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| The Optiq is the smallest revealed of Cadillac's "IQ" EV SUVs. |
If you’ve been paying attention to news, you will likely be aware that Stellantis (formerly known as FCA) is in a bit of financial and inventory trouble. Sales for all brands are way down, including Ram and Jeep. Due to these factors, and to better balance out inventory levels, the company has announced a temporary halt in production at its Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack (DACM). This facility assembles the Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L. In addition, 312 temporary and seasonal workers and 105 full-time employees will be laid off. Production will resume in early October.
Separate Update: GM has also temporarily halted production at their Flint, Michigan truck assembly plant that produces the Silverado and Sierra and at their Arlington, Texas plant where the Tahoe, Escalade and Yukon are built. However, this isn’t related to inventory or sales. This halt is due to suppliers being impacted by Hurricane Helene. GM has not commented when production will resume, but their goal is to resume operations “as quickly and as safely as possible for their employees and communities”.
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| Kia has been teasing a truck for some time now, but whether or not the U.S. will get it is doubtful. |
It’s unclear if the Tasman will come to the United States. This largely uncertain because of the “Chicken Tax” - a 25% tariff on foreign produced trucks implemented in response to tariffs on American poultry imports first imposed in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Everywhere else in the world isn’t quite as stuck on trucks as Americans are, but the South-Korean produced Tasman will be sold in the Middle East, Africa and Australia. It will also offer a diesel engine option and 2WD and 4WD applications. Should Kia produce the Tasman at their factory in Georgia, then perhaps we could get it stateside. But rumor is the brand is also testing and developing a full EV pickup as well. Interesting…
I worked in product planning while the Hyundai Santa Cruz was in development at Hyundai, and it was an exercise in communication between management in the Americas and South Korea. There was often conflict… So we’ll see how this vehicle turns out in the end, and if it actually DOES make it to our shores. Or if we get an EV Kia truck…
Speaking of New Models…
In other new car news that’s NOT an SUV or truck: the new Kia K4.
The K4 is a replacement for the Forte and has a starting price of $21,990 – very affordable in the current new car market. Under the hood, you get a 2.0L 147 HP inline 4-cylinder engine standard on LX, LXS and EX trims paired to a CVT. The upcoming GT-Line trim can be had with the prior engine or with my favorite Hyundai/Kia powerplant: a 1.6T engine making 190 HP. Other tech features available in the K4 are standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a full-screen dashboard display (roughly 30-inches of display), optional Digital Key 2.0 with Ultra-Wideband, available heated and ventilated front seats, and available Harman/Kardon premium audio.
Personally, I’m not sold on the styling of the K4. But if I was going to get a Kia K4, this is the trim I would get: EX with options, Deep Sea Blue paint. To me, this is the best balance of options and price in this segment.
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| Accessories I added: Wheel Locks ($75), Cargo Mat ($100), Mudguards ($125), Carpet Floor Mats ($175), and Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror ($350). |
What are your thoughts on these new models and what other new cars are you looking forward to?
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| If you want a new Jaguar, now might be the time to act. Every model, minus the F-Pace (top left) is headed to the big car graveyard in the sky. |
When was the last time you’ve seen a new Jaguar on the road? If your answer was “I’m not sure”, I’m with you. And apparently that’s the case for most of the rest of the population too, as Jaguar is officially euthanizing every model in its lineup besides the F-Pace SUV.
What's the Plan?
If you aren’t aware of what models the British automaker has on offer for 2024, currently you can get the XE sedan, XF sedan, XF Sportbrake wagon (Europe), F-Type sports car, E-Pace compact SUV, F-Pace midsize SUV, and the I-Pace EV SUV. According to Jaguar’s CEO, Adrian Mardell, these models (minus the F-Pace, presumably) make no money for the company. The last F-Type has already been built. Jaguar had previously said that by 2025 they would be an all-EV brand. It doesn’t appear as if the company will make that milestone, but transitioning by the beginning of the next decade is still within reach. Currently, there are new models in development - a luxury gran tourer and a large SUV.
