Friday, October 6, 2023

Video: OC Auto Show On Now Through Sunday




The Orange County California Auto Show (OC Auto Show) is on now through Sunday October 8 at the Anaheim Convention Center. John Sackrison, Executive Director, Orange County Automobile Dealers Association (OCADA) discusses the show, sales and trends with Richard Saxton.



Click to watch interview.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

2024 Genesis GV60 Starts At $53,195

The 2024 Genesis GV60, with a standard with a 168kW rear electric motor and rear-wheel drive, adds up to 46 miles or 19% more estimated range up to 294 miles on a full charge. The GV60 RWD starts at an MSRP of $53,195 (including $1,195 freight). The 2024 GV60 Advanced AWD’s has an MSRP of $61,745, and the 2024 GV60 Performance AWD has an MSRP of $70,745. Additional new standard features include a Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Genesis Digital Key 2, Highway Driving Assist II, and Advanced Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist. Genesis has increased the number of airbags and adding a seatbelt pretensioner, load limiter, and seat belt reminder for the rear seats. The 2024 GV60 Standard RWD and Advanced AWD are now available at select retailers in 23 states and the 2024 GV60 Performance AWD availability will be announced at a later date. 

2024 Honda Passport Arrives This Fall

The 2024 Honda Passport, powered by a 280 horsepower 3.5L V-6 engine paired with a i-VTM4®All-Wheel-Drive System, becomes more off-road capable with new trail-ready all-terrain tires and off-road tuned suspension and there's a new wider center console with a large, newly-integrated armrest and expanded storage. Also for 2024, a new, top-of-the-line Passport Black Edition. Passport offers 8.1 inches of ground clearance and 5,000-pound towing capacity. The 2024 Passport arrives in dealerships this Fall.

Nissan Hyper Urban Concept

The Nissan Hyper Urban concept, boasts V2G capability, enabling owners to contribute surplus power to the grid to support their local community and earn money in the process. The Intelligent Charging Management System features AI that can autonomously charge vehicles and power buildings, providing efficient management of power. Further announcements are planned this month. 

Ford F-150® Lightning® Flash™ Starts At $71,990 In Early 2024

The new Ford F-150® Lightning® Flash™, expanding the XLT model line, adds an extended-range battery with a targeted EPA-estimated range of 320 miles, available Ford BlueCruise hands-free highway driving and a standard 15.5-inch touchscreen for an MSRP sticker of $71,990 (including $1,995 destination charges). Online orders on Ford.com open early 2024 for the Flash™ along with the F-150 Lightning Pro with standard range starting at $51,990, XLT with standard range at $59,490, Lariat with extended range at $79,490, Platinum with extended range at $91,990, and the limited-edition F-150 Lightning Platinum Black with extended range will be available for order at $99,990. 

Volvo EX30 EV Starts At $36,245

The Volvo EX30 SUV, unveiled this past June as Volvo's 4th all-electric model, will have up to 275 miles of EPA-estimated fully electric range with a starting price of $36,245 (including $1,295 destination charge). The Single Motor Extended Range variant of the Volvo EX30 will be offered in Core, Plus and Ultra equipment levels. The Twin Motor Performance model comes in Plus and Ultra trims. Standard on every Volvo EX30 is Google built-in, featuring native Google Maps and Google Assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay, Driver Alert System, Blind Spot Information System, Door Opening Alert and Front & Rear Collision Mitigation.

Friday, September 29, 2023

2024 Nissan Z NISMO Starts At $66,085 Now

The limited-availability 2024 Nissan Z NISMO, powered by a 420 horsepower twin-turbo engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, is on sale now starting at $66,085 (including $1,095 destination and handling). The 2024 Nissan Z Sport starting at $43,305 and Performance priced at $53,305 deliver 400 horsepower with a choice between a six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission with Exedy® high-performance clutch and a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 

2024 Honda Prologue EV Arrives Early 2024

The all-electric 2024 Honda Prologue, about 8-inches longer and 5-inches wider than the CR-V is Honda’s first all-electric SUV, and is expected to receive an EPA range rating of 300 miles on a full charge. Prologue's 288 horsepower permanent magnet, direct drive powertrain will come in both single-motor (front-wheel-drive) and dual-motor (all-wheel-drive) configurations with EX, Touring and Elite trim levels. Prologue’s 85kWh lithium-ion battery pack can recharge 65 miles of range in about 10 minutes. Pre-sale activities for Prologue will start later this year with first deliveries slated for early 2024 with MSRP expected to start in the upper $40,000s.

2024 Kia EV9 Starts At $56,395 Later This Year

The all-new, all-electric 2024 Kia EV9, Kia’s first three-row SUV EV accommodating up to seven passengers, is powered by a 215 horsepower permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. Slightly longer than the Telluride SUV and comparable in height, the EV9 will start at $56,395 (including $1,495 destination charge), when it goes on sale later this year. Pricing for the Light Long Range, Wind, Land and GT-Line will be announced later. Standard dual 12.3-inch screens and a 5.0-inch HVAC screen are seamlessly integrated into one single panel. Standard 800V architecture permits DC fast charging of 10 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

2024 Nissan Versa Starts At $17,225

The 2024 Nissan Versa, powered by a 122 horsepower in-line 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual or D-step Xtronic CVT transmission is on sale now from a starting price of $17,225 (including $1,095 destination and handling). Standard features include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Automatic Braking and High Beam Assist. Available technologies include Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Further, available class-exclusive Intelligent Cruise Control7 makes highway driving more convenient. Versa was refreshed for the 2023 model year with a redesigned front fascia and grille.

