Test Drive: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited

Toyota launched the Grand Highlander for the 2024 model year. Richard Saxton test drives the Hybrid Limited trim level powered by a 245 total horsepower 2.5-liter Hybrid drivetrain with standard electronic on-demand All Wheel Drive. The Grand Highlander has a 3,500 lb. towing capacity on the Hybrid grades. Standard on the Grand Highlander is a 12.3-inch touchscreen displaying Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system. For 2025 the Grand Highlander is offered in five grades across three different powertrains – the LE, XLE, Hybrid Nightshade, Limited, and Platinum. XLE, Limited, Hybrid Nightshade, and Platinum models are expected to start arriving at Toyota dealerships in late December of 2024. LE models are expected in the first half of 2025.  

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2024 LA Auto Show Video: 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Arriving Soon

The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T (starting at $61,590 including $1,995 destination) and the Charger Daytona Scat Pack (starting at $75,185) are the first all-electric vehicles from the Dodge brand, and qualify for a full $7,500 federal tax credit when leased. 

Richard Saxton discusses the muscle cars with Kevin Hellman, Senior Vice President of the Dodge/SRT Brand of Stellantis at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona models arrive at dealerships soon.

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LA Auto Show: 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition

The new 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition, driven by an electric motor with an output of 117 horsepower and a range of up to 149 miles, features a 42-kWh battery with a Level 2 (11 kW) charge time of 4.5 hours. Equipped with an 85-kW fast charger system that in five minutes of charging time delivers a range of up to 31 miles. The 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition will be available in the first quarter of 2025. Pricing will be announced at a later date. 

LA Auto Show: 2025 Subaru Forester Arrives Early Next Year

The 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV based on the previous-generation model, with 9.2 inches of ground clearance and 3,000-lb. towing capacity, is powered by a 182 horsepower 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine paired with a Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission. A SUBARU STARLINK® 6.5-inch Multimedia system with a high-resolution touchscreen, Apple CarPlay® and Android™ Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth® hands-free streaming connectivity is standard. MSRP is $36,415 (including  $1,420 destination and delivery). The 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness is assembled alongside the all-new 2025 Subaru Forester in Gunma, Japan. The Forester Wilderness will arrive at Subaru retailers in early 2025.

LA Auto Show: 2025 Kia EV6 Arrives First Half Next Year

The 2025 Kia EV6 will be available in Light (RWD only), Light Long Range (RWD or e-AWD), Wind (RWD or e-AWD), GT-Line (RWD or e-AWD), and GT (e-AWD) trims. For 2025, the EV6 introduces the standard 63.0 kWh battery paired with a rear motor producing 167 horsepower. The available 84.0 kWh battery has a targeted to all-electric range of 319 miles in Light LR, Wind, and GT-Line trims with the RWD configuration. This setup comes with a rear motor making 225 horsepower. The more powerful AWD option combines dual motors to deliver 320 horsepower, while the EV6 GT makes 601 horsepower. With standard GT mode activated it goes up to 641 horsepower. It’s expected to go on sale in the first half of next year.  

LA Auto Show: 2026 Kia Sportage Coming 2Q Next Year

The 2026 Kia Sportage compact SUV, gets updated with new dual 12.3-in. panoramic displays with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all trims and an available new 10-in. Head-up Display. The Sportage ICE (internal combustion engines) lineup includes the LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, and X-Pro Prestige trims. The base engine is a 187 horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid delivers 231 horsepower from a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline direct injection and 47.7kW motor, the plug-in hybrid has 268 horsepower from the 1.6-liter turbo gasoline direct injection and a 72kW motor with a 6-speed automatic transmission. There's a new Terrain mode (Snow, Mud, Sand) on X-Line, X-Pro Prestige, and all AWD trims. The 2026 Sportage is expected to arrive in Kia showrooms in Q2 of next year and pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date.

LA Auto Show: 2026 Kia EV9 GT

The 2026 Kia EV9 GT three-row SUV is propelled up front by a 160-kW motor and at the rear a 270-kW motor combining to deliver an estimated 501 horsepower. The EV9 GT maintains the 7.8-inches of ground clearance and the 5,000-lb. towing capacity5 found on select EV9 trims. Pricing will be announced closer to the EV9 GT’s on-sale date. Assembled in South Korea, the EV9 GT is expected to arrive in the latter half of 2025.