The JLR conglomerate wants Jaguar to eventually compete with Bentley - which seems slightly ambitious to me since currently, most of Jaguar’s cars are more “entry or midrange luxury” in classification vs. “exclusive high-end luxury”. Under the new JLR strategy, Jaguar would sell less than 50,000 cars annually, making them fairly niche.
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| Both the Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy will be driving into the sunset soon. Both vehicles are two of the longer running nameplates in the midsize sedan class - Malibu being one of the originals. |
The sedan battle is still cooling off, and as a result we’re losing two more. Subaru has announced that the Legacy will come to an end after the 2025 model year while Chevrolet has also announced that the Malibu will end production in November 2024. The Legacy will not be replaced. I’m surprised that the Malibu will be discontinued, however, as its sales figures actually INCREASED vs. last year. Currently, Malibu is actually the third best selling Chevrolet model behind the Silverado and Equinox, respectively – moving over 130,000 units per year.
Legacy's Story
The Subaru Legacy’s… well, ‘legacy’… Dates back to 1989 in the United States. It was largely responsible for putting Subaru on the map vs. competing brands back in the 90s. However, nowadays the Legacy appears to be more of an afterthought in the minds of buyers, as only just over 25,000 units were moved last year. These days, Subaru is committing themselves to SUVs and electric vehicles, meaning that low sellers such as the Legacy cannot stick around. The Impreza compact sedan and WRX seem to be safe right now. The Legacy’s primary selling point, being the only non-rally/outdoorsy themed vehicle in Subaru’s lineup besides the Impreza, is the fact that it came with standard AWD vs. other vehicles. However, we see now that even standard AWD can’t save you from the “sedanapocolypse”… In the past, you were able to get some pretty sporty versions of the Legacy, however. Modern Legacy play the role of a traditional sedan more than anything else.
Malibu's Story
Malibu has a much longer history. The nameplate was first introduced back in the 1960s as an upscale version of the Chevelle, then became its own standalone model later. After being originally discontinued in 1983, the Malibu name returned in 1997 as a replacement for the Corsica and was sold alongside the Lumina until the 2001 model year, shortly after the Impala was reborn to replace the Lumina for the 2000 model year. Most recently, the Malibu was redesigned for the ninth-generation in 2016 and received a refresh in 2019. An often forgotten about hybrid Malibu was sold until the 2019 model year. You could also get a pretty potent 2.0T engine up until 2022, but now the Malibu only gets a 1.5T engine with 163 HP and a CVT vs. a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Malibu has been produced at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, alongside the Cadillac XT4. However, the plant will be retooled to build the Ultium-platform based Chevrolet Bolt in 2025.
I’m not terribly surprised the Legacy is going away, given Subrau’s brand focus and its sales numbers. Its also not a particulary interesting car vs. even many SUVs, if we’re being honest. The Malibu, is a surprise and I’m finding myself rather sad actually. I used to dislike the Malibu when I was a kid, growing up in the 90s and 2000s. It just always looked so “basic” to me… My first car before my Aura was actually a 2005 Malibu Classic, that was actually pretty quick. But to think that the Malibu is the last mainstream American sedan standing and now it’s going away is sad. I suspect it’s because manufacturers make bigger profits on SUVs and trucks, so it of course makes more sense to invest in something that’s going to turn a profit vs. something that will take longer to pay off the development costs. I think a “Gen. 10” Malibu SS with AWD and the GM 2.7 Turbo Max engine would’ve been interesting.
Nonetheless, will you miss the Legacy or Malibu? The sedanapocolypse rolls on…
We’re getting an all-new 4Runner - FINALLY! Toyota has already shown the vehicle to employees. Tune in at 10:15 P.M. ET tonight to see on Toyota’s social media pages.
Other New Toyotas
Toyota has been on an offensive lately with their product. We just got a new Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra, Prius, the Crown and upcoming Crown Signia wagon, and a new Sequoia not long ago. I worked in electrified powertrain research at Toyota before the pandemic, and all of these vehicles feature electrified powertrains. Now comes big changes for the 4Runner. But let’s not forget the ever-popular Camry!
The 2025 Camry has been shown and it features a hybrid-only powertrain line up - gone are the days of the V6. A 2.5L inline-4 cylinder engine paired with electric motors makes 225 HP on front-wheel drive 2025 Camrys and 232 HP on all-wheel drive models. Speaking of AWD, for the new Camry the system used will be Toyota’s “Electronic on Demand” system, with an electric motor at the rear. Expect to see this vehicle hitting lots soon.
