More stories

  • in

    Cadillac Escalade IQ Confirmed as the EV Version of the Deluxe SUV

    Cadillac’s biggest SUV—and biggest moneymaker—is getting the electric treatment, and the company has now confirmed what it will be called. The Escalade IQ will be the first EV version of the luxury brand’s grandest SUV.Along with confirming the name, which had been rumored since GM trademarked the name Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL back in 2021, Cadillac released a teaser image that shows a close-up of the electric model’s badge.CadillacOther than that, we’re still waiting on more details about it, including an official reveal date. The rendering at the top of this story at least provides an idea of what the Escalade EV might look like.Earlier this year, Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey confirmed that three new electric models will debut in 2023, and it’s expected the Escalade IQ will be one of them. That also suggests it will be a 2024 model, since a Cadillac spokesperson previously confirmed to Car and Driver that all three new EVs would arrive for the same model year.Despite the current lack of information, there’s no doubt the 2024 Cadillac Escalade IQ will use GM’s Ultium battery technology. If it’s anything like the GMC Hummer EV SUV, the Caddy could have a roughly 177-kWh battery capacity and three electric motors making 830 horsepower or more. Of course, it will also almost surely weigh over four tons.Cadillac is expected to reveal the Escalade IQ sometime later this year. Stay tuned.More Cadillac EV 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.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

  • in

    1977 Dodge B100 Tradesman Restomod Rocks Our Music Festival Dreams

    Sometimes you walk past a classic van on the street and immediately buy it. Well, you sometimes do that if you founded Legacy Classic Trucks, anyway.That’s what happened with this 1977 Dodge B100 Tradesman, which has been restored and updated so it is now “exclusively made for partying.”A rebuilt 5.2-liter Chrysler 318 V-8 engine helps make the van road-trip worthy, while a large lithium battery can power the TV/VHS player and AC units for days. Today’s popular music festivals don’t shy away from a 1970s vibe when it comes to tunes and clothes. If you want your wheels to feel right at home in that sort of environment, Legacy Classic Trucks might have you covered.Legacy, a longtime vehicle restorer, often modifies old Dodge Power Wagons and Jeep Scramblers and works on national park buses. For this much hipper restomod endeavor, Legacy started with two things: a 1977 Dodge B100 Tradesman donor van and the idea that Coachella can be a verb.The van came to Legacy Classic Trucks’ founder Winslow Bent when he happened upon it on his wedding day. The van was parked on a street in Chicago. Given the collection of old VHS tapes and an outlaw country music cassette in the tape deck, Bent purchased the van “on the spot,” Legacy said, with dreams of restoring it in time for him to drive it the 930 miles from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where his shop is located, to California for the music festival.A Van Made for Partying”There are few things cooler than a super clean, well-restored van,” Bent said in a statement. “Our new Legacy Tradesman van restoration is exclusively made for partying.”That attitude explains the mix of new and old technology inside the van. The exterior has the same classic paint scheme but added a pair of moonlight windows in the back. Inside classic touches include a vintage TV/VHS player, disco ball, lava lamp, and orange shag carpet. From the modern era, there’s a lithium battery with enough energy capacity to power the TV, a beer cooler, an 18-speaker sound system, and a pair of air conditioning units for up to two days on a single charge, the company claims.Motive power for the B100 comes from a rebuilt 5.2-liter Chrysler 318 V-8 engine that produces up to 450 pound-feet of torque. Bent and his team also replaced the brakes and suspension.With this year’s Coachella festival and Legacy’s Tradesman restoration both complete, Legacy has now added Tradesman vans to its list of old things that can be made fresh again. Legacy’s Tradesman commissions start at $45,000.For more dope vans from the 1970s, check out this list or head on over to Bring a Trailer, which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos, to search for your own donor model. Or maybe you’ll find a ready-to-go option, like the custom 1973 Dodge Tradesman B100 that sold this past week for $24,000.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.Old and NewContributing 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

