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Jeep released the video below as part of its parent company’s Stellantis EV Day. It shows a two-door Wrangler EV, which looks similar to this year’s Magneto concept, and a four-door model that appears related to the 2017 Safari concept.Part of the video events are dated 2025 and show a two-door Wrangler EV using biometric recognition, peer-to-peer charging, and drone pairing.Later the video shifts to 2030, where the four-door Wrangler EV is seen driving autonomously off-road while the owners lie in the vehicle watching the stars through a panoramic sunroof.On Thursday, at parent company Stellantis’s EV Day event, Jeep declared that it will have an electrified model in every segment it competes in by 2025. Jeep already builds a plug-in-hybrid version of the Wrangler called the 4xe. But according to the company’s statement, the Wrangler will need to morph into an electric vehicle if it is to survive beyond this decade. While Jeep didn’t explicitly debut a Wrangler EV at the event, this detailed video released by the company clearly promises one, along with drone pairing and autonomous off-roading capability.
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The video starts in 2021, following a seemingly always happy couple and their incredibly cute dog as they park and plug in a Wrangler 4xe at a charging station in the wilderness. The timeline then fast-forwards to 2025—now the man is seen proposing while the couple are submerged in a darkened pool and what appears to be an electric Wrangler lurks in the background. This two-door model is painted white with the word “Freedom” emblazoned on the side of the hood. Since Jeep’s new slogan is “Zero Emission Freedom,” the implication is that the vehicle has an electric powertrain. Jeep seems to confirm that with the text “Concept BEV model shown” at the bottom of the screen. This two-door looks strikingly similar to the Magneto, an electric Wrangler concept released at the 2021 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, and it may just be the Magneto with new hood graphics.

Jeep

The “2025” portion of the video reveals some interesting upcoming features. First, this future Wrangler is equipped with biometric recognition—in the video, the car recognizes the man’s face, unlocking and starting the Wrangler in advance. The video also shows peer-to-peer charging, with the woman plugging the white Wrangler into a blue model for some extra juice. This segment ends by displaying the future Wrangler’s drone pairing capabilities, with the couple’s drone flying just in front of their Wrangler, providing extra light as they traverse an off-road trail through the night.

Jeep

The video then jumps ahead five years to 2030. Now the couple is seen camping next to a four-door model, which looks similar to the 2017 Safari concept from Moab, with transparent doors and a three-section roof rack. This model is clearly intended to indicate it’s an EV, with “Zero Emission” printed along the side sill. Jeep then shows the Wrangler piloting itself around the off-road trails, much to the surprise of another Jeep owner driving in the other direction, suggesting that the Wrangler will be capable of driving autonomously off-road by 2030. Jeep then promotes flat-seat stargazing, showing the couple lying in the Wrangler watching the skies above as the Jeep drives them to their destination.

Jeep notes at the bottom of the screen that “future models and features may vary,” meaning that the timelines for the Wrangler EV and futuristic technologies seen throughout the video are not promises. Still, the video shows that Jeep is plotting a Wrangler EV, gives us a taste of what it may look like, and previews some neat features that will enhance off-roading in the future.
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Mazda is recalling 260,915 Mazda3 cars from the 2004 through 2007 model years to fix a problem with the logo on the steering wheel’s airbag module.In the event of a crash that causes the driver’s airbag to deploy, the plastic logo may shatter, sending fragments throughout the vehicle and potentially causing injury.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in its report that Mazdas built after June 2006 received improved steering-wheel logos, so they’re not subject to the problem. More than a quarter-million Mazda3 cars are being recalled in the United States to fix a problem with a logo that can shatter in the event of a driver’s airbag deployment. The problem affects cars from 2004 through 2007 model years only and involves the Mazda logo on the steering-wheel airbag module.Mazda issued a statement saying the problem is “due to an improper material specification” that can cause the plastic steering-wheel logo to “become brittle over time.” In mid-2006, the automaker changed to a higher-quality logo that, it says, will not be subject to the problem.In a defect report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Mazda received the first report of an occupant sustaining facial injuries because of this defect in September 2015. Since then there have been eight incidents, all outside the U.S., between then and September 2019, and two lawsuits have been filed inside the U.S. claiming injuries because of the problem.Mazda will replace the airbag module cover on affected vehicles but will not replace the airbag or inflator, NHTSA said. Customers will be notified about the recall starting at the end of August. Meanwhile, owners can check Mazda’s own recall site or the NHTSA recall website for details and to see if their vehicle is involved.

