Autos

If you dive into the Tesla Model S Plaid configurator, you’ll find lots of caveats—just like you would in our First Test. One of the biggest was regarding the Model S Plaid’s claimed 200 mph top speed. “The indicated Plaid top speed requires proper wheels and tires which will be available in Fall 2021.” According to Tesla, the wheels and tires necessary for 200 mph are available on the Plaid now, but what isn’t is a software update needed to hit said speeds. Two sets of wheels are available on the Model S Plaid. Standard are 19-inch “Tempest” wheels, while optional are 21-inch “Arachnid” wheels, which come standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (like seen on our recent test Model S Plaid). It’s the latter set of wheels and ti...

Despite it appearing in images pulled from Tesla’s own website, as well as making cameos in a handful of the automaker’s test cars, a traditional round steering wheel is not in the cards for the refreshed Model S electric vehicle. Instead, the brand is committing to the funky yoke-style steering device that the updated luxury sedan debuted with, which looks much like a normal steering wheel sans the upper rim. For those with a knack for pop culture, think of the steering setup used by Knight Rider‘s K.I.T.T. Admittedly, we rather like the design of Tesla’s new tiller (admit it, it looks cool), however, we were left underwhelmed by its execution after a week of living with a so-equipped Model S Plaid. This was especially true when driving at lower speeds wh...

See all 17 photos For one, that new corporate logo adorns a slightly redesigned grille—however, it is still framed with two winged garnish bars and features a bold mesh-like pattern. “TELLURIDE” is still spelled out above the grille on the leading edge of the hood. The sharp Nightfall Edition, with blacked-out trim and so forth, returns for 2022 and joins other Nightfall Edition models in the lineup, like the smaller 2022 Seltos. There are no powertrain changes; the sole engine offering remains the 3.8-liter V-6 good for 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The 2021 Kia Telluride started with the LX trim, at $33,415. For 2022, the price of said LX base trim goes up to $34,015—a $600 jump. For that extra scratch, 2022 Telluride buyers will get a few worthwhile standard amenit...

Equipped with Acura’s torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system (dubbed Super Handling All-Wheel Drive or SH-AWD by the Japanese brand) and a 10-speed automatic transmission, the sportiest iteration of the MDX promises to improve upon the standard model’s dynamics, an AWD version of which we clocked accelerating from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. To complement the more powerful engine of the MDX Type S, Acura fits the most potent variant of its mid-size SUV with Brembo-sourced front brakes and a trim-specific Sport+ drive mode. Despite its sporting pretensions, the MDX Type S maintains the less powerful MDX SH-AWD’s 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity. Acura intends to show off the SUV’s hauling abilities by having a 2022 MDX Type S tow one of its TLX Type S race cars from...

The Venturi Antarctica is, literally, a low-carbon polar exploration vehicle fit for a prince. That is to say, Prince Albert II of Monaco, who upon returning from an expedition to the Antarctic summoned Gildo Pastor, President of a Monaco-based high-performance electric vehicle company named Venturi, to develop a zero-emissions solution for scientific research stations. The year was 2009. The team at Venturi began to work on prototypes right away, unveiling its first concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Over a decade later and in its third generation of development, Venturi introduced its Antarctica 2021. Venturi claims this tracked ultimate overlanding rig is the first electric polar exploration vehicle. See all 23 photos It’s not Venturi’s proverbial first rodeo when it come...

Tesla can’t just make a car. They have to deliver an experience that’s fresh, innovative, fast as all hell, and sometimes a little perplexing, too. The Model S Plaid follows this recipe to the letter, and it’s probably the best Tesla to date. However, you might have noticed it’s missing a typical shift lever. In fact, Tesla has ditched the old setup in favor of a predictive shifting system that puts the car in Drive or Reverse without the need for driver interaction—at least immediately after starting the car. Tesla isn’t super clear on how this works, but our guess is that if the system makes a determination between forward and reverse, it’s doing so based on whether it senses objects in front of or to the rear of the car. Should the driver need to take...

Tesla can’t just make a car. They have to deliver an experience that’s fresh, innovative, fast as all hell, and sometimes a little perplexing, too. The Model S Plaid follows this recipe to the letter, and it’s probably the best Tesla to date. However, you might have noticed it’s missing a typical shift lever. In fact, Tesla has ditched the old setup in favor of a predictive shifting system that puts the car in Drive or Reverse without the need for driver interaction—at least immediately after starting the car. Tesla isn’t super clear on how this works, but our guess is that if the system makes a determination between forward and reverse, it’s doing so based on whether it senses objects in front of or to the rear of the car. Should the driver need to take...

See all 30 photos Under the hood of the all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer sits a 6.4-liter V-8 producing 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque that pairs with an eight-speed automatic. The Grand Wagoneer can be had with four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. The 4WD Grand Wagoneer has an EPA-rated 13/18/15 mpg city/highway/combined, whereas the RWD configuration offers about the same fuel economy (albeit better on the highway) at 13/19/15 mpg. This unimpressive fuel economy should not be surprising. What else did you expect from a full-size luxury three-row SUV that will compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator? One based on the Ram pickup truck frame? For comparison’s sake, the Navigator comes powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic good fo...