Martin Meiners

Evan is an East Coast based automotive journalist and a Certified Engineering Technologist. He is an avid autocrosser, hack mechanic, and a member of AJAC. If you don't find him driving or writing about cars, you'll probably find him in the garage breaking one.

It's the reveal of one of the most anticipated EVs yet. Say hello to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, the electric van that is a tribute to one of the most iconic vehicles ever built and is ready to power an entirely new generation of drivers.

Volkswagen calls the ID. Buzz "the most emotional member" of the ID. electric vehicle family. It takes some of its key styling features and its boxy layout from the original VW Microbus. The Type 2 Volkswagen that drove a generation from 1959 through 1967 and is as popular today as it was back then.

Like the T2, the ID. Buzz is a mostly flat front and boxy shape. It has a VW emblem loud and proud in the nose, and the driver and front passenger are sitting as close to the front bumper as possible. Also like the original, Volkswagen is planning a passenger model and an ID. Buzz Cargo, with a long-wheelbase passenger model in the cards for North America.

The ID. Buzz runs on Volkswagen's MEB platform, just like the ID. 4 crossover. Despite two wheelbase offerings, and a seven-seat option for the long-wheelbase model, all Buzzes will have the same 4,712 mm overall length. It's enough for 1,121L of cargo space with the seats up and up to 3,900 for the cargo version with no rear chairs.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/24-vw-id-buzz-cargo-van-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-165860 size-full" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/24-vw-id-buzz-cargo-van-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 VW ID. Buzz" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

At the European sales launch later this year, just one engine will be offered. 201 hp and 229 lb-ft will be sent to the rear wheels while an 82 kWh (net) battery pack will be standard. More battery versions and more power output levels will follow a year later, so we're not yet sure what Canadian buyers might find in store.

The ID. Buzz gets loads of LED lights inside and out, including a strip that runs across the nose and a line of LED taillights. These lights will offer a special welcome signature and a projection meant to help guide users to the vehicle.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/24-vw-id-buzz-interior2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165858" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/24-vw-id-buzz-interior2-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 VW ID. Buzz" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22-vw-id-buzz-cargo-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165857" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22-vw-id-buzz-cargo-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 VW ID. Buzz" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Inside, Volkswagen has given the ID. Buzz a colourful cabin with available two-tone seats. Easter eggs including a smiley face and a built-in window scraper will be just some of the highlights, while Volkswagen says that the cabin itself will use no leather and instead have recycled materials like fabric made with a yarn made from reclaimed and recycled plastics.

Other sustainability measures include organically based paint and batteries that use no cobalt.

A full range of driver assists will be offered including a new version of VW's Travel Assist. This time, it will allow features like assisted lane changes at highway speed and can handle country roads lacking centre markings. Other tech highlights include a 10.0-inch digital cockpit display as standard and a 10.0-inch infotainment display that will use an interface similar to the touch interface of the new VW ID. 4.

While the Volkswagen ID. Buzz will go on sale in Europe in 2022, we'll have to wait until 2023 to see the Canadian version and until the next year for it to go on sale. Expect some changes under the skin (like AWD), but for the important components to look like what you see here.

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Volkswagen Reveals 2024 ID. Buzz Electric Van

news 3-7 (5)

<h3><strong>Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year</strong></h3>
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's 2022 Canadian Car and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awards have been handed out. With more than 250 eligible vehicles driven from coast to coast by dozens of Canada's top auto writers, including several of our own reviewers, thousands of ballots were cast. This year's Canadian Car of the Year is the all-new Honda Civic, with the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awarded to the Hyundai Tucson. Voting factors include performance, fuel economy, features, design, safety, and more.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165818" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-2-scaled.jpg" alt="AJAC " width="1920" height="2560" /></a>
<h3><strong>Sony partners with Honda</strong></h3>
Honda and Sony announced that the two would be partnering to develop and sell electric vehicles. The two companies plan to form a joint venture later this year with the goal of selling the first vehicle in 2025. Sony's latest EV concept, the Vision-S 02, came as a surprise earlier this year. Partnering with an automaker to build it seems like a much more logical way to bring it to market. Honda already has a partnership with General Motors that will see Honda EVs built on GM's Ultium electric platform, this is set to be in addition to that.
<h3><strong>2023 Kia Sportage pricing</strong></h3>
Kia's all-new 2023 Sportage arrives at dealers shortly, starting from $28,395 plus destination. The crossover will offer a 2.5-litre four-cylinder as standard, with an eight-speed auto and front-wheel drive. It will also come to market a few months later with hybrid and PHEV models, though prices for those weren't yet announced. Kia offers an extensive suite of standard driver aids including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, lane follow assist, and rear occupant alert. An AWD 2023 Sportage has an MSRP of $30,395 plus destination and the lineup goes to the X-Line Limited with an MSRP of $40,995.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165817" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-3-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Sportage" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>
<h3><strong>Winter testing the F-150 Lightning</strong></h3>
Ford is putting the electric F-150 Lightning through its paces in Alaska, helping to ensure it can handle winter driving. In a development stage called "low-mu" testing, referring to the low levels of friction of the winter road surface, Ford tested the truck's AWD system on snow, ice, and concrete, at temperatures hovering around 34 below. Ford says that the electric motors allow for quicker responses than a traditional gas-engine stability and traction control system and that it is always ready to engage all four wheels, unlike a conventional driveline. Ford did not say how much those extreme temperatures might affect range.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-4-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165816" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-3-7-4-scaled.jpg" alt="2022 Ford F150 Lightning" width="2560" height="1708" /></a>
<h3><strong>Distracted driving</strong></h3>
A recent survey from ICBC, British Columbia's public insurer, has found that 42 per cent of drivers admit they use their phones on at least one out of every 10 trips. At the same time, 93 per cent of drivers surveyed believe it's highly risky to text while driving. 76 people are killed each year in B.C. as the result of distracted driving-related crashes. ICBC says that using electronic devices like your phone while driving increases the possibility of a crash by five times. ICBC and B.C. police forces are planning a month-long campaign to ramp up enforcement of distracted driving and are using community volunteers to help watch for distracted drivers.

Weekly News Roundup: Frozen Lightning, Sportage Pricing, Distracted Driving, More

2023 Honda HR-V Teaser main header

For Honda, 2021 was a good sales year. Despite inventory shortages plaguing the industry and forcing Honda to fly parts in overnight from Japan to keep its factories here running, the Honda brand saw sales up four percent and Acura was up 15. The company is working to keep that momentum going with a host of new product launches in 2022 that include a hybrid CR-V, new Pilot, and even a new Accord sedan, Honda Canada said in a recent business update.

Honda has already teased the new HR-V that's expected to hit the market later this year, helping to start a wave of new product. The high-performance Honda Civic Type R will also come this year, and we've had a few looks at that one. Today, the brand's Canadian bosses announced that when the all-new Honda CR-V arrived this summer, a hybrid version would come with it.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2023-Honda-civic-type-r-camo.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-165742 size-full" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2023-Honda-civic-type-r-camo.jpg" alt="Honda Civic Type R" width="1200" height="800" /></a>
<h3><strong>CR-V Hybrid Coming, Built Here</strong></h3>
Buyers in the U.S. have had a hybrid CR-V for a few years now, offering 6.2 L/100 combined to undercut the 8.1 of the gas CR-V. Honda Canada expects the CR-V hybrid to sell well here, with CEO Jean-Marc Leclerc saying that that model will make up 60 per cent of CR-V units sold. It's also important that the hybrid version will be built in Canada, at Honda's Alliston plant, alongside the gas version of the CR-V currently assembled here. Honda says 72 percent of its sales in Canada are vehicles that are built in Canada, and that retooling for the new model is already underway.

A new 2022 Honda Pilot is set to be revealed later in the year, a new generation of the brand's large crossover. That change means a new Passport is likely soon to follow, along with the Ridgeline pickup.
<h3><strong>Integra Fallout?</strong></h3>
On the car side, the production Acura Integra is expected in the spring, reviving that storied nameplate. Responding to questions about the lukewarm reception to the Integra concept, Leclerc said that response "wasn't great." The CEO isn't concerned though, instead expressing an appreciation for the passion surrounding the name. Leclerc said that "I know people who have driven it that said that, yeah, it's going to live up to the Integra promise and the promise of the brand in terms of performance." He added that "we're confident that the vehicle is going to live up to the name so let's wait and see."

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2023-Integra-proto2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165741" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2023-Integra-proto2-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Acura Integra" width="2560" height="1605" /></a>

Last for the year will be a new Accord. Not much more information was given about this one (or any of the other upcoming models), but that would make nearly all of Honda and Acura's lineup new within an 18-month period, very important in a fast-changing landscape.
<h3><strong>Supply Issues Continue</strong></h3>
Leclerc said that Honda expects the supply chain to stabilize in the third or fourth quarters of 2022, but that it expects the automaker (and industry) will have a rough go matching 2021 sales as the world recovers. He said that supply issues are impacting pricing, too. "Realistically, we're facing price changes in 2022 to try to mitigate that pressure," he said. "We're always trying to have the least amount of impact to consumers, it's becoming increasingly difficult to absorb 100 per cent of all these cost pressures."
<h3><strong>Electric Vehicles Still Down the Road</strong></h3>
Honda and Acura's next-gen battery-electric models for our market aren't expected until 2024. The two will use GM's Ultium battery system and architecture, but Honda Canada insists that they will not be just a rebadged GM product. Electric vehicles give automakers more flexibility to change what sits atop the battery pack and floor pan than traditional gas-engine vehicles.

Honda says it expects to have 100 per cent of its sales be zero-emissions models by 2040, but that it has the flexibility to accelerate that to meet government mandates. While it may not have the EV offerings of some competitors, Honda said that it believes that the company "will be able to able to satisfy our customers as demand increases." On the way to that target, it plans to soon make all core models available with hybrid drivelines. About the Insight and Clarity electrified models that have been discontinued? We were told that they will return, in different forms.

Honda Plans Three New Crossovers, Three New Cars in 2022

Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4MATICMercedes-AMG EQE 43 4MATIC

This week, Canadians are warming to EVs, Subaru has priced the all-new WRX, Mercedes is adding another performance EV, and Porsche is trying to work out its definition of a bargain. Meanwhile, the six finalists for Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year have been announced.

A new survey from KPMG has found that Canadians are growing more enthusiastic about EVs. 71 percent of Canadians polled said they will consider an EV for their next vehicle, and half of respondents said their desire to buy an EV has gone up in the last year. "We found that Canadians are ready to make the switch to electric, emission-free vehicles but they want to see improvements in infrastructure and trust battery technology in our climate before they fully commit," said KPMG's Peter Hatges. 77 percent in BC and 74 percent in Ontario said they would consider an EV next time around. 79 percent said they wouldn't consider an EV unless it offered at least 400 km of range, but 64 percent said they thought EVs aren't reliable in a Canadian winter. Top brands customers say they'd consider include Tesla and Toyota, nearly tied, with Honda a "distant third." Toyota and Honda do not sell an EV in Canada currently, though both offer plug-in hybrids.

