Tag Archives: Hatchbacks

Business

2023 Honda Civic Type R Makes 315 HP and 310 Lb-Ft of Torque

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Photo: Honda

Honda has finally revealed just about every detail you wanted to know about the 2023 Civic Type R. Here’s the big ones: 315 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600 to 4,000 rpm. That gives the new top-dog Civic 157.8 hp per liter, and makes it the most powerful production vehicle Honda has ever sold in the U.S.

We’ve seen just about every angle of the new Type R by now, but today we have numbers to back up the looks. Technically, this is the sixth generation of the Civic Type R, but it’s only the second to be officially imported to the U.S. And compared to the outgoing Type R, there’s a lot of familiar stuff in this new model: The K20C1 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four from the last Type R returns for duty, as does the six-speed manual transmission.

Photo: Honda

Honda managed to squeeze 9 more horses and 15 more lb-ft of torque out of that engine thanks to a revised turbocharger, improvements to intake air flow, and a more efficient straight-through exhaust system. That’s slightly less than the 326-hp rumor we saw floating around this week, but it’s basically right on the money with Steve’s semi-educated prediction from July. Nice work, DaSilva.

The engine redlines at 7,000 rpm, and makes a maximum of 23.3 psi of boost. It’s paired with a lighter flywheel for better response, and the six-speed manual (the only transmission available) gets more precise shift gates and an improved automatic rev-matching system. A bigger radiator, larger grille openings and an air-extractor vent in the hood all help manage the heat that mighty little motor will create. A helical-type limited-slip differential helps put the power down, while the dual-axis front suspension has been tweaked to keep torque-steer at bay.

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Photo: Honda

The old Type R had a nifty three-tip exhaust setup that managed to be quiet in polite driving and throaty when you were hooning it, without the use of electronics or any moving parts. The new Honda hot hatch uses an active exhaust valve that opens a less-muffled circuit under hard driving. The triple tips remain, though, and I’m grateful for that — it’s become a bit of a Type R tradition.

The new 11th-generation Civic is slightly bigger than the previous model, and so the new Type R has grown a little in basically every dimension. It’s 180.9 inches long, 55.4 inches high, and 74.4 inches wide overall. The 107.7-inch wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer, and the Type R’s track was widened by a full inch up front (to 64 inches), 0.75 inches at the rear (now measuring 63.5 inches). Like the previous model, the new Type R uses strut suspension up front and a multilink setup at the rear, and the new model gets 20-mm-wider 265/30 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on 19-inch matte black wheels at all four corners. Overall, the new Type R is 0.8 inches longer and 0.6 inches wider than the previous model, but the roof sits a full half-inch lower.

Photo: Honda

Every body panel ahead of the A-pillar is unique on the Type R, and the wider stance actually necessitated wider rear doors to help the body blend into the aggressive rear fender flares. Out back, the Type R gets a tall and aggressive rear spoiler on aluminum perches as well as an under-body diffuser.

All these power, chassis and aero improvements add up: As Honda revealed earlier this year, the new Type R beat its own record around Suzuka Circuit by nearly a full second, setting a front-drive record in the process. Honda cheekily notes in today’s press release that the new Type R was tested on the Nürburgring, though the automaker hasn’t revealed a lap time. Maybe we’ll learn that soon?

The Civic Type R will be available standard painted in Rallye red or Crystal black pearl; optional paint colors are Boost blue, Sonic grey pearl, or, of course, Championship white, a shade that’s only ever been offered on Honda Type R products.

Photo: Honda

Inside, Honda has expanded the Type R’s signature red upholstery, wrapping the entire floor in crimson (though the rear seats are still basic black). New lightweight front seats move the driver a smidge lower, with outward vision aided by the 11th-generation Civic’s lower dashboard, thinner pillars and relocated side-view mirrors. This being a Type R, the shift knob is brushed aluminum with a red-painted shift pattern, and there’s a numbered plaque on the dashboard.

The all-digital instrument panel changes configuration as you switch through four drive modes — Comfort, Sport, R+, and Individual — and the Civic Type R gets a newly improved version of Honda LogR, a built-in data logger to record lap times and input traces. Where previous versions of Honda LogR required you to download a smartphone app, this latest version is entirely standalone. Like all new Civics, the Type R has a 9-inch touchscreen in the dashboard, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless Qi phone charging. Honda’s Bose Centerpoint sound system is standard on the Type R.

