News

Infiniti has confirmed that it will discontinue of its Q60 coupe following the 2022 model year. The cancellation comes as the company is focusing on more popular segments such as crossovers and SUVs.The Q60 lived a relatively short life, entering production for the 2017 model year.The Infiniti Q60 first made its debut as a concept in 2015 at the Detroit auto show, with Infiniti revealing the production version a year later at the same show. The coupe featured strikingly good looks, but unexciting driving and relatively drab interiors kept us from ever falling in love.

Infiniti confirmed to Car and Driver that production will continue through the end of the year. The company expects retailers will have units for sale well into 2023. The move is motivated by the increased shift toward purchasing larger crossovers and SUVs by so many American drivers. “We are focusing on the most popular luxury automotive segments such as crossovers and SUVs, as well as the upcoming EV we recently announced that will be built here in the U.S.” according to an Infiniti spokesperson. Infiniti’s Q50 sedan is set to remain in production for 2023. The company has not announced any plan to kill that car off yet, but with four SUVs and crossovers in the lineup, and a sedan-shaped EV being teased for 2025, the Q50’s days may be numbered as well.
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

• This 1994 Jaguar XJS 2+2 would make for one heck of a back-to-school car, and it’s up for auction on the Bring a Trailer website right now.• Cool as a cucumber (and green to match), this Jag is powerful enough to be a great first car while not being so powerful it’s dangerous. • The auction ends Thursday, August 18. Plenty of time to get it home for the first day of school. The new school year is almost upon us. Forget about notebooks and pencils; the real fun comes in shopping for a first car. I believe I’ve found a perfect example of such a car in this 1994 Jaguar XJS 2+2 for sale on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

Bring a Trailer

You may think that it would be irresponsible to buy a nearly 30-year-old rear-wheel-drive Jaguar for a 16-year-old. You’re probably correct, but hear me out: high school is the perfect time to make an irresponsible car purchase. Think about it, high-school parking lots are generally chock-full of bland used cars, a manual Jag in British Racing Green would easily be the coolest car in the lot. Even cooler than the kid driving a brand-new BMW 3-series, and that person would also drool over this thing. If you’re looking to make a statement on the first day of classes, look no further.

Reliability be damned, should your new (30-year-old) Jag have the occasional snafu, you can convince a friend to pick you up for school. Plus, look at it this way, if your car breaks down, it’s a learning experience for a budding enthusiast. Let’s just hope, since the average high-schooler’s wallet won’t stretch forever, breakdowns won’t come often. Despite 132K miles on the dash, this car recently received new valve stem seals, a new head gasket, and several ignition components along with a handful of other replacements. There may be some paint chipping shown in the listing photos, but from where I’m sitting, the color of the paint more than makes up for it. Rust is beginning to plague the underside of the car, but it’s lived a life in the Northeast. Plus, if it is bought as a first car, it’ll likely spend most of its days parked proudly in a driveway anyway.

Bring a Trailer

From a safety standpoint, the Jag can’t compete with modern cars. However, with its modern tires, recently serviced brakes, and the invincibility 16-year-old drivers assume they possess, the Jag is a tempting purchase to break curfew in.
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

Lexus president Koji Sato says he’s experimenting with how to simulate a manual gearbox in the upcoming electric LFA successor. The EV supercar could also feature steer-by-wire, torque vectoring, carbon fiber, and solid-state batteries to improve performance.Lexus claims the car, currently an unnamed concept, will reach 60 mph in the “low-two-second range” and have a range of about 435 miles.Koji Sato is a lot of things. He’s the president of Lexus International, formerly the chief engineer, president of GAZOO Racing, and operating officer and chief branding officer of Toyota. He may soon be able to add “mad scientist” to that list, because Sato, in an interview with the U.K.’s Top Gear, said that he is experimenting with putting a manual gearbox in the forthcoming electric successor to the LFA.Yes, you read that right. He wants to find a way to give an EV supercar a stick shift. If he can pull it off, that’s a mission we might be able to get behind.Right now, he’s fiddling with software to see if he can simulate the feel of a manual in order to make EVs just as engaging to drive as an internal-combustion-powered car.”It’s a hobby of mine, a crazy thing,” Sato, who was chief engineer on the luxurious Lexus LC coupe, told Top Gear. “I’m looking for better engagement, even in an EV, I want another link from the car to the driver. It’s not just about efficiency. I love cars and want something different.”

Koji Sato in front of the Lexus LC.
Lexus

It would certainly be different. Generally, EVs don’t use a multi-gear transmission, because they are efficient across a broad rev range and can produce maximum torque from zero rpm, unlike gas-powered engines. EV motors are also high-revving. For context, the Tesla Model S Plaid’s electric motor can rotate at up to 20,000 rpm—the LFA’s V-10 redlined at 9000. This means a single gear ratio can get a car from zero mph to its max speed. Sato points this out as an aspect of Lexus’s yet unnamed EV supercar that could have an edge against the LFA. “Vehicle response is one of the advantages of the e-motor, the sudden torque is a very unique character with a BEV—the driver can expect a quicker reaction to their input,” he told Top Gear.Still, the power and efficiency of electric motors fall off at high rpm, which is why the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT use a two-speed gearbox for the rear motor. The first Tesla Roadster also was supposed to get a two-speed manual that never came to be. Some Formula E cars even used to utilize multi-speed gearboxes, with Lucas di Grassi winning the 2016-17 Formula E World Drivers’ Championship for Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport in a car outfitted with a three-speed transmission.

