Tag Archives: Trends

Toyota Expanding Indiana Assembly Line, Adding Two New SUVs

April 29, 2021 admin

Toyota is moving production of the Sequoia to Texas and bringing two new three-row SUVs to its Indiana plant.

Toyota Motor will add two new, three-row SUVs to its already large line-up of sport-utility vehicles, the automaker announced.

Though Toyota revealed only a few details, it indicated one of the new models will be sold through the Toyota division, the other through Lexus. To bring them online, meanwhile, the Japanese giant plans to invest $803 million to upgrade its plant in Princeton, Indiana.

Since it was opened in 1998, Toyota has spent $6.6 billion on the Princeton factory, known as TMMI. It currently produces three Toyota-branded light trucks, the full-size Sequoia, the latest-generation Sienna minivan that is produced solely as a hybrid, and the Highlander SUV which is produced both in hybrid and conventional gas versions.

The plant soon will have a bit more space available, even without the upgrade. Production of the Sequoia model will be transferred to Toyota’s San Antonio plant in 2022. That’s part of a broader shift in its manufacturing footprint coinciding with the launch of a new Alabama factory that will operate as a joint venture with Mazda.

New SUVs will target growing families

Toyota is investing $803 million into its Princeton, Indiana plant to build two new large SUVs.

The new models going into TMMI will be “designed with the active Gen Y American family in mind,” Toyota officials said, meaning they will be offered with three rows and seating for up to eight. Today, the flagship brand offers four different three-row SUVs, the Highlander, 4Runner, Land Cruiser and Sequoia. Lexus offers three rows in its LX, GX and RX utility vehicles.

Both new models will be “electrified,” though Toyota did not say whether that means conventional hybrids, like the Highlander, or more advanced plug-in hybrids like the RAV4 Prime. Neither of the new models is expected to offer an all-electric drivetrain, though the automaker announced in February plans to introduce three battery-electric vehicles for the U.S. market by mid-decade. At that point, Toyota previously said, it expects to offer electrified options for virtually every product in its line-up.

“This investment and new vehicle lineup will allow us to continue our work with electrification, expand our portfolio to about 70 models globally by 2025, and meet the needs of our customers while we accelerate toward carbon neutrality,” Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor America, said in a statement.

Toyota’s Indiana plant produces the Highlander and Sienna before adding the two new vehicles.

Plenty of tech for Gen Y buyers

The new SUVs will use some of Toyota’s newest technologies, starting with a smartphone-as-key system allowing a motorist to operate it through an app, rather than a conventional keyfob.

The app also will allow the new models to park remotely, letting a driver exit before trying to squeeze the SUV into a tight space. And while it is unclear where the technology will first be used, the SUVs also will “allow for hands-free driving in certain conditions.” That sounds similar to semi-autonomous technologies now coming to market such as Tesla’s Autopilot, General Motors’ Super Cruise and the upcoming Ford Blue Cruise. Toyota has not offered details, such as whether it will charge a subscription fee as its competitors do.

Toyota has invested heavily in autonomous vehicle research and this week revealed it will buy the self-driving vehicle arm of ride-sharing service Lyft for $550 million.

The plans for the TMMI plant are expected to create another 1,400 jobs. This also will mark the first time a Lexus model will be built at the factory.

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First Look: 2022 Hyundai Kona N

April 27, 2021 admin

Hyundai’s N line-up is growing again, adding the Kona for the 2022 model year.

Hyundai’s N family is about to grow again with the addition of the South Korean carmaker’s first high-performance SUV, the Kona N.

Until now, Hyundai has focused on more sporty models, like the Elantra and Veloster, to get the full-on N treatment. The Kona N not only becomes the brand’s first true performance utility vehicle but also hints at an even broader expansion of the brand that will see Hyundai introduce an electric N model in the not too distant future, officials suggested during a Monday evening media event.

The Hyundai Kona N is “a fun machine that looks like an SUV,” said global R&D chief Albert Biermann, “but it’s actually a hot hatch inside.”

Not your average Kona

While the N model maintains the basic shape of the current Hyundai Kona SUV, it has gone through extensive modifications, Biermann and other officials noted. That starts with the basic body and platform that have been stiffened to give the vehicle “racetrack capability(ies)” while retaining its basic day-to-day functionality.

The Kona went through substantial revisions to get its N badge, R&D Chief Albert Biermann said.

In something of a surprise, Hyundai’s N team chose to stick with the base front-wheel-drive version of the Kona, rather than the all-wheel-drive model, something that helps keep it “affordable,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice president of customer experience for Hyundai.

