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Craig Breedlove, who set astonishing land speed records in the 1960s, has reportedly died at age 86.The news of Breedlove’s death comes via multiple media reports, including from a company that made a documentary on his record attempt.Breedlove was the first to exceed 500 mph and then 600 mph in his land speed record runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats. At 26 years old, Craig Breedlove shattered a land speed record that had been set when he himself was only 10. Gobbling up 11 miles of the Bonneville Salt Flats at 407 mph in 1963 was just the start. Breedlove’s skill at setting records was as much about competition as it was a moving goalpost of human achievement. He was the first person ever to exceed 500 mph (October 1964) and reached 600 mph only a year later. Breedlove reportedly died on April 4, 2023, at the age of 86.Our 2018 InterviewBreedlove’s turbojet-powered racer, dubbed Spirit of America, was a three-wheeled speed devil. He set three records from inside the first iteration, which used a mighty General Electric J47 turbojet engine. The car was built with a $250,000 budget and continued to push the boundaries of speed up as high as 526 mph in 1965, before a violent crash led to its replacement by the Spirit of America Sonic 1. The Sonic 1 would set Breedlove’s highest top speed of his lifetime at 600 mph in 1965, a land speed record that would be held for five years. ’Spirit of America’ at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1965, where the Breedlove vehicle hit a top speed of 600.601 mph.Heritage Images|Getty ImagesBreedlove’s passion for driving at speeds once thought impossible started when he was 13 years old. A friend he’d hang out with at drag racing events in Southern California threw him a helmet and let him drive. From that very first launch, his furnace for speed only grew hungrier. Later in life, Breedlove purchased a jet motor for $500 after the Korean War and used welding methods he learned working at a performance shop in Santa Monica to build his legacy.This content is imported from twitter. 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.He didn’t do it alone. He watched then wife Lee Breedlove become the fastest woman in the world when she drove the Sonic 1 to 308 mph in 1965. Together, they would set speed and endurance records at more places than just Bonneville, in an AMC Javelin and AMX. Breedlove was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2009.Breedlove spent the end of his life working to build a car to beat the current 763-mph land speed record set by Andy Green in 1997. In an interview in 2018, we asked him if there was anything he would’ve done differently. He told us this: “I don’t think so. It’s been a pretty exciting ride. Not that it wasn’t fraught with a few problems, but that’s life, and you grow from that. I’m really satisfied with everything I’ve done so far, and hopefully we’ll get to build this other car. If I last that long.”John B. Carnett/Getty Images|Car and DriverAssociate EditorYes, he’s still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs. More

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler receives a refresh that brings a revised seven-slot grille and an updated interior.All ’24 Wranglers come equipped with a new 12.3-inch center touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The Wrangler 4xe lineup expands with the new 4xe Sport on the low end and the new Rubicon X on the high end. Now stretching back decades, the Jeep Wrangler has been a stalwart figure in the world of American off-road vehicles. Still using the same basic formula it always has, the Wrangler continues to plod along steadily with incremental changes. For the 2024 model year, Jeep restyles the Wrangler with an updated grille and a moderate refresh to the interior technology. Familiar FacesA quick glance at the refreshed front end shows exactly what you would expect: the same broad-nosed Wrangler face we’ve all grown so accustomed to over the previous decades. Under more scrutinizing eyes, you can see each slot of the grille is now more distinct, and the mesh behind the slots has been opened up. The normally flat bodywork beneath each headlight has been replaced and instead incorporated into the mesh backing. The 2024 Rubicon models may look even more distinct, as buyers now also have the option to add a factory-backed Warn winch with an 8000-pound capacity.Inside, the most drastic change comes from Jeep dropping the old infotainment options in favor of a newly standard 12.3-inch center touchscreen that uses Uconnect 5 software. It also features standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Trails Offroad software is integrated directly into the center screen, giving access to guides for Jeep’s 62 Badge of Honor trails (or the option to subscribe for access to over 3000 trail guides). Soft-touch fabrics with contrast stitching now wrap the instrument panel and round out the minor interior updates. Electrified Off-RoadingThe 4xe lineup adds what Jeep is referring to as the Power Box, which is essentially an accessory power supply unit with four 120-volt outlets supplying 30 amps of total output. The Power Box can run independently or in a hybrid mode using the SUV’s engine