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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

Volkswagen released new details on the upcoming third-generation Tiguan. According to Volkswagen, a new plug-in hybrid version will be able to travel up to 62 miles on electric-only power.The new Tiguan is scheduled to launch sometime in 2024, most likely as a 2025 model vehicle. It’s been six years since Volkswagen pulled the sheet on the second-generation Tiguan at the Detroit auto show. With only one recent styling refresh in 2022, it’s high time we started hearing rumblings about a third generation. That’s exactly what’s happening, with VW gearing up for the reveal of its third-gen Tiguan SUV later this year. We’re expecting a full redesign, along with a bevy of updated technology features. According to Volkswagen, the new Tiguan will come standard with the same active suspension system that debuted on the current-generation GTI. The system controls the electronic differential locks and the lateral dynamic components of the shock absorbers to improve handling characteristics. In other words, the next Tiguan should be more comfortable as well as more capable. Volkswagen62-Mile EV RangeAlong with the new suspension, VW promises an all-new plug-in-hybrid model that will be able to travel up to 62 miles on electric-only power. The manufacturer promises that AC charging rates will be improved for the new generation, and DC fast-charging will be possible as a standard feature. The photos Volkswagen released all show heavily camouflaged versions of the car, but even so it is easy to spot the considerably softer body lines. It’s likely that the photos show the Europe-only short-wheelbase model, while we are more likely to receive a long-wheelbase option in the U.S. Once in production, the new Tiguan will be built on the MQB Evo platform alongside the Mk 8 Golf and Mk 4 Audi A3. The inside of the Tiguan is just as new as the outside. A big new optional 15-inch infotainment screen sits in landscape orientation on the center of the dash. In a move similar to VW’s ID models, the gear selector moves to the steering column. A new Driving Experience Control dial takes its place in the center console and has its own multipurpose screen to adjust drive mode, radio volume, and ambient lighting colors. More TiguanDetailed specs haven’t been released yet, but VW says the new Tiguan is about an inch longer than the outgoing model. According to Volkswagen, that brings about roughly one additional cubic foot of storage space behind the rear seats. More details concerning pricing and specifications will come out closer to the fall reveal of the car. As things stand now, the new Tiguan is scheduled to be revealed in full next year and will most likely launch as a 2025 model car. 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

EV startups are struggling across the board, but a new entrant to the marketplace could capitalize on America’s pickup truck obsession.The brand, Telo Trucks, is promising hand-built, compact-size pickup truck–capable EVs from its San Carlos, California, headquarters.With 500 horsepower, a 60-inch pickup bed, and 350 miles of range, the starting price of $50,000 seems like a pretty good deal, though the company has yet to produce a unit.Another EV startup is stepping up to the plate—a brave move during choppy sales seas. And the origin story behind this one is predictable, with its founders Jason Marks and Forrest North defecting from autonomous tech consulting agency National Instruments and Tesla plus Mission Motors, respectively. But the company, known as Telo Trucks, might have a trick up its sleeve: a good product.Plug-In PickupsInstead of producing the next iteration of the luxury sedan or trying to compete with Ford for electric pickup-truck supremacy, Telo Trucks is following in the footsteps of Japanese manufacturers decades ago, as it reveals its first pint-sized electric MT1 pickup. Akin to the much-hyped kei trucks, the Telo MT1 truck is only 152 inches long, matching a four-door Mini Cooper in dimensions.Better yet, the MT1 features a 60-inch bed and room for a squished five passengers through its four-door design. That’s the same bed length as a 2024 Toyota Tacoma and only an inch shorter than a Chevrolet Colorado, as the model has a specially designed mid-partition that folds down into the passenger compartment. In other words, the MT1 bed is big enough for four-by-eight-foot sheets of plywood, long ladders, and even a nine-foot surfboard with the tailgate closed. It achieves such a packaging feat by scrunching the usable passenger cabin into the size of a compact car, though a cropped front overhang helps improve driver leg room.”By focusing on the design and placement of the battery pack within the truck’s chassis,we are able to not only create a roomier crew cab, but also develop a vehicle that ispractical for its users,” said Forrest North, CTO and co-founder. “Our patent-pendingbattery packs are space-optimized to provide an impressive 350-mile range in betweencharges in our small footprint, while being highly manufacturable.”That’s quite a bit of range out of a supposedly urban-centric truck, but the company could be padding its range numbers with the likelihood of heavy machinery getting tossed in the back. Additionally, this 350-mile range is not an EPA-certified estimate, and Telo has yet to specify who will supply the battery and what size the battery will be. As a result, it’s hard to verify the claim that the Telo Truck will be able to charge from 20 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. 500 HorsepowerOn a more exciting note, the compact truck is said to make 500 horsepower thanks to its undisclosed battery and a pair of electric motors, neatly creating the model’s four-wheel-drive system. With a curb weight of 4400 pounds, the MT1 has a claimed zero-to-6o-mph sprint of four seconds flat, though that much horsepower is probably put to better use hauling mulch. Notably, the early release materials’ use of the term 4WD, as opposed to all-wheel drive, indicates the possibility of a switchable drivetrain for increased range or low-traction situations.Designed by Yves Béhar, whose previous work is featured through brands like Herman Miller, Samsung, SodaStream, and Prada, the boxy, matte-finished EV takes on an almost commercial look. Aimed at city dwellers who see themselves as outdoorsy weekend warriors, the truck frankly looks more like a modern Renault EV than a burly Rivian truck, a characteristic Béhar seemingly wanted to avoid. Even so, the dimensions of the MT1 are hard to deny, as it stands shorter than a Toyota RAV4.$152 Deposits Being Accepted NowIf this conceptual EV is calling out to you, it’s worth jumping on it for the low price of a refundable $152 deposit ahead of the $50,000 price point, even if the MT1 doesn’t make it to production until 2025. The company says the first 500 units will be hand-built for 2025, with mass deliveries from its San Carlos, California, facility said to be starting in 2026. With the potential for federal and local EV tax credits included, Telo makes a case for itself on price alone, as long as the company can gain traction within an increasingly tough EV startup market.Associate EditorA New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community. More

The manual BMW’s days are numbered. BMW M’s head of development Dirk Hacker confirmed as much in an interview with Top Gear, saying the M2 will likely be the last car from the brand to offer a stick shift and three pedals. “It’s not only a decision of BMW, it’s also a decision of the suppliers,” Hacker told Top Gear when asked whether the manual will die with the current M2. “If you take a look around, you will see the future for manual gearbox suppliers will decrease. So I’m not sure we will have the possibility in the future—but in the future means six, seven years in forecast.” UWE FISCHER/BMWOther manufacturers are taking a different path, bringing the manual experience into the electric era using synthetic gear shifts and engine sounds. Toyota confirmed this morning it’s developing a performance EV with a manual transmission. But Hacker isn’t keen on the idea for BMW. “I think it could be done, but we will not do that,” he told Top Gear. Read the ManualsThis news jibes with what BMW M boss Frank van Meel said at an event last year, where he confirmed BMW would offer the stick shift until the end of the decade. A BMW North America spokesperson declined to comment on Hacker’s plans, saying that the manual would continue to be offered on the current M2, M3, and M4. Hacker also said the dual-clutch transmission is a thing of the past for BMW M cars, touting the superior performance found in the eight-speed torque converter automatic from ZF. “The double clutch, from BMW M’s point of view these days, it’s gone,” he told Top Gear. “It’s now manual or automatic, and automatic electrified for the future . . . the automatic is better performing than the double clutch. In the M4 CSL it’s faster-shifting and on the other side, we also use this automatic in the new M4 GTR race car.”Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More