To give it a solid grip and track-ready handling, the Kona N gets the N Corner Carving Differential, an electronic limited slip differential. A power-sensing axle also helps direct torque where it’s most needed.

Even the base version also features Launch Control, a variable exhaust system and what Hyundai calls its “N Grin Control System” which “offers customers a high level of customization, with five distinct drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and Custom.

These drive modes change the character of the all-new Kona N by adjusting the operating parameters of the engine, Electronic Stability Control, exhaust sound, and steering to optimize them for a variety of driving conditions.”

The Kona N is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine putting out 276 horsepower.

Special features

Other features unique to the Kona include larger N-badged brakes, front and rear, modified to reduce fade even under aggressive track work, as well as lightweight, forged 19-inch alloy wheels.

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 pumped up to 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. That’s essentially the same as what motivates the Veloster N. The Kona’s N-Mode kicks in an extra 10 hp for up to 30 seconds — with a driver able to reactivate that boost every 40 seconds.

The engine is paired with an “enhanced” version of Hyundai’s 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

The Kona N can hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds using Launch Control and boasts a top speed of 150 mph. But the goal of the development program was to enhance cornering capabilities as well, said N brand chief Till Wartenberg.

The Kona N’s cabin is all black with some blue accent stitching to give it an aggressive feel.

“Getting from A to B,’ he suggested, “should never be boring.”

The Hyundai Kona N also undergoes extensive design modifications. These include a wider track, big air scoops below the familiar Hyundai shark nose grille, larger exhaust pipes and a twin-level rear spoiler with a distinctive, triangular high-mounted stoplight.

The Kona N gets body-colored fenders, eschewing the cladding of the standard Kona. It is offered in a unique Sonic Blue paint which Simon Loasby, the head of the Hyundai Styling Group, described as “stealthy. We wanted to create a color that was underneath the radar.”

Cool cabin updates

Inside, the Kona N goes all black, with subtle blue accenting. It gets metal pedals and unique seats, steering wheel and shifter.

The Kona N gets specialized seats featuring the N logo.

The instrument panel features twin 10-inch displays, as well as a head-up display. The gauge cluster’s layout and color scheme changes with each mode, in N Mode switching to a single ring that’s easy to use on track. Numerous additional features are available in N Mode, including a stop watch and a graphic G-meter display.

Hyundai will launch the Kona N as a 2022 model during the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing wasn’t revealed. The Veloster N starts at $32,250.

Expect to see more Hyundai N models in the coming years, officials confirmed Monday night. There is the possibility of adding the performance package to the automaker’s other SUVs, said Schemera, depending on “market demand,” but there have been “no decisions yet.”

What is definitely in the works is an all-electric Hyundai N — and possibly more than one model, Biermann, Wartenberg and Schemera all agreed. That not only reflects the Korean automaker’s push into battery technology but also the fact that electric vehicles can make tremendous power. As to what models and when, “Stay tuned,” said Schemera.

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Bow. Wow! One-Bow Design Takes Mercedes EQS in an Entirely New Direction

March 27, 2021 admin

The new Mercedes-Benz EQS battery-electric sedan makes its formal debut April 15.

One thing’s for sure: there’ll be no mistaking the new Mercedes EQS sedan when it rolls down the street.

Think of the EQS as the all-electric alternative to the German automaker’s familiar S-Class flagship. But you clearly won’t confuse the two when it reaches showrooms in autumn. Some new battery-electric vehicles share the same design language as conventional, gas-powered products. With EQS, Mercedes goes off in an entirely new direction, one it’s been hinting at with concept vehicles like the 2019 Vision EQS.

The production model adopts what the automaker calls a “one-bow” design. It takes the look of the coupe-like Mercedes CLS to extremes. The result could have rolled off the set of a sci-fi film. But there are practical benefits in terms of range and interior roominess, as well.

“We said we have to go further” than just packing batteries into a conventional looking product,” Steffen Kohl, Mercedes’ director of advanced exterior style, said during a media webinar. The EQS “carries the future of Mercedes-Benz,” he added, noting the “one-bow” language of the EQS will strongly influence other products to come from the new, all-electric Mercedes-EQ sub-brand.

Plenty of power and range

Robert Lesnik led the exterior design effort for Mercedes new EQS battery-electric sedan.

EQS rides on a skateboard-like platform, mimicking virtually all new battery-electric vehicles. Its batteries, motors and other key electrical components sit below the floorboards.

The automaker will reveal full powertrain details during a formal unveiling April 15. But EQS uses twin motors, one on each axle, drawing power from a 108 kilowatt-hour battery pack. That provides about 435 miles of range using the European WLTP test cycle. The EPA rating should come in somewhere about 350 miles, according to industry observers.

