The Chrysler 300 is a very old car. The current generation debuted in 2011, but the car’s core architecture dates all the way back to the original model of the mid-2000s – a vehicle itself based on a decades-old Mercedes platform. Yet, according to Consumer Reports, people are paying more over MSRP for the Chrysler 300 on average than any other vehicle on sale.

Consumer Reports combed through data on TrueCar to find out which vehicles are currently selling the most over their respective sticker prices. The CR team found that on average, each Chrysler 300 was selling for 12 percent over MSRP. A surprising statistic considering very little on the car has changed in the last decade.

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We suspect that percentage is being heavily influenced by sales of the 300C, a 485-hp V8-powered, limited-edition version of the 300 built to commemorate the car’s final year of production. Dealer markups paired with high enthusiast demand are likely the culprits here. Still, we can’t imagine paying more than sticker price for a car this out of date.

The 300 isn’t the only car still selling for over sticker price. In second place is the Ford Maverick, a small pickup truck in high demand, first released in 2021. Following closely behind is, weirdly, the Kia Stinger, a rear-drive sedan that ended production earlier this year. Again, we suspect enthusiasts are trying to get into new Stingers before they’re all gone, hence the inflated prices.

Kias and Toyotas litter the rest of Consumer Reports’ top ten list, with practical cars like the Telluride and the new Prius unsurprisingly selling for over MSRP. Interestingly, the Toyota Supra takes the 10th spot, selling on average for six percent over its MSRP. We’d bet the addition of a manual transmission option has something to do with the continued demand. 

There’s an age-old theory that proposes one should go for narrower tires in the winter because a narrower tire puts more pressure on a smaller contact patch, thus generating more grip. The contrasting argument is that you should use a wider tire, as more surface area on the road will generate more grip. But as Jonathan Benson at Tyre Reviews discovered, it doesn’t really matter whether you go wider or narrower for your winter setup.

Benson wanted to test the theory of wider versus narrower winter tires himself, so he sourced four sets of Hankook tires to run on a BMW 3 Series around a snow-covered closed course, each wider than the next. The tires ranged from 205 section-width up to 275s, with the 205s installed on 16-inch wheels, the 225s resting on 18s, and the 255s and 275s mounted on 19-inch rims.

While there were subjective differences in feel and feedback between the sizes, the numbers don’t lie. The narrowest tire performed the best in acceleration testing, but did the worst when it came to braking. And for lap times, the middle 225 section-width tire performed the best. But all of the results are so close that you probably wouldn’t notice the difference.

The main conclusion, Tyre Reviews says, is that you’d find more of a variance in objective performance between a good winter tire and a bad winter tire using the same tire size. So if you’re shopping for winter rubber, your best bet is to focus on brands with good reviews rather than stress about what size you should choose. 

Electric vehicles are far less reliable than vehicles powered by combustion engines, according to Consumer Reports‘ 2024 reliability owner satisfaction survey results published on Wednesday.

Data gathered by Consumer Reports from owners of over 330,000 vehicles ranging from model years 2000 to 2024 show that EVs are 79 percent less reliable than ICE-powered vehicles on average, despite fewer moving parts and simpler drivetrain designs. Plug-in hybrids are even worse when it comes to reliability, with a staggering 146 percent more problems versus traditional gas-powered cars. Interestingly, traditional hybrid vehicles scored best, producing 26 percent fewer problems versus ICE-powered vehicles. 

Consumer Reports suggests that new technologies arising from the development of electric vehicles mean early adopters will have to deal with some kinks before reliability improves.

“The longer a vehicle or a technology is in production, the more the bugs are worked out,” CR Senior Director of Auto Testing Jake Fisher told Automotive News. “The automakers that have produced EVs earlier, they’re improving the reliability.”

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Fisher goes on to suggest that if you’re in the market for a Tesla you should buy a Model 3 rather than a Cybertruck, as the Model 3 has been in production for years, meaning most of the production flaws have been fixed. The Cybertruck, on the other hand, is an entirely new vehicle that will likely have “many growing pains” once it goes on sale. 

