News Roundup: Ultium Home Backup, Jeep Diesels, Bigger Santa Fe, and More

Home charging

General Motors announced it has plans to bring Vehicle to Home power sharing to its entire Ultium-based EV lineup by 2025. V2H tech allows EV owners to supply power to their homes from the battery in their EV, which can turn the vehicle into a storage battery for time-of-day charging or a supply of power in the event of a large-scale outage. Owners will need a special bidirectional charge station and a home hub kit that disconnects the home from the power grid when the battery is supplying the juice. GM also plans to offer the Ultium Home Energy System which includes 10.6 and 17.7 kWh home battery backup systems.

Sentra Cup for 2 more years



Nissan has extended one of the country's most interesting (and affordable) racing series. The Nissan Sentra Cup, which in 2021 picked up where the even more charming Micra Cup left off, will run in 2024 and 2025. The announcement was made at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières where 30 Sentra Cup competitors took the green flag at two races over the weekend. The Nissan Sentra Cup, which uses nearly stock Nissan Sentra race cars, has events August 26 at the ICAR circuit in Montreal, the first to third of September at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and September 22-24 at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant. The 2024 and 2025 schedules have yet to be released.

Jeep V6 diesel going out of production



Jeep is building a Gladiator Rubicon FarOut special edition as a farewell to the company's 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine. The FarOut package retails for $18,500 and Jeep is only building 1,000 for all of North America. The V6 diesel engine makes 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, and it sends that stump-pulling grunt through an eight-speed automatic and the Rubicon's 4.0:1 Low Range transfer case. The FarOut edition comes with a Diesel 3.0 hood graphic and tailgate badge, FarOut badge, a steel front bumper, a satin black grille, and some other extra goodies. Orders close at the end of September and deliveries start shortly thereafter.

Santa Fe Details



Hyundai revealed more details about its blocky new Santa Fe. The Santa Fe's wheelbase grows 50 mm and the overall length by 60mm, with a boxy roofline allowing for class-leading rear headroom and more cargo space than the previous model. Santa Fe will offer features like dual wireless phone charging pads and a UV-C sterilizer pad in the upper glove box. Other neat tricks include a grab handle on the exterior C-Pillar to help with roof-rack loading and a centre console storage bin that can be opened from the second row. Two powertrains will be offered, with a 2.5T and 1.6L turbo-based hybrid system similar to what is offered in the current Santa Fe. Expect the vehicle to arrive at dealers early next year.

Subaru partners with Leave No Trace



Subaru is partnering with Leave No Trace Canada to help further that group's conservation efforts and plant up to 10,000 trees. Subaru will be encouraging owners to take the Leave No Trace Pledge, which focuses on using the outdoors in a way that reduces environmental impacts. If an owner or other participant shares their pledge on social media, a tree will be planted.

Montreal Auto Show returns next year



The Montreal International Auto Show has announced that it will be returning from January 19 to the 28th and that it will once again take all three levels of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Part of that return to the show's full size is thanks to the return of Ford and Lincoln, which had not participated in auto shows in Canada in 2023. High attendance at Canadian shows this year is likely behind the return and indicates that the auto show is still important to Canadian consumers.

Union negotiations underway



Unifor and Ford, GM, and Stellantis are readying for negotiations as 18,000 autoworkers look for a new contract. "Autoworkers are ready to transform Canada's auto industry, but first they need a contract that delivers the stability, fairness, and respect they are owed for the monumental task ahead," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "These negotiations are also taking place against the backdrop of a historic affordability crisis that needs to be addressed with strong pensions, better wages, and adequate protection from the effects of transition to electric vehicle production." Negotiations traditionally start at one of the three automakers, with the agreement worked out there brought to the remaining two.