The layout moves the sedan’s wheels close to the vehicle’s corners. It also frees up space where a traditional gas or diesel engine would be mounted, providing significant flexibility to the Mercedes design team.

Shorter wheelbase, longer cabin

The cab-forward design features a short nose, the angled, one-piece aluminum clamshell hood rising aggressively to flow into a steeply raked windshield. Instead of a traditional, two- or three-box layout, the look is like that of a single bow line, explained Robert Lesnik, who led the exterior design effort.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept provided a framework for the company’s new electric luxury sedan.

“EQS will be the world’s best production car ever in terms of aerodynamics,” with a drag coefficient of 0.20 significantly better than even the sleekest of today’s supercars, he explained.

The effect “looks optically lower than it is,” Lesnik added.

The front end features a new grille with “abstracted, three-dimensional star pattern(s),” according to Mercedes. It’s framed by slit-like headlamps flowing into the front quarter panels.

“When people ask why we need a grille anymore,” Lesnik explains that it is “not an air intake. It’s a face.”

“Coming from the future”

The side panels lack the normal creases found on conventional Mercedes models, though the greenhouse does pinch in towards the trunk, giving the EQS a sense of muscularity.

The new EQS features Mercedes’ newly introduced Hyperscreen technology.

Around back, the most distinctive feature is a light band connecting what Mercedes calls “curved, 3D helix” taillamps.

From nose to tail, the new EQS measures 5.2 meters, or 204.7 inches. That’s about 3.5 inches shorter than the U.S. version of the latest Mercedes S-Class. But the electric sedan has more room for four passengers, its cabin pushed forward into what would normally be the engine compartment.

As distinctive as the exterior might be, the interior takes things even further, said Peter Balko, who oversaw development of the cabin. “We wanted our interior to be modern,” he explained, “as if coming from the future.”

Buyers will have numerous options

Buyers have several key options to choose from. The showpiece layout uses the new hyperscreen concept first shown on the latest S-Class. It features a seamless digital cluster running the entire width of the instrument panel. The organically shaped glass blends three different displays, starting with the digital gauge cluster, the touchscreen infotainment screen and a separate display for the front passenger.

The gauge cluster on the new EQS is configurable based on the wants of the driver.

EQS offers a digital gauge cluster and a large, free-floating, Tesla-like infotainment screen for those seeking a more conventional look. The space in front of the passenger can be outfitted with an assortment of different woods and fabrics and even a version of the Star Pattern grille.

The EQS will “touch almost all of your senses,” said Kohl. Among other things, the product development team has come up with three distinctive, user-programmable “soundscapes.”

Sounding off

While battery cars aren’t entirely silent, they are significantly quieter than vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Motorists can enjoy the lack of noise or they can opt for one of the soundscapes, “depending upon the emotions of the moment,” said lead sound engineer Thomas Kuppers.

Silver Waves is meant to be soft and soothing;
Vivid Flux is “shimming and explosive,” a bit “techie but (with) warmth,” said Kuppers; and
Roaring Pulse is “pretty raw, with “the growl of thunder,” especially under aggressive driving.

“We haven’t finished yet,” Kuppers added, noting that, “There will be new soundscapes over the life of the vehicle that we will download through over-the-air updates.”

The new EQS will borrow from the conventional S-Class by also appealing to the sense of smell, Mercedes officials noted. The new BEV will have the ability to inject scents into the cabin, including some designed specifically for the new model.

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GM Inks New Deal with Innovative EV Battery Maker

March 11, 2021 admin

GM’s next-gen lithium metal batteries, the expected energy density increase may mean higher range in a similarly sized pack or comparable range in a smaller pack.

General Motors continued its charge to develop better batteries, announcing its partnership with lithium metal battery startup SolidEnergy Systems.

The company, also known as SES, is working on technology that would reduce the size of EV batteries while increasing driving range of the vehicle they’re used in. GM officials have long discussed the need to reduce battery costs, another factor in the production of electrified vehicles is weight.

Batteries are heavy and developing and using a smaller battery equates to weight savings, helping to further expand the improved range afforded by the batteries SES and GM are working to create.

Lighter, farther, cheaper

GM says its lithium metal battery with a protected anode offers the Big Three of EVs: affordability, high performance and energy density. The initial prototype batteries have already completed 150,000 simulated test miles at research and development labs at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, demonstrating real-world potential, the company revealed.

GM announced a joint development agreement with lithium metal battery innovator SolidEnergy Systems.

The automaker isn’t just working with SES to bring lithium-metal batteries to fruition, but several other companies as well. However, it does have a history with SES, investing in the company six years ago through its GM Ventures arm.

