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According to a report from Reuters, American EV giant Tesla is now facing a criminal investigation from the Department of Justice. The criminal investigation joins a series of probes into the company from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) option now costs $15,000 but has not reached regulatory approval. EV maker Tesla is under criminal investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice over its claims that its cars are “Full Self Driving.” That news comes in an article just published by the Reuters news service, which cited unnamed sources it described as “three people familiar with the matter.” The report says the feds have been conducting the investigation since 2021 after more than a dozen crashes were suspected of being related to Tesla’s self-driving technology. According to the Reuters story, the Justice Department’s prosecutors will be looking to discover “whether Tesla misled consumers, investors, and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology’s capabilities.” The investigation could culminate in criminal charges, civil penalties, or the end of the matter, depending on what they find out, Reuters said.Controversial from the StartTesla has come under fire from many quarters over the implication that its vehicles can drive themselves, given the company’s use of the name “Full Self Driving.” Because Tesla’s Full Self Driving system relies on the driver of the vehicle to remain alert at all times, it is effectively a Level 2 driver-assist technology, not fully automated.on AutopilotHowever, it could be argued that Tesla has allowed customers to believe otherwise. For instance, a video on the Tesla Autopilot website reads: “The person in the driver’s seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself.” Further down, the website reads, “Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within its lane. Current Autopilot features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.” Tesla does warn drivers that they must remain alert even with Autopilot activated. This, Reuters speculates, may protect Tesla in the Justice Department probe. What the warnings do not seem to do is keep drivers from paying less attention to the road. A study conducted by MIT last year found that drivers using Autopilot remove their eyes from the road for longer, and more often than when they are not using the system.The criminal investigation from the DOJ is not the first investigation Tesla is facing over Autopilot and FSD. NHTSA opened a probe into over 800,000 Teslas with Autopilot in June of this year, and in July, the California DMV accused the company of falsely advertising the capabilities of its driver-assist features.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

Rivian has notified R1T reservation holders that it is removing the powered tonneau option on the electric truck and will “upgrade” the system to reintroduce it at an unspecified future time.Reservation holders waiting for an R1T who want to receive their truck as scheduled will need to choose between getting a manual cover or no cover option at all. Choosing no tonneau results in a $1500 reduction in price, while choosing the manual cover option reduces the price by $700.It’s no secret that EV startup Rivian has had some growing pains in its first year of delivering vehicles. Deliveries of the highly anticipated R1S SUV experienced delays earlier this year, and Car and Driver experienced our share of electronic glitches throughout our testing process earlier this year. In September, Rivian reached out to R1T owners to lay out plans for a replacement tonneau cover due to a litany of issues cropping up for owners. On Friday the company announced that as it works on a solution, or as they put it, an “upgrade,” the current tonneau will be pulled from production. The company plans to reintroduce the option in the future but has not indicated how long before that happens.Preorder holders are being given two options: choose a manual tonneau cover and see the price of the R1T drop by $700, or forgo the tonneau option entirely and have the price drop by $1500. Rivian made it clear in a statement to C/D that neither choice will affect vehicle delivery date. The company is still working on updating its online configurator, something it expects to complete later this month.More on the R1TThe manual tonneau will consist of four interlocking panels, which can be stored in an accompanying cargo bag when not in use. It will be fully lockable and should protect cargo from “light weather.” According to the statement sent to owners, any customer with a preordered R1T slated for delivery soon will not receive a manual tonneau for the truck until sometime in early 2023.Strangely, considering there’s the option of no tonneau cover, Rivian is planning to remove the integrated side rails starting in 2023. A Rivian customer service representative is quoted on the Rivian forum saying that there will be no option to retrofit a powered tonneau in the future. Either you already got your truck and have the option, or you have to wait until “the foreseeable future” is over and then configure a truck with the powered option. 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 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

