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It is Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance time again, when the most expensive cars in the world migrate to the coastal town of Monterey, California, accompanied by their owners, and followed by those who dream of owning them. The week leading up to the concours is a rush of themed shows, from little tiny autos to powerful racetrack legends. Flitting about like the monarchs the area is famous for are streams of classics and exotics sporting one-of-a-kind bodywork and rare engine options. It is, without a doubt, the most jaw-dropping car-spotting of the year. Michael Simari|Car and DriverWe’ve sent a few of our lucky editors to brave the traffic and the funny-colored trousers to bring you the best of Monterey Car Week. Check back from now through the weekend for updates leading up to the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 20.Michael Simari|Car and DriverWednesday: The ArrivalsThursday tends to be the busiest day on the highway from Los Angeles to Monterey, but we set out in the wee hours this Wednesday morning in order to make it to a few of the earlier events. On the way up you can always tell who, as Lenny Kravitz says, is gonna go your way. Car and DriverElana Scherr|Car and DriverThe Little Car ShowMonterey Car Week is all about big numbers, from auction results to hotel room tabs, but the festivities start off small, at the Pacific Grove Little Car Show. Pacific Grove neighbors Monterey, but it’s more suburban, with a charming main drag that’s perfect for lining up wee machines and taking a sunny stroll. 2023 marks the 13th year of the Little Car Show (with one year off during 2020), and there were so many itty-bitty cars that the show spilled out into the surrounding streets, with Peels, Messerschmitts, and MGs parked all over the neighborhood.If you’re curious as to how little a little car has to be, it’s really a little engine show, with a recently raised cap of 1800 cc (that’s almost two soda bottles’ worth of power, pals). “We considered doing it by wheelbase,” an organizer told me, “But nobody knows their car’s wheelbase.” I suggested taking a page out of the airline carry-on book and having a “Car Must Fit in This Space” template that participants must drive through. So maybe that will be next year. I’ll report back, as I’m hoping to sneak my 2.0L Opel GT in despite its cheater engine.Follow Along from Home More

Zenvo, a small Danish supercar builder, has revealed a new model featuring a hybrid V-12 powertrain called the Aurora at Monterey Car Week.Two hybrid setups are available—one pairs the V-12 with a single motor for 1450 hp while the other adds two additional electric motors on the front axle for 1850 hp.The Agil variant is more focused on lap times, sporting aggressive aerodynamics, while the Tur is designed more for eating up on-road miles.Since 2009, a small Danish firm called Zenvo has assembled a series of dramatic-looking mid-engined supercars powered by massive V-8 engines in extremely limited quantities, including the TSR-S and its bonkers rear wing that pivots both up and down as well as side to side. Now Zenvo has revealed its latest creation at Monterey Car Week, a V-12 hybrid hypercar called the Aurora.Zenvo AutomotiveZenvo says the Aurora—named for the aurora borealis natural light phenomenon—is the lightest and most powerful road car they’ve built, built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with a claimed dry weight under 3197 pounds. Behind the cabin sits a quad-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 that revs to 9800 rpm and churns out 1250 horsepower. Developed by Mahle Powertrain, 90-degree V-12 uses a “hot-V” configuration with the turbochargers placed between the cylinder banks.The Aurora will be sold in two versions—a tamer, road-focused Tur model and a more aggressive Agil variant—which each pair the V-12 to a different hybrid system. The Agil is rear-wheel drive and uses a single 200-hp electric motor to bump total output to 1450 hp, while the Tur comes with all-wheel drive courtesy of two more 200-hp electric motors at each front wheel. This 1850-hp setup is also offered on the Agil and produces a combined 1254 pound-feet of torque versus the rear-drive setup’s 1033 pound-foot total. Zenvo AutomotiveThe power flows through a seven-speed gearbox that incorporates the rear-mounted electric motor and is controlled by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The Tur is tuned for smoother gearshifts while the Agil’s gear changes are said to be more “mechanical.” The transmission also incorporates an electronic differential, while the front electric motors act as a torque-vectoring system. The