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    New York Auto Show Officially Canceled for 2021

    The New York auto show, previously rescheduled for August, has now been canceled.The show said that it’s due to a rise in COVID-19 Delta variant cases and stricter public-health measures put in place in New York City.Debuts that were scheduled for the auto show include the Nissan 400Z, Subaru WRX, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.The organizers of the New York auto show announced that the show has been canceled and will not take place in 2021. It had previously been rescheduled for August, a change from its typical place in the calendar in the spring. We’re not sure what this means for the many new-vehicle debuts that were planned for the show, including the 2022 Subaru WRX, Nissan Z, and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid.

    The show said in a statement that the cancelation is due to “the growing incidences of the Covid-19 Delta variant and the increased measures announced recently by State and local officials to stop its spread.” The organizers now say that the next New York auto show will be in spring 2022. The show was also canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic after initially being rescheduled for August.We will keep you updated about any news regarding the reveals that had been planned for this show. The Nissan Z debut is scheduled for August 17, a few days before the show, and the Subaru WRX is scheduled for August 19—we haven’t heard about any changes to those plans yet, but stay tuned.
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    Tesla Model S Base Price Rises to over $90,000

    Tesla has increased the base price of the Model S Long Range to $91,190.It has gotten steadily more expensive recently, as the Long Range was previously available for just over $70,000.The Model S Long Range achieved a real-world highway driving range of 320 miles in our testing.Tesla has been steadily increasing the base price of the Model S, and it has now reached above $90,000. The Long Range model, which previously started at just over $70,000 but has seen numerous price adjustments recently, now costs $91,190 to start according to Tesla’s website.

    This price includes white exterior paint, 19-inch wheels, and a black interior. Other exterior and interior colors cost $1500–$2500 extra, as do the optional $4500 21-inch wheels that reduce the estimated range. The standard Model S Long Range is rated to go 405 miles on a charge by the EPA, and in our 75-mph highway efficiency test a Model S Long Range achieved 320 miles.There’s also a more powerful Model S Plaid model available, but its price has not changed since it increased by $10,000 back in June. It starts at $131,190, offers 1020 horsepower, and has an estimated range of 348 miles. Tesla’s website currently estimates that buyers who place an order now for either the Long Range or Plaid models can expect to have their vehicles delivered in March or April 2022.
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    2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Pricing Announced, Starts At $27,190

    The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, which received a light facelift, will start at $27,190 for the front-wheel drive base S trim, $750 more than last year.The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line are replaced by one model, the SEL R-Line, that splits their starting prices at $37,790 and comes standard with all-wheel drive.The cheapest Tiguan is pricier than the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson but comes in below the Toyota RAV4.For 2022, the VW Tiguan compact crossover gets a facelift with sharper styling and upgraded tech, and now the German company has released pricing for the updated model. The base Tiguan S with front-wheel drive will start at $27,190, a $750 increase from 2021, with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive available for an extra $1500. All-wheel drive is an option on first three trim levels, but comes standard on the top SEL R-Line model, which starts at $37,790. The 2022 SEL R-Line is more expensive than the 2021 SEL but cheaper than last year’s top trim, the SEL Premium R-Line.

    Volkswagen

    In between the S and SEL R-Line are the SE—$30,690 for front-wheel drive and $32,190 for all-wheel drive—and SE R-Line Black, which starts at $33,490. Every 2022 Tiguan features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 184 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Front-wheel-drive versions include three rows of seats, uncommon for the segment, while all-wheel-drive variants are limited to two rows.

    The Tiguan is priced a little higher than some of its rivals in the compact-crossover market. The base Tiguan S is pricer than the Honda CR-V LX ($26,575), Mazda CX-5 Sport ($26,545), Ford Escape S ($26,800), and Hyundai Tucson SE ($26,135). Still, the Tiguan undercuts the Toyota RAV4 LE ($27,565) and the SEL R-Line is cheaper than some of the high-end trims on its competitors. The Tiguan is due to reach dealerships in the United States during the third quarter of this year.
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    Things to Keep in Mind When You’re Hunting for a Reliable Used Car

    An elderly woman is crying profusely over the phone, and all anyone can do is listen and try to console her. Through no fault of her own, she’s now beside herself with a $7000 repair estimate for a car that has become a 3500-pound paperweight. The only thing she knows about cars is how to drive one. Guess who was responsible for this tragic scene? The guy writing this article.

