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    2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Is Cool, Affordable, Yet Honors the Original

    The 2024 Land Cruiser comes in 1958, Land Cruiser, and First Edition grades, with the base price for the 1958 model teased at the mid-$50,000 range.Every Land Cruiser features a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that delivers 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.All TLCs have full-time four-wheel drive with locking center and rear differentials; a disconnecting front anti-roll bar and 33-inch tires are also available.Toyota formally pulled the wraps off the new 2024 Land Cruiser today, in a rebirth that was hardly surprising considering the enduring cachet this nameplate enjoys across the world. Now off-road enthusiasts with sights set on backcountry travel will be able to hit the trail in a new Land Cruiser instead of waiting years for the price of a used high-mileage Land Cruiser to fall within reach. It is to be expected that Toyota would not walk away from this iconic vehicle. Instead, the automaker called a time out and used it to engineer a clean break from the Land Cruiser’s increasingly expensive and bloated mall-cruiser trajectory. This desirable off-roader has stayed faithful to the original concept, but Toyota made a determined effort to return this off-road SUV to a more mainstream price point. Much More Land CruiserAn Affordable Land CruiserToyota isn’t disclosing full details, but the starting price will be in “the mid-$50,000 range.” Compare that to the $87,030 minimum cost of entry for the discontinued 2021 Land Cruiser, and you can see why Toyota expects sales to increase significantly over the paltry 3000 to 4000 units per year they typically moved over the past decade. They’re not saying how much sales will increase, but we find it telling that they plan to sell all 5000 examples of the First Edition—a number they haven’t hit in an entire year since 2004—within the first three months. After those are built, production will shift to the less expensive base Land Cruiser 1958 (so named for the first year of U.S. Land Cruiser sales) and the simply named Land Cruiser variant.To bring the price down, the new Cruiser rides on a version of Toyota’s new global TGNA-F truck platform, a modular workhorse that underpins Tundras, Sequoias, and even the new Tacoma. It’s the foundation for the world-market 300-series Land Cruiser, and under another acronym it appears under the Lexus LX600 (a U.S.-spec 300-series Land Cruiser variant) and the upcoming Lexus GX550. It also helps that the new model is strictly a five-passenger machine, which saves cost by eliminating the need to engineer third-row climate distribution ducting, passenger controls, and other accommodations. What Kind of Land Cruiser Is It?In the Toyota geek-speak that Land Cruiser aficionados love, the new Land Cruiser is technically a 250-series. It’s not near as big as the pure-300 Lexus LX600, but it is newer than the 200-series Cruiser that left the scene in 2021. All three of these share a 112.2-inch wheelbase, but the new TLC is nearly seven inches shorter than the LX from nose to tail. Compared to the old 200, the new model shares an overall width of 78.0 inches, stands only 0.8 inch shorter, and is just 1.2 inches stubbier front to back. That said, the differences appear huge in real life because the 2024 Land Cruiser has a narrow body, grille, and greenhouse with prominent fender flares that cover a comparatively broad track. It’s a clearly skinnier vehicle that looks like it has been modded to give it a tougher stance.Despite the narrower body, the accommodations feel more generous than the current 4Runner. Interior dimensions are not yet available, but the vehicle feels right-sized. That’s because this smaller Land Cruiser is still not as small as the current Toyota 4Runner, which still has a place to live in the hierarchy in its usual place below this new Land Cruiser. Toyota is mum about any new 4Runner specifics, except to say it’s not going anywhere. We think the new 4Runner, when it arrives, will slot in at a lower price point by using the Tacoma’s part-time four-wheel-drive system and its base and midlevel engine offerings. A high-performance TRD Pro will probably continue, as that would distinguish it from the more overland-focused Land Cruiser.Downsized Hybrid Powertrain, Better MPGAll 2024 Land Cruisers will be powered by the same 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid iForce Max powertrain and eight-speed transmission that will power the high end of the Tacoma model range, most notably the TRD Pro. This powertrain’s output of 326 combined horsepower represents a dip below the old 5.7-liter V-8’s 381 ponies, but its mighty combined torque of 465 pound-feet betters the old