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    2022 Toyota Camry Adds Nightshade Hybrid, New Color Options

    The bestselling passenger car in the U.S. isn’t going anywhere. The Toyota Camry is now available with 18 distinct trim/powertrain combinations and new paint and trim options.This model year refresh adds the existing Nightshade trim to the hybrid powertrain and an exclusive color to the Camry TRD: two-tone Cavalry Blue with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.The 2022 Camry starts at $26,320 for the front-wheel-drive version and $28,405 for the hybrid.Toyota regularly sells more Camrys in the U.S. than it does of all Lexus models combined. In 2020, for example, it sold 294,348 Camrys and 275,041 Lexus vehicles, and the difference was even larger in 2019. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the automaker is sprucing up the decades-long bestselling passenger car for the 2022 model year.

    For 2022, the Camry will get a Nightshade edition for the hybrid model as well as new exterior paints. In Toyota’s nomenclature, Nightshade refers to trims that feature black wheels, accents, and badging. For the Camry SE Hybrid Nightshade, that means 18-inch black wheels, a black shark-fin antenna, and black window trim, badging, door handles, and mirror caps. The Nightshade trim was previously available for nonhybrid Camrys.Toyota debuted the sporty Camry TRD version in 2020 and sold it with an exclusive color—Ice Edge—last year. For 2022, Ice Edge joins the lineup of available exterior colors for non-TRD trims while the Camry TRD gets a new exclusive color: two-tone Cavalry Blue with a Midnight Black Metallic roof. As before, the 2022 Camry TRD comes with a direct-injected, 301-hp DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission inside a vehicle outfitted with an aerodynamic body kit and a gloss-black front grille. All powertrain options for the 2022 Camry match those available in the 2021 version.The addition of Ice Edge to the standard lineup of paint options means Galactic Aqua went away but XSE grades of the 2022 Camry can still be had with two-tone body and roof color combinations. Supersonic Red, Wind Chill Pearl, and Celestial Silver Metallic can be paired with a Midnight Black Metallic roof and a rear spoiler.

    Toyota

    All of the changes Toyota made for 2022 means that the Camry can now be purchased in 18 different trims. As before, there are three trims with the V-6 engine (XLE, XSE, TRD), five each with the four-cylinder in front- and all-wheel-drive versions (LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade, and XSE), and five hybrid trims (LE, XLE, SE, the new SE Nightshade option, and XSE). The different Camry trims feature distinctive front ends so that those in the know can tell them apart at a glance. The only way to tell from the outside that a 2022 Camry has a hybrid powertrain is from the simple hybrid badging on the trunklid.All 2022 Camrys will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+,which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection that also detects bicycles in daytime, as well as automated emergency braking. Available safety features include full-speed dynamic radar cruise control and intelligent clearance sonar with rear cross-traffic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Other convenience options include a cold-weather package (contents differ depending on trim level), a 7.0-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster and a 10-inch color head-up display.For 2022, the Camry starts at $26,320 for the FWD LE trim while the AWD models start at $27,720 and the hybrid starts at $28,405.
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    40-Person Teenage Gang Blamed for Rash of Ohio-Area Car Break-Ins

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    An increase in car break-ins and thefts in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana has alarmed citizens this fall.Officials in the area have blamed a supposedly organized gang of youthful car burglars that numbers at least 40 people across the tri-state area. Of note, however, is that most of the attacked vehicles were left unlocked, and/or in open garages, some with the keys and valuables visible inside, begging the question: Why don’t people lock their cars?One Monday evening this fall, Bridgetta Tomarchio was lounging inside her Cincinnati-area home, as the family’s Audi Q7 sat parked in the driveway. The next time she checked for the SUV, reported FOX 19 Now, it was gone. When she contacted police to report the theft, Tomarchio says they knew just whom to blame—the “Glacier Gang,” a crew of young car burglars that is said to run about 40 people deep. Authorities across the tri-state area not only held this youthful gang responsible for an uptick of area car thefts that dates to summer, they declared the group a public menace.

