Motor News

The Wraith and Dawn will be dropped from Rolls-Royce’s North American lineup following the end of 2021 model year production. A company spokesperson, who confirmed the news to our friends at Road & Track following a report from Motor1, said there are no direct replacements currently planned for either car.

The Wraith, introduced in 2013, and the Dawn, introduced in 2015, both sit on BMW’s aging F01 platform, also shared with the 2008-era BMW 7-series. So it’s not too big a surprise to hear Rolls is beginning to phase out production. It’s important to note, however, that this news only applies to the North American market. The company will continue to offer both cars overseas, though it’s not clear for how much longer. The spokesperson confirmed to Road & Track that all current orders will be fulfilled up until production of 2021 model year cars ends. The removal of the Wraith and the Dawn from the U.S. market means you’ll soon only have a selection of four-doors to choose from if you want a Rolls: the entry-level Ghost, the Cullinan SUV, or the top-dog Phantom. But we don’t expect it to stay that way for long. While Rolls has yet to release any details, the company says it’s planning to expand its lineup and unveil a swath of new products based on its all-aluminum “Architecture of Luxury,” which underpins the Phantom, Cullinan, and Ghost, that we suspect will fill the Wraith’s and Dawn’s shoes, and then some. For now though, if you’re in the market for a new Rolls-Royce, you’ll have to “settle” for one of its four-door options. A tough time for multimillionaires, surely.

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Ford announced today that it’s starting a pilot R&D project called “Ford Ion Park” where it hopes eventually to build enough battery cells to supply its growing lineup of electric vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E (pictured) and forthcoming electric F-150 pickup.The automaker will spend $185 million on a lab, opening next year, to develop new manufacturing techniques for lithium-ion and solid-state battery packs for EVs. The project will also involve work on improving the full production cycle, including research into the mining of needed resources and battery recycling. Ford announced today that it’s going to spend millions on a “global battery center of excellence” in southeastern Michigan that it has named “Ford Ion Park.” The R&D center will look for ways to make electric-vehicle batteries cheaper and develop them more quickly, as well as find ways to improve the entire battery development process, researching what’s involved from the mining stage to recycling of used batteries.

The plan for Ford to ensure an independent supply of batteries particularly makes sense in light of the current global semiconductor shortage, which has negatively affected production plans at many automakers including Ford. Ford has already been building its own hybrid battery packs and electric motors in Michigan for nearly a decade, but by the end of 2021 the automaker plans to be building EVs and components in 15 locations around the world, including China.

Ford

In addition to the Ford Ion Park project, the Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory that Ford opened in late 2020 at a cost of $100 million has already analyzed more than 150 types of battery cells in search of what Ion Park director Anand Sankaran called “next-generation lithium-ion solutions, including solid-state batteries.” We’ll bring more details about the project as they become available.

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Toyota is introducing the Sienna Woodland Edition for 2022.It features standard all-wheel drive and an 0.6 inch lift, along with a few accessories.Toyota has not yet released pricing but the 2021 Sienna AWD starts at $37,635.In its latest bid to make minivans appeal to SUV shoppers, Toyota is adding an outdoors-themed special edition to the Sienna lineup. Called the Woodland Edition, it features standard all-wheel drive, a slightly raised suspension setup, and a bundle of accessories including a roof rack, a tow hitch, and a power outlet.

The 2022 Sienna Woodland Edition’s all-wheel-drive setup is the same as what’s optional for all Sienna trim levels. It features an additional electric motor for the rear axle to complement the hybrid drivetrain that uses a 2.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine. The Woodland Edition’s only mechanical change is an 0.6-inch suspension lift that makes for a total of 6.9 inches of ground clearance (that’s 1.1 inch less than the Highlander SUV, for reference).
The Woodland Edition is also available in an exclusive color called Cement; Midnight Black is the only other option for this trim package. It also features different interior stitching and black badges. Various accessories that are otherwise optional come included with the Woodland model, including roof-rack cross bars (ordinarily $200), a 1500-watt power outlet (ordinarily $300), and a tow hitch (ordinarily $840).Toyota has not yet released a price for the Woodland Edition, though, so we can’t say whether it’s a good value or not compared with adding these options yourself. We should hear more info soon, along with other details about any updates to the 2022 Sienna lineup.
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Lotus is replacing a full lineup of sports cars—Evora, Elise, Exige—with just one, and it’s going to be the last gasoline-engined model: the Emira. The forthcoming car will come with a choice of a 300-hp four-cylinder or a V-6 powerplant expected to make more than 400 horsepower. There’ll be no hybrid or plug-in-hybrid version.We’re only seeing teaser photos for now, but the Emira will be fully on view in July, and it will be on sale by the end of the year, priced starting in the mid-$60,000s.We have known that Lotus plans to replace its entire existing lineup with a single new car since January. Now the British sports-car maker has confirmed the name for that next-generation sports car—Emira—and released these teaser images.

