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From the May 2023 issue of Car and Driver.When Volkswagen announced in May 2022 that it had acquired the rights to the long-dead Scout nameplate to build electric vehicles for the U.S., our inner monologue was: “Okay. Take a drag. Let’s see where this goes. Exhale.”If Scout’s plan comes together, groundbreaking on a South Carolina assembly plant will happen later this year, we should see the first prototype SUV in 2025, and customer deliveries will commence in late 2026. Underneath the stubby and undeniably International Harvester Scout–inspired styling, you’ll find a lot of VW Group parts, but no unibodies. The Scout SUV (and pickup that comes later) will use a skateboard-style ladder frame that incorporates all the major drive components. Expect at least two motors, a battery big enough to earn a 300-mile range on an EPA report card, and optional off-road skid plates and tires. More on the Return of ScoutScout is billing itself as an American company, but don’t be fooled. Scout will have its pick of whatever VW Group parts it wants, including the latest EV tech. While this doesn’t sound that exciting—because an SUV EV isn’t terribly exciting—a startup brand with the backing of VW could produce a compelling product out of the gate. Think Rivian, but with the manufacturing know-how and the resources that come with the world’s second-largest automaker. Scout MotorsThe Scout will compete with other on-/off-road battery-electric SUVs, mainly the Rivian R1S and GMC Hummer EV SUV. It will surely be priced to take advantage of federal tax credits, so expect a volume model to come in under $80,000. Now our inner monologue is us wondering, “Is someone in Switzerland already working on a Monteverdi Safari version?”Executive EditorK.C. Colwell is Car and Driver’s executive editor, who covers new cars and technology with a keen eye for automotive nonsense and with what he considers to be great car sense, which is a humblebrag. On his first day at C/D in 2004, he was given the keys to a Porsche 911 by someone who didn’t even know if he had a driver’s license. He also is one of the drivers who set fast laps at C/D’s annual Lightning Lap track test. More

• Basically a rebodied, battery-powered Lotus Elise, the Roadster was a historic first from then-new Tesla.• This example is a desirable later 2.5 model and features a fresh comprehensive service from a Tesla Roadster specialist.• Bidding runs through April 17.Car and DriverAny conversation about what makes for a good long-term collector car often poses the question: what to do when the gas stations eventually shut down? With this pioneering electric sports car, no gasoline, no problemo. Today’s pick at the Bring A Trailer auction site—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a 2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport, and it’s arguably this century’s Shelby Cobra.Related StoriesBefore the Shelby purists get their pitchforks and torches out of the attic, let’s bear this comparison out. Like the original Cobra, the Tesla Roadster takes a British-built chassis and combines it with an upgraded powertrain to create a ferociously quick chimera of speed. In the case of the Tesla, it’s volts not V-8s (and Lotus Elise underpinnings, not AC), but the basics of SoCal hot-rodding are right there. Engineers took the first prototype Roadsters out of the shed where they assembled them, and went hunting Corvettes. You have to think ol’ Carroll Shelby would have approved of that kind of behavior. 2011 Tesla RoadsterBring a TrailerFrom there, the comparison breaks down somewhat. The Cobra went on to make a name for itself at the racetrack, while the Roadster was the first salvo from a company aimed at building consumer electric vehicles en masse. You could argue, however, that the heads of both companies have a similar knack for self-promotion, and both have certainly had a lasting impact on the auto industry.Back to the car. Being a 2011 2.5 model, this Roadster benefits from a host of upgrades over the original version. Along with a refresh of the exterior, these included improvements to the HVAC, more sound deadening, and changes to the powertrain to better handle hot weather.Bring a TrailerFurther, this example has been through the hands of the Gruber Motor Company of Phoenix, Arizona. Tesla itself doesn’t much seem interested in preserving the Roadster’s legacy, having launched one into deep space for internet points. Happily, this apparent neglect allows space for specialists to move in, and Gruber is one such well-regarded shop.Gruber’s level two service involves addressing various engineering issues and replacing wear items, to a list of some 50 components. In combustion-engine terms, it’s akin to an engine-out teardown and rebuild. The work was performed in May of last year, and means that the next owner of this Roadster should enjoy a better-than-new motoring experience.Bring a TrailerAlthough you can buy a quicker machine direct from Tesla these days, the Roadster Sport’s 4.1-second sprint to 60 mph is still speedy. The 53-kWh battery pack provides for about 200 miles of range, and the motor sends 288 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque through a single-speed transmission to the rear wheels.As a fun, quick convertible that’s future-proofed against a world where everything runs on electrons, this Roadster has plenty of appeal. More importantly, perhaps, is that it’s not just a toy but a piece of automotive history. Show up to your local cars and coffee, and it’ll garner kudos from a broad range of enthusiasts, from Gen-Zs right through to maybe a couple of older folks in Shelby T-shirts.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing 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

