Ford and Tesla’s charging tie-up, Lexus re-teases GX, best used cars for teens

There will be no Manifold on Monday, Memorial Day. May we suggest you read this one twice?

Own a Ford EV? Soon, you can use Tesla’s Superchargers

Intake: Starting early next year, Ford EV customers will have access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, in addition to the over 10,000 DC fast-chargers that are already part of the BlueOval Charge Network. This will give Ford EV customers “unprecedented access to fast-charging,” the company says. Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit customers will be able to access the Superchargers via an adapter and software integration along with activation and payment via FordPass or Ford Pro Intelligence. And then in 2025, Ford will offer next-generation electric vehicles with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector built-in, eliminating the need for an adapter to access Tesla Superchargers.

Exhaust: It’s an unprecedented tie-up between two competing EV manufacturers. It doubles the number of fast-chargers available to Ford EV customers starting in the Spring of 2024. “This is great news for our customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest network of fast-chargers in the U.S. and Canada with 12,000+ Tesla Superchargers plus 10,000+ fast-chargers already in the BlueOval Charge Network,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025.” — Steven Cole Smith

100 years later, the first Bentley to race at Le Mans just sold for nearly $4 million

Intake: The 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary this June and so, too, does a 1923 Bentley 3 Litre that claimed fourth place in the inaugural race. Entered by Bentley test driver Frank Clement and Canadian World War I veteran John Duff, the car also set the fastest lap of La Sarthe at 66.69 mph. Chassis number 141 was only fitted with brakes at the rear wheels and the duo ran out of fuel at one point after stones punctured the fuel tank, making the near-podium finish all the more miraculous. The pioneering 3 Litre went on to live a less glamorous life as a tow vehicle and a hearse before being buried in a barn for decades. Rediscovered in early 1980, it was purchased by Australian collector Peter Briggs and fully restored to become a feature of his museum in Perth. Now chassis 141 is back in Britain having been purchased by an enthusiast for nearly $4 million.

Exhaust: This car’s Le Mans debut was a remarkable achievement that spurred W.O. Bentley to attack the arduous 24-hour race with full factory support. Between 1927 and 1930, the legendary Bentley Boys won four times in a row, but that never would have happened if it wasn’t for chassis 141. — Nik Berg

Lexus offers a glimpse of all-new GX SUV

Intake: Lexus has been typically coy about offering up little detail shots of the GX, such as one headlight, but this from-the-rear shot shows quite a bit of the SUV. There’s a light bar that goes across the hatch, some flared fenders, and a relatively sleek roofline. The Lexus GX debuts in full flower on June 8. They’ve also been sneaking small detail shots of the first-ever Lexus TX, a smaller SUV that also debuts June 8.

Exhaust: Here’s what we know, and suspect, about the three-row Lexus GX, which hasn’t had a significant update since 2009: The V-8 goes away, replaced by a V-6, likely with hybrid power and maybe twin turbos. Towing capacity is a selling point for current GX owners, so we’re expecting robust numbers there. We figure it’s being built on the LX chassis, knowing Toyota’s propensity for platform-sharing. The bottom line is, the ancient GX still sells well, so Lexus’ mandate is to bring in some new (read: younger) customers, without annoying the mass of GX owners already out there. — SCS

IIHS, Consumer Reports update list of good cars for teens

Intake: Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have updated their list of the best first cars for teens. One list is for used cars, and the other is for new cars. The most useful list is likely the “good” used cars under $20,000. The used cars must have a good safety rating per the IIHS, and a good reliability record per the magazine. Interestingly, there are SUVs but no pickups are included on the used list.

Exhaust:  Among the recommended small cars, for instance: Kia Soul, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Volt, Honda Civic sedan, and Toyota Prius. Check the list here for the suggested model years. In midsized cars, it’s the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord coupe or sedan, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, and the most likely choice your teen will campaign for, the BMW 3 Series sedan and the Audi A4. — SCS

Genesis moves all GV70 production to Alabama plant

Intake: Genesis announced that it would move the production of all GV70 models to its Montgomery, Alabama, plant. Starting with the 2024 model year, all GV70 models will originate from the plant, a shift from before when just the electrified GV70 was made there. Production of the electrified GV70 began earlier this year. Previously, the GV70 was assembled in Genesis’ Ulsan, South Korea plant. The Montgomery plant received an investment of over $300 million to enhance the facility, which added warehouse space and modifications to the stamping and weld shops for the creation of the GV70 vehicle bodies.

Exhaust: The electric GV70 had to be assembled here to qualify for some of the tax credit that the Inflation Reduction Act was offering, but the decision to move all GV70 production for the American market to U.S. shores makes a lot of sense. Other luxury players such as BMW and Mercedes also assemble some of their best-selling models stateside as well. — Nathan Petroelje

***

Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.