Well, it looks like the 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat manual option has been removed from Dodge's site, for now. You could potentially blame the lack of popularity of manuals in most new car sales, but it seems Dodge's reasoning is a bit more digital than that. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) fitted to manual-equipped Challengers required a new calibration, putting any chance of getting a stick on the model on ice.A forum post, via Road & Track, dating back to December 10, 2021 shows that the manual transmission version of the Challenger Hellcat is not currently available. However, looking on Dodge's website, every other manual option of the Challenger can be ordered-but the Hellcat manual isn't even on the site. That same forum post also alleges that getting the manual transmission paired with the Hellcat's 6.2 liter supercharged Hemi V-8 to pass emissions is the issue, which could imply this is the required recalibration Dodge mentioned.There might be some grain of truth to that, but we weren't able to directly confirm. When we did ask if there was a calibration issue with the Challenger Hellcat, Dodge did confirm, but added that updating calibrations are a normal part of vehicle production and that this isn't related to the issues with silicon-based chip and PCM supply shortages currently disrupting the industry.It would appear that setting up this new calibration might take some time. Dodge says it's unsure of when the updated programming will be ready and when the Challenger Hellcat manual will come back for ordering. For now, if you were interested in a manual Challenger Hellcat (and why wouldn't you be?) you'll have to pick something else, go with the automatic, or just wait and hope Dodge can bring it back.
Here is some welcome news for any prospective car shoppers this year: while the 2023 Kia Sportage will see a price increase for the LX trim, the EX and SX trims are getting some price decreases. It's not very common to hear of price drops in today's inflated market, but the new Sportage has plenty to offer with four new editions added to the lineup; the SX Prestige, the X-Line, the X-Pro, and the X-Pro Prestige which all look to replace the 2022 Sportage Nightfall Edition.The New Sportage PlatformEven as the price does decrease for the 2022 EX and SX trims, it seems that Kia didn't want to degrade the fifth generation Sportage. First, the 2023 Sportage rides on Kia's new N3 platform, which underpins the Sorento. Not only does this increase the size of the Sportage but it also adds more strength and torsional stiffness to its chassis. There is also new sound absorbing and insulation to reduce noise, vibration and harshness from the road, wind, and engine.Kia Sportage Standard EquipmentStandard equipment on the new 2023 Sportage include dual panoramic curved displays that Kia says "seamlessly connects two screens for nearly 25 inches of digital viewing" and provides a large screen for the 360 Degree Surround View Monitor with 3D View and live feed Blind-Spot View Monitor within the instrument cluster. The Sportage also offers eight standard Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features. For up scale levels like the EX, SX, and X-Line, as well as X-Pro and both Prestige trims, an enhanced ADAS includes Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) Assist with Junction Turning capability and Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist are available. While not announced, Kia says that turbocharged hybrid and PHEV Sportage variants will launch at a later date with pricing coming "closer to their on-sale dates."2023 Kia Sportage PricingEven at the base level, the 2023 Sportage LX's $1,900 increase for the FWD ($27,205) and $2,200 increase for the AWD ($29,005) version aren't all that bad over its 2022 price ($25,305 and $26,805, respectively). Even the $1,800 premium of going AWD for the 2023 Sportage isn't a huge increase over the $1,500 cost in 2022. Especially when compared to many other CUVs in its range that saw much larger increases. It's enough to justify the new chassis for the fifth generation Sportage and make you wonder how Kia is doing it.The EX and SX, on the other hand, saw price decreases when compared to 2022. The EX FWD is $29,205 where it was $29,605 and the AWD is now $31,005 where it was $31,105. While not more than a $500 drop, it's a drop none-the-less. The AWD premium is also the same increase as the LX ($1,800) and within the same price difference between 2023 and 2022 (a $300 increase).Kia Sportage X-Line, X-Pro, and Prestige TrimsThe Nightfall Edition from 2022 isn't making a return for 2023. Instead, there are X-Line and X-Pro trims along with Prestige versions of the SX and X-Pro. The X-Line is offered only in AWD and rings up at $32,005 while the X-Pro also only comes as AWD but costs $36,205. The X-Line "blends sporty and rugged" looks to the Sportage and adds Unique front and rear bumpers with a satin chrome surround with a side garnish and adds a gloss black finish to the side mirrors, roof rack and window surrounds. The roof rack's rails are also raised for better off-road focused accessory support. Finally, there is a set of 19-inch wheels made just for the Sportage X-Line.The 2023 Sportage X-Pro is designed by Kia to be much more trail ready than the X-Line. In order to meet that demand, the X-Pro comes with 17-inch matte black wheels that are as off-road focused as its 17-inch BF Goodrich A/T tires. The roof also comes as a two-tone color treatment while the windshield washer nozzles are heated to help remove frost and ice in cold temperatures. To help you navigate your unpaved path, the X-Pro comes with a multi-terrain mode that includes Normal, Sport, Smart, and Snow modes.The Prestige versions of the SX and X-Pro offer more upscale treatment, with the X-Pro Prestige including ventilated front seats, an eight-way power front passenger seat, and LED fog lights and available LED Projector headlights for better forward vision. The Sportage X-Pro Prestige comes in at $38,005 while the SX Prestige rings in at $34,705 for the FWD and $36,505 for the AWD version.
