Introducing Our 2022 Performance Vehicle of the Year Competition: A New Era

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

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

kia forte Full OverviewThe average price of a new-car transaction has been climbing higher than ever in recent years, and buying into a brand-new car that's also fun to drive is a harder feat than ever before. Fortunately, Kia upsets that notion with the Forte GT, the highest performance variant of the automaker's compact sedan.The Forte GT belongs to Kia's line of GT models, which are the sportiest versions of its cars. Kia equips the Forte GT with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine developing 201 and 195 lb-ft of torque, 18-inch alloy wheels, stiffer sport suspension, and a sport exhaust system. The dual-exit setup is startlingly loud upon cold start, which we imagine will be a draw for buyers looking for a compact with more zest than the run-of-the-mill Forte. The model we tested was equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but Kia also offers a GT Manual trim that comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires for $1,000 more.How Does It Drive? Gun the throttle, and there's plenty of torque steer to be had, making the Forte GT feel feisty off the line. It'll sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is right where it needs to be in its segment. The power remains plentiful when called upon on the freeway even when every seat is filled with adult passengers. Under steady throttle application, the transmission provides clean, snappy shifts. However, in low-speed traffic or when driving on streets with repeated stop signs, the dual clutch gearbox's weaknesses are revealed. It tends to buck under braking right after accelerating and also tends to hesitate in reverse.When we sampled the Forte GT in the canyons, the transmission was in its element. Under smooth throttle inputs, it revs out to redline and delivers crisp upshifts. It preemptively shifts down under braking. Using the paddle shifters increases the driver engagement and gives further control over the dual-clutch transmission's behavior.Under enthusiastic cornering, the Forte GT is willing to play. Despite rolling on all-season tires, the compact sedan hangs on in the corners. This was supported by our instrumented testing where the Forte GT pulled an average of 0.87 g on our skidpad, which is better than average for compact sedans equipped with comparable tires.The Forte GT has three drive mode settings: Comfort, Smart, and Sport. Comfort has the most relaxed steering feel and throttle responsiveness, while changing over to Sport turns up the steering weight and wakes up the drivetrain. Road test editor Chris Walton noted that the Forte GT has "talkative steering and good balance on the skidpad." However, he also commented, "My only complaint is that the transmission isn't quite intelligent enough to downshift and hold a gear on the skidpad even in Sport mode."During our instrumented testing, the Kia Forte GT stopped consistently from 60 to 0 mph in 122 feet. It has decent brake pedal feel and bite, allowing the driver to smoothly modulate the brake pedal. Under hard braking into a corner at the track, the Kia Forte GT's tail end exhibited a tendency to skid out, but this contributes to its eagerness and playfulness on winding roads. The car's overall communicative nature makes it easy to work the sedan into a rhythm and tackle technical routes with poise.The Forte GT is at its best on curvy roads and at its worst in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The dual-clutch transmission copes poorly with stop-and-go jams, and the stiff suspension jars occupants when the car travels over uneven or craggy surfaces. Prospective buyers ought to bear this in mind when considering a Forte GT, as most folks likely won't want to put up with its non-adaptive sport-tuned suspension setup.Are Features the Forte's Forte? The Forte GT benefits from metal pedal covers, contrast stitching, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel that feels great in the hand. Although Forte GT's interior looks sporty, it has already started to look dated despite the current generation's debut for the 2018 model year. Hard plastics cover most surfaces, although the door cards and armrests have soft padding. Much of the competition has eclipsed the Forte's interior design with cleaner, better-looking cabins.Kia offers the GT2 package for $2,200 which includes a number of comfort, convenience, and aesthetic features that make the cabin a much more impressive space. Our GT2-equipped test car featured a 10-way adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support, an electric parking brake, auto-hold brakes, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, synthetic leather seats with GT logos, highway driving assist, and forward collision avoidance assist with cyclist detection. It's worth noting that the GT Manual variant of the Forte cannot be equipped with this package.Every Forte GT has a 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, keyless entry and push-button ignition, dual climate control, and full LED exterior lighting. We particularly enjoyed using the Forte GT's remote start feature to enjoy the exhaust's burbling startup from the outside. It's a feature-rich vehicle, especially considering its affordable starting price of $24,515 relative to less sporty competitors within the compact sedan segment.Is the Forte GT Right for Me? All in, this 2022 Kia Forte GT stickers at $26,870 which undercuts its closest rival, the (manual only) 2022 Honda Civic Si by about $1,500. As such, the Kia makes a strong case for itself with loads of available feature content and enough sportiness to thrill when the road gets twisty. However, forking over the extra cash for the Honda could be worth it for drivers planning on regularly driving their car recreationally, especially because the Civic Si uses a standard limited-slip front differential.The Forte GT isn't the most hard-core sports sedan, but it can be enjoyable when driven with enthusiasm and comes with plenty of tech to serve as a well-equipped daily driver. That said, its low starting price and affordability after adding the feature-packed GT2 package leaves room for enthusiasts hungry for more to buy their own summer tires should they want to make their car even more capable. Kudos to Kia for keeping the affordable sporty sedan dream alive.Looks good! More details?2022 Kia Forte GT Specifications BASE PRICE $24,515 PRICE AS TESTED $26,870 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 1.6L Turbo direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4 POWER (SAE NET) 201 hp @ 6,000 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 195 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-clutch auto CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,097 lb (60/40%) WHEELBASE 106.3 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 182.7 x 70.9 x 56.5 in 0-60 MPH 6.4 sec QUARTER MILE 14.9 sec @ 95.8 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 119 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.87 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.6 sec @ 0.67 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 27/35/30 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 420 miles ON SALE Now Show All