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Fast Facts 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid Powertrain 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with hybrid electric motor (437hp @ 5,200rpm, 583 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm) Transmission Ten-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive Fuel Economy, MPG 18 city / 20 highway / 19 combined (EPA Rating) Fuel Economy, L/100km 12.9 city / 11.6 highway / 12.3 combined. (NRCan Rating) Base Price $68,500 US / $82,831 CAN As Tested $69,185 US / $82,894 CAN Prices include $1,695 destination charge in the United States and $2,021 for freight, PDI, and A/C tax in Canada and, because of cross-border equipment differences, can’t be directly compared. Making…

BMW is working on a redesign for its 5-Series, and the latest prototype to be spotted is a wagon version of a planned electric i5 variant. Likely to be called the i5 Touring (Touring is the name BMW uses for its wagons outside the U.S.), the electric wagon will be sold alongside a regular 5-Series Touring powered by gas and diesel engines. Don’t look for either wagon to reach the U.S., as buyers here in need of cargo space mostly prefer SUVs. The redesigned 5-Series is expected to debut this year as a 2024 model. The i5 should arrive at…

Lexus has announced pricing for its first electric vehicle for the U.S., the 2023 RZ 450e electric luxury crossover, just before it heads to dealerships later this month. The RZ 450e comes in two different trim levels, Premium and Luxury, with both offered only in all-wheel-drive form. In Premium form, the RZ 450e, as it’s badged, costs $59,650, including the $1,150 destination fee. That’s with 18-inch wheels; adding 20-inch wheels props up the price by $1,240. RZ 450e Luxury versions cost $65,150.  While hardly a bargain, this EV lands on the pricey side of a growing field of luxury-brand EV…

Volkswagen recalls some of its first-year ID.4 EVs. California considers money for EV conversions. And we take a drive in the 2023 Accord Hybrid. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports.  In a first drive of the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, we found that this sedan isn’t as distinctive in some respects as its predecessor, but it’s improved in efficiency, refinement, and most measures that matter on the drive. It feels sportier as a hybrid, too.  California legislators are proposing a bill, supported by SEMA, that would offer residents a rebate of up to $2,000 for converting gasoline cars to…

A recent patent filing indicates that Ford might follow General Motors and Ram with a midgate for pickup trucks, but the automaker has another trick up its sleeve as well. Published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jan. 31, 2023, the patent application is titled “Pivotable Sill for a Vehicle.” It describes a movable section of a pickup cab wall that could open to allow direct access from the bed to the cab. Unlike other midgate designs, however, Ford’s proposed version would pivot up, like a rear hatch, rather than folding down. This would, among other things,…

From the February/March issue of Car and Driver.Lap Time: 2:58.8Class: LL2 | Base Price: $46,170 | As-Tested: $46,625Power and Weight: 315 hp • 3174 lb • 10.1 lb/hp Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup; 2 265/30ZR-19 (93Y)Here’s one for the impatient. The Honda Civic Type R is the perfect track car for line jumpers, nail biters, and folks who just don’t want to spend life waiting. First corner: the long right-hander that calls for a slow roll into the throttle on exit. Most powerful front- drivers like the Type R easily overwhelm their front tires and dart wide if you’re on…

BMW’s X5 mid-size SUV and its coupe-like X6 sibling have been thoroughly updated for the 2024 model year. Revealed late on Tuesday, the updated SUVs benefit from new styling, new powertrains, and an overhauled cabin loaded with BMW’s latest technology. They go into production in April at BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Sales should commence shortly thereafter and BMW has confirmed pricing will start at $66,195 for the 2024 X5 and $74,895 for the 2026 X6. Both figures include a $995 destination charge. 2024 BMW X5 New headlights with a slimmer design feature on both SUVs, while the X5…

The Genesis X Concept 2+2 grand tourer that debuted in March 2021 began as an internal design exercise. We said then that Genesis needs to build it. Over the next 18 months, we were treated to follow-ups in the X Speedium Coupe Concept, a shooting brake with more accommodations made for back-seaters, and the X Convertible Concept shown at last year’s L.A. Auto Show. Seeing the droptop variant was like finding a gorgeous new example of a species going extinct, the Genesis (conceptually) replenishing an ecosystem that once included the Mercedes-Benz S-Class convertible and Jaguar XK but is now down to…

Porsche is working on a mid-cycle update for its Taycan electric sedan and wagon, and the latest prototype to be spotted is for the Taycan Cross Turismo soft-roader. While the updates will be mild, there are rumors of a new performance flagship coming to take on the Tesla Model S Plaid. Mercedes-Benz has revealed a redesigned eSprinter electric van. The previous eSprinter was never sold in the U.S. but the new one will reach local showrooms later this year. It will also be built locally, in this case at the Sprinter plant in Charleston, South Carolina. Hennessey has come out…

Snow Tires Quick Tips The rubber for snow tires remains flexible in freezing temperatures, enabling them to maintain firm contact with the road. Snow tires are more common than studded tires today because of tire technology advancements. A front-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires can grip a snowy road better than an all-wheel-drive car with all-season tires. A typical set of snow tires costs up to $800. Budget the expense of a tire shop installing them in winter and putting all-season tires back on for warmer seasons. The phrase “where the rubber meets the road” describes the moment you put…