving, which will be the 600e’s comfort zone, Fiat claims a range of over 373 miles. Fiat says the 600e can charge at up to 100 kW, replenishing the battery to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. A single electric motor sends 154 horsepower to the front wheels, and Fiat says that the 600e can reach 62 mph in 9.0 seconds. FiatThe 600e features similarly rounded styling to the 500e, with lots of smooth surfacing and soft-looking, friendly features. Like the 500e, the oval LED headlights envelop a piece of body-colored trim, mirrored by the running lights below. Within the wheel arches—accented by black trim that extends down the side skirts—are 18-inch wheels with a snazzy design, at least on the higher trims. There are “600e” badges on every side of the car, with the logo in the rear incorporating the colors of the Italian flag. The ovoid styling continues inside, where the curved dashboard sprouts a 10.3-inch screen that runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is complemented by a 7.0-inch digital gauge display, and the 600e also packs a wireless charger and plenty of USB ports. The ambient lighting can be set to eight different colors and there’s also a hands-free power liftgate and a six-speaker sound system. The driver’s seat is power adjustable and offers a back-massage function as standard, which Fiat says will help you enter “complete Italian spa time.”More Tiny Fiat EVsThe 600e will add a hybrid powertrain by the middle of next year, after the electric version reaches Italian customers starting in September. Beyond that, it’s unclear what Fiat has planned for the 600e. The 600e is just a few inches shorter than the 500X, which has been soldiering on since 2016. But Fiat’s CEO told Car and Driver last year that there will not be a replacement for the 500X in the U.S., with the brand fully focused on the 500e that hits the American market in 2024, so the 600e will presumably remain forbidden fruit.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

Alfa Romeo confirmed a new halo car project, set to debut on August 30 of this year.The announcement came directly from Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato during an event for the updated Giulia and Stelvio in China.Imparato described the car as “a true expression of Alfa Romeo DNA from a daring team with a desire to achieve the unique.” Like nearly every other automaker, Alfa Romeo is preparing some sort of big, drawn-out, emotional goodbye to the internal-combustion engine. As the next installment in that goodbye, the Italian manufacturer confirmed a new halo car set to debut on August 30 of this year. The announcement came directly from CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato during an event for the recently refreshed Giulia and Stelvio in China. At the event, Imparato mounted the stage to confirm the debut, which he said will take place at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, Italy. Imparato described the car as “a true expression of Alfa Romeo DNA from a daring team with a desire to achieve the unique.” More Alfa RomeoAs might be expected, the manufacturer is being extremely tight-lipped about details surrounding the new car, but the rumor is that it may carry the “6C” moniker. Assuming that rumor proves true and Alfa sticks to its historical naming convention 4C: four-cylinder engine, 8C: V-8, that can only mean the new car will be powered by some version of the glorious 2.9-liter V-6 housed in current Alfa Quadrifoglio models. That engine already makes 505 horsepower in the QF, but Alfa also made a limited-run 540-hp version known as the GTA. Unfortunately, apart from what Imparato revealed and a grainy teaser image from his Twitter account, we’re left to form our own speculations on the size, shape, and power of the new model. Perhaps Alfa decided to make a production version of the one-off Zagato from last year. Or maybe that “daring team” Imparato referenced managed to slip some of the gorgeous 8C DNA into the new project. Either way, mark your calendars for August 30; we’ll be counting down the days. 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

