News

The 2023 Dodge Hornet is a new subcompact SUV with a performance-focused, plug-in-hybrid model.There’s also a gas-only Hornet that starts around $30,000, and it’s offered with similar features and options.With Dodge about to enter a new “electrifed performance” era, the Hornet leads the way when the PHEV hits dealers next spring starting around $40,000. A new era is dawning at Dodge. For at least the past decade, the brand’s survival has largely relied on retro-themed, V-8–powered hits like the Charger and Challenger. Hell, it even offered a 710-hp Durango with an estimated 13 mpg combined. While the Hellcat SUV is back for 2023, along with myriad special editions of the muscle-car duo, Dodge has declared last call. The decision comes as the brand takes a hard left towards an electrified future, one that begins with the new 2023 Dodge Hornet.
Dodge’s New Direction

The Hornet is a subcompact SUV that shares a platform and other parts with the Alfa Romeo Tonale. It measures 178 inches long, up to 63.8 inches tall, and rides on a 103.8-inch wheelbase. It’s also the first entirely new model that Dodge has introduced since the ill-fated Dart compact sedan, which only lasted from 2012 to 2016. The Hornet represents the company’s first plug-in-hybrid model, too, but rather than focus on fuel efficiency, Dodge is boasting about the new hybrid’s performance. CEO Tim Kuniskis even billed the Hornet as the “first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge.”Before you worry about all of Dodge’s future performance models being hybrid crossovers, don’t forget that the company plans to unveil a concept version of its electric muscle car this week, too. So it’s not leaving its roots entirely. Plus, the 2023 Hornet actually has some legitimate performance attributes, and they’re not limited to the plug-in-hybrid model. There’s also a base nonhybrid model with a turbocharged gas engine, and it’s offered with many of the same features and options as the PHEV. The standard shared bits from the Alfa include a fully independent suspension, Koni dampers, and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The PHEV comes standard with Brembo four-piston, fixed front calipers, which are also available on the base model. Likewise, every Hornet is available with the Track Pack, which includes 20-inch wheels, upgraded dampers, and unique styling bits.
Powertrain ComparisonsThe Hornet GT is the entry point. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Dodge estimates the GT will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 140 mph. The Hornet R/T is the plug-in hybrid. It combines a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four, six-speed automatic, and a 121-hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The total system output is 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. It also features a “PowerStop” function that delivers an extra 25 horsepower and instant torque for 15-second bursts. While its top speed is limited to a lower 128 mph, it should be quicker than its nonhybrid counterpart. Dodge estimates the PHEV will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. For comparison, that’s slightly behind a 250-hp Mazda CX-30 we tested that hit 60 in 5.8 ticks.The Hornet R/T’s lithium-ion battery pack has a 12.0-kWh useable capacity, and with its 7.2-kW onboard charger, Dodge estimates a Level 2 connection can refill the battery in about 2.5 hours. While we’re told it’ll have an electric-only driving range of around 30 miles, EPA ratings for either powertrain haven’t been released yet. Designed by DodgeFrom the outside, the Hornet’s connection to the Tonale is obvious. Both are also built in Italy. The Dodge’s most notable design difference is the prominent heat extractors on its hood, which are reminiscent of those seen on more muscular models. Also seen on other performance-focused Dodges is the mail slot-looking piece that separates the upper and lower grilles. A set of narrow headlights with upside-down boomerangs for accent lights and full-width taillights further distinguish the Hornet’s appearance. Both the GT and R/T are available with a Blacktop package that includes black 18-inch wheels along with gloss-black exterior badges and mirror caps.Inside, the Hornet’s dashboard prioritizes the driver by canting the controls to the left. There’s a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles and a button to select different drive modes. Every model features a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.3-inch infotainment display with Uconnect5 software. Among the system’s many standard features are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
While the standard interior is black cloth with red contrast stitching, opting for the GT Plus or R/T Plus trims add leather upholstery that’s offered in red. These upper trims also add wireless smartphone charging and a fancier sound system in the form of a 465-watt, 14-speaker Harman Kardon unit. All Hornets comes standard with driver-assistance tech such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Opting for the Tech Pack unlocks adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and more.Dodge says the 2023 Hornet GT starts at $29,995 before destination, so we expect its actual starting MSRP to be around $31,000. The same goes for the R/T, which is priced at $39,995 before destination. Orders for the GT model open tomorrow, and it will reach dealers this December. Dodge hasn’t said when orders will open for the R/T, but it’ll be sometime before it hits dealerships next spring.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 Mazda 3 gets some updates and new pricing now that the base 2.0L model is gone.The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine now makes 191 horsepower and gets an mpg bump.The sedan starts at $23,615, and pricing ranges up to $36,365 for a loaded turbocharged hatchback model.The 2023 Mazda 3 lineup benefits from some updates to the powertrain offerings, and prices are up. There’s no more 2.0 base model, as the 2.5 S trim with its naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four is now the cheapest version available, starting at $23,615 for the sedan. That represents an $1850 increase over the 2022 model, although that’s offset by the fact that the 2.5 S is better-equipped and more powerful than the previous 155-hp 2.0 model.In fact, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine now makes a bit more horsepower than it did before, with a 5 hp increase bumping it up to 191 hp. The 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four is still available on higher trims, starting at $33,515.