  • in

    2004 Honda Rune Motorcycle/Work of Art Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick

    • Created at a staggering loss, the Rune was Honda flexing its creative muscle.• Using the Valkyrie as its base, the Rune had a radical design and numerous custom chrome elements.• This example has approximately 6000 miles.Car and DriverHonda isn’t known for flights of fancy, but the motorcycle you see here is one instance where Honda went completely berserk. A single-minded pursuit of design above all else meant that the big H lost an eye-watering amount on the NRX1800 Rune. The development cost was rumored to be $225 million, and yet the production run was extremely limited.This low-mileage 2004 Rune, resplendent in burgundy paint, is up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of the Hearst Autos Group. It’s rolling sculpture, a concept bike brought to life, yet it’s also as tractable and easy to ride as any Honda product.Bring a TrailerIn 2000, Honda showed off a trio of concept bikes at the Cycle World show in Long Beach, California. One concept, the T2, got all the attention. Attending Honda employees were bowled over by the adoring crowds, but there was a rather large catch. T2 didn’t actually run, it was merely a design experiment.Bring a TrailerYet Honda decided to build a production version anyway. To illustrate just how difficult a task the engineers were given, the silencers are cast using a lost-wax method. The concept’s beautiful radiator slits were only theoretically capable of handling the cooling duties for a 20-30 hp engine, but the production Rune’s 1832cc flat-six makes 118 hp, so Honda had to use ultra-conductive alloy to make the radiator shed enough heat.Bring a TrailerFactoring in profitability and performance, building the Rune was an impossibility. So, Honda simply threw those considerations away. As a halo bike, a production Rune would elevate both the related Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles. It’s estimated that each Rune cost Honda in the neighborhood of $150,000 to build. When new each bike sold for $25,000.This 2004 model represents an opportunity to own a truly cost-no-object machine, one with a wonderfully eye-catching design. With all that chrome and ultra-low ride height, the Rune looks like the hero vehicle from an action movie. It’s like a cross between Akira and Duke Nukem.Bring a TrailerAnd, because it’s a Honda, it’s also very rideable, with a torque-rich powerband sufficiently grunty to pull away from a stop in top gear. The clutch is light, the trick trailing front suspension makes for a surprisingly small turning circle, and the low seat height makes it comfortable in traffic.The Rune is madness to look at, but marvelous to experience—as the top bidder will discover. The auction runs through May 22.Car 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

  • in

    ‘Fast X’ Auto Wrangler Dennis McCarthy Shares His Favorite Car Mods—Onscreen and Off

