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When the electric Ram Revolution concept was revealed, its rearmost jump seats made it a three-row pickup truck. Now, new photos provide a closer look at the Ram 1500 EV’s third-row seating, which may be useful or useless. Based on the images from the concept, the two small seats each feature bottoms that fold out of the rear wall.Anyone who has ever sat on the tiny jump seats in the back of an old extended-cab pickus knows they’re not very comfortable. Then again, neither is riding in the back of a truck bed, which can also be unsafe. Well, jump seats might make a comeback based on what we know about the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept that was recently revealed. Thankfully—unlike the ones in Uncle Eddie’s rusted-out Chevy S-10—the electric Ram’s rearmost seats are part of a makeshift third row. Newly released photos also give us our best look at them.From the get-go, Ram acknowledged that the Revolution’s third row consisted of jump seats. However, only now do we get to see what they actually look like. As expected, the images show two small seats that fold out of the back wall. It’s the same wall that doubles as a mid-gate that opens up to create an even larger cargo bed. Obviously, this is part of the reason the rearmost row had to be jump seats.The debate that follows is whether or not the Ram EV’s third-row seats are useful or useless. We get why calling it a three-row pickup truck is a bit misleading, and also why some people will likely scoff at the idea of spending extended time back there. However, we think it’s an innovative idea. As in the past, the jump seats aren’t meant to coddle passengers on road trips and whatnot, but rather to provide extra space for people on short stints. After all, we’d rather safely ride inside the electric Ram than risk bouncing around the box. Extra Ram EV 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. More

The 2024 Honda Passport SUV and Ridgeline truck are scheduled to receive a more rugged set of revisions later this year, Honda confirmed in a media briefing. An updated TrailSport trim will headline the facelift, offering a treatment that will likely include all-terrain tires and steel skid plates, helping the Passport and Ridgeline tackle tougher terrain instead of just pretending to.It seems equally likely that the overhauled 3.5-liter V-6, and 10-speed automatic transmission from the new Pilot will be added as well.Pavement-bound SUVs dressed in off-road garb are all the rage these days, with Honda’s previous TrailSport offerings acting as a prime perpetrator. The newest 2023 Pilot TrailSport, though, transcends the off-road-in-name-only fad, and adds more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and suspension revisions. For the 2024 model year, both the Passport SUV and the Ridgeline truck are scheduled to receive a similarly rugged set of revisions, Honda confirmed in a media briefing. More Trail Blazing HondasHowever, those holding out hope for a hybrid powertrain will be disappointed, as Honda confirmed that neither the Passport nor the Ridgeline will add a gas-electric option for 2024. This solidifies our suspicion that both will receive the updated powertrain from the Pilot. The new 3.5-liter V-6 in that car improves the fuel-delivery system, internals and packaging, ups the horsepower from 280 to 285, and pairs with a new 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the old nine-speed. We haven’t had the chance to put the new powertrain through our usual testing regimen yet, but it doesn’t feel discernibly quicker from our initial drives.Michael Simari|Car and DriverOff-roading is not a foreign concept for the Ridgeline pickup. In fact, Honda has been supporting a desert-racing Ridgeline pickup dating back to 2015. Adding some off-roading chops to the consumer version is a welcome thought, even if the naysayers will complain that most TrailSports will never venture beyond the trailhead. 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

Honda has announced that it will launch a hybrid version of the Civic compact car for the 2024 model year.The company says the Civic hybrid will be offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles and will be powered by a version of the powertrain in the larger Accord hybrid.Hybrid models will not replace the gasoline ones currently offered but will be sold alongside them when it hits the market in 2024.The next step in Honda’s plan to hybridize its lineup will come in the form of the 2024 Civic Hybrid, which will be offered both as a sedan and a hatchback. The company’s electrification plans include shifting to an entirely electric lineup by 2040, but increasing its hybrid offerings in the meantime is meant to bridge that gap.We reported last April that Honda had launched a hybrid version of the Civic hatchback in Europe, and speculated that the car would also come stateside to fill the gap left by the discontinued Insight sedan. We’re not sure yet exactly how Honda will adjust the European car’s powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-liter inline-four and two electric motors that combine for 181 horsepower, for the U.S. market. But we can only hope that its output comes closer to the 204 horsepower