Tag Archives: Hybrids

2022 Toyota Avalon Drops AWD And TRD, Starts From $36,375 For Its Final Year

The fifth-generation Avalon might have been introduced in 2018, but Toyota has confirmed that 2022 will mark the end of its production. Today, the automaker announced pricing for the 2022 MY alongside a few changes in the lineup.

The 2022 Toyota Avalon starts from $36,375 (excluding the $1,025 fee), making it $250 more expensive than last year’s model.

The full-size sedan is not available in AWD variants anymore, while the sporty TRD trim was also dropped from the range. The good news for prospective buyers is the addition of new safety features as standard, including the upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package (dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, etc), and the addition of a rear-seat reminder system.

Read Also: The Toyota Avalon TRD Has Plenty Of Comfort, But Not Enough Sportiness

Just like last year, the Avalon is available with gas and hybrid powertrains. The 3.5-liter V6 produces 301 hp (224 kW / 305 PS) and 267 lb-ft (362 Nm) of torque, mated to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox that sends power to the front axle. The hybrid combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors producing a combined 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and comes with a fuel economy rating of 44 mpg combined.

The 2022 lineup includes six trim levels, including the XSE Nightshade Edition that is visually differentiated from the glossy black accents, the 19-inch wheels, and the rear diffuser. Inside, variants are differentiated with the base XLE featuring SofTex upholstery and “engineered wood” trim, the Limited coming with perforated leather and genuine wood sourced from Yamaha, and the Touring with perforated SofTex / Ultrasuede and aluminum trim.

Read Also: Toyota Adds New Colors, Nightshade Edition To 2022 Camry

In terms of equipment, the Limited and Touring come standard with a premium 14-speaker JBL Audio system, a 10-inch Head-up display, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / Amazon Alexa), a wireless charging pad, and a moonroof (also standard on the Nightshade, optional in XLE, XLE hybrid). The Touring is the sportiest of the bunch equipped with the electronically controlled Adaptive Variable Suspension system, and an extra driving mode (eco, normal, sport, sport+, custom)

2022 Toyota Avalon Pricing

  • Avalon XLE 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $36,375
  • Avalon XLE Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $37,350
  • Avalon Limited 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $42,675
  • Avalon Limited Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $43,650
  • Avalon XSE Hybrid Nightshade 2.5-liter ECVT: $40,700
  • Avalon Touring 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $43,075

*MSRP prices excluding delivery processing and handling fee of $1,025

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Jeep Wrangler 4xe Recalled Due To Bizarre Odometer Failure

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is being recalled due to an issue with the odometer.

The automaker has revealed that some Wrangler 4xe models are equipped with digital instrument cluster software that may prevent the odometer from displaying after it hits 13,342 miles or 21,437 km.

Read Also: 2022 Jeep Wrangler Updated In Europe, Sold Exclusively As 4xe Plug-In Hybrid

The issue took place between September 8, 2020 and September 13, 2021, when vehicles on the production line received a suspect software service update. Jeep fixed the issue with a new gauge cluster software version that was implemented into vehicle production but a total of 2,903 Wranglers are now involved in the recall and all of them are thought to have the issue.

A recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that if the odometer value is not displayed, owners may miss critical vehicle maintenance periods, increasing the likelihood of components failing due to a lack of maintenance, heightening the risk of a crash.

To fix the issue, the automaker will update the software on vehicles with less than 13,342 miles (21,473 km) on the clock while those vehicles that have already passed this figure will be fitted with new gauge clusters. It has also been confirmed that any owner that has had the gauge cluster replaced due to the issue will be reimbursed.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. will begin notifying owners on or around January 28, 2022.

Ford Is Bringing The Escape PHEV And E-Transit To Australia

Ford Australia has announced that it will introduce at least five new electrified vehicles by the end of 2024 in the local market. The E-Transit will be the first EV that Ford launches Down Under when it arrives in mid-2022.

The car manufacturer hasn’t named all the electrified models that it will bring to Australia, other than confirming that the Escape PHEV will be the first to launch, just before the E-Transit hits the market.

As Ford Australia grows its electrified footprint, it will collaborate with JET Charge to ready its dealer network with charging infrastructure. It will also install charging stations at its facilities in Campbellfield, its YouYangs Proving Ground, and the logistics hub at Merrfield.

Read More: 2022 Ford E-Transit Starts At $43,295 When Order Open This Summer

While Australia’s adoption of electrified vehicles is behind many other nations, a recent study conducted by YouGov indicated that 58 per cent of businesses can see EVs become a part of their fleets in the future. In addition, 52 per cent of Australian consumers said they are likely to consider an electrified vehicle for their next vehicle purchase.

“We know that many businesses are looking to make the switch to electrified vehicles, and that’s backed up by increasing interest from consumers and growing support from government,” Ford Australia policy director Elly Haug said. “We’re committed to helping our fleet customers meet the expectations of their customers – and that includes taking real action on climate change. Offering a sustainable transport option with E-Transit will help businesses on their road to net zero.”