Subaru has priced the 2022 WRX. The all-new generation of the rally icon will start from $30,995 before destination. The automaker had managed to hold the WRX just under $30,000 for nearly a decade, but even with this price hike, the car offers impressive value. The new 2.4L turbo-four makes 271 hp, six more than before, and the car has 258 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed stick is the default gearbox, but a Subaru Performance Transmission, with rev-matched shifts, is optional. The price undercuts the 200 hp 2022 Honda Civic Si and significantly undercuts the 276 hp $37,199 Hyundai Elantra N, and neither of those competitors offers all-wheel drive.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/news-2-21-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165530" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/news-2-21-2.jpg" alt="2022 Subaru WRX" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Mercedes-AMG showed off the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE, the performance version of the electric four-door coupe. Canada will see a version with 626 hp and 701 lb-ft of torque (687 and 738 if you pick the AMG Dynamic Plus package). The car will use AMG-specific electric motors that have special cooling elements and other internal changes to allow top performance for longer periods. The 90.6 kWh usable battery capacity allows for an estimated 444-518 km range on the generous WLTP cycle, with 170 kW fast charging allowing 180 km of range in 15 minutes. It will come with AMG air suspension and use suspension components shared with the AMG EQS and AMG GT. Drive modes include lower-power slippery and comfort modes as well as full-power Sport modes. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE should hit dealers by the end of the year.

Porsche is bringing its T badge to the Macan, making it the first time the Touring trim has been added to a four-door. T, in Porsche speak, is meant to be more driver-focused without overwhelming power. "Models that offer an especially authentic driving experience," in the company's own words. To that end, it gets a 2.0L four, not one of the V6 options, making 261 hp and 295 lb-ft. Porsche Active Suspension Management with steel springs is standard, as is the Sport Chrono Package, while the Macan T will have stiffer anti-roll bars and revised suspension tuning. Cosmetic changes include a new logo, grey metallic trim, and those 20-inch wheels.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/news-2-21-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165529" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/news-2-21-3.jpg" alt="2022 Porsche Macan" width="2500" height="1406" /></a>

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has revealed its six finalists for 2022 Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. The three finalists for Canadian Car of the Year are the Honda civic, Genesis G70, and Mazda MX-5. The three finalists for Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year are the Genesis GV70, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota Corolla Cross. The three finalists in each category were chosen from the 13 category winners. The Canadian Car of the Year award, traditionally presented at the Canadian International Auto Show, will be broadcast this year on Rev TV Canada, February 28th and 8 pm EST.

News Roundup: EV Buyer Survey, WRX Pricing, Porsche Macan T, More

BMW iX 3q

With over two decades as a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), Michael Bettencourt has been writing about cars and automotive topics for over 25 years. A journalism graduate of Ryerson University, he has won multiple awards for automotive photography, vehicle testing, plus EV and green topics, and has owned various EVs since 2011.

If you’re in the market for a $90k luxury SUV – gas or electric – BMW has just made your decision a little more difficult. Especially if you’re looking for major power to go with new-age pampering interior technology, BMW’s upcoming iX five-seat all-wheel drive SUV will be a significant new model for the company, and will finally give it an all-electric arrow to put up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y and the Audi e-Tron.

BMW learned key lessons for the iX from its i3 hatchback, a small carbon-fibre-plastic-bodied city runabout that was clearly ahead of its time when it first went on sale in 2013, but won’t be sold in Canada after 2021 model year. In an hour-long “get to know you” sneak peek of the 2022 iX xDrive50 at BMW Canada headquarters, the company provided a detailed briefing on what makes the iX unique in the rapidly expanding market for electric luxury SUVs (or ‘SAVs’ for Sport Activity Vehicle in BMW marketing-speak), plus how and where it will sell the iX in Canada.

The first iX version that’s slated to arrive in March 2022 will be the 516 hp xDrive50, around the same time as the BMW 3-Series-sized i4 sedan BEV (battery electric vehicle, as is the iX). BMW Canada confirmed that the iX and the i4 will be available at all BMW dealers across the country, for both sales and service.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-front-and-rear-10.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161544" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-front-and-rear-10.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2000" height="1125" /></a>

The next iX version to arrive in 2022 will be the slightly less expensive iX xdrive40, to be followed later by a 600+ hp iX M60 model, which will be the first all-electric SUV produced by the company’s famed M performance division.

Pre-orders for both the iX and the i4 started in June in Canada, and roughly half (380) of the 800 orders taken at the time of writing have been of the much pricier iX, which starts at $89,990. The i4 sedan will start at $54,990 for the 335 hp, rear-wheel drive i4 eDrive40, and offers an estimated 475 km of range – which is exactly the distance the iX xDrive50 is expected to achieve on its official EPA and Natural Resource Canada ratings, though those haven’t been published quite yet.

The iX is sized between an X5 and an X6, but rides on a totally separate all-electric architecture, says BMW. Still, there is no storage space up front under the hood, while the single charging port door is in roughly the same right rear quarter panel location as those gas SUVs, which often is the case on vehicles that use the gas vehicle as at least a rough ‘template’ structure. Owners can’t even open the hood to peer underneath or access fluids, with only the BMW badge up front popping up for drivers (or service techs) to replenish the windshield washer fluid.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-int-3.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161548" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-int-3.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2000" height="1125" /></a>

This iX is the first BMW SUV to use pillar-less doors, while lessons from the i3 hatchback and more recently adapted to the BMW 7 Series can be seen in the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic ‘Carbon Cage’ that runs from the windshield to the door structures to the rear window surround, and is visible every time a door is opened. Lightweight aluminum is used extensively throughout, in its spaceframe body, front and rear suspension, wheels and the integrated battery casing along the vehicle’s floor.

These lightweight materials work to counteract the relatively huge 111.5 kWh battery in the iX 50, of which 106.3 kWh is usable, meaning the iX will have one of the largest batteries in the personal vehicle market, at least until high range electric pickups start hitting the road. Charging up this large battery from zero to full takes roughly 11 hours, at 11 kilowatts on a Level 2 (240-watt) charger, though very rarely will owners drain the battery near pure empty.

At a public Level 3 DC quick charger, the iX 50 can be charged from a more realistic 10% to 80% in 31 minutes, says BMW, with a maximum charging rate of 200 kW – not bad, and very similar to Audi’s e-Tron electric SUV, but not Tesla quick. There is a nicely damped charge port cover too: push the top tab for the usual L2 home charging, or push the bottom tab for CCS quick charging, which retracts both covers to allow for the larger CCS combo connector.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-front-badge-flip-7.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161545" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-front-badge-flip-7.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2000" height="1125" /></a> <a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-charge-port-8.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161541" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-charge-port-8.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2144" height="1424" /></a>

This thermally-managed lithium-ion battery will come with a heat pump to lower energy losses in colder weather, plus it will store power to send to an electric motor each axle of the iX, making a combined 516 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque. This is above the 496 hp output of its rival Audi e-Tron’s sportier S model in full boost mode, which coincidentally will start at $109,000 when it arrives by the end of 2021, but lists an official range of only 341 km, compared to the 475 km expected in this upcoming iX 50.

Even the Tesla Model Y Performance is optimistically rated at 488 km, and Tesla recommends owners charge to less than 100% if not needing that full range on a road trip. The Tesla’s 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds is notably less than the iX’s 4.6 seconds, as is the Y Performance’s starting price – but in both areas, the BMW is closest to the class-leading Tesla.

It’s difficult not to comment on the huge grille of any new BMW, but it seems an even more egregious design element on a fully electric vehicle which needs no large (or small) air intakes to operate. On the iX, these matching tombstones are called a ‘sensor panel,’ which contain innovative self-healing properties, as well as warming elements to help melt off ice and snow, while the reverse camera pops out from under the rear BMW badge.

Inside, the iX offers a single curved piece of glass for a sweeping all-LED instrument and infotainment functions, with only three buttons on the centre stack, and minimized air vents. The transmission has no shifter, just a toggle switch below the Start/Stop button that resides on a floating panel between front seat occupants. An available clear rotary iDrive controller also resides here, with modes and functions not accessed by ungainly buttons, but integrated right into the available sustainably grown wood panelling.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-iDrive-panel-4.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161547" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-iDrive-panel-4.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2000" height="1125" /></a>

Rival Mercedes-Benz owners will be able to find the power seat controls easily, as they reside up high in the front door panels, a traditional Mercedes layout. The door opening mechanism is by a power button, with power-close function, though of course there’s a manual door latch hidden near the bottom of the door, just in case. Like other high-end BMWs, a heated centre console, glovebox and outer door panels are also available, helping to warm up the interior quickly, along with the heated steering wheel and seats, front and back of course.

Its optional panoramic roof is the largest piece of glass ever fitted on a BMW vehicle, and instead of a slow-moving cover uses electrochromic shading that can instantly block out or let in the sun’s rays.

There iX’s lack of a third row means the cargo area is relatively large, with extra storage space under its very flat cargo floor, though BMW didn’t specify exact luggage space numbers.

Although this early pre-production model didn’t have its iDrive 8 software totally dialed in yet, I did notice that its audio choices didn’t include AM radio. BMW for some reason has never included AM radio in its EVs, as Tesla and some other luxury EVs don’t as well, even though pretty much every non-luxury brand EV offers AM radio. Hopefully the digital versions of these stations will be available through the FM band at least, but it’s just so much quicker and easier for sports and talk radio fans to access a different band than to go through streaming radio apps.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-door-controls-and-int-12.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161542" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BMW-iX-door-controls-and-int-12.png" alt="2022 BMW iX" width="2000" height="1125" /></a>

Despite this common quirk, based upon this up close look at the all-electric BMW iX xDrive50 SUV, there’s a healthy helping of value in this growing class, even at a lofty $90k base price. If it drives on the road as well as it impresses on paper, this first BMW BEV SAV may well again mark another major automotive turning point for the brand.

FIRST LOOK: All-electric BMW iX SUV boasts 516 hp, nearly 500 km of range

2024-GMC-HUMMER-EV-SUV-011

Having worked in the automotive industry in many roles for over 15 years and currently the Content Strategist for Wheels.ca - Kunal's obsession with cars goes back to his early childhood. Even now his insatiable thirst to be in the know of anything with wheels and a motor continues, and will likely never fade. His idea of bliss is the open road,  good tunes and a manual gearbox. Kunal is a member of AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)

<strong>The first civilian Humvee</strong> went on sale in 1992 and redefined off-road capability for the private consumer.

Essentially a loosely converted military vehicle, they were noisy, rough and a chore to drive – but it was basically the coolest vehicle around, able to draw as big a crowd as any Lamborghini. The subsequent GM-produced H2 and H3 capitalized on the success of the brand, but economic woes and a market trending towards fuel-efficient vehicles sealed their fate for good.

Fast-forward another decade and the brand has been revived under the GMC umbrella, which means that the Hummers are back, and this time they are electric.