Mercedes-AMG GLC Coupe

The new Mercedes-AMG GLC Coupe, powered by a 671 horsepower E PERFORMANCE Hybrid in the GLC 63 S E PERFORMANCE Coupe, comes from a  469 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with electric exhaust gas turbocharger combined with a 201 horsepower electric motor positioned on the rear axle and integrated with an electrically shifted two-speed transmission and electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential in a compact Electric Drive Unit. Standard equipment is rear-axle steering, all-wheel drive, AMG SPEEDSHIFT® MCT 9G transmission with wet start-off clutch and AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with adaptive damping supports the dynamic driving experience.

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Starts At $105,650 Next Spring

The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, powered by a revised 348 horsepower three-liter V6 turbo engine paired with a 174 horsepower electric motor for a total system output of 512 horsepower, fits between the the Cayenne E-Hybrid and the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid models. The new Cayenne S E-Hybrid SUV and Coupe models can be ordered immediately, and are expected to reach dealers in Spring of 2024. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid has an MSRP of $100,750 (including the $1,650 delivery, processing, and handling fee), while the Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe has an MSRP of $105,650.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

2024 Nissan Kicks Starts At $20,790

The 2024 Nissan Kicks, in S, SV and SR trims and powered by a 122 horsepower 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine mated to an Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission), is on sale now with a starts at $20,790 (including  $1,335 destination and handling). EPA fuel economy ratings are up to 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. The 2024 Kicks SV and SR now include NissanConnect® Services, featuring a Wi-Fi hotspot, as standard. 

2024 Mazda CX-30 Starts At $26,370

The 2024 Mazda CX-30, powered by a 191 horsepower updated Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and sport mode, has a starting MSRP of $26,370 (including $1,375 for destination and handling). The Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo four-cylinder engine produces 250 horsepower on premium 93 octane fuel, while on regular 87 octane fuel it produces 227 horsepower. A newly available 10.25” infotainment display features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and touchscreen functionality. 

2024 Kia Niro Hybrid Starts At $28,165

The 2024 Kia Niro, in its second generation offers LX, EX, EX Touring, SX and SX Touring trim levels and is available in HEV, PHEV, EV powertrains. The hybrid (HEV), powered by a 139 horsepower 1.6L Gas Direct Injection engine in conjunction with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor is rated at 53 MPG combined fuel economy and nearly 600 miles of total driving range. The 2024 Kia Niro hybrid arrives with very few changes for 2024 starting at $28,165 (including $1,325 destination) for the LX model. 

Saturday, September 16, 2023

2024 Nissan Frontier Starts At $31,105 This Fall

The 2024 Nissan Frontier, powered by a 310-horsepower, 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission with a towing capacity of up to 6,640 pounds, is on sale this Fall starting at $31,105 (including $1,335 destination and handling). The price goes up to $43,975 for the Frontier SL Crew Cab 4x4 model. The 2024 Frontier adds an SL grade on Crew Cab models while the King Cab is offered with a 6-foot bed, the Crew Cab S and PRO-X/PRO-4X models feature a 5-foot bed and the Crew Cab SV is offered with either a 5-foot or a 6-foot bed. Additionally for 2024, available NissanConnect® Services including a three-year trial (up from a six-month trial previously). 

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

2024 Jeep Gladiator Coming Year End

The new 2024 Jeep Gladiator, available in Sport, Willys, Mojave and Rubicon models, is powered by a standard 285 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine featuring engine stop-start paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Mojave X and Rubicon X models, have integrated off-road camera, steel bumpers and Nappa leather-trimmed 12-way power adjustable front seats. 4x4 max towing is up to 7,700 pounds with a max payload up to 1,725 pounds. Ordering is open now and vehicles will start to arrive in U.S. Jeep dealerships at the end of this year.

2024 GMC Acadia Coming Soon

The all-new 2024 GMC Acadia, 10.6 inches longer and 3.2 inches taller than the previous generation, is powered by a new 328 horsepower 2.5L turbocharged engine paired with an eight-speed automatic on all trims with available all-wheel drive, including an exclusive off-road-capable Active Torque Control AWD system on the redesigned Acadia AT4. When properly equipped, it has a max trailering rating of 5,000 pounds. The 2024 Acadia with a 15-inch-diagonal infotainment screen, becomes the fifth nameplate within the GMC portfolio to offer Super Cruise, a true hands-free advanced driver assistance system available on more than 400,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada. There's standard one-touch folding second-row seats and power-folding third row. 

2025 Cadillac CT5 Coming Refreshed Spring 2024

The refreshed 2025 Cadillac CT5, with revised front fascia, is powered by a standard 237 horsepower 2.0L Turbo engine or an available 335 horsepower 3.0L Twin-Turbo engine with available all-wheel drive mated to a ten-speed automatic with Electronic Precision Shift. The CT5’s new 33-inch-diagonal LED color touchscreen display is capable of 9K resolution and curves toward the driver in a single, continuous screen spanning the driver’s viewing area. The 2025 Cadillac CT5 will be produced at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly facility in Michigan, with production to begin in spring 2024. Additional details and pricing will be announced in the future. The refreshed 2025 Cadillac CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing will be announced at a later date. 

2024 Ford F-150® Pick-Up Coming In Early 2024

The new 2024 Ford F-150® truck, available starting early 2024, is powered by a new standard 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine or available 3.5-liter EcoBoost, 3.5-liter PowerBoost, 3.5-liter High Output (F-150® Raptor®), 5.0-liter V8, 5.2-liter supercharged V8 (F-150® Raptor R®) with a maximum available towing capacity of 13,500 pounds. Right now, 10 percent of all F-150 trucks sold are hybrids. Ford plans to double the mix of hybrid trucks manufactured for the 2024 model year. The initial starting MSRP on PowerBoost® Hybrid, available on XLT through Platinum Plus will now match the starting MSRP on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine.