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The 2025 Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid is on the way, but it’s not destined for the U.S. market.The Ranger’s PHEV powertrain will likely make over 443 pound-feet of torque and provide about 28 miles of electric driving range.Ford says Americans who want an electrified truck can choose between the hybrid Maverick, the plug-in-hybrid F-150, and the F-150 Lightning EV.The new Ford Ranger is adding a plug-in-hybrid powertrain, it just won’t be available in the United States. Instead, the PHEV variant will be offered in Australia, Europe, and New Zealand, with production set to start at the end of next year before the first models hit driveways sometime in early 2025.Chart-Topping TorqueThe plug-in Ranger features a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and the obligatory battery pack. While Ford doesn’t give specific details about the e-motor, the battery capacity, or the combined system output, the company does claim that the PHEV configuration will provide more torque than any other Ranger. Since the diesel 3.0-liter V-6 that’s available overseas is the current leader with 443 pound-feet, we expect the electrically assisted setup to exceed that figure.FordThose who want drive the PHEV Ranger on electricity alone can expect to go 28 miles on a full charge. Of course, that estimate is based on the optimistic European WLTP test cycle. Ford also says the electrified mid-size truck offers four-wheel drive and can tow as much as its internal-combustion counterparts, with a max capacity around 7700 pounds. The plug-in-hybrid model also offers something those other versions don’t—Pro Power Onboard, which means the truck can function as a generator to run everything from power tools to appliances.FordWhat about U.S. Customers?The U.S. version of the 2024 Ford Ranger is available with multiple powertrains: a 270-hp turbo 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 315-hp 2.7-liter turbo four. There’s also the might 405-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 that’s exclusive to the off-road-focused, widebody Ranger Raptor. So what about folks who want an electrified pickup truck that wears the new-look Blue Oval badge? A Ford spokesperson told Car and Driver that the company believes it offers alternatives with the Maverick hybrid as well as the F-150 plug-in hybrid and F-150 Lightning EV.More Ranger 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

Maybach could be ramping up its efforts to produce even more high-end, ultra-exclusive models.A wide-ranging list of “Myth” and “Legend” cars are under consideration, including variants of the G-wagen and even a possible supercar.The subbrand’s aim is to close the gap with ultra-luxury brands such as Bentley and Rolls-Royce.Maybach is no doubt the most prestigious name in the Mercedes portfolio, but we hear that it’s about to go even higher into the ultra-luxury echelon. The Maybach lineup currently includes high-end versions of the S-class, EQS SUV, and GLS, and in the near future it will expand with additional examples of the brand’s so-called “Myth” or “Legend” cars. These extra-special models are either very expensive limited-run vehicles or even more exclusive one-offs commissioned by wealthy collectors.In addition to the already launched Mercedes-Maybach S-class and GLS, we expect to see a new Mercedes-Maybach SL (illustrated below), which will boast more bling per square inch of sheetmetal than any other passenger car this side of a Kahn or Mansory conversion. But it takes more than extreme ornamentation to elevate the next-generation portfolio to the narrow gap between Bentley and Rolls-Royce the marque seems to aim at.Illustration by Christian Schulte|Car and Driver”That’s why we are going to turn Maybach into kind of a coachbuilt super-Mercedes which lifts personalization to a whole new level,” a senior decision-maker told C/D. The main means to this end are unique body panels and ultimately a made-to-measure body in white. BMW is also apparently exploring something similar for its upmarket Alpina brand. Although the current Maybach range has no expiration date attached to it, the next flagship sedan derived from Mercedes’ upcoming MB.EA-L matrix will reportedly not only get its own livery but also feature a bespoke cockpit complete with an individualized hyperscreen and virtual-reality trim. The “Legend” cars roam an even more prestigious and illustrious orbit. The pricing can easily stretch into seven figures, as absolute rarity, outstanding performance, and exquisite execution are of the essence here. There is no limit to the imagination, either. Just look at some of the proposals currently under review:Reborn Gullwing: A 2+2 sports car with W198 300SL genes and a potential roadster spinoffThe Ultimate SEC-Class: A pillarless four-door, four-seater luxury coupePanamericana Cruiser: A low-roof all-terrain SUV based on new electric G-wagenC111 Reimagined: The working title for the recently released orange Vision One-Eleven (pictured below)GLR Slantback: A coupe-like stripped G-class with canvas-top pickup rear endAMG EQR Two: An electric follow-up to the complex F1-inspired AMG One hypercarEQS Shooting Brake: The ultimate luxury wagon featuring a multi-functional roofEQS SUV Streamliner: Squaring the circle with the world’s lowest-drag crossoverMaybach Vision 2: A long-wheelbase super-luxury two-door coupe and convertibleThere is no doubt about it: inside the Maybach think tank, “anything goes” is not an empty phrase. Ask Mercedes execs to name the key elements of luxury, and they will invariably name space, privacy and exclusivity as undisputed top priorities. Also high up on their list are extraordinary quality and craftsmanship, world-class safety and comfort, autonomous- ready software and hardware, and EV fast charging in five minutes or less. Other brand shapers are the emotional appeal luxury cars can provide, the special feel-good experience of a unique interior, and the automobile as a high-end mobile retreat which combines the creature comforts of a living room with a totally relaxed driving and riding experience. According to the CTO Markus Schäfer, luxury is not an end in itself but a message and a mission wrapped in a second-to-none cocoon: “At the end of the day, the marque’s understanding of luxury is to be the ultimate purveyor of quality time on the go—CO2-neutral, stress-negative, response-positive and totally unique in execution.”More Maybach CreationsContributing 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

