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The Moke Californian was inspired by a Sixties Mini-based beach special.It will be sold in the U.S. but is no highway cruiser with its 44 horsepower and 50-mph top speed. Prices start at $41,990.Buyers looking for a retro-styled, British-inspired ultra-lightweight EV are now facing a tricky choice, with the announcement that a second all-electric Mini Moke is going to go on sale in the U.S. Meet the Moke Californian.The original 1959 Mini was a masterpiece of minimalism, marketed in its U.K. homeland as having space for four adults despite an overall length of just 120 inches. But for its designer, Alec Issigonis, it wasn’t pared back enough. He also led development of what was essentially a bodyless version of the same mechanical package. The original concept was for a parachute-deployable troop transporter, but the British army turned down the chance to use what would undoubtedly have been the cutest military vehicle of all time, possibly to avoid the risk of being laughed at.Moke InternationalInstead what became known as the Mini Moke was marketed as a civilian vehicle, one aimed at the temperate parts of the world where its lack of doors and a roof would be less of an issue. (Fans of British sci-fi show The Prisoner would have seen candy-striped versions in the cult 1960s classic.) It was produced at various times in Britain, Australia, and Portugal, sharing its core mechanical package with the Mini sedan—meaning a transverse-mounted four-cylinder A-series engine with between 0.8 and 1.2 liters of swept capacity, and power outputs ranging from 34 to a dizzying 68 horsepower.Moke InternationalThe original Moke was briefly sold in the States, but production of all versions ended in 1993. In 2012 Chinese automaker Chery acquired the name and started to produce a similar-looking car, although one that is considerably larger because of the need to accommodate modern engines and bulkier strut suspension. On the published numbers it is 11 inches longer, 14 inches wider, and sits on a wheelbase 10 inches bigger than the original. Around the world several companies have produced electric versions of this car, with one already being sold in the U.S. by Moke America.The new Californian comes from a different company, Moke International, and will be built in the U.K.—although it is based on the same Chery design as the rival car, with all major dimensions being almost identical. The Moke Californian has a more powerful drivetrain and, thanks to the the much-delayed enactment of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act allowing the sale of replica vehicles, is set to be highway legal.Moke InternationalThat’s highway legal rather than interstate viable. The Moke Californian uses a rear-mounted 44-hp motor to deliver a top speed of 50 mph. A lithium-ion battery pack gives a claimed range of up to 74 miles under Europes WLTP testing protocol, although one that it’s hard to imagine too many owners trying to achieve in one journey. Sales will be limited to no more than 325 cars a year in the U.S.—another provision of the Low Volume Act—with prices starting at $41,900. That is close to double the $22,975 base price of Moke America’s version, although that one has only 19 hp and a 25-mph top speed, and its use is restricted to Neighborhood Electric Vehicle areas. Pick either, and the Moke will be on you. This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

As we reported last month, VW intends to fully electrify its performance R subbrand by 2030.There are some changes in the works to make that possible, which we explore with VW executives—among them, the need for a new EV platform and software updates.Once the kinks are worked out, though, VW is looking to sell an EV in the under-$25,000 range and potentially to add a couple of halo cars that could be in the R subbrand.VW’s go-fast R division would love to surprise and delight us with four new electric high-performance models. But top management may have different ideas about the brand’s future halo cars—like a reimagined Golf or a new battery-powered Beetle.”One thing is certain: the future of VW R is electric,” says Reinhold Ivenz, previously with Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport, now head of the VW R division. “In my view, R must stand for fully integrated sustainable high-performance products: emotional, digital, balanced, and brand-centric.” This content is imported from youTube. 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.Slik lagde vi Norges mest populære arbeidsplass på fem hjulWatch onChanging of the GuardSounds like a plan, but over the past 20 years R was above all synonymous with eye-catching R-line trim packs and high-performance versions of mainstream models. Run by Jost Capito, who is now with Williams F1, the R power brokers had plenty of promising ideas that went exactly nowhere. The proposed roadgoing version of the record-breaking 680-hp 2018 ID.R electric racer was mothballed at the 11th hour. An affordable bespoke mid-engine roadster known as the VW Mimo was gunned down by Audi and Porsche in unison. The limited-edition ID.R Buggy built by Karmann turned out to be another paper tiger. Fact is, the R division never had the funds, the clout, and the support to become Wolfsburg’s answer to Audi Sport, BMW M, and Mercedes-AMG.Specs and DetailsWhich is a shame, because the Golf R ranks among the brand’s all-time greats. But where to from here? The R versions of the Touareg, T-Roc, and Tiguan currently sold in Europe will be discontinued with the arrival of the next-generation models, and the ID.R proposals mentioned by Reinhold Ivenz are at this point nothing