2024 Lexus RC 300, RC 350 Starts At $45,920 Later This Year

The 2024 Lexus RC 300 is powered by a 241 horsepower 2.0-liter, twin-scroll turbocharged and intercooled in-line four-cylinder engine with direct injection paired to a rear-wheel drive system and an eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift automatic transmission. The RC 300 AWD pairs a six-speed automatic transmission with a 260 horsepower 3.5-liter V6. The Variable Valve Timing with intelligence is designed to provide added torque at lower speeds and greater horsepower at higher speeds. The RC 350 and RC 350 AWD’s 311-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with the all-wheel drive RC 350 paired to a six-speed automatic transmission and the rear-wheel drive model equipped with an eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift transmission. The rear-wheel drive F SPORT offers an available Torsen® limited-slip rear differential helps maximize drivers’ ability to power out of corners. The starting MSRP will be $45,920 (including DPH) when the 2024 Lexus RC and RC F models arrive in dealerships later this year.

2024 BMW X2 Starts At $42,995 In March 2024

The 2024 BMW X2, 7.6 inches in length over its predecessor to 179.8 inches and now 2.6 inches longer than the new BMW X1 with overall height up 2.5 inches compared with the previous generation, is powered by the 241 horsepower 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine in the X2 xDrive28i while the all-new BMW X2 M35i xDrive 2.0-liter unit is 312 horsepower, both paired with a 7-speed Steptronic double-clutch transmission. The standard BMW Curved Display is formed by a 10.25-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 10.7 inches merged into a single unit behind a continuous glass surface that curves towards the driver. The newly developed seats in the X2 offer a lateral support in quick transitions and optimized comfort over long distances and the rear seat backrests can be folded in a 40:20:40 split. Standard features include Active Blind Spot Detection, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Active Park Distance Control and BMW Navigation. MSRP for X2 xDrive28i is $42,995 (including $995 destination) and for the X2 M35i is $52,395 when they launch in the U.S. in March 2024.

Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser Concept

The Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser concept, built to conquer rugged terrain on Earth and beyond, draws design cues from the original FJ40 Land Cruiser and the real Lunar Cruiser and propelled by in-wheel electric motors and controlled by dual joysticks with a full array of cameras and lidar/radar sensors, and a split tailgate configuration in back. Highly adjustable spaceframe seats and M.O.L.L.E. panels throughout give the interior the flexibility to adapt to any kind of adventure.

2024 Nissan Sentra Starts At $21,745 Now

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, powered by a 149 horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four engine and offered in S, SV and SR grades, gets new front fascia, updated headlights and new available 16-inch alloy wheels. Sentra S and SV are EPA-rated for 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined, while Sentra SR is rated 30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. It has the Nissan Safety Shield® 360 on all grades and that comprises Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist and Rear Automatic Braking. The 2024 Nissan Sentra is on sale now with a starting MSRP of $21,745 (including $1,115 destination and handling).

2024 Toyota Prius Starts At $28,745 Next Month

The 2024 Toyota Prius hybrid, offered in LE, XLE and Limited grades, is powered by the fifth generation Toyota Hybrid System with 196 net horsepower 2.0L engine on Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive equipped models and 194 net horsepower on Front-Wheel Drive equipped models which delivers a manufacturer-estimated 57 MPG combined rating while the e-AWD system gets a manufacturer-estimated 54 MPG combined rating. It comes with an 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia Screen on the LE and XLE grades, and an available 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia screen standard on the Limited grade (12.3-inch screen available as an option on the XLE grades). The 2024 Prius will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense generation 3.0 which includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams, Proactive Driving Assist, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard on all grades. The starting MSRP will start at $28,745 (including $1,095 Dealer Processing and Handling) for the LE grade when they start arriving at Toyota Dealerships in November.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.