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Tesla has introduced a new Universal Wall Connector with a built-in adapter for both Tesla (NACS) and J1772 plugs for EV charging.The Universal unit also allows control and monitoring of charging history and energy use via the Tesla app, a feature new to the Wall Connector.Its $595 price is slightly higher than the current Wall Connector, it’s available for order now, and Tesla says it will start shipping in October.Today Tesla announced a new Universal Wall Connector, a Level 2 EV charger that’s intended for home use as well as in Tesla’s 40,000-strong public Level 2 chargers it refers to as destination charging. This means that owners of any non-Tesla EVs will be able to use this latest Tesla charging equipment without a separate adapter.With a critical mass of automakers recently announcing that they will be switching from the J1772 plug to Tesla’s NACS receptacle in the 2025 timeframe, this isn’t a surprising move. Now Tesla stands not only to benefit from non-Tesla owners paying to charge at its Superchargers, but also will potentially sell a lot more home-charging units. Meanwhile, the other big players in home charging, such as ChargePoint, are rushing to add Tesla’s NACS plug to their offerings. What’s DifferentThe new unit looks almost identical to its third-generation Wall Connector that is currently on sale, and all the specs carry over as well, with two key differences. The first is a built-in adapter to allow seamless switching between plugging in to a vehicle with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, which is currently found only on Teslas, and the round, J1772 plug that is used to charge nearly every other EV in the U.S. This is similar to the so-called Magic Dock adapter the company has built into some of its latest Supercharger stations to be able to be able to fast charge non-Tesla EVs. The other major change is that, through the Tesla app, users will be able to schedule or stop and start charging and view charging history and energy usage for the first time. TeslaThe current Wall Connector already has Wi-Fi connectivity for firmware updates and to be able to network multiple units together to share power from the same circuit without exceeding a peak programable power draw. While Tesla owners can monitor their charging history through the car and a third-party app such as TeslaFi, there’s currently no option for non-Tesla owners to track their charging, something that has kept the Wall Connector from being our top pick in our EV charging test.TeslaTeslaCost and When You Can Get OneTesla currently sells Wall Connectors with either the NACS ($475) or J1772 ($550) plugs, while the price of the new Universal unit is up slightly, to $595. Both the current and new Universal Wall Connector have a maximum output of 11.5 kW, a 24-foot cable that is thinner than those of the competition, and come only as a hardwire option.More on ChargingThe Universal Wall Connector is available to order now, and while Tesla says the app functionality won’t launch until late August or early September, that shouldn’t matter, as the company says the new units will start shipping in October. Tesla is sending us one to try, so we’ll be back with a review soon.Director, Vehicle TestingDave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, in varied roles from engineering to product consulting, and now leading Car and Driver’s vehicle-testing efforts. Dave got his very lucky start at C/D by happening to submit an unsolicited resume at just the right time to land a part-time road warrior job when he was a student at the University of Michigan, where he immediately became enthralled with the world of automotive journalism. More

Lexus has revealed the latest Inspiration Series, a new limited-edition run for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible. The special edition adds front bumper canards, a limited-slip differential, and rear performance dampers to help with performance. Production will be limited to just 125 units for North America, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. Lexus just announced the latest Inspiration Series for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible models—sorry LC500h hybrid, better luck next time. This special-edition Inspiration Series will be limited to just 125 cars for North America, including 33 coupes and 92 convertibles. Unsurprisingly, the special-edition cars carry a hefty premium over the standard production siblings, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. LexusBoth the coupe and convertible add canards to the front bumper, which are meant to balance front-end lift at higher speeds. The Inspiration Series coupe also adds a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing to keep the rear end planted. On top of that, both models gain a standard Torsen limited-slip differential along with rear performance dampers—both items from the LC’s optional Sport package. The coupe version also incorporates the convertible’s front and rear underfloor braces, and, as a bonus comes with a standard carbon-fiber roof. LexusMore on the LC500In addition to the performance upgrades, the Inspiration Series cars also get unique styling details. The coupe models get a combination of Polar Surge Satin white exterior paint with Deep Blue upholstery for the interior, marking the first time this color pairing is available for the LC. The convertible comes with the same color scheme, but goes a step further with the blue scheme and comes equipped with a blue fabric soft top. According to Lexus, the Inspiration Series should begin arriving at dealerships early this fall. 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

