Autos
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2022 VW Golf R First Drive on Ice (Sort of): That Thing It Do
Volkswagen Golf R Full Overview Drifting a VW Golf is weird. Like, really weird. The Golf has stood through seven previous generations as a beacon of front-wheel-drive—and FWD-based all-wheel drive—excellence, but getting its rear end to swing way out wide typically meant yanking a handbrake or getting hit by a dump truck. But now the hottest version of the MkVIII Golf, the 2022 VW Golf R, will do proper power-on tank slappers, happily drift in a circle, and sashay its way through a slalom. And it’s still a front-driver at its core. Huh? Credit the new 4Motion all-wheel-drive setup standard on the R, which cans its predecessor’s Haldex center differential in favor of a 50/50 torque-splitting power takeoff and a torque-vectoring electromechanical rear axle. The latter employs cl...
The Honda Ridgeline Type R Performance Pickup: So Cool, It Doesn’t Exist
We know this is likely to be a polarizing fantasy. Honda’s Type R models, and the badge they wear, represent the soul of the company’s sporting heritage. Slapping it on a truck? Sacrilege, or worse. But when our talented artist Abimelec Arellano whipped up these Honda Ridgeline renders, resplendent in a variant of the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition‘s Phoenix Yellow paint, it seemed a little less sacrilegious and a lot more fun. Fun trucks are having their heyday right now, aren’t they? The Ford F-150 Raptor, the steroidal Ram 1500 TRX, the Chevy Colorado ZR2. Why not let Honda owners get in on the fun, and burnish the Ridgeline’s “actually, it is a truck” cred? A Type R would be the loudest, most outrageous way to call attention to a sport...
2022 Audi E-Tron GT RS Prototype Drive: Fun While It Lasts
Audi e-tron GT Full Overview Ever been on one of those roller coasters where a sign warns you to keep your head pinned against the headrest? Well, the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT RS needs a sign like that, and we have the headache to prove it. It took us four good stabs of the accelerator—and four slams of our skull against the headrest—before we learned our lesson, partly because we’re slow learners and partly because it’s hard to wrap your head around how quickly the Audi E-Tron GT can accelerate from virtually any speed. Audi claims a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.1 seconds for the 590-hp E-Tron GT RS (an overboost feature bumps output to 637 horsepower in short bursts), but as is so often the case, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Its 3.1-second time isn’t just mash an...
2022 Kia EV6 First Look: The Electric Era Is Heating Up
Kia continues to bolster its role in the electric vehicle space with the reveal of the new EV6 crossover. Although the EV6 is not the first battery-electric vehicle from the Korean automaker, it is the first model to strictly rely on electricity for power. Other Kia electrics, such as the Soul EV and Niro EV, are also available with gasoline- or gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains. Although Kia’s mum on the EV6 specifics, the brand likely cribs the architecture and powertrain of its new EV from that of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5. As such, expect the EV6 to offer single- and dual-motor options, with the former setup pushing power to the front wheels, and the latter to all four. Likewise, the most powerful EV6 ought to pack around 300 horses and utilize the same 73-kWh battery pack ...
2021 Honda Accord vs. 2021 Mazda 6 Turbo Comparison Test: We Have a Clear Winner
Honda Accord Full Overview The Honda Accord and the Mazda 6 have been the top-ranked midsize sedans at MotorTrend HQ for a long time now, but both are several years into their life cycles. And both now face heavy competition from newer models. The Honda and the Mazda still have plenty to recommend them, but which is aging more gracefully? And which still has what it takes to withstand the stiff competition coming from brand-new models like the Kia K5 and the Hyundai Sonata? Right up front, we need to address a mismatch: Our Accord for this comparison-test review is an EX-L equipped with the base 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The Mazda 6 we tested is a Turbo Carbon Edition with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 227 h...
VW Aims to Slash Nearly 50 Percent From Battery Costs in Four Years
In the tradition of Tesla’s annual Battery Day, Volkswagen just held its first Power Day. The globally broadcast virtual event laid out the company’s vision for the future of battery chemistry, pack design, manufacture, and recycling, as well as for building out a charging infrastructure, the discussion of which was capped off with this vision and mission statement: “With the right energy management and intelligent storage systems, one day charging will be for free.” Here are the highlights. Volksbattery—An Almost 50 Percent Cost Reduction! To deliver e-mobility the masses can afford, costs must come down. The VW Group reckons it can drop battery costs to around $100/kWh for its entry-level offerings. Here’s where that roughly 50 percent reduction in cost will...
