News

Ford released pricing for the 2024 F-150 lineup, and the base XL trim is up $2735 from last year to $38,565.Pricing for the muscled-up Raptor and Raptor R were also revealed, with the Raptor increasing by $1255 and and the Raptor R jumping by $2404.The pickup gets a refresh for 2024, earning an updated logo, boxier looks, and a fancy new tailgate. Ford has revealed significantly increased pricing for the 2024 F-150 lineup, with the entry-level XL trim seeing an increase of $2735 over the outgoing model. The updated pickup truck now starts at $38,565, and pricing ranges to more than $84,000 for the top-trim Platinum Plus model. The considerable rise in price comes as the F-150 earns a refresh heading into the new model year. The whole lineup gets new looks, and Ford rejiggered the engine lineup while also updating the cabin with more technology. The base 3.3-liter V-6 has been thrown to the wayside with the EcoBoost 2.7-liter V-6 filling the entry-level void. The twin-turbocharged setup raises base output for the F-150 to 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. And if six isn’t enough cylinders for you, not to worry: the 400-hp 5.0-liter V-8 is back as well. FordPricing is also out for the dialed-up Raptor and Raptor R models, which increase by $1255 and $2404 respectively. The standard Raptor (if you can call anything about this truck standard) now starts at $79,975. Stepping up to the even livelier Raptor R means cresting $110,000, as that model now starts at $111,550. Ford designed an optional new modular bumper for both the Tremor and Raptor models. It’s designed to fit either a factory-accessory light bar or a dealer-installed Ford Performance winch kit with a Warn 12,000-pound winch. The bumper is fitted with a series of extra cameras and sensors, because the addition of a light bar or winch blocks the normal front-facing equipment. More on Ford TrucksWe’re still not sure exactly when the new F-150 will go on sale, but we expect it will begin arriving on dealer lots early next year. 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

Mazda has updated the MX-5 Miata for the Japanese market, with the same changes expected to come to the United States for the 2024 model year.The Miata now wears LED lights all around, and the cabin trades the 7.0-inch screen for an 8.8-inch unit.A new limited-slip differential, revised electric power steering, and a new track-oriented stability control setting is said to improve handling.The current Mazda MX-5 Miata—referred to as “ND” by Mazda aficionados—is one of the older vehicles on sale in the United States, first hitting the market back in 2016. But a series of small updates have helped the adorable little roadster stay relevant, and now a host of upgrades have been announced for the Japanese market that will extend the Miata’s life by another several years. We expect these changes to make their way to the U.S. for the 2024 model year.The Miata, famously, is one of the most grin-inducing driver’s cars of all time and Mazda updated the hardware to make the MX-5 even more engaging. The two-seater is fitted with a new asymmetric limited-slip differential, which Mazda says makes the handling more stable by reducing liftoff oversteer and creating more linear turning behavior. Mazda also claims it’s more nimble around town, although the diminutive roadster already felt sprightly among America’s sea of bulky trucks. The differential is only equipped on stick-shift Miatas, and all Miata also come with revised electric power steering said to minimize friction and provide more natural feedback. Manual-transmission Miatas also feature a new less-intrusive track setting for the stability control which only steps in if the driver cannot gain control as the vehicle enters a spin.The styling is mostly unchanged, but every exterior lamp is now an LED unit and the daytime running lights have migrated from the front bumper into the headlights. The taillight graphics are also sharpened, and a new wheel design is available in 16- or 17-inch sizes. A new color joins the palette called Aero Gray Metallic. Inside, the 7.0-inch touchscreen has been replaced by an 8.8-inch display, and the images also appear to show USB-C ports.While the Miata is all about driver connection, Mazda has also added some driver-assist features designed to make the Miata a less demanding vehicle for the daily commute. The MX-5 gains a radar sensor on the left side of the grille that allows for adaptive cruise control, while a Smart Brake Support feature looks out for vehicles while reversing and applies the brakes to avoid collisions. More on the MiataMazda hasn’t officially confirmed these changes for the U.S. market, but we expect to see these updates soon since the automaker has yet to release information on the Miata for the 2024 model year. The upgrades should bring a minor price increase that could see the MX-5’s starting price rise above the $30,000 mark.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

Every scholarship athlete on the University of Utah football team will be given a pickup truck as part of a sweeping NIL deal between the team and For the Win 360 (FTW360). The deal is part of the NCAA’s new NIL (Name Image Likeness) rules that allow athletes to be compensated for outside brands using their name, image, or likeness (or otherwise profiting off the athlete’s fame).Each scholarship athlete will receive a 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup truck with the Night Edition package.The NCAA’s new NIL rules are only a couple of years old, but the concept of college athletes getting gifted new cars is much, much older. All the way back in 1979, Eric Dickerson was considered one of the best football recruits in the country—and Texas A&M wanted him. The story goes that after Dickerson turned down a suitcase filled with $50,000 of cash, A&M found out he wanted a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. So A&M procured one for him (painted gold, no less). New RulesBut now that the NCAA allows its athletes to profit from their own name, image, and likeness, athletes are able to make over-the-table deals for new cars. The newest large-scale deal is coming to the University of Utah football team, where every scholarship athlete will receive a brand-new pickup truck. FTW360As part of the launch of its new video app made for NIL NCAA collectives, FTW 360 (For the Win 360) will offer a 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup with the blacked-out Night Edition package to scholarship athletes playing football for the Utes. A fleet management company is responsible for leasing and managing the nearly 100 Rams FTW360 is offering the team. Donors are covering the lease and insurance costs of these trucks, with the caveat that each student must remain on scholarship and eligible to play.Qualifying athletes only need to have a good driving record and be willing to promote awareness of the collective. According to FTW360, the athletes will be encouraged to give back to their communities, though that isn’t a necessity. More on the Ram 1500With a price of just over $50,000 in stubbier four-door Quad Cab form, these Rams represent a total donation amount of well over $5 million by FTW360. The athlete’s trucks won’t be covered in the Utah themed wrap shown above; but even with the Night Edition package’s five available colors available on the Big Horn trim, it’s sure to be a struggle for Utes players to find their Ram in the parking lot after practice. (“Uhhh, which of these 20 black Ram 1500 Big Horns is mine again?”)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