Lucid is now selling an at-home wall charger along with a few other accessories for the Air EV.The charger can support up to 19.2 kW of AC power, a figure which Lucid claims provides up to 80 miles of range per hour. The Level 2 charger comes at a price of $1200, but attention: there may be additional costs to make it work with your home’s electrical system.Charging at home can be one of the best perks of owning an electric vehicle. There are tons of options for at home charging, ranging from a few hundred dollars for Level 1 overnight charging, to several hundred for the more capable Level 2 charging. Now, Lucid Motors, the young automaker known for having the longest-range luxury sedan available today, is offering an at-home charger of its own. The wall-mounted charger provides Level 2 charging, and when operating at its peak can provide 19.2 kW of electrical power. According to Lucid, that amount of power equates to roughly 80 miles of range per hour for the Air. It can be ordered for $1200, though prospective buyers should remember that buying a home charger for your EV is not exactly plug and play. Beyond permits, inspections, and installation, changes to your home’s electrical system could cost thousands on top of the cost of the charger. Lucid MomentsElectrical codes require that circuits can only deliver 80 percent of their stated maximum to an appliance. This means that Level 2 charging—which utilizes an AC current of 80 amps, as is the case with 19.2 kW charge equipment like Lucid’s—requires a dedicated 100-amp circuit breaker. One EV user we know recently installed a 50-amp breaker, which was required to support a 40 amp, 9.6-kW charger at his California home. All told, this part of the installation process cost $3500 because he had to double the capacity of his home’s main circuit panel to allow for the charger’s safe operation. Lucid promises that its charger will utilize a 24-foot cable, which it promises will be thinner and more lightweight than competitors’. The charger is housed in a sleek black unit which can be mounted either indoors for people who park in a garage, or outdoors for those who may charge in their driveway.LucidCargo-Carrying Choices IncreaseIn addition to the new at-home charger, Lucid is now offering an 11-cubic-foot cargo capsule for the roof as well as a set of crossbars. According to Lucid, the cargo capsule was designed to optimize aerodynamics and limit impact to overall range. It can be opened from either side of the vehicle and includes interior lighting for when you need access to your items at night. The crossbars are rated for up to 165 pounds and are compatible with Yakima bike, surfboard, and kayak mounts. The cargo capsule is $2000, with the crossbars priced at $500. 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 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

• Today’s pick from the Bring a Trailer auction site is this Volvo 244DL, a tribute to road cycling’s greatest hero.• This era of Volvo sedan is a design icon: simple, boxy, honest.• It was notably durable, if not exactly swift, one reason that the 240-series Volvo has a huge fan base. This one’s cycling support vehicle livery just adds to the charm.The appeal of a boxy Volvo is easy to understand. They are simple, immensely pragmatic, durable, and safe. Thanks to a total lack of pretentiousness and a two-decade production run, the 240 is familiar and beloved. It’s the car that makes being square and nerdy actually kind of cool. And the example up for auction this week at Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a machine that combines the worlds of car geeks and cycling nerds. Bring a TrailerFinished in the orange livery of a Team Molteni support vehicle, this 1977 240DL comes complete with a roof-mounted bicycle rack bearing a road-racing bike set up like that of Tour de France legend Eddy Merckx. The whole package is a fun tribute to a bit of Swedish-Belgian-Italian cycling history.Thinking inside the BoxThe Greatest Road Rider Édouard “The Cannibal” Merckx was the sort of champion cyclist to make anyone with more than one pair of clip-in cycling shoes swoon. Born in Belgium just a month after the end of World War II, he started riding at an early age and found success almost immediately. By the end of his career in the late 1970s, Merckx had won five Tours de France, five Giros d’Italia, and Spain’s grand tour, La Vuelta. He also won three cycling World Championships and followed up a double grand-tour win in 1974 with a win at the UCI Road World Championships, thus making him the first rider to win cycling’s triple crown. Basically, we’re talking Mario Andretti in Spandex.The “Cannibal” nickname was bestowed by the daughter of a teammate and referred to his tenacious refusal to let anyone else win. This laser focus made him a household name at the time, at least among cycling enthusiasts, and Merckx is still regarded as the greatest road rider of all time.Many of his wins came while riding as a professional for the Italian team Molteni. The team favored a striking orange racing livery on its jerseys, and the support vehicles were likewise painted bright orange. In the club’s early days, Simcas and the like carried the bikes to race day. When Merckx was at the peak of his career, Molteni was mostly Volvos.Bring a TrailerThis 1977 Volvo DL is a couple model years too new for an exact match, but it nonetheless wears the Team Molteni colors with pride. Powered by a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine punching out a little over a hundred horsepower and fitted with the four-speed-plus-overdrive manual transmission, this is very much a Volvo of