Millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles could be easily stolen—and thousands have—due to a decision not to install engine immobilizers when they were built.Popular TikTok videos challenged people to try to steal a car like this, which has led to all sorts of legal and financial trouble for vehicle owners and the two automakers.Four million Hyundai vehicles—affected Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues—can get a new software fix that introduces a workaround immobilizer starting today. Other affected Hyundais and Kias will get their turn in the coming months.Millions of Hyundai owners are about to pay a visit to their local Hyundai dealership thanks to a bunch of TikTok videos.The backstory, if you don’t recall, is that someone figured out that some older Kia and Hyundai models built with a standard key ignition, so not a push-button start, were incredibly easy to steal and created a TikTok “Kia Challenge” encouraging others to try it. The challenge started in Milwaukee before spreading to other parts of the U.S. and forcing Hyundai and Kia to respond.Stolen Moments Hyundai started installing an engine immobilizer in all of its vehicles in November 2021. The company’s first big solution for current owners was a $170 security kit with an alarm and one crucial component that the two automakers didn’t initially build into the cars: a kill switch. The City of Seattle sued the automakers earlier this year, accusing them of failing to install adequate anti-theft technology, specifically that immobilizer, in the affected vehicles. Kia did not offer the security kit but did join Hyundai in providing steering wheel locks at no cost to any affected owners in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.Specs and Details on 2023 Models Today, Kia and Hyundai announced a free, software-based fix for their thief magnets. Kia said the new enhanced security software will “restrict the unauthorized operation of vehicle ignition systems on certain models not equipped with an immobilizer.” For its part, Hyundai said the upgrade makes it so that a key fob is required to deactivate the kill switch. Without the fix, the car could be yours once you’ve smashed the windows. Hyundai said the fix would take dealers less than an hour to install. As a bonus to those prospective window smashers, each fixed vehicle “will be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology,” Hyundai said.2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport.Car and DriverNot all 2011 to 2022 model year Hyundais without an engine immobilizer will be able to accommodate the software upgrade. We hope the owners of these vehicles enjoy their steering wheel locks.Kia said its software would be available in the next few months. Kia owners should visit the Kia Owner’s Portal or call 800–333–4542 to see if their vehicle is eligible for the fix.Hyundai has a two-phase release schedule for the new software fix, starting with the 2017-2020 model year Elantra, 2015 to 2019 Sonata, and 2020 and 2021 Venue (that’s a 2020 Venue pictured at top). Hyundai said this category of its best-selling models includes almost four million vehicles. The fix for these vehicles is available starting today. Software for other affected models will be available in June. Hyundai owners should visit the Hyundai Anti-Theft website (quite a name) to set up a repair, and the automaker is also reaching out to affected owners. More

Tesla was the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. last year, according to new data reported by Automotive News.Based on Experian data on new vehicle registrations, 484,351 Teslas were tagged in 2022 (up 41 percent from the year before).Tesla beat out BMW—the previous luxury sales champ—by a massive margin of more than 156K registrations.BMW no longer holds the title of the bestselling luxury brand in America. The crown now belongs to Tesla for the first time. The company achieved this milestone after a big surge of new vehicle registrations in 2022, based on new data reported by Automotive News. While it’s fair to argue whether Tesla qualifies as a true luxury automaker alongside the likes of more prominent brands such as Audi and Lexus, the price range of the company’s lineup appears to justify that categorization more than anything else. Despite Tesla’s quality-control woes and the Model 3 and Model Y’s—er—austere interiors, the Model S and Model X each can get into six-figure territory.Other Tesla NewsTesla Takes the Title As most people know, Tesla only makes electric vehicles. Still, the 484,351 new models registered last year were more than all other luxury automakers, including their electric and gas-powered offerings. That amount represents a 41-percent jump in Tesla registrations compared with 2021. Before the amount of Tesla registrations exploded last year, BMW was the reigning luxury sales champ. However, not only did Tesla have 156,422 more registrations in 2022, but BMW also saw its numbers drop by 5.3 percent from the year prior to 327,929. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz finished third with 269,511 new registrations last year, but AN reports that amount barely changed versus 2021. The data on new vehicle registrations that identifies the bestselling luxury automaker comes from Experian. It’s used to because Tesla notoriously doesn’t separate U.S. sales from the amount the company sells globally. That’s why new registrations are considered the best way to compare the market. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Lexus is bestowing some updates upon the RC and RC F coupe models for 2023.A new touchscreen sits atop the dash, replacing the old sunken screen that was controlled only by a touchpad.There’s also a new Special Appearance package available for F Sport models.Lexus isn’t quite ready to replace the aging RC coupe with a redesigned model, but it is making some updates to both the standard RC and performance RC F models for the 2023 model year. The biggest change is inside, where the dashboard is revised to accommodate a new touchscreen. There are also new colors, newly available appearance packages, and minor performance tweaks.The standard RC, which is available in RC300 and RC350 configurations, adds an F Sport Special Appearance package with a two-tone color scheme that pairs a gray body with a black roof and hood and 19-inch Enkei wheels. This same gray exterior color, called Incognito, is also newly available on the RC F Track Edition. Lexus also says that the Track Edition benefits from new Hitachi shocks.More on the RCWe appreciate the updates to the RC’s infotainment system, as the fact that the display moves forward and can now be controlled as a touchscreen means you won’t have to rely as much on the fussy touchpad controller on the console. An 8.0-inch screen is standard, and a 10.3-inch screen is optional.Pricing stars at $45,470 for the rear-wheel-drive RC300 with its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The RC350, which has a 3.5-liter V-6, costs $53,020 with the optional F Sport package. To get the RC F’s sonorous 5.0-liter V-8 engine, you’ll need $67,845.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

China is the country with the largest new-car market and the highest automobile production. You’d think we’d know Chinese automotive brands as well as we know Detroit’s, but since the models aren’t exported to the U.S. (yet), readers may find their names unfamiliar. Of the nine largest Chinese multibrand automakers, together fielding almost 50 nameplates, only four have mapped out a global strategy so far. And of those four, arguably only Geely, BYD, and Nio are, at this point, sufficiently advanced to take on American, Korean, and European brands. Hot on the heels of those industry giants are several fast-rising second-tier competitors. Overall, these five companies are best poised to capitalize on the shift to EVs.HiPhi XHuman HorizonsHuman Horizons: Focused on Luxury FeaturesHuman Horizons, which is privately owned by the former general manager of Shanghai General Motors, has inked an assembly agreement with the well-established Dongfeng Yueda Kia and is boldly moving into high-dollar luxury territory. Sold online under the brand name HiPhi are the full-size X SUV and the Z sedan. The latter boasts a claimed 3.8-second sprint to 62 mph and an extra-large battery pack good for an estimated 330-mile range. Customers seem impressed by head-turning features such as power-operated rear suicide doors and gullwing roof panels, customizable lighting orchestrations, a TV-size screen for the front passenger, and a center monitor that can change position from upright to landscape. Human Horizons may be a two-hit wonder or the beginning of a unique success story. Yangwang U9BYDBYD: Aimed Right at Tesla and MercedesBuild Your Dreams already sells cars in Europe to customers with an affinity for startups, a strong liking for Google software, and deep pockets. Its Atto 3 (five-seat crossover), Han (compact sedan), and Tang (seven-seat SUV) EV triplets are expensive. In China, though, BYD is known as a maker of affordable transportation appliances. BYD’s Ocean series looks more promising, even if the car names sound like a vision board from the latest Avatar movie. The Seagull, Dolphin, and Seal use a new platform featuring an 800-volt architecture and a battery with bladelike cells. The Seal challenges the Tesla Model 3, and the fetching Frigate 07 plug-in-hybrid SUV takes on the Model Y. We also picked BYD as a front-runner for its upcoming Yangwang premium subbrand, set to rival BMW and Mercedes. Chinese for “looking up,” Yangwang kicks off with a quad-motor SUV dubbed U8, a six-figure