Motor News

McLaren is readying a hybrid successor to the P1 supercar for 2026, according to a report from Automotive News.The hybrid system in the next flagship McLaren is said to be 70 percent lighter than the current setup found in the recently launched Artura.The report also claims that a four-seat McLaren will arrive in 2028, with a hybrid follow-up to the just-revealed 750S also coming in 2026.McLaren is prepping a successor to the groundbreaking P1 hybrid supercar from 2013 (pictured above), and a new report from Automotive News asserts the automaker’s next flagship will retain a hybrid powertrain instead of going fully electric.Succeeding the P1The information regarding the next Ultimate Series model came from a global retailer meeting that took place earlier this week at the automaker’s headquarters in Woking, England and reaffirmed McLaren’s hesitancy to jump headlong into EVs.The new model—described as a Formula-1-inspired two-seater—will pair a McLaren-developed V-8 engine with a new hybrid system. The dealer sources cited by Automotive News claim the system will be 70 percent lighter than the current hybrid setup, presumably referring to the battery and electric motor in the 671-hp Artura. The sources also revealed the new setup “produces much more horsepower and delivers the power more directly to the transmission.” The hybrid McLaren Artura.McLarenThe P1 successor will allegedly be based around a new carbon-fiber monocoque with built-in seatbacks like a Formula 1 car and will also feature aerodynamics inspired by the world’s premier open-wheel racing series. Other details revealed at the meeting include the car will have a new dihedral-door design and 3D-printed suspension components. The top-of-the-line McLaren is expected to debut in 2026.Possible Four-Door McLarenThe report also divulged other future plans for the British performance-car brand, including a potential four-passenger vehicle. McLaren executives are said to have hinted there will be “another class of automobile in 2028,” suggesting it could feature four doors and four seats. This tidbit follows quotes from last year that McLaren is considering a higher-riding vehicle, although the company wouldn’t commit to calling it a crossover. McLaren’s CEO Michael Leiters joined the company last year after working on the development of the Ferrari Purosangue and Porsche Cayenne SUVs. McLaren plans to keep the recently introduced Artura on sale until at least 2030, according to the report, although other variants will likely be added along the way. The automaker just launched the new 750S, a refresh of the 720S, that had been on sale since 2017. McLaren allegedly announced at the meeting that the 750S will be replaced by a new hybrid model in 2026, crucial to the company’s plans to electrify their entire lineup by that year. More details on McLaren’s hybridized future should come in the next few years.More from McLarenThis 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

Built by go-karting’s founding father, Duffy Livingstone, this pieced-together hot rod has an impressive history. Brock Yates’s book, The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend, follows his purchase and subsequent Pebble Beach win with the Eliminator. It’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with bidding open through May 1, 2023.Let’s connect Formula One, land speed racing, and the Pebble Beach Concours all in one car. If you expected that car to be a cobbled-together Ford Model A frame wearing bruised Model T bodywork and housing a patched-up small-block Chevy V-8 engine, well then, you’ve already read Brock Yates’s book The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend. Brand: Motorbooks The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a LegendBrand: Motorbooks The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a LegendBefore we get into the hardware of this special Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is a part of the Hearst Autos group—auction, let’s introduce the main characters. Despite being listed as the “Ex-Brock Yates Ford ‘Eliminator'”, this historic hot rod was the work of a Pasadena, California-based racer named Duffy Livingstone. Livingstone is most famous as the man who gave go-karting its name. He also launched it as a mainstream activity in the late ’50s. Livingstone didn’t invent the go-kart, that’s credited to Art Ingles at the Kurtis Kraft race shop, but Livingstone locked in its moniker when he launched Go Kart Manufacturing. Bring a TrailerBefore that, Livingstone was racing a sort of full-scale go-kart in the form of a Ford T-bucket body mounted on a Model A frame. In 1950, Livingstone purchased the pile of Ford from another racer, Jay Chamberlin. (Chamberlin would go on to leave his own mark on automotive history by importing Lotus cars into California, among other things.) If you’re getting the sense that the Eliminator has touched greatness all along its journey, you’re correct. And we’re just at the start. Chamberlin lost interest in the car after a rule change occurred in the class he was building it to race in, so he passed the old Ford over to Livingstone, who cobbled it up as a jalopy sports car, initially powered by a flathead, which was later replaced by a bored-out Chevy small-block. Bring a TrailerLivingstone wasn’t alone in road racing a hot rod. Max Balchowsky’s Buick-powered “Old Yeller” cars were formidable competitors against the snooty sports car set right around the