Previously known by its engineering code name, Type 131, the Emira has been designed to deliver on Lotus’s promise of creating a more usable and better-equipped car than the Evora, Elise, and Exige that it collectively replaces. “I think Lotus in the past has maybe been a bit guilty of engineering something it thought people wanted and then putting it to the market,” explained Matt Windle, Lotus’s new managing director. “Now we’re trying to engineer something that people actually want.” The automaker posted this cryptic video on social media ahead of the teaser photos’ release. We mean “cryptic” quite literally: apparently the word “Emira” is spelled out in Morse code in the road lines.
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The Emira is set to launch later this year and will be sold in the U.S. with full federal homologation. It will only be available in coupe form, and Windle confirmed that there are no plans for a roadster version. This will be the last new Lotus to be launched with an internal-combustion engine; all the company’s products beyond this will be EVs.

Lotus Cars

The Emira will come with the choice of two powerplants. At the entry level, a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will be offered exclusively with a twin-clutch transmission. Lotus hasn’t said where this engine will be coming from, but insiders say it won’t be a Volvo or Geely power unit. Above this will be a developed version of the supercharged Toyota V-6 from the Evora, which will come with the choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or a torque-converter automatic. Contrary to some earlier reports, Windle confirmed that there won’t be a hybrid or plug-in variant. Lotus plans to make a straight transition to full electrification.We’re told that the four-cylinder version will make more than 300 horsepower, and we can safely expect the V-6 to produce at least as much as the 416-hp output of the Evora GT, meaning a performance overlap with both the Porsche Cayman and the lower reaches of the 911 range. “We’ve tried to cover as many bases as possible,” Windle told Car and Driver. “Two powerplants will enable us to cover most of that market. It’s a Lotus that you can live with, we’ve given it broader appeal, but it’s still a fantastic sports car with a range of different models that will go from base spec up to an R.”

Rear view of the Emira.
Lotus Cars

The Emira will continue to sit on a bonded aluminum architecture, although the teaser images make clear that its external design has been inspired by the carbon-fiber Evija EV hypercar. We’re told to expect a much plusher cabin than previous Lotus models, with insiders saying the car will feature both digital instruments and a capacitive touchscreen for many control functions. It will also be the first Lotus to have active safety systems, although none that require steering intervention.

That’s because, like the Evija, the Emira will be sticking with hydraulically assisted steering on the basis of better feel and feedback, which matters more to Lotus than the ability to add lane-keeping with pure electric power steering. This won’t be possible for much longer: Windle said the forthcoming European GSR2 regulations, coming in 2027, mandate active driver assistance that will need EPS. But it’s good to see that these details still matter.We’ll see the finished Emira in July, and it will be on sale by the end of the year. Anticipate pricing to run from the mid-$60,000s to the low $100,000s.
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The Hyundai Kona N joins the Korean automaker’s high-performance lineup as the first N SUV. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 286 horsepower with an N Grin Shift overboost function. It has front-wheel drive, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and an electronic limited-slip differential. Hyundai’s performance brand, N (for Namyang R&D center and the Nürburgring), has added the Kona N compact crossover to its portfolio. The Korean automaker hopes this body style—its first SUV—will push the subbrand more into the mainstream, and given the model’s similarities with the Veloster N, we have no reason to doubt its success. We adored our long-term Veloster N, which uses the same turbocharged engine as the Kona N, though the SUV won’t offer a manual gearbox (#SavetheManuals).
In this application, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 276 horsepower under normal operation. It sends torque exclusively to the front wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which was recently added to the Veloster N, and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Hyundai, looking to keep the Kona N affordable and lightweight, has no plans to offer an all-wheel-drive variant, but an electric model (possibly with fuel-cell tech) may be forthcoming.When drivers want more power, they may select the red button on the steering wheel, which activates the N Grin Shift mode and gives the Kona N an additional 10 ponies for 20 seconds. (The dual-clutch Veloster N gets this too). Hyundai claims the Kona N will reach 62 mph in 5.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph. In our testing, the automatic-equipped Veloster N reached 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Compared with the base Kona, the N model features vents above the grille and has more pronounced aerodynamic tidbits, but it’s no wider or lower. Red accents and dual exhaust tips signal to passersby that this is the sporty model. Every Kona N gets launch control, 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero summer tires, a variable exhaust system that should provide plenty of snaps and pops, and the aforementioned overboost function. The pictured example is finished in the new Kona N–exclusive Sonic Blue. It’s meant to be a lighter, subtler take on the Veloster N’s vibrant Performance Blue, which is featured inside.
Like the updated 2022 Kona, N models receive a new digital gauge cluster and 10.3-inch touchscreen in addition to a head-up display. A new N mode will pull up track maps, lap times, and performance gauges. The N buttons on either side of the steering wheel can be toggled to desired drive modes, and they can also start the lap timer. The 2022 Hyundai Kona N will arrive in the U.S. this fall, and we expect pricing to start around $35,000.
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Hyundai has released more information on the 2021 Santa Fe hybrid.It costs between $34,835 and $41,135 and offers up to 34 mpg.Blue, SEL Premium, and Limited trim levels are offered for the hybrid model.The new hybrid version of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe costs more than the nonhybrid version but offers a considerable improvement in fuel efficiency. Rated at up to 34 mpg combined by the EPA, the hybrid model comes standard with all-wheel drive and costs $34,835 to start.