model’s 401 pound-feet where it counts off-road—especially since the iForce generates peak torque at just 1700 rpm instead of 3600 revs. An integrated tow hitch is standard, but this smaller and less powerful Land Cruiser’s tow rating does drop from the prior model’s 8100 pounds to a still-respectable 6000 pounds.Toyota won’t release fuel-economy estimates until later this year, but we expect huge increases over the 2021’s appalling 14 mpg combined (13 city/17 highway). The reformulated hybrid Cruiser should also handily outclass the larger LX600’s 19 mpg combined (17 city/22 highway).The use of this engine is a big reason why the Land Cruiser is strictly a five-passenger machine. The hybrid system’s 1.87-kWh nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery sits atop the axle where a third row would go, and it even creates a load floor that’s a bit higher than we like to see. Still, the cargo area is voluminous, and we appreciate how the hybrid setup enables the fitment of a standard 2400-watt inverter and power delivery system.Familiar HardwareThe 2024 Cruiser follows the same full-time four-wheel-drive blueprint as the prior model. It has a two-speed transfer case with a Torsen center differential that allows constant all-wheel drive operation on dry pavement. The center differential automatically locks when the transfer case is shifted into low range, or the driver can choose to lock it in high range. All new Land Cruisers also have push-button-lock rear differentials, a Crawl Control system, and Downhill Assist Control.The basic suspension concept is the same as before, even though the change to TNGA-F architecture did result in some detail alterations. This Cruiser still rides on dual control-arm independent front suspension and a solid rear axle that’s located by four trailing links and a Panhard rod. Simple twin-tube dampers are used all around, but the so-called KDSS system of automatically disconnecting front and rear anti-roll bars is no more. The new Lexus GX550 gets a new e-KDSS evolution of the concept, but the 2024 Land Cruiser eschews that in the name of cost containment.How the Grades DifferThe 1958 base model is designed for those who won’t go off-road very often, but it also has appeal for those that will venture out and want to save money to spend on suspension and tire mods of their choosing. It has skinnier 245/70R-18 32-inch tires and fixed anti-roll bars. It also has manually adjustable cloth heated seats, a heated steering wheel, the smaller 8-inch touchscreen, and lacks a power liftgate. It does have heritage-style round LED headlights, which we find pretty cool.Step up to the Land Cruiser and First Edition models, and you get 265/70R-18 33-inch tires with somewhat more aggressive tread, a disconnectable front anti-roll bar to improve articulation, and a Multi-Terrain Select system that can optimize the traction control for various conditions in high range as well as low range. Both get the larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10-speaker audio system, but the Land Cruiser trades round LED headlights for rectangular ones. The round ones come back on the First Edition, though, along with rock rails, a roof rack, a front skidplate, and more.If off-roading is not your thing and you’d rather roll on 20s, the Land Cruiser grade offers them as an option. Select First Edition standard fare, such as ventilated leather seats, are available in a Land Cruiser Premium package.The Jury Has Nearly Finished DeliberatingWe’re less suspicious of the new Land Cruiser now that we’ve looked beyond the basic specs and examined it in real life. The downsizing isn’t as radical in a mechanical sense as we feared, and certain dimensions aren’t that far off the 200-series. The fact that the body is narrower and more tightly drawn may well be a positive off road, and the fact that it’s a five-seater is no bad thing. The straightforward look of the suspension is sure to fire up the imagination of aftermarket tuners, so a plethora of third-party accessories is sure to come online in short order.The biggest unknown is the drivability of the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder iForce Max hybrid powertrain. The numbers are good, and the idea of having an electric motor adding smooth torque at very low rpm sounds like it has potential, but it’s still theoretical until we get behind the wheel. The same is true of the relative merits of the front anti-roll-bar disconnect versus the outgoing KDSS system.As for the inevitable outrage of the purists, no more than 4000 laid their money on the table each year over that last decade. How much collective upset can there be?Like a lot of elements on the new Land Cruiser, the return to a simpler and less costly approach has a lot of appeal. It certainly has brought the price back down to earth, and that’s no bad thing. And who can argue with a Land Cruiser that’s bound to get decent fuel economy? As for the inevitable outrage of the purists, no more than 4000 of them laid their money on the table each year over that last decade or so. How much collective upset can there be? It’s pretty clear the demand for a bloated and expensive Land Cruiser barely existed. This new direction is bound to get more of them in the hands of those that always wanted one, and we’re looking forward to seeing brand new examples out on the trails.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.Technical EditorDan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department. More

