Category Archives: new vehicle

Lotus Emira to Make US Debut with F1 Racer Jenson Button

The Lotus Emira will be joined with the Lotus Evija hypercar and the Radford 62-2 at The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering on Friday the 13th of August. Continue reading

Posted in marketing, new vehicle, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GM’s CAMI Assembly Hastens BrightDrop EV600 Production

Today, General Motors announced the accelerated timeline for plant conversion and production of the BrightDrop* electric EV600 light commercial vehicle at CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, ON. Working with suppliers in the United States, BrightDrop as announced will start initial production of EV600s later this year. Now, during April 2022, Chevrolet Equinox production will end at CAMI and the BrightDrop equipment will be moved to Ingersoll, reducing the time required for plant changeover. GM says it expects to handle what is currently high demand for Equinox with other plants as CAMI retools for BrightDrop production. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toyota Unveils the New Land Cruiser

Toyota showed its new Land Cruiser in a Middle East-centered online reveal that largely ignored the US since it is coming here only as a Lexus LX600 sometime during 2022 at a starting price North of the current $85,665.  Continue reading

Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen ID.4 – Most Affordable AWD Electric Vehicle in US?

With two electric motors, 295 horsepower and an estimated 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds for the AWD Pro model, the ID.4 AWD offers competitive performance and all-weather traction3. It combines the permanent magnet synchronous electric motor on the rear axle of the standard ID.4 with a new asynchronous electric motor on the front axle. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Bronco Production Underway at Michigan Assembly Plant

If you want to ride the beast, just bring money, not bitcoins: MSRP for the base two-door Bronco is $29,995, including $1,495 destination and delivery. In 1965, the Michigan Truck Plant — now the Michigan Assembly Plant — began production of an off-road SUV: the original Ford Bronco. Bronco continued through five generations and ended production on June 12, 1996. In that 31-year span, Ford produced more than 1.1 million Broncos. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Battery Powered – Mercedes-Benz Trucks to Unveil eActros

It’s been a long time coming, allowing Japanese maker Toyota through Hino to seize the apparent lead. Daimler first showed a concept for a heavy-duty electric truck back in 2016. It took two years to get ten prototypes into testing during 2018. The key of course will be customer adaptation and government incentives to fight climate change that spur purchases and above all retirements of diesels. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mexican-Built 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid Shrinks Size, Price

To AutoInformed, it looks like a clever updating and use of the former Mazda-derived Ranger pickup. Ford Motor, of course, once dominated the compact pickup truck market in the U.S. until years of product neglect combined with an assault by Toyota and Nissan pushed it to a footnote in the segment. Continue reading

Posted in new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai Motor Teases “Enhanced” XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck

In a running battle with Toyota, Hyundai claims this will be the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. Hyundai will begin production of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai Revises Ioniq 5 EV for 2022 with New Platform

IONIQ 5’s interior uses the E-GMP’s all-electric packaging, steer-by-wire and shift-by-wire systems to provide a close to flat floor for passenger and cargo space. With the battery pack mounted beneath the floor, between the front and rear wheel axles, the E-GMP architecture creates a flat floor for the cabin. This provides more legroom for passengers, while enabling various arrangements for the front and rear seats. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ford Introduces All-Electric F-150 Lightning Pro – Bring Money

Ford is the only automaker, thus far, to offer an 80-amp charge station as standard equipment with the so-called extended-range truck. It uses the only dual onboard charging system in the industry to cut the 15%-to-100% charge time to roughly eight hours for the hoped-for EPA-estimated 300-mile-range. This might help “reduce charging infrastructure investments and battery wear,” but this is Ford speculating about what remains a core issue with EVs – the ability to charge them and America’s outdated grid and infrastructure that the Republicans refuse to cooperate with job-creating Democrats to update. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

First Look – 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Caveat here: The whole industry has moved rapidly toward small displacement force-fed, aka turbocharged,  engines, but real-world fuel economy improvements – if any – are heavily dependent on where you drive and how smooth your driving technique is. In stop and go conditions, whether induced by traffic or by drivers that are first to every red light with late braking, will not see any gains in our experience. They might even use more fuel. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

EV Pickup! Ford is Betting Lightning Can Strike Twice

Two giant questions lurking the floors of the Dearborn Glass House are: When Ford builds it next year in 2022 will they come; Can Ford build a complicated new technology vehicle without a series of recalls, glitches and bugs that have been standard equipment on previous high-technology launches including the current generation Explorer? (See AutoInformed* below) Another unknown is EV tax credits. The maximum Federal tax credit is $7,500 for any vehicle no matter the cost. It ceases for automakers at 200,000 total EVs sold. Both General Motors and Tesla have hit the subsidy wall and currently do not qualify for the $7,500 tax credit. The Biden Administration could change this. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Canoo Lifestyle Van or Pickup Priced at $35-50k

It’s not coincidental that Zoom is scheduled to announce its Q1 financial results after the New York markets close. The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota JV Will See SUV EV Branded Subaru Solterra in 2022

Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China, with worldwide sales of the model by the middle of 2022. U.S. product details eventually will emerge, but the product lines were under development during the previously failed administration, currently ensconced in exile at Mira-lardo, that was hostile to globalization and started a losing trade war with China, the world’s largest auto market. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Volkswagen de México Exporting Taos SUVs to US

Since its foundation, Volkswagen de Mexico has produced more than 13 million of vehicles. Currently, the Puebla Plant produces the Jetta, Tiguan LWB and Taos models; the Silao Plant produces the engines EA888 and EA211, which are integrated in the production of vehicles for the Volkswagen Brand and Audi, in North America. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment