Motor News

The Subaru WRX enters its third generation with a new platform, new engine, new looks, and a sporty GT model. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four paired with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission. The 2022 WRX will go on sale in the U.S. early next year. Subaru launched the all-wheel-drive, rally-inspired sport compact craze in the U.S. the early 2000s with the WRX. Others followed such as the Ford Focus RS, Mazdaspeed 3, and Mitsubishi Lancer. But those cars have all come and gone, leaving the WRX and the new Volkswagen Golf R as the only remaining vehicles in this space. The pioneering Subie is now entering its new generation with only a bit more power, but it rides on a new platform, boasts improved looks, and adds a new sporty GT model.

The new car is built on Subaru’s Global Platform that currently underpins all of Subaru’s vehicles, excluding the rear-wheel-drive BRZ sports coupe that’s jointly developed with Toyota. Subaru says the new platform improves strength and provides a lower center of gravity. And, of course, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring is standard. Subaru claims to have reduced body roll in the new WRX by mounting the stabilizer bar directly to the body instead of the subframe, and switching to a dual-pinion electric power steering rack should improve steering feel.

Either 17- or 18-inch wheels are available, wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx summer tires. The new WRX retains the same overall sedan shape as before, with a large hood scoop and wide fenders, and its aggressive styling seems to be borrowed from the BRZ. We see the resemblance especially in the taillights. For 2022, the WRX gains only 3 horsepower. The new model is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine that produces 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The previous WRX used a 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four. You can choose from either a six-speed manual transmission (#SavetheManuals) or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
A new GT model (pictured in gray) is available that adds adaptive dampers with comfort, normal, and sport drive modes, suede Recaro front seats with red stitching, and GT-specific 18-inch matte gray wheels wrapped in the summer rubber. An STI model, which is expected to have around 400 horsepower, should also join the lineup soon.An 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is the center point of the new car’s interior. The old model had either a 6.5-inch screen or an optional 7.0-inch unit. Like the old model, the new WRX has a black interior with red stitching and carbon fiber accents, and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is available. The 2022 Subaru WRX will go on sale early next year in base, Premium, Limited, and GT models. Those waiting for a hatchback model will be disappointed because Subaru says it’ll only be offered as a sedan for now.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The new ZR2 model is the most distinctive and off-road-ready 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500.The Silverado ZR2 has a 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8, 33-inch tires, Multimatic spool-valve dampers, and electronic-locking front and rear differentials.Despite its notable hardware, Chevy’s beefiest half-ton Silverado isn’t as impressive as the Ford F-150 Raptor or Ram 1500 TRX.The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 doesn’t share a nickname with prehistoric predators. It also doesn’t make 700-plus-horsepower like the Hellcat-powered Ram 1500 TRX, and it doesn’t offer 37-inch tires like the high-flying Ford F-150 Raptor. Hell, the Chevy doesn’t even have 35-inch tires. What the first-ever Silverado ZR2 does have is a 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8, 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory off-road tires, and advanced Multimatic spool-valve dampers. All these goodies make it the bow-tie brand’s most formidable off-roader, even if its stat sheet isn’t likely to impress anyone who lusts after a Raptor or TRX.

The Silverado ZR2’s proportions aren’t as visually stimulating as the Raptor or TRX, but it sports a distinctive front end. Unlike its supercharged and twin-turbocharged rivals, the Chevy’s small-block engine is naturally aspirated, but its gaping grille—with its hollowed-out bow-tie logo—looks capable of both swallowing large air masses and unsuspecting jaywalkers. Which is to say, the ZR2 looks appropriately aggressive, even if it’s not as distinctive as its wide-bodied little brother, the Colorado ZR2.
Above the red tow hooks and the skid plate on the Silverado ZR2’s chin is a high-mounted steel front bumper. Not only does it look badass, it also contributes to the truck’s 31.8-degree approach angle, which Chevy says is more than you’ll get on any other Silverado. That would include those with the Z71 Off-Road package or Trail Boss models with their standard 2.0-inch lifted suspension. The ZR2 sits a half-inch taller than Trail Bosses, and it’s only offered with a crew-cab body style and either the short- or standard-length cargo boxes.

