Autos

Both the S90 and XC90 Recharge—that’s Volvo’s new name for its T8 plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles, as the T8 badge is retired—get a major price cut for 2021. The XC90 Recharge is now $64,445 at base—a $3,550 reduction compared to the 2020 T8—and that’s before a possible $5,419 federal tax credit is applied. The S90 Recharge is now $3,150 less expensive than it was last year, and will start at $61,045 in 2021, again, before the tax credit. The price difference between Volvo’s T6 and the plug-in-hybrid Recharge trims has been made considerably smaller for 2021. In 2020, the gap between the XC90 T6 and T8 was $10,700, but in 2021 it’s been brought down to $6,500, and a similar discount has been made to the S90. In 2020 the S90 T8 was $9,550 pricier than the T6, ...

To say the R35 Nissan GT-R was a big deal when it first came out would be a gross understatement. The front-mid-engine, all-wheel-drive coupe was relatively hefty, yet somehow drove around a track like a much lighter car. The same grippy AWD system and smart traction control programming that made that possible also facilitated the GT-R’s whiplash-inducing acceleration, which at the time was a fairly new thing. With its arsenal of computers and sensors, the GT-R seemingly defied physics. But that was well over a decade ago, and supercars have come a long way since then. Though still impressive, the Nissan GT-R is no longer the giant slayer it once was. When Nissan teased its lineup through 2023, the absence of a GT-R left us wondering if Godzilla’s reign had finally come to an e...

The 2021 Lexus RX is the latest vehicle from the Japanese automaker to receive its new Black Line treatment, after the GS sedan and the RC coupe. Now available on RX F Sport models, the Black Line special edition adds dark accents to the exterior and interior. See if you can spot the subtle changes. Perhaps the most notable update is the set of 20-inch black wheels. Black-painted side mirrors, black side graphics, and a dark grille surround complete the subtly meaner look. The only two high-contrast paint colors available complement the black accents nicely: Ultra White and Grecian Water. See all 27 photos Inside the cabin, the Black Edition features black seats with white accents and blue-colored stitching. Special floor mats, key gloves, and a cargo mat is also part of the package. Buyer...

The 2021 Porsche Panamera welcomes two new trims to its model line: the 552-hp 4S E-Hybrid and the 620-hp Turbo S. In turn, however, the large Porsche four-door bids adieu to the plain-old Turbo trim. Why? Well, it seems the automaker got so much power out of the old Turbo’s gas-fed V-8, it deserved Turbo S status—and besides, the new 4S E-Hybrid steps neatly into the performance shoes of the outgoing, 550-hp Panamera Turbo. At least, that’s what the German brand’s vice president of the Panamera model line, Thomas Friemuth, told MotorTrend in a recent interview. See all 25 photos “In terms of power and torque, the new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid gets into the range of the old Panamera Turbo,” Friemuth said. Good thing, too, because Porsche realized it had truly ...

Why All the Interest in Electric Delivery Vans? Bollinger’s own figures suggest that replacing a fleet of gas- and diesel-powered vans with electric Deliver-E vans could drop a fleet owner’s total cost of operation by 15-25 percent over a ten-year period, using conservative estimates of fuel costs. Higher efficiency, lower energy costs, greater “up-time,” and reduced maintenance costs are the primary drivers of this savings. See all 8 photos Not a B1/B2/Chass-E Frame As soon as Bollinger rolled out its Chass-E class-3 electric rolling chassis earlier in 2020, prospective commercial customers began inquiring about upfitting delivery van bodywork to it. This could easily be done, of course but it made no sense—unless said deliveries were to be made so far off pavement...

As we’ve noted in previous reviews, the Flying Spur is the best Bentley sedan of the modern era thanks to its sumptuous interior and effortless acceleration. Now, a carbon fiber package promises to give the sedan even more road presence. The updates are subtle, but likely won’t go unnoticed by discerning Bentley customers. The Styling Specification adds carbon fiber accents to the Flying Spur’s front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler. Bentley has performed a battery of tests to make sure the carbon fiber bits don’t disturb the sedan’s performance. The parts were also tested for durability to withstand curb strikes, wading, and poor roads. Bentley even paid close attention to the badging, giving the side sills a special three-dimensional ele...

Looks like the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, the SUV version of the bow-tie’s small electric car, is still on track for sale next summer. The EUV is the second vehicle in the Bolt electric car family. It is slightly larger, hardier, and designed to look a little more like an SUV than a car and offer more interior room to play with. Importantly, the Bolt EUV will be the first vehicle outside the Cadillac brand to offer Super Cruise, the driver-assistance technology that allows for hands-free highway driving on mapped roads. Sleeker Profile Sets Bolt EUV Apart As you can see from the teaser released by General Motors, the EUV has a much sleeker silhouette than the frumpy Bolt hatchback, with a roofline that ends in a rear spoiler. The beltline angles up gently as it proceeds from the A-pill...

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is the same nimble, fun-to-drive crossover SUV as before, but now, Mazda is sweetening the pot with a few additional features, which won’t cost you much extra. Arriving in dealerships this September, the 2021 CX-5 starts at $26,370—a modest $80 increase from last year. The CX-5 is still priced competitively with key rivals like the 2020 Honda CR-V ($26,270) and 2020 Toyota RAV4 ($27,125). That $80 difference nets customers a newly standard 10.3-inch infotainment screen, which replaces the previously standard 7.0-inch unit, as well as the optional 8.0-inch display, of 2020 models. See all 25 photos The next step up from the base Sport model is the Touring, which brings along heated front seats, leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and two US...

Kicking off Volkswagen’s renewed electric vehicle offensive in the United States is the ID 4, a small crossover that will sit on a new dedicated EV platform. And it’ll be here before you know it, with the first U.S. deliveries scheduled to begin before the end of the year. Ahead of its arrival, VW is revealing a few more details on the ordering process. Following in the footsteps of other electric vehicles, the Volkswagen ID 4 will be available for pre-order. Interested buyers will be able to make a fully refundable $100 deposit to get the process started. This reservation holds your spot in line to order one of these EVs. Another $400 deposit locks in your configuration with your preferred dealership, although this is ultimately refundable as well. You’ll be able to trac...