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A Polestar 2 prototype has been revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, showing up with 68 additional ponies for a total of 476 horsepower.The experimental car swipes the Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires and Akebono front brakes from the $156,500 Polestar 1 and the carbon-fiber front strut bar from the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered.The Öhlins dampers are 30 percent stiffer on the prototype, and Polestar has also tighened the springs by 80 percent up front and 40 percent in back.With a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.1 seconds and 100 mph arriving in 10.5 seconds in our testing, the Polestar 2 is no slouch. Still, Polestar decided to surprise us by bringing an upgraded performance-oriented prototype of its electric hatchback to this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Polestar

Built on the long range, dual-motor version of the 2, the two motors now churn out a combined 476 horsepower in this example, 68 horsepower more than the standard car. The 2 also gains some attitude thanks to a slightly wider track and a ride height about an inch lower. Under widened fender flares sit 275/30R-21 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires from the $156,500 Polestar 1, and the prototype also borrows the Polestar 1’s six-piston Akebono front brakes.

This version of the Polestar 2 should also be nimbler, with the springs stiffened by 80 percent up front and 40 percent at the rear and the Öhlins dampers tightened by 30 percent. The 2 prototype also borrows from the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered, adding its carbon-fiber front suspension strut bar, with a custom rear strut bar built to complement it. Visual changes are minor. Along with the more aggressive stance, there are redesigned front and rear bumpers, and the car is painted in Snow Matte with a Magnesium Matte racing stripe and the number 2 emblazoned on the hood. Polestar suggests that this prototype is just an engineering exercise, but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see some of these updates on a production car down the road.
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Jeep promises a zero-emission 4xe model in every SUV segment by 2025.The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid makes its first official appearance.Along with the redesigned Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler, the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will also get the 4xe treatment.Jeep wants a lineup that produces zero emissions, and the company plans to sell models in every SUV segment that meet that mandate by 2025. In addition to announcing its plans for an electrified future, Jeep showed the first official image of the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee. This marks the first time we’ve laid eyes on the non-L Grand Cherokee, which features a shorter wheelbase and only has two rows of seats compared with the three-row 2021 Grand Cherokee L. However, the version shown is a plug-in-hybrid 4xe model.

The 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe follows in the tire tracks of the electrified 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe that’s now currently on sale. The plug-in Wrangler combines the nameplate’s iconic off-road abilities with an eco-minded powertrain that generates a combined 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimates the Wrangler 4xe has an all-electric range of 22 miles and a combined MPGe rating of 49.
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In a video posted on YouTube, Jeep brand CEO Christian Meunier not only promises an extended lineup of electrified models by 2025, but he also said the company is planning to install solar-powered charging stations to support off-roaders out on the trail. Plus, Meunier revealed that the upcoming Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will eventually get the 4xe treatment, too.
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Dodge will launch an electric muscle car in 2024 under what it’s calling eMuscle. The new Dodge EV will use one of Stellantis’ dedicated electric vehicle platforms providing up to 500 miles of range. We’ll know more about the new electric muscle car soon, and it’s not yet clear if it’s an electric version of the Charger or Challenger. This is a developing story. We will add more information as it becomes available.Dodge announced that it will soon offer an electric muscle car under what it’s calling eMuscle. The new Dodge EV will launch in 2024, and the Detroit-based automaker gave us a look at what the new car’s front end could look like, and it looks appropriately retro.

Dodge

It’s not yet clear if this new Dodge EV will be an electric version of the two-door Challenger or four-door Charger. Dodge placed the Fratzog logo (pictured), which it used in the 1960s and ’70s, on the car’s grille, and Dodge says that using it is “a nod to the future, which will bring about another great automotive era – the era of the electrified muscle car.”

Stellantis, Dodge’s parent company, announced that it has four dedicated electric vehicle platforms, and three are unibody constructions offering 300 to 500 miles of driving range. We expect the new electric muscle car to use its STLA large platform, which promises up to 500 miles of range. Look for more details on Dodge’s electric future soon, and we could also see hybrid models added to the automaker’s lineup as well. Jeep and Ram have also announced their electrification plans today.
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Volkswagen has released a station-wagon version of the Volkswagen Golf R, which uses the same 315-hp turbocharged inline-four as the hatch.The Estate reaches 62 mph in a claimed 4.9 seconds. With the R Performance package, which also adds a Drift mode, VW says top speed reaches 168 mph. The Golf R Estate is only for the Europe market, where it will cost the equivalent of $60,835.In the United States, where crossovers currently reign supreme, the performance station-wagon market is restricted to the top-end models, with the 591-hp Audi RS6 Avant and the 603-hp Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon as the only two options. Over in Europe, however, there’s a breadth of sporty wagons, also known as estates, and the latest addition joins the lower end of the spectrum. Meet the Volkswagen Golf R Estate, which is essentially a longer version of the Golf R hatchback we drifted through the snow in earlier this year.

