Motor News

The Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck (WT) will have a base price around $52K when the retail version eventually goes on sale.Chevy was previously taking pre-orders for the WT on its consumer site, with the starting price then listed at just under $42,000.The fleet-only Silverado EV 4WT starts at $79,800, and the $106,895 RST First Edition for consumers arrives this fall; Chevy says more affordable models will follow. Electric pickup trucks are becoming easier to come by, but as we’ve already seen with the Ford F-150 Lightning’s countless price hikes, automakers are finding that keeping costs down isn’t quite as easy. The new Chevy Silverado EV is the latest example, with its claimed base price rising about $10,000 to over $50K before it even hits dealer lots.Missed TargetEarlier this year, Chevy was accepting $100 deposits to pre-order the electric Silverado on its consumer site. At the time, the starting price was listed at $39,900 before the destination fee, which, when added, would push its MSRP closer to $42K. While recently attending the first drive of the fleet-specific Silverado EV 4WT, we heard from Chevy’s Global Vice President Scott Bell who said the company no longer thinks it can meet that initial target.View PhotosFleet-specific Chevy Silverado EV 4WT driving.ChevroletThat nugget of information is corroborated by updated pricing for the Silverado EV that’s listed on Chevy’s media site. It now states the retail version of the truck will start at $50,000, with the $1895 estimated destination charge pushing the total to $51,895. Since the WT variant is the entry-level model, that’s likely its new base price. Car and Driver reached out to a Chevy spokesperson for confirmation and further comment on what lead to the price hike, but we’ve yet to hear back.Other Silverado EVs PricedThe fleet-only Chevy Silverado EV 4WT is the first to launch, and it carries a starting price of $79,800. A less expensive 3WT version with lower estimated range (350 miles versus the 4WT’s 450 miles) will follow soon, but it too is limited to fleet customers. Sometime this fall, the Silverado EV RST First Edition will become available to consumers, but it’ll carry a hefty price tag of $106,895. It won’t be until after that when more affordable models will go on sale, according to Chevy.Along with the WT, the Silverado EV will be offered in Trail Boss and other yet-to-be-revealed trim levels. Chevy currently says starting prices will range “from $50,000, $60,000, $70,000, $80,000, and more.” Of course, it remains to be seen if any of those pricing targets will rise before the trucks start reaching dealerships.More on the Silverado EVThis 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

Alpine, the sports-car brand owned by Renault, officially announced its global plans for the coming decade, including entry into the American market.The first Alpines will reach our shores in 2027 and will take the shape of mid-size and large crossovers.The automaker also confirmed an electric roadster based on the next generation A110 coupe, as well as a four-seat sports car that will bear the A310 badge.Earlier this year, French automaker Renault revealed interest in bringing its Alpine sports-car brand to the United States, with two new EVs being developed specifically for American tastes. Alpine also opened discussions with AutoNation, among the biggest automotive retailers in the nation, about setting up a dealer network. Now Alpine has reiterated its plans to enter the U.S. market starting in 2027, announcing several new models that will comprise the lineup by the end of this decade.AlpineThe first fully electric Alpines will arrive next year, starting with the A290. This hot hatch will be based on the upcoming Renault 5 and was previewed by the A290_β concept, which was revealed last month with a snazzy, motorsports-inspired design. Next comes a compact SUV in 2025 that Alpine is currently calling a “Crossover GT,” followed by a new all-electric version of the A110 sports car by the end of 2026. It’s unclear if any of these will eventually reach the U.S., but we’re fairly confident the A290 will remain exclusive to Europe. 2027 will mark the start of what Alpine calls its “world expansion phase” that will see the lineup grow to include cars targeting new markets like the U.S. So far, Alpine has announced a mid-size electric crossover and a large EV SUV that are expected to be the brand’s first cars sold in America. More Funky French CarsMany of these EVs will be underpinned by a new dedicated flexible EV platform. Alpine also said that it will do a roadster based on the next-generation A110, as well as reviving the A310 nameplate from the 1970s for a new four-seat coupe. The company is also exploring alternative technologies for its sports cars such as hydrogen combustion engines. Alpine’s EV plans are supposed to bring higher revenues, with the aim of breaking even starting in 2026. 2022 was a record year for Alpine, with revenue up 33 percent over 2021, an impressive increase for a brand with just one model that has been available since 2017. Alpine hopes the influx of new sheetmetal will secure the brand’s future, and if the automaker can inject its EVs with the same playful attitude that has made the A110 a success, then the future looks bright.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

