Motor News

2022 will be the last model year for the Toyota Avalon large sedan.Toyota has confirmed that production will end in August 2022.First introduced in 1994, the Avalon has offered five generations in the U.S.Toyota will drop the Avalon large sedan from its lineup after the 2022 model year, as first reported by Automotive News and confirmed to C/D by a Toyota spokesperson. Production will end in August 2022 at Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, where the company also builds the Camry and Lexus ES sedans.

The Avalon is currently in its fifth generation and has been on sale in the U.S. since 1994. Positioned above the Camry mid-size sedan, it competes in the dwindling large sedan segment that has seen numerous competitors die off in recent years. Apart from the Toyota, the Nissan Maxima, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 are the only vehicles in this segment still on sale after the cancelations of the Chevy Impala, Hyundai Azera, Kia Cadenza, and Ford Taurus.The fifth-generation Avalon was introduced for the 2019 model year and offers either a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, a 2.5-liter inline-four with all-wheel drive, or a hybrid drivetrain with a 2.5-liter inline-four. It sold 10,328 units through the first half of 2021 and a total of 18,421 units in 2020, similar numbers as the Maxima but far behind the Charger, which sold 42,103 units in the first half of 2021.Toyota says that there will be no changes for the 2022 Avalon. After production ends in the fall, the company will continue to sell leftover inventory through the end of next year.
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Acura is bringing the Type S badge to the NSX, and the 2022 NSX Type S will have an upgraded version of the twin-turbo hybrid V-6 powertrain.2022 will be the final model year for the current-generation NSX, which has been on sale since 2017.Every 2022 NSX will be a Type S, and Acura will only build 350 in total, with 300 of those destined for the United States.Acura recently revived the Type S badge for the 355-hp TLX Type S sport sedan and MDX Type S crossover, and now the company has confirmed that the NSX supercar will also receive the Type S treatment. But there’s a sad caveat: the higher-performance NSX Type S will serve as a send-off for the hybrid sports car, with Acura announcing that 2022 will be the final model year for the current generation.
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Every 2022 NSX will be a Type S, and Acura will be limiting production to 350 units in total, with 300 offered in the United States. Last year, Acura sold 128 examples of the NSX in the U.S., down from 238 the year before. This marks the first time a Type S–branded NSX will be sold in the U.S., as the original NSX Type S was for Japan only.Acura says the NSX Type S will receive “an enhanced version” of the twin-turbocharged V-6 and the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system. The current 3.5-liter gasoline engine mated to three electric motors is good for a combined 573 horsepower, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Type S crest 600 hp. We’re not sure whether that extra oomph would come from upgrades to the V-6, tweaks to the electric motors, or both.

The Type S could also feature a more aggressive suspension setup, different wheels and tires, larger brakes, and a louder exhaust. There also could be some minor styling changes, as the design has remained virtually unchanged since 2017. These teaser photos indicate it will offer some sort of matte paint and come with a unique wheel design. The 2022 Acura NSX Type S will be revealed on August 12, at which point customer orders for the limited production run will open.

Although 2022 marks the end of the NSX, we wouldn’t rule out a new generation at some point in the future. Acura said that it “will continue to pursue sports cars,” with Vice President Jon Ikeda noting that the company is “actively investigating what the next generation of sports cars should be in an electrified era.”
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The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is adding an off-road-themed XRT trim level.It includes appearance upgrades including skid plates, side steps, and different wheels.The XRT starts at $33,485 with front-wheel drive or $35,185 with all-wheel drive.Hyundai is bolstering the 2022 Santa Fe SUV’s look, if not its actual off-road capability, with a new XRT trim level. The XRT model includes rugged-looking appearance tweaks but no actual mechanical upgrades. It doesn’t even come standard with all-wheel drive, as it starts at $33,485 with front-wheel drive and offers AWD as a $1700 option.

The XRT comes standard with black 18-inch wheels, side steps, skid plates, and a different front bumper and grille. The mirrors and roof rack are also painted black. It’s similar equipment-wise to the Santa Fe SEL with the convenience package. A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft is the only engine choice for the XRT, as the turbocharged 2.5L engine is only available on upper trim levels and the hybrid powertrain can’t be paired with the XRT model.
A 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT is also set to join the lineup, but we haven’t seen images of that smaller crossover with the appearance package yet. We expect it to have similar changes as the Santa Fe. In the meantime, Hyundai says that the 2022 Santa Fe XRT is arriving at dealerships now.
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Aston Martin is set to reveal a Valkyrie roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, showing a teaser image of a Valkyrie with no roof and scissor doors.The Valhalla, which comes with a twin-turbo AMG-sourced V-8, will have its North American debut at the show, and Aston Martin conformed a limited production of 999 units.Aston Martin is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its first North American sale, and is building a 11,300-square-foot space overlooking the Pebble Beach Golf Links for the the event.Aston Martin is having a big year. The British sports car marque has joined Formula 1 after rebranding the Racing Point team part-owned by executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, launched a new AMG-powered Valhalla, and, as we recently reported, slashed its pretax losses thanks to the success of the new DBX SUV. Now Aston Martin is planning a reveal at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which gets underway next week.

