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Lamborghini turns 60 in 2023 and has a number of events planned to celebrate the milestone. To kick things off, the company has released a video that reminds us that it created the recipe for the modern supercar when it launched the Miura in 1966. Hyundai has been spotted testing a prototype for a redesigned Santa Fe. Judging by the tester, the next generation of the popular mid-size SUV will take on a much boxier design. A prototype for an updated version of the related Kia Sorento has also been spotted. Cadillac has confirmed plans to launch three EVs in…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering whether to apply a recently implemented rule to millions of older vehicles. The rule requires EVs and hybrids to have noisemakers to alert pedestrians. Passed in 2018, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 requires EV and hybrid passenger cars manufactured on or after March 1, 2021, to emit noises at speeds below 19 mph to alert pedestrians to their presence. These vehicles were deemed too quiet otherwise because of their lack of engine sounds. 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive In July 2022 the NHTSA received a petition (first spotted by…

It was back in 1963 that Ferruccio Lamborghini, the then owner of a tractor company, decided to start building his own range of high-performance cars. His car company, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., turns 60 this year, and to celebrate the company has released a video reminding us that it was the creator of the modern supercar. Lamborghini’s first model, the 350 GT, was a grand tourer with its V-12 engine mounted up front. However, Lamborghini flipped the script just a few years later when it rolled out the bare Miura chassis at the 1965 Turin auto show. The Marcello Gandini-styled body…

Lexus quietly posted pricing for the battery-electric 2023 RZ 450e crossover on its retail site. There are two trims at launch, RZ 450e Premium and RZ 450e Luxury, both all-wheel drive. The Premium comes with features like a panoramic glass roof, 14-inch touchscreen display, climate controlled, eight-way power seats in the front row, heated steering wheel, single-color ambient lighting, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, five USB ports, Lexus 10-speaker audio, and adaptive cruise control. At launch last April, Lexus estimated the RZ’s range on the Premium’s standard 18-inch wheels at 225 miles. That range figure has…

Production and shipments of the Ford F-150 Lightning have been stopped, though sales continue. On Tuesday, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg confirmed to DriftBreath Reports a stop-build and in-transit stop-ship order has been given for the F-150 Lightning pickup truck due to a potential battery issue. Ford on Wednesday confirmed the issue as related to the battery, with a Lightning catching fire outside, while undergoing its pre-delivery quality check. It has not yet disclosed more information about the nature of the issue. The issue, first reported as a fire late Wednesday by the Detroit Free Press, happened where vehicles are held for those…

A patent filing hints that Stellantis may be the next automaker to adopt a rear-wheel-steering system. Several automakers already offer rear-wheel steering on a variety of vehicles, but Stellantis’ patent application, published in April 2022 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), claims improvements over current systems. Stellantis rear-wheel steering system patent image Like other systems, the application discusses using a linear electric motor (otherwise known as an actuator) to manipulate arms attached to the wheels for steering, in conjunction with a multi-link rear-suspension system. However, in the application, Stellantis claims connecting these arms directly to the wheels…

From the February/March 2023 issue of Car and Driver.Lap Time: 3:00.6Class: LL2 | Base: $51,945 | As-Tested: $59,745Power and Weight: 382 hp • 3885 lb • 10.2 lb/hpTires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S; F: 245/35ZR-19 (93Y), R: 255/35ZR-19 (96Y)Another repeat? Well, the 2-series got another invite because last year’s car was missing a key performance option: the $2400 Cooling and High-Performance Tire package. Although we had no cooling issues before, this option nets a more powerful fan and an additional oil cooler, plus Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires—20 millimeters wider in front—mounted on wider wheels (0.5 inch wider in front, 1.0…

Cadillac’s just beginning to ramp Lyriq production, but the automaker is already looking toward what’s next. On Wednesday Cadillac Global Vice President Ron Harvey said three new EVs will debut in 2023, during a media briefing. All three of these EVs will go into production in 2024, according to Harvey. The actual sales launches will be staggered for some markets, though. Harvey noted that some of these models will be built and sold in multiple markets, which will lead to production kicking off at different times. While Harvey would not comment on what vehicle types the new EVs are, Cadillac…

Cadillac has three EVs due for a production start next year. Mini is building an electric convertible. There’s a Toyota RAV4 Prime recall. And Tesla will open up “a portion” of its charging network to federal funding. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports.  The Biden administration has laid out technical requirements for companies claiming federal funds for the $7.5 billion national EV charging network. It defines U.S.-made, adds rules for hardware and uptime, and to some degree lays out the required consumer interface. That includes the “portion” of the Tesla Supercharger and Destination charger network expected to be opened…

Mini has been selling an electric version of the Hardtop for a number of years, and now the car’s powertrain has been added to the Convertible. Just 999 examples of the electric Convertible are destined to be built, at least for this generation, and they’re all earmarked for Europe. Mercedes-Benz AMG has revealed its 2023 Formula 1 race car, and the new contender marks a return to a black livery. This time there’s a performance angle, as the car is mostly black due to its carbon-fiber body being left unpainted to help save weight. The White House has laid out…