We've got some good news and bad news for if you're one of the thousands who've pre-ordered or are interested in purchasing the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year (not to mention the only electric vehicle to cross the Trans-America Trail), the Rivian R1T pickup, and its SUV sibling, the R1S. The good news is that the company is expanding its R1T and R1S lineup, now offering dual-motor variants and a new battery pack. The bad news is that it's going to cost more for less Rivian, as quad-motor prices rise to make room for the new two-motor versions of the R1T and R1S, which will cost the same as the entry-level quad-motors did before.New Homebuilt MotorsAs we long suspected, Rivian-built dual-motor variants are now slated to join the R1 lineup. Available starting in 2024, these new Rivian designed, engineered, and built motors (one installed at each axle) are said to be good for over 600 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, and Rivian promises a 4.0-second 0-60 mph time, making the dual motor R1T about a second slower to 60 mph than the quickest four-motor R1T we've tested. Current quad-motor Rivians produce 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque.Rivian also says that its new motors are simpler, lighter, and cheaper to build than the supplier-sourced motors on today's R1S and R1T.The California-based automaker isn't publicly committing to utilizing its new motors on the quad-motor R1S and R1T, but sources at the company have told us that Rivian is currently hard at work on a quad-motor R1X super SUV that makes 1,200 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. We're not math experts, but we're fairly certain that if you put four of Rivian's new motors together, the output would add up to 1,200 ponies and pound-feet.We suspect that in addition to the R1X, a detuned quad-motor R1S and R1T featuring the new motors is in the cards given CEO RJ Scaringe's desire to bring core competencies in-house.Rivian's new battery packIn addition to the new twin-motor models, Rivian today announced its new Standard battery pack will go on sale in 2024. Available only on dual-motor R1S' and R1Ts, the Standard pack joins the Large pack (on-sale now), and Max pack (slated for 2023). Dual motor R1s will be able to travel about 260 miles on a charge with the Standard pack, 320 miles with the Large pack, and over 400 miles with the Max pack, all pending EPA certification.Quad-motor R1Ts will continue to be available with only the Large and Max packs. The Large pack is the only one currently available; it nets the R1S an EPA-estimated range of 316 miles and R1T 314 miles.Price increases for the R1Although Rivian is keen to point out that base prices for the R1T and R1S remain unchanged at $68,575 and $73,575, respectively, that's a bit disingenuous, as the dual motor, standard pack is the new base configuration for the R1 line. Previously, those prices applied to quad-motor, Large pack models.Those quad-motor prices rise from $68,575 for a Large pack R1T Explore model to $80,575, and from $73,575 for a Large pack R1S Explore to $85,575. Max pack prices rise as well. The cheapest quad-motor R1T Max pack is now $90,315. The R1S, which has a shorter wheelbase than the pickup (and therefore less underbody space for batteries), is unavailable with the Max pack.Dual-motor Large pack R1Ts will begin at $74,575, and R1S' will begin at $79,575. Prices for the dual-motor R1T Max Pack start at $84,575.What does this mean for current Rivian reservation holders?Rivian chief growth officer Jiten Behl points to global supply chain shortages, increasing component parts, inflation, and semi-conductor delays as the primary reason for the price changes. "This rise in cost and complexity due to these challenging circumstances necessitate an increase to the prices of the R1T and R1S models we offer today — prices which were originally set in 2018. This decision will allow us to continue to offer competitive products that maintain the high standard of quality, performance, and capabilities that our customers expect and deserve from Rivian," he said in a statement issued to the media.A source at the company told us that customers who are already in the final steps of completing their R1T orders won't be affected, but unfortunately for the vast majority of existing Rivian reservation holders, the price increases will apply.While the price changes likely won't sit well with existing R1 customers, Rivian no doubt hopes that the new two-motor variants will cushion the blow.
Greg Cope of Holiday, Texas, has always been a big fan of classic American muscle, and he loves trying to find forgotten gems hidden around the state. Yeah, you would think all the really cool (code for: popular) cars have already been found and scooped up, but the truth is that there are still quite a few classics hidden in barns, buried in garages, or just languishing in fields. These "barn finds" are always cool and we love seeing the cars rescued so they can be put back on the road.Cope already had a 1968 Camaro he had bought off of the original owner back in 1992, but when he heard about this hidden-away 1967 Camaro he didn't hesitate to go check it out. The 1967 Camaro had been parked outside from 1974 to 2004, when it was acquired by the second owner in a trade for a diesel Mercedes then stuffed into a barn.At first, the '67 appeared to be a big-block car, as it came with a properly date-coded 375 hp 396ci engine said to have been removed from the car, as well as a four-speed trans that was still installed. But Cope knows the drill, so he ran the VIN tag and found the Camaro came from the factory with a straight-six and a three-on-the-tree. It was still a good find, and the price was right, so he rescued the Camaro from barn jail and hauled it home to keep his 1968 Camaro company. As it turns out, the '68 and the '67 were both sold new from the same Texas Chevy dealership.Cope's original plan was to clean up the '67 and flip it for a quick profit, but his 13-year-old daughter Kendall said she would love it as her first car—nice to see he's raising her right. Given that the Camaro isn't anything rare, the plan is to keep it stock-looking but give it an LS-swap and overdrive trans, along with a Vintage Air kit to tame the Texas heat.Photos By Greg CopeWatch! See a 1969 Camaro Built From Start to FinishLove Camaros and want to see more? Watch as the HOT ROD team builds a complete supercharged and LS-swapped 1969 Camaro in just one week—and finish it off with huge burnouts! For more on the build, here's the full story.
