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Jeep is adding an Upland trim to the 2023 Renegade lineup, and it starts at $32,185.The Upland has many styling elements from the Trailhawk without the off-road hardware.Solar Yellow is a new color option and costs $495.The Jeep Renegade is showing its age, having debuted for the 2015 model year, but Jeep is trying to keep things fresh by adding new trims and colors. The 2023 Renegade is now available with an Upland trim that’s effectively an off-road appearance package, and Solar Yellow is new to the color palette and costs an extra $495.JeepThe Upland costs $32,185 and fits in the middle of the 2023 Renegade lineup. The black hood graphic, different front and rear fascias, and 17-inch wheels make it look like the Trailhawk off-road trim, though it lacks that model’s red tow hooks. And although the Upland has all-terrain tires, it doesn’t have the Trailhawk’s upgraded four-wheel-drive system with a low range, either.JeepAll 2023 Renegades have a 177-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four engine and a nine-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard, with the lower models having Jeep’s Active Drive system and the Trailhawk ($33,540) upgrading to Active Drive Low, which also adds a low range Rock option to the Selec-Terrain drive-mode system.More Small JeepsWe haven’t heard anything about a replacement for the Renegade arriving anytime soon, so it may stick around for a couple more years. In Europe, Jeep has started selling the similarly sized Avenger, which is an EV, so it’s possible that model could eventually come to the U.S. to slot into the subcompact space.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. More

The 2024 Buick Encore GX gets updated with a fresh face and the brand’s new logo.Every model now has two large displays that share a single glass panel on the dash. Buick also adds the classy Avenir to the Encore GX lineup and turns the popular ST package into a stand-alone trim.The face of Buick is changing, starting with its most popular model, the Encore GX. For 2024, the subcompact SUV receives myriad improvements, not the least of which is a refreshed front end featuring the brand’s new-look logo.Face FirstThe ’24 Encore GX is the first U.S. model to wear Buick’s redesigned tri-shield emblem, which originally appeared on the company’s Wildcat concept. While that eccentric electric coupe was purely a design exercise, the updated GX is the first Buick sold in America to showcase the concept’s influence.The surprise of seeing the GX’s new face was somewhat spoiled by spy photos we captured last December, but the little SUV looks just as handsome nonetheless. It certainly appears more upscale than before, with slim LED accents mounted above discreetly integrated headlights. A new trapezoidal grille sits much lower than its predecessor’s did. The changes to the rear are less obvious, but they’re there if you look hard enough.Buicks Reviewed Top to BottomST Steps UpAlong with updated styling, the Encore GX lineup is restructured. The Preferred trim remains the entry point, but the newly added Avenir now sits at the top. In between them is the Sport Touring (ST), which Buick decided to change from an appearance package to a stand-alone model due to its popularity. The trio are said to have simpler packaging too, with basically no options.The Avenir is the fanciest Encore GX. In fact, Buick went as far as giving it different HVAC controls than the other two. Other Avenir exclusives include a black-and-beige interior color scheme as well as leather seats with its name embroidered into the headrests. It comes with a heated steering wheel and power-adjustable front seats too.The Encore GX ST looks the sportiest of the bunch. For example, it has glossy black wheels and black lower molding; the Avenir has bright rims and molding that matches its body color. The ST can take its distinct appearance even further with the optional Black Roof package. Inside, it alone has a flat-bottomed steering wheel and “ST” stitched into the headrests.BuickBuickScreen TimePerhaps more noteworthy than its new looks, every Encore GX gets a redesigned dashboard with an enormous sheet of glass mounted on top. This single panel contains two large displays, with 8.0 inches devoted to the gauge cluster and 11.0 inches for the touchscreeen infotainment system. The latter includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging with a larger pad than before is also offered.The 2024 Encore GX continues to offer two turbocharged three-cylinders and either front- or all-wheel drive. While both engines feature a turbo from a different supplier—Buick says it’s quieter now—the base 1.2-liter still makes 137 horsepower, and the 1.3-liter upgrade pumps out the same 155 ponies. We’re told the GX’s engine mounts have been optimized to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels. The SUV’s fuel-economy estimates are also expected to carry over; front-drive versions are currently rated at 30 mpg combined, and all-wheel-drive ones are rated at 27 combined.Buick says the updated Encore GX will begin production next month and go on sale this spring. The starting price for the Preferred trim is $26,895, making the base model $300 less than last year. The ST and Avenir start at $28,095 and $33,195, respectively. 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. More

