autos
LifestyleAutoblog2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Track Review | Ignore the geeks, just drive it
Talking about electric cars inevitably comes down to charge times, range, kilowatts this and volts that. Much as the common sports fan doesn't fall in love with the game because of advanced analytics, it's not surprising that the common car fan hasn't exactly been falling head over heels for electric cars. The 2022 Porsche Taycan GTS is not for the geek squad.
NewsAutoblogElectric Lancia Delta headed to 2022 World RX Championship
Over the weekend, Swedish driver Johan Kristoffersson overcame a 17-point deficit to Timmy Hansen to claim his fourth World Rallycross (World RX) Championship driver's title. Last year, away from the race track, French company Green Corp Konnection (GCK) debuted its Lancia Delta Evo-e, a restomodded Delta Integrale given a dual-motor AWD electric powertrain transplant.
LifestyleAutoblogBMW's XM Concept looks just as wild in real life
Everybody in the comments section of our original BMW XM Concept post just seemed to love the design, so to sate everybody’s taste for more photos and angles, BMW has provided exactly that. BMW gave the XM Concept its “live” reveal at Art Basel in Miami Beach last night, which means there are plenty of “live” photos to go with the reveal. Most of the initial shots we got to see of the M SUV were toeing the line between renders and actual in-person photographs.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Chevy Silverado gets revised engine lineup
Seems Chevrolet isn't finished rejigging the fully refreshed 2022 Silverado pickup, with GM Authority reporting the automaker is swapping some engine options around on Trail Boss trims. At the moment, the Custom Trail Boss trim comes standard with the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that was upgraded to offer 310 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, a massive increase of 92 lb-ft over the 2021 version of the engine. Based on the engine price differential on the LT trim, checking the diesel box could add about $2,400 to the MSRP of the Custom Trail Boss.
NewsAutoblogTexas man gets prison for buying Lamborghini with Covid funds
A Texas man who spent coronavirus relief funds to feel a little less bored during lockdown is staring down a nine-year prison term after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. Lee Price III finagled more than $1.6 million in low-interest relief loans, the Associated Press reports, which he spent to pay off a mortgage and buy a couple of cars: an $85,000 Ford F-350 and and Lamborghini Urus. According to the Houston Chronicle, Price's scheme involved funneling a little under $1 million through each of two of his businesses (Price Enterprises Holdings and 713 Construction), both of which Price claimed had large payrolls that needed to be covered using emergency funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
BusinessAutoblogChevy Camaro 455-hp V8 Colorado pickup was almost a thing
Chevrolet still hasn't released an alternative to the Ford F-150 Raptor, but it nearly beat its arch nemesis to the high-performance midsize truck segment with Camaro-sourced bits and help from Australia-based sister company Holden. It learned that the project was the brainchild of Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), the division in charge of turning Holden's cars into hot rods. HSV spent decades working on the Commodore (which was sold here as the Chevrolet SS) and its derivatives, but its future began looking grim after production of the fourth-generation model ended in 2017 and its successor landed as a badge-engineered Buick.
BusinessAutoblogKia's design boss would welcome a pickup 'with open arms'
"I'd welcome [a pickup] with open arms," said Karim Habib in an interview with British magazine Autocar. Kia's heritage certainly isn't rooted in trucks, but the firm has demonstrated it's capable of venturing into new segments when needed (notably by releasing the Telluride), and sister company Hyundai argued with the Santa Cruz that stepping into the truck world doesn't require decades of pickup-building experience.
NewsAutoblogLotus Type 132 crossover EV teased five ways in video
Lotus has combined its series of video teasers of the Type 132 crossover into one reel. Under the "Breathe" section, there's the active lower grille, divvied-up hexagonal openings that twirl open or closed to provide the right combination of powertrain cooling and vehicle aerodynamics. The Type 132 will commence Lotus' EV-only series production future, the first of four models due in the next few years, and the largest.
BusinessAutoblogFord Maverick SEMA sensation: Tucci Hot Rods looks to make it real
Tucci Hot Rods is a crew of two based in New York: Dave Tucci, the owner, and Dom Tucci, the son and heir. For their first leap into big-time auto shows, Dom designed a package to turn the 2022 Ford Maverick into a street rod pickup. The result hit the show floor at SEMA last month, not only winning fans but also praise from Ford CEO Jim Farley on Instagram, the Ford Performance award for best vehicle on the Ford stand, six requests to buy complete trucks, and more requests to buy parts.
NewsAutoblogCars most likely to be involved in accidents
You’ll notice that many are mainstream, affordable cars, often with decent crash ratings. Also keep in mind that vehicle accidents are up since the beginning of the pandemic, so no matter what you drive, please drive safely.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Cadillac Lyriq launch is running ahead of schedule
General Motors says all of the components and technologies in the Cadillac Lyriq electric crossover have passed the 80% validation benchmark. As a new video shows, getting to this point has included plenty of real-world driving on gravel, ice, and snow at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds in Wanaka, New Zealand, as well as hours of jostling on suspension rigs and aero work in the lab. In August 2020 when Cadillac officially revealed the Lyriq, the automaker said it wouldn't hit the market until late 2022.
BusinessAutoblogBridgestone, Michelin join forces to lower eco impact of tire production
Bridgestone and Michelin have formed a partnership that could help reduce such numbers by finding ways to recycle carbon black, a key part of tire manufacturing. The Birla Carbon blog describes carbon black as a "vital component in making many of the products we use every day stronger, deeper in color and longer lasting." The primary use of carbon black is to make tires stronger, as a thermal conductor, and as a filler throughout the tire layers.