ford f-150 Full OverviewIn announcing our MotorTrend 2022 Truck of the Year, we observed that today's trucks are far more than workhorses. They're also commuter cars, family haulers, weekend toys, and luxury vehicles. It's a trend at least 20 years in the making, but one that doesn't make everyone happy. Indeed, some of you wrote to us and expressed your displeasure with this mission drift and argued for trucks to be treated like trucks again. That's easier said than done, as it turns out. Take, for example, this 2021 Ford F-150 XLT Supercrew 4X4 we just tested.This isn't a blinged-out luxury truck; it's an XLT with cloth seats, a column shifter, basic four-wheel drive, a bedliner, and a max-towing package. One step above the base model, this should be a work truck, yet it's priced at $59,520 as tested. How the heck did that happen?What's an XLT, Anyway?A 2022 Ford F-150 XLT trim starts at a more reasonable $39,825 (banish the thought of a full-size truck starting for less than $30,000; those days are gone), but that only gets you a single cab, the base engine, and rear-wheel drive. Single cabs are old school, and every truck maker in the industry will tell you full four-door cabs like this F-150 Supercrew are bestsellers. That's an extra $5,260 right there.Four-wheel drive is a $3,425 upgrade, and getting a stouter engine adds at least $1,195. If you want to tow and haul heavy things on the job site or at the farm, you need power. This 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 has plenty of both, but it costs $2,595. After destination and acquisition fees, you're already nearing $50,000 without any other options.The rest of the asking price is made up of both the necessary and the nice to have. The max-trailer-towing package is $1,995, and the spray-in bedliner is another $595. Pro Power Onboard 2.0 kW, handy on the jobsite and in the field, is $995. Now we're at $54,000 for a work truck. The other $8,000 covers stuff you don't need for work but is nice to have, like the big infotainment system, optional wheels, etc.TowingYep, modern work trucks are expensive. The good news is you still get a lot of work for your money. We hitched this Ford F-150 XLT up to a high-profile two-horse trailer and found it to be the comfortable, stable towing platform we've come to expect from Ford. After returning the livestock, we filled the bed with a yard of hot, fresh mulch for the garden. Here again, the torquey twin-turbo V-6 made light work of the added weight, and the sizable payload and tongue-weight ratings meant the truck barely squatted.A Pleasant RideMore impressive, though, is how well the Ford F-150 XLT rides, either empty or loaded. With leaf springs capable of holding up 2,100 pounds of payload, you'd reasonably expect a stiff ride, but Ford's engineers worked wonders. The F-150 is as pleasant and comfortable to drive while doing work as it is cruising into town for groceries.Track TestingIt'll get you down to the market quick, too. Unburdened, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 hustled this 5,345-pound truck up to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds and past the quarter-mile mark in 13.9 seconds at 99.9 mph.Power is not a problem, and neither is stopping. The Ford F-150 XLT was consistent in our braking tests from 60 mph, achieving a best result of 126 feet, about average for a full-size pickup. Even better, the stops were drama-free, with little nosedive or wiggling around.Handling tests were similarly uneventful. We discovered excellent composure for a pickup truck, with well-controlled body motions, good brakes, and strong traction. The 0.76-average lateral g it pulled on the skidpad and its 28.0-second figure-eight lap at 0.62-average g are on the right end of the full-size-truck class—and undersell how well the 2021 Ford F-150 XLT takes a corner without any weight loaded into it.SafetyOpt for Ford's $750 Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 suite of driver aids and included among all the safety stuff are adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assistance, which helps steer the vehicle and keep it in the center of the lane. Ford's system, which takes some load off your mind on long highway slogs, is one of the better hands-on systems on the market.Wrapping UpThe rest of the driving experience isn't bad, either. The cloth seats are plenty comfortable and feature a pleasing contrasting color scheme. The column shifter frees up a ton of center-console bin space and allows you to use the flip-out tray table while the truck is moving. The rear seat could use a bit more thigh support and recline, if we're being picky, but we like how much space it frees up when you fold it out of the way.As mentioned earlier, our truck was fitted with the big infotainment screen, and it's good to see how far Ford's Sync system has come. This latest incarnation is more user friendly and intuitive, sports modern graphics, and has a handy split-screen mode that lets you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto simultaneously with other built-in programs like the radio without having to change screens.Simple fact is, unless you're a fleet manager buying dozens of trucks from a commercial dealer, even work trucks are pricey these days. Yes, the convenience and dress-up options can run up the bill, but even the stuff you need to get the job done will dent your budget hard. The good news is, these trucks drive, tow, and haul better than any time in history.Looks good! More details? 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 Specifications BASE PRICE $45,850 PRICE AS TESTED $59,520 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 3.5L Twin-turbo port- and direct-injected DOHC 24-valve 60-degree V-6 POWER (SAE NET) 400 hp @ 6,000 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 500 lb-ft @ 3,100 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5,345 lb (58/42%) WHEELBASE 145.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 231.7 x 79.9 x 77.2 in 0-60 MPH 5.3 sec QUARTER MILE 13.9 sec @ 99.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 126 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.76 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 28.0 sec @ 0.62 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 18/23/20 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 720 mi ON SALE Now Show All
The first pure electric Jeep is coming in the first half of 2023, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares revealed in Amsterdam where he delivered an overview of the direction of the automaker through 2030.No, the first electric Jeep is not a Jeep Wrangler. It is instead a small lifestyle Jeep, shorthand for a crossover. It is an all-new vehicle, a new addition to the lineup, and does not yet have a name. The SUV is small, somewhat rounded, kinda cute, almost Renegade-like—and obviously tailored to the urban customer. Being small, it will hold broader global appeal.The Jeep EV has been developed on the STLA Small platform, one of four dedicated electrified architectures that will underpin all nameplates for the 14 brands under the Stellantis umbrella. Stellantis is the automaker created more than a year ago with the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, lumping Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati together with the French auto conglomerate's offerings.Stellantis is moving towards a future where 100 percent of all vehicles sold in Europe and 50 percent of the lineup in North America will be electric vehicles by 2030.Jeep has embraced electrification faster than most Stellantis brands, at least according to Tavares, who said as much to reporters gathered in Amsterdam to learn more of the Dare Forward 2030 long-term strategic plan that has more than 100 new vehicle launches planned—75 of them electric—including an electric Ram 1500 full-size electric pickup truck in 2024.Jeep's 4xe plug-in hybrid technology is gaining recognition and sales, making it the second of the 14 Stellantis brands in terms of electrification, Tavares said.The strategic vision is to invest in all the American brands and the U.S. will have 25 EVs on sale by 2030.