I mention these other vehicles because Toyota is on a mission to become a carbon neutral company in manufacturing and in their product line. They already have some of the most efficient production and supply chain methods and were a pioneer in this aspect in the auto industry. I’m interested to see if the new 4Runner remains totally true to its rugged roots, has a V6 or turbocharged I4 and electrified engine, and what other changes Toyota will make to keep it relevant.
Update 10:15 pm 4/9/24:
Here it is! The official 2025 Toyota 4Runner! The design seems to me more of an evolution vs. a revolutionary change. But still, a change that was needed.
For 2025, the 4Runner will be available with Toyota's i-FORCE Hybrid Max System - I figured given the current trend with Toyota the we'd see an electrified 4Runner sooner or later. In the Tacoma Hybrid, the i-FORCE Max powertrain is a 2.4L turbocharged inline-4 cylinder making 326 HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque paired with an electric motor between the engine and transmission. This setup is different from Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system used in older models, such as the Corolla Hybrid. Note that the hybrid powertrain will be optional in the 4Runner. Among other more comfort-oriented changes include a revised suspension that promises to maintain the 4Runner's off-road abilities while providing more comfort on-road. There will be a new "Trailhunter" off-road trim for the enthusiasts in addition to the more conventional and luxury-themed Limited and Platinum trims. A 3rd row seat will also be offered! Pricing isn't known, but I'm willing to bet that the new 4Runner will start in the $40,000 range and top out in the high $60,000 range.
Do you like it? Was the 2025 4Runner worth the wait?
Copyright © 2024 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
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| The Wagoneer S will be Jeep's first full EV model for the 2025 model year. |
What Is It?
The Jeep Wagoneer name continues a large luxury SUV legacy for Jeep while simultaneously ushering in a modern era in Jeep’s mission to become an “American Range Rover” competitor. Looking ahead to 2025, the Wagoneer S will be the brand’s first full EV and have an estimated driving range of around 400 miles. While most specs and supplier data aren’t known yet, Jeep expects the Wagoneer S to make around 600 HP and have a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds.
We do know now that the Wagoneer S will ride on the Stellantis STLA Large platform, which supports an 800V architecture. This is a Jeep, so I would expect to see an adjustable air suspension allowing for some off-road use, additional underbody protection for battery components, and e-all-wheel drive (eAWD) courtesy of a dual electric motor set up. A “Trail Rated” badge is also possible on the Wagoneer S, but then again, the regular gas-powered Wagoneer lacks a Trail Rated badge because Jeep themselves says it’s “too big and heavy to be trail rated”. While the Wagoneer S looks smaller than the gas variant, weight will definitely be a factor - pointing to the idea that having a right sized off-roader certainly matters. Other brands, such as Rivian or the upcoming/returning Scout brand, may want to take note of this.
Design
In terms of the design, you can see some familiar Jeep traits as well as some Range Rover Velar-inspired styling on the exterior. On the inside, it’s all screens, all day. Some features on the interior of the Wagoneer S include a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system, mood lighting and heated/cooled/massaging seats. Pricing is unknown, but I expect this vehicle to crest $100,000 just like the gas models.
Would you consider a Wagoneer S? Or a gas Wagoneer? I like modern Jeeps, but I fear that they may be going too far against the grain with their pricing strategy to be an “American Range Rover”. We’ll see how this model fares in the market against existing and upcoming rugged luxury EVs.
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| Jeep's design language is very present in the Wagoneer S. I like the rugged looks of the ICE Wagoneer, but the sleek sportiness of the Wagoneer S. |
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| Demand for the F-150 Lightning has been cooling off, alongside EV sales in general in recent months. Ford is now forced to make adjustments. |
EV demand has been cooling some in recent months in the United States. Last year, EV sales made up around 7.5% of all U.S. new car sales. However, in 2022, year-over-year EV sales saw around a 90% overall increase - this number was not matched in 2023. Now, several automakers, such as Ford, are adjusting their pricing, production targets and new release timelines to align with declining sales. One such example is the F-150 Lightning.
