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Stellantis and LG launch joint venture for North American battery plant

Stellantis has struck a preliminary deal with battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) to produce battery cells and modules for North America, as the world's No. 4 automaker rolls out its 30 billion euro ($35 billion) electrification plan. Global automakers are investing billions of euros to accelerate a transition to low-emission mobility and prepare for a progressive phase-out of internal combustion engines. Stellantis and LGES's joint venture will produce battery cells and modules at a new facility with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), the two firms said on Monday. No financial details of the deal were provided. The plant is scheduled to start production by the first quarter of 2024, with groundbreaking expected in the second quarter of 2022, the companies said in their statement. Its location is under review and will be announced later. Stellantis, formed in January from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, has said it wants to secure more than 130 GWh of global battery capacity by 2025 and more than 260 GWh by 2030. The batteries produced under the deal will supply Stellantis' U.S., Canadian and Mexican assembly plants for installation in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, supporting its goal of e-vehicles making up more than 40% of its U.S. sales by 2030. The company, whose brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Opel and U.S. best-sellers Jeep and Ram, earlier this year announced it would invest more than 30 billion euros through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. Stellantis has said it would build three battery plants in Europe and two in North America, including at least one in the United States. Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said the deal was positive, and a further step ahead in Stellantis' electrification process. It comes weeks after Stellantis and its partner TotalEnergies agreed to open up their battery cell joint venture ACC to Daimler, to expand their European sourcing of battery cells. Stellantis is also targeting more than 70% of sales in Europe to be of low-emission vehicles by 2030, and aims to make the total cost of owning an EV equal to that of a gasoline-powered model by 2026. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall Electric Hybrid EV batteries LG

Cars with the most reckless drivers are full of surprises

Insurify is a site for comparing auto insurance quotes. Because insurance shoppers need to submit information like the vehicles they're driving and the infractions they've compiled while driving those vehicles, Insurify has quite the database of correlations tying certain models to a habit of breaking certain laws. When the site's data analysts decided to compile a list of the top ten models for reckless driving citations in the decade from 2010 to 2019, the ranking contained a few wild entries. The Dodge Challenger making the countdown will surprise precisely zero people. But the Saturn L200? First, a definition: USLegal.com defines reckless driving as "driving with a willful or wanton disregard for safety. It is the operation of an automobile under such circumstances and in such a manner as to show a willful or reckless disregard of consequences." So this list is a caution about particular drivers more than the cars. For a baseline, according to Insurify data, for any random model, 15 out of 10,000 people who drive that model have picked up one citation for reckless driving. Back to that Challenger, then. No shocker for being here, but it's actually number 10, with 44 out of 10,000 Challenger drivers nabbed for a willful disregard of consequences on the road. That's better than the first surprise entry, the Saturn L200, a sedan only on sale for six years, with the least horsepower on the list, and out of production since 2005. The data set put drivers of GM's extraterrestrial sedan at 45 reckless pilots per 10,000 drivers. There are two pickups on the list, the only modern one being the Ram 1500 at eighth, with a rate of 46 in 10,000. Somehow, drivers of the third-best-selling pickup in the U.S. outrun the overwhelming numerical superiority of the best-selling vehicle in the States, the Ford F-150. The other pickup is the Chevrolet K1500 at number five, with a rate of 56 in 10,000. This is not only the oldest vehicle on the list, it went out of production in 2002, before any other vehicle on the list. Between the trucks, the Volkswagen CC slotted in at seven with 47 in 10,000 reckless driving chits, the Cadillac ATS slipped into sixth with 48 in 10,000.  The top four is a bag of unexpected. The Nissan 370Z is the first hardcore sports car on the list at number four, with 61 in 10,000 Z drivers flaunting their Fairladys in the face of Johnny Law.

Fisker Magic Works to develop two new luxury EVs in the U.K.

Fisker Automotive is laying the groundwork for its third and fourth acts, to be led by a new division in the U.K. The first act is the Ocean crossover, due in production form at next month's L.A. Auto Show and due to enter production in November 2022. The Fisker Pear, whose model name stands for Personal Electric Automotive Revolution, is expected to arrive at the end of 2023. Following a year after that will be two new projects coming from the company's new Fisker Magic Works, set up earlier this month in the U.K. Former Aston Martin engineer David King, whose resume includes everything from the DB7 V12 to the Q by Aston Martin customization department, was hired as the SVP of engineering to lead development at the Magic Works.   Henrik Fisker said the overseas division "provides us with an opportunity to create sustainable and fantastic vehicles outside the confines of established industry segments," adding that he has already tasked King with shepherding "two exciting projects which will showcase our capability in highly specialized materials and technologies designed especially for the eco-conscious automotive enthusiast." He believes one of the coming electric vehicles will be a fringe member of its segment, but "the other one doesn't exist at all" yet. The new specialty models are planned to enter the market at the luxury end, one costing more than $100,000, one costing less. That's the other side of the buying pool from the Ocean, which will start at about $37,500, and the Pear, said to start at under $30,000. The products King is developing in England will be "serious production vehicles," but built at lower volumes than the Ocean and Pear. Before then, Fisker will be working to get the Ocean running down production lines at Magna's plant in Graz, Austria, and could be working with Foxconn to get Pear assembly going at the Chinese company's new facility in Lordstown, Ohio. Once we can get behind the wheel of the Ocean and drive it, then we'll know how much we can believe of what Fisker says will follow. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Junkyard Gem: 1980 Chevrolet LUV Mikado

During the 1970s and into the 1980s, each member of the Detroit Big Three imported Japanese small pickups and sold them with Ford (Mazda Proceed), Dodge/Plymouth (Mitsubishi Forte), or Chevrolet (Isuzu Faster) badges here. Ford developed the Ranger and killed the Courier for 1983 (though Americans could still buy the Mazda-badged version all the way through 1993), while The General axed the LUV after the S-10 debuted in the 1982 model year. Isuzu sold the same truck as the P'up through 1987, though, and we might as well follow up our recent P'up Junkyard Gem with its LUV predecessor. LUV stood for Light Utility Vehicle, and I've managed to spot a handful in the boneyards over the years. This one now resides in a yard in northeastern Colorado. The Mikado trim package included striped seat upholstery and a sporty steering wheel, plus these cool dash badges. As far as I can tell, no LUV Mikado advertising featured any Gilbert and Sullivan tunes. This one is fairly rusty for Front Range Colorado, and it has endured a bed swap from some other small truck. The engine is the 75-horse Isuzu 1.8-liter. Members of this engine family went into everything from Chevy Chevettes to Isuzu Troopers in the United States. Very unusually for a small pickup during the Malaise Era, this one has a luxurious automatic transmission. Acceleration must have been a leisurely affair in this truck. Air conditioning? Unheard of! Someone stuck every one of their lunchtime apple stickers on the driver's door. After 41 years of work, this truck is done. Come on strong in a LUV of your own!

