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    2023 Easter Jeep Safari Is Coming, and Jeep Is Teasing with Eye-Catching Sketches

    Jeep showed off two new teasers ahead of the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.The brand uses the event, now in its 57th year, as a showcase for new concept vehicles.The company released the first two “trail markers” hinting at what it will bring to the event scheduled for April 1–9, 2023.Jeep Nation rejoice! The Easter Jeep Safari is nearly upon us. This year will mark the 57th Safari, and true to form, Jeep has started hinting at the wild concepts it will bring. The first two teasers—or “trail markers,” as Jeep is calling them—were released today. Rather than images or renderings, the company showed off two eye-catching sketches. The first sketch shows what looks to be a muscled-up two-door version of the Gladiator truck wearing a wide set of knobby off-road-ready tires hiding under what look to be the largest fenders we’ve ever spotted on a Jeep. From what we can tell by squinting through the blinding green haze of the sketch, the driver’s-side mirror has migrated from the A-pillar and now rests directly in front of the enlarged front fender. Jeep/StellantisThe second sketch has a bit more muted color scheme, which seems to be Jeep’s way of showing off the blue-trimmed 4xe font. This concept looks like a more straightforward Wrangler Rubicon off-roader, and we can once again spot enlarged fenders. Unlike in the Green Giant sketch, the mirror placement in this sketch look standard. One element that’s not standard is that the doors have been replaced by tube half-doors, while the rear windows are replaced by some sort of Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) utility rack. Last year Jeep brought a whopping seven concept vehicles to the event. We think it’s a safe bet that they will bring at least that many this year as well. Two more each week between now and the start of the Easter Jeep Safari would bring the total to eight, topping last year’s figure. 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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    Video: Why Ford F-150 Raptor R Has Less Suspension Flex Than Ram 1500 TRX

    The inner 10-year-old in all of us certainly appreciated Ford shoving a 700-horsepower supercharged V-8 under the hood of the F-150 Raptor to make the Raptor R. But exactly what did Ford need to change to accommodate the heavier powertrain? In our latest suspension test video, Dan Edmunds finds out by exploring underneath the front and rear of a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R. He also puts it through our Ramp Travel Index test to compare the Raptor R’s flex to other Raptor variants and, of course, the Ram 1500 TRX. As it turns out, the additional weight didn’t require comprehensive changes to the design of the suspension. The front spring rates are stiffer, but fundamentally the suspension package is the same as other Raptors. We also see the weight for the mounted 37-inch wheels.In the rear, Edmunds explains the benefits of the Raptor’s independent suspension and its inverted shocks. We learn how the active Fox Live Valve Shocks work, and we see how the middle of the Panhard rod has been flattened to make room for the 37-inch spare tire.The RTI test highlights the Raptor R’s 33.1-degree approach angle. But you might be surprised to see that the Raptor R has a lower score than not only the Ram 1500 TRX, but also every other Raptor variant. What gives? Watch to learn.More on Raptor and TRXThis 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.Deputy Editor, VideoFrom selling them to testing them, Carlos Lago has spent his entire adult life consumed by cars. He currently drives the creative behind Car and Driver video. More

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    Alfa Romeo Reportedly Planning Big-Bodied Electric SUV for 2028

    Alfa Romeo is planning a large electric SUV flagship that could arrive in 2028, per a report by Auto Express.After interviewing Alfa CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, the British outlet believes the brand will build an EV SUV the size of a BMW iX before the decade’s end.Imparato also told AE that Alfa plans to introduce an electric sedan in 2027 that’ll be even bigger than the upcoming 2025 Giulia EV.Before the end of the decade, Alfa Romeo plans to build a large electric SUV that’s similar in size to the BMW iX. At least that’s what British car magazine Auto Express reported today after an interview with Alfa CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato.Alfa’s Future EV FlagshipImparato told the British car magazine that sometime in 2027 the brand will introduce an electric sedan that’s suited for North America. It’ll be in the same size category as the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series, so it’ll be bigger than the upcoming 2025 Giulia EV. Following the debut of the size-up sedan, Imparato mentioned introducing a “built-up model in 2028”. AE believes this to be a large electric SUV that’ll be Alfa’s future flagship, which makes sense considering the company has previously discussed building bigger and smaller SUVs to surround the current compact-sized Stelvio. So far, the company has only introduced the subcompact Tonale plug-in hybrid.Alfa Romeo TimelinesAnother STLA Large AdopterThe speculation is that the bigger electric sedan and SUV will be based on the Stellantis Group’s STLA Large platform. It’s the same one that’ll underpin the Giulia EV, offering an 800-volt electrical architecture with rapid-charging capability. Regarding the bigger future sedan, Imparato told AE it’ll be able to recharge 80 percent of its battery in 18 minutes and aim for over 400 miles of driving range. He also said Alfa’s design language is set through 2027, so that includes the time frame for the sedan but not the SUV. While AE’s article includes a rendering of what it thinks Alfa’s future flagship could look like, we’ll likely have to wait quite awhile until we get an official glimpse of the big-bodied ute. For now, we’ll just have to use what we know about the Italian automaker’s current aesthetic to fuel our imagination.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 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