the “world’s fastest tractor” variety.Bring a TrailerSome cosmetic issues with peeling clear-coat are mentioned in the listing, and there’s some corrosion noted. At heart, this 244 is a Volvo with 237,000 miles on the odometer, and it has its fair share of wear. Then again, Volvos from this era tend to have the durability of granite. This thing will still be on the road when the last gallon of gasoline is produced or until the heat death of the universe. Whichever comes first.Complete with the Eddy Merckx tribute steel-frame road bike on the roof rack, this car can’t be beat for charisma-per-dollar appeal. All the Cars and Coffee folk’ll love it and so will the Sunday-morning pack cycling crowd. And so will the Volvo geeks. Expect thumbs up from everyone.With four days to go until the auction ends on Sunday, October 30, bidding sits at $4444. Don’t miss out on your chance to snap it up. The Cannibal would never forgive 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

The Toyota Tundra is now offered with a factory-backed lift kit that adds an extra 2.6 inches of ground clearance.The $3995 dealer-installed kit includes Bilstein monotube shocks and new upper control arms from Roush Performance.Unlike many aftermarket kits, Toyota’s package is designed to be compatible with the Tundra’s standard driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning.Toyota truck fans with a penchant for off-roading and $70,000 to spare can already buy the capable and brawny-looking Tundra TRD Pro. But for those looking to save some coin while still tackling challenging terrain, Toyota is now offering a factory lift kit for lower-priced, non-TRD Tundra models. Crafted by Toyota Racing Development, the kit provides the truck with an extra 2.6 inches of ground clearance, thanks to new parts like Bilstein monotube shocks in the front and rear.ToyotaToyotaToyota says these shocks use digressive pistons to balance high-speed stability with low-speed body control. Along with the new shocks, the package adds taller front coil springs—painted red and tuned by TRD—and forged upper control arms from Roush Performance, known for its aftermarket parts for vehicles including the Ford F-150 and Mustang. The kit also brings lots of other gear, with front extended driveshafts, rear spring spacers, and front stabilizer links, as well as new lower knuckles, bump stops, and outer tie rods.ToyotaThe extra 2.6 inches of lift improve the Tundra’s approach angle from 21.0 to 26.0 inches, while the departure angle increases from 24.0 to 25.0 inches. The big advantage of the Toyota-supplied lift kit versus aftermarket options is that it is configured to work with the Toyota Safety Sense system, which provides driver assistance features including forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. More on ToyotaThe kit will be a dealer-installed option and carries an MSRP of $3995, excluding the cost of labor for installation. The kit cannot be had with the TRD Pro or TRD Sport models or with any Tundras fitted with air suspension, including those with the optional adaptive dampers. But all other 2022 and newer Tundras are compatible with the kit, which comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty if installed when new, or a 12-month warranty if it’s added after the purchase date. 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 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

The 2023 Acura Integra revives the iconic nameplate, and it’s getting the aftermarket treatment for the 2022 SEMA show. Acura teamed up with three notable names in the tuner community and told them to build their ideal version of the new Integra.The trio of personalities who designed the custom Integras includes Coco Zurita, Dai Yoshihara, and Sara Choi.With the Acura Integra returning to U.S. streets for the first time in over two decades, it’s also time for the sport compact to return to the spotlight in tuner culture. There’s arguably no bigger stage for aftermarket products than the Specialty Equipment Market Association show (better known as SEMA), which takes place every year in Las Vegas. For this year’s event, Acura has partnered with three popular personalities in the tuner community and asked them to create their own custom interpretation of the 2023 Integra.Top Teggy StoriesThe trio includes Coco Zurita, Daijiro “Dai” Yoshihara, and Sara Choi. In additon to building cars, Zurita is a professional BMX rider and an amateur drifter. Yoshihara is a professional driver with notable wins that include a Formula Drift championship and a class win at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Choi has many titles—drifter, host, model, actor—and she also has a large following on her social media accounts. Coco Zurita’s Integra Built by AutotunedZurita lives in Southern California and said his Integra build was inspired by his affection for action sports (he has two X Games medals to show for it). “We grabbed some inspo from the NSX GT designs and added some race car features to help bring in my own personal style and achieve this new look for the next-gen Integra,” he said. The car features various powertrain and chassis modifications that include an aftermarket HPS cold-air intake and A’PEXi exhaust system as well as upgraded Wilwood six-piston front brakes and RSR Sport-I coil-overs. Its Kansei KNP 18-inch wheels wear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (245/35 front and 265/35 rear). The exterior of Zurita’s Integra is highlighted