same time Livingstone was building and campaigning the Eliminator. Livingstone raced in SCCA and USAC competitions, often pitting the Eliminator against open-wheel single-seaters or fields of exotic Ferraris and Porsches. The fans and other racers often scoffed, but ol’ Duff was in on the joke. He often entered the car as a “Tihsepa Mk II” or the “Tihsepa Eliminator.” Take a second to say that to yourself backward, and you’ll also be in on the giggle. Related StoriesTihsepa it may have been, but the hot rod held its own, sometimes surprising even Livingstone. In a much-publicized sports car race in 1959, Livingstone out-qualified Jim Hall and visiting F1 racer Wolfgang Von Tripps, nearly caught up to Dan Gurney, and ended up finishing 11th overall. As his kart business grew, and race car development advanced beyond the cast-off Ford frame of a home-built hot rod, Livingstone moved on from the Eliminator, which was passed around in the scene and eventually ended up in a garage in Southern California in a state of stalled restoration. This is where Car and Driver enters the story. Bring a TrailerBrock Yates—editor extraordinaire for C/D, and no stranger to shaking up the automotive elite—saw an ad for the Ford, remembering it from his early days at the track. He made the call, connected with hot rod historian Pat Ganahl, and took on the responsibility of making it road-worthy while protecting its unique history. We could go on to tell you how Yates worked with custom car builders Pete Eastwood and Pete Chapouris at So-Cal Speed Shop (more famous fingers on the machine) and how the Eliminator eventually ended up on the lawn at Pebble Beach, but you might as well read it from the man himself. Yates wrote several articles about the Eliminator, and eventually the aforementioned book, The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend.Whoever places the winning bid on the Eliminator will get more than the triple Strombergs and Halibrand quick-change rear. They’ll be the next name in a long list of influential and radical automotive trendsetters. We hope the winning bidder doesn’t turn the Eliminator into a piece of garage art, either. Brock and Duffy would frown upon it. Senior Editor, Features
Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews.    More

The 2024 Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur receive a handful of updates.The changes are mostly cosmetic, with Bentley also adding some standard features.Performance-focused Flying Spurs add the matrix grille up front and diamond-patterned stitched leather inside. Bentley is freshening up for the summer with some new grilles and a new exterior color for the 2024 Continental GT Azure and Flying Spur lineups. Taking inspiration directly from the Bentayga Azure, the 2024 Continental GT Azure lineup—meaning coupe and convertible—adds a new vertical grille at the front. BentleyIn an attempt to bring more symmetry across the Azure lineup, Bentley is also adding the multispoke 22-inch wheels from the Flying Spur as the standard wheel on the Continental GT Azure.Keeping with the tradition of updating the grille, the Flying Spur Speed and S swap out the vertical grille for the classic Bentley matrix pattern. Other updates for the Speed range include exterior trim that is now available in Granite, which, in Bentley’s eyes, bolsters the optional black-line specification to provide a more performance-inspired aesthetic. The sporty sedans also add a diamond pattern to the interior leather.BentleyA new exterior paint option called Topaz Blue joins the fray too. The brushed aluminum pieces for both the Continental GT and Flying Spur lineups are also updated. According to Bentley, the new finish requires precise brushing from multiple directions to help it achieve a contemporary three-dimensional effect. Inside, Bentley made 100 percent wool floor mats standard for Azure models. The company says only a specially selected wool variety is used due to its cleanliness and color purity. The opulence is not only reserved for Azure cars though, as the mats are available in all other models as an option. For non-wool-carpeted cars, Bentley swaps out the virgin nylon materials for a new recycled version that it promises delivers the same level of comfort and feel. More 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 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 new W214-generation E-class will spawn a wagon variant for 2024, according to an EPA document submitted by Mercedes.It looks like the U.S. will only receive the All-Terrain variant of the body style. Our illustrations show what a standard wagon could look like.The new CLE-class coupe and convertible are also listed as 2024 models. A document submitted by Mercedes to the EPA is giving us a fuller view of the three-pointed star’s plans for its 2024 model line in the United States. Arguably the most noteworthy bits relate to the mid-size E-class, the latest generation of which was recently revealed in sedan form. But what about the E’s other body styles? Well, it looks like Mercedes plans to have those ready in time for the 2024 model year, as well. Of note, the next-generation E-class wagon appears set to return to our shores. Our illustrations show what the wagon could look like in standard form based on what we’ve seen of the sedan so far. For better or worse, though, it seems the W214 sedan’s longroof kin will come to the U.S. strictly in E450 All-Terrain guise. Given the current Benz-badged E-class wagon is offered solely with the off-road-inspired All-Terrain kit, it’s not much of a surprise that Mercedes plans to keep only this lifted version for U.S. buyers. There’s also no word yet on the AMG E63 version, which was previously offered in the U.S. in wagon form. But we likely won’t hear about any AMG E-class models until the 2025 model year at the earliest.Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverMore on New Mercedes ModelsOn the other end of the E-class spectrum, it looks as though the coupe and convertible models bite the dust for 2024. Don’t shed any tears yet, though, as the very same EPA document indicates the two body styles are set to don the CLE-class moniker come next year. The document also indicates Mercedes has no intention of renaming the current two-door E-class models, and instead, the brand will affix the name to an all-new generation of mid-size coupe and convertible, as evidenced by the model codes listed in the document: C236 and A236.EPAEPAIf the information in this document holds, then it appears the CLE-class will come with three different powertrain options. Benz-badged CLEs will bear the moniker CLE300 (likely indicating the use of the C300’s 255-hp four-cylinder powertrain) and CLE450 (surely an indication it’ll share the 375-hp six-cylinder setup of the E450). An AMG-fettled CLE53 is also listed and presumably carries over the 429-hp straight-six powertrain of today’s E53, albeit likely with a few more horses.Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverWe reached out to Mercedes about the new E-class’s upcoming variants and body styles but were told by a company spokesperson that they were unable to share information about future products. Whether the information Mercedes sent to the EPA holds true remains to be seen. There’s always the chance an unforeseen situation (such as another chip shortage or the like) throws a wrench in Mercedes’s plans. That said, we wager the automaker wouldn’t have submitted such extensive details related to its 2024 model line unless things were reasonably locked in.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

BMW has submitted a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for adjustable speed and acceleration curves, as first reported by Carbuzz. The system would let drivers customize throttle response and behavior under acceleration, even making it so that car could imitate the characteristics of a gas-powered vehicle.BMW calls it “a fun interactive option” and describes the customizable graphs as having “an emotional character.”These days, most cars can be tailored to different conditions through an array of drive modes, but a new patent filing from BMW suggests the next wave of electric vehicles may become even more customizable. As first reported by Carbuzz, BMW is developing a system that will let drivers create their ideal driving experience by adjusting specific elements of the drivetrain, such as acceleration curves and throttle mapping. The Driver Is the ProgrammerWhile the drive modes currently found across the automotive landscape can alter these same parameters, the amount of adjustability is typically predetermined by the programming of each mode. For example, Sport mode will intensify the throttle response in a specific way determined by the automaker, while Comfort mode will dial it back, but without any adjustability between the two preset values. BMWThe proposed BMW system, however, turns the driver into the programmer, in a sense, allowing for minute adjustments of each element irrespective of any preset drive mode. This level of personalization is only feasible with electric motors, where—as BMW explains in the patent filing—”… the development of power … can … be set much more finely and in particular can be varied much more flexibly than in the case of internal combustion engines.”The customized propulsion settings revolve around two adjustable graphs: a speed curve and an acceleration curve. The former allows mapping of the throttle position to directly correspond to speed. For example, the driver could set it so that at 30 percent throttle, the car will go 40 mph. The acceleration curve, on the other hand, equates throttle input to torque output. In this case, a driver could set 50 percent throttle to result in 50 percent acceleration, in affect determining how responsive the throttle pedal is by adjusting how aggressively the car responds to inputs.BMWThe patent suggests that BMW would offer preset graphs, with linear or exponential curves, but also the ability to customize the curves by dragging different points up and down. The two curves would combined to create a vast spectrum of unique behaviors, with throttle inputs controlling both the overall speed and how aggressively the vehicle accelerates. An Exercise to Increase Engagement BMW appears to view this system as a way to make high-performance EVs more engaging. The patent explains the customizable graphs “can have an emotional character and delight the vehicle user,” describing the system as “a fun interactive option” and that “technology-minded vehicle users will especially enjoy this.” The system would offer an alternative to the way many EVs currently drive, where torque and power delivery feels linear and immediate. The system would allow for speed and acceleration to build gradually, and the adjustable curves could even allow drivers to set up their cars to imitate the acceleration curves of gas-powered cars. It is unclear if and when BMW intends to implement this system, but it could appear on the quad-motor M division prototype under development and/or on the rumored 1000-hp i5 M coming later this decade.More Electric BMW M CarsThis 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.New Range Rover Sport SV | Coming 31st May 2023Watch onYouTube IconYouTube IconLand Rover is set to reveal the 2024 Range Rover Sport SV on May 31.A teaser video posted to the official Land Rover YouTube page shows the Sport SV clowning around.The company promises the new SV will be “the fastest, most dynamic and technologically advanced Range Rover Sport ever.” Mark your calendars. Land Rover is set to reveal the 2024 Range Rover Sport SV on May 31. The company released a short teaser video on its official YouTube channel marking the announcement. Based on the video’s description, it looks like the upcoming SV will be a replacement for the current Range Rover Sport SVR. The Range Rover Sport has always been about wrapping performance and luxury into a single SUV package. The new SV looks to follow that trend, with extra emphasis on the sportiness. While storming through the sandy dunes surrounding Dubai, the driver in the video can be seen switching to “SV Mode” before showing a paddle shifter illuminated in red. The prominence of the paddle shifter is a recurring theme in the short teaser. As is the playfulness of a sliding Range Rover, which is shown repeatedly in the video.The supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 from the Supercharged and SVR models already makes 518 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque in each respective SUV. Both provide blisteringly quick acceleration as is, but Land Rover promises the new SV will be “the fastest, most dynamic and technologically advanced Range Rover Sport ever.” With six selectable drive modes for the all-wheel-drive system, and modes for snow, mud, sand, and rock crawling, the current SVR already offers a pretty sophisticated package. For most people who aren’t Bond villains (or henchmen), off-road features on the $100,000 luxury SUV are more for bragging rights than actual usage. That’s not expected to change when the new Range Rover Sport SV arrives.Range Rover ReviewsThis 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 available steering yoke on the Tesla Model S and Model X is now a $250 option.Earlier this year, Tesla made a regular steering wheel a no-cost option alongside the controversial yoke, which had been mandatory since a 2021 redesign.The irony is that Tesla CEO Elon Musk once said there’s no chance a traditional steering wheel would return.Tesla’s steering-yoke saga continues. Back in January of this year, the automaker made the decision to once again offer a regular steering wheel on the Model S and Model X. It was a no-cost option that was available along with the yoke-style wheel that had been mandatory on both models since their 2021 redesign. Now, the configurator on Tesla’s website shows the sawed-off steering wheel as a $250 option.TeslaThe steering yoke was controversial from the start, with questions surrounding whether it was even legal. From there, critics and fans quibbled over its safety as well as how well it worked in real-world driving. During Car and Driver’s test of a 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid, we pointed out that the yoke’s main flaw is that the company didn’t pair it with a quicker steering ratio, which at times resulted in awkwardly reaching for the wrong side of it when starting to turn.Of course, the most ironic part of all the yoke hoopla is comments made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk back in July 2021. When directly asked on Twitter whether there was any chance a normal steering wheel would be offered again as an option, Musk tweeted back, “No”.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.Well, it looks like the turns have tabled, as not only is a regular steering wheel back, but it comes standard. Plus, now people who like the yoke have to put their money where their mouth is and shell out $250.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 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

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.This is the first time we’ve seen Hyundai’s “e-Corner” four-wheel independent steering system in action on public roads for the first time, and we’re mesmerized. The system, first shown in January, uses a Hyundai Ioniq 5 as a testbed to show off how it can turn each wheel up to 90 degrees individually, allowing for some truly impressive turning maneuvers and ultra-tight park jobs. More on the Ioniq 5With all four wheels at full 90-degree lock, parallel parking is easy. All the car has to do is pull up to the spot and drive sideways, slotting perfectly into place. The e-Corner system can also perform tight 180-degree pivot turns by adjusting just the back wheels, or pull off a 360-degree tank turn by adjusting all four wheels, all without occupying more than the car’s initial footprint. The e-Corner system, a product of Hyundai’s Mobis parts division, uses in-wheel motors along with bespoke brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire systems. The company hasn’t said whether it plans to develop the system for mass production, though it’s easy to see why it’d be nice to have, especially if you live in a tight urban environment. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More