In Australia, the Ford E-Transit will launch with a 68 kWh battery pack that provides it with 317 km of range on the combined WLTP cycle. The vehicle’s rear-mounted electric motor also produces 198 kW (265 hp) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The E-Transit’s battery can be charged from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in 34 minutes when plugged into a 115 kW DC fast-charger.

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BMW Confirms LMDh IMSA Entry Using Dallara Chassis

BMW M Motorsport has confirmed it will enter the LMDh class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from the 2023 season through a partnership with Dallara.

BMW is the latest car manufacturer to commit to the new LMDh class. Just last month, Cadillac confirmed it will participate in both LMDh and Le Mans with its new prototype. Lamborghini is also expected to join, alongside other brands including Acura, Audi, and Porsche.

BMW will run two prototypes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship that feature chassis produced by Dallara. The first test car will be built at Dallara’s site in Italy in a close collaboration between BMW M Motorsport engineers and a team of Dallara engineers. The car will make its on-track debut at the Varano circuit in 2022.

Read More: BMW To Join Le Mans Daytona Hybrid Class In 2023

“In Dallara, we are delighted to have found a partner for our LMDh project that shares our passion, professionalism and huge ambition in motorsport and, like us, is fully committed to the goal of writing a new success story in the history of BMW M Motorsport from 2023,” BMW M chief executive Markus Flasch said in a statement. “After speaking to all the possible chassis partners, the decisive factor in our decision was that Dallara, with all its expertise and experience, was enthusiastic about working together with BMW M Motorsport. The chemistry was there between us from the word go. We see our relationship as a real partnership in which we are fighting for a common goal of success at the racetrack.”

On his part, Dallara president Giampaolo Dallara commented: “I’m honored to have been selected by BMW M Motorsport and with great enthusiasm I’m looking forward to begin this new adventure. Back in 1977 I had the opportunity to work alongside BMW on designing the M1 as Lamborghini consulting. It was a great experience and a lot was learned. I hope to repeat the same adventure in LMDh. I firmly believe that we will do great things together.”

Dallara is one of four companies approved to make chassis for the series, the others being ORECA, Multimatic, and Ligier. Cadillac will also source their chassis from Dallara, while both Porsche and Audi have partnered with Multimatic.

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Toyota Keeping Its Options Open, Won’t Commit To An EV-Only Future

Toyota believes that electric vehicles are not necessarily the only way forward and thus it will offer vehicles with many propulsion technologies for the foreseeable future.

“It’s too early to concentrate on one option,” said director Shigeki Terashi at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, per Automotive News. The comment was in response to a question about why the company wasn’t making a bold EV plan like Honda or GM.

Terashi argued that different technologies must be allowed to compete against each other in the marketplace in order to find the solution that best serves it. That’s why Toyota will continue to invest in hybrid and fuel-cell technologies in the years leading up to 2050.

Read Also: Polestar Reveals Climate Impact For Its EVs, Calls For Industry Transparency

“Some people love battery-electric vehicles but others don’t see the current technologies as convenient,” Toyota’s Chief Technology Officer Masahiko Maeda said. “In the end what matters is what customers choose.”

Toyota recently competed in a 24-hour race with a hydrogen-powered Corolla that used a converted combustion engine from a GR Yaris in order to prove that hydrogen engines can be a better, carbon-reduced solution for long distances.

The automaker also pointed to lifecycle emissions, which remain high for EVs, despite their low local emissions. Batteries, in particular, are carbon-intensive to mine and manufacture, though Polestar found that its vehicles gain a carbon advantage over gas-powered vehicles after just 31,000 miles on the road. Another study argued that the cost of producing hydrogen, especially if there was a sudden, intense demand on the supply, could lead to a fossil-fuel backslide.

Toyota recently came under fire from investors for what they felt was an incorrect stance on green technologies and its anti-environmental governmental lobbying efforts. That led to a public recommitment to green technologies.

Indeed, despite its commitment to multiple fuel types, Toyota is actually investing in EVs, like the recently announced bZ4X that it’s making in partnership with Subaru.

Daniel Ricciardo Sure Knows How To Drift The McLaren Artura Around Brands Hatch

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The McLaren Artura is one heck of a performer and Daniel Ricciardo had the opportunity to put the car through its paces in March as he prepared for this year’s Formula 1 season with the British carmaker.

This short video shows the Australian driving ace, who is widely considered among the best on the F1 grid, driving the Artura around the famed Brands Hatch circuit in the UK. While he is much more accustomed to driving race cars with the aim of avoiding even the slightest hint of oversteer, Ricciardo is also more than capable of performing some impressive drifts in a mid-engined supercar like the Artura.

Watch Also: The Man Who Designed The First Modern McLaren Reviews The Artura

Having previously raced with the Renault F1 team for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, there’s little doubt Ricciardo is enjoying some of the perks of racing with McLaren. After all, his company car for the last couple of seasons has been a Renault Megane RS but he has now swapped that for one of McLaren’s supercars.