Chip crisis hits Stellantis' Italy output more than COVID did, union says

MILAN — The impact from a global semiconductor shortage on Stellantis' Italian car production this year will be worse and longer-lasting than the damage to output caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Italy's FIM-CISL union said on Friday. A global microchip shortage is pushing automakers to slow down production, with Stellantis halting operations at several facilities across Europe and the United States. The carmaker forecast it would make 1.4 million fewer vehicles this year. "The semiconductor hurricane is causing production stoppages that are weighing more than the lockdown in 2020," FIM-CISL head Ferdinando Uliano said. "The forecasts are that such situation will carry on for the whole first half of 2022". FIM-CISL said Stellantis had produced 319,000 cars in Italy in the first nine month of this year, 11% more than in the same period of 2020, when operations where frozen for several weeks following the COVID-19 outbreak. But Uliano said 2021 full year production would hardly match the 461,000 units produced last year. "It's practically impossible, the chip situation is getting more serious and we'll have further heavy closures," he said, adding a similar situation was expected with van production at the Sevel plant in central Italy. Stellantis, formed earlier this year through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, will operate the Melfi plant, its largest Italian facility, for an equivalent of only six days in October. On the other hand, Turin's Mirafiori, where the electric 500 small car is produced, is among the few plants which have not suffered major stoppages. "Production of the BEV 500 must go on to meet targets on carbon emission reduction," Uliano said. The world's fourth largest carmaker has also decided to close one German plant until the end of the year. "The main risk is that Stellantis decides to delay planned investments and new model launches, as the chip crisis pushes sales down," Uliano said. The carmaker will present Maserati's Grecale SUV next month, followed by Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV, with sale due from June 2022. Italian unions will meet Stellantis on Monday at Italy's Industry Ministry to discuss production and jobs in the country. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Alexander Smith) Related Video: Green Plants/Manufacturing UAW/Unions Opel SUV

Audi CEO says brand's EVs are almost as profitable as its other cars

After, oh, a hundred years or so of building vehicles primarily powered by internal combustion engines, automakers around the world have been and still are pumping billions of dollars into the development of electric vehicle technology. Everything from platforms and batteries to motors and the software to control it all requires untold hours of development, and that takes time and money. Fortunately, it's not going to take long for that massive investment to start paying off, at least according to Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, who told Reuters in an interview that "The point where we earn as much money with electric cars as with combustion engine cars is now, or ... next year, 2023. They are very even now, the prices." As a brand, Audi contributed more than a quarter of overall profit for the massive Volkswagen Group, which has such powerhouse brands as Volkswagen and Porsche among others. Under the Audi umbrella are Lamborghini, Bentley and Ducati, and it seems those high-end branches aren't going anywhere, at least for now. "These brands ... are very valuable very profitable brands, where we can even expand the synergy level in the future," Duesmann said in the interview. "There are no plans whatsoever to get rid of them." Despite the overall profitability of the brand, the ongoing global chip crisis is causing headaches. "We had a very strong first half in 2021. We do expect a much weaker second half," said Duesmann, who added, "We really have trouble." In fact, so serious is the trouble that the brand is forced into "a day-to-day troubleshooting process" to limit the chip-shortage damage. The good news for the automaker is that Audi has been able to boost its profit margin from 8% prior to the pandemic in 2019 to 10.7% in the first half of 2021. The bad news is that various chip shortages aren't expected to get a whole lot better over the rest of the year. Related video:

2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 Prototype Drive Review | Let the supertruck wars begin

MILFORD, Mich. — Hummer is high on the list of vehicles we never thought would return. The gas-guzzling brutes met their demise more than a decade ago as the industry pivoted briefly to smaller cars and General Motors shed brands during its historic restructuring. Fast-forward to 2022, and HummerÂ’s revival is at hand thanks to yet another industry shift, this time to electric propulsion. ItÂ’s expensive, itÂ’s still huge and the numbers are eye-popping to the tune of 1,000 horsepower. America loves a comeback — but it loves trucks more. We briefly tested the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 truck at the GM Proving Grounds 40 miles northwest of Detroit. Weeks from now, Hummers will start rolling off the line at GMÂ’s EV site, dubbed Factory Zero, in the Motor City. While the Hummer SUV will undoubtedly prove its worth, GM is leading with the pickup, ambitiously calling it a supertruck and eagerly touting its metrics and mojo-generating features, like CrabWalk, against the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, as well as gas-powered off-roaders like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX, plus various Jeep and Land Rover SUVs. (Here's our latest supertruck spec comparo). All of them have impressed us (save the Cybertruck, which only Jay Leno and a few others have driven), but the Hummer is formidable in its own right. For one thing, itÂ’s a Hummer. The negative connotations of the old Hummers melt away when thereÂ’s a 24-module Ultium battery pack powering three motors for a range of 350-plus miles on a single charge. The old model was divisive, but a lot of people paid a lot of money for them simply because they looked very cool. HummerÂ’s familiar grille makes it bold return on our tester that looms high on its 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. It certainly looks the part of a supertruck. The cabin is roomy and airy, with the removable sky panels letting in the bright fall morning. Hummer EV chief engineer Al Oppenheiser is our co-pilot for our test, and after a quick walk-through, weÂ’re off.  The first order of business is simply mashing the throttle. The Edition 1 serves up about 1,200 pound-feet of torque, and you can make use of all of that and the four-figure horsepower to hit 60 mph in about 3 seconds. We accelerate hard, blasting over some soft ground before things get a little squirrelly and can confirm the claimed time feels legit.

Junkyard Gem: 1991 Geo Metro LSi Convertible

Beginning in 1985, General Motors brought over Suzuki Cultuses and sold them here with Chevrolet Sprint badges, which Americans bought in surprisingly large numbers (considering the crash in fuel prices around that time). When the time came for The General to launch a separate brand selling rebadged Japanese machines— Geo— the second-generation Cultus became the Geo Metro. Sporting a fuel-sipping three-cylinder engine, the Metro mostly sold to penny-pinchers interested only in cheap commutingÂ… but GM decided to make a fun convertible version, anyway. Here's one of those cars, finally retired near Denver at age 30. The 1991 Metro hierarchy started with the El Cheapo base and XFi models, at $6,795 (about $13,810 today), then moved up to the better-equipped LSi. The LSi hatchback coupe cost $7,795 ($15,840 in 2021), while the LSi convertible stood at the top of the Metro pyramid at $9,740 ($19,795 now). Believe it or not, Ford managed to undercut the 1991 Metro with its Mazda-built Festiva, priced at $6,620 in its cheapest form. You could buy a Suzuki-badged version of this car, known as the Swift, and the Swift GT had a screaming four-cylinder engine. 1995 and later Metros also had the option of a four-banger, but a 1.0-liter three-cylinder was the only engine available in the 1991 Geo Metro. If you wanted to get close to 60 highway miles per gallon, the Metro XFi had a specially-tuned 1.0 that delivered, though it sent a mere 49 horsepower to the front wheels (the last new car available in the United States with under 50 horsepower— including highway-legal EVs— was the 1993 Metro XFi, by the way). The engine in today's Junkyard Gem was rated at 55 horses. A five-speed manual transmission was standard equipment in every 1991 Metro, though a thoroughly miserable three-speed slushbox could be had for $465 extra (about $945 today). Because most Metro buyers wanted fuel economy first and foremost, automatic Metros are rare (though I have managed to find one in a boneyard). How many total miles? The five-digit odometer means we'll never know. The 1991 Metro convertible came from Japan, but all the others sold here that year were built in Canada. Today, that plant builds the Chevy Equinox. A new convertible for less than 10 grand was a steal in 1991, when a new Mercury Capri convertible cost $12,588.