While specifications for the Silverado ZR2 indicate it can tow 8900 pounds with a conventional trailer hitch and haul up to 1440 pounds of payload, we don’t know how much ground clearance it has or the range of wheel travel. We do know that along with the aforementioned spool-valved dampers that it has specially tuned springs that Chevy says give it increased wheel travel versus the Trail Boss. Likewise, the ZR2 benefits from other specific chassis and suspension tuning, and its selectable Terrain Mode allows drivers to crawl across rocks and other terrain using a single pedal. Think of it as an off-road cruise control.
Chevy introduced the ZR2 along with a slew of significant changes to the standard Silverado 1500 for the 2022 model year. The biggest transformation happens within, where the truck benefits from a drastically different dashboard and dazzling digital displays. Alongside a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster is a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The materials are prettier, the switchgear looks sturdier, and there’s even an electronic shifter mounted on the center console that looks similar to what you’ll find in the upcoming Hummer EV. Interior improvements and techno-wizardry aside, the ZR2 is intended to look intimidating and have fun when the blacktop ends.Chevy hasn’t said how much the 2022 Silverado ZR2 will cost, but we imagine it’ll be as much or more than the current top-of-the-line High Country, which starts around $55,000. If so, that’ll at least make the ZR2 considerably more affordable than the Raptor or TRX, which start at $65,840 and $72,120, respectively. The ZR2 is expected to arrive on dealer lots in spring 2022.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The 2022 Chevy Silverado receives notable interior and technology upgrades to better compete with half-ton Ford and Ram rivals.Most Silverado models now have a snazzier cabin thanks to better materials as well as a fully digital gauge cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen.Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free-driving tech, can also be had on the top trim.While pickup trucks were once body-on-frame tools of the trade defined by their max tow ratings and engine output, today’s full-size pickups are often judged by their luxury-grade interiors and tech features. The current Chevy Silverado 1500 isn’t nearly as classy or tech-savvy as the Ford F-150 and half-ton Ram, but that is starting to change for the 2022 model year.

Aside from the new off-road-oriented Silverado ZR2 model, which we’ve covered separately, the most notable changes to the 2022 Silverado are found inside. The dashboard design is modernized and many of the materials now look more upscale. Before tradespeople start dreaming about a fancy-pants Work Truck or Custom model, Chevy limits the new interior and upgraded features to the LT trim and up. The top-of-the-line High Country benefits from new materials such as open-pore wood. This should help it better align with equally expensive F-150 Platinum and Ram 1500 Limited models, but we’ll have to experience it firsthand to know for sure.
Drivers of the updated Silverado trims now face a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. At the center of the dash is a landscape-oriented 13.4-inch touchscreen. Peep inside an F-150 or Ram 1500 and the biggest infotainment screen you’ll see measures a mere 12.0 inches. Along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Chevy’s new infotainment system includes Google’s voice assistance, maps, and app store.