    If you weren’t aware (if so, get out from under that rock, please) there’s a new Fast & Furious movie on the way. Fast X will be the first part of the final installment and the eleventh film in the franchise. While some may roll their eyes at another sequel of the street racing, world-saving, action-heist flick, we here at Road & Track are stoked. The Fast & Furious universe has been tremendously influential to an entire generation of gearheads, as well as to the automotive industry on the whole. The franchise has been pivotal in casting people of color and women in leading roles, particularly within the car world, opening the door for a more diverse group of enthusiasts. Not only do the movies rank among some of the best automotive films of all time, but the franchise has also become one of the most successful in Hollywood history. Perhaps no industry has benefited from the success of a film franchise like the automotive aftermarket. Following the launch of the first film, there was somewhat of a boom, as the tuner subculture emerged into the mainstream, and “NOS” entered the popular vernacular. Dennis McCarthy – Picture Car Coordinator for the Fast & Furious franchise IMDbWith this in mind, we wanted to talk to the person responsible for sourcing and preparing the vehicles for Fast X. Though the stunts and fight sequences have reached Mission: Impossible level, we are here for the cars. Enter Dennis McCarthy, the Picture Car Coordinator (the person responsible for deciding what cars we see on screen) for the franchise since 2006’s The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. We sat down with Dennis and picked his brain about his process, some of his favorite modifications and upgrades, and of course, his own cars. Car and Driver: So you joined the franchise around 2 Fast 2 Furious?Dennis: Yeah, I came at the end of that to prep some cars and move them to different events. And then the same person who brought me on for that asked me about the sport of drifting which, at that point, I did not realize was going to be tied to another Fast & Furious movie. That’s when I really started building and sourcing vehicles for the franchise.How do you decide what you want to do in terms of modifications? Do you have any go-to bits and pieces to swap around?My go-to on a newer car would be probably lowering the suspension a little bit, bigger wheels and tires, maybe some tinted windows. Nothing extreme. One of the things I like to do is give the car a manual transmission. Obviously, we’re not gonna convert every car, but we have done a few of them. So that’s always a cool modification. In my opinion, cinematically, it’s just much more exciting to watch someone shifting gears than putting the car into drive.Getty ImageIn Fast X, the Charger Hellcat that Dom drives has a set of bucket seats in the front. How did you decide that car needed that, and do you have a brand you like for that kind of stuff?It’s those subtle touches that make the car look above and beyond what you would roll out of the Dodge dealer with. In that case, I used Momo seats. No particular reason why, other than they were in stock. But we use Momo, Recaro, Sparco, and a company called Racetech. There’s no real go-to. But the Momo’s a great seat. They look great in the car, and, in the world of Fast & Furious, it’s great because we can actually just move that modification from the stunt car right into the hero car—unlike a typical movie that’s maybe not about cars, where the stunt car is completely different on the inside than what you see on film. It works story-wise, and it works safety-wise.MOMO Momo 1070BLK Racing Seat MOMO Momo 1070BLK Racing Seat Now 20% OffCredit: Walmart That Charger also had some harnesses in there, no?Dennis: It had harnesses, and it had a steering wheel. The harnesses were from Momo as well. Same backstory. It just gives more of a race-car look to it. Dom’s actually on a mission here; he’s not just out cruising around the streets of Rome, right? He’s here for a purpose. I think it gives a car a more serious note.MOMO 6 Point Harness MOMO 6 Point Harness Credit: Walmart Another car that stood out was the Fox-body Mustang that John Cena drives. What sort of rack did you use on that?Yeah, I thought that was very cool. The roof rack I can’t take credit for. We basically built that entire car, but that roof rack was actually provided by the props department. There are certain things, like if a police car needs a police radio, the props department steps in with a radio. If the car has a rack on the top with a canoe, that would be props. I can’t remember the exact brand name of the rack, but we did source that off Amazon, I believe. It was very simple, it worked great. When I was a kid, probably in my early twenties, the first new car I ever bought was a 1992 Mustang LX, pretty much exactly like that but in black. Unfortunately, it was stolen. I love those cars and I have one now, a black ’93 LX. They’re fun to drive.There’s a scene with a gang of kitted-out Toyota FJ Cruisers. What was done to those?In that scene, story-wise, everybody’s coming after ’em. The whole world’s converging on Dom and Jakob. So those cars were actually chosen by our production designer. We have makeshift BMW M5s, the FJs, and Mini Coopers. So the mods were just kind of what we