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This first-gen Audi TT has arguably the purest execution of the model’s Bauhaus design.Although based on VW Golf underpinnings, the top-spec version featured a turbocharged 225-hp engine, all-wheel drive, and an available six-speed manual transmission, all present here.This example also boasts ultra-low mileage with the odometer showing just 15K miles. The auction ends on Thursday, July 6.Car and DriverLaunched in the fall of 1998, the Audi TT is now a quarter-century old, which naturally begs the question: Is this a potential future classic? Underpinned by the same platform as the fourth-generation VW Golf, the TT was practical, quick, capable, and oh, so pretty. This ultra-low-mileage example of the first-gen TT Roadster, complete with a manual transmission and those standout baseball-stitch seats, is up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos.Related StoriesThe TT takes its name from motorcycle racing on the Isle of Man. NSU was a car and motorcycle manufacturer that was absorbed by Auto Union in 1969 to form the modern embodiment of Audi, and it was quite successful in motorcycle racing on the Snaefell circuit. Further, the NSU TT was a small, highly tuned rear-engined coupe that may be thought of as analogous to any number of Fiat Abarth specials.In the mid-1990s, Audi was looking to infuse its lineup with more emotional appeal. The A4 and A6 had established themselves as credible rivals to BMW’s 3- and 5-series and the Mercedes-Benz C- and E-class. But Audi needed a sports car.Bring a TrailerEnter the TT, first sketched out as a coupe concept in 1995. Production began in 1998, with the roadster joining the lineup a year later. A year after that, a more potent 225-hp version of the turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine went on sale, and the TT made Car and Driver’s 10Best list.”We predict this wonderfully glamorous Audi will eventually join the Cisitalia and Jaguar E-type in the Museum of Modern Art. For now, we simply grin every time we see one,” we wrote.Bring a TrailerThis example is the more potent 225-hp variant, with Quattro all-wheel-drive and the six-speed manual transmission. Finished in black over Amber Red upholstery, it also has the must-have baseball-stitch leather, like you’re sitting in Paul Bunyan’s game-day mitt. With just 15,000 miles on the odometer and a clean California history, it’s a gorgeous piece of modern Bauhaus design.Just as it did on its debut, today the TT marks a high point for Audi enthusiasts. And, sadly, also a bookend. The current TT is leaving the market as Audi pivots to electrification. There may be an all-electric successor to the R8, but there appear to be plans for the TT to go EV.Bring a TrailerWhich is a shame. The TT was Audi’s Everyman sports car—interesting, beautiful, and within reach. A box-fresh vintage version like this example still has those qualities. This auction ends July 6.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

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the largest members of the Jeep family. With both boasting three rows of seats as well as longer-wheelbase “L” variants, the Wagoneers are great for hauling families from one adventure to the next. However, for folks who want to know what differentiates the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer from the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, we’re here to break it down by detailing their available powertrains, exterior and interior designs, and the various safety and tech features. Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer TestedExterior Differences As its name implies, the Grand Wagoneer has a grander appearance than the regular Wagoneer. The more upscale model has more chrome, a black roof, snazzier LED lighting accents, a different hood, and more prominent fender flares. Power-retractable running boards are also standard on the Grand Wagoneer. The three-row SUVs also offer wheel sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches, but those options vary by trim level. The Grand Wagoneer’s smallest available wheels are 20 inches, and it also offers a few exclusive colors, including Midnight Sky Blue, Rocky Mountain Green, and Ember Pearl. For Wagoneer shoppers only, a blacked-out appearance is available with the Carbide package. Along with glossy black wheels (20-inchers are standard; 22s are optional), the mirror caps, parts of the grille, and other bits are also black; the Wagoneer Carbide’s interior has black seats and special trim on the dashboard. The Grand Wagoneer equivalent is called the Obsidian. It’s a bit more glamorous and includes standard shiny black 22-inch rims.For 2023, both the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer are available with a longer wheelbase that grows by an identical 7 inches to 130 inches. These “L” variants see their overall length extend an entire foot to 226.7 inches. For comparison, the similarly sized Chevy Suburban is 225.7 inches long, and the stretched version of the more luxurious Cadillac Escalade ESV is 227.0 inches long. All Jeep Wagoneers—regardless of wheelbase or grandness—stand between 74.6 and 77.3 inches tall and measure nearly 84 inches wide. Those dimensions might be worth considering for shoppers with garages or parking spots that are on the smaller side.Interior Differences Inside, the Grand Wagoneer is more luxurious, with a slightly different dashboard layout as well as nicer leather and wood trim compared with the Wagoneer. The latter has a standard second-row bench seat that provides room for as many as eight passengers. A set of second-row captain’s chairs are also optional, but that configuration means there’s one less seat in the middle. The Grand Wagoneer is the opposite and comes standard with the seven-passenger layout (the second-row bench is optional).Those considering the long-wheelbase Wagoneers should know their interior passenger volume is similar to their shorter counterparts. However, the L models have considerably more cargo space. The Wagoneer L offers between 42 and 131 cubes of cargo volume, depending on which rows of seats are stowed; the regular Wagoneer has between 27 and 117 cubes. It’s also worth noting that