There are two important numbers that Honda has not yet released: The 2023 Type R’s curb weight, and its price. The automaker will have to let those numbers out soon, because the new Type R is promised to hit the streets this fall.

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Business

These 20 EVs Will Keep Their Tax Credits for Now

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Photo: Ford

There are 20 electric vehicles that will qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit through the end of the year, the U.S. and Mexico are ending a labor probe at a Mexican Stellantis plant, and Warren Buffet doesn’t seem to0 worried about the car market. All that and more in The Morning Shift for Wednesday (my dudes), August 17, 2022.

1st Gear: The 20 Qualifiers

President Biden signed the sweeping tax, climate and health care bill on Tuesday, and the administration now says about 20 models will still qualify for the up to $7,500 EV tax credit through the end of 2022.

That being said, the law immediately ends credits for almost three quarters of the 72 models that were previously eligible. That’s because, in order to qualify, the EVs must now be assembled in North America.

The number of eligible vehicles is likely to change come January 1, 2023, when new restrictions on battery and mineral sources and pricing caps come into play. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group, says it’ll make all or nearly all EVs ineligible. From Automotive News:

The automaker group said it will work with the administration “as they issue critical guidance and new regulations – so the EV tax credit is as available and beneficial to consumers as possible.”

Currently eligible vehicles are 2022 model year EV or plug-in hybrid electric versions of the Audi Q5; BMW X5 and 3-Series Plug-in; Ford Mach-E, F-Series, Escape PHEV and Transit Van; Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV and Wrangler PHEV; Lincoln Aviator PHEV and Corsair Plug-in; Lucid Air; Nissan Leaf; Volvo S60; and Rivian, R1S and R1T. The 2023 Nissan Leaf, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes EQS are also eligible.

Some models are built both in North America and overseas and consumers should check vehicle identification numbers to ensure eligibility, the Treasury Department said.

…

Buyers can still qualify if they had binding written contracts before Biden’s signing and some automakers had been urging customers to make portions of deposits non-refundable to qualify.

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Year-round basics

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The law also makes General Motors and Tesla vehicles eligible for tax credits starting on January 1. They had previously lost the credits after hitting the old 200,000-vehicle per manufacturer cap. However, it’s not clear if any of the vehicles they make would qualify under the new restrictions.

2nd Gear: U.S. and Mexican Labor Probe Ends

The U.S. and Mexican governments have resolved a labor dispute with a Mexican Stellantis manufacturing plant.

The agreement at Teksid Hierro de Mexico is the fourth labor probe to end under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It was one of Mexico’s longest-running labor conflicts.

U.S. labor officials said workers at the plant, which makes parts for heavy vheicles including Cummins, Volvo and Mack, were previously denied their rights to choose their union and do collective bargaining. From Reuters:

Reuters reported last week that Teksid, which employs some 1,500 people, expected to close the case without going to a dispute panel after the company recognized an independent union, a move workers attributed to U.S. pressure under the USMCA.

Workers since 2014 had fought to establish a union known as The Miners at the Teksid plant in the northern state of Coahuila, and accused the company of colluding with a powerful rival union to block their efforts.

…

The USMCA resolution “will help end eight years of rights violations against Teksid workers,” U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, the unit of Italian-French carmaker Stellantis in July agreed to re-hire, with back pay, 36 workers who said they had been fired in retaliation for supporting the union, which also represents metalworkers and miners.

Stellantis says it is “diligently cooperating” with governmental officials during the process. The company says it respects collective bargaining rights and will comply with local laws.

3rd Gear: Buffett Ain’t Worried

Warren Buffett doesn’t seem to think the good times are over for car dealers just yet. New filings show Berkshire Hathaway tripled its stake an Ally Financial, a long-time automotive financial company, to $1 billion in the second quarter of 2022.

The world’s most famous investor seems to believe lending margins will remain strong and default rates will stay low. From Financial Times:

In the two pandemic years, shares in Ally rallied 57 per cent. The stock was buoyed by consumers flush with cash flocking to buy used vehicles. Auto manufacturers were unable to meet demand for new cars.