    “They are aggressive and violent,” juvenile court Judge Joseph Kirby reportedly warned in an email to colleagues in the Warren County system a week earlier. “One youth who is alleged to have a terminal illness has vowed to ‘go out in a blaze of glory.’ Everybody needs to remain vigilant and exercise care.” This was after police in Northern Kentucky cautioned residents about a band of thieves targeting every town in the area, and a sheriff’s deputy was struck by a stolen SUV whose driver, a juvenile, was allegedly fleeing police.
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    From there, the story quickly morphed into a social media sensation, with reports of six or more car thefts on a single night in one area. The only thing more alarming than these reported crimes was, well, the lack of tangible evidence for this so-called Glacier Gang—a name surely inspired by artist Gucci Mane, but somehow seeming more fit for a rogue band of radical environmentalists than a Fast and Furious crew.Consider: The Cincinnati Enquirer couldn’t verify the email attributed to Kirby through him or the Warren County court system, or match social claims about that night of six stolen cars with police records. “We have no known affiliation or title to this group,” said Lt. Philip Ridgell, who represents the same county sheriff’s department as the officer who was struck by the stolen car. (His injuries were non-life-threatening.) More likely, the thefts are symptom of a much bigger problem: owners leaving their keys inside their cars. A recent New York Times report found that car thefts, after a near four-decade drop-off, have jumped up in large part because owners are making it easier than ever for bored teens to go for illegal joyrides—leaving law enforcement struggling to keep up with a deluge of cases.Even Tomarchio herself admits to having left her keys in the car, telling Fox 19 that they “were in a jacket pocket that was hanging on the SUV’s mirror, which she had forgotten about.” It was recovered 24 hours later near downtown Cincinnati, with little out of place besides the overpowering stench of marijuana. “We got too comfortable,” she said. Evidently, the leap from complacency to conjuring a well-organized gang of teen car bandits isn’t long enough.
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    Ola Electric Scooter New Variant Likely To Be Priced In Activa, Jupiter Range

    Ola electric scooterThe new affordable iteration of Ola S1 e-scooter will be followed by a new electric motorcycle
    Ola is planning to launch an assault in the electric mobility space by expanding its lineup with multiple battery-powered two-wheelers in the near future. The company is even intending to foray into the passenger vehicle segment and has reportedly hired key personnel for development of an electric car.
    The next big launch from the Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer is another electric scooter that will be more affordable than the current S1 range. According to a new report, Ola is developing a new e-scooter that will be positioned below S1 and would be the entry-level model in the company’s two-wheeler lineup. It is likely to be called Ola Series S. Ola has already registered the name.
    Less in power, range
    This new e-scooter is most likely to be based on the same S1 series and could miss out on certain features to make it more cost-friendly. The most effective way to cut costs is to replace the current 3kWh battery in S1 with a lower-rated battery. This battery could send energy to an electric motor with a smaller capacity. This would also result in more conservative performance as well as a lower single-charge range.
    Even with more modest battery and motor specifications, the new e-scooter is expected to offer a range of around 100km on a single charge along with a top speed of around 75-80 kmph. However, it is too early to speculate exact numbers from the powertrain.
    Ola Series S could be the name of this new upcoming electric scooter
    Ola Series S Electric Scooter – Modest equipment
    Ola is also expected to cut down on some features such as a touchscreen display, cruise control, speakers and keyless ignition. Other premium goodies such as remote boot lock/unlock, proximity lock/unlock, voice assistant, Wifi connectivity and geo-fencing are likely to be given a miss. The new scooter might ride on simple steel wheels instead of 12-inch alloys in the current models.
    The prie of this new Ola Scooter variant will also be less. Current base variant of Ola electric scoter S1 is under Rs 1 lakh, which goes down further with FAME-II and state subsidies. The upcoming cheaper version of Ola electric scooter is expected to be priced in the Rs 70k to Rs 80k range, making it a direct rival to India’s best selling scooters Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter – in terms of price range.
    Ola S1, S1 Pro Specs
    Currently Ola Electric is offering two scooters- S1 and S1 Pro which share most of the underpinnings including the same permanent magnet motor between each other. The former is powered by a 2.98kWh battery pack while the latter features a larger 3.97kWh battery. Peak output in both models is rated at 8.5 kW (11.4 bhp) and 58 Nm. While S1 returns a range of 121km, the more premium S1 Pro returns 181km on a full charge.
    Top speed on S1 is restricted at 90 kmph whereas S1 Pro can reach a top speed of 115 kmph. It takes 4 hours and 48 minutes for the smaller battery pack and 6.5 hours for the larger battery pack to get fully charged using a standard AC charger. On using Ola’s fast charger, it could replenish a 75km range for 18 minutes of charging. While S1 weighs 121kg, S1 Pro tips the scales at 125kg.
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    Bob Bondurant, Champion Driver and Even Better Driving Instructor, Has Died

