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Ferrari just pulled back the sheet on the newest one-off from its Special Projects outfit.Dubbed the SP-8, the special-edition roadster features a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 pulled from the F8 Spider. Ferrari will put the SP-8 on display at the Mugello Circuit and then at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello before being delivered to the owner in Taiwan in March 2024. Reflect for a moment on the idea that the Ferrari F8 Spider is an exciting and special car with its own merits. Now consider how much more special it could be as a one-of-one special-edition roadster designed and built by Ferrari’s Special Projects program. Ponder no more, as one incredibly wealthy (we’re assuming on that part) Ferrari customer worked with the brand to create the one-off SP-8 roadster.A More Special F8 SpiderThe new special-edition Ferrari derives its look, performance, and name from the F8 Spider. Ferrari neglected to give performance specifics for the SP-8, but the twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 mounted behind the seats produces 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the F8. Those are the same figures as the performance-oriented 488 Pista, and the engine is claimed to propel the car to repeatable sub-3.0-second times to 60 mph.FerrariWhile the F8 is a droptop convertible, the special edition bids a heartfelt arrivederci to the roof, instead opting for a roadster format. According to Ferrari, losing the roof required a combination of simulations, wind-tunnel testing, and track testing to bring the standard for comfort to the same level as the F8.The styling for the SP-8 is clearly descended from the F8, though the one-0ff adds its own personality throughout. The front end is redone, with a longer, more assertive splitter. The front half of the car is finished in an unpainted glossy iridescent Blue Sandstone carbon fiber, while the rear bodywork is finished in a matte Argento Micalizzato gray paint. Ferrari says the exclusive five-spoke wheels represent a modern take on the brand’s classic prototypes as well as harking back to the alloy wheels on the F40. FerrariSP-8 Is PricelessAs is generally the case with Ferrari Special Projects cars, the manufacturer neglected to give out price details. Whatever the figure is, it’s sure to be much higher than the roughly $330,000 starting price of the F8 Spider. The car will be put on display at the Mugello Circuit from October 24 until the end of this year’s Finali Mondiali Ferrari on October 29, 2023. It will then be displayed at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from November 16 until March 2024 before the owner takes delivery of the car in Taiwan. More on the F8 and Ferrari Special ProjectsThis 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 UAW has expanded its ongoing strike to two large assembly plants that build some of General Motors’ and Stellantis’ most profitable vehicles. Workers walked out of the Arlington, Texas, plant that builds GM’s full-size SUVs including the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade; this follows an expansion of the strike to Stellantis’ Sterling Heights, Michigan, facility that builds the Ram 1500 full-size pickup truck.The UAW said that 5000 workers from the GM Arlington plant are now on strike, along with 6800 workers from the Stellantis Sterling Heights plant. The union says that GM’s current offer does not adequately reward workers for their contributions to the company’s profits, while claiming that Stellantis’ offer lags behind GM and Ford and is the “worst proposal on the table” in terms of wage progression and other financial concerns.StellantisIn a statement, General Motors responded by saying that, “The current offer is the most significant that GM has ever proposed to the UAW.” Stellantis, meanwhile, has reacted by pulling out of several major auto shows and events, including the upcoming Los Angeles auto show, SEMA aftermarket show, and CES technology show. The automaker cited growing costs due to the strike as the reason for these cancellations.This is a developing story and we will continue to update.More on the StrikeSenior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

Infiniti confirmed a revised full-size QX80 SUV will arrive in 2024. A new model called the QX65 will be a mid-size crossover coupe.There are also hints of a future electric SUV with the Vision QXe concept.Things have been quiet at Infiniti, but the Japanese luxury brand has been working in the background on both concepts and dealer-ready new models. On the eve of the Tokyo auto show, Infiniti showcased its plans for both future electric models and two new gas-powered SUVs. The QX65—shown in concept form—will be a new nameplate for Infiniti. The QX65 is a mid-size crossover with a sloped “coupe” rear end poised to compete with other two-row luxury SUVs, including those from Lexus and Genesis. It will likely share components with the three-row QX60 mid-size luxury SUV.For those needing three rows, the full-size QX80 gets a redesign, with the goal of taking on the big dogs of glamorous fleet transport such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The QX80’s exterior should look much like the QX Monograph concept unveiled during 2023 Monterey Car Week, with an imposing slab-sided body and a vertical waterfall-style grille.Interior materials should also get an upgrade, and Infiniti promises comfort and tech for all three rows. While electrification is still to come, we do expect the outgoing QX80’s 5.6-liter V-8 to be replaced with something smaller, more powerful, and more fuel efficient in the new model—possibly a twin-turbo V-6.An electric SUV is on the way, too, and is previewed by the QXe concept shown in Infiniti’s teaser photo of these four new models, alongside the Qe electric sedan concept. But we don’t have any details on that model yet, and it will likely come later than these two new gas-powered models once it reaches production.More on Infiniti ModelsSenior Editor, FeaturesLike 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

