BMW i Vision Dee - The Future

BMW i Vision Dee (Digital Emotional Experience ) is a futuristic mid-size sedan that showcases a multi-colored, fully variable and individually configurable exterior by applying E Ink to the body thus creating and displaying up to 32 colors. The BMW Head-Up-Display extends across the full width of the windshield which will be available from 2025 onwards in the NEUE KLASSE models. The BMW Mixed Reality Slider, in combination with the advanced Head-up Display, using shy-tech sensors on the instrument panel, lets drivers decide how much digital content they want to see on the Head-Up Display. 

2023 Honda Accord Starts At $28,390 This Month

The all-new 11th generation 2023 Honda Accord, available in six trim levels (two 1.5L turbo-powered and four hybrid), will start at $28,390 (including $1,095 destination charge) for the Accord LX powered by a 192 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo engine with VTEC® and a retuned continuously variable automatic transmission when it arrives at Honda dealerships this month. The hybrid-electric powered 2023 Accord Sport starts at $32,990.

2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition Starts At $106,445 This Quarter

The 2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition with new Baja Yellow exterior color, powered by a  702 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine, starts at $106,445 (including $1,895 destination). The TRX Havoc Edition features 18-inch all black bead lock capable wheels, dual pane panoramic sunroof, spray-in bedliner, cargo tie-downs, bed step and an LED cab-mounted brake light and inside Prowler Yellow accent stitching, an embroidered “TRX” seat back logo, unique carbon fiber accents, a leather and carbon fiber flat–bottom steering wheel and Head-up Display. Safety features include adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist and pedestrian emergency braking. The new 2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition models, available in very limited quantities, go on sale early in the first quarter of 2023.

Test Drive: 2022 Toyota Rav4 Prime XSE

The Toyota Rav4 Prime plug-in hybrid was introduced at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show and went on sale in the summer of 2020 as a 2021 model. The RAV4 Prime has 302 combined net horsepower. The standard 6.6kW onboard charger takes approximately 2.5 hours to charge the battery and when fully charged, RAV4 Prime has an EPA-estimated range rating of 42 miles of EV-only driving. It seamlessly switches between hybrid and EV modes delivering an EPA-estimated combined 94 MPGe rating. On our 300 mile test drive, we remained in hybrid mode and achieved good fuel economy. The JBL® Premium Audio system has 800 watts of power to drive 11 speakers in nine locations, including front horn tweeters and a subwoofer.

Starting MSRP for the 2023 Rav4 Prime SE is $42,925 (including $1,335 delivery, processing and handling fee) and for the XSE is $46,795 going higher with options like the $3,350 Premium package with headup display, panoramic glass roof and more, the $1,620 premium audio package and the $375 weather package.

Click to view video.

2023 Subaru WRX Starts At $31,625 This Spring

The fifth-generation 2023 Subaru WRX is powered by a 271 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER® engine mated to a standard 6-speed manual transmission with an optional Subaru Performance Transmission available on all trim levels (standard on GT). An available option package for Premium adds an 11-speaker Harman Kardon® Speaker System plus Power Moonroof for $1,875. The 2023 WRX arrives in retailers this Spring and offered in four trim levels: Base starting at $31,625 (including $1,020 destination and delivery), Premium from $34,125, Limited starting at $38,515 and GT starting at $44,415.

2022 LA Auto Show Video: Ford F-150 Lightning Pickup Truck Update

Jason Turnbull, Senior Marketing Manager for the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck gives an update on vehicle improvements and price increases since its reveal in May 2021. 

Click to watch interview.

2022 LA Auto Show Video: Hyundai IONIQ 6 EV

The all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 6, "Electrified Streamliner", is for the EV sedan buyer as Hyundai Motor America Senior Manager, Product Planning Mike Evanoff discusses in this interview from the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show. 

The IONIQ 7 Concept was shown at the 2021 LA Auto Show along side the IONIQ 5 EV SUV. (Click to view.)

Click here to view interview.

2022 LA Auto Show Video: 2024 Kia Seltos Refresh

The Kia Seltos, which debuted at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, is getting a refresh for the 2024 model year as Kia America Product Manager Jenny Chang discusses in this interview. 

Click here to watch interview.

