Motor News

Electric vehicles are not new at SEMA, but for the show this year, organizers are expanding Electrified Hall to allow for more EVs and related technologies.Given SEMA’s classic-car focus, multiple vendors offering EV conversion kits will be at the show, including APP EV Systems and Electric GT.The aftermarket is adapting to electric propulsion technology, and SEMA said electric conversions allow classic-car lovers to keep their vehicles on the road even as original parts become harder to get.Electric vehicles are back at SEMA in a bigger, better way. For 2022, the show has increased its focus on EVs and expanded its Electrified Hall to feature more plug-in vehicles and EV technologies. From a 2500-square-foot display in 2019, SEMA’s EV section has now grown to 21,000 square feet.Go with the CurrentShow organizers are embracing the shift to plug-ins, including by showcasing multiple EV conversion solutions this year. SEMA vice president of events, Tom Gattuso, said this year’s Electrified Hall will teach visitors how today’s EV scene for older cars is different. “The EV aftermarket is evolving quickly and continues to change,” he said. “We’re curating a unique collection of the latest products related to electric vehicles and the aftermarket.”Educating EV Builders, Modifying Great ICE ClassicsSome of the EV-centered exhibitors at SEMA this year include the Switch Lab EV Program, which uses a reusable EV Ki to teach students how to build their own electric vehicle, and App EV Systems, which will launch an EV conversion system and EV battery packs at the show. App EV has an unusual take on classic cars compared to traditional SEMA exhibitors. Instead of bemoaning the lack or expense of old car parts, App EV wants to help car enthusiasts “evolve” their classic cars with an electric powertrain that “extends their useful lives, improves their environmental credibility, and reduces operating and maintenance cost and hassle.” APP EV SystemsFor instance, the company is hard at work on the 1973 Porsche 911SC EV conversion shown here, which will be revealed on the SEMA show stand. The car will retain its five-speed transmission and have “comparable performance” to the internal-combustion-engined original, App EV president Jeremy Barras told Car and Driver. He called the 911SC “the most difficult to package, as the smallest! All other applications will be easier.”1973 Porsche 911SC in process of conversion to EV.Car and DriverA similar view is presented by Electric GT, which will be at the show with its own line of EV conversion kits. This content is imported from Tiktok. 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.Those last two exhibitors fit well with SEMA’s reasons for its growing focus on EV technology. New SEMA market research data found that EV technology could be where the money is. Or, as SEMA said in a press release, it offers “several areas of opportunity for the aftermarket.” Everything from a race car to a barn find classic can be converted from an internal-combustion-engine vehicle to a zero-emission electric car, and SEMA said it is “dedicated to helping its member companies identify [electric powertrain] opportunities and adapt to the growing segment of the industry.”The 2022 SEMA show will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 1–4. The Electrified Hall portion of the show will be located in the center’s North Hall. 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 OpenWeb. 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

Volkswagen is replacing its touch-sensitive (haptic) steering-wheel control panel in favor of more user-friendly physical buttons. The news comes via LinkedIn post from CEO Thomas Schäfer who said the switch is happening following customer feedback and requests to revert to the old format. We reached out to Volkswagen and are waiting to find out which car is getting the new steering-wheel controls first, and when customers can expect the change.Volkswagen is listening to its customers’ complaints and, more important (we’re kidding), to ours, about haptic controls. Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, took to Linked In to make the announcement last week. “We are sharpening our portfolio and our design, plus creating a new simplicity in operating our vehicles,” said Schäfer. “For example, we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel! That’s what customers want from VW.” Finally. Something as small as steering-wheel controls may seem mundane, but the return to physical wheel controls is very welcome. We’ve long complained about ease-of-use issues with the haptic system. Case in point, editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga wrote in his review of the 2022 GTI about accidentally activating the heated steering wheel: “Start hustling the car and you’ll find your hands sweating, not because of the work, but because your palm accidentally switched on the heated steering wheel.” Ideally, reverting to physical buttons will allow spirited driving sans petri dish hands. Related StoriesAs of now, the $25,000 Taos is the only vehicle in Volkswagen’s North American lineup with physical buttons on the steering wheel. We have asked VW when customers should expect to start seeing physical buttons on the steering wheel again, and on which cars. We’ll let you know when we find out.Now if only Volkswagen will do something about the lack of volume knob and real climate controls . . . 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 OpenWeb. 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

