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Country star Chris Stapleton, apparently, has a long-standing relationship with Ram trucks. That partnership involves things like an upcoming cover of an Al Green song called “I’m a Ram” and a 2016 “Ram Nation concert,” but it also includes the opportunity for Stapleton to ask Ram to build a throwback to one of their most memorable trucks ever. The result is this, the Ram 2500 “Traveller” one-off.Meet the FamilyInspired by the 1979 Ram Palomino that the brand calls “a Stapleton favorite,” the Traveller, announced via Facebook on Monday, is a custom Ram 2500. The exterior is highlighted by a two-tone with a graphic stripe that pays direct tribute to that Palomino. The shades of cream and light brown shades have been adjusted for more modern paint technology, while the stripe itself has been redesigned to better match the more curved shape of a modern 2500. In the front, the look is completed with a sculptural Ram hood ornament that pops out toward the grille.Inside, the retro-inspired look continues with dark brown leather and walnut materials highlighted by red flannel accents on the headrests and inside the center console. That plaid is a call back to the jacket Stapleton wore on the cover of the album that gave the truck its name, Traveller. The truck promotes a Stapleton exhibit in Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, one that is not coincidentally already sponsored by Ram.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 Audi e-tron has been refreshed, becoming the Q8 e-tron and sporting a new front end with a mask-like grille that puts it in line with the smaller Q4 e-tron.Power output is unchanged, but the Q8 e-tron and SQ8 e-tron are expected to improve their range estimates thanks to a redesigned rear electric motor and better aerodynamics.Audi says the Q8 e-tron can charge at a rate of 170 kW, going from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes on a DC fast charger.Since Audi first launched the e-tron SUV in 2019, it has added the voluptuous e-tron GT sedan and the smaller Q4 e-tron crossover to its electric arsenal. Now, the original e-tron is gaining a new moniker to differentiate it from its fellow electric Audis as part of a substantial overhaul.Rechristened as the Q8 e-tron, the facelifted EV arrives with fresh styling and increased range, and the sleek Sportback and more powerful S (now called SQ8 e-tron) variants also return. (The new name doesn’t eliminate confusion entirely, however, as there are also distinct gasoline-powered Q8 and SQ8 models; calling it the Q6 e-tron would’ve been a better move in our opinion.)Same Power, More RangeWhile Europe receives a base model with a smaller battery and less power, the only configurations that will be sold in the United States are the Q8 e-tron 55 and the SQ8 e-tron, which replaces the e-tron S. Power outputs are unchanged from before. The 55, with all-wheel drive via a dual-motor setup, maxes out at 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode. The SQ8 e-tron, meanwhile, packs three electric motors, with a 166-hp unit up front and two 131-hp motors housed on the rear axle producing a combined 496 hp and 718 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode. The 55 model reaches 62 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds while the SQ8 drops that sprint to 4.5 ticks. Top speed for the 55 is limited to 124 mph, and the SQ8 e-tron can hit 130 mph.Both models utilize a battery with 106.0 kWh of usable capacity. Audi says it is aiming for certain versions of the updated model to have an EPA-estimated range above 300 miles, or a 30 to 40 percent increase over the current model’s EPA range that tops out at 222 miles. On the European WLTP test cycle, the Q8 e-tron lineup is rated at between 307 and 373 miles of range. Audi also claims the Q8 e-tron will charge at a rate of up to 170 kW, with the battery charging from 10 to 80 percent in as quickly as 31 minutes on a DC fast charger.The 2024 Q8 e-tron’s bump in range is the product of an upgraded rear motor and improved aerodynamics. The asynchronous motor on the rear axle now uses 14 coils to generate its electromagnetic field, up from 12. This makes the motor more efficient, since it can use less electricity to create the same amount of torque, or produce more torque using the same amount of energy as the old 12-coil design. Aerodynamics also play a huge role. The restyled front end has decreased the drag coefficient slightly to 0.24 for the Sportback and 0.27 for the SUV. The Q8 e-tron also adds larger wheel spoilers up front on the underbody of the vehicle, channeling airflow around the front wheels to help the large crossover carve through the air more efficiently.New Design and Tech FeaturesWhile the overall body shape remains the same, the Q8 e-tron debuts a new mask-like grille design, visually linking it with the e-tron GT and Q4 e-tron. The new grille also features a light bar over the Audi logo, connecting the headlights. The grille presents a new version of Audi’s four-ringed logo, and the logo and model designation are also laser-etched into the car’s B-pillar. The Q8 e-tron comes standard with an air suspension, and the body height can be adjusted by about 3 