Stellantis has revealed details about the STLA Medium EV platform, which will likely debut in the U.S. as an electric Chrysler model, possibly in 2026.STLA Medium will offer standard- and long-range batteries, with the latter offering a 98.0-kWh useable capacity that could provide about 370 miles of range.Along with a 400-volt electrical system, the platform can be configured with front- or all-wheel drive.CLARIFICATION 7/5/2023: A Stellantis spokesperson has clarified that the first Chrysler EV model has not yet been confirmed for 2026, as we reported earlier based on a comment made by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.Two years ago, Stellantis announced plans to introduce four global electric-vehicle platforms. They included the STLA Small, Medium, Large, and Frame designations, and today the company has revealed details about the STLA Medium platform, which will be the first of the four to reach production starting this year in Europe.While the first EV to utilize the STLA Medium platform will be the next-generation Peugeot 3008, which is only sold overseas, the first U.S. model is expected to be a Chrysler. While we think it could arrive sometime in 2026, an official date has yet to be confirmed. The Chrysler Airflow concept teased what this new EV might be like back in 2021, but it’s currently unclear how similar it will be to the production version—or if it will even be called the Airflow.STLA Medium SpecsLike most EV platforms, the STLA Medium is modular, meaning it can be configured with different dimensions, suspensions, and more. Along with wheelbases that range from about 106 to 114 inches, it can be equipped with a single electric motor on the front axle or motors on both axles. The former setup obviously provides front-wheel drive, and the latter provides all-wheel drive. Stellantis says power output will range from about 214 horsepower to up to around 382 horses.The STLA Medium platform will also offer two battery sizes. Stellantis only revealed details about the larger battery with a 98.0-kWh useable capacity. The company says that’s expected to provide 435 miles of range per charge, but that’s based on the optimistic European WLTP test cycle. That translates to around 370 miles of range based on the EPA’s methodology. Stellantis did say the smaller standard battery is expected to provide 310 miles of WLTP-estimated range—or about 264 miles for the likely EPA estimate.While some of the latest EVs feature a more powerful 800-volt electrical architecture, the STLA Medium platform will use a 400-volt system. This is said to enable the battery to charge from 20 to 80 percent in 27 minutes using a DC fast-charger. In a virtual meeting today with reporters, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the main reason the company made that decision was to help keep the upcoming EV models affordable. He did say that the STLA Medium platform was designed to accept an 800-volt system, so it’s possible to introduce that down the road.Not only is the STLA Medium platform designed to switch from a 400- to an 800-volt electrical system in the future, but Stellantis says it will be be able to accept new battery chemistries such as solid-state as well as nickel- and cobalt-free packs. To help with packaging costs and production volumes, the perimeter dimensions of the STLA Medium’s battery packs are both the same and feature common tray and cooling designs.Stellantis plans to produce 2 million STLA Medium-based EVs per year, with the first batch starting in Europe and then heading to other markets. While U.S. customers will have to wait a couple of years, it’s expected that the Chrysler EV will quickly be followed by models from other Stellantis brands, specifically Jeep. Last fall, the company previewed the Wrangler-like electric Recon, and today Stellantis representatives mentioned that the STLA Medium platform will underpin EVs with “high off-road capability.”More on Stellantis EVsSenior 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

Nissan’s global head of design for nearly two decades, Shiro Nakamura, is behind this attractive rear-driven coupe concept called the Aim EV Sport 01.At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K., the concept will make its debut and Aim’s CEO will tackle the festival’s timed Hill route in it.For now there is no plan for Aim, a startup motorsports engineering company, to produce the car, but you never know.One of the more interesting debuts at next week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is set to be this Aim EV Sport 01, a handsome rear-driven electric coupe which combines 483 horsepower with a claimed weight of just 3150 pounds. It is the work of a Japanese motorsport engineering company and we’re told that there are indeed plans to put it into limited production.But before we get into the details, can you work out where the EV Sport 01’s designer used to work? Take a couple of minutes to look at the pictures before we drop the spoiler.Now pat yourself on the back if you were thinking of Nissan’s sports cars. The EV Sport 01’s styling is the work of Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s global styling boss between 1999 and 2017. During that time he led the development of projects as diverse as the Cube, Murano, Juke, and—probably most telling here—also the R35 generation of the GT-R sports