2023 Toyota Sequoia First Look: Mean, Green Giant
Sequoia trees are thought to be the oldest living things on Earth, so it's appropriate that Toyota's full-size SUV is named for them: The soon-to-be-outgoing Sequoia dates from 2008, and over the three thousand years—okay, 13—it's been on sale, we've watched it slip from first to last in comparison to its competitors. Finally, it looks like a new Sequoia sapling is born: Toyota has revealed the 2023 Sequoia, with a few surprises that make it feel like an SUV for the ages.
If you think the current Sequoia is a bit too plain—and certainly if you think it's too old—the new one should address your concerns. Up front, the new Sequoia shares its curves and creases with the all-new 2022 Tundra pickup truck. Out back, they've been re-interpreted a bit, with a fenderline crease that starts just ahead of the rear door handles and continues straight back to the taillights. It's less doughy and anonymous than the old model, more aggressive—traits backed up by what's under the hood.
So, What's Under the Hood?
For those keeping score in the Toyotaverse, the new Sequoia one-ups the (also Land Cruiser-based) Lexus LX600 in the power department. While both large SUVs share a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6, the Sequoia's is hybridized, assisted by an electric motor. With 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, it thus bests the Lexus by 28 hp and 104 lb-ft. The hybridized six is an era away from the old Sequoia's 5.7-liter V-8, which made a paltry—by comparison—381 hp and 401 lb-ft. While we have yet to see official efficiency numbers, we can't imagine the Sequoia's hybrid powertrain won't improve on the LX's 19-mpg fuel economy; it's guaranteed to be better than the old Sequoia's mid-teens mpg.
And doesn't that meaty hybrid sound like it has boat-towing power? Oh, you betcha. Toyota says the new Sequoia will tow up to 9,000 lbs, a 22% improvement over the outgoing Sequoia despite giving up two cylinders to its V-8. A Tow Tech Package, which (among other things) steers the trailer in reverse, helps alleviate some causes of towing apprehension.
Don't Say Land Cruiser...
Speaking of the Land Cruiser—which we swear we were just a minute ago—we found a possible explanation to the demise of Toyota's former flagship SUV (other than its relative lack of sales): The Sequoia will be available in a new range-topping Capstone trim, as recently announced for the Tundra pickup, pushing it into the old Land Cruiser's price turf. With 22-inch chrome wheels, two-tone black-and-white semi-aniline leather, and open-pore walnut wood distinguish this model from lesser Sequoias, which include Platinum, Limited and SR5 models.
Another quick aside: The Sequoia shares its basic bones with the new Tundra, of course, but also with the newest Land Cruiser sold globally. While it is not a replacement for the iconic Land Cruiser 4x4, which is renowned for its off-road prowess, it is at least related to that SUV.
To help fill in the void left in its lineup by the Land Cruiser and to build on the previous-generation Sequoia's off-road offerings, Toyota will once again offer a TRD Pro model, which includes Fox internal bypass shocks, a forward skid plate, multi-terrain drive modes, and Toyota's Crawl Control mode, which maintains a slow, steady speed uphill or down. You'll find plenty of TRD badging inside and out, and this version is only available with four-wheel drive.
If the TRD Pro is too, uh, pro for you, SR5 and Limited 4x4 models can be had with a lighter-duty TRD Off-Road package with a locking rear differential, specially-tuned springs and Bilstein shocks, unique 18-inch wheels, as well as the terrain modes and Crawl Control from the TRD Pro package. SR5 models are also offered with an on-road-tuned TRD Sport package with 20-inch wheels, TRD-tuned springs and shocks, and aluminum pedals. Two-wheel drive is standard and part-time four-wheel drive is optional on all on SR5, Limited, Platinum, and—surprisingly—Capstone trim levels. The Sequoia once again utilizes a fully independent suspension, though since 2008 more competitors have added this feature in place of a more traditional (and pickup-truck-like) live rear axle, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
Safely In Modern Territory
As with other Toyota models, a full safety and driver-aid package is standard, including collision detection with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and correction, automatic high beams, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistance with automatic braking.
Inside, the Sequoia is just as new and fresh-appearing. Also, like before, the dashboard and steering wheel are essentially carryover from the Tundra pickup. There is an available large (14-inch!) central touchscreen, chunky air vents, and an available digital gauge cluster. What's important here is that nothing looks like it was designed in 2007—a key step forward.
Toyota will build the Sequoia at the same San Antonio, Texas, plant that assembles the Tundra. We'll have pricing and fuel economy data as we get closer to launch, which will come when the weather gets warm; Sequoias are scheduled to arrive at Toyota dealerships this summer. We're looking forward to seeing how this modernized old tree branches into the full-size SUV space, which is now chock full of relatively new contenders, including the recently redesigned Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and all-new Jeep Wagoneer.