Toyota pulled back the veil on a new generation of the C-HR, ushering in a new era for the small crossover in Europe.It features three hybrid powertrain choices including a new plug-in-hybrid option. Unfortunately for American fans of the C-HR, the new version won’t make it stateside, as Toyota killed off the C-HR in the U.S. after the 2022 model year. The Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover is entering a new generation, and it has been redesigned from tip to tail. The new car shows up looking like a dead ringer for Toyota’s Prologue concept from December. The production vehicle sports 20-inch wheels and more reasonable-looking taillights than the concept, but many of the playful style choices—such as available two-tone paint—remain. Unfortunately for U.S. buyers the C-HR was discontinued for America after the 2022 model year, and this new one is only destined for Europe.ToyotaThe new C-HR will come with three powertrain options, and all are hybrids. A front-wheel-drive-only hybrid with a 1.8-liter gas engine will sit at the bottom of the lineup, with a more powerful 2.0-liter hybrid setup offering either front- or all-wheel drive. A new plug-in-hybrid configuration, also with the 2.0-liter gas engine, sits at the top. These powertrains appear to be lifted directly from the Prius, which should imbue the new C-HR with quite a bit more power than before, especially the 2.0-liter options. For reference, the U.S.-spec Prius hybrid’s standard 2.0-liter setup produces 194 horsepower and the plug-in-hybrid Prius Prime has 220 hp. We’d expect the C-HR PHEV’s electric-only range to be similar to the Prius Prime’s, too, which is rated at 39 miles.Related StoriesThe interior of the new generation is just as overhauled as the exterior. A new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel. An 8.0-, or 12.3-inch center infotainment touchscreen sit beside the gauge cluster. The new infotainment system adds a virtual assistant and wireless connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, the new system can provide EV range information and local charging locations. ToyotaToyota is ushering in the new car with a set of special edition models, headlined by a GR Sport edition. The GR adds a G-mesh pattern for the grille, 20-inch alloy wheels, with GR badging on the exterior, and embossed to the headrests. 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

BMW has teased the next-generation M5, specifically the wagon model that’s called the M5 Touring.We expect the M5 to have the same plug-in-hybrid V-8 powertrain as the XM, which produces up to 738 hp in the Label Red version.The exciting rumor from earlier this year is that BMW will bring the wagon version to the U.S.A new generation of the BMW M5 is enticing enough on its own, but news of an M5 wagon is guaranteed to send car enthusiasts into a tizzy. These new teaser photos show the upcoming M5 Touring for the first time, and we’re particularly intrigued given the rumor that the longroof M5 could come to the U.S.BMWFrom what we can see in these photos of the camouflaged prototype, the new M5 takes the latest G60-generation 5-series’ bodywork and adds flared fenders and an aggressive-looking rear bumper with quad exhaust tips. It appears to have a staggered wheel and tire setup with wider Michelin Pilot Sport 5 rubber in the rear.More on Future and Past BMWsBMW has confirmed that the M5 will come with a hybrid powertrain, and we’re expecting it to have a similar setup as the BMW XM performance SUV. That model combines a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine with electric motors for 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque in the top Label Red configuration. We’re hearing that the M5 will only be offered with this high-output setup, rather than the 644-hp tune in the “base” XM. It’s also slated to add rear-wheel steering, optional 22-inch wheels, and a wide variety of drive modes that control everything from the steering to the regenerative braking levels.BMWOnly two generations of the M5 so far have even offered a Touring variant, the E34 and the V-10–powered E60/E61, and neither was sold in the U.S. But it wouldn’t be unprecedented for BMW to bring it here given that Audi sells the RS6 Avant here and Mercedes has offered the AMG E63 wagon on our shores for some time now.We’re hoping to hear something soon about the new M5 sedan, as the 2024 5-series is already out, but more news on the wagon version will likely have to wait. BMW says it won’t be released until next year, but we’re eagerly awaiting its arrival and hope to hear further confirmation that it will be sold in America at some point in the near future.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