Ford Performance has revealed the 1800-hp Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800, which aims to chase down NHRA world records. The Super Cobra Jet 1800 is a revised version of the 1400-hp Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. That old car holds a class-specific world record in the quarter-mile, recording 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph.Ford Performance just revealed the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 electric prototype. The Super Cobra Jet 1800 is a revised version of Ford’s first draft—the 1400-hp Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 prototype from a few years ago. The only things crazier than the new car’s 1800 horsepower are the NHRA world records it’s targeting.The Mustang Cobra Super Jet 1800 aims to beat the 1400’s quarter-mile run of 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph, which was recorded in June 2021. Additionally, the 1800 is going after a new full-bodied, electric-vehicle record for fastest EV from zero to 60 mph and fastest two-wheel-drive EV from zero to 60 mph during an NHRA event later this season. Ford PerformanceCompared with the Cobra Jet 1400, the 1800’s additional 400 horsepower comes from the same inverters and motor pairings as before, which are now attached to a new transmission from Liberty. The Super Cobra Jet 1800 also features a redone battery system, revised rear-end setup as well as fresh control and data gathering systems. There’s also an entirely redone, lighter-weight battery system designed by Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. Power is sent to an MLe Racecars-revised rear end with improved suspension geometry from PMR and a new set of larger Mickey Thompson drag radials to help launch the car.“Our changes have made significant improvements to the car, including removing hundreds of pounds in weight and increasing horsepower to 1800,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. More Mustang Cobra Jet ContentFord Mustang purists may be angered to see yet another electric model bearing the beloved title, but make no mistake, the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 is an apex predator looking to hunt down a few world records. 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

From the May 2023 Issue of Car and Driver. When Akio Toyoda took the reins as president of Toyota Motor Corporation in 2009, the company was not in a good place. Yes, it led global auto production with 7.2 million units, ahead of GM’s 6.5 mil. But Toyota, reeling from the global recession, had just reported its first financial loss in decades and was deep in the throes of its unintended-acceleration controversy, which would result in a $1.2 billion fine in the U.S. Then things got worse. In 2011, the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami devastated the east coast of Japan, destroying or damaging three of Toyota’s factories and knocking many suppliers offline. Touring the devastation soon after, Toyoda said it “totally dwarfed” every other challenge he’d yet faced. Toyota’s production stumbled that year, with the company falling to number three. But by the next year, production figures were back on top.Toyota offers just one EV in the global market, the bZ4X. It still expects to make cars powered by internal combustion through 2050 and argues that using a 100.0-kWh battery to make six plug-in hybrids or 90 hybrids instead of one EV results in a greater reduction of carbon dioxide.Today Toyota outsells next-largest automaker Volkswagen by roughly 2 million vehicles annually. As of this writing, it’s also the second-most-valuable car company in the world, behind Tesla.ToyotaToyotaAlong with bringing Toyota through an earthquake and global financial peril, Toyoda also won over enthusiasts, racing under his alter ego, Morizo, and spearheading performance cars ranging from the Lexus LFA to the new GR Corolla. While we’ll never complain about more performance hot hatches, some pundits fear that Koji Sato will be stuck playing catch-up when it comes to EVs. Car and DriverWhile most global manufacturers are throwing their weight behind battery-electric vehicles in preparation for looming zero-emission mandates in markets such as California and New York, Toyota offers just one EV in the global market, the bZ4X (Lexus is introducing a companion model, the RZ450e). Instead, Toyota has been taking a more measured approach to electrification, relying on hybrids and plug-in hybrids. It argues that using a 100.0-kWh battery to make six plug-in hybrids or 90 hybrids instead of one EV results in a greater reduction of carbon dioxide. Toyota still expects to make cars powered by internal combustion through 2050, although with fleet emissions down 90 percent. Under Toyoda’s leadership, we saw playful performance offerings like the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla and the 2012 Lexus LFA.ToyotaToyotaToyota, under Toyoda’s leadership, has also been investing in hydrogen fuel-cell technology. Toyoda even raced a Yaris that