More stories

  • in

    2023 Honda Civic Type R Stickers with a Nearly $44K Base Price

    The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has a starting price of $43,990—about $5k more than its predecessor.The redesigned CTR is still about $1000 less than the limited-production Limited Edition from the previous generation.Honda says the 2023 Civic Type R will start hitting dealerships in the U.S. tomorrow.Those who want to live fast and furiously with the 2023 Civic Type R will have to shell out at least $43,990. That’s the starting price—before any dealer markups—that Honda is asking for its hottest hatchback, which the company says will start hitting U.S. dealer lots tomorrow.The redesigned CTR’s raised base price means it costs about $5000 more than its predecessor, which opened at $38,910 for the 2021 model year. Still, the ’23 Type R isn’t the most expensive Type R ever sold in America. That title goes to the previous-gen Limited Edition that cost around $45k during its limited production run.HondaWith today’s news, the new Civic Type R is now in the same monetary territory as the all-wheel-drive 315-hp 2023 Volkswagen Golf R and its $45,385 base price. Obviously, the big difference between the two hatches is the mightiest Civic only comes with front-wheel drive. In that regard, the 2023 CTR costs just over $10,000 more than the front-drive-only 286-hp Hyundai Elantra N.R-equired Type R ReadingLike the outgoing model, we don’t expect the 2023 Honda Civic Type R to offer many options. However, we’re told its standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer rubber can be swapped for an even stickier set of Cup 2 tires. We just don’t yet know how expensive of an upgrade that will be because Honda hasn’t said.For anyone who cares, the ’23 Type R’s EPA fuel-economy figures have also been released. It’s rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined. Those ratings are almost identical to the previous generation which had a higher combined estimate of 25 mpg.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

  • in

    2023 Ford Super Duty Can Tow up to 40,000 Pounds with as Much as 1200 LB-FT

    Ford announced towing capacities for its Super Duty heavy-duty truck lineup, with the top-spec F-450 able to haul 40,000 pounds with a gooseneck trailer.Ford also says the Super Duty has a payload rated up to 8000 pounds, besting its competition from Chevrolet and Ram.Horsepower and torque figures were also revealed for the new 6.8-liter V-8 and the High Output version of the Power Stroke diesel, which makes 500 hp and 1200 pound-feet.Ford recently took the wraps off the 2023 Super Duty pickup trucks, revealing a fresh design with a squared-off face and bold grilles, as well as upgraded interiors with an available 12.0-inch touchscreen. The Super Duty also arrived packing a new 6.8-liter gas-powered V-8 that joins the gas-fed 7.3-liter V-8 and diesel-sipping 6.7-liter V-8. Now Ford has announced the official towing ratings for the 2023 Super Duty lineup, blasting its competitors out of the water with a maximum available 40,000 pounds of towing capacity. FordThat 40,000-pound figure is for the largest Ford F-450 pulling a gooseneck trailer. This puts the Blue Oval well ahead of its heavy duty competition, with the Chevrolet Silverado HD topping out at 36,000 pounds and the Ram HD maxing out at 37,090 pounds. Even stepping down to the Ford F-350 allows you to haul 38,000 pounds via a gooseneck trailer. Ford also claims to be best in class with a conventional towing setup, topping out at 30,000 pounds, and says the Super Duty maxes out at an 8000-pound payload, several hundred pounds higher than its competitors from Chevy and Ram. FordFord has also unveiled the horsepower and torque ratings for the 2023 Super Duty. The new 6.8-liter starts things off with 405 hp and 445 pound-feet, while the beefier 7.3-liter carries over with 430 horses and 485 pound-feet. But the real towing king is the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel, offered in two outputs. The standard version still makes 475 hp and 1050 pound-feet, but a new High Output specification ups that to a massive 500 hp and 1200 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic is the only transmission choice, and four-wheel-drive is standard starting on the XLT trim.More Ford NewsThe Super Duty trucks will come packed with tech to make towing easier, such as Pro Trailer Hitch Assist to help you affix the hitch ball to the receiver, and an optional 360-degree camera and on-board scales to help even out the weight distribution. There is even a specific trailer navigation setting that chooses the easiest route for towing. Deliveries of the 2023 Super Duty will start early next year, and Ford has now announced that the truck lineup will start at $45,765.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

  • in

    Gogoro Electric Scooters Planned For India Launch – Via Hero MotoCorp ?