but a pipe dream:the 2025 Trinity R, VW’s new radically re-engineered zero-emission flagshipthe 2026 ID.R CUV, an electrified Touareg/Teramont/Atlas Cross Sport replacementthe 2027 ID.R SUV, a zero-emission full-size five- and seven-seater global SUVAll of the above are based on the new SSP (scalable systems platform) architecture, which requires the latest E3 2.0 software. That’s still under development at the VW Cariad think tank. E3 2.0 permits extended functionalities like Level 3 autonomous driving, 250-kW-plus fast-charging, and much improved connectivity. Rumored R versions of ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and the upcoming Passat-size ID.Aero are a mirage because the first-generation MEB platform does not meet the ambitious performance and range requirements. New CEO Thomas Schäfer knows full well that VW must deliver to bring the brand back up to speed and profitability. “First of all, we are going to fix the overly complicated ergonomics, deal with certain quality issues, and address the somewhat nondescript design language. In a parallel move, we will introduce the 2023 Passat, Tiguan, and ID.Aero to add luster to the portfolio. After that, I am determined to launch an electric Volkswagen in the sub-25,000-euro segment, which will be available in two body styles.”We Must Decide What to Do with GTI and R””Last but not least, our products must become more desirable by offering a more emotional user experience. That’s where the R division might come in, but R alone won’t cut it. In addition to the ID.Buzz, VW needs at least one more halo car, perhaps even two. We must decide what to do with GTI and R, whether to create a new subbrand along the lines of Hyundai N, and how to reinvent iconic models like Golf. I believe that names tell a better story than letters and numbers, but irrespective of marketing considerations substance is absolutely essential because we need healthy volumes to fund whatever that icing on the cake may be.” When we suggested the idea of an electric Beetle as a sporty two-seat spider or a four-seat cabriolet, the chairman pulled out his most nondescript smile and said exactly nothing. Perhaps we should have asked him what it would take to let Porsche use VW a decontented version of the electric 718 replacement, which will be built at Karmann in Osnabrück where the coachbuilt Beetle softtop rolled off the line through 1979. Time for an enco-R-e, don’t you think?This content is imported from youTube. 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

• This impressively maintained 2001 Audi TT Quattro with only 41,000 miles is up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with bidding scheduled to end on Monday, November 14.• This particular TT, with Audi’s all-wheel-drive Quattro system, produces 225 horsepower from a turbocharged inline-four connected to a six-speed manual transmission. • C/D did a 40,000-mile test on a 2000 TT Quattro, remarking at the time that it was an “enduring joy to the eye.” Twenty years later, I agree with that sentiment; its looks have held up over time. First-generation Audi TT Quattros certainly aren’t the rarest of sports cars, and conventional wisdom might point out that any 21-year-old car is a crapshoot from a reliability standpoint. Yet I was immediately drawn to this well-maintained, if lightly used, TT for the simple fact that I grew up in one of these. This 2001 TT Quattro with 41,000 miles is currently listed on the Bring a Trailer auction site, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos. Bring a TrailerThe first-generation TT entered production in 1999, but getting this version with the more powerful 225-hp engine equipped with a larger turbocharger meant waiting a full year. This TT is finished in a Lake Silver Metallic paint over a black leather interior, neither of which show the serious signs of aging generally attributed to cars this age. The paint includes a scratch on the hood as well as rock chips on the bumper. The leather of the front seats shows cracking, they do not appear to have any visible tears, and the rear seats look to be in great condition. The remainder of the interior seems to be in even better shape, looking impeccably cared for throughout its life. Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThe TT is so much more than a one-trick pony. It was a 10Best winner in both 2000 and 2001. It’s capable as a sports car, courtesy of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system and 225-hp output. Plus, after spending a considerable chunk of my childhood in the back seat of a 2002 TT, I am uniquely qualified to speak to how surprisingly composed it can be as a family hauler. Until I was 12 years old and my brother 14, we regularly piled into our TT on our way to and from hockey practice with two full-size hockey bags and our father’s coaching bag, along with three hockey sticks. Admittedly, the last year and a half involved more than one argument between my brother and me as rear-seat space became more of an issue, but even so, our TT proved a reliable companion through many Wisconsin winters. The Carfax report for the TT shows accident damage entry in 2003 resulting in damage to the front left of the car, and lists registration and service history with one owner in New York since new. The dealership selling the vehicle wrote a comment on the post explaining that the bumper has been repainted, likely indicating the accident was minor. Current bids on the car are up to $2600, but if recent auctions are anything to go on, this car will likely go closer to $15,000 or $20,000.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.