Although all Santa Fe hybrids are powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-liter gas engine and electric motor, the base model, called Blue, is the most efficient version. The better-equipped SEL Premium ($38,785) and Limited ($41,135) versions are rated at a slightly lower 32 mpg combined. By comparison, nonhybrid AWD Santa Fe models are rated at 24 mpg combined regardless if you choose the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four or the more powerful 277-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter engine. The hybrid model’s total power output of 225 horsepower slots in neatly between the two gasoline engines.

Hyundai

A plug-in-hybrid version of the Santa Fe is also on its way. It will feature a larger battery pack that will provide an estimated electric driving range of 30 miles. Hyundai hasn’t yet announced a price for the plug-in model but says it will start around $35,000.The conventional hybrid will arrive first, hitting dealerships this spring, while the plug-in-hybrid will arrive later for the 2022 model year.
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The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT starts at $61,000, and the quicker GT Performance Edition model will cost $66,000, Ford has announced.The GT Performance Edition produces 214 pound-feet of additional torque and is equipped with larger brakes, Pirelli summer tires, and magnetorheological dampers.Orders open on April 28, and the GT models will arrive at dealers in the fall. The Ford Mustang Mach-E’s higher-performance GT and GT Performance Edition models will arrive in the fall with 480 horsepower and a new track driving mode. Orders will open on Wednesday, April 28, starting at $61,000 for the GT and $66,000 for the GT Performance. That’s $23,685 more than the 460-hp V-8–powered Mustang GT and $1190 cheaper than the Tesla Model Y Performance.
Mustang Mach-E GTs are equipped with an 88.0-kWh battery pack and two electric motors, one on each axle, sending power to all four wheels. However, their front motor is more powerful than the lesser Mustang Mach-E’s. Total output is 480 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, but 643 pound-feet of torque in the GT Performance Edition. Ford says the GT will reach 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and the GT Performance Edition in 3.5 seconds. In our test, the Premium AWD model with the larger battery hit that mark in 5.1 seconds, trailing the 330-hp Mustang 2.3L High Performance by 0.1 second.

Both get an additional setting for their Unbridled drive mode—Whisper and Engage are the other modes—called Unbridle Extend that’s for track use only. It’s toggled through a tab under the drive-mode settings. Ford says the new setting balances power output for ideal use on track as well as adjusts the traction and stability control settings in addition to flooding the cabin with a louder propulsion sound. Ford estimates that the GT model will be rated at 250 miles of range, while the GT Performance Edition will reach 235 miles. The highest-rated Mustang Mach-E is the California Route 1 model, which is EPA-estimated at 305 miles of range. Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system will also be available on both GT models.
Cyber Orange and Grabber Blue (previously exclusive to the First Edition model) have a special color palette. They have a carbonized gray grille, red Brembo brakes, 20-inch black wheels, and GT badging. The Performance Edition is distinguished by special badging, unique 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli summer tires (Continental all-season rubber is standard on the GT), Ford Performance seats with metallic stitching (standard GTs get copper stitching), an aluminum instrument panel, and standard magnetorheological dampers.
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Every year, nominees in the top categories at the Academy Awards get goody bags full of pricey luxuries, with this year’s swag bag valued at more than $200,000.In among the lotions and vacation vouchers is a little hammer that the celebs are invited to use to free overheated pets from inside other people’s cars. It’s courtesy of the animal-rights group PETA.The hammer sits on a keychain that says: “The car is insured—the dog is irreplaceable.” At tonight’s Academy Awards broadcast, you won’t get to see the gift bags that are handed out to nominees in the top categories—but they’re the stuff of legend anyway. This year’s collection of over-the-top luxury items is valued at more than $200,000, the New York Times reports. One of the less expensive products it contains, however, is a small but sturdy hammer meant to smash car windows.

The hammer Oscar nominees will get tonight.
PETA

The gift hammers are labeled with a keychain that reads, “The car is insured—the dog is irreplaceable,” and the idea is that if, say, Frances McDormand or Gary Oldman were to spot a dog sweltering in a locked car, they should use it to smash the window and get the animal free. PETA already sells hammers for this purpose, albeit in a clunkier, less streamlined design.

Stars beware: at least one would-be dog saver has been cited for just such an act of Good Samaritanism. In 2018, Richard Hill of Parma, Ohio, was leaving a Wal-mart store when he saw a commotion around a parked Audi and heard people saying two dogs were trapped inside a hot car. “I decided to grab a hammer and went ahead and broke the window,” Hill told Fox 8. Police and the car’s owner, who claimed to have been gone only a few minutes, disagreed that the window needed breaking.

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So maybe before you pull out a hammer and break a car window, check out your state’s regulations about rescuing dogs on this handy list from Michigan State University. It lists the 31 states where it’s illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle under dangerous conditions—including warm weather. It also names the states where a person trying to save an endangered animal from a vehicle is likely to be immune from prosecution for it.Good news for the Oscar-nominated: California is one such state.
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