Ally shares, have fallen by a quarter so far in 2022. Wall Street is worried about the finances of the US consumer as well as a normalisation in the auto market. Ally says those worries remain overstated, a view that now has the implicit endorsement of a legendary investor.

Between the end of the 2019 and the start of 2022, the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index increased by a vertiginous 70 per cent. Higher used car prices supported bigger loans at a time when there were virtually no concerns about immediate credit losses.

Net interest revenue increased substantially in the current quarter, compared with 2021. However, Ally was forced to accrue credit loss provisions so big that pre-tax income fell 40 per cent year on year. The company insists those provisions are simply a natural reversion to ordinary levels.

The move is a vote of confidence not only in auto loans, but in consumer spending power as a whole. If Warren’s not worried about our ability to confidently spend money, why should we be?

4th Gear: BMW’s Battery Switch Up

China’s EVE Energy CO Ltd is going to start supplying BMW with large cylindrical batteries for the company’s electric cars in Europe. It’s reported BMW is following in Tesla’s footsteps by adopting the new technology. Vehicles with the new batteries are due to hit the market in 2025.

Earlier this year, Tesla starting manufacturing its new large-format 4680 cylindrical battery. 4680 means 46 millimeters in diameter and 80 millimeters in length. Tesla says it expects the new battery to lower production costs and improve range compared to the current-generation 2170 cylindrical batteries.

EVE’s batteries are expected to be a similar size to Teslas. From Reuters:

EVE, a supplier to BMW in China, did not directly address Reuters queries when asked for comment. BMW said it plans to release some battery-related news in early September but declined further comment.

The shift by BMW, which currently uses prismatic batteries, underscores growing momentum for larger-format cylindrical batteries. Prismatic batteries, which are rectangular in shape, have become the most common form of auto battery in the past two years as they can be more densely packed, saving on costs. But proponents of cylindrical batteries argue the newer larger format cells have become more cost-effective due to improvements in energy density.

China’s CATL (300750.SZ), the world’s largest battery maker, is also due to start supplying cylindrical batteries to BMW from 2025.

Expectations are high that these batteries will also be large-sized cells. CATL did not respond to a request for comment on planned dimensions.

Right now, it’s not clear exactly how many batteries BMW plans to get from EVE and CATL.

5th Gear: Out Of Power

Toyota has suspended operations at one of its plants in China after local authorities issued an order to conserve electricity. The manufacturing facility will be shuttered until Saturday, according to a spokesperson for the company.

Sichuan province, where the plant is located, is rationing industrial electricity consumption during its worst heatwave in 60 years. It’s caused producers of fertilizers, lithium and other metals to suspend plant operations or curb output. From Reuters:

Industrial users across 19 out of 21 cities in the province were ordered to suspend production from Aug. 15 until Aug. 20 to prioritise residential power supply, according to a notice issued on Sunday by the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Sichuan.

…

“We’re monitoring the situation every day and following the guidance from the government,” the Toyota spokesperson said.

Toyota wouldn’t say just how much vehicle output would be impacted by the suspension.

Reverse: Up!

This is transportation content if I’ve ever seen it.

Neutral: I’m A Gossip Girl Now

I just signed the lease on an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Call me Blair Waldorf, because I’m very fancy. Unfortunately, this will continue my issue of not being able to have my car in the same state I live in. You win some, you lose some. What can ya do, ya know? It’s going to be a fun time. Buh bye, Lower Manhattan.

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Business

2023 Honda Civic Type R

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Image: Honda

In what’s probably one of the most anticipated reveals of the year, Honda has just given the world its first complete look at the all-new 2023 Civic Type R at an event in Los Angeles. While Type R versions of the Civic have been available in the rest of the world since 1997, this is just the second generation of the Civic Type R to come to the U.S. Based on the 11th-gen Civic hatchback that was introduced for 2021, the design is way more grown up than the last CTR.

For more of our exclusive photos of the 2023 Civic Type R, click here!