It's almost Mecum Auctions time again! The bidding takes place March 16 to 19 in Glendale, Arizona, and live gavel-to-gavel coverage is available through our online subscription service, MotorTrend+ (sign up for a free trial today!), or on your television via the MotorTrend channel.There's something about the southwest when it comes to trucks. Pickups are plentiful there, and based on the wide variety of rigs that are up for grabs at the Arizona auction, we're very optimistic about the collection that awaits Senior Content Producer KJ Jones at the Mecum Auctions event in Houston, Texas, April 1 and 2, as well.For the first time ever, KJ will be on the floor at a big-time auto auction, and hopes are high that this upcoming Glendale sale will be a great precursor to what could be the most truck-heavy event on Mecum's tour.We've already noted two cool trucks being auctioned in Arizona: a 2020 Jeep Gladiator that was displayed at the SEMA Show in 2019, and a customized 1963 Chevy Greenbrier Sports Wagon that garnered great response.This teaser highlights a rare, dual-rear-wheel Chevy Suburban. The sample seen here is a 1986 model that wasn't produced by the factory (none of these rare unicorns were), but to many truck fans is a rig that Chevrolet brass should have authorized and offered for interested buyers. Can you imagine driving something like this today, with a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine under the hood instead of a basic big-block Chevy V-8?Related: The General Motors Duramax Diesel Engine Through HistoryLike the previous Mecum-Glendale rigs we featured, this 'burban has no reserve attached to its sale, which should make it interesting to watch.1986 Chevy Suburban Silverado DuallyFirst, this 1986 Chevy Suburban is not an actual 1-ton dually. It's a 3/4-ton rig that's been upfitted with a dual-rear-wheel axle, the appropriate finishing fenders, and so on. And for Chevrolet Suburban know-it-alls, yes, it's a Silverado in frame only; Suburbans and pickups share the same chassis, but the truckwagon has never formally had Silverado in its name.Big-Block Chevy PowerA 7.4-liter (454ci) big-block Chevrolet engine sits beneath the dually Suburban's hood. The limited information we have doesn't reference any modifications, but even the stock powerplant has plenty of oats.Low MilesIn 2022, 42,000 miles is the mark of a creampuff, especially for a rig that's closing in on 40 years old.Nothing's PerfectWe're guessing this image was included in the photo set for "full-disclosure" purposes—the 1986 Chevy Suburban dually is super clean, but it's not 100 percent flawless, as evidenced by the crack that runs down the dash cover.Rear ViewRoadkill host David Freiburger has a soft spot in his heart for 'burbans with rear "Barn" doors that open wide and promote easier loading and unloading of items in the cargo area. We also like the look of the big, wide "hips" on a Suburban, with four tires tucked beneath them.Dually SuburbanThis 1986 Chevy Suburban isn't the "best" truck among all the custom rigs being auctioned, but to us it's very cool. You just don't see dually (what is a dually, anyway?) Suburbans anywhere, so its rarity makes it worthy of receiving our spotlight for Mecum Auctions' Glendale, Arizona, event.2022 Mecum Auction ScheduleHere are the remaining 2022 Mecum Auction events that can be viewed on the MotorTrend+ streaming service (sign up for a free trial today!) and on MotorTrend TV.March 17-19: Glendale, ArizonaApril 1-2: Houston, TexasMay 18-21: Indianapolis, IndianaJune 10-11: Tulsa, OklahomaJuly 28-30: Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaAugust 19-20: Monterey, CaliforniaSeptember 8-10: Dallas, TexasOctober 14-15: Chicago, IllinoisNovember 11-12: Las Vegas, Nevada
Update March 1, 2022: MOL Ship Management Singapore, the company that operated the Felicity Ace ship under the Panamanian flag, has announced the car carrier has capsized and sunken below the surface following the onboard fire. Salvage crews had been battling the fires onboard for weeks in an attempt to salvage some of the ship and its contents. It's unclear if anything from the ship was collected before it sank. The initial blaze is said to have started in the cargo hold, where thousands of cars, including some battery-electric vehicles, were being shipped to North America. Here is the latest statement from the Felicity Ace information resource website:"Initial reports from the local salvage team state that the vessel had sunk at around 9AM local time having suffered a list to starboard. The last vessel position was around 220nm off the Azores. The salvage crafts will remain around the area to monitor the situation. "Update February 18, 2022: Reports now indicate the ship is loaded with vehicles from Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, and VW, including some battery-electric powertrain vehicles that now pose a serious hazard for maritime fire crews attempting to salvage the burning vessel. This story was originally published February 17, 2022, and has since been updated to reflect new information and developments in the ship's fate and the fate of the cargo onboard.
We've talked quite a lot about the mid-engine C8 Corvette, even going so far as to name it our 2020 Car of the Year. We have lots of stories you can read about how it drives around town, on back roads, and on racetracks. The whole point of having a long-term 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 test vehicle, though, is to tell you what it's like living with the car day in and day out.After 10 months of "ownership," we've put together a list of the top six little details about the Corvette we think are great, the six that drive us crazy, and the six that are worth mentioning but aren't good or bad enough to make the other lists. Here are the good, the bad, and the whatevers of the C8 Corvette.
