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Lexus is adding new colors and appearance packages to the IS lineup, including a striking orange hue named Molten Pearl for the IS500 F Sport. The IS350 is getting its own two-tone appearance package featuring Incognito gray paint paired with a black hood and black roof. The special appearance packages will be offered in limited numbers. Both will go on sale later this fall. The Lexus IS has sharp, modern styling thanks to its refresh for the 2021 model year. That isn’t stopping Lexus from spritzing up the look further by adding new appearance packages for the 2023 IS lineup. The V-8–powered IS500 F Sport gains a flashy new orange paint color called Molten Pearl, while the V-6–powered IS350 gets its own appearance package complete with a two-tone exterior.There will only be 150 units of the IS500 built in Molten Pearl, and the orange exterior is paired with 19-inch matte-black BBS wheels and a black NuLuxe interior. Both the floor mats and key sleeve will match the color scheme, too. It’s available only for the better-equipped Premium trim level.LexusThe appearance package for the IS350 pairs gray Incognito paint with an Obsidian Black roof and hood. It also has a black NuLuxe interior and 19-inch Enkei wheels with a dark finish. Only 480 units will be produced in total.Lexus has also split the 2023 IS350 F Sport into two versions: the F Sport Design, which features mostly appearance upgrades, and the F Sport, which includes an upgraded exhaust, a different gauge cluster, and other equipment. The rear-wheel-drive F Sport also offers a handling package with mechanical upgrades such as a limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers for an extra $1610; this same package costs $770 for AWD models because it doesn’t include the limited-slip differential.The 2023 IS lineup will go on sale this fall, Lexus says. Pricing starts at $40,585 for the four-cylinder IS300, with the IS350 F Sport Design starting at $43,660 and the IS500 F Sport Premium starting at $62,770. More on the ISThis 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

Ram will end production of the 1500 pickup’s EcoDiesel engine in January 2023.The turbodiesel 3.0-liter V-6 is still available to ordering for the time being in a variety of trim levels.This leaves the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra as the only light-duty diesel pickups, as the Ford F-150 previously discontinued its diesel offering.The light-duty full-size pickup segment will soon have only one diesel engine left, as Ram announced that it will stop building the 1500 pickup’s EcoDiesel V-6 engine starting in January 2023. All three of the domestic pickups offered light-duty diesels at one point, but Ford previously discontinued the F-150’s PowerStroke diesel and Ram’s diesel exit means that the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra’s Duramax turbodiesel 3.0-liter inline-six will be the only diesel offering in this segment going forward.More on RamThe Ram’s EcoDiesel powertrain is a turbodiesel 3.0-liter V-6 with 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. It is rated at up to 33 mpg in its special HFE trim with rear-wheel drive and a few other tweaks to improve aerodynamics. Without the package, it’s rated at 32 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 29 mpg with four-wheel drive. In our real-world testing, however, it missed these EPA ratings by a fairly wide margin.The engine costs $4995 extra and is still available for ordering, Ram says, for the Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Limited Longhorn and Limited trim levels.The upcoming electric version of the Ram 1500 will effectively serve as the EcoDiesel’s replacement. Ram claims it will arrive in 2024, and we’ve seen some teasers previewing its styling. There’s also a website called RamRevolution.com where the company is asking buyers for input, and a range-extender version of the pickup may arrive in the near future as well.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 Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency will work together on the massive task of implementing President Biden’s previously set goal of net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.The agencies will present the details of their decarbonization plan in the next 90 days, but we can already tell that it will focus on getting more EVs onto the roads as well as making other transportation options safer, cleaner, and more accessible.Two cities, Denver and Detroit, announced plans this week not to simply add more highways through their downtowns, but to rethink what can be done with that space.Bill Pugliano|Getty ImagesIt’s not just electric vehicles that will reduce the amount of carbon generated by the U.S. transportation system. The Biden-Harris administration announced today that four federal agencies—the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and “ensure resilient and accessible mobility options for all Americans.”Related StoryPresident Biden (pictured, above, at the Detroit auto show this week) previously set a goal of net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050. Reaching that will take a lot more than just getting lots of EVs and hydrogen semis on the road. The MOU says the four parties will work together “to achieve better integration of transportation, housing, and community development investments in underserved or disadvantaged communities.” Detailed Blueprint Is Coming SoonThe four agencies now have 90 days to release a “comprehensive blueprint for decarbonizing the