Last fall, GMC introduced the world to the <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/from-hate-to-great-2022-gmc-hummer-ev/">Hummer EV pick up</a>, a battery-powered super truck with 11,500 lb-ft of torque and the ability to move like a crab. Sounding a bit more science fiction than reality, GMC has just revealed the SUV version.

Like the pick up, the SUV will be built upon the same unique electric vehicle structure with the double stacked battery pack sitting low in the floor sandwiched in between protective layers of high-strength martensitic steel. The batteries serve as part of the structure reinforcing the vehicle and giving it additional strength and extra resistance against bending and twisting.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158274" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2024-GMC-HUMMER-EV-SUV-002.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV" width="1280" height="853" />

The SUV has a wheelbase nine inches shorter than that of the pick up, giving it roughly the same footprint as a Yukon and is geared towards professionals that live an active lifestyle.

There will be four trims when it launches in early 2023, with pricing starting at $104,898.  All of these feature either dual or triple motors, 800v charging up to 300kW, an adaptive air suspension system, and four-wheel steering. Edition 1 models start at $125,898 and cap off at  $131,898 with the extreme off-road package. A cheaper model will be available in the spring of 2024, but it will not get the 800v charging system or 4-wheel steering.  That one starts at $88,898.

Models equipped with triple motors will make up to 830 hp and a GM claimed 11,500 lb-ft of torque. The dual motor models will produce up to 625 hp and 7400 lb-ft of torque. If you raised an eyebrow at those torque ratings, that’s because it’s actually wheel torque. What you’re used to seeing is torque measured at an engine’s flywheel and it makes GM’s numbers here a bit misleading.

With that out of the way, I really don’t think it’s going to matter when this large SUV can launch from 0-60 mph in a factory claimed 3.5 seconds using GM’s aptly named WTF (Watts to freedom) mode. Aptly named because WTF is probably the first thing that will come out of your passenger’s mouth when you floor it.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158275" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MY24_HummerSUV_RJM_9631.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV" width="1280" height="710" />

Having multiple electric motors in an off-road vehicle might not seem ideal but they provide precise levels of wheel control and torque application, exactly what you need when traversing rough terrain. You also get things like crabwalk, that’s uses 4-wheel steering to drive the truck diagonally in and out of tight spaces, and extract mode that can raise the air suspension up an impressive 6-inches to hopefully “extract” you from whatever sticky situation you might be in.  Not having a traditional drivetrain also means that the Hummer’s turning circle of 35.4 feet is downright impressive for a vehicle of its size.

For those that want even more off road capability, an Extreme off-road package offers 18-inch wheels with 35-inch tires, underbody armour and rock sliders, underbody cameras, front eLocker, virtual rear lockers, and HD ball-spline half-shafts.

The cabin is a mix of high tech screens and blocky surfaces. A 13.4-inch centre screen and 12.3-inch driver display will convey everything you need for any situation. GM says it’s an immersive and customizable experience that uses tech to make you feel a stronger connection with the vehicle.

With seating for five, a large cargo area and additional storage under the load floor the Hummer EV SUV is as practical as you’d need it to be and offers 2,316 litres of cargo volume with the rear seats folded flat.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158276" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2024-GMC-HUMMER-EV-SUV-001.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV" width="1280" height="1032" />

When out in the wild, removable sky panels on the roof will treat you to the open air and the whisper-quiet operation of an electric drivetrain as you precisely crawl over rocks using the one-pedal driving and terrain mode feature that gives you all the control you need with just the accelerator pedal.

A large Ultium battery of unmentioned size will feature 16 modules in base models and 20 in higher trims. It’s powerful enough to be used as a mobile power station and will even charge other EVs.

We can’t wait to see one in person and get behind the wheel in the near future. Stay tuned for more.

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is the truck redefined

17260_Kia_EV6_GT (1)

<strong>The biggest auto news of the last week</strong>, at least sizewise, was the introduction of the GMC Hummer EV SUV. Shorter than the new pickup, but still getting most of the important features like removable roof and all-electric driveline, this should be a more downtown-friendly version of the vehicle. Less power than the truck, just 830 instead of the 1,000 hp of the truck, it still offers a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds. More important for EV buyers it will have 3kW AC power available and can charge another EV at up to 6 kW. It will have off-road trail range estimates through an app. The shorter wheelbase offers a slightly shorter range thanks to fewer cells, but it still offers up to 480 km for the top versions, as well as 800V/ 300kW fast charging where available. More than 2,300 L of cargo will fit with the back seats folded.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-158250 size-full" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2024-GMC-Hummer-EV-SUV.jpg" alt="KIa EV6" width="1280" height="740" />

&nbsp;

<strong>B.C.</strong> has added to its electric vehicle skills training programs. This time the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation is spending $440,000 to expand the EV Maintenance Training program to two new college campuses. It allows Red Seal techs to learn to work on EVs and gain the experience needed to do so. B.C. has a similar program for electricians to teach them to work on EV infrastructure.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158251" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BC-Adds-Funding-for-EV-Maintenance-Training.jpg" alt="KIa EV6" width="1280" height="853" />

&nbsp;

<strong>Hyundai</strong> revealed official teases of the Santa Cruz. It will be the brand's first pickup sold here, though rather than a conventional model it will follow the route of the Honda Ridgeline. With a Tucson-like face and expected Tucson size, this small truck could appeal to many buyers who want the open box of a truck, but don't need the excess capacity or thirsty fuel economy that comes with larger trucks. The Santa Cruz will be fully unveiled April 15th.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158252" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Hyundai-Santa-Cruz-Pickup-Coming-This-Month.jpg" alt="KIa EV6" width="1280" height="640" />

&nbsp;

<strong>Subaru</strong> is doubling down on the original Outback formula with the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness. It takes the lifted, more rugged wagon and lifts it and makes it even more rugged. Nearly an inch taller than the current model, the Wilderness offers longer suspension travel and more ground clearance to give it more off-road capability. It will also have new skid plates and white-letter all-terrain tires. A new roof rack can handle a static load of up to 318 kg, letting you safely use a rooftop tent. The 260 hp 2.4-litre turbo engine is standard and the interior gets special waterproof seat covers and all-weather floor liners.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158253" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Subaru-Lifts-Outback-to-Create-More-Capable-Wilderness-Trim.jpg" alt="KIa EV6" width="1280" height="853" />

&nbsp;

<strong>The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada</strong> revealed its 2021 Car and Utility of the Year Award winners. Top Canadian Car went to the Mazda3, the second year in a row the compact sedan and crossover has won that award. Canadian Utility of the year went to the Genesis GV80, that brand's first crossover.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158256" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-Mazda3-2.5-Turbo_04-1.jpg" alt="Kia EV6" width="1280" height="539" />

&nbsp;

<strong>Kia's</strong> first purpose-built EV made its debut last week. The EV6 electric crossover will be coming to North America early next year, offering an estimated range of up to 510 km on the WLTP cycle. Rear-drive will be standard and AWD optional, with up to 576 hp from the GT model. Lesser EV6's will get 167 or 320 hp, depending on motor choice. 800V charging will be offered, meaning 100 km of range is possible in just 4.5 minutes on the right fast charger. Battery capacities offered will be 58 kWh for the standard range versions and 77.4 kWh for long-range. The EV6 can be used to supply 3.6 kW external power, letting you run some household appliances from your car. Tech features include a new augmented-reality HUD, while the EV6 will have Kia's latest Highway Driving Assist hands-on driver assistance.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158254" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Kia-readies-EV6-electric-crossover.jpg" alt="KIa EV6" width="1280" height="853" />

&nbsp;

News Roundup: Hummer EV SUV, Outback Wilderness, Kia EV6, More

Genesis 2022 One

<strong>Behind a heavy black curtain of the Genesis boutique</strong> located in Square One, Ontario’s largest mall, the Canadian debut of the all-new 2022 Genesis GV70 was low-key in a way the nascent four-year old brand was surely not expecting. With its on-sale introduction to the market now planned for the second half of 2021, the BMW X3-sized SUV in most years would receive a splashier introduction at various auto shows, at least one or likely multiple large test drive events, and numerous posh sneak preview events, complete with finger food and champagne for favoured customers.

But at least in the past year, none of this has been possible. That world has now changed, certainly in the immediate future, and perhaps for good. For this sneak peek at the all-new GV70, it was one media member at a time, with information gleaned by three company executives. And no driving, at least for now.

Which is unfortunate, because the GV70 promises an enthusiast-friendly if traditional drivetrain formula: take the already powerful gas engine from your larger and pricier model, in this case the highly regarded Genesis GV80 SUV, and stuff it into a smaller and lighter body for instant driving fun. Therefore, the powerful 300 hp 2.5-litre turbocharged base four-cylinder from the larger mid-size G80 arrives largely untouched, as does its 311 lb-ft of torque – both of these figures dwarf those of base X3 and Audi Q5 models, while early fuel efficiency figures from Genesis suggest the GV70 will swill roughly equal amounts of premium fuel as its German counterparts, or the Lexus NX 300 as well.

The GV70 will be available in four trims, and each of the four 2.5T trims of the GV70 – Select, Advanced, Advanced Plus and the Prestige – will come with 300 hp at 311 lb-ft of torque.

For those that want max muscle, the GV70 also offers the much brawnier 3.5-litre V6, which pumps out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, the latter at a notably lower 1,300 r.p.m. No acceleration estimates were provided, but given that the GV70 is roughly 190 kg (419 lb) lighter than the larger but already fleet GV80, Genesis is clearly laying down generous amounts of rubber and ‘sport’ to its second sport-utility vehicle.

Unlike some rivals that offer hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions of its luxury SUVs, Genesis Canada executives confirmed it will be foregoing both those routes with the GV70, leaving its efficiency standard-bearer to be an upcoming all-electric BEV SUV based on the E-GMP platform.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158029" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Genesis-2022-Two-scaled.jpg" alt="First Look 2022 Genesis GV70" width="2560" height="1920" />

Inside, the GV70 offers a few industry firsts: one, there’s a fingerprint reader behind the steering wheel that can be matched to yours, and used in an emergency to start and drive the car. Granted, if your fob is totally out of battery power or just in someone else’s pocket accidentally, gaining access to be able to use that button may be an issue.

Another is a radar-based system that actively monitors the rear seat for activity, using sensors inside that can not only detect movements, but can detect heartbeats and breathing, to alert the driver to sleeping children and/or pets.

As more Genesis models emerge, it’s seeming clear now that the ‘GV’ signifies an SUV model, whereas the number indicates where the model lands size and price-wise in the current Genesis lineup. The G70 compact sedan also receives a refresh for 2022, with both models sharing a new twin LED headlight and taillight designs first seen on the larger GV80 that will become a signature visual feature for all Genesis models going forward, said Richard Trevisan, brand director at Genesis Motors Canada.