A proposed West Virginia bill outlines multiple new strict guidelines for automakers to adhere to in their relationship with dealership networks, including a ban on some (increasingly prevalent) over-the-air software updates that change the driving functionality of the car. Updates to mapping and infotainment systems would still be kosher, but anything that changes how the car drives could soon be off the table, including important safety updates.The new motion, introduced by the West Virginia automotive dealership trade association, according to GM Authority, is an amendment to current West Virginia House Bill 4560. The previous version simply mentioned all warranty and recall repair work had to be performed by a dealership, but the new text is what stipulates new rules for the burgeoning trend of over-the-air driving updates. Here's what it says:Over-the-air (OTA) updates, where an automaker can tweak, update or repair glitches, features and hardware with software downloaded into the car's computer system over an internet connection, are a relatively new feature in modern cars. The concept allows minor fixes to be rolled out as soon as they are ready to go in the car, without the owner or operator ever having to actually take the car to a service station.Luxury vehicles more bent toward the tech-friendly crowd have been the early adopters, especially the Tesla Model S, Chevy Bolt, Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, and more. OTA updates are a useful tool, and as more cars produced come with onboard data connections, it's a tool that's spreading rapidly.If you're wondering why dealers would want you to need to drive your car to the dealership for any non-infotainment system update, well it of course is all about money. It would seem the West Virginia dealer's association views OTA updates as a potential financial risk. Since there are no parts costs in software fixes, dealers don't want to see the labor charges for any vehicle updates (warranty or recall related or otherwise) dry up, as well, just because your car is connected to the internet.Dealerships also recognize the importance of getting you to their lots to service your car: you can shop for a new one while you wait. And that's why the proposed updates to the bill would also ban automakers from selling vehicles directly to customers in WV outside of the dealer model. From the bill:"This part is similar to other nationwide bans on direct-sales, which are often also heavily defended by local dealership trade groups. You may remember Tesla taking quite a few fights to states like Michigan, where direct sales to customers are not allowed and cars must be sold through a franchised dealership network. Today, Tesla has to sell cars to Michigan owners out of state, and established a subsidiary company to open servicing locations in the state.Obviously, these new proposals in HB4560 would be bad for consumers in West Virginia. First, their cars would no longer be allowed to receive potentially significant instant updates that could impact all aspects of their car, from driving range, interior controls, drive-mode settings, and safety system updates. Instead, it would put a cost on those things for customers directly, both in time spent getting the car needlessly serviced, and in the potential dealer fees you'll have to pay for something that's free to owners in other states.On top of that, if you wanted to avoid the dealership model altogether to buy a new car for yourself, you would not be allowed to without going out of the state. We don't see any upside for the vehicle owner in the proposed legislation, and CleanTechnica reports a lobbying group, Alliance for Automotive Innovation that represents many Japanese automakers, publicly spoke out against the proposals. The bill in its current form has nine sponsors in the State House and passed through its second reading today; we expect more lobbying groups or potential statements from automakers and other groups until the bill passes, or the proposals are modified.
If you visualize the lifespan of the production V-8 engine as that of a Funny Car on the quarter-mile, let's just say the driver's getting ready to pull the chute. That ticking you hear ain't your lifters; the lap timer's running down on the great eight, with the final V-8s likely thumping around under the hood of trucks and a forlorn contingent of muscle cars and rarified sports cars into the early 2030's. There will be holdouts after that, but increasingly stringent regulations will continue to push out big displacement in favor of a gently humming set of electric motors.It's written on the pitlane wall, folks. Ford announced its intentions to have 40-percent of its fleet electrified by 2030, while General Motors shoots to eliminate its portfolio of internal combustion entirely by 2035. Dodge's first battery electric car—known only as the goofily named Challenger eMuscle— allegedly arrives in 2024. Even if these automakers keep pumping out V-8-powered Mustangmaro GT-Hell500s for decades to come, the market will have geographically shrunk; California announced plans to ban sales of ICE vehicles by 2035, with similar bills in place in New York, Massachusetts, and the city of Seattle. We're not saying we're positive these proposals will come to pass, but the sentiment certainly isn't going away.Mercedes-Benz: A V-8 DynastyThat's just for the American stuff. It's worse for the overseas V-8 junkie; Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley are two V-8 purveyors among a growing number of automakers taking the all-electric pledge. As did Mercedes-Benz, with the German automaker announcing this past summer that every new vehicle architecture launched after 2025 will carry batteries only.This is quite the loss for the greater V-8 portfolio. By our count, the 2021 model year offered American buyers a stunning 24 distinct Mercedes vehicles with a V-8 under the front hood. Granted, the mass majority carry a variant of the same M176/177/178 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, but we'd rather not see that engine's prolific status culled to zilch in the coming decade.Bummer. Not only has Merc played in the V-8 game for 59 years as of 2022, but the iconic German marque is responsible for some of the greatest eight-cylinder engines in history. The 6.3-liter M100 was Merc's first, roaring to life in 1963 under the hood of Der Große Mercedes 600, serving as Europe's first post-war production V-8 following the three-pointed star's rich history of inline-eights.The M100 proved hearty and hale enough to last through 1981, replaced in-step by the pre-existing M116 and M117 V-8s that ranged from a tiny 3.5-liters up to a full 5.6-liters. Before it was snuffed, the M100 stunned the world in 6.8-liter guise, shuttling dignitaries, bankers, and celebrities in the mighty 450SEL 6.9.Development and production of the Mercedes V-8 continued unabated through the 1980s and 1990s, a flowering family tree sprouting gas-guzzlin' greats like the supercharged 5.4-liter M113 V-8 found in AMG's early-to-mid 2000s "55" series. 