Volkswagen

The new wagon utilizes the same powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing a healthy 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque routed through the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, which includes torque vectoring. Volkswagen says this can get the Golf R Estate to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, two-tenths behind the lighter hatchback. The only transmission choice is a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The car can also be specced with the R Performance package, which adds two drive modes—Drift, for your tire-shredding needs, and Special, set up for track driving—and increases the top speed by 13 mph to 168 mph.

Volkswagen

But it’s not only fun; the Golf R Estate is a hugely practical vehicle. With the rear seats down, the wagon can pack in nearly 60 cubic feet of luggage; in two-row configuration, VW says the cargo volume is 21.6 cubic feet. The Golf R Estate can also be ordered with a trailer hitch, allowing the speedy wagon to tow more than 4000 pounds. Sales begin in Europe this month starting at the equivalent of $60,835. Americans will have to make do with the Golf R hatchback, which should provide plenty of fun when it goes on sale later this year.
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Ford has received a new supply of semiconductor chips, ending a shortage that has caused major production stoppages this year across the auto industry.The chips will be installed on thousands of Ford F-series trucks that had been built and parked, waiting for the parts, in lots across several states.F-series sales dropped nearly 30 percent in June over year-earlier figures as dealers ran out of new stock, but for the year as a whole, they’re down only 1.5 percent and there’s little chance the big-selling trucks are any less popular.The shortage of semiconductor chips has plagued automakers for months, slowing production lines and causing dwindling inventories, but Ford has taken a major step toward ameliorating the situation. The company has received a fresh supply of chips, which it will now install into thousands of F-series trucks that were waiting for them. F-series sales had dipped dramatically in June as a result of the supply woes, but this horde of new trucks will likely boost those figures back up.Ford did not specify how many vehicles would become available thanks to the influx of semiconductors, but according to the Detroit Free Press, the company had thousands of F-series pickups fully assembled, except for the chip. These trucks have been parked in lots across Michigan, Kentucky, and Missouri, all states that have an F-series factory. Car and Driver reached out to Ford, which declined comment on where the new supply of semiconductors came from.

The effects of the shortage and empty dealer lots was plain to see in the sales results. In June, F-series sales sank 29.9 percent compared to June 2020, even though the United States was in the midst of a pandemic last year. Ford’s overall sales were also down 26.9 percent year over year. Still, one slow month for the F-series is just a blip on the radar—with 362,032 units sold in the first half of the year, F-series sales are down only 1.5 percent overall.
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Volkswagen is shopping Electrify America to potential investors, searching to inject around $1 billion to the company, according to Reuters.Electrify America is one of the main EV charging networks, competing with ChargePoint and Tesla’s exclusive Superchargers, and says it will have stations in 45 states by 2022.Electrify America was founded in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal, when Volkswagen agreed to invest $2 billion into EV infrastructure as part of the settlement.After the Dieselgate emissions cheating scandal broke in 2015, Volkswagen set up Electrify America, an electric-vehicle charging network. Spending $2 billion on building and promoting the charging infrastructure in the U.S. was part of the automaker’s settlement with the U.S. government. Now Volkswagen is seeking to sell a stake in the EV charging company, according to recent report from Reuters. Reuters spoke with two sources close to the proceedings, who said that Volkswagen and Citi are working together to find a co-investor willing to pump around $1 billion into Electrify America. Volkswagen will apparently begin reaching out to possible investors soon. Volkswagen, Electrify America, and Citi all declined Reuters’ request for comment.

Electrify America is an alternative to the exclusive Tesla Supercharger charging stations, which might soon open up to cars from other manufacturers, and ChargePoint, which is independently owned. The company currently has 635 stations across the United States with more than 2700 individual chargers, and it plans to boost those numbers to 800 stations and 3500 chargers by the end of the year. If Electrify America can meet that goal, it will have a presence in 45 states and will have established two cross-country EV charging paths.

According to Reuters, both Renault and Shell are said to be interested in becoming major stakeholders in Ionity, a European charging network owned by BMW, Ford, Hyundai, and Volkswagen. Perhaps Volkswagen can try to turn one of those suitors into an investor for its American EV infrastructure platform.
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