Latest news with #CarDesign


Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
New Chrysler 300: Everything We Know
Unless you're a devout member of a Pacifica enthusiast group, the Chrysler brand hasn't been relevant in nearly a decade. The last 300 sedan left the market in 2023 after sticking around for nearly 20 years, while the compact 200 sedan was discontinued more than five years before that. But recent news has us hopeful for the brand's revival. Chrysler has hired new product planners and marketers, and as of about a year ago, it opened its own dedicated design studio under the watchful eye of design lead—and the man responsible for the last 300—Ralph Gilles. As he notes: "We're back on with Chrysler." It will certainly take some time for the Chrysler brand to get back on all four tires. One of the easiest ways to do that, though, would be with a new 300 sedan, which the company has hinted at for months. There's still no official confirmation as to the 300's return, but here's what we know so far. What Will It Be Called? Chrysler 300C Logo Photo by: Chrysler It's easy to assume that Chrysler will simply slap a 300 badge on the backside of its new sedan and call it a day. And that might be true. But throughout the nameplate's 50-year history, dozens of variants of the 300 have come and gone. The original Chrysler 300 from 1955 was actually called the C-300, which eventually transformed into the 300C later in life. Chrysler revived the 300 name in the late 1990s with the 300M, and then revived the 300C name in 2005 with the most recent generation. Chrysler then ditched the letter "C" with the 2011 facelift and added the letter "S" in 2015 to denote a sportier trim. The company finally brought back the 300C name (a third time) for a limited-edition model before it was discontinued for good in 2023. That's all to say: There's been no confirmation that Chrysler will even revive the 300 name for its new sedan, and we have no idea whether or not it will have any letters attached. That said, it would be silly for Chrysler not to use the 300 nameplate. And given Dodge's generous use of retro names with the new Charger, Chrysler could follow a similar path with the 300. What Will It Look Like? New Chrysler 300 Rendering By Motor1 Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1 We don't have to look far to get an idea of what Chrysler's next-generation vehicles could look like. Earlier this year, Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell said that the company already has two vehicles in the works that will be inspired by the Halcyon concept from 2024—and not just more SUVs. Feuell said , "I believe the car segment is ripe for growth and resurgence." To bring those new vehicles to life, Chrysler opened its own dedicated design studio separate from its once-shared space with Dodge. That means the brand will be able to work freely on its upcoming vehicles, which is a big deal for a company once at the forefront of American automotive design. New Chrysler 300 Rendering By Motor1 Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1 Chrysler Halcyon Concept Photo by: Stellantis If the new 300 does indeed draw heavily from the Halcyon concept, it could look something like the rendering pictured here. Our artist imagines a production version of the Halcyon —or, the 300—with most of the concept's cues brought to life in production form. The interior of the next Chrysler 300 should look familiar to the current Dodge Charger, but with more premium touches. The Charger currently has a standard 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, with an optional 16.0-inch digital cluster also available. Expect Chrysler to make that optional technology standard. What Will Power It? 2025 Dodge Charger Engine Photo by: Dodge The Halcyon concept uses the same STLA Large platform as the latest Dodge Charger , which means we should see both gas and electric powertrains on the 300. The Charger Daytona EV's 400-volt architecture has a dual-motor layout powered by a 100.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack, which gives it 496 horsepower in the soon-to-be-discontinued base R/T model and up to 317 miles of range. The more powerful Scat Pack trim gets up to 670 hp and 260 miles of range. Similar figures would make sense for an electric Chrysler 300. That said, gas engines are compatible with this platform, which means we should see a gas engine in the 300. The Dodge Charger Sixpack's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six will make 420 hp in the standard version and up to 550 hp in the most powerful trim when it debuts later this year . When Will We See It? Chrysler hasn't officially confirmed a new 300 sedan for production, which means it will likely still be a few years before we even see a concept. That said, the latest Charger has already been on the market for months, and Chrysler's new sedan will borrow heavily from Dodge—most importantly, its platform. We wouldn't be surprised to see a confirmation from Chrysler next year, with a concept another year out still, and a production version coming sometime in 2027 or 2028. Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1 How Much Will It Cost? The outgoing Chrysler 300 started at just under $40,000 for the 2023 model year. But average vehicle prices have skyrocketed, which means we don't expect this new version to be that affordable. The 2025 Dodge Charger EV is a good reference point. It starts at $61,590 for the base R/T, and costs $75,185 for the speedier Scat Pack. As a more premium product, we expect the Chrysler 300 to be a few thousand dollars more expensive than the Charger; a starting price of $65,000 for the EV isn't out of the realm of possibility. That said, the gas Charger Sixpack will likely be significantly cheaper than the EV, which means a gas-powered Chrysler 300 could also follow suit. More From Chrysler Stellantis Will 'Experiment' With Chrysler to Fill The Gaps America's Beautiful, Forgotten Hypercars Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )


Motor 1
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
This Beautiful BMW Wagon Is Actually Going Into Production
BMW has a habit of bringing beautiful things to the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy. Last year, it was the Skytop , a stunning two-seat convertible destined for a limited-production run. The year before that, it was the Concept Touring Coupe , a gorgeous two-door wagon that, sadly, never went anywhere. This year is no different. At the 2025 Villa d'Este, BMW is debuting the Concept Speedtop. If that name sounds familiar, that's because this bonkers, beautiful wagon is based loosely on last year's concept. Just like the Skytop, it rides on the same base and features the same V-shaped, shark nose front end with matching light fixtures and an illuminated grille—only now with more storage. Photo by: BMW A subtle color gradient covers the Speedtop's roof, with Floating Sunstone Maroon paint blending into a Floating Sundown Silver hue at the rear. A central "spline" element flows over the hood and onto the roof and spoiler, with special two-tone, 14-spoke wheels filling the wheel wells—which were designed specifically for this vehicle. The interior wears a two-tone leather finish of Sundown Maroon and Moonstone White, with the same Floating Sunstone Maroon found on the exterior carrying over to certain elements of the cabin. And that same "spline" detail from the exterior also carries over as a light beam projected onto the two-tone leather headliner. The very same leather and lighting elements make their way to the trunk, which has a split luggage compartment for even more room. Naturally, the Speedtop comes with custom Schedoni bags that fit perfectly in either compartment. Photo by: BMW Photo by: BMW Photo by: BMW But it's not all show—the Concept Speedtop will, indeed, go. Although BMW is cagey on the specifics, the company says that the Speedtop packs the most powerful V-8 engine currently offered by BMW. Our guess would be the brand's ubiquitous twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 with the same 617 horsepower as the Skytop. Best of all, the Speedtop isn't just a concept. BMW will build 70 examples of the wonderful wagon for its wealthiest clientele (unfortunately, it still won't be available in the US). We don't know how much it costs, but it's safe to assume that it will be well out of reach for the average enthusiast. "Last year, the presentation of the BMW Concept Skytop at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on Lake Como generated great enthusiasm among connoisseurs and automotive enthusiasts," said Bernd Körber, Senior Vice President BMW Brand and Product Management. 89 Source: BMW "This led to a strictly limited production run of 50 units. Thanks to this positive response, this year we have decided to also offer the BMW Concept Speedtop in a limited production series of 70 units. This extraordinary vehicle is now available for order. We are pleased to be able to offer collectors and enthusiasts another exclusive model." The new BMW Concept Speedtop makes its world debut this weekend at the 2025 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy. The Latest BMW News BMW: More Limited-Edition Models Are Coming BMW Keeps Hinting at an Electric 3 Series Wagon Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )


Car and Driver
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Exterior Photos of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan
Read the Full Review | See Interior Photos The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan has a new look on the outside that's less like the Atlas, its blockier big brother.