New Civic Type R: Exterior

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Gone is the overwrought, boy-racer, “I wear my hat backward and vape” design of the previous generation, replaced by clean lines all around on a longer, lower and wider body. Aside from the big wing, the hood vent, and the red Type R badges, the rest of the new CTR is almost subtle. Especially in Historic Championship White, the Type R-exclusive paint color you see here.

Photo: Ernest Crosby

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Up front, Honda gave the Type R a large lower grille — look close, and you can see a huge intercooler behind it — a front lip spoiler, and the red badging we’ve come to expect on Type R products.

Photo: Honda

The good news is, Honda says every scoop or air vent on the Type R is fully functional, for cooling, aerodynamics, or both. The air vents behind the front wheels help cool the front brakes, and the vent in the hood pulls hot air out of the engine bay.

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Out back, there’s a huge black wing that, again, is functional. The rear bumper is unique to the Type R, with an updated version of the triple-outlet exhaust we saw on the last generation CTR and rear diffuser strakes.

2023 Honda Civic Type R: The Interior

Photo: Honda

The interior of the Type R looks fantastic, building off of the hugely improved interior of the 11th-generation Civic. The biggest update with the new Type R: Even more red upholstery. The seats, which used to be red with black accents, are now entirely red, and even the carpet is red now instead of black. The seats are upholstered in a suede-like material. Having sat in them, they’re fantastically grippy and should have no problem holding a driver in place during hard cornering.

Photo: Honda

New Civic Type R: Engine and Drivetrain

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Honda’s familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder returns, as does the six-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching (which, thankfully, you can turn off). The suspension and steering have been Nurburgring tuned to be more responsive and precise.

Honda also added a new driving mode called +R, activated by a button near the shifter. Right now, we only know that this button calls up a new performance-focused layout for the instrument panel (showing a big, horizontal RPM readout) and center screen (with auxiliary gauge readouts for coolant temp, oil pressure, and more). We suspect +R Mode also dials up more aggressive drivetrain and chassis settings, but we’ll have to wait to get details on all of that.

Photo: Ernest Crosby

The Type R also gets a track-oriented data logging system called Honda LogR, which records real-time vehicle information like pedal pressure and steering angle, along with a stopwatch for recording lap times and a camera for lap videos.

2023 Civic Type R: Performance and Power

Photo: Ernest Crosby

As for performance, well, Honda didn’t release any details on horsepower, torque, 0-60, or the like. The ‘23 Type R is definitely faster than its predecessor on track: Honda recently set a front-wheel drive record at Suzuka with a prototype of the car you see here. Honda says the 2023 Type R will be the most powerful Honda vehicle ever offered in the U.S.; those figures, along with pricing details, will be available later this year.

We’ll have to wait for more details as the on-sale date of the Civic Type R gets closer. The Type R is set to fully launch this fall.

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Photo: Ernest Crosby

Photo: Ernest Crosby

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Technology

Hertz Will Let You Rent A 900 Horsepower Mustang

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Shelby GT500-H
Image: Hertz

Hertz and Shelby are working together again. To celebrate a partnership spanning over half a century, the two companies have teamed up on some all-new Shelby GT-H rental Mustangs. One of them has 900 horsepower. This might not be a good idea.

2006 Ford Shelby GT-H
Image: Ford

Hertz and Shelby started working together back in 1966 when 1,000 Mustang GT350s were sent to the rental company’s fleet. Finished in black with gold stripes, the cars were later sold to the public as Shelby GT-H models. The Shelby GT-H returned with the fifth-generation Mustang in 2006. Just 500 coupes and 500 convertibles were made between 2006 and 2007. All had the 319-horsepower 4.6-liter V8.

Shelby GT-H Convertible
Image: Hertz

Now, Hertz renters will get to choose between two flavors of Shelby Mustang. The “basic” version will be the GT-H, shown above, which has special paint and wheels but is otherwise no different from a run-of-the-mill Fun Collection Mustang—pretty much a stock GT with a performance exhaust system.