LifestyleAutoblogNext-gen Genesis G90 looks like the sleek, elegant flagship the brand needs
The Genesis G90 flagship sedan underwent a pretty major refresh only a few years ago, and now it's getting what seems to be a completely new generation. The headlights are truly split units and line up with the fender-mounted turn signals. This look is complemented by the flush-fitting door handles.
TechnologyAutoblogBMW Concept XM previews the first standalone M car since the M1
BMW M has worked its magic on numerous cars over the past 50 years but it has only developed one model from the ground up: the M1. It's about to add a second vehicle to its résumé, and it previewed the high-performance SUV by unveiling a design study named Concept XM. While the XM is new, we've heard rumors about it for many years.
CelebrityAutoblogDwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gives his Ford F-150 Raptor to deserving vet
One fan at a recent screening of "Red Notice" received much more than a viewing of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's latest action flick. The actor gifted his ride to the deserving fan surprise handover that nearly knocked the Navy veteran over with its generosity. The screening had been set up by Johnson for his fans.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Dodge Durango adding R/T Plus trim
For the 2021 model year, the entry-level Dodge Durango SXT trim and the next-level GT trim offer enhanced SXT Plus and GT Plus versions. Among the changes planned for next year's Durango, Mopar Insiders reports that the Plus formula will head one more step up the ladder with Dodge planning an R/T Plus for the 2022 model year. The equipment list includes the Technology Group's adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning; the Premium Interior Group's upgraded instrument panel and suede headliner; the Safety and Security Systems' blind-spot detection; a power sunroof; 19-speaker, 825-Watt Harman Kardon audio; and Nappa leather seats.
BusinessAutoblogLeast reliable car brands in America
When looking to buy a car, reliability is important, but it’s one of the harder things for car reviewers like us to evaluate. Thankfully, Consumer Reports polls its subscribers annually in order to judge which brands and models are the least likely to have issues. Here, we’ve listed the 10 least reliable car brands in the U.S., according to CR’s data.
LifestyleAutoblogHow to change your car's spark plugs
Spark plugs are a vital part of a gasoline-powered car's engine. Nearly all gasoline-powered cars are fitted with spark plugs, regardless of whether you drive a new Porsche 911 or a 1990s Toyota Corolla station wagon. How often you need to replace the spark plugs depends on a variety of factors like the type of car you drive, how you drive it, and its mileage.
NewsAutoblogMercedes Vision EQXX to land at CES with 621 miles of range
Mercedes-Benz is coming to the 2022 edition of CES with its most ambitious electric car project to date. It’s called the Vision EQXX, and it’s planning on revealing the car on January 3, 2022. The headline feature is a targeted range of over 621 miles on a full charge.
BusinessAutoblogNissan Ambition 2030 plans 23 electrified models in 5 years
In May last year, Nissan unveiled its Nissan Next plan to get its operations in line with sustainable goals. In January of this year, Nissan laid out plans to electrify every all-new model in key markets by the early 2030s, as well as develop more efficient EV manufacturing, powertrains, and technologies. Nissan wants its lineup and the Infiniti range to be 50% electrified globally by 2030, with goals differing for various markets.
BusinessAutoblogPorsche might have shown its Landjet crossover to dealers
Automotive News described this as a crossover that would best the Cayenne for size in length and width, that could pack three rows of seating, and make its debut in the latter 2020s with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. A three-row Porsche sedan-crossover-thing that brought in another 15,000 or so U.S. sales would become the third-best-selling model in the Stuttgart carmaker's lineup. When asked about the subject, a Porsche Cars North America spokesperson told AN that the company is "continually exploring new opportunities."
TechnologyAutoblogRenault teaches the 4 how to fly for its 60th birthday
Renault is celebrating 60 years of the 4, one of its best-selling and most emblematic models, by turning it into a flying car. It teamed up with a design firm named TheArsenale to build a functional prototype called Air4 that explores what the hatchback could look like in 60 years.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Nissan Versa starts at $16,062, a $100 increase
Nissan deemed the 2021 Versa so well prepared for 2022 that the automaker has only made one change to the subcompact sedan: plumping the price a bit. There are three trims, the entry-level S offered with a five-speed manual transmission and Nissan's continuously variable Xtronic transmission, the SV and SR sold with the CVT alone. For all of the Versa's what-you-see-is-what-you-get simplicity, the sedan has resonated with buyers after the redesign for the 2020 model year.
BusinessAutoblogAudi E-Tron facelift said to bring a lot more range
Autocar says it spoke to "sources inside Audi" who divulged that the Audi E-Tron is getting ready for the second half of its life with a facelift and technology upgrade slated to appear next year. The most welcome change will be a new-generation battery, more efficient motors with greater energy recuperation, and new electronics that work together to increase range by nearly 50%, going from 259 miles on the European WLTP cycle to 373 miles. Autocar outlet reports that an Audi exec said the changes are to "further increase [the] competitiveness" of the brand's first mainstream electric vehicles.
LifestyleAutoblogPorsche expands its paint-to-sample program with new colors
Increasing demand from buyers has convinced Porsche to expand its paint-to-sample program. It added more options to the palette of pre-approved colors, and it invested in new equipment for its paint shop in order to give more customers the option of configuring a unique car. Not all colors are available on all models, however.