This new deal is the next step in that collaboration, and as part of that progression, GM and SES plan to build a manufacturing prototyping line in Woburn, Massachusetts, for a high-capacity, pre-production battery by 2023.

Results mean EVs for all

“Affordability and range are two major barriers to mass EV adoption,” said GM President Mark Reuss.

GM’s prototype lithium metal batteries were developed at the company’s research and development labs in Warren, Michigan.

“With this next-generation Ultium chemistry, we believe we’re on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation improvement in energy density and cost. There’s even more room to improve in both categories, and we intend to innovate faster than any other company in this space.”

The goal is to incorporate these smaller, more powerful and less expensive batteries as part of the Ultium Platform that will be the basis for a slew of new EVs coming from the auto company. The first of those, the GMC Hummer hits the road this year.

GM is working to complete its $2.3 billion plant to build the Ultium batteries in partnership with South Korea’s LG Chem. The pair is setting up shop in Lordstown, Ohio. Officials recently revealed two more plants could be in the works. The first would be near GM’s plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

The company is investing $2 billion at that facility to prepare it to produce Cadillac’s first-ever all-electric model, the Lyriq. GM is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles with plans to have 30 EV models available around the world by the end of 2025. The company declared it would end production of gas- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035.

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First Look: 2022 Kia Carnival

February 23, 2021 admin

Kia is looking to shake things up in a “staid” segment with its new minivan, the 2022 Carnival.

Farewell Sedona. Kia officially unveiled the replacement for its familiar minivan today, festively dubbing it the Kia Carnival.

The decision to drop the Sedona nameplate for the 2022 model year has been rumored for many months and reflects the South Korean carmaker’s desire to use similar nameplates worldwide. It took the same approach last year, using a makeover to rename the old Optima sedan the new K5.

There’s more to the move, however. Kia is pushing the brand upmarket. And, as we have already seen with the K5 and the Telluride SUV, that quickly becomes apparent when you get a close look at the new Carnival. It not only gets a new look but plenty of features that push it well into “premium” territory,” a far cry from Kia’s familiar image.

“The Kia Carnival is here to disrupt a staid segment and proves once again what is possible when conventions are shattered,” said Sean Yoon, the president and CEO of Kia Motors North America. “With its SUV-like character, our new multi-purpose vehicle delivers a combination of premium design, intelligent packaging, and an abundance of innovation in safety and technology. For these reasons, the Carnival is the first vehicle to proudly wear our all-new Kia badge and is a bold signal of things to come.”

A more rugged, SUV-like design

Kia keeps with its push to get some global consistency with its vehicle names changing the Sedona to the Carnival.

The new look is decidedly more boxy than that of the old Kia Sedona, with a larger, more upright take on the brand’s familiar “tiger nose” grille, framed by slit-like headlamps. The hood is more horizontal, with creases intended to imply power. The roofline and side windows take on a more ute-like appearance, though the 2022 Kia Carnival retains the twin sliding doors that minivan buyers love.

A rear skid plate and a choice of 17- and 19-inch wheels add to the more aggressive look of the new people mover.

The cabin is where the new Carnival really stands out when compared to the outgoing Sedona line, with more upscale materials and details, like the chrome dash running the length of the instrument panel.

Carnival will be offered with both 7- and 8-passenger configurations, with the optional center buckets able to slide and recline. The “Slide-Flex” system in the 8-passenger model allows a variety of different configurations, and the front passenger seat can be converted into a table.

Segment-leading passenger and cargo space

The new Carnival offers plenty of room as well as all of the technological creature comforts expected in minivans these days.

Functionality remains a critical purchase consideration for MPV buyers and Kia claims the new Carnival delivers best-in-class interior space of 168.2 cubic feet, as well as segment best cargo room of as much as 145.1 cf with the second and third rows folded down.

Technology matters, as well, and the new Kia Carnival boasts twin displays, including a 12.3-inch recongfigurable gauge cluster. The basic touchscreen infotainment display measures 8 inches but upgrades to 12.3 inch with navigation. Bluetooth is built in, with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all models. Wireless versions are available with the dual rear screen entertainment package. Wireless charging and built-in WiFi also are offered. And there are up to nine USB ports and an optional 110-volt outlet in the cabin.

There’s a rear occupant alert system using ultrasonic sensors designed to alert parents and caregivers if a child or pet remains in the second or third rows after the vehicle is shut off and doors locked. It can notify them in several ways, including sending an alert by text message.

The Passenger Talk system acts like an intercom to make it easier for occupants up front to chat with those in the rear. And a camera also lets parents keep an eye on children in back. It even uses night vision to let it work in the dark.