car. After retiring from Nissan in 2017, Nakamura set up his own company, and the EV Sport 01 is one of the first projects.AIMThough the car was originally intended to be a billboard for Aim’s engineering talents, the company now says that it’s investigating the possibility of creating a limited production run. We don’t know where in the world those would be sold. AIMAim was founded in 1998 and has worked on projects including a V-10 engine for endurance racing. The LMP1 Oreca 01, which finished the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours in fourth place, used one.Like many companies, Aim is looking toward a fully electric future, with the EV Sport 01 intended to showcase its talents. It features an aluminum frame, a carbon-fiber central tub, and front-hinged doors. At 153 inches in length, it is fractionally shorter than a Mazda Miata, but despite its diminutive size the EV Sport 01 carries 81.0 kWh of battery capacity, split among four packs. At the rear it has individual motors to power each wheel, allowing for torque vectoring. There are no performance figures yet, but the power and weight figures suggest it should be impressively potent. Aim’s CEO, Yukinori Suzuki, will be showing what his company’s new product is capable of at the Goodwood Festival of Speed July 13–16, where he will be driving the car in a timed category on the 1.16-mile Hill route. We hope to be able to tell you about production plans soon. Goodwood ArchiveSenior European CorrespondentMike Duff has been writing about the auto industry for two decades and calls the UK home, although he normally lives life on the road. He loves old cars and adventure in unlikely places, with career highlights including driving to Chernobyl in a Lada. More

Mercedes has launched a new coupe called the CLE that takes over for the two-door versions of the C-class and E-class, both of which are discontinued after 2023.The CLE300 uses a 255-hp turbo inline-four while the CLE450 upgrades to a 375-hp turbo inline-six, and both feature electrical assistance from an integrated starter-generator.The cabin is nearly identical to the one in the current C-class, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 11.9-inch central touchscreen.Mercedes-Benz is shrinking its coupe lineup, with its latest two-door effort, the 2024 CLE-class, replacing two recently discontinued models, the C-class and E-class coupes. The CLE arrives with a classy, streamlined design, a pair of electrified powertrains, and a tech-focused interior that borrows from the C-class and E-class sedans. The CLE goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2024, with a cabriolet variant coming later.The styling mixes elements from the latest C- and E-class cars. The sleek LED headlights and trapezoidal grille mirrors the C-class while the full-width taillight (actually two lights linked by a dark red trim piece) echoes the look of the E-class. The bodywork is typical Mercedes, with smooth, flowing surfaces punctuated by crisp lines down the side and sculpted bumpers. The grille design consists of dozens of tiny Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars.Measuring 191 inches from bumper to bumper, the CLE is a smidge longer than the outgoing E-class coupe but stretches 6.5 inches farther than the C-class coupe. The added length is almost entirely in the overhangs, with the CLE’s 112.8-inch wheelbase within an inch of both of its predecessors. Mercedes claims there is more cabin space than the previous C-class coupe and says the trunk can hold three golf bags.The base CLE300 is powered by the same M254 engine found in the C300 and E350 sedans, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Upgrading to the CLE450 brings the M256 motor from the E450 sedan, a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six pumping out 375 hp and 369 pound-feet. Both powertrains include an integrated starter-generator running on the 48-volt electrical system, with the electric motor providing a boost of 23 hp and 148 pound-feet. This extra oomph is fed in at lower rpm to reduce turbo lag and smooth out the start/stop system. In both models, power is routed to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission, which houses the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission cooler to save space and weight. The front and rear suspension uses a multilink design, and the CLE450 comes standard with a stiffer sport-tuned suspension, also offered on the AMG package for the CLE300. The cabin looks nearly identical to the one in the current C-class, with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.9-inch central touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver, as well as the same circular air vents. The CLE skips a third screen for the front passenger, which is an option on the E-class. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and the front seats—designed specifically for the CLE—come heated and with four-way lumbar support as standard. Seat ventilation and a seven-zone massage function are optional. The CLE is also fitted with a standard 17-speaker Burmester surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos, which allows “individual instruments or voices to be placed around the listening area” with compatible songs on Apple Music.While the screen layout is borrowed from the C-class, the displays utilize the interface seen on the 2024 E-class, with new icons for important functions that can be accessed more directly. The latest MBUX infotainment system lets customers download third-party apps: TikTok, Angry Birds, Webex, and Zoom are available at launch. There’s also a built-in entertainment suite with video streaming and local programming including sports and news. Mercedes has integrated major music streaming platforms into the infotainment system, which can be linked to individual profiles. Those infotainment profiles can be transferred to other Mercedes vehicles with the latest MBUX system.As on the 2024 E-class, Mercedes is implementing artificial intelligence to learn which comfort systems the driver uses at certain times and under certain conditions, and will then run these systems automatically. This includes everything from navigation to a specific address to climate-control settings to birthday reminders. Users can also create templates that support their routines—Mercedes suggests a “Cold Days” template that switches on the heated seats and turns the ambient lighting orange, or a “Date Night” preset that plays romantic music and makes the interior lighting rose-colored. The CLE will feature remote start and a proximity unlock/lock feature, as well as hands-free access to the trunk by waving your foot in front of the rear bumper’s sensor. The voice assistant now includes a setting where it will always be listening for commands without being activated by the keyword “Hey Mercedes”—it only works if you are alone in the car. The CLE comes packed full of driver-assistance systems, with lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, and traffic sign recognition as standard. An additional package adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, steering and lane change assist, and more. There’s no word yet on pricing, which should be released closer to the 2024 on-sale date. The 2023 C300 coupe started at $50,600 while the 2023 E450 coupe cost $70,800. We expect the CLE300 to start around $60,000 range, while the CLE450 should start near the $70,000 mark. 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

Mazda confirmed that the CX-9 three-row SUV will be discontinued after the 2023 model year.The CX-9 is being replaced by the 2024 CX-90, which has a new platform and new powertrain options.The CX-9 first joined the lineup for 2007 and the current generation arrived for 2016.It’s out with the old, in with the new at Mazda as the company has confirmed that the CX-9 will die after the 2023 model year. The CX-9 has served as Mazda’s three-row SUV offering since it first arrived for the 2007 model year, but it’s being replaced by the new 2024 Mazda CX-90, which went on sale earlier this year.This discontinuation doesn’t exactly come as a surprise, as it represents a larger shift that’s happening within Mazda’s crossover lineup. The CX-9 is based on Mazda’s transverse-engine platform and uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the CX-90 rides on the company’s new longitudinal-engine platform and offers either a turbocharged inline-six engine or a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The CX-90 is also positioned to be more of an upscale offering: although its starting price of $40,970 isn’t much higher than the outgoing CX-9, at $40,125, the CX-90’s higher trim levels reach above $60,000 while the CX-9 tops out at around $50,000.We Test the CX-90The CX-9 first arrived for the 2007 model year and the current, second-generation CX-9 arrived for 2016. We liked its combination of pleasant driving dynamics and upscale interior materials, but its third-row seat was cramped and it was starting to show its age by the time we tested a 2020 model later in its production run.More change is coming to Mazda’s SUV offerings later this year, as we’re expecting the two-row CX-70 to join the CX-90 soon. This new mid-size model will also use the new longitudinal-engine platform and inline-six engine and should look similar to the CX-60 that’s been introduced for global markets.In the meantime, CX-9 sales remain relatively strong, as so far in 2023 the model is up 7 percent compared with last year. Mazda sold 17,359 CX-9s through the first half compared with just 5704 CX-90s during the same time period. Mazda has not yet given an exact date for when CX-9 production will end, so expect some 2023 inventory to remain at U.S. dealers for the time being.More on Mazda SUVsThis 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