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 revealed the new 2023 Accord mid-size sedan.The big news is the clean new exterior look and a revised hybrid powertrain.The 2023 Accord will go on sale in the U.S. early in 2023.The 2023 Honda Accord won’t be the first generation of the venerable mid-size sedan to do an impression of a luxury car, but it might just be the first Accord that truly looks the part. Freshly unveiled with an elegant new design, the 11th-generation model looks sharper, more modern, and better proportioned than anything else in its class. While we’re sad that the powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter upgrade engine is gone, Honda assures us that the hybrid drivetrain is much improved, and the base 1.5-liter engine carries over with tweaks to improve refinement and fuel economy.The lineup is reconfigured to emphasize the hybrid model, as Honda is aiming for the gas-electric Accord to make up 50 percent of sales. The nonhybrid LX and EX trims come with a revised turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four and continuously variable automatic transmission; horsepower and torque are the same 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet as before. (The manual transmission won’t make a return, as Honda dropped it from the previous-generation Accord midway through its run due to low demand.)The 2023 Accord’s other four trims—Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring—are hybrid only and come with an updated version of the two-motor drivetrain from the previous Accord hybrid. As in the new CR-V hybrid, the two electric motors are now arranged side by side, and the Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four gas engine gains direct fuel injection. Combined power output is 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, and Honda claims it will feel more responsive than the previous system. EPA fuel-economy ratings aren’t available yet, but it should pick up a few extra mpg compared with the current Accord hybrid’s 48-mpg combined rating.More on the AccordAlthough the new Accord is 2.8 inches longer than before, its wheelbase is unchanged, and it will likely ride and handle much like the outgoing model did. That’s fine by us, as we love the current Accord’s refined on-road demeanor, but Honda does say that it has increased chassis rigidity, retuned the suspension, and widened the front track by 0.6 inch. All Accords feature Normal and Econ drive modes, while the hybrids also offer a Sport mode and an Individual mode that will allow drivers to customize different vehicle settings.While the clean new exterior styling steals the show, the interior looks better than before, too. As in the cabins of the new Civic and CR-V, the Accord has piano-black trim and a mesh cover for the air vents which spans the width of the dashboard. A 7.0-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs comes standard in the nonhybrid trims, and a considerably larger 12.3-inch screen (also with a volume knob) is offered in the hybrid models. Wireless smartphone mirroring is offered only with the bigger screen, but a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster is standard across the board. There’s a bit of extra rear legroom, and cargo space is unchanged at 17 cubic feet.A full complement of driver-assistance features will come standard on every trim level, but many of the nicer features—such as leather upholstery—are reserved only for the hybrids. The Touring is the fully loaded trim, coming with features such as a head-up display, cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and an array of Google apps built in to the infotainment system.We’re expecting a slight price increase for the new Accord, but we won’t know the details until closer to the car’s on-sale date in early 2023. Look for the LX to start at around $28,000 and the Sport hybrid at around $33,000, with the loaded Touring pushing $40,000.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.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

On Friday, October 21, we ran our second Lightning Lap track day, in conjunction with Kaizen Autosport and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). We use any excuse we can to get back to Virginia International Raceway, and this track day was run using the same Grand Course configuration we’ve used since 2006 for our annual running of the year’s hottest performance cars. Roughly 25 entries showed up across a huge spectrum of performance and price, populating our price-based LL1 through LL4 categories for street cars (the only one with no entries was the mega-expensive, $250,000-plus LL5) and all but the most expensive race-car class. Each class winner received a trophy, a yearlong membership in our Track Club, and the satisfaction that they beat out everyone else vying for that top spot.History LessonIt was great to see quite a few familiar faces from the last event and, just like last time, it was great to hear from attendees—even some VIR regulars—that this was their first time on the 4.1-mile Grand Course. That was one of the reasons why we wanted to do this: to give people the chance to experience it the way we do, which is a configuration rarely used for track days. It also was an excuse to give our long-term Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, which we had driven down from our Michigan HQ, a dose of VIR.We already have plans to do another event on May 10, 2023, so get those wrenching projects done during the upcoming winter months.LL1 (under $35,000) Marc Urbano|Car and DriverF&S Enterprises PhotographyLL1 winner Duane Black deserves a special callout, because he piloted his 2013 Ford Mustang—a V-6 automatic, no less, that