the Grand Wagoneer L has a little less passenger space (173 cubic feet versus 176), but it has much more cargo space than the non-L Grand, providing an extra 19 cubes (113 total) behind the first row and an extra 17 cubes (44 total) behind the third.Convenience Features, Safety, and TechOptional features exclusive to the Grand Wagoneer include four-zone climate control, 24-way power seats, and a McIntosh audio system with more speakers. Not only does the Grand Wagoneer offer more screens on the dash and for rear-seat passengers, its available screens are also larger than in the Wagoneer.Both models have a host of driver-assistance technology. Along with available adaptive cruise control, a self-parking function, and night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, the Wagoneers come standard with the following safety features:Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency brakingStandard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistStandard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alertWagoneer InfotainmentEvery Wagoneer packs a robust infotainment system that runs through a 10.1-inch center touchscreen. A separate 10.3-inch display that faces the front-seat passenger is also available, and it provides entertainment and navigation functions. The Uconnect 5 system also includes built-in navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa functionality, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. A rear-seat entertainment system with a pair of 10.1-inch displays is optional.Grand Wagoneer InfotainmentThe Grand Wagoneer’s infotainment system brings an even larger 12.0-inch center touchscreen plus another touch display below it that measures 10.2 inches. This lower unit provides controls for the HVAC system and other functions. As with the regular Wagoneer, a 10.3-inch front-passenger display is also available. The Grand model has the same popular standard features, from wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Amazon Alexa functionality and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotpsot. Those sitting in the second row are privy to another 10.3-inch touchscreen between the captain’s chairs, and there’s an optional rear-seat entertainment system with dual 10.1-inch touchscreens.Wagoneer PowertrainA 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 is the Wagoneer’s base engine, but it’s only available on the entry-level trim. What’s more, a 420-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six is a no-cost option. That “Hurricane” engine is also standard on every other Wagoneer, including all L variants. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear- or various all-wheel-drive systems. Those who need to tow a trailer can tug up to 10,000 pounds. Fuel EconomyThe 2023 Jeep Wagoneer with the V-8 and all-wheel drive has the worst EPA estimates, at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Pairing rear-drive with the turbo six brings estimates of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway; opting for all-wheel drive drops both figures by 1 mpg. Grand Wagoneer PowertrainA 471-hp 6.4-liter V-8 is the Grand Wagoneer’s entry-level engine, but it’s only available on the base model. The rest of the lineup, including all long-wheelbase versions, feature a high-output Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 510 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Every Grand Wagoneer has an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, although the latter is offered with different levels of capability. It’s rated to tow up to 9860 pounds too.Fuel EconomyThe 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with the V-8 earns a lowly 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, per the EPA. While the six-cylinder isn’t much better, with mpg estimates of 14 city, 20 highway for the standard wheelbase and 14 city, 19 highway for the long wheelbase, the latter performed slightly better than advertised in our 75-mph fuel-economy test, earning 20 mpg.Wagoneer Pricing The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer with rear-wheel drive starts at $62,670, which is several thousand dollars more than the full-size, body-on-frame Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition. Jeep charges an extra $3000 for all-wheel drive on all Wagoneer models, which we expect to be the volume sellers. With AWD included, the Series II and Series III start at $70,790 and $76,810, respectively. The Wagoneer Series II Carbide 4×4 starts at $74,485. Base prices for the long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive Wagoneer L models are listed below:4×4: $68,670Series II: $73,790Series II Carbide: $77,485Series III: $79,810Grand Wagoneer PricingThe 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer starts at $91,645, which is nearly $10K more than full-size, body-on-frame luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. Stepping up from the entry-level Grand Wagoneer to the Series II pushes the starting price to $97,995, and the Series III opens at $111,145. The long-wheelbase adds another $3250 to the Grand Wagoneer’s base trim level and $3000 to the others. The Obsidian treatment costs an extra $995 with the top-spec Series III, but it’s a $5495 option with the Series II because it adds more content.More Jeep Wagoneer 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