“We’re a very customer focused brand – we come to you,” he said, describing how the fledgling brand has helped differentiate itself, by delivering vehicles to customers for test drives, as well as doing the same for any scheduled maintenance, dropping off a Genesis loaner at the same time.

The Genesis Canada website notes that the brand’s “At-Home services are limited to a 50 km radius from the nearest agency,” but the brand has been creating and expanding its physical footprint as well, now up to 30 across the country, its latest opening in Newfoundland in January this year.

With the G70 sedan and GV70 sitting next to each other, the family resemblance was clear, the similar twin LED lighting motifs front and rear the most noticeable visual change in the G70 four-door. Genesis has also opted to replace its rear badge with a spelled out ‘Genesis’ name, to help increase its brand recognition as well.

Powertrain-wise, the G70 no longer offers rear-wheel drive nor a manual transmission, making all Genesis models all-wheel drive as of 2022 model year, said the Genesis folks. The G70 Sport will offer a throatier variable exhaust system to its 3.3 V6 models, which will top out at 368 hp versus 365 without it. The ’22 G70 is slated to arrive in May this year.

Hyundai’s upscale Genesis brand has benefitted from its early focus of launching its brand largely online, gaining a foothold on building relationships online with customers that proved invaluable for the last year spent a in pandemic-related upheaval. The G70 has grown its market share versus the powerhouse Mercedes-Benz C-Class and other market rivals even in a down year, and Trevisan expects the GV70 to take an even larger bite out of its faster-growing growing market segment.

First Look: 2022 Genesis GV70 SUV and refreshed G70 sedan

2021-CX-5_06-1 (1)

Chris D’Alessandro is a writer living in downtown Toronto. Growing up in a family of used car dealers and mechanics, he’s been immersed in car culture his entire life. A frequent contributor to VICE Canada, Chris’ screenwriting work has also won a Canadian Comedy Award. So, “hipster, wise-ass, gearhead” pretty much covers it. Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisdaless and Instagram @chrdalessandro

<strong>Crossover SUVs are</strong>, in my humble opinion, a Frankenstein-like creation of multiple vehicle characteristics mashed together in an effort to create a “no compromise” vehicle segment. The problem with compromising nothing generally means you can’t excel at anything, and that’s the problem with the majority of compact SUVs, more commonly known as “crossovers”.

Still, the most common question I get from friends, family and even strangers is, “Which crossover SUV should I buy?” To which I always reply, “The Volkswagen Golf GTI”.

That is my sincere and honest recommendation. If you really want a crossover, you should buy a GTI. If you think your needs may exceed what a GTI offers, we’ve put together <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/top-ten/five-alternatives-to-the-crossover-suv/">a guide to reasonable alternatives to the crossover SUV</a> — all of which will perform the task you actually want a crossover for, better.

Here’s the thing. I know that none of what you’ve just read will dissuade you from buying a crossover. You’ve made up your mind that a crossover is the perfect solution for your needs and you’re going to buy one no matter what. You just want to know which of the baker’s dozen of nearly indistinguishable crossovers is the one to get.

The competition in the crossover SUV segment is fierce, with most similarly equipped, styled and are roughly as capable as one another. However, there are a few standouts within the segment.
<h2><strong>Mazda CX-5</strong></h2>
<strong><em>From $28,500</em></strong>

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-157668" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Mazda-CX-5.jpg" alt="crossover SUV" width="1280" height="853" />

The Mazda CX-5 wins just about every comparison test in its segment and often finds itself at the top of every buyer’s guide, and for several good reasons. First and foremost is the abundance of safety features and equipment which come as standard — offering a huge financial edge over the competition. Steering is surprisingly sharp and cornering is uncharacteristically stable thanks to Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus technology. And like most modern Mazdas, the CX-5 is a really nice place to live. The interior quality simply punches way above its weight.
<h2><strong>Toyota RAV4 Prime</strong></h2>
<strong><em>From $44,990</em></strong>

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-157669" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-Toyota-RAV4-Prime.jpg" alt="crossover SUV" width="1280" height="772" />

Next to pick-up trucks, the Toyota RAV4 is the best selling vehicle in North America. Why? Well, partly due to Toyota’s two decade-long crusade to become <em>the</em> go-to brand for family transportation. Mercifully, the brand is modifying that image with a new commitment to “no more boring vehicles.” Like the CX-5, the RAV4 offers an up-scale interior and superior driving dynamics compared to its competition.

With 302 horsepower on tap, the RAV4 Prime is a legitimate sleeper. It’s the second fastest accelerating car with a Toyota badge next to the GR Supra 3.0. Definitely not boring.
<h2><strong>Acura RDX</strong></h2>
<strong><em>From $44,505</em></strong>

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-157670" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019-Acura-RDX.jpg" alt="crossover SUV" width="1280" height="675" />

The RDX shares a platform with the Honda CR-V, the fifth best-selling vehicle in North America following the RAV4. While you certainly wouldn’t be hard done by with a CR-V (it’s comparable to the RAV4 in almost every way), if you’re shopping within the luxury bracket, the RDX offers an upscale experience to the CR-V, with a minimum price bump.

You’ll find an abundance of standard features on the RDX as well as a very sporty interior with plenty of colourful options. But best of all is the 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission — the same setup as the base TLX sports sedan. Coupled with a capable AWD system, the RDX offers a level of athleticism usually not seen within its segment.

&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Porsche Macan</strong></h2>
<strong><em>From $57,800</em></strong>

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-157671" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/macan_gts_2019_porsche_ag-1.jpg" alt="crossover SUV" width="1280" height="720" />

The story of Porsche is really one of laughing in the face of physics. Maybe cracking the code of making a rear-engine car go around corners has given them the confidence to turn tall, heavy SUVs into legitimate sports cars. Whatever the reason, the Macan continues the story of Porsche injecting sincere performance into a segment where it didn’t seem possible.

The base model Macan with its turbocharged, four-cylinder engine is great on its own. But start going up the Macan food chain to the GTS and Turbo models, and you’ll be cracking five and even four seconds to 100km/h respectively. That’s quick enough to leave most mid-range sports cars from a decade ago, and even some today, in the dust.

Also the Macan is the best looking crossover SUV on the market.
<h2><strong>Ford Mustang Mach E</strong></h2>
<strong><em>From $50,495</em></strong>

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-157672" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1608221793793-1.jpg" alt="crossover SUV" width="1280" height="720" />

There are only two good reasons to <em>not</em> <em>buy</em> a Mustang Mach E.

The first is that you’ll have to endure the endless grumbling of boomers who will take every opportunity to tell you that what you’re driving “isn’t a real Mustang.”

Never mind that the Mustang has been many, many things over the course of its nearly 60-year-long history and has been nothing if not adaptable to the times in which it lives.

Never mind that brands such as Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Porsche have done nothing to injure the equity of their respective nameplates by producing SUVs and that doing so has certainly not signalled the end of their sports car production. If anything, SUVs have saved their sports cars.

Don’t bother trying to explain. Just put on a Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen record and all that grumbling quickly disappears.

The second reason to not buy a Mach E is that the name, in my opinion, is horrible. “Mach E” sounds to my ears like “mockery”.

Quibbles aside, what you do get with the Mustang Mach E is a fantastic badge, handsome styling which conjures up images of “real Mustangs”, respectable acceleration, hitting 100km/h in under five seconds and a $0 bill at the gas pumps. And it’s a conversation starter. It firmly fits into the “not boring” category of crossover SUVs.

&nbsp;

Five Crossover SUVs We Recommend 

Lincoln_Lineup

<strong>Looking to continue the company’s growth</strong> in the luxury midsized SUV market in North America, Lincoln announced the introduction of its 2021 Nautilus.

Arriving early next year, the new 2021 Nautilus features a sleeker and more polished design with a more refined front end and three new exterior colours: Asher Gray, Green Gem and Lincoln Flight Blue.

The interior will also sport more modern colour themes. Two new standard interior colours have been added in addition to two Lincoln Black Label themes – Chalet and Flight – giving owners more variety to choose from. The first new colour is called Sandstone, showcasing neutral tones with higher colour contrasts. Black Ebony features what the company calls Roasts accents on the seats, doors and console armrests. The Black Label Chalet theme is made to evoke, according to Lincoln, the warm comfort of an après-ski lodge.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21_LCN_NAU_RES_51944.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155905" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21_LCN_NAU_RES_51944.jpg" alt="2021 Lincoln Nautilus" width="1280" height="958" /></a>

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21_Lincoln_Nautilus_Flight_Blue_26-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155907" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21_Lincoln_Nautilus_Flight_Blue_26-scaled.jpg" alt="2021 Lincoln Nautilus" width="2560" height="1389" /></a>

Added interior features include at 13.2-inch horizontal centre stack screen and voice assistance for Internet searches, as well as over-the-air updates.

An available 2.7-litre twin turbocharged V6 engine will put out some 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder will continue to remain standard with its 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines will come standard with Auto Start-Stop and an 8-speed transmission.

Also standard with the new 2021 Nautilus will be the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360, and an available Lincoln C-Pilot 360 Plus the features a 360-degree camera with a front sensing system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Distance Alert/Distance Indication and an Enhanced Active Park Assist.

New 2021 Lincoln Nautilus Looks to Capture More of the Luxury Midsized SUV Market

Kenzie 2021 Ford F-150 LF 34 SUPP

<strong>As soon as your friends find out</strong> that you’re an automotive journalist, they’ll immediately start asking questions about cars.

Unfortunately, the questions are seldom very interesting. They never want to know which of the three modern muscle cars offer the most performance per dollar or which sports cars are still available with a manual transmission.

The question you’ll get asked most often by your aging friends who are buying homes, getting married and having children is, “Which Crossover SUV should I buy?”

The answer, for the record, is probably the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/first-drive-2021-toyota-rav4-prime/"><strong>Toyota RAV4</strong></a>… or the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/buying-used-2017-2020-honda-cr-v/"><strong>Honda CRV</strong></a>. But if you went ahead and bought a Ford Escape or a Mazda MX-5 or a Chevrolet Blazer, you’re probably not going to be disappointed or feel like you made the wrong decision.

That’s because all crossover SUVs are basically the same. They all look the same. They’re all similarly equipped, offer similar performance and efficiency and they’re all equally excruciatingly boring to drive. They also typically get worse fuel mileage than the cars on which they are often based and rarely offer much in the way of actual off-road / rough weather performance.

Despite all this, crossover SUVs absolutely dominate new car sales. By 2018, they had consumed up to 40 per cent of the market — and there are no signs of this trend slowing down.

Ask someone who has purchased a crossover and they’ll tell it was because it “seemed like the smart thing to do.” And on the surface, that seems a sound argument. In a crossover, you get a vehicle that’s reasonably efficient, affordable and (to the uninitiated) seemingly capable of anything Canada’s extreme seasons will toss at it.