if you need access to extra power for longer. Jeep is also expanding the 4xe lineup for 2024 by adding two new models. The Sport S 4xe is the new entry point, mirroring the gasoline-powered Sport trim and giving customers a cheaper version of the plug-in-hybrid model. The new Rubicon X joins both the 4xe and gas-fed lineups and sits directly above the standard Rubicon trim while adding interior niceties and off-roading goodies.Speaking of off-roading goodies, the Rubicon now comes with a full-float Dana rear axle, making it easier to install larger off-road tires. The Rubicon X we mentioned earlier adds a Rock-Trac full-time transfer case, steel bumpers, an integrated off-road camera, and 35-inch BFGoodrich A/T tires mounted on beadlock-capable wheels. The Willys trim adds steel rock rails, a locking rear differential, and 33-inch tires as standard. Plus, the 4xe Willys gets a Selec-Trac full-time transfer case with a 4LO ratio of 2.72:1.Same Old Same OldThere are no powertrain changes to speak of, with the ’24 Wrangler lineup maintaining the same four engine configurations. Sticking to the base V-6 nets you 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and while opting for the 2.0-liter inline-four means less horsepower, it also includes more torque. The 4xe and 392 powertrains come exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the 2.0- and 3.6-liter gas engines allow for a six-speed manual transmission or the same eight-speed auto.Jeep also improved some of the Wrangler’s standard safety features. First- and second-row side-curtain airbags are now standard on all trims. Forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control are now standard on Sport S and above. Blind-spot monitoring and a parking assist are available on all but the base Sport. Jeep hasn’t yet revealed official pricing, but we expect the cost of the 2024 Wrangler to increase slightly over the current model, likely starting somewhere around $35,000. 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

More than 140,000 2018–2021 Volkswagen Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport (pictured above) SUVs are being recalled because the front passenger airbag may not work.On vehicles with a passenger occupant detection system integrated into a heated front seat, the system may inaccurately shut off the passenger airbag.A notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns owners not to allow anyone to ride in the front passenger seat until a fix is made to the vehicle.Volkswagen of America is recalling 143,053 of its 2018–2021 Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUVs to fix a defect in the passenger-side front airbag system. The occupant detection system in the affected vehicles could erroneously fail to detect a passenger is present and deactivate the airbag. It would then not deploy in the event of an accident.Interior of 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.VolkswagenAs the NHTSA recall report describes the issue, the vehicle’s passenger occupant detection system, called Body Sense, is connected with the seat’s heating system by a wire under the front passenger seat. A contact fault in this wire could cause the front passenger airbag to switch off. It would then not deploy in the event of a crash. The problem is not occurring in newer Atlas vehicles because a new cable with a shield was introduced to production in October 2022, the report says.The NHTSA report says an instrument panel light with an error message and an audible warning should alert owners if the airbag switches off. The safety agency says owners should not carry front-seat passengers until the problem can be fixed. The 2021 Atlas has been recalled twice before for unrelated airbag problems, once in November 2021 for a water leak issue that could cause unwanted airbag deployment and once in March 2022 for a front side airbag that could experience delay when deploying.VW will notify dealers and Atlas owners about the current recall by May 26. In the meantime, Atlas owners can check whether their vehicle is affected on the NHTSA recalls website. Other Recent RecallsDigital DirectorLaura Sky Brown has been involved in automotive media for a very long time, and she sees it as her calling to guard the legacy and help ensure the continued high quality of Car and Driver. She was one of the first staffers at Automobile Magazine in the ’80s and has worked for many other car magazines and websites as a writer, editor, and copy editor ever since. It has been her privilege to edit many of the greats of automotive journalism over the years, including the ones who currently write for C/D. More