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    2023 Tesla Model S and X Add Pretty but Pricey $3000 Red Paint

    The 2023 Tesla Model S and Model X add a $3000 Ultra Red paint option, which replaces the previous $2K red paint. Both Teslas also add a newly designed glass roof that’s said to weigh less and let in more light, albeit with the same UV protection.Plaid models add new brake pads that have a higher thermal capacity than before—they’re also still without the carbon-ceramic kit Tesla promised.For folks who want the prettiest red paint on their 2023 Tesla Model S or Model X, they’ll have to shell out $3000. That’s the price of the new Ultra Red paint option that Tesla offers on its two largest models.The new red paint replaces the $2000 Red Multi-Coat option that’s still available on the Model 3 and the Model Y. The higher-priced color on the Model S and X arrives just days after Tesla marked down each by about $5000 and $10K, respectively. However, Tesla gives both of them minor updates too.Is It Getting Hot in Here?Outside of the new prettier-but-pricier paint, the Model S and X add a newly designed glass roof that’s said to weigh less than the one it replaces. Shaving weight off the top could help lower the two Teslas’ center of gravity, which in turn could improve their handling.On the other hand, we we’re not thrilled with the idea of a glass roof that’s said to allow five-times more light into the cabin. Tesla claims it provides the the same amount of UV protection as the old one, so we’ll just have to wait to sit in one on a piping-hot sunny day to find out.Give Us a BrakeOn the bright side (pun intended), the high-performance Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X now have improved brake pads. Tesla claims the new pads offer a higher thermal capacity than the old ones.TeslaFrom what we can decipher off of Tesla’s Twitter, the update only affects the brake pads, leaving the standard rotors and calipers unchanged. We’ve criticized the stock brakes on the Model S Plaid before, so we’re happy to see improvements (no matter how minor). Still, it’s worth noting Tesla has yet to introduce the track-capable carbon-ceramic brake option the company promised is on the way.Tesla Price ChangesThis 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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    2023 Honda CB350 Launch Price Rs 2.1 L – All 6 Custom Kits Detailed