consider appropriate for a background villain car. So it was more or less wheels, tires, brush guards—something to make them look a little bit more menacing.The RC car they used toward the beginning of the film, did you have anything to do with that?Dennis: I wish it was me because I love RC cars. I have three boys who have had RC cars since they were five years old. I didn’t ever see that car in person, but it looked like a Traxxas to me. Those things have come a long way, and if I’d had chosen it, it would’ve been Traxxas, just because those things are pretty much bulletproof.TRAXXAS T1X-360341 Bigfoot No. 1 Monster TruckTRAXXAS T1X-360341 Bigfoot No. 1 Monster TruckCredit: Walmart Where do you source the more unique cars from? Like, if you need, say, a ’68 Charger, where do you go to find that? Those Chargers are pretty damn scarce. Over the years, we’ve slowly been able to build a Charger mostly from all aftermarket parts; we still have not succeeded a hundred percent. So we’re starting with a carcass of a Charger, but it’s really just for like the front A-pillar door jambs, some inner trunk pieces, just very minimal stuff. But the whole car is basically aftermarket: body, chassis, everything from top to bottom. What are some of the brands you would use to build something like that? So on this last one, a buddy of mine, Dave Salvaggio, provided us with the chassis and the carbon-fiber bodies. And then those chassis utilize Detroit Speed suspension components as far as uprights, A-arms, rear wing kits, and everything else. There are Brembo brakes on those cars. Brembo’s been working with us for many of these movies, and they basically have a built-to-our-spec brake kit: six pistons in front, four pistons in the rear. The rear has a double mount for two calipers. You have an independent slide brake system. If I need like a specialty wheel, we have a great relationship with HRE. They will basically build a wheel to my specs, which is great. It seems like in the old days, you could buy wheels in multiple different offsets, and today, that seems to be a thing of the past. But HRE is still one of those companies that will build to order. And Autometer gauges, that’s a big one we go to. AutoMeter 2397 Autogauge Console Oil/Volt/Water GaugeAutoMeter 2397 Autogauge Console Oil/Volt/Water GaugeCredit: AmazonHow about suspension?I don’t really have a specific brand because shocks are typically something that would be provided with a suspension kit. But I mean, Bilstein, Koni. If it’s off-road, it’s gonna be KING or Fox. And I obviously like to use coil-overs. They give us the adjustability since we’re frequently setting up a car so that it looks right. So coil-overs are always key.Bottom line, it’s gotta be something that’s quality; you know, no junk. There’s a lot of stuff out there, I’m sure you know, that’s pure garbage. So I avoid that.Very nice. Steering is important, and it’s a very fast ratio. We basically put as much steering angle as we can in the car to where the tires hit the chassis to help the stunt department slide, drift, and recover when they’re way out there. So, yeah, it’s a very modern chassis. All the elements of the chassis front and back are modern, not old-school Chrysler. You mentioned you have a Mustang. Do you have any other cars at the moment?I have a serious problem with cars. I have so many cars. We’d be here like another hour! But I have a pretty good assortment of hot rods. If you’re modifying your own cars, what are your go-to brands?My favorite exhaust company in the world would be MagnaFlow. They have also supported this franchise for years. My buddy Rich over at MagnaFlow has built all sorts of stuff for us. Like, if you saw the last film, the mid-engine charger, you know, where the headers were completely exposed. They have unbelievable technology and he just shows up within a few weeks with eight sets of brand-new headers in a box. The franchise is well known for lots of gear changing. Let’s talk shift knobs. It’s funny because sometimes a lot of effort goes into that, but you never actually see them. When it comes to Dom’s car, I always try to do something cool. It’ll have some sort of a nitrous button incorporated into it.The last one I went with is cool. I can’t remember the brand name, but it was a carbon-fiber pistol grip just to kind of tie together that whole, old-school Mopar muscle-car thing. As far as my personal tastes, I like the old classic Hurst ball. You know, the white ball? On Jacob’s El Camino, we did a very cool piece, I think it might have been the Roadster Shop; they have a billet knob that’s drilled in different directions. Very cool looking. It’s just something to kind of give a high-tech styling cue to an old beater El Camino. Just something so the audience can go, “Hey, maybe there’s more to this car.” There is always thought that goes behind it. But, you know, it doesn’t always make it to the final cut.Hurst 1630025 White 5-Speed Shifter KnobHurst 1630025 White 5-Speed Shifter KnobCredit: AmazonMagnaFlow Universal 3-inch Stainless Steel Performance Muffler MagnaFlow Universal 3-inch Stainless Steel Performance Muffler Credit: AmazonFast X is now out in theaters. Score your tickets here.Assistant Commerce EditorJustin Helton is an avid automobile collector and gearhead from New York City.  More

