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Americans are a generous people. According to the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, all forms of charitable giving in the United States added up to $484.8 billion. Imagine how much larger that number would be if every charitable donation came with a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 thank-you gift. During Barrett-Jackson’s auction in Houston last Saturday, a single 2022 Ford Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition sold for $1,000,938. That’s quite a premium over the $82,955 base price of the Heritage Edition as currently listed on Ford’s website. What got the price up there is that all the money raised went to charity. In this case, to charities working to alleviate suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian ripping across Florida.Barrett-Jackson on FacebookDonated by George and Megan Shinn, the car hit that seven-figure total in a convoluted way. “The Brittney Blue Shelby brought $400,000 on the auction block with additional donations from the audience and friends of Shinn bringing the total to $650,000,” explains Barrett-Jackson on the company’s website. “It was then re-donated by Mike Patterson to raise an additional $300,000 for a total of $1,000,938 with 100 percent of the funds going directly to the charities. The additional $250,000 in donations were made by George Shinn, the Mauzy family, Kathie Lee Gifford, the Ingram family, and Rick Hendrick. A ‘collection’ hat was spontaneously passed in the Muscle Lounge skybox and filled to the brim with $6938.”From the C/D ArchiveThe math is dizzying (and doesn’t seem to add up), but the bottom line here is that a single Shelby Mustang put a lot of money into two charities: Samaritan’s Purse and the Florida Disaster Fund.The tax implications here are mind-boggling to contemplate. Whoever it is who wound up with the car likely gets a deduction for any of what was paid beyond the retail value of the car. But, hey, this is Road & Track and not Deloitte & Touche.Barrett-Jackson on FacebookThis 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

• VW’s GTI 40th Anniversary Edition arrives as a midyear 2023 model.• It slots in between the base S and the SE, with a starting price of $34,150 (add $800 for the automatic transmission).• Production is limited to approximately 1500 units, evenly split between the six-speed stick and seven-speed DSG.Once you pass 21, milestone birthdays are often greeted with as much trepidation as celebration. There’s the existential dread of aging, the questioning of one’s accomplishments, and the worrying evidence of physical decline. But for cars, it’s different. Thus, with the Volkswagen GTI hitting the big 4-0 this year (the U.S. version at least), there was nothing to do but celebrate the occasion. Well, maybe also monetize the occasion, by rolling out a special 40th Anniversary Edition.VolkswagenThis GTI dons some party garb in the form of special lower-body graphics, 40th-anniversary badging, and exclusive colors of Tornado Red and Urano Gray (versus Kings Red metallic and Moonstone Gray on other GTIs), along with Opal White Pearl and Pomelo Yellow Metallic. For an extra pop of contrast, the roof, wheels, and mirror caps are rendered in black, another Anniversary Edition exclusive. Inside, you’ll find the same plaid cloth seats as found in the S and the SE. Perfect.VolkswagenThe 40th Anniversary Edition is based on the entry-level S model, but it adds a couple of key items normally reserved for the top-spec Autobahn: adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels with 235-35 summer tires, as well as speed-sensitive steering. So there’s some substance beneath the revelry.Related StoriesVW says the redline-accented wheels are borrowed from the European GTI Clubsport 45 (the model has been around longer over there), but unfortunately, the Clubsport’s engine, which is turned up to 296 horsepower, isn’t invited to our birthday bash. The 40th Anniversary Edition has the same 241-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 as the rest of the U.S. GTI lineup.VolkswagenThe $34,150 ask for the 40th Anniversary Edition represents a $2875 upcharge over the base car, which seems worth it to get the adaptive dampers without having to lay out nearly 40 large for the autobahn. Will the GTI as we know it survive into the electric age? Hard to say, but better grab one while you still can. After all, you’re not getting any younger.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 second Toyota bZ (“beyond Zero”) electric vehicle after the bZ4X will be the bZ3, a five-seat sedan designed specifically for the Chinese EV market.Toyota developed the bZ3 with partners BYD and FAW Toyota, following the collaborative path that the Japanese automaker took with its first bZ model, which was developed in partnership with Subaru.A drag coefficient of 0.218 and specially developed batteries should give the bZ3 a range of more than 370 miles on the Chinese test scale. The EV wouldn’t get that high a rating in the U.S., but it won’t be sold here, so we’ll never know what the EPA might say about this new entrant.Toyota has pulled the wraps off its second electric vehicle, the bZ3. Designed for the Chinese domestic market in partnership with BYD and FAW Toyota, the bZ3 is a five-seat, all-electric sedan that can go more than 373 miles (600 kilometers) on a single charge. A Toyota spokesperson pointed out that the “3” in its name indicates the sedan body style and size.Meanwhile, Closer to HomeDo not expect this model to come to the States. Toyota said its partners developed the bZ3 specifically with Chinese customers in mind. That means that the