News

The Nissan Z could be getting a nose job, at least the Japanese version. The automaker first teased a new split-grille design on a custom Fairlady Z prototype that was shown at the 2022 Tokyo auto salon, and a report yesterday by Japanese Nostalgic Car claims the alternate front-end treatment is set to become a dealer-installed option in Japan sometime in the middle of this year.NissanNissanDepending on your opinion of the Z’s regular nose, this could be great news. At the very least, we think it gives the Z’s face more defined features compared with the current car’s gaping front orifice. However, it might not matter what we Americans think, as the split-grille option could be reserved for the Japan market. When asked to confirm the report that the alternative grille would enter production in Japan, a spokesperson from Nissan’s North American team said the company has yet to announce anything. Technically, that leaves the door open for the U.S. version of the Z to receive a new nose, but we’ll just have to wait and see.Brian Williams|Car and DriverFor Americans who aren’t satisfied with the Z’s standard grille—or those who find its performance lacking—all hope isn’t lost. Our spy photos of a track-focused Nismo prototype not only appear to promise a sharper-handling model, but also one with some cosmetic surgery up front.Nissan Z: Tested and ComparedThis 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

General Motors has designed a two-door, electric, compact pickup truck, as reported by Automotive News.The truck would compete with the Ford Maverick and would slot in beneath the Chevy Silverado EV, pictured above.The EV truck would start under $30,000, but there are no concrete plans for production as GM is still evaluating the feasibility of the new model.Both full-size and mid-size pickups have swelled in size in recent years, and Ford found an opening in the truck market when it introduced the truly compact Maverick in 2022. The company sold all 74,000 units it could build last year and already sold out of the 2023 model year. It appears that crosstown rival General Motors has taken notice, with Automotive News reporting that the automaker has created preliminary designs for a compact, two-door truck.AN says it saw images of the pickup at a GM design studio in Warren, Michigan on Wednesday. The proposed truck would be even smaller than the Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which both come only with four doors. The truck would also be electric, with a bed measuring between 4.0 and 4.5 feet long. Pricing would start under $30,000, and although no brand or model name is yet associated with the truck, it’s hard to imagine it being anything but a Chevrolet.More EV Trucks from GMGeneral Motors is currently researching what customers might want in a small truck. AN reports that Michael Pevovar, director of Chevrolet affordable EV and crossover design, said, “We’re creating these to get a reaction and then to try to modify it or move on.” Affordability is the focus of the project, and Pevovar acknowledged that the two-door body style might be too small for the four-door-dominated U.S. market. No production timeline was mentioned, but if GM receives positive feedback, we expect the electric compact truck to arrive before the end of the decade. 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

Alpine, which was revived by Renault in 2017, is aiming to launch a pair of electric crossovers in the United States in 2027 or 2028. (Pictured above is the Alpine Alpenglow concept from the 2022 Paris auto show.)CEO Laurent Rossi compared the crossovers to the Porsche Macan and Cayenne Coupe, and said that they will be a significant part of Alpine’s goals of reaching 150,000 sales by 2030.Alpine is also launching three cars in the coming years for Europe, including an electric version of the A110 sports car and a performance variant of the upcoming electric Renault 5 hatch.Alpine was founded in 1955 and rose to prominence in the 1970s after being acquired by Renault, scooping up rally victories with its A110 sports car and triumphing at Le Mans in 1978. Renault revived the brand, now part of Groupe Renault, in 2017 with a new lightweight A110. The nimble sports car has remained forbidden fruit in the United States, but now it appears that Alpine may be coming to the U.S. within the decade. According to a report today by Automotive News, CEO Laurent Rossi revealed in a recent call that two new models are being developed with the American market in mind. Unfortunately, the future U.S.-bound Alpines do not include a low-slung sports car. Instead, they will be a mid-size electric crossover and a larger EV SUV, targeted for 2027 or 2028. Rossi explained that “the U.S. is the main destination for these cars” and compared the crossovers to the Porsche Macan and Cayenne coupe in terms of how they are positioned in the market.RenaultRossi said he sees the U.S. as crucial for boosting Alpine’s volume. Right now Alpine only sells the A110, with 3,546 total sales in 2022. The goal is to surpass 150,000 annual sales by 2030, and Rossi said that entering the U.S market “will create the bulk of the extra volume.” He said Alpine is still debating what platforms the EV crossovers will ride on; along with Renault’s partner Nissan, the company is considering using platforms from Geely’s premium brands, which include Volvo, Polestar, and Zeekr.More Fun French CarsBefore those Alpines reach U.S. shores, the French automaker will debut three exciting EVs for the Europe market. First will be a performance version of the upcoming Renault 5 electric hatchback. This will be followed by a sporty compact crossover, currently referred to as the GT, which will bring torque vectoring, more powerful motors, and unique battery chemistry to differentiate it from more mainstream Renaults. Finally, an electric successor to the A110 is coming by 2027, developed in collaboration with Lotus. It will still be several years before Alpine’s American expansion begins, and promises to return to the U.S. by other French carmakers have yet to materialize. But if Alpine meets its 2027 timeline, it will mark the the first time since the early 1990s that Renault will have a presence in the United States. And even if the dynamic A110 never reaches our shores, we are still excited to see what Alpine can deliver at the tail end of the 2020s.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

Porsche has expanded its factory-approved touchscreen infotrainment support for the 997 911 (2005–2008), 987 Boxster and Cayman (2005–2008), and first-generation Cayenne (2003–2008).The touchscreen infotainment systems allow owners of older Porsches to utilize SiriusXM radio, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto on the 7.0-inch touchscreen. The new unit is available for order at Porsche dealerships for about $1475. In the 911, Boxster and Cayman, several features can be saved to the unit, including personal settings lights, windshield wipers, climate controls, and locking. Porsche introduced touchscreen infotainment options for vintage 911s in 2020, giving owners of air-cooled classics access to digital maps and music inside a vintage housing. The factory-approved retrofit units come in a 3.5-inch configuration referred to as Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM), with a screen so small that owners may be squinting to read words from more than a Planck unit away, or a larger 7.0-inch configuration referred to as Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus), allowing owners to move their heads back by a few micrometers. Depending on the vehicle being retrofit, it’s offered for 911s from the ’60s, all the way through the 996 generation. More on Vintage PorscheNow Porsche Classic is expanding touchscreen support to include the 997 911 (2005–2008), 987 Boxster and Cayman (2005–2008), and first-generation Cayenne (2003–2008). The expanded lineup gives owners of qualifying Porsches access to USB connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM radio, plus AppleCarPlay and Android Auto funtionality. The new lineup will only be available in the larger 7.0-inch double DIN size. According to Porsche, in the 911, Boxster, and Cayman, the system can store personal settings for the lights, windshield wipers, climate controls, and locking for the car. The new PCCM Plus units, like the ones announced earlier, are designed to fit right into the dashboard. The look and feel are based on components like climate control already installed in the car, in an effort to give owners a modern experience without taking away from the generational feel of the car. Both PCCM and PCCM Plus units are available for order from Porsche dealerships, with the PCCM Plus unit retailling for about $1475. 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