Just outside the humble city of Danville, Virginia, there is a road course lined with green ARMCO that offers an unbeatable mix of speed, cornering, and braking. Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is arguably America’s most challenging race circuit this side of Germany’s Nürburgring, and for 16 years we’ve put the newest high-performance cars to their limits in an annual week of track time we call Lightning Lap.In May, more than 60 of our readers joined us at VIR to conquer the exact 4.1-mile Grand Course configuration we’ve used to set benchmarks for production cars, from the Honda Fit to the McLaren Senna. Using our price-based categories, from LL1 (up to $35,000) to LL5 ($250,000 and above), readers had over two hours of track time during the day to battle for the quickest times. (We stuck with last year’s price categories, since the registration for this event started before the increases we put in place in 2023 to reflect the ever-increasing price of new vehicles.)Car and DriverWe instantly recognized the cars and faces of those who have devotedly attended our past two reader track days. The cool Virginia morning kicked off with a reminder of track etiquette. The folks at Kaizen Autosport handed out transponders and offered instruction and track car rentals, as they oversaw timing and scoring for three groups of racers. New for this year was an Enthusiast group designed to get the unaccustomed more acclimated to track driving.Three Car and Driver staffers also attended, to log some laps on a portion of our long-term fleet. Out on track with our readers ran our long-term Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and Subaru BRZ and our Honda Civic Si track rat. The competition was fast and the cars were awesome this year, but ultimately only one from each category gets to exit the paddock with a trophy. Thank you to all our loyal readers that joined us for our third Lightning Lap public track day. Here are the results.Enthusiast Car and DriverBy far the largest faction at this year’s event was the Enthusiast group of beginner track drivers, many of whom had never been on a race circuit before, let alone one as long and daunting as VIR’s Grand Course. Their experience began with lead-follow laps behind instructors, followed by solo laps as their comfort levels improved. Fun was had and teeth were cut. Vehicles ranged from Trisha Radocaj’s 2023 Toyota GR86 to Leigh Potts’s 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo SS to Rob Wald’s 2020 BMW M2 Competition. Setting a quick lap time was not the priority, but Cameron Kennedy did strap a transponder to his 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S to record a time of 3:32.7, while his wife, Kristen, was wheeling a 2019 McLaren 570S Spider. Given the smiles we saw around the paddock, we’ll be surprised if a few drivers don’t return next year for more serious runs against the clock.LL1 (under $35,000)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverDuane Black once again made the trek to VIR in his trusty V-6 automatic Mustang with the speed limiter removed, towing a set of track wheels and tires behind, to take top honors in LL1. While his time wasn’t quite as speedy this time around—previously he was flirting with a 3:00 flat—the well-used Mustang was wearing lesser tires. Still, the fact that his 3:03.8 in this humble V-6 Mustang—it bears repeating that it’s his daily driver—beat most of the LL2 entries proves that Black knows his way around the Grand Course. LL2 ($35,000 to $64,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThe next-up class had a good mix of competitors: a pair of Civic Type Rs, a Tesla Model 3, and a Challenger Hellcat. The Model 3 and Hellcat were neck and neck in the 3:14s, while the better of the two Civics got down to a 3:07. But none could hang with the 2021 Toyota Supra adorned with an aggressive aero kit driven by Nathan Bunn. Now Bunn was at a distinct advantage, having formerly worked for VIR’s home driving-instruction shop and our partner in this track-day endeavor, Kaizen Autosport, and has no shortage of time at VIR. While his 2:58.3 handily beat everything else in the class, it’s a few seconds off our quickest from a Supra, a manual, last year. Bunn said his fresh set of R-compound tires didn’t arrive in time, so he was nursing a well-used set. LL3 ($65,000 to $124,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThe LL3 class saw plenty of action this year, with David Hunt in a 2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 ultimately taking the win with a time of 3:02.6. Close behind was Stephen Fayette in another GT4, a 2016 model, who posted a 3:04.6 lap. A few seconds back, Gabe Rich and his 2022 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE battled it out with Jonathan Lucas in a second 2016 Porsche 718 GT4, with Rich’s 3:11.394 lap just edging out Lucas’s 3:11.502. Fred Barasoain set a 3:18.3 time in his 2019 BMW M4, while Bradley Lucas turned in a 3:27.5 in a 2021 C8 Corvette. LL4 ($125,000 to $249,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverIt sure was lonely in the $249,000 and under club. Its only competitor, Matthew Einstein in a 2022 Porsche 911 GT3, set a tasty lap to the tune of 2:45.7. Of course, he won. His 2023 time improved over last year by nearly a second, making Matthew the quickest dude of the day. We managed a 2:40.6 in our attempt last year, but we also had the PDK-automatic advantage over his six-speed manual. We suspect Matthew could return to slice another second or two off his time next year. Among previous reader track day competitions, Matthew is a little behind the 2:40.9 lap set by Corey Radcliff’s 2017 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme. Great work, Matthew, and major props for using that rocket as Stuttgart intended.LL5 ($250,000 and above)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverDeep Sran’s 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB set a 3:18.1 and is the first Ferrari to dive into our pool of track-going readership. Its twin-turbo V-8 packs 661 horsepower from the factory, and the paddle shifters for its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic had Deep’s fingertips dancing. When we tested the 488GTB, it hit 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat. While Deep’s time was significantly off the pace of the 2:45.1 we set in 2016, we can’t fault the guy for making sure his car was able to drive home in one piece.LLR1 (under $65,000)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverNormally a hotbed for competition, this class saw just two drivers set times this year. John Cuellar took home the trophy in a modified 2007 Chevy Corvette Z06 with a solid time of 2:50.3, cutting eight seconds off the lap in a stock version we set when the car was new. Robert Lamere recorded a respectable 2:57.3 time in another Z06, a 2011 model with the Z07 package, to claim second place. LLR2 ($65,000 to $124,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMostly populated by Ginetta G56 GTA race cars operated by Kaizen Autosport—a 2400-pound racer with a British chassis and Mustang V-6 power—a C5 Corvette that got bumped to the race class with a modified engine and a BMW M240i rounded out the class. The Ginettas were more than 10 seconds quicker than the other two and tightly clustered between 2:48.0 and 2:49.5. Kaizen boss Peter Heffring ended up in second with a 2:48.5 while Bertus van Jaarsveld brought home the win by a half-second, and we don’t think just because he’s a paying customer. LLR3 ($125,000 to $249,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThis class saw another small but by no means quiet contingent of Porsches. Honors ultimately went to Jean-François Lemay, who set a 2:52.5 time in a 2017 911 GT3 Cup car. Hot on his heels was Stéphane Bouvier’s 2020 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which logged a 2:56.8. LLRP1 (prototype)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverAfter an unfortunate wreck at our last track day, Garry Gray was back with his 2013 Radical SR8 for another go. And go he did, turning a best 2:46.1, which is quicker than the Tatuus from our last event by the very narrow margin of 0.3 second. Nice work. Open GalleryMore Lightning LapAssociate 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.Technical EditorMike Sutton is an editor, writer, test driver, and general car nerd who has contributed to Car and Driver’s reverent and irreverent passion for the automobile since 2008. A native Michigander from suburban Detroit, he enjoys the outdoors and complaining about the weather, has an affection for off-road vehicles, and believes in federal protection for naturally aspirated engines.Director, Vehicle TestingDave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, in varied roles from engineering to product consulting, and now leading Car and Driver’s vehicle-testing efforts. Dave got his very lucky start at C/D by happening to submit an unsolicited resume at just the right time to land a part-time road warrior job when he was a student at the University of Michigan, where he immediately became enthralled with the world of automotive journalism. More