Easily the most noteworthy addition to the 2022 Silverado’s roster of high-tech assists is GM’s hands-free-driving feature, Super Cruise. It’s currently only available on the High Country, but we expect it to eventually trickle down to lower trims. For now, the system will control the truck—under certain conditions, of course—for prolonged periods without the driver needing to use their hands. Super Cruise is functional when pulling a trailer, too. It can also automatically make the truck change lanes, just not when trailering.Although bottom-rung Silverados miss out on the above upgrades, they do get an array of driver-assistance technologies that are now standard across the board. The safety suite includes everything from automated emergency braking to automatic high-beam headlights to lane-keeping assist. Every 2022 Silverado also has fresh front-end styling and select models with wing-shaped running lights now have an animated lighting sequence.
Chevy says it enhanced the turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder to be more refined and retuned the eight-speed automatic transmission that this engine pairs with. Previously, the four-cylinder engine developed 383 pound-feet of torque, but that figure rises by 20 percent to 420 pound-feet. Silverado models equipped with the Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six benefit from chassis updates and compatibility with the Max Trailering Package, which now enables it to tow up to 13,300 pounds (up from a previous max of 9500 pounds).Chevy hasn’t said how much the 2022 Silverado will cost, but we expect to find out before they start to hit dealership lots in the spring of 2022.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Ford announced today that it will cease production of vehicles in India following a decade of losses totaling $2 billion. The restructuring will result in about 4000 layoffs.The company’s plants in Chennai and Sanand are responsible for the Figo, Aspire, Freestyle, and Endeavor, which are not sold in North America; the EcoSport, which is sold here, is also produced in India and will be discontinued.The American automaker’s presence in India will continue through the Ford Business Solutions arm and by importing vehicles into India that were assembled elsewhere.UPDATE 9/9/2021, 5 p.m.: The Detroit Free Press reported this afternoon, citing Ford as confirmation, that the EcoSport and other India-built models will stop production. Ford said in a statement, “Sales of current products such as Figo, Aspire, Freestyle, EcoSport and Endeavour will cease once existing dealer inventories are sold.”Following a decade of losses, Ford announced today that it will end production of vehicles at its two assembly plants in India. The company said that over the past 10 years its Indian manufacturing arm has posted losses totaling $2 billion.The two Indian plants assembled vehicles for sale locally in India, including small cars such as the Figo, Aspire, and Freestyle. The North American version of the EcoSport is also built at Ford’s plant in Chennai and The Detroit Free Press has reportedly received confirmation that the subcompact SUV will be discontinued as a result of the plant closures.

Ford Freestyle (L) and Aspire.
Ford India

“As part of our Ford+ plan, we are taking difficult but necessary actions to deliver a sustainably profitable business longer term and allocate our capital to grow and create value in the right areas,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a press release. “Despite investing significantly in India, Ford has accumulated more than $2 billion of operating losses over the past 10 years and demand for new vehicles has been much weaker than forecast.”

Ford’s presence in India will continue after the restructuring, with about 100 manufacturing workers retaining jobs to provide parts and support for current customers and about 500 remaining on at the Sanand plant to build engines for the Ranger pickup truck. As part of the restructuring, the American automaker will refocus its efforts in India on its 11,000-person Ford Business Services team, which offers engineering, software development, finance, accounting, and data analysis services. Although the Indian market will no longer include the aforementioned small cars and SUVs, the company plans to begin exporting models to India, including the Mustang and the electric Mustang Mach-E.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Ford’s Australian and European divisions released teasers of the next-generation Ranger, showing it conquering sand dunes, rocky grades, snowy roads, and more.The next-generation Ranger appears to have C-shaped headlights like the new Maverick and can be seen in extended cab and crew cab configurations.Ford’s overseas departments say the all-new Ranger will debut before the end of the year before going on sale in 2022, but the timing could end up different for the U.S. market.Back in 2011, Ford ditched the small-truck market, killing off the aging Ranger without a replacement. While American customers were forced to look elsewhere for a small truck, the rest of the world received an all-new Ranger that same year. Ford eventually realized they were missing out on a growing segment and brought the Ranger back to the United States for 2019, but the company simply upgraded the global version that had already been on sale for eight years instead of creating a fresh generation. However, Ford announced today that an all-new Ranger is on its way, revealing the first official teaser photo and video of the upcoming mid-size pickup.
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.

The video, posted by Ford’s Australian and European arms, shows the next-generation Ranger tackling various types of tricky terrain and showing off its versatility. The teaser starts off with the Ranger drifting through a giant mud patch, kicking up dirt clods left and right, before we see the truck scaling dunes and driving at high speeds through the desert. Next the Ranger deftly climbs up and down some steep rocky grades, displaying its suspension articulation, before it hurtles down a snow-covered road. Lastly, we see the Ranger cruising down an off-road trail, smashing through a puddle and splashing water everywhere.