The electric truck segment fared the worst in Consumer Reports’ study. The group currently consists of just two vehicles: the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T. While Ford is dealing with troubles related to batteries and charging, Rivian is facing challenges with things like build quality and climate control functions, according to the survey. It’s proof that neither new start-ups nor legacy automakers are immune to the teething problems that come with EVs.

The biggest surprise of the study comes from regular hybrids, positioned as the most reliable drivetrain type. Consumer Reports says this is because traditional hybrid tech has been around for many years, with buyers that aren’t as concerned with owning the latest tech. 

“When it comes to reliability, the slow and steady are winning the race,” Fisher told Automotive News. “The manufacturers that are making quick moves, those are the ones struggling with some of the new technology.”

The R63 AMG is possibly the strangest car to come from Mercedes-Benz. Based on its minivan-esque three-row R-Class, it got the full AMG treatment, including stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, and the company’s legendary 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 making 507 horsepower. Naturally, we have questions about what it’d be like to own such a car. One new owner took to Reddit to describe their experience so far, and it’s a rollercoaster of a read.

The owner, who goes by Erdnalexa on Reddit, published an “Ask Me Anything” post to Reddit’s /r/cars section to answer any and all questions the community would want to know about the quirky V8-powered minivan. The answers aren’t so much surprising as they are entertaining.

“How tight is the engine bay?” one commenter asks. “It’s not that bad, you just have to remove the engine anytime you need to work on it.” 

“If you are going to work in a funeral home there are better cars,” says another commenter. “I can comfortably transport 5 cadavers on the seats plus 1 in the trunk,” Erdnalexa says. “I can get 3 of them warm with the heated seats. And I can do that while driving at 150 mph. What more could you possibly need for a funeral home?”

They’re not wrong.

Erdnalexa seemingly does some driving during their AMA session, giving us an idea of the R63’s terrible fuel consumption and claiming to hit 165 mph — 10 mph over the car’s claimed electronic speed limiter. We also get a sense of what it’s like to ride passenger at high speeds:

The crazy thing is that I’m someone that gets carsick very easily (couple minutes of phone is usually enough),” says Erdnalexa. “I have been on Reddit for the past two hours whilst being driven at these speeds and I’m still not sick.” A nod to the car’s impeccable engineering.

If you have a few minutes to kill today, we highly recommend heading over to the original post and scrolling through all of the comments. Even if you have no intention of ever buying an R63 AMG, it’s a fun, insightful read.

The Bowling Green Kentucky factory where the Corvette is made was hit by a destructive tornado. During the unprecedented storms that struck the southeastern united states earlier this week, the automotive world suffered a huge loss as Chevrolet confirmed they will need to scrap over 100 C8 Corvettes. The destructive tornados that struck 6 different states on December 10, 2021, will go down in history as one of the deadliest weather events to strike the United States Of America.

Although the loss of these cars is quite sad, it’s more important to remember those who lost their lives. With over 70 deaths and billions of dollars of property damage, those affected by this mega-storm won’t soon forget its impact. Even multi-billion-dollar companies like General Motors couldn’t save their production facilities from this massive storm. GM confirmed that their Bowling Green-based production facilityand the Corvette Museum were badly hit by this storm.

The high winds caused a fire to erupt on the factory roof that could have been caused by a ruptured fuel line, however, this hasn’t been confirmed. Any car parked outside the factory is now being evaluated for damage before shipping to eagerly waiting for customers. Finally, water entered the factory, which was the main cause of loss since it affected cars in mid-production with exposed interiors and electronics.

GM isn’t taking any chances and plans to scrap any car that shows damage from this storm event. This means that production is pushed back, which will cause a massive ripple effect for those eagerly awaiting their new C8. This also makes the 2022 Corvette C8 even more interesting since it will surely cut production numbers and add to the story of this highly sought-after American supercar. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this storm and we hope for a strong and speedy recovery.

We’re not out of the woods yet, folks. As the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes Covid-19) continues to spread, more and more companies are pulling out of CES 2022 next month. The latest to announce it would no longer attend in-person events is General Motors. The automaker was planning on using the electronics and technology show to debut the forthcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV.