An electrical overheating problem has led Stellantis to recall 306,165 Ram heavy-duty pickups in the U.S.Included in the recall are 2021–2023 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and chassis-cab trucks with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine.The automaker has asked owners not to park the vehicles indoors until the issue can be addressed.Stellantis said today that it will recall 306,165 of its Ram HD pickups and chassis-cab trucks from the 2021 through 2023 model years. The issue is an intake heater grid relay on trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine and an older design of heater grid relay that is no longer being installed on the trucks. The automaker had previously recalled Ram HD trucks for the same problem in late 2021.Stellantis said the relays could overheat, which opens the possibility of fire. The company said there were six fires reported that could have been related to the issue. Five of these happened while the vehicles’ engines were running, while the other was with the engine off. The automaker said the risk is “minimal” but still advises owners or users of the trucks not to park them indoors.The company will start notifying customers in March. Until then, owners can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls website to see if their truck is involved in the recall.Previously in Ram HD Recalls More

• The 2024 Ferrari Purosangue will cost $398,350, excluding a yet-unspecified gas-guzzler tax.• The destination charge is $5000, an eye-watering amount sure to make Jeep jealous.• Fuel economy and vehicle classification will have a major impact on how high or low the gas-guzzler tax could be.Every Ferrari costs house money, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Maranello’s first SUV carries a price tag commensurate with its stature—and that sweet, sweet V-12.In an email to Car and Driver, Ferrari said that the 2024 Purosangue SUV will set a buyer back $398,350. This includes a massive $5000 destination charge, which is among the highest in the industry. Ferrari hasn’t said how the cars will be delivered, but for that kind of money, we’re assuming they will be ferried to owners on the wings of angels.If that price wasn’t enough to set your wallet aflame, there’s also the matter of the Purosangue’s inevitable gas-guzzler tax. Ferrari told us this tax is yet to be determined, likely because this tariff is contingent on the vehicle’s official fuel economy, which the EPA has yet to announce. FerrariGaz-guzzler calculation also hangs on how the vehicle is classified. If it’s classified as a sport utility vehicle, like the Lamborghini Urus S or the Bentley Bentayga Speed, it could be exempted from the tax altogether. However, if it ends up under the station-wagon taxonomy, like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the gas-guzzler surcharge would apply. You know what else is considered a station wagon? The Lamborghini Urus Performante. You’re right to be confused; the feds don’t make this easy.More on the Purosangue SUVRegardless of the final cost, the Purosangue appears to be one properly potent performer. A naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine will deliver 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque; Ferrari claims that’s enough shove to reach 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. It doesn’t have traditional anti-roll bars, instead opting for a trick adaptive suspension that uses electric motors to control body roll by applying a force on the dampers. 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. More