2006 saw the introduction of the 6.2-liter M156, AMG's first fully in-house V-8 that kicked off the incredible "63" series of AMG-ified Mercs from its debut year through 2015.Flat-Out Into Flat-PlaneMercedes gradually phased out the M113 in favor of a blend between the twin-turbo 4.7-liter M278 and the AMG-facing twin-turbo 5.5-liter M157 in the early-to-mid 2010s. Then, the new 4.0-liter twin-turbo M176/M177/M178 family streamlined it all under the roof of a singular engine family; by 2020, every V-8 Mercedes carried some variant of the four-point-oh. In most cases, output differences boiled down to programming, turbo size and configuration, and intake/exhaust; depending on what the alphanumeric scrawl read on the rear decklid, power ranges from 456 hp to a wicked 720 hp. Jumping to the Mercedes-AMG GT's M178 adds beefy hardware to handle extended thrash sessions, notably swapping wet sump for dry sump lubrication, though most of the exploding stuff under the cowl of an AMG GT is recognizable when parked next to a C 63, or even S 560—with one notable exception.Enter the M178 LS2. In direct contrast to every production Mercedes V-8 ever—yes, ever ever—the AMG GT Black Series' 4.0-liter packs a flat-plane crankshaft in place of the garden variety crossplane spinny stick. Fresh camshafts and exhaust manifolds are snapped on to make sure everything plays nice with the exotic firing order, while turbochargers are upsized for an extra 5.0 psi of boost over the crossplane AMG GT R.Black Series is Code for Badass(er)Even amongst the rarified roster of atomic Black Series (BS) weapons, the GT BS oozes brutality. The body of the GT BS swells with menace and bristles with an arsenal of wings, canards, diffusers, vents, and slats that wouldn't look out of place on the Sebring starting line. You can rarely accuse Mercedes-Benz of goofing off on the job, but the GT Black Series is so serious, so singularly focused in its task of trackday subjugation, we wouldn't be surprised to learn the development engineers slept on the shop floor, munched on coffee grounds for breakfast, and only got to work after a three-hour morning MMA training routine. Aside from the leather and Alcantara swaddling the interior, the GT BS feels like a performance car commissioned by SEAL Team Six.Much like enemies Ferrari or McLaren's boosted flat-plane screamers, the bulk of the Black Series' 720 hp and 590 lb-ft arrives fashionably late in the rev-range, with all 720 braying racehorses peaking at 6,700 rpm, just 300 rpm short of redline. That thick shmear of torque fills in the gaps, the full 590 lb-ft coming into effect between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm.The result is a V-8 soundtrack and character unlike any other Merc thumper we've ever experienced. Power is predictably ferocious, but you wouldn't necessarily know that from the outside—or inside, for those hard of hearing. In fact, be careful where you flex with your new third-million-dollar track toy, lest you're aurally shown-up by the slower, less expensive, less exclusive, and surprisingly louder AMG GT R with its trademark AMG snap, crackle, and roar.The M178 LS2 sounds like a McLaren yelling from a padded asylum cell, with the best banshee notes scrubbed into sterilized, no-nonsense whap-whaps when you jab the throttle. Europe's stringent sound regulations no-doubt play a role in the odd hush, but you'd think a 720-hp hand-built AMG flat-plane V-8 would be challenging to render street-legal, let alone tolerable to stand adjacent to while idling. Still, it's a tremendous engine, and the perfect honed titanium hand grenade to sit at the top of Merc's gas-burning weaponry cache until made obsolete by a watermelon-sized electric motor.The Future of the V-8 is SaltyIf you're less of a brand tribalist and more of a general enthusiast of the great and mighty V-8, there is a safe haven from all the plug-in and shush-up on the horizon—you've just gotta be willing to get a little wet from time to time. For the foreseeable future, gas-burnin' boats and the marinized V-8 have solid sea-legs even as the landlubbers turn zappy, and that's not something at risk of changing overnight.While the bloodlines of the automotive V-8 sprouted out like a river delta, with each iteration expressing unique character and range of application, the marinized V-8 is less about personality than it is pure, uncut power. Don't expect your flotilla of V-8 cigarette boats to return the same experiential variance of a Ferrari V-8 against Chevrolet's finest smallblock, but hey—it's nice to know the V-8 thunder will still peal long after the echoes fade on shore.We came to this realization lounging on a dock down in the Florida Keys, specifically as we watched the latest collaboration between Cigarette Racing and Mercedes-AMG gently bob in the quiet marina. The orange-and-black 41-foot Nighthawk Black Series is the 13th AMG-branded boat to emerge from this partnership, and only the latest in a long dynasty of tremendously potent showcase powerboats from Cigarette Racing.Big names, big power. This waterbound AMG-branded speed-shard packs a cluster of five supercharged outboard V-8s rated for a combined 2,250 hp. Yeah, and you thought you were hot stuff with your C 63. The power-mad waterdogs over at Mercury Racing supply this firepower; an obvious matchup, as Mercury Racing is the biggest name for powertrains in the performance watercraft industry, and a subsidiary of one of the most storied and powerful marine-focused manufacturers in the world.It's fortuitous—and obvious— that Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing would choose Florida as the debut stage for this latest mashup. Boats, big-blocks, and off-shore racing courses through the Sunshine State's sky-blue veins; Cigarette calls Opa-Locka home, while Wisconsin-based Mercury Marine holds deep, deep roots in the peninsula's waters—and not just the salty stuff.An Eight-Cylinder MeccaA short drive southeast of Orlando, a 1,440-acre enclosed lake laps placidly against its heavily wooded shores. On Google Maps, it's billed as Lake Conlin, just one of 50 named lakes in the county, but to the powerboat faithful, it's known by the outlandishly enigmatic moniker of Lake X.In 1957, Mercury founder Carl Kiekhaefer buzzed central Florida in a single-engine prop-plane, scouring the topography for a private lake on which he could conduct secret watercraft testing during the winter season away from the eyes of competitors and ears of annoyed neighbors. The 10,000-and-change acre property containing Lake X was soon purchased, and testing got underway immediately.Lake X soon became known as the off-limits mecca of powerboat development, with rumors growing into legend; up until the early 2000s, if it was fast, if it was loud, and if it was powered by Mercury Racing, it was fine-tuned at Lake X. Regardless if you prefer your feet wet or dry, this unassuming Floridian lake is a holy site in the bible of the V-8. We had to pay our respects.This roadtrip from Miami to Lake X was, in a sense, our decade-early epitaph for Benz's V-8. Our funeral procession was tiny, but meaningful; Mercedes opened the archives and tossed us the keys a 2008 CLK 63 AMG Black Series, one of the most characteristically V-8 AMGs to ever spin a tire in anger. If the flat-plane M178 LS2 is the cutting-edge, sci-fi warp-drive zenith for the Merc V-8, the CLK's 6.2-liter M156 is the heart of an old warship pulled straight from the industrial era.Obviously Old-SchoolIt's got all the mechanical hallmarks of a modern engine—dual-overhead cams, four-valves per cylinder—but out on the arrow-straight backroads lancing through central Florida, it feels like something plucked from the streets of Byzantium. In direct contrast to the clean, crisp guttural blats issued from the current crop of 4.0-liter M178 V-8s, the rear of the Mars Red coupe clattered with dirty, oily thunder. The sound is paleolithic, almost