  • in

    BMW’s Z4 Concept Touring Coupe Could Herald the Return of the Clown Shoe

    BMW unveiled the Concept Touring Coupe at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.The concept turns the Z4 roadster into a two-door hardtop with a shooting-brake body—a look that has been dubbed “clown shoe” in previous years.BMW is said to be pondering a limited production run.It’s raining cats and dogs on the eve of the 2023 Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in Cernobbio on the banks of Lake Como, but the foul weather does not stop the paparazzi from zooming in on the metallic brown show car. Head on, the two-door fastback looks exactly like the recently facelifted Z4 roadster. But the quarter-front view shows a different animal altogether: sleek and muscular, the restyled silhouette turns out to be a crowd-stopper par excellence. Instead of the traditional canvas top, the coupe sports a long metal roof that fuses with a neatly sculptured, nearly vertical hatch. Although it is effectively a shooting brake, BMW chose to badge its latest creation Touring Coupe, thereby paying homage to the very first touring model launched in 1971, which was based on the 02 series. The bespoke paint has tiny glass fragments mixed in for extra depth and luster.Related StoriesAlthough the show car is completely redone from the B-pillar rearward, the well-balanced two-seater’s look is still of a piece. Whereas the stubby rear end of the Z4 is busy and cluttered, the tail of the coupe appears prettier and more practical. The side view shows the trademark BMW Hofmeister kink, which, like the frame of the kidney grilles and the tailpipes, is finished in matte bronze. The slowly dropping roofline terminates in a full-width drag-cutting and downforce-enhancing spoiler, which together with the bulging hatch below creates a fast and furious look even in the parking lot.The bulging rear fenders house 21-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero tires. Up front, the concept rolls on 20-inchers. The muscular shape suggests that this coupe could eat an M4 for breakfast, but engineering fitted the Euro market’s 340-hp version of the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The suspension is an unchanged carryover item. What’s It Like Inside?Despite the short rear overhang, the Touring Coupe easily eclipses the roadster for luggage space. On the debit side, we noted the tall loading lip, the relatively narrow cargo deck, and the substantial blind spots caused by the ultra-wide C-pillars.Hardy MutschlerThe reinforcing crossbeam mounted between the passenger cell and the cargo deck, which seriously compromised the seat travel in the Z3 coupe, is not an issue here. As you would expect, the cockpit is leather-trimmed from wall to wall. The tri-tone color scheme blends a brownish gray with an ochre saddle tone in the center and contrasting black accents. The supple cowskin was provided by the renowned furniture company Poltrona Frau, and the leather is braided together in a highly elaborate fashion that recalls the baseball pattern used in the first Audi TT roadster. Nice. The three custom bags come courtesy of Schedoni—maker of bespoke Ferrari luggage sets. A Brief DriveWe would have loved to put this special Z4 through the paces, but there was no way BMW would let us leave the Villa d’Este premises in this handbuilt one-off. The challenge was thus to find a reasonably long straight, two corners tight enough to make the photographer happy, and enough space in between to feel, hear, and digest the first impressions of this very special car. We can now tell you that the touring coupe does accelerate, turn, and brake to order, but what makes all the difference is the added emotional value it oozes out of every freshly polished pore. The cabin smells like a $5000 antique chair, the ambiance shouts luxury, and the exhaust sounds as if it never fought for regulatory approval.Onlookers gave the car their unanimous thumbs up, but the firm’s board of directors is less convinced. After all, in this dawning EV era, this coupe’s only energy cell is the starter battery, and there is no hybrid version in sight. To make matters worse, the remaining life span of the Z4 is a paltry three years, and when production ends there is no replacement in the offing. “The Right Car at the Right Time”Comments Domagoj Dukec, head of BMW brand design: “We still feel that this is the right car at the right time. The shooting brake remains a convincing synthesis of sportiness and style. We are going to monitor the response before making a decision, and when doing so we shall also consider the impact such a model would have on the marque and our image.”The Z4 touring (project name California) was inspired by the very first Z3 coupe built between 1998 and 2002, which was dubbed “clown shoe” for its extreme proportions. The Z4 hardtop that followed never attained icon status. If it hadn’t been for the partnership with Toyota (to build the Supra), the Z4 would have bitten the dust in 2018. Sharing the investment with the Japanese enabled BMW to develop the currently available fourth generation, and capacity at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the car is built, would allegedly permit a batch of 3000 to 5000 touring coupes on top of the current allocations. The question is, are enough markets interested in a new variant of a model that’s not exactly a hot seller? Or would it be wiser to proceed with a small batch of 50 to 100 of highly bespoke limited-edition collector items priced north of $150,000 apiece? Watch this space for the final say, expected later this year.Contributing EditorAlthough I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal clerk, it was clear from the beginning that birdwatching and stamp collecting were not my thing. Had I known that God wanted me to grow to 6’8″, I also would have ruled out anything to do with cars, which are to blame for a couple of slipped discs, a torn ligament, and that stupid stooped posture behind the wheel. While working as a keeper in the Aberdeen Zoo, smuggling cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia to Germany, and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to yield fulfillment, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is now, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday. I love every aspect of my job except long-haul travel on lousy airlines, and I hope it shows. More