The naturally aspirated model’s fuel-economy improvements are thanks to an updated cylinder-deactivation system. Combined ratings are up by 1 mpg for most models, and the city and highway ratings are up as well. Front-wheel drive remains standard and all-wheel drive is an option on the 2.5 S Carbon Edition and standard on the 2.5 S Premium and 2.5 Turbo models. The front-wheel-drive 3 2.5 S Premium hatchback remains available with a six-speed manual transmission and that version starts at $30,215.Mazda says that the 2023 Mazda 3 hatchback will arrive this fall, with the sedan slated to follow in the winter.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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

This carefully named “reimagined” Porsche 911 cabriolet is the work of Singer, a company that does amazing things to Porsches for very discerning customers.Although Singer specializes in this area, this is its first 964 cabriolet.Price for such a work? Probably north of $500,000, with a wait at least a couple of years long.In order to stay on the right side of Porsche’s jealously guarded intellectual property rights, Singer is always careful to note that the company neither manufactures nor sells cars. Instead, it describes its work as restoring and reimagining the Porsche 911 as built between 1989 and 1994—the 964 chassis. Really, though, Singer isn’t a manufacturer, and it isn’t a restoration specialist. It is a distillery.Here’s its newest cask-strength offering, the first convertible 911 to receive the Singer treatment. Building on the lessons learned from its recent Turbo Study reworking of the iconic 930, this 911 cabriolet gets widebody carbon-fiber enhancements, a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged and air-cooled flat-six engine, and a six-speed manual transmission.

Like most Singerized 911s, this car is built to owner specification; in an age when the word “bespoke” is stretched to include getting the brake calipers on a Cayenne painted yellow, this special 911 cab is properly made to order. It receives the higher-performance 510-hp engine with electric wastegates and air-to-water intercooling (the original Turbo Study has 450 hp as standard), as well as the upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes. Yet it is also clearly intended as a grand tourer, fitted with the softer suspension option, electric power seats, air conditioning, and even inductive phone charging.
Since its founding in 2009, Singer has always had a stated focus of infusing California’s automotive ethos into its reimaginings. Here, an open-topped 911 Turbo immediately conjures up images of cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway, crossing the span of the Bixby Creek Bridge with the sun beating down, the sting of salt spray in your nostrils, and limitless flat-six torque in reserve.While Singer has reworked a handful of 911 Targas in the past, this is the company’s first effort at a 964 cabriolet. That the effort should be based around forced induction and that huge whale-tail is only fitting. Almost all 911 Turbos of this generation were coupes, but Porsche made a half-dozen cabriolets for some very well-connected buyers in-period. Those cars were built from Turbo-look widebody 911 cabriolets, each one shipped to the Sonderwisch department in Weissach where they were comprehensively reworked with Turbo powertrains and performance upgrades.
Special WishesSonderwisch translates to “Special Wishes,” what Porsche now calls its Exclusive Manufaktur department. Singer effectively doubles down on all three terms: nearly anything the customer could wish for, incredibly rare and exclusive, and so comprehensive an approach to manufacturing as to make even the glovebox a work of art.The cost, as you might expect, is astronomical. The wait is less-so, but anyone interested in commissioning a Singer restoration of a 911 convertible will likely be waiting at least a couple of years. Despite a price estimate of at least $500,000, demand easily outstrips supply.Hardly surprising, because what Singer creates with their no-stone-left-unturned approach is not so much a car as it is an idea. This 911 Turbo cabriolet provides, in both performance and driving experience, a concentrated and refined version of what every bedroom 911 poster promised. It is the dream of a Porsche droptop, condensed into carbon fiber and polished steel, every ounce of it as potent as you could wish for.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Chevy is bringing the ZR2 Bison trim level to its Silverado pickup.As with the Colorado ZR2 Bison, the model is a collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles.The Silverado ZR2 Bison goes on sale this fall, priced at $78,490.After being hunted nearly to extinction, the American bison has slowly come back in the West and is a common sight at Yellowstone National Park. At Chevrolet, the genus ZR2 Bison is an even more common sight, and its population is about to double, with a new Silverado ZR2 Bison pickup joining the Colorado ZR2 Bison that has been roaming Chevy dealer lots since 2019.