    Along with e-scooters, Gogoro brand will strive to set up battery-swapping stations across major cities, followed by tier-2 citiesGogoro Electric ScooterWe recently witnessed the launch of Hero MotoCorp’s Vida V1 series of electric scooters. The news surrounding that event mentioned a Taiwanese brand named Gogoro very often. This brand is likely to be providing Hero MotoCorp battery swapping tech that we now see on Vida V1.Gogoro brand also mentions that it will accelerate battery swapping infra in India. It will be made available to Vida products as well. Gogoro is yet to launch its products in India. We have seen Viva name trademarked by the brand as well. Recently, Gogoro announced that they will enter India on November 3rd. It is not yet known if there is a launch event or just a formal session to reveal further info. We’d bank on the latter.Gogoro Electric Scooters For IndiaOn that day, Gogoro is set to reveal its vision for smart energy, urban transportation, de-carbonisation of India’s urban mobility and last-mile sector. Since the company is mentioning the last-mile sector, a B2B product is highly likely. This maps out with the Viva name trademarked in October 2019 in India.Viva by Gogoro brand is a small and inexpensive electric scooter that is perfect for B2B applications. With a 3 kW (likely peak power) hub-mounted electric motor, it can traverse 85 km when ridden at a constant 30 km/h speed. Since it has a hub motor, it boasts 85 Nm of torque at the motor which will not be translated to real-world performance.Gogoro Electric ScooterIt gets a colourful and minimalistic body coupled with conventional cycle parts. The front design reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic picture. Just me? Okay. If Gogoro is launching it in India, we can expect a price tag of around Rs. 75K to 80K. It rivals Hero Electric’s Nyx HX and Okinawa Dual 100.Ola S1 Pro Rivaling Scooter?As seen with our 2W EV retail sales for September 2022, Ola Electric is currently the one to beat. The Indian company is expanding its portfolio aggressively and is even foraying into 4W EVs. Sticking with 2W EVs, Ola recently launched S1 Air which costs a hair under Rs. 80K.Gogoro brand is likely to come up with its S1 in India to rival Ola’s S1 Pro. When launched, it will bear a different name, though. This is a B2C product for the mainstream PV segment. It is quite a stunner to look at and incorporates a minimalist design. It is a cohesive design that comes together nicely to form one futuristic product.Gogoro Electric ScooterS1 by Gogoro gets all the features that one would want in a modern electric scooter. That being said, it is not lagging behind in terms of mechanicals as well (electricals in this case). It gets a 7.2 kW motor that is mid-mounted on an aluminium monocoque chassis. It is capable of 27 Nm of peak torque. Range is 150 km at a steady speed of 30 km/h.Parallelly, Gogoro brand will strive to set up battery-swapping stations across major cities, followed by tier-2 cities. These battery-swapping stations are highly likely to be shared with Hero MotoCorp’s Vida electric scooters. It is not yet known as to what the Taiwanese company has on the table for India. Whatever it is, will unravel on November 3rd. More

  • in

    Desperately Seeking Dodge Charger/Challenger? Try Horsepower Locator

    Dodge muscle cars, in addition to their other virtues, have an irrepressible charm, and so does Dodge’s latest marketing idea, a “Horsepower Locator” at DodgeGarage.com.It’s an online tool to find one of the Last Call special editions that are being doled out in limited quantities to dealers around the country.There are about 4600 Charger and Challenger special editions, all of them preconfigured, but thanks to the Horsepower Locator, they’ll find their owners—and vice versa—soon.The writing is on the cardboard for the Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars as we know them—the end is near. And while their legions of fans have only a concept of what the next iteration will look as they dry their 93-octane tears, Dodge has given every 2023 Challenger and Charger a Last Call plaque under the hood to commemorate this final chapter. The automaker has also rolled out six special editions. But for those who want to buy one, finding it is is another matter. Dodge’s solution: the Horsepower Locator. This tool gives would-be muscle-car mavens the tools necessary to harass any dealership with an allocation and fulfill their insatiable desire for horsepower.Every Last Call Has an After Party:Shakedown, Super Bee, Scat Pack Swinger, King Daytona, and Black Ghost are all names that carry us back to the carbureted days of muscle. Dodge is divvying these special editions out to 500 of its top-selling dealerships. Supplies are limited to 12 special editions for the top 200, 10 special editions for the following 100, and the remaining top dealers will have access to just six.Dodge says these Last Call special editions come preconfigured, and that’s why the Horsepower Locator should come in handy for about as long as the available 4600 special editions are available. However, knowing Charger and Challenger fans, that tank shouldn’t take long to empty. StellantisHow to Use the Horsepower LocatorThe Horsepower Locator can be found at DodgeGarage.com. It doesn’t just track which dealerships will get which special editions, but how many of each remain available. This tool searches dealership allocations, giving buyers a head start on ordering as they’ve never had before. According to an earlier report from DodgeGarage, the Horsepower Locator will also allow you to specifically order from Dodge’s Power Broker dealerships, should you want to add more dynamite to your order from their factory-backed performance parts lineup.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.Last Call | 2023 Dodge Horsepower LocatorWatch onTo expand ordering options during this last and hoedown, all 2023 SRT models will receive the (including SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye). This expands the personalization limits for paint, interior trim, wheel options, and many others. B5 Blue, Plum Crazy purple, Sublime green, and Destroyer Gray are all back for 2023 as well. Charger SRTChallenger SRTpreviously announced Jailbreak designationPricing for each of the so-far-announced 2023 special-edition Last Call models is as follows:2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee: $63,4002023 Dodge Challenger Shakedown: $65,185 2023 Dodge Challenger Widebody Swinger: $67,785 2023 Dodge Charger Widebody Super Bee: $68,8952023 Dodge Challenger Widebody Shakedown: $69,085 2023 Dodge Charger Swinger Widebody: $71,285 2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona: $100,015 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: $100,910Earlier this year Dodge announced the debut of its seventh and final Last Call edition, which was originally planned for November’s SEMA show, would be delayed due to supply problems. Mopar fans want the Super Bee wing with a Richard Petty paint option, but it’s really anyone’s guess as to what Dodge might have hidden behind closed doors. If they’re clever enough to make the MSRP of the Charger Swinger a not-so-innocent $69,690, we should all be in for a pretty spectacular goodbye. 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

  • in

    New RE Scrambler 650cc Spied In India For The First Time

    RE Scrambler 650cc will be powered by a 648cc parallel-twin engine that generates 47 bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque, coupled with a 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutchRoyal Enfield 650cc Scrambler Spied In IndiaWe recently compiled a list of all the upcoming Royal Enfield motorcycles. There were 8 in total including a slew of motorcycles based on 350cc, 450cc and 650cc platforms. These include Bullet 350, Scram 450, Himalayan 450, Continental GT-R 650, Continental GT 650 Facelift, Super Meteor 650, Shotgun 650 and lastly, Scrambler 650.Please note that these names are widely referred to by the automotive fraternity and are not finalised by Royal Enfield. Out of all the 8 upcoming motorcycles mentioned above, Scrambler 650 was the only one that was not yet papped in India. That is now changed as we finally got to see one under testing on our soil as well.RE Scrambler 650cc Spied In IndiaWith immense popularity revolving around Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform, there is always scope to expand. This potent 650cc platform is so popular that it is single-handedly heavy-lifting the 500cc+ segment for a long time now. Right now, this platform is found only on Interceptor 650, a cruiser and Continental GT 650, a cafe racer.Royal Enfield is expanding its 650cc portfolio to include multiple new body styles. At the same time, bettering its existing 650cc vehicles as well. Even though the test mule spotted in India is starkly similar to the one found testing abroad, there are differences evident upon closer inspection.Royal Enfield 650cc Scrambler Spied In IndiaThe round side body panel found in test mules abroad, is discarded in the test mule found in India. This is replaced with a more conventional side body panel that we see in Continental GT 650. Another major difference is the seat. Newer test mule spotted in India gets a visually different seat cover and seat shape as well.Specs & FeaturesEngine will be the same unit found on Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. However, Royal Enfield will tweak it to give a slightly different character to suit its Scrambler avatar. It is powered by a 648cc parallel-twin engine that generates 47 bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque. Coupled with a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch, this platform has smooth power delivery.Dual exhausts are given a miss in favour of a single unit. This requires a different exhaust header to reroute gases. Weight will definitely go down as one of its exhausts is removed. It gets round headlights, tail lights and blinkers. At first glance, tail lights seem to be taken from Meteor 350 and turn indicators from Hunter 350. Braking hardware is likely to be borrowed from existing 650 twins.Tyres are of block pattern owing to scrambler avatar. The main difference in cycle parts for RE Scrambler 650cc seems to be its USD forks at front and wheel sizes. It still retains wire-spoke wheels and the front one looks slightly larger than the rear wheel. Launch timeline is not yet revealed. But the test mule looks mostly production ready.Image Source More