However, there are plenty of alternatives to joining the pack and contributing to the ever-increasing ubiquity of North American traffic jams — options which are practical, affordable, more capable and far more interesting and exciting than your average crossover.
<h3><strong><u>The Hot Hatch</u></strong></h3>
Hot hatches are spec'd up versions of normal, compact hatchback cars. The recipe is usually to add a turbocharger, sporty seats, sticky tires and a manual transmission to what would otherwise be your grandma’s run-about. The result is pure fun.

Before sporty SUVs came along to steal their thunder, the venerable “hot hatch” was the go-to segment for those seeking a car that was sporty, inexpensive and practical. In fact the arrival of the hot hatch in the 80s was a blow to the sports car segment. No longer did you have to suffer the impracticalities of a two-seat roadster in order to enjoy the job of driving.

The segment may be heavily diminished from its former glory, but it remains a sanctuary for manual transmissions—so if you enjoy changing your own gears, look no further than the VW Golf GTI, Hyundai Veloster N or the simply superb Honda Civic Type R. You’ll find plenty of storage space and even more fun with this segment.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Hot-Hatches-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155836" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Hot-Hatches-scaled.jpg" alt="Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV" width="2560" height="624" /></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong><u>The Mid-Size Pick-Up </u></strong></h3>
I get it. You think a half-ton pick-up like the Ram 1500 or Ford F150 is simply too much vehicle to have in your life.

A mid-size pick-up, however, like the Ford Ranger or Chevrolet Colorado may end up being just right. Besides the obvious extra storage space, a 4X4 pick-up will offer superior bad weather and off-road capabilities thanks to proper tires, clever powertrains and the correct chassis. All of these things mean you can put torque to the ground. Which means you won’t get stuck when the going gets rough.

Remember, mid-size pick-ups are on proper truck frames. Crossover SUVs are basically just cars on stilts and that's a problem if you ever get caught in a snowstorm.

Also, let’s be real. You’ll look way cooler in a pick-up truck than you will a crossover SUV. It’s the difference between wearing Red Wing boots versus Crocs.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mid-Sized-Truck-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155838" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mid-Sized-Truck-scaled.jpg" alt="Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV" width="2560" height="818" /></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong><u>The Off-Road SUV </u></strong></h3>
If the idea of a pick-up truck is simply too <em>gravy-on-a-biscuit </em>for you, then a proper off-road SUV might be your thing. Everything you can say about a pick-up as a better alternative to a crossover, you can say about a proper off-roader.

The familiar Jeep Wrangler, Toyota FJ Cruiser and the upcoming Ford Bronco are all options within this segment.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Off-Road-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155839" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Off-Road-scaled.jpg" alt="Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV" width="2560" height="594" /></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong><u>The Sedan </u></strong></h3>
Yes, they still exist. And for the most part, crossover SUVs are generally based on sedan platforms. Which means what you get in a crossover versus a sedan is less stability and worse fuel efficiency for not much more storage space, if any.

Consider the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord before going for their crossover equivalents—same goes with the new Acura TLX and Lexus IS for the upscale versions. You’ll have much more fun, save some gas money and look better doing it.

If you want some real, proper rear-wheel-drive excitement in your life, consider the rough-and-tumble Dodge Charger or the refined BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Sedan-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155840" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Sedan-scaled.jpg" alt="Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV" width="2560" height="965" /></a>
<h3><strong><u>The Wagon </u></strong></h3>
I’m going to let all of you “non-car enthusiast” types in on a little secret. Ready?

Wagons are cool. Seriously. Pull up to a ‘Cars and Coffee’ event in a wagon, <em>any wagon</em>, and you’ll get more attention than your average Corvette or Porsche. No longer is the wagon the Grizwald-mobile, suitable only for over-the-hill middle managers and high school chemistry teachers. Buying a wagon nowadays makes you look like a confident, cardigan-wearing European sophisticate… but one who still isn’t afraid to get a little dirt under their nails. It’s the automotive equivalent of an upscale coffee shop in a rough neighbourhood.

Wagons are of course infamous for their easy-to-access rear hatches, many of which offer as much storage space as a crossover SUV and in some cases, superior rear legroom for your 2.5 kids. And because wagons are on normal suspension, as opposed to their lifted, crossover cousins, in many cases they offer superior performance, stability and ride-comfort to crossover SUVs.

The Volvo V60, Audi A4 Allroad or Mercedes C-Class Wagon will turn the heads of even the most particular car enthusiasts. And you can’t say that about any crossover

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Wagon-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155841" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Wagon-scaled.jpg" alt="Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV" width="2560" height="760" /></a>

Five Alternatives to The Crossover SUV

2020 Mercedes Benz G 63 SUV Front Side

Norris McDonald is the Editor of Toronto Star Wheels. His columns, blogs and feature stories, particularly about motorsport, are industry-leading. He has received awards and citations for his newspaper work and frequently appears on radio and television. In 2014, he became the first journalist to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

<strong>Over the course of a year</strong>, I have a lot of different cars and trucks parked in my driveway. My neighbours have come to expect this and are usually not surprised when my personal truck disappears and some exotic vehicle of one kind or another is parked in its place. But rarely do they stop and talk about the new one. I live in a neighbourhood where a car is a car – something to get you from A to B.

But two weeks ago, I had a white-with-black-trim 2020 Mercedes-Benz G 63 SUV out on loan and that one sure got people talking. Folks out walking their dog stopped to chat. My next-door neighbour asked for a ride. A young guy canvassing for the Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital made his pitch and then, as he went down the walk, turned and called, “Nice car!” Another dog walker, who was also pushing a baby carriage, wanted to know if I’d traded in my truck for it and I had to say no, unfortunately.

I say “unfortunately,” because I have a soft spot for Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Three years ago, to celebrate Canada’s Sesquicentennial, the company took me and a half dozen other automotive journalists on the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/the-great-luxurious-canadian-road-trip/"><strong>Canadian road trip of a lifetime</strong></a>. Driving all of the cabriolets Mercedes-Benz had on sale in Canada at the time, we went from the east coast of Newfoundland to the west coast of Vancouver Island in a week. Okay, there were a couple of legs where we needed the help of Air Canada (we flew from Toronto to Winnipeg, for instance) but when everything was said and done, we’d visited the 10 provincial capitals and the nation’s capital and I can remember it all as if it was yesterday.

The other reason, of course, is that Lewis Hamilton has dominated Formula One racing for years and he drives for Mercedes. As we all know, F1 is the world’s most expensive sport and that might help explain why Mercedes-Benz cars tend to be a little more high-priced – some might say a lot more – than your average family sedan or SUV.  This G 63, for instance, goes for $195,900 – out of reach of most people. But cars more than half that price don’t attract the attention this one did, which tells you something about people and cars.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020-Mercedes-Benz-G-63-SUV-Exterior-Side.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155811" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020-Mercedes-Benz-G-63-SUV-Exterior-Side.jpg" alt="Review 2020 Mercedes Benz G 63" width="1280" height="939" /></a>

The design is beautiful. The SUV looks like a military vehicle that came to life in WWII. It’s very retro (but very modern at the same time). There are buttons in the door handles (which take a little getting used-to) and a stainless-steel cover for the spare tire and wheel mounted at the back (which means you have to remember to leave room if you back in somewhere and want to open the rear door). You have to slam the doors to shut them properly. This model comes equipped with 21-inch wheels. The red brake calipers stick out a mile and, frankly, are quite sexy. The side running boards, in black, add to its exotic appeal – but more about those later. This design is simple, but exotic. In short, its very attractive.

The 4.0-litre, twin turbo V8 engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, which produces 577 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.  It goes from a dead stop to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. There is a large parking lot near Eglinton Ave. East and Spectrum Way in Mississauga that is empty these days because of Covid, so I took the G 63 over there for a test. If you want to know what it feels like to be shot out of a cannon, just come to a stop, take a deep breath and hit the throttle. BOOM! The brakes work well too. The rumble of the V8 – side pipes, by the way – is reminiscent of the Hollywood mufflers that were all the rage when I went to high school in the Fifties.

As this is where we spend all of our time when we’re out in the car, it’s the most important part of any review. First, you’re surrounded by leather. Seats, dash, steering wheel – heated, by the way – you name it and it’s covered by leather. All of the now-standard safety features and ride modes and the off-road settings (I couldn’t test its ability here – I live in a city – but I did drive over a curb in that parking lot . . .) are right there for you as are the infotainment and speaker systems (590-watt Burmester surround sound, FYI). There are two 12-inch screens, one with the gauges and the other for infotainment functions. And the sound the door locks make when they snap shut as you pull away is absolutely unforgettable. The “trunk” space is more than adequate – we did the weekly shopping and my wife was more than satisfied with the amount of cargo space. And then you have lane-keep assist (it really jerks you back into line if you start to wander), blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist and so on. And there’s a skylight.

Now, let’s take this car out for a drive. It’s easy to slide out of but a bit of a trick to actually get into. I’m not tall enough to be able to slide onto the driver’s seat so I had to use the running board. It’s awkward, because when I stand on it, I then have to squeeze down into the driver’s seat. As this car starts at about $200,000, I suggest that an adjustable running board could be in order.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Interior-front-Mercedes-Benz-G-Class-G63-AMG-2019.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155812" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Interior-front-Mercedes-Benz-G-Class-G63-AMG-2019.jpg" alt="Review 2020 Mercedes Benz G 63" width="1500" height="938" /></a>

Once inside, though, the seats are oh, so comfortable. You could drive to Nova Scotia (if you could – Covid, you know) and arrive without an ache brought on by 1,800 km behind the wheel. The headrest is the best I’ve ever experienced.

Speaking of the seats, once you get yours exactly the way you want it, you can lock in the settings and it “remembers” you the next time you climb in. Once in motion, and you go whipping around a corner, the active multi-contour seats ensure outstanding lateral support. Translation: the seat envelops you, much like your mother would put her arm around you and hold you in place when your dad was showing off when you were a kid.

Since we’re talking about relatives, I took my wife out for a ride or two and she was somewhat critical about a few things. She said: “I don’t like that you have to slam the door (unless you have to get rid of some aggression . . .); I don’t like that you have to put your thumb in there to open the door (there’s a button in the door handle). I get that’s it is very old school. As someone who gets her nails done, though, that’s not good.

“I don’t like the sun visor. I’m a tall girl and I like my seat all the way back and when I turn the visor to block the sun coming in the passenger window, it doesn’t go far enough back to shade me from the sun. I don’t like the consol. It looks like a touch screen but it’s not. I don’t like all the snappy buttons down here. I know it’s old school but we’ve moved on from this.

“I don’t like that there’s not more places to put my beverage, meaning I don’t find it passenger-friendly. For instance, the gauge showing the temperature outside is all the way over there on the far left of the console in front of the driver; I can’t see it.”

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020-Mercedes-Benz-G-63-SUV-Rear-Seats.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155813" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020-Mercedes-Benz-G-63-SUV-Rear-Seats.jpg" alt="Review 2020 Mercedes Benz G 63" width="1280" height="960" /></a>

Gee, I’m glad I didn’t ask her how she <em>really</em> felt.