Now in its third generation, the 2024 Crosstrek is joining the Subaru Wilderness family of off-roaders.Following in the footsteps of the Outback and Forester, the Crosstrek Wilderness adds subtle visual and practical changes to the SUV.The Wilderness more than doubles the towing capacity, from 1500 to 3500 pounds. From Ford’s Raptor badge to Toyota’s TRD nameplate, buyers and manufacturers alike love to show off how special their vehicle is through a curated subbrand. Subaru has been building out its roster of off-road-themed Wilderness models lately, and it’s now adding a third model to the lineup in the form of the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. It joins the Outback and Forester Wilderness editions in offering Subaru fans a more rugged option to explore flora and fauna.Where the Wild Things Are Like the other Wilderness editions, the Crosstrek Wilderness revises the basic formula of a Subaru with a rugged twist. The special edition includes an upgraded drivetrain, a raised suspension, and a front metal skid plate that all aim to give drivers a bit of extra confidence—and the all-important outward appearance of ruggedness—for reaching further campsites and trickier trailheads. The revised suspension features a 0.6-inch lift, providing a total of 9.3 inches of ground clearance. That extra height improves the approach and departure angles too. The approach angle increases from 18.0 degrees in your run-of-the-mill Crosstrek models to 20.0 degrees on the Wilderness, while the departure angle increases from 30.0 to 33.0 degrees and the breakover angle moves up from 19.7 to 21.1 degrees.More WildernessNothing has changed in the power department, as the same 2.5-liter flat-four that’s optional on the standard Crosstrek is standard on the Wilderness and still churns out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. A new transmission oil coiler more than doubles the maximum tow rating from 1500 pounds to 3500 pounds. The final-drive ratio is revised to 4.11:1 in place of the Crosstrek’s standard 3.70:1. Unfortunately, the manual-transmission option is as gone for the Wilderness as it is for every other Crosstrek, and a continuously variable automatic transmission is standard across the board. The driver-selectable X-Modes offer snow/dirt and deep snow/mud options, adjusting throttle and transmission tuning where required. The system detects steep inclines and automatically enables low-ratio gradient control. Standard Hill Descent Control also automatically applies braking on descents under 12 mph. Controlled DescentThe roof racks are reworked to allow a 176-pound dynamic load capacity and 700-pound static load limit, making rooftop tents viable. A collection of visual changes help the Wilderness stand out on the road. Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires with raised white lettering ride on matte-black 17-inch alloy wheels. Copper accents contrast the black cladding surrounding the bodywork. The Geyser Blue paint option from the other Wilderness vehicles appears on the Crosstrek’s palette, as do the host of Wilderness logos found everywhere from the headrests to the floor mats. The Wilderness will be built in Lafayette, Indiana, along with the other Crosstrek 2.5-liter models, and it will carry a starting price of $33,290 when it joins the lineup in the 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

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric will now offer two battery-pack options, a smaller pack with an estimated 197 miles of range and a larger pack with an estimated 260 miles of range.The gas-engine lineup includes a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four and a 190-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four.The 2024 Kona will go on sale in the summer and the Kona Electric will go on sale in the fall.Hyundai’s interesting-looking new 2024 Kona is finally making its way stateside, and we now know all the details about the new subcompact SUV’s U.S. specs. It’s set to go on sale this summer, and Hyundai has provided specs for both the gasoline-powered and electric versions of the new Kona, which is larger than before and features a new design inside and out.More on the 2024 KonaThe Kona Electric will now be available with two battery pack sizes. The base, smaller battery has a 48.6-kWh capacity and will presumably be cheaper than the outgoing Kona Electric, which starts at $34,885 and comes standard with a 64.0-kWh battery pack. This new base model has a measly 133-horsepower electric motor powering the front wheels and claims a range of 197 miles. The 2024 Kona’s upgrade battery, meanwhile, grows slightly to 64.8 kWh and provides a claimed range of 260 miles, a whole 2 miles further than the old car. It has a more powerful 201-hp electric motor.The gas powertrain lineup looks similar to the 2023 Kona’s, with a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four coming standard with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The N Line and Limited trims, as before, come with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four with 190 horsepower, but that engine now pairs with a conventional eight-speed automatic rather than the previous dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive will be optional.Cargo space for the Kona Electric grows from 19 cubic feet to 26 cubic feet with the rear seats up, and there’s a bit of extra storage in the frunk as well. Hyundai also claims more rear-seat legroom than before.Pricing, official EPA ratings, and detailed trim-level information is yet to come, but we’ll learn more about the 2024 Kona soon. The gas versions will arrive this summer, with the electric model hitting dealerships in the 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.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