Like the mid-size Colorado ZR2 Bison, the new Silverado was developed with off-road specialists American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) and will be the model’s most hardcore off-roader. It’s based on the existing ZR2 (which continues), adding five underbody skid plates along with rocker-panel protectors and replacing the front and rear bumpers with redesigned stamped-steel units that integrate step plates and front tow hooks. Gloss black 18-inch wheels are wrapped with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. The new bumpers allow for steeper approach and departure angles, although exact figures aren’t yet available. Chevrolet is estimating 32.5 degrees for the approach angle and 23.4 degrees for the departure angle. Ground clearance is unchanged at 11.2 inches.
Beyond the trim-specific black wheels, the Bison is differentiated by its body-colored grille bar and a matte-black panel on its standard Multi-Flex tailgate, in addition to Bison and AEV badging inside and out.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet

Like the ZR2, the Bison comes exclusively with a 6.2-liter V-8 that’s good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Output is sent via a 10-speed automatic to front and rear electronically locking differentials. Chevy is charging $78,490 for the ZR2 Bison, which represents a hefty upcharge over the 2023 Silverado ZR2’s $71,545.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet

This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The Polestar 6 EV roadster has been confirmed for production and will launch sometime in 2026.It’ll have an 884-hp dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain shared with the upcoming Polestar 5.Polestar will build 500 LA Concept editions featuring exclusive details from the original 02 concept, and reservations are now open.It’s actually happening. Polestar is turning one of the prettiest concept cars we’ve seen in years into a production model. The company today confirmed plans to build the Polestar 6, an electric roadster previewed in March of this year by the jaw-dropping O2 concept.

That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that we’ll have to wait a while to get our hands on one. That’s because Polestar doesn’t plan to launch the 6 for another few years, until sometime in 2026. Likewise, the car in these photos is the same concept we’ve seen before. It’ll once again be shown this week at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which is part of the Monterey Car Week in California.
When the two-door hardtop convertible does finally hit the streets, it’ll be powered by a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain that’s said to produce a fist-pumping 884 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. Those figures might sound familiar to anyone who has been following the Swedish brand’s other recent announcements, including confirming details about the forthcoming Polestar 5 “performance four-door GT.” It’s that car that the Polestar 6 will share its high-powered electric motors and 800-volt architecture with. The two also share a unique bonded aluminum chassis that has been developed in-house and is said to maximize lightness and rigidity.
Targeted PerformanceAlthough Polestar isn’t quite ready to reveal all of the technical specs of the upcoming 6 roadster—those will come out closer to the actual launch—it has released a couple of scintillating performance targets to whet our appetite in the meantime. The electric drop-top is expected to zip from zero to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph.The other big news is that the 2026 Polestar 6 will launch with a limited-production special edition called the LA Concept; the company only plans to build 500 copies. Each will have the same Sky blue paint, light leather interior, and 21-inch wheels seen on the O2 concept that first set our hearts ablaze. Plus, Polestar is already taking reservations for the radical roadster. Count us among those who are very excited this is happening.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More