two models sport distinct looks—the Tur is sleek and streamlined while the Agil is adorned with all manner of aerodynamic doodads. Zenvo says that the Agil, which comes in at 2866 pounds, can rip to 62 mph in an estimated 2.5 seconds and can reach 186 mph in just 10 second en route to a 227 mph top speed. Although the Tur is less focused on track performance and features a richer interior, its slipperier profile helps it hit 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and shave a second off of the sprint to 186 mph, with a claimed top speed of 280 mph.Zenvo AutomotiveThe Agil’s straight-line performance is likely held back by the substantial rear wing that can shift forward to act as an air brake and apply even more downforce when slowing for a corner. Zenvo claims the the Agil’s splitter, diffuser, and wing combine for 1940 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. Inside, the Agil is far more spartan than the Tur, with lightweight upholstery for the seats and doors and glimpses of the carbon-fiber chassis peeking through. The Tur’s cabin looks far more finished and additional sound proofing should help it feel more like a grand tourer than a track toy. Zenvo will build only 50 units for each Aurora model, with production kicking off in 2025 and the first Auroras being delivered to their owners in 2026. There’s no word on price, but the Aurora certainly won’t be cheap given that the 2019 TSR-S cost a cool $1.6 million.More Obscure SupercarsThis 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

Mercedes-AMG will produce a limited number of SL63 Manufaktur Big Sur special editions for 2024.It has Orange Flame Metallic exterior paint and special interior trim.Manufaktur is Mercedes’ customization program that lets buyers select a wider range of exterior and interior color and trim options.Mercedes-AMG has already confirmed that a new AMG GT coupe will debut this week at Pebble Beach, but the SL convertible on which it’s based isn’t being left out of the festivities entirely. This new 2024 SL63 Big Sur special edition is also being revealed, complete with special appearance tweaks meant to highlight the Manufaktur customization program.The SL63 Big Sur is finished in a Manufaktur color called Orange Flame Metallic, and this hue is also found in the cabin adorning the center console and other trim pieces. This particular shade of orange is supposedly meant to evoke Big Sur sunsets. Mercedes also added an additional AMG emblem, embroidered AMG logos in the floor mats, and a “Manufaktur” script on the center console storage compartment lid. The black nappa leather upholstery features orange contrasting stitching and a diamond quilted pattern.Mercedes-AMGThere aren’t any mechanical upgrades to the SL63’s 577-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, all-wheel-drive system, and nine-speed automatic transmission, but the Big Sur does come fully loaded. Standard equipment includes the front-axle lift system, 21-inch wheels, the Dynamic Plus package, the Active Ride Control suspension, and the Burmester upgraded sound system.AMG hasn’t said exactly how many Big Sur editions it will build, and we also don’t yet know the price—but figure somewhere around $200,000. And if this color combo isn’t exactly to your liking, the 2024 AMG SL will offer three new Manufaktur paint colors and two new interior leather options.Mercedes-AMGMore on the SLSenior 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

The Mitsubishi Mirage will be discontinued in the U.S., per a report by Automotive News.The tiny Mirage hatchback is one of America’s cheapest new cars, with the 2024 model starting at $17,790.The hatchback’s impending death means the same for its slightly pricier sedan counterpart, the Mirage G4. New cars sold in the U.S. that start under $20,000 are on the verge of extinction, and one more is about to get crossed off the list. That’s because the Mitsubishi Mirage—which has a base price of under $18,000—is set to be axed, according to a report yesterday by Automotive News.Mirage DisappearingThe AN article claims the Mirage subcompact hatchback and the Mirage G4 (the sedan version) will see their U.S. production end sometime in late 2025, with no plans for a new generation. However, if that timeline is accurate, it’s possible the nameplate could survive for at least one more model year after 2024, which is currently on sale. Car and Driver reached out to Jeremy Barnes, Mitsubishi’s North American spokesman, who declined to comment on the situation.MitsubishiWith the Mirage set to leave the U.S. market, that will leave very few options for customers seeking a new car around $20,000—let alone under that price. Currently, the Nissan Versa owns the title of cheapest new car, with the 2023 model starting at just over $17K with the standard manual transmission. Then again, judging by the Mirage’s dwindling sales volume, it’s possible it won’t be sorely missed.More on the MirageThis 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

