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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

The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo starts at $175,800, which is for the 483-hp Modena model.The GranTurismo Trofeo, which features a mightier 542-hp engine, starts at $206,800.Maserati hasn’t released pricing for the electric GT Folgore, but it’s said to cost slightly more than the Trofeo.It’s been over three years since anyone could walk into a Maserati dealership and buy a GranTurismo. The Italian 2+2 grand tourer was last sold for the 2019 model year, when the sticker price was around $150K for the coupe. Things get considerably pricier with the introduction of the next-generation 2024 Maserati GranTurismo, which starts at $175,800.That price is for the Modena coupe featuring a 483-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. For those who want a more powerful GranTurismo, they’ll need to upgrade to the Trofeo. It has the same basic engine as the Modena, expect it’s been enhanced to make 542 horses. The ’24 GT Trofeo coupe is set to start at $206,800. That price tag puts it in the same company with other ultra-luxurious grand tourers, such as the Aston Martin DB11.Maserati also offers the redesigned GranTurismo with a third powertrain. The Folgore is fully electric and a new member of the family. Its three electric motors generate a combined 818 hp, and we recently drove one on the twisty hillside roads north of Rome. While Maserati hasn’t said how much the 2024 Folgore will cost, the company did say it will start slightly higher than the roughly $207K Trofeo.All three GranTurismo variants will also eventually be available in a convertible body style—called GranCabrio in Maserati parlance. As with the Folgore, the company hasn’t yet released pricing. The droptops won’t be offered at launch either, and they might not arrive until the 2025 model year.Get Some More GranTurismoThis 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

Millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles could be easily stolen—and thousands have—due to a decision not to install engine immobilizers when they were built.Popular TikTok videos challenged people to try to steal a car like this, which has led to all sorts of legal and financial trouble for vehicle owners and the two automakers.Four million Hyundai vehicles—affected Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues—can get a new software fix that introduces a workaround immobilizer starting today. Other affected Hyundais and Kias will get their turn in the coming months.Millions of Hyundai owners are about to pay a visit to their local Hyundai dealership thanks to a bunch of TikTok videos.The backstory, if you don’t recall, is that someone figured out that some older Kia and Hyundai models built with a standard key ignition, so not a push-button start, were incredibly easy to steal and created a TikTok “Kia Challenge” encouraging others to try it. The challenge started in Milwaukee before spreading to other parts of the U.S. and forcing Hyundai and Kia to respond.Stolen Moments Hyundai started installing an engine immobilizer in all of its vehicles in November 2021. The company’s first big solution for current owners was a $170 security kit with an alarm and one crucial component that the two automakers didn’t initially build into the cars: a kill switch. The City of Seattle sued the automakers earlier this year, accusing them of failing to install adequate anti-theft technology, specifically that immobilizer, in the affected vehicles. Kia did not offer the security kit but did join Hyundai in providing steering wheel locks at no cost to any affected owners in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.Specs and Details on 2023 Models Today, Kia and Hyundai announced a free, software-based fix for their thief magnets. Kia said the new enhanced security software will “restrict the unauthorized operation of vehicle ignition systems on certain models not equipped with an immobilizer.” For its part, Hyundai said the upgrade makes it so that a key fob is required to deactivate the kill switch. Without the fix, the car could be yours once you’ve smashed the windows. Hyundai said the fix would take dealers less than an hour to install. As a bonus to those prospective window smashers, each fixed vehicle “will be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology,” Hyundai said.2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport.Car and DriverNot all 2011 to 2022 model year Hyundais without an engine immobilizer will be able to accommodate the software upgrade. We hope the owners of these vehicles enjoy their steering wheel locks.Kia said its software would be available in the next few months. Kia owners should visit the Kia Owner’s Portal or call 800–333–4542 to see if their vehicle is eligible for the fix.Hyundai has a two-phase release schedule for the new software fix, starting with the 2017-2020 model year Elantra, 2015 to 2019 Sonata, and 2020 and 2021 Venue (that’s a 2020 Venue pictured at top). Hyundai said this category of its best-selling models includes almost four million vehicles. The fix for these vehicles is available starting today. Software for other affected models will be available in June. Hyundai owners should visit the Hyundai Anti-Theft website (quite a name) to set up a repair, and the automaker is also reaching out to affected owners. More