Thursday, October 14, 2021

Maserati Ghibli and Levante F Tributo Special Edition Arrive This Month

Maserati celebrates its racing history with the F Tributo Special Edition, F for Fangio, the driver who made his mark and Tributo, meaning in homage or tribute. Available on Ghibli and Levante (pictured) in two exclusive colors, Rosso Tributo and Azzurro Tributo, and arrives at dealerships in the United States and Canada this month.  

2022 Toyota Highlander Starts At $36,420, Hybrid Bronze Edition At $45,095

The fourth-generation 2022 Toyota Highlander, available in either front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive, is powered by a 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission equipped to tow 5,000-pounds and includes Trailer Sway Control which uses the Vehicle Stability Control to help control unwanted trailer movement. The 2022 Highlander L FWD starts at $36,420 (including $1,215 destination, processing, handling fee). The Hybrid Bronze Edition (pictured), is powered by a 243 total hybrid system horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine with two electric motors delivering up to an EPA-estimated 36 combined MPG and a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds and will be offered at $45,095 for the FWD variant and $46,695 for the AWD variant. The Highlander Hybrid offers selectable NORMAL, ECO and SPORT driving modes plus the EV mode, which allows electric-only driving at low speeds for short distances. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 2.5+) is standard across all grades.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

2022 Kia Forte Gets Added Features

The 2022 Kia Forte compact sedan comes with new front and rear design elements available in FE, LXS, GT-Line and GT trim levels, and is powered by a 147 horsepower 2.0-liter MPI I-4 engine mated to a Intelligent Continuously Variable Transmission on the FE, LXS, GT-Line trims and a 201 horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter GDI I-4 engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission or 6-speed manual transmission on the GT model. New package offerings include LXS Technology, GT-Line Technology, and GT Technology, each with a unique combination of tech and ADAS systems including Lane Following Assist, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Warning. A larger 4.2-inch color TFT LCD cluster is standard on all trims with a newly available 10.25-inch widescreen navigation display.


Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Coming 2nd Half 2022

The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid crossover SUV, powered by a twin-motor Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system with a motor at the front and another one at the rear of the vehicle, is scheduled for launch in the U.S. in the second half of calendar-year 2022. 


Genesis GV60 Electric Vehicle

The Genesis GV60, a high-performance electric vehicle, is powered by a 77.4kWh battery giving the standard 228 horsepower RWD model a maximum driving range of 280 miles per charge. The standard 318 horsepower AWD model is equipped with a 217 horsepower motor for its rear wheels and a 101 horsepower motor for its front wheels for a maximum driving range of 248 miles per charge. Innovations include Face Connect, Fingerprint Authentication System, Over-the-Air Software Update, and Digital Key 2 enable drivers to interact with their vehicle. Safety and convenience features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Driver Attention Warning, rear side monitor, High Beam Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, Rear View Monitor), Surround View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Distance Warnings for the front, side and rear, Rear Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

All-New 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Arrives In 4th Quarter

The fifth-generation 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, in Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve trims, adds its first electrified Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe with a new 375 horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 with two electric motors and eight-speed automatic transmission is available on Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve looks to deliver an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range, 57 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and a combined driving range of more than 440 miles. The new off-road Trailhawk, powered by the 293 horsepower all-aluminum 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, standard on all models, features standard all-terrain tires, integrated off-road camera, Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance, improved approach, departure and breakover angles and the Quadra-Drive II active transfer case with rear eLSD and Selec-Terrain. The 357 horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 engine is available on Overland, Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve. The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee will arrive in Jeep dealerships in North America in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is scheduled to arrive in North America early in 2022 and in global markets later that year.

2022 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban Coming Soon

The 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe (pictured above) and Suburban (pictured below) is powered by a 355 horsepower 5.3L V-8 as the standard engine on LS, LT, Z71, RST and Premier models. The optional Duramax 277 horsepower 3.0L turbo-diesel is available on all models except Z71. All engines are mated to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission with push-button electronic shift. The 420-horsepower 6.2L V-8 engine is now available on the RST, Z71 and Premier. The 6.2L engine is standard on the High Country. 

New for 2022, additional technology, including more mechanical options including available electronic limited slip differential, infotainment improvements and additional standard active safety features Front and Rear Park Assist and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning now standard on all trims. A new, larger 12.3-inch-diagonal configurable digital instrument cluster is now standard on 2022 Tahoe and Suburban for LT trims and above. The 2022 Tahoe and Suburban will begin production in October.

2022 Jeep Wrangler Willys Starts At $40,930 In December

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler Willys joins Wrangler Rubicon and Wrangler Rubicon 392 as models available with 35-inch tires in Xtreme Recon Package and is priced at $40,930 (including $1,495 destination charge). Customers can order the Xtreme Recon Package on the Jeep Wrangler Willys 293 horsepower 3.6L eTorque starting in October. Production will start in December.


2022 Honda Passport Arrives This Winter

The 2022 Honda Passport, powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive with true torque vectoring available on all grades (standard on TrailSport and Elite), is refreshed with a new, more rugged exterior design and offers a Passport TrailSport trim. TrailSport is equipped with new 18-inch diameter wheels, while EX-L and Elite receive newly designed 20-inch wheels. The 2022 Honda Passport is expected to begin arriving in dealers this Winter.