In an email to Motor1.com, GM spokesperson Stuart Fowle said the company would instead focus on a digital activation at CES 2022, sharing an official statement from the company. “CES is an important technology platform, and we are continuing with our plans on January 5 to share our significant company news including the reveal of the Chevrolet Silverado EV,” the statement reads.

Company CEO Mary Barra will also skip the show, where she was expected to give a speech on GM’s future electrification plans. Nevertheless, Fowle was quick to insist that little had changed at the company regarding its first electric pickup truck, though its debut would now be digital.

“All our news plans and timing stay the same, including the Silverado,” Fowle said. “The only change is no people or vehicles will physically be in Las Vegas.”

In addition to GM, autonomous research company Waymo will no longer participate in CES 2022 from the show floor. What’s more, other technology companies like Google, Intel, and Lenovo will skip the in-person show, with a total of 42 exhibitor cancellations according to Reuters. Nevertheless, CES will continue as planned, and show representatives said the companies no longer in attendance consisted of only 7 percent of the show floor.

CES will also require masking and vaccination verification from attendees, and Covid-19 tests will be available.

Reports about a new six-cylinder “Tornado” engine from FCA Stellantis have been swirling around the Internet for many years. By the looks of it, an official reveal could finally be happening in the near future. Following a patent filing for a turbocharged inline-six discovered back in November 2019, the official website of the world’s fourth-largest automaker briefly listed a new “3.0-liter GMET6 HO” engine.

An eagle-eyed member of the Allpar forums stumbled upon the juicy piece of information while browsing the section of the website dedicated to the Saltillo Engine Plant. Apparently, the new Global Medium Engine Turbo Six has been in production at the Mexican factory in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila since November 22. The use of the “HO” letters suggests Stellantis has kicked off the assembly of a high-output configuration.

While this sounds quite promising, it should be noted the “3.0-liter GMET6 HO” has already been removed from that page. We will get in touch with Stellantis to find out what’s what, and in the meantime, the engine in question supposedly boasts a twin-turbo setup and is derived from the existing four-cylinder, 2.0-liter unit.

From what we’ve heard, there are plans to put the inline-six in a variety of North American products, specifically the Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer, as well as the Ram 1500. Confirmed details regarding how much power it produces are not available at this point, but an old rumor suggests the HO variant could produce in excess of 500 hp. The base version is said to deliver approximately 360 hp, but take these numbers with the proverbial pinch of salt.

A potential launch of the Tornado engine could represent the beginning of the end for the V8, especially since the inline-six has allegedly been developed with electrification in mind. A long-rumored plug-in hybrid configuration would allow Stellantis to offer decent power in its largest vehicles while meeting increasingly stringent fuel economy regulations.

Nissan introduced the new Z back in August 2021 and yet there are still quite a few juicy details we are missing. Thankfully, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle has now fallen into place courtesy of a leaked order guide for the Canadian market. Mirroring the US model, the version due to be sold in the country known for its delicious maple syrup will be offered in Sport, Performance, and Proto Spec trim levels.

Without further ado, the entry-level Z Sport in Canada equipped with the manual gearbox tips the scales at 1,581 kilograms (3,486 pounds). Swap the standard six-speed manual in favor of an optional nine-speed automatic and it adds 29 kg (64 lbs), increasing the curb weight to 1,610 kg (3,550 lbs).

Being the base trim level, it has the least amount of kit and therefore is the lightest of the bunch. As a refresher, the base 370Zwith the manual weighed 1,511 kg (3,333 lbs), so its replacement has put on 70 kg (153 lbs).

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Z Performance adds bigger 19-inch wheels (instead of an 18-inch set), a mechanical limited-slip differential, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, heated front seats, and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. In addition, the midlevel Z has front and rear spoilers, chunkier Nissan Performance brakes, and leather on the steering wheel and seats.