    2023 Honda CB350 and RS lineup now offers 6 different characters based on the same base vehicle2023 Honda CB350 Launched
    With the launch of CB350 line by Honda, the Japanese bike maker aimed to get a piece of Royal Enfield’s massive pie. No matter how Honda positioned it, sales reports within 200cc to 500cc show that there is no beating Royal Enfield. Honda barely managed to push over 1,000 units in January 2023.
    2023 Honda CB350 and CB350RS Launched
    At the same time, Royal Enfield pushed out over 64,000 units of 350cc motorcycles. To expand the envelope of its products in India, HMIL has come up with a new strategy. Fruits of which are four custom kits offered with H’ness 350 and two custom kits offered with CB350 RS. Apart from these custom kits, Honda has also updated the CB350 for meeting BS6 Phase 2 norms. Prices start from Rs 2.1 lakh for the CB350 and Rs 2.15 lakh for the CB350RS.
    2023 Honda CB350 and CB350RS Prices
    A total of 3 variants are on offer with CB350 and CB350RS. These are DLX, DLX Pro and DLX Pro Chrome. Prices for the CB350 range from Rs 2.1 lakh to Rs 2.15 lakh, while that of the CB350RS ranges from Rs 2.15 lakh to Rs 2.18 lakh. All prices are ex-sh.
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    Custom Kits Based on CB350 RS
    Honda CB350 RS was Scrambler-ish in its design. While Honda H’ness CB350 was a classic retro cruiser. CB350 RS got a different rear subframe, fork gaiters, and sporty colours contrasting black finish on engine and exhaust. Adding more drama to this offering are SUV Custom and Cafe Racer.
    Honda CB350RS SUV Custom Kit
    CB350 RS SUV Custom kit is priced at Rs 7,00. It gets a small windscreen at front, knuckle guards, engine crash guards, rear pannier mounts and colour-matching pinstriping on black alloy wheels. If ORVMs were blackened, it would look much more cohesive. CB350 RS Cafe Racer gets a unique headlight cowl and a single-seater option. Pillion seat is replaced with a sporty cowl and pin striping. This kit is priced at Rs 17,500.
    Honda CB350RS Cafe Racer Custom Kit
    H’ness CB350 Custom Kits
    With H’ness CB350, Honda is offering four custom kits. They are Comfort Custom, Solo Carrier, Tourer Custom, and a Cafe Racer. H’ness CB350 Comfort Custom as the name suggests is oriented towards comfort. Rider gets a tall windscreen, knuckle guards, crash guards. Pillion gets a backrest and Honda has bundled a pannier mount and front fork gaiters like seen with SUV Custom. Comfort Custom is the only one to lack pinstriping. Price of this kit is Rs 16,500.
    Honda CB350 Comfort Custom Kit
    Out of all the custom kits, Solo Carrier allows maximum luggage carrying capacity. The pillion seat is replaced with a luggage carrier. Chrome applique on side panel, fork gaiter and a tiny windscreen are offered too. Oddly, Solo Carrier misses out on pannier mounts, which could have added more luggage-carrying options. This kit is priced at Rs 16,200.
    Honda CB350 Solo Carrier Custom Kit
    Taking a look at the Cafe Racer with H’ness CB350, it looks exactly like the Cafe Racer kit with CB350 RS, sans blackened finishes. With H’ness CB350, we get chrome treatment. With both Cafe Racers, Honda should have offered low-set clip-on handlebars. Maybe lowered headlight unit to be in line with the fuel tank’s height. And remove engine crash guards. It is priced at Rs 22,200.
    Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Custom Kit
    Lastly, we have H’ness CB350 Tourer Custom. On the surface, it is similar to Comfort Custom. Tourer Custom gets a rear luggage rack behind pillion seat instead of backrest. Also, it gets pinstriping and chrome applique on side panels. It is priced from Rs 17,600.
    Honda CB350Tourer Custom Kit
    Specs & Features
    Honda CB350 comes equipped with a 348.36 cc single-cylinder engine developing 15.5 kW of power (20.78 bhp) and 30 Nm. This engine is equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. Honda should have offered revised rider geometry with each custom kit with different handlebars and different foot peg positions. Instead, Honda has offered these “custom” kits like one size fits all.
    Mr. Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “Ahead of the government’s deadline, HMSI has been aggressively working on upgrading the product line up with latest norms. Today, we launch the new OBD2B compliant 2023 H’ness CB350 and CB350RS which are future ready. Since inception, the CB350s have received tremendous response not only in India but globally. We are also very positive that the specially curated custom kits under the new customization section ‘My CB, My Way’ will further delight our new as well as existing CB350 customers.” More

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    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc Launch Soon – Super Meteor 650 Rival

    Kawasaki Eliminator 400 could get the same 399 cc engine parallel twin motor from Ninja 400, making 43 bhp and 37 NmKawasaki Eliminator 400cc Render by Young Machine
    Does Kawasaki Eliminator 400 ring any bell to you? No? How about Bajaj Eliminator? This rings a distant bell, doesn’t it? That is because Kawasaki-Bajaj JV sold Eliminator 175 cruiser bikes in India for some time. It was a cruiser motorcycle manufactured in India and exported to global markets.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc – New Age Cruiser For Modern Gen
    Bajaj Eliminator became the base for a motorcycle that is sold today under Avenger brand. Going by Kawasaki’s teasers, it is pretty evident that the Japanese brand is unveiling a slew of new products, and one of them is a low-slung cruiser. There are speculations set in place, suggesting Kawasaki Eliminator can be revived. Let’s take a look.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400cc Render by Young Machine
    2023 Osaka Motor Show is being held in Japan on March 15th. This is a motor show based on customisations, but manufacturers also showcase their upcoming products, if any. First teaser from Kawasaki showed three motorcycles, a ZX-4RR (confirmed), an ADV and a cruiser motorcycle in the middle. Second teaser from Kawasaki shows veiled motorcycles at its pavilion at the Osaka Motor Show.
    Looking at the round ORVMs, tail lights, and height difference between its handlebar and rear subframe, suggest that it might very well be a cruiser bike. It can be a variation of outgoing Vulcan S. But the veiled cruiser has round ORVMs, unlike a Vulcan S. We hope it is the revival of the Eliminator series to rival Royal Enfield’s dominance in the middle-weight cruiser category.
    Kawasaki Eliminator 400 Revival Of An Icon
    One of the popular series in Kawasaki’s lineup from the 90s was Eliminator. It was a cruiser-type motorcycle, first sold in 1985. The model started life with Eliminator 900, but soon spawned multiple engines ranging from mere 125 cc models to 1000 cc models. Model range includes EL125, EL175 (Bajaj Eliminator in India), EL250, VN250, ZL400, ZL600, ZL750, ZL900 and ZL1000.
    Mostly, Kawasaki has used engines from its Ninja counterparts in the Eliminator series. Today, Kawasaki has a middle-weight cruiser in the form of Vulcan S priced at Rs. 6.4 lakh (ex-sh). With the launch of Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield has pretty much stomped Vulcan S as the RE cruiser is priced between Rs. 3,48,900 and 3,78,900 (ex-sh).
    Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Rival
    If Kawasaki Eliminator 400 is real, it might be a fitting weapon in the company’s arsenal against Super Meteor 650. We expect Kawasaki to use the same engine as the Ninja 400, which is a 399 cc parallel-twin motor packing 44.7 bhp of power and 37 Nm of torque. In contrast, RE’s 648 cc parallel-twin engine makes 47 bhp and 52 Nm.
    Considering that Ninja 400 weighs just 168 kg, Kawasaki Eliminator 400 is likely to weigh around 200 kg. Which is far less than 240 kgs of Super Meteor 650. With less weight to lug around, Eliminator can beat Super Meteor 650 in outright performance. Tuning the engine to suit cruiser character is paramount as well. Ninja 400’s 37 Nm of torque has to be made accessible lower in the rev range to suit cruiser personality. This is not confirmed by Kawasaki, though. So, taking it with a pinch of salt would be advised. More

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    Harley Davidson X350 Launch Price 33k Yuan – Approx Rs 3.93 L

    Harley Davidson has finally launched their new entry level 350cc motorcycle called the X350Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    With classic motorcycle craze on the rise, Harley-Davidson intends to swarm the market. An attempt at the same was done by Harley in the past with Street 750 and Street Rod 750. They failed to deliver expected results and Harley’s dream of conquering the lower end of classic bikes, stayed at large.
    Harley-Davidson Launch X350 in China at Affordable Price Point
    Now, Harley-Davidson is coming at it with a new wave of 500cc and 350cc motorcycles. This time around, Harley seems to be playing it safe. Powertrains have been sourced from QJ and have strategically signed partnerships that can cater to developing markets like India. Result of this is Harley-Davidson X500 and X350 motorcycles. Of these two, it is the Harley Davidson X350 that has now been officially launched.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    Harley Davidson X350 has been launched in China at a starting price of 33,388 Yuan, which is approximately Rs 3.93 lakh as per today’s currency conversion rate. This makes the X350 the most affordable Harley Davidson on offer today by a big margin. To reach a larger audience, Harley Davidson is offering attractive loan too. You can buy the new HDX350 by paying a down payment of 8,888 Yuan (including additional fees and insurance) and remaining via EMIs.
    Speaking about dimensions, the New X350 Harley Davidson is 2110mm long, 785mm wide and has a height of 1110mm. Wheelbase is at 1410mm. In the front it has 120/70Z R17 tyre while at the rear is a 160/60Z R17 tyre. It has a kerb wt of 195 kgs while gross vehicle wt is at 355 kgs. Braking is via dual disc at the front and a single disc at the rear. ABS is standard.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    With this new budget motorcycle, Harley Davidson customers are sure to miss the V-Twin rumble and smooth power delivery of a belt drive. By taking this route, Harley-Davidson intends to tackle another legacy brand that is currently dominating this space. What they will get, though, are neo-retro-styled motorcycles with Harley-Davidson branding.
    Harley-Davidson X350: A New Model with Impressive Horsepower and Top Speed
    Later, Harley Davidson will launch X500 based on this same machine. There are a lot of parts sharing between the two as well, keeping costs down further. These include componentry like USD forks, alloy wheels, rear mono-shock, headlights and instrument clusters. Design is slightly different between both bikes. The rear subframe and tail section are starkly different, while the fuel tank bears slight differences.
    Other differences are in braking hardware. Harley-Davidson X500 gets larger conventional discs as opposed to smaller petal discs. Both get a dual disc setup at front and single disc at the rear. Both of them get liquid cooling, but only the X350 bike gets a smaller radiator, flanked by tank shrouds.
    Harley Davidson X350 Launched
    The main difference is in the engine department. The smaller offering is powered by a 353cc motor developing around 34 bhp of power. Weighing around 195 kg, X350 can hit 143 km/h top speed. X500, however, will get the same parallel-twin motor powering Benelli 502C, kicking out 45 bhp and 46 Nm. Weighing in at 207 kg, X500 will hit 159 km/h.
    Harley X350 India Launch
    The 350cc segment sees almost 60k-70k sales every month in India. 90% of this market share is with Royal Enfield. With a combination of factors including design, appeal, nostalgia, feel and more, RE is currently the champion in the 350cc segment and middle-weight 650cc segment as well. India launch of Harley Davidson X350 has not been confirmed. But considering the growing demand for mid-displacement motorcycles here, chances are very high of this new bike coming to India, thanks to Hero MotoCorp. More

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    Bajaj Pulsar NS 160, NS 200 With USD Forks, Dual ABS – Launch Teaser

    Bajaj is getting ready to give a performance upgrade to their NS range of Pulsar 160 and Pulsar 200
    Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 USD and NS 200 USD launch soon
    Over the years, Pulsar has had a range of models on offer. Of these, NS 160 and NS 200 have been among the most successful. The NS Pulsar was launched back in 2012 in the form of NS 200, while the NS 160 was launched in 2017. Over the years, not much has changed with the two bikes. They continue to be on offer in an almost similar format as they were launched. But that will soon change.
    Bajaj Pulsar USD Forks – NS 160 and NS 200
    Bajaj will be launching the Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 with USD forks in a few days. Ahead of that, the first official teaser has been released. The teaser video says ‘Rotate Your Phone’ and at the end it says – Muscular Styling Goes Upside Down. In between we get glimpses of the front wheel, USD Forks and the Pulsar NS in a new colour shade.
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    This is not the first time we have seen USD forks on Bajaj Pulsar NS. Bajaj sells NS160 and NS200 with USD front forks in Brazil, where these two motorcycles have been launched as Dominar 160 and Dominar 200. Bajaj is offering 33mm USD forks with the larger 200cc model and 31mm USD forks with the smaller 160cc model. Same is expected to be on offer with 2023 Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 upon launch.
    This update will add a lot of muscle to an already muscular NS200 and NS160. USD forks allow for a larger surface point for clamping. Hence the overall cohesiveness of the chassis is improved. This enables a better front-end feel and corner-carving capabilities.
    2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS – Dual ABS
    New Bajaj Pulsar NS160, NS200 – Performance Upgrades
    This update will definitely suit the Pulsar NS range. Speaking of the NS200, it is pitched as a sporty machine with upmarket features like liquid cooling and a 6-speed gearbox. Apart from the USD forks, Bajaj is also adding dual-channel ABS. This is a much needed update.
    Bajaj already offers Dual ABS with Pulsar RS200. With these new additions, Pulsar NS200 will be a formidable contender to TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Other rivals include Honda Hornet 2.0 and KTM 200 Duke.
    Specs and Price
    Ever since its launch in 2012, Pulsar NS200 has been one of the most talked-about motorcycles in the industry. It had the same engine as KTM Duke 200 along with liquid cooling and a 6-speed gearbox for far less money. Despite making zero changes to the design since launch, it is still one of the wildest-looking motorcycles. It offers stupendous ergonomics for tall riders and a sporty stance.
    Powering Pulsar NS200 is a 199.5 cc single-cylinder engine with 24.13 bhp at 9750 RPM and 18.74 Nm of torque at 8000 RPM. It gets a 6 speed transmission. Pulsar NS160 is powered by a 160.3cc single cylinder engine delivering 17.2 PS power at 9000 rpm and 14.6 Nm torque at 7250 rpm. It comes with a 5 speed transmission. Prices of the Pulsar NS 160 USD and Pulsar NS 200 USD will be about Rs 5-10k more than the outgoing versions, which are priced at Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 1.4 lakh respectively (ex-sh) More