As cars, drivers, and road rules change, law enforcement strategies must also adjust.In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the city council will vote next month to change the rules surrounding the reasons a police officer can use to pull someone over to reduce racial profiling.In Washington, D.C., the city will send text and mail messages to high-risk drivers, warning them that “Someone in your household is driving dangerously.”American roads are changing. Whether it’s the challenging public discussion about the best way for police officers to conduct traffic stops or the rise in traffic fatalities during the pandemic, things are different out there. That’s why, from Michigan to New York, strategies to make roads safer for everyone are changing, too.In Michigan, the Ann Arbor City Council voted 9–0 earlier this month to propose a new law that would reduce police officers’ ability to pull someone over for “minor offenses.” The proposed Driving Equality Ordinance draws a line between routine traffic stops and eventual incarceration outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The council’s proposed solution is to take away an officer’s right to pull someone over for minor offenses such as a cracked windshield.Interesting New Ways to Get a TicketThe stakes for these pretextual stops can also be higher than being locked up, too. “The harms of traffic stops are not equally felt,” the proposal reads. “More than a quarter of people killed in traffic stops are Black, despite Black people making up only 12 percent of the population.” The proposal also notes that stops for minor offenses “are disproportionately carried out against people of color and return negligible public safety benefits.””When you get pulled over, you have to wonder if I did something wrong or am I being profiled,” the founding chairperson of Ann Arbor’s Independent Police Oversight Commission, Lisa Jackson, told local ABC 7 News.A final vote on the proposed law is scheduled for early July. Bigger cities, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, have passed similar legislation in recent years, as Bloomberg has reported.Unwelcome Texts from the CityOver in Washington, D.C., the city’s Department of Transportation has a different idea to reduce the number of traffic deaths, crashes, and other traffic violations. In partnership with The Lab @ D.C. (a part of the city government), the city will send text messages and physical mail to drivers who have had some sort of traffic citation or violation. The customized messages are meant to get drivers to think about their actions and will reference details about the driver’s vehicle, the violations it has been connected to in the past and a warning that the vehicle is at higher risk of a crash than others because of this history.According to the Washington Post, one of the mailers includes the text: “Someone in your household is driving dangerously. Your vehicle has a history of speeding and/or running red lights and this is placing the drivers and passengers of your vehicle at a high risk of getting into a crash.”The city created a list of 100,000 high-risk drivers, and a subset of these people will get the text or mail messages (or both). Drivers can opt out of the messages after the first one. During the 12-month program, the DOT and The Lab will then see which category of drivers, if any, see any noticeable improvements.”The goal is to create awareness, regardless of whether or not anybody has signed off for specific alerts,” The Lab director Sam Quinney told the Post.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

Comedic and character actor John C. Reilly is selling the ’68 Chevy Malibu convertible he’s owned for more than 30 years.Largely original apart from the turquoise repaint, this Malibu is a pure SoCal cruiser with a 307-cubic-inch V-8 and a two-speed Powerglide transmission.The auction ends on Tuesday, June 27.Car and DriverPerhaps best known as the “Shake” to longtime collaborator Will Ferrell’s “Bake” in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, actor John C. Reilly has appeared in dozens of roles since his film debut in 1989. Sometime in 1992, he bought this 1968 Chevrolet Malibu convertible, which he’s owned all through a long and storied career.Bring a TrailerNow, it’s up for auction on Bring A Trailer, which like Car and Driver, is part Hearst Autos. It’s your chance to own both a machine that’s the perfect convertible for cruising slow on California’s highways and has also been anointed with just a touch of celebrity status.Bring a TrailerRelated StoriesNew for 1968, the second-generation Chevelle could be ordered with some serious firepower under the hood. Today, it seems most survivors have a 350-cubic-inch V-8 or even a 396, often with a few performance parts bolted on. This ’68 Malibu convertible, however, is the furthest thing from a would-be dragstrip hero. It still has the base V-8: a 307-cubic-inch engine good for just 200 horsepower paired with a two-speed Powerglide transmission, along with 14-inch steel wheels wearing 205/75 whitewall tires. The paint has been changed from Ash Gold to Tripoli Turquoise (a period-correct Chevrolet color), but this Malibu is basically true to what it was when it was new.Bring a TrailerThis is a pure California car—quite literally, as it was assembled at GM’s Fremont Assembly plant near San Francisco. When Reilly bought this car, he would have already appeared in Days of Thunder and could have been seen on-screen in a supporting role in Hoffa. Unlike the Rolls convertible Reilly drove as team owner Jerry Buss in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, this Chevrolet convertible has a touch of the understated about it. Drop the top on this classic Chevy, load the soundtrack to Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story into the aftermarket Alpine stereo, and head for the beach to catch the last rays of that California sunset.Contributing 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

