SaxtonOnCars Celebrates 15 Years! It Started With Tesla

SaxtonOnCars started 15 years ago in 2009 shortly after I left my assignment with Edmunds.com creating daily new vehicle content for their predictive tool, Car Stock Exchange. My coverage of the auto industry really began as a sportscaster in the mid-70s commentating on stock car racing and demolition derbies on CKVU-TV in Vancouver, and reporting on all levels of auto racing. When I made the shift to financial newscasting at Financial News Network (FNN), I was tapped to host their weekly primetime program AutoTrends and be involved in live collector car auction broadcasts (years before Speed Channel launched). The drive continued at KWHY-22 "The Business Channel" in Los Angeles with my CarBiz segments interviewing automotive executives. My automotive mic was on cruise control at KFWB News980 and Bloomberg Radio where the Motor Press Guild (MPG) Batchelor Awards recognized my radio coverage of the auto industry. Then to Edmunds.com and now SaxtonOnCars with an accompanying YouTube Channel. The ride continues - thank you for your support. 

My first article was on the Tesla Model S in November 2009 (above) after seeing Elon's Roadsters being driven at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show for the first time (below). And, that amazing story has reached historical proportions as we all know.

2025 Subaru Solterra Starts At $39,915

The 2025 Subaru Solterra all-electric SUV, available in Premium, Limited, Touring, and new Touring Onyx Edition trim levels, delivers up to 227 miles of range and now has a lower starting price for 2025. The 2025 Subaru Solterra will start at $39,915 (including $1,420 destination and delivery). All Solterras are equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and Subaru StarDrive® Technology and have 8.3 inches of ground clearance 

2025 Nissan Ariya Starts At $41,160

The 2025 Nissan Ariya starts at $41,160 (including $1,390 destination & handling fee) for the 214 horsepower Engage FWD 66 kWh battery trim level that has a range of 216 miles and is on sale with wireless device charging now standard across all Ariya grades. Nissan EV owners will need a Nissan-provided North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter kit to access 17,800 Tesla Supercharger stations, now available for $235. The kit can be ordered through a Nissan dealer and is available online at NissanUSA.com. Starting in 2025, Nissan will begin fitting EVs for the U.S. and Canadian markets with a NACS port. Evolve+ has 238 horsepower and a 289 mile range while the Evolve+ e-4ORCE and Platinum+ e-4ORCE trims have up to 389 horsepower delivering a range up to 272 miles.

2025 Nissan Murano Starts At $41,860

The all-new 2025 Nissan Murano, powered by a 241 horsepower 2.0-liter VC-Turbo (Variable Compression Turbo) powertrain paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters, starts at $41,860 (including $1,390 destination and handling). Murano offers available Google built-in7, with up-to-date Google Maps and over 100 available apps in the 12.3-inch touchscreen. The system is paired with a Bose® 10-speaker audio system.

Honda Prelude Nameplate Returns Late Next Year

The all-new hybrid-electric Honda Prelude sports coupe will be introduced to the U.S. market late next year, returning the nameplate to the brand in its 6th generation. This year Honda began selling the Honda Prologue, the brand’s first all-electric SUV. And late next year, Honda will begin production of the first EVs based on the new Honda-developed EV platform at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio.

2025 Toyota bZ4X BEV Starts At $38,465 In Early 2025

The battery-electric 2025 Toyota bZ4X with an EPA-estimated range rating of 252 miles on the XLE FWD model will cost up-to $6,000 less and adds a new Nightshade edition with standard All Wheel Drive. For 2025, the MSRP starts at $38,465 (including $1,395 DPH fee) on the XLE FWD grade, $40,545 on the XLE AWD grade and the Limited grades starts at $43,195 (FWD), a price reduction of $5,380. The XLE AWD equipped models range is 228 miles and the Limited grade has an EPA-estimated range rating of up to 236 miles on the FWD model; the Limited and Nightshade AWD models have an EPA-estimated range of up to 222 miles. The bZ4X is 3.7 inches longer than the RAV4, at 184.6 inches, with a 6.3-inch longer wheelbase at 112.2 inches. The 2025 bZ4X is expected to start arriving at Toyota dealerships nationwide in early 2025.

2025 Toyota 4Runner Starts At $42,220 In January

The 6th generation 2025 Toyota 4Runner, available in SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off–Road, TRD Off–Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trim levels, is powered by a 278 horsepower i-FORCE 2.4-liter turbo with an EPA-estimated 26 MPG highway on the SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Sport Premium grades, and available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium and Limited. There's an available i-FORCE MAX hybrid that produces up to 326 horsepower. 4Runner is available in 2-Wheel, part-time 4-Wheel and Full-time 4-Wheel Drive. All i-FORCE MAX grades come standard with 4-Wheel Drive and the Limited and Platinum grades have Full-time 4-Wheel Drive with an electronic locking center differential offering a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 lbs. The 2025 Toyota 4Runner will hit dealerships in January of 2025 with a starting MSRP of $42,220 (including $1,450 for Delivery Processing and Handling fee). 

2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Starts At 30,515

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata, offered in  Sport 6MT,  Club 6MT,  Grand Touring 6MT,  Grand Touring 6AT trims, is powered by a 181 horsepower Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission and MX-5 Miata Grand Touring is offered in either a manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. A 35th Anniversary edition model will also be available for 2025 featuring a bespoke Artisan Red exterior color and tan nappa leather interior.  i-Activsense safety features  include Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning and Secondary Collision Reduction. The MX-5 Miata Sport 6MT starts at $30,515 (including $1,185 for destination and handling). 

2025 Subaru WRX Starts At $36,920 Early Next Year

The 2025 Subaru WRX, available in Premium, Limited, GT, and tS trim levels, is powered by a 271 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru BOXER® engine and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on all trim levels, except the GT. The Subaru Performance Transmission is available in Premium and Limited trim levels and is standard on the GT. The  tS has electronically controlled adjustable dampers tuned by Subaru Tecnica International, uprated Brembo® brakes and 19-inch alloy wheels in satin gray finish paired with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires. The WRX is equipped with an 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia Plus system with high-resolution touchscreen for audio, vehicle, and climate controls. All Subaru WRX models are equipped with Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology and DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System. The 2025 Subaru WRX will arrive at retailers in early 2025 with a starting price of $36,920 (including $1,170 destination and delivery charges).