While the truck is heavily camouflaged, a few details stand out. The overall proportions look similar to the current model, and both extended and crew-cab versions are seen in the video. The most striking design element we can see is the headlights, which appear to have a C shape echoing the headlights on the recently revealed Maverick. Ford’s Australian and European branches say that the next-generation Ranger will debut later this year before launching in 2022, but the timing and design for the U.S.-market version could end up being different.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The Lotus Emira is the last new Lotus with a combustion engine, and the supercharged V-6 version will go racing starting in 2022 in the GT4 class.The Toyota engine makes the same 400 horsepower as in the street car, but the Emira GT4 has a revised aerodynamic package and a different suspension setup.The Emira GT4 will weigh several hundred pounds less than the road-going car, and Lotus says production for the 2022 season will be limited as the company assesses demand.Lotus is about to undergo some major changes. The British automaker will soon switch to electric propulsion, with the recently-revealed Emira, a successor to the long-running Evora sports car, being the last new Lotus to be powered by a combustion engine. Lotus also recently declared that its upcoming EV lineup will include two SUVs and a four-door car, stark changes for a company that has, for the most part, only sold two-door sports cars. If you’re a Lotus fanatic who is having a panic attack, it at least appears that Lotus will still stick to its racing roots, announcing today that it will take the new Emira to the track with a new GT4 variant.

Lotus

The Emira GT4 race car will be developed in collaboration with RML Group, a British motorsports firm known for helping Nissan build the GT-R–engined Juke R. While the road-going Emira will be offered with a 360-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four from AMG as a base engine, the GT4 race car will only come with the beefier 400-hp 3.5-liter supercharged Toyota V-6 that is carried over from the Evora. The Emira race car will come with a 6-speed sequential transmission from Xtrac and brake discs and calipers from Alcon. It is expected to weigh around 2778 pounds, a few hundred pounds less than the lightest road-legal Emira.

The Emira GT4 is built to meet FIA requirements and features unequal-length control arm suspension at the front and rear with Öhlins coilover dampers. The car also receives an aerodynamic makeover, with a sizable wing sprouting from the rear decklid. There’s also protruding front splitter, and although Lotus did not show photos of the interior, expect a roll-cage, racing seat, a steering wheel, and little else. The Emira GT4 will have a full-fledged launch later this year at Lotus’ Hethel test track. Lotus says it will build a limited number of Emira GT4s for the 2022 season before scaling up production as needed for 2023.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The long-lived Europe-market Renault Mégane now has an electric crossover version, launched at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany.The E-Tech offers a choice of outputs, 128 or 215 horsepower, using a motor also found in the Nissan Leaf. It’s no speed demon, with a top speed of 100 mph, but it can tow—up to 663 pounds.The apparent top rival to this stylish EV on the European market is the Volkswagen ID.3.It’s so easy to fall for a car with an accent in its name. French automaker Renault has been producing the Mégane since 1995, through four generations and multiple body styles. None of these have ever officially reached the United States. Yet we couldn’t resist telling you about this one, the very handsome new Mégane E-Tech that was launched this week at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany.The regular Mégane comes as a hatchback, sedan, and wagon, but the E-Tech has become a taller crossover with its wheels pushed out to each corner, although only its front axle is powered. It has a relatively compact 165.8-inch length and sits on both a 106.3-inch wheelbase and Renault’s new CMF-EV platform. An extra-low battery pack sits under the floor, and the company is particularly proud that this is only 4.3 inches in depth.An usual and praiseworthy addition is the “Fireman Access” feature, which is claimed to give first responders an easier time in case of a fire or crash. Renault said the feature, developed in collaboration with French firefighters, allows a battery fire to be put out in as little as five minutes, compared with up to three hours for other EVs. The E-Tech has a switch under the rear bench seats to “enable the rescue teams to disconnect the battery from the high voltage circuit of the vehicle,” Renault said. There’s also a QR code on the vehicle’s windshield that, when scanned, can give first responders information on where the battery and airbags are located and instructions to extricate injured occupants from the vehicle quickly and safely.

