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BusinessAutoblog2022 Toyota Land Cruiser puts loads of new tech at your fingertips
The model won't come to the U.S., the expectation being Toyota will opt to give us the more luxurious Lexus LX version. It's certain some of the tech appearing on the new Cruiser will make its way to other Toyota vehicles, though, so it's worth a look. Engineers also placed the new engines lower and further back in the body, giving the high-boy truck a lower center of gravity.
LifestyleAutoblog2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Road Test | Quick cute cube
The Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is precisely what Mercedes and the market needs right now. The next round of “cheap” Mercedes vehicles are far better with an expanded field of winners. There are some we like more than others, though, and we can count this AMG GLB 35 as one of them.
BusinessThe IndependentToyota reports record profit amid pandemic, keeps forecasts
Toyota is reporting a record 897.8 billion yen, or $8.2 billion, profit for the fiscal first quarter, underlining the Japanese automaker’s resilience even amid the coronavirus pandemic
BusinessReutersToyota, Honda beat profit estimates but warn of extended chip crunch
TOKYO (Reuters) -Toyota Motor Corp posted record quarterly earnings and Honda Motor Co raised its annual profit forecast on Wednesday as post-lockdown sales surge, but the pair joined other automakers in warning that the global chip shortage would persist. The two Japanese car makers are facing production problems in China, which on Wednesday reported the most new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since January. Honda Executive Vice President Seiji Kuraishi told reporters that the company suspended production at its plant in Wuhan on Aug. 3 due to a COVID-19 case cluster that developed at a supplier.
BusinessTechCrunchBrazilian digital auto marketplace InstaCarro revs up with $23M in funding
InstaCarro, a digital marketplace that connects used car sellers to dealers in Brazil, has raised $23 million in a Series B round of funding. Notably, U.S.-based firms co-led the investment, including J Ventures, FJ Labs and Rise Capital. With the latest round, São Paulo-based InstaCarro has now raised more than $56 million since its 2015 inception.
BusinessTechCrunchGig companies take worker classification fight to Massachusetts through ballot initiative
A coalition of app-based ride-hailing and on-demand delivery companies including Lyft, Uber, Doordash and Instacart have filed a petition for a ballot initiative in Massachusetts that would keep gig economy workers classified as independent contractors as the industry takes a fight it won in California on the road. The ballot measure proposed by the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work comes nearly a year after California voters approved a similar measure known as Proposition 22 that pitted labor rights advocates against gig economy companies in a costly multimillion battle. Lyft, Uber and other members of the coalition, which also includes several local chambers of commerce in the state, said Tuesday they want the ballot question included in the November 2022 election.
BusinessThe TelegraphHyundai Bayon review: value for money and a hybrid boost
While these little wannabe SUVs aren’t quite the UK’s largest market, they are one of the fastest growing. Ostensibly you can see why. There’s more space for less length, with a high driving position for easier access and egress as well as improved forward vision, and they don’t look like the dread one-box multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) which briefly flared and died as a market sector in the Nineties and Noughties.
BusinessTechCrunchLyft reaches adjusted profitability milestone despite continuing net losses
Today after the bell, U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft reported its second quarter financial performance. Lyft also managed to produce positive adjusted EBITDA in the quarter, a profit metric favored by technology upstarts that have yet to generate net income, a stricter method of calculating profitability. Since then Lyft has posted successive gains to adjusted EBITDA in every quarter.
LifestyleAutoblog2022 Lexus UX gets new colors and a single new feature
If you were waiting to see what Lexus would do with the 2022 UX before committing to buy, the answer is "make tiny cosmetic changes." Between the Lexus press release and images, the new colors mentioned are Grecian Water, Cadmium Orange, Cloudburst Gray, Sonic Chrome, and Silver Lining Metallic. Cadmium Orange is available now on the 2021 UX.
TechnologyTechCrunchSecurity flaws found in popular EV chargers
U.K. cybersecurity company Pen Test Partners has identified several vulnerabilities in the APIs of six home electric vehicle charging brands and a large public EV charging network. Vulnerabilities were identified in the API of six different EV charging brands — Project EV, Wallbox, EVBox, EO Charging’s EO Hub and EO mini pro 2, Rolec and Hypervolt — and public charging network Chargepoint. Security researcher Vangelis Stykas identified several security flaws among the various brands that could have allowed a malicious hacker to hijack user accounts, impede charging and even turn one of the chargers into a "backdoor" into the owner’s home network.
BusinessAutoblogToyota celebrates the Land Cruiser's 70th birthday with retro-flavored model
Toyota is celebrating the Land Cruiser's 70th birthday by releasing a limited-edition version of the 37-year-old 70-Series model on the Australian market. Buyers can order the special Land Cruiser as a pickup with a single or double cab, or as a wagon. Available in French Vanilla, Merlot Red, or Sandy Taupe, the 70th Anniversary gains a specific grille with "TOYOTA" lettering instead of the firm's oval emblem, tinted headlights, black paint on the front bumper and on the fender flares, plus 16-inch wheels with a dark gray finish.
LifestyleAutoblog2006-2010 Mazda5 | Used Vehicle Spotlight
The discontinued Mazda5 is a type of vehicle that simply no longer exists in the U.S. There are still plenty of minivans out there, but the Mazda5’s small footprint and car-like styling push it into the compact minivan category. Meanwhile, Mazda’s description of its Mazda5 is far more skewed to talking up its driving dynamics and handling prowess. As an example of where Mazda’s head was at with this extra-mini minivan, it was offered with a manual transmission.