Test Drive: 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige

The all-new 5th generation 2023 Kia Sportage subcompact SUV, which hit the roads in Spring 2022, has many driver assisted features and a slightly more powerful new 187 horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. It's 7.1 inches longer than previous generation on a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase. This 353 mile test drive, mainly on the highway, delivered 24MPG. This top-of-the-line X-Pro Prestige AWD, with 1.5-inch increased ground clearance, is priced at $38,815 (including $1,215 freight and handling charge). It was very impressive and the Lane Keeping Assist worked as well as it did on the previous generation. Operating the climate controls on the same knobs as the audio system took some getting used to, otherwise, intuitive function management. 

Click here to view video. 

Toyota bZ SUV Concept

The Toyota bZ (Beyond Zero) Compact SUV Concept full battery-electric vehicle.

Jeep Avenger 4x4 Concept EV For Europe Next Year

The Jeep Avenger 4x4 Concept, delivering a targeted electric range of 248 miles from the second-generation 400 Volt electric powertrain that supplies 115 kW, corresponding to 156 horsepower, and 260 Nm of maximum torque. The new 54 kWh battery is made up of 17 modules and 102 cells utilizing NMC 811 Lithium-Ion chemistry which becomes 341 miles in the urban cycle*. 24 minutes are sufficient to charge the batteries from 20 to 80% charge. The Jeep Avenger is positioned in the growing B-SUV segment, Europe's second biggest in terms of volume, arrives in showrooms early next year and joins a portfolio of Jeep vehicles which are 100 percent electrified in continental Europe.

2023 Jeep® Compass Loaded With Features

The 2023 Jeep® Compass, powered by a 200 horsepower 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, features an available Highway Assist semi-autonomous driving system, parallel and perpendicular park assist and Traffic Sign Recognition systems, plus a 360-degree Surround View camera. For 2023, the all-new Jeep Compass lineup consists of Sport (4x4 only), Latitude (4x4 only), Altitude package available, Latitude LUX (4x4 only), Limited (4x4 only); (RED) Edition and High Altitude packages available, Trailhawk (4x4 only) trim levels. Other features are up to 19 inches of water fording and up to 2,000-lb. towing capability (when properly equipped). All trims include Drowsy Driver Detection, Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Pedestrian/Cyclist Automatic Emergency Braking, Active Lane Management, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection systems.

Video Interview: Mike Darrow, CEO, TrueCar

TrueCar, an automotive digital marketplace connecting buyers to dealers (ticker: TRUE), continues to adjust its mission as new CEO Mike Darrow tells us in this interview. Separately, TrueCar's recent survey shows consumer's interest in purchasing an electric vehicle has grown from 52% in March to 59% nationally in August and 31% are "much more likely" to consider an EV. Los Angeles residents, who pay the highest price in the country for a gallon of gas, are 68% more likely to consider buying an EV with 38% "much more likely" to purchase an EV.    

Click to view interview. 

2022 Los Angeles Auto Show - On Now Through Nov. 27th

The 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show has been a manufacturers auto show in the 30 plus years that I've been covering it. It's typically preceded by two media days packed with as many as twenty press conferences with numerous global vehicle debuts, not this year. Subaru with their usual outstanding forest display provided the only global vehicle debut, the all-new 2024 Subaru Impreza. The other scheduled media conferences staged by recognized manufacturers were Hyundai, Kia, Fiat and Genesis for North American market unveilings. If you want a theme park - you've got it. 

Where are they? Manufacturers noticeably absent from this year's LA Auto Show are luxury brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Acura, Bentley, Rolls Royce and others like MINI and Mazda. Honda's display is put on by their Southern California dealers. 

Why lack of participation? Internet virtual debuts, the EV theme, Covid, crime fear, return on investment for expensive displays, shortage of product specialists, supply chain & chip issues?

Subaru with their usual outstanding forest display provided the only global vehicle debut, the all-new 2024 Subaru Impreza.  

Other than Detroit, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles which are traditionally manufacturer shows, most auto shows around the U.S. and Canada are staged by local market dealers. L.A.-based dealer group Galpin, which has always had a presence at the L.A. Show with their Hall of Customs, stepped up this year displaying Lincoln, Mazda and Volvo vehicles. To fill the huge vehicle absence, Toyota has an interactive Sports Festival, while Ford, Ram, Jeep offer indoor electric vehicle rides and there's virtual reality driving simulators. EV-only brands like Polestar and Vinfast have displays along with EV charging companies like EVgo and Blink. 