2024 LA Auto Show Video: Hyundai Ioniq 9 All-Electric 3-Row SUV

The Hyundai IONIQ 9 three-row, all-electric SUV that can accommodate up to seven occupants has the longest wheelbase of any Hyundai model and offers second-row Swiveling Seats allowing the second- and third-row occupants to face each other when the vehicle is stationary. The PE system’s high-voltage, floor-mounted NCM lithium-ion battery offers 110.3 kWh of system energy and is expected to achieve a WLTP-estimated all-electric range of 384 miles km and WLTP-targeted energy consumption of 194 Wh/km for the Long-Range RWD model with 19-inch wheels due to its low drag coefficient, platform and battery technologies. IONIQ 9 charges from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes using a 350 kW charger. The Long-Range RWD model is powered by a 160 kW rear motor, the Long-Range AWD alternative features an additional 70 kW front motor, while the Performance AWD models has 160 kW motors at both the front and rear. IONIQ 9’s infotainment system includes a 12-inch cluster and a 12-inch integrated monitor as part of the panoramic curved display. North American models have a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. IONIQ 9 goes on sale in Korea and the United States in the first half of 2025 with rollout planned for Europe and other markets later.

Richard Saxton discusses the new Ioniq 9 with Ricky Lao, Director of Product Planning at Hyundai Motor America. 

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2024 LA Auto Show Video: All-New 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The all-new 2025 Tiguan, Volkswagen’s best-selling nameplate in the U.S., was introduced in Los Angeles. Under the hood is a 201 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, more powerful than the previous 184 horsepower powerplant. Richard Saxton discusses the new Tiguan at the Los Angeles Auto Show with Petar Danilovic, Senior Vice-President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America. The Tiguan is offered exclusively in a two-row configuration for the North American region.

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All-New 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Debuts In Los Angeles

The all-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, weighing around 170 pounds less than the outgoing model, is powered by a 201 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The third generation Tiguan has a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system and a new central infotainment system with a 12.9-inch display. The 2025 Tiguan will have IQ.DRIVE® Level 2 driver assistance features which includes Travel Assist, Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring), Active Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control Stop and Go, Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency). Light Assist, Park Distance Control, and Exit Warning are now standard, and Park Assist Plus is available. Availability and pricing of the all-new 2025 Tiguan will be announced closer to launch. 

2026 Genesis GV70 Coming First Half of 2025

The newly redesigned 2026 Genesis GV70 offers a 300 horsepower 2.5L inline 4 turbo gasoline engine and a 375 horsepower 3.5L V6 twin turbo gasoline engine. The Electrified GV70 is equipped with a larger 84kWh high-capacity battery that will offer more range. The all-new 27-inch OLED display integrates the cluster and infotainment system into a single expansive horizontal layout. New for the 2026 model year is Terrain Mode, which allows drivers to drive in the optimized mode – snow, mud or sand – depending on road conditions. The newly redesigned GV70 and Electrified GV70 will arrive at North American retailers in the first half of 2025. 

All-New 2025 Nissan Armada Starts At 58,415 In December

The all-new 2025 Nissan Armada powered by a new 425 horsepower twin-turbo, direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a standard 9-speed automatic transmission with a standard towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. Drive modes are Standard, Eco, Sport, Tow, Snow, Sand, Rock, and Mud/Rut to suit different terrains. The new Armada starts at $58,415 (including $1,895 destination and handling) and goes on sale in December.

2025 Lexus RZ EV Starts At $43,975 Later This Year

The 2025 Lexus RZ is adding entry-level grades to the RZ 300e and RZ 450e AWD. The RZ 300e is powered by a 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery and offered only with FWD with a total system rating of 201 horsepower and an EPA-estimated range rating of 266 miles. The RZ 450e’s 71.4 kWh battery has a 308 total system horsepower rating and an EPA-estimated range rating of 220 miles. The RZ is offered RZ 300e, RZ 450e AWD, RZ 300e Premium, RZ 450e Premium and RZ 300e Luxury, RZ 450e AWD Luxury. A standard 14-inch high-definition touchscreen provides easy-to-use controls. The 2025 RZ has a starting price of $43,975 (including DPH), is built at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Japan, and goes on sale later this year.

