C8 Corvette Z51 Yearlong Test: The Good, the Bad, and the Whatever

It's never a bad day when an automaker announces that a vehicle will be manufactured here in the U.S. for American consumers. But that's only part of the story of the 2023 Volkswagen ID4, the compact electric SUV that's seeing production expanded from Germany to the United States, as it's also coming in with new pricing and a new entry-level battery pack to price it under $40,000. It also gets some new standard features, updated exterior colors and trim, and a new interior design.American MadeAs part of its $800 million investment in Tennessee, Volkswagen will begin assembly of the 2023 ID4 at its Chattanooga factory, not far from its recently built battery lab for EV battery production and research. Unfortunately, despite being assembled in the U.S. (and no longer requiring a long boat trip to reach our shores), the ID4 retains its destination charge for the 2023 model. That charge has recently risen from $1,195 to now $1,295. Not a huge increase, sure, but disappointing to see that not go down given how the VW is now locally sourced.Four New TrimsIn addition to the ID4 Pro and Pro S in RWD and AWD, there are now a few new trims. First is the ID4 Standard (yes, that is its trim name) that comes with a smaller 62 kWh battery. This is the new entry-level ID4; above it sits the also-new S trim, which gets the same 62 kWh battery. There also is a new Pro S Plus trim that slots above the Pro S, replacing the Gradient package that was offered in 2022 and bringing a suite of unique features. All Pro models will get the larger 82 kWh battery pack along with the 170 kW DC Fast Charge rate. At the time of writing, VW did not state what the DC Fast Charge rate would be for the 62 kWh battery pack.Prices Have Gone Up, But You Do Get More for Your ID4While the new Standard is cheaper than last year's least-expensive ID4, the $42,525 Pro, there are a few price increases on the carryover trims (Pro included). A 2023 ID4 RWD Pro costs $1,365 more than the 2022 model, while the AWD Pro $1,485 more, the RWD Pro S costs $1,865 more, and the AWD Pro S sees a $1,985 increase. (Those price hikes include the $100-pricier destination charge, too.) Those extra dollar signs are at least offset by some new features and technology. Plug&Charge, the bi-directional J1772 CCS socket that both charges the ID4 and can power other EVs, is now standard across the line.All ID4 trims come with dashboard stitching, leatherette steering wheels and seat features; heated seats; forward collision with emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection; active blind spot assist, high beam light assist, parking assist with memory parking and distance assist; LED lighting with auto headlights that come with rain sensing wipers; and IQ.Drive that features lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and Emergency Assist 3.0. For your advanced driver assist needs, the ID4 also has Travel Assist 2.0 on all trims that features stop-and-go cruise control and driver-initiated lane change functionality. On top of all that, owners will get three years of free 30-minute DC fast charging sessions at Electrify America stations.What Separates Each ID4 Trim?While the Standard and Pro are rather basic (when compared to S trims) with their features and 19-inch wheels, they do feature their own unique interior colors and melange fabric and leatherette heated manual seats. The two interior treatments are Stone (gray and black accents) and Nutmeg (brown hues). The rear seats are a 60/40 split design with no other features. Going with the Pro model, you get the option of AWD which nets you a 2,700 lbs towing capacity and a heated front windshield. The Pro models are also the only way to get the 82 kWh battery pack, as mentioned earlier.Stepping up into the S trims, you get leatherette seat seat inserts rather than the cloth, but the inserts have a design perforated into the material and are 12-way power with a memory function. Color options for the inside are Galaxy where its leatherette inserts are black with platinum gray bolsters, door inserts, dash, a black leatherette heated steering wheel, and a black display. Cosmic features gray leatherette inserts with blue bolsters, door inserts, and dash with a white leatherette heated steering wheel, and a white display. You also get a 30 color ambient lighting rather than the multi-color ambient lighting system. For the rear seats, S trims get a 60/40 split seat with pass-through and a folding center armrest with cupholders. You and your passengers are also treated to a panoramic roof with an electric sunshade. The LED lights on the S Trims feature VW's AFS adaptive front lights and a lighted front and rear "VW" emblem and grille accent. The non-Pro S trim also only gets the 62 kWh battery pack and RWD but it and the Pro versions get 20-inch wheels.Want an ID4 with the most stuff? Look at the Pro S Plus in either RWD or AWD. Along with the S and Pro features, you also get unique 20-inch wheels, a three-zone climate control with rear passenger controls, and digital sound package that includes a subwoofer. The 60/40 passthrough seats are also heated (outboard positions only). Silver accents replace gloss black trim on both the front and rear bumpers; the mirrors feature accent lighting that are both power folding and heated; and this is the only trim to get a surround view camera over the standard rearview camera.How Much is a 2023 Volkswagen ID4?While the price increases year-over-year for the carryover ID4 models are expected, the cost of the 2023 ID4 is still relatively affordable when compared to new crossovers and other EVs of its size. The ID4 Standard will run you $38,790 (again, thousands less than last year's cheapest ID4, albeit with less battery) while stepping up to the ID4 S jumps up to $43,790. The RWD version of the ID4 Pro is $43,790 while the AWD version is $47,590. The Pro S RWD is $48,790 and the AWD version is $52,490. The top-of-the-line ID4 is the Pro S Plus, which runs $51,490 with the RWD and $55,290 with AWD. And remember, the ID4 still qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, in addition to any local EV incentives a full battery-electric car might qualify for. Below we've gathered every 2023 ID4 trim level's price, range, and battery size for comparison: Battery / Motor Range Price ID4 Standard 62 kWh / single motor 208 miles $38,790 ID4 S 62 kWh / single motor 208 miles $43,790 ID4 Pro 82 kWh / single motor  275 miles $43,790 ID4 Pro AWD 82 kWh / dual motor  255 miles $47,590 ID4 Pro S 82 kWh / single motor  275 miles $48,790 ID4 Pro S AWD 82 kWh / dual motor  255 miles $52,590 ID4 Pro S Plus 82 kWh / single motor  275 miles $51,490 ID4 Pro S Plus AWD 82 kWh / dual motor  255 miles $55,290 Show All

We'll keep this brief, given how extensively we've covered the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R's gestation over the past two years or so. From watching it lap Suzuka to watching it lap the Nürburgring to, well, just watching the same camouflaged prototypes again and again and again, we have a good idea about the basic contours of the 11th-generation-Civic-based Type R. At long last, we now know when we'll see the rest of the hot hatchback's details—and, you know, its uncovered body: July 20.Honda has announced that reveal date, and helpfully provided our only peek at the 2023 Civic Type R without any camouflage on it. That darkened photo (we tried lightening it more, to no avail) is above. While full information surely will drop on the 20th—just over one week away—we'll give you some of what to expect from this updated monster: It'll likely continue to be front-wheel drive, and powered by a version of the same turbo 2.0-liter I-4 as the outgoing model. Look for more than 300 hp, a six-speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes, huge tires, a wild wing, and even snappier dynamics than the already sharp-handling last-gen version. Now, with that, let's hope there are no more teasers from here on out.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept is design boss Gordon Wagner's way of showing us that he's dead serious about the death of the traditional three-box sedan.He's said it before, and he's saying it again: EVs will sacrifice the classic three-box design of a sedan at the altar of aerodynamic efficiency. ("Three-box" refers to the basic shape of a vehicle when viewed from the side, with the engine compartment, cabin, and trunk forming three box-like shapes pushed together.) When it comes to drag, a traditional trunk just isn't as good as a fastback design for cutting through the air. So-called four-door coupes are no longer a design statement, they're a necessity.Mercedes-Benz employees believe range is the EV customer's biggest concern today, so the company is doing everything it can to increase range without increasing prices. Optimizing a vehicle's aerodynamics are a big part of the puzzle. While it remains to be seen whether the company will push longtail designs like the EQXX with its tapering rear overhang, the long, sloping C-pillar is here to stay.The Grille's Gotta Go, TooWagner also confirmed the EQXX previews the new front-end design for Mercedes EQ EVs. The nonfunctional, light-up grilles of the current EQS and upcoming EQE models are effectively placeholders meant to ease the transition away from the grille as a primary design element. Instead, Mercedes will shift focus to the headlights, which make a three-pointed star design when the daytime running lights are switched on. Complementing those stars are a pattern of three-pointed stars embossed in the front fascia where a grille might've been in the past.Do You Really Need a Sunroof?Mercedes has also confirmed the EQXX's rooftop solar panels are not a concept gimmick. The company is hoping to begin offering the panels on production EVs in 2024 as an alternative to sunroofs and solid metal roofs. The company claims that, when combined with other technical advancements in the EQXX, the solar panels can reduce the load of non-propulsion systems enough to give the car an extra 15 miles of range on a sunny day.What About SUVs?SUVs are far more popular than sedans of any kind these days, so how will this new design ethos apply to future EV SUVs? Mercedes-Benz isn't ready to go into detail yet, but the same physics apply. SUVs, being taller, naturally have more frontal area to push through the wind, so optimizing their aerodynamics is even more crucial. The trick will be in balancing that against practicality, as today's so-called SUV coupes tend to sacrifice some amount of cargo space, rear head room, and rear visibility in the name of style.