10 Most Efficient EVs: Electron Economy

The 40th Tokyo Auto Salon started off with modest fanfare on Friday, as the typical media day routine of press conferences, product debuts, prototype reveals, and the ever-popular TAS staple of pinup girls and race queens transpired.While day two typically devolves into a more frenzied state due to the doors being opened to the public, the COVID situation caused people to mill about in a very civilized manner, as we all social distanced as best as possible. Mask mandates as well as the downloading of a Bluetooth-dependent app that collected data from all nearby smartphone devices to record exposure risks were required for all visitors.As for the contents of the show itself, both the Gazoo Racing GT3 Prototype and the mildly modded orange Fairlady Z at the Nissan booth seemed to maintain the strongest grip on visitor interest, with lengthy lines to get in and see both vehicles remaining in effect nearly up to closing time each day.Surprise encounters included bumping into our old friend Mr. GT-R Hiroshi Tamura, meeting Yamamoto-san of Racing Factory Yamamoto to discuss his bonkers Figaro/S2000 rocket ship (which took home 3rd place for best tuning car), and catching up with the ever enthusiastic Sakamoto-san of Garage Active for some long overdue GT-R talk.All InclusiveBut perhaps the most pleasant surprise was seeing all of the smaller shops and independent builders in attendance. For beneath all of the glitz, glamour, girls, and gregariousness of this event lies a far more meaningful message. Tiny operations, each with a few employees, striving to do things differently and thinking outside of the box are how this whole show started 40 years ago. Today, many of them remain the unsung heroes of all things JDM, who, in our eyes deserve just as much recognition as the big names in the industry.And while companies like Varis secured first place for its race-ready "Kamikaze Yaris," and the tastefully modded Nissan Fairlady Z stole the show for best concept car, it was an off-road van build that surprised people the most when it came to award time.A 4x4 specialty shop by the name of Outclass Cars took home top honors for best family car of the show with a Toyota Alphard van unlike any other. Converted with imported Lexus LM minivan parts sourced from Taiwan and outfitted with a slew of one-off Outclass 4x4 focused components, then topped with a GIWORKS JAPAN rooftop tent and cargo carrier, this build was a real stand-out at the show this year for the public, the press, and apparently the judges as well.It was this very van that made our coverage of Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 possible, as the Tokushima-based crew graciously allowed me to hitch a ride to and from the event in their capable 4x4 caravan. The return trip even allowed room for two more hitchhikers: A gleaming trophy, and a plaque proudly decreeing that a 4x4 grocery-getter could indeed be considered one of the best builds in all of Japan. Talk about icing on that JDM cake!With that said, here are some of the other highlights from the three-day affair trying to get back to full speed after the cancellation of last year's event. Here's hoping to 2023 continues the momentum.This Fairlady Z concept, which combines some old school Z-car with the new Z's already retro-heavy aesthetic, certainly made its mark on the show. The reworked front fascia, mild flares, and orange/black treatment offer a nice clash of old and new without moving too far away from the modern Z.Your eyes aren't deceiving you, this is in fact a six-rotor swap! Tucked neatly into the engine bay of a Eunos Cosmo, this build began in October and though it's not 100% complete just yet, it's getting close. Many of the parts are sourced from Australia, and the plan is to finish it up by spring and put it to the test in both drag and time attack race events.The off-road market in Japan, much like the U.S., is at an all-time high. Interest in rugged options from the aftermarket have increased dramatically and personalized compact offerings, like this GReddy-equipped Suzuki Jimny, are all the rage.The FD chassis RX-7 has long served as a staple at the Tokyo Auto Salon and that won't be changing anytime soon. The fan favorite's classic body lines, capable chassis, and roomy engine compartment make it a tuning platform with almost limitless options. This version was widened and fitted with an array of vents as well as Vision Type DC mirrors that are typically attached to Honda builds.There's really nothing subtle about the new GR Yaris, so it only makes sense that Varis Japan would go wild with its aero add-on, aptly naming the creation "Kamikaze." The hood, portions of the bumper, lip, side skirts, rear diffuser, and wing use a very large carbon fiber weave pattern like that of the brand's side project, Solid and Joker, which we saw back in 2017.Bulked up fenders feature vents on the front pair, similar to Varis' FK8 Type R kit.With so much talk about the new Toyota GR86, many forgot about the previous generation 86—but not this builder. Tubbed front fenders surround a highly-polished single-turbo 2JZ swap outfitted with custom hard lines and a tucked engine harness.Subaru's STI E-RA Challenge Project, which relies on four electric motors to generate just over 1,000 hp, was a show within the show.Exotics were also on hand in pretty large numbers. Liberty Walk brought quite a few cars to TAS, including this Ferrari sporting its signature wide body aero and vented carbon fiber hood.Other LBWK demo cars included this trio of yellow—a Lamborghini, Corvette, and Mclaren.On the wild side, this sixth-generation Toyota Celica received a (partial) MkV Supra front end conversion.