All this to say, maybe Sato isn’t as mad as he seems. While his software simulation of a stick shift isn’t quite the same as actually using multiple gears and who knows how realistic or involving it might be, it’s still one of the innovations that could set apart the EV supercar.The unnamed concept, which does not yet have a due date, is claimed to get to 60 mph in the “low-two-second range” (the LFA did it in 3.7 seconds) and have a range of about 435 miles thanks to in-the-works solid-state battery technology. It will also use torque vectoring to improve handling and “realize vehicle dynamics,” according to Sato, as well as steer-by-wire.

The Lexus LFA
Tim Andrew

Being lightweight and aerodynamic is key to the new supercar. The LFA was notoriously a carbon-fiber animal, but Sato was tight-lipped about whether that would extend to its successor: “We look at the LFA heritage and use carbon fiber as necessary.”However, all this tech talk is secondary to his main goal with the car.”I really want this car be a halo, a showcase for the future of Lexus driving dynamics, to express the overall Lexus driving signature.”If Sato can bring EVs closer to Saving the Manuals in the process, we’re on board.
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

Disney and Pixar’s 911 Sally Special is a one-of-one version of the German brand’s rear-engine sports car.It’s based on the 473-hp 911 Carrera GTS and includes a seven-speed manual transmission.Though it lacks eyes or a mouth, the Sally Special steals a number of cues from Sally Carrera of Cars fame.Disney and Pixar’s Cars may have hit theaters in the summer of 2006, but production of the film started many years earlier, with production designer Bob Pauley first sketching the film’s female protagonist, Sally Carrera, in 2002. As her surname suggests, Sally is an anthropomorphic Porsche 911 Carrera. A 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera, specifically, better known by enthusiasts as a part of the 996-generation of 911s.

Though the film Cars may be only 16 years old, the character of Sally is celebrating two decades since leaving the—animated—Zuffenhausen factory. In honor of her emerald anniversary, the Cars team worked with Porsche to create a one-of-a-kind 2022 Porsche 911, which bears the mark Sally Special.
Based on the 473-hp Carrera GTS trim, the Sally Special brings elements of the Radiator Springs attorney to the modern 992-series 911. As such, Porsche also incorporated certain 996-generation design staples into the Sally Special. This includes silver headlight surrounds, as well as rear badging and staggered five-spoke wheels that mimic those of Sally (and of 911s of her era). Porsche and Pixar, however, refrained from fitting the Sally Special with big eyes and a mouth in place of a windshield or front grille. Nor did they hire Bonnie Hunt to supply voice guidance for the in-dash navigation system.The most notable element of the Sally Special is arguably its Sally Blue Metallic hue, a distinct color that requires hand application. Sally Blue Metallic also spreads to additional areas of the car’s front and rear fascias and engine lid, parts that Porsche keeps in black on the run-of-the-mill Carrera GTS.
Raising the Sally Special’s rear spoiler reveals a decal that matches the back-tattoo-like pinstripes of Sally, a bit of decor she got back when she was living life in the fast lane as a Los Angeles attorney. Kudos to Sally for achieving so much in life in the four short years between her final assembly and the theatrical release of Cars. Like its exterior, the Sally Special’s interior features an array of bespoke touches. Sally Blue Metallic decorates the cabin’s trim pieces and complements Chalk leather seats that include Speed Blue and Chalk stitching and Pepita inserts, which feature a color combination of black, Chalk, and Speed Blue. Chalk and Speed Blue dot other parts of the Sally Special’s insides, with the former making up the lower dashboard and the latter finding its way to the steering wheel’s center marker and the shift pattern display of the seven-speed manual transmission’s gear knob.
Other distinct details include a printing on the dashboard above the glovebox denoting the car’s special nature, backlit Sally Special doorsill guards, and a unique “Kachow Mode” that replaces the typical Sport Response button on the car’s steering-wheel-mounted drive mode switch.Whereas most limited-run Porsche models are often spoken for before being released, the Sally Special is still up for grabs. This is because Porsche and Pixar are auctioning the car off at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Monterey, California, event.
Proceeds from the sale, which takes place on August 20, will benefit two charities: Girls Inc., a nonprofit that serves girls between the ages of five and 18 and equips them with the tools and support needed to successfully navigate life’s challenges; and USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, a nonprofit working to help the many refugees forced to flee Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression. Nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator awards Girls Inc. a top rating of four stars. USA for UNHCR, meanwhile, achieves just two stars.Along with scoring the keys to the Sally Special, the winning bidder will also receive a matching Porsche Design watch, a second set of wheels—including a custom-made rack—to mount track tires on, a unique car cover, the car’s original color molds and its show plates, and a special book filled with information charting the development of the Sally Special.
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 2023 Nissan Z is the new hotness on the sports-car scene. What else do you expect when such an iconic nameplate gets a substantial redesign? Still, that spotlight comes with scrutiny, and opinions are mixed on where the new Z car stands among its peers. We’ve tested it (twice) and put it up against natural rivals like the Toyota Supra 3.0 as well as unnatural ones like the Ford Mustang Mach 1. While the Nissan fell short in both face-offs, it doesn’t mean it’s undesirable. To identify our ideal versions, we set three of our editors loose on the Z’s online configurator. Somehow, without any planning (pinky promise), each person picked one of the three distinct trims to spec. These are what they chose:Eric Stafford’s $43,110 Nissan Z Sport

