Motor News

Porsche revealed the 718 Spyder RS, the most aggressive Boxster model to date. The new Spyder RS will share the illustrious 4.0-liter six-cylinder from the 911 GT3 and 718 Cayman GT4 RS and will produce 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque.The Spyder RS will carry a starting price tag of $162,150 when it begins arriving at dealerships in the spring of 2024.Get your earplugs ready, then think better and throw them out, because Porsche has just announced the 2024 718 Spyder RS, the most aggressive Boxster model ever. Sourcing its 4.0-liter flat-six engine straight out of the 911 GT3 and 718 Cayman GT4 RS, the Spyder RS will be a naturally aspirated symphony. Open Air, 9000 RPM, 493 HPWe’ve been hearing rumors about a GT4 RS equivalent for some time, but now Porsche has confirmed it. In addition to the Spyder RS being a droptop, there are a few key differences, but Porsche assures in its press materials that the powertrains are identical. The 4.0-liter six-cylinder revs up to 9000 rpm and produces 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. That gives it a 79-hp advantage over the already powerful 718 Spyder. Like every other modern Porsche with the RS designation, the Spyder RS will only be available with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK automatic transmission. Just like in the Cayman, the ratios have been shortened to improve acceleration. According to Porsche, the new RS will match the Cayman’s on-paper claim of a 3.2-second time to 60 mph. We reckon those are conservative estimates and think the new RS will manage closer to the 2.8-second time we recorded in our testing of the GT4 RS last spring. The chassis of the new RS is a blend between the Cayman GT4 RS and the 718 Spyder. It comes standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management along with sport calibration, and has been lowered by 1.2 inches. It features a mechanical limited-slip differential at the rear, as well as ball-jointed suspension mountings and 20-inch center locking forged alloy wheels. Compared to the GT4 RS, the spring and damper rates have been reduced, something that will likely hurt lap times, but it’s also what Porsche describes as “a more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style setup.”More Porsche RSThe front end of the new RS is designed to be nearly identical to the front of the GT4 RS with a slightly shorter carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic splitter at the front to account for the lack of a wing at the rear. Instead, an enlarged and reshaped ducktail spoiler helps with downforce at the rear. Upgrading to the Weissach package leads to even more weight savings. The front hood, door mirror caps, upper and lower side air intakes, and Gurney flap on the duckbill are all swapped for carbon-fiber replacements. The Weissach package also includes a titanium exhaust Porsche says is inspired by the limited-edition 935 from 2018. Intentional Weight Savings As this is an RS model, Porsche was keenly focused on saving weight. That means fabric door straps instead of interior handles. Furthermore, when the weather gets nice and drivers want to enjoy their Spyder RS correctly (with the top down), they need to manually lower the soft top. Of course, weather non-permitting, that means getting out of the car and scurrying to and fro to get it secured in place again. The whole top weighs just over 40 pounds and shaves 16 pounds compared with the weight of the standard Spyder. Once it begins arriving at dealerships in spring 2024, the new Spyder RS will carry a starting price tag of $162,150. Porsche plans to hold the public premiere for the car at a celebration in June before it makes an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. That’s a roughly $20,000 premium over the starting price of the Cayman GT4 RS equivalent, though Porsche has always been good at getting customers to pay more for less. 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

Fisker has revealed the Ocean Force E, a brawny off-road version of its electric crossover.The Force E wears 33-inch all-terrain tires on its 20-inch three-spoke wheels and features revised bumpers and unique dampers.Fisker is supposed to start delivering the Ocean to U.S. customers in June and promises the Force E will arrive by the end of the year.Fisker just delivered its first electric Ocean SUV last week to a customer in Denmark, after kicking off production in November 2022. But the EV startup is already plotting expansions to its model lineup and has revealed the first images of the Ocean Force E today. This new version of Ocean takes the electric crossover to the extreme with a cornucopia of off-road goodies. Fisker promises to start deliveries in the final quarter this year.FiskerNot many details have revealed about the the Force E just yet, but the images show that it will benefit from loads of extra ground clearance, partly thanks to the 33-inch all-terrain tires. This burly rubber wraps around 20-inch three-spoke wheels sporting an industrial design. Fisker says the Force E is fitted with unique dampers and produces 550 horsepower, the same as other top-spec dual-motor all-wheel drive Oceans. The Force E package can also be retrofitted to any all-wheel-drive Ocean Extreme or Ocean Ultra.The images also show a revised front bumper packing tow hooks and auxiliary lights, plastic cladding around the wheel wells, and a beefier rear bumper with its own tow hook and reinforced skid plate. A full-length underbody titanium plate shields the battery. An optional roof rack sits atop the Force E in these images, while an optional interior package will add rubber floors, extra grab handles, and tie downs.More on FiskerDeliveries Possible Starting in JuneFisker still hasn’t started deliveries of the Ocean in the United States, stuck in regulatory limbo as it undergoes the homologation process. The company expects to receive approvals from the EPA and CARB later this month, with deliveries beginning in June. Fisker plans to produce between 32,000 and 36,000 units of the Ocean, which will start around $39,000, over the course of 2023.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

The Speed Edition 12 celebrates Bentley’s W-12 engine and will be offered on the Bentayga, the Continental GT, and the Flying Spur.The special editions have Opalite paint, silver brake calipers, and the W-12’s firing order etched into the dashboard.Only 120 units of the Speed 12 will be built for each model line. Electric Bentleys are imminent, with the British luxury marque promising five EVs by 2030 and the first arriving for 2025. But before the electron-powered brigade debuts, Bentley is celebrating its internal-combustion heritage with new Speed Edition 12 models. These limited-production versions of the Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur pay tribute to the W-12 motor that has laid at the heart of many of the brand’s opulent cruisers since 2003 before the engine’s production line is shut down in April of next year.Using the more powerful Speed models as a starting point, the Edition 12 adds silver brake calipers—unique to this special edition—and rides on black 22-inch wheels, complemented by black trim and a new pale-green paint color called Opalite. Edition 12 badges are everywhere, appearing on the front fender of the Continental GT and the rear pillar of the Flying Spur and Bentayga, along with an illuminated logo on the door sill and a welcome lamp projected onto the ground. Popping the hood reveals a special engine plaque adorning the 12-cylinder motor.Plenty of other Edition 12 logos appear in the cabin, where the firing sequence for the W-12 engine is also etched into the gloss-black dashboard. The main Beluga black upholstery can be paired with Brunel blue, Cricketball red, Linen or Orange accents, and the special seats are embroidered with the nameplate and contrast-stitched quilting. The same look appears on the door panels, while the air-vent adjusters also feature the number 12.Only 120 Speed Edition 12s will be built for each model line, and owners will also receive an aluminum 15 percent scale model of a Bentley W-12 engine block. Bentley didn’t specify how much extra the Edition 12 versions will cost over the standard Speed models, but if you have to ask, you’ll probably find yourself escorted out of the Bentley dealership by security. The Bentayga Speed will set you back at least $267,325, the Continental GT Speed starts at $291,225, and the Flying Spur Speed opens at $261,425.More on BentleyThis 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

McLaren has confirmed a renewed partnership with longtime engine supplier Ricardo.Under the multi-year contract, Ricardo will produce a new hybrid V-8 for future McLaren supercars.McLaren also confirmed the new engine will power existing and future hybrid supercars in its lineup.McLaren officially announced a renewed partnership with its longtime engine supplier Ricardo—not to be confused with former McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. The multi-year contract confirms a new hybrid V-8 will power McLaren’s upcoming supercars.The partnership dates back to the 2011 introduction of the McLaren 12C, with Ricardo producing the car’s V-8. The company also supplies the current V-6 setup in the hybrid McLaren Artura. The full scope of the new contract is unknown, but McLaren has confirmed the new hybrid V-8 will power both current and future supercars in its lineup as part of what McLaren is calling its Future of Performance strategy.McLarenWe already know that a hybrid successor to the 2013 P1 supercar is on the way and is expected to launch sometime in 2026. Around that same time, there are plans for a hybrid replacement for the recently revealed McLaren 750S, a vital switch with the company planning to electrify its entire fleet by the end of 2026. It’s expected that both cars will feature some variation of the new hybrid V-8, although they will surely have different outputs. The 2024 750S isn’t all that different from the 720S it is replacing, but it does share lighter pistons with the 765LT and harness increased boost pressure to raise output to 740 horsepower. We expect the more potent changes will come with the introduction of the new V-8 in 2026. The P1 replacement is sure to be even mightier, as McLaren is bound to build on the 903-hp legacy of the 2014 car. The announcement also inadvertently promises McLaren will not only continue to produce internal-combustion cars beyond 2030, but that it will also continue making V-8s. As part of today’s announcement, Ricardo CEO Graham Ritchie said, “We are extremely pleased to have concluded this new engine supply agreement with McLaren Automotive for their next generation high-performance V-8 powertrain, which extends the long-term relationship between both companies into the next decade.”Hallelujah to that. Required McLaren Supercar ReadingThis 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