Ford Mustang Mach-E fails Sweden's moose test

The infamous moose test has claimed another casualty. This time it's the Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD Long Range, which was tested in an electric four-way alongside the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV (an electric utility vehicle closely related to the Volkswagen ID.4 that is sold in the United States). According to the Swedish testers at Teknikens Varld, Ford's electric car not only failed to hit the speed necessary for a passing grade, it didn't perform well at slower speeds, either. To pass the outlet's moose test, a car has to complete a rapid left-right-straight S-shaped pattern marked by cones at a speed of at least 72 km/h (44.7 miles per hour). The test is designed to mimic the type of avoidance maneuver a driver would have to take in order to avoid hitting something that wandered into the road, which in Sweden may be a moose but could just as easily be a deer or some other member of the animal kingdom elsewhere in the world, or possibly a child or car backing into the motorway. Not only is the maneuver very aggressive, it's also performed with weights belted into each seat and more weight added to the cargo area to hit the vehicle's maximum allowable carrying capacity. The Mustang Mach-E only managed to complete the moose test at 68 km/h (42.3 mph), well below the passing-grade threshold. Even at much lower speeds, Teknikens Varld says the Mach-E (which boasts the highest carrying capacity and was therefore loaded with more weight than the rest of the vehicles tested in this quartet) is "too soft in the chassis" and suffers from "too slow steering." Proving that it is indeed possible to pass the test, the Hyundai and Skoda completed the maneuver at the 44.7-mph figure required for a passing grade and the Tesla did it at 46.6 mph, albeit with less weight in the cargo area. It's not clear whether other versions of the Mustang Mach-E would pass the test. It's also unknown if Ford will make any changes to its chassis tuning or electronic stability control software, as some other automakers have done after a poor performance from Teknikens Varld, to improve its performance in the moose test. Related video:

Mercedes-Maybach GLS Edition 100 layers on the opulence

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Edition 100 was revealed yesterday, but it wasn’t the only new Maybach product to come out. No, in addition to the S-Class, Mercedes took the wraps off the Mercedes-Maybach GLS Edition 100. We didnÂ’t have the details for the SUV version right away, but we have them now. None of those details are all that surprising, though. The GLS Edition 100 is built to celebrate the same Maybach centennial milestone as the S-Class, and its appearance is essentially a copycat of the sedan. The one key difference versus the sedan is the number of cylinders under the hood. Mercedes puts its V12 in the S-Class, while the GLS soldiers on with the V8. Let the tears made of money flow for the lack of the additional four cylinders. At least everything else is largely equivalent. The GLS Edition 100 gets painted in the same Designo Crystal White and Silver Grey Pearl two-tone paint scheme. YouÂ’ll find the “Edition 100” Maybach logo on the D-pillar of the GLS. Plus, the logo makes another appearance on the stunning forged grey wheels. The interior of the GLS Edition 100 is also similar to the S-Class, in that itÂ’s finished with a special leather design that is also two-tone in nature with Crystal White and Silver Grey Pearl hides. Everybody who buys one of these Edition 100 cars gets a unique branded car cover and a special case meant to store keys and the carÂ’s paperwork. Pricing isnÂ’t detailed, but Mercedes says Edition 100 cars will be at dealers at the start of 2022 — orders will be taken in the fourth quarter of this year. Related video:

2022 Rivian R1T vs. 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs. GMC Hummer EV Pickup | How they compare on paper

The 2022 Rivian R1T has arrived, ushering in the era of the production electric pickup truck. The Rivian reviews are in, and spoiler alert: They're pretty good. Curious how the new battery-powered truck stacks up to its forthcoming competitors? Well, you've come to the right place. Rivian beat all of Detroit's big automakers to market in the half-ton segment, but probably not by the margin the startup would have liked. Ford's answer is the F-150 Lightning, which is due to enter production early next year, coming hot on the heels of GM's first entry into the space – the GMC Hummer EV pickup – which is scheduled to come off the line late this fall. While all three are pickups, they're aimed at distinctly different buyers, as a perusal of their specifications will reveal. Let's have a look, shall we?   Disclaimer: Before we dive in on this one, we'd like to note that while we've made our best effort to verify the specs provided, the Rivian is brand-new and the others are still in the prototype phase. Some of these figures may be inaccurate or may simply change before production. This is all hypothetical until you can actually cross-shop them anyway, right? Cool. End disclaimer. Let's start with the powertrains. They're all battery-electric trucks engineered on a modular rear-wheel-drive configuration engineered to accommodate (theoretically, anyway) up to four electric drive units. Rivian actually makes the most use of this with a quad-motor setup producing 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque with its high-output initial model. GMC's three-motor Hummer has the R1T beat with its estimated 1,000-horsepower output, while Ford's (also three-motor) comes in with a far more modest 563 horses. This is an excellent illustration of our above point that these are not all engineered for the same crowd. Ford's F-150, which comes in at a lower price point, is meant to be far more mainstream, as its power output suggests.  This theme continues when we look at the dimensions. Despite the image "Hummer" may conjure, GMC's entry actually needs the shallowest parking space. The Rivian is right behind it, with the work-truck-spec Ford extending more than a foot longer than either. What the Hummer lacks in length, it makes up for in girth. It's the widest by a good 5 inches. The Rivian is only slightly pudgier than the F-150, but it's much closer at that end of the scale.

