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Subaru confirmed a new WRX variant is on the way; unfortunately for longtime fans of the nameplate, it won’t be a new STI.Instead, Subaru is teasing an “enthusiast-focused” WRX TR, the last of which was a “Tuner Ready” version in 2006.According to the automaker, the full reveal will happen at Subaru’s Subiefest at Daytona International Speedway on October 7.Subaru just teased a new “enthusiast-focused” WRX sedan, and no, unfortunately it is not the WRX STI variant we all so desperately want. Instead, the automaker is reaching back to 2006 for a different historical name. The automaker is resurrecting the TR moniker, as in “Tuner Ready” to describe the new version. Subaru is tight-lipped on details at this point, but we can still infer a few things from the tight-cropped teaser image.The last WRX TR was a bare-bones variant meant for buyers who wanted to customize the car any way they want in the aftermarket. It came with a cheap stereo, non-leather steering wheel, and regular seats. Subaru didn’t even bother painting the mirror caps. SubaruIt seems a little unlikely that the Subaru of today would create something as basic as the 2006 WRX TR. The last TR was actually $1000 cheaper than the standard WRX. Looking at the teaser photo of the new model, we can spot Brembo brakes peeking out from behind the new wheels. The teaser also shows a set of side skirts.More on the WRXThe new 2023 WRX starts at $31,625 and ranges up to the grown-up GT trim that starts at $44,415. There aren’t enough details to really know if Subaru is leaning into the no-frills aspect of the last TR, but we don’t really expect this new version will cost less than the base WRX. The full reveal of the car is scheduled for October 7 at the automaker’s annual Subiefest event in Daytona Beach, Florida. 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

Hyundai and Kia recalled more than 3.3 million vehicles over fire concerns on Tuesday, a federal filing shows. The automaker says affected vehicles should be parked away from homes and other structures.“The vehicle’s anti-lock brake system module could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short,” a National Highway Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing says. “An electrical short could result in significant overcurrent in the ABS module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving or parked.” Hyundai said owners can continue to drive the vehicles and that it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries due to these issues, Reuters reports. To date, Hyundai says it knows of 21 related vehicle fires and 22 “thermal incidents” (visible smoke, burning, and melting) in the United States. Kia also reported 10 incidents of fire and melting. Affected vehicles include 1.64 million Hyundai models: 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid; 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster; 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe; 2014-2015 Equus; 2010-2012 Veracruz; 2010-2013 Tucson; 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell; and 2013 Santa Fe Sport. Kia’s recall encompasses the 2010-2019 Borrego; 2014-2016 Cadenza; 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage; 2015-2018 K900; 2011-2015 Optima; 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul; 2012-2017 Rio; 2011-2014 Sorento; and 2010-2011 Rondo. Owners of any of these models should see their local dealer for a replacement fuse once they receive a letter via first-class mail with instructions.Contributing EditorKristin Shaw fell in love with cars while visiting dozens of auto shows as a kid, which explains her love for big-finned 1950s cars and 1960s Corvettes. She competed in her first Rebelle Rally, an all-female off-roading competition, in the fall of 2022 in a lifted Hyundai Santa Cruz and will participate again in 2023. Her words have appeared in numerous publications like Popular Science, Edmunds, The Drive, GearJunkie, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Wheels, Today, The Washington Post and more. More

Genesis adds a Coupe version of its GV80 SUV for the 2025 model year.The GV80 Coupe will offer the e-supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 from the G90.The 2025 GV80 Coupe and SUV have debuted in Korea ahead of their U.S. arrival next year.Three years into its production run, the Genesis GV80 is branching out with a second body style for 2025, the GV80 Coupe. Previewed by the GV80 Coupe Concept that made its debut at the 2023 New York auto show, it presents a slightly faster-sloping roofline than the already-stylish standard GV80. Presumably, the GV80 Coupe will not offer the optional third-row seat, which is already a cramped affair in the regular GV80.Whereas the standard GV80 will continue with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine and an available twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, the GV80 Coupe gets a third engine choice: the e-supercharged V-6 from the G90 sedan, where it makes 409 horsepower. With that range-topping engine comes launch control, a Sport+ driving mode, and a selectable instrument cluster view that includes auxiliary gauges. The Coupe also incorporates an Active Sound Design feature that mimics the sound of “a large-displacement sport coupe’s exhaust,” and adjustable brake-pedal response. Both models can be had with an electronically controlled suspension with road preview. The GV80 Coupe wears an evolved version of the oversized shield-shaped grille and twin-line headlights, both shared with the standard GV80 for 2025. The Coupe gets exclusive 20- and 22-inch wheels, while in both models, the exhaust tips hide behind the rear bumper.Inside, the infotainment screen merges with the digital instrument cluster to create a single 27.0-inch display. Genesis also switches to touch-based climate controls (oh, no!) and ups the bling factor with a crystal gear selector. Rear-seat passengers get a new 14.6-inch screen of their own, and heated armrests join the list of sybaritic comfort features.Genesis continues to go beyond the usual grayscale color palette, with 13 exterior paint colors for the standard GV80 and 15 for the GV80 Coupe. The GV80 also offers five interior color schemes including two different browns and Glacier White. The 2025 GV80 lineup is just now making its debut in the home market and is expected to reach U.S. dealers sometime in 2024. We don’t yet know pricing, but we expect the Coupe to cost a few thousand dollars more than the SUV.More on GenesisThis 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.Deputy Editor, Reviews and FeaturesJoe Lorio has been obsessed with cars since his Matchbox days, and he got his first subscription to Car and Driver at age 11. Joe started his career at Automobile Magazine under David E. Davis Jr., and his work has also appeared on websites including Amazon Autos, Autoblog, AutoTrader, Hagerty, Hemmings, KBB, and TrueCar. More