As for the Proto Spec, it weighs the same as the Performance since it’s all about visual upgrades: yellow brake calipers, bronze wheels, leather upholstery with yellow stitching, and similar cosmetic tweaks. The Z Performance and Z Proto Spec tip the scales at 1,604 kg (3,536 lbs) with the manual and 1,634 kg (3,602 lbs) with the automatic.

Doing the math, the more generously equipped trim levels weigh an extra 23 kg (51 lbs) in manual guise and 24 kg (53 lbs) for the automatic compared to the base Sport.

The document shared by Nissan Z Club reiterates the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (475 Newton-meters) of torque. Speaking of which, the Canadian version comes with an engine block heater for those harsh winter mornings. Elsewhere, the Z Sport gets 320-mm front and 308-mm rear brakes while the Performance and Proto Spec feature a 355-mm & 350-mm set.

The color palette is quite generous and includes Black Diamond Metallic and Gun Metallic. The following ones will be combined with a black roof: Boulder Grey, Blue, Yellow, Passion Red, and Everest White Pearl. These are slightly different than what Nissan will offer for the 2023 Z in the US where it’s slated to get Brilliant Silver and Rosewood Metallic. Inside, the Canadian model will come in Graphite, Yellow, Red, or Blue.

It is believed dealers are already taking orders in Canada, but pricing won’t be publicly disclosed until March. Proto Spec will initially be allocated to a limited number of dealers based on how many Zs they sold between 2018 and 2020. To sign your name on the dotted line, a 1,000 CAD deposit is necessary.

Following the lead of fellow automakers Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo, and more, Ford announced this evening that it would be suspending its operations in Russia. 

Ford CEO Jim Farley broke the news in a tweet, citing a deep concern about the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on February 24, and offering an act of support for the Ukrainian people. Farley’s tweet included a longer press release, which indicates that the Ford Fund will donate $100,000 to the Global Giving Ukraine Relief Fund at an unspecified date and time. 

The donation is in an effort to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to displaced Ukrainian nationals and families affected by the dramatic events of the past week. The full tweet and press release follow. 

While the action and donation from Ford are symbolically important to the cause of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian nationals employed by the automaker, the business side ramifications of this action are minimal. 

For the last decade, a joint venture between Ford and the Russian company Sollers has seen a variety of production come and go. A project that started by bringing production of the Focus and Mondeo lines to Russian soil, has in recent years slowed to a trickle. In 2019 Ford announced a restructuring of the JV that would end production of passenger vehicles.

The GlobalGiving Ukraine Relief Fund has collected some $3.1M in donations as of this writing. The Ford Fund and GlobalGiving have partnered on other charitable projects in years past. 

Patrick Goss, also known as Pat Goss, has passed away. MotorWeek announced his death through its various social media channels. The TV host and automotive media personality were said to have met an unexpected death, though the cause of death wasn’t mentioned.

Goss had been a household name in automotive media. He had appeared through 41 seasons of the TV show under his segment, Goss’ Garage. As the show’s master mechanic, he shared maintenance advice and car knowledge with the show’s millions of viewers from all over the world.

For those who have been car nuts since the ’80s, Goss was a familiar name and he’ll be missed.

MotorWeek‘s Facebook post reads:

We are deeply saddened to report the unexpected passing of our longtime friend and colleague Pat Goss, who appeared on MotorWeek through forty-one seasons, beginning with our very first episode.

Goss’ Garage has been a pillar of our program and a must-see segment for millions of viewers who tuned in for the no-nonsense maintenance advice and incomparable car knowledge that Pat dispensed with effortless familiarity and understated wit.

Thank you for everything, Pat.

This news will be shocking for those who have been following MotorWeek. Goss’s latest segment on the publication’s website was dated March 16, 2022. In that article, Goss talked about coolants and some tips to keep your car’s cooling system in check. He appeared on MotorWeek‘s Episode 4128 on March 18, 2022, for the segment Goss’ Garage: Coolant Check.

Apart from being an automotive media personality on both TV and radio, Goss also owned a car repair shop called Goss’ Garage (formerly named Pat Goss Car World) in Maryland. He’s also a spokesperson for Carchex, a Maryland-based company that offers extended auto warranties and mobile vehicle inspections.