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Ken Block announced today he has signed on with Audi to help develop the brand’s electric portfolio. The news comes less than a year after the 53-year-old rally driver and Hoonigan exec revealed his split from longtime partner Ford. “Audi is the brand that ignited my passion for motorsport,” Block said in a statement. “I am extremely excited to start this new chapter. Together, we will develop innovative projects and push the boundaries of electric mobility.”

In anticipation of the deal’s announcement, Block paid a visit to Audi HQ to drive an Audi Sport Quattro S1, a DTM Audi V8 Quattro, and the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, according to DirtFish. “It’s also about performance,” said Block. “I love anything that makes me go faster. Electric cars can do that. And as far as sound goes, I have kids who don’t care about that. They think that the sound of electric cars is just as cool as the sound of internal combustion.”

Audi Motorsport Communications

Neither Audi nor Block have revealed any specifics regarding the projects they plan to work on together, but considering the Head Hoonigan is involved, we expect exciting things. “Electrification is a game changer, just like Quattro drive once was,” Audi Sport managing director Julius Seebach said in a statement. “With Ken Block, we’ve got exciting things in store that go perfectly with our strategy.”

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The Acura RDX is restyled for 2022 to share exterior design elements with MDX.The A-Spec appearance package is now available with the top-level Advance package.A limited-edition RDX PMC Edition borrows its Long Beach Blue Pearl paint from the NSX Type S.Acura says its customers for the 2022 RDX wanted more. More, and less. More features, and less outside noise and vibration, so the focus on the 2022 refresh was on added standard features for all trims and increased attention to a quiet cabin, especially on models equipped with option packages. The exterior refresh borrows design elements from the larger MDX, such as the textured grille and wider air intake in the front, and rectangular exhaust tips in the rear on all but the sporty A-Spec, which gets round gloss-black tips. Wheel sizes go up an inch, to 19-inch 10-spokes as standard, while the RDX A-Spec offers new 20-inch designs. New colors are on the option list too. Liquid Carbon Metallic is available for all 2022 models, while models equipped with the Technology and Advanced packages offer Phantom Violet Pearl, and the limited-edition PMC edition comes in the flashy bright metallic Long Beach Blue Pearl.

Under the hood, the RDX’s engine remains unchanged from the 2021 model, continuing to use a 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive remains standard and SH-AWD is an option. While Acura made no changes to the drivetrain for 2022, the company says the driving modes have been retuned for a more noticeable range between the Comfort and Sport settings. The previous RDX got high marks from us on handling feel but notes were made about an inconsistent brake pedal. For 2022, the RDX has a retuned electronic brake booster, so we look forward to testing the improvement.
Previous RDX models failed to impress us with their interior design, and here the 2022 RDX steps it up with a mix of interesting materials and colors. Aluminum trim is standard on all models, and Advance package cars get open-pore wood and Milano leather. More tech comes standard, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring and a lane-change assist feature as well as AcuraWatch which has been upgraded to use a camera for traffic-sign recognition and more accurate speed limit information. Rear seatbelts better protect in a crash with pre-tensioning technology, and additional side structure in the doors meets new crash testing requirements. Like the 2021 model, there will be a limited-edition RDX built at the Acura Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) on the same assembly line as Acura’s supercar, the NSX. The RDX PMC edition comes only in Long Beach Blue Pearl with a two-tone cream (Acura calls it Orchid) and black interior. The PMC editions will all be the fully loaded Advance A-Spec trim and only 200 will be built, so if you want to get a matching set of NSX and RDX, get orders in now.
Pricing and EPA fuel economy ratings have yet to be released, but Acura says entry-level will start under $40,000. With no real drivetrain changes, we expect mpg numbers to be similar to the 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for the FWD versions, with a slight drop for AWD and A-Spec models. The 2022 RDX goes on sale in early November.
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Ford confirmed that a Raptor version of the Bronco off-road SUV is coming.A teaser photo shows the Bronco Raptor’s grille, which has the same Ford lettering from the F-150 Raptor pickup.The Bronco Raptor will debut sometime next year and is likely to be a 2023 model.The high-performance version of the Ford Bronco will indeed use the Raptor name from the F-150 pickup, Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed in a tweet with a teaser video showing a glimpse of the new off-roader. This more powerful variant of the SUV will debut sometime next year, Ford says, and is likely to feature suspension upgrades and a more aggressive look to go along with its name.
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The idea of a badder Bronco has existed for a while now, and we had previously heard rumors that it would use the Warthog name. But it makes sense for Ford to keep it in the Raptor family, as the latest F-150 just debuted its Raptor variant recently and the next-generation Ranger mid-size pickup will reportedly add a Raptor model for the U.S. at some point in the near future.Along with the different grille we can see here, it’s likely to have a wider stance, chunkier tires, uprated shocks, and a more powerful engine, likely some sort of turbocharged V-6. We should have more information about the Bronco Raptor in the coming months as Ford starts to trickle out some details about its various upgrades.
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Audi has announced pricing and U.S. specs for the Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback.The base price is $44,995 for the rear-wheel-drive model, while the all-wheel-drive version starts at $50,995.These models are available for ordering now and will arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year.Audi is expanding its EV lineup to include the smaller and cheaper Q4 e-tron, and we now have full U.S. details on this electric crossover. The 2022 Q4 e-tron will start at $44,995, which is less than the gas-powered Q5 crossover and only a few thousand dollars more than its downmarket sibling, the VW ID.4.