  • in

    KTM RC8C Makes Global Debut – Production Limited To 200 Units

    This limited edition KTM RC8C comes off as a tempting proposition for corner carving at one’s favourite trackKTM RC8C Gen 2KTM is synonymous with offering explosive performance with the least possible amount of weight. It has been that way ever since I could remember the brand. Its ethos holds true in India as well and its explosive 390 platform is a testament to that. Not just that, India was also blessed with 790 Duke as well for a brief period.The Austrian brand has extensive pedigree in motorsport as well. Recently, KTM even launched MotoGP Edition of its RC series of motorcycles in India. This was a cosmetic change and draws inspiration from KTM’s MotoGP bike. KTM has been making headlines again. This time, not for something that pretends to be a track bike. Instead, it is a track bike. Let’s take a look.Limited Edition KTM RC8C RevealedRight off the bat, RC8C is the real deal. It is so track-focused that it is not even road-legal. The Austrian brand seems to have thrown everything at this limited edition KTM RC8C to make it one of the most ferocious animals on the track. An animal so exquisite, KTM has decided to limit its production to just 200 units.One look at this machine, it is immediately evident that it certainly looks the part. With massive aerodynamic winglets, it looks even meaner. These winglets are designed to enhance the downforce at front, which adds a front-end feel and communication with the rider. A central air intake takes care of engine cooling.KTM RC8C Gen 2This is the second-gen RC8C and KTM has made it lighter and more powerful. With a rise of 7 bhp, RC8C now makes 135 bhp at 11,000 RPM and 98 Nm of torque at 8,250 RPM. This was possible for KTM with a combination of factors. These include Titanium connecting rods, a higher compression ratio, two-ring pistons, an increase in fuel pump pressure and lastly, a physically larger throttle body.Taming this power is a strong suite of electronic packages in the form of adjustable functions for traction control, engine mapping and engine braking as well. This limited edition KTM RC8C comes with an onboard data logger and lap timer. Handlebar controls are derived from the RC16 MotoGP race bike by KTM. Also on offer is an up-and-down quick shifter.Specs & FeaturesBuilt by Kramer Motorcycles, RC8C gets quickly replaceable body parts that are prone to crash damage. KTM RC8C gets delicious cycle parts in the form of WP Apex Pro front forks and rear mono-shock. Braking is handled by Brembo Stylema calipers and RCS19 Corsa Corta master cylinder along with twin discs at the front.Pirelli Diablo racing slicks are on offer and along with it, an auxiliary panel oil cooler. When looked at as a whole, this limited edition KTM RC8C comes off as a tempting proposition for corner carving at one’s favourite track. Tying it all together beautifully, we have the fact that this track machine only weighs 142 kg (dry). This last point makes it more of a scalpel while its rivals might feel like an axe. More

  • in

    Tesla under Criminal Investigation from U.S. Department of Justice over Self-Driving Claims

    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

  • in

    Rivian R1T's Troubled Power Tonneau Is Gone—at Least for Now

    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