Faraday Future, an EV startup based in California, has announced that it has delivered its first FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance, a 1050-hp electric crossover.The automaker has had a troubled past, with years of financial challenges delaying deliveries as Faraday Future sought more funding.The company says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more potential customers for the $309,000 SUV.Faraday Future has faced constant struggles since unveiling its electric FF 91 crossover at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2017. There were lawsuits from suppliers and a factory in Las Vegas that never materialized, and the company’s founder filed for bankruptcy in 2019. But Faraday Future reemerged in 2021 by going public on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and the embattled startup now says it has finally delivered its first production vehicle, handing over an FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance at a recent event.Deliveries of the FF 91 were originally slated to begin in 2018, but financial troubles continually delayed the car. Faraday Future acquired its factory—a former Pirelli tire plant—in Hanford, California, in late 2017 and claimed to have built its first “production intent” prototype in February 2022. But the initially delivery target of late 2022 was pushed back yet again as the company sought additional funding. Now it appears that Faraday Future finally has solid footing, securing enough money earlier this month to start deliveries of road-ready FF 91s.Faraday FutureFaraday Future provided a photo of the smiling customers with their new machine and said this first owner is affiliated with Private Collection Motors, a luxury car dealership in Costa Mesa, California. However, Faraday Future’s delivery process is shrouded in marketing jargon, with the company describing itself as “the pioneer of the Ultimate Intelligent TechLuxury ultra spire market in the intelligent EV era” and referencing its prospective customers as “spire users” and “Developer Co-Creators.” First Owner or First User?The choice of the word “user” instead of “owner” in Faraday Future’s press release make us question whether this initial FF 91 was paid for or is being gifted or loaned. The so-called “Developer Co-Creator” title appears to involve turning the customers into partners to boost the value of the company, granting early access to the car in return for “consulting, branding, and other arrangements with FF in exchange for fees ranging from approximately $225,000 to $475,000,” according to the company.More EV Startup NewsThe first FF 91 to be delivered was a special edition model called the 2.0 Futurist Alliance, which costs $309,000 before the destination charge. The FF 91’s 142.0-kWh battery pack is rated for an EPA-estimated 381 miles of range and feeds three motors that churn out 1050 horsepower, rocketing the FF 91 to 60 mph in a claimed 2.3 seconds.Faraday Future says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more customers and says each of its “spire users” will receive “unique and unparalleled . . . customized delivery ceremonies.” We will continue to keep a close eye on Faraday Future as the automaker continues its slow rollout of the FF 91, and we hope to get our hands on an example soon.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

The Tesla Model S and Model X’s base prices have dropped by $10,000 due to new Standard Range models.The Model S now starts at $79,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 320 miles compared with the pricier 405-mile model.The Model X now starts at $89,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 269 miles versus the more expensive version, which has a 348-mile estimate.The price of new Teslas has been up and down and moving all around. Over the past year or so, the company has adjusted the cost of its four models myriad times, and now the Model S and Model X can be had for $10,000 less than last week following the introduction of new Standard Range models.Model S and X Price DropsTesla yesterday launched shorter-range variants of the Model S and Model X, as reported by Reuters. The Model S Standard Range carries a $79,880 base price, which costs $10K less than the next-level dual-motor model. However, the discounted price comes with a lot less EPA-estimated range—320 versus 405 miles. The tri-motor Model S Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 396 miles of range.TeslaThe Model X Standard Range starts at $89,880 and has an EPA-estimated range of 269 miles per charge. That’s exactly $10K less than the longer-range model, which has a considerably longer 348-mile estimate. Meanwhile, the tri-motor Model X Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 333 miles of range.Tesla Price ChangesThis 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