Howdy, car enthusiasts, and welcome to another edition of Cold Start, your daily automotive news roundup. 24 hours on from yesterday's recap, we've received the big news that Jeep is pulling out of China because of the threat of meddling government officials. We've also learned when the all-electric Cadillac Escalade arrives, taken a look at a new McLaren Artura Trophy race car, and discovered that Toyota thinks the manual GR Supra will be a rare choice.
However, today's catchup session will focus on the upcoming arrival of a Corvette sedan powered by electricity, the announcement of a new, more affordable BMW i4, and the confirmation that Stellantis will make the Dodge Charger and Challenger EVs. We also take a look at stern threats from GM about flipping the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and take a look at the new Ford Maverick Tremor.
Chevrolet Turning Corvette Into Electric Sedan
While we've all waxed lyrical about the joys of a flat plane crank V8 as found in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the switch to electrification is gaining momentum and will soon affect even the most doggedly combustion-powered vehicles out there. It appears that GM has been watching the Ford Mustang Mach-E closely and has come to the realization that you can apply a hallowed sports car's name to an electric family car without being completely crucified by your customer base. Thus, Chevy will be applying the famed Corvette name to an all-electric sedan, possibly as soon as 2025, according to recent reports.
Click here to read the full report
BMW Introduces i4 eDrive35 Sedan For $51,400
The 2023 BMW i4 was launched yesterday and for the new model year, a more affordable eDrive35 trim has been added, sitting below the existing eDrive40 and M50 trims. With 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, this luxury EV is promised to hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. When you're on long drives, the new trim should manage a range of 260 miles, and charging the battery from 10-80% is expected to take around 32 minutes with up to 180 kW charging (the upper trims offer up to 200 kW charging). All of this comes with a base price of $51,400, excluding the $995 destination and handling charge, and before any current rebates or incentives.
Click here to read the full article
Next Dodge Challenger And Charger Will NOT Have A V8
A rumor has been doing the rounds of late claiming that the next generation of Dodge Charger and Challenger muscle cars will once again be offered with V8 power. But according to a spokesperson at the automaker, this story was false: "The Charger/Challenger platform and its HEMI power go away after 2023. The unnamed replacement will be BEV." We don't know what kind of performance numbers to expect, but more will surely be revealed this month at Dodge Speed Week, which starts on August 12. Fortunately, the Speed Week event is also expected to include the reveal of a monstrous combustion-powered send-off for the Challenger.
Click here to read the full article
Don't Buy A Pre-Owned Z06 In The First Year Of Release
The trend of buying a highly sought-after car simply for the purpose of making a quick buck off desperate enthusiasts has taken off in recent years, and it no longer affects just limited-edition Porsches. It's permeating every sort of high-demand car out there, and General Motors has had enough. The automaker has incentivized buyers against flipping their new Corvette Z06 in the first year, but if that's not enough to deter them, new measures should. Chevrolet has now warned it will void your warranty if you flip your Z06 in the first year of ownership, and you'll be excluded from buying high-demand vehicles in the future. For now, the list of vehicles to avoid flipping includes the Z06, the Cadillac Escalade-V, and the GMC Hummer EV, but more will surely follow in time.
Click here to read the full article
Ford Reveals New Tremor Package For 2023 Maverick
Ford has been catering to truck enthusiasts who don't want a Raptor and don't want a regular pickup for years now. How? By creating Tremor versions of the F-250, F-150, and Ranger. Now, the same treatment has been applied to the newest pickup on the block, the Maverick. No more power is offered, but you do get a twin-clutch rear-drive unit with differential lock, a lift kit, upgraded half shafts, and of course, unique styling cues. The Tremor Off-Road Package will set you back $2,995, but there's a more affordable Tremor Appearance Package if you just want the looks. This costs $1,495.
Click here to read the full article