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    2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs. 2021 Land Cruiser: How They Compare

    The original Toyota Land Cruiser first entered the U.S. market in 1958, and in America it was the brand’s bestselling model from 1961 to 1965. The Land Cruiser went on to become an off-road icon and spawn numerous generations. So, it was a sad day when Toyota killed off the U.S. version after the 2021 model year. Now, three years later, all the resulting frowns can be turned upside down as a new version of the legendary nameplate is returning to our shores.The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser arrives on the TNGA-F body-on-frame platform that it shares with the mechanically similar Lexus GX that just debuted and the recently revealed Toyota Tacoma. Along with a standard hybrid powertrain and retro-inspired design, the new Land Cruiser is notably different than the U.S. version that preceded it. How different are they? To find out, we’ve compared the new one’s specs and features to its predecessor’s.Design and SizeThe 200-series Land Cruiser that was last sold stateside had roots that could be traced back to 2008, which was when that generation got its start. The decidedly bland design didn’t change much until a facelift arrived for the 2016 model year, but even then the grand SUV didn’t really stand out. That changes with the 2024 Land Cruiser, which exists as a 250-series between the old 200 and the newer 300-series that’s only sold overseas. Still, the latest Cruiser’s blocky shape and nostalgia-inducing styling make it the most visually interesting of the bunch. Compared with its predecessor, the new LC is 1.2 inches shorter at 193.7 inches long, but the two have an identical 111.2-inch wheelbase. Both versions are also 78 inches wide, but the new one is just under an inch shorter at 73.2 inches tall. ToyotaToyotaWhen it comes to off-road specs, the new Land Cruiser has an approach angle of 30 degrees, with break-over and departure angles measuring 25 and 22 degrees, respectively. While it predecessor had a better approach angle of 32 degrees, its break-over and departure angles are each 1 degree less. The new version boasts up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which is a couple tenths less than before. PowertrainWhereas the 2021 Land Cruiser was powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, its replacement debuts with a hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder. The powertrain’s total output is 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet. Both Toyota SUVs feature an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a center locking differential. The 2021 Land Cruiser had a paltry combined EPA estimate of 14 mpg. We don’t yet know how fuel-efficient the hybrid 2024 Land Cruiser will be, but there will almost certainly be a big improvement in that department. One thing that will go the other way with the new LC is towing capacity. The previous version could pull 8100 pounds, but the new one is capped at 6000 pounds. Hardware The new Land Cruiser rolls on 18-inch wheels, but tire sizes vary between trim levels. The base model, called 1958, wears 245/70R-18 rubber at all four corners, while other Land Cruisers have bigger 265/70R-18 tires that are nearly 33 inches tall. A set of 20-inch wheels are optional, but not on the 1958. The 2021 model went out solely wearing 18-inch rollers with 285/60 tires that are closer to 31 inches tall than 33.Both new and old Land Cruisers feature a double-wishbone front suspension, but Toyota says the setup has been revised for the 2024 model as a result of the new platform. The rear suspension retains a four-link configuration with coil springs cushioning a solid rear axle. Except for the 1958 trim level, the new LC features an electronic disconnecting front anti-roll bar, which wasn’t previously available.Andi Hedrick|Car and DriverInteriorThe new Land Cruiser’s interior isn’t as luxurious as its predecessor, evident from the 1958 trim’s standard cloth seats with manual adjustments. Previously, all 2021 models came with