  • in

    Hyundai/Kia Will Pay Owners $200 Million over Easily Stolen Cars

    Kia and Hyundai have been dealing for years with social media videos that show how easy it is to steal some of their models and encourage others to give it a shot.Around 9 million mostly base trim Kia and Hyundai vehicles are affected, and their owners have been offered steering wheel locks and other anti-theft devices in the past. Read on for a list of affected models.The new settlement will cost the automakers around $200 million, with $145 million set aside for customers’ out-of-pocket losses as they’ve dealt with this issue.The “Kia Challenge” TikTok fad will cost Hyundai and Kia another $200 million. The two automakers have agreed to pay an expected $200 million as compensation for customers who had their cars stolen or damaged in ways not covered by insurance. The money will also reimburse Hyundai and Kia owners for any losses due to paying insurance deductibles, higher insurance premiums, or other theft-related losses.Back StoryIn early 2021, users of the popular video-sharing site TikTok started seeing videos showing just how easy it was to steal some Hyundai and Kia vehicles built without push-button ignitions or an immobilizer, a device that prevents the car from moving if a key fob is not detected. Before going nationwide, the trend started in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the number of stolen Hyundai and Kia models was 25 times higher in the first half of 2021, even as the overall rise in thefts was just 2.5 times higher. According to Reuters, the $200 million settlement will cover approximately 9 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles, with up to $145 million set aside to cover customers’ out-of-pocket losses. Kia and Hyundai said they expect the court to approve the settlement preliminarily in July.Steering Wheel Locks Were Only a StopgapHyundai and Kia have spent years providing stopgap solution after stopgap solution, including free steering wheel locks and $170 anti-theft kits. In February, Kia and Hyundai said a free security software update would act like an immobilizer on vehicles without them. In April, the automakers worked with AAA to provide insurance for owners who lost coverage from other providers once it became clear how easy it was to steal one of these vehicles.2017 Kia Soul.Chris Doane Automotive|Car and Driver The $200 million settlement will cover costs associated with dealing with these issues for class-action participants. As part of the settlement, anyone who owns an eligible Hyundai or Kia vehicle and agrees to the deal will get that free software upgrade automatically installed on their next service visit at a dealer. If the software can’t be installed, the owners will get up to $300 to buy their choice of anti-theft devices.Around 9 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles were potentially affected by the Kia Challenge. The list of affected vehicles is below, with the easy-to-steal versions mostly the entry-level trims that did not have push-button ignitions. There are websites for Kia owners and Hyundai owners to get more information about their specific vehicle.Hyundai Models2011–2022 Accent2011–2022 Elantra2013–2017 Elantra GT2013–2014 Elantra Coupe2011–2012 Elantra Touring2011–2014 Genesis Coupe2018–2022 Kona2020–2021 Palisade2011–2012, 2019–2022 Santa Fe2013–2018, 2019 Santa Fe, Santa Fe XL2013–2018 Santa Fe Sport2011–2019 Sonata2011–2022 Tucson2012–2017, 2019–2021 Veloster2020–2021 Venue2011–2012 VeracruzKia Models2011–2021 Forte2021–2022 K52011–2020 Optima2011–2021 Rio2011–2021 Sedona2021–2022 Seltos2010–2022 Soul2011–2022 Sorento2011–2022 SportageContributing 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