Tesla will open a portion of its U.S. charging infrastructure to outside manufacturers for the first time. At least 7500 Tesla chargers will become available for non-Tesla EVs by the end of 2024, with roughly 3500 new and existing 250-kW Superchargers along highway corridors, and 4000 Level 2 chargers at destinations like hotels and restaurants. After years of maintaining a contained system, the switch will give Tesla access to a slice of $7.5 billion being released in federal charging infrastructure investment.One of the prevailing factors in Tesla’s dominance in the EV segment has been the superiority, reliability, and sprawling coverage of its charging network. A portion of that network will become available for non-Tesla owners for the first time, according to a statement from the White House on Wednesday. Compared to the rest of the industry, Tesla’s charging network is huge. According to data from the Department of Energy, Tesla Supercharger sites make up roughly 24 percent of all DC fast-charging sites in the U.S. Adittionally, with more than 17,000 fast-charge cables, Tesla has more than 61 percent of all available fast-chargers in the U.S. The company will now make at least 7500 chargers available for EVs outside of its native ecosystem. By the end of 2024 roughly 3500 new and existing 250 kW Superchargers along public highway corridors will be opened to non-Tesla EVs. On top of that, roughly 4000 public facing Level 2 chargers from Tesla will be placed at what the White House is naming “Destination Charging” locations at places like hotels and restaurants. Uncle Sam Steps InThe move to allow out-of-network vehicles to utilize its network doesn’t come from a miraculous change of Elon Musk’s heart. The company needs to adopt CCS availability to earn a slice of $7.5 billion in federal charging infrastructure spending, which it would otherwise see none of. Similar to the stipulations surrounding public funding of EV development, the White House is requiring that effective immediately, final assembly and all charging station–related manufacturing for such components as iron or steel charger enclosures or housing occur in the United States. Additionally, by July 2024, at least 55 percent of the cost of all components will need to be spent on products manufactured domestically. Car and DriverMore on EV ChargingOne White House official said at a briefing that as long as its chargers allow other vehicles to charge using CCS, Tesla will be eligible for a subsidy, including retrofitting the existing charging infrastructure, as reported by Reuters. Tesla has opened its Supercharging network to outside EVs before, just not here in the U.S. It launched a pilot program in the Netherlands in 2019, starting with 10 Supercharger locations. After years of the European Union talking about requiring all EV chargers to be compatible with all modern EVs, the company shifted from the proprietary charging port it uses in the States, and began selling vehicles with a CCS connector in Europe.More Ports More Problems?Tesla’s network can be compared to the Apple ecosystem. The company controls nearly all the variables, and in turn, the system works in a plain and simple way. In addition to simply being less extensive, charging networks such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, and EVGo are subject to frequent issues with bandwidth and broken or inoperable chargers, according to user complaints. A 2022 survey by Plug In America reported that the most commonly reported issue by EV owners was broken or non-working chargers, though the Tesla Supercharger network scored “significantly better than its competitors on every metric.” Opening the system to add CCS compatability in conjuction with the proprietary hardware and software could result in Tesla’s charging network losing its reputation for reliable fast-charging. Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid thinks so: “There is a strong likelihood that if they open the supercharger network to other vehicles, their current excellent reliability rate will decline significantly,” Abuelsamid said, as quoted by Reuters.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. More

The Mini Cooper SE Convertible is a droptop version of the electric Cooper hatchback, but only 999 examples will be sold in Europe.The powertrain is the same as the standard Cooper SE, with a 181-hp motor motivating the front wheels.The convertible wears Resolute Bronze trim on the exterior and features special badges denoting its limited-production status.Last year, Mini created a convertible prototype from its electric Cooper hatchback, and now the adorable EV droptop is entering production. Sadly, the Cooper SE Convertible is limited to just 999 units exclusively destined for the Europe market, with “specific and unique market compliance requirements” preventing its sale in the U.S., according to a Mini representative. Still, it shows that Mini is pondering an expansion of its EV lineup, and this electric convertible likely acts as a precursor to an electric droptop for the next generation.The Cooper SE Convertible is offered in Enigmatic Black or White Silver, with the door handles and other exterior trim finished in Resolute Bronze. The EV also wears unique badges that denote the car as “1 of 999” units being built. The cabin is equipped with heated leather seats and a nappa leather steering wheel, while neon-yellow accents highlight the convertible’s electric powertrain. The powered softtop can raise and lower at up to nearly 19 mph. The powertrain is unchanged from the standard Cooper SE hatchback, with a 181-hp motor powering the front wheels. Mini claims that the Cooper SE Convertible will reach 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, and although the droptop will presumably outweigh the hatchback, we measured a zippy 6.1-second sprint to 60 mph in the Cooper SE hatchback that we tested in 2020. More Mini NewsThe limited-production convertible has an estimated 125-mile range on Europe’s generous WLTP test cycle, but the EPA’s more stringent test rated the electric hatchback at 110 miles of range in the U.S. The Cooper SE Convertible will go on sale in Europe in April, while the next-generation Mini Cooper, which will include electric and gas powertrains, is expected to arrive later in 2023.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. More