used hydrogen combustion. “Carbon neutrality is not about one having a single choice but about keeping options open,” he’s said. But without government backing for hydrogen vehicles in the U.S., it’s hard to see fuel cells being much of an option here. The need for an electrification strategy may be part of why Koji Sato has been tapped as Toyoda’s successor. Coming from the presidency at Lexus, Sato has experience with EV planning. The Lexus Electrified initiative promises that by 2030, every Lexus sold in North America, Europe, and China will be battery-electric. As Sato steps up, is it too late for Toyota to meet anticipated EV demand? No way, Brian Finkelmeyer, senior director of new car solutions at Cox Automotive, tells us: “I think Toyota has played this perfectly.” Current and Coming SoonFinkelmeyer says no mainstream manufacturers have proven EVs as their sole business aside from Tesla, which operates in the rarefied air of smaller-scale luxury brands. “Toyota is still hedging its bets a little bit, not putting all the chips in one place,” Finkelmeyer says. And it isn’t just fuel cells. Finkelmeyer points out that Toyota is the global leader in patents involving solid-state batteries, which have the potential to increase range and decrease charging time. This, he believes, could leave Toyota well positioned long term.How much of an impact will Sato make in changing Toyota’s fortunes? Finkelmeyer says it won’t be dramatic. “My impression of Toyota is of a fundamental, cultural set of beliefs about how they go to market and who they are,” he says. “They’re like the [NBA’s] Golden State Warriors. They’re just going to keep doing what they’re doing.” ToyotaInitial statements by Sato seem to back that up. “Cars are made with the passion and efforts of countless individuals,” Sato said earlier this year at a press conference where he expressed his vision for Toyota. “I want to be a president who remains part of that group, toiling together to create cars.” What about Toyoda’s passion for sports cars? “If Morizo is someone who loves driving cars,” Sato said, “I am someone who loves making cars that make drivers smile.” Hopefully, that means the brand’s affordable, fun performance vehicles will continue, with or without tailpipes.Get To Know SatoToyotaBorn in Tokyo in 1969, Koji Sato studied mechanical engineering in college. His interest was always in cars, and he worked part time at a gas station and later at Fuji Speedway.Sato joined Toyota as an engineer in 1992. His early work was in suspension development and chassis design, including contributions to the first-generation Prius. He later moved to product planning, where he led the team for the Toyota Camry and Lexus GS before taking on the position of chief engineer at Lexus, where he oversaw the development of today’s Lexus LC coupe—still one of his favorite cars. He became president of Lexus in 2020, shortly before also taking on the role of Gazoo Racing president.When he isn’t working on designing new cars, Sato enjoys his favorite classic, the last of the rear-drive Corollas, the AE86. More

Tesla is preparing an updated Model 3, which we expect will arrive later this year.The reworked Model 3 is internally known as Project Highland.If this spy pic is anything to go by, then the revised Model 3’s design appears to crib cues from the Roadster prototype.It’s no secret that Tesla’s working on an updated Model 3. Known internally as Project Highland, the reworked entry-level electric sedan is expected to arrive sometime later this year, possibly as a late-arriving 2023 model (Tesla’s famous for ignoring model-year norms) or as a 2024. Related StoriesRegardless, Tesla has generally kept key details related to the Model 3’s revisions under wraps. Though we’re still waiting to learn what hardware and software upgrades Tesla intends to give the new Model 3, we’re finally getting our first glimpse at the car’s tweaked sheetmetal. At least, we think that’s what we’re seeing in this spy photo that seems to have originated on Reddit before finding its way to Twitter.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.This supposed unmasked Model 3 prototype may ultimately turn out to be the work of a skilled Photoshop artist, or a scrapped design proposal for Project Highland, but whatever it is, its tweaked body lines match those of camouflaged Model 3s spotted in the wild. Note the crease in the door that blends into the fender and joins the side-mounted camera. It’s a small detail missing from the current Model 3, but present on the camo’d Project Highland prototypes spotted in the wild. Based on the above image, the most notable changes to the Model 3 come to its front end. Gone are the current car’s large headlight bezels and noticeably canted front bumper cover. In their places sit slit-like headlights and a simpler and more upright front valance. The resulting front-end design gives the Model 3 a look reminiscent of the Roadster prototype from 2017.TeslaBesides a new wheel design, there’s little else to glean from this image. We’re sure Tesla’s done more than just massage the design of the Model 3 as part of Project Highland, but until the company formally reveals the revised sedan, we’ll simply have to wait and find out what improvements the EV brand’s made to the car’s adaptive safety features, infotainment technology, and powertrain components.Senior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More