Nissan

Nissan

Is the Nissan Z without the limited-slip diff, upgraded brakes, and stickier tires as good as the Performance model that has all that equipment? Probably not. But I have a different way of looking at it. The Performance model wasn’t as good as the BMW M240i, Ford Mustang Mach 1, or Toyota Supra 3.0 in our comparison test. That tells me I’d be better off saving the $10K and sticking with the base-level Z Sport trim. After all, it has the same 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 as the pricier version. Plus, I’d have extra money to purchase better summer tires than the Bridgestone Potenza S007s found on the Performance. The Z’s price isn’t affected whether I choose the nine-speed automatic or the six-speed manual, but I’d pick the latter because, Duh. My Sport model would also have the no-cost Black Diamond Pearl paint, but I’d dress up its appearance with the dealer-installed chin spoiler ($170) and rear spoiler ($63o). Unfortunately, I’m stuck with a boring black cloth interior, as there are no other color options or materials choices on the base model. I’d still enhance the space with the $400 illuminated sill plates and the $445 ambient interior lighting to make it feel a little ritzier after dark. All told, my ’23 Z Sport totals $43,110. —Eric StaffordJack Fitzgerald’s $54,470 Nissan Z Performance

Nissan

Nissan

The whole point of the Z is having fun without breaking the bank, right? Every new Z gets the same amount of power, but splurge a little and Nissan will add a few performance features. That’s why I chose the Z Performance model, which upgrades the brakes, tightens the suspension, and provides a limited-slip differential. I went for the two-tone paint with Passion Red and Super Black on the roof. The paint ran me $1700, but heck, it’s a sports car. Why go boring on the color? I added the clear hood protector for another $170. Rather than spend on exterior options—truthfully, there aren’t many—why not save some money for a body kit? My interior options ran another $1600, with the virtual key and dual-camera recording system dealing the brunt of the damage. I also splurged on illuminated door panels to remind myself what I bought each time I get in and out of the car. The total out the door on my mostly economical, performance-oriented Z comes to $54,470. —Jack FitzgeraldAustin Irwin’s $55,310 Nissan Z Proto Spec

Nissan

Nissan

Z cars love a swanky special edition, don’t they? Remember the 280Z with the Zap appearance package? It was sold coated in Sunburst Yellow paint, with lovely 1970s striping and rear window louvers that definitely got ruined by a walnut tree later in life. It would eventually be outdone by the 1988 300ZX’s Super Shiro edition with bright white metallic paint, Recaro bucket seats, and arguably the best coil springs from the many Z31 iterations of that generation’s five-year run. Of course, a NISMO 350Z would follow, and then the 370Z would show up in 2009 to commemorate not only a 40th Anniversary Edition but also a 50th Anniversary Edition a decade later. And as a fellow Z31 owner myself, special might as well be my middle name. I’d spring for the most precious of the current Zs, the top Proto Spec. Only 240 will be sold in the U.S., and according to Nissan’s website, four of them are within 50 miles of my cubicle. Actually, after refreshing the website, that number curiously grew to 47. However, a more serious investigation revealed they were all spoken for long ago. So it looks like I’m not getting another Z after all. Oh well. When one eventually shows up on Bring a Trailer, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos, it will wear the Proto Spec’s two-tone Ikazuchi Yellow paint with a Super Black roof. It will also have a set of exclusive bronze 19-inch Rays Engineering forged wheels, yellow Akebono brake calipers, and various bits and pieces of yellow interior trim. I’d of course prefer the six-speed manual with automatic rev matching versus the nine-speed automatic. As a purist, it’s my responsibility, despite the personal sacrifice, to purchase the weird editions with paint options as strange as fishing lures. Sure, you can get the Ikazuchi Yellow on any of the Z trims, but nobody likes a pretender. Later, when (I hope) Nissan gives its newest sports car the NISMO treatment, I’ll be quicker with the build-and-price tool. Although, if the special launch model’s $55,310 pricing is any indication, I might need to sell a few project cars before adding a future collectible to my cart. —Austin IrwinDave Beard’s $45,895 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE . . . Wait, What?I would drive right past the Nissan dealer and buy a Mustang or Camaro. A ’22 Camaro SS with the 1LE Track Performance package starts at $45,895—only $4880 more than an unoptioned Z Sport manual. —David Beard

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