Author: Sofia

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…

On Wednesday, the Hoonigan team released a video to YouTube discussing what’s next after the loss of co-founder and automotive icon Ken Block. Hoonigan co-founder and Block’s business partner Brian Scotto said the team was supposed to start the year by traveling to Australia to film a down under version of their video series “This vs. That.” The trip was cancelled after Block died in a snowmobile accident on Jan. 2. Over the last few weeks, Scotto said, the Hoonigan team discussed the project’s future, and concluded that it was time to change its direction. As a result, a new YouTube…

The BMW 5 Series is a hugely capable, beautifully built and spacious premium saloon that’s also great to drive. Arguably, it is still one of the most complete cars on sale today.Few vehicles are as accomplished as the 5 Series. BMW’s executive saloon has long been considered one of the best all-round cars you can buy, and the seventh-generation model delivers the talents of its predecessors with a healthy dose of hi-tech kit and construction in the mix. About the BMW 5 SeriesThere’s been a 5 Series in BMW’s line-up for more than four decades now, and we’re well into the…

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Biden administration on Wednesday laid out a set of requirements for charging hardware—and charging network behavior—that any company looking at claiming federal funds in the buildout of the $7.5 billion national EV charging network will need to submit to. Even Tesla. The final requirements add to the administration’s “Build America, Buy America” approach, and they’re requirements that any of the federally approved, state-designated processes granting companies any of the $5 billion designated as National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding will need to comply with.  NEVI is effectively the policy name of the national…