She wasn’t completely negative. “I like that I can control my heat and air-conditioning and that you can control yours. That’s a plus. I really, really like the ambient lighting system and the colour green is my favourite.”

Her observations are valid, although I tend to see more good than bad in this G wagon.

I do have two nitpicks, however: There is NO back seat room. It looks like a big car till you get into it. My wife and I are both tall and we both like our seats all the way back. As she said: “If my mother is with us, she would sit in the front and I would have to sit in the back and I just couldn’t.”

And it inhales gasoline: combined fuel mileage (average) is between 16 and 17 L/100 km. The start/stop function is of some help, however.

Other than that, and if I happened to have $200,000, the good far outweighs the bad and this vehicle would be in my driveway permanently.

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Review: 2020 Mercedes Benz G 63 SUV

ID4 front 3q blue

<strong>Volkswagen provided the first official look</strong> at the much-anticipated production version of its ID.4 compact crossover which will lead the way in the German brand’s line of all-electric vehicles, with the first ones slated to arrive in Canada by late spring or early summer next year, VW Canada confirmed.

VW revealed that the production ID.4 will have a 0.28 coefficient of drag (Cd), and will be roughly the size of a Tiguan. Unlike the converted e-Golf, final shipments of which have just arrived in Canada, the ID.4 will offer a heat pump for the battery as standard equipment, along with a heated steering wheel, and pre-heating in the ID.4, which was designed and engineered as an electric vehicle.

This super-slippery Cd figure will help VW achieve its ambitious range targets, estimated by Canadian officials at over 400 km, but listed as “over 500 km” using the WLTP standard, which is usually closer to more realistic North American figures, and sometimes even underneath final EPA or Natural Resources Canada figures. American and European versions will launch with rear-wheel drive as standard, but a second motor all-wheel drive system will be released later, and offered on Canadian models right from launch.

There will be a slight reduction in overall range for ID.4 AWD models, said Patrick Danielson, VW Canada’s product planning manager. But on the positive side, the ID.4 will be able to tow, a rarity on current EVs, and will offer a 2,700-pound tow rating.

“This isn’t just an efficiency oriented car – this is an electric SUV with the soul of a GTI,” said Danielson, noting its 302 hp and its 5.8 second 0-100 km acceleration time of the all-wheel drive model.

The ID.4 will offer an 82 kWh battery, with 77 kWh of that usable, which is massive for a non-luxury EV, with charging speeds up to 125 kW when quick charging. It will be able to charge from 5-80 per cent full in 38 minutes at a sufficiently high-speed charger, available at Electrify Canada or a growing number of other EV high-speed charging public networks.

Images released recently of its interior reveal a very modern, digital motif, with no transmission tunnel or shifter under its central screen. One standout feature is dubbed the ID. Light: it’s a thin strip of LED light that runs across the base of the windshield, and can be used to know when the ID.4 is fully charged, its charging status when plugged in, and will flash red in response to the frontal warning collision system.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ID4-rear-3q.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154990" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ID4-rear-3q.jpg" alt="ID.4 compact crossover" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

The ID.4’s cargo area behind the rear seats offers 858 litres of cargo space, or 1,818 L with the rear seats folded, which will trump most compact SUVs. Volkswagen has confirmed that its seat coverings will be “animal-free,” though leatherette will be offered, as well as a panoramic roof, auto-open tailgate, and LED-lit door handles.

The ID.4 is the second vehicle to be built off this MEB platform, following the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/vw-ev-battery-boasts-550-km-range/"><strong>ID.3</strong></a> hatchback which went on sale in Europe earlier this month. Its battery is integrated into the structure under the floor of all MEB models, freeing up passenger and cargo space, while maximizing range possibilities. Early North American models will be built at VW’s Zwickau plant in Germany, before production is expanded to its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant near the end of 2022 for vehicles to be sold on this continent.

The ID.4 is part of company’s far-reaching EV product offensive that will see the VW Group produce a planned 1.5 million EVs by 2025, spend 33 billion Euros on electric vehicle development by 2024, and offer 75 all-electric vehicles across the world by 2029, said Pierre Boutin, Volkswagen of Canada president.

“You’ve heard our tagline ‘electric for the millions, not just the millionaires,” said Boutin in a morning media presentation of the ID.4. “Compact SUVs make up the biggest segment in the Canadian market, so we’re very happy to start our electric future here.”

The VW ID.4 will come with a period of free high-speed charging on the Electrify Canada network, VW Canada officials confirmed, likely for two years, but terms have not quite been finalized yet, they said.

The ID.4 will launch as a 2021 model next year in Canada, with pricing to be announced in early 2021. Boutin said allocation will start with the three largest provinces for EVs, but supply likely won’t be enough for demand until the U.S. plant production for North America comes on board in about two years from now. Orders will be through VW dealers, as there won’t be a direct OEM to customer digital service in Canada.

“We expect electric vehicles between now and 2025 to account for a very important part of our sales in Canada.”

VW’s First Real Mainstream EV SUV Officially Unveiled

23 cadillac escalade v main

For over half a decade, Dan Heyman has written professionally about cars and car culture, specializing in luxury/performance vehicles, 4 x 4s and pickup trucks, with a micro city car or two thrown in for good measure. If he's not striking a spacebar, he's likely out photographing cars on the twists and turns of the Coast Mountain roads outside his hometown of Vancouver, BC, or cutting a line on a racetrack.

The arrival of a full-bore “V” version of the Escalade probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise; after all, the Escalade has been one of the brand’s bestsellers for quite some time now so you could see how a performance version will fit. Perhaps more surprising was just how long it took to arrive; Jeep has been churning out hi-po SRT versions of their Grand Cherokee for years, as have the Germans of their offerings.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-interior.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168177" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-interior.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1500" /></a>

Now, the ‘Lade is an interesting study in that it kind of walks the line across two segments with a short- and long wheelbase version. Both Mercedes and BMW have a three-row model line above their two-row offerings, while Cadillac makes all of the Escalades three-row vehicles, with one – the ESV – getting a longer wheelbase and stretching longer overall. So, in a way, it has to fight a battle on two fronts. Which could be why a performance version hasn’t come to fruition until now, though Cadillac will tell you that their market research shows that only now is the time.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-engine.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168178" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-engine.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1052" /></a>

So it goes that for 2023, we’re getting both an Escalade and Escalade ESV with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, built in the same place they build Corvettes: Bowling Green, KY. That’s just the engine, though; the vehicle itself will continue to be built at the Arlington Assembly in Texas. In order to keep everything in check, engine internals including the pistons, rods, and cylinders have been beefed up.

Power is rated at 682 hp and 653 pound-feet of torque, making the Escalade V the most powerful full-size SUV you can get, anywhere. Heck, it even makes more power than the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Nevertheless, Cadillac claims those figures (plus a specially-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD) are enough to complete the 0-96 km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.74 seconds at 177 km/h. Those aren’t simply performance SUV numbers; those are stretching into proper sports car territory.

Not too far in, however; asked about the possibility of a “Blackwing” version of the Escalade to bring it in-line with the recently released CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing sedans, GM was quick to point out that while “V” does mean “performance” above all else, “Blackwing” is yet another cut above that, aimed more at folks who may want to track their Caddys.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-brembo.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168179" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-brembo.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1304" /></a>

That’s not really the purview of an SUV weighing in at over two tonnes, no matter how much power you give it. Although you may be able to do some damage at the drag strip, provided you upgrade to some stickier rubber as Cadillac has stuck with three-season Bridgestone rubber for the Escalade V as opposed to switching to summer performance tires. This is, after all, still a luxury SUV meant to work as an everyday vehicle, first and foremost.

The rubber and wheels are complimented by the standard fitment of an electronic limited-slip differential as well as self-adjusting magnetic dampers. Those can also be individually set and accessed via the steering wheel-mounted V-button. In addition to the suspension, the exhaust note, powertrain response, steering, brake pedal feel, and AWD system can all be set and accessed via that same button. If you just want to lope comfortably around town in your luxury cruiser, selecting “Tour” – that joins Sport and Snow/Ice as the other baked-in drive modes – softens everything, though Cadillac is saying that as speeds increase, the V will feel more “committed” than other Escalades, even in Tour mode.

Style-wise, the V benefits from unique 22” wheels shrouding red Brembo brake calipers with six pistons up front, a blacked-out grille, quad tailpipes, V-Series badging inside and out, and a lowered suspension for a purposeful look. Inside, optional “zebra wood” inserts do well to compliment the semi-aniline leather and a 36-speaker AKG audio system comes as standard.

Of course, you can’t look at this Escalade’s dash – or that of any other Escalade, for that matter – and not notice the 38” curved OLED display that dominates the proceedings, just as it does on the Platinum-spec model on which the V is based. Indeed, it’s rivalled only by Mercedes-EQ’s Hyperscreen when it comes to overall size and in the V, it gets special gauge cluster graphics to further drive the point home that you’re in a special ‘Lade. GM’s proprietary Super Cruise autonomous tech will also be available, but will count as one of the few options you can spec for the V, which comes pretty much loaded at base.

It also comes in pretty short supply; the Escalade V is going to be a very limited run choice when it goes on sale later this year. So if you’re thinking that this is the way you’ll want to go, it’s our suggestion that you make it down to your local Cadillac dealership <em>toute suite</em>.

2023 Cadillac Escalade V debuts with nearly 700 hp

23 range rover sport main

With the release of a new Range Rover comes the inevitable: the arrival of the “Sport” version – a move from Range Rover that’s as old as time immortal…well, maybe not but if we are talking about size alone, the Sport is actually closer in size to the original Range Rover than the current Range Rover.

For the uninitiated: the idea behind the Sport model of one of the world’s most well-known SUVs – both in the luxury sphere and otherwise – is to provide all the luxury of its bigger sibling, but in a tauter package both in terms of styling and engineering.

The Sport sits lower than does larger truck, is shorter thanks to smaller front overhangs and is designed to give off the impression that while the full-size Range Rover is meant to haul people, the Sport is meant to haul you-know-what and indeed, the red truck pictured here sure looks ready to do some of that.

It starts with the front fascia, which sports the slimmest headlights ever fitted to a Land Rover vehicle, so much so that they almost looks like something from a concept and destined to the cutting room floor once a final production design got approved. It looks cool but according to Range Rover, it’s actually the rear styling that is the most progressive part of the package. It features more curved corners than previous as well as a lower plate location to visually pull everything closer to the ground below.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-interior-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168172" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-interior-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2560" height="1578" /></a>

From the side, the new Sport benefits from exterior design manager David Eburah’s fastidious adherence to the requirement to provide broad, flared surfaces that can both extenuate the curves and cuts the Sport gets, but also allow the paint to best highlight details like the lower door crease and high beltline. Add features like black wheels and contrast-colour black roof, and you have a Range Rover that provides a surprisingly different look than does the larger Range Rover models. The door handles, by the way, sit flush until you need them, which both looks cool and improves drag. Probably not by much, but it’s there.