2021 Lexus ES250 AWD First Test Review: Luxury for the Masses
Lexus ES Full Overview “Affordable luxury” tends to be an oxymoron, especially when referring to midsize luxury sedans. But the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD might be the exception to the rule. Starting at $41,025, the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD is a bargain compared to other competitors like the Genesis G80 or Volvo S90, both of which are at least $7,000 more expensive. Yes, the Lexus comes with some compromises, like its base naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. However, the ES250 offers an entry-level price point to the Lexus marque that other luxury automakers don’t offer buyers looking to step into their fold. 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD: Is It Truly Luxurious? See all 31 photos You get a nice first impression when you enter the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD. Although the cabin doesn’t ...
Jeep Wagoneer LWB and 4xe Plug-in Hybrid: Everything We Know
Yes. Jeep plans to introduce a long-wheelbase Wagoneer to properly compete with its crosstown rivals’ bigger siblings. And if the standard-length Wagoneer’s size is anything to go by, then the long-wheelbase Jeep is sure to overshadow even the biggest of these big SUVs, the 226.9-inch-long Cadillac Escalade ESV. While Jeep kept mum on the topic of a long-wheelbase Wagoneer at the time of the production SUV’s unveiling, the brand previously acknowledged during the reveal of the Grand Wagoneer concept that it plans to produce the extra-long variant of the SUV once production of the standard-length model fully ramps up. We wager the even bigger Wagoneer may see the light of day as early as 2022 as a 2023 model. See all 24 photos Likewise, we expect Jeep to offer the Wa...
Bollinger Reveals Dually Versions of Its B2 EV Chassis
The EV truck revolution isn’t just some far-off fantasy, it’s basically happened already. Tesla’s Cybertruck is expected to arrive by the end of this year, Rivian is on its way to delivering R1Ts, and Bollinger just announced that the B2’s chassis will be available with six tires. That’s right, the EV truck movement is officially coming for the dually contingent, too. The Detroit-based truck company will now offer multiple versions of its truck chassis. We’ve already covered the announcement of the B2 Chassis cab, but we now have pricing for all of the new models. More on that in a moment. Nicknamed the “CHASS-E,” the less expensive version of the two offerings will literally just be the B2’s chassis, but with the option for a dual...
Prepare Your Desks: McLaren F1 Paraphernalia Heads to Auction
Just when we thought we’d never find spare accessories for our pair of McLaren F1s, RM Sotheby’s has a small bundle of neat-o accoutrements for the genre-defining hypercar up for grabs at its online-only Open Roads sale. We’ll have to make shelf space in our Swiss chalet garage. Maybe we’ll put our extra set of Fabergé eggs in the basement and shift our crate of Pateks to the attic? Hey, we can dream. On a more realistic note, RM Sotheby’s attached reasonable estimates to this small collection of F1 paraphernalia, and if these numbers hold true, interested bidders won’t have to hail from the same tax bracket as current F1 owners to nab a physical piece of hypercar history. There are surely no bargains to be found here, but even some of the cooler st...
Here’s Why the 2022 Wagoneer Luxury SUV Lacks “Jeep” Badging
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer are festooned with badging. “Wagoneer” is spelled out in large letters across the front of the SUV and the nameplate is equally prominent across the back. “Wagoneer” or “Grand Wagoneer” is replicated on each side of both vehicles, punctuated by an American flag. Open the driver’s door and the name is on a plate at the bottom of the seat. Jeep even moved the controls for the 24-way seat to the door to clear space for this decoration. One badge you won’t find on the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer or 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, though, is Jeep‘s own. It’s not necessary, Christian Meunier, chief executive officer of the Jeep brand, said. “The Grand Wagoneer name and design make it o...
2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian Brings Out the Full-Size SUV’s Darker Side
Obsidian, besides sounding like an awesomely regal name for the family pooch, is a glass-like volcanic rock that’s naturally black in color. However, outside of the natural world, it’s a term that’ll now be associated with the Jeep Wagoneer, specifically the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian. As its name implies, this special Wagoneer family member comes adorned with elegant black cues. It’s the perfect touch of style and customization straight from the factory. Keep reading to get the lowdown on what makes the Grand Wagoneer Obsidian special. What Is the Grand Wagoneer Obsidian, Anyway? Even though the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the same vehicles at heart, only the latter offers the Obsidian kit. This means the Obsidian—like other Grand Wagoneer trims—comes st...