Plenty of safety gear

The new Carnival offers more cargo space than any of its competitors in the segment.

As one would expect of a modern minivan, the 2022 Carnival is loaded with airbags and more advanced driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, and parking collisions avoidance.

Under the hood, all versions of the new Kia minivan use a 3.5-liter V-6 pushing out 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel-drive is not available. The minivan features one of the segment’s better tow ratings, at a max 3,500 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Carnival is expected to reach U.S. showrooms during the second quarter. Pricing will be released closer to then. The outgoing Kia Sedona currently starts at $30,400.

The new Carnival will be facing some tough competition, including new or recently updated offerings from the minivan segment leaders, the Chrysler Pacifica, the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna. The minivan segment has been shrinking for more than a decade but all of the key players are hoping to rebuild momentum with more rugged designs and the addition of new tech and safety features.

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Tesla, GM May Get Eligibility for Federal EV Tax Credits Again

February 12, 2021 admin

Buyers the new Tesla Model S may be eligible for a $7,000 tax credit not previously offered.

Tesla and General Motors may be considered polar opposites in many ways, but in one very big way they’re going to be almost bosom buddies: tax credits for EVs.

The market leader in the segment and the hopes-to-be-leader in the segment are soon able to once again access federal tax credits for the next 400,000 electric vehicles each automaker sells, if a new bill from Democrats makes it into law.

The Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now Act (yup, GREEN) provides a new set of tax incentives aimed at renewable energy technologies, or in this case, vehicles. GM and Tesla buyers could get $7,000 tax credits for new EVs, if it passes.

Government getting involved

Chevy Bolt buyers may get to claim a federal tax credit that had been previously unavailable.

President Joe Biden is a proponent for the growth of electric vehicles, pledging to add 1 million new automotive jobs related to EVs and growing the nation’s underwhelming EV charging network by 500,000 by the end of the decade.

The new bill submitted by Representative Mike Thompson (D-California), who is Chairman of U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue, all the other Democratic leaders on the subcommittee signed onto the bill, hoping Congress will take it up under a Democratic-controlled Senate and the Biden administration.

A similar bill was introduced in June 2020, then controlled by Republicans, and it failed. It was the latest of several attempts to reinstate the previous $7,500 tax credit. Democrats have attempted to resurrect the credit several times, each effort shut down by Senate Republicans. Now that Democrats have the final vote in any deadlock, it seems likely to make it through.

How the tax credit used to work and the new version

The original credit, passed during the Obama administration, limited the number of vehicles eligible for the credit to 200,000 vehicles. Tesla hit the mark first in 2018, followed by GM shortly after. Tesla CEO Elon Musk cut the price on vehicles in the U.S. after to help partially offset the loss of the credit.

Used EVs, if they qualify, can fetch a $2,500 tax credit through the GREEN Act.

The new version cuts the credit by $500, but it also changes the structure of the credit phase out after an automaker hits 600,000 vehicles. The first plan reduced the size of the credit in stages over the course of 12 months following hitting the end number. Now it drops to $3,500 for one quarter and then disappears. Owners who bought vehicles in the interim are not eligible to claim the credit retroactively – at this point.

Additionally, the GREEN Act allows used buyers to claim up to a $2,500 tax credit when purchasing a qualifying preowned electric car. The EV must be at least two years old and the sale price cannot exceed $25,000. Income caps for individuals and spouses filing taxes jointly may result in smaller credits, however.

Businesses aren’t being ignored as the bill creates tax breaks for companies and municipalities purchasing electric heavy-duty vehicles, including zero-emissions buses. Twenty percent of the sales price would be eligible for sales over $100,000.

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First Look: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

February 4, 2021 admin

Nissan’s got a new Pathfinder for everyone for the 2022 model year.

Japan’s second-largest automaker is operating in catch-up mode – but after several years of struggle it’s hoping to make some major gains in the U.S. market with a wave of 10 new products set to roll out by the end of this year.

We’ve already seen several, including the new Sentra, Kicks and Rogue. Today, Nissan pulled the covers off two more major updates, including the long-overdue Frontier pickup and the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The SUV clearly needed some attention, the outgoing, fourth-generation model in showrooms with relatively few updates since the 2013 model year.

“Thirty-five years after the launch of the original model, Pathfinder has returned to its rugged roots,” said Jared Haslam, vice president, Product and Services Planning, Nissan North America. “Today’s large SUV owners want a vehicle that conveys strength and rugged capability, while using advanced safety and technology features to keep their family safe and comfortable during every-day adventures, and the all-new 2022 Pathfinder is ready to take on those adventures.”