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The Honda Civic isn't just the car that turned one of the largest motorcycle companies into a big-time automaker. It's also the car that lit up the small-car performance movement. Before the Civic, compact cars with satisfying driving dynamics, reliability, and generally not sucking just didn't exist. It helped cement Honda's reputation for affordable, quality vehicles here in America, and the Civic has changed just as much as the sort of people who buy, drive, and modify them have. Now in its eleventh generation and with more than 22 million of them built, the Civic is a mainstay of the auto industry, a top seller in its class, and even carries performance cred thanks to its generations of sporty Si models and—available elsewhere for years but only recently here—hardcore Type R variants. So, let's take a deeper look at one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history as it turns 50 years old in 2022:
Mecum is auctioning a rare 1942 Harley-Davidson XA military motorcycle from World War II that boasts many early engineering firsts in the company's long history. Developed after the U.S. and its allies came up against superior BMW motorcycles during the war, it aimed to beat the Nazis at their own game. Now one newly restored example can be yours.The XA was an attempt to overcome the Nazis' all-terrain superiority, particularly in North Africa, and to address issue that American bikes had involving chains in rough terrain. Harley landed on a shaft drive setup, solving that problem. And the most expedient way to engineer a shaft-drive bike was to reverse-engineer an existing one, like the excellent overhead-cam BMW R75M used by the enemy. Perhaps unable to get its hands on an R75M, the XA copied the civilian flathead R71, which wasn't quite as well-optimized for the task.Despite being a copycat, be reassured that the XA is still a true Harley-Davidson. Around 1,000 XAs were built in Milwaukee for the U.S. Army during the war, according to the Mecum, and it resulted in many production firsts for the company. It is claimed to be Harley-Davidson's first shaft-drive, four-speed, foot-shift and hand-clutch motorcycle, and also the first equipped with two carburetors. The motor's opposed cylinders were positioned "across the frame" for improved cooling in the wind compared to Harley's longitudinal V-twin designs of the time. It was also the first Harley to feature a rear-suspension plunger, and had a top speed of over 60 MPH back in 1942. The XA Type II (this example is a Type I) got Harley's first telescopic forks, which didn't reappear on Harley-Davidson designs again until years after the war.The XA, innovative as it was relative to Harley's native bikes, wasn't a success. Consider that Harley produced over 80,000 units of its V-twin motorcycles during the war, while the XA was only ordered for testing. Ultimately, the Army declined to order any more, and its role fell to the Jeep, far superior for general purpose tactical mobility. You may find it a little more adaptable to suit your interests, which are hopefully more peaceful.This isn't the first time this exact motorcycle has been auctioned in recent years. It appears to have previously been auctioned by Mecum in 2015, according to the matching plate numbers in both sets of images, where it failed to meet reserve at a high bid of $30,000. It was expected to go for as much as $50,000, but this time it's offered with no reserve.The restoration finished this XA with leather saddle-bags, a beautiful speedometer detail, and according to the listing, the auction lot includes a special mounted case for a period-appropriate "non-firing" Thompson sub-machine gun that is apparently included in the deal. The auction is in Vegas, in case that wasn't obvious.Whatever else this XA is, it's a newly restored WWII Harley-Davidson that's also particularly rare and interesting, and at least we know the bike should run very cool and catch plenty of attention. The lot is up for auction with no reserve until Jan. 29, according to the Mecum website.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Tesla's rumored $25,000 electric car. "We are currently not working on the $25,000 car," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during a call to report the automaker's stellar fourth-quarter and full-year earnings. The reason: He has too much on his plate.Hmmm. Well, he does have two new car plants, in Texas and Berlin, pumping out pre-production models and awaiting final certification to begin delivering salable vehicles to customers. And he said he will use this year to scout locations for even more plants and could announce decisions by the end of the year.But Tesla won't be introducing any new vehicles in 2022, Musk said. With parts shortages, adding new models would take away semiconductor chips and other key components from existing models that also need them. So, it's not just the $25,000 car we won't see this year, it's everything on your wish list, including the Cybertruck, Semi, or a new Roadster. The company hasn't rolled out an all-new nameplate since introducing the Model Y crossover in 2019.Tesla will "likely" introduce new models in 2023, Musk told investors on the call.The CEO did clarify that a battery shortage is not the reason for the much-delayed Cybertruck. The problem, it seems, is there is a lot of tech in the triangular truck and the company seems to think if it cannot be offered affordably, people won't buy it. Perhaps Musk fears shoppers might opt for a Ford F-150 Lighting or Chevrolet Silverado EV in the $42,000 price range instead? And it will take time to achieve economies of scale to help bring prices down. Musk said he wants to eventually make 250,000 Cybertrucks a year but it will "take a moment" to get to that level. Setting aside the tech involved in bringing a new electric pickup into this world—that kind of volume is tough for any new pickup truck; the truck market is notoriously harsh to newcomers. Just ask the Nissan Titan, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tundra, none of which trade in the vast numbers of the Big Three's full-size trucks.Tesla is also busy working on Optimus Subprime, a robot that will move parts around the factory floor, a seeming distraction from, well, the obvious lack of new product.And there is this biggee: A self-driving car Elon says will be available this year. In fact, he will be shocked if it is not. And those who questioned any of his other product plans on the call were admonished for not understanding just how significant the self-driving capability is. Consider our wrists slapped. Also consider that this isn't the first time Tesla has claimed it would bring out a self-driving car soon—a breakthrough that, while promised in 2019, hasn't happened yet.
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