The first photo of the upcoming Lexus TX provides a look at its “floating” roof and other details.The TX will be a three-row SUV that’s expected to share a platform with the Toyota Grand Highlander. Lexus has filed trademarks for TX350 and TX500h, suggesting the new model could offer gas and hybrid V-6 powertrains.Lexus will reveal a new three-row SUV called the TX, and today the automaker shared the first photo of it. The cropped shot shows a side view of its rear quarter panel, giving us a look at its “floating” roof design as well as details of its body lines and the shape of its wheel arches.While Lexus didn’t release any other information about the upcoming TX, the new SUV is expected to ride on the same TNGA-K platform as the recently introduced Toyota Grand Highlander. Along with featuring three rows of seats, the TX will obviously boast an even more luxurious interior and Lexus’s latest tech features. The most powerful Grand Highlander features a Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower, so it’s possible that setup is also offered (or standard) on the TX.This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the TX name. Back in 2021, rumors on a Reddit post as well as trademarks filed by Lexus helped give us an idea of what to expect. At the time, we found trademarks for TX350 and TX500h, which suggested the new model could be available with both gas-powered V-6 and hybrid versions.There currently isn’t any word on when the new Lexus TX will be officially revealed, however, we expect the company to pull the covers off sometime later this year. Much like how the Grand Highlander slots between the regular mid-size Toyota Highlander and the full-size, body-on-frame Sequoia, the TX will likely slot between the Lexus RX and the larger GX and LX SUVs.Other New Lexus 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 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 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

Toyota is bringing the Nightshade edition back to the Corolla for the 2024 model year after a hiatus in 2023.The Nightshade edition turns the grille, rear bumper, and badges black and now features eye-catching bronze wheels.The Corolla Nightshade hits dealerships this fall, and should cost a couple thousands dollars more than the SE trim on which it is based.The Toyota Corolla is gaining some extra pizzazz for 2024 with the return of the Nightshade edition, which brings blacked-out accents and flashy bronze wheels. The stealthy trim package was dropped from the Corolla lineup for 2023 after debuting for the 2020 model year. The Nightshade continues to be based on the SE model and is offered on the sedan and hatchback body styles as well as with the hybrid powertrain. As the moody name suggests, the Nightshade is designed to blend into the darkness, sporting a gloss-black grille, black badges, a black rear diffuser, and black side-view mirrors. The sedan models wear a rear lip spoiler while the hatch is fitted with a large rear wing, unsurprisingly also in black. This monotone look is offset by bronze 18-inch wheels, and the hatchback can be ordered with a two-tone look with a contrasting black roof.More on ToyotaToyota didn’t provide photos of the interior, but it should remain mostly unchanged. A optional JBL Premium Audio package improves the sound system while a SE Premium package brings a moonroof, wireless charger, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Hybrid Nightshade models can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Pricing details will be shared later this year, but we expect it to carry a premium of around $2000, with the hatchback model starting around $26,000 and the sedan opening at $27,000. More specifics should come before the Nightshade reaches dealerships in the fall of 2023.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