  • in

    2024 Chevy Silverado EV’s EPA-Estimated Range Rises to 450 Miles

    The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV now has an EPA-estimated range of up to 450 miles.The new figure is for the fleet-oriented Work Truck trim level, which Chevy previously claimed would have 400 miles per charge.Set to launch first, the Silverado EV Work Truck for fleet customers boasts 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque.The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV will be able to go farther on a full charge than initially expected, at least the version that’s available to fleet customers. Chevy has announced the base-level Work Truck trim now has an estimated EPA range of 450 miles.Previously, the Silverado EV Work Truck (WT) had an EPA-estimated range of 400 miles, which remains the estimate for the snazzier RST model. The latter is expected to have a battery pack as large as 200 kWh, but it’s unclear whether the fleet-oriented WT will have more capacity that unlocks the extra range. Car and Driver reached out to a Chevy spokesperson to find out what led to the WT’s extended range, but we’ve yet to hear back.Among the Silverado EV lineup, the WT will first be made available to fleet customers sometime this summer. Its all-wheel-drive, dual-motor powertrain develops 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque. The WT for fleets also offers DC fast-charging speeds of up to 350 kW, which Chevy claims can add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. After the initial launch, the company plans to offer a WT model for fleets that can tow up to 20,000 pounds.Pricing for the fleet-oriented 2024 Silverado EV Work Truck hasn’t been made official. However, Chevy is currently taking orders with refundable $100 reservations on its consumer site, which also lists the WT’s starting price at $41,595.Silverado EV StoriesThis 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