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You don’t want that one, though. The one you want is the bonkers GT500-H. Hertz started with the 760-hp Shelby GT500 and replaced the factory Roots-type supercharger with a 3.8-liter Whipple unit. A bigger throttle body, cold-air intake, and dual-pass intercoolers bring power output to 900 hp, a 140-hp increase over a standard GT500. Aluminum wheels with performance tires, tinted windows, special badging, and a carbon fiber hood make up the exterior changes. Nineteen of the GT500-Hs will have shadow black paint and six will be painted white. Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr says that “Hertz and Shelby American have created driving magic again.”

Except that magic might be tainted. Putting a 900-horsepower special edition muscle car in the hands of renters doesn’t seem like the soundest idea. At a time when Hertz is under intense scrutiny for allegedly having hundreds of customers arrested on bogus stolen-car charges, adding a high-power, extremely limited-edition muscle car to the mix is certainly an odd choice. The Shelby/Hertz partnership is expected to last three years, and the GT500-H will only be available at select airport locations.

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Technology

Toyota Gives Supra A Manual, Skips Engine That Needed It Most

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Image: Toyota

The sun shined a little brighter when Toyota teased that the Supra was getting a manual transmission. The lack of a stick-shift disqualified Toyota’s halo sports car for many enthusiasts, and while it’s still a great machine, it always felt like something was missing. That changed Thursday, as Toyota finally confirmed that the manual Supra is real — for some buyers.

Update April 29, 2022, 4:20 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with new information about the origin of the Supra’s manual.

First, the good news. Toyota says it went to great lengths to engineer this transmission and make it play nice with the BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. BMW doesn’t offer this engine with a manual, so Toyota had to do a lot of legwork to realize a manual Supra. Here’s what some of that entailed, from Toyota’s press release:

The engineering team modified an existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gear set and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight. At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. With a larger friction area and a stronger spring, this new component has the high-performance capability appropriate for use with the GR Supra’s high-torque engine.

The newly developed 6-speed manual gearbox also features an intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) programmed with new software that prioritizes sporty performance. When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimize engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Sport mode.

To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT). The result is response and gearing appropriate for sports car performance.

The A91-MT limited edition Supra, of which only 500 will be sold in North America.
Image: Toyota

Following Toyota’s announcement, The Drive separately reported on Friday that the six-speed is, much like the Supra itself, of BMW origin. It’s a ZF unit “tuned by Toyota,” in so far as the Japanese automaker swapped out some parts for others — like the aforementioned large-diameter clutch, reinforced spring and the design of the shift knob:

“The parts used in the gearbox come from a combination of ZF manufactured manual transmissions, but the parts combination is exclusive to GR Supra,” a Toyota spokesperson told The Drive. “Toyota partnered with ZF and BMW on the design/layout of shift lever/pedal, decision of final gear ratio, tuning of iMT [rev-matching and upshift smoothing] function, and shift feel.”

This Supra-specific gearbox even gets its own, unique transmission code within BMW’s parts catalog: GS6L50TZ. For what it’s worth, the code for the manual found in the overseas and less powerful BMW Z4 sDrive20i happens to be GS6L40LZ, according to this SupraMKV forum post. Per BMW transmission designation rules, the difference between “L50T” and L40L” indicates a deviation in transmission “type” and gearset. The “GS6″ and “Z” bits of the codes indicate a six-speed manual and ZF as the manufacturer, respectively. For further reference, the manual found in the current M3 and M4 is designated GS6-45BZ.

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Speaking of the shift knob, Toyota says ergonomics were a consideration too. Making space for a manual in a car that wasn’t originally offered with one can be a bit of a bear. Again, from the manufacturer’s release:

Close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the driver’s cockpit. The lever ratio was specifically set to minimize the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear. While the weight and shape of the 200g gear knob, along with the quality of shift engagement, have all been precisely defined. Ergonomics were also top-of-mind, as the console unit and position of the drive mode selector were adjusted to provide a 1.7-inch clearance between the shift knob and the control panel.

Toyota didn’t announce pricing for the manual Supra. That news will come this fall, shortly before 2023 models hit showrooms.

Here’s the catch: this six-speed will not be offered on the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Supra in any capacity. Honestly, I don’t know if a manual could have saved that car; I don’t know if anything could salvage the lesser Supra when the GR 86 and now the long-awaited GR Corolla also exist in Toyota’s lineup. My colleague Steve believes that nobody would bother to buy a 2.0 Supra with a manual against those options, and he’s probably right.

