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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

Porsche is preparing to reveal a rally-bred version of its 911 sports car at the Los Angeles auto show next week.In a nod to the victorious 1984 Porsche team for the Paris–Dakar Rally, the company is calling its all-wheel-drive sports car the 911 Dakar.In addition to the all-wheel-drive system, the 911 Dakar sports more ground clearance than the standard 911 as well as meatier all-terrain tires.Before its official production debut at the Los Angeles auto show next week, Porsche is sharing details about the development of its off-road-ready 911 Dakar sports car. If this lifted 911 has you asking, “What in the Subaru Outback–loving nonsense is this?” we’d like to remind you of Porsche’s rich rally racing heritage, particularly with the famed Paris–Dakar Rally, which the manufacturer won for the first time back in 1984.More Surprising Rally Car ConversionsPorsche says it has gone to great lengths to stress-test the 911 Dakar model, putting on 6000 off-road miles during the car’s development and 300,000 miles in total under what the manufacturer calls “extreme conditions.” Honestly, judging by the photos here it looks like a heck of a lot of fun, sliding the 911 Dakar around on gravel, sand, and icy surfaces in far-flung locales such as Morocco, Dubai, and Sweden.We have no details yet about the 911 Dakar’s powertrain, but it’s safe to say it will use one of the 911’s turbocharged flat-six engines and will likely come only with Porsche’s eight-speed PDK automatic transmission. We recently reported that a pair of prototypes used for development in Chile were modified Carrera 4S models with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six making 443 horsepower. All-wheel drive will obviously be standard, and we’re interested to find out what other off-road enhancements have been made to the car besides the raised suspension and upgraded tires. If you’re as intrigued as we are, come back at 10 p.m. ET on November 16, when we will have full details on the production model.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