inappropriate; if a medieval peasant heard this metal-on-metal crackle emitting from the bowels of a bone-strewn cave, a raiding party would be assembled.500 hp and 465 lb-ft means it certainly has the hustle to match the roiling heavy metal soundtrack, though progress has sapped our serotonin receptors; hampered by a slow-ish shifting seven-speed automatic transmission, the CLK 63 Black Series offers about as much forward poke as a 2022 Ford Mustang GT; less, actually, as an automatic 'Stang undercuts the CLK by 0.6-seconds in the quarter-mile.But in its prime? What an athlete. In 2008, 500 hp was enough to step on the necks of the contemporaneous BMW M3, poke the eyes of the 911 Turbo, kick sand in Aston Martin's martini, and grab at the heels of the C6 Corvette Z06. The noises make you blush, but the power delivery makes you swoon; power is relatively peaky, encouraging a heavy right foot and deep, deep drinks from that wellspring of torque.Orlando-Based Bond VillainyThe chainlink gate to the Lake X facility arrived in a rush. After rumbling down a tree-lined path, a place-out-of-time greeted us; a back parking lot gives way to a cracked and uneven stretch of concrete that extends from the main structure to the water's edge. The first thing constructed at the testing facility was a channel of concrete sea-walls, sluicing straight into a covered engineering workshop built in 1969 that has the space to house a small marina's worth of boats. There's a distinct spy-thriller vibe to the complex, with large plexiglass dome portals ringing the primary building and peppering the exterior of the disused but oh-so-neat observation tower.For a site so integral to the history of the loud-and-brash marine V-8, Lake X sure is tranquil. Mercury used the lake for testing until the early 2000s, when boats were just too fast for the lake's size. "180 mph shrinks any size," laughed Ken Eckert, facilities manager and engineer. After Kiekhaefer sold the property to entrepreneur Kenneth Kirchman in 1984, the new owner established a foundation dedicated to using the lush grounds and wetlands of Lake X to educate the public on Florida's ecology and wildlife.Mercury returned in 2017, using the historic grounds as a satellite engineering and testing shop. "We can do stuff here in a day that would take five days to do on a public waterway," explained Eckert. "No wake zones, no other boaters, and no one to get in our way."It's a small, wild capsule of serenity teeming with life. As we staged photos of the bright red CLK, a flock of wild turkeys strutted through the adjacent field. A gator floated lazily by one of the seawalls, while a heron waded a few yards down the shore. Inside the workshop, an engineer stripped down a 600-hp V-12 outboard for inspection.V-8 Boats Forever? Maybe, Maybe NotMuch like an empty race track, Lake X was eerily quiet without the one-note roar of a powerboat. Luckily, I was just there on a quiet day; chatting with the folks at Cigarette Racing and Mercury Marine instilled in me the belief that the marine V-8 has a long, long life ahead of it—but not without change.There's far less regulations and oversight levied onto marine engines, and depending on the engine, most units are uncatalyzed. "Is there potential for stricter regulations going forward? Most definitely," said Eckert. "That's certainly on our radar, and as everything we do, we look to the future. If the regulations change, I am 100-percent confident we could seamlessly change with them."As of right now, widespread adoption and development of purely electric boats is unlikely, due to the aforementioned lack of legislative pressure, a nonexistent charging infrastructure, and the dramatic inefficiency of electric marine drivetrains relative to the electric car. Still, there are moves being made behind the scenes. Mercury Marine's parent company—the Brunswick Corporation—just acquired a battery company last September "to extend its leadership position in electrical systems innovation," the company said in a release. As of right now, this expansion might just be for small-scale lithium-ion battery systems for auxiliary power, but this seems like a logical first step toward serious electrification.So, no speedy-but-silent powerboats for now. But in the future? "I think you'll see electric outboards in smaller vessels to start with, and you know how it goes—you've got to start developing the technology to make strides," Eckert mused. "I'm confident that over the years, it won't be an uncommon thing to see an electric powerboat." Then, the V-8 might truly begin its final decline. Maybe.If that dreary dystopia ever arrives, perhaps we'll pull one of Cigarette Racing's AMG collaborations out of storage and go for one final blast. We know just the lake for the occasion.
The Russian incursion into Ukraine this week has thrown European and global markets into a frenzy, as automakers work to determine how big an impact the war, and any economic sanctions against aggressor Russia, will have on supply lines, production, and workforces who could now be in direct danger. Europe's home automakers will be hit the hardest, as supply lines from Ukraine and Russia freeze up while bombs get dropped. However, Hyundai and Kia's massive manufacturing presence in Russia now presents a huge headache for the Korean group, as well.Multiple global automakers have reportedly halted shipments of local dealer orders to Russian partners, effective February 24, the date of the Russian invasion, according to letters apparently sent from the automakers and viewed by the Russian-language business paper Vedomosti. Russian dealers for Audi and Chevrolet reportedly received notices, and Vedomosti claims VW and Skoda are prepping notices of their own. Porsche and Land Rover's Tata Group had also halted shipments starting the date of the Russian invasion. If this is all true, and it likely is, it's unclear exactly what conditions forced the shut down—but it probably isn't going to be easy getting your car through Russian customs right now.The report says Audi will inform its partners on its plans to resume shipments down the road. Any inventory from automakers that's already passed through Russian customs will still be delivered. The quick move to halt shipments to Russia on the part of most automakers is likely precautionary and temporary, and more to do with establishing new logistics options adapted to an environment now at war, and in the environment of new global sanctions against Russia. Companies obviously face public pressure to not appear too cozy with a current aggressor, so the shipment freeze is likely an indefinite delay until everybody calms down.If you're wondering if the U.S. government and its allies' sanctions against Russia will further exacerbate the ongoing semiconductor shortage, the answer is of course. While no semiconductors or raw materials used to make them will be flowing into Russia, much of the raw materials come from Ukraine, which probably won't be exporting them for a while.Hyundai + Kia In RussiaThe Korean automotive sector is hugely reliant on Ukrainian-provided rare gases like neon, krypton, xenon, and more, everything from EV battery cells to superconductors are now on an even tighter supply line, and prices will go up. And speaking of gas, the kind you use to fill up your car at the pump likely will get more expensive in the coming weeks as energy prices rise globally, especially if European nations abstain from Russian fuels in response to its attack on