by a body kit by Autotuned, a prominent APR GTC rear wing, and graphics designed by Andreas Wennevold. Inside, there’s a MOMO six-point harness, racing seat, and steering wheel with NGR quick release.Dai Yoshihara’s Integra Built by Evasive MotorsportsYoshihara hails from Tokyo, Japan, but is based in Southern California. Influenced by his career in motorsports and his love of Integras from the 1980s and ’90s, he tried to blend both of those passions into this project. “I wanted to take the sporty theme from the iconic DB8 Integra and fuse it into my build,” he said.Along with aftermarket powertrain upgrades such as a Spoon air filter and exhaust, the car’s chassis has been modified with RSR Sport-I coilovers and a StopTech ST-40 big brake kit. Yoshihara’s Teggy rolls on forged BBS REV7 18-inch rims mounted on Yokohama A005 racing slicks, size 260/650 at all four corners. The Integra’s body is fitted with myriad parts from EVS, but its fender flares and rear wing are by Voltex. The interior of the car features more EVS parts (shift knob, carbon center console and door panels). There’s also a slew of Sparco stuff, from the six-point harness to the quick-release steering wheel to the kevlar racing seats.Sara Choi’s Integra Built by Tony Star PerformanceChoi was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now she lives in Los Angeles. She got invoved in the tuner scene when she was 15 years old. That combined with a unique artistic flair fueled the design of her Integra. “My favorite part of being a car builder is that you get to express yourself however you want,” said Choi. “It’s a thrill building my own version of such an iconic car.” Breathing through a Sports Touring cat-back exhaust system, Choi’s car also has an aftermarket intercooler and oil cooler from GReddy. A set of Tein Flex Z coilovers support Advan RSDF 19-inch wheels paired with Nexen Sport R tires (245/40 front and 275/35 rear). The body kit is custom, designed by Choi and Walter Kim. The car is wrapped in a glossy pearl white. Inside, there are Evasive Motorsports x Bride Zeta IV seats as well as a teardrop shift knob and quick-release (both BattleCraft Hyper parts). The steering wheel is a Dogfight Race Pro 380mm unit.All three custom 2023 Acura Integras will be on display from November 1–4 at the SEMA show. They’ll also make appearances on November 19 at Los Angeles Radwood as well as next year from April 14–16 at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.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 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

The three-pronged trident of Maserati goes full-on pink, embracing the ethos of the most famous doll in the world.Only two of these powerful Barbie SUVs will be built, with 10 percent of proceeds going to support charity.The launch is part of the company’s bespoke Fuoriserie program, which will let the buyer endlessly customize their Maserati.It is established canon that Barbie is a gearhead. Who else could come up with the perfect two-car garage solution of a C4 Corvette convertible and a GMC motorhome? Pretty in pink, and with near unlimited accessories, America’s most popular doll is happiest when behind the wheel. Thanks to a collaboration between Neiman Marcus and Maserati, you too can play high-octane dressup.Car and DriverThe Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gift list is an annual catalog of what Santa might pop in your stocking should you have been deemed as nice on the same level as, say, Dolly Parton. There’s always an automotive component, and this year comes with a partnership between Maserati and Mattel. It’s a Barbie-themed Maserati Grecale Trofeo SUV, complete with pink accent stitching, iridescent paint, and one-of-two global exclusivity.What You Really Want to KnowIt seems an unlikely tie-up until you consider that the Barbie brand represents capital-B Billion sales numbers. With a new movie coming next year and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the Barbie franchise is still firmly fixed in the mainstream. In the early days, Barbie garnered criticism for being more clothes-horse than progressive icon. These days, she’s both fashionista and progressive pioneer.And driver. The Barbie-accented Grecale comes equipped with a 530-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6; better buckle up in the passenger seat, Ken. Two will be produced worldwide, but only one for the US. A pink theme is present inside and out, including “B”-branded headrests. Price: a whopping $330,000. But 10 percent of that cost will go directly to Mattel’s Barbie Dream Gap project. The charity aims to bridge the gap between make-believe play and practical reality for young girls, helping them achieve their full potential. It’s a worthy cause.And it also illustrates the flexibility of Maserati’s Fuoriserie customization offerings, which allow for a highly personalized approach to ordering your new Maser. If not Barbie, then perhaps you’d like a Hot Wheels theme. Or that of Fisher-Price? UNO? The customer calls the shots.As for the Barbie version, the price sits at $330,000, making this machine truly a fantasy gift for most. A portion will go towards realizing the dreams of young Barbie fans. And for one lucky buyer, it’s a machine that proves what everyone always knew about Barbie. Yes, she still likes to dress up in all the latest fashions. Really, though, Barbie’s number-one accessory is her hotshoes. 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