Image: Toyota

To me, a manual 3.0 makes the 2.0 Supra an even worse proposition than it already was, a car that lives in the shadow of its big sibling. Perhaps it exists merely as a base for modifications, but how many 2.0 owners are doing 2JZ swaps anyway? I’m all for a cheap entryway to performance — especially for those skilled enough to make up the difference with wrenching — but the 2.0 is only about $8,000 less than the 3.0, and this is Toyota’s flagship. It should be a competent sports car in all its variants.

Toyota will also offer a limited-edition Supra with the manual equipped, called A91-MT. Only 500 of these will be built, with the requisite gearbox and an exclusive cognac interior for North America. Regardless of which model Supra you order, if you spec yours with a stick shift, you’ll get a red badge on the back, so everyone knows you bought the best Supra — and, perhaps, to twist the knife a little when someone pulls up in an earlier, auto-only Supra.

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Technology

At $8,500, Could This Rebuilt-Title 04 BMW 330i Be A Good Deal?

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I was going to ask you if you wanted the good news or the bad news first on today’s Nice Price or No Dice Bimmer, but I already let the cat out of the bag up top about its rebuilt title. Let’s see if the rest of the car, and its price, can overcome that black mark.

Chaos reigned last Friday when the seller of our candidate 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 wagon lowered the car’s price in the ad from $4,500 to $3,750 right in the middle of our contest. Damn you, motivated seller! Regardless, few of you were having it at either the original or new improved price, with a few of you averring in the comments that the Toyota was a $500 car, at best. That opinion flowed over to the votes where the Tercel toppled in a 73 percent No Dice loss.

As rough and tumble as last Friday’s Toyota may have been, it still managed to maintain a clean title, apparently existing unencumbered by major accidents, insurer buy-backs, or voodoo hexes. The same can’t be said for today’s 2004 BMW 330i. Instead, as is noted in the ad, this Bimmer has a rebuilt title, albeit one that is apparently not accident-related. It also sports 150,000 miles on the clock, which is a distance that can wear on things like bushings, brake lines, and the like.

That’s all too bad since this 330i is really well equipped, sporting the ZHP performance and appearance package and a six-speed manual transmission. It’s also painted in arrest-me red and wears handsome 18-inch M Double-Spoke wheels. Inside, the cabin is festooned with leather on the sport seats and rear bench and that is accented by a band of carbon-fiber pattern trim that spans the dash and door tops and extends down to the shift surround.

Everything about the car looks to be in pretty remarkable condition although it’s possible that it no longer evidences that “new car smell” since apparently it requires fully three air freshener trees in the cabin to keep the funk at bay.

According to the ad, the car “Runs and drives smooth.” The ad also allays fears over the car’s cooling system, a vexing reliability issue on the six-cylinder E46 cars. Here, pretty much everything has been replaced, with a new radiator, water pump, and thermostat keeping the car’s cool intact.

That’s all good because these are really cars you want to just get in and drive. The ZHP package imbues the 330i with near M3 levels of performance via a remapped ECU, the available six-speed row-yer-own, and a shorter final drive in the limited-slip rear end. With the ZHP option box checked, the 3 liter M54 straight-six bumps its output from 227 to 235 horsepower and pushes its redline 300 rpm higher than the standard 330i. That made it good for zero to sixty runs of about five and half seconds and handling that will still impress today.

Aesthetically, the package added a deeper front valance, rocker panel extenders, and those exceedingly handsome M wheels. With all that rolled together, the 330i is a car that talks the talk and walks the walk.

But is that all for naught? This car, after all, has that rebuilt title. That’s owed to some unexplained former malfeasance that wasn’t apparently an accident. Perhaps it was a theft recovery? Maybe it was in a flood? Who knows? The thing of it is, a rebuilt title can seriously impact a car’s value. Heck, some insurers won’t offer comprehensive coverage on a rebuilt title car meaning that should you get in a serious accident, you could be on the hook for a big hit financially.