Junkyard Gem: 1990 Daihatsu Rocky SX

The Daihatsu Motor Company, best-known for its popular kei cars and vans in Japan, made a short-lived attempt to sell highway vehicles in the United States. From the 1988 through 1992 model years, the Charade subcompact and Rocky mini-SUV could be purchased here, after which the brand packed up and went home. As you might imagine, the Charade is very rare and the Rocky nearly nonexistent today, but my junkyard searching never ceases and I find examples here and there. Here's a 1990 Rocky, found in a self-service yard near Denver, Colorado. The Rocky name was used mostly in Japan and North America, while the rest of the world knew this truck as the Feroza or Sportrak.   Its narrow track and light weight made the Rocky good for off-road use and the price tag was reasonable, but (as was also the case with the Suzuki Samurai) it didn't fare so well as an American highway commuter. The main reason Rocky sales never really took off here, though, was the never-heard-of-it manufacturer coupled with a nasty recession.   Toyota, which owned enough of Daihatsu to have veto power over business decisions in 1990, eventually took full control of the company in 2016. Today, Toyota rakes in the yen selling Daihatsu Hijet trucks around the world.   The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the Rocky made 94 horsepower.   Both the Rocky and the Charade could be purchased with a four-speed automatic transmission, but most buyers opted for the cheaper and more fuel-efficient five-on-the-floor manual. In fact, I've found but a single slushbox Daihatsu in all my years of junkyard crawling.   This little truck trundled over just past 200,000 miles of asphalt and (presumably) mud, dirt, and snow during its 31 years. For a Daihatsu, that's very impressive.   But the resale value on a well-worn small truck with three pedals and badges from a mystery manufacturer isn't so great, so here it sits. As rare as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster! In Japan, shrill cuteness sold Rockies. In Oz, the Feroza's off-road abilities kept it from being late to surfing appointments. As tough as Uncle Toby's Iron Men. The Feroza name was used in Europe as well. Intensely rad Dutch car shoppers could get the Feroza's canvas top in various 1980s early 1990s pastel colors, to match their leg warmers.

Explainer: How China Evergrande's debt troubles pose a systemic risk

HONG KONG — China Evergrande Group has raised fresh warnings of default risks, as it scrambles to raise funds to pay lenders and suppliers with regulators and financial markets worried that any crisis could ripple through China's banking system and trigger social unrest. WHAT IS EVERGRANDE? Founded in 1996 by Chairman Hui Ka Yan in Guangzhou, Evergrande is China's second-largest property developer with $110 billion in sales last year. The company listed in Hong Kong in 2009, helping it grow its asset size to $355 billion today. It has more than 1,300 developments across the nation, many in smaller cities. With sales growth slowing in recent years, Evergrande has branched into businesses such as electric cars, football, insurance and bottled water. HOW DID CONCERNS ARISE OVER DEBT? Investors became worried in September last year after a leaked letter purportedly from the company showed Evergrande had pleaded for government support to approve a now-dropped backdoor listing plan. Evergrande said the letter was fake. Concerns intensified after Evergrande admitted in June it did not pay some commercial paper on time, and news in July a Chinese court froze a $20 million bank deposit held by the firm on the request of Guangfa Bank. Evergrande's fast expansion has been fueled by loans to support its land buying spree, and selling apartments quickly despite low margins so as to start the cycle again. Its total liability, which include payables, is at 1.97 trillion yuan ($306.3 billion), or around 2% of the country's GDP. Other than the usual bank and bond channels, the developer has been criticized for tapping the shadow banking market, including trusts, wealth management products and commercial paper. HOW HAS EVERGRANDE DELEVERAGED? Evergrande accelerated its debt-reduction efforts last year after regulators introduced caps on three debt ratios, dubbed the "three red lines" policy. It aims to meet all the requirements by the end of 2022. Evergrande has given buyers steep discounts for its residential developments and sold the bulk of its commercial properties. Since the second half of 2020, it has had a $555 million secondary share sale, raising $1.8 billion by listing its property management unit in Hong Kong, while its EV unit sold a $3.4 billion stake to new investors. On Tuesday, however, it said its asset and equity disposal plans have failed to make material progress. WHAT'S THE RISK?

Lots of new cars were unveiled in Munich this week. Here's what you might've missed

The 2021 Munich Auto Show is happening this week and due to ongoing corporate travel restrictions, we remained firmly planted on this continent. So, although we can't tell you exactly what it's like inside the futuristic new Mercedes EQE electric sedan or fully appreciate the funky Volkswagen ID.Life concept, there's no shortage of details and analysis to provide.  Obviously, as Germany's premier auto show in 2021, the cars unveiled were primarily from the German brands. We also focused mostly on the cars that might actually make their way to the United States, or at least inspire those that will.   2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE is an electric alternative to the E-Class While the EQS paved the way for Mercedes' electrified future, much like the S-Class before it, the EQE stands to be the car that will move in far greater numbers -- much like the E-Class before it. Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 View 12 Photos   Mercedes-Maybach EQS Concept shows SUV future of the flagship brand Opulence will still have a place in an electrified future, as Maybach gets into the EQ game with a grand electric SUV. Mercedes-Maybach EQS Concept View 4 Photos   Volkswagen ID.Life concept previews the city car's high-riding EV future Well, isn't this adorable? Though perhaps a tad derivative of the Honda E, Volkswagen's blocky little crossover EV nevertheless represents a handsome new direction for VW design. We like this better than the rounded looks of the current ID.3 and ID.4.  2021 Volkswagen ID.Life concept View 20 Photos   BMW i Vision Circular is a 100% recycled and recyclable hatch Behold, the next BMW 3 Series! Just kidding. Besides this, BMW displayed cars in person for the first time that it had previously only unveiled on the interwebs, including the new 2 Series and revised iX3. It also unveiled some bikes. BMW i Vision Circular Concept View 63 Photos   Audi's GrandSphere concept was designed as a road-going private jet Does Audi know what a sphere is? Cause this isn't anything like one. Still, it's quite a handsome thing, and as one of three Sphere-branded concepts, previews the next direction of Audi design (which is pleasantly reminiscent of two-decade-old Mazda design). No complaints here. 2021 Audi GrandSphere concept View 26 Photos   Porsche Mission R is a 1,000-horsepower electric monster Just like the Mission E previewed the Taycan, this apparently previews another future car.