  • in

    2024 Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado: How They Compare

    Consider it divine providence that the entire mid-size pickup truck segment is all-new at exactly the same time. The Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma have all entered new generations within the last year. This segment was full of ho-hum old metal for a long time, so it’s time to line these trucks up and see how their early specifications compare.2024 Toyota Tacoma lineup.ToyotaPowertrainThe base Tacoma SR comes with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four gas engine making 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmissions. Moving up into other trims increases the engine output to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet; however, opting for the six-speed manual drops those figures to 270 and 310, respectively. Buyers can also electrify themselves with a 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain that boosts output to 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet.2023 Chevrolet Colorado lineup.ChevyThe Chevy Colorado also comes with three powertrain options, all of which are based on a turbocharged 2.7-liter I-4 and an eight-speed automatic. The base configuration produces 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet, while the Turbo Plus setup hikes those figures up to 310 and 390. The Turbo HO (High Output) powertrain, which is standard on ZR2 and optional elsewhere, uses software to push the torque even higher, to 430 pound-feet. The 2024 Ford Ranger comes with two non-Raptor powertrain options, both of which mate to a 10-speed auto. The base turbocharged 2.3-liter I-4 makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet, while opting for the beefier 2.7-liter V-6 will grant you 315 horses and 400 twists. The more hardcore Ranger Raptor bulks up even further, with a 3.0-liter V-6 making 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet.2024 Ford Ranger lineup.FordTowing and HaulingToyota has not yet divulged full specifications for the 2024 Tacoma (not the last time we’ll say this here). While we don’t have towing and payload figures for the whole lineup, we do know that the non-base 2.4-liter can tow up to 6500 pounds, with the 2.4-liter hybrid not far behind at 6000 pounds. The only available payload figure is for the hybrid, at 1709 pounds.Chevrolet’s Colorado can tow a bit more, but it hauls a bit less. Nearly every trim can tow up to 7700 pounds, although the base WT and LT trims require options to do so; the ZR2 only manages 6000 pounds, same as the Tacoma hybrid. WT and LT Colorados can haul the most, at 1684 pounds, with Trail Boss and Z71 trims capable of 1587. The ZR2 is clearly not meant for hauling as much, as it can only muster 1151 pounds out back.The story is similar with the Ford Ranger, although its capability is broken down by drivetrain. Both two- and four-wheel-drive variants can tow 7500 pounds, with 4×2 models hauling 1805 pounds and 4×4 models just below that at 1711. The Ranger Raptor is a little less capable, with a 1411-pound payload capacity and a max towing weight of 5510 pounds.More Specs, DetailsSuspension and BrakesThe 2024 Tacoma is littered with new suspension bits across the lineup. SR, SR5 XtraCab and TRD PreRunner variants continue to run leaf springs in the rear, but other trims pick up a multi-link suspension instead. Different grades have different shocks: TRD Off-Road sports Bilstein monotubes with remote reservoirs, TRD Pro wears Fox adjustable internal-bypass shocks, while Trailhunter rocks ARB’s Old Man Emu monotube shocks. If you’re after more on-road comfort, the Limited variant uses Toyota’s adaptive dampers.Things are a bit simpler on the Colorado. Non-ZR2 models sport twin-tube shocks with rear leaf springs. As before, the ZR2 upgrades to Multimatic’s DSSV dampers. That’s it. Nice and easy.The Ford Ranger isn’t any more complex. Standard models come with rear leaf springs and outboard shocks. The Ranger Raptor uses a coil-over setup with adaptive Fox Live Valve dampers, and the rear ditches the leaf springs in favor of a Watts-style getup with trailing arms.All three trucks now come standard with four-wheel disc brakes. Welcome to the future, Toyota.Off-RoadToyota has only divulged off-road-specific specifications for the Tacoma TRD Pro, and it’s unclear when figures will arrive for all the other variants. The TRD Pro offers 9.5 inches of ground clearance and 11 inches of running ground clearance; in addition, it offers a 33.8-degree approach angle, a 23.5-degree breakover, and a 25.7-degree departure angle.The Colorado offers between 7.9 (WT, LT) and 9.5 (Trail Boss) inches of ground clearance, rising to 10.7 inches on the ZR2. The Z71 offers 29.1-degree approach, 19.5-degree breakover, and 22.3-degree departure angles; the Trail Boss is a little better at 30.5, 21, and 22.4 degrees, respectively. The ZR2 is obviously the king of the trims—approach is a meaty 38.3 degrees, breakover is 24.6 degrees and departure is 25.1.Ford also uses running ground clearance, which measures 8.8 inches on rear-drive models and 9.3 inches with four-wheel drive, rising to 10.7 inches on the Raptor. 4×2 Rangers offers 29.2-degree approach, 21.8-degree breakover, and 25.1-degree departure angles, improving to 30.2 degrees, 23.0 degrees, and 25.8 degrees (respectively) in 4×4 guise. The Raptor has them both beat, though; the angriest Ranger promises a 33.0-degree approach, 24.2-degree breakover, and 26.4-degree departure.Size and WeightThe Taco comes in both two-door and four-door variants, with the former offering a six-foot bed and the latter offering a choice of five- or six-foot beds. The Colorado’s five-foot-two-inch bed is all Chevy offers, and the Ranger’s sole bed comes in at five feet even. We don’t have too many dimensions from Toyota yet, but we have a few, and there are plenty available from both Chevy and Ford. The Ranger’s 128.7-inch wheelbase is a bit less than the Colorado’s 131.4-inch span, but the Tacoma tops them both at 131.9 inches. The Colorado is the tallest of the three. Inside, headroom is nearly even between the Ranger and Colorado, as is rear legroom; Toyota remains tight-lipped on any interior measurements. However, curb weights couldn’t be more different—the Ranger’s manufacturer estimates range from 4203 to 4415 pounds, while the Colorado ranges from 4716 to 4971 pounds. The off-road variants are pretty close, though, with Colorado ZR2 weighing 5298 pounds to the Ranger Raptor’s 5325. As for the Tacoma, we’ll have to wait to find out.2024 Toyota Tacoma.ToyotaTech The 2024 Toyota Tacoma’s lower grades get a seven-inch gauge cluster and an eight-inch infotainment display, with higher grades growing to include a 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 14-inch center touchscreen. Wireless smartphone mirroring is available, while three USB-C ports are offered in the front row, with the option to add more for rear-seat passengers. Keyless start is standard, and with the connected-car subscription enabled, certain devices can use a completely digital key.2024 Ford Ranger Lariat.FordThe Ranger’s tech offerings are slightly larger on base models, with an eight-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.1-inch central display standard, each growing to a respective 12.4 inches. Chevrolet has democratized its tech a little better, with every variant receiving the same 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard wireless smartphone mirroring. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71.ChevroletPriceSince all three vehicles are new, and only one is actually on sale as of this writing, pricing information remains light. The Tacoma’s pricing likely won’t appear for a while yet, as it goes on sale later this year. A base 2024 Ranger XL will set you back $35,755, while the Raptor is a bit dearer at $58,555.Colorado pricing is already established, though. A base two-wheel-drive Colorado WT will run you $30,695, while the 4WD LT will set you back $33,095. Stepping up to the beefier Trail Boss brings the total to $38,495, with the Z71 asking $41,395. At the top of the lineup, the hardcore ZR2 can be had for $48,295, a relative bargain over the Ranger Raptor.A Closer LookSenior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More