Tesla was the first automaker to really invest in its own public fast-charging network, and a decade head start means the company’s Superchargers are the best available.It’s not even close, really. In J.D. Power’s study, more than one in five EV drivers (21 percent) said they were unable to charge at a non-Tesla station in the first quarter of this year, but at Superchargers it was less than 4 percent.Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar have all said their future EVs will be compatible with Tesla’s NACS standard.Electric vehicles have gotten noticeably better in the last five years. Public charging? Not so much. That’s why more and more automakers are signing up to have their EVs use Tesla’s Supercharger network in the near future. Polestar, Volvo, Rivian, and GM all made announcements about using Tesla’s units in June after Ford kicked off the surprising trend in May. So, we can now say it’s good news for the broader EV community that Tesla has the most reliable fast-chargers around.Joining Them Tesla drivers rated their overall satisfaction with the DC fast charging options at 734 (on a 1000-point scale), well above the industry average of 558. GM EV drivers rated their experience at 586, with Ford coming in at 544. That’s the finding of a new J.D. Power E-Vision Intelligence Report, which also notes that the flood of new companies that will use Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) means over 70 percent of all EV sales in the U.S. will “soon” be compatible with the Tesla standard.No Contest on ReliabilityEV drivers need to be able to count on public charging stations being operational when they pull up to charge, and here is where Tesla really provides for its drivers. According to JD Power’s survey, more than one-in-five EV drivers who went to a non-Tesla public charging station in the first quarter of 2023 (21.6 percent) were not able to charge their vehicle during their visit. At Tesla Superchargers, it was just 3.9 percent. The report puts it simply, “When it comes to reliability, no other provider is even close to Tesla.”The White House has said that NACS will be a part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is spending $7.5 billion on new EV charging solutions. SAE International said this week that it will set standards for the NACS connector so that any supplier or manufacturer can use it. In 2022, all of the energy used at a Tesla Supercharger was renewable, either through on-site resources or through annual renewable matching.Highly Ranked Last Year, Too Tesla’s public charging lead is not new. In its 2022 EV Experience Public Charging Study, J.D. Power found that EV drivers ranked Tesla Superchargers highest or all available DC fast-chargers. Tesla’s ranking was so far above its competitors, in fact, that it was the only DC fast-charger brand to rank above the industry average. Tesla’s Destination chargers also ranked highest among Level 2 charging stations. In April, Tesla’s latest Impact Report claimed that its Superchargers have had an uptime of at least 99.9 percent since 2018. Tesla’s definition of “uptime” is when at least half of the chargers at a Supercharger site are operational on any given day.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.Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

Studebaker’s Avanti was a last, lovely roll of the dice for the independent carmaker.The R2 version featured a supercharged 289-cubic-inch V-8 and only 1833 were built.This no-reserve auction runs through July 5.Car and DriverThe grille-less design of the Studebaker Avanti is perhaps an acquired taste, but the story of the car’s creation has broad appeal. Tasked with shuttering Studebaker’s car operations and focusing on trucks only, new president Sherwood Egbert instead rolled the dice on a radical design sketched out on a cocktail napkin during a cross-country flight. Working in a rented house in Palm Springs, the design team pulled the car together in record time. The dramatic result, though, couldn’t save the company. This well-kept and supercharged Studebaker Avanti R2 is for sale on Bring A Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos.Bring a TrailerFirst, a brief history lesson. During the 1950s, Studebaker was a long-established brand that was essentially caught in the three-way crossfire between General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. While the domestic auto giants battled it out, Studebaker edged closer to bankruptcy, and despite a merger with Packard, was barely keeping the doors open as the 1960s arrived. Enter Sherwood Egbert, ex-USMC Major. Despite having a name suitable for an accountant, Egbert had served in the South Pacific during WWII and was as tough as they come. He came to head Studebaker via the Packard merger, as Packard owned the company Egbert worked for, McCullough Motors. McCullough Motors was a chainsaw manufacturer (now part of Husqvarna) and also had a supercharger division called Paxton Automotive, still around today.Bring a TrailerEgbert arrived at Studebaker without any automotive experience, but he grabbed the reins with both hands. Convinced that the market had room for a small, premium four-seater, he tasked the team of Raymond Loewy, Tom Kellog, Bob Andrews, and John Ebstein to design a car in just 40 days. (As an aside, Kellog, the youngest of the four, would go on to sketch out the original Star Trek shuttle.)Underneath, the Avanti was basically Studebaker’s older Lark model, but with a stylish fiberglass body on top. Think four-seat Corvette—the body was built by the same supplier that made body panels for the ‘Vette in the 1950s.Also recycled was the 289-cubic-inch V-8 from the Studebaker Hawk. Happily, thanks to the Paxton link, strapping a supercharger on that engine cost just $210. As the Avanti was just over $4000 to start, the car was something of a performance bargain.Bring a TrailerThis 1963 example is fitted with that optional supercharger, giving the V-8 a healthy 290 horsepower and 303 pound-feet of torque. With a three-speed automatic transmission and limited-slip differential, and niceties such as power steering and electric windows, this Avanti Red coupe would have turned a few heads in its day. It still does.As one of just 1832 R2 models built for the 1963 and 1964 model years, it is a rare and collectible machine. Again, think of it as a more genteel Corvette, and the appeal is obvious.As for Egbert and his dreams, those ended in 1963 as the Avanti failed to sell in sufficient numbers. Further, he was diagnosed with cancer in 1962 and did not survive the decade.But back in August of 1962, when this car was built, a trio of supercharged Studebaker Avantis showed up at the Bonneville Salt Flats and proceeded to break some 29 production-car speed records. The next year, Avanti serial number R1007 set a speed record of 170.81 mph, making it the fastest production car in the world.The original Avanti’s flame burned briefly but brightly. And an early-’60s example like this is still filled with that spirit of audacity.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