This content is imported from youTube. 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.A new Volvo EV is coming next month, with the Swedish automaker teasing the EX30 for the first time today.The EX30 will be smaller than the EX90, but it’s unclear how it will line up against the XC40 Recharge.The crossover appears to have heavily creased bodywork and bold LED lighting.Volvo today announced the imminent arrival of its fourth electric vehicle. The new battery-powered SUV will be called the EX30 and will make its full debut on June 7, with reservations opening to American customers on the same day. The EX30 follows the XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, and EX90.Volvo didn’t share any details aside from the name, but a short teaser video provided an initial hint of what to expect. The video appears to show an SUV that will slot below the EX90—which acts as an electric counterpart to the three-row XC90—emphasized by the tagline “Something small is coming.” We also catch a glimpse of Volvo’s classic vertical taillights, a chiseled hood, and what appears to be a full-width light bar linking the headlights.More about Electric VolvosThe EX30 will be the second electric Volvo to bear the Swedish brand’s new naming scheme, after the 2024 EX90 revealed last fall. The EX90 features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with up to 496 horsepower. It is unclear how the EX30 will be positioned relative to the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. It may act as an indirect replacement, with a dedicated electric platform replacing the converted gas-powered Recharge models. Look for more information to emerge over the next month before the EX30’s official reveal. 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

A handbuilt rarity, this Alpina C2 is one of just 74 made.It’s a little more powerful than a contemporary 325i, but the real story is in all the little details and the extreme care taken in building the engine.With four days to go until the auction ends on May 12, bidding is at $81,500 on the Bring a Trailer auction site.If the 1980s were a golden age for BMW, then Alpina was all about burnishing that gold to lustrous desirability. This week’s auction pick at Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is one of the rarest E30-chassis 3-series BMWs ever made. Serial number 002 of 74 made, it is obviously collectible, but it is also the kind of car that just begs to be driven.Beginning in 1962 as a BMW tuning specialist, Alpina established itself on the racing circuit with the likes of the 3.0CSL “Batmobile.” The company’s crest still wears a carburetor and a crankshaft insignia proudly, though modern Alpinas are more luxury oriented (and thoroughly high-tech). If you’re interested in the current B7, you’re looking for a high-speed executive tourer that’s more refined than a BMW M or Mercedes-AMG product.Bring a TrailerHowever, if you were shopping Alpinas in 1986, then you probably kept a set of leather driving gloves handy. This C2 was emphatically not the buzzy homologation-special M3 that also debuted for the 1986 model year, but a handbuilt special with an inline-six barking out an authoritative 182 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque.An Alpina Is SpecialIt’s worth noting here that Alpina wasn’t just in the business of fine-tuning BMWs; it was recognized as an actual manufacturer in its own right. The C2’s 2.5-liter inline-six makes more power and torque than the contemporary 325i, but the numbers don’t really tell the whole story. An Alpina is a boutique item, as tightly and carefully assembled as a Swiss watch, then sprinkled with some signature goodies.The stripes are an acquired taste, but they contrast beautifully with the deep Lapis Blue paint. The 16-inch 20-spoke wheels are an Alpina icon. The cloth seats and cleanly executed interior are an all-business riposte to the touchscreen clutter of modern cars.Bring a Trailer’Correctly European’ but Made for JapanThis example was originally delivered to Japan, though it is left-hand drive. This is a common feature of German performance cars of the period in Japan: despite driving on the left, Japanese customers wanted their cars to be “correctly European.” Pretty much every BMW M, AMG, and Audi RS sold in Japan was left-hand drive into the mid-2000s.Bring a TrailerThe E30 BMW 3-series is still beloved by enthusiasts young and old, simple, durable, and faithful to BMW’s “Ultimate Driving Machine” reputation. This is as good as a 3-series sedan ever got. It’s the kind of car you could park in a garage full of Ferraris and Alfa Romeos and it would still be the one most often picked for a weekend drive. With 43,000 miles on the odometer, it won’t hurt the collector value much to do so.With just four days to go, bidding is already at $81,500. That’s pretty steep for a 3-series BMW from the 1980s. But then, this is no BMW. This is an Alpina. Other Recent Gems from Bring a TrailerCar and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing 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