Still, that’s all a risk that some are willing to take — as long as that risk is reflected in a reasonably low price for the tainted title car. In the case of this otherwise wildly desirable 330i, that price is $8,500. Now, as a point of reference, there’s a lower-mileage and different color example of this same model up on Bring a Trailer that already has bids totaling more than double this car’s asking. Yes, that’s a bit of an apples and a slightly different type of apples comparison, but you get the point.

Let’s now get to the point of this discussion: is this 330i worth that $8,500 asking with its rebuilt title? Or, does that price just feel way too risky?

You decide!

Seattle, Washington, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to FauxShizzle for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at rob@jalopnik.com and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

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Business

Tesla Halts Rollout of FSD Beta to Drivers, Citing Concerns

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Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

A planned rollout of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving beta version 10.2 to roughly 1,000 Tesla owners with “perfect” safety scores was delayed on Saturday. In explaining the delay, CEO Elon Musk stated that there were “a few last-minute concerns about the build.”

Tesla owners were abuzz with excitement earlier this week when Musk announced that roughly 1,000 drivers with perfect safety scores—the 0 to 100 scale the company uses to determine whether the driver will have a future accident—would receive FSD beta version 10.2 at midnight on Friday. Contrary to its name, the software does not allow Tesla cars to drive themselves. It provides assistance on highways and city streets but requires driver supervision at all times.

As with all Musk deadlines, this one was taken with a grain of salt. In the end, Tesla didn’t rollout FSD.

“A few last minute concerns about this build. Release likely on Sunday or Monday. Sorry for the delay,” the CEO tweeted early Saturday.

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Musk didn’t detail what last-minute concerns had caused the delay. However, hearing that FSD 10.2 has issues isn’t a surprise. Just about two months ago, Tesla said that FSD beta version 9, which was delayed for years, could “do the wrong thing at the worst time.”

Tesla’s initial plan consisted of releasing version 10.2 to about 1,000 drivers with a 100/100 score and analyzing how they did with the software for several days. If the release looked good, Musk explained, 10.2 would gradually begin rolling out to drivers with scores of 99 and below. The FSD system has been operated by 2,000 drivers for almost a year with no accidents, the CEO said in September, adding that it needed to stay that way.

“FSD beta system at times can seem so good that vigilance isn’t necessary, but it is. Also, any beta user who isn’t super careful will get booted,” Musk said at that time.

According to Tesla’s website, a driver’s safety score is based on five metrics called “safety factors,” which are: forward collision warnings per 1,000 miles, hard braking, aggressive turning, unsafe following, and forced Autopilot disengagement. A higher score indicates a safer driver, the company claims, with most drivers expected to have a safety score of 80 and above.

Tesla has recently come under fire from regulators such as the National Transportation Safety Board. The head of agency, Jennifer Homendy, told the Wall Street Journal in September that the company shouldn’t release the newest FSD beta until it addressed safety deficiencies in its technology.



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Business

The Mercedes EQS Gets An EPA-Rated 350 Miles Of Range

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Photo: Mercedes

The Mercedes EQS is a car that starts at $102,310 here in the U.S., and one that touts a 478-mile WLPT range, which is what they use in Europe. In the U.S., though, range is EPA-tested, and it usually results in a lower number. For the EQS, that has come out at 350 miles.

That’s according to Green Car Reports, which says that a 350-mile range is for the single-motor version, called the EQS 450; the dual-motor version, the EQS 580, gets 340 miles of range.

It’s fair to say that many people thought that the EPA range for the EQS would be closer to 400 miles, and also closer to that of, say, the Tesla Model S Plaid, which Tesla says gets 396 miles. Still, 350 miles is respectable, at least for normal people; it is also better than the 348 miles the Model S Plaid gets with 21-inch tires.

Then there is the Lucid Air, which gets a staggering 520 miles of EPA-estimated range and starts at $77,400. And there’s the Porsche Taycan, which starts at $82,700 and gets 225 miles for the base model, and also the Audi E-Tron GT, which starts at $100,945 and gets 238 miles of range.

There’s enough of these in this segment now, then, that buyers will have some choices to make; I’m guessing that most of them will opt for whatever luxury brand they already prefer. Lucid will probably be the most interesting, in any case, as they have no track record and also have the car with the most range and by miles. For years, we’ve talked about range anxiety and electric car buyers’ sensitivity to it, and also whether that is even a thing at all. Well, now we more or less have the cars to find out. Choose your fighter.