semi-aniline leather upholstery and 10-way power-adjustable front seats. Leather-trimmed seats with power adjustments are available on the higher Land Cruiser trim as part of the Premium package, which also includes a head-up display, digital rearview mirror with a camera view, and a sunroof.Old interior. toyotaDespite fewer upscale materials, the new Land Cruiser’s interior design and technology is more modern. Sure, the base 1958 model has a smaller 8.0-inch touchscreen than the 9.0-inch unit that was previously offered, but it still benefits from Toyota’s latest software, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, the rest of the 2024 Land Cruiser lineup takes the infotainment experience a step further, gaining a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen and offering a 14-speaker JBL stereo. Unlike with the 2021 version, it doesn’t look like the new one will have an optional rear-seat entertainment system with dual 11.6-inch displays. There’s also no eight-passenger model, with the 2024 Land Cruiser limited to seating for five. Still, heated and ventilated front seats are standard on all but the base trim.PricePerhaps the biggest difference between the new Land Cruiser and the one that was last sold in America is the price. Toyota won’t release full details for awhile, but the company says the 2024 model will have a base price in the mid-$50,000 range, making it considerably less expensive than its predecessor.Back in 2021, the Land Cruiser started at just over $87K, so its replacement will have a nearly $30K discount. The new Cruiser’s higher trim levels will most likely crest the $60K mark, but they’ll still be a lot more affordable than before. That suggests more people will get the chance to experience the Land Cruiser lifestyle, and we think that’s a good thing.More on the Land CruiserThis 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

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    To Save the Land Cruiser, Toyota First Had to Kill the Land Cruiser

    Toyota’s lineup was predictable and hierarchical once: Sequoia for the family, 4Runner in the middle, and Land Cruiser at the top, where it didn’t garner a lot of sales.Over at Lexus, there were big grilles and luxury versions of the Toyota SUVs, but those were never intended for off-roading.The solution to getting the Land Cruiser out of its niche role, it seems, was to reinvent it, and Toyota has done just that.In the past, Toyota’s U.S. off-road SUV product lineup had a distinct hierarchy. The Land Cruiser sat at the top, with the 4Runner just below and the Sequoia over in the family room. The parallel Lexus universe had more luxurious and expensive versions of the Land Cruiser and 4Runner, but they had less clearance due to low-hanging fascia designs and increasingly humongous grilles. Despite having the same stellar running gear (and even more power in the case of the GX) the Lexus variants have always been more susceptible to body damage and are too superficially delicate to beat up off-road.2023 Toyota Sequoia.ToyotaThing is, the Land Cruiser at the top was too expensive for off-roaders to afford. Most lived their lives as pavement-bound mall wagons that never touched earth until they lost their shine, racked up 100,000 miles, and dropped in value before they were bought by enthusiasts. Over time, its reputation was more theoretical than anything else, based in history and the exploits of models that were only available overseas. Starting with the 100-series, the only Land Cruiser we ever got was the expensive three-row behemoth with independent front suspension, a thirsty V-8 engine, and an automatic. As a result, U.S. Land Cruiser sales have been dismal, with annual sales averaging just 3200 units over the past decade. 2023 Toyota 4Runner.ToyotaMeanwhile, the smaller and more affordable 4Runner has been selling briskly, with sales averaging some 130,000 units per year since 2016. The current fifth-generation model is still having a great run even though it debuted in 2009 as a 2010 model. What happened? Overland-style off-road camping started to get popular right at the time many body-on-frame SUVs morphed into crossovers. Toyota even made the decision to kill off the FJ Cruiser in this period. People started seeking out the few remaining off-road frame-based SUVs and modding them for backcountry camping. With few used Land Cruisers to buy, new 4Runners were a great choice.All about the new Land CruiserTGNA-F Stirs the PotThe arrival of the highly malleable TGNA-F truck platform and new downsized turbo engines with hybrid variants brought an opportunity for a brand reset. The Tundra changed from leaf spring rear suspension to TGNA’s coils, while the Sequoia went the other way from independent rear suspension to TGNA’s solid axle. Whether you agree with it or