transportation sector.” This plan will almost certainly include projects that increase access to what the government deems to be safe and clean transportation options, as well as updating the electric grid for more EVs and reducing emissions from construction, the government said.Some of this work is already starting, thanks to billions of dollars in clean transportation investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act this past summer. The government’s announcement says the four agencies will increase access to “more efficient modes of transportation like walking, biking, transit and rail, while lowering the costs of electric vehicles and other zero emission vehicles and fuels to allow American families and businesses the opportunity to immediately enjoy the benefits of the affordable, clean energy revolution.”Downtowns Are ChangingThat kind of transition can be seen in some potentially tangentially related news. Two large American cities announced plans this week to turn downtown highways into more livable city spaces. Michigan will use a $104.6 million grant from the Department of Transportation to replace the I-375 freeway in Detroit with a lower-speed boulevard, the Detroit News reported. In Denver, plans to expand I-25 Central were replaced with a plan to spend more than $100 million to boost the region’s rapid transit systems and improve street safety along the I-25 corridor.These are the kinds of plans that HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge might have been referring to in her statement about the four-agency MOU.”The people HUD serves deserve clean, affordable transportation options,” the Secretary said in prepared remarks. “HUD is proud to join our federal partners at Energy, DOT, and EPA to ensure that clean transportation investments are made equitably and include communities and households that have been most harmed by environmental injustice.”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

Revealed without camouflage, this Maserati GranTurismo is the heir to the postwar grand tourers that built Maserati’s road-car reputation.While a battery-powered EV called the GranTurismo Folgore is in the pipeline, this version gets the twin-turbo V-6 out of the mid-engine MC20.The livery here pays tribute to Maserati’s first road car, the 1947 A6 1500.Maserati’s MC20 generated genuine excitement when it broke cover, promising a pared-back and lightweight take on the supercar experience. It was a breath of fresh air, and it brought new vitality to the brand. Now the 621-hp 3.0-liter V-6 finds its way into a more traditional effort from the company with the three-pronged trident badge up front: a two-door coupe set for long-distance travel.MaseratiAs trumpeted by the 75th-anniversary decals on the GranTurismo revealed today, Maserati has been at this game a long time. The company’s first road cars arrived just after World War II; specifically, Maserati mentions the A6 1500 of 1947 as a direct ancestor of this new car.The A6 series of cars were coachbuilt by the likes of Pininfarina and Zagato, and they are stunning machines. Perennial favorites on the lawn at Pebble Beach, A6s set the recipe for elegant Italian coupes, long of hood with gracefully curving sheetmetal.MaseratiThe styling of the GranTurismo does a good job of harking back to past glory. It’s not overwrought, and it would certainly be appropriate transportation for getting you to Monterey to gaze appreciatively at this car’s grandparents.The MC20’s V-6The big news is confirmation that the MC20’s engine will be the combustion-engine choice for this coupe. Maserati has already confirmed a fully battery version called the GranTurismo Folgore is on the way, fitted with three motors cranking out a staggering 1200 hp. The MC20’s V-6 makes a little over half that horsepower but should certainly be lively enough mounted up front in this combustion-engined GranTurismo.A few Maserati employees will know, as the company has been testing the GranTurismo on the road ahead of its official reveal. It’s set to arrive as a 2024 model, and this is probably the last hurrah for a combustion-powered Maserati coupe since 2030 is the stated goal for fully electric power across the range. If you like your Maseratis faithful to the originals, the GranTurismo will likely be the last of the breed. 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 MaseratiThis 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 Dodge Charger King Daytona is the latest of the “Last Call” special editions.Based on the widebody 797-hp Hellcat Redeye, the King Daytona boasts 807 horses and bright Go Mango paint with unique matte-black graphics.The Charger King Daytona will be limited to 300 copies and allocated to specific dealers, with pricing coming when orders open this fall.Dodge’s latest “Last Call” special edition is the 2023 Charger King Daytona, which is based on the widebody SRT Hellcat Redeye. However, the King Daytona brings an extra 10 horsepower, meaning its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 now summons 807 ponies.”Last Call” Edition DodgesAlong with eclipsing the 800-hp mark, the Charger King Daytona is painted in a bright shade of Go Mango, so it definitely won’t go unnoticed by Johnny Law. Its six-piston Brembo brake calipers have an orange coating to match. The special edition also has matte-black graphics on its hood, roof, rear spoiler, and rump, with the latter featuring the words “King Daytona”.DodgeThe Hellcat-powered Charger’s other exterior details include multispoke 20-inch rims and badges in satin chrome. Dodge says the King