While McLaren unveiled the Artura a couple of months ago, it only recently released some key performance figures. In a straight line, the Artura needs just 3.0 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) and goes on to hit 124 mph (200 km/h) in just 8.3 seconds. It can also sprint down the quarter-mile in 10.7 seconds and tops out at 205 mph (330 km/h).

Key to the car’s performance is its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 supplemented by an electric motor that result in a combined 671 hp and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque.

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We Bet The Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder Can’t Hold A Candle To The McLaren P1

Despite its production having ended five years ago, the McLaren P1 continues to be subjected to drag races against different rivals.

We’ve seen it take on vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the Ferrari F40 earlier this year, and more recently, it was pitted against the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder.

With 903 hp and 664 pound-feet (900 Nm) of torque produced by the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 and electric motor, the P1 does the 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint in just 2.8 seconds, while flat out, it will hit 217 mph (350 km/h).

Watch Also: Glorious Past Meets High-Tech Present In Ferrari F40 Vs. McLaren P1 Race

As for the Huracan Performante, it comes with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 which pumps out 631 HP and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm). That’s 30 HP and 30 lb-ft (40 Nm) more than the LP610-4 Spyder, which results in 3 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill and a 202 mph (325 km/h) maximum speed.

Lamborghini has given the Performante some very clever active aerodynamics, a revised ANIMA, recalibrated ESC, tuned suspension and more responsive steering, which should help it go fast around a track. However, this is a quarter-mile sprint drag race and the only things that matter are sheer power and laying it down properly. Thus, the P1 holds the upper hand, so we don’t expect the Huracan Performante Spyder to pull off a surprise – or did it?

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VW ID.3 Was Europe’s Best-Selling EV In October, Renault Zoe And Hyundai Kona Followed

With the petrol and diesel ban knocking on the door of the automotive industry, customers have become more interested in electrified cars than ever.

Europeans, for one, bought more electrified vehicles than diesels for the second month in a row, and the continent’s best-selling battery-electric model was the Volkswagen ID.3.

According to Jato’s analysis, the German electric hatchback accounted for 10,475 units in October, followed by the Renault Zoe supermini and Hyundai Kona small crossover, with 9,778 and 5,261 units respectively. The chart was completed by the Kia e-Niro, Peugeot e-208, Smart ForTwo, BMW i3, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa-e, MINI Cooper SE and Nissan Leaf, in this order.

Watch Also: 2021 VW ID.3 First Drive Finds It Has A Lot Going For It, But Also Has Its Faults

The plug-in hybrid king was the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (4,209 units), with the Volvo XC40 and Volkswagen Passat completing the podium, and the BMW 3-Series, Audi Q5, VW Golf, Renault Captur, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLC following.

In the mild-hybrid and full-hybrid category, Toyota nabbed the two top spots, with the Yaris (13,338 units) and Corolla (9,728), while the bronze medal went to the Fiat Panda. The Ford Puma, Fiat 500, Toyota C-HR, RAV4, Suzuki Swift, Ford Focus, and Suzuki Ignis completed the chart.

The Golf was Europe’s best-selling car in October, accounting for 27,530 units, followed by the smaller Renault Clio and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, with 22,588 and 21,220 units sold respectively. Other popular models were the Peugeot 208, Fiat Panda, Renault Captur, Toyota Yaris, Peugeot 2008, Skoda Octavia, and Citroen C3.

New car registrations were down by 7 percent last month in Europe, from 1.21 to 1.13 million vehicles.

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2021 Lexus UX Black Line Limited Edition Debuts Stateside With Enhanced Looks

The 2021 UX is the latest Lexus to feature a Black Line special edition variant, boasting unique touches inside and out.

Joining the likes of other similarly styled cars in the brand’s lineup, it is based on the UX 250h and will launch next spring with a limited production run of 1,000 units. Pricing will be announced in due time.

Review: 2019 Lexus UX250h Is Edgy, Efficient And Engaging

The 2021 UX 250h Black Line can be had with the all-new Grecian Water paint finish, or in Eminent White Pearl or Caviar. It sports a black grille surround, black side mirror caps and roof rails, darkened headlights, color-keyed overfenders and 18-inch wheels with black looks and black lug nuts.

The interior of the small premium SUV has been enhanced with the Black or Birch NuLuxe upholstery, to go with blue trim and seat belts. This special contrast can also be found on the cargo and floor mats, and on the key gloves. Elsewhere, the model is nicely specced, with a standard heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones, a windshield de-icer, power tailgate and a park assist function.

The vehicle’s final bespoke feature comes from Zero Halliburton and is a two-piece luggage set, with a 22-inch carry-on and a 26-inch travel case. It sports a distinctive laser-etched ‘Zero Halliburton for Lexus’ badge, has exclusive interior lining with the Lexus grille motif and the automaker’s logo embossed into the leather. The luggage set will be shipped to customers at their preferred address.

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