not, the latter became a more off-road-capable three-row large SUV in an instant, making it difficult to make a case for the same sort of Land Cruiser in the U.S. TGNA would also underpin the new global 300-series Land Cruiser, but Toyota decided to use the opportunity to recast our Land Cruiser as a more affordable two-row off roader. Lexus, on the other hand, said yes to the 300-series and introduced it as the 2022 LX600.For years, other markets have had access to the Land Cruiser Prado, a smaller and less expensive Land Cruiser variant with independent front suspension and smaller engines. Markets that still sold the big Cruiser with solid axle front suspension could easily make a marketing distinction, but that differentiation hasn’t existed here for some time. The idea of moving the 2024 Land Cruiser in the Prado direction isn’t nearly the shock to the system it would be in other parts of the world. Using this approach to remove cost and make the Land Cruiser more affordable makes sense here, because our “big” Land Cruiser was a dud, sales-wise.Collect the Whole SetHow It Played OutWith the Sequoia taking on three-row duties, transforming the Land Cruiser into a smaller, five-passenger Prado-style off-roader is a beneficial move—especially if going off-road and cruising actual land is your thing. Parking, too. The TGNA platform makes that easy to execute, and it results in a 250-series Prado-based SUV that’s not that different from the 300-series LX600 from the standpoint of the frame, suspension, and four-wheel drive system. In fact, both share a wheelbase of 112.2 inches and have similar track widths. But the 250-series Prado is on a different development cycle, so Toyota had to “kill off” the Land Cruiser to make the switch. When the dust settles, the Land Cruiser and the new GX550 (the GX has always been Prado-based) will occupy the same strata, but with the usual Lexus differences. The GX will be notably longer, taller, more luxurious, and have less favorable approach and underbody clearance dimensions. It’ll be powered by a slightly more powerful (and thirstier) 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6. It’s bound to be considerably more expensive too. Along those lines, the new GX550 will be fitted with the new and improved e-KDSS stabilizer bar disconnect system, while the Land Cruiser shies away from that in favor of a less expensive front stabilizer bar disconnect. Toyota seems to be serious about returning the Land Cruiser to more minimalist roots to keep it affordable.One Last DominoAll of this begs a question: What about the 4Runner? It has not yet made the switch to the TNGA-F architecture and the new engines that come along with it. The downsized Land Cruiser would still need to be the larger and more desirable offering, but the space between them has shrunk. Will its wheelbase remain shorter and its width narrower than the Land Cruiser? Toyota is mum about any new 4Runner specifics, except to say it’s not going anywhere. We think the new 4Runner will slot in at a lower price point by using the Tacoma’s part-time four-wheel-drive system and midlevel engine offering. The rear differential lock and MTS and Crawl Control systems will only appear on the TRD Off-Road and Pro models, as they do now. The high-performance TRD Pro will probably continue, as that would distinguish the 4Runner from the more overlanding-focused Land Cruiser.Was all of this a good idea? It is if you like the idea of having a Land Cruiser in your garage. The sales pace of the old one was not sustainable, and its hulking size and expensive price were never compatible with the apparent mission statement that’s right there in the Land Cruiser’s very name. To save the Land Cruiser, Toyota had no choice but to kill it first.Technical EditorDan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department. More

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    2024 Toyota Land Cruiser: Exploring Each Trim Level

    The 2024 Land Cruiser returns with three distinct trims—a base model called the 1958, a mid-tier trim called Land Cruiser, and a top-of-the-line First Edition.Each trim gets unique looks, with different headlight designs, different wheel and tire options, and off-road accessories like a front skid plate. While the base model’s cabin has an 8.0-inch touchscreen, pricier Land Cruisers upgrade to a 12.3-inch unit.The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser’s return to the United States sees the rugged SUV shift downmarket, bringing a more varied model lineup. While its predecessor started at nearly $90,000 and effectively came in one fully loaded trim, the new Land Cruiser will open in the mid-$50,000 range and be offered with three distinct models. The Land Cruiser 1958 represents the stripped-down base trim and sits below the standard