News Roundup: 750 km Mercedes CLA EV, Electric GTI, Final Edition RAM TRX, More

Mercedes Vision EQXX

Mercedes-Benz revealed the concept car for the next-generation CLA expected to enter production late next year. It's an electric hypermiler that takes tech developed for the Vision EQXX and transforms it into a road car that has an anticipated electric range of more than 750 km on the WLTP cycle. That range figure, and expected efficiency of 12 kWh/100 km would put the CLA at the top of the market for Evs. Benz says the vehicle's 800V charge system allows drivers to add up to 400 km of range in just 15 minutes. The car uses a new Mercedes architecture that will cover four different vehicle families in different body styles and sizes. It uses "almost CO2-free steel" and reduced carbon aluminum along with other materials that help reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain by more than 40 percent.

Last manual Golf GTI



Volkswagen announced the last GTI with a manual transmission, called the Golf GTI 380. The name refers to the car's internal chassis code, and the package comes with black mirrors, Golf R wheels, and standard adaptive suspension. It will also be offered in yellow and grey paint. The GTI 380 starts from $36,895 and will arrive at dealers in the fall. Along with the announcement, Volkswagen confirmed that 2024 is the last year for the stick-shift Golf R, but the Jetta GLI manual should live for at least another year.

New electric GTI



Right around the same time, Volkswagen announced the first all-electric GTI concept car. The ID. GTI gets GTI looks and is built around the ID. 2all concept that VW showed in March. This is more than just a concept, VW said, because the automaker will build the car. This time the I stands for "intelligent" instead of Injected, but the ideas are similar. VW will give the car a locking front differential controlled by the computer. It will also have powertrain settings that are meant to simulate various classic GTI models. VW will add classic-look gauge displays too. The cabin golf ball will live on, as the drive mode selector instead of as the gear selector, and the car will have a new plaid fabric designed for the EV. While it is confirmed for production, just when it might arrive isn't clear.

Hyundai Sonata updated



Hyundai launched a refreshed 2024 Sonata that includes the addition of all-wheel drive for the first time. The Sonata gets more aggressive looks including new LED light bars front and rear. Inside, the car gets a new 12.3-inch digital cluster and same-sized center screen that are combined into one seamless bezel. The AWD system will be offered on 2.5L gas models, and Hyundai will continue to offer a hybrid model as well as the sporty 2.5T N-Line car. Expect the 2024 Hyundai Sonata at dealers this winter.

Hyundai Elantra refreshed



Hyundai also brought out a refreshed Elantra. Like its larger sibling, the 2024 Elantra gets new looks, though its new nose still bears a resemblance to the old one. Elantra adds new side airbags in the rear, a new rear seat belt reminder, and haptic feedback has been added to most of the driver assistance alerts. The cabin gets new soft-touch door panels with faux leather trim added to higher grades. There is a new 4.2-inch cluster display on Essential and Preferred trims, and Hyundai has added one USB-C plug in the front and a pair in the rear. The 2024 Elantra will also offer digital key, letting you open and start the vehicle with your phone. The high-performance Elantra N model lives on and sees enhancements including new 19-inch wheels, illuminated logo bucket seats, and changes to bushings and other hardware that should improve handling. Expect it at dealers this fall.

RAM TRX ending production



Ram has announced the end of the line for the supercharged TRX pickup. The 2024 Ram 1500 TRX 6.2L Supercharged V8 - Final Edition is the long name for the final special edition of the trucks. The 702 hp pickup ends production at the end of this calendar year, but Ram is saying goodbye with special satin titanium wheels and trim, patina stitching, and a special dash display splash logo. The Final Edition will also get most of the TRX option boxes checked including the 19-speaker stereo and all of the driver assists. Pricing starts from $150,720 in Canada and production is limited to 4,000 for the world. Non Final Edition trucks will also be available until the end of the year.