Aston Martin

The biggest debut is a new vehicle that Aston Martin says will “extends the company’s performance credentials a step further.” Although the company didn’t specify the model, the teaser image provided shows what appears to be an Valkyrie roadster. In the photo, we can see the seat headrests poking up behind the top edge of the windshield and scissors doors rather the roof-mounted gullwing doors on the Valkyrie coupe. Aston Martin has yet to reveal whether this convertible Valkyrie will have a removable roof or if it will be permanently open to the elements. The hypercar is set to be revealed August 12 at a private event before going on display for the Concours on August 13.

The recently-unveiled Valhalla, which sits below the Valkyrie (but should still cost north of $1 million), will also have its North American debut at the Concours, and Aston Martin confirmed that the Valhalla will be limited to 999 units over two years of production. Aston Martin is using the show to celebrate the 70th anniversary of selling its first vehicle in the American market, as the company says that around a quarter of all Aston Martins built to date were first sold in North America and that the Americas still make up about 30 percent of Aston Martin’s annual global sales.
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Lincoln and Detroit-based luxury retailer Shinola have collaborated on a one-off concept Aviator SUV for this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.The concept incorporates several of Shinola’s design motifs and the result is eye-catching.It’s merely a design study, but we think Lincoln and Shinola should put this Aviator into production.For this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Lincoln will show off an Aviator concept developed in conjunction with luxury leather and watch retailer Shinola. The two Detroit-based brands appear to be a natural fit for such a collaboration, with the Aviator’s already luxurious interior getting a glow up that includes new leather and suede seats, copper accents, and a woven metal mesh trim on the instrument panel and center console. What’s curiously left out is a Shinola-branded dashboard clock.

The rich-looking caramel leather and cream-colored suede inserts on the seats are accented with a stylized stripe down the center, a popular Shinola design. Lincoln designers are notorious for loving a blue-themed interior, so they took some liberty and added a blue accent to the stripe. The concept’s exterior is rendered in a white color that’s intended to evoke the same pearly finish as one of Shinola’s mother of pearl watch faces. The light hue is accented by a copper-colored grille and rose-gold wheels.
We think Lincoln should also include a set of matching leather and suede luggage for the cargo area, but, alas, you can’t have it all. Lincoln says this is simply a design study for now, but we wouldn’t be shocked to see a limited-production special-edition model appear at some point in the future.
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For the next episode of Inside Track, Road & Track’s virtual Q&A series, Hearst Autos chief brand officer Eddie Alterman is sitting down with Donald Osborne, classic-car historian, appraiser, and CEO of Audrain, to chat about the beauty, value, and importance of vintage automobiles. A regular on CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage, Osborne has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with fellow enthusiasts.It’s all happening on Tuesday, August 3, at noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT).Register Here Osborne will be discussing his career path, beginning as an opera singer, moving into advertising and TV production, and ultimately becoming the go-to person for high-end vehicle appraisals. He’ll also discuss his regular appearances on Jay Leno’s Garage as well as his latest venture as CEO of Audrain (which encompasses the Audrain Automobile Museum, Audrain’s Newport Concours d’Elegance & Motor Week, and Audrain Motorsport – Consulting & Appraisal for collector vehicles). If you want to see it all go down, head over to the sign-up page here. Inside Track is one of Road & Track’s many offerings as part of the newly revamped magazine. They’re hosting live events, virtual experiences, and adventures around the globe. They will also be hosting driving rallies at racetracks and on the most epic roads, holding discussions and debates on cool topics with some of the most influential people in the car world, and giving you the white-glove treatment at concours and auto-show events.Register Here To get in on the fun, become a member of The Track Club. You’ll get every issue of Road & Track, plus a whole lot more. Find more details on the membership tiers and exclusive discounts at roadandtrack.com/join, and check out the full experiences lineup at experiences.roadandtrack.com.This content was provided by the Road & Track marketing team.

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Bring a Trailer is auctioning this 2007 BMW Z4 M coupe, which the seller modified for off-road duty after purchasing it last year.The seller resprayed the Z4 in satin black and added a custom suspension, bumpers, tires, roof rack, and hatch as well as two sets of auxiliary lights.Bidding is currently at $15,000 with four days left. The car comes with a clean Virginia title, but there is inconsistency reported with the odometer, which reads 150,000 miles.A 2007 BMW Z4 M coupe probably isn’t the first car that comes to mind when you hear the term “off-roader,” but this “safari style” Z4 is the latest in a lengthy history of sports cars going off the beaten, and paved, path. Lancia pioneered the all-terrain sports car when it took the Stratos rallying back in the 1970s, and Porsche tried its hand by entering the 953, a modified 911, and the 959 into the Paris-Dakar Rally. More recently, a Dutch dealership called Classic Youngtimers Consultancy turned a Nissan GT-R, Bentley Continental, and Lamborghini Gallardo into off-roaders, and this customized Z4 M, which is for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction site, is in a similar vein to the creations of Classic Youngtimers.