Smart Concept #1 shows the brand's premium electric crossover future

At this year's Munich Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz's budget brand, Smart, has revealed a concept that shows the future of its electric cars. And with four doors and borderline conventional design, it hardly seems like a Smart. It's called the Concept #1 (real original, we know), and it even seems like something that could find buyers in America. In actuality, a Smart four-door isn't all that strange. Its first four-door was the first-generation ForFour, which shared its underpinnings and powertrain with the Mitsubishi Colt and launched in 2004. Then there was the Renault Twingo-based second-generation ForFour, which was more like a stretched ForTwo. Unlike the Concept #1, those past ForFour models still featured Smart's trademark design features such as funky shapes and a contrast-colored passenger cell. The Concept #1 on the other hand looks positively mainstream. It has a typical two-box profile synonymous with crossovers, and it has a floating, contrast-colored roof; design cues we've seen many times before, and will see many times again. It certainly doesn't look bad, though, and it is quite smooth and sleek. It's also reasonably sized, measuring just a bit longer, taller and wider than a Kia Soul, but not quite as big as a Seltos. The interior is where it stands out more. It looks almost like a budget Mercedes-Benz, and the company says it wants to become more of a premium brand. Particularly eye-catching is the use of polished-gold-colored trim on the dash and the high floating center console. Paired with the white interior and copious ambient lighting, it's reminiscent of Maybach concepts. But the Concept #1 has just one screen sitting dead center, and it seems to take on the functions of infotainment, climate and instrumentation. Though the Concept #1 is, well, a concept, Smart says it previews a production model. Development is being headed by Geely, parent company of both Volvo and Lotus, and Mercedes will handle exterior and interior design. And in keeping with the brand's switch to selling only electric models, it will of course be electric. Specifications are unknown, though. With conventionally good looks and practical size, it will probably be a sales success. And if Mercedes wanted to try to relaunch the brand in the U.S., perhaps as a Mini alternative, this would probably be a good way to do so. Related video:

The 2022 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 aftermarket upgrader's guide

When you own an enthusiast car, there are few events more nerve-wracking than the introduction of its successor. Should you upgrade? Is it worthwhile? What will it cost you to part out your mods and trade up? Well, there's good news for owners of the outgoing Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ who are considering an upgrade: You might not have to start with a clean slate.  If you’re an owner (or even a casual fan) of the Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 family of sports coupes, youÂ’re probably already aware that the 2022 models are more like aggressive overhauls than true, ground-up redesigns. Neither company really wants to put a spotlight on the fact that their coupes are a little less "all-new" and a little more "back and better than ever," but in our opinion, this is something Subaru and Toyota should embrace.  Why? In a word: continuity. Look no further than the NA (1989-1997) and NB (1999-2005) Mazda Miata. While they are regarded as distinct generations (the NA defined by its pop-up headlights and simpler lines; the NB by its fixed lamps and swoopier styling) and were offered with different equipment packages, the fundamental underlying chassis remained relatively unchanged. This meant that, in many cases at least, buyers could trade up to a new model but bring along some of their factory and aftermarket accessories because theyÂ’d still fit. The BRZ and GR 86 are meant to be fairly bare-bones vehicles, the idea being that they appeal to those who want limited frills at a low cost and those who prefer to view cars as canvases rather than finished masterpieces. A long-running platform makes an excellent candidate for the latter type of car buyer. So, what does that mean for the 2022 BRZ and GR 86? Well, let's break it down by whatÂ’s truly new, whatÂ’s kind-of-new, and whatÂ’s essentially carry-over, with some guidance from Subaru and Toyota engineers.  2022 Subaru BRZ blue action profile View 22 Photos Spankin' new LetÂ’s start with the obvious: the styling. Even if you can find older aftermarket appearance kits that will fit the new BRZ and GR 86 on paper, they probably wonÂ’t bolt up nicely to the new cars due to their sleek new exterior designs. Wings and spoilers might still bolt up, but donÂ’t count on it, and theyÂ’ll probably look disjointed at best anyway.

Genesis GV80 gets luxurious six-seater option in South Korea

Genesis pushed the GV80 even further upmarket in its home country. It released an updated version of the big SUV that gains an available six-seat layout designed primarily around the passengers riding in the second row. The six-seat interior joins the five- and seven-seater configurations on the GV80's list of options. While the largest Genesis SUV offers luxury regardless of how many people it can carry, the six-seater was developed as a range-topping version with a pair of individual second-row seats separated by a full center console. The leather-upholstered chairs are heated and ventilated, and the passengers sitting in them enjoy a long list of amenities. Separate rear-seat entertainment systems allow one second-row passenger to watch a movie while the other listens to music. Cupholders, wireless device chargers, and separate HVAC controls let them travel in their own little bubble. And, the second-row center console features ambient lighting plus the same wood trim as the one that's between the occupants in front. Most of the other changes Genesis made to the GV80 for 2022 are relatively minor. For example, the color palette gains two shades named Mauna Red and Barossa Burgundy, respectively, and the brake calipers available on the 3.5-liter-powered model are now also fitted to SUVs powered by the 2.5- and 3.0-liter engines. Additionally, some of the onboard software (like the navigation system) will receive over-the-air updates. Buyers can already order the 2022 Genesis GV80 in South Korea, where it starts at 61.36 million won (about $53,000). Details about the American-spec version of the SUV haven't been released yet. We've asked the company if the posh six-seater layout is coming to our shores, and were simply told to stay tuned. While the five-, six-, and seven-seat GV80s look the same when viewed from the outside, the range could grow with a fastback-like model in the not-too-distant future. Unverified reports claim a more style-oriented version of the SUV with a swoopy roof line could make its debut before the end of 2021 to compete directly against the BMW X6.

Genesis GV60 shows more of itself, this time in white

Genesis unboxed an additional selection of photos and bombast concerning the design of its new GV60 electric hatchback. Neither the images nor the words do much to illuminate aspects of the GV60 we're really keen to know about, like tech specs and feature options and interior materials, but there are two enlightening sentences. The first describes what Genesis calls the "Volt-DLO concept," being the chrome strip running above the side windows. It begins at the A-pillar and arcs ever-so-slightly downward toward the C-pillar, where it cuts a sharp "V" before resuming its run to the base of the hatch window, ending next to the rear spoiler. The second phrase concerns the Crystal Sphere, the laser-etched glow globe on one side and shifter on the other. Genesis tell us that it will not allow the vehicle to be put into gear during charging, a kind of mood-lit failsafe for drivers.  And just like the automaker did when it failed to mention wireless charging the first time around, Genesis didn't mention another novel feature. This would be the filament of red light running across the rear spoiler, which we suppose will act as a third brake light. Our favorite three words in the Genesis press release, however, probably weren't meant to picked up. Someone named two of the new batch of photos, a front-three-quarter and a rear-three-quarter image, "GV60 FIXED FUEL HOLE." It's so gloriously awkward and municipal, like a state utility marker near a natural gas facility, that we'd be the first to sign a petition for Genesis to retain that name for the actual car. Or the actual car's fuel hole, at least.   Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Junkyard Gem: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi SE