    That’s right. I was guilty—not by intent, but by association and anecdotal experience. Guess who recommended to her that she buy that car? Yep, that was me. I bought a reliable version of the same model—a car that’s still on the road with 350,000-plus miles on the odometer—more than 20 years ago. In fact, my evangelizing about the reliability of that daily driver, a 1994 Toyota Camry coupe, eventually led my family to buy four more Camrys. Between 1994 and 2012, those were the only cars bought by my parents and brothers. I drank the industry Kool-Aid that makes many of us believe that, out of that ocean of millions of cars, only a few chosen models can offer you true long-term reliability.That’s no longer true. Soon after that woman on the phone (my mom) was given that jaw-dropping estimate, I decided to do two things. First, I replaced a sensor and told the dealer where he could stick that estimate. And second, I became involved with a project called the Long-Term Quality Index (LTQI), a collaborative effort that studies the reliability of used cars. The study now includes data on more than 1.4 million vehicles that have been independently inspected by certified mechanics. When it comes to used-car shopping, this is a smidgen of what has been found so far:

    Sports Cars Often Are the Most Reliable CarsLet us give you an example that hit us right between the eyes. The Toyota Camry has long been hailed as reliability incarnate, along with the Honda Accord, the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic. We at the Long-Term Quality Index expected those models to be right at the top.But guess which older, used vehicles outperform all of them according to LTQI data? A Ford Explorer? A Chevrolet Silverado? Nope, not even close. Try sports cars and roadsters such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Mercedes SL-class, and the BMW Z3 and Z4 convertibles. As time passes, two big ingredients help these models offer one tasty recipe for long-term reliability: care-conscious owners and strong powertrains make a real difference.After years and sometimes even decades, these four sports cars provide outstanding reliability because they offer the perfect combination that makes longevity a reality: attentive owners who usually install quality replacement parts, and powertrains designed to withstand demands that go beyond daily driving. (More on this point can be found here.)Cars with Reliable Reputations Can Also Be Rolling Money TrapsA 10-year-old Camry sounds like a great idea until you find out about frequent engine issues and melting dashboards. LTQI data shows that a Camrys of that vintage are just middle-of-the-pack, not leaders. And another similarly well-regarded vehicle, the Honda Accord, has good years and bad years thanks to chronic transmission issues that apparently took several years to resolve.Unpopular Cars Can Be Reliable . . . and Dirt CheapYou don’t have to buy an old person’s car like a Buick Park Avenue or Lincoln Town Car to buy a car that lasts. Fun can be had along with long-term quality if you spread your search to the unpopular cars. Volkswagen is a damaged brand at the moment, and many of its powertrains aren’t a good deal. But if you stick with a manual transmission, and an engine that doesn’t have a turbocharger or direct injection, you may be able to get a quality vehicle at a discount thanks to all the bad publicity these days.

    And Unloved Badge-Engineered Siblings Are Even BetterHave you ever heard of a Suzuki Equator? It’s a version of the mid-size Nissan Frontier truck with different badging that nobody ever shops for because Suzuki hasn’t sold new cars in the United States since 2012. This lack of advertising makes the Equator thousands of dollars cheaper than the Frontier while offering the same level of quality. The Equator also came with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, unlike the Frontier. That same lack of new-car advertising made the Pontiac Vibe compact cheaper than its genetically identical clone, the Toyota Corolla Matrix. The Toyota Camry was the right decision for my family, until it wasn’t. Quality can change over time. So choose a smart path. Invest time in questioning the owner. Make condition your priority, and don’t talk yourself out of buying a car that’s fast and fun. Sometimes the best deals are exactly where you wouldn’t expect to find them.Steve Lang has been an auto auctioneer, car dealer, and part owner of an auto auction for nearly two decades.

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    Subaru Teases Another Wilderness Model, Possibly the Ascent

    After releasing the Outback Wilderness earlier this year, Subaru is expanding the all-terrain trim to a new model, showing two teaser images.The images don’t show which model it will be, but we expect it to be the Ascent three-row SUV.Expect a minor suspension lift, all-terrain tires, and lots of Wilderness-specific trim when Subaru reveals the new model in the near future.Earlier this year, Subaru showed off the Outback Wilderness, a new trim level that took the already rugged wagon-turned-crossover and prepped it for more serious off-road duties. Now Subaru is applying the Wilderness badge to a new member of their lineup, with two teasers hinting that it might be the Ascent three-row crossover.

    Subaru

    Though the tightly cropped teaser images don’t reveal much, the first photo shows the Wilderness badge adorning the door next to chunky plastic wheel arch cladding while the second image features most of the front door and fender. We think it is the Ascent judging by the shape of the front end and the fact that, as Subaru’s largest crossover, it is already well-suited vehicle for camping and other excursions. The Forester or the Crosstrek are likely candidates for the Wilderness treatment, too, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Subaru’s entire crossover lineup gain this trim at some point.

    Regardless of the model, Subaru’s next Wilderness model will likely have similar modifications as the Outback. We can already see that it sports the same Geyser Blue paint, and we expect a suspension lift—the Outback gains 0.8 inches for 9.5 inches of total ground clearance. Redesigned bumpers should create better approach and departure angles and model-specific wheels will come wrapped in all-terrain rubber. Other visual changes could include a front skid plate, roof rack, and a unique grille, and while the engine should remain unchanged, there might be some retuning of the transmission. Like the Outback Wilderness, the interior will probably feature StarTex, a water-repelling fabric.We expect to hear more about this mysterious Wilderness model soon, although Subaru didn’t say when more information would be released.
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    Toyota Avalon Sedan Will End Production in 2022

    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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    2022 Acura NSX Type S Confirmed as a More Powerful Send-Off

    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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    2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Looks More Rugged but Isn't

    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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