The 2024 EX90 is Volvo’s first purpose-built electric vehicle.Volvo also describes the three-row EX90 as its flagship SUV.The EX90 will arrive in U.S. showrooms in early 2024 and is expected to be priced starting under $80,000.Volvo boasts that its current lineup is fully electrified, meaning that every car’s powertrain—including the gas-engine ones—has at least some battery-electric component. The brand’s stated goal, however, is to go much further and sell only battery-electric EVs—and no gas-powered cars—starting in 2030. So far, Volvo has two electrics, the XC40 Recharge and the related C40 Recharge, both adaptations of an existing architecture. With the all-new EX90, which is designed from the ground up for electric propulsion exclusively, we get our first look at Volvo’s EV future.A New EV ArchitectureThe car will launch with a dual-motor powertrain driving all four wheels. The two permanent-magnet motors produce a combined 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the standard version. The Twin Motor Performance model will have 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet. Volvo estimates that the standard twin-motor EX90 will accelerate to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with the Performance version knocking a second off that time. The chassis features air springs, and the brakes measure 15.7/15.4 inches front/rear. The turning circle, at 38.7 feet, is about a foot tighter than that of today’s XC90.The EX90’s battery will have a usable capacity of 107.0 kWh, with a targeted range of up to 300 miles. Using a 250.0-kWh connection, the EX90 will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes. The car will also come with Plug and Charge for automated payment at charging stations. Related StoriesThe EX90’s EV architecture will allow for bi-directional charging capability, meaning that the car’s battery could charge your house, either during a power outage or, possibly, even to sell battery-stored energy back to the grid during peak hours. Volvo will sell the necessary home hookup and energy management software, although which markets we see this capability remains to be seen. When away from home, the EX90’s battery can power accessories or lend some juice to another Volvo EV.Much of the powertrain matches that of the recently unveiled Polestar 3—the battery capacity, the motors’ torque output, and even the bi-directional charging capability.Pushing the Boundaries on Safety The EX90 also promises to be “safer than any Volvo car to come before it.” That safety push takes several forms.Two cameras trained on the driver plus a steering-wheel sensor combine to determine the pilot’s level of alertness. If the driver has become incapacitated, the system can stop the car at the roadside and turn on the hazard lights.In-car radar is designed to detect a child or pet left in the vehicle. If the system detects a child or pet, it can display a reminder, prevent you from locking the doors, and run the climate control system to maintain a comfortable temperature.The car launches with Volvo’s Pilot Assist system, which adds lane-change functionality to its current lane-centering capability. The EX90 also will come with the hardware for eventual “unsupervised driving.”EX90 DesignThe EX90’s exterior design was previewed by the Concept Recharge, although the EX90’s shape and proportions are more SUV-like than the concept’s more wagon-like, lower-roof profile. In fact, the EX90’s exterior dimensions don’t stray far from those of the existing XC90. The wheelbase is the same at 117.5 inches, while the overall length grows by just over three inches, to 198.3. The EX90 is about an inch and a half wider at 77.3 inches, and about an inch lower at 68.8 inches.To achieve a claimed drag coefficient of 0.29, the grille-less front end is rounded, the door handles and window glass are flush with the body-side surface, and the wheels are partly covered. The car’s lidar sensors, which will be used for the eventual self-driving capability, are housed in a bump at the forward edge of the roof. A New Interior ConceptThe EX90 debuts a new interior design for Volvo and is largely shared with the Polestar 3. The spare, minimalist dashboard has a large, vertically oriented center touchscreen for most functions. A smaller screen in front of the driver functions as a digital instrument cluster, displaying speed and range as well as a graphic of the car and surrounding traffic.Knobs and nearly all physical buttons are banished. Volvo attempts to make navigating the large, 14.5-inch central touchscreen easier by surfacing different functions on the home screen when the car is parked or driving, or whether there’s an ongoing phone call or audio playing. A few basic climate controls are at the bottom of the screen, much like current Volvos. As in today’s Volvos, the infotainment system is Google based but also supports Apple CarPlay with a wireless connection.Like many EVs, the EX90 includes a panoramic glass roof—which may be swell in the gloom of a Scandinavian winter but will place an additional burden on the air conditioning in a Florida or Arizona summer. Size-wise, the EX90 cabin volume is very similar to that of the XC90. Passenger legroom in the front, middle, and third rows are all within an inch of the existing car, at 40.9, 36.5, and 31.9 inches. Cargo volume also is about the same, with the EX90 offering 13 cubic feet behind the rearmost seats and 68 cubic feet with all seatbacks folded. There’s also a small frunk with just over one cubic foot of space.Volvo previously announced that its EVs would have leather-free interiors, and the EX90 offers a wool-blend fabric and textiles made from recycled plastic bottles. Trim pieces from FSC-certified wood are backlit for “a Scandinavian living room atmosphere.” The carpets are made in part from recycled materials. Volvo says that 15 percent of all the plastics used in the EX90 are recycled or bio-based.Other tech highlights: The EX90 will come standard with smartphone-as-key functionality. The top audio system, by Bowers & Wilkins, will feature Dolby Atmos and blast music through 25 speakers, including in the headrests.EX90 Pricing and Arrival DateThe EX90 will be built in Ridgeville, South Carolina, for the U.S. market—alongside the Polestar 3—and is expected to reach dealerships in early 2024. However, customers can pre-order their cars now and then will be able to finalize their EX90 spec in the fall of 2023. Pricing isn’t being released yet, with Volvo saying only that the car will be “well equipped at under $80,000.” Besides buying or leasing, the EX90 will be available through the brand’s Care by Volvo subscription plan. The model will be sold alongside the current XC90 at the top of the Swedish brand’s lineup before eventually supplanting the XC90. The EX90 starts a parade of Volvo EVs, with the company saying it plans to introduce one new electric model per year. It will be interesting to see how closely they hew to the EX90.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

Toyota released teaser images for a new model that is clearly the next-generation Prius. The new hybrid will debut next week, on November 16, at the L.A. auto show.This will be the fifth-generation Prius and it should go on sale in the U.S. sometime next year.It’s the Toyota Prius hybrid’s turn for a big redesign, if these new teaser photos from Toyota are any indication. The images, shared on Toyota’s Japanese social media channels, confirm a reveal date of November 16 and say “Hybrid Reborn,” meaning this new model could be nothing other than Toyota’s original hybrid hatchback.ToyotaToyotaThis will be the Prius’ fifth generation, and its silhouette looks quite familiar. But the recognizable shape, which helps with the car’s aerodynamic profile, may include some new detailing. The headlight in one teaser image looks similar to the design language we’ve seen on some Toyota concept cars, including some of the company’s recent EV concepts and the Japan-market Toyota Crown compact crossover, referred to as the Sport-type.We’re not sure exactly what to expect from the Prius’s new hybrid powertrain, but we’re sure it will aim for higher fuel economy than the current version, which achieves an EPA rating of up to 56 mpg combined. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is likely to return, and should offer a larger battery pack to provide improved electric-only range compared with the outgoing car’s 25 mile range on a fully charged battery.Prius Then and NowLook forward to finding out more information next week, as Toyota prepares to premiere the new 2023 Prius at the L.A. auto show. We’ll update this story with a live streaming video if one becomes available, so check back November 16 to see the “reborn” Prius for yourself.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