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UPDATE 2/22/23, 7:00 p.m.: In response to our request, the legislation’s sponsor, Florida State Senator Lauren Book, issued a statement accompanied by this photo of her own dogs:Sen. Lauren Book’s family pets.Courtesy of Florida State Sen. Lauren Book”Our family has three dogs—two of which are almost 175 pounds each and love sticking their heads out the window—so I welcome and appreciate all public comment on this issue, which is only one piece of a complete proposed overhaul of the state’s animal welfare system as brought to me by veterinarians and advocates. We can easily amend this piece out of the bill while protecting the intent of the animal welfare community and vets who proposed the policy because of unintended injuries they’ve treated—and we will. In the meantime, let’s all invest in a good pair of ‘doggles’ to keep our furry friends safe.”Lately, Florida’s been full of ideas for bannin’ stuff, and the list might soon expand from books and driving in the left lane to unrestrained dogs in cars. Florida state senator Lauren Book is sponsoring a bill, SB 932, which concerns animal welfare and covers a lot of ground. It includes language restricting animal testing for cosmetic products, prohibiting the declawing of cats, and creating a public registry of animal-abuse offenders. All of which sounds hard to argue with, no matter how many times a cat has shredded your draperies. But there’s also a provision that will likely rankle dog owners, not to mention dogs. Specifically, the part of the bill that concerns “prohibiting a person from taking specified actions relating to the transportation of dogs on public roadways.” What, do they want to outlaw your dog sticking his head out the window? Well, yes, actually. Let’s take a look.No Dogs on Laps, No Dogs on MotorcyclesThe first part of the dog-transport section (and there are several) says that you can’t have a dog on your lap while you’re driving. That, we agree with. Mostly because the people who drive with dogs on their laps don’t really have dogs, per se—they have cats who like to go for rides. Because if a dog is on your lap while you’re driving, chances are it weighs less than 10 pounds, is wearing a designer hat, and would lose a fight to a moderately combative chipmunk. And if that’s not the kind of dog on your lap—as in, a large, slobbery, rambunctious creature that’s capable of barreling through a closed screen door—then that dog should not be between you and the controls of your motor vehicle. Fair enough. Dogs in cargo area, and unrestrained, and heads out the window: would also be illegal.Ezra Dyer|Car and DriverPart B says basically the same thing, but applied to motorcycles—you can’t let your dog ride in front of you on a motorcycle, even if he wears goggles and puts his paws on the handlebars like he’s driving and everyone loves it. Dog in a backpack on a motorcycle? Evidently OK. And as for a cool dog in a motorcycle sidecar, why, we’re pretty sure that’s the Florida state flag.We asked our dogs about this, and they said that if you criminalize dogs sticking their heads out the window, then only criminal dogs will stick their heads out the window.Now for the third rule of dog transport: You cannot “allow a dog to extend its head or any other body part outside a motor vehicle window while the person is operating the motor vehicle on a public roadway.” Yes, it would be illegal for your dog to stick its head out the window. We asked our dogs about this, and they said that if you criminalize dogs sticking their heads out the window, then only criminal dogs will stick their heads out the window. We pointed out that the penalty would actually only be a non-criminal moving violation (our dogs clearly hadn’t read the full text of the bill).Ezra Dyer|Car and DriverThe anti-head-out-the-window rule is almost a moot point given SB 932’s subsequent rules around dog restraints in cars. It says that dogs in motor vehicles must be either in a crate, or restrained with a harness or pet seatbelt, or physically restrained by somebody who isn’t the driver. And any dog in the bed of a pickup would have to be in a crate, period—and the crate itself secured to the truck. (Human Floridians would still be allowed to ride uncrated in the bed of a pickup.) There’s also some wording about not driving around with your dog on the roof or standing on the hood of your car, no matter how rad your dog is.Dog SittingWe’re guessing that there was some kind of incident that spurred these proposed rules around restraining dogs, and we contacted Senator Book’s office to ask if that’s the case. If we find out more, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, who wants to go for a ride?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 EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

Bentley will end production of the W-12 engine next year, in April 2024.The Batur serves as a sendoff for the engine and has a version with 740 horsepower.The Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga are also currently offered with the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12.Bentley will stop production of the W-12 engine at its factory in Crewe, U.K., in April 2024, marking the end of the line for the VW Group’s unconventional 12-cylinder powertrain that was introduced more than 20 years ago. Once the W-12 departs the production line, Bentley says it will be replaced with V-8 and V-6 hybrid production as the company continues to transition its lineup towards hybrids and EVs.Essentially made up of two VR6 engines, the W-12 has been around since the early 2000s in various forms. Besides the wide range of Bentley models in which it’s available, including the Continental GT, the Flying Spur, and the Bentayga, it was previously offered in other VW Group vehicles such as the Audi A8 and Volkswagen Phaeton.More on the W-12Bentley views the Batur as the sendoff for the W-12, as that model features the most powerful version of the engine, with a new confirmed output of 740 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque (up from the 729 hp originally claimed). However, it’s already sold out, and the company warns interested customers that few order slots remain for other Bentley models equipped with the W-12.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