model and a limited-production First Edition. Exploring the Trims Toyota made sure to visually distinguish each model. The 1958 comes with round LED headlights, LED fog lamps, and rides on 18-inch wheels shod in 245/70 all-season tires. The next-level Land Cruiser sports a different face with rectangular LED headlights and Rigid LED fog lamps that can switch between white and amber light. The 18-inch wheels also wear larger 265/70 all-season rubber, but this trim offers 20-inch wheels with 265/60 tires too. The First Edition reverts to the round headlights and adds a roof rack, rock rails, and front skid plate. There’s also mud flaps behind the wheels, a rear door guard, and a tailgate light. Seven paint colors will be available, including a new shade called Meteor Shower. The Trail Dust and Heritage Blue hues come as a two-tone look with the roof painted in Grayscape.2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958.ToyotaThe cabins are also noticeably different. The 1958 model is equipped with manually adjustable cloth seats. They’re heated, though, and so is the steering wheel. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard, but the other models have a larger 12.3-inch unit. Toyota’s faux leather covers the seats on the mid-tier Land Cruiser, which are heated, ventilated, and have power adjustments. 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.ToyotaThe mid-tier Land Cruiser offers a Premium package that swaps the synthetic leather for the real stuff and adds a 14-speaker JBL sound system. The package also includes a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and a sunroof. Most of these features appear on the First Edition too, which also receives a key wrapped in a unique stitched case. The more expensive trim also packs more off-road goodies. The 1958 comes with a rear locking differential, Toyota’s Crawl control—a low-speed cruise control for off-roading—and a 2400-watt AC inverter for powering accessories. The standard Land Cruiser model brings Multi-Terrain Select, which is Toyota’s name for various terrain-specific drive modes that help the SUV find as much grip as possible in adverse conditions. The mid-tier model also features an electronic disconnecting front anti-roll bar and a Multi-Terrain Monitor that uses multiple camera views to help drivers avoid obstacles on the trail.2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.ToyotaThe Land Cruiser goes on sale next spring with these three trims, but we’ll have to wait and see if Toyota adds an even more off-road-oriented models with TRD branding down the line. A range-topping TRD Pro model could get even more robust hardware and plenty of blacked-out accents. A Trailhunter version—a nameplate first seen on the new Tacoma and focused on overlanding adventures—could also be in the cards.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

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    2024 Porsche 911 S/T Is a Manual 911 GT3 RS in a Touring Body

    Porsche’s newest special-edition 911 is the lightest in the current 992 generation. The 2024 911 S/T is a limited edition, using the 518-hp engine from the GT3 RS, the body of a GT3 Touring, and a manual transmission. As a celebration of the 60-year anniversary of the 911, production of the limited edition will be capped at 1963 cars. Pricing will start at $291,650.Porsche is once again trying to prove to the world that it can make each new 911 model feel distinct, and alone in its purpose. And there sure are a lot of 911 models. The brand has now pulled back the sheet on its newest special edition, the 911 S/T.And this time around, the changes are pretty special. Porsche is targeting a blend of the raw on-track performance of the 911 GT3 RS, and the still impressive, if more livable, nature of the GT3 Touring. The only element of the GT3 RS we know for sure makes it over to the S/T is the horsepower figure, which is cranked up to 518 ponies out of the 4.0-liter flat-six. As the S/T is designed for back roads rather than time attacks, the body of the car comes from the more down-to-earth GT3 Touring. PorscheForgoing track day visions of grandeur also allows for a few tenths of pure speed to be taken away. Why is that a good thing? you ask. Three pedals is why.Why Is Slower Better? Three Pedals Is WhyAccording to Porsche, the engineers working on the car developed a new clutch exclusively for the S/T. Combined with a single-mass flywheel, the new clutch reduces the weight of rotating mass in the car by roughly 23 pounds. Couple the reduced weight with the shortened gear ratio (compared to the standard GT3), and response time is noticeably improved, according to Porsche. According to Porsche, the 911 S/T launches to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and can achieve a top track speed of 186 