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Business

Tesla With Autopilot On Crashes Into Two Parked Cars in Florida

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Photo: Nicolas Asfouri / AFP (Getty Images)

Tesla’s Autopilot system—which, contrary to its name, does not enable the car to drive itself—has been involved in an accident yet again. This time, a 2019 Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot activated crashed into two parked cars on the side of a highway near downtown Orlando in Florida.

Early Saturday morning, a 27-year-old Model 3 driver crashed into a parked Florida Highway Patrol car, the Associated Press reported. The highway patrol officer had stopped to help another driver who was having trouble with their vehicle when the Model 3 ran into the cruiser. It barely missed the highway patrol officer, who had stepped out of his car. The Model 3 then proceeded to collide with the other parked vehicle.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities as a result of the crash. The 27-year-old Model 3 driver and the driver of the other car receiving assistance sustained minor injuries. Meanwhile, the highway patrol officer was unhurt, according to the AP.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash. CNBC points out that it has not yet been determined whether Tesla’s Autopilot caused or contributed to the accident.

Gizmodo reached out to Tesla for comment on Saturday but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Considering that Tesla disbanded its public relations team last year, it’s unlikely we’ll get a response, but we’ll make sure to update this blog if we do.

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The latest crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot comes nearly two weeks after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the company’s assisted driving system. Specifically, it will focus on 11 incidents dating back to 2018 in which Tesla cars with Autopilot or cruise control activated crashed into parked emergency vehicles. The incidents resulted in 17 injuries and one death.

The NHTSA’s investigation will cover Tesla cars manufactured between 2014 and 2021, including the Tesla Model Y, Model X, Model S, and Model 3, which total roughly 756,000 vehicles.

Although the agency is only investigating crashes involving emergency vehicles, Tesla’s Autopilot system has been involved in numerous incidents in which drivers haven’t been giving the car their full attention. Some drivers have been found drunk and asleep at the wheel. Others have crashed because they were looking at their phones.

Besides the NHTSA, Tesla may have another agency’s attention on it in the future. Shortly after the NHTSA revealed its investigation, Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey asked Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan to look into the company’s “potentially deceptive and unfair” marketing and advertising practices for its driving automation systems.

In their letter, the senators rightly point out that Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features are only partially automated and that there are no vehicles on the market that can drive themselves at this time.

“Understanding these limitations is essential, for when drivers’ expectations exceed their vehicle’s capabilities, serious and fatal accidents can and do result,” Blumenthal and Markey wrote.

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Technology

The U.K Ford Focus ST Comes With Factory Coil Over Suspension

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Image: Ford

Besides the Mustang, you can no longer buy a car from Ford in the U.S. It wasn’t all that long ago that Ford offered three different hot hatches, but today the company doesn’t have a single affordable performance car, unless you count the cheaper Mustangs. That hasn’t stopped Ford from serving eager performance car buyers in the rest of the world.

Today the company announced an updated version of the Focus ST in the U.K. called the ST Edition.

Image: Ford

Ford calls this ST the most agile ST to date. It comes from the factory with an adjustable coil-over suspension from KW that was tuned by Ford Performance on the Nurburging:

​​The two-way adjustable coilover suspension system, produced by motorsport specialists KW Automotive, features twin-tube stainless steel damper housings and powder-coated springs, with a distinctive Ford Performance Blue finish. Focus ST Edition’s ride height is lowered 10 mm front and rear compared with the standard Focus ST, with a further adjustment of 20 mm available to the customer. Spring rates are increased by more than 50 per cent compared with the standard Focus ST.

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Image: Ford

With lightweight 19-inch wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, this thing should be a canyon carver. Ford even provides owners with a document that gives setting recommendations for different driving conditions.

Aside from its Azura Blue exterior paint, everything else is standard ST.

Image: Ford

Power comes from a 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder with 280 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual. This ST is not priced like the fun, affordable U.S. market car you remember. The MSRP on a 2018 ST (The last year the model was offered) was $25,170. At current conversion rates, this new ST starts at $49,086. At that price, maybe it’s best it stays across the pond.

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