Inside, as is the case with pretty much every new vehicle these days, the proceedings are dominated by the central infotainment screen. Here, it’s curved and measures 13.1 inches (the digital gauge cluster, meanwhile, measures 13.7”) and is your gateway to the optional 29-speaker (four of the five headrests get a speaker of their own), 1,430-watt Meridian audio system as well as an app suite, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Alexa, and wireless Android Auto. Beneath that, we find the climate control system which is actually made up of two traditional dials that only alight if the climate system is activated. Yes, that means the secondary digital display seen on the old Sport is no more, which, if we’re honest is not really that big of a deal. It looked slick enough, but this system will likely be easier to operate when out on the road.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-rear-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168173" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-rear-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2560" height="1440" /></a>

Out on the road and at speed, probably, as this new Sport has the wherewithal to produce plenty of it.

It’s available in four trims: P400 Dynamic S ($101,750), P400 Dynamic SE ($108,450), P440e Dynamic HSE plug-in hybrid ($123,050) and P53 First Edition ($133,650). The first two are powered by a 48V mild-hybrid straight six good for 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the PHEV is good for 434 hp and 457 lb-ft. The First Edition, meanwhile, gets a twin-turbo V8 good for a ground-pounding 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. All Sports come with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

While that last engine makes some wild figures, it’s limited to the First Edition for the first year and while we all love exclusivity, it does perhaps signal that Range Rover knows that the day of the V8 being the hot-selling engine are over. Indeed, it looks as though the P400e is going to be the Sport to grab; it makes good power and you can cruise up to 77 km on a single charge, both aspects of this model that are appealing to a wider array of drivers. Indeed, we were surprised at the launch to find out that there was even going to be a V8 option, let alone one that was going to be more powerful than the outgoing model unless you’re talking about the old model’s SVR trim, which hasn’t yet been announced for this new version.

Of course, this begin a Land Rover it should have off-road chops but surely, this specialized Sport version isn’t meant to go off road, is it? Aha! Not so fast! The chassis is 35 per cent stiffer thanks to the use of boron steel and aluminum, has air suspension that can lift to 5.3” over standard ride height, can wade through 35” of water, climb a 45-degree grade and gets rear-wheel steering whereby the rear wheels can turn up to 7.3˚ for a tight 36-foot turning radius. Add an adaptive off-road cruise control system similar to what we’ve recently seen on the Ford Bronco, and it’s not hard to believe Land Rover when they tell you that they drove against the current up a live spillway at the famous Kárahnjúkar hydro plant in Iceland as part of the Sport’s testing regimen.

The 2023 Range Rover Sport is available now.

First Look: 2023 Range Rover Sport

cbb residual awards hancock

Mark Toljagic is an accredited automobile journalist with a pro-consumer bent - which also describes the condition of many of his own cars.

Romina Eaton’s 2015 Volkswagen Jetta runs strong, but after she makes the final car payment this year, she won’t have any regrets about trading it in for a new model.

“I’m looking for a vehicle that’s more capable in winter since I had trouble getting to work this past season,” Eaton says, adding that she has to watch the bottom line. “Price is always a factor, but the total cost of ownership over the long term is paramount.”Vehicle depreciation has become part of her decision process, knowing that cars that lose their value quickly can impact the household budget. The pain comes into focus when shoppers visit a dealer to buy a new car and learn just how little their present vehicle is worth.

Many consumers don’t know that the single largest new-car expense is depreciation, the invisible menace that erodes the value of their vehicle. Determining which models maintain their value well is the specialty of Canadian Black Book (CBB), the country’s go-to automotive data and analytics provider for the past 60 years.

To help steer car shoppers towards the brands and models that hold their value well, CBB established its annual Best Retained Value Awards 15 years ago. The firm tracks the valuations of four-year-old used vehicles at wholesale auctions in Canada and compares those values to their original sticker price.

Last fall’s data revealed 2017-model-year vehicles were fetching an average 64 per cent of their original price at auction, up substantially from 52 per cent just two years ago – thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that sparked supply-chain turmoil, which in turn led to unprecedented demand for used vehicles as new-vehicle inventories dried up.

Having perfected its data collection to find which automotive brands preserve their value best – last year it was Honda for cars, GMC for trucks and Porsche for luxury models – CBB is now trying its hand at forecasting residual values four years into the future.

“We’ve got our leading analytics tools and we know the Canadian auto market best, so it was time to take the next logical step by establishing our first-ever Canadian Black Book Residual Value Awards,” says James Hancock, CBB’s director of OEM strategy and analytics.

To produce solid forecasts, Hancock says the process is 80 per cent data-driven and 20 per cent “art.” Typical data collected by CBB includes wholesale auction prices, manufacturers’ info, auto loan data, as well as macroeconomic indicators such as consumer confidence, exchange rates, and forecasts for fuel prices, inflation and interest rates.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/hyundai-ioniq5-cbb-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167536" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/hyundai-ioniq5-cbb-scaled.jpg" alt="2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

The art side of the equation involves more subjective qualities, such as vehicle design and innovations that CBB editors take the time to assess by “touch and feel,” according to Hancock. The approach is especially helpful for all-new models and nameplates that didn’t even exist a year ago.

“The historical data doesn’t rate alone. We examine consumer wants and whether the new models deliver. We try to capture the unknowables,” explains Hancock. A case in point is the all-new Ioniq 5 electric vehicle (EV) introduced by Hyundai.

“There’s enough intelligence gathered regarding EVs and what consumers want – useable range of 350 to 500 kilometres on a full charge, for example – that we can produce a forecast,” he says. As a result the Ioniq 5 clinched first place in the EV SUV Below $45K category, the first time Hyundai has ever earned a CBB award.

The overall brand winner for best residual values in cars is Toyota; in SUV/trucks it’s Cadillac; in the luxury segment it’s Lexus; in zero-emission vehicle it’s Kia; and for “most improved” it’s Cadillac. Hancock confirms there’s a close correlation between product quality and residual value.

“Historically, Hyundai and Kia have not scored well in our Retained Value Awards,” he says. However, Kia did win the most improved award last year, recognizing that the automaker and its corporate cousin, Hyundai, have made great strides in vehicle quality in recent years. What the Residual Value Awards reveal is that the two South Korean automakers are driving the EV transformation in the Canadian market.

“We have put so much more emphasis on EV categories – growth in EV options and consumer acceptance are hugely influencing today and tomorrow’s market,” Hancock says.

The Residual Value Awards offer no less than four categories in the zero-emissions vehicle segment. The electric Kia Soul wins for best EV Car Under $45K; Volvo’s Polestar 2 wins in the Above $45K category, while the Ioniq 5 wins best EV SUV Under $45K and the electric Volvo XC40 wins the higher price category.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/22-Lexus-IS350-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167540" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/22-Lexus-IS350-scaled.jpg" alt="lexus is350" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Not surprisingly, the two Canadian Black Book awards programs are inextricably related. For example, the Toyota Tacoma won for Retained Value last year and wins this year’s Residual Value Award in the small pickup category, and has the highest residual value forecast of all models. The Chevrolet Corvette, which took top spot in the luxury sport car category, rated second-highest in expected residual value.

While it’s never easy predicting anything – such as the upcoming weekend weather – for automobile shoppers like Romina Eaton who have an appreciation for depreciation, it may very well be advantageous to pay attention to Canadian Black Book’s newest crystal-ball analytics.

<strong>2022 Canadian Black Book Residual Value Award Winners</strong>

<strong>Overall Brand Awards</strong>

Car: Toyota

SUV/Truck: Cadillac

Luxury: Lexus

Zero-Emissions Vehicle: Kia

Most Improved: Cadillac

<strong>Car Awards</strong>

Main: Toyota Camry

Luxury: Lexus IS Series

Prestige: Lexus LS 500

<strong>Sport Car Awards</strong>

Main: Toyota GR Supra

Luxury: Chevrolet Corvette

<strong>SUV Awards</strong>

Sub-Compact/Compact: GMC Terrain

Mid/Full-Size: Ford Bronco

Luxury: Cadillac Escalade

<strong>Pickup Truck Awards</strong>

Small: Toyota Tacoma

Full-Size: RAM 2500

<strong>Commercial Van Awards</strong>

Compact: Ford Transit

Full-Size: Chevrolet Express

<strong>Zero-Emissions Vehicle Awards</strong>

EV Car Below $45K: Kia Soul

EV Car Above $45K: Polestar 2

EV SUV Below $45K: Hyundai Ioniq 5

EV SUV Above $45K: Volvo XC40

CBB’s first-ever residual value awards aim to predict the future value of your car

2023 Grand Wagoneer L Series III

The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer just got a little more grand. The Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L add almost 310 mm to the length of the biggest Jeeps, giving them cargo and passenger-carrying abilities that are going to be tough to match without stepping into a full-size van.

Adding 177 mm to the wheelbase and 308 mm to the overall length of the Wagoneer models, with all of that length at the rear, has created a gargantuan 3,707 L of cargo space with all of the seats folded. Behind the third row of seats is enough space to crush even the Cadillac Escalade ESV, though that brute has more maximum cargo space.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-g-wagoneer-rear.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167451" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-g-wagoneer-rear.jpg" alt="2022 Jeep Wagoneer" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Second-row legroom is also best in class, though it bests the GM twins by just a couple of centimetres here, and has about 40 mm more room in the third row. It's more room for hockey bags, fishing gear, or just a four-by-eight sheet of plywood. All L trim models get six tie-down loops in the rear to help you hold everything (and we mean everything) in place.

The two extended-length Wagoneer models will also be the first to use the new Stellantis Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six. The Wagoneer L will get the 420 hp and 468 lb-ft base model version of the engine as an option while the Grand Wagoneer L gets the Hurricane Twin Turbo 510. Like the name says, it makes 510 hp, and it will also have 500 lb-ft of torque.

On non-L models, the 5.7L V8 will continue to be the standard offering on Wagoneer. Grand Wagoneer will get the Hurricane 510 standard and will continue to offer the 471 hp 6.4L V8 as an option. 4x4 Hurricane models will tow up to 9,850 lbs.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-grand-wagoneer-L-cargo.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167452" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-grand-wagoneer-L-cargo.jpg" alt="2022 Jeep Wagoneer" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

With that extra space being the big deal, the two SUVs share almost all of their other features, options, and components with the standard-length versions.

Coil springs are standard on Wagoneer L with air ride optional there and standard on Grand Wagoneer L, tuned to enhance ride quality on the larger SUVs. Three 4x4 systems will be offered, including a full-time option and two with low-range transfer cases.

The L models will be very well equipped, like their standard-length siblings. That includes the Uconnect 5 multimedia system supporting up to 75-inches of screens with a 10.25-inch passenger screen available. Amazon Alexa functions will improve for 2023, with tire pressure and fuel levels available. Leather seating and upscale finishes will be standard on all Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L.