Daytona was inspired by the drag-racing scene on the West Coast in the ’60s and ’70s, and the special edition features hood pins that complete the look.Inside, the Charger King Daytona has black nappa leather mixed with microsuede accents. Dodge also dresses up the space with orange contrast stitching throughout to complement the car’s exterior color. Plus, there’s a “Daytona” logo on the front seats and a “King Daytona” badge on the dashboard. Other interior details include a microsuede steering wheel and headliner, carbon-fiber-look trim, and a bumpin’ Harman Kardon sound system.DodgeThe 2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona will be limited to 300 copies, with those being allocated to specific dealers. While we don’t know how much the new special edition will cost, it’ll almost surely be more than the current Charger Hellcat Redeye (around $90k) when orders open this fall.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 2024 Ford Mustang will be honed for track driving with two special versions of the Dark Horse.The Dark Horse S gets a roll cage, race seats, an adjustable rear wing, and a revised suspension, while the Dark Horse R takes things further with a fuel cell, a stiffer body, and unique wheels.Ford will also launch versions of the Mustang to compete in GT3 and GT4 sports car racing, as well as the NASCAR Cup series, Australian Supercars, and NHRA.The new 2024 Ford Mustang debuted yesterday with a new performance variant called the Dark Horse, which brings a 500-horsepower version of the 5.0-liter V-8, a menacing design, and optional carbon fiber wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires. While this new model sounds plenty capable, Ford has also announced that the new Mustang will spawn several track-only versions, with some dedicated to weekend racers and others destined to be piloted by professionals in some of the world’s top racing series.The Dark Horse will directly spawn two track cars, the Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R, neither of which will be street-legal. The S sees all non-essential trim and components ripped out, with the interior instead decked out with a FIA-certified roll cage, safety nets, a race seat, and a racing steering wheel with a quick-disconnect system. There will also be a fire suppression system, as well as a pit speed limiter and a data collection system. A passenger’s seat is optional, while the exterior adds hood pins, front and rear tow hooks, and an adjustable rear wing. A new exhaust system should also provide auditory delight, while upgraded brakes and Multimatic DSSV dampers should help the Dark Horse S scythe its way around a track. The Dark Horse R is even more racing-focused, with a fuel cell to boost range, special Ford Performance Parts wheels, and strategic seam welding to make the body of the car stiffer. More About The New StangAlong with the Dark Horse track cars, Ford will enter several racing series with the new Mustang. A factory-backed Mustang GT3 race car will be available for customers and eligible to start competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2024 at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The GT3 car will use a 5.4-liter V-8 derived from the Coyote engine in the street car. Ford will also offer a lower-spec GT4 car that will be eligible for IMSA, SRO, and the FIA GT series. Ford will also launch a new version of the Mustang in the Australia Supercars series next year, and redesigned Mustangs will appear in the NASCAR Cup series and NHRA Factory X class. 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 2024 Subaru Crosstrek sports a redesigned exterior and new interior features.Updates include improved driver-assistance features and a larger touchscreen.It will go on sale sometime in 2023, and U.S. details are still to come.Subaru revealed the new 2024 Crosstrek today, but, as is typical with Subaru redesigns, it’s not so easy to tell the difference between the new model and the one that replaces. As before, the Crosstrek is a tall subcompact crossover with plenty of ground clearance and black plastic body cladding. The biggest changes are seen up front, where the sharper, slimmer headlights and larger front grille create a more distinctive look. Subaru also says that it has increased the amount of black plastic cladding around the wheel wells.More on the CrosstrekThe new Crosstrek rides on an updated version of the same platform as before, and, while we don’t have U.S. specifications yet, the Japan-market version here uses a 2.0-liter boxer-four with Subaru’s e-Boxer hybrid system that has yet to reach the States. Subaru also hasn’t said whether the current plug-in-hybrid version of the Crosstrek will continue into the new generation. All-wheel drive, of course, will be standard equipment, and a continuously variable automatic is the only transmission choice—we’ll see if the current U.S. version’s available manual transmission continues for the new generation, but we’re not hopeful.The updated cabin features a large vertically oriented touchscreen, as seen in many other Subaru models. The seats are also new. The EyeSight driver-assistance technologies are also improved thanks to upgrades to the camera system.The new Crosstrek isn’t scheduled to go on sale in Japan until sometime in 2023, and it’ll likely arrive in the U.S. even later. So we’ll have to wait to find out more details including powertrains, features, and pricing. Expect it to start somewhat higher than the current model, which has a base price of $24,870.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