ACV, an auto-auction specialist, has been selling its Virtual Lift tools for three years, but a new update fits well with our pandemic times.Machine learning updates in the Virtual Lift software make it possible to automatically spot missing catalytic converters, which have been a popular target for thieves for the past few years.Compared to 2019, catalytic converter thefts were up fourfold in 2020 and 13 times higher in 2021.Anyone worried about buying a used car that’s had its catalytic converter stolen might have started checking out listings with pictures taken from under the car. One provider of simplified undercarriage images is the Virtual Lift hardware and software package from ACV, which just updated the machine learning software so that it can confirm if catalytic converters are where they’re supposed to be.To use Virtual Lift, someone drives a vehicle over a small piece of proprietary hardware, which then generates a high-resolution, full-length image of the underside of the car. New detection algorithms in the software now check the image for the converters, and ACV claims the system has “extremely high accuracy.” The idea for car dealers is they can quickly drive a car they’re thinking of buying over the Virtual Lift and confirm they’ll be getting a complete car, not one that needs an expensive component replaced. The More You KnowWhen Virtual Lift was introduced three years ago, before the pandemic, catalytic converters were not even mentioned in the announcement. At the time, the benefits of Virtual Lift were more general, offering “high-resolution undercarriage reconstructions” that took less than a minute to capture. ACV said dealers and car sellers who used Virtual Lift would benefit from this kind of transparency, offering the digital reconstruction to be uploaded using the ACV app and then provided to potential buyers.ACV’s Virtual Lift technology is not new. ACV first introduced the undercarriage photography tool in 2019 but has been promoting Virtual Lift during the pandemic as a way for car shoppers to make sure they’re buying a car with a catalytic converter. It’s been a real worry these past few years. Converter thefts per month were four times higher in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a March 2021 study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). And the trend continued into 2021, according to the latest data, when catalytic converter thefts were 13 times higher than in 2019. The State Farm insurance company said it saw a 293 percent increase in catalytic converter theft in the year that ended June 30, 2021, compared to the 12-month period that ended a year earlier. This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

Cannabis company Green Thumb Industries has partnered with Circle K to test out marijuana pop-up shops in a small number of gas stations in Florida next year.Only medical marijuana users will be able to purchase the weed, given the state’s current rules. More than 700,000 people in Florida have a medical marijuana license.The benefit of buying your medicine at the gas station is the same as why you might buy snacks there: convenience, said Green Thumb’s CEO.Legalization things are afoot at the Circle K. Starting sometime in 2023, a small number of Circle K gas stations in Florida—around 10 of them, to be precise—will partner with legal cannabis retailer Green Thumb Industries on in-store weed products. No need to meet a guy around back after the store is closed.Florida ManIn states where cannabis sales are legal, sales often have to be conducted in standalone, regulated shops. The new Rise Express stores that Green Thumb will open in some gas stations will be like a smaller version of these storefronts, offering flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and vapes. Only customers with a medical card will be able to buy marijuana at these Circle Ks because Florida currently only allows medical marijuana, not recreational. that some local jurisdictions in Florida have decriminalized weed and reduced the penalties for people found to have small amounts of the drug, under 20 grams. More than 700,000 people in Florida are active medical marijuana cardholders.”The new Rise Express model [makes] it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store,” he said. High Times notesGreen Thumb currently operates a small number of retail stores and said that it could expand the number of its Rise Express dispensaries since Circle K runs around 600 stores in Florida. The weed will be grown at Green Thumb’s cultivation facility in Ocala, which will be operational by the end of this year. Green Thumb has been selling weed in Florida since 2018 and has an existing cultivation and processing facility in Homestead. Green Thumb CEO Ben Kovler said in a statement that the main benefit of selling weed at Circle K gas stations is simply convenience. Circle K has more than 7000 stores in 47 states in the U.S., including many in places where marijuana is legal.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 OpenWeb. 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

The second-generation 2023 Kia Niro EV has a base price of $40,745, which is only $360 more than its predecessor.Unlike the first generation, the new electric Niro isn’t eligible for the $7500 federal EV tax credit due to new government legislation.Joining the base-level Wind trim is a $45,745 Wave model; both go on sale this month and will be sold in all 50 states.With a starting price of $40,745, the redesigned 2023 Kia Niro EV is just $360 more expensive than the outgoing model. That’s the good news. The bad news is the electric Niro is no longer eligible for the $7500 EV tax credit from the U.S. government. The Niro EV lost its rebate as a result of the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which makes any EVs built outside of North America ineligible for federal tax credits. This means that other electric vehicles that Kia assembles overseas, such as the new EV6, also are not eligible. The same goes for other automakers, too.Along with the entry-level Wind, the Niro EV lineup includes the fancier Wave model that has a starting price of $45,745. Regardless of the trim level, every version has a 201-hp electric motor that powers the front wheels. Its one-size-fits-all battery pack has an EPA-estimated range of 253 miles, and we saw 210 miles on our 75-mph highway range test.More on the Niro EVThe 2023 Niro EV is scheduled to reach U.S. dealerships sometime this month. Unlike the first generation, the new electric will be sold in all 50 states.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 OpenWeb. 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