The 2024 Nissan Z’s pricing appears to have leaked in the online forum NissanZClub.Both the Sport and Performance models jump by $1220, while pricing for the new NISMO starts over $65,000.We reached out to Nissan for confirmation on the prices, but we’ve yet to hear back. We got our first real look at the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO back in July, but we’ve been in the dark on how much it’ll cost—until now. Pricing for the 2024 lineup appears to have been leaked online in the NissanZClub forum, which includes figures for the upcoming NISMO variant. According to the forum posting, the entry Sport trim jumps $1220 and now carries a starting price of $43,305. Like last year, the middle-of-the-pack Performance trim adds a sportier suspension tune, a limited-slip differential, and upgraded brakes. For 2024, pricing for the Performance trim rises by the same rate as the Sport and now starts at $53,305 (including the $1095 destination charge applicable to all Zs). NissanThose figures are pretty unsurprising, but the big question mark up to this point has been the NISMO model. According to the forum, the NISMO will carry a starting price of $66,085, though it also mentions that floor mats, illuminated kick plates, and door guards are required options that add an additional $1120 over the standard MSRP.That’s a sizable step up in price when compared to the Performance trim. Under the hood, Nissan fiddled with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. The changes include a redesigned wastegate, better cooling, and performance-enhancing ignition timing that brings power figures up to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, the NISMO is only offered with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Nissan claims retuned engine-management software provides quicker downshifts. We reached out to Nissan for confirmation on the 2024 Z’s pricing, but we haven’t yet heard back. We’ll update this story if the company does respond.More on the Z CoupeThis 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

BMW has confirmed specs and pricing for the upcoming plug-in-hybrid version of the 2024 5-series.Called the 550e xDrive, it has a six-cylinder gasoline engine, a 19.4-kWh battery pack, and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission.The 550e xDrive will start at $74,795 and will go on sale in the U.S. in spring 2024.Although it has now spawned a new electric variant called the i5, the latest generation of the BMW 5-series luxury sedan will continue to offer a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. We now have specs and pricing for the new 2024 BMW 550e xDrive, along with confirmation that it will arrive in the U.S. in the spring of 2024.As you might guess from its badging, this new hybrid model is considerably more powerful than the previous-generation BMW 530e PHEV. It uses a six-cylinder gasoline engine instead of a four-cylinder, which means it produces a total of 483 horsepower. The electric motor is integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission, and the battery pack is significantly larger than before, at 19.4 kWh. We don’t have EPA ratings yet, but based on global WLTP range estimates, this bigger battery should enable a far longer electric range of around 40 miles on the EPA cycle, or nearly double what the old 530e offered.More on the 5-seriesBMWWe don’t yet have photos of the 550e, so we’ve pictured the Europe-spec 530e hybrid here. BMW will continue to offer this four-cylinder PHEV setup in other markets; it has 295 horsepower and the same battery pack. The U.S. will only get the 550e, and it may look different from the model pictured here, possibly sporting an M Sport body kit and larger wheels.BMWWith a starting price of $74,795, the 550e will be positioned above either of the 5-series’ gasoline models, the 530i and 540i. At least until the new M5 arrives, the hybrid will be the second most powerful 5-series, behind only the electric 593-hp i5 M60 xDrive which starts at $85,095. Look for the 550e to arrive at U.S. dealerships starting in the spring of 2024.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 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