BusinessAutoblogMitsubishi's new Outlander could herald the return of Ralliart
Mitsubishi is on the cusp of reviving its dormant Ralliart performance line, and a new report suggests the label will return on a sportier version of the latest Outlander PHEV. Ralliart's unexpected revival was announced during a presentation made to investors in May 2021, though no further details were released. Japanese magazine Best Car learned from unnamed sources that the new Outlander PHEV (pictured) expected to break cover in the coming months will be the first Ralliart-branded model in several years.
BusinessTechCrunchNikola cuts delivery outlook for its electric semi trucks
Nikola, the electric truck startup that went public via a SPAC merger, warned Tuesday that supply chain constraints are causing numerous delays forcing it to slash its vehicle delivery projections in half. The company, which is still in pre-production, said in its second-quarter earnings call that its plans to produce 50 to 100 electric semi trucks in this year have been lowered to 25 to 50 units. Nikola reported a net loss of $143 million in the second quarter, up from a $115.7 million loss in the same period last year.
BusinessAutoblogNext Subaru Wilderness model teased, and we're sure we know what it is
Subaru is really getting into the habit of releasing teasers with virtually no information. Referencing it against other Subaru models that don't have Wilderness trims, and the only model that fits is the Forester. There weren't exactly many options, of course, since the Outback Wilderness covers the regular model and the Legacy.
EntertainmentAutoblog'Fast and Furious': Chatting with the movie car guy who builds Dom's Dodge Chargers
Veteran movie car coordinator Dennis McCarthy has worked on many of the biggest films and franchises of all time, from Marvel (Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War) to DC (Man of Steel, Birds of Prey) to the Fast saga (every installment since 2 Fast 2 Furious). McCarthy works with key figures like the screenwriter, director and stunt coordinator to figure out not only which cars to pair with specific scenes and actors but also what mechanical modifications are required to ensure the vehicles can achieve what the filmmakers need for the film sequence. McCarthy is especially essential, then, on a film like this summer’s F9, the latest high-octane adventure with speedsters Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and family that made its on-demand premiere last week.
BusinessAutoblogFord Maverick hybrids will reportedly not be stocked at launch
It appears Maverick customers will get a taste of Ford's new build-to-order strategy this fall. Due to limited production allocations and ongoing pandemic-related supply issues, the only hybrid models that will initially be delivered to dealers will be sold orders. Per a dealer representative on MaverickTruckClub.com, this is expected to be the case for the first two months of Maverick's rollout – at minimum – as the company has at least that many verified retail orders in the system.
SportAutoblogWatch as 2022 Audi RS 3 is crowned compact king of the Nurburgring
Audi's latest RS 3 hasn't landed in showrooms yet, but it has already started winning medals. It set a new record on the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife track in Germany by shaving about five seconds from the previous record. Powered by a sonorous 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, the 2022 RS 3 lapped the Green Hell in 7:40.748, which is a new record in the compact class.
BusinessReutersIndian auto part makers want Tesla's entry to benefit local companies
India's auto component makers want Tesla's potential entry to benefit the country's suppliers, and one way to achieve that is for the company to manufacture locally, the head of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) said. Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk said in July that the company was likely to set up a factory in India if successful with imported vehicles after it sought big cuts in import duties on electric cars. The demand, reported by Reuters, has polarised the auto industry in the country and prompted a rare public debate among carmakers over whether easing import tax rates runs contrary to India's push to promote domestic manufacturing.
BusinessAutoblogAutomakers turn to less-popular models as chip shortage hinders rebound
July sales results are expected to trickle in Tuesday as OEMs yet again put blame for lagging production volumes on the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage. BMW and Stellantis became the latest major carmakers to warn on Tuesday that the shortage that has bedeviled the industry this year will drag on throughout 2021 and beyond, hitting production and sales. Other carmakers from Tesla to Ford have warned that for the foreseeable future, a lack of chips is the main speed bump.
BusinessTechCrunchWireless charging firm Aira raises $12M
Founded in 2017, Arizona-based Aira didn’t waste any time proving out its technology. The tech allows for users to charge up to three objects at once, without having to futz with their precise placement on the pad. Today, the startup announced that it has raised a $12 million seed round, primarily led by private investors, including Jawad Ashan, Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec.
LifestyleAutoblog2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing First Drive Review | A magnificent sunset
Rising from the ashes of the ATS-V, the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing represents the ultimate (in the purest sense of the word) in compact performance from GM’s luxury brand. The name Blackwing was originally applied to a stillborn, twin-turbocharged V8 destined for a new generation of luxury sedans, but has been repurposed as a symbol for Cadillac’s stubborn insistence on doing right by its performance heritage, right up to the end. Whatever version of finality works best for you, apply it here, because Blackwing represents the gasoline-powered Cadillac’s final form.
BusinessAutoblogToyota Avalon production to end after 2022
According to a new report, the Toyota Avalon will not live beyond the 2022 model year. The Avalon is the largest sedan and the flagshippiest model in Toyota's lineup (we're not counting Lexus here), but it appears to be another victim of the crossover takeover. The report comes from Automotive News, which reports that the Avalon was originally slated to get a mid-cycle refresh next year.
BusinessThe TelegraphCupra Leon Estate review: here’s why you’ll have more fun in the hatchback
There’s something about a fast estate car, isn’t there? Perhaps, as one well-known motoring writer put it once, it’s to do with the perversion of a worthy vehicle designed expressly for practicality into something devilishly sporting. He might have had a point.
BusinessThe IndependentBMW reaps $5.7 billion in profit, warns on parts shortages
Germany's BMW is reporting 4.8 billion euros in profit for the second quarter
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