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From the May 2023 issue of Car and Driver.After decades of epic sports-car battles between Chevrolet Corvettes and Porsche 911s, Chevy is queuing up a new rivalry against Stuttgart’s highest-performing SUVs. Rather than expend resources to designate a new lineup of high-test sport-utility vehicles, Chevrolet will call its subbrand a name synonymous with performance: Corvette. It’s shocking General Motors took this long to add a true performance SUV to one of its model lines. After all, Porsche’s high-roof five-seaters—the Macan and Cayenne—continue to be its bestsellers year after year. Their high profit margins fund insanity such as the 718 GT4 RS and the 911 GT3 RS.General Motors designed its Alpha platform to underpin the best driving machines around. To date, the only model of the five built on it not to make our 10Best list at least once is the Cadillac ATS.Remove any previous expectations that the Corvette SUV will be electrified, at least not at first. The SUV will be built on the celebrated Alpha platform that underpins the Camaro and the spectacular Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings. The platform alone suggests the Corvette SUV will be both entertaining to drive and potentially sold in two sizes. Again, think Macan and Cayenne. The Alpha platform allows access to GM’s vast powertrain catalog. If Chevy builds a Macan competitor, we’d expect a 300-plus-hp turbo four to serve as the base engine and a twin-turbo V-6 with 400 or so horsepower at the top. To challenge the Cayenne, the larger SUV will get that twin-turbo V-6, while the nearly 500-hp 6.2-liter V-8 will belt out its American song in the higher trims. Expect the Vette SUV to come standard with all-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic across the board, with magnetorheological dampers an optional extra.Illustration By BradBuilds|Car and DriverAt the top of the Corvette SUV lineup is where things should get very interesting. After the initial launch, and to no one’s surprise, the SUV will receive the Z0-something treatment to put the most exotic utility vehicles directly in Chevrolet’s crosshairs. The Cadillac Escalade V’s supercharged 682-hp 6.2-liter V-8 should do it, along with carbon-ceramic brakes and tires as wide as the Mississippi. All of this while still undercutting the competition by tens of thousands of dollars.We expect Chevy to reveal the Corvette SUV later this year and for it to arrive at dealerships in the latter half of 2024 with a starting price of around $60,000.To the FutureSenior Testing EditorDavid Beard studies and reviews automotive related things and pushes fossil-fuel and electric-powered stuff to their limits. His passion for the Ford Pinto began at his conception, which took place in a Pinto. More

From the May 2023 Issue of Car and Driver.When the eighth-generation Corvette Stingray arrived for the 2020 model year with its engine behind the passengers and the proportions of a mid-engine Ferrari, a host of rumors rumbled down the road behind it. The Stingray, we heard, would ultimately go for the throat of Lamborghinis, McLarens, or anything with the word “hypercar” or “exotic” in its dating profile. Those whispers will become a reality in the next couple of years with the arrival of two ultra-high-performance Corvettes: the ZR-1 and the Zora.The foundational elements of both cars are currently hiding in plain sight in the 2023 Z06 and the upcoming 2024 E-Ray hybrid. The ZR-1 and Zora both use much of the brilliant Z06 as a starting point, including a majority of its structure and its flatplane-crank V-8, wider body, huge tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes. Beyond that, though, the powertrains, performance, and purpose of the ZR-1 and Zora diverge.The ZR-1The ZR-1, which we expect to see as a ’25 model, takes those basics and adds firepower in the form of a twin-turbo version of the Z06’s 5.5-liter V-8, supposedly a stonker that belts out well over 800 horsepower.Much More CorvetteLike the Z06, the ZR-1 will remain a rear-driver. It will probably incorporate active aerodynamic elements, such as a rear wing and a front splitter, and offer a Z07-style track package. Though its weight will presumably rise by about 200 pounds over a Z06 due to its new turbo componentry and greater powertrain-cooling requirements, we predict that the additional sting in its tail will enable it to lunge to 60 mph in about 2.5 seconds or less. It will be the quickest Corvette around a racetrack while remaining as comfortable on the street as a Z06. Its performance will put it in contention with everything from the McLaren 750S to the Porsche 911 Turbo S. But its base price—we estimate it at $150,000—will undercut competitors by tens or even hundreds of thousands.The New Top DogFittingly, Chevy will name its new top-dog Corvette the Zora, after its most famous chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. He was pivotal in dragging the Corvette out of the dark ages in the ’50s by blending high-tech features of the day—disc brakes, fuel injection, an independent rear suspension—with red-blooded American V-8 power. That’s exactly what the Zora will do.The all-wheel-drive Zora targets acceleration records.Illustration By BradBuilds|Car and DriverToday’s new tech is electrification, and the Zora is a mashup of the ZR-1’s mechanicals and the 160-hp electric motor snuggled under the E-Ray’s nose. Add the E-Ray’s electric power to the ZR-1 engine’s output, and the Zora will be flirting with 1000 horsepower. It could weigh 4200 pounds, but with all-wheel drive aiding the launch, it’ll be the Top Fuel dragster of the Corvette lineup; we expect it to hit 60 mph in about 1.9 seconds and blaze through the quarter-mile in under 10 seconds at about 150 mph.The Zora won’t be aimed at tearing around road courses, though; it’ll be a smartly dressed speed demon with a full complement of luxury features and a ride comfy enough for cross-country treks. It’ll deliver typical-for-Corvette value, starting at around $200,000. Its power and performance, however, will have it soaring in the hypercar stratosphere with more expensive hybrid rockets like the forthcoming electrified Lamborghini Aventador replacement and the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. A fine way to honor the real Zora’s legacy.The LegendGetty ImagesZora Arkus-Duntov is often credited with making the Corvette a world-class sports car. In his 22 years with GM, he worked almost exclusively on the Corvette, becoming the car’s chief engineer in 1967. Arkus-Duntov brought the independent rear suspension, disc brakes, and limited-slip differential to the Corvette. An avid racer, Arkus-Duntov won his class at Le Mans in 1954 and ’55 and set a Pikes Peak record that stood for 13 years in a pre-production ’56 Chevy four-door hardtop.Director, Buyer’s GuideRich Ceppos has evaluated automobiles and automotive technology during a career that has encompassed 10 years at General Motors, two stints at Car and Driver totaling 19 years, and thousands of miles logged in racing cars. He was in music school when he realized what he really wanted to do in life and, somehow, it’s worked out. In between his two C/D postings he served as executive editor of Automobile Magazine; was an executive vice president at Campbell Marketing & Communications; worked in GM’s product-development area; and became publisher of Autoweek. He has raced continuously since college, held SCCA and IMSA pro racing licenses, and has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He currently ministers to a 1999 Miata and a 1965 Corvette convertible and appreciates that none of his younger colleagues have yet uttered “Okay, Boomer” when he tells one of his stories about the crazy old days at C/D. More

The 2024 BMW XM Label Red debuts with a 738-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrain, making it the brand’s mightiest M-badged model. Along with a claimed 60-mph time of 3.7 seconds, the Label Red has an estimated electric driving range of around 30 miles. While BMW hasn’t released pricing, we expect it to cost around $186K after production starts this August. The 2024 BMW XM Label Red is unlike any M car before. Partly because it’s a mammoth plug-in-hybrid SUV, but mostly because it packs more power than any previous M-badged BMW that could legally be driven on the street.Big Bad BimmerWhile similar to the regular 644-hp XM model, the Label Red’s electrified powertrain is beefed up to produce 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Those peak figures are derived from a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 and an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission. That drivetrain combines with a variable, rear-biased all-wheel-drive system, and BMW claims the XM Label Red will hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. That’s four-tenths quicker than its counterpart’s estimate. The Label Red’s top speed is limited to 155 mph, but that cap can be lifted to 175 mph with the optional M Driver’s package.Every version comes standard with adaptive dampers, active anti-roll bars, an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, and M compound brakes with fixed six-piston front calipers and floating single-piston rear clampers. While a set of 23-inch wheels are standard, a set of 22-inchers can be swapped for free. Since the regular XM only comes with summer tires, we expect the Label Red to do the same. Electrified and ExtrovertedBMW isn’t yet discussing fuel-economy estimates, but it has released details about the Label Red’s electrical system, which predictably is identical to the lesser XM’s. There’s a 19.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor that provides an estimated electric driving range of 30 miles. Connect the 7.4-kW onboard charger and a fully replenished battery is said to take three hours and 15 minutes.Whether plugged in at home or at a Level 2 public charger, the XM Label Red will draw the attention of anyone who walks within shouting distance. Perhaps its the enormous, alien-like front end, which looks especially extroverted with the red rings around its cartoonish kidney grille. Additional red exterior accents are found on its gigantic wheels. The stripe stretching along its flanks and up around its side windows can also be had in Toronto Red. Are we the only ones picking up heavy vibes from the A-Team van?Inside, the Bimmer’s red details continue, albeit on a more traditional canvas. The color can be seen on the dashboard HVAC vents as well as on stitched surfaces throughout the cabin. Standout features include BMW’s curved glass panel that combines a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen with iDrive 8.5 infotainment software.The interior also features a head-up display, a three-dimensional headliner, and myriad M-specific controls. Customers can opt for a 1475-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system too, if the standard Harman Kardon stereo won’t suffice. Of course, an SUV this luxurious wouldn’t be complete without an array of driver assists that include BMW’s semi-autonomous drive mode that allows hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 mph on certain thoroughfares.The 2024 BMW XM Label Red is slated to start production at the automaker’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant this August. Although BMW says it’ll announce pricing closer to that date, we’d wager the highest-performance XM will start around $186K.Extra BMW XM 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 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

This is our first look at the next-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop, which will arrive in the United States for the 2025 model year.The design retains the classic Mini cues but now features triangular LED taillights in place of the long-running rectangular shape. The 2025 Cooper hatchback will feature both gas and electric powertrains, with the EV being developed as part of a joint venture with China’s Great Wall Motor.Mini has revealed the first official images of the next-generation Cooper hatchback, due to arrive in the United States for the 2025 model year. The automaker first previewed the new Cooper back in 2021, showing a camouflaged prototype and confirming that the iconic city car would offer both internal-combustion and electric powertrains.MiniMini is remaining tight-lipped on details, but the photos show a sleeker design, with the round headlights smoothly integrated into the body and the wider octagonal grille outline visually lowering the car. The grille is mostly blanked off, with a small opening at the bottom for cooling and a thin black strip at the top that seems to be hiding sensors, but the face is still recognizably Mini. MiniSharp creases on the hood give the Cooper a purposeful stance, and this example, badged as “S,” wears a set of snazzy geometric wheels. The most noticeable change comes at the back, where the rectangular taillights have been swapped out for triangular units with intricate LEDs that still hint at the design of the Union Jack flag. More Mini NewsThe styling appears unchanged from the undisguised prototypes spotted in China back in late 2021, so we’re surprised that its taken this long for the Cooper to finally be revealed. The small grille aperture, green “S” badges, and lack of a visible exhaust pipe leads us to believe that this Cooper is an EV. MiniThe electric Mini will be built in China on a platform developed with Great Wall Motor, while a gas-powered model—which is expected to share its styling with the EV—will arrive on an updated version of the current platform and be assembled in Oxford, England. The internal-combustion version should use the same turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot engines as the outgoing model. More details on the next-generation Cooper should be released soon.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More