Ford has announced that they will cut F-150 Lightning
production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. This is due to falling demand
of Lightning - there will be only one shift starting on April 1st. About 1,400
workers will be affected and some will transfer to other Ford facilities while
others will be offered an early retirement plan. For good measure, let’s
remember that the gas-powered F-Series has been the best selling vehicle in
America for decades.
Why the Decline?
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| From the Detroit Auto Show 2022 - Lightning Ride Along Experience |
So what’s leading to this decline in sales for EVs? There’s a few factors I can think of. The first is the high cost of many EVs, even with the availability of the tax credit. It’s hard to ignore that while electric vehicles have many advantages in lowering emissions while improving performance, it’s hard to justify the high cost of entry many times. I recently went to look at an F-150 Lightning at my local Ford dealer and it cost $95,000! Even with a sizable down payment and the max $7,500 tax credit, you’d still be looking at an $80,000+ truck! Well out of the average consumer’s budget.
Other factors would be a still-developing charging infrastructure. Now to combat this, Ford announced last year that it was adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) on all 2025 EV models. Existing customers will receive an adapter starting in 2024 that would allow them access to the Tesla Supercharger network, in addition to the 10,000 DC fast chargers already in the Blue Oval network. Until this shift is fully in place, charging stations could still be a little tricky to navigate, especially in colder weather as we’ve seen.
Finally, we have a situation where all of the early adopters could likely have gotten what they’ve wanted. So the pinned up demand is now tapering off. This actually doesn’t just apply to the F-150 Lightning, either. If you’ve been paying attention, inventory levels for the new Bronco have risen drastically in recent months after there being a waitlist to get one. Now, Ford is offering incentives for the first time, especially to Jeep owners, to move Broncos. I won’t be surprised if we see steeper incentives on the Lightning to move them off lots. Every automaker needs to access current market conditions along with customer needs in order to not end up with excess inventory and achieve profitability. Especially in a rapidly advancing EV world, with new ones announced every day it seems.
Would you ever consider an F-150 Lightning? I might. I rode in one at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show and thought it was a cool truck and a blast to experience. Let’s keep an eye on inventory and sales numbers to see how this scenario plays out for Ford and the wider budding EV truck market. There may be opportunities for niche players, such as Rivian, to capitalize on the Lightning’s slower sales if analyzed and targeted correctly.
F-150 Lightning Ride Along at the 2022 NAIAS: https://youtube.com/shorts/88cAQg9LFAU?si=epjNub3pBFtwyY4u
Ford Global Sales Figures, Good Car Bad Car link: https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/sales-by-automaker/ford-motor-company-global-sales-data-reports/
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| I've had several chances to get up close with the F-150 Lightning, as well as the other EV truck competitors. Its nice in person! The frunk is one of the largest I've seen. |
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| Exploring the HUMMER EV at Motor Bella 2021 |
Copyright © 2024 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
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| The Rio represents what Kia initially stood for - affordable transportation. Nowadays, Kia is trending more upmarket. |
It has been officially announced by Kia that the subcompact Rio sedan and hatchback line will not return for the 2024 model year. The also-small, but slightly larger Kia Forte will soldier on as the brand’s lone compact sedan offering (it may be called the Kia K4). The Kia Soul also appears to be safe as the brand’s other entry-level offering.
I figured this news was coming soon, as the Rio’s sibling vehicle, the Hyundai Accent, was discontinued last year. I also remember hearing talks while I worked at Hyundai/Kia about dropping the subcompact sedans to focus on electrifying the lineups and on SUVs. The compact sedan segment in particular has shrunk significantly in the last several years.
While not necessarily the saddest loss in the automotive world, this is noteworthy, as “inexpensive cars” are essentially what put Kia on the map back in the 90s. Now granted, those were not particularly good cars in those days vs. today… The current Rio is a solid, affordable entry level car. However, it really highlights a change in consumer tastes and that Kia feels it’s ok to now walk away from their “old bread and butter” to embrace what’s coming. Unfortunately for consumers, what’s coming is more expensive cars…
Like I mentioned previously, if you’ve been paying attention, the compact sedan segment has virtually disappeared in recent years in favor of SUVs. Some have taken the Hyundai route and converted their least expensive offerings into crossovers/SUVs (Venue). There are fewer and fewer new cars that can be had for around $20,000. Couple that with a tough used car market and high interest rates, and buying a car could be a tough task right now…
My advice is to always do your research. Know which dealers are doing markups and what your needs in are. Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate! Especially on cars that might be ending production or slow-sellers, like the Rio.