Infiniti has been slow to bring an electric car to market. The fastback Vision Qe sedan is a concept for Infiniti’s first EV. Infiniti designers say the concept should inspire thoughts of extraordinary, sophisticated, and dynamism.In an interesting marketing choice, Infiniti, which has so far stayed out of the EV market, plans to make its first electric vehicle a smooth sedan, rather than the more expected mid-size SUV that most of its competitors have chosen. Time will tell if that’s the right decision, but in the meantime, Infiniti showcased the concept for the electron-eating four-door ahead of the 2023 Tokyo auto show. The Vision Qe concept is a large fastback sedan with the smooth profile of a river rock. It’s so sleek it appears almost half-carved. Senior vice president for global design, Alfonso Albaisa, says that the Vision Qe is inspired by the Japanese expression, “Sho,” which invokes the powerful, but graceful, flight of an elegant bird. Certainly the design suggests movement, with swept-back body lines and a tapering rear. The concept is finished in a dark metallic blue, flecked with gold and gold accents pepper the design from wheels to lit-up trim. Light plays a major part in the Vision Qe, with glowing details all across its barely upturned spoiler in the rear and tracing the shape of its widespread snowplow of a front fascia. Infiniti says the massive wheels with their interlaced wire pattern represent the wound coils of an electric motor, and they too are finished in a light gold. The concept is striking, but seems unlikely to make it to production unchanged, which might mean that Infiniti’s first EV is just a plain ‘ol four-door at a time when customers are shying away from sedans. The production version of this concept is likely to be built at Nissan’s factory in Canton, Mississippi, alongside a Nissan version that we’ve speculated could adopt the name Maxima. The two companies previously said that they would start production of two new EV models at this facility in 2025, meaning they could arrive for the 2026 model year. We don’t know what the Infiniti will be called, but it may bring back a name from a past sedan such as Q70.More on Future EVsSenior Editor, FeaturesLike 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 Honda Passport starts at $43,275 (EX-L trim), which is $800 more than before.The rugged TrailSport trim level and top-spec Black Edition have starting prices of $45,875 and $49,345, respectively.Along with making the TrailSport more capable, the ’24 Passport receives a wider center console with more storage space.There’s a new Honda Passport hitting dealer lots today. Well, it’s largely the same as the outgoing model year, expect—for 2024—Honda makes a few updates to its two-row mid-size SUV that make it a little more appealing. Perhaps more appealing than that, the 2024 Honda Passport’s prices only rise between $800 and $1410.2024 Passport PricesPurchasing the keys to a new entry-level Passport EX-L will set shoppers back $43,275, which is an $800 increase compared with last year. That model comes standard with 20-inch wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, leather upholstery, a power-operated tailgate, and driver assists such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Like all ’24 Passports, there’s a new wider center console with more space to store larger items.Those with an adventurous side might consider the Passport TrailSport. Starting at $45,875, it costs $900 more than before. However, that extra money is put to good use, as the TrailSport benefits from knobbier General Grabber ATX all-terrain tires, a revised suspension for better articulation and ride quality, 0.4-inch wider front and rear tracks, and newly designed 18-inch wheels.At the top of the Passport pile is the Black Edition that replaces the Elite trim level for 2024. The Black Edition brings the biggest price hike, which is still a reasonable $1410. Along with exclusive exterior details, including black 20-inch wheels and body trim, the top-of-the-line Passport has ventilated front seats as well as heated rear seats all trimmed with red contrast stitching.Every 2024 Honda Passport is powered by a 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that pairs with a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. That powertrain has the same EPA fuel-economy ratings the previous model year, which are 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.Extra Passport 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 journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Toyota has released a teaser image showing the tailgate of a new mid-size SUV that we think is the Crown SUV.Along with a hybrid badge on its rump, the letter “C” can be seen where the model name goes—fueling our belief it’s a Crown.The automaker previously revealed a Toyota Crown global lineup, and we think it may have included the mysterious mid-sizer.The Toyota Crown nameplate is well-known in the Japanese market where it’s been around since 1955. While it was sold on our shores between 1958 and 1972, it only recently returned to U.S. with the debut of the 2023 Toyota Crown that purposely pushed the boundaries of what qualifies as a sedan. Now Toyota looks to expand the Crown family by offering an SUV version in North America, and today it released a teaser photo of that vehicle.Mid-Size Crown SUVIn addition to the single photo, Toyota writes: “With All-Wheel Drive, this hybrid electric mid-size SUV goes beyond what’s expected.” Obviously, that sentence is riddled with hyperbole courtesy of the automaker’s marketing team, especially since we’re not sure who doesn’t expect a mid-size SUV without all-wheel drive, but that’s beside the point. The point is Toyota has clearly confirmed the mysterious SUV will have mid-size dimensions, a hybrid powertrain, and all-wheel drive.A quick glance at the image Toyota released doesn’t get the imaginative juices going. After all, the close-up shot of a tailgate with an all-wheel-drive and hybrid badges could be a handful of Toyota models. However, closer inspection reveals the letter “C” at the start of the model name above the rear license holder. It’s true that the Corolla Cross is another SUV that starts with “C,” but we’re convinced it’s a new Crown model. We also might now what it will look like.Crown SUV DesignMore than a year ago, Toyota revealed a litter of new global Crown models with designs that are more traditional than the high-riding sedan that’s currently on sale in America. Among the three concepts, the yellow one that the company referred to as a wagon has proportions similar to a mid-size SUV.ToyotaThe Crown in question has very short overhangs, a blacked out roof and forward pillars, large wheels, and a front lighting signature that looks like it was cribbed from the Ferrari Purosangue. If we’re not mistaken, the tailgate in the teaser is very similar to the concept’s, with slim taillights and matching creases around the license-plate holder and bumper section. We’ll just have to hold tight until Toyota pulls the cover back. More about the Toyota CrownThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More