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Little cars are full of character, fun to drive and easy to navigate around small back streets. This Mazda Carol 360 is all of those things, but also terrifying. Owner Hiroshi Hagiwara started his love affair with classic cars as a teenager, cruising around in big old American cars. If you ask me, that’s quite a mature start in car appreciation, so how did he end up in a tiny Carol kei car? Well, it was really just a case of curiosity. After years of captaining V8-powered boats through tight Japanese lanes, Hiroshi-san wondered what it might be like to be behind the wheel of a…

If you’re waiting for General Motors to launch a rival to the current Ford Bronco, the boss of GM has some bad news. “I’m not gonna do a Bronco,” GM president Mark Reuss said in a recent interview with The Drive. At least, not one powered by an internal-combustion engine. 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition While the Bronco has been a sales success for Ford, and the rival Jeep Wrangler remains a bright spot for Stellantis, Reuss said he isn’t interested in being “late to the party.” Launching a Bronco rival now would force GM to play catch-up…

Ferrari is the latest F1 team to reveal its contender for the 2023 season. It’s called the SF-23, and while it’s largely an evolution of last year’s car there’s a new livery that combines the traditional red with bare carbon fiber. The red here is a matte version of the glossy finish used on Ferrari’s 499P LMH endurance racer. Ford has been spotted testing its first model based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform designed for mainstream electric vehicles. The first model is a compact crossover that likely shares much in common with the MEB-based Volkswagen ID.4. Mercedes-Benz’s latest S-Class has…

Ford plans to make LFP batteries for EVs and will soon put them in Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. A battery issue has halted Lightning production. All eyes are on Tesla and whether it will open up its Supercharger hardware. And Volkswagen is back to old messaging on plug-in hybrids. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports.  Ford Monday confirmed a Michigan battery plant that, starting in 2026, will make cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) EV batteries using tech from China’s CATL. In the meantime, the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning are set to get this tech over the next year.…

Ram’s mid-size Dakota pickup truck (originally a Dodge Dakota) bowed out of production in 2011, and the automaker has now provided the first hint that a modern successor may be in the works. When asked by Pickup Truck + SUV Talk at last week’s Chicago auto show about the fate of a modern Dakota, Ram CEO Mike Koval said he plans to show something along those lines at a dealer meeting taking place in Las Vegas in late March. Rumor has it Koval is planning to show a concept of a mid-size pickup with an electrified powertrain. Koval starts talking…

When it comes to a daily driver, comfort is key. As car enthusiasts, nothing compares to the feeling of driving a powerful high-performance machine. However, long hauls and daily errands can be a complete hassle in cars like these, as much as we love them. What with cramped seating space, a severe lack of storage, and performance-oriented suspension with seats that are less than optimal for long hauls, even our favorite performance cars are less than ideal choices for traffic jams, long drives, and demanding commutes. The best cars for these everyday endeavors are ones that are practical and comfortable,…

Volkswagen has in recent years seen hybrids and plug-in hybrids as slowing the U.S. shift to EVs. But that may no longer be the case. At the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America Pablo Di Si told DriftBreath Reports plug-in hybrids are back in consideration for the U.S. Di Si said the more options on the table the better because “we take CO2 and emissions seriously, and this is another solution.” During a media roundtable, Volkswagen of America Senior Vice President of Sales Hein Schafer showed a presentation slide with two columns: one with…

The GMC Hummer EV knows how ludicrous of a concept it is (An electric revival of the quintessential gas-guzzler? You must be kidding), and it leans into the bit completely. Heck, GMC dubs the truck’s launch control setup Watts to Freedom (WTF) mode. With it engaged, this 1000-hp, tri-motor behemoth claws its way to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. If that’s not enough for you, take a look at the Hummer’s Extract Mode, which raises the truck nearly 16 inches off the ground, or its Crab Walk mode that, thanks to a four-wheel steering system, allows the truck to drive…

Electric Car Battery Warranty Quick Facts Electric car warranties are similar to bumper-to-bumper coverage on gas-powered cars, plus an additional warranty for the battery. Hybrid and EV battery warranties last at least eight years or 100,000 miles, which is longer than most manufacturer powertrain warranties. According to some studies, total battery failure is uncommon, but electric car batteries degrade and lose 5-10% of their life in the first five years. Electric car battery replacement typically happens when capacity falls below 70-75% while under warranty, depending on the manufacturer. New technologies bring new questions, and there are plenty surrounding electric vehicles…

Ford has applied for a patent on a solid-axle and hub-motor combination for EVs remarkably similar to what the automaker dismissed as nonviable for its F-150 Lightning pickup truck. As detailed in the application, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Feb. 9, a solid axle similar to what is currently used in many current pickups would be teamed with in-hub motors. One hub-motor assembly would be mounted at each wheel, giving the vehicle all-wheel drive. Clutches would control the distribution of torque, enabling 100% of the torque from one motor to be sent to…