    Bob Bondurant, who went from winning races on the international stage to teaching others to win races at his famous driving school, has passed away at age 88.Bondurant had been in an assisted living facility for some time.In racing, Bondurant was part of a small cadre of American drivers who travelled to Europe in the early 1960s to take on the world’s best in sports cars and in Formula 1, after several years driving sports cars in the U.S. Bondurant started out in the burgeoning West Coast sports car racing scene, competing against the likes of Dan Gurney, Carroll Shelby and Ritchie Ginther before any of those guys were famous. At first he raced Corvettes, winning the LA Times Grand Prix in 1962.From there he started racing for Carroll Shelby and switched to Cobras. After U.S. wins driving Cobras, Bondurant went to Europe for the 1964 season, where he competed in races that are now legend: Spa, Nurburgring and the Targa Florio. But it was his class victory driving the Cobra Daytona Coupe at Le Mans that year that may have been his crowning achievement on a race track. He won the GT class at Le Mans co-driving with fellow American Dan Gurney. The following year he helped bring home the FIA Manufacturer’s Championship for Shelby and Ford. He also drove a Ford GT40 MkI, Ferrari 365 P2 and a Corvette in sports cars in 1967.In Formula 1 Bondurant raced for Ferrari, BRM and Dan Gurney’s AAR team. His career-best finish was a fourth place at Monaco in 1966 piloting a BRM.

    Bondurant won his class racing the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at Le Mans, bringing the championship home to the U.S. in the process.
    Bondurant School

    A crash the following year at Watkins Glen spelled the end of his racing career. But when the driver’s side door closes, another door opens, and it lead to a second career as an instructor. He helped coach the actors in the 1966 John Frankenheimer film Grand Prix, and went on to start the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in 1968, after working for Carroll Shelby as an instructor. Two of the school’s first students were actors Robert Wagner and Paul Newman. The experience lead to a lifelong interest in racing from Newman, who remained friends with Bondurant throughout both mens’ lives. A press release for his school from about ten years ago sums up Bondurant’s switch to teaching people how to drive instead of just driving himself.“…he is better known as the leading authority on advanced driver training and has been at the forefront of professional driving instruction since the late ‘60s. Utilizing the Bondurant Method, over 250,000 students ranging from housewives, racers, and celebrities to teenagers, professionals, and police officers have learned from Bondurant’s expertise. “On Feb. 14, 1968, the doors opened at Orange County International Raceway, near Los Angeles, with three students. The next week there were two students, Paul Newman and Robert Wagner, training for the film ‘Winning.’ Bondurant was technical advisor, camera car driver and actor-instructor for the film. Ever since then, both Bondurant and his school have enjoyed success after success.”

    Bondurant and actor Yves Montand during the filming of Grand Prix in 1966.
    Getty Images

    It was successful for almost 40 years. The school ultimately ran into problems, though, plagued with accusations of mismanagement, and it declared bankruptcy in 2019. Its assets were sold to new owners, who did not, apparently, buy the Bondurant name. Under the new owners the school is still going strong, with new asphalt and many of your favorite instructors, but it’s under the name, Radford Racing School.When it was still the Bondurant School, and Bob was there every day, those who worked for him loved him.“I knew Bob really well, he handpicked me to go work for his racing school right after I graduated high school and worked there for about four years,” said racing driver and instructor Tommy Boileau. “I spent almost every day with him for about four years. Bob was just, he was absolutely incredible. He was just a kind soul and to listen to him tell the stories of back when he was in his prime and racing in Formula One for Ferrari, doing all those cool things, and then just all the amazing actors and celebrities he worked with over the years of the racing school, he was just one of a kind for sure, he was a character.”

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    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Modified Into A Single Seat Bobber