mph. Slower than a PDK-equipped GT3, sure, but still plenty quick. More on GT3/ GT3 RSThe engineers didn’t just reduce weight from the clutch. The hood, roof, front fenders, and doors are all made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), as are the rear axle anti-roll bar and shear panel (stiffening element on the rear axle). The car also comes standard with magnesium wheels. Selecting forged magnesium wheels on the 2023 718 Cayman GT4 RS adds $15,640 to your bill. Porsche also fits the anniversary model with the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, a lithium-ion starter battery, and lightweight glass as standard. Combine that with the savings in the powertrain, and the S/T tips the scales at 3056 pounds, making it 70 pounds lighter than a GT3 Touring equipped with a manual gearbox. Carbon Buckets It may be obvious from the noticeably absent rear wing attached to the car, but Porsche designed the aero elements of the S/T to be more at home on back roads than a racetrack. The extending rear spoiler comes equipped with a Gurney flap. CFRP bucket seats are standard fare, but the four-way-adjustable Sports Seat Plus option is available at no extra charge. Size 255/35ZR-20 tires wrap the 20-inch front wheels, while size 315/30ZR-21 tires are fitted to the rears. PorscheAs far as styling for the special edition, the optional Heritage Design package, as well as Shore Blue Metallic exterior paint, and the Ceramica wheel color are all exclusive to the S/T. The interior has cloth seat centers in Classic Cognac with black pinstriping. The Porsche logo and the 911 S/T model designation on the rear of the car are finished in a gold color.As a celebration of the 60-year anniversary of the 911, production of the edition will be capped at 1963 cars. Pricing will start at $291,650, and deliveries are expected to begin in spring 2024 for the U.S. 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

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    Pininfarina Reveals Pura Vision SUV Concept

    If you’re going to build an electric SUV, it may as well look cool, right? That seems to be the guiding premise behind Pininfarina’s Pura Vision design concept, which will debut at Pebble Beach and previews a possible “electric luxury utility vehicle” that they’ve dubbed “e-LUV”. Not to be confused with the Chevy LUV.To your first and most obvious question: Yes, it does have whitewall tires, possibly the first 23-inch whitewalls we’ve seen. And somehow, that works! It also has forward-hinged doors, rear-hinged doors, and gullwing doors. If the rear hatch were a pair of Lambo doors, that would really cover all the kinds of doors, but we’re still impressed. The gullwing sections span both the front and rear door openings and are hinged to a central overhead backbone. Since there’s no B-pillar, opening everything up creates a portal you could drive a Chevy LUV through. Whether this setup is production-feasible remains to be seen, but concept cars are supposed to be about probing the outer reaches of possibility, not simply previewing a done-deal production car. (Unless they’re Porsche concept cars. Then they’re probably previewing a done-deal production car.)The Pura Vision is a two-plus-two, in the manner of the Ferrari Purosangue. Between the back seats is a wine cooler, and not the Bartles & Jaymes kind—it’ll chill a bottle of your favorite plonk en route to the Hamptons, or Lake Tahoe, or wherever it is that people in Dubai drive for vacations. The upholstery on the upper seat backs and headliner is 30 percent wool and 70 percent recycled polyester, which the company says, “already meets Automobili Pininfarina durability standards for production vehicles.” (Sounds like a hint, there.) The central touchscreen can be powered down into the dash for those times when you’d like to banish touchscreens from your field of view for at least a few minutes.As for the powertrain, well… this isn’t that kind of concept. At Pebble, it’ll be static. But the Pininfarina Battista has 1877 horsepower, so if an upcoming e-LUV got that powertrain, it would probably be able to tow a decent-sized Boston Whaler up the boat ramp. Even with half that corral, it would still be far more powerful than any production internal-combustion SUV. Alas, we’ll have to wait and see on that, and pricing. Car and DriverWhether horsepower is a four-digit number and pricing is a seven-digit affair depends on how high upmarket Pininfarina intends to go. Based on their recent history, the answer there would be: all the way to the top.More from PininfarinaSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

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    2024 Ford F-150 Refresh Spied before Detroit Auto Show Reveal

