That's Skewed Up! Why Next Gen NASCAR Racers Are Dog-Tracking In Practice

General Motors created big hype at CES 2022 with the unveiling of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, its most affordable full-size electric pickup truck yet. But equally key was the announcement that a $30,000 electric Chevrolet Equinox crossover and a larger electric Chevrolet Blazer SUV are coming in 2023.The trio of high-profile Chevy vehicles were among the initiatives outlined by General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra as part of her virtual keynote address at CES 2022. Barra delivered her address virtually from the Fox Theater in Detroit. She used the stage to show the new electric Chevy Silverado (and a new Trail Boss off-road variant) and add that GM will be introducing electric heavy-duty vehicles as well by 2025.Electric 2024 Chevrolet Equinox Due Fall 2023But back to that 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, which will go on sale in the fall of 2023. Launching with both fleet and retail versions, the electric Equinox will be several notches less boring than the gas-fed model on sale today. The first released images show a crossover that is more sleek and modern than a conventional Equinox, with more dramatically sculpted sides.We know there will be at least two trim levels: LT and RS. One image shows a two-tone red and black interior (obviously the RS) and enough screens to cover almost two-thirds of the dash. Another image shows a silver interior with a more conservative silver and black color exterior scheme, with more body-color elements on the nose than the aggressive RS.The Equinox EV was designed to offer an affordable, high-volume electric vehicle for the Chevy brand as GM attempts to offer EVs in all segments and price points.Electric Blazer Will Be Shown This YearBefore the Equinox arrives, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV will go on sale in the spring of 2023. Barra did not offer a visual preview of the Blazer, though at least at this juncture we're wondering how daring GM's designers will get with that model, given how saucy the Equinox EV looks. In Chevy's lineup today the Blazer (pictured above)is far sportier and overtly Camaro-inspired relative to the conventional, fairly conservative Equinox; should that hierarchy hold with these EV versions, buckle in the for the electric Blazer.Even though the Blazer will come sooner, GM has provided few details. We are promised it will debut later this year and will be priced right—which is key given the conventional Blazer suffered from a high sticker price that deterred some buyers who were otherwise attracted to its muscular good looks.Ultium Platform for AllThe new electric vehicles will use GM's Ultium EV platform created in 2020 and which powers the 2022 GMC Hummer EV electric pickup now on sale.Still to come are electric versions of the Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and a number of SUVs including the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq mid-size SUV, the Equinox and Blazer, and crossovers planned for the Buick brand.Cadillac will also have the Celestiq flagship limo-like sedan with a hatch instead of a trunk.Ultra Cruise Coming on CelestiqThe handbuilt Cadillac Celestiq will be among the first vehicles to be equipped with UItra Cruise, which offers door-to-door hands-free driving, Barra said. Ultra Cruise goes into production in 2023 and can handle the driving with no input in about 95 percent of driving scenarios, Barra says. Soon it will be OK for use on all paved roads in the U.S. and Canada.Ultra Cruise is the next level up from Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology. Super Cruise will be available on 22 models by 2023 as the automaker continues to roll it out across all lineups. Super Cruise has been enhanced to provide more functions such as automated lane changes.GM says it will be the first company to use Qualcomm Technologies' SnapDragon Ride Platform for advanced driver assistance technology that incorporates software developed inhouse by GM. "Co-developed by GM and Qualcomm for Ultra Cruise, the new computer architecture will have the processing capability of several hundred personal computers but is only about the size of two laptops placed on top of one another," GM says.BrightDrop Orders Adding UpOn the commercial vehicle side, GM's new BrightDrop division announced further orders by FedEx and a sourcing agreement with Walmart to supply the BrightDrop EV600 electric delivery van and add the smaller EV410 when it goes into production in early 2023.After an initial order of 500 vans, FedEx is adding 2,000 more over the next few years and negotiating another 20,000 in the years to follow. BrightDrop is also working with FedEx to meet the needs for a larger 1,000-cubic-foot van in the future. Under the naming formula already established, it could be the EV1000.Walmart announced it will add a fleet of 5,000 BrightDrop vans, starting in 2023, to expand its InHome delivery service. Walmart also uses Cruise for autonomous deliveries.Barra said GM still aims to deliver its first personal autonomous vehicle as soon as mid-decade.GM, Honda and Cruise are working to test and validate the Cruise Origin self-driving rideshare vehicle that is on track for commercialization in coming months.This is the second year that GM has used CES to outline a wide swath of plans and ideas centered on a future of electric and autonomous mobility.