    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 ModifiedThis modification project was commissioned by Royal Enfield Europe in Netherlands and created by Amsterdam-based Ironwood Custom Motorcycles
    Needless to say, Royal Enfield motorcycles are one of the most custom-friendly two-wheelers not just in India but in overseas markets as well. In India, aftermarket workshops are warier and keep modifications in check since they are illegal to move on public roads.
    However, that isn’t the case in some foreign markets where workshops are at freedom to show their creativity on the machines on wheels. One such instance has surfaced online in which a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been modified into a single-seater bobber which looks gothic. It also has a flair of being a cafe racer, as well as a scrambler.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Modified
    Inspiration from Star Wars
    Built by Amsterdam-based Ironwood Custom Motorcycles, the modified cruiser even derives its name- Starship Meteor from the Star Wars movie franchise. The bike gets a dark theme with each and every component, including mechanical and running gears, has been painted black. The factory-rolled donor model was wrapped in Fireball Yellow which already gets the mechanical parts like engine, gearbox and exhaust blacked out.
    Now, the bike wraps itself in ‘Meteor Rain’ paint which is further accentuated by the special Royal Enfield insignia with a cosmic livery on the fuel tank and side covers. Coming to its styling, the motorcycle has undergone several modifications to achieve this image. For starters, the alloy wheels are now shod semi-knobby rubbers while the front telescopic forks now get gaiters.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Modified
    Meteor 350 Modified bobber – Mechanical Updates
    Ergonomics of the bike has also been tweaked with a new black Supercross handlebar replacing the standard unit. Both front and rear mudguards have been chopped short. The rear suspension unit now gets twin “Piggy-Back” shock absorbers from YSS. While the main chassis of Meteor hasn’t been tinkered, it gets a modified rear subframe.
    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Modified
    The single-seat now gets a CNC-milled mount while the floating bobber-style saddle is quilted in a diamond pattern. Another major change is the new aftermarket exhaust which is shorter than the stock unit. The Akrapovic racing canister provides a throaty exhaust note which adds to the overall appeal of the bike.
    The neo-retro theme of the donor bike is carried forward with a new aftermarket headlight which is circular and a pair of bar-end rearview mirrors. The aftermarket taillamps also double as turn indicators and are now positioned below the saddle. The license plate mount has been installed on the left swingarm. Overall, the custom-built motorcycle definitely looks like a head turner now.

    No Update in Powertrain
    No updates have been made to the powertrain of the donor motorcycle. It is powered by the same 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that propels the stock Meteor. This unit pushes out 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch. More

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    Pick the Next Hot Wheels Legends Car with Us Live Saturday, Nov. 13

    2021 is the fourth year of the Hot Wheels Legends competition, in which builders vie to have their car chosen to be re-created as a small-scale collectible Car and Driver was invited to join Jay Leno, Ted Wu, Bryan Benedict, Brendon Vetuskey, Henrik Fisker, Sara Choi, and Mad Mike to choose a winner. The judging will be livestreamed on Jay Leno’s Garage on YouTube or Hot Wheels Facebook Live at noon ET on Saturday, Nov 13.Hot Wheels started its Legends Tour in 2018, and each year since has hosted a traveling car show to choose regional winners, and finally, an all-out champion from car builders all over the world. We were on hand for the debut of the 2020 winner, Riley Stair’s 1970 Firebird, and now, this year, we have the pleasure of helping choose which of the 2021 finalists will get to see their big car made small and ready to go through the loop-de-loop.

    The judging is taking place in Jay Leno’s garage in Burbank, California. Just being in Leno’s garage is already like falling into a car toybox, so it’s the perfect place to see some of the Legends contestants in person, and argue passionately for a winner. The judges, besides me (Elana, trying hard not to shame Car and Driver by being too excited about absolutely everything), include several designers from Hot Wheels, full-size car designer Henrik Fisker, customizer Mad Mike, and drifter Sara Choi.

    2020 Lulu is among the finalists.
    Mattel

    We’ll be narrowing it down from 10 cars to only one, and it’s not an easy decision. All the entries would be excellent in miniature form. Some have incredible backstories, others show impeccable work, some have both! There’s also a wide variety of cars to choose from. American muscle, German luxury, Braaaaaaap-ready rotaries, and complete one-off, hand-built customs. Here’s a quickie list of what we’ll be looking at during the judging. 1991 Porsche 911 Baja from Sun Valley, California: This thing is so clean, it would win a purist over to the Safari 911 thing.Custom aluminum racer named “Lulu” from Santa Fe, New Mexico: Paul Kalenian built an Indy-inspired, polished aluminum car from scratch.1969 Daytona Charger Superbird “Scraptona” from Macomb, Michigan: With a NASCAR small-block under its patchwork fenders, the Scraptona is in the running for best-sounding for sure. 2003 Exoskeleton Nissan 350Z from San Mateo, California: What to do with half a 350Z? Make a tube-frame back end, and drive around looking like a render come to life. 1968 Mercedes Benz 250S from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada: Perfect patina and a surprising stance for a classy Merc. 1990 Volkswagen Beetle from Mexico: This is a neat little car. Chopped and stretched, it sits low and looks like a toy already. 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser from the United Kingdom: This one isn’t just for show, it’s a family-owned race car that regularly runs Santa Pod dragstrip.Wittgenstein from Germany: What’s a Wittgenstein? We’ll all find out together. 1986 Daihatsu Mira from Malaysia: This tiny truck is all forehead. And green glitter. 1973 Mazda 616 Capella from New Zealand: Giving the Dodge some competition on the engine-noise front. Braaap. It’s going to be a real challenge to choose between them.