American Suzuki Motor Corporation filed for bankruptcy in 2012, and new Suzuki-badged cars stopped being sold here the following year (meanwhile, Suzuki went on to create one of the biggest-selling cars in its home market). While many of the United States-market Suzukis of the previous decade had been Daewoos beneath the emblems, the Kizashi sedan was designed and manufactured entirely by Suzuki. There were high hopes – at first – that it would revive the brand's American fortunes. Here's a first-model-year example, found in a San Francsico Bay Area self-service yard a few months back. The word Kizashi means "something great is coming" in Japanese, but the Great Recession and the decreasing popularity of non-truck-shaped new vehicles in the United States kept sales of these cars low (even as Monster Tajima broke the ten-minute barrier in a Suzuki at Pikes Peak). You could buy a new Kizashi here until American Suzuki folded its tent and left in 2013, leaving just two-wheeled Suzukis available here for highway use. That was unfortunate because the Kizashi provided a lot of value for the price. This Kizashi SE had an MSRP starting at $21,499 (about $27,085 in 2021 dollars), and it had a pleasant interior and a bunch of unexpected standard features. You got keyless ignition, power seats with memory, 17" alloy wheels and a pretty decent seven-speaker audio system with USB and Bluetooth inputs (both of which were still uncommon in lower-priced cars at the time). If you upgraded to the GTS or SLS trim levels ($22,499 and $24,399, respectively), you got goodies including a thumping 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, a power sunroof and 18-inch wheels. But unless you were selling Hayabusas or KingQuads, 2010 wasn't a great time to have a Suzuki sign in front of your American showroom. The days of Geo- and Chevrolet-badged Suzukis roaming every American road ended with the Metro and Tracker; by the end, only the Kizashi, SX4 and Grand Vitara remained here. It appears that a Ford dealership in Pennsylvania sold this car at some point prior to its migration west. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder made 185 horsepower, better than its four-cylinder Mazda6 and Altima rivals. Smaller-displacement versions of the J24B engine went into the Aerio, Esteem, Sidekick, Tracker, and Vitara; the Grand Vitara got the 2.4. A six-speed manual transmission was available in the Kizashi's other trim levels, but SE buyers had to take the CVT. This content is hosted by a third party.

Here's the Genesis GV60 EV looking much better in black paint

For detractors of the recently-revealed Genesis GV60 electric crossover, this one’s for you. The GV60 debuted last week in what can only be described as Kia Soul green. Considering the Soul is made by the same parent company, the comparisons and similarities between the two are inevitable. Of course, weÂ’re fairly certain those arenÂ’t the comparisons that luxury brand Genesis wanted folks to be making for its new, sporty electric crossover. For a change in pace, we present these spy shots of an uncovered and undisguised GV60 wearing black paint. It is significantly better looking than the green car. The effect is similar to applying a dark paint to the new BMW M3 or M4. The darker shades allow the grille to melt into the background and blend with the rest of the bodywork better. It does the same on the GV60. The big widemouth grille with its boomerang-shaped mustache is toned down significantly. All of its gray cladding works better as an accent to the black paint. And even the unique V-shaped window trim in the rear doesnÂ’t stand out as much. Genesis very obviously doesnÂ’t want to hide it (still made of chrome), but itÂ’s certainly less objectionable with this color combo. Even the dark gray wheels on this specific GV60 look better than the ones on the reveal car. All the above said, we still need to see all the interior color options. Genesis showed us the interior in its incredible all-blue spec to start, a color and look we have zero objections to. Will the light blue be available with black paint? Most likely not. However, Genesis has the chance to put together a nice red or cream/white interior thatÂ’d match this black paint well. Until a full color palette/configurator comes out, weÂ’ll at least have some peace with the photos of the GV60 in this black paint. ItÂ’s leagues better than that green, and thereÂ’s a good chance GenesisÂ’ other darker shades help it even more. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Genesis GV60 to gain wireless charging capability

When Genesis debuted the GV60 online last week, the accompanying press release hyped the Crystal Sphere that provides mood lighting on one side and a gear shifter on the other. Someone decided that was more important than wireless charging, a capability Green Car Reports discovered the GV60 will enable at some point next year. The GV60 is anticipated to go on sale in South Korea later this year and reach our shores sometime next year with conventional charging only. GCR says the wireless rollout will then begin in South Korea late next year with a pilot program to gather data. Assuming the pilot program returns good news, it's not clear how much longer it would take for Genesis to expand the tech to other markets, or for the Hyundai Group to enable the tech on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 that share their E-GMP bones with the GV60. American firm WiTricity is tabbed as the wireless charging hardware provider, and we know Hyundai's been working with WiTricity for at least three years. Hyundai showed a Kona EV concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show with WiTricity cordless charging, and a month after the show, WiTricity's CEO told technology site IEEE that an unnamed OEM would debut wireless EV charging that year. Obviously, that didn't happen, but WiTricity did provide the wireless phone charging pads for the 2019 Kona Electric. The following year, BMW introduced a wireless charging system for its 530e PHEV, the first OEM vehicle in the U.S. to offer it; two years later, the BMW unit is still only available in limited markets and still in the data-gathering phase. According to the report, wireless charging for the GV60 will be a cost option, the cost still a mystery. In 2018, WiTricity's CEO said all the hardware for a wireless system would be about $800 more than a wired-up charger. The performance stats are closer. WiTricity's site says "Most Level 2 chargers are between 89-94% efficient, and so is the wireless charging built on WiTricity’s technology" across the typical ground-clearance gap for an EV. SlashGear reports the wireless system needing just six hours to recharge the GV60 according to Genesis, "compared to 10 hours when using a conventional wall charger." The BMW inductive system needed 3.5 hours to charge a 9.2-kWh battery at a 3.2-kW charging rate.

GM crab walked the Hummer EV truck up and down Woodward this weekend

Sometimes, manufacturers like to show off their fancy new wares at the Woodward Dream Cruise. It’s largely done through static showcases with big displays for the public to gawk at. However, GM did something a little different with its GMC Hummer EV truck this year. Instead of parking it at the Chevy and GM display area, it took to Woodward Avenue itself to show off the Hummer in pre-production form. Not only did GM drive the electric truck on the road in front of thousands, but it crab walked the whole way. This was our first time, and probably most of the publicÂ’s first time seeing the Hummer EV crab mode in person. Judging from the crowdÂ’s reaction (GM got its wish of everybody paying attention), folks are impressed, and maybe a bit confused at the HummerÂ’s sideways movements.  ItÂ’s a strange spectacle to see in person. At first, the truck appears as though itÂ’s sliding sideways on ice in a smooth, graceful slide. ThatÂ’s because even though the wheels are turned, the front of the truck is still pointing dead straight ahead. The GM employee behind the wheel of the prototype appeared to be moving forward at about 5-10 mph — it appears shockingly quick in person for the way this behemoth of a truck presents itself. The tech making it work is rather simple in concept. GM simply took existing rear-wheel steering technology, then amplified and modified it for this type of movement. Whereas most cars with rear-wheel steering max out at around 5 degrees of lock with the rear wheels, this Hummer can turn the wheels up to 10 degrees. Turn the wheel left or right in crab mode, and the Hummer moves diagonally down the street. If you use it for its intended purpose, crab mode is meant to help you navigate the Hummer through trails it might otherwise be too big to fit through using regular steering. In reality, we suspect most folks might use crab mode in the exact same fashion as GM did this past weekend: to impress people. And honestly, we canÂ’t blame them. It was a seriously cool sight to see. Crab mode in action: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Skoda restores the Octavia that set a Bonneville speed record in 2011