Farewell Rio - hopefully we won’t have to say goodbye to all affordable cars too soon.
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| Here's probably one of the last new Kia Rios you'll see on a car lot! |
Well, as of recently I can officially say I’ve put 40,000 miles on my 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada! I got it in April 2019 when it had 88,000 miles even on it - it’s now just over 98,000 four years later. Keep in mind, we went thru a pandemic that stopped all driving and office working for awhile. Plus, I have other cars to drive too.
Speaking of other cars: I have just over 110,000 on my 2008 Saturn Aura now 12 1/2 years after I got it! When I first got it, there were 66,249 miles on the clock. You do the math lol.
Copyright © 2023 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
If you can change your own wiper blades, you’ll save yourself time and money in the long run. The process varies by car, but overall it’s pretty simple. I’m going to show you in this YouTube video how to do just that on the Kia K5. This should also work on the Hyundai Sonata, it’s sibling vehicle. It’s simply a matter of sliding a clip into the new blade and making sure each side is correctly aligned length-wise. Don’t let the complicated instructions fool you!
Like, comment and subscribe! Thanks as always.
Link below:
Kia K5 Wiper Blade YouTube Vid
Copyright © 2023 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
Here’s *quite literally* one of the biggest new car reveals as of late: the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ! Riding on GM’s Ultium battery platform shared with the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC HUMMER EV, the Escalade IQ boldly reimagines what “Escalade” means for the EV era. Advanced features such as vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging connectivity and a 55-inch total pillar-to-pillar LED display for the driver and front passenger will be on offer. Rear seat passengers will be able to access the internet and various streaming apps via a rear seat entertainment system, and a 40-speaker AKG premium sound system is available.
All the Right Appointments
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As for the EV side of the equation, the Escalade IQ has it covered there too. The frunk (or E-trunk as Cadillac calls it) measures a large 12.2 cubic feet. Driving range from the 24-module 200 kWh Ultium battery packs is expected to be around 450 miles at a full charge. And eAWD will be standard as well as four-wheel steering and “Arrival Mode” (Cadillac’s version of the HUMMER EV’s Crab Walk). 0-60 MPH will take 5 seconds and 800V DC fast charging is possible. At a public fast charging station, you should be able to charge up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.
Of course, this all won’t come cheap… The Escalade IQ will
START at $130,000. But hey, look at it this way: that’s roughly $20,000 less
than what the current Escalade V starts at, plus since it’ll be built in
Detroit, you’ll get an EV discount. So perhaps it’s a luxury EV “bargain” in
that regard! I must say, I do like the way it looks. I can’t wait to sit in one
when the get to auto shows and dealers.
Copyright © 2023 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
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| Production of the CLS will officially end on August 31st, 2023. |
Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed that the CLS will end production after the 2023 model year. There’s only one CLS model you can choose from in the lineup: the CLS450, which has a 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine making 362 HP. If you’re wondering why the CLS is going away, just ask yourself, “when is the last time I’ve seen one of these on the road?” Mercedes is clearly taking this opportunity to focus more on their SUV line and EQ electric vehicles.
Did you know: The 2024 GMC Hummer
EV SUV has a slightly smaller battery pack than the Hummer EV SUT. This is
because the SUV’s wheelbase 8.9-inches shorter (126.7 inches total), which also
reduces cargo and packaging space – but not passenger space, interestingly. So,
while the truck has 24 Ultium battery modules, the SUV has 20. As a result, we
can expect that its max driving range will be slightly less than the truck and
its 0-60 MPH time will also likely be a little slower – though still crazy fast
at just over 3 seconds. Additionally, the Hummer EV truck can have a max of
1000 HP, but the SUV will have a max of 830 HP.
Copyright © 2023 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.