offered by the closely related hybrid setup in the 2023 Accord hybrid.HondaWhile consumer interest has moved from cars to light trucks and SUVs, Honda still sees sedans and hatchbacks as important parts of its business. “The market has shifted away from passenger cars, but cars still matter to Honda, said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of automobile sales for American Honda. “The cars bring in younger, more multicultural buyers to the brand.”Our Latest Honda TakesThe introduction of a hybrid powertrain to the Civic lineup is part of Honda’s plan to keep those younger buyers coming. Honda plans to open the order books for its all-electric Prologue SUV this year as well, which will be its first step toward the broader electrification of is lineup within the coming years.We expect to find out more about the Civic hybrid closer to the car’s on-sale date, which should be in early 2024. 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 BMW M3 CS debuts as an even more hardcore version of the track-focused M3 Competition.The M3 CS’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six is boosted from the Competition’s 503 horses to 543, matching the 2023 M4 CSL. The new M3 CS will start at $119,695 when its limited-production run begins this March.For generation after generation, the smooth blend of thrilling performance and comfortable appointments has made the BMW M3 a household name. However, with the debut of the 2024 M3 CS, BMW ditches the regular sedan’s livable demeanor for significant on-track gains, as it’s even more hardcore than the track-focused M3 Competition. Utilizing Maximum BoostThe chief change separating the limited-edition M3 CS from the rest of the lineup is higher power output. BMW retuned the CS’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six to produce 40 horsepower more than the 503-hp Competition (and 70 more than the standard 473-hp M3) for a total of 543 hp. Most of the extra power results from raising the engine’s boost pressure from 24.7 psi in the Comp to 30.5 psi in the CS. Torque remains the same in both versions at 479 pound-feet.With technology derived from the M4 GT3 race car, the CS’s cooling system is not only designed to handle the added power, but also the hardships of track use. The engine mounts are significantly stiffer to create a more rigid connection between the engine and the car’s structure, just like in the M4 CSL. With that said, expect noise, vibration, and harshness to be more pronounced.Every M3 CS features an eight-speed automatic transmission with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. The M Setup menu lets drivers jump from the xDrive “4WD” settings to “4WD Sport” which directs even more of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels. Or, just like in the all-wheel-drive Competition, drivers in search of sideways shenanigans can switch off stability control and activate “2WD,” which sends power directly to the rear wheels. BMW claims the new M3 CS rockets from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Its top speed is said to be electronically limited to 188 mph (when equipped with the M Driver’s package). Generous Serving of Carbon Fiber To shave as many pounds off the Competition as possible, BMW uses generous amounts of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic on the M3 CS. The roof, hood, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, center console, shift paddles, and interior trim strips are all made from the lightweight material. Even the titanium rear silencer fitted to the CS’s exhaust is said to save more than eight pounds versus the standard system. In Bimmer speak, CS stands for Competition Sport, which in the case of the 2024 M3 CS means shedding roughly 75 pounds compared to the M3 Competition with standard M Sport seats. While that’s not as impressive as the M4 CSL’s 240-pound weight loss, it’s still roughly one fourth-grader lighter than the M3 Comp. More BMW CSA set of 275/35ZR-19 front and 285/30ZR-20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 high-performance tires are a no-cost option on the M3 CS (a stand-alone set currently costs $1874 on Tire Rack). If the Cup 2s aren’t optioned, the CS comes standard with more conventional summer tires in identical sizes. Regardless of the rubber, CS models roll on special gold bronze or matte-black M-specific wheels with an exclusive V-spoke design. Power-adjustable heated seats are optional in the M4 CSL but standard on the M3 CS. The seats are upholstered in Merino leather and feature a unique look that combines black with Mugello red accents and distinctive contrast stitching. Plus, unlike with the CSL, friends or family can ride along, because the CS actually has rear seats. BMW says the 2024 M3 CS will be a limited-production model, but the company hasn’t yet said how many it’ll make in total. For comparison, the 2023 M4 CSL is limited to 1000 units worldwide. So, we expect the M3 CS will be produced in similar numbers. Either way, fans of the M3 who feel the Competition doesn’t provide enough track-day theatrics will surely be more entertained by the CS version. The 2024 BMW M3 CS starts at $119,695 and is slated to begin production in March of this year.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