Despite still-limited supply, car shoppers are not slowing down. A new survey of over 3300 car owners in the U.S. found that 35 percent are not driving the car they wanted, and the other 65 percent say they are willing to pay up to 39 percent over MSRP to get the car they have their eye on.At current prices, that comes to a markup of almost $19,000.Car shoppers in Idaho are most desperate to get a specific vehicle, willing to pay up to 71 percent over the sticker price. Shoppers in the four states with the lowest rates were only willing to pay an 11 percent markup.The internet is full of tips to help car buyers to not overspend on their new purchases, but it seems like not enough people are putting them to use. Or perhaps the limited supply of new vehicles during the pandemic and the resulting thousands of dollars of dealer markups is causing people to overspend. Whatever the reason, people are paying higher and higher prices for new cars these days, and it turns out we’re not happy about it. Shocking. For most of 2022, the average price of a new car was around 10 percent over the official price, with the 15 most popular models all costing between 18 and 24 percent more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), according to iSeeCars.A new survey commissioned by Quantrell Auto Group of 3361 car owners found that over a third of them (35 percent) said they had purchased a vehicle they hadn’t intended to when they started shopping. The other 65 percent said they would be willing to spend up to 39 percent over MSRP. Thirty-nine percent. Keeping in mind that an auto dealer group is behind the study and may be surveying people who are really ready to buy, but still: Given that the average new-car price in the U.S. is now over $48,000, these survey results indicate that a whole lot of shoppers may be willing to spend upward of $19,000 over the sticker price to get the vehicle they want. While the intention to pay is different than actually paying the extra money, vehicle prices aren’t likely to drop if everyone keeps shopping with that attitude.Some automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, GM, and Ford, have warned their dealers about applying high markups, threatening in some cases to shift allocation to dealers who do not overcharge buyers.In Some Places, Cooler Heads Prevail The nationwide survey revealed significant differences between states. The state that’s willing to pay the most over MSRP is Idaho, which sits at an insane 71 percent over sticker. Four states—North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia—are willing to pay just a comparatively sane 11 percent over MSRP. There may be some clues in the data that show where vehicles are easier to acquire. The four states with the lowest percentage of car owners driving vehicles they didn’t want were Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.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 OpenWeb. 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

Getting hands on a Ford Maverick is tough. Order books have been backed up for months, with many customers waiting over a year to get their trucks. I have some firsthand experience—my dad ordered a Maverick when the truck was first announced back in 2021, and after nearly a year of waiting he canceled his order. Yet somehow, Mavericks are already starting to show up on rental lots, specifically U-Haul.This U-Haul liveried Maverick was spotted in Florida by a user on the MaverickTruckClub.com forum. According to the company’s website, you can book one right now in Miami for $19.95 a day plus fees—pretty wild considering there are countless people out there right now waiting for months for their trucks to show up. U-HaulNo matter your feelings on the matter, it’s easy to see why U-Haul is starting to stock Mavericks in their fleet. While they’re not any cheaper per day than the larger truck offerings, their compact size and better fuel economy mean renters can fit them in more places while spending less money on gas. If you’re a current or prospective Maverick order-holder, we suggest using these U-Haul trucks as an opportunity to take an extended test drive to see if you actually like the thing before you buy. And maybe even use it to get some work done around the house. Specs, DetailsThis content is imported from OpenWeb. 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

This content is imported from youTube. 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.Sorting out whether a Nineties Toyota Pickup or a Lamborghini Huracán is faster doesn’t sound like hard work. But most Toyota Pickups don’t have 900 horsepower. The one in this new video from Hoonigan does. It also has a two-speed racing transmission, drag radials, a bed-mounted fuel cell, a 6.0-liter V-8, and 300 fewer pounds to lug around than its competition. But as the 3800-pound weight figure betrays, the Huracán isn’t stock, either. Its 5.2-liter V-10 has been fitted with twin turbos and custom ECUs, boosting maximum output to 1500 hp. And given that it’s mid-engine with all-wheel drive, the Huracán has some considerable advantages over the Pickup. Huracán SeasonUnfortunately, it isn’t fully sorted. In the first run, the Huracán goes into “Fuel Safety” mode, cutting power and giving the Pickup a chance to catch up and run past it. On the second run, the Pickup driver has to lift to avoid spinning out. In fact, throughout the video he’s fighting the constant side-to-side motions of the Pickup as it searches for grip. Eventually, they both get good runs, but there’s never a perfect race between them.Even still, it’s fun to watch as the Huracán rockets off down the runway and then abruptly cuts fuel. The Toyota, sliding down the runway at insane speeds, is hilarious to look at on every run. And both are good examples of the ultimate truth of modifying a car: Big power is a lot less useful if the car isn’t set up to handle it. This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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