New Nissan Pathfinder opts for a bolder look

The new Pathfinder’s sporting a more rugged look for the 2022 model year.

It’s been a while since Pathfinder followed the industry trend, migrating from a classic, body-on-frame platform to a more car-like unibody. While the 2022 model takes a relatively evolutionary approach to styling, the goal was to give the ute a “new, bold, more muscular look,” officials said during a media backgrounder ahead of the SUV’s official debut.

The underlying platform underwent what they describe as a “significant update” to improve on-road manners and to give the 2022 Pathfinder a bit more capability off-road – though this ute isn’t designed for serious trail crawling.

Visually, the primary influence was the original, 1986 Pathfinder, according to senior designer Ken Lee. This is no retro model, but those familiar with the old SUV will likely catch the way the 2022 model borrows from details like the chamfered grille and triangular rear windows.

“Now’s the right time for a return to a rugged (design) philosophy,” said Lee, though his team wanted to avoid the solid, slab-like looks some key competitors have lately adopted.

The wheels have been pulled further out to the corners on the new Pathfinder, with a bit more sculpting to the body sides. There’s also a new, floating C-pillar which works well with the 2022 model’s available two-tone roof.

Although not really a trail crawler, the new Pathfinder does have some off-road capabilities.

Rugged exterior, more comfortable interior

There are plenty of modern touches, as well, including the LED lamps and the now-familiar Nissan boomerang running light design, though hear “blockier” than on other recent models.

While the intent was to create a rugged looking exterior, “When people step inside they expect a lot of comfort,” said Lee, noting the increased use of soft-touch materials on all surfaces a passenger will likely come in contact with. And there are upscale options like semi-aniline leather, with seven different interior “environments” on the check list. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder adopts a flat-bottom steering wheel and a floating touchscreen, with metallic accented shapes “bookending” the instrument panel.

The SUV comes in a standard, 8-passenger layout but a 7-passenger model with second-row captain’s chairs is available. So are a 10-way power driver’s seat and a tri-zone climate control.

The 2022 Pathfinder offers plenty of interior comfort and significant convenience technology features.

Buyers can opt for a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, rather than the standard analog gauges, as well as a 9-inch color touchscreen placed high on the IP. Pathfinder also gets an optional, 10.8-inch head-up display for the first time.

The Nissan Connect infotainment system can be paired with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latter also available in wireless form. And there’s an optional, 13-speaker Bose Premium sound system.

Family-oriented SUV adds plenty of new safety features

The new Pathfinder gets a variety of safety-related features, such as the Around View Monitor that provides a birdseye view of the SUV’s surroundings, as well as optional ProPILOT Assist, a system that is claimed to make driving easier on long trips – though it officially still requires the driver to maintain hands on the wheel. Among other things, it links to Pathfinder’s optional navigation system and active cruise control and can automatically slow the vehicle during sharp curves or at freeway exits.

The Nissan Safety Shield 360 system adds other smart systems, including Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Monitor and Lane Departure Warning.

2022 Nissan Pathfinder nose driving snowstorm

With all-wheel drive, the Pathfinder is a very capable machine.

Power comes from a 284-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission. With 259 pound-feet of torque, the package is capable of pulling what Nissan claims is a best-in-class 6,000 pound trailer load.

Options include two- and four-wheel-drive

The 2022 Pathfinder will be available in both two- and four-wheel-drive. And drivers will have the ability to control a variety of vehicle functions – including steering boost, throttle response and shifts – thanks to a seven-position Drive and Terrain Mode Selector.

Look for fuel economy and pricing to be announced closer to the new Pathfinder’s on-sale date this coming Summer.

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Toyota, Lexus Rolling Out New Online Sales Programs

February 1, 2021 admin

Toyota is making the buying process easier and more transparent with its new SmartPath program.

Analyst after analyst said that 2020 would leave an indelible mark on the automotive industry, specifically how new cars, trucks and utility vehicles are sold. Toyota and its luxury unit, Lexus, are proving them right.

Each company unveiled new retail “experiences” today, Toyota with “SmartPath” and Lexus its “Monogram” program. The goal is to allow potential buyers a flexible experience starting with the internet, giving them as much or as little “personal” touch as they desire.

“Our goal is to ensure we create the best experience for our customers and our dealers,” said Jack Hollis, senior vice president, Automotive Operations, TMNA. “As our customers’ expectations evolve, SmartPath provides our dealers the technology to exceed those expectations. Our shared mission is to make the experience of shopping, buying, and owning a Toyota as easy and carefree as driving one.”

(Nissan taking lead in online new vehicle sales.)