bZ3 wasn’t just designed for movement but also a space that can be used as a “Family Lounge,” Toyota said, and can be a place where you would spend time with other people. A large center screen called the Digital Island can be used to connect multiple smartphones and control features like temperature controls and infotainment services.ToyotaToyota said BYD contributed EV platform expertise and knowledge about battery technology. FAW Toyota has sold 10 million units and contributed its understanding of the China market. Toyota focused on advanced electrification technologies and making sure that the bZ3 is fun to drive, the company said.More Range Than the bZ4XThe bZ3 is undeniably aerodynamic, with a cD of just 0.218. That kind of slipperiness allows the bZ3’s lithium-ion batteries to take the car further than the larger bZ4X model, which has an estimated range of up to 250 miles. It is important to note that the 373-mile estimate comes from China’s light-duty vehicle test cycle, while the bZ4X’s 250-mile range was calculated using the more stringent EPA test cycle. Even if the bZ3 wouldn’t get 373 miles in U.S. testing—and it wouldn’t—the battery structure and cooling, control, and safety monitoring systems in the bZ3 were all newly designed for this EV.The bZ3 will be the first time Toyota uses a lithium iron phosphate cathode in its EV batteries. Toyota said that it and its partners designed this pack to keep 90 percent of its capacity after 10 years.Both the bZ3 and the first bZ model, the bZ4X, are built on Toyota’s New Global Architecture platform for EVs, the e-TNGA, but Toyota hasn’t yet announced any bZ models that contain nothing but Toyota DNA. The bZ4X was developed in partnership with Subaru, which released its version of the EV as the Solterra. The bZ3 will be produced by FAW Toyota and sold through that company’s dealer network in China.ToyotaWhen Toyota filed trademark applications for its new line of all-electric vehicles, we learned that the bZ in the bZ brand stood for “Beyond Zero.” We thought that the X would stand for dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models. That worked with the first model, the bZ4X, and implies that the bZ3 will not offer all-wheel-drive options. Toyota’s trademarks in early 2021 also included the BZ1, BZ2, BZ2X, BZ4, BZ4X, and BZ5.ToyotaThe unveiling of the bZ3 could open the dam on the reveal of more new Toyota EVs. As part of the bZ3 announcement, Toyota teased another bZ EV with a darkened photograph. The image shows a Prius-y-shaped vehicle, and the image file name is 002. Toyota didn’t respond to our questions about this, so make of that what you will.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 Toyota Crown is a new sedan model for 2023 that replaces the Avalon.It starts at $41,045 and ranges up to $53,445 for the top Platinum model.The Crown will start reaching U.S. dealerships in early 2023.Toyota is aiming high with the new 2023 Crown sedan, both literally—it’s significantly taller than the Avalon large sedan that it replaces—and figuratively, as it’s priced on the high end of the automaker’s lineup, with the loaded model topping $50,000. The Crown is available in three trim levels: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, and all versions come standard with all-wheel-drive and hybrid powertrains.More on the CrownThe Crown XLE starts at $41,045 and comes with a hybrid setup that uses a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and makes a total of 236 horsepower. That starting price is $3125 more than the 2022 Avalon XLE’s. The Limited starts at $46,645 and adds equipment including a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, an upgraded audio system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. These versions of the Crown are EPA-rated at 41 mpg combined.The Crown Platinum requires a big jump up to its starting price of $53,445, and it brings on a significantly more powerful hybrid powertrain that Toyota calls Hybrid Max. This powertrain uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four gasoline engine, produces 340 horsepower, and is EPA-rated at a significantly lower 30 mpg combined. Added equipment for the Platinum includes adaptive dampers, 21-inch wheels, and an upgraded park-assist system.Toyota says that the Crown will start arriving at U.S. dealerships in early 2023.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

Honda’s stalwart family sedan will soon debut a new look for the 2023 model year.The Japanese automaker released three teaser images of the 2023 Accord mid-size car, and from what we can see so far it’ll sport a slick design.In the third image, the new car’s infotainment display shows a graphic calling attention to the hybrid powertrain.A redesigned Honda Accord will launch for the 2023 model year, marking the 11th generation for the popular nameplate, which has been in production continuously since 1976. From teaser photos shown here, we can see that the new Accord will wear a smoother design that fits right in among Honda’s newer offerings such as the Civic compact car and the upcoming Prologue electric SUV.HondaBright LED lighting elements highlight the new design’s sleek lines while an elongated hexagonal grille wears a handsome triangle-motif insert. At the back, the Accord’s taillights stretch nearly the entirety of the width of the car, save for a small interruption in the middle of the trunk lid to make room for a small Honda logo.HondaOn the 12.3-inch infotainment display is a graphic showing the 2023 Accord’s hybrid powertrain in action. We previously reported that Honda has stated its intention to grow the Accord hybrid’s sales numbers, so we’re not surprised that we’re seeing the