If you're shopping for a luxury vehicle, Porsche, Lexus and Genesis are at this year's LA Auto Show, that's about it. There are some gems despite lack of manufacturers, like the all-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse (above) has a new 500 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine. 

Vehicles to check out include the Ford Lightning pickup truck (above), Chevrolet Corvette, the new Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza, Hyundai and Genesis concept vehicles. 

2023 Nissan Armada Starts At $52,095 Now

The 2023 Nissan Armada, in S, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels, is powered by a 400 horsepower 5.6-liter Endurance® V8 and has a standard 8,500-pound maximum towing capacity. Each grade is available with rear-wheel drive or Nissan's advanced Auto 4WD system with two-speed transfer case. The 2023 Nissan Armada has a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay®, wired Android Auto™ and available wireless charging. Every Armada grade features standard Nissan Safety Shield® 360. On sale now starting at $52,095 (including $1,695 destination and handling).

2024 Kia Seltos Arrives In First Half 2023 With Changes

The 2024 Kia Seltos gets refreshed and is the latest Kia to get an X-Line trim powered by a 195 horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-GDI engine paired with an available 8-speed automatic transmission and an available panoramic display featuring two 10.25-inch screens. Available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, the 2024 Seltos is expected to hit showrooms in the first half of 2023.  

Fiat 500e Makes A U.S. Comeback In 2024

The new Fiat 500e battery-electric vehicle with a 150 miles range will return to the U.S. market in early 2024.

Hyundai N Vision 74 Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV Concept - Déjà Vu

Hyundai N Vision 74 hydrogen fuel cell hybrid concept, with a driving range of 373+ miles, has a hybrid structure of a battery-electric in combination with an FCEV system. The fuel cell stack, with an output of 85 kW (Max 95 kW), is mounted in the front, and a 62.4kWh T-type battery is mounted in the bottom to lower overall height and center of gravity. The battery retains an 800V high-speed charging architecture. Independent, rear-mounted motors, one per wheel, generate a total power output of 500kW. N Vision 74 features dual-charging capability, and the rear-mounted 9.3 lb. capacity hydrogen fuel tanks can be refueled within five minutes. The 85kW fuel cell converts hydrogen to electricity to charge the 62kWh battery. Hyundai says the inspiration came from the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe. Hydrogen powered cars have been in development for decades so you might say this concept resembling the Back to the Future DeLorean fits. The Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo are hydrogen vehicles currently in the market.

All-New 2024 Subaru Impreza Arrives This Spring

The 6th generation all-new 2024 Subaru Impreza, with a revised Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, is powered by a 152 horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder direct-injection SUBARU BOXER® engine on the Base and Sport trims while the new RS upgrades to a 182 horsepower 2.5-liter BOXER engine. Standard on all trim levels is a Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). The Sport and RS trims feature an 8-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle shifters. Standard on all 2024 Impreza models is the latest version of EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The compact car comes exclusively as a 5-door hatchback when it arrives in Subaru retailers this Spring.

2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EV Sedan Coming This Spring

The all-new 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6, inspired by Hyundai’s Prophecy EV concept, is available with a 77.4 kWh battery pack with two electric motor layouts, either with a rear motor only or with both front and rear motors. The top-of-the-line dual motor setup is an all-wheel drive option producing a combined power output of 320 horsepower (74 kW front + 165 kW rear) while the single-rear-motor layout offers 225 horsepower. When equipped with a single-rear-motor and the 77.4 kWh battery, IONIQ 6’s maximum driving range on a single charge is a Hyundai estimated 340 miles. The maximum range of the dual motor AWD models is a Hyundai-estimated 310 miles. The modular touchscreen dashboard integrates a 12.3-inch full-touch infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital cluster under one piece of glass. With a 350-kW charger, IONIQ 6’s charge can go from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. If the owner only has five minutes to spare, the IONIQ 6 can recoup approximately 65 miles of range using a 350-kW fast charger. The standard 10.9 kW on-board charger completes a full charge in 7 hours and 10 minutes using Level 2 charging. IONIQ 6 goes on sale Spring 2023.