The double whammy of increasing fuel and vehicle prices has a lot of SUV shoppers not knowing which way to turn. A more efficient modern ride could ease the pain at the pump, but with inflation and rising borrowing costs, many are delaying big-ticket purchases like new cars. Expanding a search to include slightly used SUVs with strong fuel economy might be the way to go if you're looking for an alternative.Knowledge is power, and in our methodology below, you'll find how we came to our tally. Most of the SUVs on this list are subcompact and compact crossovers, but a single midsize offering also managed to qualify. All received an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 27 mpg or greater, and a couple of the entries can be found priced from roughly $15,000. Keep reading to find out which used SUVs under $30,000 have the best fuel economy.About MotorTrend's methodology: The Buyer's Guide recognizes how important a used car purchase can be, which is why we take this so seriously. Our methodology considers many of the same factors in our new-car rankings system, starting with value. The experts at IntelliChoiceconduct extensive research to assess long-term value on 3-5-year-old vehicles, which means our picks start at the 2018 model year. IntelliChoice considers resale value, the cost of insurance, maintenance costs, fuel costs, and more. We prioritize models receiving a Good or Excellent IntelliChoice used-car value rating. An above-average J.D. Powerquality and reliability rating is also a plus. Any vehicle we recommend must have earned anIIHSTop Safety Pick award or NHTSA overall five-star safety rating, and have some used-car inventory with under 80,000 miles (the upper limit on many automaker CPO programs).

When Acura showed the Integra Prototype in November of last year, the reaction was overwhelming. Some applauded the iconic sport compact's return, while others gave its style thumbs down. To the surprise of no one, based on Honda/Acura's history of presenting near-production-ready vehicles as "concepts" or "prototypes" before debuting their final renditions,  the 2023 Acura Integra looks just like last year's prototype. The only things missing are the prototype's graphics package, yellow paint, and the cool-looking dual exhausts also painted in yellow. Its swoopy roofline, liftback tailgate and classic five-door shape pay homage to the original Integra hatchbacks from the '80s, while its new powertrain and chassis are lifted straight from the latest Honda Civic.The 2023 Acura Integra takes over from the outgoing ILX as the gateway to the brand. And it's a smart strategy. While some Integra enthusiasts may be disappointed with the new car's design, others will see it as an opportunity to get a spirited, entry-level car without spending a fortune—or even just a more luxurious Civic with a sportier bent. The Integra will launch in three trims—Integra, A-Spec and A-Spec with the Technology Package—in the first half of this year, with a price tag starting around $30,000—pretty much where today's regular-grade Civic hatchback tops out.The Design Is Loaded With References to Early IntegrasPenned by Acura's studio in Japan, the new Integra carries Acura's design language first seen on the 2019 MDX. Despite sharing its platform and overall shape with the 2022 Civic hatchback, the Honda and Acura don't share any sheetmetal. In fact, the Integra is a massive 6.8 inches longer, 1.1 inches wider, and 0.2 inch lower than the Civic Hatchback, though both cars share the same 107.7-inch wheelbase.The Integra marks the first use of Acura's pentagonal grille without a frame, a feature we saw on the prototype that adds a touch of sharpness to the front end. Like other Acuras, the grille is flanked by kinked LED daytime running lights and jewel eye headlights. From the profile, the most attractive part is the C-pillar, where the roofline sharply drops down to give the Integra A a classic liftback design. The rear's soft character lines blend in nicely with the rest of the car, while its ducktail spoiler and dual exhaust lean hard into the sporty presence that Acura is hoping its Integra gives off.Like early Integra models, the Integra name is embossed in the front and rear bumpers under the driver-side headlight and passenger-side taillight, a cue that we saw on the prototype and was (thankfully) kept on the production model.A Roomy, Luxurious Space InsideThough the Integra's exterior design was previewed by the prototype, this is the first time we've truly seen the cabin. (We nabbed a brief look at a working prototype's interior recently, though it was mostly covered up at the time.) There's no masking the Honda Civic ties, but Acura took some of the best traits from the (admittedly excellent, surprisingly upmarket) Civic's interior and built on top of it, ladling on extra luxuries and some unique touches. Among the surprises? That the cabin design takes a departure from Acura's other current models by ditching those cars' big, bold rotary knob in the center console for selecting drive modes. The Civic's slim toggle switch on the console for handling the same task remains.Besides the soft leather and suede inserts on the seats, the one thing that will impress Integra drivers is the standard 10.2-inch digital dashboard display. Dubbed Acura Precision Cockpit, the screen takes place right in front of the driver, offering modern graphics and multiple display modes that make the instrument cluster unique (a similar feature is only available on top-spec Civics). A 7.0-inch central touchscreen is standard, though top trims get a 9.0-inch touchscreen. The smaller display comes with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the bigger screen adds wireless connection with Amazon Alexa integrated. Those who select the A Spec with the Tech Package will also get a head-up display and four USB ports instead of one.We've praised the Civic's interior for its cool full-width air vent design, and Acura kept parts of it in the Integra. Although the vents don't run along the entire dashboard like in the Honda, its diamond pattern design is unique, and its functionality is the same.As far as equipment goes, the 16-speaker ELS Studio premium audio system is standard on the top trim, while an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat is standard on the base model. Those who get the base or A-Spec trims will get synthetic leather seats and a manual-operated passenger's seat.Thanks to the hatch body style and longer-than-Civic dimensions, the Integra is quite roomy. The rear seats fold completely flat, leaving a ton of space for large items like a surfboard, or even allowing short people to sleep in it. The drawback to that sultry roofline is headroom for the rear seat occupants is tighter, meaning tall passengers will feel the headliner touching the top of their heads.Body By Acura, Powertrain By HondaThe 2023 Acura Integra will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbo-four engine sending 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. A CVT transmission is standard, though a six-speed manual with a limited slip differential is available. That comes with a bit of a catch, as the manual is only available in the top trim, but it will be offered at no cost. Automatic versions will get paddle shifters. If these setups sound familiar, it's because they're lifted from the Civic; however, the turbo engine is the version from the sportier Civic Si—as is the six-speed manual transmission—while the CVT is borrowed from the lower-output 1.5-liter turbo engine offered in the regular Civic EX and Touring models. Honda doesn't offer the Si with any automatic, making the Integra's entry-level setup (200-hp turbo and CVT) unique. Ditto the combination of Si power in a hatchback body; the Civic Si is only offered as a sedan.For enthusiasts, the A-Spec with the Technology Package will be the trim to get solely due to the availability of the six-speed and adaptive suspension (besides, of course, its attractive equipment). A-Spec models also get the optional 18-inch wheels (compared to 17s in the base model), though there will be 19-inch wheels available as dealer-installed options.Four drive modes are available—Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual. The latter allows the driver to change the suspension, steering and transmission settings individually.So, How Much?Acura says the Integra will start around $30,000 and will max out in the mid-$30,000s. And from what we've seen in person, Integra will bring great value to shoppers. It will be a good alternative to those considering a Mercedes-Benz CLA, BMW 2 Series or Audi A3, and it might even steal some buyers from the Civic hatchback, which maxes out at $30,865. While some might bemoan the overall, well, Civic nature of the Integra, know this: The latest Civic is a premium-feeling, slick-driving compact. A version with power in line with the sportier Civic Si that also combines a ton of extra luxuries and even more upmarket styling with a practical hatchback body sounds pretty appealing, especially given it won't cost much more than the Honda.Reservations for Integra are now being taken, and the first 500 buyers will have a chance to get a limited-edition NFT. We look forward to driving Integra in May of this year, with the vehicle arriving to U.S. dealerships soon after that.