The Japanese automaker isn’t going it alone in this area. Most automakers have offered some form of online shopping for several years now; however, there are some automakers that are bulking up their online sales programs, notably Nissan.

Nissan revealed its new online sales program in late December. Called “Nissan@Home,” the process allows buyers to handle everything online from test drive to delivery. It tested the program at seven dealerships to work out the kinks before moving to a nationwide offering.

Toyota may have recognized the trend to toward growing internet sales early as it began piloting SmartPath in 2019, but the automaker recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic “accelerated consumer demand for digital transactions.” The company noted a recent survey showed that two out of three shoppers are more likely to purchase a vehicle online.

Monogram, the Lexus program, just as is the case with SmartPath allows buyers to start their buying process online. The system is designed to be transparent in order to make the process easier for the potential new owner as well as dealership personnel.

Both programs are currently in what’s best described as an expanded pilot phase. It’s available in several markets, at least 50 in the U.S., with plans to continue expanding it throughout the year. The flexibility of starting with the internet, but inviting an actual person in at any point in the process seems to fit with exactly what buyers want these days.

(Used cars booming, Honda takes aim at retailers like CarMax, Carvana.)

Automakers should get used to it, according to a recent study by Gartner Research. Currently less than 1% of all sales are completed online, that number is expected to jump to 20% within five years.

Lexus is also rolling out a new online shopping program. It’s named its version “Monogram.”

Mercedes-Benz, Ford, General Motors and other automakers all referenced significant upticks in internet-based sales in the last year.

However, a trend isn’t a majority necessarily. According to Deloitte’s newest report, the 2021 Global Automotive Consumer Study, release in mid-January, the number of people buying vehicles online during the pandemic was done more out of necessity than preference.

Seventy-one percent of U.S. vehicle buyers prefer an “in-person sales experience,” the study revealed. This biggest part of that is 75% want to see and touch the vehicle before they buy it, with 64% needed some time behind the wheel as well.

“Unlike many other retail sectors that have seen a wholesale shift to online buying, purchasing a vehicle remains a largely personal experience for many consumers,” said Karen Bowman, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. automotive sector leader.

“However, some people will be looking for a virtual sales experience to maximize convenience, speed and ease of use. This will likely result in a more complicated, and potentially costly, set of consumer expectations for dealers to meet at a time when businesses are looking to recover and thrive in the wake of the pandemic.”

(Pandemic may not have changed car buying habits of consumers.)

One area where U.S. consumers were happy to see handled via the internet was vehicle service. The ability to get online and have your car or SUV picked up by a dealer at home or work was appealing with 46% of respondents in favor of that type of interaction — provided it is free.

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New Vehicle Sales Slowed in January Despite Improved Retail Results

January 27, 2021 admin

Depressed fleet sales are putting a drag on January’s results, offsetting improved retail results.

Depressed fleet demand continues to hobble the overall demand for new vehicles, leaving the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales in January 5.5% behind year ago levels, according to new estimates by analysts.

Conversely January retail sales are expected to increase slightly, according to TrueCar. U.S. retail deliveries of new cars and light trucks are forecast to see an increase of 0.4% from a year ago when adjusted for the same number of selling days. However, that increase isn’t going to be enough to offset the impact of the depressed fleet market.

TrueCar, the car-buying help service, expects the total SAAR to drop to an annual rate of 15.9 million units from 16.8 million units in January 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the car business into a tailspin.

(New year brings new deals on new cars, trucks and utes.)

“Consumer activity has kept the vehicle market on a strong recovery path in recent months. Retail sales, which generally account for four-out-of-five vehicles sold in the U.S. market, are expected to remain strong in January,” noted a report from Cox Automotive.

The Cox report said positive economic news, coupled with improving consumer confidence, is helping rebuild both interest and ability to buy.

“Entering 2021 with retail sales in line with last year is a big win for the automotive industry,” said Nick Woolard, lead industry analyst at TrueCar.

“However, while retail sales have rebounded, rental fleets remained depressed and continue to interrupt fleet sales. As a result, fleet sales are struggling to come back to pre-pandemic levels and are driving total unit sales down,” Woolard said.

In addition, the average transaction prices for new vehicles are projected to be up 4.2%, or $1,509, from a year ago but down 4.5%, or $1,759, from December 2020. TrueCar projects that U.S. revenue from new vehicle sales will reach approximately $39 billion for January 2021, down 4.4% from a year ago.

(Despite production cuts due to chip shortages vehicle inventory remains stable.)

“The automotive industry continues to reap the benefits of continued strength in retail demand with lower incentive spend.

Improved consumer confidence and other factors continue point to continued retail sales strength.