The Q4 shares its powertrain configurations with the Volkswagen, as it comes standard in its 40 trim with a single rear-mounted electric motor that provides 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful Q4 50 e-tron starts at $50,995 and adds all-wheel drive courtesy of an additional front electric motor that increases total power output to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a swoopier Q4 e-tron Sportback (pictured at top) available, and this comes only in the more powerful 50 configuration and starts at $53,795.Audi has only shared range estimates for the 50 models so far, which sits at 241 miles according to the EPA. We anticipate the 40 model will achieve a slightly higher range number, as the ID.4’s AWD configuration takes a slight range hit compared with its RWD counterpart. We look forward to testing the Q4 e-tron’s range for ourselves and seeing what it can do in the real world.
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Ford has given the Expedition a refresh for 2022, with sharper LED lighting elements and revised grille designs.The Expedition also adds a Timberline model, which focuses on off-road performance with 33-inch all-terrain tires and improved ground clearance.The new Stealth Edition features blacked-out trim pieces, 22-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and a retuned suspension.Earlier this year Ford introduced a more rugged version of the Explorer dubbed the Timberline, and now Ford is expanding the Timberline nameplate to the Expedition as part of the full-size SUV’s refresh for the 2022 model year. The 2022 Expedition also adds a sporty Stealth Edition and more technology across the range.
For 2022, all Expeditions continue to be powered by the EcoBoost twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. In the base models—the XL, STX, and XLT—the engine churns out 380 horsepower, up five over the 2021 model, and 470 pound-feet of torque. For the Limited, King Ranch, and Premium models, power increases to 400 horses and torque is boosted to 480 pound-feet.

The Timberline model sees the Expedition raised to 10.6 inches of ground clearance, improving the approach angle to 28.5 degrees and the departure angle to 23.7 degrees. Ford also gave the Timberline a wider track, a two-speed transfer case, and underbody cladding from the burly F-150 Raptor. The Trail Turn Assist system found on the Bronco makes an appearance and the off-roading Expedition rides on unique 18-inch wheels shod in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler AT tires. The Timberline comes powered by the same EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6, but in this application makes a healthy 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Visually, the Timberline gains a special black grille and Active Orange accents on the exterior and interior. While the Timberline focuses on going off the beaten path, the Stealth Edition Performance package aims to improve on-road driving enjoyment. To that end, the Stealth Edition gets a retuned suspension and the 440-hp version of the EcoBoost V-6. The package is available on the Limited and Limited Max models and adds a gloss-black finish to trim elements including the grille, roof rails, running boards, and headlight housings. Behind the 22-inch black aluminum wheels sit flashy red brake calipers.
The Expedition lineup also gets a technological overhaul for 2022, most importantly adding the option of Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assist feature. There is also a slew of other safety tech, such as road edge detection, lane centering, and speed sign recognition. Inside, there is now an available 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and an optional 15.5-inch touchscreen, similar to the one found in the Mustang Mach-E. The Expedition also has an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system with 22 speakers. For those who need to pull a trailer, the Expedition can be had with Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0, and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package allows the Expedition to tow up to 9300 pounds. The refreshed Expedition will go on sale in the first quarter of 2022.
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