2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Special Edition

The new 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Special Edition, offered in LE, XLE, sporty XSE, limited and Platinum trims, is available in the Cement or Midnight Black Metallic exterior colors and features a standard Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive System and increased ground clearance. The Woodland Edition, and any 2022 Sienna equipped with the Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive System, achieves an EPA-estimated 35 combined MPG. (Sienna models with front-wheel drive get EPA-estimated 36 combined MPG.) The new-generation Sienna combines a standard hybrid powertrain with AWD, which is available as an option on all model grades. The 2022 Sienna Woodland Edition comes exclusively in the 7-seat configuration with Super-Long-Slide second-row captain’s chairs. It comes with a tow hitch and 3500-lb. towing capability.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

2022 Ford Expedition Timberline series Coming First Quarter 2022

The new 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline series, powered by a 440 horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost® engine delivers a maximum towing capability of 9,300 pounds. Available features include Road Edge Detection, Intersection Assist, Reverse Brake Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and Active Air Dam. The 2022 Ford Expedition will go on sale in the first quarter of 2022.

2022 Toyota Tundra Coming Later This Year

The all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra is powered by the standard 389 horsepower i-FORCE 3.5L twin-turbo V6 engine or the available 437 horsepower i-FORCE MAX powertrain both mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Two different four-door layouts are available, as well as various bed lengths including a 5.5-foot bed, 6.5-foot bed and an 8.1-foot bed. The new Tundra has a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds and a max payload capacity of 1,940 pounds. The all-new Tundra will go on sale later this year, and pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.


2022 Acura RDX Arrives In Early November

The new 2022 Acura RDX, powered by a turbocharged 272-horsepower 2.0-liter VTEC® 4-cylinder paired with a 10-speed automatic with standard Sequential SportShift paddle shifters, gets a retuned suspension and Integrated Dynamics System and ther RDX A-Spec® is now available with Advance Package. Standard tech now includes wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, and Amazon Alexa built-in. A hand-crafted limited-production 2022 RDX PMC Edition will be available at launch. The 2022 RDX will begin arriving at Acura dealers nationwide in early November.


2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Starts At $44,995

The all-new 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron comes in the Q4 50 e-tron and its Sportback variation offering quattro four wheel drive, powered by 295 horsepower dual asynchronous motors with an EPA-estimated range of 241 miles while the Q4 40 e-tron arrives equipped with a 201 horsepower rear-wheel drive single asynchronous electric motor. There's a standard 10.25-inch Audi virtual cockpit and a 10.1-inch center stack MMI touch display. The Q4 e-tron starts at $44,995 (including $1,095 destination charge) with an anticipated potential federal tax credit up to $7,500.

2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Starts At $23,915

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback, powered by a 158-horsepower2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission, starts at $23,915 (including $1,015 destination charge) while the Civic Hatchback EX-L with a 180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a CVT starts at $27,615. All 2022 Civic Hatchbacks include Honda's new next-gen driver and front passenger airbags and an expanded Honda Sensing® suite of driver-assistive and safety technology that adds Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and the Lane Keeping Assist System. A rear seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder are also new and standard across the lineup.


2022 Kia Sorento Turbo Plug-in Hybrid Starts At $46,165

The new 2022 Kia Sorento Turbo Plug-in Hybrid 3-row SUV has a 66.9 kW electric motor and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that combine to produce 261 horsepower delivering an EPA-estimated 32-mile all-electric driving range with an EPA-estimated total range of 460 miles for an EPA-estimated 79 MPGe combined rating. The 2022 Sorento Turbo Plug-in Hybrid will start at $46,165 (including $1,175 destination and handling charge) for the SX and $49,065 for the fully loaded SX-Prestige (SX-P). The Sorento PHEV may be eligible for a $6,587 Federal Tax Credit, as well as various state incentives, including single rider carpool lane access in California. 


2022 Mazda CX-5 Receives Enhancements

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 will have refreshed exterior styling on all models, Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) drive mode selection and i-Activ all-wheel drive standard across the entire CX lineup in the U.S. market. The turbo models will receive additional styling enhancements that help further distinguish it from non-turbo models. 

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Video: Throwback Thursday Look At American Sunroof Corporation



Automotive innovator Heinz Prechter left us over 20 years ago. Prechter founded the American Sunroof Company (now ASC Incorporated) in Los Angeles. Here's his story told more than 30 years ago.

Click to watch.

Sunday, September 12, 2021

2022 Subaru WRX Arrives Early In 2022

The all-new 2022 Subaru WRX, powered by a new 271 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru BOXER® engine that is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or new automatic transmission. The WRX has an available high-definition tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia system and latest generation EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The WRX adds a new top-of-the-line GT trim with a new automatic transmission, the Subaru Performance Transmission, as standard. The 2022 WRX will be available at Subaru retailers in early 2022.


 

2022 Chevrolet Silverado Arrives Refreshed In Spring 2022

The new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, powered by a 420 horsepower 6.2L V-8 engine mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission, gets updates that include the first-ever Silverado ZR2, a 13.4-inch-diagonal touchscreen standard on LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, ZR2, LTZ and High Country and available Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology with trailering on High Country. Also new for 2022 is a stronger version of the 2.7L Turbo High-Output engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. ZR2 max payload is 1,440 pounds and the conventional trailer weight rating is 8,900 pounds. Additional safety features such as HD Rear Vision Camera8 and Buckle to Drive are standard across the lineup for the new 2022 Silverado models. The refreshed Chevrolet Silverado arrives at dealerships in Spring 2022.