Ukraine.Hyundai Group, which Kia also operates through, first established itself with a factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2010 and recently purchased a former General Motors facility to renovate for Hyundai Tucson, Palisade, and Kia Sportage production for export to North America and the rest of Europe this year. The automakers combined currently produce more than 230,000 cars annually in Russia.That's just what they build there—Hyundai Group sold 373,132 vehicles in the Russian market in 2021, holding the largest market share; Hyundai accounts for 10.3 percent and Kia 12.3 percent of Russia's total vehicle market share.The outbreak of war and the onslaught of economic and financial sanctions against Russia now put all of Hyundai and Kia global business in jeopardy and will severely damage the national Korean economy, as well. The Korea Times says "Korean conglomerates" sold $2.5 billion worth of cars to Russia in 2021, plus an additional $1.45 billion worth of car parts and components.Cars and their parts previously accounted for 44 percent of Korea's annual export volume to Russia, which will likely be severely hindered by American and European sanctions looking to cut trade and handicap Russia's economy.Kia takes home four prizes at the annual Russian Car of the Year awardsHyundai + Kia in UkraineHyundai also operates a local sales office in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Kia produces the Rio sedan and hatchback at the ZAZ factory in Zaporozhye, Ukraine. On January 28, 2022, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a state of emergency in the region and established plans to evacuate Korean nationals out of Ukraine, the Korea Times reports.Hankook Tires, another Korean company, evacuated its sales office in the country. An official from Hyundai offered that the company has "been closely monitoring the situation as the Russian-Ukraine crisis is expected to bring about an economic slump and weak ruble," in a statement to the Korea Herald.The war in Ukraine could also severely impact global EV battery cell production, as the nation is the world's third-largest producer of nickel and aluminum, two highly valuable resources necessary in battery and EV components. Additionally, Ukraine produces almost 70 percent of the world's neon gas needed for components like chips, which are already suffering a shortage that has driven the average new vehicle transaction price in the U.S. to unbelievable new heights. It will likely only grow higher this year.Ukraine is also a critical global supplier of rare gases used in all sorts of high-tech equipment and components, and the war will severely hinder those supplies and likely cause prices to rise. This, too, will have a specific impact on the Korean economy, as the nation imports 30.7 percent of its krypton, 23 percent of its neon, and 17.8 percent of its xenon rare gases for component production from Ukraine, according to the Korea Herald. South Korean-based automaker SsangYong also imports raw materials like aluminum from the region.The Korean Automotive Manufacturer's Association fears up to 29 percent of its group sales could drop this year, anticipating a similar impact to when it witnessed a 62 percent drop in auto exports after the Russian incursion in Crimea in 2014, which also brought about international sanctions against Russia.New Sanctions on RussiaIn response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would immediately target the core infrastructure of Russian financial and some economic institutions. Sanctions target banks such as the state-backed Sberbank, VTB Bank, Otkritie, Sovcombank and Novikombank. The move is meant to ban any trading with U.S. institutions and freeze any U.S. assets held by the companies and their executives.This first wave of sanctions from the U.S. and its allies, announced on February 24, did not specifically target Russia's auto sector or any enterprises directly involved. However, some major economic enterprises related to autos were targeted, including Russia's Sovcomflot shipping company and Russian Railways, as well as much of the Russian energy sector.Russia is currently the third-largest supplier of nickel in the world and provides 40 percent of global palladium resources used for manufacturing catalytic converters, according to NBC. In return, Russia also relies on foreign supply lines for as much as 25 percent of its home automotive production, which could be heavily sequestered by new sanctions. The Russian Gaz Group has already announced that it will have to halt production as sanctions are levied against Russia.Analyst Sam Abuelsamid from Guidehouse Insights told NBC the big question regarding sanctions comes down to China: "If we put heavy sanctions on Russia, they might respond and cut us off from many of the things we need," including circuit boards and other raw materials, such as the lithium needed for electric vehicles. However, following the first wave of sanctions, this may not be a serious risk.J.D. Power and LMC Automotive analysts have downgraded projected global light vehicle production this year to 85.8 million units for 2022, a cut of 400,000 vehicles this year, Reuters says. However, the overall global volume of light vehicle sales is still expected to rise by 5 percent.Renault + Stellantis + Toyota Have Russia Trouble, TooOther major global automakers, including Renault and its affiliate brands, Stellantis and its affiliates, and Toyota, also have a significant manufacturing presence in the region. Renault has already announced that production in its Moscow, Russia, facility would have to stop from February 28 to March 5, citing "tighter border controls in transit countries and the forced need to change a number of established logistics routes," but failing to mention the Russian invasion of Ukraine outright, according to Reuters.Renault Group makes 8 percent of its core earnings in Russia, the automaker's second-largest market after its home of France. Russia's top automaker, AvtoVAZ, is partially owned by Renault, as well.Stellantis operates a car factory in Kaluga, Russia, where it also manufactures Mitsubishi models. Production of Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel cars reportedly doubled in Kaluga in 2021, and overall sales for Stellantis in Russia grew by 65 percent. There were plans earlier this year to start exporting commercial vehicles from the factory, which have now been interrupted.Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares commented on the situation on a conference call earlier this week: "If we cannot supply the plant, if that is the reality, we have either to transfer that production to other plants, or just limit ourselves," via NBC. The factory only exported about 11,000 commercial vehicles last year, a fraction of more than 2 million total light commercial vehicles the company sold.A Stellantis spokesperson told MotorTrend that the company is "monitoring the situation carefully in real time, and if necessary we will take appropriate measures in the interest of our employees and their families. We currently see no significant impact on our business operations, including our manufacturing plant."Considering the light amount of commercial exports from the Kaluga factory, it's more likely Stellantis' local Russian operation takes the bigger hit, though broader supply chain issues will still negatively impact the global Stellantis portfolio.Toyota has been building the Camry in Russia for decades and has a