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    2022 Ford Mustang GT500 Heritage Edition Celebrates 55 Years of GT500

    Ford is adding a Heritage Edition package to the 2022 Mustang Shelby GT5oo to celebrate its 55-year anniversary.It adds a Brittany Blue paint job with either Wimbledon White or Absolute Black racing stripes to the 760-hp muscle car. It will be available to order next week starting at $76,800.Ford sent off the beloved Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT supercar by giving them Heritage Edition models honoring the company’s history. Now it’s doing the same for its most powerful road car ever made, the GT500, but we hope we don’t have to soon say goodbye to another high-performance Mustang.
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    The Mustang Shelby GT500’s Heritage Edition package is inspired by a livery from the original 1967 GT500. It’s finished in a gorgeous Brittany Blue, and customers have the option of two different stripes, either in Wimbledon White or Absolute Black. The hand-painted option costs $10,000, just like on the standard car, while the vinyl option is standard and includes a side stripe.

    A supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 making 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque powers the Mustang Shelby GT500, and it’s paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In Car and Driver testing, a GT500 equipped with its standard summer tires reached 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and hit the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 132 mph. When we tested the 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, its 355-hp 7.0-liter V-8 propelled it to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and through the quarter in 15.0-seconds at 95 mph.Additionally, Ford is adding Code Orange, available on the GT, F-150 Raptor, and upcoming Bronco Raptor, to the GT500’s list of color choices. And there’s a new Coastal Limited Edition available on the 310-hp Mustang EcoBoost Premium that includes unique 19-inch dark-finished wheels, a black grille, unique vinyl side stripes, and it’s exclusively available in Brittany Blue, Cyber Orange, or Rapid Red.
    Orders for the 2022 Mustang, including the Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition and EcoBoost Premium Coastal Edition, open on Monday, November 15. The Heritage Edition package adds $2140 to the GT500’s price, increasing it to $76,800, and the Coastal Edition starts at $35,415. They’ll arrive at dealerships in the spring.
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    2022 Toyota RAV4 Gains Sharper Headlights, New SE Hybrid Trim

    The 2022 Toyota RAV4 adds sleek new headlights on all trims except the base LE and LED fog lamps on the higher grades.There is a new SE Hybrid trim that will slot below the XSE on the sportier side of the RAV4 Hybrid’s lineup.The 2022 RAV4 goes on sale next month, and Toyota will reveal pricing details closer to its on-sale date.Besides the full-sized pickup trucks from the Big Three, the Toyota RAV4 is America’s best-selling vehicle, totaling 313,447 units sold through the third quarter of 2021. Now Toyota has announced a slew of updates for the 2022 RAV4, including new colors, redesigned headlights, and a new SE Hybrid trim.
    The new SE Hybrid joins the sportier side of the RAV4 Hybrid’s lineup, positioned below the XSE and with a more athletic attitude than the XLE and Limited trims. Inside, the SE Hybrid features a 7.0-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, and cloth seats. Buyers can also opt for the Weather package, which adds a heated leather steering wheel, heated front seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers with a de-icer function and the Convenience package, which includes a sunroof, a power tailgate, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen.

    The SE Hybrid trim also brings a new color to the RAV4 range, Cavalry Blue, which can also be had on the XSE and the TRD Off-Road. The XLE Premium Hybrid, Limited Hybrid, and XSE Hybrid all get a new wheel design, while the LE Hybrid, XLE, and XLE Hybrid have a new wheel color. Sharper-looking headlights appear on all trims except the base LE, and Toyota added LED fog lamps for the XLE Premium, Limited, Adventure and TRD Off-Road. The XSE Hybrid also gains the vertical LED running lights seen on the 2021 XSE Prime. Inside there are minor updates including LED interior lighting and, on all trims besides the LE, illuminated switches.
    Toyota has yet to reveal pricing for the 2022 RAV4, but we expect a slight increase over the 2021 model. The SE Hybrid should start in the low $30,000 range. Powertrains should carry over unchanged, meaning a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which adds two electric motors for 219 hp in the hybrid models and three electric motors in the plug-in Prime, good for a combined 302 hp. Toyota says more details will be release in mid-December when the 2022 RAV4 goes on sale.
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