inches. There’s also revised tuning for the air springs and an updated steering ratio.More Audi e-tronsThe big addition to the Q8 e-tron’s suite of driver-assistance systems is remote park assist plus, which can navigate the SUV into tight spots as the owner controls the process from outside the vehicle via a smartphone app. The Q8 e-tron also features digital Matrix LED headlights that can individually illuminate different sections of the road depending on the conditions, but these lights remain exclusive to Europe for the time being due to different regulations in the United States.The interior is centered around two touchscreens—a 10.1-inch unit situated above an 8.6-inch display—that handle almost every function, although drivers can also use voice commands. Options include features such as a head-up display, four-zone climate control, and massaging seats. A light brown walnut wood interior trim is new. The S-Line package adds seats wrapped in synthetic leather and a microfiber called Dinamica, which is made from recycled bottles, fiber residue, and used textiles. The Q8 e-tron arrives in the United States at the end of April 2023. Pricing will be announced later, but we don’t expect a major increase over the current starting price of $71,995 for the standard model and $89,395 for the S.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

Tesla has issued a recall of 40,168 Model S and Model X vehicles from 2017-2021 model years over a possible loss of electronic power steering. The recall was reported with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week, and owners will be notified in December. The company has released an over-the-air update to update and recalibrate the electronic power assist steering (EPAS). Tesla is issuing a recall of just over 40,000 of its Model S and Model X vehicles from 2017 through 2021 model years. The recall relates to a fault in the electronic power assist steering system, which could result in a loss of power steering. Affected vehicles may lose power when driving on rough roads, or after hitting a pothole, Tesla’s filings with NHTSA said.As of November 1, the company said it was not aware of any injuries or deaths related to the issue, though it has identified 314 vehicle alerts that it believes are related to the issue. In filings with NHTSA, Tesla said it discovered the issue through vehicle manufacturing, service, and firmware deployment records. It described that the issue stemmed from an earlier firmware update, which changed the steering system’s calibration values so that the system might incorrectly classify external road conditions such as potholes as “unexpected steering assist torque.” The result would be loss of power steering assist. Tesla’s filing said drivers experiencing ths problem would have received audio and visual alerts. Tesla has since released a newer version of the firmware, which it claims more than 97 percent of affected vehicles have already received. Owners who have updated their vehicles firmware to the 2022.36.5 firmware or later do not need to take any other actions, the automaker said. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 31, 2022. In the meantime, owners can check the NHTSA recalls website to see if their vehicle is included in the recall.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 Kia EV6 has a starting price of $49,795, which is $7100 higher than the previous model year.The price hike is primarily due to Kia dropping the base Light model that started at $42,695.The rest of the EV6 lineup sees base prices spike $1000, and the new-for-2023 576-hp GT model starts at $62,695.The cost of admission to owning a 2023 Kia EV6 just got considerably more expensive. That’s because for the new model year Kia has dropped the entry-level Light trim that previously started at a relatively accessible $42,695. With the Wind trim level serving as the new entry point, the EV6’s base price rises by $7100 to $49,795.Unfortunately, as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which makes any EVs built outside of North America ineligible for federal tax credits, the 2023 EV6 also misses out on that potential $7500 discount. KiaTo find out why the company decided to drop the most affordable version of the otherwise terrific EV6, we reached out to a Kia spokesperson, but have yet to hear back. Considering this same type of tactic is happening with other automakers, too, we’d make an educated guess that it mostly has to do with supply-chain issues. As for the rest of the ’23 EV6 lineup, prices rise by $1000 across the board. The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive GT-Line now starts at $53,995. Meanwhile, the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Wind and GT-Line now start at $53,695 and $58,695, respectively. The high-performance EV6 GT also joins the family for 2023, and consumers can enjoy its dual-motor 576-hp powertrain for $62,695.Extra EV6 ReadingFor those wondering about the EV6’s corporate cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, its base model didn’t get the axe. The 2023 Ioniq 5 SE standard range starts at $42,745, which is up $1500, but that’s obviously not as big of an increase as on the Kia.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