2025 Lexus TX Starts At $56,490

The 2025 Lexus TX three row SUV, offered with a 275 horsepower 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder on the TX350, a 366 total system horsepower 2.4L turbocharged hybrid on the TX500h, and a 404 total system horsepower 3.5L V6 plug-in hybrid on the TX550h+, adds the F SPORT Handling grade, available only on TX 350 AWD. With the addition of F SPORT Handling, the TX is now offered in Standard, Premium, Luxury, F SPORT Handling, F SPORT Performance Premium, and F SPORT Performance Luxury grades. For a full breakdown of the standard and available features by grade, please see the TX Specifications. All three powertrains can tow up to 5,000 pounds and, for 2025, all TX models come standard with a 12.3-inch multi-information display. The 2025 Lexus TX has a staring MSRP of $56,490 (including DPH).

2025 Dodge Durango Offered In 3 Models

The 2025 Dodge Durango, with  GT, R/T and SRT Hellcat models, is powered a 295 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine in the Durango GT,  by a 360 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine in the Durango R/T, the supercharged 710 horsepower 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine in SRT Hellcat. The Durango lineup features a 10.1-inch touchscreen powered by the Uconnect 5 infotainment system and offers three-row SUV flexibility with 50 seating configurations, 85.1 maximum cubic feet of cargo space and maximum towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds.

2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 43 Starts At $106,150 This Fall

 

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 43 is powered by a Handcrafted AMG 416 horsepower 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine and features an electric exhaust gas turbocharger technology derived from Formula 1™. The GT 43 is rear-wheel drive and standard AMG sport. suspension. Arriving at U.S. dealerships this Fall, starting from $106,150 (including $1,150 destination and delivery charge).

2025 Acura ADX Starting At Mid-$30,000 Early Next Year

The 2025 Acura ADX, an all-new premium compact SUV measuring 185.8 inches long, is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC engine mated to a sport-tuned continuously variable transmission. The new ADX has a standard 10.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit™ digital instrument display and a 9-inch color touchscreen with a physical volume knob, a hard button to return to the Home screen, and a finger rest at the bottom of the touchscreen. Available on all grades, an advanced all-wheel drive system can send up to 50% of engine torque to the rear wheels. The new ADX will begin arriving at Acura dealers in early 2025 with a price range starting in the mid-$30,000s.

2026 Honda Passport Coming Early Next Year In The Mid-$40,000s

The all-new 2026 Honda Passport and Passport TrailSport, on a 2.75-inch longer wheelbase, is powered by a 285 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with the model's first 10-speed automatic transmission and the second generation of the Honda torque vectoring i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system. The new Passport has improved rear seat legroom, increased cargo space and more standard tech than ever before, including a 10.2-inch digital driver instrumentation display, and a 54% larger touchscreen (12.3-inch) plus Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility all standard. The 2026 Passport will begin arriving at dealers early next year with a starting price in the mid-$40,000s.

2025 Porsche Taycan Models Coming In 1st Quarter 2025

The 2025 Porsche Taycan has with 13 models including three body variants, all-wheel and rear-wheel drive, Porsche E-Performance motors ranging from 402 to 1,019 horsepower, and the new 690 horsepower Taycan GTS sports sedan and Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. The Taycan 4 sports sedan starts at an MSRP $105,295 (including $1,995 delivery, processing and handling fee). The new Taycan GTS starts at an MSRP of $149,895 for the sedan and $151,795 for the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. These three variants complete the Taycan portfolio and can now be ordered, with availability at dealerships set to start in late Q1 of 2025. 

2026 Cadillac VISTIQ EV Starts At $78,790

The 2026 Cadillac VISTIQ, a luxury three-row SUV with a standard dual motor all-wheel drive system has a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack and offers 615 horsepower offering 300 miles of range. VISTIQ includes a 23-speaker AKG7 Studio Audio system with Dolby Atmos®. VISTIQ will be sold globally, including in the U.S. and Canada, with production starting in early 2025 at General Motors’ Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee. MSRP starts at $78,790 (including destination freight charge).