“A handful of brands such as Ford, Genesis, GMC, Ram and Toyota, appear to be in the coveted quadrant of both retail growth as well as incentive decline. This is mostly driven by new product and being in the right segments or a combination of the two,” added Woolard.

Woolard said average transaction prices have finally come down from the record-setting highs we saw last month but are still higher than this time last year. Of the top carmakers, only Kia has an average transaction price below $30,000, TrueCar reported.

Alain Nana-Sinkam, vice president of Industry Insights at TrueCar, said the trend is most likely to continue so buyers are going to adjust their buying process in response.

“As new vehicle prices rise, we may see more price-conscious shoppers gravitate back towards smaller segments or the used car market due to growing concerns around affordability.”

(Auto sales gain traction as Americans avoid mass transit.)

Fleet sales for January 2021 are expected to be down 23.7% from a year ago but used vehicle sales for January 2021, which are critical for setting the price of leases on new vehicles, are expected to reach 3.2 million, up 1% from a year ago and up 10% from December 2020.

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Is Ford Making an All-Electric Mustang? Maybe

January 21, 2021 admin

Could the next-gen Ford Mustang coupe come only as a battery-electric model?

Ford Motor Co.’s gotten such an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, it’s rumored to be making the next-generation of the sports car a fully electric offering as well.

According to AutoForecast Solutions, the automaker will not build the next version of the pony car until 2028. The reason for the delay? It needs to be redesigned on a battery-electric platform. Further, it’s expected to be the only powertrain for the new Mustang.

“… the gas-fueled burble of the V-8 is replaced with the shocking acceleration of an electric motor when the standard Mustang becomes an EV in just a few years,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasts, in the company’s podcast on Jan. 18.

(New Mustang Mach-E is just the first step in “electrification” for Ford.)

The early success of the Mustang Mach-E suggests that an all-electric version of the sports car could be well received by aficionados.

Fiorani’s podcast was followed by a report by Autoline Detroit Tuesday, recounting the AFS report about the next version of the Mustang. Although it isn’t out of the question for the Mustang to get an electric powertrain, for it to be the only offering is a bit surprising.

Many have suggested some form of electrification, such as a small electric motor to add some more power and torque has certainly been bandied about. Several other sports cars have move to the hybrid set up to boost performance.

It should be noted that in 2017 the automaker killed a $1.6 billion investment in Mexico, redirecting $700 million of that to expand the Flat Rock plant. Ford would add a new body shop at the site to handle two unnamed battery-electric vehicles, officials said at the time, although it was suggested that one would be a hybrid.

The site currently produces just the Mustang, which until recently included the Shelby GT350 and GT350R models. Those two vehicles have been discontinued, with the GT500 living on and now the Mach 1 making a comeback later this year. Ford officials have not responded to TheDetroitBureau.com at the time of publication.

Ford officials have long maintained that electrification was part of the company’s future, not its sole focus, unlike its rival, General Motors, which has been dealing with some electrification rumors lately too. Last week, reports resurfaced that an all-electric Chevrolet Corvette was in the works, but following in Ford’s footsteps.

Ford announced plans in 2017 to invest $700 million in its Flat Rock, Michigan, plant, which currently builds only the Mustang, to build electric vehicles.

(Ford axes $1.6B Mexico plant for $700M Michigan upgrade.)

While General Motors insiders never really downplayed reports about the potential electrification of the ‘Vette, including a fully electric model. However, last week there were reports that the bowtie brand was considering an electric Corvette crossover like the Mustang Mach-E because of the warm reception it’s getting.

The flames were fanned during CES2021 when GM officials talked about offering a variety of new electric vehicles between now and 2030. Earlier reports centered on a 1,000-horsepower monster dubbed the Corvette Zora, named after the creator of the original car. The move to create an all-electric crossover would check off two “rumor” boxes, if you will: an all-electric model and the creation of a separate Corvette sub-brand.

The downside, of course, is that Corvette loyalists would shun it immediately. It’s been barely a year since the eighth-generation Corvette – the C8 to fans – made its debut, marking the switch to a mid-engine layout, the most radical shift for the sports car in its nearly seven decades on the market.

Several senior members of the Corvette team have hinted at plans in conversations with TheDetroitBureau.com, among other things indicating the new car’s platform could allow space for a battery pack.

(Could an all-electric Corvette crossover be in the works?)

Several purported timetables have emerged indicating Chevrolet is working on hybrid or plug-in versions of the sports car. But when directly asked about the opportunity of a hybrid model, GM President Mark Reuss has responded on several occasions with the company’s new mantra, that it is “on a path to an all-electric future.

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