Autos

Lordstown Motors appears to be shifting chairs on the deck of the Titanic. The electric truck startup kept a scheduled media event one day after CEO Steve Burns and chief financial officer Julio Rodriguez resigned after an investigation by the company’s board. The virtual meeting with the Automotive Press Association out of Detroit started with a statement by Angela Strand, the lead independent director who has been appointed executive chairman. Lordstown is committed to transparency and plans to start limited production in late September, with no disruptions in day-to-day operations envisioned, Strand says. Then president Rich Schmidt and chief engineer Darren Post proceeded with an upbeat presentation about the virtues of the Lordstown Endurance electric pickup, which the company s...

It’s Touring time! For the 2022 model year, the popular wingless Touring trim returns for the 992 GT3, bringing with it a knapsack of subtle aesthetic changes over the standard be-winged GT3. More importantly, this also stokes the digital flames of Porsche-centric Facebook groups and forums wherein Touring fans argue as to why their spoiler-free variants are vastly superior to their gauche, peacocking normie GT3 siblings. See all 23 photos Don’t worry, kids, we love you both equally, with and without a little junk on the trunk. We also love the new 992 GT3 Touring; some of us here at MotorTrend think the standard 992 GT3’s hanging swan neck rear spoiler is a bit ungainly, so an unadorned rear decklid is just what Der Doktor ordered. At least in our fantasies, as we’...

The silent, smooth, uninterrupted torque delivery of an electric powertrain is exactly the sort of experience befitting a high-dollar, mega-luxe grand tourer. And it looks like Maserati agrees, if the the new GranTurismo is any indication. The next generation of the brand’s iconic 2+2 will feature the company’s first 100 percent electric powertrain, but that’s not all. See all 48 photos What you see here are official “spy photos” released by Maserati of its next GranTurismo, shot as it left the company’s “innovation lab” for the first time. While specific details remain sparse, Maserati has said that the next GranTurismo will feature the company’s first full battery electric powertrain (as teased in the video below). That...

It’s been just over three years since Subaru rolled out its current Forester SUV, and the auto industry’s update cycle dictates a new or revised model should arrive soon. Right on schedule, what we believe will be the U.S. market’s 2022 Subaru Forester has broken cover in Subaru’s home market of Japan. See all 12 photos Fresh Digs As you can see from the embedded photos, the updated Forester receives a mild yet noticeable mid-cycle styling update. The headlights are squared up, with more angular LED running lamps, and the grille appears larger than before. Other than some minor changes to the taillight internals (reflector elements that match the headlights’ new shapes), the 2022 Forester’s rear end is untouched. New wheel designs and fresh detailing on ...

There’s a lot to like about the Subaru Ascent, the company’s large three-row SUV. It features a standard turbocharged engine that feels as peppy as many six-cylinder options, and includes the sort of interior amenities and safety scores families crave. For 2022, Subaru doesn’t mess with success, but it does add a new trim level—the Onyx. See all 10 photos As in the Outback, the $39,120 Ascent Onyx includes a bunch of dark-toned exterior trim—yet another example of a trend that seems to be sweeping mainstream brands—and a few other neat details, including blacked-out badging and 20-inch wheels. Inside, Subaru’s water-repellent fabric covers the seats. The Onyx is based on the seven-passenger Premium trim, though it adds standard features including a reverse auto...

This isn’t the first time actor Vin Diesel has promised a conclusion is coming for the Fast and Furious; we published the original article, which follows below, back in September 2015. Nevertheless, his comments are noteworthy on the eve of F9’s June 25 premiere; plus, his timeline for the series conclusion is more specific than it was back then. Critically, Diesel left open the possibility that spin-offs such as Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw will continue—and let’s face it, F&F-related movies are almost guaranteed to continue ad infinitum. However, the main characters in the long-running movie series will see their plot arcs buttoned up in Fast 10 and Fast 11, the final two movies in the series. As in 2015, Vin Diesel referred to the (now wr...

When the competition involves Porsche, Audi, and BMW, it is vital to fine-tune the mechanicals, upgrade tech features, and maintain a fresh appearance. Enter the 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, a luxury fastback that drives like an untamed sports car. While Mercedes is mum on details related to the V-8-powered 2022 GT63 and GT63 S 4-Door models, the brand is eager to share details about its six-cylinder 2022 GT43 and GT53 4-Doors, both of which maintain much the same styling as before. That said, the latter adds a new styling package option that gives the six-cylinder model a bit of flair from its V-8 stablemates. See all 40 photos The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe went on sale in 2019 and rather quickly became a finalist at our 2020 Car of the Year competition. During our rigorous testin...

Weeks after the electric Lightning was unveiled to the public, people are still talking about it, thanks to its relatively affordable pricing and solid performance. In fact, the Lightning is set to take the title as the quickest F-150 model thanks to its estimated 4.4-second 0-60-mph time. Credit the truck’s two electric motors, which provide 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. The Lightning’s well as its extended-range battery pack, meanwhile, offers an estimated driving range of 300 miles on a single charge. How, then, did Ford manage to make the Lightning so affordable? The F-150 Lightning’s Been a Long Time Coming We were surprised to learn that Ford has long wanted to do an electric truck but needed a higher density battery than those it had available. “We cou...

On June 10, 2021, Elon Musk formally kicked off deliveries of the 1,020-hp Tesla Model S Plaid. Approximately two days later, on June 12, Unplugged Performance debuted its race-prepped Model S Plaid that’s set to compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (with our resident pro racing driver, Randy Pobst, behind the wheel). You might remember that at last year’s race Pobst had a little moment and unexpectedly flew the Unplugged Performance Model 3 off the course. In a feat of determination, the Unplugged Performance team rebuilt the car overnight, and Pobst placed second in the exhibition class—and in a car with only half its horsepower! What Is It? Unplugged Performance’s Plaid racecar uses the stock powertrain from the top-line Model S. The interior is almo...