It appears Chrysler has a shiny new future. Analysts and car buyers, if they've been thinking of Chrysler at all, have been wondering what the future would hold for the brand in the post-merger universe (in which the PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles formed Stellantis). Its reduced lineup, like that of sister brand Dodge, led some to imagine vultures circling overhead, despite some assurances from execs that the brand would "rebound" in the future. But the Chrysler Airflow concept shows there's some life in the heritage brand yet.Unveiled at the 2022 CES event, the Chrysler Airflow Concept appears near-production ready, with a feasible crossover SUV shape and fully electric powertrain. However, while Chrysler is using this opportunity to hawk connected features (like OTA updates) and high technology, and the underlying hardware appears likely to hit the road … it won't be for a little while. In the same announcement, Stellantis says its first Chrysler EV won't hit the road until 2025. That vehicle will almost certainly be a production version of this Chrysler Airflow, given its state of development, meaning anyone excited by its appearance will have to wait several years for the opportunity to buy one—while electric crossover rivals like the Nissan Ariya, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Toyota bZ4X will have a significant head start.A little late to the party, the Airflow should have the firepower to compete. The concept (and almost certainly the production version) features two 150-kW electric motors, one at each axle. With EVs, 1+1 does not always equal 2 when it comes to total system output, so don't expect a full 400 horsepower from the dual motor setup. But 375? Sure, that seems reasonable, and puts it right between a regular dual-motor Mach-E and its GT performance version.The battery size isn't detailed but Chrysler promises 350-400 miles on a single charge, which would put it on the highest echelon of contemporary EV range figures—although who knows where things will be in three years, when the Airflow is likely to arrive. Only the Lucid Air and Tesla's Model S currently meet or exceed those figures, the former pairing serious aerodynamic engineering with a massive 118-kWh battery. Given the name, Chrysler would be smart to lean heavily into the aerodynamic angle.Speaking of the name, it's an interesting one to revive. The original Chrysler Airflow was an ambitious, streamlined, futuristic … total market flop. Its curved, streamlined front end heralded the future, but the goofy waterfall grille and overall vibe just didn't gel with 1930s car buyers. It's doubtful anyone who isn't in automotive media or history will care, but it's an interesting naming choice.Inside the Airflow, Chrysler crows about the passenger experience, including the STLA SmartCockpit we told you about earlier. Stellantis isn't wrong about a change in emphasis from the raw hardware to the total ownership experience, especially as driver assistance systems become more capable and the relationship between vehicle and driver changes. Speaking of which, Chrysler will include its STLA AutoDrive Level 3 driver assistance system, which should gain capabilities in the future via OTA updates.Back to the future, let's talk about 2028: that's the date by which Chrysler promises a fully electric slate of vehicles. Remember, Chrysler sells just two vehicles to the general public today: the Pacifica and the 300—the Voyager variant of the Pacifica is now fleet-only, and, well, it's basically only a low-spec Pacifica anyway, not a standalone vehicle. The 300 is almost certainly a dead car walking, given that its Dodge platform-mates have been given termination notices; 2024 is the year that the Challenger and Charger will die in, with replacements confirmed … but as what, is unclear. And the impressive Pacifica Hybrid adequately future-proofs the minivan line, for a while.A new EV muscle car for the Dodge brand will be revealed in 2022, and it's not outside the realm of possibility that it'll be heavily related to the Chrysler Airflow. One EV that's comfortable and sleek, another one gruff and outrageous … seems like a healthy two birds, one platform strategy to us. It's been working for Chrysler and Dodge for decades, so it's sound.Whatever Airflow spawns or inspires, Chrysler says it will lead Stellantis itself into a new era that puts electrification at the fore. The Airflow is undoubtedly important for Stellantis in America, where it is now lagging on EVs, but the way it evolves what the Chrysler brand stands for—and the influence it has on the brand's future product—will be incredibly important. The entire industry is at a crossroads, and Airflow is Chrysler's way forward.

Sifting through 120 years of history of a brand like Cadillac is a delightful exercise in automotive archeology. Cadillac cars have spanned every era and in many ways have come to symbolize what American luxury and performance mean in the context of the automobile. Like every other American brand, Cadillac has experienced numerous ups and downs, has had its reputation burnished and tarnished. But through it all, Cadillac has persevered, and as the electrified vehicle era dawns, the marque once dubbed "the standard of the world" appears poised for yet another renaissance, thanks to EVs like the new Lyriq SUV and coming Celestiq ultra-luxury sedan.So in celebration of Cadillac's 120 years as a going concern (the Cadillac Automobile Company was formed on August 22, 1902 and named after the founder of the City of Detroit), we decided to pick 12 of what we think are the coolest and otherwise most significant cars Cadillac has produced. This is in no way an exhaustive list, and as a result we left numerous vehicles off that no doubt deserve to be on it. But that's what makes a brand like Cadillac special—there are so many to choose from. In order from oldest to newest, we hope you enjoy our 12-car trip through Cadillac's rich and storied history.