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Quick Facts About Car Subscription Services Five years ago, automaker vehicle subscription services seemed like the next big thing for acquiring a car. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Cadillac, Volvo, and Porsche jumped into this new brand-sponsored leasing-renting hybrid strategy. Mercedes curtailed its program in 2020, while BMW, Audi, and Cadillac discontinued theirs in 2021. The departures left Volvo and Porsche as the last carmakers standing. However, in an announcement at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai breathed some new life into the subscription concept by announcing its Evolve+ EV Subscription Program. Although it takes a somewhat different tack than the more…
Honda has a redesigned CR-V on sale for 2023, but the version featured here won’t appear in showrooms. It’s a one-off build developed by Honda Performance Development, both as a promotional tool and a rolling laboratory. Called the CR-V Hybrid Racer, it’s built around a custom frame and packs the new hybrid powertrain Honda is developing for IndyCar. The open-wheel series is set to introduce hybrid powertrains in 2024. The powertrain combines Honda’s current twin-turbo 2.2-liter V-6 IndyCar engine with a driver-activated Empel electric motor-generator. Instead of storing the electrical energy in a battery, the setup relies on a Skeleton…
In January, Renault CEO Luca de Meo opened up about plans for global expansion, with sub-brand Alpine given the role of planting flags in North America and China. As startup brands are finding of late, not only is making cars difficult, servicing them without an easily accessible network is a costly pain. Tesla’s been at it for a decade and Tesla owners still face a particular set of challenges. With de Meo looking for the best way into the U.S. market, AutoNation might have opened the front gate. Automotive DriftBreath reports that the Renault chief has been in talks with…
Industry newcomer Rivian is already wowing owners not just with its R1T electric truck but as part of a well-rounded assessment of the ownership experience. The Rivian R1T was ranked highest in satisfaction in results released Tuesday from an annual study focusing on EV ownership from survey giant J.D. Power. It’s followed, in order of ranking, by the Mini Cooper SE, Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3, and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, which looks at electric vehicle owner satisfaction, now makes the focus the first year of ownership. For the third year of the study,…
Current emissions regulations are focused on what comes out of vehicle tailpipes, but a new study claims more than half of road-vehicle particulate emissions—fine particles that can pollute surrounding air and water—comes from other sources. Conducted by Imperial College London, the study (via DriftBreath Congress) estimates that in 2021 52% of all particle emissions came from tires and brakes. Globally, 6.6 million tons of tire-wear particles alone are emitted annually, and in London alone 2.6 million vehicles emit almost 10,000 tons of tire particles annually, according to the study. How tire particulate emissions enter the environment (from Imperial College London…
Mini is out testing a prototype for a new addition to its lineup. The prototype is for an electric subcompact crossover that will be positioned below the Countryman. The vehicle was previewed last July by the Aceman concept, whose name it may carry into production. A revival of the Paceman name is also rumored. The Aceman, or whatever it ends up labeled as, is expected to arrive in 2024 as a 2025 model. A redesigned Countryman will arrive this year, and it’s set to grow slightly to make room for the Aceman. The Aceman concept measured 159.4 inches long, or…
187 Automotive I’m going to start this article with a little complaint, unfortunately. Last year, after Players Classic, I wrote an article about my friend Ray’s Mercedes SEC and my BMW 740i Sport. In that piece, I explained how BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes of the ’80s and ’90s were going through a renaissance in popular culture, making it more difficult for enthusiasts to obtain them. Well, there seems to have been a shift more towards Mercedes models since then. Iconic examples are being bought up in droves, and often for the wrong reasons. The ’90s Mercedes-Benz has become the darling car of people craving quick Instagram fame, and trying…
Nissan plans to add even more electric vehicles to its global lineup than what it had planned less than two years ago. The automaker on Monday said it will offer 19 EVs spanning its Nissan and Infiniti brands by 2030, up from a previous goal of 15 announced in late 2021 as part of the launch of its Ambition 2030 strategy. It cited changes in customer needs and the business environment as the reason for the increase. While the goal is for Nissan’s global lineup, the automaker will also have a major EV presence in the U.S. by 2030. Nissan…
Vinfast on Monday confirmed plans to begin U.S. deliveries March 1, as a report indicated the automaker is planning to lower lease prices. Vinfast had reported the first batch of 999 U.S.-bound VF 8 electric SUVs shipped out in late November, following the delivery of 100 vehicles to customers in its home country of Vietnam in September. The company confirmed in a press release that these vehicles arrived in December 2022, when Vinfast had originally planned to start U.S. deliveries, but they have sat at the port since then, reportedly awaiting software updates. Vinfast VF 8 The company now plans…
Mercedes-Benz is working on an update for its V-Class, the premium version of the Metris van sold in the U.S. Prototypes spotted in the wild hint at mild styling tweaks for the mid-size van, which is expected to be launched in updated form in the second half of 2023. The updated V-Class looks to feature revised headlights and a new grille and front fascia combo. The taillights are also expected to receive some slight tweaks, and Mercedes’ latest infotainment system should be used in the cabin. Shots of the interior show a new panel combining screens for a digital instrument…