Ram has revealed more specs and details about its first battery-electric vehicle, the 2025 Ram 1500 REV electric pickup.The electric Ram promises big figures such as a target range of up to 500 miles and a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. Ram hinted at an even more ambitious future model called the 1500 REV XR, which would offer “class-shattering” range, likely with the addition of a range-extending gasoline engine. No date was given other than it will follow the introduction of the 2025 models.Two years ago, Ram CEO Mike Koval told fans that though Ram would not be the first brand to bring an electric pickup to market, it would take the extra time to benchmark the trucks that came out before it and develop a more capable vehicle. And true to that statement, Stellantis division announced that its production electric truck would be the 2025 1500 REV in a daring and innuendo-laced Super Bowl commercial.Up to 500 Miles of Range?Based on the numbers Ram has since revealed, the extra time in the oven worked. When it begins reaching customers sometime in 2025, the 1500 REV will have two battery options. The standard 168.0-kWh battery pack will target 350 miles of range per charge. The long-range option comes equipped with a monstrously large 229.0-kWh battery targeting 500 miles of range. To put those numbers in perspective, the Extended Range F-150 Lightning has a 131.0-kWh battery and claims 320 miles of range (we managed 230 in our 75-mph highway test). The Hummer EV’s 212.7-kWh battery is even larger, with GMC claiming a similar 329 miles of range (we managed 290 miles in our range test), but fast charging a battery that large can quickly crest $100 for a full charge. Regardless of the battery chosen, the 1500 REV will be able to add up to 110 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes, suggesting blistering charge rates above 300 kW for that entire time. Its 800-volt DC fast-charging at speeds up to 350 kW is enabled by changing the connection between two 400-volt sections of the battery, likely using a similar process as GM with the Hummer that switches from parallel to series for 800-volt charging. More Rev ContentAll the power from those batteries is delivered via dual 335-hp electric drive modules (one at the front axle, and one at the rear), making the 1500 REV capable of all-wheel drive. The rear axle is available with an electronic locking rear differential, but that option is withheld from the front axle. Instead, the front axle is equipped with an automatic wheel-end disconnect, which allows the front wheels to spin freely and improving efficiency. Ram says the truck will produce 654 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Pinning the accelerator will launch the 1500 REV to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds—a respectable though not record-breaking figure. The 1500 REV will be capable of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-grid, and vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging. Onboard power at the front and rear of the truck will provide accessory power for things like job sites and tailgates, with a panel capable of up to 7.2 kW in the bed and 3.6 kW in the frunk.Working for a LivingRam knows truck owners want to be able to do truck things. That means removing or at least minimizing the trade-offs that come with switching to an EV. The standard range truck will have a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, with a max payload up to 2700 pounds. Official tow ratings aren’t available for the long-range version. The standard internal-combustion Ram 1500 has become a staple of our 10Best list, in part thanks to the great ride quality afforded by its coil-spring rear axle. The 1500 REV goes a step further with a multi-link independent setup in the rear, and active-leveling air suspension with adaptive damping standard on all four corners. The adjustable air suspension allows for five preset ride heights. Top Brass TrimsThe new Ram will be available in five trims, with the familiar names Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Limited and the addition of a new trim named Tungsten to the top of the lineup. The Tungsten trim has an exclusive two-tone interior in Indigo/Sea Salt. Metal accents find their way throughout the interior, while suede wraps the headliner, A- and B-pillars, and visors. The interior of the 1500 REV will feel immediately recognizable to people familiar with the standard gasoline-powered version, but with some significant changes. The optional 12.0-inch screen from the regular truck is now standard, with a new 14.5-inch screen available. Additionally, the 10.3-inch dash-mounted passenger screen seen on the concept truck is making it to production. New EV-specific pages in the infotainment can show such stats as power flow, range impact, charge levels, and charging schedules. The 1500 REV will also be capable of plug and charge, letting owners set up payment so charging happens automatically when plugging in to compatible stations. Production for the 2025 1500 REV is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2024 with deliveries beginning in early 2025. There’s no word on pricing yet, but the REV’s larger battery packs than its competitors’ suggests a higher price point, and it’s certain to be a significant premium over the gas- or diesel-powered Ram 1500.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