    Ford will unveil a refreshed F-150 at the Detroit auto show in September. However, spy photos give us an early undisguised look at the facelifted pickup truck, specifically the top-spec Platinum model. Ford CEO Jim Farley assuaged the potential fears of many traditional F-150 shoppers with forward-looking statements regarding internal-combustion and hybrid powertrains—rather than a push toward electrification. The refreshed 2024 Ford F-150 has been spotted undisguised ahead of its scheduled reveal next month at the Detroit auto show. As we can see in the images captured by our spy photographer, Ford’s gas-fed half-ton pickup truck will get slight revisions over the outgoing model year. While we can only see cosmetic changes, the photos give us a good look at the F-150’s revised grille, headlights, and front bumper, specifically on the top-spec Platinum model. We also have a shot of the truck’s new-look taillights. As people can see, it’s nothing groundbreaking, but perhaps there will be other tweaks inside or under the hood. For that, we’ll have to wait until the official debut.GLENN PAULINA|Car and DriverHighlighting HybridsLast week, following a second-quarter earnings call with reporters, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced that the refreshed F-150 will be revealed at the Detroit auto show, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Farley also discussed Ford’s plans for future electrification as well as how traditional truck shoppers have nothing to worry about as far as being forced into buying an EV. Despite also selling the electric F-150 Lightning, Farley said that Ford plans to continue to push hybrid vehicles, rather than making a jump towards immediate electrification.”We believe demand for our internal-combustion and our hybrid portfolio will be . . . potentially longer and richer than most expected,” he told reporters. “We made sure Ford is profitable as we move through this ICE-to-EV transition.”The report by the Free Press also confirmed the popularity of Ford’s hybrid trucks and underscores why the brand would double down on the hybrid model, with 10 percent of all F-150s and 56 percent of all Mavericks sold being hybrid models. More F-150 NewsAssociate 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

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    1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    A 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is up for auction on Bring a Trailer until Thursday, August 3.The droptop Diablo is powered by a 530-hp 5.7-liter V-12 paired with a gated five-speed manual. The Lambo’s “VT” designation means it has all-wheel drive, and it’s said that only 23 examples were sold in the U.S. in 1999.Imagine it’s summertime 1999 and you’re snicking through the exposed shift gates of a brand-new Lamborghini Diablo roadster, with the wind whipping in your hair and Cher’s “Believe” blaring through the speakers.Now come back to the reality of 2023. The last combustion-only Lambo has been sold, but there’s still a chance to bring that imaginary scene to life with the ’99 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster that’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.Bring a TrailerThe black Diablo on BaT features a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-12 with a 7500-rpm redline. The engine’s 530 horses arrive when the tach hits 7100 rpm, and 448 pound-feet of torque comes online at 5600 revs. A gated five-speed manual provides a satisfying way to manage the V-12’s fury, which is sent to both axles—hence the “VT” designation that denotes it has all-wheel drive (“SV” models are rear-drive). While the droptop Diablo VT, at around 3760 pounds, was said to be 200 pounds heavier than the SV, it topped out at a claimed 208 mph versus the latter’s 199-mph cap. We didn’t get to strap our test equipment to a ’99 Diablo back in the day, but we did slide behind the wheel of a silver VT roadster as part of its facelift. The exterior makeover included ditching the pop-up headlights for exposed units that were plucked from the Nissan 300ZX parts bin and adopting a set of 18-inch OZ racing wheels. Inside, the Diablo received a new dashboard with electronically controlled analog gauges and various ergonomic improvements.Bring a TrailerThe Lamborghini Diablo debuted for the 1990 model year as the successor to the Countach, which is arguably the most recognizable supercar ever built. During its development, the bigwigs at Lamborghini’s headquarters in Sant’Agata sought a top speed of at least 198 mph. The firm’s engineers were able to beat that bogey, with the original Diablo claiming a top speed of 202 mph.It’s said that only 23 Diablo VT roadsters were sold in the U.S., making this a rare opportunity. The BaT auction ends on Thursday, August 3.Driving the DiabloSenior 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