Nikola, the electric truck manufacturer on Friday, reported a fire around its global headquarters in Phoenix.Five electric trucks were burned in the incident, the company confirmed, though no injuries have been reported. The company took to Twitter to announce that it suspects foul play was involved in starting the fire. Commercial electric truck startup Nikola on Friday reported a fire around its Phoenix, Arizona, headquarters. Multiple electric trucks were burned in the fire, though no injuries have been reported from the scene. Following the fire, the company took to its official Twitter account to announce that it suspects foul play took place in the starting of the fire. “Foul play is suspected as a vehicle was seen in the area of the affected trucks just prior to the incident and an investigation is underway,” the company said on Twitter. 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.Early this morning behind our Phoenix headquarters, a fire occurred which affected multiple battery electric trucks. No one has been injured. Foul play is suspected as a vehicle was seen in the area of the affected trucks just prior to the incident and an investigation is…— Nikola Motor Company (@nikolamotor) June 23, 2023A spokesperson for Nikola confirmed the language in the tweet in speaking with Automotive News about the fire. “Once the situation is further assessed, we will have more information,” Nikola spokesperson Nicole Rose told the business publication.More on NikolaAdditionally, the Phoenix Fire Department released a video on Twitter, announcing that hazardous materials crews are at the scene of the fire. The tweet included video from the Nikola headquarters showing at least three of the startup’s trucks were involved in the fire. A company spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that a total of five vehicles were involved in the incident. The fire comes as further setback for the young manufacturer, which announced 270 layoffs last week with 150 employees at its European factory and 120 at its Phoenix and Coolidge, Arizona, facilities affected by the layoffs. The company has already had its share of woes, scrapping plans for a consumer-focused electric pickup truck before production began and having a former chairman charged with three counts of criminal fraud by the Department of Justice. NikolaAccording to a report by Reuters, the manufacturer has produced 63 Tre battery-electric trucks, delivering to 31 dealers in the first three months of the year. The company had reportedly paused production at its factory in Coolidge, Arizona, and was set to resume making trucks in July, according to the company’s statements last month. It is unclear if the fire will impact future production for the company. 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

Infiniti has revealed a redesigned, three-dimensional logo. According to the manufacturer, the new logo puts more emphasis on the “infinite road” and “horizon line” aspects of the logo. The newest version marks the fourth iteration of the Infiniti logo since the brand’s inception in 1989. In the grand scheme of automotive brands, Infiniti hasn’t been around all that long. Despite its young age, in the 34 years since its inception, the Infiniti logo has changed three times. As of this week, the logo enters its fourth generation. According to the manufacturer, the newest design for the logo puts more emphasis on the infinite road and horizon aspects of the logo. “Adding greater emphasis to the point where the infinite road intersects with the horizon, we are showcasing our steadfast commitment to always look forward to the future and to new horizons,” said Sam Xin, global divisional general manager for Infiniti. Where older versions of the logo end in a sharp point, the new version joins two flat lines extending into the background.All four generations of Infiniti logos.INFINITIThe new, three-dimensional logo was created to adorn production vehicles in the future. Infiniti wasn’t clear about which vehicles the new logo would appear on, or when, but with a host of new vehicles planned for next summer, the logo probably won’t debut until then. Logo RedesignsAccording to the brand, the new 3-D aspect of the logo expresses dynamism, motion, and power. The new logo will be illuminated on the hood of new Infiniti models.INFINITIOn top of the redesigned infinite road section of the logo, Infiniti also increased the spacing of the lettering. According to the manufacturer, the change helps to visually accentuate the horizon. Like most automotive logo redesigns, the changes are subtle, and most who pass by the new logo won’t spot the difference. But a new logo can also signify the start of a new era for a brand, and we’re always here for that.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.Infiniti Specs, Details, PhotosAssociate 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