A 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty raced to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, making it the quickest diesel truck we’ve ever tested.A 2020 F-250 last held the title, hitting 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, but the newer truck is helped by an extra 150 pound-feet of torque (1200 total).Not only is the ’23 F-250 six-tenths quicker to 60, but it’s also a half-second quicker through the quarter-mile and 1.2 seconds quicker to 90 mph. Heavy-duty pickup trucks are all about bragging rights. One year Ram has the best-in-class towing capacity, for example, the next Chevy or Ford owns the crown—and so on and so forth. When it comes to torque, the 2023 Ford Super Duty lineup is the current king of the hill, with its new high-output Power Stroke diesel V-8 summoning a seismic 1200 pound-feet. That recently helped a F-250 SuperCrew 4×4 hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, earning it the title of quickest diesel-powered truck we’ve ever tested and just impressively swift for anything weighing 8000-plus pounds.F-250 Beats Its Own RecordWhile heavy-duty pickups from different brands are often one-upping each other, this time Ford one-upped itself. That’s because the record the ’23 model broke was held by a 2020 F-250 SuperCrew 4×4 that reached 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. That truck also set the record for the quickest quarter-mile time for a diesel truck, racing 1320 feet in 14.6 seconds at 94 mph.Michael Simari|Car and DriverAs impressive as those milestones were, what’s more impressive is how much quicker the new F-250 accelerates. Not only did it hit 60 mph six-tenths sooner, but its 6.8-second sprint from 5 to 60 mph was nearly a full second quicker than before. In fact, the truck we tested was between three- and nine-tenths quicker than its predecessor in virtually all of our acceleration metrics. Along with finishing the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 97 mph, the F-250 hit 90 mph in 11.9 seconds (1.2 ticks quicker than before). Of course, to extract these record-setting times, we did more than just hop behind the wheel and stomp on the go pedal. Car and Driver testing director Dave VanderWerp had to use some right-foot finesse and get tricky with the 10-speed automatic transmission. With the transfer case switched to 4Hi, the quickest times came from a second-gear start with a healthy dose of brake torquing, and then a quick shift back to automatic mode right after launch, as the manual-shift function isn’t responsive enough to count on. Voilà!—achievement unlocked.H/O Power Stroke Is KeyJust like before, the three-quarter-ton Ford’s speediness is a byproduct of its prodigious output, which is now even higher thanks to an upgraded turbo-diesel 6.7-liter V-8. With new stainless-steel manifolds and piping that feeds a single turbo with a liquid-cooled compressor housing, the newly availably H/O Power Stroke can handle higher temperatures and allows more boost. The result is 500 horsepower and 1200 pound-feet of torque, compared with the standard engine’s 475 horses and 1050 pound-feet.Michael Simari|Car and DriverDespite myriad improvements following the 2023 Ford Super Duty’s significant refresh, which include the aforementioned engine upgrade and new tech features, our F-250 Platinum tester weighs almost exactly the same as the earlier F-250 Lariat—the new version’s 8100-pound curb weight is actually 20 pounds lighter. Both trucks were fitted with the off-road-oriented Tremor package that brings unique suspension bits, a limited-slip front differential, an electronic locking rear diff with a 3.55 gear ratio, and chunky 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires. Those knobby tires probably didn’t help in getting all of the F-250’s prodigious mass slowed down, however, with braking distance from 70 mph of 245 feet at the very lengthy end of any new vehicle.With Ford’s H/O Power Stroke V-8 currently owning the heavy-duty torque crown by a sizable margin, other heavy-duty trucks will be hard-pressed to beat its acceleration times. Meanwhile, we’re still interested to see how much quicker the Super Duty can be. Perhaps a lighter regular-cab F-250 with street-oriented tires and the mightiest diesel engine could shave off a few more tenths.Other Quick Ford TrucksThis 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