off-roader aimed squarely at the G-wagen and the Land Rover Defender. It also just debuted an electric supercar, the U9, with a claimed 2.0-second time to 62 mph. Nio ET5NioNio: Building Better Battery ChargingThe automotive startup Nio is centered on the idea of quick battery swapping, although its cars also can be recharged conventionally. Nio founder Bin Li convinced potent investors including Autohome, Lenovo, and Tencent to back his alternative energy-feeding system on a global scale. In China, Nio is perceived as matching or beating the German opposition in terms of customer focus, with seamless app integration and remote services. In addition to 180- and 500-kW fast-chargers, a fleet of 24/7 charging vans services remote areas. There’s even a bespoke smartphone that is reportedly coming tailor-made for Nio users. As for the vehicles, the second-generation NT2.0 architecture underpins the attractive ET5 sedan and the roomy ES7 SUV, which has an estimated range of up to 400 miles. Next year Nio plans to launch the Alps brand, aimed at Volkswagen and Toyota, with a string of fresh products covering the sub-$40,000 bracket. By 2025, we should see Himalaya, a budget nameplate set to compete in the $20,000 range. XPeng G9XPeng MotorsXPeng: A Tech-Heavy Dark HorseA small player by Chinese standards, XPeng Motors keys in on value. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange and based in Guangzhou, XPeng offers four attractively styled and priced models: the G3i, the P7, the P5, and the flagship G9. The G9 boasts automated parking, over-the-air updates, hands-free driving where legal, and a voice assistant capable of communicating individually with all four passengers. XPeng touts the SUV’s 400-kW fast-charging capability, and even the top all-wheel-drive 543-hp model is bud-get minded. Fitted with 28 speakers, six vibration units in the seats, second-row amphitheater seating, and a massive 2250-watt amplifier, the crossover is a concert hall on wheels. The G9 definitely has the makings of a successful underdog. Zeekr 009GeelyMore Chinese CarsGeely: The Main CharacterThe automotive world eyes Geely with an uneasy mix of respect and fear. The conglomerate not only owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co, and half of Smart and Proton, but it also has lesser-known brands ranging from entry-level to luxury to specialty use, including LEVC (formerly London Taxi), Geometry, and Zeekr. There’s also Radar, a new maker of affordable electric pickups and SUVs, and Jidu, a joint venture with the search-engine giant Baidu. The cars that Geely’s domestic nameplates produce may be bland, but anything based on the new Sustainable Experience Architecture matrix should be taken seriously. Case in point is the impressive Zeekr 001 crossover and the brand’s boxy, in-your-face 009 MPV, which will be followed this year by an upper-class sedan. The reasonably priced all-wheel-drive 001 boasts 536 horsepower, an 86.0-kWh battery, and a range of roughly 260 miles. Looking deeper into the crystal ball, we see an autonomous ride-hailing van co- developed with Waymo and a self-driving car conceived with Mobileye, both due in 2024. EXPATSMany of America’s oldest and most established car brands are popular in China—but not necessarily the ones you’d expect. Buick is huge, and Lincoln sold more cars in China than in the U.S. in 2021. Here are the most interesting China-market exclusives from U.S. automakers. —Joey CapparellaBuick GL8 CenturyBuickBUICK GL8 CENTURY Vans are big business in China, especially high-end models meant for chauffeuring the well-to-do. Buick has had a stranglehold on the market with its GL8, and the latest iteration adopts the Century name. Niceties include heated footrests, a fridge, and a 32-inch entertainment screen for rear passengers. Chevrolet MenloGeneral MotorsBUICK VELITE 6/CHEVROLET MENLO These wagonoid twins have flown the EV flag for GM’s Chinese joint venture, and the Buick also comes as a plug-in hybrid. More electric models are in the pipeline.Lincoln ZephyrFordLINCOLN ZEPHYRIf the Lincoln MKZ looked like this, maybe it would’ve been more successful in the U.S. While the new Zephyr is based on the mainstream Ford Mondeo, elegant detailing disguises its family-sedan roots.Ford EvosFordFORD EVOSLooking like a more attractive take on the Honda Crosstour, this low-slung segment buster shares a platform with the Escape. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four, and inside, a massive screen stretches nearly the width of the dash. More

Audi is offering a free 10-year subscription to solar power that could potentially power 2400 miles of driving per year by letting e-tron owners get solar energy from panels to power their EVs. Only the first 3000 customers can get in on the deal. The offer (and the EV) are all part of Audi’s carbon-neutral […] More