Update: We've been informed by Skoda that the record was not, as previously printed, unbeaten. We've revised the text to reflect this. In 2011, Czech Republic-based Skoda set a speed record on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in a 600-horsepower Octavia vRS. To celebrate the occasion, Skoda restored the super sedan. Originally painted in Corrida Red, the Octavia started life as a press car sent to the firm's British fleet. Its fate took an unexpected turn when it was chosen as the Bonneville project's starting point. Skoda built it for the G/PS category, and the team initially aimed to reach 200 mph, about 50 more than the speed it was designed to reach. Getting there required making substantial modifications while still complying with the Southern California Timing Association's regulations. Skoda redesigned the fuel injection system to feed the engine more gasoline, fitted a bigger radiator, and added a transmission with longer gears sourced from the economy-focused Octavia GreenLine. The full braking system was removed and replaced by a parachute that the driver could operate using a lever. One of the biggest challenges the team faced was that the turbocharged, 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder that powered the Octavia vRS was new, so there were very few aftermarket tuners who could supply high-performance parts. Most of the build was consequently handled in-house, though third-party companies helped Skoda make software tweaks. Skoda Octavia vRS at the Bonneville Salt Flats View 7 Photos Once in Utah, where the name Skoda sounds like either a type of scone or a new soda flavor, the Octavia easily broke the 200-mph barrier — and it kept going. It averaged 227.080 mph on Bonneville's five-mile course, a figure that made it the fastest car powered by a 2.0-liter engine fitted with forced induction. This record still stands in 2021. Skoda celebrated the record's 10-year anniversary by overhauling the vRS. Precisely what was needed hasn't been revealed, we've reached out to the brand for more details, but it sounds like the sedan was raced, washed, and largely forgotten about for a decade. Engines don't like to sit idle for years on end, yet Skoda's mechanics got the 2.0-liter running well enough for the Octavia to lap the Millbrook Proving Ground's high-speed bowl. It gained a handful of decals that highlight the record, though it lost the moon hubcaps it wore as it sped across the Salt Flats.

Genesis GV60 crossover revealed as the luxury lineup's sporty EV

The hatch-tastic Hyundai Ioniq 5 introduced the world to the Electric Group Modular Platform — E-GMP to its friends — the dedicated battery-electric architecture shared among the Hyundai Group. The architecture showed up next under the Kia EV6, leaving Genesis as the only member of the South Korean group trio yet to show its hand. That changes now, with Genesis revealing the GV60 electric vehicle. As number designations decrease in the Genesis lineup, sportiness increases, meaning the GV60 is meant to be sportier than the GV70 and GV80. Many of the brand cues Genesis created to identify itself show themselves in front, burnished for use on a first-of-its-kind for the automaker. A stretched crest grille takes in plenty of air to cool the electronics within. Above that, quad headlamps wrap around the front corners, defining the leading edge of a clamshell hood, another first for the brand. The Genesis badge front and center is not only almost 80% thinner than the usual Genesis badge, it's engraved with a guilloche pattern often seen on expensive watches and enamel jewelry.  The profile gives the Genesis away as the luxxed-up version of the Kia EV6, especially as it omits the dramatic, declining shoulder line that's a calling card on every other Genesis. Designers fitted rear-facing cameras for the side mirrors, they project images onto screens set into the top of the doors in the cabin. The flush exterior door handles automatically pop out as the driver approaches. The overall shape is as perfectly fine here as it is when it wears a Kia badge. But Genesis has spent three years showing us fascinating electric concepts, starting with the belongs-in-a-video-game Essentia grand tourer in 2018, the charming cosmopolitan Mint city car in 2019, and the why-haven't-you-built-this-already X concept from this March. The GV60's grille graphic has clear ties to the Mint; otherwise, the production electric car would struggle to prove its common lineage with the concepts aft of the front fascia. It seems Genesis wants us to eat our meat before we can have our pudding. Inside, the gear selector has been turned into a rotating Crystal Sphere atop a floating center console. When the GV60 is dormant, the Sphere appears to be a piece of transparent jewelry that throws off mood lighting. Turn the vehicle on, and the Sphere flips to become a deeply scalloped gear selector knob.

Next-gen Genesis G90 spied attacking the Nurburgring and showing off its new looks

Here are some entertaining Genesis G90 spy shots. One of our spy shooters caught the next-gen flagship sedan pushing around the Nurburgring wearing considerably less camouflage than the last time we spied it. This G90 also has a full roll cage on the interior, which is about as laugh-worthy as seeing the suspension do some heavy lifting in this heavily cambered corner. What’s most intriguing about these shots is the look we get at this G90Â’s new body. The car appears lower, longer and sleeker than before. It features a new window line, in which the bottom edge of the rear window kicks upward at the end instead of remaining flat. And the rear fender design gives the impression of dramatically flared rear hips. All of these attractive features were hidden from us previously, and weÂ’re mighty impressed with what weÂ’re seeing so far. ThereÂ’s a definite hint of the new G80 in this design, and it only becomes even more obvious after you take a look at the scooped rear. It has a similar shape to the bumper and trunk. Plus, we can see the pentagon-shaped exhaust tips and a hint of whatÂ’s to come with the taillights. ItÂ’s not obvious in these shots, but we suspect Genesis will apply its two-band design to the G90 that all of its other models feature.  Move to the front, and itÂ’s rather obvious that the front headlights will surely feature the two-band design — we can see the two strips of LEDs up there. Genesis isnÂ’t making much of an effort to cover up the G90Â’s enormous grille, which isnÂ’t totally unexpected considering the big sedan is on the Nurburgring where it requires copious amounts of cool air. The main central grille looks similar in size and shape to the outgoing G90Â’s giant mouth, but it adds mesh to the lower bumper, too. As for the newly-revealed doors and body sides, it looks like Genesis could be using new, electric door handles with the G90. The rear passenger side handle sits flush with the camouflage, and while the front passenger side handle juts out a little, there could easily just be some pre-production strangeness going on with the camo and the door handles. Seeing as the new S-Class finally adopted electric handles, it wouldnÂ’t be out of the question to see Genesis follow suit with its flagship. The last thing weÂ’ll point out are these snazzy wheels. Genesis has brought the fire with many of its recent wheel designs, and this is another wild set of rims on this car.

