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With the shift away from internal-combustion engines to electrification and the march toward automated and autonomous vehicles, we’re in the most transformative moment in automotive history. Audi is one of the earliest adopters of new technology, and as engineering evolves, so does design. Rather than creating radically different designs for its initial e-tron EV offerings, Audi opts for more traditional styling that creates a bridge between the past and future, but that’s only the first step.We sat down with Oliver Hoffmann, Audi’s chief development officer, and head of design Marc Lichte in Audi’s Malibu, California, Design Loft to hear their thoughts on Audi’s next steps.As Lichte points out, having design studios in both California and Beijing allows designers to draw inspiration from Audi’s most important markets. There are different sensibilities related to each, but appearances must still remain unmistakably Audi. As he describes it, “A Coke bottle is recognizable anywhere in the world, but the tastes vary slightly depending on the region.”With the advent of EV architecture’s “skateboard” chassis, designers have newfound freedom with fewer of the constraints found with internal-combustion drivelines. That’s not to say battles between designers and engineers are a thing of the past. Hoffman quips that there are still discussions on millimeter scales, usually in regard to vehicle height.Design technology is also evolving. Upon entering the Malibu Design Loft, there’s no scent of clay or markers. Everything is now digital and incorporates 3D VR modeling for a more seamless and efficient workflow that spans continents. As a result, Audi has been creating concepts at a rapid pace. Reinventing the SUV?Audi christened the Design Loft last year with a rollout of the Skysphere variable-wheelbase concept. The “sphere” nomenclature refers to the interior space, which receives priority over exterior styling at first. China responded with the Urbansphere minivan-esque vehicle, which gives us a glimpse of how automated driving will affect interiors since the driver will be freed from driving duties. Audi’s Activesphere concept is coming in early 2023.AudiNext up is the forthcoming Activesphere concept, which Lichte says will integrate automated driving and represent the next big step in Audi’s design direction. He hints that even the definition of an SUV will evolve as vehicles will have reduced ride heights to maximize aerodynamic efficiencies. His enthusiasm for this next concept is palpable, and we’re admittedly excited to see how Audi adapts and evolves to this changing landscape. One thing is certain: the future will look very different.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

Ford confirmed to Car and Driver that the F-150 Lightning will see an additional price hike for the 2023 model year.The base Pro model will now start at $53,769, including the $1795 destination fee, while the top Platinum model will reach north of $97,000.Ford says the price increase is the result of supply chain issues and higher material costs, likely for the metals used to make the electric truck’s battery.UPDATE 10/6/22, 4:45 pm: Ford announced the official pricing figures for the 2023 Lightning, with the Pro starting at $53,769 and the top Platinum trim going for $98,669. The XLT now opens at $61,269, with the Extended Range version reaching $82,769. The Lariat now costs $76,269, with the Lariat Extended Range priced at $87,769.Ford is yet again jacking up the price of the F-150 Lightning. The electric pickup truck saw a substantial price increase in August for the 2023 model year, but now the cost to purchase a Lightning has risen even higher, as first reported by CNBC. The base Lightning Pro, which originally started at $41,769 for the 2022 model year, will now start north of $50,000. John Roe|Car and DriverFord wouldn’t specify the new prices. However, CNBC reported today that the Pro model will start at $51,974, although that is believed not to include the $1795 destination fee. The approximately $5000 increase is expected to affect the entire range, putting the top-dog Platinum trim over $97,000. More Ford NewsIn a statement to Car and Driver, Ford confirmed the price hike, attributing the changes to “ongoing supply-chain constraints, rising material costs, and other market factors.” The coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent supply chain complications, saw the prices of raw materials skyrocket, including cobalt, nickel, and lithium that are used extensively in electric vehicles’ batteries. Supply-chain disruptions are exacerbating the problem, with Ford estimating it will log around $1 billion in unexpected supplier costs in the third quarter. Several automakers have boosted prices, including General Motors, Lucid Motors, Tesla, and Rivian. Ford also added $3000 to $8100, depending on the trim level, to the Mustang Mach-E’s price in August. Ford said that customers who have already ordered the truck and are awaiting delivery, as well as commercial and government order holders, will not be subject to the price increase. This means the new price will only apply to new orders of the Lightning, and Ford also said that the company will “continue to monitor pricing across the model year,” leaving open the possibility of a decrease should raw material costs drop and supply-chain issues get ironed out, although we wouldn’t recommend holding out hope. 