Bring a Trailer

According to the listing, the 2007 Z4 M was bought by the seller last year before it was converted to “Safari” spec. Repainted in satin black, the Z4 M received modified fenders and bumpers to fit the 17-inch Black Rhino wheels and chunky 235/65 Toyo Open Country A/T tires. The seller also attached four circular Baja Design rally lights above the kidney grilles and strapped a 40-inch Aurora LED light bar to the unique roof rack. The most drastic visual changes are around back, where the rear hatch was redesigned to fit two protruding spare tires.

Under the hood, the 3.2-liter S54 inline-six was left mostly stock, meaning it churns out a healthy 330 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. However, the Z4 M was given a custom adjustable Ground Control suspension and an aftermarket skid plate for handling bumpy, rocky trails. The black leather interior was also relatively untouched, and includes a three-spoke M-branded steering wheel, a CD player, and automatic climate control. Bidding for the 2007 Z4 M Safari currently sits at $15,000, but there are still four days remaining on the auction. The car comes with a Carfax report and a clean Virginia title, although there are apparently some discrepancies with the odometer, which shows 150,000 miles.
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We are programmed by nature to acquire, which is one reason selling is so much less fun than buying. But almost all automotive love affairs end, and selling a car online painlessly and for the highest price takes some planning and effort. Look at it this way: The extra hour you spend taking good pictures and writing a thorough description for a sales site may net you another $1000 or more. Not bad for an hour’s labor.

Step 1: Pick the right sales venue.You’d no more list a ’96 Mustang on Hemmings than you would a Bugatti Veyron on Craigslist—unless you wanted to be called by 15,000 bored teenagers. All online classified sites have their weaknesses: eBay’s relentless countdown clock seems to make idiots out of some bidders, who ultimately back out; Cars.com and AutoTrader.com charge and mix you in with a lot of dealer ads; and Craigslist’s free ads mean you’re lost in a tsunami of daily listings. In general, if you are a gambler who abhors personal contact, eBay is for you. If you don’t live in paranoid fear of the public, then Craigslist is a perfect, no-cost outlet. The other sites lie somewhere in between.

Step 2: Take at least 30 pictures.Good pictures sell cars. Make sure you get all four sides and the roof, and don’t forget the engine, the interior, the odometer, and even the undercarriage. Nobody wants to buy a car covered in cat prints and gardening crap from a dark garage. Drag it out, clean it, and shoot it. Even better, shoot it in the “sweet light” of a nice evening.

Step 3: Write a description.“Runs xlnt” won’t cut it. Say how long you’ve had it, what work you’ve done, what’s good about it, and also what’s bad. Be honest; the more flaws you include, the more the buyer will trust that you’re not completely clueless or hiding a disaster.

Step 4: Set a price.eBay’s own research shows that low reserves produce higher sale prices, because once the reserve is met, the bidding takes off. So be brave and don’t use a reserve, or set the reserve at the lowest rock-bottom sum you’ll accept. On a fixed-price site like Craigslist, research what other people are asking for similar cars.

Step 5: Sell!Put your phone number in the ad. The NSA already has it and nobody else cares. If you are fearful of spam bots, spell it out this way: 55five1two1two. If you’re selling on Craigslist, post the ad on Thursday so it’s not lost in a billion other ads when the weekend arrives. If you’re selling through eBay, end the auction on Sunday evening, when people are sitting around with nothing better to do than look at cars online. Be available to answer your phone, and when the sale is done, be kind to your fellow man and pull down the ad immediately. Then start looking for a new car.Gettin’ PaidNot everybody is willing to carry thousands of dollars into a stranger’s house, so reasonable sellers accept checks, though not personal checks. Demand a certified or cashier’s check. Also be sure to document the transaction. A bill of sale need not be complicated, but it should be dated and signed by both parties. Include the sales price and VIN and keep this with a copy of the check. If you’re signing over a title, fill it out completely and make a copy, or accompany the purchaser to the DMV. This paperwork will be useful if the buyer turns out to be a parking scofflaw, drug dealer, or some other deadbeat who “forgot” to register the vehicle and it later turns up in a police investigation. Yes, you should be this paranoid. Before handing over the keys, at the very least make sure you have the buyer’s full name, address, and a phone number, and make a copy of his or her driver’s license.Buy It Now

Carla Richmond Coffing

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