autos
TechnologyAutoblogHalf-doors are now available for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler
Back in January, we got a look at a Jeep Wrangler sporting previously unavailable half doors with soft windows, indicating that they would be available soon. The door option is available on almost every configuration of 2021 Jeep Wrangler on offer from two-door Sport to four-door Rubicon. Since these doors are part of the Dual Door Group, they are provided in addition to your standard full-size doors, so if you decide you want a little better temperature and sound insulation, you have that option.
- SportAutoblog
Toyota devoting two Super Bowl ads to new Tundra
Who else runs back from Superbowl fridge breaks to catch the commercials? If there's anyone else anticipating the ad pitches more than the passes, add Toyota to your list of automotive advertising to watch for. During Superbowl XL (that was last year, btw), Toyota let the Tacoma and Camry lead the charge.
LifestyleAutoblog2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 priced at nearly $75,000
Official pricing for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is out, and, unsurprisingly, the most powerful production Wrangler is also the most expensive. It appears to only be offered in one variant for now, the Rubicon 392 launch edition, and the price starts at $74,995. It also gets a strengthened frame, Fox 2.0 off-road shocks, a 2-inch suspension lift, 33-inch tires, beadlock-capable wheels, and the typical complement of Rubicon parts such as front and rear locking differentials, and electronic disconnecting anti-roll bars.
NewsAutoblogTiger Woods crashed a Genesis GV80. What exactly is that? We explain
The SUV Tiger Woods was driving when he crashed was a Genesis GV80 loaned to him by Genesis USA as part of its sponsorship of the golf tournament Woods was involved with, but not participating in. It is apparently common for Woods to drive himself in such tournament courtesy cars. Many people have been trying to search what crash ratings the GV80 has received, but unfortunately, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (aka the federal government) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have tested the GV80.
BusinessAutoblogHyundai will use SK Innovation battery cells for the Ioniq 5
News from Hyundai this week centered around two major topics, and both of them involve electric vehicles. A day after officially pulling the wraps off its upcoming and striking Ioniq 5 electric car, the South Korean automaker announced that it would be recalling and replacing the battery packs of 82,000 previously sold electric vehicles globally due to fire risks. While it's true that the vehicles being recalled aren't related to the not-yet-released Ioniq 5, we reached out to Hyundai for a little more detail on the issues that led to a massive recall.
BusinessAutoblogLeaked images show Volkswagen GTI Edition 45 anniversary model
The original Volkswagen GTI made its debut in 1976, quickly becoming a shining beacon of hope for driving enthusiasts in the dark decade of the '70s. Thus, 2021 marks the 45th year for VW's seminal hot hatch, and it appears that VW is gearing up to commemorate the milestone with a special Edition 45 version of the Golf GTI. Volkswagen isn't quite ready to make that announcement, however, and these official-looking photos leaked out onto the internet, on the U.K.'s AutoExpress website among others.
BusinessTechCrunchApple supplier Foxconn reaches tentative agreement to build Fisker's next electric car
Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group has reached a tentative agreement with electric vehicle startup-turned-SPAC Fisker to develop and eventually manufacture an EV that will be sold in North America, Europe, China and India. Fisker and Foxconn said Wednesday that a memorandum of understanding agreement has been signed. Discussions between the two companies will continue with the expectation that a formal partnership agreement will be reached during the second quarter of this year.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Hyundai Tucson production kicks off in Alabama
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is officially in production. Hyundai’s pointy, redesigned compact crossover kicked off its production run a short time ago at its new home in Montgomery, Alabama. This marks the first time that Hyundai has assembled the Tucson in the U.S., having been put together in South Korea previous to the new model.
NewsAutoblogMinnesota nICE meets Lord Coldemort in epic battle of snowplow names
You surely haven't been enjoying this winter's weather, but a lot of you liked our feature awhile back about Scotland's delightful tradition of letting schoolchildren name its snowplows and "gritters" (sanding trucks). State officials in Minnesota must have enjoyed that story too, because they are letting the public suggest and vote on names for eight new snowplows in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes. In lowercase form, we could've all united as a country around the idea of abolishing ice this winter, but the double meaning involving the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was just too political for Minnesota's Department of Transportation to allow.
- NewsAutoblog
Scania shows new ethanol hybrid bus in Helsinki
Swedish bus and truck manufacturer Scania will be showing off their latest hybrid transit bus at the UITP public transport congress in Helsinki next week. Unlike most hybrid buses to date, this one is fueled by ethanol instead of diesel and uses ultra-capacitors instead of batteries. Scania has been working on this bus drivetrain for three years.
LifestyleAutoblog2022 Kia Carnival vs the other minivans | How they compare on paper
The 2022 Kia Carnival has finally made its American debut, officially displacing the Sedona. Kia is entering the Carnival with a fray of other newly redesigned or refreshed minivans this year, meaning that it won’t exactly be a winner by virtue of freshness or modernity alone. Both the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica walked into 2021 with significant refreshes, and the Sienna is completely new from the ground up.
LifestyleAutoblogVolkswagen Jetta GLI Blue Lagoon is a nostalgia-soaked concept for the fans
Volkswagen struck a chord with enthusiasts by introducing a concept named Jetta GLI Blue Lagoon that's a tribute to the 2004 model. Released in 1984, the first-generation Jetta GLI aimed to offer the performance and the handling of the GTI in a three-box package that was more closely aligned with the tastes of American drivers. Volkswagen no longer has this shade on its color palette, so the 2021 concept wears a vinyl wrap over its factory-applied Deep Black Pearl paint job.
BusinessReutersGeely and Volvo to launch powertrain venture after merger scrapped
China's Geely Automobile and its Swedish sister company Volvo Cars will abandon merger plans but launch a new entity to combine their powertrain operations and expand cooperation on electric vehicles, the companies said. A year ago the two said they were planning to merge, giving Volvo access to public markets, as global automakers pursue alliances to respond better to the cost of the transition to electric cars, tougher emission rules and autonomous driving. Geely and Volvo on Wednesday said they would preserve with their existing separate corporate structures after "a detailed review of combination options".
TechnologyAutoblog2021 Buick Envision First Drive | A successful sequel
The 2021 Buick Envision inaugurates the second generation of what GM's premium division hopes will become the staple of its all-crossover lineup. The original Envision, while reasonably competent, suffered from ungainly styling and struggled to separate itself from its reputation as the built-in-China Buick. No longer, says Buick.
BusinessAutoblogIIHS gives 90 models its Top Safety Pick award in one fell swoop
Although the Audi A7 and the Toyota Sienna are positioned on completely different ends of the automotive spectrum, they overlap in one important area: both earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Earning a coveted Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS is easier said than done. Vehicles that have good or acceptable headlights across the full range, regardless of trim level, are eligible for the Top Safety Pick+ award.
BusinessReutersApple supplier Foxconn teams up with Fisker to make electric vehicles
Electric-car maker Fisker Inc said it will work with Apple Inc supplier Foxconn to produce more than 250,000 vehicles a year beginning in late 2023, sending its shares up 18%. The deal, codenamed "Project PEAR" (Personal Electric Automotive Revolution), is looking at markets globally, including North America, Europe, China and India, Fisker said. Foxconn, Apple's main iPhone maker, has ramped up its interest in electric vehicles (EVs) over the past year or so, announcing deals with Chinese electric-car maker Byton and automakers Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Stellantis NV's Fiat Chrysler unit.
- NewsAutoblog
Miles Rubin, eternal optimist, interviewed on NPR
NPR's Elizabeth Shogren spent a morning with Miles Rubin recently, and has a report on the man and his electric machines. The result is a 5:30 minute piece that succinctly captures the current electric vehicle market and Miles Electric Vehicles' place in it. One human touch: The story of how Rubin's wife jokes that her husband doesn't know anything the major automakers don't, so what does that say about his chances?
LifestyleAutoblog2021 Ford Explorer gets the upscale King Ranch treatment
Ford is bringing the Western-themed King Ranch treatment to the hot-selling Explorer for the first time. Ford added two-tone Del Rio leather upholstery as well as Sapele wood trim on the dashboard and on the steering wheel. Power for the King Ranch comes from a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 that develops 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.
TechnologyThe Independent8 best electric scooters that really go the distance
Zip around town on one of these top performing models
- PoliticsAutoblog
More details on the not-for-us Jeep J8
Chrysler's unveiling of the government/military-issue Jeep J8 struck a chord in Jeep aficionados. Whether it was the Wrangler Unlimited-based vehicle's added payload, beefed-up suspension, or available 2-door pickup bodystyle, many of you responded by screaming for a civilian version. The Chrysler Blog has posted a conversation with Dave Cushing, manager of complete knockdown projects, and Jack Robinson, international market manager for the Middle East and Africa, in which the pair talk specifically about the J8.
- BusinessAutoblog
Alliance to Save Energy calls on increasing CAFE standards and offers tips to save energy
Yes, oil prices are near $90 a barrel, and price increases at the pump will come very soon. This is why the Alliance to Save Energy is calling the Congress to raise immediately Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. "Congress must adopt and send to the president the CAFE increases in the Senate energy bill," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
BusinessAFP RelaxElectric car king Tesla is going mainstream
With almost half a million vehicles sold worldwide in 2020, Tesla has unquestionably passed a milestone, with a record sales peak of 180,600 models sold in the final quarter of the year. As the world leader for all-electric cars, Tesla is more than ever gaining ground as a mainstream car-maker -- and one to be taken seriously.
- NewsAutoblog
Smart Fourtwo: Car of the Year?
Don't get us wrong, we like the Smart Fourtwo just as much as anybody, but when considering what car deserves the title "Car of the Year" the little two-seater isn't the first vehicle that comes to mind. Not that the car is undeserving of some honor: the fuel mileage is laudable, the safety features are all present and accounted for and the emissions are suitably low. What would really merit an award such as "Car of the Year" would be an electric version of the Smart for the same price as the gas powered model.
- NewsAutoblog
Mahindra will display diesel hybrid Appalachian truck at SAE Congress
The Indian company's light-duty Appalachian pickup truck and Scorpio SUV should be available for sale in the U.S. by 2010 with either a diesel 2.2L four cylinder engine or diesel-hybrid options. Mahindra's Dr. Arun Jaura, who used to work for Ford on the Escape Hybrid, will also speak about the truck at the SAE event. For more details, check out Diesel Forecast.
- BusinessAutoblog
Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu
The 2008 Chevy Malibu has snatched up awards and media accolades, and JD Power data shows that customers are paying Chevy dealers handsomely to own one. The average transaction price of a Chevy Malibu is $22,358 -- $5,000 higher than the inherently uncool last-gen 'Bu.