electrified powertrain promoted in these teaser images. HondaHonda hasn’t released any details about the Accord’s powertrains yet, and while it’s clear that the company is pushing the hybrid to center stage, we still expect a nonhybrid powertrain to be the base offering. That may turn out to be the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder as the current model or it could be the more powerful turbo 2.0-liter from the current Accord Sport. The current Accord Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that combine for 181 horsepower but this time around it could get the hybrid system from the 2023 CR-V SUV that uses a turbocharged engine and makes 204 horsepower. More Future HondasIt’s no secret that the Accord is regularly among our favorite cars, as the nameplate has won our annual 10Best award 36 times throughout the years. It’s the Accord’s balanced driving demeanor combined with stellar value and excellent build quality that have impressed our editors in the past.Needless to say, we have high expectations for the 2023 model and we’re eager to learn more about the new generation. But we’ll have to wait with everyone else until the rest of the car is unveiled in November 2022.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

Lotus has revealed more information and specs about its upcoming Eletre electric SUV, at least for the Europe market.There will be three trim levels, all with the same 112.0-kWh battery pack and all-wheel drive via twin motors and making 603 or 905 hp, depending on model.There’s no U.S. pricing for the 2024 Lotus Eletre electric SUV yet, but the range for Europe is the equivalent of $84,500 to $113,000.When Lotus first showed its forthcoming electric SUV, the Eletre, earlier this year, its official announcement raised as many questions as it provided answers. But now we have more details, including performance details and European pricing, alongside images of the finished version.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.Eletre: Unleash the Future – UK & Rest of the WorldWatch onMore DetailsLotus has confirmed there will be three versions of the Eletre, with S and R versions positioned above the base car. All will use a 112.0-kWh battery pack and feature all-wheel drive through twin motors. The entry-level and S models will have a total system output of 602 horsepower and 523 pound-feet from a pair of equally powered motors, one at each end. The R swaps out the rear 301-hp motor for a much more potent 603-hp unit featuring a two-speed gearbox similar in principle to the one in the Porsche Taycan 4S and Turbo. The R’s peak output is 905 horsepower accompanied by 726 pound-feet, which Lotus claims will make it the fastest dual-motor EV SUV in the world.None will be slow. The less powerful driveline has a claimed zero-to-62-mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 mph. The R drops that 62-mph figure to just 2.9 seconds and increases the top speed to 165 mph, although experiencing that even briefly will doubtless have a detrimental effect on range.Range Estimate: Up to 373 Miles On Europe’s generally optimistic WLTP protocol, Lotus says that the less powerful Eletre can go up to 373 miles on a full charge when running on optional 20-inch wheels; 22-inchers will actually be the standard specification in Europe. The R’s additional performance comes at the cost of a substantially worse 304-mile WLTP rating. We’ve previously been told that the Eletre will support fast charging at rates of up to 350kW.The Eletre will be produced in Wuhan, China, with much of the development work taking place at Raunheim in Germany. All versions will have adaptive dampers and air-sprung suspension able to vary ride height, with the Eletre R adding an active anti-roll system. Carbon-ceramic brakes will also be offered on at least some versions. There is still no official word on on weight, although Lotus has confirmed to C/D that earlier reports it was chasing a “sub-two-ton [4400-pound]” curb weight were some way off from reality. We’re sticking with our prediction that it will come in around the 5500-pound mark. Lotus has also dropped more details about the Eletre’s UI system. Like fellow Geely Group brand Smart—whose Euro-market #1 we drove last month—the Lotus will use Geely’s ECARX core architecture with mapping using data from HERE. This will use a punchy processor featuring twin Qualcomm 8155 “system on” chips and driving a high-definition 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen. We were disappointed by the unintuitive and poorly finished Smart OS system in the #1, so we hope Lotus’s take will be more successful; happily, the firm has already confirmed that the Eletre will include the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration the Smart lacks.Autonomously around the Nürburgring?The Eletre will also have lidar sensors as standard, with the company promising increasing levels of assisted driving and then higher-level autonomy “when individual market regulations allow.” The company is also promising it will ultimately be possible to “drive the Nürburgring circuit autonomously” in the Eletre, a claim we find it hard not to treat with a high level of skepticism given the corporate legal risks implicit in such a thrill ride. When it’s ready, though, sign us up!We will have to wait longer for U.S. pricing, but Lotus has confirmed figures for major European markets. In the U.K. the range will start at the equivalent of $84,500 for the base car, rise to $98,500 for the S, and top out at $113,000 for the R. It will be interesting to see how close to that U.S. pricing ends up when the first cars reach here in 2024. 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