started life as a Hertz rental car—to a staggering 3:00.8 lap time. Back in 2010, when we ran a V-6 Mustang it spent more than 15 seconds of its 3:12.5 lap banging off the 114-mph speed limiter, so no surprise that Black’s car has a single-piece-driveshaft upgrade and that pesky governor removed, allowing him to see 129 mph on the front straight. His car also has upgraded bushings, springs, and anti-roll bars. Making us smile even more is that this Mustang is Black’s daily driver that he uses to commute to his high-school teaching job, and it’s been his partner during dozens of lapping days at various tracks. Black reports that in the throes of chasing a sub-three-minute lap, he cracked a wheel in Spiral and blew an exhaust header gasket. Also back in the LL1 group was the previous winner Michael Congelosi in his Dodge SRT4 ACR, and he went a couple seconds quicker this time around. No one peddling excuses will get much sympathy from Scott Campbell, who made the four-and-a-half-hour drive down and back to VIR from the Washington, D.C., area on the same day in his Hyundai Veloster N. Between all those hours of commuting, he turned in a respectable 3:13.5, which was good enough for third place.LL2 ($35,000 to $64,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMarc Urbano|Car and DriverThere were just three entries in the LL2 class, and John Willcox beat out a Porsche Cayman and a BMW M4 Competition in a rental Chevy Camaro SS 1LE from our friends at Kaizen Autosport who operate on-site at VIR. Although his 3:04.5 is a solid effort for a first outing in the Camaro, this underscores our point about just how impressive the V-6 Mustang time is from LL1. We coaxed a SS 1LE manual like this one to a 2:54.8 back in 2016.LL3 ($65,000 to $124,999)Michael Simari|Car and DriverF&S Enterprises PhotographyStephen Anderson is another repeat Lightning Lap track day attendee, and this time around he beat out a C8 Corvette and a racy-looking Porsche Cayman S with a suspension overhaul and a big wing to take the LL3 win in his Nissan GT-R. His time of 2:53.9 puts him right in the neighborhood of the 2:53.2 we ran in two different GT-Rs in 2011 and 2017. When we spotted Anderson refueling from cans in the bed of his truck, we made a joke about him wanting to save a few bucks by avoiding the pricey on-site fuel. But, no, he was schlepping in his own E85 to take full advantage of his modified engine tune, since the closest place to find it near the track is not that close.LL4 ($125,000 to $249,999)F&S Enterprises PhotographyMichael Simari|Car and DriverHaving LL4 all to himself, Matt Einstein piloted his new 992 Porsche 911 GT3 to a 2:46.8. We ran one of these just last year, where it went seventh-quickest of all time at 2:40.6. But Einstein’s time is no slouch, as that’s tied for the fourth-quickest time of the day in any class and puts him in the top 25 of all 300-plus cars we’ve run. Plus, his is a manual, which is worth some amount of lap-time penalty versus our PDK automatic. Like that green color? We sure do. It’s Irish Green, a $12,830 option as part of Porsche’s paint-to-sample program. Kudos to Einstein for risking stone chips and flinging it around VIR like Porsche intended.LLR1 (under $65,000)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMarc Urbano|Car and DriverOnce again, this class had the most entries, with a trio of 3-series BMWs—a spec E30, an E36, and a E90—plus a Nissan 350Z, a Mazda Miata, and a new Toyota GR86. The trophy came down to just two-tenths of a second, with the GR86’s impressive 2:55.9 lap not quite enough to take the win. That’s 15.9 seconds quicker than a stock GR86 we ran at last year’s event, and also 0.6 second quicker than the race-prepped Subaru BRZ that won this class at our last track day, but Joey Hutchinson in the mean-looking E90 with a massive swan-neck wing managed a 2:55.7.LLR2 ($65,000 to $124,999)F&S Enterprises PhotographyF&S Enterprises PhotographyDuking it out in LLR2 were a pair of Ginetta G56 GTAs. Both are maintained by Kaizen Autosport, which is an authorized retailer for the roughly 2400-pound British tube-frame special powered by a Ford V-6 from the Mustang. If we learned anything from this event, it’s that you shouldn’t discount the Mustang V-6. Christian Shield, in the quicker of the two Ginettas, did a 2:46.8, which beat—what else—a Camaro.LLR3 ($125,000 to $249,999)F&S Enterprises PhotographyF&S Enterprises PhotographyMichael Merritt was getting after it in his race-prepped Dodge Viper, running a 2:42.3, which was second-quickest time of the day. That’s nearly two seconds quicker than we ran in a stock Viper ACR back in 2016. LLRP1 (prototype)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMarc Urbano|Car and DriverAn early wreck in the Radical SR8—we’re told driver Garry Gray was treated on-site but was okay—left Denver Liabenow in his neon-green Tatuus, from the Italian race-car company that is a designer and manufacturer of all manner of formula cars. Over a couple sessions, Liabenow shaved about seven seconds off his time, to a best of 2:46.4.LLRP2 (prototype)Michael Simari|Car and DriverF&S Enterprises PhotographyChasing the Grand Course record that was set during our last track day—a wild 2:27.2, by Jonathan Finstrom in a Staudacher S08 P1—Robert Rossi was running laps in his Radical SR10 that were nearly 15 seconds quicker than anything else. He didn’t quite get all the way there, with a best of 2:28.2, but for a reminder at how insane this time is, the fastest street car we’ve run is a McLaren Senna, which went nearly seven seconds slower. This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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