For 2024, BMW gives the X5 M and X6 M new powertrains, updated looks, and giant dash-mounted displays.The 2024 X5 M and X6 M are now Competition only, pairing BMW’s latest twin-turbo V-8 with a 48-volt hybrid system.Matching their new-look front ends are redesigned dashboards with curved displays running the brand’s iDrive 8 infotainment software.Hybrid technology is continuing to propagate across BMW’s sacred M lineup. Perhaps to ease the inevitable proliferation into the iconic M3 and M5 sedans, the 2024 X5 M SUV and its hunchbacked counterpart, the X6 M, are the first of the brand’s highest-performance vehicles to adopt a 48-volt electrical system, which is also part of a comprehensive mid-cycle refresh.New Kind of CompetitionPreviously, the BMW X5 M and X6 M were offered with an individual Competition package that brought an extra 17 horsepower, a rowdier exhaust note, and larger-diameter rear wheels and tires—among other bits. For 2024, both models are now only available in Competition guise, meaning all that performance-enhancing hardware becomes standard.At their heart remains a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. However, it has been heavily revised. BMW says the new S68 engine features myriad changes intended to make it more responsive and efficient than its predecessor. Peak output remains the same at 617 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque, but it’s now supplemented by an electric motor added to the eight-speed automatic transmission. The motor generates 12 hp and 148 pound-feet, with the 48-volt system also acting as a starter-generator.The transmission itself includes better cooling components and new gear ratios. Along with a wider ratio spread than before, the first three gears are now shorter. Despite all these powertrain changes, BMW doesn’t expect the ’24 X5 M or X6 M to be any quicker than the year before. Both are still claimed to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. BMW does expect them to produce fewer engine emissions thanks to new catalytic converters. Official EPA ratings have yet to be announced.BMWBMWOther mechanical changes to the X5 M and X6 M include revised dampers and rear-suspension tweaks intended to improve high-speed stability. BMW also says both SUV bodies are now more rigid due to additional bracing. Both M utes still have standard all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear diff, but they can now work independently of the stability-control system.M SUVs Get a Nose JobWhile BMW’s latest design language is arguably the most divisive it’s ever been, the brand appears to avoid the brunt of the backlash with its facelifts of the X5 M and X6 M. Instead of giving them the polarizing pig nostrils worn by the four-door M3 and two-door M4, or the alien-looking arrangement seen on the X7 SUV and 7-series sedan, the M-badged mid-size SUVs have a less offensive nose job. Of course, we’re sure some people will still find ways to be offended.The front of the X5 M and X6 M now features narrower headlights with arrow-shaped accents that double as daytime running lights and turn signals. Their black kidney grilles gain horizontal slats, and the nameplate badge is larger than before. A black section now frames the grille as well as the one below it in the front bumper, creating an X-like shape. A different set of air intakes on either side contribute to the nose job.Out back, the X5 M and X6 M add taillights that echo the X motif up front. That and lower vertical reflectors constitute the rear changes for 2024. BMW also adds more metallic paint options that include Isle of Man Green as well as Brooklyn Grey and Frozen Pure Grey.A Step Up In TechFor those who don’t already know, BMW is retrofitting a giant curved screen into models that currently don’t have it, which up until now included the X5 M and X6 M. The setup combines a 12.3-inch gauge cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen under one piece of glass. The infotainment system supports the company’s iDrive 8 software, which provides diverse interaction controls along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The curved display takes up most of the real estate on top of the dashboard and brings a redesigned layout. The latter applies to the slimmer HVAC vents and a new ambient light strip with a crystal-like texture. The lighting element is customizable and can even alert the user of an incoming call. Other changes inside the X5 M and X6 M include new carbon-fiber paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel. Carbon fiber is also the default interior trim, but it can be replaced with wood elements.The 2024 BMW X5 M starts at $123,295. That’s $4100 more than a ’23 model with the Competition package, but it also includes a host of notable updates. The 2024 X6 M starts at $128,195—a $4200 increase versus before. Both models are slated to start production in April and will likely go on sale sometime this summer.BMW Bonus Coverage!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

Hyundai has announced pricing for the 2023 Ioniq 6, an electric sedan based on the same platform as the Ioniq 5.It starts at $42,715 for the Standard Range model and ranges up to $57,215 for a loaded Limited Long Range with the dual-motor AWD powertrain.The Ioniq 6 will go on sale this spring, with the Standard Range arriving in the summer.Although the number in its name is bigger, the MSRP number on the Hyundai Ioniq 6’s window sticker is smaller than its Ioniq 5 sibling’s. The new electric sedan starts at $42,715 and ranges up to $57,215, slotting in just below the Ioniq 5 crossover and offering a similar lineup that includes Standard Range, Long Range, single- and dual-motor configurations and SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels.The existence of the base SE Standard Range model is news to us, as Hyundai hadn’t previously said it would offer a version of the Ioniq 6 in the U.S. with the smaller 53.0-kWh battery pack. It comes only in a single-motor configuration with a 149-hp electric motor, and offers an estimated range of 240 miles.More on Hyundai EVsStarting at $46,615, the SE RWD Long Range is the Ioniq 6 that achieves the longest estimated range of the lineup, at 361 miles. It has 18-inch wheels, a 225-hp electric motor, and a 77.4-kWh battery pack. The better-equipped $48,815 SEL and $53,715 Limited have a lower range estimate of 305 miles owing to their 20-inch wheels and likely their heavier weight.Adding the more powerful, 320-horsepower dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup to the SE, SEL, or Limited trim levels costs an extra $3500. In the SE trim, choosing the AWD configuration drops the range estimate to 316 miles, while the AWD SEL and Limited models have the lowest range estimates of the bunch, at 270 miles on a charge.Hyundai says that Ioniq 6 models will start arriving at U.S. dealerships in the spring, with the Standard Range car arriving a bit later, over the summer.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