Two battery capacities will be offered, 40.0 and 60.0 kWh, giving, respectively, 186 miles and 292 miles of range under Europe’s generally optimistic WLTP testing protocol. The car will also be sold with two power outputs for its electrically excited synchronous motor, which has already been seen in the Nissan Leaf: 128 and 215 horsepower (with torque figures of 184 and 221 pound-feet). The latter delivers a claimed 7.6-second zero-to-62-mph time. Top speed is limited to 100 mph. Fast charging at speeds of up to 130 kW from a sufficiently powerful DC charger is supported, giving the ability to take the battery from 15 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. This Mégane weighs a claimed 3570 pounds, but Renault says it will be able to tow up to 663 pounds, a relatively unusual skill for a Europe-market EV.
Images of the interior make it clear that Renault has entered the arms race over screen size that seems to have broken out among automakers. There are two displays, the 12.3-inch one that incorporates the instruments and relays driving information in a landscape orientation in front of the driver, plus a 12.0-inch central display in a Tesla-like portrait configuration. The Mégane E-Tech is also the first Renault to use Google’s Android Auto operating system. Oh, and the LED lighting can be cycled through 48 color options, so drivers will be able to match their outfits.
A set of 18-inch wheels will be standard, but arch-filling 20-inch alloys will be an option. The E-Tech uses a multi-link rear suspension system in addition to its strut front end. Other high-tech features include full LED exterior lighting, smart adaptive headlights, and a full automatic parking system that doesn’t even require the driver to engage forward or reverse gears to maneuver into spaces.Renault hasn’t released European pricing yet, but the E-Tech will almost certainly be close to the Volkswagen ID.3, which seems to be its most obvious rival. It certainly looks set to be a very stylish alternative.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Decades ago, Doug Field worked as an engineer at Ford before leaving to work at Segway, Apple, and Tesla. He was involved in launching the Tesla Model 3 as well as Apple’s secretive automotive project.Now back at Ford, Field will be “chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer” and will report directly to CEO Jim Farley.Farley said Field’s work at Ford will include next-generation “digital vehicles” as well as “always-on experiences for our customers that get better and better over time.” Hiring him away from Apple is a strong sign that they’re taking this technology extremely seriously.After helping to launch one of the most anticipated electric vehicles ever, the Tesla Model 3, and working at Apple on its still-mysterious special vehicle project, Doug Field has come back to Ford as chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer. Field worked at Ford as a development engineer from 1987 to 1993 before stints at Apple, Tesla, and Segway.

Ford

Field’s latest move has prompted all sorts of online speculation about what it means for Ford as well as for whatever it is that Apple is working on in the automotive field, including plenty of people saying Field’s departure is the final nail in the Apple Car coffin. For its part, Apple released a short statement to the media, obtained by the Wall Street Journal: “We’re grateful for the contributions Doug has made to Apple and we wish him all the best in this next chapter.”
This content is imported from Twitter. 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.

For his part, Farley is ebullient about his new employee, tweeting that Field is “one of the top product leaders from Apple, Tesla & Segway” and that Farley is “thrilled to work with Doug on the next generation of digital vehicles [and] always-on experiences for our customers that get better and better over time.”

Field will be in charge of Ford’s Embedded Software and Hardware group, which includes working on “infotainment, navigation, driver-assist technology, connected services and vehicle cybersecurity” projects as well as Ford’s Blue Oval Intelligence tech stack and Ford Power-Up over-the-air updates. Field will also “[manage] relationships with key technology partners and the digital developer ecosystem.”Farley hinted a bit more at what those always-on experiences might be in a corporate statement. “[Field’s] talent and commitment to innovation that improves customers’ lives will be invaluable as we build out our Ford+ plan to deliver awesome products, always-on customer relationships and ever-improving user experiences. We are thrilled Doug chose to join Ford and help write the next amazing chapter of this great company.”That chapter is likely to include digital products that Ford can regularly charge customers for, a move that a number of automakers are exploring as a way to make money off their customers after they’re purchased the car. The WSJ notes that Ford already offers fleet customers monitoring services for their vehicles for maintenance issues like oil changes or, for electric vehicles, the state of charge and when it makes sense to plug the EV in. As an example, Ford has said that its BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance software will cost $600 for a three-year subscription.Speaking to reporters about his new company, Field hinted he’s happy to be back at a long-standing automaker. “It’s awfully fashionable to start either autonomy companies or car companies,” he said in an interview, according to the Wall Street Journal. “Many of them won’t have the staying power, the resources, the capabilities. Making vehicles is actually really hard.”
This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More