Autos

Charity auctions for first-off-the-line vehicles have become a thing of late, and given the hammer prices on vehicles like the first 2021 Ford Bronco ($1,075,000) and this latest multi-million-dollar 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 just sold by Barrett-Jackson, it doesn’t seem like the trend is ending anytime soon. Nor should it! The headlines generate buzz for deserving charities, and the sales generate proceeds. With at least one million-dollar-plus Bronco and Hummer rolling around, too, maybe you won’t feel so bad paying sticker—or even a markup—for your hotly anticipated new truck or SUV. We hope you don’t have to, but we’re sure the Hummer’s new owner doesn’t mind paying well over sticker to benefit Tunnel to Towers, a charity that assists injured vete...

We are on the verge of one of the biggest automotive title fights in history. It isn’t the newest Golf R and Civic Type R going toe to toe or even Lamborghini and Porsche once duking it out on the Nürburgring. No, it’s actually the upcoming battle between the new Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler for American off-road SUV supremacy. And one critical theater in this war will assuredly play out in the factory parts and accessory catalogs from Ford and Jeep as well as the broader aftermarket. Was the timing (and location) chosen intentionally to rain on Jeep’s parade? Maybe. After all, it is the Jeep Easter Safari. What matters more are the new goodies that Ford is ginning up for the Bronco via collaborations with RTR, ARB, and 4 Wheel Parts. RTR, for its part, isn̵...

Lexus was an early adopter of hybrids, having introduced the RX hybrid SUV in 2005 and offering hybrid variants of many of other models since—just like its parent, Toyota. Also like Toyota, Lexus seems to be dragging its feet a bit on battery electric vehicles (BEV); the luxury automaker’s first effort, the UX-based UX300e, won’t even be sold in America. But an ambitious turnaround is afoot, evidenced by the newly-revealed LF-Z Electrified concept. It previews Lexus’s big plans to move to the front of the pack come 2025, the year by which they have promised all Lexus models will offer some sort of electrification. But First, That Design Let’s start with the LF-Z Electrified’s design, which is, er, different. Lexus’s controversial hourglass-shap...

It’s official (but not really): Volkswagen of America is going to be Voltswagen of America. A press release dated April 29 ‘leaked’ yesterday to VW of America’s media site, claiming the German company’s U.S. arm was switching its official name by swapping the ‘k’ in Volkswagen to a ‘t.’ The release was reposted today, providing official confirmation of sorts. It also states all vehicles would still wear VW badges, with gas-powered models retaining a dark blue background and electric models adopting a light blue background. The brand’s EVs would also sport script “Voltswagen” badges. But it’s all a joke/marketing stunt made to bring attention to the company’s EV push. A terrible idea if it were true, the ...

It’s noteworthy that the Jeepster Beach concept, one of Jeep’s one-off creations revealed at the 2021 Easter Jeep Safari, produces mega power out of its turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 powerplant. The concept’s forced-induction four-banger churns out a staggering 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, an impressive boost of about 25 percent (70 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque) above the 2.0-liter’s production rating of 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. See all 4 photos Mercedes-AMG: 416 hp, 369 lb-ft Volvo: 415 hp and 494 lb-ft (supercharged with e-motors) BMW: 322 hp and 369 lb-ft (with e-motor) Honda: 306 hp and 295 lb-ft Ariel: 300 hp and 240 lb-ft (supercharged) Jaguar: 296 hp and 295 lb-ft Audi: 292 hp and 280 lb-ft Mistubishi: 291 hp and 300 lb-ft See all 4 photos The good news i...

This weekend, the first official 2021 Ford Bronco, the SUV with VIN 001, was auctioned to the highest bidder by Barrett-Jackson—for $1,075,000. Of course, the proceeds are going to charity, specifically in support of the National Forest Foundation and Outward Bound. Both charities are geared toward spreading understanding of the outdoors and a sense of conservation—perfect, given how a new Bronco is sure to be best enjoyed way off the beaten bath. But wait a second, you might be thinking—someone just took home a new Bronco, and we’re all down here waiting to do the same while initial production is delayed, so what gives? Not so fast. No, the Bronco isn’t available yet, and no, the winning bidder at Barrett-Jackson isn’t driving home right now in a brand-spankin’ new...

Genesis dropped info and photos of the GV70, an SUV with all the now-expected touches that define the bold styling language on the rest of the Genesis lineup—two-bar headlights and taillights, huge pentagonal grille, elegant body lines—that familiarity in no way makes it less exciting. First off, the GV70 is Genesis’s opening shot at one of the car market’s hottest segments, where it will compete head-on with the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Acura RDX, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, and other compact luxury SUVs. It’s an even bolder salvo than the G70 sport sedan, which was released for 2017 into the competitive waters where the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class swim, if only because of its expected greater sales volume. See all 63 photos A Floral-Print Suit: Styling and Trims It isn’...

Following the V-8-powered IS500 F Sport premiere last month, Lexus unveiled the 2022 IS500 F Sport Performance’s exclusive Launch Edition at Sebring International Raceway. Limited to 500 examples, the Launch Edition will carry over the same 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 rated at 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque but distinguishes itself from the regular-production IS500 F Sport by way of subtle cosmetic touches. Incognito Mode First up is its new “Incognito” white-ish paint hue that was recently added to the Lexus color palette. Other updates consist of 19-inch forged BBS wheels finished in matte black that shave approximately four pounds of unsprung weight from each corner on top of the weight savings brought by the regular IS500’s wheels relat...