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 new seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang will spawn several racing variants, including the Gen3 Supercar seen here.The Mustang GT was homologated for race duty by Dick Johnson Racing and will compete in the 2023 Australian Supercars Championship.Along with race-spec sheetmetal and a big rear wing, the Gen3 Supercar has a 600-plus-hp version of the regular Mustang GT’s new Coyote 5.0-liter V-8.The new Ford Mustang GT Gen3 Supercar is a different kind of racehorse. It’s based on the new S650-generation Mustang that was recently revealed, but the V-8–powered coupe has been specifically built for racing, with its competitive debut set for the 2023 Australian Supercar Championship.More on the New StangFord showed CGI images of several upcoming race-prepped Mustangs shortly after the street-legal lineup was unveiled. At the time, the company also announced plans to enter the pony car in multiple racing series that also include GT3 and GT4 sports car racing, NASCAR Cup Series, and NHRA. However, the Mustang GT Gen3 Supercar is the first of those race-ready steeds to be seen in living color.Last night, the Gen3 Mustang Supercar was revealed (video of the event can be seen below), and we were told it was homologated for race duty by Dick Johnson Racing, with an assist from Ford Performance. While it bears a strong resemblance to the regular Mustang GT, its sheetmetal has obviously been revised and tattooed with Ford, Mustang, and other graphics. Its primarily white paint is complemented by blue accents that outline the bottom edges of the car, and there’s no missing the giant wing on its hindquarters.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.2023 Gen3 Ford Mustang REVEALED – Repco Bathurst 1000 | Supercars 2022Watch onUnder the hood is the 2024 Mustang GT’s Coyote 5.0-liter V-8. It now features dual throttle bodies fed by dual air intakes, and the engine gets other improvements, too. Ford still hasn’t said exactly how much power the latest Coyote mill makes in street form, but we expect it to exceed its predecessor’s max output of 480 horses and 420 pound-feet of torque. In the Supercar Stang, the production-based Coyote has been modified to make more than 600 horsepower.FordFordNot many other details about Ford’s Gen3 Supercar were released, but the car will make its first on-track appearance during the events surrounding this weekend’s Bathurst 1000 in Australia. It’ll essentially be a parade lap with driver Dick Johnson behind the wheel.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

Both the GMC 2500HD and 3500HD receive updated styling inside and out for the 2024 model year. V-8 Duramax diesel models gain horsepower and torque while the gas-drinking counterparts add a 10-speed automatic transmission. GMC is adding a Denali Ultimate trim to the top of the heavy-duty lineup and announced an off-roading AT4X will join the ranks later in the model year. The heavy-duty GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD are getting a refresh for the 2024 model year, complete with a redesigned front end, a fancier interior, and a new transmission. The addition of two trim levels, one for off-road adventures and the other for a cushier work-truck experience, will give HD truck buyers the luxury of more choices.Increased CapabilitiesGMC is adding to the arms race that is heavy-duty truck power figures by making updates to the 2024 Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD. However, power figures for the 6.6-liter V-8 engine don’t change for 2024; the thumping V-8 continues to produce 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. What does change is that GMC ditched the old six-speed automatic transmission in favor of the 10-speed automatic, which is shared with the diesel; GMC claims the new transmission matches better with the engine’s power curve. The 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel produces 470 horsepower and gets awfully close to 1000 pound-feet of torque, generating 975 pound-feet. Those figures are up from 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet on the outgoing model. According to GMC, the extra power (and efficiency) are thanks to numerous uprades to the engine, including a more efficient turbocharger that helps generate 25 percent more low-end torque than the current-generation truck. Max tow ratings for the 2500HD and 3500HD are 22,500 and 36,000 pounds. Opting for the crew-cab variant of the 2500HD sacrifices 600 pounds of towing capability, bringing the max figure to 21,900. Luxe AccommodationsHeavy-duty work trucks are first and foremost for, well, work. But GMC is known for adding premium touches to help that work along. Whether