Genesis X concept and G70 imagined as race cars for 'Gran Turismo'

Earlier this year, Genesis showed off one amazing concept coupe. It was called the Genesis X, and the company seemed to be gauging whether people would be interested in a production version. Things have been quiet, but now it has reappeared as a sweet race car for the "Gran Turismo" video game series. And it's not the only one. Joining the Genesis X are Group 3 and Group 4 versions of the Genesis G70 compact sports sedan. For reference, Groups 3 and 4 are analogous to real world GT3 and GT4 racing classes, with the former being more heavily modified, and the latter being more closely related to the production car. We think they look superb. We particularly love the turbo-fan covers on the wheels, as well as the diamond-shaped fog lights on the G70. The cars were shown to people at the Genesis display at Pebble Beach using VR goggles. While the exact "Gran Turismo" title wasn't specified, we imagine they will appear in the upcoming "Gran Turismo 7" video game for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Interestingly, Genesis said these cars "showcased its motorsport intent," which has us wondering if we may see real-life Genesis race cars, too. Time will tell. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hyundai Santa Cruz, Kona N and Elantra Hybrid | Autoblog Podcast #691

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor, James Riswick. They've been driving a lot of new cars, including the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup, 2022 Hyundai Kona N, 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, 2021 Acura TLX Type S and 2022 Hyundai Genesis G70. Lamborghini revealed a modern interpretation of the Countach, for better or worse. Finally, they heelp a listener replace a 2013 Ford Edge in this week's "Spend My Money" segment. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #691 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving: 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 2022 Hyundai Kona N 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 2021 Acura TLX Type S 2022 Hyundai Genesis G70 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 revealed Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related Video:

2022 Genesis G70 Luggage Test | Pack lightly

In terms of size and driving demeanor, the 2022 Genesis G70 and Cadillac CT4 are closely aligned. They're rear-wheel-drive, which makes them inherently different from the Mercedes A-Classes of the world that are more akin to them in price. They're also smaller than the BMW 3 Series and others, which has its benefits in terms of agility. It's also a detriment in terms of interior and cargo space. The G70 trunk measures only 10.5 cubic feet, while the CT4 trunk slightly outdoes it at 10.9. However, please don't automatically read that as a con. These cars are ultimately better for their size, much as the BMW 3 Series has not coincidentally lost a few steps since its started packing on pounds and inches. You just have to accept the tradeoff. Not everyone needs to fit four NBA point guards in their car at the same time. Not everyone needs to carry six suitcases at once. Personally, I'd be just peachy with either of these. That said, how many of those six suitcases are we talking about here? And how does it compare with the G70? Let's find out. Here is the trunk. Immediately, it's apparent that this space does not have a lot of height.    Confirmed, there is not much height at all, even compared to the CT4. Above left is a bag that's 16 inches tall, and it won't fit that way in the G70. Pictured above right is the CT4 trunk with the same bag (left side of the trunk) that has no problem fitting that way.  There are other inherent issues. There is a large structural crossmember behind the back seat. This reduces height even more. Only one of my roller bags could fit under it -- the two shown above are virtually the same dimensions (24L x 15W x 10D), but their different wheel placements are enough to make a difference in this rare case. If the bag can't clear this crossmember, there's a big useless gap between bags and bulkheads.  Let's see how much fits in total. As in every luggage test I do, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife's fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D). Because of the height limitation and cross member, loading is significantly compromised and I was left with a lot of leftover space that's too small to hold any of my bags (pictured below).

Hot Wheels selects a 1975 Opel Manta as a Legends Tour finalist

Hot Wheels is still road-tripping across America in search of the next custom car it will make a replica of. It recently stopped in Detroit and selected a 1975 Opel Manta to participate in the semifinals later in 2021. Painted in an eye-catching shade of blue, the winning Manta was purchased on Craigslist by Josh Liem and Corrine Currie in 2019. It sounds like it led a rough life: The coupe had been modified for dirt track racing when the couple purchased it, meaning it was likely stripped and dented. Instead of taking it back to the oval for one final season, the new owners spent about six months rebuilding it into a fully restored street-legal car with several modifications. 1975 Opel Manta 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour finalist build photo View 8 Photos Liem and Currie added 15-inch wheels, a lowered suspension system, a front splitter, and an ATL fuel cell, among other aftermarket parts. They also removed the rear bumper and the side-marker lights and installed newer sport seats upholstered with leather as well as Bosch gauges. Hot Wheels notes the Manta is still powered by the factory 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine, so you won't find a Godzilla V8 under the hood, but there's no word on whether it's stock. Unmodified, the four-cylinder sent about 81 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. The Manta will compete against previous 2021 Legends Tour winners for a spot in the Hot Wheels catalog — and for the right to end up on book shelves, on office desks, and in toy boxes around the world. To earn this honor, it will need to outscore a wide selection of cars including a custom-built roadster named Lulu the Speedster, a 1941 GMC Baja truck, a 740-horsepower 1969 Dodge Charger, and a chopped Ford Model A. The two semifinal rounds are scheduled to take place on October 28 and November 4, and the grand finale will be held on November 13.  An Opel in America? Opel is normally lumped into the forbidden fruit basket, but it began distributing cars in America in the late 1950s. Models like the Rekord, the Kadett, the GT, and of course the Manta were sold and serviced through participating Buick dealers across the nation. Annual sales peaked at 93,520 units in 1969, so Opel was never big enough here to create annoying internal competition for other General Motors brands or to keep European rivals up at night. In the United States, sales of German-made Opel models ended after the 1975 model year due partly to exchange rate-related issues.

GM Design shows another early Hummer EV sketch

Like a new mother who's still so excited about her one-year-old baby that she can't stop showing ultrasound photos, General Motors is so excited about its biggest new baby, the battery-electric GMC Hummer, that it can't stop showing off development design sketches. The off-road monster with the 200-kWh Ultium battery pack debuted online on October 21 last year. The next day, the GM Design Instagram page posted some of the Hummer's early "theme sketches" leading to the production version. These had a conceptual flair to them, but were rather restrained. A month later, GM uncovered a series of development renderings showing off a much wilder truck bursting with more angles than a geometry text book. The archives have opened up again with a new "ideation sketch," this one between the first believable sketches and the second truck that Master Chief and Doomguy share on their days off.  All three sets of drawings show similar three-box proportions, it's the details that got a ton of love. On this newest sketch, the fenders flare a touch more than on the production truck, but the wheel wells are cut with the kind of clearance found on a Baja 1000 Trophy Truck. Out back, save for the tow hooks, the rear end is totally different than production. The sketch puts illuminated Hummer script across a narrow tailgate flanked by small square, taillights housing six individual elements. Beneath that, a bumper-less rear end puts nothing more than a sloped bash pate between the truck and the rocks it's just scrambled over. To our eyes, this is the best blend of production-ready comfort from the first sketches and zoot suit angles from the second that we've seen so far.  First deliveries of the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 are expected before the year is out. When we get a chance to absorb the truck in its native habitats, we'll know whether there's cause for disappointment at what could have been. If so, with all this hunger among the monied for something different, we feel like restomodders have been given the perfect head starts on custom rebodied Hummers that would make things right. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.