A new Wagoneer L (and not-L) Carbide trim will also be added. Wearing gloss black wheels and grille trim, with black onyx grille rings and a new black instrument panel trim, it darkens the Wagoneer's looks.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-g-wagoneer-towing.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167453" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-jeep-g-wagoneer-towing.jpg" alt="2022 Jeep Wagoneer" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

The 2023 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L should be available in the second half of this year.

Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer get even bigger

2023 hyundai palisade main header

Today, the refreshed 2023 Hyundai Palisade bowed at the New York Auto Show, sporting a new design highlighted by a rounder, more luxurious front end as well as new infotainment and safety features.

If you liked the bold front end of the previous version, don’t fret; while the new vehicle may feature slightly more rounded edges, the grille is even more aggressive than previous, especially considering that it extends down into the front splitter, for a bit of a dual-tiered look. The headlights continue to sit down either side of the grille crowned by LED DRLs as before, but they now flow more cleanly into the grille than they used to. The result is a front fascia that looks more “as one”, and makes it more luxurious and modern as a result.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-headlights.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167386" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-headlights.jpg" alt="2023 Hyundai Palisade" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">If you’re after even more styling, however, there’s also the Palisade Urban model which adds special 20-inch wheels, darkened front grille, front and rear skid plates and black roof rails. It’s a tougher take on the Palisade package and even though it’s called the Urban, it seems better aimed at more outdoorsy types out there. There’s also an all-new Robust Emerald exterior colour and non-Urban models get new 20s as well.</p>
‘Round back, the differences aren’t quite as marked; the taillight lenses are similar to what was seen before, although they’ve added some creases to the tailgate that make for a more muscular look.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-interior.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167387" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-interior.jpg" alt="2023 Hyundai Palisade" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Inside is where we find the biggest changes; there’s a new instrument panel, gauge cluster and infotainment interface, a new steering wheel design whose spoke design is more in-keeping with the rest of the Hyundai (and Genesis) line-ups, and there are new seating surfaces and materials including optional Nappa leather. If you want even more digital displays in addition to the heads-up display and 12” main display, there’s also an optional digital rear-view mirror, a Hyundai first.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-infotainment.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167388" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-infotainment.jpg" alt="2023 Hyundai Palisade" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Digi mirrors may seem a little superfluous at first blush, but the more you dig, the more you see their importance, especially in a vehicle like this. You see, a digital rear-view mirror makes use of an exterior-mounted camera, so other than potential dirt build-up (unlikely as it’s high mounted and protected) nothing will obstruct your view rearwards. Not tall passengers, nor a tall cargo load, and this is important for a three-row SUV as they tend to see a lot of road trip work with tall loads, or lots of people-moving work with a full cabin and many heads that could potentially obstruct your view. Add the fact that if there are multiple drivers you no longer have to adjust the mirror angle as the view out is the same no matter what, and you have some winning tech.

Perhaps more important is the seat design and alignment itself; for the first time, there’s seating for eight passengers. Interior room and overall size of the Palisade remains unchanged for this new model, though it is lighter that previous thanks to the use of more high-tensile steels. The second-row seats, meanwhile, can be heated and cooled.

That theme continues with all-new 720p navigation, faster wired and wireless charging, and WiFi hotspot. That last one’s nice, but it’s somewhat surprising that it’s taken Hyundai this long to add WiFi to a top model like this.

Hyundai’s Bluelink app has also been improved with connected navigation as well as enhanced remote start assist, vehicle status notifications and maintenance alerts.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-rear-end.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167389" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-hyundai-palisade-rear-end.jpg" alt="2023 Hyundai Palisade" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Like the dimensions both inside and out, power remains unchanged for ’23. It comes courtesy of a 3.8-litre V6 good for 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, all sent to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the power figures do remain the same, the transmission has been upgraded with a multi-plate torque converter for smoother, more efficient progress. Hyundai has also added a tow mode which holds on to lower gears longer. Tow mode joins the returning Normal, Sport and Smart drive modes, all adjusting various drive features to suit various driving styles and conditions.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade will start arriving in showrooms July of 2022, with pricing announced closer to on-sale date.

2023 Hyundai Palisade gets renewed with fresh styling and improved tech

Electrified power, legendary 4x4 capability and commanding perfo

For Jeepers, Easter means one thing. No, not an egg hunt, it means that it's time for the Easter Jeep Safari and this year's crop of super-cool concepts from Jeep's off-road-focused engineers. The 2022 crop of Easter Jeep Safari concepts may not have been as wild or as retro-amazing as in past years, but there is still plenty to check out and plenty that might actually make it to production.
<h3>Magneto Two</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeep-magneto-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167187 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeep-magneto-2.jpg" alt="Jeep Magneto 2 concept" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

The best of the concepts was Magneto 2.0. Jeep took last year's Magneto EV concept and turned the volume up to 11. 625 hp from a custom electric motor, 850 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed taken from a Hellcat before getting beefed for even more strength. This time, Magneto gets one-pedal driving, even when you're crawling up and down boulders, making it much more drivable than any gas Wrangler.

Thanks to the electric motors - that need Dynatrac 60 and 80 Pro-Rock axles - you can start off without the clutch. And you can start off in any gear. Jeep stretched the wheelbase to fit more battery cells and powertrain components, but this one isn't about range it is a testbed for Jeep's engineers to learn how to off-road an EV. When it's not rock crawling, it can hit 100 km/h in under 3 seconds despite wearing massive 40-inch off-road tires.
<h3>Jeep Gladiator Bob Concept</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/jeep-gladiator-Bob.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167186 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/jeep-gladiator-Bob.jpg" alt="jeep gladiator bob" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Bob takes a Gladiator Rubicon and then bobs its tail. Cutting a foot off from behind the axles makes the pickup slightly more maneuverable on tight trails but also maintains much of the truck's cargo space. New bumpers give it even better approach and departure angles, as does a 3-inch lift.

Jeep has removed the B-Pillars, so there's no place to even try attaching doors. Combined with the cool stretched top, it makes for a very unique Jeep that we can see plenty of owners trying to copy.
<h3>Jeep Birdcage</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/jeep-birdcage.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167184 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/jeep-birdcage.jpg" alt="jeep birdcage" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

The Birdcage concept is built to show off new flat fender flares that can hold the factory DRLs, making them the first fender flare to meet tire coverage and DRL rules in every state. We're not sure about Canada, but it seems like it should do the same here. The rear lights are also on spacers to meet the rules while offering better off-road protection. It also features a locking trunk that doubles cargo space (and makes it more secure) in the rear.
<h3>Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept and Jeep '41 Concept</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/41-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167191 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/41-1-scaled.jpg" alt="jeep 41 concept" width="2560" height="1359" /></a>

The Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept and Jeep '41 Concept are mild rigs that we think could make production as real special editions. The 20AE celebrates 20 years since the first Rubicon model with gold badges, custom half doors, and a slight lift, while the '41 pays tribute to Jeep's roots with an army green matte wrap and canvas top and seats.
<h3>Jeep D-Coder Concept</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/dcoder-header-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167192 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/dcoder-header-scaled.jpg" alt="jeep dcoder concept" width="2560" height="1498" /></a>

D-Coder is a rolling Mopar and JPP catalogue. All of the red-finished parts come from that book with the paint to highlight them. A scannable QR code on each one takes you to the Mopar catalogue page that shows you the specs and lets you buy the accessories. Get it? You can decode the codes.
<h3>Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk PHEV Concept</h3>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Trailhawk-4xe-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167190 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Trailhawk-4xe-2.jpg" alt="Jeep trailhawk phev" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Jeep's first go at a new Grand Cherokee 4xe concept takes a Trailhawk-spec model and trims the wheel wells to fit larger fenders and 33-inch BFGoodrich tires. Custom paintwork completes the look and will grab attention when it goes out to exercise the air suspension and sway bar disconnects.

No, Jeep hasn't announced any plans for these concepts apart from driving them around EJS 2022. Still, we can dream, can't we?

Jeep's 2022 Easter Safari Concepts Include Bobtail Gladiator, 625 hp Wrangler EV

All-New 2023 Honda HR-V Steps Out with Youthful, Athletic Styl

Honda is in the middle of making its lineup one of the freshest in the industry and this latest reveal brings the automaker to just about the halfway point in the process. Say hello to the 2023 Honda HR-V. The subcompact crossover grows up, not just in shape but in size. Honda also says it's worked on making this model more fun to drive with "substantially improved dynamics.

The 2023 HR-V will be built on the same architecture as the all-new <a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/first-drive-2022-honda-civic-hatchback-sport-touring/">11th-generation Honda Civic</a> sedan and hatchback. That's a big step forward for the crossover, which was based on the now discontinued Honda Fit hatch previously.

Honda didn't give dimensions for the new vehicle but did say that it will be larger than before with a longer wheelbase and a wider stance. For reference, the 2022 Honda HR-V has a wheelbase of 2,610 mm and a width of 1,770, while the new Civic has a wheelbase 2,736 mm long and is 1,801 mm wide.

Honda's all-new shape for the 2023 HR-V starts with a new grille. Tall, wide, and upright, fixed to a very blunt nose, it's a marked departure from the previous generation where a large trim strip and front license plate positioning made the HR-V look like it had no grille at all. The new nose sits at the beginning of a very long hood, suggesting that if Honda wants to increase interior size, this HR-V is going to have to be much longer than the current generation.

A low cowl height for that long hood means that Honda has also been able to keep the beltline low. With a tall roof, this gives the HR-V what appears to be a massive greenhouse. The extra glass should give the model great visibility for the driver, a big perk for a subcompact crossover.

LED head and taillights give the 2023 HR-V a much more premium look than the model has had before, though it's also somewhat more dull. Laser brazing techniques that eliminate the traditional roofline mouldings also help to make the HR-V feel more upscale, likewise with the windshield wipers that hide below the hood line when they're not in use.

The styling is close to the Honda Vezel, but the roofline, nose and tail differ from that version of the HR-V sold in Japan and much of the rest of Asia as well as in Europe. Honda had previously said the North American HR-V would be different this time, to "meet the distinct needs" of customers in our market. The Vezel has nearly identical dimensions to the new Civic, so we'd guess it's not all that far off.

While this reveal focused on the outside, Honda did hint at some of the changes to the vehicle's dynamics.

A new "more responsive" engine will go under the hood of the new HR-V. It will also add a new independent rear suspension, an upgrade that comes with the Civic platform, that Honda says will give it "a more confident, refined and fun-to-drive personality." It may also help to increase rear cargo space, though the previous HR-V (and the Fit on which it was based) were magic when it came to packing in maximum cargo.

The new engine could be the 2.0L four-cylinder from the Honda Civic. It makes 158 hp in that car, up from 139 hp from the current 1.8L four. We would also welcome Honda's 176hp 1.5L turbo-four to create a hot-crossover version of the HR-V, though that doesn't seem all that likely of a choice.

We'll get more about the 2023 HR-V, including powertrain details and a look at the interior, over the next few months. Expect it to come soon, though, as the 2023 HR-V launches in full this summer, with an all-new CR-V and Honda Pilot coming not long after.

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