Kia has announced a starting price for the 2024 EV9 three-row electric SUV.The base model is the EV9 Light RWD, which has a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 215 hp.Pricing for the Long Range models and the dual-motor AWD configurations has not been announced yet.The base version of Kia’s new electric three-row SUV, the EV9, will cost about as much as a fully loaded version of the gas-powered Telluride. The 2024 EV9 in its standard Light RWD configuration officially has an MSRP of $54,900; while Kia hasn’t yet provided the mandatory destination charge, based on destination charges for the EV6 we suspect the base price will come in at just over $56,000.This configuration features a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 215 horsepower, which sources energy from a 76.1-kWh battery pack. EPA range estimates aren’t yet available, but Kia estimates this version will deliver 223 miles of range. 215 hp isn’t much for propelling the EV9’s 5000-pound curb weight around, so we’ve previously estimated this model to accelerate to 60 mph in a laggard 8.0 seconds.More on the EV9Pricing for the more desirable versions of the EV9—which are available with larger battery packs for more range and dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain setups with significantly more power—is still forthcoming. We reckon the larger Long Range battery pack, measuring 99.8 kWh, will add several thousand dollars to the bottom line. So, too, will the 379-hp dual-motor powertrain offered in the Wind, Land, and GT-Line trim levels. Fully loaded versions will likely top $70,000.Kia says that the EV9 will go on sale in the U.S. late this year, with initial units coming from Korea. Next year, Kia will move production to its factory in West Point, Georgia.Senior 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

Westfalia has been absent from North American market for 20 years, and now it’s coming backOriginally a VW-based brand, this new effort will be centered around Ram ProMaster vans.This new company will be based out of Ontario and is looking to establish a dealer network in 2024 and beyond.For decades, the sight of a Volkswagen camper van meant two things: free-wheeling adventure for its owner and prayers for a passing lane from anyone stuck behind it. Westfalia camper conversions, or “Westys,” spawned a whole subculture of the van life movement, rolling slow and setting up home whenever the sun began settling low on the horizon. But then Daimler bought out the Westfalia-Werke camper conversion company and put an end to pop-top VWs. It’s been 20 years since Westfalia camper vans were sold in America—but now, they’re coming back.Clearly, Westfalia’s current owner, the French Groupe Rapido, has been paying attention. North American brand recognition of the Westfalia name is too valuable a prospect to simply ignore, and the new Westfalia-Americas company is planning a return for 2024.More on Camper VansDo not, however, expect any sloth-like Volkswagen campers. Westfalia does still offer camper versions of VW vans across the pond, but as those vans are not sold here, certifying them for U.S. regulations would likely be cost prohibitive. And although Westfalia also makes campers out of the Mercedes Metris van, the Metris is dead in North America for 2024. Instead, the sole candidate for a reborn Westfalia is the Ram ProMaster.In Europe, there are are four versions of what Westfalia calls its Columbus model (pictured at top), all built on a Fiat platform similar to that of the Ram ProMaster sold here. Westfalia’s pre-production display model is a class B van built from the ProMaster, and can sleep up to six in three fold-away berths—yes, including up top in a pop-up roof section. It’s not as big as other RVs, but offers flexibility and plenty of cargo storage.According to trade journal RV Business, the conversions will be done by Roadtrek in Ontario, Canada, which already does camper conversions on the ProMaster 3500 chassis. As yet, a dealer network is still in the early planning stages. However, Westfalia is back with its pop-top roof, just like its fondly-remembered peripatetic ancestors. And, just like those slow and steady VW-based machines promised, the return of Westfalia to North America comes with tremendous appeal. When wherever you are happens to be home, why not keep roaming?Contributing 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