you are talking about the heavy-duty or half-ton versions, the Sierra has long been a more upscale alternative to its sibling, the Chevy Silverado. The newly added Denali Ultimate rides on exclusive 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with gloss-black accents. Inside, there’s open-pore Paldao wood to accompany the full-grain leather seen throughout and niceties including massaging seats and a power sunroof. Cosmetic touches include a unique grille with GMC badging finished in Vader Chrome, plus special fender badging that features topography of Mount Denali. Slightly more unexpected are the redesigned headlights, which play an animation as the driver approaches the vehicle, turns it on, or uses the turn signal.More on GMC Heavy Duty TrucksThere are six new paint choices as well as new wheel designs for SLE, AT4, and Denali trims. Inside, the heavy-duty Sierras add a larger optional 13.4-inch center display alongside the newly optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. All but the base Pro trim level’s infotainment systems integrate Google apps and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. There’s also a new 15-inch multicolor head-up display.The Sierra HD already had the expected safety aids including forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems, but now adds (optionally) rear cross-traffic braking and trailer-side side blind-spot monitoring. More to the point for a heavy-duty truck with this kind of towing ability, there are several new trailering assist features. Cameras help the driver line up a hitch or fifth wheel, and there’s an optional accessory camera for the back of a trailer to give drivers a view behind them. Also new are adaptive cruise control while trailering and an alert to let drivers know if they have exceeded their truck’s gross vehicle weight rating. Fancy Some Off-Roading? Fancy Off-RoadingThe AT4X is something to look forward to, but this off-road-intended Sierra HD model isn’t coming until later in 2024. The rest of the heavy-duty Sierra trucks—Pro, SLE, SLT, AT4 (pictured above), Denali, and Denali Ultimate—are set to begin arriving in dealerships during the first quarter of 2023. GMC doesn’t intend to release any pricing until closer to their release dates, but current Sierra 2500HD models start around the $40,000 mark, with Denali trims climbing well past $70,000. We’d expect the Denali Ultimate to climb well above that number.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

Honda has released the first images of the 2024 Prologue’s interior and exterior design.This new EV crossover is a collaboration with General Motors and shares components with the Chevy Blazer EV.The Prologue will go on sale in 2024 and will be followed by other Honda EVs in 2026 and 2027.If you’re interested in the new Chevy Blazer EV but aren’t a fan of the styling, Honda will offer an alternative in the form of the 2024 Prologue. The two mid-size EV SUVs share underpinnings, powertrains, and battery packs but will feature different designs inside and out, with the Honda presenting a cleaner look compared with the Blazer’s as evidenced by these new photos of the electric crossover’s exterior and interior.Finished in a new color called North Shore Pearl, the Prologue looks clean and modern and should fit in well with the rest of Honda’s SUV lineup. It’s larger than the compact CR-V and similar in size to the mid-size, two-row Passport. Its relationship to the Blazer are only obvious in terms of the proportions, as the Honda appears to have the same short rear overhang, long wheelbase, and a similar window line as the Chevy.Inside, the Prologue will feature two large screens: an 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen. We’re pleased to see what appear to be physical HVAC buttons and knobs below the screen rather than touch-sensitive controls. Eagle-eyed readers familiar with the GM lineup may recognize certain components pulled from the corporate parts bin, including the start button and door handles, but that’s no surprise given the collaboration between the two automakers.The Prologue’s powertrain is likely to mirror the Blazer EV’s, which is available in many different configurations including front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive variants. All Honda has announced so far is that the Prologue will be offered with all-wheel drive, meaning that some sort of dual-motor setup will be offered. We’d guess that the Prologue will offer a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup as standard, with a dual-motor powertrain optional. Range figures should fall somewhere between 250 miles and 320 miles based on the Blazer’s estimates.More Future ModelsLook for more information to come within the next few months as Honda releases more specs about the Prologue. There’s no official word on when production will start, but it’s looking like the Blazer EV will begin deliveries considerably earlier than its Honda, as Chevy claims it will arrive in summer 2023 and the Prologue is slated to arrive in 2024.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