In the market for a Tesla? Not sure if you want a crossover or a sedan? Well, dear readers, this comparison is for you. If you’re waffling between the smaller Model 3 and the Model Y, we’ve got the official figures to help you determine which model best suits your needs.While the two models are quite similar—even more so when aesthetics are brought into play—there are still some notable differences between the 3 and the Y. Let’s take a look at how they line up, and how they stand apart.Dimensions and CapacitiesIt probably won’t shatter your concept of reality to know that the Model Y SUV is slightly larger than the Model 3 it resembles, but the two aren’t really that divorced from each other.The Model Y’s 187.0-inch length is only a couple inches ahead of the Model 3’s 184.8-inch figure. They’re even closer on the wheelbase front, with the Model Y’s 113.8-inch span ahead of the Model 3 by just 0.6 inch. The Model Y is also 1.6 inches wider, and it offers an extra 1.3 inches of ground clearance.Interior dimensions again favor the Model Y, but not across the board. The Model Y bests the Model 3 in front and rear headroom, although the former are within an inch of each other. Interestingly, the Model 3 actually offers 0.9-inch more front legroom than the Model Y, and the sedan’s rear hip room is also 1.8 inches more capacious. The Model Y remains the rear-legroom champ, offering 40.5 inches of space to stretch versus the Model 3’s 35.2 inches.Model 3.TeslaThe gulf widens when comparing cargo space. The Model 3 offers 22.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity with five people in the car, a fair bit behind the Model Y’s 34.3-cubic-foot volume. However, once you cram seven people inside the Model Y, that figure drops to just 17 cubic feet. That said, you can’t fit seven adults in a Model 3 at all. Tesla Model Y.TeslaHorsepowerThis part is a bit tricky. Tesla doesn’t publish any public-facing horsepower or torque figures, only performance metrics. However, there are some horsepower numbers hidden away in the automaker’s documents filed with the EPA. According to those documents, the Model 3 RWD offers up 257 horsepower from its single rear motor. The Model 3 Long Range’s two motors combine for a net 393 horsepower, while the Model 3 Performance offers 430 horsepower. Over on the Model Y side, both the base and Long Range variants produce 390 horsepower, with the Performance variant rising to just 418 horsepower.Acceleration and Top SpeedAs of this writing (Tesla loves a lineup shuffle), the Model 3 is offered in three trims: The base model comes with rear-wheel drive, while the Long Range and Performance variants add a second motor and all-wheel drive. The Model 3 RWD takes 5.8 seconds to reach 60 mph and continues on to a top speed of 140 mph. The Model 3 Long Range drops the 60-mph time to 4.2 seconds and boosts top speed to 145 mph. At the top of the pile, the Model 3 Performance rips to 60 in 3.1 seconds and tops out at 162 mph.Over on the Model Y side, all three variants (base, Long Range, Performance) come with standard dual-motor AWD. Both the base and Long Range variants have top speeds of 135 mph, but the base’s 5.0-second 60-mph time is only two-tenths slower than the Long Range. The Performance trim turns up the wick, dropping the zero-to-60 time to 3.5 seconds and increasing top speed to 155 mph.TeslaTeslaRangeThe Model 3 RWD offers the least range of any variant mentioned in this comparison at an EPA-estimated 272 miles. Moving up to the Model 3 Long Range increases that figure to an impressive 333 miles—the best of this lot—although boosting output on the Performance model incurs a range penalty, settling at a still-good 315 miles.The Model Y’s base AWD variant offers a solid 279 miles of range, while the Long Range trim rises to 330 miles. Again, opting for the Performance version will eat into range, but at 303 miles, it’s still pretty darn good.TeslaTeslaPrice*Don’t take these price figures with a grain of salt; take them with the whole silo’s worth. Tesla changes its prices like most teenagers change their minds, so it’s worth triple-checking the website or your local store to ensure nothing has changed since this writing.The Model 3 is a fair bit cheaper than the Model Y on the low end. The base Model 3 RWD comes in at $41,630, several thousand dollars lower than the base Model Y’s $49,130 window sticker. The Model 3 Long Range comes in at $48,630, while the Model Y Long Range asks $51,880. At the top of the pile are the Performance variants; the Model 3 will set you back $54,630, and the Model Y isn’t far from that figure at $55,880.More Details, Specs, Test DataSenior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More